[Ruins of Uzu]
After Starrk's demonstration of power and his warning, the Konoha group left the border and rushed back to Konoha to inform their Hokage. They were all still shaken by what they just saw. Starrk obliterated the Anbu with no hesitation and without warning. Did he know that they were Root? If he did, then he must know Danzo, and if that is the case then he would most likely be a former Konoha shinobi. That made no sense to them as they continued to leap from tree branch to tree branch.
With the four though, they were all sitting around a fire in one of the only places still standing partially in the ruined village of Uzu. The library. Naruto was lounging as per usual with a big goofy smile on his face at what he had done, Hinata and Haku were chuckling at the looks on their faces when he used his cero on those Root Anbu, and Sakura had a smirk on her face as she remembered the 'scared shitless' look on both Kakashi's and Sasuke's faces. Fu, Roshi and Han were also there, with Fu laughing the most out of the three.
"So you made one of them shit themselves then killed all those other guys?"
Fu asked in between laughs.
"Yeah, that's about right."
Naruto answered her.
"Had to send a message somehow."
"Well, be that as it may."
Roshi started, getting everyone's attention.
"You still haven't told us just why we're here, or what you plan to do with us and the other Jinchuuriki."
"That's simple."
Hinata started this time.
"All anyone cares about is power and control. Their greed being the deciding factor to everything that happens in this world. They don't want peace or true order. All they care about is power. A plague on this world that we have the responsibility to be rid of."
"So you take away their Jinchuuriki to destabilize that power?"
Roshi asked with wide eyes.
"Yes."
Sakura answered.
"Villages like Iwa, Taki and Kumo are filled with a lust for power that needs to be purged from this world."
Her stoic tone caused the three Jinchuuriki to freeze up at her words as she continued.
"It also doesn't hurt our progress to disrupt a group of S-class ninja from taking you all away for their own selfish and power hungry ways."
"Right now, we're going to be using these ruins as a base of sorts for now."
Naruto started as he sat up.
"This place is special from what I've been able to find out. Apparently my clan used to live here, up until they were all killed by power-hungry men who feared their power. A power that was used not for violence but peace. They received no assistance because Konoha wanted their Jinchuuriki for the power as all things dum down to."
He stood up and continued.
"That Jinchuuriki was my mother."
The three Jinchuuriki present were shocked at hearing this.
"Konoha wanted her, so they let this place that was once filled with life and hope be destroyed because of their greed. I owe it to my clan and my mother retribution for that."
He began to walk away from the group, at least until Haku asked.
"Where are you going?"
Naruto stopped and turned to them with a stern look.
"To learn from my clans past, to make a better future."
He nodded to his friends who nodded back and walked off to a staircase that was in the back. The stairs went down to the bottom of the library to an empty room that was designed to be ignored by those who are not Uzumaki, so the others did just that while Naruto had tried to see past the emptiness of it all. It took him a few minutes, but he was finally able to see past the sealing to get to what he was looking for.
The Uzumaki archives.
[Konoha, a week later]
The group sent to recruit the Hollow Four finally returned after witnessing what the leader, now named Starrk, did to the Anbu squad in an instant. The thought of one man, or actually a teenager, being able to do that had a mixture of reactions from the group.
Some found that power to be dangerous and unstoppable like the rumors made it out to be. Those were the smart people of the group that didn't want to fight the four. They saw that power as something far out of their league.
Others thought that that kind of power should be theirs. That was mainly just Sasuke and surprisingly enough Kakashi. They couldn't see past that mask Starrk was wearing nor could they copy that juutsu he used. Whatever it was, they wanted and in their minds deserved it.
It didn't matter anymore right now as the group went back to the Hokage to report what they saw and understood to a fault. As Hiruzen listened to two of his former three students, he couldn't help but wonder just what exactly this meant for Konoha. The Hollow Four were clearly trying to 'purge the sinners', but what did that even mean? What were their goals, and why did they need Jinchuuriki? Too many questions and no answer in sight. Hiruzen arched a brow though when Jiraiya described whatever move the leader did to the Anbu. The description of 'blinding blue lights fired from his finger tip' wasn't the best way to describe it, but it matched with survivors of their attacks descriptions. Somehow the four could use light based juutsu's. At least that's what Hiruzen was hoping for.
The council, to no one's surprise, had a field day with this new information. They wanted to place these four in the Bingo Book with an S ranked 'Kill-on-sight' order, but Hiruzen shut that down fast. One because they didn't need the pressure of actual bringing in those funds for an S ranked bounty, and two was because the four weren't a part of Konoha to begin with. The council had tried to opt to sending more of their forces to find and capture the four at one point despite their current predicament with Iwa, but that was quickly shot down.
Unfortunately, that didn't stop Danzo from sending out his Root Anbu to capture or kill the four.
Right now, Sasuke was furious. He was shown a power unlike anything he had ever seen before in his entire life, and it belonged to someone unworthy in his eyes. He was an Uchiha, he should have that power. Only he deserved it. Who cares what the four wanted the Jinchuuriki for, he needed that power to avenge his clan and kill Itachi. Afterwards, he would use those three girls as breeding stock to rebuild his clan as he saw fit. After the mission and debriefing, he went back to his home only to find a note attached to his door.
'Sasuke. If you wish to seek out the power of those four, come by this location by midnight tonight. Bring your gear.'
Sasuke read the short note and smirked wickedly as the paper had coordinates for the meeting spot at the bottom. He would gain the power he so rightfully deserve.
[Back with the four]
Haku had been on watch for the night, sensing the two unexpected visitors that followed the Konoha group earlier. She was told to watch for any activity and since she had the best senses out of the four, she stayed on top of a large tree overlooking the forest. As she looked out into the distance, sensing the energy of two men not too far away from them, she smiled as the two started to move. Haku placed her mask on her face and flashed away, excited for what was about to happen now.
"Do you really believe that load of bullshit Kakuzu?"
A gray haired man with a red scythe resting on his shoulder and a dark cloak with red clouds on it spoke up.
"You should never underestimate your enemy Hidan."
Kakuzu, a tall man wearing the same outfit answered his partner.
"These four may have three of the Jinchuuriki, but their powers are still unknown to us. Leader has asked that we only examine and watch until they make their move."
"Fuck that!"
Hidan shouted as the two sped on to the where the four and the Jinchuuriki would be.
"There's no fuckin' point in just sittin around if we can just get our prizes and kill a few heathens in the process."
Kakuzu just shook his head as they continued to make their way towards the ruins of Uzushiogakure. As they were getting closer, Kakuzu felt that something wasn't right. He had a very sinking feeling in his stomach and multiple hearts of an impending danger that should be avoided at all cost. He looked forward towards his partner and was about to say something along the lines of a warning, but that all stopped when he saw that Hidan now had a long spear going through his skull. The spear flew past Kakuzu and impaled him onto a tree without the multiple heart man realizing it.
"HIDAN!"
Kakuzu yelled out as he saw his partner cursing up a storm while trying to free himself to no avail.
"I was wondering when you two would come out of your hiding spot."
The distorted voice of one of the four spoke out from directly behind the man.
Kakuzu jumped away from her and turned she stood there with her arms folded under her breast.
"So you must be the Centaur."
He asked her with a sneer at how easily she snuck up behind him.
"Neliel."
She spoke up as she started to walk towards him.
"It's nice to meet you."
Kakuzu got into stance as the now named Neliel stepped towards him. The strange thing about her though wasn't her mask or the voice, it was her demeanor. She looked relaxed, too relaxed. Almost as if she knew fighting these two would be no problem. Kakuzu kept his guard up as he analyzed her for some kind of weakness or an easy opening. He had heard rumors that the four could send blast of chakra out to completely destroy their opponents, but so far it was just a rumor. Kakuzu began to sweatdrop as he was facing an opponent that he knew next to nothing about with powers he could not understand or predict.
Before he could make a move though, Neliel stopped him with her next question.
"Tell me something, why exactly are you and your organization after the Jinchuuriki?"
"That is of no concern to you or your group."
Kakuzu started as he readied himself, preparing to use one of his masks.
"That's a shame."
She started as she stretched to the side a few times.
"I'd rather not fight you and your associate, so I'll ask you to leave peacefully please."
Kakuzu was taken aback from this. She was asking him and Hidan to retreat now or face her. This was a golden opportunity in so many ways to the greedy Akatuski member. The four had bounties on their heads that would make anybody a very rich man, but they also had individual bounties as well. Each being a substantial amount. Kakuzu was very tempted to fight her, to take his chances and let his greed speak volumes for him at this moment, yet his rational mind was contemplating her offer. He knew that she had power that he had never seen before and a fighting style and juutsu's that he had never experienced before. Fighting her seemed to be a bad idea and also a good one at the same time. If he fought her and won, then that would mean one less member of the Hollow Four to oppose the Akatsuki and he would receive the large bounty on her head along with her heart to add to his collection. Decisions, decisions. Unfortunately he didn't have enough time to really contemplate his answer as he heard a loud shout from behind him.
"YOU FUCKING HERETIC!"
Hidan shouted as he finally got the spear out of him.
"I'M GOING TO SACRIFICE YOU TO JASHIN YOU WHORE!"
Hidan charged in blindly and in a rage towards the still calm teen. When he was within striking range of her, he swung his large scythe down towards her, hoping to end her miserable life early and sacrifice her to his god. Kakuzu watched on as he thought that something wasn't right. The girl wasn't reacting. She wasn't attempting to dodge nor was she attempting to block with anything on hand. That was when he realized something, she wasn't trying anything because she knew something they didn't.
"HIDAN, WAIT!"
Kakuzu yelled out to his partner, but was a tad bit too late.
Neliel raised her left hand and, to their surprise, caught the blade of Hidan's weapon in the palm of her hand. There was a very small bit of dust that blew around her feet as she caught the scythe, but aside from that, she was completely unfazed.
"Then you leave me no choice."
She spoke as she pulled her right arm back and her spear appeared within her hand.
Hidan was stunned by what he just saw but wasn't worried since he was immortal. He smirked as he felt the spear being forced into his chest.
"Is that all you got bitch?"
He taunted as he started to cackle maniacally.
"It's gonna take a lot more than that to do me in!"
"I know."
Neliel spoke up as she clenched her left hand and shattered to scythe, much to the surprise and shock of the zombie duo.
She then used her now free left hand to reach for the bottom part of her mask, lifting it up so her mouth was visible to the two. They couldn't see the rest of her face, but that didn't matter right now. What did matter, was that she had opened her mouth wide to him.
"Heh. What the fuck is this supposed to be?"
Hidan spoke to her with a grin.
"Am I suppose to be scared or somet-"
He didn't get far as Neliel fired a pink beam of light towards him.
The beam engulfed his skull, incinerating it instantly before she took care of the rest of the body. In only a few seconds, the crazed immortal Jashin Priest was reduced to nothing, not even ash. Kakuzu saw this and was frozen in fear. He had never seen anything like that before. The power and the ferocity of that attack was devastating, not to mention incredible. Neliel's beam of energy stopped as she closed her mouth and placed her mask back on fully. She placed her spear on the side of her and looked directly towards Kakuzu.
"Either stay and be destroyed, or leave."
She said to him as a dark aura of energy was emanating from her spear.
Kakuzu looked to her eyes, or at least to where her eyes were suppose to be behind the mask and felt as if he was staring at his imminent death. Seeing his opportunity, Kakuzu turned and ran away to inform the rest of the Akatsuki of what just happened. This had been a great loss to Akatsuki but also with this they learned some valuable information about one of the four.
As Kakuzu left, Neliel sighed in annoyance. She really didn't want to fight anyone, but they left her no choice when one of them rushed in at her. She turned around and sonidoed back to campsite, surprising the Jinchuuriki but not the others.
"Haku."
Sakura started as she was seated on the ground.
"I take it you killed one?"
Haku took off her mask and sighed as she sat next to Fu.
"Unfortunately. It was one of those Akatsuki members we heard about. The one who couldn't die, and the one with multiple hearts. I killed the priest guy."
Han and Roshi tensed. They fought against the Jashin Priest before and barely escaped last time. To hear that this teen defeated and even killed him with no trouble was astonishing.
"Well, I guess that means we can't stay here for too long then."
Naruto spoke as he stood up from his seated position.
"I have what we need from here, so we can move out at dawn."
The others nodded as they knew that this whole situation was gonna get worse for certain people soon.
Been a while. Been super busy. Sorry bout the lack of updates.
The next chapter will be a bit longer than this one.
Bye-bye.
