Danzo sat in a garden of a neglected manor fifty miles south of Konohagakure. The owner had fallen on hard times and was unable to maintain a summer residence but, was apparently unwilling to part with it. If the elderly man was inclined to turn around he would see the diminution of time on the once grand structure.

Numerous weeds grew from the roof some clearly there from last season. Windows were broken, shoji screens torn and grime marked the building. Not that he had to turn to see the damage time had wrought. The once carefully kept rock garden had been left to return to a truly natural form. Wind had blown the majority of the sand into a corner where ants had made a home. Like all things it reminded him of Konoha.

Not that that was unusual. Everything seemed to remind him of Konoha these days. Given current events it was unlikely that the village would survive the next ten years. They were simply too weak. The Sand Sound invasion, the samurai uprising and now this protracted war with Sound had taken their toll. The fact that they had to make an alliance with another village to eliminate Sound was proof of how weak they had become.

In reality the Fifth did recognize this to an extent and he did approve of some of her actions. Allowing particularly talented students to take the field early had already proven its worth. Centralizing power with the office of Hokage was an action he would've approved of, if she had the steel to do what was necessary. Unfortunately, she did not and he had been left with no choices.

After she was assassinated Homura and Koharu would appoint him as her successor and then he could do what was necessary to save the village. There was a possibility that they would double-cross him, but that was unlikely since any of the other acceptable candidates would be a lot more like the Fifth or the Third. He also had one more advantage in his favor. His advanced age meant that his rule would be short. History would judge him harshly but, a true leader could not care about his posterity.

Soft steps pulled him out of his thoughts as Hyo one of his younger ANBU walked down the stone path knowing not to come up on his blindside. He kneeled on one knee and Danzo turned his head slightly towards the man, "Report."

"The assassination of the Fifth has failed. One of the assassins was captured alive although we do not know which one."

The elderly man's only acknowledgment of the devastating news was the tightening of the grip on his cane. The outcome had been a possibility but, remote. The chances of both assassins failing were astronomically small and yet they had. "There is no choice than we must seize power by force."

"You intend an open coup d'état," the man question.

Danzo almost frowned down at the man, "Yes."

As the leader of Root spoke the man lowered his head and stood taking a step back. His actions immediately drew the ire of Danzo but before he could rebuke the man he felt a stabbing pain in his chest. Looking down he saw the blunt tip of a Tanto sticking out of his chest chakra still faintly surrounding it. His single eye shifted towards Hyo demanding an explanation even as his strength left him.

"Our mission is to protect Konohagakure from all threats internal or external. You have become one of them. If you were to openly seize the title of Hokage the village would descend into civil war." The masked man drew his own Tanto, "You have taught us well and we will keep your ideals strong." With that said the first Tanto was withdrawn and the elderly man fell forward onto his hands and knees. Then with one stroke it was over.

An unnatural rain poured down on seven identically dressed figures before it stopped as suddenly as it had started. They stood on a hill overlooking the stronghold of the loyalists. One of the figures spoke, "He is alone." The three simple words belied their complex meaning for they had come to kill a man that was never alone.

"Perhaps he's offering himself as a sacrifice," the lone female of the group offered.

"Hanzou is not the type of man to sacrifice himself. Besides he knows it will do no good." He paused for a minute and then relayed orders. "Naraka and Konan will wait outside, after fifteen minutes proceed inside if we have not killed Hanzou." After delivering his orders he started down the hill followed by the other men.

He was not uneasy. Such emotions were beneath him. Still, there must be some trap. Even if the rain had told Pain that Hanzou was alone he was not a man to be underestimated. His target was a mere man and thus could not kill a god but, he would try.

The large gates that ordinarily protected the citadel had been left wide open as an invitation to enter. There were no guards or traps. Without hesitation they continued into the mazelike structure. The building had been designed to confuse intruders but, they followed a path described to them by a former guard of Hanzou. They had been using the King of Hell on her at the time so she could not have deceived them.

Knowing where the target was they knew they would only be one entrance. Soon only two simple doors stood in their way. Ordinarily he would separate his bodies and have them enter through different locations but, anything that would take down one of these walls was more likely to destroy the entire building. Instead he pushed open the doors to the courtyard.

Hanzou of the Salamander sat on his famous summons surrounded by four large torches. Raindrops landed on the flames causing them to flicker and causing the leader of Amegakure to gain a sinister appearance. "The usurper finally shows his face," he spoke without standing.

Pain gave no reply not surprised at the lack of recognition. He sent two of the bodies to the right and the other two to the left encircling their opponent. The courtyard had few obstacles and was surrounded by a four-story building on all sides with no windows opening onto it. The only crevice for anyone to hide in was a small overhang at the top of the roof but, he sensed no one.

This solitude was unlike the man. However, Hanzou excelled at underwater fighting so it was possible that he intended to flood the area. The shape of the battlefield would make this easy but, it was easily negated by leaving the twin doors open. This was too simple.

When the attack came it was not from the legendary ninja. Two individuals darted down from the overhang in complete silence slicing through two of the bodies. The Preta body was sliced clean through on a horizontal line while Asura was slashed from left shoulder to right hip with a shriek of metal cutting through metal. The impacts were so violent that they formed twin craters. Almost as soon as they landed the attackers were already on to their next targets.

Animal didn't have a chance as he was slashed across his chest. Human managed to block the long Zanbato and was able to engage his attacker in close quarters combat. Deva had raised his hands to perform a Jutsu when a kunai was slipped into his spine severing both a vital nerve and a chakra pathway. Having his throat cut so deep that it scratched his vertebrae was almost superfluous.

As the reanimated corpse fell to the ground a man with lavender hair streaked with gray stepped over it his eyes a crimson color. He watched with detached interest as the final battle played out as predictable as the sun rising. His younger son who had taken out two of his opponents rushed to aid his brother dropping his unwieldy Zanbato and drawing a shorter straight sword called a Daito.

The enemy who had disarmed his older son twisted him around trying to use him as a human shield. With most opponents they would have hesitated even if only for a second but, there was none. His younger son thrust his sword into his brother's stomach to the hilt pinning the two men together. Leapfrogging over the two men he spun and drove a senbon into the base of his opponent's skull. The thin shaft of metal entered where the spinal cord and brain met permanently severing the two and causing instant death.

"Hiroshi, heal your brother." It was an unnecessary order but, the show was meant to impress and hopefully that would draw their host attention to their healing abilities. Approaching Hanzou he stopped twenty paces away as prescribed and spread his hands wide. "He called himself a god?

Hanzou's dark black eyes met his and then shifted away dismissively. "Your stealth abilities are impressive but, if it had been a straight up fight it would've been different."

The Jonin from Iwa graded his teeth at the slight resisting the temptation to remind the man that if it had not been for their warning he would have been ambushed here tonight. "Stealth and deception can bring down an opponent many times one's own strength. That is why we've approach you who is skilled in all of the arts." He had been advised to flatter the man but, it was annoying.

"There are still two more," the leader of Amegakure stated as if that fact could escape anyone.

Almost as if in response the ground shook and Musashi tried not to remember that his youngest child and only daughter was out there. She was not supposed to participate in the fighting but, there was no guarantee of her safety. Particularly considering that there were two Jinchuriki out there. The silent minutes seemed to stretch into what felt like hours.

There was an audible grunt from the passageway and he turned to see Roushi the container for the four tails coming down the hall carrying a body. "I hope you didn't damage the terrain too much," Musashi said in a casual tone as the redheaded Jinchuriki stepped into the courtyard.

"There's a new hill but, that was more for feng shui than a tactical necessity," the bearded man said dropping the body of a female onto the ground next to the Iwa Jonin. "She used paper, I used lava. It was a short battle." Turning as if to leave he whispered almost in audibly, "You're daughter collapsed."

Musashi expression faltered for a second as his paternal instincts temporarily overrode his training before it reasserted itself. With his two sons temporarily incapacitated he was the only person who could deliver any medical aid. He was suddenly very grateful to the two Jinchuriki for coming up with such a plan. "Where is your partner," he shouted trying to sound annoyed as Roushi leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

"I am not going to wait around for him."

Turning back to Hanzou the Jonin let some of his concern show hoping it would be interpreted as frustration. "If you excuse me, I'm going to go collect the last body for our gift." He turned without waiting for a response not caring how bad this was making Iwagakure look.

The Tsuchikage had been forced to do this mission in a hurry and without getting the full Advisory Council involved. As a result none of the members of this little group had unquestioning loyalty in Iwagakure. Both of the Jinchuriki had been exiled in reality if not in name and only recently brought into the fold. As for himself he was originally from Kirigakure who had abandoned him.

The only reason he was working for Iwagakure now was simply it was the furthest hidden village away from his previous. In an ideal world he could've abandoned his former life but, without the inherent protection of a village he would always be looking over his shoulder for a Hunter-nin. The only loyalty he had now was to his family and he would not let his youngest die just to cement a treaty.

Rounding the corner he saw his daughter laying on the floor the Five-Tails Jinchuriki kneeling by her side. There were few men that made him uneasy after all he had come from a village where the more ruthless you were the more respect you were given. Cold eyed killers had walked the streets like stray dogs and at one point he had aspired to be like them. If he had seen that in his eyes he would've shrugged it off like dew in the morning but, his were different.

The container for the five tails had eyes like a woman he had once known. Like her a mere glance from him gave him the feeling that you were being vivisected. Any facade before him was pierced like a spotlight into darkness. It was disturbing even if he could read the man almost as easily with his eyes activated. However, what he found even more disturbing was how easily his daughter had struck up a friendship with him on their frantic trip to get here.

Still, even without activating his eyes Musashi could see that he was generally concerned for her. Kneeling on her other side he felt for a pulse and was relieved to find it strong and steady. Her eyes fluttered open and she tried to smile but, was too weak. "How do you feel," he asked trying not to sound concerned.

"Exhausted, it was so hard to hide both of them for so long."

"I think you just over did it again. Have you taken a soldier pill yet?"

She nodded closing her eyes again. "Just before you came."

"All right, you'll be okay."

The tall man's eyes met his and without saying a word he rose towering over the two of them and picked up the last body that he had not noticed in his rush to check his daughter. Before they left he took one last glance at his youngest. Her lavender hair was streaked with black from her mother and she seemed smaller than usual. She was fourteen but, looked twelve and right now in his eyes she looked even younger and more vulnerable.

The two men walked slowly back to the courtyard where the body was dumped next to the other. Musashi spread his arms in a grand almost mocking gesture. "We have brought you the leaders of the rebels and laid their corpses at your feet. Will the great Amekage join us?" The unofficial title seemed to amuse Hanzou which was also the first emotion he had been able to read off of him so far.

"For now, I will agree to aid you."

Nagato slumped in his chair as the extent of his defeat sunk in. A mocking voice came from behind him, "Ahh they'd beat you ugly, didn't they?"

"A setback nothing more," Nagato wheezed.

"You just lost your ability to use the Six Paths of Pain and your most loyal follower. This is just a setback to you?" The voice had dropped the persona of Tobi and his true identity of Madara Uchiha had emerged.

"I will recover. This is just another source of pain."

Madara stepped into the periphery of the other man's line of sight. "No, you won't." He waited for the words to sink in before removing his mask. "Have you figured it out?"

"You warned them I was coming?"

"Don't act surprised. You intended to betray me when the time came. Our alliance only existed because it was beneficial for both of us at the time. The only thing is the situation changed and you didn't realize it."

The mechanical chair turned slowly to face the older man, "And what has changed?"

Flipping his mask over as if he was examining it he answered without looking up, "Three years ago everything looked peaceful but now well war is coming. This means several things. However, the only thing I care about is the Jinchuriki. As they become more important to their villages again we won't be able to grab them without impunity."

"You want to grab them when they're on missions."

"More or less but, the real trick will be making the situation bad enough so the villages will use their trump cards. That won't be easy," without warning Nagato attacked firing one of his Chakra Disruption Blades. Madara moved out of its way with minimum effort, "You were supposed to let me finish." With that said black flames engulfed the chair and occupant in an inferno.

He turned to walk away when he realized he wouldn't be alone for long. A moment later he spoke into the empty air, "Zetsu report."

The half man half plant emerged from the ground in front of him and without preamble said, "Orochimaru is dead."

Placing his mask back on the oldest Uchiha asked, "Who had the privilege?"

"Multiple people but, the final blow was delivered by his former student. Konohagakure has already withdrawn most of its forces from the area leaving only a small contingent to aid in the rebuilding of Otogakure."

The older man had to smile at that, enjoying how some things never seem to change. "I take it that the Nine-Tailed wasn't captured."

"The battle was theirs but, they were tricked into withdrawing." His other personality spoke up for the first time, "If they were tricked then they lost the battle."

Seeking to head off an argument Madara interrupted with one word, "Itachi?"

His spy hesitated for a second before answering, "We believe his mental condition continues to deteriorate faster than his body. He has lost any protective interest in his brother."

The 'we' in that statement was significant Madara told himself. To have both sides of Zetsu's personality agree on such a fine point was unusual and he had known him long enough to put more than the usual amount of stock in his opinion. "That is good. He might prove to be useful yet."

"What are we going to do for a proxy leader?"

"For now I will assume his appearance during meetings and slowly over time reveal myself to the group." He would've preferred to keep at least one layer of separation between himself and the organization of Akatsuki but, some things couldn't be helped.

"What a waste," Zetsu said looking at the still burning corpse.

Madara knew that his companion was not referring to Nagato and the potential he had wasted. He did however choose to take a moment to mourn the loss himself feeling no real animosity towards him. The man could have achieved so much, if only he was able to get over himself. Instead he had chose to be an idealist and like all idealists he left in his wake bodies stacked ten high.

Peace through war was not exactly a novel concept and if he ever bothered to study history he would've seen the inherent flaw in that idea. No, he took that back. He had been too blinded by his own past to ever see beyond it. That ability was something that could only come with time and despite his claim to godhood he had been young. Responding to Zetsu's last comment he answered, "You'll have your fill soon enough."