Chapt.36- Despair
(Tobi's P.O.V)
(2 Days later)
I awaited Zetsu's report to see if Shigure had indeed proven capable of retrieving the Sanbi alone. I had my doubts he might not pull it off, but I knew he had the power to do it. If the rumors were true about Danzo being dismembered, and missing body parts it was most likely Shigure took his power in some way.
I waited in the dimly lit room, and Zetsu slowly rose from the ground.
" Good, you're here. So did he capture the Sanbi?" I asked
" Yes, and he managed to defeat a decent amount of opponents along the way." Zetsu replied.
" Who was there?" I asked again.
" Leaf shinobi were there along with Orochimaru's forces looking to use the Sanbi, but Shigure defeated both groups and sealed the Sanbi into a scroll, which I have here." Zetsu informed as he handed me the scroll.
" Interesting. I'm pleased to know this. Who did he fight, and what skills did he exhibit?" I inquired while not letting my curiosity seep through.
"He defeated Kakashi of the Sharingan and a group of genin with one other jonin, and he defeated 5 of Orochimaru's top subjects." Zetsu replied while slightly bickering with himself to determine which part talks.
" That's quite impressive for a single night, now, what were his abilities?" I asked again.
" He had some strange techniques. He used some water transportation technique, similar to time-space ninjutsu, but through water and with water clones. Also he is a master in using a special juinjutsu that increases his chakra, speed, and strength. I'm still in the dark about how he uses it. Next, he does possess very elite genjutsu, and get this, he has the sharingan." Zetsu said with a pause.
" That is quite interesting…continue." I said as I pondered to myself as to how a non-Uchiha had gotten his hands on two sharingan, and then I remembered Danzo.
" The techniques he used were quite advanced from what I could see, rivaling Itachi's genjutsu for that matter. At first he put down all the leaf shinobi down except Kakashi with a single genjutsu. The other still puzzles me to how he lived it. He used a genjutsu featuring the death god hand signs, which he used to dismantle Orochimaru's men." Zetsu said confidently.
" Any ideas?" I asked with some intrigue.
Nobody has ever survived using the death god in any jutsu, and him to use it and seal away the Sanbi was something else. There is much more to this man.
" No ideas really. After all the fighting he was extremely fatigued and in obvious physical pain. He is at our waterfall country hideout currently resting. He could hardly walk after using all that chakra." Zetsu finished.
" Good work. It seems he does have a limit after all. I'll have him paired back up with Deidara, and have you work with me more later on." I stated with Zetsu bowing.
" Of course, since you're the leader." Zetsu quietly said as he disappeared into the ground.
(Tsunade's P.O.V)
I was expecting Shizune and Kakashi's team to be back any time now. Just as I was about to get up and retrieve some sake for myself, they walk into the room. Perfect.
" So did you seal the three-tails?" I asked quickly.
Shizune flinched slightly at my hastiness and replied, " Unfortunately no my lady. We encountered the akatsuki and Orochimaru's henchmen also trying to get the Sanbi, and failed to get it."
" What's its status?" I shouted with a bit of panic.
" We believe the Sanbi is in the possession of akatsuki member, Shigure Hyuga. We searched the area and found Orochimaru's men dead, and the Sanbi gone." Kakashi added in.
" So your telling me Shigure is in the akatsuki, and got the Sanbi from you?" I yelled trying to be dramatic since he didn't know the real mission.
" I fought him and was defeated. The only reason I'm alive is because he was in a hurry to get the Sanbi I believe. He demonstrated power I've never seen before, including the sharingan, which he now has." Kakashi bluntly replied.
" Now makes sense to why Danzo's head was never found…" I muttered to myself.
"What will we do?" Shizune interrupted.
" We'll add him to the bingo book, and go from there. Right now there is nothing else we can do. You're excused Kakashi." I declared as he bowed, than walked out of my office and closing the door.
I sat back down into my chair and ran my fingers through my blond hair. I sighed and looked to Shizune, who just had a blank look on her face.
" Do you think this plan will work out?" I asked sincerely to Shizune.
" I sure hope so. My only worry is the genin who encountered him during the mission. Naruto is distraught as well as the Hyuga household. He is now even more of a pariah of the village than he ever was." Shizune grimly stated.
" Well, he said he knew what he was getting into, let's just hope he's right. Now get me some damn sake." I snapped at Shizune who moved quickly out of the office.
(Naruto's P.O.V)
I was still in shock about the whole mission. I still couldn't comprehend that Shigure was with the enemies that wanted to kill me. I always knew he wasn't generally a great person, but never coherently bad. It didn't make sense to me, which made me angrier than ever. I remember when Sasuke had left to further his power, but at least he had a motive. I couldn't figure out Shigure's reasoning, and it hurt me even more on how he wouldn't even fight me seriously. He tossed me away like some silly little kid. I'm convinced he is a heartless monster who only does what he wants without taking in account his friends or teammates. I'm convinced he's the lowest of scum, and I will kill him. Not for joining the akatsuki, but for turning his back on what he worked so hard to rebuild in his life, and for destroying our bond.
I went to my apartment and almost cried and threw up at the same time, since I was holding it all in during the way back from the mission. I remember those cold, dark, and evil eyes staring at us. They weren't his eyes; they had a different look to them, like some kind of arrogant self-righteousness that slightly reminded me of when I saw Itachi's eyes, like they had an actual purpose. I would need to find Sasuke faster, and become even stronger to defend my friends from the likes of people like Shigure.
I even talked to Granny about the ordeal, but she blew it off in my face with some regular generic bullshit. Thanks to advanced training, I could deduct when people were lying sometimes, and something with her didn't sit right. I feel betrayed and left out in the dark.
(Shigure's P.O.V)
Lying down on the hard makeshift bed hurt like a bitch. Using my new eyes so extensively so soon caused me a great deal of pain to go along with my chakra exhaustion and seal overuse. I also used the Death God Illusion technique, which felt like you spirit was being ripped apart, so I feel shitty on the outside and inside. As long as I rest I should be back on my feet in a day or two.
What pained me though was exposing my cover to Naruto. He looked so hurt when he saw me there in the akatsuki cloak; I almost lost my cool for a second. I couldn't have fought him seriously in that environment, so I spared his life. I knew my mission was top priority, which I would not fail. If destroying the bonds I made with Naruto means saving everyone from an unspeakable fate, I will do what I need to do. It's whom I am and what I've been born to do. I could assume he probably he wants to end my life, and all I can hope is he becomes stronger out of it, and can achieve his dreams along with the ones I left behind.
On a different note, the akatsuki weren't giving me much information at this point. Pein seemed quite pleased I did the mission by myself so effectively, and I couldn't be happier to win over the leader. I now had their trust, so learning the insides and out was coming soon.
I sat up slowly and made my way out of my small room and down the hallway to the beat up kitchen to grab a bottle of sake. These hideouts could have been chosen at much cozier places. As I grabbed a bottle from the cold box, I turned around to see Tobi at the other end of the kitchen sitting on the kitchen table. How the hell did he get in without me noticing?
" Hey Tobi, what are you doing here?" I inquired with a stern tone.
" I think it's time we had a talk." Tobi said in a much deeper and serious tone than usual.
" What kind of talk?" I said as I furrowed my eyebrows.
" It's about your role here. I am the true leader of this organization, and none other than Madara Uchiha, but you still may call me Tobi if you wish." Tobi said in a dead serious tone, which held a lot of weight.
I blinked a few times just trying to comprehend what information I had been given. Madara Uchiha was alive? I looked at the hole in his mask and saw a sharingan look back at me. I didn't believe he was lying; yet I was still quite skeptical.
" Is that so. I heard he died a long time ago, and what are your true intentions since Pein isn't the leader." I shot back at the mystery man.
" Glad you asked. I am quite old indeed, a shell of my former self. That's why I formed the akatsuki to help me obtain my goal. My goal is to collect all the tailed beasts and use them to create peace. You will get anything in return you can think of for helping me achieve this." Tobi stated, and I could swear he was smirking under that dumb mask.
" Fair enough I'm in. What's this called anyway?" I asked the strange man.
" It is my eye of the moon plan. With the power of the Bijuu, I will use my sharingan to create a genjutsu to spread universal peace across the land. Your choices were to accept helping me, or die here. Glad you chose the best answer." Tobi arrogantly replied in his deep ominous voice.
" So what will I do next them?" I questioned.
" First, get some rest. After that you'll be with Deidara. I'll brief you then." He said then disappeared into a vortex with his open eyes as the focal point.
" No shit..." I mumbled to myself.
I had just gotten into some deep shit just now. I had figured out Madara Uchiha was alive and well, and that he would be assembling all of this power. Good thing I could play off the power hungry maniac well, or I might not have lasted this long.
I hope you liked this chapter of the aftermath. Making the emotional feedback was quite difficult, so I hope I didn't screw it up or anything!