Few believed water had ever flowed through Ghost River Canyon. No remnant of civilization or life, beast or man, lined its dusty shore, and despite the blessing of constant rain fall, no plant sprouted within miles of its banks. Finding no readily available scientific explanation, most had concluded that the land was simply cursed and resolved to stay away. However, for those bold enough to brave the superstition, it provided the perfect safe haven.
No wonder the Akatsuki chose this place. Had they not disclosed their location as the rendezvous point for today's meeting, no one would have thought to look for them here. It was the perfect hideout. And after today, it would make an even more perfect grave.
On the ledge far above, Hatsuharu took a break from his work to wipe the mud from his hands and survey the desolate landscape. A half hour before dawn, his father would arrive at any moment.
Sure enough, not long after Hatsuharu's men had planted the last paper bomb beneath the thick muck beneath them, a crowd of dark specters processed into view. In addition to his father's special forces, he discerned a significant number of foreign, masked figures, no doubt Danzo's anbu. In the front, Hanzo towered above them all, his golden eyes glittering and dangerous.
"Are preparations complete?"
"Sir," Hatsuharu affirmed. "They are below the ground upon which you stand."
Kneeling, Hanzo brushed the damp earth until the edge of an explosive tag came into view. "One must always be prepared." He nodded with satisfaction and reburied the paper.
Hatsuharu was that all was going as planned until his ears pricked at the sound of approaching horse hooves signaling his sister's unanticipated arrival.
"Brother," she called once within earshot, "instruct us where to stand. Our men must remain out of the tag's perimeter, should we need them."
Hatsuharu's jaw clenched at the unwelcome sound of his sister's voice. He had not figured Kisa into his equation. This was not the time or place for her. For everyone's sake, it was best that she returned to the city.
Especially his own.
Kisa's eye for justice was far too keen. If she sensed something strange afoot, she would not hesitate to call it to their father's attention. The last thing he needed was for Hanzo to question the execution.
"No one called for the cavalry, sister dear. My lord, given the personal and unpredictable nature of this conflict, I think it best that Kisa return home."
"Thank you for your concern, brother, but I will see justice dealt with my own eyes."
Distracted, Hanzo continued his survey of the premises. "Kisa may stay," he replied, unconcerned.
"And my lord," Danzo emerged from the cluster of his men and bowed, "rest assured, you have my forces should Lady Kisa need protection."
"Your assistance is unnecessary," he responded gruffly. Between himself, his traps, and his men, nothing could go wrong.
Few adversaries had ever warranted this amount of preparation. In the past, he had taken on armies without so much as a second thought. For him, this style execution was overkill. And yet, at the same time, it wasn't enough. Obliterating them a thousand times over would never be enough. Instead, he would have to settle for making their deaths as physically and psychologically painful as possible.
"They are finished."
Dawn approached slowly, reluctant to witness the assembly's dark errand. Only faint glimmers of grey through the charcoal black rainclouds blanketing the sky indicated her inevitable yet unenthusiastic presence. Despite the absence of daylight, the Akatsuki arrived at the appointed hour, alerting Hanzo's sensors with their chakra long before coming into view of the canyon ledge.
"They have arrived, my Lord."
"How many?"
"Two; just as we expected."
"Is that all?" Kisa asked, dismounting from her horse. "I don't understand. Why would they send so few? Could it be a trap?"
"Sister, if you must stay, be quiet and don't interfere," Hatsuharu shushed. "All is going according to plan. Your questions will only distract Father."
Glancing at the three dozen men assembled behind her, Kisa's frown deepened in suspicion. "Why bring so many for a target so small? Can the Akatsuki possibly be that powerful?" Heart quickening, Kisa's hand reached instinctively for the scroll fastened to her belt. Not knowing what to expect, she had spent the last several days preparing the forbidden technique and herself should danger appear. While her mastery over the jutsu was nowhere near complete, she would not hesitate to use it at the first sign of trouble.
"Shh," Hatsuharu silenced her with his index finger. "We'll soon find out." Following the direction of her brother's eyes, she caught the first glimpse of their approaching adversaries.
Meanwhile, in the canyon far below, Yahiko and Nagato lifted their sights to Hanzo in confusion. While Yahiko thought he had followed the messenger's directions, clearly there had been some mistake.
"Nagato, we were told to meet at the base of the canyon, weren't we?"
"That's what I recall. But no worries," he gave his friend's shoulder a reassuring pat. "One swift leap can fix that. Race you to the top?"
"Ha. Only if you want to look like a loser in front of Lord Hanzo."
Yahiko beamed. The Akatsuki was only a small jump away from gaining Hanzo's acceptance and permission to implement their plans for peace through an agreement that would change their lives, Amegakure, and the world forever.
"Good morning, my lord," he called to the shinobi on the ledge above them. "Give us a moment and we will come to you. It appears we were mistaken about the rendezvous point."
Crossing his arms, Hanzo returned their smiles with a furious gaze. No doubt they were laughing at him, believing him to be fooled into welcoming them into his circle after their trickery. Their open contempt made his blood boil.
"There is no mistake," Hanzo barked. "I called you there to remind you of your rightful place. It appears you have forgotten, Yahiko."
Stunned by his harsh tone, the two Akatsuki exchanged a look of surprised concern.
"Lord Hanzo, I don't understand, has the Akatsuki done something to displease you?" Yahiko's mind reeled, his optimism from seconds before now supplanted entirely by alarm and confusion. Recalling all the organization's missions over the past few months, he could think of none that would offend the village head.
"Don't play games with me, boy! You fools don't think I know you're behind the deaths of my men? My wife?! I understand very well what you're doing, establishing yourselves as 'peacekeepers' while conspiring to make me look weak! To take my place! You honestly believe you're capable of defeating me?! I will make you pay dearly for your treason. Guards," he ordered, "bring me the prisoner."
Shock and fear replaced Yahiko's confusion. His mind whirled, struggling to process the weighty accusations thrust upon his organization's shoulders. He had to think quickly to clear up this mistake and to protect himself and Nagato from Hanzo's wrath.
"Lord Hanzo, there has been some terrible mistake. Your men and Lady Shiori, the Akatsuki had nothing to do with any of it! We've been framed, likely by the very person responsible for these tragedies. Please let us work with you to get to the bottom-"
The sight of a familiar head of blue hair made Yahiko's next words die upon his tongue. They had Konan. Bound, she was ushered before Hanzo. Though stories above them, he could clearly see her features contorted with anxiety.
Yahiko's palms began to sweat. Believing her out on patrol, the idea that she could be in harm's way had never crossed his mind. His heart pounded painfully in fear for his friend's safety, and anger that he had failed so miserably to protect her.
"Konan! Please let her go! Let's talk about this!"
"No! Your organization has become a nuisance to me. Yahiko," he said, raising his kunai, "as the leader, you must die. If you try to oppose me, this woman is dead," he threatened, raising the blade to Konan's throat.
Kisa gasped at the brutal display. Her father could be fierce, and he could be ruthless, but she had never seen him vicious. Upon closer inspection, a strange bloodthirstiness similar to that of a caged, abused lion lurked behind his eyes. It made her feel uncertain, afraid the man before her was no longer her father and village head. "Fa-"
"Don't interfere," Hatsuharu gripped her arm, holding her back. "He knows what he's doing."
Biting her tongue and shooting her brother an angry glance, Kisa freed her arm with a violent tug and resigned herself to watch.
Oblivious to all except the Akatsuki shinobi below him, Hanzo threw his kunai into the canon at Nagato's feet. "You, with the red hair," Hanzo directed, "use that to kill Yahiko. If you do that, I'll let you and the woman live." Hanzo's eyes narrowed in amusement at the cruel deception. None of them would survive this encounter. As Yahiko lay dying, he would ensure that the last thing he saw was this woman's death. He only hoped that she meant a fraction to Yahiko as Shiori had meant to him.
Konan wriggled against Hanzo's grip. "Nagato, don't! Forget about me; just run away, both of you!"
Sorry Konan. Yahiko knew better than to believe Hanzo, but he also knew he had no choice. The Rain leader could end Konan's life in a split second. There was no alternative. "Nagato," he resolved, "kill me."
Reeling in shock, his companion began to hyperventilate and regarded him with terror stricken eyes. "Nagato!" Yahiko pleaded. There was no time for hesitation.
"Stop it!" Konan begged, now frantically attempting to free herself from the tyrant's grip. Weak from interrogation and her night in captivity, she was no match for his strength.
"Hurry it up!" Hanzo tightened his grip. "Or will you let this woman die?!"
Though the kunai lay before him in plain sight, Nagato plodded towards it as though blind. He had to think of something. With Konan in Hanzo's clutches and Yahiko resolved to sacrifice himself, he was their last hope. Panic, however, had overridden his brain. By the time he lifted the cool steel in his hands, he was no closer to a solution than before. A lifetime of shinobi training had flown from his mind like dandelions in the breeze.
"Konan?" he gasped between labored breaths, suddenly confused. His chest constricted, causing him to feel dizzy and disoriented to the point where he could no longer recognize the weapon in his hands. Yahiko. Yahiko, help me! "Yahi-"
Nagato was suddenly silenced by Yahiko's sudden impact against him, sending him stumbling backwards until he regained footing enough to support himself and his friend. For a moment, the two stood that way in silence except for their shallow breaths and the heavy pelting of rain around them until a liquid too warm to be mistaken for water trickled across Nagato's hand.
Yahiko smiled at the flawless execution of his suicide. Now assured that his friend's hands would remain clean and Konan's life was no longer in danger, he welcomed oblivion. "Nagato," he whispered into his comrade's ear, "live . . . no matter what it takes, you and Konan . . . you are . . . the savior of this world. I know you can . . . do it . . ."
Blessing bestowed, Yahiko's body slumped to the ground while his spirit soared above.
It wasn't until he heard Konan's piercing shriek that Nagato registered his friend below him, a puddle of blood quickly forming about his body.
Above, Hanzo allowed the woman to fall to her knees, shaking with grief. For a moment, he gazed in satisfaction at the fallen Akatsuki leader, cementing the image in his brain as a source of consolation. Shiori was avenged. Now that he could mourn in peace, all that was left to do was ensure that none remained to mourn his enemy.
"Kill them!"
At his command, his frontline flung a barrage of kunai towards Nagato.
Rage awakened Nagato to reality. The peaceful objective of this meeting long forgotten, he resolved to destroy every last man and woman under Hanzo's control. Deflecting the kunai with a powerful burst of chakra, Nagato took advantage of the shinobi's confusion to act. A swift leap propelled him to the top of the cliff where Konan shrank beside Hanzo.
Prepared for his arrival, Hanzo jumped backwards and lowered his palms to the ground to activate the seals around the two Akatsuki. At the pulse of his chakra, hundreds of cleverly concealed bombs rose from the mud and encircled Nagato's legs as he lifted Konan into his arms. Their target reached, the bombs ignited, illuminating the sky with an angry red glow. Below them, the ground shook and collapsed into the canyon below.
"Did we get him?" Remaining alert, Hanzo strained his eyes through the smoke. As the heavy rain quickly extinguished the flames, he frowned in annoyance at the sight of the redhead far below still in one piece, though badly crippled.
After Nagato lowered her gently to the canyon floor and freed her from her bindings, Konan gasped at the condition of his angry, torn flesh. "Nagato-"
"Konan, stay by Yahiko! Just hang on!" Nagato did not want to be reminded of his injury. Until he had eliminated Hanzo, he could not let it affect him. Ignoring his pain, Nagato turned his undivided attention to Hanzo above.
"Impressive, boy," he called from the smoking ledge. "You escaped even while being hit by my fire release."
Once Hanzo was in sight, Nagato activated his kekkei genkai, causing black rings to ripple around his pupils. The Rinnegan, his mysterious power, was poorly understood even to himself. While he did not know the full extent of its potential, he knew it was their only chance for survival.
Though Hanzo had never seen the legendary kekkei genkai firsthand, he recognized its peculiar appearance instantly. "You! You're no ordinary brat," he realized, his brows raising in alarm. "Those eyes . . ."
Equally alarmed by the Rinnegan's appearance, Danzo signaled his anbu to attack. While ideally Hanzo would also perish during this struggle, he could not allow the Rinnegan wielder to threaten the Leaf Village. For now at least, he and the Rain village head fought against a common threat.
"Kill them!"
As Danzo's forces leapt into the canyon to attack, Nagato struck the earth with his palm. "Kuchiyose Summoning: Gedou Statue!"
Suddenly, a giant hand burst from the ground, striking the oncoming attackers and hurling them into the cliff. Soon after, it was joined by a second hand which braced itself against the surface to pull the remainder of its terrible figure from the depths. Dozens of trunk-like spikes pierced the ground, followed by a gigantesque body which stretched far above the surrounding cliffs. Its face, if it could be called a face, was masked with a white cloth, revealing nothing save for a horrible, fanged mouth. Now birthed from the earth, it produced a newborn cry which rumbled the earth and shook the sky.
"What is that?" In battle, Hanzo had witnessed many summoned creatures, but none so large or alien. For a moment, he was overcome with professional curiosity. Was this the power of the Rinnegan? And regardless, what was it capable of? While part of him admittedly wished to test its strength, he could not chance defeat.
As Hanzo prepared his next move, he observed a metal rod descend form the beast and pierce the Rinnegan wielder's back, draining his chakra and pooling it into the beast's glowing mouth. The more life it stole, the brighter the ball of energy became until it sprouted from the fanged cavity in the form of a serpentine dragon. Snaking up the cliff, it descended upon Hanzo's forces with an otherworldly roar, its very touch ripping his men's souls from their bodies.
Panic erupted throughout the battlefield, as both Amegakure shinobi and anbu retreated from the front line.
"If you touch that thing, you're dead!"
Danzo cursed. Having already lost the bulk of his men to the beast's palm, he had no option but to collect the reminder of his men and retreat quickly. Hanzo would have to duke this one out on his own. Whoever the victor might be, Danzo would contend with them later.
"Anbu!" he ordered. "Fall back!"
Though chaos erupted around him, Hanzo remained planted to the ground, frozen in awe over the beast's strange power. Setting its sights upon him, the monster slithered slowly towards him.
"So you were the leader behind the shadows? I'm surprised that you possess the Rinnegan," he wondered aloud. As the dragon reared up its head to strike, Hanzo waved a sign to retreat, his teleportation technique activating just before what would have been a death blow.
From a safe distance, Hatsuharu and Kisa watched the unfolding events with alarmed concern. "Hatsu, Father's in trouble!"
"Yes, but he's perfectly capable of retreating, as are we." Beads of sweat began to form upon Hatsuharu's brow as he searched for an escape route. The dragon, while focused upon his father, had surrounded their men with its elongated body. "Problem is, until we take out the redhead controlling this thing, there's no safe way out."
Peering over the ledge, Kisa studied the boy at the base of the titan. Clearly, the rods connecting the two were the source of the beast's power. If she wanted to save her father and her people, they had to be broken. Once more, her hand instinctively fell to the scroll at her waist. Its time had come.
"Leave this to me."
Before her brother could protest, Kisa unfastened her whip and launched herself into the canyon. Though the beast's attention was turned totally to her father, its looming form chilled her. Forcing herself to focus through her fear, she mouthed the words she had practiced countless times over the last forty-eight hours.
"Secret Art! Kurai mori no kuroi kokoro!"
Chakra, wispy and black, began to circle her arms as she felt her muscles strengthen with foreign energy. She prayed it would be enough. Because she had not perfected the technique, she could not use it to its full efficacy. To make matters worse, the forbidden art borrowed from lifeforms around her to augment her own, but with no foliage around her, the ground could only lend so much aid.
Her shadow now eclipsing the sinister rods, she poised her whip to strike. The cord landed true, wrapping itself several times around the steel as Kisa landed to the ground and pulled with all her might.
Pain, both from the strain of her exertion and the strange black vapor, seared her arms. Her feet slipping, she struggled to brace herself against the ground as the beams slowly began to bend beneath her might. Though they budged, Kisa soon realized she could not break them before her strength gave out. Already, the darkness of unconsciousness flooded her vision.
"Dammit body," she groaned, "you can do whatever you like once we're through." Even if it cost her life, she would not let up until the scroll her mother risked everything to save rescued them all.
"Mother," she said, gritting her teeth, "this one . . . is for you!"
A final tug sent her flying to the ground, the rods snapping beneath the force of her whip with a sharp clatter. Mission accomplished, relief flooded her shaky and weary limbs as she welcomed the peace of oblivion.