HIDAN

He sees of vermilion eyes and chocolate hair when he closes his eyes. That's probably the only reason he'd ever indulge his baser instincts. The hooker beneath him, Arabella, her name was, looks a little like vision of a certain minx that haunts him. He supposed Kakuzu had known that upon picking her out.

Kakuzu's good at picking them, he muses. Kisame's bagged himself a blonde babe with Kakuzu's aid, one that looked ready and willing to do whatever's on Kisame's mind. Kakuzu hadn't bothered fetching anyone for Itachi nor Deidera, the pair were far too busy to notice.

Sasori's always an interesting one. The puppeteer had never opted out of the brothel experience despite lack of traditional anatomy and always took on the same pair of rather androgynous blunette's. Kakuzu of course had known this preference and arranged it with the madame.

If Pein or Tobi knew of the brothel trips, Hidan was fairly certain Kakuzu left if off the books that Konan would on the rarest of occasions, indulge herself in the company of the brothels male hosts. Again, it was an expensive buy and he wondered how Kakuzu kept it quiet.

He had no doubt that whomever Kakuzu had was on the house. Not that Kakuzu ever let them see who his woman or man of the night was. The brothel owner was rather thankful when Kakuzu paid for their endeavors. Fair, they paid quite a bit for their lovers. Kakuzu himself never did though. The old miser had likely sampled the entire place already, Hidan mused. Kakuzu damned well had been alive long enough to be on familiar terms with the madame, a former Kiri kunoichi in her 60's, or so he gaged.

Considering the brothel was an illicit business, that somehow lacked any kind of muscle or guards, he was willing to wager a few of its occupants were former shinobi. Kakuzu's Kiri Madame had likely been a missing ninja, if only based on the way her step was completely silent and her Chakra was almost deliberately brought so low even by civilian standards, he doubted even Kakuzu would easily track her. Yet the miser had never turned away such a challenge and said woman had never run, he had to wonder exactly what she'd provided Kakuzu with to have him leave her be.

She was a stern, heavy set woman covered in facial scars and had surely been no great beauty even in her youth. The madame held no qualities that he, himself, found attractive and he'd often felt the miser had bedded her because there was little doubt she'd have been a cheap pick.

Then again, the man was strangely defensive when it came to the madame. Hidan couldn't help but wonder if she had once been more to him then a mere fuck. However, given that she was far from an aesthetically appealing choice he could not help but question the man's taste.

When he'd asked, Kakuzu had clipped him in the head sternly and had cautioned him harshly.

"Beauty is a curse upon our world. It keeps us from seeing who the real monsters are. "

While Hidan couldn't quite disagree with Kakuzu's words, he'd been not too reluctant when the miser selected Arabella.

She was a surprisingly pretty young thing, expensive enough that Hidan wouldn't dare kill her. The brothel owner may just refuse to service the Akatsuki then and he isn't oblivious that would piss of a certain former Kiri swordsman. Even if the owner may humor his murderous tendencies on the problematic ones, girls like Arabella were cash cows. Kakuzu would hate to have the Akatsuki deemed responsible for the demise of such an asset.

So Hidan got to fuck a pretty girl. One he couldn't sacrifice to the long silent Jashin. One that had, at a glance reminded him of her.

Yet, Arabella's eyes are a soft pink and her hair was just a shade too dark a brown. Her body, so close to what he'd imagined hers would look like, wasn't that of a kunoichi. There's no muscle there, nor battle wounds. Arabella's hands are gentle on him as she pleasingly writhes against his body, her traditional wine colored Kimono practically falling of her.

She doesn't have the calloused hands of someone that's spilled blood. It makes him angry and he doesn't bother not taking it out on her, brutality for once not just for Jashin's sake.

For her lack of other qualities, the lacking look-alike bears the burden of his ferocity well. In fact Hidan dares admits, he think she enjoys it. A masochist, Kakuzu had called her when they'd paid the brothel owner.

He couldn't imagine Ayaka ever earning such a label. It disgusts him how poor the imitation is in comparison to the real thing.

But Ayaka is a mere myth at this point. Ayaka is in the wind, a ghost of a girl he thought he knew.

And when it came down to it, Arabella was a convenient lay before the Akatsuki set off to destroy - or save - the world.


TSUNADE

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN HE ISN'T IN THE VILLAGE!?

Contrary to popular belief, Tsunade did not like to raise her voice. Unfortunately, having a chuunin of Danzo's on the loose was beyond careless and Yamato was on the receiving end of her ire.

She had been craftily working around Danzo and the council ever since the Nara incident. Aside from the fact it was a healthy escape from dealing with thoughts of Orochimaru and the daughter they'd had. It wasn't uncalled for either, the ANBU was out of control.

Tsunade was no Sarutobi. When something was broke in the village, she'd fix it. Unfortunately, to fix it she needed time and gather evidence. Waging a war on the shadows is never an easy thing.

Ino's pet project would prove pivotal in deciding whether or not it would be possible to deprogram the shinobi she assumed were in Danzo's command. If root was not disabled, they needed a contingency. Dare she risk a civil war by suddenly offing a portion of the ANBU.

They were a stubborn lot, the ones in TI had already killed themselves in an attempt to prevent them from accessing their thoughts all after seeing a glimpse of the Yamanaka heiress entering the interrogation room, her face set. Ino Yamanaka had not been pleased to say the least. The blonde girl had spat out profanities that someone in the Yamanaka clan was spying in her. Few knew her capabilities in the clan Jutsu were close to her father's. The shinobi wouldn't have offed themselves if they had not known. Even with thier bodies, they were frustratingly enough, nowhere near to identifying them either.

Any documents Shiho had come across were faked, missing or tampered with. The entire cryptology department was under a strict review of all official documents. However given Shikamaru's departure and Shiho busy wedding planing, they were too short staffed to produce quick results.

The entire event had been worrisome. If the Yamanaka and cryptology were compromised, who else was?

Tsunade had been dwelling on it for a while now. ANBU operated on a need to know basis and always had, ever since Tobirama had come up with the notion of special forces.

This left the chain of command sketchy at best. The ANBU heads of departments answered to the Kage and on occasions the village council but each head was the equal of the other. Ergo, they were not equipped to challenge the status quo. Since every ANBU department had a single head, in charge of the team captains and solo operative in their departments, they didn't have to interfere with another unless they borrowed a shinobi from another branch. In addition, each head was required to take on an apprentice upon their 3rd year at the latest. The team captains were responsible for their teams of course. Those teams and the apprentices were responsible for the trainees that came in either via the hunter nin route, or direct recruitment.

The main problem Tsunade had with ANBU was that there wasn't a single person responsible for the entirety of its operations and personnel. Which was probably how this Hawk character had managed to create such a persona there. Nobody knew he should not exist. The departments themselves were so disjoint it wouldn't be difficult to just assume that someone that gave off authority probably had it.

When it came down to it, every faction of the village had a single person in charge. So why had there never been a true ANBU commander?

Considering the village shinobi would be in a state of absolute chaos without Shikaku as lone Jonin commander, she couldn't imagine why Sarutobi had never felt the urge to optimize the ANBU. She was well aware that giving the role to a single person was problematic if that person could be compromised. If Danzo got to them, she'd loose the ANBU in its entirety.

In all honesty, she wanted Yamato to take on the role but he couldn't. The man couldn't word his claims but Tsunade was willing to realize that Danzo had some hold on him that could not be easily removed.

Which would have left her out of options. Until she contemplated Ayaka Nara's situation.

As one of the Hunter Nin programs most successful shinobi, she was a pretty decent all rounder in terms of the shinobi skills the special forces required. In addition she had apprenticed under a head and had been well on her way to that position before Tsunade had pulled her out.

As a Jonin, she didn't really fit the team molds of the existing groupings and Tsunade had no real idea where to place her amongst the ranks. She definitely was not ready to take on Genin, having never even witnessed a chuunin exam nor had the traditional experience in a Team.

Should she become a clan heiress she would dive into politics. Which wasn't really a worry, the girl was good at it on paper. In a position like ANBU commander, such a characteristic would be a necessity.

And the best thing about it all? If Danzo wanted her dead, she wasn't one of his. Fair enough, she'd be throwing a hell of a lot of power the girls way and Shikaku would definitely be pissed but there was really very little reason not to at this point.

Tsunade disliked broken things.

The Leaf would be fixed.

It was only a matter of time.

Now, if only she could give up this damned hat. Yet, alas Kakashi had vanished at the idea of it. She'd not been delirious enough to ask Guy and he was thankfully out of the village. Kurenai had thrown up and Asuma had snorted she should try his nephew. Shikaku had straight up walked out the room with her best sake at the very notion and had dragged the stunned enough to have paused eating Chouza with him. Jiraiya had reversed summoned himself away. Even Shizune had sternly just placed down her paperwork and ignored her. Tonton had been easy to sway but as a non combatant he was not a viable option. Tsume had flat out rejected the idea of paper work. Hiashi had rejected her for the mere reason of being the single parental figure of three rebellious teens. Ebisu fainted and had to be hospitalized. Shibi, by all of Kami's irony, had face palmed and offered her tea instead. Inoichi had politely asked her to allow him to enjoy his medical leave in peace. Anko would have agreed, in Ibiki hadn't pointed out that as a Kage she'd have to dress appropriately. Said Kunoichi was less inclined after that. Ibiki himself declined with slight offense because it was considered unsightly for a Kage to specialize in torture jutsu. Yugao had burst into tears before she could even ask the question. Tenzo had pointed out, once more his invalidity as an option. She'd even brought up the topic to Yoshino, who had coolly responded she was retired.

Danzo of course, followed her around like a Hawk while she searched for a successor. Tsunade could sense him and she was sure he knew it. He wasn't exactly hiding his presence.

Still, he would never make Tsunade's list. The day Danzo was allowed to be a Kage candidate was the day Tsunade herself would allow the village to be obliterated.

It wouldn't happen.


DANZO

He wasn't naive enough to not be aware of the fact Tsunade was up to something. She'd already made several inquiries via the wood style user for one of his younger agents to be apprenticed under said shinobi. While sacrificing Sai would be fine on paper, his unique skill sets would be hard to replicate. Few of Roots agents had the artistic talents to learn such a technique.

Further, Sai was currently on his way to Suna. A fact he needed to hide from Tsunade. He could only hope the boy could actually kill the real Nara heir. Anyone with half a brain cell could see that Shikaku's boy had already given up his title unofficially. Shikaku himself was really not helping things with his challenge to the girl. It would only serve as a platform for the girl to prove herself a better candidate then Shikamaru. The Nara council, as unorthodox as they were, would back her in an instant.

He hoped Sai would have had the foresight in realizing he meant kill spider when he'd assigned the mission via Fu. Root agents, while effective, were like children too. You had to explain most things explicitly and even then he wasn't sure they quite understood.

A dead Shikamaru might prove problematic in the long run. Yet, he supposed he could maybe frame spider for the death if pressed.

Tsunade was being increasingly secretive this week. He'd followed her drunken attempts at finding a successor and almost sighed in relief at the Shinobi declining. At this rate, despite his age, he was certain the blonde would have no choice but to handover the mantle to him at some point.

It was inevitable.


KAKUZU

"You're gray haired friend, he's been in love hasn't he?

He follows the madame to her chambers without answering her. He doesn't need to, the madame of this Teahouse knows all. She's been his go to informant for years. As she leads him to her chambers, they gather a few curious whispers from the brothels girls and he couldn't help but muse they were a hideous sight.

He's not niave. His aesthetics are far from the fetching handsome looks of his youth. Takigure had made a monster out of a boy already scarred by the warring clans era.

The madame's Genjutsu is deliberately grotesque and masterfully done. The illusions of scars, age and obesity do little to deter him, in fact he finds her mastery of Genjutsu refreshingly beautiful.

So when the Genjutsu falls he can't help but be taken with her once more. She's still got the scars, remnants of a battle's with Pakura of Suna and an irate Orochimaru respectively. She wears the evidence that she survived as a warning that she shall not be so easily killed. The Madame would be traumatizing an opponent to face for the average Shinobi. Pakura and Orochimaru were easily S-class. He knew Pakura had been a long time rival of hers so he wasn't surprised the late Sand Kunoichi had left a mark on her. He often wondered what she'd done to earn Orochimaru's wrath years ago, but couldn't quite bring himself to query her affairs.

She's not young anymore, but certainly not in her 60's yet. True, she's pushing 50 but she's still got youth in her step. The life on the run has aged her, and wrinkles are set deep in her skin but otherwise he still thinks she's a sight to behold. Her hairs nearly white true, but all Hozuki bare such traits. Her violet eyes are the only things that haven't changed. They shine defiantly at him.

She's not overweight, but muscled like a Shinobi that has never stopped running. He wonders when, if ever she will realise nobodies looking for her.

The rest of the world thinks this Hozuki is dead. He knows because he's helped it to be so.

It had been a pleasant experience, hunting her down given her talents with genjutsu. More so when she'd taken a glance at him and offered triple her bounty to help him fake her death.

"Onna, I have you managed to figure out who was behind that entry? " He knows his priorities and he will not hesitate in getting the information he needs before they move onto pleasantries. There's an amused crinkle in her eye as the kunoichi roles her eyes at him, and fishes out a piece of parchment from her kimono.

" Neh, Anata, is that the way you greet me?" she mocks as she hands it to him. He doesn't reply, instead pulling her by her extended wrist to join him on a fuuton. She relaxes into him as he scans the page.

Utatane Koharu

Homura Mitokado

It's been many years since Kakuzu has blanched this way but he recognizes these names. Students of the second hokage. His wife glances at him curiously as he reminisces. He strokes her fingers through her hair willing her to be patient with him, as she had been all these years.

Utatane had been a medic and tracker in the first Shinobi war. He'd come across the once attractive brunette on rare occassions. As a fellow tracker, she was bizarrely perceptive and had instincts better than most Shinobi. She wasn't really a front line shinobi, but could put up a fight from a distance if needed.

Homura was a fuinjutsu explosives specialist. While he wasn't the kind of shinobi you'd expect to be a powerhouse, it depended entirely on the prep time the man had been given. His mastery of explosive techniques had decimated squads in their entirety. Kakuzu had lost many a nameless comrade to the Konoha shinobi.

He can't imagine how Ayaka has gotten on the nerves if these two enough they'd want her dead. Yet, if they really were Takigakure's informants the Leaf was more fragile than he had thought.

Perhaps Itachi really would have the easiest job of them all.

He crumpled the paper, now giving his full attention to the woman he's now hyperaware he's alone with. It's been 4 months since they've last met and there's a look of urgency in her still striking gaze he's used to seeing.

They've gotten at least 25 years together now with this brothel charade and he's thankful the Uchiha isn inclined towards the bomber or else they might run into problems explaining her genjutsu.

Kakuzu knows it won't last forever. Time goes on, and he is effectively immortal while she is not. Everyday she ages is another past her prime. Everyday is another day closer to death for her.

Not many shinobi get to grow old together, and he knows it should be a blessing. Yet, she's a former kiri kunoichi that had fled before the purges, long past her prime, in a dangerous profession. They are mostly apart, Kakuzu will not have anyone learning of her as being anything else but a release for his baser side.

He has enemies he cannot protect her from.

Kakuzu knew upon that drunken night in Iwa, when he'd wed her that he was doomed to outliving the then younger, flawless kunoichi. Yet, he was an honorable man, he never did let him self indulge in anyone but his spouse since then.

One day he knew might not find her again. Or not find her alive.

He wonders what Hidan would think if he knew of his situation. Yet, the zealot was a young immortal and much newer to the perils of love. Unlike himself, he does not care to live on. Unlike his wife, Ayaka would most likely comply with Hidan's death wish or attempt to at least.

He pitied the girl's poor luck. Anyone, but Hidan would've been a less psychotic match. While he had once tried to kill his wife for monetary gain, he knew that chapter of his life was well over.

Dare he have to waste energy chasing a Genjutsu mistress down again.

He guessed he was lucky the Hozuki woman he'd taken on years ago, much like how Hidan had Ayaka, was nicer than the brunette. Oh, she's still a monster the Hozuki woman, he doesn't doubt that from his wife. Yet, she's never been one towards him and he's okay with that.

So, they'd taken that Iwa vow. Till death do them part. He had been greedy like that binding her beauty and monstrosity to him for the remainder of her lifespan.

For a part of him always knew it's unlikely to be him to die first. For when last had anyone been as kind a soul as to offer him a death before his beloved? He's far too selfish to use his own hand.

He hopes she shall wait for him in death but then curses himself for condemning her to such a thing. He's quite litterally taken all of her time.

They were shinobi. Little, if nothing, was set in stone. Life was fleeting for thier kind and terrifying when they lived beyond thier prime.

So Kakuzu held his woman as she chatted to him now about the months past with enthusiasm because he did not know if this was the last time to hear her voice, stern as it was. Much like chess, sometimes life ended in a stalemate. Kakuzu could only hope Hidan, for all his idiocity, got what he wanted. The zealot was growing on him.

For to live an immortal life and watch a flower, even one that was carnivorous, wither away was a painful thing. Kakuzu wouldn't wish it upon another soul. One that he himself understood all to well.