Drowning in Freedom

Chapter 15: So it Begins

A/N: Sorry that this took me so long to post, I was trying to outline some chapters, and on top of that I was trying to study for my GRE and work. So busy, busy on my part. Anyway, hopefully you all like this chapter, its a long one!

PrismRootStarlight: Hahaha per usual I am happy to hear that I am doing my job and taking you on that wild roller coaster. I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised for this new chapter :)

phoenixx313: I am happy to hear that you liked the last chapters! Thank you for your support and you do have a point with the "life is hard," i mean nothing is ever easy or straight forward, especially in the nin-world.

Lena D. Emma: Merci beaucoup d'avoir lu mon histoire et je suis heureuse d'entendre que cela vous a tellement plu J'essaie de mettre à jour chaque semaine, mais je travaille de longues heures et j'étudie pour retourner aux études supérieures, mais ne vous inquiétez pas, cela signifie simplement que j'essaie de me mettre à la place de la publication au lieu de faire autre chose ... En tout cas, le français n'est pas français. une langue que je connais bien et que je traduis pour cela, alors je suis désolée si elle contient des fautes de frappe. Cependant, j'espère que vous aimerez ce prochain chapitre et que j'ai hâte d'entendre ce que vous pensez de cette mise à jour!

silver. wolf. 1155: Heheheehehehehehe I am happy that you liked it! Yes there is more, I just haven't been able to update in a but because of work. Real life got in the way... which sucks! Thank you for the compliment and I am happy you think so highly of this piece. I try to update weekly, and don't worry, there is more to come in regards to Amaya and Kakashi's story :P ANyway, hope you like the update, let me know what you think!

No one makes the first move. Kakuzu and Hidan versus Amaya. No one so much as blinks an eye knowing that any of the tense moments approaching could be the moment that this fight would started. Neither party was stupid enough to assume that the other was weaker than they and instead, it was more about how they each knew that the slightest change or detail could turn the tide to the enemy's favor. Amaya knew that the pair had the upper hand compared to her. Not only was there the fact that there was two of them, but she knew out of the Akatsuki groups, these guys could actually work as a team when they wanted to. Yes, there were their conflicts of interests at times, but Amaya knew that they had been working together for a while.

That time doesn't go to waste. Even if one hates their partner, one learns how to work effectively with them. Hell, what else would they have to lose, they both claimed they were immortal, and immortality comes with its own trials and tribulations. However, that still didn't mean they were about to take Amaya any less seriously. They knew just as well as hers, that immortality was just a word. If anyone could end their life, it easily could be done by Itachi and Kisame's pupil.

"I don't think this will be a fair fight if it is two against one, Hidan," Kakuzu spoke up, trying to put in his two cents but Hidan wasn't going to bite or bait the hook on this one.

"The faceless dragon of Konoha got herself into this situation, she can get herself out," Hidan gripped, not understanding why Kakuzu would want to go easy on the kunoichi in front of them.

Kakuzu doesn't say anything in response, but the conversation was tense. This just made the hair on the back of Amaya's neck stand up straighter. She watched and listened to any sort of movement that would indicate that the pair already had a play going on, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Granted, that was the first thing in school that was taught to budding shinobi. If something seems to be at peace, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

It just made Amaya realize that much more how over the head she was with this fight. She knew that she could never lose focus for one minute, that she had to be on guard for the entirety of this fight. If she did yield her concentration, it would surely mean her head. Amaya's mouth started to go dry. She knew that if it was just her and Kakuzu they could at least have a conversation with each other, talk it out. She may have been able to persuade him with money or someone else that had a higher bounty on their heads. However, he was with Hidan. Hidan was unpredictable, going on about his righteous God, and how he was an apostle that was sent out to follow the path that was laid out for him. Why people killed for religion, Amaya would never know.

Plus, there was also a bubbling rage inside of Amaya that made her glad that Hidan was here. After the shape that he put Asuma in, Amaya was happy that maybe she could even out the playing fields. That maybe, just maybe, if she was lucky enough she could deal out revenge to this man for killing her friend and leaving a child without a father. Amaya didn't have any sympathy or remorse for what was going to happen, and she wasn't going to hold back on the two members in front of her. They sure as hell wouldn't. So, why should she?

Asuma may have had a chance with Ino looking after him, but that chance was slim. Amaya knew that Ino was decent at medical jutsus, but she was no Sakura. Sakura was, for all intensive purposes, Tsunade's pupil, her pride and joy. Amaya always knew that Tsunade treated Sakura hard, but the kunoichi knew that Tsuande did it in a loving way as if she wanted what was best for Sakura. As if it was a mother trying to improve her daughters' skills. However, all in all, Amaya knew better than to hold on for a chance like that. The chance that Asuma made it back alive and well. She wasn't that naïve and she had a deep feeling that the words the two spoke between each other were the last ones she would ever hear from Asuma.

The blue-haired shinobi knew that she should be pessimistic before a fight, nor have any emotions. She should be using this time to clear her mind and get ready for the fight ahead, however, even all that time away from Konoha, it was, to a fault, that she still let her emotions get to her. Going over the finality of the conversation she had with Asuma, it filled Amaya with a sense of purpose, even if it was a dark place of thought. Asuma knew that Amaya had the resolve to die against the two people that were standing in front of her, but still, it made Amaya's heart flutter with unease. Was she really ready to give up on all the what-ifs that could happen if she stayed alive?

Nevertheless, that wasn't the real question she should be asking. The one that she should have been asking all along was that the leader of the Akatsuki had delayed his plans because of her. He had given Hidan and Kakuzu time to deal with her, to dispose of her. Which, begged the question, what threat was so grand that the leader would do that? What issues did he think she was going to cause them if she was allowed to live? Amaya couldn't help but laugh internally. If the leader of the Akatsuki felt stressed having her live out in the open, with freedom, then she could only imagine how Konoha felt with her living inside the village's boarders again.

The kunoichi knew that the village never liked the idea of her being there, but the full force of it didn't hit her until then. The whole thing though, even though the realization was late, there was nothing more that she had to analyze about it. There was no way that she could make them accept her if she got out alive. At least, nothing that she could think of right now. Taking in a deep breath through her nose, Amaya determined that she was the one who was going to have to make the first move here only to realize that she already had. The first move, the first roll of the dice was when she defended Shikamaru on the active battleground. She raised her blade against another member, and now, she was going to have to face the consequences.

Mist started to billow in around them, becoming denser with each passing moment. Alongside that, clouds started to roll in. The atmosphere and weather patterns for the area depressurizing with the mist rolling in from Amaya's technique. The positive pressure that was once a sunny, humid day, quickly turned negative as thunder clouds threatened above. If one breathed in deep enough, the rain could be smelled even though it had yet to fall.

"I hope you know that a little mist and maybe some rain isn't going to help you here much, Amaya… or what does Kisame like to call you… his pet name… yeah… Amaya-chan."

"I would be careful of that mist Hidan. I have fought in it a few times and the hidden mist shinobi use it with fatal accuracy."

"Fatal for them Kakuzu… Fatal for them," Hidan smiled, and started laughing, continuing with his conversation in which, it almost seemed like he was the only one apart of.

Given that, both Amaya and Kakuzu were too busy watching the other instead of trying to have a long drawn out conversation before or during a fight. That is something Amaya never got, how so many shinobi decided to stop and have conversations with each other while they fought. The kunoichi had a feeling that Kakuzu wondered the same exact thing.

"I hope you know, Amaya-chan, that only one little cut will be the only thing I will need to take you down."

For the first time, Amaya finally responded to Hidan, still making sure to be aware of her surroundings, not wanting to take a single misstep that would result in dangerous consequences.

"I am prepared to end it before you even have a chance to cut me with that scythe of yours."

Without missing a beat, Kakuzu cut in, before Hidan had a chance to.

"A man that acknowledges his fate is a dangerous one."

"Kakuzu, you must have taken a hit to the head with the other Konoha nins because Amaya is definitely not a man…"

Kakuzu took a deep breath but didn't return a comment to Hidan. It almost seemed as if the nin knew it would be pointless and counteractive to do so. Instead, he shared a look with Amaya as if he was trying to show her the crap he had to deal with daily. With a tilt of his head, it seemed as if their silent conversation was continuing. Kakuzu gave his appreciation to Amaya for making up her mind about the fight to come, that she was ready to accept any and all outcomes. Amaya gave a slight nod to him back, knowing that even though the man just wanted money, he at least appreciated a strong kunoichi when he saw one.

Amaya chalked Kakuzu's wisdom up to being around on this earth so long. He did walk along the same ground as the first hokage, and even a feat like that, seemed impressive to her. Yes, it was his jutsu that kept him alive and living this long, but nevertheless, it was still impressive. If he wasn't a part of the Akatsuki, she probably would have asked him what the first hokage was like, Amaya did look up to the man after all. Amaya was taking out of her thoughts when a large, threatening thunderclap erupted in the sky—the first one of many to come. The mist started to become thicker, but not as thick as to where it would blind anyone. Just enough to lose concentration or track where someone was.

There was another crack of thunder, this time accompanied by lightning, and with it, the clouds finally unleashed the water they were holding back. Amaya took a sharp inhale and that's when everything started to slow down. It happened in slow motion. Just as the first drop of rain splashed onto the ground. Amaya and Kakuzu took off for each other. Amaya swung her hidden mist blade up and over her head, using both of her hands. She jumped upwards and then brought the mist blade down hard.

Her blade was caught in a block as Kakuzu threw up his arms, Amaya gritted her teeth as she came in contact, expecting to cut into his flesh, but for some reason, there was little to no give. She pushed through it, and with the force she was exerting on the blade and evidently onto Kakuzu, the ground below him started to crumble inwards, almost as if it was creating a crater filled with broken rocks. This didn't stop Kakuzu, and in fact it was almost like he was unfazed that Amaya had this kind of power hidden behind her blade. Instead, he detached his hands from his arms, thick black strands like string coming from his disconnected joints. If Amaya didn't know any better she would have thought that Kakuzu was a puppet master like Sasori, but this jutsu that Kakuzu was using, it was something else entirely.

Maybe the origins stepped from manipulating puppets, but Amaya could see that the jutsu had since been evolved. This evolved jutsu was the reason why Kakuzu had lived so long, and with it, those years and lives that he took for them, gave him the strength of the ghosts from the past that were talked about in mere stories. However, Amaya anticipated that Kakuzu was going to block her blade in the way that he had, and out of the corner of her eyes, she had a feeling with what he was trying to do with his disconnected hands. So, trusting in her gut, Amaya quickly released one of her hands from the hilt of her blade and brought it quickly behind her.

Instantly, without hesitation, as if this was something that came to her as easy as breathing air did, she activated her kekkei genkai and produced a water blade that formed in her hand. As if formed, she pierced one of Kakuzu's hands and he was forced to divert the other one, risking the same fate as the one that had been impaled. Amaya knew that the skin was hardened, but there was nothing that her water couldn't pierce through, it moved quickly because of her third affinity for wind-flavored jutsus, so in that respect there was little that she worried about there.

Amaya didn't stop there, and instead, she didn't waste a single movement. She pressed down on the hilt of her mist blade and changed her trajectory. With the extra power, it was enough for Amaya to have the ability to flip over Kakuzu in mid-air. As she did so, she brought her water blade in, and with a quick slashing movement as she sailed over Kakuzu's head, she was able to cut a few of the black strings that kept his body parts attached, making the rest snap, causing his once impaled hand to fall to the ground. Kakuzu turned his head to see what Amaya was planning on doing after her quick movements were throwing Kakuzu for a loop, especially since he was forced to redirect his one hand, and now, it was him decided if he could take whatever she had planned head on or not.

The kunoichi let her hand with her water blade drag through the air close to Kakuzu's body, as she brought her other one up to her lips, casting hand signs with just one hand. This time, she let out the air she had been holding in sharp, short bursts, and her known jutsu spouted out of her mouth as a few dozen water bullets were headed straight for Kakuzu's head. Kakuzu had a split-second decision to make. Get hit with the water bullets or turn into Amaya's water blade, knowing that it would cut through his hardened skin as if it was butter. Amaya knew that it was impossible for Kakuzu to dodge two things at once, but if she was in the situation he was in, there would be one thing that she would rather take the brunt force of rather than the other, and it seemed like Kakuzu was about to make the same decision.

Kakuzu ducked, and turned slightly sideways, making sure that the water bullets didn't hit him. His skin was touch and most ninjutsu wouldn't work against him, that much was true, but there was something about Amaya that made Kakuzu think that if she had a way to cut him, that she had a way to make her ninjutsu affective against him, and that was a chance he didn't want to take. Amaya watched as Kakuzu winced as her mist blade dragged across his shoulder dragging across his flesh and cutting a deep wound, making both black twine and blood come to surface.

If it was any other occasion, Amaya would have probably stopped and be surprised, but she knew that the twine couldn't be all that was in Kakuzu's body, there had to be some form of life blood in him somewhere. Amaya finished her flip and then pivoted low, making sure that her back wasn't presented to Hidan or Kakuzu for more than less than a second. And reached over, dissolving her water blade and grasping her hidden mist sword instead before it had time to touch the ground. In the same sequence, Amaya retreated a few steps, just out of Kakuzu's reach so he wouldn't be able to grab her.

The sequence between the two happened so fast that the water droplets falling from the sky were being split in midair. It was as if the rain was stilled in the middle of the atmosphere as the two fought each other. The rain was what was slow, not the shinobi fighting on the battle ground. However, as the two stopped moving and looked at each other, the rain seemed to resume its pace, soaking the two nin's. Kakuzu reattached his hands and reached up to his shoulder, holding the cut as if to slow the force of blood. But on closer inspection, Amaya saw that he was stiching himself up with his own black thread.

"What the fuck just happened?" Hidan yelled.

Neither Kakuzu nor Amaya responded to him, and instead, Amaya threw a quick glance his way, making sure that Kakuzu never was lost in her sight. It seemed as if Hidan never moved an inch. His three-bladed scythe was still perched on his shoulders, but now, his evil smile was replaced with a pissed off look.

"I didn't even know that the battle started yet, but I can obviously see that it has. The freaks are always the ones that are too quick for their own good," Hidan said, clearly refrencing not only Amaya, but his partner as well.

It didn't take long after Hidan's comment that he saw what had happened to Kakuzu. The rain and mist decreasing the visibility for everyone. Hidan started to curse at Kakuzu, not beliving his own eyes.

"How the hell have you taken a hit already and she looks like she doesn't even have a speck of dirt on her?"

Kakuzu shrugged the comment off and instead replied with his own.

"It's just a scratch."

The black threads that where being mended by Kakuzu's shoulder started to act erratically as if they were cells that were being repaired. The whole thing was fascinating, that Kakuzu had the ability to do that.

"I want to join in on the fun too, but I can't move as fast as the two of you, so I guess I am just going to have to be the one that takes their time…" Hidan cracks his neck from side to side and then yells towards Kakuzu to "do the usual."

Kakuzu never replied to Hidan, but from where Amaya was standing, it almost looked as if once Hidan said those words, Kakuzu's skin seemed to harden even more. Amaya could see his skin turn a slightly darker shade as if there was now a stronger defensive line over his flesh. However, that was where Amaya made her first mistake, she took her eyes off of Hidan for a split second to notice what Kakuzu was doing. Hidan charged forward at an unbelievable pace, almost as fast as Amaya and Kakuzu's movements earlier. This time, Amaya had barely enough time to block a blow from Hidan with her mist blade as he brought his scythe down, the unmistakable sound of metal against metal ringing in the air around them.

Amaya looked Hidan directly in the eyes, his body obscuring her view of Kakuzu, but something about Hidan made Amaya's skin start crawling and she knew that Kakuzu getting behind her was the least of her worries right now. Hidan had a homicidal look in his eyes and he kept yelling at Amaya. Things that crossed his tongue consisted of telling Amaya that she would be the best sacrifice to his God as of yet. Even better than the two tails that he was able to give his God a taste of.

After his little speech he started laughing as himself and Amaya engaged in a sword dance. Each trying to attack each other with their blade, but both being unsuccessful. Each time the two of them would come close, but by mere millimeters they dodged the swords. Furthermore, things were about to get increasingly worse for Amaya. As Hidan and her moved around the area, the kunoichi was able to catch a few glances towards the other Akatsuki member and she didn't like what she was seeing. Kakuzu stretched, and then, out of nowhere, he loosened his cloak, it exposed his chest and back, but fell so it hung around his waist.

Amaya couldn't help but notice the masks that seemed to be implanted on his body, and she was about to think nothing of it until one started to remove itself and turn into a black-string-like monster containing the same twine-like threads that were in Kakuzu's body. The creature stood next to Kakuzu, unmoving as if it was waiting for his master to command an action from it. Without warning, or maybe even a simple look, the creature turned to where Amaya and Hidan were fighting, and the next thing Amaya saw, made her eyes widen under her mask.

The creature, when it turned, unleashed a powerful wind jutsu from its mouth. Amaya's heart quickened at the sight of the high leveled jutsu coming her way, but Hidan seemed unfazed by it, and didn't bother to even act like he was going to dodge it. Amaya knew, however, that she would have to doge this one. If she didn't, she could kiss her life goodbye right then and there. With only a split second to decide how to escape the wind spiral that was headed her way, she let her muscle memory take over, deciding that thinking would cause issues. She would have to rely on instinct on this one.

Amaya moved her blade in a fraction of a second, interlocking it with Hidan's scythe, and used her weight and momentum to thrust the two blades towards the ground. The kunoichi didn't give Hidan enough time to react to it, and instead, she used her blade as a vaulting pole. With the two handles facing upwards, Amaya hopped onto the back of the mist sword, exposing her back to Hidan as she did so. Amaya let go of her own weapon and ran up the side of it, like she was on a tightrope. Recognition of what Amaya was about to do blossomed on the apostle's face and he screamed, picking up the blades, trying to throw Amaya off balance. It backfired on Hidan. His actions actually gave Amaya the leverage she needed to do a backflip in the air, right over Hidan. Just as she was above him, the wind spiral absorbed Hidan and the two blades, the wind blowing Amaya's hair all around the face of her mask.

Looking down, Amaya could clearly see the dense stream of air just inches away from her face, but she wasn't done yet. With her having an inability to change directions midair, she had the strange notion and feeling to take a kunai out of the pocket that was on her leg. She was happy she had this premonition, because just as she brought the small weapon towards her face to block anything coming at her as a frontal attack, Kakuzu emerged from the spiral. He had used the wind to mask his presence from Amaya, and since Amaya was currently in the air, there was nothing that she could do to change her position as Kakuzu appeared underneath her, just as Hidan once was.

Reaching up, Kakuzu grasped Amaya's collar of her cloak and Amaya instinctively slashed down towards Kakuzu's wrist. However, as she did so, the weapon split into a thousand tiny shards. Amaya's eyes never deceiving her with the fact that Kakuzu did indeed, harden his skin further, making it practically impenetrable to attack and harm. Amaya clasped her hand down on Kakuzu's wrist, following through in the absence of her kunai, but it made no difference. Kakuzu didn't waste the moment. He pulled the kunoichi out of her position and with sheer force of one hand, he threw her, sending her tumbling through the air, his aim towards a large set of trees that would incapacitate the kunoichi if her back hit them at this speed.

Amaya couldn't seem to find the right way up as she spun through the air. Her stomach lifted, and it felt like she was falling, even though in reality it was like her body was making an arch, headed for a very sudden and painful stop. The kunoichi knew that she had to ground herself, and get her sense of direction soon, or else she was going to have to fight with a broken back and ribs. So, forcing her hands into fists and flicking them outwards, Amaya produced two water blades out of her hands. Then, she jutted them outwards, hoping, and bracing herself, that she would make impact with the ground below. As the hit the ground, the water blades cut deep into the soil below, the action finally causing Amaya to reorient herself, even though it felt like she was ripping out her own rotator cuffs as she slowed herself down.

Her blades cut through the soil and Amaya crouched down, her body finally slowly to a halt, just before her back collided with a tree trunk. There were deep, thin trenches in the ground where Amaya used her blades to slow herself down. Collecting her thoughts, Amaya dissipated her water blades and took some deep breaths, trying to regain the nervous oxygen she had expelled in short pants as she went flying.

"This fight is becoming even more of a pain in my ass with you Kakuzu, why the hell did you send that justu after me too!"

However, Hidan's anger was displaced as soon as he looked at Amaya and her disheveled appearance she wore, but Kakuzu stood there unfazed by the whole situation.

"Amaya-chan how can you ever hope to beat us? As you can see, Kakuzu's skin is hardening skill is because he has an affinity for earth style jutsus. You know what is good against your little water tricks, right? Earth, and that's Kakuzu's specialty. Plus, your little games won't work on the likes of me."

Amaya wanted to respond but didn't. She knew that her normal water jutsus weren't going to do much against them anyway. It was honestly just a way to distract them, to see how they moved and functioned as a unit. She knew now was the time to use some tricks she had stashed up her sleeve. Her kekkei genkai wasn't just about the ability to use water jutsus extraordinarily well. That was just a perk. Amaya cocked her head to the side, seeing that Hidan had his own scythe relaxed in one hand, splaying it across his shoulders, while in his other hand, he held her blade. Granted, it seemed that Amaya's mist blade was giving him a bit of difficultly.

Amaya's blade wasn't about to bite or retaliate for being picked up like Kisame's would, but hers had its own tricks besides the blade growing back with the blood from her enemies. That ability was present as Hidan kept the tip of the mist blade on the ground, as if he was relaxing from the strain of holding and moving with it. Most mist blades knew who they belonged too, and they didn't like having to deal with anyone but their master. Therefore, in Amaya's case, her blade became slightly heavier in proportion to a person's body weight. If Amaya gave the blade over to someone, it wouldn't be triggered, but she had lost her blade in battle, so this time, it was different. She knew that when Zabuza was the owner of the blade, it didn't do this, but this little trick, this was something that Kisame had taught her.

If you lose your blade, you lost the fight, you understand Amaya-chan? But, that is to be expected of you since you are so goddamn weak. I really wish you were a better student. You sucked when you were a child and you are even worse now. However, given that I am in a giving mood today and don't have my usual itch to kill you, I'll tell you about something that will help if you ever have to use your blade as a distraction. Because, lets face it, Amaya-chan, you aren't the best with handling a sword since you grew up in that damn fire nation of weaklings. So, use your blade to your advantage. Make them believe you rely on it to do anything of importance. Cast an earth jutsu when it leaves your hands to make it heavier for your opponent to think you are deteriorating your energy and chakra faster than you really are. Take a few hits that won't kill you… and then decimate them all. Never leave any survivors, you got that?

Amaya let her thoughts get the better of her as she snorted at the memory. As much as she hated Kisame, and despised being taught by him and everything he stood for, he did teach her some helpful fighting tips. Even if he wasn't here he was still remembering the conversations she had with him before he tried to behead her. Granted, thanks to Kisame, it was probably why she stood about a three percent chance of coming out on top over the two guys she faced. Without her lessons, rather beatings, she would have been dead already. This wasn't play fighting anymore, both parties were serious now, both parties wanted blood.

"Who said that this was the only trick up my sleeve?" Amaya smiled, knowing that Hidan couldn't see it but he could hear it in her voice.

The two men watched as Amaya was there one minute, and by the time they completed a single blink, she was gone from view. By the time their brains computed that she was gone, Amaya was already next to them, crouched low. She had blue streamlines coming from the corner of her eyes as Hidan and Kakuzu shifted their gaze downwards, trying to stumble backwards after being caught off guard. Quickly, Amaya brought her index finger and thumb towards her mouth, almost as if she was about to cast the same water bullet jutsu, but instead, casted the hand signs for a completely different jutsu. As she completed them, she closed her index finger to her thumb and blew air out of her mouth, biting down on it.

The friction that was caused as her teeth clashed together, ignited it. Kakuzu and Hidan were instantly engulfed by flames from a huge fire ball, unable to dodge with the fire being at such a close range. Without thinking about it, Hidan released Amaya's mist blade. As it fell, Amaya broke her own jutsu and pushed herself down on the ground, sliding under the flames and through Hidan's legs, catching the hilt of her blade as it fell towards her hand. Fixing her grip so it was secure, Amaya used one hand, pushing plenty of chakra through her hand so she could lift her blade, she swung it upwards while rolling sideways. Amaya watched as the blade made its mark: Hidan's torso.

Like the fire ball, he wasn't able to dodge it in time, therefore, Amaya's blade ran cleanly through his waist, just above his hip. The whole length of the blade slid through Hidan, causing the cut to deepen. Hidan screamed out in pain. Even though the man was immortal, didn't mean that he was impervious to pain. As she came to a halt from sliding on the ground, blood spirted out of Hidan's wound and it splashed against Amaya's mask, running down the sides of the ceramic, dripping on the moist ground. The bright blood instantly turned dark as the rain diluted the liquid into the ground below, leaving only a dark colored stain.

Amaya pulled her blade back wards her, scrambling to rise to her two feet, as she put distance between her and the two Akatsuki members. Steam radiated off Hidan and Kakuzu. The mix of the rain and the fire causing the vaporization. Hidan buckled to the ground coughing up more blood.

"You bitch… you're going to pay for this…"

The kunoichi didn't respond, and just placed her other hand on the hilt of her blade, pushing the weapon in front of her in case either of the two men opposite her decided to charge. But that didn't happen. Instead, Kakuzu extended a helping hand to his partner. Kakuzu placed his hand on Hidan's shoulder and the black string escaped from his wrist and made its way down to Hidan's waist. Amaya was right, those twine-looking things do stitch them together, and she watched as the twine sew Hidan's body back together.

"Dammit Kakuzu, you're making this sting like a bitch!"

"The Konoha nins really are getting the better of you today, Hidan."

"Shut the hell up Kakuzu, what do you know?"

Kakuzu finished patching up Hidan, and this time, instead of Hidan outright saying anything, he smiled at Amaya, and brushed his hand against his wound. He coated his hand with his own blood and then brought it to his mouth, tasting the iron filled liquid. Then, Hidan, without breaking eye contact with Amaya, and extending his smile even further, he drew a circle on the ground, just for her.

"Kakuzu… she is going to make one hell of a sacrifice…"

Amaya gripped her blade harder. Not because Hidan had just indirectly threatened her, but due to the fact that Kakuzu's back started to morph again, another one of the creatures making an escape from his back. Hidan looked over to Kakuzu, knowing that was where Amaya's attention had been drawn too, and he started to laugh.

"This is going to be a fun time now, Amaya-chan. You wanna know why? I'm gonna tell you why… Kakuzu is gonna beat you at your own damn game!"

The wind creature backed up, giving space to the one that just emerged. That was when Amaya got her first good look at the mask this creature wore. It held the same mask that the first generation of the black ops instilled in the hidden mist. Amaya gritted her teeth, hoping what she was thinking, wasn't correct.

"How long has it been since you have had to replace that mask… that heart?"

"I haven't replaced this one in a very long time."

As if the creature that just emerged was a pet cat, it brushed up against Kakuzu's arm waiting for direction just like the wind creature had. Amaya knew better than that this time. She wasn't going to fall for another trap. Hidan was out for her blood and Kakuzu was going to make sure that there was no room for error. Amaya had spend a lot of time crafting the elements around her, with the rain and mist to help her since she was outnumbered, but now, with the release of this second creature with presumed water jutsu abilities, she knew that Hidan and Kakuzu had the significant upper hand compared to her.

Knowing that her chances weren't good, Amaya swallowed and then rushed back into battle, ready to try and cause some damage to the two foes opposing her. She knew that it wasn't the best strategy, especially since now she was at such a disadvantage, but Amaya wasn't the type to sit back and wait. Like Mizuchi said, it was time to get off her ass and act. Amaya decided that instead of going after Hidan and Kakuzu directly, she should take care of the creatures instead. That way, she would only have two, not four plus more to deal with.

However, Hidan had other ideas. He sidestepped, catching Amaya at her side as she passed him, and he was able to snake his blade around her hips. Amaya was able to counteract this action and shift into the turn of the scythe's blades.

"I'm not going to let you run around here and let you do everything you want to do, I'm not going to let it be that easy."

Holding her tongue, Amaya didn't respond, and this angered Hidan. He knew that his words were having little to no affect on her mental state, and that was the game he liked to play when he went up against enemies. The kunoichi knew that she was giving Hidan a piece of his own medicine and while he was distracted, she figured that she should use it to her advantage. A weak point on Hidan would be to cut off his head, that way his body wouldn't work and she could just deal with Kakuzu and his creatures. Plus, she needed all the time she could get with Kakuzu, because she was sure that the only way to bring that man down was to kill all of his creatures and then he himself. She had already used a lot of chakra, so now, it was time for her to dig deep.

Struggling against Hidan, and not escaping as easily as she thought she could, Hidan keeps her full attention. Amaya's plan of dealing with Kakuzu fading. Amaya is able to get out of being on the inside of Hidan's scythe and the two of them engage each other in a fury of attacks. Amaya paying full attention to each move knowing that one false step and Hidan would strike her with his weapon. However, Amaya heard it before she saw it. A rush of water, just as powerful as the wind jutsu came hurdling towards her. This time it seemed as if it was a jet blast trying to power wash paint away.

That's when the kunoichi realized that this was the plan all along for her opponents. Hidan's job was to make sure that she stayed busy to buy Kakuzu's creature enough time to get into position and release it's jutsu. Hidan gave Amaya one last smile, retreated backwards instead of trying to strike her down there, and that was the last thing Amaya saw before getting swept up into the water jet. There was nothing else she could have done but take the jutsu head on. Disregarding Hidan, Amaya thrusted her mist balde into the ground, and turned it sideways. She spread her lets out to keep her balance. Then, she wove some hand signs. Slamming them down on her blade, screaming, calling out for a water wall.

Amaya braced herself as the creature's water jet hit the wall she constructed. But this time, Amaya was out of luck. Hidan retreated only to pull the same trick that Kakuzu did. Hidan hitched a ride on the water jet. He gave her crazy, evil eyes and she knew that the last-minute wall she constructed wouldn't be enough to also combated Hidan striking it. Hidan swung his scythe backwards and brought it down over Amaya's head. She tried to get away, abandoning her post behind her blade but it was too late. Hidan's weapon came down and, in the process, it caught the side of Amaya's mask, cutting through it.

The mask split and fell off, revealing that Hidan cut Amaya across the cheek with the action. For the first time that fight, Amaya was mask-less, her expression exposed. But, Amaya's shocked, slightly angered face, turned into one that held a smile, just as Hidan was about to lick Amaya's blood off of one of the blades from his scythe. Hidan and Amaya exchanged a look, no words needed. It seemed as if Amaya was telling HIdan thank you. Thank you for falling right into her own trap.

Hidan didn't catch on, he just thought that the kunoichi had finally gone crazy, but as Amaya reached towards the cut with her thumb, trying to brush away the blood, Kakuzu yelled at Hidan.

"Get the hell away from her!"

"What the hell are you talking about old man? I have her blood for the ritual, she isn't going to get out of this one—"

Kakuzu ignored Hidan and started running towards his partner instead, knowing that Hidan was too stupid at the moment to catch on what was happening. Amaya started to rise to her feet, but just as she caught her balance and planted her footing, Kakuzu was there. With is hardened foot, he kicked Amaya in the stomach, sending her flying backwards into the set of trees that he had originally sent her flying towards. This time, however, Amaya didn't bother with the water blades. Instead, the flight was short, and there was no time to react.

Amaya hit the tree truck hard. Taking in a breath, the air was knocked out of her lungs, and she was left gasping for breath. When she finally got some air into her lungs, that just caused her to start coughing, which led to her coughing up blood. She was sure that she had multiple rib fractures now, and she shifted slightly, her back screaming out in protest against her. Hidan and Kakusu stood there for a moment, seeing Amaya unmoving besides her convulsions of hacking up blood.

"Well, that was anticlimactic, don't you think?"

"Shut the hell up Hidan. This fight is just getting started. I just can't believe I didn't notice it until now."

"She is just bluffing, Kakuzu. I have no idea what has got you all worked up. Look at her, she is a mess."

Kakuzu wouldn't respond to Hidan's comment which lead to the blond thinking that maybe there really more to this kunoichi than what met the eye. Just as the thought crossed his mind, that's when Hidan felt the air change around him. Turning his head to look at Kakuzu, to ask why the hell the wind was picking up suddenly, he saw a few beads of sweat start to form on his partner's temple, as if he was getting deeply stressed and worried about something. Hidan didn't know what was up with his partner, so he returned his attention back onto Amaya, who he was starting to get bored with. However, as he made eye contact with him, it felt like his heart had stopped, his air escaped him as his feet stilled, unable to move from the spot they were planted in.

The two felt like they couldn't move, that all they could do was watch Amaya take her time standing up as wisps of neon blue chakra floated around her, pooling off into the atmosphere as if the chakra belonged to nature's own energy. Amaya braced herself against the tree and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Even though it was hard for her to breath, she smiled.

"Kakuzu is right, this fight has just started."

Amaya reached down towards her torso and undid her Akatsuki robe, letting it fall to the ground at her feet. She pushed off the tree truck and stepped over the piece of clothing. All the while, neon blue chakra kept floating off of her as it illuminated her eyes. Amaya outstretched her arms and watched as the chakra spilled off her skin before looking at the two members.

"You know, for the longest time I didn't know what the deal was with my kekkei genkai. It always seemed as if I could never master it… but when I thought I finally did… again I thought I just had access to a powerful summons… but again that wasn't the full truth…"

Amaya paused her one-sided conversation, and instead she wiped her thumb across her cheek, and placed her thumb coated in her own blood, in the center of the opposite palm. Then, she slammed her hand onto the ground. Instantly, Amaya was consumed in smoke. Hidan and Kakuzu held their breath, only to be greeted by the sound of an ear-piercing roar. When the smoke clears, Hidan and Kakuzu look to see that Amaya's summons was circling her in a proactive manner, where she stood in the ground in the middle of where the summons was circling around her.

"I would like the two of you to meet Mizuchi, the legendary water deity—"

"Is that what had you so worked up? That she had a dragon for a summons?" Hidan broke out of his trace, directing his displeasure at Kakuzu, interrupting Amaya in the process.

Hidan doesn't wait for an answer and is about to take a step to launch into an attack, but Kakuzu outstretches his hand, keeping Hidan right where he stood. Hidan glanced over at Kakuzu and the other man seemed to be in complete awe with what he was seeing in front of him. Kakuzu seemed worse than a kid on Christmas morning, but even through his fascination, he was able to talk.

"I thought you all were just a myth, that your kind died out a long time ago…"

"What the hell are you talking about old man?" Hidan said, exasperatedly.

Kakuzu ignored Hidan and continued to address Amaya instead.

"You're the last one aren't you? Out of all of them… you're it. I battled one like you around the time when I came toe to toe with the first hokage… but I always thought… I always thought the gene pool dies out after everyone started hunting them down…"

"Okay, now I'm confused and mad. What the fuck is going on?"

Finally, Kakuzu returned his attention to Hidan, indirectly answering his question.

"Enjoy this battle, Hidan. You'll never find another one like this again. There is a reason why she is so in tune with her surroundings, why she keeps barely getting out of harm's way, why genjutsu doesn't affect her in the same way it would us…"

"I'm starting to get sick of these riddles Kakuzu. What the hell is she, and when did genjustu have anything to do with this?"

"Genjutsu gives the user the ability to distort the nature around them… but when you can't fall for it… can't fall for the distortion of nature… it doesn't work. Simply put, she is mother's nature's last piece of grace—"

"More like her bitch, but—"

"She is the last soldier mother nature sent to us to make sure we don't destroy her work—"

"Amaya-chan you're old as fuck aren't you?"

Amaya was about to say something, but Kakuzu beat her to it.

"No she isn't. Her kekkei genkai is passed down from generation to generation, being extremely selective of the woman the power goes to… making in this case… Amaya the very last one to hold a power of this sort."

"It sounds like you are making a big deal out of nothing Kakuzu. So what? Her kekkei genkai gave her a fancy jutsu, it isn't anything we haven't dealt with before."

"No. It's more than that Hidan. You are about to fight the very last protector of nature. That neon blue chakra she has, it is the purest form of sage jutsu there is, and with her affinity for certain jutsus… she is the last maiden… the maiden of spring."