Original Publish Date: 5th-November-2016
A/N: This one goes out to IndianaJohhney, for his unique take on my story title. Cheers buddy!
Chapter 26 – Papercut
Everybody has a face that they hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face that watches every time they lie
A face that laughs every time they fall
(It watches everything)
So you know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is watching you too
Right inside your skin
- Papercut, Linkin Park
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
The nightmare came frequently now.
It sang a deceptively sweet melody of death and decay, rot and filth, madness and perversion…
…bathing in blood, drowning in screams…
…fear, terror, pain…
…the pain…
Mustn't forget the all-consuming pain.
For everything that lives, dies.
And everything that dies, does so in pain.
And the Smiling Being of Pain reveled in their pain…
…their suffering…
…was life truly a gift, if it was followed by falling into the clutches of pain?
The dreamer didn't know.
The dreamer didn't care to find out.
All the dreamer could do was cling to life…
…like a child clung to its mother's bosom, hoping to avoid the pain…
…but like every mother failed to protect her child…
…the dreamer's attempt was doomed from the start…
…for there is no running, no hiding…
…when Death itself is your hunter…
…singing its grotesque lullaby, hounding you…
…torturing you with vision after vision of blank oblivion…
…those who thought oblivion was sweet knew nothing…
…it was almost worth thinking about, letting yourself die, just to escape the relentless pursuit…
…deathly singing, visions of maggots tearing into rotting flesh…
…but hopelessness, true hopelessness, is understanding that your only way out…
…is to fall into the very trap you're trying to escape…
…hopelessness is accepting that your salvation is your damnation…
…and that they lie in the same place…
Death's
Gaping
MAW!
Once more, the dreamer awoke violently, coughing and gasping. Once more, the dreamer waved away the protests of their caretakers, and hoped that they could get through the day without anyone noticing that there was something terribly, grotesquely wrong with them.
Once more, the dreamer hoped that they could get through the day without reacting to the fact that they could see when the person in front of them was going to die.
Konoha Mission Room
Plebeians.
She could barely contain her disgust at being surrounded by them.
They were strong, yes, but they didn't understand power.
They could walk on walls, but they couldn't produce wealth from the earth.
They could breathe fire, but they couldn't farm to feed a nation.
They could kill a king, but they couldn't run a country in his place.
They were merchants of death, and dealing out death was all they were good for. But once the bandits were dead, once the threats to the nation were neutralized, what good were they for?
It was like her husband said, 'If the only tool you have is a hammer, then you treat everything like a nail.'
The analogy fit shinobi like a glove.
And she was their political prisoner.
It was a necessary precaution enforcing a stalemate, one which ensured that the Daimyō never openly acted against the shinobi village; while simultaneously leaving them heavily dependent on the Royal Family for the influx of wealth, goods and food.
She could barely stop her lip from curling in disgust. But such was the reality of her situation.
That didn't mean she was helpless; far from it.
Shinobi prided themselves on deception and guessing the motives of others.
She would play their game… and beat them at it.
Her efforts had already borne fruit: two years ago, she had convinced the son of the Sandaime Hokage to leave the village and join her husband's guard. It wasn't even hard; all she had to do was play on the tension between father and son, and offer the young man a different option - seemingly made in good faith. And full of the impetuousness of youth, the younger Sarutobi had accepted the offer.
It had been a major political victory, one that left the venerable Sarutobi with a lot of egg on his face.
But that time was over; and the younger Sarutobi was already back in the village, training the next young generation of merciless killers.
It was up to her to repeat her previous success.
And this time, she would target them even younger.
After all, shinobi started training their little murderers when they were barely out of their diapers; and she would be remiss in her duties if she didn't sink her own claws into them from a similar age.
She smiled as she delivered a calculated insult to the Sandaime Hokage in the form of a paltry D-rank mission. Shinobi villages were financially beholden to their Daimyō, and it wouldn't do to ever let them forget it. Sarutobi grudgingly accepted her mission request, his steel grey eyes fully comprehending the insult he had just been delivered, but unable to do anything except grin and bear it.
He sent out a newly minted team of bright young monsters, and they returned a few hours later with their target captured safely.
"Oh! Tora-chan!" Madam Shinji cried happily as she 'lovingly' squashed her pet cat against her bosom, all but ensuring that it would escape at the first opportunity.
Her seemingly vapid smile widened as she saw the orange-clad son of the Yondaime Hokage openly glower at the cat, one of his whiskered cheeks looking like a board of tic-tac-toe due to her cat scratching him across it. No doubt he was delighting in the cat's suffering, thinking it deserved a 'stupid' owner like Madam Shinji.
She had ensured that the younger generation would now have exactly the opinion of the nobility that she wanted them to have; and she had done it in front of the Hokage, no less.
As she walked away from the Konoha Mission Room, her vapid smile belying the vicious glint in her eye, Madam Shinji reflected that Team 7 weren't the only ones who had just successfully completed a mission.
Akatsuki Base, Amegakure: Komatsu Sayuri
Sayuri smiled at her ailing husband, but he knew her well enough to see through the facade.
"It doesn't look good, does it?" Shiba rasped, coughing as he did so.
"Not right now… but the doctors are working on a cure! They'll find one soon! I'm sure of it!" Sayuri babbled, trying to keep up her husband's spirits.
The civilian smiled at the Genjutsu weaving Akatsuki member, but there wasn't any fooling him. He knew her too well. Barring a miracle, the sickness would take his life.
After a few more minutes of conversation, the husband and wife parted; Sayuri was an active Akatsuki member, and she couldn't spend all her time watching her husband slowly die on a hospital bed.
As she walked out of the room her fake smile fell from her face, and a forlorn expression took it's place. She made her way to the top of the tower, hoping to speak with her God.
But she found his Angel instead.
Hesitantly, she asked Konan, "Is… is Kami-sama here?"
Konan shook her head. "No." Then she tilted her head at the other female member of Akatsuki, her amber eyes glinting. "I know why you're here."
Sayuri's lip trembled. "I… wanted to ask… to beg him… if he could possibly consider…"
But Konan was already shaking her head. "No," Konan said gently. "His revival technique can heal wounds. It cannot cure diseases."
Konan lied.
She didn't like Komatsu Sayuri.
It wouldn't matter even if she did, under no circumstances would she let Pein put himself through the strain of another Rinne Tensei no Jutsu (Saṃsāra of Heavenly Life Technique). His body wouldn't be able to handle it; even though his ego would push him to try it.
Sayuri silently burst into tears.
Barely having control of her voice, she stammered out, "I think… Shiba's sickness… it's Orochimaru's doing. He said something… before he left. Don't worry!" she blurted out when she saw Konan's expression darkening. "I won't betray Kami-sama; not after what he did for me, for us. But please," Sayuri fell to her knees, "If we can find Orochimaru, if we search for him…"
Konan's expression softened as Sayuri's voice trailed off. "I'll ask Him, but I think we can include searching for Orochimaru on our agenda. The snake has betrayed us, after all."
Sayuri sniffled, "Thank you! A thousand times, thank you."
Konan smiled at the ugly woman, whose countenance had truly turned hideous with a blotchy face and red eyes. Combined with her spindly arms and rotund belly, Komatsu Sayuri looked even more like a half-blind spider than she usually did.
Konan allowed her disgusted expression to finally show once the vile-looking woman finally retreated from her view.
Konan didn't understand what Pein saw in her.
Otogakure: Orochimaru
Orochimaru stared as the candle flickered, before the flame finally winked out of existence, leaving behind a small red glow as the only evidence of its former blazing existence.
"Orochimaru-sama?" A devout voice asked.
Orochimaru's predatory yellow eyes glinted in the half-darkness as he turned them towards the kneeling speaker. "Kimimaro. You should be resting."
"Not if there's something I can assist you with, Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru chuckled, but turned back to the puddle of wax that was, until recently, a candle.
"It seems one of my tests didn't produce the result I desired."
Kimimaro waited patiently for his lord's command. It wasn't up to him to question Orochimaru's methods.
Orochimaru observed the trail of smoke rising from the wick and sighed; while Kimimaro felt privileged that his lord could relax in his presence. "A woman should have made her way to me by now, seeking the cure for her husband's ailment."
Kimimaro frowned. "Perhaps she lacks the selflessness required to truly care for her mate. In such a case, it is a good thing such an unworthy creature does not work for you, Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru chuckled again. "Perhaps. It is of no consequence. All creatures shall be mine, once my plans come to fruition."
"Of course, Orochimaru-sama. It is inevitable."
Orochimaru turned his predatory gaze to Kimimaro and smiled a malicious smile, as he softly ran a pale hand across his kneeling subordinate's face. "Such a waste," he said softly.
Kimimaro's face burned in humiliation at his body's betrayal. "I am sorry-"
"It is not your fault, Kimimaro. Unless you made yourself sick?"
Kimimaro's head snapped up, "Of course not! I would never-"
But Orochimaru was already chuckling, his amusement clear.
Kimimaro bowed his head again. "If you cannot use my body, Orochimaru-sama, at least allow me to retrieve the one you desire."
"Ah, yes, how is dear Sasuke-kun doing?"
"The reports say he is still aloof. He routinely undergoes therapy, however it does not appear to have succeeded in allowing him to make friends. He trains with a zealous intensity whenever he has the time. He is perfect for our cause, or he will be once he awakens his Sharingan."
Orochimaru chuckled once more. "And the plans for the invasion?"
"All proceeding smoothly." In a sinister tone, he added, "I made sure of it."
Orochimaru's malicious smile widened. "Well done. And… what about the other matter I asked you to investigate?"
Kimimaro frowned. "Reports from Mizu are fractured at best. However, it seems that their civil war is coming to an end. As for the individual you asked me to keep an eye on, it seems he is skilled. Reports on his strength vary between A and S rank, but I am confident that I can defeat him-"
"You will not, Kimimaro," Orochimaru said quietly.
Kimimaro paused at the obvious danger in his lord's tone, but he bravely pushed on. "Orochimaru-sama-"
"You will not fight in the invasion, Kimimaro. This I command you."
He bowed his head. "As you wish, Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru chuckled at the kicked puppy look the Kaguya was giving him (as much like a kicked puppy a guy who could grow a forest of bones could look like.)
"Do not fret, Kimimaro. I am not worried about the pale imitation of Namikaze Minato. By all reports, he does not have the Hiraishin. In any case, I have a plan to neutralize him. Earlier reports said that he was close to my former apprentice, yes?"
Kimimaro's eyes widened as he instinctively understood his lord's plan. As was the norm for a divine being like Orochimaru, it was teeming with genius. His own smile grew to match that of his lord's. "They did, Orochimaru-sama."
"Then I shall have to pay a visit to my dear Anko-chan. I've heard she's grown into a very beautiful woman," Orochimaru finished with a hiss, licking his lips with his abnormally long tongue while madness danced in his eyes.
To Kimimaro, it was the most beautiful sight in the world.
Hokage Office, Konohagakure: Shimura Danzō
"You would entrust the future of our village to an unstable individual like him?" asked the 'crippled' former leader of Konoha's defunct ROOT ANBU.
Sarutobi Hiruzen simply turned tired eyes towards his longtime rival. He took a long breath from his pipe, breathing in the noxious fumes to calm his nerves. "And who else do you propose I leave it to?"
Danzō stayed silent.
Hiruzen continued after a moment. "We shouldn't be here, you and I. Minato and Itachi should be in our places. It is only through our own mistakes that this isn't the case."
"Staying stuck in the past does nothing, Hiruzen. You know this as well as I."
"And yet, if we don't look at the past, do we ever learn from our mistakes?"
"Philosophy has never been my strong suit, Hiruzen. I believe in decisive action. Tobirama-sensei was the same."
"And yet, when the time came, he anointed me as his successor instead of you. Rather telling, wouldn't you say?" Hiruzen replied.
Danzō's jaw and his grip on his cane tightened simultaneously. Hiruzen had never taunted him like this before, not on this subject. His visible eye flashed with irritation, but the Sandaime Hokage continued.
"Regardless, the important thing is that our village has always survived. Sometimes by the skin of our teeth, sometimes by a crushing victory like Minato against Iwa."
"You're mistaking one Namikaze for another, Hiruzen. This 'Nanashi' may have the best intentions of the village at heart, but his actions will plunge us into a war unlike any before. Actions that have been rubber-stamped by yourself, no less."
Once again, Hiruzen took a long puff from his pipe. It was an excellent psychological tool, giving the impression of wisdom and elegance; but it was little more than a crutch that gave Hiruzen extra time to think.
"Which is why I sent you to evaluate him, Danzō. I have always trusted your judgement."
The silence in the room was palpable.
"Then why," Danzō asked, "are you willing to overlook said judgement? He is reckless, and gives no thought to the true consequences of his actions. He is ruled by his heart and his base desires, as evidenced by his sickening pursuit of the Mizukage. Why was such a man sent to ensure a treaty in the first place?
"Why… are you letting him run roughshod over everything we have spent our entire lives building?"
Hiruzen sighed and touched the tip of his hat, a sure sign of frustration. "Because what he has suffered in the name of our village is far more than you and I combined, my friend."
Danzō's gaze narrowed. The Nanashi character had hinted at something similar. However, everyone suffered- it was a fact of life. What mattered was whether you had the fortitude to deal with your suffering.
And despite himself, he admitted that Nanashi did seem to possess such fortitude.
However, that didn't mean that his actions were justified in any way, shape or form.
"Suffering does not give anyone a divine right to rule; otherwise Iwa would be the kings of us all."
Hiruzen smirked slightly at the insult to their enemies, but shrugged. "Which brings us back to our original point: who else do I leave the future of the village to? There isn't a genius Orochimaru, a prodigy Minato or an answer-to-our-prayers Itachi in the village anymore."
"We do our job, as we have been doing for over half a century."
"For how much longer, Danzō? Five years? Ten? Old age isn't an enemy we can simply defeat on the battlefield."
Once more, Danzō's jaw clenched, but he didn't refute the argument. He couldn't. Not even with his 'enhancements'.
Then, he tilted his head as something struck him. He re-considered what his old friend had just told him.
"You're going to retire again," Danzō said suddenly.
Hiruzen nodded, not even bothering to put up a token resistance to his friend's epiphany. "I am."
"But you just said there's nobody to entrust the future to!"
Hiruzen nodded, "Yes. But it isn't my job to keep the seat warm until that person comes along."
"Have you lost your mind!? You would entrust the hat to that disturbed Namikaze boy!?" Danzō rarely raised his voice. But this was one of the occasions when he couldn't help but do so.
Hiruzen shook his head wearily. "No, even I know better than that." He sighed, suddenly looking old. "One of my wayward students can do that job well enough."
Danzō sneered, "So our village will be run either by a gambling alcoholic or a raging pervert. Excellent choices. Atleast Orochimaru had a modicum of ability backing up his rampant ego."
Hiruzen took the insult in stride; in fact, he went one step further. "At times I wonder if Orochimaru would truly have been that terrible a choice for the Hokage."
It wasn't often that Danzō was struck speechless. This was one of the rare occasions where he was.
Hiruzen smiled. "My mind cannot help but wander to the what if's. Yes, he would have legalized human experimentation. But at the very least there would have been a scientific method to it. And who knows, maybe his testing would have found the answer we have searched for all along."
Danzō considered his friend for a long moment. "Perhaps senility is finally catching up with you."
Hiruzen let out a wry smile. "Perhaps. If that is the case, then it's a good thing that I'm retiring." And then his grey eyes gained that steely glint that the 'Shinobi no Kami' was famous for. "As are you."
Danzō didn't reply.
"You have let go of all your subordinates, haven't you?"
"You went through all my files; you know I have as well as I do."
They both knew it was a bald-faced lie. But Hiruzen didn't call him out on it; mostly because he had crippled ROOT. It had lost upwards of 85% of its members to the regular Konoha ANBU. A lifetime of work, all undone by a few whispered words from a blond who spread chaos everywhere.
"When I retire, you shall as well. Consider it an order."
"As you wish, Hokage-sama," Danzō said bitterly. He got up and bowed ironically to his longtime friend/rival.
As he left the Hokage tower, Danzō couldn't help but turn his thoughts to the nameless Namikaze. Clearly, the blond had a hold over Hiruzen, one that trumped the trust that the two of them had established over a lifetime of working together.
Nanashi had clearly seen a different kind of war brewing on the horizon, and he had convinced Sarutobi of the validity of his claim. How and why he believed this war would occur didn't matter anymore- because by his own actions, it was inevitable that such a war would come to pass.
Danzō frowned. When he had called Nanashi a well-intentioned zealot, he hadn't exaggerated in the least. He was the worst kind of opponent a man like Danzō could face. It was next to undoable to break a man like him; he would rather die than let go of his convictions. Convincing him to follow Danzō was almost impossible.
Almost… but not quite.
After all, Danzō had made a career of breaking people.
If a man like Nanashi could be turned to Danzō's side, he would spend every waking breath following the 'cripple'. Zealots like Nanashi were invaluable to men like Danzō.
Danzō finally smiled. It wouldn't be easy, and he would have to be patient; but the results would be worth it.
The first step in breaking Nanashi?
Give him enough rope to hang himself.
And then, when he was gasping for breath under the weight of his own failures…
Give him a lifeline.
And then call in the debt.
Author's Notes: I don't know if you guys noticed, but I'm trying a new writing style from now on. I've been accused of overelaborating my sentences, and it's true. So, from now on, I'm trying to cut down on my word count, trying to impart the same content in fewer words. Let me know what you guys thought of it.
In other news, my zombie laptop issues were being caused by a failing hard drive. It has been slowing down my computer over the past year, and because it was happening so slowly it was next to impossible to diagnose. I still haven't got around to the review replies from chapter 24, let alone chapter 25. Rest assured I will do so starting this week. I would have done so already, but I thought that getting this chapter out was more important. Even after all my laptop issues, I still managed to write a chapter, but it was the next one instead of this. Anyway, you will see it soon enough, maybe a week from now. Enjoy!
So, what did you think of the rest of the world while Nanashi was on his mission? Of my take on the Tora mission? Of those that live in the darkness?