Over the last few days I've gone back over and re-read this story. After reading, it feels unfinished. So picking up where I left off and continuing the story.
Nagato looked across the street at Colby as a light breeze carried the barking echo of the 4023. There wasn't a sole in the street as the banging of window shutters, closing of doors and the scurrying foot steps of people trying to find cover was heard over the echo of the 4023. Even the birds at a nearby bird feeder took to the air and left the area. Nagato wore a plain black hooded cloak as compared to Colby's grey sweatshirt and camo pants. Out of the corner of his eye Colby was surprised to see Ino standing next to him.
"You are not going to fight him alone." Ino stated sternly.
"Rodger that." Colby smirked. "So Nagato why have you changed? You use to be a kind hearted friend that put others before yourself. You were the only friend I had that wasn't the son of a railroader. Why Nagato?"
"You wouldn't understand. This world is full of hate, war, and pain. I wanted to end all of that. The Hidden Leaf sent assassins to kill me and my family. My parents were killed but I survived. It was after that, that I knew for me to end hate, war and pain. Everyone needed to know what true pain feels like. Only when everyone knows true pain that they will end their destructive ways."
"What!? No. That's the most retarded idea I've heard." Colby shook his with a raised eyebrow.
"Then what's your idea for ending hate, war and pain. I'd love to hear it." Nagato looked at Colby with a hard, unfriendly look.
"Trains." Colby smiled widely. Nagato stared blankly at him in a confused disbelief. Even Ino, Jerris, Denny and George looked at Colby scratching their heads wondering what Colby meant.
"Trains? Trains will rid the world of pain? Please fill me in on how of all things. Trains. Will rid the world of pain." Nagato asked.
"Yes trains. Trains bring people together if not because they are interested in them. Then because trains are the physical vehicles that bring them together. Like people from the Hidden Rail may take the train to the Hidden Rain village. While on the train they meet people from any number of other villages big and small. They will talk, share stories from their home villages. It's the social interaction that will bring them together and trains is a means for that interaction to happen. Its through that, that people will learn to understand each other and bring about peace. A six hour ride in a train full of people that don't interact with each other is a pretty boring ride. That is how trains will bring peace to this world." explained Colby.
"That will never work." Nagato shook his head in disgust.
"Well, fuck you. I think my idea is better than yours" Colby said as he drew his revolver and fired it from the hip. The draw was lightning fast, Nagato didn't see it even with his Rinnegan activated. In the blink of an eye Nagato dropped to the ground like a bag of bricks. A red mist exploded from Nagato's back as he went to the ground.
"Too easy. Shinkasen did Nagato cast one of those genjutsus?" Colby thought to his demon partner.
"Yeeeaah... He did." Shinkasen groaned at the fact. "Demon Release."
"Hey. Babe. Hey snap out of it!" Ino urged as she punched Colby's left arm. Colby came around after a moment and blinked his eyes a few time. In his right hand was the still smoking gun. In front of him was a log with a bullet hole in it. Nagator was still very much alive as he stood next to the log.
"Still as predictable as you were all those years ago and still as lazy of a fighter as ever." Nagato laughed. His purple eyes had black rings that surrounded the pupils. The look of the Rinnegan had always bugged Colby. Ino got a little nervous when she saw Nagato's Rinnegan was activated. Colby started tapping his thumb to his fingers on his left hand going to his Index, Ring, Middle and Pinky fingers. The tapping them in the same pattern only in reverse. Nagato saw this but didn't see a change in the chakra flow to that hand.
"You think I'm predictable? Ok, whatever." Colby had a psychotic smile come across his face as he made a fist with his left hand. It was then that Nagato saw a change in his chakra flow. It was in that same moment when a spear of stone shot up from under Nagato. Impaling Nagato's right thigh and severing the femoral artery in his leg. Nagato screamed in pain as the wound registered with him. Just as quickly the stone spear shot up from the ground it retracted back from which it came as blood squirted out from the freshly made hole in Nagato's leg.
"Being a lazy fighter does have it's perks you know. Last I knew, your Rinnegan didn't do healing jutsus. So I believe I just won." Smirked Colby. "The leg carries the second largest artery in the human body. You are as good as dead." Nagato looked at him in disbelief. This is how it ends? Not from a long, drawn out battle with an epic kill shot to the vital organs. Rather from a quick, cheep shot to a major, unprotected artery. Seconds later Nagato dropped to the ground in a growing pool of his own blood.
"Well then... That was an anit-climatic fight." Denny commented as window shutters and doors up and down the street started to open back up. A few people started to file out into the street to get a better look at the aftermath of the fight or the noticeable lack of one. Zeke and Joe looked on in amazement at how quick their older cousin was able to take down the opponent before him. Up on a nearby roof top. Sasuke looked on in disappointed disgust. He covered his face in frustration at how foolishly easy Nagato went down. Sasuke knew that Kakuzu will have a raging fit when he finds out that Nagato got taken down. Sasuke quietly left the area as a crowd gathered in the street below.
"What do you mean Nagato got taken down?" Kakuzu demanded as he slammed his fist onto a desk that was piled high with bounty notices, bank books and other financial documents. The force of his fist hitting the desk made the numerous stacks of documents jump.
"Yes. Nagato got taken down by the demon brat, Colby. It wasn't even a good fight or a fight at all. A quick cheep shot to Nagato's leg severed the femoral artery and he bled out in seconds. It was over before it started. A very disappointing performance." Sasuke cool tone of voice glided through the air as Kakuzu's anger and frustration boiled under his face mask. There were a few guards standing outside the door to Kakuzu's office and they were getting nervous. Kakuzu had a deadly habbit of killing the guards to his office out of frustration.
"That ridiculously useless Nagato. He's the holder of the Rinnegan and got take out without even using it! He was suppose to be our ace in the hole. With his past history with those demon children. GGGRRRRRR!" Kakuzu slammed his fist against the desk again before launching his hand towards the wall to the right of the door. The flying hand was still connected to Kakuzu by grey tentacles as it punched through the wall and grabbed one of the guards by the neck. The guard started screaming bloody murder as Kakuzu retracted his hand and pulled the guard through the wall with it.
"You know Kakuzu. You keep killing your guards,, you won't have any left." Sasuke flatly stated.
"Would you prefer I kill you?" Kakuzu narrowed his eyes as he looked at Sasuke. The squirming body of the guard became still as Kakuzu clamped harder onto the guard's neck.
"You are welcome to try one of these days, but not today." With that Sasuke turned around and walked out the door. Once Sasuke had left the office, Kakuzu launched his other hand through the wall on the left side of the door and dragged the other guard through the wall.
The crew of Suzanna, Kiba, Sakura, Naruto, Colby, and Ino were at Suzanna's house discussing what had gone on earlier that morning with Nagato. The news was welcomed but unsettling to the others. The clock chimed it's noon time announcement as stomachs growled in tune with the chiming clock. Suzanna got up and searched the the frig for something to eat, but came up with nothing she wanted to eat. The group looked to her with questioning looks.
"What? We don't have anything good to eat." She protested.
"Geeze... What kinda host are you then? Not providing a meal for your guests." Kiba teased.
"Oh shut it Kiba. You'd only get the leftover scraps anyways." Scolded Suzanna.
"Hey let's head to the station. That little pizza parlor is still in there. All the crews go there to grab a quick lunch. Maybe we can catch up on the local happenings while we get some pizza." Colby suggested.
"What's pizza?" Naruto asked. Kiba, Sakura and Ino all had questioning looks as to what this food called pizza is.
"Only the best food you have ever had. It's even better than your ramen noodles." Colby's face lit up with a huge smile as he pretended to have a slice of pizza in his hands and took a bite of the imaginary slice.
"You guys will find out. C'mon let's get some food. Before Sakura and Ino wither away to nothing." Joked Suzanna. Sakura and Ino totally played the part of two damsels withering away as Ino leaned against Colby and Sakura leaned against Naruto. Without missing a beat Naruto picked up Sakura and started walking towards the door. Colby on the other hand. Laid Ino down on the floor and started to lightly do CPR chest compressions after checking Ino's pulse. After he check the pulse Colby pinched Ino's nose closed and put his mouth to her's. Ino didn't let his breath go into her lungs but rather it filled up her cheeks. Giving her the look of a chipmunk with a mouth full of food.
"Kiba quick get me the AED. She has no pulse! We need to put the big zappy to her!" Colby blurted out as he started laughing.
"What!? No big zappy! I'm fine!" Ino shot straight up with her arms spread out in front of her.
"Never mind Kiba! She conscious, breathing and has a pulse. We're good." Colby laughed as did everyone else but Ino. She glared at him with a highly unimpressed look.
Union Station in the Hidden Rail Village was the main focal point in the village. The massive stone grey building is the largest structure in the village. The main entrance doors were centered on the front of the building. Above them were six tall windows than went almost all the way to the top of the station. Across the top of the building's front, just below the roof line was 'Leaf Valley Railroad' carved into the stone blocks that made up the exterior wall of the building. To either side of the main entrance were four large glass windows. The front of the station was bustling with people going into and coming out of the station. Trolley cars were stopping in front of the station once every ten minutes to take those just arriving into town or dropping off those looking to leave town.
Inside the station was just as impressive and it was on the outside. Walking into the upper main concourse area on polished marble floors. People were greeted by the ticket counters, were tickets could be purchased. Above the ticket counter was a massive black boarding board. In white letters and numbers it had all the information on inbound and outbound trains. What time the trains arrived, what track the trains will be arriving on, if the train was on time or delayed, and it's scheduled departure time. The board automatically updated it's displayed information each time a train departed the station. When it did there was a distinct clicking noise as the black tabs that carried the letters and numbers changed to display the most current information. To the left of the ticket counters was a hallway that lead to platforms and smaller concourse areas. Above the entrance in big black letters and number on and illuminated white back ground displayed 'To tracks 1 through 8. Concourses 1 and 2'. To the right of the ticket counters was a stairway leading down with a similar sign displaying 'To tracks 8 through 16. Concourses 3 and 4'. There were a few kiosks that sold watches, newspapers and other nic-naks to either side of the ticket counters. Along with signs point to where the bathrooms were located. Against the left and right walls were large clocks displaying the time to all who saw them. There was a clock facing the ticket counters just above the entrance doors.
Kiba, Naruto, Sakura and Ino were in awe as they walked through the upper main concourse. The size of the place was intimidating to those who had never been to it before. Colby and Suzanna kept the group together as they went down the hallway towards tracks 1 through 8. The echoes of trains and people talking and walking carried through the marble hallway as the group entered Concourse 1. There was another black boarding board that was the first thing people saw as they entered the concourse. It was smaller than the main board by the ticket counters and displayed information only for tracks 1 through 8. On the back side of it was another boarding board that displayed the same information as the other side. On top of the board in bright red illuminated letters was 'Concourse One'. There were six shops and food kiosks that formed a circle around the boarding board. There were wooden benches around the board and there were 3 set of benches placed back to back on the far side of the board. As they walked through Concourse One some people would look at them while ones were too busy trying to get to their train to notice. The group walked up a set of stairs that lead to a causeway crossing over the eight tracks. At each platform there was a set of stairs that led down from the causeway with a corresponding number prominently displayed indicating which side of the platform was where which track was for the platforms that serviced two tracks.
The group finished crossing over track 8 and walked down the stairs to Concourse Two. It was set up exactly like Concourse One only with different shops and food kiosks. One of the shops was a clothing store that Suzanna, Ino and Sakura instantly gravitated towards. The guys rolled their eyes and followed the girls hoping they wouldn't spend all their money on clothes and have nothing left over for food. The clothing store had a mix of railroader gear and touristy clothing. The girls were laughing and having fun trying on the touristy clothes and some of the railroader gear the store had. Colby even picked up a few new pairs of overalls and a button up denim work shirt. Kiba and Naruto just looked at the small lantern and tool supply section at the back of the store.
"Hey guys come over here." Suzanna called out to the guys from the changing area. Colby, Naruto and Kiba walked over to find all three girls in the changing stalls. They all walked out at the same time and it was dumb luck that they were paired up with their partners. Ino walked out of the stall in front of Colby decked out in a set of blue overalls with a button down denim shirt on that was undone to show off her breasts. Around her neck was a rolled up red bandanna. She wore a stripped engineer's hat to top the outfit off. Colby's eyes just about popped out of his head when he saw her, while his jaw hit the floor.
Next was Suzanna who walked out in front of Kiba. Suzanna sported a set of short blue camo shorts with a pink heart embroider in the left butt cheek. She wore a dark navy blue belt with the shorts with a set of polished steel D rings as the locking setup for the belt. She had on a light blue shirt that matched the blue color of the camo shorts. The front of the shirt was plain with 'The Wolf Pack' screen printed in white letters on the upper left side of her chest. The back of the shirt had a pair of majestic white and grey wolves howling at a full moon from a clearing in a forest. Kiba was dumbfounded at the sight, he himself almost felt like howling in approval.
Lastly was Sakura to walk out in front of Naruto. Sakura showed of a pair of pink shorts with large cargo pockets. She didn't have a belt on her shorts that where a little bit big on the waist on her. Sakura had one side of the shorts pulled up and resting on her hip while the other side drooped low and had the top edge of he panties exposed. She had a thin white t-shirt on that was rolled up and knotted in the back to show off her stomach and hips. The shirt was thin enough where Naruto could just start to see the red color of her bra show through the shirt. Naruto just about fell over backwards. He had always liked Sakura but this was the first time she was showing off just for him.
The girls laughed at the expressions the guys had on their faces. Then they laughed at their loud growling stomachs.
"I like this outfit. I'm getting it." Sakura said as she looked herself over in a mirror.
"Same with me." Suzanna agreed as she looked her self over behind Sakura.
"Yeah I could use a clean pair of my own railroad gear." Ino teasingly smiled at Colby as she spoke. After the group made their clothing purchases they walked to the pizza kiosk next to the clothing shop. The girls behind the counter instantly recognized Suzanna and Colby as they walked up to the counter.
"Colby! Suzanna! It's been soooooo long since you two have been here together! You brought non-railroad friends too!?" A girl with light brown hair and brown eyes excitedly said. Everyone behind the counter wore a red shirt and white shorts for the girls and black pants for the guys. They all wore a white apron with red trim that had a steam locomotive centered on the chest with 'High Iron Pizza' written in red below the image.
"Bri! It's so good to see you! How have you been!? Yes we brought our non-railroad friends with us today." Yelled Suzanna as she rushed up to the counter. Colby smiled when he saw Bri and a few other girls behind the counter. Ino jabbed her elbow into his side.
"Easy babe. They all have boyfriends and they are just friends." Colby said as he took her hand.
"You guys looking to get the large party pepperoni pizza?" Bri asked.
"Sure and drinks for the six of us. So what's happening with the local happenings?" Suzanna asked Bri and everyone behind the counter quieted down. Bri did a quick look behind Suzanna before she spoke.
"A lot has gone down. There is this guy who is looking to take over the village. He's from away and has taken complete control over the underground crime network in the village. That's the biggest news, that and the rumors that are going around that you are dead. How Colby has gotten a new girlfriend. The new diesel locomotives that are making an appearance. There is so much to tell you. We close up shop at 6pm. Can we meet at your place?" Bri asked nervously.
"Yeah we can meet at my place." Suzanna said.
"Sweet! Your pizza will be ready in another fifteen minutes, and here are your drinks." Bri cheerfully said as a short line grew behind the group. Suzanna smiled as they went to the soda fountain to fill up their cups.
"Something big is in the works." Suzanna softly spoke as the other nodded in agreement.