"There was something they didn't want us to know about. Why else would they have secretly cut Soku's wrist?" Jiraiya nodded in agreement. Itachi jumped down next to us from the tree he was sitting in and looked between us. We've been meeting in secret ever since Soku's death, of course after each meeting we report to our Hokage so he can be ready for the war we would soon be taking part in. Mei sent an official declaration of war after accusing us of murdering Soku, of course she knew we didn't murder him but everyone needs someone to blame I guess. Itachi told us that they would be searching for a way to revive Soku, and we have signed a temporary treaty with the members of the Akatsuki. Pein was reluctant because of his hatred of our village, but he had grown fond of Soku and wanted those who hurt him to pay with their lives.
"I'm assuming that Kirigakure didn't want us to know about the two demons, whose powers rival the Jinchurriki, residing inside Soku. Little did they know that we already were very aware of those demons. Even we, the Akatsuki, knew of Soku's capabilities. That's why I told Sasuke of him before leaving our home. I didn't want anyone to hurt Soku or anger him because that's the only time his power's seem to be the most deadly. For some reason though, he held back at the abuse he suffered at the hands of the leaf ninja. He could've easily torn all of you to shreds yet, he chose not to." Itachi seemed to be deep in thought as he spoke.
My mind wandered as to why Soku would hold back on us. I had wondered if it was because Itachi expressed his fondness of his home village to Soku and that made him hold back, because if he released the power of his demons the entire village would've been slaughter; or maybe it was because he knew Sasuke was within the village and didn't want to risk hurting him in a fit of rage brought on by our abuse. Soku spoke a lot about protecting those he cared for, in fact he's given his life multiple times protecting those he has felt as those needed protection. He's been this way since he took that spike to the chest for his little brother. And I bet when Haku took that chidori on the bridge he was protecting Zabuza. Just like his older brother protected him. It made me feel guilty to think back to Soku's face when he saw the corpse of his little brother lying on the ground in front of him. And when he became enraged at seeing that his little brother had been killed the expression of pain he held made one's heart beat with pure guilt.
"I believe Soku gave mercy to Konoha because of Sasuke. He would've been hurt during Soku's attack and I know that thought must've ran through his mind. That's why he let us torture him. He was protecting your little brother Itachi." Jiraiya said the exact thoughts that were on my mind.
"Something I failed to do." Itachi seemed a lot more somber than he usually did. I wonder if he shared the same feelings that Soku shared towards him back.
Itachi jumped back into the tree he was sitting in moments before and looked down towards the lake to our left. I sat at the base of the trunk and Jiraiya leaned against it as we thought about what our next move would be. We wanted to attempt to set up a team that would be half with Akatsuki and half with leaf ninja to get the drop on Kirigakure before they could initiate their first attack on the village. We knew several of the Akatsuki members still highly opposed our temporary alliance because of their hatred for the leaf village, but we also knew that they valued their leaders opinion and would fight with us at his command. It was likewise with many of the leaf ninja. I heard rustling in the leaves and looked over to see a Kirigakure ninja fleeing from his cover. Itachi was on him in mere moments and had him pinned to the ground with his foot on his neck; prepared to snap it if the ninja didn't give us what we wanted. Itachi lifted him off the ground after we signalled him to stop and drug him over to us. We looked down at the frightened ninja as we took him back to Konoha where he would be held prisoner.
"Am I going to end up like master Soku?" Itachi kicked him hard into the ground. I lifted up the ninja by his throat and looked at him in eyes.
"The one known as Raiden killed your precious Soku. We will not be taking the blame for something your village did to him." I squeezed until he passed out under my grip and looked down as I threw him to Itachi. I was becoming a true murderer but after what has happened, I don't think I can blame myself. Itacho carried the ninja spy back to the village where was locked in chains down in the dungeon. When he awakens we plan to interrogate him to get all the information this village needs to fight off Kirigakure when they make their attack.