Chapter 5: Puppet master

-A thread, line, or cord. Follow them back and you'll find who is pulling the strings.-

-Hidden Mist, Ryo Tengai's office, 0-dark-15-

Zikito didn't move from his seat and neither did Ryo. The two men simply sat as if in a meeting; hands folded or fingers interlaced and seated in a comfortable position. Even the atmosphere and facial expression displayed just seemed to convey they were having a simple civilized chat.

"Ryo."

Zikito casually answered, for whatever reason Ryo put the word out, Zikito wanted answers and one way or another he was going to get them.

"Has your night been eventful, Zikito?" Ryo asked, with a clear tone of curiosity, keeping with the charade.

Zikito answered him, "Why yes, my night has been quite eventful."

"I trust it didn't get to messy for you." Ryo commented, a subtle trace of amusement in his voice.

"Not for me, just the person you sent after me." Zikito answered as his voice tensed with annoyance.

"A shame, he had such a bright future. Only to be cut short by you." Ryo said, with a smile.

Zikito stood up and took a step toward Ryo, his scythe in hand, not ready to kill but to arrest.

"Ryo Tengi, I hereby place you under arrest for the illegal authorization of an assassination of an innocent man and the death of a Mist ANBU operative." Leveling his scythe at Ryo, Zikito stared at him unflinchingly. "Stand."

No longer amused, Ryo narrowed his eyes, but stayed seated.

"An innocent man?"

Suddenly something grabbed his arms, wrestling his scythe from his grip.

PUNCH!

An intense pain coursed from his gut and was met by an equal pain from his head. Following two more blows to his shoulder and leg. Letting go of his scythe, Zikito was surprised that whoever was holding him, let go, as he dropped.

"An innocent man, you call yourself." Ryo's voice spoke out. Still holding his gut, Zikito looked up and saw several ANBU, one holding his scythe, and all were people he recognized as the ANBU members who helped him to take down the pervious Mizukage.

"What are you planning?" Zikito hacked out between breathes, whatever his plans were, Zikito still had a part to play. They weren't finished with him yet.

"Innocence doesn't exist, for you or this world."

Ryo stood up, moving slowly from behind his desk.

"You have been a very valuable tool to us in the past. You succeeded where others failed us, and when the time came for you to join us. You chose to back them." He said, pointing out the window of his office towards the village.

"They, the liars and thieves. They, who lead the corrupt. You chose to side with them." Ryo spoke, with a hint of hatred in his voice.

"For so long, we toiled to slowly do away with the old system, to change the world for the better. We extended our reach to truly bring an everlasting peace to reality, Unified, but then you destroyed everything."

Finally it made sense, and hit Zikito like a ton of bricks.

'This guy is a part of Unity and he is no low-level lackey. Otherwise he'd be ranting and raving on about Unity and vengeance. Ryo has a plan and wants to pin whatever it is on me, How far up the chain is he though?'

Calming his mind, Zikito needed more info but he couldn't appear to be in control, Ryo was calculating and decisive, he wouldn't be an easy one to con.

'So I won't.'

Attempting to stand, but falling to one knee, Zikito began speaking.

"So, by your tone and method, you're pretty high up the chain aren't you, Ryo?" Looking directly at Zikito, Ryo gave a smile.

"You took down my second-in-command, when you undid all of his work."

'Hideaki… The previous Mizukage.'

Zikito now understood who he was staring at: An elder of the Hidden Mist. A veteran of the Fourth Great Ninja War,

…And the Leader of Unity. "So, you run the show huh?" Zikito asked. Ryo took a look at Zikito before walking back towards the ANBU behind him.

"Well, your assassin got me here, so what now?" Zikito asked with an anxious tone in the back part of his voice.

Ryo looked at Zikito and started to smile but it quickly vanished. Only to be replaced with a cold blank stare. Extending his left arm, Ryo spoke.

"That's enough questions, and those will be your final words… Traitor."

On cue, the ANBU raised Zikito's scythe and swung down, taking Ryo's left arm. 'Oh shit!' Was the first thought that ran through his head.

'That's why he led me here, to put the blame on me!'

They wanted to be rid of him for disrupting their plans, and what better way than by framing him for an assassination.

'This is bad. I need to get of the village now!'

There was no telling how many people could be in on this or even how many more would die. Even his family would be at risk, he could argue in a trial that it happened the other way around, but it was all the ammunition they needed. He had no choice: He had to flee!

'But first.'…Zikito was reluctant to leave his home and his family, but there was one thing he wasn't going to leave without. Ryo, gripping his arm in agony, yelled to the ANBU flanking him.

"Kill Him!"

Reacting quickly Zikito reached into his pouch pulling out an explosive tag, then threw it to the roof as he covered his eyes.

BOOM!

Smoke, soot, and debris soon covered the room, end to end. Ryo's guard would have heard the explosion and would be mobilizing quickly. Seizing the moment, Zikito jumped to the ANBU holding his scythe and buried a kunai deep in his chest. With his scythe retrieved, Zikito jumped out of the window into the night…

XxX

10 minutes later…

Zikito stood on the outskirts of the Mist village as panic seemed to overtake it. He had to detonate a few more explosive tags to ensure he wouldn't be easily tracked, but in safe locations to divert any suspicions about where he was going.

'I need to head to the Mainland. Staying here is too dangerous.'

Zikito made his way towards the edge of the Land of Water. He would secure a boat, and head for somewhere…anywhere. So long as he stayed on the run… So long as he stayed Alive. His home and family would be fine. Ryo needed to keep the Mist under control. So until Zikito was dead, everything else would be safe. 'Kiske, Yui, Ei, Itsuki…. Mao be good, don't let them win.' With a final parting word, Zikito picked up his pace. He knew that the Hunter-nin would not be far behind his trail.

FYI: to all you non-military time users, 0-dark means midnight to 1 a.m. so if any of you were confused before it's all cleared up now. So Zikito has now fled the Village, what will happen now? Hope you all are enjoying this, Again, special thanks to Zinmaster24 for proof-reading and editing.