Rain was something rare for the Hidden Sand Village. Today was one of those rare days. The usually sandy streets were empty, save for the forming puddles. No kids played, and no adults worked. It was a bad omen to be active in a rainstorm for the Sand villagers, as if asking for a curse on your home. Even the Kazekage stayed inside. 30 years ago, no one would have questioned Gaara keeping to himself, but now, Gaara was a warm person. Still, he stayed inside today.
There was one who didn't follow this tradition, though. Instead, on a rock she sat, busily constructing puppets in the rain. The rain made this girl happy. It washed away her cares and her pain. Her long, red hair, made sleek by the rain, clung to her back as she connected the jaw to her puppet's face.
Yes… almost an exact replica… She smiled. Her brown eyes glowed warmly as she stared at her puppet, whose red hair messily fell down its neck. If only Danna could see this…
-
Green eyes glared into concentric gray eyes as Kosshi began his approach. The bones in his joints stuck out, tipped sharp at the ends. Clenched tight in his hand was a bone spear, the length of his arm. Even his ribs stuck out, like a fanged mouth.
"I am no enemy of yours, Kosshi. Rather, I am an ally…" Roku said, and Kosshi froze in place. Where have I heard this before…? That voice…
"The man in the study… That was you too, wasn't it?" Kosshi hissed, his bones receding into his body slightly.
"I will explain, but you must come with me. Please… discard your weapons," Roku replied, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out the 'Boar' ring again, and Kosshi hissed quietly, recognizing the symbol.
I've seen those rings before, the one on your hand and the one you hold. The one in the study told me…they belong to Pein and Zetsu. Do not tell me you are not my enemy!" Kosshi roared, the three black markings on his chest changing slightly, starting to lengthen.
"Both who are long dead," Roku finished. Kosshi continued his advance, and finally, he saw it. The hair was longer, wilder, and the piercings were much different from the picture of the man called Pein. Still, Kosshi didn't trust it.
Interestingly enough, the old man, who had taken cover in a nearby barrel, called out to Roku, "But Master Pein, you are not dead!"
Roku's tossed the 'Boar' ring high into the air. Everyone watching followed the ring, but failed to see the hand signs Roku made. The ground broke open, and water under the ground rose up, spiraling into a tight, cylinder torrent. The torrent shot through the air, forcing the man back into the barrel. Nobody dared to move as the torrent flowed, filling the barrel and spilling over greatly. It continued for five minutes. The old man did not rise again.
"Ignorance is not a blessing," Roku sighed. "I am the son of Pein. As have you, and 5 others, I have spent my life in a pod, but it was for my protection, not my containment, as it was for yours. Kimimaro Kaguya was the most dangerous member of the Kaguya Clan, even to the clan itself. They locked him in a cage when they went out to wars, so he wouldn't go on a killing spree. And you are his clone. Your bloodline died out. If shinobi knew of your existence, they would hunt you down, for how dangerous you are, and for your jutsu."
Kuro added, "He's right. For years, other villages have invaded the Leaf Village trying to steal the secrets of the Byakugan right out of the eyes from the Hyuga Clan members, and I'm not the only one with these eyes, but you're the only one with those bones."
Roku continued, "Instead of opposing us, join us."
Kosshi shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he evaluated his options. The odds were against him, if he chose to fight. He could always pick them off later if he saw it fit.
"Alright. I will come… for now."
Roku smiled lightly and tossed the 'Boar' ring to Kosshi, "This is yours. It is important to our objectives." Kosshi caught it on his spear, which sank back into his arm, slipping the ring onto his finger. He glared at the 'Boar' symbol for a while before he lowered his hand, letting the rest of his bones recede into his body.
Roku continued his walk now as Kosshi slipped his arms back into his cloak and buttoned it up. The Leaf ninjas followed, with Kosshi bringing up the rear.
Roku announced, "Kosshi has his uniform, but none of you have yours. We shall go to my headquarters. You will rest there before we set out again. We still have many more members to collect." Down the road they walked, in silence.
-
"Must we wear these?" Kuro growled as he picked up his cloak. The four were in Roku's study, where uniforms now covered one of the several desks. Kosshi meditated in a corner in silence, while Roku and Takachi flipped through a folder filled with records of Itachi Uchiha's existence.
Roku turned to face the irritated Leaf shinobi, "You must bear the cloud pattern," he spoke, pointing to the red clouds on the single black band of the red cloak. "That will identify us. However else you choose to wear it is up to you."
Kuro looked at it again and began to cut the sleeves away from the cloak. A long pause ensued, to each his own thoughts. Takachi's eyes glared at the paper. At home… No, in the Leaf Village…We were taught that Lightning Style Jutsu was the natural element of the Uchiha… That explains why I never understood the Lightning Jutsu's he taught to me without the Sharingan's aid… The Uchiha clan is adept in Fire Style! He wanted to keep me weak, didn't he? Teaching me a style I can't grasp on my own… I'll show him…
"Roku," he spoke quietly, breaking the silence. Even Kosshi looked up as Takachi spoke, "I am going to the Wind Country… I need to practice new jutsu's… ones I can use."
"You are a Rogue Ninja now," Roku's reply came. "You cannot wander freely without challenge. I'm going to ask Kosshi Kaguya to go with you, and, if you come to the Hidden Sand Village, I ask you to find a Sand Ninja who has knowledge of a shinobi called 'Akasuna no Sasori.' If you find such a shinobi, give them this," he paused as he pulled out another ring that carried the word 'Orb' on it, "and ask them to join us."
Takachi took the ring as Kosshi slowly began to rise, "Do not mistake me for a pawn. I go where I wish to go."
"Of course. But you miss a great opportunity to discover who Kimimaro Kaguya really was," Roku mused. "I was about to ask Takachi to then travel to the Hidden Sound, Cloud, and Mist villages after his journey to the Sand. In the Hidden Sound is where Kimimaro lived and nearby, died. In the Hidden Mist, he was raised."
Kosshi sunk back to his seat as Kuro took the floor. "And what will I be doing in this time?" he asked as he cut away the bottom of his cloak, right below the black band.
"I ask you to come with me north, to the remaining Hidden Villages," came the answer. Kuro opened his mouth to respond but decided against it as he put his cloak on, now more of a vest than anything else, over his clothes.
"We shall leave this place at sunrise tomorrow. Prepare and rest tonight," Roku finished as he picked up a book and began to read. The other three climbed the only stairway inside the study, which lead them to their rooms.
-
The rain became a gentle drizzle. The girl on the rock, who was still connecting arm joints to shoulder joints and testing her puppets, looked up and sighed. I'll have to go in soon…
She moved her fingers a few times and one of the puppets, a large one (almost three times her size) rose. The large one's barrel-like chest cavity opened, and in the other puppets went. This large puppet had long, brown hair covering its entire face, and a huge brown cloak, which covered it's body. With a quick hand sign from the girl, the puppet was disguised as a small shack, and the girl rose from her rock, departed this shack and sauntered back towards the Hidden Sand Village.
Next Chapter: The Puppet Mistress
(I appologize for the rushed feeling it's starting to have. It will get better though!)