Chapter 9: Infamous!

"Boss! We have five shinobi heading towards the village entrance!" came the call from the watch post of the Hidden Waterfall Village, in a loud whisper, almost inaudible next to the waterfall. The watchman seemed to be calling to a bush.

"Is that so?" came a deep voice from the bush. An uncharacteristic, high-pitched laugh broke from the throat of the speaker. "And do they carry anything of value?"

Straining to see, the shinobi who stood atop the watch post began to describe them, "No… they dress fair… and… Oh my God… There's a boy among them who appears to be the craftsman Momoro!"

"Momoro? Never heard of him," the deep voiced man in hiding responded.

"He's descended from one of the founders of the Hidden Stone Village. He performs a special jutsu, and is an extremely skilled worker. It looks like he's in company with a Grass, Rain, and Leaf shinobi… an odd bunch. The fifth shinobi does not wear a headband. I can't identify him."

The man in the bush, however, had stopped listening by now. Descended from one of the Stone Village founders, eh? I bet there'd be a pretty price on your head…it's not like the other four will be missed, either. Easy pickings. Perhaps I should leave the bodies at the watch post. Let my reputation grow a little more…

-

"I sense the presence of one of the rings!" Izune called out. Two days had passed since Izune joined the group. They had walked non-stop towards the Waterfall.

"And the entrance of the village is in sight," Roku spoke, looking around.

"Where? I just see a waterfall…" Kuro activated his Byakugan and scanned the area. "Ah, never mind. It's behind that waterfall… Should have figured—Look out!"

Izune grabbed Momoro by the back of his shirt as the ground beneath the latter gave out. The psychic pulled the craftsman back, breathing quietly "Traps…"

Momoro took a quick look around, but was taken by the shoulder. The hand was Kuro's. "The traps are the least of our concern. There's a watchman up ahead, but in the bushes, there are several shinobi in hiding."

With a small laugh, Momoro pulled a scroll from his belt. He threw it open, and as he did, many kunai, shuriken, and shards of sharp metal appeared in the air in puffs of smoke. There, they were suspended in the air.

"Secret Jutsu: Metal Storm!"

Every piece of metal flew high into the air. They climbed higher and higher until reaching a pinnacle, where every one of them turned their points to the ground. With a wave of Momoro's hand, the weapons rained down on the bushes. Several grunts and groans were emitted, but some of the weapons clanged, the enemies having defended the onslaught.

Suddenly, the flow of the waterfall changed. The water raised up and in a powerful torrent, struck the five Akatsuki. The waterfall washed over them, relentlessly, until Roku managed to get into a tree. He performed a few hand signs and the waterfall split, half of it washing back over the bushes. Soon, though, and all at once, the waterfall returned to it's normal flow as shinobi in the bushes emerged.

Seven survivors had leapt from the bushes and landed before the Akatsuki. An eighth, the man on the watch post, joined this group. One man approached the Akatsuki as they began to recover. He had dark blue hair that fell wildly around his head. On his back…

"Samehada!?" Roku called out in recognition.

"Yes," sneered the man in his deep voice, "The Sharkskin Sword. One of three swords that used to belong to the now late Mizukage."

"So you've killed the Mizukage…?" Roku analyzed.

"Yes, and now his toys are mine. I am in possession of 5 of the 8 Swordsman of the Mist Shinobi. The Guillotine Sword of Zabuza Momochi. The Sharkskin Sword of Kisame Hoshigaki. The Scissors Blade of Uratobi Wakamaru. And the two Lightning Rod Swords of Raiga Kurosuki," ranted the proud man as he clutched the grip of the Sharkskin Sword.

"Raiga's swords!? They were said to have been found by…" Momoro started.

"Mizu Namikawa. Also known as the Shark of Water Countries, the Blue Moccasin, and, more commonly…"

"Tsunami," finished Izune.

"Ah, my prey knows my name. I shall honor you with a quick death," sneered Tsunami as he pulled the Sharkskin from its belt. He held it high in his hand…

And higher it went…

And higher… The sword had pulled itself right out of Tsunami's hand. Tsunami's eyes widened, reaching to each of his sides for the Lightning Rods, but they, too, pulled right out from his grip. The three swords descended from the sky, impaling and cleaving through the remainder of Tsunami's followers.

Triumphantly, Momoro rose, "You didn't think it would be that easy, did you? Now, join your followers to their end…" With a wave of his hand, the Lightning Rod Swords had turned, their points pressing into Tsunami's back. Tsunami, however, followed his hand.

He snickered, "Akatsuki, huh?"

Momoro's eyes widened, "What… We're not…"

"Don't lie to me, boy. You're wearing Kisame's ring. I've tried to steal that ring right off the hand of Kisame himself," Tsunami started. "Truth is, I've a ring like that too."

Roku had jumped from his tree and begun an approach on Tsunami, "Do you now?"

Izune answered for him, "On his right hip, in that bag."

Tsunami reached into the bag Izune pointed out and held up the ring for Roku to see. 'Blue.'

"So it still exists…" Roku mused. "It was said to have been destroyed in a massive explosion…"

"Dad told me that story!" Momoro blurted.

Ignoring this, Roku continued, "How did you find it?"

"I'm a bit of a collector, if you didn't know," Tsunami responded, adding his high-pitched laugh to it. "I've traveled the world gathering as many jutsu and artifacts as I could. It cost me a good amount of money to buy this ring off a man, and I know what it means, so there's only one way you'll get it off me."

"He wants to join us," Izune stated casually.

"What's with this girl? Is she…"

"Yes, I'm psychic," she answered as she faced him. Tsunami glared up at the headband-hidden eyes, but she simply giggled, "And you can stop thinking about killing me now. I can destroy your brain in just a thought."

"Bah… Either way, the girl's right," he continued as he reached into another pouch, pulling out a cigarette. "I've taken on so many opponents in my life, I need something new, something more… and what's more than a Bijuu?"

Roku smiled a little, "I like your attitude… Keep the ring and come with us."

Tsunami nodded as he lit the cigarette, "Ha… Just like that? Just a warning, but I can't enter the Hidden Waterfall Village, nor can I enter the Hidden Wave or Rain…"

"The Rain is our headquarters."

"Never mind that last part then…" Tsunami puffed a cloud. "I'm sure you require rest, though, so for tonight, we'll bunk in my headquarters outside of the village. And then…?"

"We return to the Hidden Rain and wait for the others." Roku finished, his eyes gleaming in the afternoon light.

Next Chapter: 'I am Death'