Chapter 19:

A Dark Day: Plan to Eradicate the Rain

Yahiko had really been enjoying the last couple of weeks. After the harsh conditions and situations he had been forced to go through, this past fortnight had seemed like a divine vacation. While he was still an upstanding member of the ShinSekai as well as important spy for the Village, he was finally home. He woke up everyday to his beautiful wife making him tea or breakfast, he could play with his two daughters and watch them grow up. Today was one such day.

He awoke in his bed. He could hear the sounds of Konan already busy in the kitchen. He lay there for a few minutes, smiling to himself, his eyes closed, just enjoying the comfort and warmth, before sighing and pushing himself up.

The blue head looked up as he wandered, yawning, into the kitchen. "Morning, sleepyhead," Konan said playfully. Yahiko sank into a kitchen chair and put his head down on the table, eyes closed. Konan chuckled as she poured him a cup of tea, just as Pippi came bounding down into the kitchen. She seated herself in front of her dad, eyes bright and full of energy just like her father (or atleast, like he used to be). "Good morning, daddy, mom." She chirped. Yahiko grunted in reply, his eyes still closed. "Where's your sister?" Konan asked her, placing a plate with a fried egg in front of her.

"She's got her nose buried in some book again. Bookworm!" Pippi replied in mock disgust. "Hey, now, don't insult books." Konan chided (being an avid reader herself). "Books are great! They're full of such interesting magic, they can transform your mind more than any genjutsu! You could do with some books yourself, young lady." She said sternly. Yahiko merely grunted and mumbled something incoherent.

Just then, Tsuri wandered in, her nose indeed buried in a book. Konan walked around and gave her a big hug and kiss on the cheek, while Pippi stuck her tongue out at her sister behind her mother's back. Yahiko, who had chosen this moment to open his eyes (being startled awake as Konan accidentally kicked his chair), couldn't suppress a giggle. He tousled Pippi's hair before half-heartedly telling her not to be so rude.

The little family ate breakfast together. As was custom, Pippi told her father all about the grandest tales she could muster, adding plenty of pepper and spice to the stories. Tsuri listened interestedly when her parents talked about political matters, asking them questions when she did not understand why people did things the way they did. Indeed, both girls viewed their father as two distinctly different people. Pippi knew him as playful and mischievous, rowdy like her and always up for a bit of fun. Tsuri saw him as more of an intellectual, perhaps not as book smart or knowledgeable about jutsu as her mother, whom she also admired greatly and would have conversations for hours with, but his unique perspective and world outlook formed from his experiences really intrigued her.

Finally, breakfast concluded. Konan, who had taken over the role as their homeschool teacher since they no longer attended the Academy, instructed them to go to the little room they had made their study room. Pippi grumbled and complained as she left, while Tsuri began to help her mother clear up. Yahiko stretched and got up. He was planning on going into town today, to see if he could scrounge up some work and make a little money. He promised, however, to return in the evening and help his daughters with their training.

Yahiko, who had spent so much time away from his family, was as good as his word to them. He finished two odd jobs at top speed, and promptly set off for home at four o clock in the evening. It was on this road that he encountered Orochimaru's messenger, Zetsu.

"Leader has requested a meeting with you, Yahiko."
"Tell him I'll meet him tomorrow."

"It's quite urgent. I don't think he'll like to be kept waiting,"

"I see Sasori's bad habits are rubbing off onto him, hmm? Alright, I'll meet him tonight. I have some private business to attend to."

Zetsu made an impatient noise, but Yahiko merely turned his head, and looked the ninja, half protruding from the ground, emerging as part of the earth itself, directly and deeply in the eyes. Zetsu faltered under the intense, penetrating stare, but when Yahiko spoke, his tone was light. "Good man. Oh, and do remember not to follow me. Trust me. I'll know if you do. And not even our Leader can save you from me."

Cursing under his breath, Zetsu bowed his head in understanding and retracted back into the soil. Yahiko stared for a few minutes to where his head had been, before sighing and continuing on home.

By the time he arrived home, the sun had begun to touch the horizon, and was turning pink. Konan and the kids were just clearing away the supper bowls. As Yahiko walked in, Konan placed a bowl in front of him and gave him a welcoming hug, which he returned gratefully. He kissed his daughters on the cheek and collapsed into his chair. As he ate, he listened intently as Pippi related the events of the day to him, occasionally giving his signature deep belly laugh, reacting to her words and emotions perfectly. "Daddy, you promised us training!" piped up Tsuri. Yahiko smiled fondly at her. "I haven't forgotten, my dear. Go grab your shuriken and kunai and meet me out in the yard."

Yahiko had been training his kids the same way Jiraiya had trained him and Nagato and Konan all those years ago, and to his great pride (and yet damaging to his ego), Pippi and Tsuri were much quicker on the uptake than he had been at that age. This was a fact Konan was especially fond of teasing him with, especially since her chakra control had been and indeed still was better than her two adoptive brothers', which was one of the main reasons she was a world renowned healer.

Nevertheless, Yahiko felt a great sense of comfort, as they were to be the next generation, who would carry on his will and legacy. He wanted to make sure they would be very capable, which is why he was so firm with teaching them himself.

Finally, after an hourlong, grueling session which left both blue-haired girls completely spent, Yahiko concluded it with satisfaction. It was getting dark, and it was about time he headed for his meeting with Orochimaru. He kissed the girls goodnight, told Konan he would be home late, and set off on his way.

He had traveled down the dirt road a short distance before he met Zetsu, who was waiting, concealed, at the exact position Yahiko had met him last. Yahiko, sensing him, called for him to come out into the open. Silently, he lead Yahiko to a secluded area in the forest. Yahiko seated himself in a clearing, he closed his eyes and made a hand sign. "Astral Projection Jutsu" he called out.

In a wooden cabin, hidden in a corner of the world many, many kilometres away, Orochimaru looked up from his desk to see a kaleidoscopic hologram begin to form in front of him. "Glad to finally be in touch, Pein." He greeted.

"You summoned me, Leader?" Yahiko's voice was hard, without any of his usual cheer and mirth. For this was indeed Pein talking, a fearsome, enigmatic warlord whose bloody past and sombre disposition lead his ShinSekai fellows to be wary of his power.

"You have done me great services in the past, Pein." Orochimaru was smiling as he always ways, his snakelike eyes fixated on Yahiko's impassive face. "Now I believe it is my turn to hold up my end of the bargain. I had promised to give you Hanzo as well as the traitor in the Leaf Village who had betrayed you and the Akatsuki. I've summoned you here to tell you that I will now fulfil the first part of that promise."

Yahiko fought hard to keep himself in check, but he couldn't help raise his eyebrows slightly in surprise. Inside, his hidden anger, compartmentalised and associated with his 'Pein' persona, had begun to churn, along with his thirst for revenge. Orochimaru's sharp eyes could not miss these thoughts, his slits boring into Pein's cold blue eyes, staring into his very soul, and his smile widened, knowing he had Pein on the hook. "Now then, let's discuss our plan, shall we?"

Yahiko returned home late at night, to find his wife lying in bed, reading a book by candlelight waiting for him to return. As he entered the bedroom and began to undress, Konan took off her glasses and gave him a smile. But Yahiko seemed distracted, slightly disturbed. He pulled off his black cloak, stripped to the waist and grabbed his night wear to change before a small screen in their room. Reading the mood, Konan waited, watching him in apprehension, to learn of what happened. Finally, Yahiko slid into bed next to her, and in a low voice, explained what had transpired in Orochimaru's makeshift office. Once he was done, Konan's eyes were wide with shock. Heeding her whispered advice, he sat at his desk, and began to compose a letter to the Fourth Hokage.

After several long days, perhaps almost a fortnight, of preparation, the moment arrived. Yahiko adorned the black cloak that identified himself with his organisation. He armed himself with his swords, strapped his kunai pouch to his leg, and slid on his sandals. He was preparing for one of the most dangerous missions he had ever faced, and had prepared himself, physically and mentally as best he could.

It was the early hour of dawn. The sun was not yet visible, the environment bathed in that eerie, serene gray light. Yahiko kissed his sleeping daughters goodbye. He lingered longer than he should have, his heart yearning to just stay and watch over them. But that weight he had carried around all these years, that anger and revenge that had bubbled under the surface for so long, would not allow him peace. With a tremendous effort, he tore away from his daughters, exiting their room. Konan met him at the door, still dressed in her nightclothes, her eyes round and sad. She embraced him, hugging him tightly. He kissed her forehead, before reaching into his collar and pulling out the necklace she had given him so long ago. In synchrony they both kissed it, as a sort of good luck charm. Konan knew her husband was regularly faced with mortal danger. But she knew that this time, he might not make it back.

The cool morning air seemed to sink into his skin. The grass and the leaves were wet with dew, wiping away on his sandals as he walked. As he walked, his expression changed, grew harder and colder. His insides turned to steel, and with each step he drew more into Pein.

Along the walkway, he saw his team. The ShinSekai, minus Orochimaru, would be his only army against an entire military stronghold. At its head stood a man so powerful that he was feared even among the legendary Sannin of the Hidden Leaf, Hanzo of the Salamander.

The members of ShinSekai sat waiting for their commander to arrive. Hidan snoozed on a patch of grass, while Deidara set off small explosions to amuse himself, earning dirty looks from Sasori, wearing his Hiruko puppet.

Kakuzu stood. "It's time." The members of the ShinSekai alerted themselves, and stood, as Pein slowly walked to join them. "Lead the way, Commander."

Pein nodded, and they took off.

They reached the border of the Hidden Rain Village after almost exactly two days. The sun was rising as they skirted the border, not willing to go deep just yet and risk being detected. On Pein's command, they set up camp in a small clearing in the wasteland, away from the path usually taken by Rain Shinobi. Now, they had to wait till sundown.

Not a moment was wasted. They planned and schemed, the battle-hardened Kakuzu and Sasori hatching plans, devising ways to sneak in the village undetected. Orochimaru had given them no instructions, but their commander Pein had one restriction: No one must be killed. Non-lethal takedowns only, and attack only when attacked. This command was not very well received, but his name and power commanded enough respect for no one to voice their complaints.

The hour arrived. The sun was sinking. The rain was falling hard. Silently, the assassins approached the gate. Pein raised his hand to give the signal, and they scattered. Sasori, Kakuzu and Hidan approached the main gate. Sasori had concocted a non-lethal potion, knocking any who ingested it out for a few hours at the least. This was swiftly administered to the ninja at the gate and around it. Kisame took to the water, blending, becoming part of the river, flowing unnoticed right into the very heart of the village, where he was poised to strike. Deidara came from aboe, soaring on one of his clay birds, circling and swooping, keeping an eye on all members of the ShinSekai, ready to incapacitate any threats from above. Kabuto, poised as a spy inside the Village, received the signal when Kisame reached him, taking out several of the inner guard of shinobi. Pein seemed to levitate up to the walls, landing amongst the ninja on patrol. He was quick and efficient, and the last one slid to the floor unconscious without raising the alarm.

The assassins meshed like a well-oiled machine, carrying out their plan effortlessly and cleanly. By morningtime, Pein reflected, they would be the most dangerous and wanted criminals in the world. Finally, he was alerted; the final guard at Hanzo's tower had fallen. The plan was, thus far, working like a charm.

Pein entered the tower, alone. He activated his Rinnegan, and a quick sensory scan revealed a single, powerful chakra, located some floors above. He wasted little time on sightseeing, ascending the tower quickly, until he came to a halt outside the door were Hanzo sat unaware.

Outside the tower, Kabuto smiled. He ran through a series of handsigns, putting up a barrier outside the tower. He conveyed the message to his co-members; Pein was inside the tower. That was when the assassins struck.

Pein blasted the door to Hanzo's room. The ninja was sitting by the fireplace, alone, and was shocked to see such a presence in his vicinity. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

"Don't you recognise me, Hanzo? Or was the murder of twenty innocent shinobi just another night on your blood-soaked calendar?" Pein's voice was low and menacing, belying an anger that Hanzo could feel radiating from him.

"Who-" His eyes widened as Pein stepped into the light. For a moment he stared, not comprehending. Then, his eyes grew solemn. "I knew you'd come for me eventually."

"Do you have any last words?" Pein asked quietly.

Hanzo sneered at him. "Oh I don't intend to die here. I think you don't realise what you're up against. Let me show you."

He struck. His attack was fast, but, expecting it, Pein easily caught his fist, tossing him over his shoulder. Hanzo landed on his feet and launched a double-footed kick, which Pein leapt back to evade. He drew his black swords, glinting in the firelight, just as Hanzo grabbed the scythe that was placed a few feet from where Pein had been standing. The battle began.

The two enemies clashed and parried, sparks flying from their blades, intensity scorching the hearth and stone walls. The two men were aiming to kill. The warrior from the Leaf was far more powerful than Hanzo had realised, as he had forced Hanzo on the defensive and continued to push. His attacks were relentless, and ferocious, and it was all Hanzo could do to counter them. But his face remained cool and impassive, and his movements showed the cold killing force of a hunter; no wasted motion, no mistakes. He slashed and thrusted and Hanzo, seizing the opportunity, wrapped the blades of his scythe around the thrusted blade and pulled him forward, off balance, slamming a fist into his stomach. Winded, now Pein was on the defensive, parrying two slashes from the scythe but failing to evade a flying roundhouse kick to the head, sending him flying. He landed on his back but immediately, using his momentum, rolled to his feet and leapt out of the way as Hanzo sent a fire-style jutsu at him. He was vulnerable in the air, an opening Hanzo had forced him into, following him up, slashing his scythe and managing to scrape his stomach. Pein landed on his feet and lithely leapt forward again, bring both swords slamming down, but Hanzo raised his scythe to block them. Hanzo, both older and stronger, pushed his scythe and the swords away from him, throwing Pein off-balance again, and another roundhouse kick slammed into Pein, this time his lower back, arching him back like a bow, before Hanzo landed on his feet and threw a spinning heel kick, colliding with the side of his head and sending him flying into the wall. Dimly, disoriented, Pein spat out some blood, shaking his head. Hanzo was coolly walking toward him, clearly believing he was stronger after all. "Do you see the foolishness of you assault? Do you realise the futility of your efforts? I have seen a hundred battlefields more perilous than this one, boy! A green amateur like you could never hope to beat a man of my stature-" He slammed a kick into Pein's stomach- "and skill." Another heavy kick to the head, knocking him backward, reeling. But to Hanzo's chagrin, when Pein lifted his head, he was smiling thinly, wiping the blood from his mouth. Hanzo began walking toward him, but Pein flew into a series of handsigns, and Hanzo broke into a run, but he was too late.

"Rinne Summoning: Six Paths Jutsu!" There was a poof of smoke, and when it cleared, five other men, similarly dressed in black cloak, stood gathered around Pein. "What games are these?" Hanzo shouted.

"Games? These are no games. These are the faces of five of the men who died that night. Five men I would fight and die for. Five men who died for me."

Hanzo scoffed, and leapt in for an attack. One of the new additions, a burly, bald man lifted his hands and pointed them at Hanzo. To his horror, the burly man's hands seemed to bend backward, revealing what appeared to be a machinated firearm. "Now begone." Pein commanded.

The big man fired, blasting Hanzo and the area all around him, allowing no room to escape. When the dust cleared, Hanzo remained, still standing, panting and injured, but his scythe protectively in front of him. Despite himself, Pein was impressed; it had managed to deflect most of the blows. Now Hanzo was the one wiping blood and forming handsigns.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

There, at last, Hanzo's signature salamander emerged, smashing through the surrounding wall and out onto the balcony. Pein smiled. If Hanzo was calling in his salamander, he was bringing in his biggest guns, whereas Pein had plenty of guns left.

One of the other Paths, a long haired female, ran through some signs herself. Out of nowhere, emerged a three-headed flying dog and from the ground erupted a water crab. They attacked simultaneously, directly assaulting the salamander. Of course, Hanzo's pet was well-versed in combat and was up to the challenge, but this left Hanzo alone to fight Pein's remaining paths. Two bodies attacked. Hanzo did a great job of deflecting them both, keeping them at length, firing off fire and water style jutsu. He soon realised neither was equipped to do jutsu, but no sooner had he thought this when the burly man launched another set of missiles in his direction. Unable to dodge, he managed to block them, but left himself open to the two Paths he was fighting, who landed a series of blows, sending him flying into the balcony. They flew in for the kill, but Hanzo, whose scythe was attached to his hand via a chain, yanked this chain. The scythe soared behind them, and, unable to dodge, they were sliced in half. Their dismembered bodies fell to the ground.

Hanzo had no time to rest, however. The original Pein had leapt in to fill the spots, and once again the air grew hot from the sparks as sword clashed with scythe. Hanzo fired a jutsu off at close range, and Yahiko leapt up to dodge it. Hanzo made to follow him in the air, but saw a Path flying toward him. He had barely a minute to register shock, as this was one of the Paths he had just disembowelled, before the Path blasted him with a series of taijutsu strikes, sending him careening back into the wall. Coughing, blinking blood out of his eyes, he looked up to see his salamander beating back the crab, while the dog lay on its side, breathing, but severely injured, with deep gashes and burns running along its side.

To his horror and amazement, the other Path he had sliced was walking toward it. The Weapon Path fired off a series of missiles at it, all of which landed, injuring the salamander and immobilising it long enough for the other Path, a long haired, gaunt man, to place his hand on the lizard. He pulled, appearing as if ripping off a large bandage, but in his hand was a semi-solid, milky white substance, which he seemed to pull straight from the core of the reptile. He pulled until the thread broke, and the salamander gave one last roar of pain, before collapsing, dead.

Hanzo sat, his back against the wall, injured and bleeding, having lost all hope. The original Pein was walking toward him slowly with both swords drawn at his sides. "It seems there's far more mystery around you.. More than even I dare ask. This has been one of the most bizarre battles of my life."

Pein stopped before him, and bent down. "Look into my eyes," he said softly. Hanzo looked; the eyes were of no human he had ever seen before. "This is a power bestowed upon me by the legendary Sage of Six Paths." Hanzo gave a sharp intake of breath. "My destiny is far greater than you can imagine. This battlefield was never supposed to be my grave."

He stood, and continued on coldly. "But you will die here. Miserable, alone in the tower you built to protect yourself, to assure all these people of your leadership; a testament to your arrogance and inflated sense of self-worth."

Hanzo's gaze was low, looking out over the tower. His eyes were sad, his breath haggard. "Was your hatred of me so great you authorised the destruction of my entire Village?"

Pein looked down sharply, sure he had misheard. "What are you talking about?"

Hanzo gave a sad sort of chuckle, looking up at his assassin. "It seems we have both been betrayed by the same man. Your cloak gives you away; you were sent by Orochimaru, were you not?

Lookk there." He pointed. Pein looked, and a fist of ice seemed to clutch his heart as he realised there was a chakra barrier around the tower. Using his special sight given by the Rinnegan, he looked out, and his eyes widened in terror: the village lay in flames.

Hanzo was watching him, noting the panic in his eyes. "You came to kill me. I accept that I will meet my death here. But, young warrior, you will not be allowed to leave this land alive. We shall see if your destiny is truly as great as you say, or are you merely resigned to die here, a mere pawn in the grand scheme of a terrible man."

Pein looked down into the eyes of his old nemesis. He was caught like a deer in the headlights; he did not know what to do. He looked out at the Village. He could see people, civilians, running scared, clutching their children. One by one they were struck down by raining weaponry, until the last person left standing was cut down. A cold fury replaced his panic, and he looked down into the eyes of the reason this whole affair had started in the first place. Any mercy left in his heart was replaced by wrath and betrayal, and he plunged his cold sword into the heart of his old enemy.

He gazed out from the balcony. The wind whipped his cloak around, and the rain fell, but it could not quell the blazing flames, the only life remaining in this ghost town. The screams of hundreds of innocents seemed to echo to him, swirling around in his mind, threatening to drive him insane. His eyes were glazed over, the fire reflected in their glassy stare. Somewhere deep within him rose a terrible roar of anguish.

He tore through the midnight air, racing atop the rooftops in a blind fury. He rocketed through the landscape with a single thought on his mind: kill.

He ran and ran, but he felt no fatigue. He had no fear in him, no doubt. He looked around madly, until, all of a sudden, he spotted him; Orochimaru stood atop a hill, watching him, a broad and evil grin on his face. Letting out a bellow of anger, Pein blasted from the ground, moving so fast Orochimaru could not have hoped to dodge it, but he stopped cold: Seven blades pierced his body, from different angles, suspending him in the air a few feet from Orochimaru's face. For a moment, he hung in the air, not feeling the pain, gazing down with hatred and pure loathing into the snakelike face of his organisation's leader, still grinning. Then he fell, landing on his knees, seven sharp blade protruding from him, as the other members of ShinSekai emerged from the shadows.

"My, my, such anger! And you dared to raise a hand against your own leader too! I will have to punish you for that, then, shall I?" He raised his hand threateningly.

Pein looked at him without fear, without caution. "Hit your best shot." He spat.

"Then again, you did defeat Hanzo all on your own. I must admit, I expected you two to tear each other apart. It truly is a fearsome power, isn't it?" His grin widened. "Your Rinnegan."

Pein felt hatred pulse through his veins, but it was once more tinged with panic; Orochimaru had never mentioned the Rinnegan before. How much did he know?

"If I were to fight you now, there is a chance I might not win. I've worked far too long to be killed right here, right now, on the cusp of realizing my dreams. Besides, why lift a finger, when I have an entire organization at my command? Make sure his last breath leaves his body before you throw him over the cliff." He instructed his subordinates, turning to leave.

Pein knelt, seething. When he spoked, his voice was somewhat calm,, but carried a note of deadly threat. "Stand down now."

Kabuto stepped forward. "You're not in a position to negotiate." He raised his hand, which began to glow green.

Pein snapped. "Fine.. then I'll take you all on!"

He rose, to everybody's amazement, the seven blades ejecting from his body. He leapt at Kabuto and easily blasted him backwards. He pulled out his sword and slashed everyone in sight. He deflected Hidan's scythe away, spinning him around and impaling him through the back; he pulled out his sword and sliced the head of one of Kakuzu's monsters, simultaneously deflecting an attack by Kisame's Samehada. He smashed his head into Deidara, dodging out of the way of Hiruko's tail, grabbing it and stabbing its poison-tipped point into Kakuzu, taking another of his five lives. "Almighty Push!" he cried, blasting away attacks from Kisame, Kabuto and Deidara. He began to charge forward, but suddenly felt a sharp pain in his stomach; the immortal Hidan had slashed him with his scythe, a gaping wound clear on his chest. Pein used his Deva Path to pull Hidan in toward him, slicing his arm off with his sword, yanking out the scythe from his body and swinging it around. But Kisame's Shark Skin blade sank its teeth into his shoulder, sucking his chakra out, and he felt his power ebb. He slashed and stabbed and managed to unseat it, but was blasted with a lightning style jutsu from one of Kakuzu's monsters. He fell to his knees, and was blasted away by one of Deidara's clay bombs. For a moment he lay flat on his back, but his desire would not fade; to everybody's amazement, once again, he began to pull himself to his feet.

They all stared, wondering what it was that possessed him, but they were no longer apprehensive about his power; he was at their mercy. They struck at him, slashing open his body, firing bombs and jutsu away at him. Sasori's puppets rained down weaponry on him, but he took each attack and struggled to his feet each time. In the end, he stood on sheer willpower, shaking, unable to even walk a few steps. His breath came in rasps, blood rising in his throat. Kabuto walked slowly to kim, and rammed his handblade through Pein's chest. He pulled his arm out, and Pein finally fell, no longer moving. His Rinnegan faded; everything turned blurry. "We're finished with him." Kabuto announced, kicking him into the air, up and over the cliff. It was a short journey down, and Yahiko hit the ground hard, rolling a few feet before coming to a stop. His punctured heart stubbornly continued to pump blood, but it grew weaker and weaker each time.

Yahiko could not hear, he could not feel anything beside the roaring pain in his entire body. He could not move. Tears stung his eyes as he thought of everyone who had died that night. In his mind, he regretted so many things; his departure from Konoha, being consumed by revenge. The faces of his brothers and sisters, his wife, his adoptive father, his teacher, his mentor the Hokage…. They flashed before his eyes. The last image he conjured in his mind was the family picture they had just taken; the shining faces of his wife and daughters smiled at him as everything faded around him.

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I got to this chapter a little later than I had intended, and I don't think it came out as good as I had hoped, but I hope you guys enjoy it nonetheless. Please do review and comment, and I hope I have you hooked on the story and seeing where it goes. Look forward to the next one!