The noonday sun stood high above the trail, shadows pressed down against the leaves. A few remaining wisps of mist remained before fading into the loam, darkening through the sky.
The sword chopped downward rapidly, slashing through the trees. Leaves descended rapidly, cut down pieces of leaves falling rapidly.
Izumo cast a glance over his shoulder. Damn! He gritted his teeth. He's still right on my tail. I can't handle him without Kotetsu. He ducked under one of the branches.
The sound of pursuit halted. Not a single footfall echoed from the mountain's dark ascended path. The silence of the trail grew peaceful, suggesting a peaceful weather of cold wind.
Izumo allowed himself to breathe out. He's given up, then? He glanced over his shoulder. His eyes widened as he caught the red blur of motion passing over his shoulder. Shit!
A bolt of solid iron passed over Izumo's shoulder. The rock in front of him shattered as a pulse of brilliant crimson light entered it.
Izumo whirled. He raised his kunai, staring at the figure before him. His eyes narrowed. Not good. This guy, from what Genma said, is a sadist beyond compare. I probably won't be able to handle him alone. He glanced over his shoulder. Maybe if I use the Substitution Technique? No, it'll take too long to set up. It's not instant, and if I take the time he'll probably slash me in half in the meantime.
Akaihi approached, his hand grasping one of the massive swords at his back. "Come on, then!" he barked in a challenging voice.
Izumo frowned. There's no choice. This is where I meet my end, then? He glanced over his shoulder. A rockfall. I guess so. His hands rose defensively. Then, I'm going to die fighting.
Akaihi's lips curled upward, once again revealing his eerie sliver smile. "Great. I'm gonna enjoy seeing that look of determination on your face turn into emptiness."
Izumo gritted his teeth. Well, he's not wrong. But if I die protecting the village—that's all I ask.
Akaihi drew out his sword. His eyes narrowed. "Then, goodbye, you bastard. See you in hell!"
Kotetsu leapt downward, the mace slamming into the back of Akaihi's shoulders. The ringing sound of metal on metal, like a massive bell tolling, echoed through the clearing.
Akaihi whirled around. His massive sword cut under Kotetsu's feet. A small portion of the sandal fell to the ground.
"I can't abandon you, man!" Kotetsu shouted, jumping backward. "Even if you tell me to!"
"Don't be a fool!" Izumo repeated, his eyes wide with shock. "You can't take the risk of being wrong!"
"You're my partner! It's my job to make sure you stay alive!" Kotetsu persisted, his gaze serious.
Akaihi chuckled. "That's touching. Really interesting commentary on society we got here. Too bad, it's a tragedy. Really, the kind of thing that ought to be played out with kabuki masks." His free sword swung downward again.
Kotetsu's brow furrowed. He leapt backward, studying his bent mace as he did so. The tip of his sword grazed Akaihi's nose. A trail of blood ran down Akaihi's nose. I don't get him at all.
"The hell are you talking about?" Izumo demanded. He drew his position upward, sweat running down his face.
"I hate that tragedy." Akaihi's eyes narrowed. "Friendship? It's a biological impulse. Do you even know why you're giving up your life? I mean, sure, you've got some bullshit reasons for it. But do you really know why you're doing it? My guess is, you know none of that shit." He adjusted his grip on the swords. "My guess is, the whole reason you're doing any of this is because you can't justify your existences any other way. You don't know what you're fighting for, or why. Rather, it's all about what you base your life around. Principles. Order. But all that's a rat's excuse. A rat's reasoning. A rat's way of thinking. You're scared, aren't you?" A grin crossed his face. "You're scared that the reason you're fighting doesn't have anything to do with you. It's all because of nothingness. You got nothing more certain than the here and now."
Izumo tensed. He adjusted his grip, his eyes narrowed. He's moving for some reason. He's yammering on, and honestly not a single word he says makes any sense, but if we underestimate him we'll be the ones dying.
This guy. Kotetsu's eyes narrowed. He'd end up tearing us apart if we're not on our game.
"The truth is, real strength dwells in self-reliance. Reliance on me. Reliance on my own motives." Akaihi paused. "Do you know why I'm able to defeat you so easily?"
Kotetsu glanced at his mace. His eyes widened. It got bent halfway back. This guy— he's really something else.
"Magnet Style," Izumo stated after a long pause. "It certainly doesn't have to do with any kind of authority in which you placed your faith."
Akaihi's eyes narrowed. "Oh. Looks like we got a smart-ass genin in row one." He spread his arms wide. "But yeah! You got the right idea," he continued in a lazy voice.
"He's using the magnetic generation function to force his armor away from his body." Izumo paused. "As long as he keeps that up, he'll be fine."
"But it's not conducted through his armor, right?" Kotetsu started. "He has no way of conducting it that way."
"He doesn't have to conduct it through his armor. If you look carefully, you'll notice that his armor isn't focused on his skin. It's slightly dispersed from his body." Izumo's eyes narrowed. "By doing that, he can prevent himself from being injured very easily. Also, with that kind of advantage, he can make sure that he can keep it around his body but still move it as necessary."
"So we can't kill him using chakra, and we can't hurt him with metal. Is that what you're telling me?" Kotetsu grasped the mace tightly. His eyes narrowed.
Izumo sighed. "Basically. There's only a very limited number of ways to penetrate that kind of defense, and so we have a lot of limits as far as we can do."
"The main reason is exactly that. The fact of the matter is that this world is that fucking simple. The reason I'll win is right in my hands. It has zippo to do with your soul or your desires or whatever. The reason you're fighting or whatever has nothing to do with why you win." Akaihi drew up his blades. Laughter echoed from his lips. "The main reason is, compared to you cretins, I'M FUCKING INVINCIBLE!" He lunged forward. The swords slashed forward rapidly.
Izumo's hands clapped together rapidly. "Water Release: Starch Syrup Capturing Field!"
"What?!" Akaihi's eyes widened. He glanced down at his boots. "Damn! You got me agaaaainnnn!" he whined in a loud voice.
"For the most part, it's certainly true that beating this kind of technique is difficult. However!" Izumo raised a finger. "It's not impossible. If we can hit him from a distance, you'll be able."
Kotetsu's eyes widened. "You got him!" He threw his fist upward in the air. "I can definitely get him if you set him up this well!"
Izumo nodded. "He can't disperse chakra that isn't passing directly into the armor. So Water Release can handle this technique just fine." He paused. "Then, if you proceed to attack through the armor shielding, you can pierce his heart with the opportunity afforded you."
Kotetsu grinned. "All right! We gotta go for the heart!" He rushed forward, his hand extending. He grasped a branch from the ground, running toward the pair.
"Heh." The air darkened. Crimson light swelled up around Akaihi's body. His blades glowed brightly. "This is why I hate you types. The moment you start winning, you suddenly get arrogant." Akaihi's eyes widened. "Cheering and shit. The hell is that supposed to do? I'll tell you! It's self-directed cheerleading!"
A flash of light shot through the air, engulfing the space of Akaihi's body.
"No! Wait!" Izumo's hand extended. He managed to get out of that before! There's no way even someone as talented as Hakka can bring someone back from the dead!
"Just because my feet are immobilized doesn't mean I can't move my arms! This self-congratulation is shitty!" Akaihi slashed upward.
"And you're still an idiot." Kotetsu's hand slashed sideways. His hand, grasping a kunai, pierced rapidly into the side of Akaihi's body.
"Oh, you mean the genjutsu you put on me while you were coming?" Akaihi questioned softly. The blade twisted around rapidly. Blood trailed from the injury created by Kotetsu's hand.
Kotetsu's body fell in two pieces. Blood christened Akaihi's body, drowning his face in blood. "Sure, I didn't know exactly where you were coming from. But given the nature of this sword it doesn't matter. This kind of sword likes to drown in blood, and so, it's easy to swing and easy to cut with." He grinned broadly. "And the best way to shut up idiots like you is to cut you in two parts."
Kotetsu's torso shot rapidly through the air. Blood rushed downward from the twisting form. His last expression was one of surprise, as though he stared at a figure he could not understand—a moment of distant departure that marked his body's cut pieces from his mortal coil.
Izumo screamed loudly, his eyes wide. No words echoed from his mouth as he stared at the motionless body.
"How does it feel?" Akaihi questioned, spreading his arms wide. His lips curled upward. Blood trailed down his lips. "I'll take some pleasure in huntin' you to death, too. It's no skin off my nose. Please! Come attack me!"
Izumo ran away, his hands clapped together. He fled into the darkness of the forest.
"Heh." Akaihi's smile broadened. "That look on your face is what I live for," he went on, his hands sheathing the swords. The shadows gathered across the ground.
The sky darkened. A white cloud passed over the sun for a moment, sending a shadow across the ground.
Genma slipped behind one of the trees in the long line. His eyes narrowed. I can't interfere. Putting aside usual Akatsuki, this guy is going to lose. He looked down at the body. His fingers pressed briefly to the throat.
Akaihi walked away, his laughter echoing from his lips. His eyes narrowed.
Genma emerged from the tree line. When this guy showed up it was our complete loss. The only thing I can do for my comrades now. He knelt. His fingers scooped a photograph from the corner of Kotetsu's pocket. Is to carry on their last wishes. He closed his eyes. Tears ran down his face. I feel regret for it, but there's nothing I can do.
"You damn coward." Akaihi emerged from the trees, his eyes narrowed. His shadow crossed Genma's back.
Genma gasped.
Akaihi rushed forward. His knee drove rapidly into Genma's waist.
Coughing, Genma rolled over. A trickle of water trailed from his life.
"You're not going to die. Don't worry. I'm just going to beat you within an inch of your life." Akaihi's eyes narrowed. "You're always the same, you piece of shit. An administrator. A guy who hides behind paperwork and pretends he has nothing to do with anything. You're an investigator, but you can't carry through with the killing. It's just not in your nature."
"You bastard." Genma gripped his side, his face darkening. "For a minute, step back and think. What do you think—you're doing? What do you think you're doing?!"
"Look at yourself. Everything collapsed around you." Akaihi paused. "It almost pays me back for ten years in that hellhole. But you know what?" He kicked Genma again. "I'll leave you with one more thing to remember me by. Ten years costs more than a few dead comrades." He pulled out a kunai from Genma's pocket. Reaching downward, he cut the pattern of his name in kanji into Genma's neck.
Genma screamed loudly. His hand tightened on the grass. Clumps of grass tore upward.
"Shut up, you damn baby. If I didn't have to get that jinchūriki still, I would kill you. Slowly and painfully." Akaihi rose to his feet. He turned in a circle. "Let's see. She went that way?" A broad grin crossed his face. "Let's get going." His sword slid back into its sheath.
Coughing, Genma leaned backward. His fist clenched as he stared at the sky. "That bastard." He closed his eyes, his eyes narrowed. "He really doesn't get it." He forced himself upward, blood running down the side of his neck. "Now, for Asuma." He crept quietly through the forest. After a long pause he sighted Asuma's motionless body. He winced. At the least he wasn't tortured to death. There is that small mercy in all these things that have occurred—all the harshness that has befallen me.
The noon sun dipped as Genma crept closer, studying the motionless bodies. He frowned. He's written something here. His eyes studied the kanji drying in the grass. Is it some kind of message? A warning to my people? What's he written here? He studied the dark blood-red coloration on the grass.
Hidan screamed loudly, motionless on the grass and the sand. Cold wind blew across the ground.
Genma studied the message silently. How maddening. He frowned. It doesn't make much sense either. Peace. Did he become the Prajñā Group before he died? What the hell kind of message is that to leave behind?
Asuma's face remained empty.
Genma sighed heavily. Seriously, what a mess. How am I supposed to report this to Tsunade? Under the circumstances, it's a really bad situation—really bad. Seriously, seriously bad— He flickered backward, fading into the windows.
The bushes rustled in the wind, a high light descending from the sun.
A/N: So last week I received several reviews, all from a guest (I'm pretty sure the same one, given grammar and tone). I'll abbreviate my response—first, while they are pretty amusing, I had to turn on review moderation because it was quicker than deleting each profanity-laden review one by one. Second, they did raise a legitimate complaint; namely, why isn't this marked as a crossover? I planned to change that when a certain event occurs. You'll know what that is when it happens.
However, it is only fair to note that it's already listed as a crossover in the warnings, so I'm not exactly sure how it's not already noted.