AN: This chapter is mostly an exposition dump so if you don't care about some background to the Mayfly then you can freely skip. To those that will read, enjoy.

…

Wasteland

Act 1:

Chapter 5

One month earlier…

"Tsuchikage-sama, Domon Katsu of the Explosive Corps. has arrived."

"You have no need to flatter the boy with such an honourable title, Jirou. You can merely introduce him as my disliked son-in-law." Ōnoki replied, scribbling his signature on a package of paperwork before nudging it aside and continuing to the next.

"Very well, Tsuchikage," The male assistant spoke, clearing his throat before correcting himself. "Your disliked son-in-law is here, sir."

"Thank you, Jirou."

The assistant nodded before stepping aside, permitting entry to the Kage's cluttered office as Domon Katsu stepped inside before the door was firmly closed behind him. Ōnoki sparred the blonde man a glance as he awkwardly stood before his desk, the office too clustered to fit any source of seating, and sighed as he returned his focus to the pages upon pages of paperwork he was currently plagued with.

"Couldn't meet me in person, boy?" He questioned, having identified the cleverly disguised clay clone the moment the captain entered his domain.

The clay clone Domon threw his padded shoulders into a shrug. "Too dangerous to leave camp, old man. Not with Konohagakure breathing down our necks. Best I remain with my men rather than take the travel to Iwagakure to drop off some paperwork, yes?" Ōnoki grunted, obviously disapproving of the decision. The again, there was little to nothing he supported Domon on. Especially his marriage to his daughter and general existence.

"Have there been updates, in the least?"

"Depends what you consider an update, yes?" Domon withdrew the file he had smuggled beneath his arm and dumped the swollen folder upon the elder Kage's desk, Ōnoki grumbling as his neatly stacked paperwork was thrown about from the force.

He placed down his quill and opened the faded file, thumbing through the poorly handwritten reports. "Has there been any mention of possible alliances Kusagakure might have?"

"No."

"Names which we can trace?"

"No."

"Evidence which confirms our suspicions?"

"No."

Ōnoki tossed the folder as the cloned and the blonde flinched as he was harmlessly showered in the flying paperwork. "Then what update do you have then, boy!?"

"Well maybe if you read, you'd learn, yes?" Domon whimpered, his victim card failing to influence his father-in-law's abusive behavior. "It's just all hearsay, sir. Nothing we can use yet."

"Then leave my office, boy. I have no time for you until you are able to bring me something usable." Ōnoki pointed firmly at his door until the clone sighed and turned away to leave. Once he did, the old man climbed down from his chair, mumbling about his back and troublesome son-in-laws as he hunched over to retrieve the papers which were scattered upon the floor.

"Does Mayfly mean anything to you?"

The simple, nonchalant question caused Ōnoki to freeze. After a moment, his shock wore away and slowly, he sat up to see Domon leaning against the closed door, patiently awaiting an answer before he left permanently.

"Why?" Ōnoki asked quietly, eyeing his disfavored family member.

"On one of my stakeouts, a couple of quacks passed me by mentioned it. Thought you'd like to know since you refuse to read my report about it, yes?" Yes, yes he would like to know about it. That name hadn't been dared to be muttered since the Second World War. The captain had brought him a bombshell and didn't even realize it.

Ōnoki ushered the blonde man back and Domon resumed his position in front of the heavy desk, perfectly oblivious to that which he just implied. After shutting out the peaceful view of sleepy Iwagakure as the curtains to the windows were drawn for paranoid privacy, the Tsuchikage returned to his chair. "History was not your strongest subject, was it, boy?"

"I got a D." Domon replied sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. He had gone to school to be a shinobi, not to become a historian.

Ōnoki sighed. "Then I will have to educate you because obviously you do not know of the Mayfly."

"No, I do not." Domon wholly admitted though the name rang a distant bell, but nothing came of it. He probably had been asleep during that lesson.

"You do know what a kekkei genkai is?"

"I'm not that dull, old man." Domon sniffled.

Ōnoki scoffed. "I'm surprised. But I shall educate you anyway." Domon admitted a groan at the unwanted history lesson but the old man spared him a glare which said 'you-brought-this-upon-yourself', or perhaps his signature 'You-are-my-dumb-son-in-law-and-I-am-Tsuchikage-so-deal-with-it.'. Either or. "Very well, allow me to start at the very beginning of the dawn of shinobi." Another groan rumbled in Domon's throat but it was suppressed by the pure weight of the glower the Kage smothered him with.

"Now then, let us begin. When shinobi came to be, not all were alike. Some were born with remarkable abilities. These abilities were known as Kekkei Genkai and whilst some argue the Sharingan to be the most superior today, before its extinction, it was the Mayfly. Those which possessed the Mayfly were the definition of the perfection shinobi. Capable of erasing their chakra signatures by fusing themselves with nature itself for the perfect kill and the best sensors around, able to pick up a person's chakra miles away. That was why Kusagakure stood as the world leader for nearly a millennium, because those with the Mayfly hailed from there."

"Is that why you're so ruffled, old man, yes?" The Domon clone guessed aloud as he clicked his slick, silver lighter for the cigarette propped between his stubbly lips. Following the question, a thick, hard-covered book soared into his face, making the clay creation yelp in mock pain and unlit cigarette in his mouth to be crushed from the impact.

"Allow me to finish, boy!" Ōnoki barked, hand settled on another, equally heavy book beside him, readied to toss it as well. Domon whined, gingerly touching his nose that now displayed an unnatural indent that made his glasses sag and nodded hastily to avoid more unneeded abuse as disposed of the ruined cigarette into his vest pocket.

"Good, now before I was rudely interrupted." Ōnoki resumed and Domon permitted himself to relax a little as the old man removed his hand from his novel arsenal. "The Mayfly was the most powerful and feared kekkei genkai of its time. But, that all ended with the Second World War. The thing about kekkei genkai is they do not remain the same throughout generations. They mutate, like viruses, and affects the wielder both physically and mentally. Most times not for the better. I can guarantee a century ago people did not possess the overwhelming desire to eat dirt and those gross mutations you do today, boy." Domon frowned, glancing self-consciously as his gloved hands and cleared his throat quietly, adjusting his bandanna around his neck. "The Mayfly, unfortunately, endured these mutations as well and its power was lost in legend. Today, it is only mentioned for its infamy."

"What type of mutations?" Domon asked carefully, unconsciously tucking another cigarette in the corner of his mouth.

Ōnoki leant heavily into his leather chair, face etched into a deep frown as years of repressed memories resurfaced. "I never knew a wielder of the Mayfly myself, but I heard tales of their pride and dignity. They were true warriors. Never stabbed their enemies in the back and respected their foes. That was why it was obvious something was amiss when the Second World War began and rumours of mass murders and mutilations arose and those with the Mayfly were accused of causing them. I did not believe at first. Then, during a march through a village on the outskirts of Amegakure, I personally witnessed it."

"What happened?" Domon insisted, now genuinely curious as he mindlessly flickered his lighter a few inches off its mark of the cigarette and the bottom of his clay chin began to bubble and distort from the heat.

"The village had been massacred. Everyone. Men, women, even children. It had been a civilian village, not remotely involved in the war. Their bodies, what was left, had been desecrated." Ōnoki flinched, sighing as he sat up, resting his elbows on his desk as he laid against his folded, wrinkled hands. "We were searching for survivors when a shinobi stepped from one of the houses. He was drenched in blood and dragging a body behind him. We identified him as hailing from Kusagakure from his headband and thought he was doing to the same as us and searching for survivors. I remember how he smiled at us and I noticed there was flesh wedged in his teeth. Then, in a blink, his fleet surrounded us, five of them. They emerged from the ground and we had not been able to sense their chakra, not even our sensors. They were equally bloody and wearing the remains of the villagers on their vests. The Mayfly."

Domon emitted a startled gasped. "Wait…they killed those people and…ate them, yes?"

"Yes." Ōnoki nodded, cringing at the memory. "We hardly survived. They attacked us like animals, not with weapons but of teeth and hands. They bore plant-like mutations from their bodies that reflected our blades and avoided our jutsu by fusing into their surroundings. Within minutes, half of my team and two others which had been traveling with us were massacred. We were forced to flee. They captured one of my men and took glee as they ripped him apart, tearing off his legs so he could not run with us. As we fled, I will never forget his screams and the sound that was made as they ate him alive. They were no longer men but creatures from the depths of Hell itself."

"God." Domon gagged. He repacked his cigarette, suddenly not in the mood to satisfy his programmed desire to smoke at the moment.

"What remained of us returned to the current Tsuchikage and reported our findings only to be told there were reports coming from all over about similar attacks by Mayfly users and teams were also going missing at an alarming rate. Not from Iwagakure but all the Hidden Villages involved in the war. We had been one of the lucky few to escape alive. Shortly afterwards, a secret Kage Summit was arranged to address the problem with the Mayfly."

"Wait a minute, the Kages met in the midst of war, yes?"

"They had no choice, boy!" Ōnoki snarled. "This is was no longer about personal disagreements it was about a bloodline that was not only single handingly conjuring the war but slaughtering innocents and shinobi in droves. It was the largest genocide ever witnessed and Kusagakure refused to cooperate. They were winning the war despite the fact their shinobi were freely murdering civilians also. Something had to be done."

"And what was that something?"

Ōnoki sighed. "Mass extermination."

Domon gaped. "They arranged the elimination of an entire bloodline?"

"Yes. For a brief period, the villages worked together to eliminate those with the Mayfly. Kusagakure was infiltrated and those with the bloodline were gathered and executed on the spot. Including women and children and those which displayed no symptoms of this new mutation. It was too far a risk to allow anyone alive that might pose a new threat. It had been witnessed what even one wielder of the Mayfly was capable of."

"I…I never heard of this." Domon whispered, flabbergasted. Or perhaps he had. Afterall, he hardly paid attention in school. "How did something to that degree not cause an uproar or another war?"

"Because it was being handled by the Five Great Shinobi Nations. Each village had its way of hushing people. Whilst I do not know myself of what measures were carried out to ensure silence about the matter, it obviously worked because you can't even find it written in a history book and anyone that blabbed were assumed delusional. The extinction of the Mayfly is commonly explained as the bloodline functioning as a brain cancer and killing those which possessed it which explained why some went insane and resorted to cannibalism. Shortly after, the war was concluded and most of the current Kage retired. Including the Second Tsuchikage whom I was chosen personally to replace. I assume this decision is the cause of most of the Kage's retirements."

Ōnoki stood from his chair, rounding his desk and giving Domon a stern look. "Now do you understand about the degree of this issue, boy? If someone possessing the Mayfly survived and Kusagakure has them in their possession, there is no telling of what their plans are. Nothing good, I assure though." He rubbed his chin, eyes closed thoughtfully. "Kusagakure was left in shambles after the Second World War. They were stripped of their title, bloodline and ordered to repay the entire debt of the war. It is not farfetched they harboured a grudge due to that. It explains their suspicious activity as of late."

"You think they were trying to reproduce the Mayfly, yes?"

"Yes I do. But, we have no evidence of the matter. We have confirmed, however, without a doubt they were in alliance with another village because such a project, if it did exist, would too large for them finically. Someone is funding them and possibly even supplying them."

"Konohagakure?" Domon remarked, stroking his blonde goatee. "I heard they were famous for their science and doctors. Rumour is they are attempting to revive the Senji bloodline. They seem to be the best qualified."

"They are also currently leading this war meaning they have considerable funds." Ōnoki nodded, making Domon grin at the rare approval from his disgruntle father-in-law. "They are a perfect candidate but we cannot assume. We need proof first. If we are able to prove they are indeed assisting such a deplorable project, or any other village, then another Kage Summit will have to be arranged."

"So what's the order, old man? Storm them, yes?"

"No!" Ōnoki barked, pointing a finger at his son-in-law. "You are to avoid any and all confrontation with Kusagakure. If they do have the Mayfly or Konohagakure or other Hidden Village is involved then all you'll be doing is walking you and your men into a trap. Your orders are to remain away but to resume your observations in secret. This revolution shall be between you and I only. Tell no one. I will handle this."

Domon quirked an eyebrow. "You?"

"I am the Tsuchikage! Are you doubting my position, boy?"

"No, no, no." The clone stuttered, holding his hands up in defense before the old man struck him with another book or something worse.

"Good." Ōnoki returned to his chair, picking up his quill and dipping it in his inkwell. "And pick up your mess!"

Domon groaned but obeyed the man as the clone scooped up the paperwork still laying around the office from his prior pelting. After plucking up each paper and arranging them as neatly as possible, he deposited the stack onto his father-in-law's desk before taking his leave to report back to the real Domon.

"Boy." The clone paused, glancing over his shoulder as Ōnoki that looked at him with a solid stare. "I expect to see you back here safely for your leave in two months. If you for any reason miss the birth of my grandchild, I will personally kill you myself."

Domon barked with laugher, waving the older man off. "Don't fret, old man. I wouldn't miss the birth of my child for the world. If I did, Kira would kill me off far before you got to me. Speaking of which, has Kira told you the baby's gender yet?"

"No. She's kept it quite the secret."

"Ah. I hope it's a boy. I've got a few names in mind." Domon mused, adjusting his slipping glasses and smiling softly at the thought of being a father and taking an early retirement to be with his family once and for all.

Ōnoki permitted a smirk to cross his old lips. "Hopefully it doesn't turn out anyway as you. I'd rather not have another mud-eating, multi-mouthed freak running amuck." Domon's smile was quickly erased from the jab and he whined pitifully as the unprovoked insult. "Now away. I will contact you when I have made arrangements about the issue with Kusagakure.

"Fine. Say hi to Kira for me?"

"I'll try to care enough to remember." Ōnoki commented under his breath, returning to his paperwork as the clone left.

…

AN: I want to apologize immensely for the delay. College really sidetracked me since I am taking a writing class which requires writing other stories then I had a three-month Math class to complete. Also there is this little game called Monster Hunter 4U that released. Yeah, I've lost my life in that game, I have 220 hours clocked.

Anyway, here is the chapter and sorry if it's an exposition dump and not the best. Next chapter(s) are going to be stuffed to the brim with action as Kakuzu and Domon confront the mysterious Mayfly wielder. But be warned, enough though I have my free time back to write, that chapter might take some time too so please don't get discouraged. Sorry for any inconstancies or Ooc. It's been a month so things are kinda forgotten.

Anyway, thank you for reading and R&R? Would help a lot.

(P.S. Please excuse the grammar and punctuation mistakes.)