AN: Phew, I'm back. Apologies for the hiatus but had to spend it outlining this newest arc since it's going to be positively massive. Just introducing Orochimaru is going to take me five-ish chapters. Also, Borderlands 3 and Iceborne came out so that took up priority, haha. But Wasteland is back and better than ever because the Akatsuki is being introduced—and by introduced, as in the official members, starting with Orochimaru. Oh, and a lotta fan service. I heard your excitement to have canon characters introduced and this arc is going to be chalked full of them. Also, it's going to be a chunky chapter to make up for the hiatus.
Also, I've decided to this arc is going to start after a five-year timeskip which is going to place it that ominous twelve years before the start of series. Because of this, everyone is five years older including Zetsu who is now eighteen years old and an adult!
So, enjoy it and enjoy reading new chapters of Wasteland!
Cat Beats: Well, then this chapter (and arc) are going to make your dreams become reality because it's going to be nothing but Zetsu meeting with canon characters such as Minato. As for the Wasteland, it'll be mentioned here and there but it'll be a plot point later in the story -wink wink nudge- No spoilers, lol.
rarae aves: You're welcome and please, do enjoy this new arc!
you-may-call-me-V: Sorry for the hiatus but it was required for planning (and gaming, haha). I hope this chapter and arc in general will make it up to you!
magmo22: First off: thank you, thank you so much for this genuine, epic review! It's so encouraging to read such charitable words considering how off the wall this fanfic is! So thank you. I'm glad I've aced the character development for Kakuzu since I had never written him before and was afraid of making him too stereotypical or out of character so phew on that, haha. I'll admit, I've got a lotta improvement to do anyway and writing everyone is going to be the perfect challenge for that. Here is that chapter, consider it a thank you for the awesome review!
Warning(s): Language (Low), Genderbend, Original Character
…
Wasteland
The Akatsuki Arc
Chapter 40
FIVE YEARS LATER
"Zetsu…" Zetsu twitched in her sleep, not positive if the voice echoing in her head was part of a dream, or otherwise. "Zetsu, can you hear me?"
Finally, she blinked open her eyes, squinting them as the bright sunlight filtered through her patio door and into her face. She buried her face in her blanket and turned over in an attempt to continue her mid-day nap but discovered the voice hadn't been a fabrication of her dysfunctional brain.
"Zetsu, I am sending Kakuzu for a welfare check since you are not answering me." It was Sir Leader.
Immediately, she straightened up in her bed, blurred eyes larged and wiping the drool from her face. "I'm sorry, Sir Leader! I was having a nap. I'm so sorry for not answering you."
"A nap in the afternoon?"
"Yes, my medication makes me fatigued."
"Oh yes. I apologize for waking you, but I have an important mission. Would you kindly meet with me, ASAP?"
"Yes, Sir Leader."
"Thank you." With that, the telepathic communication ended with an imaginary click like that of a telephone.
Zetsu wrestled her exhausted self out of bed, stretching and picking the sleepies crusted in her eye sockets. She dressed in her Akatsuki uniform comprising of grey slacks and a fishnet shirt with her oversize cloak buttoned over her chest since without her Mayfly, it was too big to wear by itself. Once she was positive she didn't appear as if she just crawled out of a dumpster (as naps often did to her), she opened her bedroom door to leave—and exited out into a person. There was a frightened squeak though it wasn't human. She stumbled back into her doorway, blinking as her brain laboured to process what had just occurred considering it was still waking up. It took her a minute to realize the situation and who she had accidentally bulled over.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Glut!"
"You're fine, Zetsu-chan," The individual named Glut replied; a twig of a man and ginger hair and a beak-like nose. Introducing Glut: the newest member of the Akatsuki and kleptomaniac.
He'd been part of the organization for the last year and was partnered with Kakuzu due to their miser-este personalities (with Zetsu's blessing). She liked Glut and from his years of being a professional thief, he had taught her a lot of tips and tricks for infiltration for when she could not use her Mayfly.
"I'm ok but you gave Smidgen a fright." The origin of the squeak turned out was from the pure white rat dressed in a green shinobi vest held in Glut's hands.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Smidgen." Zetsu comically apologized to the rodent, bowing, and Smidgen waved her little, pink hands to communicate it was okay.
"Where're you in such a hurry to?" Glut inquired, petting Smidgen.
"Sir Leader notified me for a mission."
"Oh well, don't let me get into your way." Glut said, stepping aside on the walkway so the woman could pass by. "And is Kakuzu in? I was just on his way to speak to him."
"Sir is in his bedroom." Zetsu confirmed, gesturing at Kakuzu's bedroom which the door of was shut, signifying his presence inside.
"Perfect. Thank you, Zetsu-chan, and stay safe on your mission." He waved as he walked off.
"Thank you, Glut."
…
"Zetsu, thank you for coming." Pein greeted as Zetsu stepped off the elevator. Konan picked up her head from her scrutinizing her paperwork and smiled at the girl, giving her a friendly hello before burying her nose back into the papers.
"You're welcome, Sir Leader, and I apologize again for not replying to you immediately." Zetsu said as she sheepishly scampered up to her superior's desk and seated herself in a chair.
Pein held up a dismissive hand. "Do not apologize. I understand the circumstances and I am thankful you replied at all. Though, that isn't implying I expected as such." He cleared his throat and pulled out a drawer, withdrawing a piece of parchment from it. "As said, I have an important mission for you from Konohagakure."
"Konohagakure?" She asked, her curiosity immediately piqued as they hadn't received anything from Konoha in a number of years. She hypothesized due to them being too occupied with nursing their wounds after the Third World War.
"Yes. So much so, no information was included except a plea from the Hokage." Pein deadpanned, handing the letter off to Zetsu so she could confirm it for herself. "Ordinarily, I'd trash such solicitations, but I did not with this one because one: it is written and signed by the Hokage himself, and two: the 'sizeable reward' promised."
She read it over, discovering it contained no details except the Kage urging an audience from the organization with a mysterious payout included in the last line. "Wasn't it the last time the Akatsuki answered a Kage's petition, it was for Sunagakure?" Zetsu mused. Afterall, how could she forget that incident?
Pein smirked, bemused. "Yes, that is true and that also is why I would've paid it no attention. But, Konoha's new Hokage—the Fourth—I recognize his name and was familiar with him, once upon a time, so I can personally testify to his trustworthiness." Zetsu read the Hokage's name over which jingled a distant bell in her head. Namikaze Minato? Wait, wasn't he the shinobi which single-handedly defeated Iwagakure's one-thousand-man march on Konoha? "Due to this, I want you to go to Konohagakure and listen to what he has to say then return to me so I can decide if it is worth the Akatsuki's precious time."
"Is that all?"
"Yes. It shouldn't take too long to get there and back, especially with the Mayfly." Zetsu nodded, packing the letter into her pocket so if there was any security at the gates of the village, which she imagined there would be after the war, she had physical proof giving her permission through them. "You are dismissed, Zetsu."
"Thank you, Sir Leader. I'll return ASAP." She got up, bowing politely to her employer before swiveling on her heel to take her exit.
It was then Pein remembered something critical and practically leapt out of his chair. "Zetsu!" Zetsu was walking towards the elevator, nearly tripping over herself in the process from the surprising scream and glimpsed back at the man, spooked and puzzled. "Do not use your Mayfly in Konoha or anywhere near it. Due to Konoha's involvement in the Second World War and suspected involvement in the Mayfly experiments, it may be recognized, and I do not want harm to come to you due to it."
Zetsu admitted she hadn't even thought of that obvious fact and was glad Sir Leader had. Otherwise, she would've traipsed into the capital with it out and may've been detained or worse. "Y-Yes. I did not think of that. Thank you, Sir Leader."
Pein sat back down. "Neither did I until now. Try not to use it while in Konoha except in extreme circumstances, would you kindly?"
"Yes, Sir Leader."
…
As predicted, the trek to Konohagakure took no time at all thanks to her Mayfly as she arrived in the Firelands within a matter of hours. Once within distance of Konoha, she deactivated her bloodline and decided to walk the remaining few miles to civilization. It was a beautiful day accompanied by a breeze which made for perfect walking conditions. It took her a little over an hour to reach Konohagakure itself.
To her surprise, the massive village gates were open, inviting anyone and everyone inside but like she surmised, it wasn't entirely come-at-able as she spied a guard stand off the side of the dirt path. Two gentlemen were seated inside, chattering with each other until they noticed her and paused in their conversation to stare at her. She must've been instantly dubious to them; a petite woman dressed in a ludicrously oversized black-and-red cloak walking towards the gates. One of the sentries got up to approach her and she respectively stopped, facing him. Last thing she wanted was to accidentally cause a conflict.
"I'm sorry but can you state your name and business, please?" The Konoha jōnin inquired from her, one hand on the hilt of the katana strapped to his back. His partner walked up behind them with a pair of duel blades in hand.
"I am with the Akatsuki. Our audience has been requested by the Hokage." Zetsu extended her hand to retrieve the message from her pocket. Both guards predictably tensed, eyeballing her hand suspiciously. Once the corner of the paper peeked out between her finger and thumb, their shoulders visibly relaxed. She gifted the first man the letter which he accepted and looked it over with the other reading it over his shoulder.
"Oh yes," He said after a minute, nodding. "The Fourth informed us to expect you. Excuse me while I call it in." She nodded and he walked back to the table for the phone while his partner stayed outside to watch her, his hands never leaving his knives.
Zetsu patiently waited, stepping aside into the grass so she wasn't loitering and possibly intimidating any other guests climbing the path up with her presence. It wasn't too long a wait as after a half-an-hour, she noticed a figure leaving through the gates; a smaller individual she estimated to be her height dressed in grey armour with black undershirt and trousers and their face disguised by a kitsune-like mask framed by silver hair. By the chakra signature, it was a male juvenile behind it. He was an Anbu, the covert operatives for the Land of Fire.
The Anbu turned his head towards her, investigating her through the squinted eyeholes before turning away as he approached the border patrol. After a brief conversation between them, the letter was delivered over and with it in hand, the Anbu next met with Zetsu.
"The Fourth is waiting for you. I'll escort you to the Academy." He explained, voice slightly muffled by his porcelain mask. She nodded and with that, he pivoted on his heel and trudged towards the village gates with Zetsu behind.
Nothing was said between them during the duration of the walk and a thick tension existed as the Anbu's chakra was red and flickering, indicating a hyper observant state. Obviously due to the unknown woman trailing behind him. Zetsu didn't blame him and neither did it plague her as she was too occupied with playing tourist. She had never been to Konohagakure, having only read of it and saw it in movies, so she gawked at the unique architecture and citizens during the entirety of the walk. Especially the Hokage's Rock in the distance which had a half-finished depiction of the Fourth chiseled into it.
Once at the Academy, Zetsu was led inside the Administration Division and to the Hokage's Office. The Anbu directed her to remain outside while he spoke with the Hokage first. She obliged, waiting outside the double doors while he did so and spent the time observing the portraits on the wall which depicted each Hokage, deviating from a hand-painted portrait of the First to a black-and-white photograph of the Fourth. She wasn't left waiting long as a few minutes later, the operative exited and motioned at her.
"The Fourth is ready to speak to you." He said and politely held open the doors for her entrance.
She stepped through them into a large, oval-shaped room with a grand sectioned window bridged over the back wall. In the middle of the room was a grand desk with a friendly, blonde man seated behind it: The Fourth Hokage. He smiled at her as she stepped up to the desk and respectively bowed in the Kage's presence.
The Fourth eyeballed the Anbu waiting behind Zetsu. "Kakashi, could you?" The Anbu nodded in response to the cryptic ask and left the office, pulling shut the doors behind him. Once the Akatsuki member and Hokage were by themselves, the man let out a breath he must've been holding in for awhile as his shoulders fell as if a weight was lifted from them. "Thank you for coming. Your organization is quite responsive. Especially considering I sent that letter only three days ago."
"The Akatsuki prides itself on its fast replies," Zetsu replied. "May I ask why it was you requested our services, Hokage-sama? You did not specify in your letter."
The Hokage smiled and scratched the back of his head. "Oh yes. I'm sorry but I could not write the details in case the letter was intercepted. I did not want the Elders to learn of this plot," He cleared his throat, his happy-go-lucky personality becoming serious as he stared at Zetsu. "I've contacted you for an assassination."
"And who is the target?"
"Her name is Orochimaru."
Zetsu's eyes widened in surprise at the notorious name. "Orochimaru? As in, the Sannin Orochimaru?"
The Hokage's nose crinkled as if what she said smelt bad to him. "She is undeserving of such an honourable title."
"I apologize." She said, bowing her head.
"Do not be," He waved his hands, gifting her a tiny smile. "But yes, the target is the Sannin Orochimaru."
Zetsu straightened back up. "May I ask what has caused her to become an enemy of Konohagakure?"
The Kage sighed, shutting his eyes. "Where to begin? The beginning, obviously." He inhaled in preparation of the long-winded tale. "It all started since the Third appointed me as the next Hokage. Originally, he was considering Orochimaru proceeding him since she was his student and, as said before, Sannin. That, and his other student, Jiraiya, rejected the offer and Tsunade could not be found. However, he feared for Konoha due to the evil he saw in her. Because of that, he named me instead. Something Orochimaru did not like. She was not quiet about it either." He chuckled before immediately regaining himself, his smile crumpling. "That's when the kidnappings began."
"Kidnappings?" Zetsu inquired.
"Yes. It began with babies disappearing from the hospital, then children from the orphanage and then sons and daughters being taken right from their own homes in the middle of the night. In a manner of months were had approximately sixty kidnappings, perhaps more which were never discovered. Konoha was besides itself, especially considering how fresh the Third War was but the Elder refused to open an investigation, claiming the children may've just run off, including the infants! The Third had to investigate himself to find the culprit. It was then a nurse at one of the victimized hospitals stepped forward and revealed why no information could be obtained through interviews with the staff: A Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal was printed on the back of her tongue."
"Unfortunately, they cannot be removed but it in itself was evidence as the only organization which used such a cursed seal was Root, a subdivision of Anbu, and its leader, Shimura Danzō. Danzō also happens to be an Elder which explained why the Elders were ignoring the disappearances as they were involved or at least knew who was responsible. But there was one other person which could use the seal and in fact, created it for Danzō."
"Orochimaru?" Zetsu inferred which was confirmed by the blonde's nodding.
"Yes. It was discovered later that she had infiltrated these institutions to kidnap children and silence any witnesses. When security was tightened, she resorted to stealing children right from their beds in the dead of night."
"Why would she be kidnapping children?"
"Human experimentation," The Hokage said while staring her straight in the eye. "She had been kidnapping the children and experimenting on them in an attempt to replicate the Wood Release which was specialized by Senju Hashirama. She did so by injecting them with the First's DNA. She had been doing these experiments right in Konoha and the Third and Anbu caught her in the act. Unfortunately, the children are believed to have been killed and their bodies could not be recovered. There was only one survivor found."
As Zetsu listened she discovered herself becoming increasingly disturbed as the tale was frightfully familiar. A person who was abducting children to experiment on in order to reanimate a dead bloodline and killing them in the process? Oh yes, she had heard that one before; she had lived it. "And she wasn't immediately executed for her atrocities?" She accidentally snapped as the flashbacks to her own "childhood" in Kusagakure had left her distraught. She inhaled a few breathes to calm herself.
"No. The Third could not bring himself to harm her so he let her go instead with the promise she would leave Konoha and never return, effectively becoming a missing-nin. Not that Elders would've permitted it anyway. Orochimaru had them in her back pocket, especially Danzō, which is why her name has not been published in the Bingo Book nor what happened that night released to the public. The Root destroyed whatever evidence could not be collected by the Anbu that night, including the laboratory."
"So, you want the Akatsuki to finish this instead."
"Yes." The Hokage said, reclining in his chair. "Though I admit, assassinating her may be too grandiose. She is a Sannin for a reason. If I hadn't become Hokage, I would've gone after her myself but now I cannot nor can I send my own men because the Elders would get suspicious. I suspect they have remained in contact with her and would warn her of any potential ambushes which is why I had to search for external help."
"If we cannot kill her, then would you like us to detain her?" Zetsu questioned.
"Yes, whatever is possible. I just do not want her able to hurt anyone ever again like she did those families who will never receive closure. They can't even have a body to bury!" He slammed his fist on his desk causing a few pieces of paper to shed off the stacks of paperwork.
"And what would we be paid for this mission?" She finally asked.
"Her estimated bounty: 300 million ryō." Zetsu felt as if an invisible being kicked her in the chest as her heart skipped so hard it made her asphyxiate for a second. If Kakuzu was here, he would've hit the floor. 300 million would've put Orochimaru in the Bingo Book with the second highest bounty ever, behind Kakuzu himself. "Does your organization accept payment plans?"
She blinked at this new suggestion. "Payment plans?"
"Yes. Unfortunately, if this mission is a successful, I could not pay you all at once. The Elders would never allow such a huge transaction, so I'd have to pay you in increments; ones small enough that I could pass on as being military expense or whatelse so they wouldn't think twice on it. That and after the war, we're a bit strapped on cash but I promise you, you will be paid the full amount if you get rid of Orochimaru." His chakra did not deceive him.
"I would have to ask my superior." She explained.
The Hokage nodded. "I understand and sorry, I realize this was a lot to drop on you, but you can understand why I could not explain this all in the letter."
"I understand, Hokage-sama," She replied. "I'll just have to speak with my superior on this due to the magnitude of this contract."
"And how long would I have to wait for a reply?"
"It shouldn't be too long at all, maybe a few days at most."
This made him noticeably brighten up as his lips twitched back into a smile. "That'd be perfect. I do not want her out there any longer than necessary. She is a monster; an inhuman monster which brings nothing but misery and destruction in her wake and the world would be better without her." He coughed into his hand, realizing he may've gone a bit dark with that last statement despite it being the truth. "I think that is everything so I will not keep any longer. Thank you for considering my proposal." He got up from his chair and extended his hand over his desk for a handshake.
Zetsu stepped up, pulling back her sagging sleeve and graciously accepting it. "It has been a pleasure, Hokage-sama."
"Kakashi." The Kage exclaimed. A second later, the doors opened and in walked the Anbu again, imparting the fact he had been waiting outside the entire time, likely to dissuade any eavesdroppers. "Can you please escort our Akatsuki friend back to the gates? Oh, and make sure no one is following you."
"Yes, Sensei." The Anbu named Kakashi said, folding an arm over his midsection and bowing.
"Thank you again, Hokage-sama." Zetsu granted the Kage a bow herself.
"No, thank you and I'll be looking forward to speaking to you in a few days." He chuckled and waved goodbye as the woman was led out of the Hokage's Office by the teenaged agent.
…
"Back so soon, Zetsu?" Pein mused as Zetsu exited the elevator after having left for Konohagakure just a handful of hours earlier. "Though, I am not surprised. You are my paramount, afterall."
Zetsu's pale face was powdered with a humbled blush. "Thank you, Sir Leader."
He scribbled his signature on the last pages of paperwork and put them with the others before placing down his pen and facing her with his hands clasped upon his desk. "So, what was it the Hokage contacted the Akatsuki for?"
"It is an assassination. Though, he hesitated to call it an assassination because he is not positive if we can in fact assassinate this target." She claimed.
He piqued an inquisitive eyebrow at this explanation. "Never have I been asked to assassinate a target then told I could not do so. He could not include that in the letter?"
"No, sir. He explained that due to internal strife in Konoha and the target being affiliated with the Elders of the village, he could not include any details of the mission at risk of being discovered."
"Hmm, and who is this target then?"
"The Sannin Orochimaru." Once she said that, there was a loud, ripping noise and she gazed over in Konan's direction to find the woman had drawn her pen through the paper she was signing, tearing in half in the process and leaving a dark streak incised into the wood of her desk.
"Orochimaru!?" Konan gasped, genuinely aghast and face paled white to mimic the paper flower in her hair.
Zetsu glimpsed back to Pein to discover him staring at her, not saying anything or blinking, just staring as if he had blacked out with his eyes opened; a grey, dead-eyed stare. He remained like this for a number of uncomfortable seconds and she was going to question his well-being when he all of a sudden wrest up, blinking, the colour flushing back into his Rinnegan like a television flickering on.
"Orochimaru, you said?" He said as he cleared his chest to compose himself again. "Why would the Hokage want to assassinate a Sannin?"
"She was caught doing human experimentation on children she had kidnapped." Just saying it made Zetsu instantly incensed. She could understand the umbrage felt by the Fourth when explaining it to her.
"Human experimentation? Kidnapping? Yes, that does sounds like something she would've done." Pein cracked, smirking though it disappeared as he realized it was not a joking manner. Especially when he noticed how Zetsu's lip twisted up, displaying a devilish canine. "I can understand why the Hokage may doubt if we can accomplish this mission if our target is someone such as Orochimaru. I can testify to the fact she is nothing to be trifled with." As he said this, Zetsu was left curious if this implied he was personally acquainted with the elder.
"That's an understatement." Konan muttered, shaking her head and trying to tape the paper back together.
"So, what is the price on her head? I have not seen her in the Bingo Book."
"300 million ryō," Zetsu notified him. There was a gasp and second tearing as Konan managed to cleave the paper into three pieces now. She threw it in the trash in frustration. Even Pein's eyes widened a fraction of a millimeter at the incogitable price. "But he asks if a payment plan could be possible."
"Payment plan?" Pein inquired.
She confirmed it with a nod. "Yes. He obviously cannot hand over such a large sum without suspicion. Also, it is because of the war they do not have the funding, so he wanted to pay the Akatsuki in increments."
"That is understandable but there is no promise he would continue to pay us after we take care of Orochimaru. We'd have to set up a security to guarantee the entire bounty is paid out to the organization even if it takes years. I'll have to write up a contract and…"
"Pein!" Konan exploded, slapping her hands onto her desk and standing up. "You're not possibly implying you're going to accept this mission, are you?"
"Yes, I am, Konan. We cannot ignore such a price." He informed his partner who was marching up to his desk. Zetsu intelligently stepped out of the bluette's path.
"Pein, this is Orochimaru we're speaking of." She said, putting her hands on his desk now and leaning forward until she was face-to-face with him. "You and I have firsthand experience of how a dangerous and cold-hearted person she is."
"Yes, I remember but the Akatsuki is employed with equally dangerous shinobi so I believe we can kill her and complete Konoha's contract."
"She'll kill them! She tried killing us as children and now you're going let that happen!?"
"Oh, Konan please."
"No, Pein! I refuse to accept this mission which would involve putting our members in jeopardy! We are to have nothing to do with her ever again."
Pein opened his mouth as if to say something when he noticed Zetsu on the sidelines, timidly standing there like a child which had just walked into the midst of her parent's argument. "Zetsu, would you kindly leave? Konan and I must discuss in private. I'll contact you when we have finished."
Zetsu nodded and scampered to the elevator as Pein and Konan bickered back and forth in heated whispers behind her.
…
"Zetsu, can you hear me?"
Zetsu jerked awake, picking her head up from the coffee table and blinking at the television screen which was playing infomercials. She must've fallen asleep while watching her murder mysteries. She noticed grey light filtering in through the window, translating it to be the next day. It had been twilight when she returned to base to wait for Sir Leader's message.
"Yes, Sir Leader." Zetsu replied, yawning.
"Would you kindly return to me? We have made our decision."
"Yes, sir."
Pushing herself off the floor, she dusted herself off and shrugged her cloak back on. She gulped down a protein shake then went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wet her hair before leaving back to Pein's Tower.
As she stepped into the office, the first thing noticed was Konan seated on the corner of her partner's desk, looking exasperated with her hand planted on her forehead and by the dark circles around her eyes, she had spent the night fighting with the male instead of sleeping. Pein, meanwhile, was doing his paperwork like nothing had happened, giving the green-haired girl further evidence of which direction the disagreement had gone.
"Good morning, Zetsu, and thank you for returning. We have come to the agreement that we will be accepting this mission." Konan let out the grandest sigh a human being was capable of and by "we", it was obvious he had meant "he". "I have written up a contract I would like you to give the Hokage to sign."
He passed it over to Zetsu who scrutinized it. "It is for the installments?"
"Yes. Basically, by signing it, he agrees that he'll pay a set amount to the Akatsuki every month until the debt is paid off and failure to do so shall result in us informing the Elders of Konoha of this contract. I imagine that considering the lengths he is going to have this remain a secret that doing so would not end well for him." Harsh but they were not in the industry to be walked on.
She painstakingly folded the written obligation and tucked it in her cloak pocket. "When would you like me to return to Konoha, sir?"
"Immediately, please."
"Yes, Sir Leader."
"Thank you, Zetsu."
Once Zetsu had left, Konan turned her head and glared at the gingered man. "I cannot believe you are involving us with Orochimaru, Nagato." She fumed.
"I do not fear Orochimaru, nor should you as we have achieved what she could not and have rendered her title of "Sannin" superficial." Pein said, going back to his never-ending paperwork. "We killed Hanzō."
…
As told, Zetsu returned back to Konohagakure immediately and was met by dumbfounded patrol who kept asking her, "weren't you here yesterday?" while she patiently waited for her entourage back to the Hokage's Office. The fox-faced Anbu which arrived she recognized as being the same Anbu as the day before—Kakashi, was it? He led her to the Academy, and she did have to wait as she shepherded into the office where she was greeted by a pleasantly surprised Hokage.
"When you said a few days, I expected, well, a few days." The Kage remarked, grinning.
"As said before, the Akatsuki prides itself on our fast replies." Zetsu said. "I have spoken to my superior and he has accepted your conditions including the installment plan."
"Perfect!"
"Yes, I'll that is ask is you sign this obligation." She withdrew the contract from her pocket and passed it over to the blonde man.
He accepted it and sat back in his chair as he read it over with the woman quietly observing him. She surmised the exact moment when he read the ultimatum Pein had included as his blue orbs expanded and his lips downturned into a tight-lipped frown.
After a minute, he finished it with a nod and sighed. "Those are…strict conditions…"
"We must protect ourselves when such a large bounty is involved. Please understand, Hokage-sama." Zetsu explained.
"I understand. I should have expected nothing less from an organization of mercenaries." He said curtly, picking up a pen. Once he had signed his name on the dotted line, he handed it back to Zetsu who verified it and checked the ink had dried before folding it and stashing it back in her cloak.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Hokage-sama," She said, bowing. "Now we can discuss the specifics of this mission. Orochimaru's location, to begin."
"Oh yes about that," The Fourth itched his cheek. "I personally do not know of Orochimaru's location. But I do know of someone which could help."
"And that would be?"
"My sensei, Jiraiya."
Zetsu blinked. "The Sannin Jiraiya?"
The Fourth cringed. "He does not like being called that, so I suggest not addressing him as such. But yes. After Orochimaru left, he left after her. He explained as wanting to understand she had done what she did. However, I do not know if he ever found her, but he would be your best bet."
"Where would he be?"
"Yugakure, last I heard. But that was two weeks ago so he may've moved on. You may want to go there since I do not know when I'll next hear from him. His letters span from a few weeks to months, whenever he isn't too busy with his…'research'."
"I'll do just that. Is there anything else, Hokage-sama?"
He shook his head. "No, nothing from the top of my head. If I do come up with anything else, I'll send correspondence right away."
"Thank you again for your cooperation, Hokage-sama."
…
"Jiraiya!?"
Zetsu flinched and stared at Konan in reaction to her bewildering exclamation upon mention of the name. It was as if the girl had uttered Hanzō's name. As she looked back to Pein, she discovered him with his face buried in his hand, only fueling her confusion. Why did a person such as Jiraiya spawn such theatrical reactions from two, stoic people such as Pein and Konan?
After a minute, Pein picked his face up and clamped his hands under his chin, blinking slowly at Zetsu. "And the Hokage said he is our only connection to Orochimaru."
"Y-Yes, sir."
"Then we'll—"
"No!" Konan yelled, standing up and punching her hands on her desk with such strength that the vibrations could be felt through the metal flooring. "We are not involving Jiraiya in this! Absolutely not!"
"Konan—" He started but was interrupted by his partner before he could get a single other word out.
"No!" She insisted, stamping over to his desk and pointing a finger right into his pierced nose. "We are not involving ourselves with Jiraiya! We can find Orochimaru ourselves. Sasori has spies everywhere, just ask him to find her."
"Yes, but we do not know where to begin searching for her. He—"
"No!" She intercepted him again. "I submitted to us going after Orochimaru, but I am going to stand by while we go after Jiraiya too, Nagato," Pein's Rinnegan dilated as he stared at the woman, stupefied that not just had she taken to addressing him by name, but had done so in the presence of a member. Zetsu, hearing this, was equally flabbergasted and questioning if she should leave while the two "talked" this out again. "What would he think he learned of the Akatsuki? He thinks we're dead."
He attempted to speak again as she opened her own mouth to chime in, he held up a hand. "Would you kindly let me speak?" He unintentionally barked at her and after a moment, her jaw snapped shut as she took to glowering at him instead. "Jiraiya is not going to learn of the Akatsuki or us, Konan. Never was the Akatsuki itself mentioned to him so he would have no evidence to think we are connected to it, now or back then. Besides, we do not run the Akatsuki, God and Angel do. How would he ever think that to be us?"
Konan deflated at this a little. "Yes, I understand that but…"
"But what?"
"I…I just do not him involved with us again. He would not understand the Akatsuki's goal and try to interfere with it. I do not want to have to hurt him after everything he did for us." She finally admitted, lip twitching.
"Nothing like that is going to happen," Pein reinsured her, laying his hand over hers. "You should rest. You have not slept in two days and it is starting to affect you."
He was right, it was affecting her as her as the exhaustion was making her paranoid and defensive. "Yes, maybe I should." She admitted, darkened eyelids falling.
"Good." He picked her hand up and laid a kiss on it in a surprisingly affectionate gesture that made her blush a little. "If you would like, we can talk about at length once you have slept."
"I would like that."
"Then we shall do so." He motioned her off and she trudged back to her desk to collect her cloak before taking her exit, leaving Pein and Zetsu by themselves.
Pein turned to his subordinate who was awkwardly standing there, staring at him and obviously brimming with questions she could not, or instead, dare not ask him.
"Zetsu, I want you to leave for Yugakure to find Jiraiya as soon as possible."
Zetsu glimpsed at the door then back to him. "But what of Konan? I thought you said you were going to discuss this with her."
He nodded. "That I am, while you are in Yugakure. I understand her concerns with getting Jiraiya involved, but we have no choice if we want to find Orochimaru. I agree with her though, we cannot let Jiraiya have a hint of us being involved with the Akatsuki, so I ask you do not wear your cloak and make no mention of the organization to him to be safe."
"What would you like me to tell him instead, Sir Leader?"
"That you are searching for Orochimaru, plain and simple. He'll make assumptions, obviously and perhaps link you to Konoha, but it'll by no means lead him to the Akatsuki. If it does, then well, we'll just have to take care of it." He said, obscurely. "Now go now, would you kindly?"
"Yes, sir."
…
AN: Here it is, the first chapter to the Akatsuki arc! Phew, gotta get back into writing since I did nothing but play videos these last few months, haha. This arc is going to be a lotta fun to write. And to you that wanted interactions with canon characters, I hope this chapter and next is going to please you as well as later chapters.
No BETA so forgive grammar errors, please and thank you.
NEXT CHAPTER: Zetsu meets the infamous Sannin and pervert—Jiraiya.
Until Next Time.