Chapter 5: Solace In Solitude!
(Really Spacious Mancave)
(Hashirama Uzumaki)
I felt I was finally gaining a grip on reality again. I wasn't being overcome by myself. The one who called himself, me, Pain. It seemed I had split myself in half. With the pain of my sister's death and the pain of seeing her being replaced. My other half felt no remorse. No pain whatsoever. I was trying to get a control of it. Or perhaps make it my own. Another personality that would feel no remorse. That could help me exponentially.
Ugh, I was getting sidetracked.
But regardless, it seemed to have unlocked some sort of ability. Coming to reality with my memories, I spent more time focusing on the ability that had unlocked itself. I had named it during the moment of use, Shinra Tensei and so I dug into that. What it could do, and I have come to no idea of what it could be or any indication it even existed before.
My previously dark amythest eyes were starting to darken each day, it was losing its dark vivid beauty and becoming more enveloped in the darkness that threatened to drown him.
Alas, despite how intrusive my thoughts were, I still have my unnatural love for ramen. It was the last reminder of my Uzumaki genes still in me, marking that with a bitter chuckle. I walked out the cave and towards the nearby village after henging to look like a weak civilian.
My eyes never seemed to change from the amethyst-turning-black shade it was. It left a sour taste in my mouth; it made me despise my existence. I am and was a disgrace to the Uzumaki, but it would be even worse, an insult on their deaths for their killer to destroy himself. No, I would live for redemption, but Pain seemed to be gaining on me.
It seemed every time I tried to think past that my mind seemed to go right back to that topic. It was sad really, that I could never move past it. Run a mile but the memories were tagging along with him. The only ray of hope was waiting for my comrades to arrive, they had sent letters and recently, it seemed that Susanoo had gained a summons. The Great Hawk-Falcon, the Taka clan.
Renowned for their speed and ingenuity in battle, their intense ability to protect their summoner to death and their love for nature. None yet had learnt their sage mode yet. However, on the other hand, Madara and his friend Jiraiya had both joined the Gama clan, the Toads. It seemed that Madara had mastered Senjutsu. His friend was said to have been during learning, currently the home realm of the toads. Or so Madara says.
I have spent exactly 1 year, stuck here in this cave, honing my skills. Gaining power and gaining people's loyalties, either to his money or to him self. Building a network was indeed incredible work, and keeping in touch was possibly harder.
I had built half of what I had planned, a substantial amount sure, but not enough to know everything in the Shinobi World. After all, to destroy or change anything, one must first have an innate understanding of them. It was the only way. But I will admit, there is always solace in solitude. It is after all the motto of the Uchiha. The true Uchiha of the flames.
As well as the thought of my sworn comrades and partners, the cause seemed to make my life less bleak and a little bit of anticipation seemed to always find itself into my body and then I must train, or I might literally explode from the boredom of waiting for it.
Of all the things that I wished would change, the one I wish had changed the most would be my impatience, I had an incredibly low tolerance for waiting. But I knew better than to blow the gun before it was time.
Ugh, I need something to do. I decided it was time for fun, I dropped my henge and walked with my usual confident strides. Just looking at everything, I don't necessarily know when I craved fights but all of a sudden it seems to be the only thing I can enjoy everything. And it seemed I have inherited Susanoo's tendency to call it a dance. But it well and truly was. It was a deadly art, a connection of mind, body and soul. It was indeed a dance with death.
There was no better pleasure than to flirt with death and escape harmed. Call it sadistic but it means the opponent was dancing properly. They knew steps and they danced with death often, the different styles clashing harmoniously. It was well and truly the only way to understand the other. Cliche, yes but truth absolutely.
In my own mind, there was no better honour than to die by the blade. The dance with death having finally coming to an end, with death honouring your intimate time together with its clap of thunder. Indeed, any great fighter had died amid a storm, of blades, rain and lightning. Like any true warrior should.
It sounded truly terrifying to admit to myself, that I wished to die by a blade or that I enjoyed fights I may not be able to win. But I am coming to terms there was no secrets between yourself and your psyche otherwise, you can't attain harmonious convergence during battle which will ultimately end you.
However, deep in my thoughts as I was, I still managed to dodge a kunai aimed at my head. It was a red kunai, 'Strange'.
I turned around and I saw murderous expressions, one that would outright kill another shinobi as if it was some sort of dojutsu. A pair of bright violet and lilac glared at me. Looking at their attire, I noticed the red and gold jonin vest, the light green underarmour and my heart stopped at their headbands ... they were from Uzushio.
(Susanoo)
(Land of Fire, Konoha)
It felt weird coming here as a visitor and not as a shinobi sent to hide and observe. It was rather surreal seeing all these different clans and to think my grandfather assembled all these clans here beside the village's Shodaime, Hashirama. I found myself thinking of those time, many times in fact. How had my grandfather and Hashirama-sama become friends, how did they maintain friendship despite Tobirama's attempts.
Hashirama had remained steadfast in his brotherhood with Madara and Susanoo, with in fact only Hashirama and the Uzumaki knowing where the Hidden Blood was. Hidden behind many seals on an island the Land of Water and Hidden Mist had never noticed, it was small but notable. It had no previous history and was a waste of land, so we occupied it and made it our own.
There was no powerful struggle, no grandiose conquest. Just a simple matter of using every concealment and misdirection seal known to man then some more and then move there. But don't forget that we added some of Madara AND Izuna's genjutsu to the mix and it was impossible to find without knowing where to find it. Its funny how much of a fanboy I become with genjutsu and some seals are just pure genius. Of course, I knew enough to be considered just below average on seals judged with Uzumaki standards of course.
To my side, a man with silver hair, two blades at his hips and a warm smile. He was about average height and had dark eyes. On my other side, Jiraiya Hatake appeared beside me. He held a mesh armour under a vivid green gi, and a bright red vest. A horned forehead protector that had the kanji for a oil and a large scroll on his back. Red marks on his face, framed by his white-Ish silver hair with a ponytail that reminded me of Sakumo next to me.
With them on either side and the Anbu moving outwards, we continued our journey before I broke the silence. "You know this is kind of insulting, that they didn't tell Madara Senju to escort me. You are both are formidable and very powerful, yes. But it would be a quick battle, besides your individual strengths, it is simply a bad match up."
Jiraiya turned to me, and in what-he-must-have thought was an intimidating glare, with a grandiose pose, he paused. "I am Jiraiya, part of Team 7, The Hokage's Own Students. I am Jiraiya of the Gama Clan. Tremble before me." Before, he struck a pose.
Sakumo next to me slapped his forehead with a groan. I turned to him, and I was quite confused with what I felt from that, "Was that meant to be intimidating or a joke to break the ice? Are you a formidable warrior and a comedian as well. That is indeed a skill."
Sakumo snickered next to me, but Jiraiya started to turn red, before a fist smashed into Jiraiya's face smashing him to the floor. A teenage girl about one year my senior had smashed Jiraiya's face straight into the concrete. "Grow up, idiot."
"I'm sorry for that idiot, but we are not all like that."
"Don't worry, you have graced me with beauty beyond what I have seen before and beyond that the presence of the Slug Princess is enough for my forgiveness." I said, noticing her astounding beauty, bending down and tapping my lips to her hand.
"What are you some kind of pervert?" She asked with a hint of a blush on her cheeks.
"No, but I speak what I see. And right now, I like what I see." I said with a devious smirk at her descent into a shade of red unseen before.
"Ooh, does little Tsu-chan have a crush?" Jiraiya said finally recovering and I could only wonder if he had some sort of addiction to pain.
"Shut up!" She said, raising a fist but he dodged it.
"I believe that this is enough." An black haired man approached, about Jiraiya's age. About 3 years older than me.
"And you are?" I asked.
"Orochimaru, Snake Sage of Ryuchi Cave."
"Susanoo. The Hawks bid you their greetings as do the Falcons of Tori's Cloud."
"The Snakes return your greetings."
Suddenly, a grin broke out on both our faces.
"Orochi-kun, its been so long. How have you been?" I spoke out, a laugh bubbling outwards, I could outwardly notice Tsunade blushing again.
"It has been a while, Susa-kun. I have been busy gaining my Sage Mode." He replied with a smile that was warm and inviting.
"Wait, Orochi, you can smile without looking like a creep." Jiraiya said, laughing out. Confused as to how they knew each other, but not really bothered.
Tsunade, however. "How do you two know each other?"
"I had been out on a mission to explore the world and find different places that were peaceful and understand if the war was ending. I found Orochimaru on his own, after a battle with some kind of Kiri Shinobi, Zabuza, I think it was."
"Yes, and after he found me. He treated me and stayed by my side until I recovered. We went out for food, and we talked with each other. Turns out, we were alike."
"Though, how come you never sent a summons to talk."
"Yeah, well I guess the same could be said to you, my friend."
"Touche."
"Let us continue on our way to the Third Hokage, I wish to finish the treaty so that I may come to find you as much as I want."
When we reached the office, Madara walked out the office. The group around me paused, and an intense glare was met in between, my sharingan spinning out of the dark of my eyes and his hand clenched around his kunai. He threw his kunai, and it moved past my head before he disappeared walking away but still, I stayed still before I nodded my head twice.
Before moving forward without a glance backwards, opening the door to the office and I moved inwards. Stamping my right foot once, a throne of earth ascended from the floor, two flames at the top.
"Greeting from the Hidden Blood, Hokage. The Ketsukage sends his regards."
"I am glad to finally meet you, Susanoo Uchiha. I have always wanted to meet the prodigy in the flesh."
"Nonsense, you have more prodigies than any other nation."
"Thank you but we must skip past the pleasantries and speak of the reason of your delightful presence."
"I am here to take in Nagato and Kushina Uzumaki, the Uzumaki were our brothers, and we wish to take care of their survivors as our own."
"I am afraid we cannot do that. They have come to us and as such, they are in our protection."
"I believe you misunderstand me; I did not say that I wish to kill them, merely that I want to follow through on Susanoo last wish and promise to my grandfather, Madara Uchiha."
"Whom you should be aware is very much alive and worthy still of his glory."
"Yes, he is. But they have come to us, if they had come to you, there would be no problem."
"The crux of the problem is that no other nation knows of where our village is, only Susanoo, my namesake."
"I believe the only way to respectfully end this is to let them decide."
"I can agree to that."
Jiraiya was wondering how on earth could the kid speak like that, even Tsunade couldn't speak like he was. She was refined but not enough to make the PROFESSOR go back on his words and rearrange demands to suit others. That was just not possible, was it?
"My final demand is also a fair one, my village could very well go to war with you over it." The threat so obvious in the words that only an idiot would not notice it.
"What is your demand?"
"That Danzo Senju faces punishment."
"Why, Danzo Senju? What has happened?"
"I am aware, the Nidaime, Tobirama Senju, put him in charge of the undercover Anbu, Root, I believe it was. Well, Danzo has been sending Root to find the Hidden Blood and he has attacked a fellow Uchiha in his pursuit. That Uchiha is now without eyes. So the last obvious demand is also that you return the Uchiha's eyes."
Hiruzen seemed visibly shocked at that, so did everyone else in the room. How could they be so shocked. I am not even shocked; I have seen that man with many. He is cold, deceitful and ruthful.
"Danzo shall face punishment and the women's sharingan shall be returned."
"May I ask you one final thing?"
"You may."
"How did you know it was a sharingan?"
"Because-"
"You see, I did not say the gender of the Uchiha nor whether their eyes had evolved."
"What do you plan to do now?"
"Nothing, I already know it was Danzo, but he told you afterwards. I am also aware that he was sufficiently punished, but all I want is the Sharingan in your first drawer."
"How do you-"
"I do not wish to answer any questions at this moment. I will talk to Nagato and Kushina tomorrow and then they shall choose who they shall liege themselves to."
The office door opened, and an Anbu walked in, "Hokage-sama, the Uzumaki are missing."
Without a word, I swapped with a leaf outside the window and ran out towards the village gate.
(A/N)
Quite embarrassingly, I learnt a little while ago that when comic book artists were asking for commission it meant money and not just the right to adapt a comic book version. So, I apologise. To be honest, I don't plan to spend money with this. The whole point is to gain money.