Naruto: Akatsuki

Overnight, Yugakure has degraded into yet another battlefield. 

The citizens who lived carefree lives were now suffering just as any other, screaming, running for their lives, and yelling the ninjas of Yugakure to protect them at all costs.

The daimyo left a long ago with his personal bodyguards. The citizens and the remaining ninjas of Yugakure were abandoned, to survive on their own.

As the clash between Minato and A-B combo continued, those of Yu fell one by one at the hands of Kumo ninjas. It seemed that the area will be taken over by Kumo based on how this would go, until,

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire!"

the ninjas of Konoha quickly arrived, backing Minato up.

"Ninjas of Yugakure! If you wish to live, join us!"

Reading the situation, the ninjas of Konoha and Yu quickly allied with one another. 

"Fuck!!"

A swore in frustration, seeing that their night raid has come to a fail in the end, with no gain on their side.

With heated eyes, A glared at Minato. Though Minato was huffing in exhaustion, he managed to hold his own against the two up until now. 

A realized that based on the strength alone, he may be seeing Namikaze Minato as the fourth Hokage the next time they met. The fact that he was unable to get rid of this threat at this moment made his fists tremble in rage.

But alas, there was nothing he could do. A decision to continue fighting would be equivalent to that of a suicidal. 

"...We retreat."

"Big bro."

B grimaced, but nodded. He then pointed his finger at Minato and cried,

"Fool! Don't-cha think that we're running away from ya! Ya hear that?!"

The two of them then dashed out of Minato's sight, letting him sigh in relief and fall to the ground with a thud.

Enjoying the moment of peace, Minato mumbled to himself,

"...I wonder if those three are doing fine."

...

"Plan B, right?!"

Dashing along the group of Kumo ninjas, B asked to A.

"Plan A was to successfully capture the daimyo, but we didn't manage to do so! Plan B..."

They were currently running down the plains, one with the grass tall enough to cover their form should they try to be as elusive as possible.

"...Is to chase down those Kiri ninjas!"

A nodded in accord with B's words.

"The daimyo was someone who could bring us an immense advantage in this war. Those Kiri ninjas, on the other hand... are the huge threats to us. Should they escape, regardless of whether they possess our information or not, we would have to change the entire operation system and search spies from within."

The direction in which they were travelling at wasn't to the direction where their base lied. They were going the other direction instead, towards the way that Akashi and Mei took to escape.

"Kiri ninjas may be sneaky... but no ninja from other other nations can be as fast as us—"

A said confidently, before frowning as he remembered their collision against Minato.

"...almost."

After running for some time, they stopped to catch a breath at last.

"...We rest here."

'All should be fine.'

Thought A as the ninjas of Kumo all lowered themselves to take a break from a long battle that they had.

'I situated that woman at the border anyway; they won't be able to get past her.'

Ceasing such a thought, A closed his eyes and started to reflect on his battle against Minato.

__________

"...What is going on?"

Inspecting the grassy plain of the land of iron that is planted in blood, a man—the hired inspector—whispered.

"At the borders nonetheless... is this the doing of Kumo? Konoha? Just why... would anyone do this?"

It was a sheer bloodbath. Strangely enough, there weren't corpses of samurais, meaning that someone has taken them.

One samurai who was standing, listening the inspector, clenched the hilt of his sheathed blade hard.

"There is one man whom I heard to do this."

His name was Mifune, the soon-to-be leader of the land of samurai.

"Sasori of the 'Red Sand.'"

His eyes narrowed as he stared into the forest.

"...Vengeance won't go forsaken."

Soon after, the news spread—that a troop of samurais crossed their borders to hunt down the wanted 'Red Sand', who supposedly is hiding somewhere in the land of hot water.

__________

"We're going to Kiri."

Seated, Akashi explained to Hidan, the boy with dull purple eyes.

"Truthfully speaking, it isn't a safe place for kids... but then again,"

Akashi chuckled dryly,

"Is there a safe place for kids, in any place around this world?"

"..."

Hidan remained silent. Without any word, he simply peered into Akashi's lone eye like a doll.

Reaching his pouch, Akashi detached a small bottle of water and passed it to Hidan.

"Drink."

Hidan complied, opening the cap and drinking as Akashi said. After Hidan lowered the bottle, Akashi took it back.

'Logically speaking, this kid is a liability.'

If not for him, they could've probably travelled triple the amount by now. Should there be ninjas chasing after them, it was likely that they will be caught up before crossing the borders.

And Akashi found the possibility of there being chases quite likely. After all, it seemed that those ninjas of Kumo were thinking that Akashi and his group stole an important information from them.

"What now, Taka?"

After checking the surroundings, Mei came up and asked. 

"I don't see anyone nearby yet, but it is the matter of time if your speculation is true."

Her eyes contained some degree of nervousness, clearly aware of the incoming danger.

Yet, she didn't make a suggestion of abandoning Hidan. To her, such a choice wasn't an available option.

Yes, Mei was a righteous person. Akashi could tell based on a month of time he's been with her.

"...Mei."

Akashi closed his eye. 

Many calculations ran through his head. 

The meeting point with Zabuza, Ao, and Gai. Their goal of reaching Kiri. 

Also, Akashi didn't mention to them, but... there has been someone following them for over a month. He occasionally felt killing intents reaching down his back, looking for an opportunity to strike.

Sasori of the 'Red Sand'. Akashi's been aware, but wasn't able to deal with the man, as the rest of the group would hold him back. He knew that the worst case scenario, after all, was the case where Mei and others became hostages for Sasori to threaten him with.

The presence of Sasori disappeared after they entered the land of hot waters, but Akashi knew that it won't be for long; it seemed that the man was interested in him, for an unknown reason.

'...Perhaps, now is the chance.'

He opened his eye.

"I'll leave Hidan with you."

"...What of you then?"

"I act as a decoy."

Previously, Akashi and Mei served as the decoy for Zabuza, Ao, and Gai to get past the security of Yugakure. What he was going to do was technically the same as back then.

"How, when..."

You don't even get to use your full strength?

Mei swallowed her question, knowing that it wasn't a good idea to leak a crucial information like that to Hidan, at least for now.

"...The same meeting point?"

"Yes. Should I not reach there in 3 days..."

"I know."

Mei nodded before grabbing Hidan's hand.

"You..."

Hidan then spoke up for the first time, surprising Akashi and Mei.

Looking at Akashi, he said in a monotone,

"You are going to die."

However, Akashi read that behind his supposedly emotionless words, there was a slight tremble in tone.

"...Why?"

A wave of nostalgia rushed into Akashi as he looked at Hidan. 

"Die?"

He couldn't help but laugh lightly as he reached Hidan's hair and ruffled it.

"Hidan, do you know who I am?"

Hidan shook his head.

Akashi looked into Hidan and said,

"I'm the one who won against the man currently renowned to be the strongest ninja in the world."

...

Mei and Hidan left the area. Akashi moved slightly from where they took a rest, now seated around the open field that could easily be seen from far away.

And he waited for the enemies to arrive.

Seated neatly on the ground, he meditated.

'My facade of "Taka" has to be kept up. Ryuma cannot be afforded to be used, but... fire release should be acceptable.'

Akashi primarily used his kenjutsu skills to combat. There weren't many ninjutsu techniques that he particularly used. His genjutsu was currently mediocre, and his taijutsu too wasn't as developed.

...Or, that was how the world knew. 

Akashi didn't spend 3 years in Amegakure for nothing. He simply didn't show his other skills, for there was no need to do so; a ninja always must have cards up his sleeves.

He vigorously trained, training to an extent where Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato were left amazed. He pushed himself to the limit knowing that the world was harsh, far more harsh than those three could imagine.

'Though it is true that I am unable to utilize other chakra natures except for fire and a little bit of wind...'

Akashi had confidence. Opening his eye, he took out a slip of paper that contained the seal of 'Flying Thunder God technique' that he copied from the one placed on his clone by Minato.

'And soon, after I managed to get through all this, I will get even stronger.'

Placing the slip back in, Akashi readied himself.

The sun has reached the peak of the sky and now began to fall down again.

From afar, just as how enemies could sight Akashi, so could he; the numerous ninjas, wearing the forehead protectors of Kumo, appeared in his sight.

Akashi took out the twin Kiba blades and viewed A and B dashing at the front of the group.

Eventually, the group of Kumo ninjas stopped at some distance away from Akashi, cautious and surprised that they found him this early.

"...Where did the other one go?"

A growled.

"That kunoichi of Terumi clan?"

"Does that matter?"

"...Heh, I suppose not, for now."

In A's mind, his recent losses against this man in front of him, Taka, as well as Konoha's Yellow Flash, appeared. 

They really did hurt his pride, but now, A had a chance to revenge for the humiliation he's received.

"It will be different this time."

"That's right! Cuz I'm here too, ya fool!"

A declared, and B nodded while making a rapping gesture.

The Kumo ninjas swiftly surrounded Akashi, all ready to combat. Their number seemed to reach around 20 or so, but Akashi didn't bother to count them one by one, knowing that what mattered to him right now was to keep himself alerted.

'Red Sand...'

After all, Sasori was nearby, much to Akashi's annoyance.