Violet-Eyed Serpent: Ch.26

“So, you want to take it? You know that means finally fighting against Hanzo and perhaps the entirety of Ame, right? We only have about 120 shinobi while Hanzo has 800 of Chunin level or higher,” Pakura spoke with a frown and I smirked as I nodded.

“I do. That's why I got a little something worked out.”

“Uh-huh, and this isn't like your usual plans where you make it on the fly, is it?”, Yahiko asked and I simply smiled as I walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder before his eyes widened as red chakra bubbled from my hand and slowly spread over his body.

“…Nagato, how come my chakra is now almost double what it was?”, He asked and I chuckled as I pulled my chakra back, amused at his disappointed look before looking to the other two and explaining.

“That was essentially my own unique variant of the Chakra Transfer Technique. What it does is that I use my Rinnegan to look at a person's chakra and then shift the Bijuu chakra inside of me to better match their own specific chakra signature to give them a boost.”

“Wait, what do you mean by Bijuu chakra? Since when do you have…? The Bijuu from the Uzushio incident,” Konan spoke with a look of understanding and the other two turned to me as I nodded.

“Precisely that. While I could not steal the Nibi or Hachibi, the Sanbi and Rokubi were up for grabs after I took out their Mizukage and his right hand man. So, with the help of the head of Uzushio, we sealed them inside of me and I'm now close partners with both of them.”

“So, you guys are just close friends now? Even after you killed their previous partners?”

“Uh, kind of? To them, I'll die when I'm old as hell while they'll get to live as they please so they don't really care much for it,” I spoke with a shrug and Yahiko hummed before I nodded as I turned back to the map.

“Anyway, back to the question I wanted to ask. What level would you say our fighters are at?”

“Most of them are at an Elite Genin to Chunin level. There are the few that are at an Elite Chunin level, some that are Jounin level in either ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu or kenjutsu and then there are the rest that are Jounin-level overall.”

“And you three?”, I asked, smirking as Yahiko scoffed while both Konan and Pakura raised an eyebrow.

“We're not at the level where people run at the sight of us, but I'd say we're all in the range of S-Rank. What about you?”

“Ah, you know, I wouldn't say I've increased much over the course of the three years, but I have gotten somewhat better.”

“Uh-huh,” Pakura spoke with a smirk, unable to help her giggles as I chuckled and shook my head.

“In all honesty, I think I'm equal to Hanzo.”

“Hanzo doesn't have a run-on-sight order. You do.”

“Yeah, but I'd rather not base my chances of which one of us have the bigger bounty. For all we know, Hanzo's gotten stronger over the years or he's been hiding his power all this time to make sure no attention gets draw to Ame.”

“So, basically, it's going to be the two of you facing off against each other while we take care of the riff-raff that want to interrupt, yes?”

“Pretty much. However, the actual plan is a lot more intricate than that.”

“Let me guess. It involves explosions?”, Konan asked and I smirked before shaking my head.

“Not this time. No, this time, it involves my lovely snakes.”

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“And that's the entire plan. What do you guys think?”

“Oh, it's lovely except for one thing. You're only putting your well-being at risk in the second half of the plan,” Pakura spoke with a frown and I sighed as I nodded.

“I am.”

“Why not include our lives in that part as well?”

“I'd rather not risk the lives of the Akatsuki's leaders unnecessarily. Yes, yes. I know that I'm supposed to be the leader, but right now, none of those guys out there know anything about me other than that I'm Nagato Uzumaki. I was not there when they were recruited and I was not there to fight alongside them. You all were.”

“Okay, but you know we're not going to sit around and let you take on the guy that's been turning Ame into a warzone, right?”, Yahiko said with a frown and I smiled as I nodded.

“I won't stop you guys from stepping in to help, but for the initial strike, I need you three to dismantle the command structure and sever Hanzo's chain of command. If you can do that, he'd be forced to fight me on his own.”

“So, we are to help you isolate him? That's it?”

“That's it. Hopefully, we can pull it off quickly, but if not, I just need you guys to keep everyone away.”

“And why the one on one combat? We're shinobi. Taking out enemies as quickly and as efficiently as we can is our motto, isn't it?”

“It is, but Hanzo is still revered and if he isn't defeated within view of Ame's people, the people there will think that I'm not strong enough to protect them despite my Bingo Book entry.”

“Ah, so this is just a show of power. Is that it?”, Konan asked as she crossed her arms and shook her head as I nodded unashamedly.

“It is. That is also why I need you guys to focus more on the other guys than on Hanzo and I. Once the fight ends in his defeat, his most loyal servants will scatter to make sure that another rebellion can be planned against us so we need to take them all out before they can.”

“Okay, but do we have to kill just them or anyone connected to them?”, I raised an eyebrow at Pakura's question before glancing at Konan and Yahiko to see the two of them looking curious as well.

'Huh, guess all that time being the ones to make the tough calls really made them nonchalant about this kind of stuff, huh?'

“Hopefully, we just have to kill them, but if their families wish to disturb the peace that we're working so hard o achieve, we have no choice but to make sure they don't.”

“…Good, at least you haven't grown soft,” Pakura nodded as she turned and walked towards the entrance, looking me to watch her leave with a raised eyebrow before looking to the other two's amused smirks.

“Is she…? Does she…? Anyone gonna tell me just what happened in the time that I've been gone?”, I asked and Yahiko just chuckled as he patted my shoulder as he turned and we began walking to the entrance.

“Come on. I'll fill you in on everything.”

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“So, you…tried to ask Pakura out?”, I asked as Yahiko and I walked through the tunnels, trying to stifle my smirk as Yahiko groaned at my amused tone.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up.”

“O-Oh, I'm not laughing. D-Did you feel like there's a special connection or something?”

“I mean, I guess? Anyway, that didn't work out so well, especially after she nearly melted everything off.”

“Yeah, I expected that. And what then?”

“Well, then I felt too bad for asking Konan out because I felt like she might feel like she's second pick and then…”

“Let me guess. She told you that you had a chance, but not right now because she wants to focus on liberating Ame before she can give you a chance, right?”

“…Are you sure you weren't just hiding away in the hideout or something?”, He asked with a raised eyebrow and I snorted while patting his shoulder.

“No, it's just easy to see how much she's liked you since we met.”

“No, she hasn't. According to her, it started at-”

“Puberty? I'd say here around when she was 12 to 13 years old and we split off, allowing you to show her how capable you are? Also, she had this special discussion with Pakura while the two of us were sparring and she found out that she liked you?”, I asked and laughed as he just stared at me.

“Okay, seriously. Do those eyes let you read minds?”

“No, they just let me see what others try to hide. Take it from someone that's a bit dense to love. She's has a slight crush on you for years. She just got tired of waiting for you.”

“…Wait, does that mean you know of Pakura's crush on you?”

“…Pakura has a what on who now?”, I asked as I turned around, my eyes wide along with both Sessho and Akahime giving a bewildered bark/ hiss as Yahiko's eyes widened.

“…Shit.”

“You're telling me…that Pakura, hard-ass, confident, doesn't-like-owing-others Pakura…has a crush on me?!”, I whispered/ shouted, glaring at Yahiko as he shushed me while looking around.

“I thought you knew, okay? I mean, the hug? The cheek kiss? Her wanting to help in the plan despite it being one that most likely has a 10% chance of working?”

“Okay, firstly, if you're going to give my plan a chance, make it at least 70%.”

“Sure~”

“Secondly, I thought that was just her having matured and warmed up to us after I kidnapped her. Did she forget that I kidnapped her?”

“Ever heard the stories of the people that get kidnapped falling for their kidnappers because it's the first sign of someone wanting them?”

“…See, this isn't fair,” I muttered as I began pacing, Yahiko deciding to stay quiet as I groaned, “I come back from three years of training with snakes, surviving their gruesome training, organizing an entire plan, making sure the Sanbi and Rokubi don't try and break me with their own training…and now you're telling me that the girl that can mummify everything about me has a crush on me?”

“Yeah, pretty much,” He spoke with a shrug and I just looked at him before rubbing my temples.

“And now she probably thinks that I don't know”

“Oh, just a slight correction. She definitely thinks that you don't know and when she finds out that you do know, she's going to figure out where you learned it from and then you're either going to get turned into a mummy with me or get kissed.”

“Doesn't those sound wonderful?”, I spoke sarcastically and he smirked while I looked down the tunnel again to make sure she doesn't come around the corner before shaking my head.

“This couldn't get any worse.”

“Hey, you're lucky.”

“How so?”

“You could be me. I messed up two chances to get a date and got roasted, almost literally in the process with the first chance.”

“That is…true,” I murmured and the two of us stood in silence as I contemplated this new knowledge before looking to Yahiko.

“You're going to talk to her, right?”

“After the invasion.”

“You're saying that like our victory is already decided.”

“Are you planning on losing? Didn't think so.”

“Uh-huh, and I don't think Pakura is planning on losing you to any fangirls that may appear either,” He teased with a grin before wheezing as I tapped my elbow into his side.

Just a light one.

“Y-You got a kidney~”, He wheezed and I rolled my eyes as I placed a glowing green hand against his side and healed the damage.

“You want to test that again? Remember that I figured out a way to make the pain last for an entire week. Also, I can make you piss blood if I hit you just right.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Uh-huh, thought so.”

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The air was silent as the rain poured down, my eyes fixed on the largest tower peeking over the others while I watched as Ame's shinobi patrolled the village border.

“Hey, Akahime, why didn't you go with the others?”

“Because Sessho and the others would be enough for them,” She hissed as her head peeked out from my brand new cloak, to which I just shook my head as I knew the real reason.

“My cloak and body is a lot warmer and more cozy than having to work, isn't it?”

“Well, there is also that.”

“Uh-huh. Well, let's go and finish this off, then. Which one of you two want to be the lucky one?”

“Ooh~ Can it be me?”, Saiken asked and I raised an eyebrow at his excitement before Isobu spoke up with a smirk.

“Saiken is an acid/ poison user so he would work better. However, start off the battle with my chakra and take him into the dimension. There, your friends won't have to worry about them,” He explained and I nodded as I made a cross hand-sign, the red chakra bubbling forward and making me smile at the rush of power.

“Shadow Clone Jutsu,” With a thought, 120 clones covered in the same red bubbling chakra nodded before they sunk underwater, travelling to the others while I cracked my neck as I raised one palm to the village and another to the sky.

“Shinra Tensei,” The red chakra around me vanished as I fuelled the jutsu with it, watching as the clouds above were parted with laughable ease while the water in front of me was torn apart.

Th shinobi on the border let out surprised shouts as the shockwave of pure gravity pushed through the village walls, sending debris flying inwards before I lowered my hands as I heard the alarm go off.

“Hanzo of the Salamander! I am Nagato Uzumaki and I am here to challenge you for your title as Amegakure's leader!”, My voice travelled across the open landscape as I walked closer to the village, smiling when I saw the shinobi immediately running away the moment I said my name.

Guess that fame can be used for something after all.

It was not long before I found myself being the only one nearby, Akahime letting out a hiss while I smiled as a man slowly walked out from the destroyed wall.

With his mane of long blond hair flowing in the air behind him, his masked misage was very ominous as he wore a black cloak over his standard Amegakure flak jacket that was worn on top of his grey wetsuit with bandages wrapped around his wrists and lower legs.

At his side was a kusarigama, its blade gleaming in the dim sunlight shining down and I watched as his eyes, that had black sclerae and light green irises, narrowed the second he saw me standing there.

“Nagato Uzumaki. I believe you were responsible for the destruction done to my precious village all those years ago.”

“I was, but I do believe you were talking with some people from the Leaf, were you not?”, I was pretty sure that only happened when Yahiko, Konan and I were supposed to be about 18 or older, but I was a fair bit surprised when Hanzo simply hummed while nodding.

“I have read of your unique doujutsu. I suppose that's how you found out?”

“It might be. So, you ready to give up your spot as leader and tyrant or are you going to protest?”

“I believe you know which of the two it's going to be, yes?”, He spoke as he took the sickle part of his kusarigama in hand while grabbing part of the chain with the other, whipping it around his body right as I shot forward.

With a thought, Akahime's nature energy flowed into my body and I felt my senses being driven into overdrive, Isobu's chakra adding on to the boost while Hanzo looked surprised as I went into Version 2 State immediately.

Space-Time Ninjutsu: Coral Reefs!

A tail vanished as my chakra spread out wide below the two of us, shifting us through time and space right as I caught a giant snake erupting from the water with Hanzo's salamander in its mouth.

'Target No.1: Down.'

“Ibuse!”, Hanzo exclaimed, but it was too late as the two of us vanished, reappearing underwater with coral reefs surrounding us as far as the eye can see while the sun was kilometers above.

'Saiken!'

“Right!”, Saiken nodded and Isobu's chakra vanished around me, the shock of being underwater keeping Hanzo preoccupied for a split second right as I felt my body growing outwards.

Within the span of a second, I felt acidic slime growing all over my body as six tails grew out from my lower back, my eyes stretching out from their sockets while my hair vanished as silky smooth skin covered in the slime from earlier took its place.

Vapor Style: Solid Fog Jutsu!

A crap ton of acid spewed forward and mixed in with the water, Hanzo immediately surrounding his body with chakra to mitigate its effects somewhat while I watched as he rocketed through the water.

To give him credit, the guy was fucking fast underwater as he looked more like a merman than a human, diving and zigzagging to dodge my tails while I grimaced as I gathered my chakra.

Red and blue bubbles formed around me before I lifted my head up, gathering them all in one spot while my tails did their best to keep Hanzo from attacking either me or the condensed sphere of Bijuu chakra.

“Now!”, Isobu shouted and I clapped my hands together, dismissing the dimension around us right as Hanzo was above me and I grinned while his eyes were wide as I spat the bomb at him.

Tailed Beast Bomb!

Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!

Not finished yet, my body shifted out of its Tailed Beast form as I gathered the chakra at my hand, the Sage Chakra and Saiken's chakra boosting it further as I heaved and threw it towards the Tailed Beast Bomb.

In awe, I watched as the two blasts exploded against each other, forming a tornado of wind and fire while I stared at Hanzo's chakra was sliced apart and burned away by the two jutsu.

'…Damn, I guess I really am strong.'

A/N: Sorry for the late upload~!! I fell asleep behind the PC and only woke up about half an hour ago so I had to finish off the last of it.

Anyway, back to the story. If you guys want, I can expand upon the fight or we can keep it the same. It's up to you guys.

Next chapter: Make Ame a Great Nation

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!