Violet-Eyed Serpent: Ch.12

“All right, old timer. Time to start talking.” I began as I walked up to the old man, who simply looked amused as Sessho walked over and sat down beside me while both Yahiko and Konan were now paying attention.

“You can talk. I just don't know if I might respond.”

“Firstly, how the hell did these Suna shinobi the precise location of where we would be just minutes after we did the trade?”

“That I do not know about. Perhaps one of you three told them?”

“Nagato, can we kill him?”

“No, Yahiko. Calm down.” I muttered with a sigh and he grumbled while Konan patted his shoulder as I turned back to the amused man.

“Fine, you won't answer that. Let's go to the second question. What is your name?”

“Higashi.”

“…You just made that up, didn't you?” I asked before staring at him as he simply smirked and shrugged.

“Who knows? You got anymore questions?”

“Just one. What is that dark chakra clinging to your back?” I asked, smirking as his gaze went serious for a brief moment before it shifted back to his usual amused look.

“Hoho~ I see those eyes are not just for show.”

“We were told we were escorting a noble in our mission report so unless you wanna tell us just what that is, we're going to have to escort you back to where we found you and cancel this mission.”

“You would risk a failure on your perfect record?” He asked before chuckling as I smirked while Konan responded.

“Every group has their failures now and again. One failed S-Rank job does not look that bad when you look at the numerous others that we have completed perfectly.”

“Once you combine that with the fact that we managed to complete all of those missions before hitting 13 years of age and you will find that most would rather pick us because they want to be in our good books when we're older.”

“…Hmm, looks like you three have your priorities set straight. A good thing to have in our day and age.” The man responded after Yahiko finished Konan's sentence, to which all three of us crossed our arms and raised an eyebrow at him.

“Now, who are you and why are we getting attacked?”

“My name is Higashi. No, I am not lying about that and no, I cannot tell you what that chakra is. However, what I can tell is that sealed into my back is a weapon so powerful, whoever possesses it would be protected from this war until it ends.”

“I see. Well, then how did they all find out about this?”

“Tanigakure and the Land of Rivers has no formal allegiance with us and they simply escorted me here because they did not want the weapon to be pointed at them. Therefore, it's not farfetched to believe that they sold me out in order to make sure Kusa does not get the weapon.”

“Great, so we're caught in a small skirmish between two smaller countries while there's an entire war occurring around us.” I muttered while pinching the bridge of my nose, to which Higashi snickered and nodded.

“Welcome to the big leagues, kiddo. You just became a piece on the board, but will you live long enough to be promoted to a game master?”

“Oh, don't you start with the whole puppeteering thing.” I said with a frown and the man simply looked amused before I turned to the others as Konan spoke up.

“So, are we still continuing with the mission? If we do, we risk drawing the attention of not only the smaller countries but also Suna and Konoha this time.”

“And if we don't, we risk the chance of losing more customers that are focused around protection and escorting missions.” Yahiko countered with a slight frown, which the bluenette returned before they looked at me as I cleared my throat.

“This is a 'Damned if we do, damned if we don't' situation, so let's make this more in our favour. Higashi, let me feel your chakra, please?” I asked and while the man did raise an eyebrow at my words, he walked forward and allowed me to place a hand on his head.

However, I wasn't exactly feeling at his chakra so much as I was looking at it, looking at how the dark grey chakra on his back clung to his own dull green chakra like that of a parasite clinging to its host.

'It's draining his chakra, but it's not enough to be noticeable at all. No, it's just slow enough to make sure he can still regenerate it before it takes more, but it's also taking just enough for the drainage to be negligible. …Oh fucking god, I know what this is.'

“On your back is a specific fuinjutsu for a large-scale bomb, isn't there? You're a suicide bomb.” I answered and to his credit, the man looked neither angered nor saddened as he simply smiled peacefully and nodded.

“Indeed, I am.”

“And Kusa wasn't the one who asked for the delivery, are they? You're from a bigger village that wants to take out Kusa from the war and make sure they can't steal the spoils of war.”

“You are quite the perceptive one. I can see why you're the leader.” He answered in response as he stood back.

“So, you agreed…to be a bomb?” Yahiko asked with a frown and Higashi snorted as he nodded while resting on his cane with a smile.

“Without question.”

“B-But…why, though? You still have time to live out your life and do things you wanna do, don't you? Like resting at home with your loved ones?” Konan asked and the old man chuckled whilst shaking his head.

“Let me tell you a little something of these harsh times of ours, missy. There is no happy ending for those of us who chose the life of a shinobi. Unless you can find a way for this war to end, then all you will find as you grow older are friends dying and loved ones watching as your mind degrades with every passing day.”

“Then we'll find a way to end this war. Not for you, but for every person like you that just wants to rest.” I declared with a smile and for the first time, Higashi looked just the slightest bit of surprise before I rolled my eyes as he laughed.

“Oh~ Ohahahaha~! You…you honestly believe you can what? Just walk up to them and end this war? Hahahaha~! Oh, thank you for that! I needed that laugh.” The man spoke with a blissful smile, but it quickly faded to a raised eyebrow as I simply looked at him.

“You…were serious about that?”

“Of course, one thing you need about me is that once I declare something, I do my best to make sure that I make what I declared a reality.”

“Well, you will find that no one will like that as you will be threatening their very livelihood so how will you deal with that?”

“Well, firstly, I would try diplomacy since I do like to try the peaceful route above anything else.”

“Ha! Of course, you would. Well then, Mr. Diplomacy, what will you do when this diplomacy angles doesn't work out?”

“I will kill them all. Erase every man, woman and child that is not allied with us from the face of the planet, no matter if they're a shinobi or a civilian. Unlike most, these two and the people of Amegakure are the only people I care for. Therefore, I could and would eradicate millions if that's what it takes to make sure that peace can be achieved.”

“…Well, that's dark.” Yahiko spoke up and I chuckled as I turned and saw both him and Konan looking shocked and wide-eyed at my words.

“It sounds morbid and dark, but it's just how it is.”

“Oh, don't worry. The two of us would go to the same lengths for the others.”

“…That is true.” Yahiko nodded with a sigh and I snickered as Konan giggled before we turned to Higashi as he chuckled.

“Ah, it's been a while since I've seen camaraderie of this level. Well then, Uzumaki, I wish you luck in your endeavours to bring peace to the world.”

“It's Nagato, Higashi. Call me Nagato.” I said with a smile and he nodded before patting my back and continuing with his walk in the direction we were heading in.

“Come on, then! I need to be delivered and we're wasting daylight!”

“…Can't we just detonate him and say that they got him?” Yahiko whispered with a slight frown before sighing as I shook my head.

“Unfortunately not. Let's just get this mission over with so we can get back home.”

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'Well…this is tense.' I thought with a slight frown as I poked my head out of the sandy ground and the reason for that thought was because of the scene in front of me.

In front of me, I could count at least four dozen or so Suna Shinobi that were being led by a jonin with a young teenage girl at his side while he was talking to a single Konoha shinobi that had a young teenage boy with him.

The Suna commander was a tall man with a turban around his head and the traditional Sunagakure jounin uniform with the weird addition of a poncho-like top over his shoulders.

Standing besides him was the rather cute teenager looking to be about 16 or so years old that was nearly the same height as the man with green hair tied into a bun and one short and long strands of hair with orange tips framing the sides of her face.

Dressed in a sleeveless, backless top and short tight pants with an obi around her waist and purple arm-warmers that went up to her shoulders, I recognized the woman instantly seeing as she was one of the Kekkei Genkai users that Kabuto resurrected during the Fourth Shinobi World War.

'Pakura of the Scorch Style and…that kind of looks like a younger version of Granny Chiyo's brother with the long eyebrows. Yep, it looks way too close to not be him. Well, and here I thought this would be easy.' I thought with a frown and looked at the other group only to shake my head as I saw who they were.

The boy on the left was a bit harder to pin with his long ash-blonde hair that was worn in a long ponytail along with the red sleeveless haori he wore over a Konoha flak jacket, but it was the guy he was standing next to that made me realize that we are not going to be able to pass through here.

Dressed in a Konoha flak jacket with a holster worn diagonally over his right shoulder to carry the short sword on his back, I was more focused on the spiky, silver hair of his that reached the middle of his back and was tied into a ponytail.

'Sakumo. …Sakumo fucking Hatake, the guy that was seen as an even bigger icon than the Sannin themselves and was said to be on par with all three of them at the current time. Hell no, I'm not going closer.' I thought with a sigh as I created a clone that floated in the ground besides me before sinking down.

“So, what did you see?” Yahiko asked the moment I appeared in the bunker, to which I sighed and shook my head as I sat down.

“Sakumo Hatake is out there.” That was all I needed to say as Konan and Yahiko tensed up at the name while Higashi said one single word.

“Fuck.”

“Well, what can we do other than perhaps waiting here?” Konan asked and I frowned as I shook my head.

“There was a young boy with him that looked eerily similar to a Yamanaka so they'd be able to sense us the moment they walked over us. However, engaging them is out of the question.”

“What? You don't think you can take him?” Higashi asked and I looked at him with an amused smile.

“I might be strong for my age, but there's a clear reason why the name 'Sakumo Hatake' is feared by every shinobi that isn't from Konoha and even then, some of his own men fear the power he has. I'd rather not face Konoha's White Fang if I can help it.”

“Then what? You said we can't sit still here and we can't engage. What can we do?”

“Distract. We can distract.” I answered and they all frowned before Yahiko looked surprised as I pulled him out while creating and dispersing a clone to call the one above back.

“You and I are going to be a distraction and while we're distracting them, Konan, Higashi and Sessho are going to be moving around the perimeter to get away.”

“No, that's a dead sentence if you're lucky and that's if you're lucky.” She said with a frown and I rose an eyebrow as Yahiko decided to stay out.

“Do you have a better plan?”

“…We could track back and move around like you suggested.”

“Just one issue. Sakumo Hatake is said to have a powerful sense of smell surpassing that of most Inuzuka clan members and the wind is blowing right past them. What's stopping him from catching wind of our scent and bringing our location to their attention?”

“Then what if you use your clones as distraction?”

“The chakra residue from them popping will enable the Yamanaka of the group to catch my chakra signature and then I would still have to move away to make sure you all escape. You can't counter by saying that he might not have it when Sensei told us they train young Yamanaka in chakra sensing from the moment they enter the Academy.”

“…Then let me come with. With my papers, I can-!”

“Create a second layer around you for protection as the clone makes the bunker around as the first layer. Make sure you guys keep low and if needed, provide cover fire the moment we need it to escape.” I said with a shrug and sighed as I caught her glaring at me.

“You don't have to worry, you know? I'll make sure both of us get out of there just as alive and healthy as we are now.”

“…For some reason, I don't believe you.” Yahiko said with a frown and I rolled my eyes at his words before looking at Konan as she reached forward and hugged us both.

“Make sure you come back, okay?”

“I'll come back. I don't know so much about this idiot.” He said while gesturing at me and I sighed before smiling softly as I heard her giggle.

“That's true. Now go before I change my mind.”

“Make sure to take it slow and take the wide curve, okay?” I said to my clone, who gave a salute before I grasped Yahiko's shoulder and leapt up into the ground.

Dragging him up with me, the two of us shot out of the ground and onto one of the few trees that stood on the edge of the large muddy plains where the two groups were still talking before turning to Yahiko as I saw him frowning with shaky hands.

“If you want, I can handle this on my own and you can go back down.”

“And let you lord this over me? Hell no. I'm ready and waiting.” He answered and I chuckled as I shifted my headband of a howling wolf from my forehead to cover my eyes while also thankful for my long hair as I undid the ponytail and moved it around to let it cover most of my upper face from view.

Taking a deep breath, the two of us dropped to the ground with soft thuds and began walking out onto the battlefield, into the view of everyone as I saw outlines of their bodies turning to look at us.

“Black cloaks and red clouds with headbands of a howling wolf…Akatsuki.” I felt proud as I heard the slight whispers from the groups, but I focused my attention on the two leaders as they both turned to us along with the younger members next to them.

“I do not believe it's good for children to impersonate shinobi, especially in our current times.” Ebizo said, to which Yahiko snorted as I smiled.

“I thank you for the concern, sir, but this impersonation has helped us get past most battlefields along the way here. May my friend and I please pass?”

“Of course.” Sakumo however simply sounded polite as he gestured for us to pass and while I was surprised, I didn't let it show on my face unlike Yahiko as I grabbed his shoulder and helped him walk along with me.

However, it was just as we passed the large battalions and was about to make it out that I sighed when Ebizo spoke up.

“Before you go, though, may I ask where you got those uniforms, young man?”

“Oh, from some guys that wanted to get rid of them.” Yahiko answered and I nodded as they looked at me before shaking my head as Sakumo snorted.

“There's no need to lie. We knew who you were the moment we caught sight of you.”

“Told you that hiding who we were wouldn't help.” Yahiko said to me and I rolled my eyes before turning my head as Sakumo as he spoke up.

“It is a surprise to see that the Akatsuki is made up of children.” Sakumo said with a curious tone and I shrugged before responding.

“That's what most of our enemies think before we kill them.”

“You have been focused mainly on the northern side of the country to fight off the attacks of Iwagakure on the villages located there. Why are you so far south?”

“To see the scenery of the southern side of the country. Up north is nothing but rain and mountains.” Yahiko answered and the White Fang simply hummed before I looked over at Pakura as she spoke up.

“You are quite the arrogant children.”

“No.” I said with a hand raised towards Yahiko, who frowned slightly before huffing as I shook my head.

“She's not worth the effort. Besides, the words of a child do not reflect the words of the adults.”

“Excuse me?” She asked and I smiled before shrugging.

“Are you hard of hearing as well? Apologies, then. If I had known you had disabilities, I would have talked louder.”

“I do not…have any difficulties.”

“Then there was no need to excuse yourself. You heard me correctly, then.”

“Hehehe~ Nice.” Yahiko whispered with a fist raised and I smirked as I bumped it before looking at Sakumo and Ebizo as they stared back.

“Do you perhaps have any other questions?”

“Yes, do you believe you are going to escape here alive?”

“Yes, unless you wish to do something about it?” I asked while holding my hands behind my back, already weaving through hand signs while Yahiko gripped the hilt of his blade as Sakumo sighed.

“While I would like nothing more than to let you children leave, we have been given information that you may have the location of a certain weapon.”

“Well, it appears your information is incorrect as I have no recollection of such a thing.”

“Then you would not mind if my student here searches your mind?” He said and I frowned slightly as I saw the Yamanaka teenager looking at me.

“And risk having him learn valuable intelligence on our organization? I believe that will unfortunately not work out for me.”

“I do believe that we weren't asking.” Ebizo spoke up and I scratched the back of my head before taking a deep breath and looking at the sky.

Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame

A moment later, my head dropped down and I blew out a sea of flames in front of me, sweeping my hair back into its low ponytail before raising a fist to Yahiko right as Pakura rushed towards me and the Yamanaka kid towards him.

'Well, at least I know they'll keep him busy.' I thought with a slight frown as I saw Sakumo facing off against Ebizo and the entire platoon of jonin shinobi before turning my gaze back right as Pakura was upon me.

Guess it's time to see how I actually compare to someone of her caliber.

A/N: And we end the chapter on a cliffhanger~!!

As you all can see, we have another three named characters being introduced and yes, Sakumo Hatake is still a menace during this war so I will treat him as such.

Next chapter, though, get ready to see Yahiko v Yamanaka and Nagato vs Pakura.

Don't worry as Konan will also be having her own tense fights later in the story.

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

Ba-Bye~!!