-One day ter-
Pov: White Zetsu
"You sure he is good enough? I'm sick of wasting time on hunting down potential members- especially when Kakazu keeps killing any potential allies to 'our' cause" 'Madara' asks me.
"I am unsure of his strength- but with Kakazu all you need is survivability do you not?" Bck Zetsu retorts.
"I am also sick of this search for new members! I want something more interesting to watch!" I compin.
"In due time- his mindset, will it meld with 'ours' or just the groups" 'Madara' asks.
...
"Its possible... from rumour he seems to be a monster and uncaring, from whispers he attacked and tried to kill his own brother the nine-tails holder... interrogate him and see if we can use him as a way to py on the nine tails brats emotions... if he is also interested in following your orders than that's perfect for us, the less members that follow 'Pein' the more control you have" Bck Zetsu speaks.
"And if he doesn't align to any of our goals?" I ask.
"Ill kill him" 'Madara' leaves us with those words and warps out of existence... and reappears just outside of the roadside tavern.
"Should we listen in?" I ask Bck Zetsu.
"Of course" He replies and we submerge into the earth and hide beneath the taverns floor, our eyes gazing through the wooden panels and our ears intent on listening in.
*Step*
"Hello Kenzo, Monster of the leaf" 'Madara' stands behind him, appearing from nothing.
"Hello... stranger, didn't stop by just for ramen I hope- ate their st reserves until a delivery comes tomorrow morning" Kenzo replies and digs into his food.
...
"I am curious about your current situation, do you mind if I ask why the leaf's monster is unchained?" 'Madara' asks him.
"I... was annoyed" He grumbles.
... Madara lowers his gaze through his mask and waits.
"Monster this... Monster that- not allowed to leave the vilge, the constant... 'interrogations'... and the final straw was the Chunin exams, I was this close to getting into the final exam but I couldn't... because of foul py" He spits and jabs at his bowl with his chopsticks.
"Foul py you say? How so?" 'Madara' asks.
"Poisoned not by another competing team but rather Oorochimaru of all people, think the adults would care enough to cure me before I died instead of 'believing in me' and 'maintaining fairness', stupid thing getting kids killed" He gnashes his teeth.
"That it is... sometimes the ones in power don't like to help the ones who need it" 'Madara' sighs and shakes his head.
"No. They don't. But what's done is done and I lost- now I just have to improve my techniques and be better next time... already unshackled myself" Kenzo chuckles.
...
"Is the freedom worth it?" 'Madara' asks him.
"... yeah, I'll figure out something sooner or ter but for now the ability to do what I want sounds... nice... like I am being treated as an actual child" Kenzo sighs.
"Would you like that for the world? Peace? Freedom?" 'Madara' begins his offer.
*Shuffle*
Kenzo turns his gaze to the other guests and they all scatter, he turns his head to the owner of the inn and he rushes away as well.
"What are you offering?" Kenzo asks in the empty inn.
"An organization exists to enforce peace and prosperity around the elemental nations... its leader seeks-" 'Madara' is cut off mid sentence.
"-Akatsuki, I knew your robes where familiar" Kenzo states.
"You know of us?" 'Madara' asks.
"Yes- Itachi joined did he not?" Kenzo nods his head.
"I'm surprised, not many know of us" 'Madara' squints through his one eye hole in his mask.
"No they do not- you didn't think that I am a monster because of my strength did you? My shapeshifting allows me to be anyone... and my genjutsu undetected allows me to cover for my weaknesses in disguise- Bam! Your 'friend' you knew for so long stabs you in the back with a fifteen foot give tail... is an infiltration and interrogation specialist good enough for your ranks?" Kenzo smirks.
"You want in?" 'Madara' raises his head.
"I have nothing. And you can help me gain freedom in this group of yours no?" Kenzo gazes at 'Madara'.
"My group?" 'Madara' asks.
"Is it not?" Kenzo asks, this time with a hint of genuine confusion.
So he doesn't know about our groups members or who leads the Akatsuki... only about Itachi?
"Our group hunts the tailed beasts and seeks to gather them all to use as weapons against the nations, will your retion to your brother be a problem?" 'Madara' asks.
"... I am sure to cross that road ter... I value him as family and cherish him- if you keep him for st... no- if you wait until we can safely extract... haa- how long away is that date?" Kenzo furrows his brows and sighs.
He will score points with 'Madara' if he cherishes the nine tails brat like that... sounds like a problem for ter- but for now it seems that 'Madara' has a new follower to keep an eye on Pein and 'our' true goals.
"Not for a few years... I take it you are willing to join? An infiltration specialist might be exactly what I need" 'Madara' offers.
...
Kenzo stares at the roof for a quiet moment, before looking 'Madara' in the eye.
"I'm in- what do you need me to do?" He asks.
"Infiltrate the Akatsuki of course" 'Madara' gleefully tells him and my eyes widen.
Another yer to our pns... another person to keep the Akatsuki going... he may be weak for our goals now, but in time he will grow.
"Perfect" Bck Zetsu smiles and I follow with a smile as well.
Our two halves match up in joy before sinking back into the earth.
---
Pov: 'Madara'
"What did you order him to do?" Zetsu appears besides me as I finish off the st of the inns guests that saw me.
"He will be in hiding for a little while... and I will have Kisame and Itachi intercept him- Kisame will offer him a ring and Pein will accept him into the organisation as Kakuzu's partner" I reply.
"How so?" Zetsu asks me.
"I will talk with Kisame... and Pein will need Kenzo whether he likes it or not- his abilities are truly terrifying and will come to rival the greats one day" I state.
"You are so sure of yourself? What if he is weak?" The white half of Zetsu asks.
...
"I said it before- I will kill him, nothing lost- everything gained" I reply as I clean up my 'mess'.
...
"Is he on board with our pns?" Zetsu asks me.
"Peins pns are a yes- ours? He is aware of the vague idea that I differ from Pein but knows little about anything- if he proves invaluable we can talk more, but even so, if he proves to talk too much or such else than he will know as much as Kisame does and that's it" I sigh.
"Good- great, what do you want us to do?" They ask.
"Find more potential members, if all the wells are dried up then start investigations on Iwagakure again, perhaps they could use our services once more" I order and they leave.
...
Kenzo... he reminds me of a younger version of myself- a kid who had just lost everything... just lost his mind, unlike me he has no purpose.
I will gdly give him one.
---
Pov: Naruto
"Oi- pervy sage! Stop getting distracted and keep your eyes peeled!" I throw a rock at the ground and he grumbles.
"You know this is a Hokage tracking mission... if we see Kenzo on the way that's that- now pick up the rock and keep practicing" Pervy sage sighs and instructs me.
I take a breath before picking up the rock and practicing the jutsu... the one that... gramps was supposed to teach me...
...
"Your still doing it wrong- don't wobble your chakra like that-" Pervy sage interrupts my focus.
"Kenzo would have expined ten- no, twenty times better than you!" I snap back again and speed walk ahead of him to focus my chakra into the rock.
"Haaa- kids these days, so grumpy" Pervy sage mocks disappointment before catching up with me.
"We will be entering the first town soon- stay in your room and keep practicing that, I have some stuff to do" Pervy sage says seriously and I nod absentmindedly.
...
How am I supposed to make two from one here...? And what does he mean by 'don't wobble your chakra', my chakra doesn't 'wobble'.
I scrunch my face and lift the rock closer to my eyes.
Focus... Focus...
...
Pour the chakra into the rock... and then concentrate on the form, keep the form stable and then... *Poof!* a terrible copy of the same rock appears in my other hand.
Well that's just rude.
I take another deep breath and focus on the rock.
Focus... Focus...
...
*Sp!*
"Alright, alright- get the third floor room at the hotel three corners down okay? Here is some coin" Pervy sage hands me some coins as he sps my back and I look up.
Oh, we are already here.
---
Pov: Jiraiya the toad sage.
Haaaah- look at that dy~ a shame that I have work to do... maybe I should introduce myself and try to find out how to meet her again? It would be a shame to let such a figure go...
All well- a mission is a mission.
I open my sketch book and look at the test pages- on the left side is a pale kid with mid length hair and a blindfold... looks rough both physically and mentally.
On the other side is a red head with tanned skin who wears goggles, a picture of a mask is next to him.
I have never seen these two in my life... maybe I should have taken less work to see how Naruto was doing- I could of met this Kenzo kid then.
...
I study the features and then pocket the book- where would I be if I was a beastly child and a wounded veteran?
Beastly... primal? Instincts? Lust?
The brothel!
Wait- no, no time for humour right now, I am sure that Kenzo would have either gone to this town or ran to another right past it.
Which means that I have to scan this pce from top to bottom trying my best to see if I can get them... and even though Tsunade isn't supposed to be near this area it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye out with how erratic she can be... by the time my toads tell me her whereabouts she is probably another town away.
...
I think there is some informants of mine at the gates which can tell me who entered or not, admittedly not the best way to search for someone who could shapeshift but that's what all ninja can do... Ryū would be the one to ask about.
That is if he shows himself- not having ever heard of this man over the twenty eight years of his existence makes me think he is used to 'quiet' jobs.
Haaaa- another time pretty dy...
---
Pov: Naruto
*Knock* *Knock*
"Oh come on!" I sigh as I lose focus and get up for the door.
"Hello?" I open it up and stare at the man looking down at me... bz8ng red eyes like Sasuke's.
Is this his brother...? The one Kenzo talked about with me..?
"Naruto Uzumaki" He states and gnces around my room.
...
*Gulp*
"Are you alone?" He asks me.
...
"Just snatch him already- I told you Zetsu found a candidate nearby and we are te to the meeting!" A shark looking man groans behind him and Itachi Uchiha grabs the back of my neck pulling me upwards.
*Woosh!*
I am lifted onto his back and feel nauseous... what is this horrid feeling...?
*Snap!*
I csp my hands together and jump off of Itachi and into the hallway- the genjutsu is undone and I immediately sprint away.
*BLAST!*
A Stream of water hits my back and I tumble to the ground- *Sm!* a wrapped sword his me in the back and I groan as I roll over.
"Stop pying with your food Itachi- I told you we are te" The shark man says and throws me over his shoulder as he sheathes his bde away.
Itachi nods and the two walk down the stairs, as soon as they enter the open street the shark man flickers to the rooftops and to the exit gate of the town.
"Are we taking him to the meeting Kisame?" Itachi asks Kisame.
"Yeah, no choice- you think we shouldn't?" Kisame asks.
"Might be a trap- I wouldn't want to risk it, we should head for the entrance gate and take him through the river path" Itachi advises.
Good! Great! That's where Pervy sage was hanging around!
"Well... Zetsu did say that the Jinchurikii brat was reted to our possible recruitment opportunity, maybe it is a trap" Kisame sighs.
Reted...? Oh no... oh, no, no, no...
"We could split up- I am able to meet with the recruit and you can take the entrance gate, just be careful of the toad sage... Jiraiya is stronger than he looks" Itachi warns.
"Tch- you take the kid to the gates... you won't prepare the kid for meeting Kakuzu" Kisame chucks me over to Itachi and I groan and wince as my back throbs with pain.
"Fine" Itachi sighs and flings us to the entrance gates.
...
..
*Poof!* *Cck, Cck!*
"Stop right there! You face the legendary toad sage of mount miyobuki! Hand over the child and nobody gets hurt!" I hear Pervy sages shoes cck and I smile.
"Dynamic Entry!!!!!" Another voice enters the fray and I smile wider.
"ITACHI!!!" Yet another enters and I am rather confused... Sasuke?
*SLAM!* *CHIRP!*
A Kick throws Itachi back and wedges him in-between a chidori and a sudden bst of white hair.
I am thrown onto the roof tiles and groan in pain as I roll down it- *Tap* I catch myself on the guttering and look down.
*Sm!* *Sizzzzzle!* *Chirp!* *Swooosh!* *Caw!*
Multiple sounds emit from the roof and I focus on what just happened... and drop to the street.
*Woosh!*
I sprint away and down to the exit gate- I can still catch that shark dude if I try!
Kenzo can come home!!!
---
Pov: Itachi
"Your hatred is too little, brother-" I stomp on his chest as he grips my ankle trying to push me off- I keep an eye on the other two and- *Caw!*
One of my crows signal to me... I look behind me and see Naruto Uzumaki chasing down Kisame... why? I just led you to safety?
I frown and look back to Jiraiya and Gai... I have to get them following us- meeting will be crashed and we can flee from there.
*Wooosh!* *Swish!*
I leave Sasuke in a Tsukiyomi before unching off the roof and down the street- Gai picks up Sasuke and Jiraiya rushes after me.
...
*Wooosh!* *Flicker*
A chase ensues and I follow Naruto who keeps after Kisame... Kisame jumps over the exit gate and flickers into the forest.
.....
.....
Moments pass and I flicker to the forest floor and see Kisame holding down Naruto again, while speaking to the child I babysat once before.
"Kisame- Might Gai and the Toad sage are following closely" I tell him and he tsks.
"KENZO! WHY WON'T YOU ANSWER ME!!" Naruto fils around screaming at Kenzo who looks behind me.
"KENZO!" Naruto screams as Gai and Jiraiya rush in on a toad.
"What's the pn?" Kisame asks.
...
That's something that went out of the window ages ago Kisame.
"We can stall these guys if our new 'ally' takes Naruto to our hide-out" I respond.
"Doesn't know the pce, let me take the brat" Kisame grips Naruto tighter.
This is not going well- I have strained my eyes... only once more today.
"Kisame, take Kenzo and drop Naruto" I order.
Kisame frowns but follows my order, at least he respects me enough to follow my lead without excuse.
"You are not leaving today!" Gai yells.
"Kenzo- do not go with these men, you are under question and need to return home" Jiraiya commands but Kenzo looks at me.
"We fleeing?" He asks calmly... almost as calm as his old self- he hasn't changed, thats not good.
"Yes" A shame Kenzo ended up that way... but nothing changes, just another person to keep my eye on in the Akatsuki...
Kenzo closes his eyes and then opens them calmly at the opposing ninja- Kisame throws Naruto at Gai and keeps his hands full.
"Farewell" Kenzo says.
*Flicker* *Poof*
A sudden change in the atmosphere, as if the world got darker, his eyes shine the pale white and focus down on Jiraiya... but even I feel his gaze from over here...
The animals run and the toads and crows run with a simple de-summon.
I flicker backwards as Kenzo and Kisame take the lead- that stare... it is worse than before, worse than that time with shisui.
And that genjutsu he cast with just his voice alone... he is stronger than I thought, perhaps Kakuzu won't be able to kill him so easily.
---
Pov: Jiraiya
"KENZO! KENZO COME BACK! Let me go!" Naruto squirms in my grip but I hold him down as I turn to Gai.
"I had heard rumours about his stare... but they never told me about that" I mutter to him.
"Never saw it myself personally... but now I can see why people fear him- all my hairs are on end" He raises his hand and examines it.
"Go to Konoha and report this to the council, I will continue the search for Tsunade" I order.
"What about Mr Ryū? He should be close right?" Gai asks as I calm Naruto down with a genjutsu.
"I suppose... but he has his orders and you have yours-" I shake my head as Naruto breaks the genjutsu and squirms more.
...
He really grew attached to Kenzo didn't he... maybe I should have been their to help shine a better light on the two.
"Naruto, calm down" I order as Gai flickers away, probably to the hotel that we left Sasuke in.
"Stop- poking me!" He squirms out of my grip and I gnce at my extended and pointed hair... my instincts screamed to protect myself against a child... how dangerous.
"Naruto, he left of his own will- trying to capture him in our circumstances are very difficult even for me" I tell him with a serious tone.
...
"But... he didn't- he wasn't that guy in the stadium- that monster didn't even have Kenzo's stare!" Naruto mumbles a counter argument.
"Naruto... Kenzo didn't stare until he wanted to, he was hiding that information from you" I wince.
"...but Kenzo can't control his stare..." Naruto mumbles.
...?
"May I ask when he started 'faking' such a thing?" I ask.
"Just after he- he disappeared for a while, Kenzo told me about it... well, a little- Oorochimaru tortured him and- and he, couldn't control his stare after that" Naruto replies.
Right after Oorochimaru huh..? Sketchy.
"How old was he when that happened?" I ask him.
"...six" Naruto says.
Ah.
Has he been holding back since he was six years old? Why... for what purpose? Why did he attack with sand and sound? Why did he run after killing multiple people for no reason? Was it just blind hate for them?
I need answers to these questions, and now.
---
-Three hours ter-
Pov: Kenzo
I see... so I will be earning money with this Kakazu person, the Akatsuki will begin operations when the three tailed beast rises once more.
I furrow my brows and focus on the prior conversation.
This whole thing is so sudden, but when life throws lemons at you I suppose make lemonade- and I need to confirm if that masked man is the same one as the one who ruined Naruto's life...
Complicated- but lets simplify it for myself.
- Masked man interviewed me with something watching from the floor boards.
- I was suspicious but it seems that my rumour spreading for my personal goals has sprouted into interest from this organization.
- Masked man is the true leader... but only few know that, a man named Pein who I haven't yet to meet is also the 'false?' leader.
- I can join as Kenzo to gain information, escape Konoha and its current... 'troubles', I also gain money.
- Every now and then I can visit Konoha as Ryū... my background as him will come out, if lord Hokage hasn't told anyone yet.
...
"So... that's it?" I ask the two.
"Yeah- we are busy, Kakuzu will meet you in a week with some clothes, the cheapskate will probably just give you half of his old ones however so expect a size difference tiny" Kisame chuckles.
"Wait- hold on, do you guys know any medical jutsu? Hopefully advanced?" I ask just in case.
...
"I know some, just enough to patch wounds- where are you hurt?" Itachi coldly asks me.
Definitely different from the past.
"Torso... a hack and ssh job of repairs on my part" I say and lift my shirt... slowly revealing the wound with shapeshifting.
Itachi studies it and furrows his brow.
"Not for me to heal, only the best can handle... whatever you did to yourself" He turns around and leaves.
"Don't die on us just yet brat" Kisame chuckles as the two leave the cave hideout.
...
I need a healer, and a good one too.
I have a week to be back here to meet Kakazu, lets get healed as Ryū and sort everything out.
Right now I am a mess... Konoha is surely in a mess and everyone needs some time to handle things.
I also have a few other things to handle in the week I have off... and then I can talk with Kakazu to see if I can convince him to let me go once in a while in order to keep Ryū as a person standing.
Kisame kept telling me about his money fixation... and I have quite the amount banked from my double jobs without much spending.
Plus the missions that lord third had to keep paying me for despite me never actually doing them... its enough.
I get up and walk out the cave.
Time to get to work.
Thanks for reading :)
