The Akatsuki
Deidara's steps faltered as he approached an unknown cave entrance, the pain from the multiple sword wounds still coursing through his body.
His breaths came in ragged gasps, each one laced with a tinge of agony that resonated through his battered body. Deidara's eyes, once sharp with confidence, now harbored a flicker of frustration and pain.
In the silent depths of his mind, he unleashed a torrent of curses, all aimed at Killer B, the source of his wounds. Every slice, every stab, and every drop of blood fuelled his internal wrath, a fierce determination bubbling beneath the surface.
Amidst the anguish, a vow took shape within him, a promise as solid as the earth beneath his feet. "I will learn proper Taijutsu," he murmured through gritted teeth, the words carrying the weight of his resolve.
"What happened to you?" The cold, familiar voice sliced through the air, jolting Deidara back to the present moment.
He turned sharply, his eyes meeting the piercing gaze of Kisame and the aloof indifference of Itachi. Kisame's anger was palpable, etched into the lines of his face, while Itachi remained as composed as ever, his gaze unwavering.
Deidara's response was a frustrated click of his tongue. "Tch, let's go inside first," he grumbled, his irritation evident in his voice. He pivoted on his heel, leading the way into the cave.
Itachi nodded in silent acknowledgement, his stoic demeanour hiding the depth of his thoughts as he fell into step behind Deidara, his presence a calm contrast to the turmoil in the air.
Kisame followed with a scowl etched onto his features, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. The memory of being knocked out by Enkai gnawed at him, a bitter taste of humiliation and frustration.
The dim light of the cave revealed the ongoing dispute between Kakuzu and Hidan, the latter reduced to just a talking head, a bizarre sight even for the Akatsuki.
"We failed because you got your head chopped off," Kakuzu's voice reverberated through the cave, his frustration echoing off the walls as he vented his anger towards the unforgiving stone.
"Says the one who lost four of his hearts to the person who only lost one," Hidan's disembodied head retorted, a bizarre sight as it rested on the rocky ground. His voice, filled with defiance, seemed surreal, considering his lack of a body to accompany it.
Amidst their bickering, Kakuzu's sharp gaze swept across the assembled Akatsuki members, his impatience evident as he demanded, "You guys are here? Where are the Jinchuriki?"
Before Deidara could form a response, Itachi's calm voice cut through the tension, his eyes fixed on Kakuzu with a piercing intensity that spoke volumes. "We couldn't catch our target," he stated, his tone measured, each word carrying the weight of their recent defeat.
His aloof expression remained unwavering as he continued, "We got intercepted by 'Enkai', a strong unknown shinobi."
"Oh? How strong?" Kakuzu's greed flickered to life, overshadowing the fact that he had lost four of his hearts in the recent battle. His eyes gleamed with avarice, envisioning the bounty rewards Enkai could bring.
"Strong enough to get close to us without us noticing and knock out Kisame before he could react," Itachi stated, his voice carrying a note of caution. The gravity of their encounter was evident in his frown, the lines on his forehead etched with concern for their vulnerability, or so it seemed to the rest of the akatsuki members.
"Hmm, I might need all my hearts before I try hunting him down," Kakuzu mused, his finger tapping thoughtfully against his chin. His mind calculated the risks and potential gains, his greed and pragmatism engaged in a silent battle.
"He is also the nine-tails' jinchuriki," Kisame interjected, his voice a low growl that sliced through the tension, his challenging gaze fixed firmly on Kakuzu. The unspoken message hung in the air—Enkai was Kisame's prey, his challenge to overcome, something he was not willing to share.
Under Kisame's challenging stare, Kakuzu met his gaze with an equally menacing intensity. The air crackled with silent determination, the clash of ambitions echoing in the cave.
"What about you? What happened to Hidan?" Itachi's composed voice pierced the charged atmosphere, redirecting the focus of the conversation.
His penetrating gaze remained fixed on Kakuzu, his eyes like deep pools that seemed to hold a thousand secrets, prompting Kakuzu to explain their situation.
"We failed as well," Kakuzu admitted, his voice tinged with frustration, "We got intercepted by the Fourth Mizukage, who was working for Enkai." His eyes shifted towards Hidan's severed head, an accusation lingering in the air. "All because of Hidan, who got his head cut off before the fight even began."
Hidan's decapitated head seethed with anger, his immortal nature giving him the ability to voice his frustration even without a body. "I wouldn't need to worry about my body if you hadn't messed up the mission in the first place!" he retorted, his tone sharp with resentment.
"Then what happened to your body? You need it for full recovery, right?" Itachi's emotionless tone cut through the tension, his inquiry direct and incisive.
"It's gone, destroyed under the Fourth Mizukage's bijuu dama," Kakuzu confirmed with a mocking smirk.
"Then what will you do?" Itachi's question turned towards Hidan, prompting curious glances from the other Akatsuki members.
They had witnessed Hidan reattach his limbs and head multiple times, but this was the first time they faced the prospect of his body being completely obliterated. The uncertainty in their eyes mirrored the unspoken question - what now?
"Nothing," Hidan responded nonchalantly, his tone surprisingly calm. "As long as I eat and sleep properly for the next week, my body will naturally grow back. My regeneration is pretty good, but growing out an entire body takes a lot of time and energy."
Itachi nodded, acknowledging Hidan's explanation, and then turned his attention towards Deidara. His eyes scanned the room, noticing Sasori's absence, and he inquired, "Did you fail too? Is Sasori dead?"
Deidara met Itachi's gaze with a mix of frustration and determination. "Yeah, those damn nobodies were stronger than I thought," he replied, his annoyance evident. He reached into his pocket, retrieving a small cylinder labeled with 'scorpion' on it. "And no! My man isn't dead; he is simply sleeping right now. He will be back in action the moment I put this into one of his puppets."
"Is that so," Itachi nodded, his expression unchanged after hearing everybody's reports. His gaze shifted to encompass the entire group. "Even though all of us had failed to accomplish our mission, we are still alive. That's a positive outcome," he said, his words carrying a sense of reassurance amidst their failures.
Kakuzu was about to voice his frustration, but Itachi swiftly raised a finger to his lips, silencing him with a subtle gesture. Kakuzu stood there, seething with anger, but before he could react, Itachi calmly stated, "It's time for the summoning."
"What? How do you know?" Hidan questioned, confusion etched across his face. Before anyone could react, Itachi swiftly moved, grabbing Hidan's head. In an instant, a massive smoke cloud enveloped them, obscuring their surroundings. When the smoke cleared, they found themselves in a grand hall, facing a red-haired man with purple eyes – Nagato.
"How did the mission go, you guys?" Nagato inquired, his warm smile on his face, seemingly happy by their arrival.
"All of us failed..." Itachi said, his voice devoid of emotion yet carrying a gentle undertone.
"Wait, what happened to you guys?!" Nagato exclaimed in concern as he noticed the poor condition of Deidara and Hidan.
"You guys need healing!" Nagato extended his right hand, lifting both Hidan and Deidara towards him. With a swift motion of his left hand, a menacing giant face emerged from the ground, its mouth gaping wide open.
"W-Wait, no! Not again!!" Hidan's protest echoed futilely as Nagato sent them hurtling into the giant face's mouth. The mouth closed, and then opened again.
"This is blasphemy! Utter blasphemy, I say!!" Hidan's indignant voice emerged from inside the mouth. When he emerged, he had a completely new body, clutching his head with his hands and muttering about the blasphemy and disrespect to his god for being healed in such a manner.
Deidara also stepped out, his body pristine and healed as if he was never even injured in the first place.
As Hidan and Deidara emerged, fully healed, Nagato unsummoned the king of hell, wearing a satisfied smile that spoke of his contentment with their recovery.
However, the atmosphere grew tense as Yahiko and Konan entered the room. Yahiko's cold gaze scanned the group, his disappointment palpable. "So you guys failed, huh," he remarked, his tone heavy with reproach. He turned his attention to Itachi, demanding a report.
Itachi nodded, swiftly summarizing the events of the Konoha invasion. As the details unfolded, Yahiko shook his head in disappointment. "See? I told you this was bound to happen sooner or later if you all chose to fight separately like this," he chided, his voice laced with frustration.
He pointed at their rings, emphasizing their significance. "See those rings? Those mean something! Each ring signifies a finger from each hand, and only together can hands form hand signs!" Yahiko spread his hands in a comical yet meaningful gesture. "I know all of you like to fight alone, but you can't fight entire villages alone. You need to understand that," he admonished them, his words carrying the weight of his foresight.
"That's it," Yahiko continued, his tone firm. "Our first mission failure is proof of that. Starting from now, you will follow my strategies and attack our targets coordinately, like how Kisame and Itachi do it but in a bigger scale!"
A collective sigh of frustration and disappointment swept through the group. Despite their reluctance, they acknowledged the truth in Yahiko's words. With a mixture of resignation and determination, they accepted Yahiko's orders.
"Dismissed," Yahiko's voice cut through the air like a sharp blade, its authority echoing across the courtyard. With a flick of his hand, he dismissed his weary comrades.
Their footsteps, heavy with exhaustion, resonated against the cobblestones as they dispersed, each figure bearing the weight of their battles, retreating into the shadows of the Akatsuki Headquarters, better known as the Pain's Tower in another timeline.
In the dimly lit corridors of the Akatsuki headquarters, Deidara moved slowly, his footsteps echoing softly against the walls adorned with metal walls and steel decors.
The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows, dancing along the edges of the hallway as he searched for his and Sasori's rooms.
A distant rumble of thunder echoed through the vast chambers, mirroring the restlessness within Deidara's heart. The air was heavy with the scent of incense, and the distant murmur of voices hinted at clandestine discussions behind closed doors. The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows, dancing along the edges of the hallway as he continued his solitary journey.
Despite the members of the Akatsuki harboring their frustrations and disregard towards Yahiko, they kept their dissent hidden, unified by their respect and admiration for Nagato, the kindest and strongest among them.
Deidara believed that Nagato's healing powers and his willingness to help all the members endeared him to everyone, softening the edges of their hardened hearts within the secretive confines of the Akatsuki headquarters.
In the midst of the dark and pessimistic atmosphere that permeated the Akatsuki Headquarters, Nagato stood as a beacon of kindness and unity.
Deidara also believed that Nagato's constant efforts to foster camaraderie among the members had been pivotal. Without Nagato's attempts to bridge the gaps, Yahiko's dream of a united Akatsuki might have remained an unattainable fantasy.
He let out a sigh of relief, when he finally located the door to their room, marked with a distinctive crimson symbol. Pushing it open, he revealed a space adorned with Sasori's intricate puppets, each one a testament to his masterful craftsmanship. The soft glow of candlelight bathed the room, casting a warm and comforting aura that enveloped Deidara.
His gaze softened as he looked upon Sasori's creations, a silent admiration passing between artist and art. Deidara's eyes then fell upon a particular puppet, its red hair and gaping hole in its chest instantly recognizable. Approaching it, he inserted the cylinder he had been carrying inside the puppet's cavity.
After a series of twists and adjustments, the puppet came to life.
"Sasori no danna," Deidara's voice was gentle, a whisper in the quiet room. Sasori turned, acknowledging his partner with a subtle nod. Their eyes met, conveying a shared understanding that transcended words, before they started a different discussion.
FIFTH SCENE OVER—END OF #V4;36 'THE AKATSUKI'