25. Nine Phantom Dragons

I was right, the day finally broke before the village came into sight. We started to slightly veer off to the right of the forest track and we finally stopped in front of a public toilet.

"You two wait here," Kakuzu mumbled under this breath in a dangerously low tone before he walked in. I sat down on the concrete step and rested my chin on my knees, Hidan lent up against his scythe and looked off towards the bushes. I was getting tired, we hadn't slept since the morning before. Hidan started talking to me about wanting to get a sacrifice and how Kakuzu was taking so long. I just nodded and agreed with him, I was getting too sleepy to care what he was saying.

All of a sudden Kakuzu returned with a suitcase, the man he'd been carrying no longer over his shoulder.

"Took your fucking time," Hidan said, looking at the suitcase in his hand.

"I had to make sure it was all there," he grunted, "Let's head back." Kakuzu turned and started to walk off back in the direction of the hideout. I got up and followed. We had only been walking for about half an hour when Kakuzu noticed I was lagging behind. So, he suggested we take a break. I pulled out my sleeping bag and power napped for an hour and a half. When I woke up Hidan offered me a juice box. I thanked him and sipped it slowly as we headed off again.

It was about midday when we stopped next, Kakuzu had said Leader had summoned us so we went and found some rocks to sit on in a small secluded place, not far from the forest track.

"What're we doing?" I asked slowly, looking over to Hidan. "Just close your fucking eyes, Leaders summoning us" he said. So, I sat down on the rock next to him and did as I was told. I opened my eyes back up to see that I was somehow in a large room that resembled the training room, and, that I was standing on top of the pinkie finger of an enormous statue.

I gazed around, seeing that the other members were there too... Except, they were all holograms. And so was I. Suddenly, I saw Deidara and someone else jump up onto the remaining fingers. Sasori must have been wearing one of his human puppets. Leader was down below and I had the feeling he was about to start.

"Alright, shall we begin?" He said, there was silence in the room as he suddenly reappeared onto the last empty finger and made a hands sign. I watched as the mouthguard of the statue undid itself and fell out.

"It will now take three days and nights, stay aware of your physical selves," he states. The silence continued as he went on, "Zetsu, have your physical body stand guard outside .. Use the one with the greatest range. Understood?"

I looked over to Zetsu, his small beady eyes poke out of his hologram flytrap so obviously.

"I know" he replied.

Kisame's voice speaks from beside me. "Only three days? Isn't it possible that it might take longer than that since Tila is new to this?" He asked.

Leader looked over our way. "All the more reason to get started at once," he says coldly from across the cavern.

"That's true." Itachi agreed. I glance over at him, active Sharingan eyes stared back. Hand signs were formed. "Indeed" Kisame sighed, closing his eyes too.

"Sounds good to me, Hm," Deidara added, following the instructions. Sasori looked over at me from where he stood. I wanted to ask him how everything had gone but everyone was getting ready to seal the one tail. So, I closed my eyes and focused my Chakra instead.

A strange sound echoed causing me to open my eyes slightly. Everyone's ring sign began to glow from the finger they were standing on. I watched curiously.

"Sealing Jutsu: Nine Phantom Dragons." Leader's voice commands. Nine blue dragons emerged from the statue's mouth, crashing down and engulfing the small body limply on the floor. I closed my eyes again and focused on my Chakra.

Agonising groans came from the person undergoing the extraction. Red waves of Chakra flowed from his eyes and mouth, being sucked up into the statue. I ignored it and continued to concentrate on what I was doing. We stood there for what felt like hours until the silence was broken.

It was Zetsu."Our location has been discovered, the enemy approaches."

"Which enemy is that?" Deidara asks, looking over to Zetsu.

"A very skilled and dangerous one, his name is Might Guy" Zetsu explains.

"Might Guy.. who is he?" Leader asks curiously.

"An Elite Leaf Shinobi, a master of Thai Jutsu... Don't underestimate him." Itachi answers.

"Ahh, that strange beast again," Kisame jeers.

"We'll use THAT Jutsu against him." Leader's voice echoes as he gives instructions on how to deal with the situation at hand.

"I'll go. Let me take care of him. It'll give me a chance to make up for failing to find a Jinchuriki host" Hidan suggests.

"No, leave him to me. You see I know him. I have a personal score to settle with him." Kisame interjects.

"Yes, as you have the most Chakra of any of the Akatsuki you're probably the most suitable to employ that Jutsu.. Very well, Kisame." Leader says, matter-of-factly.

"Excellent" Kisame says slowly.

"But, I'll still require thirty percent of your Chakra here," Leaders tells him.

"Well, finally. I've been waiting to pay him back for that kick he gave me," Kisame says smugly before closing his eyes again. All went silent for a moment until Zetsu informs us that there were more intruders.

"You didn't cover your tracks very well. Did you, Deidara?" Leader asks, sounding annoyed. Dei glares back over to him.

"Well. As I said, the Jinchuriki host proved more powerful than we thought. Hm."

"You're a fool. your methods are too obvious for any sort of secret operation," Sasori spits harshly.

"Huh! Those clumsy traps of yours were hardly subtle my friend, Hm!" Dei exclaimed. Evidently offended.

"Huh? Why you!" Sasori borrowed his gaze, losing his shit at Deidara.

"Stop bickering amongst yourselves, focus on the Jutsu," Leader interrupted, "Now then," he continued, "Who to send this time..." he contemplated aloud.

"Me, this time send me," Hidan jumped on the opportunity.

"This time a Leaf Shinobi should go," Zetsu argued. Hidan sighed.

"Very well, it's decided then." Leader said, looking over towards Itachi. He closed his eyes just like Kisame had done when he was sent. The room went silent yet again, the anticipation palpable in the air...

"It appears Itachi has made contact with the enemy," Leader informs, gazing around the room, "And, I see that Kisame is engaged in combat."

I wonder what 'that Jutsu was? I didn't understand what was going on, but, I didn't want to interrupt either. He would probably just get annoyed at me. I could ask later. A few hours passed by as we continue to drain Chakra from the Jinchuriki, the eyes of the statue slowly began to pry open, one by one. Eventually, Itachi and Kisame both open their eyes again. Leader notices and looks over at both of them.

"The Jutsu wore off, did it? But... We were able to delay them. That should be enough. Well done, Itachi, Kisame," He says coldly.

"Aren't you forgetting someone? Need I remind you where the bodies for you Jutsu came from? They were both my subordinates." Sasori claps back angrily.

"Hm. You should be the one thanking me, it's only because of my impersonation Jutsu that they could join the ranks of the Akatsuki. Short-lived as it was," Leader cackled darkly. Wow did Leader just laugh... That's a first. "It's almost finished."

After a few moments Leader speaks again. "Zetsu, get rid of those two we used the impersonation Jutsu on."

"Understood" Zetsu replied.

"Itachi, what are of our enemies number and abilities?" Leader asked Itachi.

"It's a four-man squad from the leaf comprised of Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno, the nine tails Jinchuriki - Naruto Uzumaki and Chiyo the elder of the sand," Itachi explained.

"Hm, Granny Chiyo" Sasori mumbled under his breath. The hours ticked by slowly, God this was so boring. I wish we could hurry up and get this finished already.

_________________________________

I glanced over towards Sasori occasionally... something just didn't seem right, the look in his eyes was off slightly. The time continued to pass by and there was nothing but silence.

The statue's eyes were nearly completely open. Leader announces that we are entering the final stage. Kisame asked him what we should do about the annoying pests on our ass, and Zetsu mentioned that they were getting quickly getting closer. More than he'd anticipated. But, Leader just reassures them that it wasn't a problem and that we'd delayed them just enough and to ignore them.

He mentions having a back-up plan, which, I wondered what it was. But, my question was answered quickly when Deidara looked over towards Sasori and told him that it would be up to them both. Sasori nodded, suggesting that they both hurry up and finish their business here seeing as they would want a moment to catch their breath before greeting their guests.

Deidara agreed. Kisame complains about the Leaf Shinobi approaching, calling them a pain in his ass. Hidan, the king of complaining joins in. Bringing up how hard it was finding a Jinchuriki in the first place, then, Kakuzu tells him to calm down. Reminding him that they only needed to fulfil their own parts.

Leader scolded everyone for getting carried away in conversation instead of concentrating. He was adamant about there being no room for mistakes from this point on. The last small rays of Chakra were sucked into the statue.

"It's complete." Leader says. The last bits of Chakra are absorbed and the Jinchuriki fall to the floor with a loud thud. I stared down at the limp body.

"Finally" Sasori sighs in relief.

"So in the end, it did take three full days and nights, Hm." Deidara hums thoughtfully.

"It seems to get more exhausting every time," Kisame groans.

"My shoulders are stiff as fuck," Hidan rubbed his shoulders uncomfortably.

"Well done." Leader praises our hard efforts, "Good work everyone," He averts his attention down to the lifeless body of the former Jinchuriki. It was over. The statue's eyes began to close again as Leader told us to report to him as soon as we returned to the hideout. I opened my eyes and the view of the forest surrounded me, I looked over to Hidan who was next to me on the rock stretching his arms up high.

"Let's go," Kakuzu said grumpily as he stood up. I didn't blame him, I can't believe we did that for 3 days. I drag my feet as I follow the two back down the path. I was exhausted, barely able to walk straight. Hidan turned, noticing my condition.

"Tila, you alright?" He asks, sounding concerned.

"I'm okay, just so sleepy," I rubbed my eyes gently. Hidan turned around and crouched down, I looked at him, trying to figure out what he was doing...

"C'mon, fuck! I'll carry you," he beckons, looking over his shoulder at me.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, "That's what you're doing! I thought you were going to take a shi-" I stopped myself, quickly realising what I was about to say wasn't very appropriate.

"I'm not going to offer to carry you again so stop fucking around," He sounded more pissed off now. I slung my arms around Hidan's shoulders and wrapped my legs around his waist, he stood up. I could feel myself getting wearier as he started to walk. With every step, it was like a cradle rocking me to sleep... I closed my eyes and started to drift off Into nothingness.