Rise From The Ashes (Kakuzu Story)

Chapter 14.

The mission fully went into motion the next day, with the Akatsuki being called into the living room once they had appeared from their rooms and gotten something to eat, ready for the day ahead. Pein had to take into account their new circumstances, and therefore how the mission was to be carried out now. It hadn't been made harder upon meeting Suzaku, true—if anything, it had been made easier considering she knew the area and what places the group or its leader might be. Still, however, they would have to change their plan of attack in accordance with where they were now staying and taking into account the information Suzaku knew. No one had any complaints, considering she had given them a place to stay while they would work here, she didn't seem to be hard to get along with—even if she was a little stern—and considering she actually had information, Suzaku would be able to shorten the time they had to spend here, and ultimately finishing the mission overall, and none of the Akatsuki were about to complain about that. Especially not after having been chased like they had. 

So with that in mind, as everyone gathered together and either took a seat or found a place to stand, Pein stepped forward and all eyes were drawn to him as he began simply,

"The mission has changed slightly, as is quite obvious. Now we're staying here and Suzaku will be helping us out with the mission, how we will deal with things is going to be altered to how I had planned originally, though things didn't exactly go to plan yesterday anyway."

A few smirks appeared at the memory of what had occurred, Hidan snorting scornfully at his words—'not going to plan' was putting it lightly. If Kakuzu hadn't found that place and Suzaku had helped them then there was no telling what might have happened. Still, there was no sense dwelling on it, and as such Pein continued,

"We didn't know where the main hideout of the group was when we first came here—and we still don't. Gathering—"

"Why? Suzaku's been staying here; she fucking knows the area! How does she not know where the main hideout is? They're clearly fucking running around the place from what we saw!" Hidan quickly cut in, and resisting the urge to roll her eyes at his disrespect and obnoxiousness, Suzaku shot back disdainfully before Pein could make a reply,

"I haven't had any mission concerning them, unlike you. Before this, I had no interest in them—in fact, they haven't been using this area long. But they never got in my way or did anything that showed they were after me. Why should I research a group that means nothing to me? I wasn't about to go out of my way when they didn't pose a threat."

Hidan quietened at her explanation, and taking that as acceptance of her words, Suzaku glanced back at Pein for him to continue, and nodding slightly in assent, Pein turned from her to look back at the others, returning to what he'd been saying before,

"As I was saying. Gathering information was needed before, and we'll still need to do it now. Without a clear, firm location to pinpoint, we'll need to look around to find out more. However, having been staying in the area, Suzaku does know of numerous places that ninjas frequent, and more about the village we went through than we do. Understanding this, by splitting up and taking a look at each of the buildings, along with asking the villagers and other ninjas in the area for information, it shouldn't take that long before we find the main hideout—or at least where the leader is hiding. Once we know that, we can regroup and made our move."

Nodding their heads in agreement with the plan, they then began to decide who would work together and where they would go. For the most part, they remained in the partnerships they always worked in, but as it was decided for Suzaku to head to the village to ask around for information, as having been staying in the area, and having done so before, the village would be more familiar with her, and would be able to avoid being seen by the group in a way they hadn't, Pein opted for Kakuzu to go with her. They evidently worked well together, he had more knowledge about the way she worked and what she could do, and it at least avoided more arguments between Kakuzu and Hidan. They were trying to keep a low profile, and being found out again because of Hidan's shouting or Kakuzu losing his temper and trying to kill him was not something Pein particularly wanted to aim for. Overall it was better if Kakuzu and Suzaku went together, and he would deal with Hidan—to his joy.

Once everyone knew where they had to go, what they had to do and whom they were going with, they separated and each went their own way. There was no telling if they would even find anything of use—some places were no doubt frequented, but it could just as easily be by ninjas merely passing through, whether travelling alone or with a partner. And with the amount Suzaku had said that existed, some were bound to be empty. The ones that weren't however, though helpful in the knowledge they worked for the group, would still be a little tricky. Discovering whether it was the main hideout would take more than just looking on from the outside, but rather managing to get inside and take a look around. Pein wondered whether he should alter things for when that occurred, having only one person enter to look around, and even then possibly opting for someone like Itachi, Kisame or himself. The others, though they were able to, weren't exactly suited to stealth, and the last thing Pein wanted was for them to reveal themselves when they were so close. The leader would only disappear and they'd have to follow him.

For now, however, they could only see how things would go.

It was a sentiment that was repeated as Suzaku and Kakuzu began their journey towards the village, keeping to the shadows and going quietly as they did so. They might not be heading towards any of the 'hideouts' of the group, but after having seen the Akatsuki were in the area, they could be on the lookout. Not to mention the fact that Kakuzu and Suzaku were going to the village where the group obviously came through often to get supplies and resources—and the very place that the Akatsuki had been noted in the first place. Though they might not give too much thought to Suzaku, as she was already staying in the area and paid no attention to them, Kakuzu would have to be a lot more careful.

"You pointed out several places in the area that are frequented by ninja—that could be hideouts of the group. But why are there so many? This village is the only one in the area, so it's not exactly well populated," Kakuzu quietly spoke up a moment later, causing Suzaku to reply,

"True, but plenty of people pass through to get elsewhere, and most of those consist of ninjas—rogue ninjas. The buildings are all separated in order to hide out while they stay here, but with the amount of people around there's need for several buildings. They just go into the village when necessary—the group included. I've seen them around."

"Should I take off my cloak?"

"Yeah. True, your Earth Grudge Fear is on show, but they don't know you have it. Might as well do what you can."

Peeling off his cloak, Kakuzu was unsure what to do with it when Suzaku took it from him and, like with so much else, wrote symbols over it, only for it to dissipate once she was done. Raising an eyebrow at that, Suzaku explained it would be back at the hideout when he returned, and shaking his head at the knowledge, he turned back towards the village, and once again they started off. And as they did, Kakuzu got the feeling he'd been seeing more and more of her abilities soon enough.