Rain To Wash The Blood Away (Nagato x reader)

2. Too late?

You rose early the next morning, leaving the small cave you had found the previous night to sleep in. Right now you had nothing, no belongings beside the clothing on your back and the hope that you had returned before those you cared for perished.

Smiling, you searched the area for food, catching a rabbit and setting up a small fire to cook it.
Hunger and tiredness were new to you now that you had returned to the land of the living.

Taking the cooked rabbit, you ate it and set off again. There was no destination but you would keep walking until you found the answer to you question.

Am I too late?

The answer was unknown and that's why you kept asking yourself. The problem with your ability was not only it's entirety but also how little it told you. By holding one's hand and looking into their eyes you could see how they died, but never when.

Time was never fair to you. Ten years you had spent in that hole, only now being able to claw your way back up now. Not only can you see how others die, every night when you sleep you watch yourself suffer and perish as well. But your pain was greater when it came to thoughts of others, Yahiko, Konan and Nagato.

Am I too late?

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The Akatsuki journeyed for many days, Pein stopping when he sensed the chakra of people ahead. There were many of them, a group of just over twenty, something which was odd when it came to ninja. A squad usually had between 3 and 5 shinobi, this large collective meaning that their goal was big and extremely dangerous.

But one chakra stood out among the group, it was strange, almost familiar but he couldn't put his finger on where he had come across it before. Ignoring that fact, he continued.

"Keep on guard, there is a large group ahead. Get ready to attack," Pein ordered. The others remained silent but he knew they had heard. Naturally, they spaced themselves out, besides Tobi who tried to stay close to Deidara.

They were currently in a forest, moving towards the chakra signals while keep their own hidden. It would be best if they could observe before jumping in, Pein would've preferred not using violence this time.

His opponent was said to have immeasurable skill and none like anyone had ever seen before, something extraordinary which he longed for the Akatsuki to have. He was a god and with that kind of power in his clutches, there would be no way of defeating him.

The ten rogues stopped when they came to a clearing, remaining in the greenery so that they were hidden. In the center of the clearing was someone wearing a torn Akatski cloak, them currently fighting off a few shinobi who charged at them.

The fake Akatsuki member took the ninja down with ease, not looking like it had taken anything out of them. The rest of the shinobi looked exhausted, the wounded gritting their teeth in pain. The gashes were deep but not fatal.

Once all of the shinobi were down, the person went around and began doing some kind of ritual. It wasn't anything noticeably weird, but they did it with every person there. They lifted one of their hands before deciding whether they would live or die. If they decided that they should die, they slit their throats, watching as the blood flowed from the gashes in their necks and into grass and soil below. If they decided they could live, they were healed immediately and then sent on their way. The Akatsuki watched with interest, wanting to know more about this mysterious person.

Once it was all over and everyone there was either dead or gone, Pein decided it was time to reveal his presence. He stepped out of the tree line, the rest of the Akatsuki doing so as well. The person, noticing their chakra and the sound of footsteps, turned and faced them. Unlike the other's cloaks, theirs had a hood which shielded their face from sight.

"Who are you and why are you impersonating the Akatsuki?" Pein called, eyeing the figure suspiciously. The only thing which could be seen was the bottom half of their face, their lips curving upward into a smirk.

"Who said anything about impersonating," you chuckled, pulling your hood back to reveal your face. The sound of a gasp came from the group as Konan placed her hands over her mouth, amber eyes becoming glassy.

"Sister," she whispered, taking a step forward. You smiled, opening your arms to her. The blue-haired woman dispersed into millions of sheets of paper before all rushed at you, reforming Konan to hug you tightly. She sobbed into your shoulder, the other members watching in confusion. Konan was usually so emotionless, yet here she was, bawling her eyes out over you.
She choked out something which made you frown but you continued to soothe her even so.

"Yahiko, Y-Yahiko is dead," she cried. Running your fingers though her hair, your managed to calm her down.

"It's okay, you can tell me about it another time. Just settle for now," you whispered, wanting to remind her that everyone was waiting. Konan pulled back, wiping her face and standing beside you. Your eyes locked onto a man who looked much like Yahiko, except that his face was covered in piercings and his eyes resembled Nagato's.

"Pein," Konan said quietly, "That is what he goes by." You then stepped forward, offering your hand to him.

"It's nice to see you again, Pein," you greeted. He nodded in response.

"Ten years is a long time, are you still going to devote everything you have to the Akatsuki?" he questioned. All eyes were on you as you answered, a smile stretched across your lips.

"Of course, there was a never a second that went by where I wasn't devoted." He looks back over his shoulder at the group.

"(Y/n) is our new member," he said before turning around and beginning to walk away. Konan placed her hand on your shoulder and smiled.

"He may not act like it, but he's really happy you're back. We both are." You nodded your head, the two of you walking at the back of the pack. Other members of this new Akatsuki would occasionally look back at you, but you didn't mind at all. You were new, someone that they didn't know. Pein was cold when talking to you but he still allowed you to come back.

So were you too late?

No, you were right on time.

Reunited, sad that Yahiko is dead but that's just how the story goes. Thank you for reading