Wandering Heathens

Dead Village

As the dust settled around the bodies and left a layer of grime on the spilled blood, Ryuu and Shinjo turned their attention to the rest of the Village. The villagers had hidden in their homes and shops when they heard the battle begin, not knowing who won or lost and selfishly fearing for their lives.

The two men went house to house and street to street, dragging out any occupants they could find. Ryuu herded them into the Village's meeting area and used his fire chakra to create an unbearably hot and flaming prison. Shinjo kicked the fat shopkeeper in his ass, forcing the man to stumble through the fire and become horribly burned. With the man's agonizing screams as background music, Shinjo began speaking to the terrified villagers.

"You have a choice: work for the Akatsuki or die. That's it." He looked at each person as he spoke, almost begging them to rebel so he could slaughter them. "What of our men and boys?" A old crone asked. "Dead." "You've killed our workforce and people dear to us and expect us to bow and accept your rule? FUCK YOU!" She spat and the other villagers cheered and spat in solidarity with her. Without warning the old hag spontaneously combusted, her screaming and frozen body becoming consumed by hungry flames. The stench of burned flesh hung heavily in the air as the crone's body fell to the ground in pieces.

"Let's try this again," Ryuu said as he approached the prison, "work for us or die." Despite the gruesome warning of the hag's body the villagers remained stoic and unmovable. They had decided to resist and Shinjo grinned savagely. "Should we kill them one by one or en masse?" He asked Ryuu. "En masse would be easiest but it's up to you" he replied as he twirled a senbon in his fingers. Shinjo thought a moment before nodding to Ryuu who cancelled his prison. Yelling, Shinjo ran into the herd of terrified people and cut them down without regret or remorse.

Women, children, the elderly and the economic providers were cut down with his sword or impaled with senbons as the men worked their way through the crowd. Soon the square was littered with body parts and bodies, the scent of blood and organs in the air and the coppery taste of blood on their tongues. They ransacked the bodies looking for valuables and money before descending upon the homes and shops.

Shinjo piled the money, valuables and jewelry onto the carrier scroll. He sealed them inside and waited for his partner to finish alighting the Village on fire. Explosions went off as the fire ignited the paper bombs placed around load bearing supports and he laughed as the Village was wiped from the map. Black smoke curled into the air, able to be seen for miles, and choked out the sun. Shinjo gave the scroll to Ryuu who placed a seal on the outside so no one could open it and access the contents.

They rested, sitting amongst the rocks, and waited for Sasori and Deidara to pick them up. "What's on your mind?" Ryuu asked an unusually quiet Shinjo. "The men. Slaves" he replied with his eyes downcast. Ryuu placed a hand on Shinjo's shoulder and spoke with a comforting tone, "that was then. We ended it and stole our freedom. Don't worry, I'll kill you before you have to suffer like that again." Shinjo looked up and saw Ryuu's smile and for a moment the darkness was gone.

A large clay bird piloted by an indigent terrorist landed near them. Sasori stood and surveyed the damage wrought upon the former Village. "Negotiations failed" Ryuu said as he climbed aboard and sat down, Shinjo following. "I see that" Sasori said before turning to the men. "Deidara take us back to base. I'll prepare the mission report and you two can tell Pein directly why you decided to wipe out a Village who's industries we needed." "Yeah yeah" Ryuu muttered as Shinjo dozed on his shoulder and pulled out a book, settling in to read on the journey back.

"They're fucking back! I figured the shrimp would kill one of them!" Hida said, bursting into Kakuza's room. "Why do you care?" She asked as she double checked her figures. "I don't!" The Jashinist lied, running her fingers through her hair. "THEY'RE BACK!" Tobi yelled as she ran down the halls and alerting the others. Itachi and Kisame were slow to emerge from their room while Hida and Kakuza followed Tobi.

Deidara and Sasori led the men into the base and towards Pein's office. Sasori knocked once, then twice before a muffled "come in" was heard. Opening the door the foursome entered and stood before Pein's desk. "Well?" She asked and Sasori began her report. "You're dismissed" Pein said after Sasori finished speaking and her and Deidara left the room, bumping into the other members who were pressed against the door trying to hear what was happening.

"Let me get this straight: you freed Zabuza and destroyed the prison, killed the workforce and inhabitants of the Village and then burnt it all to the ground. Is that correct?" They said nothing and looked straight ahead. "ANSWER ME! WHY?!" Pein yelled at them. "It's simple. Killing is fun" Ryuu said while Shinjo shrugged his shoulders. "Are you fucking kidding me?!" She bellowed and Konan had to restrain her from jumping across her desk to throttle them. "Get out!" Konan yelled while trying to contain a struggling Pein. Needing no further encouragement they left.

The women scrambled to leave the door and each quickly adopted a position of nonchalance with some gossiping and others silently watching. The door opened and Shinjo and Ryuu stepped out of the room and tiredly walked to the kitchen. "TOBI MISSED YOU!" She yelled as she embraced Ryuu in a tight hug. He looked confused and gently pushed the woman off of him before sitting down and beginning his meal. Shinjo did the same, both men struggling to not fall asleep at the table. When they were done, Kakuza and Hida placed Shinjo's arms around their shoulders and lead him to his room. Tobi helped Ryuu up and Kisame took one of his arms to steady him, walking to his room. Soon snores were heard as they found peace in their sleep, each silently watched over by the Akatsuki.

Entering her room, she tossed her mask aside and flopped onto her bed. Zetsuki emerged from the ground and stood before her. "Send clones to the Village to take over for the dead workforce. Ensure that a steady supply makes its way to us" she ordered and the bicolored plant-woman nodded before sinking back into the ground. She turned to look at her Sharingans and wondered if they had the potential to unlock Ryuu's and Shinjo's full power. Soon, but not yet. Let them fight and destroy the enemies of the Akatsuki. Then this cursed world will be no more! She thought as her lips stretched into a grin and a maniacal giggle left her lips. She lovingly ran a finger down a Sharingan and mentally debated which eye would suit which man. Soon.