Wandering Heathens

Power

Shinjo sat in the bath, ignoring Kakuza and Hida who were bathing the blood, sweat and dirt off him. He winced when Kakuza's sponge grazed an abrasion on his shoulder and she whispered an apology. He grunted in response and went back to his thoughts.

Everything was different now. He was different now. His recently awakened power still coursed through his body and he could feel his body adapting to the changes. His chakra flowed smoothly, his eyesight was sharper and his reflexes were back on par. In short, he felt like he had at the peak of his youth, when the world and everything in it could be plucked by him.

He leaned forward as Hida gently cleaned his back. Shinjo thought of Ryuu and wondered what had happened to him but strangely he didn't feel any dominant emotion towards his former friend and partner. He felt...nothing, like he had never met the man or spent decades fighting by his side, drinking, whoring, destroying. If anything, reminders of the man irritated him and he had forbidden Kakuza and Hida to speak of him.

Wordlessly he got up from the bath and stepped out, water dripping down his lean and toned form. He snatched the towel from Kakuza and wrapped it around his waist and left the room. He walked over to his desk and his travel satchel and upended the contents. Papers, books, scrolls, weapons all poured out. His hands sorted the items until everything and anything that mentioned or showed Ryuu was put aside.

A knock at his door caught his attention. Hida opened it to find Pein standing there. "Since you've decided to dedicate yourself to the Akatsuki, I have your uniform here" she said and held her arms out. Hida took the navy blue pants and shirt, the white leg casings and the Akatsuki robe from Pein and closed the door. She walked over to Shinjo and placed the clothes on his bed within his reach.

Shinjo removed the towel from his waist and began dressing. Lastly he slipped on the infamous red and black robe and zipped it up. He had no headband since he didn't identity with a Village but his transformation was complete. A smile curled his lips as he looked at himself in a mirror, adjusting his hair so it was out of his face. Kakuza pressed herself against his back, her hands reaching around his waist to embrace him. "You look every inch the man I know you to be" she said and kissed his neck, causing pleasant shivers to travel down his spine.

He briefly held her hands in his before removing her hands from him and grabbing the pile of items related to Ryuu and leaving his room.

Shinjo left the Akatsuki tower and Ame. He went back into the woods where he had fought and won his battle with himself and Ryuu. He knelt down and dug a small pit wherein he placed the items. He sat for a minute, looking at the items, trying to feel any shred of emotion but none came. "Do you need some help?" Obita asked, appearing from nowhere, standing next to Shinjo. After several seconds of silence, Obita performed hand signs and set the items alight.

The flickering light of the fire danced across Shinjo's face, highlighting and distorting the cruel smile on his lips as he watched his past burn away. "Let your hate flourish in you. Gather strength from your enemies. Soon, you'll be ready" Obita said gravely. "What do you offer me?" Shinjo asked quietly. Obita looked at the embers that were all that remained of Shinjo's physical memories. "I offer you power beyond what you already have. I offer you the World if you want to take it, with me." Shinjo looked up at the night sky, pondering if he wanted more and deadly power and if he wanted to take and ruin the World. "I want everything" he said.

"Your goddamned spy played both of us!" Ao screamed at Gaara. Temaru moved to stand next to her sister, readying his fan in case Ao tried to attack. "How can she be my spy if she deceived both of us?" Gaara asked and the question made Ao pause. Tsunade sighed and tried to calm the warring Kages. "Look, it's obvious none of this went according to plan but we can't dwell on it. We're still in a war with the Akatsuki and the Ryōshi. What are our next steps?"

"Mei reports that the Hoshigaki are heading towards Yusagakure to link up with what is left of our forces there. Gaara has committed more Sand shinobi to the region so we will be at full strength once everyone is there" Ao replied.

"That only takes care of the Akatsuki. What about the Ryōshi?" Tsunade pressed. Ao and Gaara looked at him with blank looks and the Hokage sighed. "Do we even know where they are?" Shikaki cleared her throat and spoke, "the latest intel still suggests they are both with the Akatsuki. However, my scouts have reported a large chakra surge near Ame, which they are investigating." "Hmmm so nothing changes? Tsunade replied and ran his fingers through his hair. He appeared to have come to a decision and he turned to face Gaara and Ao, "let's give Shikaki's scouts more time. We hold our positions in Yusa." Nodding in agreement, Gaara and Ao left the meeting room.

Once the door closed, Shikaki turned to Tsunade, "Itachi is reporting changes in the Akatsuki. I'm not sure what she fully means as she left out some key words but I think we need to keep a closer eye on them." "Right. Keep the ANBU with Sasuka and Naruta. We can't afford for the Nine-Tails to be discovered. In the meantime, send word to Itachi to clarify her message" Tsunade said, his hand on the door. "Right" Shikaki nodded and watched Tsunade leave. So much work... how troublesome, she lamented as she headed towards her favorite part of the Village to have a nap and think about the next set of power plays.