Wandering Heathens

Attack

Mei watched as his lover dressed herself. They had spent the night together, cuddling, fucking and talking, and now the dawn's light breaking through the tent slits reminded them of reality. Ao's fingers fumbled the fastenings on her clothes and she struggled to get the garments done up. Mei left the warmth of their bed and walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders in an attempt to calm her.

Ao tilted her head so that her cheek rested on one of Mei's hands while his other hand helped her with her clothes. "Don't be nervous," he whispered to her, "we can win this." Finally dressed, she turned to face him and embraced him in a tight, but tender, hug. "I don't want to lose you. Or Kiri" she said softly. She felt his chest rumble with his laughter as he reassured her that he wouldn't be killed and she should have more faith in her Mizukage.

Their time together was interrupted by a Kiri shinobi poking his head into the tent. "Sir, all troops are assembled. Awaiting your orders!" He barked. Mei nodded and dismissed him. He pulled Ao into a tender kiss, lingering with his hands on her waist and his lips tasting hers before pulling away, dressing and leaving the tent. She followed him to the assembly area and was momentarily speechless at the sheer number of shinobi present.

Mei addressed the shinobi, standing proud at the front of the group with Ao slightly behind and to his right. "Allied shinobi! We face a dark threat to our World! The Akatsuki aims to destroy our way of life and our progress! For too long Kirigakure has been pushed aside by the national politics of other Nations and dismissed as a backwater Village! Our time has come! We demand a proper place at the table of Nations! WE WILL NOT BE IDLE! FOR KIRI AND THE SURVIVAL OF OUR SHINOBI WAY OF LIFE!" The troops cheered loudly, clanging their weapons together or weaving chakra to illuminate the dawn sky. Mei looked proudly at what he was able to assemble and smiled to himself as his lifelong dream was within reach. "GO! Show the Akatsuki what our forces, and Alliance, can do!"

With a loud cheer the wave of troops moved as one, towards Ame. They were bringing the war to the Akatsuki's front door.

His eyes fluttered open and he winced at the bright light streaming from the windows. "Oh! You're awake! Let me close the blinds" a kind voice said. Ryuu struggled to sit up in the soft bed and groaned when his chest protested the movement. Soft hands placed on his chest bade him to lay down again and he gave in to their unspoken insistence. "Do you have a name or should I just hate you in silence?" He asked.

The medic-nin blushed slightly at his question before introducing herself. Her mint green hair was short and her pale skin showed the scars of battle. "Momo, eh? Why did you save me?" He demanded. "Because you were hurt! It goes against the medic-nin oath to leave someone injured, even if they are the enemy!" He chuckled wryly, "I'm the enemy? Who do you work for?!" "Tanigakure!" "Tani?! Is that where I am?!" "Yes. I found you and brought you here. I've been taking care of you for several days while you were in a coma!" He looked at her, sadness in his eyes, "I'm sorry to have taken up your time. I'll leave now" Ryuu said as he tried to get up again. Again, the small medic-nin pushed him down. "Dammit woman! Let me up!" He demanded and she shushed him, saying "you will do no such thing! If you try to fight, let alone move, you'll kill yourself! I managed to extract the poison but you're still weak and your chakra system needs to fully heal before I can let you go!"

Temporarily defeated, Ryuu laid back down. The sounds of running footfalls and equipment being taken and strapped to bodies caught his ears. "What's going on?" "Mei's Kirigakure alliance troops are attacking. I've elected to stay behind to watch over you and the other patients in the hospital." "Kiri troops? Attacking?! I've gotta go! He needs-" Ryuu stopped short. Did he need him? Did he have any loyalty to the Akatsuki? He growled as he thought about Kakuza's and Obita's betrayals. But he couldn't give up on Shinjo! Could he?

Zetsuki appeared in Obita's room. "They're on their way." "Hn" she replied as she affixed her mask to her face. "I've let Pein know. She's called a meeting of all members." "Let's go" she ordered and made her way to the meeting room.

Every member sat around the large wooden table, each thinking their own thoughts. "Kiri is on their way with Suna and Konoha shinobis as well as the Hoshigaki clan," Pein said. Kisame looked at Pein in shock at the mention of her clan. "Everyone, disperse into your teams! Fight the invaders! If the Akatsuki goes down, so do our dreams and hopes of peace!" Each member stood and linked up with their partners.

Shinjo looked at Kakuza and Hida. "Before we go, I've a few words. Don't do anything stupid or get yourselves killed! And if you encounter him, leave him for me. Let's go." The trio left the room and headed out of the base.

Itachi gave Kisame one last squeeze before releasing her. "Return to me" she begged the shark-woman, tears threatening to fall from her onyx eyes. Kisame lowered her head and kissed Itachi's forehead. "Only in death will I be parted from you. Even then, I'll wait for you" she murmured before they separated and left the base walking side by side.

Deidara watched their exchange and turned to Sasori. "Anything to say, hm?!" The redhead rolled her eyes and kept walking. "Yeah. Don't die." "THAT'S IT, UN?! DON'T DIE, YEAH?! AFTER ALL-" the terrorist's words were cut off by a quick kiss from Sasori before the puppeteer entered Hiruko and moved towards the advancing line.

Pein squeezed Konan's hand. "For Yahiko" she whispered and Konan nodded. It was all for Yahiko and his dream. They would rather die, and his dream die with them, than be conquered.

Obita watched the exchanges with disgust. Weak! They're all weak! "Good luck Obita-chan!" Guruguru said. "Shut up!" She hissed back before Kamui-ing out of the base.

"She's insane" Kuro said. "She's in pain" Shiro replied. "Shut up. Let's go" the black meta human said as they merged into one. "The clones are ready" Zetsuki said, sending the message to a clone standing next to Madara deep within the Akatsuki base. "Then begin" the crazed Uchiha said, her Sharingan glowing brightly in the dim room.