Wandering Heathens

Aftermath

Ryuu awoke in darkness. Night had fallen and the decimated and deserted hospital was eerily silent. He looked around, seeing Momo's corpse, the corpses of other patients and medic-nins and his own nearly dead body.

He got up and went into a bathroom. He tried to turn on the light but the power was dead. He channeled chakra into his hand and held a chakra flame there, shining some light. He washed his face and body as best as he could and ransacked the hospital for medical supplies.

Balancing the chakra flame on a windowsill, he stitched and bandaged the wounds caused by Hida. He found some old clothing and dressed, hiding his weapons underneath his robe. With one last look at Momo, and a silent apology, he left Tanigakure and headed into the Land of Fire. He needed to get as much distance as possible between himself and the Akatsuki.

Kakuza lay lazily in Shinjo's arms. She didn't want the night to end but like all things, it too, must end. She got up to leave the bed but Shinjo's strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back down and to him. Kakuza sighed, slightly irritated, but the smile he was giving her melted her heart. "Fine. Just a little longer" she gave in and cuddled him back.

Hida stood under the stream of hot water. She watched as blood, specifically Ryuu's, wash down her body. Lathering herself, she thought back to their encounter and smiled, mentally playing scenes of encountering him again and what she would do to him then. Suddenly her water was cut off. "KAKUZA! TURN THE FUCKING WATER BACK ON YA STITCHED CHEAPSKATE!" She yelled. She listened for a response but none came and the water did not come back on. Growling, she left the shower and wrapped towels around her dripping body and hair. She finished getting ready and went into the kitchen for some food.

"You got back late last night" Konan, who was on chef duties, commented as Hida sat at the table with a mug of tea. "None if your goddamn business!" Hida retorted, blowing on the mug to cool it's contents. Konan made a sound and turned back to cooking but he knew he'd discuss this with Pein later, in privacy.

Obita emerged into Shinjo's room. "Shinjo-kun! Wakey wakey!" She called out, startling Shinjo and Kakuza. Obita put her hands on the cheeks of her mask in a exaggerated motion, "you've consummated your love! How sweet! Hurry up! It's time!" The last few words were given with a threatening growl, causing Shinjo to give Obita a look as he dressed. There was something about her that he didn't trust, never mind that she had betrayed his former partner. He'd have to keep an eye on her.

Once dressed and after giving Kakuza a kiss goodbye, Shinjo and Obita Kamui'd into the lower caverns of the old Akatsuki hideout. Sensing his chakra, Madara turned to face him and walked toward him. "You fought well" she complimented. "They weren't that difficult" Shinjo countered. Madara laughed wryly, "yes, they were weak. But you showed skill and initiative. I can help you become stronger. Would you like that?" Shinjo thought a moment before nodding. "Excellent!" Madara said and Obita walked over and stood next to Madara, holding a small container.

"I'd like to give you a Sharingan," Madara began, "you've proven yourself and are a capable fighter. I wish you had been born into the Clan but fate doesn't work that way. If you take these eyes, your power will increase exponentially but it will be a battle to control them and make them work for your body. Knowing this, do you accept?"

Without hesitation Shinjo agreed. He wanted the power and to enhance his abilities. He had heard of the so-called Uchiha Curse of Hatred but dismissed it as an old shinobi tale, told to frighten and keep people away from the Uchiha.

Obita led him to a table and motioned for him to lay down. Shinjo did and felt himself strapped down. "This will hurt and I can't give you anything for the pain because it would dull your body" Obita offered as an explanation. Shinjo didn't care, he just wanted it to be over with.

Madara and Obita stood on either side of him and once he was ready, the set to work. Obita had an empty jar filled with preserving liquid set aside for Shinjo's original eyes. Her and Madara reached out and dug their fingers into Shinjo's eye sockets, ignoring his screams and the blood that coated their hands. With deft practice, they removed his eyes and placed them in the jar before taking a Uchiha eye each and placing them into the sockets. "Now, it begins" Madara intoned.

The eye's chakra threads fished about in the sockets, looking for their chakra connection, whirling wildly in their attempts to find it. Shinjo screamed and strained against his restraints when the eyes found their connection and wove themselves into it. Chakra began coursing from the eyes, into his system and throughout his body. The foreign chakra burned him, as if their chakra element was acid, and he could feel every strand of his own chakra fighting the Uchiha chakra.

He saw battles, Hokages from eras past, Madara as a young woman, Senju corpses strewn about on a battlefield. He felt anger, hatred, lust and power in its purest forms. His pupils dilated and closed at a rapid pace and he saw memories, faded at first, come and go. Shinjo tried to claw the eyes out, unsure if his body could handle any more pain but the restraints stopped him. He screamed, in physical agony, and willed his chakra to take over.

He ignored the images in his head and the hatred seeping into his heart and concentrated on his chakra. He visualized it, gave it power, made it grow. With concentration and sheer will, he forced his chakra to overcome the Uchiha chakra and melded it together. At first the Uchiha chakra resisted, strongly, but bit by bit he was able to weave it into his own and when he opened his eyes, the eyes were his. He had won the battle of wills and now possessed the Sharingan.

Madara grinned down at him. "Excellent. You're as strong as I had predicted" she said, motioning for Obita to help her undo Shinjo's restraints. Once undone, Shinjo sat up and rubbed his eyes and shielded them from the light. "They will be sensitive for a day or two. We will begin training when you are ready. Don't take too long to be ready, though. There is still more yet to come" Madara lectured.

Obita brought Shinjo back to his room and he sat on his bed. His head hurt and his eyes were sensitive but he felt stronger. And angry. He wanted to hurt someone, to pursue power, to make someone beg for his mercy. Kakuza entered his room, walked over and knelt at his feet. Placing her hands on his knees, she looked at him. His eyes had changed, she realized, and her heart sunk. She placed her head in his lap, "whichever path you take, I will walk it with you" she murmured. Shinjo sat, stroking her hair, and thinking. He wanted more. He wanted power. He wanted the Akatsuki.