VIII

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Arc VIII Chapter 1

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Amegakure offered a truly majestic sight. The forces of nature cloaked the city in a veil of rain, a common sight of Ame. The scenery pleased her senses.

Dark spires, silent monuments of forged black steel and human will, ascended from earth. Their imposing height challenged heaven itself.

Shrouded in shadow, their cold silhouettes hid secrets forever untold. They were spires of desolation, of sorrow, of lost hope, of tragedy. Their soul resonated with her.

The black towers invited her, welcomed her, and Asami accepted their invitation.

Accompanied by her umbrella, a lone girl crossed the misty bridge leading into the village.

This was Ame. This was the village hidden by the rain. This was her new home. The place where she was supposed to meet Akatsuki's leader. Pain was his name, a self-proclaimed god.

How pretentious. Some nameless provincial upstart with delusions of grandeur declared himself a god in her presence. Such impertinence.

Pain led Akatsuki and his goal was nothing short of world domination. An ambitious project for an equally ambitious man.

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Takuya yawned. Sleepiness overcame his drowsy eyes. Guard duty was such a pain in the ass. The very definition of mind-numbing and boring.

"Tired, aren't we?" Shizue laughed about his predicament.

"Not really. Just the usual. Nothing makes you sleep better than guard duty." Takuya rubbed his eyes to fight the drowsiness, but to no avail.

Serving Amegakure was an honour, but ... guard duty sucked big time. Standing watch day in day out was a tedious affair. Nothing ever happened.

They guarded the village gate and halted merchants and other travelling folk, but Takuya didn't complain. He had a family to feed and a wife waiting for him. The post was safe. Minimal risk ...

Footsteps resounded through the air. The rest of the checkpoint shared his reaction and snapped to attention, their drowsiness gone. Steps echoed across the empty bridge. They approached their position.

The steps stopped and amidst the fog a lone girl armed with an umbrella appeared. Takuya spotted her petite figure.

Her black kimono bore a familiar pattern. Her pale skin granted the girl a ghostly appearance. Her sheer presence intimidated. A cold, chilling, dark aura surrounded her.

Takuya gulped, resisting the creeping sensation of dread.

Her saccharine smile greeted them. "Salutations, friends, I was invited to visit the beautiful village of Amegakure. I have arrived and now seek permission to enter .“

Silence followed and the guards exchanged looks of disbelief.

They didn't trust her. The girl radiated an otherworldly, a dangerous aura. Her smile didn't ease the tension.

Takuya unholstered his kunai. He remained cautious. The girl was suspicious.

Shizue narrowed his eyes. "Who are you? What business do you have with Ame?"

The girl tilted her head and played with her umbrella. "As said, an old friend invited me."

Shizue gritted his teeth. "Don't play with us. State your reason, or ..."

The girl giggled. "Or what? What are you going to do?"

Shizue's blood froze.

A lighting bolt illuminated the bridge and revealed her figure. Her eyes glimmered purple in the dark, exuding a cold demonic aura.

Takuya held his breath.. The girl ... wasn't normal.

Takuya gripped his kunai. "Don't move! Try anything funny, and we will attack!"

"I advise against such rash actions." Asami smiled. Ignorant humans, they entertained her. Toying with feeble creatures filled her girlish heart with joy.

Their fear, their angst, their raw emotions pleased her sadistic streak. Their misfortune and misery lifted her mood.

Asami gripped her umbrella and marched past the stunned guards. The incessant rain didn't stop and Asami advanced through the ghastly fog, unbothered by their presence.

Shizue blocked her way. "Stop! I said stop! Not a step further!"

Asami ignored his orders and strolled past a petrified Shizue. The guard yielded and allowed her to pass.

Asami yawned. "How boring.“

“You.“ Asami directed her gaze at the closest guard.

Takuya looked confused. Was she talking with him ...

“I am.“ Asami sighed. “Listen, could you do me a little favour? I am new to Ame, and I need a guide as I am searching for a friend of mine."

Takuya gulped. “Who is this ... friend?"

Asami grinned. "I am sure you know him. The entirety of Ame knows him. I am searching for Pain-sama."

Takuya paled.

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Guided by her newest underling, Asami reached her destination. Pain resided in the tallest tower.

A woman with lavender hair awaited her arrival. Konan was her name.

Her white angelic wings made her float in the air. Her expression betrayed no emotions. "You are late."

Asami bowed in mockery. "My apologies, but locating Kami-sama proved difficult. In his infinite wisdom, he provided me with no directions.“

“I was forced to ask locals for help.“

...

...

...

"We know.“ Konan maintained her emotionless mask. “Your little show of force displeased Pain-sama."

Asami responded with a smile. "Once again, my sincerest apologies, I never intended to offend Kami-sama.“

“I didn't know I was watched, but now I do. Of course, I will rein in my unbecoming behaviour.“

Asami met Konan's stare while Takuya was caught between fronts, an innocent bystander watching their titanic struggle. Tension rose and the dangerous silence continued.

Konan inspected her and Asami reciprocated her kindness.

...

...

...

Konan sighed. "Follow me. Pain-sama is awaiting you.", Konan led the way and Asami followed.

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"What's up, Takuya? You look pale. Have you seen a ghost?" Shuji joked. As

the bartender greeted his most frequent customer and was slightly worried. Takuya was soaked. His friend had clearly seen better days.

Takuya shivered. His hands trembled. This wasn't the Takuya he knew.

Takuya took a chair and rested. "Shuji, give me a drink ... No, make it two ... No, better three ... Give me the strongest stuff you have." He needed alcohol. He needed to forget.

Takuya downed one shot, two shots, four shots and kept going. Amegakure gained a new angel, and her wings were black like the night.

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