It was a dawn of a new day, the night slipping back into the recesses of the world as the deceptive moon took its momentary fall. As it neared mid-day, over at the Hokage's building a great deal of important people gathered under its shadow. Most of them were members of noble clans that held a great deal of influence over Konoha, only added further on by their position within Konoha's council.

Some stopped to talk before shortly entering the building and heading towards the back where the council room was at. There were some notable faces among them, some that most people may have already known. The ever infamous Eito Fūma, our second Hokage Ikeru Senju, and even stranger ones. Hirotada Akimichi, a mysterious individual who was father to the recently passed Ieyasu Akimichi and Shinra Kidame's own father too.

Everyone collected into the room quietly, their gossip ceasing upon entry as they all took their seats at a long table with Ikeru at the end. This silence continued for entire minutes as Ikeru looked over the rest of the Council. It was so silent and everything so still, it was almost like an illusion or something of the sort. It almost made the statuesque Anbu surrounding the Council table seem normal.

Ikeru's expression was that of displeasure at this sight, but to many it seemed nothing could put down or even hinder Eito. An unstoppable force like that, some felt small in his presence, others threatened, but there were a few that betrayed these notions and were almost welcoming of him. After all, to the unobserving eye Ikeru has been under great scrutiny in the past few years. Many still question his choices and decisions from the Suna Massacre, and others feel like he's lost his touch recently with the incident regarding his daughter, Kinshi.

Despite all of this, a village still needed to be maintained. There were many matters for this Council to discuss.

"Everyone," Ikeru began to propose, "let us begin this assembly. We have important matters to deal with."

The room itself seemed to let out its breath at this moment, people beginning to prepare themselves. The court was now open for anyone wishing to speak up, even the vile Eito Fūma who shrewdly sat just opposite of Ikeru. Yet, even as things took their time to begin, there was already something out of place within the Council room.

Among the Anbu was an intruder, disguised as one of these guardians. Ranta Larizzai, a particularly skilled puppeteer. What purpose did he hold in this intrusion, what did he have to gain?

Listen & Read

|RL|- Ranta was lucky, too lucky almost. But the real question, could he be considered lucky in this situation? He was in the same room as other REAL Anbu members and something of the biggest hitters in the entire hidden leaf. The Hokage, Eito Fuma, Hirotada Akimichi, His students father. The Leaf’s torturer and many other older council members. A few days back, Ranta tracked an Anbu member back to his home. He could tell that the person was Anbu by the way they walked. Most Anbu walked with the intention to never be heard but to be as loud as possible if needed. It was almost ingrained into their brains to be like this, vigorous training and a life of hardship it must be. As the man was resting in his home, Ranta using his newest Puppet Genjutsu disabled the man and he quickly dispatched him and sent him from one life to the next. In reality he didn’t have to go this far but Ranta couldn’t leave any loose ends even if the tracking was just to obtain an outfit. Back to current day he stood at the exit/entrance of the council room, another Anbu directly across from him. They were both still as statues, but Ranta was trying to mentally encrypt the information so he could inform Eidel the Kazekage of the happenings as they had agreed to a long time back after he won in the chunnin exams. - |RL|

As the assembly began the floor was open for anyone to talk and Eito Fuma would raise his open palm into the air just to make sure everyone’s attention was caught and then he began to speak. His voice as smooth as a river in spring but as dangerous as a threatened viper. Even before all of the evil accusations and his Infamy rising within the higher political ranks of the Land of Fire. Eito was always knowing for his prowess in the “game”. “So, fellow council members. I have very sensitive information to deliberate here today. It has to do with my only remaining family heritage. The Criminal Keldran Fuma. Reports have it within the Konoha revenue report that a massive 50 million Ryo has been expended to one of the largest construction companies in Konoha. The same company that keeps maintenance on all of the government buildings as well as commissioned to add new faces to Kage Mountain. Now to the point of the matter. The construction companies many caravans were spotted by our Anbu heading towards the direction of the Land of Wind. If I had to have an inkling. I’d assume he wants to create and entire village under our noses. Disobeying the law on multiple levels and easily something that can have someone killed on command. Thoughts on how to follow up on these accusations or overall thoughts?”

Hirotada simply remembered the name because the brat years before influenced his last son to stand up to him so his loud booming voice spoke. “That Keldran kid, nothing but trouble I tell you. Going rogue multiple times. Captured by Amegakure and who knows how much information he forked over to the Rain our obvious enemies. But it seems every time he comes back he is welcomed with only a slap on the wrist?” Hirotada’s fat faced gaze traveled to the Hokage. “You being the only one who can grant that level of Pardon. I think! That this accusation isn’t beneath Keldran. He’s being called Lord now and has begun to have his own regime of guards/men. Taking control of the Fuma clan under the rightful Eito’s rule? WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS?!” Hirotada slammed his fist and next to him. The Leader of the Kidame clan gripped his hand and spoke outwards as well. “I agree, he is a danger and threat to the normality of hidden leaf lifestyle. If such roguish and brash attitudes are allowed to rule who knows what will become of our next generation of youth. Look what his small amount of Influence did to the Sarutobi clan? Only the older generation and singular cousin remains. Plus, your decision Hokage-Sama to Sunagakure allowed him to give up many pieces of important information. The people cannot stand this much longer.”

It went back around to Eito and he said a firm statement. “No matter what our clan formerly was and what the Hero Godric was, his son, my nephew obviously is none of this. He needs to be eliminated. Before. It. Is. Too. Late.

Ranta was listening to all this information and was caught dumbfounded many times. After many opinion and thoughts were thrown out the council room turned into a storm of deliberation and discussion but the obvious being. Eito, Hirotada and Kidame all being and working for their own causes or a joint cause.

Already, some of the Council was at Ikeru's throat on the matter of Keldran. He listened quietly through what Eito first said, and even what Hirotada said even though at the suggestion another council member quickly rose from their seat.

"The insolence!"

As soon as the other member began to lash out Ikeru raised a hand, gesturing towards all.

"Let's be civil, the purpose of this committee is to compromise not to quarrel among ourselves. I will not allow for this bickering."

Ikeru drew silent once more and almost shamefully the outspoken council member sat back down while glaring at Hirotada. From there, the conversation could resume while the Kidame head and Eito could continue on with what they wanted to say.

"I stand by my actions regarding Keldran," Ikeru briefly glanced to Hirotada before his gaze returned to all, "his heart is true and isn't tainted by foul intent. While I would like to hear more regarding this 'village' it only seems to be suspicion. He is an honest worker and has been doing what he can to restore his clan, a noble pursuit. Elimination? Juvenile for you to even suggest it, Eito."

Ikeru took a moment to look straight into Eito's eyes.

"The lord of the clan doesn't seem even supportive of Keldran's industrious activities. His growing pride and him acting out of line, the only person to blame is you, Eito. If it bothers you so, then talk to him and put him in line. However, don't mix your work and your clan's livelihood together, although... I wouldn't put it behind you."

Right after Ikeru let out his last bitter words another council member chimed in, "Where's that assistant of yours? I could do with a refreshment."

On that note, Ikeru called his assistant in. A rather cheerful, young lady came in and the two began to briefly talk while some of the other council members began to speak.

"The official blame for the Fūma Clan Massacre was given to an Akatsuki member, correct? Have they not been present and a domineering threat in our lives for these past several years. So many have died to those wretched demons, have we yet uncovered anymore about them?"

While it was a topic to discuss, there were still others that didn't seem as focused on that as they were on Eito. Everyone still had fresh memories of Kinshi's death, and the 3 others that died in her failed retrieval. Ikeru finished talking to his assistant before she walked out of the room to go make tea for everyone. He looked over to Eito to see if he had anything to say regarding the matter of Akatsuki.

Listen & Read

At the talk of being civil and not quarreling Hirotada’s fat face and thick anger reared its ugly head into the conversation. “Compromise?! You’ve done nothing but make choice AFTER WRETCHED CHOICE. Without even a headspace thought for the rest of us! Sending so many men and women to aid Sunagakure only for them to be slaughtered like lambs at the stake! Allowing a Criminal to reside within these walls and happily march around with his curtail high as if he is some noble lord. YOU ACTIONS HAVE SPOKEN LOUDER THEN YOU EVER HAVE! TO THINK MY LORDS SON TO BECOME SUCH AN IMBECILE IS AN INSULT TO YOUR FATHERS MEMORY. THIS I SAY FOR TRUTH!”

Eito would stand up and yell, “HIROTADA ENOUGH!” A burst of dark chakra enveloped Eito and his voice carried throughout the room and in that instant Ranta almost froze inside of his suit with free. His chakra was so immense and so heavy, almost like oil. It was disgusting. “Let the Hokage have the floor, THEN. ONLY THEN. Stake your claim to his words.” Hirotada felt the vile chakra and remembered his place in this bout so he angrily flopped back down onto the floor and allowed the Hokage to continue speaking. Hirotada’s hateful eyes glued on the Hokage even as they exchanged hated glances from across the table.  Ikeru obviously stood behind his decisions with Keldran and quoted as believing in his heart and the so forth. Kidame speaking up only to say, “Eito was correct. You seem to have an unhealthy attachment to the boy himself. You claim to know of his heart but seemingly forget all his miss-deeds. This isn’t a mark of a leader. It’s the mark of a father. Leaders know when to punish and when to rewards Hokage-Sama.”

When Ikeru took the time to speak straight towards Eito mentioning many points of Keldran and how Eito shouldn’t mix family matters and work. Eito simply responded after him, returning the similar gaze. “How can I not mesh with it when you’ve done the same? An attack on him at this rate would be like attacking you the way you shelter him.” Kidame and Hirotada along with 3 other council members agreed to Eito’s statement making this lean into a heavy majority so far.

When the Akatsuki was brought up the first to speak was the Kidame leader. “Well after the failed retrieval of your deceased daughter Hokage-Sama. It was found that this group that had took her in the first place had ties to the Akatsuki and probably someone in a great village. On the body of the biggest enemy you slain to protect Team Instinct. There was the Akatsuki cloud marking burning into the back of his inner knees. Also on another monk was found a brand hiding beneath massive Buddha beads. They obviously weren’t direct Akatsuki members but they were connecting nonetheless.”

Hirotada now spoke and responded as well. “Remember when Keldran had his body invaded by a man with the heralded Rinnegan which then took control of Godric? That man or fucking thing. Surely has connections to the Akatsuki. It might be blind speculation but what else would it want with the bodies of two of the strongest ninja our village has? Only evil could need or even want this.” Many started to agree and pat Hirotada on the back for remembering such a small but needed to know detail.

Eito then spoke, “My Root and Anbu squads have been taking the necessary steps to follow the traces of the Akatsuki. One of said traces leading us to a village where the girl who died retrieving your daughter came from. Rena Hikari was it? Her clan was held up in a mountainous base in the land of sound. She was an emissary and essential hub for the Akatsuki cause due to its location and resources. Our forces took them out and their leader without any large relative loss of life on the side of the leaf. This connection then leading back to a situation days prior to a man with Rinnegan being spotted in the ruins of Uzushiogakure. The Akatsuki are moving all around us but not exactly towards us. They are building and biding time as we wait and try to figure out how to strike is my presumptions.”

Kidame leader spoke once again, “Kinshi’s death served them a more dangerous purpose then we can understand. The lab was relatively empty meaning her blood had ran its course. Her capture will only further escalate the doom that may befall Konoha. We need to up the security, more Anbu more Root. Motioning to this notion who agrees?” Hirotada instantly raises a hand, Eito slowly does as well. 5 other council members do as well and the notion is then left cleared and allowed whether the Hokage approved or not.

Eito once again bringing his hand into the air and bringing forth another matter. “What shall we do about the Akimichi brothers and Amegakure? The enemies not only at our doorstep but ran by two of the strongest and most infamous criminals in the bingo book history? Gyugii Akimichi and Gouda Akimichi. Their army and wise planning was enough to destroy an entire great village from the inside out and kill the former Kazekage with little to no effort. Also, the wielder of Samehada’s presence has all but vanished even with the killing of two swordsmen of the mist being reported thanks to Keldran. That man alone is enough to send an entire village to the ground and both Gyugii and Gouda have similar firepower. They cannot be left unchecked for any longer.

Hirotada interjects. “YOU ARE DAMN RIGHT THEY CAN’T. THEY SMUDGE THE AKIMICHI NAME AND BLOOD WITH THEIR MERE MENTIONING.” Hirotada noticeably began to breath heavily and more angrier at his subject matter which was cause to concern for most other council members at the time.

As the conversation continued on, the Hokage's assistant came back into the room with a set of teaware. She set it down at a table opposite of the Council as she began to pour away into the 10 cups she had. Each cup she poured was a strong, black tea to help the spirit. At the last 2 however, she moved her pinky just a little from where it was resting to the bottom of the teapot.

The first 2 went to the Hokage and Eito which were among the bitter, dark teas handed out among the less prominent council members. The last 2, different cups went to Hirotada and the Kidame head.

Ikeru thanked his assistant before she went out of the room for perhaps the final time in this council session. Ikeru among the others began to drink their tea, one of them commenting, "What a strong brew. I don't know how you found that girl, Ikeru, but she's the best at what menial things she does for us."

Ikeru was almost about to reflect on that before Hirotada began to act out of line. His power flared against Eito's at the remark regarding his father. He looked sternly towards Hirotada while letting Eito chide at Hirotada. In contrast to Eito's chakra, Ikeru's chakra was equally as dense and expansive. Overwhelming and without control as it filled up what parts Eito's chakra didn't. like pins and needles being enveloped by it, and strangely warm on an already hot day.

Once Eito settled Ikeru continued for just a little longer before finishing with, "Bite your tongue Hirotada before you lash out so wildly."

He kept quiet during the accusation of Keldran and his lenience to him, there wasn't much to speak on that regard. He trusted Keldran despite the things he had done. Besides, he held information regarding the enigmatic puzzle of Eito. He just needed... something physical and he could confirm these doubts.

On the notion that there should be more Anbu/Root present, Ikeru grew reluctant. He didn't trust Eito, but it was true that the Akatsuki was a threat to this nation they so proudly defended. It was more power to Eito which was the last thing he wanted to give, but this was his village and politicking couldn't get in the way of that.

"I... agree," Ikeru gave into the idea before they continued on the subject of Ame and the Akimichi Brothers.

"You are correct, something has to be done about them. They are only destructive and negotiation doesn't seem to work for people like them. An offensive should be mounted, but as of late so many people have died over these years... Like them, perhaps we should prepare our own shinobi in extensive training while mounting patrols on our northern and easter borders. If we have any notion of their coming, we can at least be aware of future invasion. This is why they've been so devastating in the past."

Ikeru paused for a moment, he just felt the slightest tingling sensation on his tongue. Only acknowledging it as a quirk before continuing.

"Any dissenting opinions?"

Listen & Read

Eito immediately drank the brew up as the constant talking surely dried his throat out like no other. Nearly every other member of the council did so as well even Ikeru himself. The brew as delicious and as strong as advertised. Hirotada and wiggling his face to the initial bite of the tea.  “Wooo boy that tea has some strength! I need that girl in my manor if you catch my drift.” Hirotada nudged The Kidame leader and he just looked at him with unamused eyes and didn’t respond in the slightest to what was going on.

Ikeru brought up a good point on what exactly needed to be done to prevent and even prepare for the coming tide of Amegakure but instantly within the moment he finished speaking and asked for opinions Eito raised his hand and spoke. “I agree Ikeru. Due to our previous agreement on packing the numbers of both My root and the Anbu black-ops we should deploy some sleeper agents and maybe create secret outpost hedging’s in-between use and the general location the rain is in. This will prevent mass loss of life and allow us time to mobilize our forces against an encroaching threat. But now that we speak of the Rain he forgets of the swordsman and the mist and also the Cloud. The Cloud has been much too quiet in politics for nearly a decade and it is known that the swordsmen have twisted the once peaceful mist back to its bloody roots.”

The Kidame leader would nod in agreement, “We have help from the stone thanks to unknown reasons but If they all collaborate to take down our one ally we are left sitting ducks in war we cannot win. We must establish a political outreach to each Kage and Daimyo immediately Hokage-Dono.” Everyone was in agreement this time as it should be a no-brainer. Peace needed to be obtained or the leaf would suffer the consequences of their actions.

Ranta was surprised, this was what it was like to be at the top? This is what was all going on in the entire world? This is bigger than what happened at Sunagakure, then Keldran, then everything. This could be the end of the shinobi lifestyle as we knew it. This information was priceless and he continued to keep tabs on every word said.

[30 minutes of continued talking and deliberation pass]

One of the council members begins to cough, coughing very hard. Standing up the man began to grip their chest and in the next cough blood spurted out of his mouth onto the table in front of them. Now Eito himself began to cough and feel his lungs tighten up, making him stand and try to make his way towards the door. Taking one choppy breath at a time as he put on a good acting display. Hirotada and Kidame alike both fell over and into the wall behind them, their faces turning noticeably purple and their eyes rolling into the back of their heads. Eito with his exasperated expression and some believably fake blood dripping from his mouth pointed at Ikeru. “You----- You---- Posione---“Eito smashed into the floor head first and began convulsing against the ground. All of the remaining council members began to panic, hyper ventilate and blood and loud breaths for air was all that populated the entire room. As one by one they died and blood flowed out of their eyes and faces turning a deep blackish gray color. The Hokage seemingly the only normal one left. Betrayal was afoot.

For just a brief moment, it seemed that the Council came to an agreement. Time went on as they deliberated their strategy and course of action regarding diplomacy with other nations. It was the time they took that led to this folly. Once everyone began to keel over and painfully die, Ikeru's chest tightened up in anxiety. He did not yield and surrender to this completely though, trying to stand up as Eito threw accusations towards him.

"No..."

Ikeru teetered back and forth before tumbling down to the side of his desk. That feeling in his tongue had spread through his entire mouth. The only reason Ikeru didn't seem affected initially was because he was a Senju with remarkable life force... but that only did so much. His hands and feet almost entirely numb as he clumsily tried to make his way across the room. With each attempt to bring himself up he felt his breath grow shorter and shorter up until the point he wasn't sure he was breathing anymore. Ikeru slowly stood up on shaky legs, staggering over to the door before looking over to the Eito's fallen body as he convulsed on the floor.

'What is happening? Who did this?!'

Ikeru thought frantically to himself as he tried to scream out for help. The sight of everyone dying was horrible, but he had seen worse in the past. Even as he tried, all that came out were little wheezes with no coherent structure. He couldn't speak or breathe at all. As Ikeru collapsed at the ground, his persistence continued as he tried his best to bring his hands together to form a hand seal. Yet, his hands were so numb and clumsy he couldn't even make out something to save himself. His back was turned to the Council as he tried his best to try and save any of them... somehow.

The only person that had been close enough to help were the Anbu in the room, but there was also another person near that heard Ikeru's dying body slam into the door of the Council. Ikeru's assistant. She ran into the room seeing the situation, gasping at what she was seeing. Being first under Ikeru she immediately moved over to him to lay him on his back. She wasn't trained in much as a ninja nor knew how to handle situations like these. She just sat across from him adminstering CPR as she noticed he wasn't breathing anymore and beginning to almost fade. The situation had quickly grown chaotic, it was hard to imagine to even clamber to what was actually happening here.

Listen & Read (Loop recommended)

Eito’s face had begun to turn purple and his breathing began to lessen more and more into leaving him, but in a large cough he spurted up blood against the wall and then---

Hirotada and the leader of the Kidame sat back up and adjusted their bodies firmly and comfortably. Looking at the entire scene, everyone was seemingly dying and Eito had seemed to die as well. The Hokage was fighting to his last breath and he was surely a tough son of a bitch. The little assistant maid that had brought them the tea to begin with had Ikeru resting on her thighs and trying to shake him. She lost all control of the situation and didn’t know what to do whatsoever. Though there was another twist to the entire situation. The Kidame leader uttered the words. “Eliminate.” These words immediately ringing into the air made the female jolt forward in a single convulsion then fall backs and fold like a chair of sorts and die. He had casted the Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand Technique to place a thin senbon inside her brain right directly against the hippocampus. Ridding her of all her previous memories and simply making her a slave puppet to the man. Using his chakra connect to it, he pushed it the rest of the way in to shut off her metaphorical lights and kill her.

Hirotada then ordered both of the Anbu standing there to hold the Hokage up straight as the next part proceeded. Hirotada took his famed sword made of phoenix flames and stabbed it directly through his own chest. Hirotada staring directly into his eyes and he spoke vile things from his lips while doing so, “You were never the man your father was, don’t even visit him. You’re going to hell.” Pulling the sword out, he repeated this over 12 more times stabbing the now dead Hokage in multiple vital areas of the body until nothing was left but dead weight and a pull of blood. While he was dying all, he could think to himself was, “I failed the village, I failed my clan and I failed my daughter. The era of darkness that prophecy foretold is now upon us. Forgive me Konoha.” Once Hirotada finished he placed the blade back on his body and ordered the two Anbu to toss him back to where his seat was and spill the tea all over him. Ranta was mortified and couldn’t believe all that he had just witnessed. The Hokage one of the strongest men in the world murdered and kill by these two men?! It was unbelievable. Ranta knew he had to get out and escape as fast as he could but for now he kept calm and kept appearances. The Kidame leader then looked over to Eito and wasn’t focused behind him where Hirotada was, so unknowingly. Hirotada gripped the bastard by his head and began to crush inwards, he was screaming out in pain and begging for forgiveness as the pain was something out of this world. Hirotada only laughed and said.

“You are dangerous and too smart for your own good. Nothing personal kid.”

Hirotada with the aid of earth spear struck a hole directly through his body and then tossed him against the wall to the side. Easily dispatching him and ridding him of his life for good.

All but Hirotada and the Anbu remained inside the room. It seemed the angry and loud mouthed Akimichi had taken the day and the leaf for himself.

Listen & Read (Loop recommended)

Before all of the action with the Hokage went down Eito had been coughing up blood. But in that next moment he shoved two fingers down his esophagus to make himself throw up, he did so three times in rapid succession which this then eventually removed most of the remaining poisonous tea liquid from his system. But because it had time to rest it’d still leave him with a relative sick feeling all over his body.  Eito then stood up and placed his arm against the wall, leaning against it as he tried to regain overall posture. Eito then uttered the same words that the now dead Kidame leader had once uttered to kill the female. “Eliminate” This stemming from the same manipulative Jutsu using to control this man by force ever since the day they met years ago. Turning the one humble and civil man into enough of a powerhouse and abomination that he killed his own wife for adultery in a public execution and abused his last known son to extraneous levels.

Eito needed him no longer and so the senbon clipped into his brain and killed him as well. Making the giant fall to his knee and hitting the ground filled with blood and tea. Wafting in the destruction Eito only smile and laughed. A hardy and cynical laugh. Only one that could be produced by such a villainous scum as he. Now in the room only remained 3 living souls.

But the Anbu directly to Eito’s right took off his mask and gear and it appeared to be an exact look alike of Eito Fuma himself. Ranta was in absolute shock and couldn’t believe what was happening. Was this even real? A bad dream even? He couldn’t and didn’t understand what was going on. Ranta wasn’t even sure if he even wanted to anymore.

The two Eito’s looked at one another and smirked. The Eito who unclothed himself exited out of the office area and spoke as he walked past Ranta in his disguise. “Thank you for doing your last duty. Now rest in peace knowing you’ve served me well. Elephant Mask.” Elephant Mask being the disguise he took.

Since Eito’s conception he was always known to have had a secret laboratory in which he worked on the 5-spider’s regime which was a rag-tag failed group of terrible people or those looking for redemption. All biologically engineered in certain aspects to be much stronger than normal people. But what the people didn’t know was that Eito’s supposed spiders where only to protect the head. The head being the body, blood and cells of Kinshi Senju. The purest pure blood Senju to ever walk the known ninja world. The spiders did their job which was giving Eito enough time to harvest her completely. This then giving birth to his molecularly accurate clone of himself. Eito had created a miracle of science to serve a single purpose. Survive the poisoning of the tea and remove all evidence from being traced back to him. The clone was given a remote explosion bomb implanted into its heart that was remote activated.

Ranta would escape from the scene shortly after the real Eito’s footsteps were gone for some time and he leapt out of the Hokage building, quickly shedding is disguise in the process and trying to make since of it all. But then BOOM!

The clone’s explosion mechanism was activated by Eito once he reached a safe distance and the entire Hokage building was destroyed in a singular attack. It sending a shockwave halfway throughout the village and setting some nearby houses on fire. This turning the streets into a frenzy as people tried to see what was going on, while shinobi went to find and figure what happened to the high council meeting.

Eito walking down a lone alley could only be seen smiling as he said one single line. “Within the ashes of their world. I alone shall build a better one.”

-End-