A New Beginning : A Missing Nin Returns!

"Now," he walked past the great open doors of the village, taking in everything once more, "Doesn't this bring back old memories." He walked in, his cloak dark as the night sky in a a cave without light. He looked like the essences of Death himself, yet he was there to preach words of peace.

He turned to the man that he  has traveled with, only to ask of one thing, "Now, taking in that you were on good terms with the Hokage, I'll let you lead me to him. After all, it will be better to have you introduce me, rather than to me to appear before you." He looked at Roku with curious eyes. He could only imagine the eye that was under the bandage. It had to be a special gift from someone. It could be anything from the Sharingan to a Byakugan. Should it be a Rinnegan, then Kaseki would have known.

Here he stood, in the village of Konoha, using the name of the very group that brought it down to just rubble a few centuries ago. Kaseki was on his own quest to cleanse the names of corruption. He would have used Madara's name as well, should he have been more an Uchiha. He was nothing, his clan had no history. He was nothing but a name lost in the sea of many.

And no one would ever know of the great power that he had hid away for so long.

It was late evening and the sun was nearly ready to begin the process it went through every night as it would drop beneath the horizon, not to rise again and spread its light until the next morning.  The clouds were beautiful shades of pink and orange as the sun's rays reflected in their misty innards, refracting into the beautiful representation of science that could be viewed from below. The activities of the Village Hidden in The Leaves seemed to be dying down as children, parents, and spouses headed home to have dinner with their families and the diverse representations of culture nullified and dulled down.  Street musicians were packing up and many voices called a unique name.  Roku recognized the tone from when he was a boy.  Children were being called home to their evening meals by anxious mothers.

Roku wore a black robe that descended to a point just above his ankles so that the blue shoes which revealed the black socks at his toe and heel that rose to just below his knees.  The midnight black color of his robe highlighted his ominous silhouette against the beautiful colors of the evening sky, casting him out of his surroundings, somehow highlighting that fact that he did not belong there.  There was a white belt similar to that many martial artists wore tied around his waist and a similar sash stretching from his left shoulder to his right hip. In an active combat situation the robes could be ripped off in a single motion to reveal a pair of white pants made of a soft cotton fabric allowing maximum maneuverability.  He wore white bandages tied around much of the left side of his head even though his eye had healed weeks ago.

Roku had been in the Fire Country few times, and in the village itself even less.  He wondered what Daemon would think of his sudden reappearance. Would he be surprised? Welcoming?  It was his eye, after all, that was held in Roku's left eye socket.  When Kaseki gave Roku his instructions, he nodded and spoke.  "Good terms? Yes, actually, that is a bit unclear.  But there is no reason for him to be hostile, I assure you.  We had a deal awhile back... We both honored our agreement..." Roku's voice trailed off as he lost himself in thought.  He wondered what this village was like before Nagato Uzumaki's legendary attack on it. "Kaseki, tell me... Given your age... Would you know how this village used to be?  Before the legendary clash of Jiraiya the Toad Sage's pupils?"

Roku continued his stroll through the village.  He had a mission, after all.  He had to moderate the meeting between the Hokage of The Hidden Leaf Village and the leader of the Akatsuki, the most legendary organization ever to strike the Shinobi world.  The motives may be different, but the very name brought fear to the world.  The symbol of the Red Cloud immortalized in the history books of children learning in school in all nations. The organization that led to the birth of the Great Shinobi Alliance.  Roku made his way up the stone stairs into the Hokage's Mansion, the guards not giving him a second look.  The Shinobi world... It had bred trust since the Shinobi World Wars.  And yet, there seemed to be just as much death, fear, and violence.  

Roku looked back at Kaseki as he opened the doors leading into the building.  He spoke in a voice low enough that only Kaseki could hear. "When I introduce you, do I use your true identity?  And the nature of our organization?"

"I met Orochimaru once, and I only saw Jiraya from afar." he told his pupil, "That world is much more different than it is now. I saw the Rinnegan myself, in the eyes of Nagato, Obito, and Madara himself. I was here when he laid waste to this village. It was the only reason someone of such a young age became part of the Anbu."

Kaseki admired the great changes to the place he called home. Surely times has changed. He was being hunted for his knowledge of forbidden techniques, not so much the ability to preform them. For years as he ran away he ventured in the minor countries. He left good deeds in his steps, leaving behind millions of small stories of a mysterious creature. He was nothing but a child then. And now, he was something much greater.

"Tell him my name. The same you call me. If you wish to tell him about Akatsuki, so be it. If not, then I will explain it myself." he told Roku, "I am an ambassador of peace, today, you are my escorting jonin to this land." He smiled, "So if I may, it is an honor to have you join my ranks."

"Sandra file those signed documents under construction projects. Set my appointment to take pictures for the Kage monument over this weekend. I am setting out early today I need some rest." He would stand from his chair as his assistant nodded in agreement with his word.

Stepping from his office chambers something felt off to him. Making his way down to the main floor of the building he would find out just what was wrong. Their in front of him stood two figures dressed in black cloaks. Before he looked at their faces he felt the need to address them,

 "Brave coming here I hope not for any ill intentions ill be willing to go a few rounds." No looking at their faces he ha managed to see a familiar face which brought him a sense of comfort yet suspicion still lingered in the back of his mind. "Ahhh, Roku sorry about that. What's going on for you to walk into the village and better yet my office is even more concerning. Is anything wrong with the Byakugan?"

Daemon obviously held no ill feelings with losing his Byakugan seeing as how he knew the surgery was a hit or miss anyhow. Glancing over at the other individual something seemed oddly familiar as if he had known him but of course that could have been, "Ahh, Hello there I am Daemon you must be a friend of Roku's nice to meet you."

Daemon extended his arm out of respect to the individual that Daemon could quiet place but disturbed him in some form of way. His undeniably trusting behavior would seem suspicious to most but to Daemon was a way of life until learned the true intentions of people's hearts, "So, what brings you gentlemen here to visit me?"

Roku nodded at Kaseki. It intrigued him a bit... All the learning he'd done of terrorist organizations in his Shinobi training he had went through pointed every aspect of the Akatsuki in that direction. The weaker members followed their leader blindly, people were willing to die for their cause... And the elite operatives like Roku were considered family to the leader. The cause was noble, but people argued that the means were twisted and evil. And Roku believed that. But something about this newly formed Akatsuki was different. Perhaps it was need of adventure, maybe true loyalty to this cause. But Roku was different than Hayden and the others. He did not worship Kaseki and view him as an omniscient being.

No, Kaseki was more a partner in Roku's eyes. He had a certain amount of loyalty to the man, but he expected that that loyalty was also reflected in the heart of Kaseki. He was no omniscient being, he simply had wisdom to identify a worthy cause. He was a man, no matter what the nature of his body suggested. If he was more, he would not need the help of operatives like Roku.

Hearing Daemon's words and catching sight of his outstretched hand, the Kaguya stepped aside and place himself in a position slightly to the side of the two men, but he was still positioned between them. When Daemon mentioned the Byakugan, Roku snuck a look at Kaseki. He had been unaware to this point what was hidden beneath his bandages. He gauged his reaction while simultaneously smiling and turning back to Daemon. "No, no, I have managed to learn to activate it and even learned a the Air Palm technique, which I understand to be a bit advanced. No, I'm here on different business." Roku gestured toward Kaseki. "My friend here, Kaseki, has a bit of business to discuss."

Roku activated his Byakugan beneath his bandages. He used it to scout the surrounding area for eavesdroppers. After determining the only people on the building were in the Hokage's office and had no abnormal chakra currents - which meant they were not using jutsu - he deactivated the Byakugan once more and nodded to Kaseki. His intent was clear. It simply meant it was a safe location to talk.

"I come here on different matters, Hokage."

The Hokage seemed to poke fun at an organization he didn't even know of yet. But as it were, Kaseki understood it all to well. He appeared nothing as a human, and didn't expect to be treated a such. To them, he was a monster. He always has been, and always will. He pondered if it was a good idea to tell him of his proposition, only to listen in on their brief discussion of Roku's Byakugan. That only confirmed Kaseki's guess.

"So, what brings you gentlemen here to visit me?" The Hokage had said. That alone made Kaseki break emotion and smile, "My friend here, Kaseki, has a bit of business to discuss."  Roku answered. Kaseki reached out to the hand that greeted him and shook it.

"Having you this close, can only mean that my records have been destroyed." Kaseki said. It was an odd and eerie way to start the conversation, but he laid out everything on the table. "Before I say anything, you should know that I have been previously Anbu both in Kirigakure and this delightful village. So believe me when I say that if I had ill intentions, there would be blood already." Kaseki's smile remained on his face. Not out of being sinister, but out of the fact that he had his sensor ninja already. "However, I come here in peace. I have a dream of a world where all the countires can unite under one name once more." He referred to nothing less than the "Shinobi Army" that existed so long ago. He had so many things to say, but little time and power to do it alone. He knew that, that's why he didn't work alone. He knew he wasn't the strongest, so he sought out people better than him. "However, I can preach my own cause for days, that won't get us anywhere. But I do have only one thing more to add." Kaseki took a step back, and extended his arm. He gave a bow, leading with his hand, "How may I help you achieve your dream?"

Daemon was interested in the sudden appearance of these two figure it could only mean a few things all of which could certainly be interesting for both parties. Upon hearing the question of destroyed records and his name Daemon was sure he knew of the strange man, "Of course I personally take care of the missing ninja files scrapping anything older then one hundreds years old unless they magically appear after long periods of time... Like you hehe.

 But no worries I am aware of your past stay in Konohagakure and it is a pleasure to have you back no matter how long it is... A dream to unite the world as a whole? Why does this sound so eerily familiar but in any case you have my attention." Daemon would pause as he was asked how his dream could be achieved. He would put thought into that dream trying to figure out what exactly the man meant,

"Would this include the collection of Kekkai Genkai? I am not the one for Genocide for power but if they could obtained through normal means then certainly that's something I would strive for in a dream. That would explain the loss of my Byakugan for Roku's DNA transplant which sadly... Failed." Giving the two a look of confusion for asking such a strange but promising question Daemon would now like to pose a question of his own, "What could I possibly do for you my new friends?"

Roku listened patiently to the two men conversing. He was aware of the plan and wanted to allow Kaseki to handle it so that things would be simpler. He was simply there to be the wingman, and like the well-trained Shinobi that he was, he stayed within the parameters of his mission. As the two men spoke, it seemed almost obvious to Roku that they were both holding something back. They spoke like businessman, almost as if when their current offer failed, they had a better one to back it up. He wondered if the other two had yet picked up on it.

He would expect the Hyuuga's detail scrutinizing eyes to be able to. That seemed to be the way of the Hyuuga. They were trained to read deeply into everything. And Kaseki was a man centuries old. He had to be familiar with human behavior by now. But Roku... Roku just had an interest in studying people. Figuring out how they worked. This had a habit of causing him to gain and lose friends. And sometimes, gain the ability to manipulate people.

Roku thought back to Itome Uchiha. As he understood it, Roku was the first to see through Itome's facade as the village fool. And his suspicions were confirmed when he later mopped the floor with an ANBU Ninja in less than 30 seconds, vying for the position of Raikage only to disappear days later. He thought of the reads he had made on Kaseki when they'd met on the road. He could tell the man had felt more pain and experienced more things than any normal man should have enough time to live to experience. He thought of the reads he had made on Hibari when they had first met. He knew he was a man of his word. Just by the way he carried himself.

It was when the Hokage mentioned the blood transplant that Roku's attention snapped back to the present. This was the first he'd heard of it. He hadn't known the surgery was not a success. Perhaps later, he should offer the Hokage another deal... He thought of the things he could wish for in return. Ryo... Senju blood, another Byakugan for his right eye... He almost considered the Sharingan but thought better of it. He thought hard... Perhaps... Uzumaki blood. He'd heard that Uzumakis had an obscenely large chakra pool.

Though this was not the time nor the place to talk about that. There were more pressing matters at hand. He spoke to Hibari. "Ah, I am sorry to hear that. Perhaps we can work it out in the future, after we handle this bit of business." The Kaguya silenced himself and listened carefully to the words of the two men.

Kaseki would listen, and let the silence fall. It was the quiet echo of nothing that seemed to scream louder than his own words.

"I personally have no interest in these bloodline traits. To me, I have no use for them" Kaseki meant what he said, after all, it was not like he could carry them anyways. "It's only a matter of time before someone sees this peace as a threat. Everyone is trying to become the perfect shinobi, when they cannot see that perfect lays within one's flaws." He smiled, only to find that his puppets were all beautiful in their own way.

"My goal is not to exterminate clans for power, but rather to protect them. IT's not so that the power becomes a tiny dot on our massive map, but rather giving these skills to those that will cherish it as they should." He thought about people trading eye for eye, Byakugan for Sharingan, overlapping the great eyes. It would be one thing if everyone was on the same level, everyone with the same power. But even that wasn't what he strived for. "We are not fighting for equality, for that is impossible. We're fighting for balance. That alone makes us who we are." He looked at the face of the Hokage, watching how his words would effect him, should they have any effect. "I do not intend for you to simply accept the Akatsuki, for that name alone will start a war. All I ask, if when you need us, you ask. We are enemies to no one."

Kaseki began to ponder the thought of mixing styles into his puppetry. He held a single piece of art that no one could fathom. His goal was not to collect the tailed beasts, it was not to collect the seven swords. His goal? To make sure each of these great powers were held by someone responsible. "I'm sure you're a busy man, and have other things to tend to. However, let me show you something that you have seen many times, yet never cared to notice. This world holds five great ninja, these are your five Kages. However, with that, seven great swords exist in this world, seven swords balanced in skill and power. Beyond that, you have nine tailed beasts... do you not see the pattern?"

Kaseki had come to solve answers to unasked questions. He had pondered life, more than the world had pondered death. He was not by far the strongest shinobi. As it stood, he wasn't even a ninja.

He was Kaseki. He was himself.

Daemon was highly impressed by this mans words. Perfect was never something Daemon believed in but he did hold a great want for multiple sets of skills whether he perfected them or not. He was a believer of where something lacks something else can pick it up. But in anycase his search for power was something that could be put aside at the moment.

What interested him mists was the mans goal for peace and protection. Something the Seventh Hokage had managed to find even if it was shortly lived. Of course the Akatsuki pasts actions where questionable but Daemon truly believed that things could change. To be assured that when help was needed he could call upon the Akatsuki was crazy but it was promising none the less.

 With the question of powerful people, weapons, and beast Daemon would have to put thought into his response, "This lack in people powerful enough to control the dangerous weapons and beasts could mean that they could easily fall into the hands of inexperienced or ill willed people. What's to say that that these items, beast, or even peple like my self are worthy. It was seem the theme follows as though there is always something stronger then something else in which shouldn't be easily obtain or wrongfully by anyone."

Yet this was all Daemon could consider was the answer to Kaseki's question, their certainly was a better answer hidden under. Daemon now held a question of his own in his subconscious that he felt he needed to address with his company, "How do you think you interpretation of the Akatsuki will fair with those of the past especially in the eyes of ninja not open to change unlike myself?"

A frown shaped Roku's as he listened to the conversation between the two men before him. The way Kaseki spoke always got to Roku. In no way was he a straight forward man. Within his words were hidden riddles with hidden interpretation. The man's ears - or what played the role of his ears, in the case of Kaseki - always acute, listening for the slightest inflection of the voice to discern the exact intent of another individual's words. Listening for the hidden meaning of the spoken word. This wasn't the type of speech Roku was fond of, though he could still keep up with it. Roku preferred to be blunt and to speak outright, though the covert requirements of the Akatsuki disallowed it.

The Kaguya crossed his arms. He remained silent, simply listening to the conversation between the two, answering their questions in his head, similar to a small child who would insult their teacher within the security of their own mind. His mind's voice echoed inside his skull, inaudible to all but himself; "There is always someone stronger... Which is why Akatsuki intends to strip those who are strong and corrupt of their power, the things that give them power. So that, those who are stronger are those of a noble will. And the name 'Akatsuki' won't be displayed publicly like a banner... We would simply pose as your village's own ANBU... Their identities are unknown to anyone but themselves anyhow."

"This lack in people powerful enough to control the dangerous weapons and beasts could mean that they could easily fall into the hands of inexperienced or ill willed people. What's to say that that these items, beast, or even peple like my self are worthy. It was seem the theme follows as though there is always something stronger then something else in which shouldn't be easily obtain or wrongfully by anyone."

"Such things a Kage would never understand." Kaseki thought to himself. "The Senju and Uchiha children... how long did he plan they would live together before killing each other for power?" He grew a bit disgusted, yet he fathomed the world he could not yet explain.

"How do you think you interpretation of the Akatsuki will fair with those of the past especially in the eyes of ninja not open to change unlike myself?"

Roku seemed to fold his arms, listening in and waiting for one of them to break. It was sure to happen. But Kaseki would not break yet. These people have not seen the destruction of a dream can cause, nor the power of a single word. "How people treat the Akatsuki is not your problem, Hokage." Kaseki smiled, trying to imagine the number they had reached. the Twenty Seventh Hokage? No, probably the Fifteenth. "I like you." Kaseki simply said, "May we never meet on the battlefield in ill-favor, or our paths to cross while in the midst of rage." Kaseki took a small step back, to signal the end of the meeting. "It's up to our generation to see that the next will not make our mistakes. The only way we can do this is to make sure these relic are held by responsible individuals, and those who can prove the world when that time comes." Kaseki gave small bow before turning away, "Good day, Hokage Hyuga. May no secrets escape your byakugan."

And with that, Kaseki turned and left. If he had said anything upon his exit, Kaseki would surely hear it. He had matters to attend to. There was Five Kages, or the "Gokage" as Kaseki referred to them. The Land of Fire was his first trip. And The Land of Stone would be his last, should he arrive there.

He had matters to attend to. He didn't plan to busy the Hokage any longer.
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Daemon smiled to the both of them as Kaseki continued to talk, "I too like you and your planned out ideals and goals brilliantly explained. On the contrary I do hope we meet on the battlefield but instead as friends looking and searching for the common goal. I will assure you that the next generation will be put in good places especially with souls like you still floating around. I will assure my own Genin children fight for the greater good. When the day comes to pass the torch to the next generation I will assure its under correct qualifications... It was also a pleasure meeting you Mr. Kaseki." Daemon would turn his gaze towards Roku, "Mr. Kaguya thank you as well for this rather delightful meeting. If you or any other Akatsuki member needs anything let me know directly." Daemon on his own would make his way back to the study seeing as how all of his free time had been used but on the bright side he hard gained a possible great ally and friend, "Good to know..."

TWC: 1010

[Exited]