Battle Scars.

[marvolous.]

Where am I...?

Why couldn't I move? Had I really depleted my chakra to such a low degree? Was this the drawback of summoning such devilish fire that had come hand and hand with my Mangekyou Sharingan? This was only the third time I had come so close to death, but it was different; my body was failing to answer any attempt I made to move, my eyes-- what had happened to them?

I could see nothing out of my right eye, something that I had never expected would be a side-effect, but my left eye - my real eye - seemed... empty, despite my mind beckoning forth my Sharingan. Nothing. I felt nothing. Saw nothing. No energy, no chakra, nothing - just anger. I wasn't finished, as long as my village still stood I would never be done. Even in death, I refused to leave this world with the Tsuchikage still breathing.

Whether it was the anger acting as fuel for my body or through sheer will-power, I found myself forcing my body from the ground. My arms were the first to respond to my commands, using whatever strength they had within them to push me upwards so that I could lean against my knees for support. From there I used my legs to bring me up completely, though I could barely feel them; they were singed from the fire, my flesh having been burned away leaving them completely exposed.

I did not care. Taking a step forward, ignoring the pain that shot up through my body, I stumbled. Instinctively my hands shot infront of me to brace myself for the fall, but instead of catching air they caught the side of what appeared to be a wall. I hadn't noticed it till now, but I was in a cave of sorts; the darkness and the blistering heat that was rushing into the area from one direction confirmed such.

Regardless, I continued onwards towards the exit. Step by step, hands on the side of the cave's walls, I willed myself forward. I was so close... only a couple feet more. A couple more steps... that was all I needed.

"Don't give out on me now." I spoke to myself. "The village is still und--"

I collapsed. Sprawled along my back and having made it to the entrance of the cave, I looked upwards towards the sky, catching a glimpse of the stars as my vision slowly started to fade.

[NARRATOR]

The particular cave that Nagato found himself in was situated almost directly on the borders of Kaze no Kuni and Ame no Kuni, chiseled into the belly of a cliff. No more than a handful of meters from where the exhausted Kazekage collapsed was a lush forest, still wet from a rain that had passed only hours ago; the ground was moist and soggy, molding around the body comfortably nuzzling its way into the grime.

The silence that followed the thump of his body against the ground lasted for several long moments, until it was shattered by the sound of approaching feet. Before he could startle, however, a voice followed.

"I see I can't leave any of you to yourselves." It was a familiar sound -- one that Nagato knew all too well. "I turn away from Blanche, and the next thing I knows she's getting into a brawl with the Mizukage." Rounding the Uchiha's peripherals, the masked phantom associated with the name "Kouketsu" appeared. "I leave you alone, and you take on the entirety of Iwagakure's forces by yourself. A wonderful show, but-- look at you. You're a mess."

Tilting his head to the side, two dull eyes -- neither of which were marked by the Sharingan or the unique, ripple-patterned eye, gazed down upon Nagato. "It was a marvelous show, but it's obvious you've become rusty since the war. Being reduced to this -- tsk, tsk, tsk. You should be ashamed." Teasingly, he waved his finger. "What, exactly, would I have done had you been killed? You know that I still have needs for your particular talents."

Snapping his fingers in revelation, the phantom crouched down. "Didn't you forget something in Sunagakure, leaving so fast? I don't think Beppin knows your teleportation trick, does she? Her name is Beppin, right? Your wife? The mother of your child?"

[marvolous.]

Truthfully, I hadn't realized I wasn't alone until I heard his voice. Whether it was out of pure exhaustion or my mind finally succumbing to my wounds, I could not tell; however, like the summit I did not need to see who the voice originated from to know it's creator. His words were of course condescending-- I expected nothing less from Kouketsu, but I tuned him out. Well, I tried to, at least.

"What, exactly, would I have done had you been killed? You know that I still have needs for your particular talents."

I stirred from my position upon the ground, once again trying to force my body up, my anger flaring within me again. Killed? I was disgusted such words even spewed out of his mouth. "'What would you have done had I been... killed'? By who, Kouketsu?" The venom that licked at my words was distinct. "The Tsuchikage? The famed Iwagakure leader that allowed her own shinobi to sacrifice themselves to save her own life and did nothing but run away? Don't make me fucking sick, that is not a shinobi."

I was no longer back-first on the ground, having leaned forward enough to push the majority of my weight against my knees. From there, through pain, I forced myself against the side of the cave's entrance, allowing my back to rest against the wall. My eyes found Kouketsu's then, the glare given emitting all the anger I felt within me - not just at the Tsuchikage, but at himself.

"I don't want to hear Beppin's name coming out of your mouth, Kouketsu."

I shot at him. I had forgotten about Beppin, it was true; she had been the last thing on my mind as I was fighting Iwagakure's forces. Even if it killed me in the process, I had to go back and save her. Pressing my back against the wall and using it along with my legs to bring me to full height, I prepared myself - almost absentmindedly - for one last Hiraishin. Beppin was marked, I would be able to reach her with or without Kouketsu's help.

"Get out of my way. I'm going to end the war you started."

[NARRATOR]

"That I started?" the masked figured mocked. "The Tsuchikage didn't attack Sunagakure because of anything that I did. She hates you for what you did to her nation -- I simply helped the process along. How long did you truly intend to hide behind that faux alter ego of yours?"

Shaking his head, he pressed on before Nagato could respond. "What, exactly, are you hoping to do? Hiraishin to Beppin as a corpse? You know very well using that technique again, in your current condition, will kill you."

He waved the thought away. "Besides, she's already safe. Once I saw that you'd left Sunagakure, I helped her escape. She's waiting for you with a mutual friend of ours-- Blanche." He stepped closer. "I'll take you to her. Blanche will take care of your injuries, and Beppin's mind can be put at ease."

The phantom's voice had remained relatively cheerful throughout the course of their conversation; light and joyous. However, at the mention of Blanche's name, it turned cold. Cold and sharp, like the frigid blade of a warrior's sword.

A hand reached forward, aiming to grasp Soratsu around his throat and slam him into the wall no more than an foot behind him. A sandal stomped onto the foot opposite to it, ensuring he would not be able to escape (not that he would, in his condition). Whatever chakra he'd hoped to use for a hiraishin had vanished instantly (absorbed), leaving him at the mercy of the former Water Shadow.

"But know that if you ever again try to turn Blanche against me, I will kill you and Beppin without hesitation." The grip around Soratsu's throat would strengthen, almost enough to snap his neck clean in two. "We all have skeletons in our closest; you refusing to accept yours makes you worse than me, not better."

And like an explosion, the intensity of the situation vanished. Releasing him, the masked man would take several steps back to allow the injured Uchiha some room to breathe. Once he was ready, they would leave.

"Oh, and we'll be visiting your sister as well." Though he couldn't see it, a devious smirk was cutting across his face. "I was surprised you didn't reveal who you were when she visited you in Sunagakure. Then again, you always were the one who remained dedicated to a plan one hundred percent."

"She's become quite strong since I gave her control of Taki no Kuni."

[marvolous.]

That was reassuring, to say the least.

I said nothing, though. Through his words I remained still, lost within the gaze that I kept on him that never seemed to falter despite their intensity only being a facade. Behind it, surely as Kouketsu knew, my consciousness was slowly fading, the fight against my mind going complete comatose slowly being lost.

I had faded to such a degree that I barely heard his words; nothing but 'Beppin' and 'safe' was registered. My body relaxed with it - well, as much as physically was possible through such pain - and for a brief moment I almost let out a sigh of relief; that was, of course, until I felt his hand push me back against the wall. It rocketed me awake, his fingers tight grasp over my throat causing me to lose my breath instantly.

Instead of battling him-- instead of succumbing to his demonstration of authority, I grinned. It was almost a taunt, quite like I was beckoning him to do just as he said. No words were said, even as the last remnants of oxygen escaped my lungs, just a simple grin given. I hadn't known Blanche meant that much to him.

When his grip was released I coughed, allowing myself a moment to catch my breath before speaking. "That's where you are wrong." I collapsed to the ground, again, but my grin never faded. "There is no one worse than you, Kouketsu. Both you, I, and the world knows this."

Tch. I closed my eyes when my breathing stabilized, all my anger fading. It seemed like an eternity since I had last spoken to Youka as my true self, for I was all but sure she still believed I was dead - it was my fault of course, but I did not regret the decision. I had always wondered how she had managed to gain control of Taki no Kuni, but I was not surprised Kouketsu had been working in the shadows without me.

"We've already seen the lengths people will take to get revenge against me; I'll do whatever it takes to ensure that never falls on Youka. I see, now, that it wasn't needed with you pulling the strings" Tossing the subject aside, I opened my eyes one last time. "T-take me to Beppin, Kouketsu. I'm sure shes... shes..."

I finally faded away.

[NARRATOR]

Faded away into true darkness.

A vortex and wind and force absorbed Nagato whole the moment he lost consciousness, taking him to another place entirely. He'd be safe there, hidden away from the rest of the world.

Alone for the moment, Kouketsu turned his gaze to the sky. It was still dark - the sun hadn't even begun to break over the distant horizon. He contemplated the Kazekage's words; was he truly the worst humanity had to offer? Were there no souls blacker than his own?

Scoffing with a light shrug, he tossed the thoughts aside as he remembered the words he'd told his closest friend all those years ago.

"I will become the devil, himself, to bring peace to this world." He repeated them once more to himself, cementing his resolve, before vanishing.

[ Exit with Nagato ]