Dark Dealings

The moon hid her face from the night sky, as if she knew the danger that lied in the village and chose to save herself.

Darkness fell across the land, a blanket that protected the man, who ducked in and out of alleys, like a shadow.

His hands plastered against the wall, listening for the patrols of Sand shinobi, who were set out in the streets by their captain's order.

Time was running out.

"She'd better show." He thought to himself, the sting of his words dripping in his mind like venom from a hateful syringe.

It was getting harder and harder to slip away and their normal meeting site outside the village, was impossible now.

Guards were posted all along the walls, their eyes and sensory jutsus set for any suspicious activity.

No one was getting in or out.

"You're late."

Her voice startled him and he raised a finger to his lips. "Shh!"

"Who are you shushing?"

"Not so loud!"

"Fool, you're the only one who can hear me."

The man twisted around, glancing up and down the alley, finding himself alone. "Right, it's still strange to me to have someone else in my mind, you know?"

"If you're an idiot, yes."

"Watch yourself."

"Or what? You'll attack me? Hard to fight someone you don't know the location of and could you look any more suspicious?! You're just standing in the middle of an alley, like a crazy person."

He leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets. "Fine. You're the one who wanted to meet tonight."

"Yes."

"So? Make it quick."

The voice sounded as annoyed as he felt. "I'm sure you've noticed the heightened security surrounding us."

"Yes, your boy has caused a stir."

"The boy has been moved from the prison. Our hold on him is weakening."

He scoffed. "So much for your plan then."

"What do you mean?"

His eyebrows drew together. "You wanted him to kill the Sound girl, didn't you? My chakra strings can't reach wherever they've taken him. Hard to control someone when he's out of range. Your plan failed."

"That's why you're short-sided. Your jutsu may be used up, but mine is still going strong."

Two guards passed by his alley, the light from their torches spreading like daylight into his hiding place. He ducked down, hiding behind a few happily-placed crates.

When they moved on, the voice in his head sneered. "You're sloppy. It's plain to see that working with you was a foolish idea from the start. The Puppet Captain found your string holes, in hardly any time at all."

"Screw off, witch. Without me, you'd have never found your way into the village, in the first place."

She hesitated. "Yes, I suppose that's true. You proved more or less... adequate in your assault on the Southern wall."

"Adequate?! Do you have any idea how hard it was to set off an explosion, plant a Sound headband and make it back inside, without any of the guards seeing me? I deserve a damn medal for my troubles."

Her voice changed, soothing him, a part of his mind warmed like fresh butter. "Yes, you're right. You did very well, Yashida."

The councilman smiled at the peaceful feeling she gave him, her jutsu quickly becoming a missed drug dose for him. "What are we going to do now? She didn't do what you said she would."

"And what was it, I said, exactly?"

"Rin Ito is a fool with her loved ones. She'd cross the gate, our pawn would kill her, with my help, and that would enrage the Kazekage to end him, sending a message to the other nations that he killed a man from another village, out of nothing more than spite."

"Mm hm."

"She's one of Orochimaru's favorites, isn't she? The death of her and one of his men, by the Sand, would prompt response. Who would blame the Kazekage after the Sound already breeched the Southern wall? The other nations would surely get involved and this foolish peace time would end."

"Indeed. She is his favorite. That should have been the plan." The woman's voice sounded bitter.

"Well it failed. Rin managed to sway Gaara's hand and now our spy is safe in their custody and we have no way to control him. He's going to tell them everything. I'll be ruined, if not killed!"

The calm feeling, she was pouring into him faded away with his rising panic.

"Yes, it seems she holds more power over him than we thought. The little slut works fast."

"What are we going to do? What do we do now?!"

"Hush, calm yourself. Like I said, your jutsu may have passed, but mine is going strong. Don't worry, I planned for this very thing."

"How?"

Though he couldn't see it, the voice smiled and it sent shivers down his spine. "I know Rin Ito. She'll try her signature justu and enter his mind. Subject 15 meant more to her than anyone, she'll try to save him and when she does, a nasty surprise will be waiting. Trust me, she'll find her end. We're just taking the long way."

Yashida shook his head. "This seems like a lot of extra work. Why couldn't we have just killed her in her quarters when she first arrived? Made it seem like prejudice against the Sound. That would have prompted the same response from your village head. Probably more effectively without using the boy at all."

Her words froze him, the cold venom turning into ice in his veins. "Never go straight for the kill, not when pain is so much more inviting. I'm going to get my vengeance on Orochimaru's pet and I'll do it my way. Honestly, I'm so very pleased it turned out this way. It's what I'd hoped from the beginning."

"Why do you want to hurt this girl, so much? What did she do to you?"

"None of your concern. Quick, get back to your room, tuck yourself in bed and carry on with the council, like you know nothing. I'll need their support to carry out our plans."

Yashida strolled out of the alley, trying his best to look casual.

Her voice trailed off his mind, but not before he heard her final words. "Peace is done. It's time for shinobi to do what we're designed to do. Eliminate each other, until the superior model stands."