Before the Battle

Matters in the Land of Water were progressing quickly and a final battle between loyalist and rebels was about to take place, it was just a matter of days.

Being informed of such developments, Shiki decided it was time for him to reveal himself to the rebel leadership he supported, under the guise of the Reaper of course, and join in on the planning for the final assault of the 4th Mizukage and those still loyal to him.

In a location different from the one they previously met, the leadership of the rebellion along with Zabuza sat together in another meeting.

"I though your leader would be joining us?" The elder asked.

"He will. Any second now." Zabuza responded.

"What do y-" Mei started asking but a cloaked figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere making everyone in the room freeze in shock.

It was Shiki in the guise of the Reaper having used his Mangekyo's ability, with which he was starting to replace his use of the Flying Raijin Jutsu, to appear before the rebel council.

"Greetings. I hope you have not waited long for me." He said.

Ao and Mei immediately took up battle postures.

"Hey boss." Zabuza said.

"Zabuza." Shiki greeted back.

He then turned to Ao and Mei.

"You don't really need to be on guard." Shiki said.

"We'll be the judge of that." Mei countered.

"As you like but it's not like it would make any difference in the ease with which I can kill everyone here." Shiki shrugged.

"Are you mocking me?" Mei fired back.

"Not at all. I know you're quite strong. Better that most shinobi and most definitely Kage level." Shiki explained.

Mei immediately calmed down, she was even quite flattered by the evaluation of her abilities.

"But . . . That's far from enough to pose any veritable threat to me." Shiki commented.

"You definitely seem sure of yourself at least." She mocked in response.

"Just an objective analysis of factual evidence." Shiki countered.

"Hmph!" Mei said.

In truth, she was slightly convinced but just didn't want to give Shiki the satisfaction.

The elder clapped his hands and called to everyone's attention.

"Well then, can we get to planning?" He suggested.

But, another interruption came.

"You're the Reaper." Ao pointed out.

"In the flesh." Shiki responded.

"The fact that until recently you were a Konoha Anbu make your intentions a matter of doubt." Ao declared.

"What!?" The elder was astonished by the information, even somewhat angered for some reason.

Mei on the other hand, did not seem to bothered.

"Oh? Coming up with any excuse to cut off Mugetsu after you've gotten all the support you needed to dethrone the Mizukage?" Shiki mocked.

"Looks like we have some traitors here . . ." He slowly said in an ominous tone.

Taking the hint, Zabuza adopted a more combative posture.

'The boss is probably just assuring them of his intentions while probing their stance I think . . .' Zabuza pondered.

'Still . . . If he doesn't like what he learns from this exchange, he will not hesitate to kill everyone here and finish the overthrowing of the 4th with just our forces, even if that's not the most efficient solution.' He thought.

'I should just be ready." Zabuza concluded and just focused on the moment.

"This is our land, we decided what's right and best for our people." The elder self righteously said.

"We don't need Konoha renegades to give their opinion. I thought better of you Zabuza." He continued on his tirade.

"Throwing in with this scum as a former member of Kiri's Seven Ninja Swordsmen? Unacceptable!" The elder shouted.

Even Ao was surprised. He was just trying to figure out Shiki, maybe better understand his motives and stake in their rebellion, not to insulting while they were still depending on his help.

"Hahahaha!" Shiki laughed.

"What's so funny!?" The elder raged.

"You don't need my opinions but you certainly needed our help shameless old bastard. It's clear that your the type to let your stupidity cloud your judgement so I better just kill you now." Shiki calmly said.

"You!" The elder started but was interrupted by a hand gripped tightly around his neck.

"You what? Worm." Shiki mocked while holding the old man aloft by his neck.

"Please let him go Reaper. We can talk this out." mei attempted to diffuse the situation.

Shiki however, was not planning on letting this go so easily.

For a while now, he had accrued massive amounts of resources and wealth, build a world power from scratch and became perhaps the most powerful individual on the planet. He was not about to let a foolish old me get away with insulting him that easily.

Perhaps Shiki's power was going to his head, perhaps the mental torture from his various self enhancing procedures was taking its toll but right now, Shiki's tolerance for other people's crap was dangerously low and the elder was pushing it too far.

"Diplomacy is used between two equal parties." Shiki started.

"I am more powerful than you, my authority, resources and wealth are all greater than yours. Why in the hell should I tolerate this doddering old fool when, at most, you people represent an easier path to what I want and far from the only one." He stated.

In other words, helping the rebellion was the quickest and most efficient path to adding Kirigakure to Shiki's fold but it was far from being the only one.

Mei was a bit angered by the statement but it was something that she could not deny. She had no idea why a force so powerful as Mugetsu would be helping them. Although she suspected that the only possible reason was that they required the authority of the ruling government of Kiri for "something".

"I know the elder's words was out of his place to say but his is not an opinion shared by us. There is utterly no need for violence," Mei continued.

"Hmph! Fine!" Shiki said, dropping the old man who began coughing immediately.

"I'll hear you out at least." Shiki said before sitting down on the old man's seat, leaving the elder coughing repeatedly on the ground.

Seeing this, Zabuza sat down as well.

'Good thing Terumi has a good head on her shoulders. I would want to start a massacre on my own village, regardless of how sick I am of its nonsense." He thought to himself.

Mei and Ao sat down next, with the latter helping the elder out a bit before sitting down. Needless to say both were quite displeased with how the elder threatened their whole operation by antagonizing Shiki over what seemed to be personal grudges with his former affiliation.

"Since you have decided to help us in the path, you obviously have something to gain from it yes?" Mei started.

"Obviously. But Mugetsu has also grow a lot since then. Assisting you is no longer the only viable option to attain our goals in the Land of Water, just the most efficient." Shiki countered.

"That may be so but, since it is still the most efficient, is it not better to follow through since you already poured so many resources into this path?" Mei persuaded.

"It would seem so. But I value my mood and personal satisfaction over the resources I have poured into this venture." Shiki childishly said.

"You do not strike me as someone who would put such transient things over your goals." MEi said.

"You'd be surprised." Shiki countered.

"Besides, taking our full resources into consideration, the amount spent here is not that significant." He added.

"If you're so adamant in your position, I admit there is nothing I can do but . . . I assure you you will not regret it if you continue supporting our cause." Mei declared.

"Oh? Do enlighten me." Shiki bit.

"Should you continue to help us and so long as it does not harm the interest of Kirigakure and its citizens that we've been trying to protect, we would be willing to accept any condition you put forward after victory has been achieved." Mei proposed.

'Damn that old fool!' She shouted in her mind as she made the proposal.

'If not for his stupidity, we would not have to pay such a heavy price for Mugetsu's assistance and would have much more leeway during negotiations after victory against the loyalists.' Mei complained in her mind.

'Truly an old fool stuck in the past. Even wanting to offer me up for marriage to draw in more allies . . . Good thing the Reape taugh me that lesson since I can't possibly do something like that since the old fossil's support is crucial for the rebellion.' She thought.

"Well Mei-san." Shiki started.

"Such a proposal is truly too good to pass up." He said.

"Then do we have a deal?" Mei asked, reaching out with her hand.

"Indeed we do." Shiki accepted extending his own hand and sealing the deal with a firm handshake.

"Excellent,, shall we start planning for the final battle then?" Ao interjected from the side.

'Hmm, good thing Terumi salvaged our relationship with Mugetsu even considering the high cost. At least this way, Kiri will not be weakened nearly as much as if we fought this battle on our own. Not to mention the price of making an enemy out of Mugetsu.' Ao pondered.

"Yes, let us get to work." Zabuza supported.

Shiki and Mei also voiced their agreement while the elder just retired earlier, his thoughts on that matter his own . . .

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P.a.t.r.e.o.n is officially up!

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