*Chapter 13: A Shadow in the Mist*

Several weeks passed as Konoha rebuilt and recovered from the attack. Himanshu and Divyansh continued their training, knowing that their enemies would not remain idle. They had heard whispers of a group called the Akatsuki, a dangerous organization with its own dark agenda. They knew that eventually, they would have to face this new threat.

One day, as they were training in the forest, a messenger hawk arrived with a scroll addressed to them. It was a summons from Jiraiya, the Toad Sage. The scroll contained only a few words, but the message was clear: "Meet me at the hot springs outside the village. We have much to discuss."

Himanshu and Divyansh exchanged a look. Jiraiya wasn't one to waste time, and if he was calling them out of the village, it meant something serious was afoot. They quickly made their way to the hot springs, finding Jiraiya waiting for them, lounging against a tree with a casual smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Ah, you two finally showed up," Jiraiya said, straightening up. Despite his usual jovial demeanor, there was a tension in his posture. "We've got a problem. A big one."

Divyansh frowned, his arms crossed. "What kind of problem, Jiraiya-sensei?"

Jiraiya's face turned serious. "The Akatsuki. They've started making their move. There are rumors of them targeting jinchuriki—people like you, Divyansh. If they're after the Nine-Tails, it's only a matter of time before they come to Konoha."

Himanshu's eyes narrowed. "Do we know where they are now? Or who they've targeted?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "Not yet. They're still operating in the shadows. But we can't wait for them to make the first move. I've been doing some digging, and I've got a lead on one of their members. He's been spotted in the Land of Water. I want you two to come with me. It's time we get ahead of this threat."

The brothers nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. The Akatsuki were a dangerous group, and if they were targeting jinchuriki, it meant they were after the tailed beasts. They couldn't let that happen.

"When do we leave?" Himanshu asked, already mentally preparing for the journey.

Jiraiya grinned, his old humor resurfacing for a moment. "Right now. We're going to need to move fast and stay low. The less attention we draw, the better."

The brothers quickly gathered their gear and followed Jiraiya out of the village. As they traveled, Jiraiya filled them in on what he knew about the Akatsuki—its members, their goals, and the power they wielded. It was a lot to take in, but Himanshu and Divyansh listened carefully, committing every detail to memory.

After several days of travel, they arrived in the Land of Water, a mist-shrouded region known for its treacherous terrain and hidden dangers. Jiraiya led them to a small, secluded village on the outskirts of the country, where they set up a base of operations.

"We'll start our search here," Jiraiya said, scanning the misty landscape. "Keep your eyes open for anything unusual. The Akatsuki are good at hiding, but they always leave traces."

As they moved through the village, gathering information and searching for leads, the brothers couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The mist seemed to close in around them, thick and oppressive, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead.

"Himanshu, do you feel that?" Divyansh whispered as they walked through a narrow alley.

Himanshu nodded, his Sharingan active, scanning the area. "Yeah. We're not alone."

Suddenly, a kunai whizzed past them, embedding itself in the wall beside Himanshu's head. The brothers spun around, readying themselves for a fight. Out of the mist stepped a figure in a black cloak, red clouds embroidered on its fabric—a member of the Akatsuki.

"Looks like our prey has walked right into the trap," the figure said, a smirk visible beneath the hood of the cloak.

Divyansh's eyes widened. "You're one of them, aren't you? Akatsuki."

The figure chuckled. "That's right. I've been watching you two. The Kyuubi's jinchuriki and the last Uchiha of Konoha. My, what valuable prizes you would be."

Himanshu stepped forward, his Sharingan blazing. "Who are you?"

The figure pulled back his hood, revealing a face with a mist shinobi headband, its symbol crossed out—marking him as a rogue ninja. "I am Kisame Hoshigaki, and I've come to collect you for the Akatsuki."

Before the brothers could react, Kisame lunged at them, his massive sword, Samehada, swinging through the air. Himanshu and Divyansh leaped back, narrowly avoiding the attack. Samehada struck the ground, sending up a cloud of dust and debris.

"Stay on your guard!" Jiraiya shouted from behind them, appearing with a swirl of leaves. "Kisame is one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. His sword can absorb chakra."

Himanshu and Divyansh nodded, spreading out to flank Kisame. They knew they had to be careful. A direct confrontation would be dangerous, especially with Kisame's ability to drain their chakra.

Divyansh created a series of shadow clones, surrounding Kisame. The clones attacked from all sides, forcing Kisame to defend. Himanshu seized the opportunity, charging a Chidori in his hand and darting in from the side.

Kisame grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming. "Nice try, kids!" He swung Samehada, absorbing the chakra of Divyansh's clones and dissipating them instantly. He turned just in time to block Himanshu's Chidori with his sword, the lightning jutsu's energy being sucked away by Samehada.

"Damn it," Himanshu cursed, leaping back.

"Looks like we'll have to do this the hard way," Divyansh said, forming a Rasengan in his hand. "Ready?"

Himanshu nodded, his Sharingan focusing on Kisame's movements. "Let's take him down."

The brothers launched their coordinated assault. Himanshu used his speed and Sharingan to outmaneuver Kisame, forcing him to focus on defending against his swift attacks. Meanwhile, Divyansh charged up a massive Rasengan, the power of the Nine-Tails flowing into the technique.

"Now!" Himanshu shouted, creating an opening.

Divyansh leaped forward, thrusting the Rasengan toward Kisame. Kisame raised Samehada to block, but the force of the attack was too much. The Rasengan collided with the sword, pushing through and slamming into Kisame's chest, sending him crashing back into a wall.

For a moment, there was silence. The brothers stood, breathing heavily, as the dust settled. Kisame lay slumped against the wall, a smirk on his face despite the pain.

"Not bad, kids," Kisame said, coughing up blood. "But you've only just begun to understand the power of the Akatsuki. Next time… you won't be so lucky."

With that, he disappeared in a puff of smoke, revealing that he had been a water clone. The real Kisame was nowhere to be seen.

Jiraiya approached the brothers, his expression serious. "You did well. But this encounter is a sign of things to come. The Akatsuki won't stop until they have what they want. We need to be prepared for their next move."

Himanshu and Divyansh nodded, their resolve hardened. They had faced one of the Akatsuki and survived, but they knew the battles ahead would only get tougher. The world of Naruto was changing, and they had to be ready to meet those changes head-on.