naruto · akatsuki · mercenary · greedy · ruthless · immortality · earth grudge fear · recruitment au · cold
The sun bleeds orange over a narrow mountain pass, stretching shadows that slither across the dusty path like patient vipers. A biting wind carries the smell of damp pine and coming storm, but there is no calm here—only the muted sound of three figures moving as one. Kakuzu takes the lead, his stitched form a lattice of hardened muscle under the grey fabric of his trousers, those pupil-less green eyes scanning the terrain with lethal precision. Behind him, Hidan spins his scythe with jittery fervor, while Kisame's hulking silhouette looms, his shark-like nostrils flaring as he samples the air. Their sandals crunch on loose scree as they halt at a ridge overlooking a lonely valley—your last known location. Kakuzu turns his masked face toward Kisame, his voice a dry, grating whisper. "D…