(This song - Hurt by Johnny Cash - perfectly describes Rieka and her life - Yes it is the song featured in the Logan trailer)
::
"Tsunade-sama."
"I know I know." The blonde sighed, slowly rising from her chair.
She followed behind the two anbu members as they guided her towards the meeting room, remaining outside as she entered.
"Tsunade, how nice of you to finally join us." Koharu snipped.
Homura couldn't help but sigh at his childhood friend's words, sinking into his chair. Tsunade ignored the remark, taking her place at the head of the table, looking upon the clan heads' and council members.
"Shikaku."
The Nara rose, nodding politely in the Hokage's direction.
"Report."
"The nations grow hostile, Hokage-sama." He frowned. "Jinchuuriki are vanishing everyday, without their bjuu the kage grow more and more agitated. They believe with Konoha being one of the few villages to still have their bjuu, that we will attack-"
"And we should!"
Each pair of eyes looked over from Shikaku to fix on Danzō.
Tsunade groaned internally.
"You're late!" She huffed.
"As were you."
She gripped the edge of her chair, tight, the wood cracking from underneath, her teeth grinding.
God did she hate Danzō.
"Danzō what is your excuse for this tardiness?" Koharu asked. "And to suggest such a thing as war with Konoha's current state, I hope you excuse is a good one."
Danzō hobbled of towards his chair, collapsing down with his usual stoic expression.
"I was tending to our prisoner."
Tsunade sneered. "He is off limits."
Danzō's eyes glanced over towards Tsunade, before turning back to the other members.
"He possesses both the Byakugan and the Sharingan, a fully formed one to be exact. To pass over such a situation would be disgraceful. It could be used to the benefit of the village."
"No."
Danzō turned back to Tsunade. "I was not aware I spoke directly to you, this is a council matter-"
"No, it isn't! Any missing-nin captured on my orders is my responsibility! Until I see fit to pass him on to the council for the proper judgement, I am free to do whatever I please. I will not have his eyes gouged out! It is barbaric!"
His one good eye sharpened, hand curling around his cane. "You would risk the village's advancement because you're too weak to give the order?"
"Are you questioning my leadership?" Tsunade mumbled, teeth grit.
"No, I question you as a shinobi."
Tsunade saw red.
Danzō turned back to Koharu and Homura. "Do you really want this girl leading the village? Look at the decisions she is making."
"YOU!" Tsunade screamed, jumping up from her chair.
The Clan heads' edged back slightly, staring up fearfully at their angered Hokage.
"You insolent man!" She barked. "How dare you question me!"
Danzō remained calm.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune grabbed her mentor's arm. "Don't do anything rash!"
Tsunade growled, her anger lessening at her student's words, slowly she sat back down, glaring at the Root Leader.
"Danzō." Homura addressed. "While we thank you for your concern, Tsunade is more than fit to lead this village."
Danzō nodded, beyond irritated inside.
"Now, what is the state of the prisoner?"
Ibiki rose, bowing slightly to the Hokage and her councillors. "Uzumaki Sachihiro. Age thirty three. Affiliations; Akatsuki. Former; Konohagakure. S-Rank. His condition isn't good. After trying all I could, I was unsuccessful in extracting information."
"To not give in to Ibiki's interrogation is no small feet." A person mumbled from within the crowd.
"A seal perhaps?" Inoichi voiced his thoughts..
"No." Ibiki shook his head. "We had our best sealing experts take a look at him, nothing."
"I reached out to Jiraiya and he also disagrees with the idea of a seal." Tsunade added, whispering braking out amongst the members.
"So you're saying he endured unbearable amounts of pain because of loyalty?"
"Yes." Ibiki nodded. "That is exactly what I am saying. There is no way to retrieve anything from him."
"What about you Inoichi?" Choza spoke up. "Couldn't you use your mind technique to simply take the information?"
Inoichi sighed. "I've already tried and was unsuccessful in retracting any useful information."
"Useful?" Shikaku narrowed his eyes at his old friend's choice of words. "What did you discover?"
"Memories, none of importance besides a few, all memories of interactions with fellow Akatsuki members have been blocked by sheer willpower."
"What important few?"
Inoichi frowned. "Memories during his allegiance to Konoha, the reasons he betrayed and... memories with Akiyama Rieka when she was at her most vulnerable."
"Vulnerable?" Koharu repeated, pressing for more.
"Well the prisoner is indeed very close with the Akiyama, and after digging I found many memories of her... breakdowns."
Inoichi didn't bother waiting for someone to ask him to continue. "The Akiyama is prone to many unhealthy emotions. Such as guilt, self-loathing, suicidal thoughts, depression and survivors guilt."
"I didn't even need to examine her brain personally to know that the Akiyama is killing herself from the inside out, her mental state is in shambles and the prisoner constantly worries over the possibility of her simply snapping and causing extreme bodily harm to herself."
"You're saying Rieka might kill herself?" Tsunade mumbled, she knew the brat well enough that such an idea seemed insane.
Had to peace-searching girl really changed so much?
"No." Inoichi shook his head. "I don't think she will, from close analyses... I believe she snapped years ago, she is nothing more then a hollow shell of her former self."
"Why're you telling us all this?"
"Because it reveals that capturing the Akiyama could very well be possible, but also that there is a high chance she will not roll over and allow the prisoner to die."
Homura frowned. "So you're saying she will attempt to save him?"
"I have no doubt."
An explosion erupted.
::
"Sorry kid, you're no longer needed."
Sachihiro raised his gaze slightly, locking eyes with the masked anbu as he began his slow walk towards him.
"Normally they'd be a public execution or something but there ain't any time for that." The anbu shinobi withdrew his katana, the blade pointed to his neck.
"Goodbye."
Sachihiro didn't have the energy to move nor speak, he didn't even feel the katana bury into his chest, he didn't even feel the blood seeping through his ragged clothes.
He even didn't feel his life begin to slip away.
::
"Sachihiro!"
Eyes fixed on the blurred figure of Rieka. His mind was hazy, he was apparently in Rieka's arms, seemingly far off from Konoha, inside a lush forest.
'When did we get here?'
"Hang on!" She said frantically. "We're almost there!"
His life slipped away just a little more.
"SACHIHIRO!"
His eyes remained on Rieka, he couldn't move, he couldn't speak. He had somehow left the forest for a riverside, the sun beginning to set above them.
'When did we get here?'
"No! NO!" Rieka gasped, pressing down hard on his bleeding wound. "You're losing too much blood!"
"Just hang in a little longer!" She begged. "We're so close!"
Sachihiro felt himself slip away.
"It's not working." Whose that?
"Then try harder!" Rieka's here.
"He has lost too much blood." Who has?
"You call yourself a medical-nin!!" You shouldn't stress Rieka... it'll ruin your health.
"I--I'm sorry! I'll keep trying!"
Sachihiro faded once more.
"It all just up to him now." Up to who? Me?
Sachihiro's life slipped.
"Sa... Sachihiro..."
Rieka was holding him, tight, they were on the floor, I think it was grass?
He looked down, where did all this blood come from?
"D--Don't die on me... y--you promised.."
Is that Rieka? Why is she crying?
Oh
Sachihiro sighed.
I'm dying
"Sachihiro... Please don't leave me..."
I'm sorry Rieka
"Wake up you bastard! You can't die! I forbid it!"
You aren't the boss of me
Sachihiro smiled.
"WAKE UP!"
..
..
..
"C--Can't a g--guy die p--peacefully?"