Rise of Banshou
Prologue
The organization had started with nine members, one for each Tailed Demon. Now ten members stood in the clearing. Each had a different background and style, but they had been brought together by the ties that bonded them to their now single goal. The leader, Pain, glanced at the members of the Akatsuki.
“In two months we shall meet together again outside of the Leaf Village. When the signal is given we will launch our assault upon the unsuspecting ninja. Kill who you want, but he must be taken alive. You’re dismissed.”
All ten members slowly faded into the night, the only sound being that of the wind.

Orochimaru chucked to himself as he walked down the hallway. Sasuke glanced at him from the side. No word was shared between them, but both knew the thoughts that ran through the other minds, or so they thought. Orochimaru broke the silence.
“We’ve gotten word that your brother is on the move. I want you to take two platoons of ninja and –“
His words were stopped short by the blade that pressed against his throat. Even with the new threat to his life, Orochimaru couldn’t help but admire the speed at which Sasuke moved. His eyes trembled with rage at the whelp that dared to attempt to take his life. Sasuke only replied coolly.
“You can assist me no further with my training or my revenge scheme. I will fight my brother my own way.” With that he jerked his wrist and ended the life of the White Snake, Orochimaru.

“What’s wrong Gaara?”
Gaara turned to Temari, his clothing contrasting with her night robe.
“I have the strangest sense of dread, like something evil is just on the horizon.”
He turned and looked back over the village, the very village that had rejected him most of his life until he had become Kazekage.  Now something was going to happen that would endanger the people he had sworn to protect. With a sudden turn he hefted his gourd over his shoulder.
“Temari, get Kankurou. We’re going to the Leaf Village.”

Four figures stood on the overlook, watching the forest before them. Each had mostly different clothes except for straw hats and headbands with nine vertical scratches. The leader squatted and mumbled to himself, his features hidden behind a bandaged face.
“They’ll be moving soon. If our kind hopes to survive the coming years, we must either join or die.”
A tall figure adjusted her large scroll,” It won’t be easy. None of us are even sure how many of us are left in this world. For all we know, we may be the last in our world.”
The leader nodded, “That’s true, but we know where at least one more of us is, and that is enough for me.”
The figure beside the first crossed her arms, “Why do we need him? I’m sure we work fine all by ourselves.”
“That’s true, but it may not be that way forever you know.”
The rest of the group visibly winced. Without another word the four leapt over the overlook and raced through the woods, heading for the distant Leaf Village, where fate would cross the roads of some and end the lives of many.