102.
Say Hello To Chapta' 1!
Timewise, if any of you played the Telltale Games GoT, then this is directly after episode 1 (which is after the Red Wedding, but before Joffrey's wedding), but the story begins in the midst episode 3 (a little before Joffrey's wedding), and a few years before the first episode/chapter of the Naruto anime/manga, so it's Nagato's Akatsuki. If you're expecting some redemption or 'I have been tasked to save your pitiful asses by the Sage since the author has a linear view of morals that doesn't fit with GoT', then you are VERY mistaken.
I will do my best to portray the Akatsuki as we know them and let them do what they do best in the GoT world, conquer and operate from the shadows for their own agenda.
I Know That My Poetry Is Rather Lame; So Instead, Let's See The Akatsuki Ruin The Game
Chapter One: The Deal
"I. . . I failed," said Ethan Forrester somberly as he floated in darkness, unable to even see his own hands in front of him. Ramsey Snow had killed him, and he should have seen it coming, but didn't. He was far too hopeful that he could settle things with words.
In the end, he only felt a searing pain as the dagger plunged into his throat before hearing his mother's cries, and now there was no lord to lead the Forresters. Especially since the last thing he saw of his life was his younger brother, Ryon, get taken away, and even if he didn't there was little a child could do.
Rodrik and his father were dead, and Asher was a leap of faith if he was even found. His mother was the only strong Forrester, but there wasn't much she could do with a few dozen trained soldiers at best to protect Ironrath. She and Duncan could talk their way through trouble all they want, but the worst of the trouble would be because they couldn't fight back.
"I'm so sorry," Ethan said as tears welled up in his eyes. The future of house Forrester was bleaker than ever, and it was with him at the reigns. Now, the only reigns he had were in this limbo he was cursed to endure. 'And I deserve every single moment of it.'
It was his failure as a lord that left what's remaining of his family to suffer against Whitehill and the Boltons, and now he would live out this eternity feeling the guilt. Never knowing what happened to his family.
"What is this?" a deep voice reverberated around the dead lord. Ethan looked around for a source, but was met with two purple, rippled eyes on a shadowy form. "Who are you?" Whichever God this voice belonged to, it didn't sound pleased.
This was far from what he expected. A place in one of the seven hells? After his failure, it might be his route. But seeing one of the Gods, old or new, was far from his ideas of how death would go.
"Which of the seven are you?" Ethan asked with widened eyes.
"Seven? I asked for your identity," the God replied angrily. "And tell me how you are able to force me into the Magic Lantern Body Technique." Again, he sounded less than pleased.
"I don't know what you speak of!" Ethan replied hastily. "I w-was killed just before I was brought into this realm." He was killed? Why hadn't that sunk in until now? 'I'm dead. A rotting corpse on my mother's lap.' And Talia was watching him too.
"Liar," the deep voice accused. "I am as alive as could be, yet you are speaking to me as any other member of Daybreak, something that is impossible unless I allow it."
That hadn't sat well with the dead lord. "I died when Ramsey Snow pierced my throat with his dagger." This God was certainly a tedious one. Could it be the Father? "The weeping of my mother and sister was the last thing I heard before coming here. The final moment I saw was my little brother being taken away when my vision faded. Don't accuse me of lying when I could still feel the steel in my neck and the taste of blood on my tongue!"
There was only silence after that outburst. Two purple and calculative eyes observing this person. Who does this brat think he's fooling? The entire concept of speaking with the dead was impossible. Regardless, someone who can hack into his Magic Lantern Body Technique needs to be removed.
"Who are you, boy, and what village do you come from?" This person could be a civilian, but it sounded impossible. A shinobi being able to do this was more believable than some merchant's child. "Lie to me, and I will see if the dead still feel pain."
The young lord frowned. "I'm Ethan Forrester, Lord-. . . Former Lord of Ironrath," he replied quietly, but decided to ask anyway. "Which God of the seven are you?"
Nagato stood there, trying to recognize the name and village if he heard of it. The Akatsuki had worked as mercenaries with daimyos and village leaders from all over, but the name 'Forrester' hadn't even rang a bell. Even the village's name, Ironrath, was a foreign name other than possibly the Land of Iron, but even then nobody called it Ironrath.
"I am no God of the seven that you mention. I am Pain, the leader of Daybreak," Nagato replied evenly, waiting for some reaction at the name of his mercenary group, but there was none.
A lord who doesn't know of this infamous mercenary group? Either he was lying about being a lord, or he honestly didn't know. One of which was unlikely if you were from a high-standing family in the Elemental Nations. However, he did seem to have a last name, which was mostly found in clans both low and high.
"If you are even a God, I've never heard of one named 'Pain', nor have I heard of your city," the dead Forrester replied. "I am only familiar map of Westeros, so I assume you hail from Essos."
"No, I don't come from any of those two nations. And Daybreak is mercenary group, not a city." Two other nations he hadn't heard of, and a name of a family he didn't recognize. Just what was going on?
"Mercenaries. . ." Ethan mumbled quietly, then looked towards the shadow figure. "Are you alive? Your group, I mean." Ethan was dead, that was certain, but perhaps he could find help for his family another way.
"Of course." The reply was quick, as though answering the simplest question. "If you are indeed dead, then best you pass on. If you're alive and simply mocking me, I will slowly turn your lie into truth."
"No, I can't pass on just yet!" the dead lord shouted. "I need to help what's left of my family. I can't just have the Whitehills and Boltons have their way with them." Especially when considering the Boltons' reputation, and the Whitehills' resentment.
House Forrester had no chance at victory if their only defense was wordplay.
"Ho~, and what can a spirit of a dead child do?" Nagato asked condescendingly at the distraught, 'dead' young man, but he was suddenly met with a look of determination on Ethan's face instead of frustration.
After a few seconds of consideration, the dead lord said, "you and your group are mercenaries, correct?" The shadowy figure nodded, knowing what would happen next. "I want to hire your group as an army; every single man."
Nagato couldn't help but raise a brow, even though he doubted this Ethan Forrester could see it. He made it sound as though his group numbered the hundreds or even thousands. Every single man? Guess, he had some bad news to tell Konan, and Zetsu if he was even considered human, let alone a man.
"And how would a supposed spirit pay us?"
This caught the young lord by surprise, as though he forgot he was even dead, and even then, the Forresters had little to use for payment except. . .
"Ironwood," the lord replied after a moment. If Ironrath and its assets were defended, then they would have all the Ironwood needed to pay with. "My House has an abundance of Ironwood that we can use to pay you with, but only if you help my family." If this army showed up, Ethan doubted his family would pass up the opportunity to recruit them.
Mother, Duncan, and Maester Ortengryn would find it convenient and would not hesitate to hire them. Ser Royland would be most happy when he hears of an army to help at the gates. Anything as long as there's a chance to fight the Whitehills.
Pain had to hand it to the young lord. He certainly had the bravery to set terms that way to someone as dangerous and powerful as Nagato, even though he didn't know it yet. It was odd he was offering a kind of wood as payment. Lumber was certainly a commodity, but could never truly be considered more valuable than gold or silver.
"Perhaps I will accept the pay and contract," Nagato said, causing the dead lord to seem hopeful. "However, I have no information on where your homeland's even located. Our lands seem to be very distant from one another." This clearly did not sit well with young Ethan, but Pain quickly quelled his frustration. "There might be a way for me to know, but I would need something from you."
"Anything. Just tell me what it is, and I'll do it," the former lord said resolutely. He would get his family the help they needed from beyond the grave. So when the only thing the shadowy figure did was stick his arm out, it confused the spirit. "I. . . don't really understand."
This time, Pain was certain Ethan could detect a hint of his amusement. "Haven't your people ever heard of a handshake when making a deal?"
A few seconds was all it took for the young Forrester to understand what was said. "Of course. My apologies, ser Pain," he said politely as he awkwardly took the shadowy hand. "What is this you need of me?" He couldn't help but feel slight relief that was able to send help to his family.
"I'm already taking it," Pain said, which caused confusion for Ethan. "Consider your soul as partial payment from your family."
This did little to help his confusion, but when Ethan tried to let go of Nagato's hand, the grip was unyielding. Looking towards the handshake, he saw something that would have haunted any living man. He was being absorbed into the shadow figure.
"What is this!?" he shouted in panic, tugging and trying to draw himself away from Pain, but this technique could not be ceased halfway. "Wait, stop!"
Absorbing his soul sped up, and already memories began filling up Nagato's mind, and plans already began forming. He looked towards the panicked Forrester. "Daybreak shall fulfil the contract, as we always do," he said neutrally, but did nothing to calm the spirit from his shouting. "What we do afterwards or during then, however, is up to us." His words weren't heard, but they were said, and that was what mattered to the Rinnegan user.
A new land far away? A potential hideout that could never be reached without the proper guidance. A nation in chaos so ready to be taken by the Akatsuki that it had to be done. Who else would bring them peace? Certainly not this Baratheon King, but one who understood the people's pain.
Not delaying the process further, he snatched the rest of Ethan's soul, only a quick scream to signify his disappearance from existence. It was surprising that the language was completely different to his own, but they understood each other within the Magic Lantern Body Technique.
So within connected minds, words were not only spoken, but also understood what they meant through the mental connection. An interesting feature he hadn't known, one that he couldn't have tested in the Elemental Nations.
Closing his eyes, he focused on the people needed to send a signal. "Everyone, we must meet," Pain said to the surrounding darkness, waiting for the Akatsuki members to answer their call. Konan, of course, was the first to arrive by his side, with only a small nod as they greeted the other before they waited silently.
It took a few seconds, but the first pair had arrived in this mental world.
"Oi, what's with the sudden call?" Kisame asked irritably. "I thought everything was scheduled or some shit." Unlike the Kiri-nin, Itachi remained silent and waiting for the events to move forward.
A moment later, the second pair arrived. "I was supposed to meet my contact in Suna, so bringing me here better not be a waste of time, Pain," the hunched Sasori said angrily.
"I doubt a small break would take too much of your time, old man," Deidara quipped, receiving an irritated glare from his partner as a response.
"Patience. I will start the meeting as soon as everyone arrives," Nagato said before anymore bickering would start. "This is a matter of great importance. One that might help us all greatly when we succeed."
Two more had arrived practically in sync.
"Okay, what's up?" Hidan greeted as he looked around. "Another waiting game for the idiot and the shrub?" He only waited a blink before the last duo arrived. "Thank Jashin you're early this time. I swear I would have killed you if forced me to wait another moment."
Tobi sheepishly scratched the side of his mask with Zetsu by his side. "Ah, I found the road to life earlier than-"
"Enough," ordered Nagato, which silenced the argument that was about to happen. The entire group was here, and it was time to get things started. "I bring you all news and a contract from an interesting employer, whose from an equally interesting land."
He hadn't been merely standing there and waiting. Nagato had been recalling all the memories of the deceased Ethan Forrester during those seconds. Most importantly, was finding that the nation of Westeros was somewhere beyond the seas that surround the Elemental Nations; far beyond.
"Spit it out, then," the shadowy figure of Kakuzu demanded. "Who's the employer?"
Looking towards the Taki-nin, Pain answered, "Ethan Forrester, the late Lord of Ironrath. A place that resides in the nation of Westeros." He didn't expect them to understand or even recognize the names, so he waited.
Kisame scratched the inside of his ear, then said, "I think you need to sit down and rest a bit, because none of those things you said exist." He turned to Itachi. "You ever heard of em?"
"I have traveled far, but I never heard of the Forrester clan nor Westeros," the Uchiha replied, then looked to their leader. "You must explain further, particularly the 'late' bit." Was this a delayed message from a dead man using an alias? Unless Pain killed the lord, which didn't make sense if they were to be paid.
Even then, why summon the entirety of the Akatsuki for a single contract? A duo would do just fine. There were many missing pieces Itachi needed to know before painting the proper picture.
Nagato even received odd looks from his oldest living friend, Konan, so he chose his words carefully for them to understand. "There is a land far beyond the border of the Elemental Nations," he said, receiving the full attention of his group. "A lord of one of their holds was killed, Ethan Forrester, and somehow I was forced into the Magic Lantern Body Technique. That's where I found him as a spirit, and absorbed his soul before agreeing on the contract."
It was a basic explanation, but it was also the summary of what went on. Nagato would be sure give them a more detailed version of what he knew soon.
"I call bullshit," Hidan said suddenly. "Nobody can meet with the dead but the dead themselves."
Nagato knew this, of course. If it was that easy, Yahiko would essentially still be with them. But still, why was he able to meet with this Forrester lord rather any shinobi from the closer nations? Things weren't adding up, but he would be sure to find out.
"You think I would summon you all here for a lie?" the leader asked rhetorically, and heard no one to support Hidan's statement. Even the immortal bit his tongue, allowing Nagato to continue. "We have been given a contract, and we will fulfil it, as we always have."
Kakuzu, ever the business man as he was a lethal ninja, spoke up. "What is the payment?" he asked. "If what you say is true, then their currency is different from ours." Did he believe his leader? Not really, but he would follow orders. . . as long as he got paid.
"Wood."
Silence, that's all there was before a snicker began being heard, then it erupted into full-blown laughter from Hidan. Kisame and Deidara held amused smirks at the peculiar answer. Itachi and Konan raised their brows at the odd nature of payment. Sasori and Kakuzu, however, were far from finding this as a laughing matter.
"They use lumber as currency? Odd," Tobi, the most recent member commented honestly and turned to his new partner, who had a disturbed look on his face, which was something not seen regularly. Something clearly wasn't normal, and Obito knew that the moment he saw the ancient being's face just before it flashed back to neutrality.
"You better be joking, Pain," Kakuzu said quickly. "There is absolutely no way I'm doing a contract for some damn wood." He handled the finances of Akatsuki, so putting resources into a mission for some, what might as well be, toothpicks wasn't something he would be motivated to do.
"Have a little faith, Kakuzu," Nagato reassured. "The young lord offered me the payment and I accepted it, but risking our progress here for some dead trees wasn't the reason." It seemed to put the Taki-nin more at ease a bit, but he clearly demanded a better explanation. "The nation where the mission is located is the true reward, one the size of a continent. Far larger than the Elemental Nations."
Even though Pain could only see the shadow figures, he could guess that brows had been raised brows with the transition from commodity to a country. Ironwood? An interesting resource to have, especially for the resident puppeteer, but not when there was something bigger that could be taken.
A continent-sized nation so full of resources that could be better used rather than killing one another with.
"Where is this place?" Itachi asked, curious on this nation that caught his leader's interest. Amegakure was theirs, so a whole new country must have something interesting about it for to it be too good to be ignored.
Now that, Nagato hadn't figured out completely. Considering how long each season was, and how the sun rose and set in Ethan's memories, Westeros was far north from the Elemental Nations. It had to be, how else would seasons last for so many years? But northwest or northeast, and how far?
The northern part of the Elemental Nations was Kaminari no Kuni, a nation with a mild and diverse climate; south was Kaze no Kuni, a desert nation with sun beating down on it almost constantly. However, south of Westeros was Dorne, also a desert area with a lot of sun, but it held more of a tropical climate compared to Suna; if the dead Forrester's teaching was correct. It just didn't make sense with the seasons affecting the whole nation.
Even studying the face of the moon that Ethan often looked towards offered little to find a general coordinate of where Westeros could be. The stars were the only reason he knew of the direction needed. Viewing them so far north was vastly different than being in the south.
"Ironrath is northeast of us, that's all I could conclude from the information I gathered," Nagato replied to the Uchiha. "It's the best answer I can give you."
Dorne must be parallel with Kaze no Kuni to a certain degree, and the Wall must be farther north from the sheer coldness, so that would mean that Ironrath was either northwest or northeast of them, but the star constellations got Nagato his needed information. And from the climates, Dorne was either far east or far west of them.
"So it's settled then," Kisame said suddenly, drawing the eyes of his companions. "At worst, we go around the planet and find Westeros, or we find the place sooner than that."
It was true, but someone who doesn't have the access of the ability to breath underwater would die once they ran out of Chakra running on top of the ocean for so long. A ship would be needed, but no shinobi here knew how long it could be once they found land. It was a big risk with finite resources and so little information.
"We'll need a ship," Itachi added in support of his partner, and stating the obvious. "The largest one we could find filled to the brim with food and water, with only a skeleton crew to operate it." Less mouths to feed, more food to save.
Kakuzu nodded in agreement, but took it a step further. "If we use shadow clones, we might not even need a crew, and the only ones who need to eat would be ourselves," he suggested. "Learning how to sail will save us precious resources. Even though I doubt some of us here have the mentality to learn."
"Fuck off, heretic," Hidan replied. He knew a jibe aimed at him when he saw one. "Maybe I'll find some new converts for Jashin." The odd thing was, to Pain with Ethan's memories, there were already bloodthirsty knights that essentially had the dogma down, but he doubted any of them would follow Jashin.
Ignoring the fanatic, Deidara chimed in, "I could make birds that allow me to scout far ahead of the ship, hmm." He then gave a disturbing smirk. "I can't help but feel a little excited to show Westeros some art." He ignored Sasori's scoff.
So a few things need to be ironed out better, but a general plan had been made. Nagato looked towards Konan for her say on things, but only received a nod as a response. He then looked towards the last duo who hadn't contributed to the planning.
Obito was concerned at this development, wary if it would set all the plans astray. Zetsu would surely have told him about this other land if he knew, but it seemed that he had no knowledge of Westeros. There was one way to find out more about this.
Tobi, with only a few days into his official membership, stuck his arm into the air and shouted excitedly for all his colleagues to hear, "road trip!"
"Aha, this is fun," Tobi said unenthusiastically as he swayed on the ship, peering out to the open sea that they've been seeing for weeks on end; five weeks by Kakuzu's account. Looking back, he saw his partner, and behind him were the clones of his comrades working the ship to its maximum efficiency. "Can I go home now?"
Obito didn't like that the entire plan was put on hold, even though it was still in its early stages where nothing irreparable could happen. His enemies were growing stronger with more time to train, alliances were being made, and he was here on this ship for a mercenary job. Even though it was an interesting one, he would rather have worked things properly back home first.
"Only if you are willing to travel for weeks on water, with the hope what supplies you have would last before you die from starvation and thirst, if not drowning once your Chakra reserves deplete. And that's if you survive one of the three thunderstorms we went through to get this far," Black Zetsu's hoarse voice maliciously informed the masked Uchiha, but then the other half, White Zetsu, spoke up, "it's not too bad here. We're learning more and more about this new land from Pain-sama."
Indeed, after a few days, Kakuzu procured a ship that was filled to the brim with supplies before it set off, and Pain-sama made it imperative that they learned at least the language these people spoke. Common Tongue, what an odd name for a language, but there were many kinds in these new lands. Thankfully for Hidan and Tobi, Ethan only knew one.
Everyone else picked up the language quickly enough, but Hidan could barely make out a few words. The immortal was stubbornly against in trying to learn simple language skills, saying how being a shinobi was all about slaughtering everyone, not learning ways to communicate.
Convincing the Yuga-nin to even try was a bit of a hurdle, so Deidara said that he couldn't preach the word of Jashin if they couldn't understand him. This attempt worked for about a few days before Hidan gave up on trying. Saying something about slaughter being the universal language for Jashin.
Nagato walked on deck with his only living friend by his side, breathing in the salty, sea air. "Has Deidara returned yet?" he asked Konan, who shook her head.
A surprise when they found their scrawny, redheaded leader walk onto the ship instead of moving that large machine of his. Even then, a few expected him to use the one of the Six Paths of Pain to bring himself aboard, but he said he would set his Outer Path technique once they settle in Ironrath.
"Are you still upset, Konan?" Nagato asked bluntly. After the meeting in the Magic Lantern Body Technique, she wasn't her usual herself. Until she finally admitted for being confused why he was able to communicate with some lord from another land instead of Yahiko.
"No, I am not," she answered evenly. "Whoever has the answer about what happened with you has to be in Westeros, and I hope we find that person." She truly did sound hopeful, as though finding whoever it was that brought Ethan into their lives could bring Yahiko.
If the person could send a spirit and force Pain into a technique, then it could be possible. So even Nagato had felt a sliver of hope if things went their way. He used that extra motivation to teach his companions everything he knew from Ethan Forrester. From culture to technology, he did his best to prepare them from what's to come.
The culture of how almost every castle held an equivalent of clan, but without the special capabilities some possessed, and how they ruled over the people of their land. The technology was so far back that it wasn't even funny; locks, winches, and a crossbow's trigger mechanism being the only ones similar to machinery. There was the lift found at the Wall, but that was found nowhere else.
When he described Ironwood, Sasori was predictably interested, and even wondered out loud how his puppets would fare if they were made from that kind of tough material. Deidara used the moment to comment how true art lasted for an explosive blink, which caused an even more predictable debate between the two partners.
"Zetsu will start setting up his network in Westeros as we head for Ironrath," Nagato informed his friend. "Once we all settle in at the castle, we'll begin our mission and find whoever led Ethan Forrester's spirit to me, if that person even exists."
Konan only nodded. She wasn't naïve enough to believe that everything simply worked out in the end. But even then, she couldn't help but feel a little bit of hope that couldn't harm anybody.
Any more thoughts were stopped when Zetsu stepped before them. "It seems Deidara-san has finally arrived from his sixty-third scouting mission," White Zetsu informed, keeping an eye out for anything as a mean to pass the time. "I'm tired of seeing nothing but ocean and hearing Tobi or Hidan complain. He better have found some damn land," Black Zetsu added.
Pain nodded and looked to the sky, spotting a small flock of white birds, one being large enough to carry a person, then looked back to Zetsu. "Inform the rest," he ordered as he walked by the plant hybrid, with Konan following closely behind him.
Nagato waited a minute before a large, white owl finally descended on deck, and on the back was a smiling Deidara, who was very pleased with himself.
"How far?" Nagato quickly asked.
The blonde ninja pointed ahead of the ship, but off the side. "North by northeast, some four-hundred or so kilometers from our current position, hmm," he informed. "According the map you drew for us, I found Lannisport."
Bringing out one of the maps he sketched for his group, he took a look at his current position. 'Lannisport and Casterly Rock are both held by House Lannister, one of the richest houses in Westeros,' Pain mentally recalled Ethan's information, then turned to his comrades and crew, all of which were standing by for orders. "Head further north," he ordered as he pointed towards a particular bit on the map. "We will dock at Sea Dragon Point and make our way to Ironrath on foot."
Plains made up the area, so it should be an easy task to make land there, and it was distant from any major town or castle for anyone to stumble onto their ship when it's anchored offshore. Either way, they have reached the new world.
It took only a few days' travel to arrive at Sea Dragon Point, and as memories of a certain lord indicated, nothing but plains with a reef they couldn't dock on. They left the ship a mile offshore, everything it carried in crates were now sealed into scrolls. Nothing but the lumber it's made from, the cloth of its sails, and foreign design to give it value. It was ripe for the taking by any low tier bandit with a skiff.
That was before they blew it up and watched it sink to the bottom of the Sunset Sea. No information of any kind could be extracted from that. Courtesy of Deidara.
If the Akatsuki needed another boat, then they would take another fucking boat.
Perhaps one of those Greyjoy ships that tried to get close to them when they patrolled farther than they should have and met with the Akatsuki ship. A shame three ships to the Greyjoys were now driftwood after a Shinra Tensei, but they shouldn't have come so close with their reputation of pirating. They would have killed the survivors in the water, but when they were that far offshore, they were doomed to drown in the frosty waters.
There were rumors among a few smallfolk of people in dark cloaks with red clouds running across the Wolfswood. Some even saying they were leaping from branch to branch high up in the trees, but the lords and guards ignored such fairy tale and it soon died out.
"Ironrath," Itachi said as he and his group were standing upon on a tree's branches, all of them were able to see the tall Ironwood trees even from this distance after a few days on foot. Some trees were larger than ones he knew back at Konoha. "It's. . . smaller than I expected." It was indeed a castle, even though different from the ones he saw.
"Ah, made of stone and, I assume, Ironwood," Sasori mentioned with a nod. "Not concrete like the Kages' residences from our homelands. Primitive." Although, there was a certain beauty about it for the Suna-nin, possibly from how long this castle stood, and it looked like it could stand for even longer.
Looking towards a trail that led up to the castle, Nagato noticed something worth mentioning. "A few peasants are making their way up to Ironrath," he informed. "I would rather we have a closer look at things." There was no chance it was a festival when the Forresters were in hard times. More information was needed.
They began leaping forward to find a better view before choosing the roof of the castle as their vantage point, to which they were able to see the courtyard, and saw that there was a scene being made in front of the peasants. Nagato recognized a few of them from the memories he received.
He recognized Talia, the twin sister of Ethan's, and Elissa Forrester, the matriarch of the house. There was Ser Royland, the sentinel and master-at-arms. Maester Ortengryn, his knowledge of things should be useful. The final member of the staff, Duncan Tuttle, the castellan.
But there was one who shouldn't be there, someone ought to be dead, Rodrik Forrester. 'Most likely he's Lord of House Forrester now,' Pain thought. It didn't change anything; House Forrester was still in a desperate situation. "The one with the cane is Rodrik Forrester. The eldest brother presumably thought to be dead, and more than likely to be Lord of Ironrath."
The group took the information in, and kept on watching as the Whitehill was berating the Lord of Ironrath. "Looks like their putting on a show for the little people," Hidan commented with a smirk. Hearing the shouts from the armored one about order and people knowing their place.
"A standoff would be a better description, hmm," Deidara replied as he peered through his eye scope. "A show wouldn't be far from truth, though. It's to break their spirit."
"They seem to be doing a good job at it," commented Kakuzu as he saw the Whitehill push Talia into the mud, with only the crippled lord to help her up.
This irritated the other immortal. "Bah! You're better off breaking spines," Hidan said in annoyance. "All this psychological bullshit is pointless if you're going to kill them anyway."
"Your intelligence astounds us all, Hidan," Kakuzu said unamusedly as he didn't tear his eyes away from the scene. "I would have expected you to be a protégé with all that psychotic Jashin you keep preaching."
The Yuga-nin scowled heavily. "I will slit your fucking throat in your sleep, heretic," he threatened as he thumbed his neckless.
"Quiet," Nagato ordered, to which they followed. He watched as the Whitehill noble pushed Rodrik into the ground, to which he complied and stayed there lying in the mud. "Let their wills be broken. All the more for desperation to grow even more than it already has. It would be better for us in the end when we make our appearance."
Kisame watched as Rodrik allowed himself to be pushed deeper into the mud, before hearing from the Whitehill fourthborn of how Rodrik was allowed to be the lord as long as the reigns were in proper hands, the Whitehill noble's. The Kiri-nin smirked as he said, "I think I got the idea of what your planning."
Pain only nodded, and looked to Konan, who nodded as well. "We'll start before dawn, where your mist technique would be effective and when the people would start waking to see," Nagato informed his group, particularly for Kisame's role. They all flickered out of Ironrath to a tree near the holdfast.
The waiting game began as the Akatsuki watched smallfolk and soldiers under House Forrester look downtrodden from the earlier performance. Whitehill soldiers walked around merrily, laughing and drinking without a care in the world. Twenty-one men by the looks of it.
Hidan kept complaining of time being too slow and how he should just be sent there to kill every living human, but Kakuzu was there to argue the importance of needing certain people alive. Either way, it kept the immortal busy threatening his partner's life of heresy instead of complaining loudly.
Sasori observed the castle that was in front of him with a fascinated look in his eyes, as though a curator looking over a painting. This castle lasted for a long time, and didn't look too aged from the elements. Of course, Deidara was always nearby to mention how that it was nothing like art, and how it should be in an explosion that lasted for a blink to be so. A quite argument ensued after that.
The other two, Itachi and Kisame, spent their time with only some conversation between comfortable silences. Which was more normal to see than Tobi and Zetsu, who were playing Rock-Paper-Scissors until the time approached. He didn't care enough to see them quietly whispering to one another.
"Pain," Itachi called. "What plans do you have with these Forrester people?" He had no doubt that the leader had more than a complicated plan in mind, but what and how he intended to take control of such a large nation was still a mystery to everyone.
The redhead thought for a moment to put it into words. It wasn't a secret to the organization he, Konan, and Yahiko painstakingly made. "They will be the seed here in Westeros," he began. "We'll use their position here to begin ruling all of the seven kingdoms, but I need to know more of what they lack and what they need." He then looked towards his comrades, who listened in on them. "No matter how I see it, all of you will be sent on missions in some shape or form similar to how it was back in our homeland."
"Except the people here and infinitely weaker than a Genin," Kakuzu added. "I haven't seen all of them, but from what I've seen thus far, there is little threat to any of us." Nobody refuted the statement, coming to the same conclusion as the Taki-nin.
"Then why don't we just kill everyone and claim the whole country as our own?" Hidan asked with what looked like genuine curiosity.
Nagato turned to the silver-haired Jashinist, and replied, "we are here turn the entire nation into a land for Akatsuki like Ame. Thus, we need the people here look to us as heroes, but there will be dissent if mercenaries became rulers." A few faces caught onto what was implied. "The peasants and smallfolk depend on the lords to govern their lands and enforce security."
He paused for the information to sink in, and continued, "the lords themselves are prideful people who hold lineage far more important than gold, and there are too many Houses for the ten of us to rule over, even with shadow clones. Even then, I haven't given up on bringing peace to the Elemental Nations." Nagato paused for breath, and could see them following what he was saying. "Thus, it would be easier if we turn the houses to our side and enforce our ideas through them. There will no rebellion, and this would be the most efficient way to take control of Westeros. Understand now, Hidan?"
The immortal Jashinist merely scratched his ear and replied, "yeah, I get it. Still would be better if we killed every pissant. For Jashin, at least."
Pain didn't really expect him to understand, Hidan wasn't the smartest of the group, but there were few who could match him in a fight, and even fewer who could win against his techniques. His speech was aimed towards the rest, though, and they now fully understand Akatsuki's role in this new world.
"Not everyone, but let's start dealing with undesirables in this household," the redhead ordered, bringing a small smile to scythe-user as he got up with his signature weapon in hand. "Kisame."
The Monster of the Mist grinned as he stood straight on the branch he was on, a seal formed in one hand, and the other arm in the air. "Hiding In Mist Technique."
With so much water around in different forms, an unnatural wave of mist descended upon Ironrath quickly from the forest towards the castle. Visual range reduced greatly to those who weren't familiar with it, but these S-rank shinobis had experienced it before, and they knew how to use it.
"I want their deaths to be clean," Nagato demanded. "Kill them in whatever way you wish, but don't make their faces unrecognizable." He needed to show who they killed in Ironrath. "Deidara, only use a blade." Only grumbling answered him. "Hidan, keep things quiet throughout this, I don't want to hear a single scream." More grumbling from the Jashinist this time. "Begin."
The Akatsuki flickered to their targets, doing what shinobis do best, making sure their enemies were sent to the other world in a blood-filled whisper.
"Gods damn them," Rodrik cursed as he awoke from his 'light' sleep. Pain from yesterday's beating flared the more he moved. He wasn't even hit that much, yet his body may as well have fought the Mountain. Looking outside through one of the windows, it seemed a heavy mist came upon his home during his sleep.
He then looked to the side, and saw his dear sister, Talia, asleep in a sitting position on a chair in the room he was in. The same way he saw her the day the Whitehills took their home. 'I promise I'll get it back.' Forresters stand tall, regardless of what happens. Yesterday's submission was no exception.
"Hng!" the Lord of Ironrath grunted as he sat himself on the bed he was given. Everything was going to shit, he knew that, but what was he supposed to do? Give up? The idea was worse than any beating Gryff Whitehill could give. Rodrik placed his face in his hands, and let out a frustrated sigh. "We need soldiers, but we need coin to get them. Two things that are out of my hands." If he secured the union with the Glenmores, things would have been better, but he failed to keep the marriage with Elaena.
Now, House Forrester's survival depended on Mira's and Asher's abilities, but here the firstborn of house Forrester was, crippled to the point where standing straight brought pain and needed a cane to walk around. Things weren't going well, but he had to endure. He will perceiver for his family's sake.
"You're awake, my lord," maester Ortengryn greeted as he came from the next room within this shack they were allowed to live in. "I thought I heard something from your quarters. Is the pain returning?"
"Only mildly, maester," Rodrik replied quietly, watching as the wise man came closer with herbs and medicines of different kinds. "I'm fine, really."
Ortengryn ignored his lord as he began checking his wounds from the battle at the Twins, seeing no festering of any kind or smell to worry about, he was content with his checkup and sat in front of the lord in a spare seat.
Sunlight began permeating through the window in rare silence, which Rodrik noticed. "So the Whitehills drunk our wine in celebration of yesterday," he stated irritably, then sighed once more. "At least I'm granted only a moment of silence from their noise."
The Maester let out a small throaty laugh. "Aye, I can't say I disapprove either," he replied with a sad smile, remembering what it was that they were celebrating very clearly. "You were very strong to not get back up, you know."
Rodrik scoffed. "I did nothing. That's hardly strength." Laying down in the mud and being berated? Not much strength in that.
"But you wanted to," a feminine voice retorted with a small yawn. Looking towards the source, Ortengryn and Rodrik found that Talia had woken up and heard the end of their chat. "I saw it in you. The anger and pride that desperately wanted to lash out, but you held back. That's what the maester meant, I believe." Talia looked towards the man for conformation, receiving a proud nod and smile from him, and from her brother.
Rodrik could be content with this. Simply sitting around in a small room and talking without the noise of those Whitehills to ruin things, but life wasn't so merciful.
Sighing once more, the lord grabbed the cane at his bedside, and lifted himself out of bed. "Come on, let's see what slop mother had made for breakfast. I swear that's more likely to kill me than any sword," he said as he stuck an elbow out with a joking smile.
"Of course, Rodrik," the sister said with a small smirk and a roll of the eyes. "Do you want to-!"
A shriek from outside broke the comfortable silence, and that was quickly followed by hurried footsteps from the smallfolk nearby.
"What could they have possibly. . . Oh no," the lord voiced, before making his way out the door of the room, stomping past everyone to see what was going on outside, fearing the worst. 'The silence was too good to be a gift, wasn't it?' he thought as walked passed the small corridor and exited the small house.
Noticing that Talia and Ortengryn followed closely behind, he asked them in rising panic, "where's mother?" She was always near her family, and more than often insulted the Whitehills to their faces. So where was she!?
Rodrik saw the smallfolk gathering near the gate, and limped his way there. A knot in his chest forming tighter and tighter. He didn't have to look behind him to know his sister and Ortengryn were following behind, also fearing the same thing he was.
"Move!" the lord shouted angrily to let through what was happening, which had the peasants take notice and move aside. When he passed through the wall of people, he stopped dead in his tracks. "S-Seven hells."
Twenty-one ropes hung from the rampart, and twenty-one Whitehills were hung by the neck from those very ropes no higher than a foot in the air. From the amount of knives clearly seen sticking out of them, they were killed well before they were brought to the noose. Even Gryff Whitehill was also hung with blood trailing down from the knife stuck in his temple.
These corpses were meant to be on display, but by who? The answer to that was quick. Eight figures in dark cloaks with red clouds sat on those very ramparts, some standing and looking to the people intimidatingly, others sat relaxingly with little care looking down upon them. A few of them looked more abnormal than the other.
"Rodrik Forrester, Lord of Ironrath!" a deep voice called, but not from the ramparts. The lord looked forward towards the gate where the source was. He saw a woman with blue hair and orange eyes, but it was the man ahead of her that called out to him. The lean man had red hair and eyes that sent shivers down Rodrik's spine.
When the lord made eye contact with the redhead, that person walked between the corpses to get closer and said something that had to be wrong, "Ethan sends his regards."
Before anybody asks, YES, there will more than simply the Telltale Game of Thrones' characters and stories. I'm just using it as a basis to start things off from an awesome game. And yes, I may have used one or two at most (least) plot devices to make Akatsuki able to find and reach Westeros.
Was Tobi in the Akatsuki this early? Probably (definitely) not, so I stretched it as much (too much) as I could for him being like a few days into being an Akatsuki member, so don't bite my head off for it (even though you should). You might have all your reasoning and such, to which you might be right (definitely right), but I'm gonna stop my creative liberties (because of the lack of creativity) with Naruto canon there. Shut up, voice in my head! (You shut up).
See you next chapter! (I'm lonely in here)
