Nightfall in Kumiaigakure

I bowed my head a little.

"Ashley, my friend, we have to talk."

"Talk about what?" she said as he entered the house. "Care for anything?" she asked.

"No thanks."

My tone was being nervous, maybe a little rude.

"Maybe you should sit. I have a lot to tell you about what will happen now."

"Is something wrong?" she asked as she sat.

"Yes and no, it depends on how you see it, I guess."

I started to walk in circles.

"I will be honest with you. I came with a plan to save the village from all menaces, but it surely will not please you."

"What is the plan?" she asked

I stopped walking and looked directly in her eyes through my Mask, deadly serious.

"We must die, all four of us."

"I will do it if it's for the good of the village!" she said while standing up.

"Let me explain before you jump to conclusions. Just wait a moment."

I went to check every door and windows, applying a seal that would prevent all noises to come out of the room and to prevent anyone from seeing inside. I then locked every possible way in or out.

"What I mean is that one of us has to become a symbol for the village. A symbol that will unify it under a same cause. That symbol would be one of hatred. By faking your death, I intent to become that symbol, so that the people will not have to fear people like Akatsuki anymore. With no Kages left, they would not have any reason to continue their schemes and the people could govern itself."

"I am a little scared for the kids Koto,Kari,Taku and Sora and I am also scared that if we do leave someone will control the place and it will all fall." she said with tears in her blue eyes.

I went to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"That is why I will have to stay longer than you. WHile I will free you from your charges as Kage, i will stay for some more time, assuming a role of cold-hearted tyrant so that the people will no longer need anyone to govern them. You three will have to live as normal Shinobi for the rest of your lives, just like I will have to after. I am afraid though that we can not let the children know about this. They will have to live like every other person of the village, in hatred towards me."

"What about Yarashi and my twins." she said.

I looked down.

"I know it will hurt, but Yarashi must not know that you are still alive. Your children will grow with you, but you must never see him again or all would have been done for nothing."

She starts to cry. Her heart felt broken. Leaving everyhing and everyone behind all the people she loved would be gone. She fell in Wakitaro's arms and sobbed.

I hugged her. Seeing my friend cry like that made me feel sad too, but there was no time for sadness anymore.

"I know I am asking a lot, but this is the only way."

"I wish I could just see him again for the last time." she said. She got out some papers and a pencil. "I want to right something to everyone if you may." she said.

"I will make sure they have it, I promise. Just refrain from writing anything that would give away the plan please."

She wrote many letters to Taku,Sora,Koto,Yarashi and finally Kari. She wiped her tears. "I think it's time now." she said.

I got a Poisoned Kunai out of my pouch.

"This Kunai is poisoned with a special toxin I made just for you. The toxin will temporarily kill you and the babies, but you will all three be resurrected in a day as if nothing had happened. The only thing is, if I want to make the story credible, I have to make it look real. I am sorry, but it will hurt."

I approached her.

"When you will wake up, please tell Kuraudo that I will meet you all at the same place I left you when the time will be right. Please never come back for me, I will be able to do it on my own."

I placed the tip of the Kunai against her back, at a safe spot that would not damage her permanently.

"Are you ready?"

She hugged Wakitaro. "Tell them that I love them." she said crying.

I hugged her with one arm, the other hand holding the Poisoned Kunai ready.

"See you later, my friend."

I stabbed her in the back, holding her against me to prevent any fall damage.

She felt the impact and the tears stopped.

I put her down and waited for the toxin to take effect. I looked at her while the work was being done. A tear shed from under my Mask an hit the floor. I knew I was doing the right thing, I was just regretting to have them all suffer like that.