Two cloaked figures entered the Land of Iron—robes of black adorned with crimson clouds: unmistakably Akatsuki. Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki had spent several days traversing the provinces, their presence subtle, their purpose clear.
Their only lead was the elusive network of priestesses—rumored members of the so-called silver cult—who wandered between regions, sometimes alone, sometimes escorted by wandering samurai. But the trail had grown cold. No priestess had been seen in nearly two weeks, coinciding with the latest incident in Takigakure.
Undeterred, Itachi and Kisame chose a quieter approach, making discreet inquiries as they traveled toward the Iron Capital. Word was scarce, but whispers of the moon cult still lingered.
Unbeknownst to them, their presence had not gone unnoticed. Ordinary citizens, now subtly integrated into the Silver World's growing web of communication, reported the suspicious pair to the samurai watchmen. When Michel heard the news, he immediately warned Hinata.
Exhausted as she was, Hinata knew she could not face the Akatsuki directly. Yet… perhaps a conversation was possible. With great effort, she summoned a spiritual clone, disguised as one of her priestesses.
Soon after, news reached Itachi and Kisame—one of the elusive priestesses had reappeared in the capital. But with her appearance came a new complication: various bounty hunters and mercenaries had caught wind of her as well, shadowing her in hopes of extracting information.
Coolly assessing the situation, Itachi used subtle Genjutsu to mislead the pursuers—sending several after false targets.
As they evaluated their next move, A normal person, one of those who spoke to the priestess a while before, approached them. "The priestess… she requests to speak with you two. Alone."
The pair exchanged a glance. Trusting their instincts, they sensed no immediate threat.
Moments later, in a quiet courtyard beneath snow-dusted eaves, the priestess awaited them. Her presence was serene, her aura calm.
"You are not travelers," she said softly, bowing her head. "You came with intent. May I ask… how might I assist you?"
Itachi remained silent. Kisame offered a toothy grin but said nothing.
The priestess studied them a moment longer, her voice dropping with a reverent tone. "You seek her, do you not? The Silver Lady."
Their silence was all the answer she needed.
Straightening, her robes catching the faint breeze, she continued: "Then allow me to offer you what courtesy I can. An audience will be arranged."
She performed a short prayer, her hands moving with practiced grace. Itachi, ever vigilant, sensed an unfamiliar pulse within the gesture—a ripple he could not fully decipher.
"Though I trust it will not trouble you," the priestess added gently, "you may find... the next time you sleep, you could encounter her. Should you wish for it."
The invitation hung in the air, as soft snow began to fall once more over the Iron Capital.
More people began to arrive in the courtyard before either Itachi or Kisame could press further. Sensing the shift, both Akatsuki members chose to maintain a prudent distance, retreating slightly to the shadows of a nearby archway.
There, beneath the muted flicker of lantern light, they conferred in low voices.
"What do you make of it?" Kisame asked, his sharp eyes narrowing. "That prayer… and this 'dream meeting' talk?"
Itachi's gaze remained on the dispersing figures around the priestess. "It feels like a form of remote contact—through the dream state. Something akin to the Yamanaka clan's techniques… but maybe tied to this city. When she performed that prayer, I sensed... a mark. Subtle, but there."
Kisame grunted. "Heh. So, we've got two choices, then. We either grab the priestess and force the answers… or we play along and see what this dream meeting reveals."
He smirked. "Though, between you and me, the fact that they disappeared after facing a jinchūriki speaks volumes. I don't think their leader emerged unscathed from that encounter."
Itachi's expression remained impassive, but his voice was thoughtful. "The priestess… She was too calm. She recognized us—yet showed no fear. I suspect she was a clone… sent to draw us in."
Kisame tilted his head, amused. "So? You think we both go to this 'audience,' or just one of us?"
A faint flicker of a smile touched Itachi's lips. "Do you intend to miss the fun?"
Kisame's grin widened, rows of sharp teeth gleaming. "Not a chance."
Itachi gave a single nod. "Then we'll find a secure place to rest. Tonight, we'll see what this invitation truly holds."
Without another word, the two melted back into the alleys of the capital, already preparing for what might come when dreams next claimed them.
<<<< o >>>>
Hours later, within the White Space—the endless, luminous void that serves as the gateway to the Silver World—Hinata Gin stood upon the threshold where the brilliance began to fade into the central region. There, vast lakes mirrored an endless pale sky, and at the heart of the realm rose the colossal silver-leafed tree, towering above the tranquil waters. Mist swirled gently at her feet, her long hair drifting like silk in the unseen currents of the realm.
While the real Hinata remained deep in meditation, maintaining the Silver Stage, the Silver World—like a ravenous child—was greedily drawing upon her energy. Normally, entering the Silver Stage would elevate both her physical and spiritual power to the next level. But in her current state of exhaustion, it merely allowed her to operate at the strength she possessed before this decline. There were advantages to this—after all, it was a level of strength she knew intimately, could wield instinctively. But there were also grave disadvantages: the abilities of both Itachi and Kisame were legendary. In her current condition, facing either of them in earnest would be beyond her capacity.
Two figures stepped into view beyond the veil. One walked with the quiet confidence of death itself, the other with the gait of a predator.
"Itachi Uchiha. Kisame Hoshigaki," Hinata said softly. "Akatsuki walks bold paths."
Kisame bared his teeth. "So, you're the Silver Lady, the high priestess of the so-called moon cult. Gotta say, the place is impressive. Bit too clean, though."
"We are not here to fight," Itachi interrupted, his tone neutral, eyes locked on hers. "Our leader is aware of your existence, of what occurred in Takigakure. He wishes to know more."
Hinata nodded slowly. "I suspected he would."
"You've demonstrated power, and... ideals. Pain believes there may be common ground."
She stepped closer, barefoot over the clean floor. "You seek to change the world through force. I seek to mend it through compassion. There is little common ground in methods."
Itachi's eyes flickered. "Methods evolve."
There was a pause—an understanding forming.
"If I may ask," Hinata said, voice quieter, "how long do you plan to carry that burden, Itachi? The one that poisons your sleep and chains your fate?"
Kisame glanced sideways at his partner.
Itachi didn't flinch. "As long as needed."
"What if I told you the world need not follow the path written for it? That even a brother's curse may be undone—not erased, but redirected?"
The mist swirled around them. Kisame shifted, uncomfortable. "Are we done talking in riddles?"
Hinata turned to him, a serene smile on her lips. "Your sword drinks chakra, but mine drinks truth. Would you care to cross blades with one of my shadows while I speak with your partner?"
A clone materialized behind her—poised she drew her blade with silver lights drifting slightly from it.
Kisame growled. "Now that's more like it."
The two moved off to one side, steel whispering as it was drawn.
Hinata and Itachi stood alone, surrounded by the endless crystal echoes of the Silver World.
<<<< o >>>>
From Kisame's perspective, things shifted fast.
He had learned long ago to trust instincts over appearances. And this realm—this Dream World—wasn't normal. The Silver Lady knew who they were. More than that—she knew of Pain. Of Akatsuki. She spoke their names without hesitation.
Kisame didn't like that. He liked it even less that the moment she offered to spar, something in him surged to accept. An itch for clarity, for understanding through blades.
He was and always will be one of the 7 swordsmen of the mist, he will show her what that means.
When her clone approached, Kisame grinned. Finally,
The clash began.
But frustration quickly set in. The silver lady movements were maddeningly precise. No waste, no flourish. Each step short, exact, balanced—as if she danced through the fight, her blade an extension of that flow. Not once did she rely on brute force, nor did she seem to augment her strikes with chakra. That... intrigued him. To fight at this level without such amplification? Dangerous.
Even Samehada seemed restless—twice the blade surged on its own, sensing something deeper in the Silver Lady presence. Those were the only moments Kisame caught genuine surprise in her eyes.
Their exchange spanned several intense minutes—blade met blade, feints folded into counters. Yet no ground was gained.
Finally, Kisame shifted, sliding back with a predatory grin. "How about we stop testing each other's forms and raise the stakes, eh? Let's see what happens when we drop the niceties."
But the Silver Lady merely smiled—a knowing, serene expression. "I'm afraid our time is up... for now. Perhaps next time, we will cross blades in full."
With a final graceful retreat, her clone dissolved into drifting silver motes.
Kisame exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Tch... I don't like how much she knows. And how little we do."
<<<< o >>>>
When Kisame approached Itachi and the Silver Lady as they seemed to be finishing their conversation.
"I will not join Akatsuki," Hinata said finally. "But your leader may seek me. I do not fear pain. I will heal it."
Itachi gave the faintest nod. "Then we will meet again."
As he turned to leave, Hinata added, "And Itachi… it's not too late to become the brother he deserves."
He paused.
Hinata with a melodious voice continued, "In front of you two, you have to notice two doors, no one can see these doors except each of you... a choice that everyone who arrives has to make, the blue door takes you back to your own dreams and the red door takes you to my world that you can visit whenever you dream if you wish."
Then they vanished.
The Silver Lady remained, and the mists closed once more around the truth that was never truly spoken aloud.