Hizashi stood amongst a pile of water, steel, and blood. The ground was torn asunder and giant steel spikes jutted from the ground like half-formed skyscrapers. Nee-san and Shin had made their move on the southern part of the island. The shore below was rocky and above them were a series of elevated platforms where one could safely watch the action. It was as if nature itself had contorted the area into a stadium with the center being Hizashi and his betrayers. He had entrusted the former Kage to help build his Leviathan. A mechanical monstrosity that would be his opening salvo in the war against the degenerate and corrupt shinobi society. They were loyal followers and dutiful shinobi. He knew that it weathered them to work for something other than their own glory, but he felt that in time they'd come around. Surely the collapse of their home villages was enough to cast a light upon their civilization's inadequacy? Apparently not.
The ungrateful pair of puppeteers had done as he had asked, but no sooner had he shown a moment of vulnerability had they pounced. The Leviathan was the most chakra-intensive invention known to man. It required a literal Bijuu just to sustain itself and with the Two-Tails no longer in play, Hizashi had decided to part with his own Tailed Beast. Now that Honiko had found the artifact he had spent several lifetimes searching for, he had no need of the Hachibi. The Tsuchikage and Kazekage had come to him as friends. Urging him to part with the demon right then and there so that they could prepare his Leviathan for awakening. He had removed the Gyūki from his soul and the moment its power had left him, all hell broke loose. An armada of puppets had burst from the ground, sky and sea. Every corner of his vision was distorted with metal and sand. The calm of his island was disturbed by thunderous explosions as the two sought to wipe him from existence. They must have been planning their betrayal for quite some time as every detail of the attack was immaculate. Even more impressive was that they had done it all without arousing his suspicion or that of his lieutenants.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.
Even without the Eight-Tails or his prize, Hizashi was able to defeat them. It had taken a considerable amount of power to do so and longer than he'd have liked, but by the end of it all, neither turncoat lived. The mangled and zombified corpse of Nee-san Tetsudashi lay at Hizashi's feet. The fuuinjutsu that had brought him back to life was overlaid with another. A seal created and applied without his knowledge. It had given Nee-san the ability to override his commands and act on his own accord. An ingenious formula but not without its own costs. The top half of his body had been severed from the bottom and his metallic features were distorted by a thick acidic substance. Nee-san's iconic black shades lay next to his melted face. Crushed and forgotten.
Shin Kazehana was likewise dismembered. The Kazekage's head was somewhere at sea. Hizashi had ordered the seas to claim it and it was now probably at the bottom of the Kaijuu Ocean. In Hizashi's hand was Shin's core. The construct contained his heart and whatever bio-mechanical apparatuses were responsible for housing his conscious. The core was soaked with blood and water. Its casing was ruptured at multiple key points and its edges were clearly damaged with the same acid that disfigured Nee-san's face. It had long ago ceased operating yet Hizashi found himself still staring at it. The hand that was holding the core was cut and on his arms were signs of damage. Second degree burns, lacerations, and a few bruises. They had put up a heroic fight indeed. Although the rest of his body was unblemished, Hizashi was focused on what little harm they were able to inflict. He could have healed it but he didn't. He wanted it there as a reminder of his own mortality. He had forgotten what it felt like to fear for his life. The Water Disciple was "immortal" but even he knew better than to think in those terms. They were ways around his permeance. Nee-san and Shin knew of them and had attempted to exploit them. Hizashi knew that the longer the depraved ninja society existed, the more the number of potential counters grew. He could not outrun death forever. He'd need to conquer it once and for all. And with his Benefactor's help, he intended to do just that.
Hizashi tossed the core into a nearby puddle. The waves crept up alongside the ground and began to claim more of the puppets. With each tide, they cleared the area of debris. The sky was a muddy grey color and a persistent rain began to fall. It appeared to contain certain acidic properties which broke down the steel pillars and the puppets littering the ground. It was harmless to flesh for the time being though. The only person currently present was Honiko Yoshidara. She had watched from her perch just a few meters above where the fight took place. She had arrived the day before and when she sensed the attack, she had been the first to arrive. She had been ordered to stand down and like the loyal soldier she was, she did as he was commanded. Honiko had watched as Hizashi fought both of the Gokage. As the battle wore on, it was obvious why he didn't want anyone interfering. She had been away for so long that she had almost forgotten why she worshipped him. She needed to to bask in his glory firsthand and the insurgency provided her the perfect opportunity to do so. Once it was finished, Honiko took a step forward but Hizashi held up his hand. She was holding the item he needed but he saw no harm in denying himself for a few minutes longer. The mysterious package was clearly a sword albeit wrapped in a thick cloth which was nearly black with fuuinjutsu.
He wanted the others to see.
Honiko stood right where she was. She would come to him when he was ready and not a second sooner. She was wearing her traditional battle garb. For although her mother had bought her a more high-tech version, she preferred to dress in the armour that her Master had given her. She was glad to see him in person again but none of it showed. She was the model of restraint and discipline. When the others arrived, there would be no doubt as to who was the most loyal among them. Hizashi scanned the horizon as he waited for the rest of his lieutenants to show up. Aside from the leadership core and their immediate students, other lieutenants from various divisions and levels of importance would join Honiko among the elevated platforms. Hizashi bent down and washed his hands of his former compatriots blood. As he rubbed the crimson away using a small puddle, he reminisced on the memories he had with Gyūki. The voice of his millennia old friend was no longer in his heart and it pained him.
Even 1,000 years isn't enough time to say goodbye... he thought mournfully.