Nyx moved swiftly, her steps leaving behind the characteristic frosted trail as she traversed the barren landscape. The cold wind brushed against her skin, a stark contrast to the warmth she had seen in Temari's eyes. Nyx's hand moved to her side, where the wound inflicted by Temari had mostly healed, leaving only a faint reminder of the altercation.
She let out a sigh, an expressionless mask settling over her features once more.
The choice to let Gaara live, to offer Temari a chance at revenge—these were not decisions made lightly. Each step she took now was towards an uncertain end, one forged by the choices of a person who was neither hero nor villain.
Her Kōritsurugan flickered briefly, the intensity of its glow dissipating as she deactivated her dojutsu. She could sense the presence of her Akatsuki comrades, waiting for her at the pre-arranged rendezvous point. She needed to report the mission as a success, as well as prepare for whatever consequences might follow her deliberate choice.
"Letting them live today may become a liability in the future," she mused, though without regret. There was a sense of freedom in following a path that was entirely her own.
As she approached a clearing, she could make out Deidara, his golden hair unmistakable against the setting sun. He was impatient, a scowl on his face as he paced back and forth, the remnants of their earlier clash still evident in his demeanor.
"Tch. Took you long enough, Nyx," he called out, irritation clear in his voice. "Art waits for no one, yeah."
Nyx offered no immediate response, her gaze cold as she walked past him. "The mission is complete. Gaara is alive, and the Jinchūriki extraction process will have to be delayed. Prepare yourself for a report," she said curtly.
Deidara stared at her, an incredulous expression forming. "Alive? What are you talking about? Didn't we—"
"He was revived," Nyx cut him off, her eyes narrowing as she gave Deidara a knowing look. "It doesn't change anything for us. The ultimate goal remains intact."
Deidara let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head. "You have a weird way of handling things, yeah."
Nyx glanced at him, her expression unchanged. "And what happened to you? Lost both of your arms, and Sasori is dead, I presume?"
Deidara's face twisted into a scowl, clearly irritated by the reminder of his current state. His left arm was crudely reattached, while the right one was still missing. "Tch. Sasori got taken down, and that brat Naruto and his team caused more trouble than they were worth. But I'll get my revenge on them soon enough."
Nyx smirked slightly, her cold eyes fixed on Deidara. "It seems you underestimated them."
Deidara bristled at the comment, his eyes narrowing. "Don't lecture me. It wasn't like you did much better, considering you let the Kazekage's body slip away."
Nyx didn't flinch. Instead, she stepped closer, her presence almost suffocatingly cold. "I had my reasons," she said calmly. "And unlike you, I didn't lose both my arms in the process. Remember, Deidara, there is a difference between losing control of a situation and giving it up willingly."
Deidara grit his teeth, clearly wanting to argue back but lacking any solid retort. It wasn't a secret among the Akatsuki that Nyx had her own way of doing things, a way that didn't always align with their ruthless objectives. Even though her true intentions were often shrouded in mystery, her immense power meant that no one dared challenge her methods—except perhaps Konan, though Konan had always seemed to have an understanding of Nyx's choices that others didn't.
"You're one to talk," Deidara muttered, attempting to shift the focus. "You're supposed to be this cold-hearted strategist, right? But letting that Sand ninja live... sounds like a pretty poor strategy to me."
Nyx's gaze bore into him, making Deidara almost regret speaking. "I am still more valuable than you," she replied, her voice calm but her words biting. "And if I decide to change course for my own reasons, it's none of your concern. "
He huffed but didn't say anything more, knowing better than to push Nyx further. Besides, it was common knowledge that no one besides Konan seemed to understand what truly motivated her—though Deidara doubted even Konan fully knew the extent of Nyx's goals.
After a tense silence, Nyx turned away from Deidara, her gaze shifting to the horizon, her thoughts already elsewhere. Deidara watched her, his irritation simmering beneath the surface. She was as infuriatingly secretive as ever, and every time he thought he had her figured out, she would surprise him once more.
"Do whatever you want, yeah. Just don't expect me to cover for you if this backfires," Deidara finally said, his voice carrying a mixture of annoyance and resignation. His fingers drummed restlessly on his arm, as if he was itching to put his hands to more explosive use.
Nyx's icy blue eyes narrowed as she turned her head slightly, just enough to cast a cold, scornful glance over her shoulder at him. "You think you're my partner?" she scowled, her voice dripping with disdain.
Deidara's lips curled into a smirk, a spark of defiance lighting in his eye. "Technically, we are, considering Sasori is gone," he said, lifting his chin with a hint of arrogance.
Nyx's scowl deepened, her expression as frosty as the trail of ice that constantly followed her steps. "Don't delude yourself," she said, her voice now chillingly calm, carrying an air of finality. "My one true partner will always be Konan. I have no need for the rest of you who can't keep up." Her words were as cold as the ice she wielded, each syllable carrying a sharpness that cut through the air between them.
Deidara blinked, momentarily taken aback, before his expression twisted into one of amusement. "Can't keep up?!" he echoed, and then burst into laughter, the sound loud and mocking as it reverberated through the space. "HAHAHA! You really think you're something special, don't you?!"
Nyx did not flinch, nor did her expression change. She simply stared at him with those frosty eyes, her gaze piercing and unyielding, like the unforgiving edge of a glacier. "You mistake arrogance for truth," she said, her voice steady and dispassionate. "I do not care what you think of my abilities, Deidara. But if you wish to challenge me—" Her gaze flickered briefly to his hands, where mouths opened and closed eagerly. "—I will show you exactly how far you are from keeping up."
Deidara's laughter faded into a smirk, his eyes narrowing as the tension between them escalated, crackling in the air like an unseen storm. "Heh, you'd better watch that mouth of yours, Nyx," he said, his voice dropping into a low, almost dangerous tone. "I don't care if you're Konan's pet or not. Anyone who underestimates my art will get blown to pieces. Yeah."
Nyx's expression remained unchanged, a frigid calm settling over her features. She slowly turned away, dismissing him with an indifference that cut deeper than any insult. "Art or not, I have no interest in childish displays," she replied. "If you have something to prove, go play with someone who cares."
The ground beneath her feet seemed to freeze a bit harder with each step as she walked away, leaving Deidara standing there, fists clenched, his pride clearly wounded. He watched her go, a scowl now replacing his earlier smirk, and muttered under his breath, "One day, I'll show her. My art is unmatched, and she'll see it too. Yeah."
Nyx said nothing more as she moved toward the small encampment they had made. She knew Deidara's frustration—he was an artist who wanted explosive, undeniable outcomes, a stark contrast to her own precision and calculation. But this was something she had accepted about herself long ago. The path she had chosen was not black and white, and it was not beholden to any single ideology.
She sat down, her gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped below the hills, casting long shadows across the ruins of the battlefield. A flicker of movement caught her attention—small insects buzzing through the air, no doubt a message from another Akatsuki member.
She closed her eyes, letting the chill seep into her bones. For now, she would wait, and when the time came, she would continue to forge her own way through this broken world.
Back at the Sand Village
Back at the Sand Village, the air was filled with a sense of relief and hope. The people gathered, some cheering softly, others crying tears of joy, as they watched their Kazekage return to them. Gaara, though visibly weakened, stood tall, his presence enough to reassure the villagers that all would be well again. Shinobi and civilians alike lined the streets, their eyes fixed on the red-haired leader they had thought they'd lost.
Temari walked beside Gaara, her arm gently supporting him as they moved through the crowd. Her gaze was fixed firmly on her brother, her face a mixture of relief and lingering concern. "Are you okay, Gaara?" she asked softly, her voice almost drowned out by the murmurs of the crowd.
Gaara turned his head slightly, looking at her with tired but warm eyes. He gave her a small nod, his voice calm as he answered, "I'm fine, thanks to everyone... and to you, Temari." His words were sincere, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Despite the exhaustion etched on his features, there was a peace within him that spoke volumes.
Temari managed to smile back at him, her heart swelling with gratitude that he was still there, still with them. Yet, even as she smiled, her mind drifted back to the battle, to the events that had unfolded over the past few days. The image of Nyx lingered in her thoughts—the mysterious shinobi with eyes as cold as winter, her motives as unclear as the ice she wielded.
Nyx had been an enigma. One moment, her actions seemed entirely self-serving, cold and indifferent, and the next, she had created an opening that allowed them to save Gaara. It was almost as if she had intended for them to succeed, though her expression gave nothing away. There was something unsettling in the way she carried herself, her eyes devoid of emotion, her demeanor impenetrable.
"Temari," Gaara's voice drew her out of her reverie, and she blinked, focusing back on him. He was looking at her now, concern touching his weary features. "You seem... distracted," he said quietly.
She hesitated, glancing away for a moment before shaking her head. "It's nothing, Gaara," she said, her tone light, though it was clear she was still preoccupied. "I'm just glad you're safe. That's all that matters."
Gaara watched her closely, but he didn't press further. He could sense the weight on her mind, but he trusted that Temari would share her thoughts when she was ready. Instead, he gave her a small smile, his gaze shifting to the people gathered around them, their cheers growing louder as they approached the main gate of the village.
"Thank you, everyone," Gaara spoke, his voice carrying despite its softness, and the crowd fell silent, hanging onto every word. "I am grateful for all of your support. I promise that I will continue to protect this village with everything I have."
The villagers erupted in cheers, the atmosphere shifting from one of anxious relief to celebration. Temari looked at her brother, pride swelling in her chest. Despite everything he had been through, Gaara remained steadfast, unbroken.
Yet, as they moved through the crowd, her eyes unconsciously drifted back in the direction they had come from, toward the horizon where Nyx had vanished without a word. She couldn't shake the image of the icy trail Nyx had left behind, the cold, solitary figure disappearing into the distance.
Who was she, really? What drove her to help, even if her actions seemed detached and emotionless? Temari's instincts told her there was more to Nyx than what met the eye. She knew that the shinobi world was full of secrets, and Nyx was one of those secrets that refused to reveal itself.
As they finally entered the gates of the village, Temari sighed softly, glancing once more to the horizon. There were so many questions left unanswered, and she couldn't deny that part of her hoped they would cross paths again. Perhaps then, she would have the chance to understand why Nyx had made the choices she had—why she had saved Gaara, yet remained so distant.
For now, though, Gaara was safe, and that was enough.