Here we go again! Thank you very much for waiting and have faith in me (if you did), you must know that I like to establish a point of connection between all my stories, even though they are not entirely clear (random fact). Develop in the first chapter is slow, (sorry and I hope you like the changes) but it will make sense at the time.
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❀•CHAPTER 1: PILOT •
"I finally find you" said looking at him with contempt and a mixture of emotions swirling more and more "I honestly never thought you came to the most miserable village that may exist, after all the ruling clan here lies dead or dispersed, what kind of thing might want someone like you in this place?" asked with amusement.
"I don't have time for this" he replied firmly.
"Oh, I know, after all it was you who decided to change sides at the end, that's disappointing, you might have all you ever wanted" he said with entertainment noticing him shudder helplessly "But since we are here you have to imagine the reason why I showed here, you're as slippery as your friend Orochimaru, honestly, it took me a long time to find you, years. I'm impressed, but vermin like you who has spent more than half of his life in hiding must have at least, skills for it, but was a matter of time before my network could find you." He said satisfied "But it seems you already knew that was coming, because she isn't with you, isn't she?" he said giving him a hard look.
"I'm not gonna please you, to others, if she's far from here, is a safer place." he replied vehemently facing him.
"Are you sure? You must know that I am willing to do anything to achieve what I want" that made him stop for a second to assess the situation in which he was currently and expecting her was far enough or close enough to do the justu.
"Unfortunately for you, I am also willing to do anything," he said as he jumped back creating a rapid succession of hand seals and then show a couple of seals that were in their palms.
"What do you think you are doing? No way you can beat me with a pathetic seal like that, you also condemn yourself." he said seeing what was happening in front of him.
"It's not against you I'm going to use it" said making a pause then continue "this is the second and final phase of the seal."
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She had been in this town a while without luck, Pein orders had been coming to Uzushiogakure, find a scroll of sealing techniques to move to the next phase of plans for Akatsuki, while document wasn't essential, it would save years of unnecessary practices and thus accelerate the search for the tailed beasts, however earlier was better, plus Jinchūriki would be weaker to be found.
Unfortunately no parchment seemed to be anywhere to be found. Konan was at the point of resignation finding nothing useful in those ruins. When suddenly a little girl came out of nowhere ran without stopping to look where she was going with a look that was nothing but pure and utter panic, but that wasn't what caught her attention, no, her attention now lay in the small amount of chakra that the girl had, not allowed her realize before the girl was in front of her.
She was sent to this mission of gathering because she was one of the best in chakra detection, with that skill she could stay away from the enemies or witnesses, ninja or civil whatsoever, and that because every living organism contains chakra, that allowed her to carry out her mandate without complications. And that has been mocked by a simple little girl, it wasn't in her understanding. But all seemed to make sense now that the girl fell forward while a strange mark appeared on her forehead, and then disappear. She wasn't a fool and realized immediately that the mark was a sealed mark, a complicated one, though quirky, she noticed that was powerful and not only that, but it was Juinjutsu or cursed seal techniques. By putting the pieces together she decided that this girl was in trouble and then took a decision, and yes it was likely she'll be damned for what she was about to do, too bad for someone who had committed many crimes like her, it is why without hesitation took the little girl to seal her destiny.
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"I had no luck with the parchment, was nowhere to be found and I'm sure the leaf has all the important documents that were found in the ruins once" Konan said in her usual unemotional behavior.
"What's wrong?" Pein asked after studying her, after all had been partners for most of their lives and was sure he could read her quite well, even if she tried not to show emotions.
"Nothing." she said, looking away.
"It must be important if you refuse to look at me." he said in a tone quiet but impatient.
"I ... I met a girl" she said without lifting her gaze to fulfill his own.
"You know that is the normal performance, no one had to have seen you, is part of the work leave no witnesses." He said assuming she was affected for killing a child.
"I couldn't do it" she said after a few moments looking up "I-couldn't-do-it." she said with special emphasis in all her words
"That means there is a lost witness" he said coldly calculating.
"No." she said again diverting look.
"So you disable her?" He asked with evident exasperation now, no one should know about them at the moment, no when everything was so scattered and both weren't able to take action on the matter. After all, the new regime was practically unknow.
"I brought her with me Pein" she said serene and serious.
"You do what?" He asked incredulously.
"I brought her with me" she said firmly.
"Why would you do something like that? You're putting everyone in danger, needless to say that her is in danger too, you know it wasn't the wisest decision that you had made, you should dispose of her already, if someone were in her search, that one just would found the girl's body" he said quite annoyed, this caused her to clench her fists, it was true that may not have been the smartest decision after seeing the girl had a cursed seal on her forehead, but still felt helpless to the situation and the part of her that she thought had died the day Yahiko did, came to light again when she saw her collapse on the floor, she just couldn't leave her to her fate.
"I couldn't allow it, I will not let anything happen to her." she said.
"Konan, we are a not very clean record" he said trying to make her see the logic in his words, seeing that she didn't hesitate he tried another approach "Why are you so set on this anyway?she is just another girl, a stranger, you have killed childs like her before, even when we were childs, what makes her different?" He asked after study her carefully.
"Because she reminded me of myself when I was her age, quite alone, lost, full of fear, but at least I was with you and Yahiko, she was alone, completely and besides in a city in ruins, I feel it is my chance to redeem myself, to do something really good for once, besides not only saw myself in her eyes, but the three of us" she said, leaving the room without allowing him to find an argument to stop her. After all, she was a very happy child until certain things happened, things that put much of her emotions away, things she wasn't very proud about, besides the loss and death of her first love at an early age were things that would follow her for the rest of her life. That girl was a representation of what was and may have been of her, even though she wasn't sure if the girl had parents, something said to her that she had to take care of the child, which is why she went to her room, where she found the little being still unconscious. Her long pink hair and jade eyes caught her attention from the outset; no doubt it was a unusual little girl. She was looking for a while now when suddenly her big eyes opened slowly, just to get into growing panic looking everywhere with confusion written on her face.
"Quiet, I won't hurt you" Konan said attempting a soft and gentle tone hoping to give her a little confidence, at what the girl just looked at her closely as if she was studying her possible reactions, so she tried again "my name is Konan, What's your name?" she asked politely.
"Sa... Sakura" she said a little confused, as if it were a question for her too. As Konan deduced that her memories must have been erased or they were sealed with the cursed mark. Trying not to push her captives now memories, she tried to change the subject, but she stepped forward "Excuse me, I know your name, but who are you?" asked a little disoriented. Konan really didn't expect this question, after all there were a thousand ways she could answer her, but decided it wasn't a good idea to tell the truth, at least not at this time, even though she knew it was a decision that wasn't wise again, after all extend a lie was bad for her, so she tries a non-invasive way to tell her the truth but hiding some things, but decided to ask a few things first.
"What can you remember?" She just watched her for a moment.
"My name is Sakura and I have three or four years." she said, still a little confused.
"While anything else?" She urged gently.
"I had to run." she said looking down blankly.
"Okay, then that is our common point, I found you running until you lost consciousness and I brought you up to my house" she said trying to say something that not frightened "Tell me you have a place or family to go?"
"I don't remember" she said sadly and starting to hyperventilate unwittingly showing an innocent air to what Konan froze a little, but if she was affected, didn't show it.
"Quiet, I will not abandon you, given that you don't have a place to go, you can stay with me" she said ignoring the part of her telling that Pein was even disagreed with her decision "that's why you can refer to me in the way you like, so your choice, but I'd like to think of you as a daughter." she said with a sweet smile, after all didn't bother her much being called 'mom' if she wanted to so.
"Thank you Konan-sama" she said still not sure deserve to call herself her daughter.
"You're welcome Sakura-chan." she said now really happy that she had calmed down. "Now, it seems that your energies are low, do you wish me to prepare you something to eat?" she asked gently, it felt strange to her show this range of emotions again, not done since she was a child, she thought that all kinds of joy had left the day their team of three was disintegrated.
"I would like that Konan-sama" she said with the first smile.
"Well then follow me." she said, rising and then offering her hand to the little girl. Once out of her room, wasn't lost for Konan the surprised look that showed Sakura to see the place with care, which could be guessing her question she replied "this place is that huge because many people live here." she said without stopping "so it's kind of like a big family?" the girl asked with obvious enthusiasm. Konan wanted to tell her no because it was the truth, it was an organization with members, that only shared a common porpoise, nothing more, but seeing her with the contemplative expectant look, she wasn't able to break her hopes as well "Something like that" she said resignedly, as they made their way to the kitchen through a large dining room.
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"I couldn't find the girl; it's as if she had vanished into thin air." He said "I was sure I could do after the bastard died." said exasperated the brighter.
"I guess I fooled myself to believing you'd be able to handle it, she couldn't have gone far, send someone to search the area, no matter what he has done or has taken sides, his daughter is still my daughter" he said with a sigh. "I just hope that in future missions not let me as you have done so far, I hope that the Sharingan can help fade your incompetence I told you activate it with him, but you over trusted yourself."
"You don't mistake about it." he was about to leave when something that was bothering him stopped him "I think it's important to you to know that before he killed himself, spent its forces in a seal" he said calmly.
"Do you recognize it?" he asked worried for a second.
"I couldn't, but must be strong enough; he died performing it" he said at last leaving.
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"Anno Konan-sama, you said many people were living here, but I haven't seen anyone." Sakura said noticing the stillness of the place.
"That's because all of us are ninjas, and now the rest are in their respective missions, but they should return soon" Konan said washing the hair of the girl, thinking it might not be a good idea for the little girl to stay there when the other members arrive. She didn't trust Kakuzu; who was willing to kill to save money or simply because filled up his patience, or Sasori who made puppets with humans, not to mention Kisame, who seemed to have no sort of delicacy, while Tobi was childlike in his outer face Konan knew best, but Pein trusted his personality, he was also neglected to others if it weren't for job subjects.
Without even mentioning that Zetsu eats human flesh, or the fact that Orochimaru experimented with children. Was sufficient grounds to remove the child from the base, until she could think about how to address and make clear the limits, not want to admit it but suddenly it wasn't a great idea to bring a child to the organization, but neither was letting her to her fate with a cursed seal she still didn't know much about and assumes that sealed her memories in a village in ruins without shinobis and impoverished civilians.
"Do you want to join me to buy some clothes? I think that yours aren't in very good condition and also I need to buy some extra supplies" she had to admit that she was little by little more comfortable with the small blossom around, so she wanted to protect her from the impact.
"As you wish Konan-sama" She said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. This seemed suspicious to her but she let it go.
Once they were dry and dressed, they left the base and went to Amegakure, although the distance wasn't short, came relatively soon, even though Sakura didn't seem particularly excited to come to town and it showed even more when they were at the gates. "Good afternoon Konan-sama" the doorman greeted with deep respect and something that looked like fear at her eyes.
"Good afternoon" Konan said politely and coldly, it was the custom after all. Sakura hadn't looked up from her incredibly interesting shoes because a while ago she kept looking at them in an attempt to look away once Konan made her way to the village, she noticed how Sakura stiffened and avoided the villager's gaze. She only took her hand in response, so Sakura leaned closer for protection. Didn't want to ask questions to press her or something like that, but some of her kept thinking about the reason for her behavior, she was meditating about that for a moment when she reached the possible answer, in Uzushiogakure few remaining inhabitants were all civilians, and if Sakura came from a Shinobi family, or was related to them, which was more than likely due to the seal. She would be automatically rejected, because were the ninjas who fell the whirlpool village to the foundations.
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"Really there is a child in the organization?" Asked Kisame obviously disbelief.
"Yes, Konan doesn't seems to want to get rid of it at the moment and I'm not about to argue with her about it, I don't want any trouble so I recommend you to stay away from the brat as much as you can, Konan is very protective when it comes to her." Pein said massaging his temples.
"Great, another mouth to feed, plus expenses" Kakuzu growled.
"Does that mean that Tobi can't play with her?" the masked man the masked with obvious disappointment.
"No, I would say no" cutting Pein said "It is also forbidden to experiment with her or make a puppet with her body, not allowed to eat her, not allowed to sell her, not allowed mutilate her, Kisame, and yes I know that because your latest mission, unless of course all of you want to die slowly and painfully" he added only as a security thing.
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"Sakura-chan, it's possible that when we reach home, the other occupants are already there." Konan said as they made their way back. "Tell me, would you like to meet them or not?" Konan asked to cut their losses once. "But I must warn you that they are unconventional persons" she said after a pause.
"Whatever you think is better Konan-sama" said Sakura, to the relief of Konan, she was afraid of her to suffer an aversion to shinobi too, but she was grateful she was disposed to be presented to the other members to establish the limits, to save her from the shock if they were to find each other in the base in the near future. "I guess you'll know a few people today" she said with relief until they stopped at the main hall of the base. "Well Sakura, wait here, I'm back in a minute"
Konan made her way to where she knew all meet, without stopping to knock on the door, she broke there.
"Speak of the devil" Kisame said as she entered.
"I guess you already know of-" she never managed to finish the sentence as Sasori impatiently interrupted "the new acquisition? Yes, we were informed." he said trying to speed things up.
"Now I want everyone to introduce to her, because if she ever get to cross with you, I don't want her to be scared to see you, no offense, but all of you must admit that your looks are at least intimidating and very rare" Konan said noting the big man with blue skin and appearance of shark, the man made of wood, then the stitches one with the mask that covered everything but his eyes, the snake made man and the carnivorous plant "But before you do, I don't want you to intimidate or threaten her, is that clear?" she asked coldly hard look. "Furthermore it is strictly forbidden to speak of what we do here, or what you do in your free time."
"Crystal" they responded.
"Well now I want all of you to go at the main room." she said without looking up to see Pein, passing him overlooked, she was still upset with him for only suggest kill her.
They followed her only to stop when she did "now you're going to stay here until I get back with her" Konan said "don't move." she added without looking back as she made her way to the other end of the room.
"Sakura-chan they're here." said a little nervous taking her hand and leading her where supposedly should be the members of Akatsuki, not every day a child will meet six of the most dangerous criminals in the world.
"She is Sakura, Sakura-chan, they are the other residents of this place." she said in order as they were set "Kisame, Tobi, Orochimaru, Sasori, Zetsu and remote from all of them is Kakuzu" said hoping for the reaction of the girl wasn't too bad.
"It's nice to meet you Kisame-sama, Tobi-sama, Orochimaru-sama, Sasori-sama, Zetsu-sama and Kakuzu-sama" she said remembering successfuly the names.
"Konan-senpai, blossom-chan is very pretty, can Tobi call the cute girl blossom-chan? Tobi is very happy to meet you blossom-chan, Tobi is a good boy "Tobi said, jumping up and down.
"Sure why not" Konan said resigned, after all he would do it anyway.
"Just try not to spend too much money." Said the man in the mask and the strange green eyes, at what Sakura turned to see Konan with a confused look.
"He is responsible for the economy of the Organization" Konan explained with a sigh, this was going to be more difficult than she thought.
"Don't listen to him, he is such an ass with everyone here, but if you want to avoid problems stay away from him like all of us in this moment, he has a bad temper all the time Sakura-hime" said the snake trying to be polite at her obvious discomfort.
"Okay Orochimaru-sama." She said giving him a nervous smile.
"If you see my puppets don't touch them, unless I give you permission little girl, is that clear?" Sasori Asked.
"Of course Sasori-sama." she said looking into his brown ash eyes for a while.
"What peculiar color you have in your pretty hair kitten" the tall man with blue skin said.
"I could say the same about your skin and hair color Kisame-sama." she said casually trying to suppress her temperament, eliciting laughter from the rest.
"Touché, apparently the kitten has claws." Kisame said funny. "I think I like you" He ended.
"For your sake I hope you stay away from my greenhouse if I don't take you there, or you'll be dinner." the man who looks like a plant said.
"su... Sure Zetsu-sama." She said feeling fear for a second.
"It's good that we all know each others now," Konan said standing in front of Sakura in a protective way and sending a death glare to Zetsu, which was cut short when she felt her ring shine with a chakra pulse, Pein was calling her and it wasn't a good time, seeing her options sighed to herself, knowing she would regret this. "Tobi, do you mind staying with Sakura while I take care of some business?" she asked tense.
"Konan-senpai, Tobi is a good boy and Tobi will take care of the little cherry blossom." He said cheerfully.
"Okay ... just don't lose her of sight" she said even without checking on what she was about to do, making reluctantly her way out.
"So you'd like to play a game blossom-chan?" He asked cheerfully.
"What kind of game?" She questioned puzzled with shyness.
"Hide and seek." Tobi said cheerfully.
"I don't know how to play that Tobi-sama" she said sincerely and shyly with low voice.
"Tobi will teach you, just have to hide very well before I go for you," he said excitedly "Wanna play?" Asked more ecstatic if that was possible.
"Yes." She said smiling.
"I'm not part of the disaster," Sasori said before disappearing. "Nor I." agreed Kisame, and before that could start the game were the only ones in the room.
"I guess it's just you and I flower-chan" Disappointed Tobi said, "I'll go first, go hide" Tobi said without knowing how much was going to regret saying that.
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"Tobi what the hell are you doing? You've been walking all over the base about an hour and a half "Kisame said stopping drinking sake.
"I umm..." Tobi looked around trying to see a way out.
"What did you do?" Kisame asked irritably.
"I ... lost the little cherry blossom playing a game, and I can't find her" Tobi said hurriedly looking down and covering his head.
"What do you fucking say? If that girl doesn't appear Konan will kill us" Kisame said irritably throwing the bottle of sake on the ground causing it to break apart, yes the floor too.
"Don't be angry with me senpai, Tobi is a good boy, TOBI IS A GOOD BOY." He said screaming desperate.
"Shut up you idiot, if Konan comes now we are lost, you go that way and I'll go this and if you want to live, ask for help and pray to your god that she isn't a doll or has sold by Kakuzu, or worse, has been hidden in the greenhouse right now" he said disappearing by the entry.
Tobi ran into the Orochimaru lab for help, in the worst case he would be experimenting with her, and at best, he would help him to find her.
"Orochimaru-senpai!" Tobi said, breaking into his lab.
"Tobi, if it is to see a children's film again, I'll kill you" said leaving the blood samples aside.
"Is not that this time, Tobi doesn't want to die, Tobi lost the little Cherry Blossom and now he can't find her anywhere" said desperate "Tobi needs help" he almost yelled "Tobi needs help to pray." he continued.
"Maybe it's better if I help you to seek" said aware of the danger, he immediately thought Tobi was an idiot for losing such a young child, but knowing that Konan could return at any minute, he decided to take precautions, as she had once threatened him with throw all his studies and scrolls away because of insubordination acusation, and he was sure that she would fulfill her task and even more if the girl disappeared. So he bit his thumb and made a series of hand signs to summon three snakes.
"Orochimaru-sama, what's wrong?" Asked the triplets
"Riku, Umi, Sora, I need you to track a pink haired girl" Orochimaru told to his trackers, land, water and air respectively, each specializing in different types of searches. "And this time I want her alive." He added before they disperse. Standing, expulsed Tobi from the lab, and decided to go to find the girl.
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"Pein" Konan said coming into the room.
"Konan" he said in greeting.
"What do you want?" She asked defensively.
"I'm serious when I say that she can't stay here and you know it well, you can't overlooked this subject like that, you know what is at stake, is the best for her and for you too, besides for us, is a win-win situation and you must consider it because I am now giving you the option to return the kid to its place alive" he said closing each access to a negative reply from her.
"I can't leave her alone, she has no one in this life beside of me" responded angrily.
"You can and you will, it was her destiny." he said, looking lazy.
"Easy to say, but you haven't taken into account how I feel about this situation in first place." he just sighed.
"Yes, I already did, but tell me what's going to happen when you're on a mission ?, Would you grant her security to these criminals? You're not being reasonable, you're letting your emotions cloud your judgment, at this very moment she is in imminent danger, perhaps in greatest danger that she was when you found her, we will never be sure of that." He continued "no to mention distractions and problems when they have simultaneous assignment and no one will be present at the base" he said staring "besides, what would you be for her; a friend, a sister, her mother? Don't make me laugh" he said a little annoyed already.
"I like to think of her as a daughter, after all it seems that I'll never gonna be mother by other means." she said openly and directly.
"Konan there will be time for that" he countered "Now our priorities are elsewhere" he said rubbing his temples, starting to stand up.
"You don't understand right?" She asked breaking her emotionless mask "you never understand Nagato! I can never be a mother if isn't now" said rising higher the fall of her voice.
"You can and you know it" he said breaking his composure well "And where does all this sudden desire to be a mother? I thought you knew how awful it was to grow orphaned and unloved, fighting for food, stealing and suffering for every loss we had, I thought you didn't want that to happen to another child, as much as I want"
"For that very reason I want her by my side, she made me realize that we will not live forever, your plan involves a war, if not now, then I'll never be a mother." She almost yelled.
"when we achieve peace you can do whatever you want" He hissed.
"That could take years and years and I can't because you can't Nagato, you can't because your body is weak and the body of Yahiko unfeasible to fertilize, I can't do it even if we reach the peace." She said listing the facts.
"First, you're naming my handicaps and not you're own, which certainly, you haven't, you can do it every time you want in the future with someo..."
"Shut up" she yelled "Shut up, shut up" increasingly under said "don't you dare to say it, How could you think such a thing? If you can't, I can't." she said as the first tears she had left out in years began to fall from her amber eyes, blurring her vision.
"Of course you can there is nothing to bind you to me, the only thing we have in common is a goal and a dead comrade" he said yelling too and rising from his position to stand up to her "You're very stubborn Konan, I pity you, don't have to pretend to love me just because I have the body of Yahiko, it's disgu…"words that came to that died as Konan slapped him and her tears fell uncontrollably down her face.
"You hadn't hurt me that way and you won't do it, I won't allow it!" Konan said between sobs shaking "Is that what you think of me? Somebody that is looking for a substitute? It is true that I loved Yahiko, damn I still love him, but that's part of the past now, I ... I can't believe I fooled myself like this." she said, wiping her face "everything is clear now" she continued staring at him. "Maybe this girl came at a good time, maybe ... maybe I should die that day instead of Yahiko, perhaps you'd be satisfied." she said sorrowful.
"Konan isn't like that." he said regretting what he had done.
"Then what is it?" She said uncontrollably.
"You're very important to me, please forgive me I didn't want to hurt you." he said holding her, it felt strange comfort her after so long. "I don't want you to suffer because of me." he said after a few moments. "Tell me what I can do to make it up to you I... I just don't know ho..."
"Shut up you Idiot…" she said getting closer to his warmth, calming her breathing.
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He was looking for her chakra now for a time and then realized that she wasn't anywhere to be found, it meant that perhaps left the base or encountered with one of the other criminals in which case passed away. Maybe Tobi wasn't exaggerating when he said she had been hard to find. He was about to give up when a cloud of smoke appeared in front of him.
"Riku" recognized "Do you have news?" He asked without much hope.
"she is in the kitchen pantry and sleeping Orochimaru-sama" he said before disappearing again before he could question him, had only focused on following her chakra and in the kitchen there was no sign of it, that means it was impossible to her to been there and besides she were sleeping there, he knew she didn't had ninja training and although he knows that only experienced ninjas were managed to completely suppress their chakra and even within them were a few of them who could do it that well. So he made his way in the direction, he opened the door gently cupboard and found the girl awake and on guard, it was obvious that she sensed his presence before entering in the small room.
"Interesting" Orochimaru said studying her closely, "I found you, the game ends when that happens." he said, knowing she still had no clear the rules.
"Tobi will continue playing with me?" she asked now calmer.
"I'm afraid I can't let that happen if we want to live, come with me I will keep you occupied." He detested look like babysitting, first had no intention of doing so, but it was better than ending up dead suddenly so close of his goal, and secondly, he never liked children very much if it wasn't to experiment with them, besides the brat was very young and the youngest ones used to be nasty and fearful.
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"Tobi you can give me Sakura back." Konan said even a little emotional.
"Um ... yeah sure, Tobi will go for her." he said nervously
"Tobi did something happen with Sakura?" She asked, noting how he shuddered every second.
"What makes you think I lost her two hours ago?" He asked innocently.
"You what?" She asked angrily in what must be the most exciting day of her life.
"I ..." Tobi at this point and was starting to sweat cold.
"She's with me Konan-san" Orochimaru said, appearing with the girl in the room at what she just gave him a suspicious look full of questions without feeling like Tobi fainted behind her in a mixture of tension and relief.
"Welcome back Konan-sama," Sakura said.
"Sakura-chan, you are complete, I'm so glad" Konan said hugging her.
"Yes" she said, not understanding that danger had been submitted so recently.
"I think you've had enough excitement for one day, it's time to go to bed," Konan said taking her hand and away from the rest of the criminals.«• •» ▬▬ «••» ▬▬ «••»▬▬ «• •» ▬▬ «••» ▬▬ «••»▬▬ «• •» ▬▬ «••»
A week had passed since Sakura was on the basis of akatsuki and everything went relatively smoothly, she stayed away from the others; she was attached to Konan at all times, no one questioned why, and of course, no one complained, that was until the missions time came. Konan had managed to convince Pein to stay with Sakura, but he said that she should be able to respond to the organization as before and that meant going on missions just like everybody else, those missions were usually in solitary for information recovery. That's why she knew this day would come. The day in that she would have to go on a mission with no time set to retrieve a parchment in Kumo.
She was between a rock and a hard place, she thought of taking her with her, really considered it, but Kumo was a hostile land for wallflowers like her, and her mission may not be flawless and free of murder, or so she knew. Leave her with Pein was out of the question, yes, he was the one in she trust more in the organization, but he made it clear, he wanted nothing to do with the girl. Partly as a lesson to Konan for not obeying his orders, and it's not like she was going to make it anyway, her pride wouldn't allow it, that's why after the incident with Tobi, she thought of her next and only logical choice to take care of her small protected and was Kisame, although the guy wasn't the most sensitive or careful creature in the world, he showed concern when everyone seemed unable to find Sakura and spent a day out of the base with the hope of finding her once knew that Zetsu hadn't eaten her, that Kakuzu hadn't sold anything alive and small that day and Sasori didn't have a new doll in his collection, all that until he was called on a mission and learned that they had found her some time after he went to look for her.
Tobi was unconscious for three days after the coup that he gave him. So with this new conviction made her way with Sakura to the room of Kisame, as it was still early and she had confirmed that he had not been assigned to a mission yet, so, out of his room she and her protected were waiting patiently to him open the door after knock the door and warn him to report there with appropriate attire for a four old girl, after all her experience told her that the Akatsuki members could surprise, not only in the battlefield but in their habits too, so it would not be a surprise if they had strange forms of sleep. After a few minutes came to meet them a huge man rubbing his eyes.
"Konan, kitten" he said as a gesture of recognition of the two girls who were outside his door "What can I do for you?" he asked still a little sleepy.
"What good question, this is your new companion until I return from my mission, get lucky" Konan said before disappearing in a shower of paper, avoiding any protest that the shark man could made, who looked puzzled by what just happened.
"Well I guess is just you and me." he said giving a smile to the little girl, it's true that he wasn't known to be friendly or anything nor ever had to worry about it, usually their appearance was enough to make civilian, children and even ninjas rushing out, and while it was true that when he was a child it had been a difficult part of his life, soon learned to ignore it and make it a fortress, so the truth is he never had to try. "Come inside and settle anywhere you want as I prepare for my new duties." he said, making his way into the room with the girl who was behind, it was a known fact that the girl was rather timid about other members and that it was understandable, after all, she spend her entire day with Konan.
After a moment of hesitation, the girl climbed into his bed and sat, waited there him to come out of his bathroom, and that's because the organization had a lot of money especially because the economy was responsibility of Kakuzu, but also because the leader of the organization was the Amegakure ruler, so the economic relations were at his disposal. Also while they were making plans to conquer the world they had to learn to survive in other ways, so that worked relatively normal and simmilar to hidden villages, with regular assignments and customers, who usually were prominent, wealthy individuals who were willing to pay anything just to acquire more commercial or social power, even if it meant eliminating the competition. Works were regularly questioned by the nations that did it, however, akatsuki never said anything and merely compliance with no questions asked in the middle.
"Well I'm back" Kisame said appearing in front of Sakura after a few minutes "tell me, what do I need to do? I'm new at this, you know." He said trying to ask for tracks. Getting no response he sighed "I guess it's breakfast time" he said walking in her direction without being sure how to proceed, he thought offer his hand because he wasn't willing to lose her again after that traumatic experience, really didn't want to repeat it but, then he dismissed the idea because of their height difference, so without warning lifted her on his shoulders and began to walk to the kitchen. "Sorry little lady but I'm not willing to lose you again." he winked jokingly causing the laughter of the little girl who clung to him putting her hands softly on his hair, it made him feel weird because he never had a child given him a smile before nor had the less contact with him, it made him appear a strange protective feeling about her.
"Um ... Kisame-sama I think we pass by the kitchen time ago." Sakura said soflty groping pulling him out of his thoughts.
"You're right." he said fun, "I guess I'm getting old" he sighed pretending to be hurt again prompting more laughter.
Once they reached their destination Kisame successfully put Sakura in one of the chairs arranged around the kitchen island and then make his way to the fridge.
"Let's say I know enough cooking to survive" he warned "is why we are having milk, eggs and yesterday's daifuku in breakfast, sorry." he said apologetically.
"Don't worry Kisame-sama" she said increasingly gaining a little more confidence.
"That's good, but don't tell Konan or she will kill me for give you sweets at breakfast." he said seriously.
"Crystal Kisame-sama" she said smiling. Once finished eating they made their way to the living room, where Kisame in an attempt to be a good caretaker put the children's film that Tobi saw with Orochimaru days ago. It was a mistery to know how that happened, but he decided to remove the film and replace it by another of the many Tobi had, Mulan, because he didn't want Sakura to torment him for his resemblance to the sharks, Tobi did it, and made a scandal when they ate fish saying that "fish are friends not food" when they went on a mission weeks ago. Once started the film he made his way back to the kitchen to get them some sweets, after what seemed like a bad idea to Kisame, he found himself amused by the events in the film, it really was the closest the smaller ones could get to the shinobi world without the traumatic experience, with enough ugly things overlooked, so once ended, he found himself arguing with Sakura some points of the film.
"Kisame-sama is this how is the shinobi world?" She asked curiously.
"The truth is that has similar aspects, but not quite a lot." said struggling with his words to keep the girl's innocence intact, hoping that answer could get her away from asking more questions.
"What sense?" She asked with increased curiosity making Kisame slapped himself internally.
"In the sense that in the shinobi world a sword like that is useless" said Kisame happy to be able to change the subject. "Why the interest?" He asked suddenly curious.
"I want to be a ninja, that's why I want to learn as much as possible about this." she said sheepishly, as if she had confessed a dark secret. "You mentioned something about swords, is it your style of fighting?"
"What makes you think that?" He asked curiously again.
"Konan-sama is a paper ninja, she told me" she said with a smile "not only in the sense that literally uses the paper, but also outmaneuvered and good with things that require more of a brain than a brute force, but that doesn't mean that she's weak." she said as if enumerate the facts.
"Well that's true, Konan is very strong" he acknowledged remembering how she had made it known to those who doubted about that. "But you are also right about the sword" Kisame said smiling "While it's a weapon, it isn't my unique style of fighting, after all, if you rely on one style you will be dead" Kisame said "by the way, why do you want to be a ninja?" He asked remembering the other point of the conversation.
"That's why... it's a secret." She said funny, although the truth was that for some time she heard a voice in her head telling her things and advised, she tenderly decided to call it inner Sakura because she had no other explanation for that, but she figured that maybe it was something that everyone had, so never mentioned to Konan something about it, was that voice who said that the only way to strengthen their bond was with training and she deduced that meant ninja training.
"Well I guess you're right to keep secrets" Kisame said a little fun for the child. "I'll keep yours if you keep mine." he said after a moment.
"But I didn't tell you a secret," she murmured.
"Anyway you must keep in secret we saw a film of Tobi" he muttered as well.
"Do you think he could get mad?" she asked even with secrecy.
"It's not that, I have a reputation to look after, you know." he said with a wink.
"I will if you train me." she said with a smirk and fun.
"are you planned to use me all this time?" Asked pretending to be hurt again "of all people I never expected you, the little and pretty kitten will betrayed me, I thought we were friends" ever more dramatic once he said. "oh your claws hurt me" he said painfully.
"It's not that." she said scared for hurting him.
"I'm joking kitten, I will, but with Konan permission, I don't want any trouble." he admitted, but after a while thought about what he had done. Kisame Hoshigaki, hostile and fearsome member of a criminal association had agreed to train a child, a little pink haired child. He found himself, in his life such a possibility had never crossed his mind and indeed the idea didn't displease him, perhaps finally could do something good worth noting among his many faults. "But we will get into it slowly" said more to himself than to the girl.
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A/N:
❀Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity nature.
❀And yes there are snakes that can "fly" find out if you wish, and of corse water snakes.
❀Riku means land, Umi, ocean and Sora, Sky.
❀Need to remember that before Ino, Sakura was very modest and shy, that may be replaced by akatsuki.
❀now is named wabi-sabi because is a great name and besides in that time I was listening my jam (true fact) but now I know the reason and I read about wabi-sabi in a Japanese web and I loved it.