01

When I first came into this place, I almost changed entirely. Almost.

I forced my feet to walk, but the injuries and poison rush had only limited themselves to drag lazily. My arms hung loose, but were bound to new chakra rope. Everything hurt and everything took toil on me, physically and emotionally. I had just lost. I've never lost a battle in my entire life. Everything affected me, by the smallest words to the many punctures in my stomach and all around. I've never felt this way before, nor do I ever want to experience this pain. What was this emotion called, again? Oh yes… anguish. That's the exact word.

Someone from behind budges me and commands me to follow with quicker steps. The bluish tints on his skin made my temperature drop, his overpowering muscles made me small and vulnerable, as though he won even now, and his sword is his life saver, and were the weapon that almost lead to my death, but then led to my defeat. This person was the one held responsible for my loss over a long span of a three day battle, injecting a transfer curse into my bloodstream under his pleasure, my kidnapping, and all of my pain. His name is Kisame Hoshigaki, the demon shark of the Seven Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist, and the man who changed my life for eternity.

I start to drag my feet across the floor, my blood soaking on it. I'm bleeding everywhere, and I can't help it. It must be the cause of rapid heartbeat or the affects of the curse mark. My mouth is sore; my vocal chords are sore from the screams and pleads. Everything is injured, including my heart.

I enter though the boulder passage. I see so many unfamiliar faces, and each one has a different reaction. Hate, despair, surprise, and suspicion… so many negative thoughts for only the most defeated looking person in the world. Tiny conversations are heard from my working ears, for instance, the first I hear are from a teenage boy no younger than me with long blonde hair half pulled into a ponytail, a machine enclosed into his right eye and a dusk blue left eye that looks sharply at me. His acquaintance, however, was hunched and disguised his mouth with a mask. I could tell that he was smiling in greed because his cheekbones rose. I heard with keen ears as I painfully walked past both of them.

"Hmm, a new member. Looks like we have company, Master Sasori," says the blonde, half observing me, half trying to look away. As of my mind, that member looked interested and nervous. Maybe I have a dying chance to relate to someone in my age group.

The hollow old man stumbled, and then looked up at me, meeting my eyes, then turning away, looking up at his partner. "Indeed we do. Look, she's too fragile. She'll be broken like a twig in one second."

As he said those exact words, I narrowed my eyes. This idiot had no idea what kind of insane torture I had went though these past days. Let him make fun of me, but I was stronger.

The blonde peered at me through him machine, scoping in on my face, particularly my head band, which I wore proudly, a soldier of battle only captured by the other side. I tried to stand up straight, but I felt the stabbing pain in my posture and back, almost collapsing on the floor in front of me. In response, the teen partially smiled, but still focused on my headband. "She's from the Leaf Village. Don't we have one other member from that area, hmm?"

The elderly man named Sasori answered in clear, but whispered response, as though partially scared that someone in particular would hear him. "As in Itachi, then yes. They both belong to the same village."

Itachi Uchiha. The mass murderer than caused the Leaf Village to almost collapse because of his responsibility of slaughtering every family member except for the occasion of Sasuke, his younger, more naïve and vengeful brother. He is partner to Kisame, and helped him secure me of resistance with the help of his Sharingan. His longer, dark hair was always pulled back into a messy ponytail, with bangs across his face, and possessed dark gray eyes that could pierce your heart and stab your memories. To everyone he meets, he is manipulative, crafty, and insulting because of his talent and attitude towards his competition. To me, he is the same. He tried to entrance me with his precious Sharingan, but I never gave in. I could resist anything. His attitude and good looks try to weaken me, but I remain strong against him. I still stand the better gen-jutsu artist.

I can still hear the two comrades whispering about me, but a third mysterious member came into play. I call him mysterious for the orange spiraled mask on his face and that he had no Akatsuki robe or ring. That made me confused. I thought only members that were confirmed by the leader were allowed into the main base. I stared at them, but all of them looked away, except for the stranger who wore the mask, dark green scarf, and very dull gray armor.

The blonde teenager started to smile when he met my face. He observed my bloody golden hair, and met my matching, luminous eyes. He became interested at the sight of me. I pulled away in a huff as he chatted with the two others. "Let's see what she has. She may look weak, but I think she could break someone without question. Besides, she's confident… and attractive."

The masked mystery for a member shouted across the room in a childish tone, bursting out, and said: "This is the Mikaze girl? Really?!?"

I narrowed my eyes again. Apparently there was no gentleman here to prove me. Maybe the organization had tortured him into insanity or some other punishment. Maybe he was always goofy, I will probably never know. Kisame pushed his sword onto my back again, gesturing that I move along. I obeyed, sadly not having any strength the try and defeat that monster again. I overheard the blonde again, only his voice was moving a distance away.

"Tobi, shut up. This is a private moment. We all need to whisper, not yell in an immature manner. This girl is going to be part of the organization."

I knew that since Kisame told me a few days ago. I knew that since the man laid eyes on me and my talent. My fate was set with them since day one.

I felt the warm breath of my enemy, his hand rested on my neck, observing any damages to the curse mark. He tightened his grip upon my skin, and I flinched. I turned my head angrily, but he held me in my position. "Enjoy the freedom for now, because you won't be having it for the rest of your life," he whispered, his breath resting on my neck, trying to eerie the mood, trying to come back to when we were alone and the ceremony was preformed. Isolation could only get so far when more than a few people were talking and looking at my physical image.

"Freedom," I repeated aloud, stronger than I expected my voice to stand. "What an irrelevant word. Only the blessed seek it."

He laughed then retorted, letting everyone hear him. "Heh. Then welcome to the damned."

I chose a bad time to act sarcastic to the person that almost killed me in the process of a three day battle. "Good to know. I think I'll love it here."

"Shut up, prisoner," Kisame reacted, pushing me even harder with his hell sword. "Enough with the sarcasm and follow me up to the top."

Then I stopped again for the second time, seeing two men that almost made my soul sink into oblivion. The first person stood there with his polished red and black tri-scythe, his robes not completely closing in on his chest, and on his strong chest dangled a sacred medallion of some strange religion. He had purple/pinkish irises, which almost made me burst out laughing because those colors didn't match his personality at all. How ironic. His grayish, whitish hair was slicked back, and he observed me just like the blonde did, except in the smile, he showed almost canine-like teeth, longer points at the edges of his mouth. He laughed to his companion, looking at me with a bad feeling stirring in my bruised stomach.

"Oy, Kakuzu, look who we have here…"

The other person called Kakuzu looked at me with lifeless eyes, like he had tried to accomplish so many dreams and those all had been crushed. He wore a mask of black and white, and showed his insignia on his headband. He wore the same robes, but his eyes scared me straight to hell. They were black on the whites of the eyes, but the most uncomfortable detail was the irises. He had green eyes, but they were glazed, almost shiny, like smooth pebbles under the sun. He possessed no pupils. My face and body fluids ran cold like my previous memories. Kisame smiled when he saw my reaction.

"Yes, those are who I call the Zombie Twins. They live."

"They live?" I questioned, still holding my strong position.

Kisame leaned in close to me, smiling with his sharp, white, and knife-like teeth. "They live… prying and slaughtering others around them. They survive on other people."

I nodded, my face facing the other direction. I shivered, my bones almost rattling. Those two deserve to be here… they kill to live. I imagined all of the innocent souls those men killed, but not just those men, but everyone here. Why am I here? I never knew the answer.

Kakuzu still stared at me with those cold green eyes. "…the legendary kinochi of the Hidden Leaf. I'm amazed that she survived all of this."

The pink eyed zombie brother smiled even colder and wider, like I was a reward for something he accomplished a long time ago. He spoke to his partner in a satisfied voice. "Finally, god damn it, I can hook up with that golden angel while we have the time to live."

I almost threw up and coughed up blood at the same time, maybe in humiliation. No way, you son of a-

"You're kidding me," Kakuzu argued, directing his partner. "Hidan, you huge pervert, she's only seventeen-"

"-and I'm immortal," he interrupted, objecting to his partner's objection. His pink eyes burned into Kakuzu's lifeless green ones. "So what?!? She's hot! I can't help my thirst for passionate-"

Passionate?!? Oh god, not only is he a mass murderer for life and pleasure, but he wants me with-

"-I don't want to know, okay?" Kakuzu turned away, his eyes directed to me, then Kisame. I could already tell that these 'Zombie Twins' never had gotten along. Kakuzu watched me drag my feet, and then observed my face. He narrowed his eyes when I caught him looking at my bloody injuries. He muttered to himself, but I couldn't catch his words to my ears. I turned and marched to my trial, head held high, trying to get everyone to think I wasn't defeated internally. But I was. Always.

Kisame whispered to me again. "This is the last time for escape. Do you want the tremendous risk of dying?"

"I have no other choice, do I?" I shrugged, though hurt my shoulders. I held onto my right, still very injured from where Kisame cut and scraped me. "By the way, I'll get my revenge for everything that you have cursed me with. You're just very fortunate that I want to impress a crowd today."

"Why don't you kiss my ass instead? You'll be better off."

"How appropriate," I retorted, looking him in his soulless eyes. "Now leave me alone so that I get this ceremony over with."

"Good luck. You'll certainly need it from everyone here."

He gave me a final shove of his sword, and walked away angrily. I noticed his missing hand from where I used Samehada against him in battle. I always thought of that as a victory, but nothing could compare with the negativity of me and my first loss. The other members noticed it too.

"Hey, Kisame, where's your left hand, hmm?" the blonde asked, his sharp eye looking curiously at the armhole, "looks like she beat you badly."

Kisame laughed, mocking me, and smiled. "She's a tough little thing, but I'll live."

"Do you have your hand?" The Zombie twin called Kakuzu stepped up to Kisame and looked too at his missing hand. "And you lost your ring too. I hope you have it, or the leader will have your head."

Kisame laughed again. "Don't worry, I have it. Once I get it later, you can stitch it on again."

What did he mean by that? Stitch it back on? I think I'm acting delirious because of the overdose of the curse mark poison. I stumbled up to the podium, since I had no more chakra left to jump, and I almost collapsed in front of the organization for the second time. I heard some muffled snickers, but I managed to ignore them for the time being. Looks like joining the organization will be fun.

A man approached the podium, appearing to be drifting across the room. All members had their eyes onto him, and I stared strangely at him. With all of the attention drawn to him like a magnetic force and the silence irregularly lingering in the main base, I could already tell that this was the leader of the Akatsuki, the organization of S-rank criminals. He was the one who created this gang of villains. He had orange, spiky hair that stuck out, similar to my brother's. His face was full of black piercings, in every inch of his body which I didn't find attractive at all. The most disturbing were his eyes. I've found a pattern in every person, and it was in their eyes. He was the most disturbing, and I will never doubt it.

His eyes… I will have nightmares forever. It was even more appalling than the gross piercings. His eyes were purple, even in the whites, with thin black rings all around. I've only heard rumors and legends that would scare even the rulers of nations. The Rinnegan. A child's story, come to life. He spoke in a serious, booming voice above all others, and I even couldn't resist his powerful tone.

"Dear Akatsuki Members, we have been able to gather a new person from our rankings. First of all, I would like to especially thank Kisame and Itachi for escorting her here today."

I thought to myself, almost laughing in a non-meaningful way. Escorting .Ha. What asshole would think that I was escorted here? I'm covered in blood all over, and I'm almost dead. There's no sudden chance that someone would think I was carried here by Shark Man and Uchiha."

I could tell that Kisame liked to soak in attention from the other members. He stood and announced to all: "What can I tell you all? She's a big handful, but we got a hold of her." He looked at me menacingly, smiling in continuous victory. I mouthed, not catching myself: I cut off your hand and almost killed you. I wouldn't be bragging.

Kisame's reaction turned his smile into a sneer. He probably thought that he should have killed me instead of biting me and handing me over to Akatsuki. Come to think of it, I would have less pain and humiliation, but I would always have my missions first.

Itachi Uchiha, being Kisame's partner, stood up slowly. All eyes were glued onto him. He spoke in a somber tone, being usually bored.

"I'm in agreement with my partner. This girl is something different than what I usually see, and she was almost victorious. Luck overcame us and we finally caught hold of her." I looked at Itachi, a vile look across my face, wishing of his first defeat. He was too much like his brother. He simply stood with an insultingly bored expression and pretended I didn't exist. Man, he was good.

"Introduce yourself, please."

The Leader grew conscious of the fact that I wanted to get the ceremony over with, so I came out of zonings and spoke with a strong, but choking voice that would contrast to a singing dove. I always had to mess things up at the wrong time.

"Thank you, Leader," I bowed, not trying to get fresh blood on the floor in front of him. "My full name is Tetane Mikaze and I am most welcome here."

I hated kissing up. Being a schmoozer to someone I didn't appreciate or respect was what a loathed, especially to this exact person. I hid my furious expression with a simple smile that could catch any person I met off guard. Bowing only made my headache feel like it was splitting across the edge of my skull. I absolutely hated this feeling, and all I have to do to get out of here.

It was funny, actually. As I was talking about myself to the other members, I overheard a conversation between Kisame and the blonde teenager I had noticed talking about me. I listened consciously as I talked unconsciously, becoming suspicious of both of the murderous traitors in the second row.

Kisame muttered to himself. "Lies…"

The blonde took action and decided interrupt Kisame's train of thought. "Excuse me, hmm?"

"She never wanted to be here," Kisame explained, looking up at me, and once I met his eyes, I pulled back, the unconscious part of my mind focusing onto the presentation, and the conscious part attentive on him. He continued, clutching his fist and barring his teeth. "I was the one who kidnapped her, and she's just trying to be a schmoozer to everyone."

The blonde boy nodded, and then looked directly at me, not paying attention to anything about my history. He started to give me an interested look again, which really bugged me. "God, hmm. I hope she fights better than she looks. You beat her up really badly. Now that's not a way a gentleman acts to a lady."

Kisame laughed, almost coughing up blood. Others turned, but after he apologized, some paid attention to my unconscious speech given. "A lady. Heh. That's pretty funny, Deidara."

The blonde flipped his hair, intending to. "Well, I hope you don't have bets, because I want to date her."

I almost stuttered in my unconscious speech. He wants to date me?!? I tried to think of more pleasant things, but I could sense that he was deadly serious. What the hell did I do to deserve of his attention?

Kisame apparently agreed with me. "Deidara, has your mind been turned into your molding clay? You must be crazy!"

Deidara scoffed, simply insulted. He flipped his hair again. "Look at her, Kisame. She's drop dead gorgeous. Wait until I see her without her injuries, hmm. Surely you must be a little attracted to her."

I blushed as he blushed. Who in this place would take it upon themselves to love me? Who was this person?

"That's… irrelevant," Kisame stuttered, catching his breath. "Tetane is my student, and I-"

Deidara interrupted, happily interested. "Well, hmm, if you don't want her, then I call first shots."

"Good luck with that attempt. Hidan is absolutely obsessed with her."

Did I hear that right?!? I stared furiously at the Zombie brother called Hidan. He never cared about my history or past, neither my strengths nor weaknesses. He… wanted me. To secretly tell this Deidara that I wasn't interested in Hidan, I barred my teeth and spoke directly to him, in a commanding voice. Kisame caught sight of me while Deidara was fantasizing about the 'likeliness' of us as a couple. I would tell him that I want his imperfect visions about us to disappear and to take a one stop to hell, but my unconsciousness was too focused on the speech.

"Damn, hmm. Well, if events turn in my direction of luck, she won't like the Grim Reaper…"

Kisame noticed my threatening glare at Hidan. "…trust me on this one, she hates his guts…"

"…then by the end of the full moon tonight, I'll have your minion by the waist, both of us walking together, holding hands, making out-"

I nearly puked.

Kisame almost felt the same way I did, turning his head towards me in disgust to Deidara's hopeful dreams. He interrupted in a snarl. "-have fun fantasizing while I listen. I need to find out how this ceremony is going to lead."

I turned my head the other way to the Leader, indicating that I was done, and both my consciousness came together. All eyes were turned on me. I hope no one was going to ask any mind-blowing questions, or any questions about what I have secret. If in that case, I'll lie, trying to be a schmoozer again. I sighed to myself silently; I absolutely despised this.

"Tetane, please tell the organization more about yourself," the Leader said, almost smiling, almost frowning. He commanded me, but I was never overcome by his power. He probably thought he was an all time god or something. I sighed again, but shook the dreadful feeling off.

"I am commonly known as the gen-jutsu artist of the Hidden Leaf," I spoke, referring angrily to Itachi, my eyes burning. Again, he looked at me dully, like he wanted to get this whole ceremony over with. Don't I agree…?

Deidara spoke for the first time, saying angrily to me: "Damn to hell! Not another one, hmm!"

"What's the matter, Deidara?" Kisame mocked, shoving Deidara, "Still dramatizing about your defeat with Itachi a few months ago?"

I caught interest. Was I not the only one who was forced into the organization? Could there be the smallest chance to make my rounds for an alliance? Deidara lost it, acting immature for his age.

"It was a bet, and you guys wouldn't let me escape! God, hmm!" he shouted to Kisame and all. The blonde teenager turned the other way, not knowing about the whispering and murmuring from other Akatsuki members.

So I'm not the only captive here… hmm, interesting, quite fortunate for me, I thought, looking directly at the frustrated Deidara, who now held a grudge with me because of my gen-jutsu skills. I overheard him talking to himself from all of the muttering.

"Those eyes… I hate them so much… so much abhor, hmm…"

I caught more interest. This Deidara criminal has had it in for Itachi. What did that unemotional mass murderer do to bring this independent teen to defeat? I'll only know if I ask him. But first, I had to know him. As if he knows me.

Kisame's patience was waning. "Well, since we have plenty of extra time, can we get to the ceremony?"

"Patience, Kisame," the Leader beckoned, staring right at him. "We will get to that." He turned to me in interest. "Tetane, will you tell us about your abilities?"

"Gladly," I mused, waiting for conversations to stop. "I am the oldest sibling of the current generation of the Mikaze Clan, so I possess one of the four chakra eyes in the world. This organization only has one in hands until I join. The Sharingan is a very powerful eye, with many more abilities, but it isn't as affective as mine." I locked in on Itachi, and for the once in a blue moon, he was caught. I narrowed my eyes again, and Itachi narrowed his, copying me. He spoke, clearing his voice.

"That is where I stand to disagree. I beat out your resistance when we captured you a few short days ago. You woke up here an hour ago."

"As of always, Itachi, you try to stand corrected, but you fail to see what lay outside of the main picture," I mused, trying to sound convincing. "I only stayed in your little gen-jutsu for a short time, probably an hour or so, until I escaped with my heart only beating once a minute. I pretended to stay in that state only to help recover, because I knew I was defeated by you. So that is where I stand for the evidence." I stood high with my cut arms folded across my chest in victory. Itachi looked to the side, where someone was laughing hysterically in the second row.

"Listen to that, dear Itachi," Deidara ridiculed, or made an attempt, "This seventeen year old girl can overcome your trances. I guess your eye has gotten weaker with age."

I backed away, and the Leader noticed. Both of us realized that if someone pisses off Itachi, there would be hell to pay. But in the opposite mood, Itachi became coldly serious and narrowed his crow-gray eyes to the recovering Deidara, who was wheezing from an overdose of laughter. Kisame knew where this was going, so he smiled evilly, his lips curled and sharp teeth showed. I almost knew Itachi and his attitude too well, so as Kisame did, I gave my sarcastic and villainous sneer.

"To stand tall, Deidara," retorted Itachi, his voice calm like the clear sea, "I recall beating you with the power of my eye a few months ago. You should not be talking. Besides, this kinochi has had years of training resisting any type of mental force."

I stepped into play when I needed to. "He's right," I agreed truthfully. "I've been practicing with… someone… since I was about five. It was truly aggravating."

I heard the old hunched man called Sasori snickering not far from where I stood. He mentioned the name that Satan could use in his presence: "Orochimaru."

My bruised stomach sank in so many torturous memories of that man. The man who raised me since I was a small and vulnerable infant, to where everything he did to me was experimental. He used me for his pleasures and achievements. I never meant to kill all of those people.

I opened my eyes to a new daylight. All eyes were drawn on Itachi as he continued with his argument.

"I am not done finishing my comment. I also agree with her. I know for a fact that her eye is more powerful than mine. I may have more abilities, but she can manipulate someone quicker, easier, and using less chakra. If I had possession of that eye, it would be a blessing. If you all understand, that would be a once in a lifetime opportunity."

I wanted to address the real name of my eye. "And-"

"-and that eye is called the Raikugan."

Kisame looked me right in the eyes and sneered. He touched Samehada, threatening me, and drew back. All noticed this action and I surprisingly shrank despite myself. Pain noticed this from the Rinnegan, and spoke with a powerful overcoming.

"Yes, the Raikugan. Known for every gen-jutsu there is, from blocking other gen-jutsu to mental control for eternity. Very powerful… and very dangerous."

I spoke quietly, trying to address the unit of criminals.

"The Rinnegan… is something I have become a burden to. Never had anyone suffered as much with this eye as me. I am the only human being on this earth that possesses this…" I swallowed. "…gift. There were so many innocent deaths from the treasure bestowed upon me. Slaughterers try to kill me every day, at least, for their chance of human takeover. Many have tried, none have succeeded. There is a long and tragic story about this eye scattered in the history, or as just a scary story told to young children for amusement. No one knows… anything about what may happen to them. This eye is also rare, for everyone in my current generation is either dead, rotting without a chance or has never possessed it by their hereditary genes. I stand to my conclusion that you do not take me lightly. I can kill you, and you won't even realize that you were killed… or that you were killing yourself."

Many bodies in the audience never moved. I smiled evilly accidentally, proud to scare the hell out of some S-Rank criminals. Deidara stared at me, twitching his sharp blue eye. Kisame smiled similarly as I did, knowing of my history and some deaths that occurred when he was there. Itachi narrowed his eyes. Pain stood in a state of his own enlightenment. It became deadly silent for several seconds, and then someone in the crowd muttered to me lightly, scratching his hair.

Sasori broke the silence, mumbling. "Hmm… Orochimaru told me about that eye."

My heart dropped. That man mentioned the name of the devil. I cringed angrily and clenched my fists so tightly that my knuckles ran white with lack of running blood. His face haunted my nightmares, and all was in peril for me when we came in battle after battle. I never succeeded, nor faced surrendering, but he was as much of a threat to me now as Kisame was. I will kill him, but not now. I have to wait for other vengeances, such as what I'm facing now. Above all, I was surprised that this old, hunched, hollow man knew him. Well, duh, Orochimaru was part of the organization ten years ago, but that was all in distant memory. Wait until he sees me… before I murder him.

I refocused on the main picture, and I settled into an even temper against Sasori.

"Don't speak that name in my presence," I threatened, facing towards the elder Akatsuki member in battle stance. "He is waste to the very society of the world."

"No way! You hate him too, hmm! Thank the world!"

Deidara jumped and smiled. I've never seen a true smile on him, really, but his teeth glittered. I never really noticed, but his teeth were luminous, along with his dusk blue eye… Damn, Tetane. Snap out of it. He's not my type, anyways. Come on, you can resist the Mangekyo Sharingan, but not an irrelevant teenage criminal?!?

I refocused again, the Leader staring at me, arms crossed. I stood straight, trying to be serious.

"Yes… now, any other questions?" I asked, almost muttering to myself.

"Are you the child of the fourth Hokage?"

This was the strangest person I have ever investigated in my lifetime, even worse looking than any of Orochimaru's failed experiments I've seen in my horror. This… thing was shaped as a Venus flytrap, green pincers closing in on the half-white, half-black head sticking out from the matching, algae green hair. He wore an oversize Akatsuki robe, and his yellow, glowing eyes looked upon me. He appeared cold and felt cold. He must have killed plenty of people. I responded after several seconds, never realizing my own shocked face. I stuttered, saying loud and clear my response to his simple question.

"…yes. Yes I am."

"What?!? Are you serious?" Kisame yelled, and then choked, coughing up blood on his cloak, looking like it made a new form of a red cloud. His face settled into a shocked stare, then snarled, baring teeth, grimacing at me, directly looking at me, no matter whether I activated my Raikugan or not. This face was almost the last thing I saw before I died, then revived after the poison rush stopped immediately.

I gave an Itachi face. "Sempai, you never asked me, nor did it come to mind as relevant at the time."

He frowned, grasping the handle of Samehada too tightly. "I'm not thrilled with this. Meet with me after."

I couldn't refuse. Sadly. "Yes, Sempai," I accepted, bowing, causing the splitting migraine to break my head in two. This was the one thing I hated. I need to get out.

"Thank you, Tetane," the Leader purred sarcastically, enjoying my unforgiveable shock from Zetsu and Kisame. "Anything else to do with your marvelous eye?"

I heard sniffles and little sneers of laughter in the background, making me shake my head. I considered second acts. "In fact, I do… with everything. See, the only word to describe the famous Raikugan is control. Control. Heh. It makes me more powerful, that word, because I can have someone other than me do the actual work, or have the opponent in a disadvantage."

Pain mused. "Go on… I want to hear this."

I laughed despite myself. "Well, I have many levels of controls, each one unique. For instance…" I paused for the attempt in drama, "… I can manipulate a person's senses. The first time I've ever came to realize that was when I was fighting my last battle."

Kisame eyed me intensely. I smiled sarcastically. "And when that happened, the eyes became dull, a glassy stare, and nothing was clear. I made my opponent blind, not knowing the surroundings around him. This jutsu I established on my own. It worked for a period of half of a day, or a little less than twelve hours."

The Leader leaned in, obviously interested. I remained smiling for the longest time tonight. "I can also take away the other six senses, including the flow of chakra. I can stop the flow of chakra in one's body… but for me to realize this was too late in that fight." I stopped talking, looking at Kisame in fury. I will never stop until I kill him. "The next manipulation is with the human body itself. It is the opposite of what I like to do, instead of the controlling of the mentality; I can let the soul witness me controlling the body. It is a more effective way of torture, for instance, I have done this jutsu, and my enemy witnessed himself burning, they couldn't stop looking at his melting flesh, slowly drooping off of the bones. The blood dissolved in the flames and smoke, and I saw only a set of bones and burned pieces left from him. That was the most grueling death I've done with that, and it lasts until I want it to last."

Silence filled the room. The masked Akatsuki character named Tobi screamed into open air, breaking the lingering shadows of isolation and discomfort.

"You're… not kidding?!? You watched someone die by burning… and you made them watch themselves die by flame?!? You really belong to Akatsuki!"

"It was someone I really didn't respect," I retorted to Tobi, narrowing my eyes. "Its life and people have to learn to realize that some deaths have to be delivered a little earlier and a little more painful. It depends what type of person you are."

Tobi, even though he wore a mask, I could tell he was surprised. I smiled even wider.

"Next is a simple gen-jutsu of transportation. When I look at someone's eyes," I blinked, turning to Itachi, my Raikugan activated, and when he freely expected me to stare, the next thing he remembered was me behind him, and I held his hands behind his back, grasping them. I whispered in his ear. "It feels like a rush of wind has taken over your body. You'll remember only the person behind you, but I can expand when you remember such things. If I run a knife through your neck… you'll still be under my gen-jutsu."

Some members held their tongues, and Itachi focused on me. He stared at me, and smiled half-heartedly. "You're quick, but not at my speed. Try again." His eyes were in the shape of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

I blurred out and cursed with anger and confusion. I forgot where I was until I heard laughter in the audience. I clutched onto my head, pounding with my heartbeat and pulse. I stood in the same spot where I preformed the jutsu, wondering if this was a dream. Itachi held a crooked smile while his special Sharingan faded into his thunder-gray eyes. I was played with. He encountered my own jutsu.

Itachi spoke out, becoming bored again. "It sometimes gets complicated, especially with my disability, but it will work on someone who is caught off guard."

I blushed, and the others laughed. I scowled, gripping my head again, only dried blood sticking onto my hand afterwards. My golden hair was in tangles, and I could only be conquered by fear at a time like this. I despised Itachi because of his attitude and similarities to Sasuke, but he was to be respected. I stood, and the Leader's lips curved up. "Go on…" he interrupted; loving every minute of what he could take in from my teachings.

I continued, taking a deep breath from underachievement. "Then, I can perform any illusion come to mind. It compares to the Sharingan, but I could never take anyone anywhere, like in Itachi's nightmare realm. I envy that very much."

I tried to apologize to him with that point, but he turned away, the same, unemotional look hanging on his face. I grimaced, disappointed.

I smiled again, knowing that the last jutsu was my favorite of all. "This last level of gen-jutsu is personally, more to my favor. I can control the mentality of any person, and it only takes a millisecond to activate and perform. I've practiced it about on average, five times a day, just for pleasure and self-comfort. Leader, I would love a volunteer from your organization, if that's all I ask of you."

The Leader blinked, but remained undefeated in stance. "Hmm, yes, I fully agree with you. May I ask who will perform this task?"

Kisame spoke, smiling widely, teeth sharp as knives. "My good friend Deidara will do the favor!"

I turned to the direction of the blonde teenager, who was in a still stage of open shock. He cursed under his breath, particularly at Kisame, who grinned. Most of the members laughed at what was about to happen, except for the acceptation of Zetsu and Itachi. Deidara turned to Kisame in desperation.

"You know I hate gen-jutsu, you idiot!" he shouted in a hushed voice, pleading for ultimate mercy, "Besides, I'll probably look like a fool up there, hmm… I front of you know who."

I snickered in enjoyment of entertainment. This will be interesting. Thank you, Kisame. I thought, having found amusement and a helpless victim. This will certainly be fun.

My ears indicated whispering to Deidara from Kisame, and I listened carefully, being the eavesdropper I always will be.

"This will be to your advantage, my friend," Kisame muttered dramatically, being sarcastic and humorously cruel. "She'll fall in love with you if you volunteer for the willing of yourself. You make a great puppet, anyways, Deidara." He laughed, but remained serious about the matter. Deidara hesitated, and then corresponded, surrendering to him in a few moments' time.

"I hate you, man…" Deidara spoke, flipping his hair, sighing, "…but you help me at the same time. I'll do it for the love of your slave."

Kisame's lips twisted into a disoriented grin. "Go up there and win her heart…and be a temporary distraction for her…"

This bothered me. Kisame wanted me to wipe away the discomforts of the Akatsuki organization and become used to the everyday life with the help of the fearful Deidara. Good luck with that plan, Sempai, but revenge and fury are no more but building blocks to the destruction of this damned group. Distractions… will not distract me.

Deidara stepped onto the platform, and stood next to the podium with the Leader in an uncomfortable position. I overheard the Zombie Twins cracking up in the corner. I bit my lip in frustration.

"Ignore those immature idiots," I whispered closely to Deidara, trying to earn him sympathy. "I will never learn of why they gained the privilege of immortality."

Deidara's cheekbones rose from where I was standing. He twisted his head, and smiled awkwardly. I could obviously tell this guy was deadly nervous, for me and my gen-jutsu. I did in fact hold sympathy for the blonde teenager, for he must be fresh meat for the organization, maybe he only arrived here a month or more a time ago. I smiled similarly, but half-heartedly. I kept my internal strength and approached in a calm matter to Deidara.

"So I have someone to work on," I commented, cleaning some of the blood off of my arm. I decided to play dumb, to try to get to know him better on purpose. "What's your name, again?"

Deidara fixed his ponytail, frowning in the process. "I'm Deidara." He paused and added, "Well, I can see you're in a hard situation… held here hostage by Shark Man, here, hmm. I just want to tell you that I was in the same position, so I know what you're going through, well, except for the exception of blood, hmm. Well, this is hard to say without going through a heart attack or something like that, but you're… more beautiful in moonlight."

My pulse decreased in blood flow to my brain. I didn't know how to react to that, I mean, nothing like this situation has happened to me before. I stood, staring like a complete moron and responded, brushing my hair out of the snarls with the leftover strength in my hands. "What…? Umm… that's sweet, thanks…"

The interested smile suddenly grew back onto his young face, knowing that he was getting somewhere. "So I'll be under you, right?" He leaned onto the podium, much more relaxed. Looks like he was settling for a response worth taking from me. I stopped running through my mop of hair and grew more concerned about performing this simple jutsu.

"Yes, that's correct. You won't remember anything," I responded quickly, nodding slightly. Deidara swore under his breath again, but this time, he added sarcasm to the situation to make this even more uncomfortable.

"Great," he muttered to me in depression of my jutsu, "this makes my day right here, hmm."

I sighed under my breath, closing my eyes. How could I concentrate on any of my internal peace with all of this action going on? This day had been the most frightening, hell-raising in all of history. With Kisame transferring the curse mark, and me dying, to me escaping with my life on the string, and then Itachi putting me under his jutsu before I could react, this proved to be my day of defeat. Just forget everything, I thought bravely, risking my internal fight with struggle, Think about Konaha. All of your loved ones, waiting for you with open arms and smiles. Think about that, and you'll succeed.

My conscious was right. Just forget everything unfortunate and all will be at peace once again.

I faced Deidara to the north and Deidara faced me to the south, in an unnecessary battle stance. I sighed, indicating that it was not required for anything. He blushed, red from further embarrassment. I bowed respectfully to the diehard conqueror for my affections, and addressed the crowd, themselves waiting impatiently. I nodded to Deidara. He nodded back, a little shy from every one of his peers.

"I will now have Deidara under my control," I instructed manually, no emotion stirring in my stomach. "He'll be mine to use in whatever way I can use him."

Deidara's cheeks turned a slight shade of green, feeling very uncomfortable. "I feel sick… I think I'm going to back-"

I almost grabbed him from the chokehold, pulling him. His face reacted differently, for he didn't resist. He cursed again, and looked up at me, depressed and extremely tired from lack of sleep and concentration. I played with him, for most of his excuse was not realistic.

"Oh no. If you came here to win my affections, then you have to stay with me. Besides, a cutie like you doesn't want to be wasted on an opportunity to be taken over by the famous Raikugan. You'll love it."

I tugged on his neck collar a little harder, pulling him back. I went to his backside, grinning with pleasure. He felt weaker. I laughed privately, but I never intended to. Deidara's sharp blue eye widened a little bit.

"You're crazy," he commented, a bead of sweat trickling down his youthful face.

I responded with an even wider, eviler smile than before. "Crazy, maybe, but not stupid."

I tugged once more on his collar, and then pushed him, forcing him to turn my way. He hesitated, but he gathered himself, finally coming to realize there was no way out from my proposition. He faced me in the opposite direction, and I turned to him. I grinned, giving him the eye.

"This will only make events more fortunate for you, Deidara, and nothing will hurt or cause pain physically or emotionally. Don't be a baby, and you'll make this to your advantage… and just to boost up your self-esteem, and for a replied compliment from what you said about my image… I think you're sort of hot."

Of course I thought he was hot, but I never cared for him in heart. It's an advantage called trickery and vulnerability. If I could make him weak, I can take him down in a heartbeat, getting the information I need and to get out without a real damaging fight. That's my game plan for now, until I really make my revenge official in my mind.

Deidara stared at me, and I smiled, but not sarcastically like commonly. I smiled sweetly, and a trickle of sweat ran through his brow, then a piece of his golden hair passed it on. He then smiled back, but he was blushing, a streak of pink appearing on his cheeks. He felt embarrassed and shocked at the same time, from the position he was standing in and the red shown on his face. I also bet he was celebrating in his mind, because I felt his heartbeat from my sensing of blood and charka. It beat more than mine did regularly, and mine beat three times as fast as of an average population. Deidara turned away from the crowd, very humiliated. I almost burst out laughing.

"Aw man, blushing is not one of my strengths, hmm," Deidara muttered to himself, partly meant for me. That did it for holding in my laughter. I cracked up for the first time tonight, and the gang of villains followed. Tobi, being servant to Deidara, commented in the childish voice.

"Sempai's blushing! Look at that! Two lovebirds!"

I frowned and appeared serious before the crowd. Two lovebirds?!? Wow, I guess in any group or organization, there always needed to be a wiseass. I saw Kisame, and he laughed until he coughed out more blood. Deidara felt about three times angrier than I did.

"I'm going to kill that little piece of-"

"Just ignore them," I encouraged, "as I always indicate, there always is a wiseass in a posse. Don't worry about it, for I will show them how strong and talented you are."

Deidara tried not to turn red in the face again, positioning himself. "Thanks," he spoke in gratitude, "you must have a connection with me, you know, being hostage to a group of assholes, hmm… well, not all of them are assholes, because you'll be joining."

I stepped back, unemotional in appearance. "I appreciate it, my comrade. Now, it's show time. Are you prepared for my jutsu?"

I still got a cold response about my gen-jutsu arrival to him. "As I said before, hmm, let's get this over with."

I made my center calm with internal peace at hand. I assembled the rest of my necessary chakra and breathed deep into the wet, cave air. Deidara looked at my eyes directly, showing absolutely no hesitant reactions, finally ready for me. I released the Raikugan immediately, and millisecond, it grabbed him mentally. His eyes glazed over, and he became unemotional. His head tilted forwards, and the neck dangled. He stood in a stuttered position, and I smiled, this becoming too easy for me.

Silence hung in the base, having everyone in awe, except for the occasion of Kisame and Itachi, both seeing before and witnessed the true power of my control. Kisame clutched his fist angrily, and Itachi strikingly grinned. I drew back, shockingly surprised about the Uchiha mass murderer smiling for the once in a lifetime. I became focused on the controlled Deidara again, and the crowd, including Pain, stood at a standstill. Sasori smiled as Itachi did, and the Zombie brothers hesitated for once. Tobi screamed, "Sempai!", but Deidara didn't respond unless I told him to. Kisame and Itachi exchanged inside looks, and Pain definitely was in his own enlightenment, glaring intensely at my eye, like it was a dream coming true for only himself. I laughed, breaking the moment long quiet.

"Secured," I stated, happy in myself.

Pain stared straight at me, almost too into this. "Tell me Tetane…" he questioned, "…what can he do now? Any interesting states that you can accomplish with your mind slave?"

Mind slave. I liked that word, the feeling of it on my tongue. I always used the word 'victim', but nothing was more compatible than what Pain used. Mind slave. Heh, it works perfectly. I'll use it often.

"Well," I started, still bubbly from all of the interest and attention from the Leader himself, "with a person like Deidara, he activates from when I command to him directly. I use his name, and he's at my feet. But for more advanced personnel, I don't have to speak at all. The command is built with the mental control. I also can command a mind slave to do incredible feats that will become successful with them, and normally not in their normal, uncontrolled state. For instance…" I peered behind me, looking at a pile of useless boulders at the corner. "Deidara, race to those boulders and bring one to me."

Deidara lifted his head, a blank expression on his face as ghostly as Pain's. His dull eyes glazed at the boulders ahead, and ran, faster than life. He was a bullet, and a second later, he reached the boulders that were a mile away. Pain's eyes widened.

"Unbelievable."

I interrupted, pointing to Deidara. "There's more incredibility. Look ahead."

The crowd and Pain followed my finger. Deidara, with no hesitation, lifted a randomly selected boulder with his own bare hands, only feeling like a piece of Styrofoam in contact. He had no trouble lifting the boulder while running at a solid sprint, and brought the huge rock at my feet, him bowing down towards me afterwards. I smiled.

"I repeat what I had remarked before…" the Leader commented, breathless. "…unbelievable."

"The strength of Deidara and the ability to run faster than any human in sprints can identify that this is a powerful eye that only uses up an ounce of chakra for one look. If I had my way, he could be even stronger than Kisame."

Kisame stared ahead. He never saw this from my eye, how basic it was, because he was unavailable to control in the last battle. Stupid sword, blocking my chakra. He never saw that limitations didn't matter for my control. Itachi saw this, unlike my captor. He kept grinning. I felt almost too uncomfortable.

Kisame spoke for what felt like an eternity. "Meet with me after…"

I nodded after a short while. "Fine. I just want this over with."

"Listen, smartass, if you have your mouth running, I'll recommend a nice, slow death for you."

"They need me here alive. I do not consider that a major threat when it is not relevant for the matter. Don't cry about it. I'm the one who can weep when necessary to."

That took Kisame to his limits. He ran, pegging me onto the cave wall, uncontrolled. He refused to look into my eyes so I spoke in rhythm, not in the happy mood I was.

"You damned me," I remarked quietly, yet powerful in words. "I can call upon everyone and tell them of my torture the past four days with you. You'll never understand the limits of my happiness and the infinity of my pain. This is extremely challenging for me, and it must take a burden on you as well. I am bleeding as we speak, and you too, are in deep desperation. My words are as follows: to leave me the hell alone and to stay off my back. You have gotten what you wanted most… me as your little slave and for the use of the Akatsuki. I had lost, thanks to you. I'll never see the ones I love again. All that I've been through have taken me and changed my whole. Just… just give me time, like I gave you time. Now let me go or there will be hell to pay."

Kisame glared at the controlled Deidara, then me. He stood silent, grasping his sword with his only hand, finally letting go of my neck. My red Raikugan eyes faded to their normal golden and Kisame walked slowly away from the podium, silence still visible and the only sound a pin drop, except when he spoke to me in my same tone.

"You will always have no idea… what hell is. I can't always promise you life, because one day I might go out of control and try and kill you… and I will succeed… someday, when I don't need you."

I relaxed painfully, resting my hand on my bruised neck, containing the purple gashes of the fingers of my captor earlier, and the bitten marks from him also. I choked, coughing out more blood. Thank god I won't die from loss of blood.

I decided I've proved my further point, so I released Deidara from mental slavery. His eyes were disoriented, but refined themselves after a point in time. He gripped his head to stop from spinning, and faced the crowd in confusion. His eye caught hold of the boulder, and gaped.

"You made me carry this thing, didn't you, Tetane?"

I laughed after hard humor. "Yes. You were impressive too. You didn't show much resistance. I was happy about that."

Hidan, the pink eyed Zombie brother, joined into our conversation. "You also caused a riot… got Jaws here real mad. Angel Shark Bait got pinned against the wall, and kicked his ass with words-"

"-words that you probably didn't understand," I interrupted, annoyed, "Stop interrupting, or I'll personally cause you pain without the usage of the Raikugan."

Pain wanted this to end. "Now it's time for the ceremony."

I overheard whisperings from Kisame to his partner, Itachi. "Thank god. The time has finally come. She will be mine permanently, and she can't do anything about it. I'll finally be pulling the strings, and I can be the one responsible for the cause of the world to recreate. Most importantly, I can get my revenge across the nations."

Itachi nodded, having eyes on me. "I'll join next to you, partner."

I prepared myself by combing through my tangled hair again. That attempt at looking good failed horribly. I straightened my posture and breathed deep the cave air. All things stood at a standstill and Pain came up to me, ghostly as ever, facing me with those Purple nightmare eyes. I couldn't even resist walking towards him. The next thing I knew, I had stood on the podium. I tried my best to be confident, but I looked afraid, or enraged in being here, defeated by Kisame, and forced to be here, to be in the organization. A slave's servitude. I could imagine this is a cruel joke, or a very upsetting nightmare, or even a gen-jutsu into Itachi's Nightmare realm. Sadly, this was all real. Pain faced me.

"Tetane Mikaze, the gen-jutsu artist of the Hidden Leaf," he stated, becoming as scary in appearance as ever, "do you accept living the temporary life of a damned until we capture all nine tailed beasts to restart the world, as me as the next god?"

I almost swallowed and choked on my own saliva. "Yes."

"Are you also willing to sacrifice your life this organization, trying to capture all nine tailed beasts?"

This was a problem saying a simple yes to. One of the tailed beasts of monster chakra was my brother, Naruto Uzumaki. We had been separated for thirteen years, and joined and knew when we met at the Chunin exams three long years ago. He was special to me and my beating heart, and I promised him that I would not rest until he became Hokage for his village. Joining Akatsuki and capturing him will shatter his chances. I stuttered, very afraid, the cold cave air rushing through my lungs. Itachi spoke out the words I didn't want any of the S-Rank criminals hearing.

"This might seem relevant at the time, so I must share that the nine tailed beast shares the body of her brother, Naruto Uzumaki."

I grasped my neck in desperation to their surprise knowledge about my brother. The entire unit of criminals was in shock and whispered to one another what they were to do if I said no. I never planned to say no, but I never intended on resisting. Kisame knew about this, to point the obvious, and became a little furious.

"Damn it. She's won't accept now. I guess force is the only option. Tetane! Come to me."

Well, since I had no further choice but to obey my master, I came to him, frowning and cringing. Kisame shook my shoulders and I pulled away, having a secure explanation.

"I'm not agreeing to that oath. He talks about my brother… and if I get the chance to see him, I am under yours and the Akatsuki's orders to fight him if I join. I took a vow."

Kisame stiffened, and then grabbed my arm, squeezing the life out of it. He was frustrated, not at all in a good mood because of me and the unfortunate task of trying to capture me. I stiffened as well, and all eyes rested on us, the quarreling twosome.

"Listen, slave, I command you to agree with that oath. I am your master, now."

Those words crushed my pride. My freedom. My heart. Crushed into oblivion.

My temper went to 808, my adrenaline rushing to my newly broken heart. I punched Kisame's jaw, making him stumble to the ground. I grinned evilly, and Kisame sat, shocked, rubbing his mouth. Then the same facial expression I made was copied back by Kisame. That indicated trouble for me. My hips were grabbed tightly, feeling like stinging fire. I was flown back, crashing into the wall, the bruises and wounds newly bleeding internally and externally. I watched in horror as the Zombie Twin called Kakuzu worked so fast as to pull me from attacking straight on. My senses didn't matter anymore to me, and my body went into flames, me gathering all of my charka and letting it out in one burst. The strings from Kakuzu evaporated, and let out a battle cry, my heartbeat going at an irregular pace. I attacked Kakuzu on range, and he dodged like a bullet, trying for another string to pull me against the wall. The others aided to his help and I had trouble, knowing I was taking on ten other S-rank criminals. Was I smart to take them all on? Hell, no, but I had a reason.

My main target above all was Kisame. My punch had affected him, for he was barely standing. He grabbed his sword and swung in midair when I was closer in range to him. I dodged it, but all hell broke loose against me. I was hit with something, but I was punched right against the wall. I spat out new blood and screamed in new pain. My body never had the strength to start a riot, and my muscles gave out. I couldn't move them, being paralyzed. My neck drooped down, but my consciousness never left me for burden. I breathed heavily, not believing what I had just done.

The unit of villains cheered and laughed in victory which didn't take long. They all were cheering for a specific person, though. He came to me; I could feel his breath on my neck. He checked my pulse, and shrank back, surprised about how fast and rapid my heartbeat could get. Then everything went silent in the crowd, and the man caressed my face with one hand, stroking it softly, like he felt pity for me. He lifted my head up so that I could see his face. My head leveled with my neck accordingly, and the first sign was dark hair. He lifted me up more, almost too much so that my neck would hurt in the process. I cringed, and then stared out into the sunrise, well, I thought it was.

There was Itachi Uchiha, looking down upon me in disappointment.

"Do you intend on resisting anything?" he asked in the calmest voice, though soft, had a powerful intact.

I said nothing until I thought of what really came to my mind.

"I intend to do more than that," I whispered, baring my teeth in fury.

Itachi commented, lifting my head up even more, so I could see his eyes. I looked away, vowing what I did. "You would think I would give up so easily, dear Itachi," I commented, choking on blood, "I always am the resistance. Nothing can control me but me."

Itachi simply nodded. "We shall see."

I had made the worst mistake in my life. I peered at his face, his eyes… his Mangekyo Sharingan eyes. All time stood on end, and my consciousness gave into the darkness. I was unconscious before I hit the floor in despair.