CHAPTER 1

Two figures were walking together through a shadowy forest clearing. The taller of the two had a large bandage wrapped sword strapped to his back, walking nonchalantly with his hands behind his head. His partner walked with his hands inside his black cloak, a cloak covered in red clouds.

"So...how ya wanna do this? I could take him myself ya know," said the taller of the two.

"That's fine by me," replied his companion. "Kisame"

"Ya know Itachi, I think this is the start to a wonderful relationship," laughed out Kisame.

"Hn," was the reply he received.

The duo continued walking in silence, the only sounds heard were the sounds of the wildlife fleeing from the direction the pair were walking toward. Almost as if a natural disaster were on its way. The blue faced Kisame had a huge grin on his face as they walked, increasing the closer they got to their intended target. Itachi walked with him seemingly lost in thought, his face set in stone. The pair walked this way for another hour.

"This silence, it's peaceful," thought Itachi. "It won't last."

"Oh god this silence is killing me. C'mon you can't be like this all the time." said Kisame, breaking the silence that had descended on the forest.

"There goes the silence."

"I know, lets share stories. I'll tell you about my days before Akatsuki. It was a wonderful time. Fights, blood, ya know, good old violence. And that was just breakfast," Kisame laughed as if telling a joke. "Ahhh the good old days."

"And there goes the peace" thought Itachi as he and Kisame suddenly leapt apart into the tress above. The ground they once stood on was now scorched with flames burning the grass.

"Why have you two been following me? You've been trailing me for hours now, what is it that you want from me," asked a deep voice floating from the trees.

"Ryuu Ken, formerly of Kumo, wanted for attacking and seriously wounding Yuugito Nii, container of the Two-Tailed demon," started Itachi, "My leader wishes for you to join our organization. Please do not resist."

"Or do, it'll be more interesting that way," Kisame interrupted with a grin. "Please do."

"Kisame, we should attempt to recruit him without the use of violence."

"Excuse me but I have no intention of joining this organization. Please leave me to my solitude," Ryuu stated politely.

"How did these two find me? Why can't I just be left alone?"

"Sorry but no can do. Ya see we got orders, and orders is orders ya know," Kisame said as he grabbed his sword by the handle. "But tell you what, lets fight now and talk later hmm."

"I'm warning you, there was a reason I was able to fight Nii and still escape Kumo with my life. I'd advise you two to leave now, while the option is still on the table."

"I apologize but we can't do that," stated Itachi in a calm voice. "As Kisame said, we have our orders.

"Sure you can, we always have a choice," replied Ryuu. "Except when we don't," he thought to himself.

"Itachi he ain't comin quietly. It's time to do this my way," Kisame's grin grew larger as he said this. "Id move back if I were you, I can get a little wild when I do things my way"

"You are correct Kisame, just don't kill him. Leader wants him to join us as Kakazu's partner"

"Yea yea whatever just let me get started," Kisame drew his sword at this "Now Samehada point him out."

"I guess there's no avoiding this fight. At least his partner is staying out of the fight, for now anyway."

"I'll stay out of this in the beginning and learn what skills they both have," Itachi thought as he leapt back and activated his Sharingan.

"Alright, let's have some fun baby," said Kisame as he shot off into foliage swinging his huge sword. "Ya can't hide from Samehada."

"A sword that can sense chakra? I guess that's how they were able to track me down," Ryuu thought as he prepared a kunai to block the massive sword aimed at his head. As the two weapons made contact he noticed a pull on his chakra. Deflecting the sword he leapt back and began making hand signs.

"He's too close to dodge this. Fire style: Fire ball jutsu"

Kisame simply smirked as he bought Samehada between him and the blazing ball of fiery death that was almost upon him. Ryuu frowned as he saw his jutsu easily absorbed by the sword.

"It's like I thought, not only can your sword sense chakra, it can also absorb it. A very useful ability...in most cases" Ryuu said as he shot forward. Kisame swung out with Samehada, not really surprised when his blow didn't connect. No, his surprise came from the fact that Samehada hadn't absorbed any chakra when Ryuu ducked under his attack. Not only that but Ryuu's follow up mule kick that had sent Kisame flying back, had actually hurt.

"It seems that he is far stronger than his body type would indicate. I didn't notice any chakra in that kick and it was able to move Kisame that far," analyzed Itachi from his viewing point. "He's also far faster than Kisame, I'll keep watching to see if I need to intervene."

"Hehehe, you pack a big punch for such a runt. And I noticed you found a way to stop Samehada from sucking up ya chakra. How'd you do that?" Asked Kisame his trademark grin no longer on his face.

"Now now, a ninja never reveals his tricks," was the reply he received.

Itachi was surprised at hearing that although he didn't show it. "He found a way to nullify the effects of Kisame's sword? And that quickly?" He thought while adding out loud, "Kisame, this man shouldn't be underestimated."

"Yea yea Itachi I got this" he stated to his partner before turning back to his opponent, "Lucky shot, let's try that again"

With that he shot off after Ryuu swinging his sword with skill that Ryuu had rarely seen from a swordsman, especially one with a sword that size. But he was able to stay far ahead of Kisame's attack, able to get counter attacks in here and there. An increasingly infuriated Kisame then created space between the pair and began making hand signs

"Water style: Water shark bomb jutsu," he said thrusting his hands out. The massive water shark exploded toward Ryuu before colliding with him, utterly destroying the tree he had been standing on.

"He formed a water clone and substituted with it that quickly. And he did so using such a small amount of chakra. Not only that but he used a fire jutsu earlier and used a water jutsu just now, both with such ease. He is far more skilled than he is letting on. I'll have to get involved soon, I just need to wait for Kisame to give me an opening."

"I know that didn't hit you, c'mon out I told you can't hide from Samehada," Kisame said using his sword the point out where Ryuu was currently hiding.

Ryuu used the body flicker technique to appear behind Kisame and aimed a roundhouse kick at his head, which Kisame blocked using Samehada. As Ryuu's kick made contact with the sword the bandages burst apart revealing the sword was made of thousands of sharp shark scales. Kisame violently yanked his sword along Ryuu's leg, tearing a huge chunk out of it. Suddenly Ryuu exploded, blasting Kisame backward.

"Clone and substitution combination again, this time an exploding clone," thought Itachi, "Kisame is lucky Samehada was able to absorb most of the chakra from that attack."

"Alright, now I'm pissed," Kisame began making hand signs "Water style: Great waterfall jutsu."

A massive amount of water shot out of Kisame's mouth in the direction Ryuu had substituted to, tearing down every tree in its way with ease. When Kisame cancelled his technique there was a large trench in one direction, probably reaching miles away from the battle site.

"Impressive display of power but it's clear you lack control. But I guess you don't need control when you have the stores of chakra you seem to possess, and a sword that absorbs chakra," said Ryuu from behind Kisame.

"No, he doesn't," stated Itachi, suddenly appearing behind Ryuu with his sword stuck into Ryuu's lower back. "It seems to me you know all about control. The speed at which you utilize the clone and substitution techniques is impressive. If I believed in perfection id say you possessed perfect chakra control.

At that Ryuu melted into a puddle of water at Itachi's feet. Suddenly the water shot up and impaled Itachi right through the heart.

"You would be correct, if you believed in perfection. You aren't bad with the clone jutsu yourself, it's almost impossible to tell you aren't the real you. Luckily I have my ways of telling the difference." As Ryuu said that Itachi splashed into a puddle of water, while the real Itachi jumped down to stand beside Kisame.

"Kisame he will be too much for you alone I will be assisting from this point on."

"Grrr I don't need your help, I can handle this," Kisame growled "I haven't started going all out yet."

"And if you were to go all out you'd kill him. That is not our mission therefore I cannot let you do that. Leader placed us on teams for a reason. Ryuu Ken seems to personify one of those reasons."

"Yea whatever Itachi lets just do this. Just be careful my fighting style isn't really suited to teamwork."

"That is fine, I will alter my style to fit yours."

"Ok, enough talk let's get this bastard."