'And so,' announced Pein, 'with the loss of Hidan and Kakuzu, we'll be needing at least one replacement. Any ideas of who you want to recruit, people?' I shifted my gaze to Joy, who was crying softly. Nothing unusual there. 'Oooh, oooh! Tobi has an idea!!' I rolled my eyes. Any idea from Tobi wasn't worth listening to. He was probably going to suggest recruiting an ANBU Black Op working on killing us all. 'Un, Tobi, this had better be good!' I snapped. Tobi looked at me for a second, shrugged and said, 'Senpai, it is good!' Konan sighed. 'Might as well hear what the little idiot has to say.' I looked around. Itachi wasn't here, with his patronizing smile. 'Hnn, I wonder where he is, anyways?' I wondered, and snapped back to attention as Tobi revealed his great idea. 'What about Sasuke? You know, Itachi's little brother?' Kisame snorted. 'Yeah, right! Sasuke wants to kill Itachi, not team up with him!' I frowned. One Uchiha was one too many for the Akatsuki, and besides, I didn't really want Sasuke around here either. 'Un, isn't Sasuke with that snake Orochimaru, anyway?' I asked. 'That's right.' Replied Konan silkily. 'And I doubt Orochimaru would just let Sasuke walk out on him and join his old organization.' I smiled. 'Oh, good, another reason not to recruit that Uchiha scum.' Pein glanced around, and asked, 'So, any more ideas?' he completely ignored Tobi's waving hand, and turned to Joy instead. 'What about you, Joy-kun?' Joy tore herself away from the blood-covered knife in her hand, and up at the Akatsuki leader. OK, so he wasn't the official leader, but he sure acted like it. She shook her sleeve, sliding it down to cover her wrist. But it was a moment late. I looked at my feet. Joy's habit was getting a bit out of hand, and I was getting worried about her. '…..me?' she asked quietly. Pein sighed in annoyance. 'Yes, you. Any ideas for a new recruit, or not?' Joy thought for a minute, racking her brains. 'Well,' she started slowly. 'There is my cousin, Kairi. But she's in Konoha, and I'm not quite sure if she would consent to joining us.' I glanced up, interested. 'Tobi didn't know you had a cousin, Joy-chan!' said Tobi, curious. 'Is she like you?'
Joy shook her head. 'No,' she replied softly. 'She's almost my complete opposite.' Kisame laughed. 'Oh, really? That would be interesting!' I nodded. 'Yeah, it would be. Joy, do you know where she is?' Joy shook her head again. 'No, I haven't been in contact with her for years. I have no idea if she's even alive right now.' Joy sighed, and tears began rolling down her face. 'Lucky, maybe the sweet release of death has come by her… No more pain from the horrible dark world to be pressing down on her anymore…' she muttered. 'Joy-chan…..' Pein drummed his fingers on the tabletop. 'Well…… it's worth looking into. If she is accepted, Tobi, Kairi becomes your partner. I trust that you are okay with that, Deidara?' I nodded, and punched the air. 'YES!!!!! But, who'll become my part-'
'Joy will become your partner. That's alright, right?' Pein interrupted. I grinned, and punched the air again. 'Hell yeah!!!' This day just kept getting better. I could lose Tobi as a partner and gain Joy instead. We just had to convince her cousin to join! 'So, it's settled.' announced Pein. 'Tobi, Deidara, and Joy, you will go and see Kairi with our proposal.' I nodded curtly. 'Tobi will try his best!' exclaimed Tobi. 'Maybe Kairi won't blow up Tobi!' He looked slyly in my direction. 'Like some people do.' Kisame laughed. 'Don't get your hopes up!'
Joy took a sharp intake of breath. 'I just remembered!' she whispered. Konan looked at her curiously. 'Remembered what?'
'About Kairi,' Joy replied in a barely audible whisper. 'She has a really hot temper, and a habit of killing whoever annoys her. Even when we were kids, she had her hands stained with blood- Five academy students, a few genin, and one Chuunin. If that was how she was back then, what about now?' Konan looked impressed. I was shocked, Tobi speechless. 'Hmm, that makes for a good start. You've hooked me now, Joy. Do you know her style of fighting?' asked Pein. Joy thought for a minute. 'Like a Yin Yang. I have Earth Element, she has wind. She fights with wind style jutsu, excels at taijutsu, and uses weaponry. Unfortunately, she's terrible at genjutsu.' She whispered. 'But she's only fifteen. I don't know if she's ready for this kind of work.' Konan shrugged. 'Age is no matter. If she wants the job, fits the bill and she can join, she's in. How old she is shouldn't make a difference. Even when Zabuza Momochi was a child, still an academy student, he murdered over 100 genin in the blood mist's chunin exams.' Joy looked down. 'I know. That murderous streak must run in the family. The Toramizu's are distantly related to the Momochi's, if you look back far enough.' Pein clapped his hands, gaining our attention. 'Enough chit-chat. Stop harassing Joy, if we're lucky Kairi will be here soon and you can harass her.' Funnily enough, I was about to say something along those lines myself. 'Anyway,' continued Pein. 'Deidara, you're the leader of this little operation. You, Joy and Tobi can leave tomorrow morning. Oh, and if Kairi starts attacking you, don't bother trying to recruit her. And Tobi? Don't get distracted by any squirrels.'
'It was a raccoon!' Tobi wailed. 'Stop picking on Tobi about it!' I stood up. 'Come on, Joy-chan, Tobi. We might as well start plotting our course.' Joy stood up, followed by Tobi, who was still muttering about the difference between squirrels and raccoons. Joy ran up to me, and grabbed my arm. 'Why,' whispered Joy. 'are you happy to have a person like me as your new partner?' I could hardly believe my luck. Joy was actually holding my arm. ''cause your cute-gahh!' I shut myself off before I could finish. I couldn't believe I'd said that out loud. 'Stupid Deidara. Stupid Deidara. STUPID DEIDARA!!!' I cursed myself in my mind. Tobi put his arm around me, acting all slinky-like. 'Did Tobi hear what Tobi think he heard?' asked Tobi slyly. I shrugged him off, and yelled, 'No!' Tobi shrugged, and said: 'But Tobi-' BOOOOOOM. I had directed one of my clay spiders onto Tobi's shoulder, and detonated it. I was pretty sure he would forget about it. Otherwise, I had plenty of clay.