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Chapter 1: Introduction

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When Itachi was introduced to Kisame as his new partner, Kisame laughed.

Itachi just stared as the man chortled and shook his head in disbelief. The young Uchiha waited patiently and silently as Kisame slowly got his breath back and looked to Akatsuki's leader, seeming to be ignoring Itachi.

"This kid?" The ex-Kiri nin exclaimed, his features lit with amusement and skepticism. "He can't be older than fourteen!"

Itachi blinked passively. "I'm twelve."

At this, the swordsman burst into another small bout of cackles, and he glanced at Itachi out of the corner of his eye briefly before facing his leader once more. "He's not even a teenager!" He revelled in this idea, shaking his head and chuckling dryly once and a while.

Pein's expression just about screamed for Kisame to straighten out and act serious. He wasn't impressed with the man's outburst of laughter, obviously. Itachi wasn't either, but chose to remain silent and allow Pein to explain.

"Itachi might be young, but he's an exceptional ninja." The orange haired elitist began. "He's from Konoha's Uchiha clan, and a well-practiced Illusionist. His Sharingan can cast genjutsu like your mind wouldn't even be able to comprehend. He can capture you in one of his illusions and kill you with one single glance into your eyes." Pein's expression shifted almost unnoticably. He didn't smile, but the air around him now swirled with pride that the Akatsuki would now have the young prodigy. "He's slaughtered his entire clan in one night. Now, age is no factor in this equation; Itachi's strong, and he will be a valuable asset to Akatsuki. Straighten up, Kisame, and get going. And take your new partner with you. Get to know him and try not to piss him off. I don't want him killing you."

Pein was gone rather quickly after that, the cloud of smoke he left behind him slowly clearing into the atmosphere, allowing Itachi and Kisame to stare across the distance at each other clearly.

Kisame's face was twisted into a deep frown, and he regarded Itachi with a snarl and a quick narrowing of the eyes in distaste. Itachi just blinked back at him casually.

Kisame had not much appreciated being told that a pre-teen that reached his mid-rif at full height could kill him so easily. No one liked being underestimated; expecially one with as much background and skill as Kisame. Itachi understood this much, but still wished that Kisame would get over his indignation quickly since he was only wasting time glaring at Itachi for something the child couldn't help.

Finally, with a grunt and a heavy swing of his arm, Kisame was shouldering the weight of a great sword, tapping one blue index finger against its hilt. He looked Itachi up and down for a few seconds, then secured his sword to his back. "I guess it can't be helped..." He turned on his heel abruptly, jerking his head for Itachi to follow him as he stalked off at a quick-legged pace. "Come on then, boy. I won't wait around for you if you're slow, and it's not my problem if you get lost."

Itachi once more merely blinked, watching Kisame's retreating back for a while before beginning to follow after him, keeping pace just enough to be walking in the man's shadow. Their first meeting hadn't gone smoothly, but Itachi could deal with being underestimated. That only meant that the Uchiha would have something to prove, and having something to strive for almost made this whole arrangement something to look forward to.

The only thing that was bothering Itachi was the fact that both Kisame and Pein reffered to her as a boy.

Eyes shifting down briefly, Itachi examined her chest. She was only twelve, and of course her body hadn't developed much as of yet, but nevertheless, she had been quite insulted when both men had failed to read her true gender.

Was it because she wasn't very pretty?

Her eyebrows met together for just a second before her expression smoothed over again. Looks mattered very little, she decided. This appeased her more vainglorious side, which had left her feeling jilted after having her gender mis-read. But really, what did it matter if they assumed her to be male? It was frustrating to have a repeat of her childhood in Konoha, but in the end it wouldn't make a difference.

In her mind, Itachi pondered why everyone always assumed her to be male. Even her parents had slipped up and called her 'he' once and a while. Eventually, they, and Itachi as well, simply stopped correcting people when they mistook her for a boy. Let them believe as they pleased. Looks and gender hardly matter when you're respected as a child prodigy and ANBU captain anyway. Your skills are still the same, male or not.

Itachi stepped over a small gathering of wildflowers as they grew along the path that Kisame was leading her through. The man ahead of her trampled over whatever living plant was in his way. The contrast was striking between them, and Itachi was almost ready to sigh in frustration. How would she cope with having such a brash, hulking, barbarian of a partner?

In the end she didn't make a sound as she padded after Kisame, her footfalls silent. There wasn't much choice to her arrangements. She would just have to adjust to Kisame, and him to her.

It doesn't matter, she decided then, if he thinks I'm a boy.

Itachi really had no interest in correcting any more people about her gender, least of all the swordsman before her. Either he would discover this fact on his own, or he never would. Whichever way it played out, Itachi really couldn't care less. She was stuck in his shadow as they walked, however, and that was something that she could not allow to go on much longer.

She was going to have to prove her worth, and soon, and step out from Kisame's shadow. She wasn't going to follow, but accompany. She would not be stuck staring at Kisame's back as he led her this way and that, barking orders at her like she was some rookie.

Firmly nodding, Itachi quickened her pace, following closer next to Kisame. She was still in his shadow even in her new position, but, she reminded herself in her head, she wouldn't be walking there all that much longer.

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Sorry if you don't like the twist! I couldn't help it. I always thought that this would make Kisame and Itachi's partnership so much more interesting.

Anyway, there will be more chapters after this. I have one finished already, and the last in the works. So hopefully I'll update soon.

R&R, please.