AN: Hello old readers, and new readers. For you old readers you will notice there is something different. The chapter is different? Why, because I wrote this story in 2006, well these chapters and I was looking back on it and I though, what in the world was I thinking? So, I changed it. Over the 4 year span things have changed, my style has changed somewhat and well we know things more now that we had not known back in. In a past review someone asked me who Rei was. Rei was the name I had given the leader because we had not known his name. So, I had to go through it and change his name but decided to just add more and make it different.
For you new readers, I've changed this because I'm hoping that people will continue to read because my style has changed a bit, or maybe a lot. LOL. So, this chapter is currently up to date with my writing style. So for the next few chapters you will see a difference. Please realize I have not re-did those chapters and bare through it. Just so you realize that. 3
And finally, PLEASE review. I love reviews that make me happy and motivate me more to continue writing. For you old readers, please tell me how you like the new chapter or not. I know there is bound to be some mistakes, and I'm sorry about that. I'll re-read through it later and change it.
There are a few thing civilization has done millions of years. Eat, sleep, and gossip. No matter how small the village, how little the population, gossip went around. It either boosted a reputation, or torn it limb from limb from the sharp teeth of a vicious animal. Rumors also start many legends and are told to generations on and on. Only if there are survivors to tell of those happenings of the past. Only a few people know of this tale for it hasn't been decades on ends since this tragic fable.
There was a small village between on a isolated island from the leaf village and the land of waves. They were known as the shadow dragon village. A very small and humble village it was. They had many temples, and prayed to the protector of their small village. The same protector that kept them from getting invaded by those larger countries. They had no shinobi, only a very small force of the finest samurai they have. They had no technology advancements so it meant very old and traditional medicinal practices. So things most medical shinobi were able to detect, and find out wrong and diagnose, they weren't able to. Not having the knowledge, one could mistake a common ailment for something far more drastic. Yet, every villager counted on this savior of theirs to keep the disastrous events from occurring. No one would have predicted what happened about seven years ago when the shadow dragon village was wiped to nothing.
Every child in the shadow dragon village was a sacred. Each an every villager pitched in to raise the child. A special child had been born. When a child was born from a woman deemed unable to have children, that was a miracle child. It was considered a blessing. Only to find out when the child grew, they displayed behaviors that could not be explained. Their finest medicine could not diagnose her problems. Some spoke of this child be possessed by a demon. Others just plain out said she was insane. It was just easier to toss her into a solitary room for the rest of her life and pretend that this abomination was never born. A bad mistake. No one has been able to hide the shame of their life. Karma was going to bite you in the ass. Unfortunately, for the shadow dragon village, they were bitten hard. The girl ravaged the village. Killing every man, woman, and child, setting houses on fire and destroying everything in her path. The small populated village of 500 was erased off the map. She stood there with a gust blowing through her hair, walking away into the darkness, and she was never seen again.
There is only one question that remains. Was she truly as insane as they thought, a demon possessing her soul? Or was it just a case of multiple personality disorder?
~*~
A dark abyss filled the cave. Several figures stood there on top of the fingers inside of the hideout. Everyone but two figures stood there in person."Glad you two can make it, despite the fact that your on a mission."
Kisame sighed hastily, "Well, it was your orders."
His eyes glanced towards Itachi with an annoyance. Basically, Kisame was saying that this was Itachi's fault that they were cutting their mission off for a moment. They were so close to completing it and then taking a break sounded really nice too. The Uchiha had sensed the distress Kisame held over this. Unnecessary if you asked him, "What's so urgent that we have to possibly cut our mission short?" he questioned.
Grey eyes adverted to the holographic figures that stood in their appropriate spots, "Do you believe in... rumors Itachi-san...?" the leader was nonchalant.
Crimson eyes read that they were not amused, and rather have their leader get straight to the point of why they were summoned here. "Well, one of our spies has been gathering information. While out on his latest run, he spotted a girl."
Immediately, Kisame did not sound impressed, "A girl...?"
"don't be so hasty," the leader spoke, "let me finish. Anyways, I don't know if any of you have heard of the shadow dragon village?"
"I have." Itachi responded.
"Alright then, I guess you're familiar with the massacre that happened seven years ago, yes?"
Itachi nodded his head then. The leader went on, "Anyways, the girl who was said to have killed the whole village was said to be spotted. She matched up the description. Forest green hair and eyes to match. Though, he couldn't be sure. Her entire face was covered by a straw hat and body veils by a large black cloak.. So, Kisame-san, Itachi-san, if you two could go find out if its really her."
"What if its this girl, Pein-sama?" Itachi's cold voice rolled throughout the hideout.
Pein closed his eyes, "Capture her and if the rumors are true or not. I guess we'll see. Somehow, we'll manage it."
So basically, he wanted whatever power she had for his own will to bend? Sounded something like him. "Alright, we're on it." Itachi said.
"Wait." Pein called abruptly.
Kisame sighed in annoyance and they waited to see what else he had to say, "I don't want you two getting killed."
BAM, he just shot both Itachi's and Kisame's egos down. Itachi was extremely offended by this but, it did not show. "Pein-sama, I'm sure Kisame and I can handle a girl. Insane or not I can take her down with no problems. I am the person who had that snake Orochimaru running out with his tail between his legs."
"You're quite ignorant Itachi-san. Your underestimating an opponent you know nothing about."
Who knew such elegant Uchiha features could become so slack and long. How could the air between the leader and the two best members Pein has ever had be so tense? The other Akatsuki members did not dare to utter a word. There was a long moment of silence.
"Then what do you postulate?" questioned the smug Uchiha.
Pein responded with an equally smug tone, "Deidara will be attending you on your trip."
"What?!" Deidara stepped forward, "Nuh-uh, no way! I'm absolutely not going with sharky and
Mr. Ego. Their no fun, yeah!"
"You're going whether you like it or not." Pein was the leader and there was no more questioning his decision.
A deep sigh escaped Deidara as he looked down, "Just great," he got himself up and started following Itachi out of the cave, "I have to tag along and find a stupid psychotic brat, un."
Kisame lingered behind for a moment, he turned his head back to stare at their leader, "This group will only be temporary... correct?"
Pein smirked quite devilishly, "We'll see."
Not liking that response, he felt this was only going to go down hill. Kisame was more comfortable with Itachi as his partner. It just stuck that way. They have been working together for a while and have a great way about going everything. Itachi usually stood and watched ans Kisame got to fight and have all the fun. With Deidara, who knew how horribly messed up their team work was going to be. The clay master was stubborn as mule and like doing things his own way. "Where do we even begin to look?" Deidara claimed.
Itachi inspected the area around them. Many trees obscured their vision, but could serve was a very good tactic, "We know she's around the hide out, assuming what Pein said was true."
Without another word Itachi darted off into the deep foliage. Shocked, Deidara rushed to go catch up because Kisame was much quicker to react to him darting off. After coming up behind Itachi, he was moving swiftly and elegantly through the branches. "Where are we going?" he huffed for a moment.
"You'll see." Kisame answered, "Itachi has his ways."
Deidara groaned once more, he tossed his head back. No more complaining though. He just had to keep going. Who would be insane enough to have Itachi's crimson death glare tearing the insides of your soul out? Flashes of green leaves and dodging small branches from smacking one of them in the face. They spent close enough to an hour jumping through the trees. Yet, there was no signs of this girl. Itachi came to a steady halt. "We'll set a camp up."
There was no sign of her being around here. He didn't get any surges of chakra. Kisame didn't either and surely enough samehada wasn't reacting. Deidara also spoke of no such news either. So, that just mean they were going to have to sit down and wait things out. Yawning lightly, he went to go find a nice little perfect spot for them to set up camp.
A little later on, all thee sat around the fire. Deidara and Kisame were sleeping around the fire. Itachi was going to be the first watch of the night. No problem. There was a slight chill in the autumn air, his hands crossed against his chest as he stared into the endless night sky. Stars danced and twinkled before his speculating eyes. The moon stood still as it beamed down onto the earth. With the two idiots sleeping, this was a very peaceful night. Silence was the best time for this thinking and swarming thoughts. With no tents, no sleeping bags and just the fire, Itachi had retreated his arms t the inside of his black cloak decorated with red clouds outlined with white. The Uchiha's crimson eyes flitted shut, as he went to a light slumber but kept his guard up.
"Hey," Kisame's gruff voice filled through the small area echoing off, "I think there is someone near by."
Samehada was going crazy. An immense chakra that was not hidden very well flooded the morning area and the chirping birds. Itachi stood up to dust his cloak off and stared to Deidara. The clay master was still fast asleep, and looked to Kisame. Just by that gaze, the fish man could read exactly what his partner was thinking. A broad grin spread across his blue face as he went to go wake up the sleeping beauty. "Wake up, sleepy head." Kisame made sure to get right in front of his face.
The blond's eyes began to flutter as they were slowly waking up. He couldn't make out the figure that was Kisame. All he could hear was this very displeasing voice, one that could make his ears bleeds. "Nnn..." he mumbled trying to swat whatever it was away.
After opening his eyes up a little bit more and seeing those fish eyes staring right down at him. "Holy shit!" he yowled
Immediately that sent his heart into a frenzy as he quickly back away screaming, A rock smacked Kisame in the face and a displeased look came across his face. It hadn't stayed for long though because Kisame burst our laughing. The clay master growled, "Oh how funny, yeah?"
"You should have seen the look on your face, it was priceless." that grunting laughter continued more.
"Alright, enough." Itachi sighed as he brushed some strands of his dark locks away from his face.
Deidara was extremely pissed off, "That's no fair. You're going to let him do that? Really, un."
His blue eyes were directed towards the male with long dark hair. He merely shrugged it off and went off to a different subject, "It seems someone is near. Their chakra is strong enough to get Samehada going."
Deidara frowned, "Hm,"
After a moment, he felt it too. He turned his head away off over to the side and stared. The only bad part abut this horrible hidden chakra that it seemed to be all over the place. Kisame walked up to one of the trees and began to sniff it. This made Deidara back up with this incredulous look on his face. This just made Kisame seem even more strange to him. "Whoever they are, they purposely left their chakra all over the place."
"They like to play games then. Heh, this should prove to be somewhat more amusing than I thought it would be, yeah." Deidara had his hands by his clay pouch.
Though this was the worst mission in the world for Deidara, a few explosions here and there would be enough to make this more enjoyable for him. "Alright then Kisame, you go that way and Deidara you head that way." Itachi would be covering the other way.
Of course, his original partner was quick to move off. Deidara on the other hand was just a bit hesitant for a moment because taking orders from Itachi was no fun. Sasori had been no fun either, no one was fun for him anymore because they were all serious pants and Tobi was just an idiot. Swiftly, Itachi moved slowly through the foliage. Pushing small branches out of his way, the leaves shaking gently as he passed through them. Something snapped, but it wasn't from him. He went to peek over, and saw a figure move fast off towards the east direction. It was probably her.
The stealthy Uchiha shifted through the foliage with much as much grace and elegance as a feline. Soon enough it brought him to a point where Deidara and Kisame ran into each other. "Have you seen her?" Kisame asked.
"I'm almost positive it was her, she was heading this way." Itachi informed.
Kisame responded, "I saw a glimpse of her too."
"Un," Deidara grunted.
Which pretty much mean that he spotted her too. She probably started walking north from then. With much caution, the three of them headed north. Nothing was to make a sound. In order to make sure that they could here her from any direction, complete silence was in order. Which seemed to work, he heard a small voice to himself, as if it was arguing with... itself? How odd. With a light scowl on his face, he peered over to see their target that was in sight. She had fallen silent as she sat there. The female had dark green forest hair, from the skin showing from her hands she was extremely pale, and her face had been hidden from the large straw hat that obscured her face. The large black cloak covering over her entire body, you might have not been able to tell that she was indeed a female. Kisame took a step forward. To his dismay he snapped a twig in half with that single step. Quickly, Itachi slapped his hand over Deidara's mouth before he screamed bloody murder to the shark man.
"Who's there?" her voice hazed over and she looked up towards their direction.
Itachi caught a glimpse of her eyes. Their bright emerald green color read that she was a killer. They seemed as cold and emotionless as his own. "Show yourself." she demanded.
"So much for trying to sneak up on her, un." Deidara wasn't impressed.
All three Akatsuki males showed themselves from outside of the brush. A slow grin spread across her face, "Heh, so I am assuming you three wish to challenge me then? Who the hell are you and what the fuck do you want with me?" she snarled.
Itachi cocked his head to the side, giving her this incredulous gaze. "You're quite arrogant, aren't you? Assuming your stronger than three S-ranked criminals. I'm sure you've heard of the organization called the Akatsuki." the girl stared at him, brows pinched together, "We were given orders to capture a girl rumored to have been roaming around our base."
"Heh," her thumb swiped the corner of her mouth, "I guess we'll see about that then, won;t we?"
Something in Deidara's blood was beginning to boil. The way she acted so cocky, the way she stared at them with such confidence, "I can't wait to blow that sadistic smirk on your face." Deidara's own little smug look spread ear to ear.
Slowly the girl was beginning to back off. Inch by inch, not once taking her eyes off of them. A laughter began to stir in her throat as he grinned. "Well then." she suddenly jumped and disappeared into the trees, "Catch me if you can!" the faint sound of her voice came.
This girl had incredible speed, so there was no time to lose. Even though Itachi would rather be finishing his mission, it must have been incredibly important for Pein. The leader must have wanted her a lot. "Move it, we can't afford to lose her now."
If they didn't get a step on it then they would lose her. If they lost her then he could hear Pein's disappointed but mocking tone scolding them for not being able to catch a simple girl. If she really was a simple girl. Brushing some strands of his hair away from his face the three Akatsuki males bounded off after this supposed insanely powerful kunoichi, or rather, girl. There was no question to doubt about it, he would capture. There was no 'would they be able to catch her.' Itachi's perfectionist, superiority complex self would not allow mistakes to be made. It was already written in stone in the depths of his mind that they would capture the target.
Through the thicket of the leaves, her maniacal laughter rang through forest. The chase was on.
