-Recruit-
"Recruiting is the lifeblood of any program, so you can't put anything above that, ... But it wouldn't matter who you had here if you didn't have the right mental attitude and work ethic. You need all those elements to come together to do something like we are doing."
Pete Carroll
-0-
The cave was dark; bleak and dreary. Moisture hung heavily in the air as stalactites loomed threateningly overhead. A depressing milieu for most, but a perfect place for a meeting of criminals.
In the center of the sizeable cave were eight astral projections. The rainbow hued, cloaked forms were dispersed in a wide circle, surrounded by stalagmites, though there were was an unusually large gap that could fit two more people in the formation. At least half of the men were fidgeting impatiently, as if they had been waiting there for quite a while.
"How much longer do we have to wait? We're just wasting time here!" The first to break the silence was the shortest of the group. His static-like words, thanks to the projection, were said with a low, angry growl as his blood-shot eyes peered at the others. A sharp tail rose menacingly from under his cloak, despite the fact that it was impossible to hurt the other projections.
"I don't know, Sasori no Dana… But, really, why are we here, un? Anyone have a clue?" The next to speak was the man next to Sasori's right, Deidara. Part of his hair was pulled in a high half-ponytail with bangs covering his left eye; his exposed cerulean eye clearly showed his own irritation, though it wasn't quite a prevalent as Sasori's.
Directly across from the two, was the tallest of the group and a man with emotionless, crimson eyes, tomoe swirling in the red sea. It was the tallest, Kisame, that replied, razor-sharp pointed teeth flashing. "I have no clue either, but I don't think Leader-sama told anyone. Right, Itachi."
"Hn."
"I just fucking hope that Leader-sama gets here soon, damn it. Like puppet-boy over there said, we're wasting our fucking time. For damn sure, I know I have better fucking things to do than just waiting around." A scowl formed on the man to the blue-eyed's right. His eyes were wine colored, sporting the irritation that the majority had.
"Shut up, Hidan." Came the quick reaction of the second tallest. His gaze, green iris' on a red background, seemed distant, as if occupied with something.
"Don't fucking tell me to shut up, Kakuzu! At least you have your shitty money to fucking keep you busy, you shit."
Kakuzu's stare snapped up aggressively to meet his partner's, but before he could make a rebuttal, he was interrupted by a rather high-pitched, yet definitely male, voice.
"Oh, oh! Guess what? Tobi knows!" Without giving anyone a chance to answer, the masked man continued in his hyperactive tone, "Tobi knows that Zetsu-sempai knows why we're here!" He pointed excitedly at the man with the Venus flytrap-like appendage next to him.
Sasori's irritated look met Zetsu's golden orbs. "Hmm, well, why is it Zetsu?"
"Yeah, un. Why is it that we're here?"
The plant man made no move to reply as he shut his eyes. The others, mainly Sasori, Hidan, Deidara, and Kisame, kept questioning him but to no avail. Zetsu only opened his eyes again when the final members finally arrived.
Everyone quieted as the two filled in the gap in the circle. A man and a woman, both had gray eyes, but the male's eyes contained a series of concentric rings.
The male took a step forward, his voice authoritative. "Now that we are all gathered, this meeting may begin." There was a low murmur of 'Finally,' 'About time," and a few choice obscenities from the group's Jashinist, as Pein continued. "I'm aware that you have all had to wait, and for that I apologize, however, I had business to attend to.
"It has come to my attention that the Akatsuki are in need of a new recruit."
"What do you mean, un? Didn't Orochimaru take his ring when he left? Besides, Tobi's enough of an ass pain as it is; I don't think we need anyone else, un."
"I agree with Deidara," Kakuzu growled, "We'll just be draining money from our coffers if we get another paid member."
Pein held a hand up to quiet any other comments. "Orochimaru is no longer in possession of his ring; I've already sent Zetsu to retrieve it. What's more is that I realize that this organization is in need of a medic." Another wave of mumbling ensued among the others. "I do not wish to hear any more complaints. Now, I've already chosen who will join us. Hidan, you may recognize who she is."
"Well then, who the fuck is she?"
"Kurosawa, Mitsuki."
There was instant recognition in Hidan's eyes, "Oi, you don't really mean to bring her, do you? "
"How do you know her, un?"
"She's from my fucking village, that's how Blondie."
"Hidan, enough." Pein looked over at his organization. "There are few competent medics, and fewer that would be able to persist among S-rank criminals. Kurosawa, who is currently a wanderer, is a former ANBU operative and carries kekkei genkai."
Kisame gave a toothy smirk, "So where is she now?"
This time, it was Zetsu who answered, "The damn girl won't sit still for more than a couple days at a time. Currently, she's preparing to leave the Land of Waves through the main bridge. Last we checked she was asking around about Konoha, so we believe that she's going to head there next."
"Hmm… Hey Dana, that's about where we are now." Deidara smirked.
Wishing for the meeting to end quickly, Sasori asked, "So what is she like?"
Hidan was the one who replied. "She has black hair, brown eyes, and she's a fucking midget."
"She's not that short, don't exaggerate. I have to say that she must still be just at the five foot mark, though."
"Hmmph," The foul-mouthed man continued, crossing his arms in front of his chest, "She carries a naginata, and if I know the bitch at all she must still carry around her fucking old ANBU mask."
"Very well," Sasori turned to the leader, "We'll go get her."
"Excellent. After you meet her, take her to the base in Amegakure. If you must then take her by force, but only if it is absolutely necessary. Understood?"
In sync Deidara and Sasori responded, "Hai."
"As for the rest of you; you are to proceed with your duties as you normally would. I will contact you when our medic arrives in Ame. You are all dismissed."
"Finally!" Hidan's image faded out of view, and one by one the other Akatsuki members followed in suit until only Tobi, Pein, and Konan were left.
"Well, this is an interesting decision you've made, Pein." The masked-man's voice had changed; it was deeper and more mature. His whole countenance had altered as well from childish and hyperactive to calm and dominant.
"Yes, but even you must admit that having a medic will advance our cause greatly."
For the first time since the meeting had started, Konan spoke with a quiet tone, "With a shinobi skilled in medical jutsu, our members will have higher survival and success rates. It's also possible that she will be able to enhance the others abilities on the field with her medical knowledge and kekkei genkai."
A smirk could be heard in 'Tobi's' voice, "Don't you think you should give the others some more credit. They are S-Ranked shinobi, after all."
Konan retorted tersely, "Anything can happen, Madara-san."
Madara chuckled, "True to that… True to that."
-0-
In a heavily forested area of the southeastern portion of the Land of Fire, Deidara sat on one of the higher branches of an oak tree, a smug look on his face, glancing at Sasori- who opted to stay on the forest floor.
"So Dana, Zetsu said that this girl was just preparing to leave the Land of Waves. I was thinking that if we travel fast enough, we could intercept her where the bridge touches the Land of Fire, un. We'd need to travel on one of my birds, though."
"I'd hate to admit it, but you may be right." Deidara's smirk grew bolder as he jumped down from his perch. "Now be quick about it, or we may lose her." Within a few seconds a large bird- big enough to carry both Deidara's and Sasori's bulk- 'poofed' to existence.
"Alright, Sasori my man. Let's go."
-0-
Author's Note:
To those who have reached the end of the chapter, hello! And thank you for reading my story.
I am Khaos, and it is my pleasure to finally put up the first chapter of my long time brain child. I do hope that all who read it will enjoy, and I look forward to posting more of it here. I do plan on putting up chapters biweekly, but please be patient if I may be a little late. As you all may know, life can be quite a bitch and get in the way sometimes. Plus, I do need to attend the job that pays for the electricity and internet that acts as the lifeblood of my computer and, thus, this project, so that may put a damper things. However, I will try my best!
In any case, please leave a review. Questions, comments, concerns, etcetera, etcetera are all welcome by me and, in fact, encouraged. They do tend to inspire me, and can help move my writing along.
And before I forget, I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. That pleasant and well-earned right belongs to Kishimoto-san. I do, however, own my lovely OC and her companion, both of whom shall be introduced in the next chapter.
Ja ne.