Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the Akatsuki
Chapter 1-French essays, time-travelers and orange carrots
Anna Wilson yawned as she began to feel her head fall forward, towards the table. No! She thought I have to stay awake, no snooze. She glanced to her right. The digital clock read 10:50. Okay. The was to finish this essay before midnight, then have a good night rest till the next morning; wake up at 5 and go to school. It was as easy as ABC.
She looked down at her opened textbook and tried to make sense of what her brain had interpreted as data-which apparently made no sense. Her mind racked as she tried to think of possible answers. She could do this. It was possible. Yes she will pass the boundary which prevented her from reaching her so called impossible goal; she would conquer all evil (in other words French essays were evil).
"What does l'évêque even mean anyway?" the nearly eighteen female said as she groaned in frustration; flipping the pages of her French dictionary looking for the said word that was impossible for her to find. Her attempts were futile as she as unable to find the word and out of frustration threw the book on the cold hard floor. How would knowing how to speak French help her in life anyway? For goodness' sake she was going to be a neurosurgeon! It's not like she'll need to be bilingual to perform brain surgery.
She picked up the book and placed it back on the desk. Getting angry would do her no good. There was no way she'll be able to finish studying and writing her essay on time so she might just close her eyes for a second.
"Anna!" a loud voice woke her up, "Baby Gray is crying and I can't get him to fall asleep!"
Anna's head jerked up at the sight of her 11 and a half year old brother in blue flannel pajamas, carrying a small baby in a blanket, eyes tired, "I tried," the boy said half-awake, "but Baby Gray wouldn't keep quiet. He's so annoying," The boy gave a yawn; "I'm so tired."
Anna gave her brother a small smile, "Thanks Michael but I can handle it from here, OK " Michael responded with a 'whatever' as she took the baby from the boy's arms and at the same time attempted to ruffle her younger brother's brown hair but he dodged the attempt by ducking and moving backwards.
"Don't touch my hair sis," he said sleepily and Anna shook her head slightly as she began coaxing Gray to go back to sleep, "I am going back to bed."
"Did Tasha and Sasha wake up?" Anna asked as Gray's yells lowered to small whimpers and baby sounds.
"I'll check. If they are asleep I'll go to my room and sleep. If they are awake I'll slam Christiana's door a few hundred times."
She wasn't certain if he was kidding or he meant it. After all, doing that would probably wake up the neighbours. But before she could respond, the timing was off and the boy went back to his room.
"Go to sleep Baby Gray, go to sleep, sleep," Anna murmured the mantra repeatedly and atlas, the house became silent. Anna looked up at the ceiling and began to think of her sister Christina. She hoped she was ok. Christiana told her she was off copying notes Louise's. Anna thought otherwise.
It wasn't an easy life for her after all. Most 17 year olds spent their time relaxing with friends, going to parties and chilling out without a worry in the world. But for Anna, she didn't have time for things like that. She had 5 younger kids to take care of. Ever since her father had died, her mother had given up hope and began smoking; leaving the house all the time usually for a month or so. Anna used to think she would come back but she was starting to suspect she ran off with some Asian boyfriend forgetting about the fact she left her kids behind or that she even had kids in the first place.
It was tough but Anna knew she had to be responsible by taking care of her siblings, lest the children services people came to take them away. She loved all of all them and would greatly hate it if they were all separated into strangers' homes.
The only other relative she knew very well was her mum's older sister, Aunt Isabel who lived in a nearby neighbourhood They could have moved in with her aunt except she was nearly 50, crazy lady (in Anna's opinion) and not exactly your average down to earth Aunt that gave you sweets and told you stories. She was far from the stereotypical Aunt. Isabel was a rich lady who inherited her husband's money (when he died) and used it to open up her own bar, spent nights gambling and was very irresponsible. Yeah, someone Anna would want her brothers and sisters to grow up with. Although the lady had her good qualities as she was very persuasive and kind, she always made sure to visit the kids once a month and made sure they weren't dying of starvation. Anna got along with her aunt in everything except when her aunt talked about adopting them.
Anna would most likely jump off a bridge than to move into her aunts' house living with her and her crazy friends.
Anna had a younger brother called Michael who was far the most agreeable sibling. With big brown eyes and dark brown hair Anna thought he was adorable. Well next to Baby Gray and the Twins.
His real name was Fredrick but every one called him Gray or Baby Gray. Everything about him was well… grey. His brown hair could not be said to be fully brown because of the shades of grey on the edges and grey blue eyes, and the same could be said for his moods. He wasn't black or white. He was just grey.
The twins where Sasha and Tasha and no one could tell who was who. Two 4 year olds ADHD twins with black hair and blue eyes they practically disagreed about everything. Sasha believed red food where the best while Tasha preferred green and turquoise food. Yes, ever since Tasha knew how to pronounce the said word she had been saying it ever since. They usually had different hobbies but they got along well… sometimes. They never really agreed except for one thing. Blue was the best colour in the world.
Then Christina, her fourteen year old sister - She could remember a time when she and Christina always got along. That had changed ever since the day Christina entered high school a few months before. Suddenly her style turned darker, she dyed her short mousy brown hair red, became a Goth and had a pack of 'interesting friends'. Christina and Anna fought constantly and eventually, Christina's presence in the house became obsolete. She hardly came home unless it was to borrow money or get some of her stuff. Anna tried but with exams in a few months, and work and four other kids to take care of, well she had reached her limit. She really hoped that Christina was fine wherever she was.
If it weren't for science and blood types, Anna could have been said to be the adopted member of the family. She had blond hair opposed to the brunettes that her parents were. Instead of brown or blue, Anna had sea green eyes. When Anna was younger, she hated the fact that she didn't look anything like her family so much, that she almost got depressed. In attempts to reassure her, her mother brought out a yearbook and showed her a picture of her great grand Aunt who looked exactly like her except older and beautiful. Anna thought she was pretty and was really feeling good about herself, until her mother destroyed her renewed self-esteem, by telling her that great grand aunt had skin cancer so she cut her hair when she turned 18, and died not much later.
Anna eye lid began to drop slowly. Nooo, she thought, I have to finish this French essay for Madame Gazelle…
But her body had reached its limit, her eyes closed and her willpower finally gave in to sleep.
"L'évêque means Bishop….zzzz…"
Three figures wearing black cloaks with red cloud designs on them, followed by a fourth one that was wearing the same although wounded and bedraggled; apparently annoyed, (which could be proven because of the endless colourful language coming out of his mouth) were walking through a grassy area that was deserted except for the dark clouds overhead, signifying that they were near the Rain village. Their true destination and purpose was unknown except amongst themselves. They were criminals who didn't take nonsense from anyone (except from their leader), and never took pity on their victims. They were known to a selected few as the Akatsuki.
"Hidan would you shut UP!" said the second largest coat bearing man to the injured figure with a unique vocabulary. Half of his face was covered with a white hood and black mask so that only his eyes were visible. His eyes had an unusual colouring: green irises, and red sclera. And also, apparently, he had a bad temper.
"You, shut up Kakuzu!" the one addressed as, 'Hidan' shouted back but due to his current predicament it sounded like he was whining. "You nearly cut off my entire leg! It hurts like shit! I don't even WANT to be an Akatsuki anymore! I mean I have to perform my daily rituals! How can I do that when I am constantly out on 'money missions' all the time? What would Jashin-Sama say?" the purple eyed man complained.
"Hidan, you idiot! Once you've joined the Akatsuki leaving it is not an option. Besides, Deidara and Sasori didn't want the money making missions anyway. And stop whining like a child. And keep your useless opinions to yourself and to your fictional god," Kakuzu grunted. He'd better shut up or else I'll kill him, he thought angrily, despite the fact that Hidan was immortal and couldn't die.
"Shut UP!" Hidan yelled, "Don't insult the mighty power of Jashin, you heathen. You better convert or else you perish, all you unbelievers and money huggers!"
A young man amongst them was beginning to regret walking back to Amegakure with the 'zombie combo'. Next time, he told himself, never listen to Kisame.
"You are just as foolish as Deidara," he said to Hidan. Despite the fact he was the youngest, had a sense of authority to him and Hidan fell silent (but they all knew it wouldn't last). He had dark slickly hair tied to a small ponytail at the end and red eyes with three comas in each of them. His name was Itachi Uchiha.
"Yeah Itachi-san I agree, maybe even more foolish than Deidara," said the largest man out of the four of them. He had blue skin and gills and sharp teeth which was visible anytime he grinned – like right now. Despite his appearance, he was probably the friendliest out of the four. "I can even remember, when he actually challenged you thinking he would win. It was quite humorous seeing the look on his face when he lost to your genjutsu!"
"Hn," Itachi gave the infamous Uchiha reply but you could tell he was amused.
Hidan's frowned deepened and he yelled, "Don't you compare me with that loser you bunch of assholes!" then he then muttered a few choice words and glared at Kakuzu. Kakuzu glared back.
"Does he really have to be my partner forever?" Kakuzu asked himself knowing full well that there was no other candidate that could replace Hidan, "Itachi, Kisame want to switch partners?"
"He's all yours," the large man replied.
"Only the leader can allow that." Itachi replied calmly. Even though in his mind scape was the complete opposite of calm, NO, NO and NO! I WOULD NOT HAVE THAT INSANE IMMORTAL MY PARTNER!
"Where the hell are the both you leading us to, weasel and shark face?" Hidan said suddenly in a tone that made all the other characters pause to look around them. Itachi would have given him the deadly Uchiha glare but something Kisame said made him pause.
"This isn't the Rain Village," Kakuzu said agreeing with him for the first time ever, "in fact I've never seen this place in all my travels."
"I believe we are lost," Kisame said in agreement.
And yes, they were right for not one single grey cloud was in the sky. In fact you could say it was very sunny and the land around them was full of vegetation. They were standing on top of a vegetable garden which was very strange. It seemed as if it appeared from nowhere.
Itachi frowned, "I must have taken the wrong route. Or…" it's is a trap, Itachi thought cautiously, holding a kunai that was invisible, to even expert shinobi.
"You don't say weasel-kun?" Hidan retorted sarcastically.
Itachi chose to ignore him and stated, "Let's make a U-turn and-"
"What the hell!" Hidan yelled and all the others ignored him and began to follow Itachi back to step one, "why are we all walking away? Look we just all just came back from different grueling missions! Me and Kakuzu –"
"Kakuzu and I –"
Whatever Kisame! We both just came back from two bounty hunting missions and I'M pretty sure you and jerk face here are really tired too."
"So what's your point Hidan?" Kakuzu said with mild interest.
"you know Hidan, this was the first time that you said an entire set of sentences without swearing!" Kisame observed.
"Hey i don't fucking swear you fucker!" Hidan insisted.
"My point is that you son of a bastard, we are all exhausted and there's free food all around us!" Hidan demonstrated by waving his hands around the harvested crops, "with some water jutsu and earth these small things could just fill me up! I mean I can't perform my rituals on an empty stomach. Let's rest and eat!"
"who said you could perform your rituals, you idiot," Itachi glared, "leader-sama's oders are crystal clear – he is expecting us in 24 hours for the urgent meeting which is why we cannot use the rings – this meeting cannot wait. None of us can afford to waste time here listening to you."
"…" Kakuzu was actually considering the fact that Hidan had said something that made sense. Especially when he said it was free. Free… food.
"Actually that's not a bad idea. I'm hungry and besides I don't want to spend a lot of money on some Chinese restaurant." Kakuzu said thoughtfully.
"Kakuzu, I'd beg to differ that Chinese food are really cheap," Kisame said. "You always buy cheap Chinese Takeaway. Why don't you try buying better quality foods from other restaurants?"
"No, because the other ones are too EXPENSIVE!" replied Kakuzu, "Have you seen their prices? Do you have any idea how hard it is to be the treasurer of this organization? Not only do I have the Money making missions, I have to make sure there's money to pay for the bills, for the expenses to buy equipment, for damage done by Deidara and his exploding toys, Hidan playing with his scythe in the hideouts and there's hardly any more money left for more useful things!"
"Cheap bastard," Hidan muttered. At the start Kakuzu's rant, Hidan decided to rest and fill up his empty stomach; after all it was every immortal for himself and Itachi was being more of an ass than usual. Then a wonderfully shaped carrot caught his eye. It was so orange, so bright and beautiful as it was glowing, and giving off a tempting aura. Hidan realized he was drooling and hungrier than he realized so he took it and ate it. Then he saw another bright juicy carrot. It was hard to resist.
"Oh come on it can't be all that bad," Kisame continued, "at least you don't have to be stuck trying to capture the hardest jinchuriki and getting stuck with all the boring missions. The nine tail brat is so annoying and Itachi failed twice in capturing it!" Itachi winced at the comment 'failed'. Uchihas do not 'fail'. They simply, wait for when the time is right.
"But you don't have HIM as your partner!" Kakuzu countered.
"True dat," Kisame agreed.
"Kakuzu and Kisame stop your petty arguments," Itachi said in a monotone voice, "our leader would be expecting us for the update and it would be foolish to waste our time here. Hidan please don't eat any more food we would all gather it together as supplies for the long journey…" Itachi broke off at the sight of Hidan lying down at the center of vegetable garden finishing off all that was left of it.
All Itachi could think of, was that Hidan was screwed and that they'd better get out of here before the owner came- they probably have to kill the poor person. Itachi hated killing people.
"Hidan you fool!" Kakuzu yelled, "You ate all the free food!"
"what kind of digestive system do you have Hidan?" Kisame wondered to himself.
"Hey I was so hungry I couldn't help myself! It's your entire fault that you asses couldn't even make up your minds!" Hidan smirked, "Maybe next time you'll agree with me and stop beating up people that haven't eaten in a long time."
"The both of you quiet!" Itachi was tired of babysitting all of them. He was really beginning to consider returning to Konoha and turning himself in. Maybe Sasuke would try to use his chidori on him when he finds out, but hey, look at the bright side – Itachi could easily us his older brother kick ass signature move – the poke on the forehead no jutsu and all would be well. If that failed when there was still the good old talk-no-jutsu. STOP FANTASIZING! He told himself. To his companions he said, "We should all be going back before -"
But then, in a blink of an eye, an old lady with reddish gray hair wearing a gray cloak and piercing red eyes, appeared suddenly, beside Hidan with an inquisitive expression, "Now where do you think you are all going kiddies? You didn't even stay for desert!"
All of them were too stunned to reply. How did she get there so fast? We didn't even sense her presence! They all thought. Itachi felt sorry if she owned the vegetable garden because they had to get rid of her lest she cause causalities. Although the kind of chakra she was giving off was abnormal for a woman her age…
"Hello young man," the old lady said kindly to Hidan, "I hoped you enjoyed trespassing and your meal. It took me months to plant it but you ate it all! Now it's time for desert!" she gave an old woman's chuckle.
"Who the hell are you?" Hidan growled back. It was clear that he lacked respect for the said old lady.
"Well you can call me Granny Redhead!" she said with a smile.
"Well Granny Redhead," Itachi cut in for Hidan, "we would like to be going our way now but we want you to answer our question - how where you able to get in here so fast with four s-ranked ninjas unable to sense you?" Itachi inquired, "It seems like you have had some shinobi training. In fact I believe that you are no ordinary grandma."
"Oh," the lady laughed loudly and Hidan backed away with an irritated look, "I don't believe in ninjas. They are so rude these days, no respect for their elders, trespassing into other people's property, eating their food, refusing to stay for desert…" for each phrase her tone became angrier and then she glared and Hidan and smiled –a smile that didn't reach her red eyes, "young boy you ate my food and you'll not be forgiven until you repay the price for your rudeness," she said in a monotone.
"HELL, no!" Hidan yelled at her and walked away, "let's kill this crazy bitch!"
"Shut up Hidan. We don't have time to waste on this senile lady," Kakuzu grunted. But he too was conflicted by her chakra.
"If you leave you'll all be cursed forever!" the woman warned. But she stared at Hidan in particular.
"Yeah, right!" Hidan boasted, "I'll serve you as a sacrifice to Jashin-sama and we'll see who's cursed!"
"You know she's quite annoying, let's put her out of her misery," Kisame said thoughtfully.
MAKE UP YOUR MINDS! Itachi yelled in his head. He then looked at his comrades, "Ok you can do whatever you wish just make it quick and painless."
"With pleasure, Jashin-sama would especially enjoy this sacrifice! Although, can it be really slow and painful, I enjoy it when they scream in fear." Hidan smiled sadistically as he revealed his three-bladed scythe, "He doesn't take kindly to people that insult him and dare curse his followers!" Hidan then raised his scythe and reached for the kill but then he couldn't move, "what the –"
"I warned you. Now you and all your friends would never reach your destination and you young man," she then gave Hidan the eye, "I have sealed your fate."
Then Hidan's scythe melted in his hands. The other Akatsuki members tried to move but they realized that they too, were immobilized and it felt as if the shadow strangling jutsu was used on them- except this version was far more powerful and effective. They tried to struggle but no amount of chakra was able to break the jutsu, was it even a jutsu in the first place?
Itachi frowned. He could tell it was some sort of genjustu but what about this strange chakra mixed in with it? Was it a space time jutsu? But the woman didn't perform any handsigns! What was this! A lot of questions raced through Itachi's mind, but they were left unanswered.
"It is futile to fight against my Ninjutsu," she said then looked at Kakuzu, "I know about the crimes you committed agaisnt Konoha and your attempts to attain the first hokage's wood release ability and failing in the process…"
Kazaku stared at her trying to figure out how she knew after all how some random old woman gain access to that kind of information?
"You master of the accursed eyes - would never be able to break my genjutsu," she said to Itachi.
Itachi glared at her and said nothing. So it is a genjutsu and I can't break it Itachi thought. (Yeah duh that's what the old lady just said!)
Then the old lady turned to glare at Kisame, "I don't have anything against you except that you are one of them so you must suffer too. You swim together you sink together; aren't you familiar with that phrase?" Kisame grunted in anger as he tried to reach for his sword but even with his massive chakra he couldn't move an inch.
"I could kill you all now but I am in a merciful mood today. All of you are lucky. Instead, you all would be a test subject for my new space time jutsu. Your chances of ever returning…" she chuckled, "are of one in a million. As for you, rude man," she looked at Hidan, "I have sealed away your abilities when you ate my vegetation. Your god wouldn't be able to save you, and you'll no longer be immortal. You see, once you ate my carrots I put a seal on your immortal abilities." The others stared in astonishment. Was that even possible? "The faster it sinks in the better for you..."
The woman then smiled at Hidan, "Bic-t…h. W-hat are…you?" he managed to choke out the comment that was all in their minds.
She smiled "a time travelling demon." Then suddenly she transformed in a bright blinding flash of red light and smoke and in her place stood a young woman with the same hair colour but in a shinobi attire.
Before they could respond, a bright blue light consumed all four of them and they all disappeared along with the vegetable garden.
The area became deserted and cloudy again, except for two figures. The first one was the same woman with red hair brighter than before and her eyes had changed from piercing red to jade green eyes. She wore a black vest and lavender Carmi pants. Then a male appeared beside her wearing a green jacket and black and red pants with spiky blond hair and blue eyes. They were wearing black leaf headbands on their foreheads.
"Well done. it seems you were successful. And you've grown stronger." the man said to woman.
"Thank,s but I also had to make use of the extra power given to me and I barely managed to get rid of those menace. I used too much chakra. But in the end we succeeded, thanks to your gardening skills."
"Your're welcome dear. But it was also because of your great knowledge of space time jutsu. hmm...four members of the Akatsuki down, six left and Madara..." he made a clicking sound with his tongue.
"Now we can put the rest of our plan to action. divide and conquer. That's too bad, for him, Madara, that is. His capture-the-moon-plan would soon be tarnished. Don't you agree sweetie-kun?"
The second figure sighed wistfully, "Those where some delicious orange looking carrots…"
Anna woke up when she heard someone screaming. Her digital clock read 4:30.
The first thing she thought was 'damn my neck hurts and is that drool all over my notebook?'
Then the second thought that came to her head was 'its Christina's!' but she didn't just think it; she shouted it. "That's Christina!"
Anna got up in a flash of lightening, notes and books on her lap scattered all over and some fell on the floor but she didn't pay attention to them. As soon as she opened the door a hand grabbed her by the neck. She tried screaming or anything but a voice whispered to her hoarsely, "you'd better be silent or I'll fucking strangle your pretty little neck." Anna's eyes widened in fear and that was enough to make her stop squirming. Her pulse rate must have increased to 200 beats per minute. She didn't particularly like the idea of being headless.
She was then led her to the living room where Christina and Michael were both being held hostage, by their hands being tied to their back. A tall figure in a black cloak was standing behind them making sure they were still. They were all scared out of their wits and mouths dry. Anna then looked at the people that did this. She wished she hadn't.
They were all male wearing long cloaks. The one holding her hostage was shirtless and apparently smelt really bad. The one keeping two of her siblings occupied had a white hood and greyish face. Another man was extremely tall and blue skinned (Blue? She thought). He even had the gills. She wasn't even sure if he was human or probably she was hallucinating.
But the one that made her blood run cold was the dark haired one, who sitting on the sofa comfortably as if he owned the place, glaring daggers at her and at the one keeping her still. There was nothing a special about him: he didn't have gills, nor was he tall and neither was abnormal. He looked like a normal older teenager. But his eyes –his piercing red eyes could make your blood run cold and Anna felt as if he could see right through her- the feeling was unsettling.
"Young child," the said dark-haired one said in a monotone voice, "if you value your life and the life of those two, it would be better for you if you answer all of our questions… if not then…" he made a hand gesture to her two siblings being held hostage by a masked figure then raised a short metallic knife, pointing it, to her direction, "they'll die and so will you."
Author's Note: Please read and Review!