"Four of a kind, un," stated Deidara, showing his hand of cards.

"Straight flush," replied Kakuzu, sitting his hand down on the table. Deidara's eyes widened and he cursed, tossing his cards to the ground. "Damn it! You're cheating, un!" Kakuzu cocked his eyebrow and, while collecting the money that had been betted casually, replied, "You're just no good at this . . . like most things."

"Che!" Deidara's brow twitched, and he grabbed Kakuzu's collar, snapping, "You want to blow up, un?!"

"Deidara, enough. Kakuzu won fair and square," Nagato said from where he was perched at the ledge of the building. They sat up on the roof, their frequent meeting place. Konan sat beside him, absorbed in folding origami again like usual. Even though Deidara looked ready to explode, he released Kakuzu and walked away.

"Good fuckin' job, Kakuzu!" shouted Hidan, kneeling down beside him and trying to make a grab for the cash. Kakuzu grabbed his face and pushed him away, continuing to count with one hand. He didn't even have to say anything for Hidan to understand he wouldn't share, to which he whined, "Not even enough for lunch?! Fuckin' cheapskate!"

Deidara leaned against the guard rail next to Tobi. Glancing over, Tobi's face lit up. He removed his head phones and flung himself sideways, latching onto him in a hug. "Senpaiii! You finally came to me of your own free will!" he cried overjoyed.

"Un?!" Deidara cried, and shoved him off, "Tobi-! I told you not to hug me like that, you idiot!"

Looking hurt, Tobi whined, "But you came over here! Didn't you want Tobi's attention?!"

"Don't be ridiculous, you moron, un," Deidra scoffed, moving away with a roll of his eyes.

"E-Eh?!" Tobi cried, devastated, "S-Senpai! Senpai, don' be mad, come back! Senpaiii!"

"You two are as energetic as usual," teased Kisame, "Lovers quarrel?"

"Che! Why, you-!" seethed Deidara, rolling up his sleeves. Tobi held him back as Deidara spewed insults and threatened him sideways, while Hidan cheered him on, and Kisame only chuckled. He was easily the most buff of the group, after all.

Itachi's hand shot up from his sleeping form. He'd been a corpse a minute ago, laying beneath the afternoon sun shamelessly upon the ground of the roof with his hoodie thrown over his face. He peeked out from underneath it, sending a warning glare his best friend's way, to which Kisame chortled, "It looks like you guys went and woke Itachi up. It was fun, but let's act like adults, now."

Deidara and Hidan silenced, only because Itachi was downright frightening when he was groggy from sleep and pissed off at the same time.

Zetsu exited from the building, brushing dirt off of his uniform. He had a leaf in his hair; he'd undoubtedly come straight from the horticulture building. Even with his reputation, he was still a damn green thumb hippie.

"I heard some interesting news," he told them, "There's a new student transferring from Konohagakure."

"Yeah," Deidara replied, holding up his cell phone with the various clay charms dangling from it jangling, "I heard already, un."

"We all did," added Nagato, "Did you find out something interesting, though? It's not like you to spread old gossip."

A wicked grin spread over Zetsu's features and he laughed giddily. It made Hidan and Deidara grimace; even if he was their friend, he was always so creepy. Like a psychopath straight out of a horror movie, they never knew if and when he'd snap.

"She apparently announced that she transferred here for us to her entire homeroom," Zetsu replied.

Silence ensued, until Hidan broke it by bellowing out his laughter and throwing his head back. "You're fuckin' kiddin' me, right?! There's no fuckin' way a bitch transferred here for us, man! No fuckin' way!"

"Do you think she means to challenge us?" questioned Kakuzu, "Perhaps Jonin sent her?"

"I sincerely doubt that," Zetsu replied, "Unfortunately, I've heard she's rather plain and unexciting. If you expected a perfect ten, or a worthy adversary, you'll be sourly disappointed."

"That's not nice, Zetsu," chided Tobi, "It isn't nice to pick on a girl."

"Shut up, Tobi!" the group shouted in unison.

"So, what, un?" Deidara asked, "Are we all going to greet her properly, Leader?" He grinned, his malicious intent obvious.

Nagato returned it two-fold, but cautioned, "Tobi is right, Deidara. She is a little girl. We'll only look like villains if we bully her."

"There's no need to fuss about saying hello," Zetsu cut in, to which Nagato asked, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, she's on her way here, now."

"Huhhhh?!"

The sound of the metal door opening could be heard. "Oh," Zetsu said, turning around, "There she is now."

Even Itachi sat up, rubbing the sleeping out of his eyes to look, while everyone else craned their necks to look.

Nibuiko had heard of where to find Akatsuki from a classmate. 'Just about every day, they skip classes and hang out on the roof. It's kind of their turf, so none of us go there anymore,' she'd told her, and with a giggle, asked, 'Are you going to go there to confess?'

'Yeah,' Nibuiko replied, 'I am.' Of course, her classmate took it the wrong way. She squealed and gave her a high five, chiming, 'Fightingggg!'

But another student had pulled her aside when she'd asked for directions to the roof. 'You can't be going to call them out, right? That's a death sentence! Listen, how about you just forget about them, okay?'

'But I've made up my mind that I want to greet them properly,' she replied, to which the male student scratched his neck. 'You're suicidal, you know it? Just what do you see in those jerks?'

'God,' replied Nibuiko matter-of-factly, without wavering. The classmate stared at her, but she never blinked or wavered.

'So,' she pressed, 'Can you tell me the way?'

'Uh-,' he sweat-beaded and pointed to the left, 'It's that way.'

When she frolicked on, he was left scratching his head in confusion. 'Is she serious?' he asked himself aloud, shaking his head.

She'd found the roof after that with little problem, and paused outside the door to prepare herself. She fixed her skirt and tie, checked that her tails were straight and pulled up her socks. Now that she was here, her confidence wavered. Swallowing hard, she wondered if she could really face them. What would happen if she confessed her feelings and they shot her down? How could she go on without the help of her idols?

'This is no time for second-guessing,' Nibuiko reminded herself, steeling her gaze, 'I've already transferred here, and I already have nothing else to live for. If I don't have the courage to change myself, I'll never be able to face the trials in my adult life. I've got to do this. I just have to be brave.'

She shut her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, that look of determination was back. "I'll convince them to be my senpais," she announced to herself out loud, and made the motion across her chest, "Cross my heart and hope to die!"

Putting her arms in front of her, she pushed the door open and faced the blinding sun that came beating down upon her face. She raised her hand over her eyes to shield herself as her eyes adjusted, and saw before her the silhouettes of nine people. Her eyes slowly adjusted, and she took them in.

Even if their school uniforms, their punk nature was still maintained. None of them wore the uniform properly except for Kakuzu and Zetsu: Hidan didn't wear the top at all and had the symbol of Jashin, his strange religion, dangling around his neck; Nagato was covered in his piercings; Deidara had his sleeves rolled up and a chain dangling from his side; Tobi wore his pumpkin mask over his nose and mouth and his oversized, orange bike goggles; Itachi had sunglasses (that he currently was slipping on) and his hoodie that he wore over the top; Kisame had his shirt left unbuttoned and bottoms of his pants rolled up, showing his sandals instead of sneakers; and Konan had her skirt hiked up and make-up thick.

Her idols, in their glory!

Before she could stop herself, she lost her balance and nearly fainted, fanning herself and holding her nose as a nosebleed threatened to take hold. 'They're too strong!' she cried, 'Their power levels combined are over 9,000!'

It was Deidara who scoffed at her behavior, and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket. He lit it up and took a huff, then demanded, "What's wrong with this idiot, un?"

"Aye, bitch!" called Hidan, "You gonna die over there or what?"

Regaining her composure immediately, she looked over at them wearily. She stood straight and, as she stared them down, her nose began to bleed from the right nostril.

"Oh!" gasped Tobi, reaching into his pocket and taking out a handkerchief. He ran forward and stopped before her, extending his hand with it in it. "Here," he said, "Your. . ." He reached up and tapped his nose. "It's bleeding," he told her.

"Huh?" Nibuiko reached up and touched it, and then when she saw blood on her fingers, blushed and took the over handkerchief. "Thank you," she muttered.

"Huh?" Tobi asked, tilting his head to the side. Then he laughed beneath his mask and shouted, "It's no problem at all!"

"You're so nice. . .," Nibuiko whispered, staring at him intently.

"I-I am? You think I'm nice?!" Tobi cried, stars flashing into his eyes. He clasped his hands together and leaned against her, declaring, "If you like Tobi already, then Tobi likes you, too! Let's be friends!"

"TOBI!" Deidara snapped irritated.

"Are you the girl that transferred from Konohagakure?" asked Nagato, silencing any explosion Deidara had ready to let loose. Nibuiko tore her gaze from Tobi and looked to him. She recognized him as their Leader, and knew this was her chance. She swallowed nervously and lowered the hankie from her nose.

"I am," she replied firmly.

"What is your name?"

"Watanabe Nibuiko."

"Neee, Watanabe-san, it is an honor to make your acquaintance!" Tobi jumped in, shaking her hand eagerly, "I'm Uc—"

"I see," Nagato interrupted, sending Tobi a firm look that said to shut up, tapping his knee impatiently at him, "Then is it true you came here for us?"

They'd heard about that already? Gossip sure spread fast here! "It is true," she replied, without an ounce of shame.

"Oh, you did?" Tobi asked, fanning his hand, "I'm so flattered!"

"Oh really? And why is that?" Nagato continued, glancing over at Konan who was summing up the other female silently beside him.

"Oh. . . That is. . .," Nibuiko wavered, looking down. Her heart was racing.

"That is- what?" Nagato asked calmly, seemingly amused by the whole situation.

Before their eyes, the female got to her knees and bowed; she prostrated herself properly before them, groveling. It was so sudden that they gasped, and Tobi began to say, "H-Hey, now! There's no need to bow!"

"Please, I beg of you," she begged regardless of their discomfort with her formality, "Help me turn into a bad girl!"

". . . Huh?" The group looked around at each other, confusion on their faces. Nagato was left scratching his head, unsure of what to make of how she phrased herself.

"Is she asking us to fuck her?" Hidan asked rather non-chalantly, looking more than up to the task. Kakuzu bashed him over the head with his accounting book.

"Great! Another crazy person!" Deidara cried, throwing up his arms, "When we already had Tobi, and Hidan with his stupid Satanic shit."

"It's Jashinism, you fucking shit!" screamed Hidan at Deidara, jumping to his feet, "And don't insult Jashin-sama so casually!"

"Nee- Watanabe-chan," Tobi questioned, bending down beside her. He pat her back nervously, asking, "What do you mean? That's kind of- well- a weird thing to say, isn't it?"

Lifting her head, she looked to him and asked, "Is it? Well—" She turned back to Nagato and the rest of them and cleared her throat, saying, "I mean, I want you to make me a yankee like you! I want to join your gang and ride on motorcycles with you, get into fights alongside you, and learn how to sneak into casinos underage and cheat at pachinko like you!"

"Hey!" Kakuzu declared sternly, pointing at her, "We don't cheat, okay? Don't spread unnecessary rumors."

"How come a girl like you would want to be one of us?" Deidara huffed, "If I didn't want to jump to conclusions, I'd think you were lookin' down on us, un."

"That's what my classmate said- But! I would never do that! I sincerely idolize you all!"

"Why, un?!" Deidara demanded, dropping his cigarette and snuffing it with his foot. He took a step forward and shouted, "How come a privileged Konoha kid wants to hang around with a bunch of delinquents?!"

"I told you! It's because I idolize you! I don't fit in there, at Konohagakure!"

"Well, you don't fit in here, either, un!" Deidara shouted back, making Nibuiko's eyes widened. He scoffed and turned his back on her, arms crossed. "We're not a fuckin' charity case. Just cause they might've made fun of you there or somethin' doesn't mean you can come cling onto us thinkin' you can get even, okay? Go back! You're an eyesore, un!"

"D-Deidara-senpai," Tobi trembled.

"Damn it, what, Tobi!?" Deidara shouted, turning back around to glare at him. He stumbled back when he saw, upon Nibuiko's face, the absolute look of devastation. Tears were flowing from her eyes like a waterfall even though she wasn't sniveling, a shocked expression in her eyes as if she'd lost her house, parents, and family dog all in one night. "H-Hey now-," Deidara stammered, holding up his hands, "There's no need for the water works, un. T-That kind of stuff won't get you anywhere in life! R-Right, guys?" He looked around, and the others sent him looks of contempt.

"What?!" he shouted, "Aren't you guys on my side?!"

"You went too far, Deidara," Kisame responded, shaking his head.

"I agree with Kisame," Konan spoke up for the first time, pushing herself from the edge and walking over to Nibuiko, "There was no need to treat her like she isn't even human."

"Oh, COME ON!" Deidara lamented, and then gasped as Tobi shouted and Nibuiko collapsed face forward into the cement, frozen like a statue. "Oh, shit! I didn't mean to kill her, un!"

While Tobi jumped around, flailing his arms, Konan calmly knelt down before Nibuiko and pulled her up. Brushing off her uniform, she picked up the handkerchief and folded it neatly to a clean section. Dabbing Nibuiko's face dry, she cooed, "There, there. A woman should never show her weaknesses, especially not in front of men."

"Nee- Konan-san- I-I-," sniffled Nibuiko, reaching out and placing her hands on her shoulder, "I just—I got tired of being used by everyone! I'm such a gullible idiot, so everyone took advantage of me without me even realizing! When I didn't have money anymore for proper lunches, they didn't want to be around me because I was poor, and I- I realized how fake they all were, and what I doormat I am!"

"There, there," Konan comforted, bringing her closer and letting her lean against her shoulder, "Let it all out; it's okay."

"I just don't want to be a stupid, weak girl anymore!" she sobbed, clinging to her back, "I want to be strong, carefree, and confident like all of you! I don't want to ever let anyone hurt me like that again!"

"And you won't, not ever again," Konan assured her, to which Nibuiko sniveled and leaned back, rubbing the tears from her eyes and looking up at her. "H-Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean, we won't let you. If you want us to help you get your confidence back, we will. Right, Nagato?" Konan turned and looked at her boyfriend, the Leader, expectantly for his reassurance. He looked between her and the other members, who all looked incredulous. How could he just let someone like- like that! – in? Even if she was pitiful, she wasn't cut out for their gang, and would make them look uncool! He opened his mouth to protest, to which Konan narrowed her eyes. He felt the electricity zap between them and immediately tilted his head and smiled, greeting, "Of course, of course! Welcome to Akatsuki, Nibuiko-chan!"

"Ughhhhh!" came the resounding groan from all the males (except Tobi).

"R-Really?" Nibuiko asked, looking back and forth between Konan and Nagato, "R-Really?! You mean it?!" Konan nodded and Nibuiko leapt to her feet. "Thank you, thank you so much, Konan-san! I promise I'll make you proud! I won't get in the way, and I'll be very helpful!"

"Of course you will," laughed Konan, smiling serenely and adding, "Why else would I have agreed so easily?"

"Oh, Angel," growled Nagato playfully, winking, "That's so mean."

"Of course it is," Konan giggled, standing and walking back over to her boyfriend, "How could I be your girl and not have an ulterior motive? There's always a price to kindness."

"Konan-san-," breathed Nibuiko in awe, watching her back, "She's really a strong woman, isn't she?"

"Watanabe-san!" cried Tobi, flinging his arms around Nibuiko's neck, "This means we're going to be friends from now on, right?! Let's start hanging out right away! Tell me all about yourself, and Tobi will do the same!"

"Ha. . .," Nibuiko laughed lightly, smiling at him, "Okay, Senpai. Oh, and please call me Nibuiko."

"S-Senpai?!" Tobi gasped, "T-That's right! I'm your senpai, aren't I?! Wow! It feels good to be someone else's senpai for once!"

"Nagato," Kakuzu said in the meantime, having confronted their Leader in his 'accountant' mode, "I need to talk to you about your rash decision-making. You realize we're on a tight budget for outings as it is, right?"

"Oh, Kakuzu, save it!" whined Nagato.

"Leader," Itachi said as he bowed before him, "I resign."

"Enough, you guys!"

"Oh ho ho, this is really interesting, isn't it?" Kisame mused, scratching his chin.

"That's it, I'm leaving!" Deidara announced, throwing his hands up and walking towards the door, "Since everything thinks I'mmmm the bad guy! Goodbye, you idiots!"

Hidan approached Nibuiko, extending his hand and asking, "Newbie, have you ever heard of Jashin-sama?"

Foreword:

Please review! I'm new to writing fan fictions, so I would very much like your input!

Notes [SPOILER ALERT]: I am keeping Tobi as he was prior to Deidara's death. While I call him Tobi, he is Obito (thus the goggles he wears), but not evil Obito. I can't stand a not cute and bubbly Tobi : ( /3