Juueru raised an eyebrow "I take it your silence means you'll cooperate for the time being?" Katsumi was snapped out of her thoughts, as the demon's tone seemed increasingly impatient. The sound of their conversation was the only noise to be heard in the desolate forest.

"That depends." Katsumi began "First, I want to know what Akatsuki is doing so near Konoha." She paused, her face darkening with the beginnings of what appeared as anger. The young ninja took a step forward before finishing-

"And what's stopping me from kicking your asses and turning you in to the hokage?"

Juueru stared at the girl her expression unreadable. The atmosphere seemed to grow heavy and foreboding. It was if Katsumi had just crossed a dangerous line. a line between escaping this confrontation with her limbs still intact, or dying at the hands of the Akatsuki. And she didn't dare glance at the one called Sora. Chances were, she was glaring daggers.

Just then, the tension seemed to soar into the blue sky and disappear, as Juueru began to laugh. It was cheerful and bubbly, not particularly something you'd expect from a coldhearted killer, as Katsumi assumed the girl was.

The wolf's voice continued to sound cheery as she spoke. "You will receive your answer in due time. Now, as for your second answer…" Juueru glanced towards Sora and gave her a subtle nod. The older Akatsuki member raised her arm slightly to the right, barely above her hip. Before Katsumi could even blink, the trees that surrounded the trio were encased with ice. The air was unbearably frigid, and a chill ran down the younger cat demon's spine.

She looked downward, only to find a razor-sharp icicle dangerously close to her racing heart. Reality began to set in as the girl realized their capabilities. She took a step back, overcome with fear.

"W-what's your question?" Katsumi asked, her trembling was voice barely above a whisper. She was finding it difficult to calm her nerves at this point.

Juueru smirked at her reaction, and began to speak. "Well, I'll put it simply. How would you like to join Akatsuki?" Both the members looked at the chūnin, already knowing her answer.

Katsumi was shocked to say the least. Did they really expect her to join them willingly, without a fight? They might be stronger, but she was loyal to her village! There's no way she would simply betray Konoha like that!

"There's no way in hell I'd join you lowlife criminals!" She said with visible disgust. She'd probably die for that comment, but at least she wouldn't die a traitor.

"Lowlife criminals you say?" Juueru exclaimed, gasping mockingly. "Why, that certainly doesn't sound like someone who wants to reunite with her dear sister!" She coaxed, leading the neko directly into the trap with ease. The wolf demon chuckled darkly as the Katsumi realized the significance of her words.

Katsumi had frozen at Juueru's words. Her sister…she had gone missing a few weeks prior. Is it truly possible these people knew of her whereabouts?

Or…did they kidnap her themselves? The thought dawned on her that it was most likely the latter. The girl felt rage quickly rising from her throat. Venomous words rested on the tip of her tongue, waiting to be unleashed.

Pulling a kunai from her side pocket, she furiously charged toward the smirking wolf demon. "What the hell did you do with my sister?" She screamed, seeing red. She had no thought to instruct her, only instinct.

Not even a second later, Katsumi found herself being thrown backwards by a rush of dark energy. Crashing through two trees, she fell to the ground battered and bruised. Time had appeared to slow as she fell, the impact destroying any thoughts she'd had of retaliation. To put it simply she was in pain, and a lot of it.

"I don't think you understand the position you're in Katsumi-san." Sora's ice-cold voice sounded as the pair walked toward Katsumi's near unconscious body. "It's either you join, or you die a painful death."

The young chūnin's vision began to blur, and Sora's voice became muffled. Her energy was gone, and she was injured pretty badly. She could barely even take notice of their voices before she drifted into a peaceful sleep.

"Pein's going to kill you, you know. You really overdid it this time."

"…Shut up Sora."