Chapter 3, folks! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Ranma 1/2.

"Nothing?" Pein asked, peering at the two returning Akatsuki members suspiciously.

"Nothing. Just rumors," Deidara confirmed, twitching under Pein's paranoid stare.

Starestarestarestarestarestare-

Pein sighed, breaking eye contact. "Very well. You may go." Tobi and Deidara fled the room with relief.

'Something fishy is going on...'

Later, Kisame and Itachi were called to Pein's office. "I have a mission for you. You will go and inspect a hot springs that is supposedly cursed. It's called Jusenkyo. You will leave right now. Any questions?"

"Um..." Kisame spoke up. "Didn't Deidara and Tobi just go on this mission?"

"Yes," he answered. "But I'm sure there's something they're not telling me. So I'm sending the two of you. Understand?"

They nodded. "Yes, Leader-sama."

^/-\^

"Jusenkyo." Kisame looked at the sign. "Yup, this is the place." He glanced at Itachi. "Coming, Itachi?"

"Hn."

They walked in, looking around. "Doesn't seem that cursed to me," Kisame commented. "Just looks like a hot springs."

He grabbed a rock from the ground and threw it into a nearby pool. He didn't notice that Itachi was standing right next to it, though. So when the rock fell in the water, the water splashed on poor, unfortunate Itachi.

"Whoops. Sorry, Ita... chi?" Kisame trailed off as he stared at what was standing where Itachi was.

Itachi stared at his new form in shock. 'What?'

He glared intently at Kisame. "What did you do?" he growled. Of course, he didn't look half as intimidating as he used to, with his cloak hanging off his limbs and dragging on the ground, but he was still pretty scary.

"Woah!" Kisame said, waving his hands and backing away. "I didn't do anything!" He frowned. "What did happen?"

"Are you blind now?" he spat, Sharingan spinning. "Or did you not notice that when I was splashed with the water, I was somehow turned into a kid! A kid! And it's all. Your. Fault."

Kisame had never seen Itachi this angry before. So he did what any sane person would do if put in this situation.

He ran as fast as he could away from Itachi and the springs.

After a while, he noticed that he hadn't been caught up to yet, so he slowed down and looked behind him.

No sign of Itachi.

Either he had calmed down significantly, or was weakened by his child body. Either way, there was really no reason for him to keep running. That would just anger the boy further.

He walked back, calling for Itachi. "Itachi? Where are you? Ita- Oh!"

Kisame wanted to laugh at the sight in front of him, but managed to keep silent. He had found Itachi. And it looked like he was in a bit of a fix.

Itachi did chase after Kisame. But there was the problem of his way too long Akatsuki robes. Holding them up slowed him down, so he had let go. And tripped over them.

And that was why he was now sprawled on his stomach on the ground, face crimson with embarrassment.

"I-Itachi. Need a little help?" Kisame asked, his mouth twitching from trying not to laugh. Itachi grunted, trying to save face by glaring threateningly at Kisame. It didn't work.

"Never speak of this to anyone," Itachi muttered as Kisame picked him up and placed him on his shoulders.

"But what about Leader-sama?" Kisame questioned. "He needs to know about the cursed springs, and-"

"Never. To. Anyone.

Stay tuned for chapter 4; I should post it this weekend. Please review!