When Your World's Sent Spinning

Zetsu emerged from the kitchen bearing plates of steaming fish pie, liberally blanketed with juicy salad. After serving the food he sat down and Pein emerged to take his seat at the head of the table, his face red from the heat in the kitchen. Konan sat on his right hand side and Itachi to his left. Meiunhi was next to Itachi and Zetsu was alongside Konan.

"Then let us eat," Pein declared and they all tucked in. Much to her surprise the cooking was amazing! Pein was clearly an excellent cook; it was no surprise that all the plates were empty within ten minutes. A fruit salad followed leaving all of them contented and full. Wiping his mouth Pein smiled.

"Very well. I'd like to formally announce our new member, Meiunhi, into our ranks." There was no clapping, but somehow Meiunhi got the idea that clapping would be rather out of place; only respectful looks greeted the announcement. "She will be paired up with Itachi for the afternoon missions, but with me for the morning training."

No! Why Itachi? Her mind screamed out. Itachi didn't seem remotely bothered, merely nodding his acceptance. "Right, that's all. Can I have someone to do the washing up?" Meiunhi raised her hand and stood up from the table, surprised at her own act of selflessness. Well it's the least I can do for those who have given me a 'home'. Besides it's only in repayment for the meal – I don't want to be in anyone's debt. Satisfied with that explanation she gathered up the dishes and headed back into the kitchen. Once she had left, Pein turned to Itachi.

"Don't push her too hard, too fast Itachi. We still don't know much about her – except that she appears to be a born killer." Itachi snorted contemptuously.

"Don't worry. I doubt I'll need someone like her. She can't replace Kisame's level of skill."

"I wouldn't be so sure...in fact I really wouldn't be too sure," Pein said softly, glancing back at the candlelit kitchen. Itachi just shrugged and left the table without a word, heading through one of the far doors. Pein sighed.

"He hasn't been the same since Kisame died. Those two worked really well together."

"Change happens," Konan replied impassively. She was still pretty bruised from earlier but her demeanour remained unchanged; coldly polite to nearly everyone, as though nothing had happened. Pein nodded.

"Let's hope it's for the better. We shall spend two weeks here with me training her, and then you and I shall head back to the Mist Country. Itachi and Meiunhi can carry out their own mission." Konan nodded and they both rose and left the room through one of the gaping doorways, the master and his angel.


Damn! Damn! Damn! Why can't she leave me alone? Those ever staring eyes and haunting face! If she knew what she was doing to me... Damn I can't keep this up... Right on cue Hanabi emerged before him, appearing with ghost like silence and serenity.

"Who is she, Naruto? You must tell me you know. Who is she?" Naruto collapsed to the ground, kneeling as his mind was plunged into deeper turmoil. For the past week Hanabi had followed him, constantly pestering him, and each time he'd found it harder to walk away saying nothing; harder to avoid that piercing glare: Her glare! "Tell me Naruto, who was it? Who did you see...?" Stifling a sob Naruto cried out across the dusty evening street,

"All right! I'll tell you. Stop hounding me dammit." Hanabi lifted an eyebrow and took a step closer and spoke in a kinder tone.

"I will, Naruto; once you've told me a few details I'll leave you well alone."

"It was...it was..." Hanabi's face stiffened slightly.

"The truth Naruto, don't try and lie to me."

"It was Hinata!" Finally it was out. Naruto felt the weight fall from his shoulders. He sagged, not daring to look up. Hanabi didn't speak for several minutes, and when she did it came out as a whisper.

"Did she...did she say why...?" Naruto felt the panic return in huge waves. He shuddered, feeling like an animal on a slaughter block, despite the fact that Hanabi was several years his junior.

"She...she...It was me. I let her down. I said she was unwomanly and weak behind her back but she heard. I started it all, she ran to become stronger. I don't think she meant Neiji and your dad to die. The fire was a mistake. But it's my fault, all my fault." A tear fell from Naruto's eye and splashed down to the ground beneath, causing a small, scuttling, black beetle to dart for cover. The wind whistled down the lonely street, whipping Hanabi's hair up and stirring the blond hair on Naruto's head. Naruto knelt for what seemed like eternity, sobbing out the suppressed guilt he'd held inside for so long. Hanabi watched him a while, her own face unreadable; then she spun around and slowly walked away.


The two weeks passed quickly and Meiunhi was feeling good on most fronts. Her training in particular had gone well. She smiled contentedly as she blinked, knowing new strength sat within her eyes. Before, the first level of the forbidden bloodline had been a single destructive shot - unable to change direction rapidly, but that had been improved through the complex hand movements Pein had taught her. Yesterday she'd finally reached the second level – two black suns swirling about her eyes. To reach the third and final level though would require something entirely different, but she would get there; for now she could not. Tomorrow she and Itachi would set off together; alone. The thought scared her more than ever; every time she looked at the impassive black haired ninja she felt a blush coming on. The fact he was so noble and quiet impressed her as well...but right now she had more pressing matters to think about; complications had arisen in today's mission.

Ducking, she avoided a water dragon that roared along the side of the gorge they were in. Their attackers were a band of medium strength, rouge ninja, obviously adept at guerrilla warfare. Nearly all had fallen but a couple still remained – sniping at them from the cracks. Meiunhi raised her own hand to where the dragon had roared from and muttered a complex command under her breath. A steel spear shot from her wrist, through the rock and through the heart of the last resisting rebel. So focused was Meiunhi on the tricky kill that she failed to notice the falling rocks, set in motion by the passing water dragon. By the time she looked up it was too late.

"Oooofff!" The breath was knocked from her as Itachi swept her out of the way; his cloak a flowing fluid stream as it wrapped around them both. The boulder thudding into the place where Meiunhi had just been. Meiunhi found herself staring up into Itachi's cold black eyes and involuntarily blushed again. Quickly they both stood up, Itachi reprimanding her as he shook some of the dust from his cloak.

"You should be more observant of the battlefield, child." Meiunhi glowered at him as she started to heal some of her bruises.

"I told you not to call me 'child'," she hissed back. Itachi remained unconcerned.

"I shall call you that if I like, for you still are. You think you love me like a million others yet all you feel is desire. I tell you this now. Love is a useless emotion. Loved ones die and fall; they inevitably pass in time and so are pointless. When I go into a town and sleep with a girl it's for satisfaction, not love, even if she is delusional enough to think so. I'm incapable of loving someone and until you learn the same you shall remain a mere child, lacking enough hate." Meiunhi stood rooted in shock, not least because Itachi had said more in a few seconds than he had the last two weeks.

So that's how he sees us women, as mere tools, and in a way he's right - it's how I must view men. In which case why shouldn't we...

It was as though Itachi could read her mind though.

"Clearly we shouldn't sleep together for pleasure for two reasons. Firstly it will make working together somewhat harder and tricky – even if we are almost emotionless. Secondly I only sleep with girls I look down on and despise, for you I have too much respect despite your naivety. Come, let us depart." Meiunhi nodded; inside her previously troubled fluttering heart settled back into its regular icy state.

I must prove myself to be stronger than Itachi. Must suppress any feelings so that my weakness is crushed. He feels nothing for me and so I shall feel nothing for him; remember strength lies in me, and me alone. As they headed back she also felt relief that Itachi had quashed her feelings so soon; if they had been allowed to fester longer her own emotions may have overcome her cold logic and she shuddered now to think what that would have meant. She'd just have been another slave, another mindless zombie. With the tension cleared between them they set off back to the base in a happier mood.

They had just left the gorge and entered a grassy field filled with pink buttercups, a stream that flowed into the gorge crossing it with a merry gurgle, when Itachi froze.

"He's here," he whispered in a low tone, disguising any trace of emotion.

"Who?" Whispered Meiunhi.

"My brother. You should go ahead and leave me to face him." Meiunhi thought about protesting but Itachi looked so serious that she simply nodded and took off. But she didn't go far, stopping behind an oak tree a way off to observe what went on. The wait felt like hours, but was probably only a few minutes. Then, as if emerging from another dimension, Sasuke appeared before Itachi; his white shirt half open, flapping in the light breeze beneath the sunny sky, causing Meiunhi to gasp in surprise. He...he looks so different, so grown up...and so like his brother.

"It's been a long time, little brother, what took you so long?" Itachi asked pleasantly. Sasuke smiled.

"Sorry, I was delayed. I think you'll find I'm stronger than you can possibly imagine."

"We'll see, little brother, we'll see..."

Meiunhi was so absorbed in the confrontation that she completely failed to notice someone approaching her until a women's voice rang out from behind.

"My, my! And here I was expecting to find Kisame. Where is he you little runt? Don't tell me you're his replacement?" Meiunhi reluctantly tore her eyes from the meadow's showpiece fight to observe a black haired woman wearing thick glasses. Meiunhi frowned in annoyance, creases spreading across her delicate forehead.

"And who might you be?"

"I'm Karin," the women replied, before grinning insanely. "Sasuke's girlfriend."