(A/N) Don't you HATE hackers?! You can blame Hackers for the lateness of this chapter – they literally ko'd my laptop. So bad it won't even switch on!! I'm using my nan's to update this chapter. I have no other connections to the Internet. Oh the joy.
Second thing: Reviewers! I love you! I have now made it past the 100 review barrier! YEAHHH!
Third: Be prepared for some surprises in this chapter, plus Jiraiya's departure has been delayed as I realised a certain plot line will have to wait, otherwise this story will end rather quickly. Hopefully you can forgive me for updating so LATE.
It had been a month since Sakura had joined the Akatsuki, and every one of those days was accompanied by a training session with Itachi and Kisame. Both she and Itachi had managed to keep an even score up until now, and were now drawn at 19-19. The first one to twenty was the winner.
Kisame had attempted to muscle in on their training regime, but something would happen mid-battle to restart a meaningless fight between the two, so, he had had to take a backseat while they finished their… ahem… 'training'.
"Hah!"
"You honestly believed that would work?"
"Of course. Couldn't you tell by my 'hah'?"
"Sakura. That was pretty pathetic coming from a Rin'negan User."
"Then teach me, Uchiha!"
"I couldn't teach you anything."
"What, aren't you a good enough teacher?"
"No. I only teach the best."
"Don't give me that crap, Itachi!"
"Hn. Bothered?"
"No, because I'm still gonna win whether you teach me or not!"
"Likely… not."
Pein was standing in the doorway leading out to the courtyard, watching what could only be described as a play fight between Sakura and Itachi. Sitting nearby was Kisame, who was watching the events unfold with an amused expression on his face.
Pein eyed how they now appeared to be sparring, while every now and then one of them was knocked to the floor, causing a triumphant grin/smirk from one of them.
This was supposed to be training. Itachi was given specific orders to test Sakura's ability against his Mangekyou Sharingan, and leave it at that. How it had expanded over the course of a month and declined into such a meaningless battle of fisticuffs was anyone's guess.
Although…
Pein noticed how they were physically close to one another even as they fought. It was hard to see, but blatantly obvious when you noticed it. Almost like realising your dreaming. Neither appeared to be giving any clues whatsoever that anything had changed between them, and that this was merely a friendly spar between two Shinobi.
But that was exactly the problem.
Akatsuki doesn't do friendly.
"Don't you think it's time you gave up?" Kisame asked. "You won't beat him. Believe me, I've tried."
"Never!" Sakura grinned. Give up? When I've come so close to handing Itachi his arse on a plate? Not in this lifetime!
Pein's eyes widened at the expression on her face. She was happy. It was the first time he'd seen her properly smile since entering the Akatsuki base. It caused his chest to tighten in such a disturbing way that he found himself having to look away. Pein didn't feel emotions. Especially ones that would distract him from his goal.
He sighed as a tiny, minuscule voice in the back of his mind said, but she's family.
"So you've noticed too."
Pein looked back to see Konan standing there.
"Noticed what?"
"She's smiling already." Konan said, "Seems she's already settling in."
"I don't think it's that." He folded his arms. "I think she's just forg-!"
He stopped.
"Haha! Told you I'd win!"
She was sitting on Itachi's back; his arms were pulled behind him.
The expression on his face showed his disgust at losing to her.
Kisame laughed, "And the winner is-!"
"Me."
The Itachi beneath Sakura disappeared, and she now had her hands behind her back.
She soon had her face buried in the gravel.
"Great. Just great."
"Hn. Sore loser?"
She looked back at him and grinned. Neither made any attempt to move from their position as they continued their banter.
Standing in the doorway, Pein's eyes narrowed.
"Oh." Konan grinned, now watching Pein's expression.
What the hell. Get off her already. Pervert.
Pein's mind started going into a world of its own, imagining numerous disturbing situations where Sakura would be in danger, again showing the overprotective emotions he had sensed before when Hidan attacked her. What was it about Sakura that he saw red when anyone came too close? Was he seriously growing attached to his little sister?
No. He'd removed that part of himself a long time ago, along with his emotions. That was how he had come this far. How he was coming so close to achieving his goal. How he had gained Godlike status in Amegakure.
But now…
Now…
Pein the destroyer was getting pissed over the fact some guy was taking an interest in his little sister?
How petty.
…
Why the hell hasn't he got off her yet?
"That… that's friction, do you see that? Didn't I say when she came here, specifically, no friction within the group?" Pein asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Pein." She said exasperatedly, unable to suppress a grin.
He stalked out into the training ground, and Itachi stood immediately, Sakura standing too.
"Nii-san." She greeted, "Me and Itachi were training."
"I saw." Pein said, cocking an eyebrow.
Sakura stared at him. What now? Oh don't tell me he's still mad about what Hidan did?
"A new mission has come up in Iwagakure." Pein said, his eyebrow forcibly coming back down to its normal level, where it sat there, twitching.
Konan managed to keep her expression neutral, even though she had no idea what he was going on about.
"Iwa… gakure?" Sakura asked, not liking the sound of it one bit. The Village Hidden in the Rocks was never pleasant. Neither its Ninja nor its location were at all appealing.
"Assassination mission, right?" Kisame asked, "About time."
Sakura looked at him. "Assassination? Who?"
"We have spies in each of the Ninja Villages." Konan said, noting Sakura's confusion, "It isn't often that they betray us, but when they do, it's painfully obvious."
"Yes." Pein said quietly, "He has recently become a missing nin, and tried to redeem himself by telling the Tsuchikage of our whereabouts, who we have no doubt, has contacts within Konohagakure. Due to the strained relationship between both Konoha and Iwa, the Tsuchikage may not relent any of this information to the Hokage. However, it would be too risky allowing the contact to live, in case he relays any more information, therefore, it is imperative that this contact is eliminated at once."
They all nodded.
"Finally. Something I can get my teeth into." Kisame said.
"Unfortunately not. This task is for Sakura."
Sakura visibly flinched.
A lone mission?
"Uhh… nii-san… aren't I in their group?" She asked.
Pein froze. He hadn't banked on Sakura knowing about that already. To remove her from their group now after her training with them for a month would look too suspicious, but at the same time, he didn't want to leave her in the company of Itachi for too long.
Damn it.
Itachi watched Pein and Konan, surprised at this latest development. Then, he noticed Konan's change in expression.
Before she had looked calm, but now she looked amused. Pein, looked distinctly uncomfortable.
His eyes narrowed. Why?
"Right. Yes. All three of you… will go." Pein said, now looking decidedly grumpy as Konan handed Itachi the mission details.
Sakura cocked an eyebrow. What is up with him? She glanced at Konan, who was keeping a too-straight face, her lips twitching now and then.
Her eyes narrowed, and she followed both Kisame and Itachi.
As soon as they left, Pein sighed and Konan chuckled. He looked at her.
"What is so funny, Konan?" He asked, his voice stern, but that made her laugh even more.
"There's being a good big brother… but then there's being an overprotective big brother. How long have you known her? I mean, really known her. A month?" She asked, "And what was all that about the assassination? I thought he was being guarded by-!"
"He is." Pein said softly, "But they don't know that."
Konan stared at him, confused, "Pein-san?"
"Our spies in Konoha have been in contact with us again." He said, "It seems a certain sensei of ours knows of this base."
Konan's expression darkened. "He is on his way?"
"Not yet, apparently. His attachment to the Kyuubi container seems to be keeping him from leaving. Therefore, it is very likely that he will arrive at an inappropriate time, when we don't expect him."
She paused. "When Sakura is here?"
"Yes." He paused, "I doubt her emotional connections to Konoha have been completely severed… it's time to test her loyalties. She may show no affection for Konoha… but that's because she hasn't had to deal with them as an enemy yet. If and when he arrives, it is very likely she will attempt to stop us if a battle breaks out."
"Pein-san…" Konan paused, "When she finds out about this mission being a test, I don't think she'll take it lightly… her emotional patterns are too volatile. We witnessed that when she spoke of what happened to her in Konoha. That was no normal breeze that came in the Meeting Room."
Pein agreed. The breeze that had whipped through the room as Sakura told her story made him believe that she was far more powerful than even she knew herself. It was evident that her emotions played some part.
She was definitely a liability.
"That will be taken care of in due time." He said, "For now, at least… we wait."
--
They were running through trees towards Iwagakure when a thought struck Kisame.
"So, Sakura… you never said. Why did you want to fight Sasuke that time?" Kisame asked quietly. He was trying to gage how his teammates would react at the mention of the younger Uchiha, specifically the kunoichi.
To his surprise, Sakura groaned loudly. "You're still pissed about that?"
"It is getting rather annoying, Kisame." Itachi said.
Kisame hissed through his teeth. Ganging up on him now, were they? "No, I am not still pissed about that. If you must know I was wondering why Sakura was so keen to fight a Sharingan user."
Sakura paused. "It's… complicated."
Itachi looked sideways at her. I knew it.
"Complicated?" Kisame asked,
"Yeah."
"Complicated, how?" Kisame pressed. "Now that you're travelling with Itachi it is key that we know these things if we ever come into contact with him."
She looked up at him, her expression suddenly dangerous. "All you need to know is I won't hesitate to hurt him."
"Hurt, not kill?" Kisame asked.
She didn't answer.
"You're going to make one weird Akatsuki, Sakura." He said, "You'll be quite the entertainment."
With that, he moved further ahead.
"You should have lied." Itachi said quietly, "A member of Akatsuki unwilling to kill is a contradiction in itself. You're only giving him reason not to trust you."
"Itachi." She said quietly, "Do you have any idea what you did to Sasuke?"
Itachi blinked at her. "Of course I do. I made it this way."
She stared ahead, her eyes haunted.
"You didn't…" She started, "You didn't witness it, Itachi… you may have been the prime cause for it but…" She shook her head. "I saw him rip his soul to shreds in order to kill you. His ambition is an obsession, the one and only thought that will go through his mind is related to you. He will not rest until he has ended you."
"Why are you saying this?" Itachi asked, stopping in his tracks, causing her to stop too.
"Because I am not like you, Itachi." She said, "And by you I mean the Akatsuki as a whole. I can't kill without regret. I can't maim without feeling the instinct to heal. I saw one person lose their soul for revenge. Mine is still intact… and I want it to remain that way, no matter how much it hurts."
He stared at her. "You continue like this and you'll only end up hurting yourself."
"Better me than someone else."
"Hn." He paused, "Sakura… if it came down to it… would you kill Pein?"
She blinked at him, "What… why are you asking me that…?"
"If Konoha was at risk… would you kill him?"
Her eyes widened. After a few moments of contemplation, she shook her head.
He smiled enigmatically. "Then we're more alike than you think."
With that, he shot off ahead of her.
--
Drip.
A pale, blood-covered hand was clenched into a fist, as blood, viscous and clogged made its way down to the stone floor.
Drip.
A Medic was standing, with his back against the wall, eyes fearful as they focused on the blaring cold intensity of the eyes in front of him.
Drip.
The blood covered-fist struck, splat, and the man collapsed against the wall, joining the other bodies that littered the floor.
Drip.
The was a clap, a shift, a whoosh, and the light dripping of blood sounded no more.
--
Jiraiya was heading towards the Hokage's office when he overheard the conversation going on within.
"Nani?"
"I'm afraid it's true. He also took out several Medic's as he left. The Hospital's in uproar."
Jiraiya's eyes widened, and he moved closer to the door.
"What about his comrades?"
"They've gone too."
"…"
"There was nothing we could do. As soon as his Chakra flow became normal again he went berserk."
"I thought he would… this is bad… I didn't think how strong he had become…"
"Even if you had brought more ANBU I don't think that would have been enough to stop him. His Genjutsu abilities are on a whole new level."
"… just like his brother…"
"Tsunade-sama… what are you going to tell Naruto?"
Jiraiya's eyes darkened as he finally realised who they were talking about. Uchiha Sasuke. He sighed. Naruto… jeesh the kid's gonna be pissed…
"… the truth."
"Are you sure that's wise? Especially now that Sakura's gone as well?"
"We can't hide it from him… it's better he finds out from me rather than someone else…"
Jiraiya turned away. It won't matter who tells him, Tsunade-hime…
It'll still hurt.
--
Two days later, Sakura, Itachi and Kisame were standing behind a rockface in the Rock Country. Their target, Taioto Ryu, was now in sight. Their eyes were on the ninja they were after, who was chatting nineteen-to-the-dozen, apparently to himself.
"Look at him, acting like he doesn't have a care in the world." Kisame sneered.
Sakura moved further around the rockface, and her eyes widened as they rested on the blonde Shinobi he was talking to.
Naruto…?
With that, her heart plunged into her stomach.
So that's what Pein was doing.
He was testing her.
Emotionally winded from seeing Naruto there, it took Sakura several moments to realise she was a part of Akatsuki, and any moment now she would be locked in a battle with the one person she couldn't hate.
"It's the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki." Kisame said, "Quite ironic him being here when we were sent to kill a certain ninja."
Sakura's stomach clenched horribly as she looked at the person Naruto was talking to. "Who Naruto just happens to be guarding." She said in a harsh monotone. "This is my test. My inauguration mission. Pein wants to test my allegiance to Konoha."
Her face set.
"He won't be disappointed."
It did cross her mind that it was idiotic of Tsunade to give Naruto the position of guarding an ex-Akatsuki spy. Couldn't she have realised the risks behind it?
Unless of course Pein had more connections than he let on.
No, it was more likely that she had no idea what the man was, and the very fact that he was from Iwagakure on top of the broken bonds between that village and Konoha had put Naruto in very real danger. It was just lucky that the Kyuubi Extraction was not scheduled for another three months, otherwise, it would have been a catastrophic mistake.
Her heart sank further when she realised the people Naruto was with. Kakashi, Hinata and Sai.
"Hah. The Copy Ninja and the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. Samehada is going to have a feast today." Kisame said.
For once, Sakura didn't answer. She was utterly speechless at the brilliance of Pein's scheme. Let her settle in for a month, allowing her to form new 'bonds' within Akatsuki, then send her on a mission that directly opposed Naruto's. It was just lucky that Sakura had been spending so much time in Itachi's company that her emotions were somewhat dimmer than usual.
Maybe that was Pein's plan as well.
Got to admire him for his audacity, Sakura thought bitterly, been there a month and he's now seeking an opportunity to catch me out?
Her fists clenched tighter as she reminded herself why she had left to join him in the first place. She closed her eyes, remembering the fearful glares, Danzou's madness and her mother.
It was her mother that stirred enough rage in her to keep focused on the goal, and she would continue. She must.
"They've probably sensed us by now." Itachi said, "We should move." He looked at Sakura, whose eyes were more than determined beneath her hat.
With that, they flipped out from behind the rockface and landed in front of the four Shinobi.
Sakura's stomach twisted uncomfortably under the unnaturally vicious gaze directed at her from Naruto.
"What the hell do you bastards want?" He asked angrily. "Come to collect me?"
"Actually, no." Itachi said quietly, "But I'm afraid you're going to fail this mission."
"Can't be helped." Kisame concurred, "The Akatsuki doesn't like spies."
Kakashi and the others looked at each other.
"Though I guess you didn't tell them about that, huh, Ryu?" Sakura asked, her eyes flicking to the rapidly widening ones of the dark haired Shinobi. The smile had been wiped clean off his face. Yup. You're in trouble. "I doubt one such as you would have enough money to pay for an S-Rank Mission."
With that, she saw Itachi and Kisame removing their hats, so with slight trepidation, she removed hers too.
The Shinobi in front of her's eyes immediately widened. Kakashi's eyes were wide with shock, along with Hinata, while Sai showed only a slight modicum of surprise before his expression darkened once again. Naruto's face contorted with both shock and grief.
"What?" He asked, staring at her in pure horror, his voice lowered, "Sakura-chan… so you really are in Akatsuki…"
With much effort, she didn't lower her gaze. "Hey, Naruto."
He stared at her, his teeth gritting, "Sakura-chan… why?"
She felt her inner self flaring at the question and the 'chan'. Why would I stay in a village that wants to kill me? And if they didn't then, they would have wanted to because of the Political trouble I would have caused! Why would I stay in a village that murdered my family?
Instead however, she said, "That is not of your concern."
"What?" He asked, flabbergasted, "How can it not be of my concern? Those bastards want to kill me, Sakura!"
"To the contrary, we want what's inside of you. The fact that you die at the same time is an unavoidable side effect." She said coolly. Inside however, her anger was waning. After all, what had Naruto done?
Eyes on the mission, Sakura.
Kisame was stunned at her self-control. She had never displayed such control over her emotions before, and with every word she was proving to him just how idiotic it was to have doubted her. She was a Shinobi, after all.
Itachi wasn't fooled. He hadn't missed how her fists were shaking with the effort of keeping calm. Added to that, he highly doubted that she would try and kill them, especially considering her declaration the day before.
Naruto however, was showing nothing but hurt at her words, after a few speechless seconds, he changed the subject. "You're coming back to the village!"
"No I'm not." She deadpanned, "Why would I want to go back to a village that murdered my family?"
"So you were stitched up." Kakashi said quietly, though his eyes were emotionless, "But leaving the village and joining the Akatsuki are two vastly different things. I thought better of you, Sakura."
"Better." She repeated, allowing her anger to seep in, "So you didn't think I was the weakest member of Team Seven, sensei?"
He sighed. "You are the weakest member, Sakura."
Her eyes narrowed, and her fists clenched, if possible, tighter.
"Succumbing to grief, and rage. That is weak." He said, "But that has nothing to do with this."
"You're right. It hasn't. Now leave Ryu to us, and there will be no need for a fight." She said, her voice starting to shake.
Kisame grinned. "She's just like you, Itachi. Past attachments mean nothing… I'm impressed."
Itachi resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Couldn't he see how close she was to breaking point? "Looks like we have to fight."
"I never… Sakura-chan… please…" Naruto said.
"Let me go, Naruto." She said, "It's foolish chasing after me and Sasuke… even if you did bring us back… we would only leave again. I'm guessing Sasuke has tried already."
They didn't answer, all of them wearing determined expressions.
"I don't want to do this!" Naruto shouted, his blood-red eyes wide with tears, "Don't – don't the past few years mean anything to you?!"
"Naruto-kun…" Hinata murmured.
Sakura eyes were beginning to flash, betraying the war raging within. She had to act now, or she'd lose her resolve to go against them.
"Defend yourself, Naruto!" She declared, and with that, plunged her fist into the ground, creating a shattering effect and knocking Naruto off his feet as the others launched into the air.
"Katon: Goukakyou no Jutsu!" Itachi cried, seizing this opportune moment to fry the flying Shinobi.
"Fine." Naruto growled, "Then I'll just have to beat you back!"
Sakura watched as the Kyuubi's Chakra started to envelope Naruto, at a much speedier rate than usual. It seemed that the Seal had decayed even further while Sakura had been away.
That made things worryingly problematic for all of them. If they weren't enough already.
Naruto glared at her.
"I'll bring you back, Sakura… even if it kills me I'll bring you back… I'll make you see sense…"
She bowed her head. "Forgive me, Naruto."
(A/N) Afraid I'll have to leave it there. It's not too much of a Cliffie, but I'm about to step into some NaruHina territory, which basically deserves a Chapter to itself cos of its fluffiness.
Next Chapter: Broken (Spoiler: A Fifth Tail Naruto, an injured Kisame, a tearful Hinata, a bewildered Itachi, and Pein gets 'glomped'. The wonders never cease.)