Don't own Naruto. Thanks for reading and especially thanks to those who review!
"I can't believe it's already November."
Yahiko shoved his last book into his locker before swinging his head over to look at Nagato.
"I know. I feel like we just got here."
"A lot has changed, though. I have to admit I'm a bit shocked things have gone over this well."
Yahiko nodded, wholeheartedly agreeing with his best friend. After all, Nagato was right. After everything that they had been through in the past, the fact they were still alive was a miracle in and of itself.
Nagato looked down at the time on his phone, groaning audibly.
"Sorry, Yahiko, but I have to go. Uchiha-sensei wants me to go early to class to work on that essay for the speech contest."
"Nagato, you've been working on that for a really long time, hasn't the deadline passed?"
"They keep extending it. They want to build up the hype, I guess."
Nagato shrugged, patting his friend's head before walking off and starting down the hall.
He passed by a couple of familiar faces, smiling at them when they waved, and even giving the 'head-nod' to Kiba when he was passing on his way to gym.
When Nagato got to his Philosophy of Religion class, he wasn't surprised to find it was just him and Uchiha-sensei. After all, not many people show up early to class by choice.
Even after the few months since school started, the teacher of the class never came back. He left permanently due to personal affairs and left the student teacher in charge. It wasn't like that bothered Nagato though; he thought Uchiha-sensei was a brilliant man wise beyond his years.
"Nagato, hello. I revised your last draft of the essay. I like it. Do you think you're ready to move on to writing an analysis portion?"
Nagato nodded to his teacher, pulling a pencil out of his book-bag and flattening out a slightly-crumpled piece of paper from his notebook.
"Try to keep up with the theme you've been using regarding your thesis," Itachi mentioned before turning to his computer and typing who-knows-what.
"Yes, Uchiha-sensei."
"It's just Itachi, I've told you that before."
For a few minutes, Nagato did what he often did before class, writing away at the essay for this contest. He was determined to do at least something towards helping peace happen in the world, even if he would never amount to what Yahiko would.
He wrote down about half a page's worth when a knock sounded at the door. Nagato jumped up a bit, startled, and Itachi looked towards the direction of the door with his usual cold, bored eyes.
"Come in." It was still his typical monotone, but Itachi spoke loud enough for whoever was on the other side to hear.
The visitor wasted no time in throwing open the door and making their presence noticeable.
A tall man with dry and scaly looking skin and beady eyes walked in, not stopping until he was right next to Itachi, standing tall.
Itachi, unlike what most men would do to prove their dominance, remained seated and let the man look down at him.
Upon closer examination, Nagato realized this man's hair was dyed a grayish-blue, and he wore what seemed to be a permanent smirk. Wondering why the school would hire a teacher with dyed hair and such a snarky attitude, Nagato thought that maybe this man was a student. He just seemed so much older than that, though.
"Itachi? I was told about you. Thought comin' early meant I'd be meeting you alone, but I guess you've got company. What is this, little loser wanted to come do his work early?"
"Do not insult other students. Especially when you insult them for their intelligence, which is much higher than yours."
Nagato's eyes widened at Itachi's fighting words. He never would have thought that the reserved student teacher would insult some random kid like that.
"Whatever," the blue-haired man rolled his eyes, "Look, I heard you're in the organization, too. I'm new and I just wanted to tell you... Be wary of me."
Itachi's onyx eyes narrowed, "I advise you the same of me."
The blue-haired kid smirked down at Itachi and laughed, as if what had just been said was a joke.
When the tall man placed both of his large hands on his hips in defiance towards Itachi's attitude, something on the new guy's finger caught Nagato's eye. A shiny, metal, all too familiar ring.
He must be a gang member. That would explain the conversation he and Itachi were having right now.
So far, the only gang member any of the three orphans had encountered that seemed to be to any extent dangerous was Hidan, and even then that kid was usually all talk and no walk. Other members of this up and coming gang such as Deidara, Sasori, and Itachi appeared to completely distance that life from the one they held at this school. Nagato would even go as far as to say they were good people. But the way this shark-looking man was speaking so boldly to Itachi made Nagato feel a distinct fear in the pit of his stomach.
"You're new to the organization? Then that means you're the one they've all told me about. Kisame, is it?"
The kid nodded with a snarl. His arms crossed and that cocky attitude to him that seemed completely repulsive... that was all Nagato saw.
"Well, Kisame, new members to the organization are enrolled in this school for one sole purpose. And that purpose is to find new members to join. So don't waste your time trying to intimidate me, and try actually doing your job."
Even if it was only for a moment, Nagato witnessed Kisame's eyes widening in shock at Itachi's words, right before squinting back into their former state.
"Fine then, want me to do my job, huh? Hey, kid!" Kisame roughly slapped a hand on Nagato's shoulder.
"Huh?" Nagato jerked when the large hand grasped at his shoulder, and at first he feared that Kisame was going to hurt him.
But then his mouth turned into some sort of proud grin, completely boastful and entirely full of self-satisfaction. Looking at Nagato's frightened purple eyes, he seemed confident in his actions.
"You seem like a nerd. Probably get bullied a lot, dontcha?"
"Wha-" That was completely untrue.
Kisame cut him off, "Come to the alleyway behind the mall at eleven tonight. There's going to be an initiation for new members. You can finally be worth something."
Itachi glared at Kisame, his fists tightening, "That is not what I meant when I said to find new recruits. Leave him alone and go bother someone else."
"You said find newbies, that's what I'm doing."
Itachi glared at the shark-man once more, and the man put his hands up in defeat, an annoying smirk still plastered on his face.
Kisame started walking towards the exit to leave the classroom, stopping as he opened the door to speak back to Nagato.
"Think about it, kid. We can't let the world push us around any longer."
After the door shut upon his leaving, Nagato met Itachi's eyes, wondering what the Uchiha would say.
"He's none of your concern."
And that was all he said to Nagato for the rest of the time before class started.
"Alright, I finally get it! I understand the problems now!" Yahiko cheered as he victoriously held up his paper in first period.
"And you understand that...?" Neji trailed off, giving an incredulous look to the boy, the child really, he was sitting next to.
"I understand that Physics makes absolutely no sense and won't help me get anywhere in life!"
Yahiko slumped back against his chair and whimpered in defeat.
"It's really not that hard. You're just over thinking it."
Yahiko rolled his eyes. As if. Physics wouldn't be easy until the answers were right up there on the chalkboard.
"Maybe I should switch out and go to an easier class."
"It's November, you can't do that. Besides, if you actually study, this wouldn't be so hard for you."
"Nag, nag, nag; stop being such a draggggg Neji."
"I heard that!" Shikamaru hissed from the opposite side of the classroom, causing Yahiko to snicker in amusement.
Neji frowned, "You really are immature, you know."
"And your hair looks like a lady's."
Neji scowled, looking quite annoyed with the idiot sitting beside him, "Stop talking or I'll kill you. Now try to do your work or cry about it to yourself."
"You're no fun."
Their little argument was interrupted when the door to the classroom opened, and everyone looked over to see a tall kid with blue hair.
"Excuse me, I'd appreciate it if you didn't interrupt my class!" Ebisu frowned, looking up from his desk at the new arrival.
"Sorry, got lost," the kid smirked, "it's a big school after all."
"I think you have the wrong room, now if you'll just-"
"I'm a new student. You're Ebisu? This is my class, so stop yelling, dude."
The teacher looked livid, adjusting his glasses before standing up.
"That's Ebisu-sensei to you! And if you're new then take a seat; I will not have my class be disrupted."
The blue-haired student shrugged, and walked over to an empty seat towards the back of the class and fell into a seat, leaning against it.
"Care to introduce yourself?" Ebisu crossed his arms.
The kid smirked, "Kisame. Pleased to meet 'ya."
Walking down the hall, Konan yawned and stretched in a satisfied content. As far as she could see, things for her were running smoothly for her.
She was doing well in all of her classes (except History... but who's focusing on the details anyway), she had awesome friends she hung out with all of the time, and not to mention a certain someone and her have been getting closer and closer to the official line of being in a relationship.
That's right, after ten years of constantly being at each other's sides, Yahiko and Konan finally hit the point where the attraction just couldn't be denied. After Kiba's Halloween party a few weeks earlier, Yahiko and Konan's relationship had become more and more involved.
At first, it was like watching two kindergarteners blushing whenever they saw the person they liked. If they were the only ones home, if they saw each other in in the hallway, if Konan needed a ride somewhere and Yahiko was the only person who could drive her, if they were doing anything with Nagato and he suddenly left them: these scenarios all just ended in the two of them feeling awkward. But then they both started picking up confidence. Yahiko would compliment her, calling her cute. Then after a week, he slipped with his words, and ended up saying she was pretty. That had been enough to make her blush and stutter out a thanks before running off. However, one time he went even further and called her beautiful. As usual, Yahiko built up a lot of confidence, and was comfortable admitting to himself what was happening between Konan and him. She, on the other hand, had lost all of the confidence she mustered up in the high of the moment in that closet on Halloween. Now, she always blushed and felt awkward whenever Yahiko even spoke to her. But that didn't mean she didn't like the attention she was getting from him.
A week ago, he kissed her.
It wasn't spontaneous or mind-blowing like the kiss in the closet, or the kiss later that night. Instead, it was sweeter. It had been a pretty simple day, a Sunday to be specific. She was minding her own business and making cookies in the kitchen for some bake sale that Sakura had pressured her into, and was having difficulty finding out the right way to make the batter. With tons of chocolate chip cookie dough on her face as well as all over the kitchen, Yahiko couldn't help but grin upon walking into their house and seeing her in her frustrated state.
He asked her if she needed help; and being who she was she felt like she needed to uphold some sad sense of honor and make the cookies herself. Laughing at the determined look on her face, he walked over and tapped her shoulder. She looked into his eyes, and was blushing like usual. Just by looking at her he could make her melt.
But it was what he told her next that caused a chain of events she swore would be the end of her.
He told her she had some cookie dough on her lips, and leaned in despite her frantic and wide eyes. Pressing his lips against hers, he laughed when she let out a muffled shriek. But he didn't remove his lips until a few moments later. It wasn't a deep, passionate kiss. It wasn't steamy or forceful or rough. It was soft and short, just a little kiss. But somehow, it affected her to an extent she wasn't even aware it could.
"You know," he had said, "You're cookie dough could really use some work."
And after that their kisses became a lot more frequent.
In the hallway when no one was looking, at home when no one was around, in the car when they waited for Nagato to get his ass outside so they could drive. They were careful to never go too far, after all that was a great stress that could be inflicted onto their relationship that they just weren't ready for. But they still were starting to act like a couple when they were alone. But around others they tried to hide it.
To the others, even Nagato, they were still just two love-sick teens that were too shy to admit their feelings to each other.
So as Konan walked down the hallway, she almost felt as if she were sharing a secret with herself, as weird as that sounded. Somehow the secrecy of her relationship with Yahiko made it seem all the more real. It wasn't for show; everything about it was one hundred percent genuine. And she felt invincible.
"Hey, Konan!"
Konan whirled her head around and saw Naruto running up to her, ignoring the pissed-off looks of everyone he was unintentionally bumping into as he rushed down the hallway to catch up to her.
"Hey, Naruto. How can I help you?"
"Well since it's Friday I wanted to know if you and the other two wanted to come over. Everyone's gonna be there, and I don't know if Yahiko and Nagato know yet."
Konan bit her lip, thinking to herself. For the most part, Yahiko and Nagato never usually made plans that she didn't know of. So they were probably free tonight.
"Um, yeah. Yeah, I think all three of us can make it."
Naruto grinned, giving a thumbs-up, "Awesome! Alright, so nine o'clock?"
Konan nodded, continuing her walk towards her locker. Beside her, Konan wondered if she was getting taller or if Naruto was shrinking, because it felt like she was nearly as tall as him. She couldn't help but smile to herself.
The smallest people often had the biggest personalities.
And who better to balance out a big personality than someone shy and timid?
"So, Naruto, any girls in your life?" Konan asked, the typical 'wicked female' smirk on her face.
Naruto's eyes widened, "Wow, Konan, I'm flattered but to be honest-"
"Not me, you dufus! I mean anyone else? Maybe someone in your grade? I dunno, who maybe likes you?"
Naruto looked hopelessly confused, "Whatdya mean?" His eyes widened, and it seemed like something clicked in his mind, "You mean you know someone who likes me?"
"I dunno, maybe," Konan snickered to herself, enjoying this rare sense of power she was feeling.
"WHO?! Tell me or I'll hurt you, believe it!"
"You should really be able to find that out for yourself. Just keep your eyes open to how the people around you feel, alright?" Konan sighed, looking at the lockers that lined the hallway to their right, "This is my locker, I gotta go. Just remember what I said, okay?"
"Yeah, sure..." Naruto walked passed Konan as she stopped at her locker, and was left thinking about her words. What did she mean by all that?
"N-Naruto..."
Naruto looked to a girl walking slightly behind him, dark hair long and thick and pale eyes wide as ever.
"Oh, hey Hinata! What's up?" Naruto grinned and put both of his arms behind his head as he walked down the hallway.
"I just wanted to see if you'd want to walk out to the parking lot together..." Hinata squeaked in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Sure, Hinata. Let's go."'
As Naruto and Hinata walked down a hall and out into the parking lot to go home for the weekend, Naruto's mind was somewhere else. He was still thinking about what Konan had said, 'Just keep your eyes on how the people around you feel, alright?' They were weird words, and Naruto was still having difficulty in truly deciphering them. But still, even after all of this, Naruto wasn't an idiot.
"Hey, Hinata, instead of driving home with Shino and Kiba, do you want me to drive you home for a change?"
Konan watched as Naruto walked off, leaving her at her locker in peace. When she saw Hinata approach the boy, Konan smiled. Who knows, maybe that boy would turn out to be not-so-completely dense after all.
Konan fished out any of the books she needed to bring home to study from, and then set off to find Yahiko and Nagato, who were most likely at Yahiko's locker, like they usually were after last period. She fidgeted with her bracelet as she wandered down the hall, wondering if her art friends knew about Yahiko and her being an item. Sure, they didn't tell anyone about it, but her art friends, especially Sasori, were pretty perceptive.
Across the sea of students who were making their way down the halls and out to the buses or parking lots, Konan saw two familiar heads with hair that were different shades of red.
"Hey, Konan!" Nagato waved, spotting her from the other side of the hallway, waving her over. She managed to push through the jumble of students and make it over to where Yahiko and Nagato were leaning against the former's locker.
"Took 'ya long enough. Come on, I hate staying at school any longer than I need to on Fridays," Yahiko stuck his tongue out, causing Konan to roll her eyes.
"Couldn't hurt you; you could use the extra time at school."
Yahiko playfully glowered at Konan before spinning around and heading down the hall towards the student parking lot. Konan and Nagato did their usual thing, and looked at each other before shrugging and following Yahiko.
In the car, Yahiko put on the radio, putting on the rap station and trying to bust out some moves like he actually could. Nagato sighed and shook his head, and Konan groaned and wondered how on Earth she fell for someone so damn nerdy.
"You're not cool, Yahiko. Please change the station before someone sees and thinks you're deranged."
"Come on, Nagato, I can get all Eminem up in this hood!"
"I seriously worry about you sometimes," Konan crossed her arms and shook her head.
Yahiko shrugged and turned the station, much to Nagato and Konan's relief. He then pulled out of the parking spot and headed towards the exit.
"By the way, I don't know if anyone told you two but we're going to Naruto's tonight. Shikamaru told me nine o'clock I think. Do you wanna make cookies or something to bring, Konan?"
Yahiko looked both ways before pulling the car out onto the road.
"Uh, sure," Konan tried not to blush thinking about the last time she baked cookies.
"Awesome! I looooove homemade cookies!"
"Um, Yahiko. There's actually something I wanted to tell you..." Nagato fidgeted with the end of his pullover, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I especially love chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin!" Yahiko went on, not hearing Nagato.
"Yahiko..." Nagato tried again.
"And when they just come out of the oven and are all warm and gooey and-"
"YAHIKO!" Nagato screamed, looking left get his friend's attention.
"What?! No need to yell, man."
"Maybe if you listened to me the first time I wouldn't have to!" Nagato frowned, leaning back down against the seat of the car.
"Alright, alright, what do you want?"
Nagato took a deep breath, "There's something I think you should know... about the new branch of the gang that the Sound is making."
Never in Konan's life had she witnessed someone's face change expressions so quickly. One moment, Yahiko was all smiling and happy, and the next his face was made of stone.
"W-what are you talking about? Nothing has happened with the gang since we came to Konoha..." Konan muttered, trying to convince herself she misheard him.
Nagato shook his head, "I know that I should probably be keeping my mouth shut, but knowing you, Yahiko, that isn't an option."
Yahiko bit his lip, and then released it. It seemed as if he were mulling something over in his head.
"What happened, Nagato?"
"Well, some member- or at least I assume he's a member- came into my Philosophy of Religion class this morning, and tried intimidating Itachi. But Itachi told him to go away, and that the main purpose for someone new to the organization like him was to find new members at the school."
Yahiko kept his serious composure, but his voice shook when he spoke.
"So... so they're trying to lure people from a school into their gang like that? Do they have any morals? They're just taking innocent kids and trying to corrupt them!"
"But that's not it." Nagato closed his eyes, remembering what Kisame had said. "Tonight, at the alleyway behind the mall, there's going to be some sort of initiation for new members who want to join."
"How do you know that?" Yahiko asked, his eyes widening with shock at the information.
"The new member who was talking to Itachi, Kisame, wanted me to come. He told me that I needed to go in order to stop being pushed around or something like that. But I don't know what you want to do with this information."
It was Konan who spoke, "What can he do? Nagato this is serious, we need to tell Jiraiya! That's exactly what Jiraiya told us to do if we found out any information!"
"No, Konan, he's right."
Nagato and Konan turned to Yahiko, who kept his eyes on the road as if nothing serious like this conversation was going on.
"Either we can tell Jiraiya and the police will catch the new members and question them... or we can do something else."
"Something else? Yahiko, what are you even talking about?" Konan's voice was becoming strained, and she hated that telling Jiraiya wasn't the first and only thing that those two boys planned to do with this intel.
"One of us can go in and pose as someone who wants to join the gang. If the police caught these newbies, then there wouldn't be much done to actually stop the gang. But if we managed to stay there long enough, we could figure out who's in charge of this all. And isn't' that what the Konoha police force really wants? I mean there probably won't be any members that aren't fairly new, but if we wait long enough we might find out someone who's in charge, and follow through from there."
"Yahiko, are you crazy? That's far too dangerous! I'm not letting you or Nagato do anything like that!"
"Konan, listen to me. We've endured far worse in our lives. This is the one chance we finally get to do what we've always said we would do and stop the gangs, do you actually expect me to not take it?"
"Then if you're so set on having one of us go in and pose as a member, then it has to be me! I'm not letting you or Nagato do it."
Yahiko looked in the rearview mirror and caught Konan's eyes, "No. That's an absolute no."
Konan bitterly laughed, "And why not? I have the hair that looks dyed, the piercing. Give me some raggy clothes and some chains and I'll look the part. Besides, if anything happened to you or Nagato on my watch, I'd never be able to forgive myself."
"Konan, I'm telling you no!" the pure force and anger in Yahiko's voice was enough to shut her up. She shrunk a bit in the backseat, and looked down at her lap.
"I'll do it."
Yahiko clutched the steering wheel tighter at Nagato's words.
"I mean, Kisame asked me to go, after all. And I'm not afraid of them."
Yahiko sighed, "If you're going Nagato, then I'll go too. Two of us together makes it safer than if it were just one."
Nagato nodded in agreement.
Konan, however, was mortified at the mention of this idea.
"I can't let that happen! If I were to lose both of you then-"
"Don't worry about that," Yahiko said, his voice gentler than before, "I'll make sure that nothing happens. Trust me."
Nagato nodded, looking into the back seat to give an assuring smile to Konan.
"Then- then at the very least just let me keep in contact with you. I want to help in some way- in some way I want to know that I'm at least helping to keep you two safe, okay?"
Yahiko sighed, realizing that until he let her somehow involve herself, she wasn't going to give in and let it happen.
"Fine. But don't get carried away. Tonight isn't going to be anything big. Nagato and I will just go to the initiation and hopefully it won't be anything too bad. From there we'll just try to gain their trust and see if they let any of the members who stay there long enough find out who's in charge."
Konan bit her lip, "But won't whoever's in charge be dangerous? We have no idea who they even are!"
"Snake."
"Hm?" Konan and Nagato asked, both turning to look at their friend as he drove the car into their neighborhood."
"His name- the guy who's in charge. He goes by the alias the Snake."
"And how do you know that?"
"I overheard Jiraiya talking on the phone with someone...Tsunade I think it was... and he said it was probably the Snake who was heading the up and coming gangs in Konoha."
"So that's actually a pretty good clue. I guess we can start from here and see how far this gets us." Konan was obviously not pleased with this whole scheme that her two best friends were creating, but one thing was for certain: she was definitely going along for the ride. Those two idiots were her whole life, and if anything happened to them she wouldn't be able to go on, she knew that. So to her highest capability she was going to have their back. She was always so scared, the one who was relying on them. So often she found herself needing to be protected, cowering in fear at anything new and unfamiliar. Well now she needed to stop relying on them and start learning from them. They were always so brave and strong, and she wanted to be like them.
"Yahiko, if I find out that you won't let me in on this I am going to physically harm you, understand?"
Yahiko grinned as he pulled up into their driveway, "Don't worry, Konan. I wouldn't dream of it."
Jiraiya sipped his tea as he sat on his bed, legs crossed. He was looking over some of his older pieces of literary work, reminiscing and having a good laugh. It was weird, actually. Jiraiya had always based his novels off of people he met that inspired him. One of his novels was about Namikaze Minato, the main character actually being named 'Naruto', which led to Minato's son's name. Another had been about the third Chief of Police, Sarutobi Hiruzen. And Jiraiya had even written one about himself and a woman who fell head over heels in love with him. Well, maybe he based that one off of someone he knew in real life.
Pausing his thoughts, Jiraiya thought aloud, "I wonder if Tsunade is free later on..."
Anyway, he had just recently published his latest book, one he conjured up by watching toads in a nearby pond. He usually took a few weeks off in between novels, but he was feeling unusually inspired today.
Tapping his pen onto his blank notepad, Jiraiya hummed to himself. Who inspired him, though? Who would he write about?
An idea clicked in his head, "Aha! The Tale of Three Friends Facing a Cruel World. No... that's too long and obvious. Something shorter... Oh, I know! Changes of Us! I could have Nagato narrate and the other two be leading characters as well. What a great novel this will be!"
Just as his pen touched the paper, he heard the front door open downstairs.
"We're home!" Yahiko's loud voice traveled up through the foyer.
"Hello!" Jiraiya called, feeling rather content in his writing choice.
He grinned, feeling as if he was about to get on a creative roll. Walking over to the door to his bedroom, he opened it and called down to the three kids... his three kids.
"Hey, um... I'm writing something right now. But later on I'm going to take you all out for ice cream, okay?" He smiled to himself, especially when he heard Yahiko hyperventilating in excitement.
"YES!"
"Alright," Jiraiya laughed, "I'll see you guys in a bit. Is seven okay?"
After they all called up a confirmation, Jiraiya headed to the office that was joined to his bedroom, sitting down at his desk. For the first time in a very long and tiring career, Jiraiya felt that this novel would be the easiest to write.
Time: 10:57
Mission: Infiltrate Gang
Location: Near Alleyway by Mall, actually kind of in the parking lot of Burger King for now...
Issues: Yahiko has a tummy ache from the ice cream from earlier as well as a recently purchased burger and fries.
"Ughhh my tummmyyyy..." Yahiko wailed, rubbing his stomach in agony.
"Maybe you should stop eating so much..." Nagato rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to smack his friend in the head.
"Maybe you should shut up!"
"Guys, stop fighting. If I'm letting you do this then you better be damn sure that I'm making sure it's the right way!"
Both boys grumbled, "Sorry, Konan."
She sighed and looked out the car's front windshield and at the alleyway. Biting her lip in anxiousness, she prayed that her two idiot friends weren't in deeper than they had assumed.
Suddenly a figure walked into the light a bit, still partially in the shadow of the alleyway.
"Guys... someone's there. Do you want to go now, or wait until others shows up?" Konan looked to Nagato and Yahiko, waiting for their reply.
"Hm... I dunno," Yahiko made a sound of consideration, a drawn-out 'tsk', and looked to Nagato for his input, "I mean I don't like seeming too eager. I'd rather be fashionably late."
Konan's eyes popped out of her head and she glared over at Yahiko, as if to question him if he actually just said something so ridiculous, "DON'T SAY FASHIONABLY LATE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A GANG INITIATION YOU IDIOT!"
Yahiko pouted, "Yeash, chill girl."
"It's 11:03 now anyway... and there's like five people there now. You ready, Yahiko?" Nagato adjusted his gray hoodie, and pulled the hood up over his red hair.
"As I'll ever be."
Konan climbed over into the front seat, taking the driver's seat and letting Yahiko crawl into the back.
"Listen, Konan, this is what you're going to do. You're going to drive around to the other side of the mall and drop us off. We're going to get out and walk around to the alleyway and then when I text you saying Nagato and I are almost at the alleyway you're going to wait five minutes before driving to the Burger King. Just walk in and order something, act totally normal. Come out and sit in the car, pretend you're looking through your bag or something. Just act like you're not here to spy or anything... make it seem like it's all natural, just a typical girl out for a late night bite to eat, got it?"
Konan gulped and nodded at all of his words. She was scared, but they didn't seem afraid, so she had to get over her fears as well.
"Alright, let's go."
Konan pulled out and drove to the other side of the mall as instructed, putting it in park and letting Yahiko and Nagato get out.
"Be safe."
Yahiko nodded, "We will, Konan. Don't worry, we're masters at stuff like this!"
Nagato had already started walking towards the other side of the mall, keeping on the sidewalks and going the perimeter.
When he was sure Nagato wasn't looking, Yahiko leaned in and pulled Konan towards him, stopping a moment before their lips touched, "You have nothing to worry about. If I die, I'd be leaving you, so that's not going to happen."
He closed the distance and she smiled at the soft pressure against her lips. She tried to savor everything about his presence before he pulled back and closed the door to the car.
He waved, scurrying off to catch up with Nagato.
Konan gripped at the steering wheel tightly, trying to anchor herself. She would not lose them. She'd make sure of it.
"What's this, two more?"
Yahiko and Nagato felt themselves shaking ever so slightly as they approached the figures standing in the alleyway.
They stopped when they were far away enough to be able to make a run for it if necessary, but close enough to show that they knew what was going on and that they were interested in joining in on the little 'meeting' going on.
"Who are you two?" One of the taller figures snarled, arms crossed and leaning against the brick wall.
Yahiko took deep breaths mentally. As well thought-out as he thought the plan was, he never thought of a name to use. After all, it would be idiotic to give them his real name. Not wanting to draw attention to the fact he was overthinking everything in his brain, he spurted out the first name that came to his mind.
"I'm Pain." Wow, was that really the first gangster name that came to mind? They'd definitely know he was lying.
But instead of jumping on him and declaring him a spy, all of the figures just nodded and looked to Nagato for his response.
"I'm Zuko."
Yahiko tried not to choke on his own spit upon hearing Nagato's response. As horrible and fake as Pain sounded, Zuko was even worse. Even if Nagato only had a moment to come up with a name, and was probably just as panicky as Yahiko that they hadn't thought of that earlier, using a cartoon character's name as a secret identity was not okay!
Luckily, it seemed, none of the gangsters were Avatar fans, and they all just nodded at his answer.
"I'm Kisame,' the tall one stepped into the light, and Nagato's eyes widened in recognition, "and this is Sakon, Ukon, Kimimaro, Jirobo, Kidomaru, and Tayuya. They're the newest recruits all from this area. I assume that's why you two are here, too?"
Yahiko nodded, his eye twitching from the little bit of eyeliner that Konan swore made him look the part. Beside him, Yahiko sensed Nagato tensing. Now was not the time to be afraid and chicken out.
"Wait... I know you!" Kisame realized, pointing at Nagato. It was obvious that Nagato was trying extremely hard not to pee his pants.
Did Kisame sniff them out? Did he realize they weren't who they said they were.
"You're that kid from Itachi's bogus class! Glad to see you made it," Kisame stuck out his hand and Nagato accepted it, relieved that he never bothered to find out his name. As long as Kisame and Itachi never got on the topic of his name, he was golden. From now on out around Kisame he would be known as Zuko.
If only they knew.
The only problem here was Yahiko. He had Physics with Kisame... maybe some BS story about him being a twin or something would work? For now Kisame didn't seem to notice, though.
"So what's the whole point of this initiation anyway?" One of the figures, the only one to appear to be a girl, snapped impatiently.
Kisame rolled his eyes, "Rule one. I've been with this group longer than you. You know what that means, little girl? I'm in charge. So shut up."
The girl frowned and made a displeased grunting sound, but stopped talking anyway.
"Anyway, to answer that," Kisame smirked, "it's an initiation. You know, to prove you aren't some snitch."
Yahiko and Nagato gulped.
"You're going to have to steal some cash from someone. I don't care how, I don't care how much. I just want to see that you aren't afraid to get your hands a little dirty if it means helping out yourself. In this screwed up world, we don't have time to worry about anyone but ourselves."
Everyone nodded, and the Tayuya girl let out a nasty laugh, "That's it? Just steal some money? I steal from my step mom all the damn time! Are you sure you don't want us doing anything a little less aimed for kids? How about some real destruction..."
Kisame scowled at the girl; clearly they were getting off to a bad start.
"Listen, bitch. I said I'm in charge here. Don't question me when I tell you to do something!"
The girl rolled her eyes and headed off towards the front of the mall where an elderly man was getting into his car. From the distance, all of them gathered in the alleyway could see her approach the man and speak to him. When they saw the man open his mouth and shake his head, Tayuya shoved him into the car, taking something from him and then running back.
Yahiko made a move to go and show the girl a piece of his mind, but Nagato grabbed his arm, shaking his head and warning him not to give their cover away. Right now, they just needed to be grateful that the initiation was just stealing, no violence really necessary.
"Here," she threw the wallet at Kisame, "child's play."
"Alright, now you go, Zuko, Pain."
Yahiko looked to Nagato, and they both seemed to have the same thought.
It was bound to happen that one of the new members in their little initiation was going to go to the parking lot of Burger King to steal the money, and Konan was doing exactly as they had said and sitting in the car across the way in the parking lot, acting as if she were rummaging through a purse.
At the moment, she couldn't be in a worse position.
So if they were to take her money, then she wouldn't be remaining for the other ones to steal from.
"Got it." Nagato looked back to Yahiko, jerking his head in the direction that Konan was in.
Ignoring the eyes on their backs as they walked over to the parking lot of the Burger King that was across from the alleyway, they made it over to the car.
Konan's eyes were wide, and she started up the car. After all, they had directly come back from the alleyway, and weren't supposed to be drawing attention to the fact she was sitting in the parking lot. The fact they directly walked over from where all the gang members were probably looking at them meant something must have gone wrong.
But when she started up the car, Yahiko shook his head.
He tapped on the window, Nagato on the other side.
Konan rolled it down.
"Konan, don't talk and just listen," Yahiko's words were slow, steady, and to the point, "Look into your bag and get your wallet. Take out everything except for a couple bucks. You're not getting it back, sorry. Now, shake your head like you're saying no."
Konan did as he said, shaking her head with fearful eyes.
Yahiko was never so glad that she was always quick to catch on to things. She probably understood what was going on.
"Alright, now after this just give me the wallet."
Konan did as he said and removed everything except for twelve dollars. When he grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him he hissed out, "Angry threat grrrrr," and despite the danger and seriousness of the whole thing they were doing, despite the fact a bunch of gang members were watching this all unravel, Konan was trying so hard not to laugh.
Nagato tapped on the window on the passenger side of the car, and she rolled it down.
"Second threatening comment that makes you give us money grrrr."
Fighting the laughter she knew was coming, Konan instead let it out and disguised it as muffled sobs of the woman being robbed who was in distress. Thankfully the gang members where too far away to hear what she, Nagato, and Yahiko were actually saying.
"Here, just take it you mean old robbers!" She fake cried, handing Yahiko the wallet.
"Pull out and drive to the direct opposite side of the mall," Yahiko whispered before he and Nagato started walking back to the figures in the alleyway with her wallet being waved in the air.
And she was all too happy to comply.
"Alright. So each of you guys did what I said and got someone's money. I guess that mean's you're all legit. Just be warned, if you ever cross me or the gang, you're done for."
Everyone nodded at Kisame's warning, Yahiko and Nagato a bit more nervously than the rest.
"Great, then I guess that means you're all part of the Sound."
And those words smacked Yahiko and Nagato with an irony they never even imagined could exist.