Ugh. I say it from now. you all smell rather horrible smells. Why, you ask? Because I got ONE review! And that was from my Beta. I repeat, you all smell horribly.

I'm sorry for the length of this chapter. I try to keep them above 1,000 words each, but sometimes I slack and no complaining, non-reviewers! You have a new chapter and it's within 30 days of the last one being posted :D

To say the Akatsuki's leader would have been furious would definitely have been an understatement.

Fortunately for his two subordinates, their rescued 'damsel in distress' had volunteered to explain the situation, knowing she, as a medic and having to deal with such situations and worse on a daily basis would do a much better job than either Itachi, with his monotonous tone of 'caring', or Kisame, with his ability to be inappropriately overly blunt.

She had saved Sasuke's life for another day, which was good news for the three remaining members of the team sent to rescue Sakura and Sakura herself, as they all wished to reap harm to this young man for some reason or another.

However, Pein was not going to let the young Uchiha live so easily, and wished for a formal execution before the gathered Akatsuki members.

After torture, of course.

Itachi, though feeling a deep hatred for the man who dared to touch his lover, still loved his little brother, and he turned to said lover, who felt much the same way.

As Itachi attempted to relay the message to help him somehow save the nuisance that was his younger brother, Itachi saw Sakura's eyes widen, even if for just a moment, he still caught the movement.

"Leader-sama," Sakura stepped forward and bowed her head in respect.

"I understand your wish to end this vermin's existence, but might I make a suggestion as to the ultimate torture for him?"

Sakura could visibly see Pein perk up with interest.

"And what, pray tell, might this "ultimate torture" entail?" he enquired.

"Hear me out before you make any comments," she waited a moment for Pein to respond, though she highly doubted he would make any gestures to hint to her to continue, so she went on.

"I believe we should send him back to Konoha," knowing the men around her, the majority of them would object to even the idea she was proposing, so she continued on before any of them were able to interrupt.

"Not only do they have the most annoying ninja to possibly ever exist, but that particular ninja has been trying, for years now, to annoy this young rogue."

Pein knew exactly which 'particular ninja' the young Haruno was speaking of and knew his new captive would possibly wish death upon himself if left to him, though something of this plan bothered him.

"What of the kyuubi?" he inquired.

"Kurama? What about him?" she asked in return, not quite understanding as it hadn't quite sunk in just yet.

"I wish to obtain him and keep him for my own personal use. He is quite an important piece in my final plan."

"Wasn't he a part of Madara's plan?"

Pein looked as though he were about to open his mouth to comment, then closed it again, but just like a fish gaping (gasping? I think I meant that) for air, he opened his mouth once more and spoke.

"Madara and I devised the plan together."

"Leader-sama, if I may," Itachi inquired, gaining a slight nod from the pierced man before them all. "I believe Madara had the majority under his power, making us believe things we would not originally wish. I am certain that was another power specifically belonging to his particular Sharingan."

At this, Sakura perked up.

"If this is so, might I suggest thinking over your decision for a couple of days, sir?"

The carrot-top knew the Uchiha heir was right in what he was saying, he most always was, so he took his opinion into high regard.

"I will do so, Haruno-san. For the time being however, you and Uchiha-san will be watching over our new captive. Hoshigaki-san, you will drain him regularly of his chakra. Understood?" he looked to the three subordinates he had commanded and awaited their nods of approval, though he knew they weren't as stupid as what Madara had acted in his 'Tobi' guise to defy him.

"Hai, Leader-sama," they spoke in unison.

Ah, even Haruno-san recognises not to dismiss my orders.

Kisame's face may have been as stoic as the shark-man could possibly bring himself to be on the outside, but on the inside, all who knew his orders knew he and Samehada were ecstatic at feeding off an Uchiha's chakra. Such delicious chakra they had, though they had forbidden themselves to feed off Itachi, instead choosing to use his marvelous skill to help keep themselves alive, and Madara would have killed him for even thinking about it.

The three left Pein to his own thoughts and Kisame practically ran for Sasuke's prison cell, excited by the mere thought of draining him.

If Itachi were a man to do so, he would have burst out in laughter at his partner's antics, though being the man he actually was, he merely smirked.

Instead, he felt as though his lover was laughing for him by his side. He quite enjoyed her laughter and wished to hear more of it.

For him, sending Sasuke back to Konoha to feel the wrath of Naruto's infuriating self was more of a burden than anything else, even if Pein decided to kill his foolish otouto for harming Konan ,for no member would be able to take him within the walls of Konoha, so they'd have to send Sakura, leaving them without her.

Then it hit him.

A brilliant plan.

He would just have to wait upon Leader-sama's decision.

I've been meaning to get this out somewhere, but my friends aren't as weird as I am (seriously. WAAAAYY not as weird!). So here goes;

Every time I hear the song "Call Me Maybe", I think of Naruto and Itachi. They just met, Itachi gives Naruto his 'number' (his crow, or 'calling card'), and Naruto can't look Itachi in the eye. Then I imagine them dancing and stuff, but kinda "Bachiko" dancing (they dance when the words don't match their meeting). In some parts of the song, I even imagine Sasuke singing it, but I can't remember if it's to Naruto or Itachi

On a side-note, seriously? that song irritates me so friggen much! "before you came into my life I missed you so bad"? OH MY GOD! shits me so much... but very catchy. And always on the radio.

Anyway...

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