He didn't let curiosity get the best of him most of the time. Curiosity can be quite the dangerous thing. It can satisfy you, yes but is it worth it if you get hurt? Possibly, maybe. It depends on the person. They could quench their curiosity or just let it be. But he wasn't one to let it be.

He didn't get curious much, really.When he did, however, he'll do anything to satisfy it. Itachi wasn't one to get left in the dark. He wouldn't let himself. That's why when he saw the girl he saved a few months ago acting suspicious, he followed her.

He doesn't like following people without valid reasons but this girl is his brother's classmate.His brother's safety comes first, if that girl is a threat (somehow), then he'll do anything to keep his brother safe. He landed quite a few ways from where the young girl is, observing her actions. He watched as she sat down on the forest floor and opened up a scroll.

There were also paper in front of her and a pencil, ink and a brush.Itachi raises an eyebrow. What could she be doing? The Uchiha made himself comfortable on the branch, confident that he hasn't been detected yet. He watched her study the scroll and scribble down notes on the paper she brought and then there were times where she would draw... is that a seal?

Now, the girl made Itachi's curiosity reached it's highest peak. "Ne, Weasel-san, why don't you come down here with me? I bet it's uncrm-uncrmo-uncomof-uncomfortable there." Itachi was surprised. She knew he was there? And really, it's adorable how she still trips her tongue over difficult words. The Uchiha hesitated, should he go down?

Might as well. She already knows he's there anyways. Itachi jumped down and landed silently beside her. He slowly crouched down and took in the sight in front of him. Almost all of her paper were full of notes and a good half of them were seals. Itachi's curiosity got the best of him and asked, "What are you doing, Shira-chan?"

"Decoding."

Eye twitch. "Decoding what?"

"Something."

Eye twitch. "And what is this something?"

He wasn't one to get impatient but her answers were just like Shisui's when he's hiding somehing and this annoys Itachi greatly. "Just something." The Uchiha heir was about to groan outloud but stopped himself. It was unbecoming of him. This girl is just as old as his brother, he reminds himself.

"Just something'? But you look determined, Shira-chan." He saw her stop writing down notes and peered at him through her messy bangs. They stared at each other for a while before she continued writing again and reading the scroll. Itachi waited, he knew she was going to crack any second now."The old man Hokage said it's a jutsu that made the Yondaime famous. No one has been able to decode this as of yet, not even the Nara Clan. I found this in our closet when I was cleaning."

Itachi choked on his saliva. Closet? Yondaime!? And why would she call the Sandaime old man?! Okay, calm down. She's just a kid, Itachi, she's just a kid, he reminded himself. There's no need to get worked up. Wait, a jutsu that made the Yondaime famous? Isn't that—?! Itachi's head whipped around to get a good look at the scroll. At the top corner it read 'Flying Thunder God Jutsu'. His yes widened in disbelief and shock.

She's trying to decode this?! His eyes then hovered over her notes and the seals. No, she was not only decoding this justu. She was also trying to recreate it! Itachi let out a breath. Unbelievable, this girl is unbelievable. He was no seal master but he could see how complex and dangerous those seals are.

And the Hokage is okay with this? Sure, he knew whose daughter Shira is, her parents were good friends with the Uchiha's to begin with. Even so, could she do it? Her father wasn't able to perfect this jutsu until he was an adult. Even if this girl in front of him has the structure and how the jutsu works, can she do it?

"Shira-chan..."

"Yes, Weasel-san?"

"You've been here for hours already. Isn't your brother looking for you?"

Shira froze. Itachi chuckled. The redhead quickly gathered her things and packed them away. Itachi watch her panic and finds it cute. Think of a puppy panicking where he has to do his business and doesn't want his owner getting mad at him for peeing on his carpet. She looks exactly like that.

When she was about to leave, Itachi picked her up and placed her on his back with a swift motion. He earned a yelp from her. "Come, I will take you back. You must be incredibly tired, Shira-chan." Being carried like a kid wasn't something she experienced before so she hid her face in Itachi's neck."Thank you, Weasel-san."

When he was already a part of the Akatsuki, he still wonders if Shira was able to recreate the Hiraishin. It was a very difficult work to begin with. "Oh, Itachi, it's time to go." Kisake called out from the forest floor. The Uchiha was high up in the tree overseeing the village he loves.

They just infiltrated the leaf and had a short fight against three Leaf ninjas. The Uchiha felt a bit guilty for doing that to his former ANBU Captain. The Hatake had been so nice to him.Once they encountered the Nine Tails jinchuriki, a flash of red and black caught his eyes block him before he can grab the jinchuriki.

He suddenly found himself on his back as Shira three him to the ground. Itachi quickly recovered and the two battled only using kunai and shuriken. Itachi was amazed when Shira kept flashing from different places. She actually perfected it at a young age!

The two of them stopped and faced each other."You were there, weren't you?" She questioned but Itachi remained silent. He was too amazed by her accomplishment."You're the person who left that umbrella while I was at the cenotaph." She was still met with silence. "Why?" Itachi snapped out of his stupor. It was unbecoming of him to be this unresponsive.

A trickle of blood slid down Itachi's cheek, the blood coming from the cut Shira managed to inflict him with. "You were going to be sick." His tone remained monotonous. Emotionless. His expression set on poker face. "That's not a good enough reason. You're after my brother, aren't you? Because of the Kyuubi inside of him." He didn't speak. What she said was the truth anyways.

Once again, silence greeted her."I won't let you take him. He's my brother, my family. If you want him, you have to go through me."Itachi's eyes flashed bright red, making the girl stiffen. It was her mistake. Her biggest mistake at that moment. She had forgotten about the Sharingan's abilities because her judgement was clouded with pure fury. In that moment. In that second.

She was caught. And Itachi didn't know that guilt could be so painful.He watched her fall to her knees, her eyes clouded. He knew her worst fear. And knew it might take a while to pick up the broken pieces of herself.

oooOooo

Much to Itachi's surprise, Pein decided to hold a meeting before the two years of inactiveness of the Akatsuki ends. They were gathered at Pein's office and all of the members were present. "Hey, 'Itachi, what's the meeting about?"

His partner asked. Truthfully, the Uchiha doesn't know a single thing so he remained silent. His silence could mean no most of the times and sometimes, it just means you're being ignored. Kisame sighed, even after years of being partnered up with this guy, he still hasn't figured him out.

Itachi remained unfazed by the Leader's somehow, almost always, permanent glare on his face. "Have any of you heard of Orochimaru's new recruit? The person who has been gaining a lot of popularity in Bingo Books?" Itachi curved an eyebrow in confusion as he shook his head.

Most of the members did but Sasori and Kakuzu affirmed it. "Hm. Based on the information from my spies, this person gained popularity through her unmatchable speed." Itachi's ear twitched. Her? Unmatchable speed? Doesn't that... sound familiar to him?

"I have some information on her. I stole an updated Bingo Book from some ninja." Kakuzu said and handed Pein the book. On the first page was the information and the Leader read it outloud to his members.

"Red Flash"

Itachi froze, could it be..?

"Name: Shira

Gender: Female.

Age: Fifteen.

Height: 165.5cm.

Weight: 49.2kg.

Affiliation: Nukenin of Konoha

Status: Alive

Weapons: Chakra Chains, kunai, Spear

Ninja Status: Jounin

Rank: S

Bounty: 5000 000 000."

Itachi calmed himself. Why... why was she a Nukenin?! Pein shut the book close and said, "If you find her, try and recruit her. Force her if you have to. That's all, dismiss."

He couldn't believe his ears. Shira-chan's a possible recruit to the Akatsuki?