First chapter of Shippuden!

You know I was looking back at how Reiko was designed before. She was actually going to fall for Kankuro. She was actually going to be from the Naruto realm. And that she was Lee's friend who just happened to meet him because she chased after Lee on the Sasuke Mission and ran into Kankuro instead.

I then redesigned her character in my language arts class. Then I asked a classmate to pick one of the two papers from random. The design she picked was Reiko's current model.


A kunoichi looked up at the sky. A white mask covered her face. Under her black cloak she wore a black tunic and a pair of black pants. Her pants were wrapped on her right side and there were shuriken hoisters on both of her legs. Her long brown hair blew in the wind.

The woman tucked her hair into the hood of her cloak. She then pulled the hood up. The sleeves on her cloak fell back, revealing mesh Tekko – or arm and wrist coverings. She pulled on her kyahan and checked her tabi and waraji. The poor straw sandals and socks were worn beyond good use and her leg-guard was coated in mud.

In the sky floated a bird. It was unlike any bird in the surrounding area. On its back lay a person with flaming red hair. The woman's eyes narrowed from behind the mask. She vanished and began to follow the bird.

She hid from view as she watched two men and the bird slip into a wet, dank cavern. She ran across the water and slipped inside as a boulder lowered. When she got inside the boulder stopped and she was sealed inside with the men. She ducked behind a rock, waiting for the right time to strike. She leaned forward and strained her ears.

"You're late." A man accused, "Make preparations immediately."

The bird vanished leaving behind a smaller version of the bird. The body fell to the ground with a soft thud. The woman shifted uncomfortably. She adjusted her mask. Once she was assured that it was on her face she peered over the edge of the rock, listening for more of their conversation.

"The Jinchuriki was more powerful than we expected, yeah." The blond in the Akatsuki cloak said.

The woman knew the man. He was Deidara, ex-shinobi of Iwagakure. He was banished from the village on the charge of blowing up the village and plotting to kill the Tsuchikage. He was an arsonist-for-hire until he came across the Akatsuki. She glared at the man, coldly wanting to rip him to shreds.

There was a shadowy figure standing in the center of the room. He started to make hand signs. The woman watched him silently. She was waiting for the moment his guard was down. She shivered when she saw his eyes. They were like two storm gray stones that just seemed to cut through the darkness and see her hiding from view.

He slammed his palms into the ground. There was a loud crack. Followed by a puff of smoke. The woman gasped softly as the smoke cleared. There was a grotesque human-like figure. It was the hands and face of some tortured human… Other than the fact that it had nine eyes and a gag was in its mouth.

"Assemble…" The shadowy man ordered.

The blond and his larger, bulkier partner jumped. The pudgier of the two landed on the statue's right hand. On the pinky finger. The blond landed on the ring finger of the left hand. Eight other shadowy figures appeared. In the darkness the woman had a hard time trying to make out their figures.

"Now then, let's begin…" The gray-eyed man ordered.

Suddenly the mouth of the statue opened wide. The gag that was in its mouth fell out. The woman stiffened, wondering if it was a good time to attack. She was outnumbered but she wondered if she was strong enough to actually defeat one of the Akatsuki and escape, taking the Kazekage with her. She tensed.

"This is going to take three full days. Stay aware of your physical selves." The gray-eyed man ordered, "And Zetsu, have your physical body stand guard outside. Use the one with the greatest range."

"Understood."

The woman looked at the man. He looked something like a Venus flytrap. She had seen him before in her bingo book. There wasn't much known about him other than the fact that he was schizophrenic and that he was a cannibal. He had one white side and one black side, which seemed to make up the two personalities he had.

The woman hissed and reached for her katana, hidden under the folds of her cloak. She swallowed hard. She watched the group warily. If anything she had to kill their leader at all costs. Even if that cost was her life.

"Three days…?" One of the figures asked.

The woman noted he had a huge sword, a heavy blade. He was much larger and he seemed more muscular that his companions. He had to be the brawn. Either that or he had a huge chakra supply that could be used to completely devastate the enemy.

"Shouldn't we allow more time?" He asked.

"If you think that, we better get started."

The fingers of the statue started to glow. Each finger had a kanji for something. The woman's eyes scanned them, trying to understand the meaning of each symbol. Dragon. Darkness. Scorpion. Blue. Bloody.

A bright light formed at the mouth of the statue. The woman got to her feet. Her presence went unnoticed by the group of eleven. Growling she pulled shuriken out of her pouch. She hurtled them at the man in the center of the room. She was expecting him to hear them. He didn't even flinched as they whirled through the air.

"Sealing Jutsu! Nine Phantom Dragon Seal!"

Suddenly nine fox shaped beams of light shot out of the statue's mouth. The shuriken that the woman threw passed right through the storm-eyed man. He turned to her, not at all surprised by her presence in her room. He almost looked like he had been expecting her. The woman glared at him.

He had been expecting her. She had tried to stop him from killing two other Jinchuriki but had failed on both accounts. She wasn't about to let him take a third from right under her nose. She would fight to the death if it boiled down to it. She refused to become helpless once again.

"How nice of you to finally join us." He said nonchalantly.

The beams of light over took the limp Kazekage's body. The woman hissed in anger. She ran at the man, brandishing her katana. The redhead was trapped in a sphere of glowing light. He groaned in pain. The woman's eyes flickered to the pained man but then back to her opponent.

The woman swung her blade. It passed right through the man's neck. His image flickered for a moment. He vanished and reappeared behind her. The woman growled again. She swung her katana behind her back, not turning to see if she hit him. Once again the man vanished. This time he reappeared in front of her. If his shadow-like form showed his mouth he would be frowning at her.

"I hate you so much…" She told him.

"Here to stop us again, yeah? Well it's too late." The blond told her.

"No… No it's not!"

Suddenly red chakra started to ooze out of the Kazekage's eyes and mouth. He tried to say something but his words sounded like mush. The red chakra hovered towards the statue's mouth. The woman twitched with annoyance.

"Enemies approach our lair. One of them is highly skilled… From Konoha… His name is Maito Gai." Zetsu said, ignoring the teen.

The woman cringed at the name, as if someone stabbed her with a kunai. The group of eleven ignored her. She tried to form a strategy but it was harder than she thought it was going to be because she knew nothing about their strengths or weaknesses. She was at a disadvantage, a serious disadvantage that could be the difference between success and failure.

"Who?" The man with storm gray eyes demanded.

"He's a Konoha Jonin. A Taijutsu expert," A man with red eyes said, "He's highly skilled. Best not to underestimate him."

"You…" The woman hissed softly.

She didn't even need her extensive knowledge of her bingo book to recognize him. She knew him just by looking at his eyes. There was no doubt about it. He was the murderer of the entire Uchiha clan, none other than Uchiha Itachi himself. He stared back down at her with dispassionate eyes.

"Ah, that strange beast…" Itachi's partner murmured.

"Use that jutsu." Their leader ordered.

"In that case, I'll go." Itachi's partner said, ignoring the teen on the floor, "Fate has given me a core to settle with him."

"True… That jutsu is best suited to you since you have the largest amount of chakra, Kisame. We're still using thirty percent of your chakra."

"Hmph…" Was Itachi's response.

"Well, well… Finally…" The shark-like man said.

"You… standing over the Kanji for bloody…" The woman growled, "You're Uchiha Itachi, aren't you?"

The entire group looked at her, slightly startled. Only Konoha shinobi knew exactly who Itachi was and even they spoke to him cautiously. This woman was throwing caution to the wind. She was shaking with anger. She could feel the chakra gathering in her fist. If she were to hit him once it would nearly kill him.

Kisame's figure faded. The man she accused of being Itachi glared at her. She growled under her breath. If her attack on their leader didn't work then the attack she wanted to throw at him wouldn't work either. Her eyes flickered to the Kazekage's body. Then they flickered back to 'Itachi'.

"If I am?"

She knew she was just stalling for time so she could come up with a plan. She knew that he knew that as well. His head cocked to the side slightly but the glare remained plastered to his face. Her fists clenched tightly, making her Tekko crunch like crushed leather. She ground her teeth, trying hard not to scream.

"You've ruined so many lives… Naruto's… Sasuke's… And now Gaara's?"

She refused to look him in the eyes, in fear that he'd catch her with his Sharingan. Slowly his hand rose. She watched the movement, warily, waiting for him to attack her first. She then went rigid. Itachi was pointing at her. Her eyes slowly glazed over as if she were seeing something completely different before her.


The woman staggered back. She was standing on top of the Hokage Mountains in Konoha. Itachi stood behind her. She could feel him breathing down her neck. She jumped so that there was some distance between them. Then she spun around to face him. He was no longer see-though.

She reached for her weapons. Her hand just grasped nothing. She looked at her side. All of her weapons were gone. Then she looked back at Itachi. He wasn't wearing his Akatsuki cloak. He was wearing an old ANBU uniform. His red eyes gazed at her intently.

"Genjutsu…" She hissed.

"Don't worry. I won't use the-"

"Mangekyo Sharingan." She finished.

"Just who are you?"

The girl smirked through her mask. She took a step forward. Pain arched through the soles of her feet to her head. As the pain surged through her body she fell to her hands and knees. Her smirk was long gone. Itachi didn't seem to be fazed by her pain. He said nothing as she tried to keep in a shuttering gasp.

Suddenly he appeared in front of her. Leaves blew around them, dancing on the wind. He grabbed her by the collar of her cloak and drug her back to her feet. Then he brought her face close to his, glaring at her. Her eyes were starting to roll towards the back of her head as the pain increased. Suddenly it stopped. She was able to look at Itachi.

"I asked you a question. Don't make me ask again."

"… Tsuyoi Reiko…"


Reiko fell to the ground. She clutched her stomach and started to cough up blood. Pain surged through her body, making her feel weak. She winced as she tried to bring herself back to her hands and knees. The room around her was spinning and she could see the faces glaring down at her, with cold emotionless eyes.

Reiko looked up at the Akatsuki. She was breathing hard. Deidara smirked down at her. Suddenly something cold and sticky started to cover her skin. Desperate Reiko tried to claw the substance off of her. Her attempt was a fruitless effort. Her eyes widened when she realized the substance was clay.

Deidara's smirk grew more defined. Slowly the clay hardened. Reiko was encased in the clay. Her mask was the only thing free. Reiko hissed and she started to channel chakra into her skin. She was running low on chakra. The moment she found out that Gaara was in trouble she booked it after the Akatsuki, not even bothering to rest until she had caught up with them.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, yeah." Deidara told her.

"Yeah? Well, you're not me!"

"I just wanted to tell you that things might get a little… loud if you do move, un."

Reiko froze. She caught the undertone in his voice. If she moved she was done for and so was Gaara. The clay would explode, killing her and Gaara's chance of survival. She swallowed hard and tried to gather her thoughts so she could get free and get herself and Gaara out of there. She wanted to jump up and throttle him but that would lead to her death. She cursed herself for not sending in a shadow clone instead.

Itachi and Kisame's shadowy figures reappeared. Reiko tried to look away. Instead the clay forced her head up so she had to look at them. Deidara and one other figure were chuckling over her misery. Reiko knew it had to be Haiku, her former teammate. He looked down at her, mirth dancing in his eyes.

"The jutsu was broken?" The leader asked, "But… We gained valuable time. That's plenty. Well, done Itachi and Kisame."

"That's easy for you to say…" Sasori said from inside his puppet- Hiruko, "But the two who offered their bodies for your sacrifices were… My men."

"They were Akatsuki members for a short period of time because of my art of impersonation technique. I would expect their thanks for the privilege." The leader turned to Gaara's limp body in the sphere, "It's nearly time."

"No…" Reiko murmured.

"Zetsu, take care of the two who used the art of impersonation."

"Of course…"

Zetsu's figure flickered and he vanished. Reiko's heart was pounding. She was debating whether or not she'd survive if she'd move. She had to stop them, no matter what the cost happened to be. She couldn't do anything for the first two hosts and she didn't want to lose a third host.

"Itachi… How many enemies and who are they?" The leader demanded.

"Konoha's Hakate Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, and Uzumaki Naruto, the nine-tailed fox's Jinchuriki. Sunagakure advisor Chiyo finishes their four-man cell."

Hiruko's frame started to slacken a little when Sasori heard the very last name. If his puppet could move his face to mirror Sasori's it would be an expression of shock. Its eyes would probably be as wide as dinner plates.

"It's nearly complete."

"No! Gaara!" Reiko screamed agonized, "Gaara!"

She moved.

The clay exploded instantly. She was sent flying through the smoke of the explosion backwards. She hit the giant boulder that sealed the only entrance and exit of the cavern. She fell to the floor and rolled a few feet before she came completely still. The hood of her cloak was mussed up slightly. Blood was starting to stain her hair.

"I told her not to move, un." Deidara remarked with a callous smirk.


Gaara was in a white room. He couldn't see, feel or sense anything except for himself and the glowing light. Slowly he brought his hand up. It didn't look like any hand he had ever seen before. It was a foreign object to him. Curiously he flexed it. It moved upon his will.

"Whose… Hand is this?"

Gaara suddenly recognized it. It was his hand, not someone else's hand like he had thought before. There was dirt in the creases and under his fingernails. He wondered how it got there. Surely he would remember but his mind drew a blank. He couldn't remember. He could just exist there, floating in the comforting light.

"It's mine…" He began to try to think about his life. He couldn't remember anything except that he wanted to help someone. But who? Why couldn't he remember who he was trying to assist and protect? Were they not that important to him so he simply forgot? "Have I… Become someone… That people need?" He asked himself.

"No!" Someone cried.

The cry was agonized. As if the person were seeing something that cut them to the bone. They seemed as if they were on the verge of tears. Gaara wracked his mind for the name of the person. He couldn't see their face or even remember their name. He knew he wanted to hear the voice again because he wanted to remember them.

A figure appeared upon the cry. Gaara could see them. He blinked owlishly. He was standing, staring at himself. Slowly Gaara's hand came down. For once Gaara didn't glare at the other person standing across the way.

"Who's that…? Me…? That's me… Wanting to be needed by someone… Why? Why did I want that…? Why… Do I… Wish for that?"

"Gaara!" The person screamed.

The cry was more agonized than before. The person was reaching hysteria very quickly. It sounded feminine. Gaara worried for he didn't know how to deal with a crying woman. Crying women weren't something that he came across every day. He couldn't remember why though.

"Those eyes… That nose… That mouth… Why…? Why is that…? Gaara… I was in there… No… What am I anyways? I am only aware of being 'me.' So… Who am 'I'?" Gaara asked no one in particular, "Just a… small… consciousness…"

"Gaara!"

The last cry he heard was the most agonized and desperate call of the three. Someone was trying to get his attention but he couldn't give it to them. The caller screamed out of deep agony. Though he could tell it wasn't for them. They held no regard for their well-being.

They were pained for him.


Gaara came crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. The leader nodded his head, "Complete."

Suddenly a loud rumble erupted from the other side of the boulder. However the boulder didn't shatter. The Akatsuki looked up. The leader glared at the source of the noise as if a child were interrupting his important work if murder could be counted as work.

"It's getting louder outside." The leader remarked.

"There's one more Jinchuriki, isn't there?" Sasori chuckled.

Itachi glared at Sasori. His eyes flickered to Reiko. She didn't move in the slightest. Before anyone could see what he was looking at his eyes flickered back to Hiruko holding pure and utter abhorrence for the other shinobi that hid inside the marionette.

"Don't blame me, Itachi…"

"Sasori… Deidara… See to our guests… They're yours… Except for the Jinchuriki host. Bring him to me alive. To the rest of you are done here." The leader said.

"Itachi," Sasori said, "About the Jinchuriki… What kind of host is this Naruto?"

Again Itachi's eyes flickered to Reiko. Again she remained as still as a board, virtually motionless. His leader took his silence as him avoiding the question. In reality Reiko confused him. While he was pummeling her in his Genjutsu she didn't scream or cry out once. She was resilient.

She spoke to him rationally. Telling him that she'd get him for what he did to the citizens of Konoha. She spoke mostly about Naruto and Sasuke. Telling him he'd die for what he did to ruin their friendship the most. If she was dead all of her ranting was for no reason. Served her right for running her mouth, making promises she could never keep.

"Tell them…" The leader ordered.

"He is… The one who bursts in and barks first." Itachi said.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Sasori asked.

"Can't you give us more to work with, hmm?" Deidara asked.

Itachi's figure vanished, not before one last glance at Reiko. She still didn't move. He knew she was too weak to actually hold through to her promise for Sasuke's sake. Soon it was just Deidara, Sasori and their leader. Their leader watched them. His eyes narrowed darkly.

"I'll be waiting to hear from you." He told them.

Deidara and Sasori jumped off of the statue. It vanished in a puff of smoke. Their leader vanished as well. Deidara smirked at his partner. He walked over to the body that lay only a few feet by the boulder. He smirked. He brutally lifted her up by her hair and drug her over to Gaara's body. Deidara threw her down next to Gaara's body. Her mask cracked. Part of the mask fell from her face. It landed in her hand. Deidara leaned towards her face. His smirk widened when he recognized her. He had to admit it was pretty hard to do so.

Reiko's face had thinned out and she lost all baby fat that he face held when she was twelve. Not that she had much to start with in the beginning. Her face was more angular than it was. She showed signs of bruising on her face and there were shadows under her eyes. Her skin seemed paler but it was probably due to the lack of light in the room.

"Well, Reiko-chan, long time no see…" He remarked, "Look Danna!"

Reiko didn't move. Deidara smirked. Haiku would be upset that Deidara killed her but she had gone out in a bang. The best way to go out was in a bang in the blond's opinion. She deserved to die the way she did instead of being tortured to death like Haiku had wanted to do to her. No shinobi deserved what he had in store for her.

"Finally dead, Reiko-chan?" Deidara asked the corpse, "I told you art was a bang, yeah."


And I'll leave it there. So… How's the first chapter of Shippuden?