AN: Hello my loves! I'm back at it again, risen up from the dead with a fresh chapter. I'm practically beaming with pride for this one, I don't know why but I really like how it turned out. Of course it can always be better but then again, so can all things. I choose to be happy with what I got and not torment myself over what could have been, or at least I try to. We all do. I hope you guys are faring well and my heart goes out to you all! Itachi and Sasori will become two unlikely companions in the future, drawn together by fate and shared interests. I hope it's not too much of a spoiler to admit that, but that's exactly what I'm trying to stitch together here. Anyways, happy reading and I'm sorry about the delay but I just started playing WOW again and my goodness am I having a great time with the Suramar questline! Let me know if anyone of you play Warcraft as well, maybe we can play together sometime XD xoxo

Chapter 13

She was sitting on a table, dangling her feet back and forth, feeling like she was on cloud nine. Spending time with Sasori never failed in making her feel accomplished and capable. He filled her with self-respect and it was a stark difference from when she was alone, suffering under her father's bitter gaze. She just needed to figure out how to feel strong on her own, without the puppet master's supportive presence.

Said puppet master was currently rummaging around in a scroll-filled basket. Then he seemed to have found his price. He pulled out a medium sized scroll and she immediately recognised it as Hana. She was about to make her gratitude known when a grimace settled over Sasori's face. He was looking down at something, albeit not the scroll in his hands.

"You toe is bleeding, doll," he said with a questionable look in his eye.

She glanced down to assess that he was in fact correct.

"It must have been the stone..." she muttered as she took in her bloody big toe, staining her sandals.

She hadn't even realised she was wounded down there.

The puppeteer knelt down, shaking his head. He grabbed a hold of her foot and started to heal her split toe. As he had done so many times before with her injuries. Hinata managed a bashful smile.

"I promise to be more careful next time," she said even though it hadn't been her fault that the stone had seemingly decided to split her toe open.

"You have to be more attentive to yourself. If it hurts somewhere, you better look at it," Sasori answered in that matter of fact kinda tone that was so like him.

As soon as her toe was healed, they gathered up their things and left to rejoin the nature above.

The rest of the day was spent in the clearing just outside the cave. From the scroll holsters at his waist, he brought forth the same medium sized scroll he had collected back in the lair.

"Here you got Hana, all restored. I've even added some new features to her, I'll leave you to discover those on your own," he said, tossing the scroll to her.

Hinata caught her scroll with an easy smile, happy to finally be reunited with her beloved puppet. She was already itching to try her out once more. She longed to discover what upgrades he'd gifted her with.

"You won't be doing much with Hana today. You have used her for more than a year now and obviously know her like the back of your hand." Sasori explained to her, already knowing what her hopeful smile had been about.

Hinata gave him a confused look, and a little disappointed one.

"But-"

"We are going to focus more on Genjutsus from now on. I need you to perform adequately against Haruko, preferably more than that. How much training have you had with Genjutsus so far, Hinata?"

She bit her chin, thinking back on the brief overview and training they had back at academy.

"Not much at all..."

"Great! Then we will start from scratch. Sit down," he motioned for her to take a seat on the missy rock before him.

She did.

"Just like with Taijutsus, Genjutsus fall into different ranks, D, C, B, S, which determines the advancement of said illusion. At their lowest scale, Genjutsus are used as slight misleading things like tampering with ones perception of time. These types typically only effect one or two senses. From what I've gathered, Haruko seems to be more skilled with auditory and visual hallucinations. At least she prefers to use those more. Time-tampering Genjutsus are generally very hard to control and someone of her age and skill set would have a hard time grasping such an ability, but I wouldn't rule it out."

Sasori's voice carried through the air, heavy with expertise. He had started to circle around her, as he did from time to time. Sometimes, although only sometimes, it made Hinata feel like a trapped, little animal. Especially when he got that strange look on his face. That calculating, dissecting gaze, his eyes would don when he plotted something. Or maybe when he had machiavellian thoughts...

"How do I dispel them?" Hinata asked, craning her neck around and trying to catch his stare.

His eyes gleamed into amber as a sunbeam descended upon it. His lean lips, becoming that of an askew smirk.

"I was just getting to that. Those who are a natural when it comes to Genjutsus, like Haruko for example, have an affinity for Yin release. Genjutsus are commonly created by implanting Yin chakra in ones brain through someone hearing or smelling something that carries that said Yin chakra. The ninja can dispel it by pushing their own chakra into their brain, flushing the foreign one out. Gripping sensations from the real world, like pain for instance, are also known to be very effective as a dispelling mechanism."

He paused to kneel down in front of her.

"Think of it like this. Genjutsus are created by inducing a controlled modification in your target's chakra flow, which somehow alters their perception of the world. It is all based on your intention. This is why the easiest way to rid oneself of most illusions is to interrupt and reboot one's own chakra flow. Much like how you might switch a computer off and on again when it hits a snag: the rebooted chakra flow is not affected by the genjutsu."

"This makes more sense than what they told us at the A-Academy..." Hinata responded, raising her eyebrows a bit.

"That's Because I'm the one explaining it. School is nothing more than an indoctrination camp, albeit necessary to get to the next level. Hinata you are lucky to have me as your teacher, otherwise you might have been as brainwashed as your peers," Sasori explained in a vey casual manner, as if he was talking about the weather.

"What's an I-indoctrina-" she hesitatingly began, unnerved at his seemingly random switch of subject.

"I will tell you more about it when you're older. Now, as a Huyga, you must know how to control your own chakra flow right?" Sasori's voice was as imperious as ever, yet smooth at the same time.

He took a seat on a rock, his finger, doing a come hither motion towards her. She followed his whims.

"I can switch focus on my chakra from limb to limb and I-I know I can reboot it as well, my father taught me how to," Hinata answered, eager to show him.

"You will demonstrate that then. I create a mild genjutsu in the air around us. You will breathe it in and allow it to affect your senses, then you will reboot your chakra, thus dispelling it," Sasori asserted, nearly in what she could at best describe as excitement, his eyes had that glimpse of playfulness in them.

She eagerly nodded and took a little step back, trying to think of ways to prepare herself. Sasori's smile became wider and wider, showing more and more teeth and was struck with how unusual it was for him to smile that way. To smile quite that much... In her young and naive mind, she didn't detect the predatory glint that seemed to wash over his eyes, adhering to the contortion of his face.

His hand clenched itself in a tight fist before it unfolded itself, palm up. Swiftly, he blew air onto it as if he was blowing something off his hand towards her. Immediately, strong waft of copper engulfed her, so strong and so raw, it almost smelled like something was rotting. It smelled off blood. Hinata jumped back in surprise at the potency of such a smell, it was like she was standing right in front of something decomposing.

She did little to hinder the revulsed grimace that settled over her face. She was just about to dispel it when she noticed big blotches of blood, blooming out from beneath her clothes. They were all over her arms and legs. Lifting up her bleeding arm, she hissed out in distress as she realised that the horrible smell was coming from her wounds.

No wait. They couldn't be wounds for they weren't actually there. This was had to be of his creation. Looking back at the seated redhead, she took a defiant stance and put her palms together. A small chant left her lips as she breathed in the rotten odour, letting the heavy air fill up her chest and transmuting it. Then, she allowed her breath leak out of her. As her breath left her body, so too did the genjutsu. The illusion washed of off her like a wave on a stone.

Her point of attention, her focus went down from her head to her spine and feet, scanning her whole body. She could literally feel the chakra flow restart again in her veins. As she inhaled, the air was devoid any strange smells. It was pure and healthy again. It smelled of the forest.

Her little face guised that of an affronted look.

"I thought you said it would only be a scent...?

Sasori's grin had yet to fall, his eyes seemed to be laughing at her.

"Did I? Well, the element of surprise is crucial to a genjutsu, Haruko will try to be as shocking as possible."

Sasori dragged a hand through his hair before he opened a small bag he had by his side.

"You were pretty quick at dispelling it though, candy?"

His hand presented a caramel to her, bright red and tasty-looking.

She practically skipped up to him, bowing prettily as she picked up the candy and put it in her mouth. Sasori's eyes seemed to shine up in a rich copper-bronze as the sun passed over them once more.

"Now, this was a light genjutsu, only affecting scent and sight. Haruko might try to go for something bigger, if she is capable of that. Therefore I have called on a friend of mine who is a professional when it comes to conjuring up more potent genjutsus. He should be here soon, so I would advice you to sit down and rest in the meantime," Sasori explained to her, his excitement more tangible.

"Oh? Who is he? Is he k-kind?" Hinata got out as she took a seat by his knees.

She was a bit nervous upon meeting a new person, especially one of Sasori's friends.

"As long as you are courteous, I expect you to be that," he answered, allowing his hand to creep down and caress her head.

She leaned into his touch and came to rest her head on his leg. Relishing in the feeling of being scratched like a pet. Basking in his attention like a snake would on a sunny rock.

Her small hands cane to rest on his ankle, hugging his leg and practically beaming up at him.

"I'm so happy to have you," she said with an adoring look on her face.

"Yes, you are lucky to have me Hinata."

She was always one to cuddle, the little minx. His fingers moved down to her nape, before reluctantly leaving her warm skin.

His phone was buzzing with a new text message. Hinata reacted to his touch leaving her and looked up with her big eyes, following his movements intently. She saw as he took out his phone, his thumb moving across the screen.

It was Itachi.

"There in 5 min."

"Good. Remember what I said about the Sharingan, she cannot know who you are," he typed back.

"I won't turn it on," Itachi texted back.

"And your Akatsuki cloak and headband?"

"Not wearing them."

A satisfied smile grazed his features, good.

Putting away his phone, his smile grew as he took in the eager face of his doll.

Hinata shivered a bit as his hand returned to her head, his fingers digging down into her black strands. For some inexplicable reason, he felt extra affectionate with her this day. Maybe it was the devotion he could so clearly see in her eyes.

Hinata allowed her cheek to sag even more against his leg, she closed her eyes in bliss as he massaged her skull.

Then a twig snapped behind them and she flinched at the sound. Sasori threw a glance over his shoulder, deducing that it was in fact Itachi. The girl at his feet, drew his leg even closer to her as she looked over his knee, directing her opal eyes towards their guest.

Itachi's black eyes were glued onto her own white ones. The oldest Uchiha wasn't sure what to expect when he agreed to help the puppet master, but a scene like this certainly wasn't it.

In silence he walked around the pair, taking in the way the little girl was practically clinging onto Sasori's leg. His hand was in her hair and the young Huyga gave the redhead a look, as if she was looking for some guidance.

His hand at the back of her head gave her nudge.

"Introduce yourself Hinata," he commanded, with a shockingly gentle voice.

Itachi almost did a double take at that. He didn't think the puppeteer was capable of using such a soft voice. Although he could tell that it was something very deliberate, because his normal voice had always had somewhat of a sharp tone.

The young heiress reluctantly let go off his leg. She stood up and hesitantly approached him.

"My name is Hinata," she slowly said, reaching out her hand, shyly so.

It would appear she had a difficult time with eye contact.

He took her hand and gave her smile, trying to think of ways to ease her nervousness.

"My name is Akira, Sasori has told me much about you," he said, ignoring the warning look Sasori gave him in the back.

"I-I hope only good things," the girl gave a giggle, daring to meet his eye but only for a few seconds.

"Of course, only good things. Are you ready to get to work?" Itachi said, not skipping a beat.

The girl nodded.

"Yes!"

...

Akira felt strangely familiar, though she was sure she had never seen him before. The things that stood out the most from him, aside from the strange familiarity, were his ring and nails. He had purple, short nails with a metal ring on his left hand, ring finger. The ring had a big red stone in it with the kanji of vermilion engraved on it with black letters. It was the same style as Sasori's. It boggled her mind but she knew this was not the time to ask questions.

They had started with rather simple genjutsus and worked their way up. The first one had been similar to Sasori's, a horrid smell dampened the air around her and then the earth under her started to morph into quicksand. She was quick with dispelling that one.

At the moment though she found herself dodging shurikens, coming at her from all sides. Of course it had to be apart of the genjutsu. Though as she was about to dispel it, she was promptly stopped. Looking down at her hands, she realised she didn't have any. Nothing but two bloody stumps stared back at her.

So incredibly bloody. A sharp shriek of terror rose in her throat like vomit and the sight of her stumps nearly made her want to throw up. How was she going to dispel anything when she didn't have hands?!

Stressed, she stumbled back, her lamentations never seizing.

"S-Sasori-san?!" she yelled out in distress.

No one was near, she was alone in the forest, tripping over feet, she fell uselessly to the ground.

She knew she was still in the genjutsu, but she didn't know how to get out of it this time. Bitter tears started to creep down her cheeks. Her active byakugan scanned the greenery around her. Alarmed, she witnessed a kunai, racing for her head off to her side. With a scream wrenching itself free from her throat, she ducked down and hid her head in her arms.

"Katsu," Akira's voice rang out somewhere above her, startling her.

She looked up and saw him standing there, looking down at her with a crease in his brow. She immediately gazed down to familiarise herself with her hands. Rubbing them together, she was glad to have them back.

"You made it fine this far, you just need some more practice," Akira said.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't know how to dispel it without using hand signs..." Hinata forced out in humiliation, drying her tears with the back of her hand.

She didn't dare to look at Sasori, the shame was too great.

"That's something that we will have to work on Hinata," the puppet master commented as he came to stand at Akira's side.

She nodded, keeping her eyes on their boots.

"Hinata, I want you to look at me when I'm talking to you," his voice broke out again, sharper, more precise.

She jumped a bit and immediately raised her head, meeting her teacher's rusted eyes.

"S-Sorry, I..." she hesitated for a brief second, "I was ashamed."

Biting her lip, her uncertain white eyes, darted back and fort between Sasori's face and the tree at his side. It was always better to tell the truth, she knew that. But that didn't make it anymore pleasant.

"I know, doll. Don't be," Sasori answered in his usual heavy tone but this time, his eyes seemed rather soft.

"Your practice is over for the day, Go back to the estate and take a shower. I will join you shortly."

She needn't be told twice. Bowing swiftly to Akira and telling him a quick farewell, she jogged away, disappearing amongst the trees and bushes.

Itachi and the puppet master stayed silent until the sounds of the child had all but dissolved into the sounds of the wilderness.

"I like her, she has potential," Itachi uttered, breaking the silence.

Sasori walked back to the rock he'd been sitting on.

"I know. She will be a valuable asset," he responded as he once again took a seat on the boulder stuck in the ground.

He took out a small satchel full of coins, though he didn't do much with it.

"That's what concerns me," Itachi said, turning to face the puppet master more fully. "You have her wrapped around your finger."

Sasori kept his eyes on the object in his hands.

"And?"

Itachi was quiet. He strode up to the seated Akatsuki member and leaned on the tree at his side.

"We are at war with her village. You cannot hope to keep our real identities hidden forever."

Sasori gave the young man an almost disgruntled look.

"That's not what I'm aiming for, She will know the truth when the time is right," he said, returning his gaze to the satchel in his hand.

"And how exactly would that happen?"

The puppet master almost laughed at that comment. He looked up again at the Uchiha, watching him turn his Sharingan on.

"That's my business, worry about yourself instead. It seems Kisame has caught the flu from Deidara, it will only be a matter of time before its passed onto you," Sasori commented, determined to change the subject.

Itachi gave a sigh at that.

"That's true, he won't stop complaining about his stuffed nose... I already have some symptoms, but it's only a cold after all," The Sharingan wielder answered, but absentmindedly so as his thoughts pondered over other matters

He gave the puppet master a look.

"I suppose you have nothing to worry about, being a puppet and all."

Sasori fixes him with a blank stare but nodded at his words.

"Yes, I can't get sick. I don't want you to pass it onto Hinata though."

It seemed like Itachi wanted to roll his eyes at that.

"We haven't had much contact so I doubt that will happen. I look forward to meeting her again though," he said, looking up past the trees.

"About that, silver for your trouble, I will notify you when I need you again," Sasori responded, tossing the small coin-filled bag in his direction.

He caught it with ease and nodded at him.

"Bye then," with those words, the Uchiha turned on his heel and disappeared up into the trees.