roll myself out of bed, shaking away the sleep, and rubbing away my eye salt.
Today marks what I find to be the arguably worst day of training. Of course, Pein decided it was a good idea to pair me up with Itachi, of all people. He's going to nearly kill me, I'm sure.
I'd still have a chance if my system hadn't fully developed yesterday. Interesting feeling, really. Like some sort of puzzle piece snapping in place, and a surge of energy results.
It was not like getting high. It was like getting electrocuted. Don't get any ideas.
The point is, my chakra system (which before being formed, was genjutsu resistant), decided to fail me the day before I combatted a genjutsu specialist, who worked mainly via eye contact.
Tell me, how the hell am I supposed to fight without making eye contact, and while staring at someone's feet?
Don't answer that, actually. I think I have a plan.
I mentally apologize to Konan for the amount of ranting she'll be enduring later.
Walking to the training field again is hell on earth. My heart is beating out of my chest.
It's ok Kai. If anything happens, it's not real. Just tell yourself that.
Of course, Itachi's at the grounds before me. He's just as intimidating as I thought. At least he doesn't have his Sharingan activated. Deidara was right. That thing is gonna be the death of me.
He glances at me, up and down.
"Breathe. I've been told not to hurt you."
Oh, thank fucking god.
"If any member of this organization wanted you dead, you would have been by now. We vastly outclass you."
I'm still looking at the ground. I don't trust him.
"No need to tell me, Everyone here's already shown me that," I mumble.
"You remind me of my brother. Weak, impressionable,"
If he says what I think he's going to-
"Lacking in hatred."
The bitch fucking did it. He really did it. This idiot, after knowing I was brought here against my will and forced to stay, really just said I lack hatred.
"That's cute because I have this place and all involved." I retort.
Of course, I realized I was an idiot at that moment. He's Itachi. He says everything for a reason. He plans things. He's a prodigy.
And it was my mistake that I forgot that for a split second. Making eye contact is deadly like I said.
When I noticed what he did, the air lept out of my lungs. The terrain around me had completely inverted from green to a bright orange-reddish color, and the whites and greys of the rock had turned black and a deeper grey.
To my surprise, I wasn't living my worst nightmares, or tied to a cross. What a miracle.
I'm being sarcastic. But it really was a surprise he didn't have it out for me. The universe finally did something right.
The scene I'm shown is of a simple bench in the middle of the field. He's sitting there.
"What did I say about my inability to hurt you? Stop shaking."
I try my best to stabilize my breathing.
"You know about my eyes, don't you?"
I nod.
"That explains the behavior."
I shrug.
"Now, for the reason, I'm doing all this."
At least he has reasons.
"First of all, I know of your pact with Konan."
My eyes widen, "and how'd you manage to find that out?"
"A bird told me."
He means his crows, I'm assuming.
"And I'm on board with it. Not because I'm not ok with death, but because I know what that tablet says. It doesn't mean peace."
Of course, it doesn't, idiot. Zetsu fucked with it way back when Indra still existed.
"We're taking all the members we can. You'd be a good asset."
"I don't take up offers often. Since I was 13, my brother has been my priority, but after my death, if his world isn't safe for him, I'd have wasted my life." He pauses, "I'm not going to do that. For the sake of the world, and his sake, I'll take the offer."
"Well then. Welcome to the lonely band of misfits."
He gives me a half-smile. God, everyone is out of character here... that or they're in character, and I'm wrong.
The green and grey of the rock and grass return. The sun's fully risen, just about noon. Time manipulation, smooth. Real smooth, Itachi.
Konan's going to have an absolute field day when I tell her. Luckily enough, I can pretty quickly today. I don't have an education period today, for some reason.
That reason was something that I didn't want in a million years. A mission.
For some reason, the dipshit that is our leader decided it would be a good idea to give the rookie (who still can't use jutsu) a mission.
To where you ask? Suna.
Of course, I have to go to fucking Suna. The one place I want to be, and the one place I don't want to lose the trust of.
By now, thanks to me, they'd noticed who the jinchuriki was. Gaara, of course, so they sent me for a recon of the place.
Fucking great. AT least this time around, Suna would know how to combat the issue of the Akatsuki. At least this time, the world would know just what they were after, thanks to Sasori kidnapping me (which I still haven't forgiven him for).
My only saving grace is that Pein noticed my liking of Konan, or what he saw to be a tolerance of her (every other member, minus Itachi, complained or had some kind of silent hatred towards me), and had assigned her with me because he was "busy" or something like that.
By busy, I assume he means testing my loyalty. So I accepted, with a side plan of my own in place. Warn Gaara, tell him about the plan, get this show on the motherfucking road, and maybe prove my innocence.
Or the fact that I'm indeed, still alive.
Apparently, I'm presumed dead.
We left at sunset that night.
The cold reminds me of nights on my roof with Carlie, her tutoring me about all the classes I nearly failed.
But this time, since I'm not too good with the body flicker, Konan has me on her back, flying above the trees.
"So, we have Itachi now?" She inquires.
"Yeah, we do."
"And remind me of the plan here?"
"Find Gaara, tell him about the rest of the Akatsuki, tell him not to kill any of our members so we don't get Tobi as a replacement, see if Kankuro knows anything about ninja lung cancer, come back here with a few details, nothing of importance, or that would help, pretend we couldn't find anything."
"Kid, I hate to break it to you, but you're not a great strategist, considering I've been rogue for ten years, and nobody is going to accept my apology."
"Do I look like I didn't count that in? I didn't have time to run it by strategist number two. The thing I hate to break to you is that I just happen to be on great terms with the Kazekage, and, he knows a thing or six about reform."
Did I just reference Shukaku taking over and nearly killing everyone two years ago? Yes, yes I did.
"Your optimism is almost like that Kyubi jinchuriki's... It radiates."
"Is that good or bad?"
"I'm not sure at this point, but it'll get you far, on the path I see you following."
The rest of the night was dead silent, minus the flapping of wings.
Tomorrow's a new day, and it'll be an exciting one.