[A/N: Hey everyone its been a while since my last update so I thought I'd give you an indication of what's going on. In November, I was in between leases until January, mostly staying with friends. Unfortunately, during this bout of homelessness, I contracted the SA variant of Covid 19. While my case was quite mild, it seems to have had a significant impact on my heart's electrochemistry. Thus, for health reasons I have been reducing my workload at present. Hopefully I'll come to a solution about how to address my issues with my cardiologist soon. This story has not been abandoned and I do expect to pick up speed on my updates as soon as I am able to. Anyway, as usual, read and review.]

ITACHI

Kisame snickers at him as he bristles once more unable to stop his irritation from being embaressingly visible. They've reached thier checkpoint and have set up camp hours ago and while Itachi knows he should be relaxing. Kisame's grilling some fish and they should be enjoying the idea of fresh food and not travel rations. Yet, Itachi can't quite bring himself to relax. His cough has worsened and while Kisame pretends not to notice, Itachi isn't oblivious that's he is basically a dead man walking at this point. Still the lingering taste of blood in his aside, that is not what has annoyance gracing his refined features today.

Itachi holds back his sigh, dare he provide Kisame further gossip (he had the loosest lips on the base, Itachi's swears by it), as Deidera tries yet again to kill his crow. He doesn't expect it to actually happen, his summons are notoriously hard to target, even if Deidera has fantastic aim. Normally he'd dispel his summons should they be discovered by a shinobi of Deidera's caliber, dare he insult or provoke said individual. However its surprisingly uncomfortable, to let Deidera be, even under the supervision of Sasori, so he doesn't want to dispel them just yet. His concerns that he had tried to impart on Deidera before the mission, because he dare not admit to worrying, are warranted despite how confident Deidera and Konan were in the former Iwa-nin's ability.

Suna is a dangerous place and its Kazekage more so, with all that sand around. Itachi's close enough, the Leaf is in not that far from Suna but even he would not get there in time should trouble arise. Even if they travelled at full speed, his meagre stamina might even add a day extra to the journey. The best they could do as backup would be to send clones, and even then Itachi was not convinced Deidera's plan was fool proof.

Deidera was good, but could he really take down a Kage that just happened to be the ichibi? His former partner, the late wielder of the Kubikiribōchō, used far too many times to dye the battlefields red with the blood of his enemies, had been just as prone to the insatiable lust for battle as Deidera. Yet, it hadn't served the swordsman well in the face of the Kage level jinchuriki Yagura.

All had been going well until Yagura had hit that second state, and with little time to react, Jūzō did his best to deflect the attack with the Kubikiribōchō but failed, leaving him mortally wounded before Itachi's very eyes. After Itachi managed to face the Mizukage, there was little hope for saving his comrade. Itachi can still remember how Jūzō lamented having to die in his country, reaching out desperately for his sword, which Itachi is certain he viewed as his only true ally - despite the fact Itachi himself was still around. Still, death of a comrade is hardly a new sight for him and he can almost ignore the burn prickling his sharingan. Out of respect, Itachi placed the remains of Kubikiribōchō in Jūzō's hand knowing, after his death, his sword would certainly fall back into the possession of Kirigakure.

Kakuzu would later berate him for the loss of such a valuable artifact but Itachi stoicly stood by his actions. Blades should rest with their fallen masters if they had no kin, the exception of which is an act of revenge in which the blade was used to avenge ones dishonorable death. Jūzō's death was neither dishonorable nor something Itachi would like to avenge. While he knew the art of the sword, he wouldn't call himself a true swordsman - not when he'd encountered people like Jūzō, Kisame and Ayaka - even he knew that some traditions should be kept, especially for a shinobi who'd slayed many with that blade. Respect had long been earned by anyone who dared to call themselves Akatsuki and Jūzō was no exception to this.

No tears were shed for Jūzō Biwa, an inhumane beast of Kiri that night but he was certainly remembered. Sometimes, Itachi recalls not the monster of a hardened shinobi, but a a laid-back guy who'd often tell jokes that was surprisingly patient with himself, showing him the ropes on how Akatsuki functions. Jūzō's was far more loyal than most had been, even obeying Pein's most obscure orders without question. Cautious and meticulous, Jūzō would be trusted to create formations in order to better synchronize with one's partner for the best possible combat results, some strategies of which Kakuzu still favours if not paired with Hidan. Itachi knows that particular caliber of shinobi is hard to get by, he's fortunate Kisame measures up to his predecessor, and yet he must still acknowledge Jūzō is still dead in the end.

As a fellow 'monster' he has his reasons for not judging harshly despite his apparent indifference to the other shinobi's death. Shinobi of thier kind had to make tough decisions and Itachi knew that better than most. It was no wonder most S-class ninja erred on the line of rogue at some point. Sure, a few like Jiraiya and Tsunade might get away with it, being in favour with their Kage's and Daimyo's, but Itachi and the rest of the Akatsuki simply couldn't count on it. His thoughts flicker to Sasuke, his foolish younger brother for a second, before he dismisses it knowing that Sasuke followed Orochimaru willingly into the path of a missing nin. His brother now had to accept the reputation that came from such a deed.

They were the scourge of the shinobi world and if they didn't win their battles they'd end up like Jūzō had been. Dead in thier prime and buried in an unmarked ditch, likely in a land they hated filled with people who would say their names with the overwhelming taste of acid lingering in their filthy mouths.

Would Deidera really be any different? The Kazekage of Suna was a practical man on paper, and Deidera's bounty was sizable given his relation to the Tsugikage. Deidera wouldn't have the option to flee if things went wayward. Not when Suna needed the money so desperately. Gaara would be captured, or Deidera would be killed. Those were the only two options. It would be unwise for Sasori to act out in Suna. Not because the shinobi was weak, but Pein now acknowledged that shinobi, like Jūzō had complex relationships with thier homes and that Sasori was no exception. In fact, only Kakuzu and Itachi truly ventured into thier countries of origin with active orders. Kakuzu was older than his village itself so his ties to Taki was feeble at best and Itachi had been thought to have thoroughly burnt his bridges with the massacre. Pein had no reason to worry about them.

Still, Itachi still felt Suna was more sinister a place than they were wagering it to be. The taste of danger probably had Deidera rearing to go and not for the first time Itachi is perturbed by the blonde's callous lack of self preservation - much like that former protege's of Hidan's had been. Deidera could easily die in battle with a smile on his face and nobody would doubt he was content with that.

Not even he.