Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter Seven

Sunrise109

Start of flashback

An unconscious Hinata remained limp in Itachi's arms as he and Kisame travelled silently through the evening rooftops of the Hidden Rain village, the twilight sky speedily declining in brightness. Although it had been a few years since Itachi had last visited Kikyo, in need of her gratuitous assistance, the route to her humble abode was still clearly etched into his memory.

"You continue on with the mission. I will deal with her."

"Hm…" Kisame responded, as if he wanted to say something, but after a few moments he ceased his deliberations. "Fine, I guess. I better go meet our client and let him know that everything is in order, huh."

Just at that moment, Itachi sensed the beginnings of Hinata starting to stir in his arms. He glanced down and two obsidian eyes met hazy, unnatural brown eyes. Itachi imperceptibly shook his head at her, signalling for her to return to her state of unconsciousness. He would talk with her later when they were completely alone, away from the prying ears of the Akatsuki. There were a few questions he wanted to ask her privately, namely about the forbidden jutsu she'd tried to use against him earlier. Hinata subconsciously obeyed, without much difficulty, her eyes slipping shut once again and unconsciousness easily taking hold.

The Hyuuga had fainted after a prolonged disruption of her chakra flows in order to evade being trapped by his genjutsu.

Kisame, completely oblivious to the silent exchange that had just occurred between Itachi and Hinata, turned to his partner and commented, "I know your threat earlier meant that you don't want me to ask too many questions about… this kunoichi. But what do you intend on doing with her?"

Itachi didn't skip a beat as he responded coolly, "Once I have ascertained her motives for coming after me, I will either let her go, or seek permission from the Leader to allow her to be permitted into the Akatsuki as a provisional member."

Kisame's beady eyes widened momentarily. "You're joking, right."

Itachi sighed. "If only I was."

A snide laugh came out of Kisame's shark-toothed mouth.

"She must be strong." He stated.

Itachi didn't respond. Only time would tell that.

A moment later, his partner disappeared.

The Uchiha prodigy's gaze calmly flittered down to rest on Hinata's peaceful features. He tried not to think about what Danzo must have put her through, or the amount of brainwashing she had endured. In her desperation to defeat him, she had resorted to putting her body in danger in order to become immune to his bloodline limit for only a short while.

I will free her from the elder's grip. Itachi decided spontaneously.

He wasn't usually one to make decisions on the spot, without thinking things through first, but he just felt that this was something he needed to do. Words could not articulate the fierce protectiveness that was suddenly burning through his heart.

Itachi forced his gaze away from Hinata's face, quickly masking his emotions and schooling his features into a stoic façade.

Unknowingly, Danzo would be getting exactly what he was trying so hard to prevent.

Itachi had no interest in the elder, other than that he kept his promise about doing no harm to Sasuke. However, after this stunt of sending the Hyuuga heiress after him, likely in order to disable him and bring him back to the slippery elder, Itachi realised Danzo's malice and hunger for power had reached a point of no return. He was unable to live at peace in a world wherein two Uchiha still existed, much more powerful than himself.

Itachi's gaze darkened.

Two can play at this game, Danzo.

Danzo also had something that belonged to the Uchiha, and Itachi wouldn't mind retrieving what was his by birth right.

End of flashback

~.~

It was early morning. Itachi was now back at the Akatsuki base. Yesterday afternoon, he and Kisame had spoken to Hinata and left her in Kikyo's care for another night, allowing her to sleep on the proposition of joining the Akatsuki organisation before giving him her answer. He was allowing her time to make a completely free choice.

It was difficult to envision exactly how things would turn out if she did accept his offer.

If Itachi's assessment of Pain's character was accurate, he would have no objections to Itachi's recommendation of Hinata, if not as a fully-fledged member of the Akatsuki, at least as a provisional member. An insurance option.

Pensive onyx eyes watched the seacoast in the distance, as the tide withdraw, slowly pulling along with it sparkling grains of sand and decorative sea shells.

At least by joining the Akatsuki, she will be under my protection. Itachi thought. And Danzo's control will cease.

The fresh sea air filled Itachi's lungs. He was currently sat on a raised wooden platform close to the shore of the sea boarding the Rain village. A dozen miles or so across the shore was the Hidden Grass village.

This beachfront was located in an obscure area, just a few yards behind the Akatsuki base. Only members of the Akatsuki were permitted to access it, due to it, along with the base, being masked by genjutsu in order to ward off outsiders.

Itachi spent a lot of time there on the beachfront in secret when he needed time to think things through. He often returned to the base with his mind completely cleared afterwards. Perhaps it was the way the sea took away all the pieces of debris that had been littered on the shore when the tide came in, before it subsequently withdrew and the clutter retreated with it into its depths, never to be seen again.

Somehow, everything would be taken care of.

Are you safe, Sasuke?

Itachi silently wondered. Thoughts of when him and his younger brother would play outside the infamous lake at their Clan's compound filled his mind, bringing a minuscule smile to his lips. It had been three years since Itachi last saw Sasuke in Konoha, under the pretext of capturing the Nine Tails jinchuriki.

His foolish little brother was surely much stronger now. Yet still no equal to the elder Uchiha.

"Isn't it time to go, Itachi?"

Kisame's sleepy voice filtered over the soft dim of the waves, interpreting the Uchiha's thoughts. Of course, Itachi was aware when the Swordsman of the Mist had approached, but hadn't moved an inch from where he sat or shown any signs to indicate he was privy of the shinobi's presence. Kisame was aware of Itachi's heightened sensory skills, and that's why he would never dare attempt to sneak up on the Uchiha prodigy in order to catch him off guard, like Orochimaru once had, resulting in him immediately losing his left arm.

The Kirigakure ninja yawned, continuing. "Usually I'm the one who's always late. You got a lot on your mind, huh?"

Itachi finally looked up, raising himself to his feet, a slight smirk gracing his elegant features. "Every now and then, even so-called geniuses need time to think, Hoshigaki."

"Humour at its finest." Kisame chuckled, returning the smirk. "Time to go meet the Hyuuga princess. Do you think she will accept your invitation?"

Itachi's expression remained unchanged, his arms crossed and features relaxed. Although deep down, the suspense irked him for unknown reasons. "I hope so. We will find out soon, Kisame."

With that, they were both gone.

~.~

It was ironic that Hinata was in this position.

Uchiha Itachi, the one who had massacred his own Clan, was giving her the benefit of the doubt. Finally, she was being offered an escape route from Danzo's scheming.

Was an end to the nightmare that had begun with her discovery of Koryoku finally in sight?

It was early morning. Itachi and Kisame would be arriving at any moment.

Hinata had already bathed and dressed. Kikyo had generously supplied her with her granddaughter's old clothes, who was conveniently a similar age to Hinata. Now, she was dressed more like a civilian, but Kikyo had knowingly made sure to choose a pair of dark-blue jogging bottoms which gave her ease of movement, a simple red and black shirt with subtle flower patterns on it, coupled with her original purple cloak.

Hinata now sat before the elderly woman, whose white hair was raised in a high bun and had surprisingly elegant features and high cheekbones for a woman of her age. Her azure eyes, very alert, pierced Hinata, seeming to read her every expression, no matter how intelligible or passing.

"Thank you for everything, grandmother Kikyo." Hinata said politely, taking the last sip of her tasty peppermint tea. "Is there anything at all I can do to repay you for your generous hospitality?" Hinata asked, hoping there would be something the elderly woman needed help with.

"Of course there is, Hinata. I always have some work to be done here." The elderly woman stated, a smile rising to her lips. "This is the first time Itachi has brought a woman here, and I know that there are certain tasks you can only appropriately ask a girl to do."

A few moments later, Kikyo returned to the table with a basket of various fruit, vegetable and flower seeds. "If you can make my garden look more beautiful and also plant some delicious food, it would bring back memories of when my grandchildren used to live here."

Hinata obliged silently and nodded with a kind smile.

She desperately needed something to focus on that would enable her to both concentrate on the important decision that needed to be made, and at the same time distract her from it. Last night, it had been difficult to sleep, and the answer had evaded her.

Should Hinata, heiress to the Hyuuga Clan, join the Akatsuki organisation?

~.~

Kikyo's beautiful garden which was in front of her simple cottage was evidently well looked after. Hinata had been unconscious when Itachi brought her there in the wake of night, two days ago, and she wouldn't have had the chance to properly survey the garden's scenery had she been awake anyway, due to the lack of sunlight.

Now, Hinata admired the glistering koi pond in the centre of the front garden, which had a simple wooden bridge spanning its diameter that had to be crossed in order to access the front door of the cottage.

An hour of work seemed to pass in silence, undisturbed, as Hinata planted various violet-coloured rose seeds, in the front patch of the garden.

The Hyuuga heiress somehow felt that it wasn't too much of a gamble to hope that she would be safe under Itachi's watchful gaze, if she joined the Akatsuki. It would be troublesome, the prosect of defecting from her village and loved ones.

I hope one day, they will forgive me.

But as Hinata gripped the handle of the shovel, she didn't realise her grip was tightening on it to the point of bruising her hand.

I've been a monster, she thought, remembering the images of countless shinobi she'd permanently discarded the charkas of. These shinobi may never forgive me, nor my family or teammates if they find out what I have done. Even now, if I return to Danzo without Itachi, like he has asked, he could exile me from the Root foundation and leave me to fend for myself… and where would that leave me? Even Naruto would be ashamed of me if he found out what I have become. My father has no desire to give me my Clan's refuge, as he had already predicted I would become like this—a danger to those around me. I must leave all that behind, my past, my family, my friends, my village and Danzo… Granted, joining the Akatsuki was not the best solution, but right now, it seemed to be the best temporary option for her.

At that moment, Hinata perceived a shift in the trajectory of the rays of sunlight piercing the surface of the pond to her immediate right.

She dropped her shovel and straightened, turning around to face two familiar shinobi.

"Hyuuga." Itachi greeted stoically, as though unsurprised she had detected his presence. Her sensory training had certainly paid off under Danzo's wing.

"Uchiha-san." Hinata greeted politely, resisting the urge to allow a small smile to creep its way onto her features as she regarded the man who had, so far, shown her unusual mercy, despite her never being truly acquainted with him in the past.

A moment later, the familiar form of Kisame Hoshigaki appeared by Itachi's side, his sharp toothed smile greeting her.

Hinata was glad neither of them made any comments about the fact that she was dressed like a civilian and had evidence of gardening the elderly woman's front garden. It was perhaps not the best lasting impression she wanted to give them, as she responded to their proposition of joining their notorious and widely feared organisation.

The Uchiha prodigy's beautiful raven-black eyes ever so imperceptibly seemed to disclose a hint of impatience as a heartbeat of silence passed, before he spoke up, the two troughs on either sides of his cheeks making him look tired, but Hinata knew better than to think that. Itachi Uchiha was truly someone who was always on the alert.

"I would like to ask you something first, Hyuuga… I have a few theories of my own, but I want to hear this from your own mouth. What was the reason for Danzo sending you after me?"

Itachi knew Kisame was stood right there next to him and would be listening, but he supposed there was no point in shielding the circumstances surrounding Hinata's involvement with him anymore from his partner's knowledge. Perhaps Itachi could leverage Kisame in a positive way towards Hinata in the future.

"In order to protect the Leaf village." Hinata stated quietly. "He said that you are unhinged, and in your madness, you would plan on returning to the Leaf village to cause chaos, similar to that you left behind in the wake of the Uchiha massacre." She finished, making sure to carefully omit Danzo's name or any sensitive details about the Root organisation, lest she become paralysed. Her Curse Seal was still a big problem.

Itachi remained silent. Her answer confirmed what he had known all along. What Hinata had left out, however, was the part about using her forbidden jutsu to take away all his chakra first, leaving him defenceless, before bringing him to Danzo. It was clear neither Hinata nor Itachi knew what real purpose lay behind Danzo wanting Itachi brought back to him completely powerless…

Good. She didn't mention Koryoku in front of Kisame. Itachi thought.

"I trust you've had enough time to reach a decision." He simply stated.

Hinata's hands slightly clenched into fists, foreshadowing her determination. Her opalescent gaze remained soft yet firm.

"Yes, Itachi. I have. You said the Akatsuki could make use of a medical ninja. Then let me be of some use to you. I have used these hands in the past to cause much damage and suffering. Let me instead use them to heal and repair. I wish to somehow make amends for the type of path I had led, allowing myself to become weaponised at my master's every whim. I was told each time that I was doing a good service to the Ninja World, but now I know I should have dealt with my situation in a different way, but I was too weak and sought the help of the powerful in a moment of desperate vulnerability."

Hinata continued. "Many former shinobi are without their chakra because of me. I want to find a way to reverse the damage I've done to them. Perhaps there is a way. Will the Akatsuki allow me to forge my own path whilst I lend you my assistance?"

Itachi's eyes widened only imperceptibly. He remained silent. Of course, he understood how it felt to be backed against a wall from seemingly all sides, with no apparent solution in sight.

"Woof!" Kisame breathed. "What an interesting proclamation. Well, Itachi?"

Itachi sighed. "You are free to do as you wish, subject to Pain's approval, if you are admitted into our organisation." He stated, onyx eyes weighing the Hyuuga steadily.

Hinata smiled in gratitude before continuing, "Also, I do not agree with some of your organisation's methods or principals. There are some things that I cannot and will not do. We must compromise on the circumstances I will provide your organisation with my assistance."

Kisame scoffed, piping up, "Princess, I don't think you'll be able to cherry pick what you will and won't do around here—"

Itachi's sharp look directed at his partner made him quickly go silent. It went without saying, Itachi was the stronger of the two, and even if there was something Kisame didn't agree with, it defaulted to Itachi's choice. Though it may be, that Itachi was quite younger than Kisame, he was a senior member of the Akatsuki and outmatched him by being there for a few years longer than the Hoshigaki.

"We can negotiate on that, Hyuuga Hinata. I cannot force you to do anything that goes against your wishes. But should you fail in your duty to protect and heal our members, I will not hesitate to make this unacceptability known to you." Itachi stated monotonously, his eyes narrowed seriously, almost making Hinata shudder at what those consequences would be.

He turned away from her as if silently asking her to follow him, and Kisame also.

"Follow me," Was all he said.

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A/N: Yes, another chapter! What are your thoughts? How did you think this meeting went? What are your thoughts on Hinata joining the Akatsuki—are you surprised? :DDDD

Technical Notes: As you may have noticed (only if you read this story prior to yesterday evening) this story is now called, "Koryoku", as it was originally called. Check out my Bio for an explanation if you're interested :)

Chapter One has been changed back to being the Prologue. This is now Chapter Seven, and the other chapter numbers have been adjusted accordingly. All else has remained the same.

Thank you for all your lovely reviews, follows, favourites, thoughts and support! :)

Love you all!

See you next time! :D

Sunrise109