(A/N: well, this one was interesting for me. I didn't really know at first how to go about the Akatsuki cuz about half of them are unknown -as far as I know-. So I just kinda winged it. Hope I did ok w/ this… O.o;; and if not, I hope u enjoy it neway. Please RnR.)

Sasuke walked through a forest he had never been in before. Although he seemed calm, his heart was pounding as he retraced Itachi's steps. This was the path to power, he knew it. Itachi had become strong in the Akatsuki; so why shouldn't Sasuke, Itachi's killer, be accepted into the group as well? He was strong enough to kill a member, so why should they let him in? But if they don't, Sasuke thought, his hand clenching, ring glinting in the light, I'll kill them all.

But Sasuke shook his head, trying to keep the thought out of his mind. He had become bloodthirsty; a monster that wanted nothing more than to kill. He couldn't become like this, it was too dangerous. Besides, he thought, they won't turn me down. That thought lingered in his mind as he reached the end of Itachi's trail.

A huge rock cliff was before Sasuke. He looked up at it and knew there was no way Itachi had come from up there. Suddenly, Sasuke sensed a presence behind him and spun around just in time to see a man that had a huge cocoon-looking plant over his head rising from the ground. When he was finally standing firmly on the ground, the plant split to reveal a face that was half black and half white. He wore the Akatsuki cloak and on his right pinky finger, the ring with the symbol Kai (or boar) glinted.

He took a moment to eye Sasuke. As shaken as he looked, the Akatsuki member knew he was strong. "What do you want, boy?" he asked, taking no time for polite behavior or introductions.

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I came to tell you my brother by birth, Uchiha Itachi, is dead. I killed him. I have his ring and his headband," Sasuke lifted up the headband, also showing off the ring he wore on his right ring finger. "If you want more proof, his body is in the abandoned building down that path."

The Akatsuki member seemed uninterested in Itachi's body. Instead, he looked at Itachi's ring that Sasuke now wore. "That does not answer my question," he finally replied, "What do you want?"

"I want to be a member of the Akatsuki so that I can become stronger and travel on my own path."

"You think being apart of the Akatsuki means you can travel your own path?"

"It means I will have the freedom to choose my own way. You are not bound by your organization, you thrive in it. People who live in villages and train as groups and learn to fight for their village are bound by that village and its ideals. You are not."

He eyed Sasuke again, "Such wise words for such a young boy. My name is Zetsu. You will call me Boar. I will take you to our leader and he will decide if you may join or not."

Sasuke nodded and followed Zetsu. He went to the wall, performed a jutsu that Sasuke couldn't follow, and the cliff opened. Zetsu walked into the cliff and Sasuke followed. Inside, Zetsu was confronted by Kisame, a man with a huge sword and a strange appearance. Sasuke remembered him when Itachi went to get Naruto. Of all the Akatsuki, Kisame would either be the happiest or the modest, depending on what side of Itachi he had seen and gotten to know.

"Why is he here?" Kisame demanded, not giving a second look at Sasuke.

"He's killed Itachi, and therefore is offered Itachi's rank and a place among the Akatsuki," Zetsu replied calmly.

"Hi killed Itachi?" Kisame asked, finally looking over at Sasuke. Kisame's voice held shock, but aside from that, Sasuke couldn't read his emotions.

Zetsu nodded, "He's requested a position with us, so I am bringing him to the leader."

Kisame nodded in reply and moved to the side so Zetsu and Sasuke could pass. Sasuke didn't look at him, but kept his eyes concentrated on what was ahead of him. Although Sasuke wasn't looking at him, he could feel Kisame behind him, following him. Sasuke forced himself not to react or turn around, but he didn't much like the idea of having Kisame at his back.

Further down, Sasuke saw two others of the Akatsuki sitting on two rocks. The light wasn't very good, and he couldn't see their features, but he could hear them speaking.

"Look what Zetsu's got," the one on the left said, pointing at Sasuke.

"Wonder what the kid did," The other replied thoughtfully.

A third jumped down and perched next to him, "For what I heard, he killed Scarlet."

"That runt killed Itachi?" The first asked in shock.

The third one just shrugged, "That's what I heard." He turned to look at Sasuke, and then tensed when he realized Sasuke had been listening. The conversation died quickly as all three watched him pass.

Sasuke could have sworn he had heard their conversation continue once Sasuke was out of earshot. He heard Kisame behind him let out a gruff laugh.

"They may gossip, but they're not stupid," Kisame said to Sasuke, "they know when somebody's eavesdropping; especially North. He knows about almost anything around him. And a word of advice," Kisame added before Sasuke could speak, "You're new here. If the leader lets you in, you address us by our rings first. Unless given permission, address up by our rings. You will be Scarlet. I'm South, Zetsu's Boar. This keeps others from tracking us by name and knowing who we are." Sasuke nodded, not saying a word.

As the three walked in silence, Sasuke began to wonder if Kisame was upset about Itachi's death. All of the Akatsuki were so good at hiding their true feelings. Sometimes Sasuke could tell when they were impressed or shocked, but the more important emotions that allowed him to predict and judge them seemed almost non-existent. Maybe, some day, Sasuke would learn this same important skill. But now, he felt like an open book for everybody to read.

"What's that you've brought, Boar?" Somebody asked, bringing Sasuke back from his thoughts. The one that had spoken was a boy that looked younger than Sasuke. His skin was fair and his blue eyes and blond hair seemed to complete the look of undeniable perfection and beauty.

A blond woman stood next to him. Her hair was combed over her left eye and she wore a crossed out headband of the rock village. She looked at Sasuke with a crooked grin and said, "Yeah, yeah, who is he?"

Zetsu opened his mouth to reply, but stopped and looked past the two. A tall man with an air of power and demanding attention stood behind them. Sasuke had no idea when he had come in or how he could have missed it. All he knew was this was the man he had come to see: the leader of the Akatsuki.