A/N: Hey thanks for the reviews! And for the help! It was much need and well used. And based on my research ( haha I sound like a nerd XD) I have come to to the conclusion that……there is no way I can get everything on the Akatsuki right. So…yea. But again thank you all for the reviews and support. I am happy to be continuing this story for you all.

Warnings: It's hard to find exactly which information is right about the Akatsuki, but I tried. So i think that at this point, only the leader of the Akatsuki is unknown, so I will make him up for my story i think. So sorry if I get things wrong or if you readers don't like the way I set this up!

Disclaimer: Chea, its kinda been a while so i almost forgot that i didn't own the Naruto characters. Fun stuff...I don't own any of the Naruto characters, that one person who I forgot the name of does. The only thing I own proudly is this story…. And the little box that I live in...so there it is.

Please Enjoy!

Behind the Smile

Chapter 13: The Akatsuki

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The figure who had slowly walked into the clearing came to a halt. The little chiming bell attatched to the very large hat resting on the figure's head let out one last chime as all movement ceased.

Without a word the figure reached an hand up, placing it on the tip of his hat. A finger belonging to that same had bore a ring, the kanji amidst it bearking the kanji "Shu"(Scarlet/Red/Bloody)

Sakura's emerald gaze started to waver as the hat slowly retreated from his face. They only proved to widen as his head slightly lifted to reveal deep Sharingan eyes.

"Uchiha.." Tenshi's serious voice rumbled from his throat as he slightly lowered his stance.

"Itachi.." Her soft voice was only full of surprise, worry.

Akatsuki Memeber Two: Uchiha Itachi

The large black cloak, adorned with red-outlined clouds, covering his body brought no sight to what must have been a nicely sculpted body. But his face was prominent, no longer hidden by the shadows of the hat he once wore. The similarities in physical appearance between he and Sasuke was uncanny.

"Sakura-san, it has been quite some time."

She did not reply to him, her gaze wavering as she slightly lowered her stance as well.

"I have no intention of harming you." His statement seemed directed towards her as he caught her gaze, unblinking. No emotion laced his calm voice, though there was sincerity in it. Sincerity she couldn't ignore, that she beleived. But it did not remove the tension form her body, the suspicion. The feeling of hate. This was the man that had caused the pain and suffering for Sasuke. He..was the one who had started it all.

Her suprised emerald eyes transitioned to Tenshi as he bolted from his position, immediately upon Itachi. It was only then that Itachi's Sharingan eyes glanced away from Sakura, and to the his attacker. With seemingly no effort at all, the Akatsuki member backhanded the ANBU member. He was sent flying into a nearby tree, its stump hard and thick enough to stop his travel.

"Tenshi!"

The ANBU member coughed up blood as he rolled over onto his stomach, his feiry eyes focused on Itachi. He braced himself on his elbows and knees, but a wave of pain kept him down. He could only watch as Itachi swiftly took out a kunai, having already sent it in his direction.

The sound of metal clanking against metal echoed throughout the clearing.

No expression crossed Itachi's unemotional facade, his Sharingan eyes were focused slightly higher than Tenshi who was amidst the ground. Sakura stood in front of him, her kunai still held level with her face, where the kunai had been parryed. She was breathing heavily for some reason, perspiration lining her forehead.

The Akatsuki member's eyes lingered on her for a moment before transitioning slightly downwards, noticing the blood that was seeping through her clothing.

Her determined gaze was focused on him as she continued to hold her stance. But her exhaustion was clearly evident as she dropped down to her knees. But her stubborness and will was strong as she still held the kunai out, emerald eyes clocking him warily.Only when the figures appeared behind Itachi did she divert her eyes, slightly widening them .

Their clone-like cloaks nearly made them all blend together as they stood behind Itachi, who in turn, transitioned his gaze to them.

"Itachi." The deep voice rumbled. "Why are they still alive?"

..ooo000ooo000ooo..

Figures were dashing across the forest ground, at a pace where they could barely be traced. They were just like lines that were gone as soon as they appeared.

Hir stern cerulean gaze was focused ahead of him as the blur of the trees continued along at his sides. He was ahead of the group, even slightly ahead of Lee, the one known for his unmatched speed.

He came to an abrupt halt as he made his way into the clearing, his eyes immediately catching sight of its inhabitants. The first he spotted was Sakura. He breifly looked into her suprised gaze before letting them travel to the group on the other side.

"Sakura!" Naruto didn't take his eyes off the Akatsuki members as Ino ran past him, her destination the pink-haired kunochi. Only when he perceived Itachi dissapearing did he move, darting out towards Ino with immense speed. The other Leaf shinobi who had just arrived moved to help, but were halted in their tracks as the rest of the cloaked figures appeared in front of them.

The loud ring of the metal of two kunai's clashing together sounded the clearing; Ino had fallen down to the ground in shock, and from the force of the impact. Her wide baby blue eyes were looking up to Naruto as he stood in front of her, kunai clashed with Itachi's.

"Ino, go." Naruto's calm voice invaded her ears, and with the fright still flickering in her eyes, she scrambled towards Sakura, and the two grasped eachother in worry.

Itachi and Naruto were in a slight struggle to overpower one another, or it seemed Naruto was the one trying to keep it stationary in nuetral position.

"Is this all power the jinchurikii of the Kyuubi can manage?" Itachi voiced his inquiry impassively as he slowly reached into his cloak, seemingly for the purpose of Naruto seeing his movement. He pulled out another kunai, and without a moment's wait moved in arm downwards in a sweeping motion. And when it seemed the kunai were to peirce Naruto's skin, yet another sound of metal against metal sounded the clearing.

Itachi's gaze calmly transitioned to Sakura, where they lingered for a moment. She was at the full extension that being on her knees allowed her, and her arm still outstretched from the motion of throwing the kunai. She was still breathing heavily, as if that alone was hard for her to do.

Slight releif flickered in the depths of her eyes as she realized she was in time, but her face was scrunched up in pain, and she lowed a hand to the ground for support as another great wave of pain rolled over her.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto's worried hollar reached her ears as she brought up her gaze to glance at her friend. She followed his wide-eyes gaze to a spot near her, and both her and Ino caught sight of what looked to be large for its size spider next to them. It wasn't natural, almost looked clay-like.

She reached for the unconcious ANBU member behind her, trying to draw strenght to move, but stopped when a figure appeared in front of her, green-spandex tightly adorning his body.

Rock Lee.

He bolted from in front of her towards the bomb, kicking it like someone would a soccer ball. A few seconds from impact the creature exploded, erupting in a cloud of smoke. The small explosion engulfed the whole clearing momentarily, sending everything into confusion. It seemed to have marked the begginning of battle.

Akatsuki :Nine members remaining

Naruto looked around frantically, searching for Itachi, who had long since dissapeared. Neji appeared next to him. He had lost Tenten and was looking for her. The smoke that was still lingering in the air made it hard to do so.

Out of nowhere a huge sword swung at them. The weilder of it could not be seen, due to the smoke and long reach of the bandaged sword. It came down, creating a slight tremor as it cracked the ground where Naruto and Neji once were. The two stayed in a crouched posistion, waiting for the next strike. There was none, instead the sillouhette of a figure walked towards them throught the smokey air.

He didn't look all that much human. His face almost resembled that of a shark, that lightish blue color, with those scales at the side of his neck. He was rather tall, and buff..just plain huge. Neji recognized him immediately, from an encouter he had had before.

Akatsuki Member Three: Kisame.

Lee turned away from Sakura, and observed a member from the ruthless group step forward. It was the one whom had thrown that bomb. Lee flashed back to when he had touched the contraption. It was all made out of pure chakra. That was probably why it needed to blow tag to create an explosion. The member made its way towards them. With one grabbing motion of the hand, the Akatsuki member threw off his hat.

His mouth was curved up in a snicker as his amused teal eyes focused on him.

Akatsuki Member Five: Deidara.

"I think that you'll agree with me when I say that fine art really is the beauty of that single, fleeting moment of explosion, Yeah?"

It was then that Lee let his eyes travel the Akatsuki member's hands, the were held stationary, but they seemed to be moving, from inside? Almost pulsating in a way. He watched as Deidara placed his hands inside a somewhat large bag secured around him.

When he removed his hand, splaying it out before him, what looked to be a small bird rested atop, slightly fluttering its wings.

..ooo000ooo000ooo..

Ino and Sakura were slowly moving towards the trees, right behind underbrush. Ino, had Sakura's arm around her shoulders, and she gently had her hands on Sakura's side, trying not to cause too much pain.

"So you said you can heal yourself right?" Ino asked. She didn't like how deep the wound was.

"Not right now." Sakura sounded worried. "We have to hurry and help them Ino."

" I know I know! Big-forehead. Just do yourself a favor and get that wound fixed up first!"

Sakura's eyes wandered off, back to the battles that were taking place not too far from them. She looked to see Lee, there was a molded bird coming at him. But Sakura looked not too far behind him, and could see something crawling towards him.

"Lee-san!"

..ooo000ooo000ooo..

" Lee-san!" Rock Lee glanced over to Sakura who was screaming his name out in warning. She told the taijitsu specialist to look behind him. He quickly turned around just in time to see what looked like a clay molded spider that had already pounced, ready to attach itself to him. But due to Lee's amazing speed, he moved his body to the side, and used his hand to sort of slap the spider into the direction of the bird, which wasn't even two feet away from him.

The explosion nicked him a bit, causing a few minor burns on his hand. He had no time to rest as he looked to see that same bird molding flying towards him.

"Deidara, stop." A voice commanded.

As if one que, the small clay-molded bird had turned its direction.

In a few areas of the clearing, there was still a great amount of smoke lingering, preventing sight further than five feet away. Shikamaru had a tight grasp on Chouji's collar, making sure that they both stayed close. Chouji looked disgruntled, and Shikamaru looked plain frustrated. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

..ooo000ooo000ooo..

Ino's worried gaze lingered on Shikamaru and Chouji who standing close together, eyeing the two Akatsuki members who stood before them.

"Go, Ino." Her suprised gaze looked to Sakura at her soft command, a grim smile adorning her face. Though Ino looked torn, her gaze traveling back to them once more before back to Sakura. "I'll be fine." Sakura reinforced her smile, making it more reassuring.

"Your gonna heal yourself right? If you need chakra I can-."

"I'm fine, Ino." Sakura enunciated the word more forcefully. She gave her a little push on the back, that persuaded Ino to push herself up. Ino looked back at her, ready to say something, but Sakura wouldn't have it.

"GO." She shooed her away. Ino had a relieved look on her face as she sprinted over to Shikamaru. She stopped and looked at Sakura once more, only to be met with a smile. Ino smiled back and went on her way.

Sakura's smile slowy lowered into a sort of grimace, showing the insurmountable pain she was in.. She slowly lowered herself down to the ground, wincing in pain. The whole aread of her shirt near her abdomen was completley soaked in blood now.

She closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths. Her body was still as death, you could barely see the rise and fall of her chest. After a few moments, the wound on Sakura's abdomen began to glow a bright pink. Sakura didn't move an inch, she was concentrating. After a few seconds she took a deep breath, gasping for air. She lifted up her shirt, noticing that the wound looked much better than before, but only closed, able to reopen at ant time. A frown was evident on her face, dissapointment at not being able to heal it as she would have liked.The only problem was the chakra supply.

Taking a deep breath, and bracing herself, Sakura pushed herself off the ground with an exhausted grunt. She staggered and leaned onto a nearby tree and looked out into the clearing, everyone was just standing around now, watching Itachi.

..ooo000ooo000ooo..

Itachi was looking into the eyes of the leader, and it seemed as if the two were talking telepathically. With a slight nod on both sides, the rest of the Akatsuki Members starting jumping out of sight, one by one.

Deidara grumbled in protest, looking at Lee one more time before jumping out of site.

The only remaining were Uchiha Itachi and Hoshikage Kisame.


Thanks for reading!

Yea, if there was anything you didn't like, nows the time to say something, aka review! And yes i know, i kinds dissmissed most of the Akatsuki right now, but you'll see them in action later. SO yea, really sorry! But this is geting hard!

Again, i'd be glad to rewrite or edit this chapter if you guys want.

P.S:...I'm so lazy!