Sasuke wakes up barely conscious as something soft yet sturdy cradles his body.

"—certain?"

The Chibi twitches at the muffled word, but his eyelids are too heavy to open and the call to sleep is strong.

"—danger to himself."

A deep voice rumbles above him, oddly familiar, and therefore, comforting.

"...adverse effect on his emotional and mental...needs room..."

Sasuke quickly fades back into the darkness.

.

The Chibi awakens again much more coherent, lying on a cushion with a soft cloth blanketing him. Sasuke assumes he's on the beanbag in his cage until he notices how spacious the bedding is, his feet and hands unable to reach its ends.

Confused, Sasuke covertly brushes his fingers over the cushion. The material feels plush and bouncy...like a pillow?

Sasuke's eyes snap open and he jerks upright, muscles protesting the sudden movement, but the teen barely notices because an Oki pillow can't fit in his cage so how—

The Chibi inhales sharply because there are no glass walls above or around him. Instead, Sasuke sits upon a pillow on the floor of Oki-Itachi's bedroom with nothing save for empty air surrounding him.

Sasuke scrambles to his feet, uncaring that the plastic splint is back on his leg while his eyes sweep across the area because he is free, completely free. He can leave now and finally find Itach—

"Before you try anything."

Sasuke's head whips up to see Oki-Itachi sitting on his bed, staring him down from the other side of the room. The human looks even bigger than usual, probably because Sasuke is below him on the floor, and the Chibi struggles not to let his instinctive fear of such a large creature overcome him.

"Know that a barrier seal is in place." The Oki points at a black seal inked on the ground in front of Sasuke. "It's keeping you from entering my half of the room as well as suppressing your chakra."

Sasuke glares at the Oki, purposely not looking where he indicated, and the human stands. "Attempting to cross the barrier will be no different from attempting to walk through a wall." He steps forward and Sasuke backs up on the blue pillow, but Oki-Itachi merely goes to the middle of the room and crouches until he's near Sasuke's eye level.

"I'm the only one who can freely cross the barrier," the human's gaze bores into the Chibi's, "So you don't have to worry about Deidara or anyone else bothering you when I'm not around."

Sasuke narrows his eyes, though of course gives no indication he comprehends.

Oki-Itachi's expression suddenly cools. "There's no point in pretending you don't understand me."

Sasuke very carefully does not change his expression despite how his heart starts thumping because Oki aren't supposed to know Chibi can understand them, and Sasuke has given no indication he can speak so the Oki must be bluffing...right?

Oki-Itachi stares at him, gaze unnervingly intense, but soon the moment passes and he says, "You are free to roam everywhere behind the barrier, and make use of any objects on your side of the room."

"However." The Oki rises to his full height and Sasuke suddenly feel very small. "If you ever hurt yourself again," Oki-Itachi's voice thickens and his black eyes burn, "I will have no choice but to confine you inside a cage, deprive you of even the most basic furniture, and monitor you constantly."

The Chibi winces, yet glares to show he isn't cowed, even though the mere thought of being stuffed back into a cage makes him feel claustrophobic.

The Oki's face softens and he sighs. "Don't worry me like that again, Little Sasuke." His eyes close briefly. "I know you don't want to be here, and you're just acting out because you're homesick, but you need to be patient."

Sasuke inwardly scoffs at the human's attempt to convince him he actually cares while Oki-Itachi spares him a final lingering look before leaving the room.

The Chibi watches the door, refusing to move until five minutes pass and he decides the Oki isn't coming back.

Sasuke thus turns towards his new surroundings, eyeing all the new furniture and curbing his curiosity over them as he goes to inspect the seal first. He stops an inch behind it and raises his hand, slowly pushing his palm forward.

Nothing happens. However, the further his hand goes, the thicker the air feels around it until something hard and solid presses against his fingers. Sasuke tries to push through the barrier, but the seal doesn't give in the slightest, and he drops his arm, realizing it's futile.

Now having established he's still trapped, the teenager moves on to investigate the rest of his new surroundings.

He walks past the heat lamp on the floor, its light aimed at Sasuke's pillow, and goes to the right where plastic furniture—likely from a dollhouse—has been set up.

The picnic bench holds Sasuke's weight when he sits on it. However, the plastic cup, plate, knife, spoon, and chopsticks are too flimsy to turn into potential weapons. Though at least Sasuke finally has actual dining utensils instead of having to eat with his hands all the time.

A sudden thirst tingles Sasuke's throat and he coughs, wondering how long he was asleep for his throat to be this dry as he goes to the water and food bowl behind the picnic bench. He dips the cup in the liquid to bring water to his lips while examining himself in the water's reflection.

Yet the Uchiha almost chokes when he sees how wild his hair looks. Sasuke sets the cup on the bench, moving to run his hands through his hair—his only means of combing it these days—but stops when something glitters in his peripheral vision. He turns to see a plastic dresser with a cheap aluminum mirror on top of it by the wall beside the heat lamp.

Approaching what must be another dollhouse accessory, considering the dresser's drawers don't actually open, Sasuke finds Itachi's cloak folded on top of the furniture as well as a plastic brush and comb that work well enough once Sasuke runs them through his ebony locks.

Satisfied with his appearance in the mirror, the Chibi turns to a giant table in the room's left corner. He's pretty sure it's the same table his glass cage used to be on and is surprised Oki-Itachi didn't remove it from his half of the room. Then again, the table is much too big for Sasuke to weild as a weapon.

Sasuke is perplexed to find a Chibi-sized rope ladder hanging off the table's side. He tests the rope, tugging it, and when the ladder doesn't budge, Sasuke climbs it until he can pull himself onto the tabletop.

The cage and jar being gone are the first thing he notices before spotting the four miniature wooden target boards glued to the wall the table rests against. Sasuke blinks at the four red rubber balls, about the size of his head, clustered in front of the targets, and what looks like a white training dummy lying on the floor beside them. Is...is this supposed to be a training field?

The Chibi is shocked, but supposes if the Oki Akatsuki want to use him during missions, it would be wise to give Sasuke a means to keep up with his shinobi training.

Sasuke walks over to the edge of the table and looks down at his new, grander prison. This isn't the treatment Sasuke was expecting after throwing his tantrum, but he will make the most of it as long as it lasts.

Itachi returns to his room an hour later, a plate in his hand as he approaches the barrier seal. He pauses, seeing the min-nin's pillow is now under the square table.

The little ninja must have moved it to get some privacy as he sleeps, and Itachi sees no harm in that, so reaches down to turn the heat lamp towards the pillow.

A small object soars at Itachi's head and he instinctively jerks back, watching as a rubber ball flies through where he was, falls to the floor and bounces until it rolls to a stop by his feet.

Itachi looks up to see the min-nin glaring and standing on the tabletop with another rubber ball in his hands. The Uchiha's lips angle upwards, glad the little shinobi is making use of the training facilities he set up even if it's just to attack him.

The little Sasuke grinds his teeth, perhaps mistaking his smile for a patronizing grin as Itachi steps over the barrier. "I brought you dinner." He goes to the food bowl and sets one of the pork dumplings on his plate inside it.

The min-nin's hands clench around the ball, but he doesn't throw it while Itachi steps back and goes to sit on his bed. He picks up the chopsticks from his plate, and hoping to put the tiny shinobi at ease, starts to eat the other dumplings.

It's only once he hears tiny feet pad towards the food bowl and the barest sound of the min-nin eating, that he speaks.

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

Itachi peeks up and sees the min-nin stiffen in his seat at the plastic table. It's further proof that the small shinobi must understand at least some human speech. Though whether the min-nin can talk is doubtful.

Regardless, Itachi doesn't bring up his suspicions again, recalling the fear on the little Sasuke's face when he mentioned it earlier. "I'll be gone on a mission for five days."

Itachi watches the min-nin stare through the dumpling piece on his plate, eyes unfocused and frowning. Thinking he's worried about who will feed him while Itachi is gone, the older Uchiha explains. "Konan will take care of you until I return. She should arrive sometime tomorrow."

He waits to see the min-nin's reaction, but the tiny shinobi has already resumed eating and doesn't look up again. Itachi is mildly concerned by Little Sasuke's odd behavior, a concern which only intensifies the next morning as he's about to depart.

The min-nin looks dazed while he nibbles on the pancake Itachi gave him, and though Itachi really should get going, he lowers his hand from the doorknob and stares over his shoulder.

"Konan isn't like Deidara."

The min-nin's jaw stops moving, but he doesn't lift his gaze from his food on the plastic table.

"She won't bully you or be needlessly cruel... You're safe with her."

Itachi isn't sure, not with his ever worsening eyesight, but he thinks the tiny shinobi's shoulders lower a bit at the assurance.

Itachi turns the knob. "Goodbye, Little Sasuke." He leaves without looking back, marveling at the drop of sadness he feels at leaving the min-nin behind.

Therefore, as Itachi meets Kisame at the base entrance, the Uchiha vows to make fast work of his assignment and return to the min-nin quickly.

"You going to miss your little pet, Itachi-san?" Kisame asks teasingly, unaware just how close to the truth he is.

They move past the waterfall and the Uchiha's expression is flat as he replies. "No."

"Really?" Kisame smirks, sharp teeth gleaming in the early morning light. "Guess it's no fun when you can't beat the min-nin around like your real brother, huh?"

Itachi stuffs down the memory of what he did to Sasuke in that hallway three years ago, dryly saying, "There is no pleasure in beating the weak."

Sasuke's screams after he placed his little brother in his Tsukuyomi chase after Itachi as he walks deeper into the forest, and the Uchiha only hopes the day of their fated battle comes soon.

The second Oki-Itachi leaves, a tidal wave of anxiety slams into Sasuke's chest. The emotion hits him so hard the Chibi breaks out in a sweat and his breathing grows labored. What is this? Where did all this fear come from?

Sasuke's hands curl up and he forces himself to take deep, measured breaths, counting down from twenty in his head before he stops.

Respiration normal again, Sasuke stands up from the picnic table on trembling legs. "What is wrong with me?" He whispers.

Oki-Itachi leaving shouldn't have this effect on him. Of all things, shouldn't Sasuke be celebrating his time away from the kin murderer?

The Chibi is pulled from his thoughts when the bedroom door opens, and he quickly sprints to his pillow, burrowing under the cushion right as sandaled feet enter the room.

Sasuke isn't sure why he's hiding since the Oki coming in must be Konan, but the thought of being around another human without Oki-Itachi nearby is oddly terrifying. Then again, his brother's counterpart is one of the few Akatsuki members who hasn't gone out of their way to harm him, so maybe that's why he feels so paranoid now that Oki-Itachi is gone.

The human footsteps draw closer, walking over the seal to stand by the table, and Sasuke realizes Oki-Itachi must have gave Konan the code to unlock the barrier.

Slowing his breathing so the movement won't be noticed under the pillow, Sasuke peers through the shred of light and sees black, heeled shoes. He thinks Konan is looking for him above the table until a piece of paper suddenly drifts down and lands on the floor in front of him.

Sasuke gapes as the piece of paper starts sliding across the ground—is this a jutsu?

However, the paper proves to be a distraction when suddenly the weight of the pillow disappears and a delicate hand snaps closed around his body.

"To think min-nin exist."

The toneless, feminine voice surprises Sasuke into stilling as he's brought up to a human face.

Blue hair pinned into a bun frame amber eyes, which stare coolly at him.

Sasuke blinks, absorbing the human's appearance, while Konan says, "And such a young one too..."

The Chibi can't tell if there's a note of sympathy in her voice before the woman pulls out a glass jar and swiftly drops him inside it.

She waits for him to stand and brace himself against the glass before exiting the room, and some of Sasuke's anxiety fades seeing she is being careful with him.

Konan breezes past the living room and promptly enters the forest outside. Sasuke realizes they're heading to the same clearing Oki-Itachi took him for training and knows what's happening before the woman unscrews the jar lid and tilts it so he slides out onto the forest floor.

Sasuke glances around, fearing it's another genjutsu, but nothing seems out of the ordinary, and even without access to his chakra, Sasuke would notice a non-Sharingan user placing him under an illusion.

Yet the Chibi can't figure out the trick before suddenly pieces of papers rise around Konan, undoubtedly from a jutsu of her creation, and they fold midair until dozens of paper shuriken hover around her.

The woman doesn't say a word or lift a finger, which makes it all the more unnerving when the paper shuriken hurtle towards Sasuke.

The Chibi instinctively jumps away, and the first shuriken stabs deep into the earth where he previously stood. Sasuke's eyes widen, realizing Konan is genuinely attacking him, and he runs as fast as he can with his injured leg while the paper weapons strike the earth mere centimeters behind him.

However, a wall of paper forms right in front of him, blocking his path, and Sasuke only has a second to act before he's skewered.

Scowling, Sasuke runs up the paper wall, flips backwards as a shuriken spins beneath him, and kicks the shuriken down while he falls.

The origami weapon lands beside Sasuke, and the Chibi picks it up, wielding it like a shield to deflect the other shuriken. His whole body trembles with each strike against his paper defense, but Sasuke maintains his grip until finally the hits stop coming.

Sasuke waits ten seconds before peeking around the paper, but regrets his decision when a metal kunai comes flying towards his head. He drops the shuriken, realizing it will only impede his movements as he ducks under the blade.

The weapon imbeds itself in a tree, and Sasuke looks to Konan, wondering why the kunoichi is trying to kill him—don't the Akatuski need him alive?

However, a sizzling sound makes Sasuke turn back to see a paper bomb tied to the kunai's hilt, and realizing it's about to go off, Sasuke runs.

Yet there isn't enough time to escape the blast radius. So the bomb explodes, fire and ash lick his skin and Sasuke is going to die—

A paper butterfly sweeps under the teen's feet and he falls back on it while the butterfly soars up high as the flames overtake the clearing below. The Chibi is so stunned as the smoke plume billows beneath him that he slides limply off the butterfly once it lands in Konan's palm.

The kunoichi quickly places Sasuke back in the jar, saying, "That's enough for today."

Sasuke realizes this was a training session and not an actual attempt to murder him as Konan returns to the cave, and the realization is almost enough to make Sasuke miss Oki-Itachi because at least his genjutsu can't actually kill him.

The woman goes down a tunnel Sasuke has never seen before, striding into a room that turns out to be a kitchen with a low table to the left where Deidara eats what looks like ramen while Tobi makes a card pyramid across from him.

She doesn't acknowledge them as she sets the jar on the counter and opens the fridge. Sasuke glances warily at Deidara, but the Oki doesn't seem to notice he's here.

Konan makes a quiet noise of surprise and closes the fridge, her expression somewhat colder than before while she regards the two at the table. "Deidara."

The blond looks up, blinking with chopsticks halfway to his mouth. "Huh?" He lowers his chopsticks. "What is it?"

"Did you seen anyone take the food Itachi prepared for the min-nin?"

Sasuke's brow rises. Oki-Itachi made food for him? Wait, had Oki-Itachi been the one making Sasuke's meals this wholetime?

The Chibi always assumed the human bought his meals, but if Oki-Itachi had been preparing his food all along, that would explain why it tasted so familiar. Oki-Itachi cooked just like his brother.

Deidara scowls, eyes narrowing as he finally notices Sasuke in the jar. "No," he crosses his arms, "And it wasn't me, if that's what you're thinking!"

Konan shakes her head. "I didn't think it was you, but since you are here, I thought you might have seen something."

The blond scoffs. "It must have been Hidan," he throws his hands up, "He's probably trying to starve the min-nin or something, un."

Tobi looks up, nodding rapidly. "Yeah, I saw him in the hall earlier!" He smacks the table in his enthusiasm and his card pyramid teeters before tipping over.

"I see," Konan says, ignoring Tobi's shriek over his fallen pyramid and Deidara's shout about cards getting in his food as she picks up the jar and leaves the room.

The woman quietly exits the hideout, unnervingly silent, and only once they enter the forest does Sasuke put together why it bothers him.

Oki-Itachi always talks to him. Sasuke never noticed until now, but whenever they're alone, his brother's counterpart always speaks to him like he's expecting Sasuke to talk back...

Sasuke frowns. Maybe Oki-Itachi wasn't bluffing yesterday, and he really has figured out Sasuke can understand him. If so, the Chibi will have to be extra careful from now on not to give away how much he understands. Otherwise, the Oki might figure out he can talk too.

The faintest scent of spice and fire along the wind catches Sasuke's attention and he looks up to see lights, which are noticeable only because the sky is gray, and what must be buildings in the distance at the bottom of the grassy hill.

It takes another thirty minutes for Konan to reach the town that Sasuke doesn't recognize, and where are they? Is this even the Land of Wind anymore?

Sasuke doubts it. It took Oki-Itachi and Kisame hours to travel from the Suna-nin's shop to the Akatsuki cave, meaning they probably walked quite a distance away from Suna.

Konan pauses before entering the town and pulls a bandage roll out of her pocket. She winds a strip around the jar, and Sasuke's world is thrown into shade until he stands on his toes to peek over the cloth wrapping. The Oki must not want others to see Sasuke, which is fine by the Chibi since he'd rather not be seen by more humans.

The kunoichi heads straight to an open market and begins picking up fruits, vegetables, and ready-to-eat meals. Clearly she won't be cooking for Sasuke like Oki-Itachi did, so is searching for items that require little preparation.

Sasuke clutches his stomach, feeling a pang of hunger probably because he didn't finish his breakfast this morning. He hopes Konan will give him some food prior to them getting back to the cave.

A low whistle barely audible over the clamor of humans moving through the aisles catches Sasuke's attention. Strange, it almost sounds like a bird chirping.

The high-pitched sound repeats itself a minute later and Sasuke glances around, curious, until he locates the source. His heart skips a beat.

For down by Konan's shoes is a Chibi with a carrot strapped to his back and a Konoha headband tied around his arm.

Sasuke wants to scream because a fellow Konoha-nin is right there. Yet he can't, or Konan might hear him.

Another Chibi shinobi joins up with the the carrot-carrier under the fruit stand, a basket filled with berries strapped to his back. The two ninja must be a part of a team on a long-term mission, here to restock their supplies.

They eye Konan, waiting for her to leave so they can grab more fruit, but neither can see Sasuke since his jar is covered.

A plea for help burns in Sasuke's chest and his mind whirs with plans to safely get their attention. He could tap on the glass in code or whistle a bird call like they were... But then he'd be risking their lives, wouldn't he?

It hits Sasuke suddenly that if the Chibi try to help him, they'll likely be spotted by Konan or another human. As much as Sasuke longs to go home, find Itachi and see his family again, there is no way he can jeopardize the lives of his fellow Konoha-nin.

The teen bows his head, hands balling up into fists. He's on his own, facing impossible odds—because for all his bravado he knows how unlikely it is he'll escape a group of S-rank Oki shinobi—and now must let his best chance at escape slip away.

The whistle comes again and Sasuke weakly gazes over the cloth covering.

The two Chibi stare back, eyes widening.

Sasuke realizes they were signaling him right as the Chibi turn and start whispering to each other like they're deliberating what to do. Oh...oh. Sasuke left his Konoha headband in his brother's cloak pocket, Itachi having warned him the Oki might confiscate it because of the metal leaf symbol, so the other Chibi don't know Sasuke is a Konoha ninja.

Sasuke fixes this by turning around, pulling up his shirt collar, and pointing at the Uchiha symbol on his back.

He looks over his shoulder to watch the two Chibi's mouth fall open, obviously recognizing the red and white fan.

Sasuke loses sight of them though as Konan walks over to the checkout counter, making the Uchiha stumble forward. He catches himself on the wall and looks over the bandage to see one man in front of Konan, meaning there isn't much time before the kunoichi pays for the groceries and leaves town.

He looks back, eyes desperately scanning the floor, and heartbeat accelerating when he can't find the Chibi. Did they leave him? If so, Sasuke doesn't blame them. Konan is clearly a shinobi, meaning it's likely she'll notice any attempt to save him.

"Hey!"

Sasuke jumps, head whipping down to see the dark-haired Chibi with the headband around his arm is in Konan's grocery basket, hidden between the tomatoes and lettuce.

"What's your name, kid?" The man whisper shouts, eyes darting from Sasuke to the cashier as the man in front of Konan pulls out his wallet.

"Uchiha Sasuke." He whispers in a rush, seeing the customer before Konan picking up his bags to leave. "I've been captured by the human Akatsuki, but my brother Itachi escaped. Have you heard of him? Did he make it back to Konoha?" The questions spill out before he can think.

"Uchiha Itachi?" The man shakes his head. "Sorry, haven't heard of him." Sasuke's heart shatters, and the fear must show on his face, because the man says, "But it takes weeks for news about Konoha to reach us way out here."

Sasuke is somewhat assured and starts to ask where exactly here is when Konan steps up to the checkout counter and lifts her grocery basket.

The Konoha Chibi doesn't say a word before jumping out of the basket and landing on a nearby shelf, a chip bag cushioning his fall. The man stands up on the bag and sends Sasuke a pitying look before making an ANBU hand signal, one Sasuke only recognizes because Itachi taught him some when he was kid.

Help is on the way.

Sasuke hears the promise in the signal even as Konan pays for the groceries and exits the market.

Warmth fills Sasuke's chest and he barely notices when Konan briefly stops to buy a fried squid on a stick and puts it in the jar beside him. The teen eats the seafood with a little smile on his face because though it might take a while, word of Sasuke's capture will reach the Village, and Konoha will send out search parties to locate him.

And even if they can't find Sasuke, maybe the'll run into Itachi and get his brother home safely.

Hold on, Nii-san, help is on the way.

Sasuke only hopes help doesn't arrive too late.

Konan is like Oki-Itachi, Sasuke comes to realize. Though her countenance is cold, she never fails to provide Sasuke a bath every night, feed him five times a day, and for some reason take the Chibi along with her on daily walks through the forest.

He learns the reason for this when Konan travels to a vast, bleak industrial city and goes to the peak of its highest tower where she reports to the Akatsuki leader.

"The min-nin has been calm. It has not attempted to escape or tried to attack me. I believe letting it out for walks has improved its temperament."

Pain's Rinnegan eyes fall upon Sasuke, making the Chibi swallow thickly as the redhead says, "It seems Itachi was right." He looks back at the kunoichi. "And what of its progress?"

"It is ready."

Pain pauses before asking, "Are you certain?"

Konan's eyes shut for a second as she softly says, "Nagato." Sasuke raises a brow because that isn't the man's name. "The min-nin has passed all the tests, I'm sure we can use it now."

The Chibi lowers his head, hiding his frown because it sounds like whatever they're planning to use him for, they've decided to start using him immediately.

Pain—or Nagato?—agrees. "Then we will begin the first phase once Itachi and Kisame return from their mission."

Konan inclines her head, saying a goodbye before leaving the tower.

She returns to the cave, releasing Sasuke back into the room and standing behind the seal as she whispers. "To think our goal will finally be realized thanks to you."

Sasuke thinks she's expressing gratitude before leaving and shutting the door behind her. Yet the Chibi can't accept any thanks because the Akatsuki are a group of criminals, so if they're happy about something, Sasuke is certain it means nothing good for the rest of the world.


Thanks for reading and reviewing! I hope it was a fun read :)

Next time: Chibi Sasuke goes on his first mission with the Akatsuki...