Chapter 4

"Where are we going exactly?" Akari asked.

They had been traveling for nearly four days. Any farther and they would reach the borders. He hadn't told her they would be leaving the country. It wasn't that she was tired, but the wait was causing her anxiety. If she was forced to walk another day, she was capable of turning back.

"We're almost there. It's not far outside of the Land of Fire." Itachi glanced back at her.

Akari groaned. This meant that they still had a few more hours of travel! Dragging her feet she followed the Older Uchiha. Then she blinked in surprise. She recognized this path. She had passed through here once before on a previous mission. Hayama Sensei had warned them of the nearby village.

"The Hidden Rain?" She asked.

Itachi merely nodded. Akari was slightly confused. What were the Akatsuki doing there? She didn't know much about this village. Not many people did. All she understood was that it was battleground for many skirmished during various ninja wars. It was mostly made up of war refugees. She also remembered that quite a few of their ninjas were at her Chunin Exams. She also remembered how she had been attacked by them on her first A.N.B.U mission. Not a very friendly bunch.

"Why there? Is that where the Akatsuki are hidden?"

"I wouldn't say hidden. Pain overthrew the previous leader years back and is now the Lord there. In fact, people in this village see him as a god." He answered.

"He's been leading a village this whole time and the other villages don't know?"

All this time, the Akatsuki had a foothold on a whole village and nobody knew? Was the Hidden Rain really that isolated?

"The death of Hanzo isn't well known. Some of the villages still believe he's in charge and haven't felt the need to check. The only one who is aware of the truth is Jiraiya and that's because he's been investigating our organization."

She knew that much. Jiraiya was always away gathering information for Lady Tusnade. Itachi could've easily given her the information through Akari, but it was too big a risk. He took his part in the organization very seriously. If it looked as if he was helping the Hidden Leaf in anyway it could go very bad for him. Better to let Jiraiya gather information on his own.

"Okay. So the Hidden Rain is the base of operations for the Akatsuki which is why we're heading their now. Good thing I have a hood."

Another thing she knew of the place. It rained their a lot. Itachi gave her small smile and then continued to lead the way. Once she knew where they were going, the journey wasn't as nerve racking. It wasn't long before they made it out of the Land of Fire and into a smaller country. She wasn't aware of the name but it was the location of the Hidden Rain. It was small because in time they reached the outskirts of the village.

Itachi took her to the entrance. There were a couple of ninjas keeping guard, and Akari thought they might be trouble. Instead they merely bowed and let them through. She rose an eyebrow at her companion.

"They recognize our cloaks as a sign of Lord Pain. We can travel freely here." He told her.

She nodded to show that she understood. She wasn't sure she could speak just yet. They were here. In moments she would be meeting the Akatsuki. She had to mentally prepare herself right now.

"Pain's tower is straight ahead. It's more than likely that you'll be meeting all the members in person. Pain is holding a meeting today so they should all be here."

"Including your partner?"

"Yes. Kisame."

Taking a deep breath she followed him as he took to the roofs. She saw a building with four faces on each side. They were odd. One of these faces held his tongue out. She thought she saw someone standing on it but whoever it was disappeared as they approached.

They stopped on this tongue. Akari got a closer look at the humanoid face. It had piercings and its eyes had a weird pattern depicted on it.

"What's with the eyes?" She asked.

"The Rinnegan. Come on."

Akari didn't have time to ask questions. Itachi led her inside the building. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. This was it. It was time. They stopped outside a door. Itachi gave her a reassuring look and then opened it. He walked in first and she followed head held high. She couldn't show any fear. Fear was a weakness. They wouldn't accept someone who's weak.

In this room was some sort of throne. It was made of metal pipes and didn't seem all that comfortable. In fact, pipes extended throughout the whole room. There was one window letting in the small amount of sunlight the rainclouds allowed.

On this throne sat a man. He had various piercings on his face and his eyes matched the ones outside. She stared at those eyes unable to tear hers away. Then someone spoke causing her to look at them.

"About time you got here Itachi! If I had to hear Deidara talk about his stupid art one more time, I was going to gut his ass!"

Akari turned to the man making his way to Itachi. At least she thought it was a man. He skin had an odd blue color and his neck had what seemed like…fish gills. Then there were his teeth. This guy was more fish than man.

"I'm sorry you had to endure that." Itachi spoke.

"You guys just don't appreciate my art's beauty." The one called Deidara scoffed.

Akari blinked. Itachi didn't sound like himself. He sounded…distant, emotionless even. His face was bland of any expression. He hadn't warned her of this personality change and it caught her off guard.

"Yeah well you're here now partner so we can get things started now."

So this was Itachi's partner. He had told her that this man could be very aggressive. Yet he didn't seem all that bad. In fact, he looked as if he was happy to see Itachi. Maybe they were better friends than she thought.

Now that her attention was away from the man on the throne she took a closer look around. There were nine other people in the room. Some sat on the pipes others leaned on them and some just stood. There was only one woman with short blue hair. Then there was a man with long yellow hair who seemed to be molding something out of clay. This one was the one who had spoken. Deidara. Nearby stood some type of creature. Half of him white, the other black.

She took in every one of their face until her gaze fell a familiar one. Her eyes hardened and her body tensed. Her hands twitched to reach for her weapon. Itachi stepped closer and grabbed her wrist. She glared at him but calmed down none the less. This wasn't the time or place.

The man didn't seem to notice her hostility. He yawned in boredom as he sat there with his three-bladed scythe at his side. His partner stood nearby. He held a wad of cash in his hands and was counting it rather intently. These two men, Akari knew well. Hidan and Kakazu. Itachi had told her the names of the men who killed her sister.

She watched them before someone blocked her view. She was surprised but knew better than to flinch. Instead she only looked at him with indifference. The man wore an orange mask with only one eye hole.

"Look Deidara senpai! Itachi brought home a girlfriend! Do you think she might be prettier than you under this mask of hers?" The man said.

"Tobi you idiot, stop talking nonsense! She's the one he's been talking about. The one who might become a recruit!" The blonde man yelled in annoyance.

"Oh! Well that makes more sense!" Tobi said.

He then took a step closer to her. He leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"Itachi doesn't seem like the type to have a girlfriend. He's kinda scary actually."

"TOBI! How many times do I have to tell you that you don't know how to whisper?" Deidara shouted.

Hidan snickered at the man in the mask. The others only watched him with slight annoyance. Kisame was watching her with an odd look on his face. He kept glancing at Itachi's hand which still held her wrist.

"So this is her Itachi? She doesn't look like much." The fish-man said.

"Her looks don't define her abilities." Itachi told him.

Kisame gave his partner a slight nod. He then turned to Akari but his eyes weren't friendly. Somehow she had upset him. She hadn't even spoken yet and already he disliked her.

"Girl. Come forward."

The man on the throne finally spoke. Itachi let her go and she did as she was told. The Uchiha went to stand next to his partner but didn't take his eyes from her. Keeping her face indifferent, she approached the Akatsuki leader.

"I am Pain. I lead this organization. What shall we call you?" He asked.

"Hisako, Lord Pain." She answered steadily.

"Hisako. Do you know what your name means?"

"Yes, Lord Pain."

Itachi had told to pick a new name to use while with these people. She had heard the name once before and had looked it up. It was a meaning she liked.

"A child who endures. What have you endured?"

She didn't think she had to lie. So she spoke the truth.

"Nothing a ninja hasn't endured. My life so far has only meant one thing. Fight and kill until my village is safe. I've lost those close to me in the process and dread losing any more."

"Is this why you chose to join us. Do you no longer feel the need to protect you village or loved ones?"

"Itachi told me of your goal. World domination. If all of the countries are under your control, then in a way they are united. You can keep them from fighting. This is better than watching my loved ones die for the sake of one village."

A part of her actually believed this. Under this man's control there might actually be small periods of peace. But she knew that if she wanted peace in the world this wasn't the way. What this man was doing was wrong. He was ruining lives for his own personal gain. Whether he had good intentions or not, he was wrong. Which is why her stomach churned in disgust as she spoke these words.

"The mask? Why wear it." Pain stared her down.

Again she didn't lie.

"In case things didn't work out between us. If I was lucky and you let me leave with my life, I didn't want you knowing who I was. So you see, the mask is for my safety."

"Honest answer. I've already told Itachi that I would give you a chance. We lost a member not long ago. Seeing as how Tobi took his place in our organization, Zetsu is in need of a new subordinate. You will do nicely. Zetsu normally handles things on his own, so you'll have a lot of time on your hands. You're free to roam freely but will come when he calls. Understood?"

"Yes, Lord Pain. And thank you."

She bowed and made her way to the one called Zetsu. Itachi had told her this would be the most likely outcome. The weird creature watched her as she approached. She nearly grimaced as she got closer. He was an odd looking one.

"Hello Zetsu-sama. I'm pleased to be under you command." She bowed respectfully.

This farce she was playing was beginning to weigh on her. These people didn't deserve her respect. None the less she played her part. If this would help to protect Naruto, so be it. She would play the faithful devoting follower till the end.

"I hope you're more useful to me than Tobi was." The thing rasped.

"Aw come on Zetsu-san! I was helpful to you!" Tobi complained.

"If you don't need me at the moment, I would like to take my leave now."

Zetsu nodded that this was okay. Before she could, the man in the mask made his way to her. Then he put an arm around her shoulders.

"Welcome to the group Hisako-chan!" He said.

Akari was peeved by how comfortable he was with her already.

"Don't call me "Chan" please mister Tobi." She told him.

"Wow Tobi! She barely just met you and already the little bitch is annoyed with you." Hidan cackled.

Akari glared at him. Hidan merely winked at her. Again her hand twitched.

"Come on Hisako! Were practically family now!" Tobi told her.

Pulling away from him she went to Itachi. The others nodded in her direction as she passed, clearly okay with her involvement with the group. That or they just didn't care. She said her goodbyes to Itachi. He wouldn't be traveling back with her.

Then she went out the door. She found her way outside and stood on the large tongue overlooking the village. Below her villager went about their lives. It didn't seem like a happy place to live. She was about to leave when she felt a presence. Turning she faced the fish-man.

"So you're the little brat Itachi has been running off to see. You know, at first I thought you were just some girl who pestered him into teaching her. Now I see that there's more to this. By the way he was acting in there it looked as if he actually cares about you. Itachi hardly cares about anything. Yet, he was quick to reign in your anger towards Hidan. What did he do to you?"

"He killed someone I knew. It doesn't matter anymore. She's dead and gone. I'm here for one thing only. And that's to follow Pain. If Hidan happens to die in the process, well that's fine with me too." She told him.

Itachi had warned her that these people were good at knowing when someone was lying. Which is why she kept some of the truth in her words. There was no harm in telling him about Hidan, because the psycho had killed plenty of people. There was no way for them to pinpoint which one pertained to her.

"I see. Well I have come to warn you of something. Itachi seems keen on protecting you. He might even risk his spot in this group doing it. So you better make sure you don't get in the way. This group is dangerous so you better be sure you can handle yourself in any situation. We wouldn't want him giving his life to save your ass. I'd rather not have to go searching for another partner should something happen to him."

"Don't worry "Maguro" I can take care of myself. You're welcome to test me if you'd like." She glared at him.

"What did you call me you brat?" He growled.

Akari knew she had pissed him off but she didn't care. Just because she was in the group now it didn't mean she had to be nice to all of the members. It seemed that plenty of them disliked each other anyways. Besides, something about this guy ticked her off. Maybe it was his partnership with Itachi. She didn't feel like the Uchiha belonged here and yet this man did. Whatever it was, she would risk her life just to land one blow on this bastard.

"Hisako. I figured you'd be gone by now." A voice said.

The two of them turned to Itachi who was watching them from the shadows. He was giving her a very obvious look. It said "get lost". Rolling her eyes she nodded and disappeared. She didn't look back either. Seeing how Itachi acted with these guys angered her. The faster they were taken out the better.

Once outside the village she sprinted to the country's borders. She made it their in half the time it took to reach the Hidden Rain. Once she was back in the Land of Fire she made her way to the hideout Itachi had chosen for her. It took nearly two hours to reach. It was a small cave on the side of a mountain. Once there, she removed the genjustu placed at the entrance. Then she made her way inside and took off the god-awful cloak. Then the mask. After hiding them deep in the cave she left.

Akari started her journey home. She had been gone for five days already. She had thought she would be gone longer but it seemed that the Akatsuki had no need for her just was fine with her. Who knew what type of things they would ask of her.

It had taken her and Itachi nearly four days to get to the Hidden Rain. If she hurried she could get home in two. She could always use Shun but she wanted get home on her she needed to replenish her water supply. She knew of a waterfall only a few miles from where she was. It was a little out of her way but she would need water for her journey home. So she headed that way.

About an hour later she reached it. The waterfall crashed down loudly on a large lake. It was pretty secluded and well hidden. She wouldn't have found it if she hadn't been listening for it. Making her way to the water's edge she knelt down and filled her container.

That's when she felt it. Another presence. She glanced around cautiously but saw no one. The feeling was familiar. Once she recognized it her heart beat faster. She couldn't see him but she knew. Wanting to know where he was she activated her sharingan. There, behind the waterfall he stood. Confirming that it was in fact him, her breath caught. Slowly he walked out from behind the waterfall. She couldn't hear him due to the water, but she saw his lips move and form a single word. Her name.

"Sasuke." She whipered.