Chapter 6

"Hisako-chan! Isn't this exciting? You get to join us this time!" Tobi yelled from across the field.

Akari grimaced under her mask. She was currently in the middle of a field surrounded by trees. She sat quietly on a large boulder watching the other members prepare for their assignments. Already she was growing tired of being around them. She had barely been home 3 days before they called her back. Now here she was. Getting ready to do some god awful thing. Zetsu had ordered her to go along with Tobi and Deidara to observe.

"Oh yeah. Very exciting." She said sarcastically.

She turned to Itachi who stood a few feet away. He gave her an encouraging nod and then disappeared under the trees with Kisame. The fish man glared at her as he left. She wiggled her fingers at him sweetly to piss him off. It worked. He followed his teammate clearly annoyed.

"Dumb tuna." She mumbled to herself as she slid off the rock.

Akari nearly flinched as a familiar arm wrapped around her shoulders. He had become fairly comfortable with her. Too comfortable for her liking.

"Hey little bitch. You never answered my question!" He mumbled in her ear.

She shoved him away roughly.

"I would prefer if you kept your distance asshole. I told you that. Next time, I won't hesitate to cut off an arm." She glared.

"Ooh. Please do. As long as you let me take one of yours." He grinned.

"You're disgusting." She turned to walk away. He grabbed her arm.

"Does that mean you won't go behind some trees and worship Jashin with me?" He cackled.

Red hot anger coursed through her body. She pulled her kunai from its holster and threw it. He let go in surprise and fell back on his ass. Her kunai struck a tree near where Tobi stood. The man in the mask screamed in shock as it nearly hit him.

"I told you once before. No! And don't ever touch me again without my permission you piece of shit."

Hidan stared up at her with a small smile on his lips. A long gash ran along his left cheek where her weapon had sliced. Blood dripped down from the cut close to the edge of his mouth. He didn't take his eyes off her as he caught the red liquid in his tongue and swallowed. Disgusted, she walked in Tobi's direction.

"Quit playing around Hidan. We need to find the Two-tails." She heard Kakazu behind her.

"She wants me. I know she does." Hidan cackled.

Akari didn't see, but heard them walk off into the trees. It was taking all her strength to keep her body from trembling. Having that man so close didn't just make her angry but fearful. The things he could do to her were unimaginable. She didn't think she could bear being near him for much longer.

She took a deep breath as she reached Tobi. He had her kunai in his hand and held out for her. She nodded a thanks as she took it.

"You should be more careful you know! What if you had missed? You could've killed him!" He told her.

"What are you talking about? I did miss." She rose an eyebrow.

"You…you weren't aiming for the tree?" he asked.

"That's no fun. Trees can't run away."

Tobi stared at her. Then he burst out laughing.

"Good one Hisako-chan! I almost thought you were serious!" He chuckled.

"Okay enough of that! I'd like to find the Five-tails before dark people!" Deidara called out.

Akari put away her kunai. Then she followed Tobi and Deidara under the trees. As much as she wanted to walk in silence, with Tobi around it was nearly impossible. He couldn't seem to run out of things to say. He would only ever shut up when Deidara threatened to blow him up. And even in those precious quiet moments she was annoyed. Deidara used the chance to show her his precious art. He would create something from the clay in his palm and then show it to her. She was growing tired of having to pretend she was interested in any of it. Any more of this and she would blow herself up!

"We're here! Deidara senpai! Hisako-chan! We're here!" Tobi cried out.

He was pointing down the cliff they currently stood on.

"About time!" Deidara muttered.

He held a small bug like thing made of clay in his palm. Without thinking he flung it behind him and turned to catch up with Tobi. Akari's eyes widened as the bug landed on a boulder causing a large explosion. She brought her arms up to her face as heat and small pebbles showered over her. Deidara and Tobi didn't seem to notice as they made their way down. Shaking her head, Akari followed.

The three of them arrived outside the village entrance. They kept to the trees to avoid notice.

"Okay. So we need some info on this guy first. Hisako, I need you to take of your cloak and enter the village. Ask for a man named Han. See where he spends his time. Once we have a good idea, we'll make our move." Deidara told her.

"I thought I was only going to observe." She questioned.

"During the capture! This is different. Now go!" He ordered.

Without a word she took of her cloak. She hung it on a nearby tree and turned to leave.

"What about your mask?" Tobi said. "Maybe it would be better without it."

"That's not happening." She glared.

"Why won't you take it off Hisako-chan? You can trust me and Deidara senpai"

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours" She stared at him.

"Nah! You don't want to see my hideous face! But I bet yours is very pretty!" Tobi laughed.

"Thank you but the mask stays."

"Doesn't matter! Just go!" Deidara said.

Akari left the trees and approached the village entrance. She was able to enter without incident. There didn't seem to be anyone really guarding it. It wasn't a very large village. Just a small one hiding out under the cliff. If you didn't know it was here, then it would a tough find.

As she walked she grew uneasy. She didn't want any part of this. When Zetsu told her she would merely observe, she had been relieved. Now she had to scope out the target for those two idiots. Once she gave them the information, she would be at fault. How did Itachi do this? How did he continue to follow along with these assholes? Sighing to herself she entered a small tea shop. The owner was cleaning up his counter.

"Excuse me. I'm looking for someone." She asked timidly.

"Oh. And who might that be." He stopped what he was doing.

"He's named Han. Have you heard of him?"

The man's face went white. He suddenly found a spot on the counter that needed his full attention.

"I don't know who you mean. You'll have to ask someone else." He muttered.

She knew he was done talking. She wouldn't get anything else from him. Nodding a goodbye, she left the shop. As she walked out she noticed a young boy watching her from behind some barrels. He seemed to be contemplating whether to approach her or not. Akari strode up to him casually with her hands behind her head.

"What's up kid? Did you want something?" She asked.

"I…um…I heard you. In the tea shop I mean. You're…you're looking for Han. Right?" He mumbled.

Akari stared down at him. She nodded.

"I know where he is. He's usually training at this time a few miles from the village. A couple of friends and eye go watch him sometimes. Why do you need him?"

"He's a dear friend. I've been wanting to come visit him for a while." She lied.

"Oh! Well I can take you to him then!" He grinned up at her.

"No! I'd like to see him alone. Just tell me which direction to take." She insisted.

"Hmm. Okay then I guess. Just let him know I said hi okay?" The boy smiled.

Akari nodded. As soon as he gave up the five-tails whereabouts she left the village. With a guilty conscience she found the Akatsuki members.

"Well?" Deidara asked.

"East. He's east from here training near some lake." She told him.

"Then east it is!" Tobi said.

Deidara and Tobi took the lead. Akari followed a few feet behind. The poor man. He didn't know what was coming his way. He would be captured and taken by the end of the day. And that's how things went. The battle didn't last very long. The two Akatsuki managed to overpower the Jinchuriki and take him down. Akari merely watched from the sidelines unable to do anything about it. Once it was over, Deidara made a large bird from clay to carry the unconscious Han back to the hideout. They would then remove the Five-tails, killing him. She didn't want to be there for that. Guilt ate away at her. The boy from the village will never see Han again. Because he trusted her with valuable information. Information she willingingly gave the bad guys.

"I'll be heading home from here. Zetsu said I didn't need to go back with you." She muttered.

"Awe! Don't you want to watch the show Hisako-chan?" Tobi whined.

"No. I have things to do."

"Are you sure. The extraction is the best part. It's not as amazing as my art but it's something." Deidara said.

"Nah. If it's not as good as your art then what's the point." She told him.

"You make a good point. See you around the Hisako! Good job today!"

With that, the blonde man and the one in the mask disappeared into the sky. She watched them for a moment before starting home. She would need to drop off the cloak and mask first of course. Then she would see her friends again. They would greet her without knowing about the awful deed she was just a part of. No one would know. No one but her. Wrapping her arms around herself she began her journey.