Chapter 19

Ridiculous. That's what this was. Just plain ridiculous. The whole point was to get here before Orochimaru could make his move right? So then why were they sitting here watching Kabuto torture that poor kid? Why haven't they rushed down there and killed the four-eyed freak and rob the Snake of his damn lap dog? She glared at the scene playing out on the lakes surface. The unfortunate boy crying out in pain, a large surge of chakra surrounding him.

"Deidara! I can barely see anything through this fog! Can you?" Tobi whined.

"I can see just fine." Deidara muttered from where he sat. His eyes focused solely on the kid.

"Why do you need to see anyways? His cries of pain give you a pretty good idea of what's going on." Akari grumbled.

Tobi tilted his head in her direction but she ignored him. She watched bitterly as the boy slumped forward in exhaustion. She didn't even look twice at the large creature beginning to emerge from the water's surface. She was already aware the Three-tails was here. She just wasn't expecting the boy to be subjugated in such a way. Orochimaru was one sick bastard. Not that she didn't already know that.

"It's fine Hisako-chan! The boy will be fine. Orochimaru still needs him after all. I'm sure he still has a few more days before he's outgrown his usefulness." Tobi said.

He said it in a tone that was usually used to console someone. At least that's what it sounded like. But to her it seemed as if he was merely trying to make her feel worse. A harsh undertone laced his voice as he spoke. There was something off about the man. Akari felt the need to keep her distance.

"Yeah whatever. So how long will we just sit here? Shouldn't we take the beast already?" She asked Deidara.

Out on the water, Kabuto rowed his boat to the shore and disappeared with the boy in tow.

"Nope. I want to watch the kid a bit more. Plus I have an inkling that those Leaf Ninja will be showing up pretty soon. I'm curious to see how it plays out." The blonde smirked.

His response irked her. Akari was quite done with the man and Tobi for that matter. And seeing what had just occurred only worsened her mood. Her temper was beginning to surface.

"Do you know what I see happening? We sit here and watch as the Snake and the Hidden leaf battle it out for the stupid thing. Then one of them will lose while the other runs off with it. While we just wasted our time watching the show to appease your curiosity. How well do you think that will go with Pain?" She stated.

"Oooh! Oooh! I know! Pick me! I know!" Tobi waved his arm in the air enthusiastically.

"Go ahead Tobi." She encouraged.

"Pain is going to seriously flip out! Seeing as how were already behind schedule, if we were to lose the three-tails, he would probably blow up Deidara with his own art! Then you and I could be partners Hisako-chan! Wouldn't that be great!?" He clapped his hands together.

"SHUT UP TOBI! I'm in charge here so what I say goes! And trust me when I say, we are not leaving here without the tailed-beast!" Deidara glared at them.

"Fine. Seeing as how there's absolutely nothing interesting going on here, do I have permission to check out the hot springs a few leagues back? I'm a woman after all and frankly I'm quiet tired of smelling like a pig sty. So please, Deidara sir, may I be excused?" Akari said rather sarcastically.

"You're becoming way too comfortable with me, Hisako. Show a little more respect for you superior." Deidara grumbled.

"Technically she's no longer beneath you. She's a full-fledged Akatsuki now remember?" Tobi offered.

"YOU'RE NOT HELPING TOBI!"

"You know what? He's right! So I Hisako, full-fledged Akatsuki member, give myself permission to leave! I'll be back by noon tomorrow! That should give you enough time to get over this curiosity that has overcome you Deidara. See ya!"

With her head held high, she turned her back to them and gave them a small wave as she walked away.

"HEY! COME BACK HERE!" She heard the blonde yell.

"I don't think she's listening Deidara." Tobi said.

"Damn right she's not." She muttered to herself, the voices behind her fading the farther she got.

Akari walked alone trying to remember where it was she saw the hot springs. It wasn't very far if she remembered correctly. She wasn't kidding when she said she smelled bad. Nearly five days! That's how long she had gone without a proper bath. Traveling with those idiots did not help her hygiene.

"Why! Why can't I find it! I just want a bath damn it!" She groaned.

"Probably because you're going in the wrong direction."

Akari hadn't been expecting an answer. She turned to the voice behind her slightly startled, and irritated that someone had managed to sneak up on her.

"Who the hell…um…hello?" She blinked.

There was no one there. Akari looked left, then right. No one.

"Down here idiot!"

Akari took a step back and glanced down. In front of her sat a small dog. He wore a blue vest and a Leaf Ninja symbol on his small furry head. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of him.

"Pakun! Hey cutie!"

She reached down and lifted him up in her arms, completely ignoring his protests as she rubbed her cheek against his.

"Okay! Okay! That's enough kid! This is not good for my image!" He tried to push away.

"Oh fine! I'll put you down." She giggled.

Once he was safely back on the ground, the small dog shook out his fur and adjusted his headband with his paw. The sight looked so adorable, Akari had to put her hands behind her back just so she wouldn't grab him again.

"I should know by now to keep out of your reach. I don't see why you can't refrain from grabbing me like that. I'm a respected ninja dog damn it!" He complained before sitting back.

"Yeah, yeah. I know! I just can't help it! I used do it to Akamaru but he's grown too big unfortunately. But not you! You're still the same!" She crouched down to his level.

"Mmmmhmmm." He grumbled.

"So. What are you doing out here? I'm guessing you caught my scent somewhere?" She asked.

"I'm on my way back to the village. I have something to deliver to the Hokage. My nose caught a whiff of you and I saw that you were heading the same way. I figured you were on your way back as well, but that seems unlikely with that getup you got on."

"A whiff of me huh? Tell me, is it as bad as I think it is?" She pouted.

"Oh yeah. You're starting to spoil kid." He wrinkled his cute little nose.

"Well you try traveling with two men for nearly a week. It's disgusting!" She complained.

"Don't whine Akari. It's annoying." He reprimanded.

"Yeah okay. So what is it you're delivering?" She stared at the small bulge under his bandage.

"Go ahead." He held out his paw.

Akari dug under the wrapping and pulled out a pink crystal. She held it up in front of her face and stared. It was quite beautiful. Almost like a piece of fine jewelry. Looking a bit closer, she noticed a black spot in the middle. A bug.

"Shino! Kakashi gave this to you?"

"Yep. One of the enemies they're after did that. He's having me take it back home to get analyzed. Wait? How did you know Kakashi and Shino are together?"

"Ummm…I may have spotted them yesterday. I couldn't really say hi cuz of my outfit." She told him.

"Oh. So what are you up to Akari? What have those bastard gotten you into this time?" He glared.

"Nothing to worry about. I'll be fine." She assured him.

"I don't like it. A young girl like you shouldn't be involved in something so big. I told Kakashi but he wouldn't listen! The girl can handle herself, he said! So, can you? Handle it I mean?" He grumbled.

Akari stared at the small dog for a moment. She'd handled herself so far right? She didn't see any reason to believe she couldn't continue to do so.

"Trust me Pakun. I can do this." She patted his head.

"Stop that! Now I have to go. If wasted enough time. The hot springs you're looking for is a few miles in that direction." He motioned with his head. "Make sure you get the cloak cleaned too. I'm beginning to see the stink fumes."

"That's hurtful Pakun! I can't help how I smell!" She pouted.

He stood up off his hind legs. He offered his front paw and she gave back the crystal.

"Oh! Do you mind if I give u small scroll for Lady Tsunade? It's been a while since she's heard from me." She asked.

"I don't see why not." The small dog said.

Akari pulled out a scroll and some ink. Quickly she explained where she's been to the Hokage and tied the finished parchment to Pakun's paw. He gave her a small nod goodbye and ran off. She waved and then took the directions he gave her.

About an hour later she arrived. She squealed at the sight of the building and the wooden walls surrounding what had to be the warm pools of water. Akari rushed inside and startled the Innkeeper as she slammed money on the counter.

"I am in great need of your services! Please give me a room and I'd like my clothes cleaned please!" She told him.

"Ugh…of course! Please follow me."

The man walked out from behind the counter and led the way. It wasn't long before Akari was free of her offensive clothing and was nose deep in the warm water she so badly craved. Her dark hair floating around her.

"This is fantastic!" She gurgled under the water.

Akari was in heaven. For a few blissful minutes she felt content. Until a creepy chill coursed through her bare body. She wrapped her arm around herself and glanced around suspiciously. There was only three other women in the bath with her, they huddled close to each other completely engrossed in their idle chit chat. She couldn't see what had bothered her. Knowing the women weren't paying attention, she activated her sharingan. As soon as she did, she found the culprit. His large amount of chakra was easy enough to spot. Furious, Akari stood and wrapped her naked body in a towel. Then she made her way to the wall keeping them from view of the outside world. The man didn't noticed her slow approach.

"YOU. DIRTY. OLD. MAN!" She yelled as she punched the small opening in the wall.

"AHHHHHHH!"

Her hand had gone completely through the wood and left an even larger hole. Her fist had made direct contact with the white haired older man who now lay nearly unconscious on the other side. The women screamed and ran out of the spring in search of their clothing.

Akari leapt over the wall and landed in front of her victim. He pulled himself up, dabbing at the blood gushing from his nose. Not all of it was from her assault. He looked up at her, slightly afraid of the girl standing before him. He would have been even more afraid if she wasn't wearing a towel.

"Akari! I thought that was you…I've got to say, you've blossomed into a beautiful young woman!" He said unabashed.

"Jiraiya Sensei! You perverted old man! What the hell are you doing here?" She growled.

"I…"

"And don't say it's for your research!" She warned.

"Oh come on Akari…don't be so mean. I'm here with Naruto." He stood and wiped his clothes.

"Naruto?" she asked startled. "Where!? He can't see me! What do I say!?"

"Don't worry. He's resting from his training in the hot water. You should be fine. So what brings you here? Not that I mind." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Don't be gross! I'm with the Akatsuki. They're a few miles from here on some lake. We've got a problem Jiraiya." She told him, her voice serious.

"Yeah?" His tone grew serious as well.

"It's the three-tails. They've found it. Not just them though, Orochimaru is after it as well. And it won't be long before Kakashi and Team 8 realize it's there as well."

"I see. That is a problem. But I'm guessing it's too late to do anything about it?"

"I'd say so. They're waiting for the Snake and Kakashi's team to battle it out. They'll make their move once it's over."

"They plan to take it when the winner is too weak to fight back."

"More like, the idiot leading us just wants to watch the carnage. I have feeling I'll be the one leaving with the beast, Jiraiya, and I don't like it. The Akatsuki have already captured the one, two, five, and seven tails."

"That's not good. You once told me that they store the beast in some king of statue?"

"Yeah. Creepy looking thing. I'm not sure what will happen once they have them all but it can't be good."

"Alright. Maybe I should pay a visit to the Hidden Rain. Things are getting too ominous for my liking."

"Really? Are you sure you don't want me getting more information first? I have some hidden away that might help you. Itachi had me gather it all so that I could hand it over to you guys at the right time."

"It might be helpful yes. Listen, I'm going to leave tonight and head back to the village. I'm going to speak with her about all this and then decide if it's time to meet this so called Pain."

"Okay. I already sent word to her about where I've been."

"Very well. I must go then. Please, give me luck in my journey by dropping your towel." He stated.

Akari's face turned red in anger and embarrassment. She pulled back her arm and rammed her fist into the old man's stomach. He fell to his knees, gasping for air.

"Worth a try right?" He croaked.

"Goodbye, Jiraiya Sensei!" She said with a huff and leapt back over the wall.

She made sure to cover the hole she had left before removing her towel and lowering herself in the water once more. Irritation still clear on her face. How Naruto dealt with that man was beyond her.
To think that perverted old man was a Legendary Sannin in the same class as Lady Tsunade. If she hadn't seen him fight first hand, she would've never believed. Still, she hoped he would be careful out there.

With a small sigh, she decided it was time to get out. Her fingers were starting to prune. She pulled herself out of the water and wrapped herself up in a towel once more. She walked alongside the wall separating the women from the men as she made her way inside.

"Wh-Who the hell are you?!"

Akari stopped as Naruto's voice carried over the wall. He sounded as if he was caught by surprise. Worried, Akari used her transparency jutsu and crossed over the wall. She caught sight of Naruto shoulder deep in the water, a towel over his head. Akari stopped suddenly aware of how creepy this was. Her in towel and Naruto naked in the water. An image of Jiraiya appeared in her head and she shivered in revulsion.

But, this wasn't like that! She was merely checking to make sure her friend was alright. She crept alongside the wall and hid behind a few boulders surrounding the spring. Peaking over it, she noticed a boy standing at the water's edge, watching Naruto. The same boy from the lake.

"Where did you come from?" Naruto asked.

"What does it mean to connect with a heart?" The boy ignored his question.

"Well…it means I understand someone's feelings, and they understand mine as well."

"And that's when it happens?" The boy smiled.

"Well, yeah. If you think about it all the time…then someday…someday it'll happen. And then, even Sasuke…the person you're thinking about will know where their home is!"

Akari turned away and slid her back down the boulder, coming to a rest on the ground. Naruto's words causing a hitch in her breath. She stared at the wall, choosing to listen rather than watch.

"I guess you wouldn't know what I'm talking about. Especially when I'm rambling on like this." She heard her friend say.

"Then, if someone's thinking about me, that place will become my home?" The boy spoke.

"Yeah, that's where your home is." Naruto answered.

Akari smiled as she heard the boy give a light laugh. He really was a nice kid. How he could still smile after what he went through just a few hours ago, she didn't know.

"You taught me something great!" He said.

"That's right, that's right!" Naruto said.

She could tell he was grinning without having to see him. Again she heard the boy laugh.

"By the way, what's your name?" Naruto asked.

No answer. Akari glanced around the boulder to find that the boy was gone. Naruto stared at small white flower in his hand.

"That boy….where did he go?" she heard him mutter.

Seeing as how her friend wasn't in any danger, Akari left her friend to continue his bath. She made her way inside and entered the room given to her. She closed the door behind her as she dried herself off. On her bed lay her cloak and outfit. She stared at it with disdain before picking it up and placing it out of her way. Akari picked up her underthings and put them on. With a tired sigh she climbed into bed and hoped that her friend would be gone by morning. It wouldn't go well if Naruto saw her.

Yawning, she pulled the covers up to her chin. It had been so long since she slept on a proper bed. Tomorrow she would have to take to the road again. Once the Three-tails was captured she planned on sending a clone back with Deidara and Tobi. Then she would start her journey back home. It won't be long before Sasuke comes for her. Akari will wait for him.