…..

Chapter 4: Best Man Wins the Woman's Affections!

…..

"Wow! My first mission with Konan-chan and Hidan-senpai!" Tobi rang out excitedly as he bounced between the two shinobi.

Konan was not in the mood for Tobi's antics. Especially not with Hidan on this mission.

"Who is this idiot?" Hidan asked, throwing a thumb in his direction. "How is he in the Akatsuki?"

"All you need to know is that his name is Tobi and he's useful," Konan said cryptically.

"And fucking annoying." Hidan grumbled under his breath.

Konan smirked but it vanished as Tobi floated up next to her. "Konan-chan your hair has gotten so long since last time I saw you!"

"No touching Tobi." She said in a flat voice.

"But you are so pretty! Can I be your boyfriend pleaseeeeee!" He screeched, clasping his hands together.

Apparently you are. She thought dryly. She tried to conceal her smile. She hated that she was so charmed by this Tobi's charade. She was glad she was getting the silly fool Tobi on the mission, and not the terrifying red-eyed stranger that was very skilled at wrapping his arms around her while whispering threats into her ear.

"Get in line pal." Hidan said, picking his teeth with a knowing smile at Konan.

She narrowed her eyes at Hidan. Creep. These ninja were lonely perverted men. Every single one. She and Pein certainly had a way of recruiting them.

"You'll both be waiting a very long time. Can we focus on our mission?" She said, walking more quickly.

He caught up to Konan, his smile widening further. "Well, it's a good thing I'm immortal."

"Konan-chan doesn't return Hidan-senpai's feelings! Bad for you but great for me!"

"If you don't shut the fuck up I'm going to sacrifice you to my God three times over." Hidan threatened.

She rolled her eyes. Sasori better not make this mission harder than it already was going to be. Even though Nagato explained it to her, she still did not see why she had to go with the two morons who have the hots for her.

"Why are you doing this to me Nagato?" Konan lamented.

"You are the ideal team to recruit Sasori." Pein said easily, leaning back into his chair. "Hidan won't be able to draw blood from wooden puppets, and Tobi will remain unaffected from attacks."

"And me? How do I fit in?"

"You are our best advocate for the Akatsuki. Hidan won't kill you because he likes you." Pein shrugged. "And Tobi specifically asked for you, he informed me that a mission might be good for you."

"What does that mean?!" She said defensively. Shit, he must have told him.

Pein's purple eyes shifted to hers, and she understood at that moment that he found out about her excursions outside the tower. "I know you have been restless Konan. It's unfair Tobi and I have kept you to the tower for so long. You need a break."

Her face softened. As always, Nagato was looking out for her. "Thank you."

"I recognize it's hard being the only woman around here." He continued. He cleared his throat. Nagato wasn't used to sharing his inner thoughts and feelings, not even with her. "But I know you are the best for this mission. Members know to respect you and your work. If they ever do or say anything to your disliking, know that you always have a secure spot next to Lord Uchiha and me."

She smiled gently at her long time friend. "I know that Nagato. But thank you for saying it aloud."

"And one more thing." He added with hesitance. "He…he's gone but he wanted you to be happy. If there's a specific reason you've been going to the village…"

"Ok, that's enough!" She let out a laugh. Relief crossed his face. "Don't worry Nagato. I'm not running off to a secret lover. I just have to get away from all you men sometimes."

"Fair enough." He said with a ghost of a smile.

…..

"Listen here you orange freak." Hidan said, leaning closely to Tobi's mask. "Give it up. Konan is mine."

"This is just like a love story!" Tobi giggled. "Two boys at school fight for the pretty girl's affection."

"She's my type ok!" Hidan pounded his chest. "She's punk. She's not like the other women I've ever met. My soul is telling me she's the one, I can feel it."

"Kisame told me you only like her because of her pretty face and big boobs." Tobi retorted, leaning against the tree trunk with a piece of Dango that somehow manifested into his hand.

Hidan's nostrils flared. "Who gives a fuck what that loser says?!"

Lewd bastard. And Konan was the one that recruited him? More questions arose in Obito's mind about the quiet paper folder and her obscured intentions.

Speaking of the woman, a single sheet of paper flew into existence, followed by many others until the shape of Konan re-appeared before them. "I met a man on the path five miles up. He said there are a few villages east of here, completely wiped out last night. Talking about a shinobi with puppets has been making his way along the border."

"Sounds like our guy." Hidan said.

"Let's split up to cover more ground." Konan continued. "You two check out the surrounded areas of the villages that have just been decimated. I'll go further into the desert."

"You know I should go with you just in case." Hidan pressed. "He's lethal."

"Don't underestimate me, Hidan." Konan bit back.

"I want to make sure our Lady Angel stays safe." He said as if it was the most logical thing in the world.

"Don't think you can pull a fast one on me!" Tobi interjected. "I will go with you Konan, it'll be our first date!"

"I told you!" Roared Hidan, trying to swat Tobi with a kunai, only to have penetrated the air as Tobi leaped away. "She's mine!"

"I would never date either of you!" Konan exclaimed. "We are on a mission. Pein expects us to succeed and we'll fail if you two are going to fight."

"I knew it. You're screwing Pein. That's why you won't sleep with me."

She flushed bright red before drawing her brows down in the way Obito knew she was extremely pissed. Even he knew not to go into that territory. "Oooooo Hidan-senpai is in trouble!" He let out a maniacal giggle, glad to see the bastard go down.

The anger dissipated on her face into a blank stare, Konan folded her arms into her sleeves. "My love died long ago. But that doesn't matter. I am your comrade. Not some woman to catch. Know your place in the Akatsuki, Hidan. Or else we will seal you away for a very, very, very long time. In a place where even a god can forget about you."

Silence between the three ensued. Hidan looked between them, and to Obito's surprise, smirked, crossing his arms. "I changed my mind, you're hot, Konan, but I wouldn't want to mix business with pleasure anyways. I got plenty of other chicks. Ten times hotter too."

He then brushed past Konan, who impressed Obito by retaining her graceful composure. As the blood-lusting immortal walked ahead of them he watched Konan's shoulders slump with relief.

And just for a second, with Hidan's back turned to them, Obito caressed her arm, he found it within reason give her a small bit of comfort. She looked up at him, and instead of seeing sadness, he felt like he was lit aflame by the look in her gilded eyes. He swallowed hard, quickly dislodging his hand. He could feel the tension bow between them, ready to snap.

It looks like he might have won her affections.

…..

Obito paced. It has been three hours. He had managed to visit a few village leaders in the greater area during this time, subtly promoting Akatsuki's mercenary services, while also scoping for the legendary One-tailed beast, with no avail. Now that was completed, he was left to his own devices. While relieved to be away from Hidan, he was unsure of Konan. Her chakra nature was present, but hazy due to the magnetic energies in the desert. He needed to find Konan before Hidan did.

"Zetsu." Bellowed Obito. On cue, his squishy comrade emerged from a sandy rock. "Check on Konan and report back her location and conditions to me."

Zetsu giggled. "Worried about her?"

"Just do it." He said flatly, ignoring the comment.

Zetsu vanished as Obito returned to the sandy plains, observing the slaughtered town. Wind howling in agony over the blood-curdling scent of death. No, he was not worried, he told himself. She could handle herself after all…she was an excellent kunoichi.

…..

Sasori of the Red Sand was beautiful.

She did not know what to expect of the rogue Sand Shinobi, but she did not picture him like this. She imagined someone older, with pale eyes and hair. Perhaps some menacing facial features, like Kisame and his teeth. But no, he was good looking and young. With a lean frame and fiery red hair. Her paper wings exploded from behind her, and she descended

"The ninja villages dotting the Land of the Wind were destroyed in a single night, or so the rumor has it."

Sasori looked up, eyes widening in awe as he saw her, and flurries of paper flying around him in the sandy winds.

"It was you who was behind it, wasn't it Sasori fo the Red Sands?" Konan asked with a slight smile.

He frowned in suspicion, body tensing. "And who are you?!" He demanded.

"I've come here to invite you to the Akatsuki." Konan said in confidence, watching the wind whip his vibrant red hair.

"Akatsuki? Never heard of it."

"We need your power at our sides to help us complete our pursuits. So lend us your strength."

He snickered. "You're being awfully presumptuous, wouldn't you say?"

Another cocky one. Konan thought. She pressed him. "Just think the Akatsuki as a place that will protect you, a rogue ninja. As long as you complete your work, anything else you care to do is your own business."

She floated to the ground with grace, her wings erupting into a cyclone of papers that blossomed around both of them. He watched the movement, the expression of awe returning to his face. She inwardly smirked, he was entranced by her jutsu.

"Oh, I see." He met her eyes. "That's not a bad offer. Not bad at all but…"

As her papers vanished into thin air the ex shinobi crouched down, rolling out a large scroll, with a greedy sort of smile on his face.

Her eyes narrowed at their markings. "What are you doing?" She demanded.

"Unfortunately for you, you'll find I'm able to protect myself. And it looks like I'm in luck." He said haughtily. He broke the skin on his thumb, pressing it to the paper. "I was disappointed by the last village." He continued as the smoke swallowed him whole. From a plume of white smoke, he summoned a chattering wooden puppet with long coarse hair and a tattered cloak.

"But now it appears that I have great material standing right in front of me. Rejoice. Because I'm going to add you to my Third-Level collection! What a beautiful addition you'd be!" Chakra strings snapped from Sasori's fingertips, causing blades to rip out of his puppet. The pit of Konan's stomach dropped. So this will not be as easy as she thought.

The puppet launched towards her, the knives singing through the air. Konan stood still, watching, waiting for the right moment. It came. As the blades sliced through her form paper erupted in all directions.

Sasori looked around him, perplexed. "What is this justsu?" He muttered to himself.

Konan reappeared behind him, unimpressed with his hasty attack. "I guess it can't be helped."

Sasori's puppet snapped back into combat position with a swoop of his arm. The winds swirled around them, mimicking the unsettling tension that blew through her cloak and hair. "I'll just have to take you by force." She announced.

Sasori smirked. His hazy brown eyes darkened as he looked her over. He chuckled darkly. "You are really pretty interesting, you know that?"

Apparently. She thought to herself, considering Tobi and Hidan have been fighting tooth and bone for her attention on this entire mission. Why do I keep attracting the Bingo Book types?

His pupils grew into pinpoints as the look on his face shifted into something maniacal. "I'll examine you to the bone."

Great, he wants me to be one of his dolls. She jumped upwards and out of the way his puppet came swinging at her.

Her paper folded into razor-edged shapes, cutting the air towards him. Sasori's puppet blocked him from her hit. Konan knew to take him down she'd have to attack the master.

"A jutsu controlling paper eh?" He called. 'This is the first time I've seen one, but not bad at all!"

Konan folded two large cranes into existence that hurdled towards his body. The origami detonated in his face, making him launch backward.

"Don't get too happy." She chided, lunging again.

His puppet came back snapping. She was impressed that even as he rose from the ground, his fingers twitched in subtle but complex rhythms, the chakra threads making his puppet dance.

But it couldn't catch the origami master. Her body once again floated apart to avoid a hit. Her Dance of Shikigami made her virtually undefeatable. It was an art form that took her years to master.

Sasori was good. She knew Pein and Tobi would be extremely pleased if she was able to recruit him. They needed his unique talents. His puppet was relentless. It was tricked out in a never-ending amount of senbons and swords. The engineering was masterful.

Paper slapped over her nose and mouth as she punched the pupped squarely at its core with as much chakra as she could gather. Its head spun, gasses released. Looks like his abilities with poison are also true.

"Tch. You aren't even flinching against my puppet…you're starting to get on my nerves!" He yelled out.

Konan ran around the nature-made ring, trying to gain distance between her and the puppet so she could advance on its master. She threw chakra-infused paper kunai, as hard as the real weapon itself, into the puppet's direction. The kunai exploded as it hit the hollow target. On cue Konan did her Dance, appearing in front of Sasori in his moment of vulnerability. In a flurry of taijutsu she moved quickly against his lithe attacks, floating between the hits and blows.

Sasori still looked confident. "I'll be sure to keep your beauty intact once you're mine." He sneered.

They vaulted into the air, and she felt a sting as knives protruded from his arm. Surprise flickered across her face as blood dripped from her sleeve.

So he engineered his own body like a puppet's.

She summoned her wings to gain height, in his moment of victory, she performed a barrage, hitting him hard back towards the earth.

In his moment of shock paper molted off of Konan and flew around him like a hurricane prison. He was trapped. "I told you I'll take you by force!"

Shikigami Dance!

Her wings flew wide as a menacing paper sword materialized. Her chakra grew warm in her veins. This was the final attack.

The sword was like an arrow, direct and merciless, as it struck Sasori and his puppet, and unleashed a bomb into the sands.

Dust and smoke cleared, revealing a defeated ninja. Konan's pieces of paper had overwhelmed the puppet's splintered form. She smiled as it collapsed to the ground. She was the victor. Sasori struggled as he stood up, giving her a menacing glare as paper folded back into her body.

"I will say it again. Come and lend the Akatsuki your power."

He studied her a moment and then his hands flashed in a sign. The broken puppet disappeared.

Smoke and paper delicately floated through the air. It smelled like ash. The aftermath of a fight.

"I lost; I have no right to choose. Take me where you want." He finally said, sounding resigned.

She cracked into a smile, pleased that she was the one to secure him. "You're much more understanding than I thought you'd be."

He smiled slyly. "I simply want to see what the other Akatsuki members are like. Just like this jutsu of yours. It's possible that there's a sense of art that I might be able to find there."

"Well, I wouldn't have high hopes." She remarked dryly as the last sheets vanished on her skin. "But if that is what makes you want to join us, that's fine."

…..

"How old are you anyway?" Asked Konan. "The books say you are my age but you look younger."

"Let's just say I have a babyface." He shrugged. "Besides if you are my age you don't look it either. You must have a good skincare routine." He drew nearer to observe her.

"Well, mid-twenties is still considered young." She managed to say while stepping away to hide the flush on her face. She shivered at the thought that he must know a lot about the human body. More than she would want to know.

"You truly are an artist."

Her paper butterflies fluttered around them to deliver messages to Tobi and Hidan. His eyes following them, as if he was mesmerized.

"I suppose I can consider myself a master in the art of origami. I've been folding since I was a child."

"I've also been making works of art since childhood." He said, with a hint of approval in his voice. "You are skilled, I would like to know more, I hardly get to meet any good artists these days."

She felt a different kind of butterfly in her stomach at the compliment. Focus, Konan. "Again, don't get your hopes up."

"Apologies if I tried to make you into one of my puppets, I couldn't help it." He added.

"You agreed to join the Akatsuki, don't worry about it." She shrugged it off.

"So what now?" He inquired. "What else to I get out of this?"

"If you agree with our terms, generous pay with bonuses based off your mission success. A room at our base in Ame, as well as access to many hideouts. There will be compensation for food, weaponry, and other supplies." She explained. "And of course, protection. Whether you want it or not."

"Akatsuki, huh? Right. Ok."

Konan and Sasori traveled, conversing lightly, despite the fact they just battled. She was surprised how quickly he cooled down and got over his loss in the fight. Konan actually found him to be quite smart and poised. He was not outwardly unhinged, like a few others. Or as leery as she initially thought he would be.

They made it to a line of trees towards the rendezvous point, just in time for an explosion to rumble the earth beneath them.

"C'mon." Konan urged, breaking into a jog towards the supposed chaos. A crash of a tree hit the earth, followed by a long string of curses that was definitely the silver-haired, immortal ninja.

"What's wrong Hidan-senpai? Angry you can't catch me?!" Came Tobi's voice.

"Who is fighting?" Asked Sasori catching up to Konan more easily.

"Our teammates." She grumbled.

They both ran into the clearing, finding Hidan swinging his scythe angrily at Tobi, the blade simply passing through his phantom-like body. "Oh look, Konan-chan is here! Now she can decide which one of us she is going to pick!"

"What on earth…" Konan's face grew hot as both men swung to look at her.

"You picked me!" Hidan spat, pointing to her. "You were the one who convinced me to join…clearly it's not just because of my mad skills!" His eyes fell to Sasori, his face growing redder. "And now I have more competition?!"

"Stop it." She commanded, elegantly folding her arms into her Akatsuki sleeves.

Obeying the mission leader, both dropped their weapons. It looked like they had been fighting for a while. Hidan's chest heaving, blood was drawn on his torso. A few rips and tears in his cloak. Per usual, Tobi showed no signs of physical distress, or that he even fought, besides the slightly deeper breaths he took.

She sighed in exasperation. "Is this what you two have been doing the whole time?"

"Konan-chan!" Tobi cheered. He ran up to her, throwing his arms around her neck.

His warm body crushed against hers and it felt like she was aflame. "Get off me, Tobi." She ordered calmly, though lethality was evident in her voice. So much for a good first impression.

Tobi unglued himself. "Sorry, Konan-chan I can't help it!" He cheerfully turned to Sasori, who watched him a raised eyebrow. "You got him!"

Hidan approached. The two men observed each other before Hidan extended a hand. "Hidan."

"I heard of you." Sasori said.

"Hidan is our other recent recruitment." Konan explained.

"I heard of you too." Hidan remarked. "Puppet boy."

"They aren't just puppets." He said defensively. "They're art."

"Sasori-senpai will you put on a play for us?!"

"Tobi please." Konan groaned. "Let's just hurry up and return to the Tower."

"I'll skin you and make you the star of the show." Smirked Sasori, as they began to make they way back to Ame.

Hidan let out a laugh. "Hey! This guy isn't so bad."

Kill me now. Konan thought.

…..

Author's Note: So in my research, I found that in one of the Naruto video games, it reveals how Konan and Sasori met-so I pretty much kept to their script with a few liberties. It was interesting to see Sasori so attracted to Konan because of her art, I guess it's not surprising with him!

Also, in case you are wondering, I'm keeping their ages kind of vague-somewhere in their 20s, since the timeline is so murky. If you'd like to imagine them older or younger, go for it!

Thanks for following!