chapter 4: so it begins

Darkness. she stood within this damp dark room, with no more than a candles flame.more members soon began showing up, one by one till there were seven all together. Eight if she were included as well foot steps echoed through the narrow stone arch way only to reveal kisames sihouette, drawing the young womans attention immediately. a tall daunting figure making his way reather loudly to the centre of the room, joined by one she could not distinguish other than red eyes. ' i have no idea how that guy is possible of stealth.' she shoke her head at the thought, finding it rather amusing. no matter how amusing, they were cut short. Glancing up her silver eyes caught the sight of the leader, now standing before them all, motioning for this so called meeting to start. Yet she stayed behind, hidden within the shadows.

" your late.." this was obviously directed towards the large shark man. But namouri couldn't quite recognise the voice. most likely a member she had not yet had the privelege to meet.

" we just caught the jinchuri a moment ago." this was a first, a side to kisame she had yet to see. not that she had many incounters with him. But he seemed more...how to put it, professional to say the least." we had to make a few extra precautions to make sure he wouldn't get away. " His partner stayed silence.

there was a small pause, were they waiting? " good, it looks like everyone is here. " It appeared the so called leader of the s-ranked criminals wanted to get down to business.

" what about hidan and kakuzu?" This must have been the most she had heard kisame speak by far.

" they are dead." now this got her interest. ' dead? i had heard one was killed not too long ago..but two more? i thoguht these guys were the strongest there was?' as much as she tried, the shock on her face could not be washed away. Yet glancing up towards the group, she noticed the same red eyes unmoved by these words. Merely staring ahead.

"really now. ha ha, so the zombie twins are dead. wish i coulda seen how they were killed. " now that was the kisame she knew. well, maybe not knew...but got the impression of.

" dont talk about your comrades like that." now that was suprising. ' seems this guy keeps them in line. but whats stopping these guys from stepping out of line? what does this guy have over them?' She was lost in her own thoughts as the meeting continued.

" who got them?"

" leaf ninja. it was kakashi and the nine tails jinchurri again. " this time it was another she didn't know. squinting her silver orbs, she tried to make out what he looked like, but could only make out what appeared to be a large plant sticking out of his head. But at the name spoken, she was at a loss for words. he had killed one of them. 'kakashi...what is he doing. is he coming after the akatsuki...does he know? no, he can't.' she couldn't think about this, she couldn't let the other memebr know. No matter what, she had to push this from her mind and concentrate on the matter at hand.

"they're strong aren't they. no wonder you got beat up deidara senpai. " There was almost a sarcaism to this ones voice. Already she didn't know whether she found it annoying, or a little refreshing in such an atmosphere as this. Especially when her thoughts split in a turmoil of chaos at a mere name. and she hated it.

"tobi! if i had to keep my patience for you in a bag, it'd be bursting at the seems. say another word and i'll make you wish you were never born." Yet another she knew nothing of. But she made the connection that they were teamates, or at least were suppose to be.

"ha ha your patience in a bag. like your bag of exploding clay. no wonder you have such a short temper. " The young konoichi could hardly keep up with everything that was going on. From just a few minutes she had learnt more about this little group then she thought possible.

"tobi! im gonna kill you. " The pissed off member actually loked like he was going to lunge towards this tobi, if she heard right. However, he was stopped by nothing more than the leaders words.

"shut up deidara, unless you want to prove tobi right. and you tobi, you always take things one step too far. your making your seniors angry. "

" right right. im very sory."

" how do you expect us to catch all the jinchurri if you keep goofing around like this." once again there was a faint blood lust in the shark mans voice. " anyways, id like to seal the four tails as soon as possible."

"hang on, ive got other things to talk about."

"what?" seemed like kisames temper was starting to get the best of him.

"someone has been killed. " now at this she rolled her eyes.

"who."

" orochimaru."

"its been 10 years since he left akatsuki, i suppose his time finally came eh. who ever did it, must have been something else. who was it? " his toothy grin flashed razor sharp teeth in the faint light.

"uchiha Sasuke." that name sounded familar...' uchiha...' she mused to herself.

" damn, i wanted to kill him." there was almost a dissapointment in deidaras tone.

"heh, impressive. you must be proud of your little brother itachi san. " there was no responce. ' itachi...ive heard that name before...'

" hes gathered up a few underlings. all of them could be problematic for us."

" oh?"

" you should now one of them one of the hidden mists houzuki borthers."

" suigetsu. now that takes me back. "

"jugo of tenpin is with them as well.itachi and kisame you both need to stay alert. thery're probably going after you two." The memebres nodded, taking this as the meeting was over. but they were in for a little suprise.

" Now on to other business. we have other tasks before we get to that of the four tails. Since Hidan and kakazu have been killed we have two spots open. " Looking up, she caught his glance in her direction. " one of those positions have been filled. Step forward Namouri." At first, the raspberry haired konoichi made no sign of stirring. ' This is it. what i've wanted for so long...' she smirked under her mask. Reaching into her holster, she pulled something out, something she hadn't seen for a long time. She smoothed the white porcelin face, the bright red paint and faint crack in the corner attaining her attention. her smirk soon faded as she placed it over her face. Pushing off the wall, cloak dusting the ground she walked, Namouri made her way over to the group of S-ranked criminals. Two strands of raspberry locks draped down the sides of her face.

" hai." She stood beside the leader, not caring to look him in the face.

" oh ho. a chick. how exciting. deidara san, i want to switch you with her. " this came from a masked man.

" SHUT UP TOBI. I'LL KILL YOU I SWEAR!" was this deja vu? At this point the two were ignored.

" Unsheenu Namouri Shall become the new member. however, since we have not decided on a second, she shall be placed in a team of two. "

" ooo, put her with us. deidara san is too mean. we could have so much-"

" tobi, silence." instantly the annoying masked man shut up. " as i was saying. she will be placed in a team of two. and since only one team was closest to this position, she will be placed with itachi and kisame. " a mere hmf was heared from the uchiha heir. but a small laughter was heard from the shark man.

" seems like i'll get to have my fun with you after all princess. " his grin revealed his sharp razor teeth.

" That is all, you each know your tasks. everyone else, remeber what ive told you about uchiha sasuke. if they find out too much about itachi and kisame, they may try to disrupt akatsukis plans. " with little else to say, the remaining memebers dissolved into the shadows of the room with no more than a flicker of the candle light. And here she was, left alone with shark man and uchiha itachi...a boy she knew once in the village she once servered.a boy that had changed her life, but a boy she no longer knew.

" this is going to be interesting..."