A/N: Hey, I'm sorry it took so long for me to update...I'm having a very busy summer break. I'd like to thank my first reviewers: pigs 103, Crazy Neko Girl, dizneyrulz23, yingyang personalities, and TheCloudsSeemLonelyToday! Thank you soooooooooo much guys! Here's the second chapter. As you see, I changed the genre of the story; I think the current one suits it better. Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Naruto characters.

Itachi was confused. Who was this girl, and why was she acting that way? He carefully stepped out from his hiding place and started slowly approaching her. However, he barely made a few steps before a humongous clay bird landed in front of him. A guy with eyeliner around his blue eyes and a long blond ponytail jumped of it, grinning.

''Hey, Itachi, old man! Anything new?'' Deidara said.

Itachi sighed. Lately, Deidara used to call him old man, which he certainly wasn't. But after he mentioned it to him a few times, and Deidara continued, he refrained from saying anything and just let it slip.

''I've been here on a lookout when this girl came along,'' he said, indicating her with his head over Deidara's shoulder.

Deidara turned around to look at her. ''Why did she faint, un? You didn't do anything to her, did you?''

''No, don't be stupid. I've been hiding all the time. She came and started crying, and then she went totally bananas, and started hitting and shattering all the tree trunks, and injured her hands, and then fainted.

''That explains why this place is such a mess, un. She seems to be pretty strong, un,''

Itachi nodded.

''But still, you couldn't have comforted her or anything? Maybe then she wouldn't wreck this beautiful clearing, un,'' said Deidara.

''It is not my job to comfort random girls coming here crying,'' grumbled Itachi. Besides, you know I'd sooner get annoyed with her and lose my patience. And that wouldn't be good for her,'' he added darkly.

Deidara shook his head. ''Man, you just don't know how to handle girls. No wonder you've always been single, un.''

''I am an S-ranked criminal who killed his own family. I am not supposed to have a girlfriend.''

Deidara shrugged. ''Suit yourself, un. But let's have a look at her.''

Both of them approached Hinata cautiously.

''She's pretty, un,'' mumbled Deidara gazing at her.

Itachi didn't respond.

''But she seems to be fatigued. Look at her, she's really skinny, un. And her clothes are dirty and ripped, un. And look at her hands. She's quite a mess, un.''

''She seems to have been through some tough times,'' Itachi nodded in agreement. ''But she's pretty powerful. And she has a Byakugan. I assume she's a Hyuuga.

''So, what do we do with her?'' asked Deidara.

Itachi gazed at Hinata for a few seconds. What could they possibly do with her? A part of him was telling him to just leave her there, and a part of him felt that he couldn't just abandon her in this state. Cruel he might seem, but he didn't have the heart to do something like that. And besides, she's strong, he thought. So she would be a nice addition to the Akatsuki…

''Well…'' said Deidara.

''She certainly had abilities that would be of great use to us,'' Itachi said. ''I think the leader would be pleased if we brought her. As long as she recovers, she could be of help in the missions.''

''Are you sure you'll be able to convince her to join?'' asked Deidara suspiciously.

''Oh don't worry,'' said Itachi with a half-smile. ''I will.''

''It'd be nice to have a girl around for once, un,'' said Deidara grinning mischievously.

''Oh, shut up,'' Itachi retorted sharply.

''So, we take her to the headquarters then?'' asked Deidara.

Itachi sighed. ''To the headquarters we go.''

XXXXXXXXXXXX

''So, Itachi, you're saying she's extremely strong,'' said the leader.

''Yes,'' replied Itachi shortly.

''Just go to that place, and see what's left of the poor trees she took her frustrations out on,'' mumbled Deidara.

''We just have to let her recover. If she was that strong in this state, I am sure she will be amazing once she's healthy and in form,'' said Itachi, ignoring Deidara.

''I can only imagine how gorgeous she'll be then,'' Deidara said under his breath. Itachi shot him a glare.

''All right then. Itachi, you'll be in charge for her,'' said the leader.

''You've got to be kidding me. If the girl doesn't die of shock and fear after their first encounter, short-tempered as he is, he'll kill her because of annoying him with some small thing for sure, un'' protested Deidara.

''Itachi knows very well that if he harms her, he's going to answer to me. Besides, Itachi will be more capable of questioning her and convincing her. And that is my final word,'' he added as Deidara opened his mouth in protest. ''Itachi, after you're finished with her, report to me and then I'll speak to her.''

Deidara shook his head, and exited the room, muttering, ''Poor girl. He's gonna scare the hell outta her, that's for sure.''

XXXXXXXXXX

Hinata opened her eyes, and blinked a few times, taking in the surroundings. When she realized she was in an unfamiliar room, lying on a four poster bed, she sat up suddenly, her heart hammering. The room spun around, and her vision was darkened, as pain shot through her head. She clutched her forehead with her hands, and shut her eyes waiting for it to pass.

After a few moments, she opened her eyes again; the pain in her head eased, but still throbbing, like somebody was hitting her skull with a hammer. She looked around her.

The room looked like it was owned by a princess from some fairy tale. On the windows were purple silk curtains, blocking the sunlight. Across the room, leaning against a wall was a purple table filled with small crystal bottles of all colors. Above it was a mirror, with decorated with gemstones. A little distance away was a huge closet, made of finest mahogany. She felt the sheets on her bed with her hand. They were made from a fine smooth material, and seemed to be hand made, judging by the embroidery.

She got out of the bed, and noticed just then, how exhausted she actually was. She could barely stand upright. But still, she walked over to the door that stood next to the bead, assuming it was the bathroom. Not even the current state she was in would prevent her from taking care of her personal hygiene.

After she took a shower, she came back into the room, wrapped in a towel. She opened the closet and examined the clothes in there. Mostly there were dresses made of silk and richly decorated. She took one that was lavender, since it matched her eyes and put it on. It had no sleeves, a bow tying the waist and a wide skirt. It fit her perfectly, but it didn't really suit Hinata's taste in clothing. But she had no choice.

Just then, she noticed a tray of food sitting on a small coffee table. Ravenous as she was, she first checked it for any poison or sedatives. Then, she started eating, and felt strength slowly come back to her. Then, her mind finally started functioning properly, and she began wondering where she was. She fainted while she was in the woods. Who did find her and bring her there? Must have been someone rich, she reasoned, judging by the room.

When she finished eating, she decided to go out, and look around the house or building or whatever she was in, find the person that helped her, and thank them. And then figure out what to do next. Maybe whoever helped her would be able to find her a job or something. With that thought, she went over to the door, opened it…

… and found herself face to face with Uchiha Itachi.

She gasped, and started trembling with fear as she stood there, looking at him. He looked menacing, since he was tall, and had his Mangekyou Sharingan turned on. She couldn't move or speak, just stare at him.

"So, you woke up, I see," he said in a voice that wasn't unpleasant, rather distant and formal.

"Y-yes," Hinata barely responded. And she thought she had overcome those stuttering problems.

"Are you feeling better?"

She nodded slowly.

"Do you mind if I come in?" he asked.

"N-no," she said and moved from the door to let him pass, her heart racing. What was he going to do with her? He was after all an extremely dangerous criminal, who had killed his own clan. And she was at his mercy. The thought made her gulp. She wanted to plead for her life or something, even though she knew her life wasn't worth anything anymore. But everything she wanted to say got stuck in her throat, and the words were refusing to go any further.

He was sitting on her bed and watching her intently with his Sharingan.

"Sit down," he said, in a kinder voice, probably because he saw how scared she was. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

She sat down next to him, a bit reassured but still scared for the most part.

"Now, tell me, what's your name?"

"H-Hyuuga H-Hin-nata," she responded.

"How old are you?"

"I'm g-going t-to t-turn s-seventeen s-soon."

"You are a shinobi, I assume."

Hinata nodded.

"OK, Hinata, tell me what was that all about back in the woods."

"You found me, right?"

Itachi nodded.

"Were you there the whole entire time?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied. And it seems like you were sad and frustrated about something. What is it?"

She hesitated. Should she tell him the truth? Or part of the truth. He helped her, she felt like she owed it to him, but she was still afraid.

"I'll t-tell y-you. B-but first please t-tell m-me where I am."

"Akatsuki headquarters," he said.

Akatsuki? The secret organization of S-ranked criminals? The one Orochimaru was rumored to be a member of? Great. Just my luck. On top of everything, Akatsuki has got me, Hinata thought.

Itachi seemed to have read her mind. "Don't be afraid. As I already told you, we're not going to hurt you. We want to help you. You're not going to get harmed in any way. Believe me," Itachi said.

Hinata thought about it. Maybe they didn't want to harm her. But what did they want from her? She decided to tell them the truth. For the most part. She figured truth would be the best, and she was too exhausted, full of shock and fright to think of any lies. "I got kicked out of my clan, and then nobody wanted to help me, so I have no money, place to live, or friends. That's why I was crying." At least she wasn't stammering anymore.

"You're from the head Hyuuga family, I see, since you don't have the seal. Why did they kick you out then?" Itachi said,

"I did something that was threatening to the honor of the clan. I'd rather not talk about it," she added hastily at Itachi's questioning look. "It's something…personal."

Itachi stared at her with a thoughtful gaze for while. "So, what are you planning on doing now," he asked after a while.

"I don't know. As I said, I have nowhere to go," she replied.

Itachi nodded. "Well, I have an offer for you. Would you like to join Akatsuki?"

OK, this chapter didn't turn out exactly according to the plan. It was more light-mooded then I assumed it would be, at least in the begginning. And I decided to move some stuff from this chapter to the next one.

Any comments, suggestions, or even critics are more than welcome. Of you have any wishes or suggestions on the plot development, feel free to let me know. Sooooo, see that little button on the bottom left corner? Push it review, and make my day happy by doing that!