Oatmeal Cookies.
I couldn't believe it. I was an official member of the organization we tried to destroy. Pein instructed Itachi to bring me to my new room. Itachi obeyed then he led me to a hall which was, surprisingly, well lighted. I thought the Akatsuki's hideout would be much much worse than Orochimaru's. But I was wrong. The halls were not that creepy and the floor is smooth.
Itachi disrupted me from my train of thought when he suddenly opened a black door at the end of the hall.
I blinked a few times then I noticed that he was staring down at me.
"Don't do anything stupid." He reminded me before he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
I entered the room and closed the door behind me. There was a small bed at the right wall and a small window beside it. Another door, leading to the bathroom I presume, was at the other side. There was also a small dresser and a small closet.
I sighed as I sat on the bed. I placed my backpack beside me then gazed around the dull room. There were no colors except black, brown and white.
Well in this case, dirty white.
I stood up from the bed then I was about to go check the bathroom when someone knocked on my door. I cautiously opened the door and peeked on the small opening.
"Hi Sakura-san!" Deidara grinned at me from the small opening of the door.
I opened the door wider then I noticed that he was holding something.
"Here's your uniform!" He grinned once more as he handed me a black cloak and a small black box.
"Um... thanks." I smiled at him. I notice him stumble back.
Then I tried to remember if I brushed my teeth. And yes I did so there should be no left overs in between my teeth. What got him to stumble back?
Deidara suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke. I closed the door then stared at my hands which held my Akatsuki uniform and a small box.
I placed the cloak carefully beside y backpack on top of the bed then opened the small box. There was a piece of paper inside and a ring.
I took the piece of paper and read what's written
Wear this ring to your left littlest finger then wear your uniform. After preparing, go outside your room. Someone's waiting for you.
I nodded then took out the ring.
"Void." I gasped. "This is Orochimaru's ring!"
I carefully slid the ring on my left littlest finger as instructed then stared at it.
"I wonder how they got this ring?" I thought. What I know is that, Orochimaru kept his ring in his main hideout.
Whatever did happen to Orochimaru? Naruto did say that they retrieved Sasuke from Orochimaru but he didn't say anything about killing him.
After putting on the Akatsuki uniform above my usual ninja clothes, I stared at my reflection on the small window.
I looked... dangerous. I noticed that my eyes are fierce and dull. I couldn't really tell why.
"Wow." I stared down then as I twirled around slowly, I heard a small clashing sound of metal. I looked behind me then I saw my forehead protector on the floor.
I slowly picked it up then stared at it. Konoha's symbol.
Three loud knocks came and I clenched my jaw to fight back the tears. I took a deep breath then opened the door.
"Looking good!" Deidara teased.
"You think so?" I tried to play along.
He simple nodded. His grin disappeared when he stared at my hands.
"Is that your forehead protector?"
I smiled then nodded.
"You should slash it. You know... it's part of what we are." He explained.
I forced a smile then took out a kunai from my pouch. I was hesitant at first but after a second of sweating, I fiercely slashed my forehead protector horizontally.
I kept my kunai then put it on where I usually do.
"Now you're ready!" Deidara grinned again.
We walked in silence, silence on my part while Deidara blabbered on and on about being an Akatsuki. I wasn't listening that much. I was still curious on what happen to Orochimaru.
We were still walking at the hall when my curiosity got me.
"Deidara... can I ask a question?" We continued walking.
"Sure, sue." He gestured with his hand that I continue.
"This ring..." I showed him my let hand. "This belongs to... Orochimaru... right?"
He nodded.
"I'm just wondering... how did you get this?" I finally asked.
"It's a long story... but if you really wanna know, let's just say we did a little infiltrating and we saw some things that shouldn't be there." Deidara explained.
I understood what he meant so I nodded in response.
We entered a large room and when I noticed the inside, my courage went AWOL on me. There inside the room were the Akatsukis. Please tell me this is a nightmare!
Deidara left my side and joined Kisame while he discussed some mission of some sort with Pein.
I stood there. Frozen.
"Hey Pinky!" Kisame waved at me.
I smiled at him, hiding my shaking figure.
"Welcome Sakura..." A girl with blue hair walked towards me.
I didn't know Akatsuki had a girl member.
"I'm Konan." She said.
"Nice to meet you." I didn't know what to say.
I saw Itachi silently watching everyone in the background. There were a few other members who I still don't know which I would like to not know but I need to. So yeah, I have my mind tangled right now.
"Sakura..." I heard someone call my name.
I turned to my right and saw the leader, staring at me. Well, everyone is.
"H-hai!" I said as I half-ran towards him.
"I'm giving you your first mission as an Akatsuki." Something's up with his expression. I couldn't tell but I had a feeling taht this mission's gonna be... destructive.
I stared at him, waiting.
"I need you to go to Suna and find a forbidden medical scroll." He handed me a scroll which has the mission details. Somehow, it feels like a normal mission.
"Your parter will be Itachi." Pein announced.
I gasped.
"You still haven't earned my trust. I need you to prove yourself to me." He sternly said.
His voice suddenly sent shivers, and hundreds of them, all over me. I didn't notice that Itachi was already behind me.
Itachi nodded then we disappeared in a puff of smoke.
We were in the forest, heading towards Suna. It felt awkward and scary in his presence. He rarely says something. He only glances at me from time to time then asks about the mission details and that was it!
We reached the desert fast and a few more hours of traveling on foot, we'll be in Suna.
I was about to jump on a tree when a hand was in front of me.
"Huh?" I stood upright. "What's wrong?"
"We'll stay on that cave for the night." He said in his deep voice.
I simple nodded then we headed towards a small, hidden cave.
Itachi just leaned on the wall with his arms crossed as he stared outside. I sat on the warm slightly sandy floor and looked outside.
Nothing was happening. It was getting dark but even int his dark, we can still head towards Suna. And better because it's gonna be dark and stealth is better in the dark.
I wanted to ask him but his eyes makes my heart go wild, not in a lovey dovey way but in a 'fear me I'll kill you' way.
Then a hard gush of wind smacked my face. I opened my eyes and noticed that a sandstorm has occurred. Now I know why we stopped.
"How did you know that there's gonna be a sandstorm?" I asked, as I looked at him.
He shrugged. I rolled my eyes at his actions. Stupid Uchihas...
I sighed then I saw him move. He walked right beside me then he sat on the floor.
I blinked a few times then my heart began to palpitate in the speed of light.
"You said something before..." He said.
I listened.
"Something about your friends betraying you?"
I was shocked. What's his business bout that?
"Right..." I sighed. "Why'd you ask?"
"Nothing." He looked away. "Just curious. You were the apprentice of the Hokage and the top medic-nin of the village. Just wondering why you left all of that for this."
I was shocked once again.
"Well... let's just say I got fed up of the same routine over and over again." I smiled.
He was still looking away and I was staring outside where the sandstorm has stopped. He stood up and I stood up as well.
"Let's go." He commanded. I nodded then we sped off.
-
We stopped a few meters from the gates of Suna. We were behind a large tree and observing the surroundings.
Itachi was using his sharingan as he gazed around.
Guards were everywhere. Itachi said that we'll kill them one by one. I stopped him from making me more of a criminal.
"Wait." I said.
"What?" He asked, his eyes were fierce.
I explained quickly before he did something.
"We'll do this the old fashioned way." I said.
"What are you talking about?" He demanded.
"Just stay right here." I said.
"What are you gonna do?" He demanded once more as he grabbed my arm.
"Trust me on this. Please?"
He let go of me then he hid behind the tree. I made some hand seals then I was the normal Sakura.
I nodded at him then I ran towards the gates.
"Good evening!" I greeted the guards.
"Oh, good evening Haruno-san. What are you doing here?" One of the Sand ninjas asked.
"I was sent in by the Hokage to talk to the kazekage, so I need a pass from you guys." I lied.
He stared at me like something was on my face.
"You don't need a pass! You're a special visitor! Go right in." The other guard grinned at me.
"Really? Thanks." I smiled then entered the gates. I walked fast towards a dark alley when no one was looking.
"That was... good." Itachi said.
He silently went inside while I talked with the guards so no one saw him.
"No one knows where I went so, let's use that to our advantage until they find out." I said.
"Do you know where the scroll is?" He asked.
I nodded. I've been here before. I was also granted access to their secret rooms.
"Can you transform into an ANBU?" I asked him, feeling a bit tougher now.
He nodded then he transformed into an ANBU.
"Good, now we can go together." I smiled.
We went out of the alley then headed towards their tower. When we got to the gates, Temari and Gaara was there.
"Hi Temari!" I tried to act cool but I was shaking nervously. "Good evening Kazekage!"
"What are you doing here this late?" Temari asked, concern was all over her voice.
"Me and this ANBU were sent by the Hokage to get a scroll from you. Didn't someone tell you?" I lied again.
"No." Gaara answered.
"Well... Tsunade-sama sent a letter a few days back before we left Konoha." I said.
Gaara and Temari glanced at each other then at us.
"Hm... numerous sandstorms have been occurring. The letter must have been delayed." Temari suggested.
All of us nodded, except Itachi beside me.
"I guess, we'll just have to go back and carry the letter by ourselves." I faked a pouting face as I sighed.
"No, no. You can get the scroll without the letter." Temari said.
"Yes. We trust you enough that you will take care of the scroll." Gaara nodded.
I was bursting with hate towards myself. I just betrayed them. Stupid, stupid Sakura!
"Really?" The ANBU beside me said.
"Yes. You know where it is, you can go get it." Temari stepped out of the way then we went inside.
The halls were dark as we headed towards a secret passage. I pushed a wall on the last hall then it moved and showed a staircase leading downstairs.
"You really are an advantage." Itachi muttered.
I only nodded as we headed down. I was disgusted at myself. I need to report this immediately. So Tsunade-sama would tell me what to do with the scroll.
We entered a room filled with scrolls. "So... we'll just have to look for it then we're done." I said.
He nodded. He didn't transform back. We searched every shelf and cabinet until we found the scroll we needed.
There was no title on the outside. When we opened it, it was blank. Just the scroll we needed.
"What's this?" I asked Itachi.
"The leader doesn't tell us about what's he gonna do about the scrolls."
"Ah." I nodded.
We headed back and we didn't encounter Temari or Gaara outside. We went pass the guards then we returned to the small cave.
We were back to our normal clothes. Akatsuki uniforms that is.
"Not bad." He said.
"Thanks." I smiled.
-
It was midnight and the sandstorm made us stay in the cave. Itachi made a small bonfire then he decided to go deeper into the cave.
"Good timing." I said to myself.
I carefully and silently, summoned a messenger bird. In his claws, there was already a piece of paper and a small pen. I wrote quickly then let it fly immediately.
Tsuande-sama, I'm an official member of the Akatsuki now. I already had my first mission with Uchiha Itachi. We stole a forbidden scroll from Suna. It was blank and I don't know what is it.
Sakura
As if on cue, Itachi was walking back.
"When are we heading back to the base?" I asked.
"Tomorrow at dawn. You can sleep if you want."
O-kay... what happened to ice cold Uchihas these days?
I stared at him and he was staring at me as well.
"What?" I asked.
"I'm trying to figure out something." He mentioned.
I stiffened.
"W-What is it?" I asked nervously.
"You."
This is a long chapter because I'm not gonna be doing some updates soon. Sorry! I suddenly had a life outside the computer!