Hey Awesomes! (Yeah I decided to call you readers Awesomes because you guys ARE awesome) I'm back with a new chapter! I'm quite pleased by this chapter, but if something's amiss, please let me know. That said, here are some people I want to shout out to:

Poll Results: Well... everyone's suggestion was different. Though I liked the Killer Bee X Kisame idea. It sounds hilarious already just thinking about it. XD

Anyway, without further ado, chapter 7 is here. Enjoy!

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"Sakura-san." An even voice interrupted her in her thoughts, causing her to jump. Mustering every ounce of effort in her body, Sakura opened her eyes to look at the person who had caught her panicked frenzy.

And bit her lip to hold back a groan. She just couldn't get a break, could she?

Standing opposite her with his hands clasped behind his back, decked in his onyx shinobi pants and long-sleeved shirt, was the leader of the organization himself. He peered at her, his silver-indigo eyes questioning.

Sakura had a fleeting thought, wishing he would just disappear along with the rest of the Akatsuki. An irrational thought, but she bore it all the same, because she was just so, so overwhelmed.

Within three days, she had been kidnapped by Akatsuki and forced to work with them due to her identity slip-up three months earlier –which she had not known at all at the time. Simultaneously, she had succumbed herself to being at continual risk of being exposed for her other identity – the new jinchuuriki. While Pein had a false lead (one that Kurama had established earlier to be Naruto's chakra), she could never be too careful by concealing the kyuubi's own. She was taking a large, large gamble by working, living and breathing with Akatsuki – it would be a matter of time before any of them found out, Sakura knew.

However, finding the kyuubi later was better than finding it now, in Sakura's opinion, which was why she had to agree. Pein would have never taken no as an answer. If she'd said no, she would be dead by now with the kyuubi unleashed and destroying Akatsuki or getting caught and subsequently being extracted and that would be the end of the nations as she knew it.

So here she was, in her new room in the Akatsuki's headquarters, contemplating the inevitable fate that would befall her with a grim expression, forgetting everything else that had occurred over the past few days and the man standing before her.

"Sakura-san," the Leader called again, snapping her out of her thoughts. "I understand that these past few days must have been difficult, but I hope you will… recover. Quickly," he added evenly, his tone betraying no emotion but professionalism.

It took some time for the girl to respond. She had rushed into the room in a frenzy as though escaping something, and whatever it was she was thinking about had made her features contort into a slightly forlorn look for a split second, before masking it with ease as though she had had much practice.

It wasn't surprising. She had been a missing nin for two years, and being able to mask emotions came as an unintended set of skills. However, so was Pein. If any common man or woman had been conversing in his place, they wouldn't have noticed the slightly sad look crossing her features as he did.

A few pink strands of hair wisped in front of the girl's face and she brushed them off unhurriedly. Her gaze seemed devoid of emotion as she spoke.

"I understand… Leade-"

"It is not necessary to call me that," the man responded automatically, and was slightly pleased to notice a surprised look crossing her features. However, he did not show it, opting to speak in an even tone, though slightly softer this time. "I understand that you will have a hard time integrating with us, and hence I only hope you will give your best effort on your part as we will give ours. Such was the reason I ate lunch today with you and the rest-" at this, Sakura made a slight choking sound, but he went on, apparently having not noticed it, "-and I am now offering answers to any questions you harbor, so you can learn more about the team you are joining."

Sakura could do nothing but nod dumbly. He had just offered to answer any of her questions. She was certain he had the traits of a good leader, but what shocked her more was his lack of tyrannical set of skills to control the group.

It appeared as though they really worked as a team. She was utterly blown over and confused at the same time.

So, it wasn't surprising when she decided to ask the question that was foremost on her mind.

"Why did you form Akatsuki?"

And so, the conversation between the Leader and his newest recruit began.

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In a matter of fifteen minutes, Pein had summarized his theory, or rather goal, of achieving peace with the tailed beasts with a condensed version of his history. He had to give it to Sakura for remaining silent throughout his whole explanation. She had made no outward reaction when he had dished out his theory of attaining peace with the demons gathered and had not even flinched.

Truthfully, he had been worried that she would make an outright declaration that she disagreed with his goal and would not work with him. He would have to resort to his other unpleasant methods of recruitment, and although it was necessary, he hated having to do it.

Therefore, he was even doubly surprised when she spoke after being given a few minutes to digest it.

"I know what happened to Kakuzu; he was killed by one of my sensei, Sarutobi Asuma. And I killed Sasori," she gave a smug smile of satisfaction, uncaring that Pein was watching her. If she had studied his face, she would've noticed something akin to an amused smirk on his face. "But what happened to the other two? If I recall correctly, there was a plantlike man associated with intelligence gathering and a female member."

Sakura looked at the man, noticing his posture had stiffened as though the question had hurt him. A look of despair and sadness crossed his features so quickly and Sakura would not have noticed it if she had blinked, and the mask of nonchalance was in place once more.

He seemed to hesitate in answering, and Sakura couldn't help but grow more curious. She definitely had broached a sensitive topic. If she recalled correctly, the late Tsunade had briefly referred to the female Akatsuki member as Pein's partner, but she wasn't so sure, given that she had been ranting about him in a drunken stupor. A brief feeling of nostalgia overwhelmed her and Sakura struggled to keep it at bay. Tsunade was gone, and Sakura knew her shishou wouldn't want her to dwell on the past when there was so much responsibility on her shoulders now, and doing so would only cause more pain.

"Zetsu was incapacitated on a mission… And the female member, Konan, was low on chakra after the 8-tailed demon extraction…" Pein trailed off, as though hesitant to explain. "She was unable to defend herself when Sand shinobi found her in one of our bases alone. She was killed."

Sakura knew an end to the topic at hand when she heard one. She decided to grill Deidara on it later, but remembered what had happened earlier and froze the thought. It was one of those Really Bad Ideas to talk to a guy who just proved he had the hots on her. She tucked away the topic at the moment quickly, noticing Pein was watching her expectantly for her next question.

"I have another question."

"Ask away," he said softly, his gaze on hers.

"Who is Tobi and why does he have the Sharingan?" Sakura blurted, and noticing Pein's shocked stare –which of course, was quickly masked again. Okay, Sakura thought. Maybe I was too forward with that one.

Sakura tensed as the orange-haired man suddenly walked closer to her, his hands hung loosely at his sides. As he came even closer, Sakura instinctively backed away with widened eyes, warning bells ringing in her head as she held her hands in front of her in a defensive and placating gesture.

Then she noticed his hands coming together to form a series of seals and the room glowed yellow. It was a soundproof jutsu, and Sakura almost hyperventilated at what he planned to do.

Please don't kill me, please don't kill me, please don't kill-

His body exuded warmth in front of her as he placed a hand on the door to support his weight, and proceeded to lean in toward her face. For a moment, Sakura stared, all nonchalance forgotten, her lips quivered in a different kind of fear.

Then he turned his head slightly, his mouth hovering near her ear instead.

Sakura inhaled his woodsy scent, feeling strangely dizzy and her thoughts went along the line of what the hell is happening as he opened his mouth for the softest of whispers.

"That is none of your concern, and I suggest it stays that way." Blood rushed from her face instantly, and she knew Tobi was one huge threat to her even without Pein having to say it clearly.

"Why?" Sakura found herself whispering as well, her gaze riveted to the long line of piercings on his ear. Her heart was thudding furiously like a war drum, and she hoped dearly that he couldn't hear it. His breath warmed her ear as he spoke, making her jump slightly.

"Just do it." With that, the leader pulled back from her, his piercing gaze in place. Sakura felt relief washing over her as she regained her personal space. Gathering her wits about her, she cleared her throat.

"If he's so untrustworthy, why did you include him in your group?" She arched an eyebrow at him curiously, waiting for his response.

"Because it is better to have him with us than against us," he responded easily, his Rinnegan eyes boring into her jade ones. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, waiting for the other to respond and the other to elaborate. Nobody moved.

Then came the knock at the door, making Sakura realize belatedly that she had been staring for too long… and so did he.

"Kunoichi, open up!"

The tension defused in the same instant, and Sakura turned to open the door, eager for the conversation to be over. Pein probably felt the same, judging by his hands in his pockets and his usual mask in place. Sakura had to marvel at the way he quickly changed his expression from one of interest to indifference. She was nowhere near that level.

The door opened to reveal a grinning Kisame with his infamous Samehada strapped to his back, holding what seemed to be a basket of apples. He scanned her room, noticing the orange-haired man and grinned even wider, revealing sharp teeth.

"Kunoichi,-"

"It's Sakura!" The girl bellowed frustratedly, annoyed at his teasing. It felt slightly odd that Kisame, the man who craved and itched for a fight, and a dangerous man (or fish) to boot, was currently teasing her.

She still couldn't internalize lunchtime that day. It felt so… so… normal. As though they were normal people.

They are normal people. Or rather, they used to be, her inner Sakura mused.

She watched Kisame warily, but it was hard to take the man seriously when he was grinning with a basket of apples in tow.

"Fine, let's settle for a compromise. Pinky, then?" he replied in a cheerful tone.

Sakura fought the urge to smile back, and retorted with a scowl. "Fine. By all means, fishface."

She was taken aback when the man threw his head back and gave a deep, booming laugh, his eyes seeming to twinkle. "My, my, Pinky's got some guts and a sense of humour," he said, impressed. Then as though remembering why he had visited, his expression changed to one of raw excitement.

"You see, Leader here has suggested you spar with us a little bit, to see who you work with best," he grinned happily, his large hand coming to clap her shoulder. Strangely enough, she did not feel bothered by the contact.

Instead, the girl spared the enigmatic leader a sharp look. He simply gazed at her, unmoving, his face betraying nothing.

Kisame carried on, not noticing the silent exchange. "The rest of them are waiting at the training grounds for you and since I'm the best-mannered out of all of them, I offered to get you m'self," he winked at her.

His attitude was infectious and Sakura could not help but thaw towards him slightly. Living with the Akatsuki in only one day had already showed aspects of them she'd never known, and maybe, just maybe, there was some good in everyone.

Deciding to make the best of things, the pink-haired kunoichi extended a hand.

"I think we haven't been introduced to each other formally," she said with a dimpled smile. "My name is Sakura. What's yours?"

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I have got to say this first. Asuma was NOT killed by Hidan. So she harbours no ill will (generally) to any of them. She did not fight Deidara, so she had no trouble adjusting and working with him as a missing nin for the past two years.

And I totally love Pein's piercings. I just had to include it in this chapter. His piercings are too sexy for them to NOT be mentioned, ehehe.

AND I HAVE A... (Drumroll)...

NEW POLL: Who is hotter- Pein or Deidara?

And don't you just love the image of Kisame holding a basket of apples? If you do, hit the review button below! :D