It was late into the evening when Kakashi's team came upon the village that Sakura and Sasuke had passed through just hours before their arrival. The village was still teeming with life, and the smell of food wafted up to the ledge where they were standing.

"Well," asked Kakashi, "what do you think Jiraiya-sama?"

"Hmmmm... they could have come through here, or at the very least, someone must have seen them. It's everyday you see a girl with pink hair..."

"Do you think it's wise to advertise our movement? Orochimaru-sama may discover that we've picked up their scent."

"That's true," said Jiraya, stretching. "Though, we could find the state of things if we don't appear to be ourselves."

At that point, Jiraiya put his hands on his head and smiled over to Kakashi.

"Akatsuki may not want to advertise themselves, either..." said Jiraiya, smiling over to them.

"Alright everyone," said Kakashi looking lazy. "Time to change outfits. All symbols of Konoha need to be put away. This village is a haven for shinobi gone awry, we'll need to dress the part in order for our whereabouts not to be seen...Does everyone have additional clothing?"

"I DO!" shouted Lee.

Reaching into his bag, Lee pulled forth a sleek outfit, much like the green one he was wearing, except it was black. Smiling a sparkling smile and giving the thumbs-up, he was winked at Neji who shuddered.

"I have an extra one! It comes with an eye-patch!" Lee chanted to Kisame.

"You're sick..." said Kisame, raising a furrowed brow.

"I'll take the patch," said Kakashi. "You just change out of that green suit. That green is well-known for being the trademark of Gai-sensei. I guess the black's better than nothing."

As the team began to remove all headbands, Kakashi noticed that they all looked too clean.

"Neji," said Kakashi, looking him up and down. "You're too clean. Do something."

Neji took a look at himself. It was true. His all white ensemble didn't fit the part. Ignoring an ecstatic Lee wiggling the additional black suit, Neji dug into his back to find a black outfit that was pretty uniform for most shinobi. Luckily, the symbol for the branch house branded to Neji's forehead was already covered by bandages, but his hairstyle was very formal. So, Neji tied his hair into a ponytail and ran his fingers through it several times to make it look thrashed from the wind.

"Hmmm..." said Kakashi, analyzing the new ensemble. "Your eyes will give you away..."

"Here," said Itachi, handing Neji his straw hat.

"Good!" said Kakashi. "You look mysterious now!"

Kisame and Itachi both took off their coats while Jiraiya stood there watching. There was nothing he could do with his outfit.

"I am too handsome that I am unable to hide myself," said Jiraiya with his arms crossed. "Anyway, I don't look like a typical shinobi."

Kakashi tied the eye patch and took off his vest. Removing his gloves that were adorned with the Konoha symbol, he then proceeded to pull open the front of his shirt so that his chest was exposed a bit.

"There now!" said Kakashi. "Don't we look better!"

"I feel like I'm in a group of half-bit felons..." mumbled Naruto.

"Speak for yourself," said Deidara.

Deidara didn't have to try. He just pulled out his shirt so that it flapped in the wind as his chest covered with netting protruded with lean muscles. The only thing gone was his coat.

"Well, this is the best we can do for now," sighed Kakashi. "Let's go..."

Upon entering the village, people who were still walking the streets peered over at the unusual bunch passing through. It was quite obvious that the one in the sleek black outfit was gritting his teeth too hard, but the three in the back seemed to be quite at home.

It was the Akatsuki members who passed them off. Their cohesiveness is what made their party look right just enough so that people didn't do a triple-take.

"Stop at the bar up ahead," said Deidara. "There's a place we can stay."

"Whoah..." said Naruto, coming up to the bar. It looked as if there was a bit of a brawl as the sides of the door were broken outward.

As the team sat down at a table, there was a man sitting at the bar who was nursing his head and holding his back.

"Good job," said the bartender to the man. "You would think that if women rarely ever set foot in this place, that the only one who does would be a force to reckon with...baka..."

"Stupid pink-haired bitch..." mumbled the man. "I shouldn't have grabbed her ass..."

Before the man finish the last word, Itachi had already pinned him by the neck against the wall.

"What?" said Itachi, so calmly and with placid eyes. "You grabbed her what?"

"Who the fuck are you!?" squealed the man, squirming in the air.

"The woman you saw, what did she look like?" said Itachi, still placid, but even scarier.

"Short, pink hair...pinkish top, or fushia I think...she came in to buy two bentos. I heard she got into a fight with the guy with three scars on his face! He hangs out further down the road!"

"Was she with anyone?"

"I don't know! She did buy two bentos though!"

Itachi dropped the guy and smirked. So, those injuries were from her. The marks on the door must have been where she sent him flying.

Itachi returned to the table. Everyone was too stunned to get up and were just sitting there gawking at him. Having overheard the conversation as well, they soon were nodding in thought.

"That's my Sakura-chan!" said Lee.

"Poor bastard..." said Naruto. "I almost feel sorry for him. Sakura's looks can kill, alone."

"Well, atleast we know that she went through here," said Kakashi.

Looking over at Itachi, Deidara mumbled just enough for Akatsuki and Neji to hear.

"...but why was she alone..."

It was not long before they had found the shinobi with the three scars on his face, and it was not long before Itachi had him choking in his hand up against a wall.

"I didn't know who the guy was! He just showed up and defended her!" yelped the shinobi.

"What did he look like?" asked Itachi, his eyes beginning to show a slight bit of anger.

"He...he..." stammered the shinobi before suddenly getting a good look at Itachi. "He look like you! Only younger!"

Itachi's grip began to squeeze. The shinobi had his air supply cut into two.

"And why would she need protecting?" said Itachi, obviously catching on to whose fault it was.

The shinobi could not answer. However, before he was just about to pass out, Itachi dropped him to the floor.

The others looked on disturbed, while Deidara and Kisame looked on as if it were business. As Naruto shuddered at the cold-bloodedness of the situation, Deidara turned to him.

"You see, Naruto," said Deidara. "The difference between you and Akastuki differs only in one respect... no remorse. Free yourself from remorse over your enemies, and you will be able to completely eliminate hesitation and inconsistency. Hesitation is what causes you to lose the battle in that moment of decisiveness, while inconsistency inhibits your growth as a shinobi. Eliminate remorse and you eliminate these two. Remember that."