Sapphire09: I'm reposting the original version of Scattered Fragments since I remembered someone requested me to, but I did not edit anything. So, I'm terribly sorry for the grammar.

"Human talks"

'Human thinking'/ flashback/memories/ dreams

'Telepathic conversation between humans'

Letters/ notes

"Demon/other inhuman things talks"

'Demon/another inhuman things thought'

'Telepathic conversation between demons/other inhuman things'

CHAPTER IV
The Eight-tailed Wolf

After lunch, Sasuke walk out in an alley, enjoying the silent moment. Sakura is nowhere in sight, since she said she have to help her mom.

He walks aimlessly, just enjoying the silent moment. He then arrived near the Hokage Tower, unknowingly. He then decides to enjoy the view from on top of Hokage Mountain. He sat on top of the Yondaime head. 'Wow, I never knew the view here is this pretty. The wind here also good,' Sasuke mutters, in his amazement. When he was alone, he feels free to mutter anything and showing his expression, as long as he was alone. He then lean on his back and close his eyes, feeling the breeze and, unknowingly, he felt asleep.

(Sasuke's dream)

"Nii-san, where are we going?" an eight years old Sasuke asked to the thirteen years old Itachi. Itachi said he wants to meet with someone, and he said Sasuke can come, but he doesn't tell him where he will meet.

"Be patient, we're almost there. Ah, here we are," Itachi said. They arrived in a place where stream flow. It was a pretty place, to say at the least. Near the stream, there was a little kid with about shoulder length hair sit under the tree. However, the shadow of the tree shadowed that kid, so that kid's face and the color of that kid's hair couldn't be seen. The only thing that can be seen is that kid's outfit. That kid wears a red shirt and white shorts.

Itachi and Sasuke then come closer to that kid. "Nami-chan. I'm here," Itachi said to that kid.

"Ita-kun! What's taking you so long? I already waiting here for two hours!" that kid said, in voice of annoyance. That kid then see Sasuke behind Itachi, then asked, "Who is he? Is he your brother? He looks so much like you! Like a mini Itachi!" the kid said. Sasuke could feel the kid's curious gaze

"Nami-chan, meet my brother, Sasuke. Otouto, meet Minami. Oh, yeah. Nami-chan is a girl. Don't know why, but she always dressed in boy's outfit," Itachi said. Before Sasuke can say anything, Minami hug Sasuke tightly. It's so fast; Sasuke can even barely see her face. "Yay! New friend!" Minami said as she crushed Sasuke. Sasuke, because she is hugging him too tight, just froze. Ha barely got that kind of affection, except from his mother. Even his own mother didn't hug him that fast, and that tight.

"Ano... Nami-chan, you're suffocating my brother," Itachi said. Sasuke's face is turned blue, because of the lack of air. "Ah! Sorry!" She said and back to the tree shades. It took Sasuke minutes to back to his sense. When he snapped out, Minami is hidden again in the tree shades.

"WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!" Sasuke screamed. "Ah! You don't like to be hugged? ...Or... you didn't want to be my... friend?" she said. Her last sentence is a bit shaky. Sasuke startled by that. 'I didn't mean to make her cry!'

"NO! That's not what I meant! I do want to be your friend, but you hug me... so suddenly. I'm not used to that," Sasuke try to convince her. He then silently pleading to his brother, that standing right beside him, to help.

"Yes, Nami-chan. He's just not used to be suddenly hugged like that," Itachi try to convince her too. He didn't want Sasuke lose a friend, or going to be friend.

"Really?" she asked. Don't know how, but Sasuke feels that he can see that the girl is smiling. "Of course!" Itachi and Sasuke said in a simultaneous time, Minami then giggling at the coincidence. "You really are alike," she said.

"Well, thanks," Itachi said, smiling. Truthfully, Sasuke is a bit shocked to his friendly expression. Usually, Itachi only warmed up near him. 'Then, she must be someone important for nii-san,'

"What's your dream, Minami-chan?" Sasuke suddenly asked. Minami blinked at that sudden question. She then thinks up about it.

"Well, all I want is for people to recognize me," she said. A little bit of sadness is clouding her words. "Really? Then, I'll help you until you reach your dream!" Sasuke bluntly and childishly said. Itachi and Minami blink once. Minami then smiled.

"Then, what is your dream, Sasuke?" Minami asked back, smile still plastered on her lips. "Well, my dream is to be as strong as, no, to surpass nii-san!" Sasuke cheerfully said. "Then, I'll help you reach that dream," Itachi said and grinned (A/n: Oh my god!), as he ruffled Sasuke's hair, making it messier. He knew that his brother always told him not to, but he also knew he like that, too.

"Nii-san!" Sasuke said in voice of annoyance. Itachi just laughed, also with Minami. "Well, I see it is a nice brotherhood you have," Minami give her compliment. Minami then out from the shadows, but then everything is begun to blur. The only thing Sasuke see is a pair of blue orbs.

(End of Sasuke's dream)

Sasuke's eyes snapped open. He sees the bloody orange color spread on the sky. He then stand up and see his surroundings, he then remembered that he's just fallen asleep on top of the Hokage Mountain. He then sit down again and begun to think about his dream.

'It's... only a dream? But, it feels so real. It feels like... a piece of my memory is flowing back,' Sasuke thought. He then try to remember again, but he just get headache in the end. 'I'll just think about this later. It's already late,' he thinks as he jumped down and walks towards his apartment. 'But, then again, no one waits me, anyway,' he thought sadly. He then change the course and go to find the place that's in his dream. 'If it was my piece of memory, then that place must be existed.'

"Welcome back, Nami-chan, Kyuubi-san," one of Pein's bodies greeted. "Hi, Pein," Yoko greeted back. "Hi, uncle. Is everything in order?" Minami asked. She's now arrived in the Akatsuki lair. "Everything is alright. Even though Zetsu, Hidan and Kakuzu are sometimes a little out of control (mutters), we still can control everything," the real Pein, or Nagato answered. "That's a good thing to hear. Well, let's held a meeting with the others," Minami ordered not in such an orderly tone, but still an order.

In the Akatsuki meeting room, Minami sat on in the middle, in front of the round table, with Yoko still on her shoulder, Pein on her right, with Konan beside him and Itachi on Minami's left. The others just sat randomly. Minami then begun to spoke up.

"Well, I believe everyone is here. And, I also believe that Itachi already told you all about your current mission," everyone just nodded. "However, I want to make it clear. I didn't want you to capture them; I want you to make them join us willingly. But, if their current village is willingly to protect them, and treat them like how they supposed to be treated, we will ally with them. Currently, my uncle's village and my aunt's village is very well hidden and we do needs ally," Minami spoke.

"Minami, I do agree with you. Amegakure will need allies sooner or later. However, I think it was a very rare chance that the villager will treat them with respect. We have to be careful to not reveal our village to the public, too," Pein spoke up. Konan then also spoke up, "Me too, Minami. My Nijigakure will also like to be allied with other village to improve our own village. Amegakure was out of question, since we are already allied. I also agree with Pein's statement. However, what we would do if the village already turn them into weapon, and unwilling to give them to us?"

"I already thought about it, and I know that it is would be a trouble for us. Capture those that turned into weapon. I'll take care of them, besides, no matter how heartless they would be, they must've had a little of feeling, since no way their demon is willingly to have a mindless vessel. I know quite well of the other Bijuu, and I know they have quite high dignity," Yoko said. Minami nods, "Just capture those that turned into weapons! Not the one that still have clear mind," Minami reminded. Kisame then spoke up. "Minami-san, you'll be staying here for how many days?"

"Well, just for a week. I can't leave too long, since now I am an official ninja of Konohagakure," she said.

"Well, if that's all, we'll do our mission now. We'll try to find them in a week, even if that's seems impossible," Sasori said, and then all of them are gone in poof of smoke.

"Minami-san," a girl spoke up. "Just drop the formalities now, Rin nee-chan. You do know that you don't need to be formal outside the importance, right?" Minami answered back. Because she is just 12 years old, she rarely uses formalities around the other Akatsuki member too. She uses to call them by pet names or nii-san or nee-chan. "Ha-ha. I forgot. Nami-chan, I hear from Tobi that Kakashi is your jounin instructor, right?" Rhein, or Rin asked. "Yes, and if you asked 'is he a good sensei', I can't tell straight away," Minami said.

"He may not a good sensei, but at least he is a good ninja," Tobi added. "Yes. But I still can't tell, since my team is not yet training, we're just taking a test yesterday," Minami said. "Well, that's all we wanted to know. At least I'm glad if he's not being such a bastard again. If he is, when we reunite again, give us the pleasure to beat the shit outta him," Rhein said, while Tobi agreeing. "Oh, okay. Don't worry about that," Minami said, wave her hands. Rhein and Tobi also waves and disappear in swirl of leaves.

"You know, kit? In your free time like this, you have to go to the library and started to read those books," Yoko said. She is still staying on Minami's shoulder, and a bit annoyed by the fact she was almost forgotten.

"Okay, Yoko-sensei. Whatever you say, whatever you say," Minami said as she walks towards the library. She then making 30 kage bunshin, carefully to not make the kage bunshins she left at Konoha accidentally disappeared. She then asks those of her kage bunshin to read different books and scrolls, and read as much as they can. Yoko said to finish at least half of the collection of books and scrolls that is in the library of Akatsuki while she's here.

The Akatsuki library is very tidy and comfortable, and also has the most complete editions of books about advanced things. The bad thing is the Akatsuki's library is gigantic. The size of the library is as large as one whole floor of the tower that is right in the middle of Forest of Death, and inside there's only books. Even if Yoko said just half of it, it is still very much.

(Time skip three days)

'It's already the third day since I become a genin, and still no missions! I can't also find that damned stream! I already found most of the way, but always lost in that damned alley!' Sasuke thought inwardly. It is already the third day, and no missions. Naruto is always left right after Kakashi gone, and Sakura is always follow wherever he go. It's begun to get annoying. Usually, he can ignore Sakura by listening to Naruto's rambling and teasing him, but now he always gone right after Kakashi said 'no mission for today' and left.

Ever since the frozen rope- incident, Kakashi desperately tries to find the one that froze the rope. He was desperately curious because, he knew only one that can do that. It was his 'former' sensei's girlfriend/wife, Kushina. He doesn't knew her last name, so he have no idea that Naruto (Minami) is the one that did that, since Naruto use her mother's last name.

Despite on Naruto's similar appearance with Minato, he only knows that his sensei is having a daughter. So, he would never thought that Naruto, a dead-last boy in class, is his sensei's and Kushina's daughter.

Three days already passed with no single clue. He then decided that he would ask the certain blonde. He truly desperate to finds out who did that. He knew no clan that can use that ability, except Kushina-san herself. So, he suspected, the one that did that is an outsider, or the Namikaze heir herself is still alive, which he's much doubted. Little did he knew that the second one were the true answer.

Minami are now receiving the reply from Hinata. She sent Gale to send it for her. Gale then back with reply. She was a little bit confused by the word -three days without missions-. 'I thought that the Fire Daimyo's cat always intended to run away?' After she read it, she read it once more.

To Namikaze Uzumaki Minami, the Leader of Akatsuki

I was really glad to hear that everything is alright there. If you need any help, just call me (as always), okay?

Anyway, the situation here is all normal, entirely normal. Looks like Kakashi is desperate to find the one that froze that rope, you know? That makes your teammates is free from missions, so now they have currently three days with out missions, in other words, your team hasn't done any missions yet. My team already did 5 D-rank missions. You know what? All 5 of my missions are same, chasing around that annoying excuse of a cat! That Fire Daimyo's cat is 'really' always running away, can't blame it, though. Every time we found it, the Fire Daimyo's wife is always giving it a bone crushing death hug! I pity the cat.

To the other subject, you might want to know why your team hasn't done any missions yet. It's because Kakashi is too busy to have another self added mission. His mission now is to finds the one that froze up that rope. I think now he decides to ask Naruto. Is he really that desperate?

For your current condition, until now no one knew that you're gone. But, I think that little avenger is a little bit weird now. When he's not doing any missions, that mean everyday, he always gone to that alley, the one that you put genjutsu on. So, I dare say (write) that looks like he tries to find 'that' place, Minami. Is there any chance that his memories about it begun to flow back? Thanks to your genjutsu, he always lost in that alley.

That's all I can report for you. I'll keep an eye on the young Uchiha until you're back.

Sincerely with best of regards, Hyuuga Hinata, Right Hand of the Leader of Akatsuki

'Could it be? Is his memories are flowing back? I have to tell Itachi,' Minami thinks as she takes a blank scroll and writes another letter. She'll tell Itachi about Sasuke's current condition, from what Hinata just told her.

To say it simply, Itachi was shocked. He just receives a letter from Minami.

To Uchiha Itachi, the Main Member of Akatsuki

Apparently, the pieces of memory that your brother lost has begun to flow back. Although I didn't think he will remember it all in such short amount of time. Hinata just reported that currently, Sasuke has been to that alley every time he got a chance. Do you think he'll find out soon who have sealed his memory?

I'm only telling you this because I think you needed to know. He is your brother, after all. I'm just telling you, but don't let this problem bother with your current mission. Hinata said that she'll keep an eye on him, so don't worry. Anyway, have you find Shiro yet? Yoko is really wanted to see him again.

Regards, Namikaze Uzumaki Minami, the Leader of Akatsuki

'Well, I think I got no worry. Besides, Hina-chan will keep an eye on him. Minami also said to not let it bother my current mission, so I think it's alright. Yes, it's perfectly alright,' Itachi think to him self, trying to calm his composure down, which is succeeded.

'Now I got to reply her letter,' Itachi think as he brings out an empty scroll. Currently, he just found the Eight-tailed Wolf vessel in the Snow Village. Just as predicted, he doesn't get any nice treatment. Itachi already meet up with him and ask him to join Akatsuki. He willingly agreed and leaves the village. They both know, in the morning he will be an A-rank, possibly S-ranked missing-nin, since the village hate him so much. But he willingly left the village, anyway.

He then also reporting, as well as replying

To Namikaze Uzumaki Minami, the Leader of Akatsuki

I thank you and Hinata for letting me know about my brother current situation .I'm glad that he's slowly remembers. For the Eight-tailed wolf, Shiro, I already found him and now on our way to the lair. Here's the report about the vessel.

Name : Kitagami Naito

Age : 15

Birthday: June 19th

Rank : Chuunin. Have done 43 D-rank, 34 C-rank, 24 B-rank, and 15 A-rank

Vessel of : The Eight-tailed Wolf, Shiro

Ability : Expert in kenjutsu and water-based attack. His ninjutsu and genjutsu are above average, while his taijutsu is average and have quite much of chakra reserves.

Current village: Hidden Village of Snow

Current treatment: Almost killed in age of 6. After he went into academy, no one dare to pursue him, but the glare and the curses are still the same. He had been tempted into assassination by the current kage in age of 10, which thankfully failed. Have faced 14 assassinations, and have been in hospital at least three times in 5 days.

Current friend: Nezumi Ryo, jounin sensei, currently died because of sickness, Ritsuka Maiko; former teammate, Soramachi Kyo; former teammate. But all died in a solo mission (according to the villager and the current kage, but they never found the bodies, so there might be a chance that they're alive)

Current family: Kitagami Kei : Father, deceased for unknown reason; Kitagami Sora : Mother, deceased when giving birth to Kitagami Naito; Ritsuka Tsubasa : Cousin, missing/died in a mission.

Reason to join: to be him self and to be free of the pain that the village caused him.

When I found him, he was in the middle of beating. Looks like the current kage in snow country send his best men to beat him.

We will be arrives around tomorrow at sunset.

With all respect, Uchiha Itachi, the Main Member of Akatsuki

Minami was pleased, but also hate the report. She was pleased that Itachi found the Eight-tailed, but hates to think about how foolish the people in the Snow Village were. The Kyuubi also hated it, but she's looking forward for her long-time-no-see friend. Minami then feed up Gale, and let him sleep, because he had been a non-stop messenger in these two days. According to the letter, Itachi will be arriving this afternoon, and she'll love to see Shiro's vessel.

At sunset, precisely like what he writes in the letter, Itachi arrived in the Akatsuki lair. A blue-haired teen behind him are just followed. Itachi then walk toward the library and ask the teen behind him to follow.
At the library, Minami and her 50 clones are all reading, with Yoko purring beside the real Minami. Minami stopped her activity and walk toward Itachi when he comes in.

"Welcome back, Ita-kun," Minami greeted, using her favorite pet name. "Glad to be back, Nami-chan," Itachi greeted back. Minami then peeked behind Itachi. There stood a 170 cm tall pale blue-haired teen. His right eye was covered by his long bangs, leaving his left eye visible. He was hot, to say the least, but not Minami's kind of type. Itachi then left after Minami gestured him to.

"Hello, there. I suggest that you're Naito?" the teen nodded. "My name is Kitagami Naito. Nice to meet you," he greeted with a little smile. He then realizes that a red little fox was hopping on the blonde girl shoulder. His demon inside was also shocked. Naito heard him mumbling.

'It can't be... the Kyuubi?' Shiro whispered. Naito then asked back.

'Kyuubi? As in The Lord of the Demons, and The strongest tailed beast of from the entire tailed beast? That Kyuubi?'

'But... It can't be her. No, can it?' Shiro mumbles, obviously to himself. He then snapped back to the real world, to found that the blonde girl is smiling at him.

"Welcome back to the real world, Naito. Have fun chatting with Shiro?" Minami said, and that make Naito take a little step backwards. "You... know about Shiro?" he asked. He was afraid that she will tell the leader, and then not allowed him to join. He is not telling Itachi that he was the eight-tailed wolf's vessel. Itachi doesn't ask, anyway.

"Ha-ha-ha. Don't worry, Naito. Can I meet him, please? Yoko wants to have a chat with her old friend," Minami said, still smiling. The red fox that purring on her shoulder now also looks at him, and he can feel that Shiro also shocked like him, for maybe different reason. Suddenly, Naito is pulled to his mind space. In front of Shiro's cage, he can find the little blonde girl inspecting it.

"H-how did you do that?" he asked. Minami just smile at him, then she inspecting the cage again.

"Shiro, you can come out from your hiding space, please," Minami said to the darkness inside the cage. From there, a giant wolf emerges from the darkness. The eyes were selvery blue with black vertical line. The fur was white, with a hint of silver. Eight tails dancing behind the wolf. "Who are you, little girl?" the wolf asks in sinister voice. Minami still put on her smile as she calmly leaned backwards. A giant red fox emerges from the darkness behind her.

"Long time no see, Shiro. How are you?" the fox greeted. Naito, to be said, was surprised. The size of the fox was slightly bigger than Shiro, and he also notices the fox's tail. It was nine. The wolf's eyes visibly widened slightly. It also can be seen that he was at loss of words.

"I think it will be better if you use your human form, Yoko. That goes for you too, Shiro-san," Minami said. Yoko rolled her eyes and turns into her human form. Naito was still in shock and confused. 'Just who is this girl?' he thinks. He then walks toward Minami.

"Who... are you, actually?" Naito asked to her. Minami's face is still smiling, but she still answered. "Oh, how rude I am. I didn't introduce myself, yet. My name is Minami, nice to meet you, Naito."

"H-how did you... Are you..." Naito is now at loss of words. "I'm the host of the Kyuubi no Kitsune, Yoko," Minami said, as her face turned serious. Hear that, Shiro then sure that the one that in front of him is the Kyuubi. Shiro then morph to his human form.

In his human form, Shiro's white hair was just tied into low ponytail (like Kabuto). He wore traditional Japanese royal clothes. The color is blue, white and silver. In his human form, Shiro is handsome and looks like in 19 or 20, while Yoko looks like in 25 or 27.

"Yoko-hime. It's great to meet you again," Shiro bowed slightly. Yoko just nodded, greeted back. "Naito, do you wish me to complete up the seal?" Minami asked. Naito and Shiro turn their attention to her.

"You see, I am able to repair up the seal that was sealed Shiro in you," Minami said. Yoko then looked at Shiro. "Do you wish her to repair the seal that was sealed you in him?" Yoko asked to Shiro. "What can the seal do to me, Yoko-hime?" he asked back, still in respect. Yoko then told everything that the seal will do to both of them.

"And, it was a success. Minami herself already use the seal and complete up the incomplete seal that was used to seal me. Now, I feels much better, since maybe I'm sealed, I fells free," Yoko explained. Shiro and Naito agree to repair the seal, besides, their relationship is quite good. Shiro is disgusted by the way their (Naito's, actually) village treated Naito.

Minami then do some hand signs. After 43 hand sign, she slammed her hands on the current seal that sealed Shiro and said, "Sealing Technique: Dragon Sealing." The seal that locked Shiro's cage began to change. Some weird sign carved and destroy the cage's gate and replace it with white wall of energy.

"Done," Minami said. "You can imagine anything to make Shiro feels 'homey' in here. Although now you and Shiro can go separate way, your soul is still connected. In other words, you die, he die. He die, you die, no matter how far you both separated," Minami explained more.

"Imagine?" Naito asked.

"Yes, imagine. Like what I've done with Yoko's cage. I change it into forest-like view. I even supply her with imaginary fruit's trees, which like and taste real for her," Minami said in matter-of-factly. Naito then try to imagine a forest too, and it worked.

"Hm, interesting... Could you imagine a forest that covered in snow?" Shiro asked. Naito then imagined covered the forest with snow. "That's better. I felt homey already," Shiro said.

"Then, excuse us. We'll be going now. See you in the real world," Minami said. He and Minami then back to the real world.

Naito now woke up from his mind space, and seeing Minami in front of him, smiling. "Welcome back," she simply said. Naito blinked up for a few times. He then remembered, being in Akatsuki lair. He then wondered, when will meet up the leader.

"Oh, yeah. You'd better get dressed. Your cloak already prepared in your room. We'll introduce you later, though, since the member not yet gathered. Because you're a new member, Itachi will show you around, watching you, and guard you," Minami said again.

"Huh? Guard me? Why?" Naito asked. "Well, you're a new member. You can't be really thought you'll be trusted fully in your first day, do you?" Minami asked back. "Does it have to be Itachi? Isn't there any other member?" Naito asked again. He is kind of scared by Itachi's emotionless and cold attitude.

"Because, right now he's the only member that is free, since his mission to find you already complete. The others have been sent into other mission," Minami explained. "Find me? So it's not a coincidence?" Naito asked again.

"Too many question for one day. I still have three days left, so why don't you ask tomorrow? Itachi is already outside. He'll show you your room," Minami said. She then returns to her current doing, reading. 'And I have two days and a half left to read the other book,' Minami thinks inwardly.

Currently, now she just done reading quarter part of collections that is in the library, and she have to read quarter more of the collection. That means, she have to read other part of the collection in two days, which makes her have to make more kage bunshin, and more headache.