Chapter 2
He couldn't believe it. Naruto was gone! He was nowhere to be found in the village. Sarutobi already had 3 platoons of ANBU out looking for him!
Knock. Knock.
"Come in," Sarutobi said, "Any signs of him?", he asked hopefully.
"No Hokage-sama, but we discovered some chakra remnants of the Uchiha traitor in his apartment."
Sigh, he was too old for this. Itachi?...No, he wouldn't believe it, couldn't.
Young, innocent Naruto was being brought to live with a criminal organization? Itachi was supposed to leave right after the massacre, not go and take Naruto along with him! Argh, he should have known not to trust Itachi. Now, Naruto would be raised by the most wanted criminals from all the Elemental Countries. He had also just recently gotten intel from Jiraiya that Orochimaru was in that organization too, and everyone knows of Orochimaru's fixation on young children, particularly boys. Really, what had Itachi been thinking?
"Call off the ANBUs searching for him. I know where he's gone," the Hokage ordered.
The Hokage dreaded the future, he really did.
"Itachi-nii, are we there yet?" Naruto whined.
"Not yet, Naruto. We'll be there when we're there. Patience is a virtue, you know."
Naruto groaned. This was the 17th time he had asked, and Itachi-nii just answered the same thing! They had already been travelling for 7 hours, and Naruto was very hungry. He could already hear his stomach calling out for Ichiraku's ramen. But Naruto knew that ramen was not coming anytime soon. Itachi-nii had said that they wouldn't be returning to the village for a long time now. Naruto already couldn't wait to return, his ramen was waiting. Better yet, Itachi-nii promised him all the ramen he could eat!
After half an hour of day-dreaming about ramen, he saw a rocky mountain looming over the horizon.
"We're almost there, Naruto."
Naruto's heart dropped. Did Itachi mean that rocky place? It sure did not look comfortable.
He held on tighter as Itachi ran up the mountain side with chakra. They stopped in front of a part of the mountain that looked just like the rest.
"Err…are you sure, Itachi-nii? Shouldn't we just look for a door or something?"
Itachi didn't reply him. He did some hand signs, and slowly, but surely, the rock started grinding apart slowly. Naruto watched in awe as the rock in front of them seemingly shimmered, then vanished. There was a small pathway that seemed to disappear into the darkness.
Calmly, Itachi walked in, bringing Naruto with him. Naruto gulped. He just hoped that skeletons wouldn't start appearing anywhere. Because if they did, this whole scenario would be just so cliché.
Naruto shivered.
The slightly glowing eyes with concentric circles in them thoroughly creeped him out. This Leader person was way too weird for is tastes, and he had had his share of weird people. He felt as if his very soul was being picked to pieces and examined like lab rats, as if he were being judged on whether he was worthy enough of being in Leader's presence.
"Ah yes…Itachi's little charge," Leader said.
Naruto nodded once. He had no idea how to react to what Leader had just said. Did he expect him to introduce himself? Tell him his life story?
There was no need for that though, because Itachi answered for him.
Itachi tensed, and tersely said, "Yes."
Leader's lips curved up slightly.
"No need to get so defensive. I'm merely curious about the Jinchuuriki. Is he really worth training? Why should we sacrifice the entire group's dream of world peace by not including the Kyuubi? He looks like a fool to me!" Leader scoffed.
Anger flared up in Naruto. How dare he judge him by his looks? He'd show him.
"Argh! You…I'll show you. I'll become so strong, that everyone will respect me, even you! That's my nindo!"
Leader's eyes showed shone with mirth and amusement. He quipped, "Really? We'll see then…Everyone, come in now!"
Slowly, 7 people wearing cloaks entered the room, all in perfect sync, up to the billowing of their cloaks. Naruto couldn't help but to look in awe at their coolness.
Leader soon started to introduce the members formally to Naruto.
Naruto took note of all of them. It wouldn't do to be lacking information in a new environment. He was fully determined to survive in this place, and information was power.
A mental list was made in his head about all the members…
Konan…only girl in the Akatsuki…interesting…looks quite close to the leader…paper flower in her hair…blue hair…expressionless…
Zetsu…cannibal, stay out if his way…(shivers)…checker board face…venus flytrap…expressionless…
Hidan…big scythe(hmmm….curious, never saw that kind of weapon before)…silver blonde hair…religious necklace…expressionless…
Kakuzu…tentacles…stitches…cloth mask…creepy eyes…can't see his expression…
Kisame…is it my eyes, or does he look….BLUE?...sharp teeth…huge sword in bandages…spiky blue hair…look of bloodlust on face…
Orochimaru…gross looking…transvestite?...long black girly hair like Itachi-nii…white pale face…purple shades…lecherous look on face…? EWWWwwwww….
Sasori…goatee…old and bulky…expressionless and kinda evil looking expression…looks bored too…
These people, Naruto decided, must all be weirdos. Didn't Itachi-nii say before that everyone here would be just like me, all of us left outs and freaks?
"Now, I will brief you two on what your job here is," Leader said, "Itachi, you will be partnered with Kisame."
Kisame grinned, flashing his sharp teeth, in anticipation.
"You will both go together on missions that I have assigned you on. Success will be expected now that both of you are working together."
Itachi nodded silently.
Leader turned to Naruto, who was fidgeting a bit.
"As for you…your level now is of an ant."
"Hey!"
He continued on ignoring Naruto's protest of indignation.
"You will be trained by some of the members to better your ninja skills, until I deem you acceptable enough. Then, you will go on missions alternately with all the partners. They will report back to me on your performance. If by then, you are still not up to level, your bijuu will be extracted, and you will die."
Blinking dazedly and the last sentence, Naruto hastily nodded.
"Hai! I will train to the best of my abilities, and be the best ninja ever! Believe it!"
Silence…then…
"Hahaha! You're just a midget, shrimp. Don't go declaring anything now that you can't fulfill!" Kisame laughed.
Naruto turned around and glared at him.
"Just you wait! When I'm trained, I'm gonna kick your ass so bad, you're gonna run home crying to your mommy!"
"Grr…..What you say kid?"
"You know what I said! I said that you're just a wimpy ass waiting to be kicked by my greatness!"
"Ohh…You asked for it. Bring it on, shrimp! I'll turn you into fish food in no time!"
"Are you hungry, you goldfish? Need some fish food? Haha!"
"Why you little…."
And it went on and on and on and on and on…..until….
"Enough! If I hear one more word of this nonsense, you'll be spending the next week in the dungeons. Is that clear?"
Naruto, and Kisame, cowered back against the fearsome expression on Leader's face, and his angry flashing eyes.
"Now, that this is settled. Konan! You're in charge of showing Itachi and Naruto their rooms and the hideout."
"Hai, Pein-sama."
"Itachi, I'll be expecting you to start your missions on two days. And Naruto, your training will start tomorrow with Konan first. She will teach you the basics of chakra. You amy leave now. This meeting is over!"
"Yes."
"Hai!"
They left the room following Konan, into the hallways of the hideout. Naruto felt his anticipation building at seeing his new room, and at the beginning of his new life.
His room was very simple. Not big, yet not small. There was a bed on the side, a desk on the other, and a door leading into his small bathroom. On the whole, it was a very…practical room. Nothing more, or less than needed. Naruto supposed that this was the lifestyle he would just have to get used to. The lifestyle that all the Akatsuki led.
The corridors were grey, stony and cold; just like the walls of his room. In fact, the whole Akatsuki hideout was cold, grey and stony. Don't they have any favourite colours? Naruto thought. It could do with some yellow and orange! There were no windows down here, just walls. Light came from the glass structures mounted on ceilings and walls, lit up with a mysterious light.
Knowing that he would probably be living here for an extremely long time, Naruto determined that he should get used to this place soon, and get used to the long, winding, and complicatedly arrayed set of corridors. Getting lost would surely not prove that he was strong! It would not make people acknowledge him!
It was the second day he was at The Cave, as he would call it. Getting up quickly from bed, he did his daily routines, and changed into a mesh shirt and black shorts (he mourned the loss of the orange jumpsuit). Once he was done, he got out of his room, and started thinking. Where did Konan-san say the kitchen was again? I'm sure she said it was down the corridor here somewhere…
Hesitantly walking down the corridor, Naruto felt relieved when he started hearing some sounds of cutlery being moved about, and the clanking of plates. Looking into the kitchen, Naruto saw that there were already some Akatsuki members in there. There was Kisame, who was biting into a piece of toast; Itachi, who was silently drinking a cup of milk; and Konan, who was making something over the stove.
Feeling the beginnings of a series of stomach grumbles, Naruto quickly scooted onto the table, grabbed a piece of bread and buttered it up quickly. Munching on it happily, Naruto thought back to the days when Ichiraku Ramen was just a 3 minute walk away from his flat…He missed those days already! But it was all worth it. He had come to a place with Itachi-nii where freaks like him all lived together. A place where he would be trained to become strong, and be acknowledged so that no one would ever look down on him again!
Determination rushing through him, Naruto finished the rest of his breakfast, glugged down a cup of orange juice, and then looked to Konan expectantly. She had just finished her meal, and was washing her dishes, and putting them away. After several minutes, in which Naruto fidgeted impatiently, Konan finally finished. She dried her hands slowly, and then , looking to Naruto, she nodded at him, and then went out of the kitchen.
Scampering quickly out of his chair, Naruto followed after her. She walked on and on, until they reached a set of double doors.
Looking down to him, Konan stated, "This place is the training room. You'll be training here, unless a member takes you out for training."
Nodding up at her, Naruto felt the level of excitement rise up in him. This was it, a place where he would grow stronger! It must be very cool and awesome in there, full of sharp weapons and big logs! Finally, Konan opened the doors. Peering in, he shoulders dropped, and he felt a bit of…disappointment.
It was just an empty and large stone room. No weapons, no logs, nothing. It was just walls, floor and ceiling. They entered the room, and once they reached the center of the room. Konan turned to him, and beckoned him to sit. They both sat cross-legged and straight-backed on the floor.
"So Naruto-kun. What do you know about chakra?"
He paused, and tried to think of an answer that would make him sound knowledgeable about a subject he was absolutely clueless about.
"…Well, chakra is the power that ninjas use to do those jutsus. And the more you have, the stronger you are! You know, I'm gonna have a whole lot of chakra one day! You'll see! I'll be the strongest ninja ever!"
Konan looked impassive, and Naruto didn't know if he made an impression or not. He must have stunned her into silence with the impressive amount of knowledge he had just exhibited. That's it!
Finally, she spoke, "Uzumaki, you have much to learn. I hope you like reading…"
His eyes widened, and a feeling of dread welled up somewhere deep inside him.
Uh-oh.
He had never seen such a huge collection of scrolls and books ever! Even in the Konoha public library. Piles and piles, and shelves upon shelves, of scrolls and books filled up the gargantuan room. Konan brought him over to a section of the room, labeled CHAKRA. She turned to him, and said:
"I expect you to read all of this by next week. Itachi told me that you have the ability of using shadow clones. Use that. You will be able to absorb the memories of all the clones you create. Don't overtax yourself and turn your brain into mush. Leader-sama would not like that. I will check on you in exactly a week, and I will expect you to be know what exactly chakra is, and not the bunch of nonsense you spouted. Until then, don't bother any of the members."
With those instructions, she walked out.
Naruto was taken aback. Slowly, he looked up to the giant mountain of scrolls and the 3 full shelves of books. Being a prankster, he was a more…hands on… person, than a brainiac. The whole idea of actually learning something through reading was completely alien to him. He always thought that all ninja had to do was fight and do cool jutsus. Like Itachi-nii. He never saw Itachi-nii ever reading! Why should he read then? Itachi-nii was a super great ninja, and he didn't read! Huffing angrily to himself, he plopped down onto the ground. What was so important about learning about chakra anyway? Chakra was just like a battery of jutsus!
Annoyed, he looked over the books, and picked up Chakra for Dummies. That would be a good start. Not that he was a dummy of course. He just thought that it would be easier.
Quickly doing the shadow clone jutsu, just as Konan suggested, he summoned a 100 clones, and told them all to pick a basic looking book about chakra and start reading. If he had to finish this within a week, the shadow clone jutsu would be his lifesaver. Sighing, he flipped open the book to the first page.
Chakra for Dummies...
What is chakra exactly? Well…
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Thanks for reading thus far! Reviews are highly welcome! ^^