Disclaimer: I own only the story, not the characters.
Ch. 20 Akatsuki
Rain. It just kept coming down. There was no end to this watery weather and Sakura had had enough.
Kimimaro had helped her free all of Orochimaru's experiments. He then introduced her to Jugo his best friend , Suigetsu, and Karin. It seemed like Kimimaro had read her mind, because these were the exact people she had wanted.
Sakura left Karin in charge of the Sound ninja's , while she led the rest of the team to the Village Hidden in Rain. Also known as Akatsuki's head quarters. You'll have to excuse Sakura when she was shocked to find out it rains there all the time. Big Surprise.
She was so relieved when she had finally found the Akatsuki building, but just as they were going to step through the doors they were greeted by someone.
"Kisame" Sakura smiled and actually found herself to have a small soft spot for the guy. He brought back memories of Itachi. Itachi…I remember when you used to have Kisame by your side. Both of you made quite the fearsome pair.
"Oh so you know my name and I'm guessing you know who we are als-" but before he was able to finish Suigetsu charged at him; clashing the Executioner's blade with Kisame's Samehada.
"Time to hand over that sword Kisame-senpai" Suigetsu said struggeling to get his hands on Kisame's sword. Sakura wasn't sure, but it seemed as if Suigetsu really thought he was stronger than Kisame.
:eye twitch: "Suigetsu" she said in an irritated voice.
"Hey you're Mangetsu Houzuki's brother" Kisame said, you could tell he was highly amused at Suigetsu's efforts to steal his sword. "I barely even recognized you. You've really grown Suigetsu." He said while blocking another jab from Suigetsu.
The two continued their horseplay for a few minutes longer blocking the entrance, while Sakura stayed out in the rain getting soaked and becoming more and more aggravated at Suigetsu.
Finally she couldn't take it anymore and exploded!
"Enough! Suigetsu you are not strong enough to take on Kisame. You are just wasting my time and making me stand out in the rain longer!"
Suigetsu slid away from Kisame and gave Sakura an annoyed look. "I told you I want his sword"
"I'm not saying you have to stop your quest for the 7 swords I'm saying you are not stronger than him and therefore trying to take his sword at this point in time is useless" she said, shooting Suigetsu an equally annoyed look.
The two stayed like that glaring at each other until Kisame interrupted.
:clears throat: "Pein wants to see you"
Sakura looked away from Suigetsu and put her business face back on while turning to Kisame "and I want to see him".
Finally out of the rain. They followed Kisame to where Pein was with Suigetsu grumbling something about how they never let him do anything.
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What is it with evil organizations and dark rooms? Kisame led Sakura to a big open room with a big white stone table in the center of it. The table was the only thing illuminated by what seemed to be like floating candles that gave off a white light. Sakura knew the candles weren't floating they were merely balanced on ninja wires.
As they approach she noticed that all of Akatsuki had gathered at the table: Diedra, Sasori, Hidan, Kakuzu, Zetsu, Nagato and Konan.
Sakura calmly walked over to the table and sat down right across from Pein. Her other team members joined her and sat in the surrounding chairs.
Well I suppose I should start. "Do you know who I am Pein?"
"Sakura Haruno, murderer of the elders of Konoha, Danzo of Root, and our former leader Madara Uchiha founder of the Uchiha clan." He said in a somber monotone voice. "Who you are is of no importance. The issue here is if you know who we are and what you have involved yourself with?"
:smirk: "Of course I know who you are; I know who you really are." She then proceeded to mimic his somber voice as she recited a short version of who they were. " Nagato also known as Pein, because you use six bodies that were reanimated corpses as your most powerful technique Six Paths of Pain. During the Second Shinobi War your parents were killed by Konoha Ninja, you became friends with Konan and Yahiko and you three were later all trained by the Great Sanin Jiraiya. However you were ambushed by Danzo and Hanzo the former leader of Rain and Yahiko was forced to kill himself…" Sakura stopped in her explanation of what she knew. She saw that it was starting to make Pein uncomfortable.
"I could go on…I do know the stories of how the other members came to be here…"
"No." He said with a bit of pain and stiffness in his voice. "That's enough…Why are you here?"
Everyone in the room looked at her with suspicion. The Akatsuki members who had remained quietly in the background listening to their conversation also had hostility in their faces and you could tell she wasn't making any friends. I suppose I should switch up my method of infiltration.
"I have come to join forces with Akatsuki and the Rain Village." She said quite bluntly.
Now this caught everyone's attention.
"Join forces…" Nagato knew all along that she wanted some affiliation with the organization.
Then Sakura dropped the bomb "Yes, but I have also come to lead it."
Cricket: chirp, chirp, chirp...:
Mayhem ensued.
"Whaaa!" Deidra, and Hidan started making a ruckus like children almost throwing a fit. "WHO the HEL…etc"
Kisame and Kakuzu started lecturing her as if she were the child. "You are just a twelve year old little girl…etc"
Her own team looked at her as if she was crazy; they had no idea that she was going to pull this stunt.
Pein, Konan and Zetsu were the only ones who remained quietly thinking about what she had just said.
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After a few seconds of this debacle passed Sakura decided she would put an end to it and speak up.
"I can fight you for the right to be leader if you want me too Pein, but you already know who would win don't you?" she said with a strict authoritative voice and she stood up straight for emphasis. It's important one acts with an air of concrete confidence in moments such as these; if they were to see you afraid of them (like how she really felt on the inside right now) they would walk all over you.
After her sentence and display Pein (who was in the body of Yahiko) stood up. The action caused everyone to immediately stop their commotion and stare at them quietly waiting to see what was going to happen.
Seconds passed which felt like days. Both Nagato and Sakura staring at each other in threatening silence...
This time Nagato was the one to speak first.
"I am well aware of your power; my Rinnegan can see it clearly. You are not from this time period." A statement not a question.
Sakura didn't respond back only waited for his answer to her question. "…"
"Tell me what is your goal for Akatsuki?"
She knew exactly what to say :smirk: "Hm in the words of the late Madara I am 'starting a war to bring peace'"
He didn't respond he only remained staring at her as if he were weighing her answer and her strength.
Then finally after what seemed like forever he gave her an answer.
"You may lead us Sakura Haruno student of Itachi" she almost winced at Itachi's name. She knew why he had said it; he wanted to point out that Itachi's preachings of peace resonated within her. Although he was partly correct to assume that Itachi had influenced her; he missed the greater influence which was her own dreadful past.
After Nagato had made her leader everyone was frozen in shock.
"What just happened…" Sakura looked around to see who had said this and her eyes landed on Deidra.
:giggle: "Oh lighten up you guys it won't be that bad. Most of the jinchuriki are too immature right now, so we have about three years before we make any serious moves. Meanwhile I want you Suigetsu." And she pointed at Suigetsu who was a little surprised she was calling him to attention. "and you Kisame to be partners."
"EH! I tell you I want his sword and you make me his partner!" he yelled in outrage.
"Of course Suigetsu." She said while trying to calm him. Kimimaro was shooting him a warning glare to remember to keep his manners around Sakura. "You and Kisame would be perfect partners. He is just the teacher you need in order to advance your type of moves. You do want to get stronger right?" she said while goading him.
He didn't respond he only crossed his arms and looked away "Hn", but you could tell he secretly was happy to have Kisame-senpai as his teacher.
"Ok now that that is settled I will be wearing the 'scarlet' ring and Kimimaro will carry Orochimaru's slate blue 'void' ring. We will both be partners." Sakura started giving out orders as naturally as she was breathing.
She then came to her final order and her voice dropped low with vehemence. "After the three years are up I want the first order of Akatsuki to be the attack Konoha and to take their nine-tailed jinchuriki!"
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Authors Note:
Sakura is a woman on a mission. Whew I feel like she's becoming quite the dictator. But she has a reason for going to Konoha other than Naruto, can anyone take a stab at what that is?
By the way Suigetsu does not have a ring, just to make that clear.
Also two things I need help with:
Who do you want Sakura getting close to from Akatsuki?
What should I name her 'team? I don't want to just keep calling it team. Should I just go with the classic 'Taka' or 'Hebi'? Or is there another name you guys would prefer?
Just let me know in the reviews and what you guys think of the chapter. As always ideas are most welcome. And to those of you who were wanting Kimimaro in the fic. I hope I did you justice.
Sincerely
~Claja