While planning this story, I thought of at least three more story ideas. Now I can't wait to finish this one so I can start the next one. *talks to myself* (be patient! be patient!)

Out of all the Akatsuki members the copies have met so far, Pain was the most intimidating. Rings circled his pupils, and his eyes were a grayish-purple color. He also had piercings all over his face! Itami seriously hoped that she wouldn't have to get the same piercings.

Pain turned to face the doors. "Everyone's waiting," was all he said before walking forward. The Akatsuki members followed him, with the exception of Sasori, who paused next to Ningyou.

"Don't worry. Leader-sama is all right," he reassured the nervous replacements. Feeling slightly more comforted, the replacements walked in with Sasori behind them.

"They decided to go with the Akatsuki?" Orochimaru was shocked.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to stop them, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto apologized.

Orochimaru sat back in his chair, thinking. The Akatsuki has gone too far. First, they humiliate me. Now, they brainwash my soldiers? I cannot allow this to go on. I think there is one of them…yes. That one might be easier to sway.

Standing, he addressed Kabuto. "Continue as planned, but once you have the chance, you should speak to that copy."

Kabuto understood Orochimaru's meaning. "You want to persuade that copy to betray the Akatsuki and the other copies and join us?"

Orochimaru nodded, and Kabuto left to resume his job of spying.

"I see…" Pain murmured after the clones had taken turns explaining the situation. "Orochimaru created you in order to try to kill us…"

Itami fidgeted slightly. Pain didn't seem to notice. He stood up and addressed the other Akatsuki members, "You are going to mentor your clone. Teach them as much as you can in a short amount of time. Orochimaru might try another method to get revenge."

One by one, the Akatsuki members led their clones out of the leader's room. Only Itami stayed, as Pain was her original. Without facing her, he said, "I'll let you have the rest of this day to get used to this place. Tomorrow, I will start teaching you new skills."

Itami murmured her assent, but then, remembered something she wanted to ask. "Leader-sama…?"

"Call me Pain," he said, "You and I are practically the same person. I give you permission to call me by my name."

Itami tried again, "Pain-san…what exactly happened between the Akatsuki and Orochimaru?"

Pain remained silent for so long that Itami wondered if he was even going to answer. When he did, it wasn't the reply Itami was hoping to get.

"It's a long story. I'll tell you some other time."

Itami shrugged and left the room.

"What the hell do you think you're playing at?" Fumetsu shouted at Hidan.

"Shut up! I grabbed your arm to tell you that you can't go that way!" Hidan hollered back.

"I don't need help!"

"You're new! Of course you need help!"

"Can we go on without them?" Sutetchi asked Kakuzu. Kakuzu nodded, "Good idea."

"These are really cool," Ningyou touched a puppet with awe.

"I prefer bombs," Nendo contradicted.

"But they don't last long. Puppets last forever," Ningyou objected.

"Real art lasts only a short amount of time, and they should go out with a bang, hmm."

"No, real art lasts forever."

"They sound a lot like us, hmm," Deidara whispered to Sasori.

"So Samehada is a sword that cuts foes to ribbons instead of slicing them, and while it does that, it also absorbs the opponent's chakra?" Sakan clarified.

"You catch on pretty quickly," Kisame complimented his clone.

Itachi and Karasu remained silent, following Kisame and Sakan as they walked through the corridors.

"Zetsu-san, how fast can you travel?" Shiro asked.

"Pretty fast, once we are motivated," Black Zetsu answered.

"Can other ninjas sense you?" Kuroi asked.

"If they are a really good sensory ninja, or if they have special eye techniques," White Zetsu explained.

"Like the Sharingan?" Shiro guessed. Zetsu nodded.

"That corridor is forbidden to all except Leader-sama," Konan told Itami and Tenchi.

"Why?" they asked together.

"That is the place where Pain stores his other five bodies."

"What?" Itami hoped she heard incorrectly.

"You heard me," Konan turned to leave.

Itami kept up with her. "Pain-san has five other bodies? What do you mean?"

"You'll see once you begin your training. Besides, it's better if Pain explains it to you. He's the one who has the five extra bodies."

"Konan-san," Tenchi caught up with them, "will you teach me how to manipulate paper?"

Konan looked at her clone. "Of course, but we will first start with something more basic."

That night, the copies gathered in Itami's room to discuss the day.

"That Hidan is such a pain!" Fumetsu fumed.

"Now you know how we feel," Sakan smirked.

"What did you say?"

"I thought Sasori-san wasn't bad. He was pretty nice," Ningyou mused.

"But he doesn't know what true art is," Nendo objected, "Deidara-san is the best!"

"Are you seriously going to start that again?" Sutetchi interrupted, "When I walked past your group, I could hear you bickering."

"Zetsu-san was pretty cool as well," Shiro said.

"Yeah. He's gonna teach us how to move around undetected," Kuroi sounded excited.

"At least Itachi-san isn't as loud as you guys," Karasu muttered.

"I can't wait to learn how to manipulate paper!" Tenchi told Itami.

"I don't even know what Pain-san is going to teach me…" Itami envied her friends.

"Didn't you talk to him?" Tenchi asked.

"He didn't even show me around, remember?"

Karasu glanced at Itami. "Maybe it'll be better tomorrow." Itami thought she heard a bit of sympathy in Karasu's normally expressionless voice.

Itami shrugged. "Whatever. I'm going to bed now, guys. See you all tomorrow."

One by one, all the replacements left Itami's room. After they were all gone, Itami laid back on her bed, thinking about whether joining Akatsuki was really the best choice. Pain-san is such a mystery. I wish I could read him. There's definitely something he's not telling me…