Here's another chapter! Itachi might seem wicked OOC or to some he may not. Mini-Willow/Itachi interaction is cute, prepare for fluff! Don't own Buffy or Naruto. Thanks to Barranca for the helpful critisism! Reviewers like you rock!

The first thing that struck Willow about Konan was her aqua coloured hair. It was so deep, long, and pretty. She kind of reminded Willow of her mommy but more exotic and less warm. Her eyes though they were warm as she gazed at Willow looked as if they were coated in ice most of the time.

"You must be Sasori-san's little girl. I am Konan, it is nice to meet your acquaintance." She smiled at the little redhead, who was about the cutest thing she had seen. Except, her clothing choices were so bland! "Hmm…" She walked around Willow, this action making the latter uncomfortable.

"Yes, Konan-sama?" Willow fidgeted as her wolf cubs then chose that moment exactly to come bounding out of her room at her sides.

Konan's eyes widened. My, this little one was curious. 'No matter, she'll be extremely fun to dress up!' She sighed, making apparent that she did not approve of Willow's dress. Though she was a ninja, cold-hearted loving only Pein, she did actually enjoy little children and more specifically little girls. Perhaps through them she lived vicariously gaining the childhood she never could have. She was determined though this little girl would grow up to be a fighting machine, she would have domestic skills and dress prettily when she did not have other duties! Besides, that would also make her the perfect spy when the Akatsuki needed her. Since technically she was not a member she wasn't ranked as an S-ranked criminal and nobody really knew her face in the ninja world, because she was a civilian.

Willow again waited uncomfortably. Konan was staring at her, as if sizing her up and deciding her future. That was enough to make anyone uncomfortable and slightly frightened, especially a five year old.

"You need to wear something cuter. You're going to be meeting the rest of the Akatsuki tonight and you need to wear something less casual! Come on girl, you need to dress your age, not like someone responsible." She took her hand and dragged her back into the room.

"Willow! It's time." Sasori called for her in the room that held the ways to both their rooms in it. "I'm an impatient man, Willow, you shouldn't make me wait."

"Sasori-san, always impatient. Don't you know girls need time to get ready?" Konan asked coldly stepping out of Willow's room.

"Konan-sama, I had no idea that you would be here…." Sasori said his tone impartial. "Is my daughter ready?"

"Yes, father, I am…" Willow walked out of the room her hair carefully French braided and a white flowing dress on her with green accents.

"Why are you dressed-"

A glare from Konan stopped Sasori mid-sentence. Apparently this was her idea then. Well, he knew better than to argue with Leader-sama's partner.

"Come Willow, you must meet all the members."

It was a long walk down the hallway which was dark and stone. It wasn't the most inviting place, water seeping through the masonry. For some reason this reminded Willow of…something. It was a scary place she knew.

'Willow…attention Willow!' The black wolf pup called in her mind, licking her leg. 'You're almost there, best pay attention.'

Willow smiled down at the puppy and petted her. She was thankful for these animals that she could more easily predict then these new people she was living with.

Sasori opened the door and motioned the two females inside. He followed quickly, the door closing without a sound. There were seven people sitting around the table. She looked over them all briefly, her eyes only pausing on one person.

He had crimson eyes, like her father's, but they were filled with black. Dark ebony hair fell around his shoulders, coming to a ponytail in the back, his gaze emotionless.

Just by looking in his eyes, Willow wanted to cry. She wanted to sob about how unfair life was, wanted to scream at the world, wanted to end it all. This man held…something that reminded her of someone. His path was the darkest black there was but he was filled with light. He was like her.

Itachi's eyes widened. A little girl wasn't scared of him and in fact looked right in his eyes. He watched several emotions flicker past that crimson ringed jade green gaze, all for him. She felt sorrow, anguish, pity…and love? She looked a few years younger than his brother, who was seven now. So that would make her five. Such complex emotions for one so young to have. She broke the staring contest first, looking up to her father.

"Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to my daughter, Akasuna no Yana. However, she responds quickest to Willow. Treat her as she was your own, from teaching to punishment please. If it goes too far though, you will have to answer to me." He made this apparent that he was talking to all the Akatsuki excepting the wavery figure of Leader-sama and the corporeal Konan.

Willow bowed her head. "I hope to excel all of your standards." She said demurely, her voice quiet. A few of the other members grinned at the innuendo the little girl just made, wondering what she'd be like when she was older.

"That's good Willow. We have a meeting to have. Why doesn't Itachi-san take you back to your room?" Konan asked Willow while at the same time commanding Itachi. She had seen the look that the two had shared and figured that it'd be best to give them opportunities to bond.

Itachi was annoyed but nodded his compliance. He stood up and motioned to the little girl who followed him quietly. The door closed behind them, muffling the sounds of the beginnings of the meeting.

"Itachi-nii-sama?" Willow asked as they walked a for a few minutes, knowing that it was taking too long to be heading to her room. "Where are we going?"

Itachi's heart almost broke at the innocence of her words. She had no idea what he had done to his younger brother, what he had done to his family, his past. Perhaps it would be best for her not to find out yet such innocence was tarnished quickly, especially in a base full of criminals, so he wouldn't be naïve. "We're going to the kitchen."

"Do you want me to cook you something?" Willow asked cocking her head to the side.

"You are capable of cooking?" Itachi asked, almost as if the thought of having a cook was comical, especially in one so young.

"Cooking, sewing, cleaning…Yes, I am." Her tone was light and playful, as if showing the older man what she could offer him. She wanted so badly for him to come to trust her, perhaps because all of those emotions he made her feel and everything she could see in him. Willow was an insightful person; however, she normally couldn't read people as well as she read Itachi. This, she thought, must have a reason.

"A regular house-wife. You seem skilled for one at the age of five."

"M…mother was sick. No-one else could do these things if I didn't." Sadness crept into her voice at the thought of her abandonment and her mother.

"Well how about we both cook together?" He asked gently hearing the sadness. "You can help me. Have you ever had tomato soup, Willow-chan?"

"Mmm! It was my mommy's favorite when she was coughing a lot. It soothed her throat."

"I have a special way of making it that I'll teach you, okay?" Itachi said as they arrived at the kitchen. It was rather modern for this being a secret ninja base full of criminals. He grabbed a large pot, a couple of jars of tomatoes brought by the nearby village, a couple herbs, and some hot peppers. He set them on the counter and motioned to her. "Alright, I'll just instruct you from here on out."

"Okay!" Willow grinned at him and Itachi shook his head. This little girl was getting to him. As a hardened ninja, he didn't let things affect him so easily. Yet this little girl with her innocent smile and her crimson ringed eyes so full of trust and naivety, his heart almost melted at her willingness towards him.

"Now, first put the tomatoes in the pot." He instructed as she tried to get the jar open. It was hard for her he could tell, but there were going to be more trials for her up ahead. She struggled with the can for about five minutes and when he was about to offer his help she placed the jar on the counter and looked at it.

She had her hand outstretched and murmured something, flicking her wrist.

'What on earth is she doing?' Even with his fully developed Mangekyo Sharingan, he did not see what she was going to do next.

Suddenly the tops to all three jars full off and into to the ceiling. Willow again muttered something as the floated there and they fell into the sink.

"…" Itachi was struck speechless. He could sense a little bit of her chakra in that but…most was a foreign more powerful entity within it. More powerful than any Jinchūriki, more powerful than him even.

She looked back with a smile and poured the jars into the pot. Suddenly her smile dropped from her mouth like someone holding a coal before realizing it was hot. "Um…ah…er….I'm sorry, Itachi-nii-sama! I didn't mean to do it, I promise, I just lost control and then the tops were all like whoosh and I was thinking and please don't tell my father he'll kill me and I know it's against the rules and it's bad and wrong and dangerous cause it's bad…" His hand covered her small mouth.

"How do so many words fit into so small a container?" He asked his voice calm, unconsciously trying to tell her she had done no harm. "Willow, it's alright. I'm not angry…that was impressive. What did you just do and why is it dangerous and forbidden?"

Willow set the stove to a simmer to let the tomatoes cook down a little. "Well, while I was living in Sunagakure, I snuck into the restricted section of the library. While I was reading about jutsus, I came across a section of forbidden jutsus in a sense…It only mentioned drawing power from the earth was extremely forbidden to any ninja no matter what because it would kill them because the earth's chakra is not to be tampered with. So I got curious. There was an old woman in the village who was passing through. I asked her about it. She said that was true, because ninjas were incapable of walking the path of the Goddess. Yet, she saw the Goddess' mark on me and told me how to meditate and pull energy from the Mother herself. I can't do very much yet, but…That's what that was. She said that people here can't really learn it, 'cause it'd kill them, but I was special."

"Breath." Itachi commanded as the little girl was talking blue in the face. She followed his order and color returned to her cheeks. "How much power does the earth give?" He asked curiously.

"Immenseness, immeasurable, unlimited power. She's the source of life itself." Willow remarked with a smile feeling more relaxed.

"In theory how much could you obtain?"

"Never all of it, but my power source is never depleted. It depends on how powerful the act is I want to do and how much I need from myself and from the earth."

"What did this woman call it?"

"Magic. The religion is Wicca. I am a child of the Goddess." Willow said a knife in hand. "What do I do next, nii-sama?"

As Itachi instructed Willow, he pondered about her abilities. He'd keep them to himself of course, because she'd be way more useful then they had once thought, if they figured out the immensity of her power. She could be their way of complete control if they could break her into the perfect solider.

Fifteen minutes later the soup was simmering on the stove, the heavenly smell filling the room. "Now we just leave it there for an hour or two. It's best that way." Itachi said blandly looking at the little girl who was petting her two wolf pups whom she just gave food to.

"So, what should we do until then…unless you need to go do something else, cause that's fine to cause I can entertain myself without burning everything down I promise and you don't have to babysit me!"

"It's okay Willow, really. It wasn't necessary for me to be at the meeting and I trained until it was called. You are not interrupting my schedule. Perhaps you would like to learn something?"

"I love learning new things. What would you be willing to teach me?"

So while the soup cooked Itachi taught Willow simple taijutsu, surprised on how quickly she picked things up. It was hard to deny that she was the daughter of the ex-Sand nin. He however taught things to her at a rapid pace, pushing her as far as he could. Though he had a soft spot for the girl he would train her as he once trained his brother. Fast and relentless with praise coming only after the session was done.

Willow's face was flushed, her body over-exerted, and her strength taxed. There was only so much a small body could do!

"Before you stop, you need to land one hit on me." Itachi said, though this was slightly a farce since even the best ninja could get a hit on him, besides the soup only had fifteen minutes left to cook. He was going the easiest on her he could, going so slow that she could see him.

Willow's face fell into her resolve face. Fine. She'd hit him. Though she had been going through the motions he had taught her, he had been blocking every one. He sent a smirk at her, the twelve year old boy showing through. As she went through the first serious of motions, she searched deep within herself for a strength she knew was there.

It wasn't the strength of the earth. No that would be foolhardy to strengthen her body at the moment since the need wasn't dire. It was a white thread she was looking for, intertwined with red. When she found that, she had found this out from fighting with Gaara, she could land a hit on anything or stop anyone from hitting her. It left her very drained afterwards and sometimes led her to fainting and then she was out of commission for a day and had very disturbing dreams that sometimes came true or made her extremely sad but made no sense, but it worked.

She tugged on it mentally. Suddenly her senses were sharper and her body was accustomed to the strange new movements.

Itachi noticed the change instantaneously. Her moves went from that of a novice, to on who was trained to fight since birth. Her stance was that of a warrior, her eyes predatory. Yet while he was distracted for this briefest of moments, she faked up then fell to her knees and punched at his kneecap.

The sound of a small fist hitting cloth and flesh sounded through the training yard. Itachi looked stunned as Willow smiled up at him wanly and then fell to the ground, unconscious. "You hit me…What a curious little girl you are Akasuna no Willow." He picked her up off the ground. She was way too light for a five year old to be at a healthy weight. He sighed and Body Flickered into her room and poked at her cheek. She was sound asleep.

He could tell she didn't have a concussion but her head would hurt. She was dirty to, her dress ripped up and smudges across her pretty face. He couldn't put her in her bed like this. With a sigh he looked at her dresser and found a large nightgown to place her in. He peeled off her clothes like he had done a couple of times with his brother and left her in just her panties and washed the dirt and grime off her with a soft washcloth. He put her in the nightgown and pulled the covers around her. The wolf pups had somehow found their way into the room and snuggled up next to the girl.

Without another word he was gone from her room. He had better things to do than watch a girl, albeit an interesting girl who he could very well say he liked in a sisterly manner, sleep.

A desert. An open desert surrounded her. "Hello! Is anyone here?" Willow asked cocking her head to the side. She felt…taller almost. Bigger.

Whispering filled the air around her. Mutterings, laughter, but a sentence that struck her the most. "You think you know, what you are, what's to come…you've only just begun."

A growling was heard to her left. She saw a woman dressed in rags…but instead of dreads and a crouched position, she sat up straight with hair as dark as night and skin as white as freshly fallen snow.

"So you woke her up…That wasn't very wise daughter. Power is falling into your lap which is making your life here more dangerous then I intended for it to be."

"I don't understand what's going on here…"

"You pulled on the Slayer line that got trapped in you. I couldn't remove it, because Gods cannot take anything away that's already there, so you granted yourself their power. Now though you are imbued with weaknesses to balance that out."

"What would that weakness be?"

"You are strong now, can draw the power of the earth, and will be taught how to use chakra. Any weapon in your hand you will be able to pick it up. Shaper senses, healing faster…You seem Goddess-like. You are an embodiment of me, Willow, but you are only human now. You will be more sensitive to pain now, hyper sensitive. You will feel extreme emotional pain when something reminds you of your previous life. Since there are no vampires in this world and only strong demons, those people will be drawn to you and want to make you theirs or kill you. Anything that you do that is not out of self-defense to others or the protection of others, will be felt ten times worse by you."

Willow nodded. "Okay, that seems reasonable. But, I am a Slayer?"

"Technically yes. You are the first slayer of the Elemental Lands. Yet since there is no purpose for a Slayer here, you will just seem like a woman who can pick up weapons fast and is stronger than your average ninja in hand to hand combat. It will be of no matter. Since you connected yourself to the Slayer in your world by breaking the lines of ancient tradition and expanding her powerbase you took the Slayer within you. However due to the overwhelming supply of Slayers in your dimension you weren't called when you called the rest of them. Yet, as you've drawn on her power more than twice here and there are demons prowling under the surface, the Slayer whose lied dormant within you must of found reason to come out as if you were called. This is why you are a Slayer now."

"Will the line be passed on here, if…if I die?" Willow asked still amazed on how everything happened. She could remember everything here with her Goddess for some reason.

"It's possible. Though the demon that is the First Slayer resides within you, you are the First in this dimension. The Slayer line is all about continuing. So it is possible since the moment of your arrival the line within you has been stretching out to encompass others."

Willow nodded. "Goddess, may I implore you to answer one thing?"

"Because this is for your salvation, yes you may."

"I thought I made up for my past…excursions for calling all the slayers."

"You did. Yet, Buffy wasn't still healed from you bringing her back. You upset the balance and awoke the First but that was remedied by calling the Slayers. Also there is more than salvation that awaits you here Willow. You are one of my favorites, my daughter, which warranted putting you somewhere with new challenges and a place for your power. You have to wake up now…You won't remember this very well Willow, but you have my blessing. Good luck, daughter."

"Wait, Mother-Wait!" Willow exclaimed sitting up her bed covers hanging around her.

Wait, hanging around her?

Sasori stood at the door, perplexed. It was seven in the morning, when he told her she was to awaken. He was slightly concerned because Uchiha had told him he was training her and had hit her head. He was also proud of her (and slightly unbelieving) for landing a hit on the Uchiha.

"Daughter when I said that you were to rise at seven, I literally did not mean rise." Willow swore she heard a tint of laughter in her father's normally stoic voice. She looked down and her wolf pups looked imploringly back up at her.

From three feet under her!

This was going to be hard to explain.