Nagato. Yahiko. Konan. The original three Akatsuki. One had died many years ago. One had died after the battle of Pein. The last had died at the hands of Obito Uchiha. Where are they now, you ask? All alive and well. One had been in hiding. One had used at genjutsu to conceal his identity. The last one had been there all along, next to the man in the genjutsu. Where do their allegiances lie now, you ask? They all want one thing. They want peace for the entire world. That's always been their goal.

Nagato dreamed to ridding the world of war. He had believed that by pain people will come to acknowledge another's pain, thereby everyone agreeing that there was no need for more of it. He was the second in command for a time, until his friends' death, many years before. After that he became leader; the entire time he remained to his goal until the most recent Hokage talked him into believing otherwise.

Yahiko dreamed of Amegakure to stop crying so many tears, the rain was just apart of that. He was the original leader. He wished to stop the civil wars within his country. The Akatsuki was going to be the solution to it all, until his unlikely death.

Konan was the third in command. She believed exactly what Yahiko and Nagato believed. She was the right hand of Nagato for years, following his every order with the upmost of perfection. She also believed in the recent Hokage after the Invasion of Pein, and died believing it so.

Now all three are alive again, and they believe in the Hokage. They wish to rid of Madara again as well, and become the allies of all the villages. They have no desire to be what they were before Naruto came. Pain was never the answer to the world's problems. Peace and prosperity shall never be gained by such a method, all that can be brought by such a thing is misery.

They also believe in the Rings, and the prophecy that it holds within it's grasp. They believe in Sakura Haruno, or at least, they hope they can.

Sakura had awoken up very late in the day as far she could tell from the rays shining onto the living area section of the room. She hadn't had any visions during her long rest. Perhaps that was a good thing, she didn't really enjoy waking up soaking wet with sweat and a terrible migraine.

She checked her chalkra levels and noticed that she was at least had fifty percent of her chalkra back. The rest period of chalkra exhaustion was usually only a day or two, but Sakura had almost been depleted. She had been dwindling at about one percent mark, and such a strain costed a person in the long run. It took at least a week, and she was nearing that mark.

It'a all that dreaded prophecy's fault. Had she not been the 'Chosen' one as Sasori had put it, she would've never been in this situation in the first place. She didn't feel any different by being here, other than the connection that she has with Sasori.

Ugh, Sasori of the Redsand is her star crossed lover, eh? Just the thought of it disgusted her. She wanted to slam him into the ground for what was going on. At the same time though she didn't want to be away from him. She was slowly but surely falling in love with the Puppet Master of the Akatsuki organization. She would sure as hell fight it to the end though. She will die trying to separate the stupid connection they shared. This was all his fault, and he didn't even seem to care! Oh the nerve of that man!

"Che!" Sakura spat to herself. She was getting worked up when she really didn't need to.

'Calm down Haruno, you don't even need to think about this right now,' Sakura thought to herself, taking a calming breath.

"Oh, yes, because you are not going to have to think about it later," Inner argued.

'I'd rather get worked up later than now!'

"Oh please, your already falling for the man."

Sakura growled, pushing Inner to the very corners of her mind. She really didn't need her to tell her something she already knows well enough about. She really didn't need a freaking reminder.

So the Akatsuki wanted them for her to lead them, and they didn't want to be what they were in the past. What exactly was she suppose to do with a ton of criminals? They weren't going to like having her be the Leader, if she even wanted to take up the position. Just what was she going to do? They were all a ton of missing ninjas from all over the world, she couldn't exactly have them reinstated to become ninjas of their lands again, could she? Who would even believe her in the first place? All the Kage's have a kill on sight for all of these specific missing ninjas. Actually the only one that didn't was Itachi, and just Heaven knows why. He was probably the scariest of them all other than Pein himself.

Oh what was she going to do? She had a life in Konoha, she can't suddenly be the leader of the Akatsuki! What exactly was she suppose to do with them if the members hated her, and even refused to follow her command? The only good thing that could come from all of this, is if the Akatsuki became a group of mercenaries like they were back when Obito had sent her and Naruto to the other world. And that was another world. She seriously doubted that they would even consider such an idea.

Sasori also said that she was to learn the Justus's and techniques that Akatsuki have. Those jutsu's alone are some of the most powerful in the world. The Six Paths of Pein was just one, and it had a devastating result for all of Konoha; it nearly destroyed the entire village, and barely any of Konoha was left standing afterwards. Not to mention the death toll of both shinobi and civilian. That had been a horror-filled battle, just the thought of it gave her the chills.

Then there was the realization that Sasuke could be alive. She would have to find him, but the question remained, where would she even look? For all she knew he could be back in Konoha, safe and sound, and his funeral cancelled.

There was also Orochimaru. If she was seriously going to be leader of the Akatsuki the first thing she would even order, or ask would be to find him and interrogate him, or kill him. Knowing Orochimaru he would probably find some secret hideout somewhere or another. Then there was Kabuto to consider. He might not even be with Orochimaru. He might be trying to find him, but who knows if their together again.

It was at that time that Deidara's bird came flying up her bedside, trying in vain to move the canopy around for it to get inside. Sakura smiled sadly at the little thing. It was like a newborn child, not really understanding such simple concepts.

Sakura moved the canopy curtain, allowing the bird to fly most happily to her side, and Sakura began to wonder if the thing could chirp like an actual bird could, Sakura doubted it though. The bird was only made of clay, after all.

"Do you have a name?" Sakura asked the little cutey of a bird, and it shook it's head happily. How did this thing have feelings, she wondered.

"Do you want one?" Sakura asked, receiving an overjoyed nod. Sakura laughed at the little thing's antics.

"Well since your Deidara's creation," Sakura said, "I guess I should call you Katsu."

The bird seemed very delighted by the name, and came flying at Sakura, and nuzzled into her chest. She laughed happily, stroking the little bird's clay feather's.

Now that she noticed it, the bird didn't even feel like clay. It felt like actual feathers, even though it didn't have any. It was very peculiar.

After a little time with her newly named bird, Katsu, Sakura made her way over to the bathroom, feeling far better than she had the day before when Sasori still had to hold her up with strings. This was so much better. She could actually move as freely as she saw fit. Sakura found it quite delightful.

Katsu-Sakura decided randomly that it would be a girl-just flew around the room for awhile before making her way over to same spot Deidara had been sitting in the night before. Sakura shook her head. Katsu was still obviously infatuated with her original owner, or even more so, her creator.

When Sakura entered the bathroom she found a new set of clothes, and this time they were long black pants, and a short sleeved shirt to match, but when Sakura held it out in front of her, she took a glimpse of the back. Her eyes widened slightly, there was a rather large Sunagakure symbol. These were Sasori's, albeit probably older ones since they looked like her size, and Sasori was probably a head taller than her.

She could just smell the aroma they held. It smelled of pine-needles and wood, but it was also very masculine. There was no mistaking it. These were definitely Sasori's old clothes. Sakura could feel a blush coming on, and she cursed herself for it.

When she put the clothes on she noticed a small note from where the clothes had been. Sakura held it up and read it curiously.

You can use the bird to get to the kitchen. It should know where it is.

-Sasori

Almost on cue, after she read the card her stomach growled. She smiled sheepishly to herself in the mirror. Closing the door behind her, she found Katsu already at the door. She strode over to Katsu, and put her hand to the doorframe. It swung open almost immediately, and Sakura found herself in a cold and vacant corridor.

"Grow in size Katsu," She told the bird. Katsu nodded, growing to the size of an elephant. Sakura leaped on, and grabbed hold of Katsu, before she flew off down the hallways, passing hallway after hallway. This place was huge. The place was also very dim.

Unlike the other night with Deidara, she was fully enjoying herself. It was a rush with Katsu. All she could hear was the sound of passing air, and she loved every second of it. She could see why Deidara always had a bird with him during combat, or even not. It was very enjoyable.

Sakura smiled, and yelled into the wind. "To the kitchen, Katsu!"

Katsu complied, and flew even faster than before. She was very amazing at aerodynamics, Sakura decided. They hadn't even come close to crashing into the narrow walls.

It felt like a long time to Sakura, but she knew it couldn't have been more than a couple minutes. At the speeds that Katsu went they could probably fly from Rain to Fire country in less than a few hours. It was simply astonishing.

Soon enough she could see light from one hallway, and before she could even comprehend the situation Sakura had found her way into a living room setting with a kitchen at the farther end, and strangely enough there was lots of windows, letting the room bath in warm lighting.

She saw only her two companions in the kitchen, which she found to be quite lucky for her, she didn't feel like getting involved with the other members so quickly in her time here. Sakura lept off of Katsu, landing without a sound. Deidara and Sasori were both standing behind the island; one with a grin; the other with a black expression.

Katsu decreased to the size of a bluebird and lept onto Sakura's shoulder. She seemed perfectly content being in Sakura's possession instead of Deidara's.

"Well what do you want, un? We can make, pancakes, or pancakes, or pancakes, maybe some pancakes, even some more pancakes. What do you think, yeah?" Deidara asked rhetorically with a grin.

Sakura smiled at the blonde, before sitting herself down onto a stool. She set her elbows onto the counter, watching as Sasori used his chalkra stings to move things around while Deidara had a few birds setting things up for him. Sakura rose her brows. This was seriously how they were going to do things? Ha, whatever works, she supposed.

Sakura watched the two fix things up the ninja way. It was actually quite intriguing to watch. It was like a bird and puppet show at the same time, and it worked quite efficiently.

"Chocolate, blueberry, or regular?" Sasori asked her with complete calmness, as three boxes of pancake mix were held up in the air with his strings.

Sakura almost wanted to laugh aloud at him. Her lips quivered as a result though, showing that she was very amused. She covered her mouth with her hand before she spoke. "Every."

Deidara smirked at her, his birds doing most of his work for him. Most of everything was almost complete, now all they had to do was pour the batter onto the pan, and let it heat up.

Sasori had been the one to pour the batter, while Deidara was annoying him thoroughly about it. "Steady." Deidara coaxed, with a grin. "Steady now. Steady Danna, yeah! Steady!"

Sasori shot him a glare in return while Sakura was trying very hard not to laugh. She kinda hoped that this was a normal occurrence for them, it was quite hilarious, that is if she was going to stay here longer.

When Sasori was done, Deidara started laughing aloud to, and Sakura simply couldn't handle it. She started laughing too, but before it could go on for long, Sasori had grabbed a large roll of duck tape and was already getting a piece off of the roll. While he just quirked a brow that meant, 'Do you really to go through with this?," And her and Deidara stopped almost immediately, but not enough to not smile a little bit.

"What is so fucking funny?"

Sakura turned around to find a civilian clothed Hidan behind her, looking quite annoyed.

Deidara grinned at him, pointing non-too-discretely at Sasori, "Oh just making Danna angry, yeah."

Hidan smirked before sitting himself down right next to Sakura, "The bastard can get angry easily can't he?"

"Damn straight, yeah!"

Sakura hadn't been looking at Sasori, but when she noticed him making more pancake mix she questioned it, before just realizing what he planned on doing. Oh this is going to be so good. Sasori could feel her eyes on him so he glimpsed at her for a moment. She knew exactly what he was planning, and he gave an innocent shrug in response.

So when Deidara had been covered in pancake batter she was not surprised one bit. Ok, yes she was. She was bursting out in laughter, and so was Hidan beside her. The response from Deidara was immediate and he just froze in his spot, before slowly touching his head, his was mouth wide in disgust. It had begun to slink through his long hair, drenching it in the liquid.

"And that," Sasori whipped his hands on a dishrag, looking completely unfazed by what he had done. "Is why you don't made me irritated when we're making pancakes."

Deidara simply stared at him, still in shock. Sasori simply gazed at him lazily, but he seemed satisfied enough with the result.

Deidara wove a hand through his hair. "This...is going to be messy, yeah..."

Sakura handed him a dishrag, still giggling at the sight. Who knew that Sasori could be playful when he wanted?

Deidara scrubbed his face with the rag, before deciding to leave. "At least save me a pancake, yeah. I'm gonna shower. Again."

Sakura turned around in her chair watching with an amused smile as he left the vicinity, but as he was walking away, Itachi came waltzing into the room, barely even giving Deidara a glance.

"Do I need to ask?" Was all he said before coming toward the table.

Sasori began flipping the large pancake. "I believe you already know the event."

He stood near the edge of the island."Hn."

Sakura watched Itachi uncertainly. Was he simply here to have a meal? Or something else entirely? She couldn't trust him, that much she knew. Actually she probably shouldn't even trust Sasori, but here she was, sitting in their kitchen watching them fight like little children with pancake batter.

"So your the newest fucking member," Hidan spoke to Sakura conversationally. Apparently swearing wasn't even a bad thing coming out of his mouth. It was simply a bad habit.

"Not...really," Sakura decided to say.

"So what I told you the night before reassured you, did it?" Sasori spoke, still flipping the pancake.

"I..." She wasn't sure of anything really, "I just don't know what to make sense of, or where to even go with the information."

"Things will make sense in time," It was Itachi.

Sakura still regarded him with uncertainty, "How much time? I need to return to Konoha. My place is there."

Itachi flinched ever so slightly when she said Konoha that no one else probably even noticed other than her. Thanks to her years with Sasuke she had learned to see the little changes in their body language and the tone of their words. The Uchiha's were infamous for their impassiveness, after all, and Itachi and Sasuke were no exceptions to that.

"You will be here for quite some time."

She already knew why. "Because of the techniques all the Akatsuki have in their possession."

"Correct."

"When do I begin?" Sakura asked with furrowed brows.

"Tomorrow."

Sakura was taken aback slightly. "Not today?"

"No."

Sakura was beginning to get impatient. "Why not?"

"Today," Sasori interrupted, using his chalkra stings to get plates and utensils. "You are meeting with two people, among other things."

"Who am I meeting with?" Sakura inquired.

Hidan smirked at her. "The actual fucking leader, and his second in command."

"Your saying that almost as if it would be enjoyable," Sakura stated.

"That's because one of them is practically his best friend," Sasori answered. "You'll probably like him too, he's a lot like Deidara." After he said that he put on another cup of pancake batter into the pan, letting his strings do all the work while he began to eat his already dished up pancake.

They were all given a plate, other than Itachi who politely declined. They didn't talk much, mostly letting everyone eat in peace. Even Hidan simply ate in peace, barely uttering a single word.

After they had gone through at least ten pieces whole of large pancakes Sakura was perfectly satisfied. She felt like she hasn't eaten in days. Oh yeah, that's right, she hasn't. In all actuality she had forgotten all about her hunger the past few days. It just hasn't come up in her mind, she's been far too preoccupied to even think about food.

"That was fucking good!" Hidan whistled happily.

"I'm at least hoping that you saved me something, yeah," Deidara said irritably, quickly appearing, next to Sasori. The blonde was wearing a fluffy blue robe with a towel binding his hair above his head. He definitely looked like he came right out of the shower.

Flicking a finger, and not even giving Deidara a glance there was a plate of the biggest pancake they had made ready to go. Deidara took it happily, and began eating. "Thank you Sasori~no~Danna!"

Sasori who at the time was simply leaning against the back counter with his eyes closed and arms crossed, twitched his eye in irritation for a moment. Sakura smiled softly at him, even though she knew that he couldn't see her.

Itachi watched Sakura Haruno with quiet interest. So this was the girl on his little brother's team. She was quite well known in the world of medicine. The 5th Hokage's prized and most favorite student. Her combat skills were far above average too from what has been said by Sasori and Deidara when she first came here. Good, he had a good base to start off with for her. If only she knew what was going to happen to her for the next few months. It would be interesting, he decided.

"Now that breakfast is complete," Itachi started suddenly, gazing right at Sakura, "There are some things you need to know about the Uchiha Clan."

I loved, loved, loved writing this chapter. It was so fun to write! And dun dun dun. What exactly do you guys think will happen next chapter? I'm just so predictable aren't I?

Sometime soon I plan on completely rewrite chapter 1 and 2; making it longer, less errors, and make it so it follows the actual manga more thoroughly. I made that chapter back in January when I had no idea Sasuke came back by himself, and not by retrieval. Somethings may change, but the basics will be the same.

I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter as much as I did!

Ja-ne!

-Cassandra