-To some who doesn't like this fanfic, just skip it and read those that are worth your time. Also, I need to apologize if there are grammatical errors. Some are actually typos…but errors are errors. My English is not perfect…so please understand.

-flashbacks are written in italics with the "(f)" mark on the beginning and the end.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

-o-o-o-

Chapter Four

"What the heck Teme?" Naruto coughed out the dust and dirt. It was morning, and he just came from the Hokage tower after a brief observatory practice with Tsunade-Baachan. As the next Hokage in line, he needs to spend almost three days in a week and learn the jobs of being the Hokage.

And on his way out of the Hokage tower after a tiring session that concerns laws, he saw Sasuke running like the wind.

Wanting to get the Uchiha's attention, Naruto ran and stopped on his way, only to collide with the hasty Anbu head-on. The accident resulted on a head bump and ground tackling. The two Shinobi lied on their backs, a little stunned at the sudden impact.

"Dobe." Sasuke muttered as he raised himself up and his obsidian eyes giving his best friend a death glare. Sometimes, Naruto just doesn't use his head. Sasuke knew that he could have avoided the Uzumaki easily, but a part of his mind thought that Naruto was smart enough not to collide with him and avoid him in a split second.

But he thought wrong. The Uzumaki idiot really wanted to stop and used his own body as a stop sign.

"Damn…my nose bleeds!" Naruto complained. He has a rough day today, for one of his close friends, Hinata Hyuga has been abducted by the rebel group AkAtsuki, and just thinking about it was mentally draining. Now add to that that he was in physical pain too.

Sasuke stood up, not minding that his clothes were dirty now. Giving the Uzumaki one last glare, he turned and was on his heels again, kicking on the ground and leaped to reach the window above them. He needs to talk to the Hokage and he doesn't even have the time to take the stairs.

The last great sanin, Tsunade was leaning on her chair, red polished fingernails tapping on the table as she observed her new visitor. Smirking at his exhibition at the large terrace-like window, she raised an eyebrow as Naruto followed suit, pinching his nose gingerly.

"Hokage." Sasuke was the one who talked first.

"You're on day off." She noted, eyeing his casual clothes. "Is there anything I can help you with Sasuke?" She then looked at Naruto. "You just left a few minutes ago…then come back with a bleeding nose?"

"I accidentally tackled Sasuke, Baachan."

Naruto watched as his best friend's mouth turned into a straight line. It was as if he was contemplating with himself for the last second. Finally, the Uchiha opened his mouth. "I want to come with the Hyuga rescue unit."

-o-

Hinata opened her eyes and for a second, she jumped back, startled at the realization that she fell asleep on the cold stone floor. Blinking, she groaned as she tried to steady herself into a sitting position. She could feel her sore muscles and aching joints…the trip on Itachi Uchiha's broad shoulder was not at all comfortable, especially if she was dangling like a rag doll.

A small leather pouch the size of her head landed on her lap. Looking up, Hinata saw Itachi sitting on the chair, already wearing his cloak and forehead protector with Konoha's metal leaf symbol scratched with a thin line. He doesn't looked anything like the other night, for his face was hard and cold, no expression whatsoever.

A different person. Hinata thought.

"Eat." He commanded.

"I'm not hungry." Hinata remembered everything from last night. They are going to feed her, care for her until her body regains its normal strength. Then they would take her Byakugan. If a hunger strike was needed to prevent it, she would do it.

"It's not a request." His eyes looked at her, even stoic, warning was undeniable. "Eat."

"No."

"I won't say it again." He told her.

Hinata tilted her chin up in defiance. "I...I won't say it a-again either."

He smirked, and then stood up from the chair. Walking to the door, he gave her a sly look. "Fine. Kisame or Hidan could feed you themselves. They have been dying to since they have set their eyes on you."

The shark-looking man and the sleek-haired one. Hinata's resolve faltered at the thought. "No…?" Her grand declaration ended up as a question and she winced at hearing her own weak voice. She saw Itachi pushed the door open and she was starting to hyperventilate.

No….she's a Kunoichi. A Jounin. An heiress. A Hyuga.

She should be firm on her resolve. If they kill her so what? At least she would die an honorable kunoichi and that's enough.

"No." She said again, firmer this time.

Itachi watched as the girl clenched her hands together. Just above her wrists, were red marks that have been only the result of the rope binds. Somehow, his gaze landed on her dark blue hair and wondered that all his life, even when he was still back in Konoha, he never saw a Hyuuga posses that kind of hair color.

It was usually dark brown.

"Your decision." He said coolly, and then stepped out from the cold room.

On his way out, Itachi doesn't need to go far to see Hidan, for the sleek haired Akatsuki was already on his way to see the "arrogant Uchiha" and the "blue haired doll". Smirking, he studied Itachi who leaned beside the door, just a few steps outside of the room where his beautiful hostage was in.

In truth, Itachi was about to go see Kakuzu and discuss a few important things, the little threat he gave to the heiress was actually just a bluff. He knew that she would think twice before remaining firm on her decision about food the moment he mentioned Kisame or Hidan.

But for now, forget Kakuzu.

"Hidan."

"Itachi-kun." The missing nin from Yugakuri greeted with a smile."Good night's sleep?"

The Uchiha did not answer, but his gaze stayed on the taller man. Tilting his head to the left to see the Hyuga inside the room, his eyes glinted with satisfaction when her face registered nothing but of horror upon hearing Hidan's voice. It looks like she was recalling his little talk with her last night before Itachi dragged her with him.

"Can I see the little doll?" He asked. For the second time, Itachi did not bother on answering for Hidan would always do what he wants to do anyway. The lack of words would just save him time. Stepping inside, the Uchiha heard Hinata let out a startled yelp, the food bag on her lap still untouched. "Holy shit…she's still wearing clothes?" tilting his head to the Uchiha, Hidan let out a laugh. "Are you insane? Shit. Don't tell me you have an identity crisis Itachi?"

Hinata's eyes flickered and she shakily clenched her hands again. This is bad… she's still too weak to use her kekkei genkei and there was nothing she could do to defend herself. Her kunai pouch was gone and also her shuriken…she guessed that they took it when she was still unconscious.

"But no…binds." Hidan raised an eyebrow as he looked at the ropes on the stone floor. "Hmmm." He then looked at the Hyuga, smiling with that devilish glint in his eyes. "Your vest irritates me you know."

"But it doesn't bother me." The Hyuga bravely replied.

"As if I'm asking for your opinion." Hidan's hand shot forward, intending to continue what he failed to do last night. In his own freak of a world, Hidan hated body coverings, especially those thick-looking ones. He himself doesn't wear too much clothing—his bare chest was enough proof—because it weirdly reminds him of being enclosed and imprisoned.

They gave him thick clothes with metal straps attached to it when his body was used as an experiment.

"Uhmph." Hinata was jolted up along with her vest when the obviously stronger male tried to tear it away with his bare hands. To her horror, he actually succeeded in tearing the vest apart. Hinata was bewildered, her eyes still stunned when she dropped to the ground again.

Shinobi vests are made with very strong materials, and to see this Akatsuki member tore it apart like a dish cloth was too much for her to bear. If he could do that to her vest, there was no doubt that he could easily break her into two.

"That's more like it." Hidan's eyes roamed her form. Chuckling like the devil, he tilted her chin upwards.

-o-

(f) Tsunade stopped scribbling and gently placed her pen down. It was late and Konoha's market place was already bustling with life and night time enjoyment fills the air. At this time of night, the fifth Hokage usually leaves her files to Shizune's care. She would then go to her favorite pub and drink her fill of delicious sake.

Yes, everyone thinks she was a drunkard…but they never knew how many painful things she was able to forget once she's drowned in her sake-filled world. Well…some things in life are not always what they seem to be.

And right now, it also applies to the person who suddenly materialized in front of her.

"You're late."

Itachi removed his mask, his cloak rustling in the night breeze as he gave a curt bow for Konoha's female kage. "I have to make sure that I am not being followed."

"I dismissed the Anbu and Shinobi guards. No one knows you're here." Tsunade studied the man. Her late teacher and the third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, has entrusted her with the dangerous information that Uchiha Itachi was not at all a traitor but actually a village hero. He was a Konoha spy in the midst of rebellious missing nins.

A burden he accepted to carry for the sake of the village.

Before Hiruzen died in the hands of her fellow sanin Orochimaru, the third gave her this special message, telling her of this startling revelation.

"I came here to warn you of Akatsuki's plans." The Uchiha said.

"An attack?"

"An Abduction."

The blonde's emerald green eyes narrowed. "No one touches Naruto—"

"Hokage-sama...The nine tails vessel is not the target this time."

"Sasuke then?"

"It's the daughter of the Hyuga clan head."

To that, Tsunade's jaw dropped. Her strong facial expression faltered for a bit and was then replaced with confusion. "The heiress?"

"They are after the Byakugan…but the real reason was yet unclear and that's what I am to find out. I have been assigned to do the work along with a partner since I know Konoha best."

Tsunade was silent, her mind already making strategies and comeback plans. "What do you suggest?"

"I suggest only one. Let the heiress come to us alone so that no one will get hurt when we make our move. I cannot assure that I won't kill any Shinobi who stands on my way…because such is my mission and my cover should never be found out." Itachi's head tilted to the side as his eyes looked at the four giant faces carved on the mountain. "It would also help me know what the leader's plan is."

The Hokage shook her head. "And endanger the girl? Even if she is abducted, the standard rule would trigger me to send a retrieval unit…Shinobi would be after you." Hinata Hyuga. Tsunade knows her…the soft spoken one on Naruto's classmates. She's a jounin teacher and one of the best in the job. She's kind…she's nice.

Tsunade likes her.

"I would protect the girl."

"And the retrieval unit? The clan head would demand for only the best."

"Let it be…If things go out of hand, I could leave the girl so that the retrieval unit would easily find her and bring her back."

-o-

Hinata could do nothing but close her eyes, dreading for what was coming next.

Only nothing happened next.

Hidan's fingers pulled away and that made Hinata open one eye and peeped. Itachi has Hidan by the wrist but his expression was the same. Actually, he looks like he was a little bored. Only Hidan looked angry at being interrupted on whatever he was about to do next.

"What now?" Hidan glared. "Don't tell me you're jealous? I don't like men you know."

"No one is supposed to touch her until we know of the plans. If you do, I have to interfere."

Hidan knew what Itachi's interference means. The man usually never speaks for himself; he lets his weapons and sharingan do the talking for him. Interference means kill…to stop means kill…sometimes, to greet also means killing. "You can't kill me, I'm immortal."

Itachi's eyes glowed freakishly red. "I can't. But I can place you in a world where you'll consider death a luxury."

"Put him in a Tsukuyumi where he dresses like a girl and talks like a pig." Kakazu suddenly piped in, his half covered face and cold eyes somehow doesn't match his statement. Stepping inside the room, he eyed the heiress who was still bewildered looking.

Hidan scowled. "Shitface."

Kakuzu pretended not to hear. He looked at Itachi, a much different look from the way he looked at Hidan with disgust. Well, he can't be blamed. His partner was a cursing loudmouth and he's the only one that who he cannot "accidentally kill."

In the Akatsuki, they are the only pair who can't die by just using physical means.

"I just received a job…some kind of leader assassination and the bounty is high. That means Hidan and I have to leave today." Kakuzu said in his deep throaty voice which eerily filled the stone room. "Itachi, you take the girl with you and meet Deidara on our northern woods hideout. You can wait for further orders there."

Itachi straightened up and so did Hidan—who lightened up at the sound of an assassination job. Licking his lips, he cracked his neck with another one of those devilish smiles on his face. "Now that's the real talk!"

"When did you receive these orders?" Itachi asked, sharingan deactivating.

Looking at the Akatsuki trio, Hinata realized that she was actually witnessing how this deadly group works. Unblinking, she silently followed the conversation and wondered if she could use something in it that could help her escape. As she listened, she subtly pushed the food bag behind her, for it seems like she has been forgotten temporarily, and prayed Itachi won't remember anything about food.

"By Zetsu…It came from Pein."

The Uchiha's face was pensive. "I see." Looking down at Hinata, his keen eyes did not fail to notice that the food bag vanished, but decided to let it go. It won't be smart forcing her to eat with Hidan and Kakuzu around.

She would regret it sooner or later anyway.

-o-o-o-

Here ends the chapter. If you have questions, you can ask me anytime. This story doesn't follow the manga or anime's timeline so there might be confusing parts.

Reviews are loved and suggestions appreciated…

-crazygurl12