Not even a night had passed since Itachi had left on a mission, leaving Sakura alone in her new home. Although she felt saddened by the morning farewell when Itachi departed, Sakura had shown him a wide smile and wished him success on his mission. She wanted to demonstrate her strength now that she had a new life and a new family.

Once Itachi was gone, Sakura decided it was time to continue training diligently with her chakra to surprise him with her progress upon his return. She scaled walls, practiced distributing her chakra to different parts of her body, and used her chakra radar until she finally grew tired and bored. She wandered around her room and watched raindrops fall on the buildings from the window. Eventually, she lay down on the bed, gazing at the ceiling with profound boredom.

With nothing else to do in her room and only a few hours since Itachi's departure, Sakura, her heart racing, decided to open the door and peer into the long, dark, empty hallway. She wanted to use her chakra to detect if anyone was approaching so she could hide, but Itachi had warned her not to do so if her reserves were too low, and Sakura knew they were.

With courage, she stepped out of her room and cautiously made her way through the building. Her hands began to sweat with excitement and fear of encountering other people. The only sound was the echo of her footsteps in the seemingly empty building. Normally, being in long dark corridors would fill her with fear and lead her to cry until someone came to fetch her. But now she couldn't afford to show fear. If she wanted to prove that she was as strong and powerful as Itachi, she couldn't be paralyzed by something as simple as long, dark, poorly lit corridors.

Thanks to her creative mind, she began to think that this could be a good opportunity to explore and find places to play hide-and-seek in the future, if anyone wanted to play with her. After exploring for a while, searching and observing curious rooms with open doors, she was disappointed to realize that she hadn't come across anyone. She began to get bored until, in the midst of her musings, she stumbled upon someone.

"Sorry," she murmured in a complaining tone before looking up. Her mouth opened slightly as she found herself face to face with a woman with blue hair who was looking down at her.

"Be more careful," she heard the cold voice with which she was addressed. It was Konan. In a way, seeing the woman's gaze reminded Sakura of the way her father used to talk to her after mistreating her. By inertia, she began to remember all the moments when her father would hit her or say derogatory words to her, which made tears start to well up in her eyes until she was interrupted by a hand that appeared in front of her, surprising her. She blinked twice before looking up, where Konan was extending her hand. As a delayed reaction, she took Konan's hand and helped her to her feet.

Once upstairs, Sakura watched as the only woman she had seen in the criminal organization turned around and began walking in the opposite direction. Confused, she took a hesitant step forward before stopping, unsure whether she should follow her or run back to the safety of the room she shared with Itachi, or simply stay there indefinitely.

"Do you want to be recognized, right?" whispered a voice in Sakura's head, jolting her into action. She ran to catch up with Konan, who kept walking. Cautiously, she looked up, hoping for some explanation from the woman. When she received no response, she gave a small smile of satisfaction at her small achievement. For every step Konan took, Sakura had to take two, but she didn't mind; she tried to keep up with Konan's pace until they finally reached the doors she recognized as the ones they had passed through the day before when they met the leader.

As Konan opened the doors and stepped inside, Sakura stood in place, expecting them to be closed in her face. However, she was surprised when Konan turned around and looked at her from inside, waiting for her to follow, just as she had done so far. Happily, she jumped into the room. The first thing she noticed was that this time the room was well-lit and Pain was at the back, on what looked like a somewhat strange balcony. She walked over to him until she was standing by his side, sitting on the edge.

A gasp escaped her lips as she realized they were on the tongue of the face she had observed with curiosity the day before as they were about to enter the building. But what really impressed her was the view they had. Tall towers rose all around the periphery, though none as high as the one they were on. After seeing a sea of trees, the sea of buildings and houses seemed grand and vast.

"It's enormous," she murmured, emphasizing what she thought.

"Yes," she almost jumped as she remembered she wasn't alone. She looked to her side and saw one of the Pains and Konan gazing at the city they lived in.

If she remembered correctly, Itachi had told her the night before, when they arrived at the room, that Pain was not only the leader of Akatsuki but also of the Village Hidden in the Rain, so he had more responsibilities than the others, being like the kage.

"Will I have to get facial piercings too?" she asked, noticing the piercings on Pain and Konan's faces.

Both turned to look at her, curious. Sakura watched them as she swung her legs back and forth. Not getting a response, she continued speaking.

"Since you both have them, maybe it's a requirement to belong to Akatsuki," she stopped swinging her legs and turned to them, frowning as she had a thought, "If I have to get one, I prefer it not to be on my nose or head, but on my ear."

"You don't have to get one," Pain responded almost instantly. The girl seemed curious and interesting. He still felt the sensation of electricity on his back since the girl had touched his face, and that wasn't even his real body.

Sakura's mouth opened like a fish's as she realized it wasn't a requirement to get one. She let out a sigh of relief at knowing that. She couldn't imagine having one like the Pains, who had some on their heads or several on the nose like the Pain next to her. Silence settled in the room they were in; the only sound was the patter of raindrops throughout the village. The humid air reminded her of Konoha, although instead of smelling like wet earth, it smelled of cement and metal. Wherever she was, Sakura loved the rain; it relaxed her and she adored it. If it were up to her, she would be outside dancing in the rain. Sometimes she did when no one was around to bother her.

"Did you hate your village so much that you decided to run away from Konoha?" Pain asked, pulling Sakura out of her thoughts to look at him again.

"My father paid me a lot," she replied with a hint of sadness, recalling those moments she would prefer to leave at the back of her mind.

Pain and Konan could understand that pain of being rejected, hated, and the misery she reflected in her eyes. Pain ruffled the girl's hair, making her laugh.

"Is this your best friend's body?" The question alarmed Pain and Konan.

Both looked at the girl, who continued to swing her feet on the edge. "How does she know this?" they wondered between themselves. The only ones who knew the true identity behind Pain's body were the two of them, Tobi, and Zetsu. The idea that she was still alive and could uncover more confidential information was troubling. It would be easy to get rid of her from where she was; she was in a vulnerable position.

"He's fine," Sakura insisted, though she received no response. She reached out to touch the raindrops falling in front of her. "Yahiko is resting in the sky. Even at the end, he thought of you and wished for your happiness."

Konan's legs gave way, causing her to fall to the ground from the shock, while Pain, on reflex, grabbed Sakura's arm with such force that it could leave a bruise if he continued squeezing. Pain's normally serious eyes flashed with anger, in stark contrast to Sakura's somewhat frightened look.

"How do you know?" he hissed, squeezing Sakura's arm even tighter. Despite the pain, Sakura showed no signs of discomfort.

The old emotions both had buried began to surface at the memory of Yahiko's smiling face, when the three of them were happy before everything collapsed before their eyes due to greed and power. Anger settled in Pain's stomach, a burning desire to crush Sakura's neck grew to the point where he released her arm and brought his hand to her throat. It would be so easy to kill her, just a little effort and the girl in front of his eyes would cease to exist. However, something deep in his mind suggested that she could become a great power; the current he felt when he first touched her told him the same. She could pose a threat to his plans.

Suddenly, a hand touched his. Looking to the side, he found Konan, and he was breathless to see that she had shed the cold mask that had covered her features since Yahiko's death, revealing pain and longing in her gaze. Carefully, Pain released the hand he had around Sakura's neck, and both he and Konan looked at each other, understanding each other's pain for the first time in a long while. The anger Pain initially felt turned into confusion and then into a yearning to understand what was happening. Both turned their gaze back to Sakura, who, despite still feeling afraid, chose to stay instead of fleeing when she had the chance.

"How do you know about Yahiko?" Konan asked this time, her voice soft so as not to scare Sakura.

The sound of raindrops hitting the gray Amegakure was the only thing to be heard; none of the three said anything, giving Sakura time to respond after the violent incident involving Pain. Sakura moved her eyes from side to side as if considering whether to respond or remain silent.

"I have some friends," she whispered, barely audible to Pain and Konan, still visibly unsure whether to continue speaking. They waited patiently for her to clarify what she had said. "They were with me when I was alone. No one else can see them unless they want to. There were times when my father would leave me without food for two days and beat me. Luckily, they would come and be with me when there was no one else. One of them is the Lord of Bones," she leaned in closer to them and whispered in their ears so no one else could hear. "He is the death."

Pain and Konan exchanged a fleeting glance before directing it towards the nine-year-old girl, who watched them confidently in her words. If it weren't for her mention of Yahiko, they would find it hard to believe her claims. Questions about her multiplied; how could it be possible for death to be involved?

"He spoke to me about Yahiko because he resembles you," she pointed at Pain. "He remembers all those who have departed, and he is one of them. Before taking him to heaven, he expressed his wish for you to be well."

Both of them were left speechless as their minds filled with memories and emotions intertwined with uncertainty about who this girl really was and how powerful she could be if she truly had an ally like death. The idea of Yahiko resting in peace gave them some relief, though it also reinforced their determination to achieve a world of peace. They were determined to capture all the bijuus.

"You'll be safe here. We'll take care of you," affirmed Konan, moving closer to sit beside Pain and Sakura.

Sakura's eyes widened and her mouth formed a small "o" upon hearing Konan's words. After Itachi, those were the most sincere and welcoming words she had ever heard. Suddenly, her eyes filled with tears, and she ended up crying in front of the founders of Akatsuki. She cried for all the numbed feelings she had experienced when she was alone in Konoha, for the family she once wanted and was not protected, for strangers who turned out to be more understanding than her parents ever were, and above all, because thanks to Itachi, she was meeting people who welcomed her with open arms. All the fear she had felt disappeared; now she wanted these people almost as much as she loved Itachi, who gave her the chance to step out of darkness and loneliness.

"You were right, you were right," Sakura said again through tears, "you're not bad. You just want what's best." She remembered the first time she saw Itachi, covered in the blood of his clan. "I want to be part of Akatsuki."

Sakura's small hands rested on Pain's cheek and Konan's left hand. When she touched them, they felt an electric current shock their bodies, and before their astonished eyes, a dazzling light. Suddenly, they were no longer in the dark and gloomy Amegakure; before them stood Akatsuki, in a large courtyard filled with lush trees. Everyone was gathered around Sakura, but she was no longer a little girl, but a smiling woman with long hair.

Shocked, they both felt a comforting tug at their chests. It was as if all the weight they had been carrying had vanished. Was this what the future held? Would it be like this when they obtained all the bijuus? Where were they? It was impossible for Amegakure to look so alive. Suddenly, the vision stopped, and they both looked at Sakura, who was once again watching the rain fall while swinging her feet back and forth.

"How did you do that?" Konan asked, still stunned. She watched Sakura stop her swinging to look at them again, this time with her head tilted to the side. Her large, innocent green eyes expressed confusion.

"Do what?"

She seemed so oblivious to what she had done that for a moment they thought they had hallucinated it. However, as they locked eyes, they realized they had witnessed the same thing, and it wasn't an illusion. They could see and feel it almost as if they were inside that vision. They didn't believe she was advanced enough to subject them to a genjutsu, and the expression on her face confirmed it.

"Why are you the only woman here?" Konan wasn't expecting that question. She had to set aside her intricate thoughts to focus on her.

When Konan looked into the girl's eyes, she suddenly saw herself reflected in her, like when she was just a child, small and defenseless, at the mercy of a world that sought to devour the weak. Although it had been some time since she fled from Konoha, she could still see the faint marks on her skin where once there were large, dark bruises of purple, now reduced to a pale yellowish-green. Change is difficult and few achieve it on the first try; the unknown is scary, yet she dove into the fight and strived to be better. She's trying to become strong, just as she once wished for herself. She once had a master who helped and saved them; he gave them a chance, just as Itachi gave one to the girl. Perhaps an extra hand wouldn't hurt; her dark secret had always been to have a child to care for, and maybe now she could fulfill it.

"Because I'm a strong woman who isn't intimidated by men," she replied. In her hand appeared some pieces of paper that turned into a small cat rubbing against Sakura's face, then transformed into a butterfly and finally into a bird.

Sakura's bright eyes and laughter were like a breath of spring that filled the room, as well as their hearts.

"It's beautiful," Sakura said with such sincerity that Konan smiled.

"It's not just an ornament," she explained. In an instant, the paper bird turned into a shuriken that flew towards a metal pillar, slicing it in half as if it were butter.

Sakura squealed with excitement and ran towards the metal and paper on the ground. As she reached out to touch it, the paper lifted up, without any dents. Once again, it transformed into a bird. She picked it up with her hands and brought it before Konan and Pain.

"It's amazing. I want to be as strong as you and be a great member of Akatsuki to maintain peace in the world!"

The words no longer surprised both of them as much, but still, they resonated deeply in their hearts, stirring a feeling of pride for belonging to Akatsuki. A child as small as her did not fear them, did not flinch at blood; she had endured childhood abuse and yet could still smile, as she did at that moment. The excitement of the moment had dissipated the shyness she had shown the day before.

Suddenly, both felt the desire to preserve that innocence that still persisted in such a cruel world, a world that had taken theirs away at a much younger age than hers.

"Someday you will be," the unthinkable happened. Konan slightly widened her eyes and Sakura looked curiously at Pain as he affectionately ruffled her hair.

It was a gesture of affection that Konan hadn't seen since Yahiko died, a gesture that Sakura, oblivious to everything she had felt until that moment, had only experienced before with Itachi and Gaara. Tears began to slide down Sakura's cheeks as she lunged at Pain, seeking solace in his chest and letting herself be carried away by the tears.

Pain felt awkward at first, unfamiliar with this kind of affection, but not knowing what else to do, he continued to gently stroke her hair. Konan approached them and began to rub Sakura's back. They let her cry until she finally fell asleep on Pain's lap.

"Thank you, mom and dad. When I grow up, I want a piercing too," she murmured in her sleep, with a wide smile on her face.

Pain and Konan looked at each other this time, moved, aware that those nicknames were meant for them. They were determined to care for and teach Sakura as if she were their own daughter.

Sakura walked sleepily to her room. She had spent almost the entire day with Pain and Konan, and Itachi would soon arrive. She wanted to be there to greet him in the room and tell him about her great day, especially that she had gained a new mom and dad.

As she walked down the hallway to her bedroom, she found a slightly ajar door with light inside. Curiosity got the better of her and she decided to enter, remembering that the door had been closed that morning. Upon seeing the inside of the room, she gasped and ran towards the large table where huge puppets of different sizes were piled up. With a smile, she picked up one that was her size and spent the entire afternoon playing with it, although, fun as it was, it didn't compare to having a real doll.

She danced and chatted with the puppet, having a lot of fun.

"I'll call you Fufy," she said with laughter.

"What are you doing here?"

She almost dropped the puppet when she turned around and saw Sasori standing in the doorway of the room, looking at her indifferently. Embarrassed, she put the puppet back in its place and nervously moved her legs, feeling guilty for invading someone's space without permission. She knew she could be punished for this and only hoped it wouldn't be too severe.

"I saw the light on... and saw these beautiful puppets. I couldn't resist playing with them," her voice was almost a whisper.

She felt a little terrified as Sasori examined her and then her puppets, as if he was looking for the slightest hint that they had been mistreated or damaged. Without saying anything, he sat down at his desk, leaving a body aside and starting to carve wood.

Curious, Sakura sat on a bench and silently watched Sasori, grateful that he appreciated her quietness. Engrossed in his task of carving wood for his new puppet, Sasori seemed to not mind the girl watching him. Fascinated, Sakura watched as Sasori worked the wood, gradually transforming it into the face of the figure next to him. Unaware, she moved closer until she was next to him to see his work in greater detail.

Sasori set aside his tools and turned his chair to face her. He raised his head with his hand and looked at her coldly.

"What do you think of these puppets?" he pointed to the figures scattered around the room.

Sakura examined them carefully before looking back at him and smiling confidently.

"They're beautiful," she said sincerely, catching Sasori's attention. "It's interesting to see how you turn that body into a puppet. Could I make one or two myself? I have some friends, they're called Clock, Flower, Skull, Green, and Dora. They're with me when I'm sad and alone. I would like to make a puppet of them."

Sasori was impressed by the girl's intelligence, who seemed to quickly understand what was happening in the room and was not frightened by the presence of a lifeless body on the table while he carved the wooden face. However, he found her friends' names curious. Who could they be? He hadn't seen anyone else in the room; otherwise, they would already be dead. Most likely they were imaginary friends. Who was he to judge her?

"If you don't mind, perhaps I'll teach you how to make some puppets and how to use them," he said before returning to his work.

"Thank you, uncle," Sakura responded with a smile, excited at the opportunity to create dolls resembling her friends.

Sasori tensed at the unusual nickname the girl had given him. He decided to simply ignore it and continue working; she didn't bother him and proved to be a keen observer, so the nickname didn't matter much to him.

More than an hour had passed since Sasori sat down to carve the wood. Time seemed to fly by when he was immersed in his work, so much so that he had almost forgotten the presence of the girl until he heard a slight noise in the room. That's when he remembered her presence and stopped working to look at her. To his surprise, he found her dozing off on the small bench. It had been a long time and only now had she made any noise, indicating that she had been like that for quite some time.

Sasori sighed and rose from his seat, carrying the girl in his arms. It was the least he could do after she hadn't bothered him and had made him lose time.

"I want to make a puppet, uncle," she murmured in her sleep.

Sasori snorted. The girl was very enthusiastic about learning. It wouldn't hurt to teach her a thing or two.

"Sasori."

He realized he wasn't alone in the hallway when he looked up and saw Itachi and the new member, Kisame. Both were covered in blood from the mission they had carried out that day.

"She fell asleep, so I brought her to you," he said, handing Sakura over to Itachi without further ado. Once she was safely in Itachi's arms, Sasori turned around and returned to his room. "Interesting creature you brought."

Due to the movement, Sakura ended up waking up. Feeling herself being carried, she blinked several times and looked up. A radiant smile lit up her lips as she saw Itachi with her, and she clung tighter to him.

"Itachi-nii! Guess what, I have a new mom and dad, plus I gained an uncle. They taught me—" her words came out so fast that Itachi could barely keep up with them, until she suddenly stopped upon seeing they were accompanied, and by none other than someone who seemed like a giant to her. Her mouth formed an "o" as she noticed his blue skin and shark-like face. "Who are you?"

"I'm Kisame. And you, furball?" Kisame asked with interest as he saw his partner, covered in blood, carrying a little girl who seemed unfazed by seeing them in that state.

Itachi lowered Sakura to the ground.

"I'm not a furball, my name is Sakura," she said, puffing out her cheeks. Being on the ground, she felt like a flea next to the mastodon. Still, she wouldn't be intimidated, because her big brother was watching them, and she didn't want to look bad in front of him.

"You're a furball, so I'll call you furball."

Kisame smiled, displaying his large, sharp teeth. Amused, he noticed how Sakura shivered slightly. He loved seeing that reaction in people; fear made them recoil. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Itachi about to intervene.

"You look like a shark. I didn't know sharks could live on land," Sakura remarked, and Kisame's smile vanished, becoming even more irritated when Itachi tried to conceal a laugh with a cough. "If you call me furball, then I'll call you Sharkie."

Despite the marked height difference and Kisame's intimidating appearance, Sakura didn't back down. Kisame gave her a point for her bravery, until he drew his massive sword and placed it between himself and Sakura.

"Don't think you're so brave, girl. You may not fear blood, but I'm more dangerous than you think. This sword, Samehada, could swallow you whole," he warned, intending to put her in her place. She was just a furball, after all.

Contrary to what Kisame expected, Sakura looked at the imposing sword with curiosity, which seemed immense to her. She wanted to see what was under the bandage. She reached out, and before Itachi or Kisame could say anything, she touched the sword. To their surprise, the sword responded with a purr.

"It's quite amusing, your sword. Can I play with it?" Sakura asked, all annoyance she had for the nickname Sharkie gave her evaporated.

Kisame and Itachi were speechless until Kisame flashed another sinister grin at Itachi.

"Can I teach her how to use a sword?" Kisame asked Itachi as if he had just found a new pet to play with. "If Samehada likes her, then I like the furball too."

"Can I, big brother?" Sakura asked excitedly, turning to look at him with puppy eyes.

Seeing the two looking at him hopefully to use each other to their advantage was not something Itachi had in mind when he returned to the Akatsuki headquarters. He grimaced at the bright eyes they were giving him.

"When you're older," Itachi replied, expecting some complaints from them.

Both sighed in defeat and glanced at each other. The smile Kisame flashed didn't bode well for Itachi.

"He said when you're older but didn't specify how much. Furball with legs, if you learn well from Itachi in a year, I'll teach you how to use a sword."

Before Itachi could retort, like any good ninja, Kisame vanished. Itachi sighed defeatedly and saw Sakura trembling with excitement.

"Only if in a year I see that you've learned what's necessary," he said defeatedly.

Happy, Sakura hugged Itachi before thanking him a thousand times. This time, they both made it to the room without any issues. Sakura told him about her day while Itachi helped her change clothes and tucked her into bed. Throughout that time, he listened attentively.

"Itachi-nii," she received an "mm" from him as a sign that he was listening, "could you buy me a diary? I'd like to write down all these overwhelming experiences. I've never felt so happy to be part of something; that's why I never want to forget it, and if it were to happen, have the diary to remember all these fun moments."

Itachi's gaze softened. He couldn't say no to her. She was his new Achilles' heel, on par with his little brother. After promising her that he would give her a diary the next day, he kissed her forehead and lay down on the bed they shared for now.

"Itachi-nii," she murmured in the darkness.

"Mm?"

"Thank you for bringing me here."

Finally, Sakura fell asleep, and Itachi smiled in the darkness.

Omake:

At the dining table, Pain, Konan, Sakura, Itachi, Kisame, Sasori, Tobi, and Zetsu awaited their meal. Kisame grumbled, "I hope it's not frozen or canned food again, or I'll die."

"You served canned food yesterday," Sasori replied unperturbed.

"It's that or die of food poisoning," Kisame retorted almost instantly.

"I don't need to eat, I'm a puppet," Sasori added with a smug smile.

"Tobi's hungry, Tobi wants to eat!" Tobi shouted just for fun.

Kisame's irritation led him to grab his sword, ready to shed blood, until Pain's gaze stopped him. Mealtime always put everyone in a bad mood and hungry. It was Orochimaru's turn to prepare the food, after Kisame had his turn the day before.

Despite being experts in the arts of assassination, the members of Akatsuki left much to be desired in the kitchen. When it wasn't Itachi's turn, they secretly looked forward to his culinary skills. They resorted to frozen food, buying groceries, or serving canned food.

Kisame was about to protest again when Orochimaru appeared with a large covered pot. Even Sasori, Pain, and Konan looked on with curiosity, eager to see what Orochimaru had cooked up, as he preferred to buy ready-made food.

"What have you prepared, Orochimaru?" Sakura asked curiously, rising from her seat to get a better look.

They fell silent as they watched the little cotton ball exit the room. Soon, noises began to be heard, and no one dared to move; even the food, which seemed to come to life, ceased its movement. Pots, pans, cutlery, and other utensils clanked until Sakura finally appeared, struggling to stay upright as she carried a tray containing a large spinach salad with yogurt and strawberries, a large pot, and she even made lemon water. Orochimaru helped her set things down.

Silence reigned in the room. The salad looked delicious, and they didn't know what to expect from the pot. Seeing Sakura patiently take her seat, Itachi gathered the courage to lift the lid. Angels seemed to sing, and a ray of light emerged from the pot, filling the dining room with the delightful scent of chicken breast with vegetables. Even Sasori's mouth watered.

"If you can't cook, just say so. I can handle the kitchen for you; my family used to make me cook for them," she said simply before helping herself to some food.

"You cook half the week, and I'll take the other half," Itachi added after trying the salad.

From that day on, Akatsuki sang praises to Sakura and Itachi for saving them from certain death by eating what Orochimaru had prepared and what they likely would have cooked themselves. Even Sasori started eating more often, even though he didn't need to.