Kisame had received a message from Itachi's crow some days prior. It was finally the day when they were supposed to rejoin each other. To be honest, he had started getting bored himself, even with all the freedom he got during his solo travel. Often times, he found himself wondering about what Itachi and Mitsuki had been up to, especially with the weird relationship between them that Kisame just couldn't quite put his finger on for some reason.

"It's about time," thought Kisame as he saw two figures approaching from the fog in the distance. As they got closer, Kisame could identify the owner of the silhouettes. In front was his partner, Itachi, and behind him..

"Huh?" Kisame gazed at the second figure in confusion. A dark haired lady with a long Kimono walked in steady, elegant pace behind Itachi, as if following him.

"It's been a while, Kisame," Itachi remarked as he saw his partner sitting atop of a short cliff.

"Itachi-san, welcome back," Kisame greeted with a grin on his face. "Where's Mitsuki? Did you trade her over with that pretty big sister over there?" he added jokingly. Hearing his words, the lady frowned and retorted with a familiar voice.

"Huh? Kisame, what are you on about?" the girl retorted as she narrowed her big, round eye, in a judging manner. Seeing the familiar expression and hearing the lady's voice, Kisame quickly caught on.

"GAH, MITSUKI!?" He exclaimed in disbelief, "WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU, YOU GOT A GROWTH SPURT!?"

Mitsuki sighed in exasperation hearing Kisame's question, accompanied by the shock in his face.

"Something like that, yes," Mitsuki explained lazily. She and Itachi had agreed in keeping the information conveyed to Kisame to a minimum amount.

"Gosh, I almost couldn't tell it's you until you spoke. How about you just stay quiet from now on?" he teased. Hearing Kisame's remark, Mitsuki was spurred into action as she threw various rigged seeds over to Kisame, which he calmly deflected with his Samehada without touching or cutting the vines that burst out of the seeds.

"Whoops, the same trick won't work on me twice!" he exclaimed, taunting the girl further.

Seeing the familiar scene in front of him, Itachi smiled lightly.

"Then, what are we doing here?" Mitsuki asked as the three walked together through a forest.

"Reporting to our leader," Itachi answered briefly.

"Wah, he's back to his silent, cold persona," Mitsuki let out a complicated smile as she saw the change in Itachi's mannerism.

"Then what, do you think I should reintroduce myself?" Mitsuki asked, wondering if it would bring about a complication. Unsure, Itachi pondered in silence.

"Wouldn't be a problem right?" Kisame remarked. "I'd like to hear more also. It still feels weird to me as well," he added. Hearing Kisame's statement, Mitsuki put on a vexed, exhausted face.

"What!?" he remarked. Before Mitsuki and Kisame could get into another silly debate, Itachi cut through their conversation.

"Let's pick up our pace," he demanded as he started to speed up immediately. Without question, Mitsuki and Kisame followed behind him.

Seeing how the hideout is located in dry land, Mitsuki shouted inwardly in happiness, which was immediately reflected as sparkles in her eyes. Her change in expression didn't escape both Itachi's and Kisame's sight who immediately chuckled. Holding back his laughter, Itachi moved forward to open the hideout by giving his chakra unto a hidden portion of the rock.

As the door opened, the three immediately entered the hideout and waited inside.

It wasn't long after their entrance that a distorted silhouette appeared within the hideout, as if expecting their arrival.

"It's been a while, Itachi, Kisame.." said Pain, the leader. "And behind you two is.." he asked, unsure as his memory of the girl during the previous meeting didn't match the figure in front of him.

"I'm Mitsuki, it's been a while, leader.." said Mitsuki as she bowed politely. Confused, Pain turned his head towards Itachi, asking for explanation.

As per what was agreed, Itachi divulged a cover story that he and Mitsuki had crafted together, leaving the important bits out to avoid unnecessary attraction. Mitsuki occasionally interrupted and support Itachi's word with some impromptu information whenever Pain and Kisame expressed confusion, or suspicion. In short, what was disclosed was a portion of the truth, including Mitsuki's self-healing ability, along with her penchant of tracking and her trickery and cunning.

"As for why she doesn't have any chakra, we don't know yet," Itachi lied without batting an eye, giving a reason for Pain to justify Mitsuki staying together with the party.

"Hmmm, a divine Miko huh, that is new," Kisame remarked, not sure what to take from the situation. He was surprised that somehow there was such major progression in information during the time they were separated. Moreover, the fact that they had coincidentally came across it during Itachi's quest for medicine baffled him. However, he didn't intend to challenge Itachi's statement.

"Actually, speaking of that, what a coincidence," said Pain, "Kakuzu had recently killed his partner once more, and we've looked into finding a new replacement for his deceased partner, and we had found a candidate."

"His partner is going to be someone with a unique ability as well. It was said that by invoking the power of his God, he had become an immortal," he added, wishing that it would be the last time he would have to find a replacement partner for Kakuzu.

Hearing Pain's word, Itachi frowned slightly. Again, Akatsuki had managed to earn themselves an unusual member.

"For the detail of his immortality, even I didn't know as much. After all, every one of us is entitled to their own secrecy," said Pain with a piercing gaze, as if conveying that he knew about each of the member's hidden agenda and their effort on concealing their true skill even from another member. After all, being notorious criminal as they are, they didn't know when they would turn unto each other.

"Which God is it?" Mitsuki asked in pure curiosity.

"As for the God, I believed he called his God, Jashin (Evil God), and the religion to be Jashinkyo (Jashinism)," Pain said briefly.

"? Hmmm…" Mitsuki frowned upon hearing the name, prompting Itachi to threw her a subtle questioning glance.

"Speak, girl," Pain demanded.

"Ah no, it's just.. I believe it's not a name of a specific God, but rather refer to a category of them. At least not that I know of," said Mitsuki briefly. To be honest, she felt quite curious about this new member, being immortal as he is as well as the fact that he said he earned it from a deity, or deities. However, somehow, she also didn't feel like interacting with any follower of any Evil Gods, wicked and deranged as they are usually. The reluctance was reflected clearly on Mitsuki's face, focusing the attention of the other three at her. Noticing the attention, Mitsuki scratched her head and stated,

"All in all, I don't think I would like to see him," or she'd rather not, Mitsuki added in her thoughts as she glanced towards Itachi, asking for his intervention.

"I don't think that will be a problem," said Itachi in support, to Pain's and Kisame's surprise. After all they both expected him to pursue the matter for Akatsuki's mission. "Religious dispute are common issues. If differences in believes might turn into a possible death match, we'd better play it safe," Itachi crafter an excuse.

"Indeed," Pain added, realizing that Hidan's personality and stated believe might easily turn a conversation into a death ritual. "Now, update me about your excursion in Konoha. I've heard some rumour, but I'd like to hear it directly from you two as well," added Pain with piercing looks on his eyes.

Itachi and Kisame told Pain about everything that had transpired during their Konoha visit in minute detail. It seemed like Itachi didn't want to provoke any suspicion from Kisame or Pain from hiding any details.

"I think that will cover our report for now," Itachi added, closing the conversation.

"Good work. I take it that your group will go after the Four Tail now?" said Pain.

After trading glance with each other, Itachi and Kisame nodded.

"We're heading to the Land of Earth now," Kisame confirmed.

"Good. This base will remain our point of contact from now until all of you leave the area then," noted Pain, followed by nods of the two Akatsuki member. "Meeting adjourned," remarked Pain, as his hazy figure dissipate into thin air.

"So, where do we go now? Exactly?" Mitsuki asked with curiosity as Itachi and Kisame laid down a map of the surrounding area that Kisame had helped procured recently in his solo travel.

"Hmmm.. There's a cluster of towns nearby, within quick travelable distance to the hideout. I guess we can start from there?" Kisame noted.

"That's fine with me," Itachi added. He would like to delay their pace as much as possible. Since none of the Akatsuki's two man team had succeeded in procuring their Jinchuuriki, their lack of progress won't be deemed suspicious. Stalling as much time as he could without raising questions would be his main personal mission from then on, thought Itachi. The more detour they have, the better it is.

"Let's take our time and survey the land around first," Itachi suggested. Knowing the lay of the land would be important for him, yet also an acceptable excuse for delay.

"However, it's best that we take care. It would likely be more dangerous from here on, since we are in close proximity to Iwagakure," Itachi added, mostly towards Mitsuki than Kisame.

"Haha, it's likely that the news of our recent excursion in Konoha had spread as well. How troublesome," Kisame added. "It's likely that the Four Tail's jinchuuriki would be taking extra measures as well to defend or hide himself."

"All for the best," Itachi thought to himself. It will all be for his convenience. It was to his advantage as well that it seemed like even Akatsuki had trouble in determining the whereabouts of the Four Tail's Jinchuuriki. It would mean that he can justifiably delay the chase as much as possible, supported by the lack of information.

"Hmmm, all the town in the cluster are within walking distance right, that would be perfect," Mitsuki stated with excitement.

"What are you planning this time, kiddo?" Kisame asked teasingly, greeted by a frown on Mitsuki's face as she narrowed her eyes.

"Kisame, I remember you promised you will stop calling me kid when I stop looking like one?" Mitsuki hinted in annoyance.

"Huh? Since when?" Kisame stared at Mitsuki in confusion while Itachi tried his best not to get dragged into the banter.

"THAT TIME NEAR THE WATER HIDEOUT! AFTER WE EXITED, WHEN YOU.. WHEN YOU CARRIED ME LIKE A PIECE OF RUG!" Mitsuki yelled in frustration as she gestured her frustration in exaggeration, clutching her head. The memory was still fresh in her mind, and more than ever, it embarrassed her to remember Kisame's treatment now that she has a better idea on who she was.

Hearing Mitsuki's exclamation, Kisame burst out laughing.

"HAHAHA, now that you say it, I do vaguely remember something like that happened," said Kisame, tears of laughter almost filled his eyes.

"And?" Mitsuki added in bitter expectation.

"What if I refuse, kiddo?" Kisame asked teasingly, purposedly calling her kiddo once more to her annoyance.

Speechless upon Kisame's wilful retort, Mitsuki's eye twitched..

"Kuso-same…" Mitsuki spewed poison with an irritated look on her face. Upon hearing her filthy insult, Itachi and Kisame traded glance. Itachi shrugged with a poker face, as if telling Kisame to deal with Mitsuki by himself.

Over the course of a few day, Mitsuki, Itachi, and Kisame split their task and went around to survey the lay of the land and mapped any important point there was that might be useful to note, considering there were going to be chances that they would be pushed into combat or pursuit.

During the course of those few day as well, as Kisame hadn't give in to Mitsuki's demand, Mitsuki increasingly upped the intensity of her insult towards Kisame as well, baffling the other two.

"Baka-same," she said at some point.

"Gero-same*" she said at another chance.

"Chinpo-same*" she said with intensity upon their last reconnaissance report.

"Pffft," Itachi almost choked as he heard Mitsuki spewing worse and worse curse over time. At the same time, he felt like laughing upon the unexpected filth that came out of Mitsuki's mouth, even though he knew he shouldn't.

"Itachi-san!? Why is this girl's mouth getting worse and worse!?"

"You wanna see what else can I think of?" Mitsuki asked with a challenging tone as she narrowed her eyes and frowned in irritation.

"Enough, enough! Fine, I won't call you kiddo anymore!" Kisame finally gave in, in fear of Mitsuki's foul mouth and creativity. Hearing Kisame's remark, Mitsuki celebrated her victory.

"Looking forward to the change, Kisame-chan!" Mitsuki smiled mischievously towards Kisame with smug look as she walked ahead of the other two.

Author's note:

cough* Mitsuki's filthy mouth *cough*

Oh before that, about Hidan's joining Akatsuki right. I decided to take different direction here. There's a few reason. 1st is the fact that it has never been clear when he actually joined in the manga. The only information I can find is that,

A, he is the 2nd newest member after Tobi,

B, He was taken in to replace Kakuzu's partner since he kept killing them,

C, at one Akatsuki meeting, he noted that he don't know what's going on or whether whatever Akatsuki's purpose are since he is quite new and they've never openly talked about it in front of him, so he heard only from the whispers behind him

Based on these two information, the circumstances that was provided by non-canon material either doesn't make sense and couldn't be directly integrated into the fanfic, or just doesn't fit in narrative at all, especially noting that the 2 material about Hidan's recruitment is in conflict with each other. Here's the breakdown:

Naruto Ninja storm version: Orochimaru and Kakuzu recruited Hidan.
In terms of coolness and vibe, this one fits better, but… Orochimaru left Akatsuki not long after Itachi's joining due to his failure in obtaining Itachi's body as well as his shameful defeat. That would be, uh… 4 years before the event in Naruto Part 1? It's unthinkable that Hidan wouldn't ask anything/no one told him even a bit until he protested in the 2nd part of the manga about his lack of knowledge

Itachi shinden Anime adaptation: Itachi, Konan, and Kakuzu recruited Hidan.
This one makes more sense in terms of timeline, but due to a few reason, I'm not sure if I'll go with this one as well. 1stly is the Itachi Shinden adaptation in anime itself has a lot of major changes that doesn't go well with my plan since I'm closely following the events in the light novel instead. It's quite obvious how they made the anime version to be a lot lighter and remove the complicated relationship between Itachi and Izumi (based on Sasuke's rejection to her and Itachi's focus on dango, ahaha, I think it also pictures how maybe the staff don't like going with Itachi and Izumi having a closer-than-friend relationship route..) TBH it's understandable since I'm not too fond of her lack of actions as well, but I have to admit that it was clear that Itachi considered her dear and as Shisui said, he's very good at lying to himself and it was only shown subtly. Since I'm going with that direction, I decided to not take the anime adaptation of the novel seriously.

2ndly, is that the vibe somehow just don't fit. Hidan wearing rocker jacket (or Squall FFVIII jacket, depending on your POV) and commented that the Akatsuki looked like member of a band and mentioned modern band instrument, I.. I just don't know if I can integrate that well hahahah. Besides, it will be troublesome if Mitsuki meet Hidan, knowing her it will probably not end in peace hahaha. I actually considered having Itachi moved in split way like in the anime to join Konan and Kakuzu on recruitment, but seeing how the episode messed a bit of the fact on what happened I decided to drop it altogether (1stly is the discrepancy between order of joining Akatsuki and the member in comparison to other media like how Zabuza's sword was held by Itachi's former partner, while it shouldn't be, then the exact Deidara recruitment scene where suddenly all member of Akatsuki appeared just seconds after Itachi defeated Deidara… LIKE WHY ARE THEY EVEN THERE, TOO FREEE? It just doesn't make sense to send 3 man to recruit there specifically just for everyone to appear few seconds afterwards? That threw me off so yeah…

We'll go with a totally new direction. The circumstances of Hidan's hiring was unclear, just that he was recruited after Kakuzu murdered his 4th partner, and he was considerably new within Akatsuki, not enough time or meeting had passed enough for him to ask more about the organization he joined. Whether later Itachi will join in recruiting him or not, I'm still not 100% set on that yet, but even if it happened, it would be behind the scenes so that I don't have to think of some joke to go in response to Itachi being the vocalist pffft.

Sorry for rambling, I hope you guys have a nice day!

Extra notes:

Here we go, curse words/dirty words xD

Since we went with kuso and baka before,

Gero: puke (remember gero-chu from chainsaw man? Traumatizing as hell hahahah)

Chinpo: erm, yeap its dick. Mitsuki just picked up any curse she could here from people around her even not knowing why it's a curse word, tho biological knowledge wise she knew what is it x'D