Before It Ends (Itachi x Akatsuki x Reader)

***

The soft, haunting melody of your father's music box filled the silence of your room, a tune that would remain etched in your heart forever. You lay on the floor, your gaze fixed on the small, intricate gears of the box turning. It was late—way past the hour you should've been asleep—but the rising sound of your parents' voices downstairs pulled you from your dreams.

It wasn't unusual for them to argue. They'd done it many times before. But tonight… tonight felt different. The words they exchanged were sharper, laced with something you couldn't quite understand but felt deep in your chest. You didn't mean to eavesdrop, but the sound of their shouting drowned out everything else—until, slowly, the music box's tune seemed to quiet the world around you.

You closed the lid softly, the delicate click of the box reverberating in the otherwise heavy silence. Unaware of the tears that had begun to slip down your cheeks, you stared at the closed lid, as if it could somehow block out the pain of their voices. You hated it—hated the fighting, the tension. You didn't understand it, but you knew it hurt.

With shaky hands, you stood, your small body trembling with uncertainty as you quietly made your way toward the staircase. You could barely hear the words from downstairs, but you could feel the heat of their anger rising, each shout striking like a whip against your fragile heart.

You peered over the banister, watching as your parents stood in the living room, the scene unfolding before you like a nightmare you couldn't wake from. Their faces were twisted in frustration, their voices rising higher with each passing moment. It was like they didn't even know how to speak to each other without bitterness now.

"Fuck that!" Your father snapped, his voice sharp and final.

"Enough with the lies!" Your mother shouted back, her voice cracking with pain. "If you care about this family at all, you'll stay and talk to me about this!"

"Fuck that!" He repeated, the words hanging in the air like a heavy, suffocating fog. Without another word, he turned, storming toward the door.

The sound of the door slamming echoed through the house. You froze, your breath catching in your throat, a sickening realization twisting in your gut.

You watched in silence as your mother dropped to her knees, her body shaking as she let out a raw, gut-wrenching scream—one that would haunt you forever. You'd never seen her like this. The strongest woman you knew was now shattered, breaking in a way that no one could fix.

Your heart hammered painfully in your chest. You stepped back from the stairs, your feet moving as though they weren't your own, retreating into the shadows of your room. You wiped the tears from your eyes, but more kept coming. No… no… he'd come back. He had to come back.

You pressed your back against the door, willing yourself to breathe. You told yourself this couldn't be the end—everything would be fine, wouldn't it?

But the days turned to weeks, then months. You sat by the window every night, the music box playing softly beside you, praying that the sound of your father's footsteps would return. Every night you waited. Every night you hoped. And every night, there was no answer.

The inevitable news came three years later. Your father was dead.

***

You woke with a start, heart beating loudly in your chest. You take a moment to absorb your surroundings. You were here in your temporary room at the Akatsuki HQ. Today was your initiation mission…

You heave out a final heavy breath, your eyelids lowering slightly. What was with dreams like that? Well, suppose they were more like vivid memories rather than dreams. It'd been awhile since you had an episode…

You shake your head to yourself. You didn't have time to waste on this. Perhaps this was just your body's way of telling you it was time to get up. You wanted to be ready nice and early for your initiation mission anyways. 

…

You did your morning routine as usual. Hair, make up, outfit. You were just finishing getting dressed when you heard a knock at the door. Pain's deep voice followed after. "Y/n?"

"Sir?"

"Are you decent?"

"Decent…?"

"Are you dressed?"

"Oh…" You can feel your face heat up slightly. That probably sounded real dumb on your part. "Yes."

You can hear the knob turn and then the door creak open to reveal the renowned leader of the Akatsuki. "We'll skip the pleasantries. I've decided your initiation mission." 

—

And that's how you found yourself leaping from the treetops somewhere near the outskirts of Kirigakure. Pain had made your objective clear: you needed to take out a rouge shinobi whom was apparently an ex-member of the Akatsuki. Though one thing in particular was really bothering you…he was known for taking hostages. The last thing you wanted was for innocents to be involved…

You continue to leap from branch to branch, the wind in your face a nice refresher from all your time cooped up inside. Though, it'd been awhile since you'd gone solo. You used to have a partner of sorts…but that was something of the past. You could never see him again…you both agreed. 

Your eyes continuously scan your surroundings. The reason Pain had assigned this mission to you, was because your sensory skills after all. For someone like you, locating another shinobi came easy. And, as if to speak of the devil, you suddenly felt a surge of chakra rush through you. You quickly begin to make your way towards the direction it came from. You couldn't be far now…

…

After a few more moments, you found yourself in a small clearing. The once abundant forest fauna now lay eerily quiet, the atmosphere heavy with suspense. The abandoned buildings, half-collapsed and covered in vines, whispered tales of the past. A sense of isolation and unease settled in your chest as you navigated the desolate surroundings. Doubt and fear tugged at your confidence, but you steeled yourself. This trial was necessary for you to earn your place among the team. Despite your inner turmoil, you pushed forward, resolute to overcome the unknown perils that lay ahead.

Following the trail of energy, you arrived at a run-down building. Though trashy and dilapidated, the structure remained surprisingly sturdy. This seemed like the perfect place for a hideout—after all, who would think to look here? This was it. Your first mission, officially began now. You took a deep breath, gathering your courage before pulling open the door.

It was dark, the place illuminated only by a single, blinking fluorescent light. The interior was a mess, trash scattered across the ground in front of you. Everything was in shambles, disarrayed and unorganized. The guy was a hoarder, to say the least...

You shudder as the fluorescent light blinks out, leaving you completely in the dark. You couldn't stand around here forever though. You needed to get moving. You do your best to scan the area, keeping your eyes peeled as you begin to step forward. It was so damn dark though, you could hardly see more than a few feet in front of you. You stumble as your foot bumps into something. You look downwards, expecting it to be some of the trash and waste scattered on the ground…but it wasn't. It was a body.

You let out a yelp as you step back, eyes wide with fear. Were they…!? Wait, no, they were breathing…! You quickly crouch down, dropping to your knees. "H-Hey," you speak up, slowly turning the body over to face you. It seemed to be a young woman, no more than her early twenties. "Hey," you repeat. "Are you alright? Can you hear me?" you ask, as you hold her in your arms. Alas, there was no response. It was weird; she was definitely alive, but her eyes looked…odd. Something's been done to her. Think, Y/n. There must be something you can do…? You'd brought a few healing elixirs, maybe one of those?

You gently lay the girl back down before quickly reaching into your pouch. You curse yourself as the damn bottle slips through your fingers. "Shit…" you mumble, quite literally crawling around on all fours as you feel about for the small glass bottle. 

You stop dead in your tracks as you bump into a pair of legs. Except these ones weren't sitting or laying, they were standing. You slowly look up, your eyes wide as your gaze lands on a man with slicked back dark hair. He wore black leather pants and a simple white T-shirt, though all the buttons were undone, exposing his chest. Most notably, there was something about his eyes that looked…crazy.

The two of you seemed to be caught in a dead lock stare for what felt like an eternity, when finally, his expression shifts from completely stoic to a pleasant looking smile. "…Hey there, little girl. Are you lost?"

The complete shift in attitude caused a shiver to run down your spine. "N-No, I…um—

"This is perfect timing." He cut you off. "We were just about to get the party started…but we still don't have enough guests." He exclaims, as he kneels down in front of you, causing you to inch back. "Do you wanna help me with that?"

The fluorescent light above you flickered back on then, revealing the horrifying scenery around you. Bodies were scattered everywhere.

The scream that left your lips was completely involuntary, your eyes unable to tear away from the gruesome sight. The man's breath ghosting across your cheek seemed to snap you back to reality. When had he gotten so close!? "When it comes to parties, the more the merrier, right?" he hummed, reaching out his hand toward you.

"NO!" you screamed, smacking his hand away. As you did, a surge of negative energy rushed through you—the same kind you felt when you first entered the area. You let out a quiet gasp as the man slightly recoiled, standing back to his feet. What was that...?

The look in the man's eyes had entirely shifted now, the intent to kill clear. "Don't run from me," he growled, lunging at you. You yelped, jumping back, before lifting to your feet and running in the opposite direction. You weren't sure where you were going, as long as it was away from him.

You had to think this through carefully. This wasn't something where you could just use ninjutsu or throw kunai and hope for the best. No. There were at least a dozen innocent lives incapacitated around you right now. If you were to go hand-to-hand with this guy, you might risk injuring or even killing one of them. For you, that wasn't an option. Unlike a typical Akatsuki member, you valued human life above anything else.

You make it to the far end of the room, doing your best to knock over trash and boxes in your wake. The man was taking his sweet time coming after you though, silently rounding the mess you'd made as he approached.

You took this time to focus your chakra and use your sensory skills. You needed to find the source of this negative energy. What had he done to these people? How had he done it? You scanned over him, your eyes stopping at his wrist. There! There seemed to be some kind of negative force emanating from his bracelet. So, that was it? You'd heard about something like this before—a tool to drain one's chakra and leave them incapacitated. You needed to get it away from him…!

Having nowhere else to go, you hop up on the counter, grabbing the nearest thing and throwing it at him. Of course, it didn't do much, considering it was a spoon.

The man let out a grunt as the spoon hit his bare chest. His nonchalant attitude remained though. "Would you stop that?"

"Like hell!" you shout, pushing a heavy can off the counter, the man letting out a sharp yelp of pain as it hits his foot.

You watch as he stumbles back slightly. This was your chance! While his guard was lowered, you quickly grabbed onto his wrist where the bracelet was. You had expected to just be able to pull it off him, but the surge of negative energy that rushed through you when you touched it was far too strong.

The man grinned deviously as your grip on him loosened, your body fighting to stay in control. "Well, well…" He hummed. "So, you are gonna help me after all?" He taunted. 

It felt as if your life force was being drained, every inch of your body wanting to go numb and collapse. You wanted to give in…surrender and take the easy way out…but then you remembered. You couldn't give up, here in a place like this…not when you'd worked so hard…not when you'd made it through way worse than this. This guy was nothing…nothing compared to you!

Your expression quickly shifts as you will yourself to move, will yourself to snap out of it. Your grip on his wrist tightens once more. If he wanted your chakra, then you'd give it to him…! Your body bursts into what seemed like a blue and red flame as you cloak yourself in your own chakra.

The man's eyes go wide with surprise. "W-What is—

"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!! I CAN DESTROY THIS!!!" You yell, the determination evident as your voice rings out. 

Before he even has the time to react, there's a flash of blinding light and the bracelet shatters into pieces. The man instantly pulls back, screaming in pain. 

You don't waste any time, leaping off the counter and instantly rushing over to the woman you had found earlier. "Hey! You need to wake up!" 

To your relief, the woman did slowly begin to sit up. "W-What's going on?" She wasn't the only one awakened from the trance either. You watched as multiple others began to rise, confusion evident in their eyes. 

"Where are we?"

"What's happening?" Multiple voices began to call out all at once. 

You quickly rose to your feet. "Everyone, I need your attention! You all need to run now! This place isn't safe!"

"But, we don't even know where we—

"Questions later! Right now, you need to move!" You instructed sharply. 

Thankfully, no further questions were asked. Instead, everyone got their asses out of there. You watch as the final villager runs out the door before turning your gaze back inside. The man was still there, heaving out heavy breaths while leaning most of his weight on the countertop. Slowly, he lowers his hand from over his eyes. It was just as you expected...he'd been completely blinded. There's a long moment of silence before the man lets out a hateful yell. "You dumb bitch!" He seethes. "Now, what am I supposed to do, huh!?"

"You could stop whining, for starters," you answer, carefully approaching him.

"Oh, you think that's so funny, don't you!?" he barks, looking around in all directions.

"Nothing about this is funny…"

"I can hear it in that condescending tone of yours…!" he growls before lunging in the direction he assumed you were standing.

You easily dodge him, quickly turning and kicking him in the back, causing him to face plant onto the floor. Before he can get back up, you pull a kunai from your pack, throwing it straight through his arm, effectively pinning him to the ground. He lets out a sharp yelp from the pain. "Hey! What the hell!?"

"I'm sorry," you apologize. "But…I have to finish you. You've broken too many rules…betrayed the way of the shinobi."

"Ahh, come on…" he grunts.

You gaze down at him pitifully. You know you shouldn't, but… "Well, I suppose I could leave you to your village elders. After all, it's their job to deal with rogue shinobi. You could have a chance to reform—"

"Are you serious? Do you know what my village elders would do to a guy like me? They torture and conspire. That's all."

You let out a sigh. You figured it wouldn't be that easy. "Then, I will…" You trail off. This was it. This was your life now. This was what it was to be a member of the Akatsuki. "…Put you out of your misery."

—

When you returned back to Akatsuki HQ to report, Pain was just as cold as he had been that morning. "You have returned from your initiation mission," he says, stating the obvious. "And, I trust you've completed it successfully?"

"Would I really be here if I hadn't?"

A small grin tugs at his lips in turn. "You've got a point." He answers. "What did you do?"

"…The target is no more." You explain. "But, I let the hostages go free." 

Pain falls silent after that, as if pondering your words. 

"Here," You speak up once more. "Proof." You reach into your pack, pulling out the necklace that man had been wearing. Honestly, this was your least favorite part about these kind of jobs. While some shinobi took pride in their kills and liked keeping items as trophies, you despised it. You were going to dispose of this thing as soon as you had the chance. Perhaps throw it in the lake as a place of rest…

Pain let's out a soft hum in response, giving you a nod of approval. "You've done well, Y/n."

"Thank you, Sir." 

"…Well, congratulations." He continued, standing from his chair. "As promised, you are now an official member of the Akatsuki." 

You let out a breath you didn't even realize you'd been holding in. You'd actually done it, and all by yourself too. It was official…

"All members are given a communication ring and a cloak displaying our colors." He informs, holding out a ring to you in the palm of his hand. It matched the one he, himself, was wearing. As you reach out to take it, his expression hardens and he momentarily pulls back. "Don't forget the rules." He warns. "Loyalty and unwavering commitment are non-negotiable. Members must dedicate themselves to the organization's goals without hesitation or betrayal. We demand a complete willingness to carry out any task, no matter how morally ambiguous or dangerous." He reminds you. "Once you accept this, there's no going back."

You swallow. "…I understand."

His expression softens slightly as he holds out his palm once more. You delicately take the ring with a grateful nod. "…I would say I'd give you the cloak now, but you're a bit smaller than the other members…"

You can feel your cheeks heat up slightly. "Right…" You were actually the shortest member there, being only a petite girl of 5'2. 

"I'll have Konan fit one for you."

"Appreciate it…"

"One last thing," He adds. "We have our members desecrate their village emblem as a symbol of growth and rebirth," He states, gesturing to his forehead protector. You could see the large gash across it. "But, you don't seem to have one." He noted, raising a brow. "Where did you say you were from again…?" 

You lower your eyelids slightly. "…I've never really belonged to a village before." You admit. 

There's a moment of silence before Pain speaks up again. "I see…" He acknowledged. "…Well then, as a god, I give you this place to spend your eternity. You should consider Akatsuki your new home. It truly is a place for rebirth." 

You can feel your heart swell with a complex mix of emotions then. Hearing Pain speak like that stirred up all those suppressed desires and needs…the yearning for a sense of belonging…the kind you never truly experienced before. Your eyes threatened to betray you, but you fought to maintain a neutral expression, not ready to openly reveal how deeply the words affected you. Inside, though, you were overwhelmed by a jumble of feelings - a bittersweet twinge of sadness, a flicker of excitement, and a deep-seated ache for acceptance. 

You can feel a soft smile tug at your lips. "Thank you…I'll try my best." 

Pain nods once more. "Very well then. I'll gather the other members for a meeting here soon, this way we can get you properly introduced." He says. "You're free to do whatever you'd like in the mean time. I'll contact you via the communication ring when everything's ready." 

"Understood." You conclude, quickly bowing your head before turning to leave. You could feel the weight of your new identity settling in. This place, with its air of mystery and power, was now your home. The journey ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, you felt like you had a place to belong…

—

You spent your free time getting cleaned up, wanting to make sure you looked good for the meeting. A mixture of anticipation and trepidation churned within your stomach as you prepared to meet your teammates for the first time. Each adjustment to your outfit and hairstyle amplified your nervous energy, your hands trembling slightly as you tried to calm your racing heart. You knew how crucial first impressions could be, and the pressure to be perfect weighed heavily on your shoulders.

As you stood in front of the mirror, scrutinizing every detail, you couldn't shake the overwhelming urge to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the room. The walls seemed to close in, and the air felt thick with anxiety. Maybe stepping outside the base for a moment would help. A breath of fresh air might calm your racing thoughts and steady your nerves.

…

You exit your temporary room and make your way through HQ until you reach the exit. Taking a deep breath, you let the cool air fill your lungs, providing a momentary sense of calm. You walk along the outskirts of the base, admiring the scenery. It was mostly just trees and plants, but you've always had an appreciation for nature. 

The night air feels refreshing, its gentle whispers soothing the nerves that had been on overdrive just moments before. You feel a sense of relief at the prospect of momentary solitude. It's a much-needed pause, allowing you to collect your thoughts and regain some composure before facing your teammates.

You were admiring a large willow tree in front of you when suddenly a sharp "Oi!" rang out. You let out a quiet gasp, instantly turning in the direction of the voice. Your gaze falls upon a boy with long blonde hair and blue eyes. He was wearing The Akatsuki's signature cloak. Was this one of your teammates? You hadn't even noticed him…you had thought you were alone out here. He was just sitting in the grass with what seemed to be a sketch book in his lap.

You proceed to stand there like an idiot, looking absolutely dumbfounded. "Uh…?"

"You're blocking my view." He states. "Can't you see I was trying to draw that tree there, hm?" 

"Oh! I'm sorry, I—

"Wait a minute…" He interrupted, before trailing off a moment. "Who the hell are you?" 

"Wait!" You practically blurt. The boy hadn't moved from his spot but you didn't want another interaction like you had the other day. That shark-like man had attacked with no mercy. You didn't want this boy to think you were some intruder and end up attacking too. "Um, my name is Y/n. I'm a brand new member of The Akatsuki." You explain, quickly showing him your ring as proof. 

The boy raised a brow. "New member, huh?" He repeated. "Well, you don't look like much." 

You blink once, gazing at him blankly. Well, he was incredibly blunt…

"Hey, could you move now? I'd like to finish my drawing." 

"Oh! Right!" You respond, quickly moving out of the way. 

It fell awkwardly silent after that…or well, at least for you. The boy, on the other hand, didn't look like he had a care in the world. You twiddle with the rim of your skirt a moment. You should make a good first impression right? And, besides that, this boy looked to be around your age. It was almost…comforting to know there was someone else in your shoes. As far as you knew, a lot of the other members were quite a bit older than you…so it might be hard to find a common ground…but maybe with this boy you could…

You swallow quietly. "…So, what's your name?" 

"Deidara." He responds, eyes glued down to his sketchbook. 

You hesitantly approach him. "…Can I see your drawing?" 

"Sure." 

You can feel a spark of hope within you at his invitation. You delicately lower to your knees, sitting in the grass beside him. He didn't seem to mind the close proximity. In fact, he got even closer, tilting his sketchbook in your direction so you could see. Your eyes light up as you scan over the paper. "Wow, that's incredible!" You gush. And, you weren't just saying that to make a good impression. He really was talented, especially for a boy his age. "You're an amazing artist, Deidara-kun!" You hoped he wouldn't mind the affectionate suffix. You were really hoping to make a friend here… 

You watch as a large smile takes up his face. "Finally! Someone who appreciates true art!" 

You nod along, though you really weren't sure what 'true art' was supposed to mean. "Yes, that tree is beautiful. You've really managed to capture its essence. I always have a hard time with the shading, but you've made it look easy."

"You do art too?" 

"Sure." You reply. "I mean, it's nothing compared to yours, but I like to dabble. One of my favorites is flower pressing—" You suddenly cut off as you feel him grab your hand, causing your cheeks to flush slightly. 

"You said your name was Y/n?"

"…Yes?" 

"I like you." He decided bluntly. "You're not like those other idiots. Just yesterday Hidan told me my explosions were stupid!" 

"…Explosions?" You ask, with a nervous sounding giggle. 

"Oh! How could I forget? Wanna see, hm?"

"Uh…"

Before you really had a chance to respond, a beeping sound could suddenly be heard from both your rings. Soon after, Pain's voice came in through the transmission. "I need everyone to report to the conference room." He instructed. "Today we welcome a new member." He concluded, the audio shutting off.

"Oi, he must be talking about you, hm?" Deidara chirped. 

You can instantly feel your stomach churn. This was it…time to meet all your fellow teammates.

—

When you entered the conference room alongside Deidara, you could already see eight other figures sitting around the table. There was also one man sitting out to the side. His face was completely covered by an orange mask. And, as if to speak of the devil, said man suddenly spoke out…his voice sounding strangely cheerful for an Akatsuki member. "Deidara-senpai! You made it!" He exclaimed. 

Deidara let an annoyed huff. "Would you get lost already? You're not even an official member. Why are you here?" 

You can feel your expression shift slightly. Not an official member…? 

"Y/n, Deidara," Pain's strong and authoritative voice called. "Sit." 

"Yeah, yeah…" Deidara sighed walking towards the table with you hot on his heels.

As the two of you sat, Pain cleared his throat. "Today, Akatsuki welcomes its newest member. Y/n, allow me to introduce your teammates." He begins. "Konan," He said, gesturing to a woman with purple hair beside him. "Itachi," He continued down the line, indicating a young man with dark-hair. "Kisame," He named off, gesturing to the shark-like man you'd met beforehand. "Sasori," He pointed to a figure that didn't look at all human. If anything, he was more like a puppet. "Deidara," He continues. "Hidan, Kakuzu and Zetsu," Pain concludes. "From now on, these are—

"Hey, hey! And don't forget about me too!" the masked man chimed in happily from the side. Honestly, you found his presence…quite odd. He wasn't an official member, yet they kept him around? I guess he was what they called a trainee? Oh well, he seemed harmless enough. Wait, what were you doing? None of that even mattered right now anyways. Get your head in the game, Y/n…

You gather your courage before looking forward with a gentle smile. "It's nice to meet you all," you say. Hopefully, that hadn't been too friendly. You didn't want to be seen as a pushover…but you also didn't want to come off as rude either.

"Alright!" A voice cheers out, breaking you from your thoughts. You turn your head to see it was the man with the slicked-back hair…Hidan, if you remembered correctly. "A new hot chick on the team? Sounds good to me," he nods. "What do you say, girly? I'd be willing to give you a private lesson on Lord Jashin—

"Oh, would you shut up already?" Deidara huffed from beside you.

"Eh?" Hidan croaked.

"Y/n doesn't care about that dumb god of yours. Besides, she's already agreed to let me show her my art after this."

"Hah! As if lame little pottery sculptures have any meaning!"

"…Enough," Pain intervened, before continuing with the topic at hand. "Since Y/n is the odd one out, I'm going to assign her to an already formed team." You silently hold your breath, awaiting Pain's next words. This decision would surely shape out the rest of your time here. "Itachi, Kisame," he said. "Welcome your new member."

"What? Man, is it 'cause I spoke out?" Hidan groaned.

You swore Pain rolled his eyes then. "I've chosen this team because they perfectly complement each other's abilities," he explains. "Itachi's visual prowess, Kisame's physical strength, and Y/n's healing. There should be no room for gray area."

The man standing next to Hidan, Kakuzu, let out a quiet scoff. If you could describe him in one word, it'd be this: intimidating. "Fine by me." He claims. "The last thing I need on my team is a third-rate shinobi who can't defend herself…"

You can feel your eyes narrow. Well damn, talk about a lousy first impression. But, you'd been expecting nothing less. You knew there would be those to belittle you simply because you were young and female. Your mouth opened before you could stop it. "…I can take care of myself just fine."

"You? Little girl…" If Kakuzu hadn't been looking at you then, he certainly was now. You decided you didn't like it…or at least, that's what you were telling yourself to cover up the way your stomach was churning in the most pathetic fashion.

It was a look you knew all too well. Unforgiving, all-knowing. The look of being stripped bare, leaving you vulnerable and exposed to a gaze that saw right through you. Every hidden insecurity, every buried fear was laid out like a grand feast for him to devour. There was a part of you that reveled in it. It was that sick, twisted part of you that ached for validation just as much as it feared judgment. 

On the other hand, the more logical part of you warned you that validation through this way was a double-edged sword…that seeking acknowledgment in such a toxic way would only lead you to a deeper pit of despair and hopelessness. After all, it had before…

Thankfully for you, Pain spoke up in your stead. "Y/n is capable." He claimed. "She's passed her initiation mission flawlessly." Although Kakuzu still seemed skeptical, he did back down. 

The shark-like man, Kisame, chimed in with a soft chuckle then. "I can vouch for that." He says. "This little lady managed to dodge my surprise attack the other day." He praises, looking at you with a toothy grin. "No hard feelings by the way, hm?" 

"Course not…" You answered quietly, your eyes wandering towards the dark-haired male beside him. Itachi Uchiha. You knew him. Everyone knew him. He was perhaps The Leaf's most infamous. He'd been silent this whole time. His gaze wasn't particularly cold the way Kakuzu's had been…but it was equally intense, if not more so. His stoicism was enigmatic and his silence spoke volumes. Each stolen glance revealed a calm, reserved intensity. His gaze, although rather blank, held a hint of mystery, making you curious about the thoughts behind his composed exterior.

"It's settled then." Pain's voice seemed to bring you back to reality. "Konan will have a cloak fitted for you soon and we'll have you move into your permanent quarters as well." He tells you. "Welcome home, Y/n."