49. Anti-Hero

Yo!!

The battle between Gaara and Akina will happen in a flashback so I skipped it for now.

Enjoy!

<3

PS: WE'RE ON THE FORTY NINTH CHAPTER!! ONE MORE TILL HALF A CENTURY!

*pterodactyl screech*

.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Akina slightly hummed a tune, making tea for Asuma and herself. Asuma still didn't know what to make of the female. She killed him, but then she brought him back to life. Sakura was dead- now alive- and she was the cause. Again.

Females are weird.

Looking at her bandaged hands, he knew it wasn't easy.

"How did you do it?"

Akina stopped stirring the tea.

"I have a power. Its called the rinnegan, one of the mythical dojutus. The Sage of Six Paths had it and so do I." She slightly flashed her eyes in his direction before looking back to the pot, making sure to add some sugar.

Asuma gaped. "Holy shit. But, why are you telling me this?"

"Because.. I'm not sure what to do with you." She admitted quietly.

"Should I let you go back to Konoha, or make you stay here?" Asuma looked at his bandaged torso.

"Let me go back."

Her grip on the wooden spoon tightened.

"No. I killed you so that your team.. Shikamaru, Choji and Ino could undergo some 'character development'. I need them to be stronger for the final battle against the Akatsuki."

"I'm going back.. You may not know but Kurenai-"

"-is pregnant with your child. I know." Akina calmly stated, as she took the pot and began pouring the tea in two cups.

"Do you perhaps know the gender?"

Akina blinked.

"Yes, I know its name as well. I know for a fact that they grow up to be a strong ninja."

A proud smile took over his face. "That's... good."

She nodded, and tried to hold the tea cups, her hands quivering like mad.

Tea spilled out of the rim of the cup as she set it down, hissing in pain.

"How will you drink it?" Asuma questioned her. She looked at him as if he was insane. And maybe Asuma was. Her gaze was intense and she had a dumbfounded look.

"I have my mokuton." Akina said softly as small wooden shaped hands came from her forearms, alarming the Sarutobi greatly.

It was like her substitute hands.

"I'm going to leave." Asuma got up and began walking towards the door, as Akina stared after him, taking a sip of her tea calmly.

"Then leave if you can."

She muttered the last part under her breath, but Asuma heard it and looked wearily at the door. Pulling the handle open, he walked out and took a step into the fresh air. He took in a deep breath, chest heaving.

"Ahh that feels good!"

He began walking, Akina staring after him, a small smile on her face as she took another sip of her tea.

He began running.

He blinked his eyes once and gasped, taking a view of the scenery around him.

He was back in the house, with his tea in front of him although it was colder now.

Akina lightly giggled and Asuma realized a few things at one go.

First, her expressions, her ideologies were all meant to fool Konoha.

This laugh was genuine, and she looked peaceful for now.

Back then, it had been forced although he was probably the only one who could notice a difference since he just saw her real smile.

Secondly, what the actual fuck.

"I have trained under a formidable seal master although he isn't as good as Jiraiya. My shishou is an Uzumaki and I also have had training from my mother in dealing with seals. For the past three years, I neglected my dojutsu and focused only on ninjutsu and fuinjutsu." She spoke wryly.

"So I guess I'm dealing with a seal master huh?" Asuma breathed heavily, knowing he wouldn't get out of this easily.

"Your tea will get cold." She simply said.

Asuma begrudgingly took a sip of his tea.

"So am I gonna stay here forever or..."

Akina shook her head. "Obviously not. Its just..." She trailed off.

"So fucked up?" Asuma gave her suggestions.

"Yes!" Akina threw up her hands as a gesture of giving up.

Asuma shifted uncomfortably in his seat, already regretting his next words.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She paused and turned to face him, a frown on her face.

"Its fine, I have a diary to write in. It helps me pen down my thoughts. Anyways, Asuma you can't escape. I brought Sakura back to life. Try and update her about me, hm?" She gave him a thin smile.

"Will more people be joining our little party?" He asked dryly.

She nodded. "A couple criminals, and maybe another Konoha shinobi. Not that big a deal." Shrugging, she sat down again.

"NOT A BIG DEAL?! CRIMINALS?!"

"I assure you Asuma that they are perfectly docile."

He sputtered. "D-docile? They aren't a bunch of dogs!"

"Oh, I apologize. I should say they'll listen to whatever I say if they know what's best for them." She sipped her tea, finishing it.

"How are you so sure?"

Her rinnegan eyes seemingly glared into Asuma's eyes. "I just have to choose the right ones, and kill the rest. Its quite simple really."

"You're insane."

"Well, the question here is who isn't? Aren't all of us a little insane?" She gave him an innocent smile and Asuma's heart fell. 

He was never getting out, was he?

"I'm afraid our time together is up." 

"You're acting unusually calm." He stared at her.

She nodded. "I took a tablet. Every time I come here, its to escape my actions and my life. I become calm once I enter my safe haven."

He eyed her wearily. "Please don't make us your sex slaves."

She choked. "I really think I hit your head too many times on the way here. Anyways, you guys have different rooms. Talk to each other, make plans to take me down or whatever. Just don't isolate yourselves. Pro tip, don't let Sakura cook unless you want to die. My seals don't let you leave this place even if everything burns up."

"Where are you going?"

"... Leader-sama is calling for me." She grabbed her akatsuki ring and placed the cloak on her once more before smiling at him.

"Ja ne! If I die... you'll be able to leave. So, try exiting the house everyday."

With her summon, Akina fled. Asuma watched the girl leave and instantly set out towards her room to find any hints.

Nothing. No hint.

He groaned in frustration before a sudden noise was heard from the window. Opening it, he saw a bird.

To be accurate, Itachi's crow.

"Where's Akina?" The crow crowed. (Is that right?)

"She said some leader was calling her." Asuma didn't know what to make of the talking bird but answered anyways. The last thing he needed was an angry crow pecking his insides out and Sakura waking up alone.

The crow flew away. Inside his room, Itachi swore. 

If she comes here, she dies.

He got up from his bed, aiming to reach her before Pain does but her sweet voice filled the half empty dorm and Itachi made haste.

"Ne, shishou, you called?"

Exiting calmly (as calmly as he could), he gave a slight shake of his head to signal her to get out. Her eyes widened.

"Almighty Pull." Pain's cold voice echoed in the room and Akina went flying to him. He grabbed her neck.

"Say the truth and I'll give you a painless death. The Akatsuki members may act kind to you, but that's just a front. If I order Hidan, Kisame, Kakuzu or anyone else to torture you for information.. they won't be kind. They aren't your friends and their loyalties belong to me."

Well, he isn't wrong. Akina thought.

With that, he slammed her against a wall and a pained yelp left her. Itachi took a step forward. He couldn't watch her-

He was stopped by Rou, his bright blue eyes were a shade darker now and he shook his head slightly. His black hair fell messily over his face.

I'll deal with it.

The Uchiha didn't step back. Kisame held his friend's tense shoulder. "Itachi... she's going to die."

Kisame was testing the waters. He didn't know Akina's relationship with Itachi as clearly as he should've but his partner was always secretive. He didn't want Akina to die. His Icha Icha buddy would be gone.

"I won't let her." He spoke with an air of finality. 

Kisame grinned, getting ready to follow his partner. He didn't want a young girl with so much potential in front of her to die anyways.

"Tell me, what were you doing in Sunagakure?"

Akina spoke up. "N-nothing."

Pain narrowed his eye. Lies.

He squeezed her neck further as she gasped for breath. Her eyes flickered to Itachi as tears gathered in her eyes. 

Tell everyone I'm sorry.

I love -

He lunged forward to be stopped by Kisame.

"Look!" He hissed.

Rou was walking towards Pain and gently whispered something to him. Akina thrashed even more as a terrified gasp left her. 

"No no NO! DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!!"  She yelled out and Rou closed his eyes, grabbing her head as chakra encased his hand. She fell limp.

"I see." A troubled look came over his eyes. Grabbing Pain, he asked for permission before he did the same thing to him.

Pain took a step back, his eyes misty and he released his grip on Akina. She fell on the ground with a thud and Itachi rushed towards her, picking her up in his arms bridal style.

"Akina please be alright.." He murmured under his breath. 

Pain snapped back, his rinnegan eyes glowing purple once more. "What happened?" 

Rou gave him a cheerful smile. "Leader, you overworked Akina way too much. She fainted. Look at her!"

Pain nodded mutely before walking out of the room. "She did well in training."

"What the fuck just happened? Can anyone brief me?!" Kisame asked, taming to his Samehada.

"I altered his memories. He has no recollection about what just happened and I removed the news about Akina being in Sunagakure." Rou drawled out lazily and lay down on the couch, yawning.

"Akina-chan owes me. She has to be more careful. Pain thinks that he trained her so far."

Kisame shot a worried glance at Itachi carrying Akina's tired body to his room.  

AKINA'S POV

My eyes fluttered open to see darkness.

Hello darkness, my old friend.

"Am I back here again, Death? Am I in the Void?"

"Hm, unless we both are dead.." Itachi's face hovered over mine and the memories came rushing to me.

"How-what-PAIN! Itachi we have to move-" As I got up, he held my wrist and gently placed me down next to him.

"We're fine, Akina. Rou took care of it."

"What did he do?"

As Itachi explained what happened, I felt sick. "I don't trust Rou. In fact, I think he's the masked man who killed my parents."

"Why?" His gleaming red eyes stared into mine.

"I mean, he came out of no where! Not once had I seen him in my visions. And, why would he help me?" I ended at a confused note.

Why was he here? There's no backstory to him.

"Rou is probably the weakest member there is except for that very ability. I doubt he could kill an Uchiha or Senju. Rest of the members feel the same."

"B-but-"

"Akina, have you considered the fact that since you were made changes in your vision everything isn't accurate? Trust me on this." 

"Fine, I trust your judgement but not him." I answered slowly. The room was dark, his sharingan glaring in the night as a contrast to the darkness. His eyes captivated me.

"What did you do in Suna?"

I shrugged carelessly. "Fight Gaara, kill useless guards. The usual stuff bad guys do."

He chuckled lightly. "Bad guys?"

"I'm a bad guy, duh."

"The more fitting name would be... anti-hero or villain."

I paused for a minute before smiling. "Anti-hero it is then. Sounds more professional." 

"You had me worried there. Kisame and I'd decided to fight Pain." He spoke quietly and I shook my head, grabbing his shoulders.

"Itachi, don't. Naruto is the only one. He has this special ability which allows him to talk villains out of their crazed visions."

A faint smile appeared on his face. "How odd.. Thank you for nursing me back to health."

A blush crept on my face and I nodded. "Itachi, please can you rethink about killing yourself?"

He sighed. "No, we made a deal Akina. You don't interfere and protect Sasuke. Don't let Madara tell him the truth."

"I..."

need your support.

I need you.

Or else I'll lose myself. 

"What?"

"...Nothing. I'll do the best I can." I removed my hands from his shoulders and we sat there in a comfortable silence before I broke it.

"Itachi, if Pain finds out once more I want you to run to my hideout and stay there. I'll probably be dead but it'll serve as a safe haven for you-"

He held my hand tightly, stopping me mid sentence. His eyes were hard, cold even. "Akina.. out of the two of us one has to live."

Tears prickled in the corner of my eyes as frustration hit me hard. "Then it should be you! You can take my rinnegan, probably wield it better than I ever could. Sasuke needs his Aniki, not me. Not a traitor."

"I'm a traitor as well."

I shook my head. "Once you show Konoha the documents regarding your mission, you'll be safe. I on the other hand have nothing like that."

"Akina promise me you have to live."

"Itachi, I can't promise that. I've broken enough of them as it is."

He leaned closer to me, his voice a low whisper. "Please." 

Our faces were centimeters apart, our breaths mingling together. I leaned forward and our foreheads touched. My gaze flickered down to his soft, pink lips as I saw him doing the same. I wanted to kiss him, so badly. I placed my hand softly on his cheeks, as he closed his eyes.

We leaned forward and - 

A knock.

"Itachi, how's Akina doing?" Kisame's voice broke us out of our stupor and we cleared our throats, not making eye contact. An awkward silence came over us. 

Just what was I doing?

It was the mood and the lights. The thought of dying without the ones I love.

Yeah, that's it! Its not like I like him or anything. It was the mood. The mood. Yeah, definitely the mood. And the lights were off. That too. 

And not to mention sexually frustrated and deprived of kisses in general.

Not Itachi. I mean, I fangirled over him but its not like I like him or anything. And the way he was saying I had to live made me feel weird- OHMYGOD I HAVE TO STOP THINKING ABOUT THIS! SHUT THE FUCK UP ME!!

I like Sasuke. HIS BROTHER. 

Do you, Akina?

"I'm fine, Kisame. Just fine. But I need to talk to Rou."

HAHAHA!

Kisame you cock blocker!

Also, your opinions on Rou?   q(≧▽≦q)  [Fak I love Rou ~ 😍 Kinda sad I didn't introduce him much but he will make more n more appearances!]

Yeet my exams went pretty well except for Chemistry! Physics and English are my next exams and I don't really have to study for them so I'm chill. Except for the fact that I'm getting my results on my birthday... everything's pretty well in my life.

Also THANKS for making me win first place in NWA Rising Authors! Really appreciate you guys! <3

I don't have much to say today..

Y'all better spam me with votes and comments or God help me, I will murder each and every one of the Akatsuki members brutally - even the guy who won. 

:)

Nah JK I wouldn't do that!

(Or would I?)

~Blue