Days in Ame were always wet and dreary. There was little grass, a few trees, and the entire town was covered in concrete.

A concrete jungle.

Because of its unfavorable qualities, most people chose to settle in other towns such as Konoha or Suna. That being said, towns such as Ame, Sound, and Wave were full of lowlives. Prostitutes, illegal gangs, underground rings, black markets, slave trades, drug dealers, and more were the main inhabitants of cities like these. People either wanted to live the "fun" life of partying and being in a gang, or make fast, easy money through underground workings. Sad to say these were the things making money to keep the towns going.

These places have no true government; only unspoken rules. It was anarchy, but had a type of monarchy within itself. If you were in a gang, you stay loyal to that gang. No matter what. And smaller gangs do the busy work of bigger gangs such as the Akatsuki.

The Akatsuki is the most dangerous gang in the world even with it being relatively smaller than most. But that makes it easier to have trust between each member and carry out jobs more efficiently. The gangs in Ame remain loyal, but others seek out the hefty prices on their heads. Needless to say most haven't had a chance to do that.

The Akatsuki is ran by two people: Pein and Madara Uchiha. Madara left the city of Konaha many years ago and founded the Aktasuki with Pein. Of course, Pein brought his girlfriend, Konan along. After a while they met Obito Uchiha, who wanted to keep his real identity hidden and went under the visage of "Tobi". They added more members until they found their most recent one, Deidara. He wasn't going to be a part of the gang, but with the recent betrayal from Orochimaru, they didn't have a choice.

Orochimaru was a powerful ally and an even stronger enemy. Especially since he knows the inner workings of the Akatsuki. Word on the street is he moved to Sound, created his own gang, and has become a leader in the Black market. He's laying low. Which is a wise move for someone who just upset the most dangerous gang in the world.
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"Damn Deidara, costing me money. Getting bullet marks buffed out of a car costs enough on its own; but getting ash and fire marks from a bomb will cost an extra 30,000 yen. And he did it in the Bugati. We just got it.", Kakuzu mumbled angrily. The man was driving down the street, speeding over puddles as he made his way to the bar. He needed to meet an informant at the bar to get some info.

He also wanted a drink or two to ease his nerves.

It's not easy being the treasurer for a group of reckless troublemakers.

He'd made it to the bar with time to spare and settled in having a few drinks while he waited in the client. He inwardly grinned the high level of respect and fear that entered the atmosphere as soon as he walked through the doors. He walked to the bar and ordered his usual drink gruffly.

"Give me the usual. And don't forget to tell your boss to pay the interest he owes us or he'll have to pay with his life. Got it?"

The bartender, a new man, younger than the last, gulped in fear and nodded silently. He may have been new to the job, but you don't have to work at the bar long for you to know your place. Especially of it deals with the Akatsuki's most hot-headed member and his money.
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Life in Ame wasn't only hard for adults; It was hard on kids too. Children who are born and raised in a life of crime don't have bright futures. Especially of their neighborhoods don't have schools because there are no teachers and no real government. They are taught by their parents and the punks on the streets. They are raised by the streets and taught to follow the unspoken rules of a gang instead of the normal laws.

The same goes for Sakura Haruno.

Being born as the youngest of five children comes with its setbacks. Especially if your mother was a prostitute and your father a drug dealer. It doesn't help that her whole family ignores her in favor of their own lives. The first two became drug dealers like their father. The next, the only other girl, works as a stripper. The next, a male prostitute who swings both ways. And the last....dead. If you talk shit, especially to a gang leader, you'd better be able to back it up. Unfortunately, that was a lesson he had to learn the hard way. And one he will never be able come back from. Even at the tender age of ten.

Growing up in a dysfunctional family like this isn't exactly a happy childhood. Sakura was always bright and learned quickly; a gift her family used to every extent. Her first words were a lie. And her first steps were to deliver a bag of drugs to an odd man in an alley. Her first brownie was laced with weed and her first cup of juice was dirty Sprite. So yeah....life wasn't great for her. But she learned.

The world isn't a good place and life isn't fair. You have to pay your own way and the best loyalties lay sitting yourself.

It didn't take long before her family officially let her go. Having another mouth to feed wasn't worth it. Especially from a little girl who couldn't work or make money. Sakura wasn't sad when they kicked her out. She wasn't mad either. In fact, she didn't feel anything. She knew they didn't want a 5th mouth to feed even if one of them did die. She only stayed because she had no where else to go.

For four years, she survived on her own. She learned to run, steal, hide, and lie. The basic essentials for surviving in a town like this.

And the basic essentials for being in the Akatsuki.
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She'd been following this man for blocks. She saw him leave his apartment as she dug through trash for her next meal. The poor amatuer stuffed the thick wad if cash into his pocket as he stepped outside.

She saw him enter a bar. The same bar she saw a man get shot in a few months ago. As the man opened the door, she slipped in right after. She was careful to stay out of sight and chose to duck in the darkest corner as she watched the man. She saw him sit next to somebody, a bigger man with a mask on. She'd never seen him before, but she didn't care. All she needed was the money. That money could keep her fed for months. She could even buy clothes for the winter since all she had was a thin, long-sleeved shirt with holes and dirt on it. A small smile graced her dirty features as she imagined the possibilities.

The men talked for a few moments before he made a move for his pocket . She watched with careful eyes as the masked man took the money and put it into a wallet that was already thick with money. No more words were exchanged between the two as the masked man made his way to the exit.

She needed a way to get that money.

Thinking quickly, she made a plan. Making sure her hood was on securely, to not reveal her hair, she made a beeline for the informant with the money. She jumped onto the bar and threw the drink in his face before snatching the chain around his neck and making a run for it. Sakura was already halfway to the door before the man realised what happend and ran after her angrily.

At the sound if the commotion, the masked man turned around only to be slammed into by a small child. He felt her hands touch his thighs to keep herself from falling before she ran past him even faster than before. The informant finally caught up, but was out of breath.

"That little bitch stole my chain!", he yelled angrily, his sentence occasionally interrupted by gasps for breath and coughs. Kakuzu smiled and inwardly laughed. The stupid fool let a child get the better of him. And in a bar full of grown men no less.

He turned and reflexively moved to put his hands in his pocket. That's when he felt it.

The emptiness.

'What the fuck? Where is my wallet? It was in my pocket before-'

He stopped at the realization.

That brat stole his wallet.

She was going to die.