~Naruto's P.O.V.~ 

We have Itachi in custody while Kiba was trying to pick up Akina, or Sasuke's scent as Hinata was trying to sense their chakra. All of us were shocked when we saw Itachi still alive, after we were told that he was done and Sasuke had won the fight. 

We began to ask him questions about Sasuke, but he didn't tell us much about him or where he was heading to next. However, when we asked him about Akina, he replied, "Akina does not want to come back to the Leaf Village. She is with Sasuke now. As she says, Sasuke is her new Darling." 

My eyes widen at this. Akina...with Sasuke? Why? "Don't screw with us! That isn't true! Akina would never go to Sasuke!" I shout at him while gritting my teeth together. 

"But, it is the truth. While Sasuke and I were battling, Akina intervened and called him Darling. She has changed a lot....and the look in her eyes show that she didn't want to be found, nor be bothered with. She is filled with hatred, anger, and pain. There is nothing you can do to stop her to convince her."  

"Do you know where Akina, or Sasuke might be heading?" Kakashi-Sensei asks him. 

"I don't." Itachi shakes his head and closes his eyes. "But, are you sure you want to continue on with this? Do you think it's a good idea to go after Akina in the state she is in right now? I know you've seen the way she is now." 

"Whatever she is right now, I'm not going to give up. I'm going to bring her home!" I glare. "Something isn't adding up right now. I know that something is going on. So, I'm going to do whatever it takes to bring Akina back." 

"It's not going to be easy, Naruto. She has already chosen Sasuke as her Darling. Do you really think she will come back to you?" 

"I don't care about who she's with right now..." I turn my back to Itachi. As much as it pains me to say it... Akina with Sasuke... Why, him?.. I really screwed up this time... My chest is aching over this right now... 

~Akina's P.O.V.~ 

After learning the truth behind my parent's intentions and how I've become the being I am today, I've been by Madara's side since... I was too blind to realize what my parents were trying to do this whole time and it's all my fault... 

I'm the reason why I've been alone this whole time... All these years I was convinced that they wanted me dead because of the way I looked. How I looked like a monster to them... I never stopped to think and understand their true intentions... They're dead because of me. 

This is my fault...

"Still thinking about you had just found out?" Madara notices my silence while him, Suigetsu, Sasuke, Karin, Jugo, and I were near an ocean as the sun was setting. I reply with nodding my head, yes. "I'll tell you again that none of it is your fault, Akina. You were confused since you were only a child at the time." 

"But, they are dead because of me..." I say in a low tone while frowning. 

"You were protecting yourself." Madara pulls me to him, laying my head on his shoulder, while he strokes the top of my head. "Nothing else will happen to you as long as you are with me. Is that clear?" 

"Yes..." I nod and close my eyes. 'It has always been you... You were the one who came into the house and made me well again... You put this curse upon me to save me from the death because of my illness... All this time, it was you who was looking after me. Like a hand in the dark...' I gently grasp Madara's hand as I open my eyes. 'As you tell me, as long as I stay with you, no more harm will come to me. I will be safe with you, despite who you are now... Madara Uchiha...'

When went to the other hideout to discuss the next plan. While Sasuke and his team were settling in, I was on one of the giant bones, staring up at the full moon that was out tonight. 

Every time I look at the full moon, that memory replays in the back of my mind. That night when my parents tried to kill me in my sleep. That night where things took a wrong turn...

"You've been staring at the moon ever since we arrived, Akina." Madara walks over to me, having me look at him. "Come down from there." Madara holds out his hand. I jump down and take his hand, then walk behind him. 

Sasuke is sitting at a table with Karin, Suigetsu, and Jugo standing beside him. "Good. She's here." Sasuke looks at me.

"There you are, Akina. Where have you been?" Ritsu asks with his arms folded over his chest. "Your eyes. They aren't glowing as often as they use to. That's strange."

I ignore him and let go of Madara's hand and rush over to Sasuke, and hug him, wrapping my arms around his neck. 

"You're all right..." I mutter to him. Karin grits her teeth and glares at me, then pouts and turns herself away with her arms crossing over her chest. 

"Well, would you look at that? Akina has taken a shine to Itachi's little brother." Kisame smirks, followed by a chuckle. 

"Well, Team Taka, will destroy the Leaf Village." Sasuke says. 

"You can say it all you want, but how do you plan to accomplish that? "Madara sits on the table and leans forward to Sasuke, interested in his plan. 

"My targets are the Elders. I couldn't care about anyone else." 

"If you target a king, his soldiers will be there to defend him. It won't be that easy. Plus, your little 'Taka' group doesn't seem strong anyway." Kisame smirks. 

"Kisame, don't underestimate us if I were you. Our little game from before still isn't finished. I'll get serious this time." Suigetsu smirks back and grabs the handle of his sword. 

"Stop it, Suigetsu!" Jugo tries to stop him. Suigetsu had already taken out his blade and slid across the table to hit Kisame. But, Madara got in front of Kisame and blocked the blade with his fist. 

Seeing this made my eyes widen in alert, causing me to grab Suigetsu by the back of his neck and absorb is chakra. Suigetsu grunts and tilts his head back as he feels his chakra being absorbed. 

"Akina! Don't! Let him go!" Ritsu orders me. 

I growl at Suigetsu while breathing heavily. I became protective of Madara so suddenly. But, I couldn't control myself. I can't pull myself away from Suigetsu. 

"Akina," I look at Madara. "It's alright. Calm down and let him go." Madara instructs in a calm voice. I slowly release Suigetsu and retreat. "That's a good girl. Sasuke, teach your team some discipline." Madara glares at Sasuke. 

Suigetsu drops to his knees and steadies his breathing. "Suigetsu, you idiot! This isn't the place for that!" Karin shouts at him. 

"My goal is getting that Samehada sword! The only reason why I joined up with Sasuke was to get it!" Suigetsu shouts back, then looks at me. "And why did you go and defend this guy!? Why are you suddenly protective over him?" 

I growl in response, causing Suigetsu to flinch and look away out of fright. "It is quite sudden why you would protect him, Akina? Have you already chosen another Darling?" Sasuke smirks at me. 

"That's not it..." I look back at him and jump off the table. 

"What, are you jealous, Uchiha?" Ritsu glares at Sasuke. 

"Enough. We'll come back to that at another time. Right now, the Akatsuki's also lacking in manpower as of now." Madara steps in. 

"Oh, then you shouldn't be looking down on others." Suigetsu smirks again. 

"Our goals coincide. That's why team Taka will cooperate with the Akatsuki from now on." 

"And what do we get out of it?" Sasuke questions. 

"We'll share the tailed beasts." 

"Tailed beasts?" 

"You don't know anythig about them?" 

"I know." Karin raises her hand. "Like the 9 tails, they're basically phsycial forms of chakra that-" 

"They are creatures that have a large, and dangerous amount of chakra. Their chakra can be stabilized if they are inside a human body; a host. However, sealing them inside a human body won't be enough to maintain them and their chakra... The host and the tailed beasts must come to an agreement, to channel each other's chakra, and work together so that they can become powerful as one..." I cut off Karin, explaining what they are. 

"You're not a tailed beast, are you?" Suigetsu asks me. 

"I've taken one of their chakras and met with one of them before... One of them was too dangerous for me to absorb his charka. The 9 tails." 

"The 1st Hokage shared each tailed beast to each of the 5 great nations, like a peace treaty." Madara finishes. "Not a bad deal, is it?" 

"How generous of you." Sasuke says with a glare. 

"However, if you betray the Akatsuki, I'll have you killed." Madara warns. 

"There is a total of 9 tailed beasts in the world. The Akatsuki has six of them, but there is still 3 left." Kisame informs. 

"The Akatsuki and Taka will split up in the remaining searches. That's our primary goal." 

"You still haven't obtained the 9 tails, correct?" Sasuke smirks. 

"Team Taka will capture the 8 tails. The Akatsuki will handle the rest. That includes Naruto." Madara glares. "As for Akina, she will go with you only if she wants to." Madara looks at me. "What will you do, Akina?" 

"I'll go with Darling." I answer. 

"Let's go." Sasuke, Karin, Suigetsu, Jugo, and I go tot he village hidden in the clouds to retrieve the 8 tails. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~