Hatake Kakashi.

The Copy Ninja, one of the most dangerous shinobi from Konoha. One of those you should not engage.

And yet, here you were.

Master Pain told you to take cover, which meant stay out of it. Whatever happens, stay out of it.

You were not an official Akatsuki member. You should not have been associated with them.

It wasn't typical of you to disobey orders, not that you never did it. Just, only in extreme situations, and you weren't sure this one counted as such.

But when you saw space itself warping around Deidara's face, you couldn't help yourself, and before you knew it, you attacked the Copy Ninja.

Master Pain didn't exactly mind you following your instinct sometimes. So long as the mission was prioritized. He actually kind of appreciated that about you, being able to think with your own head if needed.

Yes, you were a good tool to him. But a tool indeed.

So if you were to throw your life away when he needed your abilities the most (when someone else needed you)... well, that wouldn't exactly please him.

You inhaled deeply in an attempt to cleanse your mind from thoughts and your heart from doubts. It was too late for them now.

«Who are you?»

Kakashi was wary, a hand still clinging to his left eye, the other brandishing a kunai.

Don't let him hear your voice.

You were at least lucid enough to wear your owl mask before attacking him with your poison-tainted tessen. Even in the predicament of using such a demanding Dojutsu on another enemy, Kakashi still had perception and reflexes sharp enough to dodge, only gaining a scratch to his arm.

But that should be enough.

Your interference had allowed him to miss and tear off Deidara's arm instead. Both him and the impetuous youngster from Konoha had run ahead, while Kakashi had turned to face you.

«Are you part of Akatsuki?»

I must disengage as fast and safely as possible.

Kakashi's foot slid aside, but his movements came to an abrupt stop, and he winced, a fulminous glance darting to the tiny scratch on his arm. The borders of the wound had turned purple.

«Poison?»

A rustle echoed from the woods ahead and you pointed your tessen to the trees.

Kakashi was quickly analyzing the situation, you could see that. Running to his comrade and letting you be, as you were inviting him to? Wouldn't that create an opening?

«You're an Anbu.» he slowly spoke, his hand lowering from his Sharingan «What village tied an alliance with Akatsuki, for you to help them?»

Of course you didn't reply, keeping your stance but refraining from moving.

«Not even revealing your voice? You must be a master spy.»

Elite ninja intuition. This warrior is dangerous.

A smile tugged at your lips, the only part of your face he could vaguely make out. You saw his eyes flicking to your mouth.

Some enemy must see that you're a woman. Let them catch a glimpse. Not all, but someone will hesitate. It's up to you to understand whom.

The battle in the woods became more intense.

Kakashi sighed, abandoning his fighting position.

«I'll go. You won't attack me from behind, will you? I have the feeling you shouldn't be here at all.»

You nodded, smile still present on your face. He nodded as well.

«Next time we meet, I'm going to pay you back for the poison.»

And, with that, he was gone.

You finally walked out of the vegetation, up to the remaining members of Akatsuki after the fight.

«Y/n-chan!»

Deidara was busy strangling a masked shinobi you didn't know, and he was using his legs since they were all the limbs he had left.

The blond jumped to his feet immediately when he saw you approaching.

«I didn't know you were still around! You weren't caught in my explosions, were you?»

You offered him a smile and shook your head.

«I'm fine. More importantly, did you manage to retrieve both your arms?»

«Huh, yes – Tobi, fucking gimme that!»

You left the two of them bickering for a moment and turned to the remaining shinobi standing on the side.

«What was of Sasori-san?»

Zetsu hinted to the cave with a curt movement of his head.

«Dead.»

Your features clouded.

«I see.»

«Y/n-chan, I didn't mean to ask that much of you. Two arms...»

Deidara moved closer but kept his embarrassed pout glued to the grass.

«Woha, look at you, Deidara-san! Suddenly so meek!»

«SHUT UP, TOBI, I'LL KILL YOU!»

«It is no issue for me.» you softly replied «I'm glad I can help you. Please, lay down and collect your energies. I'll be with you shortly.»

The shinobi shot you a puzzled glance as you headed into the cave.

Shattered puppets were scattered all over the place. A single sunbeam filtered through the darkness, casting a dying light on Sasori's face. Better, the thing that was once Sasori.

You kneeled down beside the master of puppets.

«Your sympathy is misplaced.»

It was Zetsu's voice. Somehow, he had crawled behind you, unnoticed.

You didn't turn. Instead, you gently lowered the ceramic eyelids of the lifeless doll.

«You misunderstand, Zetsu-san. I'm here to collect a sample of his poison.»

The Akatsuki watched you pulling out a vial and scrape a few droplets of poison from Sasori's blade with a shuriken.

«I carry orders,» he then said «You are to see Pain-sama as soon as you finish up with your duties here.»

«I will.»

You stood and faced him.

There are some members you have to avoid as much as possible.

Zetsu, the white-and-black shinobi. Don't let him touch you. Never trust his words.

His unsettling eyes remained fixed on you as you exited the cave but at least he didn't attempt to come closer.

Deidara was outside, sitting on a rock, back against the wall of the haven. The other shinobi wasn't around anymore. You approached him.

«I'll heal you now. Hand me the arms.»

He complied, and you examined the severed limbs. It wasn't a clean wound, so it would take some time to adjust them properly.

«I'll have to work on them before I can reattach anything.»

«Hn.»

You could see he was out of sorts. He lacked his usual bravado and energy.

With a sigh, you sat on the grass beside him, one of his arms laid on your lap. Your fingers started brushing at the tear, chakra flowing through them, stretching and dilating his vessels back to normality.

«Are you mourning your partner?» you asked.

«Wha— no way! I respected him as an artist, even if our views didn't match, but I'm still a shinobi! He was nothing to me, hn.» he scoffed.

You shrugged, still focused on your work.

«I see.»

Nobody talked for a while until his arm was almost ready to be fixed.

«Please, let me see your wound now. I need to realign your chakra pathways.»

Deidara unbuttoned his robe with his feet and pulled it down to his waist without much difficulty, exposing his jagged stomps.

«You'll feel a tingling, similar to when your leg falls asleep and then wakes up again. I'll make it as comfortable as possible.» you explained, standing by his wound.

«I'm not a kid, even if it hurts, I don't care!»

You chuckled at his snapping.

«Still. Please tell me if it hurts.»

The blond snorted and you began. Despite his words, his shoulder trembled for a second when your chakra entered his skin.

Soon, he relaxed, even more than before. You caught him closing his eyes a couple of times when a major vessel turned back to its original form.

«Y/n-chan?»

«Hm.»

«Are you sad for Master Sasori?»

The question surprised you a little.

«Well, it's not like I knew him.» you said «But I often find myself melancholic when a talented life is lost because of our broken system. Especially if it was a life lived in the shadows.»

Deidara puckered his lips in displease.

«He knew what he was doing, like all of us. A shinobi shouldn't be subjected to such emotions, hn.»

«Perhaps.» you nodded, calmly «But you know, I think it's okay to be sad.»

You picked up his arm and he peered at you curiously. There weren't many shinobi willing to admit they had such feelings at all, let alone be candid about it.

«Despite what they teach us, emotions are not the problem, if you ask me.» you smiled at him, preparing to reattach his limb «It's the way we go about them that defines who we are.»

The shinobi blinked, his confused eyes darting away from your face a second after. You suppressed another chuckle and resumed your job.

«Y/n-chan.»

«Yes?»

Deidara's blue gaze was lost in the sky.

«If I die, don't be sad.»

*

Next up: Tobi, Kisame, Pain. And Itachi, finally.