~~~~~

Pein and Kana rested on the forest floor, their backs against trees. Pein had called for a short break, he never said why, but it was in fact so he could get a plan together. Kana getting time to train was just a bonus for her.

Kana didn't even glance at Pein, directing all her focus to the kunai she was holding with a two-foot-long chakra string. She twitched her fingers and watched as the kunai twitched back. With her weapon raised, she curved it back, using the string to hurl it into a tree. She grinned at her success when she heard the thud of the kunai hitting wood. She stood up and retrieved the knife, slipping it back into her pouch.

"Is there any water around here?" Kana asked.

"I believe there is a pond about a kilometre north of here," Pein replied, looking at Kana in confusion. "Why do you need water?"

"Sasori said I should try walking on water, but I haven't practiced that once!" Kana frowned.

"Go to the pond," Pein sighed. "I will come to fetch you in twenty minutes."

"Thanks, Pein-sama!" Kana grinned, running into the trees.

Pein just nodded, watching as her figure melted into the shadows of the trees.

~~~~~

Kana continued north, and about five minutes later, found the small pond that Pein spoke of. The pond was full of deep blue water, the surface rippling from what she assumed were small winged creatures. Bugs, she believed they were called.

Just to keep her things dry, she set her pack, shoes and weapons pouch on the shore before she set to work. She stepped around the many aquatic plants, channelling chakra into her feet as she stepped onto the water. The surface rippled from her movements, making it hard to stand still. She took a single step forward, then sank. She panicked for a moment, not sure how to get back up, but the pond was no more than three and a half feet deep. Kana, now slightly annoyed and sopping wet, stood up, getting out of the water to try again.

She channelled the chakra to her feet again, concentrated, and then-

"AH!"

Kana leapt out of the water, landing ashore just in time to see the shadow of a tall man approaching. In his grasp was the body of a man. It was easy to tell he was dead, just from the amount of blood she smelled. The tall man covered in stitches saw her and tossed the body aside, sighing as he laid eyes on the girl.

"I'm not going to make much money off of people like this," He scoffed, looking at the man's corpse. "I doubt you're in the bingo book."

The man then shrugged.

"Maybe someone will pay to have you." He chuckled, his masked face contorting into a grin.

Kana took a step back, reaching for a kunai she didn't have. She scowled at her mistake, facing the man who now stood against her. At the promise of a fight, her right eye changed to black and red, making her opponent, tilt his head.

"Interesting," He said. "I wonder what's up with you."

Without warning his fist rocketed forward, grabbing at her neck. Kana ducked, rolling to the right as her heart thudded in her chest. Was this what fear felt like?

"That was a nice dodge," He grunted. "But I don't plan on missing again."

Kana tried something she'd never tried before, something incredibly stupid. She focused on her back, covering it in chakra strings that then attached themselves to a tree. She pulled herself into the tree, making her back smack against it. Pain erupted through her body. The man she fought chuckled.

"This is proving to be amusing." 

Kana glanced at her kunai pouch, which rested only inches away, just out of reach. Heavy breaths rattled her lungs, though it was more from fear than injury. A string shot out and grabbed the pouch, dragging it to her side. Kana reached in and pulled out a kunai, standing to defend herself. 

The man walked closer and closer until he was a little more than a few feet away. Suddenly, he charged, too fast for Kana to react. He took a hold of her windpipe, forcing her to kick and slash at him for air. The kunai knicked his arm several times, but he never flinched, not once. Finally, Kana had enough. In an instant, the arm holding her was severed, his stomach stabbed, throat slashed, and she was free. Four purple tentacles waved behind her as she breathed a sigh of relief.

"What was that? A kinjutsu of some kind?"

Kana froze with fear, her eyes wide as her pupils shrank. She trembled.

"Y-you should be dead..." She stammered.

"But here I am." He grinned, running at her again.

"PEIN-SAMA!"

~~~~~

He was already on his way when he heard the scream.

"PEIN-SAMA!"

Pein burst through the clearing, a metal rod in hand that was promptly stabbed into the man's shoulder, pinning him to the ground.

"Stop this," Pein said. "I only wish to talk."

Kana furiously wiped the corners of her eyes, grinning like an idiot. Her eye faded back to its deep brown.

"Kakazu, I have an offer for you." 

"I'm listening," The man known as Kakazu grumbled.

"I am offering you a chance to join the Akatsuki." Pein said.

"Akatsuki?" Kakazu repeated. "Never heard of them."

"We are a group that will bring peace to this world." Pein replied, glancing at Kana.

"I don't care about peace," Kakazu scoffed. "All I need is money."

"You can make more money in the Akatsuki, that will be one of your tasks." Pein said, looking to Kana again as if telling her to add on to it.

"You will also be accepted," Kana said, the purple tentacles slipping into her back. "We're all a bit strange, but we won't judge you."

For a man as cold and greedy as Kakazu, something in him just told him to listen to her words. Accepted; what a nice word, what a nice feeling. Something he hasn't felt in a long time.

"Alright fine," Kakazu grunted. "I'll join your little party, but I got things to do first."

"That is fine, I will have Zetsu find you within the next two or three days," Pein said. "In the meantime, do not attack anyone you see wearing a cloak like mine."

"Got it."

"Oh, and one last thing, Kakazu..." Pein said, hiding a smirk under the collar of his cloak.

"What?" He grunted.

"Apologize to Kana for attacking her." Pein ordered.

Kakazu raised his head, the rest of him still pinned to the ground.

"Apologize to the runt?" He asked.

"Kana!" She corrected.

"Why should I?!" Kakazu exclaimed.

"Because you, like everyone else, will be helping with her training." Pein said.

Kakazu smacked his head against the ground, groaning.

"I'm sorry."

"I didn't quite hear you!" Kana sang.

"I'm sorry!" He exclaimed.

"It's okay, Kakazu!" She giggled.

Pein approached Kakazu, ripping out the metal rod and tossing it aside, not bothering to help his ally up. 

"Say goodbye Kana, we must be leaving now." Pein ordered.

"Bye Kakazu!" She chirped, swinging her pack over her shoulder.

"Just leave..." Kakazu groaned.

Pein and Kana left after that, leaving Kakazu and the corpse alone in the clearing. He glanced at the corpse with a sigh before throwing it over his shoulders.

"Time to go make some quick cash."

A/N

I'm really sick right now, it's 3 in the morning, and I can't sleep. I think I did this pretty lazily. Sorry about that. Hope you enjoyed though! VOTE AND COMMENT PLEASE!