~~~~~

"Kusagakure is still a fairly new village, so I doubt they have information on the Akatsuki yet."

The two rushed through the trees at high speeds, heading towards what Pein says is the village of Kusagakure.

"Is Kusagakure really close to Takigakure?" Kana asked.

"Yes, we will spend the night in Kusa and listen around for rumours regarding an immortal man from Taki named Kakazu." Pein explained. "Granted, I look more suspicious, and you would be better at listening in on other people's conversations."

The sun would be setting soon, bringing an end to their first day.

~~~~~

When the tall village gates came into view, Pein turned right, walking around the wall. Kana followed in confusion.

"We may be denied at the entrance, it will be easier to sneak in." Pein explained. "Besides, what good shinobi uses the front door?"

Kana just nodded, watching as Pein began walking up the wall. She quickly followed after him, using her training.

"Thanks, Sasori..." She mumbled.

They made it on top of the wall, and Pein paused, crouching as he scanned over the village.

"I'm guessing their inn is closer to the center of the village," Pein said. "So let's head there."

They scaled down the wall and began walking through the village. Kana eyed all the people curiously, noticing the matching headbands that almost everyone carried. The symbol everyone carried resembled blades of grass swaying in the wind.

"Excuse me," Pein said, approaching a buff man with a large sword. "But do you know where the Inn is?"

"From Amegakure eh?" The man grunted. "Go straight down this street, when you see the red brick building, turn right, first building on your left."

"Thank you!" Kana chirped as the burly man stalked off.

Pein began walking again without warning, down the street and towards the red building that seemed to be an armoury. True to the stranger's word, after turning right, there was an inn on their left, with big welcoming windows where you could see people inside relaxing on plush chairs while reading or sleeping in the dim moonlight. 

"Come along Kana, we will go get a room for the night and then start gathering information," Pein said. "Afterwards we will split up, and it will be your job to come to find me."

"My job to come find you?" Kana asked.

"Yes, think of it as training," Pein replied. "Start working on your tracking skills."

Kana nodded and followed Pein inside the taller building, following him as he approached a front desk. The shorter man behind the desk flinched when Pein spoke, his fear was obvious and easy to take advantage of.

"I need one room with two beds," Pein said, peering down at the man.

"O-of course!" The man yelped. "How m-many nights are y-you staying?"

"Just one." 

"I n-need a name..." The man stuttered.

"Yahiko." Pein grumbled.

Kana looked up in confusion, but the man made no move to answer her confused stare.

"E-enjoy your stay." The man said, shakily handing over a single gold key.

Pein snatched up the key, barely glancing at Kana before mumbling out his orders. "Let's go."

~~~~~

Pein threw his pack onto the bed near the door, leaving Kana to put her pack on the bed by the window. Only the stars and moon lit the dark room, making shadows reflect off their faces. The room was completely silent, and they spent a mere five minute's there before starting their official mission business.  

"Let's split up now." Pein said, standing up from his bed.

The two left the room, with Pein locking the door and tucking away the key. They made their way to the entrance together, passing the terrified man once more before exiting the building. At this point, Pein doing something without warning was expected, so when he simply vanished, it wasn't at all surprising. Kana sighed, now all alone in front of the inn. With a shrug and glance around, she headed out, not quite knowing where she was going.

She walked through the now quiet streets, passing fellow shinobi and civilians alike. Despite people not knowing her, the girl received plenty of smiles and other greetings.

While her face showed nothing but happiness, in truth, she was feeling down. She tried her best to get along with all the Akatsuki, but Pein was different. He seemed to push everyone away, not allowing anyone to help. Not only that, but she had no idea how she was supposed to gather information on this Kakazu guy.

Unless he had done something huge recently, nothing about him should come up in casual conversation, especially amoung shinobi, who are trained to have tight lips.

Loose lips don't sink ships here; they kill people.

"Heeeeey there, you wanna know somethin'?"

Unless you were this guy apparently.

Kana scowled at the smell of the mans breath. Despite them being on opposite sides of the street the smell was putrid and familiar. She really didn't need a reminder of the potatoe incident, in which Deidara drank a little too much 'grape juice' and then... Well, things escalated from there. On the bright side, Kana probably couldn't drink that stuff anyway.

The man across the street stumbled around on his wooden sandals. His feet clopping after whatever woman he spotted before he stumbled to a stop.

"Awwww, come on..." He slurred. "But I know everythin'!"

Kana perked up at this. What if he did know something useful? Not to mention that he was probably not in the right state of mind to know that giving out information was a bad idea. Tricking him should be a piece of cake. Besides, deception was a good skill to have in a world like this.

Kana ran across the street, walking up behind the man before tapping his shoulder, avoiding his long white hair, like her own, but spikey.

"Hey, mister!" Kana said, violently poking his shoulder.

"Huh?" He mumbled, turning around to face her.

He went completely still for a minute, staring at Kana and her hair, then her eyes, then tapping his cheek in thought.

"Ah ha!" He exclaimed. "You're the daughter I never knew I had!"

Kana deadpanned, but shrugged. If the shoe fits.

"Yes," She agreed. "And I'm in big trouble if you can't help me!"

"Trouble?" He mumbled. "What kinda trouble?"

"I could be dead!" She gasped.

"That sounds... Muuuch bad." He slurred.

"If I can't find a certain person before he finds me, Kaa-san and I will die!" Kana lied.

"What's this dudes name?" He asked, tilting his head.

"Kakazu..." Kana mumbled, hoping her act was convincing.

"Oh, I think he was in town here not to long ago..." He trailed off. "That was why I was here. I think..."

"Where's he headed?" Kana asked.

The man shrugged.

"He hates Takigakure, so maybe he's making a trip to a popular bounty station on the edge of the Land of Earth?" The man said, slowly beginning to slur his words less.

Kana nodded. "Okay, bye now!"

Before the man could chase after her or yell for her name, she vanished from sight, dashing around a corner.

She smiled in triumph. If this didn't make Pein like her more, she didn't know what would.

Now, she just had to find the damn guy...

A/N

If you couldn't guess who that man was, I'm disappointed. Anyway, just wanted to say that I'm super hyped for the next chapters to come! And I'm also warning you that sometime in the near future there will be a time skip or two! Remember to go to last chapter and vote on a cover! VOTE COMMENT AND ENJOY!