Chapter Text
The bright green trees of the forest glowed in the night, stars lighting up the sky. You used to stare at the sky in search of something, maybe it was safety, maybe stability. You could never understand what it was, but you searched anyway.
Golden yellow sand surrounded your body in a protective sphere. Suddenly, the walls began to slightly break apart and the outside world was again visible.
Your stomach dropped as you realized for the second time that your absolute defense was only so powerful.
Somehow, this puny, feminine-looking man in his tacky akatsuki robe was able to crack your protective sand barrier with only his infamous exploding clay.
“Damn you Deidara!” You cursed his name at the top of your lungs.
Nothing but pure rage and anger filled your body, helpless in defeat. You’d peaked at your father’s bingo book a few times in secret, but you’d never imagined Deidara to have this level of strength. Now for the second time within one week, running away and hiding was your only choice.
To Deidara’s surprise, rather than fighting to the end you released the sand barrier before he could cause any more damage. Screw your pride, from there you immediately ran for your life. Merely three days ago you had barely escaped death at the hands of your own father. All the times he hurt you, tried to kill you, that would be his last, and you weren’t going to let it end here either.
Well, as cool and purposeful as that last thought may have sounded, it was not going to last very long. You weren’t exactly the most skilled among shinobis. Yes, a jinchuriki with a great amount of chakra and extraordinary defense. But after that you were never the best during ninja training despite your father being a member of the anbu, and had only recently gained chunin status at 19 years of age.
You felt your heart beating fast inside your chest, your breaths becoming deeper and quicker as two figures in black robes with red clouds cornered you. You felt your back hit the coarse trunk of a tree. This feeling of helplessness triggered something you never wanted to be reminded of. You didn’t know for sure why the akatsuki was after you, but you knew it must have been something to do with you being a jinchuriki.
You decided to take the only route there was left: up. You channeled your chakra to your feet and ran up the trunk. Just then, something long and metal shot out from one of the akatsuki members. Before you could escape, it stabbed you in the shoulder. You felt a sharp pain throughout your body, losing concentration and falling all the way to the ground.
“Sasori my man, do you really think poisoning the jinchuriki was the right move?” Deidara asked tonelessly.
“Pois…poison..?” you mumbled before passing out.
“We need Gaara alive for the extraction.” Deidara explained, his arms crossed and face lacking expression.
“Don’t act so anxious, Deidara. I have the antidote,” Sasori replied, slightly irritated. “And I was getting a bit too restless waiting for this scum to finally be defeated.”
Deidara laughed lightly at Sasori’s irritability.
“Well it's been a long fight, Sasori my man,” Deidara started, head motioning toward Gaara, limp and sprawled out on the ground.
“Get on with it,” Sasori muttered. “Grab the body. Let’s get back to the hideout before any more trouble arises.”
You wake up the next morning inside some sort of cave, gasping from a sudden jab of pain in your shoulder, your body aching. The first thing you see is light peering from a gap between two boulders. The forest, sky and sun could be seen just outside through this tiny hole. You tried moving your arms only to find them chained to the wall behind you. You cried out in indignation, angered by your powerless state.
“Good luck trying to break out of those,” Deidara's voice called out.
You turned and saw the blonde psychopath standing in the corner, arms crossed, smirking as usual. You then turned to look straight ahead and saw the face of the puppet master Sasori, dark and menacing. You winced as you felt whatever it was that stabbed your shoulder being yanked out of your skin. Sasori’s metal arm then pulled away from your body, holding a syringe.
"Where am I? Tell me where I am!" You protested.
"We're in the akatsuki hideout." Sasori explained. "Don't put up a fight or I will poison you again."
“I won't let you poison me," you claimed, frustrated at the situation. "What is that?” you motioned towards the syringe.
“This,” Sasori replied slowly “is an antidote.”
You sighed with a bit of hope. Whatever was going to happen, you had a chance at survival.
“Don’t get too excited…” Deidara derided with a light laugh.
You heard the sound of footsteps.
Sasori looked to his left and his eyes slightly lit up.
“Ah, the pacifist is here…” Deidara scoffed at whoever just walked in. “Hey clan killer, we’ve just been notified of another jinchuriki nearby, seeking to attack us and rescue Gaara here…looks like you weren’t put on the job this time around.”
Your mind twisted with confusion as to who the new jinchuriki could be that was trying to...save you? You stared off into space and began to contemplate why they seemed to be targetting jinchuriki in the first place.
Sasori shot Deidara a look that told him to shut his mouth.
“Watch your words Deidara,” Sasori spat. “Show some respect.”
Sasori’s eyes slowly turned towards you, then back to his left.
“Sir, you’ve been ordered to keep an eye on this one while we join the others in defense. The new jinchuriki outside is extremely powerful, and did not come alone.”
You turned to your right and saw a dismal, pale face with cold, lifeless black eyes. The face of Itachi Uchiha, the man known across the Shinobi Nations for murdering his own family and entire clan, sparing only his younger brother.
“Thank you Sasori, I will wait here then,” Itachi replied. His voice was cold and he sounded weak.
Deidara left the room and Sasori tailed behind him, leaving you and Itachi alone together.
Silence.
You turned your head slowly and looked up at Itachi’s face. He stood at your right side. The akatsuki robe you previously found tacky looked much more intimidating on him. He shifted his head to look down, back at you, but this only triggered the fight or flight response in your brain.
A shiver ran down your spine. You felt small compared to him.
“Damn,” You felt yourself say aloud. “Is this how I'm going to die?”
“No, as long as you cause no trouble,” Itachi replied calmly. “But I warn you, your time will come soon enough.”
“Wait...what?” You choked.
“When they all return we are going to extract the tailed beast from your body, and when the process is complete, you will die on the spot.” His words pierced your soul.
