XXXX: Alliance
We stood gathered around a table, as I glared daggers at another Akatsuki member that joined us. Kisame is what Madara called him.
"We, Taka, will destroy the Hidden Leaf." Sasuke started.
"You say that, but how do you intend to do so?" Madara asked as he sat himself down at the other end of the table.
"We're going to kill the elders. The others are not our immediate concern."
"If you aim high, the ones below will protect them. It won't be that easy. You so-called 'Taka' don't have enough strength for that." Kisame spoke, finally meeting my eyes.
"You underestimate us, shark boy." I warned.
His eyebrows shot up in amusement, a smirk appearing on his lips.
"Shark boy?"
I stepped forward, placing my hands on the table as I stood at Sasuke's side.
"You have yet to witness my abilities." I threatened him.
"We still haven't even settled that last game of ours." Suigetsu chimed in. "This time, I'm serious."
"Stop it, Suigetsu!" Jugo warned.
"No. Carry on, Suigetsu. I wanna see what this shark boy is made up of." I said with a challenging grin.
I moved my hand up to my veil. Jugo had managed to recover it for me, and returned it in good condition. Suigetsu slid down the table at the same time, drawing out his blade..
But Madara interfered, stopping his blade with his bare arm.
Sasuke grabbed my hand at that moment, pulling it from my veil. He squeezed my hand hard to warn me and then released it.
"Sasuke! You haven't trained them well." Madara said.
"We aren't his pets to be trained, you bastard!" I snapped.
"Suigetsu! Are you stupid? This isn't the place to-"
"My objective is his Shark Skin Sword! I've been hanging with Sasuke only so I could get that!"
"Sasuke. What'll you do?" Jugo asked.
I glanced at Sasuke, who wore a bored expression on his face.
"Alright. Go for it if you want to, Suigetsu. You probably can't beat him anyway."
Kisame let out an amused chuckle as my eyebrow twitched in frustration.
"Gee... Thanks a lot, Sasuke. Just hold tight. I'll treat you to some tasty shark's fin soon enough." Suigetsu said in amusement.
"The Akatsuki is also low on manpower. I'd like to avoid unnecessary skirmishes." Madara said.
"Then you shouldn't criticize others, you guys." Suigetsu said as he pulled his blade back.
This is absolutely ridiculous.
Is Sasuke really teaming up with those two? Madara and Kisame?
Just by looking at them, I could see they'll be using us as tools. I mean sure, I want to use them for my own reasons. But remembering Itachi's warning that I hadn't followed through with, Madara couldn't be trusted. Hell, I'd rather team up with Pain and the others than Madara any day, even though they're both part of the Akatsuki.
"We have similar interests. From here on out, Taka will work together with the Akatsuki."
I punched a hole through one of the pillars in the room, as it crumbled before me. I could feel their eyes watching me as I stood there, trying to control my anger. Actually, punching the hole was a way to control my anger.
"What's in it for us?" I asked lowly.
"We'll give you a Tailed Beast."
I snapped my head towards Madara, my expression twisted into one of fury.
A tailed beast? He is actually offering us a tailed beast?
I told you he was trouble, Miyako.
If he gave us a tailed beast... Wouldn't that benefit you though?
Don't trust a word that comes out of his mouth. Either he betrays you first, or you betray him. And if he gave us one of the tailed beasts, it would be bad on your part. He'd discover me inside of you, and then he'll want to kill you to take control of me.
"A Tailed Beast?" Sasuke repeated.
"You don't know about them?" Madara questioned.
"I know! It's like the Nine Tails, with chakra physically manifesting as tails, they're mon--"
Sasuke hushed Karin with a sign of his hand.
"In other words?"
"They're chakra monsters. Originally, the First Hokage collected several of them and kept them under his control."
During the time of war, the Hokage would distribute them among the nations as proof of their alliance and trust.
That's horrible.
"There are nine tailed beasts in this world... The Akatsuki has collected six so far, leaving only three left." Kisame said.
My eyes widened in shock, one name running through my mind.
Naruto.
"The Akatsuki and Taka will split up to hunt the remaining three. That is our immediate goal."
"You don't have the Nine Tails yet, right?" Sasuke asked.
I moved my gaze to the back of the chair he sat in.
I absolutely would not let them get to Naruto.
"Taka will hunt down the eight tails. The Akatsuki will hunt the rest. Which includes-"
"You will not lay a finger on him." I threatened Madara. He narrowed his eyes at me before breaking out into a smirk.
Calm down, or you will end up exposing us.
"Leave us." Sasuke said in a demeaning tone.
Madara and Kisame didn't question his request as they turned in response, Madara giving me a lingering look before turning away.
"Miyako."
I approached the chair he sat in slowly, leaning against the edge of the table as I looked down at him with a displeased expression.
"What do you think you are doing?" He questioned me with a raised brow.
"I am not allying myself with the Akatsuki, let alone Madara Uchiha."
"You are acting childish."
I could feel Karin's amused smirk from my side.
"What do you think they'll do when they discover who I really am, hmm? Have you thought of that?"
"I have."
"And if any of them, any of you, lay a hand on Naruto, I'll kill you." I threatened Sasuke.
He narrowed his eyes at me.
"No you won't."
I sighed. He's right. I wouldn't. There was a point in the past when I did hate him and didn't bother for his life. But after what he and I both experienced, we were more closer now, and learned to cope with each other. As much as I hated to admit it, we do need each other.
And I still had a promise I had to fulfill.
"Who is this Naruto and why is he so special to you?" Suigetsu jumped in.
"That's a discussion for a different time. If you aren't with me, Miyako, then are against me?" Sasuke spoke lowly.
"I'm doing this only to achieve justice for Itachi. I am neither with you, or against you. But I do know that if you lay a hand on Naruto, Sasuke, you'll regret in doing so."
He shut his eyes in response.
"Madara Uchiha will be the one to go after him."
"Then I'll just kill him."
"Leave us." Sasuke spoke again, ordering Jugo, Karin, and Suigetsu.
Surprisingly they left without a word.
"I don't think you realize how important you are to me, Miyako. Fighting against my orders is-"
"You do not order me around. I am sick of being treated as a tool!" I roared in annoyance, pressing myself off from the table as I stomped to the other side, slamming my hands on the stone as it crumbled underneath my hands.
"You think your importance to me is because of your powers?" Sasuke asked, slight disappointment evident in his tone.
"Its obvious."
"I want to protect you from danger. I know the importance and how much Shiroryuu's safety is to you."
"You want to protect me? Then protect Naruto from the Akatsuki." I snapped, sending him a menacing glare.
He said nothing as he met my eyes with equal intensity.
"I can't do that. Naruto means nothing to me."
"Then you are equally as terrible as Madara Uchiha."
It was hard to believe only a few hours we were experiencing zero problems with each other. And now, we had the same goal, to achieve justice for Itachi, but we had different approaches toward the Akatsuki.
And Naruto.
"What will you do then, Miyako?" He asked after a few moments of silence.
I clasped my eyes shut, leaning heavily against the table.
It was faint, but it was still there. My promise to Naruto.
No matter how messed up Sasuke is right now, I still made a vow I intended to keep.
But I was ready to break that vow, to release my power on the Akatsuki to protect Naruto with my life. My slowly dwindling life that is eaten away by time as the seconds passed.