Itachi and I arrive in Amegakure.

The whole city is made of steel and gives it a dystopian feel. Buildings that resemble my past lives skyscrapers, but instead of windows is completely covered by metalsheets and pipes. The city actually reminds me of 'Star Wars' Coruscant' only with less lights. [Author Note: I recommend googling for 'Amegakure' and taking a look at the city for anyone not familiar with the franchise.]

Did I also mention that the moment we entered the country, I had to endure constant raining? I remember that the rain is actually artificial and recognizes unfamiliar chakra natures, which it then reports to its user. The moment I set foot onto Rain Country Akatsukis boss noticed and tracked me.

Seriously. I get that the rain is a really good security measure, but it also so damn depressing.

We enter the biggest building in the whole village and wait for an elevator to arrive.

"We will shortly enter a closed room that will bring us to our meeting room."

What is Itachi talking about?

"I was as surprised as you are right, but whatever happens: Do not freak out and use any jutsu."

"Are you alright, Itachi? Somehow you seem more nervous than me."

"Ah. The room is scary."

The elevator's doors open and we enter it, although Itachi is only doing so reluctantly. Itachi presses the lowest button, the doors close and it is then that I for the first time witness a scared Itachi.

We start moving down and Itachi completely tenses up. He immediately starts using chakra to stick his feet on the ground and also his hands to the wall. Meanwhile sweat is dropping from his forehead and I just can't suppress my laughter any longer.

"HAHAHAHAHA. This is just too good."

"No! What are you doing?! You should be using chakra to steady yourself!"

"Oh Kami! I have never seen you so terrified by something. Wait let me use a clone to show you the face you made."

"Humph! I was only trying to help you!"

"Don't worry. Everything is fine. Still thanks for worrying about me."

"Hn."

"pfffffh- 'No! What are you doing?!' HAHAHA!"

"Uchihas never forget."

"And I won't either forget that glorious face. Hahaha. I can't wait making a painting out of it!"

"Don't. You. Dare."

"Oh look. The doors are opening."

Itachi leads me to a huge entrance, which we enter and immediately multiple faces look into our direction. I can see 5 people standing around a big table with a map spread on top of it.

"Itachi. Why are you already here? And where is your partner?"

The person that is talking is Akatsuki's leader, Pain. Pain is in fact not his real name and is instead Nagato, who is using the Rinnegan to control his best friend's corpse. The guy in front of us, with his black piercings all over him and orange, spiky hair, is a walking and talking corpse.

"Orochimaru tried killing me and I decided to return immediately. The person with me defeated Orochimaru and also brought back his ring."

"I see." Pain looks to me and notices my horns and blindfold. "Horns and a blindfold? You should be the 'Gore Demoness' then. Zetsu already mentioned that you encountered each other."

"Yes. He tried recruiting me and told me to find Itachi."

"So that is the reason why you met each other then. We will need someone to replace Orochimaru anyway so it good that you are here now. Did Zetsu tell you our organisations goal?"

"He mentioned money-making and world peace."

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A small chuckle sounds from my right and I sneak a peek who made it. It was obviously the muscular and tall guy with stitches over his whole body. The person known as Kakuzu.

"Then let me introduce everyone that is here right now. The guy with the stitches is Kakuza. To his right is his partner Ken."

Ken? I have no idea who that guy is supposed to be.

"The one who looks like a shark is Kisame."

Woah. Seeing Kisame in real life is completely different from the anime. His skin has that crazy color, which just screems alien and weird.

"Next to Kisame is Sasori."

Sasori is currently in his Hiruko puppet. He also looks really annoyed.

"There are two other members, which are Konan who has been the only woman until now and Zetsu who you have already met."

And he obviously mentions himself at the end.

"And I am Pain, leader of Akatsuki and God of Amegakure."

Seriously. He is even saying it with that utterly convinced tone.

"I will have someone bring you an crossed out Amegakure Headband and our Akatsuki robe. You should also keep the ring you got from Orochimaru. It is now officially yours."

"Got it, Boss." He probably wants me to stay with the given theme of Akatsuki being full of Missing-nin. Besides using a headband about a fake allegiance will help in covering my true identity.

"You also did not introduce yourself to us."

I really didn't. Guess I will go with one of my many fake names.

"I am Mai Ogami. Part of a small clan who is likely the only clan you will ever see with horns on their heads."

"Very well. Itachi bring her to one of our empty rooms. I want you both to be back in an hour for a mission."

My 'room' is as twice as large as a volleyball field. Pain is very generous with space.

At least I will have enough space to create workshops for all my hobbies.

I take out multiple storage scrolls from ony of my hidden pockets and unseal all my stuff. Paintings and drawings, many different music instruments, fancy clothing and even my own furniture like a fancy white tiger fur. I love it when my feet touch that fur.

"Itachi come on help me with placing my stuff."

"Why do you have three different ocarinas, four different shamisen and wha is that?"

"Oh, you know. I have been trying my hand at making my own instruments," From my past life "but many of them don't quite sound like I want them too. The last one I called guitar. It is also its fourth iteration and the closest to what I want it to sound like. That hing over here which looks like a smaller guitar is a 'violin', which is also the sixth version already. Somehow no matter what I am doing with it, always sounds off to me."

"...How many paintings have you drawn."

"You see~ I actually have no idea. Many of my less significant paintings are still at my hideout, while the ones I carried with me are obviously the best."

"You took out four different portraits, twelve landscape paintings and then there is this whole bunch of with color randomly put on them. They look ... wild and uncontrolled."

"Hehe~"

"I am counting 68 paintings, a total of 41 music instruments, 6 calligraphy scrolls and 23 different animal furs. What have you been doing all these years."

"Spending 16 hours each day with training gets boring really fast, which is why I am now a multitalented person! You should totally try my cooking!"

"...I think we should get back."

"Yeah. You go on. I will have to change into my new attire."

"Good you are here. I have a mission for you both and Sasori. Zetsu has intel about a strong Missing-nin from Iwa and I want you three to convince him joining us. His name is Deidara and should you need any information about him then talk with Kakuzu. Deidara should currently be in either Rock Country or Grass Country."

Sasori was originally part of Deidara's recruitment mission? That should turn out to be interesting.

I am currently thinking wether I should talk with Kakuzu about Deidara, when I notice Sasori straight up leaving the room. Itachi is right behind him.

They either don't want to know anything or already do.

I just follow them both and look into on of Iwa's Bingo Books for information on Deidara.

His entry describes Deidara as a bomb fanatic with long blond hair, who stole one of Iwagakure's kinjutsu to eat and form clay. He combines his bomb release with the clay to create dangerous explosives.

So only stuff that I already know about.

Well, let's just hope that travelling with Itachi and Sasori won't be too boring.

----------------------------------------

Turns out that Itachi really does not like to talk with anyone besides me and Sasori is a grumpy old fart.

I can't wait for a mission with more pleasant company or at least a mission without anyone beside Itachi.

"Say Sasori, you have been leading us for a few days now, which would mean that you have a good idea where we will find Deidara. How long will we need until we find him?"

No answer.

"Fine. You don't have to talk with me."

Still nothing.

"But I feel obliged to tell you something important."

He is still not showing any reaction.

"It is very likely that the person we are trying to recruit will turn out to be your new partner."

Man. Talking to a puppet is really hard.

"The bingo book describes Deidara as a explosion fanatic and to be honest I also expect him to talk even more then I do."

That stopped him for half second.

"You should totally try to convince our leader to put you in the same team with Kisame. I am sure he is the quieter one."

Ah another reaction! Unfortunately coming from Itachi instead of Sasori. I saw his mouth twitching!

"Anyway do you mind if I play the flute? It is not like we are talking anyway and I am sure some music would do us some good."

"Go ahead Mai. I am sure Sasori is fine with you playing too."

"Thanks Itachi! Anything special you want me to play?"

"A calming tune."

"Ah you are right. That would be a good idea, seeing as Sasori is completely ignoring me. This way he will at least stop leaking his killing intent at me."

For a while now, there have been constant clicking sounds coming from Sasori's direction.

Anyway now that I had my fun, I will try to calm the whole situation with a pleasant tune.

I play for hours and Itachi really liked it. Sasori also seemed to start liking my playing after a while and calmed down.

At least this way the trip won't be completely boring.

"We are here."

That was the first time, Sasori talked on the whole trip. We were travelling for five days, sometimes stopping at villages so that Sasori can get intel about Deidara's location, when we finally arrived at a shrine.

"I can feel someone's inside. About Jonin-level chakra reserves. Should be our target, guys."

"Hn. Let's go."