Mercury’s Manifestation

Zetsu sure is taking his time in Pains room.

As you stare blankly at the wall, you realise you could take a peak with your Byakugan. Back in Babylonia, the engineers have constructed an Anti—Byakugan structures to counters every Byakugan holders from violating the privacy of each inhabitants. It was designed primarily to prevent creepstalking and spying. Consequently, you never had the chance to abuse your Dojutsu with the restrictions.

Now that you're on earth, it's different though. The idea of finally being able to use them for misconduct is quite tempting. You twirl on your heels to look back at the door infront of you yet before you get the chance to activate the Byakugan, an unfamiliar man exits the room to peer down at you. Despite his face being mostly obscured by a mask with only one solitary eyehole, you assumed that he was looking at you.

Oh? Who is this? He wasn’t in the room earlier….

He stands before you with an imposing presence, towering taller and broader than expected. His muscular physique is accentuated by the skin tight undershirt he's wearing. He greets you with a friendly wave, his voice curious, "Aren't cha the new member that Zetsu recruited?"

You blink, taken aback by his sudden cheery voice "Maybe. What's it to you?"

Zetsu steps out of the room with his usual stoic expression addressing this masked person "Tobi,"

Tobi lets out a playful hum. "Just curious! It's not every day we get new blood." His single eye crinkles, as if he's smiling beneath the mask. "Especially someone as... unique as you."

Your eyes narrow. "Unique how?"

"Well, for starters, you don't look like you belong here." He gestures vaguely at your outfit—your pristine white sundress and large straw hat completely contrast the dark, ominous atmosphere of the Akatsuki's hideout. "You look like you should be on a picnic, not in a den of criminals."

Zetsu sighs heavily, clearly already over this conversation. "We don't have time for this. She needs to be shown to her quarters."

Tobi places his hands on his hips. "Aww, but I wanted to chat more!" He suddenly gasps, as if struck by a realization. "Oh! We should throw her a welcome party!"

Zetsu looks like he wants to strangle him. "Absolutely not."

You, on the other hand, perk up. "A party, huh?" You tap your chin thoughtfully. "I mean, it wouldn't hurt to celebrate my arrival..."

Zetsu shoots you a deadpan look. "No."

Tobi claps his hands together. "I'll take that as a yes!"

As he practically skips away, probably to plan something ridiculous, you turn to Zetsu with an amused smirk. "I like that guy."

"You would."

"For now, let me show you to your chambers," Zetsu signals the end of the useless rambling. "Tomorrow morning, Pain-sama will begin your interview and the official introductions to all the other members," he explains. "But for now, you should rest."

You follow Zetsu as he leads you to your room but you weren't expecting masked-man to be tailing you. You cast a glance over your shoulder, confronted with the swirly orange mask he dons.

Noticing the intense gaze you're sending his way, he replies "Tobi's rooms this way too! I have an inkling that we're going to be neighbours,"

You arch an eyebrow, glancing at Zetsu. "Is he serious?"

Zetsu lets out a tired sigh. "Unfortunately."

Tobi chuckles, unfazed. "You say that like it's a bad thing! We'll get along great, I can tell."

You roll your eyes but decide to humor him. "I don't snore. Hope you don't either."

"Nope! But I do talk in my sleep sometimes. Oh! And sometimes I get up and wander around. But don't worry, I never go into people's rooms—unless I do!"

You stare at him. "...Right."

Zetsu stops in front of a wooden door and gestures to it. "This is yours. Try not to destroy anything."

You push the door open, peering inside. The room is simple—barely furnished, with only a bed, a desk, and a small dresser. Definitely not the cozy riverside home you envisioned, but it'll do for now.

As you step inside, Tobi leans against the doorframe. "So, whatcha think? Home sweet home?"

You hum, setting your bindle (which is actually your weapon) down by the bed. "It's... temporary."

Tobi tilts his head. "Oh? Planning to run away already?"

You smirk. "Maybe. Maybe not."

Zetsu pinches the bridge of his nose. "I swear, if you cause problems—"

"What, me? Never," you say, all innocent smiles.

Tobi claps his hands together. "Well! If you ever get bored, just knock on my door! Tobi will be happy to entertain you."

You raise an eyebrow. "That sounds suspicious."

"It's only suspicious if you make it suspicious!" Tobi declares before giving you an exaggerated thumbs-up. "Sweet dreams, new neighbor!"

With that, he skips off down the hall, disappearing into his own room.

Zetsu stares after him for a long moment before exhaling sharply. "I hate him."

You grin. "I don't know, I think I might like it here."

"If you're in need of help or anything, feel free to look for him in his room ahead. Although, i highly recommend you not to." Zetsu signals at the door at the end of the corridor "If you can't find him, chant my name on a nearby pot and i shall appear,"

You stare at Zetsu, trying to gauge if he's being serious. "A... pot?"

Zetsu nods solemnly. "Yes. Any ceramic pot will do."

You blink. "You're messing with me."

"Try it and find out." He turns on his heel, already making his way down the hall.

You cross your arms. "Oh yeah? What happens if I chant your name into a shoe instead?"

Zetsu pauses mid-step. "...Don't."

A smirk tugs at your lips. "Why not? What if I want to summon you in style?"

Zetsu doesn't answer. He simply walks away, vanishing into the shadows of the corridor.

You huff a quiet laugh before stepping into your room and closing the door behind you. The second you do, you turn to the lone flower vase sitting on your nightstand, staring at it.

A beat of silence.

"Zetsu, Zetsu, Zetsu."

...Nothing happens.

You roll your eyes and plop onto your bed. "Figures."

..

With that, you're left alone to fend for yourself inside the space to call your own. The room appears quite mundane, as expected, and you're not sure where to begin your efforts at personalising it.

Back in your homeland, you never bothered to decorate your room that much. A few polaroid pictures hung on the walls of your childhood were the extent of your efforts, and you considered the job done.

You decide to set aside the thought of such chores for the time being. Exhaustion sets in. Thankfully, there's an air conditioner, saving you from the scorching heat melting your skin off (If that's even possible).

Adjusting to the Earth's warmer temperatures has proven quite challenging for you. Yes, you're aware that as the third planet from the sun, it's natural for Earth to experience intense heat, but the sudden exposure to this environment is quite taxing on your body, which is more accustomed to colder climates like in Babylonia.

You slip into a deep, peaceful sleep, experiencing tranquility you haven't felt for quite a while. If you're being honest, it's been a quiet the journey with everything going on, even for an entity like you.

You're not sure what's considered morning for earthlings. The penetrating light of the sun peeking through your windows could be a sign to rise from your slumber. With a groggy groan, you flip onto your stomach and bury your face into the pillow, trying to escape the persistent glow of daylight. "Ugh, this planet moves way too fast,"

In Babylonia, days stretched longer, allowing for at least twelve glorious hours of uninterrupted sleep. But here? You close your eyes for what feels like a short nap, and suddenly the sun is already nagging at you to get up.

You crack open an eye, peering at the unfamiliar ceiling. "How do Earthlings even function on this ridiculous schedule?" You throw an arm over your face, dreading the idea of getting up.

Showering process becomes a pain in the ass when you're disappointed at the lack of technology.

You sigh as you twist the ancient-looking knob, expecting some kind of delay, but to your surprise, water immediately sprays out. It's... basic. Just a single stream of water with only one pressure setting—functional but utterly uninspiring.

"Ugh, this is so primitive." You grumble, stepping under the lukewarm water. "No mist mode, no cascade effect, not even a simple temperature memory function?" You drag a hand down your face. "How do these people live like this?"

The lack of ambient mood lighting is also disappointing. No chromatherapy, no built-in AI adjusting the water temperature to your liking. Just you, a dull, single-stream showerhead, and an underwhelming shower experience.

You close your eyes and reminisce about Babylonia's Showersky, the luxurious rainfall feature that created the illusion of bathing under a gentle waterfall—until it occasionally miscalculated the water pressure and nearly drowned you.

...Okay, maybe showersky had its flaws.

At least on Earth, you won't have to fight for your life every time you bathe. Small mercies.

Having only two clothes at the moment, you dont complain when you slip back the white sundress youve been wearing for the third consecutive day. You fasten the cloak securely around your shoulders, hoping it adds an air of dignity to your otherwise repetitive wardrobe. "Alright, day three in the same dress. I'm basically a fashion icon now," you mumble to yourself, smoothing out the fabric.

"For now, my bindle's missing an important piece but sacrifices must be made,"

The white sundress was undeniably pretty, but the breezy design made you feel somewhat vulnerable. At least with your cloak, you could feign a sense of regal composure—like some wandering noble instead of an alien crash survivor with exactly two outfits to their name.

Stepping outside of your room, you notice Tobi standing before you instead of Zetsu. It comes as a slight surprise, as you had initially anticipated Zetsu to greet you like some loyal servant but you suppose, this is an opportunity to break out of your comfort zones and form connections with the humans.

"Oh," He hums quietly.

"What?"

"you seems disappointed to see Tobi,"He notes.

"What?! Nonsense!" You dismiss the notion and gleefully link your arms with his "Come on, let's go!
Take me to your inconspicuous destination."

Tobi jerks at the contact as if you're some kind of germs touching his—fully clothed arm (which is quite dramatic considering it wasn't a direct skin contact) Acknowledging his reactions, you reluctantly let go, attempting to mask your bruised feelings.

Tobi struts forward, leading you to wherever it is he's taking you.

Astute observation; he appears to be on edge and even wary of being in your vicinity. A conclusion you could make is likely because of your byakugan. Despite it's main purpose is to detect one's chakra point, it also allows the users to penetrate through objects, including a person's body— Which may account for his unease around you.

Considering how he's wearing a mask, for whatever reason, he's probably trying to skirt out of your vision to avoid the possibility of his identity or any intimate details being discovered by your Byakugan.

[Torture Chamber]

Now, despite being a foreign entity, you don't consider yourself to be illiterate even if the language and writing systems used by humans differ from your own. Thanks to the power of the Byakugan, it can easily translate unfamiliar scripts and letters through a coding program from your Dojutsu (this only applies towards the Otsutsuki). However, as you stand before the labeled door, you hesitate for a moment, apprehension rising.

The door opens anyway, revealing the ginger man, sanding menacingly in the middle of the room.

Your gaze flickers across the dimly lit chamber, the atmosphere heavy with the scent of metal and something vaguely... burnt.

Pain—because what else could you call a man who exudes suffering itself—stands before you, his piercing Rinnegan drilling into your very existence.

"What are you standing there for? Come in," he observes, his voice as deep and unwavering as ever.

You clear your throat, masking your unease with nonchalance. "Oh, Sorry, I was just admiring the, uh... decor." You glance around. Chains, bloodstains, and ominous-looking contraptions stare back at you. "Lovely aesthetic. Very welcoming."

Pain doesn't react.

You cross your arms, tilting your head. "So, do I get a tour? Or is this the part where you chain me up and demand information I don't even have?"

"Don't be shy~ take a seat!" Tobi pushes you towards the completely normal chair positioned infront of Pain. You concede, sitting your ass down with nonchalance.

"Is this where i lose my ten nails?" You question, earning a giggle from Tobi that's currently leaning against the walls nicely.

You take notice how the room radiates a cold and sterile atmosphere, its walls and floors made of concrete or stone. The dim lighting provided by a solidarity bulb hanging from the ceiling making the vibes even more..... surreal. The space of the room is quite spacious, with only minimal and utilitarian furnishings here and there. The tables nearby seems to have some kind of items or devices used for interrogation or torture— you don't really want to find out. In the corner, you could see a special drainage and washing systems in place for— probably the clean up.

"The Akatsuki operates as a business," Your attention immediately snaps back towards the man infront of you "Thus, i must exercise my responsibility as an employer, especially in matter of recruitment."

"O-Okay?" You don't remember singing up for this.

"Keep in mind that the Akatsuki is a mercenary organization. We provide support and protection, but we hold no responsibility for any injuries you might sustain or even the worst-case scenario of death." In a dramatic fashion, he closes his eyes, like some badass mafia boss.

"Currently, our roster is quite full," he reveals painfully slow "but that doesn't mean I'll turn away your application immediately. In the event that a member dies, we'll fit you to the team that lost their partner. Otherwise, you'll be working behind the scenes."

"So, I’m the side chick," you mutter to yourself.

"Our criteria for recruitment is strict, as you might have guessed. Most members are S-Rank rogue ninjas," he explains, now pacing slowly in front of you, circling your chair almost comically like a character straight out of a detective movie.

You track Pain's movements with your eyes, feeling like a suspect under interrogation. "S-Rank rogue ninjas, huh?" You hum, tilting your head. "And here I thought you guys were just a bunch of homeless war criminals with cool outfits."

Tobi snorts loudly.

Pain, however, does not appreciate your humor. He halts mid-step behind you, the weight of his Rinnegan drilling into the back of your skull. "You underestimate us."

You offer an easy shrug. "Not at all. I just like to set realistic expectations for myself. If I'm gonna be working 'behind the scenes,' might as well know what I'm dealing with."

Pain resumes his slow pacing. "You will be given tasks appropriate to your abilities. Stealth, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance. Combat will only be required if necessary."

You blink. "That... actually doesn't sound so bad?"

"It is not an easy life," Pain continues, ignoring your comment. "Betrayal and conflict are constant risks. Missions will be assigned, and failure is not tolerated. If you are discovered to be a liability, you will be disposed of accordingly."

Your lips purse. "Huh. And here I thought you were all about 'bringing peace' to the world."

Tobi chimes in, "Oh, we are! Just in a super-violent, morally-gray kinda way."

"Anyway, you are a complete anomaly. We have no information, no history of you– which is making this whole process hard. We cant just let anyone into the Akatsuki; For all I know, you could be a spy—" he muses. "But, Zetsu recommended you."

Pain is now standing behind you so you can't really see his face instead, you're forced to look at Tobi, who's leaning next to the exit door with his hands behind is back. This is getting way too creepy and his evil monologue is too much for you to be sitting through.

"Zetsu holds a prominent position as one of our most loyal and valuable allies. We rely heavily on his services, which is why I am seriously considering this favor he has requested."

You shift in your chair, resisting the urge to sigh. "Look, I get it. Mysterious new girl shows up out of nowhere, and you're all worried I'm some undercover assassin or whatever." You fold your arms. "But if I was a spy, do you really think I'd be dumb enough to waltz in here with zero plan and a dress that makes me stick out like a sore thumb?"

Tobi tilts his head. "Hmm... that is a fair point."

Pain doesn't react. "It is not intelligence alone that makes a spy dangerous. It is their ability to adapt, to manipulate, and to lie convincingly."

"Furthermore, you don't seemed so ordinary yourself especially with those set of Byakugan. Are you a Hyuga? did you steal them? inherited them? or were they a gift perhaps? all of these assumptions to which I absolutely not concerned about. To me, as long as they prove to be useful and can be utilised well, I consider it to be enough."

"Uhm, really? you don't care about my origin or I dunno— backgrounds or whatever? I mean I am completely okay with that tho, just asking." Your eyebrows raised, in search for.... something but you find none to Pain's indifference expression.

"Well, it would be lying to say we don't care, but if even Zetsu, who's our main intel collector, couldn't find any information about you, then there isnt much we can do. Besides, he found you in a small remote village, and you're not listed in the shinobi data books either which crosses out the possibilities of you being a spy."

You blink at him. "So basically, since there's no record of me anywhere, I'm just—what? A weird cryptid you decided to adopt?"

Pain narrows his eyes slightly. "If you are willing to contribute to our cause, then what you are does not matter to me. Only what you can do."

You hum, tilting your head. "Huh. That's actually... kind of refreshing. Most people lose their minds trying to pry in someone's private life."

Tobi throws his hands up. "Right?! So much less stress when you just don't ask questions!"

Pain ignores him, still watching you carefully. "That being said, your Byakugan grants you an advantage most lack. Whether you choose to fight or not, you are still an asset. Your abilities can be used for surveillance, tracking, and gathering intelligence. If you wish to avoid combat, you will have to prove yourself in other ways."

You sigh dramatically. "Ugh, so I do have to work."

"This is an organization, not a charity."

You place a hand over your chest, gasping mockingly. "Oh, so I don't get free food and housing just for being me? I'm shocked."

Pain doesn't react, but you swear you hear Tobi snicker behind his mask.

"So, what do you want? If you intend to stay, you will be assigned a role. What you contribute will determine your value to the organization."

You pause, considering your options. "...Well, I don't really like fighting. But I do like learning about humans." You tap your chin thoughtfully. "And eating. And smelling things."

Pain's expression doesn't change. "...That is not a skillset."

Tobi raises a finger. "Actually, boss, I think she could be really useful for intel work! She's got those freaky eyes, and she's weirdly good at picking up little details."

"Wait, how do you know that?"

"Tobi knows everything~"

Pain is quiet for a moment before finally speaking. "...Very well. You will accompany Zetsu for reconnaissance missions. Observe, gather intelligence, and report back. If you prove yourself competent, we will discuss further responsibilities."

You sit up straighter, eyes wide. "Wait—I actually got the job?"

Pain narrows his eyes slightly. "You live here now. You will contribute."

You blink. "Oh. Right. ...Well, cool! I'll be the best little spy you ever had! Er, second-best. No offense, Zetsu."

"Well of course," Pain pauses a few seconds before leaning down closely to your ears: a gesture that sends shiver down your spine due to this— intimate proximity "I know that Zetsu's little fixation on you is more personal than professional. It's less about contribution and more about an excuse to keep you close,  like some kind of interest or hobby that he likes, just like when he takes sudden interest in gardening."

W-what….?

Pain suddenly rests his hands on your shoulders, his voice low, "Personally, I don't care about his personal interests or desires as long as they don't interfere with his duties within the Akatsuki. But let me make this clear," He continues with this tense, almost suggestive note in his voice, "You've gotten yourself into the 'devil's lair,' and—well, I don't think there's any way out anytime soon." You blink a few times at this statement. Is this a threat? Is this foreplay?

You don't respond to this. What can you even say, do you bail and make a run for it? You never knew humans were this.... intimidating. You've encountered intense individuals in your past on Babylonia, but these humans seem to take their jobs .... seriously. There are few divisions in Babylonia that focuses on exterminations like the Task Force and other factions you've worked with, and you considered them all to be borderline psychotic but you'd also be a hypocrite to judge since you used to freelance in their team for fun.

Theres also the recent internship you had that focuses on scouting the galaxy (and they were as batshit crazy like any other Task Force ) which results in you being stranded here with Pain harassing your ears.

You swallow thickly, trying to process the strange tension in the air. "Uh—"

"Understood?" Pain murmurs, his breath ghosting over your skin.

Your brain short-circuits for a second. What the hell is going on? This was supposed to be some creepy interrogation, not... whatever this was.

You finally manage to nod. "Uhh, yeah. Understood. No way out. Got it. Definitely not ominous or weird at all."

Pain straightens up, releasing his grip on your shoulders like he didn't just deliver that line in the most unnecessarily sultry way possible. He looks down at you, his expression unreadable.

Your eyes dart down, noticing what appears to be dried blood staining the floor under your feet. The lack of cleanliness in the room is a bit concerning, and you might suggest them to hire some cleaning services to at least make this room presentable for its next victim. If you're to undergo torture here, you'd prefer it to be done with fresh and clean instruments. Oh dang you're a genius! Maybe you can take over as the Organisation's advisor of some sort!

Tobi follows your gaze and lets out a low whistle. "Yikes, yeah, they should really do something about that. It's like stepping into a crime scene every time you walk in here."

You nod  "Right? Like, I get that it's a torture room, but come on—ever heard of basic hygiene? Imagine how much more effective the torture would be if it smelled like lavender and not rotting despair."

Tobi tilts his head. "So what, you wanna be our interior designer now?"

You scoff. "Excuse me, I was thinking more along the lines of an advisor—you know, organizational improvements, efficiency, work culture—"

"—Torture aesthetics," he adds.

"Exactly! See, you get it!"

Tobi chuckles "You're either gonna make this place better... or completely ruin the Akatsuki from the inside."

You flash him a grin. "Why not both?"

"Before you go— please sign this form its the employment contract." Pain pulls out some documents from under his robe then hands it to you.

You stare at the brush pen, puzzled. You've never used one before, having little familiarity with such writing instruments. You assumed this is some kind of calligraphy that the World Government Association of Art members would use in their creation. You're no artist and you're wondering how you're supposed to write with this.

You glance up at Pain, and he's staring you down like he's wondering why you're scrutinising the object like it's your first time seeing it.

Pain jolts at your unsuccessful attempt of— whatever this is. The ink is smeared all over the page and that's when he realised that you're completely incompetent and impractical. "Uhm Pain, I have a problem," you announce before flaunting your mistake with no shame.

Hmm, it's understandable for a bumpkin girl who lived in a remote village to be illiterate considering the lack of education. A wave of memories floods Pain's mind, recalling his past struggles during the war. He remembers the hardships of living without food, protection, or education, and the enduring imprint of those hardships on his psyche. He hates that those kind of images is ingrained in his head for as long as he lives.

Pain comes to the realisation that there may be more similarities between the two of you than he first thought.

So, he takes a deep breath and releases the strain expression he's been wearing. Be nice to her she's tragic.  "It's alright," Pain reassures you as he signals for Tobi to assist him. "We don't have to do it that way; we can find another means to proceed."

Tobi leans over, peering at the absolute mess you've made. "Wow, that's impressively bad. I mean, Tobi did not expect calligraphy, but this? This looks like a crime scene."

You scowl. "In my defense, you guys are making me sign a contract for an evil organization—you think I came here prepared for paperwork?"

He hands Tobi a fresh sheet from under his robe (How many does he have there?) Tobi takes them, getting ready to help and all "We'll do it verbally, and i will write it down for you."

You nod and flash him a relieved smile.

"What's your name?"

"Otsut– Ot— Otsuya.. " Shit, you almost slip up. "Uhh... do you need my real full name?"

Pain's eye twitches. "...Do you have another one?"

You consider this. "I could make one up—"

"Forget it. just put Y/N, Tobi" He quickly scribbles it down.

"Next question, how old are you," Tobi asks.

"Th..." Your mouth gapes open as you blink incredulously.

"Twelve..."

"Twelve...?" Pain repeats.

"yes....?" If Tobi could showcase his incredulous blinks at you, he would.

"But you look like an adult?" Pain questions before scanning you from head to toe with his intense ringed eyes.

"Because I am" you say, confidently flipping your hair.

"You're twelve and an adult?" Eyebrows squished together as the ginger man gawks at you.

Your eyes widen at the realisation that this must have been a miscalculation on your part. So, you can't be twelve and an adult at the same time. Noted. But, the question remains: at what age is a human considered an adult?!?!?

"Heheheheheh," Tobi breaks out into a fit of laughter, playfully tapping your head with his palm. You ponder whether you should join in the laughter, as he seems to find something amusing about the situation.

"(Y/N) has quite the humour, Pain-Sama!" You smile, grateful at this second chance in life. "Oh, I was just joking, I'm kind of a jokester!" you join in , chuckling. Nice save!

Pain remains indifferent to this.

Damn, you're not funny enough for the stoic leader to crack. You cast a glance at Tobi and he's shining like the brightest cosmic star you could ever hope for.

You stand up from the chair and bat your eyelashes at Tobi, playfully "Tobi~ how old do you think I am~?"

"Hmmmmm," He pretends to think hard, as if contemplating the question seriously, before leaning forward with a cheeky smile (that you can't see). "You looks fairly young and beautiful! Id say you're probably in your twenties!"

Your eyes glitters with delight. Thankyou Tobi "Ha, Of course Im in my twenties,” you pause to force a giggle “Im twenty-three." You add a wink to emphasize your playful attitude, but his reaction remains unmoving, and you can't tell what he's thinking behind that mask.

The final step in the process is your signature to which Tobi's not allowed to help you.  You proceed to scribble on them before passing it back to the leader.

"Welcome to the Akatsuki," The leader nods and declares.

Tobi claps his hands and begins celebrating your success, congratulating you for passing the interview. Wait, that was an interview? That whole session felt like interrogation.

"Come now, we shall have breakfast and i will introduce you to everyone else."

You exit the room with the two men, with you being sandwiched in the middle of them. As you walk down the dimly lit corridors, you can't help but feel like a prisoner being escorted to their final meal. Tobi hums cheerfully beside you, completely oblivious to your internal turmoil, while Pain remains his usual silent and intimidating self.

Your thoughts drift back to Zetsu. That bastard really went out of his way to recruit you, even lying on your behalf. But why? What does he gain from this?

"So, Tobi," you begin, eyeing the masked man. "What exactly do you do in the Akatsuki?"

"Tobi is a good boy!" he exclaims, hands on his hips.

You blink. "That's not a job description."

Pain sighs. "He's a member."

"But what kind of member?"

Tobi leans in. "The best kind."

You squint. "That told me absolutely nothing."

After a brief walk, you arrive at a what appears to be a lounge room. It's a spacious area with a dark color scheme that create a cozy and warm atmosphere. A large TV screen dominates one wall, complemented some furniture and a variety of sofas and bean bags scattered throughout the room. The room is filled with the sound of chatter and banter, creating a surprisingly inviting ambiance.

"Attention everyone," Pain clears his throat as he steps inside the room. The room falls into a conclusive silence as everyone's present, has their attention solely on him.

"We have a new addition to our team," Pain announces, causing a loud cheer to erupt from the members present.

"Fuck yeah, who died? Tell me it was Tobi, hmm!"

"The news almost had me believing that we had finally gotten rid of Hidan," a deep voice grumbles irritably. "But then, i could still smell his smelly ass in the room,"

"Shut the hell up, Kakuzu!"

You take this as a sign to turtle walk behind pain.

The conversations halt as several pairs of eyes turn to you. Some filled with curiosity, others with mild disinterest.

Kisame, still lounging on one of the sofas, smirks. "Took you long enough to show up."

You raise an eyebrow. "Yeah, sorry, I was busy signing my soul away."

Sasori, a pastel red haired boy with doll like appearances scrutinises you like you're a bug "Tch, another newbie? What's your deal?"

Before you can answer, Kisame gestures lazily toward you. "She's the one from that restaurant a while back. The one I paid for."

The room hums with amusement.

"So what I'm hearing is," Hidan grins, "she already mooched off one of us before even joining."

"That was a misunderstanding!" you protest. "Also, you paid willingly—I didn't ask you to!"

Kisame chuckles. "Relax, I ain't mad. Just funny how things work out, huh?"

Zetsu stands from the beanbags, raising his voice to address the room. "Everyone, please be quiet," he says firmly. You take a moment to observe his appearance—he seems to be wearing something casual (a graphic white t–shirt and green pleaded pants) , and you can't help but find him adorable!

Pain ignores the bickering, his patience seemingly infinite as he continues, "(Y/N) will be joining us. While they are not an immediate field operative, their role within the organization will be determined based on their skills and usefulness."

Kisame leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Not a fighter, huh? Then what can you do?"

You blink. "Uh..." Good question. What exactly is your skill set? "I have the Byakugan?"

Hidan snorts. "That's like saying I have a mouth. Yeah, no shit, genius."

Deidara rolls his eyes. "So what? You some kind of Hyuga dropout, hmm?"

You puff your cheeks in mild offense. "I'll have you know, I am very capable!"

Kakuzu, who has been eyeing you like a business opportunity, interjects. "Do you have any financial skills? Can you do accounting?"

Your brain short-circuits at the sudden career shift. "Uh—maybe, maybe not?"

He grunts in disappointment. "Useless."

Tobi gasps dramatically, draping an arm around your shoulders. "Don't listen to them, (Y/N)-chan! Tobi believes in you!"

Pain finally sighs. "Enough." He turns his Rinnegan back to you. "We will assess your skills over time. For now, just introduce yourself first."

In an attempt to ignore the #hate, you straighten your back and attempt to clear your throat with a slight cough into your fist. "Salutations," You say seriously.

A long, awkward silence follows. The Akatsuki members stare at you, some with confusion, others with amusement.

Deidara snickers. "Salutations? What are you, a scholar from the feudal era, hmm?"

Hidan cackles. "Yo, what the hell kind of greeting was that?"

Kisame grins, showing off his sharp teeth. "You're definitely not from around here."

Zetsu, still standing, shakes his head. "Let her speak."

You clear your throat again, ignoring the teasing. "I am (Y/N), as previously mentioned. It is a great honor to be welcomed into your... uh, 'business'—" you shoot a glance at Pain, who merely nods, "—and I assure you, I will contribute to the best of my abilities."

Kakuzu mutters, "Still haven't heard a single useful skill."

You pretend not to hear that.

Tobi claps excitedly. "Tobi thinks (Y/N)-chan is so polite! Such a refreshing change from you meanies!"

Hidan leans back with a smirk. "Alright, newbie. At least you're a girl, such a breath of fresh air. You're not so bad looking too!" The white haired man, who seemed to be wearing nothing but just his pants shouts, pointing a finger at you.

The guy next to him speaks, addressing him, "Calm down, you act like it's your first time seeing a female" The individual has striking emerald eyes, with a curious red sclera, and slightly tanned skin. Stitches are present on his body in multiple places like a voodoo doll. He seems to be the one named Kakuzu

"This shit is a big deal, the fuck you mean?!"

You blink, taken aback by Hidan's enthusiasm. He's practically bouncing in his seat, grinning like a madman.

Kakuzu sighs heavily, rubbing his temples. "You're embarrassing yourself."

Hidan scoffs. "Like hell I am! You all don't appreciate the rarity of this situation! We're constantly surrounded by nothing but sweaty, ugly bastards—no offense, Kisame—"

Kisame raises an eyebrow, amused. "None taken... I think?"

"—and now, finally, we have some proper eye candy in this goddamn sausage fest!" Hidan finishes, grinning proudly like he just made the most profound statement of the century.

Deidara sighs dramatically. "You're so fucking desperate, un."

Tobi giggles, suddenly throwing his arms around you in a hug. "Tobi thinks (Y/N)-chan is the cutest! Tobi wins! First hug! First hug!"

Your body stiffens from the sudden contact. Before you can react, Hidan stands up so fast his chair scrapes against the floor. "OI! What the fuck, Tobi?! You bastard!"

Tobi releases you and makes a break for it, laughing maniacally as Hidan chases him around the lounge. "COME BACK HERE, YOU SWIRLY-HEADED FREAK!"

Pain clear his throat once again “That is Hidan, he’s in the immortal team along side Kakuzu— his partner” Pain points at Kakuzu that was leisurely looking at you, his head leaning on his fist.

You nod at Pain before rubbing your temples, watching Hidan nearly trip over a beanbag while Tobi dodges him effortlessly. "I was under the impression that this was a professional criminal organization."

Kakuzu grumbles. "It was. Until we let these idiots in."

The blondie with his long hair halfway tied chimes in. His sparkling blue eyes that resembles the clear sky on a sunny day, fixed on you. He exudes a warmth that seems almost fond "Danna, it's my first time seeing the Byakugan. Can't lie they're beautiful if not— probably more interesting than the Sharingan" He says, glancing ever so slightly at Itachi. You wonder if that was a sneakdis.

Itachi, seated quietly on one of the couches, slowly shifts his gaze toward Deidara, his expression unreadable. A moment of silence passes.

"Hn," Itachi finally mutters, closing his eyes as if he couldn't be bothered to entertain the comment.

Deidara smirks, leaning forward slightly. "Ah, hit a nerve, did I?"

Kisame chuckles, arms crossed over his chest. "You're playing a dangerous game, brat."

You glance between them, slightly amused but also intrigued by the apparent tension. Do they have some kind of rivalry? You make a mental note to investigate further.

“That guy is The Itachi Uchiha,” Pain points at him, emphasising his name as if you were supposed to know what or who he is. Is he someone popular or something? Well, if you squint at him closely, he is…. quite the specimen. Not too buff, not too skinny, lean, tall, long luscious strands of black hair, hunter eyes— he’s the definition of looksmaxing. The Babylonian kids would have hyper-jumped at the mere sight of this man.

“And his partner, Kisame.” Kisame raise his hands up in a friendly manner at this introduction.

"Regardless," Deidara continues, now focusing back on you, "they're really somethin'. Never seen them up close before. You must be strong, yeah?"

"I'd say I'm... unique."

"Unique, huh?" Deidara echoes, a smirk forming on his lips. "That so? Then maybe you'd be interested in seeing my art up close sometime."

Before you can respond, Sasori—who has been silent this whole time—finally speaks up, his voice smooth but indifferent. "Stop flirting and sit down, Deidara."

The blonde huffs, rolling his eyes as he plops back into his seat. "Tch. I wasn't flirting, hm."

Kakuzu scoffs. "You were. And it was pathetic."

Deidara glares. "Shut up, old man!"

You stifle a laugh. The Akatsuki was nothing like you expected.

“That’s the self-proclaimed artist: Deidara,”

“Self-proclaim?!?! I am an artist, un!” Deidara interjects, getting up from his sitting position yet again.

Pain ignores this outburst “And his partner, Sasori of the red sand. A puppet master,” Sasori spare you a nonchalant glance, barely any acknowledgement.

“What the hell? Why does Sasori gets to be glorified— Sasori The Red Sand and all I got is a slander to my name!”

Pain ignores the self-proclaimed artist again. “There’s also Konan but she’s not here at the moment. You’ll meet her when she’s back from her task.”

Oh great, there’s actually the female counterpart of babylonian in this godforsaken organisation.

Noticing how the group has broken up to small chatter, Pain clear his throat again, gaining attention. "So, (Y/N) will be our eleventh member, and for the time being, she's not assigned to any specific teams, and will be rotating between different teams for missions." Pain announces.

He continues, "I'm not expecting you all to be nice. Just refrain from trying to kill each other. If you feel generous, consider helping her adjust to this new life or welcoming her with open arms. Anything you can do to facilitate her integration would be appreciated."

After finally not being able to catch Tobi, Hidan returns with a smug to continue his quest. "Fucking finally— good news to ever happen in the Akatsuki" The half naked man says, strutting towards you in a way that male birds would do funny dances to attract mates "Name's Hidan. Sexiest bastard in the Akatsuki," This Hidan person proceeds to offer his hand in the air. You're not sure what to do with this other than stare at it mindlessly.

A bit impatient, he snatches your hand from your side, bow at an awkward angle to kiss it like some kind of character in a Shakespearean play.

"Did this man referred to himself as a bastard?" Kisame cringes, wrinkling his nose in a manner of disgust.

You stare blankly at Hidan as he dramatically presses a kiss to the back of your hand, lingering just a second too long for comfort. His grin is absolutely shameless when he looks up at you.

"Literally when has he ever not act like a convoluted piece of trash?" Zetsu squints his golden eyes at Kisame.

Kakuzu groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Hidan, stop harassing the new recruit. She's not interested."

Hidan scoffs, flipping Kakuzu off with his free hand. "Tch, shut up, Scrooge. You wouldn't know romance if it sacrificed itself to Jashin-sama!"

"Anything infront of the 'huzz'," Sasori adds, his gaze narrows at Hidan's bare back.

You shake out your hand like you've been contaminated, shooting a look at Zetsu as if silently asking Is this what I have to deal with now?

Zetsu simply shrugs, offering no help.

You raise your eyebrows, wondering if this is how human greets another. You take this as a sign to continue your origin, not that any of them cares "If anyone's interested in my tragic backstory, I am an orphan, lived in a barn with— other humans. Shared my living spaces with some geese that i considered family. Life was beautiful until it wasn’t and now I'm here," You say in one breath, trying to imitate sadness but it comes out more robotic than you expected.

Sasori squints his eyes at you, conveying his incredulity before raising his eyebrows "Your tragic backstory is living in a barn?"

"Don't be so judgemental, Sasori. Not everyone's as privileged as us." Pain closes his eyes, nodding like an empath that he is.

"What?" Sasori thinks you're absurd and Pain is even more absurd for enabling this behaviour. Every members in the Akatsuki has some deep, tragic experience in the past except for, well, maybe Hidan and Deidara but to think your bum ass is sad because you were raised in the forest is dramatic. But then again, you're being really vague with your answers, to even assume it's the truth would be shallow for him. After all, the set of Byakugan you possess isn't something to brush off.

Kisame snorts. "Yeah, Sasori, let the poor barn girl have her moment."

"Tch, I don't buy it. That was the most half-assed sob story I've ever heard. Where's the pain? The suffering? The bloodshed?!" Hidan throws his hands in the air dramatically.

Deidara smirks. "Sounds like you just want a bedtime horror story, un."

Tobi claps his hands together excitedly. "Tobi thinks (Y/N)-chan's story is cute! A little barn girl who befriended geese! So wholesome!"

Sasori sighs, rubbing his temple. "I don't know what's worse—that ridiculous story or the fact that some of you actually believe it."

You place a hand over your chest, feigning offense. "Excuse you, but my struggles were very real. Have you ever tried to sleep while geese are honking all night? True suffering."

Kisame lets out a low chuckle. "I dunno, kid. Sounds like you had it easy compared to some of us."

Pain, ever the composed leader, simply nods. "Regardless of her past, she's here now. Let's move on."

Hidan groans. "Fine. But I better hear a better backstory someday, barn girl."

"Anyway, that's all for today's agenda. If you have any tasks that's due today, go ahead and complete them. If there's no inquiries I’ll be handling our new member to Zetsu for a tour,"

"Wait, why does Zetsu gets to show her around, hm?" The blond guy crosses his arms and tilts up his chin, upturning his nose in a snobby gesture.

"For real like, you're entrusting this— fine shit to that cannibal plants? Come on Pain-sama i thought you were preaching about the whole not killing each other philosophy!" Hidan shrugs, hovering his hand in the air as he speaks.

Zetsu lets out an exaggerated sigh, rubbing his temples as if he's already exhausted by this conversation. "I'm standing right here, you know."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, you flesh-eating shrub," Hidan waves him off dismissively.

Deidara pouts slightly, still looking unimpressed. "I just think it's unfair, yeah. What if she wants someone else to give her the tour?" His blue eyes flicker toward you, expectant.

All eyes turn to you, waiting for your response. You blink, feeling put on the spot.

"Uhh..." You glance at Zetsu, then at Deidara, then at the rest of the Akatsuki members, who all seem to be gauging your reaction with varying levels of amusement.

Zetsu arches a brow. "Would you like someone else to show you around?"

• Zetsu: The one originally assigned to you. Knows the base the best. May or may not secretly want to eat you.
• Deidara: Seems eager. Probably fun but will talk your ears off about art.
• Kisame: Looks like he wouldn't mind. Might accidentally take you on a ‘tour’ that ends at the training grounds.
• Itachi: Hasn’t volunteered but would probably be the most efficient. Might also be the least fun.
• Tobi: …Do you even trust him to not get you both lost?
• Hidan: The most convoluted option. Will be taking you on a tour to his room.
• Sasori: Isn’t a choice.
• Kakuzu: Isn’t a choice.

[Unlock these two members route for $5 for early access]

"I think she's better off eaten by Zetsu rather than by Hidan," Kisame shrugs, raising his hands in a surrender mock.

"Please, i think i'm rather intoxicated when consumed."

"Oh yeah? Let's find out!" There was this borderline psychotic grin etch on Hidans face that reminded you of your colleagues back home, and you're not sure what's the most ethical play at hand. Should you punch him?

The other members seemed used to this behaviour giving the conclusion that this is just an everyday occurrence for Hidan. Perhaps, you've forgotten that everyone in the organisation are criminals wanted internationally by nations.

"I appreciate the offer but, Id rather go with Zetsu," you say before pointing a finger at the bipolar creature that's crossing his arms in a sulking gesture.

"W-what?" Before Hidan could attempt to snatch you or other similar things in the matter, you skip towards the plant creature, grasping his arm close to your body.

Everyone seems to gasp at this like it's scandalous except for Tobi that finds this all amusing.

"Girl's actually into vore," Kisame chuckles lightheartedly

Zetsu, half astounded by this seemed to be smiling, virtuous that he finally have something to flex or brag about within the Akatsuki. He's always been on the quieter side, erratic, as people would say with the constant conversation he has with himself. Nobody really enjoy being in his presence due to his eccentricity that bypass the inhumane laws.

He never knew how thrilling it is to gain attention infront of a bunch of bastardised human who thinks of only about themselves.

Ignoring the snickering in the room, Zetsu gently pries your arms off his, shaking his head. "Come on. I'll show you around before these idiots try to corrupt you any further."

You wave a little goodbye towards Tobi and then Pain before Zetsu playfully stick out his tongue at everyone in the room. Both of your shadows seemed to have disappeared as you descends onto one of the many corridors.

You follow him, feeling every single pair of eyes watching as you leave.

"What in the fuck did I just witness," Kakuzu question with a raise of his eyebrows. "No idea," Sasori shrugs.

Kisame lets out a low whistle. "I think we just watched someone willingly sign up to be Zetsu's next meal."

Hidan crosses his arms, pouting. "Tch, whatever. She'll come running back once she realizes how much of a weirdo that plant freak is."

"Says the actual cultist freak," Deidara quips, rolling his eyes.

Tobi, still chuckling, waves after your retreating form. "Tobi thinks (Y/N)-chan is fun! She's going to fit right in~!"

Pain merely exhales, rubbing his temples. "Just... don't terrorize her too much. We'll see if she survives the week."

Everyone collectively nods in agreement—except Hidan, who still looks personally offended.