Kakashi's Daughter - (Sasuke x Reader Fanfic)

T h i r t y F i v e

The next morning, Itachi, as the leader of the makeshift group decides to split up as we sniff out the person who was looking into the Akatsuki. Deidara and Hidan are partnered together, as well as Itachi and I, while Kisame is sent alone. 

The mission: whoever finds the person is to kill them immediately and to only call for backup if there happens to be more than two assailants. They don't expect that outcome, however, they still prepare for it.

It's interesting seeing the way the Akatsuki works and it feels eerily similar to the Anbu that I had once been a part of. But, these people had something the Anbu back home could never have, the thing that made them most invincible and that was abundantly clear if you had spent a moment with any of them. They did not like each other. 

And honestly, although I had been with them for only a small amount of time, I knew already, that it was their biggest strength. I knew the love the anbu had for our teammates was our biggest weakness.

Because, although we are trained to put the mission above all else, truly if you are human, it's impossible to abandon your teammate and let them die. I know that if I ever did the guilt would eat me alive.

I mentally slap myself, "Their", I whisper. There was no longer any "we" statements when discussing or thinking about the anbu, I had a new team now. 

I let out a deep breath I hadn't even known I was holding, still, I was happy that I had never been put in that situation. To choose between the mission or my teammate's life. I don't let my thinking go any further, I don't want to think about the choice I would make if I ever was. 

Everyone sets out in their little groups and for a while there is nothing. None of the leads that Itachi and I follow actually lead anywhere and I begin to doubt if there even is anyone hiding out here in this little ass town at all. 

Although my mind is still on the events of yesterday I don't bring it up and neither does Itachi. We simply walk side by side, Itachi's straw hat covering his eyes and my mask covering anything but my own.

It is like this all day, us going into different places shinobi should frequent, questioning the stooped over old man that owns the kimono shop, or the woman who owns a tea stall the locals say is the best in town.

But no one knows anything, Pain hadn't given much information either, and it all feels hopeless. I smile as we sit down at a bar, happy because perhaps this mysterious person has gotten away, already skipped town, and is half way back to their own village with valuable information, something so big that it could take down the Akatsuki for good.

I know the busy bar is the last place we will check for the day, the sun is already setting and if Itachi wants to do any further reconnaissance at night I know he will do it alone, once everyone is already back at the camp and sleeping. 

"Would you like something to drink?" The bartender says to the both of us as we sit down. My eyes are on the menu that lays on the countertop. I sigh, this place didn't even have juice and I didn't-- well technically couldn't drink alcohol anyway.

I lift my eyes to the bartender's face as I let him know that I don't want anything but I find him looking at me already. His eyes are wide, his mouth slightly agape and for a second my own features mimic his own, once I recognize him. 

We stare at each other for another half a second before both of our features become blank at once. But even then, I can't help the fact that my heart is pounding out of my chest. The blood rushing in my ears drowns out the sound of Itachi ordering some particular brand of saké my dad likes to drink.

And I look down only at my fingers, my leg twitches as my heart continues to pound. Because I knew just from that look alone that the man who was looking into the Akatsuki was the bartender that stood in front of Itachi and I. And I also knew that he was one my former team members in the Anbu.