Loyalty (Sasuke Uchiha)

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.