Lightning crashed through the skies overhead, thunder rumbled through the trees.

She ran, faster than she ever had before, her Akatsuki robe in tatters, burnt, scorched and singed from the last attack.

Pein had assured the new recruit that this would be a light mission, one easy to handle with her skills, and with senior member Kina accompanying her, she would be fine.

It was a simple scouting mission, for the more experienced members, he said, nothing dangerous...

He had neglected to mention the nine tailed fox vessel currently resided here!

The elder Akatsuki was now dead, and she was left to fend for herself.

A deep growl rose from the forest around her.

Whimper, she began hastening her footfalls, into rapid runs, fleeing for her very life, panting heavily, as this thing had been pursuing her, for what felt like an eternity.

She stumbled over a tree branch, then fell into the mud, face first, scramlbing up, then looking down into a puddle.

A terrified visage stared up at her, as the flower was knocked out of her hair, letting the semi-long locks of navy blue hair fall to her shoulders.

Cussing rapidly, she threw away the useless, rain soaked cloak, exposing herself in a simple blue jumpsuit, that bore a scratched over her flat stomach, a trio of bleeding claw mark gashes. (Think Padme's attire from Attack of the Clones Arena battle)

Trees crashed to the ground behind her, each with a mighty crash.

She had to get out of here!

She had to get away, back to the base, back to Pein-

Anywhere but here!

"KYAH!"

The ground veritably exploded with red power, as a dark figure slammed down into the swampy floor before her.

His stolen Anbu attire was worn and tattered, armor shattered from fighting, and growing over time.

He glared at her, red slitted pupils betraying keen intelligence, despite his savage appearance, which was still human, skin and all, but...

Seven tails of red chakra swayed behind his form.

If he was to attack now, in her current state she would be dead in less than a minute.

Yet he seemed stunned to see her, at the very least.

"Konan-chan, is...that you?"

How did this monster know her name?!

A clawed hand reached up to the wooden mask he wore, that which hid his face.

And exposed a visage that made her gasp.

"Na-Naruto?!"

His eyes were sad now, as if he believed himself to be seeing things.

"Are you really Konan?"

She held up a hand, exposing a mark there, a simply kanji that represented a flower.

"Yes...

His eyes went wide, both with shock and joy, at seeing a friendly face

"It is you!"

She had best tread lightly.

But...

If Naruto was the nine tailed jinchuuriki, something she had somehow not known, despite the fact that she had trained with him for those three years...

Then the last thing she wanted to do was provoke him.

Still, she let out a small "Eep!" As he suddenly grabbed her in a hug, making her flush a deep red, returning to normal as he did so, releasing her seconds later.

He had certainly changed since she had met him on his three year training trip!

"What the hell are you going here?! I almost shiscabbobed you!"

Silently, she thanked herself for getting rid of the Akatsuki robe.

"I...got lost?" She ventured.

Luckily, the still naive blond took the bait.

"Well you shouldn't be here! This swamp is crawling with Akatsuki!"

He looked rapidly about, as if they were being watched.

"If they see you with me, then they might come after you too!"

She bit back a protest, choosing to ask a question instead.

"Where is Jiraiya-sama?"

Wrong question. In her haste, she had forgotten that Pein had killed the sannin already.

His face fell, as if the weight of the world came crashing down upon him in that moment, drooping his head low.

"Ero-sennin's...

He looked up sadly, bright blue eyes swimming with sapphire tears.

"He's dead. Akatsuki killed him last year."

Mentally berating herself for the loss of level-headedness, she composed herself once more, adopting a sincere sorrowed look.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Naruto."

He shook his head, managing a shaky smile.

"Nah, it's-it's okay, he died doing what he loved."

"Researching?" She quipped, and at this he laughed, nearly busting a gut, drawing a genuine giggle from her as well.

Finally, he stopped his spasms of mirth.

"No, he died in battle, but man, getting caught peeping would've been one hell of a way to go, huh?"

Laughter dying away she nodded.

"Do you know where you are headed Naruto?"

He scratched the back of his head.

"Erm...no?"

It was just like old times, as the 'angel' slapped herself upside the head.

"You suck at taking directions, do you know that?"

"Hey!"

She grabbed his wrist.

"This way. We're close to Amegakure's inn...

(End Flasback)

She remembered the look of stunned surprise, when Pein and several other Akatsuki members had shown up on the doorstep of the inn the next morning.

It had honestly been her intent to get him as far away from here as possible, but one drink had led to another...

And now here they were, in bed with the other, or rather, he was, as she had gotten up to get the door, a sheet wrapped around her nude form.

Kisame had blushed and looked away, but Pein had taken it all in stride, tpssing her an Akatsuki robe, as if the matter of her sleeping with a demon meant nothing to him.

Hurriedly, she caught it, but somehow felt revulsion at the thought of donning it.

Pein's hand on her bare shoulder, suddenly felt like ice, as his cold, unfeeling eyes bored into her.

Yet he was nonchalant, as if this was to be expected.

"Good work Konan. I'm glad to see you made good use of those spiked drinks. Now he should be easy to capture."

The paper master found herself nodding, but on the inside some small part of her soul was screaming at , calling her all sorts of names for the foul trap she had snared her friend in.

"I'll go get him."

xxx

She arrived in the bedroom, to find Naruto, fully clothed.

And glaring daggers at her.

"You betrayed me."

Clutching the sheets about herself, she, she shook her head, as he stalked towards here.

"No! I did nothing of the sort!"

"Then why is Pein at the door?"

She paled, before waving her hands hastily, the sheets now tied around her back in a loose knot.

"He spiked the drinks! You have to understand-Ah!"

She let out a small cry, as he seized her by the throat, and pinned her to the wall, with barely a sound.

"Oh! So last night was just a 'game' to you?!" He snarled, getting angrier by the second, pupils becoming slits, whilst his eyes changed to red

Women, they were all the same!

How could he fall for something like this?! Hadn't he learned his lesson with Sakura?!

"Naruto-kun! You have to understand, I would never betray you-

"Liar!" He suddenly roared, and rapid footfalls sounded behind them.

The door was bashed in seconds later.

Gasping, she looked to the hall, and saw the shadows that was the Akatsuki coming.

His hate faltered, when her lips, soft and supple suddenly pressed against his, changing everything he knew, in but a moment, as she slammed him against the wall, her lithe body pressed hard against him.

Then she shoved him to the window, as he was suddenly too dazed to move.

Hastily, she drew some cuts on herself, to make it appear as if there was a struggle.

"Now go! You have to get out of here before they catch you!"

Fireworks exploded in her head, as he gave her the mother of all kises, pulling away to whisper a silent, "Bye."

The shattering of glass sounded, and he was gone.