How to be an Akatsuki Member

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

A/N: Hey guys! This is my spin off series from Blind Faith, which follows Sasuke and Sakura during their year of training with each other. Each "Lesson" (or chapter) signifies one month of the twelve. Anyway, if you have never read Blind Faith, then you probably will not understand what is happening. For those of you who have read it, please go ahead and enjoy!

Lesson One: How to Pick a Plan

"I said let go of me, Karin!" I growled, trying to shake the dumb leech off of my leg. She was on her knees and clutching my shins for dear life. I was just about sick and tired of her stupid antics.

"Please, please train me instead, Sasuke-kun! I'll do anything you ask, no arguments. I promise! Please, take me instead!" she cried.

I finally managed to shove her off. "No. I already told you, I am here to get a few sets of clothing for Sakura, not to compromise." I had done that plenty enough lately.

"But she'll never be able to become an Akatsuki member!"

An annoyed glare made way on my face. "Are you insinuating that I'm not a good teacher?"

"Of course not, Sasuke-kun! I'm just saying that she isn't cut out for this."

My hand snapped forward and collided with her face. "Do not ever insult Sakura again," I hissed in a way that reminded me greatly of my old mentor. "You know nothing about her. Do you understand?"

Karin dipped her head meekly, a grimace on her face. "Yes, Sasuke."

"Good. Now bring me what I came for."

She did as told, handing me a few of her looser clothes. "They may not fit, but here they are anyway."

"Thanks," I grumbled, taking them and exiting her room. As I headed up towards the kitchen (where I had left Sakura), I could not help but dwell on what Karin had said. Even I, used to excelling at whatever I attempted, was worried about training Sakura. I had never taught anyone, and Orochimaru had more or less let me train myself. How was I supposed to turn a wimp into Akatsuki-material in one year? Heck, it took me three!

I took a deep breath, calming myself. Surely Sakura had become more powerful since the last time we had fought. It was not like she had just been sitting around doing nothing, right?

"Crap it all!" a voice yelled, followed by the sound of falling pots and pans. I furrowed my brow and hurried towards my destination. The first thing I saw when I entered was Sakura bending over to pick something up, her butt in the air. She was wearing only a tank top and her underwear. My face turned bright red.

Sakura continued muttering to herself for a few moments until she realized that I was behind her. She quickly stood, facing me. "Who's there?" she demanded harshly.

I did not answer her due to being frozen in shock. How had I never noticed Sakura before now? The way her pink locks framed her delicate face, how her tall and thin body seemed to move with a dancer's grace... every perfect curve caught and held my attention now, unlike ever before. What kind of idiot could overlook her beauty, intelligence, and great personality? Oh, yeah, that was ME. The one who always thought he was smarter than Naruto. Who was the stupid one now?

Suddenly, Sakura placed her soft hand on my exposed chest. Confused, I looked around to find that I had unconsciously moved closer to her. That knowledge only held my attention for a moment though, before my thoughts started drifting elsewhere. Had Sakura always had such pretty lips? What would it be like to have her lips softly whispering my name as those gentle hands touched more than just my chest?

"Sasuke, if that's you, then please move. If it isn't, then you have five seconds to reposition yourself before you get beat like a drum," she growled.

Snapping out of my fantasy, I took a step back. "Sorry. I brought you some of Karin's clothes."

Her face softened but only a little. "Thanks," she muttered, snatching the items of clothing from my hands. With a quick toss of her hair, she started to put her shirt on over her tank.

"No, no, no, Sakura. Go take a shower first. That's the whole point of getting you clean clothing," I chided her, stopping her pulling it on the rest of the way and trying hard not to think about what this would look like if someone walked in on us just then.

Sakura paused for a second. "Sasuke, is there something you need to tell me?"

My eyebrows furrowed. "That depends on what you think needs to be said," I said carefully. Had she figured it out?

She smirked as she laid her arm on one of my shoulders. "Does someone here have OCD?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Don't mock me. Just do as you're told."

She giggled and took a dramatic bow. "Yes, Your Highness."

The corner of my mouth twitched up as I shoved her in the direction of the bathroom. "Go take a shower already!"

"Only if you come with me-" she stopped and clasped her hand over her mouth, looking horrified. "I-I'm s-sorry. I…"

My mind reeled for a moment. Had she not made it clear that Naruto was her lover? Hmm…interesting. I sauntered over to her, a cocky smirk in place. My hands slipped casually around her waist as I whispered in her ear. "Old feelings die hard, eh, Sakura?"

"'Habits', that's old 'habits'," she corrected automatically, but I could hear quite plainly the quaver in her voice, and she knew I'd caught it too. I stepped away from her, grinning. And with that, I headed down the hall towards my room. "Third room on the right," I instructed over my shoulder.

Sakura's P.O.V.

I winced as hot water washed over my half-healed injuries. Although I had been grateful for the shower before, all I did while I was here was mentally beat myself up. Why had I said that to Sasuke? I did NOT love him. I did not want him anywhere NEAR me, to be exact. So what in the world had I been thinking? Was I becoming mentally unstable? Oh, that would figure. I look for Sasuke my entire life, and when I finally find him, that's when I go bonkers.

Great. Just great.

When the water started running cold, I shut it off and stepped out into the frigid room. A plush, black towel sat on the counter, waiting for me to wrap it around my shaking, damp form, but I did not touch it. Instead, I sat on the floor and thought. If I was going to start acting this way with Sasuke, again, then I needed to get my priorities set straight. It was obvious that Sasuke had feelings for me now, but I had turned my attention to Naruto after many years of cold rejection. Did I want to return to my first love or stay true to the one who had shown me warmth for the past seven months?

I stood and started drying myself off. What kind of pansy had I turned into? I was Sakura Haruno, apprentice of the Fifth Hokage and second best medic in Konaha. It was not my place to make a decision because of my feelings. I was a ninja first and foremost; and more importantly, a kunoichi. Sasuke had been my target for three years now, and he had basically given me a year to stay with him and figure him out. I would get all the information I could out of him about the Akatsuki and Pain. Then, I would beg him to escape Madara's game with me. If he refused, then I would go alone. My feelings aside, I was to get as much information to Lady Tsunade as soon as possible.

A/N: I am sooooooooooooooo sorry that this took so long to write! I have been extremely ill for the past two weeks and have had no energy to write. I'm better now, so I will publish multiple chapters a day to make up for it. Believe it! ( I do not own that.) Thanks for ya'll's patience! I love chu! Heehee. ^.^