Chapter 29: Evolving Our Lifestyles

Author's Note: Hello everyone, I'm back with another chapter of Team Akatsuki. Sorry it took a while but hey, life isn't easy. Now we're going to get more action with the Akatsuki, something I bet you all want. Anyway, it's time to start the chapter.


Cold, harsh winds blew in the Kingdom of Atlas, especially in the capital city. It's common though, so the citizens really don't mind as they are used to it. However, a certain pair of people aren't used to the change in temperatures. Only one of them is being affected by the cold while the other just doesn't care.

"T-T-This is why w-w-winter isn't my f-f-favorite s-season," Amber stuttered as she hugs her clothes to keep herself warm. Other than assorted clothing, the Fall Maiden is a brown cotton sweater. Walking next to her is Kakuzu, who's wearing a large trench coat over the clothes that he's wearing.

"Hmph. Next time, be more prepared," Kakuzu chastised the Maiden. "Besides, we're supposed to meet the Schnee boy at the coffee shop."

"Which coffee shop? There's lots of them," Amber told him.

"The big one," the miser growled.

"Half of them are big," the Fall Maiden countered.

"The fancy one that only rich people go to!" Kakuzu shouted in frustration.

"Oh, you mean Starbucks. I think I found it over there," Amber said, pointing to the direction ahead of them. Saying nothing, Kakuzu merely grumbles instead and stomps towards the coffee shop. Amber gives a short run to catch up to him, not wanting to be left behind in the cold weather.

Inside the coffee shop, Whitley is sitting at a table wearing a disguise. It includes a white expensive coat, a blue scarf, and a pair of black sunglasses. The reason that he's wearing a disguise is that he doesn't want to attract any attention from the paparazzi since he's a member of the Schnee family.

The reason why Whitley's able to leave the mansion by himself is due to him receiving the complete trust of his father Jacques. It's one of the perks of constantly being an obedience child instead of a rebellious one like his sisters. If he wants to get ahead of his life and achieve his goals, he needs to take as many advantages as he can. Obeying his father without question allows him to receive those advantages.

A bell can be heard, signaling that someone has either entered the building or left it. Whitely looks up and sees two people, revealing to be Kakuzu and Amber. However, the Schnee didn't know who they are. Nagato told him that he would meet with two Akatsuki members but never gave him their descriptions.

Kakuzu sees the disguised Whitely and motions Amber to follow him, walking towards the Schnee boy. Noticing that no one else is looking at them, the miser briefly opens his trench coat enough for Whitely to see his Akatsuki cloak underneath. Understanding that Kakuzu and Amber are the two Akatsuki members he's supposed to meet, the Schnee boy gives them a quick nod. Kakuzu and Amber sits on the table where the Whitely is at once they arrived, sitting across the Schnee boy.

"I was told to come here because you have information for the Akatsuki," Kakuzu stated, keeping his voice low enough for only the three of them to hear.

"Yes. I'm aware of the troubling rivalry between your organization and the Atlas military, so I believe this information would help you when I first learned of it," Whitely replied, taking out pages of paper from within his coat. He places them on the table, spreading them out for the Akatsuki members to see. "General Ironwood has gotten my father to fund some new projects for the Atlas military."

"James is making new robots. I don't see how this is threatening," Amber told the young Schnee.

"The problem is that the Atlas military will be able to mass produce them, taking the advantage in numbers," Kakuzu explained as he inspects the pages. "They'll be an annoying pest that won't leave us alone."

"I did some more digging and found out that my father is unknowingly funding some secret projects for the military. I couldn't get any access to them since I'm not the heir to the company, but I do know that they're far more different than Ironwood's robot soldiers due to the difference in amount of money being funded between each project," Whitely further informed them.

"This is going to be troublesome," the miser growled.

"Great, now we have more unidentifiable enemies to worry about," Amber muttered under her breath.

"I highly doubt that whatever these new enemies are would be able to pose a big threat to you and the rest of the Akatsuki," the Schnee boy states. "Knowing Ironwood, it'll probably another advanced machine or something. That's all the Atlas military is doing nowadays. Pretty soon, they won't have human soldiers in their ranks no more."

"That may be, but we can't fight the enemy in blind. That's why we're looking for information about the woman who stole Amber's powers as well as the associates who participated in that action," Kakuzu countered.

"Right, the leader asked me to create your bounty for that assassin Marcus Black. There haven't been any confirmations in Atlas," Whitley said. "Still trying to get over the fact that fairy tales are apparently real."

"Well, you're gonna have to get used to it. You're in our circle now," the Fall Maiden replied.

"Yes, and I'm glad to be in it," the young Schnee responded.

"Is there anyway you can get information on these secret projects for the time being until you're officially made heir of your father's company?" Kakuzu asked.

"My older sister Winter might have access to those projects, but I can't guarantee it. General Ironwood is a very paranoid man who doesn't trust many people," Whitley answered. "Only a few people have his complete trust, and I'm not sure if my sister is one of those people. However, I will try to see if there's anything I could get."

"Good. I'm starting to see why Leader decided to partner the Akatsuki with you," the miser states.

"Thank you," the Schnee boy replied with a smile.

"And there's another thing why we're here. If you want to inherit your family's company, then you need to show your father why you should be the one who receives it," Kakuzu told the young Schnee.

"I've always obeyed him. Plus, I'm always ahead in my studies. What else do I have to do?" Whitley asked.

"Obedience and studying will only get you far at becoming heir. You need to show your father that you're capable of running the company. That's why the other reason we're here is for me to help you become the ideal businessman that'll show your father why you deserve the inheritance," the miser explained.

"You'll teach me?" the young Schnee asked.

"Yes, starting tomorrow. Therefore, bring every financial record and other piece of information about your family's company. That way, you'll be better prepared," Kakuzu stated.

"Thank you, sir. That's wonderful," Whitley told the Akatsuki member.

"Don't mention it," the miser muttered. "Just remember your job."


At Beacon Academy, all the students of the school have been called to the auditorium for an emergency assembly. Among the students are Teams RWBY and JNPR. Therefore, even Mercury is at the auditorium. All the students were confused as to why they were summoned here, but they were told by Professors Port and Oobleck to do so.

"Any reason we're called here. I was on the verge of winning my spar," Yang asked with annoyance.

"Not sure," Jaune answered. The blonde teen had been through a personal arc, dealing with bullies and finally agreeing to train with Pyrrha. Mercury wasn't too happy about it, finding Jaune not worth the time. After all, Itachi did tell him to watch over the Spartan. However, it is her choice which Mercury has no choice but to respect her decision.

The rest of the students around them continues to murmur, still wondering why they've been called to the auditorium. Mercury, deciding to stay quiet instead, takes out his scroll and decides to look through it as a way to spend time. He figures that this assembly isn't that important and probably has something to do with the Vytal Festival. All of a sudden, the murmuring quiets down. The silver haired teen looks up and widens his eyes at the stage.

Standing on the platform in the auditorium are none other than Professor Ozpin and Professor Glynda Goodwitch, two teachers who have went missing for the past several weeks. Mercury was told by Itachi that the Akatsuki sent them to Menagerie along with Qrow Branwen after he wiped their memories of Roman's connection with them. He didn't know that they would be back this soon. Ozpin approaches the microphone, giving it a tap.

"All of you have been aware that Miss Goodwitch and I have been absent for a very long time. As much as I would like to tell you the truth of our circumstance, I'm afraid that I don't know the truth myself," the Beacon headmaster revealed, surprising the students in the auditorium.

"I know you all were expecting an actual answer for our disappearance, and I'm sorry," Professor Ozpin continued. "I apologize for missing out on your progress, something that I regret not being able to watch. As headmaster of Beacon Academy, it's my job to guide and teach you. Yet, I was unable to do so. I failed you all." After giving his speech, Professor Ozpin walks off the stage and leaves the auditorium. After which, Professor Goodwitch approaches the microphone.

"I too apologize for my absence, not knowing the truth of it myself as well," Glynda told the entire student body. "There's no excuse, and I'll redeem myself by being a better teacher for you students. In the meantime, the we will start preparing for the Vytal Festival since the Kingdom of Vale will be hosting it this year. You are free to go."

As Professor Goodwitch is leaving the auditorium, so did the other students as they murmured among themselves. Teams RWBY and JNPR are the only ones no moving, most of them still processing the information Ozpin and Goodwitch told them. The only who didn't care is Mercury, since his mission wasn't compromise but finds himself unable to leave without his teammates.

"Ozpin looked… depressed," Jaune said, looking at the empty stadium.

"Yeah. I never seen him like this," Ruby agreed.

"Maybe we should go talk to him and make him feel better?" Nora suggested.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Ren objected. "Professor Ozpin is already stressed out as he is, having missed several weeks' worth of work. We'll only get in his way and make things harder for him. Plus, there's also the fact that he needs to talk to the Vale's Council in order to keep his position of Beacon's headmaster."

"Ren's right. It's best that we leave Professor Ozpin alone and let him sort his issues," Mercury stated, hoping that it'll get the others to agree on leaving. He needs to contact the Akatsuki and report to them that Ozpin and Goodwatch came back and probably along with Qrow as well.

"Since Ozpin and Glynda are back, then so is my Uncle Qrow," Yang spoke up. "Come on Ruby. We have a call to make." The two half-siblings begin walking out of the auditorium, leaving the other six behind.

"I'm sure Professor Ozpin will be able to get through this. The man achieved many great accomplishments. This is probably only a small obstacle for him and Professor Goodwitch," Weiss stated. "Anyway, I have to go and study. I recommend that you all go and do the same thing too." The heiress leaves as well.

"Come on, Ren. Dinner's going to start soon! We have to get to the cafeteria first to get the desserts." Nora exclaimed, heading out of the auditorium while taking her childhood friend with her.

"I'm going to go too," Jaune told the remaining two. "I can't let Nora take all the dessert." After which, the blonde immediately follows his two teammates. Only Pyrrha and Mercury are left in the auditorium.

"So are you going to join your team or are you planning something else?" Mercury asked.

"I'm actually going to go for some personal training," Pyrrha answered. "I've been focusing on training Jaune so much, I sometimes forget to train myself."

"You don't have to train him all the time you know. Just give him the basics and let him train on his own," Mercury advised. "That way your progress won't be compromised. If you want, I can join your spar. I'll have to make a call first."

"To Itachi, right?" Pyrrha asked, getting excited.

"Yup," the silver haired teen confirmed.

"Can I say hi, just for a little while?" the redhead asked. "Please?" The Akatsuki apprentice looks at her, surprised.

"Uh, sure, sure," Mercury replied, taking out his scroll and dials Itachi's scroll. The device rang for a few seconds before the call made a connection.

"Hello?" Itachi's voice answered through the scroll.

"Hey Itachi, great news! Professors Ozpin and Goodwitch are back," the silver haired states in a weird tone. While Pyrrha doesn't notices it, Itachi does and knows that this is a message related to Mercury's mission. "Oh, by the way, Pyrrha wants to say hello to you so I'm putting you on speaker."

"I see. Hello Pyrrha," Itachi's voice echoed from the scroll.

"Hello Itachi! It's so nice to hear from you again," Pyrrha chirped.

"Likewise, Pyrrha. How's life at Beacon treating you?" the Uchiha asked.

"I'm doing swell. Thank you very much," the Invincible Girl answered. "Mercury helped my transition to the academy, and I made some new friends too!"

"That's wonderful to hear, and I'm glad Mercury is assisting you. Let me know if he misbehaves, okay," Itachi said through the scroll.

"Itachi!" Mercury shouted in embarrassment while the redhead chuckles.

"No problem. I'll make sure that he's on his best behavior," Pyrrha state as the silver haired teen shot her a mock look of betrayal.

"Thank you," Itachi replied with a chuckle. "Do you mind if I speak with Mercury in private?"

"Of course not! Go right ahead," Pyrrha spoke to the scroll. Mercury gives her a nod of thanks and walks a couple of steps away, turning off the speaker in the process. Making sure that he's out of Pyrrha's earshot, Mercury raises the scroll to his ear.

"She's out of range," the silver haired teen whispered.

"Did Ozpin say or do anything suspicious? Did he suspect anything about of you?" Itachi asked.

"No. He did look depressed though, appearing to have an empty feeling inside him," Mercury answered.

"Huh. I think the Akatsuki went a bit far on that part. As long as he doesn't become a problem to us though, things should go fine," the Uchiha said. "Anymore developing news?"

"The City of Vale and the school will start on working on preparations for the Vytal Festival. It wouldn't be long before students from the other academies start arriving," the silver haired teen stated. "At some point before the festival, the fire witch will have to arrive with her associates."

"And when that time comes, when you find her, contact us. We'll take care of her swiftly," Itachi declared.

"Got it," Mercury acknowledged.

"Now then, I think we should end the conversation as it initially started so Pyrrha won't suspect anything," the Uchiha suggested. The silver haired teen nods and turns the speaker back on, walking over to the redhead girl.

"I'm guessing you two have finished your talk?" Pyrrha asked.

"Yes. Anyway, I need to end the call. I have to discuss something with my coworkers about something unrelated," Itachi stated.

"Okay. I hope to hear from you again," the Invincible Girl chirped to the phone.

"Likewise," the Uchiha replied before the call ended. Mercury closes his scroll and places it back into his pocket.

"Should we head over to start our spar?" the silver haired teen asked.

"Sure," Pyrrha answered, happy that she had another conversation with Itachi. The two makes their way to the sparring room to start their upcoming combat.


At the Akatsuki's base, Hidan and Sasori are in the middle of a spar of their own with the other members of the organization watching over them. With Kakuzu on a mission with Amber, Hidan instantly became bored as he didn't have anyone to mess with. Nagato told him to use this as an opportunity to improve his hand to hand combat.

The Akatsuki leader even suggests that the immortal spars with Sasori since the puppet master could use some improvement in that field. The puppeteer was about to object, but Nagato reminded him how he lost to a Chunin and no longer has his puppet body to store hidden weapons inside. Puppet users in their own world were known to rely too much on their puppets and are terrible at hand to hand combat.

Knowing that he has been bested in the argument by his leader, Sasori found himself having no choice but to comply. Nagato made sure that none of them use their weapons on each during the spar and have been going at it since then. And without of doubt, they have been showing improvements.

Hidan throws a right hook, but Sasori blocks it with his left arm. The puppet master delivers a kick to the immortal's left side, causing him to stagger back. Hidan grits his teeth and quickly lunges at the puppeteer, catching him off guard with a clothesline attack. Knocked down, Sasori goes for a leg sweep but his opponent jumps over it.

However, this gave Sasori the opportunity to get back up. Hidan rushes towards the puppeteer, but Sasori moves forward and knees the immortal right in the gut. Hidan gasps for breath before grabbing the puppeteer into a chokehold. The puppet master curses his human body for its need of oxygen.

Using the strength of his human body, Sasori lifts the immortal up into the air. The puppet master uses chakra to enhance his strength and leans backwards, slamming the two of them onto the ground. Despite causing himself some pain, Sasori managed to get himself free from Hidan's hold.

"You damn motherfucker," Hidan cursed, getting back up. "I'm definitely going to beat you to a bloody pulp."

"Try to think of a way to do so first," Sasori retorted, making fun of the immortal's intelligence.

"Fuck you, bastard!" Hidan shouted, rushing towards the puppet master. The immortal throws a punch, but Sasori dodges it and grabs his opponent's arm. However, the immortal pulls him back and punches him across the face. Dazed, the puppet master shakes his head to relieve himself. Unfortunately for him, Hidan continues his assault with numerous punches. Sasori raises his arms up, defending himself from the attack. Wanting to get away from the assault, the puppet master looks for a blindspot on the immortal.

"Weakness, IDENTIFIED!" Sasori stated, delivering a powerful kick to Hidan between his legs. While the immortal cries out in pain, time around him becomes slow and agonizing. Sasori follows it up with a strong punch from his left hand that sends Hidan flying across the sparring room. Kisame rushes in and catches the unconscious immortal.

"Aww, he's all tuckered out," the shark ninja said.

"I guess that's it then," Sasori muttered, turning to Nagato. "Unless you have another opponent for me to fight."

"I would suggest Raven, but we all know that you would beat her," the Akatsuki leader stated.

"Excuse me?!" the ex-bandit leader yelled out, offended by the remark. "I'll have you know that I trained my ass off ever since our first encounter!"

"Is that so?" Sasori asked with a devilish smirk. "Then I'll accept your challenge. You may even use your weapon. After all, I'm supposedly helpless without my puppets."

"I'll show you how strong I've become," Raven declared, pointing her sword at the puppet master. "I'll show you all."


Moments later, Itachi walks into the sparring room. He was the only available Akatsuki member who didn't watch the spar between Hidan and Sasori. During the time, he was talking with Mercury over his scroll. The silver haired teen called the Uchiha from Beacon Academy and informed him of some interesting news.

"What happened to her?" Itachi asked, pointing to Raven who's lying down unconscious on the floor.

"She challenged Sasori to a fight and quickly got her ass handed to her," Deidara replied.

"Ah, so nothing new then. Got it," the Uchiha said. "Anyway, I received a call from Mercury. He told me that Professor Ozpin and Goodwitch arrived back at Beacon." The news surprised the other Akatsuki members.

"Has the boy reported anything about the headmaster that we need to worry about?" Nagato asked.

"Thankfully, no," Itachi answered. "However, I was told that the city and the school is starting preparations for the Vytal Festival. It's only a matter of time before the woman who stole Amber's powers reveal herself."

"And when she does, we'll make sure that Amber gets her powers back. She'll need to be here to take part of the action," Konan stated. "When the students from the other academies start arriving to Beacon, that's when we'll call her back."

"Understood," the Uchiha said.

"By the way, how is he doing?" Nagato asked. "Not with his missions or objectives but as himself?"

"Oh. He's doing great, from what he told me," Itachi told him. "He's performing well in his classes and in combat."

"That's good. If he keeps that up, I'll take you all to Dairy Queen," the Akatsuki leader announced, causing the other members to cheer with excitement. The only person who didn't was Raven due to her being unconscious. "Someone wake up Raven by the way."


Author's Note: That's it for this chapter. We'll have one more chapter before we time skip to episode 15 and 16 of Volume 1. See you guys next time, and be sure to read and review.