I was up and getting ready for morning. I was going to make today fun for Naruto today. After I went to the store and bought the things that we needed more of, meaning food, televisions, and bath supplies. I knew we probably didn't need it right now but I don't like running low or out so I always kept the Akatsuki fully supplied.
Jiraiya sensei was already up and dressed, which was good. Usually he slept a very long time. I wouldn't have woken him up either though. Because there is not point in trying. He is old, he wakes he wants. But I think secretly he was just sleeping that much because he missed me, that's why it's weird for him to be up at this hour.
Konan was only just waking up. She headed for her closet and chose something to wear before heading to me. "Good morning Pein." I smiled at her.
"Good morning Konan. I'll wake Naruto. You go ahead and get dressed and make breakfast. I'll have Kakuzu get Sakura and Ino to help you, since now you have more mouths to feed. We're going to the store though, by the way, because of that same reason. I don't want us to run out. That also means we need to go on more missions. I'll make sure to send out Kakuzu to get more money." She kissed me.
"Oh Pein. You're always ready to be ready. Most of your plans go smoothly." She turned around. "Sounds like we have a busy month ahead of us."
"Then next month we can relax!" I called after her, preferring to ignore her sass. It made her pretty. And an Uzumaki. I was a Namikaze and Naruto was with his mother and she assured me that Naruto was also a Namikaze.
I finished getting ready for today and then turned to Naruto and walked over. "Naruto it's time to wake up." Even though it's probably five in the morning? Well… "Naruto? I want to talk to you before you get ready for morning."
Naruto yawned, opening his eyes. "What is it Dad?" I couldn't help but smile when he called me dad. He sat up and stretched.
"Well first to get the formalities out of the way, what did you learn yesterday?" He stared at me, scratching his head.
"Not to… fight Sasuke?"
"Well it is more of don't fight your friends or allies. Don't fight us. Or them. I would like to think of us as a whole. Like you are now part of the Akatsuki. As are the rest. I just won't give you the same responsibility that they or I have. You're still just fifteen."
"So that's a yes?"
"Yes?"
"What Minato is saying Naruto is that he doesn't want you to fight the people who are in this building."
"It is a big building." I said absent mindedly. "Well Naruto, I want to get personal. Before you ever have the idea to complain I would like to say to you that I won't hear of it. What I mean is I don't want to hear you complaining that I treat you like 'a child' because I am not trying to. I will try to keep you safe. If I do end up doing so you might want to look at the members of the Akatsuki. You might want to look at, for example, Hidan, sometimes Kakuzu, Kisame sometimes, Deidara, rarely Itachi, Zetzu, and hardly ever Tobi. I have to deal with all them and now even more, being you, Ino, Sakura, Gaara, Kankurō, Temari, Zabuza, Shushi, and Sasuke. I don't believe I'll be having problems from Hinata. She seems like a good girl which is why I gave her to Tobi, because he seems to be a good boy."
"What about Konan, Pervy sage, Sasori, that other guy, and you?" I couldn't help but chuckle.
"I am Pein. I have so many problems with Konan that it is not even worth mentioning. I cannot deal with Jiraiya except to yell at him but he's a Sanin and he's old so no problems there. Sasori is a Christian and he never makes problems, he helps me with mine. And by 'other guy' you mean Madara, Madara is my friend, there's nothing there to deal with."
"Oh."
"So will you try not to complain about how you are treated? I will do my utmost best to treat you like a fifteen year old."
"Can you treat me like a Jōnin?"
"Have you passed your Jōnin test?"
"I passed the Chūnin exams."
"Then no. But we will train you to be like us. So that way you might be an S rank ninja." Naruto smiled.
"That sounds great."
"Or I could have Jiraiya train-"
"I will train him when I feel like it Minato." I chuckled.
"Yes Sensei." I heard a knock at our door. I stood and approached. I opened it to see Itachi. "What can I do for you Itachi?"
"I want to speak privately with you." I nodded. I turned back to Naruto. "Obey Jiraiya and your mother while I'm gone." I turned and followed him. "What is it?" I asked when we seemed to have gotten to a good distance, and Itachi had stopped.
"Sasuke is missing. Either he's gone back to Orochimaru or he's gone to attack the Leaf village. We need to retrieve him as soon as possible. I feel he is on a path that will lead to nothing but pain, suffering, and death. His death." I nodded. Sasuke could rightfully be considered an S rank criminal and he was a rogue ninja. That was all Orochimaru's fault.
"We'll go after him. I promise Itachi. We will save him. First we will have breakfast. There is no question that Sasuke and Orochimaru will both fight us on this." I replied, forming a plan in my head already. "Go back to Madara and tell him to get ready." I will tell Jiraiya.
I turned back around and went back into the room. "Konan, Naruto, Jiraiya, get ready and dressed properly. We have a mission. This mission is urgent." I said before going into my closet and grabbing my cloak. I headed to my basement room and awoke all of my paths. I would probably need them. I was just wondering why Madara didn't keep a closer eye on him. He's his nephew! The youngest one. Shouldn't he have known?
I went back up to my room and found them ready. "We're having breakfast. Go to the dining room and have your fill. You need, you must eat." I said turning and heading there myself. I found Deidara, Zabuza, Kisame, and a crying Tobi. I sighed. What happened?
"What's going on in here?" I used my most authoritative voice. They were changing the channels.
"Trying to find something to watch on the television."
"Tobi want to watch Clifford but they won't let Tobi." We don't have the time to watch the television or fight over who gets to watch what.
"Well Tobi can watch Clifford when we get home. Tobi will be needed for today's mission." I settled the debate.
"Oh. Tobi forgot we're playing hide and go seek." Konan must have told him already.
"Yeah, we're looking for your age." Zabuza taunted. "I thought as an Akatsuki member you had to be older than that." I turned to look at Zabuza.
"Zabuza, don't bully Tobi. That's against my rules and Sasori's." I scolded.
"I don't see-" Zabuza began but Kisame interrupted him.
"Shut up Zabuza." Kisame warned.
"No Kisame, let Zabuza speak. You don't see why what?" What was Zabuza going to say? Clearly he was being sassy with me but I wanted to hear what he had to say.
"Kisame, Zabuza, Deidara. Stop bothering him and come into the dining room." Sasori called.
"Watch that attitude of yours Zabuza." I warned before heading into the room too. I had more important things to deal with. Hidan came in late with Sakura and Ino. Either they have given him trouble or he was being lazy.
"Where's the food?"
"We're setting it out now." I said. "Just wait." We sat down and when Konan set the last plate down and she sat down I spoke up. "The man hunt is for Sasuke Uchiha. Shushi noticed he was missing a few minutes ago. He retrieved Itachi and Madara and even they couldn't find Sasuke after a thorough search for him through the building and outside. I'm searching the village right now."
They all seemed to freak out at once. I tried to get a word in but they were talking too loud to even hear me. Hidan was starting a fight with Zetzu.
"I dare you to try."
"Really?"
"Stop it you two." I said. "Are you two even paying attention?"
"Make that a 'were'. Hey Konan. You look hot today." I ignored him.
"As I was saying, Itachi has just informed me that if Sasuke is indeed not in the Rain village then he has either gone to the Leaf village or the Sound village."
"If I may?" Sasori spoke up.
"You may Sasori."
"I have a spy working for me who lives with Orochimaru, so if Sasuke returns we'll know."
"Are we supposed to be talking about this in front of the kids Leadersama?" Kisame asked.
"He is one of them, they deserve to know what happened to their team mate. Thank you Sasori."
"Don't try cutting us out of this, you blue jerk!"
"Naruto, leave Kisame alone." I scolded. Hidan laughed.
"Ha! You got told by Leadersama."
"Really Hidan?" I asked.
"You forget he has the maturity level of a ten year old." Kakuzu replied.
"Hey, I resent that Kakuzu!"
"Well it's true." Zetzu stated. I rubbed my forehead. Sometimes I swear I have eight kids instead of one. I sighed.
"Will all of you just be quiet?" Sasori asked. Then Deidara laughed. "What do you want to do Leader?"