Another chapter! This is going faster than I thought it would.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

AT KONOHA/LATE MORNING:

"Okay. Here's the plan. I go up to the guards, to see who it is, then I'll either knock them out and we rush in. Or, I talk them into letting us in and we walk calmly through the village like normal civilized people."

"Sakura?"

"Yes Itachi?"

"You do realize you're talking about the Akatsuki, right?"

Sakura stood frozen for a moment. Her brow furrowed and she nodded.

"Good point. I talk them into letting us in, duck tape everyone's mouth shut, then lead you all in under a genjutsu."

Everyone looked at her oddly. She smiled and beckoned them forward. They followed her slowly, stopping as she put up a hand.

"Stay here. When I spike my chakra twice, come to me. If I spike it three times, run like Deidara on sugar is after you."

"Hey, un!"

Despite Deidara's protest, the group agreed to the plan. Sakura stood, walking toward the huge gates. Konan turned to Pein.

"Are you sure she's ready for this?"

Pein looked at Konan, saddened by her worried look. He opened his mouth to speak, though Hidan interrupted.

"She fucking is. Don't ever think she fucking isn't."

Konan nodded and leaned into Pein's side, her eyes closing so she could concentrate on Sakura's chakra. Pein gave Hidan a look of surprise, which quickly turned into a look of thanks. Everyone was glad that Sakura had Hidan after she died. A few moments passed by in tense silence. Sasori and Deidara started to bicker in the background.

"You still owe me from last time!"

"I do not, un!"

"You do to. Don't try to deny it! Sakura and I won the bet, hands down."

"You two cheated! There was no way Itachi actually kissed her, un!"

"Excuse me."

Deidara and Sasori turned to Itachi. His brow was raised slightly, and his arms were crossed across his chest.

"I did so kiss her."

At that, Kisame, Pein, and Hidan turned to look at him. Konan didn't, her concentration on Sakura never wavering. Pein gave Itachi a ludicrous look.

"No way."

Itachi nodded solemnly. Kisame narrowed his eyes.

"It's yours and Sasori's word against everyone else's. I say we ask Sakura."

Deidara nodded vigorously. Pein scoffed, turning back to Konan and wrapping his arm around her waist. A small smile unconsciously made its way across her lips.

"I agree with Kisame! I don't wanna risk my last bit of cash, un."

Hidan scowled, turning his attention elsewhere. Suddenly, everyone could feel Sakura's chakra spark twice, clear as day. Standing up, the group began to walk toward the gate.

WITH SAKURA/AT THE GATE:

Sakura stood, her back turned to the gate, her gaze fixed firmly on the group heading toward them. When the group reached the gate, Sakura smiled and grabbed Hidan's hand. Turning, she introduced them to the guards.

"You all remember Hatake Kakashi, my old sensei. And Uchiha Sasuke."

Itachi tensed slightly. Sasuke's gaze turned to his brother. Sakura, sensing the tension, gave another smile to everyone and gestured to the surrounding ANBU.

"The Hokage has kindly given us escorts. He fears we're an elaborate hallucination."

She rolled her eyes, adding something about dumb blonds under her breath. The ANBU began walking, Kakashi and Sasuke following. Sakura sighed lightly, speeding up the pace by walking faster. Everyone around her easily matched their paces to hers. As they came closer to the Hokage Tower, a shinobi saw Sakura. He fell into step with Kakashi and Sasuke. A sebon glittered in the sunlight as he bounced it between his teeth.

"Is that Sakura?"

Kakashi nodded.

"Yes Genma, it is."

"No doubt that it's not a hallucination?"

"No."

He nodded and drifted off, no doubt to talk to the local gossip queen about the new arrivals. Just imagine it. Eight Akatsuki members suddenly come back to life, and one of them was Haruno Sakura. Shaking his head in disbelief, he rounded a corner. Quite the day. The group finally came to the Tower. The ANBU promptly disappeared and Kakashi and Sasuke lead the group up the stairs. With a firm knock on the door, Kakashi stepped into the room, holding open the door for everyone else.

SAKURA POV:

As I entered the room, the first thing I noticed was the curtains were drawn. That being, the room became much darker. I also noticed a picture of Ino, Naruto, and a tiny baby on a wall. I felt a tear prick the corner of my eye, saddened that I had missed my great friends' child. I felt Hidan's hands reach for mine, holding it tenderly. I gave him a small smile, which he returned. The door shut, and as it did, the chair turned.

Naruto sat in it. He looked so magnificent. His blond spikes had grown out, so they now reached his shoulders. His eyes were still bluer than the ocean, almost as blue as the sky in heaven. He wore his father's old cloak and a dark blue shirt, black ninja pants, and his blue ninja shoes. He looked at me warily. I raised my eyebrows in perfect arches and held out my hands, trying to seem upset.

"What, no hug?"

He launched himself at me, smiling and laughing and at the same time crying. I giggled and gave him a hug. He stepped back, wiping his eyes, and settled into his chair. He gestured at the chairs in the room.

"Sit. Oh, Sakura! I've missed you so much. We all have."

Kakashi and Sasuke both shifted in there positions by the door. I gave them a finger wave, which caused Kakashi's mask to crinkle. I turned back to Naruto. He smiled.

"What brings you here? Actually, how are you here?"

I shifted nervously. Pein had placed me in charge, due to my old alliance with the Leaf…and with Suna.

"You see….Jashin-san brought us all back to life."

Naruto, who had been sipping some water, seemed to choke. He promptly swallowed the water and gave me a look that clearly said 'explain'.

"Um, Jashin-san is Hidan's god."

Naruto nodded, and taking that as my queue, continued with my story.

"He gave us some information about a former member that is still alive, that could prove to be an issue for all the nations."

"What's so bad about him? Besides, I thought all the Akatsuki were dead?"

"Apparently not him. Tobi was his name. Although, the reason it is a potential issue is that his name isn't really Tobi…its Madara Uchiha."

At this statement, I felt Sasuke and Kakashi's chakra spike. Naruto gave them both a pointed look. He glanced back at me, and nodded once again.

"I can see why it'd be a problem."

"Naruto…there's more. You see, apparently he has all of Rain behind him as he is, was, the last surviving Akatsuki. He has also recruited almost all of Orochimaru's henchmen."

Sasuke's chakra spiked and I felt Kakashi push him out of the room, neither of them returning. Naruto paled.

"Why didn't he die in the first place? From what I understand Sakura, all the Akatsuki died when you activated your jutsu."

I chuckled nervously.

"Ya, well, about that. You see, it only targeted people with their rings on. Madara didn't have a ring. He…was still to be recruited you might say. We didn't know if we'd really be able to us him. Besides, the jutsu didn't target everyone. I tried my best to keep it from killing Hidan and myself."

I wasn't worried about everyone freaking out on me. I had told them the night before, as a warning. They had been upset, but when I explained why I had to kill them, they forgave me. Naruto gave Hidan a studying glance. He harrumphed, turning back to me.

"We're going to have to announce your…resurrection? Then we'll need to update you on all the new rankings and such. Hm-hm, so much to do."

I rolled my eyes at him. Standing, I gave him a pitying glance.

"Well, good luck with all that."

"Where do you think you're going? You have to address the ninja community! Not to mention you need to start a plan with Shikumaru. He's the new tactical-something-or-another now."

I laughed. Nodding, I stood.

"I'll do that now."

Best to get it over with, no?

END OF CHAPTER:

Ah, this ending wasn't too bad.

Review please!

~!snow!~