"Orochimaru," a cold, meticulous voice called out in a drawling way, "Kisame." The voice finished slowly, as if calculating something whilst speaking. The pair, both adorning black cloaks with red clouds sprawled across the fabric, stared at the man standing across from them, the orange mask adorning his face lightly illuminated by the single, slowly spinning Sharingan in the only hole of the spiraling mask. Orochimaru grinned, staring directly into the Sharingan's gaze with no fear, knowing full well that the man in front of him would not put him under his eye's influence. Orochimaru liked to believe it was because he was important, and not because the man felt that it would be a waste of time.

"Yes, Tobi-san?" Orochimaru questioned, his voice falling out of his mouth like silky carpet, his tongue peeking out after he finished. Kisame stared at the man, but said nothing, though he felt the large bandaged sword on his back bristle slightly.

Orochimaru watched as the tomoe in Tobi's eye spun quickly all of a sudden, but slowed to a stop as the man closed his eye, and sighed. "Oh, well, it appears that Pein-sama has sent Konan-hime to Kumogakure. *Sigh*, I wonder why he would do that…" Tobi pointed his index finger onto his mask, before suddenly snapping his eye open and glaring at the pair in front of him, as if he was angered by something. "She should be spending her time here! Tending to Pein-Sama's every wish! Go to Kumo and figure out why she would leave Pein-Sama's side!" Tobi angrily demanded, stomping his foot.

Kisame went to decline, wishing to say that, if Pein had sent her away, he wanted her in Kump anyway, but Orochimaru shushed him with a glance. "Of course, Tobi-san. Right away." Orochimaru replied, turning around with Kisame hesitantly following.

"Why the hell are you following the orders of a fucking child!?" Kisame demanded when they were within the walls of Ame, headed out. The rain battered Orochimaru's face, flattening his hair, though his gleaming snake eyes peered outward. "Well, Kisame-san, aren't you the least bit curious as to why Pein-Sama would send his right hand woman to Kumo of all places? I do not believe he assigned her to a Bijuu, after all…" Orochimaru let his voice fade, his stalking gait making him look like a snake on two legs, and Kisame believed he was even less than that.

-Line Break-

1 Month after last chapter

Naruto looked across the mountain tops that made up Kumogakure, swinging his feet across a rooftop that he had decided to take a seat on. He sighed heavily, bringing his left hand smashing into his hair and pulling at it slightly. Naruto's eyes screamed in quiet stress as he stared at the item in his hand.

An innocent, little, blue origami rose. The item that marked Naruto as Konan's comrade, and Pein's Redeemer. Konan had met up with him a little over halfway into Team 7's trek towards Kumo in Yugakure, looking to receive his answer to Nagato's proposal.

-Flashback-

Naruto grunted quietly as he rubbed his forehead, the heat from the steam of Yugakure tiring the boy out and making him sweat heavily. Slicking back his wet hair, Naruto stared at the backs of his team. It was getting dark out, and Naruto swore he could see less than half of the sun over the horizon, but he wasn't sure, as the steam of Yugakure was heavy and thick, blocking his vision. "Okay team, we're going to go get a hotel for the night. First thing first tomorrow morning we are packing up and heading towards Kumo. We can't afford to be late." Kushina called back to her team, making Naruto sigh happily in relief.

-Line Break-

Naruto found that he enjoyed the steam of Yugakure when it was in a hot spring, instead of blaring onto his face from the wilds. Naruto leaned his head back onto the stone floor behind him, relaxing further into the water. His thoughts began to drift, towards the people he had met and talked to before he left Konoha. 'I wish to redeem myself through you. To teach you, so that you may right my wrongs. Fix what I have done in my confusion and hate. To show the world that love is stronger than hate.' Nagato's words rang within Naruto's head, causing the boy to scrunch up his nose. Him? What could he, an orphan, a child frequently lying to his own sensei about his understanding of the techniques she was teaching him so that his teammates wouldn't be held back by how slow he was, do to redeem a man who could project his conscience onto 6 bodies at once? What, because he had the same eyes as the same man? Pfft. There were Uchiha who couldn't fully mature their Sharingan, what's to say the Rinnegan would be any different?

Naruto's thoughts then began to drift to the young, blue-haired beauty he had knocked into. Naruto had taken notice of her stride, the elegance she portrayed even when Naruto helped hoist her up off of the ground, or even the simple grace she seemed to exhibit in spades when she offered her hand to Naruto, wishing to walk with him. Naruto found he respected her ability to be so graceful, and secretly began to desire that she would teach him said elegance.

Naruto's eyes snapped open as he felt the water shift to his right, causing the boy to look to his right, and watched as a little origami duck flapped its way along the water, its legs moving to propel it forward. Naruto watched it with shocked, yet intrigued eyes. A living origami? How was such a thing possible. Suddenly, 5 other ducks floated up beside the one duck, their legs moving in unison, before they slowly stopped, floating casually over to Naruto's side.

Naruto stared at them, before jumping backwards, out of the water with a loud scream, as the 6 ducks opened their eyes, violet rings spreading over the paper and staring at Naruto, even as he scrambled to hold his towel up. "Wha-wha-what's going on here?!" Naruto panted out in shock and fear, backing up, until he bumped into someone behind him, causing him to jump forward and turn around, his eyes further widening as he found that the person he had bumped into was Konan.

Naruto, for some reason, began to calm down as he saw her, though a little stare from the 6 ducks quickly brought him back to earth. "U-hahuh-hmmm…." Naruto's voice wavered, as his eyes couldn't decide on whether or not to focus on the ducks or Konan.

"Naruto-san, while Nagato-kun can't speak through my Origami ducks, he can watch and listen, as he wanted to be here when we received your answer to his proposal." Konan's soft voice explained to Naruto, prompting the boy to look at her. "What? Ho-how is that even possible?" Naruto questioned, before blushing as Konan stared at him in a deadpan. "He can control 6 human bodies at once, why would paper ducks be any different?" Konan chided him, though the boy merely slumped his shoulders, and dipped himself back into the water, to avoid any more embarrassment should he lose grip of his towel.

"So, have you decided on whether or not you will take up Nagato-kun's offer?" Konan questioned softly, striding up to crouch next to Naruto, staring intently into his ringed eyes, which brought her back to a time of happiness, of Yahiko and Nagato. She did not flinch, instead choosing to indulge more into the delusions Naruto's eyes provided her.

She was quietly disappointed when he looked away from her and shook his head. "No, I haven't. I just," Naruto sighed, his shoulder slumping forward, a look of downcast coming over his face. "I don't have anything to offer, and it just makes me feel like you two should choose someone else. Someone like Natsumi, or Sasuke even. I mean, besides my eyes, why am I even fit to carry on this task?" To his question, Konan did not have an answer. It seemed Nagato did, as the six ducks swam closer, and stared into Naruto's eyes, though whatever he wanted to say would not get through.

"Besides, I've never been good with Shinobi things. I think, once Natsumi and Sasuke pass the Chunin Exams, no doubt leaving me behind, I'll," Naruto staggered, looking at Konan and feeling shameful of what he was going to say, wishing to hide it from her, but the piercing ducks floating above his lap forced his mouth. "I'll resign. I'll quit. I'll, I'll," Tears came to Naruto's eyes slowly, as his anger grew and his frustration reached a boiling point, "I'LL GIVE UP DAMMIT!" Naruto shouted, smashing his fist into the water, heaving angrily.

Konan nor the ducks moved, simply staring at the boy. Konan nodded slightly, though did not say anything. Naruto whimpered softly. "Why did things have to happen this way?" Naruto questioned to no one in particular. "Why did my parents have to die? If they absolutely had to, why couldn't I go with them?" Naruto sighed heavily, tears dripping into the water below him.

"Why did Hokage-sama have to put me into a team I didn't fit with, and never will? Why did I have to get placed with two prodigies that eclipse me in every way?" Naruto chuckled, raising his head and looking at Konan and the ducks in front of him. "It's pathetic, but I've been lying to my Sensei for some time now, telling her I understand a technique and can execute it properly, just so she can move on. I just, you know," Naruto dropped his head again, "I don't want to slow them down." Naruto felt ashamed to admit it, but at the same time it felt good to admit said things.

A scroll was placed in front of his face, prompting the boy to look up at Konan, who was holding it out for him. "Nagato-kun was going to give this to you, regardless if you decided to take up his proposal or not. As a sign of camaraderie and companionship between two Rinnegan wielders. It is a Rinnegan Technique." Konan explained calmly. If she was affected in any way by Naruto's outburst, she did not let it show.

The Technique is easy enough to perform. It has become as basic and necessary to me that it is like a kunai in its frequent use. It can be powerful, or harmless. It all depends on your intent. That is the one part to the Jutsu that I cannot teach you, for I simply cannot put it into words. You have to feel what you want to do. And simply, unleash it.

When you do, you will feel an instinct. A primal need. An urge. It will be released in the words, "Shinra"

"Tensei." Naruto said as he finished reading. Naruto's thoughts were brought back to the fateful day that he had lost his parents. A man stood above him, kunai poised to slice open his jugular and let him bleed out all over the floor. Naruto's eyes darkened, a cold sheen glazing over them as Naruto rose slowly. While he did not know it, he stood on the surface of the water, staring at the wall in front of him. He did not care whether or not it lead to Yugakure. He did not care whether or not it would completely destroy the hot spring he was in. Nothing mattered, as he slowly raised his right hand.

Konan and the six ducks, which had waddled up to Konan, watched as Naruto's eyes began to glow brightly. 'He's channeling… so much… power. H-How is this,' Konan's thoughts were interrupted as Naruto's quiet whisper broke the silence as he dropped his arm. "Shinra. Tensei." Konan learned something that day. She could not expect anything Naruto did to be similar to Nagato's. It was simply an impossibility.

In the instant the words left Naruto's mouth, there was no clear path of destruction like there was with Nagato's. There was no buildup. There was simply, it. Konan felt the shockwaves hit her before her eyes saw what happened. However, Naruto and Nagato's eyes watched as the world in front of Naruto crumbled under his crushing might. Under the gravity of his feelings. Of his ambition. Of his will.

When the dust settled, the roof atop Naruto fell towards the cliff edge Naruto was looking over. Wood and water fell steadily down the huge gorge that Yugakure prided itself on for its tourism views. Naruto stared down, his eyes cold and glazed over, still remembering the day his parents had died. Now, however, he remembered a different aspect to it. It was also, the first day he had killed someone. However, destroying a house was one thing,

Obliterating everything in front of him was another.

-Flashback end-

Naruto had accepted Nagato's proposal rather readily after he finished brooding, simply looking over the new cliff he had created, a sort of rounded cliff that had extended past either end of the hot spring. Naruto had learned the next morning, through shuffled news articles he heard being called out and whispered on, that the entire back wing of the hot springs had been obliterated by his technique. Something that made Naruto apprehensive, was the fact that he knew he could cause even more destruction, given a proper motive, or even simply the time to unleash it.

One thing Naruto found was positive about that experience, was his excitement at just how… naturally the Rinnegan technique came to him, revitalizing his eagerness to learn more. Naruto no longer felt like he was a complete fool, taking a week or longer to learn a single technique. Instead, he had simply read an explanation of what it felt like to cast the technique, instead of how to actually do it. It had made him feel proud.

"Naruto-kun," a soft voice that caused Naruto to smile emanated from behind him, and Naruto watched with happiness fluttering in his eyes as the paper rose in his hand unfolded on its own and refolded itself into a bird that flew high above his head, flapping its wings and twisting its head at him, before flying behind him, prompting the boy to turn his head and watched as the paper bird refolded into a rose, which Konan extended back to him with a soft smile gracing her face.

Naruto smiled at her, standing up and brushing himself off, before delicately taking the rose from her hand, and watched as it unfolded around his hand, until it folded into a thin bracelet around his left wrist. "Your abilities with origami never cease to amaze me, Konan-chan." Naruto admitted, staring at the blue band around his wrist, before he raised his ringed gaze to meet Konan's own eyes, her blue hair blowing slightly into her face from the wind of Kumo's high altitude.

Konan responded to his words with an amused chuckle. "Ah well, I suppose that's only natural. You are still a fresh genin, many things should be amazing you at this point." Konan chided, striding towards him and lightly ruffling his hair. Naruto grunted angrily, forcing her hand away from his hair. "Gah what'd you know about my experience anyway." Naruto muttered, before receiving a hard hit to his head this time, causing the boy to stumble forward. The roof beneath him was slippery, causing the boy to continue stumbling until he fell over the edge of the house. Konan sighed, before leaning over the edge, watching as Naruto grumbled to himself, his feet planted firmly on the side of the building he was on.

"Well, at least it is good to see you have mastered the Tree Walking technique. Though I suppose I expected it to not take much, considering you had mastered Water Walking." Konan admitted, prompting Naruto to smile at her praise. "Ah thanks Kon-" Naruto was interrupted as a beam made of paper slammed into his gut, forcing him to lose his grip and go tumbling back down the side of the wall until he channeled chakra to his hand, latching him onto the side of the building as Konan's paper fluttered up towards her once more.

"I see you still cannot expect the unexpected." Konan chided amusedly, chuckling lightly to herself. Naruto groaned, hoisting his other hand up, channeling chakra to that hand, before swinging bending his back, allowing his feet to plant themselves onto the side of the building he was on, letting go of his hands and flinching slightly as the pain in his back faded. "Gah, needa work on my flexibility a good bit as well. Probably gonna need that for the Chunin Exams soon enough." Naruto admitted as well, climbing back onto the roof without a paper construct slamming into him this time. Konan merely nodded, swinging her feet over the edge as she observed Kumo.

Naruto had learned from her that she had never been to Kumo, so both of them were strangers in the odd village. It was rather different from all villages, even the likes of Kiri and Suna. Naruto sat down beside her, looking out over the cloudy village with her. "It has been a month Naruto. Do you believe you are ready for another Rinnegan Technique? Nagato-kun sent one earlier this week, and I received it this morning." Konan randomly said, much to Naruto's surprise and excitement as he jumped backwards, his eyes widening in clear excitement.

"Really! Really! What is it!? Tell me! Tell me!" Naruto shouted in pure excitement, jumping up and down on the roof happily. Konan sighed, looking away, if only to hide her amused smile at the boy's actions, bringing her back to a happier time. Naruto reminded her so much of Yahiko at times, easily excitable and extremely caring for those close to him, and at other times he reminded her of Nagato before Yahiko's death, quiet and contemplative, always trying to figure out what someone was thinking and why they were thinking that way. She found that she enjoyed Naruto's company more than she thought she would. Perhaps it was because he reminded her of those good times, where she managed to find happiness despite being an orphan in war. Or perhaps it was because he had brought the light back to Nagato's eyes, the good intentions returning to the man's mental forefront. She sighed, smiling as she stood up. It was good to be in Kumogakure with Naruto.

From a distance, a white snake watched in intrigue, wishing to share its findings with its master. He, surely, would be curious after all. Why would Konan adopt an apprentice at this point? Why would she be training a young boy? Perhaps he was to be a new member of the Akatsuki? Whatever it was, the snake's master wanted to know. A forked tongue poked out, tasting the air, before darting back into its mouth. Chakra was building, meaning *poof* the duo was preparing a Shunshin.

-Line Break-

In the forests surrounding Konoha stood 7 figures. 6 were all orange-haired individuals, their Violet, Ringed eyes glowing with power as they stood assembled, the piercings along their bodies vibrating slightly with chakra. The other figure, standing with a spiraled, porcelain mask allowed the glow of his Sharingan to begin to emanate from the single hole in his mask, as he stared with a hidden anger in his eyes.

"Pein. I know this village like the back of my hand. The edge of my kunai. There is a patrol that regularly checks the outer wall around the compound. It's in intervals of 2 minutes. When we see the patrol pass, we go in. Understood?" Tobi informed, a stern and edged tone to his voice, sounding much like a blade being sharpened. Pein's Deva Path merely nodded, staring into the single Sharingan eye of Tobi. Thankfully, his Rinnegan made him invulnerable to the Sharingan's influence, he'd hate to be the man's tool, despite being one at the moment. It infuriated him. Which was why he was very much excited to have Naruto in his life, even if he only saw the boy once through Yahiko's eyes. He did not count the ducks for… he wouldn't want to tell someone he had communicated through paper ducks of all things.

"Good," As Tobi began to speak, Pein's eyes flashed towards the patrolling shinobi that leaped across the towering wall of Konoha. Tobi's eyes caught it too, as he suddenly was skewed into his Kamui dimension. Pein's 12 glowing eyes watched the shinobi jump by, before he approached the wall. His Preta Path stepped forward, the bulky man with the permanent scowl. The body raised its two hands, and immediately began to drain the chakra from Konoha's Security Seals. Pein's other 5 bodies stepped through, while the Preta Path removed his hands from the barrier and stepped back. Wordlessly, the King of Hell rose up silently behind the body, and Pein allowed the body to drop backwards into its mouth, as the King sank back into the ground.

Tobi dropped down beside Pein's Paths as the King of Hell silently emerged beside Pein, shrouded in darkness besides for its glowing eyes, and deposited the Preta Path from its mouth. Tobi stared in intrigue, but said nothing. The mission they were about to embark on was far more important. Tobi turned around, his lone Sharingan Eye gazing at the Hokage Monument, staggering for a split moment on the carving of Minato Namikaze, before closing his eye and breathing in deeply, reopening his Sharingan eye which had warped into his Mangekyo eye. It was tinted with a sadness that quickly skewed into angry determination.

Without turning around, Tobi addressed Pein. "We move immediately. To the Uchiha Compound." Tobi ordered, stepping forward for a split second, before disappearing in a blur. Pein stared at the dust that swirled around where his foot was, before he and his 6 bodies disappeared as well.