See the previous nine chapters for the disclaimer. If you do not know by now, you are slow. I am on a kick now and I plan to finish this one here soon, I have two new ItaKon fics coming up here soon. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
"Rise my fellow Akatsukis," Pein said "We are heading out for Konoha today. If we plan to get there about sunset, we need to leave now. It is a good walk to Konoha from the Rain village. Itachi, you are the key to getting in. You knew Konoha, and I doubt it would have changed too much in seven years."
"Should not have." Itachi sighed as he rubbed his eyes awake. "If we take the Nine Tails, we will be closer and closer to our goal. Now, I am packing my things up, making sure I have plenty of kunai and shuriken. I know it will not be easy to capture Naruto but we can do it."
"Yes." Pein said. "Rumor also has Hidan's last known whereabouts in the Nara clan forest in Konoha. If we can go there, we can find him. The Nara clan may be keeping him prisoner. That is if he didn't kill them all."
"Nara is a formidable clan, but I don't know if Hidan couldn't take them, his jutsu works similar to theirs." Itachi said. "Well, we will soon see."
"Yes. Well, let us prepare quickly or else we will not make it in time. If we take Itachi's advice and attack at sundown, we will have the upper hand. Most of the nins and guard will be looking forward to retiring for the night." Konan said, urging on the Akatsuki to get ready.
She wanted to get this mission over as quickly as possible. It was very real to her that Itachi could be killed in this mission. He was not very welcome in Konoha after he killed the entire Uchiha clan. First, the village orders him to kill the clan then because he does not kill his brother who had nothing to do with the attempted coup, they banish him. I feel for him. He wants to keep Konoha in peace, but peace only exists as a product of war. The Rain village was often in civil war or battleground for other nation's wars and Konan knew this all to well. In fact the reason no wars or battles were fought there was due to the fact Akatsuki had control of it. If Akatsuki will be the peacekeeping force in the world, we need to do this. Konan thought.
"I am ready Pein-sama. Tobi is too." Kisame said as he walked in dragging in Tobi by the wrist. "When everyone is ready, we can go."
"Good." Pein said. "Let us go now."
Konan packed up the last of her items and headed off after Itachi. This was a situation that she knew could not end well. She hoped that Itachi would be right on the fact that if they went in at sunset they would get the drop on Konoha's guard and ninjas. All they wanted was the jinuurikki of the Nine Tails and if they got him quickly and easily, Itachi would be safe and kept away from harm. Konan then headed along and followed the Akatsuki out towards Konoha.
"Itachi!" Konan yelled catching up to him.
"What is it Konan-Chan?" Itachi asked with a stern tone to his voice.
"You don't feel bad about invading your beloved home village of Konoha?" Konan asked.
"No." Itachi sighed, hiding a little shame and remorse.
Itachi's life was devoted to keeping Konoha as safe as he could from the sidelines, spying on Akatsuki and unallied nations via his Akatsuki ranks. However, he knew that if Akatsuki had the Nine Tails then no nation would war with the threat of their weapon. Thus, indirectly Konoha would be safe. I know my ideas are conflicting now, but I know that if I can get through this, I will be responsible for preventing any invasion after this one. I heard of Orochimaru's invasion and I do not want anything happening to my beloved birth village even if I cannot do it directly in Konoha's honor. The dominos will fall into place. Itachi thought as he put on his Akatsuki hat as it began to rain again in the Rain Village.
"Pick up the pace." Pein said as he continued walking ahead of them. "We may be able to arrive in the Land of Fire by nightfall. From there it will be a day's walk to Konoha."
"We must be stealthy and careful when we reach the Land of Fire." Itachi said. "Konoha is already on the hunt for Akatsuki so any sign of black cloaks with red clouds and they will attack and be lethal with it. We need to be on our top defense. They will not send squads like those that they did when we drew out the One-Tailed beast. You can expect they will be of high Chunin rank or even special Jonin if we are spotted."
"I get it Itachi-san." Kisame sighed as they walked along in the rain towards the Land of Fire. "However, I cannot wait to pay back that Might Guy beast."
"Just do not lose sight of the main goal Kisame." Pein said. "We need to capture and take in the Nine Tails alive. You might want to exercise caution in your moves Kisame. You stand out too much and we need to simply get in, take the Nine Tailed jinuurikki, and slip out. It does not need to be very messy at all. I would prefer the least number of causalities as possible."
"Fine Leader-sama." Kisame said as they walked along. After awhile, they noticed the landscape start to change and the climate become sunnier. Even thought it was close to sunset, Itachi could tell they were pushing closer to the borders of the Land of Fire. "Hey, Itachi, does this place look familiar to you?"
"Yes." Itachi said simply. "We are about thirty-five kilometers from the border."
"Good." Pein said. "We are making excellent time. When we reach about 10 kilometers from the border of the Land of Fire we shall make camp for the night and be well rested for when we reach Konoha."
"Sounds good to me Pein-san." Konan said. Konan was the only Akatsuki member who could call Pein 'Pein-san' as they grew up together. She looked over at Itachi, Kisame, and Tobi who all nodded in agreement at Pein's plan. I see. I am glad Kisame understands the need for rest. Then again, Itachi can rein Kisame in and with Pein here, he would not dare disagree. Konan thought as she kept an eye out for any spies.
"Konan-Chan?" Itachi asked turning to Konan.
"What?" Konan asked.
"How far can you spy ahead with your paper jutsu?" Itachi asked as they moved along.
"Oh, I can do a distance of 23 kilometers when I send out single butterflies to spy." Konan said.
"Good." Itachi said. "We need you to keep an eye on Naruto Uzumaki and find a quick path to him. I want to have him in our clutches as soon as possible. If it seems he headed out on his own to find Sasuke, so much the better."
"Hey Itachi, who died and made you commander?" Kisame said.
"I made him general commander of this. I still have final say but because Itachi knows Konoha and the Nine Tails is his target." Pein said. "We are now at the point where we need to camp. Akatsukis, let's set up camp." Pein said as he landed on the ground and began to make a fire pit.
"Let me do that." Itachi said as he blew flame onto the sticks placed in the middle. He then sat down on the ground by the fire, staring at the dancing flames, pondering what it was he was to be doing and reevaluating what his life had become. His and Konan's dreams from the night before played in his mind repeatedly. Itachi had accepted it was plausible that the dreams could become reality but he did not want the responsibility that would come with it. An S-rank rouge ninja was not a good candidate for being a father.
"Itachi." Konan said as she sat down next to him. "What is the matter?"
"If we do have a kid, we will have to raise them in hiding. You and I both know Konoha will not let Uzumaki's disappearance go without responding to it." Itachi sighed.
"Well the Rain Village would be safe enough." Konan said. "If you hadn't been there as long as you have, you would surely have been killed."
"I know." Itachi said. He looked over at Konan and then kissed her on the lips. "I love you Konan-Chan."
"I love you too Itachi-kun." Konan said holding onto Itachi. "You need your rest. If you are not careful, this mission could send you back to the sickbed if you are not careful. Tuberculosis is not something that is easily recovered."
"Fine." Itachi said. "I do not need to risk myself, especially when once we have Uzumaki; we are in for three days of removing the beast from him."
"Good." Konan said as she watched Itachi lay down and rest. I hope we come out of this well. Konan thought as she lay down beside Itachi and went to sleep.
The next morning, the sun shone through the trees, waking Itachi up. He sat up and saw Konan asleep beside him. Looking toward the sky, he sighed as he prepared to head back to the village he held so dear to him that hated his very existence. Itachi closed his eyes in deep meditation and sighed. From the woods, Itachi looked over and heard footsteps. Quickly, he got up and looked around, holding a kunai at the ready, blocking whomever it could be from attacking Konan.
"Geesh Itachi." Kisame said. "You should calm down. I know you are antsy about this mission. Besides, we will go after the Eight tails and our weapon will be complete. Therefore, if you and Konan do spawn a demon offspring, you will not have to worry about one of the nations kidnapping or killing it. If they could that is. Having you and Konan their as parents, that child would be scary."
"BABIES! I LOVE BABIES!" Tobi yelled running over to Kisame.
"Let go you brainless simple-minded fool!" Kisame said as he pushed Tobi down. "It's not mine; the baby is Itachi's."
"Oh Itachi-sempai!" Tobi said hugging Itachi, sending a chill down Itachi's spine. "I'm sure Itachi-sempai's baby will live up to the Uchiha prodigy's legacy, won't it?"
"Get off me Tobi." Itachi struggled.
"Good luck with that." Kisame laughed as he walked over to Zetsu.
"Good. That sharkman is gone." Tobi said, now acting as Madara Uchiha. "Now, I'm positive that you got Konan pregnant, well rumor around the fire is anyway."
"So what if I did huh?" Itachi asked looking upon Madara with distain. "I mean how do I know you and Danzo were not in collaboration? I do not trust you as far as I can throw you. I know how you plan to play things up to your advantage. I hope you did not do anything to Konan at all. You are not to say a word at all to her as Madara." Itachi said as he wrapped Madara's arm around his back. I have him in a bind here. He is acting like Tobi to most all the Akatsuki now, so he will have to hear me and not fight back. "I do not care if you are an Uchiha elder; I will kill you if you dare harm Konan, Sasuke or any future children of mine. I have already proven I can kill family, and if this one tries anything, I will happily kill you."
"Oh Itachi. As if you could." Madara said overconfidently.
"Believe me. If I am fighting for a loved one, I can do more than you think." Itachi said as he applied pressure to Madara's wrist, making it snap. "Let that be a warning. Now go back to Tobi before you arouse suspicion. Or not, I don't care about you Madara."
"Itachi-sempai! You're mean!" Madara said going back into Tobi mode.
Itachi let Tobi to his own devices hoping he made an impression on Madara so that he would fall into line and leave him and Konan alone. Pein had been over at the fire putting it out and getting rid of all traces of Akatsuki evidence that they had been there in the Land of Fire. If even one of Konoha's trackers catches sent of us, we are dead. Pein thought as he poured water around the area and cast a jutsu to throw their scents, if any remained, in a completely opposite direction. "Let us go now." Pein said. "Konan-Chan, when we are 20 kilometers out use your paper butterflies to find the Nine Tails and a few paths to him. Quickest and secretive paths are the best."
"Yes Pein-san." Konan nodded.
They walked along the path towards Konoha. At midday, they came across a sign that contained a code and two leaf village symbols on it.
"Itachi, what is this?" Zetsu asked.
"A coded sign, only allies of The Leaf can read it. It says, "Konoha, 20 kilometers.""
"Okay!" Konan said as she performed a hand sign and made five paper butterflies come out of her hands. "Scatter!" She honed in her chakra on the butterflies and saw what they were seeing. After a few minutes, Konan had located Konoha. "Itachi, what does the Nine Tails look like?"
"He had blonde hair, wears orange, and black often. He has blue eyes and whisker-like marks on his face." Itachi said.
"Good. I think I have located him," Konan said. "He is near Ichiraku Ramen. The Nine Tails has a few bowls of ramen so he will be there awhile. Looks like a pink haired girl is with him eating a few bowls of ramen. They are going to be there in enough time for us to be there."
"Good." Pein said. "Akatsukis let us move. We need to move quickly to get there in time. Move out."
"Yes sir!" The rest of the Akatsuki said as they moved along in the forest. Pein knew they had to conceal their movements if they were to pull off this mission successfully. If even more importance of capturing the Nine Tails was concealment, so they could.
"We are about 10 kilometers out and sunset is in about three hours. We can slow down our speed so we reach the gates in time." Itachi said.
"I have an idea." Kisame said. "This will make it harder for the guards to see us coming in." He preformed some hand signs. "HIDDEN MIST JUTSU!"
"Good work Kisame, now we hardly have to worry about guards." Itachi said. "Unless they improved since we were last there, they can hardly see in mist."
"Excellent." Pein said.
The Akatsuki landed by the village gates of Konoha and headed past the guards. One of the guards made a motion as if to ask their intent. Itachi simply looked over at the guard and cast a simple genjutsu to put the guard to sleep. How easy is this? A little too easy. I must be on my guard. Itachi thought as he went into the village gates, heading down the road that lead to Ichiraku Ramen he knew from years before. Then he took a turn behind an alley to conference with the rest of the Akatsuki members. "Okay, we need to split up." Itachi said. "Konan, where is Uzumaki?"
"He is near Ichiraku, about a block up the road talking with that pink-haired kunochi again." Konan said.
"Good." Pein said. "We will split into two teams. Kisame, you go with Konan and Itachi, I will take care of clearing an escape route. Konan said to me that a forest near by would be a good escape route to go through."
"Good." Itachi said as he got up.
"I will secure your rear." Pein said. "We need to capture him."
"Good." Itachi said.
Whooo! Long chapter there! Sorry about not getting to the fight right away, I am working on chapter 11 now as we speak. Then, the missing member will reappear. It did not work out in this chapter. Just be aware that I may have someone die next chapter. You may be able to figure it out if you think about it. Anyway, remember to read, well you just did, and to review. Ciao for now,
Otherrealmwriter
Aka
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