The final chapter... I really enjoyed writing this story, and I hope you enjoyed reading it.

Akatsuki: Occidio, Eradico

Phase 10

Finis

Present time, 12:05 AM. Every member of Akatsuki, besides Tobi, Zetsu, and Deidara, sit inside Pein's HQ. They are awaiting the arrival of the aforementioned three.

Pein: If Sasori hadn't died, we would've had 10 members now.

Konan: Why exactly do you want to recruit Sasori's killer, anyway?

Pein: It would've taken a very strong person with lots of skill to take Sasori down. He will be worth it.

Hidan: What if he gets a little trigger-happy and tries to kill any of us?

Kakuzu: That's not much of a concern for you, is it?

Itachi: If anything like that does happen, we can overpower him.

Kisame: I just hope it's worth it.

Itachi: You aren't thinking of backing out, are you?

Kisame: I've already gotten this far. Hell, we both could've died in the City of Leaves yesterday. If I backed down now, it wouldn't be worth it.

The group hears three knocks on the door.

Pein: Konan, the door.

Konan walks towards the door and opens it slowly. From the other side, Tobi walks in, with Deidara on his back and Zetsu close behind.

Pein: Zetsu, I presume.

Zetsu Black: You must be Oz, the leader.

Pein: My name is Pein, though you shall refer to me as Sir Leader, or Leader-san.

Pein rises from his seat behind his desk and begins to name the other members, gesturing to each of them.

Pein: The beautiful woman to my right here is my wife, Konan, AKA Lenore. You've spoken to her before. You've already met Cthulhu. The two men to my left are Uchiha Itachi, AKA Ticktock, and Hoshigaki Kisame, AKA Pennywise. The other two men farther in the back are Hidan, AKA Bizarro, and Kakuzu, AKA Mr. Electrico. Everyone, please welcome Zetsu, AKA Octo Pinhead.

Konan: Hiya.

Itachi and Kisame nod, Hidan waves, and Kakuzu gives Zetsu a cold stare.

Pein: The blonde-haired man on Tobi's back must be the renegade. I knew he'd retrieve him for me. And to think you doubted me, Kisame.

Kisame: My apologies, sir.

Tobi: The shark guy doubted him. Maybe Leader-san should kill it.

Kisame looks at Tobi, startled by his casual-sounding but disturbing remark.

Pein: I'm not going to kill anyone here, Tobi. Before I forget, Kakuzu has your uniforms.

Kakuzu walks towards Zetsu and Tobi and gives them each a black cloak, with embroidered red clouds. Deidara begins to stir again.

Tobi: Deidara-senpai is waking up.

Tobi drops Deidara on the floor. The sudden drop promptly wakes him up.

Deidara: OUCH! Damn Tobi, what the hell are you doing?!

Tobi: He brought you to the rainy place. See? Leader-san is over there. Leader-san will help you. He knows it. All his friends will help you too.

Deidara gets up from the floor. He looks around the room at all the other members.

Deidara: Looks more like a freak show than an organization.

Hidan: I don't like him. Let's kill him.

Tobi: NO! It won't kill Deidara-senpai! He doesn't even know you! Why are you here?

Pein: Settle down Tobi. That's Hidan, remember? I told you about him earlier.

Tobi falls to his knees and stares at the ground. He moves his finger on the ground, drawing invisible circles on the ground. He is silent for a moment.

Tobi: He remembers now. He's sorry. He wants to be a good boy.

Pein: It's alright. You are a good boy.

Hidan: What the hell is with this guy?

Pein: He's autistic. You can all get to know each other later. There's the matter of this... Deidara, was it?

Deidara: That's me... yeah. Now Tobi told me that you all know I shot Sasori. He says that if I don't join, you'll turn me in to the police in the City of Rock... yeah.

Pein: Yes, that was the plan.

Deidara: It doesn't matter if they go after me. If they do, I can get rid of them, and treat them to a marvelous display of artistic beauty at the same time... yeah. Observe.

Deidara puts his hands together. In a matter of moments, a clay figure of a butterfly is sitting on his palms. The butterfly flies into the air and explodes into small fireworks.

Hidan: So that's what you do? You make fireworks?

Deidara: That's not all I can do. I can make explosions of epic proportions, all in the shape of whatever I choose. Art is something that only exists for a moment, then goes away in a spectacular display of beauty. In short, art is a blast... yeah!

The remaining members in the room are silent.

Konan: Sasori was killed by some art house brat?

Kakuzu: Pathetic.

Deidara is baffled by their statements.

Deidara: So that's how it's gonna be... yeah? Just like the others in the City of Rock. No one appreciates my art. I'll show you. I'LL SHOW YOU ALL!

Deidara prepares to make another clay figure, when everyone in the room pulls out an array of different model guns in his direction.

Pein: I've changed my mind. I offered to protect you from the police if you joined. But now, I'll make a different offer. Either join us, or we'll kill you.

Deidara: Well, that DOES seem like an offer I can't refuse... yeah...

From behind Deidara, a small clay spider crawls down his back. It crawls across the room and latches itself to Hidan's back. Hidan feels the spider, and attempts to take it off. Before he can reach it, it explodes. Everyone but Tobi turns in Hidan's direction. A huge, gaping hole is left in his chest. Kakuzu, who was sitting across from Hidan, is soaked in blood.

Deidara: Is it really that easy to kill an Akatsuki?! Pathetic!

Deidara begins to laugh maniacally. His laughter is cut off when he sees Hidan rise from the floor, the hole still intact.

Hidan: Fuck, look what he did to me! Why does everyone always attack ME?! Shot in the head, shot in the arm, and my chest exploded, all in less than a week! I should kill that motherfucker right now!

Deidara stares at Hidan, wide-eyed in amazement. As he gapes, he feels something cold against the right side of his head. He sees Tobi from the corner of his eye, pressing the barrel of a revolver against the artist's head.

Tobi: Senpai... If Deidara-senpai hurts anyone else, he'll have to kill you.

Deidara is too shocked to move or speak. Sweat drips down his forehead. Kakuzu uses his tentacles to repair Hidan's open chest. The remaining Akatsuki members turn to Deidara.

Pein: So what will it be? Leave, and we'll kill you. But, if you stay... We'll give you immunity from the police, and full permission to get your revenge on the City of Rock. Do we have a deal?

Five days later, 12:00 PM. Pein and Konan stand outside the gate to the City of Leaves.

Pein: The city is still probably recovering from the attacks made by Ticktock, Pennywise, and Pinhead. Now is the perfect time to strike.

Konan: Oz, the Kyuubi is incredibly powerful, and he's not alone. Do you think we're prepared, even with only nine members?

Pein: I'm confident that we'll be able to capture him this time. We've recovered all the other Bijuu. The nine-tailed fox will be ours soon, I'm sure of it.

Pein talks into a small microphone attached to his neck.

Pein: Unus Oz and Duo Lenore to Quinque Ticktock and Sex Pennywise. Come in.

Itachi and Kisame are standing on a cliff overlooking the opposite side of the city.

Itachi: Quinque Ticktock and Sex Pennywise, in position, ready to move out.

Pein: Affirmative.

Konan talks into her microphone.

Konan: Duo Lenore and Unus Oz to Septem Bizarro and Quattuor Mr. Electrico, come in.

Hidan and Kakuzu are perched on top of a large building in the center of the city. The building is the home of the City Ambassador. Hidan is crouching, steadily holding a sniper rifle. Kakuzu talks into his microphone.

Kakuzu: Quattuor Mr. Electrico and Septem Bizarro, in position.

Konan: Affirmative. Duo Lenore and Unus Oz to Octo Pinhead. Come in.

Zetsu emerges from a wall in the alley Itachi previously hid inside during the fight with his brother.

Zetsu Black: This is Octo Pinhead, we're in position.

Zetsu White: Indeed we are.

Pein once again talks into his microphone.

Pein: Unus Oz and Duo Lenore to Tres Cthulhu and Novem Lestat, come in.

Tobi and Deidara are hovering over the city on a giant clay owl.

Deidara: Novem Lestat and tres Cthulhu, in position.

Pein: Affirmative. Everyone, wait for the signal from Bizarro.

Hidan remains at his perch. Kakuzu looks down from the building and sees a busty blonde-haired woman, wearing a green coat with the Japanese kanji for "Gamble" embroidered on the back. It is the City Ambassador.

Kakuzu: That's her. Steady your aim.

Hidan: I've got it, just hang on...

Hidan peers through the small scope on the rifle. He aims at the ambassador's head, and fires. She instantly goes down. A group of Jonin officers rush in beside her.

Hidan: Bizarro to everyone, the ambassador is down, I repeat, the ambassador is down.

Pein: Excellent. Pinhead, patrol the streets. Lestat and Cthulhu, attack from above. Bizarro and Mr. Electrico, stay in position until you receive further orders. Ticktock and Pennywise, meet with Lenore and I in the city square. We're going after Uzumaki Naruto.

Finis