Here is chapter 14! I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Ranma 1/2.

Pein was frustrated.

These curses were messing with their plans. Sure, they had the water guns, but nobody wanted to go near them (except Hidan, who was frankly rather enthusiastic, but no sane person would let Hidan near one of those things) in risk of accidentally getting water on themselves and obtaining another curse.

Could they get another curse? Pein didn't know, but he didn't want to risk it.

Either way, his big idea to use the cursed water as a weapon wasn't working very well.

Plus, they hadn't gone on missions to obtain Jinchuuriki in a while. He supposed that was partly his fault; after all, he was the one who assigned missions. But he had been distracted.

The curse of Jusenkyo was becoming more well known. There were rumors going around of a hippopotamus suddenly appearing out of nowhere whenever it rained. Zetsu always snickered whenever this was brought up.

Pein, however, found this worrisome. Some people were investigating the magical hippo, and it was only a matter of time before they discovered that the cause was cold water. And if word got out that the Akatsuki had a curse like this...

They would know their weakness.

The others weren't taking this seriously. The cursed people were annoyed, sure, but they didn't see how bad this could be for them. Those who weren't cursed were treating it like a joke. Kakuzu was even putting in requests for a pool to be put in the base. They couldn't see that this was more than an inconvenience; this was truly a dangerous curse.

A curse that could be the ruin of the Akatsuki.

They needed to find a cure. Fast.

"Pein?" Pein turned his head to see Konan coming in. "Is something the matter?"

He shook his head. "I'm just thinking."

He waited for Konan to leave. After about ten seconds, he realized that she was still standing there, waiting for him to explain.

He sighed. "These curses... I don't think the others realize the magnitude of this situation. Others could use this against us. It's a real weakness."

Konan nodded thoughtfully. "I understand. But, instead of focusing on how this could hurt us, why don't you think of how this could be used to our advantage?"

Pein looked up. "Huh?"

"Um..." She glanced at the ceiling, thinking. "Like, it could be useful if you need a spy or something. Nobody would suspect a random animal of being in the Akatsuki."

Pein's eyes widened. "That's actually... really smart."

"It's not like I'm an idiot," Konan huffed, offended. "Is it really that hard to believe that I can come up with a good idea?!"

"Er... That was a complim-" Pein began.

"Whatever," Konan growled. "I'll be in my room. That's the last time I help you out." And she left the room, slamming the door behind her.

"-ent..."

-:_:-

"Deidara, Tobi," Pein said later, looking at the two shinobi in front of him. "I have had an epiphany." Konan, who was standing beside him, scoffed. He coughed slightly.

"Ok, Konan did. The cursed forms you have would be especially useful when it comes to espionage. Therefore, I am going to send you to spy on Konoha and see if you can uncover their Jinchuuriki's weakness."

Deidara frowned. "Why us, un? Why not Itachi or something?"

"Because I know what your cursed form is," Pein said, "And I don't know Itachi's."

"You don't know Tobi's, either."

"You will be a civilian," Pein continued, ignoring Deidara's last statement, "Visiting Konoha on vacation for a month. You have to somehow find a way to get close to the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. You will go by... Yuri."

"What?!" Deidara protested. "That's such a girly name!"

"Which makes sense, because you'll be a girl," Pein told him. "Tobi can do... Whatever Tobi does. As long as he doesn't blow your cover."

"Tobi will help Deidara-sempai!" Tobi exclaimed, making an attempt to hug his sempai, only to get pushed away forcefully.

"Fine," Deidara muttered reluctantly. "I'll do it, I guess."

"Good," Pein said. "You leave tomorrow."

"Yes, Leader-sama," they said, and left his office.

Konan looked at him. "Pein."

"What?" he said, glancing up at her.

She glared. "So, you had an epiphany, huh?"

His eyes widened. "Ah- No. I fixed it! I said you came up with it!"

"After you were about to take the credit yourself." She loomed over him, shadows hiding the whites of her eyes.

He backed away slowly.

She pulled out a glass of ice water. "Goodbye, Pein."

That was chapter 14! Don't worry, the water guns still play a fairly large part... Please review! :D