Hey guys, Murayama Tsuru here. Here's the 20th chapter of this story ^_^ That's all I have to say at the moment, so I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto; it belongs to Kishimoto Masashi-Sensei!

As Kouryu and Sasuke were running in the opposite direction of the explosion they had just caused, they heard a howl of unparalleled rage. The two spared each other a glance, knowing that neither of the Uchihas were dead. It would probably be an understatement to call their mission a complete failure.

And then, Kouryu thought she saw a flash of yellow a little ahead of them, in the forest. But before she could say anything to Sasuke about it, Naruto appeared out of the trees and ran headlong into Sasuke. The only thing suppressing the giggle that was bubbling out of her throat, was the urgency to get out of this forest and back into the semi-safety of the breaking shield of the Jutsu she had cast in Konoha.

But before the Dragon Jinchuuriki could suggest that they run, Sasuke hissed, rubbing his forehead in the process, "What the hell Naruto? Can't you watch where you're going?"

Naruto, rubbing his head vigorously as well, retorted, "I could say the same thing to you, Sasuke-teme! You didn't seem to be watching where you were going either!"

"Yeah," Sasuke deadpanned, "That's because I'm running from two homicidal Ninjas that probably want to kill us."

"Eh?" Naruto looked up at his raven-haired comrade, not quite surprised, but not quite believing what he was saying either, "What happened?"

Sasuke took a breath, but before he could say anything else, Kouryu interrupted them, "I hate to break this up guys, but I think explanations can wait until later. Right now we should—"

"What's your hurry?" all three young Ninja whipped around to see Obito behind them, leaning nonchalantly on a nearby tree, "I think explanations are very much in order. Don't you want to tell us why you have betrayed the Akatsuki, Sasuke?"

An unimpressed eyebrow rose on Sasuke's forehead, "I didn't betray you at all. All I said in the dream world last night was that I would meet you there, not that I would help with your plan."

Obito sighed, "Oh dear, Madara's not going to be very happy with that explanation."

"So?" both Naruto and Sasuke said at the same time

"So you two are in synch now, are you? You two former rivals have become fast friends again. Too bad it won't last."

"And what makes you think that we're friends?" Sasuke asked

"Yeah," Naruto added, "we're only working together because we have a common goal in mind; defeating you!"

Obito sighed again, "Don't you think that three-on-one is a little unfair?"

Kouryu, Naruto, and Sasuke shook their heads. It was Kouryu who responded, though, with a vehement "No. Three on one is probably the most fair it gets when fighting someone like you."

Suddenly Obito pushed himself off the tree and gave the three a smug look, "Well too bad for you, then, it's actually three-on-two."

And then, Madara appeared next to Obito as Tsunade jumped silently next to the three young Ninja. Sasuke and Kouryu looked over at the Hokage in surprise while Naruto asked nonchalantly, "What took you so long, Baa-chan? It doesn't seem like you to get lost."

"I wasn't lost," Tsunade huffed, glaring at Naruto and then at Madara, "I was chasing him. Somehow, after we split up, I saw him fleeing a burning building. I think he let me follow him after that."

Before Naruto could say anything in response, Kouryu interjected, "Hokage-sama, you really shouldn't be here. Let us handle this for now, you go back to the village and gather reinforcements."

Tsunade laughed a sharp, staccato note, "I didn't know you cared that much, dragon girl."

Kouryu blinked in surprise, and it was Sasuke who responded, "I have to agree with Kouryu on this one. The leader of Konohagakure shouldn't be here. These two are very dangerous; it would be bad for the village if you stayed here."

"I'm touched by your concern, you two," Tsunade said dismissively, "But I think I'll be fine. If I'm in any danger, I have three perfectly capable bodyguards."

Kouryu looked away, her face a slight pink in embarrassment, and Sasuke glared at the Hokage. But, before either could say anything in response, Obito said sardonically, "Are you guys through yet? I'd love to stand around and hear you chat, but I think we have a fight to finish. And this time, you're little Jutsu can't get in our way Kouryu."

"That's fine," Kouryu said icily, "I want to finish things too."

"Oh, I'm afraid you won't be participating much in this battle," Madara spoke up, "You're going to be the one who helps us resurrect the Ten-tails."

"Oh yeah," Kouryu responded, "And how are you going to make that happen?"

"Like this." Madara said. Then, a harsh, white light shot up around Kouryu, trapping her in a small cage. When Kouryu tried to push through it, an electrical pulse shot through her body, making her cry aloud. After a moment, of painful silence, Kouryu sat up, breathing heavily.

With a smug look on his face, Obito said, "How do you like you cage, little dragon girl? We picked it out especially for you since you caged our hopes for the altogether too long."

Kouryu glared up at Obito and Madara, her pupils starting to look like a snake's, "When did you come up with this?"

"Since we knew about this meeting yesterday. For the eventuality that you'd either escape or that Sasuke would betray us."

"Then you're pretty good actors," Sasuke commented, "You didn't give anything away at all."

"You're not so bad yourself," Obito retorted with a snort and a smirk, "It's too bad we had to end this charade so soon. I wanted to keep playing with you two a little longer."

"That's enough, Obito," Madara said stonily, "playtime is over. It's time to end this farce once and for all."

"I agree" Kouryu said, her voice thick with anger. Kouryu then turned her eyes to the cage again, in intense concentration, and a stream of icy chakra slammed against the cage, making it glow much brighter than it had started its being.

But when the light dimmed, Kouryu had sunk even further to the ground than she had been already from the electric pulse. With a weak glare, Kouryu asked, "What did you do to this cage?" and her eyes rolled back in her head as she collapsed onto the ground.

With a satisfied smirk, Madara said to the unconscious Kouryu, "I made a trap specifically to absorb the dragon's chakra. I guess you used too much when you tried to bust out. Too bad, but that won't work."

Naruto, staring at the unconscious Kouryu, felt powerless at the moment. He hadn't been able to do anything to save his new found friend, and that made him angrier than angry. His eyes then snapped up to Madara when he said, "Now that your ace is out of commission, I guess you have no choice but to surrender. I doubt that you stand a ghost of a chance of winning now."

Once Madara had finished speaking, Naruto's eyes narrowed into a dark glare. He directed this look at Madara and growled, "Like hell we're giving up. I'm going to end you!"

And that is the end of this chapter…I still don't' have anything to say…so, I'll see you next week. As always, if you'd like, please review I love to know what you guys think. Until next week then ^_^

-Murayama Tsuru