Pain's eyes narrowed. "So what you are telling me, is that you have failed?"
Deidara shuffled nervously. "Tell him it wasn't like that master Sasori!"
Sasori looked around the dark cave where Deidara and himself where hiding. The projections of the other Akatsuki members filled the area. After staring in silence at the figures of Hidan and Kakazu, Sasori spoke. "I am not one for excuses, but something is definitely not right surrounding the nature of our missions. Each of us should be more than capable of handling a tailed beast. Yet we were overwhelmed by our opponents. This strength of theirs seemingly has come from nowhere. But more than that…. The one fighting Kakazu knew exactly what his powers where. His every ability and weaknesses. That is inexplicable. And in my fight… I was overwhelmed by the One-Tails, yes, but it wasn't just that. I did get the feeling he already knew my power as well. Nothing I did surprised him. Not even using the body of the previous Kazeakage. There are to many variables for this situation to be natural."
Pain was displeased. "So you are saying that they knew the impossible. So what are you suggesting?"
Sasori was blunt. "A traitor."
LINE BREAK
Gaara and Fu were far from waterfall village now, and where resting in the opening of a forest.
Fu smiled a bittersweet smile. "This Naruto sounds a lot stronger than I could ever be. All three of us went through some tough times, but him… You say he could stay positive even with the way he was treated? I fall far short of that. I had even started to resent this world for dealing me this hand." She touched the seal on her belly. "I'm so weak."
"I don't think you are weak Fu. We are all strong. Just in different ways. Naruto's strength comes from his heart. He has the power to change people. To help them find their strength. That's the only reason I am even here now." He pointed at Fu. "And because of him, I am able to meet you here now. And I promise I can help you find your strength too."
She leaned in close to him, and smiled wryly as she whispered. "What if I want you to be my strength?"
Gaara did not hesitate, and his sand formed a platform under Fu that moved her away in an instant. "No."
Fu threw her hands up in mock hurt. "So cruel to such a beautiful lady!"
The sun was already beginning its decline down the skyline. "We should move, we have a lot of ground to cover still."
Fu pouted to herself. "Can't even play along a little can you. You're no fun."
They began to head in the direction of the village hidden in the mist.
Line Break
Naruto was asleep on a bed with Yugito sitting beside him, she held a damp cloth to his head.
The room was a small one with no luxuries in it. It belonged to a run down inn that was about halfway between Cloud and Rock villages.
Suddenly, the door to their room burst open, and in his usual fashion, Bee made a scene of his entry.
"How's Naruto's recovery coming? It wont be long before we have to start running!"
Yugito was clearly annoyed, but concerned at the same time. "Not well, he used almost everything in that last fight. He must be some kind of idiot to go all out like that."
Be continued with a rap about naruto beign stupid yet bold.
Yugito uttered under her breath "Just like someone else in this room." She took a deep breath and got back to the matter at hand. "Bee. How long do we have?"
Bee's face got serious again. "We have two hours at best. That's all Naruto will get to rest."
Yugito gritted her teeth. "That's not enough time! Can't we do something?"
Bee smiled and began to walk back out the door.
Yugito yelled after. "Wait, No! That's not what I meant!"
Bee kept walking. "Naruto will heal fast. I will make sure our time lasts! Mischief is my middle name, If I can't hold off a few tracking nin, then I'd be lame!"
LINE BREAK
Pain looked over the projections in the room. "I agree."
The other members began to glance around suspiciously.
Deidara pointed to Hidan. "I bet it was that religious freak!"
Hidan screamed back. "What was that asshole?! I don't want to hear that shit from a cross-dressing fagot!"
Deidara was furious. "What did you call me?"
"I said – Cross-dressing f-"
Pain cut him off. "Silence!" he motioned to both of them. "Random accusations will get us nowhere. We need to approach this situation logically." He turned his attention to Itatchi. "I'd say we should ask the most cool and calculating amongst us… What do you think we shoud do Itatchi?
Itatchi's face betrayed nothing of the secret line of contact he had established with Jiraya. They had meet several times by now, and Jiraya had informed him of almost everything about Naruto. In turn, He had been keeping Jiraya in the loop with what the akatski was doing. However, he had no need to tell him about there powers, as Naruto already had done that. But now Itatchi was in a pinch. His goal was the destruction of the akatski, but a wrong move here could get him killed, and the akatski could move without eyes on them.
The Uchiha closed his eyes for a moment an put his fingers to his forehead. I have to give them a good answer. "We won't be able to weed out a traitor so simply. If they have gone this long without being found out, I see no reason they would be given up at this point. Assuming everything about us has been given away, including our plans… Then we should change our plan and act immediately."
Pain spoke again. "Exactly. We act faster than the traitor will be able to react." He raised his hands. "We meet outside Konaha in one day. We will destroy it completely."