(Welcome to my next chapter guys. It may not be much, but at least it has something. Enjoy.)
After Naruto and his team's visit to Suna, they were flying across the ninja land on the carpet, with Naruto looking around, "How much further is this hideout, Naruto?" Suigetsu asked as he slouched.
"Shouldn't be too much farther." Naruto admitted as he continued looking up ahead for any visible signs of something.
"You said that an hour ago." Suigetsu complained, until Karin growled.
"Suigetsu, shut up!" she restrained herself from wanting to smack him in the back of the head.
Jugo looked ahead, "Naruto, what's that up ahead?"
Naruto looked in the direction Jugo was motioning and saw a forest area with multiple bones that looked like they came from giant creatures lying around, "This is it. We're here." Naruto explained grabbing the attention of his team.
"It's about time." Suigetsu grumbled.
"Prepare to land." Naruto ordered, as he brought the carpet down and landed in the forest outside the entry way to Obito's hideout.
"This is the place?" Jugo asked looking at all the huge bones.
"Correct," Naruto began and turned to Karin, "Ok, Karin. Do your stuff."
Karin nodded and formed a hand seal while closing her eyes and concentrating seeing a hundred thousand chakra signatures. She gasped and opened her eyes, "There are over a thousand chakra signatures in there!"
"Has to be the White Zetsu clones," Naruto theorized, "Any signatures closer to entrance?'
"None." Karin admitted.
"Well at least there's nothing in the front waiting for us," Naruto sighed in relief, "But stay close behind me just in case." he ordered as the three nodded, and Suigetsu drew his sword.
So they proceed in cautiously, as Naruto guided them through one of the many secret openings hidden beneath the bones of the giant animals. Having read Obito's mind with his psychic power he saw all his memories and knew the base inside and out. The group walked around the dark hideout, with Naruto's team feeling tense while Naruto remained clam and collected. Finally they stopped before a room with a metal door, that Naruto used his psychic power to pry open the door. They entered inside seeing they were inside a laboratory, and on both sides of the room on the walls were about over a hundred glass containers, and in each of those containers was a single Sharingan eyeball suspended in fluid, "Oh Kami." Karin felt ready to gag at the preserved eyeballs.
"Holy shit." Suigetsu gasped in shock.
"So many Sharingan eyes." Jugo gasped in amaze.
"Makes me wonder how many Uchiha members Madara and Obito sacrificed just to obtain these," Naruto began with a scowl, "Well sorry Obito, these are no longer your property." he summoned over a hundred clones and each of them went to both walls and removed all the glass containers and began sealing them a massive scroll.
"So what're you going to do with them?" Jugo asked curiously.
"Much like with Obito's eyes, I'm keeping these for leverage." Naruto answered as he and his clones continued sealing the containers.
"Why not simply destroy them?" Karin asked seeing how it seems easier.
"Very tempting, but both Madara and Obito went through so much trouble just to preserve these," Naruto answered, "I'd hate to see their efforts be all for not. And I can't just send them all to baa-san. If Danzo found out about them there's no telling what he'd try to do to get his decrepit old hand on them."
"Can we go now?" Karin asked seeing how Naruto and all his clones finished sealing all the containers.
"Not yet. There's still more to do." Naruto answered as he dispelled all his clones and packed his scrolls.
He led his team out of the lab and found another room containing weaponry ranging from various ninja weapons, such as sickles, large shuriken, swords, chains with weights, and many other types, "Hmm, these could sell for a lot of cash," Naruto admitted until he looked up ahead seeing on the wall was a gunbai with the Sharingan tomoe on both sides of it, "Hello, what have we here?"
"What's that?" Suigetsu asked as he, Karin, and Jugo notice Naruto approach the battle fan.
Naruto began, "If from my look through Obito's memories and history of the Uchiha clan is correct, this is the battle fan wielded by Madara Uchiha himself."
"Whoa, that was used by one of Konoha's founders?" Suigetsu gasped almost looking ready to choke.
"Yes, but it's ripe for the taking now," Naruto removed it from its mounted wall and held it, "I think I could make good use of this."
"Are we done here?" Suigetsu asked in boredom.
"One last thing left." Naruto answered as he once again showed his team through the hideout.
Finally they entered another chamber and saw to their shock a giant statue on top of a giant flower, "What is that?" Jugo gasped.
Naruto answered, "The Gedo statue. Or more commonly known as the Juubi's body."
"That's a tailed beast?!" Karin gasped in shock.
"It's huge." Suigetsu gasped while looking up at it.
"That's the very statue the Akatsuki are using to seal the removed bijuu from the Jinchuriki," Naruto continued to explain, "Apparently when all nine of them are sealed back into it, it will be revived again."
"Can't you use your powers to destroy it?" Suigetsu inquired.
"That would be logical," Naruto began before shifting his mood to more seriously, "However the Shukaku is already sealed inside of it. Destroying the statue could possibly destroy the Ichibi, but whose to say if I destroy it Shukaku will be released to rampage? We wouldn't have a way to seal it elsewhere. So I'd rather not chance it."
"So then what're we going to do?" Karin asked her family member.
"Well first we're going to destroy that," Naruto started as he motioned up to the non-living clone of Hashirama Senju, which took his teammates by surprise. He then walked closer to the statue and looked beneath it, "And these."
The three looked down and gawked seeing there were a hundred thousand White Zetsu clones, just as Naruto said there would be, "That's a lot of living Shodaime clones." Jugo gasped in shock.
"And each one of them has to go." Naruto explained.
"Shouldn't we be worried about them attacking us?" Suigetsu asked Naruto.
Karin answered while concentrating, "They all seem to be in a state of hibernation."
"Yes, they won't awake unless they're needed." Naruto added as he summoned over a thousand clones.
The three watched their leader and his clones make some stuff, and were curious as to what he was planning to do. Soon Naruto and his thousands of clones each held a Molotov cocktail, with the cloth piece sticking out of each already lit, "Naruto what're you planning?" Karin asked suspiciously knowing once the flames are ignited with the fluid in the bottles it'll go up in flames.
"Once we throw them in we need to get out of here." Naruto explained as he and his clones threw their Molotov's down to the White Zetsu army. He quickly dispelled all his clones and used his psychic to fly out while dragging his team with him. Karin screamed as the thousands of Molotov's ignited and behind them was an erupting fire that started spreading down the tunnel they were flying out of.
"We're not gonna make it!" Suigetsu called.
"We can!" Naruto shouted as he picked up the pace and they flew out of the hideout before it went up in flames and burned to the ground.
When there was nothing left of the hideout, Jugo spoke up, "So that's it?"
"Yeah," Naruto nodded, "All of Obito's Zetsu army and the grown Hashirama clone has been incinerated."
"And the statue?" Karin asked curiously.
"I'm willing to bet is still in one piece." Naruto theorized.
"You wanna go back and check it out?" Suigetsu offered.
"Not interested," Naruto answered, "We did our job here."
"So now where do we go from here?" Jugo wondered what was next.
"Hmm," Naruto pondered as he pulled out a map and began to think on it, "Well I know this good place in Yugakure. We could enjoy a good bath there."
"Really, a bath?" Karin gasped in delight.
"Meh, sounds ok." Suigetsu answered like it didn't matter.
"Works for me." Jugo admitted.
"All right then team," Naruto began as he unsealed their carpet and got on it, before using his powers to levitate it off the ground, "Climb aboard." So the three got on the carpet and Naruto flew them off away from the former hideout of Obito, leaving it behind as a forgotten memory.
Hours later the group were in Yugakure, and were already soaking in an open air bath on their respective genders side, "Ah, this bath does a body good, eh guys?" Naruto asked as he relaxed and soaked in the onsen with his upper chest sticking out.
"I do feel rather rejuvenated." Jugo admitted.
"Yeah, this really was a good place to pick, Naruto." Suigetsu added as he raised his arms up to stretch.
"So Naruto how many more members of the Akatsuki are there?" Jugo inquired.
Naruto turned to him and noticed Suigetsu looked curious as well, "Well there's Itachi, Kisame, Kakuzu, Pain, and Konan." he listed off having seen Pain and Konan through Obito's memories
"Only five huh?" Suigetsu asked, "Well I'm sure with your powers it won't be that difficult."
"Well remember, Itachi's on our side," Naruto reminded them, "And Pain and Konan aren't what they appear to be as well." he added recalling the name Nagato from Jiraiya's book Tales of a Gutsy Ninja as the source of inspiration from when he wrote it. Jugo and Suigetsu were confused as to what Naruto meant by that, but were enjoying themselves and were too relaxed to even continue further.
When nighttime came, the four were planning to turn in, until Naruto started having a premonition and saw Itachi on his way to the forest area outside the village. He snapped out of it and spoke up, "Guys!"
"What, what is it?" Karin asked in concern.
"I just had a vision." he answered.
"What'd you see?" Jugo asked as Karin and Suigetsu were curious as well.
"I saw Itachi, he's heading for the forest outside the village. Obviously to rendezvous with me." Naruto explained.
"Whoa, are you serious?" Suigetsu asked.
"I am. So if you guys want to see it for yourselves, come with me." Naruto instructed.
"Let's go." Suigetsu said as the four left the inn through the window and headed for the forest.
Once there, they just stood waiting impatiently, until Karin sighed, "Are you absolutely sure he's showing up?"
"My premonitions have never let me down so far." Naruto answered confidently.
"Well how much longer do we have to wait?" Suigetsu asked just feeling about ready to call it.
Suddenly they heard multiple crow caws, making the three confused, while Naruto smirked, "We wait no longer."
Flying out from the trees surrounding them were a swarm of crows that started coming together to form Itachi, which surprised Naruto's team. Itachi looked to Naruto, and spoke, "Hello, Naruto."
"Evening, Itachi." Naruto greeted him.
"So that's really him?" Suigetsu gasped.
"Itachi Uchiha." Karin gasped in equal shock.
Itachi looked ahead and saw the three, and smiled, "I see you made some new friends since the last time we met."
"Yeah," Naruto began introducing them, "This is Suigetsu, this is Karin, and this here is Jugo. Guys, this is Itachi."
"Nice to meet you three." Itachi greeted them respectively.
"Likewise, I guess." Suigetsu answered feeling awkward.
"Forgive our awkwardness, but it's kind of hard to feel at ease around someone who murdered his whole clan. Even if against their will." Jugo explained as respectively as he could.
"So Naruto told you three the truth?" Itachi asked while eyeballing Naruto who looked sheepish.
"He did." Karin confirmed his question.
Itachi looked to Naruto, who began explaining, "I'm sorry Itachi, but there was something suspicious when I had a vision and went off to deal with Tobi. For the sake of our team and trust I told them about you."
"I see," Itachi answered before sighing, "Well it's better between you four and not anyone of Konoha. Anyway Naruto I came looking for you because of what happened not too long ago. Tobi, Deidara, and Zetsu. You defeated all three?"
"Well I had help." he admitted while motioning to his team who smiled.
"And Tobi, was he really Madara?" Itachi inquired.
Naruto shook his head, "Not even close," he answered, "He was an Uchiha, though. He just wasn't Madara Uchiha."
"Then who was he?" Itachi asked curiously.
"He was Obito Uchiha." Naruto answered, putting a look of shock on the Uchiha's face.
"Obito?" he gasped.
"So you know of him as well?" Suigetsu asked.
"Of course," Itachi answered, "I would hear many of the Uchiha elders and my parents talk about the heroism and sacrifice Obito showed at the location of the Kannabi bridge during the last war."
"Well I hate to break it to you," Naruto began, "But what I'm about to tell you will destroy any heroic thoughts you ever might have had for your ancestor."
"What do you mean?" Itachi asked.
"Sit down, because this is going to be a complicated story." Naruto started as he began telling Itachi the full story of what happened when he and his team fought the three Akatsuki members, including all the memories he saw inside Obito's mind. After the long story he finally finished, "And that's everything."
Itachi was for the first time shocked and confused at all Naruto had just told him. He finally spoke up, "I never would've guessed it."
"Threw me for a spin myself." Naruto admitted.
"So Obito was twisted and warped by the cycle of hatred just like Madara." Itachi sighed.
"I don't intend on telling anyone in Konoha about his true identity otherwise I will have crushed the spirits of Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma, and Guy." Naruto assured him.
"Good, Naruto. As always I can't let the Uchiha name be tainted like this," Itachi began, "Obito Uchiha like all the others will remain the way they were remembered as by the others, and not for the truth. I respect you willing to continue shouldering the burden of mine and my family's secret on your shoulder."
"Well it's not easy, Itachi. However for the sake of Konoha's safety from an uprising of villagers and shinobi alike I will hold my tongue." Naruto promised.
"And we will as well." Jugo promised on behalf of himself, Karin, and Suigetsu, who both nodded in assurance.
Itachi looked at the four feeling as if more of the weight of his family secret was lifted off him, "Arigato, everyone," he cleared his throat, "Now then Naruto, about the eyes you've acquired of Obito's and those he's kept hidden in his lab..."
"You want me to hand them over to you?" Naruto asked suspecting that's what he'd request.
Itachi shook his head, "No. I want you to hold onto them. I feel they're better off and safer in your capable hands. Just promise me you'll take care of them."
"I promise, Itachi." Naruto promised.
Itachi looked up at the sky, "Well I better get going. I'll see you again another time, Naruto." he burst into crows that flew off into the night sky.
Naruto and his team watched the crows fly off before Jugo spoke, "Well it's nice to see we do have an ally in our enemies camp."
"Yeah." Karin nodded in agreement along with Naruto, until they heard Suigetsu groan in frustration.
"Oh man, I forgot to ask him how Kisame-sempai was doing?!" the Hozuki boy berated himself.
"Don't worry, if we run into him you can find out for yourself." Naruto assured him.
"You think so?" Suigetsu asked hopefully.
"We're gonna eventually come across him, so yeah." Naruto noted.
Suigetsu smiled with renewed hope, "Well I can't wait for that. I'll show him that I was just as worthy of becoming a member of the seven swordsmen as Mangetsu was."
The others chuckled at his excitement before Naruto spoke up, "Well let's get back to the inn. Tomorrow is another day after all." he reminded them as the four headed back to the village inn.
(And there's the chapter. Naruto torched Obito's hideout and laboratory and took some prizes from there. With Itachi briefed on it, will he continue to remain a mole in the Akatsuki for much longer? Tune in next time.)