Phew, I'm glad FanFiction's bug has been fixed. It's awful when you have a chapter all done and ready to be published and you can't because of some technical problem. This is where we begin the climax of the story but don't worry; I've still got plenty of chapters to go through before the End is here. I hope you like this one. Please review if you do! The Five Kage Summit actually happens after Pain's invasion and is attended by Danzou. I won't change that don't worry but for now don't bombard me with questions please.

Tsunade slammed her head on her table as Shizune winced at the sound of wood splintering and Tonton gave a terrified 'Oink' and fled away from the Hokage's office.

"Tsunade-Sama, whatever's the matter? We got Sakura back safely without any massive causalities so everything's okay right now isn't it?" asked Shizune as Tsunade lifted her head.

"Everything is not okay! The Elders are grilling for whereabouts of Uchiha Sasuke. We had a good track of him until he disappeared a week ago. On top of that half baked Kazekage demands a meeting. And worse of all, that blonde haired, blue eyed brat is being released from the hospital right this moment; goodness knows when he'll come bangi…"

"GRANYYYYY!" came the enraged cry from outside Tsunade's office as Naruto Uzumaki reduced the door to tiny splinters of wood and slammed his hand on Tsunade's desk hard.

"I just got out of the hospital. Why? Why wouldn't you let me go rescue Sakura? I could have got some information on Sasuke as well? Why'd you do it? Why? Why? Why?" yelled Naruto practically jumping.

Tsunade sighed and rubbed her temples muttering under her breath.

"Naruto-kun, Tsunade-Sama isn't in the best of health right now so if you would please…"

Shizune's pleas fell on deaf ears as Naruto continued yelling and screeching till Jiraiya popped his head into the Hokage's room.

"Ah Naruto. You got out of the hospital I see. What're you yelling about?" asked Jiraiya innocently.

"I'm yelling because SOMEONE didn't think I would have liked to go and rescue Sakura-chan from those bastards." Yelled Naruto.

"Now, now Naruto, you know it was for your own safety…"

"I don't care. I'd risk my life to rescue Sakura's. She's my friend and I care about her. Not going to rescue her just because I'm scared for my life is just pathetic" said Naruto as Tsunade punched his head so hard that he went flying through the wall.

"You idiot! Don't speak of losing your life so easily. You're not some cat that'll keep coming back unless you kill it nine times. A life can be lived just once." Said Tsunade.

Jiraiya gave Tsunade an understanding look knowing she was thinking of her beloved brother Nawaki and her lover Dan who had both perished at war.

Naruto got up slowly rubbing his head as he looked Tsunade in her eyes.

"Gomen. I won't. But please in the future don't keep me from rescuing those are my friends. That's all" he said before leaving.

"By the way Tsunade. I'd like to speak to you about the mission concerning the Akatsuki Leader. Meet me out in the Dango shop tomorrow will you?" said Jiraiya as Tsunade grunted and turned away.

Jiraiya gave Tsunade a pat on her shoulder and left as well as Shizune went to look for Yamato to rebuild the wall.

Tsunade sat down again and looked through the letter sent to her by Gaara, the fifth Kazekage.

To the Esteemed Godaime Hokage Tsunade-Sama.

Owing to the past unfriendly relationships between our villages I have consented to forming an alliance with Konohagakure. However this alliance does not provide you with the right to involve Sunagakure with matters involving your own villages. I refer to the incident concerning the kidnapping of Sakura Haruno by the Akatsuki. I hope you will take full responsibility should the Akatsuki attempt to wage war upon us. More to the point the threat of this particular organization has become too great for just two nations alone to deal with. I refer to the invitation you must have received from the Yondaime Raikage to a meeting in the Land of Iron. I will be frank; I wish to meet with you privately before the Summit occurs. I feel this shouldn't be too much to ask for seeing your past conduct towards the alliance. I hope I shall not have to take any drastic action.

Hugs and Kisses

Godaime Kazekage

Sabaku no Gaara.

"Hugs and kisses eh? I wonder what he'll do to the person whom he forced to write this letter if he sees that. Moreover the brat is blackmailing me into meeting with him. The nerve of that red-haired punk! Fine then, I'll meet him and if he tries to take any of his 'drastic measures' I'll punch his face so that it resembles a two ryo broken bowl" thought Tsunade crumpling the letter.

Sousuke had seen many people over his journeys but never had he seen such a woman in his entire life.

The strange woman calling herself Atsuko had probably overturned every aspect of his life. She had defied everything he believed to be true. At the end of their little chat together he felt as if he'd believe the sky was purple if she claimed it to be.

"…and that's how I convinced that kidnapper to give up his bad ways and abandon his worldly goods to become an ascetic and would you believe it? He attained nirvana in just three years! Amazing isn't it? I have a lot of faith in my powers of persuasion" said Atsuko as Sousuke stared wide eyed at her.

"She began out telling me how she once fought a bear, she switched to what the shape of a man's big toe signifies in Aztec and Norse mythology, and now she's onto kidnapers turning into ascetics? This is one hell of a woman" thought Sousuke as the door opened and Koutaro entered.

"From your dazed expression I gather Atsuko's been enlightening you with her 1001 Tales of My-Greatest-Achievements?" asked Koutaro knowingly as Atsuko stuck her tongue out at him.

"Oh come now Kou, just because you've lived a boring life doesn't mean you can ridicule my life. My life has been one big adventure. Hahahahahaha…cough…cough" she cried laughing manically before coughing.

"Hai, hai, whatever. Now young man, I have some news for you. Apparently there's some guy going around looking for you. He's got a picture of you and he asked me if I'd seen you. I didn't know if he was a friend or foe so I replied vaguely and got his address. Do you think it's someone you know? He was tall and well built, a Shinobi I guess. And he had a Konoha symbol and shaggy black hair and blue eyes and…"

"Wow you should've been a detective Kou. You check the guy out right?" asked Atsuko slyly.

"And just what is that supposed to mean Atsuko Takano?" asked Koutaro.

"You're not secretly gay are you? Come on, admit it. You are, aren't you?" taunted Atsuko playfully.

"Of course I'm not. How could you even think of something like that? If I were gay would I be in lo…"

Koutaro immediately bit his tongue and looked away blushing. Atsuko glanced sharply at him.

"Go on, what were you saying?" she asked suspiciously.

"Nothing, nothing at all" stammered Koutaro but Atsuko refused to let him slip away so in a moment the two were squabbling and quarreling.

None of the noise the two were making reached Sousuke's ear.

"Akio-Sama…is looking for me? B-but why? He can't be looking for me. It must be some other guy who met Koutaro-San. But why should they search for me? It can't be Akio-Sama…he hates me. Its my fault that he was hurt and…"

"Sousuke, are you even listening? Don't you think Koutaro could have been a girl in his previous life? What do you think?" asked Atsuko as Koutaro threw a wet sponge at her which hit her on the face with a 'Splat!' sound. Immediately a war began to wage in the tiny little room. Brushes, clothes, spoons, forks, toilet-paper rolls, cups, books, combs, toothbrushes flew from one end of the room to another with Sousuke trembling under the table.

Sasori picked up a ton of scrolls and dumped them in a large cavity on his round-bellied puppet. He then closed the cavity and sealed it with an explosive tag which would go off if anyone excepting he opened the door.

He then very carefully picked up another scroll and gazed at it fondly before placing it in his sleeve.

"My Angel shall always be with me" he thought when there was a sound out side his door.

He opened his door and looked outside. Only the faintest traces of chakra remained outside his door.

"As if someone disappeared or rather teleported very quickly, hmmm, strange" thought Sasori quietly shutting his door.

Konan regarded the masked individual. She wondered what secrets lay hidden behind that seemingly innocent, orange swirly mask with a hole over the right eye.

How many people had he killed? How many more had he deceived to do his bidding? What was the power of the man?

All these thoughts ran amok in Konan's head as Tobi entered the office of Pain and seated himself on the guest chair and began tapping his foot impatiently.

Just then Pain entered the room and shut the door behind him. Tobi looked up sharply and then stood up.

"That was quite a drastic decision you took there, Nagato. You did not consult me even once. May I know why?" asked Tobi in a voice different than his usual happy-go-lucky tone.

"I apologize. I was furious. I should have controlled my anger better" said Pain mechanically.

Konan glared at Tobi. It had been a sort of routine for Nagato to apologize every time the masked warrior showed disapproval. She wished he would not act as if he was the almighty.

"I agree. Needless to say I shall not be accompanying you to Konoha. Neither, I might add, shall Itachi, Kisame, Zetsu and if you prefer, Deidara, they shall remain back. You'll think of some excuse won't you?" asked Tobi severely.

"Why Itachi and Kisame? There's nothing wrong in them going. And why exactly is Zetsu kept out of all the missions at hand and…"

"Do not argue with me Konan. My decisions are not meant to be haggled upon like a vegetable in a market. If you have a problem I couldn't care less" replied Tobi as Pain wordlessly told Konan to keep shut.

"Drastic and impulsive though the idea may have been it is still the most important thing to be done. As Nagato has pointed out Haruno Sakura knows too much and while we're attacking Konoha anyways we might as well obtain the Kyuubi" said Tobi.

"Hai"

"It is the will of Madara Uchiha, that Sasuke Uchiha must be released before sundown tomorrow. His comrades are searching for him in Kusagakure at the moment. We will release him there." Said Madara.

"In order for him to fight Itachi?" asked Pain as Madara Uchiha nodded.

"Indeed that is true. Itachi is becoming a thorn in my plans. I dislike thorns. When a thorn erupts in my path do you know what I do to it?" asked Madara.

"You cut it down" replied Pain and Konan simultaneously.

"That's correct. Sasuke Uchiha will face off against Itachi Uchiha in the abandoned Uchiha hold in Kusagakure where Sasuke will emerge victorious. Then Zetsu and I will recruit him and…"

"Pardon me for interrupting, what if Itachi is the one who is victorious? Then what?" asked Konan.

"Rest assured Itachi shall not be the victor" said Madara.

'Do you plan on intervening?" asked Pain.

"Perhaps. Not very likely. Also Nagato…"

Just then there was a flurried knocking at the door. Before waiting for a 'Come In' Kisame burst through the door and began panting.

"That Deidara flew off after Itachi's younger brother. Seems Sasuke escaped from the basement somehow and Deidara caught sight of him." he cried as Konan gave a cry of surprise and rose to her feet. Madara and Nagato remained calm.

"Deidara is not capable of defeating Sasuke. However I shall witness their battle. Sasuke must not be too badly harmed because he's going to be fighting Itachi in a couple of days. I'm sure we can find a suitable member to replace Deidara" said Madara teleporting away.

Pain did not say anything but merely asked Konan to summon all the members to his office.

When they all trooped in Pain stood up. "I realize my decision earlier was slightly emotional. I have modified my decision. We shall still be invading Konoha and obtaining Haruno and the Kyuubi. However Itachi, Zetsu, Tobi, Deidara, myself and Takigawa-San shall not be going. Which means the responsibility lies on Konan, Kakuzu, Hidan, Kisame and Sasori also…"

"Why is that you won't send me to Konoha?" asked Akane glaring at Pain.

"I'll speak to you about that later. As I was saying our objective is to recapture Haruno Sakura and obtain the Kyuubi this I wish for no war to break out. You have full lease to use your best abilities however I would like to keep as many of you alive as possible. You are not to take anybody except Haruno and Uzumaki Naruto into custody, am I clear?" asked Pain as everyone nodded.

The chosen members nodded and at Pain's command everyone except Konan and Akane left.

"I know what you're thinking. I'm some revenge freak who'll destroy the village regardless of the mission if you send me there well I can tell you for sure that I am no such…"

"Takigawa-San. Let me assure that is not the reason why I refrain from sending you to Konoha. I know you've been there before and are more familiar with the terrain but in these types of missions ultimate caution is required. Moreover I cannot send too many members to Konoha leaving the base unprotected. While I'm sure you're an excellent combatant I cannot…"

"Cannot? Why can you not? Because I'm too impulsive? Well Leader-Sama you have my word I'll be on my best behavior for this mission. There will be no reason for you to worry in the least because I'll be…"

"Takigawa-San!" said Pain raising his voice as the ringed eyes glared at Akane.

"Enough play acting. You know as well as I do that you have no intention of abiding by what you babbled just now" said Pain.

Akane grit her teeth and looked down.

"My tiny little innocent village was destroyed by Konoha because of me. I…there's no other way…I must take revenge for the souls of my fellow villagers so that I can set my mind at rest" said Akane.

"Because of you? I'm sure you're mistaken…"

"I'm not mistaken. It was my chakra that went out of control sometimes. Haven't you seen it? How alive it feels? Like it's got a mind of its own. It flared up at sudden times and I became dangerous. During those fits I couldn't see anything but red all around me. It was because of these flares that damned Konoha ordered the Shinobi to wire out my entire village. Just because they felt a flare of chakra. What sort of justice is that?" cried Akane.

Pain turned away, "Those who reside near the ground do not get to see the wonderful bird named 'Justice' which flies across the sky. For all small villages 'Justice' is merely to lick the shoes of those residing near the top. That has been the tradition from the very beginning. We who reside at the bottom strive to be at the top. But our lives are cursed. The harder we try to get to the top the more people try to drag us down. The harder we try to let true Justice prevail, more corruption disrupts it. Mindlessly killing others is not the way to do things. I say this from personal experience" said Pain.

Akane's eyes widened, "Does that mean even you…"

"Two orphans, a mass murderer, an outcast, an untouchable. What do they have in common? They're all at the bottom. That is what Akatsuki is made up of. Bottom-residents who strive to reach the top. I have had not one but many a taste of true pain. From your eyes it seems you have too. But pain shall not be resolved by causing more pain. Peace needs to be achieved at any cost. And one needs a god to create peace. That is the reason Akatsuki exists. You would do well to remember what I said" said Pain turning around and locking eyes with Akane.

"I get it. But still, there is something I must see for myself if not kill. Please, please let me go to Konoha" begged Akane, bowing down.

"Akane, The Leader has announced his decision. Please don't…"

"Very well" echoed Pain's voice through the room as Akane and Konan stared at him in surprise.

"But Naga…Pain. I thought you didn't want…"

Konan was once more cut off as Pain raised his hand to silence her.

"Fine then, I shall allow you to go to Konoha. However, If I have any reports from the others about some misbehavior on your part, there won't be enough left for your relatives to bury. Now leave my sight!" said Pain as Akane scowled at him and left the room.

"Konan, make sure she goes straight to the gate, I don't want her doing anything fishy" said Pain as Konan nodded and rushed out.

Akane marched indignantly through the passage muttering angrily under her breath about 'carrot-tops' and 'damn freaks'.

Konan caught up to her and sent the girl an amused glance.

"What do you want Konan-San? Whatever it is you're not going to get it" cried Akane.

"There's no need to be so angry. Naga…Pain didn't mean to be so rude" said Konan.

"I don't care if he meant to be rude or not. Point is he was rude. Awfully rude. I mean, whoever says catty things like that these days? It's disgraceful. And to think I work for that man. I feel ashamed whenever…"

"Both of you are the worst liars I've ever seen" said Konan as Akane decreased her pace.

"Whatever do you mean?" she asked, frowning at the blue-haired, origami specialist.

"Pain and you. I can see it. Both of you respect each other a lot yet you two keep putting up a facade that you can't stand each other. I've never heard Pain refer to any of the members except in such a respectful manner. And I've never seen you bow to anybody except him. You two may try to set up a show but I can see right through it" said Konan smiling slightly.

"Oh really? What earthly reason could Leader-Sama have for respecting me?" asked Akane sarcastically.

"You managed to outwit him when the two of you first met. It isn't easy to outwit Pain. Not easy at all. Yet you did it. And today. The way you spoke, it reminded him of the pain he himself has had to suffer. The pain of loosing parents, a friend, a happy life. All these things that he lost, you lost them too didn't you? And all by the actions of higher villages. He understands your pain Akane, and I'm sure you'll be able to understand his if you think about it. For now…don't let that distract you. Concentrate on the mission. It's very rare for Nagato to change his mind when he's already decided something" said Konan as Akane registered the use of Leader-Sama's real name.

Akane just nodded dumbly as Konan walked back up the passage.

"I guess I could have been more considerate. I wonder now…Leader-Sama has never referred to me by anything other than 'Takigawa-San' he doesn't even refer to Uchiha or Sasori or even Konan-San so respectfully. I… could it be true that he respects me…even a little? I don't know why but for some strange reason he reminds me of him. Of Akio." Thought Akane as she bumped into a wall and fell back swearing loudly.

Don't worry. I'm not going to pair up Akane and Nagato romantically. But since Nagato's my most favorite character in the Naruto universe I want him to be more involved. So you'll be seeing more of Pain from now on. Thank you for reading and I do hope you review and tell me how you liked it! See you all next time! Bye.