The Rain country was cleverly hidden by layers of deceptive illusions woven cleverly by Itachi Uchiha, the undisputed genius of the Uchiha clan of Konoha. For outsiders approaching the Rain country, the land seemed like miles and miles of swampland stretching endlessly in front of them. Before they begin to think about how they are going to navigate this vast stretch of desolate swamps, they are unwittingly caught in the Uchiha's genjutsu. The travelers might think that they are having the adventure of their lifetime getting across the midge infested swamps- when in reality they are possibly being carried off to T&I department of the Rain country- often picked off like sitting ducks wondering aimlessly along the border of the Rain Country by the ninjas loyal to the Kage of Amegakure. The illusion was created by Itachi. It was sustained by the ocular power of the Rinnegan- causing rains to pour endlessly along the frontiers of the small shinobi nation. The rains acted as eyes and ears of Konan- the leader of Amegakure- 'Angel' to her people. She has recently acquired the power of the Rinnegan from her deceased friend-Nagato. The need to keep the Rinnegan in continuous use was taking a great toll on her chakra reserves before the eight tails and the nine tails jinchurikis decided to help her by giving her parts of their extensive chakra. Usually Konan kept her Rinnegan eye covered with a newly acquired headband when she was not using its ocular power to monitor the land for infiltrators. But lately those periods of rest were becoming fewer and far between. Konan wanted the other eye to be transplanted in Naruto as per her friend's final wishes. But the Nine Tails Jinchuriki was emotionally not ready for bearing the ocular power of the 'Eye of the God'.

Konan's all-seeing eye had let her know the moment six foreign chakra signatures breached the border of the Land of Rain. A slight smile crossed her lips as she felt the chakra signatures moving across the border without being caught in the illusion. Some of them were known to her from her brief stay in Konoha during the invasion.

'Call Naruto'. She turned to one of her aides. 'Tell him his friends are here'.

'Hai! Konan sama!' the shinobi disappeared.

'ANBU!'

'Angel-sama!' six figures in masks knelt in front of the Kage.

'Go to the eastern borders. Escort the Konoha ninjas who have crossed the borders to me, without violence'.

'Understood! Konan-sama!'

Sasuke's sharingan was spinning. The deception was clever. But it was not difficult for one who has known the power of the Sharingan.

'Wait!' He called out to his companions who were about to step into the illusion unwittingly.

'What do you see?' He asked Sakura.

'Swamps'. The medical ninja answered. 'But I am guessing this is the illusion?'

'Yes'. Sasuke said softly. 'We have approached the border of the Rain country. Only my Sharingan can take you through Itachi's illusions. Sakura, take my hand. Rest of you- hold Sakura. Form a chain'.

Pressed against one another, they blindly followed Sasuke into what appeared to them like a midge infested swamp. Sasuke's eyes were glowing red. After a few minutes of wading through what appeared like chin high swamp water they could feel the rain on their skin. The Swamps disappeared. Rain was lashing against them like arrows. They have breached the border of the Rain country.

'That was a very deceptive illusion', Shikamaru admitted.

'Yes.' Sasuke said. 'In a swamp, you normally try to stay out of the deep water. But if you try to go around the deeps here, you will go on walking along the border until you reach a checkpoint'.

'Very clever, Uchiha Sasuke-san!'. An ANBU shinobi with a hare like mask approached them through the rain. 'As expected from Uchiha Itachi's brother.' There was admiration in his voice.

Another shinobi joined him. 'Konan-sama is aware of your presence. We are here to escort you to her. Your friends are waiting for you. Please follow us.'

'Arigatou ANBU-san.' Hinata bowed formally to the reception team.

…

'They have entered the Rain. Sasuke Uchiha has guided them through the illusion. We lost their track after they went into the swamp'.

'Keep an eye on the border. I want to know whenever a foreigner enters or exits Rain'.

'Understood'.

'Any news of Uchiha Itachi?'

'He is not dead yet. Otherwise the illusion would have disappeared.'

'Redouble the search for him. Track Tsunade's other apprentice. She is the key'.

'It was unwise of you to influence her through my sharingan.'

'The sharingan was never yours, fool. It was and will always be an Uchiha asset that was lent to you to get rid of those vermin'.

"Madara. You will not tell me what to do'.

'I will and you will listen to me. I can break you as easily as I broke the other girl. The sharingan comes with a price. You were a fool to recklessly chase behind power that didn't belong to you'.

'Curse you! I just wanted Konoha to rise'.

'There can be no Konoha without Madara Uchiha. Understand this Shimura Danzo. Know that when I say that Konoha will burn, you will be the one to set fire to it'.

..

Soaked to the skin, the six outlaws made their way to the capital city of Amegakure. They were escorted inside the Great Tower. They barely had time to drop their travel bags and change into dry robes provided by Konan's employees, before the door to the entrance hall swung open and an orange streak rushed across the hall to tackle the tired medical ninja with green eyes and her sober companion with spiky black hair in a bear hug.

'Sasuke! Sakura-chan! I can't believe you are here!' Sasuke grimaced at the newcomer's exuberance while Sakura caught her best friend in a vice grip.

'Baka Naruto!' She whispered with tears streaming down her eyes.

'Let her breathe, dead-last'. Sasuke lightly patted his back.

Uzumaki Naruto straightened up with tears streaming down his face, still clutching on Sakura like she would disappear if he didn't keep an eye on her. Only then he registered the other four members of the group. His face paled when it roamed over the pearl eyed Hyuga heir.

'Hinata! You are here!' He rushed to tackle the young Byakugan wielder in a tight embrace and kissed her on the lips. The others looked away to give the estranged couple some privacy.

'Naruto-kun…' Hinata choked.

'Hanabi! Shikamaru! How…' Naruto looked like he was at a loss of words.

'Too much for your little brain, imbecile?' Two more ninjas have joined the group.

'Sai! Kakashi Sensei!' Sakura threw herself at the newcomers.

'You are looking uglier than before'. The blank faced ninja sniffed at Sakura's hair and tried his best to hide the slight curve of his lips beneath the usual emotionless façade.

'Sai!' she sighed.

'Kakashi!' Sasuke faced the other sharingan wielder in the room.

'You are back'. The copy ninja stated simply.

'Hate to break this reunion. But Konan-sama wants to see all of you. She is waiting in the conference room.' A Rain ninja poked her head inside the room.

'Ah. Yuri-chan. Tell her we are coming'. Naruto answered with an easy smile. He led the party across the room after Yuri, Hinata's hand still clasped in his own.

'Welcome to the Land of Rain'. The leader of Amegakure greeted the exiled ninjas with a soft smile. 'Uchiha Sasuke. I hope your brother is fine? Rain will forever be indebted to him for the protection that he organized for us.'

'Yes, he is Konan-sama.'Sasuke said with a respectful nod. 'Itachi was in very bad shape. But Sakura has performed a surgery on him which restored him back to health'.

'I am glad.' Konan nodded. 'Haruno Sakura! We are honored to have the Godaime Hokage's apprentice with us. I apologize for the pain that we have caused your homeland and the part we played in the Godaime's death'. She looked at Sakura.

'You were manipulated, Konan-sama'. The medical ninja answered. 'My master's death is on Danzo's hands and nobody else's. I do not blame you for the part that you played during Pain's invasion'.

'Nagato was a very dear friend.' Konan sighed. 'We played right into Madara's hands after our friend Yahiko's death. Revenge and anger. Madara lives off these two emotions. He manipulated our desire to avenge Yahiko as fuel for his insane plans. We were foolish enough and powerful enough to let it become a threat.'

'We suspect that he has an understanding with Danzo', Shikamaru carefully interjected.

'I wouldn't be surprised Shikamaru-kun'. Konan grimaced. 'He was the one who manipulated Hanzo of salamander to kill our friend Yahiko. The way Madara was there to pick up the pieces was… uncanny… for lack of other words.'

'Konan-sama', Hinata Hyuga bowed. 'We are afraid the Danzo would come for the Hyuga clan, now the heirs have escaped his clutches. He has immediate plans to go after Suna. This is verified intelligence. As heir to the Hyuga clan, I beg for political asylum in Rain for me and my fellow Konoha ninjas. In return we would assist you in any shinobi duty that you require us to perform'.

'Hinata Hyuga. Hanabi Hyuga. Your clan is as old and as well known as the Uchiha.' Konan nodded. 'I am happy to receive your alliance'.

'Konan-sama'. Karin stood up. 'I used to work in Orochimaru's lab. I was Sasuke's teammate before I was taken in by Konoha. I am wanted for death penalty in Konoha. I have sensory skills. I can help you in protecting the barriers if you grant me asylum in the Rain'. She bowed.

'Karin-san. You are welcome in the Rain'. Konan nodded. 'Konoha ninjas. I am happy that you have considered me as an ally. You must know by now that Madara is after Rain because we possess the Rinnegan. Your assistance is valuable to me and the people of the Rain'.

'Konan-sama'. Sasuke stood up. 'We come bearing serious warnings from my brother. After much research in the Uchiha archives, we have discovered that the one we know as Madara is not Madara Uchiha in flesh. But he is a very powerful wielder of the Mangekyo sharingan. A true-born Uchiha. He wanted to resurrect Madara using the Rinnegan'.

'But that is not possible now the original wielder of the Rinnegan is dead.' Konan whispered.

'His goals have changed since Nagato's death.' Sasuke continued. 'He plans to use the rinnegan to resurrect the mythical ten-tails on the day of the blood moon and bring Madara back using the power of the Juubi'. There was pin drop silence in the room.

'The entire shinobi world is in danger'. Konan whispered.

'Yes. We suspect that Danzo is sheltering Madara in Konoha', Hinata added.

'The Raikage has let us know that Danzo has used the ocular power of the Mangekyo sharingan planted in his right eye to influence the Daimyos. That is how he became the Hokage and executed my master'. Sakura said.

'These are very serious suspicions Sakura-san. Hinata-san.' Konan was white in face.

'We need to get our warnings to Gaara'. Naruto suggested in an uncharacteristic serious tone.

'Yes. But Sand is crawling with ROOT. How can we get word to Gaara?' Sakura asked.

'Don't worry Sakura-chan. I have my own means of communication, as long as I know where the other person is.' Naruto smiled sadly. 'That's how I communicated with Neji'. Hinata took in a sharp breath. Naruto gave her a tender smile. 'He was proud of you. He informed me that he was about to get you out of Konoha.'

'He died'. Hinata said blankly.

'I am sorry'. He looked at Sakura. 'Shizune-chan didn't make it?' He asked.

'She did.' Sakura bit her lips.

'I see. Is she safe?'

'She is'. Sasuke answered.

Konan stood up. 'Guests. Your meal is arranged. Your lodging is also taken care of. Rest for tonight. Tomorrow we will meet in the conference room to discuss what is to be done. I need some time to think'. She left with a nod to the assembled ninjas.

..

'Itachi-kun!'

'Yes Shizune-san?'

'It is time'.

'What do you need me to do?'

'Use Tsukuyomi on me. I need to be healed'.

'You are sure about this?'

'Yes. It is time'.