The exiled Konoha ninjas have convened in a conference room attached to Konan's office inside the tower. They were joined by Killer- Bee, the eight-tails jichuriki and Gaara- the Kazekage of Suna. Konan was sitting at the head of the table flanked by Gaara on her right and Naruto on her left. The Hachibi Jinchuriki sat next to Gaara, while Kakashi sat next to Naruto. Naruto's toad summon had successfully conveyed the gist of the situation to Gaara, who had wasted no time in traveling to Hidden Rain. Both Konan and Gaara were doing their best to look past the uneasiness brought by Gaara's past captivity in the Akatsuki hideout. The Kage of Amegakure had bowed to Gaara and apologized when the Kazekage had first set his foot in the conference room.

A tensed exchange was going on between Sasuke and Killer-Bee, before Gaara invited the jinchuriki to sit beside him. Bee was still bitter about his ordeal at Sasuke's hands. Clearly their relationship needed much work to be done, Sakura thought. Sakura in her part was sandwiched between Kakashi and Sasuke. Her silent study of the subtle contestations and calculations going on within the room was broken when Konan stood up.

'Guests.' She nodded. 'As the Kage of Amegakure, I am honoured to house this summit. We have the Kazekage, the apprentice of the deceased Hokage of Konoha and representative of the Raikage. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize once again for the numerous transgressions that my old organization- Akatsuki had committed against your respective villages. Bad blood between Akatsuki and the Hidden mist and the Hidden Stone has been there for a long time. I hope you understand that by allying yourselves with me, you are losing out on any potential alliance with these two nations.' Konan paused.

'We need to get as many shinobi nations together as possible if we want to resist Madara. The Tsuchikage and the Mizukage should understand that.' Gaara said. 'The last Kage summit was a failure for many reasons- including the fact that Danzo was trying to manipulate our opinion using the sharingan. But it was enlightening on many grounds. The Tsuchikage may be old and rigid. But the Godaime Mizukage should be open to an alliance, Konan-san.'

'The Akatsuki and the Hidden Mist have had a long and strenuous relationship. Do not forget that Madara Uchiha had controlled the Yondaime Mizukage for years.' Konan interjected.

'It is because of this very reason, the Godaime Mizukage should be open to an alliance against Madara.' Kakashi supplied.

'Nevertheless'. Gaara continued, 'irrespective of the outcome, it was suggested at the last Kage summit that Hatake Kakashi should take up the mantle of the Rokudaime Hokage of Konoha. If it is proven that Danzo was responsible for unlawful murder of the Fifth- it shouldn't be too difficult to rally our forces against Danzo with Hatake Kakashi at the helm as the rightful Hokage.'

'You are suggesting an insurgency', Kakashi was troubled.

'It is what the Godaime would have wanted.' Sakura said softly. 'I can prove that my master was unlawfully assassinated by the ROOT. I was there when Danzo used his Mangekyo Sharingan on my senior disciple to find out my mentor. She was not given any chance to defend herself.' Gaara looked disturbed while Killer Bee was slowly shaking his head.

'With due respect, Konan-sama,' Hinata Hyuga spoke up- ' Any attempt to rise up against Danzo will receive whole hearted support from most of the prominent clans of Konoha. The clans are terrorized by Danzo since his role in the Uchiha massacre was brought out in the open by the Godaime. He was fast losing popularity as a contender for the post of the Sixth Hokage, even before Pain's invasion.'

'Is the Uchiha clan rebellion a public knowledge then?' Sasuke asked somewhat uncomfortably. 'No'. Hinata shook her head. 'Only the clan heads and the heirs know. It was to be made public knowledge only if Itachi Uchiha agreed to accept the Hokage's pardon. He had agreed to shoulder a great burden for keeping the Uchiha clan's reputation from being tarnished Sasuke-kun.' Hinata said seriously. 'The Godaime would have respected his wishes if he wanted to shoulder the burden of this knowledge alone for the rest of his life.'

'What reputation…' Sasuke let out a hollow laugh. 'As if the successors of Madara Uchiha still have any reputation left. We are a cursed clan, Hinata. We bear the Curse of Hatred. The history will know the Uchiha clan to be the one responsible for possibly starting a fourth Ninja War.'

'Not the Uchiha clan, Sasuke. Only Madara Uchiha.' Naruto corrected him grimly.

'An Uchiha no less'. Sasuke whispered. 'An Uchiha who felt he was cheated out of a chance to lead the village that he founded and massacred his entire clan for a betrayal that had happened generations ago. People will remember this Naruto. People will fear the Uchiha clan for what it represented. For Madara. For the Curse of Hatred.'

'Everything does not revolve around your clan Uchiha Sasuke.' Gaara stood up. 'Madara is not only a problem of Konoha or your clan. If he unleashes the power of the ten tails- he can destroy the entire shinobi world.' Gaara said.

'But didn't you say that Madara that we are facing now is just an imposter, Sasuke?' Shikamaru interjected.

'Yes.' Sasuke nodded. 'But there is enough evidence to believe that the imposter Madara is only following the will of the real Madara. It is his aim to resurrect the real Madara using the power of the ten tails, more powerful that ever'. Sasuke said in an ominous voice.

'It appears, we have another unaccounted for Uchiha at hand. Troublesome!' Shikamaru sighed.

'One with a single Mangekyo Sharingan'. Naruto added. 'Oi Sasuke! Can't you think of any of your relatives who had gone missing in the last few years'.

'None since I was born. Itachi doesn't remember either.' Sasuke shook his head. 'It is uncommon to find an Uchiha with a single eye. The clan used to treasure the Sharingan more than life itself. It is difficult to imagine an Uchiha surviving without an eye'.

'I know of an Uchiha who died with a single eye.' Kakashi added somewhat coldly. 'He was one of the most selfless and bravest shinobi I have ever known. An Uchiha from a branch family.'

'Your Genin teammate.' Sasuke said softly. 'Uchiha Obito'.

'Yes. He gave me his eye in his last moments. Your father resented me for his entire life for stealing his clan asset. But I think Danzo got his idea of implanting the sharingan in his own body from that incident.' Kakashi paused. 'But this brings us back to our first conundrum. Danzo or Madara? I personally believe if Konoha is to go against Madara, Shimura Danzo needs to be removed. But I will not consent to any action that might bring harm to the village.'

'If Madara is controlling Danzo, he needs to be removed for the sake of the village, Kakashi-sensei'. Naruto said. 'But can we go against both of them at once?'

'Troublesome!' Shikamaru frowned. 'Konan-sama, you have worked with the imposter Madara for years. Is he really as powerful as the real Madara without the power of the Biju?'

'Do not make the mistake of underestimating him Shikamaru'. Konan said. 'He possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan. Even without the power of the tailed beasts he is a formidable enemy. The cunningness with which he uses space-time ninjutsu is alarming. He has a near endless supply of chakra. It takes a lot of skill to go up against him.'

'My sharingan can use space-time ninjutsu, but not without exhausting my reserves.' Kakashi frowned.

'You have the Mangekyo?' Sasuke asked incredulously.

'Yes.' Kakashi didn't elaborate. 'I might be able to check some of his moves in a face to face battle. But I will need a lot of chakra for that.'

'That could be arranged.' Killer Bee spoke. Naruto and I have been giving chakra to Konan-sama for sustaining the power of the Rinnegan. We can use the power of the tailed beasts. Imposter Madara cannot use the power of the Juubi unless he manages to seal all nine of the tailed beasts inside the statue.'

'The Akatsuki is disbanded'. Gaara spoke. 'Konan-san, if I recall correctly, he should need ten shinobis with exceptional chakra skills to complete the jutsu of extracting the tailed beasts. Madara does not have so many ninjas at his disposal. Does it not put his plans at a disadvantage?'

'He has access to the ROOT.' Konan said.

'Forgive me Konan-sama.' Sai stood up for the first time. 'The ROOT can be many things. But they are not traitors to Konoha. Madara will not risk losing his cover completely for enslaving the ROOT ninjas. It might backfire. I have known the ROOT. They will follow Danzo to their last breath, but only as long as he proves himself to be loyal to the village. Any association with Madara will make ROOT turn against Danzo. ROOT is not a mindless army of resurrected edo-tensei ninjas, Konan-sama.' The former ROOT shinobi looked troubled.

'You are correct, Sai'. Kakashi said. 'That is why I do not want to kill the ROOT ninjas more than what is absolutely necessary. Our best course of action will be to expose Danzo and turn the ROOT against him.'

'Even then, the risk of Madara remains. How long do you think he will need to acquire enough powerful ninjas to complete extraction of the two remaining tailed beasts?' Shikamaru asked.

'Not long.' Konan sighed.'Madara… or the imposter… he plays on your emotions. Not all the members of the Akatsuki had joined willingly or out of their devotion to Madara. He is deceitful. He never came forward with his true identity to anyone except for Nagato and myself. Deidara was coerced by Itachi. Itachi joined as a spy for Konoha. Nagato and I were manipulated… The imposter can go to a great length through deception and manipulation to acquire what he wants.'

'Even when his cover is blown?' Sasuke asked. 'I left Madara once Itachi exposed his true intentions to me. He did not do anything to hold me back.'

'Not then, may be. He knew as well as you did that Itachi was dying. He was not dangerous enough to be a threat. I am sure he had planned to approach you once the news of Itachi's death reached him. But I fear he might do worse now.' Konan looked sadly at Sasuke.

'What do you mean?'

'Leverage was always Madara's favourite game, Sasuke. All he needs to do is to hold Itachi as a leverage on you. You will do whatever he wants you to do. No questions asked.' Konan said dryly.

Sasuke turned white.

'Madara is an expert in exploiting weakness.' Konan said. 'I will reiterate once again. Do not underestimate him simply because he does not have the power of the bijuu.'

'What do you suggest then?' Gaara asked in a troubled voice.

'I might be able to get a strike team inside Konoha, Kakashi-san.' Shikamaru said. 'I still have some contacts with the underground resistance in Konoha. That's how I helped Hinata and Hanabi to escape. Once you get there, you will have to try to take out Danzo as quietly as possible and expose his true intentions to the ROOT. That might be the best course of action open to us for now.'

'I will go.' Sakura volunteered. 'The people should know what happened to the Godaime Hokage. This is the only chance I will get to bring her killer to justice.'

'Me too.' Sasuke said. 'Kakashi and I are the only ones with the sharingan. We will need the power of the Sharingan to go up against Danzo. Besides, I must do this for the sake of the Uchiha clan.' He completed darkly.

'Looks like Sasuke decided for me.' Kakashi said lightly.

'I will try to talk to the ROOT'. Sai said.

'Oi! You cannot possibly want to have a Team 7 mission without me!' Naruto exclaimed.

'Dead-last'… Sasuke muttered with a slight smile on his face.

'I need to save my clan from any possible massacre that Danzo might be plotting.' Hinata whispered. 'I will join you. Hanabi will remain here with Konan-sama to protect the Rain'.

'Very well.' Konan stood up. 'If covert mission is the only option, then let it be so. Meanwhile in the Rain, we will try to form a defense against Madara. Killer-bee-san, Kazekage-san, I look forward to working with your nations against Madara.'

'Rokudaime Hokage!' Kakashi nodded uncomfortably. 'I fully expect to work with you as the leader of Konoha in this war. Do not let us down.' Konan said softly.