My arms and legs cramped from their clutched position around Jiraiya's neck and middle but I held on still as we flew by in trees. The speed made my head spin so I had resorted to closing my eyes and breathing evenly against his back. My heart beat almost as fast as our trek through the trees and my mind soared just the same.

While worried about how people would react at Konoha, how I would no doubt be interrogated, I felt tears of relief at being away from the base of the Akatsuki and away from Obito. The Akatsuki was a constant worry and I didn't have to interact with them nor Obito much, but the intense concern I always felt was easing.

Instead, my worries were focused on escaping now. Will we be chased? Will they find us? Are they on their way? Why weren't they there at all and why had Obito not been there for a few days? I almost wondered if it was to avoid Kakashi's picture, in a way, but surely Obito wasn't that petty…

While I had the good memories of him now, I couldn't shake what he'd done and my kidnapping. How he dragged me through the base and forced me to dress and look like my past self. Obito had been cruel and stolen me from my life. He'd stolen me from my family and friends. He'd forced me to do things and made me cry. This new Obito scared me and while he could be tender, too, I wasn't going to tempt him with anything.

However, I also felt immense sadness for Obito and like I was missing a piece of myself. I could realize that with the memories I had, while I didn't have past feelings for people necessarily, it was like a nostalgic feeling. I missed who he was; the bright young boy who wanted to help others. Who was sweet, helping old ladies cross the street with their groceries. It was a nostalgic feeling, the feeling of your memories being tarnished. Your memories being ruined and the person that you remembered fondly becoming the monster that hides under your bed and haunts your dreams.

The tears that fell down my face and no doubt soaked Jiraiya's clothes were both happy and sad. I was so happy to leave, to see Konoha for the first time in this life – to see an old place that I had fond memories of. I was so sad, though, for Obito and his destroyed naivety and kindness.

When Jiraiya spoke to me, it was in a comforting voice. "Sleep, Rin, I've got you. You're safe now."

I nodded against his back and sniffled a few times before getting into a better position. It took a few minutes to fully settle against him in a comfortable position and a few minutes to calm my mind enough to relax. While my chest still fluttered in its quick, scared beat and the noise clattered in my head loudly, my lack of sleep was creeping up to me. My eyes hurt from all the crying.

I dropped off not too long after. When I slept, I dreamed of a comforting embrace and the emotion gratitude.

I didn't remember seeing anybody, I didn't remember seeing anything, really. Instead, the dream was all black, no noise, but just arms wrapped around me and knowing someone was grateful. I was relieving. I didn't have nightmares like I feared I would. I didn't even dream a good dream. The sleep was blissful and I felt more complete than I had in a while now.

I knew that Rin was watching and I knew that while she hadn't moved on yet, she was closer and she was thankful.

It felt like no time at all when I woke to voices. The blackness around me disappeared and the embrace was gone. I woke to my heart slower than when I had fallen asleep and my eyes somewhat rested. I blinked blearily against the harsh sun hitting my face.

I kept my steady breathing and reveled in the fact that the escape was not a dream. So much was uncertain still, but I was safe. I knew that.

"How long did you say she's been missing for, Jiraiya?" Asked one of the men on the team.

"Dead is more like it." He responded gruffly. "Around seventeen years, I believe."

I bit my lip. I hadn't fully thought of that fact. How I'd been gone for seventeen years. Minato died, believing he'd failed his two students. He'd lived long enough to engrave their names in the memorial stone. And Kakashi…I could feel my heart breaking for Kakashi.

If nothing else, I'd give Kakashi more to live for. For Rin.

There was silence for a moment before the female team member spoke up. "This is going to rock Kakashi's world."

"Yeah," Jiraiya said in a tone that told me he was dreading this. "It is."

"We're almost there." The last male member of the team spoke up.

I perked up on Jiraiya's back and I saw him glance back at me. "Are you prepared for this?" He asked, voice both hard and concerned. I could only imagine how stressful this had to be for him.

I shook my head from side to side but gave him a grateful, if rueful smile. "As much as I can be." The two were contradictions, but I didn't know how else to tell him that there was no preparing for something like this.

His responding look told me he agreed. This was both a happy moment, and a terribly sad moment, too.

The four man team dropped to the ground from the trees and kept up pace on the ground. I didn't know how fast hey ran when I was asleep, but it looked like they hadn't slowed down once. I was so sorry for what they went through to get me back to Konoha, but so thankful as well.

I couldn't believe our luck in getting out – no Akatsuki members – and that Obito hadn't shown up. There had to be something going on that had tied both him and the Akatsuki members up. I wondered how they managed to time the escape so right. Did Itachi give them a specific time, or were they just that good?

Within minutes we'd reached the front gate. Instead of stopping, Jiraiya kept running, then leaping onto rooftops. As we passed the gate, I heard someone ask, "Was that–?"

The voice was cut off, but I heard the incredulous tone well enough. I wondered about the sight we made. For anyone who could see us in the pace we were running at, a woman who died seventeen years ago clutched tightly to the Toad Sannin's body. I could only imagine what rumors would spread and how many would believe them.

I felt chakra signatures closing in on us and following us to the Hokage building. Now that I had Rin's memories and access to chakra, I was sure that the Anbu had hurried to box us in. In no time we made it to the window and how Jiraiya managed to fit through it, I had no idea, but he did with me on his back still. The man was a giant and while I was a bit of a tiny thing, the man himself had no right to fit through that window.

Tsunade looked up from her work as Jiraiya dropped his hands from holding me up on his back and I let go of his neck and stomach. My legs didn't want to work; they burned tremendously, but I slowly stepped around Jiraiya and watched as Tsunade's mouth dropped open in surprise.

Whoever she expected, it wasn't me.

I almost wondered who had she expected?

The team members of the retrieval team hopped through the window just as I fell to my knees and bowed to Tsunade, bending my hands and head down low. I didn't know procedure for this. I didn't know what else to do, but I knew that I had to do something. I could feel tears creep up again at the feeling of home that being in Konoha made me feel. While Konoha had been destroyed and rebuilt twice in the seventeen years since I was Rin Nohara, the nostalgia was still real.

This place felt more like home than my world as Claire had.

"Lady Hokage, thank you. Thank you so much." The tears dripped down my face and saw her feet appear in front of me and a hand placed gently on my head. The hand was firm in its place resting on my head.

"Jiraiya, how is this possible?" Tsunade's tone was rough, the harsh tone I knew to be hers was absent. Instead, I got the feeling she was at a total loss. While I didn't know her enough for her to have grieved my death, I knew that she understood the implications. She understood that there was a huge story to be told, and a massive story to smooth over with certain individuals.

"I didn't have time to get details. We were in and out and because of who we found, I decided we didn't have time to waste."

She made an almost snorting sound, like saying, "You think?"

I looked up at Tsunade and caught her eyes. "I can explain. It's a long story –"

"It's been what? Seventeen years? Of course it's going to be a long story." She retorted without heat.

I felt her chakra ease into me. I stiffened at the feeling, not having felt it in this new body and seventeen years.

"I'm just checking to see if you need any healing." She let me know in a gentle voice. "I know you were a med-nin yourself, but this is basic routine for a retrieval of a captive ninja."

She was treating me like a POW behind enemy lines for almost twenty years, I realized. Her harsh tone and chastising voice was absent. Her pointed retorts were not being used and I'd never known Tsunade to be gentle aside from when dealing with Nawaki, Dan and Naruto.

I didn't say a word as she finished quickly. "Mostly healthy," she noted. "Some dehydration and tiredness as well as sore muscles. Your chakra network seems small, but that would be expected." She hummed to herself in thought for a second. "Your chakra is mostly unused." She noted.

Finally, she dropped her hand and helped pull me to my feet. I stood unsteadily as she put her hand under my chin to look me in the eyes. I stared back at her tentatively and I didn't know what she saw in my eyes. Whatever it was, she nodded and went to sit behind her desk.

I kept my legs steady and knees locked as I stood before her desk. I grabbed one arm with the other and looked to the side.

"Everyone but Jiraiya leave." Everyone dispersed quickly. "Tell me how this is possible first and then we'll get into what you've learned in your time with the Akatsuki."

I turned back to her and dropped my hand to put them behind my back almost at a parade rest. I nodded and started on the story Itachi and I created, although it would have to be tweaked a bit with the recent changes.

"I did die." I acknowledged. "However, my kidnapping and the sealing of the Sanbi was a situation created by the Akatsuki. The…mastermind has been around for a long time. He wanted to create as many wars between countries as possible." I worried my lip and looked Tsunade in the eyes.

I could see I had their utmost attention. Jiraiya's face was morphed into a severe frown in the corner of my eyes. Tsunade's face a blank, but eyes locked intensely on mine.

"When I foiled the attempt of unleashing the Sanbi and died in the process, the mastermind decided that I would still be useful, even in death. He used the Rinnegan to bring me back to life." When Tsunade looked ready to interrupt, I quickly said, "The Rinnegan can bring people back to life at a cost of the life force of the individual."

She nodded at my explanation. I was relying on the lack of knowledge most had about the Rinnegan. It was like a fantasy; an old wives tale. Those who have seen one don't even know how it works. Even Jiraiya wouldn't know exactly how the Rinnegan works. I was never a good liar, but I knew if I stuck to the truth most of the time, I would be okay.

"I…have been with the Akatsuki since. The group has grown over the years and have replaced and discarded many members. I did not interact with a lot with them, mostly with the leader." I hesitated.

"And who is the leader?" Asked Tsunade calmly, hands folded on her desk.

"He calls himself Madara." I said, not lying per se. I was going to stick to what I knew to be truth; Obito was actually the leader, but he called himself Madara and that's what I was going to stick with for now. How was I supposed to know that it was actually Obito?

"What?!" Both Tsunade and Jiraiya exclaimed. Tsunade's calm had cracked and her face was a mixture of furious and fearful surprise. Jiraiya's whole body language screamed that he was caught off guard and I could almost feel the disbelief radiating off of him.

I held my hands up in surrender. "I don't think he is. At least not anymore." I said quickly. They seemed to settle at that and both quieted immediately.

"What do you mean?" Tsunade asked severely. Her face was tight with stress as I spoke.

"The person who called himself Madara originally was very old. He was Madara. There is no doubt about that. It was his face; his age, his voice his demeanor. He was strong, powerful and demanded respect. Not long after my capture, that Madara disappeared and man who claimed to be Madara took over. He was young and wore a mask. The original Madara likely trained someone to take over." I suggested honestly. "But the man who took over is not someone to dismiss, either."

"To think he lived that long…" Jiraiya muttered.

"That he survived the fight with grandfather is what surprises me." Tsunade retorted in a grumble.

I shrugged. "The First Hokage was a very forgiving and kind man, from what I remember reading and hearing about him. Madara – the first one – wasn't. He had a hatred about him. He was spiteful, but also saw the world as jaded."

I could see them mulling over my words.

Tsunade turned her eyes towards mine and held my gaze firmly mouth set in a tight line. "What did you do there? What information did you give them and what information can you give me?"

I took a deep breath. I didn't know how much trouble I would be in, but I didn't have a better story or one without blame. I could only hope for lenience. "I stayed in the room most days, the door locked."

Jiraiya interrupted before I could continue. "The door was locked from both sides." His tone was curious and I was quick to jump on that.

"Yes, the Akatsuki are a wild bunch. I was – uh – off limits to the rest of the Akatsuki members, so while the locked door on my end wouldn't necessarily keep them out, it did deter them from needlessly bothering me. I was also locked in."

"Off limits?" Tsunade asked, confused.

"The only thing I did for them was heal a few members every so often. I didn't have a choice and it didn't happen often. I did not give any information, though, and I didn't need to. The Akatsuki has a spy master and a spy who can be anywhere without a trace." I hedged the information tentatively. I didn't want to lie and I also wanted to give them something else to focus on.

"What do you mean by that?" Jiraiya asked in an almost worried tone.

"Sasori for one ran the spy network. However, their spy is unable to be detected. I think he uses Nature Chakra to blend in? I'm not sure, I'm sorry. He and I didn't interact much. He didn't require healing and isn't used for combat." I made a face as I tried to remember as much as I could. I'd never really finished the series, but I was hoping I knew enough to get by.

I could see the information troubled both Tsunade and Jiraiya as their eyes met and faces steely. Finally, Tsunade broke the stare and barked at me, "We'll get back to that. Continue." Her tone made me flinch, but I told myself she wasn't angry at me. She needed this information and how much I could give, the more lenient she'd be, hopefully.

"Right. Their current members – from what I know – are Sasori, Deidara, Itachi, Kisame, Hidan, Kakuzu, Zetsu, Madara…and I think there are two more. I've never met them personally, but I know they exist. A male and a female." I said cautiously.

I had to be careful now with what I gave as information. I knew that if Jiraiya knew who those two were, he'd run out to face them now.

"The man was named Pein, I think. From what the members said, they believe him to be in charge of the Akatsuki. No one seemed to realize that the one in charge was actually Madara. I don't know how or why. They just don't." I shook my head. I didn't have a good explanation for that. Obito never reacted like an airhead around me.

Tsunade seemed to be thinking over the information. "Do you know anything about their characteristics? How they fight?"

I nodded quickly. Now we were getting to the meat of the information I could give. I knew what I gave would give me a highly different sentence from both Tsunade and the council. I began with Sasori and continued down the line, skimming past Itachi and mentioning that the two Akatsuki members I hadn't met were mostly a mystery, only knowing one had the Rinnegan, as well, and the other I knew nothing about.

I knew how to defeat all of them and I took extra care to bring up moves they may pull, things they had up their sleeves and how best to combat them. I talked about their personalities. Hidan was a hothead, not much of a planner. Things that would be helpful in understanding their behaviors and motivations.

When I got to "Madara," I was hesitant to give too much – I was afraid of giving away his real identity and a piece of me was a little afraid for Obito. However, I knew that Obito was a threat. And no matter what Rin said, or how she knew him before now and the memories she imparted, Obito was not who he used to be. And he never would be.

"That's extremely helpful, Rin." Tsunade said, surprised. While she was still disturbed with the information visibly, she seemed to be mulling it over. "I'm surprised you were able to get that much information about them."

"Who would suspect the captive who'd been there for over a decade?" I shrugged and averted my eyes. "I had no hope to be rescued, and no hope to escape, although I tried multiple times."

I smiled slightly in a sardonic way as I remembered carrying a sharpened piece of wood from my desk's leg around the base like it was going to protect me.

"I didn't get very far. I was always caught…Eventually you just do what you can. When it was obvious I wouldn't be escaping anytime soon, the best I could do was gather as much information as possible so if I could ever escape, or make a move, I'd be able to do something." I shook my head then, remembering my measly skills or lack thereof. "But they were S-Rank criminals, all capable of taking down villages by themselves. I wouldn't really match up."

Tsunade nodded thoughtfully.

"You had your own room." Jiraiya mentioned. "Personal effects. A picture of team Minato. You said you were off-limits. It sounds, for a prisoner you were treated fairly well?"

I flinched. "I destroyed my room, actually. When I was brought there, I made a mess of things and Madara was angry. During an escape attempt, I destroyed the furniture and the door and Madara decided that I needed an extra eye on me, especially since I destroyed my room and door. Technically no other Akatsuki members knew where I was being held after I destroyed my door. But old habits die hard, and I didn't want any Akatsuki members to stumble upon me so I locked my door, too. It wouldn't keep them out if they tried and Madara was always able to get in despite the lock."

"By extra eye, what do you mean?" Tsunade asked, frowning.

"Madara and I…shared a room."

"There was only one bed, though." Jiraiya muttered in confusion.

"Yes, there was." I said simply, a grimace on my face as I remembered sleeping in Obito's arms.

"Did you two –" Tsunade began hesitantly as Jiraiya's face pulled up in a disgusted face. Tsunade seemed while not unfazed, like a fixed look upon her face.

"No! Well, yes? I slept in the same bed. I haven't. I mean, we didn't –" I felt panicky again. I knew how close that could have been. How things could happened. I knew how Obito felt about Rin. If I had stayed there for a long time, would I have eventually grown to like him again? Would I have developed Stockholm Syndrome had I stayed? Is Obito capable of such evil acts when I believe him not to be?

"You're saying nothing happened between you two." Tsunade interrupted helpfully.

I deflated visibly and nodded quickly. I felt my heart racing, but I ignored it for the time being. "I think he may have wanted more? I'm not sure what to think. He was very tender to me at times." I took a second to think about what to say. I didn't want to give too much, but I also had to be clear about what happened there as much as possible. "He gave me things to do to pass time, clothes, a photo of my former team and insisted on make up and face paint at all times."

Their faces were downturned.

"I wasn't treated horribly, but it could have been better." I shrugged helplessly. "I made things harder for myself, to be honest." I mentioned thoughtfully. "I was stubborn and fought with members continuously. They got fed up with my attitude and it was made clear that force would be used if I continued to cause problems. I laid low. Planned and plotted."

I decided to lay a hint out there. "Itachi is the one who told me to lay low." That brought looks of shock to their faces. "During an escape attempt, he took me back to the room and told me to lay low, so I did."

That Itachi had not only not hurt me during the escape attempt, but gave kind advice seemed to confuse them thoroughly. It was a shove that Itachi deserved. Whether he agreed or not, I didn't care. Itachi deserved better. He was a traumatized man who had too much expected of him and bad the wrong choices. But did he even have a choice? That was debatable.

"Itachi only joined in the last few years, maybe ten years ago? That's a long time to be acting up as a prisoner of the Akatsuki." Tsunade noted almost proudly.

I didn't feel like I deserved her praise. I wanted to disagree. I wanted to tell her that I wasn't that strong. "I knew I was in danger there, but I knew that I wouldn't be killed. No matter what I said or did, they could punish me, but I was safe in knowing they'd never kill me. I don't know why, but Madara would never allow that."

I looked her in the eyes fearfully. "I'm sorry I healed them. It wasn't much, but I still feel as if I've betrayed Konohagakure. I'm very sorry, Tsunade, and I hope you can forgive me." I bowed my head then, worried how she'd respond.

"You survived seventeen years of being prisoner and being punished for disobedience. You never gave them information, though. You can be forgiven, Rin. You survived. You're home now, and you brought us great information to better handle the problem." There was no condemnation in her voice. There wasn't accusation either. I couldn't believe that she would just believe me. How she could be so forgiving.

I nodded thankfully and decided not to question her grace. "One last thing: during the time I talked with Madara, I learned that the true purpose of the Akatsuki isn't just to take the jinchuurikis' tailed beasts, but to combine them. They want to recreate the Juubi. Each of them have a different reason for wanting this, but Madara himself wants to become the jinchuuriki of it and cast a genjutsu on the moon to put everyone in a genjutsu."

"For what purpose?" Jiraiya asked, perplexed.

"He said the world is hateful and he wanted to create a utopia." It sounded strange that someone like Madara had this on his mind. However, I could see the good in it and why someone who suffered from the curse of hatred would want to live without hate.

"Well," Tsunade said in a stern tone. "That's not going to happen."

I could see Jiraiya's firm face nod in agreement.

I finally asked the question that burned in my mind since the rescue. "Where were all the Akatsuki members? There's usually one or two around at all times."

"We got notice that the Kazekage was kidnapped by the Akatsuki and sent a retrieval team for him as well."

I gasped at the news. That's where I was in the timeline! That's why no one was around. "They were busy removing his bijuu!" I said aloud.

"I presume so." Tsunade said thoughtfully with a frown on her face.

There was silence and it stretched on as the two Sannin thought over the information.

"Um, am I going to be interrogated?" I asked in a reluctant tone finally giving in to my curiosity and fear.

Tsunade eyed me. "No. I recognize your chakra, as small as it is and you are not unrecognizable. The story, while outlandish, is believable. You'll have someone watching you for a time. Probation, you can call it. You spent a long time as a prisoner and that cannot be denied. You will be watched, and if we deem you not a threat, you will have your watchers removed."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Lady Hokage, I won't let you down."

"I know." She replied shortly. "You must know, however, that not everyone will be convinced. You were essentially dead to everyone for seventeen years, Rin." She said in a severe tone. "You could have easily become a spy for the Akatsuki. You could be fake, someone pretending to be her."

"I understand, Lady Hokage. I will do my best to prove to everyone that I am faithful to Konoha."

"And it's Tsunade."

"Tsunade, thank you. I also don't have anything with me besides my team photo. I don't have a place to stay, clothes, or anything else. I also…is Kakashi around?" The burning urge to see Kakashi was tearing at me.

Tsunade and Jiraiya shared a look. "We'll get you settled. We can get you some money for an apartment, clothes along with anything else you need. Kakashi is on the retrieval team for the Kazekage. I don't know when he will be back."

I held my breath at that, but nodded gratefully.

"Jiraiya, how about you help her get settled. No one will cause problems or question her presence with you next to her."

"Sure." He agreed easily. "We'll talk later, Tsunade."

She gave her agreement and as we headed out, I said to Jiraiya, "So…I heard you're a writer?" Tsunade gave a groan behind me as we shut the door behind us.

"Oh yes!" He exclaimed happily, his severe face and tone nonexistent. "Icha Icha. My masterpiece! Just about to release the sequel."

I clasped my hands in front of me happily. My smile was wide and I could feel stars in my eyes. Finally, hopefully fine literature! And smut. Also, I could relate to Kakashi if I read it, too! "I've heard about it, but no one would let me read it. We have to get a copy at the store!"

Jiraiya beamed at me. "Finally, a girl who appreciates fine literature."

"Well, I haven't read it yet," I teased. "So I don't know about that."

Jiraiya made an offended noise. "Of course you'll like it. I wrote it."

I laughed lightly at that and took in Konoha with wide eyes. People were walking all around us, minding their own business. Civilians and ninja alike were travelling through their day to day activities.

"It's changed since you left." Jiraiya told me as he watched my expressions.

"I noticed, but it's still Konoha." I smiled at the people who passed by us. "I…I'm not sure where to start." I said honestly.

I could see the sad quirk of his lips in my peripheral vision. "Let's start with an apartment. We can then get furniture, clothes, and everything else after. I'll let the store and vendors know that it's on Konoha."

I sighed happily. "I knew there was a reason I kept you around." I grinned at him in thanks.

He gave a short laugh.

"You've changed," he noted and I could feel a frown on my lips. "But that's to be expected, and it's not bad. Considering what you went through and how much time has passed, you'll fit right in."

The words spread through my heart and made me feel warm. I nodded and hid my face from his gaze as tears gathered in my eyes. His hand dropped on my head comfortingly. "It's all right, kid," He said in a comforting voice. "Let's get you settled. This has to be a lot for you. I'm surprised you're still standing."

"Not without difficulty," I laughed in a watery voice.

"Let's go, then."

So like, I've tried to upload a cover photo for over a week now and people keep sending me messages saying the story is unavailable. I'm super sorry about all the problems. You can always find this on AO3 as well if anything happens. I don't know what else to do. Thanks for your support, all the reviews, etc. I'm trying to keep up, but I'm also swamped with work and life, too, so I'm going to try right now to get back to everyone. Thanks again!