The Allied Headquarters was settling down. Negotiations of how to handle the transition back to operating as separate nations was far from settled though. Most wanted to keep the peace the alliance promised, but few had practical solutions to keep it. Arguing and old grudges kept things from progressing.

Naruto's clone did everything he could to help, but not everyone had accepted him or believed in his vision of peace yet.

The Logistics Division wrapped up most of their investigations, listing some ninja as KIA and others as missing-nin. Sakura Haruno was a sore one for them to leave open, but they continued to leave the case alone for now.

Letters and whatever remains that had been found were sent home to family. The remains that could not be identified were given a mass burial together. Medics began to go home, a few at a time, relieved of duty as the number of wounded being treated diminished.

Kiba and Hinata put in for leave. Shino was back in Konoha recovering from the loss of his legs, and they wanted to see him. Kiba's request was denied.

Hinata had also put in to go back to see her sister and father. Her sister hadn't been permitted to fight, so Hinata knew she was alright. She was more worried about her father, who she knew had fought in a different division. Last she heard he had been injured. Unable to find record of his passing, she hoped that he was home with Hanabi. Her request was still pending.

TenTen and Lee volunteered to stay, having found out that all their loved ones were okay and had put in to stay on duty, other than Neji. Neji had also put in for leave to check on his uncle. Like Hinata, his request was pending.

Shikamaru volunteered to stay on duty, reassigned to aid his father with both the Logistics Division and the Kage counsel. No one from his family that he knew of was seriously hurt. He complained the whole time, but never tried to get out of it.

Choji put in to go home, knowing his father was already in Konoha, incapacitated early in the fighting. His mother needed his help to keep taking care of him. He was approved to go, though he was conflicted. He hated leaving his teammates and age mates, but they encouraged him to go.

Sai had no family other than Team 7, so he also volunteered to stay on duty. The closer he was to the action, the closer he would be to them. Plus, there was Ino.

Ino had insisted on staying on duty, even after being relieved as a medic. She volunteered for Logistics. Her request was approved, since they were short staffed as it was, though she was not permitted to aid with the MIA cases.

She had given her report of Sakura's actions in the camp, meeting no immediate repercussions for waiting to give the report. Sai paid close attention to be sure it stayed that way.

Some ninja that had stayed at Konoha to protect the village from the beginning, while the others were at war, and were now coming to HQ. They began to fill in guard duty now that things were relaxed, the war over. Except for the those assigned to hunt down Madara, the situation did not require their full fighting force on high alert.

Genin like Konohamaru and his team took posts. It was the same for the other countries in the alliance. Some of their medics and fighting force went home, replaced by chunin and genin that had been left in the villages.

Meanwhile, Sasuke wasted no time once Sakura and Naruto left his sight, erecting a barrier around the run-down shrine close to the campsite he had chosen to use. It took more time than he had wanted to devote to it, but he knew it was necessary. Naruto would be checking for Madara periodically, and Sasuke did not want the dobe seeing what he was doing.

After he finished, he paused in his work long enough to follow Sakura's instructions in caring for Anko. It would be better to get that out of the way so he needn't be concerned with her once Orochimaru and the former Hokage were before him.

It was not work he was well suited to. He was at least thankful the woman was unconscious, so he needn't bother with any resistance from her or any bedside manner.

How did Sakura do this?

Breaking bodies was easy, mending them was infuriatingly more difficult. He should be glad he didn't need to learn to use medical ninjutsu to complete the steps Sakura left him with.

When he finished fumbling through Sakura's instructions, he carefully laid the woman on a bedroll he placed on the cement floor of the shrine. He unpacked his supplies and once more set up everything as he had it at the last location.

He took his time this go around, not feeling rushed. If Naruto and Sakura were making good time, they would only be halfway to Orochimaru's old base. He carefully thought through the questions he would ask the former Hokage, and how he would handle Orochimaru.

If needed, Sasuke was willing to put the snake under genjutsu.

Preparations complete, Sasuke sat down to meditate, preparing his mind and body for the task at hand. The meal and rest he had taken earlier did a world of good. His chakra was near full, and his mind was clear. It was now or never.

He was nervous for a moment, feeling the conclusion to his search for answers was at hand, not sure if he would like what he discovered.

He stood over Anko's motionless form, ready.

At the same time, Madara stood over the prone form of his sacrifice, having completed his own preparations. The unconscious Cloud shinobi cried out and jerked for a moment before succumbing as bits of paper swallowed him whole, revealing the true Madara's form.

The man flexed his new, undead muscles with a wicked grin, "It's time then, Obito."

"It is," the man masquerading as the ancient Uchiha said, "though the plan hasn't exactly gone as we had hoped."

"Oh," the real Madara asked, raising a brow, waiting for Obito to elaborate.

Obito swallowed, feeling a sliver of fear, "I have not obtained the eight and nine tails, the last living Uchiha is against us, and the summoner of the dead has been neutralized ahead of schedule."

Madara frowned, waiting.

Obito hurried, "I have procured a portion of both beasts' chakra, which will still activate the statue. Sasuke does have the Mangekyo Sharingan so he can still be used, even against his will. We also still have a reserve of white Zetsu. The Allied Army does not suspect a thing."

"Very well," Madara said, closing his eyes, "while not ideal, the plan will move forward. Activate the statue. I will eliminate any resistance from the Allied Army with the rest of our Zetsu before I summon it. Bring me the boy, or at least bring me his eyes."

Madara stood up, gathering his belongings Obito had laid out according to his instructions. Everything was there, his armor, his fan, and his scrolls. He put everything in its place.

Turning back to Obito and opening his eyes, Madara revealed his own Mangekyo Sharingan, ready.

Obito squeezed his fists and nodded to Madara as he departed for the Alliance. Obito would gladly bring him back Sasuke's eyes, after making Sasuke watch the girl die and leaving him to bleed out. He relished the thought of the different ways he could do it.

He would start by incapacitating Sasuke, paralyze him so that he was conscious but unable to move. He would position his body and tape his eyelids open if needed so that he had no choice but to see what he would do to her.

He activated his kamui, ready.

Unbeknownst to the two Uchiha men, Black Zetsu smiled widely from the shadows of their hideout, his own plan on track. When Sasuke beheaded him, he had only played dead. It allowed him even more freedom to operate if they thought he was gone. Mother would be so proud of him and pleased with his hard work. It was almost time.