Three Months Later-
Since Itachi had left to meet up with his new partner Karan and Kaien were left in Konan and Pein's care which was essentially the care of no one since they were never around. Madara occasionally stopped by to check on their training and to test their progress.
The twins of course never progressed enough for his liking and he took it out on them. The twins as always stuck together and protected each other when they could.
On the days they were completely on their own they would spar and practice using their Sharingan as best as they could. Of course there was only so much they could do on their own.
When they weren't training they did what most kids their age would do if stuck in a secret hideout, they explored. Which is where all their troubles started.
"Kai, you have to be quiet." Karan whispered to her brother as they crawled through the vents of the tower.
"How can you keep kicking me?" he groaned.
"I told you to give me some space in case we had to go back. Seriously Kai, how are we going to get good at spying if you can't keep it down?" Karan retorted.
"That's why I asked to go first Kar." Kaien retorted.
"You can't even tell the difference between east and west, no way I was going to let you get us lost in the vents again." Karan said.
"I got us out." Kaien defended.
"We ended up in a morgue." Karan said.
"But we didn't get caught. Respect your older brother." He said.
"By five minutes." Karan grunted as he turned down a vent that got wider so the siblings could be next to each other.
"So much better, I can get some…" Kaien started.
"Shhh!" Karan shushed.
"Wha…" He started before Karan put a hand on his mouth to muffle the sounds before turning his head so he could see.
"That's it?" Konan said.
"That's what all those monks were guarding. For a temple it was really drab. There wasn't anything there except that thing. I gave them a very tasteful display of my art though isn't that right Sasori?" A loud blond said.
"Deidara shut up." Sasori said.
"For a powerful legendary gem, it looks really… small." Deidara said.
"Size doesn't matter, the monks dedicated their lives to guarding the Heart of Kandracar. I know a few interested parties who would pay a fortune for it." Kakuzu answered taking a closer look at the gem.
"You take the fun out of everything." Deidara answered.
"Where do you think the money to buy your art supplies comes from?" Kakuzu deadpanned.
"There are plenty of people who would pay for one of my masterpieces." Deidara said.
"I've yet to see a dime of that money." Kakuzu said.
"Either way there's never such a thing as having too much money. We will need more of it to get the resources we need to achieve our goal." Pein said walking in.
"I know a few places I can ask to see if anyone's interested in the gem." Kakuzu said.
"Not yet. We can still find a use for it here. Until then you should all get some rest, Itachi and Kisame should be here before midnight." Pein said.
"I'll escort you all to your rooms." Konan said leading everyone out.
"Coast is clear." Kaien said.
"We should go back to the training floor." Karan said.
"Come on Kar, let's get a closer look at the treasure." Kaien said.
"Kai!" Karan whispered harshly as her brother lifted up the grate and jumped down. "Uh" She groaned before following after him.
"Wow, it is small." Kaien said trying to pick it up but Karan slapped his hand away. "Ow hey!"
"Don't touch it. We don't even know what it does." Karan reprimanded.
"It's just a rock. Except it glows." Kaien said.
"It's pretty." Karan said. "I've never seen anything like it."
"Me either." He said.
"Nagato do you really think it'll work?" They heard Konan as she started walking closer.
"Hide!" Karan said.
They quickly ran and hid under on of the tables on the far side of the room and waited.
"The Gem is supposed to be on of the Sage of Six Path's relics. The gen is imbued with his own chakra. It should strengthen the rinnegan's power." Pein answered. "If we're going to go after the Jinchuriki we'll need it to extract the tailed beasts from their hosts."
"We already have the statue." Konan said. "It's too risky."
"We don't know if the statue will be enough." Nagato said. "In case we need more power we'll have the gem."
"You're already spreading yourself thin as it is." Konan said concerned.
"It's not your decision It's mine." Nagato said before walking away konan following after him.
"You heard him? The gem can make us stronger." Kaien said.
"What's a Jinchuriki?" Karan asked and he brother just shrugged not knowing either.
"We should take it." Kaien said.
"Are you crazy? He'll kill us if we do." Karan said.
"Not if we have the gem. It can help us protect ourselves from him." Kaien said. "We can run away."
"And go where?" Karan said.
"Konoha? That's where Itachi sensei is from right?" Kaien said.
"He'd never let us go. He'd find us and drag us back." Karan said.
"He'd never catch us." Kaien said with a smirk.
"You mean he'd never catch me." Karan said with a smirk.
"Hey I'm just as fast as you." Kaien said.
"Keep telling yourself that." Karan said climbing onto the table and lifting up the vent grate. "Come on, it's almost dinner and Konan's probably looking for us."
"Okay." Kaien said looking at the gem.
"Kai." Karan called out.
"Going." Kaien said grabbing the gem and putting it in his pocket.
'You'll thank me later.' He thought as he followed after his sister.
After Dinner-
The twins quietly ate the grilled mackerel and rice Konan had served the twins. After they finished they cleaned up after themselves and were about to get ready for bed when someone walked into the kitchen.
"You two have grown since the last time I saw you." Itachi said with a small smile.
"Sensei!" the twins cheered before going to hug him.
"Oh." He said being taken by surprise.
"Sensei, I mastered the earth release!" Kaien said proudly.
"I learned a new fire jutsu and I can do that trick with the shuriken you showed us!" Karan said.
"I can't wait to see it." Itachi said amused.
"Itachi, we weren't expecting you until later." Madara said making both twins tense. He had never approved of how close the twins were with their sensei.
"Kisame wanted to stay and enjoy some more time in the hot springs so I came ahead." Itachi said. "I was just bidding Karan and Kaien goodnight."
"Of course you were." Madara said. "I'm sure you'll want to see how much progress or lack there of they've had with their training."
"I'm sure they have been doing well in all aspects of their training." Itachi said.
"Not in what really matters." Madara said. "Go to bed I'll expect to see you in the training room at sunrise."
"Yes Sir." The twins said at the same time. "Good night." The said bowing before scurrying off to their room.