The tea house was quiet. A simple little shop that served its purpose, but not the purpose that Naruto had stepped in for. He needed a lead, some Intel, a little help, and to step out of the rain. Any shop, restaurant, inn, abandoned building, or even a large rock would have gotten him out of the rain. He chose this particular tea house because it bore a familiar symbol. It bore her symbol, and he knew that if anyone could help him now she could.

'Ten months! Ten months and what have I accomplished? I've been chasing shadows and grasping the breeze.'

From the moment he left he knew that this would be a difficult journey. He held no illusions that this would be something he could accomplish quickly. However he did expect he would at least have made some progress other than successfully moving from point A to point B. He was beginning to think he had made a mistake in leaving. He was beginning to think that he had made a mistake in several areas in his life. His lack of progress had sown the seeds of doubt in his mind and they were taking root.

'I have looked in every single hide out for the Akatsuki, all of Orochimaru's old lairs, and even some of the Uchiha's weapons caches and I have found nothing. It is almost as if he has disappeared off the face of the earth.'

"Sir, are you sure that you don't want anything else to drink?" The elderly woman who owned the simple tea shop asked from behind the counter.

"No, I'm fine," Naruto sighed. "Are you sure that what you told me was the truth?"

"No," the woman responded, "but what more can I say? One day several years ago she was here among us, and then one day she was gone. If she lives I cannot say, but surely if she does she would have returned to help guide her people as she always did."

"You don't know if she is alive, but you are certain that Lady Konan is not in the village anymore," Naruto said. He was skeptical that was the full story, but he wasn't about to make a big scene with an elderly civilian.

"Correct."

Naruto sighed in defeat. He came to the Village Hidden in the Rain hoping that Konan could tell him more about the Akatsuki, and perhaps give him knowledge and locations of hideouts that might have been missed. At the very least he had hoped she could keep an eye out for Sasuke, or perhaps give him a lead to his whereabouts. Now, Naruto feared that she had died. How he didn't know, but he had to suspect that the Madara impersonator killed her.

'The guy did have a Rinnegan during our final battle. He must have taken it from Nagato, but he would have had to go through Konan to do it. She wouldn't just let that sort of thing happen.'

"Tell me boy, just how does a ninja of the Leaf Village know our Lady?"

"I don't but we had a lot in common." Naruto said with a smile wondering how she knew he was from the Leaf. He had removed his headband as to not draw attention to himself while in the foreign village. 'She knows a lot more than she is letting on after all. This should be interesting.'

"Really now? I find it curious. Before the last war I served many ninja in this tea house. Even the Lady herself came here one time, which is why I will always bear her symbol on my door, but in the time just before the war I heard of a change in our border policy."

Naruto's ears perked up. He had hoped that perhaps her rumor and hearsay could lead him to a solid clue. Even if it was nothing taking a chance couldn't hurt.

"Lady Konan had said that there was one ninja of the Leaf who would be allowed within our village under any circumstances. He and any who travelled with him would be welcomed as honored guests. They say that he is a handsome blond man, with striking blue eyes, and feral marks on his face. But these are just rumors, and our security has been lax since our Lady disappeared. So, I guess you never knew her after all."

"Hm, I can't say that I ever truly knew her. I can say that we had the honor of calling the same man teacher. We also watched as a single man, with the power of a god, tried to change the world," Naruto answered her vague hints in kind.

"I see," she replied sounding skeptical.

Naruto never looked directly at her while telling her this. He simply tried to gauge her reaction out of the corner of his eye. He could see there was conflict written on her face. It was almost as if she didn't know what to say, almost. The conflict was different than that. Naruto could tell.

'She knows something, that much is clear now, but she doesn't know if she trusts me enough to say it. I have no real way of proving to her that I am the person that Konan gave the privilege of free passage, and she has no real way of knowing if my connection to Konan makes me her friend or her foe.'

"I have heard a rumor recently. Just the other day in fact," the elderly woman said her voice trailing off leaving Naruto's brain hanging on the edge of its mental seat.

'This is it, a lead or another dead end.'

"They say that in the tallest tower near the center of the village there is a memorial to the Lord and Lady of the village. These days only the faithful go there, but the faithful are few and far between. Their halls remain silent, but not out of respect. Their halls are quiet because no visitors are allowed to honor their memory," The old woman said with her weathered face never leaving the pot of tea that sat in front of her.

Naruto looked at the small vase of flowers that decorated the table at which he sat. He then turned to the tea house owner and looked deep into her eyes. There was a look of worry and concern. As if she was unsure of something.

'No one is allowed to enter those grounds anymore, and those actually go, do so at their own risk. Either she feels like she just betrayed them, or is worried about her own safety now. She needs confirmation.'

"Are these flowers real ma'am?"

"Yes they are son," she answered slightly confused and completely trepidatious.

"They are beautiful," Naruto commented absently.

"Yes, yes they are."

"Would it be alright if I took them and lay them down at the grave of an old friend?"

The look on the woman's face was one of wonder and appreciation. Naruto could clearly see that any fears or reservations she held about trusting the man were wiped away. "Yes, I think that would be alright," she said with her voice holding back a cry.

'Even though he went far off the deep end when it came to achieving peace, Nagato and Konan were clearly beloved by many. I guess the new regime feels threatened by the loyalty that many people still hold to both of them. Best to tread lightly when I make my way to the tower.'

Grabbing the flowers in the vase he turned toward the door saying thank you for the tea and flowers.

"Come back sometime soon," she said as he stood from he seat at the table.

"Perhaps I will, when things quiet down a bit," Naruto answered feeling a bit hopeful for the first time in a while. It had not been what he had hoped to find when coming here, but something was better than nothing at this point.

Walking out the door Naruto placed the hood of his cloak over his head and started to weave his way into the flow of the afternoon crowd that occupied the streets. On a rare occasion a ninja could be seen jumping from rooftop to rooftop on patrol. Their pattern was already set in Naruto's mind. They formed a fairly standard web pattern with the epicenter being the headquarters of the new regime, and the patrol routes being the major roads and heavily trafficked areas. He had already learned that this new government wanted nothing to do with Pein, and as a result they placed the new government building as far off from Pein's tower as they could. Since the security forces of the village were stretched as thin as they were a large gap in security was left near the place known as Pein's Tower, amongst other places throughout the city.

'Compared to getting into this village, I should be able to just walk right up to Pein's tower. After all, the old woman did say that only the faithful visit which means it couldn't be guarded too heavily or locked down too securely if she is able to sneak in and out.'

His only wish at this point was that he knew about the leadership that was running the village now. He had heard several rumors running through his network of informants. Some had said that the leader was the descendant of Hanzo, others said he was Pein reincarnated, more still said he was the secret apprentice of the Lady and Lord of the Rain. The only conclusion that Naruto could arrive at is that either this person was incredibly good at keeping things under wraps, or the village was being run by a small council of jonin who had no time to clarify rumors.

'Either way, the instability that was left after Nagato's death created too many problems for this regime to last too long. I will need this place stabilized before the tailed beasts return to the world, otherwise it could be hundreds of years before we ever see peace,' Naruto thought about the possibilities the Rain's instability had. Should one of the tailed beast fall into the hands of the Village Hidden in the Grass, which had somewhat aggressive reputation, then they may make a move against the Rain. The chaos would only end in victory for the Hidden Grass and a new superpower could emerge. On the other hand, should the Hidden Rain capture a tailed beast then the instability would likely bring the nation into yet another civil war. Civil war in the Hidden Rain could end with the establishment of a unified village, but who would they be united under? Anyone willing to wage war against their fellow countrymen was clearly someone who could not easily be reasoned with, would likely be both aggressive and ambitious, and potentially power hungry. Of course, a civil war could also end with other nations invading to fill the vacuum of power the broken country would leave behind. None of those scenarios were very appealing to Naruto.

Tuning down a back alley he hid from a passing patrol. Something was off though. Naruto was no sensory ninja, but his gut told him that something was not right. Even though he knew that for most of his ninja career he had simply been lucky, his instincts had yet to fail him. The patrol passed and he quickly moved out. His senses expanded as far out as he safely could allow without risking Rain ninja feeling a spike in chakra. As he moved he felt nothing out of the ordinary.

'Perhaps chasing Sasuke for so long has given me a bad case of paranoia.'

He was coming closer to the next patrol route. It was the last one between him and his goal so he decided to stop and feel out the place before he tried to infiltrate. He found another alleyway that would serve as cover for now. Sitting down in the doorway of what was sure to be an abandoned building, Naruto began to meditate. Stretching out his senses once more to see if there were any major chakra signatures nearby, he felt off again. As if a smaller chakra signature that had been still before, started moving quickly in his direction and suddenly vanished.

'It has been a while since I have been shadowed, but they knew I was looking out for something so they must be pretty good. I wonder who it is?'

Satisfied that the unknown follower would be too rattled at almost being noticed to do anything anytime soon, he began the first steps of a familiar process. Drawing in nature's power was a difficult feat in such an urban environment, however Naruto had trained for years at making the tapping into natural energy an activity that was almost as second nature as breathing. He had become so proficient at it that Lord Fukasaku was convinced that if Naruto continued to master the practice, then it would only be decades before he could collect and balance natural energy while moving around, even if it was only slow simple movements. It was an interesting sentiment since the toad sage had told him that such a feat was impossible when Naruto had first undergone training in the Sage Arts. In his present environment, it was a bit of a challenge to find a large enough supply of nature's secret power for him to use. But, for what he was doing, he didn't need much.

He did not know how long it took. While meditating in such a way, time was difficult to judge. Moments that felt like hours would be seconds and there were times it seemed only a minute passed by but several hours had escaped him. In this particular instance what seemed to be an hour took about three minutes, and as the power of nature came into sync with his own strength new sensations arose. Now he could sense the chakra that surrounded him.

'Two guards near the north entrance of the tower, leaving the southern approach covered only when a patrol passes by. The next patrol is less than sixty meters out, but they are moving pretty quick for a patrol, so five minutes and I'll be clear. Now what about my tag along? On the move, slowly, strained focus, no significant chakra levels, suppressed to an unparalleled degree. Clearly a highly skilled sensory type, but they seem to be ducking patrols as well. An unwelcome guest like myself I guess, but why would they follow me?'

Coming to the only conclusion that he could at the moment, Naruto prepared for a quick and silent infiltration. Either the individual was far too curious, or their purpose meant him no harm. By his estimate on their chakra levels they were no real threat. What had him truly worried was that their chakra, even though it was difficult to tell since it was being expertly suppressed, it felt slightly familiar. He shrugged it off and moved with great haste for the interior of Pein's tower.

It was easy hopping a barbed wire fence. One controlled burst of a small amount of chakra and it was cleared, and after that it was a quick sprint to entrance of the building. Nothing flashy, and no jutsu. Just a simple and clean infiltration. Naruto walked his way through what could only be described as the lobby. There were three bodies arranged in a glass enclosing, upon a bed of flowers, and they seemed to defy death and decay. It was almost as if they were sleeping. Naruto was unsure as to how this was possible, but decided not to question it.

He approached the one in the middle. He wore a black cloak adorned with the image of red clouds. It contrasted his pale skin, yet it managed to match his still red hair. His eyes were closed, and his face seemed to be about as sickly as the day that he died.

"Nagato," Naruto breathed. He found his voice was slightly shaky.

"I am sorry it took me so long to pay you a visit, but things have been kind of crazy lately. Since I saw you last, the war has ended. We won, but there was a great cost to pay. So many people died."

Naruto remembered what he told Nagato he would do. He had said that he would find a way to end the hatred that continued the cycle of violence in the shinobi world. He had basically made a promise that would usher in a new age of peace.

"I haven't done it yet," Naruto started. "I still don't know how to end all of the hatred. There is peace for now, the pain that everyone suffered from the war is what is maintaining the peace. It is just like you said it would be, the pain of war is so fresh in everyone's minds that nobody wishes to engage ever again, but like you knew, like I know, this peace won't last. The Tailed Beasts will return. Even though the ten-tails was revived it was always unbalanced because it didn't have all of the Eight or Nine Tails chakra. So before it was destroyed, the imbalance forced it apart once more."

Naruto had spent years studying the sealing techniques of his clan, and of his father. He did it because he wanted to help Hinata safely remove the curse seal of her clan. He was close to achieving that, and had actually become quite skilled in the art of countering other sealing techniques in the process. However, his study of the sealing arts led to a study of the tailed beasts. He had learned that without a host the tailed beasts were primal creatures of untold power. They would roam the earth doing as they pleased, no intelligence, only instinct and rage. This, however, led to death and violence between them and the people their pleasure tended to harm.

"When they return, the only way I know to properly deal with them is to seal them within another host, but I fear this would only fuel the cycle of hatred. I remember how they treated me, and it wouldn't have taken much to make me become the demon they thought I was. I don't want to force anyone to bear the burden I have lived with. Nobody should be forced to live alone."

Naruto had several discussions on the topic with the various Kage of all of the Five great nations, and while they were not entirely concerned with finding a proper host, they were concerned with how the power would be equally divided. In the end, even after fighting and dying together, people always seemed entirely self-serving.

"I just can't help but wonder what you would do. My idea was to create an organization like the Akatsuki so the jinchūriki would be independent of any one village, and at the same time answerable to all. They laughed about it. They called me naïve. They called me an idealist. They said it was impossible. Gaara thought the idea had merit, but was also concerned with how this organization would be policed. I just wonder what you would do in my stead. I can't help but think that it should be you here, and me there."

Naruto was sick. Down in the very depths of his soul he was tired of everything that had been thrown his way. It was always a crisis, always a threat, and it was always him that had to save the day. There were fewer and fewer reasons to persevere anymore. All of the things that had kept him going over the years were slowly fading away. One of them backed out of his life, another lie dead, and the other was a chair and a hat that he was not certain he wanted anymore. He placed the flowers at the foot of Nagato's final resting place, and stepped back to get a look of the three life-long friends who had Jiraiya as their Sensei.

"I am beginning to think I might have lied to you the day we spoke. I feel the hatred running deep through my heart again. After what Sasuke did, I am not certain if I am doing this for justice or if I just want his blood. I told Kakashi that I wanted Sasuke to pay for his crimes, but I have had too much time to think about how those crimes have hurt me and everyone else I care for. I just don't know how I can do this anymore."

Naruto sighed, trying to think of what he meant by that. To any bystander it might have sounded like he was suicidal, but he wasn't. That wouldn't solve any problems, it never does. It only ever causes more pain. Kakashi was always adamant about that. After all, his dad's suicide was something that left him a scarred and broken man. It was always something he had to overcome in every aspect of his life. Naruto knew that there were too many people looking to him as a friend, as a mentor, and as a leader for him to even think about something so foolhardy.

"I don't think I will ever be able to end the cycle of hatred. I don't think I will ever be able to be this 'child of prophesy'. How could I?"

"How?" Naruto simply stated after a long period of silence. "How could I ever lead this world in an age of peace, when my heart has known nothing but war and chaos? How could I ever accomplish that?"

"You are an Uzumaki, you do what we always do. You keep your word and never give up." A voice answered the question that he believed to have only fallen on dead ears.

'It seems my shadow had no ill will after all.'

He turned to meet this new voice. She stood just over five feet with a head of bright red hair, and eyes that matched the color. They burned with an intensity that Naruto had not seen in a long time. Her pale skin was covered by a purple shirt, and black skirt, and a pair of glasses resting on the bridge of her nose.

"So you were the one following me. I know I have seen you before, but I don't think I ever got your name."

"Karin," she replied, "I was one of the ninja that Sasuke recruited so he could get his revenge on Itachi."

"Yeah, I remember you now. He almost killed you, but Sakura was able to heal your injuries. So why were you following me? Trying to let him know where I am?" Naruto asked as a lame excuse for interrogation.

"No, I don't work for him anymore," she answered curtly.

"I was just asking, no need to be rude," he replied appearing to be put off with sarcasm oozing off his words.

"I will act however I want, thank you very much. I was here to give you some information, but I don't think I will anymore," Karin answered back folding her arms in front of her chest and turning her head in frustration.

"That seems kind of harsh," Naruto said playfully. Something about her just seemed rather innocent and incredibly familiar. 'Must be that childish attitude of hers, it almost reminds me of Sakura. She goes from comforting, to angry in a heartbeat,' he reasoned to himself.

"Yeah, well you shouldn't assume things. Especially about people you don't know," She pouted.

"Well, I am sorry. You mentioned that I was an Uzumaki, and that I should do what we always do. Are you an Uzumaki as well?"

"Not in name, but by blood I am. My father was not and I bear the name of his family. My mother, though, always spoke of her heritage and her clan."

"I see. I will take your advice. I won't give up just yet," Naruto said with a calm assurance.

"Good. Now if you promise to be nice I might just share what I know about Sasuke with you."

"You know where he is?" Naruto said with shock written on his face.

"Not exactly, but I know what he has been up to lately."

"Really? Please you have to tell me! Whatever he has planned I have to stop him!"

"I have been hiding out in the village ever since Sasuke left to try and discover if he was somehow controlling the new leader. As things turn out, he isn't," as she said this a rather audible sigh escaped Naruto. He felt relief knowing his rival was not the leader of a ninja village, even if it would have been only by proxy.

"Well that's good news I guess. It would have been nice if he was though. After all, since I am already here I could get to him quicker, but it's a good thing he doesn't have any army of ninja to command."

"That is where you are wrong, to a degree at least. He is gathering an army. He has been clearing out all of the old Uchiha munitions storehouses gathering weapons and supplies for his army."

"What? Who would join him? The Rain might, but no ninja have left the country since the war. No other village has any love for the Uchiha, and the rest of them don't have the strength to be any real threat to the Leaf," Naruto was at a loss. There was no explanation for Sasuke to gather supplies for an army if there was no actual army that required supplying.

"I don't really know much about this army of his, but either he has one somewhere or he will be able to build one quickly as soon as he is ready. He knows you are looking for him."

"I haven't heard anything but the faintest of rumors since I left home, so I figured he is covering his tracks well. How do you know so much though?" Naruto asked quizzically.

"I have tracked him for a few months now. Until I followed him here that is," she answered.

"You must have a huge sensory range! I could probably pinpoint a fly hovering around the Inuzuka kennels from anywhere in the Leaf village with my Sage techniques, but even I haven't gotten a trace of Sasuke's presence," Naruto never could help his excitement when it came to ninja techniques. He was eager to learn, to push his limits, and test himself against those who were among the best. Karin was recruited by Sasuke expressly for her sensory skill, and knowing Sasuke that meant that she was best sensor Orochimaru had, and perhaps the best sensor Sasuke had ever seen.

"It wasn't too long since he left," she said as her eyes trailed off searching around avoiding his face.

"How long ago?" Anticipation filled Naruto's mind, but his voice displayed none of what he felt. It was almost as if fate had brought him to this place.

'Damn it Neji! I don't believe in this fate crap. Why is it that there is always something that seems destined to happen?' Naruto thought, aggravated that even in death Neji just had to be right.

"About two months ago. I don't know why he came here, but he didn't stay long; only a few weeks at most. I stayed on the outskirts of the village and tracked his movements while he was here. He came to the memorial. I don't know why, but he left this." She extended her hand. It held a single piece of parchment folded in half a few times over. Naruto reached out and grabbed it. "I assume that he left it for you."

"Thank you." He said as he unfolded the simple paper. The words were neat, clean, and direct. It gave its message, made its point, and abruptly ended. It was very much a description of the man who wrote them.

In 6 months meet me at the place where all things must end. There, the fate of the Leaf will be decided once more. The written words spun inside Naruto's mind as he tried to decipher their meaning.

"Cryptic as ever, at least that much hasn't changed." Naruto mumbled to himself.

"You have to stop him Naruto," Karin said with tears streaming down her face. A single hand gripped her shirt near the collar.

"Don't worry I will," He responded simply his deep blue eyes meeting her crimson.

"He, he won't stop with your home," tears poured out in a steady stream as she tried to speak evenly but she was clearly having a difficult time keeping herself together.

"If you don't stop him, he would see the world burn just on a whim," Naruto could see truth in her eyes. Truth and greif. If this woman was like any of the others Sasuke had encountered in his life, then she developed strong romantic feeling for the last Uchiha. Even if that wasn't the case, then she was worried about the implications of Sasuke being allowed to do as he wished.

"I will stop him. He won't continue on like this. One way or another, I will end him." Naruto said with a determination that he hadn't voiced in months. Seeing her cry like Sakura had reminded him of why he spent years hunting his old teammate down. He didn't want to kill Sasuke after all, Naruto just couldn't muster that kind of anger right now. He would rather help his friend back into the light. He would rather see his brother atone for his sins, but he would not deceive himself anymore. He was prepared, mentally, emotionally, and physically to kill his friend in order to save his home and the people he loved most. He knew that Sasuke would not back down, and when he forced Naruto's hand to act, his hand would not hesitate to strike down the crazed avenger.

"Please, be careful. I have seen him grow into the monster he is. He is willing to kill his allies to achieve his goal, and his power is unprecedented," she said wiping the tears from her eyes. "You are the only one who can stop him now. You cannot fail."

"I don't plan on it. Now I know where he is going to be and when he's going to be there. When I see him, I'll be ready for anything. You should get out of here while you can," Naruto declared as he prepped himself to leave.

"Good luck," and with that she leapt away.

"Nagato," he started turning to face the corpse of the man who was once his enemy, and for a fleeting moment a true friend. "I will keep true to my word. I think once this is over I will be able to bring peace to this world. Once this is over I might finally have peace in my heart."

With his mission on locating Sasuke now complete he simply had to play the waiting game. He closed his eyes and tapped into the power of the Nine Tailed Fox that resided inside of him.

'I think I will go train some with the Chief on Mount Myōboku. He should be able to teach me how to use Sensei's sword.'

'With four months of training you should be able to use it without cutting off any of your own limbs,' The voice of the great beast replied. Naruto still found it slightly ironic that he not only made peace with Kurama but had complete trust in the demon that was once locked inside of him.

'Smart ass,' Naruto thought with a grin.

'Are you going to need me to fight with you like we did against Madara? It has been a long time since you faced Sasuke in combat and he is no push over,' the great fox asked, clearly ignoring Naruto's teasing.

'Nah, if it's good with you I need to do this on my own. Besides I don't want to risk the chance that Sasuke could use his Sharingan to take control of you. We kind of got lucky that didn't happen in our fight against Madara and his little boyfriend.'

'You may be right on that. Using my power might put us at risk. He did manage to suppress my chakra with his eyes once before many years ago. Nevertheless, I'll be here to assist you as much as I am able when the time comes.'

Just as the feet of the first few Rain ninja hit the ground near the memorial shrine, Naruto was gone in a flash and far beyond the village gates before a general alarm could be raised.