I feel very fortunate. I've written eight stories, and on every single one, I've always attracted very polite reviewers. There are some who are just a waste of space, but mine have always been very polite and respectful, even when they're making suggestions for the fic. I don't know how I got off so lucky, but I'm very grateful. Maybe it's my writing style or something...

Anyway...when I write chapters, I just write until I feel like the chapter is over. Whether it turns out long or short is irrelevant. This one was a bit longer (though it's probably not noticeable), and I try to update frequently.

And about Madara...it's not like I was planning on making him some sociopath in the first place. One thing I like about Naruto is how the villains are done--none of them are your standard evil guy (no redeeming qualities). You can sympathize with them (except Orochimaru--he's the only villain that I really can't stand). So no worries there, either. I'll do my best with his character.

He was a middle-aged guy. All he'd done was stop to eat at a noodle shop.

Why did Konan decide this man was the perfect target? He appeared to be just an ordinary guy. Nothing about him made him stand out in particular. Nothing, except that his clothes were travel-worn and he carried a pack on his back. Clearly, like Konan, he was just passing through. So clearly, like Konan, he was a bit more worldly than the locals. This guy, Konan decided, was more likely than anyone to have knowledge about Uchiha Sasuke--or, if not about him, then at least about someone who would lead her to him.

She might not get another opportunity like this.

She went into the noodle shop. He didn't give any sign that he'd noticed her. She sat down on a stool next to his. Now he noticed her.

"Can I help you?" asked the lady behind the counter.

"Er..." Crap. What was the next step? If Konan didn't order anything, it would look suspicious. So she ordered a bowl, even though she wasn't particularly hungry.

She started on the noodles, working out her next move. What, what was she to do?! What did women do to get the attention of men?!

She decided to go for a hair flick, but accidentally elbowed the guy instead.

"Oh. I'm terribly sorry", she said, not sounding very sorry at all.

He looked at her fully for the first time. She met his gaze, expressionless, and it seemed to unnerve him.

No. Wait. Girls are emotional, right? Very emotional. I must be emotional.

How do I be emotional?

"Are you wounded?" She tried to sound worried, but it came out more like a threat.

"No. I'm fine. Really. Don't worry about it."

This wasn't going well. "Oh, well...it wasn't intentional. Just so you're aware." It seemed very important to make that clear.

"I don't doubt it. You don't seem like a malicious young lady."

Wow, you're pretty stupid. "I truly am sorry. It's just that, I've been traveling and I've become terribly clumsy from lack of sleep." Conjure sympathy, right? That works, right?

"A young woman, traveling alone? That seems unsafe."

"I can handle myself", Konan replied. Dammit. I'm supposed to be emotional. So why does the tone of my voice remain the same no matter what words come out of my mouth?

"Where do you come from?" asked the man.

None of your business. "The Land of Rain."

"Oh, really? Where are you going?"

What's your interest in me? Do you have a death wish or something? "I don't know."

He looked confused. But she had his attention.

"As you probably know", said Konan, "The Land of Rain is a wartorn nation. It only recently became stabilized. But things are still bad there. I was orphaned in one of the wars. The only person left to me is my..." She stopped abruptly. "I shouldn't burden you with all this." I need a moment to think up the rest of the story.

"Oh, I don't mind. Please, continue."

"Well, the only person left to me is my cousin Sasuke. He's the last relative I have living, to my knowledge. But I have no knowledge of any places outside the Land of Rain. I've set out to find my cousin, but he lives in the Land of Fire, and I'm not quite sure I can find the way. I'm so terribly afraid I'll get there and I won't be able to find him. What if I never find him?"

"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll find him. What did you say your name was again?"

"Ko..." I shouldn't use my actual name. "Komaki."

"Ah. And what did you say your cousin's name was again?"

"Sasuke."

They met each other's eyes. He had a strange, suspicious look on his face, and she dared him to challenge her. Making up a sob story had been completely degrading in of itself. After she'd stooped to such a low level, she was not going to have this guy doubting her.

"I see. Sasuke. How interesting."

Her disgust at herself was being replaced by shivers of excitement. He knows something. He recognizes that name. She wanted to pry the information out of him then and there, but she restrained herself. Patience. I'm on a hot trail here. For Pein...I must be patient.

"And you said he's from the Land of Fire?"

"That's right." This guy...he can't be trusted. As soon as he tells me something useful, I may kill him.

"Well", said the man, "I'm quite familiar with the Land of Fire. In fact, that happens to be my destination. Maybe I can help you find your cousin, since we're headed in the same direction anyway."

What's this guy up to? "Oh, would you really help me? Thank you so much."

"It's no trouble. Tell me, do you know what your cousin looks like?"

Um, no, not exactly. I've never actually seen the brat. But since he's Itachi's brother, he probably looks a lot like Itachi.

"Black hair", Konan said, "Dark eyes." Should I mention the Sharingan? Nah, probably not. "Um..." She couldn't think of any more descriptions without getting into details, and she was reluctant to reveal that the person she was asking after was an Uchiha.

"That's rather vague, don't you think? Anything else? Does Sasuke...dress in a certain way?"

How should I know? I've never met him. "I don't know."

"What does he do for a living?"

He's a ninja. "I'm not sure."

"How tall?"

What kind of question is that? Let's see...he's Itachi's brother, so I'll just say he's the same height as Itachi...

"About...maybe around five foot eight?"

"How old is he? Is he younger than you?"

"Yes. He's younger." Hold on. How much younger than Itachi was Sasuke? I have no idea. We'll say Sasuke's sixteen. Yeah. That sounds about right.

"Sixteen, perhaps?"

"Oh, I see. I ask these things because I'm also familiar with someone named Sasuke. Does your cousin have an older brother?"

"I don't see how that's relevant. I've already told you that all of my other relatives are dead."

"Yes. Yes, you did. You said you were from the Land of Rain, right?"

"That's right."

"But were you born there?"

Something clicked suddenly in Konan's mind. He knows. He knows exactly who I'm asking for. He knows Uchiha Sasuke. And since I said Sasuke's my cousin...don't tell me...this man thinks I'm an Uchiha as well? What a moron.

Her face didn't betray anything. "How would I know where I was born? No one can remember their own birth."

"Well, that doesn't matter", said the man, "The good thing, Miss Komaki, is that I'm pretty sure I can help you."

The faintest trace of a smile passed over Konan's lips.

Yes. I'm sure you can.

Ok. Calm down. I understand that some of you are probably thinking "WTF?! This is way too easy!" Just chill. Things aren't always as they seem.