And here's chapter twelve! As most of you have probably noticed I forgot to add this author comment to the previous chapter… Please forgive me! And, before you can start on this chapter, I want to thank everyone who has reviewed or commented in any other way. Thanks a bunch and please keep it up!

PS: I do not own Naruto

Chapter twelve: Fuzzy goals

"Ano, Kisame-san, are we there yet? Tobi's getting kinda hungry and we still haven't found Deidara-san…"

"Shut up will ya," Kisame snapped at Tobi behind him. He wasn't exactly in the mood for this kind of quarrels, especially not with Tobi. He sighed when the boy finally shut up and then shook his head. Why they had teamed him up with Tobi to search for Deidara was a complete mystery to him, as well as the fact that Itachi was going after the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki together with Zetsu and was probably having way more fun than he was having.

"I'm hungry too, ya know. It's just that I can control it and don't say it all the time," he added, annoyed. Tobi looked to the floor and Kisame grinned. In the end, Tobi was easier to silence than Deidara, especially when he started talking about sculptures or paintings.

"Besides, do you really hate it so much to search for that exploding maniac of yours?"

Tobi quickly shook his head. "No no! not at all! But Tobi… well, Tobi's not entirely sure if this is the right spot, where we are waiting. It might be… a bit further to there." And he pointed to the north, towards where Kisame knew Konoha was.

The shark like man shook his head. "Definitely not, Tobi. To that direction is the city of Konoha – if Deidara was nearby there then he's dead." And he crunched a little stone between his fingers. "as dead as that, I can tell ya." And he looked above, examining the cream white clouds and the light and fresh green of the leaves.

Just when he was lying comfortably and was just wondering if he had brought some beer with him, he heard a soft sobbing sound coming from his left side. He carefully opened one eye and saw Tobi sitting on the floor, bowed forwards with his hands against his mask while his shoulders shook from silent tears.

Strangely enough, seeing the boy like that, broke something inside of Kisame. A bit wondered by where the strange feeling came from, he got up slightly and patted Tobi on the shoulder lightly. "oy, Tobi, calm down, okay? We're… we're going to find Deidara for ya, okay? You hear me?"

Tobi nodded wordlessly, still crying. Kisame smiled weakly. The boy sure was young, especially for an organization like the Akatsuki, where you had to assassinate people on daily base. For a moment Kisame wondered if Tobi was even able of hurting anyone.

"Well then, stop the sobbing and start the lookin'," Kisame said, relieved when the boy stopped crying after a while. "Then I'm sure we'll find Deidara."

"Hai, Kisame-san! Tobi'll do his best!" And he leapt up from the floor, ran towards a tree and then climbed in it like a monkey, reaching the top faster than Kisame had expected from him. Surprised for nearly a heartbeat, Kisame quickly recovered and then also climbed a tree himself, raising above the fresh green leaves to be able to look over the area. To his left, Tobi had also reached the top of the trees and he was jumping up and down, making a hell lot of noise and scaring the living daylights out of some birds.

"Hahah! Did you see that, Kisame-san? Tobi did well, didn't he?"

Kisame shook his head, grinning. "You temee. Stop making that much of noise or we'll have a scout team from Konoha here." He looked to the city in the distance, vaguely able to identify a large tower in the centre of the town and some smaller buildings around it. His expression hardened for a second as a strange, nerving feeling wrapped itself around his stomach and he closed his eyes half to be able to see better.

Something, something was extremely wrong about the situation. There was something with Konoha, something about the silent disappearing of a normal so noise guy and the fact that they hadn't found Tobi. But the pieces simply didn't fit together. There was something missing, something crucial…

"Ano! Kisame-san! Aren't that Konoha ninja?"

Startled by the warning, Kisame quickly returned back from his thoughts and looked in the direction to where Tobi was pointing out. His eyes widened for a second as he saw a team of four ninjas leaping from tree to tree, steadily making their way towards the two Akatsuki members. And by the feeling of their chakra, they were quite strong, too.

"Shit. Tobi!" Kisame pointed down. "Hide and disguise your chakra! We need to avoid battles as much as possible so stay hidden. Don't move, don't talk, and, for god's sake…"

He jumped down and hid in some bushes, with Tobi next to him within a flash. "…suppress your chakra or they'll notice you!"

Moments later, the four ninja leapt overhead, swiftly without making too much noise. If Kisame hadn't seen them before, he could've thought that it were merely birds flying over and touching the leaves. He let out a sigh of relief when they were passed and were far away again, and then got up out of the bushes, staring to where the ninja had went.

His abnormal good eyes were able to see them, even though they shouldn't be able to see or sense him at all. But what he saw didn't make him happy. Not at all.

"Goddamit," he swore and he turned to face Tobi after he had made sure that they weren't coming back. "That was a kage for god's sake. A frickin kage, accompanied by three high level guards…"

Suddenly the missing piece of the puzzle fell on its place. Kisame gasped as he stepped back and leaned against a tree, heart beating fast and palms sweaty.

"Ne, what's wrong, Kisame-san? You alright? You don't look so fine!"

Kisame shook his head and then looked at Tobi with renewed interest. The boy had been right all the time. Of course they weren't able of finding Deidara's corpse, simply because the Konoha ninja hadn't killed him. They had kidnapped him and taken him to Konoha to question him, and asked Kages from other countries to inform them about the information Deidara had given them. It all made sense. Why didn't he see this earlier?

"We need to go to Konoha," he muttered, wiping off his cloak and running up a tree again, making Tobi yelp of surprise before he followed him.

"But, but, Tobi thought Kisame-san just said…"

"It doesn't matter what I just said! We're goin' to Konoha and that's that. And, believe me, we're going to get Deidara back. No matter what."

Kisame clenched his jaws on each other. If Deidara had told the kages about the Akatsuki then they could be in big, big trouble. Although there was a possibility that he hadn't told them anything, he couldn't risk anything.

Tobi made another, complaining sound but Kisame silenced him by smacking him on the head lightly. "No complaints. Either you go with me and save Deidara, or you go back to the organization and explain why you didn't come with me. Choose."

Tobi stopped jumping and Kisame landed on a nearby branch, looking at the boy who was obviously having a large inner conflict.

"Tobi wants to save Deidara-sama," he whispered. "But Konoha is a dangerous place to go to, especially for us Akatsuki. And if there are more Kages in Konoha than just the fifth Hokage then… then it may be too dangerous for us."

Kisame raised an eyebrow in surprise. Tobi was surprising him time after time, and this time he proved to be a lot better in seeing through the situation than Kisame had thought.

"Dangerous, eh?" Kisame said, grinning. "I like that word. And I know you do so too. Besides, as long as we keep our cover up and no one suspects us off anythin', we'll be able to find out where he is in no-time." He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "What do you think?"

Tobi seemed to think this over, until he suddenly nodded so fast that his mask became one orange stripe. "That plan sounds better, Kisame-san! Let's do that! Tobi wants to find Deidara-sama!"

Kisame smiled faintly. "Then I'll first explain some rules to ya about coverin'. Listen carefully."

Tobi raced towards Kisame and sat down in front of him, legs crossed and his hands put in front of him, his face directed towards Kisame. "Tobi listens carefully, Kisame-san!"

Kisame blinked and then sat down as well, leaning a bit back against the tree they were standing on. "Okay. First of all, there's one major condition you have to fulfill. And that is: no chakra use. Understood?"

Tobi nodded.

"Second is that you shouldn't talk. Only when we're in big trouble, or in a fight, you can talk to me, but otherwise; shut up."

Tobi nodded again. "Tobi won't say a word, Kisame-san."

Kisame smiled. "That's good. And then, at last: keep out of trouble. That means no stealing, fighting, pushing or provocation of people. You just walk next to me and I'll tell everyone that you're my little nephew or somethin' like that. Ok?"

Tobi jumped up from the branch and punched in the air. "Tobi agrees completely! Let's go Kisame-san!" And he leapt to another tree, in the direction of the city. Kisame got up as fast as he could and followed the boy, yelling.

"OI! Tobi! Get a hold of yourself will ya! We still need to COVER UP!"

Tobi landed on a tree vertically and then launched himself back towards Kisame, his feet hitting the ground in front of Kisame and missing the shark like man in merely inches. Kisame sighed. "Come on Tobi, get serious for a change."

"Sorry Kisame-san," Tobi said and he looked at his feet. Kisame sniffed. "Yea, sure. Anyways. I wasn't finished talking just now. Do you really think we would infiltrate Konohagakure without a plan or something like that?"

Tobi looked at him for a long time. "Tobi thought that Kisame-san already had a plan."

"Of course I do, idiot! But I guess it would be handy if you were also informed. So here goes." Kisame sat down on the tree branch, signing Tobi to do the same. "First we're going to perform a henge no jutsu. Nothing fancy, just try to look like an ordinary traveler. Then we're going in the city, and when we're about in the main street," he looked at Tobi. "you must collapse. I'll give ya the sign of when to do it but it needs to look serious, okay?"

Tobi tilted his head. "Tobi needs to act like he's ill?"

Kisame sighed. "That's right. They'll take us to the hospital and then look you over. Of course they wont find a thing but that's logical, we'll just say it was because of the sun."

He looked through the thick layer of leaves between him and the sky. "Man it's hot…"

Then he looked at Tobi again. "Do you get what to do?"

Tobi nodded. "No problem, Kisame-san! Tobi will do as ordered. He only has one question." Kisame raised an eyebrow. "and that is?"

"What will Kisame-san do while they check on Tobi? Will he stay with Tobi?"

Kisame shook his head. "No. While they check on you I'll look around the hospital to see if Deidara's there. If they already managed in kidnapping him then they have had to inflict some serious damage on him, so I figured that he would still be in hospital."

Tobi nodded and then jumped up from the branch, forming handseals and then, with a poof of smoke, changed into a young man with black hair that covered one of his eyes while showing the other. He wore a facial mask so that his nose and lips were covered and merely his right eye was visible. And as he looked at Kisame, the shark man shivered.

The onyx eye that looked at him sent shivers down his spine for a reason he didn't know.

"Let's go Kisame-san," Tobi said, and Kisame quickly formed the required handsigns to perform a henge no jutsu as well. Soon a tall man with dark hair stood next to Tobi on the tree branch, carrying a large package on his back. He stretched his muscles. "Good. I'm set. Now, just one more thing before we go, you are Ayoku and I'm Tawu. You're my younger brother and we're orphans. We've seen a lot of the world and we're shy for people. Got that?"

Tobi nodded, jumping from the one foot to the other. "Yes yes, Tobi gets it all, can we now please go? Tobi wants to find and rescue sempai!"

- in hotel Konohagakure -

Dotongu sat behind his desk, reading through paperwork. He sighed. Even though he was in another country, the paperwork would come and haunt him everywhere he went. If there was something he hated about being a kage then it was this, the endless filling in of files that no one would ever read except for himself.

He wiped off a bit of sweat of his forehead. And then there was this damned heat. It was hot and very, very muggy, troubling his breathing and making his limbs feel heavy. I hate the south, he thought grumpily while putting his sign on a rapport or something. It's way too hot here, un.

When he put away the first pile and then noticed two other large piles of paper waiting for him he got up from his chair, angry and irritated. More and more paperwork! If this goes on like this I'll go mad, un… He walked to the window and looked outside, examining the clouded sky and the busy street. His mind wandered to the missing ninja he was soon going to meet. Deidara. The boy with the magical hands.

He took off the gloves he always wore and studied his own hands. There were some deep lines and the skin felt hard of tough work and low temperatures, but what really caught attention were snitches, closing two lines running in the centre of the palm of his hands. This bloodline limit is a double edged sword, he thought while he carefully touched the snitches of his one hand with the other. It's a lethal weapon, that's sure, but…

A loud knock on the door started Dotongu and he turned around quickly, his left hand sliding in his pocket and grabbing a kunai he always held there. "Who's there?" he asked, his voice low. "Tsunade," said a muffled voice from behind the wood. "I'm here to discuss with you about meeting Deidara. Please let me in."

Dotongu let go of the kunai and quickly put on the gloves before he opened the door, letting in Tsunade who looked overheated. "Gee it's hot outside," she said, looking up at him. Her forehead looked sweaty. Dotongu nodded while he closed the door behind her. "I like the North better, to be honest, un," he said and he offered Tsunade a chair. She sat down and he took another one, close to hers. "It's cold, but at least you can dress against the cold, un. Heat just makes you drowsy."

Tsunade smiled. "That's right. But I'm not very fond of the cold, I like warmth better." She giggled. "When it's cold then the only thing I want to do is hide inside with a large fire and a mug of hot chocolate."

Dotongu laughed a deep harmonious laugh, and shook his head, smiling. "Understandable, for an outlander, un. But, let's get to the topic." He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in his lap. "Deidara."

Tsunade nodded. "I've talked with them about it. It's okay for you to show up today around four or five." Dotongu smiled, a bit surprised that he would be able of going there so soon already. He had at least expected that Deidara would refuse to speak with him. "That's great, un. I don't know how to thank you, Hokage-san."

Tsunade blushed slightly. "Please call me Tsunade," she whispered. "Calling me Hokage-san makes me feel so old."

Dotongu laughed softly. "But of course, Tsunade-chan." And Tsunade smiled at him. Normally she would have been insulted if someone called her like that, but, coming from Dotongu, it was merely natural. He's really just like Jiraya, she thought. Everything, except for the perverted side... or would he too… She couched, mainly for herself to get back to the topic but also getting Dotongu's attention again as he had been thinking about questions for Deidara.

"But there's something you need to know before you meet them, though, Dotongu-san," she said, her tone more serious now. "I would appreciate it if you didn't mention the fact that Mizura-san is going to get information about the chains from her country." Their eyes met and, to Tsunade's relief, his looked understandable.

"I see. You don't want Deidara and Haruno to know about a possible release from their situation to be able to get information out of Deidara, un."

Tsunade nodded. He's fast, she thought. A worthy Kage. Perhaps I should discuss an alliance with the North in the council. "I hate it to lie to my apprentice but I see no other way. And the Akatsuki are a too big threat to let this opportunity slip, I take it that you understand that." It was no question, it was a statement. Dotongu nodded slowly, his eyes hooked to Tsunade's. "I wont drop a word about it, un."

It got silent. "Ahem. Then, eh, then I'll be going. I need to inform Mizura about this as well, so I still have to go to the other hotel." Dotongu smiled at her. "But of course, un. Do you know where she is staying?" Tsunade nodded. "Yes, I'm informed."

Again they didn't say anything for a long time, but the silence wasn't awkward. For a weird reason, Tsunade's legs didn't do as she pleased and the refused getting up from the chair. As she looked into Dotongu's dark eyes, she got the faint idea that his presence had more influence on her than she wanted to admit.

But there was something about this Kage. He wasn't cocky or arrogant, nor was he self centered or silent. He was funny, muscled and he was definitely good looking…

"Weren't you going to see Mizura-san, Tsunade-san?" Dotongu asked slowly, his eyes still locked to hers. She smiled sheepishly and then finally got up from the chair, although her legs trembled slightly. "sorry, I got lost in thoughts. Anyway," and she stroke some of her hair behind her ear, "I'll see you at the next meeting. I'll send a messenger to inform you about the time and place."

Dotongu got up from his chair as well and let her out. Just before she went he placed his hand on her shoulder and Tsunade froze. "I would appreciate it if you came and inform me yourself, Tsunade-san," he whispered. "If it's not too much of a worry, of course, un."

Tsunade blushed deeply. "I'll see if I can find the time."

He smiled. "Thank you. Goodbye." And he lifted his hand and closed the door, leaving a startled and blushing Tsunade on the corridor, her eyes wide open and her heart beating hard in her chest. She placed her hand on her chest and took a few deep breaths before walking down the hall, to outside.

She expected to find some fresh air outside, but it was even damper outside than inside and she started to sweat immediately. Sighing she walked back to the hokage tower, her pace slow and her eyes wandering over the people she saw. She wasn't aware of the eyes that followed her until she had disappeared out of sight and then looked back in the hotel room.

Dotongu walked to his bed and then fell on it, arms spread to each side like an angel and eyes staring to the ceiling. How long had it been since he had acted like this in front of a woman? Three, maybe five years? Or more? He closed his eyes. There's no time for this, Dotongu. You need to focus on your conversation with Deidara. Akatsuki, interrogation, what should you ask him?

But the questions didn't come. Instead of that, images of the Hokage kept flooding his brain and in the end he decided to do some more paperwork – he was absolutely desperate – just to be able to think of something else. It didn't really work but it was better than nothing. In the end he managed to work through the entire two piles in merely an hour and then it was time for him to go the Akatsuki member and the Hokage's apprentice.

He locked his room behind him and then walked outside, bumping against the muggy wall of the damp air outside but walking on, a frown etched in his face. Some questions had formed inside of his head although there was one he was going to focus on mainly.

Why, Deidara, did you join?

Why?

I definitely needed to write something about the Akatsuki again so here it is: they're going to infiltrate! Please R&R and the next chapter will be aired in no-time (if school allows me --) See you all!