Lost.

Chapter Five – The Plight of A Sister.

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Konan looked out of her window and saw one of her origami birds heading towards her. She cupped a hand around it delicately and opened the message. She bit her lip as she recognised the handwriting. "Nee-Chan, meet me at the border between Konoha and Suna. I need to talk to you. Kaito." Konan read silently. Her hands shook. "Please let him be alright." She thought to herself as she grabbed her own Akatsuki cloak and left the room. She didn't notice that Zetsu had been observing her departure.

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"Do you think we should go and talk to Tsunade-Sama?" Sakura asked Sasuke as they left Naruto's apartment.

"I think so. If we don't tell her and there's trouble, I'm sure she'll be very unhappy." Sasuke said. Sakura gave a smile when she saw that Sasuke had a mocking smirk on his face.

"We should tell her really." Sakura said softly. Sasuke nodded and the pair started walking to the Hokage tower.

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"Konan has left to see Naruto." Zetsu stated seriously.

"Bring her back. I don't want her harmed Zetsu. I'll make that clear now. You will not hurt her in any way." Pein stated. Zetsu nodded. "Listen in to their conversation. I want to know exactly what contact she has with the boy. I want to know how it can be exploited." Pein stated. Zetsu nodded again and disappeared.

"That seems rather cruel." Itachi stated. Pein glared at him.

"You care for the boy, do you?" Pein asked.

"I've grown fond of him. He is easily manipulated however." Itachi replied.

"So there's no love in you, for the boy you adopted as a brother?" Pein asked. Itachi glared at his leader furiously. Pein just laughed. "We'll see what Zetsu reports back." Pein said, as Itachi glared even more.

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Naruto was sat in an empty bar. It had been deserted years ago, but Akatsuki members met there often. He sensed a familiar chakra. "Hey Nee-chan." Naruto said softly. He turned to look at the bluenette. Her face filled with worry, stared back at him. She ran up to him and hugged him.

"You're alright! I was worried about you Kaito!" Konan exclaimed.

"But Kaito isn't my real name is it Konan Nee-Chan?" Naruto questioned. Konan looked at him softly.

"You know? Did you remember?" Konan asked.

"I keep getting flashes. Naruto is my real name. Did you really intend to just use me?" Naruto asked softly. "Kai- I mean Naruto. It was never my intention to use you. Ever. When you came to the base, you were like a ray of sunshine. Pein told me to make you feel welcome. At first you were a real mystery to me. But after a while… you really grew on me. You've become family to me Naruto. I never had a family, apart from Pein. Not since my parents and little brother were murdered when I was just a small child. I never wanted you to get hurt." Konan said softly. Naruto looked into her eyes.

"I believe you. But does that mean you'll let me go?" Naruto asked. Konan nodded.

"I didn't tell Pein I was coming here. I don't want him to try and control you. Go back to that village of yours Naruto. Not all the people there cared about you, but you do have friends. People that truly love you and want you back home." Konan said kindly.

"What about you?" Naruto asked.

"I'll go back to the Akatsuki. Where I've been since I was a child. But sometimes… maybe… I'll get to come and visit you? I don't know, but I'll definitely be checking up on you. I don't know how but I will see you every so often." Konan pleaded. Her eyes looked saddened.

"You'll always be Konan Nee-Chan to me. I'm not exactly going to turn you in if you do come to visit me." Naruto replied. Konan hugged Naruto tightly. Naruto hugged her back.

"You're so forgiving Naruto. I don't know how you can be." Konan whispered.

"Because I guess I want to be better than my others." Naruto replied. Konan grinned.

"You know, your dream was to be the greatest Hokage. Did any of your friends in Konoha remind you about that?" Konan asked.

"Hinata did." Naruto replied.

"I really think you could be Naruto. I don't know what makes me believe in you, but I do. You'll be a great Hokage. Maybe you'll be a great peacekeeper too." Konan added wistfully.

"I'll find a way to bring everyone into peace. A world where everyone understands each other." Naruto said. Konan nodded. "What about Itachi?" Naruto asked.

"I'm sorry Naruto. I think he does have a certain fondness for you, but he… he was the one who instigated the idea of lying to you about your own past. He was using you as a weapon. I wish I could tell you if he cared about you or not. Itachi is a mystery to everyone who knows him. Strangely enough, it's that mystery that makes him who he is." Konan said softly. Naruto nodded.

"One day I'll have it out with him. But not today. I think I need to go back home Nee-Chan. Just make sure you keep your promise. Come and visit me. I'll miss you the most out of everyone in Akatsuki you know." Naruto stated chirpily. Konan nodded.

"I will Naruto. I swear." Konan replied. That was when a shadow passed over them. They both turned to look at Zetsu.

"Meeting up with a traitor, Konan, I thought you had better sense." Zetsu stated.

"Leave Konan Nee-Chan alone! She was trying to convince me to come back but I refused! Naruto yelled.

"What a bad liar you are Naruto. I just heard your whole heartbreaking conversation. I've been told to bring you back Konan. Leader-Sama has asked that I bring you back unharmed." Zetsu stated sarcastically. Konan glared, and Naruto joined her.

"I won't let you hurt Konan Nee-Chan." Naruto hissed.

"What are you going to do brat? Kill me?" Zetsu questioned.

"If I have to." Naruto replied.

"Fine then boy. If you want to fight, I'll fight you. Just remember, I'm not under any instructions concerning you." Zetsu hissed.

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Tsunade listened to Sakura and Sasuke's account of seeing Naruto again. "So he says he's coming back here?" Tsunade asked hopefully.

"Yes Tsunade-Shishou. He said he needed to talk to someone first." Sakura replied. Sasuke nodded in agreement. Tsunade smiled widely.

"Jiraiya you pervert, get in here!" Tsunade called. Jiraiya, as usual, hopped in through the window, grinning like a nutcase. "I suppose you just heard the conversation?" Tsunade asked.

"Of course I did. You want me to go and check out what the brat is up to?" Jiraiya asked. Tsunade nodded. Sakura and Sasuke stared at Tsunade. "If he's in danger, we can't ignore it." Tsunade replied. The two younger Ninja nodded their understanding.

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Naruto pulled out his sword and Zetsu got into a fighting stance. "No! Zetsu, leave him alone!" Konan yelled.

"I don't follow your orders Konan." Zetsu stated. Konan couldn't help but feel like her breath had been stolen, when Zetsu launched a flurry of punches at Naruto. Naruto, being as smart as he was, managed to dodge every single blow. He went after Zetsu with his sword, but Zetsu was extremely talented, as all Akatsuki members were, and dodged Naruto's slices. Kicks, punches and hits were let loose on both sides, and both sides were dodging, or taking minimal damage. That was until Zetsu flew past Naruto at a speed that didn't seem quite human. He pulled out a kunai, aiming to take down Konan. Naruto gave chase, going at his own impossible speeds. He threw himself in front of the kunai, meant for Konan. But before Zetsu could bury his weapon into Naruto's flesh, he fell to the floor. Time seemed to slow, then speed up, as Naruto realised that Zetsu was dead. Konan and Naruto saw a kunai sticking out of Zetsu's back. Their gaze trailed over the dead Zetsu, towards the door. There standing in the doorway was none other than Itachi Uchiha.