Yes. So finally I've been motivated enough to do another chapter. Sorry to my readers, but here it is. R&R :D

Sakura and Shikamaru stood dead on the spot, mouth wide open, unable to comprehend what they were seeing in front of them.

It was the Cat who started. "What?" she giggled. "You two look like you've see a ghost, and surely I don't look like one!"

"It's not you... I mean it is... but I guess it that..." Shikamaru couldn't quite find the correct words to describe what was going on through his mind.

"We didn't expect you to be like this." Sakura said at last. "Please don't take this the wrong way but we expected you to be..."

"Older." Natsu finished, happily smiling. "Oh, if you're worried about that, then there is no need! Everyone who sees me think the same way. Even my brother does sometimes."

Sakura let out a breath she was holding tightly, clenched in her stomach and Shikamaru seemed to be breathing again.

"Well, are we just going to stand here? Follow me." Natsu turned around and disappeared into the hallway.

---

"Hidan stop humping that tree and let's go back to the hideout. If we're last leader isn't going to be very happy." Kakuzu said, aggravated by Hidan's immaturity.

"I'm not- humping- the fucking- tree." Hidan said, struggling to talk. He was upside down with his feet in the air trying to reach the arm he lost, whilst trying to fend off the massive spider crawling on his face. This left him in such an awkward position that, to anyone, it would look like he was having some sort of relationship with the tree.

"No shit. I don't want to lag behind, again, because of my extremely baby-like partner who is doing something inhuman. Now hurry the fuck up so we can go.

"What does it look like I'm doing to you?" Hidan complained. "It's not my fault-" Just then he made a choking sound followed by gurgling and large intakes of air. Kakuzu turned his head slightly to see what the dick has done this time.

"I..I..I" Hidan was puking now. "That spider...it..."

Kakuzu smiled. He walked over to the tree and reached up to get Hidan's missing arm. "It's called karma." He said to the still vomiting Hidan. "Now stop messing around. Let's go."

---

The nine Akatsuki members minus two are sitting in a circle, patiently waiting for the remaining two idiots who are, consistently, always late.

"Does it ever occur to them that there are people here waiting to get their hands on some brats who provide countless hours of entertainment?" Deidara sighed. His patience is very limited, and he had already pushed it further under Sasori's command.

"I bet it's that Hidan. He's like a thing you can never get rid of, that sticks to you and doesn't come off." Kisame muttered.

"Maybe next time you should tell them to come early." Itachi said, examining his ring carelessly.

"But it is quieter without that baby around." Zetsu said.

"I'll have to agree with you on that." His other half said.

"We could be feeding now, if it wasn't for him..."

Pein closed his eyes and tilted his head back. His meeting has, once again, failed. He sighed and thought what will I do with the pair?

Finally he made a decision and said "We'll wait a little longer."

There were a couple of groans and mutters, but then everything was silent.

Time ticked on and Deidara's complaints jumped in here and there and disturbed the silence but other than that, there was dead silence. No one made a sound.

Finally, having waited long enough himself, Pein announced to his teammates that he would call upon them another time and the pair would be chastised when they do show up.

With that, the team forwarded out and made their way back to wherever they were supposed to be.

---

"Tsunade-sama!"

Tsunade turned around from her intense thinking and came back to earth. "What is it?" she inquired at the rather puffed looking messenger now standing in front of her. From his forehead protector she could tell he was from the village of the sand.

"The sand village has spotted remains of shinobis around a 10km radius of the village. The patrols say there were signs of "black flames" that could not be put out."

Tsunade knew about the black flame, but has never seen one herself. It was rare to see it since there is only one person left alive who could use the jutsu.

Itachi Uchiha.

She sent the messenger away, knowing that he had come as quickly as possible to deliver the message, to a nearby Anbu station for him to get some rest and make his way back the next day. This also gave her some time to construct a plan as to what to do with the attacks. Gee the Akatsuki moves fast. Much faster than we'd expected... She thought.

---

Sasuke smiled, having heard the rumors about the mysterious black flames. This meant Itachi. The person he had wanted to kill since the day his family was slaughtered and his clan wiped out. Sweet revenge has jumped out to him. This must be my lucky day, he thought, and made his way towards the sand village where the flames were spotted.

Orochimaru, that psycho, wouldn't mind if I had some fun, he thought. Plus, what's he going to do about it? He was satisfied. Finally given the chance to avenge his mother and father, and his clan, he wasn't going to let this slip down the drain.

What does this story need? Romance? More Action? Even more humour?

Please tell me. Any type of review: (criticism encouraged, flames, or just how you think about It.) is appreciated. Ty for those who bother to click the button :D

P.s Reference to Tobi. Did anyone spot it?