"He sure put up a fight." Sakan wiped sweat from his forehead.
Tenchi slowly gathered up all the extra pieces of paper fluttering around, returning them to his face. Han lay unconscious in front of him.
"Do you want to carry him, or shall I?" Sakan asked.
"You can carry him on your sword. If I carry him, it will consume my chakra."
"The clones have really progressed, don't you agree?" Zetsu said, rising up from the ground.
"Zetsu-san, do you have a message for us from Leader-sama?" Tenchi asked.
"There's an intelligent one."
"Well, the only reasons you would appear to us are if Leader-sama has a message, or if there are dead bodies to hide," Tenchi pointed out.
"So what's the message?" Sakan lifted Han onto the copy of Samehada.
"All clones are to report back to the base."
"We're going to the base anyway," Sakan said.
"Not that base. The base in Amegakure."
"Why does he want us in that base?" Tenchi started to get a feeling that something was wrong.
"You'll find out when you get there." Zetsu started sinking back into the ground. "The Jinchuuriki should be dropped off at the nearest hideout though."
…
"When you the chance, you should kill this one first." Orochimaru tossed a folded up piece of paper to the clone standing across from him.
The clone opened the piece of paper. "This one will be hard."
"Are you saying you can't do it?"
"No!" The clone stiffened. "It will just take a little time."
Orochimaru smiled. "Take all the time you need. Just don't get caught."
The clone turned to leave, but Orochimaru called it back, "And don't forget the blood."
...
"Where's Leader-sama?" Sakan looked around the base, but there was nobody there except for him and Tenchi.
"He'll be here soon," Tenchi guessed.
"Looks like we're second, Nendo." Tenchi and Sakan whipped around to see Itami and Nendo walking in.
"And we're third." Karasu and Ningyou appeared after Itami and Nendo.
"Now we're just waiting for Kuroi, Shiro, Fumetsu, and Sutetchi," Ningyou summarized.
A voice sounded from outside the base. "I said 'let go,' Sutetchi!"
"Just Kuroi and Shiro, then, hmm," Nendo said, amusement in his voice.
Sutetchi and Fumetsu came in, and the clones could see why Fumetsu was shouting so furiously. Sutetchi had wrapped his threads around Fumetsu's wrists and ankles, lifting her up from the ground. He must have practically carried or dragged her here.
"Forgot how to walk?" Sakan was choking with laughter.
"Shut up, fucking shark!"
Sutetchi dropped Fumetsu, looking harassed. "I had to drag her here like that because she was so caught up in cursing a Kirigakure shinobi."
"I was about to deal the killing blow!" Fumetsu complained, glaring at Sutetchi.
"What's all this noise?" Kuroi materialized from the wall, jumping down to join the other clones.
"Sutetchi found a new way of transporting Fumetsu around," Karasu summed it up in one sentence.
"Where's Shiro?" Tenchi asked Kuroi.
"He doesn't need to come. Our senses and minds are linked."
"Where the hell is that wretched leader?" Fumetsu snapped, "He called us here and he's being late!"
"No, I'm not." With a light buzzing sound, Pain appeared in the middle of the ring of clones, scaring the living daylights out of some of them.
He looked around at them, and asked, "Where is Shiro?"
"Does he need to be here?"
"Call him," Pain ordered.
"He's already on his way."
A couple seconds later, Shiro popped up from the ground the same way Kuroi had done. "My apologies, Leader-sama. I thought that only Kuroi or I had to be here."
"That is all right, Shiro. I still have to notify the other members." Pain formed a hand seal, allowing him communication to the other Akatsuki members.
…
"So the old snake's finally made a move, eh?" Kisame said from next to Sakan.
"I have seen his subordinate, Kabuto, wandering around Amegakure." Pain's gaze raked through the others. "I have decided to postpone any missions. All of us will be staying in this base until further notice."
Ningyou stepped forward boldly. "Are we going to fight with Otogakure?"
Pain stared straight into her eyes. "It is a possibility, but let us hope it will not come to that."
"Pain," Konan spoke for the first time at the meeting, "We should tell them now."
"Tell us what?" Sakan demanded.
His question was ignored. "They deserve to know," Konan pressed on.
She and Pain stared at each other for a long time, until Pain finally sighed and said, "Very well. I'll tell them why this is happening."
Da-da-da duuuummmm! Things are getting intense! What angered Orochimaru so much might actually seem trivial to you guys, but to him, it's a really large blow. Reviews are appreciated, and look out for the next chapter.