Hello everyone. I have a few valid excuses for not uploading. One, I was on vacation. And two, I'm currently suffering from HPID: Harry Potter Induced Depression.

Yes, I am very upset. I feel like someone died. My childhood has ended! Really, I have a right to be sad! :'( I mean... I WAS ONLY TWO YEARS YOUNGER THAN HARRY POTTER! The books STARTED when I was two years old, then the movies started when I was two years younger! *collapses onto the ground and begins to hysterically sob*

Shikamaru: Sorry, I'll take it from here. Ugala wants you to know that she'll upload the next chapter tonight, and that it will be less of a drag than this one. So please enjoy this chapter, and my apologies for the long wait.

"Tobi! Where have you been!" Pein demanded.

Tobi shrugged. "Senpai sent me on a mission!" he chirped.

"Deidara sent you on a mission," the leader clarified. "And what was that mission?"

"He said that I had to go and get him some more clay in Europe," Tobi explained. "And he told me to take my time! So I did! Tobi is a good boy that listens to his Senpai!"

"I'm going to kill that-" Pein began, but quickly stopped before he said anything foul. "And why did you go without my consent?"

"Senpai said that I could... and I've always wanted to travel!" To find those pathetic Jinchuuriki's...

Pein just stared at Tobi. He looked around the living room. There was no one in sight. Quickly, Pein dragged Tobi into a nearby closet and shut the door. "What were you really doing?" he asked.

"It's true. Deidara really told me to leave. But the reason I obeyed is because I was in search of the Jinchuuriki outside of the Fire Country. The Gobi."

Pein blinked. "Wait... didn't we already capture the Gobi?"

Madara scratched his head. "Yeah..." he said awkwardly.

"So... did you forget?"

"That's not important," Madara quickly said. "I heard something about a new member."

Pein shrugged, not caring how Madara had quickly changed the subject. "Yes, there is a new member. And she could be the key to capturing the Kyuubi."

"Oh really? So she's from Konoha?"

Pein nodded once.

"And is she acquainted with Itachi Uchiha?"

"Yes, he's the one that brought her here. She's Hinata Hyuuga."

"A Hyuuga!" Madara exclaimed. "Perfect! Now we have a Byaakugan holder!"

"Yes, it's quite amazing," Pein said. "Anyways, I would suggest that you go upstairs and get to know her a little. She's been stuck with all the weirdos up there all day. I bet she's sick of them."

"Well, I hope that she doesn't find Tobi so obnoxious, then," said Madara.

xXx

Konan held up a perfect origami rose that she had made. "This is my specialty," she explained to a wide eyed Hinata and handing her the rose. "No one is as good as I am."

Hinata studied the flower. There was no flaw. "Wow, that's amazing," she complimented.

The blue haired woman nodded. "I know, I get that a lot." She snatched the flower back and stuck it in her hair. "Have you ever made origami?"

Hinata shook her head. "No, my father said that it was a waste of time." She sweatdropped as she noticed Konan staring at her, seemingly boring holes into her head.

"A waste... of time?" Konan questioned, as if daring Hinata to reply. She just nodded her head timidly. "Why that's... that's preposterous!"

"Y-yeah, it is..." Hinata said hesitantly. "He j-just wanted me to train more because I was supposed to be the heiress of our clan. He didn't think I was a good enough ninja."

Konan raised a blue eyebrow. "Hinata?" she said.

"Yeah?"

"I hate you," she said, shaking her head. "And honestly, I don't even know how or why you're in my room, sitting on my bed, while I teach you origami, but let me tell you something." Konan put the flower in her hair and looked at Hinata. "Just do whatever you want to do."

Hinata blinked. "W-what?"

"You heard me," Konan said with a shrug. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to. I mean, you made the choice to join Akatsuki. You chose to run away."

"That's true," Hinata agreed.

"Life's what YOU make it," Konan said. Then she stopped. "Why am I saying all this...?" she mumbled. Then she shook her head. "Anyways, just screw clan traditions. Let your brother or whatever have the clan. I don't even care."

"Yeah, Neji would be a better leader," Hinata admitted. "Or Hanabi." Hinata frowned, remembering both of them, and let out a sigh.

"Who are they?" Konan asked.

"Neji is my cousin, and Hanabi is my sister. They're both great, respectable ninja." She looked down. "I bet that they're so mad at me..."

Before Konan could respond, the door swung right open, revealing an orange-masked shinobi.

"Tobi!" Konan yelled. "Get out of here!"

"Didn't you miss me!" Tobi practically yelled. The next thing they knew, Tobi was gazing at Hinata. "Ooh!" he was saying. He began to crawl towards the Hyuuga and then he studied her face, too close for comfort. "My, my! What a pretty girl!"

Hinata blushed and looked away, trying to fight a smile. Konan just looked pissed off and annoyed.

"I'm Tobi!" Tobi yelled, jumping up and shaking Hinata's feminine hand. "And I'm a good boy!"

"Hehehe..."

"TOBI!" Konan screeched. Suddenly, her whole body began shooting small origami papers at Tobi. The last thing Hinata heard was Tobi screaming something incomprehensive. Then, when the storm of paper had disappeared, the two were both missing, leaving Hinata alone in Konan's room.

I guess I should leave... Hinata awkwardly thought as she shut the door behind her.

xXx

Neji looked around guiltily at everyone in the clan. They were plotting ways to find the Akatsuki and rescue Hinata or something, but he was only thinking one thing: Should I tell them?

Things had gotten very out of hand. Hiashi had almost lost nearly all his calmness, Hanabi wept every night, and Kiba had attempted to sneak out of the village at night with Akamaru and Shino, but had failed.

Suddenly, the young Hyuuga stood up from where he knelt around the large table.

"Neji, I was just in the middle of talk-" Hiashi started, but noticed the expression on his Nephew's face. "What is it?" Hiashi asked. "Do you know something?"

Hanabi looked at him with hopeful eyes, and Kiba stood up too. "Neji..." he said.

"I should have told you all of this way before," Neji said. "I wanted to find Hinata myself though before she got into any trouble."

The Hyuuga's stared suspiciously at Neji, who began to awkwardly pace around the room as he spoke. "About a year ago, I found out that Hinata was sneaking out a lot. So one night, I followed her. And I found her speaking to a member of the Akatsuki. I guess he was training her."

Everyone looked at him in disbelief. "No way. Hinata would never do that!" Hanabi said, and now she stood up. "She's much too kind and sweet and-"

"Yes, I know, Hanabi. She is. I tried to stop her. I talked to her about it, but she refused to stop seeing him. She knew that it was wrong, but..."

"I don't believe this." Kiba declared when Neji had trailed off. "She would never-"

"Well, it was very shocking to find out," Neji admitted. "But I saw it with my own two eyes. I know what I saw. And she even knows that I know."

"Well? Do you have any idea where they could have gone!" Hiashi shot.

"I haven't the slightest clue," Neji said honestly. "But I know who that was she was training with."

"Who was it!" Kiba excitedly asked.

"Itachi Uchiha."

Shikamaru: Like I said, Ugala will be uploading the next, "MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH JUICY JUICY JUICY JUICY HAWT" chapter tonight ASAP, so please stay tuned.

Me: Th-thanks Shikamaru. You're the best.

Shikamaru: Ugh... just don't do that again.

Me: I can't help it!

Shikamaru: No, I mean that whole juicy thing was embarrassing to say...

Me: It's true though! XD Okay, you're free to go.

PLEASE MAKE ME HAPPY AND REVIEW! Before I have yet ANOTHER meltdown like I actually did when I got home from the midnight premiere... yes, I know, I'm a drama queen. Gimme a break!

Now I'm just gonna go curl up in my sock drawer and sleep for days. :'(