A/N: On a side note, I haven't read/watched this part of the manga/anime, so don't expect to be anything like the real thing. If it is, that's a complete coincidence.

Disclaimer: Each character belongs to their respective creators, I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 22

Summit Meeting

The journey from Konoha to the Land of Iron took about three days, and it was rather silent. I asked a couple questions about what to expect, but Tsunade and Gaara didn't seem to know much, nor did Itachi or Konan.

Tsunade finally spoke as we approached the main entrance where the summit meeting would be held. "Itachi, Konan, I've warned them of your presence with us, but I can't tell you what to expect."

"We already know what to expect," Konan said, gaze trained ahead. "We're criminals in every land. As long as they know we're here to state our case and not start a fight, that's all that's important. They do know why we're here, right?"

"Of course they do," Tsunade said. "They won't be happy, but all the kages have promised to remain civil—unless of course you start something."

"We wouldn't ruin the chance we've been given," Konan said.

"I know that, but they don't know that, I'm just—"

"Making sure we're prepared," Konan said, cutting of Tsunade. "Thank you, Tsunade."

She just nodded in response, eyes ahead on the samurai guarding the entrance to where the summit would be held. We had been in the land of Iron for about a day or so, and now we were finally here.

"Welcome, Lady Hokage, Lord Kazekage," one guard said. "We ask that you and the two… former Akatsuki members separate now. We will have them in separate housing, with our own guards. It is the only way to remain unbiased."

I saw Lady Tsunade open her mouth, and I could tell she was annoyed, but Konan stepped forward and spoke before her. "We understand, we are happy to comply with your requests."

It was then I noticed the group of six samurai waiting just past the entrance, presumably the guards for Itachi and Konan.

"Good," the lead samurai—so I assumed—said curtly, stepping forward. I couldn't see his face under the helmet he wore, but the tension in his body was enough to know how much he trusted the two former criminals—not at all. "This way."

The remaining five guards surrounded Konan and Itachi, and the lead guard led them away from us.

Another guard appeared out of nowhere, wearing the same helmet all the other samurai wore and said, "Follow me please." He led us through the snow filled village. Traditional Japanese style house lined each side of the street. We stopped at one that looked like all the rest, and he said, "This is the house for Konoha, the one next to it is for Suna. Enjoy your stay here." With that said, he took his leave.

"All these houses look the same, how are we supposed to remember this is ours?" I muttered. Sakura just laughed.

"The meeting is tomorrow, and you're really only expected to be by my side during the meeting, so feel free to do what you want," Tsunade said before heading inside. Sakura and I followed, and Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro entered their house. From the exterior, I knew the house was one floor, and most likely one room, since it was so small. Standing in the entrance, my assumptions were confirmed. There was a kitchen, though I doubted we would use it, and three futons folded up and placed against the wall. Next to them were three pillows, and three thick blankets.

I pulled off my sandals and stepped up onto the tatami floor. It had been a long day—a long trip, really—so I immediately rolled out my futon. I spent a few minutes sorting through my tool packs, triple checking my mental list to make sure I knew exactly what I had before I grabbed my pillow and blanket and fell asleep.

We were out the door around eight in the morning, trekking through the snow to get to the summit meeting. While no one knew the exact way, it wasn't hard to guess we would be meeting in the temple-like, stone building that towered over everything else.

When we arrived we were led through winding halls until we reached the entrance of a circular room. Temari, Kankuro, Sakura, and went through side doors that led to a balcony that overlooked the meeting room. We stood in silence over our respective leaders, next to the other guards, while the kages below us exchanged pleasantries before the meeting.

And by pleasantries, I mean brief hellos before they sat down and Tsunade started the meeting.

"Where's Itachi and Konan?" I whispered to Sakura so no one else could hear me.

"I think Lady Tsunade said they would be brought in later. It would cause too much of an uprise if they just… showed up."

I nodded in understanding, and tuned my attention to the meeting below us.

Gaara sat to Tsunade's right, and to his right sat Mei Terumi, the mizukage. To her right sat the raikage, A, and finally the old tsuchikage, Onoki.

"What's the about the Akatsuki changing sides, eh?" Onoki asked immediately.

"Right to the point, as always, Lord Tsuchikage," Tsunade said. "Perhaps we should wait for our host to arrive before we begin?"

"Forgive me to have kept you all waiting," a new voice said as he entered the room. An old man wearing grey robes lined with white, and long grey hair wrapped with a white turban and a pointed grey beard entered the room.

"You did no such thing, Lord Mifune," Tsunade said. "It was gracious of you to host us here."

"As is tradition, Lady Hokage," he said, taking his seat in between Tsunade and Onoki. "Now, we all have the same question on our mind, so I see no need to repeat Lord Tsuchikage's question. You may speak, Lady Hokage."

"Yes," Tsunade took a deep breath and looked around at everyone. "My fellow leaders, as you know, the Akatsuki has always been the one organization that has even remotely brought us together. I'm here today to say that, with the exception of one, they've had a change of heart. An ex-Konoha ninja by the name of Madara Uchiha has secretly been running the organization from the shadows. Itachi Uchiha discovered this, and, long story short, they switched sides."

"We're gonna need more than a 'long story short' if we're gonna believe any of this," Mei said.

"And you'll get that. I brought Itachi Uchiha, and one of the founders, Konan, with me to tell their story."

"You brought the Akatsuki here?" The Raikage exclaimed, standing up from his chair and slamming a fist on the table in front of him.

Tsunade held up her hands. "Calm down, I only brought two ex-Akatsuki with me. I know it's hard, but you can trust them. Even Gaara has come to, at the very least, accept them, and they killed him." Everyone looked at Gaara.

He looked everyone in the eye before saying, "While I cannot say I one hundred percent trust them with my life, I do believe their story. What they have told me and Lady Tsunade is bigger than all of us, and if we band together, it could cost a lot of people's lives."

"We're ninja, how is this different from any other fight?" The tsuchikage asked.

"That's why we brought Itachi and Konan with us," Tsunade said. "We're not asking you to make a decision now, just to listen to them. Listen with open minds. Can we all agree on this?"

All the kages exchanged looks, then nodded.

"Very good," Tsunade said, then turned her attention to Mifune. "Send them in, will you?"

Everyone waited in silence, waiting. You could feel the tension when Itachi and Konan entered the room, led by two samurai and followed by four more.

Konan stepped forward, and explained the situation. She talked about Madara, and his plan to destroy the villages, as well as Orochimaru's involvement.

"How is this different from what you were planning before you…left?" Mei asked, still sounding skeptical.

"We never intended to destroy the villages. We simply wanted to unite the ninja world and eradicate war," Konan responded, face calm and blank. "While our methods were… violent, we never wanted to destroy everything."

"We understand that it's impossible to trust us," Itachi said. "We're not asking for that right away. We will do everything we can to earn your trust. What we're asking is for you to understand the seriousness of the situation."

"I'd like to say we have time to debate this, but I'm afraid our time is a little short right now," Tsunade said.

"So then what are you proposing, Lady Hokage?" The Raikage asked.

"If we all unite forces, I think we can stop them," Tsunade said. "It won't be easy, and a lot of lives will be lost, but that's why we all trained, right? To protect the innocent, and those we care about, right?"

"That may be true," Onoki said. "But you're asking us to trust these criminals with very little proof. We might have been trained to die, but I won't order my ninja to die for nothing."

"I have to agree with the old man on this one," the raikage said.

"I realize I'm asking a lot, and I can't offer you much of anything right now as solid proof," Tsunade said, looking each leader in the eye. "All I have is my word, and my reputation not only as the hokage, but also a sanin. Our future looks bleak regardless, but I urge you all to choose the path with the least casualties. Regardless of your involvement, I plan to take on Orochimaru and Madara. I will not allow any of our villages to perish at their hands."

"Say you're right," Onoki said. "You really think you can take those two, plus whatever army they might have, and live to tell the tale?"

"No, Lord Tsuchikage," Tsunade said. "I don't see any scenario where I come out alive if I'm fighting them alone. None of us come out alive if we stand alone. But together… together we might save that which is most important to us."

"You already have my support," Gaara said. "I don't plan to see the world that we know be destroyed. What about the rest of you?"

The village leaders were silent as the exchanged looks.

"You've got my support, and the support of Kirigakure," Mei said, looking between Tsunade, Gaara, Konan, and Itachi.

Onoki nodded. "And mine."

Everyone looked at the Raikage. "I will pledge my support on one condition. You and your Akatsuki friends stay away from B."

"We can do that," Konan said with a nod.

A sighed. "Very well. Kumogakure supports you as well, then. However reluctantly. But if we're all banding together, who will lead us?"

"Perhaps Lord Mifune?" Mei suggested.

"I am humbled by your nomination, Lady Mizukage, but I must decline," Mifune said. "While the Land of Iron will support you, it is by our terms we support. We have always been an unbiased ally of all the villages, having me lead any army would only cause problems in the future.

"What about Lord Tsuchikage? He is the oldest and most experienced of us all," Gaara said.

"Heh, kid's got a point," Onoki said, filling with pride.

"I propose Lady Hokage," A said.

"With what reasoning?" Onoki said, visibly deflating, and glaring at the Raikage.

"It was her that brought us together. Besides, she's one of the legendary three sanin. If one of the other sanin is one of our opponents, I think it only makes sense," A explained.

"I agree," Mei said.

Gaara nodded. "It is a logical choice."

Everyone looked at Onoki. "I suppose I'll agree, not that it matters, I'm already out voted."

"Very well," Lord Mifune said. "The Hokage is now the leader of the now united shinobi world.

"Then as my first order of business, I request each village send their best spies to me as soon as possible. I want to start looking for Orochimaru immediately. Lord Kazekage, with your permission, I'd like to use your village as headquarters for now. The desert will work as a natural barrier, plus the village itself is spacious."

"I think that's a good idea."

"Very good. I want everyone to send messages back to their village to let them know what's going on, and also to send your best recon ninja to Konoha. They will report to Ibiki."

"The head of your interrogation team?" Mei asked.

"Yes. He's good at recon, he'll be able to brief and prep a team, and get them going. You should all return to your village, but I want you in Suna as soon as you can. Within the next two weeks. Is that understood?"

Everyone nodded.

"I suppose this concludes the meeting. Unless there are further comments?" Mifune asked.

Everyone shook their head. With the meeting officially over, Sakura beckoned me down the stairs where we met Tsunade, Konan, and Itachi.

"So what now?" I asked.

"We go back to Konoha and prepare for war." Tsunade said. "Konan, Itachi, stick with me. Lord Mifune requested guards watch us while you're still here, but from a distance."

Tsunade took the lead, with Sakura right next to her. Itachi and Konan were behind them, Temari and Kankuro took the back, leaving me and Gaara in front of them.

I felt like I should say something to him, but I wasn't quite sure what.

He took my hand, then, as if reading my mind. "I won't say we'll make it through this because I can't guarantee that, and I hate that I can't say I won't leave your side."

"We'll make it through this, Gaara," I said, looking over at him. He looked down at me, and gave me a small smile.

"Just know I believe in you."

"Right back at you, sand man," I said with a grin. I couldn't ignore the tension under the smile he gave me, or the tension hiding behind me joke, but I knew I had to focus on what was to come. Starting with the long trip back home.

A/N: I meant to finish this sooner, but this has been such a crazy semester. I don't know if I mentioned this, but I'm studying in Japan right now. My semester is FINALLY ending on Friday, so I'll have a little more time to write (no promises, though, I'm planning quite a bit of traveling). But I hope you enjoyed! See you (hopefully) soon!