Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

"That's enough demonstrations. You're supposed to be mastering Hiru," the older Uchiha told his brother's children. They looked disappointed, but focused on the jutsu he said.

Chapter 22 – Sasuke's Mission

Sasuke walked towards the mountainous region of the Land of Earth: Akatsuki's last known base. They were probably still there because the information had come from his brother. Finally, he could see the massive extinct volcano that he was looking for. He was on full alert, Sharingan activated. If he was caught, it meant death. There would be no mercy. An unwanted emotion entered his heart. Fear. He hadn't felt it so strongly for years. A shinobi did not feel emotion, did not fear for his life. So why was he so afraid? Simple. He was scared of never seeing his family again. Laughing with Sakura. Talking with his brother. Training with his son. Playing with Tani. Watching Mikoto grow into a mature young woman. That was what scared him, because it was a much higher chance than normal that he would never see them again. As he entered the massive cave at the base of the volcano he discarded the cloak that concealed him – he didn't need it anymore. It had served its purpose. Casting an Inpei no jutsu and deactivating his Sharingan, he merged into the background. He cautiously ventured further into the gigantic cavern, careful not to make any noise. The jutsu wasn't perfect. If anyone was waiting for or expecting him, he wouldn't be disguised. It was the same if he made too much of a disturbance. There! He saw the ten fingers and face of the Gedō Mazō – the statue that housed seven of the bijū… or so he thought. Eight of its nine eyes were lit. Wait, eight? Each eye represented a biju so that must have meant… Akatsuki had captured and sealed the Hachibi. The Kyuubi was the only biju still free. Sasuke stored that information in his mind. It was of the utmost importance that Naruto knew. He looked up at the fingers. Once, there had been one member of the organisation standing on each. Now only five were filled… Five? He counted again. Five.

They must have recruited some new members, he realised. Great. More criminals. Just what we need – just what I need. More eyes to avoid. He inspected the criminals. There was a man with an orange mask that Sasuke knew too well. Uchiha Madara. The giant, blue-skinned man was also known to him. Hoshigaki Kisame, his brother's old Akatsuki partner. The third one that he knew was the cannibal, Zetsu. Having identified the three that he knew, he focused on the two new ones. To his surprise, they were girls. Not even women. No, scratch that. Barely even teens. One had jet black hair with purple streaks. Her eyes appeared black in the dim light of the cave. She looked to be twelve or thirteen. The other girl was the same age. Short, slightly spiked brown hair with red streaks. Her bespectacled eyes were a pale blue, not too dissimilar to Ino's eye colour.

"Good work. The Hachibi is finally sealed," Madara said. Sasuke didn't like how his visible Sharingan flicked towards the brown-haired girl as he spoke. She grinned childishly.

"So now what?" she asked. "What's next?"

"The Kyuubi, obviously," Kisame said, speaking to her as though she was five. He, too, glanced at her.

That girl seems pretty stupid, Sasuke thought. Why, then, is she in Akatsuki? It's not an organisation that willingly accepts idiots.

"Does that mean that we're going to target Konohagakure then?" the other girl asked. "Wouldn't it make more sense to target Sunagakure?"

"Why's that?" Madara asked.

"Well, we've gained control of Kirigakure and Kumogakure, and Iwagakure is collapsing as we speak. If we then get Sunagakure, then Konohagakure will be surrounded, with no allies to call upon," she reasoned.

"That's true," Madara conceded. "But if we swiftly conquer Konohagakure and gain the Kyuubi, then we can try our new weapon out on Sunagakure just to be sure that our control over the biju is complete before going on to conquer other, more technologically advanced, nations."

"You're right," the girl concluded. "I understand now."

So do I, Sasuke thought. I didn't think I'd get this lucky, hearing all their plans and the reasoning behind them. I was lucky enough to find out that the Hachibi had been sealed, but this stuff is a bonus. I should go back and tell Naruto… but there is probably more to it than that.

"Shouldn't we be more careful about discussing our plans so openly?" the more childlike girl asked.

"Why?" Zetsu asked, speaking for the first time.

"Because, since Itachi-san got captured, we don't know how much they've got out of him. They might know where our base is."

Hmm… Perhaps she's not such a baka after all," Sasuke thought. Who cares about more information? I need to get out of here or they might find me! He turned to go and soundlessly made his way out of the enormous cavern. I think I'm safer now – I'm away from their base and they didn't notice me. He picked up his discarded cloak and started to walk away, keeping his guard up. There was a rustle in the bushes and he tensed, re-activating his Sharingan. Several shinobi emerged.

"He's from Akatsuki!" one muttered to his neighbour.

"Is it Itachi-san?" another asked. "Did he escape from Konohagakure?"

Sasuke had never been more grateful that he looked like his brother.

"He looks younger than Itachi-san," another replied. "Is he a newbie? There's so many of them nowadays…"

"Shh! Ruiizu-chan's coming!" another hissed. "She'll know who it is! She knows everything about Akatsuki!"

"What's up, boys?" a female asked from behind Sasuke. He didn't dare turn around.

"Ruiizu-chan!" one shinobi said. "Who's this?" He gestured for Sasuke to turn around, but the Uchiha didn't.

"Hmm…" Ruiizu-chan said. "He wears an Akatsuki cloak… but he's not part of the organisation."

"Really?" one of the ninjas gasped. "Then who is it, Ruiizu-chan?"

A small hand gripped Sasuke's hair and forced him to turn around.

"Uchiha Sasuke, if I'm not mistaken," she said.

Sasuke's eyes widened as he saw her. Small. Short brown hair streaked with red. Sky blue eyes. Glasses. Akatsuki cloak. It was the childlike girl.

"Uchiha Sasuke," she repeated, a dangerous spark in her eyes. "I am Osutin Ruiizu, leader of the Akatsuki."

I have been asked if the spy is an OC. The answer… I'm not telling you. That would be too kind. Clues will be dropped.

Thanks for reading!

Tsari