Author's Note

So, chapter 30! This has been going pretty smoothly. Last chapter gave me a bit more time to plan things out, recover from Thanksgiving, and just get a few more ideas and plans for the future, so I think it was worth it. I was thinking of doing a similar chapter for Kumo, but I think I'll just write a few Kumo side-stories for the next few chapters instead to kind of balance out the amount of stuff talked about in Iwa.

ThatLastNanaya: After looking a bit more into Fu, I felt she would be more of the type. Glad you agree!

Naroku: Right, will definitely try to flesh things out a bit more. Got one scene here but it's not too long or detailed mostly on purpose since I just wanted to throw it in.

Kurogano Yokaze: I'm just at the point where I'm like 'It ends when it ends'. I actually tried to write out an outline of what I want to include in the story. I really did. Just going to say it was a bad idea.

Warning! This story will contain language, sexual situations, and possibly fetishes that some people may feel uncomfortable with. If you are easily offended or disturbed, don't complain, you've been warned.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 30: When Answers Lead to More Questions

Yoichi paced back and forth in the main room, the other occupant questioningly watching him as he did so.

"First off, how are you alive?" He asks, stopping in front of Konan who blinked and shrugged.

"I never died. Why would you think I wasn't?" She responds, Yoichi crossing his arms.

"You never contacted me or showed any sign you were alright. Plus I asked Itachi about you, and he told me that you were gone."

"Well, for the first part, I live in a place where it always rains and had to send paper through it and to Kiri that has the heaviest fog in the world. No amount of chakra would keep it in flight. I did try, if that makes up for it. As for Itachi, well… I don't know why he told you that." She said, shifting a bit to get comfortable in the chair she sat in.

"Alright, just will have to bring it up with him later… Secondly, why are you so young? And don't tell me it's from some kind of cream, because I'm sure it doesn't make you shorter." It was just a bit… odd to see her as she was. She was practically the same as when he first met her, currently wearing the outfit she had worn beneath her Akatsuki cloak, but definitely in a smaller size. They had practically swapped heights, him being taller than her. She let out a sigh.

"I… don't know if I can tell you that. If you really wanted to know, I'd have to ask Itachi to see what you knew first." Yoichi pinched the bridge of his nose, Konan looking down and to the side.

"Okay, then… Well, can you at least tell me why you came here? I thought you were Nagato- I mean, Pain's partner. Itachi mentioned that the goals of Akatsuki had changed, but he didn't explain in what ways." Konan got up and moved in front of him, wrapping her arms around him.

"Because I missed you. Isn't that enough?" Letting out a sigh, Yoichi wrapped his arms around her, but shook his head.

"Konan, I missed you too. More than you know. But it's been just less than two years since we saw each other, and you were only around for a week. It's hard to believe that you come out of nowhere two years after that week, younger for some reason, and it's only because you missed me. This isn't good timing exactly, either." He glanced to the doorway that led to the hall to the bedrooms, hoping Kin and Tayuya didn't wake up soon. Konan broke the hug, taking a step back.

"I should've known I couldn't fool you… If you want to know, I have to talk with Itachi first. I came here first only because I really did miss you, but I didn't know where he was." She said, avoiding eye contact with him. Yoichi sighed and thought for a moment. This wasn't the best timing in the world, but he could tell something was going on. Konan was afraid of something.

"Okay, I'll take you to him. He should be at the hospital, being treated for a sickness he got from straining himself. I just need to write a note for someone in case I'm gone when they wake up." He said, Konan nodding glumly. Writing up a quick note, he put it on the inside of his door for the girls to see when they woke up.

He then led Konan to the hospital, her putting on a henge just in case anyone recognized her. They were told where Itachi was, Yoichi giving the fake name he was under as there would still be people in the village who'd want him dead, opening the door to see the Uchiha gazing out of the window before turning to him, an empty bed not too far from his own.

"Yoichi." He stated, neither a greeting or a question of why he was here. "If you're looking for Satsuki, she's already been discharged and is being helped by a few of her friends in settling into her temporary apartment." Yoichi shook his head, stepping inside, followed by Konan who closed the door quickly behind her before dispelling her henge.

"I'm here because she needs to speak with you." Yoichi said, but Itachi didn't seem to pay attention to him, narrowing his eyes as he stared at Konan, his now eternal mangekyo sharingan activating for a few moments.

"You should be dead." He said to her, Konan looking confused.

"What? Itachi, I don't understand, why do you think I died?" She asked him, Itachi's expression not changing.

"Zetsu told me. After I left, he told me that the members of Akatsuki drank water from the god tree and died from it." Itachi widened his eyes, cursing under his breath. Seems he had just been deceived by him. Konan became even more confused at that.

"Wait, how long after you left did he tell you that?"

"Two weeks."

"But… that's impossible! Nagato killed him a week before that!" Yoichi and Itachi both looked to her in shock.

"Konan, you stay here. I think Tsunade and Jiraiya need to be here too." He said, the Uchiha nodding in agreement.

"I… I don't understand. This doesn't make any sense!" Konan exclaimed, the others around her looking to her but couldn't disagree. "Zetsu should be dead! I watched Nagato drain his life before my eyes and I burned his body. So, why did he show up not just once, but twice!?"

"Konan, calm down. Let's go over what we know. I'm just as confused as you are." Her former sensei told her, happy to see his former student, but disturbed at how young she looked while also sad that the circumstances were the way they were.

"So, after trying to get Yoichi's help, Konan returned to the Akatsuki where she would try to convince Nagato, who was under the guise of Pain to be the leader, that they were doing things the wrong way. However, while she succeeded, he wasn't the real leader, instead being guided by someone named Tobi who claimed to be Madara Uchiha. Despite his change of heart, he continued things as normal to found out his real plan. Am I correct so far?" Tsunade asked, to which Konan nodded.

"You managed to keep the charade up, even after finding out that the plan was going to be unable to succeed, telling him that the information on the jinchuriki was vague and that they continued to be on the move, even saying that Itachi was still part of the Akatsuki after he had left. Eventually, he became fed up with the lack of progress, approaching Nagato with the real god tree water, telling him it would make him stronger and give him back the use of his body, which it did. But, instead of how he planned of things going down, Nagato took advantage of this and tried to kill them both, but only succeeded in kill Zetsu." Another nod. Here's where things got a bit… tricky.

"With his Rinnegan, he was able to absorb his soul, reading his memories, then you personally burned his corpse. Nagato learned that Tobi wasn't Madara, but another Uchiha by the name of Obito who had been saved by Madara who Zetsu had kept alive somehow. Not only that, but the real goal was to use a statue to absorb the chakra of the tailed beasts to cast something called Infinite Tsukiyomi on the world to rule it." Konan nodded once more and spoke.

"Right. It sounds farfetched, and I don't understand it either, but that's what Nagato told me. I know he wouldn't make up something like that, so all of it I believe to be true. But it's everything after that is what I'm confused about." This time, Itachi spoke up.

"Right. It doesn't explain why Zetsu showed up again, or why he claims to have the god tree water. Nagato took it all for himself when he learned of it, wanting to use his Rinnegan to help the world. As for Obito, he must have some sort of plan if he's been working with Zetsu and we haven't seen him come back."

"I know an Obito Uchiha. He was one of the Fourth Hokage's students along with Kakashi. He's the one that was thought to have died and given his sharingan to him. If it wasn't for you saying Madara was still alive past his death, I'd saw Obito being alive would be the most ridiculous part about this." Jiraiya stated, Yoichi putting his two cents in next.

"Konan, you told me that Zetsu sometimes would argue with itself as if it had two personalities, and could even split in half. Me and Itachi fought several Zetsu who looked normal on their left side, but disfigured on the right. What if Zetsu was two being put together, with two souls, and he only absorbed one, with the other pretending to die as well, only to find another half to become one with?" The others thought for a moment.

"I can't say that doesn't seem likely considering this whole story seems unlikely. But, if that is the case, it seems to make the most sense. If he could send a small group out to attack people, then I don't see why he couldn't attach himself to a new one." Tsunade said, the others agreeing.

"So, what happens now?" Yoichi asks. None of them had any clue. What were Obito and Zetsu planning now that their plan couldn't succeed anymore? Wait, wasn't there someone else they were missing in all this?

"Oh shit. Orochimaru!" Jiraiya yelled, slamming his fist against the wall. "He knows that ninjutsu that resurrects dead shinobi! If Zetsu can use those clones of whatever as sacrifices, then we're in trouble if they find each other. Even if that plan didn't work, together they can not only bring back Madara, but every shinobi in history that could equal an entire army alone!" Konan let out a small gasp as Itachi's eyes narrowed. This could be a greater threat than they thought.

"We can't do anything about that now. We have no idea where he could be, and any hideouts Tayuya and Kin led us to were abandoned. Even Otogakure has dropped off the face of the earth. What I'm more concerned about is what the plan for Akatsuki is. It's still an organization of the strongest criminals as far as I know." Tsunade says, looking to the blue hared girl, who looked down in response.

"Well, Akatsuki is still together, but Nagato is keeping the others in line as a sort of… community service. He wants to reform them to be better people who are willing to put their lives on the line to help others. But… it's going to be a while. He's sent me out as the representative of Akatsuki to assist the one that has helped show him a new way of thinking, as long as I keep in contact with him. When I've gotten settled in, I'm supposed to report back to him and he will issue out a statement to the leaders of the other villages." A small blushed formed on her cheeks. It wasn't hard to tell who she meant.

"But why couldn't you tell me that earlier?" Yoichi asked, making Konan fidget before reluctantly pulling out a scroll and handing it to him. He opened it slowly, seeing it was a letter, reading it as the others looked on.

"So, what's it say?" Jiraiya asked, only for Yoichi to shush him. Eventually he reached the end, blinking and rolling it back up.

"Um, Konan, you aren't here for what you described at all. According to this letter from Nagato, he wants to arrange us to get married. And that you not only suggested this yourself, but even stole some of the water to be younger again." Konan's face turned bright red as she nodded slowly, the other three staring at them for a moment.

"Wait a minute, if why Konan became younger and why Nagato can use his body once again are both because of the god tree water, why did Yoichi not become younger from drinking it as well?" Itachi asked. Putting the arranged marriage proposal aside, they all looking to Yoichi curiously, who seemed completely surprised.

"That's right… If Zetsu only found the water from following Yoichi, then Konan being younger proves that he drank from the source itself since it's the same water Nagato had taken from Konan!" Tsunade crossed her arms over her chest, raising one eyebrow, Yoichi beginning to look real nervous.

"Oh, well, because the tale is that it puts you into your prime, right? So, I haven't reached it, so I didn't get younger!" He said, Konan shakng her head slowly.

"No, we already proved that false. Tsunade ran a quick diagnosis on me to make sure I wasn't hiding anything when she heard I was part of Akatsuki before we even went into most of this. My body is the same as if I was eighteen, and I'm pretty sure I was a lot weaker then." Jiraiya crossed his arms, nodding.

"Exactly. You're hiding something, kid. Tell us the truth of what happened." Yoichi sighed and closed his eyes. He thought he could hide it long enough. He also knew that they would just be able to find out by getting Inoichi. Or Ibiki. Or Anko. None of those were good options, he knew better.

"Okay, I admit it, I didn't tell the entire truth. Yes, drinking the water the first time made me begin to grow younger. I didn't know what was happening as I watched myself begin to shrink. I panicked. Doing the only thing I could think of at the time, I tried to drink more, but fell into the pond." He took a moment before continuing.

"When I fell in, it wasn't like regular water. I didn't float, I simply sank down. I thought it was shallow, and the place it used to be in is only a few inches deep, but I kept going down until eventually, I emerged in another pond somehow. I flailed around, trying to get out, as my gamble had been more than I bargained for. I didn't just regress back to an infant, but it reversed, my body aging rapidly until my muscles were weak and feeble, only to have my age reversed again. I couldn't tell how long I was there, but I passed out.

"Waking up, I found myself along the bank, my clothes dry and myself back to normal. But I wasn't where I had been originally. Instead of the forest near Kiri, I was in a forest that looked like it had every surface scorched completely, black as far as the eye could see, with the sky a dark crimson, no sun, clouds, moon, or stars to tell me the time of day.

"I quickly then discovered I was not alone. There was a woman, with pale skin and long, light blue hair. I don't remember much about her, but what stood out most was how her eyes were similar to those of the Hyuga. She asked me if I was from the 'other world'. I didn't know how to answer, so I simply nodded. She talked to me for a short while, where she told me how she had been passing by and found me, rescuing me as well.

"I told her that I needed to get back, and she said to just go back in the water, that it wouldn't affect me anymore. I thanked her, jumped in, and before I knew it, I was back on the bank of where I started. From the way the sun was in the sky, I couldn't have been gone for too long, but it could have been a full day for all I knew. From there, I ran off, my clothes completely dry, and I ran into a group from Kiri that had been sent to investigate a strange chakra spike. That must have been when Zetsu saw me come out as well." He finished, the others looking at him with various looks of skepticism.

"I see… All this does is bring up more questions, but I have a feeling recreating that would be dangerous. As much as I would want to know more, I think we have enough questions to look for answers to. For now, Konan and Yoichi, head back home. Konan, we'll have to ask you to stay in the village for the time being as well, you may be a target for Obito and Zetsu as well. We'll do our best to keep an eye out for them as well as Orochimaru. Itachi… You still need to recover." Tsunade said, the three younger ones nodding, Konan and Yoichi heading off, with the sannin going a different direction.

"What are you thinking?" Jiraiya asked, Tsunade shrugging.

"This all seems preposterous, but for now, we just have to go off what we were told. We can pursue it, and we can wait. Those are the only real options we have. You?" Jiraiya let out a sigh.

"I agree. But I can't just over how he not only saved the hidden leaf from an attack because he wanted to have sex with a girl, but he possibly saved all the nations because he gave another girl therapy, and not much else." Tsunade froze and blinked. She hadn't thought about it, but that was exactly what Yoichi has done so far, isn't it?

Returning back home, Yoichi and Konan found that no one was waiting for the former. Checking his room, he saw Kin and Tayuya still fast asleep, letting out a small sigh and removing the note. This made things a bit easier. Heading back to where Konan was sitting in the main room, he took a seat in his usual spot, noticing she was fidgeting with a fairly crude crane that looked old and weather with age.

"You kept it all these years, huh?" He said, Konan jumping in place, not having noticed that he was back. She blushed before nodding, moving beside him, leaving a small gap between them. He chuckled lightly, wrapping on arm gently around her waist. She hesitated before scooting over to lean against him. "What ever happened to the Konan I met who tried to seduce me, showing as little emotion as possible?"

"Didn't you tell me I should express myself more?" She retorted, making him shrug.

"Well, I did, but I also told you to act in a way that felt right." Konan sighed and sat back before looking at him blankly.

"I don't think you know how annoying it is when you practically read my mind. I just wanted to act cute for you, is that so wrong?" He shook his head.

"Of course not, but seems you forgot the way you were during that week. You can still show emotions while not forcing yourself to act that way. But I still don't see why you wanted to be younger again. I like you for yourself." She looked to the side.

"It had a few reasons. One, I just didn't feel comfortable with the age difference… and Nagato wouldn't agree to the marriage arrangement until after I drank it. Two, I wanted to be able to be with you longer. And three… I just spent so much of my life with Nagato in the Akatsuki. For years, I was fighting for the wrong goal. With a chance to get those years back and try to make up for them… I was just selfish. You don't… hate me for it, right?" He shakes his head, leaning in and kissing her gently.

Konan kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Two years since she last felt his lips on hers, and they felt just as right as they had then. She wouldn't admit it to him, but she first thought she liked him because of how much he reminded her of Yahiko. As time went by, she kept him in her mind, slowly realizing that he wasn't the same. Yahiko had been a friend she loved dearly, but he couldn't be replaced. Did she love Yoichi the same way? Of course not. She couldn't tell if she did love him, but she wanted to try, even if that meant sharing him.

"I'm so glad you're here…" He told her, breaking the kiss and holding her tight. She smiled softly at his words. As nice as the moment they were having was, it was soon interrupted by two others stumbling in.

"Hey, shithead, sorry but I think we'll have to cancel the rest of our day." He heard, breaking his hug with Konan to see Tayuya and Kin, obviously bleary-eyed and not feeling well.

"Yeah, I shouldn't have done that for brunch… Who's this?" She asked, the two girls looking to Konan who stared back blankly, internally wondering what Yoichi had been up to.

"Oh, this is Konan. I met her during my trip, and she's being arranged to marry me I guess." Kin and Tayuya blinked before shrugging, having already accepted that more girls may join.

"Welcome to our little fucked up family, then. Feel free to take the rest of the damn day. I feel like shit…" Tayuya murmured to head off to the kitchen.

"Nice to meet you Konan. Wish it was under better circumstances, though… But we've been having this thing where we all got to spend the day with Yoichi, and-" She stopped midway through, running off to a bathroom. Konan blinked before turning her head back to the only male in the house.

"Let's pick out a room for you and I'll explain everything in there. I think I might need a few shadow clones clean mine up." He said with a sigh, standing up with Konan doing the same. It was a good decision he did, since the two girls both didn't have a good time waking up.

11 Months, 19 Days since Yoichi Left Konoha

Yoichi had to admit, Kumo certainly was a really nice place to be, albeit a bit cold, located high in the mountains. It was almost similar to Kiri in a way, the clouds being a lot like the fog in the latter village. When he met Yugito, a fairly attractive kunoichi if you asked him, the hospitality was almost surprising, like he was part of the village just as much as she was. She was fairly lax, only giving him a few rules while at her place. Don't go through her stuff without permission, no leaving without telling her, and no waking her up. The last rule was stressed out a lot.

Which led him to his current predicament. While he had been given a spare room and bed to stay in alone, here he was with Yugito on top of him, arms wrapped around him tightly, fast asleep. The question of why she was there was only furthered from her actions even while asleep, practically humping him as she panted heavily, wearing nothing but her underwear it seemed. As much as he wanted to get away in fear of what she might do to him when she awoke, he was also terrified that it would just make it worse by breaking the one rule she was adamant about him not breaking.

So, he had resigned to just laying there, letting her do as she wished in her sleep. However, as time went by, her movements began to be more sensual, letting out soft moans into his ear. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't help his own arousal at her actions, feeling himself grow stiffer, his covered erection pressing against her. Her body moved on instinct, straddling his waist to rub her barely-covered slit against it.

"Mmm, someone's a big boy~" He heard her say, watching as she sat up some, her hips not stopping their movements. She leered down at him with a smirk that was part seductive, part predatory, her eyes having changed from their dark color to a mismatched green in one and yellow in the other.

"Oh, um, Miss Yugito! I, uh…" He wasn't entirely sure what to say in this situation, but he didn't need to, the woman putting a finger to his lips.

"Guess I should have mentioned that Matatabi's in heat yesterday and that you should have locked your door. Well, too late now~" She says, one hand sliding down his stomach, before pulling his boxers down. Following that, she took off her bra, tossing it to the side to let her perky B-cups free, before pulling her panties to the side, showing off her wet slit before impaling herself on his length, letting out a hiss of pleasure.

"Oh fuck yes, you'll do just nicely~! Hope you're ready, because I'm not stopping until I'm satisfied and full~!" She said leaning down to bite his ear lightly, moving her hips roughly to ride him, her nipple pressing into his chest like kunai. While he wasn't going to complain about the situation, especially from how tight and warm it felt inside her, he did feel a bit worried that he was going to be sore before he even began training.

Author's Note

And it's ended there. Why? Couldn't be bothered to make it longer right now. Maybe another time when Yoichi's the one initiating it? Yeah, that sounds good to me. So, as mot of you can tell, the 'story' is based around some 'what ifs' happened about certain plot points of the canon plot of Naruto, but affected by the changes and differences in this universe. Does it make sense or be even a bit believable? I tried, but I might have done a better job by writing something from scratch. But there will come a point where it completely derails from the canon instead of having one wheel trying to hang on. Just not sure when that will be.

Anyways, hope you all enjoyed! Please make sure to follow this story to keep up to date on when I post as I do not have a regular schedule. Also leave a review/comment telling me what you did or didn't like and what you'd like to see more or less of. Any bit helps!

Until next time!

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