NARUTO POV

The blonde gennin stared at the unopened containers of ramen which sat on his bed. He considered opening them, yet he was simply unable to move his concerns away from Akira. She was the Nine Tailed Fox after all. He let out a sigh, and reached for a cup, only for the image of her death, to play in his head. Shaking his head he put his knuckles together and concentrated on molding natural chakra to calm him.

"Yo, Naruto!"

He glanced towards the window, his worries forgotten almost instantaneously.

"Kakashi-sensei? What are you doing here?" he asked, noticing the hot bowl of Ichiraku in his teacher's hands.

"I brought you a treat. Extra miso ramen, your favorite."

Naruto glanced at the meal, and then sighed getting up.

"I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei. I'm worried about Akira so much, dattebayo. I don't want to lose her."

He glanced to Kakashi who beamed at him.

"They are doing fine. I know that Yuki is coming up with a strategy to defeat Madara. For now, remaining calm is the best way to help them out."

Naruto nodded, and reached for the bowl, taking a small slurp of the noodles. The advice made sense, but only fueled his desire to chase after his lover and friend.

YUKI POV

"DAMNIT!" Yuki cursed grabbing the roots of her hair and tugging. The Fifth and Akira had endured her continuous flurry of obscenities that had poured forth from her mouth, during the past three days. Yuki bit her lip, the taste of blood and mint becoming one flavor that soothed the parched back of her throat.

She sighed and returned her full dedication to the puzzle at hand. They were literally one hour away from the Summit, and she had yet to come up with an adapted battle plan for the Hokage. The two had constantly questioned Yuki over the trip, about the botched plans she had considered. Right now she only knew of one thing that could happen that might possibly help secure the way for victory. The risk was so great though, and the chances of victory based more on circumstance than actual chance, that Yuki had discarded the idea in the garbage pile.

What can I do? Madara is intangible for an almost indefinite period. Is there anyway to hit him?

She dug deep into her memory banks searching for anything that might give her an answer to the dilemma. when it hit her. The fight between Tenshi and Madara had many answers which she had needed.

Five minutes at a time. So if I prevent him from attacking for five minutes, he won't be able to phase attacks.

She thought about it a little longer before, dropping to the ground, and drawing in the sand, ignoring the Hokage and Akira's progress ahead of her.

So if I move this way, then…even with several other variables as someone interfering, the chances of success move closer to eighty five percent.

A smile touched Yuki's lips, as the group returned to her side.

"Hmmm?" Tsunade asked, staring at the diagram which was dug into the dirt.

Akira smiled a little and glanced at Yuki who nodded.

"I've figured it out…Madara is in for a surprise when he arrives."

She proceeded to fill in the busty Sannin, and her feisty lover, who listened raptly to her detailed plan which would lead them to success. She described the different outcomes and even the risks with such a strategy. The two shinobi listened as she explained her plans, until she finished with victory almost ensured for them. She stood up at its conclusion, sighing softly.

Tsunade glanced to her, a skeptical look filling her eyes.

"Hmmm?" Yuki asked, glancing towards her.

"This plan…its detailed and the risks are great, but what makes you sure that it will work?"

Yuki nodded, and she bit into her hand, drawing blood.

"I don't. But I'm gonna give it all I have!"

THE SUMMIT

The room filled with the various Kage, as they took their assigned seats. Yuki and Akira hid in the shadows of the curtains. As the new Jounin, she glanced to her trembling hands.

"It's going to be okay…Relax. Your plan is already being put into motion," Akira whispered, putting a single clawed hand on her shoulder. Yuki gulped quietly, and exhaled slowly. Reaching into her tool bag, she laid a single peppermint onto the tip of her tongue. She stretched gently, her nerves on edge, as the lights dimmed and the first shinobi spoke. The meeting was about to begin, along with her own personal battle.

"I am Mifune, your moderator. In accordance with Hokage's summons, you all have gathered here today. The Five Kage Summit Conference is called into order," an elderly man spoke, his voice strong, echoing off the wooden walls.

"I have something to say before-" A short red haired man spoke up, his hands on his chin.

"For someone so young, you don't seem to remember your manners. Maybe your father forgot to teach you some," an elderly man interrupted, smirking.

"Lord Tsuchikage. That is not necessary. Let him speak his piece," a busty woman spoke up, her red vibrant hair covering a single eye.

"Thank you, Mizukage-sama," Gaara replied, returning his attention to the matter at hand.

"We can all agree that the reason we are here, is that there has been numerous occurrences of late, which has caused massive disturbance in our villages. I am a jinchuuriki who was recently captured at the hands of the Akatsuki. What we know is that they are here for the demons in each of our villages. They have succeeded in capturing many, but-"

"Get to the point, kid," a brutish black man spoke up, his voice blunt."

"He has his reasons, Raikage-sama. Please calm down," Tsunade spoke, her voice calm, and more reserved than either Yuki or Akira had ever heard.

"Let me be clear with all of you. Your villages have dealt with and cooperated with the Akatsuki. In this last Great Ninja War, you hired them to fight for you. I do not trust a single person in this room, and I only attended to see where your loyalties lie," he replied fiercely.

Yuki ignored the bickering that had ensued in the room right next to her, as her attention was currently diverted to the woman who sat beside her.

Akira-koi…I can't let anything happen to you. I promised him. She needs to be kept safe. At all costs.

Her fist clenched tightly at the thought, and hid her grimace with her hair.

"Yuki..you ok?" she asked, suddenly glancing towards her.

"Fine. Just focus on the Hokage."

"HOW DARE YOU-!"

The yell caught her attention, and she almost jumped out to defend the Hokage, only for Akira to hold her arm.

"He's taking his anger out on a piece of wood. The table…she is in no danger."

Yuki glanced to see all the shinobi who stood in the center of the room, watching as they each stood protectively in front of their Kage.

"Everyone…stand down," Mifune demanded his voice ringing out over the communal.

Yuki exhaled a breath of relief, before sitting back down, hidden from view. She and Akira were the only two who hadn't moved, and she could see the confusion in the room before them. The bodyguards sat down around the edge of the room, their eyes glancing to the Hokage, whose guard was unaccounted for.

"What is the meaning of this, Tsunade?" the Mizukage demanded her eyes furious. "The order was for each Kage to bring two bodyguards. Where are yours? Do you consider us not a threat?"

Yuki let her lips curl into a smirk.

There is a far bigger threat.

"The real threat, is Madara Uchiha, the leader of the Akatsuki."

The statement stunned every man and woman, who sat in the room. Questions consumed the air, as everyone attempted to get details of the information from the Hokage.

"Hehehehe. Bickering like a group of children. You can't even talk to one another and agree on a single topic, can you?"

Yuki's smirk faded as her real target materialized in the center of the room, floating down from the ceiling.

He's here….Madara Uchiha.