DISCLAIMER!: I DON'T OWN NARUTO! Thought you'd know by now...

(A/N): Hello hello hello! Welcome back to another chapter! And guess what, it's Sunday so a new chapter of "The Caged Bird" is out as well! But anyway, enjoy chapter 92!

TO THE STORY!

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Chapter 92: The Next Step

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Itachi finally falls to the ground on his knees as he holds his now shaking arm. "...I stabbed him...I almost killed my own brother...I have sinned far to much in this life..." he started rambling to himself as tears fell freely. Kisame walked up next to his teammate and placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get him next time...lets get out of here and report back to the Oracle." he said as he and Itachi started to leave the cave. "Right...he needs to know we failed..."

. . . .

Cole sat down on his couch with a heavy sigh. It had been two in a half years since the defeat of Kakuzu and Hidan, and life had been...uneventful. Well, he couldn't really say that. He did have two hyper toddlers to look after now that Anko was released back into active duty. So, he'd been the one in charge of the kids while she was working. He couldn't help but laugh at the irony and backwardness of the situation. Him, the strongest person in the village by leaps and bounds, reduced down to a stay at home Dad. Hilarious.

He didn't really care though. He never did enjoy killing or fighting in general. If he had a choice, he'd gladly stay at home with his two little angels for the rest of his life, than go out and save the world. But, that wasn't his choice. He hadn't had a choice since he came to this world.

And that is why we find him rubbing the bridge of his nose, sitting on his couch while Akari and Akira were taking a nap, and listening to Itachi and Kisame's report on their failure to defeat Tobi. "So," he started. "Do you know what condition Sasuke's in? Were you able to confirm a death?" he asked with a tired sigh. Itachi shook his head and kept his eyes on the floor. "No...but from the wound I gave him...he has very little possibility of surviving." he said in his monotone voice, a hint of bitterness was able to make its way through his facade that made Cole wince in empathy for the man. Cole looked over at Kisame, who he was somehow able to convince to work for him as a mole.

. . . . FLASHBACK!. . . .

One year prior. In an open field in the back country of Hi no Kuni, Cole stood over a beaten and battered Kisame while Itachi watched from the edge of the tree line. Kisame had a gash across his chest and what seemed to be a broken arm and leg. He laid there while Samehada was being held down by a Truth Seeking Ball, slowly absorbing all of the chakra stored into the sword. Cole stood over him with his mask covering his blank, expressionless face. Kisame began shifting himself towards a small tree while he silently cursed himself and his injured state. Cole leveled the Tekihocho at the former seven ninja swordsman before he began to speak. "Tell me Kisame," Cole said to the blue skinned man. "Why do you fight for the Akatsuki? Why are you so loyal?" he aksed the man. Kisame laughed as best he could as blood poured from his mouth. "For...me..to know...so...go fuck yourself..." he gurgled at the man before him.

Cole sighed and looked down at him. "Kisame. You know they are just using you, right? Pein doesn't care if you live or not. Only that you succeed in capturing the Jinchuuriki. Why do you fight for a man like that, someone who doesn't carre for his comrades and thinks of nothing but his goal?" he asked yet again. Kisame shook his head and coughed. "I...do not...betray orders...I...hate traitors..." he grunted painfully as he sat himself against the tree to better look at Cole.

Cole shook his head at him and removed his mask. Kisame's eyes widened as he saw the very same eyes his leader had. The purple, rippling eyes of the Rinnegan piercing through Kisame as if he was only an obstacle to be removed. "Tell me Kisame, would you still follow Pein if you knew he was nothing but another mans tool?" he question Kisame. The Tailless Tailed Beast narrowed his eyes at the Rinnegan barer for a moment, weighing the mans tone and why he was still talking to him. "What do you mean?" he asked in a quiet tone. "Pein is nothing but a pawn to a man named Uchiha Madara...or as you know him, Tobi." he explained to the blue skinned man.

Kisame looked at him for a moment with a expressionless face before he burst into laughter. Even through the pain and the blood pouring out of him he continued to laugh at the man who accused the brainless buffoon of the Akatsuki of being some evil mastermind. "How, could an idiot like Tobi control anyone. Hell, I bet he barely knows what he himself is doing sometimes." he mocked before he winced in pain. Cole sighed as he shook his head at the bleeding man. "Oh how little you actually know...let me tell you, what the future holds..."

. . . .FLASHBACK END!. . . .

After finally dropping the whole, Infinite Tsukuyomi thing on Kisame, the blue skinned man was all too happy to switch sides. Anything to NOT be a mindless zombie stuck in a Genjutsu for all eternity, right? So Cole looked to Kisame for confirmation on what Itachi reported. Kisame nodded and Cole sighed again.

"So...We don't know where Tobi has fled to. We don't know if Sasuke survived...which is unlikely. And now the Akatsuki knows you have betrayed them...great." he said as he rubbed his nose in annoyance. "Alright, we need to make new plans. Naruto will return in about four months, and you said Deidara and Sasori will be going after Gaara about a week after Naruto returns, correct?" he asked the two former Akatsuki members. Kisame nodded in response for the both of them and Cole nods as well. "Alright then...I want you two to locate Han and Roshi for me. I have no way into Tsuchi no Kuni and they Roshi was one of your targets. Make sure they are safe and report to me regularly." he ordered to the two. Itachi and Kisame nod in understanding of their orders.

After some time and other minor orders, the former Akatsuki members made their way to Tsuchi no Kuni to look for and protect their two Jinchuuriki. Cole leaned back into his couch and went over his plans in his head.

"Alright...Tobi surviving isn't good, but I can work with this. I've gotten Kisame and Itachi fully onto my side and now all I've got to do is find the other three and my hand will be ready to play...Things are coming together nicely." he mumbled to himself as he thought over his final plan and how it will finally be enacted. He sat there for a second before he felt someone breath into his ear. "Oh~ and what plans would that be~" Anko whispered into his ear with a hint of mischievousness. Cole shuttered from the feel of her breath against his skin and turned to her with a sly smile. "Oh, Anko-chan, whatever are you talking about?" he said with a shit eating grin. Anko returned his grin and jumped onto his lap while drawing circles on his chest. "You know I just love it when you get all manipulative and cunning." she purred to him. Cole smiled widely as he picked her up bridal style. "Why don't you tell me more in our room?" he said as he carried her through the halls of the Uzumaki estate.

"Daddy? Why are you carrying Mamma?" a little magenta haired Akari asked as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes with Akira stumbling out of their room behind her. Cole and Anko look at each other before getting large grins on their faces. "Oh! Akari-chan! Save me from Daddy! He's gone tickle crazy!" she howled as Cole began to apply the tickle torture method to his wife. Akira squeled as he ran from his father, knowing exactly what he could do to him with the tickle torture. Akari however stood her ground and pointed at Cole. "Let go of Mamma you tickle monster!" she called as she jumped at him. She landed on his back and held on for dear life. but her efforts to subdue the rabid tickle monster were useless as Cole reached around and grabbed onto her. "I've got ya!" he exclaimed as he started tickling her. "NO~!" she laughed as she began to squirm. "Aki! Help!" she called to her twin brother who was hiding around the corner.

He popped his head out and shook it vigorously. "No! Sorry Aka!" he called out and continued to hide. Cole gave a glance to Anko and she grinned. "Oh no!" she acted out as she rolled on the ground. "I've caught the tickle virus!" she cackled out and started to stand up while looking at a rapidly paling Akira. "Uh oh..." he mumbled before Anko started chasing him through the house.

The sounds of squealing and laughing children filled the house as Cole smiled at his family. "I promise to protect their smiles...no matter what the cost..."

. . . .

(A/N): To be continued...

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