"Are you sure you know where you're going?"

"Yes." Sasuke responded shortly. "How many times are you going to question my directional ability, would you like to lead?" Madara didn't respond. Sasuke was beginning to think that he didn't have the resolve to stick to his plan of making their travel take as long as possible. He wanted to give Naruto as much time as he could but Madara was the worst traveling companion ever. He was ten times worse than Suigetsu had ever been. It had only been a week since the whole fiasco in Tsunade's office but it felt like a thousand years. A thousand horrible years. It was as if he was trapped in Tsukuyomi but the caster had a twisted sense of humor. "See I told you." Sasuke gestured to the faint glow of town lights. "There is a nice secluded inn on the far side of that town. We can stop there for the night."

At the start of their journey Sasuke had sent a messenger bird to Sai telling him that they would be making a stop at the Misty Inn and that he should send any intel he had there and put it under the name Suke Ahihcu. He picked Suke simply because of Naruto and Ahihcu was Uchiha spelled backwards. He had also told Sai that he had a plan and would send him a letter with a more detailed explanation from the same name. He was anxious to get there so that he could check for any mail and get away from Madara, unless things had changed, the inn had a nice bath area.

When they arrived darkness had just fallen, Madara asked for two rooms, when she asked for a name he gave Tobi. It was clear she was used to dealing with all kinds of travelers and was happy to bypass all the small talk. She took the money and handed back two keys.

"Enjoy your stay."

Once Sasuke was alone in his room he let out a sigh of relief. He undressed and put on the complimentary robe that was on his bed. Before heading to the bath he hid the pouch containing the four remaining messenger birds. Better safe than sorry, Madara might come search his stuff. Just before he reached the bottom of the stairs on his way to the bath house he used a transformation jutsu to change into an average looking women and walked up to the reception desk.

"How can I help you?"

"I just wanted to see if any mail had come for me?"

"What's the name?"

"Suke Ahihcu." Sasuke leaned casually against the desk while the lady went to check in the back. It wasn't long before she returned with an envelope in hand.

"Here you go Suke."

"Thank you." Once Sasuke was out of sight he released the jutsu. He sat on one of the benches in the changing room of the bath house and opened the letter.

Upon contact with any liquid this letter will dissipate. Due to the events that transpired during the meeting Tsunade has called a Five Kage Summit, it will take some time to organize but I am sure that by the end of the week the Kage's will be on their way. I am anxious to receive word of your plan as things are in a very tumultuous state. I trust you, even if I do not completely agree. However, I cannot assist you to the full extent of my abilities when I do not know what is going on. Send word as soon as possible. Additionally, I apologize for kissing you; it was the only way to quickly give you the messenger birds, although I can't say it was entirely unpleasant.

I await your response. Stay safe.

Sasuke smirked. The important part of the letter was the summit, but he was still stuck on the end. Sai had made a joke. That was more surprising than any summit. Nothing could have prepared him for that. It certainly was amusing to say the least. Sasuke undid his robe and walked over to the bath. As he got in he tossed the letter watching it vanish almost instantly when it touched the water. After he relaxed for a bit he would write his response to Sai. Whether he wrote the letter now or in a little while it would still go out with the morning mail, so why not relax first. He closed his eyes and let his thoughts drift to Naruto, the warm water pulling the tension from his muscles. Just a little while longer and all this would be over.

xxx

Tsunade released a sigh of relief when her and Shizune finally exited the main gate. It had taken a week to get everything together for the summit. A bit longer than she would've liked but it was no easy task getting the five Kage all together. They had made the meeting place some godforsaken tundra in the Land of Iron. She understood the reasoning because it was neutral ground but why couldn't they have a picked a deserted tropical island or something? Well, if things went her way they wouldn't be there for very long. There was no time for petty squabbles. They needed to work together to make and clear plan and strike a lethal blow to Madara. They needed to be united.

xxx

Sasuke sat at the small desk in his room. He had been reluctant to leave his peaceful bath but it had gotten late and he still needed to write to Sai. He let out a big yawn and stretched, it would be a while before he had an opportunity relax like this again so he was making the most of it. He started his letter.

It is imperative that you get to that summit and convince all of the Kage to head for Naruto and the eight tails location. The more people we have on our side the better. I am sure Madara has plans of his own, he would not try to take two tailed beasts on his own. Naruto and I will need back up so that we can focus on Madara. Fortunately, I do not know the exact location of where they are training, I can use that to our advantage. I will try to drag out the process as much as possible, but I will only be able to delay so long before he becomes suspicious. I can buy another three weeks, a month at most. Assuming I don't kill myself before then, I never thought an evil mastermind would be such a horrible traveling companion. Thank you for putting your faith in me in this matter, you are putting your ass on the line and I will never forget it. This will all be over soon.

See you soon.

He sealed the letter in on envelope and addressed it to the Anbu HQ in the Leaf Village and wrote Suke Ahihcu in the upper left corner. He was about to head down to the lobby to put it in the mail when there was a knock on his door. He slid the letter deep into the pocket of his robe.

"Come in."

"The door is locked." The deep voice replied.

"Tch." Madara materialized in the center of the room.

"I was just being polite." Sasuke rolled his eyes. There was no end to this guy's weirdness.

"What do you want?"

"Just to talk."

"Go ahead and talk then." Madara made maintaining his signature unreadable face, sarcasm, and negative attitude easy. Not a day went by when he didn't think about stabbing him in the back with a kunai. His ability to become transparent on demand was beyond annoying.

"Now that everyone responsible for the death of your clan is dead what will you do? You've fulfilled all of your goals so what will you pursue next?" Sasuke answered the questions to himself in his head. What would he do? Naruto. What would he pursue? Naruto. He could tell that Madara had some scheme cooked up. He listened even though he didn't care. "We are the last remaining Uchiha's, we could rule the world together, we would be unstoppable." Sasuke inwardly rolled his eyes. How cliché.

"No thanks." Madara sat quietly for a few moments.

"You intrigue me Sasuke. Just know that if you don't stand with me, you stand against me. The offer remains if you change your mind." He disappeared from the room. Sasuke waited a few minutes before heading down stairs to mail the letter. Once again at the bottom of the steps he transformed and then walked up to the reception desk.

"Oh, Suke, it's pretty late, what can I do for you?"

"Please send this letter, highest priority." She took the letter and stamped it with the letters HP in bright red.

"Anything else?"

"No, thank you."

"Sleep well." Sasuke gave her a nod and went back to his room.

xxx

"Sir! This just arrived sir!" An Anbu came bursting into Sai's office, he bowed and held out an envelope." A letter from a Suke Ahihcu just arrived. It's post marked highest priority."

...Indeed it is... Sai thought to himself. "Thank you. You may go." He took the letter and opened it where he stood. He frowned as he read. ...Convince the five Kage to go to the location of Naruto and Killer B, no problem Sasuke, is that all? Fuck you. I'm glad he's a horrible traveling companion... After he finished grumbling to himself he reread the letter and burnt it. Tsunade already had two days on him, he would like to inform her prior to addressing the other Kage but if he couldn't catch her he would just have to improvise. He walked out of his office doors and addressed the two Anbu guards. "Get me the ten highest ranking Anbu that are available to leave now. They should be waiting at main entrance of HQ when I get there."

"Yes sir!" Both Anbu said in unison and disappeared.

"What a fiasco this is turning out to be." Sai said to himself as he made his way through HQ. For such a quickly formulated plan on Sasuke's part it just might work, they were finally a step ahead of Madara instead of the other way around. This was their chance. When he reached the main entrance ten Anbu were waiting.

"What's going on sir?" One of the Anbu asked.

"We're leaving. A mission of unprecedented importance was just brought to my attention." Sai wore his classic smile. "I'll brief you on the way, but before we go, I need someone to bring me Suigetsu."

"Suigetsu sir?" Another Anbu asked.

"Yes, thank you for volunteering." The Anbu vanished to find Suigetsu. Everyone else refrained from asking anymore questions to avoid volunteering themselves for things. About ten minutes later the Anbu reappeared with Suigetsu. He was slung over the Anbu's shoulder and had a bag on his head. The Anbu dropped him on the ground in front of Sai and pulled the bag off.

"What the hell man! What was that about? Oh...Sai...why are you here?"

"My apologies, I asked him to bring you to me. Apparently, I should have been a bit more specific with my instructions on how you were to be brought to me." Sai smiled down at Suigetsu.

"You think! I was walking down the street when this guy jumped me, put that bag on my head, and carried me across the city. Not to mention he could have put me down more gently, asshole." Suigetsu gave the Anbu a nasty look. "So, what's this all about?"

"We are going to help Sasuke and Naruto. I'll explain the rest on the way." Sai pulled his mask down over his face. He gave a hand signal and all of the Anbu dispersed into the forest around them. Sai looked at Suigetsu. "Try not to fall behind." Sai was at the front of the group in the blink of an eye. He flashed another hand signal and everyone moved out, they looked like bullets shooting through the trees. Suigetsu let out an exasperated sigh.

"Well this sucks, man I hate land travel!" He groaned and took off after the Anbu. It was going to be a long couple of days.