Sai, and the rest of the team looked down at the Three Wolves Mountains from atop ink birds. They were high enough that the guarding Samurai would not be able to easily tell them apart from real birds. The downside to being at this height was the air was very thin making it difficult to maintain the position for very long before people started dropping from oxygen deprivation. They had traveled hard, on foot by day and ink bird by night. They had made the trip in two days, where it normally took four or five. Unfortunately, Tsunade had been traveling at a brisk pace as well and had already arrived. One of the sensory Anbu had confirmed that all five Kage were present, and appeared to be stationary in a semi-circle. Sai brought the birds down out of sight and once everyone was off they turned back into ink.

"Everyone wait here. I'm going in alone. I'll try to be as swift as possible." The ten Anbu nodded acknowledging Sai's instructions. "And please water Suigetsu." Suigetsu was slung over one of the Anbu's shoulders in a dazed state. They had quickly discovered that if he didn't have a steady water intake he quickly became sluggish and grumpy, and if you pushed it past that he started to become slightly delusional. Well, due to his high consumption level they had run out of water after the first day. The Anbu had been rotating carrying him for the last half a day.

Sai hopped onto his ink bird and took off into the sky. He took short even breaths as he climbed to where oxygen was scarce. When he got over top of the mountains he dove off the bird, shooting like a bullet towards the earth. He shrunk his ink bird small enough to fit in his hand. Just before reaching the ground he cast it out, grabbing on as it grew to full size. It flew swiftly just barely above the ground. He circled a few times to lose some of the momentum he had built up from his dive. Once he had slowed enough he let the bird turn to ink and dropped down onto the mountains. He quickly made his way over to the entrance. He looked down on it from a ledge on the mountain side. There were four guards. Sai pulled out his scroll and wrote a short message, when it came to life off the page it looked like a harmless moth. He watched as it flitted right past the guards and disappeared inside the mountain.

Meanwhile inside the mountain the five Kage were having a heated discussion about what to do next. It was clear that action was required but they were struggling to come to an agreement on anything. Tsunade was sitting with her arms crossed trying to contain her growing temper. She was about to join in the debate when a small black moth landed on her hand. At first she went to smack it but just before she did she noticed that something about it seemed different. It took her a few seconds to realize it was ink. She quickly but discretely opened a scroll allowing the moth to land on the paper. Upon contact a message appeared.

My apologies for the intrusion, it's urgent.

A few moments after she finished reading the note Sai materialized behind her. He was down on one knee. He looked up at all of the Kage, all of which had initially reacted in shock but now wore a different emotion on their face. The Tsuchikage was confused, the Mizukage amused, Gaara concerned, and the Raikage of course, was angry. Sai wore his trademark smile.

"My apologies for the intrusion there is a matter of the utmost importance that requires your attention."

"What is the meaning of this?!" The Raikage boomed. "We were each allowed to bring one companion!"

"Oh, shut up!" Tsunade shot the Raikage a glare that could kill. "Sai is well versed in how all this political BS works, he wouldn't have interrupted if it wasn't extremely important. So, listen up!" Before Sai could speak Mifune, General of the Land of Iron spoke.

"While we will certainly hear what this young shinobi has to say, I request that you include how you were able to get past my men?" Sai looked at him.

"What matters is that I did, I find how to be a rather trivial question, but to be entirely honest, superior skill is how I got past them." Tsunade had to keep herself from laughing at the clearly offended Mifune and Sai's complete obliviousness to the fact. "I bring news of Madara and Sasuke." Everyone perked up. "We have been presented with an opportunity to take Madara down, but you will all have to put your trust in myself and Sasuke."

"Just get on with it boy!" The Tsuchikage interjected. Sai simply gave him a nod.

"Just before Sasuke was kidnapped I was able to sneak him some ink messenger birds. I recently received one. He said Madara is forcing him to show him the way to Naruto and Killer B, luckily Sasuke doesn't know their exact location but he does know the general area. He said he would try to buy us as much time as he can for us to formulate a plan. Since he was taken about two weeks ago, we probably have three weeks at best to put something together. I recommend that we head to Naruto and Killer B's location and set a trap for Madara. For once we have the upper hand. I urge you not to delay your decision."

"Thank you Sai." Tsunade gestured for him to stand. "I motion that we all head for Naruto and Killer B's location at once and we lay a trap for Madara there. He will not be able to stand against us if we are united."

"I second that, we should head there immediately." Tsunade nodded her thanks to Gaara for his support.

"I can't believe the two of you would come to a decision so quickly on the word of a child! Gaara throwing his support so frivolously I could understand, he is but a child himself but I don't trust Sasuke, or this Sai!" The Tsuchikage complained.

"That "child" is the active head of the Anbu Black Ops, I suggest you show some respect." Tsunade said through gritted teeth. "And Sasuke single handedly defeated Danzo and is a hero of the Leaf."

"I support this motion." The Mizukage chimed in. "I've never been one to pass up an opportunity. If I'm not mistaken this is the first time we've had the upper hand."

"Raikage?" Tsunade looked at him.

"I don't hear anyone offering up a better plan so, I support." They all stared at the Tsuchikage who was pouting in his chair.

"Very well, I guess you leave me no choice! I'll tag along just to make sure you youngsters don't mess everything up!"

"Then it's been decided. The verdict of this Five Kage Summit is that you shall band together and face Madara as one unified force. This Summit has come to an official close." Everyone nodded in agreement with Mifune's announcement. "Please know that you have the Land of Iron's full support in this endeavor."

"Thank you Mifune." Tsunade said as she stood up. "Let's go Shizune."

"Yes, my lady!" The rest of the group followed behind.

"I think we should all take slightly different routes. Although Madara is our priority he is not our only enemy." The other Kage nodded in agreement to Tsunade's suggestion.

"I will send a messenger bird on ahead to Yamato and his team. Additionally, please allow me to send some Anbu with each of the Kage."

"Sai, we don't have enough time to get more Anbu here..." Sai stopped Tsunade before she could finish her sentence.

"There are ten waiting beyond that tree line. As well as Suigetsu." Tsunade chuckled.

"Of course there are. You fill Danzo's shoes well Sai. In fact, in many ways you have surpassed him." Sai smiled and thanked Tsunade for the compliment.

"We will be ready to head out in fifteen minutes." Sai was about to go get his team when Tsunade spoke again.

"Sai, one last thing." He turned to face her. "Tell Yamato and his team that they are not to inform Naruto of what's going on. It is important that he focuses on his training and has no distractions. We will inform him of the situation when we arrive."

"Of course." With that he headed for his team.

"I get the feeling that even though we think we are the ones making plans and calling the shots we are really pawns."

"Really? What makes you say that my lady?" Shizune asked inquisitively.

"Oh, let's just call it intuition." Tsunade said as she watched Sai disappear behind the trees.

xxx

Suigetsu groaned when he saw Sai come out from the treeline. "Nooo, tell me it's not time to leave again? I barely survived the trip here." Sai smiled down at Suigetsu who was sitting in a pool of melted snow.

"Yes, but don't worry, our pace won't be nearly as rigorous as on our way here." Suigetsu let out a sigh of relief at Sai's words. "We are going to be splitting up. Two of you will go with the Raikage, two with the Kazekage, two with the Mizukage, and three with the Tsuchikage. The one remaining will stay with Suigetsu, and I, and the Hokage. Decide among yourselves who will go with who. I will give each team a messenger bird in case you need to contact me. Our routes will not be known to each other so we will meet back up when we reach our destination. Any questions?"

"You told the Five Kage what to do?" One of the Anbu asked clearly impressed.

"No, I simply told them the facts, gave them my recommendation, and they made their own decisions."

"I've just never heard of the Kage coming to a decision so quickly. You weren't even gone half an hour sir."

"I impressed on them the need for swift action. We don't have the luxury of taking our time with situations like these. All of the Kage understand that. Anything else?" No one spoke. "Good, let's move out then." Sai picked Suigetsu up from his puddle. In less than a minute the team of twelve appeared before the five Kage. Sai put Suigetsu down.

"We had better get a move on while there is still some light. Stay safe everyone, see you in a few days." When Tsunade finished speaking all of the Kage bowed slightly to one another as a sign of respect. The Anbu moved to the sides of their chosen Kage and everyone set off.

xxx

"Saaaiii, I don't think I've quite regained all of my strength back, will you carry me?" Suigetsu whined.

"No Suigetsu, I won't carry you. I realize that land travel really isn't your thing but if you are trying to appeal to emotions to get things you really picked the wrong person." Tsunade chuckled a little bit. Suigetsu let out an exasperated sigh. Tsunade slowed her pace a little bit to allow Sai to catch up to her, once they were side by side she started talking.

"Thank you for the warning message."

"Of course, I just wish we could have caught up with you on the road. I'm not the most eloquent when it comes to speaking so I am sure it would have been better if it could have come from you, but everything worked out and that's what matters."

"Indeed. Why didn't you tell me you had given Sasuke a messenger bird?" Sai let out a small laugh.

"I didn't find it important enough of a detail. It's not like I could contact him, and unless he had an opportunity to reach out him having them would be useless. So, I decided I would tell you if and when I received a message."

"You're keeping something from me, aren't you Sai?" Sai smiled.

"Well of course, I'm the head of the Anbu. For many things it is important that you have plausible deniability. However, very few things are of that nature so you have nothing to worry about."

"I don't mean in general Sai, I mean about this mission. There is already a plan in place and we are part of it." She said it more like a statement than a question.

"Lady Tsunade, do you trust Naruto?" She gave Sai a puzzled look.

"Of course, with my life. He is one of the people I trust most."

"So, if he told you he trusted someone, would you trust them too? Rather than question first like you would do with most people?" Tsunade thought back to when Naruto had asked her to give his informant a chance and it had turned out to be Sasuke. She had spun a whole story and welcomed him back to the village with open arms without a second thought and it had turned out to be the right choice.

"Yes."

"Then know that we are in the hands of someone Naruto trusts more than anyone else."

"Very well, I will put my trust in you as you requested and in Sasuke as well. All of you are the future of the village, I suppose I should be proud that you are taking care of things. I just wish that you didn't have to bare the weight of such things on your shoulders and remain children forever." Tsunade sighed.

"Thank you Tsunade, and I think I speak for most of us when I say our lives are far better now than they ever were when we were children." Tsunade smiled and Sai smiled back, a genuine one.

"If I'm lucky I'll be able to retire soon!" They both laughed.

"Please don't, the village isn't ready for Naruto to be Hokage yet."

"You're probably right Sai, but I look forward to the day it is." Sai nodded his agreement.