Madara Uchiha approached a large door, the Uzumaki servant opened it for him. Inside the room sat an old man with long grey hair and a long grey beard. The man wore fine red and green silks. This was Ashina Uzumaki, it had to be.

Ashina was meditating on a tatami floor, he was most likely waiting for Madara. Madara walked in and sat across from Ashina, who was now pouring himself a cup of tea on a short table, two glasses stood on the table.

"Mr. Uchiha, I must say I was pleasantly surprised when we received your letter for an alliance," Ashina said reservedly.

Madara guessed Ashina was trying to act as neutral as possible, he was cautious yet curious about the Uchiha. "I can assure you that it is not out of malice that I wrote to you."

"I would expect not. Although, I find it curious that the leader of the Uchiha clan comes all the way out here to Uzushiogakure to form an alliance. It makes me wonder, why?" Ashina began drinking his cup of tea.

Madara could lie, but deception was unlike him. He would have to be truthful with the Uzumaki to gain their trust.

"The Senju have brokered many treaties with smaller clans, and now their numbers are greater than my clan's. I would not have come to your island if not for desperation."

Ashina finished his tea and placed it back down on the table, "You should know that we Uzumaki are neutral when it comes to things on the mainland. We don't want to be pushed into meaningless wars."

Those two words, meaningless wars, they rang out in Madara's mind. He said it himself when he was younger, and he's still fighting those same wars, with no end in sight.

"I know what I'm asking is terrible to a peaceful village like yours. But war will come to your doorstep sooner or later, it's not if, but when. Why not get a headstart on this war."

Ashina began stroking his beard, "Hmm... Your speech was a lot different than the previous one I'd heard."

Madara was curious on who he'd heard another speech from, but did not voice his concern.

"Give me a couple of days before I reach a decision, first I must convene with my advisors. I will arrange for a guest bedroom to be set up for you tonight. In the meantime, you can explore our village." Ashina stood up with a slight smile, "Good day, Mr. Uchiha."

Madara stood up as well, bowing to Ashina. "I would be lying if I didn't want you to choose my clan, but I understand your duty to the people first. Goodbye, Mr. Uzumaki."

Ashina and Madara walked out of the room, the servant from earlier awaited outside.

Ashina spoke, "Goro, can you escort Madara-sama to the market?"

The servant was attentive, "Yes, Ashina-sama."

Obito Uchiha woke up from his nap that he'd taken, it was nearly sunset. He'd stood up from the hospital bed and tried walking around the room. He needed to get through the pain, it didn't matter if he tore muscle, he just needed to walk.

After ten minutes of repeatedly walking around, the hospital door opened and a black-haired boy wearing Anbu clothes walked in with a wheelchair. The boy froze, he'd seen that man before. It was the man who killed the Fire Daimyo and his squad mate. The boy activated his Sharingan and stared at the masked man. "It's you."

Obito hesitated, he didn't quite know who the boy was.

Madara appeared from behind the boy, "Do you not remember, Obito? This boy was a part of the Fire Daimyo's caravan. He was the only survivor, you let him live."

Obito remembered now, but he couldn't quite talk to the boy yet. They were being watched. "Tobi doesn't know you. This is Tobi's second time in the village." He spoke in his Tobi voice.

Itachi heard his original voice during the attack, the masked man was trying to hide behind a facade. If the man was here he could be trying to kill the Hokage, Itachi couldn't allow that. He drew his sword and stepped in front of the wheelchair, "I won't let you do whatever you've come to do."

Obito held his hands up and in front of him, "No, wait. Tobi is innocent, you must have Tobi confused for someone else." Obito would deal with the boy later, in a secluded area.

Itachi eyed the masked man, he didn't trust him but he would do as he was ordered. He sighed, "I'm sorry, I was mistaken." He cleared his throat, "Tobi-san, I'm here to escort you to your quarters. If you'll please get in the wheelchair."

Obito wiped the forehead of his mask in relief, "Okie dokie." He hopped into the wheelchair and Itachi moved him along.

Konan sat in a restaurant booth with Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Anko Mitarashi, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, and Genma Shiranui. Konan sat next to Guy, he seemed energetic today.

Konan had already been introduced to Kakashi's "friends" if you could call them that. He seemed disinterested in them as if he'd had his soul stripped away. They were the ones who acted like friends, caring about his well-being, not him.

Konan wondered how he could be so cold to his close friends. Sure Konan was somewhat cold to the members in the Akatsuki, but she was still there for Nagato. And he was very protective of her since Yahiko's death. Maybe Nagato knew that Madara would protect her no matter what. But Madara seemed like the man who didn't care about others, except he clearly did. Madara could have let Konan fight Hidan by herself, but he chose to step in and defeat him. Only for Hidan to exact revenge on him later. Was it for selfish reasons or out of the need to protect something? Madara was a mystery to her and to everyone. Maybe that's why he was so enchanting.

When Konan carried Obito to the Leaf village, she had thoughts about taking his mask off and seeing what he looked like. But she didn't because she respected him, she wouldn't steal his privacy from him.

"Konan, have you ever met any cute boys in your travels?" Anko Mitarashi asked.

Kurenai smacked Anko on the shoulder, "Come on, Anko. You can't just ask a question like that to someone you just met."

Konan snapped back to reality, her cheeks flushed red. "What me? I haven't really looked."

Anko persisted, "Oh, come on. There's gotta be one boy that interested you."

"Leave her alone, Anko," Kakashi said with no feeling in his voice. "You can pester her about questions at a later date. For now, we should let her ask questions... That is if she wants to."

Anko pouted, she wanted to learn more about the newly appointed Konoha Shinobi. She wondered if Konan's partner Tobi was cute.

Kurenai could sense that that's where Anko's head was at, she slapped her across the knee.

Konan didn't really have questions to ask, "I'm not a very social person. I just wish to observe for now until I feel more comfortable."

Everyone at the table seemed understanding and respected her decision.

Itachi continued pushing the wheelchair in silence, the masked man was almost mute. He silently groaned whenever the wheelchair hit a pebble or a bump.

It was a long way from the hospital to Tobi and Konan's residence, two apartments side by side on the second floor of a complex. Coincidentally, they were next to Kakashi's apartment, but then again there were no coincidences.

Itachi struggled to get the wheelchair up the stairs but he didn't mind, the masked man surely did mind though but not enough to voice his disdain.

Once Itachi pushed Tobi in front of his apartment, Itachi pulled out one of the two keys he was given and opened the first apartment. Pushing Tobi inside to the middle of the front room, Itachi closed the door and turned a light switch on. While Tobi turned his wheelchair to look at the door.

Itachi stared down the masked man, "In here you aren't easily monitored, so you can give up your facade." He said.

As a precaution Obito activated his Sharingan and pulled Itachi into a genjutsu, it was a white void with nothing but the two.

Itachi looked around and understood they were in a genjutsu, but to what purpose?

"So, you're the boy who had a decent noggin back then. I'm surprised you joined Anbu of all things, very impressive for someone your age. You should feel honored." The masked man said in a deep voice sitting up from the wheelchair.

His voice sent a chill down Itachi's spine, but he knew he could show no fear in the face of this monster. "Judging by your skills from back then and the Sharingan you possess, you're Madara Uchiha. The real deal."

Obito clapped, "Bravo. Very astute. Now tell me, what are you going to do with that information, hmm? No one would believe that I, Madara Uchiha, am alive. They would think you'd gone mad."

Itachi probably wouldn't care, he just wanted to expose Madara. But Itachi wanted to know for sure what Madara's motives were for being in the village, "What is your business in Konoha?"

Madara seemed to think, "Well, that wasn't my choice. I just wanted to make some money on the side, I'm sure you can understand that."

Itachi knew he couldn't take everything he said as truth, but he also knew that Madara Uchiha was not a coward to hide behind lies. "Do you plan on exacting revenge on Konoha for wronging you in the past?"

Madara chuckled, "Oh, no. That debt was settled five years ago, on the account of the Fourth Hokage's death."

Itachi was surprised, "The nine tails' attack was your doing?!"

"Why of course. Who else would know that a jinchuriki's seal is weakened during childbirth?" Madara said.

Itachi grit his teeth, he remembered that night like it was a nightmare. To think that Madara Uchiha was behind it all.

Obito began thinking, he could use the boy in the future. He could unlock his Mangekyou and be a powerful ally in the future. But he'd have to give the boy an offer first. "I've got a proposition for you that'll benefit both of us. If you don't blabber to anyone that I live, whether or not they believe does not matter because it'll inconvenience me all the same. If you keep your end, I will not harm Konoha and its inhabitants. What say you, Itachi Uchiha?"

He thought for a moment, he could accept the deal now and tell Lord Third anyways, but Lord Third would most likely not be a match against Madara if he had killed the Fourth. There was nothing anyone could do if they tried battling him headfirst, to deal with Madara one would need patience and preparation. Itachi could plan to defeat Madara in the future, but it was in everyone's best interest to not infer Madara's wrath.

"I accept."

"Very well then," Madara began to deactivate the genjutsu and returned them both to the real world.

Itachi eased himself of some of his fear, but still stared down Madara, "If you require anything, just call upon me and I can help."

Obito nodded from the confines of his wheelchair, "Okie dokie, Itachi-san." His stomach began growling, he laughed shyly. "Well, Tobi is a little hungry after napping. Tobi would appreciate it if you got him something to eat."

Itachi bowed, "Of course." He stood back up and turned for the door, opening it. "I will be back shortly."

Obito turned the wheelchair one hundred and eighty degrees, he looked around the apartment. There was a kitchen near a window, and a table with two chairs tucked in. A purple sofa sat near a window with closed black curtains. There was a bedroom to the right of the sofa. Obito began rolling the wheelchair until he reached the bedroom.

Madara appeared alongside Obito, "The boy, you put him into a genjutsu. What for?"

Obito spoke in his head, "To give the boy a choice. Between peace or war."

"And he chose peace, of course?"

"Itachi will keep his mouth shut, he knows his place."

After the sun went down and all of Kakashi's friends began going home, Kakashi began walking Konan to her apartment.

Kakashi couldn't help but think about something, he decided to speak aloud. "Tobi said he was with you and your friends for six years after escaping Orochimaru. You had already said that your friends had rejected him until after Yahiko died. Why are both of your stories different?"

Konan bit her lower lip, she didn't bother telling Madara that she told Kakashi the truth about their meeting. "I didn't think it was the time to reveal Tobi's past. Orochimaru was a leaf Shinobi."

"If you're going to judge the Leaf based off of Orochimaru then you don't know the Leaf at all. Orochimaru is a criminal, he was the worst of the worst. At least give the people in the leaf a chance if you're staying here."

"I think your friends changed my mind a little bit, but not by much," Konan said.

Kakashi sighed, "Well, some progress is better than none. I'm sure we'll warm up to you and Tobi soon enough."

Konan was relieved that Kakashi dropped the topic, "We shall see."

Once Obito's legs were well enough to stand, he began taking a shower. He didn't feel comfortable taking the mask off, however, it's not like he could have anyways since Konan never undid the seal she placed on it.

The warm water felt soothing against his skin, he wished he could always feel like that. But as he looked at his body he began to seethe with anger. He was like this because of Kakashi, he took the punishment that was meant for Kakashi.

The pale white skin of the Hashirama cells did not mesh with his normal skin color. He wished that he didn't have to look at it, but he needed it to continue the eye of the moon plan. A thought crossed his mind, what if Rin saw him like this? Would she even recognize him? And if so would she love him, or would she still love Kakashi?

Obito slammed his right hand into the tiled wall, just the thought of Rin and Kakashi together made his anger boil over. But then he let the anger be washed away with the water, it wasn't worth getting worked over what ifs and could have beens.

He turned the water off and stepped out onto the bathroom rug, he grabbed a white towel and dried his hair. Once his hair was dried well enough he wrapped the towel around his waist and walked out of the bathroom. Obito walked into the bedroom and grabbed some clothes that were left with the apartment for him, a black long-sleeved shirt and blue baggy pants with plenty of pockets.

Obito made his way to the front room, he sat back down into his wheelchair and waited for Itachi to return. He closed his eye and thought about his perfect world.

Itachi knocked on the door and waited for Tobi's response, "Come in." Obito replied in his Tobi voice.

Itachi opened the door and entered with a paper bag, "I bought pork loin from a cook down the road, he cooked it right up and made two sandwiches."

Obito opened his eye and leaned forward, "Pork is good."

Itachi nodded and walked over to the dining table and placed the bag on the table. He pulled out two sandwiches that were wrapped in plastic and placed them on the table.

Obito rolled his wheelchair over to the dining table, he picked up one of the sandwiches, and inspected it.

Itachi found it odd, "Have you never had a pork sandwich?"

Obito unwrapped the sandwich and turned around, "Never. But I won't be able to eat this since Konan placed a seal on my mask and I have to wait until she gets back."

Itachi looked at Madara and then took a seat at the table, he grabbed the other sandwich and unwrapped it slowly. Itachi placed the plastic neatly on the table and began eating his sandwich.

Obito wanted to eat that sandwich so badly but he had to wait, to pass the time he looked at Itachi who was still eating, "Thank you for this, Itachi-san. I may not be able to eat it now, but my nose surely enjoyed the sensation."

"It's nothing, I was just tasked with being your caretaker until Lady Konan arrives."

Obito realized he was essentially being babysat, "Are you sure? Tobi will be fine if you leave."

"I never leave a mission unfinished. Not now, not ever." Itachi said firmly.

Obito sighed in his Tobi persona, "Why can't I have some alone time, huh?"

Itachi cleaned up the table and looked over to Madara, "You took a bath in my absence, yes?"

Obito nodded, "Tobi thought he was dirty so he decided to clean up."

Itachi looked at the clock mounted on the wall across the room, "Konan can't get here any faster."

"Kakashi, did you grab our stuff before you left the land of Waves?" Konan asked as they walked up the stairs to their apartments.

"Yeah, I grabbed my stuff and your backpack. And I also grabbed the orange mask that was in the middle of being wrapped in paper. I'm sure it's none of my business though." Kakashi said almost bored.

Konan's cheeks flushed, "So you saw it. I was hoping you didn't."

"You were going to gift it to Tobi, right?" Kakashi glanced over to Konan.

"Yes. It was going to be an after-mission gift. But now it seems it'll be a recovery gift." Konan replied.

Kakashi nodded, "Probably for the better, yes?"

Konan sighed, "Perhaps."

They finally reached Tobi's apartment, and Kakashi knocked on the door.

A second later and there were footsteps, they didn't sound quite like Tobi's feet. The feet belonged to another. The door opened and revealed Kakashi's old subordinate, Itachi Uchiha.

Once Itachi saw Kakashi he bowed, "Kakashi-senpai! I wasn't expecting you to be Konan's escort."

Kakashi just waved his hand downward, "Stop that, there's no need for you to be bowing to me. We're comrades, equals."

Itachi stood straight up, "Sorry, senpai." He stepped out of the way to allow the two to walk inside.

Konan entered first, she saw Madara sitting in a wheelchair near a couch. He seemed bored, or even tired. It was strange, Madara has never been like this. Konan approached him, "Feeling better, Tobi?" She asked as she sat on the couch, crossing her legs across one another.

"Eh, Tobi feels okay. He stared at some food and now Tobi waited for you." He said adjusting his posture in the chair.

Kakashi whispered to Itachi near the door, "Has he been acting strange to you?"

Itachi answered with a hushed tone, "Stranger than he already is? That would be a negative."

Kakashi nodded, "Alright, thank you. Go report to Lord Third. I'll take it from here."

Itachi nodded and walked out of the apartment, he closed the door on his way out.

Kakashi turned around to the two mercenaries, "So, now that he's gone I would like to ask a question, Tobi." He let a soft silence break out before he asked, "Are you truly ready to be a Leaf Shinobi? Because you won't be able to get away with the stunt you pulled in Gato's assassination. You'll have to work as part of a team."

Obito stood up from the wheelchair, "Tobi made a mistake by going off on his own, it will never happen again. From now on Tobi will be a good boy."

Kakashi smirked from underneath the mask, "Well, in that case. Tomorrow morning let's meet up at training ground three at nine o'clock. But for now, just get some more rest." Kakashi now turned back to the door, opened it and walked outside, shutting it behind him.

Once Kakashi's footsteps were no longer audible as he walked into his own apartment, Konan and Obito looked at each other. Obito activated his Sharingan and looked into Konan's canary yellow eyes, entrancing her into a genjutsu.

She was put into a genjutsu area of a river, the river was in-between two rock beds. The area was not familiar to her, she assumed it had to do with Madara's past.

"A serene environment isn't it?" Madara's voice was quiet yet loud from behind Konan.

Konan was too scared to look Madara in the eyes, she braved enough just to look at the river. It calmed her nerves slightly. "Yes."

Madara walked up to Konan and stood side by side with her, "In my childhood, this was where I went after a harsh day of training or whenever I was stressed. But that was a lifetime ago. I'm sure you're questioning my bringing you here. Well, to put it mildly. I am angry that you made a vast decision for the two of us without my input. Sure, it could have been a quick decision in the heat of the moment but you could have let me finish speaking before you said anything. There must be some sort of punishment for such an act."

Konan gulped down a lump in her throat, "I was merely trying to broaden our information chain. Sasori does not have any spies in Konohagakure, and we were given free admission. It would almost seem foolish to not accept the offer. However, I doubt my words will have swayed your opinion. I am ready to take whatever punishment you have in store for me." Konan turned around and faced Madara, but she was surprised. Madara was wearing red armor and was without his mask. He looked battle-hardened and withered, Madara looked somewhat handsome because of this.

"The reason behind your decision is irrelevant when considering my past association with the Leaf," Madara said.

"With all due respect, you are the perfect person for going undercover in the Leaf. I would be unable to spy on the Leaf alone, I need your knowledge and experience for this." Konan challenged.

Madara eyed Konan, "Hmph... I'll let you off this time." Madara then grabbed Konan by the neck and lifted her into the air. "But don't mistake this for mercy."

Konan could feel his grip tighten around her neck, she was struggling to breathe.

Madara dropped her abruptly and Konan fell to the ground, "I will comply with being a spy, but you're the one who has to explain this to Nagato. I will not be blamed for anything that happens afterward."

The genjutsu dissipated and Konan was returned to Madara's apartment, where he was still sitting in his wheelchair with his mask on. He seemed calm, for now.

"You know, Kono-chan. You look tired, you should get some rest. Itachi brought the key to your apartment earlier. He said yours was the one to the left of mine." He said as Tobi.

Konan was uncomfortable because of the switch Madara could do at a moment's notice, she walked to the kitchen and grabbed one of set of keys. Before leaving she remembered to remove the seal on Madara's mask, she turned around and walked up to him. "I almost forgot. Here. Tobi of the Akatsuki, I release your mask." She placed her left index finger and left middle finger on Madara's mask. A small piece of paper with a kanji seal appeared and Konan grabbed it, she stuck it into her left pocket.

Obito felt some relief knowing that he could now eat the pork sandwich, he moved past her and grabbed the pork sandwich from the dining table. Obito moved his mask to the right and dug into his sandwich, even with Konan still in the room.

Konan got a glimpse of Madara's face, she saw some scarred lines on the right side of his face. She wondered how he got those scars, there was probably a wonderful story behind that. Konan decided not to press her luck and leave while Madara was distracted, she left without another word.

Madara was escorted to the market of Uzushiogakure. Madara was curious, he watched people go into buildings that were called stores and took items that were laid out for the public. There was no currency exchanged, just a simple word to the store owner was enough to take what you wanted. It was almost like the village of Uzushiogakure was full of bandits and thieves.

Madara stopped in front of a building that had music coming from inside, he was intrigued to listen more.

Goro stopped after he realized the Uchiha was no longer following him, so he returned to Madara's side. "Oh, you're interested in the theater. I was never a fan myself, but my cousin's an actress. I've been forced to see some of her plays by my parents."

Madara turned to Goro, "A play? What do you mean?"

Goro had forgotten that not everywhere was as sophisticated as the Uzumaki, "Oh. Well, a play is full of people acting out a script together, in front of a live audience. The cast of the play acts out a story."

"Why?" Madara asked.

"It's merely for entertainment, some people enjoy it while others don't. Oh, and then there's singing and dancing plays. Oh boy, don't get me started with those. They could be fantastic or so boring that I'd want to be hung by my feet from a bridge." Goro could tell that his long rambling was getting underneath Madara's skin. He decided to make things simple, "Why don't we go and watch one so you'll have a better understanding." Goro walked inside awaiting Madara.

Madara sighed to himself, "Why not. It's not often I ever have time to myself." He followed Goro inside.

The theater was dark and full of seats that all looked toward a lit-up area, Madara saw a group of Uzumaki dancing behind one woman. That's when Madara's eyes lingered on the main singer, she was a marvel to behold. Her velvet red hair flowed all the way down to her waist, her bright green eyes, her elegant pink kimono with a green obi, and then her angelic voice. It was like a goddess was singing straight from the heavens.

Goro tapped on Madara's shoulder to follow him to a seat, Madara complied and sat mesmerized by the woman's beauty. Goro noticed that Madara watched the stage intently, he wondered if the songs really spoke to the Uchiha head's soul? Goro then turned to the stage and a sudden realization hit him, the singer was his cousin and Ashina's daughter - Mito.

Goro sighed, of course, his cousin was in the musical playing tonight. He hoped Madara would be unhappy with the musical later, he very much didn't want to sit for half an hour watching people dance and sing.

Madara spoke up, "The woman with the angelic voice, do you know her?"

Goro turned to Madara who was still fixated on the stage, "She's my cousin, Mito. If you would like I could introduce you to her, but that's entirely optional."

Madara turned to Goro with a slight smile, "I would appreciate that."