[Author-Notes: Sorry for how long it took this chapter to be released and sorry it's so rushed and short.]

[I understand some people will be upset by how I handled this chapter, but I've been burnt-out from writing this story for the past month.]

[Again, I'm sorry for how this chapter was written. The next chapter will be released in the next month at least and the word count will be the usual amount.]


February 12th 2005:

Silence was shared between everyone in Tsunade's office. Tsunade leaned forward on her chair, hands clasped and eyes devoid of any amusement. Naruto Uzumaki stood in the middle of her office.

Kakashi Hatake and Shizune were stationed on the left and right side of Tsunade's desk. Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose, breathing out in incredulity and disbelief.

"So Sasuke Uchiha recruited you to fight and get rid of Orochimaru?"

"He also invited Sukuna to help us fight him!" Naruto scratched the back of his head. "The three of us managed to take him down!"

"And how did you beat him?" Shizune asked him. "You've gotten strong Naruto, yes, but Orochimaru is one of the legendary Sannin."

"Oh, it really wasn't that hard." Naruto waved his hand. "Orochimaru tried to possess Sasuke. But Sasuke absorbed Orochimaru instead!"

"Sasuke absorbed Orochimaru?" Kakashi mumbled to himself. "And what about Sasuke? Does he plan to enact his revenge on Itachi?"

"Yeah." Naruto kicked at the dust on the surface of the office. "I told him to come back to the village, but the moron wouldn't listen to me!"

"According to Sasuke, Orochimaru got weakened because his host body was rejecting them." Naruto explained to them. "I'm not sure."

"Orochimaru was weakened, huh?" Tsunade raised her eye-brows. "That would explain how the three of you succeeded in beating him."

"And what about Kabuto?" Kakashi cut into the discussion. "Naruto — did you, Sukuna, or Sasuke encounter Kabuto prior to your battle?"

"Yep!" Naruto nodded in response. "Sasuke used his Sharingan to put Kabuto in some kind of Genjutsu, but he woke up to help Orochimaru."

"He gave him some kind of tonic to restore Orochimaru's chakra and battle strength." Naruto scowled. "But Orochimaru had him leave."

"That spells trouble." Kakashi sighed. "Kabuto isn't someone to be underestimated. Chances are that he'll be a problem in the future."

"Shizune." Tsunade looked at her assistant. "Gather a team of three Chunin to search through Orochimaru's base in the Land-Of-Rivers."

"Yes, ma'am."

"They won't be able to find Kabuto." Tsunade furrowed her brows. "But it wouldn't hurt to see if they can track him down — wherever he is."

Naruto turned around, opened the door, and stepped out of the office. "If that's everything you called me here for, then I'm heading on out!"

(-)

Naruto sat on the grass in the training-ground that was located in the northern section of the Hidden-Leaf. Jiraiya placed his book into his pouch from his perch on a weathered stone.

Jiraiya's mouth crinkled into a small smile. "I can't believe you went off on your own to rejoin your old teammates and defeat Orochimaru."

"It was a tough fight, but the three of us did defeat him."

"You're lucky that he was weakened." Jiraiya said. "You're powerful Naruto, but Orochimaru at full power is a different kind of monster."

Naruto was grim and disappointed in himself. "I still have to get stronger."

"Don't give me that look." Jiraiya huffed. "I still haven't taught you about Senjutsu in its entirety. That will make you a real monster."

"I'm glad you followed my advice not to try Sage-Mode in a fight yet." Jiraiya commented. "You haven't mastered the art of Senjutsu yet."

"I had to cut your Senjutsu training short since Tsunade called for us to return to Konoha." Jiraiya motioned for Naruto to stand. "Come on."

Naruto rose to his feet fast, leaving the training-grounds and following after his teacher. Yamato also stood up, trailing behind the two of them. Tsunade had introduced Naruto to Yamato around a month ago.

"I will leave to report back to lady Tsunade, lord Jiraiya." Yamato lowered his head and vanished. "Call for me if you train him later."

"See you later, captain Yamato!"

"I'm still not sure why Tsunade assigned him to help you." Jiraiya said. "You haven't been on any kind of rampage in two years at this point."

"Whatever." Jiraiya walked into the main section of the village. "Naruto — I'll be leaving the village tomorrow to get intel on the Akatsuki."

"Just keep on training, yeah?"

"You betcha!" Naruto stared at his clenched fist, grinned, and declared. "I ain't gonna lose to the Akatsuki ever again, you hear?"

(-)

February 26th 2005:

Ryomen Sukuna stood outside on the wooden-platform constructed around the log-cabin. Suigetsu Hozuki and Utakata were sparring. Kimimaro Kaguya was seated on a chair, a fantasy book in his hands.

It had been two weeks since Sasuke had absorbed Orochimaru.

Suigetsu and Kimimaro had been pleased about Orochimaru's defeat. Utakata had been relieved that such an unpredictable variable had been removed from their list of worries but the Akatsuki stayed an issue.

"Now that I think about it." Suigetsu parried a fast jab from Utakata's Kunai and shouted. "Hey, Kimimaro! What ever happened to Jugo?"

"Jugo?" Kimimaro turned his book to the next page. "I helped him get a settlement in a remote town in the Land-Of-Hot-Water. He's fine."

"That's good to hear." Suigetsu faced Utakata, charged at him, and slashed his blade in a horizontal motion. "Is that the best you can do?"

Sukuna stared at the horizon in the distance. "The four of us have our work cut out for us. The Akatsuki are close to succeeding their goal."

"They captured Yugito Nii—the two-tails Jinchuriki—and extracted her Biju a week ago." Utakata remarked. "But that's not all the news."

"What else?" Suigetsu lashed his blade out. "Is it bad or good news?"

"This time it's good news." Utakata batted a slice to the chest aside. "It's rumoured that Sasuke Uchiha slew Hidan of the Akatsuki."

"That is what I would expect from him." Kimimaro said. "Sasuke has gained the Power-Of-The-White-Snake from absorbing Orochimaru."

"Sasuke must be hunting down the Akatsuki to get clues on Itachi." Sukuna mused. "Have you been able to find any other information?"

"Not much else." Utakata shook his head, side-stepping a second slash. "Besides Kakuzu and Deidara being paired up together."

"Those two, huh?" Sukuna cupped his chin in one hand. "That means Obito and Deidara won't become a team like they did in Canon."

"The Fourth-Great-Shinobi-War will start sooner or later." Sukuna clenched a fist. "I'm not powerful enough to make a difference yet."

"Utakata." Sukuna called out. "When you get the location of another Akatsuki duo, make sure to let me know. It's time we handled them."

"We'll have to be more patient than that." Utakata responded. "The Akatsuki have also captured the reformed three-tails three days ago."

Utakata hit the pommel of his Kunai into Suigetsu's blade and disarmed him. "The four of us have to be even more vigilant."

Picking up his blade from the soil, Suigetsu flipped it into his other hand. "Do you think a Five-Kage-Summit will be called up soon?"

"Not soon, no." Utakata tucked his Kunai into his sleeve. "The nations are prideful—they will not want to look weak in the faces of their foes."

"However, someone will call for a Five-Kage-Summit in time." Utakata said. "It will just depend on how many more of the Biju are captured."

"I bet they've all heard about Orochimaru's 'death'." Suigetsu commented. "Have they? His death is a pretty big deal, isn't it?"

"Yes." Utakata hesitated for a moment. "The rumours have an accurate depiction of how Orochimaru's sudden 'death' went down."

"The nine-tails Jinchuriki—Naruto Uzumaki, the last Uchiha—Sasuke Uchiha, and the singularity—Ryomen Sukuna—teamed up to kill him."

"That's how the rumours speak of Orochimaru's defeat." Utakata said. "But most of them claim it was only Naruto and Sasuke who beat him."

"Whatever." Suigetsu shrugged, sealing his blade into a storage-scroll. "I still wonder why the Akatsuki is gathering all of the Tailed-Beasts."

"It doesn't matter why they are." Utakata replied. "All that matters is that the Akatsuki are unable to succeed in whatever their goal is."

(-)

The Tendo-Path avatar of Pain of the Akatsuki sauntered from the shadows of the numerous buildings that towered over him in the Hidden-Rain village. Konan had accompanied him.

Black-Zetsu emerged from the surface and fixed its empty gaze on the two of them. Obito Uchiha arrived at last in a swirling portal, wearing his Akatsuki cloak and his usual mask. Konan tilted her head at them.

"What news have you brought to us today, Madara?"

"I'm sure you've heard the rumours floating around." Obito spoke in a deep voice. "Orochimaru has been slain and erased from this world."

"We have heard the rumours, yes." Pain levelled his Rinnegan upon Obito and those ringed purple eyes glowed. "But were they true?"

"Indeed they were." Behind his mask, Obito looked a little amused. "Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Ryomen Sukuna 'killed' him."

"Naruto Uzumaki." Konan set her lips in a thin line, contemplative. "He is the vessel of the nine-tails, is he not? We must capture him soon."

"All in due time." Pain glanced at Black-Zetsu in plain curiosity. "And what has the elusive Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi been up to since then?"

"He has been getting trained by Jiraiya of the Sannin." Black-Zetsu rumbled out. "Kakashi Hatake has also been teaching him Ninjutsu."

"Jiraiya, eh?" Pain trailed off, then refocused on their discussion. "I have also heard that Sasuke Uchiha has been targeting the Akatsuki."

"Oh, that?" Obito crossed his arms in disinterest. "Sasuke Uchiha will fight Itachi — I implore the two of you to leave him to his games."

"He has eliminated Hidan already." Konan pointed out. "We have sealed most of the Biju, but there are still a few left for us to extract."

"Is there anything else about Naruto Uzumaki?"

Black-Zetsu's ominous and emotionless eyes peered at them. "Yamato—one of Orochimaru's experiments—is accompanying him."

"He uses Wood-Style." Obito remarked, tone interested. "They must have sent him alongside the nine-tails to stop him if he goes wild."

"And what about the six-tails Jinchuriki?"

"He has befriended Ryomen Sukuna and his band of misfits." For once, Black-Zetsu looked disturbed. "An entity who lacks chakra."

"Ryomen Sukuna?" Pain murmured to himself. "I have heard his name — the Bingo-Book states that he's challenged Kage and survived."

"They are all true." Obito chuckled. "I've witnessed his power firsthand during his battle against Orochimaru. He has a number of abilities."

"Blood-Manipulation, creatures created from shadows, and invisible slashes." Obito told them. "And none of them are made from chakra."

"A foreign energy source could be what he uses." Pain speculated aloud to them. "I will send Kakuzu and Deidara to capture nine-tails."

"Is that wise?" Konan asked him. "We've lost Hidan and Sasori. The Hidden-Leaf are not weak by any means and will defend the Kyuubi."

"I will send them."

"Very well."

"Enough quarreling." Black-Zetsu rasped out. "I also have reason to believe that Jiraiya has heard the leader of the Akatsuki dwells here."

"No matter." Pain dismissed Black-Zetsu's findings. "Jiraiya, nine-tails, Sasuke Uchiha, and Ryomen Sukuna — they shall all know pain…"

"And what will you do, Madara?" Pain looked at the masked man. "Do you ever intend to present yourself to the rest of the organization?"

"There is no point in letting them know about me." Obito answered. "My presence in the Akatsuki shall remain a secret for the time being."

Black-Zetsu sank into the surface and disappeared.

"I will keep the two of you updated on the situation." Obito vanished in a swirling portal. "See to it that the rest of the nine Biju are captured."

(-)

Kakuzu and Deidara had reached a building in the Land-Of-Tea owned by a few operatives from the Akatsuki. Seated on a leather chair, Kakuzu counted the stacks of money in his hand and grunted.

Deidara had purchased himself the latest version of the Bingo-Book and had been reading through it to waste some time. The two of them had returned from hunting down someone's bounty a short while ago.

"Excuse me, sirs." A nervous masked man walked up to them, a scroll in his hand. "We've recieved a message meant to be given to you."

"Hah?" Deidara snatched the scroll from the man, then gestured at him. "Get out of here. Hey, Kakuzu! Did you hear about this?"

"No, I haven't." Kakuzu took the scroll from Deidara, stashing his cash into his cloak. "This message must have been sent by the boss."

Kakuzu opened the scroll.

"Oh?" Kakuzu lifted an eye-brow in interest, placing the scroll into his cloak. "It looks like our newest assignment is capturing the nine-tails."

"The nine-tails Jinchuriki?" Deidara clicked his teeth, frustrated. "The two of us have a score to settle. He disrespected me and my art."

"There are a few Shinobi in Konoha who have high bounties." Kakuzu scratched his chin. "Let's go to wherever the nine-tails Jinchuriki is."

"To the Land-Of-Fire it is." Deidara tossed his Bingo-Book into his pouch, scraped his chair back, and stood to his feet. "Let's head out."

(-)

Tsunade opened the door to the room where the elders had called for a meeting. Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado were seated around a table that had four cups of tea set on top of it.

"Princess Tsunade." Koharu gestured her hand at the fourth seat in the room. "Please, do take a seat. We have been waiting for you."

"Don't blame me, you called me here on short notice." Tsunade snorted, sitting down on the fourth chair. "So, what do you want?"

Homura sipped his tea. "We have called you here to talk about your lack of concern about Sasuke Uchiha and Ryomen Sukuna."

"Indeed." Danzo nodded. "Ryomen Sukuna and the nine-tails Jinchuriki were even recruited by Sasuke Uchiha to 'kill' Orochimaru."

"How does he know that Sasuke was the one who recruited them?" Tsunade thought. "That information was meant to be kept private."

"That is true." Tsunade decided to confirm the information. "Naruto got a message from Sasuke and he left the village to fight Orochimaru."

"We're lucky that it ended up to our benefit." Homura said. "If Orochimaru had killed the Jinchuriki, we'd lose the nine-tails."

"But Orochimaru's death is not the reason we called for a meeting." Danzo announced. "What will you do about Sukuna and Sasuke?"

"Nothing." Tsunade shrugged. "They haven't acted at all against Konoha. Sasuke Uchiha has also been fighting against the Akatsuki."

"They're no different from your typical Rogue-Ninja."

"Ryomen Sukuna has battled Kage and Jinchuriki!" Homura responded. "And Sasuke Uchiha helped in defeating Orochimaru!"

"They are not normal Rogue-Ninja." Koharu scoffed. "Ryomen Sukuna is a wild card. But Sasuke Uchiha left to join Orochimaru, did he not?"

"You forget yourselves." Tsunade rose from her chair. "You will leave the matter of Sasuke Uchiha and Ryomen Sukuna alone, got it?"

"If you insist." Homura gritted his teeth a little. "The matter of Sasuke Uchiha and Ryomen Sukuna will be brought up at a later time, then."

Tsunade exited the room, sighing and walking through the hallway.

(-)

February 29th 2005:

Utakata was positioned on a seat in front of a table in the log-cabin and was reading through the scrolls that he had gotten from his information network. Reading a scroll, Utakata widened his eyes.

"Deidara and Kakuzu have been neutralized?!" Utakata shot out of his chair, shocked. "Why did it take so long for me to hear about this?!"

Suigetsu looked at Utakata from his perch on the sofa, munching on a sandwich. "Something wrong, Utakata? You look pretty surprised."

Sukuna crushed the can in his hand. "Got some news for us?"

"Of course I'm surprised!" Utakata picked up the scroll from the table. "I've gotten news that Konoha has taken down two of the Akatsuki!"

"Huh, good for them." Suigetsu ate more of his sandwich, then sipped some of his water. "I'm guessing Sukuna's friends defeated them?"

"I suppose so. " Utakata checked the scroll. "But there are still a few members of the Akatsuki left."

"We'll handle that issue later." Sukuna rose from his seat, exiting the log-cabin and stepping into an isolated spot in the woods. "I wonder how this will turn out, then."

Sukuna sighed.


A/N: Thanks for reading.