HEYYYOOOO WHAT UP GUYS I HAVE RETURNED YET AGAIN FOR ANOTHER CHAPTER. Best part is, YOU DIDNT HAVE TO WAIT 2 YEARS!!!

Kakashi: *sweatdrop* Riiiight...

Chapter 13: Old Enemies, New Friends

Suna, The evening of Konan's arrival*

Konan was confused. 'Shouldnt they be torturing me? I'm An enemy S Ranked Akatsuki ninja!' She Questions her captors' Motives as she paces the room, looking at various portraits and family photos on the walls of the Kazekage's office.

Just then, Gaara walks in with a couple of Suna ANBU, Each of them holding a tray of food.

"Konan, was it? Please Have a seat." Gaara gestures towards the chair. pulled up to the desk as he goes to sit down in his own. Konan merely nods at her captor and sits down as she is told. Both shinobi looked at each other with indifference as Gaara dug into the tray of food meant for him.

After a Quarter of his tray was gone, Gaara asked her, "Arent you going to eat?"

Konan continues to stay silent.

"I thought you wished to speak to me? I figured you would want some good food, since you've been traveling quite a whille..."

"That is very generous, Kazekage-sama. She then takes a nervous bite of the turkey leg that was on the tray that was placed in front of her.

"If you are worried that we poisoned the food, do not be concerned. Suna doesnt allow such methods of gathering intel. We have found that our captives are more... forthcoming with information if we've treated them to..." Gaara looks at the clock. 2 PM. "Lunch" He says, looking back at her.

"So you said you had information. What did you wish to tell me?" Gaara says crossing his arms.

"The Akatsuki have split into factions..The original group that we were, and then the Dakumun Faction.. Come to think of it, its an entirely different group than we were." She Pondered.

Garra nodded in response before scooping a piece of Fried Potato into his spoon. "So this new group... Who is in it? What caused the split of the Akatsuki?"

"The split was caused by a new member that our leader Nagato had recruited. Said that he had heard about him from a source he picked up a few years back. His name was Kumoru. I never learned his last name, but he had so much sway with the other 6 members that it had become a Leave-Or-Die situation, so the Three of us left." Konan said in slight dismay.

She was clearly upset about the situation but not visibly distressed over it.

As she looked down at the tray of food Gaara further questioned her. "Who was this Nagato person? And who was the other person that left with you? He asks inquisitively.

Nagato Uzumaki was our leader, he had created the Akatsuki to try and end all of the violence in Ame after the third great war, by taking down Hanzo The Salamander. After that He wanted to try to bring peace to the rest of the world, by taking out the rest of the world Leaders, Daimyo and Kage Alike."

"Okay, and is this why the split occured?" Gaara asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Partially. It wasnt until a couple of weeks ago that the plan shifted from removing world leaders, to gathering tailed beasts in order to destroy each of the hidden villages..."

There was a long pause following this information. The tailed beasts were now going to be used to take down each of the Five nations. Gaara knew the power of a single jinchuuriki, let alone just a tailed beast was enough to take down a whole invasion force, and maybe even a nation the size of Ame, but a powerful hidden village like Kumo or Konoha? That would take at least 2 tailed beast... But Suna?

Suna wouldnt even be able to hold up against one. The Sand was militarily decimated after the attack on the Leaf a couple of years ago. On the verge of becoming a second rate nation at the pace they were going.

(*Think like college football's BIG 12... or PAC-12 Conference, Who've been left out of the College football playoff for all but 2 years.. *That* kind of second rate nation. *O-H*)

"Did you learn anything about how they plan to capture the tailed beasts?" Gaara asked, slightly concerned as he was the Shukaku Jinchuuriki.

"The plan is to capture you and the other 7 Jinchuuriki alive and use a special jutsu to transfer the tailed beast from you and the others, into an ancient statue. How its done is an answer I don't have unfortunately. I'm only here to help you and the others to prepare for what may come." Konan explains.

"If that is the case, and all of this is true, then the sand owes you BIG." There was another long pause..

"You also mentioned that there were 3 of you... Who is the third?" Gaara questions.

"Myself, Nagato, and Itachi Uchiha are the only three original Akatsuki members.. The Dakumun as I remember it, was made up of Kisame Hoshigaki of the 7 swordsmen, Hidan of Jashin, Kakuzu of the Waterfall, Deidara of Iwa, Sasori of the Sand, And Zetsu.

There was another that mainly does things behind the scenes, but only Nagato ever spoke to him... He also had the Sharingan... I originally suspected it to be Itachi, but i learned quickly that wasn't the case."

Garra had a stern look on his face as he looked through the Bingo Book that was stored in his desk. Every single one of these ninja were S-ranked missing nin, two of which were practically immortal. 'And then the Mystery Uchiha.. With Sasuke dead, and Itachi being ruled out, theres no real options.'

Gaara broke out of his musings as konan took a big spoonful of beans and gulped them down, effectively finishing the meal she was given.

"So what do you wish to gain, in return for supplying this intel to us?" Gaara asks.

"Amnesty for any and all crimes against Suna and your allies along with asylum from other nations that may see me as an enemy."

Gaara thought long and hard on this. This kunoichi could very well be a key ally in the upcoming battles against the S-Ranked Ninja they were going to face down sooner or later.

'Well worth it.' He says smiling to himself.

"Deal, however... I will have you placed under a 60 day probationary period. And as part of your Asylum request, i will have you conscripted into my forces."

Konan stood up from her chair. "Thank you Kazekage-sama, I will serve you as best I can." She says.

"WOODPECKER!" An Anbu appears next to the desk with a notebook and a pen.

"Have that intel sent to the Hokage. Tell them to be on alert for any Akatsuki members. They are no longer the enemy, Dakumun is. ALSO, Send for my sister, I have a mission for her."

*10 FEET OUTSIDE THE KONOHA MAIN GATE*

The Next Morning*

Itachi stopped just short of the gate's enterance. Nagato looked at him puzzled. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"No, but it has to be done. The Leaf needs to know what they are going to be up against. And they will need help. If they believe us, then they'll have no choice but to let us help them." Itachi says rather convincingly despite his internal feeling.

'You'll be able to help them Nagato. But me... I'm finished after they get what they want from me.' Itachi thought as he continued through the gate.

Alarms began to go off in the Jounin and ANBU facilities nearby. Shinobi started rushing towards the main gate as the 'intruders' were slowly making it past the vacant security booth.

Nara Compound*

Shikaku Nara was laying on the ground next to the tree in his home's back yard, and he couldn't help but feel something was off.. Way off. He had been laying under the tree for an hour or so, yet he couldn't relax. He felt restless as he shifted himself one last time in a last ditch effort to get comfortable, which surprisingly worked. Until...

"Shikaku Nara, the Hokage requests your presence."

The Nara growled at the ANBU, "What is it Bird? This better be Good because I Literally *just* got comfy." He asks

"Not Sure Sir, She seemed really worried though. She's also had Sakura, Ino, Naruto, and the new girl, Lily Summoned by my squadmates..." The ANBU said as he Jumped off to his post.

"What a Drag..."

Back with Lily, Naruto, Ino, and Sakura at the Hokage's office*

Naruto and Ino yawned as they stood in front of their leader. Sakura facepalmed internally, but didnt say anything.

Lily was the only neutral one. She just looked on out the window behind the Hokage, spying a messenger bird off in the distance.

'Six miles away and closing fast. That's not a normal messenger either. It has a red ribbon on its foot. Something isn't right.'

Shikaku Nara slowly walked through the door to Tsunade's office, not prepared for the meeting he was called for. Inside he saw a few of his son's friends.

"Shikaku Nara. You're late." Tsunade grumbles. The other ninja in the room turned around to look at him, seeing an annoyed look on his face. Typical lazy Nara attitudes pissed her off for some reason.

"Sorry Tsunade-Sama.. I-"

"Save it... I have a mission for you all. As you all know, we have lost 2 very critical shinobi. With the loss of Sasuke and our Toad sage, we need to eliminate some threats before they come knocking. Naruto, you will be leading this mission, Shikaku, you will be his second, advising him should he need it. Naruto, per our last discussion on the topic, You are to bring him back alive. You know the consequences if you dont."

"What discussion Ma'am ?" Shikaku raises an eyebrow.

"Naruto is to bring Itachi Uchiha-"

* WHAM *

The office doors slammed open and a messenger came running in past the other shinobi holding a scroll with the Sand villages symbol on it.

"WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE. I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF ISSUING A DOUBLE S CLASS MISSION!"

The messenger, barely able to speak, "The Sand village... *pant* its sent us a warning!"

The doors busted open again.

"Ma'am Itachi Uchiha is at the main gate! He also has somebody with him!" An ANBU Yells out.

Tsunade Paled. 'Shit.'

"I want every single Jounin at that gate. Make sure Kakashi isn't late. Team Naruto, Lets go get him!"

With Itachi and Nagato*

"It's too quiet. They should have been here by now..." Itachi says quietly.

"ITACHI UCHIHA, FREEZE RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE, DO NOT MOVE OR YOU WILL BE KILLED. NOD IF YOU UNDERSTAND" The Raven faced ANBU calls out.

END CHAPTER*

Alllllll right guys I have another chapter out! surprising, but i've actually had the motivation to write the last week or so. Let me know what yall think of the story so far, i still have a long way to go. Hit that follow and favorite for more, and leave a review with constructive criticism and any Suggestions for the story. Until Next time!!!

-Gemini Out-