Hello, faithful readers! How are you all this fine monday night? Speaking of, all updates will probably be this late, so don't bother looking for them until at least 10:00 pm EST. That's because these are usually typed immediately after I get off of work at 7.

Well, enjoy the chappie!

Chapter 5

Jiraiya sighed heavily, flipping through yet another book in the Konoha main library. There had to be something about one-handed signs for jutsus. He knew they existed. Kakashi and Naruto had mentioned fighting a boy who could perform jutsus with one hand in the Land of Waves. If some little brat, protégé of the great brute Zabuza, could master them surely, he the renowned Toad Sage and Sannin Jiraiya could. He glanced forlornly at the stump of his arm. He didn't have much of a choice.

The only other option to him was to just give up being a ninja and considering it was one of his former students that was causing havoc and collecting the Tailed Beasts, hiding wasn't really an option. Hopelessness washed over him for a second. He'd given everything fighting Nagato, but still been defeated.

A single hand rubbed over his face in fatigue, trying to erase the signs of defeat and age. What had happened? The kids he'd left so long ago had been hurt, but he'd believed they had healed. They were strong enough to survive on their own, with good hearts and noble dreams. Or so he'd thought. Should he have stayed longer? Maybe if he'd brought them back to Konoha with him, if he'd given those three kids homes instead of leaving them to fend for themselves, none of this would have happened. Something had happened that turned Konan and Nagato into monsters. They probably didn't even fully realize it.

It might have been the denial talking, but he couldn't help but think that they hadn't altered from their ideals. Somewhere, those two were still the little kids that had been so scarred by war. Somewhere, he knew they hated it. Those three had always been against the never-ending war that encompassed the ninja world, determined to find a way to stop it. Something had convinced them that the only way to do this was to create war themselves.

Another deep sigh escaped. Whatever had transpired, Jiraiya was sure that it had to do with Yahiko's death. His death had broken their hearts and twisted their ideals. Fighting his student had nearly destroyed him, in more ways than one. Yahiko may have looked like Naruto, but Nagato was closer in spirit, or had been. Losing his friend, as he had lost his parents and his home, must have demolished any hope or innocence left in Nagato. It had convinced him that the ends justified the means; that because his goal was in the greater good of humanity, they had the right to demand the sacrifice of others, to capture and kill innocent people that stood in their way. The old adage was true: the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Some of the most monstrous acts in history were committed with the highest of ideals.

Nagato, Pain, was no doubt on that path. He was trying to force peace on the world, having given up on people finding their own way, learning of the abomination that war was on their own. Soon, very soon, if something wasn't done to divert him from his course, he could cross a line. There would be no coming back if that happened, and his shy, powerful student would become the heartless, war-mongering tyrant he so feared and hated, if he wasn't already.

Jiraiya shut the book, no longer wanting to think about fighting Nagato. If he couldn't defeat him at full power, how could he missing an arm? Brute force wasn't the way to fight Nagato, not with the power he wielded. The thought of going into battle again was an unpleasant thought, but he would have to face it soon.

Tsunade still thought he couldn't remember anything from the battle. His memories had just returned in the past couple of days and he'd been avoiding her ever since. It was on thing to recognize the boy he all but raised was leading the world to destruction. Acknowledging his failure aloud was another thing entirely. He stood slowly, consciously balancing himself. Losing the arm had thrown his center of gravity and equilibrium completely off and he still hadn't adjusted.

The old sage left the books he'd been going through on the table. He'd tried putting them back the first time he'd come in, but the librarians had kicked up quite the fuss over it, insisting he would misfile them. Jiraiya had taken one glance at the crowded, apparently chaotic shelves and left them to it. If they could make some sense out of the mass of books and scrolls, good for them.

Konoha was dark and quiet by the time he got outside. Minato and his team had sent reports back several days ago. The exchange had been a ruse and Kabuto had Tama. The Uchiha had been busted out of his prison that very same day by his ragtag team of psychos, the unoriginally named Hebi. By all accounts, they'd met up with a member of Akatsuki, the one in the orange mask, and vanished off the radar. And just to make sure that the world would go to hell in a handbasket very shortly, Naruto had escaped the confines and protection of the city. Tsunade had nins out tracking him, even though she'd hastily invented a "mission" for him to be on so he wouldn't be classified a missing-nin.

Jiraiya knew that Naruto wouldn't be found until he was good and ready. The blond brat had been trained by himself and Kakashi, plus he had the fox constantly guiding and advising him now. Tailed beasts were masters at hiding, when they weren't stomping on villages.

The only thing that could control or tame the Kyuubi was the Mangekyou Sharingan, which was undoubtedly why Akatsuki wanted Uchiha Sasuke.

Jiraiya sat down heavily. Events were building up to something and by the way the dread in his chest was also steadily increasing, he knew it couldn't be good.

The monument before him shone in the moonlight, the etched figures catching the light and throwing shadows deep and shallow.

"I guess if anyone could understand, it'd be you, old man."

The stone over Sarutobi's grave offered no solace, nor advice.

He leaned back and stared up at the stars. He'd always been able to tell his position by the stars, but now like his old sensei, they could offer no guidance. He was in uncharted waters, much like the rest of the world and here, even the ever-constant stars were strangers.

Minato glared at the fire, as if the flames were somehow responsible for his errant and unpredictable son. Konoha was safe. As safe as one could be when the most dangerous people in the world wanted you, at any rate. But no, Naruto just had to create a distraction of monumental proportions, indirectly assisting in Sasuke's escape, Minato was sure.

Did the boy have no sense?

Beside him, Kushina chuckled. "Apparently, he inherited your looks, but my brains, so I'd say he doesn't have much sense."

The Hokage blinked at her. "What?"

"You asked if he had any sense," Kushina replied, tossing a stick onto the fire, sending sparks dancing into the night. He watched them, not realizing he'd spoken aloud. "I know I didn't at that age, so I'd be he doesn't either."

"Even with an ancient being advising him?" Genma asked, sprawled on the ground.

"With Kyuubi? In case you've forgotten, foxes are tricksters and thousands of years have done nothing to temper his mischievous or independent spirit," the redhead answered. She leaned her head against Minato's shoulder. He shifted slightly, allowing her more comfort, and the long-separated pair sat as they had always sat on missions so many years ago.

She sighed in apparent contentment. "Besides, he's got access to possibly the most powerful being to walk the earth. With Kyuubi in him, Naruto's pretty much safe."

"Unless Uchiha Sasuke has the Mangekyou," Minato pointed out.

The easy look on Kushina's face vanished as he brought up the fact she had been trying to ignore. Kakashi sighed and confirmed her fears. "He does."

She was silent for a minute, her brow furrowing and her mouth twisting, trying to find the words. "You said they were on a team together once, close friend, almost brothers—"

"That is no guarantee," Kakashi said. Minato could tell that he hated delivering the final blow, but it was necessary. "He has tried to kill Naruto before, simply because he was in the way."

Kushina was quiet. Minato felt the tension in her body, indicating a refusal to accept Kakashi's words. He knew that former teammates meant little or nothing to some people. Orochimaru was one, and if Sasuke had studied under him, Minato wouldn't trust Sasuke with Naruto, not at all.

And then there was the issue of Madara. Minato knew the bastard was still alive. He'd survived the fight at the Valley of the End and managed to massacre Kyuubi's family and put a jutsu on him. He was out there; two powerful, possibly insane men with the power to overcome and destroy his friend and son.

But Naruto was undoubtedly heading for Tama on his own. That was a mistake he'd never make twice. The boy was too much like his mother and the demon to be given any sort of loophole. Still, if Minato was right, both his children would soon be in the same area and he could properly corral and protect them, as he had utterly failed to do thus far.

If he continued to fail, there was no doubt in his mind that they would both die. His chest constricted at the thought. He didn't really know either of them, he had never gotten the chance. How could he allow his son and daughter to die before they'd lived?

The Shinigami would take them, and Kushina would hate him for it, she'd leave him and everyone would abandon him because he failed and he wasn't strong enough and he'd be left all alone-alone-alone in his pain and misery again like before except now he couldn't hold on to his victory because he had failed them—his children, bright and beautiful and warm, he was sure but he'd never known them and he might not ever get the chance and all the light and warmth and noise would be gone and he'd be cold and dark and silent again and no no he couldn't do it, couldn't face the Void again—

"Minato!"

He breathed and blinked. Warmth flooded into him and light assailed his eyes. Her voice was calling to him. His fire, his life.

"Minato, listen, breathe! Can you hear me?"

He groped for her hand and she found him. A shudder passed through his body and his eyes sought hers. She was there. She was warm and her hair glowed in the firelight and her voice was the sweetest thing he'd ever heard. Minato gulped air and looked around. Kakashi, Genma, Kiba were all gathered around him. Concern and alarm flashed in each of their eyes.

He could smell the fire burning the wood, and the sweet scent of trees in the middle of summer. And Akamaru, who needed a bath. The fire crackled and his friends' hearts beat strong and steady. A cool night breeze bathed his skin and Kushina's hand was rubbing his back and running through his hair.

Minato took all this in and let out a sigh of relief.

He was alive.

It had been so long. He smiled at them all, reassuring. "I'm okay now. I almost lost it, but I'm fine."

"You need rest," Kushina said, wrapping her arms around him. He reveled in the feeling. "Sleep now, and in the morning we'll head for Lightning again."

He nodded and laid back, his mind returning to thoughts of his upcoming mission. Pieces were slowly falling into place, starting with the First Hokage and Madara, and moving on, through Orochimaru's betrayal and the Uchiha massacre he'd heard so much about.

Minato closed his eyes. He was on the verge of figuring it all out, but he needed one more piece to the puzzle. Nonetheless, he knew when to quit and let his mind rest. Like a body, the mind couldn't work properly if it was overtired and strained. His breathing slowed and settled and Minato drifted off to sleep.

She had the rocks close by, ready for some skull-smashing. The wooden stake she'd managed to work out of the cot leg was tucked in her sleeve, so she could whip it out at a moment's notice. But her real weapon was in a cloth in her hand: herbs, ground into a fine dust that could be inhaled. All she had to do was get the Creature to breathe in a little of it. Through the respiratory system was the fastest. It would go straight into his system. The clogging of his chakra network would prevent him from using jutsus and hopefully distract him.

Tama wasn't a ninja, but she could take someone down if she needed. It had been weeks since she'd been kidnapped and that time had hardly been spent sitting like a lump. She'd done more push-ups in the past 33 days than in most of her life combined. One good hit to the perfect pressure point and he'd be down for the count, if not permanently.

All he had to do was come in here and check on her. She knew he would soon enough. By now, he would figure she'd be through her second month. She wasn't, of course. Tama had real confirmation of that, and had never been so relieved to see her monthly visitor. Of course, that also meant that he'd know as well, and if she didn't succeed, he'd surely try again.

Tama ran the plan over in her mind. Once she'd taken out Kabuto, as Akiyama had informed her his name was, she'd lock him in the cell. It turned out that most people working for this Kabuto creature weren't there willingly. Akiyama had quietly found the most unhappy ones, and they were all going to help her escape. In return, she'd promised that she would find protection for their families.

Once they were out of the compound, back into the real world where time moved normally, she would lead some ninjas back and they'd all blow this laboratory sky high. That was the plan, anyway. Tama wouldn't fail. Whatever Kabuto was doing, it wasn't good and she was sure that if he succeeded a great many people would be seriously hurt.

That wasn't going to happen on her watch.

The door creaked. Tama's body tensed and her eyes snapped open. She sensed his chakra right outside the door, the vile, unnatural combination an anathema to her senses. The teenager slid off the bed and padded up to right behind the door. If he was half as smart as he thought he was, the thing would send someone else in first. She would have to wait until she actually saw him to throw the powder. Of course, it wouldn't do any real damage and she counted on inhaling some of it herself, but it would be best if Kabuto got a faceful of it.

A figure entered the room. Tama recognized Akiyama from behind. Then, right behind him, the back of Kabuto's head appeared. Half gray and half black, though now more black than gray.

She released a breath and stepped up to them, shoving the powder into his face calmly. He staggered back under the assault and a cloud of dust spread in the room. Kabuto coughed and covered his face.

Beside her, Akiyama chuckled. "Oh, you fell for it."

The forms of the two men shimmered. Now Akiyama was on the floor hacking and Kabuto was standing next to her, smirking. Tama breathed shallowly, her mind racing. "I did expect something, you know," he admitted. "So, I had this chump pose as me."

The smirk spread. "And now you've attacked your ally and completely missed your enemy. I was honestly expecting better."

"You sure this is it?"

Yes, brat. I've been here before.

Naruto made a face and peered around the trees. "It just looks like a shack."

And you look like you have a brain. Appearances can be deceiving.

The blond bristled at the insult, but kept his cool. It had taken him two days to travel to Lightning at top speed. Now, he was outside the supposed entrance to this evil, time-warping lab that his sister was housed in. He briefly wondered how close she would be to her other-world counterpart.

Focus, kit. We need to get in there and wreak havoc.

"Right." Naruto stared at the shack. "How do we do that exactly?"

Karin peeked around the corner. Sasuke was still sitting there. He'd been there for a long time. She was worried. He hadn't spoken a single word since coming out of that talk with that Tobi man. A scowl marred her face. Whatever he had said, it had greatly upset her precious Sasuke. And the man had had his whole family massacred! He was already wounded and dealing with trauma. She folded her arms and pouted.

On the balcony, Sasuke was perfectly aware of Karin's presence and her annoyance. She didn't matter. Nothing mattered.

The brother he'd loved and then hated with all his heart hadn't betrayed him. Itachi had been following orders, destroying a family that had planned to take over Konoha. Sasuke had killed him, but he felt no guilt. Neither of the Uchihas had been given any choice in the matter.

It was that blasted Village's fault.

They had taken down his family. They had forced his brother into exile.

Sasuke clenched his fists. He was still an Avenger. But now, he had his real target, Konoha.

And he wasn't just going to avenge his family.

He lifted his hands and began to unravel a very particular scroll of Orochimaru's. It was one he had never considered using, until now.

Of course, the resurrection jutsu required sacrifices. An equal number to who he was trying to bring back.

Though the Village populace had not actually spilled his family's blood, he still held them culpable.

He would still make them pay for their folly, with their lives.

----------------------------------------------------

Ah, crazy Uchihas, where would we be without them?

So, let me know what you think, as always, my darlings.

Have a good week!