This event is a major plot point that will further the story which is why it's taking so long to write. That and I'm spectacularly out of practice. Welp, enjoy!

Running through the dense forests surrounding Ame, Pein and Konan followed the sounds of the beasts' roars. Currently being held up in a destroyed clearing by the Akatsuki members, they swatted at the two teams keeping them at bay. Deidara soared just out of reach of Aito's sandy claws, dropping smaller scale bombs as he dodged, afraid any larger blasts would injure the sleeping boy on the head of the beast. Despite the lack of significant damage, the bomber tried his best to keep the demon's attention on him while Sasori scaled up the beast. The puppeteer was hoping that maybe sedating Aito would lull him into a deeper sleep, shutting out the demon for the time being. Just a few yards away,

Itachi had coated himself in a simple manifestation of susanoo, protecting him from the toxic chakra. Kisame deflected the violent slashes of the beast head on but it showed no sign of tiring out. With Samehada unable to consume the burning chakra, he could only bide time for Itachi's genjutsu to trick Kairi into calming down but the beast in her was not having any of it, furious he would even try.

Sasori managed to make his way up to the beast's head, immediately injecting the unconscious boy with a strong sedative. The sand demon screamed its displeasure, its limbs now sluggish in its movements. The sand that made up its arms began to slacken and sift off though it still struggled to regain proper use of its limbs. White wings unfurled as Konan took to the sky, flying up to where Sasori crouched, holding onto the sleeping boy.

"Hurry, the sedative will wear off soon." He stressed, using chakra strings to try and limit the beast's movements and give Konan more time.

Saying nothing, a flurry of paper floated of her body, whipping through the air as it joined the chakra strings in binding down the flailing limbs. Turning back to Aito, she crouched down, a paper seal in her hand. Nagato had provided it for her years ago for this exact purpose, when this had still been their purpose. She attached it to Aito's forehead gently and the seal glowed brightly, going to work. All this fuss, all this damage and this poor sleeping child would be blamed while the real culprit hid in his body. Konan had to swallow the wave of pity in her throat to speak.

"It's time for Aito to wake up now." Her voice soft but firm. The beast locked eyes with her and fought the whole way, sinking deeper into Aito's psyche. The sand beneath them began to sift down, the chakra holding it in place now gone. She pulled the child out of it and into her arms as her wings spread out once more. As she leapt into the air, Deidara descended, the clay bird's claws snatching up the puppeteer.

Another enraged roar reminded them that Kairi was still on her rampage. Itachi jumped away from a violent swipe of her claws, deciding that ordinary genjutsu was only going to make her more furious. He tried again as Kisame blocked the next attack. An image of a Kaisho greeted Kairi, unharmed and composed as he usually was.

"What are you doing? Come on." He beckoned, a brow cocked in confusion.

Kairi startled and even the beast reached out, following her wishes. Its claw almost met Kaisho's proffered hand when something touched their stomach. Surprised, it looked down into a pair of ringed eyes and a seal, flaring brightly on their skin. All their fiery rage simmered down unwillingly, drowned out in those white whirlpool eyes. Like his partner, Pein lifted the now quiet child into his arms. Her face and arms still sported chakra burns now unable to heal on its own since her beast was properly locked up.

"Let's go." Pein called out, his wife catching up to him, her red-haired charge in a better state than Kairi.

Falling in behind their leader, they made their way back to the village, heading straight to their resident medic to check on the jinchuuriki's physical state. While Aito seemed to be fine, they weren't sure and Rin would have to take care of Kairi's burns anyway. Pein gazed down into his charge's resting face, peaceful in her sleep. It was hard to believe that once he would've ordered this child killed and her beast extracted. Maybe even done it himself. Now, despite the damage to his village, the lives lost, he just hoped that this little girl would be alright.

Kisame broke him out of his musings, offhandedly commenting on the fight as if it was a regular workout. "Subduing the beasts are much harder when you can't hurt them." He sighed, rolling out his shoulders.

"Ah but the jinchuuriki we were assigned to before almost never fully transform too." Deidara said, offering his own opinion. It was difficult to imagine that the Kazekage could've easily been in the same position as his son though Sasori had told him that it happened once in his youth. Another factor they had to consider. "Well, can't expect these kids to control their demons at this age, un."

"They'll have to learn quickly."Pein intoned, his eyes still trained on the kid in his arms. "Had this happened in their own villages or without the Akatsuki present, many more would've died."

They fell into silence at that, knowing there was truth to their leader's words. Even now, they were still unsure what the damage was. What they did know was that it would not be allowed to happen again. Konan looked down again at Aito, sleeping and docile in her arms. She wondered if it would be the last good sleep he ever had.

The usually calm and gloomy village was now painted a very different kind of grey. Dust and wreckage covered the once clear streets of Ame. Its hushed chatter was now replaced by scattered wails and cries for help and the bustle of ninja as they followed the orders of the Akatsuki members present. It was a sight Pein never wanted to see in his village again. The leader kept his eyes dead ahead as his small group made their way back to the main tower. Still he could not ignore the scent of smoke and burning flesh in the air.

When the group returned with Pein at its head, Hitomi was already waiting at the tower's entrance. The young woman's face relaxed slightly at the sight of the slumbering and relatively unharmed children even as the debris from the partially damage tower crumbled behind her.

"Leader-sama." She straightened and walked alongside them, not bothering to stop her leader to speak. There were things to do and places to be and Pein was not one to waste time. Hitomi delivered her report, quick and concise. "The situation is currently contained and under control. The villagers are safe and the injured are being tended to. The hospitals are coping with the influx of patients relatively well. Masaru and Misa have arrested the kiri genin who were responsible for assisting in the invasion. They're in the interrogation cells. The kages are secured in the meeting hall with Rin-san. Karakaze wasn't harmed but Kaisho will make a complete recovery."

Pein nodded once in approval and finally spares her a glance. "Give me an updated report in the next half hour. Including the body count."

Hitomi muttered a quick confirmation before taking her leave. The group continued on to the meeting hall, heading straight for their only healer and the kages. The door swung open before they even reached it and Obito held it open for them with only a simple warning to the occupants of the room to give Leader-sama some space. The moment they enter, Konan and Pein made a beeline for Rin who had already set up a makeshift medical station. They laid down their precious cargo and the medic immediately began her examinations of them. Pein left the children in her capable hands and finally turns to acknowledge the anxious kages in the room.

Naruto and Gaara are the first to speak, getting to their feet. They offered their sincere thanks, expressions both guilty for the destruction their children caused and relieved that they were safe. Pein merely nodded in acceptance. "We simply did what we could."

He had other business to attend to first before dealing with them. The Mizukage had her eyes on the recovering children, a strained expression on her face. Pein couldn't place it exactly though it didn't look like blame. "Mizukage, I'd like to speak to you privately concerning the fate of your genin."

Mei barely startled, getting to her feet and simply following him out of the room. They didn't go too far and Pein doesn't yet intend to take her to the perpetrators. They entered an unoccupied filing room just a few doors down. Unlike Naruto and Gaara, Mei said nothing. That was fine. Pein would rather speak first.

"The loss of life here today is attributed to your ninja due to their dissatisfaction with your rule. The jinchuuriki are not to blame." Pein intoned, fixing her with a steady gaze. Mei held her head high to meet his eyes and accepted it, still maintaining her silence. "Having said this, I believe that transitions for any village are a difficult and unpredictable time and you are capable of handling own ninja. I will release them to you for sentencing."

"Thank you." Her voice was low and tense but no less genuine.

She took a single to the door before Pein spoke again, rooting her to her spot. "I would advise you to pay heed to what the missing nin said about your own child being next. It did not sound like an empty threat."

"Well I have no child so-"

Pein raised his hand and cut her off. "I've known about your son since the beginning and I have had no issue with Kisame's frequent trips to the Mist. I am only saying this because that missing nin had a fair point. A child cannot become strong if coddled and hidden away from the world."

Mei was still for only a moment before she loosened her stance with a quiet sigh. Pein could see her burden weigh down on her like a physical force, sloping her shoulders. "I will consider it."

Years ago, when Kisame had proudly but discreetly told him of the birth of his son and explained the circumstances that required secrecy, he had expected issues to arise from it but he had not foreseen that it would somehow involve his village. The choice to lock away her child had led to this consequence and it would not end here. The reason Pein had advised her was not because he was a leader but because he was a parent. Nothing could be done about the lives lost today but he would rather not see Kisame's son added to that sacrifice.

The two village leaders returned to the meeting hall in silence. Kisame shared a look with her when she re-entered the room and took her seat. Konan came to take her usual place at his side and her presence alone eased the tension from his shoulders. Over at the makeshift infirmary, Rin straightened up from the prone bodies of her patients, looking fairly satisfied. The two children were sleeping side by side, peaceful and innocent. If not for the bandages wrapped around Kairi's limbs and face, no one would've thought that these very two were the ones who not long ago, caused so much chaos and destruction.

Rin addressed her leader but kindly kept her voice loud enough that the kage could hear her as well so that her words might put Naruto and Gaara's fears to rest. "Kairi and Aito will recover. She's going to need further medical attention for the chakra burns on her skin but they should wake up in a few days along with Kaisho. Karakaze is unharmed. Looks like Aito's sand protected-"

A sharp knock on the door interrupted her and the room fell silent, all eyes on the door as Pein calmly permitted entry. The kage sat up straighter when Team Prodigy came in to deliver the report Pein requested, faces grim. Once again, it was Hitomi who spoke, her mismatched eyes only on their leader. "Misa is arranging temporary accommodations for those whose homes were destroyed. While most of the villagers were evacuated and unharmed, fatalies from the rampage are currently just over 50 civilians and 20 ninja. Most couldn't get out of the beasts' way or tried to help. The hospitals are filled up but still coping well."

"Dismissed." Pein murmured solemnly. Team Prodigy bowed before taking their leave quietly to continue assisting where they could.

"It's a surprisingly small amount of casualties." Mei commented sombrely in the silence of the room.

Unsatisfied with her response, the Raikage muttered pointedly, "Thats still 70 people who lost their lives."

The two of them fell back into silence as Naruto and Gaara pledged resources to help Ame, interjected with apologies and guilt coating every word. Pein lifted his hand to placate them. He understood where they were coming from but he wasn't worried about resources and aid. That was not what he wanted to ask of them right now.

"While I appreciate your offers, it will not stop this from happening again." The words shut them up instantly and Pein took advantage of it. "Their transformations will only get more explosive and dangerous as they grow. Both of you as jinchuuriki, know this. Do not forget what it was like before you got on good terms with your beasts. The seals I used will not hold forever but for the current moment, at their strength, it will buy them some time. Akatsuki was originally built with the intention of capturing the tailed beasts but, of course, extraction means death for the jinchuuriki. Even if Akatsuki were to shadow them, there would still be casualties. This event will undoubtedly reach the ears of the Konoha and Suna councils. They will order the death or banishment of the threats. We have seen it happen several times before. Before that happens, it is best to move your children out of the village."

Gaara and Naruto protested. Of course they did. Pein didn't expect anything less but he was saying this for the sake of their children. Akatsuki had changed since they first established themselves but they were still the best authority concerning this matter. No one was more prepared in terms of handling beasts. It was always the same for villages everywhere. They treated their jinchuuriki like weapons and expected them to keep the beast under control. If they failed, they were labelled as threats and disposed of, sealing the beast away in a new vessel. Again and again, this cycle would be repeated.

This would certainly be the fate of Kairi and Aito if they stayed in their villages. Maybe even their siblings, though they did nothing wrong. Councils were worse criminals than the Akatsuki. Or at least more merciless. Naruto pleaded anyway. "I can teach her. She'll be able to control it, I'm sure she can!"

"That would take time and in that time, any lapses in control would lead to the death of innocents." Pein refuted patiently. The leader of the Akatsuki sympathized. He wouldn't want to send away his child either but they were leaders and they had to consider what was best for their citizens.

"Send them to Kumo." All eyes turned to the Raikage. The large man nonchalantly leaned back as he continued, "They can train under Killer B on Turtle Island, far away from people. The Eight Tails will be able to contain them if they lose control."

Gaara contemplated it silently, raising his fist to his mouth. Naruto squirmed as well, hesitating for a bit. Kumo was far and training beasts was no easy task. This separation could take years. They would not be able to return to their villages until they managed to gain control. If they never did then it would equal to banishment. No contact with family, friends even strangers. Still, wasn't it better than the alternative?

"Do you really what your children to be seen as demons in their own village?" Pein asked bluntly. There was nothing good for jinchuuriki in their villages anyway from what he has seen. It had improved in recent years but no doubt this event would set them back. Absence would give the people time to calm down. Hopefully when the children returned, it wouldn't be too bad for them.

Reluctantly, Gaara agreed. A few muttered swears later, Naruto did too. Under the circumstances, this was the best option they had. They could only hope that Kairi and Aito would understand.

Getting back into writing is hard. I kinda feel like I've forgotten how to do it. So I'd appreciate any constructive criticism you guys have to offer! Hopefully the quality of writing improves as the story develops. I'll do my best!