Sasuke POV~

A five kage summit has been announced. 

My first instinct was to ask if I could go.

I don't know why I asked that, or why I was disappointed when Tsunade gave me an incredulous look and said, "Why?"

I...didn't have an answer for that.

Tsunade just shook her head, "I understand, Sasuke. That's why I've given you, Yamato, and Kakashi a mission."

I perked up, hoping my excitement wasn't visible. I felt a slight flash of embarrassment when Tsunade gave me an amused look. 

"It's nothing complicated. Just like a patrol, actually. You'll be investigating Akatsuki activity near a village in the Land of Iron, which is where the summit is taking place. You'll keep a watch over that area until the summit is over, and head home from there."

I nodded and left calmly when dismissed, still disappointed at the fact that Tsunade saw right through me. Hopefully this time she couldn't see my happiness. That would be humiliating. 

Tsunade POV~

I smiled to myself as Sasuke left. Dammit. Just imagining what would've happened to this boy if Orochimaru got his scaly hands on him...

He was cold from the beginning. Even now, he was trying to act like he was still emotionless, as if I couldn't see right through him. I didn't point it out, obviously. Living as long as I have, I knew just how much those Uchiha valued their pride. 

The smile fell off my face as I lay eyes on the message from the Raikage.

I'd read over it and immediately felt the need to break a chair over someone's head. 

This fool. Suggesting we take advantage of Naruto being at the five kage summit to capture him.

He was being logical, as a kage, but I simply couldn't see the value of kidnapping Naruto. Of course he would suggest it, but he didn't know Naruto like I did. If we attempted to capture him, we would lose his trust. In a fight like this, we needed him, especially with all the info he'd managed to get us.

The other kage didn't know this, but trying to force Naruto to stay and assist us would be as counterproductive as killing him.

So, with a furious scribbling of a pencil, I told him just that. 

Wisely, he didn't reply. I was guessing I'd get an earful of it from the others at the summit.

Except for maybe the Kazekage.

The days came and passed, and in no time at all it was time for the summit.

I left the village with a couple of trustworthy ANBU. Danzo was insistent on me taking some of his ANBU, but I shut him down quickly. I would much rather jump off a cliff than trust his little ANBU with my life. I knew how badly Danzo wanted to be Hokage. I wasn't taking any chances. 

And so, here we were. Within the Land of Iron, defended and overseen by the Samurai.

A single pale light fell over the room. At the head sat Mifune. Around the table were each of the Kage.

The air between us was chilly. It'd been years since the last five kage summit, and none of us were quick to trust each other. 

Of course, I was the one being yelled at. I suppose that's what I got for being anywhere with 100 meters of Naruto at any point in my life. 

"We can't just leave him be!" the Raikage was saying, his voice just below a shout. "He can't be allowed to just run around freely. Does this boy understand the danger he is in?"

"For once, I agree with him." the Tsuchikage grunted. The old kage shifted in his seat. Of all of them, he was one of the more irritating, "This Jinchuriki is carrying the Kyuubi with him. He's a target. He needs to be put under guard and protection. Out there he's vulnerable, and I doubt he can take on all the Akatsuki on his own."

The other kage were nodding and agreeing, all except the Kazekage, who sat quietly and watched the proceedings observantly. I was also silent, letting them ramble. It was only a matter of time before my anger got the best of me, and once it did, I wanted it to make enough of an impact that they finally shut up and listen.

The Raikage was just going on about what a fool I was when I slammed my hand down on the table, cracking it but not completely destroying it. He fell quiet at my sudden outburst, as did everyone else in the room. I could sense the other shinobi shifting in the background warily.

"I've heard enough." I opened my eyes and glared at each of them. "How many of you aside from the Kazekage have even met Naruto Uzumaki?"

Silence.

I drew my hand back to my lap, "I'll have you know that I've been in contact with him through an exchange of letters. From what he's told me, he is well aware of the danger he is in. Probably much more aware than any of us. He's told us valuable information that nobody else has managed to get, because he is in a unique position. Although it may seem that way, and although he is technically a rogue, I'll have you know he has not betrayed us. The position he is in now has given him access to many things. He has come in contact with the leader of the Akatsuki and made it out." I gave them all a cold look, "I ask that you don't underestimate him. Although by technicality we are supposed to hunt down rogues, I'm willing to make an exception just this once. His trust is fragile, and if we break it even once, I doubt we'll ever see or hear from him again."

Just then, a flash of chakra appeared from the nearby hallway. I froze, as did everyone else in the room.

The chakra, roiling and massive, was suddenly right over our heads.

"Well said, Tsunade-sama."

Everyone looked up just as the figure on the ceiling leapt down, right in the middle of the conference table between all of the kage.

The figure pulled down the hood of his cloak, and we were met with a shock of sunshine yellow hair, those deep blue eyes. His jawline was much more defined, and he'd grown up over the past couple years.

"It's nice to meet all of you." Naruto said.

Naruto POV~

'Oh shit oh shit oh shit-'

"Calmmmm downnnn."

'You sound like you're telling yourself that more than you are me.'

"I am."

'Damn.'

It was relatively easy to sneak by the Samurai. I didn't want to raise a ruckus at my arrival. But my nerves were starting to get the better of me the closer I got to the actual location.

I could sense the kage. Dammit, they were all strong.

"Of course they are. They're fucking kage for a reason."

'I know.'

Nobody had noticed me yet, but I had to get in there eventually. 

So, I forced my heart to calm down, suppressed my chakra, and went in.

I managed to hear most of what Tsunade said, which actually helped calm me down a lot and work up the nerve to make an appearance.

They all stared at me, the shocked expressions on their faces being replaced with things like caution after a few seconds. The Raikage, especially, was giving me a hard look. I knew about his reputation, and I was really really hoping I wouldn't be on the wrong end of his fists.

Kurama was uncomfortable, which was understandable, given a good portion of his least favorite people were all in the same room with us.

The Tsuchikage was the first to speak. "Naruto Uzumaki. So you arrived."

I slid my gaze over to him, careful to keep my face neutral. "I have."

"We hear you've gotten into a tangle with the leader of the Akatsuki." the Mizukage went on. 

I could see when someone was digging for information, or beating around the bush to force me at a topic. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and said, "Yes. I have. Both of them."

They stared blankly at me, and I stared back. I was really hating my position, considering that no matter where I turned I always had my back to at least two of them. 

I was careful to make sure that one of those two was always either Gaara or Tsunade.

"It seems you showed your face after all." The Raikage leaned forward with his scrutinizing gaze. I didn't shy away from that glare, rather meeting it head on. 

I had to remind myself that these people were supposed to be my allies, not the enemies.

The Raikage, eyeing me sharply, said, "Perhaps, boy, you would like to tell us what you know so far?"

I tilted my head slightly. "Of course. That's why I'm here, after all." I turned to the man at the head of the conference, a Samurai from the looks of it. "May I have a place to sit?"

Eventually, they managed to get a chair for me next to the Samurai man at the head of the table. I was glad to finally be able to face all the kage, but the Samurai and the other shinobi I could sense behind me were causing my skin to prickle. I was in no place to complain, but still.

"You may know by now that the true leader of the Akatsuki, a man with an orange mask who calls himself Tobi, had been commanding Pain from the background the entire time." I was met with slight nods, "The Kyuubi has also confirmed that this man was the same one who forced him to attack the village the night of my birthday 16 years ago, causing the death of the Fourth Hokage. This man confronted me not long after he killed Pain, claiming to be Madara Uchiha. The Kyuubi, having met the actual Madara Uchiha, confirmed that they weren't the same person, but he carried the same name nonetheless." I leaned back, "Everything else you already know, unless you have questions?"

"Some, yes." Tsunade asked. I glanced at her, feeling a flash of guilt that this was the first time I saw her in years and we were both being so curt. This wasn't the time to dwell on that, but I really needed to let her know that I still love her like mother later.

Tsunade threaded her fingers together and asked, "We sensed some of your chakra near the area when Pain was killed, leading many to assume it was you who murdered him. Please explain what you were doing there."

I blinked. I didn't expect that. "If that's your question, no. I didn't kill Pain. The reason Tobi killed him was because I confronted him and kept him talking until I managed to stop him from destroying Konoha. Tobi was under the assumption that Pain betrayed him, so he killed him."

"Destroying Konoha?" Gaara glanced at me in surprise.

I nodded. "From what the two of them said, that was their plan. I assume you found the outpost where all those lookouts were taken out? That was him in preparation to attack. It was there that I revealed myself to him and spoke to him."

The Mizukage, looking stunned, said, "How could he expect to take on all of Konoha and win?"

I gave her an even look and said flatly, "He could have done it. I fought him. The only reason I survived was because I had the sense to run when I could."

"What did you do, you said? Talk to him? How could you just talk him down?" The Tsuchikage said incredulously.

"I don't know." I sighed, "He had the idea that, since he'd experienced pain in the past, he had the duty to stop wars by making everyone else feel that pain. Perhaps he thought he could relate to me on some level, once I shared my experiences. It was enough to make him hesitate, temporarily at least."

"Oh, that's very helpful. Now I know what happened. Thank you, Naruto." came a new, chillingly familiar voice from right fucking behind me.

All the kage leapt to their feet, in a flash of golden chakra I had a kunai to Tobi's throat.

"It seems the time has come. You've caused many problems, Naruto Uzumaki." I realized a moment too soon what he was going to do.

I thought back, in that split second, memorizing every detail and every little mistake I made.

The world became crystal clear in that moment, and I could feel my own eyes widen.

Looking back, I should have jumped back the first time.

Tobi grabbed my arm before I could stop him, and before I knew it, I was engulfed in a swirling vortex of emptiness.

"It's time to come with me."