Nobody's POV~

The day was quiet. Unusually so.

Of course, while quiet days often mean peaceful, calm happiness and lazy days in the village, that wasn't the case this time. It hasn't been the case for a while.

Within the seemingly perfect village, secrets and deception lurked just beneath the surface. Several young shinobi, once just young genin who didn't know any better, had gotten together. They talked, but not casually. Not this time. They came together to talk about someone who had once been among them. Someone they thought had been among them, but despite that they had failed to realize that there never was a time when he was truly with them.

Higher, in the Hokage tower overlooking the vast village, more shinobi had also gotten together. Although they were talking about the same person as the young shinobi, these ninjas were much older and experienced. Despite that, they had also failed to realize what their students had failed to notice as well. They realized too late.

Somewhere else, a man was on a journey. He had a jutsu on his hands, a power that he knew, for sure, could turn the tides. He had succeeded his master. He knew he had.

It was this same man who was the cause of the reawakening of another man. A man who thought he was finally done with this world and had gotten rid of the suffering that plagued him for years. 

A man who, now, had a new mission.

Caught up in his ambition, the one who awoke him hadn't realized his mistake. He hadn't realized that it would cause his downfall.

Here he was, with enough knowledge to fill a bathtub and power that could command death, completely unaware of the mess he'd just gotten himself into.

Sasuke POV~

When Tsunade finally called us to her office, it was with a mission request.

She slapped a paper on her desk. "This is the location of two Akatsuki members named Kakuzu and Hidan. Naruto has requested help in wiping out the Akatsuki and even gave us their locations. He has provided everything he could, risking life and limb and using all the power he has, to give us this and win. Are you willing to take this mission?"

I had the feeling she was exaggerating a bit, but didn't call her out on it. To be honest, the Hokage looked like she just had a mental breakdown and was on the verge of another one. She also looked just about ready to punch something, which would be manageable with anyone but her.

So we took the mission. Kakashi side-eyed me, but said nothing.

I knew what he was thinking. I'd just killed an Akatsuki member (I doubted he was even fighting me with everything he had, so he basically killed himself) who was Itachi, of all people. Already, they were sending me out to take out more of them.

More evidence of Tsunade's possible breakdown.

Although I felt I could handle it, if she were in her right mind she probably wouldn't be sending me on this mission.

Perhaps it was because I still had no idea what I was doing. What I wanted to do. Honestly, I probably would have just gone rogue after Itachi's death if Naruto hadn't come and practically drag me to the village.

The rage was still there, as was the confusion, the burning hatred, simmering just beneath the surface. I was good at keeping feelings locked up until I wanted them out, so I did just that.

To be perfectly honest, I wanted nothing more than to murder Danzo. And the elders. Hell, if I had my way I'd destroy all of Konoha.

But I didn't. The uncertainty was there, and it was stopping me. Like I said, I still didn't know what to do. So I would wait. I would wait for my resolve to build up once more.

Which direction my resolve went, well, that depended. I wanted to do nothing but demolish those who hurt me, who hurt my brother, but I didn't. One look at Kakashi, one thought about Naruto, and I didn't. 

Was it a not yet? Maybe.

Anyways, a mission would get my mind off of it. Maybe, if I was lucky, I wouldn't wake up in a cold sweat tonight. If I was lucky, my rage would stay in its little container until I found something to throw it at.

I wasn't sure I would be able to hold back if I ever saw Danzo's face again.

We ended up at Konoha's gate, on our way to hunt down the two Akatsuki members Tsunade mentioned. With us was Asuma's team. Shikamaru glanced at me with hooded eyes, saying nothing but always staying close. Not close enough to be intrusive, but close enough that I knew he was there.

Shikamaru was strange. He was lazy. He was easily bored. 

One thing he was not is judgmental. 

Somewhere in the very back of my mind, I was eternally grateful for that.

Naruto POV~

It wasn't hard to find Tobi. What was hard was finding the Gedo statue.

I could sense it before, but I cast it out of my mind for fear of being overwhelmed. He had something huge planned, considering I'd been feeling the faint, uneasy mass (or masses) shifting underground for weeks now.

I sensed someone else, too. A chakra signature that seemed somewhat familiar but, at the same time, unusual. 

It wasn't until I saw him that it clicked. The reason that chakra seemed familiar. 

Kabuto and Tobi were conspiring. I hadn't even considered the possibility. 

With my enhanced hearing, I managed to hear a bit of the conversation. Enough to know what was happening. 

"...after you killed Orochimaru."

"He was a nuisance. It seems you will be, too."

"I doubt it. I have something very useful to you after all. Oh, and Orochimaru isn't completely dead. There's some of his chakra in the curse marks, and this girl has one. She will be very useful to me."

Kabuto shifted. I could see, now, the scaly texture his skin had. That wasn't there before. I also noticed the limp figure on the ground between them. My breath caught in my throat. I recognized her. It was hard to forget the dango-loving Anko, once you met her.

Also, Orochimaru dead? I didn't know whether to applaud Tobi or beat his ass. Preferably the latter.

They moved away then, forcing me to stretch my hearing a bit further to catch their next words. I missed much of the talk, but I caught enough.

"...this jutsu, they stand no chance."

The coffins sprung from the ground then, and they fell open. One, the one I couldn't see, opened in front of Tobi, and for the first time I saw real shock on him.

Heart hammering in my head, I leaned forward, just enough to hear Kabuto say the words, "edo tensei."

Well shit.

I knew very well what the edo tensei jutsu was, and suddenly things got more complicated. 

By now, sweat clung to the back of my neck and a bone-deep chill ran over the air. Edo fucking tensei, of all jutsu. Where the fuck did Kabuto learn this?

My faint hold on concealing my chakra could barely stay in place, now. I knew I didn't have much time before they noticed me. It took almost all my effort to hide my chakra, considering how much of it I had, along with Kurama's. There was only so much I could do.

It was obvious when they noticed me. Tobi simply tilted his head in my direction, a faint gesture that only suggested acknowledgement. Kabuto reacted more obviously, tensing and growing quiet, eyes narrowed in my direction. 

I stepped out into the open, just as Kabuto sent the coffins back in the ground.

"Edo tensei?" I asked. "How powerful."

"Naruto Uzumaki." Kabuto muttered, "It's been a while."

"It has. Nice makeover, Kabuto."

My voice held enough weight that Kabuto narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here? You must be a fool not to hide, considering how you're being hunted by everyone."

I made no move to correct him. "Maybe."

Kabuto glared further. I was putting him off, and I knew it. 

"There is a reason you've come before us." Tobi said, breaking the silence, "What is it?"

"I was hoping to ask you something, out of my own curiosity." I tilted my head. Kurama's chakra flowed smoothly with mine, and when the wind blew over the forest, the intimidating chill of his power brushed over us. It was a natural feeling to me, and it was just noticeable enough that Kabuto and Tobi felt it.

"What is your end goal?"

You could hear a pin drop, in the following silence. Another gust of wind bellowed from the trees.

"An interesting question." Tobi mused in a soft voice, "Fine. I'll tell you." he stepped forward, "World peace."

...

Well that told me nothing.

"That it?"

He glared at me in contempt and mild annoyance before telling me all about his plan with the Ten-Tails and the Rinnegan mind control shit, albeit a bit smugly. 

When he was done I fell silent.

Whatever I thought I expected, it certainly hadn't been that.

Yes, I agreed with him that the world was cruel. I agreed that it needed to change. But this?

These were the actions of a man who had lost everything, a man who had been disappointed over and over and felt pain at its deepest. 

I guess I could understand wanting happiness to the point where he becomes obsessed with crazy ideals, but dammit. Dammit.

It is so much easier to take down an enemy you can't relate to.

When he was finished, he stared at me. Explaining the whole thing, he sounded awfully numb, like he was reciting an old speech rather than telling me about his plan to completely flip over the world as we know it.

The only response that came to mind was a flat, "That is complete bullshit."

He didn't react at all. I suddenly had no idea what to do. I came thinking I could understand him to the point where I have a justified reason for beating his ass, but the problem is, I don't. I mean, I do, but it seems wrong, almost. Hollow, like just defeating him isn't going to be enough.

But the solid resolve there, I could sense it already. This man truly believed that what he was doing was right, and it looked like he felt he had nothing else going for him. 

Dammit. Stupid stupid stupid, why did I come here in the first place? I should've just located Shukaku and Matatabi, rescued them, and went on my merry way, but no, I just had to stop by for a visit and possible existential crisis.

Kabuto snorted, "You made a mistake coming here, brat."

I flicked my gaze over to him. "Yes. I think I did. Bye."

Before anyone could react, Kurama's chakra burst into my system and I flung myself out of the way. On my way, I made a point to grab Anko too. Couldn't leave her behind.

I was fast, but so was Kabuto, and Tobi even faster. Kabuto made a valiant attempt to get her, but he couldn't compete with Kurama's chakra. Tobi didn't even try. I guess they weren't as buddy-buddy as I thought. That's reassuring, if only slightly.

My stomach curdled with everything that happened in the past several minutes. Worst of all, I felt utterly helpless, like I knew what to do but at the same time it felt like I wasn't doing enough.

"You okay, kit?" Kurama asked. His chakra retracted smoothly once we were far enough, the once-jagged transition flowing completely in harmony. Our chakras were so intertwined at this point that all emotions and chakra we had filtered unhindered between the two of us. His worry showed in his chakra, if the sharper waves jutting out from the cloak around me were anything to go by. 

'No, not really.' I answered, and every word was true.

Kurama hummed, "Well, we have an objective. Let's get the damn brats who got captured before  doing anything else."

'Okay.'