• Dark Dawn •

Ep 46 - Causes

(Arc 8 - Set in Stone - pt 2)
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Naruto

With the privilege of being the youngest Akatsuki member, (Sasuke's his age, but he's two months older so that means Naruto can still claim the youngest rights -) he managed to annoy his way into meeting Pein with the shortest notice ever.

Kakuzu and Sasori were presumably out on some other mission, which would probably mean they were making money off some random bounty or mission. They were mercenaries for hire after all.

Deidara had cornered Sasuke and Naruto the moment they'd entered the base and demanded an answer to his question he'd screamed through the crystal three days ago. Sasuke didn't look like he knew whether he should hide in the shadows or decapitate the other loud blond. Naruto just gave a boisterous laugh as he explained his and Sasuke's escapade through Konoha.

Dedara started laughing along with Naruto around the time he started describing how they managed to trick and murder Danzo, gleefully.

Sasuke looked like he was so done with them, and Naruto only shot his partner a cheeky grin that was met with a reserved sigh.

Itachi was probably still avoiding Sasuke, given that he could feel his brother's chakra, but hadn't attempted to talk to Sasuke. Which, understandable. Sasuke wasn't sure if he wanted to see Itachi either.

Kisame and Hidan had been doing god knows what, but they should've been back at the base two days ago. At least, that was what Konan told them when she found them.

Naruto pestered the older woman into letting him meet with Pein, which she had been surprisingly reluctant to agree to, but she'd eventually caved.

"I wouldn't usually let you meet Pein so haphazardly, since he's still not in great health, but Pein's already busy with another matter," Konan explained. "Tobi's still in a meeting with Pein, so you have to convince them to let you join their talk if you want to meet him."

I assume they're discussing matters about Zetsu. Kurama commented.

I haven't heard from you in a while. Naruto thought, excited. Hey Kurama! How was your nap?

As well as it can be while stuck in your sewer brain.

I - huh, hey wait! That's mean!

Not like I do much else but sleep these days.

Naruto shook his head and focused on the real better friend in front of him. "Yeah. I know what they're talking about. They'll let me in." Naruto paused. "Probably."

"Well, never know until you try, right?" Sasuke said, walking past Naruto and Konan, heading deeper into the hallway. "It is something important that we have to ask, so Konan, you should also listen in."

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Zetsu's disappearance was not out of the ordinary, since the other man had always been elusive and frequently went missing on his own. It was something he did as far as anyone remembered and Pein didn't do anything about it either, so they had left his disappearing act on the shelf and never addressed the weirdness of it.

It wasn't like the members of the Akatsuki had any attachments to the world besides their own organization (since most of them were deserters of their villages) so it'd be strange for someone to have anything else.

This included the weeks beforehand where he'd been skittish and distant from everyone, and generally acting weird. So it was no wonder Tobi had contacted Naruto when he'd found that Zetsu was completely gone from the bases.