Disclaimer: Kukuku. I don't own Naruto.

Warning: Language. Innuendos. Gore. Hints of torture. Death. Kissy-kiss. Romance. Etc.

Beta: Lavendor Queen

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Day 5, Evening, Naruto's POV

Naruto was breathing heavily, his hands clenched into fists as he stood outside the mountain. Sakura was on his left, and Sasuke on his right. Kisame, Sasori, Deidara, Hidan, Kakuzu and Jiraiya stood behind the trio.

This was it.

This was where that kidnapper was.

Naruto could feel his anger spike and his fingernails dug so deep into his palms, they pierced the skin.

"We'll split up," Kakuzu said, his voice coming out in a low rumble. "Hidan, with me. We'll go around the right side of the cliff. Deidara, Sasori, Sakura, you go up and over. Kisame, and Jiraiya, take the left. Naruto, Sasuke... you'll go down the road, straight to the base. Let's get this over with."

"Hang on, Kaa-chan," Naruto said quietly. "I'm coming for you."

Jiraiya moved past Naruto, placing a hand on his shoulder before exchanging glances with Kisame. "Let's go, Big Blue."

Kisame laughed, jumping down from the tree to the ground and running out of the forest. Jiraiya jumped down, following behind him. The two turned left at the massive cliff, the peak of the cliff looming above them.

"Sakura," Sasori said, cocking his head. "Come."

"Hai!" Sakura exclaimed, clenching her hands into fists and following after her sensei. Deidara summoned up a clay bird and the puppeteers both jumped up onto it.

Naruto didn't say anything more, just sprinting straight down the middle. Sasuke followed right behind him.

Hidan snorted. "Man. What an annoyance. I can kill anyone, right, Kakuzu?"

"As painfully as you'd like."

Hidan grinned.

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Day 6, Night, Obito's POV

Keep calm, Obito, Obito thought to himself, finally setting down X's letter. Anger will only cloud your judgement. You need to think clearly to find X. Just... Just lay down, close your eyes, and count backwards from one-hundred until you're calm.

Obito laid back on his bed, turning his head to look at his nightstand. The picture of Mia stared back at him, green eyes sparkling. Another spike of anger churned in his gut and he forced himself to close his eyes and look away.

One-hundred. Ninety-nine. Ninety-eight. Ninety-seven...

Slowly, Obito began to count backwards. As he did, the hot anger he felt slowly cooled, turning into more of a frozen rage. But, in the process, he started to feel drowsy. He technically hadn't slept in about a week, and while he could get by a couple more days without sleep, it was getting more difficult to stay awake.

She would scold me if she knew I hadn't slept, Obito thought softly. He could practically hear her voice.

"Honestly, Tobi, what are you thinking? No sleep for a week? You grouched to me when I didn't sleep the days before my finals, so don't you be a hypocrite and give me that bullshit! March your booty to our room, strip off those pants and shirt and get your ass in bed."

Then Obito would say: "... Why do I have to strip?"

Mia would then roll her eyes, huffing, as if the answer were the most obvious thing in the world. "Because I deserve a little payment for having to put up with your insanity! Now show me that sexiness."

Obito would, of course, become flustered and stammer out some defense against his strippings. He would strip in the end, naturally. It's not like he hadn't slept in just his boxers before, and he knew Mia wouldn't do anything (or force anything... or imply anything, really) he was actually uncomfortable with. Besides, it was always nice to feel desired.

She would push him into the bed, strip down to her cammie and undies then crawl in after him. He would say, "Don't be so indecent."

Mia would stick her tongue out at him and curl up next to him, but neither would argue about their positions or circumstances. Although Obito would never admit it, he loved feeling Mia against him. It was like a constant reminder that he wasn't alone. With her beside him, the nightmares never came.

Her heartbeat was his perfect lullaby most of the time.

Not that he would ever tell her that.

Obito would usually wait about five minutes before Mia had fallen asleep. He would stay up a bit longer, staring up at the ceiling (which was the real reason why he had a skylight installed in Mia's room - he preferred the stars over the ceiling any day). He wouldn't really think, or dream, per say, so much as just... be.

There was no plans, motives, lies, hurt or love in those times. There just... was. There was just Obito. There was just Mia. And there were just the stars.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

When his eyes would grow heavy, and he was ready to sleep, he would always pull her closer to him. Not because he wanted her closer, so much as because he just needed reassurance that she was still there; that she wasn't just some figment in his imagination.

Just thinking about the scenario caused Obito to let out a large yawn.

Obito let out a soft sigh, his body finally sagging from the weight of stress he had been facing for the past week.

Maybe when I open my eyes, it'll just have been a bad dream.

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Day 6, Evening, Kakashi's POV

Kakashi faltered in his sprinting, looking up and finding Zetsu appearing from a tree.

"Hello, Kakashi," Zetsu greeted. "Just checking up on everyone. Where are you headed?"

Kakashi hesitated a moment before shrugging. "I want to see if I can track down X. My latest information on him said he was going to Sōgen no Mura."

Zetsu's eyes widened. "That's... interesting. Thank you, Kakashi."

"How is everyone?"

"Fine," Zetsu said. "The Akatsuki, as well as Naruto, Jiraiya and Sasuke have eliminated Hiruko. I would imagine Tobi is going to Sōgen no Mura, too."

"Then maybe I'll see him there," Kakashi said softly.

"Maybe," Zetsu muttered, disappearing into the tree.

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Day 5, Evening, Jiraiya & Kisame

Jiraiya and Kisame both stopped short about halfway around the cliff. The ground beneath them erupted and they were forced to jump back. A man, spinning like a drill, flew up into the air before coming back down.

Jiraiya took one look at him and whistled. "I'm going to take a wild guess and say you're into bondage, what with what you're wearing."

The man scoffed. "I can't let you pass, you know. The master isn't ready."

"Master?" Kisame echoed. "A little S&M action going on, too?"

His eyes narrowed dangerously and he bit his thumb, slamming the palm of his hand into the ground. "Kuchiyose, Soutouja!"

Navy blue dual-headed snakes erupted from the smoke, hissing and spitting furiously as they dove towards the duo. The man grinned. "Dakoumou!"

Then both of the snakes spat out a tongue, which was actually another pair of dual-headed snakes, and those snakes spat out dual-headed snakes...

"That's just nasty," Jiraiya whined.

"I got it," Kisame said, sucking in a big gulp of air before bellowing several shark bombs. Each attack hit one of the masses and when the smoke cleared from the attack, the snakes were gone. "I thought Sasuke was the only living person with the snake contract."

"Well, Orochimaru is pretty old. Maybe he's not completely asexual and had a bastard son," Jiraiya suggested.

Kisame looked disgusted by that. "That's gross."

"Hmph," the man said. "You two aren't as bad at combat as you look."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kisame demanded. "Mia says I'm the sexiest blue person she's ever met, I'll have you know."

"I think you're the only blue person she's met," Jiraiya reasoned. "Which also means you're the ugliest blue person she's met."

"Don't take that compliment away from me, Big White."

Jiraiya grinned. "Sorry, Big Blue. What do you say we finish this just like we finished that drinking game last time?"

"Stripping drunk on a table?" Kisame asked, confused.

"No. In style."

Kisame laughed, pulling out his Samehada. "That's a good idea, Big White."

Jiraiya grinned. "After you, then, Big Blue."

Kisame laughed again, swinging his Samehada and sprinting towards the snake-man. He swung his massive sword at the man and the man's arm transformed into a hardened, navy blue snake. Samehada's sharp scales struck out against the bandages, digging into the snake.

The man's eyes widened and he jumped back. "Wh... What did you do? My chakra...?"

"I'll let you figure that one out for yourself," Kisame said, grinning maniacally. "In the meantime, Big White and I will be slicing you up into itty-bitty pieces, keheheh."

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

?, ?, ?

There was whiteness. Just whiteness. Even the sound wrapping around him was... whiteness. He was on his knees, staring at nothing, but the whiteness. He was alone. No one was around for kilometers upon kilometers.

He swallowed roughly, blinking slowly.

And then Rin and young Obito stood in front of him.

The older Obito stared at the two, his mind going blank and white like the landscape that surrounded them.

"What are you doing, being such an idiot?" young Obito demanded, his cheeks puffing out. "You have a total babe all over you and you're just wasting it! Man, I thought I was going to be cool when I grew up!"

Rin giggled.

The older Obito missed that giggle. He found his eyes resting on her. He wanted to tell her something. He wanted to ask her something. Yet his tongue wouldn't move, all he could do was stare at her.

"Obito-kun, don't be so silly," Rin said gently, her eyes dancing with warmth. "But he has a point, Obito-san. What are you doing?"

"Fixing the world," Obito-san said.

He frowned after the words escaped his lips. It seemed wrong. That answer, somehow, seemed wrong.

Rin shook her head, her brow furrowed as she looked saddened. "Obito-san, you're not fixing anything like this."

Obito-kun grinned brightly. "Come on! You're supposed to be the next Hokage! Dump the Akatsuki, already. Come back to Konoha and be with Mia-chan."

Obito-san stared blankly at Obito-kun. "I thought you loved Rin."

Obito-kun rolled his eyes. "Well, duh. I'll always love Rin, but that doesn't mean I'll always be in love with her."

Rin giggled. "For such a dummy, that's an insightful statement."

Obito-kun preened before he realized what Rin had said. He blushed brightly. "R-Rin-chan!"

Rin smiled warmly at both Obitos. "Obito-san, I know you'll always love me. I know what you've done, and while I don't... I don't really agree with everything you've done, I know you did it because you thought it was right. You'll always have my support, Obito-san, because I just want you to be happy, too. You deserve to be happy, Obito-san."

"I let you die," Obito-san whispered.

"I was meant to die, and I chose to die," Rin said gently. "You can't pay for my mistakes anymore, Obito-san. Besides..."

Rin trailed off, glancing at Obito-kun and smiling fondly. "Obito-kun is right, you know? I know you'll always love me, and I'll always love you. But I will never be in love with you Obito-san, just like you aren't in love with me now."

Obito-san's eyes widened. "No. That's not true. That's not true at all, Rin-chan, I - "

She raised her hand, cupping his cheek and smiling softly. "Obito-san, would I lie to you?"

"No, but I - "

"Then why are you denying this?" Rin asked quietly.

"'Cause he's an idiot," Obito-kun declared. Rin giggled again, using her other hand to cover her mouth.

"There's nothing to deny," Obito-san said firmly. "I'm only in love with you, Rin-chan. I only... I only like Mia."

"Is that your final choice?" Rin asked.

"Yes."

"Obito-san, you're a horrible liar," Rin said, lifting her hand away from his cheek and placing it on his head, "but that's okay. You regret my death, I know. But whose death would you regret the most now, I wonder?"

Obito-san's brow furrowed. "What...?"

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Day 5, Evening, Sakura, Deidara & Sasori

"Ah, so it's you guys who chose to come this way," a young woman purred. "I was hoping it'd be you. My babies have been itching to play with such strapping young men."

Sakura's eyes narrowed dangerously and she positioned herself in front of Sasori. "Oh. Hell. No. Bitch, you're mine. Dibs on this one. I want her body as my latest puppet."

"It's all yours, Sakura," Sasori said smoothly, hopping off of Deidara's bird. Deidara grinned and did the same.

"Here, Sakura, use my bird, un," Deidara offered.

Sakura smiled brightly at both them before hopping on top of the bird. She pulled out a red scroll and unraveled it. In a puff of smoke, three puppets appeared. A puppet of a deformed bird, a scorpion and a snake.

The scorpion was the bulkiest, comprised hardened, black, chakra metal. It clattered when it moved, its red eyes glowing and the tip of its tail dripping with some sort of red liquid. The snake was the longest, entirely wooden, dyed to a dark purple. It wasn't the strongest, but it was the most flexible. Small – toothpick small – spikes covered every centimeter of its form, the exception being the underside. The toothpicks were pricked with acidic poisons – acidic only when it came into contact with flesh. The bird was smallest, roughly the same size as Sakura herself. It was wooden underneath, but red feathers covered every inch of its form. It was the fastest.

"One touch of my poison and your precious pets are history," Sakura cooed, hopping up onto Deidara's bird.

The woman sneered. "That's if you can catch them."

Sakura's fingers twitched and the snake darted forward, opening its mouth and letting out a spray of acid at the summoned beasts. The beasts leapt up into the air, and the bird dove for them.

Unable to dodge in mid-air, the bird's claws scraped across both their faces, more specifically, their eyes. The beasts howled in pain, falling down the ground where the snake sprayed even more acid on them.

"My servants... How dare you?!" the woman snarled. "Come my servants!" The woman slammed her palms together and in a puff of smoke another beast appeared beneath her. Before Sakura could even process what kind of creature it was, the woman called out, "Chimera no Jutsu!"

Sakura blinked in surprise when she found that the woman had merged with her newly summoned beast, the upper half of her body sticking out from the top of the turtle's head. She held out a whip, a bloodthirsty gleam in her eyes. "Now comes the fun part."

"Oh, please," Sakura said, rolling her eyes. She guided Deidara's bird to circle around the woman.

Sakura's bird puppet dove down to the woman and the woman laughed. "Give me a break!"

She swung her whip, but stopped short and glanced back to find that the scorpion had wrapped its tail around it, stopping it. She sneered and was forced to release her whip, so she could dodge the bird's attack.

"It's over for you," Sakura said, smiling pleasantly. Her snake puppet darted around the turtle, wrapping around and digging its poisoned spikes into it. "With that body, you're too slow to keep up with me."

The woman glared up at Sakura. "Hmph! I don't need to be fast to – "

Her eyes widened, her mouth opening into a small little o. The scorpion had dug its tail through her chest from her back.

"Bye-bye," Sakura sung, jumping off from the bird and swinging down a leg. She connected her leg as hard as she could against the woman's head, effectively decapitating her.

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

?, ?, ?

He only needed the Kyuubi.

The one inside of Naruto.

Mia didn't like it. Naruto was her son. But she couldn't hurt him. She wouldn't hurt him. She loved him fiercely, and she loved Naruto just as fiercely. She wouldn't voice the attack or the betrayal, so wrapped up in her own guilt.

She was supposed to be on the sidelines, far, far away from the battlegrounds.

He was almost complete in his endeavour. Naruto was on his knees, his clothes torn and bloody. He was out of breath and at the brink of exhaustion. Their army had fallen, unsurprisingly.

He was running. Sprinting, even, towards the Kyuubi. He just needed it, he just needed a tiny bit of it and then it would be all over. The genjutsu would come to life and the world would become safe. He could finally be happy.

He really wanted to be happy.

His hand jabbed out towards Naruto, his fingers pointed.

But there was something in his way.

It was soft. Easily breakable. It shattered underneath his force and he sliced through it with ease.

Too much ease.

He saw.

He saw what he stabbed through.

It was... it was... Rin?

He was Kakashi now. The Chidori flaring to life from his right hand. The rain pelted hard against him. Rin was staring at him with those wide, dimming eyes. She croaked out Kakashi's name and then the scene shifted and he was Tobi again.

It wasn't Rin.

There was no Chidori crackling to life.

There was no shock, wide eyes.

There were soft eyes.

Eyes that loved and hurt.

And there was blood.

Lots of blood.

His breathing was becoming harder, more labored. He realized what had happened. He yanked his redredred hand out of her chest and he caught her as she fell. She was choking on her own blood, her eyes growing more and more lifeless.

"No," he whispered. "No, no. No, no!"

He was rocking back and forth, cradling her. Not again. No. No. Not her. Not her. Anyone... anyone, but her. Not... Not...

"No!" he screamed, his sight blurring. "Not you. Oh, God, Mia, please. Not you. Please don't leave me. Please don't leave me."

"Kaa-chan?" Naruto whispered, his voice cracked. "Kaa-chan, please...?"

"Please don't leave me," he moaned, pressing his forehead against hers. "Mia, please..."

"Kaa-chan... Kaa-chan, no... you... she trusted you!"

He shook his head, grief tearing into him. It wasn't