Pein took a few steps forward onto the cliff and looked out onto the rainy village. The storm would never pass. He looked behind him at the piece of paper that was blowing in the wind. It danced across the ground but never really moved out of it's place.

"Konan." Pein growled. "I thought I told you not to follow me."

The paper began to form into a woman, her short blue hair getting soaked with rain. Her head tilted towards the ground. "I'm sorry. But I can't let you do this alone."

Pein ignored her and hopped down off the cliff. Konan followed. The two of them traveled cautiously through the lands for several hours. They were careful through the lands they knew of to have large populations.  The Kage's were known to keep any given number of spies at any given location and they couldn't risk exposure this early in their game.

~~~~~~~~~~
Finally, Konan spoke up. "Pein...Where exactly are we headed right now?" She questioned softly.

"Wherever we find him."

Konan pursed her lips, unsatisfied with the answer she had been given. But she remained silent as she kept at a steady pace behind him. Pein was a bit flustered himself. He didn't want Konan to be tagging along in the first place, but at this point he was convinced that he couldn't change her mind. He played with one of the piercings on the bridge of his nose to keep himself focused when he saw the light shining from through the trees. Konoha.

"Konan. Listen to me very carefully. At the other side of the village is a sub unit-known as the Uchiha section. I want you to slip though there as silently as you can. Be very careful. There are black ops practically growing out of the Uchiha house holds. Get into the main village from there and come around to secure the gates when I enter."

"Yes."

Konan's body began to fray and turn into little pieces of white paper. The pieces flew out across the ground and dissapeared along the wall of the village.

A few moments went by. Pein sat silently in the tree by the north entrance. In a way, Konan's being here was now benificial to him. It would have taken him a great deal of time to secure every gate and knock out their keeper. Plus he wouldn't have anyone to watch for the black ops if they decided to rear their ugly faces. Not to mention he would have to make a clean getaway.

After a few more minutes, the door opened and Konan stepped out. She motioned that it was all clear. Pein could tell that she had a few bruises and scratches on her. One of the shinobi she encountered probably fought back a little.

"Good." Was all Pein would say. He wasn't a caring person, nor one to really converse if not necessary. "Now keep and eye out for the ANBU. Some of them are smart...They can feel when something is awry."

"I will stop them." Konan said confidently. She scattered off into the air this time, leaving not a trace on the ground.

Pein just walked the streets. He knew full well that in a matter of a minute he could be at his destination...But this mission was years ahead of schedule and he knew the entire Jonin and ANBU forces would do whatever they could to stop him if even the slightest hint of the plan was discovered. So he took his time, being unnecessarily quiet as he walked the slow pace. Pein glanced into the night sky and could faintly see the pieces of Konan floating in midair. That meant all was well. He proceeded forward to a small apartment in the middle of town, sneaking through the open window without a sound.

~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, things were quite the opposite of well in Konan's case. She was standing on the ground with pieces of her paper still floating far above her. A kunai was being held to her neck, but she neither flinched or moved.

"Who are you?" A cold, nearly emotionless voice breathed into her ear.

"Uchiha, Itachi. What a surprise. I didn't think you would have seen me. To what do I owe this pleasure? How is your little brother?" Konan smirked.

The kunai dug into her neck, drawing a bit of blood. "What is it you're here for?"

"Here for your little brother of course. What better thing to do on a night such as this then to poison the mind of your little eight year old brother, Sasuke."

Konan knew of him sure enough, and she also knew of his closeness with his little brother. She had angered him just by bringing it up. But she also knew more about him, that he was secretly on their side. Well...Was going to be soon enough. Still, the blood started dripping more from her neck and down to her robes. Itachi practically hissed the words at her.

"I'll ask you one more time. WHO are you! And WHAT do you want here!?"

"Konan. You know what we're here for, Uchiha. The only thing in this village worth taking other then you or the Hokage himself."

His eyes narrowed slightly then he pulled the kunai away, scanning her up and down. "Take him. If you get away with him, great. I will give you a head start. You have ten minutes after you leave the Village walls before I call on the ANBU to report him as missing. Half of the Shinobi here will be in the trees in a matter of seconds. I hope you are ready..."

~~~~~~~~~
Pein stood next to the bed, his Rinnegan eyes staring into the darkness. The moon was half full, and the night was filled with the sounds of the time. Crickets chirped and paper rustling was heard. Pein knew it was then time. He leaned down and picked up the boy in his arms, slipping out the window and onto the street below. Konan was waiting for him at the gate. He took immediate notice of the blood but chose not to ask. They dashed quickly through the gate. Their feet flew through the air, barely touching the branches of the trees as they passed through.

"Ten minutes." Konan said, looking over to Pein.

"I know." He responded.

The two dissapeared into the night time, covering ground as fast as they could. The blood drying on Konan's neck. The sirens roaring to life in Konaha. And the sleeping host of the nine-tailed fox lying undisturbed in the arms of Pein.