Connecting the Dots--A Naruto/DCAU crossover

Humiliation

"Madara's being disturbingly quiet," observed the Raikage. "We're still getting waves of those Zetsus, but they don't seem as direct as usual."

"Certainly he's stopped using the Edos. That in itself means that the attacks are no longer serious. Just distractions."

Gaara arched an eyebrow. "You think he's up to something?"

"Of COURSE he's up to something. He's Uchiha Madara," snorted the Tsuchikage. "He's been up to something since he left that village of yours. The only question is what he's up to NOW."

"Something behind our lines, maybe. That teleportation of his could get him right past all our men, let him assassinate the Daimyos or something. Its worth considering," pointed out the tall, red-haired woman reclining on the couch. The Mizukage was not big on formal chairs.

"But why wait until now? That's something he could do by himself, why didn't he try it before, when we nearly got overrun? No, it's something on his side of the line."

"Troubles at home, maybe," suggested Gaara. "You say this Kabuto he's working with is an unstable man, perhaps he is causing trouble."

"It would explain the sudden lack of Edo Tensei's..."

"It's not Kabuto." All other heads turned as Kakashi finally spoke up. "Kabuto has left Madara's side. Our intelligence division believes he's hiding out in Orochimaru's old haunts."

Bushy white eyebrows narrowed over dark eyes. "Why did you say nothing of this before?"

"The reports are very recent, and largely uncertain," shrugged Kakashi. "I intended to bring it up as soon as we had more concrete proof. I'm still not sure we do, but... Kabuto has sent us a message."

"A message?"

"Obviously, it could be a ploy. But it fits with our intelligence and what we know of Kabuto. Apparently, Kabuto initially joined Madara to obtain Sasuke, his master's murderer."

"But Sasuke is missing. You killed him."

"Eh...." Kakashi seemed to disagree. "I teleported him to another dimension. The point is that Madara does not have Sasuke, and therefore there is no reason for Kabuto to serve him. Apparently Madara managed to bluff his way up to this point, and when it got to be too much Kabuto left."

The Raikage was nodding and tugging on his beard. "Then... perhaps Madara is also confounded by Sasuke's disappearance."

"Naruto's too," agreed Gaara. "The removal of the last Uchiha and the Nine-Tails must have upset Madara's plans significantly."

"The only option would be for him to find them. But how?" The Raikage shot a hard look at Kakashi. "Would Madara be able to teleport himself to that dimension?"

"I don't know. I don't know enough about Madara to say. I don't think I could, with my abilities. Tsuchikage?"

The squat man snorted. "You're asking me? How am I supposed to know whether Madara can cross dimensions or not? I've only ever been in this one."

"It would be a prime moment for him to strike." Gaara chewed his lip. "Naruto would be in a foreign land, without friends. Without protection."