Konoha's Dream Team

Chapter 20

Pein was looking over his other bodies. The Asura Path had been replaced with another, this one larger and more muscular, with his hair in a mohawk. He still had the unnerving smile on his face, however. It wasn't visible, but under their Akatsuki cloaks, the Naraka and Preta Paths had several rods pierced through their body, same texture and color as their piercings, holding their bodies together after the disaster that was their encounter with the Kyuubi jinchuuriki.

"Now we're going to split up," Pein spoke, for Konan's sake, to reveal his plan. "One group will cause a diversion, and the other will do reconnaissance. Let's make sure we've got it sorted."

He looked over his bodies, if only to make sure they were all sturdy enough to endure another encounter with Senju Naruto.

"Diversionary tactics are up to the Asura, Animal, and Preta Paths. Recon is up to the Deva, Human, and Naraka Paths. Konan, you're on the recon team as well."

"I know," the blue-haired woman spoke, nodding.

Pein frowned to himself (or at least his lips twitched downward by the tiniest of smidges) as he looked toward the village, activating his Rinnegan and seeing the chakra dome covering the village of Konoha.

"There's a spherical barrier protecting Konoha from all sides, including from above."

"Any intruders will be sensed immediately," Konan muttered.

"As planned, we're going to launch Animal Path above the villages," Pein said. "That way, they'll miscalculate our numbers and it will throw them off. Then we'll wait for Animal Path's summons."

"Kisame apparently got in without a problem," Konan spoke up, which caused Pein to release a miniscule scoff.

"His partner, Itachi, was with Konoha's ANBU. He knew how to get through the barrier without setting it off. I have my own way of doing things."

The Animal Path stepped onto the Asura Path's waiting hands, bracing itself and allowing itself to be launched high into the air. It flew through the barrier right around the center of the village, where it performed a Kuchiyose, summoning the other five Paths to itself.

"Scatter," the Deva Path ordered immediately, and they all obeyed.

Meanwhile, Sasuke was sitting with Hinata in a nearby teahouse. They had just finished eating some sweets (which Sasuke would never admit were the most delicious he'd ever eaten), and were sitting peacefully drinking their tea, when the sounds of explosions rocked the village. Neither of the two even had to share a look before they took off, gone before their teacups had even hit the floor.

They blurred into view on top of a taller building, to see several houses in the distance go up in flames. Sasuke grabbed the hilt of his sword and looked to the Hyuuga standing next to him.

"Let's go!"

In the Torture and Interrogation building, Konan stood amidst several bodies, staring into a cell. The prisoner had been tied up from head to toe, only his violet eyes visible through the bandage-like bindings. The bindings were covered with seals intended to make them unbreakable and no doubt make the prisoner completely incapable of movement.

Konan stepped into the cell, an ANBU sword in hand, and stabbed it into the ground between the legs of the prisoner, who was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall.

"Hidan," she spoke, staring down at the prisoner with a cold look, and the prisoner finally looked up to focus on her, a muffled grunt heard from within the restraints. "It's time to go to work."

"Mhmhmhmhm..." was heard from within the gag, the shoulders of the prisoner shaking as he leaned his head down to stare at the sword in front of him. When he looked up into her eyes again, Konan could tell just from the mad glint in his eyes that he cackling in his head.