49. The Akatsuki's Rebirth

"Tila was killed by the Shinobi of Konoha" Madara told Sasuke the devastating news as they sat across from each other at the rounded table which was centre of the office that was once Pains. Before he had sacrificed himself for the sake of peace. Sasuke sat silently before Madara, his expression remaining untainted as the news of his beloved Comrade being killed in action sunk into his heart.

It sunk in so deeply that Sasuke's heart had stopped beating for a small moment. Madara didn't seem as though he was upset by this news, naturally he knew the truth about what had happened that night. Madara watched Sasuke carefully for a reaction and after a small moment later Sasuke's eyes had immensely changed.

The intricate red and black star patterned irises that Sasuke's dark orbs now held were surely a sign of his true feelings towards Tila. Madara knew well what feelings of love led too for those who belonged to the eternally cursed Uchiha clan. A deep dark hatred that would exist for an eternity.

"I'm going to kill them all." Sasuke's expression hardened as he sat un motioned across from the senior Uchiha.

"In due time Sasuke, first I believe there is something more important that we need to attend to." Madara mused, he was secretly excited by the fact that Sasuke was so easily manipulated. Too willing to give into his deep dark self of hatred and because of this Madara knew exactly how to play the cards in his favour.

"The five Kage are having a summit in two weeks time. I think it's about time we payed them a visit." Madara informed him. Sasuke continued to glare at Madara, the dark demeanour of his feelings being showcased for the world to see through the deadly pattern within his eyes.

If only this stubborn boy knew the truth. Madara mused to himself knowing full well of Tila's true whereabouts.

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Somewhere deep out in the forest a particular rouge Shinobi who thought he'd been killed began to stir. His buff stitched tanned body had been so stiff due to the prolonged rigamortis that had set in. He could barely move and was subjected to merely lay there for hours until his muscles decided that they wanted to move again.

Eventually the blood in his system started to circulate again and he sat up slowly and looked around hazily at his surroundings desperately trying to make sense of the unexpected situation at hand.

How is it that I am alive? - Kakuzu asked himself in astonishment as he lifted up his own hand and began to flex his fingers, by doing so he was analysing his reflexes carefully.. Still feeling astounded that he was truly starting at his own hand and that it was indeed moving before him. Kakuzu felt a deep intuitive curiosity and as he sat in the crater he had been killed in he came to the conclusion that something wasn't right.

I need to find Hidan - Kakuzu thought to himself now coming to terms with being alive again.

Oh how good he felt to be back, he stood up and dusted himself off hastily then took another gaze around at the forest surroundings. It took Kakuzu quite a bit of effort as he racked his brain trying to remember which direction Hidan had went in before he himself had been killed by that leaf brat. The memories slowly started to come back to Kakuzu and as soon as the vision of Hidan takin off North appeared into his mind he briskly made his way in that general direction.

As much as Kakuzu hated to admit it, if he was going to find out what the hell was going on he would need his trusty partner by his side. Even if he was a bad mouthed religion obsessed psychopath, he'd grown quite attached to Hidan over the years, not to mention quite a few of the other members too. Kakuzu continued to storm through the forest as he called out Hidan's name gruffly.

"Hidan! Where the hell did you go?" He made his way through some nearby trees, finding himself standing in a small clearing where the soil was a dark brown.

Kakuzu instantly noticed that there was a boulder which seemed to be lodged into the ground as though it was blocking off some sort of hole so he edged closer towards the rubble. For a split second, he heard a faint sound coming for underground. He leaned in closer to the boulder and listened attentively.

Soon enough he started to hear a muffled yelling from underneath the boulder, it was barely audible and by pure chance it had caught his ear. Kakuzu hardened his fist and then punched the boulder with force, the boulder shattered into tiny fragments and as he peered into the massive hole that had now been uncovered he saw his jashinist Comrade in multiple piece.

"Kakuzu! It's about fucking time! Where the fuck have you been! I've been waiting for Jashin knows how fucking long!!!!" Hidan's bodiless head yelled furiously!

"I've been dead you moron, you got careless didn't you" Kakuzu told Hidan grumpily.

He sighed as he thought about how long it was going to take to stitch up his idiot partner but didn't waste any time in doing so. Kakuzu retrieved Hidan's multiple body part by detaching his hands and picking them from the deep hole they were in.

"So you were dead huh? I thought you were Immortal too. How exactly are you alive right now?" Hidan asked his partner curiously as he sat patiently while being stitched back together. Kakuzu grunted at his questions in annoyance before answering.

"I don't know but I've got a bad feeling, we need to go back to the base and figure out what happened". Hidan merely gave a sigh.

"Fine, but as soon as we're back I want to go and kill that kid who blew my fucking body to pieces" Hidan retorted a small smirk creeping across his lips as he imagined different ways of killing the leaf nin.

"Your such a moron Hidan" Kakuzu huffed when he noticed the stupid look on Hidan's face as he finished stitching on the last limb onto his body. He helped Hidan too his feet although Hidan had to take it easy at first to prevent any of the newly stitched limbs from falling off.

As soon as they had both composed themselves they decided to head back to the base, Kakuzu's bad feeling was worsening by the minute but he didn't bother to mention it to Hidan. He knew he wouldn't take him seriously anyways. The two rouge Shinobi set off in the direction of the Akatsuki base although failing to know that after quite a turn of events that it wasn't the same base that they knew anymore.

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Deidara lay in the middle of the same grass patch that he had remembered blowing himself up on. He lay there feeling completely dumbfounded at the wearily aching feeling that overtook his body.

Didn't I blow myself up properly? I could have sworn I did! Un. He contemplated with himself in an irritable confusion.

Deidara suddenly remembered the last thing he had seen before he had apparently died. He sat up quickly and looked around in a panic but the girl of his last thoughts was no where to be seen.

Hm, I don't know what's going on here but I need to find out. Deidara finally made a decision. He stood up slowly and in a somewhat clumsy manner began to make his way back towards the hideout. His mind filled with many different emotions as he made his way back, a deep guilt filled him as he recalled the rash decision which resulted in his death and how it may have effected the people who care for him.. Tila in particular.. Deidara began to feel giddy at the thought of her, he didn't know if she would ever forgive him for what he did..

After all, Tila's reaction to Sasori's death wasn't a pleasant one as Deidara recalled and his guilt and curiosity only become more intensified as he continued to make his way back. Deidara's stomach began to rumble as he approached the village that was nearby the hideout. He clenched his abdomen as the pain shot right through him and as he stood there and tried to calm his angry stomach an idea came to him. There was a nice Dango shop only 5 minutes away from the outskirts of the village so Deidara decided to make a small stop and grab something to eat.

As Deidara rushed through the doors and headed straight for the counter he saw someone he had not been expecting. Itachi was standing at the counter ordering Dangos.

"Itachi, what're you doing here hm?" Deidara questioned as he placed his hand on his should forcing Itachi to turn around.

"Deidara, you've come back to life too" Itachi replied as he eyed him, the blonde holding onto his badly gurgling stomach.

"Yeah I'm alive but if I don't eat something it won't be for long yeah!" Deidara retorted sarcastically. Itachi quickly shoved a Dango that he had been holding into Deidara's mouth causing his eyes to light up in surprise. For he wasn't expecting Itachi's swift movement. No complaints came from him as he started to chew and swallowed what was in his mouth.

"Thanks" Deidara said hesitantly to Itachi who was just standing there eyeing him expressionlessly - Deidara knew that the two of them had never really gotten along but right now wasn't the time to be arguing. For some strange reason things were happening and he thought it be important he find out at once what they were.

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"Do you.. Have any idea what's happening ? Un" Deidara asked Itachi as they sat together at a table in the Dango shop both eating.

"I died not long after you, Madara had been revived so I can only guess at what the situation now might be" Itachi told Deidara who started to look slightly worried as he gulped down his Dango.

Deidara continued to think about Tila but for some reason he just couldn't muster up the courage to ask about her... He was worried about what the answer might be and decided to wait until the time was right.

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Konan made her way through the forest as fast as she could towards the place that she knew Sasori had been killed. The events of what had happened at Konoha were still running though her mind bitterly.

Konan felt as though Tila's capture was partly her fault, she hadn't reacted quickly enough and as a result Tila had been taken and god knows what she was going through. Konan knew it was now imperative that she somehow gather the members and try and plan a way to get Tila back before it was too late.

Konan had been feeling a deep panic ever since she had left Konoha, her beloved childhood friend Nagato had sacrificed himself for the cause for peace and he had left everything in Tila's hands before he died and now the last hope for what her and her childhood friends had strived for their entire life depended on how quickly she could act to save Tila.

This truly is a sickening situation. Konan thought to herself anxiously while making major headway through the forest..

Konan finally came to the edge of the forest and leapt over the lake landing on what she knew to be the last battle ground Sasori had resided in.

"Sasori!" Konan called out anxiously hoping that he would hear her plea.

"Konan, is that you?" Konan then heard his calm demeanour reply from amongst some nearby rubble. She swiftly went over to where Sasori's voice came from, her eyes instantly lay onto his wooden body which was huddled between two others.

"Sasori, you're back" Konan near cried in relief as she bent down and released Sasori's puppet body from it's pinned position.

"What's the meaning of all this Konan? Why am I alive when I can clearly remember dying?" Sasori asked curiously as he stood up and brushed himself off.

"It's so complicated Sasori, but.. Tila.. is in grave danger." Konan's worry was evident as she told him.

"Let's not waste time then, where is she?" Sasori asked, grabbing Konan's arm and impatiently dragging her back out of the destroyed cavern.

"I don't know, Madara took her captive and.. we need to find everyone else who has been brought back to life," Konan stammered, Sasori stopped in his tracks and let go of her arm then looked at her dead in the eyes. There was a small silence as Sasori realised the urgency of the situation. He knew deep in his heart he should never have left Tila alone.

"I'll send out some origami birds to track the other members, that's the best I can do at this stage," Konan said softly - Sasori nodded. Konan and Sasori watched as her paper birds flew off into the sky out of view, even though they both didn't speak a word to each other as they watched - their minds were both thinking the same thing.

Can we gather everyone in time to save Tila…