43. Tesselate

I finally got out of bed feeling happily giddy at the idea of finally being sent on a mission. It had been a long time since I had been assigned something challenging to do around this morbid place. I quickly had a shower and got ready for the meeting I was to attend to plan out our mission to obtain the nine tailed Jinchuriki. After I got out of the shower I decided to wear a pair of black shorts and a baggy jumper then tied up my long blond hair into a high ponytail.

I didn't think I'd need to dress up seeing as there truly was no one to impress. I went down to the kitchen and took my time as I ate some toast then headed for leaders old office. As I reached the door I knocked. Madara cold voice beckon me in from behind the door so I obliged. As I opened up the door I noticed straight away that the room had been completely re-arranged..

In the centre of the room there was a large round table, bookcases still lined the three walls but the wall in which the door was on stayed empty. I gazed around at the change in scenery until my eyes finally lay themselves upon the two figure sitting across the table. An extremely bored looking Madara sat beside Obito who was busily writing something into an old scruffy notepad.

"So you like the new furniture?" Madara's cold voice asked from across the table his dark eyes piercing me as I stood in the half opened doorway.

"It's... Different" I replied now closing the door and taking a seat across from Madara. I watched as Obito continued to frivolously write and seemed to not take any notice of Madara's comments. I glanced back at Madara for a moment and noticed his black empty gaze still intently on me.

I averted my stare and looked elsewhere.. Hadn't this guy ever been told how rude it is to stare? The way he looks at me.. Makes me feel so.. Vulnerable.

Creeek.

I turn around quickly at the sound of the door opening and watch as Pain and Konan both enter and take a seat at the well-sized rounded table.

"Took your time" Madara said coldly as Pain sat and looked around at everyone.

"Let's just begin" Pain replied, trying to ignore Madara's foul demeanour.

"Hm. Obito. Brief us on the target first." Madara ordered. Obito put down his pen and looked up, his face seemed gaunt and he looked very tired.. Madara must have had him doing all sorts of bidding for him.. It's no surprise really.

"Firstly, the reason this mission is being assigned to the three of you is because realistically, no one else would be able to succeed," I nodded as I listened closely to Obito, "Now, the Jinchuriki name is Naruto Uzumaki. He's from the hidden leaf village and is about 17 years in age. According to intel we've gathered so far, his abilities consist of Justus such as: multi shadow clones, the Rasegan and just basically his guts and determination." Obito paused to breath after his long sentence.

By the sounds of what Obito was saying this Naruto Uzumaki kid sounded like he was quite the interesting Jinchuriki..

"Naruto Uzumaki has been known to travel frequently on missions with his three man squad which consist of; Sakura Haruno, Kakashi Hatake - The copy ninja and the most recent addition to their squad is an ex foundation ninja named Sai. The reason we have been able to gather such precise intel is because in the past this particular leaf squad has given us quite a bit of trouble." Obito paused again and the look on his face shifted slightly, I watched curiously for what his next words would be.

"The nine tails and his squad were the ones responsible for Sasori, Hidan and Kakazu's deaths."

The mention of my lost comrades names made my heart beat like a drum, this one Jinchuriki was the one responsible for all of this pain and suffering I had endured.. I felt a loathing arise that I couldn't control. After everything that had happened would I now have a chance to exact my revenge?

My mind clouded into thought as Obito continued to explain details about our target but all I could think of was how familiar this all felt.. Doesn't this remind you of what Sasuke said last night? Isn't this the exact same thing, the same hatred and want for revenge boiling inside of you right now?

I quickly snapped back from my thoughts as Madara cleared his throat.

"Now that you know more about your target I want to discuss the plan of attack" Madara's deep voice sending shivers down my spine. There really was something about these Uchiha that is indescribably chilling.

"I suggest we use Tila's Genjutsu and transmit it across a broad range using my Chakra signallers capturing the entire village within it" Pain's deep voice cut in. I looked over towards him- spiky orange hair sticking up and his multiple piercing standing out more than usual. There was a moments silence and I thought about his idea as I looked blankly at him.

"I could do that" I finally agreed after some deliberation. I received blank looks from everyone in the room as we sat at the rounded table, the aura of our meeting being quite serious.

"Yes, that is a good idea. While Tila casts a broad range Genjutsu there will be plenty of time for you and Konan to search the village for the Jinchuriki" Obito said now giving his opinion to Pain.

The sound of Madara tapping his slender fingers upon the hard wood of the table echoed as his alluring voice followed

"I suppose it could work, if they're hiding the Jinchuriki then they will have no choice but to hand him over."

"I think it's about time we told Tila about the six paths of Pain" Konan's distinctive voice spoke from beside Pain.

"The .. Sorry what?" I asked as I sent Konan a confused look.

"Yes I agree" Pain said, Obito then nodded and Madara stayed silent.

"What are you talking about?" I asked my curiosity now growing..

"Tila, this body isn't my real body. I use it along with five other body's - by transmitting my chakra from my original body I can control this body and the others as well" Pain explained and I felt my eyes widen in astonishment.

"This entire time?" I stuttered in disbelief..

"Yes, this is the ability of the Rennigon" Pain's deep voice convinced.

"Hmm. She doesn't seem as surprised as I expected" Obito smirked cheekily over to Pein.

"Mm, we will need to go and transport my real body to a location close to the village for me to be able to transmit a signal to the six paths" Pain replied.

"It's decided then," Madara said now sitting up and readjusting himself in his seat while continuing, "You three will leave tomorrow for the village hidden in the rain, you will collect Nagato and then set off for the hidden leaf."

"What about the eight tails sealing?" I asked quickly remembering that Sasuke was out there trying to find it as we spoke .

"I will summon you when Sasuke and his team return, Zetsu will be reporting to me on their progress this afternoon" Madara explained.

"I think that is all for now?" Pain then asked and Obito nodded and looked back towards Madara for approval.

"Hm" Madara hummed.

I stayed seated as Pain and Konan both stood up, they bowed slightly towards Madara and Obito then left. I slouched back into my seat and let out a long sigh now gaining Obito and Madara's attention.

"Is something not to your liking?" Madara asked coldly.

I looked between the two then shook my head to say no.

"Everything fine, I shall take my leave then" I said as I got up. Obito smiled faintly then returned to writing and Madara watched as I closed the office door behind me. As I walked down the empty hall I felt a swoosh of mixed emotions fill me. Was I doing the right thing? This isn't very different from what Sasuke wanted, was it? I continued to walked down through the training room and headed for the boulder.

I stepped out into the dim cloudy afternoon and slowly trudged out into the depths of the forest. Autumn leaves crumpled beneath my feet as I walked out towards the clearing of flowers that I had stumbled across with Itachi.

It's as if my feet where on auto pilot and before I knew it I was standing before 4 rocks. I picked some purple flowers and lay them before a fifth rock - engraving Itachi's name with my lightning then sat down before my lost comrades graves.

"What should I do?" I asked them out loud as if I were physically sitting amongst them...

Silence.

"I miss you all so much" I breathed out, my voice only but a whisper. Silence.

"Should I give Sasuke a break?" I asked under my breath.. The thoughts of last night Flicking through my mind.

"I promise, somehow- I'll make things right again" I whispered again to the rocks that I so badly wished were my friends. Tears brimmed my eyes as I hung my head, I sat before the graves for what seemed hours..

_________________________

I raised my head again and noticed that everything around me had become dark. Night had fallen and I hadn't even noticed.. Was I really that distracted by my own sorrow that I could miss something like that?

Maybe I'm losing my mind.. There have been so many times I've felt as though I was on the brink of insanity. The brink of breaking.. Giving up hope. Crossing the fine line between reality and the twisted illusions of my imagination..

Have I finally cracked? Was this the path I'm supposed to choose?

"Tila" a cold voice spoke from behind me... My heart stopped beating for the three seconds of silence that followed and I felt my heart pick up it's beating pace in an instant.

What was he doing here?