As Pain, Konan, and Tobi continued discussing plans with each other, the other Akatsuki members were meeting in private to discuss their own tactics. About ten miles away was another cave, this one deeper underground than the official Akatsuki hideout and this is where they were meeting. Kakuzu, Kisame, and Zetsu arrived within about five minutes of each other. When they were all there Kakuzu said, "So what are we going to do? Everything we've done so far has either ended up killing one of us or giving more power to the Leaf village. At this rate, the Leaf village will be able to police the entire country making any of our private exploits impossible."

Kisame shook his head and said, "You really only care about money don't you?"

Kakuzu shrugged and said, "There are worse things to be obsessed with."

Zetsu coughed and said, "Does anyone have any ideas at all?"

Kakuzu rubbed his face and said, "There has to be someway to obliterate the Leaf village quickly and silently. An attack from the sky or the sides or underground."

Kisame and Kakuzu both looked over at Zetsu. He looked from one to the other and said, "I don't know what you both think I'm capable of but there's no way I could destroy the entire Leaf village in one shot."

Kisame's suddenly widened and a sharkish grin rose on his face. "No you couldn't. At least...not at your current size..."

Kakuzu nodded and said, "That's something we never thought of before."

Zetsu looked slightly nervous as he said, "That sounds a little...desperate."

Kisame rolled his eyes and said, "Well as it is things are getting desperate. If we don't do something our leader is going to try another attack which is no doubt going to fail again possibly granting a Leaf giant even more size and power."

Zetsu sighed and said, "Well, do either of you even know how to make a growth scroll?"

Kakuzu pulled a scroll out of his robe and said, "I stole this awhile back when you first found Orochimaru's body. Sasori didn't even notice it missing. With this we could make a scroll."

Kisame grabbed the scroll and opened it. "Hmm...this looks a little complicated. This kind of jutsu really isn't my style."

Kakuzu sighed and said, "You're trying to pin all the work on me?"

Zetsu quickly said, "Don't even think of looking at me. I have no idea how it works."

Kisame tossed the scroll back to Kakuzu and said, "Well let's just both make a scroll and use them both on Zetsu. We're guaranteed to get some good size that way."

Kakuzu agreed and said, "Besides, we're not letting him go until he's big enough to swallow the Leaf Village in one shot."

Zetsu shook his head and said, "That's almost unimaginable."

Kisame grinned again and said, "Well you only need to get that big once. After that you don't ever have to get bigger than this if you don't want to. Now let's get started!"

As the remaining Akatuski members planned their fiendish plans, Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke were gathering at Sakura's house for dinner. Sakura was making a variety of dishes including ramen for Naruto. As Sakura cooked, the boys sat at the kitchen table talking. Sasuke was staring out the window for about five minutes before Naruto said, "Something on your mind Sasuke?"

Sasuke looked at Naruto and said, "I was just thinking about Itachi. I always lived my life seeking the chance to kill him and now that he's dead, I don't know what to do."

Naruto snorted and said, "Is that it? Why don't you start rebuilding your clan? That always should have been priority number one in my opinion."

Sasuke sighed and said, "Do you know what I have to do to revive my clan? I'm a little young for that right now."

Naruto tilted his head and said, "Whatever. I don't really know what you're talking about, but there's always other things you can do. Revenge is a stupid reason to live anyway."

Sakura turned from the stove and said, "I agree with Naruto on this one Sasuke. You're better off now that Itachi is dead."

Sasuke still didn't know the truth about his brother. He still thought of him as a cold blooded murder rather than a hero of the Leaf village. The time would come when he would be told, probably by Kakashi, when he was older and could except the truth. Until then, he'd just have to find another purpose to his life. Ten minutes later Sakura was handing out the dinner and everyone stopped talking to start eating. The meal passed quietly without much talk interrupting it. When it was over Sakura set the dishes in the sink and said, "I'll take care of those later. What do you guys want to do now?"

Naruto, leaning back in his chair, said, "Hmm...I don't know. I don't really feel like training after all the fighting we've been doing lately and we just ate so I'm at a loss for ideas."

Sasuke smirked and said, "Is fighting and eating all you ever think about?"

Naruto jumped up and said, "Oh like your constant revenge talk and dark brooding was any better?"

Sakura got between the two boys and said, "Now don't you start! The last thing I need is my house destroyed by a giant squabble!"

Both boys sat down again and Sakura sighed, sitting down as well. Things hadn't changed all that much after all.