A/N: Ah well, sorry if it took me a long time to submit the sequel. I just have many things to do. The italicized words mean that they are on the 'flashback' state.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Pairing(s): Sorry, you have to figure it out by yourself now. :D

Whatever It Is…

Chapter I:

The Mysterious Attacker

The night was cold and forbidden. Lightning tore across the dark skies. Heavens mourned and cried heavily. The trees stood calmly and let the heaven's tears wash them. Everything was silent and so as gloomy. Until…the lightning flashed again, the trees were bothered! Then again, again, and again, two obscure figures were jumping from one tree to another. They seemed to be in a hurry.

They wear black coats designed with red clouds. Their faces and hair were concealed because of the wet bamboo hats. They both wear rings that each have an insignia marked on them. At last, one of them raised his head and as the lightning flashed, it reflected the metal plates that were punctured on his face. He was Pein—the leader of the Akatsuki organization.

He and his partner, Konan were speeding from the Hidden Rain village to their secret hideout. They were almost there. Pein signaled Konan to jump faster so they can reach the hideout on time. Konan can see a slight look of worry drawn on her partner's face.

It all started when Tobi contacted them via telepathy. He's the only one to remain at the hideout since the others have gone out to continue their operation. Ever since Ren and Deidara have departed, Tobi always insisted to stay in the hideout. He always reasons that if ever Ren and Deidara return, who will be there to meet them? Pein agreed to let Tobi stay because he trusts him to take care of everything. It was just till then when they heard Tobi speak as if he had seen a ghost.

"L-leader-sama," Tobi stammered, "p-please c-come here…Dei-Deidara-s-sempai…"

"What is it Tobi," Pein queried, "What happened to Deidara?"

Tobi was about to speak but instead, Pein and Konan heard Tobi's piercing cry.

At last, they have arrived at the mouth of the cave where the Akatsuki hideout lies. They first stopped in front of the door because Pein have felt something, something dangerous. Pein inspected the walls. Sure thing was he saw fine lines of string surrounding the whole entrance. Konan had carefully cut it out by transforming herself with dozens of papers and cutting the strings. After that, they entered the hideout cautiously.

Everything is a mess. All the furniture was either wrecked or turned upside-down. Pein proceeded further then he heard a noise of whimpering and moaning. He traced the sounds and he located it inside the closet. He opened it then he was surprised to see Tobi inside with blood smears on his mask and beside him was Deidara who was heavily injured. Tobi, who was still shaking, got out nervously then pulling our Deidara carefully then he put him on the couch.

"What happened here?" Konan said in a horrified face.

"Tobi was just scrubbing the floor." Tobi rapidly explained, "Then Tobi heard a noise outside. Tobi went out then Tobi saw Deidara-sempai covered with blood. After that, a girl with a scary mask suddenly appeared behind sempai and almost slashed sempai's back if Tobi hadn't pulled sempai and took Deidara-sempai into the closet."

"Then why the furniture's all wrecked up?" Pein asked next.

"The girl was very furious that the girl turned everything upside-down then from the gap between the closet doors, Tobi saw the girl vanished into the thin air."

Pein fell silent to collect his thoughts. Who was the mysterious attacker? What does she want from them? Was she a bounty hunter or an ANBU?

"Pein-san," Konan called, "what shall we do next?"

"Call Zetsu, Itachi, and Kisame," Pein ordered, "tell them that there's an emergency and them must return here quickly."

Konan obeyed quickly. Tobi went out to get some medicine. Pein just stood still. He feels that something's wrong around the place. He feels that they were being watched by someone. Who can that be?

Suddenly, behind the shadows, the masked attacker appeared from the dismal corner of the room and attempted to hit Deidara. But Pein have felt this and used his summoning justu to interfere with the attack. Furious, the attacker vanished again into the darkness and tried again to attack Deidara which she had failed miserably.

Finally, the enemy revealed herself fully. She was an ANBU with a somewhat broken mask. She looks like a mummy because she cannot stand still and always look sluggish when she walks. Her hair was blood red and long. She was as tall as Ren and has a pale skin.

Pein wanted to fight her there on the spot but Zetsu, Itachi, and Kisame have come that the enemy retreated

"Gee," Kisame exclaimed, "what happened here?"

Pein made no response to Kisame's question instead, he instructed them to guard the hideout while he goes out to pursue the enemy. Despite of the protest, Pein went out into the cold, damp environment followed by Konan.

It seems that the mysterious attacker wants to be followed, for she has left shurikens stuck to every other tree. The two followed carefully. They didn't mind the cold rain falling on their heads. They just want to find the enemy and finish her.

The trail ended on a small clearing a few miles away from the Hidden Rain Village. They have founded the masked enemy on the center of the clearing: sitting as if she expects something. As Pein and Konan approached, she lifted her head to look at them while sluggishly standing up. When the lightning flashed and illuminated Pein's slashed forehead protector, she gave an evil chuckle.

"Ah, so you're from Hidden Rain." The mysterious ANBU said, "I can't believe how fate favors me. It was just a week after my return to this world. Now I can have my revenge on you, accursed people of Rain."

"If you want us," Pein asked seriously, "why did you attack Deidara?"

The ANBU gave a scary laugh before answering, "That blonde haired boy just meddled in my plans. I got furious that I have felt I have to dispatch him."

Pein secretly clenched his teeth, "This being is just like Orochimaru." He said to himself

"Pein-san," whispered Konan, "should we attack?"

Pein positioned himself to summon another creature. "If you want us then leave Deidara out of this."

An hour has passed after Pein have left the hideout. Deidara is still unconscious while Tobi was binding his wounds. Itachi just stood on his guard while Zetsu used again his ability to blend at the environment to act as a scout. Kisame paced around the room back and forth while trying to think about what happened earlier.

"I still don't get it." Zetsu's white side mumbled, "If that's an ANBU, then she wouldn't attack alone."

"The funny thing is," Zetsu's dark side replied, "she IS alone. I don't think it is her mission but rather…"

"Personal grudges?" Zestu's white side put in helpfully, "But who can that be?"

Before anyone can do another thing, Deidara finally gained consciousness. All of them gathered beside him to know if he is just alright. But Deidara didn't care about himself; he wants to know where Ren is.

"Ren," Kisame reflected, "yeah, I haven't seen Ren since. You're supposed to be with her, right?"

Itachi paled. He's the first one to enter the hideout so he's just the one who can get a somewhat clear view of the assailant. A thought came into his mind but he quickly shunned it and returned to his post.

"I hope my theory is wrong." Itachi mumbled.

Minutes have passed but still, Pein hasn't won the game. Unfortunately, Konan was all soaked with rain water that she can't use her specialty effectively. She can just help by throwing a few kunai. Pein used his summoning jutsus to have the summons do the job of fighting the enemy. But the assailant's huge, silver, bladed boomerang can sweep the summons on one strike with great accuracy.

Finally, the masked enemy climb on the tallest tree and exclaimed, "Enough of this play! I don't have to waste time on you. I just want you people to feel how painful you have done to me in the past. I intend to spread my judgment on the whole country!"

And by those words, without Pein or Konan moving and inch, she waved her hand and at the same time, Konan fell onto the ground. Pein, who was greatly shocked, rushed beside Konan and held her in his arms.

"P-Pein-san," Konan apologized, "I'm sorry, it's too fast for me. I can't see it."

"A slow, painful, inevitable, death for all who resides in Rain…" the ANBU chuckled evilly.

"It's not your fault." Pein assured her, then looking at the ANBU with fire in his eyes he said, "You're going down."

Pein stood up and summoned all his forms. He attacked the enemy with all the jutsus he had known. But it was of no use. The enemy dodged all of those attacks. Then it was the enemy's turn to attack. At the wave of her hand strings had bound Pein and his forms' hand and feet. Every time it senses chakra activity or movement, it tightens. Then she walked in front of Pein.

"Oh," she said sarcastically, "have I committed a foul play? I don't like that to happen." Then she left.

"Where are you going, coward?" Pein asked weakly

The ANBU hadn't answered the question directly, "If you want to settle the score, bring her away from here and let's finish this same time, same place tomorrow.", Then vanished into thin air.

The rain had finally stopped. But everyone in the hideout still stands on their guard. At last, Pein appeared from the doorway, carrying the barely breathing Konan. Pein hung his head and looked grief-stricken. No one asked a question nor moved. Deidara, who was now much better, left the couch so Pein can put Konan there. After that, he walked slowly out of the hideout.

"Leader-sama," Zetsu asked with concern, "where are you going?"

Pein just stopped walking, "I'm going to settle the score with her."

"With the red-haired ANBU, un?" Deidara asked suddenly

Pein nodded his head sully. Deidara's blue eye widened but he said nothing when Pein left the hideout. Itachi sensed Deidara was hiding something that right after their leader has left.

"Deidara," Itachi said seriously, "are you hiding something from us?"

Deidara confessed, "I-I don't know. Maybe I do, un."

"What is it?" Tobi asked eagerly when he heard Deidara speaking

Deidara lowered his head and said gravely, "Ren IS the mysterious attacker, un."

Itachi and the others were surprised, "I can't believe that my theory is correct." Itachi murmured.

"WHAAAT!?" Tobi exclaimed, "B-but Ren-san's hair was black not red!"

"I know, un" Deidara explained, "But ever since she went out of the cave, her hair was red and she became hostile."

"We must rescue Ren-san!" Tobi urged, "Leader-sama might kill Ren-san!"

A/N: I hope you had enjoyed reading this fic. Reviews are welcome, as always.