Naruto: The Fight of Their Lives, and the Aftermath.
Chapter 1: Konoha Reunited
Yamato had left Sakura and Naruto to find Sasuke has he was called back to Konoha for an emergency. As Naruto and Sakura were getting closer to Orochimaru's hideout, they were joined by the other Konoha ninja. They all said they wanted to help them find Sasuke. Just then an explosion that came out of no where exploded part of the forest they were in. Deidara revealed himself along side Itachi and Kisame. They said they were here for the kyuubi and that he wasn't going to get away. Deidara then lit another piece of his clay that exploded immediately. Meanwhile, Sasuke came out onto the hideout's balcony to see the explosion. Using the scope on the balcony he peered into it looking at the direction of the explosion to see that Itachi was there. With his blood boiling, Sasuke ran towards the explosion he saw from Orochimaru's hideout and found out that his dear brother was fighting with his best friend. Sasuke was about to run out but was stopped by Kabuto. "Where do you think you're going Sasuke?" "I'm going to kill my brother!" With that remark, Sasuke used a fire technique that Kabuto had never seen and disappeared. Kabuto immediately went to Orochimaru and Orochimaru told Kabuto that they will be heading to the battlefield as well.
Naruto was being wiped out by not Itachi alone, but the rest of the Akatsuki as well. He decided he needed to help him but also didn't want to at the same time. From a distance he saw that Naruto had brought along friends and allies from Konoha, he saw Lee, Neji, Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, Chouji, Ino, Hinata, Tenten and even Sakura. In his disbelief that he saw everyone fighting for their lives against these monsters, in his anger for his brother, he knew it was time to settle things once and for all.
"Naruto, watch out behind you" shouted Lee as he came into kick Kisame in the face with a Konoha whirlwind attack. Kisame said he hated little brats who didn't know their place and used Samehada to crush open the ground with a single strike. "Thanks bushy brows, I owe you one" Naruto said to Lee. "Don't you think it's about time that you called me by my real name, Naruto?" Naruto smirked, "Fine sorry Lee, thanks for backing me up." Sakura shouted, "This isn't the time boys!" "Sorry!" the two idiots replied. Kisame attacked using a water style jutsu in which Hinata blocked using her Shugohakke Rokujyuu Yonshou as a defense mechanism and allowed Neji to get close enough to use his own Hakke Rokujyuu Yonshou to blast through Kisame's tough skin. Kisame falls backwards but isn't taken out yet. Neji returns and thanks Hinata for the great defensive move she had developed.
Meanwhile, Shino, Shikamaru, Kiba, Chouji and Ino have to face off against Deidara. Deidara is quick to form her explosive clay and everyone scatters. Shikamaru tells Ino and Chouji to begin the formation but instead gets hit by a small clay bird that Deidara formed. Shino and Kiba decide that they should all regroup together and think of a plan to defeat them. Shikamaru agrees and the five of them quickly run to regroup with Naruto's group.
Itachi was face to face with his prey, Naruto. He said that he was the last one of the tailed beast that needed to be captured and asked Naruto to come so they can get it over with. Naruto refused to let what happened to Gaara happen to him, with that Naruto began to transform into the two tailed kyuubi. Itachi amazed by the power of the kyuubi took his distance away from Naruto. Sakura called out to Naruto reminding him that if he wanted to save Sasuke, he had to use his own powers and not the kyuubi's. Naruto stepped back out from using the kyuubi's power and returned to normal. "Naruto, are you too scared to make your move? Are you afraid of the kyuubi? If you are…" "Shut up! Naruto said angrily, "Sakura's right, I should use my own power. The kyuubi and I may be one but his power is too dangerous for me to use right now." "That's too bad, Naruto, I wanted to see the full power of the kyuubi and wanted to know if it was worth dying for." "Die?" Naruto questioned. Itachi explained that with the first eight tailed beasts, the procedure is the same because the tailed beast's chakra merges together with the user at the beginning of implantation, that's why Gaara, for example was so powerful compared to the rest of you during the Chuunin exams. He and the Shukaku had merged together as one. But in your case, the kyuubi doesn't like to merge with his user and decides to be separate from the user. He'll help the user when needed because it is true that if the user dies, the tailed beast dies along with him. Itachi then explained why he said he would die saying that if he successfully extracts the power of the kyuubi and the container they have made doesn't hold the power; the kyuubi will attack anyone it sees as if it were alive again except it would only be a spirit. The kyuubi is the strongest one out of the tailed beasts and would be uncontrollable even for him and would die most certainly if faced with the real power of the kyuubi.
Naruto still refused to use the kyuubi's power and charged into an attack when Shino called out to Naruto saying they need to regroup and think of a plan. Everyone regrouped for the moment as did the Akatsuki members who were there. Kisame collected himself and Samehada while Deidara asked Itachi what they should do as they were the remaining three Akatsuki members. Itachi said they will each handle some of the brats and take them out using whatever they can. They will kill all of them except for Naruto who was still wanted by Akatsuki even if most of the members are dead.
Shikamaru devised a strategy that should work on Deidara figuring he only uses that clay from earlier; he should be an easy target. As for Kisame, Neji said his skin was a defense on its own and with that blade of his, he's even more powerful. Shikamaru said that Kisame relies on his sword for power and if they can get rid of that sword or even get it away from him, he'll have nothing left except his water techniques which are easy to dodge and counter. Lee then said that getting the sword away will be tough and reminded Neji of the time they went to save Gaara, that when Gai-sensei held the sword it cut him. Shikamaru said afterwards that it seems to only listen to Kisame and no one else; if they had a person who could hold it without getting hurt, it would be perfect. All the sudden, Ino said she can force Kisame to drop his sword and then everyone can attack. Shikamaru said it would be too dangerous for Ino but that would be a possible strategy.
Itachi, Kisame and Deidara began their hunt for the Konoha ninjas. As they were looking Shino had a bug spying for them and said that they were on the move. Shikamaru decided that they should try plan A and if that failed, immediately move up to plan B. The Konoha ninja agreed and separated. Team Kurenai came out of hiding to pursue Deidara; Team Gai came out to greet Kisame and Team Asuma with Team Kakashi came out to meet with Itachi.
"What do you suppose you plan on doing, Naruto? All you Konoha bugs plan to take us, the Akatsuki on and plan on winning? That's very doubtful for people at your level of strength. Even in teams, Deidara can single handedly take all of you out except for maybe you Naruto." "We'll just have to try to kill you then, Itachi, Deidara, and Kisame. We Konoha ninja have the will of fire and will not back down from a fight, we will defeat you!" "Itachi, I want to play with them. I have more than enough power to get by these fools" Deidara declared. "Fine, they're yours Deidara; Kisame and I will stand back and watch."
Deidara formed clay birds which separated in mid-air to form a cage around the Konoha ninja, Deidara told them that if they moved, he'll blow them to pieces. Shikamaru tried to use his kage mane no jutsu but it was stopped at the cage border. Surprised by that attempt, everyone used their own techniques to try to break free but all of them were stopped, even another explosive from Tenten didn't work. Deidara said he had enough fun watching them and it was time for them to go boom. At that moment, Deidara set off the explosive cage and KABOOM! The huge explosive cage blew everything around it and in it to bits.
Deidara said he wanted more fun and went to check if they're bodies perished with the explosion. After the smoke cleared, it seemed that everyone did die until Deidara saw another cage like object, made of sand! "Gaara!" After being called out, Gaara, the Kazekage of the hidden village of sand made his entrance. He released his sand to reveal that he used it to protect the Konoha ninja from the explosion. "Naruto, take care of the other two; I want my revenge against this guy" Gaara said. "Gaara, we should help you on this one, last time you were beaten" Naruto replied. "I was beaten because I was concerned for the safety of the Hidden village of sand, but this time there is nothing here for me to protect personally like my people who look up to me; this time I can release my full power!" Naruto smirked when he heard Gaara's answer and told everyone that they will leave Gaara alone on this one and we will take care of Kisame and Itachi.
The Konoha ninja agreed and scattered to meet with Itachi and Kisame. Kisame greeted them all with a water jutsu which separated them even more. Itachi said that he'll take care of Naruto and the rest is up to you Kisame. Kisame agreed with Itachi and saw that his preys were pretty separated apart due to his jutsu. Itachi went after Naruto seeing that Naruto was shaking off some water from his clothes. Naruto then noticed that Itachi was standing right about him when out of no where, Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu! A huge fireball struck the ground and Itachi turned his vision to his left where he saw a true opponent; Uchiha Sasuke! Naruto was in shock to see Sasuke again and called out to him but there was no reply. "Naruto, you know my goal is to kill this bastard, and if you interfere, I'll take you out as well!" Naruto realized that he was no longer the same Sasuke he knew but also knew that he wouldn't back out from his words. "Sasuke, I was just having some fun here with Naruto, but now that you're here, I might as well find out if you got any stronger since the last time we met."
A/N: Itachi versus Sasuke, Uchiha versus Uchiha, Sharingan versus Sharingan, who will win? Does Sasuke have new tricks up his sleeve? Will Sasuke succeed in his goal to kill his brother? Find out in the next chapter.
