"Kukuk," Orochimaru chuckled as he wiped his blade of the blood, "Tsunade and the Sandaime fell to my blade you little fool. What makes you think you could stand up to me?"

Silence was his answer, but raw hatred burned in Naruto's eyes. It was times like these he wished he could shout and yell at the man, but it wasn't going to happen.

(Flashback)

Naruto stood in a grass field with the sun high up in the cloudless sky. He shifted his weight from one leg to the other in his standard blue jonin pants. He adjusted his open jonin vest over his sleeveless black shirt with the orange symbol for the Uzumaki clan in the center, and tightened the forehead protector around his right arm.

He sized up his opponent with calculating eyes. One of the last members of Akatsuki stood before him some distance away. His orange mask and cloak with red clouds hiding almost all of his physical features. Had it not been for his prior encounters with the man when he was younger he would be fighting without any knowledge of him. Madara Uchiha, the leader of Akatsuki and the last Uchiha with a mind stood across from him.

"Stop glaring, Tobi hasn't even done anything bad yet."

In his last stand against Madara he had exhausted all his chakra against the man. It had been a waist though. He had been defeated, and was at the psychotic Uchiha's mercy. However when it looked like the final blow was about to be dealt Madara had been smothered by the black flames of Amaterasu.

Then something much worse had approached him. Orochimaru stepped out in Sasuke's hijacked body and the sharingan blazing.

He knew he couldn't win, not in his condition, but through pure will power he stood up to confront the body snatcher. He stepped around Madara's smoking body before charging.

(End flashback)

"I guess you can't answer, being a mute, but don't worry Silent Shinobi," Orochimaru sneered as he said the last part, "where you're going an eternity of silence will keep you company."

Orochimaru laughed as he lifted his prized sword to deliver the final blow. The twisted smirk and glee in his eyes made Naruto sick, and he shut his eyes as he saw the sword coming down.

The blow didn't feel right though, his whole body felt like it was on fire as waves of nausea assaulted him. He knew the Kusanagi was covered in a poison, but it shouldn't be able to affect him thanks to the Kyuubi. This sensation was wrong; he couldn't even feel where the blade pierced him.

Naruto felt his back connect hard with something. With a wavering courage he opened his eyes expecting to see Orochimaru in Sasuke's body standing over him ready to stab him again. Instead trees beginning to lose their leaves to the autumn season greeted him. He weakly turned his head to scan the area. He stopped in shock though at what he saw just beyond a break in the trees. All of mountain was still there and Konoha was still standing, and looked vibrant like it did before the invasions and Akatsuki attacks. Tired and mentally beaten Naruto closed his eyes and gave into the sleep trying to take him over.

(With Orochimaru)

Orochimaru had brought his sword down intent on stabbing Naruto right through the neck. Unfortunately, before the blow connected his prey had disappeared into the ground via a swirling vortex.

"What," he yelled in fury, "Where are you Uzumaki? Don't tell me the Silent Shinobi is afraid and running with his tail beneath legs."

"Hahaha," sounded a hoarse laugh.

"You!" Orochimaru turned on the man, and stalked over to him. "Madara, tell me were you have sent the Uzumaki brat."

"You can't touch him where I sent him."

Orochimaru held the tip of his sword to the dying mans throat before continuing, "You will tell me where he is."

"The past," Madara wheezed out.

"Impossible, there is no jutsu capable of that," Orochimaru pressed the blade to the man's throat a little harder, "now tell me where he is, and I will kill you quickly."

"Like I said, he is in the past, and it's not a jutsu, it's multiple jutsu combined that sent him back."

Orochimaru felt his rage consuming him at the possibility, and decided to humor the man.

"Let's say I believe you, then why send back Uzumaki?"

"In order to go back a power struggle between the current and incoming consciousness take place for control of the body. I am too weakened to take on my former self, but the Uzumaki could effortlessly beat his younger self."

Orochimaru growled, "If you really sent him to the past what's to keep him from stopping you?"

"Fool, even with the power of the Kyuubi I defeated him. He can't touch me, but all he has to do to stop your ambitions is stop the Uchiha boy from defecting," Even in his weakened state Madara couldn't help smirking, "you've lost this one Orochimaru. Hahah-"

His laughing was cut short as Orochimaru beheaded the man.