A.N. This story is the sequel to Kijutsu no Izou. You will need to read that to get most of the context of this.
disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter One - The Nightmare Before Christmas
The silence of the night air was pure, crystalline and untouched. It seemed as if an ethereal woven blanket had been pulled snugly over the world, protecting it as a mother would her child. Although it seemed peaceful, it was anything but. In such a tranquil setting, an evil plague hovered on the air and like the viper, waiting for the moment the to strike out and devour its pray.
And lives were held in the balance.
All over the supernaturally sensitive parts of the world, those who remained awake felt its chill and those who slept were haunted by its nightmare visions. But there were few in the world that had felt such an omen before.
Far off in Hidden Ice Village, a trio of teens awoke simultaneous. The first was girl, awaking to the sensation of a thousand needles piercing her brain and the pain was so intense that here scream died in her throat as she blacked out. The second was a boy, awakening to a burning sensation in his stomach and the tormented screams of a voice that only he could hear. And the third was also boy, but this one didn't even possess have the voice in which to scream…
Half way across the continent, in Hidden Grass Village, another four teens experience the same horror. For the first three, they awoke with feelings of dread. But the fourth was a girl and her's was a dream so vivid and realistic that it had her crying out in her sleep, thrashing and screaming incoherent phrases. But one listened to her agony - for them; it had all too many times before…
And in Hidden Sand Village, three siblings lay awake, waiting for what ill awaited them in the days to come…
But there were more. Stone, Mist, Rain, Waterfall, Leaf and Cloud. They all felt it. And there were even those in Sound that felt it too. No one could figure out the meanings of the pain or feelings or dreams that they had endured. Were they warnings of some kind - messages from some unknown source that didn't want to see the world become a ruin.
So it was at that moment that Fate lurched onto its side, getting heavier as the balance of Good and Evil began to tip in favor of the darkness…
When Naruto awoke, it was to a full body paralysis. When the fact that he wasn't able to move set into his sleep addled mind, the blonde's heart began to race. Blood pumping, he focused every ounce of his willpower on opening his eyes. They moved slowly, as slowly as if he was moving through water. It was only after what felt like forever that he finally managed to get his eyes open, even if it only was a sliver.
The room around him was dark, but he could just make out the shape of two moving forms. He could barely hear their whispers as they moved about, but he could feel their sinister intent as though it tangible. Relying on his senses, he focused on the conversation.
"Well I've dealt with the sennin and the copy-nin. Those two won't wake up until long after we've gone. Have you got the two we're after?"
Dealt with Jiraiya and Kakashi? Impossible! Though the fact that there were intruders in their cabin meant that their 'guardians' had indeed been dealt with. But which two were they after and why were they after them in the first place?
"Of course" a second voice answered, and it was so familiar that it sent a shiver racing down his spine. "They were easy targets, no trouble at all thanks to my new skills. The only problem was that brat with the glasses woke up. But he was easily subdued, and even if it isn't a part of our mission, he will make another good capture…"
"Yes, I've heard rumors that he's immortal. Is it true?"
Naruto swallowed back a lump that had begun to form in his throat. He hadn't killed him had he?
"I have no idea Kisame, I didn't bother to see if it was true. Now stop talking and help with them - they're like dead weight"
Now he was frantic. The memories of his first encounter with these two came poring back and wasn't a time he like to remember. The last time had also involved Kakashi and Sasuke getting hurt. Simply knowing that Sasuke was within mere two feet of his older brother chilled his blood.
It seemed to take minutes for Kisame speak again.
"What about Sasuke?"
Itachi sighed, and it clear that his patience was getting thin. "Will you shut up? He hasn't even stirred let alone woken up. That alone surprises me since I would have imagined him to be the kind of person that would sleep with one eye open considering what I did to him"
"Have you gotten soft Itachi?"
"Bite your tongue dammit! I didn't slaughter my own clan for people to think of me as soft!"
Without another word, Naruto felt himself be jerked roughly from were he was lying.
"No, no, no. Don't even bother Kisame, it'll just be better if I take care of this as well"
The sound of the shark-man's grumbling followed as he was dropped painfully. The blonde wasn't sure what was about to happen, but when it did, ever nerve in his body began to scream.
"Mobilicorpus!"
That was wizard magic! How in the hell had Uchiha Itachi gotten a hold of wizard magic? But the thought was cut short as the sensation of lightness washed over him and body rose of the ground to hover in the air.
Now that he was upright, Naruto was able to see the full spectrum of the room.
Itachi was standing next to Kisame, his red Sharingan eyes glowing in the darkness as he idly twirled a wand in his hand before he repeated the spell. Ron, obviously still unconscious, rose up to hang next to him like a rag doll.
"Kijutsu has such convenient uses" Itachi smirked. "The Akatsuki has benefited greatly from the 'alliance' with the wizards. Thanks to this Voldemort, we'll have the Jinchuuriki, the Deathdealer and brat that's prophesied to kill bastard. You'd think that a wizard would be more cautious in trusting shinobi - the almost lost last war between the races"
Fearing the worst, Naruto pinched his eyes shut… and then…
"Who the hell are you?"
The blonde would have bitten his tongue in shock had it not been for the fact that he couldn't move. His eyes opened a sliver to see Sakura and Hermione standing in the doorway, their wands brandished and chakra ready.
He could practically hear Itachi groan - inwardly at least. From what he gathered, this was just supposed to be an easy abduction that had turned out to be more complicated. Through Naruto wasn't stupid enough to think that two twelve-year-old girls could pose much of a threat for two S rank missing-nin.
And it was Kisame who stepped forward. "We can do this the easy way or the hard - "
"Impedimente!"
Before he could blink, the swirling white light the spell shot out of the end of Hermione's wand, striking the shocked former Mist-nin. The force caused the man to be thrown backwards, landing with a thump across the room. If he could have laughed, Naruto would have at the look on Itachi's face saying that it was taking everything that the dark haired Uchiha had to keep from sweatdropping.
Feeling incredibly tired, he closed his eyes, certain that his friends would be able to save them. And they were determined to do it
"The hard way," Hermione replied with a snarl, glaring to where Kisame was struggling to get up.
But Itachi only smirked at them, more intrigued then anything.
"Good job little witch"
Hermione's mouth dropped open in shock. "H-how did you know that?" she gasped and then turned to the pink haired girl next to her. "I thought that shinobi didn't know about the wizarding world!"
Sakura winced, clearing looking like she wished she were somewhere else. "I guess some do…"
Itachi smirked again. "You're just as annoying as that wizard said. Too unpredictable…"
Sensing the chakra that he was focusing into his eyes, they realized in horror his they were Sharingan. They backed away, knowing now why this man looked so familiar - he was an Uchiha!
"Hermione, think of something!" Sakura practically shrieked as Kisame, angry from being 'beaten' by a girl, charged forward.
"I'm trying!" the bushy haired girl cried. "Maybe you should give it a try Sakura!"
She paled. "Must stop movement… must stop movement… what's that bloody spell?" seconds after ringing her hands, green eyes flashed in remembrance. "Petrificus Totalus!"
Seconds before Kisame reached them, Hermione had cast a second stunner and Sakura had cast the full body bind. The two spells crashed into the shark-faced man, sending him backwards so that he effectively smashed through the window and fell to the ground below with a crunch.
Itachi just laughed coldly at them. "Another good job, but it won't stop me. Bye girls"
And before they could do a thing, he vanished, taking their friends with him.
Standing in stunned silence, neither girl knew what to do. Sakura's mind was in a scramble, Inner Sakura frantically trying to get through to her.
'Think of Sasuke-kun!' her inner-self screamed. 'That was his brother! That was the man who he's sworn to kill. You have to wakeup Sasuke-kun!"
That helped to snap her out of it.
"Sasuke-kun - wakeup!" she shrieked, shaking him for all he was worth.
When they didn't wake up and no amount of shaking would do it, she knew she'd need to use some magic. Taking her wand in hand, she pointed it at him. "Enervate!"
The dark haired boy groaned softly. Onyx eyes blinked slowly open and stared up at her. In that moment, he couldn't look more tired and bewildered.
"Sakura? That the hell…"
"We don't have time," she snapped. "Naruto, Ron and Harry have been abducted"
"What?"
She didn't bother to answer him but rather moved away to whisper fervently to Hermione. It was also in that moment that she let Inner Sakura take control. Sasuke felt his heartbeat become frantic for a moment before something seemed to click. Hermione was glaring at him, her hard brown gaze burning into him.
"I clearly remember being told that you were the only survivor of your clan's massacre. So tell me Sasuke - if that's so, then why is there someone else with Sharingan?"
The girls watched as the dark haired boy paled considerably, his eyes darting back and forth between them. If it were at all possible, she could see into his soul that very moment. He looked angry, betrayed and frightened all at once.
"Itachi…"
Hermione panted as she ran as fast as she could in order to keep up with Sasuke and Sakura. Knowing that they had had to find their friends, the bushy haired girl had not hesitated in putting her all into it. Words past among the three of them were few, but what she did hear chilled her blood.
Sasuke had confessed that there was another living Uchiha - his elder bother Itachi. But that only made things worse when he confirmed that their attacker was indeed Itachi, the murderer of his entire clan. It was a terrible story and she couldn't help but feel the connection that there was with Harry.
They were survivors.
But another thing worried her and that was Sakura. The usually cowardly bubble gum haired kunoichi was acting highly out of the ordinary. Although she wasn't one to argue with her friend's newly adapted 'general of the army' attitude, it just didn't feel right. For Hermione, it felt like he was talking to someone else entirely.
"Okay, the footprints go this way" Sakura said, pointing her wand out at the snow-covered moors. "Judge by the spacing in their footprints, they're not traveling fast. Most likely because they have carry the cumbersome weight of three boys, even if a spell is being used to levitate them"
Even though it was still dark in the early morning, Hermione noticed as Sasuke's right eyebrow twitched. She could tell the other boy was becoming frustrated by his teammates strange behavior as well. Yet the dark haired boy refrained from speaking his mind.
Their trek took them ten more minutes at the rate they were traveling at to close the distance between themselves and those they were following.
"Hiretsukan!"
Their ears perked suddenly. That was Naruto's voice! As they crested the closest hill, they looked down at into the moor. What met their eyes nearly caused them to sweatdrop. Ron dangled limply (apparently knocked out from a blow to the head) in Kisame's grasp while Harry half consciously held his own head. But it was Naruto that caught their attention. The foxy blonde was lashing out against Itachi with claws and fangs (and even a thrio of newly sprouted tails!), all the while avoiding eye contact with the elder Uchiha.
Typical Naruto - no common sense.
It was a loosing fight.
Thinking quick, Hermione glanced over at Sasuke and Sakura. Without talking, they knew instantly what she was trying to convey to them. Nodding, the trio separated.
Sakura was the first to attack, her hands flying into the pattern on a bird seal "Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu" a large water dragon flew threw the air towards their targets at the same time that Sasuke did his.
"Katon: Karyuu Endan no Jutsu" the younger Uchiha growled as he let loose his own fire dragon.
Hermione smirked. It was her turn now. "Doton: Doryuudan no Jutsu"
The earth dragon joined the other two in surrounding the two missing-nin before clashing in an explosion of power. Being at much higher levels then the trio, Kisame and Itachi immediately blocked the oncoming attacks. But that was just what Naruto needed to escape, hauling a stunned Harry and Ron's limp form with him.
"IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU GUYS GOT HERE!" Naruto shouted. "THESE CREEPS ARE PSYCHO!"
"You have no idea!" Sasuke shouted back, his eyes turning red as they locked onto Itachi.
The elder Uchiha smirked whimsically at him. "Do you think you can fight me foolish brother? Lets see you try it by yourself!" and just like that, he vanished in a burst of speed.
No matter of protest could stop the pale boy from following into what was obviously a trap. Left alone with three angry teens and one unconscious, Kisame looked them over, gauging their strength.
He snorted as he withdrew his sword. "If you really think can defeat me, you've got another thing coming"
And Sakura blatantly baited him. "Hey, I've done it already. I could beat you again"
Naruto's eyes bulged, and he turned to Hermione with a look of pure shock. Apparently what she had just done was something he'd normally do. The bushy haired girl could only shrug.
"Oh please. I doubt a weak little girl with nearly expended chakra could beat me" Kisame chuckled coldly. "Besides, that radioactive hair of yours has most likely given you brain damage. That wouldn't be much of a fight"
If glares were kunai, the Mist-nin would have been dead instantly. The look on Sakura was pure rage and she fuming so bad that the vain on her forehead began to throb. Feeling the killing intent pouring off of her, everyone began to back away. The features on the pink haired girl's face seemed to shift rapidly
Grinning viciously, Sakura held up her hands and began to form a series of complex seals.
"Naimenteki Tsuin Shakuhou!"
Before anyone could say a thing, a flash of light that nearly blinded them as Sakura appeared to spilt in half.
"HOW DARE YOU! I SHOULD KICK YOUR ASS FOR THAT REMARK!"
All those conscious that were standing around her eye's widened.
Standing next to Sakura was… Sakura. The real Sakura sunk to the ground, holding her head while the double, a menacing version of the girl who looked like she was on steroids and kanji tattooed to her forehead raged. And before anyone could blink, the freaky Sakura lunged at Kisame, grabbed him by the throat and despite her size, hauled him up into the air.
"NOW YOU LISTEN TO ME YOU EVIL BASTARD!" she shrieked. "IF YOU DARE INSULT MY LITTLE SISTER EVER AGAIN, NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY YOUR CORSPE! YOU GOT THAT BAKA?"
The blue skinned man was then thrown a good ten feet, landing on his ass with a painful thump. Meanwhile, Hermione, Naruto and Harry gapped in shock.
"Yatta! That was awesome! Who the hell are you?"
The warrior girl turned and her glare softened only a touch.
"I'm Inner Sakura"
Hermione shock her head. Now Sakura's strange behavour was starting to make some sense. "So," she grinned. "Want to kick some ass?"
Inner Sakura smiled wickily. "Would I ever!"
The two girls and Naruto turned their attention back on Kisame. Before the shark-like man could react, the trio transformed. The missing-nin's eyes widened as he watched them turn into abnormally large sable cat, a lithe pink hawk and a horse sized golden fox with nine tailes.
Behind them Sakura smiled.
"Kick ass!"
The sound of a scream echoed behind him as he gave chase. Sasuke had not thought twice before leaving his friends to fend for themselves, but from the sounds of things, they could take care of themselves. Lost in his dizzing rage, Sasuke chased after Itachi, his crimson eyes hard as he stared at the back of the one man he wanted to kill. Emotions of all sorts conflicted within him. It had be half a year since he had last seen his older brother - the last time that Itachi had tried to abduct Naruto.
Every memory he had of Itachi was still fresh in his mind. The torture he had endured at his hands…
"Stop running so I can kill you! Are you a coward?"
Itachi slowed to stop, suddenly whirling around to face him. Sasuke had to slam on the brakes or else go crashing into his brother's back.
"Don't you dare call me a coward," the elder Uchiha snarled menacingly, his eyes flashing dangerously. "If you only knew half what our clan put me through, then maybe you'd realize why things turned out the way they did. But you just can't see the fact that they got what they deserved"
It was taking ever fiber of Sasuke's being not to charge head on. Itachi was a killer - that had been established long ago. He couldn't be reckless or else he'd lose his chance for revenge once and for all.
"Deserved? No one deserves to be slaughtered like that…"
"You're wrong otouto. You were too young to understand"
"To understand what? That my brother was calculating murderous ticking time-bomb?"
Itachi glowered at him. "You don't think it hurt me too? If I'm really the coldhearted emotionless bastard you think I am, then why do think I let you live? Remember - there's always a fine line between good and evil"
"A fine line?" Sasuke nearly shouted, clenching his shacking fists and daring to take a step forward. "Don't give me that shit. Murder is murder - you took everything that ever mattered away from me. You made me an avenger, so I'm going to be the one that will make you pay"
Itachi stared at him hard.
"So you're saying that good always triumphs over evil?" the question was asked coldly, his red Sharingan eyes burning. Sasuke glared back darkly, ready for a fight, but nearly lost all concentration when his brother's eyes suddenly became black.
Not once had Sasuke anticipated Itachi deactivating his always-present Sharingan.
The elder Uchiha let out a hallow laugh and he walked right up to him and stared down into his own eyes. It was a laugh that sent shivers down Sasuke's spin not because it sounded evil, but that it reminded him of his own…
Itachi smirked icily back at him. "But what gives you the right to say that you are the good and I am the evil? Because I killed the clan? Because I tortured you? I don't think so. I only did what I was raised to do and therein lays the irony otouto. Our clan raised me to be powerful, lethal - a killer. In the end, they raised me to be their own demise. But am I sorry for what I did? I don't even think I understand the meaning of the word anymore"
"Then why did you let me live?"
"Simple - you were my precious person"