"We really should have thought this through, Kurama," He said out loud as he skidded across the ground in an effort to avoid a potentially deadly fireball from his opponent. Warning bells were flashing through his mind telling him to be wary of the dark man in front of him.
I'm way out of my league here… He thought.
You'll be fine, Kit. All you have to do is avoid his eyes. The genjutsu cannot affect you that way. Besides, I can always break through it if we are entrapped.
"I'm not so sure..." He muttered uncertainly.
His opponent was quickly gathering chakra, and through his sage mode, the young man could tell that a massive attack was about to be sent his way. But he wouldn't quit. Hell no. This jinchūriki had a job to do, and no shinobi, no matter how strong, was going to stop him. Or, at least, that's what he kept telling himself.
Where is this sudden doubt coming from, Kit? I thought you were supposed to be Naruto Uzumaki, World's best ninja and future Hokage? What happened to that whole spiel?
Naruto grinned as he straightened his shoulders with glittering eyes. A renewed confidence and determination swelled through him as he decided it was time to take control of this fight. No matter what.
"Thanks, Kurama. I think I needed that. Now, back to the problem at hand..."
He's an idiot. It's official.
Itachi Uchiha, the cold-blooded murderer of his entire clan, glared nonplussed at the blonde-haired, blue-eyed, and stupidly determined 17 year old standing in his way. Really, it was quite pathetic.
Why is he fighting this pointless battle? It's obvious he doesn't possess the skill to beat me, let alone leave a mark on my body? Why does he continue to fight?
Itachi, although outwardly indifferent, had questions whirling about through his head, all pertaining to a certain jounin.
Ah well. This gives me a perfect opportunity to try a new jutsu I've developed. I'm sorry, otouto, but I owe him nothing.
Itachi's hands started to fly through the necessary hand signs as his chakra started to build up. This was an unnamed jutsu, the most dangerous of its kind, and forbidden by the shinobi world to use. Itachi had fought tooth and nail to get his hands on the scroll containing the necessary information to perform something so powerful, even without knowing what affects it would have.
Kit.
"What's wrong, Kurama?" Naruto asked.
Can you feel it?
"Feel what? Kurama-san, you're not making any sense!" Naruto cried out confused.
Itachi you fool! He's gathering enough chakra to devastate a village, let alone you!
Sage mode powered eyes widening, Naruto realized just how right Kurama was. This was bad.
We need to get out of here, call for reinforcements!
"What? No!" Naruto howled. "He's right here, we can't let him get away!"
Kit! Do you have a death wish?
The powerful chakra continued to build.
I've been watching his hands this entire time, and not even I am familiar with the jutsu! Do you honestly think that you can just-
Itachi flew through his last hand sign now feeling all powerful. Images were flashing through his mind. His memories, it seemed, but distorted. Shisui, alive and well with both eyes intact helping him learn to use his newly found Mangekyou Sharingan. Mikito, his mother, hugging him as he returned from an Anbu mission. Fugaku, his father, passing along the torch marking Itachi as the new leader of the Uchiha. Instantly, Itachi realized his mistake as he released his chakra, a blinding red flash shooting towards the unsuspecting teen, too fast to dodge. Unfortunately for Itachi, the Kyuubi no Kitsune had other plans. Red chakra flew forth from Naruto's body deflecting some of the charge, sending it rebounding back at its caster, even faster than before. Dark crimson surrounded both ninja originating from Konoha, and an obsidian colored star formed on the ground surrounding them both. They were frozen. Trapped.
"Kurama!" Naruto yelled, terrified. "What's happening?"
I don't know, Kit. Ask the castor! The damn Uchiha!
"Uchiha!" Naruto bellowed. "What's happening? What jutsu did you cast?"
"I don't know," Itachi murmured.
"What?"
"I don't know," Itachi said, barely above a whisper.
"What do you mean you don't know!?" Naruto roared at the top of his lungs.
"I mean exactly what I said. I don't know," Itachi growled, his sharingan spinning around angrily. "It is a nameless jutsu that I stumbled across during my time in the Akatsuki. I have not the slightest clue as to what this jutsu will do, if anything,"
"YOU IDIOT!" Naruto screamed. "In what world is it okay to use a jutsu without knowing what it does!? I thought you were some kind of prodigy? So tell me genius, how is this-"
The ring started to glow a dangerous white.
"That's not good," Naruto gulped.
"Agreed," Itachi stated simply.
"Shit."
And with those final words, a beacon of white encased the young men for nearly five seconds, sending trees, rocks, and dirt flying in various directions throughout the forest, and then, nothing. All that was left was a faint scorch mark and a single kunai thrown by Naruto as he first encountered the Uchiha.
"We're too late," Kakashi Hatake hissed as he flew into the newly formed clearing. "No… Naruto…"
Snippets of conversation slowly made their way through his pounding skull as an unconscious Naruto struggled wake himself. He failed. Miserably.
"Look at the poor man!" One of the voices Naruto could pick up protested. "He's wearing a Konoha hitai-ate! He must be one of our own!"
"Rin!" Came a separate voice, sounding vaguely familiar. "Do you recognize him? Because I surely don't, and it's a very clear rule that we are not, under any circumstances, to bring ninja of unknown origin into the village. Period. For all we know, he could have killed someone and stolen it in an attempt to infiltrate our ranks. Leave him be, Rin,"
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with the bastard on this one, Rin," Came a third voice from somewhere directly beside him.
"But-"
"No, Rin," Said the second voice again. "We can't,"
Naruto heard the one called Rin let out a defeated sigh as they made a faint rustling sound which made him briefly think they might be standing. Slow crunching footsteps made their way towards him.
"Rin! You can't-" The second voice was cut off.
"I can and I will," Rin snapped. "I am a medic nin, and one of our most sacred rules is to never leave an injured comrade to their deaths. So until I know that he is, for sure, an enemy, I will heal him, and there is nothing you can do to stop me, Kakashi. The same applies to you too, Obito. Besides, don't you think he looks a lot like Sensei? What if he's some sort of long-lost relative of some sort? I mean, it's not like he knows anything about his family anyways. Wasn't he supposed to be an orphan of sorts?"
"Rin? I think you're crazy," Suggested the third voice.
"For once in my life, I think I have to agree with Obito," Said the shocked second voice.
"Hey!" Protested the one Naruto now knew was Obito. "Shut up, Kakashi-bastard!"
Naruto heard Kakashi scoff with some difficulty.
How can that be Kakashi? I mean, they sound similar, but this one sounds slightly… Younger? More uptight maybe?
Suddenly, Naruto felt a flush of relief through his entire body, starting at his head, and realized that the one called Rin had started her medical ninjutsu.
Rin… Obito… Why are those names so familiar? I think I can vaguely recall someone talking about them once. Was it… Kakashi-sensei? That would make sense considering he's with them right now. Who are they?
Immediately after thinking that, Naruto felt his senses returning to him and was met with a paralyzing feeling of pain. Unconsciously, he moaned out loud and his breathing started to hitch, making it hard for him to get air into his lungs. Naruto, in all his pain, couldn't make out the loud gasp of shock Rin let out.
"No!" She cried. "He must be hurt much worse than I thought originally thought. His nerves must have been in a state of shock so he could breathe. Obito! Go get Sensei! Hurry!"
"Y-yes Rin!" Obito stuttered than madly dashed off in search of their currently missing sensei.
Kit.
Kurama…
Kit. Listen to me. I am going to heal you, but the one who is trying to use medical ninjutsu on you will be injured if she retains contact. Now, all I need you to do is push chakra out of all your chakra points at the same time. It will send her flying, yes, but in the end will save her life.
Chakra points? O-okay… I'll try.
Naruto's entire body clenched into itself as he felt a wave of chakra pour through him and he heard Rin scream as she was sent hurtling backwards.
"Rin!" Kakashi cried.
"Kakashi!" Rin half sobbed. "His body is rejecting my chakra! At this rate, he'll-"
Rin was cut off as a red chakra surrounded the stranger's body and he breathing started to ease up.
"Wha-what's going on? What's that red glow?" Rin asked confused.
"I-I don't know," Kakashi stated.
They both watched as the stranger, Naruto, began to loosen him muscles and relax. Slowly, startlingly blue eyes began to flutter open. Just then, Obito burst into the small clearing concealing his team immediately followed by the previously said sensei.
"Obito! Minato-sensei!" Rin yelled as they landed.
"Rin!" Minato barked. "What's going on? Obito came flying at me saying that there was some emergency and next thing I know I'm playing a game of chase with him. What's happening?"
Just then, Minato's eyes were drawn to a slow movement, as a blonde-haired blue-eyed youth who looked exactly like him sat up, wide eyes blinking in shock and his mouth moving while trying to form words, which soon came.
"That's not good,"
