Sasuke had found Naruto when they initially left the arena, but had lost him in the maze of fearful villagers

Sasuke had found Naruto when they initially left the arena, but had lost him in the maze of fearful villagers. He hadn't seen any of the senseis and he wasn't sure what he should do. For the most part, it seemed the invasion was being dealt with. He couldn't see the three giant snakes anymore, and whatever had happened on top of the Hokage's viewing platform was over. He had seen three figures jump off and go in separate directions, and he didn't know whom any of them were. He was just walking through the village now, looking to see if anyone needed help. He was a little beat up from his fight with Gaara, but didn't feel much worse for the experience. He stopped, and without turning around, began to talk.

"I know you're there. Don't waste my time by hiding." He said loudly and clearly, and as if on cue, a dozen sand ninja leapt from his surroundings, landing in a circle around him.

"Well, you catch on pretty quick for a genin. Lord Orochimaru has ordered us to take you in." one of the sand ninja said.

"I don't think any of you have what it takes to kill me. From what I can tell, you are all a bunch of weaklings." Sasuke said cockily.

"Our job isn't to kill you. Orochimaru wants you alive, Uchiha."

"Well, too bad for you, I don't really feel like going anywhere." Sasuke replied, activating his sharingan.

"Well, you leave us no choice." The ninja said with a grin, and they all leapt forward in unison. Sasuke waited to the last second before leaping straight up.

"Fire Style! Hidama No Jutsu!" Sasuke shouted, forming the hand signs and breathing the flame downward. He landed on a roof and waited for the smoke to clear. He spun around, just in time to block a kick from behind. The sand ninjas were all in the air, and they were coming in fast.

"Water Style! Mizu Doragon No Jutsu!" a familiar voice was heard to Sasuke's left, and a dragon formed of water rushed to Sasuke's aid, enveloping the encroaching Sand Ninja. Kakashi landed next to him with a smile. "Hey Sasuke. Sorry I'm late."

"You're just in time." Sasuke replied with a grin.

"Watch out, they're coming back." Kakashi pointed out, and he was right. The dozen shinobi leapt back from the torrent of water, drawing kunai knives and shuriken.

"It shouldn't be a problem. They don't seem all that powerful." Sasuke commented. "Fire Style! Pheonix Fire Flower Jutsu!" he shouted, and held a hand to his mouth. He shot the miniature fireballs in a wide arc, spraying the sand ninja, several of whom brought up small shields of sand to defend. None seemed overly effected after stopping the fire from burning their clothing. Kakashi leapt forward lightning fast, a kunai in his hand, slashing one across the chest. He disappeared without landing on the ground, reappeared behind another, and stabbed his stomach. He repeated the process until just two were left, and they seemed to be slightly more adept than the others. They grinned, and leapt forward. One managed to grab a hold of Sasuke with both hands, and Kakashi rushed to his side, and was intercepted by the other ninja. Both were grinning at first, but then their eyes were full of shock. A hand was protruding through each of their throats, grabbing onto Kakashi and Sasuke. Both hands came from one man, in the black and red Akatsuki uniform.

"Mangekyo Sharingan." He said quietly, and Tsukuyomi formed around them, the land of hell that was created purely by the whim of the sharingan's user. A single image of the man stood in front of the two. Sasuke was lying on the ground, propped up by his elbows, not restrained but unable to move. Kakashi stood some ten feet to the side. The man drew a single katana, and moved towards Sasuke. Kakashi involuntarily intercepted the blade with his chest, groaning, and falling dead at Sasuke's feet.

"Just kill me! Stop…Don't do this anymore! I just want to die!" Sasuke cried. Whether he liked it or not, he had developed a father-son relationship with Kakashi, and it pained him greatly to see his mentor in such pain, dying over and over.

"If that is really what you want…" Madara responded. He rushed in once more, and Kakashi intercepted. He held him on the blade, driving it all the way through up to the pommel. He grabbed Kakashi by the throat, and tossed him aside. He reared back to stab Sasuke, but a fourth person had appeared behind him, and a sturdy hand held the blade from stabbing Sasuke.

"If you kill Sasuke, I'll kill you, Madara." Itachi Uchiha said calmly. He had somehow forced himself into Madara's tsukoyomi, and everyone was surprised. The total of six sharingan eyes among the group were all blazing, and Madara lowered the blade.

"Fine then, Itachi, if that is truly how you want it. I won't kill him."

"That will be reserved for me, when he is stronger. He doesn't have enough hate yet." Itachi said softly. "This jutsu is over." Itachi continued, and tsukoyomi faded. Kakashi fell to the ground, and Sasuke's eyes were full of shock. He looked from Kakashi to Madara, to Itachi. He hated Madara, now, a man he didn't know was still alive, and he hated Itachi even more, for preventing him from having the death he had so wanted. He glared hatefully at both, and dropped his right arm, grasping it with his left hand.

"Brother, you are wrong! You die here, and now!" he cried as he rushed over, summoning the ball of lightning. "CHIDORI!" he hollered, rushing at the two Uchiha's standing next to each other, opposite of him on the roof. Kakashi still wasn't moving. Itachi stepped in, practically teleporting, and grabbed Sasuke's right hand. He bent his wrist painfully, and Sasuke dropped to his knees.

"Do what you came to do, Madara, and then leave. My brother stays out of it." His eyes were full of contempt for the eldest Uchiha, and he held Sasuke, crying in pain, firmly on the ground. Madara nodded, and Kabuto landed next to him. He kneeled down next to the motionless Kakashi, and his fingertips began to glow blue as he held them over Kakashi's exposed left eye. Blue streams of chakra emitted from his fingers, grasping hungrily at Kakashi's eye.

"NO!" Sasuke cried, breaking his brother's grip on him. Itachi made no move to stop him, and he rushed at Kabuto. "I don't care if three times is beyond my limit! I'LL DIE BEFORE I LET YOU TAKE THAT!" Sasuke screamed, summoning another chidori with vivid pain and effort. Blood streamed down his right arm as the chakra was forcibly drawn to power the lightning. His eyes blazed with hatred as he charged Kabuto down.

"If I have to evade, the process might be ruined, and his eye useless." Kabuto commented, and Madara intercepted. He punched Sasuke in the stomach, and blood came from his mouth, his eyes wide, and mouth gaping open, gasping for air. Madara drew one arm back, backhanding Sasuke's face, sending him sprawling back towards Itachi.

"Control your brother, if you want him to live, Itachi."

"I don't take orders from you, not anymore. I'm not here to help or hinder with your invasion, I'm here to ensure his survival. It isn't his time to die yet."

"You can't protect him forever, Itachi. Someday, when you aren't there-" he was cut off as Itachi had grabbed his throat, lifted him off the ground and placed a knife at his stomach.

"You won't lay a finger on him. If you kill him, I WILL kill you." Madara broke Itachi's grasp and walked over to Kabuto.

"It is done, as you had asked." Kabuto responded, holding the sharingan eye in his hand. Kakashi's lay on the ground, not moving or breathing. Madara and Kabuto leapt away, as did Itachi, but in a different direction. Sasuke rolled over and coughed blood, then crawled over to Kakashi. He looked at his sensei, and hate boiled in his eyes. He moved Kakashi's mask, to cover his empty socket, and fell limp beside him.