A/N If wishes were horses I would have several stables as well as the writes to Naruto, sadly my stables are empty and Masashi Kishimoto owns Naruto.
Warning: Graphic Description of dead body ahead, could be worse, could be better, depends on you imagination. You have been warned.
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Chapter 2 – Triumphant Return
Sakura was pacing inside the north gate of Konohagakure again. She sighed, sat down on a nearby bench, sighed again. She wanted to be out there looking for Itachi, and by finding him hopefully finding Sasuke. Instead she was stuck here waiting for Naruto and Kakashi-sensei to return from their quick mission.
Sai had been injured and would be out of action for a week or so. In light of that Tsunade-sama had decided to send Kakashi and Naruto on a quick mission to a village on the border of the Land of Fire. Their job was to escort a medical Nin to stay for a few months and get their clinic of the ground. Tsunade told Sakura to stay behind, using this time to train and further improve here medical jutsus.
Getting up again she started the pacing back and forth. Sai had improved greatly and would be out of the hospital the next day. Naruto and Kakashi were late though. They were to have returned that morning. Instead it was mid-afternoon and they had yet to come back, normally with Kakashi, any where from ten minutes to two hours was considered on time. This time though they were almost nine hours overdue.
The next thing that Sakura knew Tsunade was suddenly in front of her. Coming to a quick stop before she barreled into Tsunade, Sakura looked into the face of her sensei.
"Still pacing Sakura?" Tsunade let a soft chuckle. "Don't worry, I am sure they ran into a few delays, maybe picked up a lead and got off late. They'll be back before you know it."
"I hope so; they have never been this late before." Sakura let out a huff. "This had better not be some joke by Naruto to get me to worry and trick me into a date."
Tsunade laughed out at that. "I am sure it is legitimate, they probably got delayed for a few hours and as for the extra time that is just Kakashi." Shaking her head sullenly, "That reminds me, I need to works on Kakashi's tardiness problem." Her hand went into a fist which she started shaking in a threatening manner.
Sakura started laughing at this. "Don't do that sensei; if he isn't late, he isn't Kakashi."
"I don't care, he is getting to be as bad as Jiraiya, and he even reads that pervert's books. Just because his sensei was Jiraiya's pupil, I blame this all on Jiraiya." Tsunade started a low growl, "Yeah, that will work, I will just blame everything on Jiraiya, everything is his fault, from the stupid paperwork to Naruto's rudeness."
Tsunade turned on her heal with a quick word goodbye before leaving, Sakura could hear her mumbling under her breath something about finding and killing an ero-sennins. Sakura watched her walking off and smiled lightly.
Sakura felt much better, her fears were suddenly gone. Naruto and Kakashi would be back soon, and then tomorrow they could leave and continue the search for Itachi and Sasuke. Deciding to stop waiting here and go visit Sai quickly and grabbing to bite to eat after words. If those two bakas weren't back by then she would come back here and wait for them, then give them a piece of her mind for being so late.
Her smile widening she turned to walk to the hospital. Getting about sixty feet she felt the need to turn around again, as though something important was happening. Turning around feeling curious at what she would see, nothing looked different. Sighing she waited for a minute than started to turn around.
She suddenly stopped; she could not believe her eyes. Her mind seemed to shut down, no thoughts got through, and she felt frozen. Sasuke had just walked through the gate.
Her mind suddenly did a slight jump start and noticed the others in the group. He was followed by Kakashi; they had something they were carrying between them with a sheet over it. Team Kurenai and Gai were following them, Jiraiya was with them as well; the last rushed forward into the village though, evidently looking for something or someone. There was also another person she did not recognize he had a giant sword swung over his back, though he looked like it was hard to carry.
She took a hesitant step forward. Preparing to run forward and hug Sasuke she finally noticed three things. The first being the medical Nin who had gone with them was with them, the second was the normally shy member of team Kurenai was being carried by Kiba and was completely catatonic with tears spilling down her face, the third and most important thing she noticed was that someone was missing. She realized it, with this group he should have rushed up to Sakura declaring that he had done it; he had kept his promise and brought Sasuke back. But he didn't, and she couldn't see him.
She suddenly felt the need to ask a question rather than jump forward and wrap her arms around Sasuke. Her voice came out hesitantly and wavering. "Where's Naruto?"
Sasuke's eyes focused on the ground and she actually saw Kakashi have a tear going out of his exposed eye. She then did burst forward and before anyone could stop her reached for the sheet covering whatever was carried between the two. As she grasped it preparing to pull it down Kakashi finally said something.
"Don't, you shouldn't look." He was looking directly at her; Sasuke still had his gaze concentrated into the ground. She couldn't stop, she had to see. Taking a deep breath, she prayed to ever deity she knew that she was wrong, that this wasn't what she thought it was.
She slowly began to pull it down. She saw the blond hair; it had red streaks through it from the blood that was coated over the strands. Upon seeing the hair she suddenly ripped the rest of the cloth off. She promptly threw up to the side emptying her stomach. She had seen bodies before, and she had seen bad wounds before, even on Naruto, but nothing could compare to that. He was covered in blood. It had flaked of from scabbing up, but it was obvious that he had been covered in a thin layer of blood.
But that was only the beginning; she could see his intestines and organs hanging out from not only the sword slash through his stomach, but also from the numerous holes ripped through his torso. His hands and lower arms were just bone with some blood on them, though higher up she could see where the muscles, blood vessels and artery were hanging when the rest of the skin and muscles had been ripped off or dissolved. Not much skin was on his arms either, the muscles were visible and evidently shredded, and the little skin hanging off of them like blood soaked rags.
His clothes were still fitting to his body; the blood had sealed them there even though they were practically rags. She could tell there had been a similar rip through his clothes just as the other holes through him, though this one showed clear healed skin, except for a deep knife cut into it, she could actually see strait to his heart. It was evident when that wound had been inflicted that not much blood had been left, it was blood free and very deep. It should have had blood welled up in it.
Sakura felt her throat constricting and tears welling in her eyes. She let out a heart rending sob her legs going weak. This was horrid, she had never seen this much damage every on a human body. Taking another look she had another sob rack her body. Then just stopped, everything stopped. 'That can't be', her thoughts started racing, and she looked closer. 'It can't be, no.'
Her body started shaking, not in crushing sadness, but in fury. Though everyone who didn't see her face did not realize it, her thoughts continued spinning further and further out of control. 'I know those wounds.'
No one expected it; before anyone could even hope to react she had already doing it. If she had put any more force behind it Sasuke would be dead. It was amazing he was not only still conscious but still standing in the same spot. Sakura had punched Sasuke across the face. Though she had not used her full force it was obvious she had hit him with her freakish strength and chakra charged fist. His head snapped to the side, and then he faced forward again.
No one moved they couldn't believe it; Sakura did it again, even harder this time. The bones in his jaw could be heard cracking under the force of it, though not broken. Suddenly she was in front of him her hands bunched in his shirt, shaking him with close to full strength; surprisingly he did not move or drop his load. He just looked forward, not even at the girl violently shaking him. She kept shaking him, trying to get a reaction. Finally she broke again and tears rushed out of her eyes.
"You son of a bitch!" Once again she shocked everyone, she had just yelled full out at Sasuke, not only that but an insult as well. "You fucking sick, traitorous son of a bitch." One of her hands released his shirt and slapped him hard; Sasuke continued to look forward and refused to react beyond his face slightly jerking to the side. She drew back and did it again. "Say something, react to me you murdering piece of shit."
Sakura drew back too punch Sasuke in the chest full force collapsing his ribs and punching strait through him. She spoke up again. "You killed him, your best friend; you fucking killed him for your power."
Though it wasn't a question Sasuke finally spoke in answer, "Yeah."
Her fist released and was stopped when Kakashi suddenly shouted out. "Stop Sakura, Naruto wouldn't want this."
Sakura let out a sob again. "I don't care I recognize those wounds from when you killed Haku. He killed him; he used the Chidori and killed the person who was trying desperately to save him." Drawing her fist back into position again, "So I am going to kill this fucking bastard, you are just as bad as your scum brother. I can tell you're related."
Before she could release Sasuke spoke up again. "Yeah, I know," snapping his eyes to Sakura's finally, freezing her in place. "You can kill me but I won't drop him, I will not let him fall."
Sakura froze, then slowly her fist dropped down, her other fist still tightly wound in Sasuke's shirt slackened and then fell lifelessly to her side. She then collapsed to her knees out of energy, tears streaming down her face as she cried. Her arms came up and wrapped around her body. He head ducked down and she felt numb, not only had she lost Naruto, but it was Sasuke who had killed him.
She didn't even notice the loud arrival of Tsunade.
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Tsunade was fighting for every step; Jiraiya was trying his hardest to stop her. Holding her arms and trying to push her and then drag her away. He was shouting just as loud as she was, trying to convince her not to go.
"You can't look!" He shouted while pushing against her trying to hold her back.
"Yes I can, let me go you toad bastard." She shouted full force in his face
"Tsunade stop, you shouldn't see it." He could barely hold her, as it was they were slowly moving forward.
"Shut the fuck up and let go of me."
"Please, you can't." Jiraiya pleaded, he had one of her arms and was desperately pulling on it. Things were screwed up; he hadn't made it to Tsunade before the jonin who had been at the gate had. When they had returned they had given a brief description of events. Jiraiya had been farther down the road and hadn't heard until Kakashi had suddenly cursed out loud and yelled at Jiraiya to find Tsunade quick before the jonin. Unfortunately the jonin had known where to go.
Jiraiya had found them just in time to hear the final few words of the jonin, most definitely the last. The punch he had received from Tsunade had been enough to cave his chest in; he had been struggling for breath when Tsunade had started to storm off. Jiraiya had grabbed her, it resulted in the trip across the village to take several minutes rather then seconds. He had not been able to slow her down much; as well the shouting match across the village hadn't helped. Jiraiya let out a grim smile, at least she had not heard some of the comments in her single mindedness, those proclaiming and rejoicing the demon child was finally dead and the village was safe again.
"Please, you can't see." Jiraiya was holding fast. "You have to believe me, just wait a little while. Then you can, but not now."
"Let me go," Tsunade screamed, desperation was obvious in her voice. "You're lying, he can't be dead, I have seen him so close to it, he just won't die."
"I'm sorry, but he is. Please don't look, you won't like it." Jiraiya was just as desperate, he had lost another favored student, the last one had been only after a few months as Hokage, this one didn't even make it there, despite his claims he would. He could feel the tears running down his face, he would never teach another again, he was tired of loosing his precious students. "I wouldn't lie, and I am trying to keep you from your fear again, he wouldn't like that."
"Get off me, you bastard, just get off me." Quickly twisting, she grabbed his arm and twisted quickly. Jiraiya just let out a painful grunt and would not let go. But she had reached her limit, and he found himself encountering his third brush with death. After he hit the fall he slumped, he was unconscious and barely breathing, never before had she hit him with so much force.
Without Jiraiya grasping her arm she was almost instantly at the body on the stretcher between Kakashi and Sasuke, her mind barely acknowledging Sakura collapsed in front of later or the medical Nin that rushed to Jiraiya.
Looking down she felt her body go stiff. Tsunade didn't throw up like Sakura, but she did start to shake. Tsunade could feel it come back. Fear pumped through her, she froze and then began to shake. She didn't even cry or yell out. Her hand unconsciously reached to her face, her finger nervously stretched lightly between her lips. Her shaking was getting worse.
Finally she saw it, he eyes had locked on the sight of Naruto's body, but finally she noticed it sitting there. The string was still around his neck; at the end of it was a crystal, that accursed crystal resting on top of his decimated clothing. She let out a nervous squeak of fear when she saw it. It sat there, some blood on it, shining brightly in the sun, taunting her.
Finally she let out a scream of horror and sadness. All she could see was blood, it was everywhere. Her vision was suffused with it, it was her world. Instead of blackness creeping in it was blood. It was always there, always in her sight, it always came to claim the life of those who sought the title of Hokage and who she bestowed the necklace on along with her blessing.
It was too much, she couldn't take it. Not again, not after over three years of the boy wearing it, it shouldn't have happened. Se hardly noticed her legs go painfully coming into contact with the ground, but she could not tell. Suddenly the blood, not the darkness, but the blood was her world.
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Several hours later they were in the Hokage's office. Tsunade was drinking deeply from a bottle of sake. She refused to look in the corner where Naruto's body was laid and covered by the white sheet again. Tsunade took another deep pull of sake she could feel herself get a little number; she knew she would have to go through her whole stash before blissful drunken unconsciousness finally claimed her. But that was for later, she had something she needed to take care of first.
Looking up at the room's occupants she felt a shutter. Kakashi was actually slouched in a chair, not looking around to much. His exposed eye was red and it was obvious that he had been crying. Carefully looking over to Uchiha Sasuke who had taken what seemed a guard position over Naruto she could see the streaks on his face. As she watched him for a moment she even saw a lone tear roll down his cheek. This conversation was for jus the three of them the news that the medical Nin had given was more distressing then just the death of Naruto, unfortunately the Nin was currently at the hospital.
The medical Nin had rushed Jiraiya to the hospital where he was in serious condition but expected to live. The jonin she had punched earlier was not so lucky; he was dead before the team got to him. She actually let herself smile sadistically at that thought. He had dared to not only continually refer to Naruto as the cursed demon child, but as well he had actually gone on about how the village was finally safe and that there should be an announcement and celebration the dreaded Kyuubi was finally gone.
Bringing her thoughts to the present and the current occupants of her office she sighed and took another long deep drink. This was not going to be a pleasant meeting.
"Tell me what happened." She gave a look to both of them. "Everything," she said as her gaze pierced through the Uchiha.
It was Kakashi who spoke up first though. He glanced at Sasuke out of the corner of his eye. "We had arrived at the village on schedule, well a little behind." He didn't even let out a smile at his little joke, no one did, they all continued on silently for a second before Kakashi resumed in a grim voice. "The three of us were unpacking the supplies and preparing for the three day stay, it was going well and we decided to break for lunch. We finally grabbed some after hunting down a ramen stand." Everyone got a grim look again; Kakashi could not start up again for a few seconds. It was too much, everyone understood why the pause.
Kakashi finally managed to pull himself together, "We were eating lunch when they approached. It was Kisame and Itachi. They politely asked for Naruto to accompany them, his response, needless to say, was loud and less then polite. That is when it started; we knew there was no way we could take on the two of them by ourselves. Though we realized that they would follow us, we felt it best to try and escape here. Since our new plan called for us to hunt down Itachi to find Sasuke after he killed Ochimaru we thought that if Itachi was lured to Konoha, Sasuke would follow." Taking a deep breath Kakashi continued on. "We managed to get about a mile out of town, it had turned into a running tag team battle, Naruto and I switching back and forth trying to slow them down as much as possible since we seemed unable to hide. Hiroshi was not engaging, saving his chakra to heal us during the breaks when we switched."
"That was when we found them." Sasuke spoke up taking the thread of the story during a pause. "We had managed to track down my brother, obviously and were intending to engage separately, it did not work out that way though. We arrived just in time to see Kisame use his sword to drain Kakashi's chakra, my teammate, Housuki Suigetsu, rushed in stopping Kisame before he was killed from the loss. I ordered the rest of my team to engage Kisame with Suigetsu. I wanted to take Itachi by myself. We exchanged blows, I could fight without fear of Itachi's gen-jutsu due to my Sharingan, and since, unlike Kakashi, I am of the blood and the intense training I put myself through just for it, I was able to stand up to the Mangekyou. We engaged in a battle of nin-jutsu and tai-jutsu. I had not realized that Naruto was there as well, he jumped into my battle with Itachi saying he would assist."
Kakashi started up, "Hiroshi had pulled me back further down the road and was healing the wounds I had received, I did not witness most of the battle, however as I was there I was surprised to see team Gai and Kurenai arriving."
Tsunade spoke up, "I sent them on a mission up north, they were passing through that village."
"I didn't find that out until later, and since there were other issues at that moment did not ask them, I just saw it as a blessing." Kakashi slouched further into the chair, trying to get what little comfort he could. "I informed them of our situation and told them to quickly join Naruto and Sasuke's team in the fight."
Sasuke took up the story again. "By the time this happened we were already spread out. Naruto and I were pressuring my brother and my team was pressing on Kisame. When the two extra teams arrived, Gai immediately rushed to fight Kisame. Both Naruto and I yelled at the teams to stay away from us, we were going to finish this fight ourselves. Naruto and I fought Itachi together, actually working together better than we ever had before, it was like we could read the others mind. We kept pressing forward not gaining or loosing ground, it seemed that we would be fighting forever, however…"
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FLASHBACK
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Itachi ducked just in time as Naruto's kick went just over his head, the battlefield was torn up. Giant rips and gashes spread across the ground, it would take decades for the area to recover without help. As Itachi ducked, Sasuke was suddenly there bringing his knee up. Itachi just barely managed to roll to the side out of the way. It had been going on like this for awhile, Naruto and Sasuke seemingly working like a perfectly synchronized clock.
They had all given up on performing any jutsus awhile ago, both Itachi and Sasuke were good enough to counter to quickly and the three were knowledgeable enough of the Sharingan to not be freaked the way that Momochi Zabuza had been. And despite Itachi's best efforts neither Naruto nor Sasuke were affected by his gen-jutsu, it had irritated the genius to no end. The match had quickly become a tai-jutsu match, though Naruto had continued to use the Rasengan.
Itachi would lash a kick or punch at one only to have to immediately block the other that would come over the first. Itachi was getting frustrated; he had barely in the last few years had to resort to nin-jutsu, much less tai-jutsu. He had been able to rely upon his Mangekyou and gen-jutsu to win every fight, now he had to resort to this.
Naruto for his part kept attacking, trying his hardest to knock back and stun the prodigy; he barely noticed the arrival of the two extra teams. He threw another kick out, Itachi blocking his leg with crossed arms grabbing it to spin and toss Naruto, but had to release and block when Sasuke was suddenly there delivering an axe kick. Creating a clone in an instant he pulled Sasuke out of the path of Itachi's counter attack, the clone grasping Sasuke's left arm spun around on its heel spinning Sasuke around to deliver s kick driving into the back of Itachi throwing the man forward.
The clone disappeared as Sasuke and Naruto ran forward to push the attack as Itachi bounced up quickly. The rhythm started again, the synchronized attacks and defense, each would gain a little then loose a little. Suddenly another figure lunged from behind Itachi trying to attack him from behind. Itachi just rotated on his heel catching the new comer with his foot and dragging him around in the kick until it threw him strait into a charging Naruto. Sasuke, not anticipating interference and his unofficial partner suddenly gone, was caught of guard when a fist smashed into his sternum. Then his head snapped back as Itachi's foot came up into his jaw sending him flying back.
Itachi not wanting to loose the momentum lunged forward towards the downed Naruto who was struggling to free himself from the tangle where he and Neji had landed. Sasuke was unable to get there in time as Itachi's fist struck Naruto's gut sending him flying into the trunk of a nearby tree at the same time as delivering a brutal kick into Neji's face knocking him the rest of the way out. Itachi rushed forward to the doubled over Naruto and drove his knee into the boy's face.
Naruto snapped back against the tree standing Itachi was readying another punch to Naruto's face as Sasuke tried to get there, just then the forty plus shuriken and kunai that had been heading towards his back plunged through him and out ripping deep into Naruto, Itachi's image puffed into smoke and there was just a twig there.
Naruto fell to the ground in pain screaming in pain. Sasuke's view jumped to the girl, Tenten, who had just thrown the weapons, his mouth was about to open to say something when a surge of power and killer intent rushed through the area in a wave. A red chakra surrounded Naruto's fallen form lifting him into the air. The weapons popped out of their wounds, which healed up in an instant.
Naruto quickly looked at Tenten, and then he was suddenly rushing towards Sasuke. Naruto leaped into the air, Sasuke who had been standing there, ducked just as Naruto sailed over him in an air born kick. Naruto whose foot had been an inch away from smashing into Sasuke's face sailed past as Sasuke bent backwards and strait into Itachi's stomach.
Sasuke when he had bent back stretched out his arms and flipped his feet into the air, and then pushing off hard sailed in a back flip and brought his feet down on a surprised Itachi. Itachi was momentarily stunned, rolling to the side after being knocked down he was on his feet in a second. Pausing, waiting for the renewed assault he was even more surprised when it didn't come.
"Stay out of this." Naruto and Sasuke looked back from Tenten and the others to each other surprised when they had spoken at the same time.
"You're messing up our rhythm." Naruto suddenly spoke out after the confusing moment.
"Whatever, this is my kill, so just stay out of it." Sasuke said towards the others, "I don't need anyone's help."
Naruto and Sasuke glared daggers at the other. Itachi had taken this moment of weakness to strike again. Their quarrel forgotten instantly they were immediately back in the flow of the fight. It seemed to keep going on and on attack and counter-attack.
Neither side seemed able to gain an advantage; this seemed it would not end when Naruto suddenly got a smile. "Hey pretty boy."
Both Uchihas looked at him and spoke out at the same time, "Huh?"
"Damn it, I meant Sasuke." Naruto growled out.
"How the hell was I too know that," Sasuke shouted as he dodged another of Itachi's kicks for Naruto to grab his leg before bursting strait up with his fist into Itachi's jaw throwing him back a few feet. "You always are loud during fights, always insulting the other guy, how was I supposed to know you weren't doing that now."
"Bastard," Naruto ground out between clenched teeth.
"Who you talking to this time," Sasuke laughed out when he caught sight of the scowl on Naruto's face.
"Damn it, just listen."
"Ok, what?"
"I have a plan." Naruto bent backwards throwing his feet up which was grabbed by one of Itachi's hands and then flung up. Itachi jumped up avoiding Sasuke who had moved just then, Itachi intercepted Naruto on his way up. Bringing his foot down on Naruto's stomach driving Naruto down towards the ground hard, Naruto quickly made a clone which caught him buffering the fall. The clone pushed him up and backwards over its head as Itachi drove down onto it.
Naruto was on his feet and moving again. He circled Itachi, looking intently into Sasuke's eyes, understanding crossed Sasuke's face in an instant. Both split heading to opposite sides of Itachi and then rushed the man. Rasengan blazed away in Naruto's hand as he closed the distance.
"Please," Itachi said softly, "You expect a simple two headed attack to work against me?"
"Nope," Naruto said as Itachi reached out to grab Naruto's hand and continue the boy's motion and attack into Sasuke who was jumping and kicking towards him from behind. He gasped in surprise had his hand passed through the hand and he stumbled having put his weight into the maneuver. Naruto's body passed through him as Sasuke plowed into his back. He realized his mistake in an instant; the boy had merely used a simple Bunshin, not Kage Bunshin.
"Shit," was all he managed to say before his face impacted with sweet earth. For some reason his back felt torn up, Sasuke's kick had come down high on his left shoulder, it felt like an electric charge, it momentarily stunned him. Without even looking Itachi rolled just as a sword was driven into the ground where his neck had been.
Itachi was on his feet; his back screamed in pain, he could smell cooked meat. Glaring at his brother he spoke again, "How the hell."
Sasuke smiled evilly, "I knew you would like my Chidori Nagashi."
The three were in movement again. Then came forward again, trying to deliver attack after attack only to have them deflected. This time though, the tandem attacks were sloppy, Sasuke and Naruto were not flowing together as before, it felt sloppy. Itachi just smiled.
"So you two are finally getting tired, you attacks are starting to get sloppy, you aren't working together as well." Itachi smiled again as he finished speaking before delivering a brutal chakra enhanced kick strait into Naruto's face. Naruto sailed sixty feet before plowing into the ground. Grabbing the punch that Sasuke had thrown at him, Itachi twisted and brought it behind Sasuke's back and yanked it violently up, bringing his foot down he pinned Sasuke to the ground with his foot on the Sasuke's face still holding his arm up at a bad angle forcing Sasuke not to move.
Naruto sprang up again, forming Rasengan in his hand he ran towards Itachi, hate flowed around the jinchuuri. "You bastard, let him up." Naruto gained speed and Itachi just held his arm ready to counter never letting Sasuke up, Itachi would deal with him in a moment when he had flipped Naruto away. He smiled again.
"You've already lost Naruto-kun." Then he felt something behind him, but it was too late to react, something had a hold on his raised arm, and Sasuke on the ground grabbed his foot, Itachi had released in reflex to jump away, but the Sasuke on the ground just grabbed his wrist holding Itachi in place.
"You're dead nii-san," a voice said next to his ear, it belonged to Sasuke who was bringing down a kunai towards Itachi's neck, there was nothing Itachi could do. He looked down at the Sasuke on the ground as it dropped the Henge and there was Naruto. He had not been paying attention to his Sharingan; he had been to confident that he was just fighting brats. But he saw now that it was not only a Henge, but it was also a Kage, Bunshin.
Just as the knife was a fraction of an inch away from Itachi's neck a body flew into him and Sasuke throwing them apart with the angle that it had hit. It threw Sasuke to the side and Itachi strait forwards into the rushing Naruto and the wildly spinning Rasengan, he had no time to react. But Itachi watched in amazement, the instant before he hit Naruto suddenly dropped the Rasengan. Itachi barreled into Naruto sending them both tumbling to the ground.
Itachi, not wanting to loose the opportunity slammed his palm down onto Naruto causing all of Naruto's breath to rush out, even gasping for air Naruto managed to deliver a kick pushing Itachi off of him. Still gasping Naruto managed to make it to his feet again.
Itachi looked at the body that had hit Sasuke and him. It was the female team member of Sasuke's, she was clearly dead, the slash that had cut her nearly in half was easily apparent to have come from Kisame's sword. Itachi looked towards his brother who had just noticed it as well. Though Kisame was still fighting Gai and some of the others, the rest watching the two fights and Tenten helping Neji stand up, he still managed to shout out.
"Thought you could use a hand," Kisame smiled, "Well an extra body never hurts." Delivering his bad pun he quickly focused on his fight again, Gai and his favored student had opened up to the fifth gate and were pressuring Kisame badly.
Itachi just turned back to his fight, trying to ignore his team mate. He glared at Sasuke who was helping Naruto stand, Naruto had almost collapsed again from gasping for air. Almost laughing at the sight Itachi cleared his throat.
"I told you Sasuke," Itachi spoke out gaining the attention of the two. "If you want my power and eyes there was a requirement. You must kill your closest friend, and I see it is evident you have not."
Naruto's mouth opened at this, and then he looked over at Sasuke, before speaking. "That is why when we fought at the valley."
"Yes," Sasuke spoke never taking his gaze from Itachi. Then directing himself towards Itachi he spoke in defiance. "I will gain power without needing that, I can still beat you."
"Think that if you want." Itachi closed his eyes, this time he activated the Mangekyou, "I thought from your earlier use of the eye in countering my Mangekyou that you had gained it as well, I see you have not. Now I can beat you, I have beaten your normal Sharingan before; after all, father was no push over."
That was all it took, Sasuke lost his temper and rushed forward. Itachi just smirked, while he knew he could overwhelm the Sharingan of Sasuke's with his own, he also knew it would take too much chakra, so he merely angered his brother to cause a reckless attack. His brother formed Chidori and recklessly assaulted Itachi.
Dodging under Sasuke's arm he kicked around and up, Sasuke went face first into the tree behind Itachi, sliding to the ground limply, clearly unconscious.
Naruto, seeing his friend so easily defeated, ran forward to attack, though reckless he still managed to push Itachi back farther with his unbridled fury. Each attack pushed the man back; Naruto was controlling the tempo of the fight. Then there was someone behind Itachi who grabbed at him.
The last of the Rookie Nine had arrived, heading back through the area on a mission after coming from a completed mission in stone, they had intended to join Kakashi and Naruto and head to Konoha together. Chouji had reacted quickly grabbing Itachi from behind. Itachi had been expecting this and had flipped over the plump teenager grabbing the hand stretched out to seize him from behind.
Itachi span quickly, Chouji had tried to reach down into a pouch on his leg. Itachi noticing this grabbed the pouch before the hand could reach and pull a weapon or such out. Pulling Chouji's arm suddenly and snapping the teenager strait before twisting again.
Itachi, still holding Chouji's arm out brought his foot swiftly up and slammed it down on the arm holding it tight. A sickening crunch was heard and a bone actually ripped out of the skin, just barely popping out, from the force of the kick. Chopping with his other hand across Chouji's neck, Itachi let the boy drop too the ground unconscious.
Naruto just started cursing again. Taking stalk of the situation, he realized what he had to do. Quickly spinning on his heal he bolted away from everyone. He knew Itachi would follow since he was the target; he needed to get away from his friends before Itachi attempted to hurt any more of them. This was the best way; he continued to run deeper into the forest.
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END FLASHBACK
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Tsunade listened intently as Sasuke continued the story. Not missing a thing analyzing everything. She sat back when Sasuke took a pause, dropping the empty bottle to her desk she reached into a nearby drawer and pulled out another of her stash. When Sasuke still did not continue she decided to press for the rest. "Go on."
"That last part I was told later on since I was obviously unconscious." Sasuke sighed and then started up again, "When I woke up I demanded to know where they had gone, after being pointed in the right direction I gave pursuit, they had gone almost a mile and a half. I arrived to in time to witness Itachi knock Naruto out and pull him from where he was pinned under a tree. I heard him asking why Naruto had not finished him off earlier when he was flying at Naruto when holding the Rasengan. He had tossed Naruto over his shoulder and was walking off when I attacked him. I decided to answer the question, I was glad then that Naruto had done this, but now I wish he had let that Rasengan hit Itachi, then he would still be alive. I am such an idiot." Sasuke stopped talking suddenly; he was trying to keep his voice steady. Another tear worked its way out of his eye and rolled down his face.
Tsunade and Kakashi just watched on. Neither said anything as Sasuke reigned in his emotions and calmed himself down.
"We fought again, same as before, so I won't go into much detail." Sasuke found his voice again. "I ended up using my curse seal, which I have decided too keep, the person whose curse made this seal and was one of my team also died during his fight with Kisame, I found out later he gave his life defending others, a fitting way for him to go. He before had asked me to kill him so that he would not kill others, I am glad I did not. I think he was glad to die that way so I now proudly keep my curse seal as a gift from him."
Tsunade and Kakashi actually reeled back at this. Kakashi sitting up in his chair and speaking quickly, "I though that the seal was a jutsu of Ochimaru's?"
Sasuke shook his head. "In a way, but it was more of a marker of a limit that he got from another. He took the bloodline limit from another and used jutsu to fuse it to other people, which is why when you gain the boost of chakra from it eats at your body. The deterioration is caused by a conflict between the two incompatible cells. This happens in the same way that Kakashi's use of the Sharingan causes him to tire more quickly then one who possesses the actual limit instead of a graft."
Tsunade looked impressed. "As much as I would like to continue this fascinating medical discussion I would prefer you to continue on."
Sasuke nodded. "I merely wished to point out that I no longer consider this mark a curse but a gift from a team mate with who I traveled with for several months, as well I know little of the medical, I was merely repeating that which was explained to me by the medical nin of my team, she was the body that was thrown at Itachi and I by Kisame. I am afraid that she was the one you would have had to discuss with." Sasuke bowed his head; he had lost two teammates, while not friends they had become somewhat close, he had lost too much recently.
Tsunade just stared at him, "You chose your path Sasuke, and you must deal with the consequences, good and bad." Her voice held no mercy and pulled no punches. She would not show compassion this time, Sasuke had dug his own grave and must now lie in it. "Please continue."
"Yes Hokage-sama," Sasuke's disrespect was evident, but Tsunade chose not to interrupt. "As I was saying, I activated my level two seal and attacked…"
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FLASHBACK (from chapter 1, you were warned if you read this again.)
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Sasuke felt the hatred fill him; soon he was covered in the level one curse seal. His Chidori started to blaze with a black light. Itachi dodged to the side carefully grabbing his brother's arm above the Chidori and twisting his body to toss him into a nearby tree. Suddenly he was stung by an electric shock.
"Kukuku," Sasuke laughed at his brother, "Guess you have yet to realize that my Chidori Nagashi can come from anywhere."
Both of them by some suddenly co-mental choice sprang apart quickly. Itachi reached in his cloak and undid a clasp. "Perhaps I will need to take you seriously nii-san." The cloak dropped revealing a simple get up, similar to Kakashi, he had his vest on and a ninja-to across his back. "Come nii-san; show me what you have learned."
Sasuke suddenly rushed forward drawing his katana in a fluid motion. Itachi stood there waiting, not even drawing his blade. Suddenly in a blur that Sasuke's Sharingan could barely catch he moved. Grabbing four kunai with explosive tags he threw them strait towards Sasuke.
"Kukuku, you think I can't dodge a few shuriken." Quickly gauging the paths of the kunai Sasuke dodged moving around them not loosing momentum. He didn't notice the four shuriken that Itachi had thrown immediately afterwards. Each one moved swiftly and hit each of the explosive tags causing them to detonate al around Sasuke as he moved between them.
Itachi not loosing the momentum moved in with a kunai. Sasuke barely having performed an earth style technique Kakashi had done to him. Moving swiftly under ground he attempted to grab Itachi's ankle. When he reached up his hand gripped nothing but air.
Suddenly another hand closed around his wrist and dragged him up out of the ground. "Please, such a pathetic technique. The Sharingan can penetrate that." Before Sasuke could activate Chidori Nagashi Itachi grabbed his other arm, twisted around and threw him.
Sasuke smashed into a tree only to have smoke cover his body and a log suddenly appear. Itachi glanced around quickly, looking everywhere trying to find out where he may be. Something prickled on the back of his neck. Moving quickly to the side he saw several kunai shoot past him imbedding in the ground. Without even facing the direction he grabbed two kunai and threw them backhanded then rolled to the side.
Sasuke jumped from the tree, his sword once again in its sheath across his back. He rapidly did several seals only to see Itachi mirror them perfectly. Both of them unleashing the same attack at once, dragons of earth slammed into each other negating the attack.
"Nin-jutsu and gen-jutsu won't do you much good in this battle nii-san." Itachi rushed forward again, "Neither of us may be up to the copy level of Kakashi, but we are more then able to do it to each other. Tai-jutsu is the only way you will win this."
"Shut up you bastard." Sasuke ran forward again. Drawing his sword again he quickly channeled the Chidori Nagashi into it. Slicing downward at Itachi as he came with in range, Itachi merely leaned to the side; the blade hit nothing but air.
In lightning fast motion Itachi drew his sword of his back and slammed it down on Sasuke's pinning it to the ground. Suddenly kicking up and around placing his other hand on the ground he kicked back with both feet into Sasuke's chest. Sasuke flew threw the air landing in the ground a good twenty feet away. Spinning quickly Itachi kicked Sasuke's katana into the forest.
Flipping to his feet Sasuke performed the seals again and focused his chakra, Chidori crackled in his out stretched hand. Itachi sighed, "That won't do you any good." Both of them moved quickly heading towards the other at insane speeds.
Positioning his sword Itachi took a swing aimed at Sasuke's chest, who reached out with his Chidori grabbing the sword and pouring Chidori into it. Itachi watched as the sword shattered and then felt the lightning arc through the metal ripping into his hand. Dropping the sword quickly and cursing loudly.
Sasuke just laughed, "And now nii-san, the avenger is here. I have come for my vengeance. Enjoy the strength I have won." As Itachi watched the cursed seal spread even further turning his brother's hair white and his skin a deep blue, almost black. Wings ripped through his tattered shirt spreading out behind him, he had truly become an oni.
Itachi leaped back, quickly realizing the only way to win this. Concentrating he closed his eyes painfully, damn; I am almost out of chakra. I shouldn't be doing this. Opening his eyes revealed the Mangekyou Sharingan. He saw the movements of this new demon perfectly, even before Sasuke performed them, his mind signaled the attack. Quickly dodging he saw the opening.
Moving quickly he dodged the Chidori as Sasuke lunged past and quickly grabbed his arm twisting up he heard a satisfying snap. Then he slammed his hand down against the base of the neck, Sasuke went limp. The curse seal retracted leaving his younger brother's limp body being held up by his broken arm.
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END FLASHBACK
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"…And I was unconscious again." Sasuke said with a sigh.
Kakashi spoke up after listening to the fight that Sasuke had described. "I arrived only at the very end; I was being supported by Hiroshi who carried me to with in a kilometer. We witnessed only the final moments of the battle. Naruto jumped in front of Hyuuga Hinata blocking the attack that had been aimed for her with his body. I saw the Kyuubi's chakra flare around Naruto and then retract down into two Fuuton Rasengan, I remember clearly one was pure blue and the other red, I am not sure why though. The hit did not kill either instantly, but it did get close, I finally collapsed and was watching from afar, Hiroshi tried to get there as fast as possible. Sasuke regained consciousness though and made his way to Naruto. I saw him speak to Naruto momentarily. I remember Hiroshi clearly shaking his head after looking at Naruto. About that point I finally passed out, I am unsure as to what happened next."
Tsunade nodded her head and turned too Sasuke. "Why don't you tell him what happened Sasuke?"
"I woke up and went over to Naruto, he said some things, I said some things that was the end of it." Sasuke knew he was lying, and he knew that Tsunade knew he was lying; she had already spoken with Hiroshi. He visibly cringed knowing what was coming.
"Really, so that is what happened." Tsunade was clearly getting angry while Kakashi just watched; he could not understand why she was pushing this. Sasuke was already torn up enough over Naruto's death, why would she push it like this.
"Hokage-sama, please, he just had to go through…"
"Shut up Kakashi, you will understand in a moment." Anger was now surging through Tsunade's voice and Kakashi felt himself flinch under it. Her piercing stare bored into Sasuke. "There are only two witnesses to what occurred between you and Naruto, one came forward and told me. The other has apparently suffered close to a mental breakdown and is in hospital while people try to get her to respond. Though I was told what you did, Hiroshi said that you must be given a chance to explain why and what was said. I will ask and then get verification from Hiroshi and hopefully Hinata once we get her pieced together again."
Sasuke was clearly shaken and by now it seemed only his determination to guard Naruto's body was keeping him standing and that was only barely. He paled and tears began to run down his face.
Kakashi was still trying to figure this out and watched on. He was getting close to yelling at Tsunade to stop this when Sasuke opened his mouth and spoke first.
"Can't we do this in private?" Sasuke's voice was clearly broken and the pain was shooting through it.
"No, Kakashi has a right to hear what his students did." Tsunade was clearly trying to not blow up and was visibly straining from not jumping forward and attack.
"I-I…" Sasuke's voice finally collapsed. He couldn't speak. It was too painful for him and he felt it wrap around him tears were now pouring down his face.
Tsunade had enough, "Answer, was Hiroshi telling the truth, did you kill Uzumaki Naruto?"
Sasuke just fell to his knees in a heap. Kakashi could barely hear his response, "Yes."
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A/N
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Well another chapter down. I apologize for the tardiness. I had business to take care off. I hope you do enjoy this chapter. I feel the need to explain some things.
From last chapter and this, there was apparently some confusion. The first being about who Naruto was fighting at the start. That was Itachi, he was knocked out and Sasuke arrived. I was trying to get some confusion there at first and make it seem like another Naruto/Sasuke fight. The idea was to then suddenly reveal that he was instead fighting Itachi. So basically Sasuke showed up to save Naruto from Itachi.
I was asked for whom the she was in last chapter, I was originally going to sit on this for a few chapters, but while writing the final part of this I decided that it needed to be revealed for flow. So yes, the person Naruto shielded was Hinata, everyone else had the sense to get out of the way and before they could react it had already happened.
As for this chapter, the reason I had Naruto use Rasengan with out fear is simple, Rasengan is simply Chakra manipulation. While the Sharingan is able to see through all jutsus, I have only seen evidence that it can copy jutsus with hand signs. This leads into why Itachi had the Chidori, as I recall Chidori uses hand seals. Thus Itachi could replicate it, perhaps not as well, but he could do it, as well as the Chidori Nagashi that he uses with Sasuke's sword.
I decided to copy the fight again from chapter one, this was not a decision to simply in crease length, this is a decision because I wanted to be lazy and not have to write it all out from Sasuke's view point in a dull sounding conversation.
I would like to thank everyone who reviewed as well as all those who read and did not reviewed, I appreciate both groups. I will try and get the next chapter out sooner, it depends on work and how lazy I am, or how many other stories I end up reading, like Syaoran-Sama's story. Blast others good writing, it makes mine look like crap and distracts me from writing, curses.
Thank you for reading, please offer advice and constructive criticism, it is welcome.
Final Sleeper
PS Final thing, I will answer any one question about where this story is going or question involving this story to the person who is able to tell be where the quote 'Death is but a door, time is but a window, I'll be back' from the summary comes from. I am curious if someone will know.