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This chapter is about the persons who are currently managing to escape Madara's grasp.

Chapter 3: On the run

It was somewhere in Rain Country, big droplets of water were falling to the ground while thick dark clouds were hanging from the sky, turning the landscape into a greyish dark color. Even though it was only afternoon it was already dark so that one could barely see the two figures walking slowly through the rain. They were dressed in black cloaks with white outlined red clouds on them. The right figure seemed to support its partner who breathed heavily in the cold air. Suddenly the left figure stopped and started to cough violently. Blood dripped out of his mouth and fell to the ground, mixing instantly with the rain droplets.

"Nagato!" the right figure, a woman, called out concerned and halted immediately.

"No Konan, we must go on. We're almost there" the man, Nagato, said weakly. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine."

The woman hesitated but nodded and continued walking, still supporting the thin fragile body of her friend.

"I'm starting to recognize the landscape" the man suddenly said, gazing around the surroundings. They stopped at a dead pitiful looking tree which was out of miracle still standing somehow. They both stood there for a moment, looking down from the little hill they were standing on to a pile of trees, weed and other plants which seemed to grow around an object.

"We're here…" Nagato said and a faint smile appeared on his lips. The woman let go of him and crouched down. After searching a bit she found it: A hidden hatch in the ground. She pulled it up and it revealed a dark tunnel.

Konan pulled out a torch from under her cloak, enlightening it.

They both jumped into the tunnel and followed it until they reached the hatch that was at the other end. Konan pushed against the entrance. Something blocked it but she collected chakra in her hands and pushed harder. Finally the hatch opened and the woman climbed out of the tunnel and helped the man up.

They were in an old little wood house. Plenty of plants and weed had grown during the time, they came through the windows, the wood planks, the ground, and were growing crisscross through the room.

Suddenly files of paper loosened from the woman's skin and formed into shuriken, dashing through the plants so that the two persons could move freely around the room.

Nagato carefully moved to a board. Removing the plants he revealed three cards. Two of them had a red surface; on the third was the picture of a frog. Under these cards were three names written: Nagato, Yahiko and Konan.

The woman stepped next to her friend, smiling sadly at the view of the cards. "It seems like forever since Jiraya-sensei had made them" she said softly. Nagato only nodded.

"We'll all be home" he muttered quietly, remembering when his friend had said it back then when they had to leave the little hut.

Konan placed a hand on his shoulder. "We should get ready for the night" she said and they both turned at the same time to look outside through a little hole in the wood planks. It wasn't completely dark yet but the slight shining of red which came from the moon was enlightening the surroundings anyway, covering it into a ghostly light. Despite of being hidden behind the clothes the moon was still shining down powerful on the world.

After running away from the Uchiha hideout, with the moon still glooming from the sky and the pressure of the genjutsu on his mind, Itachi arrived with his unconscious brother over his shoulder in a little civilian village. The civilians had all came out of their houses and were staring amazed and frightened at the same time toward the moon. Unnoticed from everyone Itachi made his way through the villagers and into a motel. The young woman in the entrance hall was so confused that she gave him a key without even checking the money, just to run over to the window and to stare outside again.

The Uchiha walked to the room, locked the door from the inside and placed Sasuke on the bed. He knew that if his brother would wake up he would definitely try to kill him again. Unfortunately the circumstances had changed and so Itachi couldn't leave his brother's side just like that; not now.

He had to tell him the truth. If Sasuke would believe him was another question though.

Sighing Itachi walked into the bathroom and came back with some towels which he used to bind Sasuke's hands to the bedpost and his feet together.

He then sat down on a chair near the window, gazing outside with a frown.

Jiraya's eyes fluttered open. Carefully he opened them wider. Luckily the surrounding light was only dim so that it didn't hurt his eyes. When his blurry vision became sharper and clearer he looked around.

The Sanin was in a strange room that was bare except for the bed and a nightstand. There wasn't a window but only a door. Frowning he attempted to sit on the edge of the bed to stand up just to feel a sharp pain in his chest. Groaning he lifted the blanket. His entire chest was wrapped in bandages, as well as his right arm. He must have been hurt badly… What the hell did just happen?

Naruto… he had been on training with him and then… Tsunade had sent them a message. Red eyes… pain… Madara had attacked him. Jiraya had no idea what had happened after that. Did Naruto escape?

He hoped so. But where was he? That was definitely no hospital.

Wincing slightly in pain he stood up, his mind slightly dizzy. Carefully he walked over to the door and tried to open it. It wasn't locked. He peered outside just to see hallway which was lit through torches. Barefoot he walked through the hallway just to find out that apparently the whole building that had to be underground must be labyrinth. Great…

"In your current state you shouldn't wander around like that" a voice suddenly said calmly from behind him. He knew that voice from somewhere…

Jiraya turned around just to come face to face with a silver haired man who pushed his glasses up his nose.

"Kabuto…" Jiraya growled out. Then that must mean…

"Ah Jiraya my old friend, I see that you're finally awake. It was about time, I was getting worried about you." An icy cold shiver ran down his spine when he turned around.

"Orochimaru" he growled glaring at the snake Sanin who smirked at him in response. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked trying desperately to remember what had happened after the fight.

"You were beaten up and Kabuto found you wandering aimlessly around. You were obviously caught in the genjutsu" Orochimaru explained. His former team mate narrowed his eyes.

"What genjutsu?" Did Madara cast an illusion on him? Did he catch Naruto? However, the thing the snake Sanin told him next made him widening his eyes in horror. Madara had won. The world was caught up in an illusion. The only reason why Jiraya's mind was free now was because of Kabuto expelling the illusion and bringing him into this underground hideout where they apparently were save from Madara's influence for now.

"Why did you bring me down here and fetched me up, Orochimaru? What kind of game are you playing now?" he growled making Orochimaru chuckle in response.

"You are just too suspicious. Right now I'm only observing things but believe it or not, we're currently on the same side" he continued becoming more serious. "I don't like the idea of Madara controlling us neither especially since I still didn't get the access of the Uchiha power yet. Sasuke ran away" he explained with a sigh, seeing Jiraya raising an eyebrow in question. "However it would be unwise to get into action yet that's why I settled down here."

"You mean you are hiding like the coward you are" Jiraya growled but Orochimaru only shrugged.

"If you want to put it like this, I don't mind." He then turned around and started walking away slowly. "You can go if you want my old friend; I won't stop you. Or you can follow me to a more pleasant room to continue our chatting."

Jiraya narrowed his eyes, threw a glance at Kabuto who was still standing behind him with a blank expression on his face but then followed his old team mate with a sigh. He already knew that he would regret this.

When Sasuke woke up, Itachi was still sitting on the chair, gazing outside, watching the villagers who by now were continuing living their life like nothing had happened.

"Damn it, Itachi! What is the meaning of this?! Untie me!" his brother hissed with only a slight trace of fear in his voice, but mainly he was angry and furious. Sighing Itachi turned around and looked into the dark narrowed hateful eyes of his younger brother.

"I am sorry Sasuke, but the current situation is more important than our little… fight." Sasuke only snorted.

"What shall this mean? What current situation?" He then frowned, remembering the weird design of the moon. "Does it have anything to do with the moon?" His brother nodded as an answer.

"Someone threw the world we know into a genjutsu and is currently controlling everyone's action. We're exceptions, probably because of our own Sharingan." But regardless of who had casted the illusion, they already would be on their trail by now.

"Does this mean that there are other Uchiha alive? I thought you killed them all!" he hissed.

"No, there are probably two left. Madara who actually died but was brought back to life and someone called Obito who had spied along the Akatsuki for some time, controlling the strings in the background." He paused for a moment, feeling slightly uncomfortable under the intense hateful stare of his beloved brother who he only wanted to protect. But if he wanted to do so, he had to save him from Madara and Obito. They had to work together. And this meant one thing…

"Sasuke, I have to tell you something important" he started not really sure how to say it.

His brother narrowed his eyes on him. "Say it then. It's not like I can move away anyway" he snapped and it actually made Itachi smile just slightly though the smile was gone in the next moment.

"There is something about our clan you have to know…" And he told him everything.

Naruto was standing at the entrance of a cave, staring outside into sky with a frown. After Rachel had sent him away he had run until he had come across this cave. Since then he hadn't left it except for catching some fishes earlier in a nearby river and collecting wood for the fire which was currently projecting dark dancing shadows on the cave walls behind him.

Gritting his teeth in anger he balled his hands into fists. He hated it. He hated it to run away and hide while everyone else was in danger. He hated it not knowing what was going on out there, especially in Konoha. The worries sickened him! What was with Sakura, Kakashi, Konohamaru, Iruka, and all of his other friends? How was Jiraya doing in the hospital? What happened with Rachel and the anbu?

Dammit, he had to do something! He couldn't just stand here around!

He only took one step forward when the voice of the demon fox stopped him.

"You're not really that dumb to go out there now, are you?"

Glaring he turned to the cage. "What else am I supposed to do?! My friends are out there! I have to go to help them!"

"You're helping them mostly when you stay still and not letting yourself being caught. Even you should have realized by now that it'll be over as soon as Madara get you. The genjutsu isn't as strong as it's supposed to be so your friends will be able to resist it. You on the other hand are terrible with handling genjutsu; you'll dance like a doll as soon as you'll expose yourself." Naruto gritted his teeth. Of course he knew that the fox was right.

"So then I just should stay here doing nothing?!" he yelled angrily.

"You should wait for the right moment and strike then."

"Why are you even so helpful all of a sudden?"

"I already have explained it to you during our fight with Madara. I hate him more than anybody else and truth to be told that cage is better than being sealed away."

"So the enemy of my enemy is my friend, huh?"

"Something like that, yes." They were silent for a few more moments when something flashed through Naruto's brain.

"Hey, Rachel had said that your name is Kurama, is that right?"

Silence but then the fox grunted.

"Wow, I never thought about you having a name!"

Kurama growled and narrowed his eyes at the boy. "Well I have one."

They were silent again and Naruto tried to break the awkward moment with asking "When do you think will be the right moment to strike?"

"I don't know kid. But until then I also can take a nap. I'm tired." With that he closed his eyes, placing his head on his paws and making himself comfortable as good as possible.

Naruto sighed and once again looked outside before stepping back into the cave.

"Kurama" he mumbled while sitting down at the fire place making the fox crack an eye open curiously. Naruto leaned back against the cave wall, with a small smile on his lips. Maybe, after years of hatred and distrust, the time had come for Jinchuriki and biju to team up. And somehow Naruto liked the idea of it.

"You're lying! There's no way that this could be true!" Although Itachi could see slight waver in his brother's eyes, the young Uchiha still looked at him in hatred. "Do you really think I would believe this shit?! You're a murder! You killed my parents! I will never forgive you no matter what crap you're trying to convince me to!"

Itachi closed shortly his eyes, sighing. There was only one other way how he could hopefully convince Sasuke, but this would mean that he had to set a high amount of chakra free which would lead Madara on their trail immediately. But there was no other way…

He reopened his eyes, locking them with Sasuke's, and showed his brother all his memories: The time before the massacre, the last words of their parents, his entry in Akatsuki as a spy, the arrival of the girl from the other world, their battle, and when he carried his unconscious brother into this village.

Sasuke stared at him wide-eyed, breathing heavily. "No…" he mumbled but sounded the opposite of convincing.

"I'm sorry that I never showed you all of this before and that I threw you into darkness and hatred. Maybe I shouldn't have lied to you the whole time, maybe you could have changed our father's mind" Itachi said softly and cut through the bindings of his little brother's wrists. Sasuke only stared into space, trembling slightly, his eyes widened, and sweat collecting on his forehead.

"If you want to kill me now, do it but if even a little part of you starts believing me, follow me. We can't stay here."

Sasuke looked up only to stare at him, shock clearly written in his eyes. For a moment Itachi thought he would be frozen on the spot and he had to carry him outside but then his brother stood up and grabbed his sword with slightly shaking hands. Without looking at his sibling he said through gritted teeth, trying to hide the tremble in his voice: "Just to make it clear, I still don't believe you completely. I'll come with you but you will give me some answers later." Itachi nodded and together they headed out of the door through the hallways and out of the motel, Sasuke's head spinning with the images of his own and Itachi's memories and dozens of questions.

They hid their chakra signatures, pulled their hoodies into their faces and walked in a normal pace but people still turned to them, frowning at them. The walk to the gate of the village seemed to take forever but when they almost had reached it two guards stepped in their way.

"Stop, strangers! Show yourself, who are you?" Sasuke lifted his head up, glaring at the guard with his Sharingan activated and his sword in his hand. Itachi sighed when the guard gasped and gripped his own weapon. In the blink of an eye they were surrounded by armed men.

"In the name of Lord Madara, surrender, you traitors!" the guard in front of them said.

"Sasuke, don't kill them. This is Madara's work, it's not their fault" Itachi said calmly. At least they knew now who the caster of the genjutsu was…

"Hn" his brother only said and charged at the men in front of them, knocking them to the ground. Together, side by side, they ran out of the village and into the nearby forest, followed by the civilians.

A projection of Madara appeared at the gate of the small civilian village just as the few men that had headed out to catch the intruders returned.

"Lord Madara!" the guard said surprised and bowed deeply before his leader, his king, his god, as did everyone else.

"They did escape, didn't they?"

"Yes, I'm sorry Lord Madara. We weren't able to catch them. Please forgive us."

"Hn. It doesn't matter. This world is in my hand and soon I will control everything smoothly. There is no place for them to hide or to run to. Sooner or later I will catch them and then they will either cooperate or die."

That was one long chapter... Hope you liked it!

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