I know this has taken a long time but I was only typing this with one hand, I may or may not have fallen off my horse and broken my arm. I would tell you the whole story but it really isn't that interesting (I blame my editor it was her fault I fell) any way here is the much awaited next chapter enjoy :)
And I did finish this like 3 weeks ago but my editor was too lazy- (ok editor cutting in here, I was not lazy but I'm a lit major and I have story's to write ect.) As I was saying my editor was too lazy to edit this and her crazy horse horse is the reason I broke my arm! So anyway enjoy!
"Kakashi no you don't know what you're doing!" Naruto yelled pushing himself up onto his feet only to be held back to by Sakura.
"Naruto no he can't be trusted!" she yelled holding the young ninja back with much effort. Kakashi took no notice of the commotion behind him as he focused on the dark eyes before him.
"Kakashi Senpai," Yamato questioned reaching out a hand but it was too late.
"You will like this one Sasuke," He began; "I borrowed it from your brother," Sasuke's eyes grew wide he struggled against his former teachers grip but Kakashi slammed him into the wall once more.
"Ahh," Sasuke growled in pain and anger. Kakashi only smiled in return knowing he had won.
"Tsukuyomi!" he yelled, his Mangekyou haringan spinning. Sasuke's eyes shifted wildly trying to escape the jounin's gaze but it was no use. Sasuke's hands began to tremble at the memory of his last encounter with this justu; until his body froze. His sight darkened and he was plunged into that world once again.
"No!" Naruto yelled pulling away from Sakura as he watched Sasuke's head sag, the tension in his body gone. Kakashi was breathing heavily using that justu was hard on his body as he was not an Uchiha, it had taken quite a toll on him. He released the young Uchiha allowing the boy's body to slump lifelessly to the ground as he staggered backwards falling only to be caught by Yamato.
"Kakashi Senpai!" Yamato yelled catching the Jounin's limp body. Naruto rushed to Sasuke's side dragging his comrade into a sitting position.
"Sasuke?" Naruto questioned leaning his friend against him for support and shaking him slightly, but the Uchiha's face was blank, his eyes glassy like a doll. "What have you done to him?" Naruto yelled at his master tearing his eyes away from his friend's vacant expression. "Kakashi!" he yelled again before realising Kakashi too was unconscious, from the strain of using his eye. Naruto knew all too well the last time Kakashi had used his eye was to help rescue Garra; which resulted in his hospitalisation for some time. He relaxed again realising his anger was wasted on the present situation. Sakura rushed to Yamato's side.
"He's fine, just unconscious, although he will need a few days rest," She stated placing her hand over Kakashi's forehead. Yamoto exhaled relieved, "bring him over here," Sakura gestured walking over to the bed previously occupied by Naruto. Yamato picked up the unconscious jounin and carried him over to the indicated spot.
"Sakura!" Naruto yelled just as Yamato had gently laid his senpai onto the mattress. Sakura snapped he head around to face her comrade, her eyes raked over him and the unconscious Uchiha. For a second Naruto though he saw a glimmer of pity in her eyes but it was replaced with anger.
"What are we going to do?" Sakura asked directing the question more towards Yamato and ignoring Naruto's plea.
"Hmm," Yamato replied as he pulled a blanket over the sleeping Kakashi. "With Kakashi senpai unconscious and a war raging on around us I don't believe there is much we can do other than to sit tight and wait for him to recover," Naruto looked helplessly over towards his teammates. "I doubt we will be able to sneak past the enemy carrying two unconscious comrades," he added gesturing towards both Kakashi and Sasuke. Naruto relaxed a little knowing that Yamato was on his side and more importantly on Sasuke's. Yamato looked around the room sensing the tension between his two young accomplices. "Sakura," Yamato said suddenly breaking the silence and almost making the chunnin jump out of her skin but then quickly recovering her composure. "What are you going to do about this bore you caught?" Sakura at first was confused forgetting that hunger was the reason she had left Naruto and Sasuke alone in the first place.
"Oh um right," she replied looking around the cave trying to remember what had happened to the carcass. "Well," she began when she located the bore "we can't exactly cook it in here," She added looking around the cave a knowing that fire is not such a good idea inside. At the mention of food Naruto felt his stomach rumble. He felt like he hadn't eaten in days and realised he was probably right. "How am I supposed to cook it then?" Sakura asked walking over to the animal and inspecting it.
"Looks like there is no helping it we will have to cook it out side," Yamato suggested.
"But where behind enemy lines, we could be spotted from a mile away with a fire alone not to mention the smoke," Sakura moaned, defeated.
"Well you know what they say," Yamato added cheerily walking over to her and picking up the carcass.
"What's that?" Sakura asked dully, knowing it would be something no one has ever said.
"The closer to danger the further from harm," Yamato replied heading for the entrance to the cave.
"It's not like that's a rule," Sakura called after him "Yamato taijo!" she yelled after a few seconds chasing after him but just before she left she turned to her teammate, "Naruto don't go anywhere!" she said firmly waving her finger at him. Naruto pouted before replying.
"Like I would," even though that was exactly what he was planning, Sakura knew him all too well. Sakura paused before leaving, throwing Naruto a knowing look before running after their dinner. Naruto sighed and looked over his friend's lifeless body wondering what horrors he was facing at that moment, before being interrupted by his stomach growling again demanding to be filled.
He shifted Sasuke's weight so he could stand and gathered up his friend carrying him with much effort, due to the fact he was still recovering from his last fight and that Sasuke was almost as heavy as he was; over to the bed he previously occupied. Naruto pulled up the covers and closed the Uchiha's eyes not liking the dark emptiness that was reflected there. He rested his hand on Sasuke's forehead covering the hidden leafs symbol the one thing that Naruto believed made them equals. He sighed at distant memories that bubbled to the surface and smiled sadly at his friend before feeling a sudden pain behind his left eye. His hand flew to it as he squeezed it shut. Naruto could feel tears run down his cheek but when he pulled his hands away is saw not water but blood covering his hands. "Ahh," Naruto exclaimed doubling over and holding his eyes once more. "What is this," Naruto moaned when suddenly they snapped open. Naruto's eyes rolled around the room watching as black feathers began to fall from the sky slowly reducing the room to darkness. A feather floated close to Naruto's face it was so black it was shiny and in it he could see his reflection clearly but it was not what he was expecting. In Naruto's eye spun a very familiar mangekyou Sharingan.
"We can roast this up with a couple of mushrooms that I found and it will be a feast fit for well Naruto I guess," Yamato said to himself cheerfully realising no one was around. The jounin began to form hand signs focussing his chakra.
"Yamato Taijo!" Sakura's voice came from behind.
"Over here Sakura," Yamato called back as he finally clapped his hands together and slammed them on the ground causing wood to grow and form a roasting spit.
"Yamato Taijo?" Sakura questioned as she came into the clearing a couple hundred metres from the entrance to their hideout. "Do you really think this is necessary? Survival 101 taught us that a fire behind enemy lines was suicide," the young ninja stressed gesturing to the fire Yamato was trying to start.
"Normally that is true," Yamato stated chipping a kunai across his flint in an attempt to create a spark. "However didn't survival 101 also state that while trapped behind enemy lines and far from support keeping up your moral is the more important thing?"
"Yes well," Sakura replied thinking back to her first survival lesson with team seven and Kakashi sensei. It was strange to think of such innocent times and how much had changed. Back then a D rank mission was something she dreaded but now she would do anything to be able to complete task as simple as catching a cat or cleaning a river. She sighed out loud at the realisation that after so long the one thing she had wished for had come true. Team seven her family was together again but she never wanted it to be under these circumstances. To think that the twelve year old boy she had grown up with admire and even loved could be capable of such things. She felt something cool and wet slide down her cheek and was surprised to find that she was crying.
"Sakura are you listening?" Sakura suddenly realised that the jounin was still in the middle of his explanation.
"Um yeh I mean yes," Sakura replied quickly wiping away her tears and moving over to where Yamato was still struggling to light the fire.
"I was saying that Naruto has been through a lot lately and it's obvious that he feels somewhat responsible for this war and what has happened to Sasuke," Yamato began as Sakura knelt down beside him "a warm hearty meal can do wonders for a man's outlook," Yamato added smiling. Sakura realised what he was getting at and realised it had been a while since she had, had a warm meal. She smiled back at the Jounin before snatching the flint and kunai from his hands.
"If we are going to do this I better look after the cooking otherwise we could be here all night," Sakura replied striking the flint and sparking a fire first go.
"I guess you're right," Yamato replied laughing.
"You two seem to be awfully happy while your comrades are dying," both Yamato and Sakura froze realising they had stupidly let their guard down both ninja spun on the spot to face the new threat.
"So the rat has come out of hiding," Yamato called standing up as Sakura followed suit.
"Yamato, who is that?" Sakura whispered to the jounin as she took in the sound ninja's appearance.
"Yes although his appearance has changed he is still the same Kabuto who betrayed the leaf," Yamato replied.
"Oh I wouldn't say that," Kabuto replied over hearing their conversation. "I am far more powerful then I have ever been!" He yelled spreading his arms wide.
"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be busy doing Madras Bidding?" Yamato jibed glaring at the traitorous medical-nin.
"You think he is the master mind behind this plan?" Kabuto replied smugly, glaring back at the jounin.
"I wouldn't say master mind, more like fool," Yamato spat.
"Oh really I think I know someone who would disagree with you there," Kabuto replied as he began to weave some hand signs. Yamato followed suit weaving signs as Sakura readied a kunai.
"Sakura when you can I want you to get back to that cave and check on Naruto this could well just be a distraction," Yamato whispered to the young ninja. Sakura nodded in return grounding herself ready to run when she had the chance. "Here I go!" Yamato warned. "Wood style-"
"Wood style-" (an/ I swear I can't find anywhere the name of this guys justu's so yeh that's the best I got)
"But that's impossible," Yamato spat in shock "the only other person that can do this justu is..."Yamato added eyes wide with confusion.
"The first Hokage," Sakura whispered slowly her eyes glued to the figure that stood before them as Kabuto's wicked laughter filled the air.
The room began to swirl as black feathers fell from nowhere "what's happening?" Naruto thought as he watched the light be consumed by darkness. "Naruto!" a voice called, the young ninja snapped his head up surprised, to find familiar face staring back at him.
"Your, but what?" was all Naruto could utter before doubling over; his eye felt like it was on fire.
"Yes I am, this is gen-justu," the figure began. "Naruto here," they added grabbing Naruto's shoulder and placing a hand on the unconscious Uchiha's forehead. Naruto's eye's fluttered open the pain from his eye gone he looked around unsure of where he was although he had an idea.
"Where are we?" Naruto asked not sure he wanted to hear the answer.
"We're in his mind."
"Ew we're in Sasuke's brain," Naruto replied recoiling his arms as if he had received an electric shock.
"Not physically."
"Oh," Naruto replied relaxing, "I knew that."
"Follow me we have to find Sasuke."
"So where is he," Naruto asked following the caped figure through a series of twisting corridors.
"Trapped," the figure replied.
"Trapped where?" Naruto asked again.
"That's why we're here to find him, and bring him back."
"Ah," Naruto replied understanding...somewhat.
"This way," the figure urged as they turned down yet another dark corridor. Naruto followed the dark figure through the twists and turns of the maze like structure that was Sasuke's mind.
"How do you know where to go?" Naruto asked after some time.
"Nobody knows Sasuke better than I do," they replied turning to smile at the young ninja.
"hmm," was all Naruto could reply. The pair where silent for some time as they stealthily navigated their way through the young Uchiha's mind, "God this place goes on forever," Naruto commented sighing loudly.
"Sasuke's mind is complex, it has been twisted by a sinister force."
"What do you mean?" Naruto replied confused.
"You will soon find out, we are here," the figure replied gesturing for Naruto to follow. As he turned the corner he found himself in a large room. In the middle surrounded by mist was an iron cage. Its bars were twisted and sharp sticking out at irregular angles.
"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled when he recognised the shadowed figure in the centre of the cage.
"Naruto," his accomplice yelled as the young ninja ran over to the cage and grabbing the bars flinching as he touched them, feeling a cold chill run through his body.
"Ahh!" Naruto exclaimed stepping back a few paces. He looked back to the shadowy figure and through the darkness he could see two red eyes staring at him.
"What are you doing here," Sasuke demanded glaring. Naruto gapped didn't he need rescuing wasn't this why he was here? "Itachi," He added as Naruto's accomplice stepped forward.
"I'm here to get rid of you," Itachi replied calmly. Sasuke laughed in return, but it didn't sound like him it sounded...evil.
"Because you did a great job with that the first time," He replied smiling. Itachi glared and in an instant he was inside the cage and holding Sasuke off the floor by the throat.
"What have you done with my brother?" Itachi demanded. Sasuke's body remained limp and the smile didn't leave his face.
"What have I done? You were the one who created me," Sasuke or whoever he was replied. Naruto was having a hard time keeping up.
"What's going on? If that not Sasuke who is it?"
"This is the shadow that has consumed him," Itachi replied.
"Please, at least tell him the whole story," Sasuke or the shadow replied. Itachi glared in return squeezing his brother's neck tighter.
"What do you mean, how can you not be Sasuke? What have you done?" Naruto yelled grabbing the bars of the cage once again and shaking them ignoring the sharp coldness.
"But I am Sasuke; just a part of him he has repressed for so long isn't that right ni-chan?" The shadow replied his head rolling to face Naruto. "All those repressed feelings of jealousy, hate, abandonment, despair, desire, all those made me such a damaged soul," the shadow added rolling his head back to face Itachi smiling.
"You lie this is Madara's doing, It was never suppose to be this way for him!" Itachi replied angrily.
"He may have raised me but you were the one that started this all, it's all your fault," the shadow replied smugly.
"I know that's why I'm here now," Itachi replied a glimmer of determination in his eye. The Shadow flinched as Itachi raised his free hand and placed in on Sasuke's forehead.
"NO!" The Shadow screamed in pain a noise that sounded foreign coming from Sasuke's lips.
"Mangekou Sharingan," Itachi said as he activated his powerful eyes pulling the struggling figure up as to catch his gaze. Naruto watched as a frown creased the brow of the powerful shinobi and he saw the Uchiha's hand clench and pull upwards as if pulling something of his comrade's forehead. He flinched when he hear Sasuke's blood curdling scream.
"Stop it," Naruto yelled shaking the bars harder "Your hurting him," He added concerned.
"It's the only way Naruto-kun; Sasuke must endure," Itachi replied a slight hint of sadness or maybe guilt in his voice. Naruto's grip on the bars loosened and he relaxed slightly.
"Ni-chan please!" Sasuke screamed suddenly one of his hands gripped Itachi's "I just want to be with Ha-ha and Chi-chi," He continued in a strained voice. (AN/I thought this was more appropriate then Okasan and Otosan because they mean mother and father where ha-ha and Chi-chi mean mummy and daddy thought it was cutter more childish anyway...)
"Not yet you have to fix what you have done only then can you be forgiven," Itachi replied grimly as he continued to pull at the invisible force with much effort. The shadow or Sasuke, Naruto wasn't sure anymore continued to struggle as Itachi's hand pulled further and further away from Sasuke's head. Naruto didn't get what was happening as far as he could see Itachi was just grabbing at thin air but then he would blink and for a split second he saw it. He faltered slightly in shock at what he had seen or what he thought he had seen. Itachi had it, a black fog with nasty red eyes it was all over the young Uchiha clinging to him tearing at his skin, Naruto rubbed his eyes but again saw nothing. Itachi's eyes grew wide and with one final yank of the hand Sasuke screamed before falling limp and silent. Itachi dropped his unconscious brother turning his attention to the invisible present he held in his hands. The older Uchiha threw the invisible force against the cage shattering the bars. Naruto watched the bars bend and deform before him; releasing his grip he rushed towards his fallen friend. "Don't let it close Naruto," Itachi warned dropping into a ready fighting stance.
"Let what close," Naruto wondered out loud looking around nervously as he pulled Sasuke into a more comfortable position.
"This," Itachi replied straightening up "Amaterastu," He yelled as black flames appeared burning bright and lighting up the dim room revealing the threat. A dark fog appeared its eyes dark and penetrating as it wavered in and out of visibility.
"What is that?" Naruto asked his eyes growing wide with understanding as he looked from the shadow to the unconscious Sasuke.
"It's the result of Madera's will after he twisted and manipulated my brother's mind," Itachi replied angrily not taking his eyes off the floating mass. Naruto looked up watching Itachi as he edged towards the fog. The light from the black flames danced across the elder Uchiha's face masking his expression. "When I... murdered our clan I shattered him, that is how he got in that was the weakness he needed," Itachi continued gesturing to the floating mass. Naruto's eye's were glued to the floating cloud. This was the work of him, Madera he was the cause of all of this.
"We have to destroy it!" Naruto yelled Standing up.
"Naruto?" Itachi replied surprised by his sudden outburst.
"Sasuke is my brother to and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get him back," Naruto replied tightening his head band and walking over to Itachi. The older Uchiha nodded his understanding amazed how the youth could have such faith with all that his brother had done. Naruto smiled widey at the man and was about to continue when an eerie voice broke the silence.
"How touching," The voice began, Naruto and Itachi's head snapped towards the sound realising it was coming from the shadow.
"What," Naruto gasped eye wide with confusion. Both ninja's watched as the shadow grew and changed until it resembled a very familiar form.
AN: Confused yet? Haha, there was a serious lack of Sasuke in this chapter, ew I'm becoming Kishimoto! Well because of my prolonged absence (totally not my fault,) there was a nice lengthyish chapter for you.
