Chapter Three: Being a Team -Edward Thomas
"The simple lack of her is more to me than others' presence."
The two brothers were able to reach the cave where Kabuto hides himself. The medic smiled menacingly, "I wasn't supposed to obtain my part of the deal before the conclusion of this war. But I suppose that guy won't be angry with me since the 'specimen' made it's way here on it's own." he laughed just like how Orochimaru did which makes Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed in disgust.
"Kabuto, I may need to put a halt to your technique." Itachi said calmly as he took few steps towards the silver-haired.
Kabuto raised one eyebrow "Ku..ku..ku.. Itachi-san, not because you are wise enough to know how to block your summoner's control, could you also release this jutsu. Even though you kill me, the people that I had summoned will still remain, doing the things I had programmed them to do."
The older Uchiha smirked, "Perhaps, but I do possess something more than mere intelligence."
Kabuto frown, Itachi wouldn't know how to dispel this jutsu right? That's impossible. He looked towards Sasuke and back to Itachi. There are two sharingan wielders on the cave with him; even Orochimaru was powerless against one of them. Now Kabuto will have to fight two, but then again, he had already surpassed Orochimaru a long time ago. A plan crossed his mind. He need to seal Itachi and knock the younger brother unconscious, after all he needed his specimen to be healthy and alive. The medic inhaled deeply, performs some hand signs and started an attack.
Two huge snakes appeared and attacked the brothers who gracefully leapt out of harm on the same time. An unknown shinobi appeared in the clearing and landed a punch on Sasuke who dissolved in a pool of snakes. Sasuke looked at his attacker closely, just like his brother, his enemy was a dead shinobi brought back to life because of the endo tensei. When he was still at Sound under the tutelage of the snake sanin, he was able to learn about the basics of this technique but hasn't really tried it. Even with his hatred during those times, he couldn't bring himself to sacrifice an innocent person. Shocked emerald orbs flash on his mind's eye. Sakura, he recalled during his darkest days that he almost killed her, after those encounters he was sure that he would regret killing her. He closed his eyes and cursed. He let himself be consumed by darkness again, that he wasn't thinking who the person he is fighting was. It's Sakura for crying out loud. She is the girl he vowed to protect when they were young, she and Naruto, his precious people. But now, she's dead because of him and Naruto wouldn't probably forgive him for that. Ever. The realization pained him so much. The unknown shinobi throw a kunai with explosion tag at the younger Uchiha and he barely escaped the explosion. He berated himself. He shouldn't be sentimental now. It was his fault, yes, but brooding would not bring back the things that were lost. For the time being, he needed to help his brother on whatever he is planning.
He glanced towards his brother who was fighting against Kabuto. The medic had transformed in an entity he hadn't seen before. He heard him saying that he had already surpassed Orochimaru because he had already achieve the sage mode that even the snake himself failed to achieve.
The unknown shinobi kicked Sasuke's upper arm but he was able to catch his leg and run a chidori on his entire physique. He then throw the shinobi towards the opposite side of the cave as his gaze lingered to the fallen summon for a fraction of second knowing that he'll recover once more after a few minutes or so. He then returns his gaze towards his brother and Kabuto. The latter was standing pretty still with eyes staring straight, unseeing. Sasuke surmised that his brother already captured him in a genjutsu.
The younger Uchiha had teleported himself beside his brother. "What's happening to him?" he asked without leaving his gaze towards the unsuspected snake who become the victim of a crow.
"His under my genjutsu, and whatever he does, he can't go out of it because he'll just continue to relieve the same mistake he did before he foolishly let himself to fall for my technique. It is like a never ending loop." Itachi explained while walking towards Kabuto to tap his shoulders. "He might not be dead for now, but surely he won't continue surviving in this world for too long."
Itachi started doing hand seals when Sasuke spoke, "What are you doing?" he asked bitterly.
Itachi frowned, surely his brother won't want him to remain in this world. His already dead and he doesn't have other business in the world of the living. The older brother is sure that Naruto will fill the spot he will leave behind for Sasuke. But then he remembered the cryptic things that happened earlier, the look of regret on his brother's eyes and the sudden flare of anger in the kyuubi's chackra. Itachi didn't know what had really happen, but he was sure that it wasn't time to leave just yet. He needs to fix something first.
"Itachi..."
Itachi tilted his lips slightly upwards to form a small smile, "I'm going to release the jutsu ototou, but don't worry, I'm not going back to that world yet." With that he finished the hand signs needed to release the endo tensei. After a few seconds they saw the unknown shinobi being glazed by a bright light and slowly withering until his existence were no more.
Itachi eyed his brother levelly. "I know what you are feeling right now, but whatever I say would not change anything. But you deserve the truth Sasuke. The things both Danzo and Tobi told you were the truth. I would show you everything that had happened before because I believe my words aren't enough." His eyes bleed red once more and the tomoes of the sharingan rotated lazily on his eye. In an instant Sasuke found himself in the past relieving Itachi's memories. He had seen how it was the only way to protect the lives of the majority. And even in the end, his parents had acknowledged that it was the only way to end the Uchiha's wrong deeds. He had seen his brother cried as he executes his mission. Sasuke's heart constricted painfully. He had killed this man who had done nothing but to love him and the village above everything else. Sakura flashed in his mind's eye once more. Damn. What is with him and killing the people who loved him the most? Some part of him one to shout at Itachi and blame him for killing their clan, telling him that he should not listen to Danzo and choose to help their clan instead. But then who was he to say that. Both he and Itachi killed the people who love them and trusted them the most. Actually Itachi was better because he had a justification, a valid reason why he ended up killing their parents and the other clan members who looked up to him because he is the clan's heir, but in Sasuke's case, he didn't have any valid reason on the killings he did. Killing Itachi and Sakura was just brought by his hatred. The darkness that had overwhelmed him for so long was now suffocating him. His still angry and wanted revenge to the last two elders but then he realize, what if continuing in this path would just make his life even worst. Maybe his former team was right, revenge will never give you anything. He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was back at the cave beside his brother. He took a deep breath and said, "Let's stop this war."
Itachi was surprised to hear it from his brother but he smiled nonetheless, "Of course."
XxxxxX
Naruto's resolve was untainted. Even though Sakura had perished he refused to just sulk. It is not because he didn't care for her that much, but because he can't let the majority of the shinobi world who is leaning on him down. His gaze roamed around the clearing. The shinobi around him isn't wearing the hitai-ate from the village they are in. Gaara told them to wear the head gear containing the symbol of the shinobi alliance, to remind everyone of them that they are fighting as one, no differences or whatever. They are all together as a team. Naruto smiled sadly, he remembered his team seven, or what is left of it. Their lone kunoichi was killed by his so called best friend. He closed his fist dangerously sinking his nails on his palm. He remembered the prophecy that the sage frog had told him. He is to face a boy with abilities that had to do with his eye. He knew then that it was pertaining to Sasuke, but during those times he told himself that he won't actually hurt him seriously, maybe just bit the crap out of him but nothing really fatal. Then he imagine that after their epic fight a certain rosette will come running towards them, yelling at them saying how foolish they both are then after that she will encircle them in a long group hug. He also envisioned her healing him, them the teme, who would scowl at him while he teases him none stop. But those dreams won't happen anymore. He sighed, he shouldn't be thinking of these things at the moment, there are so many things he needed to do, other people he needed to protect.
A scream.
Naruto looked towards that location and swiftly enveloped his chackra around Tenten who was almost hit by an incoming attack from an endo tensei summon. The chackra acted as a shield and protected the brunette from harm. She looked towards Naruto and nodded, a sign of gratitude towards the jinjuuriki. The number of their enemies keeps on increasing. He wondered how many Zetsu clones had been cultured by that mask man who happened to be Obito, all along. He wondered how much trauma it causes his sensei. Fighting someone really close to you on the different side of the board is a painful reality. Hell, the emotional and psychological trauma it is causing him was enough to waver someone's soul, but he knew that his sensei was strong. He won't be the famous 'Copy-nin' for nothing. Then again, the blond realize that each one of them here had their own problems that they should set aside temporarily because as of the moment, the war is their priority.
"What the hell?" he heard one of the endo tensei summon said. He was now glowing brightly while dissolving into bits. Naruto looked around him and saw the other summons undergone the same change as well. He had no idea what was happening but the blond was sure that this is something that favors their side. He let himself grin with anticipation.
XxxxxX
The kages who are fighting the infamous Uchiha Madara was almost on their limit. Panting rapidly, Tsunade gathered chackra on her fist and attacked the life-long rival of her grandfather. The Uchiha accepted the attack as if she just poked him lightly at his abdomen.
"That was a great punch you had their sweetie." he said sarcastically as he grab Tsunade's wrist and throw her several feet away. The Godaime spat a bloodied saliva on the ground, damn, she had a broken rib, or maybe two, she wasn't sure because she can't waste any chackra just to examine herself.
"Shit." the older man said. He looked at his hand which is now radiating with whitish light. At first he thought it was due to the assault of the 5th Hokage but then he realize it was something else, "Had anything happen to the summoner?" he wondered aloud although none of his opponents ever heard it. He shrugged and performs some hand seals and in an instant the sudden glow of his body was stopped. Of course he was Uchiha Madara, he knew how to keep himself alive even though the summoner of the endo tensei had intentionally or forced to release his technique. He wondered why would that person willingly end this wonderful technique, although in some point, he somewhat consider this as petty technique to be used to revive him. Oh well, Obito might had a good explanation to this. He looked at the beaten kages in front of him. "I should be leaving you people for now." the man disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Tsunade coughed hard again and saw this as an opportunity. She bit her thumb to draw some blood out, do some hand seals and tap her hand on the ground. A small slug appeared in front of her and it tilted it's head sideways in greeting. "Tsunade-hime, you want me to heal your wounds?"
The woman who was now on prone position pushed her arms upwards and tried to sit in an Indian style position, but she failed. The slug eyed her full of concern but the hokage just role to her side to lie on her back and smiled knowingly to the slug. "No, save it for them," she pointed at the other kages who are scattered at the clearing, unconscious but still alive, "They need it more than I do." The slug nodded in understanding and it started to move towards the first unconscious kage it could reach.
XxxxxX
Naruto was shocked to see Madara materialize in front of them. He gritted his teeth hard, "What are you doing here? What happened to the others who are fighting you?!"
Madara chuckled evilly, "Well let's say they aren't capable of engaging in any brawl of some sorts anymore." He looked at Obito, "By the way may I ask why you used such mediocre technique in reviving me. Where is Nagato? And why did you release the technique when we aren't quite finishing yet."
Obito's brow almost met on his forehead with annoyance, "Nagato betrayed Akatsuki, and I'm not the summoner of this stupid technique. I don't know what the hell happen with Sasori's spy and why he released the technique without even informing me." He throws the huge fan like weapon towards Madara. The other Uchiha caught it gracefully. "I'm returning that back to you since it was actually your's to begin with."
Kakashi watched the exchange of the two, and he inferred quickly that they knew each other for a very long time. And kami, realization hit him, Madara had used Obito as his pawn in this one huge chess game. The only question was, why? Kakashi only realize that he had said his thoughts aloud when Obito locked his gaze on him. "Why you asked? Why? Damn it Kakashi you should know why!" Obito's last words was almost a scream, he then assaulted Kakashi with sets of punches and kicks. The copy nin was able to dodge most of the attacks.
Madara looked at the pair then to Naruto, "So you are the jinjuuriki of the kyuubi," then he eyed killer Bee, "And the Hachibi" he closed his eyes and glance back towards his shoulder where the juubi was placed. "Obito had summoned the beast without fully extracting the bijuus from both of you. My, my, his being hasty now is he?" he smiled like a maniac "Well I'll do the things he had stupidly failed to do." With that said, he used the fan-like weapon to attack the two jinjuuriki. Strong wind was produce from wielding the weapon. The wind created lacerations within their skin. Luckily for both of them, they had leapt away in time from the direct spot the attack was pointed at, causing only minor injuries on their physique.
Naruto called a kage bunshin to help him in creating a perfect rasengan. When the bluish ball of chackra was fluidly created, he run towards Madara's location. The attack created a gaping hole on Madara's left lower quadrant. Naruto then kicked Madara sideways which made him flew towards a large boulder. The impact created cracks on the huge stone, but because the elder Uchiha is no longer an alive human being, the pain seems to be not affecting him and the hole that was created by the blond's attack was slowly knitting back together in it's own accord. Madara stood up and charged towards the blond and continuously attacking him with different taijutsu. Naruto tried to dodge every punch and kick thrown towards him but the old man seems to be faster and wiser with such type of combat. The blond find it somewhat weird because he thought, that since he was an Uchiha he would probably know genjutsus only, but then again, this was Uchiha Madara, one of the founding father of Konoha. Surely it is safe to assume that he knew a handful of ninjutsus, genjutsus and even taijutsus. The man even manages to linger on the world of the living when the other dead persons who were summoned had already passed away. A plan formulated on his head, he need to seal this man just like the other group of 'undead' that they had sealed away earlier. Only problem is how could he do it. How can he outsmart the infamous Uchiha Madara?
XxxxxX
Katsuyo had already finished healing the last fallen kage. Gaara looked at the slug and uttered a word of gratitude. The slug nodded and crawled towards Tsunade, "It is your turn now my lady." and with that the slug started infusing chackra towards the Gondaime to heal her wounds. After fixing the major injuries, Tsunade hold the slug to stop it from healing her further. "I'm fine now, we need to reserve this chackra for the others. I know you are doing the healing but the chackra is still mine and mind you, my chackra reserves aren't as bulky as those of a jinjuuriki."
The slug nodded in understanding and without further ado, it had disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
XxxxxX
Naruto's senses had improved because of his trainings but maybe the elder Uchiha's movements are just faster than him. Madara had appeared behind the unsuspected Naruto, kunai at hand, and was targeting towards the carotid artery of the blond but before he could inflict any damage a sudden blur appeared between them, kicking the blond away and blocking the offensive kunai Madara was using. Naruto yelped in surprised. He turned towards the location of Madara and his 'savior.' His eyes widen when he realize who the sudden presence was.
"An Uchiha? Very interesting. One with the Eternal Mangekyou as well I suppose?" the elder Uchiha said as he interestedly eyed the intruder.
"Hn."
"Naruto-kun are you okay?" Naruto instantly looked towards the location of the voice. Uchiha Itachi revealed himself with a concern look on his face. Tobi or Obito had told them about the truth of the Uchiha massacre. And because of that knowledge he would immediately consider Itachi as an ally but the younger brother who is attacking Madara is, for naruto's opinion, someone who can't be trusted for the moment. So even Itachi is a loyal Konoha shinobi, the mere fact that he was already dead and appeared together with Sasuke speaks volumes. Maybe he is, at this moment not the loyal shinobi he once was. So he instinctively took few steps away from Itachi as he nodded as if saying, yes I'm okay so please stay away from me.
Itachi got his hidden message and nodded as well. He knew why Naruto would look so worry about him. But he couldn't figure out why would the blond give some hateful glares towards his younger brother. When he was still alive, he was able to talk with Naruto, and during those times the blond told him that he'll do everything to make Sasuke go back to Konoha. But now, the look on his eyes is saying otherwise. What did happen between them?
"That is the boy who I fought with." killer bee said with his usual rapping tone. "I thought his one of them, why is he against them now yoh?"
Obito stopped attacking Kakashi to look at Sasuke. The copy nin stared at his former student as well.
"Sasuke what the hell are you doing?" Obito bit out in disgust. Is this foolish kid actually playing against them now? Sasuke was just a pawn to him, a pawn to ensure success on Madara's and his plan. But if this pawn was used by his enemies, it'll not be fun at all.
Because even a damn pawn can put a king in check or maybe put it in a stale mate with the help of another piece.
The younger Uchiha looked at him for a fraction of second then back to his opponent, "You lied about some parts."
Obito then looked at Itachi. The man realized that talking with Itachi would straighten Sasuke's mind. He gritted his teeth. His scared face looks even more menacing than ever. He teleported himself above the statue. Madara did the same.
"Kakashi, you asked me why I am doing this? I'm doing this to bring her back." he run his fingers on the statue. "With the help of the juubi we," he looked at the elder Uchiha then back to Kakashi, "Could put the entire world in an infinite Tsukiyomi. It will create a world that each one of us desire."
"Obito, it won't be real. Rin might be there in that world but that woman that you'll see there is not the Rin that we know. It is just a lie."
Obito's eye turn into dangerous slits, "Baka, this is all your fault! If you hadn't killed her... She..."
Naruto's gaze lingered to Sasuke then he clenched his fist tightly as his nails dig into his palm drawing some blood out. Itachi noticed this then he looked around. He hadn't seen any flash of pink across the clearing. He then looked at his brother who's head was bowed down making his face invincible to the eye. He knew that this was the manneriam of Sasuke when his ashamed of something. Then it hit Itachi like a lightning bolt. Did his brother? Damn Sasuke what the hell did you do?
"I need to do it..." he lingered a fraction towards his traitorous former student then back to Obito "It is not like I just killed her out of a whim. I need to protect the village and Rin as well. If they had capture her, they will torture her and use her against her will."
"But you and Minato could have saved her!"
"You don't understand..."
"Shut up!" Obito do some hand seals then tap the statue. A bright light cover the entire statue and after a minute, the statue was brought back to life. "Please welcome the juubi! I know that both the Hachibi and the kyuubi are here but I don't think that you are enough to defeat our ultimate weapon." he laughed menacingly. "Prepare to die!"
The juubi started moving and both Madara and Obito moved away from it. The monster started attacking the group of ninjas around it as it roars loudly.
Killer Bee use his chackra ball to hit the juubi the same time as Naruto did his but the attack was just absorb by the beast.
Kakashi exposed his sharingan eye and said, "I'll remove the juubi permanently," but even before he could use his technique, Obito appeared infront of him and to grab his right shoulder "I won't let you do that." And in a flash, both men disappeared.
Naruto exclaimed worriedly "Kakashi-sensei!"
"Obito brought them both to that dimension which his eye technique created." Itachi said. He looked at Naruto softly "Kakashi-San can also use that technique and I don't have any doubts that he'll be able to return here after he defeated Obito."
Naruto nodded then looked suspiciously at the Uchiha, "Who's side are you anyway?"
"My brother and I are here to help you." with that said, Sasuke suddenly appeared beside Itachi.
Naruto eyed the new comer with disgust and contempt palpable on his gaze, "Don't you think it's a little bit too late for that teme?"
"I know I'm the last person that you wanted to join forces with at the moment, but right now you need all the people you can gather to defeat that thing" Sasuke pointed at the juubi.
The blond clenched his teeth, "ironic how those words come out from the mouth of someone who had cut all his bonds just because of his stupid thirst of vengeance." he inclined his head towards Itachi, "And how was that going by the way? Did it give you satisfaction, like the ones you said before? No, isn't it? You've just killed the wrong person... And you've keep doing it!"
Sasuke's irises bleed red as the distinct symbols of his eternal Mangekyou sharingan resurface. His older brother tap his shoulder to calm him down, he did, but with his sharingan still in place.
"Tst. It can be help; just don't be a burden to me teme!"
"Hn. I should be the one saying that dobe."
/End chapter 3
"We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools." -Martin Luther King