Fast Forward
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto.
Chapter Six
Naruto's POV:
While traveling on Gamabunta, we leapt over miles and miles of forest as we went deeper into the country of Cloud. He jumped so fast that lakes and trees passed by like blurs of blue and green. The wind blew harshly on our faces but Sasuke and I kept a firm grip on the Toad King as we made yet another stomach lurching descent from the air.
"Gamabunta, why couldn't Kenji and Satoshi come along?" I asked, feeling guilty for leaving them like that.
"You'll find out soon enough Naruto," he answered with a grunt.
I glanced over to Sasuke next to me and shared a suspicious look but didn't say anything. The Uchiha had an impassive expression on his features yet I could detect a cautious glint in his black eyes.
'How could it be that we're both alive?' I thought, frowning as I tried to think up of all the possibilities. Sasuke was silent in the matter but it gave me a bad feeling. Hopefully when we meet my future self he can explain somehow.
'There has to be a good reason!' I nodded to myself reassuringly. I wouldn't leave poor Hinata-chan waiting like that so it had to be something big. Sasuke and I will tell everything we know to my future self and everything will finally be set right. Maybe he'll even know where the future Sasuke is…
"We're nearly there." Gamabunta said seriously as he made another leap.
My heart pounded in excitement but I took a deep breath to calm myself. 'Soon…' I thought, 'Soon we'll have our answers…'
When Gamabunta hit the grassy floor he made no move to jump again. I froze, still holding him in a vice grip as he tilted his massive head to the side, a clear indication to get off.
"We're here." He said as Sasuke and I jumped off to stand beside him.
The Toad Boss's black eyes met mine silently with an intent expression.
"This is as far as I will take you. Naruto, there is a river a mile ahead. Travel upwards following the river northbound till you reach a large weeping willow and don't stop until you are directly beneath the tree. When you are, jump into the river and swim until you reach the bottom. There you will find a hidden trap door that will lead into the base."
I blinked, trying to remember the directions hastily, "Wh- What kind of tree again?!"
"Dobe, forget it. I've memorized it already." Sasuke replied, rolling his eyes.
"Shut up, teme!" I retorted defensively.
"Why are you so wary of the future Naruto finding out you helped us?" Sasuke questioned with a scowl, crossing his arms.
"I don't need to answer any of your questions." Gamabunta responded with a cold edge. "Naruto… be careful."
I nodded in thanks to the toad as he disappeared in a great wisp of white smoke.
Sasuke turned to me, "Let's go, Naruto."
"Right," I agreed as we started off in the direction Gamabunta told us to.
Shikamaru's POV:
From branch to branch we made our way through the dense forest in a line: Pakkun, Kakashi, Sakura, me, and lastly, Neji. We hadn't taken a single break in our rigorous pace through the thick trees of Cloud Country. I stopped my movement entirely as Kakashi's hand rose from ahead to signify a halt.
We all stopped on the same branch as Pakkun turned around to face us. "Their scents split up from here," he paused and took another sniff, "Sasuke and Naruto go north from here and Kenji and Satoshi are slightly northeast."
"Why would they separate?" Sakura asked with a worried edge to her tone.
"Who knows?" I shrugged lightly. "It's best right now to track down Sasuke and Naruto. They're the ones we need to look out for. My bet is that they split up because they finally found what they were searching for." I said intently.
"I agree, Nara." Neji supplied beside me with a narrowed look in white activated Buykagan eyes.
"Time for a plan then," Kakashi said as we turned our attention to the Copy Ninja, "Sakura and I will trail after Sasuke and Naruto… Shikamaru and Neji will collect Kenji and Satoshi and make sure they get back to Konoha safely."
"Are you sure?" I replied, uneasy.
'They might have actually found Sasuke. It's only a 12 chance they did but still… it's something to put into consideration.' I stared over at Sakura who wore a determined, resolute disposition on her face and sighed.
'Nothing I say will probably make a difference anyway. This is a Team 7 thing.' I thought knowingly, scratching the back of my head.
"Fine, I promised Hinata-sama, regardless." Neji responded firmly, inclining his head towards Kakashi.
"Take care of Satoshi-chan for me." Sakura said smiling at us.
"No need to ask, they are my team after all." He answered back to the medic, nodding.
"Right, no point in wasting any more time!" Sakura said bracingly and turned to her ex-sensei, "Let's go."
"Sayanora." Kakashi said with a wave as they both ran off to the north, following the nin-dog in front of them.
Neji and I started running as we took a slant and headed east. After a half hour, he turned to me, "I see the boys, they're only a mile ahead now." He said, white eyes searching even further through the trees. "They appear unharmed…"
"Okay," I replied, taking up a faster pace as we entered a clearing.
There, leaning up against a tree was both a sleeping Kenji and Satoshi. Neji stepped forward, scanning for injuries but finding nothing. I noted the small orange toad that was currently sitting on Kenji's lap uncomfortably, looking ready to pee his tiny pants.
"W- Who are… you?!" the toad squeaked.
'Naruto's no doubt.' I thought, arching a brow at the small amphibian. 'I guess my assumption was correct after all. Kenji and Satoshi were left behind by force.' That wasn't too surprising, considering it was Naruto and Sasuke after all.
"That is no matter to you. These boys are my students." Neji answered calmly, grabbing Kenji's limp arm as the toad hurriedly jumped off.
"Don't worry, we're Naruto's friends," The toad's eyes widened in absolute horror at my words, its hind legs trembling.
"S- Sorry! I'll take my leave now!" the toad disappeared in a puff of white smoke.
Neji and I gave each other a narrowed, questioning look at the toad's behavior. 'The toads were always odd but…' It was strange for him to act that way towards us.
I took Satoshi's arm as Neji and I hoisted them both over our shoulders. We jumped up back to the branches of the tree above us, turning back to the direction from where we came. I frowned, not liking to leave while there were so many problems that Kakashi and Sakura could get into because of Naruto and Sasuke.
'Kakashi's the captain of this mission, I have to follow his orders.' I thought, shifting Satoshi's dead weight.
"Let's get back, then." Neji said as I sighed but followed the fellow ANBU captain as we made our way home.
'I just hope nothing too troublesome happens.' Damn… I need a cigarette.
Sasuke's POV:
"This is it, right teme?" Naruto asked, pointing at the weeping willow a few feet away from us.
"Aa."
I stared down at the coursing river below us and frowned. 'That toad Gamabunta had better been telling us the truth…' It annoyed me. What in the hell would future Naruto be doing in such a secretive base? Why would he let everyone believe he's been dead for the past decade?
'It makes no sense…' Not to mention, where is my own future self?
"Yosh!" Naruto exclaimed loudly, jumping in the river with a big splash.
I glared at the water but dived in as well, following Naruto swimming in front of me. I frowned at the icy water hitting my skin like needles. I pushed against the strong current until the waters grew darker, a sign that we had reached the bottom.
Naruto grinned at me, 'Here!' I made the word out that sounded as bubbles escaped from the dobe's mouth. I looked down, noticing the lever underneath the slimy moss. We both grabbed onto it tightly and with a nod at each other, pulled hard.
It didn't budge. I scowled, my air decreasing rapidly in my lungs as Naruto sent me a panicked, wide eyed look. 'I'm… losing… air!!' he yelled, garbled as he waved his arms frantically.
I glared, 'You… are… wasting… air!' I replied, about to add an insult but my throat closed as I expanded oxygen.
We both grabbed onto the lever with our utmost force and pulled with a sudden second wind. I swear I could see black dots hovering over my vision as the lever snapped free. We bumped into each other as we both tried to squeeze through the small hole at the same time, desperate for air.
I took as deep breath but then we yelled in surprise as we actually kept falling, the small hole closing instantly as soon as we exited through it. We finally slammed into the hard cement floor as I groaned, kicking Naruto who landed half on top of me.
"Get off." I remarked angrily, still taking in air greedily.
"We almost died!" he shook his head as he tore off his soaked orange jacket and threw it away. He took hold of his black shirt and squeezed the water out as I did the same to mine. "Where are we?" he asked impatiently, looking around the dark hallway.
"How the hell would I know? Ask your future self." I stood, already feeling my temper rise as I shook off as much water as I could.
We started walking down the dreary hall, passing many rooms until we heard voices. Naruto turned to me and whispered, "What do we do?"
I frowned, contemplating this. 'Nothing bad could happen… right? It is Naruto, after all. But still, we don't know the circumstances on how he got here…' my mind replayed Gamabunta's warning as I hesitated briefly.
"Let's not make ourselves known until we find you." I said decidedly, taking a peek down the hall as I saw the shadows on the wall of approaching men, talking loudly.
"Come here!" Naruto said lowly, gripping my wrist as he pulled us into the room in back of him.
The blonde closed the door after me as I stilled, wondering if they had already sensed us here. 'Would that be a bad or a good thing?' Maybe Naruto didn't want anyone to find him… that could be why he's been in hiding for so long…
I sighed; inwardly relieved as I heard the footsteps vanish into another hall. Naruto grinned next to me. The room was lit only by two bare light bulbs, even darker than the hallway we were just in. My eyes trailed over to the shadows, unnerved as a chill ran down my spine.
Two pairs of red gleaming eyes stared right back at us.
"What's this, Sasuke-teme? A joke?" a dark voice asked, dripping in malice.
I nudged Naruto, stricken as we both wordlessly flattened ourselves against the wall behind us. They stepped through the shadows, crimson gazes never once leaving us.
A man around his late twenties first came slowly into view. He was tall, over six feet as the black robes he wore shifted near his feet. There were jagged blonde spikes falling over piercing red eyes. A vicious smirk was present on his tanned face that held whisker-like lines; fangs were visible in his smirk. But the most noticeable thing was his crushing, monstrous aura that he didn't even try to hide…
My throat went completely dry, feeling a sharp pang of fear as I stared into his almost mirthful, scathing expression. It made you feel like you should just wait to be killed… like you had no power over the matter… and he knew it well, reveled in it.
'Is that… could that be Naruto…?!' I didn't get to finish as the other figure came into view.
He was just as tall as the other, maybe just an inch more. He too had a dark robe that cloaked him. Black spikes jutted upwards from the back of his head and over his emotionless eyes, just like mine did. I gulped soundlessly, knowing that this man was me.
'My future self…' I locked eyes with his dead stare.
This was… even worse than the other one. It felt empty… like he wasn't really there. It was as if he was just a ghost standing there, detached from everything around him. It felt dangerous because I didn't know what to expect… he could kill you as soon as look as you… he could easily kill us both… an aura of vapid nothingness.
'No, that wouldn't happen!' They wouldn't kill their past selves since that would be killing them. That didn't make me feel any more secure.
Suddenly, the older Naruto disappeared and we were both hanging by our necks as he leered at his coldly, growling lightly underneath his breath as he clenched his grip even tighter. I immediately clawed at his fingers around my neck, trying in vain to free myself. Naruto beside me was struggling as well.
"L- Let us go!" Naruto choked, his blue eyes steaming.
"Stop," my future self said apathetically, "It's no genjutsu."
"What are you saying? It's real?" the blonde, robed man scoffed as he dropped us both unceremoniously on the ground with a thud.
It was then I noted the red clouds littering their black robes.
'Not possible… we would never…' My heart hammered in my chest. This can't be real.
"Explain now, who are you?" The older form of me asked threateningly.
"We…" Naruto started, rubbing his throat. He couldn't seem to tear his wide, scared eyes off his own older self. "We were sent here from the past, accidentally. What's going on?! Why are you guys in Akatsuki robes?!"
"Are you members of Akatsuki?" I asked, barely able to keep the stunned look off my face.
The older Sasuke stepped forward, "No… we are the leaders of Akatsuki."
Naruto gaped, "What?!"
"Heh, the old man kicked it a long time ago." The older Naruto grinned maliciously, "I personally made sure of it. Besides," he continued, letting out a bark-like laughter, "Who else do you think got Akatsuki this far? The old man could never have reached what we have; gone to the lengths we have…"
"We're unstoppable." Older Naruto finished, red eyes glinting.
"Naruto, don't say too much." Older Sasuke said, scowling faintly.
"Who cares? You can erase their memories if it's necessary with your sharingan."
"Hn," My older self's eyes narrowed, "Explain your arrival here."
I glared in return. "No. We don't have to tell you anything." I gave a quick glance over to Naruto who I noted was shaking slightly, fists balled by his sides. Then again, so was I.
Sasuke turned to his fellow Akatsuki counterpart, "Naruto."
"Right." The Akatsuki Naruto waved his hand carelessly as the very air he created smacked into us like a thousand bricks.
We were thrown back and hit the stone wall with so much force all the air in my lungs was knocked out of me. The wind kept us a few feet above the floor and stuck to the wall. I blinked back unconsciousness as pain exploded in the back of my skull from the impact. I couldn't even move a finger the air pressure was so strong.
My older self stepped closer so he was only a foot away from me. His red eyes spun until I started into the familiar, hypnotizing gaze of the mangekyou. I froze visibly, trying with all my might to move, instinctively knowing what was about to come.
'How… how did he attain mangekyou? He didn't kill Naruto, he's right there!' This isn't possible, Itachi said so… the only way to attain mangekyou is to kill your best friend.
"How…?" I started, "How did you"-
I didn't get a chance to finish my sentence as blackness overran my vision. After what felt like an eternity or just mere seconds, he tore his eyes off mine and turned to the older Naruto in back of him. The air suddenly let both of us go as we dropped to the floor once again.
"This is unexpected…" he murmured, his red eyes receding back to black.
Older Sasuke walked over to the other Naruto as they spoke in low voices, probably explaining our story that my older self had forcefully taken from my mind. My head ached painfully as I groaned, fighting back the urge to vomit.
Naruto shook my arm lightly, "Are you okay?!" he asked worriedly.
I gave him a quick stare, "We have to leave, now." I whispered to him quietly.
'This is the best time since they're distracted', I thought, my eyes lingering on the door that was only just a few steps away. We may not have another chance to escape… I can think about all of this after we escape.
"Sasuke, this isn't right. We can't be Akatsuki! We're…" he trailed off, shaking his head.
"Later, Naruto." I responded with a glare.
We stood from the ground, making a mad dash for the door.
"Not so fast." I heard the older Naruto say with sardonic amusement as we were both pinned by an invisible force of air to the floor instantly.
'They're too strong…' There isn't even a slim chance of us getting away. I tried to push myself up but to no avail. 'What do we do?' I never in a million years expected anything like this… I gritted my teeth, trying again to lift my head from the cold floor.
The very air is our enemy… it seems like Naruto is a wind jutsu master. 'But… I saw no hand seals!' Was it too fast for me to notice? But, all he did was wave his hand before. How could they be this strong?
'How could I ever master mangekyou without killing Naruto?' Maybe… maybe the Uchiha scrolls were wrong? Or maybe the rules didn't apply to him.
I looked upwards again to see our older selves staring down at us, Sasuke blank faced and Naruto smirking haughtily.
"What happened?!" Naruto yelled furiously, "You were about to become Hokage! I would have NEVER joined the damn Akatsuki! What the HELL is WRONG with YOU?!! You left Hinata-chan all alone! How could you?!"
"Eh," older Naruto growled, "I forgot how annoyingly loud I once was."
"Don't give me that crap! You were supposed to bring Sasuke back, not join him!" Naruto shouted in return.
"It's a long story…" older Naruto answered as Sasuke next to him rolled his eyes.
"I did go out to find Sasuke when I was fifteen. By that time, the curse seal had fully taken effect over the teme…"
"Hn," older Sasuke grunted.
"We fought a long battle… I used all nine tails at once." He grinned with his fangs showing, "it was the best fight I ever experienced."
'Nine tails?' I thought, confused. 'Does this have something to do with that red chakra Naruto used in our fight?'
Naruto gasped, "Nine tails?!"
I turned to my teammate, "What is he talking about? That power you used against me in the Valley of the End?"
Older Naruto let out a low laugh. "Naruto didn't want anyone to know he is the demon fox Kyubbi. We were sealed by the Yondaime when we were just a baby."
"I'm his vessel! I'm not actually the Kyubbi!" Naruto replied angrily, glaring at his older self.
'Naruto has the Nine Tails sealed inside him?' That explains a lot about our fight… I remembered that vicious red chakra that swirled around him, taking the form of a fox. 'I see…'
Older Naruto smirked, "Vessel? Not anymore. The seal is gone, Naruto."
"What do you mean?!" he retorted.
"In our fight… the Kyubbi and my mind merged. Our chakras fused together and we became one. I pushed it too far… wanted to win too much. The Kyubbi didn't want to be imprisoned anymore. Besides, Naruto… you always wanted power."
"You…" Naruto gaped, blinking rapidly without being able to keep the frightened edge out of his voice.
"I am both the Kyubbi and Uzumaki Naruto. I have over four hundred years of the demon's and your memories… and both of their powers and chakra."
"B- But, this can't happen! I'm… I'm not…" Naruto breathed hard, panicked as he shook his head stubbornly.
Older Sasuke appeared above me suddenly as I tensed. I wished we weren't stuck to the ground, if only we could move… His foot wearing a black boot rose and grinded it into my back as I clamped my mouth shut to stop from making any sound.
"The curse seal… it consumed and freed me on the day I killed Itachi." His foot dug even harder.
"So tell me, how is Sakura?" his cold apathetic voice said questioningly. "I saw her in your memories briefly…"
I stiffened, glaring up at him with unmeasured hate. "You shouldn't even be allowed to say her name," I spat out.
"Aa… so she told you. That surprises me." A very faint smirk appeared on his pale features.
"How… how could you even consider doing that to Sakura?" I bit out, cursing him.
The smirk grew, "It's not like we never thought of her that way, ne Sasuke?"
My glare intensified, "I would never have done that to her!"
"Ah, but we did. And…" he leaned down, closer still, "…enjoyed it."
"Would you like to see how much?" Red eyes stared down at me with deadly intent.
My stomach dropped as my eyes widened in shock. I struggled to move again but the force pushing us down kept me there, immobile. 'No, I don't want to see...!' anything but that… I don't want to see it. My eyes burned as they stared flinchingly up at my older self's spinning gaze.
Frightened green eyes stared imploringly into my own.
"Sasuke-kun…" a scream fading into a dying whisper.
I didn't know where I was… but that didn't matter. 'Sakura…' I could feel her skin against mine, warm… so warm.
I'm so cold. Greedily, I soaked up the warmth, every part of her. I tore off her clothes, intent on feeling every soft part. I wished the voices would stop… why didn't they stop with his death? But… I can't hear them when she's near.
When Sakura's here. I can't hear them now.
She is here, she's right below me. Beneath me. She's shaking, or am I shaking? I don't know, I don't care… I claimed her bruised lips once again. I didn't want to hear any more screams. I gripped her tighter, her waist felt so tiny in my grasp…
"Please, no…" I could hear her crying distantly. She was always crying.
My heart beat faster as I sank my head into the crook of her neck, 'Sakura…' I pressed myself harder against her still. I wanted to stop the shaking, needed to… I needed to.
"Sasuke-kun, stop…" I slanted my lips over hers, shutting my eyes to her teary emerald gaze.
I pulled her wrists over her head, shifting my position in between her legs. Heat fanned every part of my skin as I kissed her with increased force. I pressed hard against her hips, a heavy haze entering my mind.
"Sakura…" Broken green met an empty black.
I penetrated her swiftly as I tore her apart from the inside.
I blinked up at the dark ceiling, my eyes wide with horror. I could feel the cold floor digging into my back as I panted heavily, not wanting to close my eyes though they felt as if they were on fire. I didn't want to see those images…
I choked on my own breath, shaking uncontrollably as disinterested black eyes stared down at me with a listless expression. I suddenly wished that could have been the memories Itachi always showed me with the mangekyou… just not…
'God… I'm a monster.' I did do that to her. I did. I will.
I hurt her. I hurt the one teammate I always swore to protect. I hurt Sakura.
With a swish of his dark robes, the older Sasuke walked over calmly to where the older Naruto was as they began conversing silently once more. I noticed vaguely Naruto crawl over to me from my right side.
"Sasuke, what did he do to you?" he asked, hesitating, "Are you okay?"
As my silence greeted him he tensed further, "Sasuke! What the hell did that bastard do?!"
I made a small noise in the back of my throat as I pushed against the ground and backed up until I felt the wall in back of me. I leaned heavily against it, clutching my head. 'We have to get out of here…'
Naruto's POV:
"Sasuke… are you"-
A giant boom sounded and shook the very walls of the base. I grabbed Sasuke's wrist tightly and pull him up forcibly as we ran for the door once more. We tore right through the door and ran as fast as our legs would carry us down the long stretching hall. I could feel them right at our backs… taunting us by letting us know how easy it would be to capture us again.
'Come on…. Come on…' just a little bit further.
Another loud, earth shattering boom exploded as a crater sized hole appeared in the wall in front of us, debris flying everywhere. 'Why is the base under attack?' I thought, but not considering the lucky break as we both ran through the huge hole.
I could hear our older selves shouting orders at their men but we kept running until I stopped dead in my tracks at the pink haired woman just a few feet away from us, ready to drive her fist once more into the ground.
'Sakura-chan?' I thought, stunned as Sasuke beside me jerked quite suddenly. He tore his wrist away and looked down, his black bangs over his eyes.
'Just what the heck did that creep do to Sasuke?' I thought as I waved to Sakura as she and Kakashi ran over quickly. I was so relieved to see them I didn't even stop to ask how they knew we were here.
"Kakashi-sensei, Sakura-chan! They're coming, we have to go now!" I said hurriedly, looking over my shoulder to make sure they hadn't arrived yet, "They're demons – we can't take them!"
"Who is Naruto?" Sakura asked worriedly, looking back to Sasuke and then me.
"Our future selves…" Sasuke said quietly, "Both of them."
"What did you just say?" Kakashi asked in a rushed tone, grasping Sasuke's shoulder.
Sasuke didn't look up, "Both of them, me and Naruto."
Two wisps of black and a dark red smoke appeared in front of us.
"Sakura…" the medic's green eyes locked on the black figure as the smoke cleared away.
"…Sasuke." she whispered faintly.
"Kakashi." My older self said smugly as he stood right next to the older Sasuke, narrowing his red eyes on all of us.
Sakura-chan's green eyes trailed over to my future self and gasped, "Naruto… you're alive?" she tried to run to him but Kakashi grabbed Sakura's arm and pushed her in back of him.
"Look at what they're wearing, Sakura." The silver haired jounin said, pulling up his hitae-ate to reveal his sharingan eye.
"They're the leaders of Akatsuki." I said to my sensei as Sasuke and I stepped beside him, instinctively moving in front of Sakura-chan.
"Are you even Uzumaki Naruto?" Kakashi asked my older self with a hardened glint in his mismatched eyes.
"Of course I am. I'm really getting bored of explaining myself…"
I looked up at Kakashi, "It's insane! The Kyubbi and him have merged… even the seal is gone!"
The older Sasuke stepped forward, his empty gaze still on Sakura. The future Naruto nodded to his partner, his whiskered face grinning, "Oh, I get it."
"Sakura, we need to talk to you… now." The future Uchiha's toneless voice stated.
"I have nothing to say, especially to you, Sasuke." Sakura turned imploringly to my older self, "Naruto… don't you know that Hinata is still waiting for you? Everyone is waiting for their next Hokage? Please, don't do this…"
He arched a blonde brow at her. "So? I have more power here than I ever could have as Hokage. They can all rot for all I care," his red eyes darkened slightly, "As for Hinata… she'll have to wait just a little while longer."
A cold wave of ice went through me as I wondered what the hell this guy had planned for poor Hinata-chan. 'No way is he touching her!' I thought furiously, glaring at him as my insides twisted. 'We've got to stop them, but how?' I thought, 'they're invincible.'
"There's no hope for either of them, Sakura. They aren't the boys we once knew." Kakashi said as he eyed the two distrustfully.
Sakura-chan's pleading look dissolved into a firm, determined one. I started in shock as she grabbed Sasuke's and my shirt and pulled us so we were staring into a white Haruno circle crested on her back. She took a few steps forwards and turned to face Kakashi seriously.
"I'll take them, Kakashi. I want to fight them by myself." She said as immediate protests came forth from both me and Sasuke.
The Copy-nin stared at her for a long second before he nodded, sighing. "Be careful."
She nodded in return, giving him a half-smile as she disappeared into pink petals and reappeared a few feet away from our older selves. She pulled on black medic gloves as she faced them with a strong, unperturbed expression on her pale face.
"What, this is going to be some kind of neo-sannin fight?" older Naruto replied, an excited gleam in his eyes.
"Let's see." Sakura-chan responded as they all charged instantly.
Sakura went for Sasuke with a crater smashing punch but he dodged it. Naruto made contact with her but she burst once again into pink petals as the fight continued, barrages of kunai and shuriken thrown by both sides as the fight of two against one commenced.
"Why aren't you helping her?" Sasuke asked coldly to Kakashi, seething.
"Sakura's different from the one you knew. She needs to do this herself." The Copy Ninja replied sternly.
"It's not a fair fight!" I responded hotly, ready to help Sakura myself but we were both held back by Kakashi's strong grip on our shoulders.
"Wait boys; just watch the fight for now."
Sasuke and Sakura were fighting once again as they threw punches and kicks so fast all it looked like was a massive blur of limbs. Sasuke's eyes were bleeding crimson as Sakura wore a fierce glare, diving upwards for an uppercut but the Uchiha deflected it with his arm guard.
She jumped back to avoid a well aimed kick and dropped to the ground to miss an oncoming punch by Naruto just by a few inches. My heart pounded as Sakura fought with my older self, the manic look in his eyes growing more and more unbalanced.
In a flurry of hand seals, Sakura's hands hit the rocky ground as suddenly the ground jutted upwards into the air, sending the three fighters soaring at least a mile into the sky. I gasped, staring up at them in wonderment as the Akatsuki members regained their balance and began fighting anew.
'Whoa…' I thought, gulping. 'Sakura-chan's scary strong.'
"See? Sakura's different now." Kakashi stated evenly.
I glanced sideways at Sasuke whom had a shocked look of slight awe on his face. He watched the fight intently, red eyes narrowed as I turned my attention back on the fight, squinting against the sun so I could see what was happening. The rock Sakura created had to be the size of a mountain.
"Sakura…" I heard older Sasuke say, "Join us. Join the Akatsuki."
"It could be just like the old Team 7 days, remember?" my older self asked.
"Follow our path, Sakura. You don't want to be left behind again, do you?" Older Sasuke replied with a sadistic smirk on his face.
Sakura's gaze hardened. "I want nothing to do with you… except to be the one that stops you! No more talking. From now on, our only words will be through our fists."
Reeling back another powerful punch, she hit the ground as rock sized boulders headed directly for Sasuke and Naruto at an alarming speed. They dodged, fire erupting from the Uchiha's mouth as Sakura was forced to jump back, only to be pushed off her feet completely by Naruto's wind attack.
She tumbled on the floor but ended up back on her feet, straightening to a stand. She dropped back into a Taijutsu stance as she charged the two once more. Sasuke made a grab for her as they rolled backwards on the ground but the medic reached up and with adept fingers pressed a pressure point in his side that made him reactively move away in reflex.
Older Naruto went for her but she turned quickly and jabbed her green glowing hand right over his heart as he let out a forced breath, jumping back to recover from the shock of the blow. He seemed to have a hard time breathing correctly as his red gaze glared mercilessly into Sakura's.
She jumped to her feet as they all started a combination of hand seals, each seemingly knowing what the other was thinking as their palms hit the ground below them with a huge impact. They rose upwards as giant figures formed beneath them.
'They summoned their animals.' I thought stunned as I was instantly reminded of the last time I saw all three in one fight - the fight I witnessed with Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade-baa-chan. I was sorely reminded of it as I saw the older Naruto on Gamabunta the toad, Sakura on Katsuyu the slug, and older Sasuke on Manda the snake.
The three neo-sannin faced each other on their respective animals, each standing on the animal's head. The animals each glanced at the other, the air running so thick with tension you could almost taste it.
"Katsuyu…" Gamabunta said in acknowledgment, "I regret meeting this way to a once respected ally. But I must do what my master commands. Please bear in mind that this is not my true feelings."
"Gamabunta," the slug replied, "I once knew you as a friend, but I cannot forgive you for joining the snake! Prepare for your defeat!"
The snake Manda scoffed, "As if you have a hope in Hell of defeating us, slug."
"Sorry for the difficult odds, Katsuyu." Sakura-chan said, bending down to talk to her summoning animal.
"No worries, Sakura! I will fight by your side to the very end!" the white and grey slug chirped firmly in return.
"Enough talk," Sasuke remarked stoically. "Attack, Manda."
"As you command, Uchiha-sama." The king of snakes reared its fangs and dove for the slug, maintaining a forceful grip at its neck.
"We don't want to miss out, Gamabunta." Future Naruto said coolly. The toad inclined his big head, his weight moving to rest on his hind legs.
"Yes, Uzumaki-sama."
The toad jumped into the air and was about to land directly on the slug's lower half before she jerked away quickly to avoid the assault. The slug writhed to escape the snake's grip as she burst into millions of tiny slugs that littered the ground below.
Sakura jumped at the time her slug disembodied itself and planted a mighty fist right into Gamabunta's head, making him slam his whole head a good two feet into the ground. The pink haired ninja then turned and landed on the Snake's head, her fists glowing like a halo of green chakra was around them.
The Snake's master stared at her unaffected as the Uchiha unsheathed his katana. The sword glinted dangerously as Sakura ducked, strands of pink hair being sliced off by the swipe his blow. They moved once again in a taijutsu dance, but Sakura couldn't seem to make contact yet on the Uchiha.
Meanwhile, Gamabunta was stamping on the tiny slugs that burst into acid. The slug reformed once again as they both fought with one another, Katsuyu spitting a burning poison and the toad using its strength to crush the slug into bits.
Finally, Sakura surprised Sasuke by grasping his sword's hilt, twisting it, and sheathing it right into the snake's head. Manda screeched in agony as he shook his head, howling for the sword to be removed. She drove it deeper until it went right through the snake's jaw until it was visible from the other end.
"Stupid Sakura," Sasuke said emotionlessly, smirking as he moved forward and grabbed the hands on the hilt of his sword, tearing them off and forcing them at her sides.
She was about to move but he stepped closer, his leg intertwining with hers till her had her in a leg lock. She glared, trying to push away but suddenly Naruto was behind her, readily grasping her shoulders.
"Got you, Sakura." The blonde Akatsuki leader said arrogantly.
'They got her!' I thought, worried as I tried to free myself from Kakashi's grip. I could see Sasuke struggling as well as I looked up again to still see Sakura sandwiched in between her two ex-teammates. 'What are they going to do to her?' I could even see Kakashi's expression tense.
"I don't think so." Sakura-chan responded as green chakra started swirling rapidly in swelling circles all over her body.
The two men cursed and jumped away as if scalded as Sakura panted heavily but maintained a focused disposition. Sasuke had somehow (it was too fast to see) retrieved his katana and turned to Naruto as they shared a look in which only Sasuke stepped forward.
"Enough wasting time, Sakura… we end this now." The future Uchiha prodigy said coldly, making seals so that a crackling blackish-bluish energy of a Chidori emerged all over his body and down his sword.
The loud chirping rang into my ears as I stiffened, "Sakura-chan! Look out!" I shouted, feeling useless as Sasuke stalked towards Sakura.
She charged with momentum as well but was blown back by another wind jutsu from Naruto and hit a tree some ways in back of her so hard that the tree cracked in two. From the broken bark she stood up, unwaveringly as I literally watched her rib cage reattach itself.
Sasuke was about to take another step toward her but Kakashi appeared in front of her. I blinked, not even noticing that Kakashi left our side as he blocked the Uchiha from advancing to Sakura.
"My turn, Sakura." Kakashi's eyes locked with Sasuke's deadened ones, "It's time I correct my past mistakes."
"Fine," Sakura replied, turning to face my future self as they began fighting once more.
"You think you can defeat me, Kakashi?" A low chuckle resonated from the Uchiha's lips. "Unlike Sakura, I don't have any use for you so I'll make this quick…"
They both went for each other as the animals, oblivious to their masters, seemed to be fighting their own war in the background. I couldn't even pick up any moves from Kakashi-sensei's and Sasuke's fight as teacher and prodigy fought with deadly intent written across both of their faces.
"Sasuke," I turned to my paler than normal teammate, "What do we do?"
He shook his head, his eyes never straying from the fights. His fists were unclenching and clenching at his sides. I never saw him so unnerved, even in our fight with Haku and Zabuza that now seemed so long ago.
"We're not strong enough to make any difference here," I wondered if his sharingan eyes caught every move that was happening in front of us, "They're too strong. They are just toying with Sakura and Kakashi…"
I glared in response, "How do you know that?"
"You're future self hasn't even used a bit of his red chakra… and my curse seal isn't even in stage one."
My heart plummeted as I stared at the fight once more. Older Sasuke now loomed over Kakashi with dull, narrowed eyes. I staggered as I noticed that Kakashi was practically holding his inners together as blood seeped from his stomach onto the ground. The Uchiha raised his sword above his head, ready to strike down at his sensei any moment.
"How will it feel to be killed by your own technique?" Sasuke asked as a Chidori sizzled and wrapped itself like a snake around his katana. "Won't this be a fitting end?"
'No…' He… he wouldn't…
Sasuke and I raced over but we were too late. I could hear Sakura scream in the distance as the sword swiped down with force, cutting right through where Kakashi's heart should be. Without even a second glance, the future Sasuke ripped his sword out of the massive hole in Kakashi's chest and turned his attention on the running Sakura.
'Is he… is he dead?' my mind screamed yes while another part protested with a small sense of hope. Kakashi… he can't die. He's our sensei… Sasuke, future Sasuke killed Kakashi… 'This can't be happening…' it can't, but it was.
Sasuke and I reached Kakashi first, dropping to our knees beside him. Dread rose like a heavy burden on my shoulders as I felt wetness on my cheeks. Kakashi's rapidly dulling black eye lingered on Sasuke as he just stared wordlessly back, shaking slightly.
"Sasuke… protect Sakura." He breathed his final breath as his eyes half closed.
Blood soaked our pants with the ever-growing pool of crimson underneath Kakashi as he went limp, eyes shutting for the last time. I started in disbelief, shaking as I shook him, "Kakashi-sensei! Please don't..." I hastily tried to clamp his wound shut as Sasuke beside me sat there, deadly quiet and unmoving.
"Damn it teme! Help me!" I yelled, glaring through the tears as he just shook his head, staring wide eyed at our sensei.
"He's dead." He mumbled, lifting his hand up to stare at the blood dripping from it.
"Sasuke! How can you just do nothing?! Come on, help me!" I said frantically, knowing that I couldn't feel any pulse from Kakashi as I checked it over and over.
I was suddenly rammed into Sasuke as Sakura appeared at our side, hands immediately going over Kakashi's wound and pumping it was bounds of green chakra. She breathed heavily, elbows shaking unsteadily as her eyes filled with unshed tears.
"No, please Kakashi… hang on…" she supplied another burst of chakra but the blood kept flowing from his still body.
"It's useless, Sakura. He's dead." Future Sasuke said from a few feet behind her, uncaringly.
She slowly raised herself, arms hanging limp at her sides until they formed into fists. Sakura looked up once more as her emerald eyes brimmed with tears and deep conviction. Sasuke sheathed his sword as he faced her once again.
"You… you killed Kakashi… you heartless monster." In a spit second, she charged once again for Sasuke but was deftly countered.
I didn't even see the Uchiha move as suddenly all I could see was future Sasuke's back as he had Sakura against a tree with apparent ease. He leaned down and held her wrists up above her head. She didn't seem to be able to move.
"Sakura-chan!" I yelled, wrenching myself from Kakashi's side but was lifted into the air by the back of my shirt, my feet dangling under me.
"I don't think so."
I stared into my future self's red eyes and kicked viciously at him but no move seemed to make any impact whatsoever. With a powerful punch to the head I was sent spiraling into the air as I crashed into solid rock, stars bursting from behind my eyes as I fought to stay awake.
'But Sakura-chan…'
Older Sasuke leaned down and stared at her with an intent, empty gaze, "Consider my offer once again, Sakura. You can make this easy or hard for yourself."
"I'll never join you, Sasuke. I'd rather die." She said, green eyes staring right into his crimson eyes, not backing down an inch.
He moved so close their lips were almost brushing as a hand swept up her side and sank into her pink strands. "I never said you had a choice in the matter, Sakura… I guess we'll do this the hard way then."
He smirked faintly at her wide eyed expression, "It's been a long time, Sakura…" he pressed closer still, taking another step, "Time passes by quickly nowadays."
"Stop it… Don't touch her…" the twelve year old Sasuke said forcibly.
I saw Sasuke's arms around his older self's leg, trying to force him away from Sakura. He kept a harsh grip but it proved useless as Sasuke was easily picked up and then punched hard in the stomach, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as Sasuke passed out cold.
I was picked up once again by my other self as I felt a sharp pain to the back of my head and knew no more.
Sasuke's POV:
I snapped awake, sitting up fast as I tried to make sense of the surroundings around me. I heard a groan next to me as Naruto sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his head in obvious pain.
'Kakashi… he's dead.' The events of everything came flooding back to me all at once. I steadied myself from the turbulent emotions running through me as I felt the curse seal burn in reaction.
'Sakura… where is Sakura?' Remembering Kakashi's dying words only sent a dagger of guilt through me. 'I couldn't protect her… and he was killed by me, by my own hands, by my future self.'
"I see you're both awake." I looked up sharply to see our future selves staring down at us through bars.
Shocked, I studied the steel bars, noting with a twinge of apprehension all the seals and heavy chains latched on to ensure our imprisonment. I lunged forward, grabbing the bars and shaking them as hard as I could.
"Where is Sakura?" I growled threateningly, stilling as I felt a painful shock run up my arms.
I let go of the bars and stared at my second degree burned hands. Naruto cursed beside me and glared, "What the hell is up with this?"
"To make sure you don't escape, of course." Future Naruto replied grinning.
"What are you going to do to Sakura?" I asked with a frantic edge to my voice that I couldn't care to cover.
"That reminds me. We have to entertain our other guest, Naruto." Our older selves turned and walked down the hall, footsteps receding to an echo.
'Sakura… he'll…' my mind reeled with what he could do as the memory of what he showed me replayed over and over in my head. 'Sakura…'
"Let us go, you hear me?!" Naruto yelled loudly as I sagged against the wall, my imagination already working on just what exactly Sakura was going to go through by my future self.
The last thing I heard was Sakura's scream.
A/N:
Twitch: Whew'', that was an action packed chapter! Please remember to review! It's very important to us!!!
I also bet your wondering what'll happen! XD
Twitch and Spaz