Hey ya'll! I'm back from the dead.

I know I've been an unforgivably horrible author, what with my long hiatus and all.

In my defense, however, boxing season was more hectic than I could have imagined.

Any free time I had left over was dedicated to making up schoolwork and tests.

The traveling, and my subsequent absences from school, made it difficult to keep up with schoolwork.

All that, however, is OVER!

WHOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!

So, with my newfound free time, I will now get cracking on updates.

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Itachi surveyed the room in disgust, repulsed by the lack of disicipline the high level shinobi around him were displaying.

The 'noble' delegates from the shinobi villages had resorted to violence.

The result?

Utter chaos.

Sand was fighting Leaf, Leaf was fighting Grass, Grass was fighting Rain, and the cycle continued endlessly with all shinobi fighting mindlessly with no concrete enemy; this was, of course, with the notable exception of the Kiri nin.

The Mist shinobi, who considered everyone an enemy, had formed a protective barrier around their Mizukage. Their faces held unflinching focus, unwilling to allow harm anywhere near their leader.

Though he was reluctant to admit it, they were currently doing an impressive job of repelling all attacks. It seems he mused that what they lack in manners they make up for in combat.

Despite great hesitancy to, he also grudgingly acknowledged that the Kiri shinobi outclassed a good number of the Leaf's elite. The Mist fighters seamlessly moved from opponent to opponent, never pausing and never leaving an opening long enough for the enemy to attack.

Over all, it was an awe worthy display of their combat prowess.

This budding respect for their skills, however, did not mean he was even remotely near forming the faintest semblance of respect for them as individuals. They, in his mind, were little more than shinobi barbarians; especially after the blatant disrespect they had shown earlier towards all of them.

I may not like them the Uchiha heir inwardly admitted but I wouldn't mind sparring against them.

In spite of his interest in the impressive techniques being used in the fray, however, he quickly grew irritated with the pointless demonstrations of strength.

What foolsdark eyes glittered in annoyance. Have they forgotten that the purpose of this meeting was to band together?

How the hell were they going to fight Akatsuki and Sound when they were too busy fighting each other?

Apparently, no one had stopped to ponder this. If they had he thought bitingly I wouldn't be in this position. So, with a disgusted grunt, Itachi began searching for sane, trustworthy shinobi to aid him in stopping the madness.

Actually, if one was to be technical about it, it wasn't so much searching for individuals as it was locating the ones he already had in mind. He, after all, didn't trust just anyone to fight by his side.

So, purpose in mind, the Uchiha heir carefully made his way through the room, skillfully avoiding the various bodies and blows that continuously rained upon him.

Fortunately, as he made his treacherous trek across, he found himself meeting the steady gaze of the currently pacifistic Hyuuga heir, Neji.

"Hyuuga," he acknowledged with a curt inclination of his head, "where are the others?"

Neji, after mirroring his greeting, gestured towards the fray. "Uzumaki and his fellow idiots are somewhere in that mess having," he added with a long-suffering sigh, "if the dopey grins they're wearing are any indication, the time of their lives."

Fighting back the grin that statement provoked, Itachi -with amusement shining in his obsidian eyes- further questioned the Hyuuga.

"Gaara and Kakashi?"

Neji smirked and pointed towards the room's southernmost corner.

Why the raven haired man wondered as he pinpointed their location am I not surprised?

The two mentioned shinobi, completely oblivious to their surroundings, were calmly enjoying cups of sake at a small table while playing a game of shogi.

"Typical." Itachi snorted as he viewed the two. Their customary indifference towards situations that did not directly concern them was as unwavering as ever.

Sharing a look of amused resignation, Neji and Itachi swiftly made their way to the other two, more than ready to end the senseless mayhem.

What Itachi failed to notice, however, was that he was straying a little too close to the battle frenzied Mist warriors during his journey.

A mistake that would yield very interesting results.

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I'm going to slowly torture the bastardwho threw that senbon.

The thought of vengeance was one of the few comforting thoughts the kunoichi currently possessed. The torture she thought with gritted teeth as yet another volley of kunais hit her is going to go on for days.

Despite her heartening thoughts, however, the inescapable nature of her present situation was not lost on her. I can't dodge she acknowledged with furrowed brows or the Mizukage might be harmed, and I can't go after our attackers the furrows deepened because that would leave the Mizukage short one protector.

As the rosy-haired warrior braced herself for another attack, she made a firm resolution within herself. When this is over a sinister grin slid over her lips that senbon-thrower has years of torture to look forward to.

Her pleasant daydream involving the bloodied form of a certain nin, however, was soon shattered.

"You do realize that in order for that to happen, you first have to get out of this self- inflicted mess." An irritated huff resounded within the confines of her mind. "You," the voice drawled dryly, "have the most singular capacity for getting into ridiculously dangerous situations."

It would fucking figure that that damnable spirit would choose this particular momentto wake up.

The aggravating soul was usually a lethargic being, more closely resembling a sloth than a dragon. But, luckily for her, she piqued the thing's interest enough that it had deemed her worthy of its time and attention. And so, the spirit renowned for its inclination towards inactivity, had formed the habit of relentlessy belittling her at the slightest opportunity.

He always adamantly claimed that it was only friendly teasing. The malicious grin and the pleasure always apparent in his features when he was ridiculing her, however, led her to believe otherwise.

Now she growled is not the time for you to be lecturing me, Ryuu. She grit her teeth in frustration, cursing the stupid dragon spirit's deranged fetish for arguing with her at the worst possible times, in the worst possible places.

It's the perfect time he snapped. You should never have allowed yourself to get into this situation in the first place! Condescension thickly coated his biting words. You knew what would happen, you knew the danger you would be putting yourself and your companions in if you came here, yet you did nothing to stop this journey.

She felt his rage, and disgust, at her actions. You're not the only one in this body you know. He coldly reminded her. You lapses in judgement affect me as well.

As much as she detested admitting it, she knew he was right. She had done virtually nothing to stop the Mizukage from coming to Konoha; the blame sat soley on her shoulders.

Yes, I was negligent in my duties, and I recognize my failure. She stonily, yet furiously, informed her unwanted roommate. Your attempts to make me feel guilty, however, are of no assistance.

The dragon, sensing her low reserve of patience, quickly backpedaled.

There is no need for you to be so defensive he replied soothingly, the sugary tone a clear indication of his insincerity. I was merely angry at you for subjecting yourself to such peril. He ignored her incredulous scoff. After all, we are partners. He smiled disarmingly. If you die, so do I.

Her glare informed him that his attempt at reconciliation had failed to soften her, failed miserably.

Hoping to appease her, he attempted to apologize. You are foolish to get so worked up over something we both know to be true.

…in a completely arrogant, completely Ryuu, type of way.

Sakura's glare intensified.

The slightly nervous spirit decided to make a final attempt at pacifying his currently foul tempered host. I he announced hastily have the perfect solution to your problem. The statement, with its promise of bettering her situation, succeeded in shifting her full attention to him, causing the egotistical dragon to preen in self-importance.

Just as Ryuu opened his mouth to disclose the remedy to her situation, however, a large explosion to her right sent her crashing against a wall.

The slightly winded kunoichi quickly sprung back up and turned in the direction of the blast, ready for the newest complication in her absolutely fucktastic day.

…or so she thought.

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Kakashi calmly sipped from his cup, thoroughly enjoying the smooth texture of the high quality sake. You can always he thought with a fond smile trust the Hokage when it comes to alcohol.

He lazily swirled the liquor in his glass as he examined the room, viewing with a critical eye the various fighting styles of the different shinobi. A quiet word from the Kazekage, however, soon interrupted his inspection of the room's combatants.

"Itachi and Neji," the red-head disinterestedly announced, "are coming our way".

The leaf nin glanced inquiringly at him.

Gaara understood his nonverbal request. "To the right of the Mist shinobi", he briefly elaborated in explanation.

Kakashi followed the redhead's directions accordingly and soon pinned the location of the duo.

The two shinobi were currently skillfully weaving their way through the masses, effortlessly dodging the obstacles in their way.

He couldn't help but snort when he noticed that the two were executing extremely advanced, extremely unnecessarily difficult, attacks while glancing surreptitiously towards each other.

What unrepentant show-offs he shook his head in amusement. They never can resist an opportunity to see who's superior. The corner of his mouth quirked as the viewed them. I personally don't see the point. Itachi does, after all, always win.

Kakashi, having had his fill of watching the battle, was about to return to his sake when, suddenly, he felt an enormous burst of chakra.

Whipping his head in the direction of the surge, he quickly zeroed in on its location.

And had to forcibly stop himself from gaping.

Sweet kami…

There before him was dome of pure chakra. The size of the dome was relatively small, but the swirling clouds of chakra that made it up released vast amounts of power, overwhelming the weaker shinobis and sending chills through the rest.

His fixation with the dome was soon broken by the slightly frantic voice of Neji.

"Itachi is in there." Though his tone remained calm, the distress in his eyes revealed his extreme concern for his friend.

The Hyuuga's statement caused an immediate reaction in the two seated shinobi. They, along with Neji, rushed to the dome, determined to release their comrade.

Hang in there Itachi the silver-haired nin mentally commanded we're coming. With a steely glint in his eyes, Kakashi charged the dome.

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Itachi felt himself floating in a vast sea of emptiness; surprisingly, the bleak nature of the sea did not cause him to despair. In fact, it was comforting and relaxing to all his senses.

The sharingan user felt a lazy smile form work itself across his lips. In this place, he felt utterly content; all of life's problems ceased to exist, leaving him carefree for the first time in his life.

I've finally found it he thought happily this is my utopia.

The last thought sent him crashing back into his usual awareness.

A utopia, especially for him, did not exist; if such a place could be found on earth, he would have found it by now.

He shook his head slightly, but firmly, to collect his scattered thoughts. Where he wondered as he more thoroughly took in surroundings am I?

The Uchiha's investigation was soon cut short.

"Who a furious voice growled behing him the fuck are you."

Itachi's natural reflexes, honed through years of training, took over. He quickly spun around, rapidly settling into his familiar battle stance, ready to face off against the shadowy figure.

Good thing too, for the figure promptly attacked him after finishing his question.

"Where the hell," the enraged maled demanded, "did you get the idea that you could invade my mind?" The question was accompanied with a flurry of fury-fueled strikes that kept Itachi on the defensive.

"I specialize in mind control," the male's wrathful tone held a note of condescension, "so your endeavor was damned from the beginning. No one has ever attempted to breach my minds barriers and," he added with a sadistic gleam in his eyes, "you will soon find out why."

The young man's voice had become stoic, no trace of emotion decipherable within the tone. Itachi, however, knew better than to be deceived; he did, after all, utilize the same tone every time he experienced unbridled fury.

The Uchiha heir spared one last thought before turning his full attention on the opponent. What have I stumbled into?

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By the way, can anyone tell me why I can't read any of my recent reviews?

I know they're there, but every time I click on my reviews I see the same ones.

This mystery, or malfunction, is seriously irritating me.

So, to those whose reviews I can't read, thank you.

Later.