Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Naruto.

A/N: Correction to a prior statement: Sasuke does gain his own arsenal of Mangekyou techniques in shippuden after Itachi dies, and his mangekyou resembles an atom shaped around his pupil. I have no idea if it is in one eye or both, cause Sharingan is just so fricken confusing. :)

thank you for all the reviews, I really enjoy reading them and love them much. I hope this chapter isn't too boring for you guys, cause it is more of a transitional chapter bridging this with the ending, which will most likely be the very next chapter (chapter 10).

Well, anyways, enjoy!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 9- Judgement

Deep rumble echoing throughout the air, a powerful Lion stalks towards Itachi, muscles contracting in rivelets up the limbs, the mane rising in whisps of flames. Itachi calmly kneels before the Being, his face betraying not a thread of emotion, bearing the original form of his Uchiha spirit with the Sharingan eyes.

A powerful voice resonates through the air, as the Being speaks, "Itachi... You have committed the most deadly of sins."

Itachi's scarlet eyes calmly meets the Lion's flaming ones, his smooth voice speaking in a knowing matter, "I have committed spiritual incest."

A chuckle erupts through the air like thunder. "If this is true, then the whole world has committed incest, for you are all my children." The Being pauses, allowing the full meaning of His words to sink in. "The body I have blessed you with is not a brother to Sasuke; therefore, incest is impossible."

Shock plays through Itachi's scarlet eyes, before tranquility stains through the blood red once again, and Itachi complacently bows his head in an accepting manner. "Then my sin is homosexuality?"

Roar ripping through the air, a large paw steps forward, the Lion raising His head superiorly into the air towering over Itachi's small form, the mane twisting in flames wildly around the Being. A deep growl crackles through the area. "And why do you ask me? You who seem to have the answer to all?"

Itachi's passive face lifts to view the inferno of a Lion, ebony tresses splaying across his creme skin with the movement. The Being's voice booms through the air, engulfing it. "Where is your diligence, chastity, and charity? Your temperance and kindness? Where is your patience and humility?"

Irritation spawns inside Itachi's crimson eyes. "How can you say this? I am known for my diligence!"

The Lion narrows His flaming eyes, threads of flame twirling high into the air, and allows His oppressive power to fill every crevice. "You have allowed your heart to fall into unease, refusing to enjoy the good I have created. Dissatisfied and disconented with the relationship shared with Sasuke, you have failed to love Me with all your heart... You have become a sloth.

"You have allowed your desire to become filled with lust. You look upon my child, but you do not see the beauty of my creation, you cannot appreciate the masterpiece of my art. You do not love Me first, and because of this, your love for others is tainted with lust.

"And these first two sins are among your gravest, for you have committed them knowingly...

"You have betrayed the trust of others for the sake of satiating your lustful thoughts, just to satisfy your desire to stay with Sasuke. You have become a liar to satisfy your greed.

"Your sin of gluttony is a passive one, for you overindulge your mind in sexual thoughts, again failing to see my creation for what he truly is.

"You have become obsessed with the past and what you lost long ago... and envious of others who enjoy what you no longer have and now covet.

"Because of all of your transgressions, you hate yourself for your past sins and the corruption it has spawned in your brother... you have reserved wrath for yourself, denying My blessings and love which I openly give to you out of some sick penance..."

Itachi squeezes his scarlet eyes shut, sharp needles of truth stabbing through his heart. Sorrow laces his voice, which flows like peaceful water from his far too placid face, while he kneels calmly before the massive Lion. "Is this the sin you have called me here for?"

"No... You have committed a much deadlier sin than these."

The Lion lowers his head to the level with Itachi, who appears like an ant before Him, tendrils of flame snaking around the head of the Lion. Burning eyes look through Itachi, as if staring into his heart, before speaking to the serenely composed Uchiha.

"You, who believe your religion to be above others, who speak my name as if it has sanctified your laws... You have committed the sin of pride."

Sharingan eyes widen in surprise, and thin lips part lightly while the passive face cuts a sharp contrast to the display. "How can you say this?!" The words leave far too harshly. "I have only spoken the laws in your Book!"

The Being tilts his head upwards, scrutinizing Itachi with sharp eyes. "In my Book? You mean man's Book."

"It is a Book you inspired!" Itachi shoots back roughly.

A deep laugh rumbles through the air, followed by a booming voice, "Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Sikhism... there are many names which have attempted to summize Me in a perfect box-shaped religion, contorting My nature to fit with their beliefs. Your religion gives Me a human mind and human jelousy, belittling Me to a state the human mind can conceive."

Itachi furrows his brow in confusion, scarlet eyes contemplating the Being's words thoroughly turning them over in his head, before exhaling a deep exhausted sigh. The elder Uchiha bows his head, dark locks cascading across pale skin. "I do not understand."

"Man has repeatedly molded what he wishes Me to be to fit his desires, instead of allowing Me to guide his heart and ways. You have committed the sin of pride, for you are too proud to humble yourself to My hand allowing Me to guide you..."

The Lion pauses, allowing the oppressive silence to force the words implication into Itachi's heart, before continuing, "... I am not a religion."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kakashi tediously places the book on his lap to lean forward in the uncomfortable hospital mattress, rubbing his throbbing head tenderly, "Lady Tsunade, what a pleasant surprise." He closes his dark eyes carefully, allowing the pounding to subside, before turning to face Neji, "You are looking well."

Neji nods affirmitively, "I only suffered a few broken ribs and some sprains." He shifts his bandaged right arm, tediously pulling his yukata to further cover his tightly wrapped chest.

Tsunade smirks proudly, "I just thought you would like to know the operation on Gai was a success... I was able to repair his broken back using the same technique that was used on Lee... However..." The confident smile fades from Tsunade's features into one of concern, "There is a chance he will never be a shinobi again. The road to recovery will be a long one."

"I see..." Kakashi mutters beneath the blue mask, his vision downcast to the book in his lap.

Neji frowns in disappointment over the jonins' doubts. "Gai-sensei has the same determination Lee possesses. He will be a shinobi again."

Kakashi and Tsunade blink in surprise, and quickly cast an assured smile to one another. "Of course," Tsunade speaks knowingly, "How can I forget their self-drive... It's the most important element in recovery."

"So how was the skin graphing?" Kakashi asks, curiosity in his voice.

"It has not been done yet. Shizune wants to wait til Gai recovers a bit more from the surgery, since the burns cover eighty percent of his body." Neji speaks matter of factly, his face firm. "But Shizune assures me she is an expert in the field of burns, and the skin graphing will make it appear as if the burns were never there."

Kakashi nods understandingly, before inquiring, "How about the others?"

"Sasuke suffered the same injury as you: a cerebral contusion with other minor injuries. Luckily, just like you, Sasuke is expected to make a full recovery with no permanent injuries; however, he is still unconscious." Tsunade pauses, her serious voice turning thoughtful. "Naruto and Tsumi were found unconscious at the scene and were easily awakened. Their injuries are minor..."

Neji's tone is asseritive, "I took the liberty of checking Tsumi's chakra network when searching the area for akatsuki after we caught him in the forest... and Tsumi's chakra was inactive, meaning he had never used chakra before."

"Tsumi shouldn't have been able to move fast enough to save Sasuke from Madara." Kakashi agrees in a suspicious tone, already understanding where the conversation is headed. "I even had trouble following Madara's movements... for a non-shinobi to be able to?"

Neji's voice melts into suspicion, "I checked Tsumi's chakra network again after the battle, and his network was still inactive. It is rather unusual-"

"Enough!" Tsunade's voice is firm, brutal. "I have already questioned Tsumi. I don't want to hear another word about it!"

"What did Tsumi say?" Kakashi's curiousity is overwhelming, and he is unable to resist not keeping the topic alive for a moment longer.

Tsunade allows the silence to fill the room, carefully thinking over her response befor espeaking. "Due to the warring state in Rain which Tsumi was raised in, he was forced to learn some fighting techniques in order to defend himself."

"Fighting techniques which are that fast without using chakra?" Neji scoffs. "He leaped onto the tree branch like a shinobi!"

Tsunade narrows her eyes harshly at Neji, effectively silencing him without words. She speaks carefully, her voice forceful. "I have seen stranger things in my life than this. Considering the events, I believe him. Besides, we have a more pressing matter at hand."

Neji frowns, uncertainty still wearing his youthful features. "You mean, the stranger who defeated Madara?"

Tsunade nods affirmatively, "I have the anbu investigating the matter... I am waiting for Sasuke to wake up in order to question him."

Kakashi quirks the edge of his brow questioningly, "Wait! You mean a stranger defeated Madara?... Assuming that was Madara..."

Neji nods, at a loss for a description, "My vision was blurry, so I could not get a good look, but the creature looked like a human with large, flaming wings, and..." Anxiety enters Neji's speach, as he speaks the next words, morphing it with apprehension alien to his voice, "The chakra network wasn't human... and then, before I lost consciousness... it just vanished... like someone just plucked it from the face of the earth."

Allowing the room to fall quiet, the shinobi contemplate the events before them with grim expressions, the silence becoming forbodding, before Kakashi queries, his voice hushed...

"So what will happen to Sasuke...?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Itachi awakens groggily, maneuvering his head from the firm hospital mattress, pushing himself into a sitting position in the hard wooden chair beside the bed. A thin trail of spit hangs from his cherry red lips to the cotton starch sheets, which he quickly wipes from his mouth. Delicate fingers run through silky dark tresses, cautiously smoothing them from the fitful sleep, while images of the dream and the flaming Being race through his head.

Sasuke shifts unconscious in the hospital bed, hair matting the sides of his face in a sheen of sweat. Bare milk white legs kick out from beneath the sheets, twisting the sheets between the thighs in an indecent display,... and Itachi cannot stop his ebony eyes from raking up the smooth limbs.

"So then how do you see man?" Itachi asks the flaming Being curiously.

The commanding voice turns tender, as the Lion speaks slowly, carefully, "I see the hearts of men, beating as one."

Itachi pauses, before asking timidly, "How do you see me?..."

Lustful thoughts consume Itachi's mind, a hot red muscle darting from his mouth to wet dry lips, and he ravenously waits for the pale legs to slide along the sheets again, spreading farther open in a scissor fashion, tiny fists gripping the sheets in a fretful grip.

"I see a child who desires to stand, while fearing to crawl..."

Itachi casts his gaze away in shame, knitting his eyes closed in a deep scowl. Certainly, my sin is a much graver one than yours, Otouto, because I have sinned knowingly... Gingerly, a slender arm slithers over the rough bed, before threading nimble fingers through sticky, sweat slickened locks of the sleeping child. A sharp pain weaves through Itachi's chest, sending silent tears cascading down the supple curve of pale cheeks.

"I have hurt you, Otouto, because I am too selfish to give you the love you deserve..." Itachi's voice is hushed, quiet, as if fearful to awake the boy, "I did not give you the love God intended me to..."

Itachi leans forward across the bed, carefully pressing his small hands into the mattress creating small dips, and cautiously lowers his lips onto Sasuke's hot cheek, tediously ghosting small kisses across pale skin. An electric jolt of pleasure shoots through Itachi's lips, spawning a myraid of butterflies in his chest, and he could not help but smile into the soft cheek from the sensation, despite the knowledge of his wicked actions ripping excrutiatingly into his heart.

"Then how can I know right from wrong, how am I suppose to tell what are your intentions from my own," Itachi's words leave his lips brutally, attacking the Being's implications, "when what felt more right than anything was wrong!"

My desire for Otouto...

Thin lips travel over smooth skin, brushing lightly against the fine baby hairs of Sasuke's cheek, only to rest on the shell of his ear. Itachi inhales deeply, allowing the intoxicating scent of his brother to invade his senses, spinning his head with the desire of lust. A familiar pressure begins to brew in his abdomen, spiking his thoughts with impurity. A wet, slick tongue slides from his mouth, trailing the edges of the ear slowly, tasting the sex of the skin.

"Your mind cannot conceive My ways... so I have written My laws in your heart. You need only to give it to Me to guide, but you as the rest of mankind so enjoy playing god instead of following God..." The being pauses, before continuing in an authoritative voice...

"Your work is not finished with Sasuke. I will send you back with one final chance... now heal his heart with My love, and guide him home... But heed my warning... You will not destroy my work of art with your lustful pride, lest I cast you into Gahanna."

Hot breath washes over the tantalizing ear, whispering secret sins to the desired lover, and delicate creme fingers dance wantingly across the supple skin of the coveted lover. The hushed voice utters agonizing words, ones which speak a truth unsurpassed to date, whispering their hell quietly,...

"If you only knew how badly I want to sin with you..."

"Then tell me..." Itachi attempts to jolt back, but sweat slickened fingers hold Itachi's lips to the shell of my ear, while I murmur my desire, satisfaction etched into my voice. "I'm listening."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: If some of you didn't catch that, when the Lion asks "Where is your..." the items he lists off are the Seven Virtues. The following sins the Lion describes to Itachi (the ones with the bold words) are the seven deadly sins. I have the seven deadly sins which Itachi committed listed corresponding with the seven virtues before them: Lust with Castity, Gluttony with temperance, Greed with Charity, Sloth with Diligence, Wrath with Patience, Envy with Kindness, and Pride with Humility.

So when the Lion responds to Itachi's defense, he lists the deadly sin committed against the virtue.

Sloth is used with the old english definition intended for its interpretation in the story, which can be described as melancholy, discontent, and general unhappiness towards a person's current state or situation. The Lion contributes Itachi's state from his failure to love and put Him first, leading to his unease.

Gahanna is a place mentioned in the Bible that burned continuously, 24/7 with fire that just never died. It is a placed where the unclaimed dead were discarded so their bodies could burn into oblivion. So basically the Lion is saying He'll no longer claim Itachi as His.

Neji saw Itachi vanish into thin air cause that was when the Lion called him home for the mini judgement, which was basically just the Lion telling Itachi to get his act together and stop fucking around like that before he suffers the consequences.

Hope you guys enjoyed the chappie! Please leave a review with your opinion and let me know what you think!

Much love! :)