Naruto Fanfiction

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Author's Note: Yo

---

It's boring, truly and immensely so.

He already knew what would happen and it was inevitable, really. His Sharingan was superior to every other, and he was the only one with it. The only one who was ruthless enough to gain the ultimate form.

Uchiha Itachi sadly smiled as he threw his little brother in a Genjutsu, effectively shutting him up long enough to deal with the other two. Itachi withheld a sigh at the stupidity his little brother owned. Really, to bring Hatake Kakashi and Haruno Sakura?

Uzumaki Naruto, he could understand. The Seal Specialist and ex-Jinchuuriki was even too powerful for him. Which was why he hoped Pein and Madara would handle that one.

Itachi didn't even bat an eye as Genjutsus around him successfully lured the blonde away from his team. "Now. Hatake Kakashi, allow me to show you how bad my eyesight has gotten."

Kakashi prepared himself. 'His Sharingan is more powerful than mine and his blood can handle the Sharingan better. But we've become good enough to deal with him.'

Itachi watched as Kakashi shot a hopeful glance at Sasuke and grinned. "Sasuke is busy... I've temporarily thrown him into another dimension along with a Genjutsu. That's something you two will never be able to do with those incomplete versions of the Mangekyou Sharingans you own."

"You've thrown him into another dimension? How come we can still see him?" Kakashi asked as he gripped a Kunai and felt Sakura's Chakra as she tightened her fists.

"It's too much for you to be able to comprehend." Itachi replied as he gestured for Kakashi to begin the fight. "Let's finish this."

Kakashi and Sakura charged forward.

---

Walking the Road
Chapter 9: End Of A Path

---

Sasuke didn't understand.

What did Itachi do to him?! He had never experienced this before. This was no Genjutsu, it couldn't be. He was using his Sharingan to the fullest and he couldn't get out of here.

To make matters much worse, it even seemed his Sharingan had somehow become... weaker? And another thing was...

He was 12... again.

Sasuke grabbed his own back and just like he thought, there was no Kusanagi sword there. 'Shit...' He thought as the Itachi before him was still the same, still in the Akatsuki cloak.

"This is a Jutsu I haven't shown you yet, otoutou." Itachi started. "You can't copy it and you will never gain it. This comes as a price for killing your best friend. I told you how to do it, but you refused to listen." Itachi sighed. "Now it's too late."

Sasuke wasn't sure of his capabilities in this body. 'Shit... I can't do anything...'

"With my eyes, I control time and alternate realities, in which I have prevented actions that would lead to different futures." Itachi grinned. "But with it, comes the ultimate price for an Uchiha."

Sasuke snorted. "You're becoming blind."

Itachi nodded. "But before that, I will prove to all that the Uchihas can not become strong enough by abiding to the rules, any rules. With Shinobis for that matter the same can be applied." Itachi glared at his little brother. "With nothing to hold you back, you can grow to rise and meet your full potential."

Sasuke couldn't move as Itachi's Killer Intent oozed out.

"You're still weak, no matter how hard you train. This Jutsu will always give me the upper-hand."

"This is not fair!" Sasuke screamed out.

"Not... fair? Then, what is fair in a Shinobi World?" Sasuke's eyes widened as Itachi spoke from behind him, a Kunai now stuck in his Shoulder.

'Shu-shit! This can't be Genjutsu! That hurts!!'

The blow that came next, in his stomach, made him hurl.

"Ignorant. Nothing is fair in the Shinobi World. Perhaps it is time for you to get used to it." The older Uchiha let out as he kicked Sasuke in the face.

---

Kakashi panted as he saw Itachi send a few Fireballs at the dodging Sakura. He just got kicked through a tree by an invisible kick. Invisible, even with his Sharingan activated.

'All this time... Itachi was still hiding this power... I knew he was lot more than he showed before. It's like he's... everywhere and nowhere at the same time.'

Itachi suddenly stopped attacking. "It is futile. Unfortunately, my little brother brought someone with him too troublesome for me to deal with." He glanced at the unconscious forms of Karin, Suigetsu and Juugo. "Those useless pawns deserve to die."

Before Kakashi or Sakura could do anything, all three were gone. Kakashi guessed they were sent into another dimension. 'If he can do that just like that... he can do the same to us?'

Itachi looked at Kakashi and smiled. "No, I can only do that... to completely non-moving... objects. I took back a few minutes and killed them with black fire and after that, I immediately sent them away with my Mangekyou. To you, it seems instant."

Kakashi was still cautious. "You took a few minutes back?"

Itachi sighed. "I can explain it to you, because it doesn't matter. I will be the only one with this Jutsu anyway. I feel no need to dispose of you, but you are right in assuming I can go back and just kill an unsuspecting 'you', without even trying."

Kakashi shivered. "Unreal."

Itachi nodded his head. "Which is why you can not defeat me, ever. Neither can Sasuke. The only who can, is that one."

Kakashi felt the massive Chakra of the battle of Naruto against Nagato and Madara. "He's released a few seals... So reckless."

Itachi almost shrugged. "A Shinobi must do what must be done to have the upper-hand and be victorious in the end. I feel a lot of respect for Uzumaki-san. If not for him, you'd all be dead already. But the future that I see is not so... bright, if I do so. I have no need for Naruto-kun to pursue me and kill me without any mercy, just for killing you, Sasuke and Haruno Sakura."

Kakashi nodded his head in understanding. Only one man could defeat Itachi now, and it was Uzumaki Naruto. "So you're leaving?"

Itachi regarded him with a cool glance as he felt Sasuke slowly freeing himself out of the temporary dimension he created. "You can do nothing to halt my movements. I simply wanted Naruto-kun to be exhausted after fighting Nagato, Madara, Karin, Suigetsu and Juugo. After that, I could finish off the only one who can kill me. But it seems, it took more Chakra to deal with you than I anticipated. I have not enough left to deal with Naruto now. And also, Naruto, when unsealed, is more powerful than I thought as well."

"You sure talk a lot." Sakura, who was on the ground, pointed out, burned marks and bruises all over her body.

Itachi looked at her. "My eyesight is getting worse every day. My time is at an end." He looked skywards. "It would have been good if I were to be victorious today. But now, with Uzumaki Naruto too powerful for me... I will grant my little brother his wish."

Kakashi stared. "You want..."

"Yes. I want you and the other two gone as soon as Naruto wins his battle. After that, I will fight Sasuke."

Kakashi glared. "He doesn't stand a chance against you. We will not leave him!"

Itachi sighed. "You will, or you will die."

"I don't understand... If you can control time, why not go back and undo you killing your entire Clan? It's obvious you feel regret!" Sakura screamed.

Itachi chuckled for a split second. Maybe it was a snort. "Regret? Only a fool would regret becoming the most powerful Shinobi alive, woman. And even if I go back, my eyes would still get worse... It doesn't matter, woman. Leave, now."

Kakashi felt Naruto's Chakra returning to them again. 'Unbelievable... He defeated those two in such a short time? But with what price?'

Kakashi nodded his head and jumped over to Sakura to pick her up. "I understand, somewhat."

Itachi nodded his head. "Indeed."

Kakashi repeated the words in his head. 'He will grant his little brother his wish. He will let himself be killed by him, after fighting an unbelievable fight...'

---

Kakashi was carrying Naruto over his shoulder and was followed by Sakura as they were travelling back to Konoha. 'I don't know how Naruto won against those two... But seeing his state, I believe he had a harder time fighting them than fighting Orochimaru.'

"Kakashi-sensei, we should stop here." Sakura's voice came sudden and it brought Kakashi back from his thoughts.

The Jounin nodded his head and put Naruto down. He looked sadly at the blonde, before facing the direction they were coming from. "You can sense it."

Sakura nodded his head. "We'll move as soon as there's a decrease in Chakra amount."

Kakashi moved his gaze back from where Sasuke was fighting Itachi, to Naruto. "He's in bad shape. Can you check him out?"

"I already have. I can't do anything with him in this state." Sakura answered. "I... it's even worse than the last mission."

"I thought so." Kakashi sighed. "We have to get back to Konoha as soon as we can. You stay here and save Sasuke, because he's going to use Naruto's Blood Seal. I'll go back to Konoha and make sure Tsunade treats Naruto."

"I..." Sakura hesitated as she felt the huge Chakra Presences fighting each other in the distance. "No."

Kakashi frowned at his subordinate. "Excuse me?"

"Let me bring Naruto to safety."

Kakashi inspected Sakura's face and saw nothing but determination in it. "Sakura."

"He's done so much for us, so much for me. Let me do this for him." Sakura let out, her expression resolute. "I will save him."

Kakashi nodded his head. "Make sure you tell Hokage-sama everything that happened."

"After Naruto has been treated." Sakura replied as she picked Naruto up. "Don't worry, Naruto..." She whispered.

Kakashi watched her go and waited for the battle between the two last Uchihas to end.

Everything would be alright.

Or so he thought, when he felt someone approach him in extreme speed. "Ah, the Copy-ninja, right?"

'The Rin'negan!' Kakashi braced himself as he stood face to face with Nagato and Uchiha Madara. "You two, how are you still alive?"

Nagato snorted. "The brat's good... But isn't very gifted in finishing things. He left us alive when he succumbed to unconsciousness."

Madara looked around and then looked past Kakashi. "We're both tired, Pein. We can take Kakashi, but I sense another Shinobi with Uzumaki Naruto."

Pein looked at Kakashi. "This one's yours if you want. I want Naruto, he's the first one to bring me this close to truly losing. I'll bring him down now!"

Kakashi knew anything he would do now would be futile, so he allowed Nagato to go past him. "Uchiha Madara. The First Hokage defeated you many years ago. I'll tell you now. You won't be having an easy time with me."

Madara considered the half-Sharingan user before him. "Well, let's just see about that, Hatake Kakashi. Seeing that you've already used up about twenty percent of your Chakra against Itachi and those three other weaklings, I don't see you being much of a nuisance."

Kakashi revealed his Sharingan once more. "Hm, and you have used more than half of yours against Naruto."

---

Sakura sensed that she was being followed and picked up her pace. She felt even more Chakra Presences, all unknown... 'What's going on?!' Using Chakra in her feet, she moved as fast as Lee could.

'Shit, not fast enough! Who is this?!'

Her thoughts were answered as a guy appeared in front of her. "He's... still unconscious?"

"Who are you!?" Sakura demanded as she cautiously put Naruto on the ground. This guy was Akatsuki, judging by the cloak. And his eyes were not normal.

Nagato chuckled shortly. "He's in that state after managing to bring me on my knees. Not many have succeeded in actually standing a chance against me, but Uzumaki Naruto has succeeded in almost killing me. Too bad it seems that he has by far surpassed his own limits in doing so." Nagato then really considered the woman before him. "I will kill you two."

"Really?"

Nagato didn't turn around and merely moved his eyes to the side. "Two other Konoha Shinobis, hm? Konoha must really care for its former Jinchuuriki."

Sakura stood in front of Naruto. "Hell yeah! And you're going down right here!"

"I don't think so." Nagato turned his head to see the two others. His eyes almost widened when he saw the red eyes the two had. 'Kyuubi Chakra?!' And there was a big red dog with them, also with bloodred eyes.

Neji, Kiba and Akamaru grinned as they looked down upon Nagato. "Heh, you're smart. You already noticed we are no ordinary Shinobis!" Kiba boasted. "You're going down, Akatsuki!"

"Kiba, be careful. This one's strong." Neji warned.

Nagato allowed Sakura to use Shunshin to get behind Neji and Kiba and put Naruto on the ground. 'Three Konoha Shinobis. All Jounin Rank. Even though Naruto took a lot out of me, I still shouldn't have too much trouble with these ones.' He narrowed his eyes at the red eyes of Kiba and Neji. 'Even if they do have some of the Kyuubi's Chakra.'

Kiba and Neji took a look at Naruto before they shared a glance. They grinned at each other and nodded their heads. Nagato narrowed his eyes at the weird handseals they both doing a second later. 'A joined Jutsu?'

Sakura was guarding Naruto's body when she sensed a lot of Chakra coming from Neji and Kiba. "If Naruto was beaten by this guy, we won't be any good." Kiba spoke. "This is what we do in a situation like this."

"It's a Jutsu we've been working on with Naruto." Neji continued. "We will awaken him, at the cost of our own consciousness."

Nagato's eyes widened. 'What? They can do that?' He quickly pondered his chance of victory. 'If that brat awakens I stand little chance.'

And then, Neji, Kiba and Akamaru fell to the ground and Sakura suddenly stood behind Naruto's body instead of in front of it. "Sakura. Stay back, this guy's dangerous..."

'Fast recovery... how...' Sakura thought.

"Don't worry, child." Nagato responded calmly to this sudden turn of events. "I'm not even here anymore..."

With that, the Nagato in front of them vanished.

"Shit..." Naruto muttered and panted at the same time. "Those guys didn't even realise they pulled one on him. I'm worth jack shit in this condition..."

Sakura watched as Naruto jumped down and summoned one Shadow Clone to pick up Kiba and Neji. "What happened to Itachi, Sakura?"

Sakura landed behind them and could already tell she couldn't do anything for Neji or Kiba. "Sasuke-kun is fighting him. Kakashi is with him."

"Shall we return?"

Sakura shook her head. "Kakashi ordered me to go back to Konoha as fast as we can. To heal you and now apparently these two."

Naruto nodded his head but looked thoughtful as he tried to feel the Chakra in the distance. "Are you sure? Sasuke and Itachi aren't the only ones fighting..."

Sakura frowned. They weren't?

---

Sakura was running back towards Kakashi and Sasuke with one of Naruto's special Kunais in her pocket. 'If Kakashi is also fighting someone, who's too strong for me and him, I'll summon Naruto with his Kunai...'

Naruto, in the meantime, was running in the other direction, alongside one of his Kage Bunshin, carrying Neji and Kiba.

When Sakura arrived on the scene, she saw Kakashi on one knee, close to fainting due to Chakra exhaustion. "You came back..." Kakashi's voice let her know he had gone all out against his opponent. "Where is...?"

Kakashi looked at her and Sakura noticed his clothes were scorched. "I sent my opponent into another dimension..." He gasped in pain as he tried to stand up. Sakura quickly supported him.

"My god, Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura yelled out. "Both your legs are broken and... your entire body is burned!"

Kakashi nodded his head. "My opponent was powerful..."

---

"Mangekyou Sharingan; Tsukiyomi!" Two voices yelled out, battling for supremacy.

Sasuke gritted his teeth and found himself satisfied to see Itachi having difficulty as well. The techniques cancelled each other out and both jumped backwards to prepare for the next move.

"Impressive, otoutou. Your Mangekyou has freed you from my ultimate Jutsu and is on equal grounds with my Tsukiyomi." Itachi closed his eyes. "But, you're almost out of Chakra. At this rate, you'll not last any longer."

Sasuke snorted as he gripped his Kusanagi Sword a bit tighter. "The same could be said of you, aniki." He spat out with hate and anger. "I'll make sure this time I will be the one standing at the end."

Itachi grinned. "Ah, then let's continue."

As they exchanged blows, Itachi's mind was elsewhere. 'Uchiha Madara was defeated by Hatake Kakashi? How pathetic, an Uchiha defeated by an Uchiha Technique coming from a non-Uchiha?' He inwardly shook his head. 'Madara was clearly overestimated. In the end, he was even weaker than Sasuke.' Itachi's kick connected with Sasuke's neck and a snap could be heard.

Sasuke took a bit of time in recovering from the blow, quickly putting his hand to his neck. "Katon, Housenka!!"

Itachi easily sidestepped every fireball Sasuke threw at him. "It appears you are your limit."

Before Itachi could continue, Sasuke was behind him and then Itachi was behind him, followed by Sasuke behind him, and this went on for three full seconds, before Sasuke slashed with his Kusanagi all around him, making Itachi jump up.

Sasuke's Sharingan watched as Itachi performed a few handseals. "Let me follow your example, Kuroi Katon, Housenka!!"

Sasuke snarled as he quickly left the grounds and went for the sky, barely dodging the black fireballs Itachi spat at him. "Katon, Ryuuka no Jutsu!!"

Itachi grinned. "Kuroi Katon, Ryuuka no Jutsu!!"

Sasuke cursed as his Fire was washed away by Itachi's black fire. He moved his body so that he would sail to the left, skilfully dodging the massive waves of black flames.

The Uchiha siblings landed on the ground, both panting. As they looked up from the ground to stare at each other, they noticed the Sharingans were no longer on.

"Ah..." Sasuke panted madly. "Now is the right time..." Itachi's eyes narrowed, though he didn't look surprised that Sasuke still had a trump card. Not even when Sasuke's Sharingan was back on active again.

"I see." Itachi let out. "A Blood Seal? Uzumaki-san, then?"

Sasuke shrugged. "Whatever it takes, I will bring you down!"

Itachi nodded his head, and to Sasuke's surprise, Itachi activated his Sharingan again. "The final test, my ultimate Sharingan against yours..."

Sasuke's eyes widened. 'His eyes are completely black! That's no Sharingan!'

Itachi chuckled shortly. "Oh, but it is." His entire body got engulfed by Black Flames. "Even Naruto-kun would have trouble harming me as I am now."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. 'Black Fire all around him... Taijutsu won't work. I can't get close to him, which means I can not use anything with Chidori. Judging from the way the fire protects him, Kenjutsu will have no effect either.' And then, an amazing thing happened. His Sharingan, it changed.

Itachi's eyes widened. 'That's impossible!'

Sasuke didn't know what had happened, but when he himself got surrounded by Black Flames, he could take a guess or two.

"Your Sharingan copied mine?" Itachi wondered. "So, that is the power the Blood Seal gives the Sharingan? Very well. It takes some time getting accustomed to this technique, so you better pay attention, or you'll meet your end."

Sasuke followed Itachi's movements easily... 'I can follow him!'

Itachi noticed, with every choice, the future would not change because of one difference; Sasuke's Sharingan didn't eat his Chakra...

He would die today.

Itachi grinned as Sasuke caught on and found out about the weakness of this technique.

They both had already noticed that Sakura and Kakashi were observing the battle.

The weakness was that it wouldn't last longer than five minutes... normally. But Sasuke could last longer thanks to the Blood Seal...

As Itachi's Black Flames died down, Sasuke stood in front of him. "This is it, aniki."

Itachi nodded his head. "I shall accept this end." Itachi closed his eyes as Sasuke approached him. 'In the end, his Sharingan didn't gain the ability to see all times and realities... But, he shall be the victorious one today...'

"After you kill me, there is one other you must kill, otoutou." Itachi let out as he opened his eyes again. "Pein, or Nagato, the Akatsuki Leader."

Sasuke ignored him. "Whatever. Are you ready to die?"

Itachi simply nodded once.

And the Kusanagi Sword slashed right from his right shoulder to his stomach, clean through. "I'm tired." Sasuke let out. "Too tired to even listen to you."

And then the younger Uchiha fell down, completely unconscious. Kakashi and Sakura landed beside him moments later.

"Tell him..." Itachi panted, blood slowly oozing out of his mouth. "Give him my apologies."

Kakashi nodded as Sakura picked Sasuke up. As the Konoha nins rose, Itachi was already dead. The Copy-nin sighed as he picked Itachi's body up. "Itachi-kun... Insanity claimed you and it sent you to fend for yourself. Perhaps you will find your way in the afterlife."

---

"Tcheh, you idiot!" Kiba barked out loud.

"Not so loud, Kiba." Neji reprimanded. "There are people sleeping all around us."

"I don't care!" Kiba yelled even louder as a response. "How could you lose against two people with all those Blood Seals you have? And after all of that, one of them even got away?! You're pathetic!!"

Naruto glared. "Shut up, dog-breath. You saw it for yourself, that guy was something else. I can't believe he's still alive."

Neji nodded his head. "Well, for that matter, I can not believe YOU are still alive. Using so many Blood Seals in such short amount of time. It's ridiculous."

"But necessary!" Naruto reasoned. "They would have killed everyone if I hadn't done so!"

Kiba and Neji shrugged. "I guess."

"Naruto!! You're in the hospital again?!"

The trio looked at the entrance of their hospital room and saw Naruto's team standing there, along with his former ANBU subordinates.

"Hey, you guys!! Long time, no see!!"

---

Sakura and Kakashi walked into the hospital room to find it filled with people all talking to each other. If anything, it resembled a party, somewhat.

Sakura noticed Naruto's current team close to Naruto's bed. Ami, former bully at the Ninja Academy, had now become a beautiful purple-haired woman and had also become a powerful Kunoichi. Her best friend, Yamanaka Ino was quite the same, perhaps even more so. Mitarashi Anko was still the same, trench coat and all. Hyuga Hanabi wore a Jounin Uniform and looked much older than she rightfully should, except in the face.

Neji and Kiba were talking with ANBU Members, who all, surprisingly, had taken their masks off. She didn't know everyone in the room. She did know Hagane Kotetsu, Iwashi Tatami, Kamizuki Izumo and Tobitake Tonbo, who had all become Jounin around the same time she did. They were all Members of Naruto's second ANBU Team. Konohamaru and some guy she didn't know were also there. She couldn't remember Konohamaru ever being under command of Naruto.

Kakashi did know the ones Sakura didn't, having done a few missions with some of them. Shinji, Miku, Kasumi, Shigeru and Setsuko, all Members of Naruto's very first ANBU Team. Naruto also was in a team with Hyuga Neji, Inuzuka Kiba and Tenzou, before he joined the ANBU.

It was really crowded in here, but everyone was having a good time. Kakashi supposed he could stay here for a little bit and he also saw Sakura moving for Naruto already. He pulled out a book when he felt a hand on his shoulder belonging to Tenzou. Behind the wood-using Shinobi stood Sai and Tayuya. The team had probably just visited Sasuke.

"Heh, you should know what kind of missions we all had, Taichou!!" Iwashi Tatami said.

"I'm not your Captain anymore, damn it! And I don't want to hear it!" Naruto yelled back. "And act more like a Captain, Iwashi!"

Iwashi frowned. "Heh, like you, I'm sure? One hell of a Captain you were!"

"What's that supposed to mean!"

"Oy, don't make so much noise, you idiot!" Kiba yelled from the other side of the room. "I'm telling a story here!"

"No one's listening anyway." Surprisingly, this was Neji.

"What?!"

Kakashi chuckled as he was reading a certain little book of his.

Tenzou sighed. "Perhaps we should come back another time?"

Sai and Tayuya shrugged, not moving just yet.

"Yo, Taichou! So all of these guys were your subordinates?" Ino asked. "Man, you sure have a whole pack under you, huh?"

Naruto shrugged. "I guess."

"Hey, dick-less."

Naruto sighed. "Where the hell did you come from?"

Sai shrugged.

"So you got your ass kicked again, huh?"

Naruto simply glared at Tayuya.

And this went on for another whole hour...

---

A/N: Yes, yes, I know, I know!!! Asuma's dead and Tenzou's dead?! I'll fix it, I promise!! Damn, such a huge mistake! Tenzou's NOT dead, but Asuma IS!! Stupid me...

Ok, one villain left!! And it is Nagato. The one to finish him off will be Sasuke, not Naruto. In the next Chapter, Tsunade gives Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura a Choice!! What will it be?!

Seeya!!