Organization XIII

Xemnas – Alive
Xigbar – Alive
Xaldin – Alive
Vexen – Alive
Lexaeus – Alive
Zexion – Alive
Saix – Alive
Axel – Alive
Demyx –Dead (killed by Itachi)
Luxord – Alive
Marluxia – Alive
Larxene – Dead (killed by Hidan)
Roxas – Alive

Akatsuki

Pain – Alive
Konan – Alive
Itachi – Alive
Kisame – Dead (killed by Demyx)
Deidara – Dead (killed by Roxas and Shikamaru)
Sasori – Alive
Hidan – Alive
Kakuzu – Alive
Tobi – Alive
Zetsu- Alive

Independent

Shikamaru – Alive
Temari – Alive
Riku – Alive
Kakashi – Alive

The Organization's Castle

Itachi had made no progress against his opponents, and he was starting to wear down. He had avoided using the sharingan as he didn't want to wear himself out. As the fight went on though, it looked like he would have to use it. As Itachi considered his next course of action, Saix started to emit a blue aura and he took on a crazed appearance. He then went berserk. His attacks were relentless and utterly unpredictable. Itachi was startled by his opponent's transformation. He was barely dodging the attacks. Itachi backed up against a wall and another berserk strike was coming in. Itachi quickly used the sharingan and formed Susanoo. Susanoo blocked the attack and Saix rebounded off from the shield.

"Exercise caution Saix," Luxord called out.

Fortunately at that moment Saix's berserker state wore out and he was once again cool and collected.

"So that's his ultimate weapon you spoke of?" Saix asked.

"Yes, but it wears him down rather quickly. His time is short when he uses it," Luxord responded.

Susanoo attacked with a horizontal stroke at both Saix and Luxord. They both dodged the attack and the sword bust a hole in the wall. Itachi jumped out through the hole and slid down a curved wall and landed on what looked like an observation deck. Saix and Luxord landed on the platform soon afterwards.

"There is no escape Akatsuki. We're going to exterminate you right here," Saix said.

Itachi responded with another attack from Susanoo. It was dodged again. That pattern went on for awhile until Saix emitted a blue aura again and went into his berserker state. Saix pounded Susanoo from all sides. Susanoo started to falter and so was Itachi. Susanoo's sword met Saix's hammer and it tore straight threw it. It struck Saix right after and the aura protecting Saix faded from the strike. Saix landed on his back, temporarily paralyzed from the fall, and from being ripped out of his berserker state.

Susanoo had recovered and drove its sword downwards to impale Saix. Saix rolled to one side as Luxord struck from afar with a rain of cards. Itachi then used Amaterasu as Saix completed his roll. The black fire engulfed Saix. Saix managed to enter another berserker state. The aura shed the flames somewhat, as Saix charged, Susanoo stroke again. The sword tore straight through the aura this time and also straight through Saix. Saix landed on the ground mortally wounded by the effects of the sword. While he had no soul to be absorbed, it still killed him. Saix then faded into nothing. Luxord backed up as far as he could.

"It would appear I have no cards left to play except for one last ace up my sleeve," Luxord declared.

Luxord pulled out one card. It flashed, and a rumbling was heard. A massive nobody soon pulled itself up onto the observation deck. It looked like a cross between a Gambler and the Twilight Thorn. It was the Twilight Gambler.

"This is the ultimate game of chance Akatsuki. This one move by Lady Luck decides both our fates," Luxord explained.

A wave of energy pulsed out from the Twilight Gambler. Susanoo faded and the world around Itachi and Luxord looked blurry and desaturated. A slot reel appeared for both combatants and a beam of light emitted from it and struck both Itachi and Luxord. They were both immobilized. First, the reel spun for Itachi. It came up with all skulls.

"You lose Akatsuki. Your time is up," Luxord said with a smirk.

Luxord's reel then spun and it came up also with all skulls. The smirk was wiped off Luxord's face.

"The odds of that happening are…" Luxord said in disbelief.

At that moment, the Twilight Gambler took out a deck of cards. Two blank cards then floated out and Itachi and Luxord were both pulled into the cards. Itachi used Amaterasu as much as he could as he was sucked in, but it was no use. It wouldn't work. The pair were soon sucked into the cards. Their cards were then shuffled into the deck. The deck the disappeared and then so did the Twilight Gambler. The observation deck was left empty.

In Konoha

Axel and Roxas had cleaved their way through dozens of the puppets, but they just kept coming. Axel and Roxas fought back-to-back, their weapons weaving an intricate dance of destruction. Neither of them had been wounded, but they were definitely tiring. Sasori only watched with amusement as he controlled his army. Axel took in the battlefield. He noticed the sheer amount of puppets still left, and he noticed that Roxas was about to collapse.

"It was good to be your friend Roxas," Axel said gravely.

"What?" Roxas yelled out in bewilderment.

In a lull in the attacks from the puppets, Axel jumped away and then drew upon all his power and sent out a massive wave of fire. Roxas and Sasori had to cover their eyes. When Roxas could see again, all the puppets were gone and Axel was lying on the ground, spent. Roxas rushed over to Axel.

"Hey Roxas. Did you like that? That was pretty cool, huh? Now, beat that guy for me. Okay? I think that's the least you can do," Axel said as he clasped Roxas's arm.

"No! Axel! Just hang in there! I'll… I'll… I'll help you somehow!" Roxas yelled out in grief.

Axel shrugged," There's nothing you can do Roxas. Thanks for giving me a friend again."

Axel then died, his head lolling to the side. Roxas whipped around.

"You!" Roxas yelled out in hate.

Sasori's cloak had been burned away, revealing his true form. His form of a puppet.

"Yes, me. There is nothing you can do now. Your companion gave his life in vain. I will now finish you off, and add the both of you to my collection."

Sasori then activated another scroll. Once it was activated, he attacked with a burst of flame. Roxas ran as fast as he could and jumped through a hole in the wall and down the street. Houses started to light on fireas Sasori pursued Roxas through the streets with his fire attack. Roxas quickly turned down an alleyway and cast Curaga on himself. He immediately felt energy rush back into his body. He had enough magic for 2 more casts now. He had to use it wisely.

Sasori came around the corner and let out another jet of fire. Roxas used Reflectga. The flame was sent back at Sasori. Sasori quickly backpedaled. Roxas then came out of the fading flames with double-overhead strike with his keyblades. Sasori caught the attack and threw Roxas into the wall. Roxas fell to the ground stunned, but managed to keep ahold of his keyblades. Sasori stepped with one foot on Roxas's stomach and pushed on it, making Roxas's air come out in a rush. He aimed with his hand at Roxas. He had switched scrolls again. Just as Sasori started to attack, Roxas used reflect. It sent the bullet-like water straight back at Sasori. At such close proximity he had no time to dodge it. It blew Sasori's left arm off, disintegrating the part that attached it to the main body. Roxas then went into an Ars Arcanum attack, brutalizing Sasori's puppet body. Sasori's puppet body shattered from the sheer amount of blows. Roxas stood the victor. Roxas then fell to his hands and knees and cried. A few minutes later he heard the terrifying sound of a puppet. Roxas looked behind him to see Sasori about to drive home a sword that Roxas would have no time to stop. Before Sasori could kill Roxas, Kakashi appeared using chidori, striking Sasori in his heart.

"Forgot about me, didn't you," Kakashi said.

Sasori's puppet body tumbled to the ground, well and truly dead this time. Kakashi then went into convulsions and collapsed. Roxas brought Kakashi safely away from the burning village and met up with Shikamaru.

"How is your friend," Roxas asked numbly.

"She died of her wounds. I wasn't good enough in treating them," Shikamaru also said numbly. "I just hope Kakashi will be okay."

Roxas only nodded and walked away, heading to the portal that would take him home. Shikamaru only watched him go.

A cave

Pain twisted and convoluted his body through the stream of boulders sent at him. Once at close range, Lexaeus swung his tomahawk, and instead of merely directing the strike away, Pain redirected it at Lexaeus's leg. The strike shattered the bone in Lexaeus's leg. Pain then followed up with a series of stabs with a kunai to Lexaeus's chest. Lexaeus fell to the ground, groaning and grunting, but unable to get up. His hands dug into the ground and the cave started to shake. Rocks started to fall from the ceiling.

"I shall take you with me…" Lexaeus said with his dying breath.

A cave-in was about to happen.

"Konan!" Pain yelled out.

As Xaldin was about to pass out, he emitted a blue aura and the paper suffocating him was driven away. He slashed again and again relentlessly with his spears. It cut through multitudes of paper. Konan managed to reform away from Xaldin as his aura faded. She was beat up, but had no serious injuries. It was then that the cave rumbled and Konan heard Pain call out.

"Pain!" Konan called back.

"Konan, get out of here. It's not safe to stay. I'm going to transport the statue to safety."

"But-"

"Don't argue Konan. Just go."

Konan bit her lip for a moment but then made her escape. Xaldin and Pain stared each other down then. Xaldin let out a mocking laugh and also left. When Pain was alone he managed to teleport the statue with all the tailed-beasts, along with himself, to safety.

Vexen's Quarters

Vexen walked into his room carrying Kisame's sword. He set it on a stand next to the tank holding Replica No. 4. It was almost time to wake his new creation, but he still had to come with a name. Something to ponder on then, Vexen thought. Vexen turned and left.