Chapter 10

A/N: Sorry. I truly lost interest in this story. I want to thank everyone who stuck with me for this fic. Honestly I think it sucks but so many ppl have told me that they love it, so i want to thank you all.

Dedication: Amaya-chan. I couldn't have done it with out you. Actually, I prolly wouldn't have done it with out you so thank you. This fic is for you.

Warning: May sound rushed. Forgive me please. If you really really really want...ask me and I may re-do it. But its not likely.

Recap:

Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto are on a mission to capture Otonashi. They were supposed to meet another undercover ninja, Minake, in Hidden Mist. There they find that Otonashi is trying to bring Itachi back to life. Sasuke's strange nightmares/visions are caused by Itachi, who had transferred his soul into Sasuke's body before his death. Itachi is steadily growing stronger and taking control of Sasuke's mind and body. Sakura and Naruto are ambushed by Minake who is an imposter working for Otonashi. Sakura is kidnapped and Sasuke goes after her and then continues onward to save his sister, Ayumi, from Otonashi. Sakura stayed behind to fight Minake.

Chapter 10

"Get going Sasuke!" Sakura yelled.

Sasuke gave a curt nod and entered the cave.

Flip. Kick. Dodge. Punch. It had only been a few minutes into the battle but Sakura was already panting for much needed air. I need to finish this quickly. I haven't recovered enough to keep fighting like this for long.

Minake seemed to have read Sakura's mind, "What's wrong? Can't keep up?" she taunted, "Here's a deal. If you promise not to struggle I'll make sure you feel no pain when I kill you. How 'bout it? Hmm?"

"Not even in your dreams SHANNARO!!" Sakura cursed at her. It's now or never.

In a flash, Sakura was face to face with the imposter. "Die you lowlife," she muttered and with that her chakra packed fist connected to Minake face creating a sickening crunch.

Minake flew through the air her flight broken by a near-by tree. She lay there unmoving, hardly showing any signs of life save for her heaving chest marking that she was still breathing.

Sakura made her way to the tree, her kunai in her hand, ready to deliver the finishing blow. She looked down at the pathetic being and scowled, disgusted. She was going to end this. Now.

Sasuke entered the cave cautiously. It occurred to him that caution wasn't really necessary seeing as they knew he was coming but if he could save Ayumi he didn't want to take any chances. The tunnel was rather short as it quickly came upon a very large well let room.

"Ahh. Welcome brother of Itachi. Please come this way. No reason to fear...yet," sneered a poisonous voice.

Sasuke pinpointed the speaker instantly and spoke to him using a dangerous tone, "Otonashi! Where is Ayumi? If she has been harmed I'll–"

"Hasty aren't we. But if you insist." The tall pale man gestured towards different part of the cave. There in a cage lay a frail-looking girl.

"Ayumi!!" Sasuke ran over to her, breaking open the cage, "Ayumi!? Are you alright? Are you hurt? I'm so sorry! Ayumi! Say something.

"Sasuke-nii-chan...y-you came," she gasped out, "I-I knew you would. Thank you." She began coughing up blood.

"Ayumi? What happened? What did they do to you?"

Ayumi shook her head. "Run," she croaked, "Don't let them get you."

"I'm not leaving you. Not again."

Tears began to stream down her face, "Please nii-chan, RUN!"

"Sorry to cut this reunion short but we have things to take care of," Otonashi interrupted. In one swift movement he grabbed Ayumi out of Sasuke's arms and threw her to one of his men.

Sasuke was beyond rage, "You will pay for that. I gonna-"

"Before that," Otonashi interrupted, "take a look at your precious sister. See that ring around her neck. If I activate my chakra it will squeeze the life out of her. Not that she isn't more than half dead already but this will just finish the process. I suggest you cooperate."

"You wish," Sasuke spat at him.

"If you insist," Otonashi raised his hand and gestured toward Ayumi. Ayumi began chocking and clawing at her throat, desperately trying to remove the ring around her neck.

"STOP IT! Stop! I'll cooperate," said Sasuke feeling defeated. He wasn't going to risk Ayumi's life.

Otonashi flashed a mocking grin, "I knew you'd see things my way. Come along then."

"Sakura! Sakura!"

Sakura turned. She was just about to set off for the cave when a small brown dog had called her name.

"Pakkun!" she cried.

"Sakura you're alright. Naruto will be glad to hear that. Where's Sasuke?"

"We had to split up. Sasuke went ahead to meet Otonashi."

"I see. Let's get back to Kakashi-san and Naruto. Sasuke's gonna need back up."

Sakura gave a curt nod and turned to leave with Pakkun.

"Otonashi-sama! Everything is in order. The bones are arranged. The girl is in place for the blood transfusion and Sasuke's in position for the soul transmission," reported a nervous lackey.

"Good. Then let's begin."

Sasuke looked around desperately for anything that could save Ayumi at the least. He had been strapped to an operating table that ate away at his chakra. But he wouldn't let that stop him. He had to find a way out and fast.

"Give it up. You've lost," sneered Itachi, "Soon Otonashi will use his jutsu to recreate my body and give me my second life."

"There's no way I'm letting you do that," snarled Sasuke.

"And what are you gonna do to stop me?"

When Sasuke didn't reply Itachi laughed. There was nothing that could stop him now.

Otonashi positioned himself in between Ayumi and Itachi's skeleton and placed his hands on each one's forehead. Using his technique he began extracting blood from Ayumi and little by little used it to reconstruct the Itachi's body upon his skeleton.

A few of the lackeys paled, unnerved by their master's jutsu.

Sasuke struggled against his bonds but he had very little chakra remaining. There was little he could do to escape. Ayumi was paling quickly and Itachi's body was quickly being reconstructed. 'Sakura, Naruto, please hurry,' he thought desperately. 'Ayumi won't last much longer.'

He had barely finished the thought when he heard the familiar, "TAIJUU KAGE BUNSHIN-NO-JUTSU!!" The color orange had never been so welcome to his eyes. About a thousand Naruto's charged in blindly, engaging everyone and everything in battle.

One clone made his way towards Sasuke and smirked, "Teme, you let a table stop you?"

"Naruto shut up and save Ayumi. I can take care of myself."

Naruto grinned, "I'm already doing that. Now do you want help or not?"

"Dammit Naruto just get me free already," growled Sasuke irritated.

Naruto freed Sasuke, but before he could say anything else Sasuke fell unconscious.

"I won't let you defeat me!" snarled Itachi.

"Tch. You lost back when I killed you. Get out of my body!" replied Sasuke smoothly.

"Make me."

Sasuke launched himself at Itachi determined to kill his brother once and for all.

Naruto and Kakashi rounded on Otonashi. Once again Naruto charged forward with his clones attacking Otonashi from every side. Otonashi was quick. Before a single clone could lay a finger on him he had already moved on to the next clone. Within seconds every clone had been dispelled.

"You attempts are pathetic," Otonashi sneered.

He aimed his hands towards Kakashi and Naruto and from them shot slimy leeches. The leeches cover them and began drawing out their chakra.

"You think that's gonna stop us?" Naruto charged forward again only to be thrown backward. He hit the cavern wall leaving a large crater.

"Naurto!" Kakashi yelled and turned back to his enemy and gritted his teeth, "Kuchiose-no-jutsu!"

Kakashi's dogs attacked and paralyzed Otonashi but only for a moment. The dogs, like Naruto were thrown back. Ototnashi opened his mouth and let out a high-pitched screech that deafened the dogs.

Naruto attacked again using kunai and exploding seals.

Otonashi laughed, "You call that explosions? I'll show you explosions." Otonashi opened his mouth and let out a deafening wail. Upon hearing the wail, the leeches used the chakra they had absorbed and exploded on their bodies.

Slowly they both got up. Kakashi signaled Naruto. He nodded. Once again Naruto made a massive amount of clones. The clones all attacked at once.

"The same thing again?" mocked Otonashi, "Really you bore me."

But Otonashi's eyes widened when he saw two Naruto's charging at him with a Rassengan from one side and Kakashi with his Chidori from the other. It was too late for him to move and he was caught between the two powerful attacks.

Sasuke had engaged Itachi in the fastest fist know to any shinobi. Both Uchiha's were faster than lightning, able to see everything and counter it all at once. Landing a blow was just as difficult as blocking them.

Sasuke flipped back landing on his feet facing his brother. Both were tired and gasping for air. Sasuke used kunai attached to chakra strings to bind his brother. He used his most powerful Chidori and charged at him aiming for his heart and struck.

Itachi's knees buckled and he fell forward unable to pick himself up and breathing his last.

Sasuke sat up, gasping for breath. Naruto was sitting next to him squinting giving him a pissed look.

"Teme! You slept thru the battle! Not that your ass would have helped any. But you missed me in action. I was so cool! You should have seen when those leeches..." Naruto babbled on.

He was back. Sasuke was back and in complete control of his mind and body. And by the looks of things in the cave Otonashi had been defeated. But where was Sakura and Ayumi?

"...and then Kakashi-sensei and I, well it was mostly me Kakashi helped a little, and- "

"Where's Ayumi? Is she alright? Is she alive? Where's Sakura?"

"-eh uh..." Naruto lost his wide grin, "They're over there." He pointed.

Sasuke got up and ran to them. Ayumi was very pale and very thin. Sakura had managed to get the metal ring off her neck but it had left an angry bluish-purple bruise. Sasuke swallowed. He was afraid. What would he do if she didn't make it? Slowly and hesitantly he touched her cheek. It was cool but still radiated warmth. She was still alive.

Sasuke turned to Sakura who was still concentrating on healing the youngest Uchiha. Sasuke didn't dare disturb her. After what seem like forever Sakura's glowing green chakra returned to her hands. She sighed and looked up noticing Sasuke for the first time.

"Oh you're awake! I'm so relieved," she said.

Sasuke didn't respond. He shifted to take Ayumi's head into his lap and asked, "Will she be okay?"

"She's going to be fine. Her body is physically weak and she's been malnourished but she'll live and under our care she'll be healthy again. In fact she should be waking up soon."

Sasuke remained silent for awhile. Finally he looked up and looked Sakura in the eye. Sakura blushed slightly and lowered her gaze. "Thank you," he said, "Thank you for saving Ayumi, for understanding me, and for putting up with my stubbornness."

He reached out and took Sakura's hand in his and leaned forward. Their lips were only inches apart when Ayumi stirred. She groaned and slowly opened her eyes.

"Ayumi!? Ayumi are you alright?" Sasuke asked worriedly.

"Sasuke-onii-chan?" she croaked.

"Here drink this." Sakura held a canteen of water to her lips. When Ayumi had drank her fill she put it away.

"Sasuke-onii-chan you came for me. He said you didn't care. Th-that you forgot me. But I knew you'd come for me. I just knew it!" She threw her arms around Sasuke's neck surprising him. Gently he put one arm around her as well.

Kakashi came up to them and squatted down to see Ayumi. "Hello," he said putting his hand up.

Upon seeing him, Ayumi cringed away in fear. Sasuke noticed and smiled, "Don't worry. No ones going to hurt you anymore."

"And I'm Uzumaki Naruto!" Naruto introduced himself loudly, "I'm the best ninja there is! So if Sasuke-teme isn't paying attention then I'll protect you!" He grinned at her.

Annoyed at his behavior Sakura punched him. "Itai-tai-tai! Sakura-chan what was that for?"

Ayumi giggled and whispered to Sasuke, "I like him."

"It's hard not to." Sasuke replied.

"Sasuke it's about time we headed back to Konoha. Are you and Ayumi-chan up for the journey?" Kakashi asked.

"Ayumi should stay off her feet for awhile. We will have to carry her back," said Sakura.

"I'll carry her," said Sasuke, "And I'm definitely ready to leave this place."

"Ayumi-chan? Are you ready?"

Ayumi nodded. Sasuke helped Ayumi sit up and then crouched down in front of her. "Get on" he said.

Ayumi's eyes widened. She quickly wrapped her arms and legs around her older brother and snuggled into his neck.

"Don't let go. We're going home."

--THE END--

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