Author's Note: Thank you to those who reviewed so far and to those who alerted and are still reading my story.


Chapter 11

By: I'm Gay Dammit



Dead? He died? Angel thought in horror. Impossible! For some reason she couldn't move. Is this how being in a panic state feels like? I don't like it. Why is my face…wet?

"Naruto!" Sakura sobbed. Grasping a now pale hand. She hadn't found any injuries or anything suspicious in his body. Why is he dead then?

Kakashi stood still in alarm, he was sure Itachi was also in a loss on what to do. He activated his eye once more just to make sure he hadn't missed anything. To his absolute surprise, the blonde's heart was beating slightly.

"His heart. It's beating!" Kakashi blurted out. Itachi and Sasuke activating their eyes to confirm, and Kakashi was right. It's still beating albeit faintly.

"Thank god, Naruto." Sasuke finally let himself choke a sob as he exhaled his worries.

Sasuke took hold of the pale kitsune's face gently in his hands, he lowered himself at the blonde lying on the ground, laid his forehead against Naruto's and kissed his lips. A lone tear dropped on the kitsune's cheek. Angel was beside Sasuke, trying all her might not to break down with all these new emotions gripping her heart painfully, almost bursting. She was happy and devastated at the same time.

"Sensei, we should continue or journey to the village. Naruto needs medical attention right now and Orochimaru, frankly, is after us." Angel managed to say without stuttering but the way she said it made everyone smile slightly. She was worried.

"Alright, let's go." Kakashi ordered, covering his eye once more. "Maybe Tsunade-san knows what's happening. If we run, we'll make it before nightfall."

Sasuke stood up carrying the unconscious blonde in his arms. He's so cold…almost as if he's…dead. Sasuke shook his head to get rid of his train of thought, he didn't like where it was going. I need to be strong for him; I know he's fighting. He's not going to let himself die. Still in his thoughts, Sasuke felt a hand on his shoulder. He tilted his head to the side to look at the person. It was his brother.

"Sasuke," Itachi said comfortingly. "I know it's hard to believe but he's going to be alright. Naruto is a fighter and not to mention stubborn. I promise you Sasuke, that we will defeat Orochimaru, even if I have to die doing so."

"Brother." Sasuke sighed, his tears cascading down his cheeks endlessly. "I hope you're right. I can't lose him, not ever." Itachi hugged him at this point, not being able to stand seeing his little brother cry. "Thank you, aniki."

"Anytime, ototou." Itachi replied, letting go of his brother.

He gazed down at the boy still in Sasuke's arms and frowned. What could Orochimaru have done to him? The boy was pale as a sheet, beads of cold sweat still on his face, his lips are turning quite purple and he's as cold as ice. But he's alive. Could it be? Itachi gasped, Sasuke and the others looked at him.

"What?" Sasuke asked.

"I might know what Orochimaru is doing." Itachi said grimly, looking at Naruto's limp body.

"What is it? Does it have something to do with the Nine Tails?" Kakashi asked.

Itachi merely nodded. He then stood right in front of Sasuke and lifted the boy's tank top. It revealed a pale, lean stomach and a glowing red seal. Itachi could feel his brother stiffen.

"What…why is it glowing?" Sakura asked, her mouth covered with her hand, looking as though she's seen a ghost.

"Orochimaru managed to take control of Naruto's seal. It is another form of a mind transfer jutsu but not quite like that." Itachi explained as he did a few counter jutsu. "Orochimaru only needed Naruto's blood for it to work. Once the seal is done, Orochimaru will need a body to transfer Naruto's conscious self."

"Does that mean there's another walking, talking, living Naruto with Orochimaru?" Sasuke dangerously growled.

"Quite." Itachi answered still frowning. "The Naruto with Orochimaru isn't exactly Naruto, he's not like a shadow clone. The one with Orochimaru is Naruto's darker side; it's a slow performing jutsu. He's extracting the Nine Tails inch by inch."

"What exactly is the clone with Orochimaru?" Sakura asked.

"He's kind of like a mindless drone. He may look, walk and talk like Naruto but he's not Naruto. The clone doesn't have a mind of its own, that's because Orochimaru doesn't want Naruto's mind, he wants the demon." Itachi further explained.

"What jutsu did you do to it?" Kakashi then asked.

"It's a jutsu to make the process a lot slower. Normally, the jutsu will take three days but now that I slowed the process, the Nine Tails couldn't be extracted less than five days. We have a week to take out the clone and Orochimaru." Itachi said, fingering the seal. "Once the clone is gone, Naruto will be fine but since Orochimaru knew that his jutsu worked, he can do it over and over again until he gets the demon."

"But doesn't that mean both Naruto and Orochimaru will run out of chakra?" Sasuke asked.

"I'm afraid so. The jutsu can consume so much chakra that if used once, it can only be used one more time. If used more than two times, the lack of chakra from both parties can be fatal and since its Orochimaru we're talking about, he'll try to get what he wants even if it kills him." Itachi said horridly.

"Is there a jutsu that can disconnect Orochimaru's control?" Sasuke asked.

"I think so. Maybe Tsunade-san knows." Itachi replied.

"We have to hurry then." Sasuke said, running suddenly.

The rest of the group stared after the youngest Uchiha with grim expressions. Angel following Sasuke just as fast.

"He's trying to be strong." Kakashi muttered. "It's better if they run, they'll reach the village in no time."

"Yeah," Sakura agreed silently. "I hope Tsunade-san can do something."

"Even if she can, we still have to kill Orochimaru otherwise he'll just kill Naruto." Itachi said who started walking briskly.

"We should just go to the village quickly, we'll have more back-up there." Kakashi declared, breaking into a run.

The other two joining him as well.


Sasuke had concentrated all of his chakra to his feet and ran as fast as he could. He'd been running for a half-hour already and he could see the familiar path home. Due to his haste and worry, he didn't even notice Angel following him closely behind.

Don't worry Naruto, I won't let that snake get Nine Tails. Please, fight for me. Fight for your dreams, baby.

Sasuke ran past the gate and guards and towards the Hokage Tower. He ignored the worried stares of the guards and the villagers as he jumped up on the Hokage's window.

"Tsunade-san, help!" Sasuke yelled.

The Hokage and Shizune quickly rushed over the teens, and took Naruto out of his arms.

"Shizune, get us a room and call all medical nins available. Now!" Tsunade barked her orders while working on Naruto. No, not this. Not his jutsu! "Damn it!"

In matter of seconds, three or more medic-nins came rushing in and started working on Naruto. It's was all a blur to Sasuke and Angel, Sasuke was so worried he couldn't distinguish his emotions anymore. Medic-nins were coming and going, pumping up Naruto's chest, doing some jutsu's he's never heard of, it was all too much until he passed out. Angel caught him from behind just before he hit the floor.


Author's Note: I'm getting to the good part. It's about to end soon. So, how do you like it so far? I made a poll on my profile on whether to put a character death or not. Be sure to drop by and vote.