(looks around, pops her head up...)

(ducks twelve dozen kunai and shuriken, throwing knives shadow shuriken, every tool you can get your hands on... including dynamites)

Yikes!

I am really sorry for the delay, I know there was one promise of an update before I left... I am awfully sorry I couldn't keep it.

(readers kills the author)

Anyway, I started this chapter before I left, and it became a real confusing roller coaster. This fic is starting to sound like the manga, well... there is a reason, I've been following most of the new info from the newest pages from the manga...

Secondly, I really have to redraw Sasuke's personality before he becomes, really of character. I noticed it while I was gone (bored to death with that crow attacking my window again.) Perhaps he could go back upon being a little more sadistic, like that sword of his.

Anyway, thanks for the 8000 hits! Over 200 people read the last chapter, which is way above my usual hit. I am normally happy when I get over 50. Thank you!

Shitza

Ps: No matter how much I loved her, Chiyo won't make an appearance. For those who don't know what I was talking about, forget about that. I am not going to ruin the fun.

Chapter 10

The Sand Burns,

While His Hearts Aches

It was suffocatingly hot in the desert, and for the Leaf nin who were not that used to this daily heat, the travel became a adventure itself. Fortunately, they had all been given shawls to wrap around their heads, which sounded even warmer, yet it was to the fact that the sun would burn holes in their heads if they did not wear it.

Sasuke felt the sweat drip down upon his jacket, and his forehead protector was already soak of his own sweat. The passage that Naruto had flown a few hours earlier took a much longer time to run through then to fly for sure. He wondered if they shouldn't all henge, but chakra had a fault. Truly skilled ninjas could feel when someone was in a henge and because Naruto probably had just flown over them they didn't take the dobe for granted. Though Naruto had warned them about traps, and that because he had gotten his feathers burnt.

It was a familiar feeling that spurred Sasuke forward. The Akatsuki was ahead of them, and with them his brother could be. If his friends wouldn't be with then the Uchiha would have just gone there and attacked his brother with all his might. It was Naruto and Sakura who held him back, against his will really, though the both of them had said that it was better to sneak up to them, than attack them somersault. Sasuke could agree to this.

Their team, team 7, were the first to arrive at the area, mainly since Naruto was the one who knew where the Akatsuki had hidden. They stopped 500 meters from a mountain-wall when Naruto held his hand to signal. He pointed at a pile of kunai and a burnt exploding tag, which probably had been the trap he had bumped into.

"As expected, dobe!" Sasuke said with a smirk.

Naruto chose not to comment this.

A few minutes later the Konoha Jounin, Sand shinobi and team Gai appeared, shortly followed by the last group, Ino-Shika-Chou trio. The three last shinobi had been held up by some kind of weird Genjutsu trap Shikamaru noticed one second too late for Ino to escape from. Indeed she was still hissing at Shikamaru for not warning her earlier.

And she was supposed to be the Jounin of her group.

Before they decided to take action they made a deal. Team 7 and the Konoha Jounin would hold the Akatsuki busy, Team Gai would destroy all the traps, The Sand would go after Gaara and Team 10 would head back towards the Leaf to tell Tsunade personally about the change in mission and there from decide about the situation. Not likely that the Leaf would pull away already being so well knotted into this mass, but there would hopefully appear some extra aid from the village.

Neji's Buyakugan became the first move, as Team Gai moved out to create a free path that lead towards hidden doors that had been sealed as well. The Hyuuga's abilities had grown over the years and it didn't take him long to figure out where the seals had been hidden, 200-800 metres from the door itself, and could easily pinpoint them for his teammates to remove.

However, there was a surprise waiting for them no one had counted for.

Before any of them had a chance to actually open the door itself, it opened before their eyes.

Just to reveal, another nightmare.

Before them stood three Missing nin, from three different villages. Three terrors whose names had already exceeded the limits of what people thought was possible.

The Sand Shinobi all gasped. One person they all recognised and hated. His true self, hidden in layers of puppets, looked very young, his hair was bright red, his eyes green and he wore the formal Akatsuki cloak, the black clothes with the red clouds that symbolized their ideal dawn. Their imperial. Sasori had returned for a second time, and the Sand could only feel their blood burn.

The other guy looked creepy. He too wore the Akatsuki cloak, but his creepiness didn't come from clothes, it came from the fact he didn't seem to be alive. There was some sort of shell that protected his head, fanged as well. His body, for some spooky reason, looked split-painted in black and white. His hair was dark grey and his eyes bright yellow with no pupils.

The third guy was someone many Konoha Jounin, not to mention Sasuke and Naruto recognised. Naruto wondered if he would be able to restrain his friend now. After all, Sasuke's goal was near.

"Have you never heard about knocking on the door before you barge in?" the split painted Akatsuki member asked.

Sasori shook his head. "Zetsu, quit the jokes and get to business."

The split-painted guy Zetsu laughed. "I wonder if there is a difference between blood from Konoha and blood from Suna" he said licking his lips with a pointy tongue. This guy was unreal.

Itachi didn't say anything, though his Sharingan was already awakened.

Reflecting him stood Sasuke, also his Sharingan burning in his eyes. The Uchiha removed the shawl around his head as Itachi unbuttoned the first three buttons on his Akatsuki cloak.

Before anyone could stop him, Sasuke had disappeared in a flash.

And thus, the real fight started.

It became a total chaos, and many brave shinobi fell out of wounds. The first plans had been screwed, now it was time for spare ideas and such. The Sand Shinobi started their attack against Sasori, as for revenge for two things. The kidnap of Gaara and the murder of their Sandaime.

The Konoha Jounin had split in two groups, meaning Asuma, Kurenai and some others went after Zetsu together with Team Gai. Kakashi joined his team and went after Itachi, however it became a hard task as Sasuke didn't seem like to want anyone to meddle with his fight, and the Konoha shinobi could helplessly watch as one of their newly returned Chuunin decided to take on an S-Ranked ninja on his own.

Even though Naruto couldn't stand watching Sasuke fight, he couldn't help him this time. Sasuke had, how he did not know, put a barrier between him and his comrades, in the same style as the Sound Nin had during the Attack of Konoha many years ago. However, his fight in that barrier became a show of the tricks Orochimaru had taught him. Dark jutsus of course, but dead useful. Even Itachi was a little surprised at first, but he didn't show it. Currently he was holding a sword in his hand, a sword which had been one of the first things the snake had taught him to summon. Kusanagi...

(Flashback)

"Sasuke" Orochimaru said. There is one thing that has passed down from my genes in generations, a summoning that has been told to give deadly effects to whatever it hits.

The elder man smiled evilly: He made a few seals quickly, dark smokes formed in his hand, formed a sword.

"This is Kusanagi" he said. "In the Myth this Sword came from the Fourth Tail of the Eight-tailed and Eight headed Demon snake, taken by the God Susanoo through battle. It received its name, Kusanagi (Grass Cutter) when it defeated a great warlord. It is yours to wield, though you must first learn to control its powers."

Sasuke snorted. "What would a stinking little sword help me with?" he asked.

"Kusanagi can cut through anything. It is even more power then your Chidori."

"I see" Sasuke said, copying the seals as the sword disappeared from Orochimaru's hands, to reappear in Sasuke's.

Though he hadn't been warned that a sword had a will of its own.

(End Flashback)

Blood dripped from several wounds on his brother's body, yet Itachi was simply smiling. Sasuke didn't notice but by now everyone around them had been engaged in battle. Sakura, teamed up with Temari and another puppeteer (Yuri) had gone to take down Sasori, with major problems. Yuri and Temari were, as Sakura would put it, like her and Ino. Friends yet rivals.

As well had Naruto started a battle of his own, showing of skills as well. He, together with three other Jounin, fought Zetsu, yet it looked as if nothing they did would wound the guy at all. Some of Naruto's best moves did some damage, for the two Jounin none at all... Which proved that even idiots get stronger.

Sasuke licked the blood from a cut at his lips. Even if Itachi didn't master a sword himself his kunai and shuriken abilities were way beyond Sasuke's. The older brother smirked not regretting for one minute the fight, enjoying the tension of death, striking fatal blows to his brother, which Sasuke's managed to avoid barely.

Kusanagi pulsated in his hand, the sword craved blood and it only got a taste out of Itachi's, almost more of his own master.

It was a sword of history, of power, a sword that could exist in different places at the same time, a sword that couldn't be broken. A sword that had played the role of a gate, which he didn't know. But when Orochimaru's body fell upon the tip, the eight' gate opened. And now, it was hungry, because it had been a while since it last got blood to drink.

The blade once more met the tip of the kunai, withdrew and clashed again. Sasuke was aiming for the vital points which he would strike the sword, but his brother was technically faster than him. And sometimes speed overpowers the brute strength.

Suddenly Sasuke found himself on his back with the kunai pressed at his throat. His hands were held down to the ground through chakra, his body went numb from the efforts and Kusanagi lay beyond reach for his fingers, it's silent voice screaming after more blood in his now already hate-filled mind.

"Foolish little brother, you still cannot see... through hatred and suffer your goal slips through your fingers again. Still, you cannot truly hate me, can you? You must forsake all if you want to kill me."

Sasuke grimaced and spat his brother in the face. Itachi glared down at him, the Mangekyo Sharingan activated in his eyes, swirling.

"Power, foolish little brother, can only be earned through these!" he said sending shockwaves of painful chakra through Sasuke's body. Itachi smirked.

"And by something else, which will give Akatsuki the power to break the gates for eternal glory."

The elder Uchiha stood up, gazing down at Sasuke, who lay defenceless beneath. An aura of black chakra appeared around him. Sasuke's eyes widened, his own Sharingan blazing as seven black tails appeared on his brother, very much alike the Kyuubi's tails around Naruto.

"What! How?" Sasuke began...

Itachi laughed. "You should have taken the chance when you got it, Sasuke. Right now I believe only your fox friend of yours would have powers enough to challenge me. This is the power of the Schichibi, the bat demon that carries an enormous amount of power.

The transformation continued, black bat wings grew on Itachi's back.

"Time change, Sasuke. Time change."

He grabbed Sasuke by the throat, clenching his fist around him. Sasuke tried to breath, but it was useless.

He blackened out.

They say War only creates War. If so, what created this? Thousands of years of War is the answer. Greed that led to demons, power that led to defeat and war that grew to death. Hopelessness and despair, sorrow and anguish, torture and pain...

It was unmistakeably enough defeat. Luckily enough few deaths for both villages. One of the Jounin Naruto fought together with had ended up like a roast chicken as Zetsu originally came from the Hidden Village of Cloud, therefore was an expert upon electric jutsus. Two Sand Jounin Had been killed by Sasori's puppets,other then that people were alive. Countless wounds were however not taken in this list, but almost everyone had ended up hurt. Sakura was tending to her wounds, and extracting the different poisons from herself and her comrades. Naruto looked chewed and had a number of bruises but at least he could stand, though he couldn't be touched without a sound of reaction. Sasuke was carried back, out-cold having bruises after signs of strangling-attempts, slightly bluer in the face but still alive.

Most wounds considered cuts, poisons and scratches... a few broken bones but nothing they couldn't take care of. However, there were those who could have a chance of dying. Anko, one of the Konoha Jounin, had received a fatal blow to the skull and if she didn't get medical treatment soon she could die from them. Temari's left shoulder looked like a pincushion. Team 10 had been knocked unconscious by a faithful Genjutsu that they had been unable to avoid. The jutsu hadn't just knocked them down, but also created some serious damage to their lungs making all three coughing up blood.

And as well, Akatsuki had moved out. With a message written on the mountain wall that had served as a hidden opening.

THE FIRST AND FOURTH DEMON HAD NOW ENTERED OUR DOMAIN!

EVERYONE WHO TRIES TO OPPOSE US WILL END UP LIKE THEM!

BE WARNED THAT THE NEW DAWN WILL SOON COME!

Inside the now open gate lay two bodies, one, identified by the headband, a Cloud Nin, and the other, unmistakeably enough, Gaara.

Temari was devastated when she saw her brother's dead body, though in death Gaara only seemed to be asleep. A sleep he hadn't ever been granted due to his demon's habit of "taking over" so to speak. But this was a real back slap for Suna, as they now had lost their Kazekage, who never got the chance to stay Kazekage for long.

The bodies were carried out from the cave, Gaara taken back to Sunagakure, carried like a Hero in memorial. The Cloud Nin was taken to the village as well, but not out of the same reason. Sure enough the village would bury the body in the sand before it started to rot and stink, but first of all they wanted to know who the guy was, having the misfortune of carrying the Yonbi in him.

Everyone was silent, and even though the Shinobi of Konoha would have wanted to stay, they first of all needed to bring the wounded back to the village. The few that still could stand carried the ones that couldn't. Kakashi, who had worn himself out rather than been knocked out, was carried by Gai over the shoulder. (A/N: No, I am not forcing Kakashi to be carried piggy back ride like in the manga). Sakura carried Tenten on her back and Naruto took Sasuke, ehm... bride way. He would however not mention this to him, Sasuke would probably kill him if he knew what kind of reactions this caused, especially stares.

Like people couldn't mind their own business.

The Jounin/Chuunin group left swiftly, saying their goodbyes hastily and wishing Suna for a brighter future. Some would return to the Hidden Village in the desert soon enough, and pay their respects to the Kazekage.

Because Konoha still couldn't forget the pain of loosing someone so important.

And Suna would be in disarray for quite a while.

Almost back in their own village they met up with the two leading Medic-Teams who quickly took charge of the injured summoning stretchers and tending to the worst wounds.

Today was really not a bright day, for any of them...

Meanwhile...

You think bandits and murderers would live in the filthiest holes, the slimiest dungeons and the wrecked castles. No, even they are humans and have their own homely styles.

Yet it doesn't mean they are creepy.

Black curtains hung before a wide window, letting in only a small stream of light that managed to fight its way through the darkness. The light touched a polished stone floor with red rugs. A massive round oak table stood in the centre of the room holding ten seats. However, one of these seats had been burnt to the ground as it appeared, an untouched pile of ashes marking it.

An iron chandelier hung from the roof, black candles burning. There were candles in the air around them, burning as well, these all red.

Above a cloud of red smoke hovered above their heads.

Yet, it wasn't as if either Deidara, former Nin of the Hidden Village of Rock or Sasori, former Nin of the Hidden Village of Sand took these things as extraordinary. The two members of the Dawn sat in two parts of the room. Deidara was working on a scroll that Hidan had reluctantly borrowed him after a fight of persuasion and Sasori was constructing his newest puppy. A puppy which he had earned quite a while ago.

"This doesn't make sense, can't they ever understand that true beauty comes from the waves of explosions and not worthless religious junk." He looked up. "You've been fiddling with that thing too long, put it down and talk to me." Deidara said putting the scroll aside.

Sasori looked up as well, almost complete with his new creation.

"We can carry out this conversation for an eternity and you will still not understand what true Art comes from. Anyway, isn't this beautiful?" he asked finishing the last touches of his new weapon.

Deidara chuckled.

"Isn't this the Sand-guy who came in your way, over a year ago?" he asked.

Deidara nodded. "It is, and he's been using my old puppets for his Arts. However, he was a simple minded copy-cat with no sense of the true beauty of puppets. He really deserves to become a puppet of his own."

Deidara smirked. "Don't let those ideas go to your head, we are still working together. Has the Gobi already eaten you from sinide?"

"Like it could. How about you, any problems with your new "gift" ?"

Deidara's eyes twitched, though he didn't snap back.

"Just be happy you aren't the target. When our Arts combine in just a few weeks, we will gain the trust of our leader and surely he will reward us for it, ne?"

Sasori didn't answer back, painting Kankurou's finger nails with poison.

Deidara sighed. "Just finish this soon. We have a mission to finish."

In his mind he thought: 'There are still many demons to catch.'

They say winds bring new fortunes... and if you choose the right path then your fortune will turn out good. In a small hospital room, a raven haired teen was dreaming. About rain, sunshine, flowers and a kiss with what he still thinks as his "best friend".

If he only knew what awaited him.

TBC

Wah, it's over 2am... already. I better go. I am back, hoping on updating before leaving again... don't wanna, but that's life.

I took a test on seeing which Naruto guy I would pair up with. For some unknown evil reason it ended on Kabuto. I don't know how, or why... but really, I hate that guy! If there is one sneak I hate, it is Kabuto, sometimes more then Orochimaru.

Well, that's all for me. I will write some replies for the reviews, either now or tomorrow.

Yawn!

Oyasumi!

Shitza