Everyone's mind was preoccupied with the Ayame's strategy as they followed her through the dense forest. No one spoke of last night when Ayame came back to camp, although it was on their minds as well. Naruto kept his distance from Ayame; she was scary when she yelled at him. He thought that they were getting to know each other more but like Sasuke she barely spoke of her past with Itachi. Every time he brought up the subject with Sakura she told him to drop it. Even Sakura seemed to know more about Ayame's past than he did.

Nobody was themselves today. Naruto was busy in thought for he hardly smiled or laughed. Sakura was worried for Ayame's relationship with Itachi. Especially since Ayame expressed that their relationship was like hers and Sasuke's. At first she was happy to hear that since those two seemed to be the most unlikely pairing; however, now she wasn't so sure.

Ayame kept on leading everyone west, hoping that her clones where giving her accurate information. Itachi, however, surfaced in her mind every so often but she just suppressed them deep in slumber when it came up. There was Neji right next to her and she caught her self rolling her eyes his way. She didn't know why she taking glances at him but after last night he seemed to be worthy of friendship.

They continued west until Ayame suddenly stopped on a branch crouching down holding her stomach. Neji was the first to stop but the others soon followed his lead. Before Neji could reach Ayame, Naruto was right next to her helping her up. "What is it? Are you all right?" Naruto leaned her against the tree. Neji offered water and Ayame took it gladly.

"I'm fine," Ayame breathed heavily. Everyone else shot doubtful looks at her. "Really I am, it's just that one of my clones has been discovered and killed. I guess I wasn't expecting them to return so soon."

"This doesn't happen when a shadow clone gets discovered." Shikamaru said.

"Your right, not to a regular shadow clone." Ayame recovered her breathing and slowly got up only to lean on Neji for support as she regained the feeling in her legs. "But my clones are normal they are a special jutsu that I made. My clones are real and when another's hands kill one I feel it. It's a side effect." She forced a half smile.

"That's awful why would you want to put yourself through that?" Sakura asked.

"Because the side effects only last a short amount of time and the benefits outweigh the side effects any day. That is if you can stand pain every now and then." Ayame replied as she regained full body control. She thanked Naruto and Neji for their help and once she convinced everyone that she was all right they continued on. This time with more speed, for they were extremely close to their target.

They all ducked into the bushes just outside of a nice clearing; far from any water resources that the enemy could use for their advantage. Then four cloaked shadows came out of the forest and rested on the rocks that were scattered throughout the clearing. Obviously Ayame's clone gave them a harder time than they anticipated, giving her team a good chance to attack while they were weak. Naruto clenched his fists as he saw Sasuke standing in front of the other cloaked figures with a sullen expression. He wanted to go right now and attack but knew that he had to wait for everyone else to get to their position. Just then one of the figures perked their head up and just as she was about to warn Sasuke of the chakras that surrounded them, Ayame signaled the others to attack.

Gaara and Neji attacked from the north at the big guy cutting him off from the group, Sakura and Konkuro split the female from the group, and Temari and Sai attacked the fish guy. That left Naruto to go after Sasuke head on. Ayame was left to sit in the shadows watching for her cue but a familiar hand grabbed her shoulder, just as Naruto charged up into one tail and Sasuke formed stage one of the curse seal. She turned around to face two sharingan eyes piercing at her.

"I told you to stay away," Itachi coldly said.

"And I told you I keep my promises, so leave me alone." Ayame collected fire in her hand and threw her fist towards Itachi's face. However he grabbed her wrist and the fire went out. She scowled at him, as he remained emotionless.

"Have it your way," He whispered into her ear still holding onto her hand then disappeared into the dark of the forest. Ayame shrugged and turned over to watch the battle again. Naruto was having good luck in bring Sasuke near the forest. However Neji and Gaara where having some trouble in keeping the big guy, Jugo as she hear the female call out, in line. He seem to have transformed while Itachi distracted her. However Temari and Sai where having little problem with their adversary, the fish like guy. Lucky that Temari can control the wind with her fan, Ayame thought as she turned her attention towards Sakura and Konkuro. Ayame knew that Sakura should fight Karin since Karin is another adversary for Sasuke's attention. However Sakura's brutal strength seems to throw Karin off balance. Glad that no one needs her immediate help she finally turned all her attention towards Naruto and Sasuke's fight. As she watched them she noticed that Sasuke's emotions didn't change well his appearance did and Naruto's as well, he was in stage three. So she motioned Shikamaru, knowing that soon Naruto would lose himself since their training isn't complete.

"Sasuke, you're coming back!" Naruto growled as he lunged towards Sasuke pushing him near the woods.

"No," was all Sasuke said as he dodged Naruto's lunge and pinned him to the ground. Naruto gathered a huge amount of chakra in his hands and sent Sasuke flying backwards.

"Your not the only one that has gotten stronger," Naruto wiped his face as he walked towards Sasuke. Sasuke fully activated his Sharingan at this point and gathered chakra in his hand to form his version of Chidori and lunged at Naruto. Naruto grabbed Sasuke's arm just as it is at his throat and fights Sasuke's strength. Then Sasuke stalled and backed away from Naruto. Confused he looked around and finds that his shadow isn't his anymore but Shikamaru. He should have known that it wouldn't be this easy to get ride of Naruto. Karin, Jugo, and Suigetsu stop their fighting as the others lower their guard to. Karin runs towards Sasuke to help him but is stopped by Sakura's strength. She looks at her in disgust. Jugo believing it is his duty to protect Sasuke he also tries to help his leader but Gaara takes this chance to capture him in Sabaku Kyū (Desert Coffin) preventing him from moving.

Sasuke waited for Naruto to punch him or something, but nothing happened. Instead Naruto walked away as a girl, older than him, walked towards him. She seemed familiar to him but he couldn't remember where he would have met her. The girl got near him and eyed him; her face was worried. 'Why is she looking at me like this? I don't know her,' Sasuke thought.

"Sasuke, it's been a while." Ayame spoke.

"Who are you?" Sasuke finally able to speak.

"I shouldn't expect you to remember me. After all it's been a long time since I last saw you. I'm Ayame."

"Ayame…" Sasuke searched through his memories until his thoughts landed on one. It had an Ayame, the same hair color and eyes of course she looks much older now, however Itachi was next to her as they strolled down the streets of Konoha. "Why are you here?" He finally spit out. It doesn't make any sense to him. She was a friend or is a friend of Itachi why is she here with Naruto and their gang. He hasn't heard anything about her since she left a year after…. that day.

"I have a proposition for you." Ayame nodded to Shikamaru and he let go of Sasuke. Sasuke stumbled forward before he regained control of his body.

"A Proposition?"

"I want to train you to kill Itachi."

"Why?"

"Because I am the only one who has ever been able to tie with him on a dual. We never could beat each other."

"What do you propo-"

"Sasuke! You're not thinking of taking her up on her offer are y-" Karin pleaded.

"Shut up Karin!" Sasuke snapped at her and Karin's eyes watered up. "Continue."

"Well you will be my apprentice until you can defeat me in a battle and then you will be able to defeat Itachi. After all you want to kill him yourself, don't you. You don't want to appear weak relying on others to help you kill him. Do you?" Ayame leaned forward, phrasing her words in order to manipulate him.

"Don't listen to her, Sasuke-" Karin once again yelled out.

"I told you to shut up!" Sasuke yelled. "Besides she's right, he would think of me as weak and only I shall kill him. I won't be ride of his burden until I alone kill him."

"Foolish brother," Itachi's voice wavered in the air. Everyone looked up in the trees to find Itachi with his Akatsuki cloak wavering in the breeze. "Taking the help of others, you really are weak."

"I am not weak," Sasuke lunged at him but was held back by Ayame.

"Don't listen to him he's only provoking you, let me handle this for now. To prove that I am worthy to train you." She whispered in his ear and he relaxed. Itachi jumped down to the ground while Ayame calmly walked forward.

She squeezed her fist as she charged towards him. He slid only inches away from her fist however she manage to cut him. Blood trickled down his face; he brought his hand up toward it staring at the blood on his fingers. She never struck him like that; it was as if she actually meant to kill him. Was she testing him, to see if he would actually fight her? He was not going to be called a weakly so he would have to put his feelings aside and act full force. He ran towards her at high speed as she towards him. They locked into each other's hands pushing against each other. Her eyes scrunched together and her brows darted down. She didn't know where all this hate was coming from but she felt hatred towards him. She despised him for torturing Sasuke, for leaving Konoha, for deserting their friendship, and now for deserting their love. It was as if nothing she ever did reached him and she hated him for deceiving her, she gave herself to him in hopes… hopes of what. That they would get married and live together. She hated not only him but herself for letting herself be put into this position for being so vulnerable towards him. All this hate was surfacing towards her expression and the strength that she forced upon him.

Itachi could see that she loathed him and he understood why, but he couldn't tell her everything she wouldn't understand. He needed his brother to become stronger outside of Konoha. Then why was he so reluctant to let her train him, he would ideed become stronger than him if she trained him. He knew that so why was he so against it now. He shouldn't be fighting her on this; he should be holding her in his arms protecting her. Yet she was determined to see this through and at first he was willing to help her but now that it was time… he didn't want their time to be short lived. Was that it? Did he object because he was afraid that Sasuke would actually kill him and then he could never…hold her again?

He jumped back into the trees. "For once she right little brother. I will not fight you until you are alone." His hat covered his eyes only to hide the fact that his Sharingan eyes disappeared and two black eyes appeared, with longing as he looked at Ayame. Then he disappeared into the forest.

Sasuke dumb founded by Itachi's quick appearance stood looking at the woods for a long time, until Ayame placed her hand on his shoulder. He turned around to face her blue eyes. "What is it going to be? Are you going to come?"

"On one condition…I'm not going back to Konoha."

"Good me either…I'm taking you to a special place. Also I have a condition, while you are my apprentice your old teammates cannot search for you. If they do I will kill them, so it's in their best interest not to."

"I can't promise anything but if they do come I will assist in the killing. I don't want my training interrupted." Sasuke glowered at his teammates. The two guys nodded while Karin was protesting but Sasuke just shot deathly glares at her and she nodded to.

"Good now lets go, oh and by the way Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Neji will be coming with us."

"What!" Sasuke stepped back.

"Don't worry they won't interfere… in fact you don't have to communicatewith them at all. It's just that the village that we are going to need more protection."

"Alright," Sasuke muttered. Then him, Ayame, Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Neji went south, Shino and Temari headed to Konoha, and Konkuro and Gaara back to the sand. Leaving Jugo, Karin, and Suigetsu alone in the open field in shock of losing their leader so quick.