Sasuke Hunt Down Team: The Fall of Konoha 8
Hello readers. I hope you enjoy the chapter. I would like to finish the story to end the year (I think it's kinda cool). Well, have fun and forgive my cheesiness, the extended battles, the very short battles and anything you can think about.
"The story was created before the manga got this far."
Madara Backed to a Corner
Sasuke closed his eyes to wait for a fatal strike that never came. Instead, he felt a heavy fist in his face. The traitor wondered why the Leaf ninja were wasting time with punches when they could end Madara's life by killing him, Sasuke opened his eyes and saw Naruto, the blonde was irritated, and that made the Uchiha's eyebrow twitch. He expected to hear the same talk about Naruto not letting him die and returning him to the right path. "What now?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes in annoyance.
"Did you think I'll let Hinata kill you? I swore that I'll return you to the Leaf alive." The blonde started, but Itachi covered Naruto's eyes.
"Drop it. You should worry about killing Madara before he breaks his connection." Itachi sighed and looked in Madara's direction. The masked man stood in the Statue's head with clenched fists and unable to move. If Madara wanted to escape he had to severe his chakra string but that would leave him open for Gaara and Killer Bee's attacks. They were not trying to assassinate the masked man at Naruto's request.
"Do you actually plan to fight him after absorbing chakra from Kabuto, all the Jinchuriki and me?" Sasuke snorted. "Go, don't mind me."
"Actually, all the chakra is going to the Statue. Madara is as powerless as you." Hinata clarified, referring to Sasuke. "Naruto, please move aside. I'll continue the task." She asked pleadingly but the blond stood his ground.
"I am not moving. Sasuke has to live because killing him will make everyone miserable." Naruto explained his motives. Sakura and Ino exchanged glances.
"I think I'll be fine." Kiba approached with a Kunai. Apparently his work was done.
"Shut it, lap dog." Sasuke dared him to make a move.
"Madara is an urgent matter." Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Ino, tell Tenten and Chouji to start the detonations. We will use the distraction to attack Madara at my signal. Tell Sai I need birds to break our fall." Shikamaru commanded. "If you survive Madara, the explosion and the fall, consider yourself a prisoner of the Leaf." The genius said in a bored tone and motioned Hinata to follow him. The Hyuga girl shot Sasuke a worried glance but the Uchiha nodded reassuringly.
Naruto lingered for a few seconds and then Sakura approached him shyly. "I'm glad you're ok." She held his hand and then pulled it. "Shikamaru would never leave his life to chance… I bet Tenten will cut the string and Sai's bird is ready to get him." She winked, trying to make Naruto feel better. The blonde scratched his head with his free hand and followed the medic.
When Shikamaru arrived to the head of the Statue Sai's birds were already roaming the sky. Tenten was riding one of them, ready to cut Sasuke's string. Chouji had the hand-sign to detonate the paper bombs. The Hunt down Team and the Reinforcements surrounded Madara, the man was willing to wait until the last second to merge the Ten Tails. Even if he tried to escape he would have to pass through the dead bodies of at least thirty shinobi. "All right Madara Uchiha, be prepared to die. There is no way for you to…" There was the explosion.
The Fifth's monument started to shake. At first, small stones slid from the base of the rock wall and then huge pieces of the monument fell with deafening impacts. Shikamaru felt the ground collapse under him and in an instant he was jumping from rock to rock in order to keep himself at the level of the Statue. "Tenten, now." He yelled and the weapons specialist threw a kunai with her usual accuracy and severed the chakra string that connected Sasuke and Madara. One of Sai's ink birds rushed to aid the weakened avenger. Soon after, the rest of the birds retrieved the rest of the team. Gaara used his sand to stay in the air and surrounded Madara with his sand coffin, but the masked man evaded the attack, jumping away from the Statue. Shikamaru saw his chance to stab the masked man with his Shadow Sewing Jutsu. Despite the effort, Madara became intangible. Hinata kept track of him and nodded to Sakura as soon as the man became solid. The bird that carried the pink haired kunoichi was several feet above Madara, which gave Sakura even more strength to her attack. Madara started the process to teleport the girl but Temari's wind blew the girl towards Naruto. Kiba attacked from behind with Fang over Fang and Shino surrounded the enemy with Insect Sphere. At the end they spent chakra in vain. Madara dodged them easily.
"Ino, did you contact Anko?" Temari approached Ino's ink bird.
"Yes, she did resurrect Konan but she won't make her fight. She asked for her advice. We need to trap him in a deadly jutsu for at least 10 minutes. If that works we can have the upper hand and give the final strike. I just told Shikamaru." She explained.
"Good… what's his answer?" The Suna ninja crossed her arms.
"It's been like 10 seconds since I told him." Ino pouted in disbelief. Temari was too pushy, then she got the answer from Shikamaru and her eyes widened. Usually her lazy fried wouldn't react that fast in any situation. Maybe Temari was good for him. "All right… I approve of you as Shikamaru's wife." Ino squealed, astonishing Temari.
"Ino, the strategy." The older ninja snapped her fingers in front of Ino's eyes.
"We need the Hyugas to use Rotation for at least 5 minutes each. You can use your wind from a level down to attack as soon as Rotation is over… I'll just communicate everyone's tasks." The blue eyed girl winked and Temari left.
Hinata and Neji gathered their chakra and approached the enemy. The ink birds disappeared as soon as they started the jutsu and Madara could not do much being trap between the Hyugas in his intangible state. However, in the last minute, the always loyal Zetsu used substitution on the older Uchiha and took the destructive impact of Rotation. As a consequence, Madara landed at the bottom of the valley and watched as the rocks fell. The masked man tried to teleport but his low chakra did not allow it.
Killer Bee and Naruto borrowed the strength of their respective Tailed Beasts. The duo created chakra bombs and aimed to Madara, however, they changed the target after hearing Shikamaru's order of focusing on the Statue. The jutsu did severe damage to the Statue and the impact with the ground destroyed it.
The Hunt down Team surrounded Madara, who seemed as passive as usual. Unaware that his plan failed and that he would be assassinated or taken into custody of the Leaf. "If that's how it's going to be then come to your death." He laughed at the incredulous faces of the young ninja.
Black Zetsu watched the battle from afar and White Zetsu joined him. "Poor Tobi. I almost feel bad for him." The white half sighed. The other Zetsu chuckled. "As if Tobi could be defeated by brats… it's like saying we can die." Both laughed hysterically as they merged and disappeared in the ground. "Let's wait for him in a hideout and wait for the next plan."
As the young ninja were about to attack Madara, Sasuke appeared behind him and drew a kunai. The older Uchiha grabbed the avenger's wrist so the boy electrocuted him. Shikamaru used his shadow to pull Sasuke away before Madara could kill him. Suddenly Hinata, Kiba, Ino and Karin made relieved expressions. Shino and Neji noticed the same as them but their faces remained stoic. Then Sakura used her super human strength to create a disturbance while Gaara formed a sandstorm. Seconds later Temari cleared the area with her wind control and all the older ninja formed a crowd.
Tsunade stood tall with her arms crossed. Kakashi, Guy, Yamato, Kurenai, Shizune and Anko surrounded her. Shikaku, Inoichi and Choza had serious expressions. Every ninja responded to Tsunade's call and they were cornering Madara. The older Uchiha clenched his fists and realized that he lost the battle but the war was still on. A white Zetzu appeared next to him and gave him the chakra he needed to teleport away. "You can have your peace for now, but keep in mind that I will come back and you don't know half of what's coming." His voice echoed after a whirlpool absorbed him to his own dimension.
Itachi's body started to vanish. He made Kabuto release everyone but him. However, it was his time to go. He approached Sasuke while pointing at his face and then with a gentle smile he poked his little brother's forehead. "I love you, foolish little brother." He said closing his eyes.
"You asked them to kill me." Sasuke scowled.
"Well, that doesn't mean I don't love you." The older Uchiha chuckled. "Looks like we'll see each other later on. In the meantime live, atone for you sins and learn to love someone other than yourself." He said jokingly.
"Jerk… I love you too." Sasuke clenched his fists at the thought of his brother leaving once again. "I still have so much to ask you." The avenger's voice broke.
"You'll find out soon enough." Itachi waved and his spirit ascended, leaving an unknown ninja in his place. Shikamaru and Naruto approached him, it was time for his arrest. Sasuke bit his lip to maintain the control of his emotions, grieving for his beloved brother in front of Konoha Shinobi was not an option. The avenger looked for Hinata and saw her hugging Kiba and Shino. Sasuke also noticed that most of the guys sent to retrieve him were all bruised, injured or unconscious. "Serves them right, not that I look better." The Uchiha admitted.
"Sasuke, it's time to go." Naruto extended his hand. Yet, the Uchiha narrowed his eyes and stood up by himself. He put his wrists in front of the blonde, letting them know that he accepted imprisonment. Naruto was about to pat Sasuke's back jokingly but Shikamaru wrapped the Uchiha with his shadow. The Jinchuriki intended to protest until the Nara boy glared at him.
Hinata saw her friends get help from other ninja and shed some tears. She was very grateful that all of them were alive. However, not everything was as she wanted. Shikamaru captured Sasuke and the next step was his trial, obviously he would be found guilty of all charges. If he was lucky Tsunade would exchange death penalty for a life in prison, but if her Clan supported him... Sakura taped her shoulder, bringing her back to reality, and smiled widely. The heiress smiled too but passed out soon after, since the 5 minutes of Rotation were taking their toll.
Seconds later, when everything seemed fine, Hashirama Senju's stone head collapsed due to the damage of Kimmimaro's bones piercing it. The Third's monument received too much damage from Hazashi and Neji's rotation and crumbled to the ground. The Fourth's head was intact but the stone wall that held it was affected by Tenten's explosives. In consequence it fell moments after Tsunade's. The Fifth Hokage's aura turned deadly and her eyes narrowed. The Hunt down Team swallowed saliva and looked away awkwardly.
To Be Continued
Excuses so you won't kill me:
I couldn't kill Madara because it just feels wrong… we still don't know how he ends.
Itachi's second death was complicated but Sasuke is going to mourn for real in the next chapter.
I didn't know the Statue of the Outer Path moved when I made the outline for the story. That's why it is more like a chakra container.
What else? Can't think of anything... see you next chapter.
Thanks for reading.
Saki-Hime: Thank you for the review. I am glad that you like it.