Hey avid readers! It's time for another update. Itachi is going to play a major role in this chapter so you won't see much of Sasuke and Hinata. A lot of fateful decisions are made, so pay close attention. Enjoy!

Hidden Leaf Village

Almost instantly, the four of them started to run towards the battle. Itachi took the lead, followed by Hinata and Naruto. Sasuke lagged behind. "What am I doing? Why should I care what happens to the Hokage?" Sasuke stopped and Naruto turned around to look at him. "Sasuke, what are you doing come on!"

Sasuke just stood there, unmoving. Itachi and Hinata stopped also to see what was happening. "Why should I come? Who cares if the Hokage dies?" Hinata gasped and Itachi frowned. Naruto grew angry. "What do you mean 'who cares?' He's the Hokage, we have to help him!" Sasuke snarled. "Tch! You wouldn't understand Naruto."

Itachi stepped toward Sasuke. "Sasuke, this is your village. It is your duty to protect it." Sasuke shook his head violently. "Shut up!" Sasuke stared at his older brother. "Who are you to talk about duty?! You killed our entire clan! You killed father and mother!" Tears came to Sasuke's eyes. "If…if it weren't for you they would still be alive!"

Itachi sighed and came closer to Sasuke. "Sasuke, listen to me. There is much more to this than you think. I was performing my duty. It brought me no pride, nor smile to my face when I did what I did." Sasuke stood his ground, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Why did you do it? Why didn't you explain yourself?"

Itachi frowned. "Sasuke, I promise I will explain to you later. But right now is not the time. You have a choice to make. Will you come with us to assist the Hokage, or will you turn from your village and take the coward's way out?"

Sasuke hesitated. Then he looked up to see Naruto. For the first time, he saw Naruto as an ally, instead of an enemy. "Alright, I'll come with you." He then turned to Itachi. "But you must tell me what happened afterwards." Itachi nodded in agreement. Naruto then spoke up. "Come on, we have to hurry." They all nodded and headed off to the battle.

Hidden Leaf Village (Rooftop)

The Third and Orochimaru were locked in a heated battle. The roof was littered with shuriken and small swords. Orochimaru had a long sleek blade in his hand while The Third had a monkey staff. "Orochimaru, we do not have to do this. Submit so that you can be dealt with in an honerable fashion." Orochimaru laughed. "An 'honerable fashion'? Surrender is never honerable." The Third sighed and readied his weapon. "Very well."

Chuunin Areana (Spectator Box)

Kurenai slashed at another ninja, making him crumble to the ground. She sighed. "How many more of them are there?" Behind her a ninja had his kunai out. "Time to die." He said lightly under his breath. He snuck up to her and raised his hand. "Dynamic Entry!" A swift kick to the face sent the ninja spiraling into a wall. Kurenai turned around to see a familiar face.

"Guy! It's about time you show up." The leaf jounin Might Guy smiled. "Of course! No battle is great without the legendary Might Guy!" Kurenai smiled. Within seconds the other jounin instructors came to help. Kakashi Hatake and Asuma Saruobi joined and the four of them formed a back-to-back circle. "Just like old times right guys?" Said Asuma. Kurenai smirked. "Yeah, like when we were kids." Guy laughed while the enemy ninja surrounded them. Kakashi spoke up. "Alright, we have to get through these few ninja so we can get to the Hokage. That is our primary mission." They all nodded as the enemy ninja closed in.

Hidden Leaf Village (Rooftop)

Naruto and Itachi were the first to arrive. Itachi looked up and down the barrier. "Naruto, this is a simple barrier, but it is strong." Naruto nodded in agreement. "It looks like it was based on four points. Do you think it was created by four different people?" Itachi nodded. "Yes, this barrier requires too much chakra for one person to make."

Hinata and Sasuke arrived and stared in awe at the glowing purple wall. "What is that?" Sasuke asked. Naruto continued to study the barrier. "It is a four-point barrier. We think it took four separate people to erect it." Itachi added, "It is also made to prevent us from seeing what is going on inside. My sharingan cannot see anything past this barrier.

"Byakugan!" Hinata stared at the barrier and scanned it for openings. "I can't see through it either." Naruto frowned. "What now Itachi-sensei?" Hinata cringed a little. She had never heard Naruto actually call Itachi his sensei. "Even though it is strong, the barrier can still be broken if we find a weak point." Itachi turned to look at Hinata.

"Can you scan the wall of the barrier and isolate any points that look weaker Hinata?" Hinata nodded. "I'll try." She looked over the outside of the wall, but was having no luck. "I don't see anything that looks like a distortion in the chakra." Suddenly, Hinata felt something touch her hand. She looked over and saw that it was Naruto.

He grabbed her hand. "Hinata, use some of my chakra to intensify your vision." After saying it, Naruto blushed and so did Hinata. "But Naruto, I've never done that before. I don't even know if it will work." Naruto closed his eyes and let his chakra flow into his hand. "Just trust me," Naruto said with a smile. Hinata looked at the wall again. "There, near the middle of this section. It looks slightly weaker." Itachi nodded and looked to where Hinata was pointing.

"Alright Naruto. This will require both of us. I'm afraid I don't have enough chakra to break a hole in the wall." Naruto nodded and, reluctantly, let go of Hinata's hand. Itachi showed Naruto the handsigns required while Hinata and Sasuke watched. After three practice tries, they were ready.

Naruto looked at Itachi and nodded. They started forming the handsigns at an incredibly fast speed. Suddenly, a few familiar faces appeared. "Kurenai-sensei!" Hinata said as Kurenai and her companions arrived. "Hinata," Kurenai smiled. "What is going on?" Hinata tried to explain. "Naruto and Itachi are going to try to break the barrier."

"What!?" Said the jounin in unison. Kakashi looked surprised for the first time. "How do they think they are going to do that?" Naruto smirked. "Just watch." The jutsu was finally ready. Itachi and Naruto looked at eachother and simultaneously leaped into the air. They both threw out their hand and touched the barrier. "Four Pronged Seal: Shatter!" A human sized hole was blown into the barrier.

All of the others stared in awe. Naruto landed and summoned a shadow clone. The clone then jumped up and held the hole open. "That was incredible." Kurenai said as she attempted to keep her jaw from droping. Naruto smiled and looked up to his clone. "What do you see?" His clone replied, "It looks like Orochimaru and The Third are in a heated battle. There are weapons everywhere. They are in a deadlock, we have to help!" Naruto nodded.

"Stop right there." Both Itachi and Naruto recognized that voice. They turned to see their worst nightmare. The ninja stood ready to fight, and was facing Itachi. "So, you finally showed up, Yugao." Yugao said nothing and stood very still, ready to pounce as soon as Itachi let his guard down. Naruto knew better and smirked. "Itachi never lets his guard down."

Everybody looked at Yugao, then back to Itachi. Itachi stood motionless. "Yugao, you must excuse me. The Hokage needs me." He jumped for the hole but was cut off when Yugao threw several shuriken. Itachi dodged but the shuriken hit Naruto's clone, causing it to vanish. Naruto looked up at the hole. It wasn't changing, but he knew that it would close soon.

"You aren't getting anywhere near the Hokage, traitor." By this time, several more ANBU Black Ops members were appearing all around the barrier. They all had their weapons ready and aimed at Itachi. One of them spoke to Yugao. "What are you doing?" She scoffed at him. "I'm fulfilling my duty. Itachi is a traitor to the Leaf." Another ANBU spoke up. "Aren't there more important things at hand? Like saving the Hokage."

Yugao snorted. "This traitor wants to be the one to save him." Hinata and Sasuke were lost. They had no idea why it was such a big deal that Itachi wanted to help. Naruto stepped forward. "Let him help. He wants the best for the village." Yugao laughed at Naruto. "Silly boy. You have no idea what you have gotten into."

Instead of looking away, Naruto looked directly at Yugao. "I don't care what rank you are or how strong you are. All Itachi-sensei wants to do is help. Don't you have a code that says you have to let someone help if they really want to?" Yugao laughed even harder. "That's ridiculous! The Hokage depends strictly upon the safety that WE provide him. We don't have to let anyone help, for any reason."

Itachi looked around at the dozens of ANBU members surrounding them. He then looked at Yugao. "Fine. If you insist on preventing me from assisting, then I shall leave." Itachi jumped over all of them to the next rooftop. "I don't think so." Yugao said as she threw a shuriken at him. It flew straight into Itachi and he collapsed onto the roof.

"Brother!" Sasuke held his arm out towards his older brother, but Naruto put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. Sasuke looked at Naruto who was smiling and pointing up. Sasuke looked up and it was Itachi. Sitting in the hole of the barrier. All of the ANBU looked towards the hole and saw Itachi slip through to the other side. "Get him!" Yugao said as they all jumped for the hole.

As if it were planned, the barrier was reformed and the hole sealed just as Yugao stuck her blade in it. The barrier then broke her sword in half and she fell to the ground. Naruto smirked as Yugao looked up to him. "Sometimes it pays off to be a distraction."

Inside the Barrier

Itachi landed safely inside and saw the battle. Orochimaru slashed at The Third's arm and cut a shallow gash in it. The Hokage then jumped back and then forward, slamming his pole into the ground. The shockwave sent Orochimaru stumbling back, but he did not fall. The Hokage then looked over to see Itachi, who was already at his side. "Ah, Itachi it is good to see you again." Itachi nodded in agreement. "A pleasure as always my Lord."

The Third smiled. "Please no formalities. We have known eachother for quite some time Itachi." Itachi nodded and looked at Orochimaru. "I had no doubt that you could hold him off." The Third looked at him also. "Unfortunately, all I could do was hold him off. He has gotten stronger since I last saw him." Itachi took note and they waited for Orochimaru.

Orochimaru smiled but was panting heavily. "The loyal dog always returns to his master." Orochimaru laughed. "How cute. Now you shall both die together!"

xXxXxXxXxXx My Enemy by Hacride xXxXxXxXxXx

Orochimaru rushed them courageously. He lunged toward Itachi and then spun around to attack the Third. Itachi blocked Orochimaru's foot and the Third used his arm to block Orochimaru's fist. "Very good, but dodge this!" Orochimaru's limbs turned into snakes that lashed out at the two ninja. They both jumped back but one bit the Third on his arm. He shook it off but not before the venom got inside.

Already his arm was starting to go numb. He looked to Itachi. Itachi looked back and immediately understood. Orochimaru then rushed the Hokage. Itachi side-stepped to block. He held Orochimaru by his shoulder and forearm. He then twisted his body so that Orochimaru also twisted and landed on the ground. He pinned Orochimaru to the ground with kunai and leaped into the air. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu." A massive flame shot towards Orochimaru, but he was too fast. The flame hit and Orochimaru was already in the air. He kicked Itachi hard in the stomach.

Itachi was hit so hard that he flew straight into the barrier that was still around them. He landed and struggled to get up. The Hokage stared at Orochimaru. His entire arm was numb and it was spreading to his shoulder. If it got to his heart, he would die. "We can't let this fight drag on." The Third jumped over to Itachi and helped him up. "Itachi, my arm is numb. I'm afraid I won't be much help." Itachi nodded and glanced down at the Third's arm. He did his best not to show on his face what he saw. "His arm isn't numb, it's dead."

Itachi looked up to Orochimaru who smiled at them mockingly. He was playing with them. Itachi took a breath and developed a plan. He made a few handsigns and placed a hand on the Third's dead arm. "Single Prong Seal: Lock." A sealing ring appeared around the Third's shoulder. "That should stop it from spreading, for now." Thie Third acknowledged what he said. Itachi stared at Orochimaru. "It is time for this to end."

Itachi rushed at Orochimaru. He brought up his fist to punch Orochimaru in the face, but Orochimaru blocked and brought his foot up to kick. Instead of blocking, Itachi stared directly into Orochimaru's eyes. "Tsukuyomi."

Tsukuyomi Realm

Orochimaru looked around at the vast emptiness. Itachi then appeared in front of him, his eyes blood red. "Orochimaru, you have lost. Give in before I have to kill you." Orochimaru just smirked and looked at Itachi. "It is you who have lost." Itachi just shook his head. Instantly Orochimaru was chained to a pole and surrounded by clones of Itachi. Each of them were holding a sword. "This is MY realm. I control everything here. I even control how you feel."

Orochimaru was suddenly crying. Through his tears, Orochimaru managed to talk. "Fool. Your cheap tricks won't work on me." Itachi smiled. "Funny, because these 'cheap tricks' are going to kill you." All of Itachi's clones stabbed Orochimaru. They stabbed him in a rhythm so that everytime one sword left his body, another entered at the same time. After ten minutes of this Orochimaru screamed. "ENOUGH! I give up just stop the PAIN!"

Itachi smiled and his clones dissappeared. Orochimaru fell to the ground and coughed up blood. Itachi walked up to him and stood there, putting Orochimaru in his shadow. In one fluid motion, Orochimaru coughed up a sword and stabbed Itachi in the heart. Itachi gasped and fell to his knees. "I told you that your tricks won't work on me." Itachi looked up. Blood was coming from his mouth as he smiled. "They just did."

Inside the Barrier

Orochimaru escaped the jutsu and struck Itachi with his sword. The sword went all the way through Itachi. But Itachi looked at Orochimaru and walked up the sword towards him. Orochimaru started to panic but before he could even flinch. "Fire Style: Clone Explosion." Orochimaru was engulfed in flame and the heat was so intense that the sound ninja four felt it on the outside of the barrier, causing it to fall apart.

xXxXxXxXxXx End Song xXxXxXxXxXx

When the smoke cleared, every ninja in the village had the three of them surrounded. The ANBU were divided into two teams, one for Itachi and the other for Orochimaru. Naruto rushed in to Itachi's side, along with Hinata. The three of them looked at the crisped body of Orochimaru. The smell of burnt flesh was heavy and several of the surrounding ninja gagged.

A few members of the ANBU Black Ops walked towards Orochimaru cautiously. They examined the body. "He is burnt all the way through," one of them said, "he is dead to the fullest extent." Everybody turned to look at Itachi. Yugao then spoke up. "Itachi, the death of Orochimaru does not grant you freedom."

"The hell it doesn't!" The Third walked over to stand by Itachi. "This man did what you other members of the ANBU could not. He saved my life." Yugao got angry and stepped forward. "Forgive me Lord Hokage, but he should not be forgiven his crimes." The Third smiled. "You are forgiven, and so is Itachi."

Hope you guys liked this chapter. It actually took me awhile to write. Especially the fight between Orochimaru and Itachi. Hang around to see what happens next. I'll get started on the next chapter soon.