From this point on, you should ignore the Preview from the last chapter, because this turned out way different than I was intending it to be, but I hope it's enjoyable all the same, and before anyone gets on my tail about Sasuke's well being, know that he still has a major asskicking coming to him courtesy of Naruto Uzumaki's foot.

Kurama: Can't I just eat him?

Me: Think of Sarada, Kurama. Admit it, she's the cutest little thing since Himawari.

Kurama: *sigh* Just a little bite?

Me: Oy vey...

21: Akatsuki: An Uchiha's Request!

Naruto sprang to his feet them moment he heard the gruff voice of Kisame, something he found hard to forget. He placed himself in between Tayuya and the two Akatsuki who stood upon the tree branches above them, looking down at them. Kisame was grinning ear to ear as he remembered. But the one that he was more afraid of stood off to the side, looking down at them with near emotionless eyes.

Itachi Uchiha didn't even have his Sharingan activated, but the presence the traitorous Uchiha exuded was almost suffocating. "So it would seem, Kisame-san...the girl, though...our little Naruto has very exotic tastes."

Tayuya snarled at them, "Fuck you, Uchiha! You're worse than that little pussy we took from the leaf!"

Itachi narrowed his eyes, "So...Sasuke-kun has fallen to Orochimaru...I had hoped..." Naruto glared at him.

"Hoped for what?" Naruto growled, "You murdered your whole family! What were you expecting after putting him through that!?"

Itachi's Sharingan flared to life, "Do not speak of matters you don't understand, Jinchuriki," he said coldly, "Now, you will come with us quietly, or that girl will suffer."

Tayuya reached for her Kunai holster, but found it missing. Damn, I fucking left it! She cursed herself. Naruto, however, still had his, and already had one at the ready, "You're not gonna touch her, Teme!" His chakra flared all around his arms and legs as his Shakuton encased him. Itachi's eyes widened slightly.

"The Bingo books were right," Kisame grinned, grasping the hilt of Samehada, "Leader-sama was right to send us after him early."

Itachi, on the other hand... "That's no Kekkei Genkai," the Uchiha said, "My Sharingan is actively trying to copy that Jutsu, but there are no hand signs...He's actively combining his own wind and fire natures to create something new. Impressive."

Naruto, be careful, Kyuubi cautioned, I feel his eyes working their Genjutsu. Don't dare look at him!

I know, I feel it, too. Naruto growled, But he hasn't moved!

He has the Mangekyou, he doesn't need to move!

Tayuya watched as both Akatsuki flashed down to their level, her eyes on the blue-skinned Kiri-nin. She knew that Itachi would be the one to go for Naruto, but the sword-wielding Kisame would be a problem for her if he got too close.

"You know you really shouldn't resist," Itachi said, speaking only to Naruto, his voice smooth, and even, "It would do you no good whatsoever."

Naruto glared at him, "There's no way I'm just gonna role over for you. I don't know why you want the Jinchuuriki, but you're not getting me!" His flames blazed up and around him in a sort of armor, covering his entire body, save for his head, "Now bring it, or get lost!"

Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly, and the young man smirked. "Foolish boy," he said as the world around them started to fall away to darkness, "I've already captured you, you simply didn't notice."

Tayuya was stunned when Naruto's flames began to die down, and his arms slackened to hang at his sides. "N-Naruto?"

Kisame chuckled, "Oopsie, looks like Itachi's got him already." The blue-skinned nin smirked, drawing his blade, "Which means I get to play with you, little Oni."

=|Inside Itachi's Genjutsu|=

Naruto was suspended above a void of darkness that was Itachi's Genjutsu, cursing himself for allowing him to cast it. But the Kyuubi's words had been true, the Uchiha didn't need to lift a finger to ensnare him.

Suddenly, a mob of crows fluttered around him, converging into a black blob before Itachi himself took shape. "Now, we can talk."

"Talk?" Naruto growled, "Why the hell would I talk to you?"

Itachi narrowed his eyes, "Because even though the leaves may hide our village, Naruto-kun, underneath those same leaves hide a mass of withered leaves that have fallen from their branches...now, tell me of how Sasuke-kun became Orochimaru's puppet?"

"Again, why should I tell you anything?" Naruto asked, "We're enemies."

Itachi sighed, "Because, Naruto, I have little to no intention of actually letting the Akatsuki have their way with you, or any of the Bijuu if I can help it."

Naruto looked confused, "What? Then why -?"

"Tell me of my brother first, then I shall explain," Itachi interrupted, "And leave nothing out. Time is constant here, so only a moment will pass in the real world while it would seem to take hours here."

Naruto sighed, and, seeing no reason to keep quiet, started explaining how Sasuke had come under Orochimaru's control. From the fight in the Forest of Death, to the final moment of their clash at the valley of the end. All the while, Itachi listened to him stoically.

"I think I can undo the seal on him like I did for Tayuya-chan, but I'd have to keep him still for it to work." Naruto said, still wary of the Uchiha traitor. "So, what's all this sudden interest in your brother? I thought you didn't give a damn about him anymore?"

Itachi shook his head, "No, in fact I had hoped that my parting words would encourage him to protect the village, but it seems that he only saw it as a weakness. He seeks out power to destroy me, though I do not blame him, but it's led him to a darker path than even I would walk."

Naruto crossed his arms, "So you do care?" He scoffed, "Got a funny way of showing it. If it hadn't been for the fox, that Teme would've killed me for sure."

"That is the only way to unlock the Mangekyou Sharingan." Itachi said, "In doing so, you cut yourself off from all that you love in order to do the necessary deed to activate it. Killing the one that is closest to you...in Sasuke's case, that was you. His rival, his friend." Itachi looked at him and sighed, "Take heart in knowing that Sasuke-kun did indeed value your friendship, though why he left you alive I don't know."

"Kyuubi said that he was mumbling something about not being like you." Naruto said, "I guess he wanted to find another way to unlock that power."

"I see," Itachi nodded, and smiled, "You have told me what I needed to know. I will keep my word about letting you go, but it must appear as if you've driven us off. You are quite strong, but I don't think Kisame will fall for a mediocre trick."

Naruto shrugged, "Just control me, and order me to use my strongest jutsu. I drove back the Raikage that way."

Itachi thought about that for a moment, and nodded, "It will do, as I can sense your comrades near." He said, "I have one favor to ask, and if you do not wish, or are unable to do it, I will not hold it against you."

"What?"

"Save my brother." Itachi said, before his Sharingan flared to life again, "Now...let us put on a show."

=x=

"Naruto, wake up!" Tayuya yelled at the blond as Kisame laughed again, "Please! Don't do this!"

Kisame grinned as he stepped up to her, his sword raised, "It's not gonna do you any good. Once Itachi-san gets someone with his eyes, there's no escape." he leveled his sword at her throat, "now, I think you'd better start worrying about yourself."

Suddenly, Itachi moved. "I have a better plan."

Kisame grinned at him, "Done with him already?"

"Yes," Itachi smiled, something that did not bode well for anyone, "Naruto-kun, go play with the little oni." Itachi said, waving his hand at the girl. To Tayuya's horror, Naruto turned on her, his eyes dull and devoid of any emotion.

"N-Naruto?" Tayuya started backing away, "This...this is a joke, right? J-just another one of your pranks?"

Naruto's arms and legs flared with white flames. "Shakuton - " He raised his arms toward the girl, "- Bakuhatsu."

The flames on Naruto's arms shot out toward her, giving the girl barely enough time to duck as they shot over her, causing a massive explosion behind them.

Itachi was a little surprised by the power of the technique. "My, my, my, what a nasty attack."

Kisame cackled, "No hand signs, so no copying, eh, Itachi-san?"

Itachi gave him a slanted look, "I'm not even trying to use my Sharingan to copy him. Besides, it's quite difficult to control him at the moment."

"Really?" Kisame looked surprised by this, and frowned, "And here I thought that an Uchiha was capable of controlling the Kyuubi with their eyes?"

Itachi wanted to role his eyes at this, but at the moment, he couldn't take his eyes off the blond shinobi, "Only Madara has ever been able to do that."

Another explosion rocked the area as Naruto went on the attack reluctantly, and Itachi sighed, "Even now, he's resisting me out of concern for that girl."

Kisame just smirked again, "Well, why don't you just take him and leave? I'll be more than happy to take care of her, and those fools I can sense coming."

Itachi smiled, considering the request would indeed allow him to play off the fact that Naruto would escape, without Kisame's knowledge, yet there was a risk involved that he would kill the girl, or even be killed by the Sannin, Jiraiya.

"No," Itachi said, much to Kisame's consternation, but the man gave an absolutely evil smile, "This is far more entertaining." The man said, and Kisame laughed.

"Kami, who knew you had a sadistic side to you, Itachi-san!" Kisame roared as Naruto advanced on the girl.

Meanwhile, as Naruto made a slow advance, Tayuya was weighing her options. While it was true that she could easily keep up with Naruto in a straight up fight, if he was using his Shakuton abilities, while she had barely anything save for the Kitsune Summoning contract and some Fire styles, there was nothing in her arsenal that could match...

Hang on, she thought as she ducked under a flaming kick, In this form, I've got almost as much chakra as the Ichibi, and my control's better than Naruto's even with the Oaseru no Fuin on us. Maybe I can...She ducked under another white hot blast. Aw, fuck it! It's not like I have a lot of options! She clapped her hands together, "Futton: Kairiki Muso!"

"What?" Itachi and Kisame questioned as a heat haze surrounded the transformed red-head. Her brown skin sheened with sweat for a moment before clearing away, and nothing seemed to have changed. "Hmm, I suppose she's bluffing?" Kisame asked.

Itachi shrugged, having seen the Jutsu with his eyes, and seen the increase in temperature of her chakra. It was a true Jutsu, but -

Tayuya grit her teeth, and cocked her fist back, "I'm real fuckin' sorry about this, Koi, but there's no fuckin' way I'm lettin' those asshats have you!" Tayuya snarled and hammered the blond right in the face, sending him careening into the base of Kisame's tree, and knocking it over, forcing the Kiri-nin to flee.

"Damn!" Kisame said, alighting next to his partner, "That's some wicked strength!"

Tayuya's hands then came up in the Horse sign, "You'll love this!" She snarled up at the pair, "Futton: Komu no Jutsu!" She took a deep breath and spat out a thick stream of mist toward the two men, Itachi's eyes widening and shoving his partner out of the way before the mist reached them. Kisame looked at him in slight anger as the man found another perch, only to find that their previous tree was melting at the touch of Tayuya's mist.

"Well, shit, she's the real deal, isn't she?" Kisame asked, grinning down at the girl, "Maybe we should just take the kid?"

"You're not touching them!" Came a loud voice from above. Kisame only had a moment's warning before the red blur slammed into him with a hard left to his face, sending him spiraling to the ground. Itachi came to rest on the ground beside the recovering blond.

"Rise, Naruto-kun, there's more work to be done," Itachi intoned, causing the blond to rise to his feet.

Jiraiya flashed to Tayuya's side just as Ranmaru, and Sora entered the clearing. "Release my student, Uchiha." Jiraiya growled, cracking his knuckles.

"Or what?" Itachi asked, "Will you attack him to get to me?" He stepped behind the blond, still under his control. "I think not. Naruto," he leaned down to the Chunin's ear, "Use your full skill."

Naruto's hands twitched, summoning the twin lightning swords to his grasp, both sparking with electricity. "Toton." Naruto whispered, and disappeared. Tayuya was on the move instantly, easily able to sense his movements in her current state, and slammed a steam-powered punch into the blond's stomach. Naruto looked at her blindly, "Raiga." His entire body erupted with lightning, shocking her mercilessly from the point of contact.

"Ranmaru, shut off his chakra!" Jiraiya yelled, making a beeline for Itachi, "I'll keep him busy!"

"I'll take ugly!" Sora yelled as he made a dash for Kisame, who was recovering from the the blow given by Jiraiya.

"Don't try to match them in Jutsu!" Jiraiya warned, "You'll dry yourself out before they do. Stick to Taijutsu!"

Sora grinned, taking a flying leap into the air and spinning into a kick that bounced off of Kisame's Samehada as the man grinned, "A little late, aren't ya, gaki?"

"Not quite!" Sora roared, spinning on his heel, and striking up with his right leg, hoping to loosen Kisame's grip on his sword. Meanwhile, as Ranmaru barreled into the fight against the blond, Tayuya groaned and shook herself from the shock of the blast, then growled.

"I told you," she brought her hands up, "I won't let you take him from me!" She flashed through her seals faster than Ranmaru could see, only the rage in her golden eyes. "Yoton: Yokai no Jutsu!"

Jiraiya looked back in horror, "Get off the ground!" He sprang into the trees, with Ranmaru and Sora right behind him just as Tayuya breathed out a thick stream of liquid that shot right over Naruto's shoulder and splattered against the tree behind Itachi. The bark and inner rings of the tree melted away like nothing and the tree fell, leveling a noxious cloud of acid in it's wake.

Itachi held his sleeve over his face and backed away from the acid cloud. "Perhaps we underestimated them." But then he realized that he'd made a big mistake. He'd taken his eyes off Naruto just long enough...

Tayuya was already there. Her hands placed against Naruto's chest, and channeling all the chakra she could to disrupt the Genjutsu. Naruto's eyes began to clear, bringing back the light she knew and loved to them. He blinked once...twice, three times before his eyes widened at the sight of Tayuya's smile. Then his eyes hardened as he growled.

He closed those eyes, and turned back to Itachi, "How...dare...you...How dare you!" His body erupted into flames as he stepped toward the man, "I won't let you use me like that ever again!" He shot forward, his arm cocked back, and slammed into the Uchiha full force, his white flames engulfing him before he dissolved into a mob of crows. Itachi reappeared beside Kisame.

"We're leaving." Itachi said, evenly, "Leader-sama needs to know about this."

"Too bad," Kisame smiled as the blond turned on them, "I was just starting to enjoy the show."

"Soryuha!" Naruto's lightning Jutsu sprang from his blades in the form of a cage of lightning bolts that tore through the earth in it's attempt to get to the two Akatsuki members. But they were already gone.

Naruto sank to the ground, and slammed his fists down, "Dammit...dammit!"

=x=

Itachi opened his eyes alongside Kisame, and smirked, "That was quite something, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," Kisame sighed, "Too bad we couldn't keep up the Jutsu for longer. I would have liked to see if they could have defeated us using those puppets Sasori gave to us...meg, I supposed we should let Leader-sama know about this, yeah?"

"Yes," Itachi nodded as he stood, "I believe that would be best, and we should tell Kakuzu and Hidan to get the Bingo Books updated again."

Kisame noticed something about the Uchiha...he seemed in a good mood, despite their failure.

=x=

Tayuya looked at herself in the mirror, taking in her appearance. Gone were the dark skin and the horns, and back was her normal, rosy skin. It was over. Finally. She was completely free of the Hebi Sannin's curse. Behind her sat the blond responsible for the act. Naruto was not happy with how things had played out though.

After the battle was over, Naruto had apologized on his hands and knees for his part in the fight. Jiraiya had just told him to shut up and get over it. Tayuya was of the same mind. An Uchiha's eyes were not easy to resist.

Wisely, though, Jiraiya, Ranmaru, Neji and Sora had left him alone to finish his work on Tayuya's curse mark. As Tayuya now took in the blond shinobi, she took a few steps toward him until she was by his side, and sat down with him. "You know I don't blame you, right?" She asked. "It wasn't your fault."

Naruto shook his head, "No...I just...I could see everything that was happening, Tayuya-chan, the moment I attacked you...Kami I wanted to rip him to pieces for that!" he growled, slamming a fist into the floor. "Making me attack the girl I like...it's too cruel!" Naruto grit his teeth.

Tayuya blushed at his admission, but leaned against his shoulder, "Doesn't matter...I'm here, you're here, and everyone's safe. And if you didn't notice, I used some powerful attacks against you, didn't I?"

"You were aiming at Itachi," Naruto pointed out.

"Still could've hit you," she smiled, "And I did...sorry about that." She reached up and touched his face, making him blush as her hand slid across his cheek. "I bet that really hurt."

Naruto smirked, "It was healed in a few seconds...you should've heard the fox yammering at me. He was so pissed that I was under Itachi's Genjutsu he nearly forced himself through the seal to disrupt it. I'm glad I was able to calm him down, though."

Tayuya nodded, opting to just enjoy the warmth radiating from the blond. Mine. The thought caught the girl off guard, but made her smile in the end. He's mine.

Naruto felt her arm snaking it's way around his waist as she worked her way under his arm. "Naruto?"

"Yeah?" He looked down at her.

"You really think I'm pretty?"

Naruto smirked at her, "You're way more than pretty," he said, his cheeks tinted with pink, "You're the most beautiful girl I know."

"Good answer," Tayuya stretched up and pressed her lips against his.

Finally! Sorry this took so long, guys and gals, but I got caught up writing a new story, then I had to go back to the hospital...again...sucks to be me...

Kurama: Yup, sure does!

Me: Oh, shut up Kurama! Show some sympathy!

Kurama: What's that?

Me: Never mind...Don't forget to review!