Chapter :21

Encounter with Itachi

Goku and Gohan were at about halfway down the dirt road leading from the Hidden Leaf Village. "Hey dad? Why don't you go on ahead of me? This is far enough for me." suddenly said Gohan, suddenly stopping in his tracks. Goku stopped a few steps further and turned to look back at his son.

It was curious how his son had asked him to at first NOT use the Instant Transmission to get them home quicker, and now he was asking to use it to leave and go on ahead of him? Now Goku knew that something was up, but though he didn't know exactly what, he trusted his son could handle it himself, no matter whatever it was.

He looked at him serious and then nodded to his son. "Alright, but I'll be waiting on you. Are you sure you'll be alright?" queried Goku, still a bit worried as any parent would about leaving their child behind. Gohan KNEW what his father was implying about.

"Yeah, don't worry about me. Just some little business that I have to take care of." assured Gohan. His eyes glanced to the side and to the line of bushes and trees lining the dirt road, a scowl on his face.

Goku also seriously eyed the bushes. That was when Gohan knew that his father could sense TOO what he himself was sensing and was likely aware of their intruder that had been stalking them ever since they had left the village ever since.

"Okay." came the simple reply from Goku as he put his fingers to his forehead and used Instant Transmission to disappear.

At that point Gohan turned to the bushes and trees. "You can come out now! I know your there!" called out Gohan, yelling out to the seemingly empty bushes and declaring his intentions.

It was then that a figure slowly and calmly came out from behind one of the trees. The black cloak with red clouds with the taller stature along with the familiar family resemblance with the stony impassive emotionally guarded face and the Sharingan eyes with the three tomoes of a fully mastered version from the older individual made it clear who he was.

"So? The infamous Itachi Uchiha. Sasuke's older brother." addressed Gohan with contempt barely lacing his words as he stared at the man with a deep scowl.

"Ah...? I see you've heard of me. Though I'm somewhat surprised that you know of me." remarked Itachi in that carefully measured tone that he used.

"Not at all. I did some reading up while in the Hidden Leaf. Your records there were among the reading material I read through. Itachi Uchiha, graduated at the top of is class at the ninja academy at age 7, fully mastered the Sharingan at age 8, passed and completed the Chunin Exams at age 10, ANBU half a year later, then ANBU captain at age 13. Considered to be the greatest prodigy and genius ever produced, even by the standards of your clan, the world renowned Uchiha Clan. All indeed very impressive." complimented Gohan, listing off the list of accomplishments.

"Hn, your possession of that knowledge is quite... unexpected. But turnaround is fairplay, as I on the other hand, know you as well Gohan Son, son of the renowned Goku Son, the Champion of Earth. First unleashing his powers in combat at age 4 and a half, Trained by Piccolo, fought his first battle at age 5 and a half, fought on Namek against the tyrant Frieza, was key figure in defeating Garlick Jr. a second time at age 7. The youngest Z-Fighter ever, personally trained by both Piccolo and your father Goku for three years. Fought again The Androids, trained by your father in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and becoming the youngest ever Super Saiyan at age 10, became the first ever Super Saiyan 2 at age 11 and defeating Cell, saving the Earth. Defeated the Legendary Super Saiyan Broly while out in space and then became the youngest ever World Champion in history at 12 years less a day, surpassing even your father. And are now considered to be the Strongest Fighter in the World. All indeed very impressive." sounded off Itachi, mimicking Gohan's own assessment against him just now.

Now it was Gohan's turn to feel surprise at the level of knowledge possessed on Itachi's part. A split second twitch of his eyebrow gave away the indication, though nothing else, of his brief puzzlement and insecurity of Itachi knowing about his secret history.

At least among the ninjas it was still considered a secret history, not much elsewhere anymore. That information had become public knowledge now all around the world in the rest of the world. But among ninjas as far as they were concerned, that information was still not passed to the ninja nations. So it was disturbing to see that someone like Itachi was in possession of this information.

"I have to admit that I'm surprised that you have all this information about me. Though I'm curious now as to how you got possession of that information?" queried Gohan, never did drop his scowl nor let his expression show anything else about his internal disturbance.

Itachi seemed to then close his eyes and seemed to be as if he was reflecting on something. "It should be noted, that having one's opponent sharing information about one's self's accomplishments should be considered an act of respect, an act of common courtesy between fighting men, don't you think?" Itachi then said, opening his eyes again to posing and asking for Gohan's opinion on the matter.

Although Gohan was a bit taken aback by the sudden asking of the cryptically mysterious philosophical question, Gohan was compelled enough out of a sense of propriety to answer the question and smart enough to decode the message and find Itachi's hidden meaning.

Gohan closed his eyes to reflect on the question for a second. Basically Itachi's meaning was that with the way they'd both sighted off each other's background information to each other as a show of how aware they were of each other's formidability.

In that sense it also showed how they had a sense of respect for their power if they each took the trouble to find out about each other's information like that. A sense of mutual respect seemed to be the case between them, as loathe as Gohan was to admit it with this man. Now with the way they'd both layed out all their cards to each other like that, it was funny yet true that they'd brought themselves to this point, Gohan thought.

"Maybe I do agree. But that still leaves that you still haven't answered my question yet. Why are you here? And what do you want with me?" returned and readdressed Gohan after answering Itachi's question.

Itachi, having been returned the question right back at him, he saw that Gohan wasn't going to be dissuaded from his question and so Itachi realized that it was no use and that he was going to be forced to answer.

"If you must know. You have been followed on your activities and under observation for quite some time. My organisation is interested in you. They are concerned about weither or not you might be a threat to them and their plans. I have been sent to gauge the threat." calm and coldly answered Itachi, showing the menace behind them.

And so it was that undeniably that the die had been cast? Now Gohan realized. "So that's the way it is then? Well if you want to see me and what I can do? Then come on!" challenged Gohan.

And then, faster than in the blink of an eye, with super fast speed Itachi suddenly reappeared right next to Gohan with the sound whooshing like in on the wind. (Think exactly like the way he did against Sasuke at the very start of their epic death battle in Shippuden.)

"Then let's see what you've got." responded Itachi, like almost in a whisper next to Gohan. Gohan's eyes were still fixed with a scowl, but then they shifted sharply to the right as they glanced in Itachi's direction after he'd appeared.

With the scowl still in place, it was something to say that that speed was not lost on Gohan's eyes. It was as if with that shift of the eyes Gohan was saying 'Are you kidding me? How impudent of you. To think that that level of speed wouldn't be followed by my eyes. I was aware of your approach the whole time.'. But then small smirk appeared under the scowling eyes, that seemed to signal a 'Looks like this is going to be fun.' look on his face.

A kunai found itself drawn from Itachi's sleeve, then, sharp and as fast as a flash Itachi turned around to try to embedden the kunai into Gohan's back.

But then to his surprise his strike passed INTO through Gohan's back who became like transparent and then fizzled out in a haze like a projection that just cut out. Gohan then reappeared somewhere on a grass field in a large clearing that was right next to the road they were on, seperated by the thin line of trees that lined the road.

"Did you like my Afterimage Technique? You thought that was pretty fast? But unfortunately for you but my eyes can follow those moves at those speeds quite easily. Your not going to catch me that easily. If you thought that was fast? Then sorry for you but I'm just that much faster." remarked Gohan, seemingly taunting him from his new position.

Itachi shifted his eyes to tell that he'd noticed Gohan's new position behind him, and seemed to groan a little in a bout of frustration from Gohan actually outspeeding him and escaping him in that instance in a clever way. Itachi then disappeared and reappeared in a mess of crows, joining Gohan in the field.

Now Itachi was standing in front of Gohan, standing between him and the trees of the road. "Indeed quite impressive. Using such fast movement as to create a false image of one's self, a "afterimage" in one's wake to use as an escape. Every bit as fast as the rumors as they've led me to believe." analytically appraised Itachi.

"Why thank you." returned Gohan, taking Itachi's impression of his technique as a compliment.

"BUT, let's see how you do when there's no space for you to run?" menaced Itachi.

Then Itachi drew out his hands out of his sleeves each with three kunai held in them and then he lept up into the air. He did a half flip in midair to where he was leveled upside down with his arms criss-crossed with each holding the six kunai ready to release.

He then launched them and then took out more kunai one at a time from his sleeves and strategically threw them to where they impacted the other groups of kunai until they were deflected in the proper areas.

The kunai were then found themselves in an arc where they totally surrounded Gohan and any escape he might have heading in. Those kunai were accurate, and DAMNED ACCURATE. Gohan could tell, as each kunai's trajectory was designed to cut off or block off any escape route that Gohan might employ.

But Gohan just stood there as the kunai were incoming. He stood as still as a statue as if he didn't see or didn't care they were coming. Time seemed to stand still for a second and everything seemed to turn black and white for that moment in time as everything froze as the kunai surrounded him within a foot of his person.

But then Gohan finally just outstretched his arms apart, palms open and then a sort of invisible energy wave seemed to eminate from Gohan almost like a sonic pulse. The kunai all seemed to halt in midair for a second, before they were repulsed by some mysterious force.

A couple of kunai stayed twirling and spinning in midair for a few seconds more in the spots where they were halted. They stayed like that until eventually physics kicked in and they started to fall. But then Gohan snatched up a pair of them that were in front of him.

By this time, Itachi had landed from his impressive acrobatic display and was standing right back where he'd started. Itachi didn't say anything, that type of power was expected to see from someone like him, but still it was highly unnerving and intimidating to actually see such power on display to make such a vexing defense.

Gohan seemed to be holding up a kunai as if to examine it. But then with a sudden swipe of his left arm, Gohan threw a kunai at 2 o'clock high. The kunai went straight through out one tree and straight into another.

The kunai had in fact struck at the exact position where Itachi Uchiha was currently hiding, where the REAL him was hiding. The strike had gone right by Itachi's head and had missed him by inches, in fact a few strands of hair were split from where the kunai had passed and had now lodged itself in the stem of the tree right by him. And now Gohan was looking right TO him.

"Eh! Why don't you come down here already?" demanded Gohan.

Well if there was any doubt before to Itachi, they were gone now. It seemed as if Gohan was aware of his hiding place from the very beginning. That kunai strike appears that it was a DELIBERATE miss. And that was a DAMNED impressive one as with cutting through a full tree with sheer FORCE.

It was clear that Itachi had no choice but to concede his position. Itachi fell out out of the tree and plodded down on the grass, dispelling his clone that had been confronting Gohan up to this point and then sauntered over and took the position to confront him himself.

"It seems that you were aware of my true location the entire time. Indeed it is impressive that you were able to detect and find me even though I had my presence hidden quite thoroughly and while I had sent a clone on ahead to grab your attention." said Itachi just as he sauntered into position.

"Though I'll admit it wasn't easy finding you. You certainly made things hard on me. But in the end my senses would always find you. You see my senses are attuned so that I can detect Life Energy, which works on a different frequency then Chakra. So while you're able to suppress your Chakra very well and conceal your movements when you don't want to be found. And that would work effectively against other ninja I'd imagine. But because you are a ninja and so are trained in chakra use, you however aren't trained in the other energy unlike me and my friends are. So although, while you can conceal your Chakra, your Life Energy still remains unused and so your energy remains still an open book to me." explained Gohan.

"Indeed impressive, but also on another subject I noted. That kunai you threw was thrown with BOTH great power AND extreme accuracy. It seems you've completely mastered the skill in the use of Kunai. Highly impressive coming from someone who's relatively uninitiated in it's use. Normally, with someone of that ability, if I didn't know better, I would say that you had possessed great natural mastery of Genius level in it's art. I guess you not only possess genius within your own arts." remarked Itachi, that last part obviously him being insinuative and/or pointing out towards Gohan's form of fighting, although in a mostly complimentive way. Gohan for his part was wondering what exactly Itachi was getting at and eyed him quizzically.

"Thanks, but I would hardly say so. I just happen to pick up on the weapon while in the Hidden Leaf. When you've trained as hard as I have and at such a level as I've gotten, the senses and the reflexes are already there. It's not so hard as to picking up on such a weapon such as this and using it as such. And I wouldn't boast TOO much about my accuracy when compared with you. YOU threw ALL of those kunai with pinpoint accuracy earlier." returned Gohan

"Even so, I see that your ability to adapt to new fighting styles is quick and still impressive." continued to compliment Itachi.

Then suddenly Itachi opened another action by suddenly pulling his hand out of his sleeve with a handful of shuriken. Gohan 's eyes sharply reacted as he detected the movement and braced himself for whatever Itachi was planning on pulling.

Itachi swiftly unwhirled and threw the shuriken in a bundle, but Gohan easily avoided them by deflecting them with his remaining kunai in his possession. But then, unbeknownst to Gohan, another Itachi appeared right behind him.

Using the opportunity while he was distracted by the shuriken. And before he could even react, the other Itachi exploded in a massive and powerful explosion. Itachi just stood there like a statue, not even reacting to the marvel he had unleashed before him, as calm and impassive as ever, though apparently silently admiring his handywork.

The explosion created a lot of smoke and dust, which seemed to hang around for a while and covering what was inside. But then, out of the dissipating smoke came Gohan, who then came out and proceeded to plant himself, face first onto the ground with smoke trailing off of his figure.

It seemed as if the mighty young warrior was finally done in and felled by Itachi's trick. Itachi stayed off and observed his "kill" from a distance.

But something didn't feel right, it still felt all too easy to Itachi. But then the downed body of Gohan appeared to fade and become transparent. The body then disappeared and seemed to transmit itself over to behind a tree in the treeline of the woods that surrounded their clearing. And then, another Gohan walked out from behind the tree.

"So? How did you like my Multiform Technique? Don't think that you ninjas are the only ones with a similar technique? This little number would happen to be our own." responded Gohan to Itachi's unspoken to question about what was no doubt in his mind. Gohan continued to walk up from the woods.

"So that was what that was? Indeed fascinating little technique you have there. It seems that you have your own little facsimile to our own Clone Jutsu. But how did you escape?" responded Itachi and then asked in rebuttal.

"Though I'll admit that those handsigns you made for the clone were pretty fast. In fact to anyone else below my level those handsigns would've been too fast to even see. But lucky for me my eyes were able to perceive it. You see, like I said before, my eyes are special and are used to perceiving high speed movements at a much, much higher level than you. Unfortunately for you, your going to have to be able of higher movement if you think of beating me." explained Gohan, once again taunting with his last line. But still he kept a weary eye on Itachi as he walked up where they would once again be on opposing lines.

"Indeed impressive... So, I see that your exposure to the village has informed you on handsigns? You were then able to catch my hand movements and deduce I was using of the Clone Jutsu. And from there you used the smoke from the explosion to conceal your movements and then replace yourself with your so called Multiform Technique, correct?" surmised Itachi.

"That is indeed correct." confirmed Gohan with a smirk, by now standing over to where he was standing opposite facing to Itachi.

"All indeed impressive. It seems that you have mastered our ninja tactics well. That move was very much ninja-like. Using your own types of techniques to imitate our tactics." returned Itachi, once again returning to his surmising back and forth banter.

Gohan for his part, felt somewhat insulted by that comment made by Itachi. Implying that he's copying ninja style in his fighting. Let alone the fact that he had absolute contempt for this man personally after what he did to his family and little brother.

"Oh? And I suppose that Sharingan is only used for looking into the mirror? Face it, you shouldn't be telling me about copying other peoples techniques." shot back Gohan.

Itachi eyed him dangerously after that. "You'll regret that..." dangerously shot back Itachi, for daring to impune the faultless honor of the Sharingan.

At that point Itachi's body seemed to break apart into a bunch of black crows which then surrounded Gohan. 'Genjutsu!? I have to break it!' realized Gohan in his mind.

Meanwhile, in the real world Itachi was using the moment of the Genjutsu he had cast on Gohan to move in and to try to stab the vulnerable, prone body of Gohan who was now standing in the middle of the field eyes closed.

But then, as Itachi reached him, Gohan's arms moved and both his hands caught Itachi's offending arm at the wrist and stopped it from burying a kunai in his chest. At that moment Gohan's eyes opened up and stared right up at Itachi's eyes. It was then that Itachi realized that he wasn't at all enfluenced by the Genjutsu that he had cast him under anymore! That somehow he had broken it.

But still they remained locked in position as it became a power struggle as Itachi strained to push his arm and the kunai further and Gohan holding him there. The sound of tightening skin prevailed as they strained to hold and maintain their positioning. Although it was apparent that Gohan wasn't straining at all and judging from the flinching eyelids of Itachi, that he was. And that it wasn't availing him in any as they remained in position, all thanks to Gohan.

"*Ugh* The Genjutsu... How did you...?" went to question Itachi, but was cut off. "Break it? Simple, I have a perfect control of my body's energies. If you thought that someone with my abilities couldn't detect and immolate any energy that tries to enter or disrupt my energy? Then you have another thing coming. That and plus the matter that I can raise and lower my power level in bursts in an instant. You think I couldn't come up with a way to break your little Genjutsu? As soon as I learned what Genjutsus were from the village, from there it was an easy matter to figure out a way to identify and counter them with my abilities." almost laughingly informed Gohan.

At that point they both broke off from each other and leaped back. But Itachi was the one to first touch down, and he used that opportunity to quickly perform a series of three handseals. "Fire Style: GRAND FIREBALL JUTSU!" called Itachi and immediately a giant globe of fire blew out of his breath and came at Gohan.

Itachi was only a few yards away from Gohan and had clearly planned for this attack to be so close range that there wouldn't possible be time to dodge. There didn't appear to be any time to react as the great ball of flame seemed to swallowed up Gohan's form and then it continued on for some distance before exploding off in the distance, and leaving a small trench trailing in its wake on the ground.

Itachi stood tall as he looked on impassively at the trench. On the surface of the trench at the spot where Gohan been, there was nothing there left, leading Itachi to believe that he had finally gotten Gohan and that he was vaporized.

"Did you miss me?" came a voice from behind him. Itachi immediately reacted on instinct and evaded however was behind him by leaping backwards away.

And lo and behold, there was Gohan who had revealed himself that had been standing behind him. Now they stood where Gohan was calmly standing about twenty yards apart from Itachi and facing him.

"YOU!? But how did you...? That attack was too close range and wide scale for you to have possibly dodged. Even for someone like you!" exclaimed a clearly shocked Itachi.

"Quite simple really. I can Teleport. I can use a technique called Instant Transmission to de-materialize and re-materialize my body to instantly transport myself in an instant. I used it to escape from your fire in an instant." explained Gohan with a mischievious looking smirk.

"You say your technique actually de-materialises your body for any transport? A truly instantanious way of movement. A true Teleportation. Most impressive indeed." commented Itachi.

"And that's not all. When you and I "tusled" with you earlier on, I used a special application of my energy to apply and attach itself as a seal to you. That seal I tagged you with now marks you as a location for my Instant Transmission and connects to my technique. Now from now on at any moment that I want to I can drop in and instantly teleport myself to your location instantly. It's a totally new technique I came up with. To tell you the truth, this is the first time I've gotten to test it. I got the idea off of what I read about a technique from the Fourth Hokage. Cool ain't it?" explained Gohan.

"Indeed, a truly remarkable technique. It seems that not only do you possess an incredible ability in learning your techniques, but also in creating your own original techniques. Indeed you seem to have a true gift of Genius for combat." evaluated Itachi. And although Gohan didn't really trust in compliments from his enemies as such, but on the inside he couldn't help but feel compelled to accept the compliment from Itachi in this case.

It was then that Gohan noticed the eyes of Itachi shift and morph into a three "pinwheeled" formation. Although even though if he wouldn't've seen it, he could've felt it with the shift and spike in chakra. Which told all he needed to know about what was coming.

"It looks like your ready to pull out the Big Guns huh? Well I'm ready that I can bring out my own "Big Guns" at any moments notice too. The trouble is that I don't think that you can spare risking to use yours at this point yet. And on the other hand I can't risk powering up out here like this without calling to attention the attention of people I'd rather not call the attention of. And I don't think YOU would want their attention neither." ascertained Gohan.

Clearly they were both at a quandry now, Itachi with the risk that came of using his eyes, and Gohan with the prospect of having his friends from back home sensing him and coming in and unintentionally spoiling the fight.

For Itachi, he felt that HE was right afterall, it was true that he really couldn't risk using his eyes for the Mangekyo Sharingan, not just yet anyway. Besides, even if he did use the Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi felt that he had a strong feeling that somehow it wouldn't be effective against Gohan.

Given the vast and sheer power that Itachi knew that he was holding back and the level of control he had to raise and lower them in an instant. Itachi figured that he could possibly break it just like he did the Genjutsu earlier. Break it with his sheer raw power. He really had no choice, given between that and the possibility of having Gohan's friends coming to help as a prospect.

And so Itachi relented and he blinked back his eyes and they reverted back from their pinwheeled shaped design and back to their original three tomoed design in between.

"Well, it would seem that your observations would indeed seem correct. It would seem that I have no more leg to stand on in this match. I have no choice but to stand down." spoke Itachi.

"Well, I'm glad your not so arrogant and foolhardy as to continue on for the sake of continuing along. But then again I guess that we BOTH had to stand down from escalating." returned Gohan, smirking as he did so.

"Indeed, we BOTH had to stand down from escalating the conflict. Your observational and assessment skills are quite impressive, Gohan Son. As must be your intelligence in order to see through the situation this clearly. Your experience in battle is obviously of an unordinary nature. Your experience must be very high for someone of your age. No, even higher for someone your age even. For even someone older I would submit that your battle experience would be formidable. So not only are your speed and strength tremendously great, but your intelligence and your tactical and situational awareness are also just as high. The equal of any ANBU or anyone of higher rank I would say. The battle here today is clearly just proof of that. Your not only just strong and intelligent, but also highly experienced as well. Higher than I guess most people give you credit for. But then I guess I shouldn't've expected anything less from someone such as you. Indeed the World's Strongest. In fact you remind me much about myself, when I was younger." said Itachi, once again giving an evaluation of his skills.

But it was that last statement which took Gohan off. "What'ch you talkin' about!?" asked Gohan, eyes first wide with shock and then narrowed with dangerous venom.

"We are not so different you and I, we have much in common. We were both born the first born sons of men who were considered to be strongest among their peoples. We were both introduced to combat at very early ages, nearly identical at four years old. We were both born gifted with abilities whose potential that exceeded those of those around us. We both achieved advances in strength and skills that were considered unprecedented for those of our youths. Eventually in time we even grew to surpass even our fathers. And we were both cursed with the burdens of having to living up to those accomplishments. We then were both placed in the positions of having to be the heirs apparent to our households, and the burdens that came with them. And also, probably most comparable of all, we both have younger brothers that have or are going to have to live with the shadows of our achievements hanging over them." spoke Itachi.

This statement however, in turn led Gohan to snap. "Don't you dare compare yourself to me! There may be similarities between us and our lives, that much I will grant you. But there's also one great big huge difference between us. I never slaughtered my family and friends. I never or would EVER abandon my brother and ruin his life to leave him to loneliness and revenge. I would NEVER do the things you did! We are not alike you and I! Not at all!" snapped Gohan, eyeing him with such venom you would think he would melt under his gaze.

But it was there, that at that point Gohan thought he saw something flash in Itachi's eyes. What looked like a pang of guilt and regret or some other emotion flash in his eye for a brief second. But then just as quick as it came, Itachi went back to the same cold impassive look that schooled his features, as if he wasn't affected at all.

But it wasn't just in his eyes he saw them, he also felt the pangs of unknown emotions in Itachi that he wasn't showing on the exterior. He felt a spike of emotions that came like a wave for a brief second. But that was all he needed.

"You should not presume to judge me so quick." shot back Itachi in the same cold, even delivery that he was known for, obviously trying to hide whatever he really felt.

"So? There was something else going on under the surface of the Uchiha Massacre wasn't there? There was something else or someone else under the woodwork that made you do what you did wasn't there?" said Gohan, eyeing Itachi carefully as he did so. Itachi was shocked to hear this from Gohan to say the least, even he couldn't hide his surprise from his face.

"B-But... How did you know?" stammered a surprised Itachi, surprised that Gohan could figure that much out out of him without him revealing anything.

"I could tell from the feel of your energy that your emotions spiked up as soon as the Uchiha Massacre was brought up. Though I can't tell in what details, but from the feel that I felt I could at least tell that much that something else was going on." informed Gohan.

"Indeed you are impressive. Even managing to tell my emotions from merely feeling my energy." said Itachi.

"So, are you going to tell me now why you really came here to attack me?" asked Gohan, once again cutting through all of the nonsense and getting through to the truth of the matter. And once again impressing Itachi with how much he could discern.

"Very impressive that you were able to tell that too. Very well then, the truth is I was sent by the Akatsuki with no orders to attack you. I was merely sent to observe and to shadow you, and if need be test your strength. Rumors of your strength and what you have shown in the village had come to my comrades attention." admitted Itachi.

"So all that information you've got on me and my life?" queried Gohan.

"The Akatsuki do not concern themselves with the affairs of the outside world. They feel that they are "too weak" to be of any concern to them. I am the only one of my comrades that bothers keep an eye on events outside the Elemental Nations. They have no idea about what you really are or what you really represent. I myself am the only one who carries that knowledge. Do not worry, you are in the safe and so is your family." assured Itachi.

"Well, that's good to hear, at least. But I am still a bit curious as to exactly why you wanted to test my strength so much." commented Gohan.

To tell you the truth, it was for mere idle curiosity. Ever since I've heard of you I've come to admire you and your powers from afar. I wanted to gauge your strength for myself and to measure myself to you. And it looks like I wasn't disappointed. Though I myself am curious as to why you didn't want your friends to become involved in this conflict?" answered and then asked Itachi.

Gohan sighed as he prepared himself to answer this question. "Well, to tell you the truth I didn't want them to get involved because I don't think it's my place or their place to interfere with your problems. I think that if things like between you and your brother are to be resolved, then your feud must be worked out between yourselves. It wouldn't be fair if me and my friends just, swooped in and magically solved everything for you. It wouldn't solve anything if it did." explained Gohan.

"I see." simply responded Itachi, not quite revealing his thoughts as he contemplated something. A few moments of silence existed between them as it was obvious the point of conversation was lost and they were now both searching for something else to say, but were both at a loss.

"He hates you you know?" suddenly said Gohan, though it was obvious to whom he was referring, he was shifting the conversation to a subject that he felt just had to be addressed with him.

"So? I see you've met with my foolish little brother." spoke Itachi, calmly and coldly as ever.

"Yeah, a few months ago I met up with Sasuke during a mission as one of my escorts. But Sasuke himself is not foolish! And I certainly don't like the fact that as his brother you call him that. But from what I understand are his recent actions, I certainly can sympathize with the sentiment. Sasuke's actions of betraying the Hidden Leaf and going to Orochimaru are indeed foolish." said Gohan.

nd as soon as he said that it was clear that from the widening eyes that THIS was news to Itachi. "My foolish little brother... " just simply muttered out Itachi after he heard that, though exactly for what reason Gohan couldn't tell.

"I take it that this is news to you?" somewhat snarkingly shot Gohan.

And at THAT Itachi's eyes shot up and glared menacingly at Gohan. But just as soon as it was there, Itachi managed to regain his composure and return to his famously stoic and impassive self.

"I will admit that my younger brother's ... association... with Orochimaru was... unexpected." Itachi barely managed to spit out the words, like they were bitter to him.

"Now whether it was "expected" or unexpected, the fact remains that your brother's hatred for you knows no bounds. His brain as been twisted and warped into thinking that his hatred and anger towards you is actually going to fuel his strength. And that following a monster like Orochimaru is actually going to help him get strong enough so that he can take you on. And Orochimaru's only going to train him so that once he's done with you, his going to invade Sasuke's body to get the Sharingan. That's how things stand. And now my question to you is, what are you planning to do about it?" posed Gohan, eyeing Itachi critically.

A staring contest of sorts developped between the two as they each looked the other in the eyes in order to look into their "windows to the souls" to see where they each stood. It was then after a few seconds of this that felt like an eternity, that Itachi made a move and turned his back on him.

"Whether my brother is trained by Orochimaru or not, it is of no concern to me. He will still come to me to seek me out, in time. And when he does, I will be waiting for him." said Itachi from his turned back. He stuck around for a few moments to let those words sink in. And then, he started to walk off.

"So in other words? You're just going to "sit and wait" and do nothing?" shot Gohan.

Itachi paused. And then he turned to face his side to Gohan and looked back to cast him a glance. "Now, sitting still... and what I am doing... are two veeeeeeeeery different things. We all have our roles to play. Mine is laid before me, and I cannot deviate from it. But that's why I'm leaving my brother to people like YOU... and his friends." said Itachi, carefully measuring his words. And then, Itachi turned back around, and then promptly vanished in a flicker. Disappearing into the woods, leaving Gohan in the middle of the field, alone.

Gohan looked up to the sky. A brief moment to contemplate what was said to him and it's hidden meaning, leaving much for him to think upon in the coming days. He then put two fingers to his forehead, and disappeared, using Instant Transmission to take his way home. As he left the area, the clearing was left devoid of presence, leaving only the wind to rustle in the field.

Author's Thoughts: So Gohan encounters Itachi. This was an encounter I had in my head from the get go. I tried to make the match as realistic as possible. With Gohan having to deal with a guy like Itachi. I tried to give the match a sort of Cobra vs Cobra kind of feel. With each side trying to entice the other to show their hand and make a mistake and with trying to out think the other. With each guy taking turns coming up with some smart trick or combination and then coming back with something to catch the other guy off guard. A ninja's sort of fight. I also wanted to show off Gohan's smarts in taking on and even getting the better of, such a super-intelligent type fighter like Itachi.

Both guys being considered paragons of potential in their universes. They shared the similarity of having to excel at very early ages, almost similar. And so you had these two veterans of the very young prodigies club with younger brothers as their stead, it made for a very interesting dynamic. And also I wanted to show off some of Gohan's own genius of creativity in creating a technique like one of the Fourth Hokage's techniques from just having spent time in the village. That was cool I think. And now from now on Gohan can be more of a tricky speedster type character like the Fourth Hokage in his own world thanks to his little experience in this village. So in the end it even advances any plot ideas I might have for the future.

And remember that neither fighter pulled out the big guns! That's right, Itachi didn't use Mangekyo Sharingan in either his Tsukiyomi or Amaterasu, or even Susanoo! And also Gohan didn't even ever go beyond another level either! He didn't go Super Saiyan nor even Super Saiyan 2! But then again they were both just toying with each other and showing off some of their skills to make a show. But was true of both parties. But in any case, I think we all know which one was holding more back, and "who" would've been on top if both guys really went all out.

And also this whole episode makes for foreshadowing a meeting between Gohan and the aforementioned man's younger brother, Sasuke.

And for anyone hoping to quoting me of the differences of Chakra and Ki? Let me tell you something. In my belief Chakra and Ki are the SAME THING, only except applied and/or channeled different. Or at least that's my own personal vision about it. So basically in that way Gohan can detect and dispel Chakra, but he can't use it to create ninja techniques. So in other words, Gohan CAN NOT and WILL NEVER learn any Ninja techniques. Although Ki and Chakra are so similar enough already, that Gohan can imitate certain techniques with Ki based techniques on their own. And that's what I had him do right here. Although he can obviously also pick up some tricks to invent his own stuff of DBZ-based tricks on his own. As I demonstrated with the learning how to create applying Ki-based energy seals to other people from reading about The Fourth Hokage.

Oh! And just as a heads up or look ahead to what's coming? I'm going to be tweaking the titles of my series. Calling them Dragonball Alternate Path: to the titles instead of DBZ AP. But it'll only be the titles. I unfortunately can't do anything about the dialogue in them and any references to DBZ AP will still be there. But, just giving you a heads up. So anybody give me what you think about it. And if enough of you complain, I'll take 'em back down. But anyway I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was the longest chapter I ever wrote to date. I hope that it was worth it.