Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the non OC's in this story

Chapter Twenty One: The Note

"Long time no see Itachi." said Sasuke as the smoke cleared and they saw Naruto blocking their exit. There was something different about Sasuke, he wasn't sure what it was but Itachi could tell something was different about his brother.

"Well if it isn't my little brother." said Itachi. "so looks like we don't have to look for the nine tails after all."

"Heh do you really think that you can take me?" asked Naruto smiling.

"Itachi I'll take the demon brat." said Kisame smiling at the thought of taking him down. "You have a nice reunion with your brother." he added and attacked Naruto who just dodged the blade every time it came down. "looks like he's had a lot of training after all. But he can't dodge forever."

"Naruto you handle Kisame." said Sasuke smiling at the way his friend was just playing with Kisame.

Smiling, Naruto dodged the blade once more and then led Kisame farther away from Itachi and Sasuke so that they couldn't rely on one another. Kisame knew that Naruto wasn't as strong as they said he was. It was impossible that a kid of his age had so much control over his tailed beast. Though he knew that Kisame knew that because he was separated from Itachi, he would have to defeat him quickly and get back to his partner.

"You ready?" asked Naruto knowing that he would have to hold back while fighting Kisame or else he would kill him by mistake.

"Bring it on." said Kisame.

"Consider it brought." said Naruto creating a multitude of clones and began to fight him.

Sasuke and Itachi just walked around on the water sizing each other up. Sasuke knew that Naruto was right about him being the only one that could actually take Itachi on and not be affected by his Genjutsu. Suddenly, Itachi activated his Sharingan and attacked Sasuke when he suddenly wasn't there.

"An illusion." Itachi said to himself then he turned to Sasuke who was standing behind him. "Not bad, little brother."

"Why don't you try and take me on for real?" asked Sasuke. "It's what you wanted right? To be judged by an Uchiha?"

"You're different." said Itachi wondering just how he knew what Itachi had wanted. "There isn't any possible way for a thirteen year old boy to take out a Jinchuriki. Not when it took everything that that fourth had just to seal the nine tails inside his own son."

"Maybe you just don't know me as well as you think you do, Itachi." said Sasuke . "I've changed in ways you could never imagine." he added as they exchanged blows. Finall,y Sasuke saw an opening and dropped the note on Itachi's cloak in a place that only he would find it and then made it stay there with Chakra, then he jumped back onto the bank where Naruto and Kisame had busted out of the woods. Sasuke smiled as he watched Naruto continually dodged the big blade causing Kisame to lose his cool. Suddenly there was a large white tiger appear out of nowhere and attacked the two Akatsuki members

Itachi jumped to where Kisame was standing and placed his hand on his partner's arm as he started to swing the blade again. "We need to leave before more reinforcements arrive." he said and the two left as Sai walked out from behind the tree he was hiding in.

"Nice timing Sai." said Naruto.

"I thought it would be a good time to come out at this point, at least after I saw Sasuke dropped the note on Itachi."

"You were right." said Sasuke then he turned to the village. "Anyway we should go let Tsunade know everything's going according to plan and then get to the lake where Itachi will come tonight."

"Sasuke's right." said Naruto and the three went back to the village and told Tsunade everything. She told them that there would only be a small amount of security at that point and to be careful. Nodding the three left the office and went to get Hinata.

Meanwhile, Kisame was still seething about losing to Naruto as they walked back to the hideout. Itachi couldn't get what Sasuke had told him out of his head and finally told Kisame he was going for a walk alone and to go ahead. Itachi then left before Kisame could say anything and the shark man shook his head at the Uchiha's retreating back and continued along the way.

Itachi continued to walk through the woods not really knowing where he was going, but he couldn't shake the loo his brother's face. It wasn't the look of hatred like Itachi thought it would be. It was the look of knowing. Almost as if...no it was impossible. But then how did Sasuke turn away from the path he thought he had placed him on. He could tell by Sasuke's footing that he had had a lot of training, yet he held back while fighting with Itachi.

He continued to walk and suddenly found himself sitting on a rock. Just then Itachi found a note on his cloak where only he would find it and looked it over shocked. It was from Sasuke

'Itachi, I know everything that happened the night you killed our clan members, but I would like to speak to you alone with three you me and two others.

If you want to meet come back to the south gate and go to the lake. We'll meet you there.

Sasuke'

Itachi reread the letter more than once and finally decided to find out exactly what his brother knew. Creating a clone, Itachi sent it ahead to the hideout and made his way back to the village.

"Sasuke it's time." said Naruto walking up to him with Sai and Hinata.

"Alright lets go." he said and they walked over to the lake to meet Itachi.