Kabuto watched the gates of Konoha for a moment. He remembered his days as a spy here and almost felt bad…the village had almost trusted him, and here he was, backstabbing them all.
Oh, yeah, because he cared. So deeply.
A firm smack on the back of his head brought his attention back to the present. "Kabuto, move."
Orochimaru was standing behind him, and apparently it was he who had smacked him. Kabuto sighed and nodded. "Hai." He turned to the many legions of Otonin behind him and raised his hand.
All attention turned to Kabuto.
The silence was deafening; Kabuto looked to the village gates and waited.
There.
The hawk was on top of the gate, and Kabuto motioned to the gates themselves. The Otonin charged at his command, straight through the open gates. Kabuto went with Orochimaru to stand atop the gates, and took the hawk into hand.
"Yes…" he murmured. "Yes, this time…we succeed."
OOOOOOOOO
Itachi saw the first wave of Otonin coming and nodded to Yasu. Yasu understood and jumped up from behind the tree.
"Kai!"
Ten exploding notes went off at once at Yasu's command, all focused in her bloodline. "Katsu!" More explosions followed, and Itachi could hear the beginnings of screams of panic coming from…everywhere, really. "Katsu!" The last of Yasu's smoke screen went up, and Itachi darted out behind her.
"Yumiko!"
The ANBU charged the building behind them: the Hokage's Tower, her squad close behind. Itachi heard an impact of a fist on brick, and dust and debris immediately followed. Itachi ran up next to his daughter.
"Spread out! Search the entire building! Take no prisoners, save for Tsunade!"
"Hai!"
Yumiko selected two from her squad to follow her, and the rest divided into groups of three to search. Itachi took the last two and ran off in the last direction; the left wing of the Tower.
"Keep going until you find her!" Itachi called. "If anyone else finds her first, they'll let us know!"
"Hai."
Itachi moved in front of the two Otonin he had with him, Sharingan ablaze. "This ends now for you, Tsunade," he whispered, voice taught with rage. "And no one will stop me!"
OOOOOOOOO
Kakashi saw the wall go down in front of an Otokagure ANBU; he saw the fist flying towards his face; what he didn't have was time to stop it. He was thrown back with the impact, and he felt the walls bend with the pressure of his body being slammed so hard into the wall. Hands found his own and twisted them up behind his back, and another shoved into his neck's pressure points. He vaguely saw Shizune knocked to the ground next to him, unconscious, and Tsunade fighting off the ANBU that had broken in to begin with. He twisted instinctively against the hold; was that…was it really…?!
"Sasuke…?"
"Nice to see you again…sensei," Sasuke spat. "Orochimaru told me to go after you, since I know your weaknesses and all. Pity you're so weak; you can't even fight back now. And I hear you've been having an affair with a certain sannin…Orochimaru-sama was very interested to hear that little bit of information."
Kakashi flinched in pain and tried again to get out of Sasuke's grip. Sasuke only tightened his hold, and Kakashi gasped in pain.
"I was told to take no prisoners," Sasuke spat. "But, since Yasu wants you and we are in an alliance, I suppose it's only fair I give her her prize."
"Sasuke…think twice."
"Don't beg," Sasuke said coldly. "I will hurt you."
Kakashi shook his head. "No, I mean…think twice about what you're doing. Wasn't your goal in life to kill Itachi? And he has been in perfect range for so long…and you haven't done anything. And now you are giving him so much power by handing over me…and then you'll never be able to kill him."
Sasuke laughed; at first barely a chuckle, and then a normal, mocking laugh, and then a cruel resonance in Kakashi's head. "Please! You old fool! I always did respect you as an opponent…but after this little display I think you're losing your luster!"
Kakashi sighed. "Yes, Sasuke…but please, before you do this, just ask yourself one question: Did you really think you could catch me like this?"
Sasuke's grin only spread. "Of course! Why do you think I put you in chakra chains?"
Kakashi sighed and tested the waters. It was true; Sasuke had managed to fasten heavy, chakra restricting chains over his wrists, and he hadn't even noticed. Oh well. Kakashi had gotten an honest answer, which was more than he had expected to begin with.
"Let's get this over with, shall we?" Sasuke purred, pulling Kakashi up. Kakashi didn't really feel like going anywhere, let alone leaving Tsunade, and he kicked back, landing a harsh kick on Sasuke's shin. The missing-nin, obviously unhappy with Kakashi, smacked him. Hard. As Kakashi fell, he caught a glimpse of Tsunade. The Hokage had been backed into a corner and was still fighting back at the Otonin that had attacked her.
"Don't try to kill her!" Sasuke called. "Orochimaru wants her alive!"
"You're not gonna kill him?" Yumiko asked. Sasuke shrugged.
"Yasu wanted him a while ago so I thought I could give him to her."
Yumiko grinned. "Yeah, Mom will be furious if he dies by anyone's hand but hers…but not before she teaches him something."
Oh GOD-Sasuke kicked him absently, foot resting in the middle of Kakashi's back, threatening to break the spine if he even moved. Kakashi made an effort not to; no use tempting the devil.
"Orochimaru-sama doesn't like your girlfriend."
"I'm aware of that. I'm also aware that he doesn't like me."
Sasuke smiled. "Yes, how true. And he really hates your kid."
Kakashi sighed. "Yeah, you didn't see that one coming."
"You're funny."
"…Thank you?"
"Hey, Uchiha!"
Sasuke looked up at Yumiko. "What?"
"Oroch is getting antsy, better do something before he flies off the handle."
Sasuke smiled. "Hatake or the Kage?"
Yumiko shrugged. "Both?"
"Good answer."
"Now if she would just hold still for two seconds…"
It was true: Tsunade was constantly Body Flickering from place to place, occasionally throwing a deadly kunai or two. Otonin were slowly going down, struck in vital places: major blood tracks, major chakra points, vital organs, and critical points on the body like the neck. Tsunade seemed to be using Kabuto's Chakra Scalpel and was using it to cut down even more Otonin. Kakashi sighed. What we need is time-and Tsunade is taking too much of it! If we're going to do some real damage we need a plan, and fast!
Slow, teasing footsteps echoed in Kakashi's ears.
Crap, crap, crap-!Kabuto was walking up to them, holding a kunai-and Tsunade had her back turned.
"Tsunade, turn around!" Kakashi screamed, unable to do more than try to trip Kabuto from the ground; which he suspected wouldn't work.
Of course it didn't, and all he had to show for his efforts was a new bruise on his ribs.
"Tsunade, you ass, turn around!"
Tsunade whipped around, ready to tell Kakashi off for his filthy mouth, when she saw Kabuto. "Aw, shit!" She ducked Kabuto's swing, and suddenly the battle seemed too familiar…
"Mangekyou…Sharingan…Damn it!" Kakashi's Sharingan was still covered…unless…if he got another kick to the face, maybe the headband would come off…screw it. Kakashi twisted, trying to rub the cloth from his eye. Sasuke had still failed to notice his efforts, but if Kakashi could just get the hiata-ait off…there. The headband fell to the ground, and Kakashi focused his Sharingan. "Mangekyou Sharingan!"
Sasuke turned, almost in slow motion. Kakashi caught his eyes and used the reversal jutsu he had copied from Itachi years and years ago.
"Sharingan reversal!"
Kakashi was suddenly standing over Sasuke, who was in exactly the same position Kakashi had been in seconds ago. Kakashi saw Sasuke's eyes widen with shock, and his mouth dropped open.
"How?!"
Kakashi sighed. "Your brother." He charged Tsunade's attackers, pressing his back to hers.
"Hello," Tsunade greeted, as calmly as if she was meeting him on the street.
"Hello," Kakashi said. "So, what's new?"
"Oh, nothing, I'm just being attacked by swarms of enemy ninja. You?"
"I was thinking about getting lunch, but then I was attacked by Sasuke and almost kicked into the next life and a half. I dunno, nothing really new."
Tsunade smiled. "Oh yeah, because that's normal."
Kakashi's grin matched Tsunade's, and he saw Kabuto slide across the floor and slam into the wall. "Nope, nothing exciting happening here."
"Hey, does this look bad?" Tsunade asked casually, and kicked Kabuto again, this time utilizing her deadly high heels. Kakashi watched the blood flowing from Kabuto's mouth and shook his head.
"Not really, might take stitches for this one, though." He hurled a kunai at Sasuke, whose Sharingan was blazing. Sasuke, apparently, had the key to the chakra chains-either that, or he was mad enough to break them. Tsunade turned around, staring at Sasuke.
"Yeah, if that Chidori hits you, that'll take about four hundred."
Kakashi grinned as Sasuke rushed him, Chidori Nagashi crackling like his own Raikiri. Tsunade stepped back. "Work it out."
The world stopped for the two ninja.
Sasuke's Chidori was flying straight for Kakashi, whose own Raikiri was raised only in defense. The two lightning flashes clashed violently, and Kakashi's world faded to black, Sasuke falling on top of him.
"Sasuke...I never hated you…"
OOOOOOOOO
Tsunade saw Sasuke and Kakashi go down, but she didn't see any blood. Was either actually hit, or were they just…?
An impact on her back drew her attention to Kabuto, who was holding a fistful of chakra.
"I thought you'd fall over too," he confessed. "I don't get it, the calculations according to weight and force-"
"Sad story, kid."
Tsunade's own fist lined with chakra, and she punched Kabuto in the face. The Otonin skidded back, crashing through the wall and into-
Orochimaru's arms?
"Since when do you care?" Tsunade sneered. "I thought you didn't care if you couldn't use him."
Orochimaru shook his head and laid Kabuto in the arms of a medical Otonin. "No," he said slowly. "If he doesn't live, neither do you," he snarled, and the medical Otonin almost passed out. "No," Orochimaru repeated, stepping up to Tsunade. "He's wonderful, and totally devoted to me. That's that, really."
Tsunade smiled. "He's cute, but then again, so were you when you were a kid."
Orochimaru lowered his head. "No, it's not a question: just a lesson you learn in time. You can only trust one person, ever. There's always one person and one person only who would never, not even for the whole world or life, betray you. Kabuto is that one person for me…and apparently, Kakashi is that person for you." Orochimaru looked at the fallen White Fang and sighed. "Well, I came here for you, but I guess Sasuke needs me more now."
Tsunade threw the boy at him, spitting nails. "Take him," she hissed. "I don't want him. And get out of my village."
Orochimaru smiled. "And what if I say no?"
Tsunade sighed. "I was afraid of that…" She dove at Orochimaru, blue chakra flaming along her hands. "I just need you out, and from then on, I really don't care."
Orochimaru tipped his head back, Kusanji welling up in his throat. "Good, because I have things to do."
Tsunade swung her fist and Orochimaru dodged, letting Tsunade's fist bury itself in the wall. Tsunade wrenched his hand free and went after Orochimaru again.
"Yeah, what kind of things?" she panted, already tired from her previous battle. The Body Flicker really took a lot out of her…
"The kind of things no one needs to know about," Orochimaru said, swinging Kusanji around to draw a thin line of blood on Tsunade's arm; thinner than he would have liked.
"Yeah, like what?" Tsunade knew she had to finish this quickly if she ever wanted to get out of this alive, let alone win. She was confident in her own shinobi, but the person she had really lost faith in was herself.
"Nothing, nothing," Orochimaru said absently, jumping again for Tsunade's arm. Tsunade ducked underneath the sword and up against Orochimaru's chest. Orochimaru looked down too late-Tsunade's fist went up against his jaw, and he went flying back to crash into the wall. A veil of red descended on the world, and Orochimaru fought back a whimper as it did. Blood streamed from the corner of his mouth-dammit, how could he have been so careless?! Kabto had probably said it before, he had just neglected to listen...you shouldn't do this, or You're a little over confident. He knew this was it-he was just sorry he hadn't heeded Kabuto advice, and sorry that Kabuto couldn't be here with him. But he could at least try...for Kabuto, if not for himself. He threw Kusanji blindly, knowing her had just lost it all. Tsunade easily bent around the strike, and Orochimaru tried to call Kusanji back.
He was too late.
Tsunade spoke, and Orochimaru knew that these might very well be the last words he ever heard.
"I never could bring myself to truly hate you…"
And the blow fell.
A/N: Wow, I so can't spell today…Yay, spell check!! Anyway, This was probably bad, but oh well. Our epic is coming to a close!! Oh well. Tell me what you think, and review please!!