Aquarius15: Thanks for mentioning your concerns. I understand what you mean with enjoying the story and all. If I do add long notes like before, I'll add it at the end so that people don't have to search through everything in order to find the story itself. :)
Hektols: I never realized Itachi could do genjutsu with just his hands. Sasuke would probably find that a little impossible since his hands are tied behind his back right now, but it's a nice piece of information that I will want to incorporate into the story later. Thanks for the tip!
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Kakashi leaned over to catch his breath momentarily before launching his fist out to block an oncoming blow. Swiftly he brought his kunai knife up and sliced through the corpse's heart before allowing a following shinobi to seal the ninja's soul. Only moments before they had finally been able to seal away Zabuza and Haku's ressurected souls. The chakra drain on the entire squadron had been significant, putting several soldiers out of commission for a time. Kakashi wasn't sure what to expect next from the army of soul creations, but he doubted that it would be easy.
"Wait! It's Anko!" a faint shout echoed.
"Stop! You fool, it's a trap like all the others!"
"No, wait! It's really her!"
Kakashi whirled around to see Anko stumbling across the battlefield. She ran without stopping, not even noticing the soldiers who either hesitated to cut her down or darted to her aid. Moving to intercept the infiltration captain, Kakashi grasped Anko's shoulders as she slammed into him.
"General Kakashi," Anko gulped for air as recognition lit in her eyes.
"What happened?"
"K-Kabuto," Anko gasped. "In the forest. Message... for Itachi."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "What message?"
"Says if he... doesn't come... Sasuke's life forfeit." Anko bent over, trying to slow her racing heart. With so little chakra on hand, running so hard had taken a toll on her body. Anko wondered if she ever would have made it to the Intelligence Division without collapsing.
"Where is Sasuke now?" Kakashi demanded. "Is Kabuto holding him hotage?"
"Back in the forest," Anko nodded. "Kabuto said he would wait one hour for Itachi to come."
"He'd walk right into a trap," Kabuto muttered. "Kabuto knows Itachi would do it without hesitation. Satoru," he called. "Inform the intelligence division of the new change in plans. Make sure Itachi doesn't hear of it." Kakashi turned back to Anko. "Take me back to where you last saw Sasuke. This is one battle we can't afford to let Kabuto win."
Anko nodded, her fierce gaze belaying her exhaustion. "This way!"
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Itachi felt a sense of unease prickle at the edge of his thoughts. As the hours dragged on, the feeling grew stronger. Something was wrong, drastically so. It took every bit of Itachi's self control to refrain from abandoning his calm appearance and pestering Inoichi for news of his brother. He knew instinctively that something had happened to Sasuke.
His suspicions were confirmed when Inoichi's face darkened as a message came through. The Intelligence commander whispered something to another soldier, who spoke to a third officer as well. The exchange stopped there. Itachi was not informed of the newfound information. It was easy to tell why; something had happened to Sasuke, and Inoichi didn't want Itachi's concentration to be clouded with concern or fear. Itachi knew he had already been rather jumpy today, despite his overall calm appearance. Naturally, Inoichi would withhold any unsettling information until a time when Itachi could deal with it without causing danger to the battle. Itachi didn't have that much time to wait, however. Sasuke needed his help now! Itachi didn't need a messenger from the battlefield to confirm it. He had already known.
"Commander Yamanaka," Itachi strode purposefully towards Inoichi.
The commander made no reply, but Itachi knew he was paying attention.
"What happened to my brother?"
Inoichi's mouth tightened at Itachi's carefully guarded tone. "There was a complication on the battlefield," he replied with a vague air. "There's no reason to be concerned; Kakashi will take care of it. Go back to your post, Itachi."
"Something happened to my brother," Itachi folded his arms. "I need to know."
"Itachi, I can't afford for you to be distracted," Inoichi shook his head minutely. "Kakashi is taking care of this. I'll let you know the minute your brother is safe."
"I'm already distracted!" Itachi threw his arms in the air. "Elaborate."
"Go back to your post, Itachi," Inoichi's voice was firm. "That's an order."
Itachi held his ground stubbornly, his dark eyes flashing. Several officers halted their work and hovered around, interested in seeing how the debate played out. Inoichi was allowing for no arguments, however.
"You can return to your duties or I can arrest you on charge of disobeying a commanding officer," he threatened in a low tone. "It's your choice, Itachi."
Itachi bristled at the comment, but made no reply. His face was as blank as an ANBU mask as he spun on his heel and returned to the shinobi he had been working alongside. Several intelligence officers exchanged a glance, wondering if the conflict had really come to a finish.
Anyone could see that Itachi was no longer concentrating on the task at hand. His fingers twitched in agitation and his gaze often shifted to a random place beyond the map. Inoichi ignored the Uchiha's discomfort as he continued transmitting information on the war status, but several officers exchanged a knowing glance; Itachi wasn't likely to stick around very long.
Their suspicions were confirmed when several cries sounded from the surrounding forest. Four corpses stumbled out of the tree, two collapsing as they were cut down and their souls sealed. The third fell just outside of the group, but the last stopped in his tracks, cackling madly as he reached the outskirts.
"Wait," Inoichi warned as the corpse made no move to come further. Lowering their swords, the shinobi held back as they awaited further orders.
"You've got one crazy defense system set up," the leaf ninja rasped as he clutched his side and glanced around the clearing.
"Shall I finish him off, sir?" one soldier, Tadao, begged as he glowered in hatred at the corpse.
"I carry a message for Itachi Uchiha," the leaf shinobi stumbled forward, ignoring the weapons pointed at his skull.
Itachi appeared uncannily at ease as he faced the corpse. "Well?"
The leaf shinobi hesitated a moment, then grinned once more. The facial expression seemed forced, along with the words that followed. "You've got less than forty-five minutes to meet with Kabuto before you find yourself the last survivor of the Uchiha clan."
"Enough with you!" Tadao thrust his weapon into the corpse.
The leaf shinobi cackled once more as it grasped the weapon. "Why hesitate, Itachi? Too cowardly to save your pathetic brother from - " There was a gasp and a gurgle as a kunai knife flashed flashed out of nowhere and slid across the corpse's throat. Silently the twice-dead leaf ninja fell to the ground. Itachi had disappeared.
Tadao stared at the decimated corpse a moment before turning to Inoichi. "S-sir?" he stammered, "The messenger is dead. Itachi... he's gone, sir."
Inoichi's face darkened. He had expected as much. "Seal off the messenger's soul like the others," he ordered.
"And Itachi? Should we retrieve him, sir?"
Inoichi refrained from rolling his eyes. "Exactly what gives you the idea that it will be possible by this time? Stay at your posts. I'll report this to the Hokage."
Inwardly he didn't blame the Uchiha. Itachi had never been a stickler for rules and priorities after returning to Konoha. After what everything that had happened with the Uchiha massacre, he preffered to follow his own path rather than the strict regulations of the Leaf village. However, orders were orders during a war crisis. Inoichi expected them to be obeyed. Itachi could be placing more than his own life in danger due to his disobedience. The Uchiha was going to have a lot to answer for if he returned alive.
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Itachi's sharingan was a blaze of cold fury as he charged through the enemy soldiers. His little brother was in danger, and likely at the hands of Kabuto himself. The thought added to his fervor, increasing his speed. Itachi knew time was short, but he forced himself to remain calm. Years in the ANBU and Akatsuki had prepared him for circumstances like this. He would gain nothing by losing himself to emotion.
Abruptly Itachi slid to a halt, questioning his own theory. The dark haired ninja standing before him stepped further into the sunlight, revealing a green flak jacket bearing an all too familiar symbol.
"It's been a while, Itachi," the shinobi nodded gravely.
"Fugaku Uchiha," Itachi responded in a guarded tone.
"You won't be able to go any further." Fugaku's eyes were focused and defeated; he knew what was going on. "I'm sorry, Itachi, but I cannot stop myself. Leave before I'm forced to kill you."
"Sasuke's in danger, Tousan," Itachi said softly as he edged around, speaking as though addressing a wounded animal. Perhaps he could get past Fugaku without a fight. He didn't want to have to 'kill' his father a second time. "I need to go help him."
"You're not stupid, Itachi," Fugaku responded darkly. "You know I won't be allowed to let you pass through without a fight. Finish this now before it's too late."
Itachi's kunai wavered ever so slightly but he held his ground. "If you're so sure of this, then let me seal your soul now. I do not wish for a conflict any more than you do."
Doubt lingered in Fugaku's gaze, and for a moment Itachi thought he would surrender. Then something alike to a shadow shuttered over his eyes and some of the awareness left. "Weren't you listening to me, boy?" Fugaku growled as he leapt forward. "Get out of here!"
Itachi ducked under the blow and twisted to halt his father's next attack, clamping down his emotions as only an ANBU could. This was no longer Fugaku. The corpse had his father's appearance and voice, but the person himself had no meaning to Itachi. Fugaku was merely another enemy shinobi standing between him and rescuing Sasuke.
Leaping into the air, Itachi snapped his leg out in a straight kick to Fugaku's cheek. Blood red sharingan twirled into motion in Fugaku's eyes as he brought his kunai up, barely missing Itachi's leg. Unlike the massacre when he had been caught by surprise, Fugaku now proved to be a deadly opponent. He hadn't been chosen as the chief of police for paperwork skills alone.
Itachi twisted midair and landed in a crouch, darting to the side as Fugaku's chakra enforced fist grazed past his ear. Fugaku anticipated the move and slammed his knee upwards, catching Itachi in the stomach. Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Itachi ducked away from the descending kunai and rolled away. His fingers moved like lightning as he carried out the symbols of his clan's katon goukakyuu no jutsu. Fugaku's own hands echoed in quick succession, finishing a split second after Itachi. The twin balls of fire roared through the clearing, scorching both Uchihas from the close proximity of the flames. Sweat trickled down Itachi's face as he lay on the ground, holding back the wave of heat that flared only three feet away from him. He could see his own flames begin to push further towards Fugaku, and could only imagine the discomfort his father was feeling. Feeding more chakra into his jutsu, Itachi slowly began rising to his feet.
Abruptly a foot slammed through the flames, hitting Itachi's chest and knocking him back to the ground again. There was a hiss of pain from Fugaku as his leg caught fire, but he had won the temporary advantage. Caught by surprise, Itachi's flame sputtered and faded as the air left his lungs. A sharp pain lanced through his right hand as a kunai pinned it to the ground. Fugaku stomped on Itachi's left wrist with his good foot, and Itachi could feel the small bones crack under the pressure. He instinctively cried out as rivulets of pain raced through his arms, gritting his teeth against the white hot spasms. A second kunai flashed past Itachi's temple, slicing through the forehead guard covering his eye and leaving a streak of blood in its wake. Fugaku's hands shot out and grasped Itachi's throat, squeezing until the younger Uchiha was sure his neck would snap.
"Do it," Fugaku grunted, his hands flexing as though he were trying to break away. "Finish this, Itachi!"
Amaterasu. That's what his father wanted him to do. Struggling against Fugaku's grasp, Itachi kicked his knees upwards in an attempt to loosen the grip on his throat. Fugaku didn't even seem to feel the blows as his hands clenched tighter.
Itachi realized physical efforts were futile, but he didn't want to destroy his eyesight unless absolutely neccessary. He didn't have to this time.
"You don't... know everything 'bout me," Itachi used the last of his air to gasp out.
Fugaku hesitated a fraction of a second, and Itachi smiled. In an instant his Susanoo billowed around around him, throwing Fugaku backwards. Drawing in a deep breath of relished oxygen, Itachi smashed his Susanoo fist into his father's living corpse. He turned away as the sickening crunch echoed through the clearing. Fugaku had already died eight years ago. It hadn't really been his father that he had destroyed.
So why did he have such a hard time convincing himself of that fact?
Feeling ill at the turn of events, Itachi gathered his control and released the Susanoo. Gingerly he pulled out the kunai knife pinning his hand to the ground and wrapped the open wound with a scrap of cloth. With both hands injured, Itachi knew his coordination would be a slower than he liked. Impairments like these had never stopped him before, however, and it was with no less purpose that he gathered his torn forehead guard and set out after his brother once more.
I will find you, Sasuke. Before it's too late.
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Far away from the commotion of battle, Kabuto smiled complacently. Sasuke had fallen limp in the grasp of his snakes, seemingly unconscious. Kabuto knew otherwise. He could feel the burning energy the Uchiha was storing away for a final attempt to escape the fate held in store for him. Kabuto smirked once more. Sasuke was putting up quite a fight, but it didn't matter; nothing would ruin his plans now.
Everything was coming along perfectly.
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IMPORTANT! I am planning out my next story, which will be an alternative to this one. There are three options in my profile right now for me to choose from. I would appreciate it if as many people as possible either vote in the poll or send a quick review with their favorite plot idea. (You can just say 1, 2, or 3 if you want to send a vote by review.) I will have Kabuto make cookies for those who help me decide! :D
Once again, I just had to break this off to further the suspense! "Hey Sasuke, you holding up okay over there?" I think he's glaring at me behind the snake blindfold. Yeah, maybe it was an easy catch, but Madara does seem to be a pretty nasty opponent. Besides, I had to get some Sasuke angst in there somehow! ;D
Oh, and I made my first youtube for this story! :D It's just pictures, but the music is sad. It's set for poor Itachi when he was a kid. If people like it and I can find enough pictures, I might make another later. http :/ www. youtube. com/watch ?v=9DjqPlEVCyU
