Chapter 29
Naruto was stilled trapped in Itachi's genjutsu, and he was trying to find a way out. Naruto began concentrating large amounts of chakra.
"Without a doubt, he's matured." Itachi said to himself. "However, he's still not strong enough." He added. The crows that were circling Naruto morphed into shuriken and all at once came showering down on Naruto. The blades made cuts all over him.
"This hurts….but it's still just a genjutsu…" Naruto reminded himself as he tried to withstand the pain. Suddenly, the skin of Naruto's left cheek began flaking off.
Naruto, a familiar voice came echoing in his head. Naruto's eyes widened at the voice. Naruto, the voice repeated.
"I-is that… Sasuke…!" Naruto realized.
It's been far too long Naruto, Sasuke's voice said. Naruto's entire left side of his face was gone and it was Sasuke's face from the last time they saw each other. Naruto let out a shriek. Sasuke was starting to take over Naruto's body. He raised his left arm and wrapped it around Naruto's neck, making Naruto choke himself. Naruto tried to use his other arm to pulled his hand away from his throat, but couldn't.
I should've finished you off the last time we faced each other. Sasuke scoffed. Something inside Naruto's jacket started to move around. His jacket unzipped and Sakura's head came out and was glaring at Naruto.
"Why? Why, Naruto? When Sasuke left why didn't you bring him back to me! I was wrong to believe in you…" She scowled, still glaring. Naruto had a look of horror on his face. Naruto looked to his right shoulder and saw the upper half of Kakashi's face.
"You couldn't even protect your closest friends. I expected more from you, but you're a failure!" Kakashi said to Naruto, disappointment in his voice.
"As always," Another voice came into Naruto's mind. "No matter what, you come out ahead." Naruto looked at the palm of his hand and saw Gaara's eye. "Only you achieve happiness." Gaara's voice rang in Naruto's head. Naruto's eyes started to fill with tears.
"It's just a genjutsu…I know that's all it is…but still..." Naruto repeated with tears running down his face.
"You liar, why did I believe in you?" Sakura yelled.
"You're such a disappointment, Naruto." Kakashi insulted.
"You always get everything…" Gaara said with jealousy.
"I'll end you!" Sasuke shouted as he made Naruto tighten the grip around his throat. Naruto coughed blood as he tried pulling the hand away again.
"This isn't happening!" Naruto told himself. "S-somebody give me chakra..! Kakashi-sensei…Sakura…" Naruto pleaded, starting to loose his breath. Naruto was snapped back into reality when two hands touched his shoulders. Naruto looked to his sides and saw Sakura and Chiyo. It was those two who snapped him out of the genjutsu. I couldn't help but feel sorrow for Naruto. He was emotional, and Itachi knew that. Itachi used Naruto's emotions against him, which is why ninja are supposed to have a strong control over their emotions. But, Naruto had trouble with that just like I did and still do. Kakashi came jumping out from underneath the ground.
"Naruto! Are you alright?" Kakashi asked.
"W-what happened to me?" Naruto asked, still unsure of what was going on around him.
"You got caught in a genjutsu. But you're gonna be fine. We all funneled our chakra into you and it broke the hold." Sakura explained. Naruto looked at Itachi.
"I don't get it…where did all his shadow clones go?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"What do you mean his shadow clones? Why, he's used nothing of the sort this whole time." Chiyo said.
"Yeah, you all of a sudden freaked out and started shooting off your Rasengan." Sakura said. "Don't you remember any of that?" She asked. Naruto remembered to when he thought he hit one of the shadow clones.
"So I was already caught in the genjutsu at that time?" Naruto wondered to himself.
"I think it's about time for the main event, get it together Naruto." Kakashi said.
"Hey, snap out of it, will you?" Sakura said to Naruto as she lightly patted his face. Kakashi charged at Itachi. My eyes went large. The real fight just started. Itachi did multiple hand signs so fast it looked like a blur.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu." Itachi said and breathed multiple balls of fire at Kakashi. Kakashi quickly dodged the fire balls and leaped in the air.
"He's not done yet!" Kakashi warned to his teammates. Just as he said that, Itachi blew a giant ball of fire directly at Naruto, Sakura and Chiyo. The three of them just barley got out of the way. Itachi stood in that spot, waiting for the smoke to clear. He then heard sounds of electricity. Kakashi created a ball of electricity in his hand, which was Chidori. He charged at Itachi, dragging the Chidori close to the ground which was tearing up the dirt. Kakashi got extremely close to Itachi and was about to hit him with the Chidori, making me lean forward and I felt my heart stop. Itachi moved out of the way at the last moment. I fell back and let out a deep sigh as my heart began beating again. But that wasn't the end of it. Just as Itachi avoided Kakashi's attack, Naruto came down from the sky with his Rasengan, aiming for Itachi. It all happened so fast all I saw was them both hit the gound, causing dirt and rocks to fly everywhere.
"Itachi!" I yelled in concern, but not loud enough for any of the others to hear me.
"Naruto!" I heard Sakura yell from across the battlefield. There was a giant hole in the ground, and then the dust cleared Itachi was standing without a single scratch on him. I placed my hand over my heart, relieved, but not sure of how much more of this I could take. When I looked back up I saw Naruto crouching behind the tree in front of me. His back was turned to me and he was focused on the battlefield. My eyes were large and I felt my throat tighten up. If I leaned forward a little bit and stretched my arm out, I would literally be able to touch him.
"Man…I didn't think he'd survive it that easily. I could've sworn we were gonna get the drop on him with Kakashi-sensei's Lightning Blade as a diversion. That Sharingan is a real problem. He can instantly foresee what I'm gonna do" Naruto thought. "There's no way I'll be able to do this without a combo attack with Kakashi-sensei. And on top of that I'll need a powerful jutsu. Looks like I'll try out my new trick." Naruto planned in his head. It appeared that Naruto hadn't noticed me yet, but if I made the slightest movement or sound I could give myself away. Just then, a thick layer of fog came. Sakura, who was in the other side of the battlefield in the forest with Chiyo, looked around wondering where the fog came from.
"Don't worry my dear, this is Kakashi's jutsu." Chiyo told her. The fog was so thick that I could barley see Naruto in front of me, let alone Itachi or Kakashi on the battlefield.
"The Hidden Mist Jutsu. Quite an effective technique to keep one from casting a genjutsu." Itachi observed. "Unless of course, one possesses the Sharingan." He added.
"Kakashi, can we please stop this childish game of hide-and-seek?" Itachi called out into the fog.
"Sure, why not." Kakashi said, stepping back out into the battleground. Kakashi threw three kunai at Itachi. Itachi turned his body to avoid them while making hand signs at the same time. Itachi used the Fire Ball Jutsu again. However, this time it appeared to have worked because the fog cleared all at once. There was a hole in the ground where Kakashi was standing. Kakashi jumped up from underground in front of Itachi, and swung and uppercut. Itachi tilted his head back and grabbed Kakashi's arm, dragged him down, and aimed for a punch, but Kakashi moved his head to the right. Itachi grabbed Kakashi by the back of the head and Kakashi did the same to Itachi. They were in each other's face and glaring into each other's Sharingan eyes. Kakashi had just gotten himself caught one of Itachi's genjutsus again.
