Disclaimer: Not mine

Sorry for the wait.

Chapter 36

Harry followed Kakashi silently as the moved through the jungle. It was quiet, too quiet and both were on high alert. There had been odd reports from the area and it seemed to tie in with what had begun in Cloud and spread. Konoha and Suna had found themselves fighting many shinobi in the same condition as Maya and other Cloud shinobi but now they were also from Bamboo, Rock, Sound, Frost and Waterfall. How long until it reached Suna or Konoha? That could not be allowed, although as far as Harry was concerned it couldn't be allowed to continue to spread full stop.

It was interesting to find that there were no villages, ninja or civilian anywhere nearby, animals weren't the only ones wary of the area, even if no one could put their finger on why. But it made their rip all the creepier. Tsunade had sent them with no backup, she would risk no more while also sending two people she knew could handle a lot. Between them there were few threats that could be a true challenge.

They made camp that night in silence, not even risking a fire to cook with, instead Harry using magic to prepare the food. Harry warded the campsite and they curled together in a sleeping bag, not wanting to be apart in this place. Sleep did not come easy and it was not peaceful until they gave up and just lay in each other's arms. Harry was alarmed when he felt Kakashi begin to tremble. "Kakashi?" He ran his fingers through silvery hair.

"Somethings wrong…I…. I can't…" he shuddered and Harry rolled over so they were face to face.

"Let me in." he whispered, green meeting grey and Kakashi forced himself to keep eye contact, feeling the gentle touch of Harry's mind.

Harry slipped in gently and was shocked, not to mention utterly terrified, by what he found. The same creeping evil he had found Maya and others consumed by had begun to creep into Kakashi's mind and Kakashi could obviously feel that something was happening to him. Because he could feel it Kakashi was managing to mount a defence but it wouldn't hold it back. Harry's magic went on the offensive in defence of his best friend and love. He created a shield around Kakashi's mind, hopefully protecting him from further infection. He stunned Kakashi, summoned a scroll and quickly wrote a note before turning it into a portkey and returning Kakashi to Konoha.

He would have to go on alone but that was nothing new, he had often had to go on alone against an unknown danger. At least there would be no Basilisks here. He packed up the little they had unpacked and began moving through the vegetation on four legs rather than two. His sensitive nose picked up a strange scent a day later and he picked up the pace even more. He came into a clearing and instantly transformed, shocked to find powerful wards in place. This was magic!

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Tsunade leapt to her feet as the air rippled in front of her desk, Kakashi appearing on the floor obviously unconscious. Anbu appeared and quickly searched him, checking for traps. She allowed it, despite knowing only Harry could have sent him. Eventually the note was handed over and she read it, dread settling in. "Take him to the hospital and have him restrained in the high security ward. I want a 24hr guard."

"Hai!" three of them left with Kakashi to do as she had ordered.

"Hokage-sama?" Tenzo asked, Kakashi had once been his captain and was still his friend.

"It appears Kakashi has been infected." She answered softly. "Harry has attempted to stop it but we will not know until he wakes."

"Understood."

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Harry prowled outside the wards, gathering as much information as possible. They were old, very old. As old as the wards hiding the continent and unfortunately that age had not weakened them. He could not overpower them, he would need at least three other powerful wizards of his own level to do so and he didn't feel like dabbling in necromancy to bring Dumbledore, Riddle and Grindelwald back to do so. That meant he either had to unmake them or find a crack to slip through, neither was an easy task especially since he wasn't a warder or expert in Runes.

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Tsunade entered the secured room to see Kakashi firmly locked to the bed, unable to move let alone form hand seals. She'd been informed he was showing signs of consciousness after three days. Sure enough, she saw his eyelids twitch, hands flexing in their restraints before his eye fluttered open. "Hatake, report." She ordered but he didn't answer. He groaned and his head lolled on the bed as he twitched and trembled. She moved closer and saw his eye was unfocused. "Kakashi?" she reached out with green glowing hands, scanning him but finding nothing. She touched his cheek and saw him struggling to focus. "Can you hear me?"

"Mmmnn….Ts..de….." he mumbled and she felt a flash of relief, he was still in there.

"You're home and safe Kakashi. Whatever this is, we can't even find it let alone treat it. You have to keep fighting. Harry sent you back, I just hope he's found the source and can fix this. The brats need you, Harry needs you. Don't you dare give in." he seemed to calm at the mention of Harry which made her smile slightly. "I'm sorry to keep you restrained but I can't risk letting you out. Just stay strong."

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Harry warmed his hands over the fire as he stared at the scrolls where he had transcribed various rune clusters. After two months, he thought he had a way to bring them down. He had checked his work a hundred times but still wished there was an expert available to look it over. In the morning, he would make his attempt. He rolled himself in the sleeping bag, missing the scent of Kakashi in it but that had faded a long time ago. If he survived this, stopped what was happening would he return home to find Kakashi waiting? Or merely a mindless shell? And what of Sasuke and the other kids? He would know if Sasuke was badly wounded or dead and he doubted if anyone would miss Naruto's death because of the Kyuubi's power but Sakura? Or Gai? Or Anko? Or any of the other Konoha ninja he'd gotten to know. But there was nothing he could do but hope that once he fixed this everything would return to normal.

As the sun rose Harry got up and repacked his camp before heading for the ward line where he went to work. Night had almost fallen again by the time he was finished but he wasn't going to stop because it was dark, instead he used Hermione's bluebell flames to provide light. Everything was ready so he sliced his hand and allowed his blood to fall on the runes, powering them. He drew his sword and slammed it into the ground in the correct spot even as his wound healed from the ambient magic in the air. The wards began to glow, becoming brighter and brighter until with an almighty clang the shattered and Harry dropped to the ground to avoid the almost physical shards. When he got up he found the entrance to a cave revealed so he cautiously entered, doubting the wards were the only defence.

Harry finally came into the main chamber of the cave system and promptly threw up, unable to stop the reaction to the feel of the magic in the room. He had thought he had felt evil before, in Riddle, the Death Eaters…even what he had felt spreading through the elemental countries but this? This was beyond that. In the middle of the chamber was a massive black stone, the source of everything. He moved away, going back into the tunnels to set his own wards before setting up camp. He would need to be fully rested before even beginning to study that thing.

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Tsunade looked into the room through the one-way window and felt sick as she watched Kakashi writhe in his bonds. The occasional broken babble slipped from his lips as he futilely fought his bonds. The only reason she kept hope and didn't kill him to put him out of his misery was the occasional note that appeared in her office and young Sasuke's assurances. Harry Potter was still alive which meant he had to be still working on this. Sasuke had been allowed in to see Kakashi in the early days to see if he could help his sensei. He'd reinforced the room so that Kakashi could not leave it even if he got free of the bed which meant technically they could let him up except when they had he had tried to harm himself. Sasuke had managed to calm him for a time but that was all. She was considering calling Itachi back, to see if his sharingan could help rather than harm.

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This stone was an abomination…. a relic of darker days, of the last war between wizards and shinobi. The intricacy and power involved were unbelievable and sickening, one last act of vengeance. It would have activated one day, his presence in the elemental lands had simply sped things up as it reacted to the presence of his magic, maybe even Sasuke's abilities. It hadn't been enough to seal the continent away for all time, those wizards had ensured that they would have a slave army to do their bidding if they chose to return. Harry could feel it, feel them, he could claim that magic and wield the army, that was actually relatively easy, he had the raw power to seize control. Undoing it? He still wasn't sure how. What was distracting was that he could feel the bespelled individuals…. which meant he could feel Kakashi, feel his mind and will bending slowly to the power of the spell. He knew all that was keeping him from succumbing totally was Harry's own magic that he had used on him before sending him away. It was only working due to the distance between them, if Kakashi was closer the spell would have won out already.

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Itachi kept his head down, acting the part of scared refugee as he walked through the gates of Konoha. This was a report that had to be given in person and…. he missed Sasuke. His henge was good enough to fool those around him and he slowly made his way to the Tower. He slipped into the office and hid in the shadows, waiting for her return. He didn't have too long to wait and it was easy to disable her Anbu guards before stepping forward, disguise gone as he held his hands out in surrender.

"Uchiha?"

"Apologies for startling you Hokage-sama but this is a report that must be given in person."

"I've been considering calling for you anyway. What do you have to report?"

"Akatsuki is no more. Amegakure has all but been destroyed by this army of controlled shinobi. Those who survived Sasuke's attack are now all dead except Tobi and Konan. She has withdrawn and has remained in the ruins to help the villagers who survived. It is possible Tobi could reform the group but that will take time."

Tsunade sat back, shocked and relieved. At least something good had come from this mess. "Very well. Sasuke's team is in the village, I'll have him sent for as I know you'll want to see him."

"Why were you going to send for me."

"Kakashi. He has been…. infected. the only reason he hasn't succumbed is something Harry did before sending home back here for safety. Harry has found the source and has been there the last six months working to stop it, he sends an occasional not so we know he is alive. Sasuke can't do anything for him. Would you be willing to try? We have no way of knowing the risks to you." She warned and Itachi frowned.

Kakashi had been his Captain once. He hadn't liked putting the man in a coma but it had been better than killing him. The thought of him as one of those empty shinobi, a truly mindless killer, was disturbing to say the least. "I will see him."

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Harry was sweating but he couldn't break his concentration for even a split second. This was not something he should be doing alone but there was no other choice. After almost a year on his own he was finally working to break the stone and the spells it controlled. It was time to truly end the war. His hands were locked on the stone, covered in blood, his sword already rammed into the stone and glowing. His blood held two of the most powerful substances in the magical world, on that killed and one that healed and cleansed. He just hoped it was all enough, or he would be seeing his parents again soon. He lost all track of time as he poured magic into the stone until finally with a scream of agony and relief the stone shattered into a million pieces and the chamber was plunged into blackness.

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Tsunade rushed into the room, Itachi and Sasuke on her heels. On the bed Kakashi was screaming, spine bowing as he fought the restraints until several actually snapped. The brothers moved forward to hold him down as he thrashed, grey and red eye wide open with pain and terror as he screamed until suddenly he went all too still.

TBC….