KK, it took me so time for one reason only. I had already finished 40 so I needed 39 to match it lol, and as we writers know how difficult that can be. Thank you for you patience and undying support. Really only 2 chapters left!

Chapter 39-Help

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down, and I do appreciate you being round. Help me get my feet back on the ground, won't you please, please help me?

Lightning surrounded Sasuke. Little bolts of electricity twisted around his sword and snaked around his body. His chakra seeped from every pore and expanded with every second. When he lifted his long long chokuto, the crackling white bolts extended and pierced Kisame through the center of his chest. The jolt sent him through the air, and slapped him to the ground. He was dead. Instantly.

Naruto clutched Sakura. His mouth agape, his eyes wide. He couldn't move. He couldn't make a sound. Sasuke stood calmly over the body of one of the most powerful men in history. Should Naruto be proud that his best friend was capable of such an amazing feat? Or should he fear him that there was no emotion, no care in Sasuke's red sharigan eyes?

"Would you stop sputtering and bring her over here?" Karin demanded.

Naruto stumbled in his movement, laying Sakura's beaten body down tenderly. Her blood covered his arms. As he looked down at her, it brought a sickness in his belly, rumbling the bijuu inside him. She had suffered and he hadn't be able to stop it.

Naruto spun his attention around, needing some quick revenge but Sasuke was already facing it. Itachi stood alone on the edge of the mountain.

"Karin." Sasuke voiced across the distance. "Itachi fights in the village. I can't make out two readings anymore."

Naruto brought his gaze to the female. She held a hand upon Sakura's chest. Whoever this woman was had a different type of healing power than Sakura. Sweat dripped down her temple and over her decorated cheek. The lines upon her skin were symbols Naruto didn't recognize. It was obvious to see that she was struggle with this certain jutsu.

"Kisame just woke."

Naruto snapped to attention, preparing for battle and staring at the body on the ground.

The woman giggled. "This one isn't too bright is he?"

Sasuke grunted which only pissed Naruto off.

"What the fuck is going on?" Naruto bit.

"They are clones." Sasuke responded, moving his foot to flip over the body. The illusion now gone the face of a stranger revealed itself. Naruto quickly recalled his fight with Itachi.

"Jugo. Suigetsu." From the trees his other teammates came forth jumping down next to the woman.

Suigetsu squatted beside her, glaring at Sakura with disgust. "Didn't know the bitch could bleed so much."

"Hey!" Naruto stormed.

Jugo looked to the village. "Kisame's coming."

"So he plans to wait." Sasuke acknowledged but Naruto could see his hand clench tighter to his bloody sword.

A blink and the Uchiha was gone. Naruto panicked, searching wildly for his past friend only to spot his form standing in front of the copy of his brother. With a quick swipe of his chokuto, the imposter's head slipped off it's shoulder.

"Sasuke-sama." Jugo whispered. "We must be prepared. Kisame is not to be ignored."

"I'll kill him myself." Suigetsu vowed extracting his own sword and slashing at the air.

Jugo knelled beside Karin. "How much longer?"

"The bloodloss was extreme. I don't know how she survived."

"Sasuke-sama would not do well if she dies."

"She won't die. She won't feel great for awhile, but she won't die. I'll make sure of it."

Sasuke took his time returning. He knew within this time frame he could go after Itachi who was so close he felt himself tremble with a boiling rage. But he wasn't stupid. Itachi was strong and fighting him within the village would not be wise. Too many casulties, too many places to hide. He wanted Itachi to come to him now. He would have the upper hand in this battle.

He felt Kisame's chakra drop upon the grassless field like a blanket of steam. His chokuto was still in hand. He was ready for this moment and would rush to get to it however he would do it fashionably. He wanted Itachi scared when it finally came to their battle. Sasuke didn't bother turning around to greet the real Kisame. He rejoined his own team before allowing his eyes to fall upon the shark, who grinned like a man on his birthday.

"Sakura." Jugo sounded.

Sasuke's red gaze dropped to the woman and watched her struggle to get up. Suigetsu picked on her with words but was delicate in helping her sit up. Naruto knelled beside her smiling like the normal idiot he was.

"What happened?" She whispered. She looked upon her reddened arms and her clothes covered in stiff blood. An awareness woke when she caught sight of Karin. Her head whipped this way and that until she turned abruptly and found his gaze. Her eyes were wide when she caught sight of him but no smile broke her lips.

Her head turned back around not bothering with a greeting. Sasuke threw his head away, not admitting his anger. She probably figured out he hadn't come back for her. No, as pathetic as it may be, he was only here for his brother. He was nothing more than a broken record.

"Karin, Take Sakura out-"

"I'm not going anywhere." She was quick to bite. Must she annoy him when he was so close to his goal? She would only be in the way. This was exactly what he hadn't wanted to begin with and now it was proving inevitable.

He sent a glare in her direction only to be met by her own. She stood now even on shaking legs, unwilling to back down. When did she get so damned stubborn?

"We fight together and we'll win faster."

"Yay!" Naruto was all for it of course. He knew nothing of the negative results that could come of that cumbersome plan.

Let them fight. Let all of them destroy Kisame as quick as possible so his fight with Itachi could finally have it's first and final act. Sasuke turned his attention to Kisame. The man made no move to come any closer. The shark wasn't as stupid as he looked. Facing a bijuu carrier and Sasuke himself, he was no match alone. Kisame and him had already had little scrimmages in the past. Each time, Kisame had run off before he could have gotten hurt. So that meant Itachi would come soon.

Sasuke felt his sharigan spin with power, his gaze sharpening even clearer. Even from the distance, Sasuke could make out a few cuts and bruises along his skin. The party in the village must have been something fierce but the fact was clear. Kisame hadn't even unleashed a third of his power. It was obvious that they had gotten the bijuu from the triplets. He wondered just who was dead in the village and how Naruto and Sakura would face it when the time came.

A silly thought to his heartless body.

"I must say you two have such big hearts," Sarcasism rolled off his tongue, "To take Sasuke back after he's betrayed you. How many times has it been, Sasuke? Twice, now, right?." He smirked, his eyes gazing over to Sasuke. The young Uchiha tightened his gaze. So he had realized he was in over his head. He wanted to break up whatever teamwork that had so they would fight separately and without strength. From the look he was now receiving from Naruto and Sakura, Kisame had hit it right on the mark.

Naruto's brows knit, and his jaw slacked, bringing his sharp red eyes over to Sasuke. "Sasuke?" Naruto whispered confused.

Kisame chuckled, "Oh, they don't know, oh, gomen, gomen. Well, while on the subject, why not tell them, Sasuke? How you got caught on purpose?"

Sasuke tightened his fist, glaring at Kisame. "Sasuke-kun wanted to find Itachi. He learned from Orochimaru that Itachi was searching for you. What better way than to use you as bait. See how it all works out."

Naruto shook his head, his tail unmoving as they draped across the ground. "Iie."

"Go on, Sasuke-kun." Kisame pushed. "Tell them."

Naruto's brows knit, "You didn't. You didn't, right? Sasuke? It's not true, right?" Sasuke moved his large sharigan eyes over to Naruto but said nothing in reply, making no move to deny or to agree. But the convection shined in his activated eyes.

Kisame smirked, he shot up off the ground to land a blow on Naruto but stopped when Sasuke re-materialized in front, twisting with such speed, his foot came in straight contact of Kisame's face. The man flew a hundred yards before crashing on the dust road. Sasuke turned to face Naruto's contempt but jumped back surprised.

What faced him now was beyond his imagination. He had seen a bit of what the bijuu could do to Naruto. The red cloak, the long claws, the red eyes. But the years had definitely strengthened their relationship.

The five tails whipped behind him ominously. The skin had all stripped away leaving only black and swirling red. The cloak surrounded the unrecognizable form. His screams were cries of the monster within him, his sharp nails digging in the ground, cracking the earth just from the slight pressure. The chakra alone that leaked from this distorted body was enough for Sasuke to take an unconscious step back.

Sakura's movement finally allowed him to blink and he turned to his gaze finding her fallen to her knees. Her body shook uncontrollably and gaped with horror. Her whispers finally reached his hearing. "I failed. Yamato isn't here. What should I do?" She questioned herself over and over again, her fear vibrating in her tone.

"What's happening?" He questioned with grit teeth.

She couldn't take her eyes away as she shook her head. "He's lost." She dropped her head, smashing a fist in the ground. "He's lost."

Sasuke didn't understand what she meant but by looking upon the creature again, he could only guess. The beast had taken over but from Sakura's reaction this had happened before and the guy named Yamato had gotten Naruto to come back out. If this Yamato guy could do it. There was no reason he couldn't. Sasuke ran ahead, ignoring Sakura's screams to stay away.

Sasuke flew up to Naruto's face, Naruto's teeth barred and he growled low his throat. The eyes hollow and round, enough to cause chills to run down his spine. But Sasuke let his Sharingan take control and entered Naruto's mind.

He was instantly bombarded by darkness. Sasuke grit his teeth, running toward the only sign of light that seemed miles away. His footsteps echoed the hallway the only sound besides the tiny drop of water constantly dripping as he made his way. Water encompassed his feet and he looked down trying to figure out what the hell was going on. He finally managed to make it to the gate. The gate where the fox laid behind, buried deep within it. He knit his brows unsure what he would do now. He searched wildly for any sign of Naruto until an orange leg made itself aware.

Sasuke ran to the edge, Naruto was sitting up against the wall on the other side of the metal bars, his head braced against it as he held his knees to his chest. Sasuke could tell the boy was awake and fine just by the opening of his eyes. "What are you doing?" Sasuke demanded.

Naruto wasn't even fazed. He stared out into the darkness. "What needs to be done."

Sasuke shook his head, hating the uncharacteristic voice Naruto responded in. "You'll rely on him?"

"He can fight better then me."

"Pathetic. You'll just give up, after all of it. And get your team killed in the process."

"Team. There is no team. Not anymore."

"Three years and now you face that fact. Why give up now?"

"I failed." Naruto buried his head in his knees, "I failed you as a friend. Again."

"What of Sakura? Will you fail her also?"

Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, "Stay away from me. Once he's done I'll come back."

"What if he doesn't let you?"

"It's worth the sacrifice to keep the ones I care about safe."

"And he'll kill them! Don't you see this is what he wants!"

Naruto tightened his hold around his legs, "You don't know anything about it."

"Don't I? That's right, I just wear this damn juin jutsu for decoration. Get up off your ass and fight."

"It's too late." Naruto whispered slightly ashamed. "I can't get out now."

"If I can get in, you can get out."

"I can't. I've tried before. I can't. Just go Sasuke. Take Sakura and go."

Sasuke shook his head, "Don't be such a loser, dobe. Come on."

Naruto snapped to his feet, gripping the bars to make Sasuke see just what he can't do. "These bars won't separate. What do you want me to do?" Sasuke put out his hand. Naruto's brows knit in confusion and he shook his head, not understanding.

"Do you want out?"

Naruto stared down at the outstretched appendence, unsure what it would do. But as he caught Sasuke's gaze again, trust was the only thing that echoed in his mind. With a smile and a sharp nod, Naruto placed his hand in Sasuke's.

Naruto snapped open his eyes, gasping for breath, Sasuke's face was before him, and the rays of the sun graced him, telling him he was out of the fox's hold and back in control. Which also meant, excruciating pain. He collapsed, eyes squeezed tight, trying to will himself to breath even though he burned with each inhale, and stabbed with each exhale. Sakura's voice called his name and he felt the cool glow of her chakra swallow him. His gaze turned upward, the sun lowering in the sky, hiding now behind Sasuke who stood before him.

Every time things go so wrong, and his faith in Sasuke diminishes to none existence, Sasuke fights proving that their relationship was still there, no matter how beaten up in was. Sasuke was an ass, the biggest one there was but he was still Naruto's best friend.

Naruto could do nothing but smile.

"A group of 9 from the south." Karin warned, and all their attention turned to the trees.

Lee and Gai jump to the ground, followed by Asuma, Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, Hinata, and finally Kakashi.

Naruto didn't wonder what they were doing here, "They're in the village, help them." All except for Kakashi continued the hurried pace. Kisame quickly performed a jutsu of water but Kakashi was already prepared with his own wall of concrete, getting the shark's attention quickly enough so the group could get to the village.

But the moment the group fell down the large Cliffside, another body appeared beside Kisame.

Sasuke's eyes widened. Naruto's gaze was on him, watching each movement. The pain, anguish, humiliation, hatred, all these emotions bombarded the Uchiha sibling so quickly and suddenly Naruto felt it strick him like an unseen fist.

So slowly, so deliberately slow, Sasuke pivoted on the ball of his foot and turned. Catching his brother Itachi across the battle field.

The two powers of chakra clashed worse than a tidal wave smashing against the shore. Wind crushed them, clearing the trees behind them for over a mile. Sasuke heard the screams of his comrades as they fumbled with the powerful wave but he stood still, impassive.

None of Sasuke's control came into play. All the times he had imagined this battle in his mind, his calmness, his control, his careless attitude never surfaced when he pushed himself off his foot and attacked with a blind hatred he lived with for the past decade.

Sakura screamed his name despite how useless it was. The brothers dropped down the cliff and out of sight, taking their massive chakra with them. She stood on shaking legs, Jugo helped her but his attention was elsewhere.

Suigetsu cursed, "What a fucking idiot. All those drills that he put us through so he could ruin it by doing this!"

"He's lost in his hatred." Jugo took a step to Suigetsu, "Let us help him."

"Right." He bit sarcastically. "He ain't gonna take it. Fucking idiot." Suigetsu turned his attention on Naruto. "We'll save Sasuke's ass. Distract Kisame so we can get there. Fuck I wanted to fight that dick a bit. Come on, Karin, get your lazy ass up." The red haired female struggled to stand. The most of her chakra had been used to heal Sakura. Her strength fumbled and she would have fallen if Sakura hadn't been there to catch her.

She smiled softly, "Let's go save him, huh?" Karin nodded.

Naruto caught Sakura's gaze as she began to walk toward the shark waiting for her. He didn't want her to leave his side. The blood still covered her. The bruises were so fresh and bright. Her feet were covered in the crusted liquid and dirt stuck on her skin. He needed her beside him so he could care for her. These other members of Sasuke's team, though they seemed to know Sakura they weren't her friend, not the way he was. They had allowed the Akatuski to have her in their grasp. He couldn't let that go.

Naruto jumped to her side turning back to Kakashi, "Think you can handle it, Kaka-sensei?"

Putting away his book, Kakashi glanced up with his one eye, "Hai, Hai," He yawned.