Tsunade pinched her nose as she consumed the foul-smelling concoction in front of her. She had been working nonstop for the past couple of days, and her head was pulsating with a headache. She still had no idea where Kakashi was, but she knew the sly old fox was planning something. Sighing, Tsunade read over Sai's latest report. She was certain that he would join forces with Ino, Kakashi's latest pet project, and they'd be bound to make her headache worse.

As Tsunade went over the report a second time she reached over to the glass of wine, but a sudden spasm shook her hand and she instead bumped the cup, tilting it over. She was frozen in place, instead of worrying about the wine spreading and staining the floor.

There was an old Senju tale, passed down through the generations, an old story about how Madara went missing after his last battle with Hashirama, and that Hashirama had warned his descendants that the Uchiha would return. According to Hashirama every Senju would know whenever Madara's evil walked the earth once. To show their descendants what it would feel like he pricked all their necks with a needle, drawing a small bubble of blood. When Tsunade had just hit twelve, her father had done the same to her. At the time she had thought it was a silly tradition, and that if she ever had children she wouldn't do this to them. However, Tsunade now understood the importance of the tradition.

A pickling feeling rang on the back of her neck, just as it had been almost five decades ago. It spread to the rest of her body, as her skin felt like electricity was spreading across it. Tsunade was an experienced magician and she knew better than to question this phenomenon. She stood up from her desk, ready to spring into action, but before she could go anywhere a puff of smoke appeared atop her table, revealing a small frog. Familiar with the summon, she knew Jiraiya was trying to speak with her.

She undid the seal on the frog, completing the connection. As soon as it happened, the frog began speaking with her old friend's voice. He sounded afraid and frantic and Tsunade hoped he wasn't in immediate danger.

"Tsunade, I can't believe my eyes, I was keeping watch over their compound when suddenly the south quadrant just blows up. There's a crater, with three men. I can recognize Itachi Uchiha and Pein, but here's where it gets weird. I'm pretty sure the third man is Madara Uchiha. I can't get any closer for further confirmation. Awaiting instructions."

"Keep yourself hidden, if an opportunity presents itself, I want you to take Itachi and bring him to me." Tsunade sent her instructions. She didn't like Itachi but she knew if Madara returned he'd set his sights on the one thing he desired: the Fire Throne. And the only way she'd be able to keep him away was with another Uchiha.

"Understood. Keep this young one in case I need to contact you again."

The link to Jiraiya was cut short, and the frog croaked sadly. Sighing, Tsunade picked it up, placing it on her shoulder. In times like this she wished Jiraya had picked something more sensible for his summons. She always got weird stares when she had to walk around with a frog, but she had no time to worry about it now. She couldn't leave Capital City, but she knew two eager youngsters that would love to find Itachi and drag him back.

She didn't trust Sai and Ino, but she didn't need to, a greater evil had arisen.

.

.

.

Sakura sat helplessly on the floor, trying to understand everything that was happening before her eyes. It started with the explosion, and shortly after Pein was sent flying into the distance. Itachi and Madara were enveloped by a dark red bubble, keeping them away from the outside world. The leader of Akatsuki and a few members had tried breaking through but none of them had succeeded.

Now they all stood by, watching as Itachi and Madara stared each other down. Sakura didn't know what they were doing, but Itachi had just dropped to one knee, and she guessed he was losing.

"I warned you." Sasori crossed his arms, staring at his leader.

"I had no choice!" He lashed out, looking disheveled. The few times Sakura had seen him he looked threatening and composed but now he was just as helpless as the rest of them.

Pulling herself to her feet, Sakura slowly approached them, trying to deafen the danger alarms ringing in her mind. Hidan hovered behind her, but she ignored his attempts to stop her. Sakura approached the leader, hoping she'd have the courage to properly speak to him.

"W-what's going on?" She stuttered, but managed to formulate a proper sentence.

"We're being shut out by some kind of barrier." Sasori took over the role of explaining. "None of us can enter. We'll maybe the zombie freak could probably die and be resurrected the other side." Sasori looked at Hidan.

"Fuck off I ain't getting close to that shit." Hidan glared.

Looking at it, Sakura wondered if there was anything she could do. She remembered Kabuto's words and wondered if she could do something. Ignoring the arguing Akatsuki she stepped closer to the barrier. Sakura placed a hand on it and could feel it burning her skin. But the pain was tolerable, and Sakura pushed forward. It was as if she was trying to push her hand into a muddy earth.

Putting more strength and focus into it, her hand slowly entered the space of the barrier. She couldn't see it, but the necklace Itachi gave her glowed softly. Sakura continued pushing forward, placing herself against the barrier, trying to walk in.

Noticing her success, the rest of the Akatsuki hovered around her, shocked at her success.

"They're most likely engaged in a Tsukuyomi battle. You need to break the spell by making physical contact with Itachi." The Leader told her.

Sakura clenched her teeth trying to break past the barrier. Her hand was much smaller and it had been easier to pierce through.

"Push me in!" Sakura asked for their help. They hesitated for a second but soon Hidan and Sasori were pushing her. The Leader, Kisame and Konan all joined in a moment after. It took their combined strength to get Sakura past the barrier.

Once inside she fell to her knees, feeling slightly dizzy. She took a second to recover her senses but she stood back up. Not knowing if the strange man was aware of her presence she set off running towards Itachi. She remembered Pein's words and decided that nothing would be better than a full impact. Sakura threw herself at Itachi, knocking him down with her weight.

For a second nothing happened, but then Itachi started moving beneath her. Sakura tried stepping away, but he pulled her closer, and suddenly they were covered by an orange bone ribcage.

A loud explosion sound rang over Sakura's head as Itachi flipped them over. His eyes were red and he cried blood, but he smiled at Sakura.

"Thank you." He whispered, before helping her up. He turned around to face the other man with a glare. "Madara, necromancy is distasteful, do you have no shame? Bringing such dishonor to our clan?" Itachi addressed the other man. Around them the rest of the skeleton began to take shape.

Across the battlefield another skeleton began to take shape, but he was blue. Sakura watched it from behind Itachi. However Itachi's spell had stopped at bone, while Madara's kept growing muscle tissue and armor.

"Someone who can't even complete a Susano'o has no right to lecture me on the clan." He grinned derangedly. "At least you had the decency to find a useful wife." His grin morphed into a sneer as his blue soldier attacked Itachi's.

The orange skeleton trembled under the pressure of the fully fleshed out blue one. Sakura looked at Itachi in concern. He didn't look good at all and his eyes kept bleeding.

"Can we run away? This doesn't look like something you can win." Sakura whispered.

Itachi frowned and then looked at Sakura. "You're correct. I cannot face him alone. But you… No, I shouldn't ask this of you." Itachi tried turning his back on her, but Sakura stopped him, grabbing his arm.

"No, let me help, it's my life on the line too! I don't know what I can do, but I think… I think I know what you have in mind. It's that thing right? Conduit?" Sakura wasn't a complete idiot, she could piece some things together based on the knowledge she had acquired over the last year.

She could see Itachi hesitating. Madara struck again, breaking off an arm of Itachi's Susano'o. She held his hand and nodded, showing him she was fine. Itachi sighed and Sakura could feel the magic entering her. It wasn't dissimilar to the feeling she had when she bore Orochimaru's curse, but while that magic had felt like poison, Itachi's magic burned.

Sakura closed her eyes and clenched her teeth, knowing that if she showed pain Itachi wouldn't use her superior magical tolerance anymore. She couldn't see it because her eyes were closed but orange muscle and armor began sprouting forward as Itachi's Susano'o remade itself around them.

Fiery orange and cold blue clashed, fighting as their users controlled them. Itachi kept holding on to Sakura as he began weaving further spells into his Susano'o, adding fire to his attacks. Madara responded with lightning and sparks flew all around them. The splash damage from their battle hit the barrier, weakening it.

Noticing this, Itachi changed his tactics. While he and Sakura were inside the barrier there was no escape from Madara, but if he could make one hole, there might be an opportunity. He began pelting Madara with flame as he redirected his lightning to the same spot.

It took several tries but eventually one of the lightning bolts pierced through, creating a gap. Itachi smiled when he noticed Madara's annoyance at this fact. Outside, the rest of the Akatsuki took this opportunity as well. One of Pein's black rods flew in. Immediately after, the leader of the Akatsuki teleported to the rod's location.

His presence there stopped the fight for a second, as both Uchiha were waiting for his next action. Pein turned his back on Itachi and began attacking Madara's Susano'o with his own spells. With Itachi's assistance the two of them began chipping away at the blue armor.

Itachi could feel the strain on Sakura's body as he was having her sustain the entire weight of summoning Susano'o. He needed time to rest and keep his reserves, because he knew the true battle would begin whenever they broke through Madara's blue Susano'o.

Redoubling his efforts, he sent hit after hit after Madara's summon and with Pein's help they managed to slowly crack the armor. Madara who had been smiling up to this point began to frown. The Uchiha progenitor began adding more lightning and blue flames to his attacks, pushing back. Next to him, Sakura began to groan and Itachi turned concerned eyes on her. While he was a trained magician, used to the hardships of sustaining magic energy, Sakura wasn't. He could see that she could withstand more, but he also knew it was likely painful for her untrained body to take in so much magic energy.

"I'm fine…" She groaned, but her grip on his hand tightened, showing her pain. Itachi turned back to Madara just as Pein flew past him again, having taken a hit from Madara's Susano'o.

There was a high level spell that his father had once taught him, but Itachi had never had to use it in practice. It was something taught only to the leaders of the Uchiha Clan, something used to seal away one's Sharingan. It was a spell invented by Madara himself, used to restrain any Uchiha who dared go against the clan. Itachi didn't know if it would work on the man that invented the spell, but he saw no other option, Madara was the progenitor of the Sharingan, and he knew he stood no chance if that man truly wished to unleash his full power.

"I apologize in advance…" Itachi whispered to Sakura. He had no idea of the backlash this spell would create, but he hoped that between him and Sakura, they'd be able to survive it. Itachi thanked his excellent memory which allowed him to remember the runes and the magic circle. Pulling out Kusanagi, he used the blade to hastily draw the symbols around him.

True to the legends that accompanied his name, Madara immediately recognized Itachi's motions, and the elder Uchiha gave up on his assault on Pein to focus on Itachi's Susano'o, trying to break down the summon protecting Itachi before he could finish the spell. Itachi could only hope it would last long enough for him to finish the ritual.

Around them the barrier finally fell apart due to the Akatsuki's efforts. Sasori, Hidan, Konan and Kisame threw themselves into the fight. Deidara flew in the sky, dropping bombs down upon Madara. The Uchiha warlord finally showed his annoyance at all the additions to the battle. They distracted him long enough to allow Itachi to finish the circle. Holding on to Sakura's hand, Itachi took a deep breath and cast the spell.

True to a Madara-created spell it immediately recognized the other Sharingan user and targeted him immediately. It pierced the blue Susano'o, hitting Madara. He let out a primal roar as the blue summon crumbled around him. Madara leaned over, clutching his face in pain. Itachi also shook as the backlash of the powerful spell washed over him. Next to him, Sakura began falling. He turned around to catch her as his own Susano'o crumbled. Without her supporting it, Itachi allowed the skeleton to dissipate.

Hidan ran to him and he entrusted Sakura to the pink haired man. "Please protect her with your life." Itachi asked. He cast one final look filled with longing towards her before turning around, grabbing Kusanagi. He knew he had sealed away Madara's Sharingan, but even without it he was still a formidable wizard and Itachi had just pissed him off.

"I'll take her away from here." Hidan promised. Itachi nodded as he unstrapped his pouch and his cloak. His magical reserves were low, so he'd have to rely on Kusanagi for his offensive power. He walked to stand next to Kisame, who was also taking out his own sword, Samehada. The two of them stared at Madara, who was leaking magic and rage.

"Just like the good ol' times, eh?" Kisame grinned at Itachi, but only got a glare back.

"I still haven't forgiven you for bringing Sakura here." Itachi noted in a clipped tone. Kisame only laughed.

Madara made the first move: he thrust out his hand and a black shape began to form. After a few seconds it turned into Madara's signature world relic: the legendary Gunbai. Using magic to fling himself towards Itachi, who just barely managed to parry the move. Madara snarled madly at him. His eyes were no longer red, just the plain onyx that every Uchiha shared.

"Little descendant, you dare seal my Sharingan away? For your crime I'll take your eyes and use your Sharingan instead!" He spit into Itachi's face. Now that he was closer, Itachi could better see the details of the necromancy spell he had used. Madara's skin was still pale-grey, and his nails and hair looked brittle.

"Ancients like you should just go back to history." Itachi ignited Kusanagi with his fire magic, pushing Madara away from him. Taking advantage of the opening, Kisame and Pein attacked, but the elder was too fast, jumping away from their attacks.

Itachi finally understood how a single man could turn an entire clan into one of the most prestigious and feared forces in the world. Even without a Sharingan Madara stood toe to toe against six opponents with ease. Deidara's bombs restrained his movements and Madara sniped him down with well-placed fireballs. Afterwards he began focusing down Sasori's puppets, crushing them with ease. With so much fire, Konan's paper magic was quickly neutralized, leaving only Itachi, Kisame and Pein.

With much effort Pein finally managed to wound Madara, impaling his leg with his signature metal rods. Itachi entertained the notion of victory for a short-lived second, yet Madara simply pulled Pein's rod away, his movement completely unrestricted. The evil magician cackled, bragging about his immortality. With a dead body, he felt no pain, and the necromancy spell kept him alive regardless of the body's condition.

"We need a means to neutralize him." Pein muttered. Kisame nodded. Madara showed no signs of exhaustion or magical poisoning.

"I have an idea." Itachi thought of Orochimaru as he watched zombie Madara fight Kisame. He didn't understand why immortality was so craved by these people. The only immortal he knew was miserable. "I need you all to buy me one attack. I just need one hit."

Itachi turned his Sharingan towards his sword. He didn't know if Kusanagi would be able to withstand it, or if he'd be able to constrain it so he wouldn't burn himself to death, but he knew of something that would surely finish off Madara. Black flames erupted on the blade. Amaterasu would burn through Madara's undead body until there was nothing left, and without a Sharingan, Madara wouldn't be able to rid himself of the flames.

The moment the flames appeared, everyone knew what the plan was, and Madara immediately shifted into a more evasive style. He knew the spell better than anyone, and knew exactly what would happen if he got hit by it. Itachi took the offensive, if he managed to just scratch Madara it'd be enough. Itachi's movements grew more and more desperate as time passed, as he could feel his energy burning away to keep Amaterasu's flames alive. Madara smirked as he noticed Itachi's movements growing slower and slower. He began to slowly return attacks, feeling more and more confident. He landed a heavy slash on Kisame, and the blue man clutched his cut stomach, bending down in pain. Itachi ignored his old friend, too focused on finishing Madara off.

Pein shot more metal rods, but they were all dodged.

"Is that all you can do? When I collected you from the streets I expected more, Nagato!" He taunted the leader of Akatsuki.

Itachi used the opportunity to jump at the man, he was expecting Madara to immediately jump away but he was stopped. A red scythe slashed him from behind as blue strings wrapped themselves around his legs.

"Fuck off you dick! Don't go stealing someone else's shtick you fuck!" Hidan's loud profanities never sounded better to Itachi's ears.

He smiled as Kusanagi cleanly sliced into Madara's shoulder, going down to his chest. The black flames burst outwards, spreading to the rest of his body. Madara roared and Itachi jumped back, leaving Kusanagi buried into his body. Madara flailed and screamed as he was engulfed by the black flames. Itachi smiled as he fell to the floor, his vision growing dark. As he was closing his eyes the last thing he witnessed was Madara on the ground, his black eyes staring at him with intense hatred.

As Itachi's consciousness drifted off he wondered if murdering his resurrected ancestor was bad luck.

Excerpt from a journal found in Rain: While I'm thankful for him saving myself and Nagato, I hate the control he has over us. We're tied to this spectre, forced to obey his commands, without freedom. I almost wonder if starving in the slums was a better choice for us. We were happier then, we were free. It hurts me to see the company we keep and the atrocities we're forced to commit. Nagato keeps losing himself more and more, he calls himself Pein these days. The moment is approaching, I know Nagato must have some kind of plan, for I fear what we will bring into the world if we keep walking down this road.


That was a difficult chapter! I wanted to make it a wizard's battle while also keeping true to Naruto lore, and it ended up being much longer than I hoped. While Madara's been defeated, there's still many knots that need to be untied, and we'll be doing so on the next couple of chapters. We're mostly done with all the heavy action and fighting, but there's still battles to be won!