Chapter One: Guerilla Warfare

Itachi Uchiha stepped off the isolated pier, just off the coast of the Land of the Moon. The tall, dark-haired man checked his genjutsu as he walked forward. That done, he then scanned the trees for any sign of an enemy.

He did not know of many definite enemies who could pose a serious threat to them. However, carelessness led to many a defeat.

"Man, this place is nice," said Kisame, shark teeth smirking wide. "Calm seas, shining sun, and plenty of restaurants. Doesn't really seem like Zabuza's type of place."

"The Land of the Moon is a notable tourist resort," said Itachi, scanning the beaches and taking in the site. It was... pretty. "And also a common place for criminals to retire to, owing to its isolated location."

"I'm well aware, Itachi," said Kisame.

Together they began to walk toward the city nearby. The Land of the Moon had gone through three revolutions lately. A coup had been staged by a local minister, Shabba Dabba. He had then been promptly murdered during his victory parade. After that Shabba Dabba's ninja lieutenants had taken over. Only to be ousted by a counterrevolution, backed by the Sound.

Itachi was surprised to see the city was largely undamaged. Especially given the Leaf's involvement in it. Neji Hyuga was likely responsible for that. Although no one had yet fully measured the extent of his powers, prophecy was a formidable asset.

"I remember we came here with Yagura, back when we were Team 4," said Kisame. "It was a routine guarding job for some VIPs. We didn't have a single fight the entire time we were here, but Zabuza started working for the mob. He killed thirty different people with prices on their head. Then he almost caused an international incident."

"How did the Mist react?" asked Itachi, who had not heard this story before.

"Well, Yagura was very pleased," said Kisame. "Zabuza was always his favorite. And after we came back, Yagura initiated his coup. We must have murdered a thousand Shinobi back then. Good times, but our efforts didn't amount to much."

"Coups achieved through pure, brute force rarely do," mused Kisame.

"Oh yes, because that worked out so well for your old man, Itachi," noted Kisame. "The Uchiha's plan wasn't that much better, you know. What? You're going to mind-control the most powerful man alive and then hope he never is in the same room as a Hyuga?"

"I am well aware," said Itachi, whose father had been an idiot. "The Uchiha Clan had become arrogant, high-handed, and complacent. They assumed that the Hokage was the only person who could threaten them. In their mind, if they only gained the seat, everything would fall into place.

"The fools failed to realize the obvious. Even if they achieved their goal, they would have to keep the entire village suppressed by fear alone. And they would have to do it while fighting a war with the other great nations.

"The plan had numerous moving parts and no room for error. Ergo, it was doomed to failure."

"Is that why you wiped them out?" asked Kisame.

Itachi considered how to answer that question. "I don't remember."

Kisame blinked in surprise as they walked. "Seriously? You don't remember?"

"Memories shift and change with the passage of time," replied Itachi. "The present is influenced by what we do, and what we do is a result of our perceptions. The future is determined wholly by the present, and the present is defined by the past.

"Reality is impossible to truly define or understand. The only thing I can be sure of is that I exist. I think I was named Itachi Uchiha by my parents and grew up with Sasuke's younger brother. But how can I truly know that is what happened? Records? What assurances do I have that I was not created five minutes ago with the appearance of age?

"Or was I created at all? Perhaps I am merely an image, a genjutsu conjured in the minds of some indifferent audience by ink upon a page."

"Who cares?" shrugged Kisame. "Why do you remember you slaughtered your clan?"

The question was a better one and less redundant than it first appeared, much like Kisame. "Like so many things, I change motives based on my audience. Sometimes I did it because I wanted to motivate Sasuke to become strong. Then when he attains great power, I can steal it from him. By doing so, I may surpass even Madara Uchiha.

"Sometimes I'm doing it as part of an elaborate plan to protect the Leaf and ensure Sasuke is remembered as a hero.

"And sometimes, in my private thoughts, I suspect it was neither.

"Perhaps, with the suspicion laid on me by my clan, I snapped. My traumatized and detached mental state took flower. Then I became the monster Father wanted me to be. I did what I had been trained to do, what I was born to do, and killed the ultimate prey.

"Then, when Sasuke finally, the haze had passed. Without any strong emotional bonds remaining to save him, I chose to make up a story. One that would force him to stay alive, with the goal of killing me, and would require him to make friends.

"Or, perhaps, I was merely blackmailed into it by Danzo, if indeed Danzo exists."

"A multiple-choice past, hmm?" laughed Kisame. "So, which of these stories do you prefer?"

Itachi considered his answer. "I have no particular preference. It does not actually change my circumstances in any meaningful way, so I have not bothered to choose."

As they spoke, a mist began to rise up around them. It did not seem natural, but Itachi could sense no chakra. Someone was doing a very good job of hiding.

"Hmm, this mist, yes, I know it," said Kisame. "This is the mist that Zabuza loves using so much. So you are aware of us after all."

"Kisame," said a voice, echoing in the mist. "I would have thought you'd be polishing Yagura's boots."

"Well, what can I say, my days as a loyalist became unfulfilling," said Kisame with the smile of a man who had met an old friend. "I thought I might as well go freelance. I'm part of the Akatsuki now."

"Why don't you come out?" asked Itachi. "I assure you, we mean no harm to you or your associates."

"And what are your assurances worth?" asked Zabuza in turn.

Itachi took the question to be a bad sign and sighed. "Or you may remain in the mist if you so desire. So long as you hear our offer."

"No," said Zabuza flatly.

Itachi didn't face flat refusals very often. Usually, people either agreed right away. Or they went into elaborate speeches about their motives. Either that or they just died.

"Come on, Zabuza? Aren't you going to at least hear us out?" asked Kisame.

"No," said Zabuza again.

Itachi decided on the best course of action. "...We're not allowed to leave until you've heard our terms. It would save us all a great deal of frustration if you simply listen now."

Silence reigned for a long moment. Itachi could not see Zabuza, yes. But if Zabuza had seen him, there was a chance that he was already under Itachi's genjutsu. He'd know if he attacked.

"Say whatever you wish, Uchiha," said Zabuza after a moment.

"The Akatsuki has been observing you in action, Zabuza Momochi," said Itachi. "Our leader is very impressed with your achievements in the field of stealth.

"We presently have several openings in our organization, and we would be honored if you joined us."

"I have no interest in joining your organization," said Zabuza flatly.

"I see," said Itachi. "Well, if you feel your strength alone is sufficient, perhaps we could make a wager. I will fight you, and if I win, you must join the Akatsuki."

"No," said Zabuza.

Itachi felt like he'd hit a brick wall. That didn't happen very often. Looking at Kisame, he saw the shark man looked confused. "...Well, that's never happened before."

"What did you expect?" asked Zabuza. "When I said I had no interest in joining your organization, I meant no. Did you think I meant "I have no interest in joining your organization unless you beat me in a fight?""

"Well, actually yes," said Kisame.

Itachi decided stepping back would help negotiations. "May I ask why you are so hostile to us?"

"Do I need to?" asked Zabuza.

"It would be helpful," said Itachi.

"I am an assassin, Itachi," said Zabuza. "I end lives for a living, and not all of those lives are bad when. When I do a mission, I complete it swiftly and without collateral. If I am doing my job correctly, no one even knows I was there until they find the body.

"I am, in essence, a professional.

"You Akatsuki are not. Matricide."

The last word held a venom that actually hurt. Itachi remembered well strangling his Mother. Or had she committed suicide rather than fight her son? And had she accepted his decision or done it out of fear. Sometimes Itachi remembered it one way, sometimes another.

"You are known, not for your skill, but for the sheer number of corpses, all of you leave in your wake," continued Zabuza. "Deidara and Sasori, murderers who call blood and guts art. Hidan and Kakazu, men for whom murder and money end in themselves, have no ethics or code.

"I don't know all of the rest, of course. My resources are limited. But I know you both.

"And Itachi, you are by far the worst.

"Traitor to your village, the butcher of your family, a murderer of your own kin. And for what? You didn't even take the eyes off the bodies you left in your wake. Nor did you spare those who could not defend themselves." Well, Itachi had to concede him a verbal victory there. "They must have been proud kills, Matricide. How many silver pieces did the enemies of the Leaf put in your purse?"

"I seem to recall you're guilty of one or two of those crimes yourself, Zabuza?" said Kisame.

"I broke with Yagura when he began his purges," said Zabuza. "You stayed for them and left when you got bored. You never cared about anything but your own amusement, Kisame. The truth was never one of your motives."

Itachi considered how much he regretted killing his clan.

Not at all.

Father had actively deserved it; the clan themselves were both stupid and arrogant. Perhaps he should have found a way to spare Mother, but otherwise, no regrets. Or maybe he did regret it and was only telling himself otherwise to cover his own guilt.

Then again, the Akatsuki had much more fashionable uniforms. Also, he hadn't had to listen to one speech about friendship since joining them. And Sasuke was probably a lot stronger now with his family dead. And less annoying.

Really, killing the Uchiha clan had been an act of unfathomable sacrifice. On Itachi's part. It was a selfless decision that saved the entire world from a horrific world war. Or something along those lines.

Wait, where was Itachi?

Oh, right, mission complete. "Well, there isn't anything more to discuss then, is there? Kisame, we should leave soon. We won't take up any more of your time."

"Perhaps not," said Zabuza. "But, I'll be taking the rest of yours."

And then around them appeared dozens of mirrors, hemming them in.

"Ice Style: Crystal Ice Mirrors!" said a voice.

"The Crystal Ice Mirrors hmm?" asked Kisame, even as the mirrors began to melt. "I'd heard Zabuza had a pet who wielded those. From the looks of things out, an enemy has reached the second level of the Kekkei Genki as well.

"This could be a problem."

Moving forward, Itachi found that the wind had died down. The sound of forest creatures could be heard around them. Now there was grass under their feet instead of sand.

"Where are we?" asked Kisame.

"We have walked into an ambush," said Itachi.

Then a log descended from the trees. Kisame swung his sword and cleaved it to ribbons in a moment. He smiled. "Heh, simple stuff like this isn't going to stop us. Why don't you come on out and fight us, Zabuza?"

But nothing happened.

There was no cry of defiance. No one started gloating or proclaiming how this time Itachi Uchiha had met his match. Which made him wonder if Zabuza quite knew how this whole ninja assassin thing was supposed to work.

Anyway, the point was that Itachi was the messiah. Not in spite of committing genocide, but because of this. That was logical, wasn't it?

"...It doesn't appear our enemy means to face us directly at all," said Itachi.

"Why not?" asked Kisame. "Zabuza was always a good fighter and I was hoping he'd gotten past this stealth kill gimmick. Not trained an apprentice in it. This kind of combat is boring."

"Boring or not, it is the best policy," calculated Itachi. He stepped over a tripwire carefully. "Zabuza is fully aware he cannot defeat us directly. So will try to wear us down." Then stepped on another trap just below and ducked. A sword blade swung around the tree where their necks would have been.

They leaped over it and landed on tree branches. A moment later, Itachi saw the explosive tags, and they leaped down. As they fell, Itachi caught sight of a net at the base and hurled four kunai close together toward it. Hurling another, he sent the kunai to cut the ropes around the net.

Landing, the tree branch above them exploded.

"However, that leaves the question of how we got here," said Itachi, walking onward. Something tripped, and waves of kunai shot toward them. Kisame knocked them away by spinning his blade in wide arcs. It seemed as if they'd been preparing for their arrival. That meant Neji Hyuga was likely involved here. Likely through one of the Sound Ninja, he'd fought when hunting Zabuza.

Itachi hadn't read their file.

So even he could make mistakes, it seems.

"The Crystal Ice Mirror Kekkei Genki is a very powerful one," said Itachi. "At its base for, it allows the wielder to create numerous mirrors of ice. They are incredibly durable, and the wielder may pass between them. And their image will appear within all of them.

"However, at its more advanced stages, the mirror can be used to transport others. From the looks of things, they wanted us in this place."

And then Itachi saw it. Smoke rising in the distance to the north and to the south and the west and east. The smell of burning reached his nostrils, and he saw flames coming toward them. So they meant to burn the whole forest down, just to kill them, then?

A practical solution, though a little more ruthless than Itachi would have liked. He felt sorry for a chipmunk running for its life.

Kisame smirked. "Someone's set a fire, have they? And it's coming at us from all sides. How cute." He gestured with his hands and began forming a jutsu. There must have been a trap designed to trigger in such a situation because a log trap shot toward them. "Water style: Downpour Jutsu!"

Clouds formed overhead, and waves of water poured down from on high. Their clothes were soaked in moments, and Itachi's bangs were slicked to his forehead. Kisame smirked as the forest fire died around them.

"That should take care of all that," said Kisame. "Why don't we move on, Itachi. Zabuza has to be somewhere around here."

So that was the strategy. Kisame had suffered a small defeat just now by being forced to use a high chakra technique. "Be more conservative with your chakra. I believe we will be facing a long battle here, depending on who we are facing."

And then Itachi had the ground fall out from beneath his feet. Slipping forward, Itachi fell toward a row of spikes below. At that moment, Itachi realized he was about to die.

Legitimately die.

Time slowed to a crawl as he realized how he did not have time to adjust himself; there were too many spikes. Neither could he catch the ledge; he was already too far down. His genjutsu was utterly useless against something with no perceptions.

Fortunately, Kisame grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back. "Got you!"

Itachi reflected that this strategy was a legitimate threat to his life. His specialty was genjutsu. Mass destruction might force the enemy out of hiding, but they might not even be in this forest. For all he knew, they'd moved them here with all the traps preset and run for it, stopping only to set the fire.

Even Orochimaru had never been this deadly. Defeating a human target was easy; you needed only deceive then kill. But to defeat a machine... one prepared with your every move in mind. That was an enemy Itachi did not like fighting.

"So we've got somebody going on ahead of us, do we?" said Kisame. "Well then, why don't we flush them out." He made the motions again, summoning a truly massive amount of chakra as he did. "Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"

From his hands poured a massive tidal wave, and it began a hydra of dragons that surged through the forest. The sound of breaking wood resounded as leaves filled the air. Itachi watched as a path of the destruction-

Stopped.

A little too suddenly.

"...Well, I doubt that any traps survived that," said Kisame, missing it. "Why don't we move on, Itachi-"

"Move!" said Itachi, and he leaped.

Kisame leaped with him, and a moment later, Kisame's own attack shot from their side to shoot into the trees. Yet before it could cause any destruction, an ice mirror appeared, and it passed into it. They landed, and Kisame drew his sword. "That was my attack?

"That crafty devil redirected by water dragon with her ice mirrors. Zabuza's made a good weapon, no doubt about that."

"Yes," said Itachi. "We'll have to be more cautious from now on. Our enemy may set traps, however, since they are setting the traps now-"

And then a bag was flung out of the trees. On it was an explosive tag, and they leaped aside. However, as they did, it exploded to reveal red dust. Itachi was too late and breathed some of it in. He smelled the cinnamon-like smell.

"Itachi!" said Kisame.

"I've been dosed with a poison," said Itachi. "Whoever set this pit set up a special powder that slows reaction time. Fortunately, I spent several years developing an immunity to this particular one."

"Whoever it is we're facing, they're very good," said Kisame. "What now? We can't use indiscriminate attacks, or they'll reflect them. You can't use genjutsu on someone you're not aware of.

"And I wage if we stay here any longer they'll have even more set for us."

"There's nothing for it," said Itachi. "We'll have to head forward with caution and get out of this region as quickly as we can." Then he turned toward the road. "We'll head this way?"

"Why?" asked Kisame.

"We weren't heading this way before," said Itachi. "And they likely began to trap the location you destroyed as soon as the water passed. Take to the treetops; we'll see our enemy more easily."

"Fair enough. I like the feel of the air on my face," said Kisame. "Still, we won't be able to see any boobytraps below?"

"It is a chance we will have to take," said Itachi.

Then he sprang forward, and they began to run.

As they did, Kisame smirked as he ran alongside Itachi. Wondering the reason for it, he met Kisame's gaze.

"My, my, Itachi, are you in danger of losing control of the situation?" asked Kisame.

"Hardly," said Itachi, and he made hand motions. "Ninjutsu: Sphere of silence!"

"Why that?" asked Kisame within the radius.

"Our enemy has at no point laid eyes upon us," said Itachi. "If they had, my passive genjutsu would have at least alerted me to their presence. It, therefore, seems likely they are tracking us by some other sense.

"There are three genins from the Sound Village of high level in this place. Dosu Kinata, Kin Tsuchi, and Zaku Abumi. They were listed as a minor threat, above-average genin. However, it is possible they developed some form of power by which they can locate us using sound. Perhaps echolocation?"

"Like a bat," mused Kisame. "Well, they won't find us now."

"Not necessarily," said Itachi. "While their sound waves now bounce off our location, they will still read our location as a solid object. It is conceivable that one of them will realize what is going on."

And then the Crystal Ice Mirrors appeared all around them. They'd taken too long to come up with a counterstrategy. And out of one of them poured Kisame's attack again.

In closed quarters, with no cover or area to retreat, they'd have been dead if Kisame had acted an instant later.

"Water style: Wave Shield Jutsu!"

A wave of water solidified around them, blocking the assault as it hit them head on. Kisame grunted as it hit them. "Alright, this is officially not any fun."

"Their strategy is to defeat us without ever facing us," said Itachi, waiting for the spell to run its course. "So long as they continue to avoid a direct confrontation, they can gradually wear us down. Either one of the traps will get lucky, or we'll be so exhausted that we'll be easy prey.

"I must admit, I hadn't anticipated so sophisticated a strategy on the part of genin."

The Crystal Ice mirrors faded, and they dropped into the forest below. As they did, Itachi saw the mist returning around them.

"So what now?" asked Kisame as they ran, not walked, zigzagging up down and around to throw the enemy off the track.

"If our enemy is using an echolocation jutsu, then they are sending out sound waves en masse," said Itachi. "This being the case, they would need somewhere elevated. From there, they sound send them out over large distances."

"And we could see it plain as day," mused Kisame. "Except we can't because they raised a mist around us as soon as we started figuring out the plan. Now that's what I call synergy.

"Zabuza played this beautifully."

"The game is not over yet," said Itachi. Then he caught a number of irregularities in their environment. The leaves here were a bit too perfect, no ants or anything, and there wasn't as much dripping water as there ought to be. "Wait...

"We have walked into a genjutsu."

"Really?" asked Kisame, who had little talent for fighting that kind of thing. "Well, that's irritating. Can you break it?"

"Of course," said Itachi. "Genjutsu: Release!"

It wavered around him yet did not break. As if he'd only cut out the symptom of the problem instead of the source. "...Interesting.

"I seem to have having trouble with breaking this one."

"What do you mean?" asked Kisame. "You're the greatest genjutsu wielder of all time! How can you be having trouble?"

"I'm flattered you think so, Kisame," said Itachi. "However, this genjutsu seems to operate on different principles than the others. Likely it is sound-based, but my ordinary counters to music based genjutsu do not seem to be working."

"Well, what kind of music did you listen to as a child?" asked Kisame.

That was actually an excellent question. The type of instrument would be important. "I was always fond of wind instruments.

"Perhaps bells, then. Genjutsu: Release!"

The genjutsu broke easily. And revealed Crystal Ice Mirrors. Lots of Crystal Ice Mirrors.

"...That is a lot of Crystal Ice Mirrors," said Kisame. "Water style: Wave Shield jutsu!"

Only this time, it was not a water dragon that shot at them. Instead, it was sound waves that slammed into Kisame's shield. At first, it was not significant, however, as the sound bounced off the mirrors. As more came in, the force became greater. Kisame had massive amounts of energy, but he was spending an immense amount of it.

"This is ridiculous!" said Kisame. "How could these brats be packing this kind of firepower?!"

"They aren't," said Itachi, weighing his options. "The Crystal Ice Mirrors are being used to bounce the shockwaves from that sonic attack back at us. When they hit the far wall, they return. We are now trapped in a sphere of ever-increasing force."

"No need to worry. I've got more than enough chakra to keep this little contest going," said Kisame. "Our enemy will run out long before I do."

And then Kisame screamed, and his shield began to fade. Itachi felt agony, pure agony in his temples, and shuddered with it. Another kind of sound was coming through the mirrors now.

"What... what is this?" gasped Kisame.

"Sound waves meant to induce pain by striking at a certain frequency," said Itachi, knowing he'd have to do it. Any moment now, they'd be left bare and would be ripped to shreds by the sound wave.

The wave shield failed.

"Sussano," said Itachi.

A massive, invincible suit of armor was raised around them. Then he Crystal Ice Mirrors exploded. Raising out of it, Itachi felt the agony coursing through his body from the strain. Then it faded around them, and they landed.

"Heh, it's been a while since you got pushed to that level, Itachi," said Kisame. "You're getting soft."

But the mist was clearing, and Itachi saw them. Three people were rushing toward a belltower in the distance. Itachi smiled. "We have them now."

Author's Note:

This sequel has been a long time coming, not in the least because the plot I had planned out had become so convoluted I had difficulty fitting it all together.

For those of you who don't know, this is the fifth installment of the Tsunadeverse, an alternate continuity where Zabuza and Haku are sent after Tsunade to force her to pay up on her debts. The series as a whole lacks a central main character, with each version of events focusing on a different protagonist, although Team Guy seemed to have been close.

Either way, the list of fics is:
The Hunt for Tsunade

Dosu's Great Escape

Sight Uncaged

Akatsuki Rising

War of Pain