Disclaimer: .. Keeping in mind that everyone's portrayed really badly in this story, do ya' THINK I own this series?

Warning: Spoilers for latest chapters, semi-OOC, partially AU, posted without beta reading, lazy author who doesn't like to update

Production Time: Approx. 2 hours, from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. I feel sleepy, but I've got school in a few hours.. and I couldn't sleep.

Summary: Naruto lost to Kimimaro. After regrouping with the others, they returned to Konoha. Skip a week into the present, and Naruto receives a visit from the other Uchiha, for a different reason than one would think. No pairings unless I find them necessary, fun idea on my part.

Note: Baah chapter 2 was so flawed.. but this time I'm aiming for some evil Itachi goodness, through a flashback and a little ANBU action. Also, I originally didn't plan on involving many other characters, but I think I will now.. I'm considering expanding this into something way bigger than just a little team-up, like a war. Not sure yet, we'll see how it folds out from here. See, this change in my purpose of this story comes from some story floating around this site.. 'Three', I think? It's good, I read the latest chapter in school today when I began production of this chapter ( 2- 17-04 ) and it made me think about my storyline.. So I'm gonna wing it, let's hope this works.

And.. I'm listening to The Offspring's 'Staring at the Sun', mmm. Good stuff. I've been listening to it all day, it's almost as addictive as VIVA LA ROCK, eheh. Also, this one should be longer.. I've been scrolling around www.deviantart.com, and it's helping the insomnia.

Chapter 2: The Recovery Team

Naruto's mind was racing, not just from excitement and confusion, but because of the fatigued state his body was also in. He had always been told he had amazing stamina, but they had been running for several hours, through the dense forest, and they hadn't taken a single break. Naruto wondered how Itachi ould go for so long.. it didn't make sense.

While Itachi and Naruto moved ahead, something caught Naruto's attention that had apparently escaped Itachi's mind. There were snapped twigs all around them, as though somebody had been in the area recently.

Naruto was about to say something, when a kunai flew from Itachi's direction straight past Naruto's face. There was a gasp, followed by the sound of somebody falling over. Naruto and Itachi stopped. Naruto moved back to the body of a fallen ANBU, but he couldn't tell what village he was from. It could be any of them. Itachi was a very infamous criminal.

Just as this thought came to him, four other ANBU fell to the ground from trees. Itachi's hands were sliding back under his cloak. What had he done..?

"Anou sa, why didn't you kill them sooner? Did you just sense them? He --they-- could've attacked me if they wanted to! I thought we were partners!"

"...I wanted to test your ability to feel your surroundings. I wasn't going to interfere until I was sure you knew we were being followed. Hn, you could have died. Good job." The grim-faced Uchiha turned around, and began walking forward, now having abandoned his dashing speed. "I know you're tired.. we'll walk part of the way."

"..."



Meanwhile, back in Konoha, the other two Sennin were fervently discussing a certain youkai-container's whereabouts in the Hokage's private office...

"So... Jiraiya, let me get this straight... You saw Uzumaki Naruto and him.. UCHIHA ITACHI.. leave the village during the night, without Kisame, and didn't lift a FINGER to stop them? BAKA NA!!"

"Tsunade-hime, calm down! I'm not as foolish as I look! Naruto had to have gone with him willingly. He was wearing a different outfit, probably one Itachi gave him judging by the cloak. They had to have met sometime earlier yesterday. Now, think carefully. What connection do UCHIHA Itachi and Naruto have in common.. other than that the Akatsuki wants Naruto?"

Tsunade shook her head, visibly calming herself down. At length she said, "Sasuke..."

"Hai. I believe they're going to try to rescue him from the Sound village. If you'll remember, the other sharingan user will be there, by your orders, with a small squad of ANBU..."

"Kakashi? Hai hai.. We need to get word to him, but we don't have any means.. He's too far away for any radio communication."

"Hmm.. Tsunade, I want to take a small team of my choosing.. I hate to use Genin, but we can't afford any Jounin or Chuunin. That Hyuuga genius, Neji, is still recovering.. it's a shame, he'd have been my first pick.. Inuzuka Kiba, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Chouji are all worthless too. Any suggestions?"

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, but she nodded in acceptance. "Fine, you can go.. Take Hyuuga Hinata with you. She's got potential too, according to her results from the Chuunin exam's preliminary matches.. It may be a little cliche, considering Neji failed, but I believe with Naruto as the goal she will be a big help. Kurenai-sensei says Hinata has a thing for the kid." The youthful looking ex-gambler nodded, a faint smile on her face.

"Also.. A young boy has recently recovered and began training again. It's a miracle, but my operation worked on him.. He's on Neji's team under Gai-sensei. If you ask him to go, I'm sure he will. He'll use it as a chance to train himself. He's a special boy... he can only use taijutsu, but he wants to prove that he can be great even without those things. I'd like you to take him for me, Jiraiya. His name is Rock Lee."

"..And he's one of Gai's subordinates?" Jiraiya made a twisted face, imagining a mini-Gai running around, preeching about youthful days and precious people.. and those eyebrows.. Yeck. But, he shook it off.. 'There's no way....'

"Hai. And now that I think of it, one more Genin. Aburame Shino. He may prove useful, considering his clan and such."

"Hmm.. the bug using clan.. Alright." Gama-Sennin rose up quietly, hefting his scroll onto his back again. "I'll be off, then. I'll come back with everyone, don't worry.." He then walked outside of the room, shutting the door behind him.

'Jiraiya-baka.. these are the only reserves we can spare. Don't let the children get hurt.. onegai..' ( Note: for those that don't know, onegai is a very formal way of saying please.. sometimes it can be very meaningful, but in most cases it won't work in place of 'please' properly.. I think it does here, because of the feeling I'm trying to get out, but blaaah this is too much writing! )



Night had fallen in the forest. They were done walking for the day. Naruto lay sprawled against a tree, while Itachi sat quietly on the ground, expressionless and cold as predicted.

The kyuubi's container had been contemplating how he got into this mess.. ANBU were chasing them now. And as soon as word got out in Konoha, he'd probably have to fight his own village members. Was Sasuke really worth that..? His promise to Sakura was. He promised her he would return with Sasuke. This time, without a doubt, he would.

Slowly Naruto's thoughts turned back a few nights, when he had awoken to Itachi in that chair.

"Eto.. Itachi, how'd you get in my room? There were supposed to be ANBU all over the hospital. When I left there wasn't a member of the Dark Force to be seen." ( Note: I've seen the ANBU referred to as the Dark Force in the anime on my HK subs, I like the term so screw it. )

Itach's head turned slowly to face Naruto. He expected the piercing red sharingan to be exposed, like always.. but all he could see were large, black eyes.. similar to those of Sasuke. "Genjutsu. They went mad and killed each other, then I dsposed of the bodies."

How could somebody with such sad eyes say something so cold..? With no emotion... It puzzled Naruto. "You just.. made them kill each other?! Why?! That's not fair, you--!"

"I've dealt with the ANBU for the past few years. If I didn't get rid of them, they -would- have interfered." Itachi turned his head away, the feeling of absolute coldness surrounding his form. "Get some rest.. I need an hour for my sharingan, then we'll go to the village. We'll rest a night outside, then the following morning we'll surprise attack them. If we don't have to kill Orochimaru, we won't. It would be foolish to mess with him at this point."

Naruto shook his head, unable to believe Itachi. So calm, so cool... There was definitely something wrong with him. He shouldn't be so passive. He should be.. evil. That's what Uchiha Itachi was. He killed his clan. Naruto couldn't bring himself to ask about it.. he feared the answer, and he knew he'd have to tell Sasuke some day. He didn't want to do that.

Yawning, Naruto decided to sleep on it, and pulled the black cloth that served as a replace for his hitaite down over his eyes, nodding off to sleep gently.



Elsewhere in the forest, a silver-haired Jounin and four masked ANBU members lay in a clearing, having set up their traps accordingly.

One of the ANBU members, with a cat mask on, spoke to Kakashi after a while.

"Hai, sir, Kakashi. We found five dead ANBU in the forest, all Hidden Mist shinobi. Four of them died from brain anneurysms.. severe genjutsu. We think -he- is out there. The other died by a kunai. There also seems to be a young boy traveling with -him-.. Who, we don't know."

"..." The silver-haired Jounin lay back against a log, his favorite novel back at his home. "Hm.. Uchiha Itachi.. I've got a bad feeling about all of this.. Hai, no point in losing rest. We'll rest for two hours, then we're gone." Though Kakashi didn't sound like it by his tone of voice, he was concerned about this. Did Itachi have Naruto..? Why were they heading for the Sound village? Would Itachi side with Orochimaru, or oppose him? Also, was Sasuke connected to any of this?

"Hum.."



". . ." Jiraiya's mouth fell open as he found Lee. He really WAS a miniature Gai!

"OYAJI! OYAJI! I get to go on a special mission?! Neji failed, but I won't! I'll prove myeslf! I've been given a second chance, YOOOSH!" The fire was literally visible in Lee's eyes as he bounced around, totally esctatic.

Hinata looked on from behind Jiraiya, next to Shino. They were going to rescue Naruto-kun.. he had been taken away. She would succeed, though, because Naruto needed her now more than ever. "H-hai.." She really hoped she'd have the confidence for this.

Shino, meanwhile, had his hands tucked away in his pockets. From behind those dark sunglasses, his calculating eyes were observing Lee. He didn't know if they would be of any use to the legendary Gama-Sennin, but.. duty calls.

"Hm.." So, Jiraiya basically had an under-confident Hyuuga, a hyped up brat who can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu, and a creepy kid who uses bugs as weapons.

'Tsunade-hime, you bitch.. this better work..'