Shadows within a Dream

By: Kisu

A/N: Check out my Gaara/Naruto fic! I absolutely LOVE that couple..but not as much as SasuNaru and Kazuki/Juubei from GetBackers. swoon

Disclaimer: All characters from Naruto does not belong to me!

2.2: Surprise, Surprise

"Itachi!" Sasuke spat. The name itself was vile. "You'll here tonight by my hands!"

"Oh? Have you gotten stronger, Sasuke?" Itachi asked, amusement evident in his eyes. "Or are you all bark and no bite?"

"I've gotten stronger, Aniki." Sasuke smiled in irony. "I'll show you."

"Hm. Unfortunately I don't have time to play with you, right now." Itachi replied. "I have some other matters to attend to. So be a good little boy and stay out of my way." He turned to Naruto who was calmly standing next to Sasuke and observing him through cool blue eyes. "I've grown tired of the chase. Kyuubi, come with me now or Konohagure will suffer my wrath."

"Sou desu ka?" Naruto responded, softly. Sasuke quickly shifted in front of Naruto. His kunai held outward and his own sharingan glowing red in his eyes.

"Your fight is with me, Itachi!" Sasuke yelled. "I will avenge the Uchiha clan!"

"Sasuke..." Naruto began.

"You just got back, Naruto! You think I'll let you leave?" Sasuke demanded. "You still have to fight me!"

"Hm." Naruto smiled. "All right then, if you need me. I'll be right here."

Sasuke smirked and glanced over at the man behind him. "I'll show you what I've been doing since you left, Naruto." He raised his kunai to his chest. "All my training wasn't in vain."

"This will be interesting." Naruto replied. He made himself comfortable on a rock and proceeded to watch the turn of events.

"Sasuke, it's not time for you to fight me yet." Itachi said, quietly. "Don't make me hurt you. You're not strong enough."

"Don't fuck with me, Itachi." Sasuke scoffed. "I know what you're capable of." Sasuke made the first move and shot forward.

***

"Uchiha Itachi?" Tsunade frowned as she turned away from the windows.

"That brat was following us everywhere." Jiraiya replied. "What a nuisance. It won't be long for him to reach the village."

"Is he still after Naruto?" Kakashi asked.

"Itachi wants to harness the power of the Kyuubi. He doesn't want Naruto but what's inside of him." Iruka responded in quiet anger.

"Hai." Jiraiya turned to Tsunade. "After reporting to you. I plan to take Naruto out of Konoha for the safety of the villagers."

"No." Tsunade sat down in her chair and swung her legs to place them on top of the desk. "Konoha should protect him. Naruto is the future of the village."

"The people don't know this." Iruka frowned. "They treat him as if he was the demon, himself. How will they accept him as Hokage?"

"Naruto has power backing him." Tsunade laughed, quietly. "Not to mention the prestigious Hyuuga clan, the last valuable bloodline of the Uchiha clan, many Chuunins, a large amount of Shinobi and lastly the Hokage, myself."

"Hokage-sama!" A sentry appeared and bowed respectfully. "Forgive this intrusion but Uchiha Itachi has been spotted near the west entrance of the village."

"Kakashi, go and check it out. If he becomes a threat, you know what to do." Tsunade ordered. Kakashi bowed and disappeared in a puff of smoke. "Tell the Shinobi to stay on alert. Don't advance yet." The sentry nodded and disappeared. "Let's hope there isn't any blood to be spilt today." She sighed, dropping down her legs from the desk. She clasped her face in her hands and Jiraiya nodded in agreement.

***

"Do you think you're strong enough?" Itachi smiled, pleasantly.

"I know I am." Sasuke growled, aiming for his head. Itachi moved out of the way, gracefully.

"You've changed Sasuke. You opened your heart. Perhaps to a certain someone?" Itachi's eyes slid to the blonde on the rock. Sasuke's eyes widened and Itachi grinned, broadly.

"What are you doing?" Sasuke demanded, angrily.

I'll take away everything.

Sasuke's eyes widened. "Naruto!" He yelled as Itachi ran forward, drawing a katana from underneath his cloak. He swung down onto the unsuspecting Naruto and Sasuke could see the blade slide into Naruto's skin. Only to be replaced by a log.

"Hey. Why don't you play fair?" Naruto asked from behind him. Sasuke almost sighed in relief. The blonde was perched on top of a branch staring down at them. His face was expressionless and his voice gave nothing away.

Itachi jerked his katana out of the log and turned, slipping it back in its sheath. "You really had me fooled, fox." He said. His eyes met his and he smiled, viciously. Naruto clutched his head and fell off of the branch.

"Naruto! Don't look!" Sasuke yelled. "Itachi! You bastard!" He dove forward, unbinding his left arm as he did so. He quickly did a seal and his arm glowed with chakra. The sound of a thousand birds filled the air. "Die!" He yelled, attacking head on.

"Sasuke." Naruto whispered as Kakashi appeared next to him. Sasuke met Itachi and there was a ground-shaking explosion.

***

"What happened?" Tsunade jolted from her seat as she swung her head at the loud explosion in the distance. "Jiraiya. Lure him away from the village."

"Already done." He saluted her before leaping out her window. Tsunade frowned as the clouds of smoke appeared in the lightening sky.

"We have to protect the villagers, no matter what." She murmured.

***

Naruto struggled to his feet and coughed as the smoke slowly cleared. "Sasuke! Where are you?" A figure with dark hair appeared and Naruto ran forward. "Sasuke?" Itachi could only smile softly at him.

"Lost him." Itachi said. "Now, we don't have anyone to interrupt us when we play." Naruto smiled and crossed his arms.

"You want me? Come and get me?" He said, blurring out of sight. Itach narrowed his eyes. The chase was on.

***

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura ran toward the explosion. She had woken up when her room had rocked wildly. Quickly getting dressed, she avoided her parents and ran out the door. The smoke had almost completely cleared and Sakura found Sasuke leaning against a tree. "Sasuke-kun!"

"Sakura." His grip was strong on her arm. He unsteadily got to her feet and smirked. "I used too much chakra in one moment." He looked around, suspiciously. "Where's Itachi?"

"Itachi?" Sakura asked.

"We have to get to Naruto before he gets to him." Sasuke ordered as he ran forward.

"What? Naruto?" Sakura blinked as Kakashi appeared in front of Sasuke.

"Let's find him together, using teamwork." The Jounin declared. Sasuke smiled slightly.

"Yeah. Let's go Sakura." He waved as he and Kakashi darted off.

"Hai!" Sakura exclaimed as she quickly followed the two.

***

"Come out, come out wherever you are." Itachi crooned. He stood in the clearing, amused at the shadows that danced around him. The sun was rising soon. The sky had turned a pretty shade of pastels. "You can't win, boy. Let's get this over with." He smiled, wickedly. "If you give up now, I'll make your death quick and easy."

"Why do I have to give in to you?" Naruto asked. Itachi turned around to see him standing behind him. "Ah, the sky is a pretty color." Itachi was slightly annoyed by the boy's lack of attention. He had his blue eyes focused on the point where the sun should rise. "Would I simply fall into your hands?"

"You already did." Itachi said. Naruto glanced down to see a kunai embedded in his chest. Itachi had thrown it with great speed and accuracy. He reached down and gripped the handle.

"My heart is here." He commented as he touched the spot a little left of the kunai.

Poof!

"A clone?" Itachi shifted his stance. "When did he do that?"

"If you give me one good reason why I'll hand myself over to you, please tell me now." Naruto said. "I might consider it." Itachi turned and suddenly found himself surrounded by many clones.

"One?" Itachi smiled. "Don't you want to seek revenge for those who had looked down upon you? Shunned you?" He asked. "You should be a hero. You should be known as a vessel who guards the Nine-tails and protects Konoha."

"Don't think I already know that, Uchiha." The Naruto he was facing, commented without any interest. "Your manipulation skills are getting rusty."

"Manipulate?" Itachi chuckled, humorlessly. "I'm merely speaking the truth. With the Nine-tails' power—absolute power could make all the countries unite. Right now, corruption has tainted the name of the Shinobi. It's my duty to make things right." Itachi closed his eyes. "With your sacrifice, we'll be a step closer to attaining such a peaceful future. Don't you think I haven't been planning this? Since the day I set eyes on you?"

"Thanks for enlightening me." Naruto replied. "I hope you won't lose your motivation because I don't give in easily." The clones attacked him at once. One of them grabbed a handful of dirt and flung it in his eyes. Cursing, Itachi rubbed his eyes fiercely and angrily attacked, blindly punching and kicking the clones.

"Two slow." A voice drawled in his ear. Naruto gripped his shoulder tightly and blasted his Rasengan into his back. Itachi yelled in pain and fell forward, onto his knees. "I won't finish you. That's for Sasuke's job to do." Naruto said, walking away from him.

Itachi's eyes glittered and he reached into the folds on his cloak.

A sword slid into Naruto's back and out his chest.

Naruto froze, blood trickled from his lip and he stared at the tip of the blade protruding from his chest. Itachi stood behind him, blood splattered over his face and a satisfied smile on his face. With a quick motion, he shoved the katana deeper into his back.

***

Sakura parted the bushes and ran out in the opening, freezing at the sight before her. "Naruto!" She screamed. Kakashi and Sasuke ran out and stopped next to her. Blood continued to drip slowly, forming a puddle at Naruto's feet.

"You'll never win." Itachi said, withdrawing the blade, he smiled coldly before flicking the katana and allowing the blood to fly off. "But I always do." Naruto raised a hand to the gaping wound on his chest and touched the blood. He raised his bloodied hand to his face and stared at the red liquid. He turned around with a cold, calculated smile and ripped what was left of his shirt. The sun had begun to rise and the soft rays shone over Naruto's tone muscles. The blood shone a beautiful crimson in contrast to his golden skin.

"I'll show you why I won't give up to you." Naruto said, raising his head. Itachi's smile faltered when he saw that those blue eyes had dilated and turned into slits. Red chakra flared up from underneath Naruto's feet and swirled around him and giant waves. Blue chakra was mixed in and formed a vivid purple color. The wound on his chest sizzled and began scarring over to produce a film of new skin.
"How did he do that?" Sakura gasped as Sasuke stared in astonishment. Kakashi smiled secretly beneath his mask.

"You see, Itachi. I cannot survive without him and he cannot survive without me." Naruto smiled, lightly. He clenched his fist. "So how can I give you the Kyuubi when the Kyuubi is me?"

"You!" Itachi narrowed his eyes angrily. "I'll be back!" He disappeared with a swirl of smoke and Sasuke ran forward in anger.

"Itachi!" He yelled. His sandaled foot stepped into the puddle of blood and he froze. How could he still stand up with that much blood loss? As if it was an answer to his question, Naruto swayed and fell backwards. Sasuke quickly caught him before he hit the ground.

"Looks like I was reckless again, Sasuke." Naruto smiled before closing his eyes.

"Sasuke-kun! Is he all right?" Sakura ran forward and knelt down next to him.

"He'll be fine." Jiraiya commented as he walked out into the open. "Seems like you didn't need me after all." He grinned fondly at Naruto and nodded his head. "That brat just needs a couple days rest. He does this all the time."

"Let's try to not make a habit." Kakashi replied, cheerfully.

Sasuke looked down at the young man in his arms and a smirk crossed his face. "Welcome back, Naruto."

TBC…o_O;