Sasuke could barely walk as he trudged away slowly from where Naruto lay. Naruto was unconscious and looked completely normal again. Naruto's transformation had truly scared the Uchina boy. But several things plagued Sasuke's mind as he continued to walk through the forest.
"Naruto, where did you get that power? And why didn't you finish me?" Sasuke wondered aloud, not caring if he was heard. "You could have finished me so many times. Why let me survive?"
"Because he doesn't go back on his word. You could learn something from that, little brother." A voice said. Sasuke whirled around to see Itachi, his older brother, smiling at him.
"Itachi!" Sasuke growled. Itachi grinned uncharacteristically.
"Yo!" Sasuke stared at his brother in shock. Did he just here that?
"Of course you did. It's not like I can't be relaxed once in awhile. Try it, it's actually fun." Itachi said. Sasuke looked at his brother, confused and slightly suspicions.
"What are you doing here?" Itachi's grin slid off his face, replaced by an angry face.
"Because you screwed everything up, you idiot." Itachi appeared right in front of Sasuke and punched him in the gut. Sasuke groaned and fell on his knees. Itachi grabbed the back of his head and forced it down, revealing the curse seal.
"You just had to accept this, didn't you?!? This isn't why I let you live, you know. Just to become a slave of that damn snake." Sasuke's eyes widened. Itachi growled and kicked Sasuke, throwing him into a tree.
"You wanted me to become stronger, didn't you?" Sasuke asked, spitting out blood. Itachi sighed.
"Hai, I do." Itachi admitted. Sasuke looked at him in anger.
"Then what the hell are you doing?" Sasuke demanded. Itachi looked at him, and Sasuke noticed something in his brother's eyes that he had not seen before. It was sadness and despair.
"Why do you think our clan was murdered? Why did I do it?" Itachi asked. Sasuke stared for a second before regaining his normal composure.
"Because they weren't strong enough in your eyes." Itachi sighed.
"That was partly the truth, yet far from it." Sasuke glared at his older brother.
"If you keep this up, I'm going to add 'being constantly vague' as another reason to kill you." Itachi smiled slightly.
"See, you can have a sense of humour." Itachi said, taunting him. Sasuke growled. Itachi grew serious again.
"Do you know what power is, little brother?" Itachi asked, calmly.
"Spare me the lesson, traitor." Sasuke spat out. Itachi looked at him indifferently.
"Aren't you looking at a mirror when you say that, Sasuke? Do you feel like you are talking to yourself? You do know that is the first sign of insanity." Sasuke went silent. Itachi continued.
"There are two types of power; power and true power. Power is something that is taken instantly and fades just as quickly, leaving you even worse then you were before. True power is something you work for, and will remain for you forever. Did you honestly think the snake would give you that power without a cost?" Itachi said, watching for his reaction. Sasuke looked up at him.
"I don't care at what cost it comes, for as long as you are dead." Sasuke said angrily. Itachi sighed, and turned away from him.
"But I care, and so does Naruto, Sakura, and the other ninjas in the Leaf." Sasuke's angry face turn to shock. Itachi continued on.
"The Uchina clan has one hope left, and that is you, Sasuke. I can never continue the clan." Itachi said, having some emotion in his voice. That emotion was sadness.
"Why can't you? You could find anyone to mate." Sasuke said, but he had no anger in his voice. He was saving it for later.
"Because if I were to mate, the curse seal would kill my mate and the child which came with it in no time." Sasuke froze. Itachi nodded.
"Yes, I also have the curse seal. And because of it, I went berserk and murdered our clan. I was able to control myself so that you would survive. I'm surprised you don't remember seeing the curse seal released over me." Sasuke was silent. Now that he thought back without anger, he could remember seeing the effects of the curse seal over his brother. Sasuke had been too terrified to notice it before.
"I don't think the curse seal was explained with the truth added. Where do you think that extra chakra came from? It came from Orochimaru. When the curse seal is activated, a part of his spirit leaks into you. Eventually, you will become him and he will take your body. Your spirit will be destroyed." Itachi said calmly. Sasuke felt this all hit him in one pure blow. He was just being duped. Orochimaru would never help him kill his brother. It was all just a trap and he walked into it without any resistance.
"DAMN IT!" Sasuke fell to his knees and slammed the ground with his fists. He was a fool. Itachi watched him with no emotion on his face except for his eyes. His eyes betrayed his true emotions of pity and anger. Sasuke looked at his brother, with helplessness.
"Is there anything to destroy the curse seal?" Sasuke asked. Itachi was silent for a moment, and then spoke.
"There is one thing. If we can get a powerful force stronger than the seal inside you, Orochimaru's taint will disappear." Itachi looked at Sasuke thoughtfully and then nodded. "Yes, I think that he'll do."
Sasuke looked at his brother confused. "What do you-?" Itachi cut him off.
"In order for this to work, you need to be knocked out. I won't kill you." Itachi added, seeing the look on Sasuke's face. "My taint with Orochimaru is too deep to be removed but I can control myself for the time being. Let's go." Sasuke didn't move. "What is it?"
"How do you know about Sakura?" Sasuke asked. Itachi regained his good mood from earlier. Itachi was grinning.
"Oh, I hang around Kohona long enough to see the looks you give her when you think no one is watching, and also where you are watching. I have to admit, she has a good figure." Sasuke froze, not realising he was blushing and Itachi laughed.
"I was just kidding, little brother. But you should considering her." Itachi grew serious for the third time. "Little brother, it will be awhile when we meet again. And when we do, I hope you will end my curse." Itachi blurred and knocked Sasuke out. Itachi lifted him up with one hand and leaped into a tree.
Kyubi looked at his cell disapate around him and smirked. He would be free.
"I will not let you escape." Naruto's weak voice said. Naruto appeared in front of the demon. Kyubi laughed.
"Try and stop me, weakling." Kyubi's nine tails glowed red and fire came out of nowhere. Naruto shrieked and yelled in pain as the flames licked over him. Kyubi watched him triumphantly.
"I've waited too long for this to happen. I will be free and you will be gone. Your body will do for now until I regain my old one. Then it is payback for what the Shinobi did to my brother." Kyubi laughed again. Naruto slowly got up.
"I will not let you win." Naruto's entire body glowed blue. Kyubi looked down, amused.
"You should just give up. I may let you live to see what I'll do with your body." Kyubi laughed. The aura around Naruto's body became more prominent. Kyubi froze in mid-laugh in surprise.
"So, you're going to fight? Then DIE!" Kyubi's entire body glowed red and shot out at Naruto. Naruto yelled in pain, but his aura was still there, holding back Kyubi. Kyubi growled and sent his full power into the aura. Naruto was instantly crushed. Kyubi sighed.
"That was stronger then I expected. If he was in a better condition, he could have held longer out." Kyubi shook his fox head and took control of Naruto's body.
"Kyubi, I need your help." Itachi said, facing the demon who had taken Naruto's body. Naruto looked no different except for his eyes.
"Uchina Itachi, right? Hell no." Kyubi said, coldly. Itachi sighed.
"Why am I not surprised? What is your problem?" Itachi asked. Naruto/Kyubi raised his/their finger and pointed at Itachi.
"You damn shinobi killed my brother. Why wouldn't I be pissed?" Naruto/Kyubi asked, angrily. Itachi wasn't intimated, but looked thoughtful.
"What was your brother's name?" Itachi asked. Naruto/Kyubi glared.
"Why the hell would I tell you? I'm going to kill some people if you don't mind." Kyubi growled and started to walk away.
"Was his name Yoko Kurama (A/N: Yeah I know, I don't own it) and did he disappear three years before you attacked Kohona?" Itachi asked. Kyubi whirled around.
"What do you know about my brother?" Kyubi asked. Itachi smirked.
"Looks like we are in a stalemate here. I'll make you a deal. I'll tell you of the current residence of your brother, and you do a favour for me. You help me destroy the curse seal." Kyubi snorted.
"What makes you think that I won't kill you as soon as you tell me about my brother." Itachi smirked.
"Because Naruto won't allow it." Kyubi froze. How did he know?
"You think that little kit can stop me?" Itachi nodded. "He already did. If you were in full control, you would have killed me a long time ago. Naruto is restraining you." Kyubi sighed. Naruto was actually using his entire life force to stop him. If Naruto kept it up, his soul would shatter like glass to be lost in the darkness. Kyubi had become too soft to let that happen.
"Fine, you have a deal. Now where is my brother?" Kyubi growled.
"I will tell you, but first another, why did you attack Kohona? Did you think that your brother resided there?" Kyubi sighed. He might as well tell.
"A ninja told me. I believe his name was Orochimaru." Itachi looked increduosly at Kyubi.
"You believed that damn snake? Are you an idiot?" Itachi knew perfectly well how much danger he was in for telling him that. Kyubi didn't look happy about being told that either.
"Shut up and start talking before I change my mind." Itachi nodded.
"Your brother left this world after nearly being caught by one of the Spirit World's bounty hunters. He took on a human body because he was too weak to be in a human disguise. He also took up the name Suichi Minamino. Recently, Spirit World found him but he has reformed. He is helping the current Spirit Detective of another world." Kyubi nodded. It made sense now.
"Fine, you've done your part, now let me do mine." Itachi nodded and disappeared. Kyubi knelt down next to Sasuke and smirked.
"Let's do this."
Naruto groaned and slowly got up, feeling pain in every part of his body. Chidori's mark still remained in his stomach. He wasn't moving very well, but still alive.
(So, you are awake.) Kyubi's amused voice said in his mind.
(Kyubi, what happened?) Kyubi sighed.
(I don't have enough energy currently to heal you. But, I think we should get out of here. Your friends will need help.) Naruto nodded, but then froze.
(What about Sasuke? Where did he go?) Naruto asked frantically.
(Look beside you.) Naruto looked beside to see Sasuke unconscious with his shirt half pulled up. The mark on Sasuke's stomach caused Naruto to feel fear strike his body.
(I'll explain later.) Kyubi said. Naruto nodded and pulled Sasuke's shirt back on and lifted him up. Naruto leaped into a tree and started jumping away. Itachi revealed himself from behind a tree.
"Good luck, little brother."
"Are you ready to accept your mission, Chosen?" A voice asked in the darkness. Light flared out to reveal a calm and placid face.
"I am."
"Then prepare to leave. Bring who you wish." A flash of brilliant light and the face was gone. The voice spoke again.
"Good luck, Chosen. Find the light for all."
(I can't believe you, Kyubi.) Naruto growled to the demon fox as they hurried through the trees. Kyubi sighed.
(I did a deal, and I followed through.) Kyubi said plainly. Naruto shook his head.
(But now the villagers have another reason to hate me.) Kyubi sighed. Maybe that wasn't so much of a good idea. He had, yet again, damned him, giving another reason for the villagers to kill him.
(What's done is done, right?) Both Naruto and Kyubi started at hearing another voice. Sasuke had awoken. Naruto put him down on the ground and Sasuke got up slowly.
"Sasuke...?" Naruto asked hesitantly. He had no idea whether the boy wanted to kill him or not.
"Naruto." Sasuke said slowly. A silence past through both them for a few minutes. "Thank you. And thank you, Kyubi." Both boy and fox froze (well, mentally for Kyubi's case). Sasuke smirked.
"What do you expect? Did you think I haven't noticed him in my mind yet?" Naruto shook his head.
"No, it's just that it's been awhile since you said my real name." Sasuke sighed.
"Things change, for humans and demon, inside and out. I have a new dream, Naruto. It's to find a cure for my brother from the curse seal. Got a problem with that...Hokage?" Naruto smirked now.
"Of course not. What do you think, Kyubi?" Naruto asked. Kyubi's laugh rang out in both Naruto's and Sasuke's mind.
(Hell yeah. I hope you don't mind having to share a seal, mind, chakra, and a blood limit with this idiot, Sasuke.) Sasuke smirked.
"I'm alright with that." Sasuke smiled for the first time in years. A true smile. Naruto nodded.
"I would be more worried about having Kyubi in my mind then anything else. He can get quite annoying." Naruto winced in pain as Kyubi sent him a mental hit on the head. Sasuke looked thoughtful.
"Explain to me about how I'm connected with Naruto now." Sasuke asked.
(Well, you two have a telepathic link, meaning you'll know each others thoughts, feelings, abilities and know when each is in trouble. Even your blood limit runs in Naruto now. That's also the reason you are in a better mood then usual. Your personality has also integrated with his. You also can access my power and you are also bound to the same summoning pact with the frogs as Naruto. Your chakra has increased as well for two reasons. One is that I'm in your body, and the other is that since Naruto's inborn chakra has been unsealed, his chakra level increases dramatically with yours. Even more then the curse seal could ever give you. In a sense, you two are now brothers.) Sasuke nodded but then something caught in his mind.
"Why was Naruto's chakra sealed?" Naruto also looked interested.
(It was an accident, actually. When the seal was made, it caught Naruto's chakra as well as mine. Well, enough of catching up on old times, lets go. I believe your friends are in trouble.) Both ninjas nodded and rushed through the trees. Sasuke and Naruto were taking their time examining each other's memories.
Sasuke watched as he saw a child Kiba beat up a child Naruto while the others laughed. Why didn't they help him? Sasuke watched in anger as Naruto cried when they were all gone. Sasuke sighed. They didn't even know the reason they had to be mean to him, but they did it anyway. Why?
Naruto was watching the horrible memory of the Uchina massacre. Itachi was laughing as he ripped out some organs of his father. He felt and saw Sasuke's emotions at that point, but also noticed the curse seal on Itachi. Was Orochimaru's seal strong enough to set family members against each other?
Sasuke had always been curious on how Naruto had passed the graduation exam, and watched as Naruto was tricked by Mizuki into stealing the scroll of Sealing. Naruto learned his favourite technique to save Iruka and learning that there were people who didn't care that he was a fox but saw what was on the inside. Sasuke had always thought that Iruka was weak, but then realised how much Iruka had reason to hate Naruto. Sasuke then wondered something. If Kyubi had killed his parents, would he kill Naruto for a scapegoat? Sasuke thought about how he never learned the reason Itachi killed the Uchina family. Now, Sasuke wondered what would have happened if he had killed Itachi, not realising who was really behind it. Would he be able to live with himself?
"Probably not." Naruto's voice brought him back to reality. He looked beside him to see Naruto grinning at him. "But nothing can be done now that you know the truth." Sasuke nodded and then his eyes looked to the right.
"We're not alone." Naruto looked to the right and saw Gaara of the Sand and Kabuto, Orochimaru's servent.
"Damn."
"So, it's time to begin?" A soft female voice asked.
"Yes, we may need help and protection for a few of you." A male voice said. There was a groan.
"Onii-chan, is it really necessary to ask for shinobi?" Another female voice asked. A sigh echoed out.
"Don't worry about it, Jenna. The ones I'm going to ask are from a trusted source. They are going to be from the Hidden Village of Kohona."
"I hope you chosen right, Felix." A new male voice said.
"Trust me, Issac."
"Lee is just up ahead. Hopefully he's well enough to help us fight. Despite our connection, it won't take full effect until later." Sasuke said. Kabuto and Gaara didn't seem to notice them and dropped from the trees. Sasuke and Naruto followed.
"Kabuto-sama, this guy is insane." The Sound-nin said sounding afraid. A drunk Lee laughed a little weirdly.
"Come on, I can take care of all of you." Lee was obviously seriously drunk, judging by the fact that his common sense went out the window.
"Please, do something." The Sound-nin said, pleadingly. Gaara took a step forward.
"Allow me."
"NO!" Sasuke and Naruto leaped forward but then froze in horror.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The Sound ninja was being ensnared by Gaara's sand. Gaara closed his eyes and spoke.
"Judgement has been laid." A few seconds and all that was left of the Sound ninja was bits of flesh laying on the ground. Lee even looked surprised by this action. Kabuto showed no emotion and turned away.
"What the hell!" Naruto grabbed his kunai, but Sasuke stopped him.
"Wait." Sasuke growled, his hand already crackling with electricity. Kabuto took a step forward and looked at Gaara.
"Why do you make all the people you kill have gruesome deaths?" Gaara shrugged.
"Demon is still inside my head you know. It's not like they will ever know what happened to him."
"But still..." Kabuto began but Naruto interrupted.
"What the hell is going on here?" Kabuto and Gaara turned to them like they just noticed them.
"Hey Naruto, Sasuke, it's been awhile." Kabuto greeted them as if he was a common friend. Gaara just nodded in respect. Lee was hiccuping. Kabuto sighed.
"Before explaining..." Kabuto hit Lee's neck and knocked him out. "It's easier to explain to a sober person." Kabuto said calmly. Gaara made his sand form a chair and he sat in it. Sasuke and Naruto gaped at them.
"Relax a little." Kabuto suggested. "It will be a minute before Lee wakes up." A minute later and Lee was up, holding his head.
"Oww." Lee didn't look so good. Kabuto looked amused, Gaara and Sasuke sighed, and Naruto stared at him.
"Remind me never to get drunk." Naruto stated. Sasuke sighed.
"You will never follow that through." Sasuke said. Naruto shrugged. Kabuto cleared his throat.
"Okay, now is time to explain." A few moments later, and everything was explained.
"You're a double agent?" Naruto asked Kabuto. Kabuto nodded.
"Yes, the Third Hokage had suspicions from the start and set me up as a double agent. My job is now to report back to the Hokage and then see what happens from there. Gaara is just an envoy." Kabuto explained. Gaara then spoke.
"Your team mates are alright. My own teammates took care of the Sound." Gaara smirked in a manner that made you wonder what happened to the Sound ninjas.
"Let's head back." The five ninjas disappeared.