Yeah, I know it's been forever since I updated. That's my bad entirely. It's part laziness and part lack of creativity. it took me a little bit of creativity to put this together, and that took a while to come up with. So here it is. By the way, there will be a conversation between Naruto and the Kyuubi at the end of this chapter, and te Kyuubi offers a littl help to our hero. This will be a huge factor in the fight against Itachi...

Orochimaru blocked Naruto's kunai dagger with one of his own, parrying the attacks sent at him by the blonde child. He effortlessly swerved this way and that, as though Naruto's attacks were coming in slow motion. Naruto gave a primal growl as he jumped back into the fray, slashing and punching, while Orochimaru carefully dodged this way and that, not taking a single hit.

Neither Naruto nor Orochimaru were wounded at all. That was because, this battle of course, was all an act. In fact, Orochimaru was miles and miles away. The Orochimaru currently engaged in combat was none other than Naruto himself, disguised as the notorious Snake King with an advanced Henge no Jutsu… But the deception ran even deeper than that.

Neither of the fighting pair was actually Naruto. The real Naruto was hiding in a tree a short distance away, unmoving so as not to reveal his cover. The fighting duo was a pair of Naruto's famous Bunshins, shadow clones, and one of them was cleverly disguised as one of his worst enemies. That still wasn't all. Naruto had a third Bunshin in disguise elsewhere, running towards the cavern belonging to the Akatsuki as a member of the group trying to warn Itachi and lure him out to the battle.

Meanwhile, to add to the deception, Gaara was under a Henge as Naruto in the territory of sound, trying to lure out the real Orochimaru. He walked lazily through the forests, looking absolutely filthy and torn, an attempt at looking tired and easy to pick off. With any luck, someone would notice that a fatigued Naruto was poking his head out of hiding and was just asking to be found. Of course, Gaara indeed was asking to be found.

That part of the plan was working actually.

A man wearing the sound forehead protector, a man with seemingly warm, yet realistically cold, eyes, ran into a large chamber room. "Orochimaru-sama," he said, bowing and looking down at the ground. "It's Naruto."

"What about him?" hissed the snake-like voice of Orochimaru from a shady throne. He sat with a wicked smile on his face. His slatted eyes would've alerted anyone to the evil of this man. Those were the only features visible to the right hand man, Kabuto.

"He's been spotted not far from here," clarified Kabuto, still bowed politely. "He is just on the border of sound territory, though it doesn't seem that he knows where he is. It looks as though he's lost and tired."

"Is anyone with him?" asked Orochimaru gravely.

"No one," said Kabuto. "No other life forms could be detected in the immediate area. He's completely solo." Kabuto awaited the reply from his master.

…

"Well," said Orochimaru, standing up straight from his chair and stretching. "Let's go greet our nine-tails friend."

"I'm not sure how much longer my Bunshins will last," thought Naruto as he watched them battle. "I imagine I've got another hour or so left in them if I'm careful to make sure they don't expel any more chakra than necessary."

Sakura watched from not far off as well, observing the fight between the Doppelgangers with interest. "It's pretty well choreographed," she thought in amazement. "Such brilliant and perfect balance and timing in everything. It's amazing how much control he has… Well, I can't say I didn't know how much he had changed."

"NARUTO!" called Gaara over the two way earpiece radio. "Naruto, can you hear me?"

"Sure, Gaara," whispered Naruto from his position in a tree. "Go ahead."

"I just detected the approach of Orochimaru and another Sound nin," said Gaara. "They've no doubt found me, or you I guess. I'm leading them to your spot right now. Anything about Itachi?"

"Nothing from that end," said Naruto. "Alright, hurry over. I'll be waiting. If I receive any news about Itachi, I'll tell you."

"Okay," replied Gaara simply. "I'm out."

Gaara's mic cut out, and Naruto was alone again.

The Naruto bunshin came to a halt in front of the giant cavern of the Akatsuki. There was a huge rock in front of it, and he could tell it was sealed shut. "Shit," said the spy. (Naruto looks like an Akatsuki agent, remember) "I can't just call out for help. That'll blow my cover."

"Can I help you?" asked a cold voice, laced with dangerous intent. Naruto spun on the spot and saw Itachi a mere three feet away. He was standing right behind him! "What do you want?" asked Itachi. Naruto gulped, but recovered his composure quickly.

"Uh, yeah," fumbled Naruto for a second. "It's the Uzumaki brat. He's been spotted less than an hour away from here." Naruto pressed on, not able to observe any signs of facial expression from the deadly Itachi. Thank goodness those creepy Sharingans weren't out. He was scared shitless of those things. "Anyway, he seems kinda lost. There's more though. He's engaged in a fight with Orochimaru of the Sound. They're both fighting all out…"

"Really," said Itachi plainly. He brought a finger to his chin and scratched it. Naruto looked back at the terrifying man's face, trying to look as confident as possible. Those Sharingans were menacing… scary.

"Sharangan?" yelled Naruto in his brain. "When did he activate that! Shit."

Itachi gave his wicked half-smile. "You take me for an idiot, Naruto-kun," said Itachi. "I didn't attain the most powerful Sharingan eyes for nothing. You think a Henge Jutsu is enough to fool my all-seeing eyes?"

Naruto's Henge was released, and the blonde boy looked up at Itachi with a smirk, trying to repel the fear within him. "Yeah, I guess I was hoping that would work," he said.

"Foolish brat," said Itachi. "You're mine now." Naruto stood rooted to the spot. Itachi grabbed collar of the boy and held him up. Naruto did a fast hand seal as he was lifted.

"Double Bunshin No Jutsu!" he said. With a pop, a second Naruto flashed into existence several feetaway. Itachi turned to look at the blonde boy that had materialized out of thin air as it began to run away. The clone still in Itachi's grasp grabbed both of Itachi's arms with both of his own and latched on.

"My time is almost up it would seem," said Naruto. "I won't give you the satisfaction of taking my life however." Naruto took a kunai out of his satchel and drove it into his own hand and through Itachi's as well. Itachi let out a small grunt from the pain as Naruto disappeared.

"I Bunshin?" he asked himself. "Very clever, little brat. But a wound to my hand isn't enough to hurt me really. I am impressed at your control over your chakra now though." Itachi stood straight and wiped the blood away from his scratched wrist. "Forming a shadow clone from a shadow clone. Expert chakra domination and flow control."

Itachi ran in the direction Naruto had run off to. He knew Naruto was planning something, probably something along the lines of a trap. He didn't care and he didn't worry. Whatever Naruto was thinking wasn't enough. Itachi smiled in spite of his normally grim demeanor. This might be fun.

Naruto, back at the battle site, the real one, had seen what happened. His attempt at tricking Itachi had failed. "Gaara," he said into his ear microphone. "Can you read me?"

"What is it Naruto?" asked Gaara. "I'm busy running away right now… Man, I'd love to just kill them here."

"Itachi didn't buy it," sighed Naruto. "He saw through it. It's that damn Sharingan."

"So he's not coming?"

"Well, I think he's coming anyway," said Naruto. "He doesn't seem to care."

"Be careful Naruto," said Gaara. "Don't engage him alone. We're still not sure how things are going to play out, but we only have a chance if the two of us are fighting together."

"Got it," said Naruto. "Out."

Naruto sat and stewed in the tree branch. He hadn't moved in hours. He wanted to at least stretch, but it could blow his cover. He had to watch those stupid doppelgangers play-fight.

"That Sharingan is unbeatable," he thought. "He can see through any genjutsus or ninjutsus with it, even taijutsus. What was I thinking? Even with Kyuubi's extra chakra and power, how can I overcome something like that?"

Child, are you doubting my power?

Kyuubi? Ah, you're awake.

You don't think my power, even if fully tapped into by yourself, can bring Itachi down?

"Kyuubi, his Sharingan is unbeatable. Anything we do can be seen through, no matter how much control you give me."

Kid, I haven't spent the last few years training with you for nothing. I figured a time would come when I had to give you one last lesson… Or rather, this is more of a gift.

"What are you talking about Kyuubi? A gift? Is it anything like me having to die because of being your cage? Because, you know, I'm not too fond of that."

I never intended for that to happen! Listen, I've come to grow fond of you, child. I like you. You've got spunk, enthusiasm, liveliness. You've been an unbearable pain in the ass.

"Watch it fox, or I'll kick your ass."

Hehehehehe… That's what I like to hear. Show me your spirit! Kid, If you're going to die for this fight, then I'm going to help you do as much as you can before you go. This gift... Consider it my repentance for having killed you in advance.

"So what's the gift?"

It's an ability that only I possess, kid. It's called the Nine-Tails Iris. It's a modification to your human eyes.

"A… modification?"

End Chapter Fifteen

The next chapter will be the start of the battle between the heroes and Orochimaru and Itachi. How will it play out? Who's the stronger bad guy? Well, i can tell you the only bad guy to really worry about is Itachi. I still ahve to work it all out in my noodle, which will not be easy. I have to do this just right, and I don't have much to go on about how Gaara will fight as the Shukkaku. Maybe I should go back and read some manga chapters from a long time ago.