Thanks to all that reviewed so far, I figured with 1000 hits, I would get a couple more, but what can you do. I have recently changed the description in the story because I was fighting between two big plot lines and finally decided on one in particular. I like to make the personalities of the characters as close to the manga as possible, but in a more realistic and logical manner so if you have any objections with how I capture them, please let me know. Also, this is the spot where the plotline makes a change, but I will let you read as to how. Thanks

I do not own Naruto for those honors lie with Kishi.

Chapter 3 – Itachi

Being the first awake gave Naruto quite a bit of time to think Kyuubi's offer over. There was no way in hell that he would accept, but with a few modifications, a new agreement could be made. He's knows Akatsuki are still in another league when comparing his current skills, but miracles do happen. Feeling the youma's restlessness gave Naruto the impression he was frightened of the organization's intentions. Anytime he thought of the black cloaked figures, Kyuubi would shift its power a bit. A small chuckle left Naruto's lips as he realized, he didn't even research this beast, and it lived within him. He knew practically nothing of its origins or its reason for attacking Konoha. All he knew was that Yondaime beat the monster and sealed its essence within him as a baby. But why; not even his sensei spoke of his sensei or the Kyuubi? Too many questions appeared in his mind, too much confusion kept his eyes from closing. Next time he has a chance, he would fix that. Locked within his thoughts, a voice brought his attention to his sensei.

"You're up awfully early, have trouble sleeping?" Kakashi asked nonchalantly as he placed his thin blanket within his backpack. The blonde was slow to answer as he simply sent a nod in his sensei's direction. Kakashi was concerned, especially after witnessing the massive chakra spike that woke him up earlier in the night. He watched the boy for a while as he seemed to have trouble controlling something within; the Kyuubi most likely. He often questioned how strong the fourth's seal was, especially after leaking so much chakra over the years. Perhaps Naruto struggles in the same way as his counterpart from the sand. Best not to pry quite yet, he thought to himself before waking their pink haired teammate. Without realizing, it seems Sakura inherited the fifth's world renowned reputation for punishment when their beauty sleep is threatened. In a reflex of her arm, she sent Kakashi soaring through the air, only stopping when planted within the trunk of a large oak tree ten meters away. Naruto could barely hold in his laughter while watching Kakashi fight to remove himself from the wooden prison that formed to his body. A small blush of embarrassment filled her face as she sputtered small apologies to her struggling sensei.

"Wow, she's as strong as the old lady." Naruto thought as he pondered all the times Sakura had pounded his face in during the academy and as a team. A look of fright filled his eyes as he realized he would soon be on the receiving end eventually. It's only a matter of time.

"All set." She replies as the entire camp is packed and the three continue their journey to Suna.

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"What the… hell…" Baki utters as he approaches his two students' unconscious bodies. "What happened to you both?"

"There… were two… of them…" Kankuro struggled to say in Baki's ear as he told what happened.

FLASHBACK

"Hurry up Kankuro, we're losing him." The feminine voice of the blonde woman, echoing in his ears.

"I'm running as fast as I can; just try to blast him down." The man responded bringing the woman to an abrupt stop.

"What about Gaara? I could hit him in the process."

"If they get away, who knows what they will do to him, we can't take the risk."

"Your right." Removing her long, elegant device from her belt holder, she opened it up to reveal an unusual design crafted across the fabric material. Pulling the fan like device behind her back, she unleashed a tornado like blast of wind through a tunnel shaped design that sped towards the air-born target with amazing accuracy.

"SUMMONING TECHNIQUE, KIRIKIRI MAI!" Within the tunnel of roaring winds, a small weasel like creature sped towards the target in a blinking light of chakra. Just before contact, the cloaked ninja grabs a hold of Gaara's limp body and jumped from his clay summon. Still receiving some of the effects from Temari's jutsu, he landed further away from his intended landing spot. In a cloud of smoke, the two sand ninjas were cut off as a large, sharp, metal object slammed into the sand. The impact caused both shinobis to freeze in their tracks.

"Diedara, what are you clowning around for, hurry up and get back, I will handle the clean up."

"Of course Sasori-sama, too bad for them, yeah.."

"Did he say…"

"Yeah, it's him alright. I thought he was dead though." Kankuro said as he tried his best to loosen up a bit.

"What do you want with Gaara?" Temari quickly asked the cloaked shinobi but no reply was given. He simply stared back, enjoying the look of fear that lied in the young ninja's features.

"Enough of this." Temari yelled as she pulled her fan behind her once more. Before her momentum could carry her forward, numerous spikes came though the ground piercing through the fan, in turn locking it in place.

"Temari…" Kankuro was instantly brought to silence by the eerie laugh that came from within the puppet.

"How disappointing, is this all that the sand have to offer? Suna has certainly become weak."

Without hesitation, Kankuro pulls two scrolls from his back and unrolls them in front of him. With a quick hand sign, he summons forth two unique puppets. One of which was Karasu, his most common and favorite choice. The other was in the form of a salamander that dwelled beneath him. Before he could move them an inch, his tail came forth and shattered the frame of karasu as the spikes below the sand surface erupted forth once more impaling the other. In the blink of an eye, a thin needle like weapon sprung forth from the cloaked ninja's frame making contact with both sand ninja's neck knocking them to the ground.

"You have approximately thirty six hours to remove the poison I just administered or you will most certainly die. Unfortunately for you, I alone hold the cure. Give my regards to Suna."

Within a blink of an eye, he was gone as fast as he arrived.

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"We…we didn't stand a chance." Kankuro muttered as he fell unconscious. Temari was soon to follow as Baki grabbed the two and lifted them to his shoulders. "Sasori-sama… You're alive after all." He mumbled to himself as he raced back to the village with what remained of his battered team.

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"Tsunade, who did you decide to send for backup anyway?" The gray haired senin asked as he slouched about the hokage office.

"Maito Gai's team just returned from their escort mission to the mist. I sent them as soon as they were assembled today. They were the only team strong enough that wasn't occupied on another mission. It wouldn't hurt for you to keep an eye on things yourself you know."

"Yeah… I suppose your right." The hermit mumbled, sounding a bit disappointed as he walked out the door.

"Still acts like a child…" She thought a few moments after he left.

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After a long eight hours, team seven arrived at the border of Suna village. There were not many people out and about as it seemed the winds had started picking up. As they approached the desolate town, guards immediately came from the ground surrounding the foreign ninja. Noticing the forehead protectors, they lowered their arms and beckoned the others to follow.

Walking through the sand filled village, one common theme rang through the shinobi's mind's, poverty. "Kankuro certainly wasn't sugar coating it when he spoke of the conditions here." Sakura said remembering back to before when they took the first chunnin exam.

"Yeah." Was the only response that came from the other two as they walk though the desolate village. They quickly made it to the hospital where they were immediately greeted by a couple elders who ushered them to the sibling's room. The medics were running frantic, speaking of antidotes and poisons. It didn't take long for Sakura to realize what happened to them when screams tore through the hallways. The three take off through the hallway just as Kankuro passes out on his bed. Making it to the door, they see an elderly woman standing over the unconscious shinobi who instantly spots the three. Without hesitation, her glare turns hostile, advancing across the room in a blink of an eye attempting to attack the grey hair jounin. Before he can react, her punch is quickly reversed as smoke filled the air around her. Standing face to face with Naruto, the old woman blinks in confusion while cursing about the white fang. Kakashi narrowed his visible eye as another elder quickly corrected her on the grey haired mans identity.

She focused on the group for a few moments as she began to giggle.

"Must be getting senile in my old age."

Baki quickly apologized as he introduced the Konoha shinobi to a couple of their elder siblings Chiyo and her brother Byuko. Sakura made haste as she prepared the antidote for the younger siblings.

"So what can you tell me about the poison?" She asked as she took a sample from Kankuro's arm.

"Nothing much, I can't isolate what's inside it. If the slug woman were here, I am sure she could figure it out." Glaring a bit she looked at the floor; how she hated that woman.

"I should get an accurate reading from the residue left over on the epidermis of his skin. They are starting to go into shock, I will have to hurry."

"Konoha sure has a strong group of youth these days." The old woman said again with a chuckle. "I'm sorry my grandson has caused so many problems of late." To this, all three shinobi's heads jerk towards the sand elder.

"Grandson… You mean…"

"Yes Kakashi-san, it seems he has returned for Shukaku's container, but.."
"DON'T…" Naruto growled at Chiyo's reference towards the Kazekage. "Don't you call him that!" Trying everything in him not to attack the woman where she stood. "He's more then just a god damn container… He is the Kazekage, a respected shinobi, and most of all, my friend. I won't allow you to slander him, not while I'm still breathing."

"That's what he is child, it can't be helped." The reply didn't cool Naruto down one bit as he took a step towards the woman only to be held back by Temari and his sensei.

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW!"

"Calm down Naruto, she doesn't mean any harm."

"The hell she doesn't, another word and she'll have to deal with me."

The look of pure confusion as to why this boy from Konoha would stand up for their Kazekage filled her face until she made eye contact with the blonde. The killing intent behind the crimson, unnatural eyes told her everything she needed to hear. She soon realized the mistake she made, but the confusion still remained. "Friend… How is Gaara… your friend?" As if she couldn't stop herself from asking, it just came out.

"I will not fail him, I… He… He was the only person I met that was as lonely as me. Growing up as a monster." He paused as he focused on a dust ball that blew across the floor. "When I found friends, when I found people who cared for me, he was still alone, tortured by that bastard inside him. He's changed, and I owe it to him to show him why." As Naruto calmed down, everyone else was in a state of shock. Since when had Naruto become so, wise. It was short lived as Sakura quickly announced how to make the antidote from a sample of the poison.

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It was several hours later when the antidote was distributed to the siblings.

"Alright, we should get moving and search the area for their location. Then we call and wait for aid to arrive."

"I will come with you." Chiyo says as she focuses on the unconscious siblings lying in their beds. "Sasori was my responsibility; I will help you get him." Her focus switched to the Konoha shinobi who quickly shook off their shocked expressions.

"No thanks old lady, you would only slow us down." Naruto said half heartedly before he found himself strapped to the ceiling. Locked in place by chakra strings, Kakashi can't help but laugh as he tries to hide his embarrassed expression with his hand.

"Alright, alright, I'm… Sorry I called you old." He mumbles as the woman releases his restraints.

"I'm not sure I'm safe traveling with a novice like you. I was just telling Baki about how weak the sand has become. Seems they are not the only ones."

"What did you say you old hag?" Naruto cursed as his body found its way to the ceiling for the second time that day.

"Hate to cut this short, I really do, but we need to get a move on if we plan to catch up to the Kazekage." Kakashi says staring at his underling that's struggling to free himself from the chakra net.

"Right." The rest of shinobi quickly agree as they grab their belongings and bolt out the door. Kakashi quickly performs a summoning jutsu bringing forth a grouchy, yet talkative pug. The dog looked around, noticing new and old faces alike, it quickly became more serious.

"Pakkun, we need to locate the sand Kazekage as soon as possible. Here is a piece of his clothing, can you trace his sent?"

"Gaara huh… It's tough to forget this scent. Lead the way to their direction and I will do my best."

Heading in the direction of siblings confrontation, Kakashi quickly halts the group as the scenery becomes most peculiar.

"Kakashi-sensei, what's wrong?

"Something's… Not right here. Keep a close eye out."

"LOOK OUT, IN FRONT OF YOU!" Sakura alerts Kakashi just in time to avoid series of Kunai from an unknown location. Just as they search the area, a man dressed in black walked out from behind a boulder. His hair hung just past his nose, and his eyes were like fire as they focused on the four shinobi.

"You!" Naruto utters, just barely holding in his desire to charge and rip the man limb from limb.

"Is that?" Sakura asks while staring into his crimson eyes, much like the ones Sasuke bore.

"Uchiha… Itachi… Akatsuki must be worried if they sent you right away."

"Kakashi-san, I see you brought something for me." The man spoke in a monotone voice, just loud enough for his words to carry to the ears of the others

"Naruto, I need you to back me up on this."

"Right, what's the plan?"

"I will distract him by attacking head on, I need you watch for an opening, then attack. But… Be careful, he is a genjitsu specialist, and do not under any circumstance look into his eyes."

"Right." Naruto uttered before Itachi brought their focus back to him.

"Naruto-kun, it would be preferred if you came willingly."

"Bastard, you're the reason Sasuke went to Orochimaru, I'll never forgive you!"

"This is… Sasuke-kun's brother?" Sakura asks dumbfounded by the man's appearance. "They look, so much alike."

"Those eyes are troublesome." Chiyo says followed by a nod from Sakura.

"I'm afraid it won't be so easy this time… Itachi" Kakashi says, pulling his forehead protector just above his eye, displaying his sharingan.

"Impossible, how did you…"

"How bad has your eyesight become?" To this Itachi simply looks to the ground before responding.

"It does not matter, that eye was not meant for you. You can't use it as I can." In the blink of an eye, a replication formed from his body, heading right in their direction. Kakashi quickly went to cut him off while Naruto went after the original. Forming a ressengan in his right palm, he thrusted it towards the Akatsuki member only to watch as his form disintegrated in front of him. Looking up, he watches as Itachi tumbles down to the blonde with a kunai in hand. In a reflex, he launches a series of Kunai in hopes to distract the ninja only to watch his form break apart into what appeared to be bat like animals. Truly confused, he searched around for Itachi when a cloud of smoke formed around his body. As it cleared, he saw each of his friends lying on the ground. All appeared to be dead or unconscious. Shock froze his muscles in place. "No way can this be happening… this quick?" Before the young man could ponder the situation any more, a voice brought him out of his daze.

"Naruto-kun."

Searching for the voice, his eyes land on the form of another ninja, one he seemed to recognize from somewhere but he couldn't place it in his mind. His face was still a bit dark but his eyes were without a doubt blue. His hair color could not be seen but it spread over his shoulders in an uncontrollable fashion, much like his elder perverted sensei.

"Who… What did you do to my friends?"

"I don't have a lot of time so listen to me closely. Itachi-kun is my underling, he has strict orders to leave you unharmed for the upcoming ceremony. I wouldn't let anyone hurt you my son."

"What…"

"Do not speak, just know that I am doing this for the welfare of us all. The kage nations would not understand if they know the truth; either would your sensei. You must not mention my presence to them yet."

"But…"

"Beware of the root, their agenda's are flawed. Until I see you again young one, farewell."

Before Naruto could object, the genjitsu was lifted as Sakura and Chiyo were on both sides of his body. His confusion was quickly lifted when Kakashi called out for his help. When Kakashi put Itachi on the defenses with his kage-bunshin, Naruto made his move using a replication to make an extra powerful version of ressengan.

"Oodamna Ressengan!" The blue and red light flashed across the landscape quickly disabling the cloaked shinobi.

"He got him." Chiyo utters as the two quickly made their way over to the men who just stared down at the beaten ninja. To all their shock, it was not Itachi who laid before them, but a jounin from Suna village instead.

"What an interesting technique." Kakashi thought to himself. "Naruto, you have to be careful with genjitsu's, no matter how strong you are, one can easily get beat if he can't protect his mind."

"Sorry sensei…"

Covering his sharingan, he gazed down at the strange expression on his apprentice's face. The boy looked conflicted in a sense. It did seem as if he hesitated on attacking Itachi for some reason or another.

"We should keep moving, something tells me that Itachi was merely delaying us from reaching their location. Pakkun, lead the way from here, and we will follow."

"Right."

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"That should give Diedara and Sasori enough time to finish the ritual."

"It better, I guess thirty percent of our chakra wasn't quite enough to hold them off for too long."

"It makes no difference, those two shouldn't have any problems dealing with them."

"I suppose your right." Kisame says as he stands up once more to stretch his muscles a bit. Itachi follows suit as they gather their things to leave.

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Thanks for reading. I hope the story doesn't seem rushed. I didn't' really like some of this chapter and battled on whether I should post it yet. If changes need to be made, I will announce it in the later chapters. Please feel free to review.

On another note, I made up a name for Chiyo's brother. Not quite sure if they actually stated it or not. Please feel free to fill me in if you know. Thanks.