The Rise of a Warrior: Naruto: Shippuden

by The Legendary Dragon Reaper

Three years have come and gone, and while Tatsu and the ninja of the Hidden Leaf have grown stronger, they'll have a whole new group of enemies to face. The era of Team Dragon has arrived, but can they rise to the challenge? Sequel to the Rise of a Warrior: Naruto, second story in my Naruto trilogy. Please read each chapter until the end and check for notes.

34. Reanimation's End, A Hero's Revival

(Reanimation's End, A Hero's Revival)

The rain was pouring down all over the land.

Kazuma slowly walked his way through an abandoned town and looked around, his expression a solemn one 'Such is the price of war.' he noticed a dog wandering towards him, and he gave a small smile as he knelt down to pet the dog and sent it on its way 'With any luck, by the time this war is over the world will have been made into a better place. Then maybe I can talk to Ayame about… Well I guess we'll just have to wait and see.'

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At the same time, Jugo and Suigetsu were still searching for Sasuke when they arrived at one of the old hideouts that Orochimaru used to use.

As they made their way in Jugo took the chance to question Suigetsu as to why he joined Sasuke's team in the first place, only for him to end up going on a rampage and attacking Suigetsu in a blind rage.

Suigetsu managed to survive pretty much unscathed thanks to his body being made of water, and simply drowned Jugo in order to subdue him.

After this, they discovered a secret room revealed by Jugo during his rampage, and once they were inside Suigetsu found a certain specific scroll, the contents of which he found deeply shocking.

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Kazuma looked back to see a crowd of pissed off White Zetsu clones making a feeble attempt to confront him "Looks like you guys didn't waste any time in coming after me in order to take revenge for me killing your genetic origin back at the Five Kage Summit."

"Save it." they started literally outright snarling at him like they were a pack of angry dogs surrounding a single slab of meat "You're gonna pay for what you did to our original you little punk!"

"With this many of you here right now you really should try and capture me so that you can use my Tenseigan power to your advantage, with this many of you now I do hope it's more of a challenge than your original was."

"Shut your trap you little punk!" the White Zetsu clones all charged at Kazuma at full speed in a blind rage.

In response to this, Kazuma simply calmly activated his Tenseigan Chakra Cloak and let out a single sweep of his hand, his mind drifting to the one that he had been seeking 'You once chose to bear the hatred of the shinobi world on your shoulders alone, I tried to talk you out of it but you're even more stubborn than I am. You know the pain of solitude and loneliness just like I do, we were brought together by that pain and by fate. Combine that pain with the bond that we have shared for so long, and that is what makes us stronger. The stronger our bond, the greater the strength that we can achieve. But somewhere along the way I fear that you lost sight of that strength and tried to do everything on your own. I guess that means that it's my job to help you get back your sense of what's important. You know I'm right, don't you Itachi?' without even batting an eye he fired a blast of golden chakra, killing off the last of the White Zetsu clones in an instant before deactivating his Tenseigan, a swarm of ravens approaching from deep within the forest 'And I think I just found you my friend.' and he took off into the forest, leaving the clearing behind stained with the blood and charred corpses of the White Zetsu clones in his wake.

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The fierce battle between the reanimated form of Madara Uchiha and the five Kage raged on and intensified, with Onoki attacking Madara through the use of a massive rock golem.

However, Madara, countered this attack using his Wood Style: Deep Forest Bloom, which shattered the rock golem into pieces with a great deal of ease, but Tsunade recognized the jutsu that belonged to her grandfather Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, and she instructed the rest of the Kage not to inhale the pollen released by the jutsu.

Gaara and Onoki took this chance to suspend and levitate the rest of the Kage respectively, and while the Kage had been distracted Madara sent them feeling through the trees by summoning his Susanoo and then used his Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame, causing most the five Kage to lose consciousness.

While struggling to remain conscious, Onoki stimulated himself with memories of a conversation that he previously had with his grandfather Ishikawa, the First Tsuchikage about the Will of Stone, the strength of will of shinobi of the Hidden Stone. With this renewed strength and his refusal to give up, Onoki used his Particle Style to destroy the forest created by Madara, which caused the rest of the Kage to regain consciousness as a result.

However, as Madara's body regenerated from the damage sustained by Onoki's attack, to the horror of the rest of the Kage, he revealed the face on his chest formed from Hashirama's stolen DNA.

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Kazuma was bolting his way through the forest with his Tenseigan flaring into life, only to screech to a halt upon seeing Itachi and Sasuke pass him in the trees overhead, and so he took off after them "Hold on! Itachi I know that's you, don't try to pretend that you and Sasuke are mindless zombies being controlled by Kabuto. Do I have really have to do this to get your attention because I will!" and to prove this point, his Tenseigan Chakra Cloak and extended a chakra arm forward.

"Leave it to you to take things too far." Itachi made a hand motion for Sasuke to go on ahead of him, which he did, and quickly summoned an arm from his Susanoo skeleton in order to counter the chakra arm.

"That Susanoo confirms it, it's you without a doubt Itachi."

"I shouldn't be surprised but I'm still impressed, your prowess with your Tenseigan has definitely improved considerably since the last time we met Kazuma."

"And now that you've been brought back by Kabuto through the reanimation it looks like you're at your peak level of power since that disease isn't eating away at your body anymore. You know a lot has changed since you died."

"And yet you clearly have not. I shouldn't be surprised when I heard from Naruto and Sasuke that you went against my wishes and revealed the truth about the Uchiha clan even though I had asked you not to."

"Let me guess, you're mad at me for that?"

"Part of me says that I should be, the other part knows you. We once learned from our fathers when we were very young that each and every person in this world lives inside of our own fantasies, and I had once asked you to think about it that way and to think about how for one their entire reality might be little more than an illusion. However my truth is real, at least I thought that it was."

"I told you at the start of this entire situation that going through this by yourself instead of going into hiding with me and Izumi wouldn't end well, going through this on your own would only cause you more suffering and that was completely unnecessary. I had to tell Sasuke the truth because he deserves to love the brother who loved him enough to let him kill him in order to make him stronger, and the people deserved to know the truth. The truth behind one of the greatest shinobi in the history of the Hidden Leaf Village. Itachi Uchiha, the man who single handedly prevented a war from breaking out, one of the few men truly worthy of the mantle of Hokage, a hero among heroes, and my best friend, the man that I love as if he were my very own brother. You were supposed to kill Sasuke along with the rest of the clan but you were able to convince Danzo to let you spare the students and younger generations of the Uchiha that weren't involved in the coup, and it was during all of this that you made up your mind. You yourself would drop the visible curtain on the history of your own clan. Of course you held no hatred for the Uchiha, you just did what you had to do. The discrimination forced upon him by the people of the village and the object of their inevitable antagonism, you chose to shoulder all of the blame for these things by yourself. No one should ever even dream of questioning your decisions or the sacrifices that you made, and I made sure of that."

"But you shouldn't have been made to get involved in the first place, you had no part in the folly of the Uchiha. You had too much for you in the village like Tatsu, Ayame and Hayate and the rest of them. And do you think that I did it just for you? I wanted you to grow beyond the hatred by which I bound myself, you deserve better than what you have had to endure. I deserved to be dealt with only by another Uchiha and so I wanted to take advantage of the hatred that was burning inside of Sasuke. That is why I failed. Fortunately you and the rest were able to quell the hatred within Sasuke and stop him from going rogue, stop him from turning into a criminal like me. All I ever wanted was for Sasuke to walk the right path and for you to walk your very own path into the light, back before I died I tried to lead you down the path to righteousness, down a path that held no forks or turns. I used lies and my visual prowess to change the signs on that path."

"And what would that have accomplished? Did you really think that Sasuke would just be able to happily walk that path ignorant of everything that you had to go through? Moreover was I supposed to just walk down my own path and just ignore the suffering that you had forced upon yourself? That could never have happened and you know that just as well as I do."

"...Yes Kazuma, you're 100% right." Itachi gave a small smile "You should all decide your journeys for yourselves. Properly speaking I'm dead now."

"And?"

"There's no point in talking any further about this, while we're wasting time the Reanimation Jutsu has to be stopped no matter the cost."

"Not alone, not this time. For the first time in a long time, we're going to be fighting together once again. Just like old times, are you with me?"

"...I suppose I should listen to you more often." they exchanged small smiles "Come on then, let's get going my friend."

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Having revealed the replica of Hashirama's face on his chest, Madara made the choice to take out Tsunade first after realizing that she was a descendant of Hashirama and deemed her as a weak woman, pathetic when compared to the likes of her grandfather.

Tsunade went on to state that she inherited more than just power from the Will of Fire that her grandfather left to her, something that Madara should not take so lightly. She went on to explain the three main rules of a medical ninja as she released her seal before going on to explain the fourth rule, that only one who had mastered the Mitotic Regeneration of the Hundred Healings was allowed to break the first three rules.

Despite the rest of the Kage being stunned by this, Madara remained unimpressed with her abilities and Tsunade attacked he activated his Susanoo ribcage, receiving a slight crack in his Susanoo.

Madara tried to immolate Tsunade but was stopped by Mei, who also attacked. A and Onoki dealt a heavy blow on Madara while Tsunade landed a kick on the latter. Madara commented on Tsunade's abilities. Madara noted that all that remains of Hashirama is his cells inside of him and all that's left of Izuna was his eyes that belong to him now. He further stated that the only thing that could be passed on is hatred.

Eventually Tsunade landed a devastating attack on Madara as his body began to reform. Gaara attempted to bind and seal him although it was revealed to be a clone. Though the real Madara stabbed Tsunade with his Susanoo Sword from below, he found that Tsunade was able to heal without hand seals. Onoki attacked Madara with Particle Style but, Madara absorbs it through the Preta Path ability of the Rinnegan. Tsunade questioned Madara's confidence, stating that the Kage forced him to use a wood clone. Madara admitted five on one is a good match-up, thus creating twenty five wood clones, with five each to battle each of the Kage.

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Itachi and Kazuma bolted their way into a cave "I can see that you followed up on my plan better than I had anticipated Sasuke."

Sure enough, Sasuke had beaten them to the cave, his Eternal Mangekyo Sandagan crackling with electricity "So you can sense the barrier too, it's rather useless all things considered but I decided to wait for you two to finish up your conversation before I did anything Naruto levels of reckless."

"Wise choice." so with that in mind, Itachi summoned his Susanoo skeleton and smashed through the wall "There's no point in continuing to hide… Kabuto."

Sure enough, Kabuto was still where he had been the entire time, using a shogi board to monitor his army of reanimated shinobi "So the three of you were able to pass through my barrier and find me with such a significant amount of ease, I'm quite impressed."

"Back when I was still under the control of your jutsu I was able to pinpoint the location that your chakra had been coming from, that was yet another risk of this jutsu. Not something you need to worry about though, that's not something that you will remember for next time."

"I see. Well I am grateful for the tip, I wasn't actually worried though because I had not considered the possibility of anyone actually being able to defy this jutsu in the same way that you have. Oh and by the way there's also something that I believe that you should know."

"And what would that be?"

"This Reanimation Jutsu will not come undone even if the caster is slain, I am the only one who could stop it so to put it simply you cannot just up and destroy me so recklessly. If you do then you will never be able to stop this jutsu." and to make proof of his ever decreasing sanity, he let out a maniacal cackle just as Orochimaru used to do "I guess that my luck hasn't run out quite yet now has it Itachi?!"

"Things are not always as we wish them to be."

"We happen to be proof of that." Kazuma blitzed to the left side of the cave, with Sasuke going to the right.

"That you are dear friends." Kabuto let out a chuckle.

Sasuke's eyes hardened dangerously "So it really is you Kabuto, looks like you've done a lot of changing since the last time we met."

"That I have, to think that my compensation for participating in this war would show up on his own at this particular moment is quite fortuitous for me."

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean Kabuto?"

"Well it's rather complicated but please allow me to try and explain."

"You can go ahead and try." Itachi's Sharingan flared wildly "And in the meantime I'll force you to lift the Reanimation Jutsu."

"This jutsu is one that has neither risks nor weaknesses Itachi, that is something that I want you to understand as I have already informed you of that once. And besides, even if you do make a move I doubt Sasuke and Kazuma will just quietly stand back and watch. If you rush then you may not succeed, even if it were possibly conversely."

"Enough of that." Sasuke snarled "Answer my question Kabuto."

"Well I suppose that I will have to tell you after all, as I'm sure you're already aware something quite momentous has been happening in our world."

"I already know about Tobi starting the war. I've already been forced to fight Zabuza and Haku, and frankly that was a low blow on your part."

"You do know a great deal more than I had anticipated, but yes it is true. The Fourth Great Ninja War, Tobi and I are currently at war with the coalition of the nations of Fire, Wind, Water, Earth and Lightning, as well as Iron and the Hidden Waterfall, all of which are fighting together under the name of the Allied Shinobi Forces."

"You say that like you really believe that you and Tobi can fight against the forces of all of the Five Great Nations along with the Hidden Waterfall and the Land of Iron and really expect to come out on top."

"Oh but we can and that's just what we're doing Sasuke, thanks to 100,000 troops of mass produced White Zetsu clones along with the forces of the Reanimation battalion that I've spent months creating. Kinkaku and Ginkaku of the Gold and Silver brothers of the Hidden Cloud Village, the previous generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsman of the Mist, a reasonable number of Reanimated former five Kage title holders, and even the great Madara Uchiha himself at my command. Frankly I don't have enough time to mention everyone on the list but your brother over there is also one of the pawns that I've brought back for this purpose. Not a bad feat now is it? Although to be honest Madara Uchiha was the one who planned everything."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Just like the three of you Madara held a deep hatred for the shinobi world and so this hatred led him to create the Project Tsuki no Me, a plan to cast a powerful genjutsu over the entire world using the power of the Ten Tails and thereby acquire complete and total control over the entire world. In order to achieve that goal we need to obtain the Nine Tails inside of Naruto, the Eight Tails inside of Killer B, and the Six Tails inside of Utakata. And just about now, Madara is in the midst of causing a ruckus on the battlefield in order to get these three. So that's it Sasuke, that's the full tail of the war."

"But what you didn't count on is Itachi breaking free of your control." Kazuma noted "He is no longer under your control."

"Yes you're absolutely right. I must hand it to you Itachi Uchiha, being able to override my Reanimation Jutsu with your very own genjutsu is something that most ninja would never even dream of."

"I'm sorry but I simply cannot stand the thought of taking orders from others." Itachi's tone was laced with hidden venom.

"Yes well I agree with you on that."

"And in the meantime I have questions of my own for you." Sasuke pointed out "Itachi you already know what it is that I want to ask of you."

"I thought you would've learned by now Sasuke, just because you ask a question doesn't mean that you're going to automatically receive an answer. You really haven't changed a bit since the days that you were the popular one at the academy."

"And just what the hell is that supposed to mean, that I'm still persuasive?"

"Oh I'm just kidding, now make sure you don't forget why you and your big brother are here in the first place."

"I know damn well why we're here, we came here in order to destroy you Kabuto."

"Oh I hear you loud and clear."

"The Reanimation of all things, of all of the forbidden jutsu to tamper with you picked quite the foolish one." Itachi noted.

"But as you can see thanks to this jutsu you siblings get to have quite the touching reunion on this day, the same with you and Kazuma. I was hoping that you would show a little bit more gratitude than that."

"The Reanimation Jutsu cannot control what one holes inside of their heart, you're desecrated souls that have long since been purified and continue to spread unnecessary hatred and suffering throughout the world." Kazuma's Tenseigan flared into life "Tell me Kabuto, do you understand the pain of those that you've forced to fight against their will? The pain felt by the living is even greater than what they feel, after recovering from their grief and pain your jutsu has forced them to relive those feelings all over again."

"I must say that I'm really quite surprised, to think that someone who would dare to fake his own death and abandon his dear younger brother has such a tender heart. So tell me then, does that mean that you secretly regret what you did to poor Tatsu all those years ago? If so then I'm not interested in the slightest."

"Say whatever you will about me Kabuto, it doesn't change the fact that you're going to die here and now."

"My dear Sasuke, you wanted to defeat Itachi, the bane of the Uchiha clan once again since I called him back to the world of the living? To keep things short and simple Itachi, you and your little entourage are little more than a bothersome presence to myself. Well what do you have to say about that? Sasuke you and I once shared the same master-"

"Spare me the pathetic attempts at bargaining." Sasuke snarled "That thing was not my master and it never was, besides you don't know anything about what it is that I want. I only came here to help my brother with his goals and then get the answers that I've been needing to hear for a long time now."

"Which raises the question, which side are you on?"

"The side of my brother, my friends, my village, the people that I love."

"So it would seem that you did manage to turn out well after all." Itachi managed to suppress a small smile "I hear what you're saying Sasuke and you and I will talk later. Before that the three of us need to take down Kabuto but you must not kill him, if you kill the caster of the Reanimation Jutsu then it can never be undone. First we will put him under my Tsukiyomi and then we'll make him tell us how to stop the jutsu, while he's under the effects of the Tsukiyomi I can control him and then I will break this jutsu."

"Is that so?" Kabuto shot them is usual condescending smirk "I must thank you for such a helpful play by play, hopefully it can go as smoothly as you claim. But still as I had explained to the three of you earlier, this jutsu has neither weaknesses nor any risks."

"That's where you're wrong Kabuto, every jutsu has a weakness. The weakness and the risk for this jutsu happens to be standing right in front of you." Itachi's Mangekyou Sharingan flared into life as he stepped forward, with Kazuma doing the same.

"Itachi." with his eyes crackling with electricity, Sasuke drew his Raijin katana and stepped forward with him "You always kept lying to me, you kept saying things like next time and later and then you went and died on me. So this time for sure, I'm going to make sure that you keep your promise whether you like it or not."

"They say that you take your personality to the grave, I've already died once so now I plan to honor it."

"I'll make sure you to, you can count on that." Kazuma activated his Tenseigan Chakra Cloak for emphasis.

"Oh that I have no doubt."

"To think you three would come to stop me, united as one at last." Kabuto let out a sinister sounding chuckle, his Orochimaru like tongue hanging out of his mouth as snakes coiled up around his body "Such a thing is quite exciting, wouldn't you agree?" he pulled his fish hood over his face "Oh please don't stare at me, bookish types like myself are not used to attention such as this."

Sasuke's eyes hardened 'A genjutsu countermeasure hidden beneath horrible acting skills, he's as slippery as ever.'

"The way those snakes are moving, they can sense exactly where the three of us are in order to compensate for his eyes being covered." Itachi noted.

"Well some snakes are able to perceive body heat and they can smell the air by using their tongues."

"You've done a lot of studying, you might as well be an expert on snakes now." Kazuma noted dryly.

"What would you expect, I only had 6 months to learn what I could and take down Orochimaru before he stole my body so I had to do a lot of cramming but all things considered I think it paid off."

"Indeed it did." Kabuto formed a hand seal, causing the snakes to increase in size "Unfortunately for you Sasuke being a snake expert will not help you to take me down, I chose this battlefield and nature is my ally."

'The snakes are getting bigger.'

"Both of you be sure to watch for traps." Itachi warned the two of them "The terrain gives him an edge."

"I wouldn't put it past him."

"Traps?" Kabuto let out a chuckle "Oh no you misunderstand me, that wasn't what I was referring to. Susanoo and Tenseigan it is then huh?" he extended his snakes forward at the three of them.

Itachi and the others retreated back into the main area of the cave as he and Sasuke caught the snakes using their Susanoos, with Kazuma cutting down the snakes using his Tenseigan Chakra Cloak "You can't go overboard and be too aggressive Kazuma, remember that we have to stop him without killing him."

"It would seem that he's acquired the same power as Orochimaru." Sasuke noted "He's not going to go down so easily, so I think we have a little bit of leeway!" he charged forward, with Kazuma doing the same.

Itachi pulled Kabuto forward by the snake tails "Sasuke! Kazuma!"

"The hood I know!" Kazuma grabbed onto Kabuto by the hood, only for it to turn out to be a Substitution using snakes "Dammit, he managed to slip out of my grasp!"

"I've got him!" Sasuke threw his Raijin katana and pinned one of the snakes to a stalactite nearby, only for it to shed itself and break free "You're taking this bookish thing a little bit too far, first you hide your already hideous face and now your entire body Kabuto. You even shed your skin in order to make a clean getaway, all you have you took from Orochimaru. Even now you're still nothing."

"Sasuke, Sasuke, my dear Sasuke…" the voice of Kabuto echoed "You really shouldn't underestimate me like that, well then again I was listed lower than you on the danger scale in the Bingo Book and of course I'm nothing compared to the likes of Lord Orochimaru so you can imagine what that means."

"You mean aside from the fact that you need to learn to shut the hell up?" Sasuke was quick to located Kabuto's hiding place using his Eternal Mangekyo Sandagan "Well that's for sure then, especially if something like that is what you consider hiding from two Sharingan users and one Tenseigan user."

"Sasuke be careful, don't let him mess with you." Itachi gestured around "There are pieces of his chakra everywhere, there's no telling which of them is the real thing." he watches as the snake in the hand of his Susanoo suddenly melted away.

"It's the ability to transform flesh into liquid, to detach and separate using one's own life substance as a catalyst and that is why it looks like shedding. I've researched and applied the flesh transformation ability of the Hozuki clan, the clan of the Second Mizukage, to this technique. Sasuke you know very well who I'm referring to don't you? Suigetsu, he can transform from human to water and then back to human again. Plus I have the amazing ability to recuperate at an accelerated rate, I will admit that it's a healing technique that I studied from the body of a woman originally of the Uzumaki clan, someone you should be quite familiar with. Yes that's right, I'm talking about Karin.'

Sasuke's eyes shot wide as he heard this "Wait a second, you mean you know that Karin is actually a descendent from the Uzumaki clan?"

"Of course I do. A special trait of their Uzumaki blood is their red hair which makes them quite easily recognizable, and their life force is as tenacious as a cockroach. Truth be told I actually considered the possibility of Tayuya of Lord Orochimaru's Sound Four being of Uzumaki blood as well, but it turned out to be little more than a coincidence. Now then, there's one other member of your little team that's actually worth mentioning."

"What about Hotaru?"

"As I said, actually worth mentioning."

"...Go on."

"You're undoubtedly thinking of him at the very moment, or perhaps you are no longer comrades since you abandoned them so long ago. At any rate, you have a discerning eye to have chosen those three. In the shinobi world, those who have no talent have nothing at all. I suppose that's why you picked the Tsuchigumo girl with the water style prodigious talents. But then again, those who lack talent can just steal it from those who do possess it.'

"I'm guessing that means that you have Jugo's abilities too? You seem to so does that mean that you received a Curse Mark from Orochimaru like I did and like Kimimaro did?"

"Nothing of the sort, that thing is just a temporary boost and nothing more, this power is something that I actually went and mastered myself at a location that most thought to be little more than a myth. Ryuchi Cave!"

Kazuma froze as his eyes shot wide, the same with Itachi "Ryuchi Cave?! But that shouldn't be possible, so that would mean…"

"Yes that's right Kazuma, I found this marvellous location, a place as legendary as Mount Myoboku of the toads and the Shikkotsu Woods of the slugs. Lord Orochimaru is not the only one to have reached it, not anymore at least. I trained under the White Snake Sage and awakened this marvellous ability. At long last, I was able to surpass Lord Orochimaru!"

"Enough of this!" Sasuke summoned his Raijin enhanced Susanoo covered in blue armor over the purple skeleton, the Susanoo crackling with electricity, and he fired off a lightning enhanced Susanoo arrow.

"Calm down Sasuke, we have to be patient with this." Itachi told him.

"Like I said Itachi I studied a lot about snakes, and about slimeballs like him." Sasuke pointed forward.

As it turns out, Kabuto's arm was sticking out of a snake that had narrowly avoided being struck by Sasuke's attack, and Kabuto was wagging his finger at Sasuke like he would do so to a dog or something "Not something I would recommend my friend, my sensory abilities are far superior to what they used to be, nature energy is now mine to command as I had stated before."

"Nature energy?" Kazuma and Itachi shared a knowing glance with each other 'So he does have it after all.'

"Please just let me finish and I will explain everything that you wish to know, those of Jugo's clan have always had the gift of special bodies that are able to absorb Nature Energy. That is the main secret behind their famous rampages, the ability causes them to suddenly become more powerful and completely out of control. Lord Orochimaru was not interested in Jugo going on continuous rampages so much as in the origin of the power that his clan possessed. After many years of research he was finally able to track down the source of that power and its wellspring was the legendary Ryuchi Cave. Lord Orochimaru immediately tried to acquirer that power for his very own, however he did not yet possess a body that was able to tolerate it. And that is why…" Kabuto at last pulled himself out of the mouth of the snake, revealing himself to be in a sinister looking form of Sage Mode "And that is why Lord Orochimaru was not able to become the perfect Sage, like the one in the form that I have now acquired for my very own!"

"I see, as I had theorize you've managed to tap into Sage Mode. This is more worrisome than I had anticipated."

"Indeed Kazuma, I had expected you to realize this."

"So what?" Sasuke let out a scoff "That means that you're just a shorter version of Orochimaru with glasses, a disgusting snake who sliteres into things where he doesn't belong."

"You ought to know better than that so called snake expert, I am no longer something as simple as a mere snake. My newfound Sage power has allowed me to shed that skin and evolve into something even greater, and I am now a dragon!" he formed a quick hand seal, sending a shockwave throughout the cave.

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At the same time, the Five Kage found themselves at a disadvantage as they continued their battle with Madara, who had summoned 25 Wood Style clones, and then had each of them use their own Susanoo.

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With a layer of brile now covering his eyes in order to make him immune to the effects of genjutsu, Kabuto blitzed through several hand seals "Sage Art: White Extreme Attack!" he unleashed a white dragon carrying an orb in one of its claws that it began coiling around almost immediately.

Kazuma and Itachi both made a beeline from opposite directions, only to find themselves frozen in place as a result of the attack detonating, producing ground shaking vibrations, a blinding white light and a high pitched whirring 'It feels like my ears and bones are being crumbled into dust, this must be the sort of jutsu that freezes movement with vibrations and nullifies vision and hearing with light and sounds. No doubt Kabuto was prepared for this.'

Sure enough, Kabuto was able to make his way across the cave with little to no difficulty in very little time 'Thanks to my snake eyes I can shut off my sight and block out the light of the attack and by liquifying my physical form I can I can simply flow with sound and vibrations, thanks to my Sage powers I'm the only one who can move under these conditions. I need to go after Itachi, I'll rewrite the paper seal in his head and make him into my pawn once again. Or perhaps even better than that, I can go after my main target!' so he made a beeline for Sasuke, only for a massive cyan colored chakra arm, along with a massive orange skeletal arm, to block him off as the effects of his jutsu finally subsided "Well well well, it would seem that you always manage to find me somehow don't you Itachi, Kazuma? Tell me, are you sensing my chakra?"

Sure enough, Kazuma stood between him and Sasuke, clad in his Tenseigan Chakra Cloak, blue markings now present around his cyan coloured eyes "You really shouldn't ignore me Kabuto, not at a time like this. Keep in mind that I have Sage Mode too."

"Oh yes of course, my mistake. Now as for you Itachi, I recall you saying something about back when I was still controlling you so now that I'm not doing that anymore you can't sense my chakra can you? Are you trying to fool me with your lies again?"

"Don't get the wrong idea, I was never the one who could do that." Itachi told him "I was never able to sense your chakra, Nagato was the only one who was able to do that and then he relayed the information to me. I don't have any ability of that sort, although Kazuma does. Besides I know what your target is anyway, I do have instincts keep in mind and so I decided to protect what I think you're most likely to want to attack. If a man as cautious and opportunistic as you were to want Sasuke then you're most likely to try and target him first. The best chance you have to capture Sasuke would be right now before any of us are able to figure out your jutsu and then after that you could use my brother to try and stop myself and Kazuma."

"I see. Well one of the things that most sets you apart from the rest of the Uchiha clan is that you have true visual prowess, you can peer right into the souls of people and then read them like a book and then take what you learn about them and use it against them. That is why you're as skilled as you are at deceiving people, you died as a genius in the art of lying."

"Enough of your crap!" Sasuke fired of a Chidori Sharp Spear, only for Kabuto to dodge and leap onto the ceiling of the cave 'Great now he's on the ceiling.'

"You truly believe that a makeshift team of three people like the lot of you can outwit my perception skills and stop the likes of me? And because your brother Sasuke, and your closest friend Kazuma, lied as much as he did, you know nothing about him and the three of you can never trust each other."

"Enough of this you little-"

"Sasuke calm down, don't lose your cool." Itachi slowly stepped forward as he gave Kazuma a hand gesture telling him to hang back "Tell me, do you remember the time that you tagged along with me on that one mission with the wild boar all those years ago?"

"Oh you mean that." Sasuke gave him a knowing smirk "How could I not remember, I still have the scar."

"You're the one who charged him like a crazed bull."

"You said to!"

"I was being sarcastic."

"You never do sarcasm!"

"...Let's just go."

"Okay." so the two of them unleashed their Susanoo's "I've got this."

"So you do."

"You would know better than anyone." Sasuke summoned a Susanoo arrow "Go for it!"

"Right!" Itachi fired off a barrage of Yasaka Magatama, cornering Kabuto on the ceiling of the cave "Sasuke!"

"I'm on it!" Sasuke fired the arrow at Kabuto, pinning him by his snake tail "Got him!"

"I wouldn't be too sure about that." Kabuto climbed his way down to the floor of the cave near where Sasuke's Raijin katana.

"Itachi watch out, he's going to use my sword and cut off his own tail to escape!"

"Too late for you!" Kabuto grabbed Sasuke's Raijin katana and stabbed Itachi straight through the chest as he attempted to make a counterattack, with his tail liquifying in order to escape from the hold that Sasuke's arrow placed on him "Take notes Sasuke, this is why he told you not to be so impatient."

"You should heed that advice as well." with his Mangekyo Sharingan activating in a way even more ominous than usual, Itachi disappeared in a flock of crows, knocking Sasuke's Raijin katana out of Kabuto's grasp and allowing him (Itachi) to grab it and cut off one of Kabuto's horns.

"Oh yes that's right, these things are new. It completely slipped my mind that I had these horns up here now, well it can't be helped I suppose."

"Well it worked better this time than it did last time." Sasuke made his way back over to Itachi, with Kazuma doing the same "And at least this time I didn't get a scar on my-"

"Don't need to relive that. Still though, it looks like now you might be a good enough shot to actually kill that boar."

"Yeah maybe, except instead of a giant wild boar we're taking down some annoying snake that never shuts up."

"You took the words right out of my mouth." Kazuma noted dryly.

"Says the one that didn't have to live with him for about six months."

"It's so ironic." Kabuto quickly put an end to their witty banter.

"And what would that be?"

"Looking at the three of you now you would think that the three of you are like the Three Musketeers, one of them was thought to be dead for more than half of a decade. What happened to those two Uchiha brothers who fought so fiercely and showed each other nothing but pure hatred for so long? All in all it isn't very hard to guess, the truth about our dear Itachi was revealed after you took him down, the elders were stripped of their positions and the Uchiha clan name has been disgraced, and Itachi is now considered a hero. But that does raise the question of the day Sasuke, what exactly is it that you want to ask of a once dead man?"

"You really want to know what it is that I want to ask him Kabuto?" the Mangekyo Sandagan faded from Sasuke's eyes and reverted back to his typical Sharingan "What I want to know… is the truth."

"Oh is that so? Well that's quite interesting, with the way that you say those things do you really not trust your dear big brother even after everything? Tell me Sasuke, don't you think that maybe you already know the truth about Itachi? Well it's no wonder that you openly defied his wishes and made him seem like a hero, no wonder you decided to target Madara, who sought the destruction of the Hidden Leaf. I understand, now that I have all of the pieces it makes so much sense to me. You want to hear it from Itachi himself before destroying the people who caused your elder brother as much pain as they did." he received no reply from Sasuke "Yes just as I thought, you're not even denying it and so you and Naruto ran into your brother and then you went out of your way to follow him all the way down here in order to find out the truth once and for all. You want to ask him if that's what really happened back then or what about that one other time, all of the dirty details in all of their horrifying glory. But it's like I already told you, your dear big brother is a liar. Believe me when I tell you that I know this for a fact, so doesn't it seem just a bit odd?"

"What are you getting at?"

"What I'm getting at is that Itachi was willing to kill his own family, his entire clan with the exception of you, in order to protect the Hidden Leaf Village, something that just so happens to be in complete opposition to what the three of you are trying to do right now? However I'm the one that desires exactly the same thing that you secretly yearn for deep down in your heart, isn't that right Sasuke? Lord Orochimaru couldn't complete his operation to destroy the Hidden Leaf and I have now inherited that task, I think that you should ponder that very carefully. Join me now and stab your treacherous brother Itachi in the back in the process. You don't even have to feel guilty about it, it's not even the real him. He's already dead, he's nothing but a cheap imitation that I brought back with the Reanimation Jutsu."

"...Is that really what you believe?" Sasuke reflected on a previous conversation with Kakashi about the truth about Itachi, his Mangekyo now blazing furiously in his eyes "You and I are nothing alike Kabuto, I swore to Kakashi that I would be seen as a hero. My ambition is nothing like yours Kabuto, what I want is to do what my brother did and protect what I hold precious. I will harden my heart for the sake of protecting what I hold dear, such is the will of the Thunderclap."

"I see, well that's a disappointment. I can sympathize with Itachi, I understand the choices that he made. The reason behind that is because, in all honesty, he and I are exactly alike. It was fine and good being taken in by shinobi of the Hidden Leaf but because my background was a mystery I was immediately raised to become a spy. Medical Ninjutsu was drilled into me just so that enemies would come to trust me, I went from one village to the next spying. I pretended to be someone else living a life built on a foundation of lies, there was no place and no space for the real me. With no friends or comrades who knew who I really was I continued to work on suppressing myself and around the time I stopped knowing who I even was anymore the Village Hidden in the Leaves stopped even having any trust in me and it wasn't long before I was relieved of my mission. Both myself and Itachi worked for the good of the Hidden Leaf Village but how else would they repay us but with dishonor and disgrace. So you tell me Sasuke, what has the Hidden Leaf ever done for people like us? How Itachi lived is what led to the creation of the you that you have yet to reveal to the world, and although I am still alive something quite similar to you was born from me as well. Just face it Sasuke, there is no one else in the world who understand you better than I do. I will be your big brother and I will stand by your side through thick and thin. Come on, join me."

"Do you really have to make yourself sound like just as much of a pedophile as Orochimaru did when I was with him?"

"Don't get cocky Sasuke, and don't listen to him." Itachi warned him "He was an even greater spy than I was so he has an even greater level of skill when it comes to lying than me. And it doesn't matter what darkness and contradictions lie within the village, it does not change the fact that I am Itachi Uchiha of the Hidden Leaf. I can sense some truth in Kabuto's words from before though Sasuke, you do hold some turmoil inside of your heart and I am the one responsible for it. I know that don't have any right to advise you in any way but I sincerely hope that you're willing to hear me out because there's something that I have to tell you."

"Really?"

"Yes, but only after we settle things here so I will need you and Kazuma to help me stop him quickly."

"You seem quite sure of yourself." Kabuto let out a chuckle "Keep in mind that I was the one who cast the Reanimation Jutsu so you cannot kill me, and I can instantly recover from any wound that you may attempt to inflict. This is pointless, I've also shut off my vision so the ever so famous genjutsu of your fabled Sharingan won't work on me either. The three of you don't have a ghost of a chance, because I'm the one who cast it the Reanimation Jutsu cannot be stopped."

"...You know it's really quite annoying listening to him prattle on like this, but regardless he's explained the situation rather well."

"Oh trust me, I'm the last person that you have to tell." Sasuke told him.

"So I don't."

"So where do we go from here?" asked Kazuma.

"It would seem that he doesn't know the true power of the Uchiha, nor does he know the power of the Kamikaze clan." Itachi stepped his way forward "The Uchiha clan has a certain specific visual jutsu that can be used against an opponent without eyesight in exchange for losing the light in a single eye."

"What, like that Izanagi jutsu that I heard about?"

"How do you know about that?"

"Shisui told me about that not long ago."

"I see, that shouldn't surprise me but I was not referring to Izanagi. I was referring to another forbidden jutsu that's considered the other half to the Izanagi."

"There's another one?"

"Yes and I've already laid down the plan, an ultimate visual jutsu that holds his fate within its grasp." he quickly charged forward and used Sasuke's Raijin katana to counter Kabuto's Chakra Scalpel "And that jutsu is the Izanami." he retreated away back to Sasuke and Kazuma "You see the Izanagi is intended to change one's fate, whereas the Izanami is a jutsu that's intended to decide one's fate. Sasuke, Kazuma, I'm only going to say this once, do not leave my side until I say so."

Kabuto skidded to a stop a short distance away from the three of them "I will admit that I have no idea as to what exactly it is that you're up to but whatever it may be, nothing is going to work against me. It would seem that the three of you don't understand exactly what it is that I have become now." he formed a hand seal "Sage Art: Inorganic Animation!" using the nature energy of his Sage Mode he breathed life into the cave and manipulated it to attack the three of them.

"Guys look out!" Kazuma shoved both Sasuke and Itachi out of the way right before he was impaled with spikes, the same happening with Itachi.

"That's one down."

"Kazuma!" Sasuke looked on in horror.

"This is a jutsu that allows me to bring inanimate objects to life and then control them in any manner that I see fit, it's different from a jutsu that simply manipulates chakra. It's rather on the extreme side wouldn't you agree? Going out of your way to protect Sasuke and Itachi simply slowed Kazuma down and because of that he paid the price. Oh well but he didn't have to worry about me harming Sasuke, that's something that I would never even dream of. After all he is my precious test subject after all, Itachi on the other hand is more complicated." he pulled out a kunai with a talisman "Now then Itachi, it's time for me to rewrite that brain of yours using this right here. You know what's going to happen don't you?" and so he charged forward.

"Amaterasu!" taking a desperate chance, Sasuke attempted to attack Kabuto using the eternal black flames of the Amaterasu, creating a black ring of flames surrounding the three of them, those being him, Itachi, and Kazuma's body which had somehow already rotted into a flesh covered skeleton.

"Well what do you know, it would appear that the greatest offensive visual jutsu can also act as the greatest form of defense. It's so hot that the limestone cave has gone back to being just a normal cave."

Now freed of the spikes, Itachi dropped down to the ground "I'm sorry Sasuke, it was my weakness that led to Kazuma's sacrifice."

"Unfortunately for you I'm going to win, I'm so near to the point where I will be able to achieve and control everything that I simply cannot imagine myself failing at this stage of the game. All of the laws and principles of nature that were compiled and studied by Lord Orochimaru for so many years are now stored and being used inside of me, I have evolved from a human into a snake and now from a snake into a dragon! At this point I am the closest thing in the entire world to the Sage of the Six Paths, compared to me the Uchiha are nothing but-"

"Will you shut up already!" Sasuke snarled "Don't assume that you know anything about the Uchiha, you're nothing but a-"

"But a what Sasuke? Do tell."

"That's enough Sasuke, try to stay calm." Itachi held out a hand to shut him up "You know something Kabuto, when I look at you I see a reflection of my former self. And that right there, that is the main reason why you're going to lose."

"Look I'm not on the sidelines anymore, I'm not the same sort of thing that I was before. I'm not just a player now, I'm a central figure. I own this war, I had the Akatsuki twisted around little finger, I manipulated the war to my advantage and I even cornered the Uchiha brothers and killed of one of the two last survivors of the so called great Kamikaze clan!"

"Make no mistake Kabuto, I do hate you with every fiber of my being but at the same time I also understand you. We both lived lives of lies as spies for the Hidden Leaf by presenting a false front to the world. I didn't know who I was at one point either, but I finally understand now that to know one's self is not to achieve everything and not to become perfect but rather that it is to become aware of what one is and is not capable of."

"That sounds like the philosophy of a pitiful loser, you're trying to tell me that one should acknowledge and give up on what one can and cannot do?"

"That's not what I'm saying, what I'm saying is that it's simply to forgive one's self for the things that one cannot do alone. It's because of the fact that you cannot do everything yourself that you have friends and comrades there to help you. And also, you should never ignore things that one could still be able to accomplish. If you want to know who and what you are then you must reexamine and acknowledge your true self. That was something at which I had failed, I lied to almost everyone around me. I lied to myself, I had become deluded. Those who cannot or will not acknowledge themselves are sure to fail, just like I had previously failed."

"And what pray tell do you imagine that you know about me anyway? I have been ardently pursuing who I am and what I am for the longest time." he thought back to his childhood with the woman he came to know as Nono Yakushi, the caretaker of the Hidden Leaf Orphanage "I never had anything from the very beginning, nothing at all." he closed his eyes briefly to reflect on his past 'Yes that's right. My first encounter with Lord Orochimaru was when myself and the rest of those from the Hidden Leaf Orphanage aided a group of Hidden Leaf shinobi that had been wounded, he said that I had the potential to become a powerful shinobi even though I held no interest in such a thing. But that very same night Danzo had requested that Nono take an intelligence gathering mission in the Hidden Stone Village, and in the process he was accompanied by Lord Orochimaru, who ended up recruiting me and then I spent the majority of my childhood infiltrating the various villages of the Five Great Shinobi Nations. It was only while I was on a mission to take out an enemy in the Hidden Stone that I was attacked by an enemy, I gravely wounded them only to discover to my horror that it was Nono. I desperately attempted to heal her only for her to not recognize me, not knowing what else to do I ran away before I was discovered. I was left alone, pondering what had happened when I was suddenly approached by Lord Orochimaru, and he explained to me that a certain faction of the Foundation, against the wishes of Danzo, orchestrated for me and Nono to kill each other in order to silence us. He even admitted that he was supposed to kill me, he reminded me of my lack of individuality due to my time in the Foundation and instead he offered me a position as his right hand man with the promise of a true identity of my very own. I accepted his offer and spent years serving him while trying to discover me true self, until Lord Orochimaru met his end at the hands of Sasuke. Once he was gone, I injected myself with Lord Orochimaru's blood in order to achieve my quest of finding my true self. I never knew who I truly was and that was why I just kept adding onto myself, so what I want right now is not some measly lecture Itachi but instead your abilities and your intelligence. Not only are you a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf but you are of the famed Uchiha bloodline, you possess levels of the Sharingan that have transcended even the likes of the fabled Mangekyo. You also bore many secrets and stopped a war, or rather delayed a war I should say and you have many jutsu and a great deal of power. Itachi Uchiha you possess three things that made you who you are, there is no finer foil to my Reanimation Jutsu. And you and the rest of my pawns are part of my power."

"Don't exaggerate like that Kabuto, the reality is that I've failed."

"No quite the opposite, even though I mocked the name of the Uchiha clan in front of you I have to admit that I've quite envious of it."

"The name of the Uchiha clan merely indicates a bloodline and membership as part of the clan, for you to claim it would be meaningless."

Kabuto didn't respond to that right away, instead he took a moment to reflect on his identity, or lack thereof 'From the very beginning I was nobody, I had nothing until I had been given a name and a place that I could call my home. You think that claiming a name is meaningless but you're wrong, it does have meaning to me!' he formed a hand seal.

"Sasuke be ready, he's preparing another attack."

"Are you sure that we can't kill him?" asked Sasuke "The way I see it as it is right now we're stuck having to play catch up."

"I already told you that we can't kill him, he controls the battlefield right now so you have to be patient."

"Is this Izanami jutsu still not ready yet? He's about to attack."

"You have nothing to worry about Sasuke, I have it covered. It's just going to take a little bit more time."

"You know Lord Orochimaru said this to me once." Kabuto summoned a mass of flesh on a tail like attachment on his stomach in the form of Sakon of the Sound Four "Sakon, Demon Twin Gate!" he summoned Jirobo next "Jirobo! Earth Style: Terra Shield!" he slammed Jirobo's hands into the ground and divided the flames of the Amaterasu "If you wish to know who and what you are then all you need to do is gather every last thing and piece of information that exists in this entire world. Kidomaru! Spiral Web!" he summoned Kidomaru and formed a spider web infused with his chakra.

"These strands can't be cut with a blade."

"I know, I think I'll bust out a classic. Lightning Style: Purple Thunder!" Sasuke unleashed a blast of purple colored lightning, frying the webs and disintegrating them.

"Kimimaro!" Kabuto summoned Kimimaro "Macabre Bone Pulse: Bracken Dance!" he summoned a barrage of bones from underground.

"He's laid out the spider webs all the way to the back of the cave, let me get the back while you take the front." Sasuke summoned his Susanoo ribcage "Can you still use your Susanoo?"

"Of course." Itachi summoned his own Susanoo ribcage and used his Totsuka Blade to cut down the Bracken Dance bones, with Sasuke using his Raijin sword combined with his Susanoo to cut down the spider webs.

"Tayuya!" Kabuto morphed Kimimaro into Tayuya and summoned a flute made out of his own bones "So they ran to the back did they? Well too bad for them it's not going to do the two of them any good! Demon Flute: Chains of Fantasia!" he used Tayuya's Demon Flute Chains of Fantasia to bind both Itachi and Sasuke.

"Are you okay Sasuke?"

"Looks like he's using genjutsu now." Sasuke and Itachi were both forced to retract their Susanoos.

Kabuto smirked maliciously "Even your precious Susanoo and power of Raijin is incapable of blocking out sound can it? I knew as much." he made his way forward "Now that I have succeeded in immobilizing the both of you there's only one thing left for me to do." he summoned a manifestation of Orochimaru in his full snake form "And that is to use the power of Lord Orochimaru to absorb the both of you here and now! Well Sasuke how about it, do you remember this? Do you recognize this current form of mine?"

'That's the snake form that Orochimaru took when I fought him. Crap.'

"It's all thanks to you that at long last I was able to take the power of Lord Orochimaru into my own body after you killed him! Yes that's right, after all this time I was able to finally achieve what I desired! This is my true form, keep in mind that I said that all of the laws and principles that apply to nature that were researched and compiled by Lord Orochimaru for so long are now stored and being used inside of me. There was only one thing missing and that was the essence of Lord Orochimaru himself, but now as you can see I possess him inside of me as well! I really must express my gratitude to you my dear Sasuke."

"Enough of this Kabuto." Itachi tried to make Kabuto finally shut up "Listen to me, you are not the same as Orochimaru. It's fine to imitate someone that you respect but don't remake yourself into him to such an extent."

"You do realize that a majority of people start out by mimicking another person that they have come to admire don't you? Just like the way that Sasuke emulated you."

"Such behavior is simply a process to help one mature, you shouldn't use it as a cloak in order to deceive yourself the way that you have. If you go and attach your self value to something external to yourself then even something admirable and worthy of praise will lead you to gain nothing. I'm going to say this one final time Kabuto. Do not mislead yourself with lies, those who cannot acknowledge themselves will fail without question."

"...Fail you say? Think about that statement for a moment Itach, for the way that I am right now… HOW COULD I POSSIBLY FAIL?!" he sent the snake Orochimaru from his chest hurtling forward.

"Sasuke quickly, look into my eyes."

"Of course, how could I be so stupid. Genjutsu: Sharingan!" so Sasuke hit Itachi with a basic Sharingan genjutsu and was in turn hit by Itachi's Tsukuyomi, freeing both of them of Kabuto's genjutsu at the exact same time, giving Itachi the chance to cut the Orochimaru snake appendage down with the Totsuka sword.

'This…' unknown to any of the others, Kabuto shed a single tear.

"As I have said Kabuto, I can read your movements. I shall now engage the Izanami, which means that you have already failed."

"Is it over?" asked Sasuke "Is he down for the count.

"Not quite yet." Itachi formed a single hand seal.

However, quickly shedding his skin, Kabuto reemerged from inside of the Orochimaru snake and quickly cut Itachi in half using his Chakra Scalpel, taking both Sasuke and Itachi by surprise at the sudden sneak attack, and the fact that he had tears streaming down his face "A genius like you who always had everything would never understand at all, the only thing that I want is to be who and what I am. I have no intention of letting anyone interfere." he closed in on Itachi and prepared to implant another talisman in Itachi's brain.

"Itachi!" Sasuke threw his Raijin katana at Kabuto in an attempt to stop him, only for it to be caught by Kabuto's tail, and so he attempted to smash Kabuto into the ground with his Susanoo claw.

"Dammit!" Kabuto leapt away and latched onto the roof of the cave.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" Sasuke breathed out a massive fire dragon and fired it upwards.

"Water Style: Giant Vortex Jutsu!" Kabuto unleashed a blast of water that cancelled out the fire dragon and engulfed Sasuke and his Susanoo, covering the entire cave in a thick layer of mist, and yet despite this he was able to sense out Itachi trying to sneak attack him and stabbed him with Sasuke's Raijin sword, only to notice the Sharingan disappear in one of Itachi's eyes before he disappeared in a flock of crows 'This is…'

"I've got you!" Itachi seized the chance and managed to cut off one of Kabuto's horns before he retreated away.

"Now you're just repeating the same old moves, but that makes it easier for me to counter them now doesn't it? I already told you that with this body I have the ability to recover from any injury you may try to inflict on me so attacking me is pointless, since I shut off my vision I cannot be affected by genjutsu either. You two have no chance of winning."

"That's where you're wrong Kabuto, your fate is already entirely in my hands all thanks to the other forbidden jutsu of the Uchiha clan. That is…"

"Is that so? Well then…" Kabuto summoned his Chakra Scalpel "Shall we put that boast of yours to the test Itachi?!" he charged forward with his Chakra Scalpel armed and ready.

Itachi countered the attack using the Raijin Sword "And that jutsu is the Izanami." he retreated backwards "Sasuke I'm only going to this once, do not leave my side until I say so."

"Well well this feels a great deal like deja vu, but now you're boring me so let's put an end to this fight already shall we?"

"Your fate may already be in my hands now but you are the only one who can truly decide how that fate shapes your destiny. Do not forget the things that I have told you Kabuto, you have to think hard."

"Sorry but I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, anyway that's enough of your word games. I will have everything that I want, I am the most powerful of all and that is as simple as the very truth!" he lunged his Orochimaru snake appendage forward.

"He who forgives himself and acknowledges his true self, only he can truly become the most powerful of all!" Itachi summoned his Susanoo and crushed the Orochimaru snake with one hand of the Susanoo skeleton.

Kabuto shedded himself and crawled out of the mouth of the snake, and then crawled out of that one once it had been crushed by Sasuke's Susanoo "Well guess what, losers like you should learn when to SHUT UP!" he bit down on Itachi's arm causing the Raijin sword to fall out of his grip, which allowed Kabuto to grab onto it and stab Itachi in the back with it, only for Itachi to disappear in a flock of crows 'This is… I don't understand, what's going on? What the hell is he doing?'

"I've got you!" seizing the chance, Itachi grabbed ahold of Sasuke's Raijin sword and quickly cut off one of Kabuto's horns.

Kabuto returned to the ground and felt the area where the same horn had been previously cut off three times now 'How is this possible? My horn had already been cut off, so how? I cut off my sight, I should be invulnerable to genjutsu but this is clearly…' he quickly unleashed a blast of water to counter a fire dragon that Sasuke had unleashed, covering the entire cave in a thick layer of mist "What is this, what did you do to me?!"

"It's quite simple." Itachi emerged from the mist "I have you in my visual jutsu."

"No, no that's IMPOSSIBLE!" now losing his temper, Kabuto summoned his Chakra Scalpel and charged at Itachi in a rage.

Itachi countered the attack using Sasuke's Raijin Sword "This is the Izanami, the other forbidden jutsu of the Uchiha clan." he broke away and retreated back towards Sasuke.

"How, How could this be? No it doesn't matter anyway because no one can stop me as I am now! I am all powerful!" he charged forward and grabbed Sasuke's Raijin sword.

Itachi dodged a strike and leapt into the air, only to be stabbed through by Kabuto, only to disappear in a flock of crows before managing to cut off one of Kabuto's horns, adding it to the growing trail of stray horns that were still on the ground as Kabuto now noticed "As I told you before, I already hold your fate in my hands."

"You… ITACHI UCHIHA!" Kabuto summoned another Chakra Scalpel and charged at Itachi in a blind rage, only to stop 'Wait a second, if this is a genjutsu… Release!" he attempted to release the genjutsu, but nothing happened "What the-" he countered another attack from Itachi using his Chakra Scalpel and stabbed him through yet again, only for Itachi to disappear in a flock of crows, grab Sasuke's sword and cut off one of Kabuto's horns, causing Kabuto to lose his cool even further 'No I have to stay calm, this is a genjutsu of the Uchiha clan and since Itachi is the one who cast it then that means that it won't be easy to release. But there are many ways to undo a genjutsu.'

"Already know what you're thinking and it's useless Kabuto, remember everything that I've told you."

"Oh of course, I'll just copy the same trick that the two of you used before! Tayuya!" he quickly summoned Tayuya "Demon Flute: Chains of Fantasia!" he unleashed Tayuya's genjutsu, his logic actually pretty simple 'This will switch the control over Itachi's genjutsu to Tayuya.' but then he felt the same droplet of water hit him for like the seventeenth time, along with the same raven feather on the ground, leaving him thoroughly freaked out as he dodged an attempted stab from Itachi "Fine, then I'll do this!" he formed a quick hand seal "Sage Art: Inorganic Animation!" he brought the cave to life using nature energy and skewered Itachi using the various stalactites, only for Itachi to disappear in a flock of crows "There, this entire area is under my control so you had better retreat for now." he charged away, only to find Itachi once again charging at him with Sasuke's sword in hand "DO NOT MESS WITH ME!" he summoned another Chakra Scalpel and clashed with Itachi.

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And now, back in reality…

With now only a single eye working for him and with Sasuke and Kazuma standing right behind him, Itachi studied the now immobile form of Kabuto, trapped inside of his Izanami "He cannot escape from this loop, now he will remain trapped inside of this samsara."

"So this is it then…" Sasuke muttered "This is the other forbidden jutsu of the Uchiha, the companion to the Izanagi."

"This is a jutsu that decides one's fate, this is the Izanami. It's best that I keep him trapped in order for me to be able to use my usual genjutsu on him and extract the information that I need from him."

"So then right now Kabuto is caught in the loop that you've created, and that's how the Izanami works? When did you cast it?"

"I cast it the very first time that Kabuto stabbed me with your Raijin sword, ever since then the battle that he's been fighting has been inside of an illusion in his own mind."

"Way back then huh? I never exactly understood, how exactly does it work?" asked Kazuma "I mean you said that this is a visual jutsu that worked even without vision, even the Tenseigan can't work without eyesight so how?"

"Izanami is a visual jutsu that works with the physical senses of both the user as well as the user's opponent. As you do battle with your opponent you use your visual prowess to take a record like a picture of the sensations that both you and your opponent are feeling in that exact instant, we'll refer to that as exhibit A. As time progresses you find that exhibit B is far more important of a moment and then you record exhibit C and so on through use of the Sharingan, and then you recreate those exact feelings so you're using your powers to create a perfect copy of exhibit A, we shall refer to this as A Prime. By overlaying and connecting exhibit A to A Prime the Izanami also links a path to include B Prime and C Prime to create fluctuations within a fixed time, and thus you can create an infinite loop. This is all done in exchange for one's sight in a single eye just like with the Izanagi."

"So Kabuto, or rather his consciousness, is trapped inside of the loop that you created through use of the Izanami." Sasuke noted "He'll be fighting phantom versions of the three of us for all eternity then."

"Close but that's not exactly it, there is an escape route built into the jutsu that he could feasibly disengage, you see the Izanami was developed in order to admonish and salvage one who would use the Izanagi."

"What does that mean?"

"You know a little bit about the Izanagi already, it is a perfect Uchiha visual jutsu that is designed to change destiny. If something doesn't go the way that you want then you can just erase that outcome and then start over, ultimately you can pick and choose the most desirable end result. I want to be sure that you understand the mechanics behind this. A long time ago there was a great battle that the Uchiha clan could not afford to lose, the Izanagi turned out to be an invaluable jutsu. The enemy had set a trap for them but with the Izanagi at their disposal the Uchiha were able to erase that outcome and get the jump on the enemy in return, however a jutsu that allows the caster to choose their own ending carries a much greater risk than simply the loss of one's vision. Most of those who use that overly powerful visual jutsu could not handle it and ended up abusing that power that they held in their grasp, if there was only one user of Izanagi then there was no problem but when it was used by two or more then there was a scramble within the Uchiha clan to see who would be able to get the best result. The ability of the Izanagi to influence outcomes caused much rivalry within the clan, the Izanami was ultimately created as a catalyst to control that power. Normal vision based genjutsu is powerless against visual prowess. Reality is a product of chance that we refer to as fate, it is not something that can be predicted so easily. But the Izanagi is capable of twisting around an inconvenient reality and and leading it to a new fate. At a whim the user can change the original reality into a new one, a fallen opponent can just revive themselves so to an enemy the jutsu is considered to be quite intolerable. If someone is using the Izanagi to change an outcome to their own benefit then the Izanami will cause them to circle endlessly in a loop."

"I had believed that the Izanagi was the ultimate visual jutsu but then this would mean that the likes of the Izanami is a far superior jutsu in comparison, Izanami forms a loop using physical sensation so as to even stop Izanagi from warping reality."

"Since the Izanagi is a jutsu intended for stopping the Izanagi, there is an escape route that is built into the loop. Originally the Izanami was designed to keep the Uchiha clan humble and honorable, it's to stop you from taking the easy way out from inconvenient outcomes. Once one accepts the original outcome and stops trying to run from it the loop will come to an end, this jutsu guides you towards accepting your fate instead of relying on jutsu to change it. A jutsu with an escape is too dangerous to use in combat and that is why the jutsu Izanami is considered to be forbidden. If Kabuto were to stop trying to transform himself then he'll be able to bring the loop to an end."

"...The Uchiha clan and their history of conflict, the arrogance and recklessness displayed by those who misused the power of the Izanagi as well as the clashes between them and how they were stopped by the Izanami. I understand why the Izanagi and the Izanami became forbidden jutsu, and I also see how one must be able to learn from the past, accept one's fate and then find a way to move on afterwards. But tell me Itachi, why would you even bother casting a jutsu like this on Kabuto in the first place? If he could still escape then…"

"It's because he reminds me of how I used to be, he thinks that by getting everything he can accomplish whatever he wants to and he tries to force himself to believe that he cannot fail even if that really amounts to lying to himself. I stopped listening to what anyone else said and I stopped letting myself trust anyone, even to my closest friend." he looked at Kazuma "The one that I thought of as a brother that I love nearly as much as you Sasuke. In his case, Kabuto has become so deluded that he thinks that all of these powers belong to him and him alone. I understand him all too well. Both of us were used by the Shinobi World, he cannot forgive himself or accept himself for what he truly is. It's clear that what he's doing is wrong but he's not completely to blame for not realizing that. My chance has passed me by but he can still forgive himself."

"But I still don't understand big brother, why would you feel that you needed to help him do something like that? I'm not so naive as to say that you were perfect but at least you saw the wrong of your actions."

"Sasuke, to be honest I had been prepared to control you using the visual jutsu Kotoamatsukami on you without your knowledge. I treated you like you were some sort of naive child and I thought that you needed me to protect you, I was unable to trust the strength that you held or even that of any of your comrades or even mine."

"What you're saying is that there is no such thing as perfect" Kazuma noted "There never has been and there never will be. Sometimes two people who appear to be complete opposites are actually two sides of the same coin and can only succeed when they work together. Like with the two jutsu, the Izanagi and the Izanami, or with Naruto and Sasuke, or Kakashi and Guy, or even me and you."

"Yes, you're right." Itachi turned back to Sasuke "Listen to me Sasuke, I want you to look at me and find in yourself what I could not find in myself. However, do not ever say that I was perfect in any way. First off I should've acknowledged and appreciated myself for the person that I was back when I was still alive, if I had just done that then I would never have had to lie to any of the people in my life. Not to myself, to my comrades, not even to you. If you lie to yourself then how can you have friends that you know to be trustworthy? In the end all of these lies will just keep you from seeing your true self."

"But I did see your true self Itachi, you know that."

"I do Kazuma, and for that I thank you my friend. My sworn brother. Now the time has come for me to stop the Reanimation Jutsu." he opened Kabuto's eyes and removed his glasses and layer of brile "All of the reanimated shinobi will return to the afterlife where they belong, and that should bring the war that much closer to an end."

"But that means that… you'll be gone too."

"But that means I will have protected my precious people and my home not as just a man, not as a man, not as just a shinobi, but as Itachi Uchiha of the Village Hidden in the Leaves one last time. I will have no more regrets." he let out a chuckle "No, that would be a lie. I would be leaving behind the ones who stood by me when I didn't even stand by myself. Kazuma, both you and Izumi never lost faith in who I was and I am forever grateful to you for that. The next time you see Izumi, tell her I said… thank you for loving me."

"You could tell her yourself." Kazuma pointed out.

"I cannot and you know that, but I can stop this Reanimation Jutsu because it is something that I can affect and in doing so I will fulfill the promise that I made to Naruto at the very least. Now then, it's time to end this. Tsukuyomi." he used Tsukuyomi on Kabuto "Now tell me the signs to stop the Reanimation Jutsu." he looked back and smiled slightly 'Sasuke… Naruto… Tatsu… and even Rock Lee… I intend to leave the rest to the four of you.'

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The battle on the front lines had taken a turn for the worse as the Five Kage were struggling heavily with Madara and his 25 wood clones, all of them using Susanoo.

However, Onoki was able to rally them to fight, noting that they had to fulfill a task in which failure was not an option under any circumstances, which prompted the Five Kage to go on the offensive once more.

Unfortunately, the situation took a turn for the worse as, finally impressed by their display of power and resolve, Madara responded by activating his full power (more or less) in the form of his final Susanoo and proceeded to attack them with it.

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Itachi finished getting all of the signs back from Kabuto 'That's it then. Alright now release the Reanimation Jutsu, but slowly. I have some things to do first." he looked back "Sasuke, there's one other thing that I have to tell you and then show you."

"What is it?" asked Sasuke "What else could you possibly have to tell me?"

"Nothing new, rather just confirm what you were told."

"That I'm not going to change your mind, I figured as much." Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan, a solemn expression on his face "I had always wanted to confirm whether or not Kazuma was telling me the truth when I saw but, but that wasn't the only thing that I had been able to verify today. When I'm with you I remember things, feelings from when I was a child of adoring my big brother, feelings that I had long since suppressed. That's the reason why the closer that I get to you the closer we become to how we were before as brothers, and the more that I come to understand you. The more that I come to hate Madara for forcing your hand in making you go through such pain. I know what you want me to do, how you want me to be, you're my big brother so I doubt you would approve if I say this. After hearing your story, there are things that I have to understand for my own benefit. What is a village, what is a shinobi, what do these things mean? I have to understand these things before I can confirm to myself once and for all what path I choose to follow."

"...I had anticipated such a response at some point." slowly, Itachi made his way over to Sasuke, his expression solemn "Sasuke, the time has come for me to tell you everything before the time comes for us to say goodbye and part forever. There is no need for me to lie anymore. The night that I left you, I did do everything for the reasons that Kazuma told you that I did and for all of the same reasons that I did. I will show you the entire truth." he hit Sasuke with a genjutsu from his Sharingan.

"So you're doing it then?" asked Kazuma.

"Yes, I'm using my Sharingan to show him everything that happened in the events leading up to that night, or at least my memories of them. It's the least that I can do before I say goodbye to him and leave him to decide his own fate. Then again he will still have you to fulfill that role I suppose."

"Actually he might have you too, with your consent I mean."

"What are you talking about? Kazuma… what did you do?"

"Well… You remember back when we were kids before we joined the ANBU and we did that whole thing with Temujin and Hando and the Stones of Gelel?"

"Yes and I remember how you told me that the last Stone of Gelel that you found after the dust settled was destroyed… Oh for the love of the Sage of the Six Paths you didn't."

"Yeah, about that… I lied. I knew you were gonna pull something like this, so I decided to save this for a special occasion in case I really needed it." he pulled out a storage scroll and summoned the object in question, which was an oval shaped and cyan coloured stone with the appearance of somewhat white bluish tentacles on the inside of it.

"...I shouldn't be surprised when you pull things like this and yet here we are, but then again I suppose Izumi would never forgive me if I never even bothered to speak to her after everything that she's done for me. But still, I don't think…"

"Good because I wasn't going to let you say no." with the Stone of Gelel in one hand, Kazuma grabbed Itachi by the shoulders and began transferring the energy into him, bathing the two of them in a cyan colored light and causing him to cry out in pain.

"Kazuma wait, this isn't a good idea! You're going to use up too much of your chakra if you do this! It could kill you!"

"I don't care, I'm not gonna let go of you no matter what happens! Whatever it takes, I'm gonna bring you back Itachi!" and then the light exploded throughout the cave.

When the light subsided, it revealed Itachi, the cracks in his face from the Reanimation having disappeared, as had his eyes "I… I can't see anything… and yet I feel so warm… did it… did it work?"

"Yeah… Yeah I think it did." Kazuma helped him to his feet and spat out some blood "It almost killed me, but I think that it worked."

"I see… I suppose I should've let you do that sooner, this is far better than I had felt in ages when I was alive for the first time."

"So then it worked." Sasuke turned to face them "I saw your memories with Temujin and the Stones of Gelel, I guess you never did realize how crafty and brain melting the Kamikaze clan can be."

"No, I suppose I didn't."

"So what do you plan to do now?"

"I have already told you the whole truth, I won't have to ever again. Sasuke…" despite not being able to see, Itachi slowly limped his way forward towards Sasuke "I have… always liked to you… and asked for your forgiveness… while keeping you at a distance… because I wanted to… keep you out of this… but now I believe that… perhaps you could've changed father… mother… and the rest of the Uchiha clan as well… If I had only… come to you from the very beginning… looked straight into your eyes… and then told you the truth… then perhaps I wouldn't have to stand before you… as I am now… as a failure… telling you all of this… Being forced to by my best friend… But let me tell you this now at least…" he touched their foreheads together "You don't ever have to forgive me, I will accept it if you don't. Just know that no matter what path you choose to take, no matter what you may become, I am always going to love you." this was followed by Kabuto unleashing the final hand seal to release the Reanimation Jutsu, which would cause all of the reanimated shinobi to return to the afteflife "Come on Kazuma."

"Yeah I know." Kazuma slung Itachi's arm over his shoulder and turned to Sasuke "You'd better hang around, you've got some company incoming in the next few minutes. Come and find us on the battlefield when you have the answers that you need okay?" and with that, he took Itachi and disappeared via the Flying Raijin Jutsu.

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Utakata and Killer Bee looked at the subdued Reanimated jinchuuriki that were ensnared in their tails as they suddenly began glowing "Okay I'm pretty sure that reanimated shinobi aren't supposed to start glowing like that."

"Well what the hell do you know?" Naruto gave a thumbs up "Looks like Sasuke and Itachi pulled it off. Sasuke, Itachi, thank you both.'

"No time to take a breather, we've still got a lot of work to do." Tatsu was quick to enter his dragon Sage Mode, with Lee entering the Sixth Gate of Joy in response "Come on, we've got some ass to kick."

"Oh yeah I know."

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The other Kage were deeply shocked to see Madara's soul beginning to ascend in the middle of their battle, with Onoki noting that whoever had stopped the Reanimation Jutsu was a true hero to the shinobi world.

Using his famous Ghost Transformation Jutsu to take control of his then ascending soul, Dan quickly rushed over to Tsunade's location and after speaking to her within her subconscious, he gives her what was left of his chakra before fading away as is soul returned to the afterlife.

However, once Tsunade came to, she along with the rest of the Kage discovered that Madara had remained among the living as he revealed that he had severed the summoning contract from his end, allowing him to remain among the living despite the jutsu being released.

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Naruto watched along with Tatsu and the others as the souls of the reanimated jinchuuriki ascended and returned to the afterlife "Bunpuku… Yugito… Yagura… Han… Hisen… Old Bearded Guy…" he received a dirty look "I mean Roshi… You guys can just leave this to us, we'll take this guy down."

"So they're all gone now." Tatsu noted "Then that means that Sasuke and Itachi really pulled it off."

"Not to mention it means that the other battles are…"

Tobi cursed under his breath 'Curse Kabuto, he has failed. So that would mean…'

"Hey Tobi!" Tatsu and Naruto leapt down to meet Tobi at ground level, with Lee and the others right behind him "What the hell do you think you're looking at, did you already forget that you're still fighting us?"

"Oh I can assure you that I haven't forgotten."

"Looks like the Reanimation Jutsu has been released."

"And what of it?"

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By this point, with the Reanimation Jutsu undone and with Itachi and Kazuma having already departed, Sasuke was left alone in the cave with Kabuto, his mind wandering 'After all that's happened here, I have to know… What is a village? What is a shinobi? What am I? I thought I knew but now…' this was followed by a loud crashing noise "What the hell?"

As it turns out it was just Suigetsu and Jugo "Well what the hell do you know, we finally found you."

"Oh joy, it's you two."

"Yeah you got that right, but what the hell are you doing in here of all places?"

"I was with Itachi and Kazuma putting a stop to the Reanimation Jutsu."

"Wait, you were what now? You've always been like this you know that, you never really feel the need to explain anything in better detail do you?"

"I use a perfectly good amount of detail, you just lack the brain cells to understand my objectives properly. What have you two been doing anyway?"

"Searching through Orochimaru's old hideouts but we'll get to that later, it's been awhile since we've seen you so just tell us where you've been."

"Returned to the Hidden Leaf, begged for my girlfriend's forgiveness, still kind of iffy on how that turned out by the way, took part in the war, met my brother as a Reanimation and met the guy who cast the Reanimation Jutsu."

"And who would that be?"

"Him." Sasuke pointed to Kabuto "It's Kabuto."

"Wait what now?"

"Kabuto was the one who cast the Reanimation Jutsu."

"...SAY WHAT?!"

"I forgot how loud you two were."

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The battle on the main front (against Tobi and the Gedo Statue) was raging on hard.

Tatsu and Naruto, now in their respective Tenseigan and Nine Tails Chakra Cloaks, dealt a heavy blow to the Gedo Statue, sending it stumbling backwards "What's the matter big guy, you don't look so hot."

Tobi glared from underneath his mask "And what pray tell is that supposed to mean?"

"You're hiding your ugly mug so all I can really do is take a guess!" Naruto pointed at him like a jackass "If you're really so calm underneath that mask then rip it off and show us your face fool ya fool!" this earned a facepalm from Tatsu and cheering from Killer Bee.

"Idiot." Tatsu muttered "All that's left is…"

"Yeah you're going down, believe it-"

"NO!" Tatsu smacked him upside the head "Never again!"

"...Well it would seem that I'm left with no choice." Tobi formed a hand seal and summoned the Benihisago and the Sealing Urn "I suppose these will have to do."

"Oh crap those are-"

"I would've preferred bringing it back in a completed state but I suppose the Eight Tails chakra from the clone of Killer Bee that Sakura brought back and the Nine Tails chakra that came from inside of Kinkaku and Ginkaku will suffice as substitutes." he threw them into the mouth of the Gedo Statue "After all they may be only fragments but I can assure you that they are certainly not lacking in power." he formed a hand seal as the eyes of the Gedo Statue shot wide open and it let out a furious roar "It's taking too long and now is the time."

"Oh shit." Tatsu drew the Dragon Blade off of his back "Guys you'd better get ready, looks like we've got a real shit storm heading our way."

The real battle was about to begin…

A/N:

And with this chapter, a true shinobi, a hero to the shinobi world, and a man worthy of the title of Hokage has made his long deserved return. I know Itachi's return to the afterlife was beautiful in canon, but I always thought that he deserved better than the fate that he got, and so I had Kazuma use the Stone of Gelel that he had from the Stone of Gelel chapter of this story to bring him back to life.

Kazuma capturing the White Zetsu using his mother's Imprisonment Scroll is meant to be a substitute for the White Zetsu spores that had been planted on Sasuke by Tobi, and therefore I still have sacrifices to use for the Reanimation Jutsu on the four previous Hokage.

I made a little mention of Tayuya possibly being an Uzumaki as a reference to a bunch of fics that I've read where the writers claim that she's a descendent of the Uzumaki clan. As interesting as it is, it's not a thing.