Chapter 52:

"Your way is inefficient and unnecessarily risky, don't lose sight of our goal." Landing upon the same tree I had been in earlier I hear Itachi's voice even before my eyes find him standing on the river with Kurenai crouching behind him and Kakashi standing in front of him. "Let's hear it. What is your goal exactly?" A second Kakashi questions standing upon the walkway between Kisame and an injured Asuma. Tch. I told him not to take them on. The Kakashi who had just spoke suddenly disappears in a puff of smoke leaving the two of them on the walkway by themselves.

Feeling eyes upon me I look towards Itachi noticing his red eyes watching my movement. Raising my finger to my lips in a shushing motion Itachi slowly turns back towards the real Kakashi. "We're looking for something and we know it's here." Itachi informs him causing my eyes to roll. "And what would that be?" Kakashi questions just as a plan forms in my mind. "Well, what is it?" He raises his kunai up higher so the light of the sun reflects off of his blade in a silent threat. "My way is more efficient than Kisame's. Quickly my eyes widen as Kakashi leaps back away from Itachi. His hands forming hand signs before he even lands back onto his feet. Water shoots out from the river and smacks right into Kakashi on every side, blocking from our sights for mere moments.

When the water finally recedes back into the river Kakashi is left there staring at Itachi lost in thought. "Oh Kakashi, don't you know that Itachi's movements are so superior to our own that we can not even see him form hand signs?" I whisper quietly to myself so as not to be overheard as my right hand rests upon the bark of the tree. Subconsciously my fingers begin digging into the rough wood with my restraint to not leap into the fight at this very second. "You're good, you almost anticipated my moves." My eyes widen as Itachi has a shadow clone suddenly appear behind Kakashi. The distinct glimmer of a kunai catches my eyes just before disappearing into Kakashi's back. "Almost." Biting my bottom lip I watch as Kakashi suddenly turns into water and splashes into the river.

I close my eyes as Kakashi suddenly leaps from the water grabbing Kurenai and pulling her away from the spot on the river. Just as an explosion sounds sending a huge wave crashing. This... Fight.. is going to fry my nerves. Itachi isn't a bad guy yet he is being forced to fight against Kakashi. As Kakashi being someone important to me is fighting against someone who is much stronger than even Orochimaru. The strongest of the legendary Sannin. He'll die if Itachi is pushed far enough that he can't avoid killing him. "Kakashi! Kurenai!" Asuma yells out in anger and worry.

Question is. How am I supposed to help out either of them? If I leap in Kisame will just attack me from my annoying him earlier. Even if he doesn't I would still have to try and go against Itachi which is one of the last things I want to do. Damn it! What am I supposed to do?! "Close your eyes! Don't look at his eyes!" Kakashi suddenly yells causing me to look back down at them. Seeing Asuma having joined Kurenai and Kakashi on the river. Their eyes having closed due to Kakashi's urgency as even he closed his normal eye. "Listen, both of you. Whatever happens, don't look! If you meet his gaze you're finished. I'm going to have to do this alone, my Sharingan against his."

Not if I can help it! I silently yell in my head as I leap from the trees making sure not to look at Itachi. "Indeed your abilities are impressive, they may even might be enough to resist the mangekyo Sharingan. However, there is something they can't defend against. The special sharingan jutsu called Tsukuyomi. Only someone with Sharingan, and Kekkei Genkai can defeat me." Stepping up beside Kakashi I look up to him seeing sweat mixed with water from the river rolling down his face. "Kakashi Sensei." I speak lowly causing him to look towards me as Asuma and Kurenai gasp.

"Kira, close your eyes!" Asuma yells causing me to click my tongue. "You don't have to fight alone." I calmly state as I reach for my forehead protector causing Kakashi to smirk. "Kira, you are one ninja I would hate to fight. And not just because you are my student." I nearly shake my head at his words even as Asuma and Kurenai give sounds of confusion. So I pull my forehead protector down over my eyes before turning towards the now silent Itachi as I iterate for them. "I can fight. Be it in total darkness, or blinded. It does not matter. I can see my opponent without seeing them." Finally smirking I reach out with my energy to feel Kisame leap down near Itachi as a quirk plays at Itachi's brow.

"But what do you mean I don't understand." Kurenai questions as I feel Kakashi turn to face Itachi again. "You don't need to understand. You just need to stay back." I mutter as I pop my knuckles. "Itachi, you have tried to hurt one of the only ones I actually care for in this wretched existence of mine as you are after another. Do understand that I will now be entering the middle of this." No answer follows my words causing me to frown. The sound of Kakashi's heartbeat picks up as it begins to racee catches my attention causing me to silently cuss. Withdrawing a kunai I throw it at the concentrating Uchiha forcing his attention off of Kakashi in order to dodge.

Kakashi suddenly hits the water on his knees breathing heavily as I curse under my breath. It seems I didn't realize what happened in time. "Kakashi! What is it? Can we open our eyes now?!" Kurenai questions worriedly causing me to shake my head as I feel Itachi's eyes on me. "No. Keep them closed." I speak for the one still trying to catch his breath. "What just happened Kakashi?! One second Kira's talking and the next second. You're on the ground!" I click my tongue annoyed though I have noticed Itachi has yet to make a move towards me. "Hmm after all that the fool's spirit is still intact. Meanwhile, you've risked overusing those eyes of yours you know that's dangerous." Kisame speaks up as I feel him turn slightly towards Itachi.

Withdrawing my blades I move in front of Kakashi who was staring at the criminals. "Itachi. To get to the fourth's legacy. You will have to go through me." Sounds of question erupt behind me. "What's she talking about? What's he after?" Kurenai quietly questions as my grip tightens on my blades. "I will not let the Akatsuki have Naruto!" I growl out feeling my anger boiling inside me as it feels like fire was coursing through my veins. "Akatsuki?!" Asuma questions as Kakashi makes a sound of surprise from behind me.

"Kisame, we'll take Kira with us. But we don't need the others. Get rid of them." Itachi speaks up causing me to sigh. "Did you forget, Itachi? I called for reinforcements who will be here at any moment. To top it off, my reinforcements called for the Anbu. You are out of time." I growl running in front of Kisame before he can reach the others behind me. Raising my blades I catch his sharkskin sword with them. Automatically feeling his immense strength pressing down on me and causing my arms to shake.

With an inhuman growl, I shove him off of me as I send my foot to his stomach. Causing a startled sound to escape from Fishface just before my foot made contact. Sending him flying backward. "I will not let either of you touch someone who is important to me." I could feel Kisame stand just before he runs at me using speeds I never thought was possible. I step my right foot forward ready for a bone-crushing collision when a sudden movement slips by me causing my hidden eyes to widen. "Shi.."

*

Kakashi couldn't believe what he had witnessed as Kira had managed to push back Kisame's attack and still land a hit of her own sending the criminal flying back on the water. Proving that his student could in fact stand on par with the swordsman. His heart nearly stopped though when Itachi had moved fast enough it was almost as if he had appeared behind her. She turned her head towards him as she was beginning to utter a curse just as Itachi's hand met with the back of her neck. Sending her limply down to the river. Kisame's advance moves past the now unmoving Kira as she is being lifted onto Itachi's shoulder. He makes a beeline run directly at the three of them. Water shooting up from the river from his rapid steps leaving a trail behind him.

"Severe leaf hurricane!" Guy shouts as he kicks Kisame back just before he could reach the three he was after. Causing Kisame to bounce against the top of the water for a second time. As Guy places his left arm behind him and holds out his right ready for a fight the water swirling around him from his kick falls back to the river to show Kisame had managed to stop his roll by landing upon his feet. "Well, who do we have here?" Kisame grins watching Guy. "The leaf village's fiercest beast of battle I'm Might Guy!" Guy smiles creepily towards the two as Kisame stands straight.

"You're Might Guy huh. More like mighty stupid looking guy!" Kisame chuckles at his own play on words. "Don't underestimate him." Itachi warns. "Guy.. they have… Kira." Kakashi sputters out just before his consciousness leaves him causing him to fall face-first onto the river. Guy turns to pick Kakashi up out of the river and slings him limply over his shoulder. As Kisame lifts his blade with a chuckle ready for another fight. "No Kisame, we're pulling out." Kisame sighs as he looks towards Itachi. "We're not here to fight a full-scale battle. Tempting as it may be, it's not the way to do this. Let's go, we still need to figure out what this girl knows."

"That's too bad. It was just getting fun. They don't know how lucky they are." Kisame silently curses from being told to refrain from fighting and to leave just when things were getting interesting. But he leaves with Itachi nonetheless disappearing from the sights of their adversaries.

As they run Kisame takes Kira off of Itachi's shoulder when his red eyes revert back to their charcoal color. In silence, they put as much distance between them and the gathering Jonin as they can. Not wanting to be disturbed for when the girl wakes up. Silently as Itachi runs next to Kisame, he couldn't help but remember back to when she had first appeared on the boat. From how much she has changed over the years since that night in his family's home. Itachi had not recognized her right away. Not until she had landed silently in front of him so he could get a good look at her as she was speaking to Asuma. For a split second, he had been looking down at that same headstrong raven haired girl who had shown up just to give him another option rather than killing his parents.

She had known too much back then. More than what should have ever been possible, but it was the pain brewing in her charcoal eyes that had made him want to listen to her. To realize that if he killed what was left of his heart and cut down his parents that he would never be able to fully feel his punishment for killing his clan. That in the end, true justice isn't him dying at his brother's hands, but to be tortured by the memories of what he had done. Her standing before him six years later he had expected to see that same look in her eyes that had brought about that very revelation. Instead, her eyes looked dead. It wasn't until he noticed a brand peeking out from beneath her scarf did he realize that she had been put through more than possibly even she could handle.

"Mmm." A quiet groan emits around them causing them to stop on the cliff they had just landed upon overlooking a road. Kisame drops the stirring girl to the ground with enough of a thud that Itachi had found himself nearly wincing from. He settles for narrowing his eyes upon Kisame causing his said partner to chuckle as Kira raises onto all fours before rubbing the back of her neck. "jeez." She sighs before she slowly stands to look towards Itachi causing his eyes to nearly widen. He had thought she would be mad by what he had done or even irritated by it. But the smirk lingering along her lips spoke against any of that. "Well, you boys sure know how to get a girl to yourselves, don't you?"

"Cut it with the jokes." Kisame hisses out as he points Samehada directly at her. Missing her face by a few mere inches as she raises her forehead protector back to where it was supposed to be. Her once charcoal eyes are now alight with a swirling crimson red. "Easy, Kisame." She speaks again with the same dead tone she had been using when speaking earlier. No longer filled with venom fueled by her anger.

Kisame chuckles with thoughts of all that he could do to the girl now standing in front of them. Though her eyes filled him with curiosity. They were red much like the Sharingan but more of a blood-red swirling endlessly within their depths instead of Itachi's bright hues. He lowers his apparently nonthreatening sword to his side. "What do you know about the Akatsuki, kid?" He manages to question once he was finally able to regain control over himself from the sight of her eyes. Another smirk plays at her features as her eyes leave him and fall upon Itachi.

"Question should be. What don't I know." Itachi's eyes widen at her words. It was as if she had known for years now how what he was ordered to do has plagued his thoughts. "Also, it's not like I will tell you the answer you seek." She speaks again as her eyes divert back towards Kisame. "Might as well kill me. I only reveal what I want to."

"Come on, just give us something so we know if we can let you go." Kisame hisses causing her to roll her eyes as she places a hand back on her hip. "If I do, there is no way you would let me go." She sighs before clicking her tongue as if this entire conversation was just annoying her rather than being what it is. She was taken captive and now her life is in their hands. 'Is this girl afraid of anything?' Kisame silently questions himself causing a chuckle to leave him. 'I like her already.' A soft breeze picks up tugging her hair off of her back causing it to whip around with her overly long scarf. "Fine." She finally speaks pulling the two of them out of their thoughts after a long pause. "I will tell you that you will fail in retrieving the nine tails for a second time today and will be forced to flee by the use of Amaterasu." Suddenly she sets down in Indian style as she closes her eyes. "Go on look over the edge of the cliff. I won't go anywhere."

The two of them turn around and look towards the road as the girl had told them to. Seeing an older male with long white unruly hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. Wearing a green ninja outfit, a red sleeveless jacket, and a large scroll on his back. Walking next to him was a boy wearing an orange outfit and bright unkempt blond hair looking about the girl's age. It was then Itachi felt a subtle brush against his hand just before he felt a scroll press into his palm. Without making any suspicious outward movements he slips his hand into his cloak and slides the scroll into his own weapons pouch. Deciding he would figure out what she gave him when Kisame wasn't paying so much attention. "Do you see?" Her voice comes from right next to him. "That's Naruto with Jiraiya one of the three legendary Sannin. His personality is simple." She pauses and Itachi could hear her smirk as she tries to keep herself from lightly laughing. "He's Naruto in about thirty-five years. He's a goof and downright odd. The novelist of Icha Icha, a perverted story not suitable for children. He uses his writing as an excuse to peep on girls in bathhouses and turns to mush whenever a pretty girl gives him the time of day. But he's powerful. You both stand no chance against him in a fight."

Kisame and Itachi move their attentions back to the girl as she turns her back to the cliff's edge. "There. I showed you your target but to warn you. If you ever try to take Naruto when I think you stand a decent possibility of retrieving him. I will stand in your way. As for the information about the Akatsuki.." She pauses and looks towards Itachi from the corner of her eye. "It's the same as that night years ago. I will be taking my leave now."

"Hold on." Kisame hisses as he raises his sword ready to make chase as the girl takes to the trees. "Kisame, leave her be." With Itachi's words Kisame forces back a retort as he places his sword back where it belongs, on his back. The both of them turn back towards the road watching the two they had witnessed fading in the distance. "Let's go." Itachi speaks again just before he and Kisame proceed to follow their target.