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Interruptions

Ryuu watched from the shadows of the building in silence as the others got into position to ambush Orochimaru if he showed up. Ryuu would be meeting with Sasuke alone at first, and if Orochimaru didn't show up, Kakashi would join them. Fu and Tobi would continue to watch for Orochimaru or Akatsuki, with Tobi especially watching for Zetsu.

"I'm ready," Fu reported quietly over their short-range communicators.

"Same," Kakashi said.

"Tobi is ready," Tobi said.

"Good," Ryuu said. "Tobi, make sure you pay attention. If Zetsu interrupts and you don't warn us first, or attack him before he can get to one of us, I'm going to be extremely mad."

"I will," Tobi said.

"Good," Ryuu said. "It's almost time. Everyone keep your eyes open."

Everyone remained silent, but from where he was, he could sense them all, so he knew they had heard him. Finally, Sasuke stepped out of the shadows of a building off to the side, walking over to Ryuu and stopping.

"It's been a long time Ryuu," Sasuke said. "You look good. Except for that thing attached to your side."

"Courtesy of Madara Uchiha, and made necessary by Hidan and Kakuzu," Ryuu said. "You seem a lot less sociable than when you left."

"And you seem a lot less innocent," Sasuke said. "You have the eyes of a killer now. I heard you were imprisoned. I'm sorry. I wish I could have helped you."

"It's alright," Ryuu said. "It's over now. And it made me strong."

Sasuke nodded. "Orochimaru's body is starting to break down. It's getting close to time."

"Be sure to make him suffer for me too," Ryuu said.

"I will," Sasuke nodded. "After I kill him, I'll be looking for Itachi. But I need help."

"Just let me know where to meet you," Ryuu said.

"Not you," Sasuke said. "I'll let you know where he is when I find him and you can meet me there. I need someone else."

"Who?" Ryuu asked.

"Suigetsu and Karin," Sasuke said. "I need Suigetsu's skill with a sword to keep Kisame busy, and Karin can help me search for Itachi."

"Alright," Ryuu nodded. "Let me know where to have them meet you and I'll send them."

Sasuke nodded.

"Are you coming home?" Ryuu asked.

"After we deal with Itachi," Sasuke said. "Probably."

"You know, Sakura's still waiting for you to come back to her, right?" Ryuu said, Sasuke staring at the ground. "Just come home. Everyone wants to see you."

Sasuke sighed, staring at the ground. "Everyone sees me as a traitor."

"Not true," Kakashi said, walking over. "Once the situation is explained, everyone will welcome you home."

"Kakashi," Sasuke said before smiling slightly. "It's good to see you."

"And you," Kakashi smiled.

"Any change?" Ryuu asked.

"Not at the moment," Kakashi said. "But we probably shouldn't stay here much longer."

Ryuu nodded. "Alright." He turned back to Sasuke who smiled. "Sorry."

"It's alright," Sasuke said. "Just one last thing. I've decided what I want to do about Itachi."

"What's that?" Ryuu asked.

"I want to bring him home," Sasuke said. "If he's not too far gone, I want to pull a you and Naruto and save him."

"I'll see what I can-"

"Akatsuki!" Fu shouted, leaping down to land beside them. "They're attacking the Two-tails' Jinchuriki nearby."

"Who?" Ryuu asked.

"I don't know," Fu said.

"Let's go," Ryuu nodded. "Sasuke?"

"Sure, I'll come along," Sasuke grinned. "It's been forever since I've fought with you."

Ryuu nodded, extending his wings and picking up Sasuke before shooting into the air, Fu just behind him, leaving Kakashi behind as Tobi followed through the ground. They sped across the Land of Lightning's border and deeper into the nation before finally reaching a ruined city. The buildings had been in the shape of cones, or mountains, but only one was intact. Two more had massive rounded scoops taken out of them, big enough for a quarter of Konoha to take shelter inside, and the rest were all gone. The ruins were a field of debris and boulders, certain spots being as deep as the sewer. Somewhere near the middle of the ruin, there was a girl with long, straight, blonde hair staked to a broken wall with a metal rod through both hands over her head. On the ground in front of the wall, Hidan was lying in a blood seal. Ryuu snarled in rage, picking up speed as he shot down toward Hidan and the Jinchuriki.

Sasuke glanced up at Ryuu, but Ryuu ignored him. He released Sasuke directly over Hidan, instantly hurling a kunai with chakra streaming over the blade before turning and streaking up at the Jinchuriki. The kunai drilled through the edge of the seal, breaking it less than a second before Sasuke shoved a Chidori through Hidan's chest, then leapt away from him as Kakuzu appeared beside him, punching and only barely missing. Ryuu's right fist exploded into the wall, shattering it before his left arm caught the Jinchuriki, carrying her away from the inevitable battlefield. He set her on the ground and Fu landed beside him as he ripped the pole out of her hands.

"Heal her," Ryuu snarled.

"Ryuu," Fu said, catching his hand. "Remember who you are."

Ryuu stared at her for a moment before smiling and nodding. "I won't. I love you Fu."

"I'll see you when you get back," Fu said.

Ryuu nodded and took off again, reaching the spot where Sasuke, and now Tobi, were fighting Hidan and Kakuzu in time to plant his foot in Hidan's side, stopping him from slashing Sasuke's back, and sending him exploding into Kakuzu as Kakuzu moved t punch Tobi, both Akatsuki members bouncing along the ground for a moment before rolling to a stop.

"Tobi protect Fu and the Jinchuriki," Ryuu ordered, Tobi sinking into the ground instantly. "Sasuke, use that sword of yours to handle Hidan."

Sasuke glanced at him and Ryuu used his Sharingan to transfer Sasuke his memories of fighting Hidan and his abilities. Sasuke blinked and nodded, drawing his sword. Ryuu turned back to the front, head snapping to the side as Kakuzu's punch passed over his shoulder. Ryuu's left fist hardened and a repulsion seal appeared on it before it exploded into Kakuzu's gut, black cords exploding out of his back like a baseball's guts. The mass of cords pulled tight on the fragments of body making up Kakuzu and suddenly he jerked into motion backward, sailing away, limbs flailing. Then, he flipped, crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs and cords. However, just as he did, Sasuke crashed to the ground beside Ryuu, Hidan leaping at him, scythe pulled back and a crazed smile taking up his face. However, Ryuu turned, forming hand seals before blasting Hidan with a Pressure Damage, sending him blasting through the intact city, which began to collapse into itself a moment later, apparently not as intact as it had seemed.

"Did he get your blood?" Ryuu asked.

"No," Sasuke said. "He kicked me."

Ryuu nodded, looking between the two. He felt his anger and hatred starting to get the best of him and took a long, slow breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Be careful Sasuke. If you get cursed, let me know and we'll switch targets."

Sasuke nodded just as Kakuzu finished untangling himself and stood, his black cords forming into his four puppets, Kakuzu himself standing. At the same time, Hidan, who had been circling them, stopped opposite them from Kakuzu. Then, they were off, both charging their chosen opponent. Ryuu flipped over a wall of flame and formed hand seals rapidly, sending a Pressure Damage into Kakuzu's own, the two jutsus exploding. The concussion slammed into Ryuu, throwing him high into the air and the lightning puppet moved forward, mouth opening. Ryuu channeled lightning style chakra into four kunai and hurled them at Kakuzu, who blocked them with a forearm, the kunai stabbing into his arm. Then, just as Kakuzu began to speak, his lightning mask fired, the lightning blot making it a few feet before separating into four smaller ones, curving back around the puppet and flashing through the air, hitting the kunai Ryuu had thrown and exploding.

Bits of Kakuzu sailed in every direction, scattered by the explosion, and the four masks all shrieked, beginning to spiral and fire powerful jutsus rapidly. Ryuu swore, flipping and dodging around the jutsus, using the Body Flicker Technique in short bursts to avoid them, only to have to instantly dodge another attack. Finally, after nearly a full minute, he stopped just as Sasuke landed beside him, facing the other way and with blood running down one side of his face.

"He got my blood," Sasuke said. "He bit my head."

Ryuu spun toward Hidan, then stopped, staring at him. His body was still turning into his cursed appearance, but his arms were both missing at the shoulders, and his seal was a hundred feet away still.

"Break Kakuzu's masks," Ryuu said, taking off and slamming a lariat into Hidan's chest just shy of his seal, sending Hidan flipping backward and bouncing along the ground.

He crashed into a massive boulder and fractured it and Ryuu drew his tanto, appearing in front of Hidan instantly and staking him to the boulder with it. Just as he did, Sasuke shouted in pain and Ryuu's head snapped around, seeing Sasuke in the middle of a bounce, Kakuzu's lightning mask about to blast him. He appeared in front of Sasuke instantly, forming a Chidori and shoving it forward, the lightning bolt crashing into it and stopping. Ryuu grit his teeth, shouting in effort and forcing more lightning chakra to his hand, focusing it. Kakashi had once told him his Lightning Blade had cut through a lightning bolt, but he wasn't really sure he had ever believed him. At least, not until the lightning bolt fighting against his Lightning Blade split around Ryuu's hand and blasted into the ground behind him, missing Sasuke.

"Impressive," Kakuzu said, his cords nearly finished reconstructing his body. "I've never seen a jutsu like that before."

"Show me your hearts and I'll let you get a closer loo-"

Blood sprayed into the air from Ryuu's left shoulder, cutting off his voice as he staggered forward a couple of steps before falling to his knees. In front of him, Hidan landed beside Kakuzu on one leg, his other leg bent backward to hold his arms and Ryuu's tanto held in his teeth, Ryuu's blood running down the blade into Hidan's mouth. He turned, hurling the tanto with a flick of his head, sending it stabbing into Ryuu's gut. Ryuu didn't move for a long moment before pulling the blade out, his shoulder finishing sealing and his stomach doing the same in seconds. Then, he glanced at Sasuke, who stepped up beside him, the blood on his face forcing him to keep his left eye closed.

"They've gotten a lot stronger," Sasuke said as Kakuzu reattached Hidan's arms, Hidan forming a seal on the ground.

"Yeah," Ryuu nodded. "Or we've gotten weaker. Right, Zetsu?"

Zetsu rose out of the ground behind Kakuzu and Hidan, watching Ryuu closely. "Impressive. You figured it out faster than I expected. It's a special poison that slows the body's reaction time and motor functions. Without your Sharingan, you'd both barely be able to react at all. As it is, your Sharingan is allowing your brains to function enough to fight off the poison's effects."

"I see," Ryuu nodded. "And I'd wager this whole area is filled with it. How long's it last?"

"Long enough," Zetsu said. "It's time to end this. We have a Jinchuriki to deliver. Two now, once the poison finishes its work on the Seven-tails' Jinchuriki."

Ryuu snapped instantly. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Hidan, his leg blocking Hidan's and stopping him finishing his seal before his hardened right fist exploded into Hidan's face, the repulsion seal tripling the force, caving Hidan's face in completely before he turned, drilling his other equally destructive fist into Kakuzu's jaw less than a second after moving. Kakuzu's head was also caved in instantly, as well as being sent flying off of his body. Then, Ryuu turned yet again, still in under a second since the beginning of his assault, and shot forward, drilling his right fist into Zetsu's chest, pulverizing his ribs and collapsing his chest. He was launched backward like a shot.

"Get the hell out of my way!" Ryuu turned, swiping a hand as Kakuzu's puppets closed in, only for a massive barrage of Air Bullets to explode into them, filling them all with holes and shattering their masks, destroying the heart powering them each.

"Dammit, where'd he get this kinda power?" Hidan demanded, his face still collapsed and voice muffled, accompanied by a grinding popping sound as his destroyed jaw tried to work.

Black cords shot out of the ground, driving themselves into his head and forcing it back into shape before retracting as Kakuzu broke free of the ground beside him.

"Never underestimate a Konoha Shinobi's rage, especially an Uchiha," Kakuzu said. "We should retreat while we can."

"How?" Hidan aksed. "He'll murder us both before we can get anywhere."

"He doesn't want us," Kakuzu said.

"Zetsu!" Ryuu seethed as Zetsu sat up, torso regenerated.

"We've been here before, brat," Zetsu snarled, raising his arms, holding them out at angles before himself. "But if it's a game you want, we'll be happy to play."

The ground in front of Zetsu began to break apart instantly, near-perfect replicas of White Zetsu leaping out of it at Ryuu. He shot forward, tanto in-hand, and began to hack his way through the clones, bits of them flying rapidly as he tore them apart, literally in a couple of cases. Then, he vanished a split second before the ground under him exploded and massive wooden roots exploded up from below. He reappeared beside Sasuke, teeth clenched and tanto trembling in his rage. Then, he shot forward again, slashing his sword and using the wind from it to form a Vacuum Blade before slashing his way through several roots, reaching one of the clones and twisting out of the way of the wooden spike it tried to stab him with. He split the clone down the middle and roots erupted from the ground on all sides, stabbing at him, only for him to flip over them, landing on top of one and exploding off of it with enugh force to shatter the root. He reached the next clone in the blink of an eye, slamming his left palm into it and sending it blasting backward into two more clones before the spot his hand had touched erupted into a massive fireball, consuming all three clones. Two clones leapt at Ryuu from the sides, stabbing at him, but Ryuu spun, his tanto spinning into the air as he caught their wrists, continuing to spin and driving their spikes into each other's faces before flipping the two into the air and hurling them. A root exploded out of the ground at the same moment that he released them but Ryuu pushed off a chunk of stone and shot upward, catching his tanto before flipping and slashing, sending an arc of flame down into the root, obliterating it in the ensuing explosion. Then, Zetsu himself reached Ryuu, Black Zetsu drilling a punch into Ryuu's side, sending him blasting into the ground beside Sasuke.

Ryuu began to stand, but Sasuke set a hand on his shoulder and Ryuu stilled, gritting his teeth and forcing his rage under control again, the rage slowly fading. "Thank you."

"Shall we end this?" Sasuke asked, moving his hand to his sword's hilt.

"Yeah," Ryuu nodded. "Let's make it quick."

Sasuke nodded and shot forward, drawing his sword as roots exploded out of the ground to try to intercept him, only for him to slice through them instantly. Just as he did, a jungle's worth of roots exploded out of the ground around the clones and Zetsu, swarming across the ground and toward Sasuke. Before Sasuke could react, Ryuu flipped into the air over him and exhaled a sea of flames, the flames engulfing the roots, igniting everything and within seconds burning it away to ash. Instantly, Sasuke sped toward one clone, Ryuu streaking through the air to another. Both killed the clone easily, and when more roots moved to attack them, they slashed their way through, taking out the clones in rapid succession now that they had to split their attention. One of Sasuke's targets broke a chunk of root off as Sasuke was focusing on another clone and pulled it back like a javelin, only for Ryuu to curl his fingers into the shape of a gun, a bullet of compressed air firing off of his index finger, punching through the clone's head from the side. At the same time, Sasuke decapitated the clone he was fighting and spun, dropping to one knee and swung a hand, several needles of Lightning Chakra shooting out of his Chidori, stabbing into one of Ryuu's clones, who was about to do the same. The clone collapsed and Ryuu lopped off its head as he passed.

After another moment, and four more dead clones, both began to rapidly close in on Zetsu from either side, Zetsu looking between them several times before raising his arms, crossing them above himself. Then, he roared as he swung his arms back downward. Instantly, the world around them was ripped rent apart, roots ranging from as thick as Ryuu's arm to as thick as he was tall bristling out of the obliterated ground and impaling both Sasuke and Ryuu each a dozen times over, more wooden spikes erupting out of them once they were off the ground. However, after a moment of both hanging motionless, they erupted into twin fireballs, chunks of root turned projectiles flying and bouncing around the newly-formed forest before Ryuu and Sasuke appeared where Zetsu had been, only to find he had escaped.

"Fu!" Ryuu gasped, eyes widening before vanishing.

He sped across the ground rapidly with the Body Flicker Technique, his wings spread wide but keeping him low to minimize the wind such speed would kick up. He bobbed and weaved around anything in his path, finally reaching the area he had left Fu and the other Jinchuriki. He deactivated the Body Flicker Technique instantly, finding Tobi and Zetsu in the middle of a surprisingly fierce battle, both using their Wood Style as well as Taijutsu to try and kill each other. However, as Ryuu arrived, Zetsu hurled Tobi at him and sank into the ground instantly. Ryuu flipped over Tobi and skidded to a stop beside Fu, gently lifting her, feeling for a pulse. She was alive, just unconscious.

"The poison isn't fatal," Tobi said. "It reduces the body's functions until the victim loses consciousness, but leaves them functional enough to keep them alive. She'll wake up after a few minutes of leaving this area."

Ryuu nodded, lifting her as Sasuke landed beside him. "Tobi, find Kakashi. If he hasn't been poisoned yet, warn him to stay away."

Tobi nodded and sank into the ground. Ryuu turned to Sasuke.

"I have to get back," Sasuke said. "Good luck."

"Thanks," Ryuu said. "You too."

Sasuke nodded and left and Ryuu formed a clone to carry the Jinchuriki, both taking off and flying up into the air where the poison wouldn't reach them. Ryuu looked around the battlefield and realized they had really remodeled the landscape. The city had been all but erased, and instead, there were craters, scorch marks, and giant chunks of wood or wood spikes covering everything for a mile. The Land of Lightning would not be pleased.

Ryuu flew to where he could sense Tobi and landed off to the side, Fu stirring as he walked over and cuddling into him more, sighing contentedly, Ryuu chuckling. His clone landed beside him a moment later with the Jinchuriki, who was still unconscious.

"What happened?" Kakashi asked.

"Hidan and Kakuzu were getting help from a poison Zetsu had spread which slowed the body's reactions to the point that it should have rendered us unconscious, though apparently me and Sasuke's Sharingan was able to fight the effects by forcing our brains to work more efficiently. He fought them, but then Zetsu showed up with a bunch of improved clones and allowed Hidan and Kakuzu to escape, again, and we ended up having to deal with Zetsu, only for him to also escape, again. He went after Fu but Tobi held him off until I got there and Zetsu took off."

Kakashi nodded. "What should we do with her?" He looked over at the Jinchuriki and Ryuu shrugged.

"We should take her home," Fu said, finally climbing down from Ryuu's arms. "The Hidden Cloud needs to know their Jinchuriki is safe, but was almost taken."

The others nodded and Ryuu picked up Kakashi as Fu extended her wings, all of them flying toward the Hidden Cloud, Yomo flying along at Ryuu's side as they travelled. Finally, the city came into view and they flew down to the village's hospital, landing at the front door, Tobi remaining hidden, everyone but Ryuu's clone raising their hands in surrender as shinobi began to appear all around them instantly.

"We're not here for trouble," Ryuu said calmly. "We're returning your Jinchuriki. She was attacked by the Akatsuki, but we were able to stop them."

"Who are you?" one of the shinobi, a woman with blonde hair cut just above her shoulders, a black skirt under a low-cut grey shirt, a modified Hidden Cloud flak that rapped around her abdomen and left her enormous breasts, which could rival Tsunade's, unprotected.

"I'm Ryuu Uchiha," Ryuu answered.

"Kakashi Hatake," Kakashi said.

"Fu," Fu introduced herself.

"As I said, we don't want trouble," Ryuu said.

Just then, a man appeared in front of her. He was tall with white blonde hair clicked back, a white mustache and short white beard, a solid metal belt with a demon's face on the front, an excessively overly-defined torso that was uncovered except for his kage robe, which hung open, and a pair of massive gold arm bands taking up his entire forearms. Ryuu and the others knelt, again except for Ryuu's clone.

"Lord Raikage," Ryuu said. "Please excuse our intrusion into your village, but we saved your Jinchuriki from the Akatsuki and were bringing her back to you."

The Raikage remained silent for a long time, studying the three of them. He raised an arm, and one of the shinobi stepped forward, taking the Jinchuriki, checking for a pulse before nodding to the Raikage and, receiving a nod in return, headed into the hospital. "As thanks for saving Yugito, I will allow you to live. But for entering our village without permission, All three of you are under arrest."

Ryuu nodded and held a hand out, to his side, his clone and Yomo both exploding into a pair of smoke clouds. As they did, Ryuu blinked, and when his eyes opened again, the Raikage had him held off the ground by his throat, one fist cocked back. Fu began to react, but Ryuu held out a hand. The Raikage's grip was slack enough that he could breathe, and with that kind of speed, he could have struck, rather than grabbing Ryuu. It was a show of dominance. A show of power.

So this is the fastest man currently alive, Ryuu thought, his eyes staring into the Raikage's. "Impressive speed."

"Pull a stunt like that again and I end you," the Raikage threatened.

Ryuu smirked, the Raikage's eyes closing in a blink and Ryuu vanished, reappearing behind the Raikage, hands bound in shackles. The Raikage blinked, looking around before turning and staring at Ryuu in disbelief.

"We'll come quietly," Ryuu promised. "However, you'll be hearing from Lady Tsunade within a couple of days."

"So be it," the Raikage nodded. "Samui take them away."

The blonde nodded and Fu and Kakashi were restrained as well, then led away.

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