Author's note: When the final battle comes up, you should listen to the song "Coming Undone," by Korn. Look for the '''

Chapter 13: Torn, The Black Chakra's Secret

Xx--xxx--xX

"Let us end this!"

The two rushed each other. Ishida's eyes darkened even more. Then the hands of the Dark User began to be covered in what seemed like a black flame. He was aiming for Kakashi's heart.

The jounin saw his hands. He knew what his former friend was capable of. Quickly moving on his feet, he jumped off the roof. Time seemed to slow down. The now short silver hairs of Kakashi rose. The air seemed to rush pass. The ground took forever to get under his feet. Ishida's hand took three of the hairs as it crashed into the house. Then everything was so fast.

The house's roof splintered. Wood went everywhere. Kakashi's feet hit the ground and he took off. Channeling just enough chakra to get up Konoha's wall.

Ishida was still shocked that he had impacted the house. As debry flew by his head, his anger grew. Then there was nothing but dirt. Even that didn't stop the Dark User. His chakra cut away the earth. Digging deeper and deeper.

Kakashi stopped at the top of the wall. His back was turned to the village. Then he felt a warm sensation. It grew hotter and hotter. When the jounin turned around, his eyes grew wide. An explosion... Wood, nails, earth, rocks, all of it flew past him.

A black cloud surrounded the area that had been struck. It was thick and slow to rise. The jounin didn't make a move. Taking any action will be as ignorant as he was, could and would be fatal. So instead Kakashi waited. Either for nature to clear away the cloud or for Ishida to attack. Neither happened. Then a swift guest of wind, lifted the cloud and it disappeared.

In the middle of the whole scene, Ishida stood there. He was in a large pit. The ground scorched around his feet. Sweat dribbled down his brow. Anger and rage filled his eyes. And on his face, he wore... a smile. A calm and deadly smile. It wasn't from joy, but from the evil fit that grew inside. The black chakra had completely taken over at this point. For there was no love in his heart, nor did he think of his friend. Death was more welcomed; either for him, or for Kakashi.

The Konoha jounin saw this. His legs slid, he made a hand seal, gripped his wrist, and watched the Dark User carefully as lighting flashed from his hand. Ishida smiled. He too would start. The red head held up his hand, in a quick flash, the fingers seperated. A black chakra sprang from the palm and covered the rest of his hand like a wildfire over taking a forest.

Everything happened at once. Kakashi dug his hand into the wall and began to run down it. Rocks and rubble spreading everywhere. Ishida waited until he had reached the bottom and began to run towards him. When this happened, Ishida sprang forward and had his hand in a punching position. Right before both were to collide, Kakashi did something unexpected.

Instead of hitting the Dark User dead on, he turned at the last minute. Ishida flew past, but not too far. For the jounin, once behind him, jumped and split open the cylinder that was on Ishida's back. The red powder spilled everywhere. Quickly the air became infested with a fog. Kakashi felt himself alright, for he had the mask. But Ishida, with all his power, was only human. Therefore open to the danger brought with the powder.

The jounin stood there. He knew that his former friend wouldn't be taken down that easily. Yet, he hoped that the red powder would slow him down. If not with his movements, then with his sight. Unfortunately, the black chakra inhanced the eyes.

They grew even darker. So dark, that they even cut through the fog. Kakashi stood there and watched as two dark ovals headed towards him. The jounin knew he had to wait. If he moved too earlier, Ishida would strike; but if he moved too late, it was the end for him. So time passed. At least ten minutes. Then out of nowhere the shadow grew and engulfed Kakashi.

It wasn't a trick on the mind, he knew that. Ishida had expanded his chakra out of his body. Now the silver headed shinobi stood there in the dark. Then a pain came from his arm. His hand clenched it. A warm liquid seeped through his fingers. "Ah," the cut wouldn't slow him down enough. But that's what worried him.

Ishida knew more damage would have to be done in order for him to win. The Black User could have finished him off in the begining. Even now Kakashi was vulnerable. Yet, Akira Ishida restrained his true power. "Ishida!" Kakashi was breathing heavely. The battle so far wasn't as bad as it should be, but he still suffered a little from his previous injury. The wound made at the hospital wasn't fully healed. "You KNOW you don't want to do this. Either finish it, back off, or let us fight in the light."

He didn't expect any one to be listening, it was worth a try though. Then as suddenly as it had enveloped the jounin, the dark screen lifted away. All of it sucking to one spot. There the dark eyes could be seen. Staring into the soul of his former friend. Kakashi pulled out his kunai. Ishida did the same. Once again they charged. This time, a strike would be made.

At first there was a spark. The two stood in front of each other. The cylinder was now off of Ishida's back. Each kunai quivered in the hands of the shinobi. Then Kakashi's cut to the arm proved almost fatal,as his hand slipped after a surge of pain. He slid forward in a downward motion. Ishida's eyes grew wide with surprise and worry. His kunai surged forward and almost scalped the Konoha jounin. Instead it left a cut and broke the skin. Blood mixed and matted parts of the silver hair.

As Kakashi fell, he turned around incase Ishida attacked again. Then his back hit the ground. Ishida could no longer be seen. Instead he saw some one out of the corner of his eye. When his head turned he was staring into the eyes of his student. 'Naruto! No, why did he come. That foolish boy. Things are worse than I thought. Ishida is willing to kill me.'

From the dark there came the voice of snakes and demons. "I know your here!" Kakashi heard a low humming sound. He knew this attack, he was the one who helped Ishida learn it. In a quick motion, he lept forward and pulled the boy to the ground. As he moved from his spot, a black beam shot through the fog and scroched the ground. Naruto lay there. A little surprised and almost stunned.

The jounin did the only thing he thought he could do. While Naruto lay there, he stood up in front of the boy. This was to keep him safe. Now things would be haywire since he arrived. 'Naruto, please just stay still.' Just as that thought ended, another black beam cut through the thick powder. Kakashi felt a piercing pain, right before he hit the ground. Then as darkness engulfed him, in a distant land he could hear the boy cry, "NO!"

Naruto didn't know what to do. His sensei lay in front of him. He didn't know whether he was alive or not. It was too much. Finally he let go of his head and tried to calm down. There was no sign of Misha either. The fog had proved too thick. Naruto couldn't see Ishida anywhere. But he wanted to make sure everything was safe before checking Kakashi.

A hand seal was performed with great speed. "Kagen no bushin!" Out of clouds of chakra sprang six other Narutos. "Check the area and guard me! I have to watch Kakashi-sensei!" Immediately they sprang into the fog. Two staying behind to guard Naruto's back.

The genin scrambled to his feet. His blue sandals scraping the dirt. Then he found himself next to his fallen sensei. His hands shook with fear of what the result might be. Slowly he turned Kakahsi onto his back. His body was losing warmth. There was no blood. Just a clean cut through his side. Naruto wasn't sure if it pierced anything important. Then he checked for vital signs. First was the breathing. The blonde placed his ear on Kakahi's chest. Slowly it rose, not fully, but still it moved. Inside Naruto heard almost a wheezing, as if his lungs weren't giving out just yet.

His fingers moved to his sensei's wrist. "Not strong enough," then they jolted to the throat and felt there, "Barely, but there's a pulse." He talked to himself to keep calm. What was he to do. His teacher was on the brink of death, no medical ninja were in the area, and he was alone with a mad man.

He looked over his shoulder, the boy wasn't there any more. 'Oh no, he must've gotten lost!' Frantically the man's eyes scanned the area. There was no one. Around. Misha felt his heartbeat getting faster and faster. Then he heard a familiar voice. It shouted and seemed to cry. His feet moved swiftly in the direction of the voice. Once he fell to the ground. There was expose to be a roof there. Instead there was a large pit. The bottom of it pitch black. "Ishida..." This made his thick legs move even faster.
He felt his cheeks grow warm. Tears were coming. He tried not to let them, but they came anyway. The blonde wiped his face with his sleeve. When the sleeve was taken away, he looked at it. Two smears of blood appeared on the sleeve. "Kakashi-sensei's." He felt disgusted with the blood. Quickly he rubbed in down on the dirt. Clumps of dirt and blood clung to the soft fabric. The genin didn't bother to take them off.

Then a noise startled him. It sounded like thumping. No not thumping. "Feet!" he whispered to himself. 'Ishida must be coming back! But why isn't he quiet and sneaky like usual?' Naruto rose to his feet. Out of his hip pack, he pulled a kunai. He wasn't sure if he could defeat Ishida, infact he knew he couldn't beat Ishida.

His heart pounded as each second passed. The sound of feet got closer and closer, yet there still was no sight of the Dark User. In a shakey voice, the blonde dared to call out, "Show yourself already!"

"Naruto?"

"Misha!?"

"Naruto!-keep speaking. I'll find you," then there were several minutes of fumbling around. Naruto yelling into the fog; and once in a while, Naruto checking to see if his sensei was still alive. Finally, Misha came through the thick red powder. A sigh of relief was released from the man. Then a look of worry placed itself on his face. His eyes had slowly moved to the jounin laying on the ground.

The boy saw his worry. Again he fell to his knees and checked Kakashi's breathing and pulse. "Ishida attacked him. Some kind of beam of chakra. It struck him here," Naruto pointed to his side, "He's still alive, but for how long..."

"It's going to be okay. We need to get him to... your Hokage is a medical-nin right?"

"Yes, Granny Tsunade is the best there is." Misha smiled at the new hope he saw in the boy's eyes. He laid a hand on the blonde's shoulder.

In a low voice, that was sweeter than any treat, he said, "I'll carry him. We'll get him help. Right now we need to locate Ishida." Misha bent down next to Kakashi. His arms slipped under the silver headed man. In a slow way, he lifted him from the ground. The body had grown a little stiff. Still, some warmth remained. "His blood still flows." The forgeiner started to walk one way. Naruto followed close behind.

The mask he had been wearing now itched his skin. The boy began to scratch it a little, Misha shot him a warning glance. "Don't scratch it! Remeber, this powder can a full grown man in one whiff." At the note, Naruto shot his arms to his side. His fingers gripped his pant legs to keep him from scratching.

The fog swirled around his feet. As he walked, even the dirt lost all that made it good. The ground became dusty and easily kicked up more dirt. His sandals walked steadily. Slowly, and quietly, he made his way through the fog. Ears pricked up and ready to catch the slightest sound. Then he heard several voices in the distant. 'Misha! What's he doing here?' 'Does it matter!?' Another voice entered his head. It was the chakra, for it had a mind of its own. Ishida shut it away. So far listening to it did nothing for him. No longer would it dictate his actions. Yet, he wished he could let Kakashi know this. If he let Kakashi live, then many of his enemies would think him weak and come to destroy him. "Too much evil has come from me."
It was dark. Not total darkness took over him. There was a faint light in the distant. Like a sun, burning bright. It lay in front of him. Another force came from behind. It wasn't as bright. Instead it glowed like smoldering coals. He made two desicions about the lights.

In front of him, there was the 'after,' behind him there was the 'present.' Two choices lay on his soul. To go forth and end it, or take his chances back in his doomed mortal life. Then all the memories of his life appeared. Not in his eyes, but around the lights. Like a wall of screens. Each showing a different time. All of them stopped.

Several had the pictures of place he visited, or people he had met. But one memory seemed to grow larger than the rest. It was a still picture that had been in his mind for a very long time. Two boys stood next to each other. One with his arm around the other. A red head who didn't seem to fit and a silver headed boy who didn't seem to mind. The smile of both could be seen. Even though one was wearing a mask.

This was enough. He knew what he had to do. Slowly, he began to walk; his steps echoing through the hall of death. This was his choice. No longer would he allow himself to suffer.

GASP! Kakashi sat up, his breathing heavily. His hands felt cold and his face had gone pale white. Now color slowly returned. A pain stung his side. Then a dull head ache came to his attention. The jounin looked around. No longer was he surround by a red powder. Instead, they were some ways away, on a roof. The sky above was a clear blue day. Clouds floated by. For a second, Kakashi had forgotten completely about what had happened. It wasn't until a shout from his student, did he realize what had happened.

"Kakashi-sensei! Sakura-chan you did it!" Naruto plopped himself in front of his sensei. His blue eyes shining bright and staring into the shaken eyes of his teacher. Kakashi smiled under his mask. Sakura came around as well. But instead of sitting, she stood in front of her teacher. Misha stood back. This was none of his business. Yet, he couldn't help but fight the urge to wrap his arms around the whole group.

Kakashi tried to stand. Nothing but Naruto's cry earlier, was said. Sakura and Naruto supported their teacher. Each placing themselves under a shoulder. Naruto smiled the biggest smile any one could have made. Kakashi's eyes crinkled. Now they had time for questions. The jounin felt a bit light headed though, "Someone, someone please tell me what happened."

Sakura was ready to tell her part of it first, "I was getting the last of the powder victims to the hospital, when Misha and Naruto came out of nowhere. At first, all I knew was that they were calling my name. It wasn't until I turned around did I understand the urgency of the matter. You lay nearly dead in Misha's arms-"

"Sakura-chan took you from us. She lay you on the ground. Then I was amazed at her skill. Carefully she treated each and every wound," as Naruto said these words, Sakura felt herself blushing. The boy continued, "Misha and I were very frightened. Not Sakura, she stayed calm. When she was done I begged her to tell me how you were going to be. What she said was that 'It's up to him now.' I guess you decided to live."

Now Naruto scratched his head just like Kakashi would do. "Well, I guess I owe all of you a thank-you. Still, one thing remains," his attitude changed in a heartbeat. It went from happy to be alive, to cold and harsh. The jounin's eyes darkened. A shadow seemed to engulf him. "Akira Ishida is still out there."

As he said this, the red fog disapated in the distance. The roof beneath their feet seemed to swirl and run like water colors. The roof spirled into a small whoorlpool. Kakashi, Sakura, Naruto, and Misha were sucked through it. Sakura had one arm on her teacher, and the other trying to pull them out. Kakashi told her to let go of him. She wouldn't listen. As a result, all of them were dropped into a dimly lit room. The ground above their heads turned back to normal.

Only a single window sat in the wall. The little light allowed Kakashi to see who was hurt. Everyone seemed to be okay. Naruto was sitting and rubbing his head. Sakura lay on her back staring up at the ceiling, wondering what had happened. Misha began to stand, his jaw clenched with pain as he fell back down. The jounin was against a wall. His head hurting like hell.

Then the girl began to move. Her eyes glanced back at her sensei. Kakashi nodded to tell her he was fine. Then they shifted to the others. The blonde looked fine to her, then her eyes were cast upon Misha. He was trying to move a leg. It seemed like it pained him. Sakura stood and walked over to him.

"Your leg is broken. Hold on, this shouldn't hurt." Her soft hands glowed with chakra. Gentley she waved it over the broken leg. Then they stopped in one place. "You might feel a slight sting," her hands gripped the leg firmly. For a split second Misha's eyes seemed to glaze over in the pain. But soon they were relieved. Sakura held his leg for several minutes. She sighed and let go.

"It's not fully healed, but you should be able to walk on it," then she quickly added, "With support!" She slid her arm around his waist and helped him to his feet. Misha smiled at her. Kakashi saw as Naruto began to stand as well. 'Might as well,' his mind thought, but his legs didn't move. The other three looked at him. "Are you just going to sit there?" Sakura asked. He shot her a glance that was irritated and a little worried. "Naruto help him."

The boy walked over to his sensei and shot down his hand. The jounin took hold and as Naruto pulled, he pushed with his legs. Once he got to his feet though, it wasn't that easy. They felt like rubber. Soon he was down on his knees. Now Naruto and Sakura had grown worried. Even with the injuries he sustained, he should at least be able to stand on his own.

The blonde bent down next to him to help once again. But Kakashi held up his hand, "Give me a minute. Maybe I just need to rest." He took several breaths. "Okay, let's try again." This time his feet didn't even get flat on the floor before he was on the ground again. Naruto half caught him. Kakashi pushed him away and so he was let to place his hands on the floor. The jounin had a thought. It was a long shot, but it would give him an explaination.

He looked down at his legs, focusing his sharigan. It was hard to see, but it was there. Like little specks of pepper, a black substance leaked out of the floor. It seemed to slowly be absorbed into his legs. "Ishida..." Naruto was the only one close enough to hear him whisper this. So he knelt beside his teacher and whispered back.

"Are you sure?"

"No mistake, don't get the others worried." Kakashi sat up right as best as he could. Then he began to rub his legs, his back to Misha and Sakura. The boy came around to his front. "His chakra is seeping through the earth."

Naruto looked at the ground around his legs. It was a slight darker. Then he looked closely. He too could see, barely, the little specks of chakra. "How can we stop his chakra flow."

"We can't," the jounin looked to the small window. It was barely big enough to fit Sakura through, let alone someone the size of Misha or Kakashi. "Break it away."

"What?"

"The window, break it. Take away the dirt. Some of the ground my slide in, but it's the our only chance of getting out of this room." 'Ishida, I understand what you want, I'll give you ten minutes once their out of here.' Then another voice entered Kakashi's thoughts, 'Of course we will! Now let them escape.' The silver headed shinobi closed his eyes to concentrate. It was the voice of the chakra.

Kakashi looked back up at his student. Sorrow filled his eyes. Kakashi understood. "I'll be fine. The earth won't slide in near enough to cover me." His eye crinkled to show a smile. Naruto nodded and walked over to the other two. He explained what had to be done. Misha smiled and bashed his knuckles together.

"Finally! Allow me to do so."

Sakura cut in, "What about Kakashi-sensei? I can't carry both Misha and him out."

"He knows. He's going to stay here until the chakra wears off or until help comes," then the boy leaned in towards the girl. In a secret voice he added, "I'll stay behind with him." His blue eyes shimmered and Sakura understood that it was a secret. She winked at him. It made her feel better to know what Naruto planned to do.

Then she helped Misha limp over to the window. The large man beat his knuckles one more time. Then in a hardy voice he said to her, "Stand back Sakura. I can stand on my own can't I!" She let go of him but stayed close behind just in case. Sakura jumped back at the first hit. Misha's fist had crashed into the wall. Dirt flew past her face and some landed in her hair. He continued to bash it apart. Slowly the earth moved away. Light began to enter the room. The girl smiled, amazed by his strength.

Naruto stood there and watched. He was excited to get out, then he turned to his teacher. Kakashi still had his back to them. His shoulders slumped and his head seemed to be bowed. The blonde walked over to him. He was about to speak, when Kakashi said something instead.

"I'm sorry Naruto."

"What for?!"

"I was too weak to beat Ishida alone. Because of my neglegence, we're in this postion and I can't help you." There was silence between the two. Naruto didn't know what to say. So instead he just stood there. His saddened eyes gazing upon his beaten sensei. It was too much. He looked away, allowing the jounin to be alone.

Ishida waited below the ground. A ball of black chakra spun above his head. He had dug out a small chamber under the room the four Konoha shinobi were in. Small holes in the floor allowed the chakra to rise. It felt strange to the red head. The chakra knew just who to target.

Then a thought popped into his head. It was the black chakra again. Too much was flowing through his blood. If dying meant being free from it, then death would come gladly. Sadly, the chakra had choosen him, knowing his great power and his thirst for life. So it spoke to him, 'The silver headed one wishes to speak with you. After the others have left.'

"Any other news?"

'No, they are making their escape as we speak. I think things will finally go your way!' Then the calm laugh that Ishida had choosen for his own, rang in his head. When he heard it from another form, it seemed more frighting than he had thought. To have a calmness when you were about to die or kill. Those who don't value life are the deadliest. They will kill non-stop. Torture souls, even take the gift of life from those who were just accepting it. Therefore, Ishida and the power he held were a bomb ready to go off.

BOOM! Misha hit the wall once more. What was left of it crumbled and spilled in. There was much more than any one had anticipated. The window was at the base of a steep hill. Once the wall was taken out, much support to the rest of the hill was gone. Causing a land slide. Rocks and dirt poured into the room.

Sakura and Misha tried a futile attempt to hold their ground. In a matter of seconds, they were burried in dirt. Naruto didn't have time to react. He jumped near Kakashi and was soon overtaken by the fast moving earth. Kakashi looked into the dirt. It rushed onto him. He felt himself bruise as Naruto's body hit him. Then it went black as the dirt competed covering them.

When it finally ended. there was only a foot of room left at the top of the room. Two small hands pierced the surface. They spread away dirt and then two arms popped out. Behind them they pulled out a brown girl. She huffed and wiped her face off. Her pink hair, now a muddy brown. She layed down and began to crawl in the small space. Once her body was completely out of the hole, she turned and faced it. Her voice traveled down it.

"Misha!?"

"What?" was the reply.

"Come up, but just your head. There isn't nearly enough room for you to fit." Just as Sakura finished saying this, she had to scoot back. For Misha's head popped up. He looked around. Then he asked the girl a question she couldn't answer.

"Where's Kakashi and Naruto?"

"Like I would know!" she snapped at him. Then Sakura began to shift through the loose dirt with her arms. Something was firm below her. She grabbed it and pulled. It had trouble getting it out, but finally it came. "A rock," she sighed and stuck her arms back into the dirt. Then, she hit something. Not a rock though, for it had hair. Short hair. "Kakashi-sensei!" When she dug deeper, Sakura found his shoulders. Her fingers wrapped in the cloth. She only needed to pull his head up.

It was hard, but she was making progress. Once she stopped and dug a hole to his head. When she found his hair, the girl plunged her arms in again. This time she pulled and his head came into the air. This time she yelled, "Kakashi-sensei!" He didn't stir. 'Am I too late? Then that must mean... Naruto!' Not wanting to lose her sensei or her partner, she shook him. His skin was warm. A smile again crept to her face. "The impact must have knocked him out."

But the body jerked. It went deeper into the dirt. "No!" she pulled again on the shoulders. Yet, the dirt stilled moved. There was no time, he was sucked under the earth and out of sight. "No!"

The genin felt something on his face. It was light and cool. The wind! 'Are we out?' The boy fought to open his eyes. When they did, a bright light filled his vision. He was outside! The clouds floated by in a blue sky. The trees swayed with the breeze. Naruto jolted upright. He found himself panting. He was on a silent hill. Trees were placed on either side of him, in front he could see the Hidden Leaf village. A part of it up in dust. Part of the wall was gone in one spot as well.

"How did I get out here!?"

"I brought you here," the voice was familiar. It was the same voice that sent shivers down his spine and seemed to calm him down as well. It was the voice of the Dark User. The blonde didn't want to turn around, for he was afraid to confront the powerful shinobi. Then a voice came and a touch to his shoulder, that made him fill with hope.

"It's alright Naruto, I'm here as well." His sensei's voice made his head spin around. There he was, right next to him, crouching and with a hand on his shoulder.

"Kakashi-sensei! But Ishida is here!" A sigh came from the jounin. How would he explain. So much had happened. It had only been a matter of minutes.

So he turned Naruto fully around and then stood him up on his feet. Then he made the boy look him straight in the eye. "Listen to me Naruto. Akira Ishida... there's a lot to explain," then in a low whisper he said to his student's ear, "Be careful what you say around him. He has the power to blow up the room that Sakura and Misha are in. Since they don't have mask, he may as well use his powder. Oh, and whenever your ready." Naruto's eyes filled with shock and a little curiousity. They two of them had been brought out, why not the other two?

The red head stepped up and stood next to Kakashi. "I made a proposition with your teacher a few weeks ago, now I'll make one with you-" WHAM! Naruto had slid to the ground and kicked Ishida's feet out from under him. Kakashi slid himself under and kicked the man in the face.

Ishida went flying across the grass. He landed on his chest and skid. Grass found it's way into his mouth. When he spit it out, his eyes began to darken. A black flame enguled his hands. "I need you. Help me now, and I'll never doubt you again!" Naruto was confused who he was yelling at. Kakashi just put himself between the two. He knew who Ishida was calling to. It was the chakra. Most of it had left him for being disobidient before. Now the skies darkened and a shrill laugh ran across the field.

''' The Dark User stood to his feet. Just then a gust of wind came down and passed between Kakahsi and Naruto. Then it swirled and spun around Ishida until it formed a funnel. The funnel grew black and lighting shot through it as well. The funnel was thick and spun faster and faster. Then it began to disipate. In the middle of what had been the small tornado, stood Akira Ishida. His eyes were pitch black, his hands covered in a black flame of chakra, and it seemed that he was hovering above the ground.

Then he spoke. It was the snakes over his own, "Won't listen to a simple request! Heh, heh, heh, then.. shall I truly end it!" His hand shot above his head, his fingers outstretched. As he did this a bolt of lighting shot down and the skies again grew dark. Kakahsi performed a hand seal, then his wrist was gripped with his other hand. It was high risk. He had already used much of his chakra. Yet, it was a risk he had to take. Just as the lighting began to appear, he heard a poof of chakra.

When he looked over his shoulder, he saw not one, but four Narutos. "One to help with rasengan, two more to distract him!" Then he watched as a ball of chakra began to form in his hand. Then the blonde smiled at his sensei, who's chidori was now fully ready, and smiled. "Oh, and whenever your ready."

The silver headed jounin smiled. His feet kicked up blades of grass as he charged forward. Naruto was close, but not too close, behind. Kakashi saw the hands of Ishida. He knew what he was getting ready for. The Dark User's eyes glowed with the darkness. A light came from under him, then a great wind blew his hair up. The same symbol appeared under him. An eye inside three triangles, inside a circle.

Kakashi had to be fast. Ishida began to fire black beams at him. Each one missed and set the grass on fire. Naruto had to jump over it. The two decoys began to cirlce Ishida. Kakashi surged forward. He forced his hand forward. It went into Ishida's abdoman. This is what the Dark User wanted.

When Kakashi realized what was going on, it was too late. Already his hand was too deep inside Ishida. A smile crept onto the red head's face. "Thank-you!" the double voice yelled at him. 'That's why he was missing me!' Ishida let out a laugh that sent shivers up the jounin's spine. Naruto stopped in his spot. The decoys didn't stop though. Instead they attacked. Just as they did, Ishida's head flicked back.

He let out a scream. It was a scream of man souls, all in pain. A black beam flowed from his mouth. It shot into the air. Ishida was growing more power by sucking the life out of his former friend. Kakahsi fought to get free, but it was useless. Soon he grew weak. It was all coming too fast. The wound that the jounin had made was closing. The flesh crawled from Ishida and crept down Kakashi's arm.

Naruto didn't know what to do. His heart pounded and fear raced through him and took over. The shadow clone didn't stop forming rasengan. Instead he removed one hand and slapped the real Naruto. Finally he snapped to it. "Kakahsi-sensei." The two began to rush Ishida again. Then the boy lept into the air got ready to punch the Dark User.

Ishida's mouth closed and his head snapped forward. He looked at the blonde coming his way. An evil malice came into his eyes and could be felt around them. The grass began to die. Naruto was right above him now. His hand went forward and shoved into the head of Akira Ishida. This broke apart the hold he had Kakashi. The jounin fell to the ground.

Naruto landed on the grass heaving. Ishida's body was horrible. When rasengan had hit, it crushed his head and spun his body around and threw it to the ground. But the glowing symbol on the grass was still there. Just as Naruto questioned the death of Ishida, what was left of his body melted into a black pool.

The black chakra began to gather at one point. Then it piled onto itself and rose. It took shape. Akira Ishida's faced appeared. Then the rest of his head followed. The rest of his body stayed black. The calm laugh came once again from him. "Fool! No one can destroy- Ahhhhhh!" Ishida gripped his head.

Then, he screamed at himself. "No! I never wanted this!"

"Don't be an idiot! You need me!" Naruto was confused. The Dark User was talking with himself.

"It's all your fault! It's all your fault, get out!"

"Shut up! Do you want to be weak. Do you want to die!"

"Yes! If it meant that I didn't have to kill! I'm sorry," he began to cry, "I never meant to kill her. I never meant to hurt him! Kakashi! I'm sorry." Ishida kept gripping his head. It was too much for Naruto to understand. The man screamed in pain.

The jounin stirred. He was too concerned with the safety of his student to notice the pain than ran through his body. His eyes shot open. They scanned the fields and found Ishida and Naruto. Ishida was screaming and holding his head while Naruto stood there scared, not sure what to do. "So, it has finally come to this. Break free. Break free, Ishida."

Kakashi stood to his feet. The boy looked over to his sensei and ran over to him. In a shakey voice, Naruto asked, "What's with him!?"

"The black chakra, it has finally grown weak enough. Ishida is fighting it. He didn't mean to kill all of those people. But pure evil had taken him. I hope either he can break free, or he will die. Help me to him!" Kakashi began to walk to him. His legs were weak. Naruto still stood there as his teacher stood in front of the man.

Ishida had begun to rise off the ground. Kakashi grabbed his wrists and pulled him back down. They stared each other in the eye. Ishida was shaking. "You're alright!" Kakashi nodded. Ishida managed to smile, "I'll make it leave me! I want to be your friend again- ahhhhh!" Ishida screamed again.

"I'm not going any where!"

"Yes... you... are!" Kakashi let go of Ishida as these words were said. "Ahhhhhhh!" Ishida's head snapped back up. This time the funnel of wind came faster and was stronger. Kakahsi jumped back. Naruto ran to his side.

The funnel swept around him. Lighting again appeared, only at a greater amount. The battle was now inside. It was unsure who was winning. All the two could do was stand there. Then the wind became clear again. When it disappeared, it showed a normal Ishida. His clothes were all black though. But his eyes were shut and he seemed to be at peace.

The silver headed jounin rushed to his side, leaving Naruto very confused. Kakashi took Ishida's head and held it up. His voice was still strong when the red head spoke, "I'm free." He whispered. Kakashi smiled under his mask.

"Yes, you are, my friend." Naruto finally got the courage, and walked over to them. He looked into Ishida's bronze eyes.

"You're quite the sneak. I didn't expect you to trip me." A smile crossed the red head's face. His life was still holding on. The blonde smiled. He had no words. The man in his sensei's arms had gone from someone to kill, to someone who was welcomed by Kakashi.

The jounin helped his friend to his feet. Ishida was a little weak. His body had gone under quite a lot. Then tears streamed down his face. He remebered all the things that had happened over the last weeks. "Oh Kuzu. I'm sorry." His heart ached for his friend.

A comotion from Konoha made all three of them look. Several shinobi were running across roofs and over the walls. They were coming to see what happened. Kakashi looked to Ishida. Ishida nodded and smiled. Then with speed greater than any other they had seen, he took off. Fading into the trees. Naruto barely caught a glance of him. "Where's he going?!"

"To live his life."

"After what he did, why did you let him go!?"

The Konoha shinobi looked into the eyes of his student. The boy's blues eyes shimmered wit questions. it was amazing what had happened. After all that went on, their friendship had lasted. Student and teacher. Kakashi wouldn't trade that love for anything. Then there was his friendship with Akira Ishida. It had lasted through all the many years. Despite all the blood that had been shed, Kakahsi understood it wasn't his fault. So in a simple sentence, he explained why Ishida was now free to go. To go and live his life. In a calm voice he spoke.

"Because he let me go."

The End