Chapter 32: Itachi?

Naruto hadn't been walking five minutes before Naruto started pestering the old man about the amazing jutsu he'd learn. "So hey! Hey! Pervy Sage! So what kind of amazing jutsu are you going to teach me this time?!"

Naruto was just bubbling with excitement. "Are you going to teach the both of us? Kira we're going to learn that awesome jutsu!" Naruto jumping up and down grinning like a fool, but he looked so cute doing it.

'Pervy sage this Pervy sage that…' Jiraiya grumbled clearly annoyed at being called pervy sage. The travelers they passed briefly glanced their way before going back to their own thoughts. Honestly it looked like an old man taking a trip with his two grandkids. "Hey, you really don't know how distinguished I am, do you?"

"Not really, from what I've seen and what Naruto's told me you're just a pervert old man who knows a few good jutsu's." Kira replied shifting her backpack to the side to pull out her own book to read.

"Listen up." Both Naruto and Kira glanced up at the old man staring at him as he did all these new movements and flipping his long white hair around while trying to act cool. "The Toad Sage is just an alias! But no more disguises! North, South, West, East! I am the master, the white haired prodigal son, one of the three Great Shinobi! A ladies man that can hush even a crying child! 'Lord Jiraiya,' Thats me!"

The two stared up at him like he was crazy before walking away. Jiraiya pouted 'How can they not think I'm cool? Stupid brats.' He hmphed walking beside the two.

"Hey! Hey! So the fact that such an impressive pervy sage asked me to be his companion means something right?" Naruto grinned staring up at the old man.

"I told you my name is Jiraiya. Sheesh."

"It means I've got some incredible talent hidden inside me, right? Right?" Jiraiya gave Naruto a look that was almost unreadable. 'You have no idea kid.' Jiraiya's voice flooded through her mind. He knew. He knew about Naruto's fox. She glanced back at Naruto. He didn't seem to notice the tension slowly building. "Hey! Hey! So why did you chose me? Maybe cuz you have to get as good as me in order to be initiated into sage level super jutsu." Naruto started to giggle nonstop with his eager excitement.

Jiraiya paused in his walk, Naruto staring up at him intently when he started to speak. "You know, a long time ago the Fourth was my student. And you see, it's almost funny how much you kind of remind me of him. Well I suppose that's why."

Naruto's eyes widen letting his words sink in. He reminded the old man of the fourth hokage? A large grin spread over his face as he just radiated joy. "Whats his problem?" Jiraiya muttered unsure of Naruto's weird behavior.

"Everyone knows it's Naruto's dream to become the next Hokage. When you told him he reminded you of the Fourth his hopes grew."

Elsewhere:

After Kakashi just up and disappeared Sasuke made his way to Kira and Kakashi's house, Kakashi invited him out for a reason. But walking inside the shared home he couldn't help looking around the medium sized home. He strolled through the living room catching a few books lying around by the couch.

Of the few pictures that hung on the walls they were of Kakashi and Kira, Kira and Naruto, a younger Kakashi with the Fourth and two other kids he didn't recognize, and finally one of Team Seven. That was a good day.

He felt the small smile beginning to form. Down the hall was the bedrooms, maybe he could walk in on Kira alone in her room. If she asked what he was doing he could say he was looking for Kakashi's. Any chance he saw her was a good one. She wasn't there though. There were a few article of clothing thrown about but still looked decently clean.

Sasuke quietly entered the room looking over the bare blue walls. The scent of Jasmine filled his nose. He felt at peace in here. Walking towards her bed he sat down. His fingers gliding over the soft comforter of her bed.

It wasn't like any girls room he's seen before, it was just perfect. By her desk there was a small supply of weapons, mostly kunai, and a shelf full of books. By her bed there were a few orange jackets. 'Must be Naruto's.' Sasuke glared at the offending object. He hoped Naruto slept on the floor. He would end up having to kill the idiot if he slept with his woman.

Lying back Kira's scent was strongest here. Closing his eyes he felt his body start to relax. If he imagined it, he could almost feel her presence beside him. It wouldn't be too much longer till he made his plans to woo her. "Soon…" Sasuke murmured to himself opening his eyes once more.

Even if he could spend the rest of the day just resting in her room he knew he needed to speak to Kakashi, so standing from her bed he forced his way out of her room. Upon entering Kakashi's room he was quick to notice Kakashi was unconscious in bed and there were three jonin keeping a watchful eye over him.

"Why's Kakashi bedridden? And what are all you Jonin doing here...what the heck is going on?!" Sasuke demanded glaring at the instructors for answers.

"Oh nothing really…" Guy sensei called trying to act like it wasn't a big deal that they were there. That is until another jonin appeared at the door looking frantic.

"Is it true that Itachi showed up in town and that he's after Naruto and Kira...oh." Everyone one in the room besides Sasuke and Kakashi gave him a evil look. Sweat formed on his brow, he shouldn't have spoken without checking the room.

"Gah." Guy sensei smacked his head annoyed.

"Idiot."

Sasuke though, Sasuke was fueled with rage. Itachi was here...and he was looking for Kira?! Sasuke rushed out of the room and down the street jumping off building roofs to go faster. 'He's back here, in this village?!' Sasuke thought angrily. 'He's after Kira? Why would he be after her?!' Sasuke slowed to a stop outside of Ichiraku rushing inside.

"Hey mister! I know Naruto and Kira were here for lunch! Do you have any idea where he went afterwards?" Sasuke demanded the owner with urgency.

"Hmm, Naruto, eh. If I remember right, Lord Jiraiya came along and ate Ramen with them. They did mention going somewhere, uhh...something about some nearby down where there is a pleasure district and they went off together with Lord Jiraiya." The shop owner recalled hoping to make a sale.

"Jiraiya?"

"Lord Jiraiya, one of the prodigal shinobi three, well, he may look like an ordinary…" Sasuke stopped listening, he rushed out of the shop and ran as fast as he could out of the village. He had to save her. He had to protect her from him. His panic and fear made him run even faster than before.

Back with Naruto:

Naruto was excitedly looking over everything in this little district, Jiraiya was busy paying for the room, and Kira she had just left a message at home telling Kakashi that she got to the hotel safe. She'd call him later to let him know where they would go next.

She heard some arguing between the old man and Naruto and went to check it out. They were arguing over some girl. Jiraiya shoved Naruto, Kira, and the key towards the stairs. "Here, here's our room key! Get up to the room and practice manipulating your chakra! Eh!"

"WHAT?! You can't just drag us here and then just leave us!" Naruto screamed.

"Sure I can now go practice manipulating your chakra!" Jiraiya argued again pushing the two up the stairs. Kira stared confused feeling the hand on her back push her forcefully up a set of stairs. Glancing back he shot after the woman and started talking to her.

"He really is a pervert." She muttered walking up the stairs with her best friend.

"So not fair. He can't just ditch us like that." Kira shrugged, it was just a girl. Boys could be so weird when girls were involved. "He better be serious about supervising my training." Kira could only snicker at his pouty face, he had puffed out his cheeks and looked so mad as he concentrated.

"What's so funny?" Naruto whined slumping his shoulders as they walked into the small room with two twin beds.

"Nothing," She grinned slipping her shoes off at the entrance with Naruto. Her backpack was placed by the side of one of the beds and the two got to work on manipulating our chakra. Naruto's started to sprout to life popping up all over the room.

"This is so boring!" He finally wailed after half an hour of silence.

"Okay lets do some basic workouts, that should keep you from being super bored." Naruto grinned glad she was there, at least he had someone to talk to. Plus they haven't been able to train together in such a long time.

"Alright." He grinned jumping up off the bed. Though he couldn't, there was a knock on the door. The two glanced at the door confused. "Think it's Pervy sage?"

She shrugged staring at the door. "He might be trying to kick us out." Naruto scrunched up his nose in disgust.

"He probably got rejected already." They chuckled to each other. The rapping knocked kept coming. "I'm coming, I'm coming." the door opened and it wasn't Jiraiya.

'Sasuke?!' Naruto thought looking up shocked. 'No, it's not… so who?!'

"Itachi…?" Kira muttered moving towards the door looking up at the older male. It's been a while be she remembered him. Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's older brother. Itachi had his sharingan activated and had locked eyes with Naruto and moved on wards to her.

"Wonderful to see you again Kira." He called but he held no grin, his cold eyes sent shivers down her spine. 'You know him?!'

'Not anymore Naru, thats Sasuke's older brother!' Naruto's eyes widen with even more surprise.

"Hard to believe that such children carries the Nine Tailed and the Water Spirit." the blue skinned one called announcing himself.

Naruto backed up nervously 'How the heck do they know about us?!' Naruto thought frantically. He had the feeling of bad vibes take over him. They needed to get away. 'What're our chances of escape?' Kira glanced behind her towards the window. No latch.

They'd have to actually break the window open to escape. 'We'd need to get out through the bathroom window…'

"Naruto...Kira, why don't you come with us." There was such a compelling tone to his voice that Naruto and Kira both stepped out. Naruto was visibly shaking. His hand clutched onto her's. Itachi glanced over the two sizing them up.

"Hmm, Itachi. It would be bothersome to have them wandering off. Perhaps we should cut off one of their legs or something…" The blue skinned male started to remove his halberd. This wasn't good at all. She could feel Naruto's fear. She could practically taste it.

She had to be brave, she had to protect Naruto for once. "Long time no see..Sasuke." She saw behind Itachi shocked to see Sasuke standing there. What was Sasuke doing here? Not that she wasn't happy to see him but she couldn't help being confused. Kira had saw him angry before but this, Sasuke looked terrifying. If looks could kill…Lets just say she never wanted to see Sasuke like that ever again.

"Well Sharingan. And he looks an awful lot like you...who is that kid, Itachi?" the blue man grinned chuckling to himself.

"He's my brother."

"Thats funny, cuz the whole Uchiha clan was wiped out the way I heard it. By you." Now it all made sense. Sasuke's goal, his ambition was to kill Itachi in revenge for killing his family. Sasuke was getting angrier and angrier by the second the longer he stared into Itachi's eyes.

Sasuke shot forward activating his Chidori. The blue electric shocks surrounded his arm. "Just as you told me to. I've resented and hated you and lived solely to kill you!" You could see his skin crack and break apart.

Itachi easily was able to figure out what Sasuke had learned while Sasuke destroyed one side of the hotel. Screaming as he ran forwards. Wanting nothing more than to plunge his hand through Itachi and watch the life leave his eyes.

It was incredible. Itachi was able to deflect the Chidori and send a giant hole into the wall by just gripping onto Sasuke's arm.

"You're in the way." An audible snap was heard and Sasuke fell to the ground clutching his broken wrist to his chest.

"Sasuke!" Naruto and Kira screamed terrified for their friend. Kira racked her brain trying to figure out how to help him. Shield! He could use protection! She felt her chakra build up inside her. Focusing on Sasuke she made her hand signals but nothing happened.

Her chakra felt...missing. Eyes wide in surprise she saw that large halberd was out. "My Samehada cuts through and devours chakra too."

"Shit…"

"We don't need them whipping out and more jutsu forget the legs. Maybe I should start with those arms." He started to swipe his large sword down.

"Move!" Kira shot her arm out gripping the side of Naruto's collar pulling him back while he concentrated on more chakra. The two were saved by a toad appearing. Not as large as the one Naruto summoned when fighting Gaara but a human sized one.

"You don't know me at all. You should have done your homework, the Toad Sage Jiraiya falls victim to no woman's charm. Beauties drop for me like blossoms in a storm." Jiraiya commented looking smug with an unconscious woman on his shoulder. "A man like me isnt wired to just blindly follow a woman like a dog! When you get to my level, the women are the ones who writhe at my charm!"

Kira smacked her head in disgust. "Yeah, right! You're the one who got excited when a woman winked at you! This is no time to be acting so high and mighty! Pervy Sage!" Naruto accused pointing a finger at him.

"I really wish you wouldn't call me that in front of other people!" Jiraiya growled looking embarrassed.

"There are more important things right now!" Kira snapped growling loudly. Her eyes were starting to sting. 'Stay down, we'll get you away somehow...' She was worried for Sasuke right now. The guy was a pain but he risked his life to help them.

"No. This is my fight!"

'Sasuke are you crazy! He's got…'

"I have to kill him Kira."

His words shocked her. She's never heard him so desperate before. It was like this idea of killing Itachi wasn't just a fun idea. It was his very life's work. He had to kill Itachi.

The blue fish man started to chuckle. "Ahh, Lord Jiraiya, touted as one of the Legendary three great Shinobi. No matter how much of an unrivaled woman-chaser you are, I didn't think our delaying tactic would succeed that easily, but…"

"What you even know Pervy Sages true identity?!"

"Er...thats not really my true identity…"

"More pressing matters here!" Kira snapped again glaring at the fish man. Ideas started to form in her head how to defeat him. If only she had her chakra still. Damn him! She'd have to take some from Kaida…

"It seems you've undone the Genjutsu we placed on that woman." Kisame chuckled smirking to himself. Itachi kept a watchful eye on Jiraiya and the two holders.

"Placing a Saimingan Genjutsu on a woman to separate me from Naruto and Kira, what kind of coward would do something like that?" Jiraiya placed the girl on the ground letting her rest against the wall. "I know they're the ones you're really after." Sasuke growled glaring up at Itachi hatefully. He can't have her. He wouldn't let them take her.

"...What…" Thats all she could say. They wanted to take the two of them? Why? What for?

"Now I know how Kakashi knew. I see, so you were his informat." Kira's ears rang. Kakashi? Was he okay? What happened while they were gone?!

"Kakashi…" Panic set in her stomach, she needed to get home. She had to see that he was okay. It made sense now why he didn't pick up when she called. He should have been home. Why didn't she think anything of it?!

"To take the two with us is the supreme order given unto us by the Akatsuki." What in the world was the Akatsuki? The Toad disappeared in a poof the thud of the shark man's halberd sounded on the ground.

"What'd you do to my brother?" Kira snapped finding her voice again. Kakashi had to be fine, he was Kakashi after all. The two men were silent glancing down at her for the first time in a while. Kira felt her stomach churn with pain. Heat started to fill her system. The fiery feeling returned as it ran through her veins once again. The pain was quickly subsided. Her head pounded the more her nerves got the better of her. "What did you do to my brother?" Kira repeated through the pain.

"Enough…" Itachi's smooth words floated through the air. That could mean anything, she glanced at Sasuke but he looked away. No. Kakashi couldn't be hurt. He was Kakashi! Kakashi was like the best ninja in Konoha! He couldn't possibly be hurt. She needed to get home. She had to make sure he was okay.

"I can't give you Naruto or Kira." Jiraiya glared making direct eye contact with both men.

"Really…"

"Fine, just as well I'll take care of the two of you right here." Jiraiya promised.

Sasuke stood from the ground glaring up at his brother uttering for all of them to stay out of this. "The only one who'll do any eliminating is me." Sasuke was huffing and shaking with rage.

"Go away. I have absolutely no interest in you." Itachi barely glanced back at his brother not a care in the world.

"Sasuke!" His name slipped past her lips watching Itachi kick his brother back hard into the wall. Naruto started to rush forward till Sasuke spoke up.

"Naruto! Don't butt in! Mind your own business!" They could hear how much pain he was in, blood was dripping down his chin. Sasuke's body ached. He had to protect her. "This is my fight!" Slowly he was capable to get back to his feet.

Sasuke quickly shot forward but Itachi sent him down again. Barely making a sweat. Itachi…Itachi was practically killing him! This needed to end!

Kira couldn't hold back any longer. He needed help, Sasuke would probably be mad that they interfeired but he'd be alive! Naruto and Kira shot forward to help. It was a matter of seconds the walls turned pinkesh, almost like it was gooey flesh…

"Ninja art! Gamaguchi Shibari! Toad Mouth trap." Itachi and Kisame look at their surroundings feeling their feet start to sink into the flesh. "Too bad, Itachi, Kisame. You truly can't escape me now. You are in me."

Gross why'd he have to say it like that?

"I've just performed the Ninja Art of Gamaguchi Shibari. Toad Mouth Trap. You've just been swallowed by the rock dwelling giant toad of mount Myoboku. Welcome my friends to the belly of the beast." Itachi and Kisame had a look of panic cross their faces. They needed to leave. Now!

"Whats going on!?" Naruto stumbled feeling the weird warm floor start to stick around his shoes. Kira stumbled into Naruto. This felt disgusting! The wet ground made it hard to stay still if it wasn't trying to swallow you!

Seriously! Sasuke was stuck into the wall the wall practically swallowing him whole! "Naruto, Kira! Stay put! Don't worry, this is part of my jutsu." Jiraiya commanded in a startling voice. He sounded so serious, nothing like the man she'd met not a few hours ago.

"Kisame, lets go!" Itachi urged. His commanding tone sent shivers down Kira's spine as she struggled to stay calm. She watched Itachi and Kisame start to run off down the hall towards an exit. "No one's ever successfully escaped from this!" Jiraiya called mockingly.

As soon as they two were out of sight Kira shot forward ignoring Jiraiya and Naruto. He was stuck on the wall barely breathing. Grabbing his face she looked it over. He looked to be in so much pain. Leaning forward she rested her ear over where his heart would be. Seconds felt like hours but she heard it. A faint heartbeat. He was alive.

Looking up again his eyes were open, he looked so weak. "Sasuke!" The walls slowly returned to normal, releasing Sasuke from the wall. Naruto and Kira helped him sit back down to the ground. His eyes were dead. She didn't want to know what he went through. His hand circled around hers. Holding it lightly.

"You're okay…" she didn't know what to say. He went through hell and back fighting his brother and he still lost and all Kira could say is you're okay? Damn Kisame, damn him for taking it from her.

Thud.

"Huh?!" Naruto, Jiraiya, and Kira looked over at the kunai shoved into the hotel wall distracting the three for a moment.

"Dynamic Entry!"

"Guy?"

Slam! Guy sensei had leaped in feet first and kicked Jiraiya square in the face sending him to the ground. Kira ignored them as best as she could, she could only focus on Sasuke. What had Itachi done to him? His left arm and some of his ribs were horribly fractured.

She lifted his face staring at his tired dead eyes unsure what to do. He was here but at the same time...he was gone. It was like he just left his body. "He's blacked out from whatever jutsu that Itachi used on him." she murmured softly stroking his face to see if it would get any sort of reaction...nothing.

"Is Sasuke alright?" Naruto yelled fearfully. "You can help him can't you Kira? You've done it before." Jiraiya and Guy watched the two kids look Sasuke over nervously.

"I can heal his body but Itachi did something...I don't know how to snap him out of this. I-I wish I could." she whispered searching his face once again for any signs of life.

"What did Sasuke do to deserve this?!" Naruto growled shaking with rage, thoughts of Itachi filled his head and how he would exact his revenge. "Hey Pervy Sage! Change of plans. I was freaked earlier, but this time...This time I swear I'll hunt those black caped crooks down and beat them up!" His mind replayed the fight over and over again. "They've got some business with me, right?! Well I'll go see them then!" Naruto growled.

His anger was getting the best of him and he wasn't thinking of the outcome of barging in head first with no plan. "Naruto you can't. You need a plan." She urged looking back at the blonde haired male.

"I have a plan. It's to let them know they can't scare me and to teach them a lesson for hurting Sasuke!" Naruto argued back. His knuckles white from how hard he was clenching his fists.

"Humph. If you go now, you'll be killed. There's too much of a gap between you and them." Naruto growled glaring up at Jiraiya. "I mean it even took me a huge effort just now just to distance them from you."

Naruto exploded. They weren't listening to him! Those two needed to pay for what they did to Sasuke and Pervy Sage and Guy sensei weren't listening! "Are you saying that I have to keep running and hiding from them for the rest of my life?! Live each day shivering in fear?!" If they thought that then they were crazy! That would never happen.

"Shut. Your. Mouth." Jiraiya growled glaring heatedly at Naruto. "You are still weak. Forgive me Guy...I was trying to Honor this boy's feelings but I should have stepped in sooner." Guy looked to the ground nothing liking this but having to explain to the boy.

"Right now...Kakashi's almost bedridden from this same jutsu...and we don't know when he'll wake up…" Guy hesitantly looked over at the frozen girl on the ground. Her eyes were wide with fear, unshed tear starting to form. She didn't want to believe that Kakashi could be taken down by him. She hoped that it was a lie. That he was just trying to scare her. "I need to go home." Kira called staring at the ground her body shaking. Her brother got hurt because of her.

"Master Kakashi?!"

"You can't. If you return home they might come back for you." Jiraiya reminded her. He felt bad for her but going back would be stupid. Guy sighed staring down at the girl. He knew the pain she was going through all too well.

"When my pupil was injured...and such times as these, I truly wish that that medical specialist were still here with us." Guy spoke softly, his tone filled with sympathy and sadness. He knew this pain that the two were feeling.

"Thats why I'm about to go search for her." Jiraiya spoke referring to the person Guy was talking about. Naruto and Kira looked between the two confused. Who was her?

"You mean...you're really…"

"The third of the shinobi three. The Queen of Slugs and Elixirs." Jiraiya explained.

"This woman we were trying to help you find. She can heal Sasuke and Kakashi?" Jiraiya and Guy nodded. "Well what are we waiting for? We need to find her now!" Kira growled clenching her fists. She made a vow to herself right then. She wouldn't sit back and watch her friends and family suffer. She'd make this woman teach her everything there is to know about medicine and healing.