A.N. Wow, it's been almost two years since the last update, and a lot has changed. But, it's Itachi's birthday and I really felt like writing again. I can't promise when the next update will be, but I hope you all enjoy!
2 ½ Years Ago:
Tsukiko poured herself into the little flame, eyes straining to see when the blue light darkened into purple. But the merry color remained unchanged, dancing almost mockingly in her palm.
Sweat dripped down her nose and shoulders, her body hunched over the fire. Both heat and exhaustion lined her features, her cross-legged position in the training canyon unable to hide the tension in her spine.
The late afternoon sun blazed overhead, an occasional breeze doing little to lessen the oppressive heat of her flame.
'C'mon,' she willed, begging the fire to change color. Pouring more and more chakra into the task wasn't working, only serving to exhaust her. No, it was the concentration of pure energy that she needed, enough to increase the heat without changing the size. Easier said than done. It felt like she was trying to push a mountain, more likely to make a mistake and have the fire explode in her face than succeed.
Akihiro watched silently from his perch on a nearby rock, the faint breeze lifting the hair of his beard. It had been roughly two months since the young woman had come to him, practically broken in spirit. Meditation and rest had done little to soothe the emptiness in her expression, so they had resorted to intense training. And yet…
"You've hit a block," the old man said simply, his words pulling the woman from her task. The light in her hands died.
"A block?" Tsukiko repeated numbly, not comprehending. Never before had she had trouble developing her abilities, even with major setbacks like a lack of advanced ninjutsu. It took hard work, yes, but never had her progress been...blocked.
Nodding sagely, her sensei held up his palm, a small flame flickering in it while his red eyes regarded her with pity. "Fire, as I've made it clear, Tsukiko, is fueled by ambition. Even though the Gensogan allows us the ability to harness the elements with relative ease, the basic principles still apply. Actually, one could argue even more so for the Amayas. And you are the most linked by Fire, so it is representative of your nindo."
The flame grew slightly, darkened to blue, then deepened into purple. "This is a simple feat that you could accomplish with your Kigen Gensogan. And yet, I insist that you do it with your normal chakra only. Why?"
"So I don't rely on the Kigen Gensogan, which uses too much chakra," Tsukiko replied, trying to control her heavy breathing.
Akihiro inclined his head. "Precisely. Learn to control yourself this way first, then move on. You will do the same for the other elements. Fire is the hardest for me, and yet, I mastered it to the same level as the others. Why? Because only a fool forsakes his arsenal for a favored blade. What if it breaks? Then you are defenseless."
"I know all this," Tsukiko said, somewhat impatiently. "So What makes you think I have a block?"
"What I am trying to get across is intent, Tsukiko." Piercing eyes held her in place. "I had to push myself to learn Fire, and it was only possible because I fueled myself with ambition, something I do not normally strive for. Fire is ambition, and it is the easiest for you to master because you are so guided by your own ambition. So, I will turn the question to you."
Dismissing the flame, the old man raised an eyebrow, holding out his hands to her. "Why are you blocked?"
Blinking, the young woman followed the logic. "I'm blocked because...I lack ambition?" An angered smile broke through her dull expression, a flash of light that the old man hadn't seen since her initial visit.
"I'm trying to learn how to control black Fire so I can save my little brother from getting his body stolen by one of my most hated enemies," she practically spat, fists clenching. "And this Fire just so happens to be the ability granted to someone I would've died for, thanks to him killing one of our best friends. So, yeah, I think I'm pretty ambitious to want to master an ancient ability that no one has seen for decades."
If Akihiro took offense to her tone, he didn't show it. "Ambition isn't marked by the difficulty of the goal," he said gently, tucking his arms into the sleeves of his robe. "But by how badly we want it. Tsukiko, the problem here is your drive. You don't want this enough."
"I don't—" she couldn't even finish, body shaking with rage. "How can you say that?! I don't want to help my brother?!" Her gaze darkened, red sparking to life.
"I'm sure you want to help Sasuke, Tsukiko," the old man responded calmly. "But you've been hurt and you aren't processing it properly. For example, not once since you came here have you used Sasuke's name."
Red eyes faded to black, the young woman looked at him with shock, mouth falling open to defend herself. But no noise left her lips.
The tension thickened, Akihiro seeing the anger that had been weighing the woman down now recentering on him as a target.
"And not once during this conversation has your Kigen Gensogan awakened. Shouldn't your protective nature be surging to defend Sasuke? Why is that not the case, Tsukiko?"
"So what?!" She shouted, standing suddenly. Turning in a circle with her arms up, she finally released the weight in her chest. "So what if it hurts to say his name? So what if he believed in that stupid snake more than me? So what if he left me?! I'll be fine, right? That's what everyone expects from perfect Tsukiko, always able to get over it!"
She glared at her sensei, hands beginning to flicker with light. "Fine, maybe I'm not as motivated as I could be, but I'll get over it! I have to! Otherwise, what, do I lie on the ground and cry for years?! No! He. Left. Me!" Her voice broke on the last word, eyes welling up with tears.
Akihiro watched the young woman furiously wipe her face, sorrow evident in his aged features. "We're not talking about Sasuke anymore, are we?"
"I…" The young woman trailed off, her chest aching. "I don't know. All I know is that two of my families were massacred, and two Uchihas I would die for cast me aside like garbage. I can't take any more heartbreak."
"I've always thought it quite tragic that we teach our shinobi to be emotionless," Akihiro mused aloud to himself. "On the job, of course! But in your own home, in your own village, in your own heart? Such things are dangerous to one's mental stability."
Stretching, the old man stood. "Tsukiko, this Itachi Uchiha was your best friend, correct?"
"More than that," she whispered. "My everything."
"I see. And he did unspeakable things to your family, correct?" The man placed his hand on her shoulder.
Tsukiko couldn't meet his eyes. "Yes." Her voice was small, afraid.
"Do you still love him?"
Ah. There it was. The question she continually asked and changed her answer to. Hesitating, she asked herself once more, knowing that a lie wouldn't necessarily set her back. The right answer was "no," of course, and letting her sensei give her a pep talk so she could sit on the hard ground and try to force the flames to change once more.
Looking up, she met Akihiro's gaze. "Yes."
Panic flooded her body. 'What?!' The truth had been pulled from her mouth without her consent, and there was no snatching it back.
The old man nodded. "Of course you do. Love doesn't just vanish, Tsukiko, nor can you simply shut it off. You wouldn't be in so much pain if that wasn't true."
"But it's wrong!" She protested, clutching the sides of her head. "After everything he's done, why do I still feel like this?! Why does it hurt so much?!"
Gently prying her hands away from her head, Akihiro was silent for a long moment. "I think that the answer to that is something you have to understand for yourself. What is clear to me is that we need to take a break for today. Go wash up and meditate. I'll make dinner."
The young woman nodded silently, gaze far away as she began walking back to the direction of the temple.
Akihiro watched her leave, stroking his long beard as he thought to himself. 'There's too much self-hatred for her to progress. She needs to forgive herself if she wants to be able to master Black Fire.' Conjuring up a flame on the tip of his finger, he watched with a frown as the colors changed swiftly to blue, then purple, then gradually white. The strain was far greater than it should have been.
'There's not much time left. For Sasuke, or for me.'
NOW:
Neji turned his Byakugan to the enemy, eyes widening slightly. "Unreal," he murmured, the word slipping out unintentionally at the mass of chakra swirling within the enemy. "His chakra level is off the charts!" Glancing back at his team, he frowned. "I've never seen anyone but Naruto with that much chakra."
"That much?" Lee questioned in disbelief.
The adults didn't seem to hear, both the blue-skinned man and Masuko looking back at Guy with incredulous expressions.
'Did he just ask who Kisame was?!'
"Guy, you've fought against Kisame before!" Masuko growled, keeping one eye on the man. He would take any moment to strike, as she was well aware. Her heart pounded in her chest at the close proximity to her former lover, a reaction she tried to convince herself was simply the adrenaline of an upcoming fight. Nothing more.
"Your memory is as bad as your haircut," Kisame chuckled, nearly pulling a grin from the purple-haired woman.
Guy raised his large eyebrows. "Can it be that you're—"
The shark-like man smirked, grip shifting on the sword hefted across his shoulders. "You finally remembered, have you?" He could see the lift of Masuko's lips in his peripheral vision, and tried to ignore the small sliver of satisfaction flowing through him.
"You've met me somewhere before?" Guy asked seriously.
A pause...
Smirk shifting to a more dangerous baring of sharpened teeth, Kisame's voice held a new edge to it, posture shifting subtly. "It's no wonder you're called a beast. Your intelligence is certainly sub-human. Well," he chuckled, smile not reaching his white eyes. "I'll refresh your memory soon enough."
"Aren't we forgetting someone?" Masuko asked, pulling Shachisodo free. "I've been dying to try this thing out on a real opponent. Besides…" Her fang flashed as she stepped forward, cocky grin a contrast to the frost in her gaze. "I think you and I need to have a chat about this missing Kazekage."
"So he's an Akatsuki," Neji summarized, reading the situation.
Kisame laughed, striking in the same moment. He threw Samehada spinning into the air, clapping his hands together. "Water Style: Exploding Water Shockwave!" He threw his head back, body contorting strangely as it bent backwards.
"Get ready!" Guy ordered.
"Alright!" Lee responded.
With a cry, the enemy jerked forward, water surging from his mouth. Quickly, the surrounding area was flooded, and Kisame stood at the top of a fountain of water, reaching up in time to catch his sword.
Masuko hefted her weapon, a familiar surge of exhilaration running down her spine. Already, the two plateaus they were standing on were surrounded by water, making movement difficult.
'At least, for anyone not skilled in Water chakra.'
Kisame's gaze fixed on hers, laughter escaping him. "Ready or not, here I come!" He slid down the fountain on a huge wave, heading straight for her.
The purple haired woman fixed her stance, digging her feet into the ground. "Ready!"
"You're not really Itachi Uchiha."
Outwardly, the clone showed no sign of having heard her statement. Miles away however, the real Itachi couldn't stop the small frown that crossed his features, a sign of displeasure. How did she always know?
Privately, a tiny part of him warmed that after everything, she could tell him from a fake. But the larger problem at hand was how he was going to handle this. Tsukiko might underestimate the technique they were using, a fatal mistake if he wasn't careful. Even at thirty percent power, it wouldn't be difficult to kill at least two of the team. The pink-haired girl was the weakest, he could tell at a glance. The older woman seemed capable enough, but the dark-haired girl was distracted and fidgety. All of them were carefully avoiding his direct gaze, except Tsukiko, but it wouldn't be hard to catch them in a Genjutsu. Especially Naruto, who was glaring daggers at his chest.
"What do you mean that's not Itachi Uchiha?" Naruto asked angrily. "Is it a shadow clone?"
"No," Tsukiko's void-like eyes carefully considered the figure before her, pulling herself back in control. "For your sake, treat him like the real thing. I don't exactly know how strong this imitation is, but even half power, or a third of his power could be easily fatal."
The real Itachi's eyebrow quirked upwards in surprise. He had underestimated her yet again, sure that she would be blinded by her rage, especially now that Sasuke was gone too. He scanned her features, unsettled that he was having more difficulty reading her. The strain on his eyes doubled as he focused to get a clear picture of her expression.
'She cut her hair…'
For her part, Tsukiko didn't break eye contact as she smiled darkly. "Use this as practice, you three. If you think you can beat Itachi, start with this one. For you, he might as well be the real thing, so don't underestimate him."
Granny Chiyo nodded, stepping forward. "He's likely controlling this version." Studying him as best as she could without meeting his eyes, she let out an interested hum. "So...that's the one. The child who wiped out his entire clan."
Itachi finally spoke, ignoring the old woman. "Tsukiko...Kakashi...and Naruto. It's been a while." There was a slight mockery to his tone, a pleasant, almost friendly quality.
Not taking the bait, Tsukiko studied the imitation. He hadn't changed much, but appeared slightly skinnier than she remembered. That quivering tension she had felt before, a faint vibration, was a little stronger.
Concern for Itachi's health swept through her, followed almost instantly by resignation. Before, she might have felt guilt and self hatred. Now, though…
'Just accept your feelings and separate.' It was the easiest way to cope, and also kept her thinking clearly. Like Itachi, she had to be cold and calculating. Not a hothead.
Naruto, on the other hand…
"I wasn't enough for you, huh?" The blond boy shouted. "You had to go after Gaara as well!"
Tsukiko could practically hear the grinding of Chiyo's teeth as the girl clenched her jaw. Her attention never wavered from her target, however, looking for any twitch of his muscles to signal an attack. The white-haired jounin had to trust that her student would remember her discipline and wait for an order.
With the gasping death rattle of the Kazekage still in his ears, Itachi said nothing. His intelligent gaze picked up on the way the dark-haired girl tensed at the name, reading her anger easily. Resignation sat like a rock in his chest. Another child being eaten away by death and violence, now directly caused by him.
Naruto pointed at the older ninja. "I'll destroy every last one of you!"
Finally, movement. Itachi's hand shifted, rising from his side.
Kakashi was the first to speak, throwing his hand out to distract the others from watching Itachi. "Everyone. Whatever you do, don't look him in the eyes!"
Lowering his head, Itachi's eyes narrowed. They were making a basic mistake.
Tsukiko's attention never wavered, looking at him as a whole as his right hand lifted to his face in the familiar two-fingered hand sign. His gaze locked on hers.
A faint whisper of chakra tried to latch on to her mind, but was broken just as quickly. Itachi was prying at her defenses, trying to see if he could get past her churning chakra. All he needed was a hundredth of a second, but he couldn't even get that.
Silently, Tsukiko dared him to switch to Mangekyo, wanting to see how fast her chakra was spinning. Faster than the thousandth of a second necessary to catch her in a Tsukuyomi? Maybe.
"Itachi's Genjutsu is a visual jutsu," Kakashi explained quickly, taking advantage of the mental showdown happening before him. He hadn't planned on facing Itachi, and his team was ill-prepared to fight the Sharingan at this level. "Which means, avoid eye contact with him and his jutsu can't take effect."
"Yeah, that I know," Naruto confirmed nervously, sweat rolling down his temples. In spite of his bluster, he'd gotten a small demonstration of Itachi's power, and knew better than to just lash out.
"Whatever we need to do to hurry this up," Chiyo muttered, her hourglass weighing her down more with each second. She didn't have time to mess with this guy!
"Okay, but then, how are we supposed to fight him?" Sakura asked.
Tsukiko tuned out Kakashi's explanation, her gaze locked on Itachi's. She was beginning to feel some strain, chakra pulsing behind her eyes painfully. Her Kigen wasn't meant for long uses, but there was no other option save fighting blindly again. And that hadn't been enough last time. If this was merely meant to be a battle of wills and mental fortitude, she couldn't back down even the slightest. Releasing her Kigen would be her loss. On the bright side, it was doubtful this imitation could use Mangekyo, so their chances of ending this sooner rather than later rose significantly.
His other hand moved, completing the Shadow Clone hand sign. Was he mocking them?
"But that's like fighting with one arm tied behind your back," Sakura growled, having just heard that she had to watch his feet and body rather than face.
"The Uchiha Clan, eh?" Lady Chiyo frowned. "It's been a long time since I've gone up against the Sharingan."
Naruto gasped, looking over at the old woman with wide eyes.
"Don't look so surprised," she scolded, her voice low. "I've been around, and I know there's more than one way to fight a visual jutsu like that."
"Yeah?" Naruto cocked his head. "Like what then?"
Tsukiko was barely listening, hardly needing a lesson in breaking basic genjutsu. It boiled down to numbers. Normally, a Sharingan could be defeated by attacking the user or by disrupting the chakra flow of a teammate. She could see the plan being outlined, but it would be harder than the old woman thought.
Itachi's chakra was prodding at her sharply, all traces of subtlety gone now. He was likely trying to produce enough strain that she had to revert to her usual Gensogan, and it wasn't ineffective.
"So, while one of us fights him face to face as a distraction, the rest of us will mount a series of attacks from the rear, where his Sharingan can't reach."
"Good plan," Sakura murmured, pulling her gloves tight.
"I guess you learn a lot of stuff if you live long enough," Naruto smirked.
"Tsukiko-sensei is already keeping his attention," Chiyo pointed out impatiently. "So let's go!"
"Wait!" Kakashi held an arm out to stop her.
The dark-haired Chunin stopped, taking a deep breath. While she trusted the more experienced member of the group, there wasn't time to debate strategy. "What's wrong? It's obvious he's trying to buy time, and we're playing right into his hands by not attacking!"
She shifted. 'Tsukiko-Sensei is using a lot of chakra, and we're not doing anything!'
The older Chiyo glared at Kakashi from the corner of her eye. "Do you have a problem with my way of fighting the Sharingan? Are you suggesting my methods won't work?"
"No." Kakashi's voice was firm. "They work fine against ordinary genjutsu, but what we're dealing with here is something much more complicated."
"Meaning what?"
"He uses Mangekyo Sharingan," the silver-haired man explained. "It's far more powerful than any other visual jutsu. It takes less than a second, but if he hits you with that jutsu, it'll be the longest second you ever lived." Kakashi paused, voice heavy with remembered agony.
"Time itself gets warped. What seems like a moment in the real world can be hours or days to someone he has trapped." His jaw tightened. "I know. I wandered around in it for three days, and lost consciousness for more than a week." He looked back at his team, pinning them in place. "It's not a genjutsu that can be broken just like that."
'We might have to leave this to Tsukiko,' Kakashi thought, narrowing his visible eye. 'I'm not ready to use that move yet, especially if there are other enemies up ahead.'
"That does sound tricky," Lady Chiyo admitted, sounding somewhat excited. "What a troublesome fellow this is."
Itachi dropped his hands, possibly bored with keeping Tsukiko on edge. She didn't allow her gaze to break his, registering the movement but not following it. "Very good, Kakashi," he praised in a monotone voice. "I see your sojourn in my Tsukuyomi wasn't wasted." Unblinking red eyes never left hers.
In truth, the Leaf Rogue was fascinated by the void-like appearance of the Kigen Gensogan, so stark that he had no trouble seeing it despite his somewhat limited vision. While he deeply regretted whatever Tsukiko had gone through to unlock her new ability, he couldn't help the sense of pride and satisfaction he felt at her achievement. It was always thrilling to have an opponent able to match his moves, but it was different with Tsukiko. No fear or wariness in her expression, just single-minded determination to keep her team safe. It was like when they would spar as children, wanting to outdo each other but also taking pleasure in seeing themselves grow stronger.
'What could we have done together had I chosen differently?' The question came unbidden, a daydream he seldom allowed for himself. But having the woman he loved before him, fearlessly staring him down, Itachi couldn't help the wistful fantasy. Perhaps it was the fact that he could detect no hatred in her expression, nothing to show that she had severed her ties to him. Or maybe it was the knowledge that, at best, he had little more than half a year of life left.
Either way, Itachi was so distracted that he barely heard Kakashi's response, the older man snapping him out of his momentary daze.
"Oh, believe me, I learned something else as well," Kakashi said threateningly.
Tsukiko cocked her head slightly to hear better, Itachi's gaze leaving hers. For a short moment there, imperceptible to anyone other than herself, he'd almost looked...soft. Like when he'd returned to the Village and she'd confronted him. There had been a distant fondness in his gaze, only made more evident by how cold he'd become with his attention on Kakashi.
'Maybe…' The thought was too much to put into words, but...was he like her? There was zero possibility that all of his feelings for her had been fake, so maybe...was he also resigned to the fact that he cared for her, ignoring it to gain power? Those few moments that didn't make sense, the horror on his face after she'd been wounded that night, the agonized expression at the Village, and the fondness she had just seen...they would all make sense with that train of thought.
"There's a price to pay for using that Sharingan, isn't there?" The jounin challenged, reminding Tsukiko that her love life would have to be given further thought later.
As the wave came crashing towards them, the Leaf nin leapt into the air, Masuko diving forward to slice her weapon across Kisame's form.
At the last second, he ducked into the wave and avoided her entirely, the water carrying him out of her range.
'What?' Masuko landed neatly on a rock, confusion clear. He dodged her? Since when?! Kisame never missed a chance to use Samehada...Did he sense that her new weapon was a threat?
"You guys! Look out!" Tenten was the first to notice that Kisame was turning to crash into them again, once more at the top of the water.
"How 'bout it?," he asked mockingly. "Like it so far?"
Waves continuously forced the Leaf ninja into the air, but Kisame stayed out of reach. Even more infuriating, his attention was mostly focused on Guy.
Masuko's eyes narrowed, biting back her rage at being ignored. Something was up.
"Where in the world is all this water coming from?" Tenten asked in disbelief.
"This technique of his requires a huge amount of chakra," Neji attempted to explain.
The Rogue ninja laughed, gracefully disappearing under the waves, the unseen threat now far more dangerous.
Lee surveyed the blue landscape carefully. "Where do you think he is?"
As soon as the question left his lips, it was answered.
Water exploded in front of Guy and Tenten's position, but all five of the Leaf nin had to leap out of the way of the forceful assault.
The purple-haired jounin felt time slow, her mind racing ahead to see the plan. Guy was too close to the top of the wave, and she could already see the tip of Samehada.
"Water Style: Ice Step!" Her hand signs were one-handed, something she'd been working on to ensure her sword was always ready to swing. With a cry, she redirected her body to fall forward. At the last second, just as her right foot touched the crest of the water, the liquid solidified.
Using her already melting platform as a boost, Masuko threw herself forward with as much force as she could muster, Shachisodo practically singing with excitement to meet the sword it had been designed to destroy.
Guy managed to dodge the attack, a smirk appearing as he readied himself to counter. His foot slammed through the shark-man, who exploded into cold liquid.
"It was only a water clone!"
Kisame appeared on his left, deadly sword hefted over his shoulder. "I guess you'll never get the chance to remember me." A terrifying cackle escaped him as he swung down.
Only to turn at the last second and meet the blade of the purple-haired woman who continued to place prominently in his thoughts. It was instinct rather than anything else that made him turn, meeting a near-feral grin with a string of curses. He'd done his best to avoid contact, but the game was up.
Masuko's eyes seemed to dim, her exhilaration dying almost instantly. "What the hell?!" She leapt back, not even bothering to unleash her chain and get under Kisame's guard.
"What's wrong?" Neji shouted, unable to see any obvious issues.
Inhaling deeply, Masuko struggled to contain her rage and hurt. "You couldn't even face me yourself? What is this? I've never known you for a coward, Kisame Hoshigaki!"
His jaw clenched, her words cutting deeper than he expected. "I'm afraid it's not up to me, Masuko. My chakra is needed elsewhere." Why was he giving her an excuse? Why did he feel so bad seeing her disappointment?
'Anyone would feel bad,' he argued with himself. 'She looks like a kicked dog, swinging around that new fancy sword of hers with excitement. She wanted to show off.'
It didn't help.
Masuko clenched her fists, chakra sparking. "I deserve better than, what, thirty percent of your time? I'm that low on your radar, huh?" He should know what an insult this was!
"Masuko-Sensei!" Tenten shouted her name, waving her arm. "What are you talking about?!"
Pointing her insulted weapon at the fraud, Masuko snarled a response. "That's not the real Kisame, or the real Samehada. That thing loves my chakra, and it didn't so much as twitch when Shachisodo hit it. And this?" She gestured around them. "I've seen Kisame use this jutsu countless times, and we are looking at a far reduced amount of water."
"Are you kidding me?" Neji shouted, his Byakugan practically overwhelmed with the chakra present.
"So this...clone," Masuko spat. "Is using a fake sword and, if I had to guess, around a third of Kisame's chakra."
Paying no attention to the exclamations of disbelief, her turquoise eyes narrowed with barely controlled rage. "So, Fake-Kisame...what are we gonna do about this?"
Even as he hesitated, his enemy did not.
Guy initiated a complex series of kicks, catching Kisame off-guard. "Lee!"
As expected, the boy knew what he wanted and aimed his kick at the sword. Real or not, it posed a serious threat. "Leaf Rising Wind!"
"What?!" Fake-Kisame turned back too late. The blow was too strong for the distracted clone, and the sword was sent flying.
Recovering, the rogue landed on the water-covered ground, his jutsu beginning to become less and less effective as the canyon floor eagerly absorbed as much liquid as possible.
Neji was ready, assuming his attack stance. "Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!" While not as effective as hitting the target directly, the force was enough to throw his enemy back.
Kisame's eyes widened with surprise, but he kept his balance, digging his heels into the dirt even as he was pushed backwards. Catching a glimpse of something, he grinned as he reached up, grasping his sword and immediately forcing it into the ground to prevent his being slammed into a plateau.
The assault wasn't over, and his grin immediately faded into shock as he barely blocked a large spiked ball. Something white caught his attention. 'Paper Bomb!'
It exploded, sending the kunai that acted as the spikes of the ball flying in multiple directions. When the smoke cleared, there was no sign of the clone.
"Damn, he got away," Tenten cursed.
Masuko growled. "Not for long." Glancing back up at Guy, surveying the water once more, she nodded approvingly. "Good teamwork there. You four work well together."
Guy's smile sparkled. "Hard work and the power of youth, my friend!"
'Glad he's having fun.' This fight was now an insult to her very presence, but her pride wasn't the important thing here. It was making sure Chiyo got through this alright, which meant that the Sand kid had to survive. And to ensure that, she was going to rip this clone-thing to ribbons.
The older jounin and his younger look-a-like stood on the water while the other three kept a higher advantage on the stone.
"Where's he hiding this time?" Guy asked, smile slipping slightly.
"Neji?" Tenten turned to her friend. "Any sign of him?"
The Hyuga nodded. "In front of us and coming closer."
Lee leaned forward. "I have found him."
Slowly, with zero attempt at stealth or surprise, the blue-skinned man emerged from the water. "I'll grant you brats this much," he growled. "You're more trouble than I thought you'd be. In fact, you're incredibly annoying."
Masuko snorted. 'Yeah, like they didn't just catch you off guard three times in quick succession. What are you doing that's taking your attention away?' She had no experience with whatever jutsu he was using to create a physical clone, and that made her wary. What other tricks was he capable of now?
Guy started, a sweat drop rolling down his cheek. "Wait a minute...The Water jutsu and the massive sword. Are you…"
"Don't tell me your memory is finally stirring in that tiny brain of yours," the rogue snarled, fully emerged at that point.
The dark-haired man glanced away, expression bemused. "I feel certain we've met before."
Kisame didn't move, blink, or say anything, waves of violence rolling off of him in a menacing way. He was near his breaking point. Soon, chakra or not, he was going to get serious.
Tenten sighed at her sensei's unreliable memory. "I'd think this guy would be pretty memorable."
"No kidding," Masuko muttered.
"Listen to that...even your own followers are beginning to wonder if you can remember anything." Kisame bared his teeth in a manner eerily similar to the purple-haired ninja.
At some point or another, Neji, Tenten, and Lee had all trained with Masuko, who'd offered a unique challenge as a sword-wielder. And all of them had seen that expression just before things got serious.
Hefting his massive sword effortlessly, the rogue continued. "Well, let's see what we can do. Enough pain, and maybe then you'll remember."
"Shit." Masuko readied her stance. Thirty percent or not, Kisame was still a major threat. He hadn't quite completely fallen into his killing mode, but things were getting close. Better to finish now than let one of her teammates get hurt.
'Guy, do me a favor and use your damned brain for something other than positive affirmations and exercise programs!'
The eyes of the statue were almost all the way open, signaling the near end of the child Kazekage. His strangled breathing echoed even as it weakened further into a labored gasp, body attempting to hold on to his life force.
The Leader looked at his members somewhat impatiently. Not having Orochimaru and now having Itachi and Kisame distracted were slowing them down considerably. He took a moment to study the younger male, his red eyes seemingly far away, distant. Itachi Uchiha was also a limited ally, his time nearly up. A shame. Refusing medical treatment would ultimately be his downfall.
While he didn't know much about the young man's past, or why he seemed so intent on doing the bare minimum to prolong his life, it was out of his hands. Right now, he only needed to concern himself with the Uchiha's usefulness to him.
"It appears Itachi has made contact with the enemy," he commented, sliding his gaze over to the red-eyed man's partner. "And I see that Kisame is engaged in combat."
Hidan made an irritated noise, quick to let everyone know he was displeased.
The Leader closed his strange eyes, content for the moment. They were nearly done.
"There's a price to pay for using that Sharingan, isn't there?" The grey-haired jounin's visible eye narrowed slightly, attempting to keep attention on himself and give Tsukiko a break. 'That new skill of hers probably won't last much longer.'
"You had to quit before the battle was over," he continued. Kisame Hoshigaki had said as much at the conclusion of their fight in the Leaf. "So in addition to using up a lot of chakra, you risk permanent damage to your eyes every time you use that Jutsu, don't you, Itachi?"
'I'll have to make sure Tsukiko isn't risking anything…' He allowed himself a moment to take his eyes off Itachi and check her expression. Surprise, but not fearful. That didn't mean much, but it was a moment of reassurance that she knew what she was doing.
Tsukiko's gaze widened slightly. 'Maybe that's the source of the trembling?' Maybe there was a large side effect of so much power?
Akihiro had said nothing about the effects of using Kigen Gensogan, only that she could die from draining herself too quickly. So it was safe to assume that she could push herself a little further.
No expression changed on the clone's face, but there was a slight increase in the tension between the two men. Far away, the real Itachi tried to pass off his clenched jaw as irritation at the older man's intelligence and perception. The churning emotion in his gut had nothing to do with the way Kakashi had glanced over at Tsukiko, something he himself had done in the same moment and had corrected before anyone noticed. What did it matter to him? This was what he wanted after all.
Tsukiko had always admired the grey-haired jounin, and he seemed to have a soft spot for her. Of course with Itachi out of the way, the two would grow closer. That was fine. Completely fine.
"You seem to have learned a great deal from our one brief encounter," he replied, voice deeper now, anger slipping through.
Kakashi's visible eye closed as his tone became mocking. "I wonder…" His left hand reached for the headband covering his Sharingan, lifting it. "Just how much damage has already been done to your eyesight?"
Both clone and real Itachi reacted, the clone closing its eyes while Itachi jerked back slightly in surprise. He was quick to recover, however, glaring at the man with a new calculation in mind. 'Kakashi...Could it be that you…?'
Swiftly, the dark-haired rogue reordered his battle priorities. Tsukiko was still the largest threat, but now he was positive that his clone would not be nearly enough for this fight. To stall them much longer, he had to be clever.
That is, if the white-haired woman stopped distracting him.
Tsukiko covered her mouth with her hand to hide her horrified gasp, thankful that her teammates couldn't see the crack in her mask. Part of her, the younger Tsukiko, demanded that she run over to Itachi and check his features for obvious injuries, then fret over him as she'd done countless times.
'It's so difficult not holding that side back.' Forcing her feelings behind a wall had always worked, but that wall also blocked any chance of protecting Sasuke. She just had to deal with all these confusing emotions and hope no one called her out on it.
Even with his limited eyesight, the movement of her hands and the way her head had jerked to the side gave her away. He'd seen that look before, every time they'd been separated on an Anbu mission and he'd come home with even a scrape. She was worried about him.
'Focus on Kakashi,' he reminded himself, emotions clashing within his chest, somewhere between agony and joy, guilt and love. The knowledge that he and his foolish younger brother hadn't broken her kind nature, that she still cared about him even after everything was...humbling. And exhilarating, in a twisted way.
Kakashi rubbed his head, the picture of casualness. "I underestimated you last time, I admit it. But I'm not the fool I used to be." He opened both eyes, red Sharingan meeting Itachi's gaze openly. Brazen, even for confronting a thirty percent clone. "Things aren't gonna go the same way this time. I promise you that."
Itachi believed him, to a point. It was clear the older man had a trick up his sleeve, and the Uchiha's mind had already leapt to the most impossible possibility, recentering his plan around the slim chance that the man had somehow overcome all expectations.
One thing that was expected, however, was that Naruto, given the slightest provocation, immediately spoke up. "Yeah, and don't go thinking I'm the same kid either! A lot of things have changed since then."
'Not enough.'
"Naruto," Tsukiko's voice was deadly calm. "Leave him to Kakashi and I. You are still overlooking too much. You can't just focus on the Sharingan, or else you're dead."
'Even Kakashi is about to make that mistake.' Itachi was a master of Genjutsu, after all. And that stretched beyond his Sharingan. It didn't matter if you weren't caught by his eyes if you were trapped in other ways. And Naruto was especially susceptible to Genjutsu.
The blond boy glared at her, then turned to his sensei. "Not again! Not that kind of teamwork where we sit back and do nothing!"
"No." Kakashi didn't look back, voice firm. "This time, you cover me."
Both his students looked confused, and Chiyo's lips pressed into a thin line.
"I wish I could say you guys go on ahead, I can handle this alone," the older jounin explained grimly. "But I never make the same mistake twice."
Tsukiko risked a glance at her own student. "Just a bit longer Chiyo. I promise."
The girl nodded, trusting her sensei and allowing some of her stress to slide away. To save Gaara, this man needed to be stopped.
In truth, she wished she could spend more time studying the one directly responsible for her sensei's pain and her absence from their lives, feeling guilty at the thought of what Tsukiko must be going through. Especially since the man looked so much like Sasuke. But...the sand was hardly moving now, less than fifty grains wobbling unsteadily along. If it stopped completely, it didn't outright mean that Gaara was dead, but his condition would likely be beyond saving.
'I haven't gotten to tell him how I feel,' she thought, clutching at the necklace tightly. 'Please, I have to tell him!'
Tsukiko could feel Chiyo's desperation rising, and shoved her own ego down. As much as she wanted to face this fake Itachi herself, it would be faster if it was both her and Kakashi. Somewhere deep in her heart, she had wanted to show off, to defeat this clone and prove to Itachi that she was worth more than he'd thought. She was a threat, someone he should have eliminated when he had the chance. In a messed up way, she was still seeking his approval.
'But now's not the time for that. Gaara needs us!'
Masuko watched Kisame carefully, waiting for the light to leave his eyes. Like a predator, once his gaze became focused on the hunt, there was no going back without a fight.
"Let's see then…" The rogue seemed nonchalant, but his cold smile said otherwise.
"Time to launch a counterattack," Guy announced. "Let me and Masuko go in against him first. As soon as his guard is down, you three move in."
At the chorus of "yes"s, Masuko bit her lip. She'd never fought a talented swordsman in tandem with a physical attacker. It went against the nobility of the fight, and her own personal code. She could practically see her father shaking his head at the thought of a fight with swords being unequal.
'He broke the code first by not honoring my challenge,' she argued with herself. 'I need to get this done quickly, so I have no choice!'
It didn't help.
Kisame's grip tightened on his sword. "Are you fool enough to think you can get me to lower my guard that easily?" He chuckled darkly. "I won't try to talk you out of it. I'll let you learn the hard way." He darted forward, one eye on Guy, the other on Masuko.
Guy leapt over the first swing of the sword, which switched directions in time to block Masuko's strike. She was pushed back, allowing space for Neji to take her spot.
"Gentle Fist!"
The fake Samehada blocked the attack, but Neji was already gone, Lee attacking from above.
Not fooled in the slightest, Kisame sliced at the boy, his sword easily crushing the wooden guards Lee held.
Kisame laughed, actually enjoying himself a bit. 'Maybe this won't be so terrible.' He could tell Masuko was bothered by the fight, but decided not to call her out on it. He'd done more than enough damage to her already.
Lee threw the splintered wood pieces away in disgust, turning to Masuko. "He has a point. He swings that huge sword with such ease! And getting through his guard is just impossible."
"You should see the real Samehada," Masuko nodded. "Lee, you would've taken a lot of damage just then. All of you, be more careful to guard yourself even when attacking."
"Yes, Masuko-Sensei!"
Tenten opened her large green scroll. "If close-range combat won't work…" There was a large puff of smoke, then two dozen kunai bolstered with fluttering paper bombs launched themselves forward.
The wrapping of Kisame's weapon caught most of the kunai, the bombs activating and exploding with a large cloud of dust.
"How'd you like that?" The brown-haired girl asked victoriously.
Laughter boomed as the dust settled, an unharmed enemy sneering at her. "I missed it. Did you do something?"
"That sword's getting on my nerves," Tenten muttered, jaw clenching.
"Of course!" Guy's eyes widened. "That sword of his!"
"Ah, do you remember at last?" Kisame asked dubiously.
"One more chance, Bowl-Cut," Masuko muttered.
"That weapon!" The Leaf jounin pointed at Fake Samehada. "That's yours, right?"
"Whose else could it be?" Neji asked, exasperated.
"Aha!" Guy looked proud of himself. "But there's a big difference between knowing, and being absolutely certain."
"Wise words, Guy-Sensei," Lee agreed. "So simple and yet so full of profound meaning."
"Give me a break," Tenten groaned. "Why do you get this excited about everything he says?"
"Forget it, Tenten," Neji sighed, shaking his head in time with Masuko.
The clone smiled ruefully. "I said you had the intelligence of a sub-human beast, but a beast could run circles around your brain."
"Let's go!" Guy shouted, unfazed by the insult as he shot forward. Leaping off the water, he flew into the air. "Dynamic Action!" Flipping forward, he added momentum to his punch.
Kisame managed to block it with his sword, and the two quickly exchanged a series of blows, Guy providing most of the offense with a variety of kicks and punches. In one masterful movement, he kicked at the clone's face, pulling his foot back to wrap around the handle of the sword and throwing all his weight backwards to separate weapon from master.
The female jounin scoffed to herself. In the real fight, that would have done Guy some lethal damage. Samehada was nothing if not a testy weapon.
"Attack!"
Masuko took advantage of the moment to melt into the water, using an old Mist strategy. The other three all came from above, thinking they finally had an opening.
But Kisame was faster. "Water Clone Jutsu!"
Three more versions of him appeared, guarding his back and sides while he watched the water, quick eyes noticing that the purple-haired woman was nowhere to be seen.
"Watch out!" Neji warned, too late.
Guy's eyes widened, and he rushed forward to help.
The three younger ninja each had their attack blocked by a clone, which then latched on to them in preparation for the next move.
Masuko saw all of this from the water, but waited patiently for the right moment to strike. She had already told them to be more aware of their defenses when attacking, but the advice evidently hadn't stuck.
"Water Prison Jutsu!"
Water exploded from the clones, trapping each Leaf ninja in a sphere that they had little hope of breaking free from. The usual scenario involved the trapped enemy drowning.
"Leave them alone, you swine!" Guy cried out, swinging the large sword down.
Masuko's eyes widened with disbelief as scales erupted from the hilt, slicing into Guy's hands.
With a cry, he threw the sword away, watching futilely as his students were completely enclosed. "Lee! Neji! Tenten!"
'What a powerful cloning jutsu,' Masuko frowned, moving into a new position of attack. 'To even be able to mimic Samehada's most basic defensive technique is extremely impressive.' The real weapon would've drained Guy dry, but still.
"I've gotta admit, I'm a little surprised," Kisame grinned. "These kids are better than I thought."
'Now!'
Masuko's chain was unhampered by the water, slicing through the liquid nearly as fast as air. It wrapped around the original clone, the whale-shaped tip slicing into his leg viciously.
The rogue cried out, proving that he was more corporeal than a shadow clone, and Masuko used the chain to pull him down and herself forward.
Shachisodo gleamed viciously, weapon singing to disembowel its first victim.
'No, wait!'
Instinct made the woman twist away, flipping in the water to land behind Kisame, freeing her chain from him in the same movement.
The fake Samehada was even more realistic than she'd realized. It had come back, nearly slicing her in half with the momentum with which it returned to its master's hand. Retracting her chain had been smart, as she was unwilling to test its strength against the heavy enemy weapon.
In her last few seconds before resurfacing, Masuko's left hand moved swiftly. 'Water Style: Swimming Message!'
The purple-haired woman and fake Akatsuki member emerged from the water at the same time. Masuko had come away unharmed, but her opponent had a large gash in his leg and a thin cut all the way down his torso.
"You seem to have found yourself quite the interesting weapon, Masuko." Despite his wounds, the man sounded exhilarated. "I don't know that this Samehada can compete."
Her answering smirk was vicious. "I doubt it. Shachisodo was made to fight against the real thing. Have you ever seen a killer whale take down a shark?" Masuko winked, tapping the wicked curve of her hilt. "I'll have to show you some time."
"Masuko!" Guy called, glaring worriedly at his team. "What do you know about that sword?"
"No need," Kisame interrupted, lifting his weapon. Samehada was the one thing that the secretive man loved to brag about. "This is a replica of the mighty blade Samehada. And it only allows me to wield it."
That wasn't entirely true, at least of the real weapon. Without Samehada's unusual personality and fondness for Masuko's chakra, the fake one posed a different kind of threat. It would attack anyone except Kisame.
Guy flexed one of his cut palms, the bleeding having finally stopped. "I guess so," he replied grimly. "I shouldn't have messed with an unfamiliar weapon." He reached into his bag for his nunchucks. "I'll just stick to my own, then."
Masuko glanced over at the trapped three while Guy warmed up. Her message should have reached Neji by now, telling him how to break free. Of all of them, he had the best chance.
In total, they'd been trapped less than a minute, and seemed alright. Most would panic and use up all their air, but they were all relaxed, allowing the water to hold them and not making any unnecessary moves. Smart kids. Definitely more impressive than one would expect.
"Aah!" Guy's final move sent a shockwave, brushing Masuko's hair forward and sloshing water up to Kisame's waist.
The shark-like man grinned. "Well, well, well…" His gaze flickered between the two nin before him, sizing up the threat. "This is going to be interesting."
'Thirty percent is not enough.'
Itachi made the first move, having settled on a plan. Carefully, he raised his hand. "It's time you came with me, Naruto." A gentle reminder that the boy shouldn't even be here. He was still a target, after all. He pointed his index finger at him, laying his trap.
"Me first!" Kakashi darted forward.
It was slight, but Tsukiko had felt the flicker of air chakra with her Wind, signaling what she'd already suspected. Without pausing, she raced ahead to provide support for the silver-haired jounin.
"Sakura! Take care of Naruto!" She called back, catching a glimpse of the girl's confused face just as Kakashi's fist was easily caught and deflected.
A swirling blue ball appeared in Naruto's hand and he ran forward to attack the air, aiming for an unseen enemy before staggering back. As expected, he'd been caught in a genjutsu the moment Itachi had pointed at him.
'That confirms that he can't use his Mangekyo right now.'
Tsukiko's smile was cold as her foot armored with rock, already planning to see how well Itachi's wrist had healed and take a good look at this clone up close. With more information, she could figure out how the jutsu worked.
A pained cry from the blond haired boy distracted Kakashi, who was thrown back. Tsukiko knew he was fine, and kept going, ready to end this stupid distraction and move on.
'If I can't even beat a thirty-percent version of Itachi, I've no more business going after him than Sakura.'
"Naruto! Are you alright?!" Kakashi called back, sparing a glance behind him.
The boy's blue eyes were wide with pain and hurt, sweat dripping down his face. He trembled slightly, making sure that he wasn't injured by the shuriken he'd been attacked with in the genjutsu. "Wh—What happened to me?"
Sakura and Lady Chiyo had their hands on his shoulders, while the younger Chiyo gripped the back of his neck.
"You were caught in a genjutsu," the pink-haired girl explained. "But you're gonna be fine. We all funneled our chakra into you and broke the hold."
Naruto looked up, seeing only one enemy trading a swift series of blows with Tsukiko-Sensei. "I don't get it…" He looked around. "Where did his shadow clones go? Did Tsukiko-Sensei already destroy them?"
Chiyo's eyes narrowed as the others tried to work out what had happened, unnerved by the arrogant boy looking so frightened. But her attention was more focused on the fight before her eyes.
"Tsukiko-Sensei…" Her voice was filled with a mixture of awe and concern.
She had general knowledge about the relationship between her teacher and Sasuke's older brother. But seeing them fight...she wondered if she understood anything at all.
The two were moving in perfect unison, neither able to land a single blow. And it wasn't just that they were blocking each other's attacks...it was more like they were predicting them before they happened.
Tsukiko was a fiery blur, blue flames just barely avoided by the dark-haired male, whose punches and kicks were unable to hit effectively.
Chiyo frowned sadly. 'They must have been an incredible team.' In truth, their movements looked far too intimate for fighting, as if they were communicating something.
Kakashi was waiting for any break in the intense combat, a moment where he could strike. Though, as he watched, it soon became clear that Tsukiko had the upper hand. She was getting faster, and the blue flames were darkening to purple. For whatever reason, the young woman had matched the Itachi Clone's power of thirty percent, but was apparently satisfied with what she'd learned.
'This battle is almost over.' He thought smugly
That same thought echoed in Itachi's mind, though with far more pride than he cared to admit.
There was nothing more Itachi hated than fighting, especially if it meant having to hurt someone he cared about. Sparring with Tsukiko or Shisui had always been different though, actually fun at times.
Perhaps Kisame was wearing off on him, but as he barely managed to dodge a kick that would have taken his head off, he couldn't help but feel the smallest thrill. She remembered all of these sequences perfectly, something he couldn't help but feel grateful for. It was nice to know that he wouldn't leave only bloodshed behind, that the white-haired woman still held something positive from their time together.
They were still mostly in-sync, though Tsukiko's movements were very different from what he remembered. Instead of one general fighting style with variations for her elements, she was now using five totally distinct ones, switching at a dizzying pace. Her training had paid off, as the extra movement and almost dance-like steps confused his Sharingan. He'd predict her moving one way based on her footwork and chakra, but then she'd surprise him by switching styles.
'We cut these movements out as children.' It had seemed more effective at the time, but now he could see the purpose. It was as if the Amaya techniques were made to perfectly counter the Sharingan in every aspect.
'If I wasn't familiar with it, she would have already beaten this clone, even holding back like she is now.' The real Itachi smiled, a sense of relief washing over him. 'You've improved. You're going to be alright without me, Tsukiko.' The final worry he'd had, about the Leaf being attacked when he was gone and the danger presented by the masked leader of the Akatsuki, began to subside.
'Even he wouldn't be able to predict her movements.'
The white-haired woman said nothing as she attacked, totally focused on the fight. He understood her reasoning. Because he was only a clone, she didn't really see him as Itachi Uchiha, but a puzzle to figure out.
'Please protect Sasuke after I'm gone. It's selfish, but please, Tsukiko. Be happy, and protect the Leaf and my brother.' He willed his thoughts to reach her.
Sinking into the ground as easily as water, Tsukiko dodged several kunai before battering the clone with Wind-enhanced rocks. At this point, she had gotten a fairly good read on the chakra of the person before her, and it certainly wasn't Itachi's.
No, from what she could tell, it was like the person was wearing a second skin made of Itachi's chakra, and that was wearing low. The clone had given up using ninjutsu fairly quickly after his Fireball had been absorbed into her blue flames. Still, a thirty percent Itachi should have been capable of far more.
It was almost like...he was sparring with her instead of actually trying to hit her. Like the two were putting on an elaborate show for the rest of the group. He was deliberately using attack patterns that they had designed together, ones that she knew by heart and had no chance of actually working against her.
Confusion warred with the image she kept in her mind for moments like this: the memory of Itachi holding Sasuke by the throat. That should have been more than enough to get her focus back.
But...maybe because this wasn't really Itachi, she was having trouble finding her anger. Of course, she was pissed that a clone was fighting her instead of the real thing, and was more than eager to tear this illusion to shreds. But at the same time, a very tiny part of her was having fun.
'I'm just happy because this fight is so easy,' Tsukiko thought, spinning in mid air to give her next punch more momentum. 'I can end this at any time.'
To prove that to herself more than anyone else, her fist was swallowed by purple flames. Propelling herself forward one last time, she knew instinctively that this was the final blow.
Her attack slammed into the fake Itachi's chest, igniting and spreading to his whole body in under a second.
As the Clone was engulfed in fire, Tsukiko could've sworn she saw him smile, a gentle expression that froze her in place. It was gone before she could fully register it, the body falling to the ground and revealing the truth.
As Tsukiko stared at the unfamiliar and burnt face of a man, she felt a creeping unease roll down her spine.
'Every time I think I know what's going on, something happens to change everything. Why was the clone acting like that? Even at the Leaf, Itachi hadn't been so...playful.' Was he mocking her? Testing her? Or trying to tell her something?
There were far too many questions rolling around in her mind, but the young woman set them aside for the moment. Gaara and Chiyo were the important ones now. The enigma of Itachi Uchiha would have to wait just a little while longer.
'No matter what, I need to figure out the truth.'
Neji strained his eyes, looking through the water to try and keep track of the fight.
The three experienced fighters were moving so fast, he could barely keep up. The massive pillars of water bursting up every second were the only indicators as to where they had landed. From what he could make out from the moving chakra forms, Masuko-Sensei and Guy-Sensei were alternating attacks, the purple-haired woman keeping that sword away from Guy while he attempted to land a blow. With his slightly blurred view, he could tell that Masuko-Sensei had activated her armor, taking hits from Fake Samehada with a kind of shoulder shield.
In his periphery, he could see a small chakra fish slowly swimming up behind him. It was moving incredibly slowly, freezing every so often to avoid detection by the water clone holding him hostage. If he had to guess, it was likely from the female jounin, and he tried to avoid looking at it as it made its way up his back.
Then a voice, right in his ear and barely a whisper. "Wait for the right moment and break free with your Trigrams technique. Water Prisons are weak against large amounts of chakra, particularly from inside."
Neji inclined his head, a slight nod. He himself had been wondering much the same thing, struggling slightly to find some kind of stability while floating. The Trigrams form required firm footing, but he would have to center himself as best as possible and make due.
Masuko narrowly avoided slicing herself on her own blade as she twisted in midair, allowing Guy to use her armored shoulder as a platform to jump off of.
The Leaf nin slammed his nunchucks down, blocked by Fake Samehada at the last moment. With a grunt, he switched to a kick, then to a series of jabs from both ends of his weapon.
Masuko saw Kisame's next move from his stance, swinging Shachisodo down to stop Samehada from slicing into Guy's leg as the Leaf nin lifted his foot up and brought it down in a vicious kick. To credit his own instincts, he stopped the downward motion only an inch away from the suddenly protruding scales.
All three were frozen for a perfect moment, Masuko practically doing a handstand on her sword, keeping Fake Samehada from moving. Upside down, her face was very close to Kisame's, and as he chuckled delightedly, her heartbeat quickened.
'What an excellent time to be reminded that I find this idiot attractive. Thanks, brain. Wouldn't want to focus on a fight!'
Kisame's amusement primarily came from the shocked look on the Leaf Beast's face, but he couldn't help the smug feeling in his chest at seeing the faintest splash of pink on Masuko's face, only an inch or two away. It was gratifying to know that he wasn't the only one affected by this fight.
Guy moved first, swiftly pulling his leg back, while Masuko backflipped out of the way. Kisame turned and all three began running, the two Leaf nin keeping the Mist rogue between them.
Water clones emerged on both sides of them, but Guy dispatched one with nunchucks while a swipe of the sword destroyed Masuko's pest.
Guy went in for the attack, dodging Kisame's swipes and then backing away to let Masuko clash with the sword. The two said nothing, merely letting their experience speak for them as they alternated seamlessly.
It had honestly been awhile since Masuko had fought with another skilled brawler at her side. Guy's "up close and personal" style was very similar to hers, and the two fighters had no trouble silently communicating. It felt good, and served as a reminder that, for all his flaws, the stupid Bowl-Cut was a hell of a Taijutsu user.
Kisame, on the other hand, was not pleased with the flawless teamwork being demonstrated. 'Since when have those two been so close?' There had been a time when he and Masuko could read each other in much the same way, swords moving in devastating tandem. But now…
Masuko had changed. Her swordsmanship had always been good, but far too tense, too focused on the memorized footwork and scattered with wild ferocity that threw everything to the wind. Now, she was more fluid, in control. Her sword was a deadly extension of herself, making it hard to believe she'd only just mastered the thing.
'The stupid beast must be relying on instinct and experience.'
It took a lot to fight with Masuko. When she had her enemy in sights, nothing else mattered, including her allies. The Mist had not trained them to be careful of their own teammates, and Kisame was one of the few that could navigate around her lightning strikes without coming away injured. But now he could see her minding her swings, defending her partner as much as she was attacking him. Something about it was...annoying.
He directed a wave over the two, but both Leaf nin avoided it and swiftly returned the attack. Fake Samehada was having a hard time with that new sword, and he kept an eye on the hilt, waiting for the chain to emerge. This fight wasn't going to last much longer.
For either party. Both Masuko and Guy noticed Tenten's hands cover her mouth, bending over as her lungs burned for air. They glanced at each other, more silent communication.
Kisame felt his own chest burn, fury suddenly crossing his features. With a growl, he tossed Fake Samehada into the air, hands quickly moving to execute a series of hand signs.
"Water Style: Water Shock Bomb Jutsu!"
"Shit!" Masuko hissed, rushing to block Guy from the tornado waterspout coming their way. 'Kisame must be pissed to resort to this so quickly.' About what, she had no idea.
Two chakra sharks lunged out of the vortex before she reached the older man. Unable to help Guy, Masuko moved fast. Shachisodo's chain wrapped around the gaping creature, whale-tail blade slicing into it painfully as she pulled tight. Using the forward momentum of the wounded shark, she dropped down and held her sword up behind her head. The blade sliced through the chakra easily, the shark disappearing with a burst of water.
Guy wasn't so lucky. He put his hands up, but the beast swallowed him, pushing him underwater as it dissolved. He was relatively unharmed, but only for the moment.
"Damn it!" Masuko contemplated diving under the water to provide backup, but Kisame was only a few feet away and Guy wasn't too far down. He could swim—
Before even a second had passed, Guy leapt out of the water, nunchucks swinging.
Kisame snarled, weapon colliding with the chain of his opponent's, trying to force him back under the waves to his death. Water exploded around them in a huge pillar, blocking both men from Masuko's view.
She ran around the two, looking for a hint of her opponent. 'Never swing a sword unless you know where your target is.' One of many rules she'd learned while young, and especially irritating now.
Inside the water, Guy was struggling. His eyes widened fractionally as he felt himself sinking under the weight of his opponent's sword. "Wait!" A flicker of memory slashed through his mind. "I know you!"
No longer amused in the slightest, frustration nearing rage, Kisame increased the pressure of his assault. "So you finally remembered, huh?" Quickly leaning back and removing some of the force on Fake Samehada, the Mist rogue unbalanced his enemy just in time to draw his right hand back in a devastating punch. "Too little, too late!"
Guy cried out, but was cut off as he was sent to the bottom of the canyon floor. Blood flowed from his mouth as the momentarily stunned man hit the rocky ground.
Masuko's jaw tightened as she swung Shachisodo, trying to stop what she knew was coming next.
Kisame blocked her, a vicious look in his eyes. "I'm not done settling the score just yet. Not by a long shot!"
With a grunt, the Mist rogue used Fake Samehada to toss the purple-haired woman away, hands immediately clapping together. "Water Style: Five Hungry Sharks!" Slamming his palm down on the water, each of his fingers glowed with light.
"Damn!" Masuko landed on her feet, shooting forward. It was too late to stop the attack, but she could hinder its effectiveness by distracting the caster.
"Here's the first meal," Kisame announced smugly.
Guy barely managed to dodge the shark, which tore into the rock behind him. He was far slower than the deadly creatures, his situation serious.
"The second meal."
The force of the shark shooting by sent him deeper into the water. Cuts appeared on his arm where the shark's skin tore into.
"The third meal."
Masuko swung her sword in a feint, the chain flying around behind her opponent to sink into his back.
Kisame managed to twist, hitting the chain with Fake Samehada and lessening the blow considerably. Instead of slicing him in two, the tail simply carved into his back painfully.
With a growl, the Akatsuki member noted that he was bleeding profusely. At least, the puppet was. No doubt she'd put that poison on the weapon, meaning he now had the possibility of losing because of blood loss.
"That won't be enough to stop my sharks," he taunted, noting that the fourth and fifth meal had already occurred, the stupid beast struggling against the regenerating predators. "Will they eat him before he loses all his oxygen? We'll have to find out!"
Masuko smirked. "Ah, but Kisame, it's said that the stupid ones are always favored by the gods." She hefted her weapon. "That must be why you and I always get the short end of the stick, yeah?"
His own laughter surprised him. Damn that woman for knowing how to distract him!
A quick glance under the water showed the Leaf jounin taking a stance, his eyes closed.
"What's he up to down there?" The shark-like man frowned.
Even Masuko, who wasn't exactly a sensory type, could feel the tremor in the air. A memory of the Chunin Exams flashed through her brain. 'This feels like when Lee fought Gaara!'
Moving back, she felt a grin pull at her lips. 'This'll be the end of this stupid fight. Then we can actually go kill some Akatsuki members. I owe it to Shachisodo.'
An explosion of green chakra sent shockwaves through the water, massive pillars erupting randomly. The sharks were destroyed, and a spiraling whirlpool formed with Guy at the center, standing on the canyon floor.
"HAAAAAAAAA!" The Leaf ninja let out a loud battle cry, skin red from opening six of the Eight Inner Gates.
With the enemy finally distracted, Neji took advantage of the moment. 'Now!'
His chakra system roared to life, Byakugan searching for the tiniest weakness, an area where the water prison was a little thinner. 'There!'
Visualizing his stance, the familiar yin-yang symbol appearing in his mind's eye, Neji centered himself. "Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!" His target was the clone's hand, the force of his chakra exploding both the prison and the limb.
Moving smoothly, the Hyuga spun, hands moving too fast to see as he dealt multiple consecutive blows to his captor and Lee's.
As expected, Lee wasted no time. As soon as he was free, his Severe Leaf Hurricane destroyed the remaining clone and freed Tenten.
Neji caught the weakened girl. "Tenten, are you okay?"
"Yeah," she managed, giving him a grateful smile. "Thanks, Neji. I owe you."
Lee nodded in agreement, taking deep breaths. "You saved us." He looked up to see what the jounin were doing.
The enemy ninja was bouncing off the pillars of water, trying to outrun his pursuers. Guy was faster than him now, and Masuko kept up by freezing sections of water underfoot to use as platforms. As his teacher struck a familiar pose, Lee's eyes widened. 'That stance!'
Masuko provided an extra lift with ice as Guy caught up to Kisame, his eyes completely white.
With a grunt, the shark-like man swung his sword, but the Leaf jounin dodged and retaliated with a kick so fast that it seemed to be on fire.
'He's fast!' Was the fake Kisame's last thought before the kick caught him in the chin and sent him flying into the air, sword falling out of his now-limp hold.
Tenten knelt on the water, still catching her breath. "Do you think that he…?"
"I do," Neji confirmed, a satisfied smile settling over his features.
Lee nodded. "The game is over."
Guy and Masuko went in for the final blow.
"Asa Kujaku!" He cried, countless fiery fists slamming into Kisame's body.
Masuko watched the fake Samehada return to a block of wood, clear disgust in her expression as she stabbed Shachisodo through the back of the clone. Instinctively, she knew it was a killing blow and took the time to hiss into Kisame's ear.
"Fight me yourself next time. I'm coming for you."
Pulling away, the two Leaf ninja watched the burning body fall into the water, steam rising at the impact.
With the caster dead, the water jutsu also began to fade, rapidly evaporating or soaking into the ground.
Neji glanced over at the purple-haired woman. 'She was right about it being a clone after all.' He'd watched carefully as the chakra network of their opponent faded to nothing. It was strange though, as if the massive cloak of power he'd seen before fell away, revealing a much weaker network for a moment before it too was gone.
For her part, Masuko felt hollow as she looked with pitying eyes at the corpse of a stranger dressed in an Akatsuki cloak. "What kind of jutsu is this?" She dismissively slashed her sword, flicking the blood off. "Was he working with them, or just some poor idiot who got mixed up in this?" Killing someone uninvolved...it felt like working in the Mist all over again.
"I don't know," Guy replied, still somewhat worn out. "But there's one thing that I am sure of." His eyes were wide with confusion and concern. "There is no way I've ever met him."
The swordswoman sighed, sheathing Shachisodo with a bitter chuckle. "I'll let you have that one, Bowl-Cut. I've never seen this man before either."
"I think it's safe to assume that his goal was to gather information and stall us here for a while," Neji remarked.
"If that is the case, we have not a moment to lose!" Lee declared, brows furrowing.
Masuko nodded. "Yeah. Tossing a fake Kisame at us can only mean that Kakashi was right about the location and we're getting close."
"All right, then," Guy announced. "Let's hurry!"
Pakkun and the dog that had led Masuko both took the lead. "It's over this way," the brown dog declared.
"Double time!" The other dog snarled, taking off with the humans close behind.
A.N. Hope you all liked it! Please review!