On top of the Konoha wallsTwo shadows converge to meet on top of the wall surrounding Konoha. Running a hand over his grey hair, Kakashi couldn't help but feel a bit nervous behind his mask. Tenzo, noting his anxiety "Relax, if we do this by the book there shouldn't be any problems." He said coolly.
"See but that's the issue. We are dealing with Itachi Uchiha of all people. You know the rumors, the strength behind those cold eyes of his. There is no book that could step by step explain what we are about to go up against." Kakashi said worriedly.
"This isn't like you at all. You are usually composed and confident in your abilities." Tenzo said gazing at his partner.
"I suppose you're right. We can do this. Are you ready to track down the Uchiha?" Kakashi inquired.
"Yes, people don't give me alot of credit, but I am a great tracker. I already found a general vicinity in which the brothers have fled to. It's quite easy when a clone of mine can travel through the earth and trees." Tenzo bragged.
Taking a big breath, Kakashi steeled himself for the battle of his life. Little did he know how those words were almost prophetic in the events to come.
Two words to set off a chain reaction that would rock the Village hidden in the Leaves. Two words that would haunt Kakashi forever.
"Let's Go."
Deep in the woods of Konoha
Itachi, keeping watch over the entirety of the area, noticed faint movement from the edge of the woods. He activated his sharingan, scanning the trees and ground. Noticing one anbu ops member leaping across the branches. He thought it odd that only one Anbu was by himself until he saw the impossible. Someone was swimming through the individual trees. And they were heading straight for them!
Already somewhat fatigued from using the mangekyou sharingan once, Itachi resigned himself to kill two more of his brethren.
Making a clone of himself, "Inform Madara that our position has been compromised."
Nodding, the clone disappeared and Itachi leaps into the sky, his eye fixed on the figure not swimming through trees, disappearing in a burst of speed.
Kakashi's point of view
Kakashi had worked with Itachi in the past. He knew how strong the Uchiha was. He was mentally prepared to fight a foe much stronger than him. But no amount of mental fortitude could have prepared the young anbu for killing intent of this magnitude. It was almost as if the world around him was shaking. He stopped in his tracks, bit his lip hard enough to break him out of the weak genjutsu that had been placed upon him. Looking up just in time, Kakashi blocked what would have been a fatal stab to his forehead via kunai.
Gritting his teeth, Kakashi stared straight into the fury filled eyes of one Itachi Uchiha.
"Kakashi! Get Down!" Tenzo yelled before slamming his hand into the tree, creating spikes to separate the two.
Kakashi backed up next to his teammate, "So what is the plan then?"
Tenzo said, " Let's try plan B."
'What was plan A?' Kakashi mused to himself, nodding and summoning his ninja hounds. "Go with formation B. Scatter!"
Itachi wasn't going to wait and find out what plan B was, so he jumped up high into the trees and kept moving. Next thing he knew there were dogs surrounding him on all sides. Making signs, he unleashed a fireball at the dogs to clear a path.
Before he could escape, the trees around him closed and he found himself in a wooden cocoon, enclosed on all sides.
Smiling, Itachi heard a familiar chirping and backed up to the wall, waiting for the most obvious jutsu in the world.
Right on cue, Kakashi burst through the wall charging at Itachi. He reached his arm out to stab the Uchiha in the chest, not expecting a dodge, much less a counterattack.
Next thing Kakashi knew he got kicked in the side of the head, making him dizzy and crashing into the side of the cocoon. Struggling to get up, he found himself being held up by his throat against the wall.
'What the hell are you doing Tenzo? Where is the followup??'
What are you doing here Kakashi?" Spoke Itachi coldly, tightening his grip on his throat.
"We are here to kill you traitors of the leaf. By the order of Lord Hokage, you are to be executed along with your brother." Kakashi spat without hesitation.
Forgetting the seriousness of the situation, or realizing the irony of it all, Itachi laughed cruelly.
"You have no idea the week I've had. Maybe we are not traitors as have been led to believe."
Aiming a punch at Itachi's head, Kakashi instead found himself slammed into the ground face first.
Gasping from the pain, he sputtered, "Your clan attacked the village, caused alot of pointless deaths, and you have the audacity to claim innocence!?"
Itachi shook his head at Kakashi, picking him up and throwing him back first against the opposite wall. "You just don't get it, blind lapdog of the Hokage. I want you to think real hard this time, for it may cost you a lot more than your pride. Why would me and my little brother run away from our clan after it attacked Konoha?"
Kakashi wasn't ready to give up. He got up and charged at Itachi making signs for a water jutsu, only to be kicked in the face again and knocked unconscious.
Not completely unsatisfied as to how this turned out, Itachi picked up his body and stepped out of the cocoon. Genuinely curious as to where the other anbu went, the heavens seemed to answer his call as a unconscious anbu ops member was flung down at his feet.
Looking up, Itachi smiled at Madara who jumped down. "It seems we both kept our opponents alive."
"Yes, it would appear these two have much more to offer than be a lousy opponent." Madara said smiling, "I just hope they are more cooperative when they wake up."
2 hours later
To say Kakashi was crushed would be an understatement. He hadn't ever thought the difference in strength to be that large, nor did he account for Itachi having help. Kakashi, finding himself strapped to a chair next to his partner Tenzo, grit his teeth in preparation for what he thought was coming.
Tenzo was having a worse time dealing with defeat.
Crushed by someone who (to his knowledge)
had no idea about his wood style jutsu. Not only did his opponent counter all of his attacks, he was laughing the entire time too. His mind wandering around the room, he noticed they were in a dimly lit prison cell. His hands bound with a Chakra seal, there was not a damn thing he could do to escape.
His thoughts were interrupted by two figures entering the chamber. Focusing his eyes, he saw the man who defeated him, and next to him was Itachi.
Kakashi and Tenzo looked straight ahead at the two Uchihas in anticipation, not betraying any sign of weakness.
Clapping slowly, Madara spoke with praise, " well done on finding my little hideout. For what it's worth not many people could search as efficiently as your little wood clone could."
Tenzo smiled in spite on himself. "Thank you."
Itachi strode forward and stood between the two Anbu members. "This could be unfortunate for the both of you or a chance to save both your lives and at the same time open your eyes to the truth of tonight."
Itachi paused to look at them both, "As I see it you have three options. One, you could go back to Konoha and tell the Third Hokage and elders that we have been eliminated and bodies destroyed. Two, you could go back to Konoha in a body bag, but seeing as how you two are just blindly following orders, death would be unfortunate and pointless. Or three, you could join me and my little brother. No one save the Hokage or maybe all three sannin could stand up to us."
Strolling casually behind the two men, Madara playfully slapped them upside the head. "So gentlemen, what's it going to be?"
Kakashi's mind was racing. What kind of choices were these? Then his mind snapped to something he remembered before getting knocked out.
"Why did you and Sasuke run away from the village, if you didn't attack us?" He asked inquisitively.
"Ah, the million ryo question." Itachi spoke softly, whose voice turned to ice in a heartbeat. "I was betrayed, by both my clan, and the village elders. And on top of it all, both of them used Sasuke's life as leverage to get me to cooperate."
Kakashi couldn't believe the words he heard. The clan of battle hungry Uchihas he could believe. But his own Hokage, and the rest of the elders, using a small child as a hostage?
Tenzo wasn't as understanding.
"You bastards blew up a major home sector and then ran for it like cowards! Furthermo-"
That's as far as he got, who struck him first was anyone's guess, but between a fractured jaw and a kunai dug behind his kneecap, Tenzo sure felt the latter above anything else. The chamber shook with the man's screaming.
Gritting his teeth, Tenzo yelled "I will never believe you Uchiha trash! We all know the thirst for battle, always looking to start a war. Konoha will smash you pathetic-
Madara, who was smiling up until this point, took the liberty of snapping the man's neck, turning it almost 180 degrees before his face just stared in shock towards Madara, already dead.
"That was fun, wasn't it?" He asked the motionless head, a small chuckle from Madara.