This is it for a while, I don't have enough energy to finish typing chapter 16. It would be nice to get a review; the story has already had lots of attention but only one follow. I will possibly finish the story if I decide to end it quickly or I could continue it for a little longer, I guess I will let you guys decide on if you want more than 20 chapters.

Retribution

Chapter 15

They had been trying to make their way through the labyrinth of tunnels for a while now, being forced to keep trying and staying with Naruto due to his ability to sense chakra. He could only guess it had been at least an hour since they had solely relied on him.

Itachi was able to keep a seemingly calm demeanor to fool them at times but it began to crack when he heard her screams echoing down one tunnel before bouncing off all of them. Without waiting for the others he took off listening closely to the echoes of screams to judge where to go next. He was getting closer, he knew he was and it was confirmed when Kabuto suddenly showed up in front of him with a couple other shinobi.

Her screams of pain continued and Itachi was in a murderous mood. Kabuto chuckled, the glee in his eyes from seeing the calm demeanor of the famous Itachi Uchiha crack as he heard the screaming of his woman. "It's been music to my ears several times while I've had her. Just wait for the best part if you can hear it."

There were breaks in her screaming and they were starting to sound muffled. "That means she is having a hard time breathing and now she is being covered by an oxygen mask as they try to stabilize her yet again."

He studied Itachi but noticed the murderous looks on all their faces. "I was hoping you would take longer so I could really get started but I guess I will have to take what I can get, after all I knew I wouldn't be able to fulfill all of my plans for one such as her but I must say this one was a success."

A flock of crows came at Kabuto and the other two shinobi. Kabuto deflected the attack, knowing they were really shuriken in disguise. The other two did not have such knowledge and were sporting several gashes. Shikamaru acted quickly and performed his shadow strangulation jutsu on the other two after Kabuto managed to escape.

With those two dead a mist appeared making it hard for some of them to find Kabuto. Naruto created his Rasengan and attacked Kabuto sending him flying. Itachi and Sasuke were both on him instantly trying to land a strike on him. The screams from Kagome were becoming hard to hear and Sasuke upped his speed attacking viciously with taijutsu. Itachi noticed the shadow creeping along the floor and heard Shikamaru murmur 'complete.'

Striking Kabuto with deadly force they discovered it was only a substitute and he quickly turned to the real one. Before he could attack Sasuke jumped in front of him squaring off with Kabuto. Looking over his shoulder he urged Itachi, "Focus on Kagome while you can hear her, I will keep Kabuto busy until you return."

Nodding, Itachi left, Sakura and Kakashi following behind him while Sai brought out his scroll and began his own attacks against Kabuto. Kakashi summoned his ninken quickly instructing them to lead them to the source of the muffled screaming. They then took the lead, their smell and hearing guiding them down the right paths. Her screaming came to an end but by then they were almost there and within a few minutes the closed off room was in their sights and with a burst of speed Sakura destroyed the door with one punch.

The gasping breaths from her drew his sight straight to her. He stepped in and the other shinobi in the room all went on the defensive. As soon as he cleared the doorway the others stepped in and began subduing the lab shinobi. Itachi's fist clenched as he looked at Kagome's bloodshot eyes, the pupils small, and her veins bulging.

He stroked her hair back as her body went through its spasm. He read all of the vitals before studying her body, noticing all of the locations of needle marks. Hearing Kakashi finish securing the shinobi for interrogation he felt Sakura approach and start to use her medical ninjutsu to examine Kagome's body. Her eyes creasing she focused on using her chakra to numb the pain and calm her body down.

Kakashi found a couple of clipboards with several notes on them and after paging through them he approached Kagome's form and studied her as well before breathing a sigh of relief. The odd placement of that sigh had gained an audience and he handed them the clipboards so they could see why he was relieved.

After scanning the contents on his own he handed his clipboard back and proceed to cut through all of the bindings since she had finally calmed and went into a forced slumber by Sakura. He removed the needle in her arm, the oxygen mask and the blood pressure cuff. Taking off his shirt he gently clothed her in it being she only had a bra and underwear on. Sakura noticed a closet and opened it to find a couple lab coats and grabbed it out for Itachi to put on her as well. Itachi noticed a glint coming from under the table and pulled out an identical ball to the one that had been used on her before to steal her power away.

They left the lab and Kakashi had his summons lead them back the way they came. Once they reached Kabuto he turned to Sakura, having already decided she would be the one to guard Kagome while he took care of the scum that dared to take her. Sasuke had a partially transformed Susanoo out as he and Naruto attacked Kabuto with Shikamaru and Sai at the ready to seal him if given an opening. Without much further progress Itachi stepped forward as Kakashi stepped next to Sakura to help protect the woman.

His sharingan fully activated he set his plan into motion and as he continued forward he gained Kabuto's attention and cast the Tsukuyomi on Kabuto before using Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson and then finally Amaterasu. Making sure he couldn't shed his skin he waited until he was nothing but dust before turning around and retrieving Kagome from Sakura. With that they left, going straight back to the village to see Tsunade.

It was past noon when they arrived and reported to the Hokage tower. Itachi watched and waited as Tsunade went through the clipboards, studying the content very carefully before giving Kagome a thorough exam. Time ticked by but the end result was her shoulders relaxing.

"Kabuto appeared to be trying to make her body start producing chakra for her to use so he could further experiment on her. He only got as far as his final step. Unfortunately her body was put under immense stress and it may be some time until she is well again and we could begin to see if she can use chakra. You had thankfully made it in time before he could do anything else. I recommend you keep her here in this dimension so we can help her through any side effects she might have. We would be honored if you would consider doing so." He had already approached Kagome's side now that the exam was done.

He repeatedly stroked her hair as he looked down at her; nodding to Tsunade she had his answer. "I will get her a private room setup in the tower here then."

He was left alone with her for several minutes, everyone else back at their homes probably resting. A light knock sounded and he turned to the door, giving the okay to come in, he watched his brother come through the door before shutting it once more.

"Itachi, my home is open to you for the duration of your stay," his simple comment was accepted with another nod of his head. Sasuke looked at the woman his brother fell in love with, he was curious about how she managed to gain his attention in such a way. Turning away he left the room quietly and went home to relax before he went to bed early.

Tsunade and Shizune put together a room quickly with Sakura's help and quickly had Kagome settled in on a comfy hospital bed. After they left Itachi sat on a couch that was pulled up to her bedside and held her hand for a while, making sure she was comfortable before lying down on the plush couch and letting his body finally succumb to slumber as well.