Before I start I'd like to apologize for the wait. I've been busy and had very little time. Along side that Junsuina has been hogging my creativity, but I'm back so let's get moving!

…...

The room was swarming with the unnatural soldiers, but they seemed slightly different. The ones they had fought outside had made no noise in battle. These shrieked with the hits. A horrible broken uproar that ripped from one's mouth and was echoed with the screeches of the others. Pein winced at the sound.

'Connected, they're connected aren't they?'

He couldn't keep this up forever. Sure, right now he was a blur of flashing steel and color, but he would slow with time and couldn't see an end to the horde of incoming monstrosities. Glimpsing a flare of startling ebony, he watched as fire lit up the area in front of him blowing back the throng. Backup had arrived.

…...

The scene was heartbreaking now that she knew what those creatures were. The best she could do for them was to give them the release of death and it made her soul ache in pain and burn with anger. These people had once had friends, family, people who loved them and Orochimaru had taken them from those people. Just as he taken hers from her.

She launched herself into the fray of fire, sand, and bodies. Smashing the ground with her fist and watching as the ground exploded in a display of power no one knew she could hold. The wave of cracking stone crashed towards the enemy side taking out hundreds of the poor experiments. She charged ahead not waiting for her stunned comrades and disappeared into the writhing mob.

…...

They watched as the pink-haired slip of a girl decimated the opposing side, leaving gap for them to pass to the next room. However, fate had other ideas as a loud boom sounded and a figure dropped in front of them, blocking them from the opportunity. The dust cleared and the Akatsuki in the room adapted revolted looks, Kimimaru and Gaara incomprehensive on why.

The man who stood in their way was massive, and a sickly bluish grey. He was hunched, swaying with an abnormal motion. His arms were limp, dragging a bound blade at his side. A large sharp-toothed smile split his face; he lunged.

Kimimaru intercepted the strike midway. Digging in his heels against the floor and splintering the already destroyed stone. Angered, Kimimaru yelled in frustration at the orange-haired stranger behind him.

"Snap out of it!' 'He would have taken your head off with that hit!"

Said man's eyes cleared of the slight haze and he became the leader of the great Akatsuki once more. He made the order he had to.

"He isn't who he was!' 'Let us release our friend from this hell!"

Yelling roars of agreement sent them rallying forward, only to be beaten to the punch by a katana slamming into side of Kisame's skull. The shark was moved back several feet, but seemed unaffected by the deep gash in his head or his dislocated jaw. Itachi held his blade at ready, not even looking at the others as he spoke.

"It is my duty to take care of my partner until the end; I will handle this."

His voice brokered no arguments, his eyes cold and focused. Still fighting the never-ending stream of foes, all moved on, cutting paths in the crowds of the controlled.

…...

Two familiar presences made the customary smirk drop from Hidan's face. They were dead, so why could he feel them here?

'…And why is their chakra so wrapped?'

…...

Now what? When faced with killing a good friend, for their and your own good, what will you do? Find out soon…