A/N: Hi again! I'm going to have a lot of free time starting December 10th, so expect to see me updating faster. I know a lot of you have been asking me to update faster and more often, so without further ado, here is the tenth chapter of Love Among Shinobi. I'm wrapping up the Itachi arc in this chapter. Sorry.

Chapter Ten: Brother versus Brother

Naruto lunged at Sasuke, filled with the rage of the Kyuubi. Sakura and Hinata both grabbed one arm, trying desperately to calm the blonde ninja. Hinata's gentle touch brought a calming sensation to Naruto's body, and Sakura let go as Hinata threw her arms around Naruto's waist.

"Naruto please… Control yourself. Sasuke-kun isn't here to fight you. He's here for Itachi, just like us. Maybe we can work together."

The red left Naruto's eyes, and they returned to the cerulean blue that Hinata had fallen in love with so many years ago. He looked up at his former teammate, his best friend. He knew Sasuke had left for the sole reason of becoming stronger, so he could kill the one who stole everything from him that day. But would Sasuke agree to cooperate with his teammates again, or would he betray them all once more?

"Sasuke! I don't know your intentions, or even why you dared to show your face, but Hinata is right. We'll have to work together. If we leave Itachi to you, we'll handle Kisame. What do you say? Work with us one last time."

Sasuke knew what they were planning, but when he saw Sakura, old memories of the past in Konoha surfaced. He remembered the night he left, how Sakura had begged her to take her along. He had whispered "Thank you, Sakura," and gently knocked her out. He was secretly thankful.

"Let's go. They may have noticed our presence already. Leave Itachi to me. Sakura, I want to talk with you."

Sakura's head shot up in surprise, and in anger.

"You dare to speak to me now; after all you have put me, and most importantly, Naruto, through? It had better be important, because we're about to fight two of the strongest Shinobi who have ever lived."

Sasuke gave his trademark smirk, and nodded. He took her by the hand, and led her away from their friends. He had grown used to having his Sharingan active at all times, but he deactivated it, to speak to her.

"I just wanted to say thank you. Don't mention this to Naruto or anyone else, but I had always planned to return to Konoha once I fulfilled my revenge against Itachi. This is the way I had wanted it, and to defeat Itachi, I'll need your and Naruto to help. We're Squad Seven right? Let's finish our mission, together."

Sakura shook her head.

"But how? How can I trust you again? I loved you for so many years, and then you left, and now you suddenly want to come back into all our lives. I don't know if I can do again Sasuke. I mean, I still l…"

She was cut off by him putting his arms around her, and a kiss on her cheek.

"I know. I've always known. Let's get Itachi."

She took his hand, and walked back to their friends. Naruto and Hinata caught sight of it and they both smiled, as Sasuke stuck his hand out to Naruto.

"Forgive me Naruto. It had to be done. Teammates never fall apart right?"

The blonde nodded and took Sasuke's hand, shaking it.

"Right. Now, let's get these bastards. Together. Shikamaru, what's our plan?"

They quickly split off into groups of four. The Konoha Twelve were back. Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and Hinata went to face Itachi. Gaara, Temari and Kankuro were the backup team for Squad Seven. Shikamaru, Ino and Chouji were the main team to fight against Kisame. They needed Shikamaru to pin him down with the Kagemane no Jutsu. Ino was there as a medic ninja and to use Shintenshin no Jutsu to control him. Chouji was to deliver the final blow. Everyone else was to backup to Team 10. Naruto's team reached the area where Itachi was resting first. Sasuke had long waited for this day, and he told everyone else to hide themselves for now, until he had lured Itachi away. Itachi was resting his Sharingan. He had used it too much, and his eyes were starting to deteriorate as a result. He heard someone approaching.

"Who's there?"

Sasuke sneered at his older brother.

"The one who will kill you, and avenge our clan. Uchiha Itachi, you told me to live for nothing but hating you. Each day I hated you more and more, and as a result, I am now stronger than you. This is our final meeting, brother. Are you ready to die?"

Itachi stood up calmly, and motioned for him to follow.

"Let's finish this elsewhere. Me and you, Sasuke."

The two last remaining members of the Uchiha Clan were about to have their final battle, while Naruto, Sakura and Hinata watched from a short distance. Itachi lead Sasuke to a clearing in the woods, and they stood a few feet apart, and the battle began there. Sasuke drew his sword, and Itachi felt all he needed was his Sharingan. Sasuke had learned how to counter the Mangekyo Sharingan, having achieved it himself, yet he deemed it too risky for this battle. Itachi took the initiative, using a trademark Jutsu of the Uchiha Clan.

"Katon! Goukyaku no Jutsu!" Itachi breathed deeply, and blew a massive blast of fire at his younger brother. Sasuke had developed his own particular fighting style, combining the speed for the Chidori, and the Sharingan. He twisted his ankle, and spun behind Itachi's attack, and with a downward slash connected with Itachi's midsection, which burst into the black crows which showed a Kage Bunshin. Sasuke had his Sharingan active the entire time, and he knew where his brother was.

Hinata, Naruto and Sakura lie hidden under the cover of a heavy tree. Naruto had used the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu to clone himself thirty times and then used the Henge no Jutsu to transform twenty of his clones into Hinata and Sakura. Sasuke knew that they were watching elsewhere, as did Itachi. Sasuke's plan was to follow the real Itachi through the forest, until Naruto sprung the trap. The real Naruto was hidden by the Toton no Jutsu Jiraiya had taught him. Naruto never used it in the way the pervert had, but as a stealth ninjutsu. Itachi would surely go after Naruto, to capture him and take him so they could extract the Kyuubi from his body.

Itachi was unaware of the clones scattered throughout the entire area, and by luck he happened upon the real Sakura and Hinata. Naruto was watching and waiting with them, and as soon as Itachi launched his attack, the blonde ninja was ready with his signature ninjutsu, Rasengan. Hinata was trapped in the Tsukiyomi by Itachi, and Naruto grew enraged, and thrust the Rasengan into Itachi's chest, more chakra fueled by Kyuubi. The elder Uchiha was blown through the forest, into the clearing where Sasuke waited, and Itachi lay helpless against a tree. Sasuke prepared to deliver a deathblow to Itachi in his right hand. His Chidori was ready, and he thrust it into his elder brother's heart. Itachi's body convulsed in a death spasm, and Sasuke withdrew his hand, and Itachi died there, by his brother's hand. Sasuke picked up his brother's body, and carried it to a far mountain, to bury it.

Shikamaru, Ino and Chouji formed a tight circle around Kisame, and Ino used the Shintenshin no Jutsu as a decoy, missing intentionally. Her lifeless form slumped to the floor, and Kisame saw an easy kill. He dashed at her, swing Samehada in a wide arc, looking to sever her leg. Shikamaru was faster with the Kagemane no Jutsu, and captured Kisame's shadow, rendering him immobile. Shikamaru called for Chouji to finish the fight.

"Bubon Baika no Jutsu! Right arm!"

Chouji's right arm grew to the size of a small sapling, and he focused all his chakra into the arm. He prepared a strike, and drew his arm back, and smashed Kisame into the ground. Kisame exploded into a shower of water.

"Mizu Bunshin?!" Shikamaru exclaimed loudly, as the real Kisame shaved a large gash down Shikamaru's chest. He fell to the floor with a loud yell, unconscious. Kisame was about to finish him when a spiked metal ball hit Kisame from behind. Tenten stood atop a tree, scrolls in her hand. A single splitting cry was heard from the trees.

"Konoha Dai Senpuu!"

Rock Lee, in his Chuunin vest, delivered a ferocious kick to the stunned Kisame, knocking him to the floor. Kankuro saw his opportunity, and quickly summoned two of his puppets, Karasu and Kurorai. Kisame stood up, and Kurorai was behind Kisame, in his blind spot. Karasu lunged at Kisame, a feint, and Kisame jumped back, right into the waiting Kurorai. The puppet closed around the Water Shinobi. Karasu's body split, revealing a dozen sharp blades, and Kankuro attacked with his most fearsome technique.

"Kurasuri Engeki! Kuro Higikki Ippatsu!"

Karasu's separated body plunged into the slits in Kurorai, delivering multiple mortal blows to Kisame, blood trickling from the puppet's body. Kisame gave a high pitched scream of death, and died inside the body of the puppet. Kankuro threw the body into the dirt, and cut it to pieces to ensure death. At this time, Naruto and his friends rejoined them, victory theirs. Akatsuki had been dealt a heavy blow at the deaths of Uchiha Itachi and Hoshikagi Kisame. The fifteen ninja returned to Sunakagure, and Sakura healed the unconscious Shikamaru. The Konoha Twelve left for their home a week later. They arrived once more as heroes of their homeland, and Naruto and Hinata were back where they belonged, in each others arms.

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: Wow, that was fun to write. Expect to see a lot of Akatsuki in later chapters. I have a big surprise for you in the next chapter, and for all you NaruHina fans, you're going to love it. Well, thanks for reading Love Among Shinobi, and please review.