Here's the next chapter...
It took me some - a LONG - time to decide where I wanted to go with the plot. Okay, I lied. It wasn't the plot. It was the fight scenes. Sorry for taking forever.
Thank you to:
NinjasWillRuleTheWorld - I'm glad you like where the plot is going(: AND THANKS FOR REVIEWING AGAIN.
wingedmercury - WINGS! THANK YOU! (^-^) I feel inspired to write again. (or the fight stuff anyways) (:
~TAG ~
"You!"
Madara narrowed his eyes as he glanced down at the offending hand. Wide, blue eyes looked up at him. It was impossible, really, for a little kid to be expending that much chakra. It wasn't natural. And on a fūinjutsu (1) too. The Kyuubi glanced at Naruto; Madara's control wearing off. It was a wonder really, how that tiny hand could draw blood from the Uchiha.
"The Keiyaku Fūin..." Madara ground out, "How can a brat like you-?" (2)
A sly smile adorned Naruto's face, his blue eyes shining with mockery, that hardened into a determined glare. Madara shook with rage, it was the same look that had foiled his plans all those years ago.
"Yondaime..."
Itachi watched as the Uchiha fumed. He froze when he felt a familiar chakra, one he knew so well. You couldn't forget a presence like that. But it was impossible, the man had been dead for years. It was coming from Naruto no less. A wave of killer intent washed over him and Itachi suppressed a feeling, somewhat akin to...fear—he thought—flooding his body. But he didn't panic. Uchiha Itachi never felt afraid—okay, maybe that one time when he witnessed the— Itachi snapped out of his musings and as he refocused on the scene, he swore Naruto looked in his direction, grinning, as a kunai neared him—as if he was accepting death. He didn't waste any time dwelling on it though. That would have to wait.
x
Somewhere in the distance, nearing the same area where Itachi had once occupied, Wolf halted to a stop as Sparrow leapt out of the way and landed on an adjacent branch.
"Taichou?" Sparrow inquired, his eyes scanning the area for hidden dangers, "Is that—?"
Wolf turned, nodding to Sparrow, as he accessed the situation.
"But why would..."
Shikaku widened his eyes, "The Fourth—!"
"It appears so, Nara-san."
Behind his Wolf mask; behind his calm facade, Kakashi was in turmoil. The memories he thought he suppressed came rushing back to him. It brought back the disappointment and the many days of anger and depression. He had failed his team. And as he continued on, the colors of green and brown rushed past him, Kakashi realized he had forgotten the greatest promise he had made, to the last of his team.
'I watched him die and I couldn't even protect her. But I will keep this promise if it's the last thing I do. I should have started earlier, but I WILL protect him, until I die—Sensei...'
Madara was beyond mad. His plans were ruined again. It looked like the Namikaze clan was out to get him. Change of plans; he'd just wait for the Kyuubi to revive again. Madara lunged towards Naruto, intending to kill the boy. But the smile on Naruto's face remained, undaunted. This was not the face of a child, but the face of a veteran shinobi who had faced death countless times.
The brat was actually smiling, the Kyuubi thought; no it was the smile of the Yondaime. A flash of metal appeared in his line of vision. In a blink of an eye, Naruto was hoisted into the air by Kyuubi's tail. It wouldn't do to let the brat die. He wasn't sure if he would die too.
CLANG.
Madara looked at his opponent, his kunai parred with a kantana.
"Well if it isn't my cute little Itachi. I've been watching you, you know?"
"Who are you?"
"That doesn't matter." Looks like I have to change my plans again.
"What is it that you are after?"
"Who knows? War maybe?"
Iachi narrowed his eyes, "I cannot allow you to do as you please."
"Itachi, Itachi, you have got to stop being a pacifist—" But that works to my advantage.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu."
A fireball ended Madara's charade as he leapt out of the way. Upon landing, Itachi appeared behind him, katana aimed for his heart.
Poof.
Itachi spun around, his katana swung into an upward sweep. The sound of metal clashing rebounded in the air.
"Is that the best you can do?" Madara taunted as he turned into a log. Itachi leapt back as a kunai - with an explosive tag attached, mind you - buried itself into the log. Itachi shielded his eyes as wooden chucks rained down. Activating his Sharingan, Itachi zeroed in on Madara's chakra, who was nearing Naruto and the Kyuubi.
"Shunshin." (3)
Itachi cleared the distance in a second, his sharingan spinning, eyes a whirl of black and red, "Magen: Kasegui no Jutsu." (4)
The world faded to red as spikes appeared over Madara, slowly impaling his limbs. Madara struggled against the spikes and winced in fake pain.
"Nicely done, Itachi-kun."
Itachi watched as the spikes disappeared and Madara chuckled. Itachi froze, "You turned my genjutsu on me. How...?"
Madara grinned, "I guess I can't hide anymore."
"The Kyuubi is out there! Let me handle this."
"With whom? Your ROOT agents?"
Danzo glowered at the Hokage.
"I have sent my shinobi to handle it. You don't need to do anything."
"Now listen here Hiruzen. We don't know what's going on and why the brat was kidnapped. It's dangerous. That's why I told you to let the brat be trained as a weapon. This situation wouldn't have happened then!"
"This brat also happens to be a child. A CHILD!"
"You're too soft. You've gone senile."
The Third sighed, "I have sent Wolf and his squad. You will do nothing. That's an order!"
"I won't forget this. I won't let you get away with this!"
"Are you threatening me? Your Hokage?"
"The Council will hear about this!"
As Danzo stormed out - door slammed - Sarutobi closed his eyes, his crystal ball displaying Wolf and his team, sat forgotten on the table.
Itachi studied the man in front of him, his Sharingan spinning. He couldn't believe it. This man - he couldn't be! - was an Uchiha. There was no doubt as the proof was there. Itachi was yet again trapped in another genjutsu. Itachi glared at the older man.
"You can't beat an Uchiha stronger than you brat."
Itachi studied the man's eyes - it was so familiar - when it hit him. He closed his eyes, recalling the hidden shrine that he had discovered. With the help of his Sharingan - thank God for its photographic memory - he froze as the man's Sharingan came to view. 'Uchiha Madara.'
The Kyuubi cursed as he watched the exchange from afar. As far as he could tell, they had stopped fighting. He was still far too weak to even walk. Hell, he couldn't even use chakra anymore. Whatever Madara's sharingan did to control him, left him useless. If what Madara had said was true, then he was stuck obeying the brat and whoever the brat held an alliance to. It was pretty clever too as Madara was going to get the brat to his side. Curse that bastard.
But on the other hand, he was free - as free as a summoned creature can get - and would have to play his cards right. He'd rather live in peace - oh he did not just think that; he was turning soft! - rather than be controlled. He looked down and scoffed. Here he was - the most dangerous bijuu here and what was he doing? - protecting a stupid, little, unconscious brat. The brat looked so innocent; so easy to kill. But he couldn't take any chances, in case he died. That was the only reason he told himself - but somewhere deep, deep, deep inside he knew that wasn't the only reason. He supposed he was a little attached to the brat; given that he was stuck in the brat's body twenty-four seven. And of course, the brat was surrounded by hatred. After all, he thrived for the hate and darkness in people's hearts, which this brat kept suppressed.
Kyuubi glanced up - his tails wrapped protectively around Naruto - and his red eyes narrowed at the incoming chakra signatures. He was screwed, at his state, he could be killed or even sealed for good. He sighed, "Damn Madara and his stupid seal."
"You're supposed to be dead."
"Oh, you figured it out?"
"You were supposed to die decades ago. Why are you alive Madara?"
"Tch. So rude. What happened to respect your ancestors?"
"You were abandoned by the Uchiha." Madara's eyes darkened.
"Oh. It looks like we have company." Itachi watched as Madara flashed handsigns for multiple genjutsus. Seeing the chance, his clone - that he managed to make - sneaked up on Madara and plunged a kunai through his chest. The kunai literally went through and out his chest, and Itachi could see the gaping hole, as if that part of Madara's chest had disappeared. A sizzling hiss sounded and the clone exploded, detonated by Itachi, shrouding the area with the smoke. Itachi felt himself fly back, free from the restraints Madara had imposed on him. He flipped in midair and landed in a crouch. He rolled to the left, kunai in hand, and eyed Madara warily as he materialized out of nowhere.
"That was close - "
Itachi didn't hesitate to cut him off.
An explosion sounded somewhere close to them. Shikaku sighed, "We need to hurry. Itachi probably has engaged in battle."
"Taichou!"
"What is it?"
"I see something..."
"What?"
"It looks like a miniature..."
"Looks like?"
"...Kyuubi..."
Kakashi froze, "WHAT?"
"DUCK!"
Kunais and shurikens whizzed past thier heads; explosive notes sizzling.
BOOM
Leaves and debris were flung everywhere in a violent whirl, like a tornado splintering a house to pieces.
"There's genjutsu everywhere!" Sparrow shouted.
Kakashi opened both eyes. Whoever had layered them on was good. He couldn't even tell where one started and ended.
"Careful. You don't know what traps can be triggered." Shikaku warned.
Kakashi looked at the massive earth wall in front of them, "Well this doesn't look like genjutsu. It's laced with chakra though."
No sooner did the words leave his mouth did catastrophe happen.
x
Kyuubi eyed the leaf shinobi. The effing brat just had to wake up!
so there you go. I promise I'll work on the next chapters right away. I have a habit of writing the ending chapters of this story. It's so bad.
I hate fight scenes. Don't expect much from them.
I really need to make a better outline, my plot is jumping everywhere.
(1) it's like a sealing jutsu
(2) it's a contract seal; when used it removes any control the summoner has over their summoned creature
(3) body flicker - high-speed movement technique, allowing a ninja to move short to long distances at an almost untraceable speed
(4) demonic illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique - needs Sharingan; the opponent is caught in the illusionary world created by the user, and the victim will be tormented with the sensation of having spikes driven through their limbs, taking away their body's freedom.
excuse any mistakes, I've read this chapter over a million times. Can't reread this!
thoughts?