Helloooo, so I'm finally back and I wasnt away for 2 weeks I was away for 3 weeks I'm sorry ;-; I hope you havent given up on me... heh but yeah this is the next chapter hope its not too bad but meh ya know. So yah I don't have much to say cuase I'm exhausted but I just had to update it. :) and of course as you can see, the fighting will progress onto the next chapter yayyyy! I'm also sorry that it's so short but try to bear with me and thank you for the nice reviews I actually love you guys so much I wish I could reply to them all but I've got so much to do and ahhh. Anyway bye ^_^

Chapter 16
Naruto got into his fighting stance. Don't worry, this isn't Itachi. Think Naruto, who could this guy be if he's not as he appears? Well it could be Madara I guess but...
Naruto was almost seared by a fire ball as he was lost in his thoughts and just managed to jump away. Naruto growled and smacked his hands together.
"Shadow clone jutsu!" He shouted, and in a puff of smoke, 2 clones of Naruto appeared on either side of him. Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"So you really are going to fight me?" He smirked and Naruto threw shuriken at him. He dodged them easily and went on, while they circled each other.
"Itachi? Sasuke's dead big brother?" Itachi asked, his voice mocking.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Don't talk about Sasuke! He's not involved in this!" Naruto gathered his chakra and his clones helped him create the Rasengan on his palm.
He scowled at the fake Itachi who chuckled back.
"C'mon." Was all he said. Naruto was angered by his attitude and ran for Itachi. He slammed the Rasengan into his chest and sent him flying back. Naruto stood in amazement at Itachi who did not make an effort to get up. Wait a minute...
Just before Naruto realised what had happened, Itachi turned into a log and he felt a knife at his throat.
"Got to do better than that." He hissed in his ear. Substitution jutsu! Naruto pulled out a kunai and turned to slash him with it. His speed wasn't the best but he managed to slash Itachi on the elbow.
"Argh!" Itachi jumped away. "Heheh... Here, have this." Itachi clasped his hands in front of his mouth and created a jutsu sign. He breathed in and shouted:
"Fireball jutsu - secret flower formation!" All at once, different shapes of fire came crashing at Naruto from all angles. Naruto jumped up dodging them all, pulling out an exploding kunai while in mid air. He threw it down without hesitation and the ground beneath him blew up. He smiled at his victory but the jutsu was still going and one of the fire balls hit him. He yelped in pain and was sent crashing to the ground. The ground hadn't been affected by his kunai at all. Yes, this guy wasn't Itachi, he wasn't even human! Naruto felt a cold boot touch his cheek.
"Giving up already?" Itachi scoffed. "What a weak boy."
Naruto immediately turned round and grabbed Itachi's leg, tripping him up and sending him flat on his face. Despite his burns, Naruto stood up and created 2 shadow clones. As Itachi got up, Naruto threw one of his clones forward, just catching his hands so he could move with him. Naruto was thrown at Itachi, sending punches from each side of him as his clones came to help.
"Uzamaki barrage!" He shouted as he fly kicked Itachi sending him up into the sky. One of Naruto's clones then jumped up to he could reach Itachi in mid-air and kicked him full force, into the ground below.
A hole was created when Itachi fell drastically to the ground. Naruto's clones disappeared and all Naruto could do was pant. Is that it? Is he dead?
A few moments later, Naruto got his answer as the fake Itachi rose back up like nothing had happened. Astounded, Naruto gaped at the creature.
"W-what are you!?" Naruto shouted. He smirked.
"I'm not Itachi." Was all he answered with. He closed his eyes for a second but when he opened them, they glowed red. The Sharingan.
"Although I'm not really Itachi, I could copy his Jutsu as well as his appearance." He laughed darkly. Itachi squeezed Naruto's neck with one hand, crushing it easily. "Looks like you'll die along with your sensei, Naruto."
That flicked a dangerous switch in Naruto. But before he could retaliate Itachi was punched and kicked into one of the cave walls. Naruto fell to the ground and growled once he had his breath back. He looked around for his saviour. He grinned.
"Bushy brows! And bushier brows sensei!?" He coughed. Guy flashed a worried smiled.
"You just sit there and rest, Naruto. We'll take care if him." Guy's eyes widened when he saw it was Itachi. Naruto filled him in with the information.
"How is he... Not Itachi if he looks like him and has his jutsu?!" Lee questioned. Naruto couldn't answer as he didn't know himself.
Itachi cut into their conversation. "I'll crush you!" He shouted, "Housenka no Jutsu - Mythical Fire Phoenix Technique!"
Lee and Guy stood in awe and alert as a giant Phoenix flew gracefully above them, it's colours raging yellow and orange. The sheer heat in the cave had increased and Lee cringed in pain. The bird suddenly burst at the top of the cave and what looked like millions of tidy birds, flew down at them all at once. All with immense power. Guy clenched his fists and decided he had no other choice. He'd have to open one of the gates.
He gave a shout of rage as he opened the first gate.
"Gate of joy!" He shouted and with all his might, he demolished all of the fireballs in a flash. When he fell back to the ground, he was all out.
Lee shook his sensei. "GUYYYY SEENNSSEEEIII!" He shouted tearfully. Naruto got up but fell back down accidentally. Seemed like he hasn't recovered from collapsing.
"It's okay Lee, I'm fine." Guy said, opening one eye. "I'm just out of moves." He flashed a smile at Lee.
"I guess it's your time to shine."
Lee froze and looked up at the recovering enemy.
"I- I... What do I do!?" He urged, he had never been put in a situation quite like this one.
Guy sat up slowly. "What're you talking about Lee?" He narrowed his eyes. "Are you tellin' me you've lost all hope in yourself?"
Lee shook his head quickly. Guy laughed quietly. "Then go for it. I believe in ya, Lee." He flashed his signature grin.
Lee clenched his fists.
"Okay sensei." He nodded. He loosened the bandages on his arms.
He looked up at the fake Itachi.
"How ... DARE YOUUUU!" He shouted. Itachi leapt down to be level with Lee. Lee ran at him, getting a few good punches in there. Lee's fists went so fast that it was all but a blur for Naruto. Itachi fell down on his back in what looked like the blink of an eye.
Crack!
The force and speed of the fall had meant the fake Itachi had broken his spine. There was a low moan from the enemy and then he relaxed. He was dead. Naruto cringed at the noise, and at the fact that he had wanted to defeat the enemy.
"Well done Lee!" Naruto shouted. Lee grinned at him but fell to his knees in exhaustion. "Sensei!"
Guy was near tears (as usual) at his student's performance.
"AMAZING LEE!" He exclaimed. Lee stood up. Guy's face fell.
"Guy sensei? What's-" Lee turned around to be face to face with Itachi. "How... How did he...?" Lee stammered. A low laugh came from Itachi. His spine was still broken.
Lee cringed and backed away. He was too tired to do anything else, as they had just ran miles to get here and he had fought already. Naruto stood up.
"What is with this guy?" Naruto said. Lee shook his head.
"Naruto? Your too tired-"
"You go rest Bushy Brows. Leave the rest to me." Naruto nodded at the spot beside Guy. Lee hovered there and Itachi sighed.
"I can't be bothered waiting for you 2 anymore. I'll finish you all in one hit." He clasped his hands in front of his mouth. "Fire style: Fire Ball Jutsu!"
Naruto shouted with rage and did what little he could do to shield himself. He squeezed his eyes shut.
He stood for a few seconds until he reopened his eyes. There was a wood wall in front of him.
Naruto gaped. "No way!" He turned around.
Captain Yamato, Sakura and Sai were standing at the caves entrance. Yamato was rushing up to Naruto.
"What HAVE you been doing?!" His eyes scanned over Guy and Lee.
Sakura rushed over to them both and started healing them right away.
"What's happening, Naruto?" She breathed hurriedly. Naruto explained everything as quickly as he could.
"... This is such a mess." Yamato sighed, suddenly he winced and fell to one knee. "I can't hold my shield up for much longer. Sai be ready to fight." Yamato said. Sai nodded.
Yamato bared his teeth and retracted the barrier...