Hello dearest reader! I am writing this at a morning hour as I have to change my sleeping schedule with school approaching me. So therefore I can't stay up to 1-4 Am every night. Don't worry this story will be a great thing that continues throughout the year. Next week, specifically Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I will most likely not be able to update as I have to read three books one on each day. (I read very quickly) If I can get thirty chapters of this story written by the time school begins I will be very happy so I shall attempt to do so! Once again thanks for reading!

The storm cloud above Itachi gave forth a great deal of rain as suddenly a bolt of lightning shot out and struck at Itachi's body. Suddenly Itachi fell to the ground and stopped moving. Frederick looked at the body with surprise…he had not anticipated that.*

Frederick waited a moment; he didn't want to be deceived by any potential substitution technique. He also couldn't help but worry that perhaps he had struck him critically. Sure enough after a few long moments of nothingness, Frederick walked over to the lifeless body of Itachi.

As he leaned over to inspect it; he heard a chilling voice.

"Don't get so careless."

The body that Frederick had leaned over dissipated in a flash of smoke as Frederick began to feel heat behind his body.

Sure enough, as he turned around, a trio of massive fireballs was storming towards him. Itachi himself simply stood with his back turned to him a few meters away.

Frederick only had a moment to think; there wasn't enough time to counter with fireballs…he had just one choice.

"Elemental Art: Protection Justu!"

Without a moment to spare a green spherical aura surrounded Frederick's body as the fireballs hit the sphere surrounding Frederick head on.

There was a massive explosion as dark smoke filled the area.

The earth trembled vigorously as the spectators looked away; rain continued to fall over the landscape.

Finally the smoke cleared; few expected Frederick to still be standing but there he was; standing tall and boasting confidence.

Itachi turned around and looked at Frederick carefully.

Frederick knew that he had to take the offensive before Itachi figured out the secret to his emergency protection.

"Earth Style: Magnitude 6!"

Suddenly the earth shook at great pace of power; Itachi stumbled to the ground as the akatsuki spectators struggled to avoid the crashing trees and breaking land.

The shaking of the earth was terrifically violent as even Frederick himself struggled to stand at the justu he had cast.

He barely managed to hold his balance as he performed his final major elemental justu.

"Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet!"

Frederick took a deep breath and pounded at his stomach to release the air blast. Itachi was completely defenseless as it exploded as soon as it reached Itachi's location.

The earthquake had subsided however there was no way for Itachi to defend himself. The blast of the wind had been too great and destroyed the land under Itachi; as well as surely maiming his body.

Frederick fell to the ground as he struggled to breath; that justu took an extraordinary amount of chakra to perform. The only other person/creature to perform that justu was the shukaku of the sand.

Frederick looked at the devastation he had caused to the land; the earth was shattered and even the trees of the distance were broken.

The clouds let loose their tears as the newly created crevices in the earth began to fill with water.

Itachi was still down after Frederick's attack, but thankfully Frederick could see some movement from his body.

That was when Pein appeared from the sidelines.

"This battle is over…nicely done…Frederick."

Konan appeared next to him as they exchanged a look at each other.

Kisame went over to Itachi who had managed to stand up after the attack.

"What happened Itachi?"

Itachi looked at Kisame carefully.

"He's improved."

Kisame nodded his head.

Just three days ago this boy didn't have anything going for him except that he had a large amount of chakra at his disposal; now it seemed like anything was possible with him. His power was terrific and he could be a terrific warrior.

Pein had walked over to Itachi in the meantime.

"He was impressive Itachi…do you really believe he will be able to succeed in the field?"

Itachi nodded his head.

"He will be able to succeed…His abilities have developed at an undeniable rate over the course of the last few days. When he returns from the fields of fire; his abilities will make him extremely valuable to all of akatsuki."

"Very well…Konan and I shall brief him tonight…You two are in charge of taking him to the entrance."

"Of course leader-sama."

With that Itachi and Kisame began walking back to base; Itachi's injuries were apparent however not serious enough for any major concern.*

With that, Tsunade stormed off to the hospital at a quick page.*

When Tsunade arrived at the rooms; she found that the very same anbu she had sent out were occupying them. The first one she entered belonged to Ami.

The girl was bandaged up but nothing was too serious from the medical records Tsunade began reading.

"Lady Tsunade-sama."

"How are you feeling Ami? What happened to you?"

"I…I don't know. Shin and I had been patrolling at night and everything from then until we woke up near Konoha…I can't remember any of it, except for one thing. We both saw the face of the boy you sent us to find…but that's the only thing I can remember! Ugh! This is so frustrating!"

Tsunade looked puzzled; normally if someone lost their memory it was something more random…The way this happened it made her think that perhaps a justu had been inflicted upon them.

She made a mental note to have Inochi brought in, to see if he could perhaps find the hidden memories.

Tsunade had planned to visit Shin as well but she noticed that he was gone.

"Nurse, where has Shin gone?'

"Root operatives had declared that he see Danzo at once."

Tsunade didn't like the sound of that one bit; what was Danzo up to?*

Kind of short but I wanted to leave an easy walkway so I can write the next chapter very soon. I meant to update yesterday but I didn't finish this in time for such a thing. Thanks for reading! J