Yes guys, Itachi is using the Mangekyo a lot - and yes, he does not have the Eternal Mangekyo yet - and yes, this means he will go blind. But all I can say is, he WILL NOT go blind. Something to mess your heads around until we eventually get to it - which is about another 50 chapters away probably. How will Itachi NOT go blind? Leave some interesting guesses, I always love to hear them.
A huge shoutout to my 300th reviewer Charrmed. :D
Corpj123: You told me to ignore your review in pm so I shall do just that :P
S.R.457: Out of the woods? What do you mean? Thanks for the awesome rating :D
Hachibi8tails: I was saying in real life, so no, if you train and train, you still won't become a ninja :P yes, Naruto wielding a sword is kinda awkward and I'm only starting to realize that now - but we all love a sword-wielding Naruto. Makes him look cool.
Rain Dove: Yes, the word is probably 'uninspiring'... To your note about Itachi using the Mangekyo a lot, please refer to the first paragraph of this Author's Note. Also, I understand what you mean about the Rinnegan. Shinra Tensei-ing and Bansho Tenin-ing my teacher back and forth - that is something I would be unable to resist doing.
enerongoku77: I'm glad to hear a fellow Singaporean with the praise, but your profile states you're Malaysian! O.o Regardless of where you are from, it is an honor that you consider my writing on par with your favorite authors. Thank you for the compliment!
Thanks to Corpj123, S.R.457, hi1235, Hachibi8tails, Charrmed, Rain Dove, FireIce and enerongoku77 for the reviews!
"The Sharingan..." Kimimaro frowned. He looked towards the container behind him. "You are a part of this little guy's clan, yes?"
"I'm more than that..." Itachi started trembling with rage. "... I'm his brother! And I'm taking him back!" He charged, pulling out a katana of his own.
Naruto gulped. He'd never seen his sensei this fierce.
Kimimaro defended himself, using his bone sword to counter as Itachi attacked with his katana.
"That's interesting." Kimimaro's tone of voice showed that he disagreed with his own words. "But I'm still going to have to take him to Orochimaru-sama."
"Tell Orochimaru-sama to shove this up his ass!" Itachi jumped back, dropping his katana to perform hand seals. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Another gigantic fireball emerged from Itachi's mouth. Kimimaro was visibly impressed by the size of it, but still managed to avoid the burning flame and it crashed into another tree.
"I-Itachi-sensei! Calm down!" Naruto urged. "You can't beat him like this!"
Itachi took a deep breath. Naruto's right... I can't be charging into battle like that.
He looked back.
"Naruto, tell me everything you know about this guy."
Naruto nodded. "He can use his bones as weapons!"
Itachi frowned, finding his student's explanation incredibly vague. He then recalled something, and glared at Kimimaro.
"You... are of the Kaguya clan?"
Kimimaro stared back at Itachi. "Yes."
Then... the ability he possesses... bones as weapons... is it the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai?
This means physical attacks will not work on him... if he's fast enough, that is.
In that case...
Itachi noticed Kimimaro was staring him right in the eye.
"Tsukuyomi."
Kimimaro blinked, noticing the color of the surroundings around him had changed to red and black.
Itachi was in front of him, giving him an evil smile as he was bound to a cross. In Itachi's hand was his katana.
"Until you give up..." Itachi started coldly, readying his weapon. "... You will be tortured here for the next week."
Kimimaro didn't seem to be panicking. Itachi frowned, and prepared to stab into his enemy's abdomen. Unfortunately, a bone spike sprung out and blocked the attack.
Itachi frowned.
His wrists sprouting more bone spikes to release himself, Kimimaro jumped off the cross.
His Kekkei Genkai... it's working even while under my genjutsu!
Kimimaro nodded towards Itachi. "Nice technique, but unfortunately, it will have no effect on me." The Kaguya blinked again, and this time his surroundings had returned to normal.
To Naruto, Itachi and Kimimaro had only been staring at each other for two seconds. He was puzzled as to why Itachi's face had suddenly looked troubled.
"Nice try," Kimimaro complimented - but it sounded more like a taunt.
Itachi glared at him - the classic Uchiha glare again. "If genjutsu won't work, ninjutsu will." He breathed in hard. "Fire Style: Flame Bomb!"
A flame missile was blasted from the Uchiha's mouth towards Kimimaro, who dodged it with ease. The missile hit a tree and exploded, completely destroying the plant.
"Eh, Itachi-sensei!" Naruto's blade glowed. "You aren't the only one who wants to bring Sasuke back, y'know!"
He charged forward. Kimimaro raised the bone-created sword in his hand, and easily fended off Naruto's attacks.
Itachi flung an army of shuriken, shooting small fireballs onto each of them. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Shuriken Jutsu!"
With ease, Kimimaro struck the burning shuriken away.
Naruto waved his sword. "Wind Style: Razor Wind!"
Kimimaro jumped out of the way, with Naruto's attack vanishing into the air.
Seeing this, Itachi turned towards Naruto. "Naruto, use that jutsu of yours again, will you?"
Naruto nodded. "Wind Style: Razor Wind!"
Itachi breathed in once more. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Both techniques collided and formed a fireball the size of a literal giant.
"I see... so you combined a Wind Style and a Fire Style jutsu to make the Fire Style attack more powerful." Kimimaro noted. He jumped onto a tree branch, and from the tree branch, leaped up high into the air as the massive fireball raged through another army of trees before being appeased.
Naruto growled angrily. Itachi simply frowned, surprised that the fireball, fueled by Wind chakra, had been dodged.
Kimimaro landed in front of Naruto, and raised his sword.
Reacting fast enough, Naruto dived to the side and jumped up high, performing the Shadow Clone hand seal.
"Sword Clone Jutsu!"
Itachi looked on as what he regarded as Naruto's most powerful technique was utilized on the enemy. Soon, thirty swords were raining down on Kimimaro, but like before, he looked on with a passive gaze.
"Larch Dance."
Various sharp bone spikes popped out of Kimimaro's back, chest and shoulders. Dropping the sword in his hands, he crouched down and placed two hands over his head respectively. Bone spikes sprung out from these hands as well.
"What...?" Itachi's eyes narrowed as the swords bounced off Kimimaro harmlessly, his bones acting as a shield.
Naruto was as stumped as his sensei.
Kimimaro didn't give his Konoha counterpart time to react, however, soon charging towards Naruto. He began spinning rapidly, and Naruto struggled to counter all of Kimimaro's bones with his sword.
Itachi ran in and pulled out his own blade.
Naruto beat back one of the bones, but soon another one rose towards him. Itachi thrust his blade forward, blocking the spike's path to Naruto's body.
The Chunin smiled gratefully at Itachi, who grabbed Naruto's Chunin vest and pulled him back.
"In a situation like this, we can't stay close to him," Itachi advised. "You did well, countering his movements and all, but leave the long range attacks to me."
Naruto nodded, glaring with anger at Kimimaro. His eyes then swooped to the container, and eagerly, he raced towards it.
In a flash, Kimimaro was standing in front of the container, and started his spinning movements. Naruto had little choice but to step back.
Itachi placed his hands in a single seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu." Two clones of his popped up on either side of him. The three lookalikes began doing hand seals again. "Fire Style: Uchiha Great Flame!"
Three Fireball Jutsus combined to form one that looked more gigantic than the previous one combined with Naruto's Wind chakra.
Kimimaro stared intently at the fireball as it engulfed him...
... and he suddenly appeared beside Itachi.
"Itachi-sensei!" Naruto screamed.
However, it was too late as Kimimaro began slashing motions, brutally getting rid of the other clone and then Itachi himself.
Unfortunately, he soon felt a blade running through his back, as the one he believed as the original became an army of crows.
"You used the Substitution Jutsu with one of my Shadow Clones at the last minute. Great timing. Too bad they are all clones."
Kimimaro looked back and frowned. "When did you get the opportunity to substitute yourself with a clone?"
Itachi smiled. "When Naruto was occupying your attentions."
Closing his eyes, Kimimaro spoke. "Fair enough."
His skin then turned white, and hardened.
Eyes widening, Itachi witnessed 'Kimimaro' becoming a practical statue, made of hardened bone.
The next moment, a sharp blade stabbed through his back, similar to how he'd attacked the clone in front of him.
"Itachi-sensei!" Naruto went into panic mode.
The real Kimimaro stood behind Itachi, holding the hilt of one of his bone swords. The blade was deep into Itachi's back.
"W-What?" Itachi managed to cough out.
A small smirk appeared on Kimimaro's lips. "Have you ever heard of a Bone Clone?"
"N-No..." was the reply of the Uchiha man.
This time, it was Kimimaro's turn to widen his eyes as 'Itachi' dispersed into an army of crows as well.
"Water Style: Liquid Bullet!"
"Gaaah!" Kimimaro roared in pain as he was struck in the head.
From on top of one of the tree branches surrounding the area, Itachi let a smile show.
"It appears I was right in predicting your weak point was the head."
Kimimaro turned back and glared as Itachi landed from the branch.
"You can have bones springing out from every single part of your body... except your head. Am I correct?"
The last Kaguya replied with a deeper glare. "You... anticipated all my moves?"
Itachi's smile grew a little wider. "Yes."
Naruto inched closer to the container. Finally, he found his arm reaching out to touch it.
Kimimaro's attention went back to the blonde, and instantly he was behind Naruto and about to strike him with his sword. Naruto turned back, gasping and quickly unsheathing his sword to parry the blow.
There were visible sparks as both swords swiped against each other.
Naruto was forced to retreat from the container again. Kimimaro stood protectively in front of it. The vessel should be reaching full maturity by now... I must get this to Orochimaru-sama as soon as possible. But these two...
Suddenly, an Itachi clone dropped from the trees towards him.
Kimimaro spun around to look up.
"Shadow Clone Explosion!"
A huge boom followed, throwing Sasuke's container back wildly.
Kimimaro emerged from the smoke, nursing new wounds. I can't believe this... he wounded me...
"Your protectiveness of the container lowered your guard," Itachi noted, now directing a threatening Uchiha glare towards Kimimaro. "Just give it up. All we want is Sasuke back."
Kimimaro stared back at Itachi. "I am afraid I cannot disobey the orders of Orochimaru-sama."
"Orochimaru-sama this, Orochimaru-sama that!" Naruto glared at him as well. "Are you his pet? His dog? Or maybe his personal sex slave?" Naruto didn't know what a sex slave meant, but he only knew it wasn't a good word, having heard some of the boys in the academy talking about it. He launched himself forward, sword raised. "In any case, I am not letting you take this to your Orochimaru or whatever!"
Now giving Naruto a hateful glare, the bone wielder brought a hand up to shield his head. "You... you dare insult Orochimaru-sama like that?"
He waved his body around, only making an attempt to protect his skull, with Naruto's attempts at striking his other body parts futile.
However, Naruto soon found himself back at where he was before charging at Kimimaro. Now in his place stood Itachi, with a Substitution Jutsu.
"I told you not to get close to him, Naruto!"
"... Sorry, sensei..."
Itachi pulled out his katana, defending himself as Kimimaro started to spin. He leaped over the bone-covered teenager and quickly made hand seals. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu."
It was a close-range attack, and one near impossible to dodge, but Kimimaro did it anyway.
When Itachi blinked, Kimimaro was already a few meters away.
"You are very skilled..." Kimimaro admitted, as black marks began spreading over his face and body starting from the upper portion of his chest.
Itachi instantly recognized the Cursed Seal. He frowned.
Swiftly, the black marks soon glowed orange.
The glow spread over Kimimaro's body once again, darkening his skin. Gigantic bones shot out from his back with a loud pop, giving him the appearance of a human dinosaur hybrid.
"But then again, there is rarely an Uchiha that isn't skilled, yes?"
"What are you?" Naruto gasped, taking in Kimimaro's new appearance.
"Naruto." Itachi looked back. "Please do not take part in this fight." His head snapped back to the front to face Kimimaro. "... It's too dangerous for you. Focus on getting that container."
Not waiting for the Uzumaki's reply, Itachi charged, and at the same time, breathed in hard and shot out three flame missiles. "Fire Style: Flame Bomb!"
Undaunted, Kimimaro stood his ground. The missiles blasted into him and exploded, but the smoke cleared to reveal his unscathed form.
"As long as I use the Cursed Seal..." Kimimaro's chest bones retracted as he got rid of his hole-filled shirt by ripping it off. "... you can forget about landing a hit on me."
"What? Why?" Naruto asked for Itachi.
Kimimaro showed a little smirk again. "In stage two of the Cursed Seal, every single bone in my body hardens to it's maximum."
That means... Itachi's hands balled into fists. He won't feel any pain at all...
"You should be thankful... Uchiha..." Kimimaro addressed Itachi, as he crouched down and reached his hand back. "... This power is something your brother will receive!"
Kimimaro's spine began to jut out of his back.
"Clematis Dance: Vine."
Pulling out his entire vine, Kimimaro waved it dangerously. Itachi observed that it looked like a whip. Is he going to try and restrain my movements?
"Haa!" Kimimaro threw the spine-turned-whip forward.
It wrapped around Itachi's body, effectively tying him up.
"Now... Clematis Dance: Flower!"
The lower half of Kimimaro's right arm became a gigantic bone spike that looked similar to a drill. Naruto gasped in horror as Kimimaro charged towards the paralyzed Itachi and hit his tied-up target.
However, 'Itachi' soon turned into crows again and Kimimaro's surroundings became a world of red like before.
He looked around, glaring at the empty space.
"So that's what your... Clematis Dance does." Itachi wasn't in sight, but his voice boomed in Kimimaro's ears. "You restrain the target, and use the slow but destructive power of the Flower technique to deal a killing blow."
Kimimaro walked around. "Have you not learnt the first time? Genjutsu won't work on me." He smiled. "I have been trained to withstand genjutsu by Orochimaru-sama himself! I could kill you in your own genjutsu world!"
"Why don't you try?"
"Sure." Kimimaro started to move, to seek out Itachi, but soon found that he couldn't. Looking down, he felt shock pass through him as his legs were now waving like paper.
Then, Kimimaro realized his entire body was doing the same. He felt like a thin strip of paper.
To the dinosaur-like ninja's further shock, he found his toes beginning to burn. The fire was soon spreading to his feet and legs.
It was a genjutsu - yet he could feel the pain of his lower body parts burning, and was unable to suppress a scream of agony.
With a determined growl, Kimimaro placed his hands in a seal.
"Release!"
Unfortunately he continued burning, and Kimimaro felt his fingers starting to roast.
He tried again.
"Release!"
"Release!"
"Release!"
"RELEASE!"
Normal surroundings returned to his sight, and Kimimaro backed away, dazed.
Itachi was surprised. He managed to break free of my genjutsu...?
Kimimaro's eyes narrowed. "That was a good move, but I think it's high time for you to die."
He charged, with his drill-like bone spike still on his right arm.
Itachi dodged with little effort. He'd described the weapon as destructive but slow, and he was completely accurate. Kimimaro's attacks were now a lot slower, and all Itachi had to ensure was not to get caught by any of it, which was easy.
It seems genjutsu that completely restrain his movements and bone attacks are the ones that work the best...
The Jonin ducked as the drill swished over him dangerously.
I have to find an opening to cast my genjutsu! ... Or all I'll be doing in this battle will be dodging, dodging and dodging...
Then, as Itachi blinked, he found that he no longer felt the strain on his eyes, that had been imposed when he'd used the Tsukuyomi earlier.
In that case... I'll go with...
Kimimaro landed on top of the container, glaring down at Naruto whose hand was brushing against the wooden material.
"Digital Shrapnel!"
Naruto jumped back, his sword blocking Kimimaro's bone missiles.
I can't waste time here any more... The Orochimaru worshipper thought. The vessel will break out any second now. I must get him to Orochimaru-sama as soon as possible.
"It has been a pleasure engaging you in battle, Uchiha-san." Kimimaro strapped the container to his back. "But I must leave for now."
With that, Kimimaro leaped into the trees, continuing on the path to Otogakure. Without hesitance, Naruto and Itachi followed suit.
Naruto glared hard at the retreating figure of Kimimaro.
We are going to save ya, Sasuke!
Hope you liked the battle, again. I predict a review telling me how Kimimaro should not have been able to withstand genjutsu and Itachi's Tsukuyomi, but... I'm just going to shrug. I needed an excuse to keep the battle going on for as long as possible - and besides, in my opinion, Itachi has the ability to take away an opponent's moves and powers while they're under his genjutsu - but not if the opponent possesses a Kekkei Genkai.
Question of the Day: Which of the Six Paths' ability would your rather possess? For me, it would probably be the Deva Path. I've been trying to Bansho Tenin-ing my pen to me whenever it drops and it never works.
Leave your interesting responses in the reviews.
In the next chapter, Kimimaro leads Naruto and Itachi to the Valley of the End, just as Sasuke's ascension to the next level of the Cursed Seal is completed. What will happen?
Find out in the next chapter ;)