Tons of interesting reviews last chapter.
Danish78: Shisui? Maybe. ;) I read that Tsukuyomi puts strain on the user's eyes after using it - so as an extra excuse to prolong the fight, I made it so that he couldn't use Amaterasu until a few minutes.
Hachibi8tails: Thanks for seeing my point of view about Kimimaro and genjutsu - but I'm pretty sure Sasuke broke out of Itachi's Tsukuyomi by using his own Sharingan to counter Itachi's Sharingan genjutsu. Or did I watch it wrong? O.o P.S. love the little dialogue at the end of your review. Animal Path is great indeed. Hehe.
WaterDrop: It's really awesome to know that you like my work as much as Kishi's :) Thank you!
Corpj123: I definitely see it from your point of view, but there would be no chapter to tell if Itachi used Tsukuyomi and bam, Kimimaro dies. And I'm disappointed you didn't like the chapter based on just one 'mistake', I was actually pretty happy on how it turned out.
zarni htet 7: I'm glad I made your day :)
The True Not Important: Itachi doesn't have an immunity to blindness, I'm saying he'll have one soon ;) but what is it? For you to find out, until we come to it :P
Thanks to Danish78, Hachibi8tails, WaterDrop, S.R.457, Corpj123, ChloboShoka, hi1235, zarni htet 7, The True Not Important, Aurora-chan and Charrmed for the reviews!
Kimimaro stopped at the Valley of the End. Behind him, Naruto and Itachi stopped.
"Finally decided to give up on running, huh?" Naruto smirked. "Now give Sasuke back!"
Ignoring the boy, Kimimaro simply continued on his way, about to jump over the first of the statues to the next.
If he goes over this waterfall, it'll be impossible to chase him any further... Itachi looked over to the forest on the other side of the waterfall, separating the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice Fields.
Naruto charged, but even his speed could not beat Kimimaro as the Kaguya ninja's ascent into the air started.
"Sasuke!" The blonde screamed.
A wave of sand shot out from behind Naruto and Itachi, and grabbed onto Kimimaro's right foot.
"What?" Kimimaro looked down as the sand's grip on his foot tightened, leaving him dangling in mid-air. The container, however, was thrown to the other side of the waterfall by Kimimaro's sudden jerk after getting caught by the sand.
"Gaara!" Naruto gasped.
Gaara walked forward, nodding at Naruto with a smile.
"Why are you here?"
Itachi looked at Naruto. "Now's not the time for questions, Naruto!"
"R-Right!" Naruto nodded.
Suddenly, a burst of energy followed from the container, and Naruto stopped in his tracks. A worried frown formed on Itachi's face, while Kimimaro smiled knowingly.
It's starting, the Shikotsumyaku wielder thought.
Itachi didn't like this one bit. "Naruto! Go!"
Naruto nodded again and rushed towards the statue of Hashirama.
Suddenly, a massive amount of chakra began flowing from the container as it shook violently. It gave off a feeling of evil.
As Naruto jumped into the air from the statue of Hashirama, the lid of the container flew into the air.
The form of Sasuke flew from the confinement of the coffin.
"Sasuke!" Naruto shrieked.
Gaara frowned. "He's broken away from my sand." He lifted his feet off the ground with a small jump, and a platform of sand appeared beneath. "Desert Suspension!"
The Suna Genin flew down the waterfall. Itachi looked towards Naruto, and then into the air where the vague body of Sasuke was. No matter how strong he is, Gaara can't handle Kimimaro alone. I leave this up to you... Naruto!
Itachi ran up the Hashirama statue, before letting himself drop down into the waterfall.
Just as he did, Sasuke landed on the opposite statue, the one of Madara. Naruto gasped.
"W-What happened to you... Sasuke?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the three shinobi in front of him.
Kakashi was standing beside an uncharacteristically worried-looking Might Guy. Beside Guy was Anko Mitarashi - one of the Chunin Exam proctors.
"Kakashi, Guy, report."
"Oh, yes, Hokage-sama," Kakashi nodded. "Shino Aburame and Neji Hyuga have both returned. They are both in bad condition, but are otherwise safe from any sort of life-threatening danger. Two of the Suna team we requested help from - Kankuro and Temari Sabaku, escorted them back here, but Gaara Sabaku is absent."
"Hm?" Hiruzen frowned. "Where is Gaara, then?"
"He requested for Kankuro and Temari to depart first as he wanted to see if he could do anything else to help the remaining ninja on the mission."
"I see." The Third nodded. He looked towards Guy. "Why do you look so worried, Guy?"
Guy scratched his chin. "Well... what I heard from Neji... is that Lee engaged his opponent earlier than Neji and Shino engaged theirs."
Hiruzen frowned again. "And he has not returned?"
"I... I'm afraid not, Hokage-sama."
"Lee will be fine." Kakashi placed a hand on his rival's shoulder. "He is strong enough."
"Kakashi, from your visit to the hospital - who has returned, and who has not?"
Kakashi nodded, looking back towards the Hokage. "It appears the team led by Sakura Haruno is back. My student, Kiba Inuzuka, has minor injuries around his body, and they'll heal pretty quick."
"What about the rest?"
"Ino Yamanaka's status is the same as Kiba's. Choji is in an unfortunate condition as well - but is out of any sort of life-threatening danger. Sakura has severe wounds and chakra exhaustion. She, like everyone else, is out of any danger but needs to be kept in the hospital for a long time, I think."
"What about the other team - led by Naruto?"
"Yes. As you know, Shino and Neji have returned - but both Lee and Naruto have not. It appears there are still one or two enemies left to defeat."
"Right..." Hiruzen leaned back in his chair. Well, both Itachi and the Suna reinforcements have been called in to back Naruto up... I shouldn't worry too much.
"Naruto." Sasuke acknowledged.
Naruto gasped at his friend's change in appearance. His shirt had been ripped apart, leaving only his shorts and a bare chest. But it wasn't the change of clothing that shocked the Jinchuriki.
Sasuke's skin was now entirely dark, and his hair had grown into a long mane. On his back were two wings, both in the shape of hands.
As Naruto looked into Sasuke's eyes, he had to stop himself from shuddering. They held pure malice.
"I am feeling power like never before," Sasuke continued, inspecting his newly-colored skin.
"Sasuke... let's go home."
Naruto reached out a hand.
To his surprise, Sasuke simply laughed.
"Go home? Go home to that pathetic village you call the Hidden Leaf?" Sasuke cackled. "With Orochimaru-sama, I can have power! This is only a simple taste of the power I will receive! Why would I go 'home', as you describe it?" He began laughing like a madman.
Naruto's eyes widened. "D-Did I... hear that right...? You... don't want to..."
"Yes." The Uchiha sneered. "This power is amazing, Naruto... it is unbelievable. You would want more if you were me!"
Is it... that new appearance? Is it... messing with Sasuke's head?
"If you want to take me back, you can try!"
Sasuke broke into Orochimaru-like laughter.
Yes... that's it...
"I'm sorry, but..." Naruto placed a hand on his sheathed sword. "... I'm going to have to knock some sense back into you... Sasuke!"
Kimimaro landed, and both Gaara and Itachi followed right after.
"Not going to let me get away, huh..." Kimimaro regarded them with a cold look. "Well, I have no desire to run from a strong opponent." He held up his right arm, where his heavy-looking bone drill was.
Gaara jerked his hand forward, and sand from his gourd shot towards Kimimaro.
"Sand Prison!"
Kimimaro dodged the technique just in time. "Digital Shrapnel!"
Gaara's Sand Shield conveniently covered both him and Itachi, as the bone missiles failed to bypass the Suna boy's defence.
Itachi stepped up.
"Get back, Gaara." As soon as his orders were followed, Itachi reactivated his Mangekyo Sharingan. The shuriken-like pupil burst to life, as he widened his eyes. "Time for you to die."
"I told you," Kimimaro smirked. "Whatever jutsu you try to use, I am immune to it in this level of my Cursed Seal."
"Hm." Itachi smiled, closing his eyes, and then reopening them again. "We will see." His right Sharingan eye started spinning furiously, startling both Gaara and Kimimaro.
Making sure, his gaze was directed straight at his target, Itachi did a mental nod to himself.
"Amaterasu!"
Kimimaro, sensing something about to happen, jumped away. The jet black flames appeared a second later at the spot where he'd been standing, burning furiously.
Itachi turned to look at Kimimaro again, redirecting the flames.
Gaara folded his arms and took a step back. So this is the power of an Uchiha.
"I see." Kimimaro continued running away from the flames. "Wherever you look, is wherever the flames go..."
Itachi ignored him, as he felt blood starting to run down his right eye. I have to hit him... quick!
"Itachi!"
Hearing Gaara's warning shout, Itachi turned back, and an Amaterasu was fired towards Kimimaro who had snuck up behind him.
How did he... I didn't even see him move!
Kimimaro crashed onto the floor, writhing in pain from the flames.
Well, at least he's done.
'Kimimaro' soon turned white, and hardened up.
Gaara frowned, while Itachi turned. Shit.
He pulled out his katana just in time to parry Kimimaro's strike.
"You..." Itachi struggled to keep Kimimaro's drill from touching his body. I see... his movements were fast enough to create a clone without me noticing. What I killed with Amaterasu was the clone - and now I can't use any of my Mangekyo Sharingan techniques for another few minutes.
"Haaa!"
Gaara's sand came forward, forcing Kimimaro to jump away from Itachi.
Wiping off the blood spilling down from his right eye, Itachi's Mangekyo turned into a normal Sharingan. Using Amaterasu was the only method I could think of defeating him...
Kimimaro attacked them again.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu."
Kimimaro descended into Itachi's fireball, and escaped with barely a scratch.
Dodging the attack, Itachi kicked out at Kimimaro's cheek.
The bone-wielder's expression changed into one of pain.
I see, so his head weakness is still there!
Retreating back to stand beside Gaara, Itachi spoke. "Aim for his head."
Without any questions, Gaara nodded, raising his arms. More sand poured from his gourd, taking the shape of three sand spikes in the air. "Take this." He willed the spikes into Kimimaro, who simply brushed them away with his hand.
Tightening his grip on his weapon, Itachi flung himself forward. Sounds of clashing metals followed as both took each other on in kenjutsu.
To his own surprise, Itachi found himself being overwhelmed by Kimimaro's rather large drill weapon, and almost had his arm severed.
However, he pulled back just in time. Kimimaro then swung a kick at him that sent Itachi rolling back.
"Shadow Clone Strike."
Itachi's clone poofed to life in front of him and suddenly sped forward with a kunai, managing to leave a small scar on Kimimaro's cheek before dispersing.
A tail then sprang out from Gaara's back, and slammed into the unsuspecting Kimimaro's face before he could react.
Gaara then jumped forward, his right arm now turning into a gigantic sand-covered hand.
Taking the opportunity to rest for awhile, Itachi popped a Food Pill into his mouth. The chakra he'd used for the battle had been intense. Kimimaro was certainly one of the strongest opponents he'd ever faced.
"What is this?" Kimimaro questioned.
Gaara responded by a punch attempt, but Kimimaro dodged with ease and got behind Gaara, about to run the drill through the redhead's body. Unfortunately for him, Gaara's tail sprouted out again, wrapping around his face and slamming him to the ground, head-first.
Wincing at the pain he was receiving, Kimimaro looked between Gaara and Itachi. So they've figured it out... again.
He tried to charge at Itachi, but was quickly grabbed and trapped in Gaara's giant arm.
Sand flew around Gaara's left hand, still in normal shape. The particles formed the shape of a spear.
Gripping onto the long weapon, Gaara tried to drive it through Kimimaro's head.
Swiftly, Kimimaro ejected the sharp bones located in his chest. Gaara winced, as his giant hand began to dissolve. Now free, it was Kimimaro's turn to attempt an end of his opponent's life, but the Sand Shield rose to defend Gaara.
To the youngest Sabaku's amazement, the bone drill passed straight through the Sand Shield after much effort, forcing Gaara to leap away.
The rest of Gaara's sand arm dissolved, and reformed back into a normal, human hand.
Turning back to look at Itachi, who was staring intently back at him, Kimimaro shook his head. It's obvious he's trying to buy time for something. His attention next swooped to Gaara. This one is formidable too. They are a present threat to me. I am going to die... but not now. Not yet. But more importantly, they could both be a future threat to Orochimaru-sama. Let me erase that possibility.
"Now..." Kimimaro smiled.
Itachi tensed. "Be careful, he's planning something!"
"Bracken Dance!"
Around the area, sharp bones immediately began shooting up from the ground.
Itachi's Sharingan eyes shifted into the Mangekyo form, and they started their spin again.
"Susanoo!"
"Beat some sense into me?" Sasuke chuckled evilly. "Naruto, you've always been the dead last!" He shifted into a fighting position. "What can you do to a powerful being like me?"
"You are not Sasuke," Naruto replied coldly. "Sasuke would never say something like that!"
"I am Sasuke, alright." The winged boy replied. "You are just seeing for the first time... the real me!" He jumped towards Naruto, arms raised. "But I'm not expecting a dead last like you to understand, Narutoooo!"
"Sasukeeee!" Naruto screamed, his sword now in front of his face as he jumped towards his teammate as well.
Gaara panted wildly, floating along beside the rushing waterfall on his Desert Suspension technique. The ground below him was now covered by hundreds of sharp-tipped bones.
But he couldn't care less. The fascinating image in front of him mattered more.
A mystical giant had formed in the air. Gaara could vaguely see through the gigantic humanoid, who was armored and wielded a sword. On his left arm was also a shield.
Within the giant was Itachi, seemingly floating in it's chest. The creature, using it's sword, had slashed apart every single bone that'd surrounded it.
"None of your techniques will work against Susanoo." Itachi said, looking around.
The one called Susanoo made no sound, simply looking around like Itachi was - presumably for Kimimaro, who had mysteriously disappeared. Itachi's eyes narrowed, considering the possibility of their opponent escaping.
Catching sight from the corner of his eye, Itachi turned abruptly to face Gaara, a look of panic on his face.
Seeing this, Gaara quickly turned, to see Kimimaro emerging from one of the bones and aiming his right-armed drill straight towards him.
Thankfully, Gaara's one tail swiftly returned and slapped Kimimaro into the air, just as his drill was three centimeters away from Gaara's face.
Now! Itachi thought. On cue, Susanoo leaped into the air, thrusting it's giant sword forward.
"Totsuka Blade!"
Not that great of a chapter, with all the constant scene changes and stuff, but I'm glad I at least got another chapter done.
Question of the Day: In the story of Team Itachi, what was your favorite part of the Sasuke Retrieval Arc?
In the next chapter, Naruto battles it out with an unlikely opponent, Sasuke, and we also learn of Kimimaro's eventual fate. See you all next time.