Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, because if I did, this following chapter would definitely have been part of a series or something
Chap.15: The Last of the Uchiha
6 months after retrieving Rin...
(Naruto's P.O.V)
I felt the wind rush through my hair as I ran thorough the trees in the early spring night air. The moon provided the only light to help guide me as I ran towards the general direction of where I was to meet up with the other three. I stopped on a branch that was about sixty feet away from a clearing. I scanned the area, seeing if my targets would appear.
No more than a few seconds after I landed on the branch did I feel another presence. I turned to see a woman with blonde hair and a wooden pig mask standing behind me. She wore a similar uniform like mine, obviously a smaller size, but nevertheless similar.
"What do you make of all this?" I asked, turning back to the clearing.
Ino sat down on the branch and pulled out a ration bar, broke it in half and handed half of it to me, "Well, Tenten and Shino said everything's clear north of us. My best guess is the Rock-nin are either hiding, or retreating. The group was only made up of about six in all, four of them were Chunin, the other two were Jonin."
I nodded quietly, "Hm. Let's not jump to conclusions like last time..." I said, taking my fox mask off for a moment, giving her a look to emphasize what I meant.
"Hey, those Cloud-nin were hiding for a good day and a half. How was I supposed to know they had a good fifty yard radius covered with explosive tags?" she said, pointing at me, "I mean, it's not like I was the only one who ran out into a blantantly obvious trap two weeks ago..."
I groaned, "Yeah, well the Sound-nin are all but gone now, so I won't have to worry about senbon needles flying from festival lights anytime soon while in Rice Country."
Minutes later a woman wearing a panda mask and a man in a hooded jacket with a hawk mask followed close behind. The woman nodded to us, "We've searched the east section thoroughly; all's clear."
A nod came from the man, "None of my insects have anything to report either..."
Yes, I admit it, working with Tenten, Ino, and Shino was nothing that I expected to happen, even though I knew they were going to become ANBU like myself. We were, as Tsunade put it, 'so varied in talent that one of us would surely make up for another teammate's weakness.' Shino was our captain, and was a good one at that. However, even the usually silent bug-user admitted that he saw me as a possibe ANBU captain in the near future.
It was a little wierd at first; Ino was always trying to get me to talk about stuff involving me and Sakura that I would rather not mention publicly, and Shino insisted that we always have a few of his kikaichu bugs to help with us at all times during missions, only four or five max, in case we got seperated. I had no problem with it...but Ino and Tenten...well, I won't go there. I actually found it kind of neat seeing the little bugs flying off my shoulder at random times, and then see them fly back minutes later to nestle inside my uniform. Shino had personally trained ours six legged companions to feel any signal of distress from Ino, Tenten, or myself, and communicate with Shino about anything serious.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I looked down to the clearing again. Ino spoke quietly, "They're probably waiting for us with an ambush...it's been close to three hours since the escaped from us."
Suddenly, we all fell silent as a wave of killing intent filled the air. Tenten actually shivered slightly, but made no noise. I could tell since we all were only centimeters apart from each other on the same sturdy branch. A few of Shino's kikaichu flew around us, and everyone was tense...this killer intent was familiar...but...how...?
Before any of us could say a word, four of the six Iwagakure ninja we were after ran through the clearing. They seemed to be running from something...or someone. A moment later, another Rock-nin fell to the ground dead as a shurikan imbedded into this neck...from the front...whoever they were running from was fast. They managed to get in front of the Iwa-nin and attack with out the retreating ninja noticing.
"What the-?" Tenten whispered, "...this could be bad..."
"Be ready..." Shino said quietly, making no further noise.
Suddenly, the now three remaining ninja were attacked by what appeared to be...sharks??? The Iwa-nin cried out in pain as the water sharks ripped them to pieces, then dissapeared into the damp grass.
"Water style? How...there's no significant water source around here to..." Ino cut her self off as two figures walked over to the now dead shinobi of the Hidden Rock village.
"Heh, sorry Itachi. I'll save more for you next time."
My breath got caught in my throat.
Itachi???
No...not now...not with my teammates...
"Nevermind that Kisame. Just take whatever's on them that's of value to us so we can hurry up and head to Konoha." said the shorter of the two, "As long as Naruto doesn't know we're here, we have the advantage."
Ino put a hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed it. I could sense Shino and Tenten send me a similar signal. I turned to them, and they all gave me looks through their masks, silently telling me what I already knew, but wouldn't obey.
We got to get you out of here, now, Naruto!
I shook my head and they only seemed to tense up more. They were all facing the clearing again. I slowly turned, silently pulling down my mask.
Itachi froze in place all of the sudden.
"Don't move a muscle." I said to the three as quietly as possible.
Kisame turned to the Uchiha, "What?"
"Not sure..." Itachi said, raising his head as he looked around the surrounding forest, "I feel like..." he pulled out a kunai, "...we're not alone..."
"Really?" Kisame asked, getting up and grinning that toothy grin of his, the kind before a fight. Tenten seemed to tense up more. Seeing as she had an encounter with the rogue-nin from the Hidden Mist during our mission to save Gaara all those years back, I can understand her behavior.
Itachi looked through the trees, then his eyes stopped...
...and made contact with my own, for less than a second. I considered myself lucky, I could have been trapped in a genjutsu if I were any slower.
Kisame looked in the same direction, then smiled, "Well, it seems we have some young ANBU on our tails. They're only small fry, but this should cure my boredom nontheless"
In the next second, they vanished. I turned quickly to the group, "GO!!!"
Ino and I broke into one group while Tenten and Shino broke into another. Bugs flew back and forth between us as we ran through the trees. We began heading back towards Konoha, our only hope lying on the fact that maybe Itachi and Kisame had lost track of us.
Yeah, that would be as likely as Kakashi burning his Icha Icha collection and then authoring books on time management...
"Naruto, you need to get to Konoha as fast as possible!" Ino said as we jumped over the branches, increasing speed.
"No way! I'm not going to let you guys risk your hides so I can be safe from a bunch of stupid traitors!" I snapped at her.
"If they capture you, the risk will be much greater than if it was just us three being in danger!"
"Well, that may be true, but it's not like you ever stood a chance in helping Naruto to begin with..." spoke a cold voice. Ino and I turned to see the figure of Itachi Uchiha running right behind us.
Ino and I jumped off the branch in time to avoid a spray of kunai. We landed on the ground, and faced the traitorous Leaf-nin.
I took a step forward, making sure to avoid his eyes, "Itachi, it's been awhile now...hasn't it?" I said with open arms, throwing off my mask. No use in trying to hinder my vision any. I stood there as the black-haired man remained motionless, "What...? I don't a get a hug or something? Did those four years apart not affect you in someway?"
"In all truth, Naruto, I don't have any concern towards you...but the results of what you've done are of significance to Akatsuki...to say you've been an obstacle to our goals is an understatement..." Itachi replied, with the usual hollow tone.
"Oh, you're breaking my heart Itachi-kun...but, I guess that we've grown apart, haven't we?" I pulled out a kunai, "Besides, I promised on your younger brother's grave that I'd defeat you. You are aware that you are the last of the Uchiha, right?"
"Not necessarily...but I am aware that you did kill my younger brother...another hinderance to our plans..."
"Well, looks like I've become quite popular amongst you Akatsuki, haven't I? Think that your leader's little girlfriend, Konan, would go out with me?" I smirked. Itachi remained unphased.
"Naruto...this is your last chance. Surrender, or we will use force." Itachi replied, drawing a kunai.
I nodded to Ino. She nodded back, and took a few steps back, "...Naruto..."
I sighed, and looked to Itachi. He seemed to lessen the grip on his kunai slightly, "Well...?"
I smirked, "Come and get me, you worthless piece of trash."
The two of us collided. I summoned two clones to stop Itachi's very one Shadow clone. The three Shadow clones burst into smoke, and Itachi and I jumped away from each other, forming handseals at blinding speed. In the last couple of months, Kakashi had trained me in increasing the speed of my hand seals. I owe him one for that.
"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!!" I yelled, and shot out three bursts of water capable of shattering granite from my mouth. I needed to thank Sakura for this one when I got back.
Itachi merely puffed out his chest, "Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!!"
The gigantic fireball hit the water bullets, and caused the air to explode with steam. Ino and I made a run for it, but I could sense Itachi close by.
Seconds after I felt his presence, I saw Itachi fly at me with blinding speed. I side-stepped and swung with my kunai. The missing-nin landed, and dissapeared into a cloud of smoke.
"Damn, another Shadow clone." I heard Ino say.
I another noise, and jumped to my right, avoiding another spray of kunai. Ino threw several shurikan and kunai at the location they came from, only to have them deflected by more kunai. Itachi was toying with us, and we both knew it. Then again...so was I...
'Kyuubi...I need two tails, and as fast as possible.' I said to the demon-fox.
"Kit, don't do anything stupid...going all out isn't a good option right now..." replied Kyuubi.
'I'm aware of that, just two, okay?' I said with a groan.
Seconds passed, and then I felt the chakra of the nine-tailed fox flow through me. Ino backed away slightly.
"Naruto, what are you doing?" Ino said, realizing that my canines and nails had sharpened, and my eyes were no crimson pupils. I turned to her as my whiskers became more defined.
"Ino...I'm going to need your help, regardless if Kyuubi's lending me power." I said to the blonde. She nodded, and walked over to my side, grabbing her sword from behind her back.
Itachi landed on the ground again, "Not bad Uzumaki...you weren't using any of the Kyuubi's power, and managed to negate my fireball. Looks like you've improved on your speed as well."
We flew at each other for the second time, this time Itachi had to try and hold his ground as the dirt flew from our impact. Ino took advantage of the moment and went for a stab at Itachi's liver. However, she was stopped by a kick from one of Itachi's clones that came out of nowhere.
I grabbed a hold of Itachi's wrist, and quickly pulled him towards me as I crashed my knee into his stomach. To someone who would have been watching, it happened in half a second's time. Itachi coughed up blood, but then elbowed me in the ribs.
"Ino!" I cried out. Ino quickly jumped up fromt the ground and threw a kunai with an explosive tag attached to it. Itachi jumped up to avoid it, and the explosion erupted, lighting up the area for a few seconds.
Ino and I hid behind the trees to avoid the heat and impact of the explosion. After the smoke cleared, Ino turned towards the giant crater, "That explosive tag was designed to take out platoons of ninja...if he did get caught in it...he's dead." Ino spoke.
"He's still alive...you and I both know it." I replied, flexing my claws, "We need to find Shino and Tenten and regroup."
As if on cue, the two said shinobi appeared, however, Tenten appeared unconcious. Shino looked at us, his kikaichu beetles flying around the group in a protective manner, "Tenten's been kncocked out...but we managed to poison Kisame. He'll be dead within the next ten minutes if he doesn't have the proper antidote for the poison that I had injected into him."
"We're not in the clear yet," I said to the bug-user, "we still have a weasel to worry about."
"Too late..." spoke the Uchiha. I felt an impact in the small of my back, and slammed into a tree. I slowly got up, calling forth more chakra. Itachi slowly walked towards me, "Stop wasting your chakra, Uzumaki. You're only prolonging your defeat..." the black haired man said in a cold tone.
"Heh, haven't you heard? I'm Naruto Uzumaki, the shinobi of the Leaf who doesn't know when to quit...you'll have to beat me into submission before I even consider defeat." I smirked, and created two shadow clones. I placed a palm upwards, and the two clones began to make spiraling motions into my open palm.
"Not this time." I heard Itachi say, and I felt the air escape my lungs. I felt a fist connect to my face, but I quickly grabbed it and headbutted Itachi. He let out a breath, and I heard a body fall to the ground.
"See, never underestimate me." I spoke, only to see the Itachi before me dissapear, again.
"Not again!" I spoke, felt myself get pushed into a tree. I let out another breath, tasted the metallic blood in my mouth.
Itachi seemed a little haggard, judging from his breathing. I couldn't help but grin, but he spoke, "I can tell you're a rookie ANBU...you continue to challenge me when it's hopeless...you're weak Naruto...just like my brother was...still, we needed him for reasons I wish not disclose with you..." I felt him grasp my neck and lift me off the ground, holding me against the tree.
Kyuubi roared in my mind, "Don't look into his eyes, whatever you do, not even for a second!"
I knew what the fox was talking about. Itachi had activated the Mangekyou Sharingan, and I felt him boring a hole into my closed eyes. If I let him get me to make eye contact, then I was screwed. Then I suddenly had an idea...it was a risk, but given the circumstances...
"You can't escape my eyes Naruto...now give up..." said the Uchiha.
I ignored him, "Kyuubi..." I spoke out loud. I needed one more tail for my idea.
"Fine...but don't waste this chakra...only as much as needed." Kyuubi replied, answering my wordless plea.
A third tail burst into existence, and I felt the grip around my throat tighten, "Here's a new plan Itachi...you give up!" I gripped his arm, and sent chakra through his arms. He groaned in pain as the chakra began to burn his skin, but his grip remained firm.
"Parasitic Insects Jutsu!" I heard Shino yell. I opened one eye a little to see a black cloud flying at Itachi. He merely turned and blew a cloud of fire, disentegrating his attackers. Shino didn't pause as he quickly pulled out a kunai. I heard Ino get up and join as well.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu..." spoke the Uchiha. Within seconds, Ino and Shino were down and gasping for air. Itachi had struck them both in the chest, however, Shino seemed to be in worse condition, seeing that he was coughing up blood.
"Shino, Ino, take Tenten and get out of of-ack!" I felt my throat tighten.
"Sorry Uzumaki...you lose. This won't kill you, but I promise it won't be painless either." with that said, Itachi opened my right eye and I made eye contact with his crimson irises.
"Damn you...Itachi..." I said as my mind began to blur, seeing the Tsukoyomi take effect on me.
"Naruto!!!" was the last thing I heard, which sounded like the voice of Ino.
end of Chap.15- Can you say 'cliffhanger'? Sorry, but this is as far as I go for the chapter. Don't worry the next one will be up in due time, so the wait won't be too long. Consider this a chance to...um...make a sandwich? Well, hope you liked the chapter, I know, not the best at writing fight scenes, but I try. Anyways, R&R, and the next chapter will be up soon enough.
now for my shout-outs...I owe this idea to Yosoo: XWY (wow, I appreciate how you've reviewed almost every chapter, even after that HUGE gap in between. Glad you like my story thus far. As for the updating, I guess it helps to have a notebook to write this all in.) IronicEnding (thanks for your input on Naruto and his reaction Sakura's feelings. I was trying to show that while he had matured, he still believes that he shouldn't have to ask others for help, and that he can take care of his own problems. As for the rushed ending, yes, I intended for that. I wasn't up to writing out another filler. Well, hopefully this chapter was good for you as well. Thanks again for your reviews!) mangalover248 (lol, yeah, I agree. Romances in Naruto fanfics can be hard from not being all happy-go-lucky, since it's hard to sometimes write negative aspects of Naruto and Sakura's relationship. They seem perfect for each other, so it's hard to make them have flaws alot of the time. I do like a story though that shows these 'problems'; like you said, it makes things more realistic.)
And to everyone else who's continued reviewing and reading, thanks for your continued support!