Disclaimer: Hey everyone, we got another guest to do our disclaimer today!

Shikamaru: Man, you've got to be-

Denim88: Just do it, already.

Shikamaru: Fine...Denim88 doesn't own Naruto because...oh come on, do I have to say it?

Denim88: (Pulls out pencil) Damn it, I'll revive Tayuya if you don't!

Shikamaru: ...Denim88 doesn't own Naruto because he's pretty sure he wouldn't be able to make Hinata so adorably...cute...

Denim88: Thanks Shikamaru, I appreciate it.

Shikamaru: You owe me.

Denim88: I'll give you a daughter if I make a sequel.

Shikamaru: Whatever, I'm out of here...

Chap.16: This Isn't Real!

(Ino's P.O.V)

I got up from Itachi's attack by his clone only to see Naruto being pinned to a tree by Itachi. He had Naruto by the neck, and was literally lifting him up off the ground. How, though? Naruto had released three of his four possible tails! Was Itachi seriously that powerful. Naruto had his eyes closed, and was desperately trying to avoid eye contact with the Uchiha.

Suddenly, Itachi growled in pain, and I noticed one of his arms being burned by Naruto's chakra. I couldn't help but smile, the idiot was truly as stubborn as Sakura says he is. However, I knew that Naruto had little time before he would be in deep trouble. I grabbed my kunai and prepared to attack when I saw Itachi force open Naruto's left eye. Oh no...

"Naruto!!" I yelled. The blonde immediately stopped struggling, and Itachi decided at the moment to slam a kunai into the boys shoulder, and thus crippling the boy's arm, which dropped limply to his side, which in turn stopped Naruto's attack on Itachi's burning arm. This all happened in a matter of seconds.

"Shino, Itachi's got Naruto!" I spoke as I ran to attack.

Before I could do anything though, I heard Itachi whisper, "What the-?"

The dark haired man dropped to the ground, as well as Naruto. Itachi was gripping his head, and growling out in pain. The growling became more fierce, and soon he was yelling out in pain. I remained in place, unsure what to do.

"Something went wrong with the Tsukuyomi." I heard Shino say, bugs ready to attack.

Itachi eventually stopped, and was gasping for air. He was back to his normal Sharingan, and was staring fiercely at Naruto, "What did that damn Jinchuuriki do to me?" he asked himself. He then turned to us, and returned to his expressionless face, "You may have stopped us from capturing Uzumaki today...but you won't be so successful next time." and with that, he dissapeared.

Shino quickly sent some bugs out, and a minute later they returned. Shino growled in agitation, "Itachi must have found Kisame, because I my bugs couldn't find either of him...Kisame may still live after all."

I heard a groan from behind us, and saw Tenten slowly move around, "She's waking up...but I better check to she has a concussion..." I bent down next to her, and with my chakra sensed that she had just been knocked out. I let out a sigh of relief, thankful that no damage had been done to her head. I can thank Tsunade for teaching me some medical jutsu during the last few years.

I looked over to the tree where Naruto lay. He was convulsing a little...that couldn't be good. If we didn't do something fast, things could get worse, and Sakura would not be happy with me. I gave her my word as her friend not to let Naruto go and be reckless.

Shino decided to speak upon noticing Naruto's state, "That's odd...the Tsukuyomi shouldn't last for more than a few seconds at most...we'll at least in our perspective it shouldn't..." he added the ending comment, knowing Naruto had probably already experienced at least forty-eight our of hell, if not more. Kakashi once told me of what happened when he was mentally tortured by Itachi for seventy-two hours...I cringed at the thought of it alone. Naruto may be tough, but he wasn't the toughest person when it came to psychological attacks. Naruto himself was mediocre when it came to genjutsu, and only a bit better when it came to breaking through illusions.

I quickly applied my limited healing abilities to Naruto's shoulder where a very deep wound had been inflicted when Itachi had stabbed his shoulder. Naruto would heal eventually, thanks to the Kyuubi. I never actually meet the fox, but according to Sakura, who had meet the Kyuubi, the great and powerful demon had 'softened up' thanks to Naruto. Long story short, the Kyuubi had developed a sense of attachment to us mortals that were friends of Naruto.

I racked my brain as I tried to figure out what had happened. Itachi had stopped in the middle of his technique, and began to clutch his head in pain. Could it be that...Naruto had managed to somehow stop the technique? It was unheard of; the Tsukuyomi was the ultimate genjutsu, and had yet to be broken by anyone.

I lifted Naruto onto my shoulders, and heard a groan escape his lips. He was still unconcious, but I think that he may have a chance. I turned to Shino and a now awake Tenten, "Call me crazy, but I think that Naruto may have found a way to reflect the Tsukuyomi's effects back at Itachi...or something like that." I said as we jumped into the trees, heading towards Konoha.

Tenten looked at me like I was crazy, "Reflect the Tsukuyomi? That's impossible. It happens within the blink of an eye in most cases, and attacks the victim's mind relentlessly...are you sure. I mean, this is Naruto. Genjutsu isn't a strong point of his."

I shook my head, "I don't know... but Itachi stopped after he cast the genjutsu, and then started to experience severe pain, and he was gripping his head the whole time. I don't know what else to say. I didn't attack him, and neither did Shino."

"Well, whatever the case, we have to get Naruto back to Konoha before he goes comatose...which can still happen, regardless of if he broke the illusion or not."

I nodded, and looked to my teammate slung on my shoulders.

Hang in there Naruto, we're not giving up on you...don't you give up on yourself!

(Itachi's P.O.V)

I sat down, trying to calm my pounding heart and get rid of the splitting headache I was now having.

What the hell happened back there?

I looked at Kisame, who was now recovering after I gave him the proper antidote to the poison that the weapon girl and Aburame boy had used on him.

Kisame looked over to me, and handed me an empty vial, "Thanks."

I said nothing, but took the vial and put it back into my cloak. Kisame had been reckless, but so had I...

"What happened, Itachi?" Kisame asked as slowly got up, leaning on Samehada as he did so. It would take a few seconds for the antidote to fully kick in.

I looked at the night sky, and felt my vision blur for a few seconds. Damn, it wasn't getting any better. That Uzumaki boy had forced me to use my Mangekyou after almost four years of keeping myself from doing so. I would be going blind soon if it got any worse.

I shook my head to Kisame's question, "I'm not sure...the Tsukuyomi worked on Naruto, but he somehow found a way to deflect some of it back at me."

"Hm...sounds like something that the Kyuubi would be involved in." replied Kisame.

I shook my head, "No...well, maybe. However, I sensed...something else at work...it felt...familiar. I saw a set of burning eyes, but then the eyes changed to...a different pair of eyes...I don't know what they exactly looked like though."

Kisame gave me a look, "Eyes huh?" he let out a sigh, "I'll never get you, Itachi."

"The boy can use five tails now..." I said, ignoring his smirk, "However, I don't think he has full control of this new power yet. Needless to say, it may prove to be a problem."

Kisame stopped his smirking at this, "What?"

I nodded, "I managed to get a glimpse of his mind...and used his thoughts to torment him. This was just a fact that I stumbled upon before he attacked back." I rubbed my temples, "I also have some information on a way we might get to the boy...without attacking him."

Kisame grinned, "Really? How is that?"

I paused, trying to recall the name I stumbled upon in his subconcious, "It was...a girl...she is close to him..." I thought for a few seconds, trying to remember. Then it clicked.

"Sakura Haruno."

(Naruto's P.O.V)

I snapped open my eyes, and immediately noticed the dark chambers of Kyuubi's cell. The ground was wet...yep, definitely Kyuubi's cell, "Kyuubi, you here?"

I saw one eye visibly open, and then saw the face of the demon-fox mere inches from my own, "Yeah...you allright?"

I shrugged my shoulders in response, and got up to stretch. I then turned to the Bijuu, "What exactly did we do?"

"We weakened Itachi's Tsukuyomi, and then threw a bit of it back at him." he then narrowed his eyes, indicating some hesitancy, "At least, that's my guess."

I ran a hand through my hair and groaned. Of course, the Tsukuyomi, how could I forget? Itachi was good a tormenting his enemies, I'll give him that. If it wasn't for whatever I had done to stop it, I may be going insane right now. However, what I had imagined really got me scared, since it probably could be worst thing to possibly happen in my life, if it actually did.

Flashback

I opened my eyes, and saw a blood red moon and sky above me. It seemed so real...yet how?

I looked around, and noticed I was surrounded by people. I looked harder to see that these people all looked alike...they were all Itachi Uchiha. I felt myself being held by something. After I looked at both my arms and legs, I realized I was strapped to a cross. Oh no, I remember Kakashi telling me of this...

"Na...Naruto..."

I looked to my immediate left, and saw what appeared to be...no, it couldn't be...

"Kakashi-sensei...?"

"We...couldn't beat him..." spoke the Jonin, referring to Itachi.

"We?" I repeated.

Kakashi nodded, and turned to indicate the others on crosses like me. Among them was Shikamaru, Neji, Gaara, Hinata, Rin, Jiraiya, Tsunade, as well as many others. I was terrified. I came to a startling realization...everyone I held dear was here with me...everyone.

"Naruto...?"

I turned to my right, and saw a sight I didn't want to see...

"No...no..." I repeated, looking at the one person I especially wouldn't have wanted to see her, "...Sakura-chan..."

"I'm...sorry...we just weren't strong enough."

I was about to speak when a cold voice cut in, "This world is mine to control..."

I turned to see one of the many Itachi's glaring at me, "Bastard, let them go!" I screamed, tears stinging my eyes.

Itachi didn't even flinch, "For the next seventy-two hours, I will kill everyone you hold dear...ever last one of them..."

I didn't even have time to react as I saw I sword plunge into the neck of Jiraiya. He didn't even have time to yell. Then went Tsunade, who was stabbed by two swords in the heart.

"S-stop!!! Stop it!!!" I screamed, but the Uchiha completely ignored me.

I looked to see Hinata and Neji die as they were slashed across the stomachs. I felt ready to vomit, but remained strong. No, this can't be happening. Itachi then proceeded to Shikamaru, who looked to Temari right next to him. He had tears in his eyes, and Temari was bawling.

"Shika!" she screamed as her fiance coughed up blood from a fatal stab in the stomach. Itachi wasted no time and had two of his many beings stab her in the mid-section. She tried to continue screaming, but fell limp.

"You cold-blooded monster!!! Stop it!" I heard the voice of Ino say. Itachi silenced her, and then took care of Chouji as well, who tried to break free of his restraints, threatening to kill the Uchiha.

"No...s-stop..." I said, feeling as though my very heart had been ripped to shreds. My friends and family were dying, and I could do nothing!

Then came Gaara. His head hung low. As Itachi walked over to him, Gaara raised his head to look at me, "Naruto...I'm sor-"

He had no chance to finish, for a sword to the throat prevented further speech.

"GAARA!!!" I screamed. This couldn't be happening! It just couldn't!!!

After what seemed like an eternity, which Itachi had informed me had been close to forty-six hours, he walked over to Rin. Kakashi took this moment to scream at the man who had already killed so many dear to him, "Itachi, stop! Don't kill her, please, I beg of you!"

I looked wide-eyed at my sensei...Kakashi...begging?

"Please, take me instead, just spare her...please!"

Itachi merely turned and disembowled Rin, and that set off the trigger, "NO!!! RIN!!! NO!!!"

Itachi looked at the destroyed man in front of him, "Kakashi...this time, you won't live through this..."

A total of fifteen swords went through the silver haired Jonin. He cried out, and turned to me slowly as the swords quickly pulled out of him, "Na-Naru...to..."

He slumped over, and I heard Sakura scream his name. I watched as Itachi walked past me, and right to Sakura...no...not her!

"Sakura-chan!!!!" I screamed.

Sword after sword slashed at her abdomen. I felt the blood hit my face, but I could care less; Sakura was being killed right before my eyes!!!

Sakura remained silent, her eyes held in a permanent stare of shock and terror.

This...this isn't real...

Itachi then turned to me, and went towards Iruka and Anko...

"Forty-seven hours have passed, twenty-five remain." spoke the cold voice of Itachi Uchiha.

This isn't real!

"Twenty-four hours remain..."

"This isn't real!!!!" I screamed with raw emotion.

The sky above began to crack, and Itachi turned to me with a hint of bewilderment. I looked into his eyes, and he suddenly fell over as his replicas vanished.

Suddenly I found myself inside the Kyuubi's lair, and a large hand of chakra quickly grabbed me and pulled me in. I felt all nine-tails of the fox wrap around me protectively.

"Kit, don't move!!!" I heard the voice of the demon-fox yell. I saw the figure of Itachi standing in front of the cage, gripping his head in pain. Kyuubi roared an unearthly sound, and I saw Itachi get thrown back, and go straight through the entrance to the chamber.

"Kyuubi...?" I said, desperately trying to breath.

"It's okay...it's over..." the demon fox replied, unraveling his tails, and letting me breath.

I then passed out from exhaustion.

It wasn't real...

end of Flashback

I looked back up to the demon-fox, "Thanks..."

"I wouldn't have been able to do anything if you hadn't realized that it was all an illusion...I just found an opening and punched through it...however...I don't think it was my power alone." Kyuubi replied.

"What do you mean?" I asked the giant fox. He simply shook his head, unsure of what he meant.

"Regardless, I don't think Itachi enjoyed the genjutsu I threw back at him..." Kyuubi said with a mild grin.

"What did you do to him?"

Kyuubi smirked, "I had him go through a whole day of being burned away in my stomach..."

I nodded, "Well...thanks Kyuubi."

I recieved a nod from my Bijuu, "Just take it easy for awhile. You just survived one of the most powerful genjutsus ever known to the shinobi world...and you're in a healthy mental state."

I gave the fox a grin, and woke up to the the ceiling of Konoha hospital. Ugh, if I could ever find a way to avoid that glare of the blinding light, that would definitely do wonders for me...

"Well, looks who's finally awake." said a voice from my left. I turned to see a bandaged up Tenten, smiling as she sat up a bit.

"Heh, sorry for the scare Tenten. I'm fine." I replied, grinning sheepishly. A little known fact was that she was the worry-wart of our ANBU team.

She nodded, then frowned a bit, "How do you do it, Naruto?"

"Do what?"

She pointed to my shoulder, where a rather nasty scar was, which in about another day would be completely gone, free of charge by Kyuubi.

"Um...don't you remember how me and Kyuubi work togeth-"

"Yes, but that's not what I'm talking about, Naruto." she interrupted. It was know common knowledge with all of my friends that I housed the Kyuubi. To say I was happy when they still accepted me the same was the understatement of the year. Hinata especially gave me recognition, further acknowledging me as the strongest person she knows. As for Tenten, it didn't change her opinion of me much aside for that she had more respect due to what I had put up with. She did however, still beat me up from time to time during missions, but claimed it was because our ANBU family of four saw me as 'the younger brother of the group that didn't know what was good for him'.

I looked at the wound, and gave her a confused look, "Then what are you talking about?"

She gave me a groan, "How do you put up with so much pain...not just physically, but, psychologically...Ino told me that she thinks you broke through the Tsukuyomi." I could tell that even though she was annoyed at my dense behavior, which was a facade, and she knew it, she still deeply cared for all of us.

I gave the brown haired kunoichi a smile; she truly was the big sister figure in the team, "Well, when you fight for those who are precious to you, it's easy to take anything that's thrown at you. Pain is a small price to pay when it comes to me protecting my friends..." I replied.

Tenten shook her head, "Geez, Naruto, this is the fifth time in the last two months that you've ended up in the hospital from something like this."

She was right. I had ended up in the hospital a few times already because I was reckless, or I took attacks that were intended for my team. Still, as I said before, pain was a small price to pay for keeping them safe.

"Hey, Naruto...?" I heard the girl across from me say.

"Yeah, Tenten?"

She smiled at me, and I couldn't help but smile back, "I'm glad you're on my team...you truly are a great shinobi. I want to let you know that from here on out, I will fully support your dream of being Hokage."

"...Tenten..."

"Heh, don't go and get all sappy on me now. Neji's told me of how great you are, and I can see where he's coming from. Konoha is in safe hands." she replied with a thumbs up, followed by a twinkling smile.

"You just gave the 'Nice Guy' pose." I said, snickering.

Tenten suddenly realized her actions, then slapped her forehead, "Darn Lee and Gai-sensei...rubbing off on me."

"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me." I laughed.

Just then, the door opened, and Shino, Ino, Sakura, and Tsunade walked in.

"Hey everbody." I greeted with a wave.

Sakura was first to speak, "You okay...?"

I looked at my still wounded shoulder, "I've had worse."

"Well, you four technically didn't complete the mission all the way through..." Tsunade said to Tenten, Shino, Ino, and me, "...but you guys did find out that the Rock-nin did try to get into Konoha, and that it was a planned attack. So, I guess I can give you half of the mission payment." she gave us all a stern look, "Still, we are now aware that Akatsuki is up and active again...we'll have to alert the Niju Shotai about this. I'm giving you four the rest of the week off," she then turned to me, "and I expect you all to use it to rest. Understood?"

The four of us nodded and affirmative, and Tsunade left to gather the council, saying that she wasn't looking forward to the bickering. I then turned to Shino, who appeared to be carrying something in a paper bag. Then I smelled something...something heavenly...

"Naruto, I figured you wouldn't be eating any hospital food, so I got you some ramen. Don't let anyone else know though...it was a big enough trouble having Sakura let me bring it in here." Shino spoke, handing me some Ichiraku carryout.

"Haha, thanks, Shino!" I said, and opened the carryout, snapped the chopsticks and with a heartfelt "Itadakimasu!" dug into the wonderful meal known as ramen.

Shino left after a polite good-bye, and Ino soon left with Tenten after Sakura had cleared her from the hospital. Now it was just me and Sakura in the room.

"You were out for a whole day, I was worried for a minute that we'd have to go throuh another episode like we did about almost three years ago." Sakura said with a sign of relief evident in her voice.

"I wouldn't mind that...I haven't seen Inner-Sakura for awhile now...not for at least three weeks."I said with giant smirk.

Sakura couldn't help but smile, but then turned serious, "Naruto, I'm not kidding. You gave me quite the scare when Ino told me that you guys had a run-in with Kisame and Itachi. I had assumed the worse..."

"Hey, I'm okay, see? It will take more than just a kunai to the shoulder and the seeing you-" I cut myself off, not wanting to let her know what happened in Itachi's genjutsu.

"Seeing me what, Naruto?" Sakura asked, raising an eyebrow, and taking a seat on my bed.

"Nothing Sakura...just the painkillers talking for me. Heh heh..." I answered, knowing full well she was already aware of my attempt to cover up the incident.

"...Naruto...remember what I asked of you?" she said, grabbing my hand and gently squeezing it.

A pained look crossed her face, and I sighed. I remember...I promised to trust her, no matter what. I let her lie down beside me in the hospital bed, "You wouldn't want to hear it, Sakura. That's all. I trust you, but I don't want you to worry."

She put her head against mine, and let her hand go over my scarred chest, where the wound from Sasuke's Chidori remained; the only scar I never let Kyuubi heal, to serve as a memento of what I promised to Sakura, "Naruto...I want to hear it anyway. How many times have you heard me cry, with me knowing you didn't like to see me like that? Well, now I'm hear, and I'll listen to you, regardless of what happened, or how much it hurts you to say to me..." she gave me a determined, yet sincere look.

How could I deny that look? Well, here it goes, "Sakura...Itachi knows about you and me...and our relationship." I replied, "He...he has all the information he needs to get to me now...no doubt that Akatsuki will be here to make me surrender. If I don't...then they get me to through you..."

Sakura went quiet, but then let her face turn into a smile, "That's okay. This time, I'll fight with you. I let you go alone before to fight Sasuke, twice actually, but not this time. Not against Itachi. He's not going to take you from me. None of them will." she spoke with an almost inhuman determination in her voice. I smiled back, she rarely was like this, despite being as powerful of a kunoichi that she is. She wasn't a fighter, and I knew that. However, any smart ninja in Konoha knew better than to get between Sakura Haruno and the ones she cares about.

I let out a ragged breath, "That damn Uchiha, he caught me in the Tsukuyomi, and attacked me in the worse way; through all of my friends. I...I watched them all die, Sakura, and..." I tried to hold back my flood gates, "...Ero-sannin was first to go, then Tsunade-baachan...and, and, I was only able to watch! Then he...he killed Rin-neechan, and Kakashi-sensei, and then...he..." I let a sob out, "...He ripped you apart, Sakura...it was horrible!!!" I held her, suddenly remembering the genjutsu as though it was an actual memory of mine, "He made Kakashi-sensei beg, Sakura! BEG! He begged for Itachi to spare Rin-neechan for his own life. Oh...Sakura, it was horrible."

Sakura held me close. I felt so ashamed for this, yet I couldn't help it, "Naruto, no one's dead. I'm here, I'm alive. I don't plan on it anytime soon either, okay? You still have to become Hokage before that happens to me, otherwise no one will keep you from making a spelling error on your messages to Gaara when you want to hold meetings with him." she managed to joke. I laughed despite the mood I was in.

I eventually fell into an uneasy sleep, and Sakura said that she would return in the morning to clear me from the hospital.

I found myself standing before the cage of the Kyuubi again,which was strange. He usually waited until I was fully healed from missions before he decided to call for me, "Kyuubi, what's wrong?"

I heard an unearthly yawn, "What are you talking about? I didn't summon you..."

"Well, then why am I here?"

"I called you here..." came a hauntingly familiar voice.

I slowly turned around, and my heart nearly skipped a beat. Wait, I take that back, it did. The owner of the voice standing behind me sent a wave of surprise and shock throughout my entire subconcious being. I fell over in shock, facing a person I never expected to see...

I opened my mouth and uttered their name, still not believing it, "S-Sasuke???"

end of chap. 16: Oh yeah! Sucker punch from the dark!!! Didn't see that coming, did you?! Howaah! Er...right. Well, I hope that was entertaining for you to read, and now you're probably all like 'What? OH NO HE DIDN'T!!' Guess what, I did! If you even know what I did...maybe if you looked underneath the underneath in the chapter, you may have saw this coming. Well, an update shall come in due time! Review for super bonus points and an extra life!

shout out no jutsu: XWY (Heheh, nah, Ino's got eyes only for Chouji...but I like the idea of her being the watchful eyes for Sakura while Naruto's on a mission. After all, if you recall in one of the previous chapters in the story, I think it was the one before Shikamaru proposes to Temari, that Naruto states that being a couple with Sakura means he in turn becomes friends with Ino. Ino even states that if Naruto should do anything stupid to Sakura, he'll have to answer to the blonde girl. Ulp! Thanks for the review!) IronicEnding (Glad you thought my fight scene was okay. I'm more of a author who focuses on character development and storyline than action, but every great Naruto fanfic has to have some sort of fighting. Oh, and just to let you know, I like making cliffhangers, i.e. the last line of the above chapter, lol.) DarknesstoLight (I'm glad you like how I tried to tie this story somewhat with the original. I have to admit, I don't think I'll ever come close to making a good fiction that can outdo Masashi Kishimoto, but I try to keep my readers entertained. I seriously will admit, I know little about Konan and Pein's abilities. If you know anything about that aside from Pein's abilities to sense chakra in the rain and Konan's gift with paper, I'd appreciate it if you could let me know.)

While I'm at it, if anyone could let me know the abilities of Tobi (yes, I know he holds the Sharingan as well), Pein, Konan, and Zetsu, I would appreciate it. I know a little about their basic talents, but I have no clue if they have any specific attacks...you know, like Kisame's Water Shark Jutsu or Itachi's Amaterasu...just wondering if you could help an author in need. Now don't go and kill yourself in research for me, I will do that, I just want anything you just happen to know about the remaining Akatsuki members. Thanks!