A/N: Thank you for your kind reviews, I really am touched (and late with the fanart too... -smiles sheepishly-) Exams are gaining on me like wild starving tigers, so updates will probably grind to a halt soon. But i'll try my best :) By the way, do you prefer lines as breaks?
Claimer: Isn't it obvious who's mine?
Disclaimer: Naru-kun and all associated, sadly belong to Masashi Kishimoto-san
Sharingan
She flew on the instinct to attack, ignoring his cry for her safety,
They had harmed something precious to her,
Now she was going to harm them.
---x---
"Otousan and Okaasan didn't have to die… the entire clan was killed because I didn't have enough power… Everyone was killed…" The young Sasuke sobbing was destroyed when a kunai cut straight through the illusion, Sasuke breaking out of his thoughts.
"Kuso," Sasuke cursed from his seat on the steps. The same ones he, Naruto and Sakura had had to introduce themselves to Kakashi. His thoughts were halted when he realised something was in front of his face. "Arigatou," he sighed taking his kunai back from Kari. She'd been on edge since the funeral two days ago; he supposed it was just something death did to her. "You could see it, couldn't you?"
"Yeah," she admitted with a sigh. "I'm still not used to it, and it's bad enough to see kawaii Sasuke-chan in so much pain…"
"Don't call me that."
"You're not cute, you used to be, but now you're a jerk," Kari said pulling out her own kunai and swinging it around her finger.
"Weren't you going to annoy the Hyuuga?" Sasuke asked. "Or invade Naruto's training?"
"I'm glad you enjoy my company Sasu."
"Don't call me that chiisai Kari."
To his surprise, she didn't retort and simply lay back, staring at the sky with a blank expression. She was thinking too much, or perhaps it was the cold she'd caught, she was still looking a little flushed. He was surprised she was resting like she should, instead of rushing around the village to try and help rebuild it like he knew she wanted to.
"Is something bothering you?" Sasuke asked, before he could stop himself.
"It's probably nothing," Kari replied, smiling when her sensitive ears picked up the playful chatter between Naruto and Konohamaru. He lay beside her, his arms folded beneath his head. "We're so lazy, we could be helping to fix something."
"Kakashi said to rest," Sasuke said simply. Kari watched as a bird flew over them and then began to circle. "Speaking of Kakashi, what does he want?"
"Who knows, best not keep Kashi waiting," Kari said as Sasuke stood up. She raised an arm gesturing for him to help her up. He ignored her and started walking.
"Temee," Kari grumbled, flipping herself up, her stab wounds stinging as she bent. "Oi! Matte Sasu!"
---x---
"Have you located them?"
"Aa."
"Then this will be easy."
"Let's go."
---x---
"Are? This is weird dattebayou!" Naruto whined, searching desperately through his pockets.
"Sorry, but if you don't have a pass, you don't get any ramen," Teuchi said simply. Kita sighed as Naruto's searching became more frantic.
"D-d-d-d-d-d--Chotto matte de! I know I had another one dattebayou! Oh man… was the one I gave Konohamaru the last one? My ramennnn!!"
---x---
"Homura-ojiisan and Koharu-sensei eh?" Jiraiya said, as the elderly couple approached him. "What do the advisors want from me?"
"What do we want?" Homura repeated. "You should already know without us telling you."
"You don't have to look so serious," Jiraiya said simply, folding his arms and smiling at the two stern faces. "The talks with Suna went well right?"
"Suna no sato has publicly stated that Orochimaru set them up. Also… They have surrendered to Konoha, so that topic is no longer relevant."
"Konoha had no choice other than to accept their surrender in order for us to revive our power" Koharu added.
"But Konoha no sato's power has declined enormously. In this situation we must prioritise preparations for worse situations."
"We do not know when a neighbouring country may do something radical. So until the village's power is restored, we have decided to gather the top ninja from each squad and assemble an emergency executive committee to deal with this problem. But first… We need a trustworthy and strong leader," Koharu stated. "There are many problems right now; it's not just about Orochimaru."
"You didn't have to waste your time reporting such things to me," Jiraiya said simply, though knew what they were trying to get at. He pulled out his telescope again and turned back around. "Well, I'm going to resume my research now…"
"Let me tell you about the one basic thing we have all agreed on," Homura interrupted. "We need a Godaime as soon as possible."
"And just yesterday at the emergency meeting with the Country of Fire's feudal lord… Jiraiya, you were chosen."
"Unfortunately, I'm not very well suited to that," Jiraiya said, without turning around.
"It has already been decided. Also, if you, the ninja praised as one of the Sannin are not suited for this, then who is?" Homura asked. An idea striking him, Jiraiya turned around and raised his hand.
"There's one other Sannin." Seeing he got their attention he smirked. "Tsunade."
"It's true that she may be capable of it… But we have no idea where she is."
"I'll find her, you have no problem with that right?"
"But…"
"The witty Tsunade is better suited for it than a lazy person like me," Jiraiya stated. "So, what is your decision?"
"Okay. We will take it into consideration. However, I will make three ANBU members accompany you on your search for Tsunade."
"Don't worry, I won't run away. People to watch over me will only be a bother," Jiraiya said with a smirk. "However, there's one guy I want to take with me on this journey, and perhaps his partner too… I found an interesting egg."
---x---
"Yo, you two," Kakashi said, looking up from his book to see Kurenai and Asuma walking by. "My, you two get along well."
"Baka, I'm only here because Anko asked me to get some dumplings for her," Kurenai said blushing.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be getting pocky to keep Kari happy?" Asuma asked.
"Well, I came to make an offering and I'm meeting someone here," Kakashi said simply. He glanced at the black cloak with a red cloud pattern that someone inside the shop was wearing. "Sasuke and Kari that is."
"Oh? It's unusual for you to wait for someone," Asuma said surprised. "Is the offering for Obito?"
"Obito?" Kurenai repeated.
"Ma, something like that," Kakashi agreed.
"Kakashi, it's unusual for you to be here first," Sasuke said surprised.
"I do it from time to time," Kakashi shrugged.
"I don't like natto and sweets," Sasuke said with a scowl.
"Sweets?" Kari asked her ears twitching. Kakashi pulled out a pocky stick from the pack he had just bought and tossed it to her. "Sasu how can you not like sweets?"
"Easily."
"Kurenai? Asuma?" Kari said surprised, ignoring Sasuke's reply. She was trying to keep herself distracted. 'This place reeks of him…'
"Kari-chan," Kurenai greeted. Kari grinned and looked pointedly at the two of them. "You're as bad as your sensei…" Kakashi glanced inside the shop and gave them a pointed look. They both nodded. "Ja, Kari."
---x---
"Nan de?!" Naruto whined having taken his jacket, shirt, and pants off, he was shaking them out, trying to find his pass while Teuchi waited, unimpressed. Kita had a glass of water with a straw and was trying to learn how to use it. "Something's wrong here dattebayou!!"
"Geez, you're such a troublemaker," Teuchi sighed, holding the pass while Naruto slurped his ramen. After another twenty minutes of frantic searching Naruto had finally found it.
"Well, I forgot I put the pass behind my hitai-ate so I wouldn't drop it during my morning training dattebayou!" Naruto cried while Kita munched on her own ramen, both Teuchi and his daughter having grown fond of her. She had better table manners than Naruto half the time.
"I guess its ok, eat well and work hard," Teuchi said as he worked on the next batch of ramen. "You're going to train again after this right?"
"Of course! I'm going to train hard, and I'll see if Kari-chan's better so she can train with me and Kita-chan!"
"Yosha! Here!" Teuchi said happily, pouring more noodles into Naruto's bowl and a smaller helping into Kita's. "Seconds. Free. Work hard!"
"Arigatou Ojiichan!" Kita and Naruto cried simultaneously, a happy smile lighting their faces, Kita's tail wagging happily.
"Irrashaimase!" Teuchi greeted when the flap was lifted.
"I came here as I was told," Jiraiya said, poking his head in grinning. "Looks like you do eat ramen all the time."
"Ero-sennin!" Naruto shout was muffled by the mouthful of noodles.
"Jiraiya-ojiichan!" Kita cried.
---x---
"You're not from this village are you?" Asuma asked the two cloaked individuals that were taking a walk down by the river. "Why did you come here?"
"It's been a while, Asuma-san, Kurenai-san."
"If you know us, you must be a former shinobi of this village," Asuma said coldly. The shorter one raised his hand to the brim of his hat and lifted it slightly so they could see his eyes, the bell on the hat giving an eerie little jingle.
"Y-you're…" shock smacked both Konoha Jounin in the face. As they knew his identity, the shorter man removed his hat and unbuttoned the top part of his cloak to reveal his face.
"No doubt about it, it's… Uchiha Itachi," Asuma stated.
"You know these people Itachi-san? Then I should introduce myself too," the larger man said, removing his own hat. "Hoshigaki Kisame, nice to meet your acquaintance." He was a frightening looking man, about seven foot tall, with pale blue skin. His face immediately reminded you of a shark with the mean, beady little eyes, three strikes on each cheek like gills, and the sharp jagged teeth.
"You're not making any acquaintances here… I'm going to eliminate you two, right here, right now," Asuma said.
"Itachi-san, it seems as if you're hated in this village," Kisame mused.
"I also know you, Hoshigaki Kisame former Mist-nin. You're a former degenerate wanted by many countries including the Mizu Country, for assassinating a feudal lord and sabotage, as well as various other crimes," Kurenai said.
"You're S-rank felons in the bingo book," Asuma stated. "Itachi, you came back to this village after what you pulled…You've got a lot of guts coming here."
"Asuma-san, Kurenai-san, please don't get involved with my work," Itachi said, his face an emotionless mask. "I have no intention of killing you."
"That's not something a guy who killed his own clan members can say. I know you wouldn't come here without a reason… What is your purpose?" Asuma demanded. Kisame pulled his sword off his back, the heavy tip slamming down in front of him.
"This guy's annoying, should I kill him?" Kisame asked, his annoyance with an undertone of hope.
"It looks like we cannot leave this village without a fight… but don't overdo it, your moves stand out too much."
"Then it's settled," Kisame said, lifting his sword up and resting it on his shoulder. Itachi let go of his hat, letting it drop to the ground. At the sound of the bell, Kisame swung his sword at Asuma who managed to dodge twice, and then blocked with his knuckle knives. Kurenai jumped back and quickly completed a flurry of hand signs.
'This is… Genjutsu…' Itachi realised as Kurenai's body seemed to swirl with the density of smoke and disappear into the wind. Leaving Asuma to struggle against Kisame.
'I can't believe I'm being overpowered by just the tip of the sword… this guy is strong.'
"My big blade Samehada…" Kisame grinned as it pressed onto Asuma's arm. He quickly pulled back, the bandages coming off half the blade, as the sword sliced through Asuma's arm, tearing the skin. "Does not slice… It shaves!" the unravelled bandages revealing sharp blue scales.
"Kurenai, you're late…" Asuma said smirking as sand began crawling up Kisame's legs and tree roots began to curl around Itachi. It bound him to the tree that had grown behind him. Kurenai's torso rose out of the trunk, holding a kunai tightly in her hand. Itachi watched her, appearing almost bored.
"This is it!" Kurenai cried, preparing to strike. Itachi smirked slightly and Kurenai gasped to find herself bound in vines where Itachi had been moments before. The ex-Konoha-nin stood in front of her, emotionless.
"A Genjutsu of this level won't work on me," he stated.
'This is… a Genjutsu counter' Kurenai thought. Itachi pulled out a kunai and Kurenai closed her eyes and bit her lip, a drop of blood running down her chin. She managed to break it and duck in time for his kunai to cut the tip of her hair. She brought her arms up in a cross guard as Itachi kicked her, sending her flying over the railings and skidding across the surface of the river.
"Kurenai!" Asuma cried.
"You don't have time to look away from me!" Kisame said, diverting Asuma's attention back to him.
"That was pretty nice, Kurenai-san." Kurenai froze and looked around to see Itachi behind her. "Demo…"
"Demo this is it… for you," Itachi looked to the side at the new voice.
Kisame charged, swinging his sword quickly for such a large blade. After receiving one injury from it already, Asuma dodged every swipe, finally seeing an opening and striking with his knuckle knife. Kisame quickly tilted his head.
"Nani!?" Kisame cried, feeling his skin on his cheek rip. He stared at Asuma's knives to see the blades were extended with chakra. Kisame quickly performed hand signs. "Suiton…!" the water swirled next to him. "Suikoudan no jutsu!" Kisame cried, but another voice spoke at the same time, performing the same jutsu, causing the jutsu to collide, spraying water on them. "The same technique as mine?" Kisame cried in shock.
"Why did you come here?" Asuma asked.
"I asked you two to deal with them back there, but you know I get worried, a habit I've picked up," Kakashi said simply, his Sharingan revealed as he stood behind Itachi, a clone in front of Asuma.
'Kari…' Kurenai thought, inwardly smirking. "Kage Bunshin?" she asked, noticing the other clone.
Kakashi was holding a kunai close to Itachi's neck. "What is a renegade ninja like you want in this village?"
"Hatake Kakashi." Itachi turned, Sharingan meeting Sharingan.
---x---
Kari kept close behind Sasuke as they walked through the dark tunnel. He held a candle in a dish, leading the way. After his thoughts earlier, he decided to return to the Uchiha compound after Kakashi left, allowing Kari to come with him. Their walk was silent as they descended down the stone stairs, only the echo of Sasuke's footsteps breaking the silence.
---x---
"Haa?! Nande? Nande? Why do I have to go on a research trip with you Ero-sennin, dattebayou?" Naruto whined.
"Iie, this isn't just a normal research trip. There's a woman I want to ask some questions, so I have to find her," Jiraiya said to an unimpressed Naruto. Kita lay on Naruto's shoulder feeling full and sleepy.
"I have no time to waste on your perverted stuff," Naruto complained. "I have to train!"
"Train?" Jiraiya repeated.
"I'm going to have Kakashi-sensei to teach me a lot. Like the Chidori," Naruto said simply. 'Mou… Kakashi-sensei's been playing favourites lately with Sasuke dattebayou!'
"Well, um… I believe you can't master that move," Jiraiya said simply. "More importantly, the girl I'm talking about is really hot. You want to see her right?"
"Not at all. I'm not a kid who can easily be convinced by an Ero-sennin like you. Anyway… NO!" Naruto shouted.
"Then I have no other choice… What a shame… I know a technique that's more powerful than Chidori," Jiraiya began walking off slowly. "I guess I'll take Sasuke with me—" In a flash Naruto was in front of him.
"I've changed my mind, I'll go!" Naruto cried. "But… on one condition."
"Oh?"
"Kari-chan… I want Kari-chan to come too. I don't want to be away from her for a long period of time again dattebayou. And Kita-chan's coming too," Naruto said, looking surprisingly serious.
"Aa, no problem," Jiraiya said with a shrug.
"Yosha! I'll go pack my stuff!!" Naruto cried, charging home full speed, Kita hanging on for dear life. "Stay there Ero-sennin!!"
"Ha! He's such a kawaii gaki!" Jiraiya said, smiling awkwardly. He then smirked slyly. "He didn't want to leave Kari-chan ehhhh? He was complaining all through training about her being with Sasuke, I wonder..."
---x---
'His eyes are the same as before. But then again, he's a true heir of Sharingan… I have to assume the worst case scenario.' Kakashi thought, watching Itachi carefully.
"This is a surprise, no wonder you could do that with my technique. I wouldn't have believed someone had the same eyes as Itachi-san if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. Your name was… Copy Ninja Kakashi," Kisame said.
"I'm the one who's surprised. I saw some weird guys at the tea house and wondered who they could be… And they turned out to be Uchiha Itachi and the Bakemono no Kiri no sato, Hoshigaki Kisame," Kakashi said.
"My, my, you know my name too, I'm honoured."
"Sou ka, you're one of the Shinobi-gatana no Kiri, and that large blade of yours must be Samehada." Kakashi said glancing at the large sword. 'Despite Kari's skills in Kenjutsu, she wouldn't stand a chance against this guy.' Kisame chuckled.
"I heard that that kid Zabuza fought you."
"Aa." Kakashi reached behind his back, into his pouch. He pulled out a kunai and Kisame raised his sword.
"I'll enjoy shaving you to death."
"Stop Kisame," Itachi said, glancing at his partner. "If you fight him head on, you will suffer unnecessary injuries. Also, if we take too much time, more ninja's will arrive."
"But…"
"Do not forget our purpose. You did not come here to get hurt."
"Then tell us that purpose of yours," Kakashi's clone said, before disappearing in a poof of smoke. Itachi turned back to Kakashi.
"We came to find something we're looking for," Itachi replied.
"Something you're looking for?" Kakashi repeated.
---x---
He had lit two fires, illuminating the small room. None of the spirits had followed them down here, not even Mikoto who stopped at the door. The wall was painted, but she couldn't make out what it was. There was a slab with writing was in front of them, which Sasuke was reading, the atmosphere becoming tenser with each passing moment, the air becoming thick. She didn't read it, knowing that it was obviously Uchiha business, and she wasn't an Uchiha.
Sasuke's Sharingan activated, his fists clenching tighter and tighter. Hating seeing him like that, Kari loosened his fist and gripped his hand, allowing him to squeeze it, her other arm wrapped around his, embracing it, knowing that she couldn't embrace all of him. Her head rested on his shoulder, feeling sick with worry.
She knew where Asuma and Kurenai had gone, and she knew Kakashi had gone to help them. She also knew that they wouldn't be able to take on Itachi and his partner.
"You're freezing," Sasuke mumbled.
"It's cold down here," she replied softly, watching the fire flicker and bend.
"We should go," Sasuke sighed, his Sharingan deactivating.
"You don't have to," Kari said, looking up at him.
"No, I've had enough," Sasuke replied. She loosened her hold on him but he continued to grip her hand. He relit the candle and put out the larger fires, turning and beginning the walk up to the exit, his grip never loosening.
---x---
"And what exactly are you looking for?" Kakashi demanded.
"I won't take as long as Kisame if I do this," Itachi said. Kakashi's eyes narrowed and there was a shuriken between each of Itachi's fingers. Kakashi jumped back, quickly performing hand signs.
"Ninpou Suiton Suijinheki!" Kakashi cried, water shooting up as a shield just in time to block the water attack aimed at him. 'He used that technique fast. I couldn't follow the seal formations with my eyes. He used those Shuriken in his right hand as a decoy, and tried to hit my legs with a Suiton jutsu.'
"Very nice, Kakashi-san… Your eye of insight is impressive." Itachi said, a clone stabbing a kunai into Kakashi's back.
"A Kage Bunshin? He uses his techniques too fast!" Kurenai said. Kakashi fell into the river as water.
'A Mizu Bunshin!' Kisame thought in surprise. 'A mere copy ninja can use this many techniques from our village? Impressive.' Kisame smirked.
"Nice, Kakashi!" Kurenai cried as she saw Kakashi swim underneath her with a kunai, she took the weapon.
"Get down Kurenai!" Kakashi cried, jumping out the water and grabbing her. "This one's the Kage Bunshin!" The clone exploded, throwing water everywhere.
"Kakashi! Kurenai!" Asuma cried, jumping into the water.
"Kakashi!" Kurenai cried in alarm, seeing that he was breathing heavily. The water from Itachi's attack fell like rain on them. She gasped, seeing Itachi appear through the rain. Finally, the water had returned to the river.
"Don't let your guard down," Kakashi said, looking round at Itachi. "He's the man who became an ANBU squad leader at the age of thirteen."
"I didn't expect him to be this strong," Asuma said, as he and Kurenai got into stance.
"Iie, he hasn't shown his true strength yet," Kakashi said warily.
"I'm impressed that you can use the Sharingan so well, even though you are not part of the Uchiha clan. But your body is not an Uchiha's body, which the Sharingan needs to work best," Itachi said.
'He's right… I tire easily.'
"I will show you why the clan of the Uchiha was feared and reputed to be unmatched," Itachi closed his eyes. "The Sharingan, the Kekkei Genkai's true power." Itachi's eyes slowly opened.
"Could it be…?! This is bad! You two, don't look into his eyes!" Kakashi cried, closing his normal eye as Asuma and Kurenai quickly closed both of theirs. "Don't open your eyes. If you open your eyes now, you're dead. Only a person with Sharingan can deal with his technique right now."
"It's true that if you have Sharingan you can resist this Mangekyou Sharingan a little. Shikashi, you cannot counter this special Sharingan eye technique… The Genjutsu, Tsukuyomi. Only a person who has the same Kekkei Genkai as me, a Sharingan user, can defeat me," Itachi explained.
"Sasuke?—!!" Kakashi gaped as the sky turned red and black, the current sky melting away to be replaced with black clouds. Everything was in negative black and white, Kakashi was tied to a cross, Itachi standing in front of him with a kunai in hand.
"How long can you, someone who does not possess the Kekkei Genkai, deal with this?" Itachi asked, before plunging his katana into Kakashi's stomach, the white blood running down his vest. He cried out in pain before blacking out.
When his eyes reopened, his wound was gone.
"Genjutsu?"
"In the world of Tsukuyomi," there were more Itachi's now, the one nearest stabbed him in the gut. "I control space and time," another stabbed him. "And even the mass of objects." Two more stabbed him. "Starting now, I will stab you with a sword for seventy two hours." He was stabbed repeatedly until he blacked out, only to awake and find copies of him, two Itachi's to each copy.
"They're…"
"In the world of Tsukuyomi…" Stab. "I control space and time…" Stab. "Even the mass of objects…" He spoke calmly, ignoring Kakashi's screams.
'Calm down, this is a Genjutsu…'
"You should not underestimate this just because it's an illusion. This pain is not fake. This pain does not differ from one created via an illusion though." Stabbed again, again, again… "How long will your mind be able to withstand this?"
"Shikkari shite Kashi…"
'I don't like seeing the people I care about in pain Kashi. You're important to me.'
'It's strange. Every blow that hit you caused her pain.'
'Kari no… Please say she can't feel this… Please say she can't hear this…'
He wasn't sure how much time had passed, there were countless replicas of him, but they melted away so he was surrounded by copies of Itachi.
"Shikkari shite Kashi…"
Every time he was about to pass out, he would hear her, distracting him slightly from his pain, reminding him that this was a Genjutsu and would eventually end.
"71 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds left."
"Only… Only a second from all that?" Katana's came from every angle, piercing him over and over, his screams echoing in the dark emptiness. In the pauses, she would speak to him and occasionally he would see her wandering through the strange world, dazed, unable to reach him. Near the end, he felt her cold hands touch his face.
"Shikkari shite Kashi…"
Stab.
"Shikkari shite Kashi…"
Stab.
"Shikkari shite Kashi…"
Stab.
"Shinpai na, watashiha kokoyo."
Stab. Stab. Stab.
"Watashiha anata no mamare masen."
Was she a part of the illusion too? Itachi was either ignoring her, or couldn't see her. Was her attachment to him keeping her lost in this world? Was she trapped here, until it ended?
"Yamete…"
Stab. Stab. Stab.
"Onegai…"
Stab. Stab. Stab.
"Okiru…"
Stab.
"Okiru onegai…"
Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab.
"Mou ii…"
She was crying now, crying as the blades embedded themselves into him for the millionth time.
---x---
All he could remember was a blur of pain in that world as the colours came back, slightly blinding him. He panted, weak and exhausted and fell forward but was caught.
"Doushita Kakashi? Do you still want us to keep our eyes closed?" Kurenai cried.
"Not yet, don't open them yet…"
"What happened? You suddenly fell down when he stopped talking! Did someone else arrive?" Asuma asked, sensing the additional Chakra.
"Kari…" Kakashi murmured, realising she was the one supporting him. 'Three days in that world and less than a second passed here… But… why did he not kill me? He could've if he tried.'
"Oh? Is this the girl?" Kisame asked, appearing beside Itachi. "You didn't experience a mental collapse after going through that?" Kisame sneered. "But Itachi-san, it's dangerous to use those eyes too much."
"Is Sasuke what you're looking for?" Kakashi managed to cough out.
"Iie. We're after the Fourth's legacy, and the Tenshi's sacrifice." Itachi replied.
"Nan de…?" Kurenai said confused.
"Naruto and Kari…" Kakashi murmured, tightening his hold on the trembling kunoichi, a low growl emitting from her throat.
---x---
"How long has it been since you last visited the village?" Kakashi asked, having met with Jiraiya, who was looking over a quiet part of the town.
"Kakashi," Jiraiya said, cutting to the chase. "I'm going to take care of Naruto, and Kari when possible. She's not the type to leave those she's grown attached to." Jiraiya smirked as Kakashi looked surprised. "I believe the Sandaime was wise to put them in your care, but you may not be able to deal with some things at the level your at."
"What are you talking about?" Kakashi asked.
"After Orochimaru left this village, I monitored him. It was clear he was going to come back to this village one day. Anyway, I kept an eye on him."
"But?"
"He joined a certain organisation."
"Organisation?" Kakashi repeated. "Any details about that organisation?"
"I do not know the details, but it's called Akatsuki and consists of nine shinobi. They have not done anything big until recently, they have just been gathering information. But the problem is the members. Most of them are sly S-rank criminals in the bingo book. And Itachi is one of the members. It's hard to believe the nine of them are doing volunteer work. You should know where I'm going with this now." He took Kakashi's silence as agreement and continued. "Orochimaru left the organisation recently, and right about that time, the organisation split into teams of two and began travelling all over the place, collecting techniques and other things."
"Do you have any evidence that one of the things they're looking for is the Kyuubi?" Kakashi asked.
"It's a possibility," Jiraiya replied. "That thing is one of the Bijuu that possess the ultimate chakra."
"And Kari?"
"I doubt they know of Kari yet, the Torai-Kenshi is still widely believed to be a myth." Jiraiya said, knowing what Kakashi meant. "And messing with the Torai-Kenshi could upset the balance of the world. They were sealed inside a human so that they're conflicts wouldn't cause destruction. If they were to be set free or tried to be controlled…"
"It would be a disaster."
"Exactly. Kakashi, they will have to begin watching their backs sooner or later. That's the fate they carry." Jiraiya straightened up a bit. "You take care of Sasuke for now, teach him how to use his Sharingan as well. Train Kari so she has wider use of the elements, so she can reach her full potential. I will raise Naruto for a while, and keep a close eye on Kari."
"You just want a young girl's affection," Kakashi said, smiling behind his mask.
"You make me sound like a hentai."
"Naruto certainly thinks so."
"Gaki."
---x---
"Are you after the Kyuubi inside Naruto?" Kakashi demanded. "And the Torai-Kenshi?" Kurenai gasped from behind him. "I know that you two aren't the only one's moving around. The name of your organisation was Akatsuki wasn't it?"
"Akatsuki?" Asuma repeated.
"Kisame, we're going to take Kakashi," Itachi stated, causing Kari to hiss violently, baring sharp canines.
"Over my dead body!"
"Kari…" Kakashi said weakly, feeling her chakra prickle at his skin, her rage rolling off her in waves.
"Make the other two disappear, we may as well take Kari first," Itachi instructed, holding her gaze, unperturbed by the glowing ruby irises. Kisame charged, swinging his Samehada behind him, preparing to strike.
"Konoha Senpuu!!" Gai's kick sent Kisame flying back to Itachi's side. It seemed to happen in slow motion in Kakashi's exhausted state. Gai had appeared, sending Kisame back with a powerful kick, and then the feel of Kari by his side vanished, the warmth and support shot forwards, taking a second to dawn on him what had happened.
"Kari! Iie!!"
She shot forward, pulling out her katana. Kisame saw her at the last second and brought his Samehada to block. Her katana seemed to leave no damage on the large sword, but she was too wound up to care, she dodged both swipes, darting from side to side and then jumped up slamming her katana down on the top of his sword.
"You got guts kid, but that won't get you far," Kisame said grinning at her obvious anger.
"Don't underestimate her Kisame, if you push her too far the devil dogs wrath won't be easy to escape," Itachi said to his cocky partner. He hadn't planned on her showing up so soon. Her eyes snapped to him and she kicked off of the sword, and shot at Itachi instead, he jumped back, avoiding her furious swipe with ease.
"Behind you!"
Kakashi's warning was a second too late, and she felt the sharp ragged scales tear through her back. It had been aimed at her head, but with her defence still not as good as her offence she suffered a lot of damage. She was painfully aware she couldn't turn her back on either of them and sheathed her katana shooting forward and aiming a kick at Itachi's side. He easily blocked and avoided her Meiken style attacks, landing a few heavy blows on her. He grabbed a handful of hair at the back of her head and pulled, forcing her face to tilt up, capturing her eyes with his.
"Kuso," Kakashi hissed seeing her freeze and tense her eyes widening. He was powerless to help her, and knew full well that Genjutsu was her weak point. To his surprise, as the Genjutsu began, she acted on impulse and leant back, before lurching forwards and smacking her head on the lower part of his hitai-ate succeeding in getting him to drop her. She pulled out a kunai, but he quickly twisted her hands behind her back, holding a kunai to her throat.
"Calm down," Itachi said, his breath hitting her ear. She growled, her burning eyes unable to see him. She furiously stamped tying to get his feet, and was turned around, hands still pinned behind her back, he used her hair to tilt her face towards his and her eyes locked on his Sharingan reflecting the spinning tomoe. "You'll see us again soon Kari…" She didn't have time to think before her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she slumped in a dead faint.
"Kari-hime!" Gai cried in alarm, as Itachi caught her limp body, lifting it off the water with one arm with ease.
"Who are you?" Kisame asked rudely, having forgotten Gai had arrived.
"Konoha's noble beast, Maito Gai!" Gai cried with a grin.
"Look at yourself before you speak, perhaps you meant to say dodo…" Kisame said unimpressed.
"Do not underestimate him," Itachi warned, hoisting Kari up so she rested against his side, her head against his shoulder.
'Yappari… It's Itachi' Gai thought. "Unhand Kari-hime!"
"K-Kari…" Kakashi murmured before falling forwards, passing out. Gai hoisted him onto his shoulder before his rival drowned in the river.
"He hurt Kakashi this much, and defeated Kari-hime with such ease," Gai said.
"Don't look into Itachi's eyes Gai, you're going to fall into his Genjutsu!" Asuma warned.
"I already know that. In the measures I developed to fight Kakashi I took into consideration how to counter his Sharingan. Open your eyes you two!" Gai commanded.
"D-demo…" Kurenai hesitated.
"When you fight a Sharingan user, you just don't have to look into their eyes. Keep your eyes on their feet, predict their moves, and counter accordingly," Gai explained.
"Now that you mention it, it does seem logical," Kurenai said as she opened her ruby eyes.
"But you're about the only guy that can do that," Asuma pointed out.
"Right. There's a trick you have to learn to grasp the enemy's moves from his foot movement alone. But we have no other choice in this emergency. Anyway, get used to it, now," Gai said.
"What should we do?" Asuma asked.
"Kurenai, you take Kakashi to a medical squad," Gai instructed. "Asuma you cover me. We're going to rescue Kari-hime. Now, until the ANBU reinforcements I've arranged for arrive, we will fight them."
"Interesting. You're quite daring," Kisame commented with a smirk.
"Kisame. Yamero," Itachi commanded. "We didn't come here to start a war. Unfortunately, fighting anymore is nonsense. We're leaving."
"I was just starting to get excited… Are we taking the girl?" Kisame asked.
"Iie. From her temperature, breathing pattern and her movements while she fought, she's in bad shape. She's not up for a journey. And a rescue mission will be conducted for her," Itachi explained. "We'll get her some other time."
"Will she even remember anything?"
"No. The Genjutsu should have wiped the battle from her memory."
"Very well," Kisame sighed. They both disappeared, leaving Gai to dart forward and catch Kari as she was left to fall.
"Kari-hime…" Gai said, hoisting up her limp form. "Your youthful nature never ceases to amaze me." Her eyes fluttered open, and she drowsily looked up in search of the noise. She screamed when she saw Gai was holding her and jumped out of his hold, shouting something along the lines of 'what the hell Sasuke?!'
"Eeto…" Asuma said as Gai sniffled despite the situation. "Obviously her short term memory was wiped…"
---x---
"Yosh!" Naruto said confidently, lifting hitai-ate the tiniest bit with his thumb. Kita wagged her tail happily as Naruto struggled to move. "Let's go!"
"I can see you got overexcited…" Jiraiya commented, looking tat the bag that was larger than Naruto himself and filled to he absolute brim, Kita sitting on top looking amused. "We're not going to confine ourselves to a mountain to train, and even if Kari-chan is a girl I doubt she needs that much."
"Kari-chan said she'd catch up, her stuff is still at Sasuke's," Naruto cried over his straining. If he had dragged it all the way to the gate, he could drag it the rest of the way!! "Kita-chan will tell her where to find us!"
"Go pack a smaller bag or I'm not taking you."
---x---
"Ne! Ne! Ne! Ne! Ero-senniiin!" Naruto cried, skipping along with his lighter bag. "What kind of technique are you going to teach me next? You taught me the walk on water jutsu last time, so will it be the walk on fire jutsu this time? Or walk on air? Teach me the next one! Ne Ero-sennin!"
"Ero-sennin, Ero-sennin… You don't know I'm a great person do you?" Jiraiya asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Eh? Sugoii Ero-sennin?" Naruto asked thickly.
"Arghh...! Listen carefully!" Jiraiya cried, running to the top of the small bridge. He hopped sideways. "The title 'Gama-sennin' is merely a disguise…!" he slammed his foot down. "I will tell you my true identity…!" he spun his torso, making his long white hair swirl in a circle. "The man who has no enemies in the North, South, East and West…! Not even in the heavens! I am one of the Sannin! The white-haired frog tamer! Even a crying baby would stare in awe, the great Jiraiya-sama!!" He finished slightly dizzy.
"Mm…" Naruto stared unimpressed and then simply walked past him.
"Jiraiya-sama must have spent a long time rehearsing that," Kita said happily. A crow flew over, crowing out something that sounded awfully like 'Ahou'.
---x---
"Aa… Atafuku City, its 10km from here dattebayou," Naruto read.
"It's Otafuku City," Jiraiya corrected.
"Ha? Ano sa, ano sa! Ano sa, ano sa Ero-sennin!!" Naruto cried, Kita skipping after him.
"I've told you its Jiraiya, geez…" Jiraiya grumbled.
"Since a great Ero-sennin like you chose me to be your companion, that means… I have a great talent within me right?" Naruto cried joyously with the biggest grin he could possibly do. He cheered and ran excitedly in a circle, Kita chasing after him. "Ne, ne, ne, ne! Why did you chose me?!"
"The Yondaime was once my apprentice, and your very similar to the Yondaime Hokage. That's the only reason," Jiraiya said simply.
"Ore wa… Yondaime, ne?" Naruto repeated softly, wide baby blue eyes shining and a light blush colouring his tan cheeks. "YOSHAAAAA!! TA TA TA!!!" Naruto cheered zooming past Jiraiya in a happy sprint.
"Na-nan de?" Jiraiya said in shock.
"YOSHAAA!! If I'm similar to the Yondaime that means that I have the same talent as him right dattebayou?! I'm going to be Hokage after all!! YOSHA!" If it was possible for someone to explode from excited joy… Naruto was coming pretty darn close jumping around like that. "YATTA!!" He did an extra big jump but stopped abruptly when he was coming to land. "D-d-d—Matte!!" Naruto cried making a hand sign. But whatever jutsu Naruto was planning, it didn't work and his foot landed in the squelchy dog dropping. "AA! I stepped in dog crap!! Kita-chaaaaan!!"
"That was not Kita-chan!!" Kita cried offended. "Kita-chan goes in bushes!"
"The only thing similar between you and Yondaime is your blonde hair and stubbornness!" Jiraiya cried accusingly.
"Nan de sute baka Ero-sennin?!" Naruto shouted, stepping forward, only to stand in the same dog poo with his other foot. "Not again!!" he whined.
---x---
"Sakura! Come here."
"Hai!" Sakura replied, abandoning her cleaning. Everyone was working hard on restoring the village and she wanted to do her bit, knowing her team-mates were probably off training, or hopefully resting.
"Take this Ohagi to Ino-chan's place," Sakura walked in to see the covered rice cakes neatly stacked into a box.
"Ino's place?" Sakura asked. "These?"
"Sou. Don't stay there too long, everyone's busy right now."
"I know, Ittekimasu!"
Sakura placed a lid on the box and wrapped it in a cloth so she could carry it, she then walked out and started heading to Ino's. She paused as a thought struck her.
"I know! I'll take some for Sasuke-kun too," Sakura said smiling. "Does he like sweets? I know Kari-chan does, so Kita probably would like some too. And some for Naruto, he'd probably eat anything…"
---x---
"Ne, Kakashi-sensei. Teach me how to do Chidori too," Naruto asked enthusiastically.
"Teach you how?" Kakashi repeated. "It's not that simple."
"Nani? I object to that! Teach me!" Naruto demanded. Sasuke, Sakura and Kari watched, the blonde kunoichi giggling at her best friends antics while Kita snoozed in her arms.
"Sasuke-kun, arigatou," Sakura said. Kari shot her a sly smirk and took some discreet sidesteps to give them a little privacy. "You saved us from the Suna again, right?"
"Iie," Sasuke said bluntly.
"Hm?"
"Try gathering Chakra in your hand first…" Kakashi relented, half-heartedly giving Naruto an instruction.
"Ha! Yosh…" Naruto cried holding his wrist as he pulled a constipated face, causing Kari to giggle again.
"Naruto saved you, with Kari's help," Sasuke finished. Sakura looked at Naruto, who was squatting, much to Kari's humour.
"Now, now Sasuke-kun, you don't have to be modest," Sakura said smiling. "It's true Naruto's gotten stronger, but Kari-chan was hurt in her fight and Naruto can't…"
"It's true," Sasuke interrupted. "They fought with everything they had to save you. He even showed powers he's never shown before."
"He did?" Sakura repeated surprised. "For me?"
"Chidoriiiii!" Naruto shrieked straining, causing Kari's giggles to increase. Sakura smiled in gratitude. "Chidori!!!"
---x---
"Yosh, I'll bring some for Naruto too!" Sakura cried happily, skipping off towards Ino's house. She really did have a great team, and she truly was thankful.
Translations
Irrashaimase - Welcome - shop owners say this to greet customers
Shikashi - However, but (polite)
Shikkari shite - Hang in there
Shinpai na, watashiha kokoyo - Don't worry, I'm here
Watashiha anata no mamare masen - I'll protect you
Okiru - Wake up
Mou ii - No more / that's enough
Yappari - As I expected
Ahou - Moron
Ittekimasu - I'm leaving now
Nan de sute? - What did you say?