Last time on An Old Life Reborn
"And this is over." Naruto grimaced
Memory (diddo)
"The message, is written in blood…Itachi's blood." Konan blinked, then raced up the stairs, throwing the door at the top open.
Itachi was gone.
Chapter Five: What We Don't Know
Hikaru tensed then Kyuubi suddenly growled, the huge ruby orbs flashing with anger while he got as close to the cage as he could, slamming his paw against the gate. Hikaru flinched as the entire room shook with the force of the blow, then darted back as Kyuubi unsheathed his claws, the large weapon coming to close.
Silence human! The Kitsune snarled. You know nothing about me! Hikaru closed his eyes, a hand going to his head. Something was starting to blur his senses, making his head ache.
"About a week before your attack, I was on a mission." Yôki was swirling around his body now, making him feel smothered "I- have visions sometimes, and I saw you, crouched over the form of a beautiful woman-I…" Hikaru gazed at Kyuubi blankly, his sight on the memory alone. "Her throat was slit. Her eyes, her hair, and some skin was gone… her navel was cut into, enlarged stomach opened for the world to see…two children…mere babes unfit to be born, where on the ground around her still attached by the cord, another mutilated inside her still." Kyuubi quieted, amber eyes wide.
You…Saw it? Hikaru glanced up, his eyes flashing "A blessing and a curse by far. But that is why I created this cage so you would not be penalized too much for a decision that was fueled by rage." Kyuubi was silent as Hikaru turned to him, then left the room, heading for the memory banks once more.
Maybe now he understands that not all humans are alike.
Itachi stormed out the stairwell, kicking into a desperate run as soon as he saw the sunlight. Not caring that he left his partner and minder behind with no way to find him, he gathered what little Chakra he could use and Shunshin to a random location.
And saw Kakashi.
The Konoha Jônin looked up suddenly, then his gaze turned murderous. Sasuke beside him tensed, the girl screamed as she rushed to stand behind Sasuke, -and then he finally looked up- that damn blue gaze locking on him calmly. They locked eyes for a single moment, and then the boy looked away, features confused.
Already ill at ease, Itachi slowly tensed his body, readying for battle as Kakashi finally moved to stand before his charges.
What kind of luck is this? Why now?
Naruto froze when the kunai touched his flesh, watching as Kakashi studied him.
"What?" The Jônin started, a smirk growing on his face "This is surprising, no flashy escape?" Naruto didn't speak until Kakashi backed away
"I don't feel like fighting until midnight, Kakashi." He explained, crossing his arms "Besides, we both know you would have won, with only one elemental jutsu you overwhelmed me completely." Suddenly a thought over came him and he smiled brightly "At least I did better than Sasuke!" Kakashi rolled his eyes, seeing straight through the boy
"Then why are you talking to me through a clone?" Kakashi turned to look behind him as the real Naruto melted out of a tree, smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry." The clone burst, smokeless. Kakashi gazed at it in wonder as Naruto started to walk out of the glade, hands in his pockets.
No…this isn't over.He let his hands go through seals, and Naruto spun about, feeling Chakra rise
"Ninpou: Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Before the mass of shuriken appeared, Naruto vanished as he Shunshin behind Kakashi, pulling his Tessen free again.
"Yaiba no Kaze!" Aiming at the ground as he landed, he created a whirlwind of dust and dirt, the tornado rushing towards the teacher. Naruto sighed reappearing next to his teammates as Kakashi fended the tornado off. Sakura and Sasuke were staring at him and it was starting to give him a bad tic.
"You don't want to see if you can beat me?" Kakashi asked, poofing behind them. Naruto flopped to the ground panting as he looked at the man lazily.
"How many Jutsu did you use? Three? And I used, what, six or seven? And you ask who would win?" Naruto suddenly stiffened, sitting up as Chakra flashed around them.
Uchiha Itachi appeared into the area and froze, black eyes roaming them when Sakura screamed scrambling to get behind Sasuke. Naruto sighed, then lazily looked at the teen. As if in an after thought Kakashi moved to stand between Sasuke and the Uchiha Heir as sapphire blue met opal black, and Naruto stiffened.
Agony, death, pain, soul wrenching loneliness…sorrow, half of me is dead-
Wincing, Naruto looked away shivering as the emotions flashed through his mind, bringing up memories best left below the surface. Itachi looked them all over grimacing as he backed a step.
"Why are you here?" Kakashi growled out, tense. Itachi looked at him, then tilted his head with a sigh
"I used the Body Flicker Technique at random." He told them all quietly. Sasuke flinched at the sound of his voice, no longer emotionless, but filled with something… "I did not know you were here." Emotionless…anger? No…Deep rooted sorrow, what happened?
Kakashi's hands spun through seals then fire burst from his hands as he flung flaming shuriken into the air.
Katon: Housenka no Justu.
Itachi blinked with surprise and then he moved slightly, twisting his body to let the blades sail past. The next second he dodged a fist, black eyes narrowed as Kakashi completely let loose flinging deadly punches and kicks at the teen as he threw kunai all the while. Itachi evaded them all, using moves from a simple sidestep to nearly bending backwards to continuously be one step ahead of the Konoha Jônin. Finally, Kakashi thrust a fist out, a kunai held in his palm, and Itachi caught the attack rather than dodge, taking the kunai though his right hand.
Naruto blinked as he watched, amazed. How is he so, flexible?
"Satisfied?" Itachi whispered harshly into Kakashi's ear, using his free hand to grab onto Kakashi and pull him closer, "Is this enough pain for now? Obviously the pain already pulsing though my soul not enough to satisfy you, so will this addition do?? Can I leave without having to incapacitateyou?" Kakashi flinched back, looking down as Itachi placed his fingers around his navel.
"You'd think you'd be worrying that my partner is coming up behind you to grab the Jinchuuriki." Itachi told him, quiet voice scolding. Kakashi finally backed away and then moved his headband reveling his Sharingan. With a snort, Itachi dropped to the ground spinning like a top to knock Kakashi off his feet, then lent forward, grabbing Kakashi's neck with his left hand to stop him before he face planted into the dirt.
"You're still so immature, 'Kashi. You know that I completelyunderstand the weaknesses of my Clan's Do-jutsu." Kakashi let himself hang limp, then broke free, leaping back. Itachi did not follow, simply standing tall as he tilted his head. Kakashi glanced at him in confusion, and then turned seeing why.
Naruto, finally tired of it all had pulled his Tessen free and opened it fully, pointing the weapon at the two of them as his free hand curled into a single seal below the folds of metal.
"Do you want the Iwa nin to know you are here?" Naruto asked them loftily; twisting his wrist so the Tessen no longer lay horizontal with the ground, but instead covered his face, save bright blue eyes. "Because if so, continue on please. I'm sure since you"he looked at Itachi "are of Nuke-nin status and of the Uchiha Clan they'd love to beat the shit out of you, and you" he turned to Kakashi "Are a veteran of the Third Shinobi War. I'm sure they have lots of grudges from the War to play out with you." Naruto raised an eyebrow at his teacher's gob smacked expression "What? Did you forget that you have a big red and yellow target on your ass?" Itachi looked at him and then smirked, dropping the fighting stance to stand tall, his eyes never straying from the Tessen as Kakashi blanched, and then leapt away from the Akatsuki member to land by his students at a crouch.
"Oh, Naruto," He murmured, a wicked grin growing on his face. Naruto could not help but stare "I didn't know you cared." Naruto blinked then made to retort when Sasuke ran past him.
Without even a jutsu activated Sasuke crashed into his elder brother, Naruto watching from his position as Itachi looked at his errant sibling, features showing annoyance. Closing his eyes with a sigh, Itachi thrust a hand out, punching Sasuke in the stomach the moment he came within reach.
"You act like you want to die, foolish little brother." He whispered into Sasuke's ear. The teen struggled to right himself, curling his fist weakly "Did you really think I gave you those last moments of our the Clan's life only to scar you mentally?"
"Of course!" Sasuke spat out, trying to regain his baring as he gripped the fist at his chest. Itachi twisted them until Sasuke was on his knees, his fist sill caught within Itachi's grasp as he slowly forced Sasuke to bend forward until his face nearly hit the dirt.
"No." Itachi snapped out angrily "It was a warningyou-" Itachi cut off with a low murmured curse, then continued slowly veins starting to pop out in his hand as he fought not to kill the boy in his grasp "I gave you a brief taste of what I can do so you'd adjust accordingly or improvise. I was giving you a chance-" That was hissed out "-something that I have let draw out far too long. Either you get with the program or I'll just kill you off right here." Itachi removed his fist, and grabbed Sasuke by the back shirt, throwing him back to where he came from. For a brief moment it seemed like a living flame was in his hand, sparking around his fist, then it vanished "I didn't spare your life for you to throw it away." Itachi's gaze roamed them all, and then he turned, walking away.
Kakashi struck. Chakra flew from his hand as his first Jutsu activated, the scroll he always held slamming into the ground. Itachi stiffened, glancing down around at his feet when the tell tale Chirps sang through the air made him start.
Kuchiyose: Doton: Tsuiga no Jutsu
Without a word Kakashi darted forward as his dogs emerged from the ground, pinning Itachi where he stood. Itachi glanced down in shock, then looked behind himself, eyes flashing.
"CHIDORI!" Blood flew as the technique pierced though Itachi's back and chest, piercing through his heart, killing him instantly. Naruto dropped his fan staring in shock as the corpse sagged onto Kakashi's body, blood pouring to the ground, the Jônin himself in shock and covered in the thick fluid.
That…that was too easy! This isn't right, why was he so easy to kill? The last time a Chidori came after him he grabbed Sasuke's hand and deflected it against a wall! How could the Summons, something that he should know of from his time as an Anbu, surprise him so much?
Then Itachi moved, the corpse lugging itself forward off of Kakashi, and then turned letting itself fall back onto his killer, it's lips at his ear, hands reaching behind Kakashi to grip the Jônin's clothes, holding him fast.
"I can't believe you'd attack me from the back, Kakashi." The corpse spoke, the words muddled with blood as Kakashi visibly jumped in shock. The body smirked hands forming seals.
"Kage Bunshin Dai Bakuha no Jutsu." The Clone exploded, throwing dust and smoke into the air.
Sasuke and Sakura jumped back as Naruto dropped to a crouch, grabbing the Tessen to snap it open eyes darking around them. Chakra was flying through the air. Someone was angry and he did not want to be caught in the crossfire.
"Have you changed that much, Kakashi? Five years…or maybe it was…his death that made you loose your honor on the battlefield? I had my back turned, I was leaving, and you attacked me." Itachi appeared behind the group, and Naruto spun about, blasting the teen back.
Itachi flouted in the air, somehow riding the winds, a hand on a particularly deep bite on his left shoulder where a deep wound bled thickly. Other bites where visible here and there, but angry red eyes were locked on Kakashi, who was hacking harshly, smoke bellowing from his body, became visible and Naruto flinched back.
"I had no reason to do anything here, you attacked me. Do I need to retaliate?"
Bright red eyes alight with pure fury as fire and thunder flashed across the skies. Chakra was rising of the teen in waves, making the earth buckle, and the wind vanish.
"You dare insult me like this, and attack me from behind like a coward?! You want to fight then we'll fight, and I will kill you." Thunder boomed as Lightning crashed to the ground.
Naruto's sight returned and he crouched, watching Kakashi try to protect himself from Itachi's wrath, then warmth spread up his spine and he shivered.
'Use Yaiba no Kaze.'
Naruto started, blinking rapidly. Foreign Chakra was spiraling around his body, coming from inside his own skin.
'That technique will take his attention off of Kakashi and when he turns to you, he should regain his senses.'
Who are you and how can I trust what you say? The voice chuckled, and he shivered.
'Because, Naruto, no matter how this sounds…the Akatsuki want you alive. He can't kill you, but he will easily kill Kakashi if he is pushed too far.'
Naruto pointed the fan, feeling someone guiding his movements. The hand against his elbow straightened his arm, then let him raise it high, Chakra shifting to collect in his palm.
'Now swing.'
And he did.
Releasing the Chakra in his palm the moment he opened the fan, large blades of chakra laced wind erupted from the metal folds, all of them flying through the air as Itachi turned, red eyes staring. The second they came within range Itachi raised a hand and a wall of chakra appeared, simmering a deep red when the technique slammed into it and vanished, the Chakra reverting into simple energy as it ricocheted off. Itachi's stare never left Naruto as he slowly pivoted where he stood, lowering his hand.
"Where did you learn that?" He questioned softly, eyes narrowing. Naruto blinked, standing straighter when that hand crept up his spine.
'Don't show fear to him. Never show an enemy weakness unless you know you are stronger. Doing such a thing can easily get you killed, because a man's energy levels always rise when they know they will win.'
But…is he an enemy? The voice did not answer, and Naruto could feel confusion. Then everything froze, Chakra flashed around him angry and startling and he no longer could control himself.
Hikaru watched, his body tense, as his brother fought Kakashi smoothly, at a much higher level than a simple Genin, and he felt proud. Kakashi tried to restart the battle, but the boy easily stopped him flat, and then disaster struck.
For the first time in his life, Hikaru saw Itachi in pain.
True soul wrenching scream-worthy pain expressed in his eyes, even in the way he held himself. It was painful, watching him and Kakashi fight, but he could not do a thing to stop them. As he watched the fight progress, he slowly closed his eyes, then opened his senses-
Pain flared along his body but mostly at his shoulder, making him fall to the ground going limp.
Why is it, the moment I open myself to him he ends up getting hit?Hikaru thought with an exasperated snort.
"Have you changed that much, Kakashi? Five years…or maybe it was…his death that made you loose your honor on the battlefield? I had my back turned, I was leaving, and you attacked me."
"I had no reason to do anything here, you attacked me. Do I need to retaliate?"
Hikaru started, eyes going wide as a memory flared to life before his eyes-
Blood flew through the air
"What boy? Angry with me? I see no point; I was merely complementing the whore you had about your arm! She must have cost you a pretty penny-" the man could not complete his thought as a dragon of flame attacked, jaws wide as it landed where the loudmouth once stood. "Aw, don't be such a sore loser! Obviously you didn't have something she wanted when I found her!"
Hikaru crouched behind the man, bloodstained blue silver sword held at a reverse at his side, it's sash tied around his wrist. Itachi was pissed and was letting his Chakra flash in the air, the ground buckling whenever he attacked but any wind was gone with no currents left to create them. The loudmouth Bradbury was continuously hard pressed to counter or dodge every flame attack Itachi, seemingly calm, had thrown at him, all the while slowly strolling closer to him.
They barely used this tactic for Itachi rarely became angry enough to loose control over his emotions- and his Sharingan. Nevertheless, it had happened and now it was decoy and assassin time. Quiet fury deep in his eyes Itachi continued on flinging attacks left and right as Hikaru came into position behind the old man who was countering Itachi with earth and water. Suddenly the man summoned a dragon of mud behind Itachi, and the teen was struck dead on, yet remained standing, even more furious.
"You dare insult me like this, and attack me from behind like a coward?! You want to fight then we'll fight, and I will kill you." Thunder rose from his clenched fists and Bradbury blanched.
It wasn't hard to creep behind the old man, only that his long hair, currently bound tightly to his scalp with only his bangs free, was sticking to his face. Irritably, he placed a lock of his bangs behind his ear and tapped his left shoulder as a bloodthirstily grin growing on his face as he sheathed his blade, pulling Kushi free.
'Ready?' Itachi let out a fleeting smirk and Bradbury paused, spinning about just in time to receive a kick to the face. Crying out, he backed a few steps and Hikaru swung Kushi, spinning as he did to fling Bradbury into the air. Completing his spin Hikaru once again kicked the old man, this time in the stomach and higher off the ground and then he kicked straight up, chakra in his foot landing the hit in the man's chin, sending him flying.
Standing tall Hikaru opened his larger incomplete Tessen, the other vanishing into thin are as he held the second's top to the ground, Chakra rising around him in a perfect circle with him at its middle.
"Ôgi Fuuton: Kaze no Mai!" He shouted, slowly opening the Tessen in his hands "Be like steel." The words were whispered but Itachi could hear the sound carried by the winds "Yaiba no Arashi!" Spinning as he did before, Hikaru released five blades into the air, and then vanished.
Itachi watched panting slightly as Hikaru reappeared and released another blast, then vanished again as Bradbury landed harshly, having protected himself from the first force, but not the second, or any that followed. Repeatedly, Hikaru Hirashin around the old man, blowing scythe like winds every time he reemerged, then froze, tilting his head. Once the on slot stopped, the corpse fell to the ground, unrecognizable, in a pile of mush, blood, and bones-
Hikaru came back too, and then saw from Naruto's eyes as Kakashi defended himself from Itachi's rage.
In a rage, Itachi always aimed for the kill.
"Use Yaiba no Kaze." He spoke aloud. Please, get Itachi's attention! NOW! If you don't your sensei will die! "That technique will take his attention off of Kakashi and when he turns to you, he should regain his senses." Then Naruto spoke- thought back
Who are you and how can I trust what you say?
Hikaru blinked, Naruto…could hear him? Chuckling the thought of his reply, then decided to be blunt.
"Because, Naruto, no matter how this sounds…the Akatsuki want youalive. He can't kill you, but he will easily kill Kakashi if he is pushed too far." Closing his eyes Hikaru let his chakra rise, and gently slipped it down Naruto's arms helping the child move. After Hikaru fixed little errors in the boy's stance, he siphoned Naruto's own chakra into Naruto's hand.
"Now swing." The Chakra slipped from his grasp and Hikaru opened his eyes to watch Itachi fly through the air, and cursed. He forgot that Itachi could block his wind techniques! Then the stare Itachi fixed on his little brother made him jerk to his feet.
He knows too much! Always too damned much! Could he -?"Where did you learn that?" Hikaru flinched. To all that is damned he does.Naruto took an involuntary step back and Hikaru forced him to stop, running some chakra up his spine.
"Don't show fear to him. Never show an enemy weakness unless you know you are stronger. Doing such a thing can easily get you killed, because a man's energy levels always rise when they know they will win."
But…is he an enemy?
Hikaru froze, how could he not? Uchiha Itachi is a nuke-nin of Konohagure the strongest son Konoha has ever lost! A criminal who killed his family in one night, why would anyone-why was Naruto hesitating? He is a ninja of Konohagure, it is the job of ninja to defeat, kill, and/or return nuke-nin!
Finally about to respond, Hikaru looked up in time to see Itachi come after his brother, and he snarled, Chakra flashing around him.
Then Itachi was before him and he pulled the Tesson forward, using the bulky metal weapon to parry the kunai in the pale teen's fist, then opened it, blowing the thrown Kunai away as he grabbed one, dropped into a crouch when he threw it back.
This isn't right. He thought suddenly, yet his body-his brother's body- still moved on his instincts, each movement exactly like he would have done years ago amidst battles. Why-how did I become to be in control of his body?? Itachi crouched as he landed, and then spin, a foot going to Naruto's side. Hikaru forced the Tessen in the way dropping to his knee as he did so and then opened the Tessen, for a direct attack.
"Kamaitachi no Jutsu!" The unsettled winds around them turned fierce as they collected around the metal fan called on Hikaru's command, then as he swung, flung themselves foreword into a sickling wind, forcing Itachi back into the air. Before he could mindlessly continue on the attack, Kakashi appeared in the air, landing a second after Itachi did, pinning the teen to the ground where Itachi had landed with a bang and sick crack, Kakashi's kunai raised. Hikaru nearly collapsed as his shoulder flared in agony, then receded, Naruto blinking harshly
"Suiton: Suikoumisairu no Jutsu!" Water forced Kakashi away from his captive as it flowed over Itachi, the teen lying limp on the ground. He was curling into a ball trying to get back on his feet, his hand once again clutching his left shoulder. The teen looked up then breathed a single word.
"Hikaru." The voice inside him gasped aloud and Naruto started.
What is he-Who are you???
'I am as he says. I am Hikaru, and I think he recognized me through you- watch out!'
Kisame appeared, swinging his large Samenada threateningly as another woman appeared by Itachi's side. Kakashi darted back while Sasuke finally stood with a hand to his stomach, near bent over in pain. Kisame stood protectively before Itachi and the woman, as she tried to heal him.
'They are missing nin. They are always the enemy, why do you balk?'
Hikaru stated urgently voice confused
'It is the task of ninja to bring such persons in, why did you stop?'
Naruto glanced around himself, dodging back when Kisame decided to take a swipe at him.
…I know you love him. Hikaru gasped, Naruto could hear it, then shouted back
'That matters how? I am dead! There is no reason to care for my feelings- Naruto!
Naruto had snorted halfway though and slowly stood a safe distance away from Kisame.
You speak, you think, you are alive.
Kakashi took a step forward, hands balled into fists, and then everyone froze.
Itachi started to scream.
Screaming in pain and pure anguish, the teen bucked and the woman backed away, hands to her ears as the Uchiha Heir started to writhe where he lay. The blue haired woman blinked violently, then her hands started to blur through seals as Kisame dropped his weapon and stood frozen, golden eyes wide. Team 7 could not help but to stare, Sasuke frozen watching the teen whom had basically raised him, eyes widening with every second that passed, then Kakashi backed a step
"Retreat." He started softly, and then his voice then rose over the screams. "MOVE!!"
It was impossible to think straight after seeing that scene.
And these feelings had to change, they had to vanish; Itachi wasn't the teen he knew any longer! Was anyone the same after six years with the Namikaze Clan dead?
And Naruto! The boy was impossible! Why care for the thoughts of someone who had no control over anything?
Hikaru curled himself into a fetal position in the corner of the room, a hand slowly stroking the skin in his right hand.
His Father was gone, only Naruto was left, and Hikaru could not afford the love he felt for a man long dead to come in between blood.
Ok, explain! Hikaru looked up briefly, then chuckled. He could feel Naruto stiffen.
"Explain what? Ask and if I can answer, I will."
One, what the hell just happened?? Hikaru winced, letting his head fall into his hands.
"I think what happened was…you could not have survived that attack…so subconsciously, you pushed me forward to defend yourself."
You said before that happened that you are Hikaru, as in Namikaze Hikaru?
"Yes, I am. You confirmed it earlier, if I recall correctly."
How…why can I hear you? Where are you? Hikaru let out a quiet chuckle at that.
"Naruto- I'm in your head. With the Kyuubi."
Ninpo: Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique
Katon: Housenka no Justu- Pheonix Flame Technique
Kuchiyose: Doton: Tsuiga no Jutsu Summoning Technique: Earth Element: Tracking Fang Technique
Chidori- Thousand Birds Chirping
Suiton: Suikoumisairu no Jutsu Water Style: Water Shark Missile Technique
Kamaitachi no Jutsu- Sickling Wind
Kage Bunshin Dai Bakuha no Jutsu Shadow Clone Great Explosion Technique
Ôgi Fuuton: Kaze no Mai, Yaiba no Arashi- Hidden Technique, Wind Release: Dance of the Wind, Storm of Scythes!
Yaiba no Kaze- Wind of Scythes
(I like scythes…also did you all notice that I forgot the name I give this fic? How sad is that…)
This chapter was a pain in the ass! I have a beta-ish, and she was noo help (sorry Wery darling, 4 in the morning talking) and fucking Final Mix+ !!
Oh, and also, guitar hero 4 and rock band 2 make me sad, (I hate being broke)
side note, i want to write a KH2 crossover (duh) and i need strange things that can happen. this story will probably get deep (t my oppinion) so i need light comical things to ease the climaxes (literally and metaphorically)