A Perception of Reality

by knightchaser

There is a belief that states for every action taken, the alternative action is played out in another dimension. In one reality Itachi succeeded in killing his clan, in another, he failed. This is the story of what happened when he failed.

51. Chapter 51 A Snake in the Snow

Time for the next chapter!

Thanks for the reviews and favs!

All my section markers from the previous chapters in this and my other stories disappeared. How annoying. That's the second time it's happened. I was sure the "X" marks wouldn't disappear, but they did. I don't want to use the line to divide sections because I had that was the first thing that disappeared over a year ago. So, now I have edit everything and try something else. I guess I better get started…

Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns Naruto.

X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Chapter 51 - A Snake in the Snow

"You need to extend your chakra out, Sasuke. Concentrate on shaping it, then send your Chidori through that shape." Orochimaru was standing a few feet from his young student, as he had been for the last two hours, training him to use a new technique. The eager boy was a fast learner and the Sannin was very pleased with his newest recruit.

Sasuke closed his eyes and extended both his hands as he imagined a katana pointing straight ahead. He then forced his chakra forward through the invisible blade, but pulled it back when he sensed it was taking the wrong shape. Opening his eyes, he sighed and rubbed his forehead. He had been practicing the same drill for days, and even though the shape was getting closer and closer to what he wanted, it still wasn't perfect. And he refused to form a Chidori until it was perfect. It would be a waste of chakra.

"Getting tired?" Orochimaru asked quietly.

"No. Just impatient." Sasuke closed his eyes to start over, but was interrupted when the door to the training arena slammed open. Seeing it was just Karin he went back to his training, but he couldn't help overhear her urgent words.

"Someone's coming up the mountain, Lord Orochimaru. I don't know who it is. I've never felt their chakra before." Karin stepped cautiously into the sparring arena.

Orochimaru's yellow, snake-like eyes turned to the red-haired girl and smiled. "Strange how no one else has detected them."

His sibilant voice made the girl shiver and she wrapped her arms closely around her torso and when she spoke she sounded much more confident than she felt, "They aren't as good as me at sensing chakra. If you don't believe me then go outside and look for yourself."

"Oh, I believe you Karin. Please don't get me wrong. Is it more Cloud ninjas?" He glanced over at his pupil and noticed with pleasure that the boy was continuing his practice. Distractions aside, Sasuke was determined to learn the new jutsu.

"No. One of them… no. Two of them have immense chakra. I've never felt anything that big before. And another, his chakra is kind of like Sasukes…. But not quite. Perhaps another Uchiha?"

"Ha ha ha!" Orochimaru laughed, "I knew he would show up." He turned to look at Sasuke who had finally stopped and was now looking up at him, "Itachi has come to fetch his wayward brother."

Sasuke gritted his teeth, "I'm not going back with him."

"No, my boy, you're not. You're mine now and no one is taking you away from me."

Karin continued, "They'll be here in an hour if they keep heading this way."

"Almost as if they knew where to go." Orochimaru's grin grew even wider and he reached out to run his hand through Sasuke's shoulder-length black hair as he bent over to look the boy in the eye, "Right, my boy?"

Sasuke locked eyes with the sannin, but kept his mouth shut. Somehow, the man had known all along he was in contact with Itachi. And it didn't seem to be fazing him at all.

Orochimaru ran the back of his hand across the boy's cheek, caressing it. "But Sasuke, the last time I fought your brother I was more interested in not harming him than fighting. This time… it doesn't matter. I have you. This time… I can go all out."

X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

After learning from Pein where Itachi was heading Madara had departed Mist, arriving mere hours before they did. He perched himself on a nearby cliff and hid his chakra as he awaited his kinsman's arrival. The place had been crawling with Cloud ninja all day, but suddenly they had all pulled back and disappeared. Shortly after that he sensed the small group coming up the dirt road.

"They're almost here." He stood up so he could get a better view of the surrounding area. The entrance the snake's den was a short distance above the tree-line and covered with about a foot of snow. No shrubs poke their way out of the frozen substance, indicating the ground was probably covered with too many rocks for them to grow, or there were no nutrients in the soil to feed them.

The area was flat, with a cliff running halfway around it in a semi-circle that dropped off down the end of the mountain at one end. The other side of the small clearing rose up at an easier pace, allowing the road to continue on up for another half-mile. The summit, of course, was still a thousand feet up.

"They're sure taking their time." Tama opened one eye to gaze momentarily at the Uchiha before closing it again. He had found an opening in the rocks that formed a snow-free den and was currently making use of it.

"I have a feeling the disappearance of the Cloud ninja has something to do with it. They aren't hiding their chakra either. They probably plan on luring Orochimaru out of his lair."

"Would he really fall for that?"

"He's an arrogant bastard, so yeah, it'll work. In reality, he could easily best everyone in that group except Itachi. Although… Sasori…" Madara was quiet for a couple minutes, lost in thought, "Sasori could probably beat him under the right circumstances. But it would be a close match. And Jiraiya nearly lost to a sick and injured Orochimaru a month ago in another fight so who knows how a re-match with a healthy Orochimaru would go."

Tama stretched one paw out and scratched his ear, "So you're thinking this should be a pretty quick fight."

"Hopefully not too quick. I need Itachi to expend some chakra. When he realizes I'm here to collect Sasuke he will want to fight me. I can't allow that." Madara fell silent. He actually had many reasons for not wanting to fight Itachi, but chief among those was the desire to not injure him in front of his brother. There was no telling what Sasuke would do in that situation. Would he turn on Madara for causing the injury, or Itachi for being injured? The boy had a mind of his own that proved rather difficult to read. He wasn't a clone of all the other Uchiha's, but an entity separate and independent of the collective.

Unlike Itachi, who had been supervised almost continuously during his early childhood and run through hours of directed training, Sasuke had been left to himself and allowed to grow up without the pressures his elder brother had endured. Of course, it wasn't nearly as idealic as it sounded. After all, the situation had come with its own set of pit-falls and set backs and the boy had found himself increasingly held down by them as he grew older. However, it had never eaten away at his resolve or his image of "self".

In that way, Madara reflected, he was very much like his brother. Itachi tended to come to his own conclusions as well and act on them without asking permission. As evidenced by his current quest to retrieve Sasuke. He had not asked permission to leave the village, or sought anyone's approval for his task. He had simply realized a course of action and acted on it.

A flare of chakra alerted Madara to another presence behind him. Pivoting on his heel he came face to face with Itachi. Sharingan wide open, Itachi held his face in a grim expression of determination as he stared down his adversary. The intensity of the chakra emanating from the teen and the depths of power illuminating his eyes was certainly not something the vast majority of Shinobi could bear. There certainly was no doubt that the person Madara was now facing was a killer, experienced in his craft and shrewd in his ways.

For the first time in decades, Madara found himself forcefully having to resist the urge to step back and as the reality of the situation hit him hard, he had to accept that the boy staring him down was no longer a boy. He was no longer the weak child who had so eagerly looked up to him for encouragement and training, nor was he the injured and crying four-year-old whom he had found hiding under a bush, nor was he the confused and despondent child asking for explanations to situations far too advanced for his tender years.

He was no longer any of that. The elder Uchiha returned the gaze with his own Sharingan, and continued to hide his chakra. As he did so he was forced to admit three incontrovertible facts.

What stood before him was a man capable of standing before him as an equal.

He had made him into that man.

And he no longer had any control over him.

X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Itachi saw no point in speaking to Madara, and a moment after teleporting next to him, he disappeared, reappearing next to Orochimaru's lair. Despite the fact that the elder man was hiding his chakra, the teen had sensed it anyway. That pleased him immensely. Finally, he had confirmation of something he had suspected for a long time. That Madara was no longer able to hide from him.

He had also seen hesitation. For the briefest of moments, Madara had considered running. However, Itachi had no time to reflect on this new information. He had a battle to fight, and if Madara was present it could only mean…

"Why's he here?" Sasori asked grumpily as he pulled out a scroll and summoned three puppets, one of which he proceeded to climb into.

Kisame laughed, "Grab Sasuke probably. It wouldn't surprise me if that's why he had us come on this mission. So he could follow us. What are you going to do about it, Itachi?"

Itachi glanced back at his companion's and the dark chakra that had been radiating from him suddenly flared. Everyone backed off, suddenly wary of the teen's intentions.

Kisame pulled Samehade off his back and slammed it into the ground as he scowled at his partner. "What was that for?"

Itachi's words were sharp, "Back off. All of you. This fight is not yours to join. Jiraiya, change in plans. You will guard Naruto and if he gets so much as a scratch you will get it a hundred times worse. No matter what happens, under no circumstances are you to leave his side." The orders were delivered without hesitation and with every expectation that they would be followed without question. He did not expect confirmation, and no one gave it. They either accepted, or kept quiet.

Glancing back he saw the fear filled face of his foster brother. He regretted allowing the boy to come on the mission. There was every expectation now that the whole thing would end in disaster and the fact that Naruto would see every bit of it was unacceptable.

"So you finally came." The voice came from the cliff under Madara's perch and as Itachi turned to look he could see the stone wall disappear into nothingness, revealing a smoothly carved tunnel. Orochimaru stepped forward, followed by several people.

"Sasuke!" Naruto quickly got over his fear and waved his arms over his head as he yelled. Jiraiya had grabbed the back of his jacket, preventing him from running forward.

The young Uchiha ignored the calls of his friend as he stepped out of the tunnel and looked around the clearing. Itachi saw the surprise on his brother's face. He had been expecting only one person to come and seeing a total of seven people had no doubt thrown him off. He noticed the boy's gaze lingered as he caught sight of Madara, who had stuck his mask on and slipped into his "Tobi" persona.

As Sasuke turned away, Tobi raised his arms and waved wildly, "Hi Itachi's brother! We came to rescue you! Don't worry! We'll save you! I hope he didn't molest you! Did he touch you…"

Deidara couldn't take it anymore and shouted loudly, "Shut up you ignoramus!"

"Tobi will shut-up. See, Tobi isn't talking anymore." Madara stuck his hands in his pockets and gazed expectantly at the people below him.

"If only that were true." Deidara muttered, loud enough for most everyone to hear.

Orochimaru laughed, "I see you got suckered into bringing the tag-along with you, Itachi. I feel sorry for you."

Itachi bristled at the jibe. Orochimaru knew full well who Tobi was, of that the teen was certain. Yet he was treating the gathered ninjas like wayward children. The man had no sense of fear. Ignoring him for the moment, he looked around at the other's who had followed the snake Sannin to the surface.

A red-headed girl was standing back. Arms wrapped firmly around her body she was staring at the ground with a posture that reflected both fear and a strong desire to run.

A white haired teen, a year or two younger than Itachi was standing next to a very tall boy about Sasuke's age. The teen had red eyebrows painted over his real eyebrows in a style that had gone out a couple hundred years earlier. He guessed it was probably some sort of clan marking. Nevertheless, the powerful chakra coming from the teen was certainly not to be underestimated and there was something odd about his tall companion that made Itachi take note of him as well.

Rounding out the group was Kabuto. The white-haired medic was nervously adjusting his glasses and, Itachi observed, he hadn't taken his eyes off of him since he had entered the clearing.

A moment later five more people exited the cave. Four were dressed for fighting and Itachi guessed they probably functioned as Orochimaru's security force. The fifth didn't seem to be with them and hung back for a few seconds before walking over to join Sasuke. The boy was very thin, with sharp pointed teeth and lavender eyes. His shoulder length white hair was unkempt and his clothes ill-fitting – as if he had just gotten up from a very long nap.

Sasuke turned to speak with the boy who nodded once before returning to the cave entrance and sitting on the ground. Itachi looked closer and noticed his chakra was fluctuating wildly and he appeared to be very weak. Kabuto seemed concerned and stepped forward to speak with Sasuke as well before nodding and returning to his former position.

Itachi reached up and adjusted his ponytail, raising it momentarily in the air before draping it back down under his cloak. Sasuke, who had been watching, reached up and ran both hands through his own hair, then drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. The signal had been given and received.

"It appears everyone is present and accounted for." Orochimaru grinned. "Now, all we have to do is…"

Itachi didn't wait for him to finish. His eyes bled into their Mangekyou Sharingan form and he caught Orochimaru and Sasuke in a Tsukuyomi.

X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

The vastness of the red world threatened to overwhelm his senses as Orochimaru fought to gain control of his consciousness. Seconds later he realized he was strapped to a cross with Itachi and Sasuke standing at his feet.

"How…" The Sannin's question was interrupted by Itachi.

"You are in my dimension. No one can break you out of this Genjutsu. Tsukuyomi exists outside of time and one week spent here will only equate to a second in the real world."

"I've never heard of such a thing. Those eyes… they are even more fascinating than I imagined." Orochimaru's excitement was in direct contrast to his prone position and Itachi decided to do something to dispel some of it.

Raising his katana, Itachi slid it easily into Orochimaru's abdomen and slowly pulled it out. Looking at the blood dripping form the blade he was momentarily caught up in his own thoughts. The red world, colored with blood. For some reason it was comforting. As adverse as he had become to killing, Itachi couldn't pull himself away from the scarlet liquid.

"Itachi?" Sasuke spoke for the first time, causing the teen to break his gaze. Looking up he saw the Sannin groaning in pain.

"You're turn, little brother." Itachi's words were calm and patient, and delivered with an air of lazy resignation.

Sasuke looked at his hand as a katana materialized in it. Smiling, he stepped forward and with a strong thrust forced the blade into Orochimaru's chest.

"You're working with Danzou, aren't you?" Itachi's stern eyes remained locked on his prisoner. Red clouds, highlighted with black drifted quickly overhead, but no breeze disturbed the air. If indeed there was air.

"Of course." Orochimaru panted, "If you suspect it, Itachi, then it must be true."

Itachi and Sasuke both thrust their blades into the man's torso, and pulled them out slowly. The teen continued his questioning, "What is the nature of this partnership?"

"What is your reason for asking?" The Sannin was gasping now and blood dripped from his mouth. His long, stringy black hair hung over his face, hiding his eyes. His once-sibilant tones were now masked with bitter malevolence, "You have me incapacitated. Why haven't you killed me?"

Sasuke answered this time, "Because we need to know what Danzou is up to."

"Answer the question." Itachi added.

Orochimaru gritted his teeth as the pain intensified, "If you are going to kill me, there is no point."

"Oh, but you misunderstand." Itachi's matter-of-fact voice was now stern, "In Tsukuyomi I control time. That means I can torture you for days on end, delivering blow after blow, without any fear of you dying. We can stay here for as long as it takes. We can torture you for as long as you can hold out. And when we return to the real world, as I already stated, only one second will have passed."

"So you can answer us now and have a quick death or put it off and suffer for a week." Sasuke grinned as he crossed his arms across his chest. "I saw what you were doing to those people in there and a slow death is definitely quicker than what they were going through."

Itachi pushed his sword into Orochimaru's chest again, followed closely by Sasuke. Once again, he watched as the blood dripped slowly from the blade. He could manipulate the speed at which the drops fell and he played a bit with the speed. He could even freeze a drop in mid-air and walk around it, gazing at the essential liquid in all its many facets.

"You're a very creepy kid, Itachi." Orochimaru gasped.

It was then that the teen remembered that blood in this world was supposed to be white, not red. Smiling, he looked up at Orochimaru, "I have more control over this dimension than I thought I did." The red liquid dripping down the man's chest fell in a puddle on the ground, sending rivulets that raced slowly to the edge of the small pool on the black ground.

"Itachi doesn't handle blood very well. And since I'm just as much a prisoner in this world as you are I won't be able to stop him if he looses control." Sasuke's grin grew broader, "Not that I would stop him anyway."

"Danzou." Orochimaru started, the coughed as more blood spurted from his mouth, "Danzou came to me years ago with eyes… Sharingan eyes. He wanted them implanted. I didn't know if it was possible and agreed."

"So his bandaged eye has a Sharingan?" Itachi broke out of his reverie.

"Yes. And also… there are more. On his body."

"His… body?" That made no sense whatsoever. "Where did he get all the eyes?"

"Dead Uchihas, of course. After he got the first one he would use it to challenge others and then steal the eyes from the corpse."

"But we've had no reports of stolen eyes." Itachi countered.

"They were stolen from the morgue before cremation or from the corpse after burial. The rebellion gave him a lot of eyes to pick and choose from."

Sasuke frowned, "So did he order Itachi to kill us so he could get us out of the way, or steel more eyes?"

"Both obviously." Orochimaru grinned savagely, "Uchiha were the only ones who could stop him. Only a Sharingan can fight another Sharingan. With you out of the way there would have been no one to go against him."

"So he used the Sharingan to force the elders to rule against us and push father into a corner; forcing him into rebellion." Itachi hadn't noticed that instead of saying "Fugaku" he had said "father". It was a subconscious slip, but Sasuke did notice and his frown deepened.

If it was possible, Orochimaru's grin grew even bigger until it was the width of his pasty face, "And he was going to use you to kill them. The ultimate irony and no doubt the apex of his pathetic, twisted life."

Itachi growled under his breath, "Where is he! Where is Danzou!"

"Haven't a clue." Orochimaru stated plainly.

Sasuke plunged his sword repeatedly into the Sannin's body, "Tell us where he is you bastard!"

Orochimaru screeched horribly as pain wracked his body with such force that it sent seizures through him. He twisted and pushed at the ropes, trying to get away, but Sasuke wouldn't stop his assault.

X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Itachi stood aside, his face twisted into an expression that seemed a cross between grief and intense anger. He paid no attention to what his brother was doing, and instead was trying desperately to cling to a reality where his family – his clan – were still alive and living in Konoha. But all he could see were the corpses of his parents. The corpses of his friends. He could see Sheeta dropping to the ground, and the betrayal on her face as she lost consciousness. He watched as a younger version of Sasuke shouted out his refusal to believe the situation – that his beloved older brother was not capable of such an action. And finally, he watched as he walked out the village and collapsed on the road, exhausted mentally and physically from the months of worrying and events of that evening.

"You…"

Itachi looked up. In front of him, in identical clothing and hairstyle, was himself.

"You… are me." The voice spoke again.

Itachi blinked his eyes twice in surprise, then nodded.

"I… This is unexpected."

Again Itachi found himself unable to speak and nodded.

"You exist on a different plane from me. In your world… In your world…"

"In my world time stands still." Itachi didn't know why he said that, and it made no sense at all.

"In my world," The other-Itachi stated sorrowfully, "Time has already ended."

There was a sudden shattering effect as the other-Itachi broke into several shards and disappeared. Coming to is senses, Itachi rubbed his eyes, they were beginning to hurt.

'Time ended.' He said to himself. 'Could only mean the clan is dead. Time standing still could only mean… we are stuck at the moment of decision, will the clan live or die. It still hasn't been decided yet.'

Itachi watched as his little brother continued to stab Orochimaru. "Sasuke."

The boy stopped and stared up at his brother, "Yes Itachi?"

"We… we…" How exactly was he going to explain it? It was rather abstract. "The night of coup… when I was supposed to kill everyone… it…it's like we're stuck at that moment… and… until we kill Danzou…" He could see the confusion in his brother's face, but continued talking nevertheless, "Until we kill Danzou, we can't leave that day."

Sasuke moved closer to his brother and looked him in the eye, "Itachi… I know people say you aren't in your right mind and stuff, but have you finally gone completely and utterly insane? And if you have, could you let me out of this Genjutsu? I'd kind of like to not be here when you loose it. You know?"

Itachi nodded once, but made no move to act.

"Itachi? Big brother?" Sasuke placed a hand on the teen's shoulder, "It's two years later. Every one is alive and there's a branch of our clan in Mist. We aren't going to wake up in the past, on that day, and, well, whatever it is you're thinking it's… not right."

"I'm not saying that. Just that… Danzou could still find a way to kill us. He wants us dead. That night… it won't be over until he's dead. We grow older, perhaps prosper to an extent and appear to move on, but every day we wake up that night replays itself. Over and over. Until he wins. Until he kills us all."

"Oh. That's what you mean. You can't move on. Even if the rest of us can, you're stuck."

"We're all stuck, Sasuke. We're all…"

Sasuke was angry now, "I'm not stuck! I'm moving on with my life! I'm getting out of Konoha and I'm…"

Itachi reached up and slapped his brother across the face, "You think he'll let you live just because you decided to 'move on with you life'? You think it's that easy?" The teen was livid, and his face contorted in anger. The agonized screams coming from Orochimaru, barely three feet away were forgotten. "He wants us dead, Sasuke. Dead! As in, not alive anymore. You got it?"

"Yeah I got it!" Sasuke yelled back.

Itachi calmed down somewhat, "We are living on borrowed time until we can kill him. All the moments we've experienced since that night will mean nothing if he wins. All the good times, the bad times…" His voice drifted off. So much had happened in the last two years, he didn't want to loose any of it. It was time his other self never got to have. If he failed… would he turn into that teen?

"Fine." Sasuke relented. "But Orochimaru doesn't know where he is. Let's just kill him and get this over with. You need to rest or see a psychiatrist or something…"

"I'm fine." Itachi responded stubbornly. A moment later he ended the Tsukuyomi and watched as Orochimaru fell to the ground, barely conscious.

X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Silence filled the clearing as everyone stared curiously at the Orochimaru, who was lying prone on the snow-covered ground, his eyes wide open. It was not a position anyone had ever seen him in before. As the reality of the situation sunk in all eyes eventually turned to Itachi.

The teen stood shin-deep in the cold snow, an empty expression on his face and his hands pulled back into his sleeves. He looked the same as always. Withdrawn and alert, powerful yet solitary. However, the knowledge that he had just bested one of the three Sannin could not be ignored.

Deidara was the first to speak, and as confident as he tried to sound, his voice still wavered, "Over inflated egotistical bastard. Take away that Sharingan and he's nothing."

Kisame scowled, "Take away your hands and you're a washed-up, unemployed artist."

The blond growled under his breath, but stayed silent.

"Is he dead?" Naruto asked. He was squeezing Jiraiya's arm so tightly that the older man had to pry his fingers up.

"No. Not even close." Jiraiya sighed, "I'm not going to enjoy this. He was… my friend once."

Sasori spoke up, "You are too kind-hearted. That man was born evil."

Jiraiya turned to look at the puppet master, "How can you say that?"

"I have killed thousands, but I assure you their deaths were always quick and painless, except for the handful I killed for my own pleasure. That man, he kills under the guise of science. A profession that is supposed to aid society. I'm hardly one to discuss morals, but I think I've still got enough humanity left in me to realize the difference."

Jiraiya glanced at the boy was still sitting at the mouth of the cave. His head was down, resting on his knees and his breathes appeared to be just as labored as Orochimaru's. "That boy…"

"Probably one of his experiments." Sasori answered. "He's not long for this world, if his chakra is any indication. It's getting weaker and weaker. He keeps them alive like this so he can study their Kekkei Genkais."

"There's something familiar about him." Kisame joined the conversation.

Jiraiya was surprised, "You know him?"

"I… I'm not sure…" The curious look on the blue man's face made the Sannin look closer at the boy who was now lifting snow up to his mouth and eating it, as if he had been deprived of food for weeks. The greedy way he stuffed the cold substance into his mouth was disheartening.

Sasuke's voice interrupted his thoughts, "Karin, what's wrong with Suigetsu?"

The red-head pushed her glasses up and responded uncertainly, "I… I'll check."

"He needs to drink some water." Kabuto pulled out a water bottle at threw it at the girl, who caught it in one hand. "I apologize for not giving it to him sooner."

Karin got mad, "He's been suspended in a water tank for months! Why the hell does he need to drink?"

Sasuke answered impatiently, "Please, just do it Karin."

Kisame spoke again, "Water tank?"

"Ring any bells?" Jiraiya asked quietly.

"Hmm… I wonder…"

X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

"Are you rested up?" Itachi asked after about ten minutes of watching Orochimaru laying on the ground, panting. "There is no way that Genjutsu could incapacitate you for this long."

The Sannin laughed as he stood up, "Right you are, young Itachi. But that was… an experience I would not like to experience again."

Sasuke interrupted, "This is your last chance to tell us where Danzou is."

The snake man laughed again as he crossed his arms across his chest, "I really have no idea where he is. I haven't even heard from him from since the coup. Nor have I any desire to look for him."

"Very well then." Itachi replied calmly. "You will now die."

Orochimaru signaled his people to move away from him and they moved back to stand against the cliff face. Itachi did the same, waving his hand to his companions. They took the hint and stepped back onto the road.

"I have always wanted your eyes, Itachi. And now that I have your brother's body, I don't need to keep you alive." The Sannin spoke confidently.

"You don't have my body." Sasuke grimaced at the thought as he moved to the opposite of the field from his brother. They now had Orochimaru between them.

"We'll see about that."

X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Oh no! A cliffhanger! Next week, the fight begins. One supersized snake against two Sharingans. What will happen next?

I didn't want the fight in this chapter because I want it to stand alone. I also don't want it to be over quick, like it was when Itachi killed him in the manga, so I want to spend some time on it and there are a couple arcs I want to review as well. The one where Yamato disguised himself as Sasori and Naruto fought Orochimaru, Sasuke's fight with him, as well as Itachi and Sasuke's battle.

Please review

Updates on Fridays