Surprise! I actually started writing this much sooner than expected (should have been studying). So here is the next chapter. This battle should take place over the next few chapters since...well...you'll see. :P

"He draws closer." a male voice chimed in over the radio. She knew exactly where he was and he knew she was there. She also knew the second he sent Itachi out ahead of the rest to scout. What he didn't know, what how much her skills had grown since they had last fought. Madara had been there the night of the massacre. He knew she could have stopped him and delayed her. At the time, she knew little about optimizing the abilities of her fox heritage and they had come to a draw. She had been in Kohona to learn about her eyes and with her training complete, her departure was immanent. The Uchihas never wished for her to leave, she was valuable and to prevent her leave, they had decided to hasten their time line. They're previous plan had been to get Itachi into the Hokage position and they were working on procuring marriage between the Fire Daimyo's and one of the elder's granddaughters. Then they were going to dis-ban the council. It would have been a very easy take over, but they wanted more. They wanted her bloodlines. It was no secret that her offspring would be powerful. All the fox were; they were the strongest of the tailed beasts. They wanted to harness her as breeding stock. She knew this and knew she had to leave regardless. She had known she would move to Kaiten as soon as her training was complete. She knew the day they elected her hime.

The Uchihas weren't the only ones who wanted her. Madara was a sick man. He wished to use her to produce his offspring and she would never allow that. Danzo even wanted her, but his reasons were more scientific. He wished to inject her blood into his root members with the desire to create a stronger force to assist his take over of the village. Orochimaru had even chased her at one point. She never gave him the chance to explain why and from what he had produced, she was glad to not know.

They had all known this day would come. She could feel Danzo's chakara growing closer, he may have been forced to agree not to search our her village, but he never agreed not to hunt her when she was out. The snake was near by as well. He would not attack though. He would observe her now and then prepare accordingly before making his move. This would be a battle royal.

Itachi could feel the chakras around him and did not understand why Madara sent him out in front like this. Did he not know that there were three different teams ready to pounce? But those words haunted him, "It will all make sense soon enough." He recognized two of the parties, but the third, he was only familiar enough with to acknowledge bijuu chakara. They were attacking his past home and he hadn't heard of any unrest and wasn't Orochimaru supposed to be dead. Well, he couldn't say that. After all, he'd already died twice. "Ari," a familiar voice rang, making him still.

"Hai, Hime-sama," a softer voice replied, before he was joined on the forest floor by two red headed girls. One had her back to him with her eyes closed. No one spoke or moved as they sensed Madara race closer, followed by the few remaining Akatsuki. He could tell she was waiting, but was shocked that she would wait. He was joined a moment later by the elder Uchiha.

The girl sighed, "So you finally decided to act?" she questioned, still not facing the pair.

A grin crept onto the male's face and seemed extremely out of place. "You haven't disappointed me child. You even brought some other toys. Are you planning to surrender? We both know how this ends," he drawled as he eyed the girl that faced him. She was blindfolded and for good reason. "Ari-san, you're not even the fighting type."

The short haired girl rolled her shoulders as she turned, "No, she's not. But you and I have had this date scheduled for many years now. I believe it's finally time to discuss our relationship my dear uncle Madara." Her eyes were closed, but she had no blindfold. "I apologize Itachi-san, but you leave me no choice," She looked so familiar, but he couldn't remember. Then her eyes opened, revealing brilliant scarlet orbs with large black slits in their center. It all came rushing back, he knew her. His eyes rolled back as he dropped to the ground as the world turned black.

The battle had begun before Itachi had even hit the ground. Silver's eyes flickered into a brilliant white with black tomos as she lunged. Her claws extended as her hands glowed. The snarl that left her told her relative just how serious she was. Her first attack phased right through him, but she smirked as a wall of chakra sent him flying away from the younger Uchiha. She made one seal before vanishing. A clone appeared next to Ari, "Do what you must, I will protect you." Her cousin nodded before setting to work on the Uchiha, much rested on her shoulders.

The hime had no interest in showing her best moves first. She knew how he fought and knew she just had to keep him from Ari for a few minutes, then she could go on the offensive. If he thought she would beat him, he would flee. The Uchiha slowly rose to his feet. "Unexpected. You have improved," he praised, "but not enough." Sharingan blazing, he waited for her charge. It didn't take long before she raced towards him. She sent a punch towards his face that he easily caught, then she twisted her body to slam her leg into his head. When he phased to avoid the hit, her hand slipped free and she dropped to a hand stand before feeling her other foot connect with his gut. He grunted as he stumbled back slightly.

"You should know better than to take on a fox in Taijutsu," she mocked, grinning with a hand on her hip, "You'll never convince me with such simplistic moves." His expression grew dark and the red head gulped nervously. Regardless of her current skill, a ticked off Uchiha was never good.

"Perhaps you would like to go somewhere that we won't harm either of our teams to complete this fight," it wasn't a question and she could merely nod. It was fine though. Ari would have plenty of time to work on Itachi and the rest of her team would keep the others at bay until she was finished.

"Alright fish boy, you're mine," the male stated as he dropped down in front of the blue skinned male and withdrew his katana.

Kisame gave a grin to the man, "You wanna dance kid?"

The other male laughed, "I'm a couple hundred years too old for dancing. How about a duel instead?"

The swordsman of the mist raised a brow, "You sure old timer? You might break your back."

"I'd be more worried about you kid," with that said, Kisame lunged at the green eyed male, bringing his blade down towards his opponent's head. The other easily blocked the attack and Samehada retreated after feeling the potent chakra of the other. "As I said kid, I'd be more worried about you," the man grinned before withdrawing another katana and tossing to the criminal, "I would rather we continue our swordsmanship contest and I don't believe your blade wishes to be near me."

"Never thought someone so old would be the one to give me a fight I could appreciate," he stated thoughtfully as he rested Samehada against a tree before pulling the katana out, "I'm excited by the prospect. Kisame, one of the seven swordsmen and who might you be?"

The man smiled, fangs showing, "Finally, some manners. Takeshi, Shinobi No Mono squad 3 leader, personal guard and sensei of the hime of Kaiten, it will be a pleasure to duel you Kisame. I'm just glad that the hime has taken your sharingan wielding friends away so we have this opportunity." The shark man grinned his agreement before they charged to initiate their duel.

"Konan of the Akatsuki, you must be stopped here," a girl stated to the blue haired female before dropping out the trees above. She had long, brown hair and bright gold eyes which matched wonderfully with her dark green Chinese style dress. The paper wielder said nothing as they stared at each other before she began to break apart and tried to fly away once dispersed. "It will not be that easy," the girl warned, before the paper reached a certain point and began to be burned immediately. Konan retreated back to the ground and reassembled to glare at the girl. "This is your opportunity to surrender to me. I am Mihi Kaiju of the village of Kaiten and I have the skills to defeat you swiftly should you wish to fight me."

Sasori was simply continuing along. He wasn't certain if he was happy to be alive again or not. Regardless, he still hated being late and it was approaching dawn. They would be late in their attack of Kohana at this rate. He drew to a stop when faced with a long haired blond. She was thin and had some of the most brilliant green orbs he had ever seen. She looked like a doll with the smooth facial lines and thin frame covered by a pale green dress that looked more ceremonial than battle ready. He wanted nothing more than to turn her into a puppet and preserve the beauty of art before him. "I am in a hurry, but you will be preserved a living puppet. Come quietly." Her lids slowly closed and reopened over her green eyes.

"That will not be an option and I'm afraid that your plans have been delayed as the rest of your team is a bit preoccupied," her delicate voice sang to him softly, "Perhaps you would rather stay here and play with me." That had to be the most enticing offer he had heard in awhile. Her delicate features would be a perfect addition to his collection and she could be employed in a variety of new ways. It was settled then, he would be late for the attack.

Deidara flew over the village hidden in the leaves. The sun was rising, they were late. Even Sasori was late and that was unheard of, "Where is everyone?" he yelled from atop his clay bird, foolishly drawing attention to himself.

"Hokage-sama!" an ANBU ran in.

She sighed, "Heighten security, evacuate the civilians, but do not attack unless they attack first. Am I clear?"

"But!" he protested.

"So help me, if anyone attacks first of this side, I will personally beat them to a pulp!" the slug princess screamed at the poor man who nodded before vanishing. "Shizune! I need sake!" she yelled at her assistant who quickly entered with some, knowing better than to do otherwise at a time like this.

"Fox-san! I can do this myself. I don't need a babysitter," the young man huffed to his elder as they approached the duo.

"We have our orders Takai. So you better shape up," the threatening tone was enough for the younger as they entered a clearing with Hidan and Kakazu. "You get money bags and I get the one you don't take home to mother," Fox stated with a grin causing the black haired boy to burst out laughing.

"Oi! You're just asking to be sacrificed! Allow me to assist!" the offended man yelled before throwing his scythe at the pair.

Kakazu just stared blankly, "If there's no bounty attached, I'm not interested," he stated to the pair before continue on only to be blocked by Takai. "You should leave before I change my mind," he warned, only to have the boy throw a kunai at him. "Fine," Kakazu relented before tossing his hat aside in preparation of the battle.

Well, there you go. Chapter 9. I'll be writing more soon. Just have to figure out which battle to start with.

~KK