Declaimer: I own nothing in this fanfic, but my created characters they abilities and Jutsu and that is about all I own "Goes to corner and starts crying"
Writing: Italic: thought, Bold: Bijuu or summoning speaking.
"Pride without honor is arrogance, and the arrogant are easily beaten." by J. Hellscythe
"It's not a sense of justice. Protecting my friends, and finding my own path is how I live life. If you measured good and evil deeds by current laws, I would be responsible for many crimes. The same way you like to hone your skills and live your own lives, for me too it's simply prolonging something I enjoy doing. That's why I only fight those that pique my interest; it's not justice at all. And if it means being able to protect a friend or becoming stronger, I don't and will not play fair. I'm a dishonest, cheating human being who hates losing." - Unknown
After arriving at Suna, Naruto waited for his team to catch up. Temari and Kankuro got the guard to let them through as their father was on his way, but was being treated in Konoha. Stepping into the village the destruction was evident, buildings gone and bodies being buried. Everything was fine as Temari escorted the Konoha group where the arm was being preserved; that was until Kakashi dodged a kunai that was thrown at his face. "Die," an elderly lady screamed as she jumped from the rooftops, but before she could continue; Suigetsu wrapped himself around the woman's waist to keep her from advancing. "You will pay for what you have done, Shiroi Kiba (White Fang)!"
Kakashi's eye realized what she was raving about. "Sorry, but you are mistaking me for my father," Kakashi stated calmly. The old lady calmed down at that and looked at Kakashi with narrowed eyes.
"Come to think of it you are younger then what you should be,'' As the lady calmed down, Suigetsu released his grip. After talking to the lady for a few more minutes, the Konoha group learned her name was, Chiyo. She was a puppet master and a retired counselor. Before anyone could ask why she attacked Kakashi, Naruto started walking away.
"We're wasting time," Naruto stated as he walked up to Temari. "Where is the arm, I'll bring it here."
"You mean this arm," Chiyo chirped as she pulled out a scroll. Unraveling the scroll, a giant mass of smoke appeared. As it cleared, Deidara's arm was laying on the ground in the middle of everyone. "I thought time was top priority, so I brought it to you." Kakashi nodded his head, as he summoned his ninja hound. Looking at the brown pug, Naruto chuckled slightly.
"A tiny little thing," Naruto voiced.
"Hey, watch who you call tiny," the pug barked.
"Oh, you can talk as well," Naruto didn't seem bothered by this, in fact he seemed thrilled. "Great, what is his name, Kakashi?"
"Pakkun, we need you to track somebody," Kakashi pointed to the arm.
"How long ago was the trail left, Kakashi?"
"Three days ago."
Walking up to the arm, Pakkun gave the appendage a sniff. After a while of sniffing, Pakkun backed away and gave the sky and ground a sniff. "It's very faint, but its still there," The ninja hound said as it stared at Kakashi. Before Kakashi could go further, Naruto placed the hound on his head.
"I hope your fast on tracking," Naruto dug his foot into the ground. Pakkun looked down at the blonde, but realized he was about to dash.
"Naruto, we don't have-," Kakashi was interrupted when, sand swirled around him. Looking off, Kakashi could see Naruto was moving slower, but was still running like he was on fire. "He's going to get himself killed."
"He really is determined to help Gaara," Chiyo stated solemnly. "May I ask why?"
"He's a Jinchuriki like Gaara," Kakashi answered as he raced after Naruto. Hearing several footsteps behind, Kakashi turned and saw not only was his team following him, but so was Chiyo.
"I have a personal issue to deal with and I am coming with you," Chiyo determinedly stated.
"Kakashi, how are we suppose too follow, Naruto," Sakura asked, but Kakashi only pointed to something glinting in the sun.
"He left us a trail," Kakashi's words finished just as they passed a kunai sticking out of the ground. "Please, Naruto slow down."
XXX
After a few more hours of running, the group finally caught up with the blonde, but only because he had stopped in a field. The reason for him stopping became apparent; Itachi was standing directly in front of him. "I'm sorry, but this is as far as you go," Itachi's Sharingan narrowed at the group, but more at the Jinchuriki. "Except for you, Naruto, you are coming with me."
"Naruto we need to think of a-," Kakashi didn't finish as Naruto placed Pakkun on the ground.
"I'll tell you want we need to do," Naruto stated as he cracked is knuckles. "Beat this fake's ass and continue on our way!" Itachi's eyes narrowed, but Naruto just laughed. "Oh, please I can smell a clone a mile away or better yet." Naruto's form was enveloped in Kurama's chakra. "I can sense a clone a mile away."
"It doesn't matter, you will still lose," Itachi assured, but stepped back when Kurama's chakra erupted, peeling back the earth around the Jinchuriki. "He got stronger." Easing back Kurama's chakra, Naruto just grinned at the Uchiha.
"You still think you can beat me."
"That arrogance will be your downfall."
"What you think that I'm going to attack alone," Naruto smirked. Itachi's eyes widened as he heard the ground cracking underneath him. Jumping back the Uchiha barely avoided the Raikiri of Kakashi's. "Oh, and I'm a lot faster then you." Itachi turned as Naruto delivered a chakra infused punch that sent the clone backwards back to Kakashi. Kicking off from the ground, Itachi spun behind Kakashi, dodging the lightning infused hand. Feeling the heat behind him, Kakashi ducked under a fireball aimed for his head. Just then, a chakra hand erupted out of the ground and grabbed the Uchiha. "Let's see how durable of a clone you really are." Naruto grinned as he swung his arm up before bringing it down. Before Itachi's form could hit the ground, he just dissolved into a flock of crows.
"You will have to try better then that," Itachi stated from behind Naruto. Turning towards the voice, Itachi found that Naruto wasn't worried that he hadn't caught Itachi; in fact he seemed pleased.
"I guess a little more power is in order," Naruto stated as he slammed his hands together. "Kurama, let's show this fake what we think of him." Naruto's body was once again surrounded by the blazing chakra, but this time a single tail was swinging behind him. The ground cracked around, Naruto as he stared at Itachi.
"You are trying so hard to scare me, but in reality you are just proving how immature you are," Itachi stated with the same emotionless voice as before, but Naruto just chuckled.
"That's good," Naruto voiced as Kurama's chakra started to form a second tail. "That only means this will be over faster then I thought." After saying this, Naruto vanished, before appearing behind Itachi. Everyone watched as the Uchiha dodged the blur of Naruto's fist; even Naruto looked shocked by this.
"Just because you got faster, doesn't mean you can fool my eyes," Itachi turned and stared at Naruto with his Mangekyo Sharingan. "I wonder how strong you actually have become, Uzumaki?" Kicking back, Itachi caught Naruto with a kick to the stomach, but this only pushed the boy back a few feet. Quickly spinning himself around, Itachi took a deep breath, before releasing a wave of fire. Standing his ground, Naruto allowed the flames to engulf his chakra shielded body.
"Do you really think this would hurt me," Naruto asked in a questioning manner, but got his answer in with Itachi appearing next to him.
"No, but this should," Itachi stated as he opened his right eye. "Amaterasu." Black flames consumed, Naruto, leaving the boy in a void of black. Closing his eye, Itachi turned to leave the boy to deal with the flames. "I'll burn you enough to carry you back half alive, but then we will strip you of that power." Hearing, Naruto's struggling; Itachi looked at him with nothing in his red eyes. "It's pointless to struggle; your friend Gaara learned that." At that one instant, everything went silent. Confused, Itachi couldn't even see the blonde through the flames, but he didn't need too. Releasing a roar, Kurama's chakra expanded pushing the Amaterasu off of the Jinchuriki. Seeing the wall of black flames coming his way, Itachi extinguished the fire, but it was clear Naruto didn't escape the flames without a scratch. He had some burns on his face and his clothing looked burnt too, but his eyes were the most disturbing thing; they didn't even look human anymore.
"Don't even try to run," Naruto warned as he walked towards the Uchiha. "You will only die slower." Seeing the danger, Itachi tried to jump back, but was stopped by someone placing their hand on his shoulder. "You're reaction is slower, is it because of that Jutsu you used?" Itachi turned around, but was immediately thrown across the ground. As Itachi began to recover, Naruto appeared in front of him; delivering a bone rattling knee to the man's stomach. Collapsing, Itachi coughed up some blood, before being grabbed by the throat and lifted off the ground.
"I can't keep the jutsu together anymore," Itachi thought as he felt the chakra he gave too the clone begin to disappear.
"Tell the real Itachi, I'm coming to retrieve Gaara, and if he is dead," Naruto left the threat hanging in the air as he released the body, but before anyone could do anything; one of Naruto's chakra tails ripped through, Itachi's chest. "I don't have time to play games."
Itachi managed to make a smile, before replying. "See you soon," With that Itachi's face began to dissolve until he was somebody else. Dropping the body, Naruto released Kurama's chakra, before staring at the new face.
"I know him," Chiyo stated, but Naruto turned and stared at her with a silted eye that glowed with pure power. To her credit, Chiyo didn't even flinch. "He was part of our council, but disappeared after Gaara was captured." Naruto stood up, before setting off towards Gaara's location, but was stopped by Kakashi.
"What was that," Kakashi asked sternly.
"What, killing him?"
"No, but you shouldn't have attacked by yourself," Kakashi scolded, but wasn't finished yet. "Kyubi's chakra, you sprouted two tails that time, Jiraiya has only said you were only able to sprout one tail."
"I wouldn't be much of a ninja if I couldn't train in secret would I," Naruto countered.
"You know that Tsunade has ordered that you are only to practice with that chakra with Jiraiya present," Kakashi stated. "How many can you bring out?"
"Only two," Naruto answered before walking away. "We need to head that way."
"How can you tell," Chiyo asked with curiosity as she sent a mechanical bird into the sky.
"A perk for being a Jinchuriki to Kurama is that I can sense negative emotions," Naruto answered.
"So Kurama is the Kyubi's real name," Chiyo asked, but only got a nod from the blonde. Moving out, Kakashi decided to inform Tsunade and Jiraiya of Naruto's secret training. Giving Pakkun the scroll containing the info, Kakashi dismissed the dog to go back to Konoha.
"So Naruto, but we can't allow an accident with Kyubi to happen," Kakashi thought with some sadness at this.
XXX
Coming across a cave with a boulder in front of it, Naruto stopped. "There," Naruto pointed to the obstruction and Kakashi noticed the tag on it.
"That is a barrier seal," Kakashi stated gaining the attention of everyone. "We need to spread out and locate the other tags keeping it together."
"You can do that, I'll be doing something faster," Naruto said as he walked across the water towards the boulder.
"Naruto they are expecting us," Kakashi stated with urgency in his voice. "There is no way to crack that barrier; especially since you fought someone under the guise of Itachi. He probably knows the strength you possess." Naruto ignored Kakashi and instead stood in front of the boulder. Letting out a breath, Naruto's form was consumed by Kurama's chakra as two tails sprung to life. Opening his hand, Naruto created a Rasengan with his own wind chakra in it.
"Futon: Rasengan," Pulling back his hand, Naruto plowed the spinning orb into the boulder, but everyone could see a layer of chakra keeping the orb from making contact. Growling, Naruto pushed some of Kurama's chakra into the orb. Kakashi watched as Naruto began to crack through the barrier, but from the force was also cracking the boulder at the same time. Releasing a primal roar, Naruto blasted not only the barrier, but also the boulder to pieces. Staring through the smoke and debris, Naruto could see the shock faces of both Deidara and Sasori staring at the boy, but who Naruto was looking at more was Gaara. The boy was suspended in the air by what appeared to be blue chakra coming from a giant statue.
"Stop him," Naruto heard some phantom figure state to Deidara and Sasori. "We still need some more time for the extraction to finish." Before Deidara and Sasori could move, Naruto was already in front of them. Creating two chakra arms, Naruto pinned the two towards the nearest wall.
"Don't move, I won't be long," Naruto growled as he looked back at Gaara. Hearing Kakashi and the others move in, Naruto threw the two Akatsuki members out of the cave. "Could you deal with them, I'll get Gaara out of here." Kakashi nodded his head as the group confronted the members.
"You can do nothing to save your friend," one of the phantoms said with a ripple like pattern on his eyes.
"Tell me are you the leader of this little group," Naruto asked as he created four chakra arms. Seeing the phantom nod, Naruto grinned. "Well, at least I know who to tear the limbs off of when I find you." Forcing the arms and his own through the blue energy, Naruto gritted his teeth as he felt some of his own chakra being siphoned off, but grabbing Gaara; Naruto felt his mind drift off.
XXX
Looking around, Naruto found Kurama standing behind him, but in front of him Gaara was sitting on a giant mound of sand shaking. "Gaara," Naruto yelled out catching the boy's attention.
"Naruto," Gaara stuttered out with half-closed eyes. "I'm glad I got to see you before I die."
"No one is dying," Naruto stated as he approached the boy, but was blocked by a wave of sand. "Shukaku, we are here to help!"
"Yeah right," Shukaku roared. "Why would a human and Kurama for all things come to help us."
"Because you are my brother," Kurama stated with such softness in his voice that caused Shukaku's sand to recoil in shock. "And Gaara is Naruto's friend." As Naruto began to walk towards, Gaara; Shukaku took his full form and advanced on his brother.
"Last time I talked to you, I wasn't worth bearing the name Bijuu," Shukaku roared at Kurama, but too his surprise, the great fox looked at the ground ashamed of himself.
"I was wrong," Kurama replied. "I was hurt by our father's death and I didn't want anyone to be near me. I lashed out and I hurt apologize for that, but you can't give up now." Shukaku looked at Kurama with surprise in his eyes, but then sadness.
"It's too late for that," Shukaku looked at his hand and saw being dissolved into nothing. "They are almost done taking my chakra."
"Then fight back," Naruto yelled as he held out his hand for Gaara to take. "We are not leaving without your two and that's it. Even if we have to drag your asses out of here, we will."Seeing his host gently accept Naruto's hand, Shukaku chuckled.
"I can see why you and Matatabi believe he is the one father spoke of," Shukaku turned and saw Kurama's tails wrapping around him. "You are serious."
"Damn right we are," Naruto stated as he placed Gaara on his back. "You don't come with us, none of us leave." Shukaku nodded his head, but still wasn't convinced.
XXX
Back in the real world, the Akatsuki apparition were in shock as Naruto began to pull Gaara out of the sealing zone, but most shockingly was that the sealing wasn't working anymore; almost as if something was blocking it. "Pein what the hell is happening," A woman spoke to the leader, but even he didn't have an answer. Growling, Naruto ripped Gaara out of the orb creating a shockwave that dug a crater below the two.
"Itachi, Kisame, head over there and capture them, now!"
Naruto looked up at the apparition of the Uchiha. "See you soon," Naruto mouthed as he picked the barely alive Gaara and ran out of the cave. Whistling to Kakashi, Naruto motioned that he had Gaara.
"Pull back," Kakashi shouted. As the group took off through the forest, Kakashi could see Naruto wasn't running as fast as he could be. "Naruto are you okay?"
"Yeah, but getting Gaara out of that orb took a lot more out of me then I thought," Naruto stated. Kakashi nodded and took Gaara off of the boy's back to allow him to move faster. Getting into a clearing, Naruto heard the attack before he saw it. Spinning backwards, Naruto narrowly dodged the bandaged blade of Samehada. Continuing forward, the group found themselves staring down the real Itachi.
"Where are you going," Kisame stated as he stared at Naruto. "We have some unfinished busy to attend too." At that point, Kisame turned his eyes on Haku and Suigetsu. "Oh, and if it isn't Zabuza's little orphaned pet." Kisame chuckled as Haku's clenched until blood was drawn.
Suigetsu stepped as he placed his hand on the storage seal holding Zabuza's blade. "That was a mistake," In an explosion, Suigetsu spun Zabuza's blade above his head, before slamming it in the ground. This only brought a toothy grin to Kisame's face. At that point, Sasori and Deidara arrived.
"Kakashi…"
"I know, Naruto," Kakashi answered as he gently placed Gaara on the ground. "We need to find a way to get out of here."
"No not that," Naruto stated as he stared at Kakashi. The blonde pointed to the sky, causing Kakashi to look up; receiving a shock. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Get down!" Kakashi grabbed Gaara and turned his back to Itachi. Confused, the Uchiha looked up just as the lightning bolt crashed down on him. Naruto didn't know whether to be happy or be even more on edge. On one hand a certain Hyuga was running out of the forest with what appeared to be a small army of Suna, but on the other hand; Sasuke was right behind her. The last time the two confronted one another, the boy was barely showing any signs of recovering from his own hatred and anger, but now he was here and Itachi was standing right in front of them.
"Naruto," Hinata yelled as she skidded to a stop as a giant bird of clay landed in front of her. Before the bird could explode, it was consumed in a wave of gold dust. Sakin was here and was leading the squad. From the faces, Naruto recognized Temari, Kankuro, and Baki.
"Oh, that's cute you brought an army," Kisame snickered as he looked at Sasori. "What do you have to say to that, puppet man?" Sasori skin cracked as something broke through revealing a young looking man.
"I think it's time, that Suna was reintroduced to its previous leader," Sasori stated with a smile as he stared at Chiyo. "Hello, Granny Chiyo; my, you got old."
"How," Chiyo managed to stutter. "You haven't aged a day."
"That will have to remain my little secret for now," pulling out a scroll, Sakin's eyes narrowed dangerously at the puppet user.
"You really have no shame," Sakin's gold dust swirled around him as he approached Sasori.
"Shame is for those who have no true passion," Sasori stated as he released his puppet. Everyone cringed at the sight of their greatest Kazekage being used as a common puppet.
"I feel sorry for you," was all Sakin said before iron clashed against gold. Sakura was about to rush forward when Kakashi grabbed her.
"We need you to act as our medic," Kakashi stated sternly. "We are facing some very dangerous opponents and we need to keep our people alive." Sakura nodded her head, before jumping back. "Now, Itachi why don't you come out of hiding, we all know that wasn't enough to kill you."
"What you call hiding, I call observing the opposition," Itachi stated as he appeared out of nowhere. "Hello, little brother." Naruto took a glance and saw Sasuke fighting every urge to rush at Itachi, but to the Uzumaki's surprise he didn't. "Interesting, I thought you would charge directly at me with every inch of hatred for what I did."
"He would if I wasn't here," Itachi's eyes widened in shock as he turned around and saw Mikoto standing in front of him, with a sad smile. Her Sharingan was active, but what got to Naruto were the tears gently falling down her face. "Hello, Itachi."
"Mother," for the first time, Itachi was showing emotion; it was a mixture of sadness and fear. "Please, leave if you don't I will be forced to finish what I started that night."
"I'm sorry, but you're the reason I came here," Mikoto stated still not moving. "Before we start fighting, I would like to ask for you to surrender and come to Konoha peacefully."
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that," Itachi answered solemnly.
"I know," Mikoto looked down at the ground, before looking back up. "I love you." Itachi jumped back as Kakashi erupted out of the ground aiming a punch at Itachi. Feeling someone place a firm grip on his shoulder, Itachi turned just as Naruto drove a Rasengan into his spine. Gritting his teeth, Itachi was shot forward only to be impaled by a lightning charged sword from Sasuke. Smiling, Itachi simply vanished into smoke.
"A clone," Sasuke growled, but Naruto only chuckled.
"Are you finished observing," Naruto asked as he looked up at the trees, seeing the real Itachi standing there. "When you fight one of us, you fight all five of us." Closing his eyes, Itachi opened them revealing his Mangekyo.
"Yes, observing is over," Itachi stated as he landed on the ground. "Now we see how strong you really are."
Okay, this took longer then expected, but I hope it was worth the wait. I was having some problem dealing with some writer's block and then my job started to wear me down even further, but I'm back. Also, I watched Hotel Transylvania and I loved it. If you guys could help get that its own section, I would love to make some Fanfics of that movie. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and see you soon.