Itachi's Promise: Chapter Fifteen

Lying silently on his bed, Itachi glanced over the circle of the bed to Raiden and Tadao. The two boys lay side by side on the floor, wrapped in blankets. Itachi took a shallow breath in and looked down at the expressions consuming the boys' faces, the expressions of pain and sorrow. It reminded Itachi of how he felt when he thought he had lost Sakura.

"Itachi," Kisame whispered from the window, Itachi carefully stood from his bed and walked to the window climbing out.

'I didn't see you much today," Itachi told Kisame, when they were far enough always not to be heard.

"I know, but it's the way things went," Kisame said.

"Kisame…" Itachi began, cutting off because of a moment he saw in the forest behind Kisame.

Kisame looked behind himself, into the forest and was pushed down into the ground by a strong force. Itachi leapt from his spot and ran back towards the house with all his speed; something hot on his heels as he heard his feet beat into the ground as he ran. About to slam his foot into the ground, Itachi felt a strong arm grab him and pull him backwards towards where Kisame was. Itachi opened his mouth to cry out, when a large hand covered his hand and pulled Itachi strongly back into the person's body. Pulling against the strong arms, Itachi tried to scream, tried to get a message to Kisame. Tears fell down his face, as he was pulled deeper and deeper into the forest.

"Itachi!" Kisame called, as he threw yet another ninja into a tree.

Kisame waited for his name to be called, before he pulled his sword from his back and swung into round in the air around him. Slicing into the un-expecting ninja and knocking him back at the same time.

"Itachi, hold on," Kisame whispered, disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

Running after the ninja, he could just sense Itachi's weak chakra signal. He sped up his pace and spoke into his ring trying to get in contract with any other of the Akatsuki.

"Akatsuki, I need immediate assistance," Kisame yelled into his ring.

Far ahead Itachi struggled in his capture's grip; he scratched at his capture's back and bit into his shoulder, as he continued to run without slowing down or flinching at what Itachi was doing. From not too far away from where Kisame was following Itachi's chakra signal Madara and Pein were racing towards where the where Kisame was, following his chakra signal.

"Madara, I thought Kisame was capable of protecting him," Pein said.

"He is, but we still need to make sure Itachi is returned home safety," Madara replied, picking up the pace and speeding forward with Pein following behind.

"Are we almost there?" One of the ninjas asked the man carrying Itachi.

"Yes, Orochimaru said he would meet us just over the hill," The ninja carrying Itachi said.

Itachi kicked out as hard as he could, no way was he going to be given to Orochimaru. Not today, not ever.

"Kisame, where is he?" Madara asked, finally crossing paths with Kisame and jumping into sync as they ran.

"That way," Kisame told Madara, pointing ahead and glancing at his leader for a second.

Madara sped off into the distance, Pein following slightly slower behind Madara as Kisame tried to keep up with the two faster ninja. Madara after a minute or two could sense Itachi's chakra as it flared and headed straight towards it.

"We have a ninja closing in on us fast," The ninja holding Itachi said, Itachi wanted smile if it wasn't for the fact that he was still stuck in the clutches of enemy ninja.

"Let him go," Madara ordered, pulling three kunai from his pouch and throwing them at the three ninja standing around the one holding Itachi.

Each kunai flew through the air with amazing speed and each hit their targets, pinning each of the three ninja to trees by their windpipes. Itachi looked up at Madara and smiled glad he was here, Madara looked at Itachi and then the last ninja standing.

"Put the boy down," Madara ordered, the ninja shook his head.

"Are you really going to anger the akatsuki leader?" Pein asked, from behind the ninja.

"…" The ninja didn't answer the question just set Itachi on the branch in front of him and stepped away.

Almost as soon the man had released him from his grip Itachi pushed off from the branch and landed in front of Madara in a crouching position. Kisame jumped through the trees and swung his sword right through the ninja's body and then watched it fell from the trees to the forest floor.

"Itachi…" Kisame began.

"I'm good," Itachi answered, still watching the man's body on the forest floor.

"Itachi, look away," Kisame ordered, Itachi did as he told and looked up at Kisame with a small smile on his face.

"Kisame, I'm tired," Itachi said, his eyes slowly shutting as he leaned back against Madara's leg.

"From one extreme to the other," Madara said, leaning down and pulling Itachi's much smaller body into his arms.

"You are going to do me proud, my little descendant," Madara whispered.

To Be Continue