Recap: Before round 3 can start, the genin have been given a 30 day period to hone their skills.

Age listings as of now

Itachi: 12.5

Naruto: 12

Sakura: 12

Sasuke: 18

Kakashi: An age

Pretty soon, I'll be making a spin off of this fanfic, I've been inspired to do something like Konoha high, but for now I can't think of the premises. Title to be named.

Chapter 13: Gaara vs Itachi Uchiha!

Flashback...

"With the skills and intelligence you posses, you could easily become Hokage."

"I honestly doubt they'll ever let an Uchiha become Hokage any time soon."

Itachi stood in the Third Hokage's office, pretty soon the Chūnin exams would start back up for the third and final phase. Hizuren folded his hands and got back to the topic. "Is this what you really want, Itachi? You'll have to wait a while before re-entering the exams."

"I couldn't care less about becoming a chūnin, the only thing I want is to ensure the safety of my team and the village."

"Understood. However, you'll be able to leave the exams only on one condition; you still fight all of your matches. I want every allied nation to know the strength of our shinobi."

"If that is what you wish then I accept your terms."

XxxxxXxxx

"HEY WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT FIGHT? WHERE'S THE UCHIHA?!"

After the last two fights were complete, the crowd was getting antsy for Itachi's fight, however, he still wasn't here yet. Temari jumped up into the stands where Gaara and Kankurō were waiting.

"Is time isn't?" Temari lifted her head. "Sure he's gonna come?"

"...he's coming." Gaara reassured. "Definitely."

OoO

Naruto scoured the arena for any sign of his friend. "Aw come on! What the hell's taking that idiot so long?!"

Shikamaru as well looked around. "Who knows? Maybe he got sick or something."

Out of nowhere, a single leaf blew past Naruto's face. "Huh, wha-" With one leaf came many other leaves and they spiraled into a vortex.

Soon after, the leaf vortex slowed down, reavealing two shinobi, one standing up while the other was crouching.

Naruto gawked at them in confusion. 'It's Kakashi but who's the other guy?'

"I apologize for missing your match, Naruto."

"...!" Naruto's face immediately lit up.

The shinobi who was crouching down slowly stood up. He grabbed his cat-like mask and pulled it off, exposing his face.

Genma bit down on his toothpick. "What is your name?"

"Uchiha Itachi."

OoO

Sakura and Ino both stared at the long awaited Itachi, Sakura gripped the railing, quickly figuring out the outfit he wore. 'Why is Itachi wearing...that?'

OoO

Kakashi relaxed his posture. "Sorry we're late."

Itachi's new outfit consisted of a black, short-sleeved high collar shirt covered by a light gray flak jacket. His arms now bear metal arm guards, while behind him was a sleek sword.

"I'm guessing...you won your match?"

"Yeah! You better believe I did!"

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head. "Well, we sure did show up flashy, but um, is Itachi disqualified?"

"Nah, don't worry. We pushed Itachi's fight to the end. He hasn't been disqualified."

"Whew, that's good, that's really good!"

Itachi had a fixated glare on the Kazekage. 'There is something off about hi-'

"Hey, Itachi." Naruto began walking back to the stand. "Don't lose to that guy! 'Cause I wanna fight you!"

"...Alright. I think it'll be interesting to fight you..."

"Yeah!"

The crowd got excited with the arrival of Itachi. "IT'S HIM! HE'S FINALLY HERE!"

"YEAH! THE UCHIHA FIGHT WILL FINALLY START!"

Shikamaru took a glance at Itachi as he too went back to the stands. 'I wonder what you have up your sleeve this time, Genjutsu? Hm, even I'm getting excited.'

OoO

"Hey...Sakura!"

"Yeah...?"

"Your team is pretty amazing! I mean, who knew Naruto could beat Neji and Itachi well, he just speaks for himself. Everyone's pretty pumped for Itachi's fight."

Lee stared at the ground, he clenched his crutches so hard his wounds re-opened. 'Itachi-kun gets to face Gaara of the sand...someone who I couldn't beat and Naruto-kun, he beat Neji, someone I could only dream of beating. Why...why does it...'

'...hurt so much?'

OoO

Temari watched Gaara's face elate. 'This isn't good...Gaara has that face on him again.'

"H-hey..." Kankurō spoke timidly. "...Uh Gaara, the plan you-" Temari smacked her hand over his mouth. "Don't talk to Gaara right now or he'll...kill you."

OoO

Itachi waited for Gaara to finally come down. 'How shall I approach Gaara? Hm...' At long last, Gaara walked up to Itachi and they stood face, their match could now begin.

OoO

Kakashi entered the stands where Sakura, along with Team Guy were waiting. "Hiya Guy, and how's your body, Lee-kun?"

"Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi began rubbing the back of his head, again. "Oh sorry, you must of been so worried since I didn't-"

"Sensei." Sakura suddenly said, she clasped onto the rails even harder. "Why is Itachi wearing an...ANBU uniform?"

His arm dropped down. "Actually, Itachi wanted to tell you all in person after the exams finish."

"...I...understand."

OoO

Genma lowered his arm down. "Let this match begin!"

"Mother...I'm sorry..." Sand slowly arose from Gaara's gourd.

'So it's true, the sand does move without a hand signal.'

"...I fed you some nasty blood earlier, but this time...it'll be delectable!"

The sand rushed towards Itachi, quickly he dodged the attacks while closely examining it. '...I've already come up with a strategy to beat him, but, I rather just use Genjutsu to quickly end this, however, the allied countries expect me to put on a show.'

Itachi ran towards Gaara, using his arms, he pushed himself into the air. "Water release: Black rain technique!"

Jet black mist expelled from Itachi's mouth and soon covered a large of the arena. "And next, Fire release: Great fire ball technique!" Just as the mist was condensing, a flame thrower spewed from his mouth.

Now, the arena got covered in wild flames.

Gaara looked unamused. 'Is that it? Just a couple of petty flames?' His sand slithered out of the gourd and cloaked the fire with his sand, putting out the flames.

Much to everyone's surprise, the sand itself caught on fire. "...!" 'What?! Wait, that oil from technique he used must of mixed with my sand...'

Itachi landed on the other side of the stadium, directly across from the flames. He nimbly dodged the incoming sand strikes and weaved hand signs to another jutsu. "Water release: Wild water wave!"

Water gushed from his mouth and crashed into the fire, the fire evaporated and coated the area in a thick layer of mist.

'I see, so this is your plan.' Gaara crossed his arms, while sand continuously blocked Itachi's attacks from behind. From all the repeated attacks, Gaara had already sensed Itachi. He gathered up his sand and formed it into a needle shape and it shot directly behind Gaara.

With the mist finally clearing up, Gaara turned around, he stared at Itachi's lifeless body. "Heh, looks like-"

*poof*

Turning out to be only a clone, Gaara felt an intense jab in his stomach. He flew into the air as pieces of his sand armor came falling down. With the sand was far too slow to be keeping up with Itachi, he landed another kick right in Gaara's back.

Itachi punched Gaara in the face and he smashed into the ground. Itachi swiftly grabbed Gaara and kneed him in the chest.

Everyone watched in shock, to them, Itachi looked like a black blur. Kankurō began to worry how far Itachi would push Gaara. "That sand armor takes up too much chakra, what'll he do now?"

Gaara stood up and did a hand seal, his sand circled around his body and started forming a sphere around.

Itachi stared at Gaara while the sand slowly encased him.

OoO

"What kind of training did you do?"

"Huh?"

Guy slightly turned his head to meet Kakashi's gaze. "Itachi's stamina and speed, I mean. I have never seen someone improve so much in such a short time."

"Well, I've realized Itachi's has very little stamina and, even though it doesn't look like from here, he's prone to just simply giving up."

"It was extremely hard work, but I believe he kept on going because of Lee-kun."

'...but that can't be all you taught him? Some work on stamina and speed isn't nearly enough to beat Gaara, there has to be something...else.'

OoO

Naruto and Shikamaru sat on the staircase when Naruto suddenly stood up. "Shikamaru, I'm finding Kakashi-sensei!"

"Huh? What're you gonna do, Naruto?"

With no time to talk, Naruto ran up the staircase in search of Kakashi. "Hey wait!" Shikamaru called out, but he kept on running.

'I have to stop...'

'This fight!'

XxxxxXxxx

Itachi pulled out some chakra charged kunai and threw them at the sand sphere.

*CLANG*

'Interesting...that's how hard it can get when it's packed tight, it's as if the sand itself is steel. This must be his...ultimate defense.'

OoO

Naruto and Shikamaru had finally reached Kakashi. "Sensei!" Naruto yelled.

"Hm?"

"Stop this fight right now! He's not like us! He's INSANE!" Naruto tightened his hands into a fist. "He doesn't just want to fight, he wants to kill!"

"Is that the amount of faith you have in Itachi?"

"..."

"Itachi's been holding back this entire time, what he's about to display from all that training, won't even be the extent of his power."

XxxxxXxxx

'This should break the defense and then I can...'

'...finish.'

Itachi ran up the arena wall, he held out his arm while a ball of electricity began forming. 'I've noticed the body language the sand siblings have been giving off ever since Gaara made that sphere, I can only wonder...'

OoO

"He must be using..." Guy quickly turned to Kakashi. "This is why you trained him so hard in stamina and speed, isn't it? Such abilities drain chakra fast."

"Yep!"

Itachi took off from the wall and sped towards the sand sphere.

'I'll start with the head first and rip it off.'

'Then crack I'll open so I can see the brains.'

'...huh? The head?'

'Yeah, blood will come out all over the place, you'll be so happy.'

'...mother.'

"WHAT IS HE DOIN'?!" Naruto yelled.

*chi*

*chi*

"What technique is that?!" Sakura shouted as well. "And that sound?!"

"It's a technique designed for assassination."

Naruto and Sakura turned their attention to Guy who spoke suddenly.

"In simpler terms, it's merely a stab, but the speed of said stab and the large amount of chakra that builds around it heightens the strength of the flesh. Because, of the user's speed and concentration of chakra in a particular area, it gives off a peculiar sound of chi, chi, chi sound. Like the sound of a thousand birds flying towards you. That's why the technique is called..."

OoO

Itachi reeled his arm back. "...Chidori!"

'Huh? What's this warm stuff?'

*drip*

'...mother-'

'Wait...it's...'

"AAHHHHHHHHH! IT'S MY BLOOD!"

Itachi tried pulling his arm out but it wouldn't let go. "...I see." Quickly, he pulled out the sword behind him and it sword began swirling with electrified chakra. With one hand, he stuck his sword inside the sphere to try and cut off whatever was grabbing him.

*BAM*

OoO

'WHAT?! HOW COULD HE SO EASILY BREAK GAARA'S DEFENSE?!'

'THE PLAN...HOW CAN WE GO ON?!'

OoO

Itachi flew back and landed hard on the ground, he looked at his arm and saw a sand like thing still attached. "...this arm..." 'Gaara must be the one-tail's jinchuriki, for him to have such a feature. So the sand must be...'

The sand sphere slowly crumbled as well as the claw attached to Itachi's arm. Once the sand sphere finally dissolved Gaara stumbled out while clenching the sword piece in his shoulder blade.

Itachi held out his arm and ran up the arena wall towards the kage seats. 'The kazekage must be planning to-' As he sped up the wall, white feathers began raining down, and the crowd began falling asleep one by one.

With the full chidori in hand, Itachi lifted his arm and tried to stab the Kazekage. However, before chidori could hit, the Kazekage dodged it and set off a summoning jutsu.

"Shall we finally begin the..."

"Operation."

Several large snakes towered Konohagakure, they started destroying the buildings and attacking people. Right before Itachi's eyes, the Kazekage snatched Hizuren and leaped onto the roof of a higher structure.

Itachi gripped what was left of his sword.

A white-cloaked ANBU stood in front of Itachi and stopped him from going anywhere. "Your orders are not to protect the Hokage." He pointed to the purple ninjutsu barrier that had formed already. "We have that settled."

"...If I can't serve my only purpose, then I'll do what's best and contain the one-tail jinchuriki."

XxxxxXxxx

As Kakashi and Guy fought off the sound-nin intruders, Naruto and Shikamaru had been placed under the effects of the genjutsu, Sakuramcrouched down and lit her fingertips with chakra. Her only goal in mind was to wake them up.

'Could this be our last missio-no...I'm just being paranoid!'

"GAHAHAH! What happened?!" Naruto yelled as soon as Sakura woke him.

"I'll explain later." She moved onto Shikamaru. "...wait a fuck...you didn't even fall under the Genjutsu."

Pakkun chomped Shikamaru's leg, waking him up. "Owww! Why'd you'd do that?!"

"You weren't even under the effects of the Genjutsu this whole time?! Why were you playing dead, huh?!"

"Because I didn't want to get attacked," Shikamaru peeled Pakkun off his leg. "Besides, Itachi's a big boy, he can take care of hims-"

Sakura's expression drastically darkened, she pumped out her fist and got ready to attack.

"Whoa! You don't have to get violent!"

"No..." Sakura stood up and whammed the sound-nin over Naruto's head. With one might punch, he was sent flying and crashed into the wall.

Sakura pinned the sound-nin to the wall, one hand holding him up, the other hand in a tightened fist that could go off at any moment. "I-I'm surprised, you're quite fast." He muttered.

"You'd be surprised that I'm also..." Sakura punched the sound-nin through the wall leaving a giant hole. "...quite strong as well."

"Wha?! Sakura how did you get so good?!" Naruto asked.

"Itachi trained me to become a better ninja, now I can finally protect you guys!"

Right on time, Kakashi appeared in front of them, he looked exhausted from all the fighting. "Now that you're all awake, your mission is to chase down Itachi and join him, then escape to a safe place, however, whether he'll join you or not is completely up to him. I no longer have any authority over Itachi."

"...wait what're you-"

Sakura grabbed Naruto and jumped through the hole she created. "I told you, I'll explain later."

"Whoa!"

Shikamaru followed them out of the hole. 'Why me?'

'Incredible, such fast improvements in only a month. Itachi's an even better teacher than...myself.'

XxxxxXxxx

Finally, Itachi caught the sand siblings in sight. The siblings paused on a tree limb. 'Damn! He caught up to us!'

'Gaara's chakra is nearly depleted, so I'll have to assume that his tailed beast will take over. That means my best bet is to use Mangeykō sharigan, and if my old team happens to come, then I leave everything to them. I didn't train Sakura for her to become fodder.'

"Temari, take Gaara." Kankurō set out his bandaged puppet. "I'll be your opponent, Itach-"

"No, you won't." Shino happened to be a few branches away from Itachi.

"So you've found me, did you. Tell me, why are you here?" Itachi asked.

"Why you ask?" He pointed at Itachi. "Before you left, I implanted some bugs on you. Female bugs to be exact."

"I see. That's why I felt such a weird sensation." 'Naruto was right about him all along. I've never felt so unpleasant for someone in my life.'

"Only males can trace the faint scent of female bugs, although they themselves have a stronger scent to them, anyways, long story short...Itachi Uchiha, you need to chase after Gaara since your match is still unrequited, and me?" He faced Kankurō. "I have to fight Kankurō anyways, so why not now?"

"Is that so?" Itachi smiled at him. "Then, I'm in your debt, Shino."

OoO

"Temari, put me down!" Temari stopped at the nearest branch and set Gaara down. 'I have no idea what I'm going to do, Gaara is at his near breaking point and...I can't handle that ...thing, no, not alone. That Itachi guy is almost on us and I'm not sure how long Kankurō can hold him back. That's guy stronger than he needs to be.' "Good, you're awake!"

"Go away! Now! Scram!"

"...huh-"

"I SAID GO!" Gaara pushed Temari away something in him was about to break.

Itachi finally caught up to Gaara just as he was having a break down. "Are you ready to...finish our match?"

Gaara's skin started bumbling as sand formed around it, he began slowly taking form into something completely different.

'COME ON! LET ME OUT! I WANT TO KILL THIS GUY SO BAD!'

"You can't be wasting time with such petty fights."

"...!" Itachi quickly turned around. "What?! Who are-"

Someone grabbed Itachi from behind. "You have a new mission now."

A/N: Update might be sooooooon, but might not