I'm only Human

AN: Heeeeeey!! I know I know...it's been a bit...@~@ and I'm sorry about that I totally thought I'd be able to update a lost more and alot fast int he summer..HA..yeah..life decided to kick my ass...ANYWAY, here is the next chapter, and I do hope you enjoy and that i haven't lost anybody...you're comments and reviews really do make me SO happy.


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Spiraled eyes took in the land and the city, the rain pouring down around him. A frown was set upon his face.

“So…he’s walked into my hands instead,” his voice was flat and without emotion, his eyes still surveying the wet city. The men and women scurrying to get away from the downpour whilst others, more sensitive to the chakra that laced through the land, stood ready to face this unknown intruder to their land.

“You knew he would come,” a voice said behind him, he didn’t even glance at the woman and only shrugged.

“I only knew that he would be hard to catch, I did not think that Itachi, or Kisame no less, would let him get this far,” he responded lightly. The woman behind him made no sound but slowly moved forward.

“I will face him,” she said simply, but before her image began peeling away in fluttering notes of creamy paper Pein held up a hand stopping her before she could go.

“There is no need; I feel Itachi will dispose of him shortly,” Pein responded, “And the Beast within him will be ours.” Konan watched Pein briefly before returning her gaze to the water washed city.

“And what of Madara’s warning against Itachi?” she asked. “We should not take his counsel lightly,” she continued watching Pein intently. The pierced man finally took his eyes from the city and turned to her.

“Itachi would never dare defy a god,” his voice was hard and without question.

Konan regarded him, “I feel Madara is right though,” she said simply keeping her eyes on the other. Pein steadied his face and turned way.

“Then we will wait for them walk into our hands. If he fails to take the Nine-tails then he will be killed as well,” he responded his eyes returning to his city in which he ruled. Konan nodded finally in agreement.

“I will prepare then,” she said. Pein listened as the rustling of millions of slices of creamy paper peeled from her before disappearing all together and his angel was gone.

“Never defy a god,” he whispered, his fingers coming together his chakra thrumming dangerously within him.
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Sharingan eyes took in the burned path, a few bodies, in various degrees of carnage, were strewn over the wet ground, the rain washing the blood away. He stood after a few moments, glancing over his shoulder, Kisame stood with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His eyes then took in the woods that had began to spread out and give into the rocky lands at the base of the mountains.

“My brother is too close,” he said finally. Kisame’s beady eyes glanced back, taking in the lands behind them, his eyes scanning the thinning forest before he reached up and pulled the blade from his back, his sword sang at the thought of tasting blood.

“I’ll take care of it,” he said. Itachi turned his red and black gaze to his partner watching him carefully.

“Do not kill him,” he said finally before disappearing. Kisame grinned toothily and handled the blade easily turning his back as he partner disappeared,

“Of course,” he said. He’d leave the younger Uchiha within an inch of life.
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Seiko cried out in pain landing hard on the branch, a hand reached out into nothing for balance before he was suddenly yanked backwards by a firm hand, a panting Uchiha next to him.

“What is it?” he asked quickly. Seiko shook his head once, unable to speak for the moment as the pain raced up through him.

"He’s..he’s taken to three tails,” he rushed out before hurriedly standing even though his knees almost gave out. He was losing the bond, even though they got closer, Naruto was trying to break it off, the more demon he used the weaker he got. Sasuke grabbed his bicep in a firm grip.

“We don’t have much time. We have to get to him,” he said sharply, his sharingan fully activated to push him faster and stronger as he pulled Seiko with him. The replica pushed off with the other knowing they were almost out of time. Naruto was going to die… forever if they didn’t reach him. Seiko found the strength to use his own balance and legs again and pulled his arm from Sasuke’s grip, a steely resolve entering his mind as the forest started to sparse out. Seiko felt the first drops of rain above him and looked, heavy clouds had started forming as he pushed forward, Sasuke at his side.

They were reaching a clearing ahead, the trees parting, the rain falling heavier around them. Sasuke dropped to the ground as the trees gave way, steadying Seiko as he landed hard next to him. He looked forward, his eyes mere slits as he took in the land.

“Keep going forward,” Seiko said stepping ahead into the clearing. “We don’t have time to wait,” he continued with a soft hiss, looking back at Sasuke. Sasuke grabbed his arm his eyes still roving through the field.

“I know,” he replied.

He didn’t understand why he was hesitating, for some reason he felt something was waiting for them. Shaking his head once he pushed forward, heading into the rockier outcropping, the woods giving way to the more mountainous terrain. Seiko was right at his side, breathing raggedly but still moving ahead. He was weakening. Sasuke knew if they didn’t get to Naruto, if he didn’t stop him from this suicidal mission… he... would lose him forever. After everything that had happened, every day since they became genin, how much they pushed each other. How he ran, how he was dragged back by that same man. He was watched every step of the way, and everywhere he turned, Naruto was that solid rock that kept him moving. Now that his friend, his solid rock was slipping through his very fingers and if that happened he didn’t know what he would do.

“Sasuke...” The voice brought him back to reality; Seiko’s eyes… Naruto’s eyes searched his face, confusion lit across the whiskered features.

“There’s something up ahead,” Sasuke said hurriedly looking away from the other his eyes surveying the land before them.

“Then let’s face it,” Seiko said, his voice going hard. Sasuke took a sideways glance towards the soul, his heart almost stopping at see that look upon his face. Naruto’s look. He finally tore his attention away from the Soul and stepped forward into the field, reaching around and pulling his katana smoothly from its holder, and saw a flourish of the wooden staff that Seiko held. The rain started falling harder, soaking through their clothes completely. His eyes glared through the rain before widening as hard wave of water bared down on them both.

“Argh!” he snarled loudly, his katana singing as he cut through the wave of powerful water and glowered at the one that stood, his sword tall sword buried in the wet earth, that wide sharp-toothed grin on his face.

“Aye fishies,” he grunted, staring at them both from his relaxed position. Sasuke curled his lip.

“Move. Aside,” he hissed. Kisame raised his head and leaned on Samehada, the scaled sword practically thirsted to taste blood.

“I can’t do that,” he said smirking widely revealing the sharpened teeth again. Seiko pushed off from the ground bo staff drawn as he charged the tall rogue nin. Kisame pulled the sword from the ground in one smooth movement blocking the staff and before Sasuke could flinch the sword had swiped clean past Seiko, a scream wrenched from the Soul as chakra and skin alike was pulled from his body, blood dripping to the ground.

“In fact, it shouldn’t be long before Itachi captures the Jinchuuriki,” Kisame said as he picked the sword up not even looking at the bleeding Seiko, his beady black eyes on Sasuke.
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Kakashi clenched his fists staggering upward, his sharingan whirled wildly. The swirling red and black staring back in amusement, the man was crouched high on a branch staring down at them,

“I hope that isn’t all the famous copy cat ninja and great assassin have for me,” came the nin's voice as he stood slowly on the branch watching them. Kakashi wiped the blood from his mouth, his muscles all ached and he was fatigued beyond reason because of how much power was being used by his sharingan, but there was no other way. Sai was in worse condition then himself, even with his distance attacks, the creations that spilled from his ink and paper were no match for the other Sharingan user. There were only three who held a sharingan, Sasuke, Itachi and himself. This powerful Uchiha…it couldn’t be who he thought it was. He was dead. He’d been dead years…centuries.

Madara regarded them before turning away as if uninterested, disappearing from view. Kakashi’s eyes widened and he whipped around blocking a kunai, but just barely, the Akatsuki member leaning in close, the Sharingan spiraling.

“That Sharingan does not belong to you,” the cloaked nin hissed, disappearing just as Sai staggered to his face, the scroll already out, but before the ink could touched the paper, the Akatsuki nin ran the blade lightly up the throat.

“I think it will take only one of you to take message back for me,” he said. Kakashi’s eyes widened and he gritted his teeth together.

“We won’t be needing to take a message back,” he snarled disappearing, suddenly appearing behind the cloaked member jabbing deep at the lower back easily able to hit vitals. A short laugh erupted from the man and he dissipated from in front of Kakashi. The Hatake narrowed his eyes hurriedly helping Sai up who only nodded once that he was fine.

“He has the sharingan,” Sai said licking at his split lip his black eyes taking in their surroundings, his body tensing for another attack. Kakashi nodded briefly.

“It’s impossible… but yes, he does,” he replied, he turned and spotted the Akatsuki member on the branch, but it didn’t even seem he was interested in the fight; his eyes widened seeing a second figure meld from the tree and address the Akatsuki member for a short amount of time. The cloaked figure turned his attention to both of them.

“It seems I do not have time to play any longer,” he mocked loudly, then, “Konoha will fall,” he announced before he was gone from sight. Kakashi dropped to a knee closing the sharingan eye a hand covering that side of his face, the pain from using the powerful weapon running through his body. A bloodied hand landed on his shoulder.

“We need to stop him,” Sai said raggedly. Kakashi nodded pushing himself to his feet, ignoring the pain of the wounds and aches and the exhaustion from using the sharingan so heavily.

“He wasn’t even trying,” he said to Sai. “He could have killed us within moments…but he didn’t.” Sai glanced at him as they pushed up into the trees after the cloaked Akatsuki.

“It wasn’t out of mercy. You saw the other. He was waiting for a message. We were just something to do while he waited,” Sai responded angrily. Kakashi nodded in agreement.

“Something happened with Naruto,” he hissed.
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“It’s what I feared,” Madara spoke outloud, Zetsu melding in and out of the trees and foliage at his side.

“You know it is not your fault,” came the response. “I knew we should have eaten him when we had the chance,” was the sibilant response from black, the yellow eye darkening at the thought. Madara didn’t even glance at him.

“We still need him, but if he’s foolish enough to kill the Jinchuuriki and defy myself, then so be it,” he said to the cannibalistic shinobi.

“When we are patient, we get to taste flesh,” one side said logically. A hissing laugh came from the other. “We will taste our fill if the Jinchuuriki is killed… young flesh will taste good.”

Madara listened to the double conversation as he moved. It seemed Kisame had been with Itachi all along. Of course he was though; they had been partners for many years.

“Is he within the district?” he asked out loud. Zetsu turned his black and white face his direction.

“We left at seeing their change of plan, but we can only assume he is,” came the double reply.

Madara nodded once, “I want you to see what has gone on,” he ordered stiffly knowing the shinobi could practically be at two places at once if he wished. “And if Pein has gotten involved report straight back to me,” he continued.

A sadistic grin twisted across the black and white mouth, “Of course,” came the first response. “Lets go. I’m hungry,” was the second, and he was gone, like he was never there.

Madara nodded before easily flitting trough the trees, knowing that the two were on his trail but so far back they had no chance of catching up. He wouldn’t let the foolish Itachi unravel his perfect plan.

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TBC


AN: WOOT...wow...so much stuff going on...i wonder whats going to happen next! -flails- lol...yes the story is just as surprising for you guys as it is for me...XDD

ANYWAY onto the wonderful people who keep this story going! You guys always make my day!!


Sneakyfox: -tackle glomps- thank you!! Yeah..it had been a shorter chapter, but I did make this one a bit longer then normal cuz so much is happening! I couldn't just STOP at any one point, lol. And yeah...Naruto need his five minutes of fame or he'd go nine-tails on my ass...-looks around- hehe...thank you so much again! I hope you liked this chapter s well!!

synergy08:I really do try to make it very believable and i'm glad it is for you!! I hope Sasuke makes it there on time too...hmmm....

Sa-Chan: lol..I'm sorry!!! I know, i know...some one does need to help him! Sasuke getting there..oh wait...Kisame's in the way...damn! XD I know..Itachi's a sly weasel...I hope you liked the update!! I'm trying to keep everything still exciting as possible! And I'm also hopping for sasuke to reach naruto in time..I dunno with this new obstacle....Kisame won't be ease to beat...

BlooShadowFox: I'm SO glad you caught up!! And glad to hear from you, and happy you like it so far!!I updated so I hope you find me again and take a read!! Thank you so much for you review!!


Tiger Heart:This is a very Sasu/Naru fic, I assure...wow..I'm glad it feels that way for you! It really makes me happy for sure..OH! And I made this chapter longer! So thats good, right?? I don't like to drag things out, so thats one of the reasons the chapters are the length they are..and I didn't want to give to much away at once, lol. I'm always wondering what people are thinking when they read, I'm always really worried every time I post!!Thank you so much for your encouraging words and thoughts! I really really appreciate it and will take them to heart! Thanks again and I really hope you enjoyed it!!

daisheen: Thank you very much!! Actually the soul splitting idea came about with lots of failed attemtps of the plot...lol...and a lot of discussions with my muse! And lots of inner turmoil...-coughs-...lol..thank you very much, I definently hoped this Naruto would feel different but still the same Naruto that everyone knows and loves. I definently wanted to keep him in character for sure.

peeps: Thank you so much!! I'm trying not to give too much away, but keep the story going all at the same time..it's very hard let me tell you @~@, but yeah, I really hoped you enjoyed this!! You've been an amazing reviewer!! -hugs-


Well, thats all she wrote!! Reviews build the next chapter!!