Unanticipated Reunions and Alliances

Midknight Killer: Thanks! Yeah, decided Itachi should have more than clan rivalry behind his intense dislike.
Juri: Have no worries, Neji’s gonna have his day. Not today, but soon, like two chapters from now. I’m all for some level of equality in relationships, even ones that are a bit D/S. The dream sort of sets up that Sasuke’s got a bit of Sub side. I’m glad you like it. It’s still nowhere near over.

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Neji was careful when he slipped out of Sasuke’s bed. Sasuke squirmed, but didn’t wake up. It was pitch black, but he could see Sasuke with his Byakugan. Sasuke looked young and untroubled for once. He looked at him for a minute; he was very much aware this might be last time he saw Sasuke alone.

Neji dressed and quietly returned to his room. Suigetsu was up early and saw Neji sneaking into his room. Their eyes met; Neji’s gaze dared Suigetsu to say a word, but Suigetsu laughed quietly and moved on.

Later that morning, Suigetsu said nothing, but winked at Neji. Sasuke noticed Neji scowling at Suigetsu, but that wasn’t uncommon with Suigetsu’s personality.

The whole group wrapped themselves in the new white cloaks Kakashi and Itachi had bought, filled their pouches with weapons, and secured their scrolls carefully including small scrolls for rations. Shin assured them they would be waiting to care for them when they returned no matter how long it took. Sasuke thanked them with a deep bow.

They set out without Sasuke and Neji able to say a word to each other.

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Not knowing from which direction Madara would attack from—or if he would at all—the group spread out around the location of the summit. Sasuke, Itachi, and Kakashi summoned as many animals as they could to help cover the most area. Neji and Karin were positioned opposite each other. Kakashi stayed with Itachi and Juugo with Sasuke since they were in the most danger.

They waited throughout the night, all trying to nap as lightly as possible to detect anyone approaching. They all came fully awake the next morning as the Kage and their entourages approached. They suppressed their chakra as much as possible and they were all passed over. Kakashi had to hold Itachi down and do everything in his power to calm him as Danzo passed within a mile of them.

The biggest problem was Madara’s space-time jutsu. He could appear inside the building without passing the ring outside. Neji and Karin were focused more on the building than on their immediate surroundings. They both sensed it at the same time: Madara and Zetsu had appeared.

A surge of chakra reached the next person—or animal—in the circle to either side and they sent a wave of chakra of their own then surged forward. The hawks and ravens flew to their respective owners. The Uchiha made use of their incredible speed to make it there even before Neji and Karin. The brothers subdued every samurai with a light genjutsu and arrived at the hall as Madara was winding down his monologue on his plans to the Kage.

All attention turned to the brothers as they entered the room. The only name on any of their lips was Itachi’s. The rest of their group joined them.

All the Kage and their escorts recognized Kakashi, the copy ninja. The Mizukage gasped Suigetsu’s name, they all recognized a Byakugan user, Gaara knew Sakura and Shikamaru, so only Karen and Juugo were unknown to this group.

“Get the Kage out of here,” Sasuke barked.

No one moved.

“This is a powerful group of shinobi,” Gaara said. “We should leave this to them.”

The escorts forced their Kage out. Danzo was the only one to leave willingly. Itachi caught his eye as he rushed passed him. They would deal with Danzo after Madara. Gaara was the last one out.

“So Itachi-kun, who will you betray today? Your elder or your brother?” Madara asked.

A few eyes went to Itachi as if he might betray them, but Sasuke and Kakashi didn’t flinch.

Zetsu split in two and prepared to fight.

“Leave my clansmen to me,” Madara told him. “Take care of the others.” Madara extended a hand out to his side. The wall exploded, letting the cold wind enter the room. “This building is not large enough for an Uchiha battle.” Madara leapt out closely followed by the brothers, Kakashi, and Karen, who Sasuke had previously ordered to accompany him.

Neji watched the four Sharingan users leave the building. He was worried about Sasuke, but his mission was to deal with Zetsu. He turned his attention back to the black and white Zetsus.

Madara faced off with his clansmen and Kakashi out on the snowy plain not far from the Wolf’s Jaws. Itachi and Sasuke faced him and Kakashi stood back, flanking them both. Karen stood well behind Sasuke, watching him for instructions. Kakashi kept his eyes lowered to ovoid Madara’s gaze; the other two looked straight at the masked man.

Itachi’s body went rigid. Sasuke felt it and turned; Madara had chosen genjutsu to begin with. Sasuke turned back to see a fireball coming toward him. He dodged. He couldn’t go to Itachi to break him out of the genjutsu. Kakashi was distracted by another attack.

Neji jumped out of nowhere with his Air Palm and knocked chakra through Itachi’s body, knocking him out of Madara’s genjutsu and to his knees. Itachi’s head whipped around to look at Neji, but it wasn’t his normal death glare, it was amazement. His attention went back to Madara. Itachi had been able to fight the genjutsu enough not to be crippled by it.

Sasuke turned to Neji, “Thank you, but please stay back as support like Kakashi. This is family business.”

“I understand.” Neji fell back, but was ready to assist.

The brothers were more cautious about Madara’s eye after that. They threw everything they had at Madara, but every attack was either, dodged, blocked, or went right through him. Neji heard Sasuke snarl. Itachi locked eyes with Madara again. Sasuke sent Amaterasu at Madara while he was distracted by Itachi’s genjutsu, but he managed to dodge it, breaking the genjutsu.

“You did it?” Sasuke asked his brother.

“Briefly. He fought it and repelled me too quickly.”

“Neji, Kakashi, send clones to attack him. He can’t always be intangible. Karen, watch closely and time it.”

The pair obeyed, sending a line of shadow clones at Madara as Itachi used his impressive shuriken and kunai skills to either hit him or keep him in position to be hit by the clones. Sasuke and Karen watched carefully and timed the attacks.

But Madara was still insubstantial after two minutes. Sasuke unwrapped his arms to summon weapons, leaving the watching to Karen. He added to the fray so that the others could slow down and preserve their chakra and his brother’s cache of weapons. But Itachi ran out of weapons in another half minute. He couldn’t use any jutsu without hitting and dispelling the clones; he was left useless.

They approached five minutes. Sasuke ran out of weapons and was forced to switch to Chidori senbon which used up far more chakra. Finally, Madara solidified, dodged a senbon, and took out one of Neji’s clones.

“Five minutes!” Karen called out.

“That’s impossible to fight against,” Neji said as he dismissed his clones.

“Maybe for a Hyuuga,” Itachi said.

Neji scowled. “Why can’t you do the same thing as him, Uchiha?”

“Stop it,” Sasuke growled at both of them. “Itachi, opinions?” Sasuke sent a dozen senbon spread out to hit Madara no matter what unless he teleported or let them pass through him. Madara took the hit of one lightning senbon to the arm. He still couldn’t become intangible. They dodged Madara’s attacks. Another minute and Sasuke repeated it, they went through him.

“Look at me.” Sasuke was surprised enough by the comment to do it. He locked eyes with Itachi. Itachi used a genjutsu to speak with Sasuke silently within a moment.

The pair sped off to attack Madara on their own. Neji wanted to stop them, but remained silent. Both brothers created shadow clones as they rushed their clansman. It was a blur of motion as Itachi attacked from the front, unafraid of eye contact, confident he could withstand whatever Madara threw at him and in his own ability. Sasuke and his clones attacked from one side and the back, Itachi’s clones from the other side and above. Kakashi made quick hand signs, believing he knew what they were doing.

Attack after attack went through Madara. Kakashi’s clone came up through the ground in a small gap in the brother’s attacks. The attack lasted five minutes, and then Sasuke’s Chidori hit him and Itachi kicked Madara into the hillside. It was only at this point that Madara even attempted to dodge. The brothers pulled back.

“What did you do?” Neji asked.

“Itachi used a genjutsu to make Madara think he still had another minute left,” Sasuke explained.

“We won’t be able to do that again,” Itachi said.

“I got in a good hit with the Chidori. His left arm should be numb for an hour.”

“Your turn.”

“Defense. We have more chakra together. Let him expend some chakra.”

“Where’s your criticisms, Hyuuga?” Itachi asked.

“Sorry I have no other ideas,” Sasuke said as he leaped away. “And don’t bring Neji into this.”

“Brothers,” Kakashi grumbled.

Sasuke moved to Kakashi’s side. “Want to do me a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Use your Earth Style to hollow out the ground beneath us and provide some body sized holes down into the tunnels.”

“How many?”

“As many as you can.”

Kakashi vanished into the ground.

“What are you up to?” Madara wondered out loud. He vanished into the ground as well.

“Shit,” Sasuke said. “Karen!”

“I have it, Sasuke!” Neji had his Byakugan activated and attacked the ground, focusing his extraordinary chakra to burrow through the ground and hit Madara before he knew Neji was approaching.

“Well, there’s one opening,” Sasuke quipped.

“What are you planning?” Itachi asked.

“Foxes into the burrows.”

“Tsk.” Itachi slipped into one of the holes, Madara and Kakashi still underground.

Neji watched the movement below them as did Karin. Sasuke’s Sharingan could not penetrate the ground.

From below, they heard Kakashi call out to Itachi. Itachi shot out of the solid ground followed by Madara coming up through another patch of ground. Madara kicked Itachi out of the air. Kakashi came up further away. Sasuke unleashed Chidori Eiso at Madara as he landed. It went through him without damage. Itachi was slow to get up, the wind knocked out of him.

Sasuke moved over to one of the holes Kakashi made in the ground. Madara did too, planning to use them as a bolt hole as well. Sasuke attacked with every long distance jutsu he knew. It annoyed Madara to no end. Kakashi held back, trying to devise a plan. Neji obediently held back as well.

Madara used Amaterasu. It hit Sasuke square on. Neji screamed out Sasuke’s name. Itachi cried out and couldn’t stop himself from moving forward, but he knew better than to get too close to the flames. Karen seemed too shocked to scream.

Sasuke fell to his knees, suppressing his pain at first, but he cried out in excruciating pain. Itachi felt a deep chill. Kakashi knew it wouldn’t do any good, but he sent a wave of water with a jutsu to try and put out the black flames.

Then a surprise to all of them, but Karen, Sasuke shot out of the hole beneath Madara in his transformation using his most powerful Chidori. Madara was sent flying and hit the ground hard. Itachi, Kakashi, and Neji looked back at the burning body. It was melting into the hole in the ground.

“Orochimaru’s replacement technique,” Itachi said. He looked down at his arm which had a dark blotch on it from Sasuke’s curse seal. Sasuke was at least trying to protect Itachi from it. That was chill Itachi had felt.

Sasuke didn’t hesitate, he attacked Madara again, but he went through Madara’s body. Being against the ground, Madara had to jump away to get Sasuke out of his body before he could become solid again.

Sasuke let the transformation drop, made a pair of clones and attacked; they kept a blade inside Madara’s body the entire time, not allowing Madara to solidify.

“He can’t teleport,” Itachi said to Kakashi. “If he could he would now. He must become solid before he can use his time-space jutsu.”

Itachi rushed forward, summoned a sword, made two clones, and took over for Sasuke who pulled back as soon as Itachi was able to stab Madara’s insubstantial body. Itachi kept up the assault until Sasuke judged him to be tiring and he took over. For five minutes they tag teamed Madara until Madara could not help but turn solid with Itachi’s blade in abdomen. He just managed to use his time-space jutsu before Sasuke cut off his head.

Madara reappeared a few meters away clutching the wound through his liver. He glared at Itachi who had wounded him. Itachi realized what was about to happen and ran away from Sasuke, leading Madara’s gaze away from his brother and from his lover. Sasuke knew his brother would run from only one thing. He tried to distract Madara with a few attacks, but the ribs of Sasano sprang up to stop his attacks. Madara’s head turned to follow Itachi, but Itachi put on a burst of speed at the last moment, avoiding a blast of Amaterasu that lit the snowy ground beyond him on fire. But another blast caught the hem of Itachi’s cloak.

Madara collapsed, the skeleton of Sasano dissolving. No one would attack him as they watched helplessly as Itachi struggled to remove the cloak before it the black flames reached his flesh, running as he did to keep the hem flapping in the wind and away from his body. But he wasn’t fast enough and the flame touched his back. He cried out and fell to the ground.

Sasuke watched intently, in horror, willing the flames away. Please, please, not my brother! He felt his Sharingan morph into the Mangekyo and the flames on Itachi’s back and left leg died down. Sasuke felt a great pain in his head and clutched his head and his legs were shaking. He looked up to see the flames were gone. All eyes were on Sasuke except for Itachi who was in too much pain to fully comprehend what just happened.

“So, you can put out the black flames,” Madara said. He was surprised, but seemed to know it could be done. [author’s note]

As they watched, Sasano formed fully around Madara. Whereas Itachi was red and Sasuke’s a purplish blue, Madara’s was black. His carried a long vicious looking halberd.

Kakashi moved to Itachi’s side. He helped Itachi sit up while Madara was focused on Sasuke.

“What happened?” Itachi asked in a cracked voice.

“Sasuke was able to put out the flames. I don’t know how.”

“That’s impossible. Only the castor can stop them. They have to be sealed otherwise.”

“He did it though.”

Itachi looked around to see Madara’s black Sasano and Sasuke’s lighter one growing around his brother. Itachi shoved aside the pain with a stoicism Kakashi attributed to his Uchiha AB blood. Itachi’s own Sasano grow up around he and Kakashi.

The three non-Uchiha watched in awe as the three spectral giants fought. One of Sasuke’s arrows penetrated the figure, but missed Madara. They’re shields repelled all other attacks as well as the few tossed off by Neji and Kakashi. Itachi brought out his sword and tried to stab Madara through the spectral armor. They hammered at the warrior. Another arrow broke through; Madara was using his shield against Itachi’s sword, fearing it more than Sasuke’s arrows.

Itachi was weakened and starting to feel the strain on his chakra. Sasano faltered. Madara turned his full force on him. His halberd came down over Itachi’s weakened Sasano.

But Madara’s weapon impacted a shield of sand. Kakashi and Sasuke looked around and saw Gaara, flanked by his siblings, standing between them and the Wolf’s Jaws.

“Gaara,” Sasuke said.

“We can’t afford for you to lose this fight,” Gaara said. “And Naruto would never forgive me if I let any harm befall his friends.”

Gaara turned his attention to battering Madara’s Sasano. His siblings saved their chakra to protect their brother and Kazakage if it became necessary. Itachi’s Sasano regrew.

Madara’s chakra was resilient. At least he wasn’t as able to attack now. He was going to find an opening to kill at least Itachi, then bolt. They all realized time was running short.

“Sasuke!”

Sasuke looked at Itachi. Itachi pulled him into another genjutsu to speak with him.

“Let Orochimaru out.”

“Are you insane?!”

“Promise him Madara’s body, a true immortal. He just needs to help us batter down Sasano. He can have Madara’s body but admit we’ll attack him at that point. Just get him to help us batter down Madara’s defenses.”

“I’ve never tried to let him out before; I don’t know if I’ll be able to repress him.”

“Trust me, Sasuke, just do it.”

Sasuke nodded and Itachi released him. Not even a second had passed. Sasuke repeated the offer to Orochimaru.

Ku, ku, ku. Looks like you need me after all.

Sasuke cried out and the armor retreated from his Sasano, not able to maintain it at full power with the pain of Orochimaru tearing from his curse seal. He let the whole thing drop as Orochimaru’s hydra attacked.

Itachi called to the others. “Bombard Madara’s Sasano, but ignore the hydra!”

“Easier said than done,” Kakashi called back. “That thing is huge!”

Itachi’s Sasano moved close as he did and he battered at the black specter. Madara was still fending him off with his shield, but Orochimaru was making progress against him; the armor cracked. Sasuke rallied and used his Amaterasu as well, not having enough chakra to sustain Sasano anymore. The black Sasano was reduced to a skeleton.

Finally, Madara’s Sasano gave way. Itachi didn’t hesitate; he stabbed Madara with the Sword of Totsuka. Madara cursed him to the deepest depths of hell as he was sucked into the jug held by Itachi’s Sasano. Itachi smoothly swung the sword to pierce Orochimaru’s chest as he appeared in the mouth of one of the hydra’s heads. Orochimaru cursed Itachi for having possession of the sword he sought his entire life.

Sasuke collapsed as Orochimaru was ripped completely from his body taking his curse seal with him. Itachi also collapsed in pain and exhaustion once Orochimaru was sucked into the jug. The fight was over.

Karen rushed to Sasuke and Kakashi to Itachi.

“Hurry, we have to go after Danzo,” Itachi said as he sat up.

“Let Sakura wrap the burns first,” Kakashi said. “Neji, go get Sakura here now!”

Neji ran off.

“How is Sasuke?” Itachi asked.

Sasuke was still lying where he’d collapse, but he was breathing. “I don’t see any wounds,” Karen said. She offered Sasuke her arm, but he waved it away.

Neji and Sakura came quickly. Kakashi moved Itachi, ignoring his hissing, and held Itachi’s head in his lap. He comforted Itachi while Sakura applied the salves and bandages. He tried not to cry out, but couldn’t suppress several groans of pain. The burns were on the left side of his back and nearly all the way down his left leg. Itachi was exhausted by the time she was done.

Neji stood by, wanting to hold Sasuke as Kakashi was holding Itachi, but he was truly frightened to.

“Sasuke?” Itachi prompted when Sakura was done.

“I’m alive, nii-san.”

Itachi pulled himself across the ground to his brother with Kakashi’s help. “You’re the first person I’ve ever heard of who could control the black flames.” He lowered his head closer to Sasuke’s and brushed Sasuke’s hair back. “You have become more powerful than me. You’ve surpassed me, little brother.” He smiled down at him and Sasuke smiled broadly up at his brother, the one he sought to surpass most of his life, the one whose shadow he always sought to escape . . . That was more satisfying than any revenge to him now. He reached out to Itachi, but then a fresh wave of pain broke through Itachi’s control and he coiled up in pain.

“Nii-san!” Sasuke sat up and grabbed at him.

“We’ll have to leave him here with Sakura,” Kakashi said.

“No,” Itachi forced out through gritted teeth. “We have to go after Danzo. I have to come with you.”

“You’re in far too much pain,” Kakashi said. “Sakura can put you out for a while.”

“No. Sasuke, put me under a genjutsu to not feel the pain.”

“I have no chakra left,” Sasuke said. “I don’t have enough to walk up a tree trunk.”

“Neither of you are in any condition to face Danzo, even if he’s past his prime,” Kakashi argued. “We’ll find another opportunity to fight him.”

“No,” Itachi said. “We take care of him NOW.”

“We just need a little rest,” Sasuke said.

“Kakashi-san,” Neji said, “didn’t you teach him to open the inner gates?”

“I criticized Gai for teaching it to Lee, but I guess I should have taught you,” he said to Sasuke.

“I don’t have enough chakra to activate my Sharingan or I’d say teach me now.”

“I can open your first gate.”

Itachi, Kakashi, and Sasuke stared up at Neji. “You can force open the inner gates?” Itachi asked as evenly as he could.

“I’ve seen Gai-sensei and Lee do it; I think I can force it. It should flood your system with chakra.” He placed his hands on Sasuke’s body. “This is probably going to hurt. A lot.” He shot chakra into Sasuke’s body and Sasuke screamed. Itachi, out of brotherly impulse more than anything else, wanted to grab Neji and torture him for causing his little brother pain, but his body wouldn’t let him. He needn’t have tried. As soon as Sasuke stopped screaming and took a breath, he slugged Neji as hard as he could in the cheek, sending Neji flying several feet. He was aided by the power of opening the first gate. Gaara caught Neji with a pillow of sand. Sasuke sat there and concentrated on breathing. Neji returned cautiously.

“I did warn you it was going to hurt.”

“If you ever do that again, I will kill you.”

“You have chakra now?” Kakashi asked.

“Yeah.”

“Make me believe these burns are not causing me any pain,” Itachi said.

He caught Itachi’s eye and placed him under the simple genjutsu. Juugo and the others approached.

“We still need to rest, but you can rest easier and you won’t be hindered by painkillers.”

“I brought soldier pills,” Sakura said, offering them some of the truffle lookalikes. The brothers grimaced, but accepted the dirt clog looking pills.

“How is everyone else?” Sasuke asked.

“No serious injuries,” Juugo reported.

“That Zetsu guy wasn’t so tough,” Suigetsu said. “It didn’t take very long to take him.”

“We stayed away because of what we were seeing and feeling coming from here,” Juugo explained.

“That’s why you came to help us?” Sasuke asked Neji.

“No, I left immediately after you. I knew the others could handle Zetsu. I thought I would be of more use here.”

Sasuke smirked. “Kakashi, how are you?”

“I’m not injured, but I have little chakra left.” He accepted one of Sakura’s pills hesitantly.

“Take everyone but us,” Sasuke indicated he and his brother, “and Sakura to slow Danzo and his escort down. We’ll catch up soon and fight Danzo.”

“Be quick about it.” Kakashi motioned for everyone in their group to follow him.

“Karen, you and Kakashi will join us again. Neji, you and the others stay away.”

Neji and Karen nodded. Kakashi’s group took off over the snow covered ground.

“Are you wounded, Sasuke?” Sakura asked as she used her chakra to heal more of the damage to Itachi’s leg through the bandage.

“No, I’m fine, just tired.” He turned to Gaara. “Thank you for your help, Kazakage.”

“Your eyes have changed,” Gaara said.

“So have yours.”

“This is the brother you gave up so much to kill?”

“Yes. But I know now that I was wrong.”

“Have you returned to your village?”

“I’m not sure we’ll be welcome back. We will try to return.”

“Though we never really knew each other, I felt a kinship with you like the one I feel with Naruto. If Konoha does not accept you, Suna will shelter you. I know you’ve changed.”

“Thank you, Kazakage.”

“I should have said it before Kakashi left, but the other Kage do not trust Danzo and don’t recognize him as Hokage. The Jounin of Konoha have yet to vote on his election anyway. We’ve decided to acknowledge Kakashi as Hokage; he’s a powerful and wise shinobi we all know at least by reputation.”

“He’ll be thrilled,” Itachi mumbled sarcastically.

“I would help you further, but as Kazakage I cannot risk myself anymore than I have.”

“You shouldn’t have taken the risk you have,” Kankuro commented.

“Thank you, Gaara,” Sasuke said again. “I’ll let you know how things turn out.”

Gaara nodded and lead his siblings away.

“One down, Otouto,” Itachi said encouragingly.

“Ah. It’s almost over, nii-san. Almost.”

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Well, not the story. We’ve got several more chapters to go. And if you think the lemons have dried up, think again.

[author’s note] Madara is hit by Sasuke/Itachi’s Amaterasu and is fine a moment later. I assume he is able to put out the black flames as well. (fanfiction doesn’t let me use asterisks for some reason, so you get “[author’s note]” instead. Stupid fanfiction)
“Get the Kage out of here” sounds like a euphemism like “Let’s get the flock out of here.” (Lethal Weapon)
This took months of thought that went nowhere. But then I sat down and wrote it and it all came pouring out, it was Zen writing. I did have the manga and anime in front of me as I worked. So hard without really knowing how Madara fights. You really only have those fights with Konan and Minato. Not a whole lot to work with. Ended up taking about five hours to write with the research. Hope you enjoyed it. Now I’m dreading writing the Danzo fight, as I dreaded this one. Hopefully I’ll have the same break through I had this time!! However, I decided to wait until the anime does the Sasuke Danzo fight so I can better visualize everything. Won’t be too long now until the anime gets to that point.