Unanticipated Reunions and Alliances

YES, IT’S FINALLY BEEN UPDATED!!!!
Sorry for the wait, but I was waiting on the anime to help guide me in the fight and then I got distracted by the news stories Black Swan, Hopelessly, Three Deadly Little Words, and Three Kunai. Sorry!
I was going to give you a longer chapter, but I decided that I’d end it at the end of the battle. It’s short, but you’ll now be getting more updates.

Everyone who has reviewed and asked for me to continue this story: Thank you!!! I never abandoned it, and I love you guys.
Midnight Killer: Itachi waltz in without knocking and see Sasuke dominating Neji . . . that wasn’t in the plan, but I’m liking it . . . Yeah, no all out Madara fight in the manga yet . . . Had to make it up from the two or three incident we do have. Tough. This fight, I had a little more material, but god it was hard.

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Itachi was favoring his burned leg despite the genjutsu and medical treatment, but he was able to keep up with Sasuke and Sakura. As they followed the obvious tracks of their teammates, they were suddenly attacked. By Suigetsu, Juugo, and Shikamaru. Sakura jumped away confused. The two Uchiha activated their Sharingans. The attackers’ chakra was the same as the real people.

“What the fuck?!” Itachi said as he dodged Suigetsu. Itachi scanned the area, expecting to see Neji, but these three were alone.

“Sakura, stay clear!” Sasuke shouted at her. He collected himself. Suigetsu had been friendly with Itachi ever since he agreed to help him find his swords, so the fact Suigetsu attacked Itachi made Sasuke confident that these three were not their comrades. But he smelled blood. He was worried about Kakashi, Neji, and Karen. Sasuke didn’t want to use too much chakra before they encountered Danzo, but he speared Suigetsu with his Chidori Eiso. The lightening spear was enough for the transformation to drop. Zetsu.

Sasuke whirled to attack the fake Juugo and tried to summon up his Curse Seal, but nothing happened. He forgot Itachi had sealed Orochimaru and the Curse Seal. He twisted away, but was able to cut of an arm.

Shikamaru went for Sakura. She was prepared, having seen that Suigetsu was not the real thing. She used his incredible strength to take him down. This Zetsu and the Juugo one who Itachi took out after Sasuke was forced to abort his intended attack, both of them remained in their stolen forms.

“I sure they’re not the real things,” Sasuke said when he saw Sakura’s doubts. “Juugo did not use his transformation, Suigetsu didn’t have a sword, and Shikamaru didn’t used his Shadow Sewing. Let’s hurry and find them.”

They set out again and found them. All six of their comrades were fighting Danzo’s men while Danzo stood by removing the seals from his right arms. Dead around them were other clones.

Kakashi whirled on them. Itachi put his hands. “It’s us, sempai.”

“I doubt those clones could fool Pakkun or Shiba,” Sasuke said. Kakashi nodded to them to say he believed them. “We ran into clones of Juugo, Suigetsu, and Shikamaru.”

“Yeah, we had a few as well,” Kakashi said. “Zetsu planted something on those three that grew into clones of himself. They drained their chakra and took off.”

“They’re dead,” Sasuke said.

Itachi was staring at Danzo.

“Sakura,” Sasuke said, “you stay with the others. Karin! You and Kakashi come with us!”

“Fu, Torune,” Danzo said, “stay here. I will take care of the Uchiha.”

Danzo leapt away and the Sharingan users and Karin followed him.

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Danzo stopped in a suitably large clearing. The last seal fell from his arm. Sasuke and Itachi landed in front with Kakashi behind them and Karin further back. Danzo slowly unwrapped his arm, unconcerned about facing two Mangekyo uses, a Sharingan user, and a fourth whose powers he didn’t know.

When the bandage fell away, all four were stunned, but none more so than the Uchiha. Danzo’s pale arm was covered in Sharingans. Karin was repulsed, but anger bubbled up in the brothers.

“Why do you have those eyes?” Itachi asked.

“I picked them up here and there, Itachi-kun. It’s a long story.”

Itachi narrowed his eyes, the Eternal Mangekyo blazing. He was sure some of those eyes were familiar.

“Knowing would just piss me off more,” Sasuke said, willing to throw the question away. But Itachi wouldn’t let it go.

“No! Where did you get them?”

“I think you know where I got most of them, Itachi-kun.”

Itachi was vibrating with rage. “You stole them that night, didn’t you?” he demanded.

“How could I let them go to waste?”

Kakashi grabbed the back of Itachi’s robe to stop him from attacking out of pure rage. “Don’t react out of anger, you’ll get yourself, and us, killed.”

Itachi tried to calm himself. Sasuke knew he was probably going to have lead; Itachi was still too incensed to think rationally. Sasuke signaled Kakashi to back off and Itachi to move to the side. Karin backed up without needing to be told.

Danzo followed them with his eyes. He made a hand sign and attacked Sasuke. Itachi flinched, but he could see Sasuke bring up Sasano to protect himself. Sasuke grabbed Danzo with Saaano’s hand. He may have shrugged off the origin of those eyes, but he was enraged too, he just had lived with it longer and was it more controlled.

“You surprise me, Itachi-kun,” Danzo said. Itachi’s fists clinched at the familiar and demeaning way Danzo addressed him. “You told him everything didn’t you? I didn’t think you were the type to betray Konoha.”

The hand clinched and destroyed Danzo completely.

“Shut the fuck up,” Sasuke said as the blood dripped down the ruined body in Sasano‘s grip. Sasuke stepped back, a little disconcerted by how easy it had been.

“Very well, then.”

They all turned except Sasuke who merely turned his head.

“Shall we instead fight with our eyes?” Danzo was coming up behind Sasuke.

Itachi didn’t hesitate to throw six shuriken at Danzo, but it didn’t even slow him. Danzo was armed with a kunai and was aiming for Sasuke’s back. The kunai broke against the spectral warrior. Sasano punched him into the ground, but Danzo reappeared nearby.

Karin tried to analyze, but there was only one source of chakra. Sasuke jumped back as Itachi released Amaterasu. But every time Danzo should be dead or seriously maimed, he would reappeared somewhere else, completely unharmed. Karin saw the eyes closing on Danzo’s arm.

Itachi slid to a stop near her after an attack and she whispered this to him. Itachi looked at the arm carefully and half of the eyes were shut.

“Izanagi? That’s forbidden among the Uchiha.”

Then running out of Sharingan’s to burn, Danzo was forced to use wood element to defend himself from a joint attack from Sasuke and Kakashi.

“That son of a bitch,” Sasuke said. “Orochimaru.”

“What?” Kakashi asked.

“I’ve seen something like that before.”

“So have I,” Karin said. “Orochimaru was experimenting with some the prisoners and they came out looking like that.”

“The First Hokage,” Kakashi said. “Just like Tenzou.”

“He would need something like that to use those Sharingans so well without Uchiha blood,” Itachi said.

“What about me?” Kakashi asked.

“You don’t have a dozen of them,” Itachi said. “With Senju’s DNA and those Sharingans he could control the Kyuubi.”

They continued to fight. Because Itachi seemed to know more about what the technique that Danzo was using, Karin feed her observations of the timing and how Danzo kept looking at his arm to him. Sasuke could hear them.

Then Danzo summoned Baku. Baku started sucking in air, pulling branches and snowy dirt into his mouth. All four of them dug in their heels. Danzo prepared to attack Itachi, using Baku’s suction to increase the power of his wind element. But Sasuke released the one technique their father taught him. Baku sucked in the Grand Fireball, increasing its power as it came at him. Itachi knew what Sasuke was doing and he jumped up, using Baku’s suction to pull him away from Danzo’s attack. Baku stopped sucking when he caught fire and promptly disappeared.

The fight resumed. They made sure Danzo had to keep using Izanagi or waste chakra on the wood element.

Knowing Sasuke was most powerful physically he figured it was best to destroy him first. He kept thinking that four Eternal Mangekyo and a standard Mangekyo would make good replacements for what he’d used up in this fight.

When they met, Sasuke was able to dodge because Danzo believed Sasuke was aiming for a killing blow, but Sasuke aimed for the eyes on his arm. He slashed through two of them. Now Danzo only had one left besides his hidden ace. He pulled back to attack again, this time more aware of his arm. They fought with Kakashi and Itachi taking careful aim around Sasuke with jutsu and weapons. Danzo took many hits letting Izanagi heal him.

Itachi gasped when Sasuke and Danzo closed on each other again. A wind blade stuck out through Sasuke’s back. But Sasuke’s Chidori charged sword stuck through Danzo’s.

“You mistimed,” Danzo said. But then he coughed up blood. He wasn’t healing. He looked down at his last Sharingan. His vision waivered and saw that it was no longer open. Danzo wrenched back, clawing at the bandage over his eye, revealing one last Sharingan.

Sasuke smiled with blood seeping from the corners of his mouth. “Got you, you slippery son of a bitch.”

Kakashi grabbed Sasuke to pull him to Karin so she could heal the wound to his chest. Itachi jumped in between them and Danzo. Danzo pulled the bandage from his right eye. Itachi looked straight into that eye.

“Shisui.”

“You recognized it? You really were the most talented of the Uchiha, Itachi-kun.”

Danzo’s eyes widened. He tried to fight off the genjutsu, but he couldn’t. Even the power of this eye was no match for a native user and Shisui‘s only rival in the realms of genjutsu.

Danzo relived every painful moment in his life and Itachi tortured him for days. Danzo was rocked back after only a moment passed in reality. Then Itachi attacked, not eith weapons or ninjutsu, he grabbed the old man’s head the brought his knee up into his chin, nearly breaking his neck. He clawed at him, scratching his scalp open and leaning his left ear hanging by a flap of skin. His clawed hand ripped into Danzo’s throat, then he ripped off that offensive right arm. Finally he summoned all the chakra he had left into a eviscerating kick. Danzo was slammed into the ground a bleeding wreak.

Itachi watch Danzo’s chest rise and fall a few times before it stilled. Itachi stumbled back, falling to his knees still facing the corpse.

“Sasuke?” Itachi asked still looking at Danzo’s corpse.

Sasuke was crouched next to Karin who had just let him suck on her chakra to heal him. He refused to lay down, watching his brother destroy Danzo completely. He was too exhausted and having difficulty breathing to say anything.

“Karen’s healed him, he’s sable,” Kakashi said. “Karen, go find the others and bring them here.” She hesitated, wanting to stay with Sasuke, but obeyed.

“Shisui,” Itachi whispered.

Kakashi couched in front of him, blocking Itachi’s view of the body. “It’s alright, Itachi, it’s over. Danzo’s dead.”

“Shisui!” Itachi wailed. Seeing his eye and seeing that it had been stolen brought all his guilt and grief back to him. He wept for a minute. “He was my best friend!” Itachi raged. “He may have betrayed me, but he was like a brother! What I am to Sasuke, he was to me! I didn’t want to kill him! And those others; who were they? My father? My uncle? My cousins?! Mother?” he added softly. “I may have killed them, but he desecrated them!”

Kakashi pulled Itachi into an embrace to try and comfort him. Itachi screams of rage became sobs again against his chest.

“I didn’t want to kill them!” he sobbed.

Kakashi looked over at Sasuke who was still sitting where he left him. He looked like he was almost too out of it to follow what was going on, what Itachi was saying; his eyes were wide, tired, and glassy. But there was something about his eyes which make Kakashi sure he was listening. But whatever he was thinking or feeling, none of it made it to the surface. He looked like misused doll, slouching like a marionette with the strings severed.

Kakashi so wanted the brothers to be happy that it was over and that Madera and Danzo were dead—at least be relieved—but the horror of the stolen Sharingans had drained all happiness and relief from the scene.

Itachi pulled away at last and silently stood. Kakashi remained crouched and stared at the scuffed ground as Itachi walked passed him. Sasuke stared at the ground as well. They both heard a kunai being pulled from the earth. Itachi seemed to collapse next to Danzo’s corpse. Then they heard the wet sounds of a kunai being stabbed again and again into flesh and eyes. Itachi started with Danzo one remaining eye, the one that was actually his. Then with his guts in rebellion, he destroyed each of the Sharingans, ensuring they would not be stolen and abused again. He knew they had all lost their sight during the battle except the one, Shisui’s. Nevertheless. But Itachi couldn’t stop there; his rage took over. By the time he was out of breath and fell onto his back, Danzo’s corpse was unrecognizable. Sasuke and Kakashi did not look over at the scene once. They hadn’t moved at all.

Kakashi finally turned when he heard something he didn’t expect. And it sent a chill up his spine. Itachi was chuckling. Even Sasuke looked when it grew to a full blown laugh. Kakashi looked at him like he was mad, but Itachi didn’t see him, his eyes were closed as he laughed heartily. Kakashi saw movement out of the corner of his eye and turned his head to see a smile creeping across Sasuke’s face.

Itachi quieted down. “It’s over, Sasuke,” he said in a low voice. “We’re free.”

“Ah.” Life had returned to Sasuke’s eyes.

“Let’s go home.”

“We have to dispose of the body,” Kakashi said as gently as he could.

Itachi sat upright. “He will not be cremated!” he yelled at him. “I will not even hear of him being paid any respect!”

“The body must be destroyed by other means then,” Kakashi said in the same quite voice.

“Fine,” Itachi said, more calmly this time. “Then I will fatten all the region’s kites with this slave’s bloody offal,” he growled.

“It must be done quickly,” Sasuke said. “I’ll summon my snakes to help consume him.”

Itachi summoned his raven. “I know you will not want any part of that,” Itachi said to him, gesturing to the bloody wreck on the ground. “But I want his body consumed. Invite any scavenging birds in the area to come and feast. Sasuke, tell your snakes to leave the birds alone.”

“Ah. Tell your birds to leave my snakes alone.”

Itachi smiled at him. “I need him completely gone within the hour.”

“Ah,” the raven crowed and flew off.

Sasuke stood and, with his left arm covering his wounded chest protectively, dismembered Danzo’s corpse dispassionately with his sword to make it easier for his snakes to consume and to make sure there would be some distance between the snakes and birds. He also used the tip of his sword to pull away the cloth to make it easier for the animals to feed. The birds started to arrive and Sasuke summoned his snakes.

Sasuke and Itachi came over to sit near Kakashi who sank down from his crouch to lounge while the hideous feast was going on a few yards away. They said nothing to each other, but watched dispassionately as the body was eaten.

One very large snake, bulging slightly, came over to Sasuke. Despite his small size, he was related to Manda by his look.

“Sasuke,” he said with annoying sibilant ‘s’s. “You have never fed us before. I will consider this an apology for Manda.”

“I do apologize. I did not want his death.”

“All the same, you did cause the death of one of your summons. I also sense none of Orochimaru about you anymore. We want the contract released.”

Sasuke nodded. A scroll appeared and it opened to Sasuke’s name and bloody fingerprints. Sasuke drew his fingers through the drying blood on his cheek and stamped in the required area.

“The contact is broken,” the snake pronounced. All the snakes were disfigured with distended guts by this time. As one, they all vanished, along with the scroll.

“Good, I hate those fucking snakes,” Sasuke said as he lay back.

Itachi chuckled. “I’m sorry, Sasuke, I couldn’t let the possibility of Orochimaru taking you over remain. I know he was useful and I seem to have cost you a summoning contract.”

“That’s fine. As you say, he was a dangerous pet. And I have no love for snakes. You have no idea what that was like. I didn’t show you everything.”

“I figured as much.” Itachi lay back as well. “I’m very proud of you, Otouto. That was brave to take his blade intentionally. Gave me a heart attack, but brave.”

“I knew it would work, especially with Karin here.”

“You are alright, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll be fine.”

Itachi reached out to grab his brother’s hand. The brothers lay motionless aside from the trembling of their overworked muscles and chakra depleted bodies. The birds flew away as they finished.

The sky was darkening and snow flurries began falling. Kakashi wanted to cover the brothers’ faces to protect them from the snow, but feared giving the arriving shinobi the wrong impression. Itachi was definitely asleep—he knew that breathing rhythm all too well—and Sasuke looked like he was asleep. Itachi’s raven hopped closer to his master and examined him with his black eyes.

“I hope he can find peace now and stop blaming himself,” the raven said quietly.

“I’ll make sure he does,” Kakashi assured him. “I believe Sasuke will too.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” The raven vanished.

The others arrive to find the three of them and a large blood stain and strewn rags.

“What’d you all do, liquefy him?” Suigetsu asked.

“Shhh,” Kakashi said. He stood and joined them. “Injuries?”

“Juugu’s fine,” Suigetsu said bitterly.

“And?”

“We’re all okay,” Shikamaru said. “None of us have much chakra left. Sakura healed most of our injuries. How are all you?”

“They’re drained with a few serious wounds, but they’ll be fine. It’s some distance to our base. Karin, is there anywhere closer?”

“No. Orochimaru had very few hideouts in this area.”

Sasuke sat up, surprising them all. “Itachi and I can’t walk back. I can summon my largest hawk and he may take the two of us back to the base. He doesn’t like to be used as a beast of burden, but I think he’ll do it under the circumstances.”

“Good. Is there anyone else who can’t make it back under their steam?” Kakashi asked.

None answered. “We can rest a few minutes before we start back.”

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“fatten[ed] all the region’s kites with this slave’s bloody offal” is from Hamlet. Kite is a bird, btw.