I'm only Human

AN: HEY EVERYONE!! Look I updated a lot faster then last time!!! Yaaaaay!!! I do hope you enjoy the upcoming drama!!I foresee a momentous clash in the near future -reads crystal ball of ansgt- hehehehe...I can't wait to hear what you all think!!!!!! -throws out candy, chocolate, and ramune-


WARNING: Those reading the recent manga updates..there are spoilers..there have been spoilers throughout this story, those not reading the updates disregard this message and you won't know the difference, lol -winks-

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“Oh man...something...something wicked is going down,” Kiba muttured under his breath as they loped through the thinning forests. He and Akamaru dropped down as the rocky terrain opened up to grassy fields. He could smell…death, blood, fire, water where it shouldn’t be.

“There are chakra traces everywhere. “A very large fight occurred here in this very field,” Hinata affirmed, her voice small as they moved. It wasn’t hard to see the charred earth, the ripped up trees, the slices only a finely tuned katana could make in the ground when plunged into it.

“Sasuke,” Sakura whispered. That meant they were getting closer. The first sign of the man she now loathed. He had betrayed her and her village. Her eyes narrowed and she looped around.

“Can you smell the Uchiha? Has he been here?” she called over to Kiba. The dog nin nodded once. “And someone else…the one that was traveling with Sasuke. He’s...gone,” he said slowing the gait of Akamaru. The entire group slowed.

“Gone?” Kakashi asked coming to a ragged halt, his fists balling. Kiba nodded.

“There’s a high concentration in this area, but then seems like’s he’s vanished…”

“Like a clone,” Neji said, looking at Shikamaru. The other nodded, a frown on his face, eyebrows twitching downward. They had both explained what had happened, the jutsu Naruto had used to split his soul from the demon.

“If…if the clone is gone...his soul...what happens to Naruto?” Hinata asked, her Hyuuga eyes laced with worry, knowing it was on everyone’s mind.

“It could kill him,” Kakashi said straightening. Iruka looked to the north where they had been heading the entire time.

“Could? So there’s still time,” he stated more then asked. The sharingan wielding nin looked to his companion, expression flat.

“Maybe…If Kyuubi hasn’t already been let loose. If there was still enough humanity in him to let the soul back in. If not, he will be torn apart and Kyuubi fully released,” Kakashi whispered, his eyes following the direction of Iruka’s gaze.

“But…But I thought that if Naruto died, that Kyuubi would die with him?” Kiba asked infuriated and confused. Akamaru whined next to him, nudging his head under his hand and Kiba scratched absentmindedly.

“He could keep Naruto alive only long enough to destroy what it can…then…” Neji had started before trailing off. His eyes closed, a frustrated ‘tch’ escaping.

“We won’t save him standing here,” Shikamaru said, looking at them all. “I have a plan.” He had thought long and hard about the situation, putting all the pieces together. If they were as close as he thought they were then they might have a chance to save their friend. Especially with Sasuke. Sasuke was a key element in his equation.

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Hungry, glowing eyes took in the devastating fight below. It was gloriously perfection. He could practically taste the flesh and chakra on his tongue.

“I want to eat him now. He’s got no chance.” Black skin stretched into a manic grin.

“We will wait for Madara’s orders. Once he dispatches Itachi the jinchuuriki will be ours,” answered the other. The body pushed through the metal of the building they were merged with; a safe distance from being detected by any of the fighting participants, but close enough to know what was going on.

“He’s using all six. We could get rid of them after this is over...corpses are delicious. I like fish too,” the dark side muttered.

“Shh! Madara’s nearing,” the lesser of the evils snarled under his breath. The black and white head twisted in the direction of the dark and familiar chakra, a sharp razor toothed grin spreading across their mouth.

“We will dine soon,” their voices melded together in a low sibilant growl and the body materialized back into the wall.
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Something had changed. The youngest of the Uchihas no longer had the clone. His mouth pulled down in a grim frown. This could ruin everything! He pushed forward a black blur against the rocky outcroppings that gave way to jutting mountains and then to lush wet land valleys. Home.

Zetsu! he hissed, addressing the nin miles away. The bipolar rogue filtered from the darkness to greet the other.

Do you wish us to come? he asked. Madara shook his head once.

Relay to me the situation, he demanded. A gleeful laugh peeled from Zetsu’s mouth.

It’s a delicious sight!! The images filled his mind from what Zetsu was seeing. It was raining but the crying city was in flames. Pain. He frowned all the more. He was using all six forms and still hadn’t contained the beast?? His sharingan eyes blazed to life. His plan would not fail because of this kind of incompetency.

I will be there shortly, Madara hissed, pulling from his mind’s eye and taking in the surroundings. Once he had the beast it would be simple to dispose of those who followed, including his youngest cousin. Konoha would fall. And every nation after would bow at his feet. A smirk pulled across his mouth. He was a God and his plan would not fail.

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Fox! Naruto cried out as the heat spread through him, every muscle in his body disobeying his mind. A scream ripped from his throat, mingling with the echoing roar from Kyuubi. The five tails wrapped upward over the vulpine head, the snarling mouth opening to reveal blackness before searing chakra began to accumulate in that one spot.

Itachi slid one foot back, one sharingan eye closed. He battled on both conscience and corporal levels.

Do not tempt your fate against an Uchiha, Fox. He breathed out and brought his fingers together, causing the wind to whip around both battling forms. Kyuubi’s lips pulled back in a wider snarl. His large body hovered over a small form trapped in the in the internal battle for dominance.

I’ll kill you along with the rest of you shinobi scum! He lashed forward, the tails wrapping around the limp Naruto. Itachi hissed as the wave of chakra rocketed through every pore. He needed to break the bond between beast and soul. He must kill this demon from the inside before the demon was captured. Even if it meant sacrificing the container’s life, it was a sacrifice that must be made.

In the sloshing rain, the raging five tailed beast stilled, burning chakra built at a single center, tails creating an impregnable shield. The tails bristled and twitched over his head, the animal mouth splitting apart. A roar from the demon ripped from its chest and the tightly concentrated chakra was released with momentous force. The flames, chakra and sound wave ripped through buildings and ninja alike, tearing those unprepared for it, apart.

Samehade rose above Kisame head and the shark nin gasped as he was thrown back, his sword collecting the chakra around him before it could destroy his body. He had to turn quickly as the Pain he was fighting did not seem deterred by the loss of an arm from the explosion.The remaining clawed arms spread wide as he dove down into Kisame, a gnarled manic grin on his face. Kisame raised his blade again grinning, just as manically. The water rose at his call and attacked Asura. He quickly brought Samehade crashing down on another one of Pain’s forms, the weird fat one with slicked hair and spikes protruding from his face.

“Die!” he snarled, feeling Ghost Realm’s chakra flood into him. He jumped out of the way as the exploded arm from his first opponent came barreling towards him, and it crashed into the newly deceased body. Kisame clenched and unclenched his fist as Asura’s rage filled eyes turned on him.

“The fight’s not over!” he roared swinging the blade above his head, the water building up in intensity. One down. Five more to go. He looked over to Itachi’s fight. It was time to end this.

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A warm breeze drifted through open windows, her green eyes closed as she felt the presence of ANBU chakra signatures dropping down around her. She kept her fingers loosely laced together but her back stiffened.

“Godaime. We apologize, but you are under arrest for the deception of the council,” one of the shinobi said, white mask hiding whatever expression he might have. Tsunade snorted and slowly stood. “I did not deceive the council,” she said slowly.

The same speaker held out a scroll. “You wrote direct orders to send only one of your men after Uzumaki Naruto. And now there are nearly two teams missing.”

Tsunade took the scroll, opening it and nodding in agreement, “Those are my orders, however, the two other teams are on a reconnaissance mission to the North,” she said with a shrug, “And I believe that is the direction they went.”

“The Council questions the orders as merely a reconnaissance mission, especially if it needed two teams.” He pulled out a second scroll and handed it to her. “If Uzumaki is brought back alive we have orders to execute him.” She frowned feeling two ANBU moving behind her.

“Lower your weapons or I will strike!” A flurry of green erupted into the room from the unguarded side window. Tsunade smirked slightly.

“Our orders are to escort the Godaime to the holding facilities,” one said raising a hand to pull a blade from its pouch before he was suddenly against the floor, mask smashing against the wooden planks. “I cannot allow you to do that. All shinobis are under the Godaime’s authority and not the council’s. You will obey her and only her as the 5th Hokage.” Black eyes were narrowed, black brows furrowed forward.

“Rock Lee. Report,” Tsunade said simply, her eyes on the two ANBU in front of her readying to pull out weapons. Lee nodded pulling to a standing position; a sandaled foot keeping its prisoner down on the ground.

“Just returning with Gai-sensei and TenTen from our mission. I heard the rumors but didn’t believe they were true,” he said quickly. Tsunade cleared her throat, and raised a hand to the ANBU in the room.

“I will meet with the council. Whoever you are loyal to, warn them that this is my village, and I will personally prosecute anyone that decides they have more power than me,” she whispered, her eyes mere slits. “Dismissed.” The word had barely left her mouth before every one of the ANBU disappeared from her office, including the one Rock Lee had been pinning with his single foot. She waited until they were gone and turned towards her shinobi.

“Yes. They are true. I need you to assemble all the remaining Jounin loyal to me. There is dissention in the council and I fear that if Naruto fails in what he needs to accomplish we must be prepared for a war against Konoha,” Rock Lee bowed shortly to her and turned to leave before stopping and turning back to Tsunade.

“My fellow comrades are after Naruto. Let me follow. I am the only that can cover such a long distance in a short amount of time.” His back was stiff and unyielding, his eyes blazing, angry because he was not there to save a close friend.

Tsunade had been about to sit down before she looked at the other. The Fire of Konoha was bright in him.

“After you assemble my shinobi,” she paused. she didn’t want to lose another one on this mission, “You will take a message to them. You will go alone, because I cannot spare another ninja.” Rock Lee bowed once more.

“Thank you Godaime!!” he said practically vanishing from the spot to do her bidding.
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TBC

AN: SO??????????? Crazy right??? LOL...I do hope you enjoyed this latest installment!! I was so excited when I got this chapter back from lovely Beta Kaity (THANK YOU!!!!!!!) and from my Muse Rachel (-huggles and kisses-) They both help me out so much int heir own way on my stories...this particular story would be nothing without them both!!

NOW Onto my lovely reviewers!!!

CkA:Thank you so much!! I'm so glad your excited about my story!! I know Naruto's split is a confusing thing to understand...but he had wanted to leave a part of himself behind so that people could know him without the demon inside of him, but as you will see, his demon is just s a part of him as anything else he does, if it was for the demon I don't think he'd be the same lovable person!! In my own opinion of course...lol.

Damariy: YAY!! I updated!!!! -dances- I'm excited ur excited about my sotry..Like I would stop this story now..it's like one of those rolling snowballs that get humongouse..yeah..it's like gigantic now...XD I can't stop writing it either cuz I know some people who WOULD hunt me down with pitchforks and torches...lol..I hoped you enjoyed the update!!!

Zimmrie Kanoah: Thank you so much!!!!!! I'm so excited you enjoyed it thus far, and glad you found it believable...this has been one of my toughest stories to write..b/c so much is going on I get lost in the details..thats usually bad to do at this point, lol, The conclusion is coming up pretty fast..I don't see this going on for more then 5..or 6 more chapters...but I've been wrong before LOL. Ah..and yes....Sasuke and Naruto will be together..and I'm glad you don't mind this instance!! I think they both deserve it after all this, lol.-glomps- Thanks so much for the review!!!

Sneakyfox: -glomps tackles-. Hi!!!! I know...collaborating would be a ball..if you ever get the chance, email me sometime, (Ronnieronnie01r@aol.com) then we can figure something out haha. And yes...Itachi vs. Ninetails... it's craaaaaazy!!And naruto's not quite himself...Kyuubi's practically took control of his entire body and he's fighting him fromt he inside, but at this point it's a loosing battle....poor guy...lol..but don't worry those events happening in the prior chapter will come back again I promise!!


peeps: Thank you so much!!!! I know everythings coming together and moving at a crazy pace now!!I hope Sasuke can save Naruto too...oooh it's getting so dangerous...-flails- I dunno if Sasuke can do it..with everything going on....lol..I hope you enjoyed the update!!!


And that's all she wrote!! Reviews will help build monuments to my greatness.....LOL...and the next chapter!!