Naruto (c) Masashi Kishimoto

It is the end of all hope, to lose the child, the faith! To End all the innocence, to be someone like me! This is the birth of all hope, to have what I once had, this life unforgiven; it will end with a birth! — Nightwish

Itachi looked at Sasuke, with a calm steady gaze. “You’re right; it is your battle,” Itachi pushed his black hair out of his eyes, which had turned sanguine, his Sharingan blazing. The penetrating gaze of Itachi’s Sharingan swept over the assembled ninja. Sasuke never let his gaze leave his brother’s.

Itachi’s stare settled on Hana. “Hana,” he whispered, his eyes turning black. Sasuke smirked before charged at his brother. He swung his blade, slashing Itachi across the stomach. The elder Uchiha groaned, but before he could react, Sasuke kicked him in the gut, sending him flying.

“You’ve gotten slower, aniki,” Sasuke sneered. Itachi panted, still not fully recovered from his run in with the angry bear. Itachi allowed his eyes to bleed scarlet as he pushed himself up.

“Your hatred is still weak,” Itachi whispered, yet loud enough for Sasuke to hear. The younger Uchiha screamed.

“Don’t fuck with me Itachi!” Sasuke charged, katana poised for striking.

Itachi smirked, leaning to the side; he karate chopped his brother’s elbow then his wrist, causing Sasuke to drop the katana. Elbowing Sasuke in the jaw to bring him into the air, Itachi then kicked his brother in the gut sending him flying.

Sasuke grunted, but managed to land on his feet and toss shuriken at his brother, which Itachi easily blocked with his own. “You think that level of ability will defeat me?” Itachi taunted.

“Damn you!” Sasuke snarled, charging, eyes filled with a furious hatred. He drew his fist back. “Why don’t you just die!?” he swung his punch, which Itachi easily caught. “Bastard!” Sasuke swung his other fist, but Itachi caught that punch as well. “Argh!” Sasuke narrowed his eyes. Itachi viciously kneed his brother in the gut, knocking the wind out of Sasuke. He let go of his brother’s right fist to brutally elbow the sixteen-year-old in the back. Sasuke fell to all fours.

“You’re not ready, yet,” Itachi whispered. Sasuke growled, Sharingan met Sharingan.

“Fuck you!” Sasuke growled. Itachi snorted, before delivering a powerful axe kick to his brother’s back. Sasuke groaned, landing on his stomach. Itachi snorted, before walking towards Hana.

“Hana, we need to talk,” Itachi stated calmly.

“I’m not talking to you!” Hana growled.

“Koishii,” Itachi whispered, his now black eyes pleading.

“Stay away from my sister!” Kiba charged at the elder Uchiha. Narrowing his eyes as they bled sanguine, Itachi grabbed Kiba and calmly tossed him aside. The young Inuzuka collided with a tree; he grunted slumping into the blackness.

“Bastard!” Hana growled fire in her eyes.

“I don’t want to fight all of your friends, just to talk to you,” Itachi sighed. “But I will if that is what it takes,” he added.

Hana crouched. “I don’t want to talk to you!” Hana snarled.

“Why did you leave?” Itachi asked, his voice soft and tender.

“I have my reasons,” Hana growled.

“You didn’t say goodbye,” Itachi hung his head. “I love you, and you didn’t even say goodbye,” Itachi looked hurt, and murmurs sprang up among the Konoha ninja.

“I thought he was supposed to be a heartless bastard that mercilessly killed his own clan?” Temari whispered.

“He is!” Sasuke snarled, before Shikamaru could reply, the black markings of the curse seal covering his body. Itachi turned and narrowed his Sharingan eyes. Sakura looked at Kakashi when she heard him click his tongue.

“Kakashi-sensei?” Sakura whispered, as Itachi calmly walked up to his brother.

“Sasuke wants to end this here and now,” Kakashi whispered.

“What?” Hana gasped.

“He means to kill Itachi,” Kakashi said.

“You have to stop him! He…he can’t kill Itachi!” Hana bit her lip.

“What did he do to you?” Kakashi asked, Sakura narrowed her green eyes as she studied Hana.

“Nothing,” Hana wrapped her arms around herself. “He did nothing to me,” Hana looked at her feet. “I’m just holding on to childhood…fantasies. That’s all,” Hana said.

“You love him,” Sakura whispered softly, her voice caught in her throat. “Don’t you?”

Hana glanced at Tsunade’s apprentice, before looking back at the two brothers, not even bothering to reply to the pink haired medical kunoichi.

The brothers eyed each other. “I’m ending this now Itachi!” Sasuke snarled.

“Hn,” Itachi blinked. Sasuke screamed, charging at his brother, his chidori chirping like a thousand birds in his palm. Sasuke pulled his arm back as he did so, Itachi causally side stepped, grabbed his brother’s wrist and easily snapped the bone. Sasuke screamed. “It’s a clean break,” Itachi said, before kneeing Sasuke, then kicking him in the side. Sasuke flew through the air, landing on his back. Itachi leapt over to his brother. “Give up for now Sasuke, you can’t weave seals with a broken wrist,” Itachi advised.

“Fuck you!” Sasuke growled, using his good hand to himself into the air and deliver a rabbit kick to Itachi’s gut.

The kick would’ve knocked the wind out of Itachi, if he lacked the Sharingan, but he was able to block the kick though he skidded backwards. Sasuke snarled, wincing as he bent down to pick up his katana. He looked at it, in his left hand. It felt odd.

“Teme’s right handed,” Naruto pointed out.

“He either isn’t very skilled with his left hand or has no ability to wield his sword in his left hand, which puts Sasuke at a disadvantage,” Shikamaru replied.

“Huh?” Naruto frowned, confused.

“In other words Naruto, Sasuke sucks when it comes to swordplay with his left hand, giving Itachi the upper hand,” Sakura said, rather bluntly.

“Oh, okay!” Naruto nodded.

“Are you sure you want to continue?” Itachi asked.

“Just shut up and bring it!” Sasuke snarled, and charged at Itachi. The older Uchiha grabbed Sasuke, spun and savagely slammed him into the nearest tree. Sasuke grunted as he hit the solid trunk. Itachi dropped his brother. “Stop Sasuke, you can’t win this fight,” Itachi said calmly.

“Shut the fuck up!” Sasuke stood up and tackled Itachi.

Itachi wrapped his arms around Sasuke as they tumbled. He rabbit kicked him as they rolled, sending Sasuke flying. Itachi created a clone and the two Itachis leapt into the air above Sasuke, only to deliver deadly twin axe kicks to his unprotected torso. Sasuke fell to the ground, blood splattering out of his mouth. Itachi’s clone vanished, and a frown was etched on Itachi’s lips. He brutally kicked Sasuke in the ribs, and the boy weakly crawled to his katana. He slashed at Itachi, but his brother grabbed the blade, yanked it from Sasuke’s grip and tossed it to Kakashi, who caught it.

Itachi picked up his brother. “Enough!” Itachi growled. Sasuke spat in Itachi’s face. “You’re unable to fight, give up and find me when you’re healed and no so rash!” Itachi growled, tossing Sasuke aside like a broken toy.

“You fucking bastard!” Sasuke screamed. Itachi stopped, for he heard the hidden tears in Sasuke’s voice. “You took everything away from me! Everything I ever cared about, you destroyed! All for power! Power! You fucking heartless murdering piece of shit! I hate you!” Sasuke screamed.

Itachi hung his head, seemingly impassive and unaffected by his little brother’s words. Hana’s eyes widened slightly as she saw the slight tremble o the older brother. Itachi turned, capturing Sasuke with his gaze. “Everything little brother?” Itachi asked.

Sasuke’s eyes grew wide, “NO! SAKURA!”

Sakura winced as Sasuke screamed in torment, clutching his right arm as if he was in pain, shuddering with each breath. Itachi closed his eyes before vanishing.

Everyone was frozen. “No…Sakura…no,” Sasuke muttered before falling to hi side, his eyes open, staring at nothing.

“Sasuke-kun!” Sakura ran towards him. She skidded to the ground, skinning her knees, her hands glowing green with medicinal chakra. She gingerly took his broken right wrist and easily healed it, thankful that it was a clean break. Sakura healed him, before releasing him from the genjutsu’s grip.

Slowly the haze in Sasuke’s black eyes faded, and he focused on Sakura, who had his head cradled in his lap. “S-Sakura?” he raised his left hand, fingertips brushing her cheek, becoming damp with her tears.

“I’m okay Sasuke,” Sakura whispered tearfully. “It was just an illusion,” she finished.

“Sakura,” he snaked his hand to the back of her head, cupping her nape. The wind picked up, blowing a shower of leaves around the lovers, as Sasuke pulled Sakura down in a tender kiss, binding winter and spring together.

Suigetsu moaned weakly. “What time is it?” he asked as he sat up. “Karin?” he glanced to his side, then to the other. “Yo, Karin!” he called, getting up. He winced rolled up his shirt to see the ropey scar across his stomach. “Karin!” he stood up, grabbing his sword. He called for the scarlet haired beauty once more but didn’t hear anything. He eventually reached the river, and tripped over something. “Huh? Karin’s clothes?” he stood up. “Karin!” he shouted entering the water; a shower of water cascaded down upon him as Karin burst from the water, her red hair dripping and sparkling in the sunlight.

“Suigetsu! You perverted ass!” Karin punched him, sending him flying. He splattered against the tree, only to reform again wincing in pain.

“Damn it Karin!” I don’t think I’m fully recovered from that nasty wound that bastard Hoshigaki inflicted on me,” Suigetsu groaned, wrapping his arms around himself.

“Sorry, you just uh…startled me,” Karin blushed as she swiftly dressed. She walked over to him. “Lemme see,” Karin pried his hands away. “Tsk, tsk, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you that hard. Sakura hasn’t’ taught me how to control the strength yet,” Karin grimaced, as she slung Suigetsu’s arm over her shoulder.

“Yeah, yeah,” Suigetsu grumbled. Karin snorted when he leaned against her.

“Are you that badly hurt?” Karin asked as she set him down at their make shift camp.

“Not anymore,” Suigetsu smirked.

“Charming,” Karin said.

“Heh, I think we should find the others,” Suigetsu said.

“What about Samehada?” Karin asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” Suigetsu sighed. “I won’t be able to find it, anyways. The sword’s lost for now, and Sasuke needs us more,” Suigetsu looked at Karin.

“I rather look for the sword,” Karin whispered. Because it means more alone time with Suigetsu, Karin thought. “But you’re right, Sasuke comes first,” Karin looked at Suigetsu.

“You like it when it’s just the two of us?” Suigetsu asked.

“Yeah,” Karin nodded. Suigetsu grabbed her, pulling her down as he felt to the earth with a soft thump. Karin willingly snuggled up to Suigetsu.

“You know, for someone that can turn himself into water, you sure are warm,” Karin whispered.

“Heh, I’m only human,” Suigetsu glanced up at the stars before capturing Karin’s lips with his.

She gasped softly, allowing his tongue to slip into her mouth. Suigetsu snaked his hand up her exposed midriff and under her shirt. Karin arched her back, pulling her boyfriend closer to her. Suigetsu pulled away. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered softly, as he plucked her glasses off her face and set them aside. She smiled shyly, as he calmly brushed her hair out of her face, and stroked her cheek. “How did I get so lucky?” he whispered. Karin giggled, pecking his lips.

“Because you’re you,” she intertwined her fingers with his white hair. “And you’re special, like the moon,” she breathed.

“Heh, we’re In and Yo, eternal opposites bound in a never-ending hypnotic dance of balance,” he smirked.

“Wow, who knew that you were a poet,” Karin sniggered.

“I had to do something constructive in the water tank Orochimaru locked me up in,” Suigetsu shrugged.

“Good point,” Karin placed her head in the crook of his neck as he played with her red hair. “Tomorrow we’ll find the others,” Karin whispered.

“Yeah,” Suigetsu flicked his violet eyes up at the pale moon. “Tomorrow,” he whispered.

“Keep up Suigetsu!” Mangetsu called, pausing in his trek to allow his younger brother to catch up.

“Eh, Nii-san, where are you going? It’s late, Mother says we can’t stay out long,” Suigetsu replied, as he eagerly scampered over the large rocks. The silver moonlight illuminating his short white hair. Mangetsu sipped at his water.

“It’s a surprise dumb-dumb,” Mangetsu snickered.

“I’m not dumb!” the young boy shouted, only to trip. Mangetsu caught his brother.

“You klutz,” Mangetsu chuckled as he pulled Suigetsu to his feet. “C’mon or we’ll miss it,” Mangetsu said. Suigetsu gleefully followed his brother.

They reached a cliff that over looked the ocean. “Wow! I can see the other side of the world!” Suigetsu gasped. Mangetsu snorted.

“You wish,” he sat down and yanked Suigetsu into place.

“Why are we here again, aniki?” Suigetsu asked.

“The moonrise,” Mangetsu replied to the overly happy four-year-old. Slowly, the full moon rose, revealing his pearly face to the darkened world of night.

“Wow, its so beautiful!” Suigetsu gasped, then looked at the blue-black surface of the ocean. “Look Nii-san! The moon upon the water!” Suigetsu whispered.

“Yep, sure is. Always remember this peaceful beauty,” Mangetsu whispered.

“Why?” Suigetsu asked. Mangetsu shrugged.

Suigetsu looked down at the sleeping kunoichi in his arms. “Now I know why you wanted me to always remember that beauty of the moon, Nii-san,” Suigetsu kissed Karin’s forehead before falling into a dreamless sleep.

And so ends chapter twenty-nine.

No, the ultimate Sasuke/Itachi fight isn’t here yet, its getting there, but its not here yet. This was mainly because I wanted to describe various ways of beating the shit out of Sasuke. Heehee, its fun.

Shizune and Hana will have a little chat next chapter, yeah…not gonna tell you what, but you guys can figure it out.

Anyways, I’m joining the Navy and I took my ASVAB (military aptitude test) and guess what…I QUALIFY FOR A LIGUIST! Kyaaa! Now, all I need to do to is score over 100 on my DLAB and by this time next year I’ll be speaking Japanese! I’m so excited! I take my DLAB Monday! Better study!

In and Yo is the Japanese translation for Yin and Yang. The reason why I refer to the moon as male oppose to female, is to keep within the Shinto custom. Amaterasu is a female sun deity while Tsukiyomi is a male moon deity.

Yay! Mangetsu! Do we even have a picture of the dude? Hmm…don’t know. Mangestu is about eight in this. So…four year difference between him and Sui-kun.

Anyways, enjoy! Oh, and Stitchi62603 is the 200th reviewer! Tell me what you want sweetheart!

R’n’R or I’ll uhmm…maim you…yeah…or just have Deidara blow you up.

DJ