tell me why blue bird came on my shuffle as i started writing this chapter lololol. pure happiness my friends.
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"It looks like Team Guy is coming here to back us up," Kakashi called out. "Pakkun tracked Gaara and Sasori's scent, so we should get going. He's going to lead Guy's team to us as well."

"Right!" Naruto and Sakura yelled.

I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. Whatever happens... I have to stay focused. I have to help get Gaara back. No mistakes. No distractions.

We all took off, along with Lady Chiyo, to find them.

"Naruto, how long have the Akatsuki been after you?" Sakura asked.

"2 members of the Akatsuki came looking for Naruto at the leaf village, but it's been almost three years now. There's been no sign of them since," Kakashi explained.

My head sank low as they talked about the Akatuski coming after the jinchuriki. Itachi was one of those 2 members... As far as the leaf village was concerned, I was dancing with the devil and laying with the enemy.

Everyone knew it, but I just couldn't accept it. Why couldn't I see Itachi for what he was? What he had become?

"Naruto," I called out as Lady Chiyo finished explaining to Sakura about the tailed beasts spirits. She called them demon spirits, and I could see that Naruto was upset.

"Yea?" he asked as just the two of us came to a brief stop.

I put my hand on his shoulder and looked into his eyes, the deep blue ones that were so much like his father's, "You're not evil, Naruto. You're not a demon. You are so much more than a jinchuriki of the leaf village."

He wasn't looking at me, so I tilted his head up, "Do you understand that? What makes you special is who you are, and nothing can change that. I'd bet my life on you becoming the Hokage someday. Don't let anyone make you forget who you are."

He looked at me with wide eyes before throwing his arms around me. I tensed up a bit but soon hugged him back. Holding him tightly.

"Thanks big sis Y/n," he muttered out making a huge smile stretch across my face.

"I'm lucky I have two brothers now," I ruffled up his hair as we pulled apart. "Now let's save Gaara!"

"Right!"

We ran to catch up to the others when Kakashi stopped suddently. "Wait!!" he yelled.

"Oh fuck," I mumbled to myself as I saw the man in a black robe in front of us.

"Itachi Uchicha," Naruto hissed.

"That's— that's him?" Sakura stuttered.

I felt all of me start to crumble. My heart dropped as I looked at Itachi's red eyes. It had been a year since I last saw him, and he looked even emptier than before.

"Avoid eye contact with him!!" Kakashi yelled. "Don't let him catch you in his genjutsu!"

My eyes were shadowed and protected by my kekkei genkai, so I stared out at Itachi, feeling the warm tears already trailing down my face.

"Hello my love," he called out with a small smile.

"Y/n," Kakashi glanced at me from the corner of his eye.

"Kakashi," I whispered out, my voice shaking and broken.

He slowly reached his arm out and grabbed my hand, squeezing it once, "I'm here Y/n. Never forget that."

"Mm, so, you and the copy ninja huh?" Itachi smirked. "Couldn't have a real Uchiha so you settled for the next best thing I guess."

"How do we fight this guy!?" Naruto yelled out as Kakashi and I released our hands taking a fighting stance.

"He uses a Mangekyo Sharingan, Kakashi. We can't let them fight him," I said softly.

"I know. When he last caught me in his genjutsu, I was unconscious for a week."

My eyes widened as he told me that. I didn't know it was that bad nor did I know that ever happened. I had never been trapped by Itachi, so I never really understood the full extent of his power.

But to take down Kakashi like it was nothing... I couldn't believe it.

"Very good, Kakashi," Itachi spoke up. I closed my eyes as he spoke, trying not to let the sound of his sweet voice destroy me. "It looks like you learned your lesson."

Kakashi quickly responded, "I also learned there's a price to pay for using that Sharingan. It exhausts you. You even had to quit before the battle was over. You're risking permanent damage to your eye, aren't you Itachi?"

"You learned quite a bit from our brief encounter. I wonder if Y/n has anything to do with your knowledge of me."

"You're not difficult to figure out, Itachi," Kakashi smirked as he lifted up his head band, exposing his left eye. "I wonder just how much damage has already been done to your eyesight."

"I underestimated you before. But I'm not the fool I used to be. Things are going to go differently this time. I promise you that."

"Showing off for Y/n are you? Careful Kakashi. It sounds like you're still underestimating me."

"Itachi," I finally got the courage to speak up. "P-please don't do this."

"Y/n," Kakashi looked into my eyes. "Leave this to me."

"We're here to help!" Naruto yelled.

"Good. Then cover me," Kakashi added.

I was frozen and helpless... Why couldn't I move? Why do I let him still do this to me?

Kakashi was already charging to attack, and as Naruto ran to help him, he froze completely a look of terror crossing his face.

No... not Naruto. Itachi got him trapped. But how? He didn't look at Itachi.

Wait, Itachi pointed at him... Could that really be all he needs to use his genjutsu now?

Shit Y/n! Move!!!

The thought of Naruto being trapped caused my body to move on it's own. I quickly ran and threw my hands against him, transferring some of my chakra over and breaking him free from Itachi.

"Naruto! You ok!?" Kakashi yelled as he slid backwards.

"W-what happened?" Naruto stuttered out. "I-I thought you were all dead."

I felt the rage boiling over inside me as Naruto's voice cracked with concern. My eyes turned from their golden color to a deep black with only specks of gold shining through.

"I thought I told you what would happen, Itachi, if you ever tried to hurt someone from the leaf village again?" I snarled at him.

"Y/n! Stay back!" Kakashi yelled as I took steps forward, ready to attack. Ready to kill. "Remember what Jiraiya said! Now isn't the time!"

"Black Lightning: Lightning Blade!" I launched at Itachi, getting there before he could even move.

Oh yea... my kekkei genkai, I could move through the darkness, almost like a teleportation. A technique Jiraiya stole remember from the fourth hokage and helped me apply it to my own skill.

He looked at me with wide eyes as I caught him on my attack. He wasn't able to move since I had him hooked in, and his eyes looked deeply into mine.

What is this? Something is off...

"Now Naruto!" I yelled, encouraging him to complete the combo attack we had trained on while we were together the last few years.

"Giant Rasengan!!" he called as he blasted Itachi. It was brief, but I saw a small smile on Itachi's lips before he flew backwards, crashing through the forest.

"Good hit," I smiled at him.

"Did we get him!? Is he dead?!" Naruto yelled.

"No. That wasn't him," I mumbled.

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked as we walked over to the lifeless body, staring at a stranger dressed in Itachi's robe.

"It's a shapeshifting technique. Impersonation Jutsu. It means Itachi's body is somewhere else, and he was manipulating this clone to distract us."

"S-so that wasn't even his full strength?" Naruto whispered.

"Explains why he didn't use his Mangekyo sharingan on us. Let's go. We don't have time to waste."

"You can use black lightning?" Kakashi looked at me in shock.

"Mm."

"Naruto! That attack was amazing!!" Sakura yelled as we began to leave.

"Yea, little cheeto, you did awesome," I smiled at him.

"Thanks big sis! Thanks Sakura!"

"Big sis, huh?" Kakashi smirked.

"What can I say? I'm a crowd favorite," I teased.

"Hey," he grabbed my hand softly. "Are you doing ok?"

"Yea, I think so," I smiled at him.

"Let's go you guys!" Naruto yelled as him and Sakura took off.

Suddenly, a murder of crows began to swarm around me, causing everything around me to disappear. I yelled and tried to fight them off, but I was completely disoriented.

"Y/n!!" Kakashi's voice was the last thing I heard before it faded to darkness. The sound of screeching crows filling my brain and clouding my senses.