AN: Hey everyone, so I got this chapter out faster than I thought I would. I know it's been over a month but I've been spending a lot more time writing than usual, I've even been working on some original work. Anyway let's get on with the chapter.
Two days after the battle, throughout all of the village it was raining. Everyone except for Lucy who was still unconscious in the hospital stood in front of a monument, a monument in remembrance of the third Hokage.
Konohamaru stood at the very front sobbing, Iruka was next to him, holding him and Naruto was looking down at them,
"Iruka Sensei,"
Naruto sullenly spoke, through the rain. Iruka looked at Naruto from his place next to Konohamaru whom he was attempting to comfort, "what are humans? Is life just that simple?"
"when a person dies, doesn't matter if it's the past, present or future, they will lose everything. He died fighting in a mission death caught him unaware because life was that simple, its like a dream, it's all the same even if you haven't reached your goal but everyone knows that the most important thing is to die for a cause," Iruka spoke, "family, friends, lovers and all of the other villagers. To me are the most important people, we trust each other and help each other. From the day we're born to the day we die, we start to feel that love is the most important and that kind of relationship takes time to develop and trust anyone with this headband on knows because it's very important." Iruka explained,
"yeah, I know that as well," Naruto responded, "but death is still painful,"
"the Hokage wouldn't think it's painful because we both agree that people should not be hurt for no reason," Kakashi said, "but it's no use even if you do understand,"
"right," Naruto, "but not knowing is better than knowing,"
Time skip
Kakashi was waiting outside of a stall when Asuma and Kurenai walked by, "hey you two, you guys look good together, are you on a date?" he asked them slyly,
"Idiot, you listen to Lucy too much. Anko asked me to pick up some sweets for her," Kurenai answered with a blush coating her cheeks,
"What about you? What are you doing here? Are you picking up some sweets too?" Asuma asked Kakashi to take the focus off of himself and Kurenai,
"Not really, sometimes I stop by to pick up something for Lucy but right now I'm waiting for Sasuke," Kakashi replied,
"Kakashi, it's different of you to arrive first," Sasuke said as he arrived outside of the stall,
"well for some occasions," Kakashi replied and they looked inside of the stall to see it completely empty,
"I was planning on buying some sweets, but there's no point now," Sasuke said out loud,
"yeah," Kakashi said and narrowed his eyes towards the direction of Kurenai and Asuma, they both nodded their heads and jumped onto a nearby building and disappeared, "sorry Sasuke, somethings come up," Kakashi continued and followed Kurenai and Asuma.
Kakashi came upon the two Jonin taking on two opponents and waited for the right time to jump in, one of the opponents was Itachi Uchiha, the only other Uchiha besides Sasuke alive and ironically the one that made it so; the other was Kisame Hoshigaki previously a part of the seven swordsman of the mist, currently a rogue. Kisame started making handsigns and Kakashi was quick to copied them, the water shark splurge jutsu came from the both of them and Kakashi appeared behind Itachi and a clone of him in front of Asuma.
"Kakashi Hatake," Itachi said and looked behind him towards Kakashi,
"Now it's time to dance, now I have a reason to show my jutsu, with the exception of Itachi this one has the Sharingan as well, he is very well known. Kakashi the Copy Ninja," Kisame said,
"this is surprising these were the two suspicious people down at the tea shop," Kakashi said,
"there some slicing to do in this direction," Kisame said excitedly,
"if you fight with only one person, this matter could quickly be resolved." Itachi went to explain, "you're about to fight many shinobi's and that would take to long, more will come," Itachi cut off Kisame as he attempted to protest, "remember why we are here in the first place, getting injured is not the reason why we came here,"
"mind telling why you've come here," Kakashi's clone said and then popped out of existence,
"we've come looking for something," Itachi answered,
"Looking for something?" Kakashi questioned, "what's this all about?"
"if it were me and not Kisame that you were facing then this would take no time at all," Itachi said quickly created a jutsu and took out several kunai. Kakashi made several quick handsigns and created a water barrier to block the jutsu and as soon as he let it down, Kakashi stood there assessing Itachi, "your penetrating eye is remarkable as expected Kakashi," Itachi said and appeared behind Kakashi, stabbing him in the back, making his clone disappear. Kakashi, who was under water handed Kurenai a kunai and then quickly pushed her out of the way, the Itachi who was standing behind Kurenai imploded and sent waves crashing upwards.
"Kakashi, Kurenai," Asuma yelled and jumped into the river but stopped once he took a closer look. Kakashi and Kurenai looked around them and saw that a layer of water surrounded them, they both turned to look toward the direction that the Itachi clone exploded to find Lucy standing in her Aquarius stardress in front of them.
"Lucy," Itachi said as he looked at her, standing in front of the three Jonin, "Heartfilia,"
"Itachi Uchiha," Lucy said firmly, narrowing her eyes but only Itachi could see the slight upturn of her mouth before it settled back into a firm line,
"Lucy what are you doing here and how do you know him?" Kakashi demanded to know from behind her,
"That's what I would like to know," Kisame said lifting his sword over to rest on his shoulders, "Itachi, how is it that you know such a little kid?" Itachi sighed and closed his eyes,
"remember when I was sent to babysit Hidan that one time and we both got back drenched?" Itachi asked rhetorically,
"wait you mean that blonde chick that Hidan was complaining about for weeks was this little girl?" Kisame asked, pointing his sword, Samehada in Lucy's direction,
"That's right," Itachi confirmed,
"Lucy, how could you not tell me?" Kakashi demanded,
"There are still a lot of things you don't know about Kakashi," Lucy replied not looking back at the Jonin, missing the look Kakashi gave her. Kisame was about to take a step forwards before Itachi stopped him,
"we should leave," Itachi said,
"what?" Kisame demanded,
"we can't beat all the jonin and Lucy,"
"does that blonde really tip the tables that much?"
"I'm afraid so, despite her appearance she's an S-ranked shinobi,"
"surely with the both of us we could take her?"
"that time with Hidan is not the only time I've fought with Lucy," Itachi responded and everyone's eyes widened, "there has never been a clear victor," was all he said and the three leaf jonin stare at Lucy with mixed emotions.
"why are you causing trouble Itachi?" Lucy spoke up,
"we are looking for something," Itachi repeated his words from before, Lucy raised an eyebrow,
"something?" she questioned and Itachi nodded his head once. Lucy immediately understood what he meant, she closed her eyes, "I see, well I can't just let you waltz in and take it, can I?" she rhetorically asked,
"you've been around Kakashi for too long, let me show you what a true Sharingan bloodline user is like," Itachi said and opened his eyes to glare at them but they were different from before,
"everyone close your eyes," Kakashi shouted, both Kurenai and Asuma immediately closed their eyes and Kakashi closed his non-Sharingan eye, "Lucy I said close your eyes, his are different from mine," Kakashi demanded once again,
"he is right, my eyes are different, only one from my bloodline could hope to defeat my illusion, the Tsukiyomi" Itachi said and looked straight at Lucy,
"I'm naturally immune to genjutsu, no one has ever been able to," Lucy got cut off as she stared into Itachi's eyes,
"Lucy," Kakashi called but she didn't answer.
Lucy looked around and saw that she was in a black and white world, "what is this?"
"this is my Tsukiyomi," a voice called out from behind her, "no one else but us are here,"
"so no one can see or hear this?" Lucy asked and Itachi shook his head, no, "so this is what it's like to be placed under a genjutsu? No wonder it's a feared skill," she said, "you're going after Naruto?" she suddenly asked seriously,
"yes, we are,"
"can you tell me why?"
"the Akatsuki want to extract the Kyuubi from him," was Itachi's answer,
"why on earth would they want to do that?" Lucy asked,
"I can't tell you that yet," Itachi responded back and Lucy started pouting, Itachi sighed before gesturing her closer to him, Lucy walked closer to him and he poked her forehead with his two fingers when she got close enough,
"why, do you keep doing that?" Lucy wined as she held her hand to her forehead,
"you'll understand someday," Itachi smiled at her before frowning, "I'm sorry Lucy but to make this believable," Itachi started but Lucy cut him off with a smile,
"I understand, what do I have to do?"
"when I pin you to one of these crosses you need to try and dispel the genjutsu, to do that you need to disrupt your chakra," Itachi explained,
"what are you going to do while I'm on the cross?" Lucy asked a little worried, Itachi hesitated,
"I will stab you with this sword," Itachi said and pulled a sword out from nowhere, Lucy gulped
"should I be worried about you acting like this is normal?" Lucy asked him quietly,
"only if you can't break the genjutsu," Itachi said and not even a second later Lucy was pinned to a cross,
"wait, how do I disrupt my chakra?" Lucy asked panicked,
"just force charka throughout you entire system, like releasing a seal but on your entire body," Itachi said and thrust the sword into Lucy's stomach, Lucy cried out in pain, "dispel the genjustu Lucy," Itachi insisted. Stabbing her in the stomach a second time Lucy cried out again and her physical body fell to its knees, Kakashi kneeled down beside her and called out to her but she couldn't hear him.
In the genjutsu Itachi was watching Lucy with concern because she wasn't dispelling the genjustu, "there's something I wanted to tell you before I left," Lucy croaked out, Itachi stopped and looked at Lucy, "I meed you to let me check your eyes again, you've been using them too much," she said and Itachi sighed,
"you never learn do you?" Itachi said but he didn't sound displeased and just before he could stab her a third time she dispelled the genjutsu. Itachi fell to his knees and started breathing heavily and Lucy was wiping her chin in the same position.
"Itachi what happened?" Kisame asked,
"she dispelled my Tsukiyomi," Itachi rasped out,
"how is that possible?" Kisame asked,
"Lucy, are you okay?" Kakashi asked, "what happened in there?"
"I'm okay," Lucy replied and slowly started to stand up,
"You're after Sasuke aren't you?" Kakashi asked as Lucy leant against him,
"No, we are after the Fourth Hokages Legacy," Itachi responded,
"Naruto," Lucy wheezed,
"your target it the Kyubi, inside of Naruto isn't it?" Kakashi said, "you have begun to move, you think we don't know? The name of your organisation, it's Akatsuki isn't it?" Kakashi continued,
"Kisame, take out Kakashi, it's time for these people to disappear," Itachi said and Kisame moved forward but was kicked in the head,
"who the hell is this?" Kisame asked as he skidded to a stop besides Itachi,
"the leaf's prideful green beast, Gai Mait," Gai exclaimed as he landed in his taijutsu stance in front of the jonin and Lucy,
"don't take him lightly," Itachi said after Kisame made a joke, it was then that Kakashi fell into the water,
"Kakashi, you looked at him didn't you?" Lucy asked as she reached for Kakashi, "let him go Itachi," Lucy demanded and looked towards Itachi. As Gai was explaining to Kurenai and Asuma how to fight against Itachi, Lucy was trying to keep Kakashi's head above water.
"Lucy, take Kakashi to the hospital, Kurenai and Asuma will back me up until reinforcement's arrive," Gai demanded,
"I've already fought Itachi, I should stay," Lucy said,
"you also just woke up from the hospital yourself, go," Gai said once more,
"Kisame, we did not come here to start a war, this is nothing more than nonsense now. Let's leave," Itachi said as Lucy stood up with Kakashi,
"with this much trouble, it's unavoidable," Kisame said and both himself and Itachi jumped away,
All three Jonin and Lucy were gathered in Kakashi's room surrounding the unconscious Kakashi, "that guy still hasn't found Naruto," Gai said,
"In this village, finding Naruto is pretty simple, Itachi knows Naruto's face," Asuma said. Lucy just placed a damp cloth onto Kakashi's forehead and kept silent,
"Kakashi," everyone turned toward Sasuke who opened the door, "why is Kakashi in bed and when did Lucy get out of the hospital?" Sasuke questioned,
"Sasuke, it's good to see you," Lucy said ignoring his fist question,
"why is everyone gathered here?" Sasuke continued,
"is it true that Itachi has really returned to the village and that he's after Naruto?" a jonin ran into the room yelling. Lucy smacked her forehead as Sasuke ran out of the room,
"should I follow him?" Lucy questioned,
"No I'll go, you stay here and rest with Kakashi," Gai said as he left the room. Once the door closed once more and it was just Kurenai, Asuma, Lucy and the unconscious Kakashi,
"So how is it that you've fought Itachi?" Asuma asked,
"I was wondering about that," Kurenai said,
"I guess I can tell you a little," Lucy said as she changed the cloth on Kakashi's forehead, "Lord Third made me an ANBU Black Ops, on my way back from a couple of missions we bumped into each other and fought a few times, like he said there has never been a clear victor," Lucy explained and both of them looked at the ground,
"that's right you don't know do you?" Asuma said out loud,
"don't know what?" Lucy asked them,
"it's about the Third Hokage," Asuma started, "he, he died during the battle against the sand and sound," Lucy's eyes widened before she slowly closed them,
"I see," she whispered and changed the cloth on Kakashi's forehead once more, "I'm going to go and follow Gai, keep an eye on Kakashi until I get back," and before either Asuma or Kurenai could protest Lucy was out of the door.
Lucy summoned Slash to try and locate Naruto and Sasuke which resulted in her getting there before Gai did. Lucy saw Sasuke being kicked into the wall by Itachi, "Sasuke," Lucy ran next to him and knelt down, "Slash stay near Naruto," she ordered. Lucy looked over Sasuke to see that the curse seal that Orochimaru placed on him was starting to unravel and she looked at Itachi discretely,
"This fight is mine," Sasuke growled out towards Naruto and Jiraiya,
"Sasuke enough," Lucy said harshly,
"No this fight is mine," Sasuke yelled at her,
"Not today it's not," Lucy bit back, leaving no room for argument, she stood up and placed herself in front of Sasuke,
"Lucy, what are you doing? Don't take this away from me," Sasuke growled at her, "you know how much this means to me,"
"that doesn't concern me," Lucy said and Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her in anger, "my job is to keep you and the others safe, not let you kill yourself for the past," Lucy took a deep breath in, "if I'm being honest, if I could stop you from doing this I would," Sasuke's eyes widened before narrowing again, "trust me Sasuke, revenge won't help anyone, in fact it will probably make you even more alone than you are right now," Lucy said but Sasuke didn't care to listen,
"What would you know about it? You don't know what it's like to lose everyone," Sasuke growled out,
"don't I?" Lucy countered, "why do you think I'm in the village in the first place?" Lucy demanded, "It's not for a vacation that's for sure," Sasuke still wouldn't listen to her and pushed her out of the way before Itachi appeared in front of Sasuke and punch him making Sasuke cry out. Itachi hit Sasuke multiple times until Sasuke was spitting out blood,
"no mercy at all," Kisame smirked,
"enough," Lucy shouted and equipped her Taurus stardress, jumping high into the air Lucy brought her leg up and swung it down towards Itachi who jumped out of the way,
"what have I been doing all of this time?" Sasuke quietly asked himself as he watched Lucy go head to head with Itachi and hold her own, 'she got her power from him didn't she?' Sasuke thought to himself. At this point Kisame stepped in and started fighting Lucy himself, Itachi turned his attention back on Sasuke and lifted him up by his throat. Sasuke screamed and Lucy turned to the sound,
"pay attention," Kisame said and swung down his sword at Lucy, it grazed her side and started to consume some of her chakra. Lucy cried out and jumped breathing heavily, "Itachi, I advise against using your eyes so many times in a single day," Kisame told Itachi. Naruto cried out and started running towards Itachi and that's when Jiraiya decided to step in,
"toad mouth bind," Jiraiya called out and a pink, fleshy material started to coat the hallway, "too bad Itachi, Kisame you are already in my stomach," Lucy looked down at the flesh that she was currently kneeling against and cringed,
"what the hell is this stuff?" Lucy cried out,
"stay still, don't worry it's just a jutsu," Jiraiya reassured both Lucy and Naruto,
"Kisame come," Itachi commanded and they both started making their way towards the window that Lucy came in when she arrived,
"No one sneaks away from this without my knowledge," Jiraiya called out but Itachi and Kisame kept running away and tore a whole through the flesh on the other side of the hallway. Lucy looked towards where they fled and saw that black flames had burnt right through the flesh, "idiot, don't move closer to it," Jiraiya ordered Naruto and brought out a sealing scroll,
"Lucy are you okay?" Slash asked his summoner as he moved away from Naruto and closer to the female blonde,
"yes, shark bait just nicked me with his oversized tooth pick that's all," Lucy laughed out and turned towards Jiraiya who had just finished sealing the black flames inside of a scroll, "will I be able to do that?" Lucy asked,
"maybe," Jiraiya laughed out but they both looked back at Naruto who was running towards Sasuke who was just sitting there blankly on the ground. A kunai knife was suddenly thrown in between Jiraiya and Naruto,
"Dynamic entry," someone yelled and Lucy saw a green blur before Jiraiya was kicked in the face, Lucy rubbed the skin in between her eyebrows at the idiocy of the taijutsu specialist that just came into the area. Lucy forced herself up as Gai, Jiraiya and Naruto conversed with one another and made her way over to Sasuke and knelt down beside him, "When students are injured, well, this time I think it's harmed his mind, medical care specialists should be around in case this should continue to happen," Gai said, "is there anything you can do Lucy?"
"his mind has been harmed by genjutsu, I can't naturally see genjutsu, when Itachi caught me in one before it was a one off and it wasn't very hard to dispel. I can't heal either Sasuke or Kakashi without risk of causing more damage," Lucy said and looked down,
"don't worry, the person we're searching for will be able to help," Jiraiya said as he placed a hand on her head, Lucy looked up at him,
"wait, that person?" Lucy questioned him,
"that's right, that person is one of the three legendary Sannin like me," Jiraiya smiled.
FairyTail POV
Natsu was sniffing the air around the temple that Yukino had lead him to, "it definitely smells similar to Lucy but not quite the same," he gruffed out,
"Well this is a Celestial Mage temple," Yukino said, "Miss Lucy probably visited these places before she joined Fairytail,"
"That makes sense," Happy said, "do you think Levy will be able to find out where Lucy is?"
"If anyone can it's her but remember Levy's condition so it might take a while," Rogue replied softly,
"Yeah don't expect much to happen until we can get more information on Lucy's connection to the spirit king," Sting said,
"Stash face wouldn't hurt Lucy I don't know what Erza was talking about," Natsu dismissed with his arms resting behind his head,
"you have to admit that Erza does have a point though," Happy said,
"Fro thinks so too," said one of the Sabre Tooth exceeds,
"What do you mean Happy?" Rogue cut in,
"well it seems that Lucy was targeted specifically, I mean why not just choose any Celestial mage?" Happy wondered out loud, "why not Yukino who has the secret 13th key? Or Princess Hisui who is royalty? Why Lucy?"
"Miss Lucy is an extremely powerful Celestial Mage," Yukino said, "she's one of the first to be able to use stardress,"
"Can't you use it Yukino?" Happy asked and Yukino shook her head,
"No, I haven't been able to use it, I don't know how Lucy got permission to access her spirits powers," Yukino said,
"Permission?" Nastu asked and Yukino nodded her head,
"you need permission to use a spirits power and sometimes even permission from the Spirit King to access them in different stages," Yukino explained, "it would be like someone being able to copy your magic for a short time, as far as we know Miss Lucy can equip some of her spirits powers but
we haven't seen to the extent of these powers, they're secret," Yukino explained, "since Lucy has the Spirit Kings trust she is able to use stardress but it is said that only the original family can know or have the ability to learn how to further their bond with their spirits to the extent where they become one,"
"I have no idea what that means but it sounds cool," Natsu said and Sting agreed with him both Yukino and Rogue sweatdropped at the two of them,
"Fro thinks so too," the little frog dressed exceed agreed,
"If Sting thinks so it must be cool," Lecter also chimed in,
"I'm going to go ask if there is any information on the Heartfilia family line," Yukino said and started making her way to the temples carers with Rogue following close behind her holding Frosch,
"Great, we'll sniff out the place," Sting replied for himself and Natsu who already had his nose close to the ground and started sniffing, "say Natsu, why are you so obsessed with finding Lucy anyway?" Sting asked after Yukino and Rogue were out of view,
"What do you mean why? Lucy is my friend," Natsu replied,
"Yeah I know but it's been years, she might be fine where she is, why continue at the rate you are?" Sting questioned and Natsu paused in his sniffing, lost in thought. "Natsu?"
"I won't let that happen again," Natsu suddenly whispered,
"won't let what happen?" Sting questioned, Natsu stood up and faced Sting,
"remember that time during the Grand Magic Games?" Natsu asked him,
"with those dragons? Yeah,"
"well, the only reason we were able to stop it was because Lucy had come back from the future to warn us," Nastu explained, "someone was targeting Lucy, trying to kill her before she goes back in time but the future Lucy got between them and died herself," Natsu said and clenched his fist, "I won't let that happen again, if I could just hear her speak it would be enough,"
"I see, now everything makes sense," Sting said,
"what do you mean?"
"you and Lucy were friends sure but it was like something had possessed you when she went missing," Sting said, "you wouldn't eat, wouldn't sleep, Levy's research was the only thing keeping you sane,"
"guys we found something," Rogue announced as he walked up to them, "am I interrupting something?" he asked when he noticed the tense air surrounding the two,
"no, we were just talking," Sting said, put his arms around both Natsu and Rogue and started making their way in the direction that Yukino's scent was coming from.
Fairytail's POV End
"Jiraiya, please find Lady Tsunade and bring her back to us," Gai pleaded with Sasuke hanging off of his back and Lucy next to him riding Slash,
"don't worry, we'll find her. Take care of Sasuke bushy brows," Naruto shouted and Lucy giggled at his words,
"you sure you're not coming kid?" Jiraiya asked looking at Lucy,
"No, now that I have some spare time I should be researching Lee's condition besides it's not like the old hag would listen to me anyway," Lucy waved off,
"well Gai, we'll be leaving Sasuke and Lucy in your care then," Jiraiya said to Gai,
"Naruto, you've got guts, I like kids like that," Gai said and started reaching for something,
"oh no," Lucy mumbled,
"Here, I'm giving this to you, the reason why Lee is strong," Gai said, getting Naruto all excited and Gai gave Naruto a green, spandex all in one suit, a replica of the one himself and Lee wear,
"he gave one to me as well when we first met," Lucy said before motioning Slash to start moving and waved goodbye as they left.
AN: well that's it for this chapter, I'll admit not as long as I was hoping it would turn out but next chapter Tsunade will become the 5th Hokage so we really are coming to an end of this first book soon. I really have to go back and watch/read Naruto Shippuuden again. Every time I go to write some of the next book I suddenly forget everything about it. Well, hopefully it doesn't take me too long to write the next chapter and I hope you all like this one. See you soon (hopefully)