We were in our tent at last, secluded from the outside world and any wandering eyes. From what I heard, Madara was busy with the other front, and that said front was due to join ours soon since they all took care if their enemies there, which was why Madara was focusing on them tonight rather than us, a mercy on our part, our luck and someone else's misfortune. I swore I could have overheard that Kakashi was in charge of that front, and Guy was there supposedly. However, my mind was focused on more important things.

Naruto hasn't stopped shaking since we left the battlefield, since that fucker showed up and spouted those cursed words.

He made my blood positively boil. The smell of his bite was still etched into Naruto's neck, and his connection to him as a result of that was still strong, much like how I was connected to Naruto. I could sense his despair, his love, his everything... always. Madara could probably do the same, and the thought alone made me want to rip something apart.

My Naruto...

Mine.

No one else's.

"Nng!" Naruto whimpered shakily in his sleep, curling up, knees coming to his abdomen as he curled into a ball, in a state of extreme discomfort.

I moved over to the bed and slowly sunk down next to him, unsure if my cold skin would be something he'd be fine with after Madara's appearance, holding the knowledge of the sick thing Madara's done to him. My hand hovered over his figure, and I took the chance and slowly set my hand on his back, watching as he flinches, before turning to face me entirely, body shifting in its sleep to cling onto my legs, whimpering softly. I felt my heart shatter and warm up in a weird way as I began to thread my fingers through his hair, attempting to soothe him.

I felt my heart flutter, I felt my body relax despite himself. I felt at peace, being able to just hold him regardless of the situation. After that week... after that hell, I never wanted to stop holding him. I never wanted to leave his side. I didn't want to let him leave my line of sight ever again.

I was conditioned at a very young age to withstand the worst treatment. I was equipped to handle torture without telling a word to the enemy. I was even trained to end my own life to protect the secrets a corpse could carry. However, my Naruto wasn't so fortunate. He just wasn't made for handling something so cruel, almost like a fragile little flower that's been stomped on by the worst of enemies. He has the worst luck in my eyes, something he was born carrying, something I wanted desperately to cleanse him of.

He didn't deserve it.

The darkness that's swallowed his heart, my Naruto didn't deserve any of it. But if killing Obito Uchiha slowly was truly what would make him be at peace once more, then I would gladly help him do so. We can definitely make it slow and agonizing.

I laid down on the bed to get more comfortable, and Naruto's upper body lay across my chest, his arms clinging to the fabric of my shirt. I watched over him, my guard up to any footsteps that got closer to the tent than I wanted to. I was hyperaware of everything around us, I had to be. I won't let him get taken away again, never again, never. I already felt like a failure for allowing it to happen once.

His pain... his smell, all of it drove me mad during that terrible week. I was also... unfortunately, clinging to every sound. Because it meant he wasn't dead, I was reminded that they hadn't killed him yet, that they were toying with him, and the guilt I still feel for being happy about that.

My eyes began to burn, and I quickly bit my teeth together to try and keep myself from crying. I shakily exhaled, staring at his tense face riddled with discomfort and fear. Even now... I find myself happy I can see him in such a way. The enemy could have easily killed him, and I wouldn't have been able to lift a finger.

It's the only thing that kept me from dying in that fucking prison cell, and it's the only thing keeping me sane, now.

His pain gives me purpose... his pain tells me I have someone to kill in order to take it away. I want to be the one to take that agony away and replace it with so much love he explodes.

I want to take him far away from here.

I want him all to myself.

He's mine.

Mine...

Mine-

Naruto flinched against me, ripping me from my spiraling possessiveness. His eyes rolled open as he inhaled sharply, legs pressing together quickly, squirming in discomfort as he shakily growled in frustration.

"Hey..." I spoke quietly, gaining his attention, two tired blue eyes landing on me. "We're at camp. We're safe for the time being."

"M-My b-body-!" Naruto sucked in a sharp breath, grunting as he exhaled. "I-It's shaking all o-over." Naruto squirmed in discomfort, muscles almost spasming, making his movements very stiff and hard to control.

I frowned and gently cupped his face, searching his struggling eyes before looking him up and down, wanting nothing more than to take this sensation away. I still knew very little about myself, and my vampirism was something I didn't particularly enjoy exploring, but perhaps this could be a chance.

I didn't want to use this as an excuse, though, nor did I wish to experiment with Naruto for my own gain.

"I know, love. I know. I'm sorry... for allowing him to-"

"Th-This isn't your fault!" Naruto ground out, and despite his discomfort, his eyes held sincerity and conviction. "This is n-no one's fault but Madaras- uhg."

His face flushed, and he let out a weak sounding whimper. I felt increasingly tainted the longer I watched him. Knowing he was violated made me feel as such as well, in a weird way. Usually when I bit him I could control how he feels it, perhaps I could try and combat whatever this was?

"Naruto, i... admittedly... do not know how to help this. I could try using my eyes. I could try biting. It's only if you want me to-"

"I-I was just about to-to ask." Naruto let out a faint chuckle, his eyes flooding with humor momentarily before he flinched against me, pupils constricting as he all but froze.

"What?" I sat up in alarm, fretting over him, hands hovering over his arms as he laid there.

"H-his hands..." Naruto shakily whispered, his eyes shooting down to himself. "I can feel his -"

I didn't let him finish his sentence. I was against his neck in an instant and bit down where I usually did. I held his head steady as he gasped in slight surprise and pain since I bit him without really thinking. I sent pulses through his body, nothing lustful but a soothing aura, trying my best to funnel my chakra directly into him. He grunted when I began, and he growled softly, but his shaking died down considerably.

"Nhg..." Naruto clung to my shirt, hands shaking and holding the fabric tightly, his muscles slowly relaxing.

My body felt warmer. My mind was in disarray yet tunneled to focusing on Naruto's body, his blood, his mind, his everything. My eyes fluttered shut, and my hands slowly slid down his back, as if feeling for any connections, any other signs of intrusion.

I felt something snap away, like a thread connected to his essence just rip apart and fade. With it went a second presence, I didn't even notice until it was gone. Naruto was completely relaxed after that, sighing heavily and wrapping his arms around my back, holding me closer to him.

I took the opportunity and began to drink very slowly, letting his blood pool into my mouth before swallowing rather than sucking it out of the wound. He didn't seem to mind it, and instead of saying something, he began to thread his fingers through my hair, removing any tangles that found its way there when I took us to camp.

I could taste so much guilt in his blood and sense it shrouding him like a fog. Guilt, rage, love, protectiveness, sorrow, and grief. He snapped after seeing Jiraiya, and he smelt and felt off since. I didn't blame him one bit for it. If I saw Sasuke being puppeteered and dragged from the afterlife and peace just to be used for war, I'd be beyond livid.

I'd kill anything and everything responsible, and I wouldn't take too kindly to anyone who got between that.

I didn't blame him for losing it, I didn't blame him for blindly attacking and hurting me either. I'd have probably been the same way. I'm just glad he came, too, and was able to talk to me.

I don't want to lose him.

I've already lost so much...

"You're shaking." Naruto spoke weakly, making my eyes open in slight surprise.

He was right, I had been shaking pretty badly from a mixture of different things. From Madara trying to lay claim to him, to what he did to what was mine. I was angry, I was bitter, and I was possessive. I was afraid for him and my brother, I was afraid of the possibility of losing the war. I was afraid of what that truly means.

I didn't want to exist in a world without Naruto anymore... I don't think I'm capable of such a feat. He's the only thing that keeps me going... the only person who truly accepts me for what I am, and can look past it while also understanding it's part of who I am. I'm still me, but different, and he knows this.

He's so patient with me.

So welcoming...

He's perfect.

I let his blood calm me down and soothe those tense muscles of mine. I slowly pulled my fangs free and pressed my lips to the wound, hands gently rubbing small circles into his back, massaging the muscles, trying to soothe him still.

"You didn't drink nearly as much as you usually do." Naruto spoke softly, still running his fingers through my hair. "You sure that was enough?"

"Hn." I nodded my head, licking the area clean from any drips that escaped the area.

"You can always drink more. You don't need to drink so little because you're worried about me. Kurama heals me pretty fast." Naruto spoke again, worrying as he usually did.

He's been different towards me since that week.

He's been looking at me very differently, more fearful, guilty, and angry, yet that unconditional love was deeper than ever.

He truly blames himself for what happened when it was actually supposed to be the opposite. I felt entirely responsible for allowing us to get captured. Yet, after seeing me break the walls down to get to him... after that horrified reaction, he's been like this.

It hurts that I can't take that image from his memories.

"Thank you for reminding me." I grinned weakly, pulling away and caressing the side of his face, a touch he leaned into. "But I'm fine for now."

His eyes narrowed as he studied me. He then shrugged his shoulders before the smell of blood strengthened abruptly. I flinched and looked down, feeling my heart race and eyes bug momentarily as he drug his claws from his wrist before shoving it against my lips forcefully. I went to move away from him, in a state of disbelief, before he shoved me down against the bed, face lined with stress as heaven touched my tongue. I grabbed his arm gently, staring up as he stared down at me.

I went to sit up, but he planted his good hand against my chest, using unnatural strength to keep me pinned as he straddled my waist, legs hugged against my hips, effectively trapping me with more force than I'd ever thought he could use outside of his glowing state.

Blood drooled down the side of my face, staining my hair, my skin, and bed sheets, my body frozen in shock, and surprise.

Such a waste.

"Drink." He ordered in a firm voice, brows furrowing a little further when I didn't immediately do as he wanted.

I slowly closed my lips around his gushing veins, shivering as I began to suck on the wound instinctively. I absently bit down on the wound, watching his eyes flood with satisfaction rather than pain, his cheeks turning to a faint pink. His eyes softened, but he kept me pinned and didn't let up.

"Don't you ever, drink less than you need. A sip or two won't cut it, and I won't sit back idle and watch you starve. Especially during a war. You should know better than to try and avoid drinking your fill." Naruto spoke in an authorative tone, one I rarely hear. "I mean that, Itachi."

I hummed against his arm, hungrily drinking, indulging myself, listening to his words. My eyes grew half-lidded as he watched me, a minty blush spreading across my face as his blood took on a new flavor, one I haven't tasted before.

God... so good.

"That's it... there you go." His voice echoed within the core of my being... voice like music to me....

Angelic....

Bold... dominant... fearful... grief riddled... affection... so much rage.

Such deliciousness...

If only I could mix lust into that taste, then it would be perfection...

Pure heaven in liquid form...

I grabbed his arm tighter, growling against his skin, and his skin flinched when I bit down harder, drinking in greedily, filling myself on it... drinking and stuffing my face full... and drinking more.

What... what was happening?

I feel strange.

Why does this flavor make me... want to take it all?

I'm so light-headed...

My toes curled, my nails pressed into his skin, my teeth bit down harder, my eyes slid closed, moaning against his arm, unable to get enough, wanting more, needing more, starving... I was starving despite feeling so full.

I want it all...

Every last drop!

Every last ounce!

All of it!

All of it!

It was mine to take.

Mine to have.

Mine...

Mine...

Mine!

"Uhg-" Naruto grunted, and the pressure on my body vanished, and along with it, this grappling sensation over my mind.

He slumped against me, and I gasped, snapping out of it in an instant and removing my fangs, hand coming to clamp down on the wound he made that I enlarged. I quickly sat up, and he was completely limp against me, panting, pale, cold, but he smelled sated... satisfied, happy even despite shivering.

His lips were blue, and his skin was so pale. I shuddered, eyes widening more when I realized I had bitten him too hard, his arm was bruised around the bite, and slightly swollen.

It was as if his dominant demands and wishes threw me into some sort of frenzy.

Shit.

"N-Naruto i-i didn't mean to take so mu-"

"I wanted you to." Naruto interrupted my panicked apologies, his eye opening and regarding me with deep love and satisfaction. "You... look so much better than you did earlier."

"I-... what?" I tensed, blinking rapidly as Orange swallowed his body, demonic chakra working on healing him.

"You've been tan, warmer to the touch, tired looking. You look healthier now, more pale, colder... healthy." Naruto's fingers weakly slid against mine.

"Idiot!" I hissed, anger flooding through me. "I could have killed you! You know that!? I almost didn't stop!"

"But you did. I trusted you." Naruto hummed, not phased by my anger in the slightest. "Heh... you look messy." He mused, poking my arm.

I must have been a horrific sight to see. His blood soaked into my hair, across my face, and chin. I flinched when he pointed it out, I shakily moved to touch my face, the drying blood...

Such a waste.

I grunted and shook my head free of any more thoughts of hunger and cradled his arm, staring down at it with worry, watching as the Nine Tail's chakra worked on rapidly healing his wound. I kept my head turned to the side as if trying to hide it from him. I listened to footsteps draw closer and farther away, the wind rustling the fabric of the tent, his labored breathing. He was perfectly at ease, though, more so now than he had been.

It would only be like this until tomorrow. Tomorrow, we'd have to go back and fight all over again.

"You're worrying." Naruto spoke softly.

"It's all I can do, really." I replied, regarding him, those eyes permanently carrying a look of frustration and exhaustion, with a very small sliver of optimism.

"Yeah..." Naruto looked to the side, seemingly zoning out, before moving slowly, until he was resting his head against my lap, arms freeing from my hands and wrapping around my back. "Are you... well, I dunno, okay would be a bad thing to ask. No one is okay. But... mentally, after... well..." He averted his eyes, frowning heavily.

He was asking about my well-being after that week. He had been worrying about it since he saw me in such a broken state.

I could still taste the rats they fed me...

I outwardly winced and blinked down at him, my hands feeling his warmth returning, a heat I never wanted to be without.

"I need time to move past it. Im... I'm trained in a way that lets me handle torture. I've been tortured in the past, and it's not really what I was bothered about. You... the thought that you were at their mercy and that their goal is to suck your tailed beast from you is what bothered me. I was afraid. Each time I lost consciousness and woke back up, I had those seconds of dread that you were killed... that they finally took you from me. I clung to every breath, every grunt... painful cry... heartbeat. I-I feel guilty about feeling happy about it too. Each time you cried, heaved, and panicked... those pained sounds. It gladdened me because it meant they didn't kill you yet." I shakily spoke, tears falling from my eyes, my vision blurring over as a result as I bit my teeth together, overwhelmed with such complex emotions it made me feel like I was spinning and drowning at once. "Does that make me horrible?"

"No... Itachi, that doesn't make you a bad person. You were clinging to every sound of life." Naruto spoke softly, looking at me and slowly sitting up, dizzied eyes locking our gaze. "Don't feel guilty about that. I'm... I'm sorry you had to endure such a thing."

"I'm sorry too." I replied, holding his shoulders and rubbing my thumbs across his skin. "For not being able to get to you sooner." My heart squeezed with rage and guilt as he absently touched his lower abdomen with his hand.

"Let's just make sure it doesn't h-happen again." His voice dropped to a whisper, his mood shifting to revulsion and fear.

I placed my hand over his, intertwining our fingers, as I bumped our foreheads together. He looked up at me with those beautiful and sad eyes as I watched him, taking in the sight of his glowing orange slitted eyes, colors ever shifting.

"I love you, Naruto." I whispered with my whole heart, watching his eyes crinkling with love.

His smell changed from pain and upset to happy and loving in an instant, bleeding away all of this negativity he carried for a small moment.

"I love you too, always." Naruto chimed, almost echoing my exact words that I spoke softly nearly every night when I got the chance.

He leaned forward and gently pecked my nose before pulling away, grabbing a nearby rag and shifting off the bed. I watched him with adoration as he wet it and moved back to me, sitting down on the bed at my side as he began to dab away his own blood of my face.

"You're a mess." He repeated. "Sorry about that, but I know how stubborn and brooding you Uchiha can get."

"Don't be. Just... don't ever do it again, alright?" I grimaced at the fresh memory, though, my cheeks cooled at his attentiveness.

"Alright." Naruto hummed, hands busy washing my face and hair, eyes roaming over my skin as if he were burning it into his memory.

Time almost froze for us, then. I got lost in his eyes, and he got lost in mine. Even as his orange form faded, we sat there, enraptured with one another. We shifted into laying position at some point, and after what felt like hours of silent staring, he grew tired and curled against me, merely laying his head against my chest, listening to my heart beating.

We sat together in silence, and soon, he drifted to sleep in my arms. I kept an ear out for anyone wanting to come inside the tent or near it, but we were mostly avoided. I wasn't tired in the slightest, so I didn't rest, I didn't give a single moment's thought to sleep. I didn't want to sleep, a small sliver of my mind telling me this was the dream, and if I fell asleep, I'd wake up chained to the prison cell.

I wonder if this is how Naruto felt after Danzo put that curse on his mind. Obito stated he removed it from his head, Naruto hasn't spoken a word about it since... or even acknowledged that it was there or gone.

I leaned forward and kissed his forehead, eyes traveling around the room, searching for someone who wasn't there. Searching for threats that may come to harm Naruto.

...
...
...
...
...
...
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...

Daytime was nearly upon us when Naruto rose to wake. He woke with a small grumble of protest, his hands squeezing the fabric of my shirt. His fingers twisted into the linen, feeling my skin, hands sliding across my back and hugging against me as his eyes slid open. He looked up at me through his bangs, his blue eyes tired, momentarily at peace before they flooded with that familiar look of rage, love, and anguish.

"Good morning, handsome." I greeted, smiling softly and kissing his forehead. "Did you rest well, my love?"

"Hmn... I slept." Naruto hummed softly and planted a sleepy kiss on my chin before sitting up, rubbing the back of his neck. "What time is it?"

"Very early. I'd say it's probably about four in the morning. Sun hasn't come up yet. But many are waking and suiting up for the day, the nighttime squads are filtering into camp." I replied quickly, listening to the growing bustle outside.

We both left the bed and moved at a quick pace to get suited in our attire. I dressed in my daytime outfit, sliding into my pants and shirt, throwing the vest on over it before clasping my cloak into place. I then set my hat onto my head, pulling my gloves tightly into place. I watched as he simply got ready in his usual outfit, although he did add the vest to his outfit as well, black to match mine.

"M'kay, I'm ready -" He began, but I grabbed a portion of food and dropped it into his hands.

"Eat first, you've been skipping out on meals, don't think I haven't noticed." I huffed softly into his ear before stepping away. "Now."

"Okay." Naruto nodded, his smell giving off nausea and hunger at the same time as he opened the portion of raw fish and rice.

He ate quickly, barely kept it down but somehow managed to, and with that, we left our tent. I put my mask on despite not needing to yet, so I didn't have to pull it up later on. I led us through a sea of shinobi filtering in and out of camp, tense, and keeping my hand firmly clasped around Naruto's wrist, not wanting to be separate from him.

Luckily for us, his tantrum on the battlefield and my reputation was enough for the sea of Shinobi to part a path for us, everyone moving out of our way, as if afraid.

Yes... the were afraid.

Fear clouded the air and made it thick. My sharingan activated on their own accord as the sheer amount of tension was enough to get my instincts riled up. Naruto remained close to me and didn't seem to mind my tight hold on him. In fact, I could almost smell his happiness about it, as if my contact with him was reassuring despite leading us to the edge of camp to reenter the battle.

I hated it... especially in this form. War was horrible enough as is, but the ability to smell blood from far away and sense emotions threw me into overstimulated hell. I hated feeling so much fear and negativity, I hated sensing everyone else's pain and smelling their blood. The ear plugs provided for me were enough to help with the loud sounds, but where my sense of hearing was impaired on purpose, it made everything else twice as sensitive.

"Everyone's avoiding eye contact with me. Hey, Itachi, how many people did I end up trampling?" Naruto spoke beside, dragging me out of my onset of depression and weariness.

"Hn, well, it was quite a lot. A good dozen random shinobi, perhaps more." I spoke honestly since the thought of lying at this point was useless and a waste of a thought.

We were both committed to killing that masked man. Those who got in our way would pay the price. I understood this, and I knew he understood that as well.

We were prepared to face the consequences of that afterward. Now to-

My senses got invaded abruptly by a foul stench. I gagged and gripped the face of my mask, tensing and skidding my heels into the dirt, dragging Naruto to a halt with me before I let him go to grab my neck. It must have been some teleportation Jutsu, but someone smells absolutely -

"WHERE WAS THE GUARD!? HE'S HERE!!!" Someone cried out from far off, making my body freeze and eyes pop open wide.

"Itachi!? What's wrong!? HEY! WHAT'S GOING ON!?" Naruto shouted beside me, his hand on my back as I clawed at the front of my mask, prying it off of my face, gasping in air far from fresh.

Who. Who. Who. Who. Who. Who. Who. Who. Who. Who. Who. Who. Who.

Which one?

Which one?

Which one?

Madara?

Obito?

Perhaps a reanimated corpse?

No... none were as foul as this stench! This disgusting, tainted chakra. That horrid corroded blood! It's getting closer, closer! CLOSER!!!

"Oi! He's on our side!" Sasuke's voice faintly called out, his footsteps rushing in front of someone else, that foul odor growing closer and closer, making me grab my face and shuffle backward, making sure to drag Naruto with me as I blindly reacted.

I watched his feet, sending pulses of chakra forward as I couldn't see past my watering eyes. Naruto stumbled beside me and knelt down, fretting and worrying over me as I gagged again.

"GET IT AWAY! IT'S FOUL!" I cried out, lungs burning from the smell alone as I buried my face into the crook of Naruto's neck, inhaling deeply to try and keep myself from being overwhelmed by that horrid aura.

My very being was rejecting whatever this dark pit of foul chakra was. Naruto tensed like stone beside me, and my instincts kicked into full gear as I drug him behind me, his body moving lightning fast with my inhuman speed and strength as I shot to my feet, hissing in a deep tome, watery eyes squeezing shut as I used my chakra to see I'm front of me as footsteps nearby came to a halt.

Sasuke shuffled forward in front of this black pit of chakra, face tight with confusion and desperation, his eyes pleading for understanding.

"What the hell!?" Naruto gasped, moving to my side, his hand never leaving my back despite my rough treatment.

I growled and grabbed at my throat, coughing and unable to keep up my strong front, stumbling into him, feeling about ready to run away from this presence that riled my very bones in revulsion. My senses flooded with pure heaven as an intense amount of Naruto's and Kurama's chakra engulfed the area, wind blasting around us, fanning red flames outward until a giant ring of fire formed around us and whomever this foul presence was.

I was able to pry my eyes open enough to finally get a good look at who this fucking stain on the planet was, only to freeze like marble, frozen against, Naruto's body, who's face was tight with barely leashed rage, a complete lack of trust, and deep rooted disgust.

What... the fuck!?

Sasuke was standing stiffly, purple ribs around him and the horrid source of thst stench standing behind him. My eyes made direct contact with his yellow slitted eyes, narrowed in confidence and ill-intent. A deep gluttonous curiosity for all things unnatural and corrupt. Those eyes widened with burning fascination and elation, scenting the air with lust both pleasurable and blood driven.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS HE DOING HERE!?" Naruto screamed out my question, claws jutting from his fingers, snarling with anger. "HOW IS HE HERE!? YOU FUCKING KILLED HIM!"

"I-I know how bad this looks, but please listen! Naruto, Itachi, both of you!" Sasuke demanded, eyes narrowing with nervousness and begging. "He is the only person I can think of who can properly take down madara as he is now!"

"HOW IS HE ALIVE!?" I snarled out, keeping my nose closed as I glared the man behind my brother down, feeling violated by his mere presence.

"When you two were gone, we sent search and rescue teams to find you both. I was approached by Jugo, one of my old companions. He heard about everything, the war, the enemy we were facing. He proposed a stupid idea that was worth looking into. Who better combat the reanimation of Madara Uchiha than the man who made the theoretical jutsu?" Sasuke quickly spoke, staring Naruto down with unease.

He was afraid of him.

Not that I blamed Sasuke, Naruto's chakra levels were higher than most of the Kage, and on his own that's impressive, but with Kurama's chakra now part of that as well, Naruto's endurance alone could kill Sasuke in an outright fight. He was truly a force to be reckoned with, who could fight toe to toe with monsters like me.

The man behind Sasuke moved to his side, making me snarl and Naruto hiss out in warning. The man sneered at us but kept his guard down and hands up and visible for us to see, throwing his long black hair over his shoulder before speaking.

"Now, now boys. There's no need to get yourselves so positively worked up over little old me." Orochimaru chuckled, licking his fangs with a forked tongue. "I've agreed to be an ally in this war. I'll happily go to prison afterward, chained up and prodded at and all. I've heard you're having a problem with my monsterous creation." He chuckled, visibly elated with himself.

"What makes you think words can save you from a second demise?" Naruto coldly spoke, taking a step forward, moving in front of me as if to protect me, making me grunt since my stable support left my side, making me almost fall over as Orochimaru's smell still burned to be near.

"Naruto!" Sasuke snapped, stepping forward as well, angrily. "HE KNOWS HOW TO UNDO THE JUTSU KEEPING MADARA ALIVE!"

"He's a threat to my Itachi!!! IM NOT letting him anywhere NEAR him!!!" Naruto yelled, slashing his hand through the air, tails erupting from his back and creating a shield between me and my brother and that hideous human.

"I understand your worry. Believe me, it's a horrifying thought. But the way the justu works is far too complicated for me to even get a chance of getting him still enough to perform it. Which is the tricky part to undoing the vampirism, which, of course, rapidly ages the flesh to ash near instantly." Orochimaru chuckled and left Sasuke's side, growing closer, making me scramble back, and Naruto took steps forward, growling in warning, making Orochimaru halt. "In order for me to perform this miracle for you all, I need your help specifically, Naruto."

"What the fuck does that mean?" Naruto hissed, and I stood up straighter, covering my nose and glaring Sasuke down with a mix of rage and confusion.

"Well, it means many things I'd rather not discuss outside for all ears to be listening. It's not the only bargaining chip I have up my sleeve. You see, I can also give the allied shinobi forces an edge over the enemy, simply by reanimation. Not at the cost of lives as the enemy is using. This method is much different. You see, the death sealing jutsu used on the kage can be reversed, giving us previous Hokage as new allies, so long as their bodies aren't entirely destroyed." Orochimaru explained, making Naruto and I both freeze.

The previous Hokage...?

"We can't trust him!" I hissed, glaring Sasuke down.

"We don't have another choice. And we'd be dumb to shoot this opportunity down simply from past grudges." Sasuke growled back.

"It's more than grudges. He's sick! Foul!" I argued, but Naruto held his hand up, making me blink in surprise and shoot him a wide eye look, but his back remained turned to me.

"Fine... we'll move inside. But you better say the right damn things. I'm not so forgiving these days to assholes who've wronged me. Let's hurry, your life depends on it, snake!" Naruto coldly hissed, his glowing form vanishing, dropping the wall of fire as it faded into nothing, red mist filtering back into his body.

"Sasuke... what the hell are you doing!?" I hissed quietly as Sasuke approached me, tying a perfumed and blood-soaked rag around my face, effectively blocking out the horrid smell of Orochimaru's blood and chakra.

"Saving our skin from a near impossible fight. The entire time, we've been against the enemy. We haven't once pushed them to their limits. They are draining us of energy, and we need to act fast or we're dead before we know it. Trust me on this... Orochimaru is a sick fuck, but he is our only hope." Sasuke hissed to me quietly, grabbing my shoulders. "It's the fastest way to get rid of Madara. After he's gone... the masked Uchiha is left... he's the one I'm least worried about."

"..." I frowned heavily and looked over to see Naruto open a big tent flap, letting Orochimaru inside with a tense set face, before looking at me with worry. "Sasuke, I hope you're right about this. You really need to warn us before doing something so fucking stupid." I shot my brother a hard glare.

He frowned weakly and patted my shoulder before shrugging his. "Yeah... I'll keep that in mind for the future. Loner habits die hard, you know?"

"Hn." I shook my head, letting Sasuke and Naruto guide me inside the tent, mentally preparing for this conversation and whatever future awaits us.

How is he even back from the dead? When I fought Sasuke, when I let him kill me, I thought I killed Orochimaru's last remaining essence from Sasuke.

So... that begs the question.

Who else did Orochimaru embed his soul into?