Guy and I practically sprinted to catch up with Sasuke. 

We knew where he was headed since Kakashi mentioned before about how Naruto left to train with Jiraiya. 

"Where are Jiraiya and Naruto exactly?" I asked.

"Otafuku Town," Guy replied. "That's what Kakashi told me,"

I nodded.

We continued sprinting over there, but then I got lost in my thoughts. I was thinking about how Sasuke claimed he was going to kill Itachi and I didn't like the thought of that. I know he's a criminal and all, but I don't want to lose him.

I needed to somehow stop Sasuke from getting himself hurt, stop Itachi from taking Naruto, and stop Itachi from potentially getting killed.

I remembered a quicker way to Otafuku Town and I took a different direction than Guy.

"Kasumi?!" Guy called. "Where are you going?!"

I ignored him and ran as fast as I could to Otafuku Town. 

The reason I remembered the shortcut is because when I was a teenager, I used to sneak out with my friends over there when I wanted to get away from my teenage troubles and when I was forbidden from seeing Gin, I would go over there to see him.

Even though my past with him sometimes helps me out in the present, he can still burn in hell for all I care.

I finally got to Otafuku Town and now I needed to figure out where to go.

I had to ask around town if anyone had seen a man with bushy white hair, a boy with an orange jumpsuit, or a boy with black hair and an Uchiha crest on his shirt. I didn't have much luck, but one lady spoke up and mentioned that she saw a boy with an orange jumpsuit at the Inn.

I quickly rushed over there and I already heard some commotion going on upstairs. I practically ran up the stairs and I was relieved to see that Naruto was there at least. Sasuke already beat me here and he was glaring hatefully at Itachi.

Kisame was there too and he was in front of Naruto.

Itachi didn't even have to turn around to know I was there.

"Why are you here, Kasumi?"

His head turned slightly and I looked at him.

Sasuke rose an eyebrow when Itachi asked that and Kisame turned around to face me.

Naruto even turned around and I suddenly felt the confidence leave.

My heart started racing and I stood there, frozen.

"To...to stop you, Itachi,"

"And how exactly are you going to do that?"

Everyone was staring at us, which made this even harder for me.

I never dreamed of the day I'd have to fight against him. I didn't want to and I'm sure he didn't want to fight against me as well. 

I ran towards him and Kisame tried to hit me with his sword, but he was surprised when he realized he hit a substitution. 

I was now behind Itachi, with a kunai pointed behind his back and he still didn't turn around.

"Itachi...you don't have to do this," I whispered. "I don't want to do this,"

He didn't answer me and suddenly he turned into crows. 

Shit. 

Now I was trapped in his genjutsu.

"You shouldn't be here, Kasumi. You're going to get in the way," I heard his voice.

"I'm still a Leaf ninja, Itachi. I still have to protect my village. I'm sure you understand that,"

I suddenly felt as if I was being woken up from a deep sleep and I realized I was now out of the genjutsu. I also realized that I was facing the floor and that someone's arms were around me.

"Uh, don't be fooled by appearances or, you know, anything this little squirt might say," A voice chuckled and it sounded like Jiraiya.

"So, you managed to release the genjutsu we cast on them, eh?" Kisame's voice spoke.

I realized that we were still in this situation and I started squirming around so I could get back to the ground.

Jiraiya loosened his grip on me and I stood back up. I looked over at him, seeing that he was holding another woman over his shoulder and then I looked back at Kisame, who was in front of us with a smirk. Itachi was still standing in the same spot he was in earlier and Sasuke was on the ground, looking like he was in pain.

"Are you okay?" Jiraiya asks me.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just a little dazed,"

He nodded and gently put the other woman on the ground so she was sitting up against the wall. 

"What kind of coward would do something like that?" Jiraiya asked. "Using his sharingan to inflict a genjutsu on innocent women, all in order to separate Naruto from me,"

Jiraiya glared at Itachi.

"I know he's the one you're after,"

"Now, I understand," Itachi replied. "He learned it from you. You were right, Naruto is the prize the Akatsuki are after and we will have him,"

"No way you're getting Naruto," Jiraiya spoke, in an unusually serious voice.

"We'll see about that,"

"Actually, this is all very convenient," Jiraiya smirks. "I can eliminate you both at the same time,"

"Stay out of this!" Sasuke suddenly shouted.

We all looked at him and he was standing back up. His left arm was limp by his side and he looked like he wasn't in any condition to fight.

"The only one who's going to eliminate him is me!" Sasuke exclaimed.

Itachi didn't bother to turn around to face him. "Go away, you don't interest me at the moment,"

"Well, GET INTERESTED!" Sasuke retorts.

Sasuke attempted to punch him with his right arm, but Itachi countered by kicking him in the stomach. Sasuke went flying back and slammed into the wall.

"Damn, you lousy...!" Naruto growled.

"No Naruto!" Sasuke shouted. "Don't butt in. Mind your own business! I told you before I've lived my whole life for this day, this moment. THIS FIGHT IS MINE!"

Jiraiya and I both tried to walk over to them, but Kisame stopped us by putting samehada in front of us. 

"You heard him," He smirked. "This fight his none of our business. Let's let the two of them sort it out,"

Sasuke once again attempted to attack Itachi, but Itachi was able to counter every strike and Sasuke coughed up blood. Itachi lifted him up the collar of his shirt and pinned him against the wall, trapping him in the genjutsu.

I felt completely helpless again. I was torn. I didn't want to harm Itachi, but yet I had to protect my village and my comrades. 

Sasuke started crying out and Kisame snickered.

"Isn't that heartwarming?" He asked sarcastically. "Using tsukuyomi on his own brother,"

Sasuke's body suddenly went limp and I widened my eyes. 

"That does it!" Naruto exclaimed. "I'm through standing around!"

Naruto rushed over towards the two and Kisame followed him. I quickly rushed after Kisame to stop him from harming Naruto or Sasuke, but then the floor started to feel squishy.

I looked around, seeing it looked like we were in the inside of some creature. I was now disgusted when I realized it looked like a colon.

I looked over at Jiraiya and he had his hands pressed to the ground with a smirk. "Ninja Art: Toad Mouth Trap,"

Sasuke was stuck to the wall and I sighed with relief when I realized he was going to be okay there. Kisame's sword and feet were getting stuck to the ground and Jiraiya continued to smirk. 

"You've both just been swallowed by the Mountain Toad! Welcome, my friends, to the belly of the beast! He has a very sensitive digestive tract, so be careful not to upset him," Jiraiya said. "Not the most glorious way to die, is it? Must be humbling to know you've been reduced to toad bait,"

"Ew..." I muttered, pulling my foot free from the ground.

Naruto started moving around because his foot was getting stuck too and Jiraiya turned to us. "Guys, stay still. Just remain calm and trust in my jutsu,"

Itachi was silent this whole time and finally spoke again.

"Kisame, come," Itachi said.

"Easier said than done," Kisame grunted, ripping his foot and sword free.

"It's useless!" Jiraiya shouted. "There hasn't been a ninja born who can survive this powerful stomach!"

They both ran down the hallway and the walls around us started closing in on them. I watched as Itachi ran down the hall, worried and anxious. I secretly hoped that he would survive this because I don't think I could handle it if I were to lose him.

We suddenly heard an explosion and my heart started pounding.

We ran down the hall to see what that explosion was. 

There was a huge hole in the wall with black flames everywhere. 

He broke through the wall. I let out a quiet sigh of relief. If the wall is broken, then that means Itachi is okay.

I know I shouldn't be worried about whether my enemy is okay or not, but I can't help it.

Naruto reached towards one of the flames and Jiraiya quickly turned. 

"Don't touch it!"

Jiraiya started sealing the flames away and I turned around to check on Sasuke. His eyes were open, but he looked like he was out of it.

I lifted him up and put one of his arms around my shoulder, then walked back over to Jiraiya and Naruto.

He finished sealing the flames away and the flesh around us went away. He was about to speak again, but was cut off.

"Dynamic entry!"

Out of nowhere, Guy's foot was planted into his face and Jiraiya fell to the floor. I put my free hand over my mouth to keep from laughing because Guy went pale after realizing he had kicked Jiraiya in the face.

Jiraiya was glaring at him, which made it even funnier.

"Uh...I guess I was a bit over-enthusiastic," Guy sheepishly laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "You see, I was trying to hurry and I couldn't see very clearly. Using my headband to peer into the opening, all I could see were two sinister figures,"

Jiraiya was still angry about it.

"You know what?" He stood up. "If this is your way of saying sorry, it stinks!"

"I'm sorry, but it was just a simple misunderstanding," Guy replied.

"'Simple-minded' is more like it, but never mind that now. We've got to get Sasuke to the hospital at once,"

Jiraiya turned to look at Sasuke. "He's badly beaten up. His arm is broken and he's been knocked out by whatever jutsu it was that Itachi used on him,"

"Sasuke will be alright, won't he?" I asked, feeling bad for his condition.

"Physically yes," Jiraiya nodded. "But I'm worried about what may have done to his mind,"

I looked over at Sasuke. His arm that wasn't broken was slung around my shoulder and he was still knocked out. I know I don't know him very well, but that didn't make me feel any less pity for him. 

Naruto was shaking with anger. 

"Okay Pervy Sage," He clenched his fists. "It's time for a new game plan, starting right now. I admit, I let those goons scare me a little, but that's it. No more running. After all, it's me they're after, right?"

He made direct eye contact with Jiraiya when he said that.

"Well, okay then! It's time I give them what they want!"

Jiraiya just scoffed. "Nice speech kid, but I'm afraid you won't stand a chance against them. You're not in the same league as them. What would've happened if I hadn't shown up, huh? It took all I had to get them away from you,"

Naruto was clearly unhappy hearing this. "Is that right? So are you suggesting we just do nothing, sitting here waiting for them to hit us again? What kind of strategy is that?!"

"Just be quiet!" Jiraiya snapped at him. "You haven't earned the right!"

It was quiet with tension now and I spoke up, quietly.

"Naruto, you need to listen to him. Even I couldn't stop Itachi and I'm a jounin,"

Naruto stayed silent.

"That is obviously the same jutsu he hit Kakashi with," Guy thought out loud. "What we need is a supreme medical specialist, a master of healing arts, and soon,"

Jiraiya nodded. "You're right, and the woman you're talking about is the one we've come to find,"

I gave Jiraiya a knowing look. I know who exactly he's talking about.

Guy was confused, but then he got it. His eyes widened.

"You don't mean..."

Jiraiya smirked at us.

"Yes, that's who exactly I mean," He chuckled. "Another of the legendary sannin, the queen of slugs and elixirs...I am talking about none other than the gambling fool and mistress of the healing arts: Lady Tsunade!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry about the hiatus. I had writers block for a long time and I couldn't figure out what to do with this chapter, so I apologize if it's rushed or something. I still kind of have writers block, but there should be some more chapters out tonight. I also made this chapter longer since it took me so long to get this out.