The Stalkers

"Everyone, close your eyes. No matter what happens, don't open them," Kakashi emphasized loudly.

"Only a Sharingan user can fight him," Kakashi explained.

Tsukuyomi

## Tsukuyomi World ##

Kakashi was pulled into another world. The sky was red, while the clouds and sun were black. Kakashi was nailed to a cross.

"Don't waste your strength. This technique cannot be broken. Here, I am a god who controls everything. Three days here are equal to three seconds in the real world," Itachi explained, holding a sword in his hand.

Suddenly, Itachi stabbed Kakashi in the stomach, making him cry out in agony. Itachi abruptly split into several clones, all of them holding swords as they began stabbing Kakashi as well.

"Seventy-one hours, fifty-nine minutes, and fifty-nine seconds remaining," Itachi said. Kakashi was healed, and he stabbed him again.

## Real World - Three Seconds Later ##

"What happened?" Asuma asked. He saw Kakashi grimacing in pain, but had no idea what was happening.

Kisame was surprised to see that Kakashi was still standing, though he was breathing heavily.

"But Itachi-san, using that eye is dangerous," Kisame said.

"Are you after Sasuke?" Kakashi asked, his voice trembling.

"No," Itachi replied. "We are looking for the Fourth's legacy."

"You're members of Akatsuki, aren't you?" Kakashi asked, stunning everyone.

"Kisame, take Kakashi," Itachi suddenly said. Kisame rushed at him, but Might Guy intercepted him with a fierce kick.

"Who are you?" Kisame asked.

"Konoha's Azure Beast, Might Guy," Guy answered, his teeth gleaming.

"Look at you... you look like an idiot," Kisame mocked.

Itachi interrupted him.

"Do not underestimate him."

"Open your eyes," Guy said to Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi.

"But Kakashi..." Kurenai Yuhi said.

"As long as you don't look into his eyes, focus on his arms and legs," Guy explained. The two opened their eyes, yet they seemed constantly drawn to meet Itachi's gaze.

"We're leaving. We didn't come here to fight," Itachi said, and the two vanished.

"They're gone. I'm taking Kakashi to the hospital," Guy said before vanishing as well.

## Uchiha Clan Base ##

Sasuke was in the training ground, using wooden posts as an outlet for his frustration.

He was frustrated by everything he had learned at the meeting. Naruto seemed to have everything.

"Sharingan." Sasuke remembered as he punched through a wooden post, destroying its right arm.

"Madara Uchiha." He cut off the post's head.

"Senju Clan." With a spinning kick, he destroyed both legs, leaving only the torso.

"Pureblood." Sasuke hissed as he charged a Chidori and completely destroyed the post, leaving only fragments scattered across the ground.

Sasuke took several deep breaths, doing his best to stay calm. He was about to go back and take a bath.

"When you awaken the Sharingan, go to the master bedroom and look beneath the seventh tatami mat from the right. That was where our clan used to hold meetings. You will find the answers there." Sasuke remembered. Those had been the last words Itachi had said to him after slaughtering the clan and leaving only him alive.

Since his clan's destruction, he had only lived in his own bedroom. Everywhere else had long been covered in dust.

He counted seven tatami mats from the right. Beneath the seventh one, after he moved it aside, was a small staircase. He quickly went down, but it was pitch-black below. He scanned his surroundings and used a small Fire Release technique to light the torches.

He suddenly found himself facing a massive stone wall that looked incredibly solid and heavy. Sasuke noticed the Sharingan pattern on the wall, so he activated his own Sharingan.

Text now appeared on the previously blank wall. He quickly formed the hand seals according to the instructions on the wall, and the stone moved aside. Clearly, only someone with the Sharingan could enter.

Sasuke entered and saw a large room with a stone tablet in the middle.

Using his Sharingan, Sasuke studied the stone tablet carefully. It seemed that he could only read a little, but from what he could make out, there was another level beyond the Sharingan: the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Maybe the more advanced my eyes become, the more I'll be able to read, Sasuke thought.

Everything written on the tablet matched what Itachi had said. Sasuke knew he needed to reach the next level of his eyes in order to fight his brother.

"To defeat him, I'll pay any price."

## Naruto, Hinata, and Jiraiya ##

According to Jiraiya's spies, Tsunade had last been seen in a small town in the Fire Country called Sandalwood Town.

Jiraiya booked one room for the two of them and another for himself.

That night, Jiraiya used a stealth technique to sneak into their room, notebook in hand and ready to write.

Trying to peep on someone with the Sharingan and Byakugan was truly a foolish choice. Hinata's Gentle Fist struck him hard again, followed by Naruto's Rasengan, sending him rolling shamefully out of the room.

The next day, after walking for several hours, they began to see the town on the horizon. A massive castle stood in its center.

They arrived at the gates and entered the city.

"Let's stay at an inn for the night. We'll start looking tomorrow," Jiraiya said. They all nodded.

They walked peacefully through town, completely unaware of the two people following them. The pair kept their distance and suppressed their chakra to avoid being discovered.

"Looks like the information was accurate. He really did leave the village with Jiraiya, but I don't know that girl," Kisame said as he watched the three enter an inn.

"That girl is Hinata Hyuga. She was once the Hyuga Clan's heir, but she was cast out of the clan," Itachi explained calmly.

"She looks frail, like a doll," Kisame said as he observed her.

"We are ninja. Do not underestimate her. She and Naruto were promoted to chunin together for a reason," Itachi explained.

"But Jiraiya won't be easy to deal with," Kisame said.

"Indeed. Let's find a few beautiful women first," Itachi said, and Kisame gave a lecherous grin.

"Are you looking to get into bed with them?" Kisame asked.

"I heard Jiraiya is an old pervert. This is our best option for distracting him, giving us enough time to get close to Naruto," Itachi explained. Kisame nodded.

"What about that girl?" Kisame asked.

"She is irrelevant. He seems close to her, so we may be able to use that," Itachi said. Kisame nodded.

"Let's go," Kisame said, and the two vanished.