I do not own Naruto

Chapter 8

Itachi and Sasuke 4

The fighting continuing on in and around the home of the Hokage, the people fighting were steadily winning with an almost relative ease.

In the case of Minato vs. Sasori, the former had cracked the shell and had drawn out the actual man himself from within his puppet. Right now working intensely on getting through these new puppets, the blonde man was focused on keeping this figure from going after his wife, student, and the children.

And he was doing a fantastic job of it because the puppeteer was considering retreating for now.

As for Orochimaru, the Snake Sannin was getting further and further enraged as an 8 year old boy with a full Sharingan with three tomoes in each eye was using his own jutsus against him.

AND WINNING!

This child was almost impossible to deal with as just when he thought he had him. The young boy would turn the tables on him quicker then the Snake Sannin could avoid. And with that woman and that blasted Hatake boy taking out his summons quicker then he could take out this child.

He knew he was in trouble.

Should the other two finish up, he knew that although Hatake could not beat him power wise, through skill combined with this brat and the other woman, he would be at an impasse. Unlike his former teammates, who were either two stubborn to quit, or to dumb to do so, he was not stupid.

But before he could escape the boy was doing something he had never seen before. Gold reptilian eyes watching his hands move, the man knew that the 8 year old was getting ready to cast a Genjutsu...

Moving his hands to get out of it, it was too late, and he began to scream...

Loud and chilling, it did not take long for him to gather his senses and dispel it. But after doing so and finding that both Hatake and the woman had dispensed with his pets, he hissed in rage.

Saying nothing as this was a first he experienced in a loss; he knew that for what he was about to do the Akatsuki will kill him. But then he had been planning on leaving them anyway. There was nothing new that they could do for him after all.

He had so many plans he wished to accomplish and he had honestly thought they could help him do it. But it seems they were more occupied with this plan of theirs. One that he knows could be trouble if allowed to come to fruition.

Still though it mattered not for at least several years... by then he should have accomplished what he needs to do. And not to mention he should have pulled a few strings to forestall them...

Regardless though, if that blasted Namikaze had died, perhaps he would have pressed on against this child. This boy who dared to best him in battle!

He would not forget this.

But now that he could hear the crashing of things heading towards him. He wasn't going to hang around to deal with the man who single-handedly ended the Third Great War. Well at least he wasn't going to deal with the Yellow Flash of Konoha, before he was ready to.

He needed a few more jutsus after all, especially one that could counter that blasted Flying Thunder God technique.

Taking off as quickly as he came in, Minato came rushing back. Although looking bruised and battered, the blonde male looked over at the panting three who were exhausted. Itachi especially as the 8 year old seemed ready to collapse now, rather then be the cool collected boy he was known to be.

"Where's the Snake?"

"He got away." Kakashi stated as Minato managed to grab and support the now falling 8 year old. "Itachi held out against him, as that damned Snake kept his summons on me and Ayeka."

A soft and yet sad smile crossing Minato's lips as a light snore now comes from the child in his arms. "Just like his father would have done."

Not really sure if he should say anything, he knew that as ANBU arrived, that Kakashi would take care of tracking them down.

The boys left with the Third who at the time had been visiting the tower, to see abut lunch with his successor. The two women with the children having spotted him as they entered, the elderly man had been happy to look after the four children, to allow Kushina and Rin to send for aide.

With an ANBU Squad beside him, another had followed after the two women, and hence with the arrival of Kushina and Rin both. The two women set to looking after Minato and the others who had fought. The Squad told of whom it was, who attacked, they knew to be careful of both as they vanished.

In the meantime as news of the attack had spread, another worried father remained where he was as his wife and others left to go and check on his boys.

Itachi had held off Orichamaru long enough to allow his brother and Minato's children to get away.

Sasuke was currently in the tower bonding with not only the oldest of his former best friend's children. But according to the rumors running around the compound, the two had the looks to becoming the best of friends. The blonde was the complete opposite of Sasuke and many would think that the two boys would loathe each other.

But even now, even only after not even a day rumors have it that the two three year olds have the promise of something more. Much like their fathers...

Hearing the tired voice now of his eldest intermingled with that of his youngest son who was telling his wife all that he had seen a few hours later. He was surprised as he heard what his youngest started going on an on about.

"A new summons?"

"Yep momma!" The three year old replied happily. "Uncle Minato told me and Naruto and his brothers all about it, when they brought Itachi to see me at the tower." The little boy said as he hugged his big brother. Having been scared that he was getting hurt, the child had almost been inconsolable until Minato had shown up with Itachi in his arms dozing after suffering chakra exhaustion.

"Yep you know the day that the...what was it again?" The three year old asked his elder brother who had him on his back. The little boy was holding on to him tightly as if he couldn't let go.

"The Fox attacked?"

"Yeah that, well Uncle Minato said that as a reward for beating it up, that the Shinigami and the First Summon gave him and Naruto a gift."

"Really... What?"

"Summons!" The little three year old said excitedly. "Naruto has summons that guard him and his family when he in big trouble like we did!"

"Itachi is this true?" Mikoto asked in shock. The 8 year old just looks at his mother calmly as he nods his head.

"Saw them myself Mother." Itachi replied. "The Toads did emerge as did...the Foxes."

Stopping at that minute, Mikoto looked at her son with a mixture of shock and fear on her delicate features. "Did you say foxes son?"

"Yes mother." Itachi said quietly. "And contrary to what was in the past years ago and I am sure you can ask Sasuke as well as Kakashi-san, Rin-sama, and the others. These foxes protected us."

Still startled by the fact that foxes protected her children, Mikoto whose first instinct was to forbade her children from associating with the blonde child pushed it down as Sasuke continued to babble about how two white foxes with four tails a piece made sure that he and the Hokage's children were ok when that bad ninja tried to take them.

Unaware of the fact that someone was listening, the fact that Itachi did not refute went a long way in making people of the clan think about what they heard.

The foxes called the blonde child Little Master?

They protected the children?

By all accounts the only memories of a fox that they had were ones that caused death, destruction, and mayhem. Yet these did not...

Was the child truly in control of the demon?

Or was the demon biding his time and waiting?

For most, they realized that with everything over the years, the way the boy has been treated regardless of his guards being present. That the Kyuubi would have killed those responsible if it was truly in control. But it did not...

The child was truly the one in charge.

But yet for some...among them a man who despite what his heart was telling him, that he should trust his best friend and believe in him. He and others now even more then ever believed the demon was just waiting.

And now they plotted to take him out...

The spirits of the Foxes who guard the door of souls watched what was happening, and in doing so they sighed in pained regret at what they are witness to. It seems in some things no matter how hard most try to change events.

Some things were inevitable....they would happen whether they liked it or not.

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I think you all know what is coming...