Chapter 145: A Snake or a Dragon?
General POV
"This is my challenge, Itachi. I have to fight Kabuto alone."
Sasuke jumped from one tree to another, knowing where he had to go.
"I know that you are capable of killing him Sasuke, but we have to stop the Edo Tensei."
To Itachi's surprise, Sasuke gave him a small smirk, as if he had everything covered.
Just before the cave where Kabuto was inside, two snakes as big as humans slithered on the ground towards Sasuke and Itachi.
"You have come, Ssssage ssstudent. Go insssside. Your opponent awaitsss you," one spoke, letting Sasuke through while the other one glanced at Itachi.
Inside the cave, Kabuto sat around his board, controlling his puppets while an old lady sat a bit farther away, smoking a pipe.
Inhaling deeply and letting out the smoke, the old lady glanced towards the entry to the cave.
"Times up, Kabuto. Your opponent has arrived."
"I know. I can feel him," Kabuto stood up and faced the entry where Sasuke's silhouette was seen coming closer.
"Kabuto," Sasuke frowned, seeing the hooded figure standing across from him.
Turning right, he clapped his fist and bowed to the Snake Sage as a sign of respect.
"Enough. Let's get this over with," the Azara spoke, "both of you have trained under me and learned how to harness nature energy. Now you both have to fight to gain the title of true Sage. Any last words?"
"No," smiled Kabuto already prepared to win.
"No," calmly responded Sasuke.
Kabuto chuckled before disrobing, showing the new body he created through experiments.
"It's not like you would have any chance of defeating me. I have transcended and shed off the skin of a snake and become a dragon."
Kabuto really changed and Sasuke could feel his chakra resembled Orochimaru's. His skin and hair were chalk white, with a long snake leaving his abdomen. His eyes were yellow with snake-like pupils and the markings of Orochimaru.
"I am the closest in power to the Sage of the Six Paths!"
From the sidelines, Azala sighed while inhaling her smoke. 'Closest to him?' She could sense the presence of Ishizu Sasaki appearing back on Earth. His power had skyrocketed from the last time she saw him.
She shook her head. What the human did was none of her business, as long as he didn't interfere in this battle. So she focused on the fight.
If one had asked her if she favored one of the two, she would deny such accusations as long as one of them was alive at the end, she would have a Snake Sage.
Thought in her mind she did favor the young Uchiha because that abomination Kabuto created even gave her a shudder.
The fight started, and Sasuke instantly let out his Susanoo. Yet he knew he was at a disadvantage fighting in the cage.
"Sage Art: Muki Tensei"
"Fire Style: Fire Wall"
Sasuke heated up the surrounding area to stop the attack. He knew the abilities one could use while in Sage Mode but to fight Kabuto at 100% he needed room.
Sasuke's Susanoo formed a sword and started breaking the walls around him.
"Are you trying to bury me? A futile attempt, I believe."
Rubble of rocks fell down and even the Snake Sage slithered away so as not to be buried alive. Kabuto frowned as he had to abandon the cave.
Outside, Kabuto saw the shade of Sasuke's Susanoo and when an arrow pierced his body, another Kabuto came out of the mouth.
"Now I can go all out."
Sasuke's eyes showed usage of Sage Mode and this is where the fun began.
Fireball after fireball. Ninjutus after ninjutus. Susanoo's attacks hailed down left and right. Even after spamming so many things, Sasuke hadn't used 20% of his chakra reserves.
On the other side, Kabuto had to fight for his life. His body was enchanted to perfection that even a fatal wound could be struggled off but somewhere in his mind even he still feared death.
Since they were both outside, Itachi had a much better view of the fight. He was proud of Sasuke, but something bugged him about Kabuto.
He was outclassed. The power of the EMS was something Kabuto couldn't defeat, yet it felt like this fight wasn't over.
"This is why I want your body, Sasuke-kun!" Kabuto screamed at Sasuke, leaving yet another body to avoid certain death.
"I knew you Uchiha's had it easy with your precious eyes. Learning jutsus, one had to study for years just by looking at them. Producing massive constructs such as the Susanoo. No wonder Orochimaru was envious of you and your brother. So if you think your eyes are so special, why not use them against you?"
Everyone watched how Kabuto drew blood from a finger and slammed his hand on the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
"Let me introduce you all to my newest creation. I found him outside of Konoha, running away like a wounded dog. I heard you drove this stay away and what you discarded, I took in. Let's see how you deal with your own eyes."
Out of the smoke came a person… no, one couldn't even consider calling this thing a person. Maybe once he was a man, a shinobi of Konohagakure that lived in the shadow of Hiruzen and was the leader of ROOT, but now the definition of a man couldn't apply to him.
What came to light was a monster wearing human skin. The monster that was once been going by the name of Danzo looked disgusting.
His human skin was now Zetsu white while his height soared up to 3 meters. His arms and legs were much longer than those of humans.
The only thing that made one recognize that it was indeed Danzo was his face.
"Go and take care of him," Kabuto ordered, and with a shriek, the monster ran towards Sasuke.
In response, a purple hand extended from Sasuke's back and pierced the monster, ending its misery.
An explosion occurred, but Sasuke was ready for it and shielded himself.
"That's it?" questioned Sasuke after the weak introduction of his pet.
Kabuto just snicked, and Sasuke dodged an arm that come from behind. Turning his head, he frowned when he saw the monster he had just killed a second ago.
If it was just this Sasuke would have no problems fighting it, but if one looked closer they would see.
On the white arms, legs, and bodies were something. Not just something, but eyes.
Sharingan?!
"Hehehe, when I found him, I extracted any knowledge he had. Danzo really loved your clan's eyes, so I gave him a little present and infused him with White Zetsu cells and then implanted 100 Sharingans into his body."
Even Sasuke was shocked to hear this. He knew that Danzo barely escaped but was caught by Kabuto and turned into this?
Sasuke hated Danzo but for all, he cared a painful death was all he wanted for the warmonger. This? He wouldn't want this to happen to his worst enemy.
"There was never a mention of support in this fight, but while my pet will annoy you, I will be the one to take your head," Kabuto called out as he charged at Sasuke.
Fighting Kabuto alone would be hard, but having this monster too…
How would Sasuke win this?
Scene Change
A couple of miles away, two Rinnegans opened. Kabuto had tempered with his second strongest Edo Tensei by remotely activating it in the middle of the fight.
He would use Nagato's human path to sneak attack Sasuke and rip his soul out. It wouldn't matter if the Snake Sage would disagree. Nagato would kill her too if she stood in his way. Snakes were weaker than dragons, after all.
However, Nagato would never arrive to help Kabuto. Maybe it was luck, or maybe it was fated for them to meet again.
After the battle in Ame, Konan recovered from her injuries and wasted no time helping the Allied Shinobi forces to bring an end to the war.
After all, the actual reason why the Akatsuki was created by Yahiko was to stop the war that was raging on in Ame.
Speaking of Yahiko, Konan, for the first time shed tears of happiness as she hugged Yahiko's body, who returned the hug all to happiness.
She didn't care if he felt cold, lifeless even. Just seeing his face, a smiling one and not his corpse controlled by Nagato, made her feel better.
After their reunion, both went out to end the war by finding their lost friend.
Nagato POV
Coming to life once more after using the Rinne Rebirth was not something I wanted, but even then, my body was not my own. I was being controlled by an unknown Jutsu that brought my soul back to life.
For an unknown time, I was just sitting in a cave unable to move an inch before suddenly I felt a shock going through my body and without intention I stood up.
Whoever was controlling me was calling for help, and I had to answer.
Leaving the cave, my body slowly moved towards a location it needed to go.
While walking again was nice, I couldn't help but wonder who had revived me. A Jutsu that lets a deceased person's soul return to another body…
I was sure that this body wasn't my own. After my death, Konan placed my body in Ame next to Yahikos.
A very complex Jutsu. I wondered what had happened after my death. How long has it been and why was I revived?
Trees passed by as I stopped by a cliff. From here my eyes roamed towards a place where late bones protruded from the earth. A bit further away, I saw movement.
Guess this is where I had to go. As I jumped down the cliff, my body automatically reacted towards the Water Dragon that moved towards me.
"Shinra Tensei!" The Deva path activated without my conscience activation and the dragon uselessly splattered against the shock wave.
"We found you."
My eyes widened in shock as I saw who opposed me.
Konan stood still in her former Akatsuki clothes. I was happy that she was alive.
However, the person next to her was the reason for the shock.
I had used the Deva Path for a long time, claiming to be Pain, the leader of the Akatsuki. Though the person standing before me was not the puppet I used. Instead, the smile on his reminded me of my old friend, Yahiko.
"It is nice to see you, my friend. Being back from the dead has a nice way of seeing old friends. Although we are both dead."
There was no doubt this was Nagato. Their friend.
"Yahiko…"
I remembered how he had died to save Konan. My body moved against my will to attack. Yahiko smiled as he and Konan reacted.
"Don't worry, Nagato. I know you still feel hurt by my stupid decision. You are still my friends, so let me and Konan help you."
Yahiko's smile gave me the strength to smile, too.
"Please."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Broxhitman1998
Broxhitman1998 The battle between Sasuke and Kabuto started. Danzo reappeared and I am happy with how he turned out. I hated him in the anime, so he deserves this outcome. Do you love Sharingans so much? Here you can have all of them.
Also, a small interlude to a fight between Konan and Yahiko vs Nagato. I almost forgot to include them.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone