Sai and the Mizukage flew back over the mountain range landing on an outcropping of rock where Shizune and two anbu were waiting. Her and Tsunade were the only advanced medical ninjas here so it had been decided that Shizune would stay hidden rather than fight on the front lines so that she could save her strength for tending to any injured after the battle. He hopped down from his bird.

"Sai!" Shizune ran to where the bird had landed an expression mixed with fear and relief displayed on her face. "Mizukage." She bowed quickly to the woman still seated on the birds back. "How are things going? It sounds intense. Do you need anything?"

"We're okay Shizune, thank you. I just wanted to drop this off." Sai plopped the sealed Hokage on the ground before her. She looked at him questioningly. "It's the First Hokage." Shizune's eyes went wide in surprise. Sai stopped her before she could ask any question. "I'm sorry, we don't have time to answer any questions, I just needed a safe place to put him, we will figure out what to do with him later." He looked to the two Anbu. "If it starts to move, throw it off the mountain." They both nodded curtly. Sai remounted his bird.

"Sai!" He looked down from his bird at Shizune. "Please be careful. Both of you. Stay alive." They both nodded and launched into the sky.

"So, who should we get these seals to? You said there's four left?" The Mizukage asked the question as she surveyed the battlefield. Sai nodded.

"I would say we should try to seal the deadliest of our enemies, but they're all dangerous. I think we should try to seal the ones who are the least likely to be taken care of by other means."

"Hm." The Mizukage tapped her chin in thought. "I think that puts Madara and Orochimaru at the top of the list. Itachi and Deidara as well. They are probably the ones most likely share this mystery man's desires."

"I agree with you on all but one. Not Itachi. I think Sasuke will be able to handle him. You'll have to trust me on that one." She looked at him out of the corner of her eye but didn't argue. "I'm thinking Mu. No one here could give him closure, he's one of the more powerful enemies, and I don't think the Tsuchikage is strong enough anymore to get close enough to hit a vital spot." The Mizukage smirked.

"Don't let him hear you say that."

"I'm trusting you to keep it a secret." Sai replied, his signature smile never leaving his face.

"I'll support the Tsuchikage." She grabbed one of the remaining seals. "Drop me in as close as you can." Sai nodded. "What about the remaining reanimated?"

"Naruto can handle Minato, it's his father after all. Lady Tsunade can manage Jiriaya, she knows a Yin-Yang release, and she has landed hits on him plenty of times."

"That just leaves the Third Hokage."

"I'm confident the Raikage can hold his own until we can get him support." The Mizukage smirked at Sai's response. "Mu has a number of long-range attacks, so we are going to have to come in hot, I don't want him hitting us or the bird."

"Just drop me right overtop of him and get clear. I can handle the rest from there. You can get the rest of these seals where they need to go?" The Mizukage got into a crouching position on the birds back.

"Don't worry about me My Lady, I've got the rest under control. Ready?" She nodded. Sai sent the bird into a swift dive to gain speed, once they had a clear view of Mu up head Sai adjusted course so that they would swoop past just above him. The Mizukage made hand signs as they approached and when they got directly above Mu, she jumped. Mu turned in time to see a stream of lava heading straight for him from above. The Tsuchikage took the opportunity to fire a particle beam at him, forcing Mu to go on the defensive and put some distance between him and them. The Tsuchikage used his ability to control gravity to lower the Mizukage to the ground safely.

"Are you crazy! You could have been killed! What if I hadn't been here to catch you!"

"Ah, but you were, and that's what matters in the end, is it not?"

"It absolutely…" A loud cracking noise interrupted the Tsuchikage's scolding. "My back!" He hunched over; his back having gone out.

"Looks like I got here just in time."

"I'll have you know I was doing just fine before I had to catch you from splattering on the ground like a bug!" He emphasized "you". The Mizukage rolled her eyes.

"We can argue later, right now we need to find a way to get this" She brandished the seal. "Onto Mu."

"Oh, is that all?" The Tsuchikage replied in a mocking tone.

"That's all." She smiled mischievously. She walked over to him and aggressively popped his back in place. He groaned but straightened. "Shall we?" He glared at her but nodded in agreement.

xxx

Sai felt bad he was taking so long to get to Kakashi, but this was war after all, and things rarely went as planned in war. He was certain Kakashi had likely picked up on his plan if he had made it over to that side of the island. It offered a good narrow path that would prevent the Zetsu from coming from all sides and force them to approach only a few at a time. That or they would tumble down the cliffside. Not a permanent solution but every advantage mattered.

He spotted two Anbu back to back, surrounded by Zetsu. He hovered above them, throwing kunai into the closest of the hoard.

"Grab on!" Both Andu jumped up, each one grabbing onto one of the bird's talons. Sai quickly gave them the run down as they flew. Explaining the seals, and the various way of stopping the reanimated enemies. "I need one of you to get two seals to Yamato and one of you to get this seal to Gaara. Then relay everything I've told you to the others on the battlefield, understood?" They both shook their heads. Of the nine Anbu that had come along two had been killed and another injured enough to be out of commission for the rest of the fight. He hated having to send people into danger. He had to order people into situations that he knew, more likely than not, some of them wouldn't come back from. No matter what he did people always died. He clenched his fists. He didn't have time to be dwelling on the fact that he was going to lose good people. He could pout later. He reached into his pouch and passed each one of the Andu a kunai with seals attached. He wished them good luck as he dropped them a short distance away from where Killer B, Yamato, and Guy were fighting a fierce battle. Everything directly around the group of six had been destroyed, leaving a giant section of bare earth. There was no way to get close unsee. Even so, Sai trusted that the Anbu would get the job done. He headed off towards Kakashi.

xxx

Sasuke had pursued Kabuto at a distance until they had reached the other side of the mountain range. Out of sight of the raging battle on the other side he released the transformation jutsu. He didn't know what Kabuto was doing all the way over here, but he knew there was no way it was good. Regardless, it had presented him with the opportunity to take him out. He certainly wasn't going to waste it. Even though he was on the opposite side of the mountain range he would need to be careful to not use to much chakra or he might be detected, and for now it was to everyone's advantage that none of their enemies knew he was here, he couldn't have them alerting Tobi. He moved quickly, making hand signs as he closed in on Kabuto. Before he even broke the tree line, he had formed Chidori, but instead of using it like a blunt weapon he channeled it into the shape of a sword.

Kabuto had turned to face the forest as soon as he had heard what sounded like thousands of birds. He had become accustom to that sound thanks to the hundreds, maybe even thousands of hours spent on Orochimaru's and then Tobi's training grounds. It was Sasuke's Chidori, he was sure of it. He got into a fighting stance. He had a feeling Sasuke wasn't approaching as an ally.

xxx

Itachi glanced over his shoulder. A brief flash of light had caught his attention. As quickly as it had come it was gone but he had recognized it none-the-less. He looked back as Guy went to launch another barrage of attacks, he summoned his crows and sent them fluttering out in all directions temporarily blocking Guy's view. When his view finally cleared Itachi was gone. He clenched his jaw, his hands tightening into fists. He didn't have time to pursue him, there was two equally powerful opponents in front of him. He would have to deal with Itachi later, or trust that one of his companions would. At least now it was three against two.

xxx

Sasuke came out of the forest swinging. Kabuto was already ready with a block, only he wasn't expecting Sasuke's lightening sword. He was blocking with a metal kunai. As soon as they connected electricity shot through Kabuto. He would have yelled out at the pain, but the charge held him in place, his muscles unable to move against the electric current flowing through his body. Sasuke pulled his sword back after what felt like an eternity, letting it dissipate. Kabuto crumbled to the ground panting. Sasuke stood over him.

"You're no match for me Kabuto, and you know it. So, let's not play games. What are you looking for?" Kabuto scowled up at him but didn't argue.

"The reinforcements came over the mountain range. I figured I would scope it out, see who, or what else might be hiding back here that we might need to be worried about." He paused for a moment. "It would appear I was correct in doing so, as I found you. Fighting for the Leaf again, are you?" Sasuke snorted.

"First of all, I found you, not the other way around. Second, don't presume to know what's going on, I have plans of my own. Your jutsu is interrupting them. Undo it."

"No can do Sasuke. I'm loyal to Tobi." Sasuke smirked.

"Loyal enough to die for him? That would be a first. I remember how quickly you turned on Orochimaru. You're loyal to no one but yourself. Do it or die." Kabuto chuckled.

"Killing me won't stop the jutsu, and then you'll never be able to stop them. So, why don't we make a deal?" Sasuke clenched his teeth.

"This isn't a negotiation." Sasuke growled. "If you won't undo it, I'll just find another way." He began making the hand signs for his lightning style when a familiar voice got his attention, stopping him mid sign.

"I wouldn't do that little brother." Itachi stood a few feet away, watching the interaction between Sasuke and Kabuto. An evil smirk formed on Kabuto's face.

"Yes, you really shouldn't Sasuke. Or you'll be forced to fight and kill your big brother all over again. Although, he won't be nearly as weak as when you beat him last time. In fact, maybe he will even kill you this time."

"Ah, not so fast Kabuto, I will be doing no such thing. I came over here to talk with Sasuke. Not do the dirty work you're too weak to take care of yourself." Kabuto's mouth gaped open in shock. Sasuke had fully turned to face Itachi.

"How are you fighting the jutsu?" Itachi clucked his tongue at Sasuke's question.

"I have my ways little brother. We don't have much time, so let's not waste it." He walked forward and poked Sasuke in the forehead.

"You said you wanted to talk, so talk." Sasuke crossed his arms.

"Well, what I've been able to piece together form my short time as a reincarnated being is that the Leaf is facing off with Obito" Sasuke furrowed his brow at hearing the name. "To be honest, I'm surprised to see you fighting alongside them. Last time I saw you, you wanted nothing to do with the village."

"A lot has changed since you died Itachi." Sasuke didn't offer any additional information, choosing to instead focus on the information Itachi has just revealed. "So, Tobi's real name is Obito. Why does that sound familiar?" Itachi's eyes widened slightly in surprise but it quickly changed to amusement.

"You didn't know?" It was more of a statement than a question. "I suppose all that was before your time, and Kakashi doesn't like to talk about it. I shouldn't be surprised that you don't know."

"Get to the point Itachi."

"Kabuto, care to share the answer with the class?" Kabuto had been quietly trying to scoot away, he froze. He was clearly unhappy with the predicament he had found himself in. He huffed.

"Obito Uchiha was Kakashi's teammate, he is the one who gave Kakashi his eye after he was severely injured on a mission during the Third Shinobi War. Everyone presumed him dead, and he more than likely would been if Madara hadn't saved him."

"So, a disciple of Madara's." Sasuke looked between Itachi and Kabuto. "Interesting but not overly useful. I will say it again, get to the point Itachi."

"I'm going to help you little brother. Obito's plan, assuming it's the same as before, will hurt everyone, he needs to be stopped."

"And I'm supposed to trust you?" Sarcasm dripped Sasuke's words. Itachi smirked.

"Of course not, but unless you want to waste time fighting me, which I'll remind you, I can't die, then you don't have much of a choice." Sasuke frowned, sighing internally.

"Kabuto. Are you going to release the jutsu or not?" Sasuke turned as he asked the question and closed the distance between them so quickly it made Kabuto flinch.

"No." The last thing Kabuto saw was Sasuke pulling his arm back to punch.