"I don't think we should go in now." Shikamaru said. "We know Itachi is really powerful and this Madara guy looks even stronger. We should just wait for awhile. Madara will likely kill Itachi and then we can move in with the element of surprise."

"But what if Madara is too powerful for us to beat?" Iruka said. "We might need Itachi's help."

"I don't think we have to worry about Madara." Kakashi said. "What can he do if I just grow to my max height and crush him?"

That seemed to decide it. They waited it out. The fight was brutal. Itachi sent waves of black fire at Madara all of which were destroyed by Madara's eyes. Itachi tried to send the fire at the giants but Madara was far too fast for that. Itachi soon realized his eyes were useless in this fight and switched tactics. He pulled out a smoke bomb and tossed it at Madara. It exploded blinding him for a few seconds before the smoke dissipated. Itachi used those few seconds to send three clones up to the giants' face. As soon as they touched their skin, they exploded pushing them back. Itachi then caught the three giants in a genjutsu and forced them to attack Madara before he could cancel the illusion. Itachi frowned as he saw Madara's body phasing in and out dodging the attacks with ease. The giants were soon back under Madara's power. Madara walked forward and said, "Enough of these games Itachi.It's time I showed the second power of my Sharingan."

Itachi walked forward to meet Madara, ready to fight with whatever Madara through at him. Madara's eye flashed and, faster than even Itachi could follow, a force smashed into Itachi creating an enormous crater in the ground. Madara walked to the edge of the crater and saw that Itachi seemed to missing.

"How disappointing. I wasn't even using a quarter of my power. I thought for sure Itachi would survive for at least another few minutes."

Madara turned to leave and found himself face to face with Itachi. Madara smiled under his mask and said, "What a surprise. How did you survive?"

Itachi said, "My most powerful defense. Susano."

Madara's eye narrowed and said, "I see. How did you accomplish that?"

Itachi continued, "Your eyes can cancel any Sharingan technique. I knew that, yet I had a theory. If your were using your eye to attack, could you cancel my own techniques? That's your Sharingan's weakness."

Madara clapped his hands and said, "Bravo Itachi. You've managed to see my eyes one weakness. But our time together is now over. You were a worthy opponent as I expected."

Itachi jumped back as a ghostly skeletal figure appeared behind him. Madara's eye once again flashed and Itachi moved forward, the sword from Susano aimed at Madara, ready to trap him in an eternal genjutsu. The sword stopped inches from Madara as the unseen force smashed down on Itachi again. Susano stood no chance. It smashed as easily as if it were a shadow clone and Itachi was once again forced deep into a crater. This crater was much larger and much deeper, burrowing straight down into the ground, the bottom lost to darkness. Madara knew that this time Itachi was through. He turned to his giants and said, "Alright boys, let's get back to the hideout."

Before he could move, Team J sprang into action. Kakashi and Jiraiya moved to subdue Madara while Shikamaru and Iruka went for the giants. Madara easily dodged the attack and said, "My, my, my. If it isn't the Leaf shinobi."

Kakashi turned back around to face Madara and said, "You don't stand a chance against us Madara. Prepare to die."

Madara tilted his head and said, "Oh dear. You have no idea what you're dealing with do you?"