Brothers, Fight Together!! (volume)

Brothers, Fight Together!! ( 兄弟、共闘!! , Kyōdai, Kyōtō!! , Viz: Uchiha Brothers United Front) is volume 61 of the Naruto manga.

## Chapter 576
" The Guidepost of Reunion " ( 再会の道標 , Saikai no Michishirube )

After Sasuke spots Itachi , he chases his brother down. Itachi refuses to be swayed from his mission, so Sasuke attempts to use Susanoo to stop him, but Itachi counters with his own. While Sasuke chases his brother the two have a conversation. Elsewhere, a regenerating Madara decides to target Tsunade after realising she was a Senju . Deeming her a weak woman who had seemingly inherited nothing from Hashirama who he claimed was even more skilled in medical ninjutsu than she was, he goes on to say that even more so that a weak person, he detested a weak Senju. Tsunade however rebuffs him, telling him that though she had not inherited the Wood Release kekkei genkai her grandfather possessed and that he may have even been more skilled than her with medical ninjutsu — since he did not require the use of hand seals to use it, Madara made two mistakes. One was assuming she was a weak woman and the other was that she had inherited nothing from her ancestor. She states that she inherited something more than simple power, the Will of Fire — something Madara should not take so lightly.

## Chapter 577
" Blade of Hatred " ( 憎しみの刃 , Nikushimi no Yaiba )

Madara doubts Tsunade can defeat him with the Will of Fire , stating power has nothing to do with will. Tsunade disagrees, saying that the will she inherited made her strong, crediting it for her revolution of medical ninjutsu , building an entire system, and making its three rules, which she lists to him as she releases her seal . She then reveals another rule: that only those who have mastered the Ninja Art Creation Rebirth — Strength of a Hundred Technique are allowed to break the other three rules. The other Kage are stunned to learn about this, while Madara is unfazed, having never heard of the technique. Tsunade explains it's a kinjutsu only she knows how to use. Madara says that getting rid of the pollen and adding a medical-nin won't help their odds. Tsunade says all of them will go at it at once if it comes down to it, and that she's not just a medical-nin. Madara covers himself with Susanoo 's ribcage, which Tsunade cracks with her attack. Madara notes her to be slower than the Raikage, but stronger than him. Madara tries immolating Tsunade, but is stopped by Mei , who also attacks . A and Ōnoki deal a heavy blow just as Tsunade lands a powerful kick, sending Madara crashing down. Madara concedes that Tsunade isn't as weak as he thought. Madara reminds her that she'll get herself killed if she simply rushes into battle, the Kage's source of treatment and recovery. Madara wonders what Hashirama left them, saying they're nothing compared to Hashirama, and that if he had known how weak they'd be, he'd have taught Hashirama how to rise from the dead. He says the only power Hashirama left is clinging to him, and that his own brother only left him his eyes and their power. Tsunade asks if he heard nothing of what she said. Madara says the only thing that could be passed to them is hatred. At the same time, Dan Katō and Chōza Akimichi have a conversation where Chōza informs him that Madara had been reincarnated and that Tsunade — as Hokage — and the other Kage were battling him, which shocks Dan. Despite Chōza's confidence in Tsunade, Dan tells him that he should use his time finding the caster of the technique instead of guarding the barrier that held him as Madara was not to be taken lightly, expressing his belief that only Hashirama could possibly defeat Madara. Back at the battle with Madara, Tsunade manages to land a devastating blow on Madara and as he regenerates, Gaara binds and seals him. This is however, revealed to be nothing more that a wood clone , as Tsunade is impaled by a Susanoo Sword and Madara emerges from a root telling them that when he fought Hashirama in the past, only his dōjutsu could see through the clone. To keep Sasuke from following him, Itachi summons a flock of crows, which stall Sasuke. Itachi finds Kabuto , saying that he felt where his chakra came from while he was being controlled earlier, citing it as a weakness of the technique. Kabuto isn't concerned, as he's the only one who can stop the technique. After seeing Sasuke close behind Itachi, Kabuto gets excited, exclaiming his luck had turned for the better which leaded and exasperated Itachi to remark that things had turned out worse than he expected.

## Chapter 578
" The Weakness of Despair!! " ( 絶望の弱点!! , Zetsubō no Jakuten!! )

Having arrived at Kabuto 's hideout, Sasuke identifies Kabuto. Kabuto attempts to manipulate him into attacking Itachi , but Sasuke explains his goal was to talk with his brother and that Kabuto, who has now taken Orochimaru 's mantle, is his enemy. Meanwhile Tsunade reveals her new technique's power, which allows instant regeneration without the usage of hand seals, and throws the sword that impales her back at Madara . While he absorbs it into his Susanoo , Ōnoki tries to blast Madara with Dust Release from behind, but Madara simply absorbs it, claiming he could have done it earlier but instead took it as a chance to demoralise them with Hashirama 's visage. Tsunade questions his confidence, stating the Kage forced him into using a wood clone . Instead of rebuffing her, Madara admits five versus one is a good match-up number and creates twenty-five wood clones , five for each Kage. Sasuke attempts to kill Kabuto, but Itachi stops him, explaining the need to discover the counter to the Impure World Reincarnation beforehand. Sasuke agrees to cooperate on the terms that Itachi will answer his questions once they're done, and Itachi accepts, as both brothers and Kabuto ready themselves for battle.

## Chapter 579
" Brothers, Fight Together!! " ( 兄弟、共闘!! , Kyōdai, Kyōtō!! )

Closing his hood and stating that he was an introverted person and as such it was unsettling to be stared at by so many people, Kabuto sends his snakes charging towards Sasuke and Itachi . The brothers are able to fend this attack off, however Kabuto uses this opportunity to hide in one of his snakes. Here, Kabuto reveals the abilities that he had gained from experimenting with Sasuke's former teammates: Karin 's healing abilities (which derive from her being an Uzumaki ), a similar ability to Suigetsu 's Hydrification Technique as well as Jūgo 's ability to absorb the forces of nature. After revealing that he had found and trained at the Ryūchi Cave — much to Itachi's shock — he narrowly dodges Sasuke's attack. Emerging from the snake's mouth he reveals that he had finally surpassed Orochimaru and was able to become a sage and declares that he was now a dragon after Sasuke calls him an imperfect snake like Orochimaru.

## Chapter 580
" The Brothers' Time " ( 兄弟の時間 , Kyōdai no Jikan )

Kabuto launches his technique at the Uchiha brothers. As Itachi rushes over to Sasuke , a blinding light and violent air vibrations suddenly erupt. Sasuke and Itachi are paralysed by the air vibrations, but Kabuto is still able to move because of his liquified body and can still see because of the brille over his eyes. Kabuto goes after Sasuke first. Itachi protects him with Susanoo . Itachi explains that he already knows where Kabuto's going to attack, so he can act according and explains that he's not a sensor , Nagato was. Kabuto jumps onto the ceiling. Itachi tells Sasuke to remember the plan they used when they went on a mission together. Sasuke remembering hunting a huge boar as he puts the plan into action with his brother. Sasuke thinks he has Kabuto, but then is shocked to see Kabuto off to the side stabbing Itachi. Itachi's body is revealed to be a crow clone , and the real Itachi counterattacks, cutting off a piece of Kabuto's horn. Itachi and Sasuke remember their time together and prepare to catch the "snake" as Kabuto states it would take some time to get used to having horns.

## Chapter 581
" Everyone's Konoha " ( それぞれの木ノ葉 , Sorezore no Konoha )

Amused at the fact that though Sasuke should hate Itachi , the two seemed to be getting along well, Kabuto Yakushi states that he understands that something might have happened during the brothers' battle, could not understand what Sasuke could want from a dead person. After hearing Sasuke declare that he wanted to know the truth, Kabuto surmises that Sasuke was suspicious of his brother, having already heard the truth and as such never returned to Konohagakure because of his intent to destroy it for making his brother suffer. Calling Itachi a liar and stating that he had gone as far as to eradicate his entire clan in order to protect the village, he asks Sasuke whether or not what he was doing was more akin to his own goals of wanting to continue what Orochimaru started and destroy Konoha. Attempting to inveigle him to his side once again, Sasuke has a flashback of a conversation he overheard with a group of Konoha-nin bad-mouthing Itachi after which he declares that he was nothing like Kabuto and that crushing Konoha was his own ambition. Recalling his life in Konoha, Kabuto begins to renounce the village and tells Sasuke that he would be his new brother. Telling his brother not to listen to Kabuto, Itachi commences his plan of action, telling his brother that he would use one of the clan's ultimate dōjutsu . Believing it to be Izanagi , Sasuke questions his brother on this. Itachi however corrects his brother as he clashes with Kabuto while wielding Sasuke's sword telling him that this was a technique that can decide destiny.

## Chapter 582
" Nothing " ( 何も無い , Nani mo nai )

Kabuto attacked the Uchiha brothers with his Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation technique, causing the cave formations to attack them. Having used his Susanoo to protect Sasuke , Itachi was incapacitated between the rocks. As Kabuto retrieved a talisman from his snake, he attempted to rewrite Itachi's mind. Sasuke created a ring of Amaterasu flames to prevent Kabuto from taking any further action. Commending Sasuke's strategy , Kabuto told him nonetheless that they were not capable of defeating him. Continuing to brag about his accomplishments, he states that of anyone currently alive, he had come the closest to the Sage of the Six Paths and that compared to him, the Uchiha were nothing. This prompts Sasuke to lash out at him, but he was stopped by a fully-regenerated Itachi. Itachi told Kabuto that he reminded him of his former self though the two of them were very different. He then told him that because he did not understand his own limitations, the value of comrades and who he really was, he was doomed to fail as he did when he was alive. With this, Kabuto retorted that they were the ones that knew nothing about him and that for his whole life, he had tried to find who he really was. Kabuto also had a flashback to his earliest memory of being found by Nonō and Urushi . He then stated that for his whole life, he had nothing.

## Chapter 583
" Who is This? " ( これは誰だ , Kore wa Dare da )

Kabuto reminisced on the time when the orphanage aided several Konohagakure shinobi by healing them. Asked by Orochimaru , who thought his skills were impressive whether or not he had thought of being a shinobi , to which Kabuto declined. Nonō was later approached by Danzō Shimura , Orochimaru and another unknown shinobi, who blackmailed her into undertaking an intelligence gathering mission based on the intel they received on Iwagakure 's attack plans. Taking Kabuto along with them to replace a dead Root member, the young man was sent on several spy missions in different hidden villages inclusive of the Five Great Shinobi Countries . On a mission in Iwagakure, his cover was blown and as he attempted to escape he was confronted by an Iwa-nin. Kabuto attacked the ninja with his chakra scalpel severely wounding the enemy. This person turned out to be Nonō much to Kabuto's shock as he tried to heal her. She however did not remember him, which devastated Kabuto who ran off and left her as Kitsuchi and another Iwa-nin approached them. Devastated that she did not remember him and wondering who he was, Kabuto was once again approached by Orochimaru who stated that he had become quite the shinobi.

## Chapter 584
" Kabuto Yakushi " ( 薬師カブト , Yakushi Kabuto )

Kabuto was startled by Orochimaru 's approach. Orochimaru said he's been watching Kabuto and Nonō for a long time, and invited him to come with him, promising to reveal to him the reason Nonō attacked him and didn't recognise him. Orochimaru then took Kabuto to his medically-equipped hideout, telling Kabuto he's the first person he had brought there. Kabuto questioned Orochimaru on why he brought him there, and Orochimaru was pleased with his enquiring nature. Orochimaru reveals that Root designed for Kabuto and Nonō to kill each other, as they became too skilled as spies, and that their knowledge made them too dangerous. Orochimaru explained that Danzō told Nonō the reason Kabuto joined Root, and she begged him to free Kabuto. Danzō agreed, provided she killed one man , which turned out to be Kabuto, though she wasn't told of this. Orochimaru showed Kabuto photos Nonō was shown through the years, as proof Kabuto was growing up. At some point, the photos were changed, showing someone other than Kabuto, making Nonō believe Kabuto was someone else, living a civilian life, and being sent on missions on different countries, they would never meet. Kabuto figured Orochimaru was sent to kill the one who survived. Orochimaru told him he's correct, and Kabuto attacked him viciously, all the while asking who he is now that the only person who knew him was gone. Orochimaru regurgitates himself, and told Kabuto he's not who he thinks, and that he was like him. He explained to Kabuto that he was the research he made, always changing himself, adding knowledge and skills, and that he valued Kabuto's skill, that being the reason why he assembled that hideout. He added that he planned to create Otogakure , a village without country, and fashioned Kabuto a new background. Kabuto became Orochimaru's spy, pretending to be a spy for Sasori in order to learn about Akatsuki , and aided Orochimaru in his experiments through the years. After Orochimaru's defeat at Sasuke 's hand, Kabuto injected himself with blood from Orochimaru's true form's remains, looking for his true self.

## Chapter 585
" To Be Myself " ( ボクがボクであるために , Boku ga Boku de Aru Tame ni )

Having finished reminiscing about his childhood, Kabuto tells the brothers that after assimilating Orochimaru 's DNA, he continued to add things to himself and that as his pawns were a show of his own power and that he would not allow Itachi to oppose him. Even though Itachi rejects what Kabuto says, Kabuto presses on with his attack. As Sakon emerges from the base of his navel snake, he has him use his Attack of the Twin Demons technique to transform into Jirōbō , who then uses the Earth Release: Earth Shore Return technique to part the circle of flames that the Uchiha siblings had created around themselves. Giving them no time to react, he brings forth Kidōmaru next and has him use the Spider Web Unrolling technique to trap the brothers — who use Amaterasu to incinerate the uncuttable web. Moving behind the brothers and producing Kimimaro next, he has him use the Dance of the Seedling Fern technique to block the area behind them while also creating another web in front of them, effectively caging the brothers in. After they manage to escape, Kabuto uses Tayuya and her Demonic Flute: Phantom Sound Chains technique to attack the siblings with an auditory genjutsu effectively incapacitating them. Bringing forth Orochimaru himself finally, Kabuto has him transform into his white snake form and attack the brothers. They however find a way to escape the genjutsu and fend the snake off by casting genjutsu on each other. Kabuto, however, appears from the mouth of the snake with a surprise attack and bisects Itachi, stating that a genius that has had everything would not understand him wanting to find his true self and then declared that no one would stand in his way with this.

## Chapter 586
" Izanami's Activation " ( イザナミ発動 , Izanami Hatsudō )

Regenerating, Itachi called out to Sasuke as Kabuto moved to implant his talisman to rewrite Itachi's mind. Responding, Sasuke threw his sword at Kabuto. Kabuto caught the sword with his navel-snake, and dodged the grasp of Sasuke's Susanoo . Sasuke launched a fireball at Kabuto who countered it with a large torrent of water which swept Sasuke off his feet. Through the mist created from the two clashing techniques, Kabuto noticed that Itachi, whom he stabbed with the sword for him disappeared into a flurry of crows and attack Kabuto with the sword he took from him. Chastising him for using the same attack pattern he had used before to cut his horn off, to which Itachi rebuffs that he cannot be harmed also refuting Kabuto's claims that genjutsu cannot affect him, stating that it already had. This sequence of events repeats itself once again until Kabuto begins to notice the déjà vu , regardless of what he did differently. It was ultimately revealed that the entire battle was taking place within Kabuto's head, as he was trapped within Izanami .

## Chapter 587
" When It Turns 9 o'clock " ( 9時になったら , 9-Ji ni Nattara )

Using this time, Sasuke questioned his brother about Izanami . Itachi explained the mechanism behind the technique, the history of their clan , their use of Izanagi and why Izanami was created. He then told his brother that Kabuto would be freed from Izanami once he accepted his fate. Somewhat angered that Itachi would use a technique that the victim could escape, Sasuke questioned his brother who told him that he wanted to give Kabuto the opportunity to accept his fate — something he himself could not do during his lifetime. This explanation only served to irate Sasuke more who believed his brother to be perfect, but Itachi refuses this claim. All throughout this, Kabuto continued to battle on in his mind, refusing to give up. Elsewhere on the battlefield, a grown up Urushi , told one of his comrades about his home and hoped that by the time he got back, his brother, Kabuto, would be there. Meanwhile at the cave, Itachi prepared to end the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation .

## Author's Note