Sakura's eyes twitched left and then right, she had been effectively surrounded and the Mist nins all had a weapon of sort in hand ready to engage. Sakura reached behind and unsheathed the short blade that was resting on her back above her medical pouch and changed her stance ready to defend against several Mist nins who were smiling with evil excitement. A bead of sweat whisked down the side of her temple and the tension in the air was so thick that one could cut it with a knife.
"Don't you think it's foolish to take us on? It's 1 verses 20, your chances of winning are low," one man taunted he stepped forward and Sakura presumed him as the captain of this unit making him her official target. She remembered from her Academy days that in order to get the upper hand one needed to take out the captain of a group, typically morale would fall then the tides of battle switching in ones favor. Quickly Sakura took in the mans weight and height, he was a hefty man thick with large muscles. Speed was most likely not his forte as he would be relying on brute force to defeat an enemy. She would need to be quick and decisive with her movements as not to waste useless energy.
Instantly she charged him sending chakra to her feet for a burst of speed, sheathing her short blade, the man took out a long sword that was as thick as his beefy legs and swung for her, unexpectedly the man was much faster than Sakura had calculate and she had to expend chakra to deflect the large sword away from her.
The man let out in a cackling shout, "Aha I told you winning wasn't possible."
Sakura tightened her fist and gritted her teeth, she had miscalculated but was now able to gauge his speed and attack. Sakura again charged forward sending more chakra to her feet propelling her under sword as she slid on her knees. She then kicked the mans feet from under him, she stood quickly gathered chakra in her fist and slammed in into the mans gut pushing him to the ground breaking the earth underneath him.
Sakura stood and watched as people looked at her with disbelief and Sakura once again unsheathed her short blade and took a defense stand watching intensely for any possible movements and as if on que the others started to attack, Sakura dodged and threw a several chakra infused punches at them. Bones could be heard breaking under the immense power of her punches and kicks. One by one people started to realize who she was.
"It's her, the Leafs medical nin," one screeched behind her, soon enemies flooded the field and Sakura took in a deep breath, she knew this was going to be challenging by herself but she had not expected that so many would be lying in wait for a Leaf ninja, they were clearly going to try to ambush camp during the night. The realization ignited her fire of will within her and her emerald eyes turned deadly scaring many of those close to her.
"I will not allow you to hurt anymore of my comrades. You're finished," Sakura announced to them gathering an impressive amount of chakra into her fist, that the chakra could be seen gathering in her right hand. She then thrashed it into the ground crumbling the ground around her taking out several the units. Fighting between her and the enemy ensued and Sakura maneuvered in an elegant dance of risk just to get in close for deadly attacks, taking out a people one by one. She continued to send chakra to her feet to keep up her speed as not to let someone's jutsu capture her.
"She's uses deadly taijutsu and medical knowledge to inflict injury, don't let her get close," a female ninja with long purple hair commanded at her troop as she and others jumped back to avoid falling to her Sakura's pit. Sakura locked onto the woman and charged forward flipping over one person and using her momentum to take out two people with kicks to the back of their heads. Her body count was stacking up quickly and fear started to slowly grip the units causing some people to flee in fear for their lives.
"There's no escaping me," Sakura huffed in anger, she had fallen into a deep dark place inside of her mind and was now running on pure anger and hatred for these people. Sakura gathered another large amount of chakra into her fist and slammed it into the ground. Causing the ground to explode in a powerful display, it was her power move that unnerved many when they witnessed it.
When Sakura looked up from the crater she had created the opening was surrounded by ninja who were observing her. Sakura swallowed knowing she was starting to get tired, she expended much more chakra than she have and now she was realizing that her plan would be complete.
"Lightening blade," A loud command came from above her and Sakura was surprised to see Sasuke now standing in front of her in a protective manner.
"Sasuke," Sakura said befuddled.
"Rasengan," then came Naruto's voice and when Sakura turned to look behind her there was Naruto having the same protective stance.
"She is our medic, you can't have her," Naruto yelled at the enemy. Then Naruto turned his head and gave her a sideways grin, "You didn't really think you could just run off like that did you," Naruto said confidently. And Sakura was surprised when tears spilled from her eyes. She had prepared to die here but to take out as much of the enemy as possible before she had. Sakura lowered her head and relief washed over her. She then whipped her tears and gave the woman with the long purple hair her death glare.
"You tell your Mizukage, that the Leaf will not lose this war. And you can tell that Lord that I'm coming to take him out personally. That's if you survive battling us three," Sakura taunted a sick smirk gracing her lips.
"Get reinforcements now," the woman commanded and a few from her group split off to follow her order.
Sakura jumped forward towards them and cut off their path. She punched one in the gut and kicked the other across the face breaking his neck. The last one fell back onto his butt and screamed with fear as Sakura brought her fist down onto him killing him as well.
When she looked behind her Naruto and Sasuke were taking care of the people that had followed her. The three regrouped their backs to each other. "The one with purple hair is the leader, we take her out and the group will crumble," Sakura assessed.
"Got it," Naruto said throwing a few kunai knocking a few back but one came whizzing by that Sasuke redirected with a shuriken.
"Let's go," Sasuke said coolly and the three of them started to attack. Lightening chirped from Sasukes sword as he charged the Mist nin who had now started fill the field with mist to try to confuse them. Sakura being quick minded pounded the ground and kicked whatever debris came up into the mist effectively clearing large quantities of it. Naruto himself had effectively maneuvered into sectioning a part of the company off from the rest with shadow clones.
Sasuke activated his Sharingan and swung his sword through the mist with ease slicing through flesh blood spattering around the ground. Sasuke heard several people let out gargled moans and Sasuke heard bodies drumming onto the ground behind him. He blinked his red eye and sheathed his sword.
Naruto threw his wind shuriken into a group of Mist nins and heard their agonizing screams of pain, the sound infiltrated his mind and burned itself into his memory. He hated taking life away but his desire to protect the Leaf village and Sakura was stronger than his will to let people live.
Sakura was engaged in a three-way battle of taijutsu but came out victorious as each opponent fell in defeat after suffering a blow from her. Sakura was aiming for vital areas and doing as much damage to internal organs as possible, sometimes killing someone instantly as she ruptured organs.
The three regrouped and Sakura was now starting to reach her limit. She then unleashed her seal and power surged through her as black markings slowly started to appear on her body. Out of the corner of her eye she saw one man run into the forest and cursed. "They are going to have reinforcements arrive soon. Get ready," she said and both Naruto and Sasuke nodded preparing for the bloody fight that was to come.
Some hours as the sun began to raise over the field the three of them had successfully defeated the large company that planned to ambush the Leafs camp. Only a few remained and they were easily captured, Sakura tied the woman with long purple hair. The woman bit down on her tongue hard.
"Oh no you don't," Sakura said quickly healing the woman. Sasuke shoved a gag in her mouth to avoid any further instances.
The group walked back to camp with at least five captured captians and one commander. The intel that these people had would be invaluable to taking out the rest of the Mists army. When they got back Shikamaru stood there with his hands on his hips, he looked angry at Naruto.
"I thought I told you to stand down," he accused with Naruto only chuckling and rubbing the back of his neck.
"We came with gifts," Naruto joked and Shikamaru looked in surprise.
"Who are these people," he inquired.
"These five are unit captains," Sasuke said handing each one off to a Leaf shinobi who took them away.
"This one is a commander," Sakura said kicking the back of the woman's knees forcing her to kneel. "I figured we could use some intel. This one is wily so during interrogation make sure to have a medic nin on staff," Sakura stated. "Shikamaru I have a plan that I need to discuss with Kakashi, can you send me home," Sakura inquired looking past Shikamaru and at the captures that were being led away.
"I've actually sent a messenger ahead to tell Lord Sixth that you had run off, so you better get going," Shikamaru jerked his head.
Sakura didn't reply and took off in the direction of her home village.
"She's different. Colder," Shikamaru confirmed with Naruto who nodded his head. "Do you know what her plan is?"
"No, she hasn't said anything to either of us. I can only imagine what is going on in her head," Naruto confessed.
"Not anything good. I read her evaluation report from last night, she's suffering from immense guilt and seeing the bodies stack up one by one is starting to affect her mental state. The doctor recommended that it would be best for her to stay in the village for a little while. Lord Sixth will know what to do. After all that's her sensei," Shikamaru concluded knowing that Sakura hadn't planned to come back with captives, it was Naruto and Sasuke that saved her from her suicide mission. He knew he didn't have to say it to them, they both already knew Sakura was forever changed at this point.
Sakura kept focused not even bothering to freshen up from the mornings battle. She was covered with dirt, blood and her hair and clothes were soaked with sweat. Still, regardless of her appearance she pushed herself harder in order to get home before a miscommunication happened the war only became worse.
Sakura spent four days traveling, she had barely had anything to eat or a chance to sleep. Sakura was completely spent when she finally made it to Kohana's gates. She fell to her knees and gasped for air, her vision was slightly blurry. A young male chuinin came running up to her.
"Are you alright," the young man reached for her arm and help her up letting her use him as her crutch.
"Lord Sixth. . .take me," Sakura breathlessly commanded. Slowly the pair made their way through the village and to the Hokages office. Kakashi got up from his desk when he saw it was a disheveled Sakura.
"Sakura, what's happened," Kakashi said taking her from the chuinin. "Get me a doctor," Kakashi ordered as he helped Sakura down onto a couch in his office. He went to his desk where there was a bottle of water and had her drink some.
Kakashi looked at her face in sadness, he now saw just how different Sakura had already looked and this was only seven months of war on her. Sasuke and Naruto had been pleading with him to take her off the battlefield, however he gave Sakura credit as she was an extremely capable kunoichi. However, he had given Sakura too much credit and now she was in this state in his office just as Sasuke and Naruto described she would be. Kakashi watched as Sakura fell into sleep from exhaustion and brushed her bangs from her face. The door opened and a doctor was there with two nurse who started to examine Sakura. They took her away from the office and to the hospital where they could treat her further.
Then a hawk appeared at his window and Kakashi read the note the hawk was carrying. It was a report that Sakura had run away and into enemy hands. Kakashi crinkled the note in his hands and thought of his younger self after his teammates had died. He had wanted to die himself and became absolutely secluded from everyone he knew.
Kakashi groaned as he sat down in his chair looking out the window. What have I done," he questioned himself as guilt filled him.