Stalling

The next morning they wasted no time heading out. The new dangers of nightfall meant that they'd have to travel twice as fast during the day. After a few falls Junsei was able to keep up jumping through the trees with them. Neji started to feel uneasy and turned on his Byakugan to make sure nothing hostile was around them.

"Naruto watch out!"

Junsei tackled Naruto out of the air after Neji yelled that as shuriken sailed through the empty space Naruto just occupied. As they landed Neji threw a kunai into the woods. An audible 'clank' could be heard as a sword deflected it.

"Come out Sasuke!" Neji yelled.

Everyone's eyes went wide as Sasuke and the other members of Hawk, Suigetsu, Jugo and Karin also appeared.

"Sasuke...what are you doing here?" Sakura asked.

"We've come for Naruto." Sasuke said.

"Well you can't have him." Junsei told him.

"And you're going to stop me?" Sasuke asked mockingly.

"You say it like it's not going to happen." Junsei replied sarcastically.

"I don't like your attitude." Suigetsu said.

"And I just don't like you."

"Whatever your mood is, I'm still taking Naruto." Sasuke said.

"No, you'll be dead before you even touch him." Junsei said.

He unsheathed the Sword of Curses and quickly sliced the tree they were standing in. As Hawk jumped from it he dragged his sword through the ground in a circle, kicking up dust. Shikamaru realized what he was doing.

"Let's go! He's creating the dust as a diversion!"

They all left quickly and Junsei soon followed.

"They're getting away!" Karin yelled through the dust.

Hawk emerged from the cloud of dust and chased them. Junsei lagged behind, cutting down trees in an attempt to slow Hawk down.

"C'mon speed it up! We need to increase our distance from these guys!" Junsei yelled ahead.

Sasuke, irritated from dodging the falling trees, sped up to catch Junsei. The other members of Hawk began to fall behind, caught by the falling trees. Sasuke pressed on, his sharingan focused on Junsei and Naruto. Junsei turned to see only Sasuke coming up and caught up to Rock Lee, who was second to the last in the group.

"You guys go on ahead, I'll stay behind and deal with Sasuke."

"No, he's too strong to fight alone!" Naruto shouted.

"I don't plan to fight him, only stall him until you guys get far enough."

"What if he beats you?" Sakura asked.

"He won't, but I'm letting him get Naruto. GO!"

Junsei landed on a tree and stopped, turning back around to face Sasuke, who landed on a branch across the way.

"How noble of you to stay behind so they could escape, but it won't matter." Sasuke said.

"Yeah, I can still sense them." Karin said appearing along with Suigetsu and Jugo.

"Well then, I guess I should make sure I take my time." He said unsheathing the Sword of Seals.

Karin gasped.

"What's wrong?" Jugo asked.

"His chakra, it just rose dramatically, out of nowhere!"

Sasuke turned to look at the mocking smirk on Junsei's face.

"Let's do this." Suigetsu said charging along with Sasuke.

He blocked Suigetsu before quickly blocking Sasuke. Sasuke jumped over him to try and strike from behind but Junsei blocked his blow and turned around quickly to block Suigetsu.

I need to hurry this up before they realize this sword is what's making me faster.

He clashed swords with Suigetsu and jumped back as Sasuke was about to land a blow to his neck.

"Really, is that the best you could do?" He asked tauntingly.

"You guys go ahead and get Naruto, I'll handle him." Sasuke said.

The other three nodded in confirmation and went off. Sasuke charged his sword with a chidori current.

"I'll finish you off myself."

"Hmph. Come and try."

"So smug, but for how long?"

Sasuke leaped forward and locked swords with him, forming a small crater. Junsei chuckled as Sasuke gave a deceiving grin. He swung his sword with an increased might. Junsei blocked each blow, but the force was causing him to back up to keep his balance. Sasuke didn't stop, fiercely slashing away at him, trying to catch him sleeping. Junsei gave an angry grunt, and they locked swords. Junsei pushed Sasuke back, and ran up to him to give a mighty blow. Sasuke blocked it, but didn't anticipate all the power in that one swing. He slid back through the dirt, holding his ground. Junsei quickly struck upward, which Sasuke blocked but it sent him into the air, with Junsei right behind him. In the air Junsei delivered a series of strikes that increased with speed with every strike. His strikes also grew stronger, as he didn't want to leave Sasuke with an opening to attack him. He did a downward strike, knocking Sasuke towards the ground. Sasuke recovered in the air and landed, immediately jumping back as a giant circle sliced through the ground. Junsei landed in the middle, the piece of land sinking into the earth. The ground flew up as Junsei, his wings showing, locked swords with Sasuke. With a shove he sent Sasuke a few feet back, but he quickly recovered from this. He looked up to see Junsei flying towards him, his sword at the ready. He charged his sword to the pinnacle of its sharpness and they clashed swords, sending a wave of force out into the woods. They separated, with Sasuke on the ground and Junsei in a tree.

"What are you?"

Junsei didn't answer, only attacked him again. The battle began to go in his favor thanks to the advantage of his wings. Sasuke made distance between them, and turned on his mangekyo sharingan, looking straight into the eyes of Junsei. He moved as Junsei struck the spot he was just at.

"My sharingan didn't affect you?"

"It did, but I can feel your presence in this state. You can be invisible for all I care, I'll know where you are."

Sasuke frowned, for he had to admit this new transformation caught him off guard. Karin felt the new surge of power and stopped.

"Sasuke's in trouble!"she told the other two, and they backtracked back to the fight.

"Black wings...what are you some kind of fallen angel?"

"The only thing I am to you right now is your killer." Junsei said savagely.