Seeing no point in continuing to pretend that they were surprising anyone, the group of seven ANBU landed just outside the trees, fully cloaked and masked. Karin and Sasuke looked over each of them calmly, a small grin finding its way to his face. The Sharingan were visible now. Neji chanced a glance at Sasuke's face and several images of Tenten flashed through his mind. He closed his eyes instantly. The images stopped just as abruptly as they had started. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Takai's grip on the sword strapped to his back tighten. Apparently Sasuke had gotten even stronger since the last time Naruto's team had come face to face with him.

"I recognize one of you already. How is Tenten, Neji?"

Neji let out a strangled breath. Somehow Sasuke had probed his mind.

"Enough," said Takai. He drew his sword completely. "Karasu…"

Neji nodded. He understood what Takai was about to do, completely. He could vaguely see the tattoo on Takai's hand start to glow as chakra engulfed the blade of the sword. Takai gave the sword one quick, meaningful swing and chakra flew off the blade towards Sasuke. Giving little effort, Sasuke drew his own sword and swung it perpendicular to the oncoming chakra blade. Instantly, the chakra blade bounced back towards the group of ANBU. Neji stepped forward and spun like a top just before it hit him. In an instant, the chakra blade dissipated.

"How pathetic!" Karin said. "Right, Sasuke?"

Sasuke didn't answer.

Takai had only used to attack to test Sasuke, but the result troubled him. To repel any chakra attack, a normal shinobi would need an equal chakra defense, chakra attack or a special technique. Somehow, all Sasuke needed was a sword…a solid weapon that required neither chakra nor special technique. As Neji began to think over this, Sasuke began his next move. A long brown snake coiled itself around Sasuke's arm and extended in the air towards the ANBU. Tategami immediately started making hand signs. Seconds later, the approaching snake was met by a whip made of leaves. Her chakra reinforced it, forcing the snake back.

As Tategami did this, Neji could see Inakamono making hand signs behind his back. Since they had arrived there, his eyes hadn't once left Karin. Neji knew exactly what he was up to, and as soon as Karin looked his way, she'd be done for. Sure, he'd have to remove his mask before it could take full affect, but his identity was a small price to pay if the technique worked. Just as long as Sasuke wouldn't be allowed to get involved. Just as long as once it started…Sasuke wouldn't be able to rescue her.

Then it happened. Before Neji had time to raise a hand. Before he had time to cry out. Before he eve had time to blink. Sasuke was right in front of him. One solid, controlled lighting enforced punch and Neji was on the ground. Turning his head to the side, he spat out blood. Actions and movements came together in seconds. He made a spinning motion and was back on his feet with his hands in position to strike. He had seen Inakamono leave the other ANBU in the moment that Sasuke had left Karin's side and appeared in front of Neji. Takai had looked over and made a movement as if to help Neji, but Neji's blinking glance told him to remain still. Inakamono's mask was in his hands already. Karin was caught in his Hypnosis Jutsu and Sasuke didn't have a clue. Sasuke wasn't prepared for Neji's next attack. As Neji's hands flickered from point to point on Sasuke's body in soft, controlled movements, Sasuke began to move backwards to avoid his attacks.

Inakamono was close now. Karin was lifting the blade slowly to her own neck. In this respect, Neji thought his Jutsu should have been called "Suicidal Gaze Jutsu", but he supposed there was nothing for it but to accept that it already had a name.

Neji made himself concentrate on his one-on-one fight with Sasuke. He couldn't afford to be distracted. He couldn't afford to lose Sasuke's attention. There was a soft thump and Neji knew…either Karin or Inakamono was dead. Sensing more chakra coming towards him, he jumped out of the way in time to see Takai's Comet Sting sail past him towards Sasuke. Instantly, Sasuke seemed to disappear again. Takai's massive use of chakra into one attack had been a waste. Chancing a look towards the situation of Inakamono and Karin, he could see Karin lying on the ground, bleeding from the neck and Inakamono standing next to her. He had only begun to put his mask back on when Sasuke suddenly appeared in front of him and stabbed him through with his long sword.

"Why'd you go and do that? I actually liked her," Sasuke said as Inakamono collapsed to the ground, dead.

Neji stared at the scene in shock. On some level he had expected more from Karin, but at the same time, Inakamono had been one of the best. His techniques had been deadly and he had practiced constantly to make them flawless. But here, no more than five minutes into a battle, he was dead. What kind of a game were they playing and who's card would death call next? Neji could only recall being truly afraid of an opponent once before in his life. Ironically, it had been in an attempt to try and bring Sasuke back to Konoha. Tenten had been with him that day, and by some miracle he had made it out alive. But now…the same kind of fear pressed in on him…only Tenten wasn't there and he wasn't trying to retrieve anyone.

He could see Tategami attempt to make a shield of chakra and leaves appear in front of the two shinobi from her team, but she wasn't quick enough. Sasuke had already slaughtered one with a kind of ease that shouldn't have been. The other narrowly managed to dodge a deadly blow. As a Chidori lightning propelled attack came hurling towards him, he sacrificed an arm to get his body in the air. Now, Sasuke would be dealing with the people who knew him and his attacks best.

"Go back and wait for us in the forest. Stop before you reach Jugo. You can't help us anymore here," Tategami said to her injured shinobi. "I don't want to lose anymore lives."

The shinobi hesitated, but nodded and left. It was only Tategami, Kouji, Takai, and Neji against Sasuke now. For a moment, all was still. Sasuke stared at the ANBU and they stared at him.

Then in an instant, the battle resumed. Neji could see a combination of a chakra re-enforced leaf whip, fiery darts, and various kunai hurtle toward Sasuke. He jumped aside to avoid them. Neji took this opportunity to try and attack. He leapt into the air and landed just behind Sasuke, palm already outstretched. His hand was already halfway to Sasuke's body when the raven-haired man suddenly disappeared. Neji panicked. Sasuke was completely out of sight. Which could only mean one of two things. Either Sasuke somehow disappeared from the area or he was in Neji's blind spot. Neji spun around just in time to be met with a small dagger. It cut through his side, leaving excruciating pain in its wake. Neji shakily made himself try to remain calm. He saw several fiery darts rain down towards Sasuke and knew that Takai was making an attempt to help Neji, while Kouji and Tategami appeared to be distracted by something else…though what it was, Neji couldn't tell.

Neji forced himself to attack. His palms hit Sasuke in a gentle yet forceful fashion. He was glad he didn't have to hit Sasuke hard…at that point he probably wouldn't have been able to. Every movement sent a sharp pain surging through his side and chest. Sasuke suddenly punched him full blown in the face. He dodged the first punch, but was hit dead center by a second. He knew it had happened even before he saw it hit the dirt. His mask had shattered revealing a twenty-two year old Neji with silver eyes and black hair…a dagger now embedded in his ribs. Takai instantly appeared from the air, aiming a kick at Sasuke. He, however, easily dodged and nearly threw Takai on his face. Several vines and a casing of thick mud formed around Sasuke. Tategami and Kouji were trying to trap him.

Takai took the opportunity to seize Neji and pull him back behind Kouji and Tategami. Ignoring the ongoing battle behind them, Takai carefully set Neji's body against a tree and begun to carefully lift his cloak. As he did, the dagger snagged slightly on the material. Neji let out a sharp wheezing breath. Takai stopped immediately, watching Neji's expression change from brave acceptance to agony.

"Hurry up, Takai! We need you both back in the fight!" Kouji shouted, fending off a blow from the snake.

Takai hesitated, it was breaking his heart to see Neji in that much pain. From the time Neji had joined the team, they had been partners from the start. Sure, they had their differences, but Takai loved Neji like a brother.

"Just do it!" Neji shouted, snapping Takai back to reality.

Again Takai hesitated, but after a moment, he put his hand to the handle of the blade, making sure that he would be pulling exactly straight. He gave a swift tug and the dagger forcefully slid out of Neji side. Neji moaned softly in pain as Takai quickly cleaned and bandaged the wound. After the fight was over, the wound would need to be looked at far more thoroughly.

"Karasu…can you move?" Takai asked after a few minutes of bandaging.

Neji nodded and attempted to get to his feet. Takai immediately reached down to help. Less than a minute later, they were back in the fight.

Fiery darts rained down on Sasuke while vines and mud pressed in from other angles. Neji was having trouble moving fast enough to get at Sasuke, and even more trouble with trying to avoid everyone else's attacks while he was at it. His injury was slowing him down. Time for plan B.

Neji made several hand signs and attempted to make an area of immediate damage, but Sasuke was right outside it. Neji could feel several shuriken sweep past him towards Sasuke. As always, Sasuke dodged them with ease. Then, finally, Neji managed to get in front of Sasuke. Before Sasuke could react, Neji's palms were hitting points on his body. Neji was so close to hitting the last chakra points when Sasuke summoned a Chidori as a shield. Neji jumped away just on time. As small Chidori were thrown at him, Neji dodged them carefully. He could feel the heat of an approaching Meteor Jutsu. Vines came down to make a grab for Sasuke, but as soon as they did, the electricity of the shield swept through them and came back towards Tategami. She fell to the ground unconscious. That left Kouji, Takai, and an injured Neji to deal with the seemingly untouchable, invincible Sasuke.

"Takai, Karasu, we're done here," Kouji called as he rushed over to pick up Tategami. The mission had failed. Too many people had fallen. All they could do now was try to gather the dead and wounded and leave as quickly as they could.

Takai sent another wave of fiery darts at Sasuke while he gathered Inakamono and the other dead shinobi from Tategami's team. Neji began to make his way back to his retreating companions when he was met with two red eyes staring straight back at him. Images of Tenten flashed through his mind again. He forced himself to look away. It stopped instantly but he couldn't move forward. Sasuke had his shield around him.

Neji had to get away…he had to get back to his companions and leave the area…but Sasuke was refusing to let him. Sasuke was standing between Neji and his way back to the forest. Sasuke advanced and Neji backed away towards the edge of the brown earth. Sasuke threw a few more Chidori needles at him. He dodged the with some difficulty…but before he could regain his balance, Sasuke's foot collided with Neji's chest. Neji felt himself fly backwards as pain surged through his chest and side. He felt a small amount of blood leave his mouth. And then he saw the edge of the cliff disappear above him. He could hear someone calling his name overhead, but he could not concentrate enough to make the chakra go to the soles of his feet. He was falling and there was nothing he could do to help himself. His eyes closed and he felt the air brush past him.

"This is it…" he thought to himself, "Tenten…I'm sorry…"


Okay. Not quite done yet. Still have another few chapters to go before its done, but we're getting there. Anyway, see you next chapter:-)