-9-

Kakashi, Naruto and Sasuke reached the place where Tsunade and few medical ninja from ANBU, along with Ten-Ten, Hinata and Ino.

"Finally" Tsunade frowned at Sasuke "where were you?"

"Met up with Sakura. She's alright, although she didn't say what the Akatsuki leader Madara might've made her do"

"At least she's alright and her usual self" Kakashi said, sighing in unison along with Naruto.

"You said it"

"Hey, boss-wannabe!" a familiar voice reached the group. Sasuke looked up and saw Suigetsu jumping through the threes right to them "your brother's turning into a bit of nerve-eater. Something like you in early mornings" Naruto choked on his own spit from sudden laughter. Sasuke's eyes turned into Sharingan, indicating a future danger to Suigetsu's good health.

"Do not push it" he said in a tone, foreseeing quick death to the water boy.

„Alright, it was just a joke" Suigetsu raised hands in defeat, chuckling nervously „anyway, that Itachi guy needs to be put to sleep. Would you mind lending us a hand?"

„Right" Sasuke nodded „Coming, Naruto?" he eyes his friend, who was still trying desperatelly to hold back the laughter. Tsunade and Kakashi looked at each other, clearly surprised by the way a relashionship was forming among the three.

„Interesting" Kakashi noticed „by forming a new team, Sasuke has not only found a combat support, but new friends too"

„You said it" Tsunade agreed „they seem to be loyal too. Looks like Sasuke knows intuitively which people he should or shouldn't trust. That's a gift" Kakashi nodded. The question would be what kind of feelings he went over to force himself to leave Konoha, let alone trying to kill Naruto. Looks like he never really tore those bonds after all.

-x-

Karin and Juugo joined Sasuke, Naruto and Suigetsu as they were heading towards the Ichibi. The fighting scene was cracked land and torn off trees and Konoha ninja flying all around Ichibi, trying to either avoid its attacks or to do as much damage as possible.

„That chakra is almost imposible to hit or damage" Karin explained briefly „its density is almost imposible. But I think you know this already" she looked at Sasuke, who nodded.

„Yeah. I'll need an opening" he said.

„Roger" Suigetsu and Juugo turned the other way, leaving Naruto and Karin to continue along with Sasuke. Another group of Konoha ninja joined the three. It was Neji, Rock Lee and Shino.

„The Ichibi's chakra is diferent from the Nibi's" Neji immediatelly said „it's densier. You wouldn't even be able to touch the Bijuu without getting blasted away. For starters, we need to reduce Ichibi's chakra density to as little as possible"

„Any briliant ideas?" Sasuke asked as they stopped on one of the threes, which was still somehow left standing.

„If I use my rotation, it might help. But I don't know if it will for sure. Another person working along with me might be more eficient"

„Neji-kun" Shino suddenly spoke „you need Hinata for this" Neji looked at Shino with disturbed expression, but before he could even begin to object, Shino continued „don't look at me like that. You know she can use the same Hyuga technigue as you, although I must say it is way more developed and more eficient. Don't argue"

„So it's settled" Sasuke interfered, seeing that Neji was again about to pbject „Karin, go to Tsunade-sama and get Hinata-san here"

„Got it" the red-haired kunoichi nodded and jumped away. Sasuke turned to Neji.

„When you are about to doubt somebody, make sure your doubts are with basis"

„What do you know?"

„Not much about your clan, that's true. But when there's a strong person by your side, who could help" he glanced shortly at Naruto „never object, or else, the mission will go to failure"

„I don't suppose you're the person who should be teaching me this, right, Uchiha" Neji activated his Byakugan, which clashed with Sasuke's Sharingan for quite a while. Lee bent to Naruto and whispered:

„I think you could cut with knife through this atmosphere"

„No duh" both sweat-dropped „I'm starting to think that most of clans have stubborness and too much pride in their bloodlines, that's why they cannot possibly get along"

„You said it" both sighed.

-x-

Sakura met Zetsu a little further from the fighting area. They both watched the combat for a while and when almost all of ninja receeded, Zetsu felt danger.

„It's almost time for me to join the fighting" he showed to the Ichibi. Sakura frowned.

„You're alone. Where's the rest?" Zetsu turned to her his two sided face.

„They're off on other matters" he said, not knowing if he should tell her the truth. She might get overreacted. And that insane strength of hers could really make some trouble. No, better keep it a secret for as long as possible. At least so I could carry out my orders. Forgive me, Madara-sama, for what I am about to do.

„If you want to know something more" Zetsu continued „go and ask Madara-sama. I think he's willing to share information with you quite lightly" Sakura bit her lip, which indicated that she felt danger.

„I'm not going to like this, will I?" Zetsu turned back to the fighting scene.

„That is not for me to know. I forgot long ago what is means to like or dislike"

„Right" Sakura scoffed and kicked off the ground, heading towards the entrance of hideout.

Madara, you bastard! If you have done what I think you have, then you're going straight to hell…with or without me!

-x-

Neji and Hinata were about to set off, after hearing another brief review of the plan.

"Don't take any unnecessary risks" Sasuke reminded. His attention was drawn by two shinobi, flying right towards the Ichibi "here's the opening" he showed.

"Right!" Hinata and Neji kicked off the ground and flied right towards their objective.

"Man, I love watching Hinata in action!" Kiba stated with Akamaru seconding him with woof.

"Yeah, I still remember that cool jutsu of hers" Naruto said with pleasant nostalgia in his voice. Kiba only waved aside with a scoff.

"That's old news, mate. Watch closely now"

"Alright, you guys stay here and I'm going closer" Sasuke said and kicked off the ground.

While flying towards the Ichibi, he noticed the location his brother was controlling the Bijuu from. It was further away from the battle area, at a shadow of the cliff. His fists clenched as he saw his own reflection. You got a lot of explaining to do, you bastard. I cannot believe Sakura would ever agree to heal a thrash like you. Just you wait, Itachi. I'll get to you as well.

The Uchiha looked back to the Ichibi and saw Neji and Hinata closing to the Bijuu from different sides. Neji had his rotation spinning all around him and Hinata…a thick net, made entirely of her own chakra. Sasuke watched her with his Sharingan and couldn't tear his eyes from the perfect fishnet, placed right in front of her like a shield, which now was be used as an attacking weapon. After dodging few clashes of sand arms and tail, the Huygas hit Ichibi's body. A sound like a lightening discharge flew through the place along with strong wave of force, which blew away even more trees.

"Sasuke! NOW!" Neji shouted, trying to hold onto the ground. The Uchiha released his Cursed Seal and flied with ease through the strong wave and hit squeezed some of Ichibi's sand body: it was blown out in a flash.

But here another Bijuu jumped out of nowhere and attacked the rest of Konoha ninja, who only by a mere fortune managed to get out of its way. Naruto rushed to the place where Ichibi was just seconds ago and caught Hinata, who was falling down to the ground.

"Hey, Hinata-chan? You alright?" he asked as they landed. Hinata slowly opened her light violet eyes and looked up at her savior.

"Naruto-kun?" she whispered and a slight smile bloomed on her lips "I just need to rest a bit, that's all" Naruto flashed one of his happy-go-lucky smiles.

"You were awesome back there" he said, chuckling to a slight blush that dusted Hinata's cheeks. Suddenly their happy moment was interrupted by a clash of Bijuu's tail. Naruto kicked off the ground, carrying Hinata in his arms. He watched a giant three-tailed white tiger was showing its fangs at them. Sasuke landed on the same tree Naruto did and deactivated his Cursed Seal, returning back to his normal body.

"This one will be trouble" he stated "get Hinata-san out of here and tell Tsunade-hime that it's time for her medical ninjas to join the action" Naruto watched his friend closely, as if trying to guess something.

"Sasuke, but what about y-"

"I'm fine" the Uchiha cut him off "just do as I say. Remember, we need to hurry and get Sakura out from Akatsuki as soon as possible" the mention of Sakura's saving, Naruto immediately agreed with Sasuke's plan.

"Gottcha" and he kicked off the tree branch. Sasuke looked after him. Something's not right. Sakura said it's going to be six more and now there's only one…what could Madara…The realization made Sasuke make an inaudible gasp. Konoha!

-x-

Sakura again entered the Akatsuki hideout and ran right to the hall where the absorbing operation took place. She found there who she was looking for.

"Madara!" she shouted, her voice echoing around the huge room. The shinobi turned around and looked down from the finger of Sealing Statue.

"What is it, Sakura-san? Why aren't you outside?"

"Where are the other Bijuu?!" Sakura ignored his question and demanded with loud voice.

"So that's how it is, huh?" Madara jumped down and walked towards Sakura while saying "I suppose it cannot be helped. I sent them to Sand Village and Konoha. The Sound Village will join us there and take over both greatest villages"

Sakura gasped and her eyes widened. The amazement was soon changed by anger. She clenched her fist and was about to hit the ground with her chakra-full smack, but at that moment Madara appeared right in front of her and grasped her hand by wrist, pulling it up.

"Now, now, no need to get violent" he said with calm voice. Sakura felt like boiling inside. She wanted to hit him with her remaining free hand, but Madara caught it pushed the kunoichi against the stone wrist of Sealing Statue.

"Calm down, now, sweetie" he said with the same annoyingly calm voice. Sakura let out a growl of anger.

"Screw you, Madara! I thought we had an agreement!!!" she shouted to him, desperately trying to get away from his grip, but it seemingly turned to iron one.

"I guess I lied" the shinobi simply said through his orange mask "I never promised that I wouldn't do such a thing" Sakura thought that she was about to explode from rage she felt as she looked at the motionless orange mask, which annoyed her and made her feel this much hate inside.

"You are so annoying, you son of a bitch!" she spat out, looking to the orange mask as if she wanted to burn it with only her look "you're such a coward too! Can't even show your own face!"

With those words, Sakura felt how Madara's fingers relax, but another, cold and hard ones, wrap around her wrists. She looked up and saw the stone of sealing statue becoming a rope that traps her to the stone. She looked back at Madara, whose mask was turned right to her.

"You are brave, you know" he said, with emotionless voice "you curse me, bad-mouth me and even demand my true identity" he silenced for a while "you know, I lied, because I need your medical ninjutsu to get Sasuke's Sharingan. That's all I really needed from you. However" he placed his hand on the mask and slowly removed it while talking "you seem interesting to me in a certain different way" as his mask was removed, Sakura couldn't hold back her astonishment: Madara's face was so like Sasuke's…the same lineament and extremely identical stand of hair…only Madara's normal eyes were slightly grey, while Sasuke's were black. After Sakura controlled her amazement, she scoffed.

"So, you are the Uchiha after all"

"Yes. But unlike your precious Sasuke, I have more of Uchiha's legacy than he does. I, as well as Itachi, have determination and enough hate and anger inside"

"Yeah, and that's what makes you even greater son of a bitch" Madara suddenly appeared only inches from Sakura's face: their noses almost touched and the kunoichi could feel Madara's hot breath on her skin.

"Don't push it, Sakura-san" he warned "I may not be as patient as always" he slowly stroked his gloved hand through Sakura's pink hair. The girl found his touch rather disgusting and unwanted. She turned away, trying desperately to move at least an inch in her stone chains, but felt that it was pointless.

"Get away from me" she whispered in strong, but silent voice. Madara smirked.

"Get used to it, Sakura-san. You'll be feeling quite a lot of me after my plan of taking over the country has succeeded. There's no point in killing a beautiful flower like you" Sakura's eyes widened from sudden fear as Madara's arm moved up and slowly released her stone chains, but took her wrists into his own hand, moving another under her cloak and down her waist. She stirred from sudden sense of disgust and fear, mixed with another wave of rage.

"No need to struggle" he said, their eyes clashing at each other "this will only take a minute"

"You're sick!" Sakura shouted as Madara pressed her against the statue wall with his own body. He bent down and kissed her neck, but he was interrupted…by a powerful explosion, which blasted away an entire roof of the hall.

"Hey, Uchiha Madara!" a voice called from above "let her go" it ordered. Madara looked up and saw that one he was hunting: Sasuke.

"So, you've finally came" Madara looked up at his own reflection, not letting go off Sakura. The kunoichi, however, didn't miss her opportunity and gathered some chakra into her foot and kicked Madara away. The shinobi, however, was about to reappear next to her, but here Sasuke interfered and blasted the Akatsuki leader away with a single punch of fist. He looked at Sakura.

"You ok?" he asked, his voice only slightly, but still indicating that he was greatly worried about her.

"Yeah. But listen, he has sent the rest of Bijuu to Sand and Konoha. I don't know about the Sand, but all the best Konoha ninja are here"

"They're fighting the Sanbi" Sasuke said. He opened his mouth to say something more, but another event caught his attention: Madara was no longer in the hall, but he was gone. Sakura too looked around, trying to locate Madara, but without success.

"Where could he-" her question was interrupted by a sudden large bang behind their backs. The ground stirred, as if something was being pulled from beneath the ground. Sasuke and Sakura almost lost their balance, but held onto each other and managed to stay on feet. As they turned around, they saw something nearly impossible: an enormous, green dragon, with eight tails rose up above them, its fierce eyes fixed on the prey.

"No way" Sakura whispered, looking at the creature.

"Hachibi" Sasuke said, looking up at the monster "this is bad"