Naruto realized that there was no way he could stall the four of them by himself, so in the blink of an eye the entire hall filled up with Narutos' shadow clones. Of course, this was not something Kabuto didn't expect.

„Do you really think it will be so easy to defeat us with the same jutsus you used as a Genin, Naruto-kun? Oh wait. That's right. You still are a Genin, aren't you,'' the grey haired man chuckled.

The young boys' teeth clenched tighter as he was just about to burst with rage.

He was never one to stand back and study the situation before attacking his opponent. So his next move was basically... usual.

„Don't be so smug, four-eyes. I told you to never underestimate me! You should have learned that by now!'' Naruto barked at Kabuto, who was still smirking like the bastard he was.

„Oh, Naruto-kun. Poor, naive Naruto-kun. Don't you see? The odds are against you. It's four against one. Forgive me for not counting your clones, but... I just don't see them as much of a threat,'' Kabuto took one step forward, getting ready to swiftly knock out Naruto and then rejoin his group with Madara and Kisame.

Their plan was quite simple, actually.

Madara knew that Sasuke would lead his team all the way into the Tower by himself and that he would attemt to kill the Hokage. That's why he and his group of zombies, man-snake and ex-Akatsuki would follow Sasukes' group, going closely behind them. Close enough to infiltrate the village and later the Tower as the same time Sasuke and his team did, but also far enough so that Karin didn't feel their chakras behind her. Then, they would split up in two groups – Kabuto going with Itachi, Deidara and Zetsu on one side and Madara taking Kisame with him and going farther after Sasuke.

Madara also knew that Sasukes' teammates would sense that he was in the village and follow him to the tower, and that when his female team member would go right after him and leave her blond whiskered friend all by himself.

They are much weaker when they are separated, Madaras' words were still ringing in Kabutos' head.

That would give Kabuto a chance to get rid of the jinchuuriki easily and meet up with Madara after he was done. Then, as Madara uses a doujutsu on Sasuke that puts his mind into an alternate state where he sees his former friends as his enemy and kills them. That would get rid of his other teammate as well. Meanwhile, Kabuto and the rest of them would hold back the ANBU and ROOT forces that they all knew would show up eventually, while Madara controls Sasukes' mind even further and makes him annihilate Danzo. That way their mission would be completed with Madara not even breaking a sweat.

At least, that was their plan.

Kabutos' hand reached for a weapon, his mind set on slicing the boys' throat quickly and letting him bleed out in pain on the floor.

I'm sure they'll pick up his carcass eventually.

He grinned maniacally at the thought.

„You see, Naruto-kun... You're all alone now.''

Naruto clenched his hand into a fist, getting ready to attack, as a flash of purple and dark blue appeared in the corner of his eye.

„There's no one to save you now—'' Kabuto didn't even finish his sentence as multiple weapons were thrown his way, hitting his left shoulder, abdomen and right leg. His body started to fall backwards but it didn't even get to hit the ground as his unprotected back was greeted with two lion-shaped shrouds of chakra that sent his body flying across the hall. Out of sheer surprise, all of Narutos' clones vanished.

„Hinata!'' Naruto screamed with glee, his happiness earning him a very visible blush from the said kunoichi.

Hinata stood between Naruto and Zetsu, Itachi and Deidara. Her byakugan sharp in her eyes making her look fierce, but her care towards Naruto still evident.

„Are you okay, Naruto-kun?'' she asked concerned.

„I'm fine, don't wo— Hinata, look out!''

The three shinobi behind her plunged at her at the same time as she and Naruto got ready to counter attack, but their opponents were down on the ground as fast as they jumped.

„Garoga!''

„Nikudan Hari Sensha!''

„Reverse lotus!''

Naruto and Hinata jumped back as Kiba and Akamaru knocked Deidara to the ground, Choji flattened Zetsu into a wall and Lee smashed Itachi into the floor. The rest of the Rookie 12 were right behind them.

„Naruto,'' the said boy looked in the direction of the long haired brunette man.

„Go. Find the rest of your team. We'll handle them.''

Naruto smiled at his friends.

„Alright, Neji. Thank you, guys!''

„Alright alright, just go already! I need some action and you're in my way,'' the impatient Inuzuka barked at him as he got into fighting stance again, eyeing the blond Akatsuki member who was prying himself of the ground again.

I knew they were gonna put up a tough fight.

„Okay, okay! Geez... You guys catch up when you finish here,'' Naruto waved back at them as he was ready to sprint off into the direction that Sakura went earlier.

„You're not going anywhere!''

The blond boy halted to a stop a few feet in front of the bleeding Kabuto who was on his feet again.

„This was not according to plan!'' the snake-kind man hissed through his teeth. He was about to make hand signs when his body froze completely.

Wh-what?!

Shikamaru walked slowly, with basically zero motivation, as always, and sighed as he scratched the back of his head.

„You really don't wanna do that,'' he spoke lazily to the man trapped in his Kagemane.

„As I said, go Naruto. We'll take it from here,'' Neji walked up to them and stood by Shikamarus' side, his Byakugan already activated.

„Thanks,'' Naruto grinned at them one last time before running past Kabuto towards Danzos' office.

Kabuto looked angrily at the two Konoha shinobi in front of him.

„You kids... You don't know who you're dealing with!''

„And neither do you,'' Neji replied calmly as he took one step forward, starting to focus chakra into his hands. He nodded his head towards Shikamaru, a signal to be ready to release his jutsu. The other man smirked in his direction, knowing exactly what was coming to Orochimarus' ex-lackey.

„Now... Let's begin shall we?''

All the doors are closing,

Sasuke swung his katana in Danzos' direction and the old man dodged it successfully. The young Uchihas' sharingan swirled, following every move of his enemy. Danzo soon realized that his opponent was more dangerous than he previously thought, and decided upon using his sharingan as he removed the bandages from his right eye.

Sasuke quickly took a stance preforming a series of hand signs, bringing his hand to his mouth.

Haven't done this in a while...

„Katon: Gokakyu no Justu!''

A great fireball erupted from his mouth and headed toward Danzo.

Psh. Foolish child. As if I couldn't counter such a weak jutsu.

„Futon: Vacuum great sphere!''

The wind that Danzo created blew away Sasukes' flames. The old man smirked to himself.

„You shouldn't use such third-grade level jutsus against me, you insolent child!''

Sasuke glared at him once before smirking at him.

What? What is he thinking?

The raven haired male pulled his right hand revealing chakra strings attached to ten giant shuriken that were hidden in the flames of his jutsu. He controlled their path with his hand making sure that all of the suriken were coming at Danzo from different sides. The elder man tried dodging, but could only dodge half of the weapons coming at him. Three of the remaining shuriken grazed him, while the other two plunged into his body – one into his right leg and the other in his left shoulder. The wounds on his body bled quickly and he felt foolish for being caught off guard.

„I told you not to think so little of me, old man,'' Danzo looked at the teen that stood on the other side of the yard in front of the Hokage tower.

„Well then...'' he pulled the weapons out of his body and looked menacingly towards Sasuke.

„You shouldn't think little of me either, you spoiled brat!'' Danzo spat with rage, revealing his right arm.

Sasukes' eyes widened, but narrowed quickly as a smug look of victory shone upon his face.

That's what I was waiting for. Time to get serious.

Sakura was jumping from building to building, trying to reach the ANBU headquarters as fast as she could. Her mind was racing almost as fast as her legs and she thought of multiple things that could happen that day.

I'm trying to move ahead.

Sasuke could go through with his mission, but get caught in the end by the ANBU and ROOT forces. That would mean he would be put up for trial not only for murdering the current Hokage but also as a rogue ninja that has worked against Konoha for years. They would need a miracle to get him out of a life sentence. But then again, knowing her influence in the village as a prestige kunoichi and also Narutos' Will of Fire and his persistence, not to mention that Kakashi-sensei would surely get involved as well, they would somehow manage to shorten Sasukes' sentence sufficiently. And when he eventually left prison, she, Naruto, Kakashi... heck, even the rest of Rookie 12 would make damn sure that he doesn't leave again.

Then there's the option of Sasuke killing Danzo and still managing to escape before anyone could catch him. That would be the best option for him, but for her? She knew what their deal was. Sakura remembered clearly the words that she spoke to him the night that he left the village, but that was the 12-year-old girl in her talking. Back then, she didn't know anything of real life and just spoke whatever came to her mind in order to make him be with her. But she wouldn't be able to go through with her empty childs' words?

Of course she wouldn't.

Konoha is her home.

If she went with Sasuke, the chances of her coming back home were slim to none.

She wasn't able to say goodbye to Konoha. Nor to the people in it.

She would never be able to see her parents again. And she knows they would die of worry if suddenly their only daughter disappeared with a criminal, never to be heard from again.

She wouldn't be able to see her shishou or the help her recover. Tsunade became like a second mother to her over the years she spent training under her wing.

She wouldn't ever see again all of her friends. The Rookie 12 became a family to her. They did everything together. She can't just throw that away.

She would have to part from Kakashi-sensei. Just like Tsunade, he was like her second parent. He taught her so many things when she was still a young little Genin. He treated her like a daughter and he always protected her.

She wouldn't get to argue with Ino every day. The thought of her dearest friend brought tears to her eyes. They fought so much and they even sabotaged each other sometimes, but they always had each others back and Sakura loved her dearly, just like she knew that Ino loved her.

She would have to give all that up, but most importantly...

She would have to say goodbye forever to Naruto.

He was the closest person to her in the entire village. They bonded so much over the years and she saw him as her brother. She treated him as if they were of the same blood. He protected her and she protected him. She knew that if she could count on anyone to always have her back, it was him. Naruto was the most kind-hearted person she will ever meet. She truly did love him with all her heart.

The tears forming in the corners of her eyes finally began to slide down her cheeks. That's when she knew.

I'm not leaving this place. I can't. This place, these people... mean far too much to me.

This time, Sasuke... I win.

Her train of thought was interrupted as she felt a strong chakra signature follow closely behind her. She pulled her right hand into a fist and focused chakra into it. She waited until the person tailing her got close enough.

Wait.

Wait...

NOW!

Sakura twirled around on her heel and punch the air out of her opponent.

To say that she was surprised to see who she punched was an understatement.

„Y-you...!''