Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Sullimike23 – Well…

Kaelin The Black Swan – I wouldn't say that. I still have plans for Sakura.

-0-

Pain… As a medic-nin, Sakura was taught that pain was an indicator that you were alive; that it was the body's way of telling you that you weren't dead yet. Yet as she began to regain consciousness and felt the surges of damage her body had taken, all she could think of was that it really, really hurt. Her eyes blurrily opened and she moved to rise up, only for another hand hold her down.

"Don't move." a female voice replied. "You're still bleeding a bit."

Her vision coming into focus, Sakura looked up to see a woman with dark blond hair tied back by a headband. Her eyes, an almost a matching shade of green as Sakura's, scanned over the young kunoichi in check to see if there were any injuries she may have missed. Sakura reached up to massage her head, finding hitai-ite holding in strips of cloth wrappings around her head.

"What…happened…?"

"Long story short, he won."

-0-

Sakura wasn't even able to let out a cry of pain when the impact of the cannonball attack hit her and knocked her down. Her vision swam about as she struggled to rise up from the floor. In addition to the attack, one of Kano's throwing knives was still jabbed into her side. Through the dizzying haze, Sakura could tell she lost a good deal of blood. And if that wasn't enough, there was the burn mark from the laser beam on her chest.

Amazingly, she was able to get to her feet, but only barely. Her body was beginning to sway and she knew she wouldn't be able to stay up long. Her vision was waning in and out, just enough to see the Black Dragon approach her. She wasn't sure, but she had guessed that his face was an ugly scowl as he came in close. Sakura tightened her fists, but they felt so weak and she wasn't able to lift arms up to fight or even defend.

And then the roundhouse kick knocked her into oblivion.

-0-

"Lucky for you, he was too busy putting his arm back into place."

Sliding a hand onto her back, the woman slowly lifted Sakura upright, allowing the medic-nin to look down at her other wounds, all dressed. That didn't stop the nasty headache however, and Sakura simply groaned.

"I don't feel lucky."

"Trust me on this. You are." the woman replied, slowly helping Sakura up to her feet. "Kano isn't the type to leave an opponent alive."

Sakura blinked. "You know him?"

"He's the reason I'm here." When Sakura steadied herself, the woman introduced. "Sonya Blade; Special Forces Lieutenant. "

"Sakura. Sakura Haruno."

Battered and battle-weary, Kakashi and Naruto slowly made their way back to the campsite. Kakashi was currently holding Naruto up; his right arm around his back and waist while his right was holding the jinnchuriki's arm that was slung over his shoulders. Naruto was still able to walk, but his eyes were dazed over, as if his mind was not there. But given what had happened a few minutes ago, Kakashi understood why.

…Knew why.

-0-

'Have to make it…!'

Rushing toward the malevolent signature of the Kyuubi's chakra, Kakashi knew that he was getting close. But he also knew that, giving the rapid increase of chakra he was sensing, by the time he made it there, things would be well out of control. Reaching into one of his pockets, Kakashi held in his palm a small sheet of paper; a seal given to him by Jiraiya before they left the village; a seal designed for just such an emergency.

Kakashi finally found himself in a semi-open courtyard; a forest in the backdrop of the ring. But his attention was focused on the ring and its occupants. Naruto was facing another shinobi, and from the look of it, was posed to finish him. But Kakashi was surprised to see the Kyuubi's chakra diminishing and then fading away altogether. The other shinobi, a Mist ninja from the looks of it, collapsed on the ground.

"Naruto Uzumaki wins!" the shadow monk announced.

Relieved, Kakashi put away the seal and made his way to the ring. But as he approached, he noticed two things. One, Naruto's eyes was dazed, as though his mind wasn't there. That more than likely had something to do with the second thing he noticed as he entered the ring.

'Sasuke.'

For a long moment, teacher and student stared at each other, unblinking, with Sasuke's Sharingan dimming away. It didn't take much for Kakashi to figure out who it was that subdued the Kyuubi's chakra. Continuing on, he entered the ring and approached Naruto, who then slumped down to the ground on his knees, his eyes still in a daze. While he did, a young woman approached the ring as well; red-haired and wearing glasses. She had moved over to the defeated opponent and, after straining and groaning, hauled him up and dragged him toward Sasuke. Reaching Naruto, he moved beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking him lightly.

"Naruto... Naruto, snap out of it."

-0-

'To think that he could quell the Kyuubi with the Sharingan' Kakashi mused, knowing that it was no simple feat, not by a long shot. Just having the Sharingan was not enough; Kakashi, although a skilled jonin, would not be able to pull it off since he lacked the kekkei genkai (bloodline limit). The attempt alone would leave him weak and drained. While he knew it was possible to do it, it would take great skill and ability to do so, even for someone of the Uchiha clan. Record-wise, only one person, Madara Uchiha, had been capable of subduing a jinchuuriki with their Sharingan.

…Which was all the more astonishing that Sasuke was able to do it.

A swell of bitterness wove through him as he realized that Sasuke was well down the path of darkness and there was little he could do to stop him. Even if he somehow managed to kill Itachi, Kakashi knew that it wouldn't end there. Without guidance, a person seeking vengeance would not be satisfied once they have it. They would feel incomplete and empty, and they would go out and find something else to strike at, again and again, until they either are killed or even worse, realize that revenge had become their whole life without knowing why.

Of course, he realized that long ago, but was confident that his teammates, Naruto in particular, would somehow find a way to get through to him. But that seemed to be a long shot, and getting longer as he glanced over was the young man he was holding on to, who was still a bit dazed and with a dejected look on his face. He just hoped Sakura had fared better in her match. She was a strong and determined kunoichi, but this tournament was nothing like anything they had ever faced. Personal issues notwithstanding, things would only get worse from this point on.

And seeing an injured Sakura at camp, he realized they already had.

'It's gone.'

The eyes of the Shaolin monk slowly opened while the rest of his body remained as is; seated and legs crossed on one of the beaches of the island. Minutes before, he had been in meditation, preparing his mind for the next fight when he felt the great surge of chi coming from somewhere on the island. Although it felt malevolent, it wasn't any of Shang Tsung's doing; he knew that for sure. He knew exactly who it was from. He had sensed the same power when he first arrived on the island.

'The boy… Naruto.'

Normally, such power would make him wary, even cautious. Power such as that in one of the combatants would make for a truly fearsome force. But he had seen the boy who possessed it, remembering him when he made his brash announcement at the beginning of the tournament. Curious, he kept an eye on him whenever they were in the same vicinity, seeing more of his personality. And he was just as was seen that day of the tournament; a brash, energetic, seemingly-dense, yet kind-hearted young man.

To think he harbored such power…

Of course, the release of that power was anticipated. He had also sensed the dark energies that the demon sorcerer had released and knew that the release of Naruto's malevolent power was due to its influence. It was all the more reason why Shang Tsung had to be stopped. Unlike many of the combatants on the island, he knew the significance of this tournament; knew what would happen if the sorcerer and his minions claimed victory.

The Mother Realm would be lost.

It was then that one of the shadow monks appeared behind him. Turning his head momentarily, Liu Kang rose up to his feet and followed. He had to focus on his next match now, and every match that would follow until Shang Tsung is defeated. But for a moment, is mind drifted back to the chi surge of earlier and he had to question.

'What is your role in this tournament… Naruto?'

AN - This chapter came out shorter than I wanted. Ah well.