However, what the princess failed to realize was the amount of energy she was exerting and how the man, Seth was fighting her. Their two forces fighting one another was causing them to be enveloped in a shining bright light. Unfortunately, this did not bode well for Hataru.

That should do it, Hataru thought, once all the pertinent memories had been destroyed. With a sigh, she let herself disengage from her opponent, just in time. Before she was even completely aware of herself, there was a sudden blast and then a sharp, agonizing pain and then all was darkness.

Kurenai nearly had a heart attack as she watched Hataru go head to head with Seth. but her interest was also peaked. Hataru merely touched the man and both became still. At least they were until Kurenai noticed a light beginning to grow between them. She was moving toward them when Hataru suddenly released the man. But as soon as she did so, their was the sound of a sharp blast and the light disappeared while Hataru was lifted up and flew backwards. With a sinking heart, Kurenai knew she wouldn't get to the child fast enough. With fear, the sensei watched as the girl slammed head first into a tree and was still.

Moving quickly, Kurenai tied up the older man, and then raced to ensure that Hataru was ok. To her immense relief, Hataru was breathing. But she looked like she was going to have, at best, a nasty concussion. Using her very limited medical knowledge, the Jonin made sure that there were no cracks along Hataru's skull. There were none. With a sigh, she sat back and place Hataru into a more comfortable position. She then went to check on her other students. They all appeared fine, other than some fatigue and bruises here and there.

In fact, the genin were all stirring when she looked to them. In no time at all, they were awake and moving. With out being asked, they each moved off into the woods, seeking a place to set up camp for the night. In no time at all, they had tents set up and a camp fire roaring.

Their sensei smiled. But then frowned when she turned to her daughter. The girl hadn't moved yet. It had been almost an hour. She was concerned. And, they needed to figure out what to do with their opponent. He was sitting there, glaring at Hataru. And, if Kurenai's eyes could be trusted, he actually appeared to be losing some of his physical attributes. His muscles almost appeared to be melting off of him. Whatever Hataru had done, was powerful enough to change this man's physical appearance!

Kurenai shook her head and suddenly looked up. She readied a kunai and felt the sudden presence of her team behind her. She was proud to note that they were all between the approaching shinobi and Hataru.

They all watched as three shinobi appeared from the trees on the other side of the clearing, opposite them. With relief, Kurenai realized they knew these particular people. Their head bands identified them as shinobi of the village Hidden in the Sand. They were Temari, with her blond hair and huge fan strapped to her back. To her right was Kankuro, the puppet master and to her left was Gaara of the Sand. They were all siblings and all powerful shinobi.

The three landed in the clearing in front of the leaf shinobi. Kurenai smiled and moved forward. "What can we do for our allies from the sand?"

"Actually, we wish to help you. This man has commited great crimes against our people and villages," Temari said, gesturing to the prisoner.

"We wish to take him back to our village to have him tried for what he has done," Gaara spoke up.

Kurenai frowned, unsure what she should do. Giving him over to the sand would make their job easier but she wasn't sure what the Hokage would say to that. Before she could come to a decision, however, a small whimper roused her.

Sensei Kurenai moved toward the young girl that was just stirring. Her team as well as two sand shinobi followed. Hataru's eyes were fluttering and then opened to look at the group of people surrounding her.

"What happened," she croaked, feeling her head. She winced slightly, no doubt at the vomit inducing pain she was experiencing.

"I was hoping you could tell us," Kurenai said. She observed Hataru carefully, making sure she was truly ok.

"I'll put it in my report," the girl said, managing to cross her arms. The sztubborn look on her face had her mother sighing.

"Are you aware that I am your jonin sensei?" Kurenai frowned. Hataru merely shrugged and turned her attention to the new people to arrive. With a carefully blank face, she stood up. It took all her control not to vomit from the pain.

"Who are you guys?" she asked, ignoring her own team. They all rolled their eyes, having seen her attitude before.

"We are Shinobi from the Sand," Gaara said, introducing himself and his siblings. They made their way back to Seth, still tightly restrained. Hataru studied him intently. She was pretty sure she had done what she was supposed to do. This man's physical appearance was looking similar to the one she had seen in her vision.

Turning to the older ninja, she asked what was to be done with him. With understanding, she realized that the sand shinobi wanted him.

"Well, he is no longer as powerful as he was. I have taken that very essence away from him. What you see before you is nothing more than what you would find among the weakest of humanity," Hataru said, noting the glazed look to Seth's eyes. She figured it was a side effect of the loss of memories.

Kurenai sighed then. And with relief, she gave permission for Seth to be taken to the Village Hidden in the Sand. They watched as Gaara wrapped the man up in a cocoon of sand for transport, and then, with a bow, the three sand siblings took off.