Ch 21

I don't own Naruto

Sorry about the lack of updates…had personal stuff to deal with…I'll try to update again, soon.

The scene is different than the cannon because of the time difference alright, so no help this time, and for the last chapter, I hope you understand why Sasuke didn't have much chakra left, with the whole Gaara fight and Shukaku.

Ami crouched low, placing her hand on the bark of the giant tree as she felt the familiar chakra twitch under her fingers; soon, the bark disappeared as she entered the hidden layer.

Ami stepped in, watching the worry etched on the face of her pink haired teammate as she replaced the wet cloth on top of Sasuke's forehead.

"The traps are set in place," Ami spoke as Sakura nodded her head in acknowledgement as she rechecked Sasuke's vitals, "How is he?"

Sakura looked away from Sasuke, turning her face towards Ami as she spoke, "his fever is getting better but it seems he is still in pain…I'm not sure when he'll wake up." Ami nodded in understanding as they both stood guard inside the tree.

"My clones are patrolling the area," Ami sat next to the entrance as Sakura retook her spot next to Sasuke, "the small genjutsu you placed is working fine, and the traps…I think we're safe for now." They took a breath of relief, everything happened too fast and they needed time to recollect themselves; so far, they had both scrolls so all they needed to do was wait for Sasuke to wake before heading towards the tower in high speeds, but then there lies the problem, they both worried over Sasuke, whatever the strange man had done to him, it affected him badly.

They both turned to glance at the boy in worry, each filled with different thoughts, and each wondering what the man wanted to do with Sasuke.

Sakura turned back to Ami, asking her something that was on her mind, "Ami…"

Ami turned her head to Sakura, curious as Sakura continued, "Remember what I told you, the words that the pale nin said, how Sasuke would go to him for power?"

Ami nodded, Sakura had told her everything that had occurred, even the exchange between Sasuke and the pale nin.

"Why would he think Sasuke would go to him, what do you think he did?" Sakura sagged down, unsure at the situation as Ami looked on serious.

"Sakura, I don't know what that bastard wanted with Sasuke or what he did," Ami shook her head as she gave Sakura a reassuring smile, "and as for Sasuke, you would have to be crazy to think he would leave."

Sakura smiled too, "Yeah," she said as a silent reassurance to the whole team.

…

"In there," Dosu pointed at the tree. They had sensed the low level genjutsu earlier, and they had followed the chakra trail of whatever came out of the battle field a few yards away. They moved in stealth as they spotted a couple of purple haired ninja's who all looked alike, they were clones and they knew it, so they avoided being spotted.

Kin shifted uncomfortably in her spot as Zaku spoke out, "let's get them now, all this waiting is killing me."

Dosu turned to look at him, then to Kin; throughout the whole trip, she had become deathly quiet, he could easily spot how nervous she was and he wondered if she would be able to do this. Whatever personal reasons Kin may have, he kept that info to himself and opted not to say anything to their sensei about it…they would all suffer because of it and he would not risk his life over some silly conflict in the team.

"Kin," Dosu directed to her as her eyes snapped up to look at him, "are you ready?"

She shook her head then glared back, "yes, of course I'm ready…let's just do this already," she said the last part a bit quietly as Dosu looked unsure, but it was hidden under his mask.

"You heard her, let's do this," Zaku let a grin before jumping into the clearing and calling the team out.

Dosu looked back at Kin one last time before following Zaku, Kin followed behind, albeit reluctantly.

…

Ami and Sakura sat still, each listening to Sasuke's steady breathing as the silent seemed perpetual.

Suddenly, Ami snapped her head up as she looked on in worry, "Sakura, it's the Sound nins from before, they just destroyed one of my clones…they know where we are and they spotted the traps." Testing her fists, they both stood up, sparing Sasuke's form a look before heading out to confront the nins.

"Come on out!" Zaku roared out, definitely pleased with himself for some reason, "you think these traps can stop us!" he yelled out superiorly as two figures emerged from the trunk, staring at the Sound nins with every intention of protecting their fallen comrade.

Dosu stood in front of his team, "Give us the Uchiha then you can leave."

Ami and Sakura looked at each other in surprise before Ami yelled out, "Why do you want Sasuke!?"

Dosu answered, "We have a mission to kill the Uchiha, now hand him over or die with him."

Ami narrowed her eyes along with Sakura as they both shifted to a battle stance; Zaku smirked and stood in front of Dosu.

"Enough talking," Zaku lifted his hands up, facing his palms towards them, "This will be easy…Decapitating Air Waves!"

Ami and Sakura had to watch as suddenly the wind collected around the nin's palms, and a blast of air shot towards them, they lifted their arms to block whatever this attack was but they felt the booming pressure from the air waves as debris flew across them, scraping parts of their body while they were pushed back.

"Deal with them Zaku, Kin," Dosu instructed as he headed towards the side.

'Now,' they thought before they erupted in a burst of smoke as wooden logs took their place.

Zaku looked on surprise before he dodged out of the way as Sakura appeared from above, kunai in hand and slashed the spot Zaku was on.

Dosu sidestepped and dodged a blow sent by Ami who appeared in front of him, "Don't underestimate us," she spoke as Dosu lifted up the sleeve covering his device.

Dosu rushed forward striking Ami as she sidestepped and dodged the attack until she felt something penetrate her, her vision became blurry as Dosu smirked under his mask but looked on in confusion once Ami had a smirk of her own, "boom," she whispered as Dosu was suddenly blown back.

Sakura continued to use the substitution jutsu, along with the clone jutsu to confuse Zaku as he had to look all around him, watching as each one he attacked disappeared.

Zaku struck again, letting the wind blast from his palms towards the pink haired girl…only for her to disappear again. He let out a frustrated noise before yelling in pain as shurikens where soon embedded into his unprotected arms, Sakura appeared again, taking advantage and landing a solid kick towards the nin's side; Zaku fell back.

Doku stood up, recovering slightly from the surprising explosive, it was lucky he had concentrated the sound waves that he had released around him, forming a small shield that took part of the blast; he turned to watch his other teammates and soon grew irritated at one, he yelled out, "Kin, what are you doing!?"

Kin snapped out of it before nodding and heading towards the pink haired girl.

Sakura was about to follow up her attack on the down nin but she had to jump away, dodging the senbons that were thrown at her. Sakura stared at the girl who she had seen earlier, talking to Sasuke as if they were friends, she narrowed her eyes, "why do you want to kill Sasuke…I thought you were friends?"

She watched as those words shook the girl before the nin glared back at her, "Shut up," she dashed towards her.

Ami jumped out from her spot, forming more clones as the situation called for it, they were outnumbered by one, from there on out, the battle depended on how much clones Ami could produce, it annoyed the sound nins as each time they destroyed one, it either self destructed or it was replaced with more.

Sakura ducked to the side, avoiding the strike as she attempted a leg sweep. Due to kin's momentum, she couldn't avoid in time as the attack connected. She tripped but easily fixed herself, flipping in response before rushing back at Sakura. The two nins exchanged punches and kicks, each blocking and returning while trying to gain the upper hand.

"Why are you doing this?" Sakura spoke out, catching the nin's fist and palming her chest as the nin moved back.

"None of your business," Kin answered back, charging forward again as Sakura watched her pull out a couple of senbons from her pouch, "it's your friends fault for being so nice to enemy nins," she tossed the senbons as Sakura quickly took out her kunai and deflected the attack.

Sakura tossed her kunai as Kin leaned to the side, avoiding the weapon before Sakura rushed up to the nin. They met, gripping hands as they stared each other down.

"I can't believe Sasuke befriended someone like you," Sakura glared at the girl as their arms started to shake from the grip exchange, "I don't know what he saw in you..."

Kin snapped as she threw the girl's hands to the side before kicking her in the chest; Sakura coughed out, moving back as she placed her hand on the area while Kin glared back, "you don't know me at all so shut up!"

Sakura slowly healed the wound before she continued, "I know enough now," she stood in stance again, "you would stab your friends in the back once the time comes…is that what they all do in your village?"

Kin grew angry as she charged forward again as the battle continued on.

Ami continued to produce clones while joining the fight herself, she wasn't fully healed yet from her last battle and she knew she couldn't keep this up…but she wouldn't give up, she wouldn't let these guys take Sasuke.

…

Pain…then the cold gripping darkness was all he knew at the moment; something called to him though as he listened clearly.

…Take it, take the power…

'No,' he remembered himself saying as the burning sensation grew.

…But your friends, they need your help… the voice was different this time as Sasuke felt himself agreeing.

…Use it and you'll wake…simple…Use it to destroy your enemies…

'Yes,' he found him-self answering, 'just this once…give it to me.'

…Gladly…kukukuku…

He felt power rush through his body… it felt addicting…

He opened his eyes.

…

Ami was tired as she felt the last of her clones poof out of existence as she stood in-front of the two Sound nins, already she felt her emotions rising as her eyes became slit again, they can't stop her, not here and not now.

Sakura and Kin glared down each other, it was a pure taijutsu battle as none of them opted to use ninjutsus.

"At least tell us who wants Sasuke," Sakura finally asked as Kin looked down.

"Fine," Kin figured she should at least show some honor and answer the question, "his name is Orochimaru…"

Sakura widened her eyes at the name, "you mean one of the Sannins…why does he want Sasuke dead!?"

Kin glared back at her; "I don't know ok…" she looked away and quietly muttered, "don't make this harder than it already is…"

"Kin, you idiot," Dosu looked at her as the creases shown on his bandaged head showed anger, "we weren't supposed to tell them!"

Kin just glared back at him, "Does it really matter!"

Dosu continued to look at her as Zaku spoke out, "never mind, they'll all be dead anyways," he placed his palms in front of the purple haired menace, "now be a good nin and die," he released the blast as Ami felt the same wind pressure from earlier, this time, the winds increased as she felt herself fly back with the debris, slamming against a tree as it knocked the breath out of her.

"Ami!" Sakura called out as she tried to run to her teammate but suddenly was held back as Kin held her in a lock.

"You should have left when you had the chance," Kin spoke silently, unsure as Sakura glared back behind her.

"Unlike you…I don't abandoned my friends," Kin twisted Sakura's arm more but did nothing else as they watched the two Sound nin approach the tree the Uchiha was in.

"Alright, I'll get it in one blow," Zaku lifted his palms up again, "Extreme decapitating air waves!" a giant burst of wind was released, bigger than before as it literally tore the ground apart as the giant winds headed towards the tree.

"SASUKE!" Sakura yelled out in horror as Kin looked away.

"Sorry Sasuke," Kin quietly muttered under her breath as the blast connected.

What happened next shocked the group.

The tree exploded in purple flames as the air waves connected. Instead of being blown away, the flames grew larger as it enflamed the area around them.

Zaku and Dosu had to jump away as the flames consumed the area around them.

A figure emerged from the flames, black flame symbols were spread on his body as the purple flames circled all over him; his blood red sharingan eyes stared back at the nins, glaring with his demonic presence as Dosu felt unsure now as Zaku glared back.

"You think I'm scared of you," Zaku grew frustrated at how much chakra the nin was releasing, he faced his palms in front of the Uchiha, "Extreme decapitating air waves!" he fired again as Sasuke stared at the oncoming wind blast.

Sasuke lifted his own hand as the fire circled all around him; the attack connected as the group looked on as more fire erupted from the blast. The wind seemed to be feeding the fire as it grew higher, sparkling flames everywhere as Zaku had to shield his eyes.

When things calmed, only a group of flames could be seen as Zaku smirked in triumph.

"Did you know," Zaku's eyes widened as he heard the deadly whisper behind him, "Wind fuels fire…"

Zaku was about to turn until he felt a crushing blow to his neck which sent him flying across the field, his body taking the blow as it skidded and tumbled on the ground until finally slamming into a tree.

"Z-Zaku," Dosu stared at his teammate before turning back, the Uchiha was smirking now, staring back at him.

Sasuke felt the rush of power, it was addicting to say. The chakra felt…filling as it circulated around his system for the first time; it felt as if he was thirsty for the longest time until finally being handed water…and he dwelled in it.

Sasuke stared back at Dosu, wondering how he should get rid of this one, he disappeared again as Dosu looked on in shock.

Dosu looked around, wondering where he went before the slight shift in the air was the only warning he received.

Dosu barely dodged the blow as Sasuke appeared in the air, slamming his fist into the ground Dosu was standing in.

Dosu stared back at the ground, there was a small crater as Sasuke looked back at the nin, a smile evident in his face, "You're a quick one…aren't you," he chuckled as Dosu continued to look on with fear.

Suddenly, Sasuke looked on in annoyance as he disappeared again, dodging an air blast sent his way and reappearing behind the sound nin Zaku.

"You seem to love your hands…" he quickly grabbed one of the nins arms, gripping tightly as flames emerged from underneath…Zaku felt the flames burn his arm, the heat tore at his skin as he could only let loose an inhuman scream.

Sakura didn't realize she was released as she stared at Sauke, along with Kin.

"W-what happened to him," Kin asked, scared at what had happened to the boy.

"You mean, you don't know!?" Sakura asked the nin as Kin shook her head.

"Someone attacked Sasuke earlier, and gave him those markings," Sakura stared again, looking at how inhuman Sasuke looked as he appeared behind the down sound nin.

'The curse seal!' Kin widened her eyes, 'only Orochimaru's powerful warriors received them, but then...why does Sasuke have it, what's going on?!'

Sakura continued to stare as small tears trailed down her cheeks, images of Sasuke smiling and chuckling appeared in her mind. 'That's not Sasuke,' Sakura started moving as Kin placed her hand on the girl's shoulder, stopping her. Sakura stared back, "H-he's not acting like himself…he needs to stop this, let me go!"

Kin released, nodding her head, "You would do anything for your teammates?" she said sadly as Sakura nodded, "please then, help him…he's the only one who's showed me kindness, even when, in the end, I tried to kill him…" Sakura looked back at the sound nin as she placed a hand in her chest, she nodded as Sakura left, Kin staring back.

'In the Sound village, I remembered,' Kin thought back to one of the training incidents, no one saved her, not her teammates or sensei, 'even if it costs a teammates life, complete the mission, no matter the cost,' she looked back at the girl who was running towards the boy, 'but now…'

"Sasuke please stop!" Sakura reached the boy, throwing her arms around his chest and hugging tightly as Sasuke turned to stare at the new figure.

Their gaze met, as Sasuke released the arm and Zaku fell to the floor with a thud. Sasuke looked up from Sakura's face, staring behind her as his eyes found a worried Kin, her arm placed on her chest, staring back sadly at Sasuke, as if apologizing.

The dark chakra around him died as the black flame markings returned back to the seal.

'W-what?' Sasuke thought before looking around the area…he grew sad, his face frowned as he leaned against the tree, Sakura following, 'What have I done?' Sasuke had finally felt how truly addicting the power could be, and he cursed how easily he fell to it…it was just, he couldn't describe it, and he hated himself even more.

He stared down at the down nin, his one arm was dark, burnt as he asked Sakura, "c-can you, heal it?"

Sakura followed Sasuke's gaze, gasping once she saw the burnt wound, "I'm not sure, I never covered this but…let me try."

Everything became quiet as Dosu stood frozen, along with Kin who watched as the pink haired girl attempted to heal their fallen comrade's burnt arm.

Sasuke continued looking down, placing his hand on the cursed seal as he rubbed against it.

Sakura looked back up and shook her head as Sasuke sagged at the news, "I'm sorry but, the damage is too intensive…he has lost feeling to the arm and he may never be able to use that arm again."Sasuke clenched his fists, moving away from the fallen nin, his back turned against everyone, his eyes hidden in his hair's shadows as Sakura moved to his side, placing her hand on his shoulder, staring back with concern.

Dosu moved forward, cautiously before appearing in front of his down teammate. Kin followed, taking out a scroll and approaching Sasuke.

Dosu noticed the markings, he knew what it was but he couldn't understand...there's something going on and he couldn't figure it out, but whatever it is, Orochimaru was hiding something from them.

Sakura watched as Kin approached Sasuke, holding out a scroll. Sakura knew now how conflicted the nin was, 'friends on opposite sides,' she thought sadly, remembering another situation like this, 'Sasuke always makes friends who are almost impossible to be friends with,' Sakura thought as Kin bowed.

"Sasuke," Kin started sadly, "take this scroll and allow us to leave." She continued to bow as she felt Sasuke slowly turn around facing her.

He took the scroll as Kin continued bowing, he looked to the nin on the floor, his arm charred as the boy continued to remain unconscious, he looked back at Kin, placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head up until she stood up, but refused to look at him.

"Kin," he released his hand from her chin, taking her hand and placing the scroll in her hands, "please, just go," he turned back, walking away but spoke loudly to the rest of the Sound team, "Leave now…" he spoke darkly before heading back into the forest.

Dosu nodded, collecting Zaku and looking back at Kin who held the scroll tightly to her chest.

Kin continued to watch Sasuke's retreating form, his tone was defeated when he spoke, he just spoke and left; she couldn't help but feel ashamed somehow. Sad tears started to form as she bit her lip and turned around, refusing to look at anyone in the eye.

"Dosu," her voice trembled but still remained strong, "let's go," she started running ahead as Dosu followed until they disappeared into the forest.

Sakura walked towards Ami's unconscious form, sad in thought as he checked for injuries and woke the girl.

From there on out, Sakura had explained to Ami what had happened as Ami listened intently. Sasuke had disappeared into the forest, and his teammates could only wait for his return, they could do so much to help him but sometimes, a person needs to help themselves first, and the way Sasuke looked, he needed to be alone, and they respected him enough to do so…they just hoped that he was ok.