Time to Protect, Time to Kill

Chapter 20

A/N: Did anybody realize that I didn't even mention Kakashi in the last chapter! He totally disappeared! So now to make up to poor Kakashi, here's a special Flashback.

And Gaara just got a very generous donation! He practically fainted at the sight! A million cookies, five hundred pizzas, twelve brownies, and thirty-two mangos! Gaara says, 'Nice touch with the Mangos!' Thanks goes to Laughing Senseless! Thank you!

Now, onward with Chapter Twenty!

…

- Flashback -

A thirteen year old Uchiha Sasuke stared blankly at the man before him. He took note that the man had different colored eyes. One of them gray and the other a startling crimson color. The man also had silver gravity-defying hair, and was wearing a half-face, blue ski-mask. How could this strange man have ever been a friend of his father's?

And now this man was his guardian…

"Sasuke," The man said, "My name is Hatake Kakashi. You will be staying with me for awhile."

Sasuke didn't reply. For the next six months he rarely spoke with Kakashi, most of the time he didn't acknowledge the others existence. It was the aftermath of his parents death, by the hand of his brother no less, and Sasuke hasn't reacted. Sometimes he believed that it, that all this, was just a dream- that he would wake up and find that his family was still alive. But then…he would wake up, covered in sweat, and realize that the nightmare was reality. The unknown walls of his new room in Kakashi's house was a horrible reminder.

It was on one particular difficult day, the images of his dead parents no longer assaulting his dreams- but now were beginning to materialize in waking dreams- where his dry eyes began to water.

Sasuke didn't realize it at first, but there was a presence behind him. It was Kakashi. His presence wasn't invading or awkward, nothing like Sasuke first assumed it'd be. …It was relieving. He wasn't alone. The presence was strong; It was caring but not suffocating. "It's okay, Sasuke." Kakashi whispered Sasuke felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and found that it was an anchor. An anchor that he desperately needed and didn't know he had.

Two days passed and then Kakashi abruptly cleared out the guest room and pulled Sasuke inside. He forced the young teen to sit cross-legged on the carpeted floor in the middle of the bland room. Kakashi sat down across from him and gave Sasuke a pointed look. "Your mind is in chaos… and your soul isn't at ease."

Sasuke didn't look away. Didn't say anything.

Kakashi's gaze softened. "I will teach you how to get that center of calm back in your life, Sasuke. Without it…you can't live."

"Center of calm?"

Kakashi didn't realize how tense he was until Sasuke finally spoke and he felt as though a weight was lifted off his shoulders. "Yes, Sasuke." Kakashi gave a small smile. "It will be difficult, and it may take longer than you would like…but once you find your center of calm- whenever you're in turmoil, whenever you feel as though you're falling…just find your center of calm and jump into it."

Sasuke took a large breath. He wanted that center of calm. He didn't want to feel haunted by memories and images any longer. "Can…can you really teach me?" Sasuke asked, his dark eyes finally showing a light that had once died.

Kakashi's voice was unyielding. "Yes I can, and yes I will."

…End of Flashback…

The wound on Naruto's shoulder was starting to hurt. Before, it was nicely numb but now spikes of pain started to travel down his arm. Naruto frowned, maybe it was a bad sign… Something was going to happen soon. He could feel it in the air, touching the fine hairs on his arms, and brushing the back of his neck.

Beside him he saw Gaara quicken his step. The redhead casting him a meaningful glance. It seemed like Naruto wasn't the only one then.

…

Shikamaru couldn't keep his astonishment from showing on his face. Juugo was kneeling down, one of his large hands touching the cold pavement of the tunnel floor. "Four men passed through this tunnel…" Juugo spoke with confidence. "And through this tunnel…" he pointed down the adjacent tunnel, "Three men went."

"So they divided up and went separate ways." Shikamaru concluded, still amazed on how good a tracker Juugo was. "Which tunnel should we choose?" he asked aloud to nobody in particular.

Temari spoke up this time. "We should divide into two groups and go though both tunnels. Me, Gaara, and Kakashi can take the left; and you, Naruto, Sasuke, can take the right."

Kakashi took a step forward, his head shaking in the negative. "We shouldn't separate. It's true that we must find Itachi as soon as possible, but right now we should focus on keeping Sasuke in our custody. If they take Sasuke- then they will have both Uchiha brothers…and that is unacceptable."

Shikamaru nodded in agreement. "If we separated and one of us got into some trouble- we have no way to contact for back up. These tunnels block any type of communication."

Temari was noticeably aggravated but she concurred. "So which tunnel do we go through?"

…

Sasuke was standing with Suigetsu. They were just out of earshot of Shikamaru and the others. On the other side, Naruto and Gaara were standing and talking just out of earshot as well. "They won't tell me anything…" Sasuke hissed through his teeth. "I don't like being kept in the dark."

Suigetsu barked out a laugh. "You don't like it? Ha! I'm the one who doesn't have a fucking clue on what's going on!" Suigetsu shook his head in annoyance. "I just wanted to sleep, to take a nice long nap, and then Juugo goes off on a tunnel-roaming-rampage. I'm shit-ass hungry as well. That raccoon-looking asshole stole my last energy bar! Fuckin- oops." Suigetsu stopped talking when Gaara shifted his feet and glanced at Suigetsu ever so slightly. The bleach-head took cover behind Sasuke and cursed. "That redhead freaks me out," he whispered.

Sasuke couldn't help but smirk in amusement. If Suigetsu was anything- he was a tension breaker.

…

Back up front, Shikamaru and the others decided to go through the left tunnel, where Juugo predicted four men went down. The brunet called out to Naruto and Gaara that they were now on the move. Shikamaru and Temari moved side by side, moving down the tunnel first. Naruto behind them, Sasuke at his side. Kakashi and Gaara held up the rear, as well as keeping an eye on the two civilians, Juugo and Suigetsu.

Five minutes passed, their steady stride unbroken until they came across a lit section of the tunnels.

"Thank God!" Suigetsu cried. "I was fed up with the darkness. Finally some good 'ol light!"

Temari hushed him. "Shut it, civilian! Do you want to get us all killed!"

Shikamaru spoke next, his words quiet but with authority. "Everybody shut up." He looked up. "There are small circler lights on the ceiling. They seem to be old but it's no question that this portion of the tunnels were once occupied." The small lights bathed the tunnel walls, the dampness of the walls and the roughness of the floor visible enough for Shikamaru to turn off his flashlight, the others in the group followed suit.

Shikamaru pulled out his schematic pad and looked down at it. He felt Temari hover over his shoulder. "The tunnels get wider and it curves right, there's also a small open cavity up ahead."

"We should dump the civilians and continue forward." Temari replied, her tone of voice holding influence, reminding Shikamaru that she was the current SAND representative. He agreed and he watched as she moved toward the back and personally talked with Suigetsu and Juugo. Words were exchanged and he couldn't withhold a smile when Temari let a fist fly that connected with Suigetsu's jaw. Suigetsu was about to retaliate but he was held back by the big guy, Juugo. A second later, a grinning Temari made her way back to Shikamaru's side. "Done," was all she said.

The brunet started forward again, Temari still at his side; Kakashi, Gaara, Naruto and Sasuke following behind. Juugo and Suigetsu presumably making their way back to the surface. They went far enough ahead to start recognizing that the tunnels were indeed becoming wider. When they rounded the corner a sound of a gunshot made itself known by the searing heat sinking into the side of Shikamaru's arm. Shikamaru dropped his gun, instantly cradling his injured arm, as he felt himself being pushed aside by Temari.

Temari was using her body to shield Shikamaru and she fired off her gun until it was empty. His eyes watched as Naruto and the others took shelter. It was only after Temari settled herself beside Shikamaru, onto the floor, when he realized that she was shot too.

Gaara made his way toward them. "Where are you hurt?" he asked.

Shikamaru waved him off. "It's just my arm. Temari-"

Temari cut him off. "I'm fine." She snapped, shaking her head, blond locks of hair falling loose.

Some feet behind them they heard Naruto curse. The blond held his gun with one hand as his other pressed Sasuke against the wall. "It's an ambush."

…

Sasori, his expression blank but somehow thoughtful, stepped back and ejected the empty clip from his gun. "I think I got two of them."

Deidara sneered. "Fuck ass. What if you shot the little-brother-Uchiha, huh?"

Sasori rolled his shoulders. "Highly unlikely."

The canary-blond sneered again and moved to stand in front of the redhead. "My turn!"

The words barely left Deidara's mouth when he found that he was being pushed aside by the giant named Kisame. "I don't think so canary-brain," he rumbled in a deep voice. Deidara was about to complain but one look at Kisame halted the words.

Kisame's blue-skin made him look sickly in the dim light and his wide grin made him look murderous. Deidara automatically sensed that if he wanted to live, he should do as he was told. With folded arms, Deidara moved aside and watched as the Goliath pulled out a small bludgeon.

"I'm going to rush them," Kisame said, his voice getting deeper. "Force them into close quarters combat." He let out a disgusted breath, "I detest guns." He then grinned a grin that made him look like pure evil. "Guns take the fun out of everything."

Deidara watched as Kisame strolled out into the open space and approach the tunnel that held the KAGE and SAND agents. He actually found that he felt sorry for them. "Glad I'm not at the end of that club." The blond mumbled softly.

…

"Holy shit…" Naruto cursed, his blue-eyes wide. "That's Kisame Hoshigaki… The fuckin' Demon Shark!"

"Gaara," Kakashi's voice was calm, "you look after Shikamaru and Temari." Kakashi then turned his multi-colored eyes toward the huddled forms of Naruto and Sasuke. "Naruto, don't let your guard down."

The blond-haired agent nodded, looked beyond the tunnel corner and saw that the Demon-Shark was still approaching. He aimed his gun and fired off two shots. Either Naruto missed, which was doubtful or the Demon-Shark was immune to bullets. Naruto groaned. "I forgot my silver bullets at home."

Kakashi released a chuckle and then pulled out a short blade that was concealed in his vest jacket. "He wants a hand-to-hand confrontation."

"Be careful." Kakashi looked mildly shocked by Sasuke's statement. The raven nodded his head and Kakashi smiled.

"Here goes," was Kakashi's parting words as he walked out to meet Kisame halfway.

…

"Hatake Kakashi," Kisame said around his grin. "It's been awhile."

"It's been over ten years."

"Alright,… then it's been a long time. How's it goin'?"

Kakashi shrugged. "Well, you know…I retired…I'm back…" Kakashi smiled through his mask. "And now I'm here to kick your ass."

Kisame bellowed out a laugh that seemed to quake the tunnel walls. "You've must've been hangin' with that Killer Bee too long!" He laughed again and the bludgeon that he held in one hand slapped against the palm of the other. He then cleared his throat and gave Kakashi a wink. "You ready?"

The KAGE agent took a stance. "Ready."

Before the word was fully out of Kakashi's mouth the bludgeon slammed down and the silver-head sidestepped it before it cracked his skull in half. Kakashi jabbed his blade toward Kisame's side but the bludgeon was swiped over to parry it. They jumped apart, putting little space between them that was easily conquered by the Demon-Shark's reach. He thrust his blunt weapon into Kakashi's gut. Kakashi was momentarily winded but he focused on moving. He stepped to the side, Kisame following the movement as they circled each other.

"Gettin' kinda rusty, aren't ya?"

Kakashi said nothing as Kisame slammed his club down again.

The blow nicked Kakashi's shoulder. Kisame must of thought that was enough, because he stilled for a moment and Kakashi used that moment to swipe his blade across the giant's chest.

Might as well try to etch your name on a stone wall, Kakashi thought as he withdrew his blade and went back into a defensive posture. There was barely a trace of blood on the tip but Kakashi took strength from that. I have to aim for his throat, or at least his thigh to immobilize him. Kakashi mentally prepared himself to inflict either option and to do it fast. One wrong move, one hit from that bludgeon, and Kakashi knew it would be all over.

…

Gaara and Shikamaru took up both sides of Temari and they helped her walk. She hissed in pain, grabbing both their shoulders in firm grips as she forced one foot before the other. They went back down the tunnel, going only a dozen or so steps, slowly and rigorously. Once they felt they were out of the immediate danger they laid the SAND representative down onto the cold tunnel floor.

Shikamaru tore off his sleeve and wrapped it around his wound with a grunt. "Stupid women." He hissed at Temari whose breathing was becoming shallow. "You got shot because of me."

On the ground, Temari smiled and choked on a laugh. "D-Don't flatter yourself." Her smile dropped. "I got shot, then that's what h-happened- I got shot."

Gaara, at the other side of her, looked down and removed Temari's blood-soaked hand from the gunshot wound on her chest. He examined the wound. It looked bad, there was already too much blood. Gaara's hand, which was holding Temari's, tighten unconsciously into a fist.

She coughed. "Don't make that face," she said to Gaara.

He squeezed her hand again, "What face?"

"The one that says I'm going to die."

Shikamaru spoke up this time. His body slightly leaning over Temari's. "You're not going to die. We'll get you out of here and get you some help." He pushed off the ground and found his bag- tying it onto his shoulder. "Gaara, help me pick her up."

They worked together to help Temari to her feet where she gave a cry of pain.

"We're going to get out of here." Shikamaru said firmly, his hand around her waist and hers' around his neck.

Before they disappeared down the tunnel Gaara made sure to express what he couldn't in words into his eyes. Temari smiled and gave an encouraging nod of her head.

…

Naruto and Sasuke watched as Kakashi and Kisame clashed. Kisame was a massive man, he took up most of the space of the small opening. Kakashi was much leaner and faster. The silver-haired agent moved quickly, dodging the powerful, but quick thrusts of the bludgeon.

The way the wind whistled around the club let them know that any blow that landed would be bone-shattering. But Kakashi's calm demeanor and agile movement let him have the upper hand.

Naruto couldn't tear his eyes away from the sight. In the world of Agents, Kakashi was practically a living legend. He had never seen Hatake Kakashi in action before and he hoped that it wouldn't be the last.

The bludgeon crashed down onto Kakashi's shoulder. The Agent collapsed toward the ground and was now kneeling. Kisame was about to slam his club down again, but Kakashi strategically rolled to the side and punctured his blade into the giant's thigh.

Kakashi withdrew his blade and rolled again, slicing his blade into the sensitive meat again and again. But the Demon-Shark just kept on coming…

Naruto and Sasuke both averted their eyes when they heard someone come up from behind. It was Gaara. One look at the redhead's face and Naruto knew that it wasn't good.

"How does it look?" Naruto asked, not really knowing what else to say but needing to say it anyway.

The redhead looked down at his blood-covered hand. "Shikamaru's retreating with Temari… They're going to find some help." He said, not directly, but indirectly answering the question.

Naruto nodded in understanding. "I'm sure she'll be okay, Gaara."

Before Naruto's words had a chance to settle, Sasuke gathered their attention. "Someone's coming out." He said, pointing out into the clearing where Kisame and Kakashi were still fighting.

They turned to see a small redhead stepping forward with the intent to join the fight. Naruto was about to stand up, but Gaara's hand on his shoulder stilled him. "You stay here with Sasuke."

Naruto didn't try to argue. He locked his blue-eyes with Gaara's sea-green and conveyed the strength that the redhead needed.

…

Sasori had enough of waiting. He hated waiting. He had to wait for the KAGE Agents to show up in the first place. Now that they were actually here, now he was forced to wait as Kisame fought …It didn't help that Deidara was continually talking into his ear.

Sasori watched as Kisame swung his club time and time again, hitting nothing but air. He could tell that the Demon-Shark was getting frustrated. His swings were getting messier and Kakashi was using his blade to pierce at his skin at precise locations that would soon have the Demon-Shark on his knees.

Finally, Kakashi's blade got a little too close to Kisame neck. Sasori decided that it was time to intervene. He knew that Kisame would probably kill him later for it. But he just hated waiting. Without sparing Deidara a word, he stepped forward and slowly made his way toward the two clashing forces. He knew that Deidara wouldn't follow him. That canary-head was too scared of Kisame to do something like interrupt his fight.

However, there was still Hidan, but that guy was busy praying. That religious symbol still dangling from his hand while he held his weapon, a triple-bladed scythe, closely to his chest. Sasori had no idea when he'd join the fight, but when he did- there will be blood.

With each step forward, Sasori reached a hand behind and slowly pulled out his Japanese steel sword. He was looking for an opening to strike at Kakashi but that opening never came. Instead Sasori found himself looking at a fellow redhead. "SAND?" Sasori asked, intrigued. He himself was once part of SAND before he went off to join Orochimaru's Underground. Gaara didn't reply, instead he reached down into a hidden pocket and pulled out a roll of wire. Sasori lifted an eyebrow. "My sword will cut right through that."

Gaara lifted up his own eyebrow. "We'll see."

Sasori wasted no time in bringing his sword down.

Using the wire that was spread between his hands, Gaara caught the sword and twisted harshly, dislodging the weapon from Sasori's grip abruptly.

Sasori was caught off balance and Gaara wasted no time in pulling out a concealed throwing knife and jamming it directly into Sasori's gullet. Sasori went wide-eyed, and blood spurted outward. Before he collapsed on the floor, Gaara spoke: "That was for my sister."

…

Naruto had seen Gaara's ruthless side many times before. He was not surprised by the speed or the mercilessness. Beside him he saw Sasuke's eyes harden and he wondered what the Uchiha was thinking. With Gaara's fight concluded, Kakashi's fight became the center of attention once again.

Kakashi was still slashing his blade across Kisame skin wherever he could reach. Neither one of them seemed to back down no matter how many hits were landed.

Naruto's blue-eyes saw Gaara turn his back to Sasori's body and face the dueling duo with the intent to intervene. But what Gaara didn't see was that another one of Orochimaru's goons were making their way out of the far tunnel.

"No matter what happens…don't leave this tunnel." Naruto said in a low voice. The blond sprinted out of the tunnel to tackle the figure before it descended on Gaara. He couldn't use his gun in such a restricting space. He didn't want to accidentally hit a fellow agent or for the bullets to ricochet hazardously.

…

Hidan finished his prayer with a sigh of pleasure. The necklace that he held between his fingers felt nice and heavy. He was ready to serve. He was ready to fight. He smoothed his shoulder-length-gray hair back with grace, a smile on his lips as he heard the sound of fighting nearby.

"Glad to see you up and around." Deidara declared. The canary-blond was fumbling with a large piece of clay, cutting it down into large chucks with ease.

"C4?" Hidan asked.

Deidara sneered. "Of course it's C4, ya idiot." He continued to press small explosives into the clay and he tagged it onto the wall on either side of the tunnel. "Once we get the little-brother-Uchiha, I'm blowing the tunnels for our getaway."

Hidan grinned. "How exciting!"

Deidara glanced at him. "Is that supposed to be sarcasm? You asshole, explosions are my specialty. It's my freakin' art! You-"

"Whoa!" Hidan cut in. "It wasn't sarcasm." He snickered. "Bein' a little touchy, aren't ya?"

Deidara flushed. "Fuck you!"

Hidan snickered again and he peered through the tunnel into the small opening where the fighting was continuing. "Hmm, it looks like Sasori was defeated." He said plainly. "That's too bad. I actually liked him."

Deidara balked. "What! Oh, shit…"

Hidan rolled his shoulders, mentally preparing himself. "I think I'll make my appearance now. I'll keep them occupied and you should go around planting your explosives…"

"I know what the fuck to do!"

"…When you see an opportunity, grab the brother-Uchiha and blow the tunnels."

Deidara grumbled to himself. "Talking like I'm freakin' stupid…"

Hidan turned his back to Deidara, bringing his triple-bladed scythe up to his chest and tightening his grip around the smooth handle. "Party time."

-End of Chapter 20-