This was a difficult chapter to write, especially because of all the things that happen in the episodes one after the other, and it made me have to reconsider several different ideas. Originally, I was going to put Amedoru's fight into this chapter, but it makes more sense to put it into the next chapter. This chapter took me quite a while , but I'm happy with it, and I hope you guys will be happy with it too.
Stick around! There's more to come!
And a special thank you goes to my newest reviewers and followers. I appreciate all the support.
~Lastoftheamericandreamers
I've felt this kind of feeling before, the one where it feels like everything is happening in slow motion, and I'm stuck inside myself just watching from behind my eyes, like they're windows. In a way..it's sort've..peaceful. I can hear a sound like an explosion coming from somewhere too close for comfort, and there's still a trace of either drool or vomit trickling down my chin. I know I'm under a Gen-Jutsu, but somehow I'm still semi-aware of what's going on, like it only has an effect on me to some degree. Several dark forms blur past, cutting off Kakashi and Gai as they both try and take a rushing start towards whatever made that explosion.
Kakashi says something to Sakura, but I just can't make out what it is. And when more black blurs whiz out of some of the people in the stands near me, the trapped, fully functional part inside me starts kicking and shouting. The forms take the shape of people who line up at the bottom of the stands, cutting off Kakashi and Gai, and with glazed-over feeling eyes, I stare at the one right in the middle, with the cat mask. Those are only supposed to belong to ANBU..
"So, an enemy masked as an ANBU, huh? And he's the one who activated this Gen-Jutsu?" I hear Gai say, and my brother confirms it.
So if the guy with the mask is the one who caused this jutsu, is he also the one who made the loud explosion? And what's with the other people that are with him? I'm a little slow at processing things right now, but one things for certain..actually, a couple things are.
First, the village is under attack.
Second, according to what Kakashi's told me and from the twelve years of overall peace I've lived here in the village so far..this type of thing doesn't happen often.
Now the only thing remaining is who exactly's behind that mask, who these other people are, and why this attack is even happening.
The longer the line of enemies in front of Kakashi and Gai stay still, the more anxious I get. I don't hear Shikamaru or Naruto moving on either side of me, so that means the justu got to them too. I can't even twist my head to the side to check on them...dang it, what was that technique Kakashi showed me? It sure would get me out of this.
"Kakashi, look there! In the balcony!" Gai shouts, and both Kakashi and Sakura react at the same time. I can only watch their expressions, but even thats hard to make out. The infliction of shock in both their voices, though, well thats pretty distinct.
"Orochimaru!" Sakura gasps, and my heart flutters in my chest.
Orochimaru..is here. After all this time of constantly looking over my shoulder, thinking about where he could be in the back of my mind ever since my team and I had that run-in with him back in the forest..and he's the one causing all of this. But why now?
I spot the two attackers headed for Sakura before she does. Look out! I mentally yell towards her just as she covers her head and ducks. But fast as always, my brother intercepts and deflects them.
I start wondering if he knows that Naruto, Shikamaru, and I are currently down because of the Gen-Jutsu, but the thought vanishes as quickly as it pops into my head. He's more focused on whats going on with the attackers right now. Soon the sound of metal clashing against metal echoes around me as a mini-battle takes place right in front of my eyes. And I don't know who to watch more, Gai, or my brother. Gai knocks out some ninja who practically ran right into his fist, and he makes this weird noise I've heard from Lee a few times. I flick my eyes over some to Kakashi and watch as he takes out two at the same time. Despite the circumstance, wonder clashes with worry for him. I hate that my brother's life is on the line every time he gets into a fight, but whenever he does..he really is something else to watch.
Kakashi suddenly keels over, but just when I start asking myself if he could've been hit with something, he slams a hand onto the back of one of the enemy ninja, and after some smoke clears away, Pakuun appears. Hm..if Kakashi's summoning one of our ninja hounds, then that means he must have a task for us to do, another mission. Pakuun leaps up onto the back of one of the seats to get right in Sakura's face, but his head jerks backwards before it cranes around Sakura's body, and when our eyes make contact he gives a low whine. Kakashi instructs something to the two over his shoulder before getting back to the fight, and after Sakura nods, she and Pakuun both duck before crawling their way over towards Naruto, Shikamaru, and I on their stomach and elbows.
She and Pakuun split ways as they near us, Pakuun heading for Naruto, and Sakura heading towards me. And its weird..but the closer she gets, the more I start blacking out for no longer than a heartbeat before my vision's back to normal again. Sakura crawls to my side, and I can feel her gently, yet quickly removing my hunched-over form from over the guard railing. She lays me down on the ground face up, and when her face hovers over mine a look of worry makes a little vein in between her eyes wrinkle. She's gotta be wondering why my eyes are open, unlike everyone else who's under the Gen-Jutsu. Sakura's eyes squeeze shut before she taps me with two fingers on the shoulder..and almost as soon as she takes those fingers away, it feels like I can breathe again. All my limbs react now without a second thought, and adrenaline starts pumping through me.
"Don't get up just yet, I still have to wake Naruto and Shikamaru" Sakura whispers, like she can see my muscles coiling underneath my skin. As I nod something bounces off the wall behind us.
After Sakura shuffles away, I hear Naruto mumbling from behind me, and when Shikamaru starts yelling, I pop up right off the ground with a sharp breath before taking out a kunai and spinning around towards the noise, completely forgetting about Sakura's instruction to stay down.
"I can't believe you were asleep this whole time, you faker!" Sakura yells as she bares her teeth, and Shikamaru's pretty much doing the same as he tries shaking off Pakuun who's latched onto his leg by the fangs. My hand holding the kunai lowers.
"I didn't wanna get involved, give me a break" Shikamaru says as he lifts Pakuun by the scruff of his neck before poking around at his cheeks.
When I think about it, it's actually been a while since Pakuun and Shikamaru last saw each other.
" Is everyone alright?" I ask as I crouch down next to Naruto, who looks at me with wide eyes.
"Yeah! I mean, I'm still feeling pretty sleepy, but..how are you, Amedoru? You really weren't looking so good before" Naruto says.
"Whatever I was feeling earlier is pretty much gone now..but I'm still not liking all this" I say, and Shikamaru gives me a solid, worried look, silently asking me if I'm really okay or not. The only response I give him is an equally long stare before he nods his head slightly.
Then Sakura's eyes widen , and a few second later my gut twinges.
"Behind you!" Sakura shouts as I wrap an arm around Naruto and bring us both flat to the ground. But all I can feel is a subtle, yet powerful gust of wind before something gets slammed into the wall behind us. When I whip my head to the side, I see that the strong gust of wind was Gai. I should've known..
Flashback: (While preparing for the Final Rounds)
"The most important principle in building up speed, is building up your body" Gai said as he whipped out a jump rope from his flack jacket and began using it, much to Amedoru's amazement. The two had just come back from a long sprint/jog around the village. Even though Amedoru preferred to call it "Gai's Death March", she truly appreciated the time Gai was taking to help her train one on one, especially with Lee being in the hospital. As Gai tossed the rope aside before dropping to the ground to do push-ups, Amedoru smiled. She loved spending time with Gai almost more than the training itself. "This is because a regular persons body cannot handle the stress coming from you're chakra points while you're in motion."
As Amedoru began doing sit-ups, she made sure to keep her eyes focused on Gai, who was in the process of giving her a demonstration.
"Pretty soon you'll be able to do this!" Gai said before his body wavered in and out of existence.
"And this!" Gai said as he appeared off to the side several feet away from where he was just standing.
"Aaaand this!" She heard Gai call again before he appeared right in front of her. He bent down and before pushing Amedoru's knees closer together. "The more you're straight, the longer the wait!" Gai said as he pointed at his stomach, all the while flashing Amedoru his signature toothy smile, and Amedoru spluttered before rolling over onto her side, going into a laughing fit.
After Gai sends mine and Naruto's attacker sailing out the giant hole in the wall, I turn my head to the other side. That person in the ANBU cat mask is still standing there in the same spot, looking like he hasn't moved since he first got here. He's still stationary, but it's the one thing about him that tells me he's dangerous. Really dangerous. Every alarm starts going off inside me, and I take a kunai out my leg pouch before pushing myself off the ground with a loud "umph!" I don't know why just the sight of this guy makes me react as strongly as I am, but as I stare down deep into the two black circles that don't reveal eyes underneath..all I can think about is taking this guy out, at all costs.
But before I can even make it down the second step, A blur rushes in front of me, blocking my path with a wide stance.
"No. I don't want you to worry about him" Kakashi says as he turns his head to the side slightly.
"B-but Kakashi, this guy..something's not right about him" I say, and I notice the subtle grip on the kunai in my brothers hand tighten. He feels the same way.
"I know" he says " But right now I need you to do something else for me. Gai and I will take care of the rest"
When I don't say anything back, Kakashi continues, but this time he speaks in a voice loud enough for everyone else behind us to hear.
"Now I'll explain your mission, and as soon as I do, go through that opening. First, track down Sasuke and stop him. Then find a safe location and await further orders."
"Did something happen to Sasuke?" Naruto asks, and I peek around my brother to look down into the arena. There's no one there anymore..the only thing thats left is a shallow trench from whatever that thing was that came out of Gaara's sand. It takes a second to put the pieces together. Gaara must have run off, because of how unstable he was even while the match was taking place..and Sasuke went after him, intent on finishing it on his own terms, for good.
"I'll explain on the way, now lets go!" Sakura says in a rush, and I hear her leap out the opening. From the sound of Naruto's startled yelp, I'm pretty sure she took him with her.
"Go now, Ame. And be careful" Kakashi says to me as half his body turns to face me, and his voice grows more serious on the last part of his message. Is he still thinking about the little episode I had earlier?
"You too" I say with a nod before I spin around back towards Shikamaru and Pakuun, hoping that my brother didn't get a chance to see my face. I don't want him to know how worried I feel.
"..but my paws are so soft and supple!" Pakuun whines, and I help Shikamaru up quickly before we both leap out the opening and follow after Sakura and Naruto.
"See what happens when you stop biting at them?" I say, and Pakuun snorts.
As we leave the sound of clashing kunai continues, and for a moment I toss my head over my shoulder and stare at the large hole in the wall that's shrinking the farther we get away from it. Orochimaru is in the village somewhere..and I hate knowing he could be so near to Kakashi..to Gai..to everyone else still inside.
Then, of all people, the smiling face of the Third Hokage is the only thing I can think about.
We take off on foot through the woods with no strategic line-up, all of us pretty much traveling as a jumbled mass. Pakuun, however, takes to the very front to track Sasuke by scent.
"I guess Sasuke got a little impatient, huh?" Naruto says, and Shikamaru and I run up beside him.
"Oh man, why did ya have to pull me into all of this? I mean its such a drag" Shikamaru says, his voice even rising a little in pitch.
Sakura runs up alongside Naruto. "It can't be helped, its Kakashi-Sensei's order!"
I've been overall silent since Kakashi sent us all out. I'm still feeling uneasy, and my body's still not at its best just yet, but the sound of all our feet stomping over the ground and the deep, pure scent of all the trees and grass helps to calm at least some of my anxiousness. Shikamaru lets out a groan, and I turn my head to face him.
"Hey, at least we're finally getting to go on a mission together" I say with a smile, and Shikamaru nods as he snorts some with a small smirk on his face.
"That's a good point."
"Hey kid, you wanna come up here and help me out?" Pakuun calls back to us, but his eyes are on me...just like Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru as they eye me almost expectantly. I spare a quick side glance at them all before shouting up to Pakuun.
" You know I'm not a Ninja Hound, or even an Inuzuka for the matter. I can't track like you can" I say as I shake my head, and Pakuun's ears perk straight up before he makes a sharp right.
"Got something!" He shouts, and all of us quicken our pace, even Shikamaru.
Point proven.
"I'm really hoping Sasuke doesn't do something stupid" I say out loud...because, new jutsu or not, I have a feeling that whatever we all saw come out of Gaara's Sand Shell wasn't the whole show..
Pakuun leads us up into the trees, and we all fall silent again, until Naruto speaks up.
"How long till we catch up?"
"I don't know" Pakuun says in a grim-sounding voice. "A long time, if they keep moving at this pace"
As Naruto groans, my gut gives a twist again. Somethings not right.
"Shikamaru, I have that feeling again" I whisper and Shikamaru's eyes flicker over towards me
"Your gut feeling?"
I nod my head and resist the urge to look over my shoulder. I don't even know if I should ask Shikamaru this, after all it could be overheard by the wrong person...but safety for my team over rides everything else.
"We're being followed, aren't we?" I ask as I stare straight forwards, but I can still picture the frown on Shikamaru's face deepening as he answers me.
"Yep"
I think about those people in the hooded cloaks who were with that guy in the mask. Are they the ones following us? I shake my head. It can't be..because if they are the ones, then that means they were strong enough to take out my brother and Gai. A hand flies to my stomach. Despite what my imagination's telling me..I would have felt something if Kakashi..
"Hurry it up, you guys!" Pakuun calls back to us a bit frantically.
"What is it?"
"Did you see Sasuke?"
Sakura and Naruto speak at the same time as we all speed up our pace.
"No" Pakuun says " There are two squads behind us. That's eight ninja total..wait, there's one more. That's nine ninja following us."
I loose my footing as I leap onto another branch, and if I didn't have arms to help steady me again then my face would have gotten pretty friendly with the forest floor. Nine ninja. There are nine ninja after us. I really shouldn't be too surprised, especially after the things my team and I have seen on our missions, but the number of people behind us is still pretty astounding. There's only one real good explanation as to why they're following us, and why there's so many.
Sasuke..
"Not good, not good" I mutter as Shikamaru sighs from beside me.
"Awh man, come on already. Give me a break here!"
I try and tune in my hearing, but there's so much noise from all of our footsteps its hard to pinpoint where those nine ninja are. And besides, Pakuun's ears are way more advanced then mine.
"We should get out of here" I say, eyeing the branch beneath my feet.
"Right" Pakuun says, and I wait until Naruto, Sakura, and Pakuun leap off their branches before I cast a quick look back over my shoulder. No sign of anyone..yet.
"Come on, we'll just have to think of something as we go along" Shikamaru says softly, and together we leap off our branches.
I land on the ground with one hand planted flat in the dirt, and when I peel it away slowly, I eye the obvious hand print left behind. Maybe traveling by ground isn't the best idea after all..
"Follow me" Pakuun says before he stats walking backwards slowly. As he does, the little paw prints that were already in the dirt don't change any, but I can tell that they're a little more deeper into the ground after Pakuun walks over them. The point is, if those nine ninja track us all the way up to this point, all they'll see are our footprints that end here '"We're going back over our footprints. Once we pull this off, our footprints will seemed to have disappeared."
"Wow, thats genius" Sakura says as she watches Pakuun flip backwards onto a low hanging branch.
I place my feet into a set of footprints already there before backtracking, just like Pakuun did. "I'm pretty sure its one of the reasons why he's Kakashi's favorite Ninja Hound" I say before pausing and twisting my body around halfway. "Don't tell the others I said that"
"Sure thing" Pakuun says, but with a smug smile on his face.
Naruto starts grumbling so much to the point where he misplaces his foot and almost topples to the ground. As one, Sakura, Shikamaru, and I all stick out our arms and steady him.
"This'll buy us some time, and right now thats all we need" Pakuun says just as I get done with my last foot print. I look behind me to calculate distance before leaping backwards, aiming for the same branch Pakuun's on. Soon after I land, Shikamaru and Sakura join me. "But if our pursuers get impatient and succumb to the thrill of the chase and lose sight of out tracks, then I certainly won't complain, know what I mean?" Pakuun continues.
Almost there..I think to myself before Sakura groans and rests a hand on her hips.
"Hurry up!" She yells down at Naruto, and the loudness of it makes me wince a little.
"We don't have all day, ya know" Shikamaru says, and Naruto whirls around with frustration on his face.
"I know! Quit buggin me!"
"Just a few more to go, Naruto" I call down to him, and with a grumble he spins back around. When he's done, he joins the rest of us on the tree branch, and we take off again.
But not long after, I catch a whiff of something. Not a scent, exactly, but a whiff of a presence. That's the best way I can describe it.
"Uh oh, this is not good" Pakuun says in a low voice " Prepare yourselves for an ambush. They're definately back on our trail"
All of us grumble, and I can feel my eyes narrow. These guys who are following us definately aren't gunna stop until they get what they want. I know I should start thinking up a battle strategy or something..after all, it's something Kakashi's advised to me more than once if I ever got into a situation like this, but any plans I have in mind just get jumbled up together like the noodles in a bowl of ramen.
"Great" Shikamaru drawls " They're probably all Chunin or higher. We'll be wiped out if they catch us"
"Listen guys, it looks like we're just gunna have to ambush them, there's really no other way" Naruto says forcefully.
"If we deal our cards right, that just might work" I say as I look at Shikamaru. He stares at me a moment before focusing on the back of Naruto's jumpsuit with a familiar, pondering look on his face. One that I know well enough to let Shikamaru have a moment to think to himself. Because honestly, if there's anyone who can think our way out of this, strategize it, it's him.
"I'm afraid it's no good" Pakuun says "Those guys chasing us are Orochimaru's henchmen. My guess is that they're all Jounin level."
My throat becomes so dry its hard to swallow, and a sheen of sweat starts building up behind my headband. It looks like Shikamaru and I were right about our individual thoughts about these guys..
"I really thought that would work, but I guess it won't" Shikamaru says with a growl, and Sakura and Naruto fall back a little so we're all lined up side by side.
"What do you mean? A level of a ninja doesn't have much to do with an ambush, does it?" Sakura asks
"Wait, what are you talkin about?" Naruto asks, and Shikamaru groans.
"Let me explain. Yes, an ambush is a key battle tactic and can be very beneficial. But for it to work, you have to meet two conditions. Number one, the ninja on the run must be completely quiet and must find the enemy first.."
Well, we can already say goodbye to that first option
"..Number two, they have to be able to catch the pursuers off guard at a location where they can do a lot of damage quickly, and then conceal themselves again, just as quickly. And its only under those two conditions that an ambush can truly be effective."
Shikamaru says all of this so fluently it was memorized since birth. It really is amazing, all the stuff he knows.
"Is there any way we can..I don't know, start over so that we can make an ambush work?" I ask, and Shikamaru thinks a moment.
"We might be able to. I mean, we have a Ninja Hound whose nose can find our enemy, not to mention we have your own unique sense of awareness, Amedoru. And the second option also seems to be in our favor since we know the geography of our village like we know the backs of our hand" Shikamaru says, and I think a second.
" Especially the woods" I say as my head snaps back a little, and Shikamaru nods with a half grin stretching across his face.
"Especially, the woods" he confirms before the grin slips from his face, making my brow furrow together.
"However, Orochimaru is a former leaf ninja, so on the second condition we're out of luck."
Naruto makes a noise in the back of his throat and asks Shikamaru to explain more, and as he does I try and sort through all my thoughts. I still don't understand why Orochimaru attacked the village first, and why he sent someone else to chase after us to get Sasuke instead of just doing it himself. I mean..the last time we met, he was so close..
I can almost feel Sasuke's clammy hand in my own from after Orochimaru gave him that bite.
"So they know all the cards we're holding" Sakura says.
"I don't know. I suppose an ambush would give us an advantage, but-"
"But there's just too many things we're still not sure about" I finish, and Shikamaru grunts in agreement.
"And besides, our enemy is a special unit specifically put together just for this operation" Shikamaru says before baring his teeth "And what are the five of us?"
Shikamaru gestures his head at Naruto
-"A fool"
Then to Sakura
-"A kunoichi with no particular talent"
To Pakuun
-"A mutt"
And when Shikamaru gets to me, he opens his mouth a few times before shutting it.
-"And Amedoru..is strong, but.."
I glance downwards. " Things with me right now are kinda complicated, I know. It's okay."
I think about my reaction to Gaara from earlier, and to Orochimaru back in the Forest Of Death. If I were to have an episode during a battle I could endanger not only my life, but the lives of my teammates, my friends, too.
Shikamaru makes a noise before jabbing his thumb at his chest "Then there's me, the shirker who doesn't even wanna be here."
I can feel Shikamaru looking back and forth between all of us before sighing. "Look, tactics are about clearly grasping a tough situation and formulating the best plan. And right now, only one plan makes sense. Just one."
Shikamaru's voice changes on that last part, and I'm the only one who notices. Sweat drips down onto the branch below me. I'm not liking where this is going..
"Come on, Shikamaru, spill the beans. What've you got planned?" I ask with some hesitation, but Shikamaru doesn't hesitate in his answer. He just gives it to me straight.
"A diversion, one that looks like an ambush. So one of us is gunna ..stay behind..and slow them down."
Shikamaru doesn't look at any one of us in particular..and it worries me. But I can't even get single word out just yet.
"One of us will be a decoy" Sakura says, and Naruto makes a thinking noise.
"If one of us can delay them, then they shouldn't be able to find the rest of us" Shikamaru explains. " We'll be able to escape. Of course, the one who acts as decoy will probably die."
At this I come to a completely still stop, and my hands clench into fists at my sides slowly and my eyes close. I tilt my head upwards, towards the clear sound of birds chirping, and when I open my eyes sunlight floods them so quickly I can see spots. All of us, I notice, are on different branches..not saying a word. But I eye the back of Shikamaru's head..and for a minute it feels like we're just little kids again. All of us.
I know what Shikamaru's thinking, and I can't let him go through with it.
"Well..what exactly are my orders then" I say, and Shikamaru's body goes rigid as Sakura's and Naruto's heads snap upwards.
"Amedoru, are you serious?" Naruto asks, but his voice is quiet with curiosity and some disbelief inflected in it. Sakura's eyes grow wide..and very slowly, Shikamaru turns around so that we're face to face, separated by distance. I can't read the look in his eyes, either.
" We can't afford to lose Pakuun, he's our tracker" I say before looking around at everyone else. "And.."
And I can't loose you guys either, I think to myself, but Shikamaru's voice snaps me out of it.
"No, Amedoru. I'm the only one that can do it"
"No, no you can't. There's gotta be another way!" I shout as Sakura and Naruto protest with me, but Shikamaru only looks down at his feet.
"It's better than all of us being wiped out, right? Besides, I'm the only one whose got a chance at pulling off this decoy. And surviving this attack. I mean, after all, Shadow Posession Jutsu was invented as a delay tactic.." Shikamaru trails off before leaping onto the same branch I'm on, so we're side by side, and I have to force myself to look at him.
Shikamaru..
"So anyway, I'll catch up with you later"
..in his own way..he's right. There's no one else who can strategize like he can. He does have a chance, more than any one of us, but still..
"At least let me come with you" I say, but Shikamaru just shakes his head.
"Your team needs you, Amedoru. How else are you gunna find Sasuke if you're stuck with me?"
"You and me are a team. Always have been. And there's nothing that can change that" I argue.
I make eye contact with Sakura and Naruto, and even though the look in their eyes is calling me to go with them, I know they understand that I can't just leave Shikamaru to face nine enemies by himself, no matter how much of a closet genius he is.
Shikamaru takes a step towards me, and when he reaches out an arm my first thought is that he's going to pull me in for a hug, but instead he just claps down a hand onto my shoulder, squeezing it warmly. Like my brother, he's never been the hugging type.
"You know I know that. But you have to let me do this, in my own way. I can't promise that everything's gunna go just like we want it to..but I can say that I'm gunna try my best to make sure it does." Shikamaru says as he gives me a small smile, but I grit my teeth together to keep my self from leaning forward and wrapping my arms around him...in a way..it would feel like a closure or something..something that says I accept the fact that I have to leave Shikamaru behind.
So with my own hand, I grab onto one of his shoulders and squeeze it.
"I know you will. Go kick some tail" I say quietly before Naruto and Sakura come and flank me on either side.
"And when you're done, get back to us quick" Naruto says with a smile as Sakura looks at Shikamaru with determination in her eyes.
"Good luck"
And as Sakura, Pakuun, Naruto and I take off through the trees without Shikamaru, I look back over my shoulder before we get too far away, and watch as Shikamaru holds up an arm towards me in a farewell. What if this is the last time you see him? I think to myself, a lump jamming in my throat. Suddenly the forest scenery gives way to short clips of Shikamaru and I, memories of us from my childhood ranging from us running around the village laughing, to long afternoons of lying stretched out in the green grass to watch the clouds, and finally to the two of us on our stomachs with a Shogi board in between us as Shikamaru tries explaining to me how the game works.
And with half a grin on my face, one that holds both sadness and hopefulness as the same time, I hold up two fingers to my forehead and salute him off. Because even though it hurts so much to leave him behind even though he wants me too, I know in my heart he'll be okay. And I don't need to keep reminding myself how much I believe in him for me to believe in it myself.
I can just feel it.
So far everything's going smoothly, and the only communication I get from Sakura, Naruto, and even Pakuun are short little glances. It's starting to make me on edge, but I know they're only doing it to check on me. Strangely, after Shikamaru became hidden completely by tree leaves, my thinking's slowed down . All I've been focusing on is the pattern of sunlight on some of the branches up ahead, and my breathing.
But as soon as Pakuun makes a worried noise to himself that I pick up on, my head snaps up more as I kick off the branch I was on.
"What's wrong?" I ask, and Pakuun spares me a lengthy look.
"It looks like the enemy's gaining on us."
"W-what did you say? Are you sure?" I ask.
"I wonder if he's even trying back there" Pakuun says, and I frown at him before looking all the way behind me.
If something's happened to Shikamaru I-I..
I shouldn't have left him..
I start slowing down unconsciously as I look back over my shoulder again. One part of my says to go back and check on Shikamaru, but the other part says that it would be a mistake, to just focus on the mission and let things roll.
"Don't tell me he ran away" Sakura says in a whining voice loud enough for me to snap out of it, and a great flare of anger boils through my veins. I grit my teeth together so hard my jaw pops.
"You heard Shikamaru said that he'll take care of it, and he will. Don't you think for a second he would just abandon us without a second thought" I say in a loud, biting voice without looking at anything but the path in front of me. " I know he's lazy most of the time, but.." I trail off in a softer voice. "But when he says he's gunna do something, he will. I trust Shikamaru with just about everything, almost more than anybody else..he'll take care of it" I finish, and Naruto comes up beside me, followed by Sakura after a moment. And the both of them just look at me.
"I believe you" Naruto says with a nod "Shikamaru would never betray us"
"You guys are right. I-I believe in him too. And..I'm sorry" Sakura says, and my anger begins to melt away as I give them both a single, strong nod.
"Pick up the pace, slackers!" Pakuun calls back to us before falling behind some so he can give my hand a quick nudge with his face, apologizing about Shikamaru.
I look down at him with a half grin "Yeah, yeah, you little kiss up"
After a while Pakuun lowers our speed down to a more even pace. "Doesn't look like we're being followed anymore."
A smile spreads across my face as Naruto and Sakura cheer on either side of me, and that smile keeps on growing to the point where I can feel my eyes crinkle at the edges.
You sure did do it, Shikamaru...I think in my heart. Now hurry and catch up with us, so we can finish this mission together.
This part of the forest we're in now is darker than the rest. Cicadas and crickets are already starting to make noise, and we still haven't caught up with Sasuke...and Shikamaru still hasn't caught up with us..
Pakuun skids to a stop in an area where the trees grow in a circle around a fairly large space of bush and grass, almost like a small clearing. I drop down to one knee besides him.
"Is his scent still here?"
Pakuun sniffs the ground for a few moments as he walks around. "Yeah, but its already starting to turn cold."
A loud explosion bounces off the trees around us, and I stand up slowly.
"Those sound like-"
"Trip wires" Pakuun finishes for me "And they're certainly not making Sasuke's job easy for him either"
All of us jump up and settle onto a branch large enough for all five of us to stand on, and Sakura joins me in walking to almost the edge of the branch while looking out in the distance where the sounds came from.
"Sasuke.. do you think he might have..." she whispers to herself, and my eyes scan from side to side slowly.
"Don't you worry, it'll take more than some stupid wires to bring Sasuke down" Naruto tries to comfort Sakura, but as her gaze remains steady out in front of her, her mouth begins turning down at the corners.
"Sasuke can hold his own, we all know it" I say, and Sakura nods firmly. " If anything, I'm more worried about.."
I allow myself to trail off like Sakura as I walk to the very edge of the branch, and it bows underneath my feet before it starts bouncing up and down lightly, balancing my weight like a scale. Everywhere I look, up ahead of me, on either side..there's still no sign of Shikamaru. There's no doubt he took care of those people following us, but..
"I'm sure Shikamaru's on his way here right now" Naruto says, but his voice is just a little too cheery, and just a little too forced.
I back up a bit before dropping down to one knee and make a sign with my hands before ripping one my canines across the surface of my thumb. "Summoning Jutsu!" I say, and when Akino appears in front of me, looking at me from over his sunglasses, I lean in forwards a bit.
"I can't explain the whole story now, but I need you to track Shikamaru for me"
Akino's eyes go wide for a second
"If he's still in trouble, help him out as much as you can, but if he's okay just tell him that.." I trail off again as I spare a look back over at my teammates for a second. " ..tell him that we can handle things from here and to get back to the village. And to take care of himself" I add as I stick out a hand for Akino to sniff over before he goes. Hopefully the scent from Shikamaru's shirt is still there, even if it's faint.
After Akino gets done sniffing, he pulls his head back and gives me an uncertain look. "Kid, I don't know..the scents there, but its faint. It could take a while."
"Please..just try" I whisper. Naruto, Sakura, Pakuun and I can't backtrack to go look for Shikamaru now, not matter how badly I want to. It would ruin the mission, and it could be too late for Sasuke..Akino's my only hope of knowing whether or not my best friend is okay now. "When you find him, just howl. I'll hear you" I say. I'll make sure of it.
"Alright, you got it" Akino says, and I send him off in a hurry.
Pakuun trots up beside me with his head high in the air, and when he leaps off the branch towards the ground his back legs almost nail me right on the nose. "Sasuke's scent stops here, we gotta move, now!"
As Pakuun leads us through the trees again, I consider asking whether or not he can smell Gaara with him, but I have a feeling it would be too much of a sensitive subject to bring up right now. Besides, Pakuun needs to focus as much as he can. He's an excellent tracker, but these woods are still pretty dense.
"Uh oh, is that what I think I smell?" Pakuun says, and I push myself forwards more.
"What do you smell?" I ask
"What? What is it?"
"Some kind of trouble?"
Naruto and Sakura ask, and we all come to a stop. Slowly, I pivot on one foot to get a wide view of the trees around us. Someone could be hidden right in front of us, and we wouldn't know it until probably the last second.
"Its strange I never noticed it before" Pakuun mumbles, and my fingers twitch. "Sakura.." Pakuun says, and Naruto and I both look at her anxiously. "Did you know you and I use the same shampoo? Minty Rain-forest Mist, right? For extra body?"
"WHAT?! Are you kidding me?!" Naruto snaps as Sakura's jaw drops, and I exhale through my mouth before a quick snort of laughter escapes me.
"And I wonder why my coat is so much glossier than yours" Pakuun whines, and Naruto stomps his foot.
"Knock it off, this is no time to be talking about hair products!"
"Hey, just making an observation" Pakuun shrugs, and I have to resist the urge to lean in next to Sakura and get a whiff of her hair. But then I notice the deflated, loopy look on her face, and I grab her shoulder.
"Hey, Sakura, snap out of it. You okay?" I ask, but she just twists out of my grip before dancing away from us, her body twisting and turning. Honestly, it looks like she's just downed a whole bottle of Sake or something, like those people I've seen stumble out of this little pub back in the village. I strain my ears, picking up on Sakura's mantra she repeats over and over in a warbly voice"
"I smell like a dog..I smell like a dog.."
"Oh man" I say, and Naruto huffs as he turns towards Pakuun.
"Now look what you did! Sakura, wait!"
Naruto takes off, hopping branch to branch after Sakura, and Pakuun and I stare at their fading forms a minute.
"Wait a minute, you can't get far without me!" Pakuun shouts up to the two, and I just look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Come on, ladies man" I say, gesturing with my head. " Lets get a move on"
Before, every footfall seemed to help my mind focus more, it helped to ease my nerves for the most part. But now all I can feel is impatience and worry. I know I should be totally focused on the mission, but I can't ignore the fact that Akino still hasn't howled yet..
"Should I go ahead a little and scout from the sky?" I ask to all my teammates, but Pakuun shakes his head.
"It's best if we all stay together. We wanna find Sasuke before he finds us"
"Right" I say. Sasuke knows my Justu. He's probably just waiting for a random bird to pop up into the sky out of nowhere.
"There it is!" Pakuun says, and Naruto groans.
"What? Someone elses shampoo?"
"No, it's Sasuke! And he's not alone, I can smell others with him."
My teeth grit together. " He's right, I can sense them too"
Gaara..
Sasuke's finally caught up to him.
"At last!" Sakura says in relief, and she gives Naruto and I an individual smile, one I return instantly. Out of all the things that have happened so far, at least Sakura can get a little relief. I just hope it doesn't have to go away.
"They're close together and aren't moving" Pakuun continues " Could mean a fight, we should hurry" He pauses for a second, and this time when he talks he looks over his shoulder fully at all of us. " I don't think we're the only ones tracking Sasuke either, there's something else out there!"
Shikamaru's form becoming hidden by the trees fills up my mind.
"It can't be those same guys from before" I say " There's just no way"
"Where are they coming from?" Naruto asks, and Sakura makes a wary noise as her eyes widen.
"Who is it, friend or foe?"
Pakuun takes a minute to answer. This isn't sounding good at all..
"I don't know, but.."
"But what?" I ask, and my voice shakes.
Pakuun gives me a sidelong look as I leap up next to him, and even thats enough to make my stomach start churning again.
"Whatever it is..it's not human."
"We're really gunna have our hands full, huh?" I ask myself out loud, all the while replaying over and over yet again that thing coming after Sasuke during his match. The more I rewind it, the more detail I start to remember. The way it looked like one long appendage, and those weird markings on it. Even now I still feel like I've seen it before the match..though whether or not its from a dream I had long ago remains unknown.
Pakuun lifts his head into the air again and inhales, nice and long. Great, what else can go wrong?
"Uh oh" he says, and as he, Sakura, and I plant our feet to the branch underneath us, Naruto continues forward.
"Hey, what is it?" he asks as he cranes his head, and I hold out both hands, waving them.
"Naruto, watch out for that-!"
Naruto turns around at the last second before he slams face-first into the trunk, making it shudder violently.
"..tree.." I wince.
Naruto groans as he starts peeling off the tree, but just as I take a step forwards he's able to hold his own weight thanks to his chakra control. And I must say, considering how much trouble he had with it back when Kakashi first introduced it to him, he's mastered it pretty well.
"Does someone wanna clue me in to whats going on?!" Naruto shouts as his arms flail. Even from my distance I can make out the baby red bark indentations on his face from the impact.
"They're in motion now, Sasuke and the two other ones" Pakuun states.
Two other ones? Orochimaru's henchmen, maybe? No..one's gotta be Gaara, but the other one...is probably one of the other Sand Ninja, Gaara's siblings. I think of Kankuro, and how he acknowledged me back in the stands. It was like the both of us were beginning to put aside what happened during or match and become..no, not friends, exactly. More like acquaintances.
Nonetheless, if he's the other one with Gaara, if I have to fight him a second time, then so be it.
"Sounds like they're moving fast, too. I think Sasuke's chasing them"
"You sure?" Sakura asks, and Pakuun nods with a stony look in his eyes as he stares out in front of him.
"Positive. But there's two more there, not moving."
"Something about that just sounds off" I say as I pinch my chin with my thumb and index finger.
"Who cares?! We've gotta catch up to Sasuke, lets go!" Naruto shouts.
And I think to myself that no matter how much Naruto and Sasuke clash with each other..when it comes down to it, Naruto really does care about Sasuke. I just wonder if the feelings mutual on Sasuke's end..
"The two that are left are about to fight, I can smell it. Even if it means losing some time we should go around them, just to be safe"
" But what if it's one of our own? They could be in trouble" I say as I look at Pakuun.
What if one of the people left is Shikamaru? But even if it was, I would have heard Akino's howl. At least, I hope I would. I made sure to focus extra attention on my hearing ever since I sent Akino off. The cool thing about Akino's howl, though, is that is works like a dog whistle. It makes no sound, but the sound waves still travel. Its a neat jutsu to use whenever he's tracking someone , because if he were to howl normally, everyone would be able to hear it, especially the people we don't want to hear. And not only that, but this justu only works between Akino and I. Not even Kakashi can hear it.
Naruto starts going off again about how we should just go straight ahead anyways, and his voice is starting to grow more excited the longer he rambles. Sakura's quick to jump in to shoot him down, and back and forth they argue, my eyes flicking rapidly between them. Pakuun sighs and nudges my elbow with his paw as I squat down next to him.
"They always like this?"
"Pretty much" I say, and Pakuun nods.
"Any fighting that doesn't have to do with our mission right now is meaningless to us, we should focus on finding Sasuke as soon as possible and not get mixed up in any side activities. Now come on!" Pakuun says, and as Naruto huffs a little I call over my shoulder towards him.
"The sooner we get a move on, the sooner we'll find Sasuke!"
But as the minutes pass with no sign of Sasuke still, I start regretting my words from earlier. Just where are he and Gaara?
As I push off of another branch, the feeling that's like my eyes are trying to go into tunnel vision makes me slow down, and when my three teammates up ahead all turn to look at me with questioning looks, internal ringing rocks into me like a sharp jab that burrows into my stomach as soon as it makes contact. I come to a complete stop on the branch I'm on and lean against the trunk as I clutch at my middle and give a low whine.
Why..why does this keep happening?
Sakura, Naruto, and Pakuun are all standing in front of me in an instant, and Sakura reaches out both hands to grab onto my shoulders as she and Naruto bend over and look me in the eyes.
"W-what's wrong with her?" Sakura asks frantically "She's done this before.. is she sick or something?!"
"No..no I'ts not that" I grit out, and Naruto stares at me a long while before realization hits him.
"You know where Sasuke and Gaara are, don't you?" he asks, and I nod. That's gotta be it. I don't get this feeling unless I'm around Gaara..
The vibrations still come, but I close my eyes and deepen my breathing. Come on..come on.. I think to myself. I have to calm down. Focus..
"They're just up ahead. But Gaara..that thing..its there again. But it's worse" I say and Naruto squeezes my shoulder before taking off, and Sakura looks at me anxiously before biting her lip and looking at the direction Naruto went off in.
"Sakura, its okay. Go after Naruto, I'll be right behind you" I say as I start standing up straight again, and after she nods and disappears, I close my eyes again, take a deep breath, and follow after her with Pakuun beside me.
I may never know why I react the way I do whenever Gaara's around. I may never know what causes it exactly, and why it doesn't happen to anyone else.. but one things for certain. I have to put it aside, because whatever's up with Gaara..it's bad. Really bad. Sasuke's gunna need all of us to go up against it. And honestly, maybe this time when Gaara and I are face to face, I just might get some answers.
When I finally catch up to the rest of my team, I land in a crouch next to Sakura who's looking over Sasuke, his face slack just like the rest of his body. Naruto's standing on the branch in front of us, and his shoulders shrug up and down slowly, like every breath he takes is a labored huff. I rest a hand on Sasuke's back before standing up slowly, and when I look straight ahead the only thing I see at first is a set of eyes, one the color of a robins egg, and the other the shining yellow of a beast I just can't name staring right at me, piercing through me.
This time, I'm already more than prepared for the feeling that comes.
If tension actually exists as a physical thing, then I can certainly feel it. It's a heavy silence that makes me feel like my body wants to tip over to the side, like everything wants to destroy the balance of gravity. Sasuke starts shuddering, and his breathing is pain filled, but all I can focus on, all I'm aware of at the moment is the person standing far away out in front of me. I take in every inch of him slowly with my eyes...but strangely, I don't cover my face in horror, or even gasp at the parts of Gaara that are transformed into something thats just not from this world...even though it exists in Gaara's. It actually feels like for the first time since I've met him, I can finally see the whole truth, or at least now I finally know why his siblings and just about every one he comes into contact with all give him that same look, that same word in all their eyes.
"S-Sakura" Naruto whispers in a shaky voice, and Sasuke lifts himself up off the branch a little on his elbows. Dark crimson streaks race over his teeth as he grits them together, and..and those marks from before are all over him again. He starts turning his head towards Naruto, his eyes sweeping over me in the process.
"What are you guys doing here?! "
"We're here to help, Sasuke. Take it easy, your body won't be able to go on much longer if you start getting riled up" I coax, and Sasuke just shoots me a look before he groans again.
I thought those marks meant Sasuke was in control of some great power, I think to myself worriedly. But right now it's the complete opposite. The last couple of times Sasuke was like this, he was an unstoppable machine, beating up everyone who came into contact with him, anyone he saw as a threat. Now he's the one in pain..
"Pst! Earth to Sakura!" Naruto whispers again, this time in a louder voice.
"What. Is. It" Sakura says as she grits her teeth, and Naruto points over to Gaara, whose just standing there.
"Just who is this guy?!"
I cut off Pakuun as he starts explaining. "I-It's Gaara..but not Gaara at the same time"
Naruto takes a step back and stifles a shriek, but all the same turns his head towards me mechanically. "This is what he meant, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?" I ask. What the heck is Naruto talking about?
Naruto just looks at me, his eyes searching my face, and I look out right into Gaara's eyes again, trying to remember. Was it something he said back in Lee's room when we busted him? Why is it becoming fuzzy to remember?
"You might want to know I'm not the fighting type" Pakuun states, and Sakura growls.
"I can see that by looking at you!"
Sasuke chokes out another groan, and this one's even worse than the last time. The longer we stay here, the weaker Sasuke's gunna get..and with Gaara the way he is right now, protecting Sasuke isn't gunna be easy. I look back over my shoulder at him, watching as he squeezes his eyes shut so hard it looks painful, and I remember how right after his preliminary match Kakashi slipped out the door. My brother's the only one who can contain whatever power Sasuke has inside of him..
When Gaara speaks, it comes out a little raspier than usual, and for a few beats my heart blips.
"What do you want?"
If only I had the courage to say that what I want is for him to let Sasuke be, to let all of us be so we can avoid a fight. But most of all, I just want to tell him the truth. I want answers..and I just want to talk to him, like I've tried to do ever since he first came to the village.
"You're the ones I didn't kill that day" Gaara states, and Naruto starts shaking. Then Gaara flicks his eyes over to me, and I swear they're beginning to widen. " And you, I almost had you, I was so close. So...close.."
My breath catches in my throat as Naruto's jaw drops. I can see that crazed look in Gaara's eyes beginning to blossom, just like I can see the dark hallway he pulled me and that ninja into, just like I can feel the cold floor sliding against my stomach. But I refuse to let myself remember the sound of Gaara's breathing that day, and of Naruto and Shikamaru's shouting.
"Naruto.." I say quietly, only for his ears.
"Y-yeah?"
"We have to take Sasuke and get far away, right now"
Naruto's body twists around like a whip as he yells back at Sakura, Sasuke, and Pakuun. " You guys, we have to go! Now!"
My ears pick up on the sound of something slicing through air, and my gut gives a twinge.
"He's going for Sasuke!" I shout back to Sakura just as Gaara sails over mine and Naruto's heads, his deformed arm held straight out to deliver that final blow to end Sasuke.
But just when I think it's over, a splash of pink hair rushes in right between Gaara. Sakura..holding a kunai in both hands with the fiercest look on her face.
And Gaara just keeps on coming.
"SAKURA! WATCH OUT!" I shout over at her, but its too late. Gaara's monster arm just swats her away before pinning her to a tree, and Sakura twists her head side to side in pain before going limp.
My body jerks back as Naruto screams Sakura's name beside me, but the both of us move as one, each leaping over to the branch Sasuke's still lying on before each of us grabs a part of him and carries him off over to another branch.
"A-amedoru, what are we gunna do?! Sasuke..and now Sakura..!" Naruto stammers out frantically, and even though Gaara hasn't made another move yet it stills feel like everything's happening too fast.
"I..I don't know!" I say as I glance back and forth between Sasuke and Sakura. "But we'll think of something, we've got to"
This feels just like what happened in the Forest Of Death. But this time, it's only Naruto and I left standing inside of just me and Sakura..
I look at Gaara and notice how he's got one hand clamped to the side of his head, and how his body is folded in on itself like something is trying to tear him apart from the inside out. I've seen Gaara do this before, but from what? What weakness if there that I'm not seeing?!
But like Gaara can hear my thoughts, he removes his hand from his face and straightens up, but this time the look in his eyes is far worse than what I thought they were. They're absolutely crazed..it's like Gaara isn't even present anymore, just the other half of the monster he's already half turned into.
"What's the matter? Weren't you about to make a run for it?" Gaara asks, and his voice is much deeper and and raspier now.
"Sasuke..Naruto..Amedoru" Sakura's faint voice calls out to us, even though it looks like she's still unconscious, and anger begins simmering inside me again.
"Who are these three? Who are these three to you? " Gaara asks as he focuses on Naruto, who bares his teeth and stands up straight.
"Who are they to me?" Naruto says, and his voice rises with each word. " They're my friends is who they are! You try laying another finger on Sasuke and Sakura..if you so much as look at Amedoru again, and I will pulverize you!"
Gaara's response is just a sly smirk as the long arm pinning Sakura to the tree extends more, making Sakura cry out in pain, and I reach into my leg pouch and finger a couple shuriken.
"Whats the matter? I thought you were going to pulverize me?" Gaara taunts, and Naruto growls before looking at me anxiously.
" Amedoru , can't you use that one justu of yours that blew up Kankuro's puppet?"
" I don't know" I think as I shake my head. I've had that justu in mind ever since Gaara stopped moving..but Silent Thunder is still pretty unpredictable, even though I made sure to practice it more during those long weeks before the Final Rounds. Besides.. " I would have to be on the same branch as Gaara, and that means Sakura would be in the line of fire. But If we can get Gaara to the ground, it'll work" I say as I look at Naruto. " We have to get her out of there first"
Naruto and I stare at each other a moment before he nods to me, leaping off the branch straight for Gaara's face, and at the same time I fling out those shuriken straight at the monster arm that's got Sakura trapped. Naruto soars backwards in the air as I follow my shuriken, and when I land on the arm I stab a kunai through it. And ironically, its like plunging it into a huge clump of wet sand. It's so strong..
Something comes shooting out at me as I start turning my head towards Gaara, and it's a wonder I'm able to avoid it as I leap back to Naruto, the both of us breathing heavy already.
"Trying to saw through that thing is useless" I say as I huff " Gaara's not moving, but he can still swat the both of us away like flies"
"This isn't gunna be easy, not when he's standing like that" Naruto says, and I nod.
"We're gunna need some backup"
Gaara starts laughing out loud, spit flying from a half set of large fangs. "You'll never win, as long as you fight for the sake of others you will never advance to this level. You will never become strong!"
Suddenly, I burst "Fighting for people I care about is what makes me strong!"
Gaara stops laughing, and narrows his eyes at me with a low growl. "Only one can remain undefeated, and only he will know what it truly feels like to exist! Trivial feelings like friendship and loyalty cloud your focus, and you'll die"
"If you really feel like that, you're in the wrong village then" I say.
"Yeah, yeah, keep talking. I'm gunna shut you up for good!" Naruto shouts before leaping off the branch again, and when Gaara crumples over and brings his head up to his face again, I follow after.
Naruto and I try over and over, but we always end up getting smacked away by Gaara's tail. Even when I try attacking Gaara's human side directly, I can't land so much as one inch of knuckle on him. Flinging shuriken and kunai at the long arm pinning Sakura to the tree doesn't work..and Gaara's pretty much untouchable right now. I can't think of anything that'll help Naruto and I.
Everything I try ends up being useless..
I leap up into the air and fling another shuriken downwards, trying to give something to distract Gaara's tail so I can attack him from above too..but the tail is large enough to protect Gaara from both, and the very end of it wraps around my ankle before swinging me up and around Gaara's head before launching me into the air, and when I crash into Naruto, the both of us go rolling down the length of a long, thick branch.
"We're getting our tail kicked" I say, and Naruto groans in agreement as we both get back to our feet slowly. Naruto turns to the side, probably to think to himself, and I close my eyes. I could try and attack using an animal form, but it's too risky since we're high up from the ground. And even if I ended up falling off one of the branches, trying to turn into a bird or something to keep me from crashing to the ground would use up more chakra than I want to right now..especially with Gaara as mine and Naruto's opponent.
"I think I have something that'll help" Naruto says all of a sudden before biting his thumb and slamming his hand down onto the bark, making my eyebrows raise. Naruto's got a Summons!
But when that Summons comes, I try to keep myself from sighing. After all, I shouldn't underestimate the little toad..or frog, because of its size. Naruto and the frog start arguing with each other over something, and when I turn my attention back towards Gaara my mouth drops open.
"N-Naruto.." I stutter, and when he looks at me all I do is point forwards with a shaky hand.
"Worried about the others?" Gaara asks, as he lifts his head. He's..he's still transforming? What was left of Gaara's human features disappears on his face, and now I'm looking at something else. With the ears, giants paws, and tail..it looks like Gaara's transformed into some kind of mutated raccoon.
That internal ringing starts up again, slamming into me, and I make the mistake of letting my guard down as I double over. For a split second all I can see is a blur of color as Gaara's tail comes rushing towards me.
"Well here I come!" Gaara shouts, and I feel someone wrap their arms around me and carry me off to another branch just as the one I was just on splinters and snaps in half.
"Amedoru, are you alright?!" Naruto asks as he grabs both my shoulders, and through the pulsing throb inside me, I nod.
"Whatever this feeling is..it's got something to do with Gaara.."
Naruto helps me stand up straight again, and we both snap our heads in the direction of a sound like a suction cup being ripped from a wall. The arm holding Sakura to the tree peels away until all that's left restraining her is a giant hand. And Gaara keeps shifting until he's literally in the form of a monster.
"You couldn't save her even if you defeated me" Gaara says to Naruto before looking at me, smiling. " You're just too weak"
My teeth grit as I look between Gaara and Sakura. Gaara's detached himself from her now, for the most part at least. If Naruto and I can get him to the ground, my Silent Thunder Justu could be put into effect, and Naruto and I could have a shot at taking Gaara down. My eyes find Sasuke, safe for the moment on a higher up branch. Even so, time's running out for him too..
"I'd hurry, the sand will harden until it crushes her to death" Gaara says..before his eyes widen and focus directly towards me. "Maybe I'll consider giving you an option.."
He drifts off, then looks at Naruto.
"..an exchange...give me her, and I will release your friend."
Naruto and I glance at each other nervously, anxiously. Dread begins creeping up on me. I have a feeling I know the next words that are gunna come out of Gaara's mouth.
"..give me her, Amedoru..Hatake! "
Naruto lets out a choked gasp as I close my eyes for a second.
"No.." Naruto whispers to himself as he looks at me helplessly, but I'm too lost in my own thoughts to try and reassure him.
It's a plain and simple fact. Gaara wants to kill me..heck, he's probably felt that way for a long time now. And if I go over there, he might kill me instantly. But Sakura would be free..if Gaara keeps his word. As terrifying as all this is, I think of Shikamaru, of how strong he was to volunteer himself to be the one left behind. I'm sure he was scared at least a little about the whole thing, but he did it anyway, so the rest of us could go on with the mission.
Maybe the right thing for me to do now is to be strong like him.
"If you think I'm gunna sacrifice my friend..why you.." Naruto starts shouting, but his voice dies down.
"Naruto, its alright" I say, and he whips his head sharply and gives me an incredulous look.
"What are you talkin about?! You can't just-"
" It could be the only way to save Sakura, and just look at her! She doesn't have a lot of time left"
"What's the matter, is it really so difficult to decide? Are you still thinking about the best way to save your friends?" Gaara asks, and I lean in closer to Naruto and whisper in his ear.
"It could be my only chance of getting close to Gaara without Sakura being in danger"
"Maybe this will help you decide, then. Sand Shuriken!" Gaara shouts, and I have a very, very limited amount of time to get myself in front of Naruto with my shield jutsu protecting the both of us before the shuriken pound into it. Why is it taking them so long to disintegrate? I think to myself. And not only that, but the shuriken are actually..sticking to my shield. My eyes widen.
"Its gunna blow soon, I can't keep up the jutsu much longer" I call over my shoulder to Naruto, and almost right after I say it my jutsu releases, and Naruto and I are propelled backwards as the sand shurikens drive into us. Leaves flutter and branches break from the impact of our bodies, and Naruto slams backwards hard into a tree trunk as I come to a rolling stop at his feet, blocking a shuriken aimed right for Naruto's face with a kunai before it can hit him as I let out a groan.
We can't keep going on like this..
"Naruto, try and get Sakura out of that sand as quickly as you can" I say as I stand up slowly, wincing a little at the pain in my back, and when Naruto stands up too, the thin line of blood leaking from his mouth makes me frown.
"A-are you sure you wanna do this?" Naruto asks, and I just smile at him.
"I just ask for one favor..let me fight Gaara on my own first. I know you've been wanting to take him on ever since Lee got hurt, but I..I just need to do it" I say, turning away from Naruto before I can see the expression on his face.
"Gaara!" I call, and my voice echoes some throughout the forest. Gaara's ears perk up, and he looks at me with an amused expression. I eye Sakura and Sasuke's still unconscious forms before I feel my teeth press against each other. "Lets rumble"
And as I walk closer to the edge of the branch, I have to say I don't know exactly why I want to fight Gaara alone. Naruto and I make a pretty good team, and I have full faith that he can take down Gaara on his own..if it comes down to that. Do I want to fight Gaara alone so I can avenge Lee? Sakura? Sasuke? Or is it because , deep down..I feel like I might be able to reach Gaara, in a way, even after everything. I shake my head at the thought. After what Gaara's done to Lee and my teammates..I shouldn't have any hopeful thoughts about him. It's just too late.
But there's just a feeling inside me that's thinking otherwise.