It had been a long night for both, each one taking turns guarding and sleeping, neither lasted too long since nightmares often bothered Sakura, Kaoru watched over more than once while she tried to rest. When the morning came Sakura had settled traps while Kaoru fall asleep out of exhaustion. Her teammate wake up at the first light, her eyes slightly red for crying, her right arm limp but was surprised to see that her palm had healed. I was at Sasuke side with a wet cloth, setting it gently in his forehead.
"Sasuke breathing went normal but his fever is still up" I informed her, Kaoru eyes danced between us. I hoped she had some plan, some remedy, she was the one that always came with something to heal Naruto. Kaoru was searching in her kunai pouch, she took a red scroll and from there multiple bottles, cloths and few bandages.
"I just have a cool ointment, not sure if it will help" throwing one bottle to her. Sakura didn't wasted time in using it and waited for some reaction in Sasuke. Sakura glanced up to ask something when she watched Kaoru struggle with a bottle in one hand and her teeth. Succeeding in opening the bottle she pressed it between her chin and neck so she could put some salve in her palm. Sakura stood and took the bottle from her hands.
"You could have asked for help"
Her green eyes refused to meet mine, I wasn't sure what she was thinking. Sakura assisted her silently as Kaoru put the salve in Naruto face. Then we did the same with Sasuke, butshe got occupied with his hands and arms, in long circles like a massage.
"What is that?" Sakura asked when both took a sit, Kaoru was taking long breaths and reclining her body in a root near the entrance of their hideout.
"Just some relief and disinfectant in case they are in pain"
"And the other bottles?" Sakura made another question, relieved to have some kind of response from her.
"Some are for specific wounds, burns, poison, to close little scars"
I put my attention in her arm and offered to put some of the salve on it. Kaoru just glanced at me, I took that as a yes. I did it soft, unsure of how much it could hurt that kind of wound. She stiffened, maybe Sakura could distract her.
"Thank you" It was the first think she could think of.
"I didn't do anything" Kaoru answered sadly. No, for Sakura she did more than enough. Her teammate fulfilled the promise.
"You did, we were…. It was…" How can Sakura explain how relieved she was to see her then? "WE are alive. That is enough."
But she was silent, Sakura tried again to shake her from that state. "And don't think after this that… that I will let you go for Sasuke." Then she hit Kaoru head "That was for caressing too much his body, you won't do that ever again"
A laugh, soft but it was better than silence. Kaoru finally glanced at her and some shine returned to her, Sakura was relieved.
"Still at it Sakura…" her laugh subsided, she smiled softly one of those strange grins that actually felt sincere. "That's what I like about you, thank you"
"For what?" Sakura was perplexed.
"For being my friend" She replied as if it was the most obvious answer, like it was a fact well known. Sakura couldn't hold her gaze after that, because she actually didn't think that highly of her. Maybe Kaoru was being polite, not thinking her words, being like Naruto and Lee, kind of odd and absentminded. It had to be that, Kaoru lacked social skills for what she did remember.
They stayed like that watching outside, Sakura tensed up, but it was just a squirrel. The poor almost fell in one of her traps. When nothing wrong could happen some ninja appeared intent to came for us, no… for Sasuke. The black haired spiked one with the sound band came first. Soon the others followed and I set on the trap they didn't see. However they escaped with little effort and that ninja came again at us.
"Leaf Hurricane!" In a swirl of wind the green suit of someone I knew well made his entrance just in time.
"What are you doing here Lee?
Kaoru was searching for some weapons, since her sword had been broken back there. She greeted Lee and tensed looking at the enemies behind. "I will always appear wherever and whenever you are in danger Sakura" was his answer.
"But we are enemies here…"
"I told you so, I'll protect you with my life" Sakura was speechless, the boy who so professed his love before, was actually serious. He stood proud and ready to defend her, she was tired and Kaoru didn't look better either. With new found admiration she let him fight.
He was giving some good punches and she dared to hope he could get us out. Lee kicked his opponent to the air, he encased the enemy with his bandages and both came swirling at a dangerous speed to the ground. Lee was tired, breathing hard, and unfortunately he was outnumbered. She shouted watching Lee in pain, trying to help with some shuriken but was easily avoided. Then Kaoru ran outside, Sakura heart almost stopped, she wasn't in any condition to fight with a limp arm, yet she deflected the other ninja and stood with Lee. The boy with his face covered as a mummy was intent in getting Lee while the spiked one go for Kaoru, both launched at them yet the hits of those ninja were winning against their efforts.
"You see, this little accessory? I don't need to hit you with my fist. I can hit you with the power of the sound." The bandaged ninja explained before going for her in the hideout, Lee barely intercepted but was hit with the device sending him to the ground.
"Lee!" Sakura and Kaoru shouted, her teammate was intercepted by Zaku, with his hands he encased her in a foreign force..
"I can manipulate ultra-sonic waves and air pressure. Made the earth as soft as a pillow or hard as steel. You are pathetic just as much as that boy" Zaku took Kaoru by her cape and pulled her injured arm. Her agony was so palpable as she screamed that Sakura couldn't help but shake as that ninja continued tormenting her teammate.
Her body moves on its own accord, throwing another set of shuriken. Zaku defended with one hand,no matter what she did, it wasn't enough. The girl of sound pulled her hair, effortlessly mocking her weakness, taunting with ending Sasuke life. I felt so helpless, I cried anguished, I failed again when they needed me the most. There was so much I didn't get to tell them, so much I didn't do. Zaku walked calmly to Sasuke pulling Kaoru by her arm, her cries made him angry and I just watched as he pulled kunai and sliced her cheek, that shut her a bit.
"Shut up already, or else I will have to cut your chords"
What was I doing? Nothing. I can't stand being like this, not anymore. Cutting my hair, leaving behind the weakness clinging on my mind and heart. Frustrated, recalling what I had being doing all this time. I wanted to protect them, I had to. Fighting back, using substitution jutsu she got some distance to attack Zaku, falling into her trap, tackling and biting his arm. Kaoru was free again, but could not move.
"Sa-sakura" she heard her weakly." Sakura impaled one arm and bit hard the other. No matter what, she had to resist and bit harder. He punched her head hard but she won't back down.
"No, Sakura" Kaoru said breathlessly. Sakura had to resist, the pain was increasing, whimpering while receiving his punches. Kaoru shouted again, while crawling to her side but was kicked hard on the face. Zaku then changed their position and his shoe was crushing her head. From nowhere three people appeared, violet and blond long hair. Ino. Her team came to aid us, it was a miracle.
"Your teammates need you Sakura." Ino encouraged her to watch over them. Sakura was surprised how Chouji managed to distract Zaku, at the first chance she ran to Kaoru side. Her teammate had blood over her face, touching the scalp Kaoru reacted, blinking tiredly.
"Does it hurts too badly?" Sakura asked, her teammate blinked and grunted.
"Can you stand?"
"I can try" Kaoru replied softly, Sakura sither up, supporting her. "Shika? Chouji?" Kaoru asked in wonder while they were occupied with the enemy ninja. Sakura could relate to that surprise, and was grateful. Just when the things got better did the sound ninja surprised them hurting their female partner. Fortunately, Neji appeared and after watching Lee unconscious he openly threatened them.
Yet Sakura noticed Sasuke standing up, her initial hapiness subsided when she took a good look at him. Something was not right, instinctively she stiffened as a chill crawled up her spine. Kaoru tightened her grip on her wrist, both watched as his chakra materialized and surrounded him in spiral of black marks like embers of fire that painted his once fair skin now tainted and his energy pulsed fiercely.
"Sakura, who did that to you?
His red eyes located us, but the usual comfort she felt was replaced with fear. I didn't even notice Kaoru was trying to hide in my back until she grunted. I turned back as her sole hand covered her mouth her eyes on Sasuke. If possible, his face darkened even more, red orbs spinned, my voice was stuck when his tone got cold with such fury my body trembled.
"WHO did it?" It wasn't a question but an urgent demand. The harshness in his tone paralyzed my body.
"Wha-What happened to you?" Kaoru voiced out slowly what I though.
"Don't worry. I'm fine" He paused "It's just the power inside me. In fact, I never felt much better. He made me understand I'm an avenger. To continue my path, I must obtain power at any price even if it means being consumed by evil." He sounds so sure, so determined in a wicked way. Then Zaku proudly give the answer Sasuke was looking for, his eyes finally turned and we could breath again.
"Ino, go back to your body. We have to back down!" Shikamaru screamed, then Zaku decided to attack us. "Super Sonic Sound Wave!" I just felt myself fly, the three of us were safe besides Zaku. Sasuke easily sent him away and shot flames, in a blink he trapped the boy pulling from behind, his shoe in the back to keep the distance.
"You seem very proud of your arms" He pulled a bit more "very… attached to them" Sasuke grinned as he continued pulling more and more. I trembled as he break Zaku arms, but he didn't stopped until he disjointed one of them. Tossing out the arm aside like nothing while blood poured out.
"That isn't Sasuke.." Sakura said with sorrow, her heart was drumming erratically, controlling the nausea.
Sakura almost jumped feeling Kaoru hand on her shoulder, she felt the weight of her body while she stood up. Her teammate was sweating, but Kaoru managed to ran and stop him.
She took his hand in hers with a faint clear purplish glow. Kaoru was crying as she pleaded to Sasuke to listen. "Just stop. Sasuke… we are fine… please come back" But Kaoru could not resist longer to be up, she kneeled tightening the grip on his hand. The small glow had some effect on him, the black marks receding. She was directly looking at him, she murmured something too low for me to hear. Moments later, the black marks disappeared and his eyes were black again. Watching him struggle next to Kaoru, I went to their side.
"You're too strong for us. I propose this. I'll leave my scroll but if we encounter again. We won't back off again. The sound ninja with bandages over his face took their partners, trying to stop the bleeding from the boy.
"Wait, who is Orochimaru? Why did he do this to Sasuke?" I demanded still furious.
"I don't know" Was all he said, finally taking the other two and disappeared.
"Are you alright?" Chouji asked from his side in the bushes.
"Ino watch Lee, Chouji go with Naruto" Shikamaru commanded, he approached Kaoru, next to us, holding her on his embrance.
"Shika… thank you" Kaoru said softly, her chest up and down in rhythm. Shika shook his head and put a hand over the raven hair, his eyes assessing her body.
"You'll be the dead to me" He said gruffly, but Kaoru smiled. Sure that Shikamaru was taking care of her teammate Sakura returned her attention to Sasuke.
"What happened to me?" Good question, but she didn't have the answers. Then she heard Naruto shout and it made her smile. We made it, at last we could heal and get out of here.
"Bushy-brows!" Naruto shouted, she clearly stated for him to RESPECT Lee. He wasn't far, it was a relief he was up.
"Thank you Lee. I could defend myself and get more stronger because of you" Sakura poured her sincere feelings, indebt with his bravery.
"Even so, my efforts weren't enough" No, that was a lie. For her his actions spoked volumes. "The village lotus blooms 2 times Sakura, when we see each other again I will become a stronger ninja" I could just nod and believe in his words, touched for his determination.
"Sakura! Let my fix your hair" Ino offered, I was too proud to deny the offer, I wanted to enjoy this moment. In the care of Ino hands I watched as everyone interacted, Lee and his team were the first to leave. Shikamaru, was fixing Kaoru arm, her teammate had Naruto hand in a dead grip while Shika put the bone in place. After that the boys laughed at Naruto face and some sense of normalcy settled among us. We came back to the boys, Naruto was pouting because no one was telling him what happened.
"Explaining to you what happened will be a drag" Shikamaru said bored. Naruto again scowled.
"I have to say, I'm impressed with you as well Shikamaru" Ino made a comment, he didn't answered just waiting for her to continue.
"This is the much I have seen you work"
"Yeah? Well don't get your hopes high." Shikamaru then glanced at Kaoru who was scratching her new bandaged arm "You owe me another one" He took her hand to stop her then. "Stop that, I worked hard on them" Kaoru nod was enough for him, he gave her a bottle from his pouch. "Keep drinking this every 3 times per day, it will last"
"Yeah, we get it. Just stop playing the hero. I can take care of her" Naruto said a bit annoyed between them, trying to hug her but that hurted her arm and I had to punch him for being so careless again.
"Ok, now we are going. Better take care of yourselves cause we won't do that ever again" Ino said and then took a step close to Kaoru
"And you, keep your hands off Sasuke. Get it?" Of course, she had to say that, Sakura almost growled to her. At least Kaoru didn't get the message cause she just blinked at her. We decided to move on as well, find shelter and take a long rest.
