Options

Team Taka were moving through the forest when Karin alerted them to a weak chakra nearby. And then Sasuke felt it, an all too familiar chakra which he instantly led his team towards.

They dropped to the ground to surround the unconscious girl. She had apparently been in a battle though from what Sasuke could see, she wasn't seriously injured. She appeared to have collapsed as a result of chakra depletion.

'Sakura,' he thought, taking in her pink dishevelled locks, parted lips, slightly ripped and dirtied attire, and her bruised body.

"Heh, she's hot!" Suigetsu commented while Karin muttered something about her being nothing special. Neither noticed the way that Sasuke glared at them in response. Only Juugo frowned confusedly at his leader. "Sasuke?" he called tentatively.

Sasuke knew that he had several options. He could leave her here. Either she would come to and make her way back to the village, which she might reach in safety but she may encounter another enemy, forcing her to engage in another battle that she had no chance of winning. Or, the enemy may find her before she came to and kill her anyway. Somehow, not knowing what her fate would be didn't sit well with him.

So his next option was to kill her here himself. At least that way, he would know her fate. But he was surprised to find that he didn't really want to spill her blood.

He could take her to the village. Or at least bring her closer to the village so that her chances of getting there safely were improved, although this was a huge risk to him.

His last option was to take her with him. He knew that she had become very strong, and skilled in medical ninjutsu. At one time, she had begged him to take her with him.

"Sasuke?" Juugo repeated, looking for an answer to his unasked question. This time, Suigetsu and Karin were waiting too.

Sasuke sighed as he lifted his former teammate into his arms. He turned to his stunned team. "I've considered my options. Let's go."