Akira ran forwards as well. Her feet pounded the ground, propelling her forwards as fast as she could to catch up to Sakura. If she got caught between Sasuke and Naruto, she would die. Akira's hand reached out, she was close enough to grab her dress, and so she did, tugging it downward so that they both went crashing down to the ground. Akira expected her to be too late. Sasuke and Naruto would destroy each other. But the impact never came. Akira lifted her head a little and she breathed a sigh of relief. The message had arrived in time, and Kakashi-sensei was there to stop the boys from killing each other. He grabbed them by the arms and flung them into water towers, their jutsu hitting them full-on.

Kakashi-sensei helped Akira and Sakura up. The Chūnin adjusted her clothes and went to stand beside her sensei, placing the Sword of the Thunder God back into her pocket. Kakashi seemed to notice the object, as well as the new jutsu Naruto had learned from Jiraya.

"What do you two think you're doing up here?" Kakashi said, sounding annoyed. "That was a little intense for just a sparring match, wasn't it? What's wrong with you two?"

Naruto's jutsu had created a small crater and hole upon impact, whereas Sasuke's Chidori had completely demolished the front of the water tower; his arms was stuck inside, and when he pulled it out, a large gush of water followed. Akira sighed and explained what happened. Kakashi stepped towards Sasuke.

"What were you thinking? Were you really going to kill him, Sasuke?" he demanded. "You really have to watch this sense of superiority you have." Sasuke scoffed. "That Chidori. It wasn't the size you aim at a comrade from the Leaf Village. When are you going to finally grow up, Sasuke? You realise that this should have never happened? Akira, a superior officer, told you to knock it off."

Sasuke huffed and glared at Naruto, then his sister, before jumping over the fence and disappearing. It was only then he saw that the entire back of the water tower Naruto landed in, was completely gone and busted wide open. Akira turned to her sensei.

"I think Itachi coming back caused this," she said barely above a whisper. "He has been angrier ever since. Never satisfied with his progress, or always looking to Naruto for comparison. Even me at times."

"Do you think this is a problem?" Kakashi-sensei asked her.

"Yes. I also think the jutsu he knows are a problem as well." Akira held up a hand to silence her sensei. "At the time, it was a good idea. But with Naruto learning the Rasengan... You can blame him for that."

Both Kakashi and Akira looked down to the base of the water tower. Master Jiraya was standing there, arms crossed and seemingly deep in thought.

"You don't think Naruto is a little young to be handling that jutsu?" Kakashi asked. "After all, he could've killed Sasuke. I know you want to protect him from the Akatsuki, but still... to entrust him with a jutsu like that?"

"Aren't you a fine one to talk," Jiraya replied. "Teaching the Chidori to someone like Sasuke and not knowing another one of your students was training with Orochimaru? You're lucky Akira is level-headed, because I knew he was a hothead, but I never thought Sasuke would be willing to use a jutsu that powerful against a comrade. Obviously, there's bad blood between Sasuke and Naruto, but where the hell does it come from?"

"You missed the part where Sasuke also asked me to fight him," Akira said calmly, looking down at Sakura. She was crying. "To Naruto, Sasuke is a rival and a comrade at the same time, just like Kiba and I, some would say. In fact, it is the competition between them that keeps Naruto going. That is why he will not stand for it when Sasuke belittles him. He has been right on Sasuke's heels every inch of the way, ever since the academy. As far as Naruto is concerned, what Kakashi-sensei thinks or what you think mean nothing to him. There is only one person whose approval he cares about.

"On the other hand, it is hard for Sasuke to watch Naruto's strength and skills develop at such an astonishing rate. He's come along so fast, and Sasuke must be feeling like he is at a standstill. Sasuke can't acknowledge Naruto or else, in some way, he would be diminishing himself. Naruto has something powerful driving him on, and so does Sasuke. But..."

"But what?" Kakashi-sensei asked.

"Let us leave Master Jiraya with Naruto," Akira said, avoiding the question. She jumped down and faced Sakura. "They will be okay, Sakura. Soon enough, they will be back to normal."

Sakura smiled a little and Akira offered a small hug, something she'd never done to the pink-haired girl before. Then she left down the side of the hospital building and began walking down the alleys. Moments later, Kakashi-sensei had joined her.

"Sasuke has always held a lot of hatred for Itachi, or everything in general," Akira explained. "Revenge is what has been driving him ever since Itachi massacred our family, and if I am being honest with you, I think the Curse Mark is making it worse."

"But it's been sealed off," Kakashi-sensei said. "It shouldn't be acting up."

"Mine has not been sealed for months, Sensei, and I am all right. I think the fact that the Curse Mark is on him, but thinks it is unattainable power, is making him angry. Yes, the Curse Mark most likely feeds the anger he already has, but I think the fact that he wants to use it, but can't is driving him mad, as well." Akira stopped and turned to her sensei. "I have been using the power of the Curse Mark on and off for the past few months, and it hasn't pained me since I first started learning how to keep it in check."

"Akira..."

"No, think about it! It is incredibly dangerous, yes, as I think there is a second level to this Curse Mark-"

"A second level? What're you talking about?"

"When Orochimaru told me that I had mastered the control of his Curse Mark, he mentioned something about acquiring more power. I could not do anything more with the Mark that I had, so I could only assume I could take it to a second level."

"You don't think that maybe that's why Orochimaru wanted you and Sasuke in the first place? To get to that second level?" Kakashi-sensei suggested. "Think for a second, Akira. If there is a second level to this, that means more power. What does Sasuke want more than ever these days?"

"Power... You do not think that he would-"

Akira cut herself off and her midnight blue eyes grew wide as saucers. Of course he would. Sasuke would stop at nothing to gain power, to be able to take revenge on Itachi and avenge his clan. She didn't waste any time in running of to find Sasuke, but Kakashi caught up to her and stopped her, holding her by the shoulders. He could see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, the panic in her eyes. Sasuke was all she had left, and she had no intention of losing him.

"Sensei! Sensei we have to go find him!" Akira pleaded.

"We'll find him, don't worry. And when we do, I'll have a little chat with him and then you can keep an eye on him," Kakashi reassured her. "All right?"

Akira nodded and followed Kakashi around town until they got a location on Sasuke, mind silently panicking very second longer it took. When they did find him, Akira and Kakashi tied him down to the tree he was sitting on. They both dropped down in front of him. Akira noticed he was in the same clothes as this morning. He hadn't bothered to go home and change after the ordeal with Naruto. She was relieved however. He wasn't gone, or captured. He was safe. Kakashi noticed her instant change in demeanor.

"What's with all this?" Sasuke said angrily.

"Sorry, but I knew you wouldn't want to sit still and listen so I had to pin you down," Kakashi explained. "You know, you gotta forget about revenge."

"What!?"

"Believe me, in this line of work, I've met a lot of guys who feel the same as you do. Trust me, for those who follow the path of revenge... it never ends well. You'll only tear yourself apart, and the ones closest to you as well." Kakashi glanced at Akira. "And even if you succeed, and you get your revenge, what will you have then? Nothing. Emptiness."

"Shut up!" Sasuke snarled. "What makes you think you know anything about it? It's easy for you to talk, you have no idea!"

"Easy..." Kakashi warned both Akira and Sasuke. "Just try to calm down."

Her fists had balled, angry at her brother. He couldn't simply assume things like that about others. What if Kakashi-sensei did know what it was like to lose the people you love. What if that was the reason she found him staring at the memorial stone on occasion?

"Maybe if I was to kill the most important people in your life, everyone who's ever meant anything, maybe then I'd listen to you! Because maybe then you'd have some idea how I feel!"

"Sasuke!" Akira whispered harshly.

"Well, it's an interesting theory. But I'm afraid you're a little late to put it to the test. Everyone you're talking about has already been killed," Kakashi said, smiling.

"Kakashi-sensei..." Akira whispered, looking sadly at the man.

"I've been around longer than you, kid, and I've seen my share of troubles. You're not the only one to know what it's like to lose somebody." Sasuke looked down, ashamed. "So, it looks that neither of us here has lead a charmed life. Still, we're not all that bad off. At least we three have been lucky enough to find new comrades to fill the void," Kakashi said, setting his hand on Akira's head. He smiled down at her. "Anyway, I do know how you feel. With the Chidori, you've been granted a gift of awesome power. But it's not a gift to be used against your comrades or to seek vengeance. I think, in your heart of hearts, you know what it's for... Okay, end of lecture. Akira, you staying?"

"Yeah, if that is all right with you."

Kakashi-sensei nodded and ruffled her hair before disappearing. Akira sighed and looked at her brother. She sat down beside him without a word. They sat together in silence and didn't move. Sasuke kept him arms around his knees, looking at his feet, while Akira looked on at the setting sun. She watched the sun go from the middle of the bright blue sky, descend into the pale pinks and oranges of a sunset, and settle down beyond the horizon, turning the sky dark blue and speckled with sparkling stars. And just as the clouds revealed a full moon, Akira could see four figures in front of it on their way towards herself and Sasuke. She and Sasuke stood at the same time they landed.

They were an odd looking bunch, all wearing different variations of the same tunic. It was pale grey, with a completely white yin-yang symbol on the hem, and a large purple rope tied into an inverted bow around their waists. The shortest was a girl with long, untamed pink hair that fell past her shoulders, with parted bangs that framed her face and one between her eyes. Akira could have easily mistaken her as a boy. Her brown eyes were expressionless. The one beside her was fair-skinned and had straight, silvery grey hair with long bangs that covered an eye. Akira glanced a bit to his side and she noticed another head protruding from the first one's neck. It was hanging limply, hair covering its face, and she wondered if it was a twin. The one beside the dual-headed man had dark skin, black eyes and six arms, reminding Akira of a spider. The last one was simply large, the largest of the group. He had fair skin and narrow, slanted orange eyes, as well as three tufts of hair of his head: a Mohawk of sorts that ran down the middle of his head, and two similar ones that ran on the sides. Akira noticed they all had the same forehead protector. The four of them were from Otogakure, which meant that these were Orochimaru's ninja.

"All right, out with it!" Sasuke said impatiently. "Who are you?"

"We're the Sound Ninja Four," the man with six arms said. "I'm Kidōmaru, of the East Gate."

"And I'm Sakon of the West Gate," the one with two heads said.

"I am Jirōbō of the South Gate," the large man said.

"And I'm Tayuya of the North Gate," the girl said, completing the introductions.

"Orochimaru's dogs, I presume," Akira said, glaring at them all.

Kidōmaru chuckled and smiled at Akira, which prompted her to take out her newest acquisition, the Sword of the Thunder God. They all narrowed their eyes at it, even Sasuke, who didn't know she had it until now. Last time she'd taken it out, he was too busy fighting Naruto to have noticed. Akira spun it in her hand, like she did with her Katana, and the bright yellow electricity flowed out with a buzzing sound. She pointed it at Kidōmaru.

"Try your best."