I just realized the whole Sasuke Retrieval Arc goes through Twenty Nine Episodes. TWENTY. NINE. EPISODES. It's obviously not going to be that long, BUT
This chapter includes:
Formation! The Sasuke Retrieval Squad!
Literally the entire Sasuke Rescue Mission Arc (About 29 Episodes) That I will not list them all
"Listen, I couldn't care less. Just shut up so we can move in silence. You're annoying." I heard a woman's voice say. I squeezed my eyes shut before opening them the slightest bit. I saw the ground moving beneath me, a pair of legs jumping from branch to branch. I didn't move my head, but looked around with my eyes. My hands were in a pair of shackles that were holding them together. On the shackles were tags. They looked like the ones on Itama's prison. But I'm sure they were for my chakra, to make sure I wouldn't be able to get out of them.
I swallowed, making sure not to move my legs, letting my hair dangle down over my face, and closed my eyes, trying to focus my chakra. I concentrated it in my hands hoping to get a reaction, but nothing happened. Damn. I moved my eyes to look down and tried to figure out who was holding me. Sakon. I closed my eyes and focused my magic, making a scalpel out of it, hiding it under my hands. My eyes moved up to see who was behind us. Tayuya. I know Kidomaru could easily wrap his webs around my legs and yank me back, so once I attacked, I had to take off right away. But wait...Kidomaru wasn't with us. And neither was Jirobo. What happened to them?
The forest we were traveling in was dark, the trees dark and dense. I could see the sun getting lower however, lighting up the top of the forest. I felt goosebumps on my body, but forced myself to not shiver. If they find out I'm awake, I'm done for.
I closed my eyes and took in a breath. It's time. I opened my eyes, unveiling the scalpel and slamming it into Sakon's back. He screamed out in pain, and I took the chance, pressing my foot onto his stomach and pushing off, jumping over his shoulder.
"What the hell?!" I jumped to the ground and then jumped again, trying to hurry and get further. I didn't get very far though. I screamed when a hand grabbed my hair, yanking me back down. "You're not going anywhere you little shit!" I formed the scalpel again and turned around, slicing at Tayuya. She let go of my hair, but before I could get very far, I heard it.
"Do!" I felt the force of the blow slam me into a tree, blood escaping my lips. "Re!" I hit the tree again, my back in pain from the blow. I winced, feeling my body shake. I looked up in time to see Tayuya's foot connect with my jaw, sending me back, my head colliding with the tree with a painful crack. I felt myself slide down the tree, the world becoming dizzy as she came closer, her gripping my hair closer to my scalp. "She stabbed me!" Sakon's voice yelled, him coming closer. "I'm gonna kill her!" I looked up through my hair, so dizzy I don't think I'd be able to stand.
"Sakon, stop! We can't kill her!" Tayuya yelled, her hand yanking me forward with my hair.
"Why didn't we put her in the stupid coffin with him?" He asked annoyed, blood soaking his hand. Tayuya tsk'd, getting close to me.
"You're gonna wish you were never born." She hissed.
"F-Funny.." I said in a daze. "I already do.." I gave a bloody smile at her. She growled, slamming her fist into my cheek, not quite knocking me out, but definitely making it harder for me to move.
"Here!" She lifted me up, tossing me at Sakon. He caught me, my head turning to my right. He held me in his arms, Tayuya with a coffin on her back. Sasuke must be in there.
"We have to hurry!"
"I know!" Tayuya shouted annoyed. I turned my head and coughed out the blood, splattering it on Sakon who was still running.
"Ugh, you stupid-" He put his hand on my head, me feeling the chakra he was flowing into me.
"N-No.." I whispered before passing out.
"Tessa!" I heard someone yell. My eyes snapped open and I gasped, coughing up some blood. I was lying on a branch. I rolled over to my side towards where the voice had yelled, and smile the tiniest bit in relief, despite my head that was pounding.
There stood Naruto, Shikamaru and Kiba and Akamaru. I saw Shikamaru's eyes look down at me, them widening the slightest bit. I shook my head, silently telling him not to worry. He looked back up at the ninja in front of me, Sakon and Tayuya.
"What the hell did you do to her?!" Naruto asked angrily. Sakon laughed, looking down at me.
"Well, the little bitch stabbed me and tried to escape." I saw Naruto grit his teeth, growling.
"You're gonna pay for that!" Sakon turned towards them.
"I can handle these guys myself!" He yelled, jumping straight for them. I closed my eyes, hearing them fight.
Hey...are you in there..? I heard a low growl as I walked up to the large cage in front of me.
You clearly have no idea how to stay out of situations.. Itama spoke irritably. I chuckled lightly.
Yeah..you're right..Do you think you can heal me any? I asked hopefully. I know I've asked before but..your chakra really hurts, and I'm pretty sure Sakon cracked my skull open.. Itama got down on his front paws, his large wolf head sitting in front of me in front of the cage.
Yes, so it seems.
My eyes widened a little more as I felt some power in me, feeling better like before Sakon beat the hell out of me.
I cannot heal your skull..but I can help with the pain..
I swallowed a lump in my throat, but I couldn't build up my strength quite yet. Then I felt someone lift me up in their arms, making my eyes glance up. Kiba was holding me and jumping away, shouting words with Shikamaru and Naruto. Huh? They were saying something? I glanced over to see Shikamaru mouthing words to me. I looked at him confused, but started hearing him muffling, until he became clear.
"Can you run?!" Shikamaru asked louder. I shook my head.
"N-Not yet. I'm working on getting my strength back. Just another few minutes." I said, groaning at the pain in the back of my head. I felt Kiba move and when I looked, he had taken off the chakra tag. I nodded in return and focused my chakra intensely. In an instant, the shackles on my wrists broke, letting me rip them off leaving marks on my wrist from them being tight. Kiba continued to run with me, when I heard some explosions.
"Akamaru! Nice work buddy!" I closed my eyes again, feeling some little strength come back, when I heard Kiba yell. "Akamaru, no!" Kiba landed on a branch, dropping me harshly on it and swung back towards Akamaru. I ignored the pain in my back and rolled over, seeing Akamaru tied to a tree with a paper bomb on it with wire. My eyes widened, watching Kiba.
He's not gonna make it!
The branch exploded, dirt flying into the air.
"Kiba! Akamaru!" Naruto shouted. I felt footsteps land on the branch next to me, and Shikamaru picked me up in his arms, jumping back to the branch Naruto was on.
"K-Kiba...Akamaru.." I said hoarsely. I was interrupted by a scream, Shikamaru looking up.
"You're mine now!" Tayuya shouted, coming straight for us.
"Naruto, take Tessa and the coffin and carry on with the mission!" He said, putting me down and forcing me to a stand. My eyes widened and I looked at Shikamaru.
"What? No, I'm staying here!" I shouted.
"You're in no condition to fight! You'll just get in the way and I don't need to worry about you." Shikamaru said seriously. I looked at him with wide eyes, but didn't argue. He wasn't wrong, but.. "Just get going!" I looked at him with worried eyes, but narrowed them.
"Try not to almost die this time, you got it?" I said gritting my teeth. Shikamaru gave me a soft smile in return.
"Okay, Tess." He responded. Suddenly Tayuya stopped, making all of us look up.
"What? What are you doing here?!" I felt a strong chakra behind us, and before even being able to blink, a man landed on Sasuke's coffin and kicked it. We all turned the slightest bit, but someone's arms wrapped around my stomach, picking me up and swiping me from Naruto and Shikamaru, making me scream.
"Tessa!" Naruto shouted. The man took off with me, his arm wrapped around my stomach and Sasuke's coffin on his back. I turned to look at the man and gasped. Kimimaro.
"Let go of me!" I screamed, trying to kick his legs and punch him in the chest.
"If you don't stop struggling, I'll be forced to render you unconscious." I glared at him, making another magic scalpel in my hand. I moved my arm up to stab him in the chest, but I didn't get very far before there was a loud snap, making me scream in pain. He broke my left wrist without even trying. "I told you. Don't make it worse for yourself."
"Hold it right there!" Naruto's voice shouted. Kimimaro stopped, dropping me to the ground. I cried out in pain at my freshly broken wrist, my body shaking in protest. Kimimaro turned around, me as well, and my eyes widened to see Naruto's eyes blood red.
The nine tails chakra!
"Lets see..how shall I destroy you?" I bit my lip to bite back the pain, and shook my head.
"Naruto, just take Sasuke, forget about me!" Kimimaro turned around, slamming his foot into my cheek, kicking me to the ground.
"Shut up." He said simply.
"Don't you touch her!" Naruto screamed. Kimimaro smiled and turned his head towards Naruto, before turning back to me.
"I think it's time you went back to sleep." He raised his foot crashing it down onto my chest.
Ugh, not again..
I groaned, my eyelids feeling heavy. I felt like I was on a soft bed though as I woke up.
"Tessa?" A familiar voice asked. I tilted my head and looked over, seeing Lee. I gasped and sat up.
"Lee? What are you doing here?!" I looked around, seeing I was still in the field that I was knocked out in. "Lee, your injuries!" I looked down and gasped, seeing a bed of sand underneath me. "Sand..?" I looked up and saw Gaara standing in front of me. Shock filled my body. What was Gaara doing here?!
"It's alright. I owe the Leaf a great debt, and I am here to pay it." Gaara spoke suddenly, turning to look at me. I looked at him gratefully, and nodded, a small smile on my face. I turned back and looked at Lee, who was already battered and bruised.
"Lee, you're bleeding!" I got off the sand of bed that Gaara had me on, struggling to crawl over to Lee with my right hand and knees. My left wrist was starting to hurt again, the pain reverberating through my arm.
"I will handle this. Neither of you are doing anything in your conditions." Gaara said in his soft voice. I nodded and turned back to Lee.
"Sit." I told Lee, making him sit next to me. He sat warily, but watched as Gaara defended himself and us from Kimimaro's attacks. "You shouldn't even be out here, you just had your surgery, didn't you?" I asked sternly. Lee looked at me sheepishly. I glared at him before smacking him in the side of the head lightly, just barely to make it hurt.
"Ow!" He shouted, anime tears falling from his face.
"You're such an idiot Lee, you're not even supposed to be out here." I said, scowling. I grabbed his arm and concentrated my chakra, trying to heal his wound.
"B-But..you and the others were in danger..I had to help!" Lee protested. I sighed and nodded.
"I know, I know. You're just foolish." I replied. After a moment, I was finished healing Lee, and turned back to see a big mound of sand, Gaara having just used his sand burial as there was blood mixed in with the sand. I watched in horror however as Kimimaro's hand shoved itself out of the sand, followed by the rest of his body. His skin had holes in places where his bones stuck out, drops of blood dripping down his body. Lee and I stood frozen watching the scene unfold, Kimimaro finally pulling himself out of the sand. His curse mark covered his body, in the normal stage.
"I underestimated you, and that's the last time I'll get caught in your sand."
I'm gonna skip a bunch of the fight just because Tessa is just there sooo
I felt uneasy on the sand platform Gaara put under Lee and I, us and Gaara himself floating above the sea of bones beneath us that Kimimaro created.
"Thank you Gaara. You saved me again. These powers of yours are truly remarkable,." I nodded, looking at him.
"Not really, I'm merely able to make the sand do my bidding." He said quickly, sweat dripping down his face. He was exhausted from this fight, I could tell. "It's second nature to me now." Gaara next to me groaned in weariness. "My strength is gone. We must descend." I snapped my head around, feeling a strong chakra behind us.
"Look out!" I yelled, turning around and raising my right hand. I put up a shield right in front of Gaara's face, Kimimaro's giant bone drill being stopped by it barely, however, I noticed it cracked my shield. I looked in surprise. That's never happened! Kimimaro however didn't move after that, making me look at him warily.
"He is dead." Lee finally spoke. I let out a sigh in relief and dropped the shield protecting Gaara, feeling the weight of the exhaustion over me hit.
"Quick, Gaara, let us descend so you can regain your strength." I said, looking at him. He nodded and took us over to the remaining trees, setting us down. Lee put my right arm over him and helped me over to some trees, setting me down and him and Gaara joining me on the ground.
We sat in silence for a long moment, me finally being able to catch my breath in peace. Since the Sound Ninja Four took me, at least. "Are you able to walk?" Gaara asked, looking at me. I tried to push myself to a stand on my right hand, but failed, giving up. I shook my head at him wearily, and he nodded, pushing himself up to a stand. "Very well. Let's get you to the medics."
I rubbed my left wrist, feeling so much better with it having been healed. Tsunade had quickly stepped in to check on me, but immediately stepped back out to go heal Choji and Neji. I got up from my bed, not caring that the other medics wanted me to stay and followed them towards the emergency rooms, hoping they'd take me towards Choji, Neji and the others. None of them would give me a single word on how they were though.
"Nothing? Come on! Can't you tell me anything?!"
"I'm sorry, but they're still in critical conditions! You'll have to wait." I groaned, going around the corner and stopping, hearing Tsunade's voice down the hall.
"He's going to be just fine! The antidote worked. The extermination of cells caused by the pills effects has been arrested." I felt tears fill my eyes in relief. Choji is going to be okay. But what about Neji?
"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune yelled, running down the hallway. "Neji Hyuga is safe! His condition has stabilized." I felt my body grow heavy in relief. Neji is okay too. They're both okay. A tear fell down my cheek instantly, my body feeling lighter even though I felt exhausted and sore.
"Tess?" A voice said, someone looking down the hallway at me. My head snapped over to the voice.
"A-Angel?" I ignored the pain in my ribs, wanting nothing more than to sleep, but knowing I couldn't just yet.
"Are you okay?!" She asked full of worry. I chuckled, not wiping the tears off my face.
"I'm just relieved." I replied, turning to the hallway Tsunade's voice came from. "Come with me," I said taking her hand, walking out into the brightly lit hallway. I pulled her with me but stopped, seeing Shikamaru's head tilted down to the ground, tears flowing down his face. My face dropped as I saw him, breaking my heart.
"Shikamaru!" I cried, letting go of Angel's hand and sprinting right at him. I slammed into him, wrapping my arms around his neck tightly. I felt his arms pull me in tightly, his face burying itself inside my neck. His tears fall on my neck, mine probably on his as well, both of us sobbing messes. "They're okay, Shikamaru. They're all okay." I said through my sobbing. "Angel, a-and Tsunade and Shizune...they made sure, they're all okay." Shikamaru didn't say anything, only holding me tighter. "It's okay." I repeated, more to myself. "We're okay."
"You guys are so cute." Angel said without shame, making me laugh a little.
I walked down the hallway towards Naruto's room, not even caring about my injuries. Mine are the least of anybody's problems. "You need to go get checked out and stop wandering around." Shikamaru said next to me.
"I'm fine, I promise, I just need to move for my sanity's sake." I said, waving him off. We reached Naruto's room, Shikamaru opening the door and leaning against it, me standing next to him.
"Well well, so you're awake, huh?"
"Shikamaru! Tessa!" I gave a wide grin and ran over, giving Naruto a big hug.
"You knucklehead, I'm so glad you're okay!" I yelled, not caring anymore that we were in the hospital. Shikamaru and I gave Naruto the rundown on everyone, letting him know that everyone was okay. Although, Shikamaru tried to get Naruto to make me go lay down in a hospital bed. "Look, it's just the adrenaline, okay? Once it wears off, I'll go lay down, I promise." I said, looking at them.
Before either of them could say anything, the door suddenly opened, Tsunade stepping in with Sakura. Both Naruto and Sakura's faces instantly dropped, making me feel sorry for both of them. Naruto couldn't bring back Sasuke. I know he tried his hardest though, specifically by looking at this bandages. I stood by Shikamaru who was sitting on the edge of Naruto's bed as they talked, starting to feel the adrenaline wear off. Oops.
I let out a groan, making them all look at me. Tsunade narrowed her eyes down at me. "Tessa.." I chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of my head.
"Oops."
Hey guys! I'm really sorry if this chapter isn't the greatest, and I'm sorry it's so short. I've been trying to do a million things at once, and I've been trying to plan out the next arc which I'm super excited for and I know you guys will be too. Thank you so much for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter!