Itonami: Late as usual. Sorry for the long delay. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Naruto.

Chapter 21

Uzumaki Naruto stretched hugely, tired from the late-night meetings at the Hokage Tower for the approaching battle with the Akatsuki. It was bad enough as it was. Tsunade told him that the elders had refused to grant permission for Sasuke's participation in the war. However, he did receive some good news that his two division teams were ready for assembly.

"Aw, damn, I'm so exhausted." Naruto yawned, a tear gathering in the corner of his eye.

Hyuuga Neji sat cross-legged as he meditated silently. The golden haired nin glared at his inattentiveness. Sighing heavily, he carelessly prodded the Hyuuga with his toe. "Ne, Hyuuga, isn't Tenten waiting up for you?"

A silver-white eye opened slowly and fixed piercingly on Naruto. "My wife is asleep."

The other man plopped down beside him and pouted. "How long are we going to wait for Shikamaru to come?"

Neji felt an onslaught of fresh killing intentions. If Uzumaki didn't shut up, he would find himself in the hospital for a month. Luckily, both were saved when Shikamaru stumbled to them, hands in his pockets and his expression broadcasted to the entire world of thorough boredom. "You guys can head in. It looks like I'm going to be staying here for awhile…how troublesome."

Both of the ninjas silently rejoiced at the news. Neji stalked off quickly, not wanting to be caught standing idly. Naruto, on the other hand, scratched his head. "Is everything alright?"

The lazy-looking jounin nodded and tilted his head to the night sky. "Yeah, it's just tactical discussions with my team. We haven't worked out all the kinks yet."

Naruto grinned. "I'll see you later then. Good luck, Shikamaru."

Waving to his friend, he swiftly jogged to his apartment. Tomorrow, they were to head out to the Houka Forest. The medical unit would join a day later. Sakura and Tsunade were in charge of them. Believe it or not, Naruto was quite nervous about the battle. It was obvious that many would die and the dread of tomorrow slowly crept into his system.

For the first time, he was beginning to worry about not making it out alive. The Kyuubi was wanted, and the Akatsuki was going to do whatever it took to get it. If the managed to capture Naruto, he was done for.

Quickly, Naruto angrily shook his head to snap himself out of his thoughts. "No, I will survive. I'll survive and marry Hinata. I'll see my children and I'll live to become Konoha's greatest Hokage. This is my ninja way." He said aloud, his tone of voice firm and unwavering.

Dawn brought its first rays of the sun and almost every chuunin, jounin, and elite ANBU was already to go. Tsunade stood front and center, her hat covering a grim face. Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, Tenten, Shikamaru, and many others stood at attention before her eyes, determination written on their youthful faces.

"I'll save the pep talk. I want all of you to come back safely. You understand?" She called out, her voice hardening with seriousness.

A roaring chorus of "Hai, Hokage-sama!" rumbled. The other villagers watched as some of their beloveds go into battle, and quite possibly to their deaths. Women wept as sons left their sides to join in the effort of defense, while fathers watched with sorrow and pride as they left their family.

The Godaime stood proudly as her ninjas marched out of the gates. It would be a hardjourney to reach the Houka Forest. Sakura also stood beside her and she watched Naruto and Sasuke head off before her. Naruto gave her an energetic thumbs-up and Sasuke gave her a nod with a smile. It felt like two holes were being drilled into her heart.

"Don't worry, Sakura. You'll see them soon." The Hokage whispered.

The pink haired kunoichi kicked a pebble at her feet. "They won't engage yet, will they?"

Tsunade shook her head. "They shouldn't. I gave strict orders not to engage until the medics got there. We'll need to get ready and go as soon as possible. They might not be able to wait until tomorrow."

The medic team was standing by, all of them uneasy and restless. Sakura spotted her longtime friend. "Hinata-chan!"

The Hyuuga woman turned from another medic who was hyperventilating. A small smile graced her oval face. "Sakura-chan, Miya-chan is having trouble breathing."

Sakura frowned and charged two fingers with chakra. Placing them on the hollow spot where the girl's collar bones met, the Godaime's apprentice carefully allowed the chakra to seep through and relax her lungs.

After they got Miya to settle down, Sakura and Hinata sat by themselves on a bench. The Hyuuga surveyed her friend before speaking. "I'm worried about them too."

The rosette-haired woman sighed, her face set in a smile. "They'll make it, right?"

Hinata nodded, knowing that Sakura needed more reassurance. "They will, Sakura, especially Sasuke and Naruto-kun. They wouldn't leave us behind."

Sakura sniffed and looked at her friend. "Thanks, Hinata-chan."

They both smiled at each other and laughed, knowing that it might be the last time they could.

The medics packed up and left in the dark of the night. Stars twinkled above them teasingly as they moved quickly to their destination. The sense of foreboding enveloped them like a thick blanket. Many of the younger ones huddled close together for comfort.

The travel was slow. With equipment and more things to carry, the group was weighed down heavily. Everyone carried at least fifty pound bags on their backs and some helped drag more of the larger equipment.

"The other group must be at least a good three hours away. I can sense some of their tracks here. They're not too fresh, but tracking them will be easy." Sakura said.

Tsunade nodded at her while Hinata stayed at her side with her Byakugan alert and looking for any stealth attackers. "Sakura-chan, there is no sign of ambush."

The Godaime suddenly halted. Throwing out her arm as a signal to stop all of them, she said in a low voice, "Sakura, don't you find it suspicious that our group ahead did not set up any traps?"

There was silence from the pink-haired apprentice. "They could have not put any to make it easier for us." Then, receiving a very forward stare, Sakura bit her lip. "Or we've been following the wrong trail. Damn, we've walked right into a trap."

Soft chuckling rang throughout the forest. "You all are slow, I see. You've been heading in a completely different direction than what you've planned. Even with the Godaime with you, you bunch of medics will be easy to kill, you see."

"Show yourselves!" Tsunade barked. All the medics crouched to defend while forming a circle around the Hokage.

"'Show yourselves!'" The mystery shinobi mimicked in a pitchy voice. "I have people following your other group. Konoha isn't very smart when it comes to keeping strategies a secret."

"A rat!" Sakura exclaimed angrily, feeling the tremor of shock going through the small, outnumbered medic nins.

"Ah, this one is quick." A voice echoed. "Shall we get this fight started?"

A silent signal was seen and darkly clothed shinobi fell from the trees, surrounding the Konohakagure. Leaves softly rustled as more movement occurred. Sakura shifted closer to Tsunade. Out of the corner of her mouth, she muttered, "Tsunade-sama, we can send someone for help."

The Godaime shook her head. "No, we don't even know where we are. They could have led us in the opposite direction for all we know."

"I can't believe I didn't notice." Sakura snarled under her breath.

"It's no use beating yourself up over it. We fight, Sakura. As shinobi, by God, we will fight." The Hokage's voice raised. "Everybody stand tall! Get ready!"

Thus, the battle commenced.

It was all an organized mess. Shinobi attacked all at once and each Konoha medic had to fend off at least three at once. Tsunade easily crushed five at once with a huge pound of her heel to the ground, causing the earth to open up and swallow them up.

Sakura fought with weapons while Hinata spurred on with her Gentle Fist technique. Slashing one while dodging another, every Konoha nin fought on bravely.

The pink-haired woman clenched her teeth as she felt a sharp shaft go through her shoulder. With a steady and experienced hand, she gripped the longer end and jerked it out. Sakura jabbed the bloody javelin on the ground and used it as a leverage to hold on to as she crazily kicked four nins to the ground.

"Hinata, toss me some bandages!" She shouted over to her friend.

A white object flew toward her and Sakura opened up her hand to catch it when a sharp kunai splattered through her hand while the force of its momentum knocked her to the forest floor. The roll of bandages rolled a couple feet away. Her hand was so bloody that you couldn't see what was actually bleeding. Hands were always in need in battle. Quickly, Sakura pulled the kunai out and started to heal the wound.

"Your chakra color is unique, I see. I was told by my informant that you had the best medical skills in your village." The menacing voice drawled nonchalantly in front of her. Flashing green eyes saw the offender's sandaled feet first.

A light reflected off of a long, tempered metal as it moved toward her neck. She froze as the cold katana blade kissed the soft part of her neck. Loose pink hair fell from her ponytail.

"A flowering medic nin in her twenties, I see. It's a shame you have to die. It would be helpful to the organization if you'd join us, you see."

Sakura did not move at all. After a long silence between them, "Traitors are lower than trash. If I became one, that means I would be lower than you."

A chuckle escaped the other man. "You have a sassy way with words, I see. Heh, I haven't even introduced myself."

The blade suddenly disappeared and the sound of it being sheathed again slid past her ears. Sakura dared to look up. What she discovered to see was an eyesore. The man was unnaturally tall and his sword was also abnormally long to suit his size. Long dark hair was pulled back into a high ponytail with long bangs falling over a light gray eye. However, it was his face which provided her discomfort.

It was so heavily marred by scars of all sizes that she couldn't tell what part of his face was what; he even had an eye missing. A chunk of his left ear was gone, along with a part of his upper lip. The sight was almost disgusting to look at. Even Morino Ibiki didn't have that many scars.

"Why are you staring so much? Haven't seen a man with so many scars?" He cackled harshly. "I bet even your Sasuke-kun has less scars than I do, I see."

Sakura glared. "Your boss…where is he?"

The nin leered at her. "No wonder you went to being a medic nin. You have no skills in interrogating, I see."

The rosy-haired jounin kicked his legs from underneath him. "Maybe I can beat it out of you."

In a second later, he was back on his feet. Partial lips formed a crude grin as he drew his long katana. "I am Tei the ex-hunter-nin of Raikagure. It will be an honor to allow such a pretty kunoichi to try and defeat me."

"Sakura!" A familiar alto voice shouted from behind. Whipping around, Sakura saw Tsunade eyeing down Tei. "How did you find us?" The question was biting as she addressed him.

As if in a sheepish way, Tei put his hands behind his head and sighed. "You're annoying as usual, I see."

"I believe you've just tried to lure an innocent girl into one of your games."

He attempted to pout. "Tsu-chan, you're still so cold, I see!"

Sakura was confused. Wasn't he Akatsuki? This seemed the ripe time to ask.

"Tsunade-sama, do you know him?"

She nodded and pulled a disgusted face. "He's just a bandit. He's not Akatsuki."

Oh. Right.

"Fine, you caught me. I hope your hand is alright, little missy. That shoulder wound doesn't look too good, I see." He gave two short whistles and the enemy nins backed off and lined up in a neat, single file line.

"I've had my fun." He attempted to grin again cheerily. "I didn't lead you astray, by the by, you see. I was just probing at your funny bone. I just saw Tsu-chan and couldn't resist poking fun."

"Fun! You call this fun!" Sakura screeched madly and would have gouged out his sole eye if it weren't the Godaime holding her back.

"I didn't kill any of your team members, little missy."

The pink-haired medic huffed and flipped her hair back from her face. "You owe me, Tei."

He nodded and laughed. "Entirely indebted to you, I see, for scaring you."

She turned smug. "Help us fight the Akatsuki."

The grin dropped off his face. "That would be suicide, you see."

"We're all going there. It's unavoidable."

He seemed to ponder very seriously. All in a matter of seconds…

"SAKURA-CHAN! Of course we'll help you, little missy!"

Putting a lanky arm around her, he shouted in his bass voice, "Let's go, gang! New plan! We're going to go fight some Akatsuki butt!"

The medic nins sweatdropped.

In a matter of minutes, everyone was suited to travel again. Tei, Sakura, and Tsunade took up the front and they quickly followed the tracks left behind by the group ahead of them.

Dawn broke and the first rays of the sun shined over the horizon, giving some light to the forest. Hinata frowned and grasped Sakura's arm. "Wait…there's something wrong."

The team halted again and listened carefully. A soft rustle was heard above them. Tsunade and Tei scanned the trees. Hinata reactivated the Byakugan and concentrated. Her eyes widened. Sakura felt it too.

"Everyone down!" The head medic shouted. Just as soon as everyone hit the ground, a dark cloud of kunais hissed past their heads.

Ninjas wearing black cloaks decorated with clouds took their places in the trees.

Tei drew his sword as he got up. "This one is for real now."

For sure, it was the real deal. Akatsuki showed no mercy. It seemed like the medics would have to fight along side the defense and strike divisions. It would be a massacre.

Sakura led the medical team toward the other group in order to contact them easier. The enemy nins cut them off sharply.

"I see them! I see Naru—" A medic was silenced quickly by an experienced throw of a kunai.

Indeed, the shock of golden hair could be seen easily. Sakura was busy trying to protect her sensei and herself. Hinata had already defeated several of her own enemies. It was clear she was fighting to get to her beloved Naruto.

The Godaime looked around quickly. "Where's Sasuke! I need to unseal his chakra! We need all the help we can get!"

Catching each others' eyes, Sakura and Tsuande both pulled off a Kawarimi. They used the chance to escape and get closer to the heart of the battle. Sakura's eyes worked swiftly to find the raven-haired ninja. He had on his brand-new forehead protector and fighting back to back with Naruto. It was an awesome sight to see.

"Sasuke! I'm unsealing your chakra right now! Come with me!" Tsunade shouted over the sea of heads. The Uchiha heard her very clearly. The Hokage turned to her apprentice. "Cover me. I'll need all the time I can get to unseal that boy."

Tsunade led Sasuke off to the side where there was not so much commotion. Taking out a brush already dipped in ink, she swiftly drew lines over his neck and chest area to represent chains. Forming counterseals, the Godaime set to work.

Very slowly, the black lines disappeared centimeter by centimeter toward his heart. Blue chakra swirled around them like the wind, howling in their ears and blowing their hair wildly.

Sakura and Naruto teamed up like the old days and crazily repelled the onslaught of Akatsuki ninjas who were all very intent on stopping the ritual being performed.

"To your left, Sakura-chan!" Naruto shouted out a warning. Sakura dodged a punch and retaliated with a graceful, chakra-charged kick.

Naruto put his hands together and shouted, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Two hundred clones of the blonde jounin popped up, all ready to fight. They made the job a little easier. Naruto wasn't as naive anymore to use up all of his chakra for his Kage Bunshin. He had learned too many times the hard way not to do that.

Sakura, excelling in genjutsu, pulled off another Kawarimi and faked another clone. Using the break she got from being occupied, the petite woman punched the ground, controlling the devastating amount of chakra to break apart the earth in huge slab behind Tsunade and Sasuke. It was successful in blocking a huge number of senbon thrown at them.

The blonde nin ran at Sakura while she did the same. Locking arms with each other, they used each other's momentum to swing an agonizing kick to two of their opponents. Kakashi had taught them teamwork, and teamwork was definitely going to be needed.

The jutsu was almost completed. Tsunade's eyes shot open as the final chain which bound the Uchiha broke. Almost immediately, a huge flare of dark blue chakra erupted from Sasuke.

Horrified green eyes saw an enormous sword being thrown his way. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

Reaching out, Sakura screamed, "SASUKE!"

Blood splattered across her face. Stopping just short, she felt hot tears gather at the corners of her eyes.

"No…" Her voice broke.

No…

Author's notes: Whoa, I'm really late with this chappie. I'm sorry. It seems I just dug my own grave by posting my Neji x Sakura story before I finished this. Now I have to concentrate in getting two stories updated. Damn, this sucks.

Oh well, anyway…no need to wallow in self pity. This chapter ended in a cliffhanger. Sorry about that, but I couldn't help it! I want you all to guess what happens next. A cookie to someone who does.

Not much romance in here, I'm afraid. Maybe later…?

Akatsuki battle has now started. Heh…

Tei...he was REALLY random, by the by. I was going to have actual Akatsuki ambush them, but then it wouldn't work with what I wanted to do later, you see. Didn't the 'I see's get really annoying? He won't be coming out anymore. Don't worry.

I hope you enjoyed this way late chapter. I also hope to update sooner from now on. If I don't…you don't have to read anymore… T-T