"Kabuto," Orochimaru didn't look back at the silvery haired ninja, but knew that the young man would do his job. The elder flexed his hands and slid one foot behind him and held his fists in front of his face. His greasy black hair whipped behind him from a sudden breeze, and a creepy smirk grew on his mouth. There was no awesome Mortal Kombat music, but the Snake-Man felt that the whole whipping-back-of-hair-thing and his super creepy smirk were dramatic enough.
Upon hearing his name, Kabuto stepped behind Sasuke silently and hooked his arms under the Uchiha's armpits, locking him in place. That was enough to cause him to flip out and begin to rage.
"What the hell are you doing! I'm on your side, when I get out of this I'm going to kill you!"
Orochimaru chuckled and Naruto and Sakura huddled closer together, shuddering.
"Worry not, Sasuke-kun, this is merely to make sure you do not interfere. While you may be on our side, I doubt you could promise not to step in when these two start screaming in mind boggling pain."
The two team mates exchanged wide eyed glances and mouthed in unison, Screaming in mind boggling pain!
"I won't interfere."
Orochimaru decided to change the subject, "So, would you two like to die now?"
"Could you give us five minutes to think about that?"
"No."
"Aw, fine."
Sakura slid her right foot back and bent her left knee, bringing her left fist out in front of her. She had no blade-like weapons around that she knew of, but she had her unbelievable strength, and she felt that would be all she needed. The pink haired girl knew that the way she had grown she would stand a fair chance against Orochimaru as long as he didn't use his speed, which he would. So what she was going to focus on was getting enough time for her and Naruto to escape and get back to Konoha.
Naruto was crouched beside his friend, right palm flat on the ground to hold him steady when he wished to charge the creepy Snake-Man. He glanced up at Sakura and she smiled encouragingly at him. He knew the deal; if they were overpowered they had to retreat. Kyuubi was what Orochimaru was after, so he had to make sure he was out of reach, and if he had to run, then that was acceptable.
Working together for so long had benefited the two greatly, and they could work as a team without ruining the other's moves. He would use his stamina to constantly attack the enemy and when they were becoming tired, or were focused on the blonde, Sakura would dart in and strike with her strength.
Luckily for them, Orochimaru had no idea of their style of fighting, he only knew that Sakura could do something weird with the ground and Naruto had the kyuubi.
Orochimaru's massive snake-like tongue shooting in their direction was the only warning they received that the fight had begun. Naruto barely dodged with a backwards roll and Sakura deflected the tongue with her fist. She visibly shuddered when she pulled her saliva covered hand back and wiped it on Naruto.
"Hey!"
The tongue struck again and whipped both across the face, and they cringed.
"Damnit! This fight is so wrong!"
It hit them again and they fell backwards.
"Stop talking and fight, Naruto!"
They rolled back in unison when it reached for them and they leapt to their feet, performing a clean back flip when it swept at their legs to trip them up.
Orochimaru charged them, his tongue returning into his mouth with every step he took and when he at last reached the both of them, he struck Sakura across the face with as much power and blurring speed as he could manage. She stood there for a moment, then toppled to the ground and turned to leaves.
The real Sakura sat perched in a tree right above them, disguising herself as a branch. Naturally, she felt humiliated when a bird flew over her and left a little "white gift" behind.
The old man took note of the leaves, and then moved onto Naruto, deciding not to worry about the girl just yet. Perhaps he'd be able to obtain the kyuubi after all and keep his side of the deal with the Akatsuki.
He ran head on at Naruto, who was running to meet him halfway and they began exchanging furious punches and kicks. Orochimaru's leg swept over the blonde's head and around again, lowering it to meet his neck. He went to grab a hold of the Snake-Man's foot, but it had already disappeared. He had swung it backwards at the last moment, and instead smacked him in the face with his closed fist.
Naruto stumbled back, wrinkling his nose to hold back a sneeze, which only a hit to the face could cause. He yelped and ducked left to avoid a fist, which he countered with a swift kick to the older man's side. Orochimaru took hold of his leg and lifted him clean off the ground, being taller than him, and began to swing him around in a circle.
Sakura grinned and readied herself.
Orochimaru released Naruto into the air and he went flying headlong into a tree, which split in half on impact of his thick skull. He hit the ground in a heap.
Sakura leapt out of the branches, poofing into her normal form. She raced towards the man in a speed she didn't know she even possessed and she punched her fist into the ground, which was immediately charged with her glowing blue chakra. She dragged her fist along inside the ground, which was cracking every which way around her.
Orochimaru turned to face the girl at the last minute and his eyes widened as she tore her fist free of the ground, bringing up with her the massive jagged earth her hand and chakra had gathered. She launched it into his face before he could react and he hissed. Sakura Flipped over his head while he was preoccupied with trying to clear his face and she round house kicked him in the spine, sending him forward. She promptly followed up with more spin kicks in the same spot until he fell.
He was on his knees, trying to rise while clawing for Sakura's foot. She danced out of the way, and vanished back into the bushes to find another hiding spot that the man would never think of.
Ooooooooooooooooooo
Sasuke's mouth was agape at his old friends' technique. It was…
"Wow."
Kabuto nodded slightly, which made it look more like a weird jerk, "Yes…that was impressive."
Sasuke looked back to the fight that he could have been apart of, had he stayed in Konoha. Sure he had improved, but seeing how strong even Sakura had become, he could only imagine what staying at the village would have done for his skills.
It was most definitely something to think about.
Oooooooooooooooooooo
Naruto was back on his feet and he gave a thumbs up to wherever Sakura was, knowing she would see. What he had just witnessed with Sakura's technique surprised even he, who was her team mate. He would shout her a free bowl of ramen when they returned to Konoha, 'cause everyone loves ramen!
Orochimaru was also back on his feet, and he was eyeing the forest around him suspiciously. Maybe he underestimated the girl, just a little. He turned towards Naruto and realized he did the same to him. The little trick he used to draw his attention away, worked.
He was beyond furious now; falling for a pathetic child's trick was not acceptable. He lifted his hand towards Naruto's direction and his entire arm elongated and shot in his direction with speed that the blonde couldn't dodge in time. Orochimaru's bony fingers wrapped themselves around his neck and lifted him off the ground, squeezing the breath from him. Naruto began to sputter, trying to draw breath and the Snake-Man shrank his arm back to normal size, bringing the blonde with it.
Sakura tensed from her hideout, standing right behind Orochimaru and Naruto. She watched her friend claw at the arms of his captor and her heart beat rose for a second before she could control it. That one second was enough for the older man to hear and his other hand snatched her out of the hiding spot and lifted her into the air. She began thrashing about and her hands twitched and clutched at his around her throat.
Oooooooooooooooooo
"I suppose we shouldn't be too surprised that the fight didn't last long, although I must say that from their previous attack, I thought they might have stood a chance," Kabuto laughed softly and Sasuke didn't tear his eyes from the sight in front of him. He felt the silver haired ninja's hold on him relax.
No doubt because he thinks the fight's won and it's too late for them to be saved, He thought to himself bitterly, watching Naruto stop struggling and slump and Sakura's face grow increasingly red. He shifted and felt the odd looking dagger, he had taken from Sakura when he fought her, strapped to his side under his shirt.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Ooooooooooooooooooo
Sakura was facing Naruto and saw as he lost consciousness. She tried to scream out to him but couldn't even find herself enough air to breath. Orochimaru was quickly shutting off her air supply and she thought that her throat might tear right in half.
Orochimaru dropped the blonde to the ground at his feet without a second glance. He turned his full focus on the still awake Sakura, who was lasting longer than he thought she would. He brought her closer to his face and she had the guts to glare at him, even through the haze that was her mind. He clenched his hand and she screwed her face up in pain. He backhanded her and her legs jerked for the pain because her upper body couldn't move anymore. She continued to stare at him, through half lidded eyes and he decided to finish her off first, dropping her.
Sakura barely felt it as the ground rushed up to meet her, and Orochimaru leaned over her with four needle-like weapons grasped between each finger of his right hand. His triumphant smirk seemed to take up most of his face, though his eyes remained cold and cruel.
"You both did well, but I'm afraid I will have to end this now. Rest assured though, girl, I will take good care of your friend," Sakura seemed to attempt to say something at those words and Orochimaru smacked her across the face, each needle slicing a thin line into her skin. He drew his hand back, feeling a thrill at the thought of sinking each of the mini blades into her heart and ending the girl's life, "Sleep well."
Sakura closed her eyes to the on coming blow that would end her life.
Oooooooooooooooooo
Kabuto lay on the ground drowning in a puddle of his own life blood, twitching, his throat severed.
He should have paid more attention.
Oooooooooooooooooo
Orochimaru jerked forward, his needles barely pressed against Sakura's chest. His golden gaze traveled down his own body and he stared dumbly at the oddly marked dagger that had run him through.
Sasuke leaned over the man's shoulder and spoke into his ear, with a smirk that was so big it could be heard in his voice, "You should have paid more attention."
"You…" Orochimaru snarled and went to stab the Uchiha with the needles. Sasuke gripped the hilt of the blade with both hands and wrenched upwards and out of the shoulder, spraying himself and Orochimaru with blood and torn muscle. He swung the dagger around and followed through with a swift slice into the man's neck, knocking his head clean off his shoulders.
It rolled around for a few moments, then stopped, the Snake-Man's expression one of frozen surprise and pain.
Sasuke crouched on the ground beside the still jerking body and his Sharingan eyes flickered back to their onyx colour. He looked down at both Naruto and Sakura, and wondered how he was going to carry them both home. Last time he hadn't even made it with the two of them.
Ooooooooooooooooooooo
Hours later, the two still hadn't shown any sign of waking up and Sasuke was growing worried for their lives. He wasn't a medic ninja, he couldn't do squat to help them. It seemed he wouldn't have to either.
A puff of smoke alerted Sasuke of another ninja and he readied himself for an attack with Sakura's dagger, which he had cleaned only half an hour before.
"Sorry I was so late Sakura, you see the next volume of Icha Icha—" Kakashi stopped short of finishing the sentence and stared down at the two headless bodies of Kabuto and Orochimaru lying right beside him, then to the motionless Sakura and Naruto who were side by side. He looked at Sasuke last and the boy could feel the anger rolling off him in waves. The Uchiha watched him emotionlessly and decided he should speak, lest he wanted to be chopped into many little pieces by the copy ninja.
"They're alive."
Kakashi looked at the bodies of Orochimaru and Kabuto, doubt clearly written on his face.
"I meant the other two."
"Oh. I see…"
The older man approached Sasuke and he tensed, but the man only sat down next to him and looked at Naruto and Sakura.
They didn't talk for a long time, until the Uchiha finally broke the silence, "I couldn't let Orochimaru do it. I suppose I'm weak."
Kakashi smacked him over the head and replied in annoyance, "Saving your friends is not weak. You are not weak, you are far from it, after what you did for the two of them. I must say that I'm more disturbed about you saying that, than you running off to the creepy Snake-man over there," He jerked his thumb in Orochimaru's direction.
They went silent again for a little bit and Kakashi stood up and bent down to pick up his former students. He threw Naruto over his shoulder and Sakura to Sasuke, who caught her easily and gave the copy ninja a questioning look.
"You're coming back to Konoha. If you don't, Naruto and Sakura will drive us all mad again. You have no idea how much they acted up without you," He frowned, "Don't make me force you to follow."
Sasuke closed his mouth, he was going to argue, and sighed with a nod, shifting Sakura so she was hanging over his shoulder, while he went to tuck the dagger into his belt.
"What are you doing with the dagger I gave Sakura?"
"Uh…"
"Never mind. You can explain everything later," The copy ninja moved to the boy's side and placed his hand gently on his shoulder, "You're doing the right thing, now hold on so I can transport us all back."
Sasuke took a hold of Kakashi's arm and all four of their forms flickered before disappearing from view.
Oooooooooooooooooooo
Sakura opened her eyes to find the frightening thing she'd ever seen in front of her. Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi were all leaning over her, eagerly waiting for her to wake up.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Needless to say, the three should have known better than that, and were thrown backwards by the extremely freaked out kunoichi.
She looked around panicky, wondering why she was in a hospital, and when she remembered she got angry that she was last to wake up…then when she realized that she was alive and not dead, she was relieved.
The males in the room were scared. They had just seen three very strong emotions flash past in Sakura's eyes in one second flat. Then the tears started when she realized they were all in the room for her, and that Sasuke was actually back in Konoha.
"GUYS!" she called and glomped them when they ventured near enough and began planting kisses all over their faces. The pink haired girl turned to Sasuke and smiled brightly at him. He returned it, though it wasn't so bright, and he shoved the others out of the way to give Sakura a bear hug.
"Kakashi…I think Sasuke's lost it."
"He lost it looooooooooonng ago, my friend."
Five minutes later:
"So, Kakashi, why the hell weren't you there when we needed you! HUH!"
"U-Um…Icha Icha paradise—OH GOD NOT THE DAGGER! SASUKE WHY'D YOU GIVE IT BACK TO HER!"
"She threatened to tell the fan girls I was back!"
"NARUTO!"
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" the blonde screamed and bolted out into the waiting room, where Hinata was…well, waiting. But not for Sakura.
"H-Hi H-Hinata…"
"H-H- N-N-Naruto…I'm g-glad you're safe…"
End.
PS. The men in little white coats later caught Itachi pretending to be a cow to lure them to their deaths, and took him to "The Happy Farm" to learn that cows, too, deserve to live hap-happy and non dying-early-because-of-their-leather-products lives.