It seemed like the chase went on for hours, but it was really only several minutes.

Akaiyo's chalkra would soon run out. She had used an enormous amount when using the shadow clones, her binding to Sakura, and sprinting for long periods of time throughout the night.

Kakashi, on the other hand, was totally energized and ready to go. Iruka wasn't tired either. Naruto was dragging behind a bit though, tired from the previous day's training and fighting.

But even though Naruto held the team back, they all were ready to get Sakura back.

Akaiyo was starting to breath heavily, her chest was burning. Pains in her tight muscles were forcing her to slow down.

Kakashi and Iruka were quickly catching up with a steady pace… Naruto still stragling behind…

Akaiyo slowly began to pick up her pace again, gaining speed while part of Team Seven and Iruka were still behind.

A murmur was heard close to her ear.

"Wh… What am I doing?" Sakura's voice was shaky and sounded like she had a hang over, not completely speaking normal. "Uh, I think I'm going to be sick…" Her face turned a sickly pale and her stomach felt like a something was punching it. This wasn't so good of news for Akaiyo.

"Don't you dare puke on my shoulder, you insignificant cockroach!"

Too late. Sakura had spewed all over Akaiyo. It went all over her back, shoulder, arm, neck, and half of her face.

Next thing Sakura knew, she was thrown to the ground like a worthless rag doll. A loud crack was heard ringing through the still forest. She shrieked out in pain, puked once more and went unconscious again.

"Sakura!" Naruto leapt from the high branches of the old tress and landed, crouched on all fours, on the ground. He ran over to Sakura and gently laid her head in his lap. He stroked her pale cheek; a small tear ran down his face, over three of his thin whiskers.

His face turned red under his tears, his hair started to get stand up on the back on his neck, and his round black pupils soon became only a sliver that resembled a cat's. He yelled out a cry of pain and anger no longer sounding even remotely human.

Naruto put Sakura's head back down gently on the soft green grass. He started to run on all fours again, his chalkra supply suddenly replenished by his love for Sakura and his rage towards Akaiyo.

Naruto quickly caught up with the others. Soon he was running right beside Iruka. "Go back and take care of Sakura!" Iruka nodded, and started going back to where the girl laid motionless. He knew Naruto and Kakashi could handle themselves.

Without even saying a word, Naruto passed Kakashi.

Is that even possible? Wait, it has to be… the spirit of the nine-tailed fox! Yes, that's it! His anger towards the woman nin must have triggered the spirit that was imprisoned inside him!

Kakashi knew everything that was happening to Naruto… he also knew what was going to happen to Akaiyo.

This isn't good.

Naruto caught up with Akaiyo faster than it took him to eat his Raman.

Before Akaiyo could even see him, Naruto practically flying beside her. She found herself on the ground, tackled by the demon boy.

"Do you see her!" Naruto yelled into Akaiyo's face, which was about two inches away from his. He was pointing to Iruka who had the girl's limp body in his arms. The teacher was about 400 yards away from his former student and the woman nin. "You will pay for what you have done!"

Akaiyo had no time to say anything back to Narutp beofre he grabbed one of his kunai from his pouch on the back of his orange jump suit.

His arm raised with the knife in his hand, the point of the blade aimed for Akaiyo's thin pale neck. His hand came down, the kunai destined to slice and penetrate the young ninja's delicate skin…

Something grabbed his arm in mid swing…

"I know you are mad, Naruto, but this is not the answer."

Kakashi had saved the abductor's life. Naruto was speechless.

"I am just as livid as you are at Akaiyo, but someone has sent her. We have to find the employer who hired her. Don't you think it will be a little tough finding him without any leads or evidence when the only information we have is this ninja?"

He makes a good point, thought the golden-haired boy.

Instead of killing her, Naruto cut a three-inch-or-so incision down her right cheek. Akaiyo gritted her teeth while feeling the sharp and stinging pain. He started to return to his normal self, his pupils returning round and his red irises back to their natural baby blue.

Akaiyo's face cringed in severe pain and her hands started to shake. Her heart was not pumping her blood sufficiently enough through out her body due to stress, tension, and her imperfect genetics. A mild heart attack turned to severe cardiac arrest (1). Soon after, her small tense body was lifeless.

By the time this excitement was over, Iruka had made it back to Kakashi and Naruto, Sakura still not conscious. Kakashi carried the deceased woman in his arms, her limbs and long pony tail dangling.

They started to walk home in the bright and early sun rise.

(Next morning, 8 AM)

Sakura had finally woke up from the fall she had the prior night. The crack, which seemed everyone within a couple miles of the forest could hear, was a fractured collar bone. She was already taken care of, her arm in a sling.

Kakashi, Iruka, Naruto, and Sasuke came to the room Sakura had been staying in for the last couple hours to see how she was doing.

"Sakura, you're alright!" Naruto was elated that his one and only love was going to be just fine.

"Yeah," added in Sasuke.

"Naruto…" Sakura said in a frail tone.

"Yeah?"

"Get me some Aspirin, NOW!" she commanded her teammate.

Kakashi and Iruka both smiled, glad to see everything was ok.

The Hokage waited outside the room team seven and their former sensei was in. He knocked and entered the little room.

"Good morning." He was refreshed from the last night's sleep and cleaned up (no snot bubbles, of course).

All five looked at the village leader and greeted him.

"You all have passed."

A confused look came over all of their faces except for Sasuke's.

"One of your team members, Sasuke, thought it would be wise to test the group to make sure your remaining team," he coughed and said "Naruto" and coughed again, trying to make it obvious who he and Sasuke were trying to test, "were able to defeat the enemy without his or Sakura's help."

"It didn't matter what would happen, I would fake a severe injury if I had to to slow you down, making you vulnerable. When you told me to wait back at my place, it worked out great because I wouldn't have to lie." Sasuke explained.

"Hey, wait a minute, I did just fine and everyone knows I'm the best ninja in our group, I can take care of myself and the others if I had to!" He breathing was getting faster and and he was fuming a little. "Believe it!"

The other four and the Hokage just rolled their eyes.

Naruto's gears started to turn though. "But, if this was just a test… that means either that Akaiyo was a really good actor or she really did…"

"Sometimes, things happen that are not intended to. Sakura's injury, for instance; it was not foreseen that she was going to puke on Akaiyo. She was caught off guard and threw her down, still trying to act her part of the villain. It was the same with Akaiyo's cardiac arrest. Her family, relatives, and ancestors had problems with their heats and circulatory systems. She, unfortunately, inherited these problems too." The Hokage smiled, trying to ease the tension in the room.

After explaining the event to the kids, the Hokage went on his way.

The room was silent for a while.

"To think I almost tried to kill her!" Naruto was mortified with himself.

"Why didn't you tell me or the others that you felt this way, Sasuke? We could have spared her life if you came to me." Kakashi was a little dispointed in Sasuke because he had not come to him in the first place.

"How was I supposed to know that this would happen? Do you think that this outcome was my intent?" Sasuke retaliated.

"Of course not," Iruka and Kakashi said at the same time.

"I feel bad that I caused this. I am sorry to Akaiyo and her family. If I wasn't queasy…" Sakura felt bed about this, as anyone would in her position.

"It wasn't your fault, Sakura." Naruto shot a dirty look to Sasuke trying to tell him that it was his fault, but he just ignored the golden-haired boy.

Iruka tried to raise their spirits and get off the subject of Akaiyo's death. "Guys, let's go get some Raman. Bill's on me!"

Before anyone could aggree or disagree, Naruto ran for the door, down the stairs and outside the building. "Well, what are you waiting for? C'mon, the Raman's getting cold!" he shouted up to the room the other four were still in.

(Close to the Raman House, 10 Minutes Later)

After the kids were walking a good distance in front of the teachers, Kakashi asked Iruka, "Up for some more male bonding tonight?"

"You're on!" answer back the chunin.

"This time, we'll meet at my place." Kakashi had that same chaotic look in his eye he had when he first arrived on Iruka's door step.

(End and Completed!)

(1. Cardiac arrest-Sudden cessation of heartbeat and cardiac function, resulting in the loss of effective circulation.)

(About the Author/ Author's Note:)

Wow, I finally got my first story done. Took long enough, right? Lol. I couldn't have done it without the help from my good friend Damien Courtes. He was there for me when I needed help and encouraged me to keep writing. I really owe him a lot for his guidance as a mentor and a friend.

I'm sorry for any mistakes through out the chapters. After typing for several hours on end, my tired eyes don't always catch everything.

Be on the look out for my next story starring Zabuza and Haku!

-MJ