Kakashi's P.O.V

If there was ever a time in my life that I felt vulnerable, it was now. I was up against one of the most powerful ninja in the land. To say I was nervous was a huge understatement.

"So, Kakashi, I've heard you have copied over a thousand jutsu…let's see who has more knowledge, shall we?" Orochimaru challenged.

"Wisdom doesn't always come with age." I retorted. Orochimaru laughed.

"That seemed like an insult directed towards me. You'll pay with your life for that one." He sneered. He then pulled out that infamous sword of his from his mouth, and rushed at me with blinding speed. He covered the space between in us less than a second, and I barely avoided getting hit. I attempted to stab him in the neck with a kunai, but with no success. Then from the corner of my eye I saw a glint of steel. I ducked and saw the figure responsible for the attack approach.

"Come to help your master, Kabuto?" I asked, turning to the silver haired nin with glasses. He simply snickered at me.

"You don't stand a chance Kakashi…surrender and we'll make your death quick and painful." He replied.

I looked at the two of them, then lifted up my headband, "Two against one, huh? Looks like I'll just have to make things tougher than." My Sharingan started to scan everything around me.

"Your Sharingan can't help you this time." Orochimaru said, pointing his sword at me.

I was unsure of what to do next. Attacking with a Lightning Blade right off the bat could be risky and perhaps just waste away useful chakra. If I could get them separated, if only for an instant, that could help a lot.

That's when I noticed a thin, dark line of shadow creeping across the ground from the shadows of a building. I could barely make out the figure of Shikamaru Nara hiding amongst the darkness. He was directing his shadow bind towards Kabuto. On top of the roof stood Choji and Neji, well concealed and ready for an ambush. I made sure not to give away their positions.

Kabuto suddenly found himself unable to move, "Wh-what's going on? I- I can't move!"

"Now Choji!" Shikamaru yelled. Choji wasted no time, and jumped up into the air. He enlarged his size and formed into a huge, human ball. Kabuto realized too late what had happened. Choji came crashing down on the nin, Shikamaru releasing his jutsu moments before impact.

The sight of Kabuto was, to say the least, sickening. His knees were bending the wrong way, his ribs seemed to be crushed, and above all else, he was barely alive. Neji walked over to the crippled nin and pulled out a kunai, his Byakugen already activated. Kabuto raised his hands weakly, trying to perform a hand seal. Not wanting to see what Kabuto had in mind, Neji slashed at the critical chakra points of Kabuto, then finished it with a slash to the throat.

Orochimaru looked unphased, then he grinned, "No matter, I don't need him to kill you and the others."

Neji, Choji, and Shikamaru ran to my side, but I put a hand up, "Don't get involved; he's too powerful for you three. Go help the Kazekage and the others. I'll finish this."

"Yes Kakashi-san." They replied, and then ran off to fight the sound nin.

"Didn't want them to see your demise, is that it?" the Snake-sannin asked, cocking his head.

"Enough, I'm tired of playing around," I said, going into my battle stance again, "You may be more powerful than me, but even the greatest shinobi still bleed."

"That's exactly what you will do, Hatake Kakashi." Orochimaru stated, his tongue flicking out as he spoke.

I began noticing a great chakra level growing around that instant. I turned to see Naruto charging up a Rasengan, an orange glow surrounding him. Across from him stood a Chidori wielding Sasuke, enveloped in a purple aura of his own.

"He's calling on the Kyuubi," I said quietly. Orochimaru seemed a bit distracted as well.

The battle seemed to stop briefly between others as well. Even the Sound-nin were transfixed on the two great powers battling each other. However, Gaara was taking advantage of the moment and began to move sand, little by little, in Orochimaru's direction. I made eye contact with him, and he slowly nodded. I nodded to confirm.

Before anything else happened, a giant wave of sand pounded into Orochimaru, and he found himself wrapped around in the cocoon Gaara had made. I didn't have much time, for Orochimaru was already trying to break out. Gaara seemed to be having trouble holding onto him, and crushing him seemed to be impossible.

"It's now or never…" I spoke, and formed a ball of lightning in my hand. Gaara seemed to be having more and more trouble holding on, and that's when Shikamaru decided to help and use a shadow bind to further restrain Orochimaru.

I began sprinting at Orochimaru, Lightning Blade in hand, "You're finished, Snake-sannin!" I yelled.

Shikamaru quickly released his bind while Gaara made a small hole over Orochimaru's left chest area.

I felt a breaking of ribs, and something burst. Orochimaru's heart had erupted, and I heard a choking sound come from his mouth as blood began to flow from it. I expected the Orochimaru to melt in a substitution jutsu, but it never did. He was real.

"To die….to a Jonin….how….pitiful…" Orochimaru coughed, and with that, slumped over…dead.

I looked over to see Sasuke slightly shocked, but he remained charging. So did Naruto.

"He's dead Sasuke. Give up, and we'll take you back to Konoha. Resisting us will only make things worse for you." I spoke, staring straight at him.

"Never….I'm an avenger, and until I avenge my family, I'll never stop!" the Uchiha replied, and then he ran at Naruto. Naruto did likewise…

…it was too late to stop them…

End of chap. 7 – Oh no, not another cliffhanger! Heh, sorry about that. Hope you're all still liking this, tried to make it halfway decent as far as action goes. The next chapter will be a definite change of mood. You'll have to wait and see to find out! R&R please!