Chapter 46 Summary: The siege of Konoha by Orochimaru continues and Tsunade has been mortally wounded by her treacherous former Sannin teammate during their battle. Also Hinata fought a brave fight against Sasuke and had defeated the traitorous Uchiha before the young man called upon his cursed-seal powers to snatch victory away from her. Captured and unconscious the Hyuga girl is in dire straits as Sasuke prepares to leave the village with her and return to Otogakure. Meanwhile other battles rage on throughout the Leaf village, as many brave shinobi fight for their lives and their home.
Naruto vs. Sasuke: The Aftermath
Chapter 46: "The Battle of Konoha Part. 2"
"Shinranshin no Jutsu!" (Mind Derangement Technique)
Inoichi called out as he sent his spiritual energy towards his foe confusing the Sound shinobi as its name suggests to the point that the man turned and attacked a nearby Oto comrade both of them killing one another in the ensuing fight. Meanwhile Might Gai was removing his blood-drenched fist from the chest cavity he had just punched through of his opponent moments before. The green clad Jounin looked over towards Lady Tsunade in the distance resuming the orders Shikaku Nara had given to both Jounin of remaining close by and keeping watch over their Hokage, intervening if necessary to save her life despite her command to the contrary.
Unfortunately, a small group of Oto shinobi had stumbled upon their position and a fight ensued distracting them from their appointed task. When Gai saw the Snake Sannin raise his sword to strike Tsunade he cried out to Inoichi who saw the same sight and both Jounin sprinted forth as quickly as they could to interrupt the death strike being unleashed onto their Godaime Hokage. As both men rushed forward in panicked desperation they looked grimly at one another as Inoichi morosely commented.
"We're not going to make it!"
"Time to die Tssssssunade!" Orochimaru hissed, as he brought his sword swinging down in a murderous arc.
Clang!
The sound of metal hitting metal echoed in Tsunade's ears, as she had closed her eyes and waited calmly for the final strike to come that would end her life. Tentatively opening her eyes, the buxom blonde Hokage was greeted with a sight that flabbergasted her. There standing between her and Orochimaru was none other than Asuma Sarutobi with his infamous knuckle buster trench knives formed in a crisscross pattern in front of the bearded shinobi blocking the kusanagi blade from descending any further. As the Snake Sannin and Leaf Jounin glared at one another, both were exerting pressure against the other with their blades when a shout rang out for all to hear.
"Dynamic Entry!"
A second later, Orochimaru was the recipient of a vicious flying kick to his chest from Might Gai sending the Snake Sannin careening backwards several yards away from Asuma and the wounded Tsunade. As the self-proclaimed sexy green beast of Konoha landed deftly onto his feet Inoichi arrived as well and was about to speak when Asuma's voice interrupted him.
"Inoichi-san, Gai-san, Lady Tsunade has been seriously wounded and needs to get to the hospital as soon as possible. I'll stay here and deal with this snake bastard, while you two escape with the Hokage and get her safely to the village."
"N-no, no all of you need to retreat and leave me here. Your first duty is to protect the village, I, I order you to obey meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee." Tsunade stammered before succumbing to the poison racing through her body, her final spoken word drifting away as she fell unconscious.
"Did anyone else hear what Lady Tsunade just said?"
"No Inoichi-san, it appears the Hokage's flames of youth went dormant and I couldn't understand her." Gai replied with a smirk before adding.
"However, we must reignite her flames of youth. You and Asuma get the Hokage to the hospital while I will deal with her serpentine opponent."
"No!" Asuma sternly declared with fervor.
Both Gai and Inoichi looked at their bearded Jounin comrade with confusion before he spoke up and said.
"Lady Tsunade does need to get to the hospital, but you two should take her. You're both faster than I am. I'll stay and deal with the snake teme."
"Asuma, while I am indeed glad to see the flames of youth burn passionately within you once again, you cannot face the Snake Sannin alone. I will stay and help you battle this monstrosity, while Inoichi-san brings Hokage-sama to the hospital."
"No Gai, I appreciate your offer and I'm honored that you would stand with me, but the two of you stand a better chance of getting through the front lines and securing Lady Tsunade's safe arrival than just one person. Both of you go now, I'll be fine. Besides, I owe that slithering asshole some payback for what happened to my father."
Gai was about to reply when a hand gripped his shoulder and turning he saw Inoichi shake his head at him. After a moment, the green clad Jounin understood the silent message the Yamanaka clan leader was conveying and kneeled down to pick up Tsunade into his arms. Just as they were about to depart, Asuma called out and stated with sincerity.
"Inoichi-san, for what it's worth…I'm sorry."
Inoichi gave a nod of approval and understanding before he and Gai sprinted away with their precious cargo leaving Asuma slowly stalking towards Orochimaru with a look of grim determination etched on his face.
As Sasuke hefted Hinata onto his shoulder, he took note of the various Oto shinobi he had brought with him still attacking and trying to gain entrance into the hospital. They were weak insignificant fools as far as he was concerned, as their numbers had been reduced dramatically by the Konoha shinobi inside still defending the hospital since he and the Hyuga heiress had begun their battle. The Uchiha traitor was contemplating whether or not to recall his few remaining Sound shinobi and make their escape with his prize intact back to Otogakure or help these weak fools in taking down the hospital as per Orochimaru's orders. It was during this contemplation that Sasuke felt someone tap his shoulder and he absently turned around to see what idiot was bothering him. However, before he could lay his eyes on that individual, a fist violently collided with his face causing him to drop Hinata before he was sent flying into the wall that surrounded the hospital. As Sasuke picked himself up off the ground, he shook his head and through his dazed and confused senses he heard a voice filled with sarcasm, bitterness, and hatred call out and greet him.
"Hello Sasuke-kun!"
Looking up Sasuke was genuinely surprised to see a girl he had been told was long dead gently lay Hinata whom she had caught down to the ground. He then watched as his former pink-haired teammate walk over and pick something up off the ground before then grabbing a similar object out of her kunai holster tied to her hip. The young kunoichi then extended both her arms out and flipped off with her thumb the tops of the two cylindrical tubes she held in her hands. A second later two flares erupted from the tubes rocketing skyward one indigo colored, while the other was pink colored. Dropping the tubes, Sasuke stared with bewilderment at this latest turn of events, as he watched Sakura march towards him with a look of fierce resolve in her eyes before he questioned with mock derision.
"Sakura, not that I'm not happy to see you, but aren't you suppose to be dead?"
"I was, but I got better."
"Hn, like I care one way or the other, but I really don't have time to deal with an annoyance like you. However, I'm feeling charitable today, so let me take Hinata and be on my way and you get to live another day."
"Hinata isn't going anywhere with you Sasuke, not if I have anything to say about it." Sakura spat with defiance, while cracking her knuckles.
"You stupid irritating bitch, you don't have anything to say about it! You don't stand a chance in beating me in a fight and you know it. This is your last chance, stay to fight me and you will die or run along and get to live your choice."
Sakura merely stopped and dropped into a defensive taijutsu stance silently indicating her reply, as she glared at her former teammate before angrily saying.
"You're right, I don't know if I can beat you on my own, but I dearly want to try after our last get-together you bastard!"
"Awww, how sad, didn't you enjoy our last reunion? I mean I don't know why you're so upset about it? I did fulfill your lifelong dream during it didn't I?" Sasuke sarcastically questioned.
Sakura could only grit her teeth in rage at Sasuke's mocking tone before answering with malevolence.
"No Sasuke you didn't! All you did was turn my stupid fantasy into a nightmare and show me what fool I was in ever caring about you. So come over here and let me express my appreciation to you for that by pounding your face into the ground!"
"Hn, brave words Sakura, but you don't stand a chance in Hell of doing that to me. I'm an Uchiha, an elite no one can beat me."
"Maybe Uchiha-teme, but then I don't have to beat you, just delay you long enough until the rest of the Konoha 11 arrives. They're just dying to meet with you after hearing about your plans for them in the future."
"Ahhh the flares, so that's who you signaled. Well, they got the dying part right because I'll kill any of them if they have the audacity and stupidity to fight me. Besides, all of them coming are a bonus for me, as I'll get to capture our other kunoichi classmates and grant them the same honor I'm giving to Hinata of restoring my clan."
"You'll have to kill me first before I would ever allow you to do to them what you did to me you sick, twisted, perverted freak."
"I don't have a problem with that….Sharingan!"
"Shannaro!"
Upon their shouts, one activating his Kekkei Genkai and the other the personal battle cry of his former kunoichi teammate and current opponent. Both Sasuke and Sakura charged at one another each with a ferocious look of determination and unwavering resolve in their eyes.
"Kage Mane no Jutsu!" (Shadow Imitation Technique)
Shikamaru shouted out, as he as he strangled the life out of the Oto shinobi before him with his clan's infamous shadow-hand technique. As the Nara heir watched his foe fall to the ground dead, he gripped his right shoulder and grimaced in pain as he attempted to stem the blood flowing out of the kunai wound he had suffered moments before from his now deceased opponent. Looking around he saw several Leaf shinobi engaged in hand-to-hand combat with various Sound shinobi. Upon seeing this, Shikamaru realized he had been correct in recalling all of the mobile squad teams consisting of his friends he was commanding to reinforce the main gate into the Leaf village.
As Shikamaru gazed on, he was silently impressed with the talent and abilities of the two Leaf Chunin who were in charge of guarding the main gate. If anyone had ever wondered in the past about the shinobi skills of one Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, they need only look right now and see why both men were considered the number one guard duo of the main gate leading into Konoha. Both Chunin were working in perfect tandem with one another wielding the two large kunai Kotetsu always carried on his back with deadly results. The Sound shinobi attacking the main gate were falling like grass to a blade before both men. However, the Oto forces had knocked down a portion of the outer village wall further down from the main gate and had managed to infiltrate and outflank Kotetsu and Izumo and the shinobi forces they commanded to guard and protect the gate.
Fortunately, Shikamaru had heard the Chunin's radio broadcast of needing assistance and immediately ordered all of his teams to converge to the main gate and provide reinforcements to the Leaf shinobi stationed there lest they be overwhelmed. However, there were so many Sound forces attacking in such a confined area that the utilization of ninjutsu by either side was totally useless and the battle had quickly reverted into a bloody taijutsu fight between the Leaf and Oto shinobi. Quickly slapping a gauze bandage over his shoulder wound the Nara heir looked around to see how his fellow classmates and friends were fairing in this battle and was astonished with what he saw.
All the two man teams he had formed were working in unison flawlessly with one another. Chouji had utilized his clan's infamous Chou Baika jutsu technique morphing into a twenty-five foot giant and had ripped out of the ground a small tree and was swinging away utilizing his improvised timber weapon as a massive club knocking away Sound shinobi to and fro. While the Akimichi heir was doing this, Ino was backing him up from a distance and taking out any Oto warriors that slipped by her gargantuan partner with a combination of her family's mind manipulation techniques and snake arts she had learned from her Sensei over the last year. Shikamaru gulped slightly at the sheer ferocity and bloodiness of his former teammate's taijutsu style she had learned from Anko, but had to admit it was quite effective.
Upon hearing a war-cry like howl, Shikamaru turned his attention towards the sound and saw Kiba and Akamaru implement their trademark Juujin Bushin technique which had transformed the canine into an exact copy Kiba. They then leapt at a group of Sound shinobi and simultaneously shouted.
"Gatsuuga Style!" (Dual Piercing Fang Taijutsu Technique)
As the two Kiba's began spinning in midair and attacked the surprised Otogakure shinobi found they were ill prepared to combat the fast rotation of their two attackers, as they were bombarded by multiple impact claw strikes to their bodies. Kiba and Akamaru heightened the Sound ninja's confusion by repeatedly switching off opponents and striking from multiple angles never allowing any of their foes to get a fixed position on either of them to engage them in combat. As this was going on, Shino was protecting his friend and teammate by using his Kikai bugs to add to the enemy's confusion by attacking, blinding, and siphoning off their chakra from a distance.
A garbled death cry caused Shikamaru to turn his focus towards the last of his remaining two-man squads he was commanding as he saw three Oto shinobi fall to the ground dead with several kunai and shuriken imbedded in their bodies. The Nara heir noted how efficient Neji and Tenten were working together as the Hyuga prodigy was using his speed and skill in the Juuken (gentle fist) fighting style made famous by his clan. Utilizing this prized taijutsu style, Neji was able to close off the tenketsu or chakra pressure points of his opponent's bodies incapacitating them long enough for Tenten to finish them off from a distance with a precise and deadly strike from one of her many weapons.
Overall, Shikamaru couldn't help but be suitably impressed at how strong and skillful all of his friends and comrades had become since that ill-fated Uchiha retrieval mission. However, he knew he couldn't stand idly by and admire their work any longer and was about to rejoin in the battle when Ino cried out his name in a dread and pointed towards the sky.
"Shikamaru look!"
The young Chunin commander immediately gazed towards the direction his former kunoichi teammate was pointing at and his eyes grew wide with shock and apprehension. For their hanging in the air briefly like a beacon or lighted cry for help were two signal flares one indigo-colored and the other pink-colored. The Nara heir and everyone else under his command instantly knew exactly what those flares meant, Sasuke was here and he was at the hospital.
"What do we do Shikamaru? We're in the middle of a battle and there are still too many Oto assholes around for us to just leave and help Hinata!" Kiba shouted out in a worried tone of voice, as he tore the throat out of another Sound shinobi.
Shikamaru immediately turned to his genius 200+ IQ to formulate a plan or tactic of how to help both Hinata and Sakura deal with their treacherous former classmate, while at the same time insuring that their departure wouldn't leave the main gate to the village vulnerable and in fear of falling to the enemy. After a moment, the Nara heir looked up with alarm upon realizing he could not think of a way to both help Hinata and Sakura liked he had promised them they would and protect the main gate from falling to Orochimaru's forces at the same time. Gazing at the looks of concern and apprehension plastered on the faces of his comrades, all of them waiting for some kind of response from him. Shikamaru opened his mouth to speak and inform them he didn't know what to do when he suddenly heard an animalistic growl behind him followed by a bone-chilling scream.
Quickly turning around Shikamaru was greeted with the sight of an Oto shinobi lying on the ground a few feet away from him with the one-eyed wolf familiar Kuromaru of the Inuzuka clan leader Tsume ripping the throat out of Sound ninja before turning to speak and snarled.
"Grrrrrrrr, you shouldn't let your guard down like that pup!"
"I agree, that would have been a most foolish and troublesome way to die my sochi (son)."
Turning back around to the sound of his fathers voice the Nara heir saw Shikaku standing alongside Tsume Inuzuka, Ibiki Moreno, Ebisu, Aoba Yamashiro, Shibi Aburame, Genma Shiranui, and Yuugao Uzuki along with a couple of other injured Leaf Jounin whom he didn't recognize. Both Tsume and Shibi immediately went to help their son's while the rest of the Jounin save for Shikaku joined in the battle to defend the main gate of the village and quickly pushed back the oncoming enemy who were caught by surprise by the arrival of these elite Leaf Jounin. The Nara clan leader looked skyward and took note of the fading flares before turning back to his son and saying.
"Go quickly, help save your friends, we will handle things here."
Shikamaru merely nodded and the anxiety he had been experiencing disappeared in an instant and assessing the situation he called out.
"Neji, Ino, Kiba, Tenten, fall back and form on me, we're heading to the hospital right now! Shino, Chouji, I need you two to stay behind and help with the defense of the gate!"
"But why can't they come too, they care about Hinata just as much as all of us do."
"Yeah, Ino's right, they should come as well." Kiba remarked before receiving a stinging slap to the back of his head courtesy of his mother who growled out with annoyance."
"This is not a debate and you do not question your commander's orders…..ever on the battlefield!"
Tsume then shot a quick glare at Ino who wilted a bit under the stern gaze before Shikamaru spoke up and said.
"Troublesome, I know they care about Hinata as much as any of us, but right now we need speed to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. We also can't leave the main gate undermanned when it's still precarious as to whether or not we can keep it from falling. Shino with the use of his Kikai army of insects and Chouji's raw strength and power are better utilized here, while the rest of us head off to the hospital to stop Sasuke."
"To kill Sasuke."
"Wha-what?"
"I said souchi, to kill Sasuke not stop him. I'm giving you a direct order as Strategic Commander of Konoha's shinobi forces to eliminate with extreme prejudice that traitorous Uchiha once and for all."
"But, but what about the Civilian Council Otou-san? There will be holy hell to pay if we kill off their beloved Uchiha and his precious bloodline."
"Most troublesome, you let me and Lady Tsunade worry about the Civilian Council, just get the job done. Now you and your team hurry up and get going before it's too late."
A nod from Shikamaru indicated his acceptance and the Nara heir turned and walked towards his former Genin team, as he heard saw Ino hug and kiss the cheek of her former teammate before quipping with amusement.
"Alright Chouji, you take care and don't let yourself get killed. We still have to find you a girl when all of this is over."
"I've already found a girl Ino."
"Really, who is it?" Ino exclaimed with her famous nosey curiosity.
Chouji looked to his best friend with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, as if silently asking Shikamaru a question. The Nara heir merely shrugged his shoulders and silently mouthed the words why not?"
A moment later Chouji swept Ino into his arms and planted a passionate kiss upon her lips, as the Yamanaka heiress eyes grew wide in surprise.
The stunned blonde kunoichi placed her hands on Chouji's chest and was about to push him away, but suddenly stopped this action as a feeling she had never felt before swept through her body and mind. This was no ordinary kiss her life long friend was giving her, it was deeper and more demanding, it was a kiss that made her knees weak, as she subconsciously wrapped her arms around his head to pull him tighter to her. Ino shuddered involuntarily and she felt her toes curl slightly when Chouji's tongue parted her lips and began to caress and play with her own much to Ino's delight.
The Yamanaka girl took no notice of the muted and shocked looks plastered upon the faces of her comrades as they watched the scene before them. In fact, Ino was beginning to lose all of her senses of the rest of the world, as her eyelids fluttered and the only thing that mattered at that moment was the kiss Chouji was giving her and the pleasure she was receiving from it. The sounds of the outside world seemed to disappear and Ino could only hear the soft moans she emitted that escaped from between their locked lips.
At last and with great sadness on Chouji's part and much disappointment on Ino's their lips softly broke apart. Panting heavily from their kiss, as Ino attempted to catch her breath. She stared up at Chouji with a glazed look of desire in her eyes and was about to lean in for another kiss when the Yamanaka heiress suddenly felt herself lifted up and draped unceremoniously over the shoulder of Shikamaru who began speeding away followed closely behind by Neji, Tenten, and Kiba. Looking back and the retreating form of Chouji who was waving goodbye to her, Ino began to beat on the back of the Nara boy as he carried her, while shouting with anger and frustration.
"Put me down this instant Shikamaru! I want to stay with Chouji-kun!"
'Now all of the sudden it's Chouji-kun.' The shadow user thought to himself with sarcasm and derision while shaking his head before answering his struggling cargo.
"Quit being troublesome Ino. Stop Sasuke first, make-out with Chouji-kun later!"
Ino's face flushed red with embarrassment when she heard the giggles of her surrounding comrades and of the mocking emphasis Shikamaru had spoken Chouji's name. Gritting her teeth at her perceived humiliation the Yamanaka girl shouted out in anger.
"Shikamaruuuuuuuuuuu!"
Sasuke grunted in pain as he leapt backwards to put some distance between himself and the fierce punches his former kunoichi teammate had been dealing out before he shouted out with fury.
"Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" (Great Fireball Technique)
A large sphere of flames blew forth from the Uchiha, as he brought his hand up to his mouth to control and direct it towards Sakura. The pink-haired kunoichi immediately called out while flashing through a series of hand seals.
"Doryuu Heki no Jutsu!" (Earth Style Wall)
Sakura then exhaled a deep breath and began spewing forth a line of mud onto the ground. The mud quickly grew into an immense wall in front of her and shielded her from Sasuke's Katon jutsu. She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the fire jutsu sizzle and then fade away upon impacting her earthen shield, as Sakura had barely erected her summoned barrier in time. However, before the young kunoichi could savor her good fortune any longer her ears picked up the sound of a thousand birds chirping and Sakura dove away just before Sasuke came crashing through her Doton wall in a flurry with a Chidori in hand.
The Uchiha was surprised not to find his foe on the other side of the wall and quickly turned around to search for her before crying out in irritation, as he caught a fistful full of dirt thrown into his face and eyes. Momentarily blinded, Sasuke never saw Sakura leap up and deliver a vicious front kick to his chest sending him tumbling backwards several yards away. As Sasuke rose to his feet deactivating his Sharingan and wiping the dirt out of his eyes, he glared at his former teammate who was gasping and trying to catch her breath, while he himself was also breathing heavily and trying to do the same, as he silently thought with frustration.
'How is Sakura able to keep up with me? Even with my Sharingan activated she's been able to hold her own against me. I can't even catch her in a genjutsu attack because the bitch refuses to look directly at me while we've been fighting. I don't understand? I remember Sakura was nothing but a weak useless fangirl with no talent whatsoever when she was on my team. How is it that she and the Hyuga slut have gotten so much stronger since I've left the village? Have all of my former classmates improved this much while I've been gone?'
Sakura glanced at Sasuke and saw him staring at her with a bewildered look upon his face and took this momentary pause in their fight to check on how much chakra she had left. She gritted her teeth in aggravation when she realized it wasn't much. Her previous fights earlier with Sasuke's men in defending the hospital and her frantic rush to battle the Uchiha when she saw Hinata fall to him had definitely worn her out more than she would've liked. As she covertly studied Sasuke, Sakura noted that he wasn't in the most ideal condition either. There were streaks of dried blood covering his face, showing that Hinata had dealt some damage to the Uchiha during their battle. Sakura hoped she would be able to inflict some more damage to Sasuke and couldn't help but silently thank Might Gai for his training to overcome the Sharingan in a fight.
(Flashback Six Months)
Sakura yawned while trying to stay awake and be alert, as she waited outside the door of Might Gai's apartment. The young kunoichi had heard that the self-proclaimed Sexy Beast of Konoha set off early every morning to do his ritual calisthenics to start a new day. Sakura had come to a fateful decision and knew the bushy-browed Jounin was the only one who could help her to achieve her goal. So she patiently waited for the Sensei of Team #9 to emerge and silently hoped he wouldn't refuse her request or reject Sakura outright. The sun was just beginning to crest over the horizon when the pink-haired kunoichi heard the door to Gai's apartment swing open and out stepped the green-clad Jounin who looked to the sunrise and declared with his usual zeal.
"What fine day for the flames of youth to burn brightly today!"
"Gai-Gai Sensei." Sakura hesitantly stammered.
"Oh Sakura, I did not see you there. What brings you to my doorstep at such an early hour?"
"I-I've come to ask you something Gai-Sensei."
"What is it you wish to ask child?"
"Is it true that you've developed a way to battle an opponent who possesses the Sharingan?"
"Yes it's true, in my never-ending struggle with my eternal rival Kakashi, my flames of youth has allowed me to develop a fighting style to combat the talents of that Kekkei Genkai. Why do you ask young one?"
Sakura immediately dropped to her knees and bowed with reverence before the elite Leaf Jounin and asked with desperation laced within her voice.
"Gai-Sensei, I humbly ask you to train me in the ways of battling the Sharingan in a fight."
Gai raised one of his bushy eyebrows in sheer curiosity at the young kunoichi bowing before him and wondered what brought on this request from her before asking.
"Why do you wish to learn how to battle a foe who possesses the Sharingan Sakura?"
"I want to know how to defeat Sasuke Uchiha and make him pay for what he did!"
"Hmmm, just as I suspected. No, I will not teach you how to battle a Sharingan user."
"But, but why? I beg you Gai-Sensei, please teach me how counteract the Sharingan in a fight."
"No, I will not teach the ways of battling the Sharingan to a heartbroken fan-girl for as petty a reason as vengeance! I know what the Uchiha did to you and you have every right to be angry, but revenge is not the answer to quell the flames of youth that burn hot within you about what happened. Even if you were to achieve your goal and make Sasuke pay for what he did, that empty feeling you have about him would still remain. If your only reason for wanting to learn the tactics of fighting a Sharingan user is bloodthirsty revenge, that is a hollow reason and for that alone I refuse to teach you."
"But, but that's not my only reason!" Sakura cried out in a panic.
"Then what girl, what is it? What other reason could you possibly have that is valid and not one borne out of hatred and of seeking retaliation for what the Uchiha did to you!"
"I, I want to, to…." Sakura stammered.
"What, you want to what? Tell me right now or I walk away!"
"I want to save my friends!" Sakura shouted with tears streaming down her face as she looked up to Gai."
"What did you say?"
"I, I said I want to save my friends. I won't lie to you Gai-Sensei, I would very much like to exact some painful retribution and revenge on that bastard Uchiha for what he….he did to me. But even more than that reason, I don't want to see what happened to me to befall any of my friends."
"What friends Sakura? It's my understanding that most of your former comrades have shunned you over your desertion many months ago."
"That, that's true, they no longer care about me not that I blame them, but it doesn't matter whether they care for me or not anymore."
"Why is that?"
"Because, even though they don't care about me anymore doesn't change the fact that I still care about all of them. That's why I want to learn the ways of fighting a Sharingan user. I don't want to see any of them get killed or worse at the hands of Sasuke. I want to be able to protect them from him and that is my main reason for wanting to learn how to fight the teme. That's why I'm begging you Gai-Sensei, please don't reject my request of teaching me how to fight Sasuke."
Gai stared at the pink-haired kunoichi kneeling before him and could hear the desperation within her voice as she spoke. He could also hear the sincerity and fervor within her words and knew she was speaking from the heart before he smiled and said.
"Rise Sakura and wipe away your tears. Indeed that is a most noble and worthy reason for wanting to learn my prized techniques. It speaks highly to the flames of youth that burns brightly within you. I will teach you the ways of battling the Sharingan. You will meet me here every morning at this hour and we will begin your training. But first we need to build-up your stamina so from now on you will accompany me on my ritual morning run around the village then we will start your training upon its daily completion. Do you agree to these terms Sakura?"
"Hai Gai-Sensei, I agree. Thank you for accepting me as a student."
"Think nothing of it girl, the vehemence of your words and your true reason for wanting to learn showed me how hot the flames of youth burns within you. Now come let us begin our most vigorous run around our village."
As Sakura struggled to keep up with Gai's brisk pace running around Konoha, she asked the green-clad Jounin a question.
"Gai-Sensei, is it complicated or difficult to learn the technique of fighting someone who possesses the Sharingan?"
"Complicated, no Sakura it is not. There is only one way of successfully fighting such a user and that way is to never let them catch you in a direct line of sight to cast their genjutsu attacks from the Sharingan upon you. So you must never look at them as you would any other opponent."
"But if I can't look directly at a Sharingan user, how am I to fight them?"
"I didn't say you couldn't look at your Sharingan opponent. What I said is you couldn't look directly at him eyesight to eyesight. You must learn how to view him subtly or covertly during the battle, but your main focus will always be on the Sharingan users feet. For those are the giveaways as to what he will do next. So, the theory or tactic in fighting the Sharingan isn't complicated, but it is difficult to learn how to do so."
"I see." Sakura grimly replied.
Gai could hear the sense of doubt within Sakura's response and gave a hearty laugh and gave his trademark smile before reassuring the young kunoichi.
"Ha, ha, ha! Do not worry Sakura; I have full confidence in your ability to learn my technique in how to fight a Sharingan user. I promise you, I won't rest until you have mastered the ability just as well as I or Lee have done."
Sakura felt buoyed by Gai's declaration of confidence in her and smiled back while nodding her head in affirmation at the bushy-browed Jounin.
(End of Flashback)
'Thank you Gai-Sensei for your training, without it and the Doton and medical training Shishou Tsunade has given me over the past year. I doubt I would have been able to survive this fight with Sasuke as long as I have so far.' Sakura thought to herself as she stole a glance at her former crush.
Sakura bit her lip to hold back the tide of anger, regret, and self-loathing that threatened to swallow her each time she thought about her former first love. All the love she had once held for Sasuke he had now turned into unadulterated hate. Sakura no longer cared to love Sasuke, but now craved to spill his blood and make him suffer like she had suffered at his hands. She took a deep breath, as she gazed at the obsidian eyes of the Uchiha she had once thought were so beautiful. Now all the pink-haired kunoichi could see in those eyes was how ugly they truly were filled with nothing but hatred, malice, and contempt. Sakura wondered if Sasuke's eyes had always been like that and she had just been too love-struck and naïve to see it in the past. It didn't matter now, the young kunoichi decided. All that mattered was defeating Sasuke and protecting her precious people to borrow a phrase from Naruto and Sakura was determined to do just that or die trying, as she readied herself to resume their fight.
Meanwhile, as Sakura was preparing to do battle once more with Sasuke, Shikaku Nara could only smirk with amusement as he watched his son run off with his lifelong yet troublesome and struggling friend Ino draped over his shoulder. Turning back around he then spied his Godson Chouji sporting a blush on his face, as the Akimichi boy still couldn't believe he had mustered up the courage and nerve to finally tell or in this case show Ino how he felt about her. The Nara clan leader commented with mirth to the young man.
"A bold move on your part Tenshu-sochi (God-son). However, your quite fortunate your other Kyoufu (Godfather) Inoichi-san wasn't here to witness your daring play with his daughter, as I don't think he would be as entertained or as understanding about it as I am."
"You're right Kyoufu (Godfather) Nara he wouldn't. You're not going to tell him about it are you?"
"No, I won't be saying a word to him, it would be much too troublesome. Better to let him find out on his own about you and Ino."
"I don't know if there is anything between me and Ino-chan, it was only a kiss."
"Well judging by the look on my Tenshu-youjo (God-daughters) face, I'm pretty sure that there is something between you and Ino now. But we can't dwell on that any longer, we still have a battle to win and a village to protect."
Chouji nodded in understanding as both he and Shikaku turned their attention to the frontline of the battle and moved forward to join their comrades in the fight. Just as they were about to engage the enemy, the radio earpiece Shikaku had blared to life and alerted the Nara clan leader.
"Sleepy Shadow, this is Mind Wrecker with the Green Beast, do you read me, over?"
"Roger, this is Sleepy Shadow, I read you Mind Wrecker, over."
"Roger Sleepy Shadow, we have the BB Blonde who is injured and needs medical aid ASAP. Do you copy, over?"
"Roger Mind Wrecker I copy, over."
"Roger Sleepy Shadow, we're near the main gate but there are too many snakes blocking our path, how should we proceed? Do you copy over?"
"Roger Mind Wrecker, I copy, we will briefly open up a path for you and your cargo to traverse. Stay on this frequency and wait for my signal and when it's given move like the wind, as I don't know how long we can keep the pathway open? Do you copy over?"
"Roger Sleepy Shadow, I copy. We will wait for your signal, but hurry as the BB Blonde is in dire straits and fading. Do you copy over?"
"Roger Mind Wrecker, I copy, over and out."
As soon as Shikaku ended his transmission with Inoichi, he immediately began devising a plan to safely escort him, Gai and the injured Tsunade back into the village. After a few moments of concentrated deliberation, he ordered with authority.
"Shibi-san, Shino, Chouji, I need you to fall back to my position and follow my orders. Lady Tsunade has been injured and I need all of your talents to help bring her safely into the village for medical aid."
"What do you need us to do Commander Nara?"
"You and your father Shino will be providing cover for the Hokage and the men bringing her into the village with the use of your clan's Kikai insects, which I will explain to you both in a moment. First, I need to know if you Chouji brought with you your kunai chains?"
"Hai Kyoufu (Godfather) Nara, I brought them."
"Good, now here is my plan. Right now the Inoichi, Gai, and Lady Tsunade are near the main gate. Unfortunately they cannot enter due to the troublesome problem of the large contingent of Sound shinobi between them and us currently outside the gate. We need to clear a path for our comrades and Hokage and we need to do it quickly so here is what I propose we do.
"First Chouji, for this plan to work, I need you to utilize your clan's special taijutsu technique of Nikudan Hari Sensha (Spiked Human Bullet Tank). You will be opening up the pathway to which they can enter. However, to prevent the enemy from closing up the path behind you as you roll by is where Shibi-san and Shino come into play. I need the two of you to form an insect wall or barrier on both sides of the passageway Chouji cuts through the Sound ninja. This will not only help keep the lane Chouji creates open, but it will also provide cover and camouflage to hinder the enemy's sight of our comrades and Hokage as they enter the village by not allowing them to attack our people."
Taking a deep breath, Shikaku continued on.
"Chouji, once Inoichi, Gai, and Lady Tsunade have started down the path you've created, you will maintain your Nikudan Hari Sensha and reverse direction providing cover to their rear flank and follow behind them. As you and our comrades race down our impromptu corridor Shibi-san and Shino can collapse the Kikai wall they've erected behind you as you pass by and provide additional cover to the rear flank until your all safely within the walls of the village. The Leaf shinobi manning the walls and the gate will also be providing cover during this entire exercise as well. I know it's a troublesome plan in many aspects, but we're limited on time and Lady Tsunade needs medical care ASAP. Do any of you have any questions?"
"I have no questions Kyoufu (Godfather) Nara."
"What about you Shibi-san, can you and Shino implement for the plan what I've suggested using your Kikai insects?"
"Hai Nara-san, the scale of the mission is indeed daunting and it will require the we use our entire colonies of our Kikaichuu brethren we both host within us, but I promise you we can accomplish what you have proposed."
"Very well, let's get to it then."
As Chouji wrapped several loose chains around his body, each chain having several kunai attached to them, Shibi and Shino took up flanking positions on each side of the young Akimichi as they approached the gate. Turning to look at his Godfather, Chouji nodded his head to the elder Nara to indicate he was ready before flashing through a series of hand signs and calling out.
"Bubun Baika no Jutsu! (Partial Multi-Size Technique)
Almost instantly, Chouji began to transform and modify his body into a large sphere shape, as he drew his limbs into the newly formed spherical body. He then launched his body into the air and began to spin at a high rate of speed. Upon landing on the ground, the kunai now wrapped tightly around Chouji's body dug into the earth and provided immense traction for the Akimichi heir, as Shikaku signaled to open the gate.
Needless to say the Sound shinobi outside the gate were surprised to see it suddenly thrown open and were about to rush in when they stopped and looked on with fear as a living 15 foot diameter ball of spikes came speeding at them out of the gate. Many of the Oto ninja attempted to stop the sphere of kunai quickly bearing down on them by using several projectile attacks upon it. However, these attacks proved ineffective, as Chouji was spinning and moving at such a high rate of speed it prevented most of the incoming projectiles from landing, as they bounced off his body with little effect. And those shinobi directly in front of Chouji soon found themselves being sliced apart by the fast rotating kunai or outright crushed by the immense size and girth of the Akimichi heir.
As Chouji laid waste to the Sound shinobi before him, Shibi and Shino Aburame unleashed their colonies of Kikai insects on both sides of the spiked human bullet tank erecting a bug barrier as he tore through the ranks of the hapless Oto warriors. Upon witnessing this, Shikaku immediately activated his radio earpiece and called out.
"Mind Wrecker this is Sleepy Shadow, do you read me, over?"
"Roger, this is Mind Wrecker, I read you Sleepy Shadow, over."
"Roger Mind Wrecker, we are cutting a path through the snakes, you and Green Beast bring the BB Blonde down the corridor as quickly as you can, we will cover you as you travel down it. Do you copy, over?"
"Roger Sleepy Shadow I copy, we see the passageway being created, proceeding to the road now. Do you copy, over?"
"Roger Mind Wrecker I copy, remember time is short and I don't know how long we can keep the road open? Do you copy over?"
"Roger Sleepy Shadow I copy, we remember and will rendezvous with you shortly. Do you copy over?"
"Roger Mind Wrecker, I copy, over and out."
A couple of minutes later both Inoichi and Gai with Tsunade in his arms came racing through the gate followed closely behind by Chouji and a multitude swarm of insects which immediately flew back into the sleeves of both Shibi and Shino. As Chouji reverted back to his original form, his eyes became crossed and he collapsed to the ground in a heap. Shino rushed over to see if his comrade had been injured but could find no significant wounds upon the Akimichi boy other then a few minor cuts and scrapes that the Sound shinobi had managed to inflict upon him during his rampaging trek through their forces. It was then Shikaku spoke up and commented.
"Fear not Shino, Chouji is just suffering the side-effects and one weakness of his clans Nikudan Sensha technique. Once the technique has ended, the user suffers an intense bout of dizziness, but it will pass shortly."
"Ohhhhhhhh, make the spinning stop." Chouji groaned in discomfort.
Chuckling at his Godson's current state of being, Shikaku turned his attention to Lady Tsunade who was being attended to by a field medic nin and asked with concern.
"What's wrong with Lady Tsunade, is she hurt badly?"
"Hokage-sama has a deep laceration in her shoulder which needs to be taken care of, but that's not what concerns me at the moment. Judging by her erratic heart-rate and blood pressure, I believe she has been poisoned and if that's the case, there is little I can do for her. I need to get Lady Tsunade to Shizune-sama at the hospital immediately, as she is the only person besides the Hokage herself that has any expertise and knowledge in dealing with poisons and antidotes."
"Most troublesome, very well, Gai-san, if you still have the energy I want you to take as quickly as you can Lady Tsunade to the hospital and I'm assigning four Leaf Chunin for protection and this medic nin to accompany you on the way there." Shikaku ordered while signaling to four Leaf shinobi to approach.
"My flames of youth are still strong and will usher myself and our noble Hokage to the hospital in no time. I just hope the flames of youth within these Chunin are strong enough to be able to keep up with me." Gai declared with bravado.
"We can only hope Gai-san." Shikaku replied while rolling his eyes at the green-clad Jounin before adding.
"Inoichi-san, I need you here with me to help protect the main gate from falling to our enemy."
As both Shikaku and Inoichi watched Gai and the other Leaf shinobi race off towards the hospital with Tsunade in tow, the Nara clan leader could only silently pray with apprehension that the hospital was still functioning and that his son and comrades had been able to accomplish their mission of ending the Uchiha threat once and for all.
"Tsuuten Kyaku!" (Bruising Sky Leg)
Sakura cried out as she descended on Sasuke her right leg extending upward, about to strike him with a powerful axe kick. Bringing her leg crashing down from a high arc to which Sasuke was barely able to leap away in time lest it strike him with murderous force. Sakura's leg impacted the ground where the Uchiha had been standing with a thunderous boom. The earth-shattering kick shook the ground violently as fissures suddenly appeared and extended out from the crater that had formed from the force of the attack that had pulverized the ground instantly.
Sasuke was surprised by this sudden move and of the sheer ferocity and power to which it was delivered by his former teammate. He knew he had been fortunate to escape, as the chakra that had been placed within that kick had enough power to destroy him if it had connected. It was then the Uchiha realized that his former #1 fan-girl was actually trying to kill him and he backpedaled as fast as he could to try and put some distance between himself and Sakura. For her part, Sakura chased after him, her hand glowing with blue chakra primed to deliver a devastating blow. Inwardly cursing, Sasuke ran up the outer wall surrounding the hospital and jumped off just in the nick of time, as Sakura unleashed a punch that shattered the wall from the immense power behind it she had used.
As Sasuke flipped away and landed, the ground underneath him began collapsing. Sakura had whirled around and punched the ground with earth-shattering force sending a shockwave heading directly at the Uchiha dislodging him off of his feet. The pink-haired kunoichi then charged and threw another wild chakra filled punch that smashed into the ribs of the Uchiha. Sasuke suddenly felt a searing pain course through his body and he coughed up some blood before sliding down on one foot to send a heeled boot crashing into Sakura's gut and then her chin. As Sakura reeled back from the blows, he caught her with a punch to her cheek sending the young kunoichi flying off to the side. Sasuke attempted to follow-up his blow with a roundhouse kick, but Sakura abruptly leapt skyward to avoid the hit. Flipping in the air and turning over to spiral downwards, Sakura dove to attempt to land her own blow onto the Uchiha's upturned face. Seeing this Sasuke swerved aside, as Sakura destroyed the ground on impact, while he leapt back avoiding the bone-shattering hit cursing. This battle due to the both of them running low on chakra had now degenerated into nothing more than a taijutsu fight.
Landing unceremoniously on his butt several yards away and deactivating his Sharingan. Sasuke tried to get up, but the pain of his body he had been trying desperately to ignore was starting to become unbearable. Sasuke found it was hard to even breathe, as he cradled his torso and felt a stabbing pain from his right side indicating some of his ribs had been broken from Sakura's last attack. As Sasuke glared at his former kunoichi teammate, it infuriated him that he had been having such a difficult time in defeating both Hinata and now Sakura, as he thought to himself.
'Damn it to hell, I've underestimated these bitches! They're stronger than I ever imagined they could be, I can't underestimate them anymore. I know I can eventually take down the pink-slut, but this fight is taking way too long. I need to end it before anymore of my asshole classmates show up that she signaled earlier. Perhaps instead of trying to defeat Sakura I can use the idiot fan-girl to my advantage.'
A sly sickening smile crept across Sasuke's face, as he held up his hand to halt Sakura who was advancing towards him and he spoke to her in a contrite tone of voice.
"Sakura wait, I didn't come here to fight you, I really didn't. I actually owe you a debt of gratitude, as when I thought you were dead it blessed me with a wonderful gift. I'm glad to see you're not dead and you've improved yourself immensely. You're no longer a weak and annoying fan-girl anymore, but have become a strong kunoichi. One I now deem worthy enough to help me rebuild my clan. Come with me Sakura, help me take Hinata back with us to Otogakure and I promise you will lead the life you always dreamed of to be with me."
Sakura halted her march towards the Uchiha and paused as if in deep thought while she stared at her childhood crush and first love. After a minute or so, Sasuke growing impatient then added in a sweetened tone of voice.
"You said you loved me, is it really that difficult a decision to make? And after the strength and skills you've showed me here today, I feel as though I can learn to love you as well Sakura-chan."
"What about Naruto-kun?" Sakura finally replied.
"The dobe, what about him? He dies the next time I see him simple as that." Sasuke incredulously declared, as if there was no other answer to the question.
"If, if you promise not to hurt Naruto-kun, I'll go with you Sasuke." Sakura hesitantly stammered.
"What do you care if I hurt Naruto-kun? I mean he's nothing but…..….wait, wait a minute…. when did you start addressing that idiot as Naruto-kun?"
Sakura's face flushed slightly in embarrassment before turning her head away from her former teammate before Sasuke cackled with derisive glee and ridicule.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha! Oh this is rich! The girl who the dobe offered up his heart to so many times only to have you reject him and stomp on it time and time again, now you suddenly love him is just too much. So it's longer Naruto-baka with you now, but Naruto-kun, how hilarious. I'm hurt Sakura; I remember a time when you only used that loving honorific for me and me alone. How truly foolish and frivolous a girl's heart can be, ha ha ha."
I don't know which of you two is more pathetic? That dobe for chasing after you everyday only to get physically and verbally beat-down for it by you until he was nothing. Or you suddenly realizing that it was Naruto that you love after all this time. Tell me something Sakura, did you have this epiphany about your love for the dobe before or after he finally wised up about you and got with the Hyuga bitch?"
Sakura's only answer to Sasuke was to hang her head low in shame, as she knew everything Sasuke had just said with regards to her realization of love for Naruto was true. As Sakura reflected on his words, she honestly hated herself right then and there. All Naruto ever did was be nice and caring towards her, never deserving the ridicule and scorn she heaped upon him for his efforts. How could she have been so stupid and selfish to do that to Naruto? How could she not have seen or recognized sooner that it was Naruto deserving of her love and not this preening asshole now laughing at her. Sakura knew that for the rest of her life she would always regret being so fixated on Sasuke and too blind to see how much Naruto truly meant to her. After a moment, she looked up with tears in her eyes and felt her heart sink in sorrow and remorse as she spoke.
"You're right Sasuke, I didn't have my epiphany as you put it about Naruto-kun until it was too late. The old adage you never know what you've got till it's gone aptly applies to me. I will always regret ignoring not only Naruto's genuine feelings of love for me, but that I also ignored the genuine feelings of love I held for him, but had always kept buried. And why did I ignore those feelings? Because I stupidly believed I was actually in love with a traitorous unfeeling Uchiha bastard who never gave a damn about me and still doesn't no matter what lies he spews to the contrary at me today!"
Sasuke smirked a bit and gave a mirthless chuckle at his distraught former teammate before saying in a voice devoid of any emotion.
"You're right Sakura, I was lying. I didn't give a damn about you back then or give a damn about you now, but that's all the more reason why you should take me up on offer to walk away and let me take Hinata."
"What are you talking about teme?"
"Only this, I was being sincere when I said I owed you for achieving the gift that I did from you're supposed death. So in gratitude for that I offer you this choice. All you have to do is walk away and let me take Hinata. That's easy enough to understand isn't it?"
"And why would I do that?"
"So you can have Naruto."
"Wh-what?" Sakura exclaimed with confusion.
"It's simple Sakura, you love Naruto but he's with Hinata now. But if Hinata is gone, then when the dobe returns he's going to be heart-broken and in need of a friend. The dobe isn't that bright so I'm sure if you played it right and used your feminine wiles you could make Naruto forget about the Hyuga bitch and become his woman. So if you let me take Hinata away everyone wins. I get to start restoring my clan to its rightful glory and potentially create a new Kekkai Genkai in the offspring produced by an Uchiha and a Hyuga. And you get to spend the rest of your life with the dobe you love. Come on Sakura, if everything you've said is true about you loving our blonde-haired idiot of a teammate, then this is an easy proposition for you to accept. I mean you do want a life with Naruto don't you? Well, that's never going to happen if Hinata is still around. So let me take her and we'll both walk away happy today. What do you say?"
Sakura paused briefly and let the words the Uchiha boy had spoken register within her mind. While Sasuke stood by waiting impatiently for her answer with a smug, self-righteous, and conceited demeanor to his posture, ever confident that she would do as he says as everyone should as far as he was concerned. Staring at Sasuke, a lone tear rolled down Sakura's cheek as the girl had listened with disgust at what a truly inhuman monster her former teammate had become to think that she would actually agree to such a proposal. It was true that she did love Naruto and would give almost anything to have a life with him. However, Sakura would not sacrifice her soul to achieve that and by letting this wicked Uchiha take Hinata away to inflict Kami knows what pain, torture, and suffering upon the girl, selling her soul is exactly what she would be doing by agreeing to Sasuke's twisted offer.
"You truly are sick and demented Sasuke, if you believe I would let you take Hinata away and do to her what you did to me. I feel nothing but sadness and disgust at what you've become and I now see there is no hope for any redemption for you whatsoever for you to make such a perverse proposal and think I would agree to it. Go fuck yourself Sasuke and I hope Kami has a special place in hell reserved for you when Naruto-kun finally sends you there ending your pathetic clan once and for all!"
Sasuke could only smirk and shake his head with dissatisfaction at his former kunoichi teammate's stupidity in not only rejecting his offer, but in daring to insult him and his clan as well, as he spoke with malevolence.
"A foolish choice Sakura, as there is nothing you can do to prevent me from taking the Hyuga slut away. Oh well, I've grown tired of your continued defiance of me and of your faith in that blonde dobe. It's time I ended this dance between us. Allow me to now show you the gift that was bestowed to me upon hearing about your death. A death which was obviously in error, but it's an error that I will now easily correct."
Sakura immediately dropped into a defensive taijutsu stance and waited for what the Uchiha was planning to do when she heard him utter two words.
"Mangekyou Sharingan!"
However, instead of the spinning kaleidoscope of the evolved Sharingan flaring to life, Sasuke suddenly cried out in pain and brought his hands up to cover his eyes, as he cursed inwardly at himself with shock.
'Damn it to hell, I don't have enough chakra left after fighting those two Leaf bitches to properly activate my Mangekyou form of the Sharingan!'
However, before Sasuke could ponder his next move, Sakura was already upon him and raining down punches as quickly as she could. Again and again Sakura brought her fists hammering down one devastating blow after another onto Sasuke as tears rolled down her face. Sakura was putting everything she had into her strikes and never letting up not even for a second to give the Uchiha a reprieve to gather himself.
For Sakura knew this was her last chance to defeat him as her chakra was very nearly gone. Sakura could hear the sickening crunch of Sasuke's bones breaking, as she kept punching him until his face was almost unrecognizable from bruising and blood that now adorned it. The pink-haired Kunoichi's own knuckles were a bloody mess as they came pummeling down determined to disfigure the still handsome face staring up at her. But despite her punches, despite her tears she couldn't take the time to wipe away, and despite all the strength she had left Sakura still couldn't wipe off that condescending smirk the Uchiha still bore upon his face. Sasuke had yet to utter a word or even cry out in pain during Sakura's onslaught. However, she then noticed his obsidian eyes narrow, as they took on a visage of pure hate and rage when he suddenly shouted with fury.
"ENOUGH!" Sasuke screamed to the heavens, as he activated his cursed seal once again.
Instantly, Sakura found herself being blown away from Sasuke by a dark purple almost blackened color demonic chakra flare. The pink-haired girl shook with terror when she noticed a raging, flame-like pattern spreading from a seal on his shoulder and beginning to cover his entire body. Sakura had seen this once before during the Chunin exams in the forest of death and knew she now had no hope of winning her battle with the Uchiha and very little hope that she would even survive.
However, before Sakura could do anything, Sasuke suddenly appeared in front of her driving a fist into her gut with such force that the young kunoichi bent forward and began coughing up blood. Sasuke then brought his right knee upward and knee kicked his former kunoichi teammate in the face breaking her nose. As Sakura fell backwards onto the ground clutching her stomach in immense pain, Sasuke reared back and delivered a violent kick to her ribs, breaking several of them and sending the young girl flying through the air before landing with a sickening thud face down 30 feet away. Sasuke in his level one cursed seal state menacingly stalked over towards the now prone figure of Sakura and loomed over her before his left hand shot out and tightly gripped her hair pulling her head up as he leaned in and spat with malice into her ear.
"You fucking slut, you actually hurt me you little bitch! Tell me, did you honestly believe that you could beat me? I told you before, I'm an Uchiha, an elite, no one can defeat me no one, especially you. You're nothing but some peasant slut from the streets; you don't even belong to a clan. Yet you dared to have the impudence to insult my clan. Well here's the price you pay for that stupidity!"
Sasuke then drove his foot down onto the back of Sakura's legs dislocating both of her knees as the young kunoichi screamed out in agonizing pain.
"Ha, ha ha, that's it Sakura scream for me, I love to hear you scream!" Sasuke exclaimed with sadistic pleasure before adding.
"Oh Sakura, I wish I could play with you longer, but I meant what I said earlier that it's time to end this dance between us."
Sakura then heard the unmistakable sound of a thousand birds chirping filled the air and without turning around to see it, she already knew that Sasuke had activated their former Sensei's trademark jutsu the Chidori and was about to end her life.
"Time to die you annoying bitch!" Sasuke shouted with joy; as he brought the Chidori down to impale Sakura through the back. However, before he could accomplish his deadly task, the Uchiha was suddenly hit with a powerful column of water that sent him flying from Sakura and into the outer wall that surrounded the hospital.
Sakura craned her head around to see Hinata standing shakily with her arms outstretched indicating she had been the one to save Sakura's life by utilizing her Suiun Suishi jutsu to knock the power-crazed Uchiha away from her. The pink-haired girl was astounded that her fellow kunoichi was even conscious and able to stand, as she noticed some blood coming from the Hyuga girl's ears strongly indicating that Hinata was suffering from a severe concussion. Sakura was about to call out to her former classmate when a scream of unbridled rage ripped through the air from the Uchiha.
A moment later, Sasuke appeared looming over Sakura once again and grabbed the crippled girl before swinging her around and throwing her with tremendous force into Hinata knocking them both to the ground. The force of the impact had rendered the Hyuga girl unconscious once more, as Sakura gazed across to see the purplish black colored chakra emanating from Sasuke swirl around in a chaotic and violent manner already healing all the damage that he had previously suffered, as the Uchiha screamed with ferocity.
"I've had it with you two whores! You both claim to love Naruto, then the both of you can die together on this day and when the dobe returns he can weep over your ashes!"
"Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" (Great Fireball Technique)
The Uchiha then drew some chakra from his mouth into his chest and then immediately exhaled it blowing a stream of fire. Which erupted into a large sphere of flames even more enhanced then his normal fireball thanks to the influx of power he was receiving from the curse seal. The maniacal Uchiha then brought his hand up to his mouth to control the sphere of flames and direct it towards the two prone girls lying on the ground.
Sakura saw this and knew there wasn't anyway for she and Hinata to avoid being burned alive due to her being crippled and the Hyuga girl lying beside her still unconscious. In a last desperate act to ensure that one of them survived, Sakura using the last little bit of chakra she had left to call upon, channeled it into her arms and flung Hinata to safety before closing her eyes and awaiting the massive fireball to strike her down and end her life, as one final thought entered her mind.
'Goodbye Naruto-kun, I love you, please be safe and have a happy life with Hinata.'
Because her eyes closed, Sakura never saw the green blur that appeared in front of her, but felt a pair of arms encircle her and take the hit from the fireball shielding and protecting her from the deadly flames. Sakura could hear the sizzle of the fire as it struck her unknown savior and could smell the burning skin before in another flash of speed she found herself being deposited next to Hinata. Tentatively opening her eyes, Sakura gasped in shock and awe at who it was that had saved her, as the individual turned around to face Sasuke and spoke with determination and conviction.
"You shall not harm the beautiful flowered cherry blossom that is Sakura-chan anymore Uchiha. If you wish to continue down your dark road turning away from the flames of youth and the will of fire we here in the Leaf village live by, as you once did so be it. However, I will not stand by and allow you to hurt anyone that is precious to me. If want someone to fight Uchiha, then from here on in your opponent is….ME!"
A tear rolled down Sakura's face and she could only stammer the name of the heroic shinobi now taking up the battle against Sasuke.
"Lee-Lee-kun!"
Author Notes: Happy holidays and a happy new year to all of my readers. I will keep this author note short and will explain why in a moment. I'm sure this chapter update comes as a bit of surprise for you all, but hopefully it's in a good way. I won't be writing up my usual excessive A/N because frankly it will take me a day or two to do that and it's already been very difficult for me to finish writing this chapter. You see my father died unexpectedly over the Thanksgiving holiday and I'm still struggling a bit in dealing with that. So much so that a lot of my motivation and drive to do just about anything including writing has kind of flown out the window the past few weeks. All I've been concentrating on up until a few days ago when I tasked myself to complete this update for all of you has been my crappy job.
However, do not fear, as I have no intention on abandoning this story. It's just right now and in the past few weeks I've spent very little time on the computer. So please don't think ill of me for not responding to all of your reviews from the last chapter or in my lax in attention to responding to your pm's in a timely fashion. Or even in the reviews I generally leave on stories I read. I promise over the next few weeks I will be attempting to catch up everything I've let slide.
I do wish to thank everyone both old and new readers who took the time to review my last chapter, it's much appreciated by me. I enjoyed reading many of your reviews and I'm pleased that this story has such a strong fan base with readers who actually write out well thought-out reviews. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I'm anxious to see what your responses will be via review for it. The chapter itself is one of the longest ones I've written even without my usual sizable author notes. The chapter may have a few minor grammatical errors, misspellings, missed words, etc. But that is due to time constraints because I've only been able to do only a couple of quick proof readings, as I wanted to get this as a late Christmas/New Years day gift to all of you. So please don't harp too much on the grammar issues, I will be editing the chapter over the next several days.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter and take it easy and be good!
Kingkakashi