Chapter 22: Nothing But Pain

The night dragged, Sakura sat exhausted staring down at the unconscious boys. She didn't know where Kira was. Her eyes would droop every now and then, but Sakura forced herself to stay awake. Shaking the sleep away whenever she felt like she would crash.

A few feet away Kira sat in the trees hidden from sight, keeping watch over their makeshift camp. 'Sakura.'

Sakura jumped in surprise shaking her head again, her hands went to rub the tiredness away from her eyes, acting natural. *What is it now?* She moaned, her back ached from hunching all night.

'Those three guys from Oto who attacked Kabuto, they're not far from camp. That bandaged guy is keeping watch. His companions are resting. They've been taking shifts in keeping watch of our camp…we might have some trouble soon.'

Sakura gulped staring wide eyed at the ground. All the tiredness she was feeling now gone. They were being watched. This isn't good at all. *What do we do?*

'We have the element of surprise. They don't know we know. Just try and relax.' Sakura bit her nails nervously. This wasn't good at all. Why were they waiting? They've been keeping watch of the camp all night so what were they waiting for?

Seconds later Sakura saw Kira jump in sight stretching her arms over her head. "No one in sight, I think we're good. Anything new with Sasuke or Naruto?" Sakura stared at the ground a moment not sure what to do.

Play along. "Nothing yet, Sasuke's fever went down some but he's still shaking, and Naruto he hasn't moved since we brought him here." Sakura summarized. The sun slowly rose high in sky, the colors danced in the sky till it was left with a bright blue sky.

"One day down, four to go…" Kira sighed staring at the sun through the trees. A twig snapped startling Sakura, she ripped out her kunai, holding it toward her chest. Both girls looked over to see a little squirrel munching on a nut.

"What ae you up to, scaring me like that?" Sakura glared at the fuzzy creature. The squirrel shot forward almost setting off one of the traps the girls had set up earlier the night before. Kira squatted down beside Sakura staring off into the distance waiting for something else to happen.

She faintly could hear the group talking, but she didn't know what. "You need to eat something," Kira muttered looking away, walking back towards her pack. Grabbing a granola bar, she tossed it over toward the pink haired girl.

Sakura stared at the bar before grabbing it, she didn't take long to finish the food. She felt so much better after she ate that. Sakura was still confused about last night, were things okay between her and Kira? Or was Kira still mad at her?

Maybe they needed a bit to calm down and relax. Sakura didn't feel as mad as she did, but she didn't know how Kira might feel.

"Are we…are you…" She stared nervously. Sakura wasn't sure how to word the question. She didn't want to upset Kira again, but she wanted to know if they were okay. Kira didn't speak, she didn't try to answer. She just stared at the ground, her face was emotionless.

"You both have been up all night, guarding eh?" Kira and Sakura froze, glancing at one another before facing the three. They decided to make their move now?! "As of now, you're off duty. Just wake Sasuke for us." The spikey haired male called squatting on top of one of the rocks nearby.

The three stared at Sakura and Kira just waiting for the two of them to try anything. "The three of us want to take him on." The leader spoke up.

"Wh-What are you talking about?!" Sakura screamed, her hands shuddered as she tried to sneak her way to her kunai pouch.

"Are you three brainless?! Sasuke isn't in any condition to fight!" Kira snapped glaring at the three annoyed. "If you haven't noticed nimrod, if we could wake Sasuke we would have already. Get your head out of your ass and go away."

Spikey head growled tempted to stomp over and make her regret that tone she used. "What was that ya little brat?" He growled.

"You heard me. Go away." Kira growled her eyes started to sting but she pushed her anger aside. Just for now though. She couldn't go into a rage just yet. Sakura clenched her fists till they turned white, Kira could hear how terrified she actually was but pulled it off as if she wasn't scared at all.

"I know that some guy named Orochimaru is the one who's been pulling all the strings, so what do you want?!" Sakura demanded feeling pretty bad ass with their new expression.

The three's expression turned to surprise. Eyes widen and sweat started to drip.

"Of course they work for Orochimaru," Kira growled pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why doesn't it surprise me? What's next? Are you three made of a bunch of little snakes all working together?"

"What does this mark on Sasuke's neck mean?!" Sakura demanded but no answer. "With Sasuke in this condition, now you want to fight him!? Get out of here! Go!"

"Hmm…I wonder what Orochimaru's up to." The leader spoke chuckling to himself. What? What does he mean wonder what Orochimaru is up to? They don't know? But they work for him!

"Whatever. I can't walk away after hearing that. I'll destroy you, girl, and you're little Sasuke, too."

"Are you trying to be intimidating?" Kira called out ripping out her kunai's from her pouch. "You sound as intimidating as a gold fish."

Spikey hair growled standing tall "You have a death wish or something?"

"Yeah, come at me." Spikey head started to shot forward but his group leader stopped him.

"Wait, Zaku!"

"Wait? Why?" the spikey haired male who was now known as Zaku complained. Glaring hatefully over at Kira and Sakura.

"It's obvious," The leader called crouching down to the ground where Sakura had shifted the dirt and stones around to make it seem like there was a trap. "Freshly turned stones, exposed soil, grass in a place it would never grow…someone's been setting booby traps."

Sakura and Kira glanced at one another never giving away our angry expressions. "But whats the point of laying them if you leave evidence that warns your prey?" The leader called again.

"It's amateurish," Zaku snorted rolling his eyes at the two of them.

"If it's so amateurish then why did you almost set it off?" Kira taunted watching Zaku grumble a light red tint framed his face knowing he almost set off a trap with his hot head ready to battle. "You had to rely on your partner to make sure there wasn't a trap. At least my teammates know to look for traps as they attack." Kira laughed a smirk on her lips.

"Ignore her, Zaku." The girl called facing her teammate.

"But…"

"Ignore her. We'll take care soon Zaku."

It took Zaku a few moments to compose himself again. 'Hot headed, remind you of anyone?'

'He's not as bad as Naruto. How powerful do you think they are?' Sakura thought nervously. Her arms were shaking the longer they stood there waiting.

'I don't know.' It was true. Kira didn't get any reading on them, she hopped they were all for show and just a bunch of wimps but she knew better. When the leader attacked Kabuto before the first test. He did something to hurt her, Kira wasn't sure if it was intentional for her or not but that loud sound hurt her ears.

Zaku sat back down on his rock holding his knee to his chest before he spoke again. "Well those two are of no use to us, so the person who threw the kunai knife was trying to stop the squirrel from springing the trap?" Zaku asked.

"So let's eliminate them first." The leader of the group called setting off his group to attack mode. Sakura smirked reaching back cutting the string to one of our traps. As soon as it was cut a large log came crashing down.

"A log?!" the leader gasped surprised.

"The trap was above us all along!" all three of them called in unison.

But it didn't help the girls at all. It didn't take long. The large log that would have crushed anyone literally turned to splinters! Kira cringed hearing a loud ringing go through her ears again. 'Damn it! It's that sound again!'

"To be honest, you know you're a complete no talent, don't you?" The leader spoke insultingly towards the two girls. "Stop dogging it and start working at it. It's an insult being underestimated by slackers like you!" He yelled shooting toward Sakura and Kira ready to kill.

Thinking quick as she could Kira started to form some hand signals for her Mizu Peretto technique. Unlike her Uo Tsuba technique this one would make her stream of water into a bullet that would impact the enemy at high speed, it was usually the size of a fist.

But she didn't have to. Seconds before impact Lee appeared screaming 'Konoha Hurricane Technique!' knocking all three of the attackers back. Sliding in the dirt.

"Look at who's talking. Try taking your own advice!" Lee called angrily. Sakura stared shocked seeing Lee standing before her with a squirrel on his shoulder, but she wasn't the only one. Kira stared wide eyed mouth slightly opened staring at the green suited male. Why was he here helping them? Wasn't he supposed to be helping his own team?

"Who, who are you?"

"Konoha's handsome blue beast Rock Lee!"

"Where did you come from?" Sakura whispered confused staring up at the back of Lee's head. Kira glanced back at the three standing back up staring at Lee getting in a defensive stance.

"I came because you needed me. And I always will." Kira glanced at Sakura nodding to Lee. "You got yourself a great guy Sakura," Sakura started to tear up.

"I don't know how to thank you. You're a lifesaver!" Sakura called trying to look cute.

"I promised when we met,"

"Huh?"

"To protect you until death do us part!" Lee smiled to himself speaking aloud "Yes! I understand! I get it, Master Guy!" Sakura couldn't say anything about that because Lee was helping the two of them.

The leader of the group pulled out their scroll. "It can't be helped. Zaku, little Sasuke is all yours!" tossing Zaku the scroll as he did so. "They're as good as dead."

Lee reached through the ground and pulled out the tree's roots lifting it high above his head. Sakura and Kira stood shocked and surprised at his strength. "Dang maybe I should train under Guy sensei…" Kira couldn't help mutter aloud watching the guy lift something ten times no twenty times his weight.

"This is some kind of illusion, right? So I'd be wasting my time ducking as though your attacks were real. I've seen you use these moves before." Lee called glaring up at the leader. Sakura watched as Lee unwrapped his bandages shooting forward and attacking. It was almost as if she was watching the fight with Sasuke and Lee all over again.

'Zaku's going to go after Sasuke. Now's my chance.' Kira thought glaring at the spikey haired douche. Launching her kunai in his general direction. Zaku quickly jumped away from the blade looking up confused. He had been so immersed in his team leader and Lee's fight he didn't expect to be attacked.

"Mizu Peretto," water bullets shot in Zaku's direction. Dashing toward his direction Kira noticed the dirt was softer than it was. He must have done something to it, otherwise he wouldn't have dirt around his hands and sleeves.

Zaku extended his arms revealing two holes stuck in the middle of his hands, next thing Kira knew she was being shot back by a large gust of air. It felt so strong that she was sent straight into the bushes.

'Okay, avoid where his hands are sticking out!' she told herself trying to avoid Lee's fighting not wanting to get in his way. Coming from above should prove to be a good fighting strategy. Kira shot up a tree and across the clearing, running as quick as she could and shooting forward.

Zaku tried the same thing again except he pushed himself away from her. Throwing stars barely grazed his skin, he always avoided any hand to hand attack. And all this jumping around was getting them nowhere.

"I thought you wanted to kill me, you're just a coward!" She taunted hoping he get mad. He did get mad but jumped jumping away. "Come on you coward you! Are you scared a little girl from the Hidden Leaf is going to beat you. Pathetic."

That worked, Zaku avoided the next jump choosing to jump towards her, Zaku was panting as he glared so hatefully at her. The girl stood back watching the fights waiting for her chance to attack.

Zaku and Kira fought hand to hand blocking each-other's weapons as best they could, Sakura cheered both Lee and Kira on from her spot on the side lines.

Zaku landed a few cuts, Kira a few more till he got annoyed and shot her back again. Kira cried out feeling her body slam hard into a tree. She groaned forcing herself back to stand and attack. She needed to protect Sakura and the boys. Lee was even helping her and he didn't even know them!

The loud pitched sound returned almost tenfold causing both Kira and Lee to crumple on the ground. Lee wasn't lucky falling to his knee's puking the contents of his stomach just like Kabuto.

It was so loud, god the pain. Kira felt her body curl into a ball clutching her ears trying to block out the sound. Zaku took this as an opening thinking the perfect thing to do was kick her while she was down.

The male crouched down chuckled to himself "Not so tough now are ya, stupid brat." He mocked, Zaku stood tall feeling great with himself.

Kira cried as a steel toed boot collided with her ribs, a heavy foot repeatedly banged into her body over and over sometimes in the same spot, mostly all over. God this pain was unbearable.

"Lee! Kira!" Sakura screamed terrified, her whole body shaking. She needed to do something. Anything to help! Even if she tried though the girl appeared behind Sakura gripping her long pink locks yanking her hard holding her back.

"Lovely hair, so much more bounce and shine than mine has. What ninja technique is that, the art of deep conditioning? You're a disgrace to all shinobi fussing with your looks when you should concentrate on your training!"

Lee clutched his ear, some blood started to dribble down through his fingers. He couldn't hear out of his left ear.

Dosu chuckled glancing between the two crumpled on the ground, he wasn't expecting the girl to go down but two birds with one stone. "It's this appliance on my arm you see? It prevents you from blocking my attacks."

Zaku pulled his leg back one more time and slammed it into her face.

Blood gushed out her nose and mouth, everything hurt. "You done?" The girl called rolling her eyes a bored expression on her face. Yanking Sakura's hair harder than she needed to.

"Yeah, that felt great!" Zaku panted a sadistic grin on his face.

Sakura sat shaking staring at her friend curled on the ground in a pool of blood. Lee crumpled in front of her panting unable to move.

"What did you use on him?" Zaku laughed "Wow doesn't even care about her own teammate, she must still be mad because the little brat didn't help save her precious Sasuke." Sakura clenched her fists ignoring Zaku as best as she could.

"Well?"

Dosu started to laugh staring Sakura down. "It's sound. Even if you block my fist, the sound waves reach you. Do you understand the fundamental nature of sound?" Dosu teased.

"Vibrations…?"

"Precisely. When you hear a sound, it's those vibrations displacing the air, which trembles against your eardrum. The human eardrum, the tympanic membrane, ruptures when exposed to sound levels in excess of 150 phons. Moreover, if the sound is powerful enough to upset the liquid within the semicircular canals of the deepest inner ear it becomes impossible for you to maintain your balance." Dosu explained.

Lee sat shaking clutching his ear staring at Dosu willing to attack again if he needed to. 'Just hold on.' Sakura heard her pain filled voice in her head. Tears formed watching her friend twitch on the ground. She looked like she was in really bad shape.

"Heh, heh, and it will be some time before your equilibrium returns."

"So, you see, crude old-fashioned physical arts simply don't work against us." Zaku chuckled glaring with a mischievous smile on his lips. "You two did start out very well, though." Zaku commented glancing toward the side. "It's rare for a foe to force me to reveal the nature of my techniques. But now the tide has turned against you."

Elsewhere:

Gaara stopped walking causing Temari and Kankuro to pause. The two glance around for anyone that could be around. But Gaara didn't stop because there was another group, no. He smelled something so sweet and delectable, he's never smelled anything like this before.

Glancing behind him he found the smell grew stronger west of him. It was most likely a trap set for unsuspecting teams. Curiosity did try to get him but Gaara thought better of it. Walking on Temari and Kankuro glance at one another thinking it was rather odd but didn't question him. Those two were terrified to even ask him what he was thinking.

Back with Team Seven:

Zaku smirked to himself "I can wield sound waves as a weapon with enough force to crush entire boulders. And a mere thought I can use sound waves to force air into the earth beneath me, transforming rock hard soul into the softest kind of cushion. A far more elegant and effective art than your "crude application of brute force or water technique."

"And now it's your turn." Dosu shot forward ready to attack. Lee had a little more juice left in him. He avoided the collision and used his Konoha Hurricane technique! But Dosu's effect was still there. "My last attack is finally showing some effect!" Dosu chuckled "You startled me at first but now, where's that fast laser sharp attack you used just a few moments ago?"

The sound was back but worse than before. It made Lee's hearing go into ballistic, the sound make Kira's skin crawl blood gushed out of her mouth. Oh god they were going to die here.

"This arm of mine magnifies every little sound from within to the utmost limits. It's an amplifier and it goes to two!" The vibrations intensified so badly that Kira started to twitch on the ground her injuries from before were nothing compared to this.

"And not only that, but far from relying on the momentum of my arm's swing I can use my chakra to direct its power toward my chosen prey, wherever he may lie!"

'Your friend will die.' Kaida's voice boomed through Kira's skull. 'What will you do?' Tears were streaming down her face as she twitched. Nothing was good at all. What could she do, everything hurt, her body felt strapped to the ground.

'You don't have much time.' It took everything she had to sit up, gasping for breath.

"Now, for the Coup de grace!" Dosu chuckled aiming to finish him off. Kunai. Her kunai was sitting right next to her, her vision foggy she grabbed onto the weapon gripping it tightly. She had one chance.

She threw the weapon with the last of her strength and watched as it collided knocking his hand away from its soon to be blow. Panting hard Kira could only smirk.

"She's got some fight left in her," Zaku mused surprised after what happened.

"No." Dosu disagreed watching the gray haired girl try to stand only to fall onto her side twitching every other moment. It was a wonder how she was even conscious right now. She couldn't move, now she was done for. 'Shit!'

Kira looked at the struggling Sakura through half lidded eyes watching her struggle to be freed. 'I'm sorry Sakura.' Tears welled in her eyes as she knew she had failed.

"Zaku why don't you finish off Sasuke or one of her other fallen heart throbs right in front of this lovesick little pig?" Kin giggled yanking her head up to look at her comrades. "The lease we can do is entertain her!"

"Ha! Good one!" Zaku chuckled to himself looking over the large variety of victims to be.

"Hold still!" Kin growled.

Sakura wept to herself, stuck in her own thoughts. 'I can't summon my strength…I can't…I'm just a burden to them…just someone they have to protect!' Sakura thought of Sasuke and Naruto passed out lying beside one another. Lee lying barely awake unable to move. Kira crumbled on the ground lying in a small pool of blood. 'I'm always in the way, never helping. Darn it!'

Sakura sobbed pitying herself. She was all alone and her friends would get killed because she couldn't get up and help. 'I thought this time it would be different…I need to help the people I care about."

"All right. Lets do it." Zaku walked amongst the variety of victims walking slowly, stopping at Kira's body. 'I think I'll kill this one first' was Zaku finally agreeing on his victim . Sakura grabbed her kunai cringing when Kin yanked her head again. "You're tricks are useless against me, little girl." Kin warned with a look that just screamed 'are you stupid.'

"You think so?"

In one quick motion Sakura sliced her hair free from Kin's death grip, surprising everyone. Sakura was easily able to slip away from Kin standing tall. She finally found her strength.

"Kin! Finish her!"

Sakura was quick to make hand signals surprising Kin when she rammed into who she thought was Sakura but it was really just an illusion. Sakura had replaced herself with a log, something she picked up on from Kakashi.

Sakura shot towards Zaku throwing a variety of shuriken's and throwing stars to hit him. Zaku sent the weapons flying back imbedding them in Sakura's body. Zaku's taunt happened to be along the lines of "Poor foolish girl, just a one trick pony." But he was surprised when it turned out be another log.

Sakura appeared above him. "Try it twice, try it thrice, that trick will never work on me!" Zaku shot his own set of shurikens at Sakura's body as he screamed. "My smallest skill is more than enough for you!" Zaku looked around the ground waiting for another log to appear. Yet it wasn't a log he struck. It was Sakura. The real Sakura.

She landed on top of him gabbing a kunai into his arm and biting down hard on the other one. Zaku screamed 'Get Off' over and over again as he pounded into her face kicking and punching to try and get the girl off but she kept biting down harder and harder till finally he was able to throw her off to the side.

"You little witch!" Sakura panted glaring at Zaku ready to take more punishment if needed. Yet she was saved. She was saved by her one best friend. Ino, Shikamaru , and Choji surprising the enemies.

"Ino…" Sakura smiled relieved to see her.

"Sakura I told you, I'd never let you show me up!" Ino smirked determination written on her flawless features.

"Ino, why?" Sakura moaned surprised and confused.

"Did you think I was going to let you make the big sacrifiece and hog all the glory in front of Sasuke?"

"More of these annoying little bugs from Konoha village have crept in…and started swarming." Dosu hissed annoyed this wasn't looking good.

"Wh-what are you guys thinking?! Those creeps are too dangerous! They'll eat us alive!" Choji tried to run away. "Shikamaru let go of me!"

"Nope! No way. Sorry buddy but that's the way it is! We're the men here! We cant run away when Ino's ready to risk her life fighting! Not even if we die!" Shikamaru called yanking him back towards them.

"Sorry I dragged you boys into this. But we are a three man team. All for one and one for all." Ino was determined to protect Sakura.

"What's meant to happen will, I guess." Shikamaru agreed.

"Heh, we'll let you off the hook if you want to run…fatty." Zaku smirked proud of himself that the fat one wanted to run away terrified.

Choji flinched though. Zaku said the wrong thing. "What did that guy just say? I…could've sworn he call me…"

"You're welcome to run away, if you can find a hiding place that big enough fatso!" Zaku taunted again.

"I'M NOT FAT! I'M JUST PLEASINGLY PLUMP!" Choji yelled with a roar. "PLEASINGLY PLUMP PEOPLE UNITE! Choji threw his hands in the air annoyed. "Does everyone understand?! Do you get me?! Konoha and the sound ninja are at war!"Choji swore. There was a fire in his eyes that promised a world of hurt.

"This is turning into a complete mess." Shikamaru finalized.

"It certainly is." Zaku agreed.

Sakura crawled over toward Kira's body looking her over. She was still breathing which was good, she looked black and blue but she was still alive.

"Kira wake up. You have to wake up." Sakura shook the girl terrified. "Please you have to wake up!" She cried, fresh tears started to fall on her friend's body. Something was sticking out from her head. Growing up under her skin till there were two bumps on by the top of her forehead.

"Sakura, stay here and watch over your team." Ino ordered. "This is it, team Ino. Up and at 'em full speed ahead!"

"Yes ma'am!" Both boys agreed getting right into action. "Ino-Shika-cho boar- deer butterfly formation!" Ino ordered.

"It's on you, Choji!"Shikamaru cheered his friend on.

It was already set. Choji would take Zaku, Shikamaru had Dosu and Ino had Kin. Choji used his expansion jutsu and started to roll. And I mean roll like a fast moving ball towards Zaku in an attempt to knock him over. Zaku used his ability to knock him back but Choji's body bounced around like a rubber ball. Zaku just barely dodged being crushed.

Dosu soon realized he couldn't move thanks to Shikamaru's shadow jutsu.

Ino quickly possessed Kin's body holding a kunai to her throat. "You're finished! If either of you makes a move, your teammate Kin is as good as dead! Both of you, leave your scrolls here, and go finish the exam without them. When I can no longer sense either of your chakras I'll release Kin." Ino promised only the two started to laugh.

Zaku sent a blast directed at the possessed Kin knocking her over, wounding her in the process.

"What…unbelievable lowlifes. To would your own comrade…" Ino hissed within Kin's body.

"You underestimated us…bad mistake." Zaku laughed.

"Our objective is not some stupid scroll. Now have we any interest in passing your infantile exam." Dosu confused them all. Sakura clutched onto Kira feeling her move beneath her, the gray haired girl only caught the last bit of what he said. Kira quickly rolled onto her side coughing up whatever had collected in her throat as well as two teeth.

"We're after Sasuke."

"Why Sasuke?" she moaned forcing herself to sit up, she quickly leaned against Sakura for support. "What….what's going on?" Kira whispered pain lacing her voice, breathing felt she was being stabbed.

"We have our reasoning's. So…your little trick can only work for five minutes at a time? And as for the art that girl is using…from the look of things, if we inflict any harm on her host, her real body suffers as well. We can kill her by killing Kin ourselves!"

"You're despicable." A new voice called. The whole group looked up to see Neji and the girl standing in the tree up above. "You bucolic nonentities think you're all that just because your sonic powers were strong enough to whump these novices!"

"Again, the vermin come crawling from the woodwork!" Zaku growled annoyed.

"Looks like you blew it, huh?" Neji crossed his arms over his chest staring down at Lee.

"Lee…"

"The kid with the Moe Howard hairdo belongs to us." Neji activated his byakugan glaring down at the three attackers. "You hurt him, so now you have to answer to us!" a cold chill ran down their spines just staring at them. "Stop while you still can or we'll give you everything we've got."

Something surprised Neji though. 'The chakra I'm sensing…'

"If you find us so despicable why don't you stop posturing and start doing something about it?!" Dosu called glaring up at Neji.

"Well, from the look of it. We wont have to." Neji closed his eyes. Sakura shifted excitedly. "Sasuke you're awake!" She cried happily watching her love stand on his own. Kira fell to the ground groaning in pain.

From what Kira saw and what anyone saw, it didn't look like the regular Sasuke. He seemed different.

"Sas…ke?" Kira whispered confused from her spot on the ground. His cold red eyes locked onto her form. Anger boiled within him. She was hurt, she was hurt badly. "Who was it…? Point out the ones who pummeled you into that state." Sasuke growled smoke and black marking surrounded his entire body.

"It was us!" Zaku replied confidently. What a cocky smirk he wore.