Chapter 15

Akari watched as sand began pouring out of Gaara's gourd. He seemed to be talking to himself but she wasn't able to hear. She glanced at Temari and Kankuro. They seemed awfully nervous about something.

"Sasuke made a move." Naruto told her.

She turned back in time to see two shuriken being stopped by Gaara's sand. From that same sand came a clone. Sasuke ran at him but was forced to leap out of the way from sand rushing his way. He threw more shuriken before landing a kick on the clone. Then he managed to make it disperse and attempted to punch his opponent. Gaara blocked it but Sasuke soon appeared behind him landing a blow to his jaw.

"He's nearly as fast as Lee!" Riko stared in awe.

Akari bit her lip as she twirled her kunai. So Sasuke used his sharingan to copy Lee's speed. He must've trained his body to withstand the pressure. He's certainly learned a lot this past month. The boy in question attacked Gaara once more. His newfound speed got him past the sand and he landed yet another blow. He continued his assault on the boy from the sand with ease.

Akari stole a glance to the direction of the Cliff. She could just make out the figure of man.

When she looked back at the match she saw Gaara encasing himself in a sphere of sand. Sasuke was rushing at him but didn't reach it in time. He had to pull back.

"I need to stop this match."

Akari turned to Naruto in shock. He was gripping the railing so hard she thought it was going to break.

"What? Why?"

He didn't answer. Instead he ran to the stairs leaving her gaping after him. Shikamaru stared after him for a while before following close behind.

"What's got into them?" Mizuko whispered.

Akari only shook her head. She didn't understand what was going on. Was it because they saw him kill those ninja? Was he afraid Sasuke would be next? Should she be trying to stop the match too? Again she looked towards the cliff. Then man was gone. Would Itachi interfere if he felt his brother was in danger? All Akari could do was watch the match. She stared at the globe of sand in worry.

Sasuke was trying his hardest to get past it. The sand just kept keeping him at bay. Any attack he tried was done in vain. He must've realized this because he back up. Then he raced up a wall. Moments later His hand began to glow blue and a weird noise resonated form it. Akari leaned in closer in awe. Is this what Kakashi has taught his pupil?

Sasuke rushed at the sphere with his new technique. The sound seemed to grow louder as he got closer. The Uchiha dodged the sand trying to stop him. Then, as he got in range, he brought his arm back and pierced the sand.

"He learned that in a month? Uchiha's are truly remarkable." Riko muttered.

He glanced at Akari. Could his sister be capable of something like this as well?

She didn't notice her brothers gaze. She tasted blood as she bit her lip a little too hard. Her kunai had stopped twirling and now she gripped it firmly at her side. Sasuke was stronger. Was he strong enough to get his revenge?

The boy seemed to be trying to pull his arm out of the sand. He was having trouble. She watched as he pulled as hard as he could. At last his arm broke free, but it brought something else with it. Something that closely resembled a hand had a hold of him.

"What the hell is that?" Mizuko cried out.

Slowly the thing slithered back into the sand. A deep growl resonated from inside. The sand began to disperse leaving Gaara standing there exposed. He held a bloody shoulder.

"I was right, he's hurt. The shell broke before the change was complete." Temari said.

Change? What was she talking about? She didn't have time to worry about it though. Hundreds of feathers seemed to be falling from the sky. Akari knew what it was. Quickly she made the ram seal with her hands. Her siblings did the same.

"Release!" They yelled in unison.

The genjutsu didn't affect them. The surveyed the arena to find mostly everyone asleep. Then they heard an explosion coming from where the Hokage was seated. A few A.N.B.U raced towards it to investigate. They watched as the ninja guarding the third was killed. Then four strangers created a barrier around the Kazekage and Hokage. Not long after a three headed snake burst into the village.

Temari and Kankuro jumped down towards Gaara. The boy was still trying to kill Sasuke. They tried getting him to quit but he wasn't having it. Then his sensei appeared and Genma leaped in front of Sasuke. Akari heard them speaking about how Gaara was low on chakra and about an operation. Then his siblings took of hold of him and they fled. Sasuke followed soon after.

"Fights have broken out all over the village." Mizuko growled.

"It's under attack! The Hidden Sand and the Hidden sound are invading! Those bastards!" Riko cried out.

"Sasuke…I need to…" Akari whispered.

"No! You won't go after him! We're sticking together!" Mizuko interrupted her.

She turned to her siblings. There was no way they were letting her go. Then she heard the noise of kunai coming together. She turned to see Kakashi and Gai sensei fighting off the enemy. She noticed Sakura with them and she was awake.

"This way!" She said.

The three of them leaped into the crowd. All the villagers were asleep in their seats. They joined the fray and took on any ninja in their way.

"What are you doing?" Kakashi asked beside her.

"We can help!" She told him.

He seemed a bit skeptical but he nodded. He then looked relieved when he saw her dig her katana threw the back of a sound ninja. She wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty when she wanted to. He then summoned a dog and ordered Sakura to wake Naruto and Shikamaru. They were to go after Sasuke. Akari desperately wanted to join but she held her tongue.

Sakura crawled to her friends and woke Naruto first. Then she turned to Shikamaru but he was already awake. Akari sighed in frustration. That boy was seriously lazy!

Akari tensed ready to throw a kunai but Gai beat her to it. He sent a sound ninja threw the wall that was ready to strike Naruto. Kakashi went to them and explained the plan then he sent them through the hole. Shikamaru was forced out by the dog as well.

"You three. Go into the village and protect as many people as possible." Kakashi ordered.

Akari didn't hesitate to listen. Kakashi sensei wasn't someone you disobeyed. She called to her siblings who nodded in response. They went out the hole as well but towards the direction of the village. She stared longingly at the direction the others had gone before her brother pulled her away.

"Don't worry. I'm sure they'll be okay." Mizuko told her.

She turned to her siblings and sighed deeply.

"Alright. Let's help protect the village." She said boldly.

Together the three of them ran towards the sound of fighting. Up ahead they saw Ibiki among other ninja from the leaf.

"MOVE!" He shouted.

A large tail came swooping down on them crashing into the roof they stood on. They had managed to evade it in time but the three-headed snake kept coming at them.

"One head for the each of us. How fun." Mizuko muttered.

"We need to stop it before it causes anymore damage." Akari said.

Quickly she produced two clones.

"Dance of the crescent moon!"

She chose a head and attacked. The snake cried in outrage as three gashes appeared on his face. It stared her down with killing intent. It seemed to glance at the other heads but her siblings had their attention.

"Your fight is with me." She glared at it.

It hissed fiercely and slammed into her. She jumped to the air.

"Transparency Jutsu."

She disappeared from sight. The snake flicked its tongue searching for her. She nearly finished her hand signs before it sensed her and sent her crashing through a window. She pulled herself up and brushed the glass off of her. Blood dripped form the many cuts on her bare skin. Quickly she glanced around the room to find it empty. Relieved she pushed herself back out.

Her snake head had moved on to her sister. Mizuko threw shuriken in its face before sending ice darts towards the other. Akari appeared beside her and prepared her next attack. Quickly she flung Shuriken at her snake head. They lodged onto it and she pulled. Attached to them were cords. When she felt they were secured she brought her fingers to her lips.

"Fire Style! Dragon Fire Technique!"

The fire ran along the cords engulfing the snake. It shrieked in agony before coming down hard. The three of them pulled back as the other two grew more violent.

"Ninja Art Summoning. Bring Down The House Jutsu!"

The three of them along with their former proctor gaped as a large frog landed on the remaining heads. Blood gushed out of their mouths before they went still. On top stood master Jiraiya who called out a greeting to Ibiki and winked at her.

"Well done you three." Ibiki whispered. "I need you to split up and help any civilians in need."

"What! We can't split up! We Won't." Riko cried out.

"People are in danger! You are only genin and will follow my orders!" Ibiki shouted.

The three of them nodded solemnly and did as they were told. They glanced at each other quickly before going separate ways.

Akari herded people out of danger. She fought off as many enemy ninja as she could. It wasn't long before her hands and face were splattered with blood. She ignored it as she searched the streets below for those who needed her. She tensed.

Pulling out her kunai she deflected the ones thrown at her back. Behind her stood Dosu.

"Hey there brat. I was hoping to run into your brother but I guess you'll have to do." He sneered.

Akari glared at him before reaching for her Katana. She didn't take her eyes off him as she prepared herself. All too quickly he made a move.