ItsukoAkatsuki: Hello everyone :) Some more on the character list, blah blah, whatever I hope you enjoy the chapter. Also reviews are helpful :) By the way this chapter is a flashback and explains everything. The first fight with Sephiroth, how Sakura got Jenova cells, how Naruto got killed, and other stuff.
Character List (Naruto characters that are replacing the final fantasy characters)
Naruto = Arieth
Kiba = Reeve
Nine Tailed Fox = Red XII
Cid and Cait (Robotic Scottish Cat) = Themselves
Kadaj, Yazoo, and Loz = themselves only they are Kakashi's sons in this story
The Dirty Gray Wolf = Kakashi's spirit, if you didn't already know
Shizune =? (I'm not sure if she's going to replace a character but she's still in this story)
#
Chapter 6: The Battles that Started it All…
Two Years Ago…
Sakura gasped and opened her eyes. The intense pain she had felt previously was gone now but the thought of it was making her shake. The bright lamp was still on above and the straps and bands that had been holding her down were now gone and the only thing attached to her body was the stick-on for the heart monitor and the tube attached to her arm. She was still lying on the hard metal table and she was still in the pure white room with the one-sided mirror. The door was hidden into the wall but Sakura knew from memory where it was. Taking her time getting up she took off the heart monitor stickers and before taking the tube out she saw what it was attached to. The bag was filled with a strange bright bluish green liquid that had particles swimming around in it.
Sakura could remember the same liquid getting injected into her arm earlier but the pain she got from it had hurt like nothing she had ever felt before. Her veins were on fire but now the she felt nothing as the same liquid dripped down into her bloodstream.
Sakura didn't know if anyone was watching her from behind the window but so far no one had come in and she had been moving around and removing the things attached to her. Waiting for just another moment she gripped the tube and biting down on her lip she yanked it out and the bluish liquid mixed with some of her blood stained the white floor below. She cupped her arm where the needle was and summoned chakra to heal the wound but as soon as she tried she got a horrible pain in the bottom of her hand that made her stop instantly. She looked at her and even touched it but there was nothing but numbness. What was that? Her finger skimmed her arm but she still felt only numbness. The pain had only come when she summoned chakra so she tried it again but this time her entire arm stung.
"Ahh…ow" she bit down on her lip for reassurance; the pain went away as fast as it had come. Okay, let's not try that again
Sakura decided to focus on getting out and before she swung her legs over the edge of the table she noticed that she was not wearing what she had on earlier. Other than her red underwear she was practically naked. On her front to cover her curves was a thin white sheet that stopped at her waist. It was attached to her skin by tape and her back was bear.
"Ugh…" The thought of men she didn't know seeing her torso naked made Sakura want to gag, her face grew hot with blush. Ignoring it she jumped down on the floor and she did it too quickly so as soon as she stood she fell on her knees. Her legs felt rubbery as she tried to stand up, she used the wall to help. Pushing her back against the wall she started to feel dizzy and light-headed.
Why do I feel sick? She sank to her bottom and before she could prevent it she was starting to black out.
#
Naruto wanted to strangle Kiba and if Kakashi hadn't held him back he just might have. Naruto and the others had just returned from the last meeting with A.V.A.L.A.N.C.H.E before the attack to find Kiba by himself and Sakura gone.
"Hey, why are you getting mad at me? It wasn't me that disobeyed your orders" Kiba rubbed his neck where Naruto's hands had been, Akamaru whimpered.
"Kiba, what happened?" Tsunade took his jacket collar and tried to keep her anger in check.
"We were just going over the map and Sakura wanted to do one last check of the area so I let her, I didn't think she would go in" Kiba explained but he was already in a lot of hot water.
"Idiot!" Tsunade bashed him over the head. "Now is the wrong time to just think nothing will happen"
"I'm going in to get her" Naruto suddenly said.
"Yeah right, idiot, we need you in the main group to lead the attack against the Lifestream gun. I'll have someone else go in."
"Someone like Lee or Ten-ten" Kakashi suggested and Tsunade nodded.
"No way, it's not time for the attack yet. I'll be back before we attack"
"Did you just hear me?" Tsunade flared.
"I'm going in whether you like it or not Granny" Naruto said back and Tsunade reared to punch him but Kakashi stopped her.
"Let him, even if we tie him down he'll still do it. You should know this by now Lady Tsunade, he won't let us down" Kakashi grinned from beneath his mask.
Tsunade calmed down in a huffy sigh then glared at Naruto, "you better be back and I'll deal with Sakura when you get back. Huh…" she sighed again, "I'm going back to headquarters to make sure anyone is ready…"
"Don't worry Granny!" Naruto said with a large grin, Kakashi just shrugged. "Just don't blow up the building Naruto" Naruto nodded then his expression turned serious.
"Kiba, do you still have the map" Kiba gave it to him without a word; he didn't want to get beat around again.
After taking a second to study the map to find one of the secret entrances he tossed the map back at Kiba and rushed to find Sakura.
#
Sasuke was actually pleased. He was looking at the gun extending out of the building, the final preparations were being finished and soon the city of Midgar would be the first of many to see its mighty power. Tobi would be happy, his wishes are finally happening
The door behind him opened and Karin walked in, with a little blush on her cheeks she asked in a feathery voice "Do you need anything Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke didn't even turn when he answered "go and make sure that everything is going the way it should"
Karin pouted and waved her hand "I'll get Suigetsu or Jugo on that. Are you sure you don't need anything Sasuke-kun?" she blushed again and turned slightly to show off her narrow waist.
But Sasuke's tone lowered and almost threating told her "go Karin" she flinched at his voice and with a frown replied "yes Sasuke-kun" she left disappointed.
"Everything is coming together. I can't accept a failure now, it's taken eight years for this to happen. I won't let anyone mess it up. Tobi is tired of waiting" Sasuke said aloud to himself. He loosened his shirt collar a little, the stigma on his neck was starting to hurt again. Striding to the right side of his room he opened one of the file cabinets and reaching inside he pulled out some Materia. He didn't like the brightly colored marbles but the fresh chakra healed his stigma. Without flinching he forced the Materia into his throat and he coughed but the fresh chakra cleared his chakra network out and the stinging of the stigma went away.
Sasuke was quiet until he heard a knock, he sighed. "What is it?" he was hoping that it wasn't Karin again; although she was still useful to him she was beginning to get really annoying.
Instead of Karin, a nameless Taka member came in and bowed before Sasuke.
"Uchiha-sama, the girl you insisted on Jenova injection is awake now. She seems to be taking the Jenova cells well, no one has been able to take it without dying except…" the Taka member didn't finish his sentence.
"Ah…Sakura" Sasuke whispered to himself. Then to the Taka member "good, go back to your post, we'll be starting soon" the Taka member bowed again before leaving.
"I knew it from the beginning. You were more than normal, Sakura, I knew you were special from the moment I began to know you. It's too bad though…" Sasuke paused and said nothing more as he watched the sights outside the window.
#
Sakura woke up with a start. She looked around and found herself on the floor but still sitting up. Her body was aching and there was a strange hum in her head that made her dizzy. At least I don't feel sick anymore
Sakura wiped the sweat that was building on her forehead and sighed. She didn't feel nauseous but she felt really warm and cramped. She laid her head on her forehead and noted it's warmness, her medical side denounced that she was experiencing a fever and it was probably from all that nameless liquid that had been injected at her, a side effect maybe.
She must have been out for a long time because the bag was now empty and the nameless liquid was now all over the floor.
"I need to get out of here" Sakura said breathlessly and she forced herself up, ignoring her weak legs, and went over to where the door was. The door was hidden within the wall so the person inside wouldn't be able to find it, a trap to keep the person inside.
Sakura felt the wall until her fingers found the narrow cranny where the door was. She gripped the edge and she pulled but the door wasn't giving away. Do I try this again? Sakura took a deep breath and using her chakra she tried to jerk the door free but that pain was back and her arms felt the sharpest sting that she gasped and fell to her knees. Damn it, what is wrong with my chakra network? I don't have any stigma
"Please do not tell me that I can't get out of here." Sakura balled her hand in a fist and hit the door but of course with her normal strength it wasn't going to give away so she decided to take her attention to the one-sided mirror.
Sakura wasn't going to waste any time with the mirror, hoping it wasn't shatter proof; she knocked everything off the metal table and picked it up enough to get a good enough grip on it then she threw it into the mirror but like she had feared it stayed solid and bounced off without a scratch. Of course…
Sakura tried punching the mirror but she was just hurting her hand, feeling her eyes get teary she slid to the ground and hoped that something could happen to where she could get out.
#
Naruto had ended up somewhere where the halls were all stained white. The floor was hard tiled and he could smell the cleaning smell it emitted. There weren't many doors and all them were locked. Naruto had entered through the warehouse part of the building and after dodging the Taka members around there he found himself here.
I should've brought Hinata with me, Naruto groaned but he straightened. Sakura could be trouble, I have to try harder
Naruto put his hands together and shouted "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" within seconds three other Naruto's appeared. "Listen up! Sakura is here somewhere and we need to find her before the attack plan happens so let's find her quickly and get back." The other clones agreed and went down the hallways opposite the one Naruto was going down. After Naruto started running through the hall he got a sick feeling in his stomach, please Sakura, please be alright…
#
"Pardon my intrusion Uchiha-sama but we got word that an intruder has entered the building. We have some surveillance you need to see." The Taka member bowed and Sasuke walked past him.
"Do you know who it is?"
"Not personally sir but I believe you do, he was one of the people you told us to keep an eye out for"
Sasuke opened the door to the security office and strode inside where two other Taka members were waiting.
"Show me" Sasuke simply said and they replayed the video. The security camera had found Naruto talking to his clones, after watching it Sasuke found himself actually laughing.
"You never change Naruto." He shook his head.
"Should we apprehend him sir?"
"No, let him find her, I need those two together anyway. I want them to see the power of my weapon."
"What about this 'attack' plan?"
"Just keep an eye out, I'm not really worried. I'm not called the Uchiha legend for nothing, you know?" The Taka members nodded and bowed their heads respectfully as he left. When no one was around he frowned then he gridded his teeth, Damn it he punched the wall and felt it crack beneath his fist. He looked at it and felt like laughing again, what was he worrying about? He had just said it. He was the Uchiha legend, the prodigy, the only Uchiha left now (AN: He doesn't know about Itachi yet :)). Why was he worrying so much? This question was really bothering him and it was actually making him tremble.
What the hell is going on? No…no
Sasuke took a breath and then instead of heading back to his office he went to the nearest keypad and after sliding his card through the slot and punching some numbers there was a sound far away in the other building.
"Let's see what you can do…" with that Sasuke disappeared.
#
Sakura was leaning against the wall, on the floor, when without a warning her door slid open. Sakura almost jumped when it did and she was slow to get to the door. It had just open on its own, was she free? Or…? Sakura didn't know so she hesitated and stared down the pure white halls that had been behind the door.
After gaining her backbone back she strode forward and walked right through it then stopped. She looked back at the room and expected an alarm to go off or something but nothing happened. There was no one coming and in fact the hallway was so quiet she could hear her movements echo through them. Whatever the reason was someone had released her and she needed to get out and return back to Headquarters or to Kiba who was also going to be pissed because she had lied to him about checking out the other parts of the building, she had left him by himself with the idea of taking out Sasuke herself but it didn't go well after she was captured…or at least she thought she was, for some reason she couldn't remember how she got into that room, just the needle injecting and the pain that came with it.
Sakura crossed her arms around herself and began to walk through the halls, taking caution at the corners and not going down them without looking first. For a building that was supposed to be crawling with Taka members there weren't many around. Not even the doctors that were in her room when she got injected. The halls were completely deserted.
Sakura was looking at a hallway that went two ways when the hypnotic hum came back to Sakura's ears but this time there was a strange voice that came with it.
Hello?
Sakura stopped and looked around. The voice was surprising small and female, almost like a little girl. In case it was a trap Sakura hid behind a wall and said nothing. She nearly jumped when the voice giggled, it sounded so close but she couldn't see anything. Not even a speaker system was around.
You can't hide from me, silly. The voice giggled again. Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to help you…
"I must be going crazy" Sakura looked at her arm where the tube had been in her veins.
There's someone looking for you. He's not far from you but you need to move quickly.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Sakura demanded and then wanted to hit herself. She was talking to herself because she thinks she's hearing a little girl. How crazy was that?
This way…Sakura heard the voice from the left hallway. Am I really going to follow this? Sakura debated before sighing and going down the left hallway.
"It's not the craziest thing I've done so what's one more?" Sakura didn't like this but she didn't have much room for options right now.
This way…
Sakura stopped when the hall ended. There was a single door waiting at the end and it was closed tightly.
"What's this?"
Go in, the person who's looking for you is inside
"Okay…" Sakura went to the door and tried the doorknob but like she thought it was locked.
Want to point me to a key? Sakura thought sarcastically but the voice answered use your chakra
"That's not a good idea. Every time I try I get this horrible pain." Sakura rubbed her arms, her memory of the sharp stings.
How about now…?
Sakura felt her arm get warmer and the round glow of Materia shined in her arm. "What?" The Materia got brighter and a ball of chakra collected in her hand and without her control the ball of chakra shot off and exploded the door right off the hinges. Sakura was on her back from the impact. She quickly got up and looked at her arm, she touched it and tried to summon chakra again but she got that sharp sting again. Okay, I am officially a nutcase
Go in already. He's waiting…the voice demanded and it was surprised Sakura by how forceful it got, "okay creepy girlie voice" she dropped her arms and went inside. Her bare feet hit the cold steel that made up the floor and looking around this room was something very different than hers. The room had a bunch of medical equipment but none of it was being used. Is this a storage room? Sakura continued to walk down the long corridor until she came to a stop. The room was dark, lit enough to see what was in it, but there was something glowing at the end of the hallway. Sakura could hear the sound of tubes and water bubbling and the place where the sound was coming from appeared when Sakura walked to the end of the hallway.
It was a long haired thing…woman maybe? The woman had no limbs and her skin was grayish bluish and her body was very boney. But that wasn't what attracted most of Sakura's attention. On the woman's head was…something…but on it in big letters it said 'JENOVA'.
The little girl giggled again but this time it was menacing.
"You said he was waiting…" Sakura started but she stopped when her Materia began to glow again. Around JENOVA's neck was a thick leather roped necklace that had only one pendant and it was a red metal circle with strange symbols carved into it. In the middle of the circle was a pentacle and Sakura didn't need to use any chakra to sense it's strong power.
"A seal?" she wondered aloud.
Yes and it's time for him to awaken…
Then Sakura lost all control of her body…
#
Naruto met back with all his clones and each of them were by themselves. They shrugged and disappeared which angered Naruto greatly. Sakura…where are you? His fists tightened and he almost missed the feeling of the Nine Tails's power flowing through him.
"I'm going to keep looking!" Naruto started to pick up his pace again.
"Naruto? Can you hear me?" Naruto stopped and almost forgot he had his earpiece in. He pressed the talk button and replied "yeah, what's up Kakashi?"
"Naruto you need to come back now, we're about to start"
"But I haven't found Sakura yet"
There was a pause then Kakashi answered "Tsunade will have Hinata and Kiba go in search, with Hinata's Byakugan Sakura will be found much easier. Come back now"
"But—!" Naruto complained but Kakashi interrupted him, "A.V.A.L.A.N.C.H.E needs you right now Naruto, trust me, Sakura is fine. She's not the little girl she used to be. You and I should know that better than anyone."
"Yeah, but I still—"
"Naruto…" Although he didn't like it he was needed elsewhere and he did trust Hinata, she could find Sakura easier than he could.
"…Okay" he finally agreed, then taking one last look down the hallway he turned around and headed for the closest exit.
#
"Lady Hinata, Lady Tsunade wishes to see you" The young Hyuuga bowed and then left the tent. Hinata had been absent-mindingly brushing her hair when the young boy entered. Not wanting to anger Tsunade she dropped her brush and left the tent to head to the headquarters.
"Naruto is coming back" Kakashi told Tsunade as he reentered the room. "Good, I'm actually surprised that you managed to talk him in, he never listens to me" Kakashi laughed weakly and replied "years of practice."
"Lady Tsunade" Hinata knocked before coming in, "come in Hinata".
Hinata closed the door behind her and bowed her head, "what can I help you with?"
"We are sending you inside the building with Kiba in hopes of finding Sakura, I have to help with the attack plan and that leaves Shizune as the only medic here and that may become a problem. So I want you and Kiba to go in and bring Sakura back, quickly as you possibly can, then I'll reassign you on a team to help against the attack. Is that understood?" Tsunade explained and Hinata nodded with a shy "yes Lady Tsunade".
"Alright then, Kiba is on sight so it won't be hard to find him. Go now." Hinata bowed her head and left quickly.
"Wait, why do I have to go in?" Kiba complained when Hinata relayed what Tsunade had told her.
"She's still angry with you Kiba. I suggest you do it to get back in her good graces."
"What for? I don't think I ever was to begin with"
"Just come with me Kiba." Hinata groaned and Kiba got up with a frown. "Let's go Akamaru"
Akamaru wagged his tail and went to Hinata, she scratched his head and he barked energetically.
"Alright let's go and get this done with" Kiba groaned.
"You're starting to sound like Shikamaru"
"Don't compare me to that guy"
Hinata put her hands together and closed her eyes, "Byakugan!" she shouted and the veins around her eyes popped up from her skin and her eyes were now able to see more that the human eye ever could.
"See her?"
"…No, wait maybe…no I thought I sensed it for a moment but it faded away again"
"That's not good" Kiba said slowly.
"No it's not, let's go in maybe something is blocking her chakra network"
"After you" Kiba picked up his map and handed it to Hinata. They went to the closest entrance, the one that Naruto had used. Unlike before the warehouse was empty and everything mechanical was missing. "They're moving, we need to hurry!" Hinata shouted as she searched the thin walls for Sakura's network.
#
Sasuke was walking through the halls of the building. Another security violation but Sasuke wasn't interested, he went past the security office and went to the gun control room. Twenty minutes before time to strike, he thought gladly. Upon entering he found Suigetsu and Jugo watching over the nameless Taka members as they worked on the controls of Sasuke's mega gun weapon.
"How's everything going?" he asked them.
"Everything is going fine sir" Suigetsu said politely, he glared at Sasuke's back when he wasn't looking.
"We should be ready to go soon" Jugo added in.
"Wonderful"
"Sasuke-kun, what about A.V.A.L.A.N.C.H.E? If that Naruto boy spoke of an attack shouldn't we…?"
"No Karin, I'm not worried at all. You forget that most of A.V.A.L.A.N.C.H.E are just angry townspeople. We are shinobi after all and even if we do have to deal with a few of our own I have no worries about them being defeated. Unless you all doubt your skills?"
"No way"
"Never, my curse mark power will crush anyone"
"I'll sense them out before they get a chance" Karin said confidently.
"How will that defeat them?" Suigetsu asked.
"Shut up fish face!"
"Make me you redheaded cow" Suigetsu said back. Sasuke sighed and Jugo shook his head, "they remind me of a married couple"
"Jugo, shut the hell up!" Suigetsu yelled angrily.
"Like I would ever find anything appealing in that lump of fish guts"
"Would the two of you just shut it?" Sasuke growled. They both went quiet instantly.
"Things are going to get really busy here and I can't have you two messing around."
"Of course Sasuke-kun, I'm so sorry" behind Sasuke's back she punched Suigetsu in the face. "You bitch!" she stuck her tongue out at him then she suddenly jolted. She paused and pushed her glasses closer to her face, "uh…Sasuke-kun"
"I feel it too…" Jugo agreed, he shifted uncomfortably. Sasuke looked back and he did feel a unregularly power source but he just shrugged and told Jugo and Karin "go check it out"
"Uh, ok" Karin followed after Jugo.
"Must be A.V.A.L.A.N.C.H.E" Suigetsu said while rubbing his cheek. "No, it's a—" Sasuke stopped when he felt the power surge again, it was oddly familiar.
"What is it sir?"
"It can't be…tch…" Sasuke left and Suigetsu could only watch him go, confused.
#
Tsunade was watching the building while the A.V.A.L.A.N.C.H.E members behind her checked their tools and weapons, they were going to attack in just a few minutes and Tsunade was getting worried that she hadn't gotten any message from Hinata or Kiba saying that they had found Sakura. True, the Uchiha Electric Power Company was big but with Hinata's Byakugan they should have found her and been back by now.
"Lady Tsunade"
"Oh…yes" Tsunade said absent-mindingly. She had been lost in thought.
"Are you ready to proceed?"
"…Yes" She finally said. She turned her gaze back at the window and after a moment of peacefulness around the building, the backside of the building, suddenly exploded in a large fire bomb.
"What?" Tsunade could only stare.
"What happened?"
The warehouse engulfed in flames and Tsunade could see the bluish of chakra attack the rest of the building.
"Something's happening, let's go" Tsunade turned and ran out of the room.
#
Hinata braced against the wall to keep her balance. Akamaru's fur went up and he started growling, barking.
"Where did that come from?" Hinata asked. Kiba petted Akamaru, "calm down buddy"
Hinata was searching with her Byakugan when her face lightened up, "I found Sakura! She's just ahead"
"Really?"
"Yes, let's go and get her back Kiba"
"Wait a minute Hinata, that's where the explosion came from…" Kiba pointed, his hand shaking slightly.
"It doesn't matter, she could be injured or worse" Hinata ran off and Akamaru followed her. "Hey, you're supposed to follow me Akamaru!" he sighed then followed them.
#
Sakura was no longer in control of her body. She stood in the middle of the fiery blaze unmoving. In her left hand was Jenova's head, she had ripped it off the body, and Jenova's greenish blood was covering Sakura's arm. In Sakura's other hand was Sephiroth's seal, which was useless now. She put the leather chain around her neck and let it fall past her collarbone. There was a dead Taka member at her feet and she bent down and removed her shirt to put it over her almost bare front. It was a white button up shirt and it hung off Sakura like a sheet.
"It's been…too long" A dark male voice said from behind Sakura. She turned and looked at him, her eyes were bright bluish green and the pupils were slit, obviously Jenova.
Sephiroth was reborn. His long whitish silver hair was long enough to go past his waist. His clothes were old Taka uniforms with his chest revealed and a leather belt that went around his neck and back down under his jacket. He had white shoulder protectors that had the Taka symbol, he looked at it with disgust but did nothing to change it.
He emerged from the flames and eyed Sakura suspiciously but when he saw her eyes he stopped reaching for his long sword.
"Another child of Jenova" he acknowledge, then his eyes fell to Jenova's head in Sakura's arm.
"Mother?"
Give me to him Jenova's voice commanded and Sakura held her head to Sephiroth.
Sephiroth took it slowly and looked at Jenova's head for a long time before he held it up and put it to his chest.
"With Mother's power, I will be unstoppable and this world will finally see the calamity that is Jenova" Sephiroth cringed a little when he forced Jenova's head into his chest. It absorbed into his skin like Materia and Sakura could feel his power increase greatly, it made her tremble.
"…Now, let's find Uchiha…the one that did this. To both of us" Sephiroth smirked and Sakura could do nothing but nod. She followed him without a word.
#
Hinata stopped when the part of the building collapsed. Kiba caught her around the waist to prevent her from falling through the floor.
"Thanks Kiba"
Kiba nodded, "watch your step". Hinata jumped down into the fiery blaze. The smoke was making it hard to see but with Hinata's Byakugan it was easy to see in and around the fire.
"Sakura!" Kiba called, thinking she might call back but they heard nothing but the fire and wood breaking off the building.
"There she is!" Hinata rushed forward and saw Sakura standing off by herself, her head down.
"Sakura!" Hinata shouted but Sakura didn't move. Kiba stopped as he watched Hinata and Akamaru run to Sakura, something about this Kiba didn't like.
"Hinata…"
Hinata ran to Sakura and almost crashed into her. She stopped and cupped her hands over Sakura's shoulders and gave her a light shake, "Sakura?"
Sakura seemed to come to life then and she looked up at Hinata who dropped her shoulders and gasped.
"Sakura wha…what's wrong with your eyes?" Hinata looked at Sakura with her Byakugan and was surprised to find that her chakra network was still. There was something else flowing through her network and it didn't look like anything she had ever seen. She saw a greenish almost blue liquid that stung her eyes when she looked at Sakura too much. She couldn't recognize it.
"Hinata?"
"Kiba, something's wrong with Sakura so I'm going to knock her out, can you carry her?"
"What? Why do I have to?"
"Kiba!"
"Fine, fine, just do whatever you need to. We have to get out of here before the roof collapses."
Hinata dipped low in a Hyuuga style and her hands started to glow, then she jumped up and aimed for Sakura's neck.
Just before Hinata hit Sakura someone appeared and Hinata's hand collided on the side of Sephiroth's sword. Sephiroth had reappeared with his sword to held to the side, defensively, Sakura's back was touching Sephiroth's chest while his arms were up over her head to deflect Hinata.
"Uh!" Hinata gasped and landed at Sephiroth's feet.
"Hinata!" Kiba yelled as he rushed forward.
"What's this? A friend of yours?" Sephiroth asked, there was amusement in his voice. Sakura said nothing and he lowered his sword.
"Well, I needed a good warm-up" Sephiroth went around Sakura towards Hinata. Hinata backed up as much as she could although Sephiroth was getting closer to her with each stride. Hinata didn't need her Byakugan to feel Sephiroth's massive power.
"Scared little girl?" Sephiroth teased.
"Man Beast Jutsu!" Kiba yelled. Akamaru turned into another form of Kiba and spun in a fast circle and joined Kiba in attacking Sephiroth.
Sephiroth studied them and chuckled. "Chakra, huh? What a waste" Sephiroth jumped and using his sword he waited for the right moment and sunk his sword into the spinning circle. Akamaru yelped and fell to the ground with a gash in his side. Sephiroth dodged Kiba's attack and he landed on the ground on all fours.
"Akamaru!" his worry showing and while he was busy looking at Akamaru Sephiroth appeared at his side and kicked him hard in the guts. Kiba went flying into a pile of flaming wood. The landing above him collapsed over him.
"Kiba!" Hinata got up and went into Hyuuga style again.
"Prepare yourself!" Hinata yelled. Sephiroth turned to Hinata and asked "why bother?"
Hinata brought her hands to her side and summoned chakra into her hands until they took the form of two lion heads, she charged forward with a cry and tried to hit Sephiroth but he easily stepped out of the way and dodged her each time.
"Pitiful" Sephiroth said after a moment and sent his hand under Hinata and punched her squarely in the stomach. She gasped as she heard a loud crack under Sephiroth's fist; she coughed up blood and was thrown back from the impact.
"I thought Shinobi were better than this. I guess not…" Sephiroth turned to leave.
"Come, Sakura!" Sakura followed him without a word, before leaving she looked at Hinata and her eyes quickly flickered back to their normal emerald green but before she could fight it off her eyes returned back to blue.
#
"So what's going on?" Naruto asked Kakashi.
"I'm not sure but it's not our men. There's someone else attacking the building and they're doing a good job so far."
"What are we going to do then? Go in and help that person or stop it or what…?"
"We're definitely going in Naruto, just wait a moment" Kakashi looked around for the messenger he sent.
"Wait a minute! Did Hinata ever find Sakura?"
"I'm not sure, I haven't seen her"
Tsunade joined the group and went up to Kakashi, Naruto, and Shikamaru who were waiting at the front of the group.
"Hey, Granny! Have you heard anything from Hinata?"
"Or Kiba?" Shikamaru filled in.
"I haven't gotten a word from either of them. I sent for Neji to join us so we can go in." Tsunade looked at the burning building, there wasn't much stirring outside so that meant whoever it was, was still inside. They needed to go in quickly to access what was going on.
"Lady Tsunade" Neji arrived.
"There you are, where is the person attacking the building at?"
Neji used his Byakugan to look and his eyes landed on the middle of the building.
"I'm sensing a massive power. It's nothing like I've ever seen, it's not Sasuke's either. I'm also sensing Sakura with him as well but her chakra network is going in and out. It's hard to pinpoint her exactly but she's near the massive power".
"I'm going!" Naruto shouted before running towards the building.
"Wha—wait, Naruto" Kakashi went after him, Tsunade sighed.
"Can you tell me who it is? Or what they look like?" Shikamaru asked Neji but he just shook his head.
"It's no one that I could recognize. His clothes look a lot like the Taka uniforms though."
"Why would a Taka member attack now?"
Neji didn't have an answer.
"Lady Tsunade" Shikamaru waited.
"Shikamaru! You and Neji go assist Naruto and Kakashi and the rest of us will try to stop Sasuke's weapon, in case he still tries to use it"
"Yes ma'am, Neji, I need your eyes"
"Follow me" Shikamaru and Neji departed.
"What is going on here?" Tsunade shook her head then turned to the remaining A.V.A.L.A.N.C.H.E members.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes ma'am" they said together.
"Then let's go"
"Fo'shezzle Mama Granny pants" Tsunade turned and saw Killer Bee and Cid walking up.
"What are you doing here Killer Bee?"
"You thought we were just gonna sit and do nothing, you're crazy" Cid walked past her with his metal bar on his shoulders, his arms lounging on it.
"Well, more help is good, I guess" Tsunade sighed and led the group to the gun.
#
The rest of the building was falling apart now. Sephiroth wasn't satisfied unless he caused ultimate destruction against Sasuke's building. His impatience was also growing when nothing but Taka members came his way.
"Where is that blasted Uchiha?" Sephiroth blew parts of the building away with some Materia that was in his arm.
Sakura was following him without a word but Jenova was beginning to lose control over her and Sakura was starting to wake up.
"Hmm…" Sakura stopped but Jenova pushed herself through and Sakura became quiet again.
"Just protect the seal" Sephiroth told Sakura before he was moving on again.
Sephiroth entered another area that was ripping apart in flames, looking around.
Jugo and Karin were hiding from Sephiroth, not far off from him.
"This wasn't a good plan" Jugo whispered to Karin.
"Shut up, he'll hear you!" Karin shushed.
"Wait, can't he see chakra levels, then hiding is just pointless" Jugo filled in but Karin punched him.
"Be quiet!"
"Come out, you two" Both Jugo and Karin flinched. They didn't move a muscle so Sephiroth raised his hand and shot a powerful blast at the piece of metal they were hiding behind.
"Running might be a good plan now" Jugo mumbled.
But neither of them ran. Jugo straightened his clothes and dropped a serious expression on his face. Karin adjusted her glasses and put her hand on her hip.
"Members of Taka?"
"Admins" Karin answered. Sephiroth grinned, "then you'll know where to find Uchiha"
"Like we would tell you" Jugo said calmly, dusting off his suit.
"Well then, I'll just have you show me" Sephiroth disappeared and reappeared between them. Karin couldn't block Sephiroth's hard kick and she went flying back with a cry. Jugo blocked with his hand but the force of it broke his arm.
"Ahh…" Jugo held his arm, "your fast" he complemented.
"No, you're just too slow" Sephiroth was now behind Jugo and he pulled out his sword but before it could connect Jugo had been collected by someone and they jumped away.
"Suigetsu" Jugo sighed with relief.
"Don't worry buddy, I wasn't going to let him kill ya"
"So…you're back"
Sasuke stepped out from behind the flames and stood in front of Sephiroth, a ways away.
"You've finally shown yourself" Sephiroth's anger began to heighten.
"So, she let you out" Sasuke saw Sakura but noticed that she wasn't herself. Maybe releasing her wasn't a good idea
"Pay attention to me when we're fighting" Sasuke heard in his ear and he jumped back, mere instinct. Sephiroth chuckled at him which set Sasuke's anger to a boil.
"You want to mess with me? Well how about you mess with this! Chidori!" Sasuke's hand erupted in chirping electricity.
"Sasuke-kun!" Karin shouted as Sasuke ran for Sephiroth.
"Child's play" Sephiroth caught Sasuke's wrist and threw him into the nearest standing wall.
"I was expecting something…better" Sephiroth began to walk to Sasuke but he stopped, then looked over his shoulder.
"There seems to be an unless number of you, isn't there?"
"Huh?" Suigetsu and Jugo looked behind them but saw nothing. "He's not talking about us, is he?"
"Obviously not you idiot" Jugo hushed Suigetsu.
Soon, what Jugo had heard as well, was another loud chirping of birds and someone jumped from within the smoke and aimed straight at Sephiroth.
Sephiroth merely took a step back and the person collided with the ground.
"You—" Sasuke growled as Kakashi stood up.
"No matter what happens, Sasuke, a teacher will always protect their students" Kakashi looked at Sasuke with a lazily grin that Sasuke hated.
"You know this man?"
"Sephiroth" Sakura suddenly spoke up.
"Ah, there you are" Kakashi took a step towards Sakura.
"Stay back! There's something wrong with her" Karin shouted. Kakashi stopped and looked at Sakura, studying her on what could be wrong.
"Forget about something?"
"Nope" Kakashi caught Sephiroth's blade in his hand, not even a cut.
"You're quicker than Uchiha"
"I would hope so" Kakashi answered back and tried to wretch away Sephiroth's blade but Kakashi's strength couldn't match up to Sephiroth's. Kakashi stepped back and reached into his back pouch for a kunai.
"You! Stay out of this, I don't need your help!" Sasuke yelled at Kakashi but he just ignored Sasuke.
"If I'm not correct, you are held as the legendary copycat ninja?"
"Yes and you are the only survivor of the calamity Jenova?"
"Not anymore, she is as well" Sephiroth looked back at Sakura.
"What?"
"The Byakugan cannot sense such power, all they see is a bright light that is irritating to them, but the Sharingan can see the flow of Jenova cells. So, see for yourself"
Kakashi raised his leaf headband to reveal his Sharingan. He looked at Sakura and noticed a very turbulent flow of a bluish green liquid through her network.
"Sasuke, what did you do?"
Sasuke smirked up at his old sensei, "just did some research is all"
"Is that what we are to you, research?" Sephiroth turned on Sasuke.
"Yeah, that's all you or Sakura was ever good for" Sasuke took his time standing back up.
"Well, Kakashi, I might need your help after all"
"Don't get used to it"
Sephiroth smiled at the two of them, "then come on then…"
#
TBC…
ItsukoAkatsuki: Sorry that this took a week and I wanted to keep this all together but it would've taken longer so the next chapter will finish up on the flashback. Hoped you liked it and please review :)