Here Yet Gone

Time seemed to slow down as Tenten was facing herself with a life and death situation. A blast of blue chakra was heading straight at her and her mind was tell her body to move, to get out of the way but nothing was functioning, her legs were frozen still.

'Move, I need to move, but I can't.'

Preparing for impact, Tenten closed her eyes awaiting the pain that would end everything. She kept trying to send signals forcing herself to move but fear just disconnected everything. The only thing still active were her senses and she felt something coming closer to her then growl and a hand grabbed her wrist, then yanked her forcefully from where she was standing. Tenten was pulled out of the chakra's path and against someone's chest.

"Are you ok?" The someone who just saved her said as he pulled away from Tenten and held onto her shoulders in fear that she might not be able to support herself just yet. Tenten looked up to see Naruto with a smile on his face.

"Thank you Naruto." Tenten said pulling away.

"Heh no problem, I'm just glad me and Sakura got here in time." Naruto said and Sakura ran next to him to check on Tenten. There where no wound thankfully. But the time of talk was over when they realized who else was standing there watching them. Both Naruto and Sakura looked up at him not saying anything.

"Sasuke…" Was all that Sakura could say after seeing her ex-teammate since so many years. Naruto was equally shocked at seeing him. It was true then, Sasuke was killing people, Naruto concluded after seeing him try to attack Tenten.

"Wait, where's Neji?" Tenten said remembering that To and Ri had brought here there. She turned frantically trying to scan the area in search of him. She remembered hearing his voice before being saved by Naruto. Tenten saw him leaning against a tree for support and he was holding onto his right arm. She could tell he was in pain since she could see the blood dripping off of his right arm. His right sleeve was drenched of the red substance. On instinct she ran toward him, not even conscious to the threat that was just behind her, the threat that was staring back at Naruto and Sakura. She was just worried about Neji, that's all she could concentrate on.

"Neji you're hurt." She said, her right hand about to touch his but he stopped her.

"Don't. You'll get blood on you."

"Neji" She whispered and lightly placed her hand on his left arm. Neji tensed up at the gentle touch, the pain seemed to evaporate from his arm.

"I couldn't protect you again." Neji mumbled to himself as he hung his head to try and shadow his eyes from the frustration and pain he was feeling. Strong as he was, even some walls can't stand forever.

"SASUKE what are you planning?! TELL ME!" Naruto shouted with his fists clenched ready to lay one on Sasuke's face and maybe knock some sense into the guy.

"An idiot like you wouldn't understand." Sasuke said bluntly.

"WHAT!?" Naruto shouted and had enough, just one good punch should get him talking. Naruto dashed toward him but Sasuke caught his left fish before it made contact with his face and pushed the punch past him. Naruto was about to turn and try again when his neck was in the close range of Sasuke's sword.

"Naruto!" Sakura shouted. The sword's grip was head loosely but Naruto knew better then to try and tempt the blade's swiftness, especially with the tip a mere centimeter away from one of the body's softer spots.

"Are you going to kill me?" Naruto asked, his eyes barring themselves into Sasuke's, in a way as to question Sasuke but also is search for why was going on with him. Sasuke's expression didn't change nor did his posture of the sword. Then suddenly Sasuke withdrew his sword and slid it back into its container and started walking away, his back to Naruto.

"I'd rather not follow through with my brother's insane game." Naruto was about to run after him to question more but smoke surrounded Sasuke as he walked and then had burst up in the region where he was walking and as the smoke cleared, he was gone. Naruto didn't move, his body wouldn't move on command and he just stood there. Tears swelled up demanding for release. Not able to control his body, the tears trailed down his cheek.

A hand went on his shoulder from behind. "It's alright Naruto."

Sakura was behind him, her right hand clenching onto his shoulder, as if to support herself as well. Tears seemed to have control over her body as well and the wet trail of them poured out of her eyes shadowed by the angle of her head. Eyes were shut.

"Neji, I remember now." Tenten said. They seemed to be in another world, unconscious to the events with Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke who were not even too far from them. Neji nodded, a sign that she should keep going.

"Sasuke, his plan. He was saying that he wouldn't tell Kabuto but he did, then they realized I was there. It's important; we have to tell Tsunade immediate, but only her. No one else or it might…it might…Konoha…the si…situa…situation will not work…"

That was all Neji could make out as Tenten started swaying toward him and then collapse against him. It was all of a sudden and the only thing he could do was let go of his bad arm and use the good arm of his to hold Tenten against him for support.

"Hey, Tenten."

"Tenten."

Nothing, eyes widened.

"TENTEN!"