Hi everyone ... thanks for all of the reviews ... i was like bombarded ... thanks you so much ... once again I'd like to thank mysteriousyoungster and many others for reviewing ... including setoxserenity and a couple of others ... yeah ... so ... here we are ... once again at the Jounin Exams ... before we head into the story I'd like to say a brief something on the following quote:

People need a purpose in life ... "the worst kind of pain in the world is knowing that no one needs you"

This quote is so true (for those who are wondering where this is from ... multiple Naruto episodes ... yeah). The reason I bring this quote up is because I was just watching some Naruto episodes ... (76-80), which seem to constantly bring this up ... and I've noticed that it's true .. i can't really say much more ... ... enough philosophy ... need a moment to recover ... ok ... on with Sakura's Fight .. there will be deja vu

for now ... 'blah' Kabuto's thoughts

Sakura vs. Kabuto

Last time on : The Path to Hokage

"KABUTO!" Tsunade yelled.

"He he he," Kabuto chuckled as he slowly got up. "So it looks like my facade fell." He smiled evilly at her. "I have to say I'm disappointed. It took you guys this long to figure it out."

"KABUTO!" Naruto yelled. He jumped into the arena, and he was about to attack Kabuto when Sakura yelled at him to stop. Naruto stopped and looked at Sakura. "What?"

"Don't fight him," Sakura said, "This is still the Jounin Exam. Let me beat him soundly. Me and Kitsuii can handle this." Naruto was not convinced. Sakura saw this and prodded him, "Don't worry." Naruto attempted to put on a smile.

Naruto turned back and retreated to the corner of the arena. I don't like this one bit ... I have a really bad feeling that Sakura's going to get really hurt ... Sakura smiled and turned to face Kabuto. "This fight will be over soon."

Kabuto sneered, "O yeah! Your almost out of chakra."

Sakura put on a sly smile. "Are you sure?" Tsunade gaped at her apprentice.(She wouldn't dare?)

Sakura stood on top of Kitsuii, staring at Kabuto. It was true. She had depleted a lot of her chakra. At least half of it to keep her from suffering extreme damage from the previous blows. Damn ... I've probably used up at least half of my chakra ... not good ... She looked at Kitsuii ... At least Kitsuii's here to help me. She turned to face Kitsuii.

"Kitsuii," she said. She needed to have a plan with Kitsuii. She knew that Kabuto was fully capable of summoning a snake for his side.

"Yes, Sakura-sama," Kitsuii asked respectfully. "What do you want me to do?"

"We need to finish this fast," Sakura said. "This guys strong. And he's at least depleted half of my chakra. We have to stop him from summoning as well ... otherwise we both have to send our summons away ... Any plans?"

"Well..." Kitsuii started ... Sakura listened carefully while Kabuto began to go through a series of hand seals. Boar ...( something :) )... Monkey ...

"NOW!" Sakura yelled, and Kitsuii spat out her Acid at Kabuto.

'Shit ... this is bad ... I've already put in a good portion of my chakra preparing for the summoning ...' He looked up at the acid heading directly at him. 'But if I don't move ... I'm gonna get seriously burned. And it'll take almost just as much chakra to heal ... it's a lose/lose situation ...' He was right.

Choosing to waste his collected chakra, Kabuto jumped out of the way just as the acid landed. To his dismay, he found that the acid had skimmed his left leg, leaving it burned.

"Aargh!" Kabuto yelled at Sakura, "You'll pay for that brat!" Repeating the same set of seals much faster, he hit the ground, before Sakura could even catch his movements, yelling, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

A huge puff of smoke appeared and when the smoke cleared, the audience was shocked to find a giant purple snake with Kabuto on top. (shocked at the snake not that Kabuto could summon)

"WHY THE DID YOU SUMMON ME!" Manda yelled ... Kitsuii sighed.

"Not good. It's Manda," Sakura said. "We can't fight in a small arena like this." She turned to face Tsunade. Tsunade nodded. Tsunade stood up and announced:

"Because the arena is far too small for two gigantic summons ... both ninja will have to take their summonings back." The crowd yelled, but most of them understood why.

"Thanks for your help, Kitsuii," Sakura said as Kitsuii poofed out of their world. Damn ... I couldn't even catch those movements ... this is bad ... She took a couple of deep breaths as she watched Kabuto. I might have to use that Jutsu ...the Fire Shadow Fist...

Sakura took a couple of deep breaths and waited for Kabuto to make his move. She didn't have to wait long. Kabuto jumped towards her with his kunai in his hand. He threw his kunai. Sakura jumped backwards and taking her own kunai threw it directly into Kabuto's.

They collided in midair, and their feet landed and pushed back towards each other. Catching their kunai as they came down, Sakura and Kabuto landed twenty yards or so away from each other. (Think Neji vs. Naruto.)

"Your skills have improved greatly, Sakura-chan," Kabuto mockingly said. "Your skills might even rival mine four years ago." Naruto clenched his fists and teeth in anger.

"SHUT UP!" Naruto yelled. "Sakura-chan's gonna kill you! I'd bet anything that she's gonna own you!"

Kabuto slowly turned with a smile on his face. "Is that so?" Naruto glared. "Well. If I win ... then you have to swear to not use Kyubi in your next round."

Naruto yelled, as chakra slowly exited his body, "Fine!"

"Naruto .. No!" Sakura tried to yell but the chakra released as the vow was made bound Naruto to his word.

"Now, Sakura-chan," Kabuto turned to face Sakura. "Let's finish this!" Green chakra flames emanating from his hand, he jumped at her yelling, "DRAGON FIST TECHNIQUE!"

"Not good ..." Sakura said. She went through a quick series of seals. Nezumi ... Tori ... RYU! "FIRE SHADOW FIST!" Dark blue chakra flames emanated from Sakura's fist and she jumped at Kabuto.

BOOM!

A blinding light emanated from the point of impact. Sakura frowned, and Kabuto was smiling. "AARGH!" Naruto jumped into the stage and ran straight into the light to find that he couldn't enter. The chakra pushed him backwards, and he collided with the stadium wall.

"Sakura ..." he whispered as he stared at the ball of light.

Sakura found herself floating above the crowd watching a fight between two ninjas. Looking closely she found that they were Naruto and Sasuke.

Naruto stood yards away from Sasuke. They were breathing heavily. Sasuke had his Mangekyou on. Naruto's golden chakra had his hair flowing upwards. (Super Saiyan Style)

Naruto grinned and said, "I'd say this battle's gone long enough. Let's finish it."

Sasuke smiled back and replied, "Yeah. Lets."

Naruto and Sasuke simultaneously began to gather chakra in their right and left hands respectively. Lightning slowly accumulated, and the swirling ball of energy cracked with lightning.

Sakura couldn't catch what they called the jutsu.

The two ninjas stared at each other. They jumped at each other.

"NARUTO!"

"SASUKE!"

Both ninja jumped towards each other, balls of swirling energy and electricity between their hands. They collided...

Seven ninja were gathered in a dark cave. Each of them was wearing a dark robe with red clouds inscribed. One of them opened his eyes revealing three colons in a red background.

Itachi looked at the scene before him. Seven out of the original ten. "Ryo ..." he said, calmly.

"It seems that we are now down to seven," Ryo said from the shadows. He turned, his eyes seeming to glow in the dark cavern. "Zetsu is not..." he paused and chuckled, " ... unable ... to undergo any missions right now ... "

All of the ninja, except Itachi stepped back in fear. How could their leader be so powerful and cruel? Itachi huffed. Was he the only one who could look their leader in the eye? ... It appeared so.

"We will send you two," the shadow in the mist said, pointing at two new ninja. "You two will retrieve the biju."

They bowed. The meeting was over. The six other ninja stepped back, leaving Ryo alone in the cave.

"Soon," he chuckled. "I will get my revenge ..."

The ball of light receded to find Kabuto standing up, slightly bruised, and Sakura lying unconscious on the ground. Sasuke cursed and he jumped into the arena and picked her up. "You'll pay for this, Kabuto." Naruto ran as fast as he could to Kabuto. Sasuk glared at Kabuto. His Sharingan turned on and he finished, "I'll kill you!"

Kabuto quietly disappeared into the ground. The quarter finals for the Jounin Exams were over. The final four, Naruto, Sasuke, Kaito, and Kabuto were to face each other in the semis. Naruto sighed and he looked closer at Sakura. He chuckled.

"I know this is a time for being serious but," Naruto smiled.

Sasuke turned to his friend and rival. "What?"

"She's still hella hot when she's knocked out," Naruto finished.

Sasuke sighed, "Dobe ..."

Sasuke, Naruto, and Tsunade were in the hospital. Sakura had taken a lot of damage and many of her muscles had been torn badly. Tsunade had been able to heal the wounds, but Sakura's muscles and tendons would be sore for the next couple of weeks. At most, she would have to cut down on training for the next six to seven weeks.

Naruto silently cussed, and Sasuke scolded him, "Way to go, o mighty smart one. Your in deep shit now. You can't use Kyubi."

"No worries," Naruto said with a slight smile. "I'll still annhialate Sai ... I mean ... Kaito."

"Your bloodline won't help that much," Sasuke said.

"YOU KNOW ABOUT MY BLOODLINE!"

Yeah ... I know ... this chapter was way to short for such a long time of break ... im sorry ... but I was like super super sick the last few days ... plus my families had to deal with only one working computer for the last few days ... yeah ... so ... you know the drill ... rate and review