I'm back, sorry for the wait.

…...

With the same destination it would be impossible to miss one another. Regrouping was inevitable; however, the time they would meet would vary. It would stretch down to the last minute. In Kakashi's case, who decided that, though the ground was quite comfortable, he needed to move, it would be sooner rather than later. Pulling his body from the floor was a challenge that seemed even greater than the prior fight.

Eventually, he was able to coax his shaking limbs into movement, jerky though it was. Trembling born from chakra exhaustion caused his feet to feel heavy, as if suddenly filled with lead. The stomping sounds that resulted would make even the most inexperienced genin blush. His resolve did not break; he kept moving, for he knew they may need him. She may need him.

…...

The first time Deidara and Madara meet the new recruits they tried to murder each other. Both groups' minds filled only with blank thoughts of a new batch of enemies appearing. Sakura, of course, intercepted before anyone was stabbed, or crushed with a massive amount of sand. They began to speak; began to plan.

"We cannot just run into the line of fire, even with as many skilled fighters as we have."

Madara nodded absentmindedly, before answering with experience and conviction.

"That may be so, but knowing Orochimaru there is no other option."

He glanced to Zetsu, who leaned against the wall with as much dignity as he could possibly produce in his state.

"It seems one of us can no longer fight; someone will have to take him away from the battle.' 'We cannot risk endangering ourselves trying to protect him."

Zetsu winced at the harsh facts as they were thrown in his face, knowing the truth that rang clear in them. He looked down, accepting it as fate and quickly looking up, eyes flashing with determination.

All turned to Sakura then, intent obvious. It pissed her off.

"No, I will stay and fight."

A symphony of protests followed her heartfelt statement. They were a flurry of emotions, guilt, anger, and worry. She stood resolute, unwilling to budge on the issue. She would fight Orochimaru; she had to. She had to make sure no one suffered at his whim again, with her own hands. Alongside her friends she would have victory or die trying.

"I see, so then who will take him?' 'Any volunteers?"

Madara's voice drove each of them to look around the room. All but Kimimaru, who had been silent, even during Sakura's refusal. So silent in fact, as they hashed out who would accompany Zetsu, he was forgotten, and not even considered. Forgotten, forgotten by all but Sakura. She grasped his shoulder without hesitance, not even caring about the horrible jutting pillars of bone that protruded from it.

He looked down at her with surprise and amazement, and she smiled. Squeezing the pale flesh in a gesture of comfort, her eye grew softer.

"It's going to be fine; he used to mean something to you, didn't he?"

"He- He did at one point, but not now."

He gazed at her, and then shifted it over the close group, who seemed to be narrowing down choices in an amusing looking charade that was supposed to be a game of wits. He smiled, and peered down at her once again.

"Now, now you and they are everything."

That was when the man who had nothing abandoned his past, and left it in the dust. Where it belonged, he thought.

…...

Deidara was the loser of the long fought battle; his shoulders slumped in defeat as he walked to Zetsu. Lending the almost-stranger his strength, they both set off toward safety. The others, faces set like stone, made their way to the growing power in the center of the compound. The dark corridors were oddly empty as they ran; the darkness inside them was oddly welcoming compared to the sights they knew existed within the wall of this terrifying hellhole.

Their senses guided them, even when their vision failed them inside the shadows. Hallway after hallway, passage after passage, greeted each blind turn. Then, after endless turns and uncountable time, there was light. It was just a fading gray at first, but grew with each passed doorway, each stretch of ground under their feet. This continued for an impossible amount of time, until they came to a brightly lit room.

Inside the cavernous room was a large pair of open doors, and from inside, the source of the light showed through. Yet, that's not what made them enter. It wasn't the image behind that stone invitation, but the noises. The sound of battle and the cries of pain and war drew them in and shrouded them in what was to come.

And so they went together, into the light.

…...

Neji wanted to find someone else, to regroup with his allies, but why did it have to be them? The youngest Uchiha always pissed him off, the regenerative bastard had already pissed him off, and the two ice bitches wouldn't fucking speak. He wanted to discuss plans, to know what needed to be done and what had already been done. Yet, Hidan and the brat knew nothing, and no one else was willing to let even a couple words escape their cold prison.

He sighed, looking to the ceiling and hopeing for the best, because really, what could he do? Set to endure the trek to wherever the hell they were going, he walked on.

…...

Almost the end. Kinda sad really, I'm going to miss it. Tah Tah.