Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Naruto yet. But I do own this awesome battle scene!...at least I hope it's awesome...

(A\N: Hm, well, here's the big fight chapter. I'm sorry that I couldn't get this to you sooner. I had hoped for sooner to be sooner but unfortunately my computer thought otherwise. So, after having to debug my computer, here's the chapter!

I know everyone is a little weirded out (and perhaps a bit irked) at the fact that Sai and Yamato found Sakura before everyone else. But isn't that just some wonderful irony? I mean, everyone else has been searching for her FOREVER and yet Sai and Yamato just happened to be there and find her first. I thought it was kind of funny…Oh well, enjoy!)

Chapter 21

Mine

Sai merely stared. What else was there to do? He was frozen in place, even as he saw the pitiful figure engulfed in the darkness of the room. His feet felt like lead and his throat tightened. It was hard to breathe.

"Sakura." Yamato moved before Sai did. That irked Sai slightly, the fact that Yamato wasn't so affected by the scene that he could actually move. Maybe Yamato was just able to hide his own shock better. Or perhaps it was merely Sai's cowardice that had kept him from going to her.

The figure in the chair shifted slightly and the light from the doorway glistened a bit off of her hair. Sai's eyes widened slightly as he shook his head in confusion. Not pink. No, dark maroon. This couldn't be Sakura. It just couldn't.

"It is, Sai." Yamato answered back steadily as he knelt in front of Sakura's chair. Sai blinked. He hadn't even realized that he'd spoken aloud.

"I'm what?" Came a soft voice.

"Sakura," Yamato whispered as he turned to the young woman who had spoken. "What happened?" He reached out to help untie her.

"D…don't touch me, please…" She whispered in an almost pleading voice.

Sai was still staring at her. He couldn't move from the doorway. She was just sitting there, slumped against the rough ropes that held her to the chair. He couldn't see her face from behind her hair, but he knew that it was covered in blood. Her arm looked as if it had been butchered.

In fact, as he noticed with building horror, he could faintly see Sakura's own name carved into her tender pale flesh. If he had been thinking in his usual, cryptic artistic way, the sight of Sakura like this would have been slightly picturesque. Perhaps when he had been an unfeeling, uncaring person he would have sat down and sketched a picture of her pale body as the life drained out of her. It made her skin seem to glow, and she looked so fragile and delicate that he wanted to kiss her frail hand. But he didn't. He was afraid he might break her.

She coughed, and Sai saw blood spatter onto her pants. And suddenly he was ashamed of his earlier thoughts as he finally found the ability to move. He was beside her in an instant, trying to untie the ropes with fumbling, inept fingers. He'd never seen his hands shake like that before.

Sakura blinked as she felt the weight around her begin to disappear. "Don't—" She croaked out, but it was too late. She slumped forward as the rope's support left her. As her body fell she began to feel dizzy. She wasn't used to such fast movements after days of confinement. She thought she was going to fall onto the floor but she was merely held against a warm chest. Her face was stuck in the crook of someone's neck.

She breathed in and her nose was filled with many scents that she recognized instantly: green tea, the dusty smell of parchment, and a hint of ink and paint. Intermingling with that was the undeniable scent that was purely masculine and not completely foreign to her.

"…Sai?" She whispered against his skin.

Sai froze at the weakness in her voice. He looked over her head at Yamato, who was watching Sakura's form in concern.

"…were you sent to kill me?" She asked, although he could tell she wasn't really thinking much about what was happening. It was as if she were babbling, like her mind wasn't really putting two-and-two together.

"No." Sai answered back readily.

"Oh. That's good." He heard Sakura laugh softly, as she coughed into his neck. He felt warm liquid dot his skin, and he knew it was blood. He was afraid to move her and he didn't want to hold her too tightly because he knew how badly she was injured.

"She can't move. She seems to have been in this position for a long while. This would explain why her muscles are weak and aren't working right now." Yamato explained.

"Sakura, why are you here? Who did this to you?" Sai asked.

"Hm…" She gave a soft grunt. "I can't really tell you why I'm here…I don't know myself really…and who? Well, he's a sick bastard…" Sai and Yamato heard her give a harsh laugh.

"He's the Otokage."

Sai and Yamato watched Sakura with building horror. But Sai accepted this revelation rather well. He'd seen the predatory eyes of the Otokage. He'd felt disconcerted by him from the moment they'd entered the room. But to know now that he'd been sitting in the same room with the man who had done this to Sakura…

"How are your injuries, Sakura?" Yamato asked calmly.

"Oh. I think I'm dying." She answered back lightly. "Not a good way to die, I guess, but I suppose it could be worse." She gave another laugh against Sai's neck.

Sai and Yamato exchanged a glance over Sakura's head, then both looked back down at Sakura as she continued.

Yamato took some bandages out of his pack and began wrapping Sakura's arms.

"…I still have seals on my arms. Do you think you could take them off?"

Yamato hurriedly undid the seals, and he heard Sakura give a small sigh of relief as her chakra flooded through her body. He then continued bandaging her up. He saw the crisp white bandages turn red in only a few moments. The worst part was the way the wound on her right arm bled. The crimson stains made an uncanny resemblance of her name.

"…I can stand now, if you help me."

Sai slowly stood, supporting Sakura on one side. She leaned against him heavily, but she planted her feet squarely and managed to stand. "You never told me why you're here, Sai…Yamato…"

"We were sent as ambassadors to Otogakure from Konoha." Sai explained as he slowly led her to the door.

"Let's go." Yamato was standing at the door. "Something is happening out there and I don't want to get into the middle of it. We have to get Sakura back to Tsunade and the other medical shinobi in Konoha."

"Hai." Sai answered back readily.

"Konoha?" Sakura gave a sigh. "For a trial, I suppose."

Sai and Yamato merely looked at her in confusion. What was she talking about? Surely she didn't believe that she had been labeled a missing-nin by Tsunade? Tsunade would never allow such a thing.

Suddenly something in Sakura's eyes flashed as she looked up. "It can't be…"

"What Sakura?" Sai asked. But Sakura had already stepped away from him as she limped towards the door. She fell against it as she seemed to catch her breath. She looked back at Sai, then at Yamato who stood beside her. "Why are Naruto and the others here?"

"Nani?" Yamato began, before he sensed their chakra signatures as well and his eyes widened slightly. "Sai, grab Sakura. We have to get her to the others. If Ino is with them she can begin healing her."

"I…have chakra…" Sakura argued weakly.

"You are in no condition to use any of it." Yamato answered back readily. "You cannot even concentrate the chakra into your hands."

Sakura looked up at him and met his gaze squarely, but she blinked with a sigh of defeat. "…alright…I…" She bit her lip. What was she going to tell them? The Konoha shinobi weren't the only ones she had sensed. The Akatsuki were there. They had come…

But how could she tell Sai and Yamato that she couldn't leave with them? That she had to go back with the Akatsuki because she was a member now…She wasn't really thinking about how to break the news to Sai and Yamato, however. No, that had been pushed into the back of her mind by another, more important thought.

They'd come to rescue her.

Itachi had come.

She had been completely certain that the Akatsuki would have nothing to do with her after she'd been captured. After all, it had merely showed that she was too weak to be a member.

Everyone's here…

…they all still care? That's…surprising…

Sai touched Sakura's arm and she flinched. He immediately took his hand away, his dark eyes glinting with worry.

"Sakura…I need to carry you to safety."

"I can walk." Sakura defended.

Yamato gave a small sigh. "We don't have time for this Sakura. There are enemy shinobi coming. We have to get you to Ino and the others. I suppose they followed your chakra signature here and found you that way. They were sent to come and retrieve you from the Akatsuki after all."

Sakura's eyes widened slightly as she turned to look at them. "…what?"

You mean Tsunade-sama didn't send them to kill me? She…she sent them to rescue me? After all that I've done…

Sakura's eyes filled with tears but she blinked them back.

I guess…I guess I have more friends then I thought.

"Sai…Yamato…we can't fight them. When you get back to the others tell them to run. There's a shinobi here who is too strong to fight."

"What do you mean when 'we' get back to the others?" Yamato asked, eyes narrowed slightly.

"I…I can't go with you." Sakura answered back feebly. …I have to go back with my new teammates. I have to go back with the Akatsuki. Sakura looked down at her hand and gave a tired smirk. And I guess now is as good a time as any to get Orochimaru's ring.

Who knows, maybe I can get Tobi's for him as well. Then he'd owe me.

Sakura almost let out a laugh at that thought. As if she could get close enough to Tomokazu to get his ring off.

"You're coming with us, Sakura. Tsunade-sama wants you back at Konoha. You are needed there. We want you back there with us." Sai answered back, staring steadily into her eyes. He tried to get her to see that his words were true. They all wanted their Sakura-chan back.

"I have to pick you up, Sakura. You cannot move fast enough on your own." Sai slowly scooped her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she gave a stiff nod. "Alright…" Her voice was soft and defeated. Sai tried not to notice the way her frail frame shook every time she took a breath, or the fact that there seemed to be so little of her now.

Sai, Yamato, you two are making this difficult. What am I supposed to do now? I…I hope it's Deidara who finds me with you two. After all, he won't kill you to get me back, not if I ask him not to.

"How long has it been since you've eaten?" Sai asked as he and Yamato sped down the hallway.

"…long enough for me to forget what food tastes like." Sakura answered back wryly.

Sai's grip on her tightened and Sakura winced, knowing that she should answer him truthfully. He wasn't the type of person who liked jokes, even if they were made to lighten the mood. "I don't know how many days I've gone without eating."

That was the truth, at least.

Suddenly Sai stopped. So abruptly in fact, that Sakura was thrown fully into his chest, her nose ramming into his collarbone. She ignored the small throb, since it was hardly important at the moment. Her entire body felt like it was on fire, what was a little bruise compared to that?

Sakura still felt groggy and sleepy from the blood loss, but she awakened completely the moment she heard the person speak.

"You won't be taking my blossom anywhere, I'm afraid."

Itachi leaned to the right, hearing the sound-nin's blade whistle past him. He immediately went underneath the man's arm, ramming a kunai forward. The kunai punctured his chest as Itachi ripped it downward, ruining any chance the man had for medical assistance. There was no way he was getting up again.

Itachi ignored the blood all over his hands and cloak.

"Rasengan!"

Itachi turned to see the Kyuubi container slam his trademark jutsu into the stomach of the sound-nin he'd been fighting. The man let out a yell as he flew through the air and into the wall, making a large crater in the stone.

There was another large explosion and Itachi knew it was Deidara with his exploding clay.

"Move out of the way, Uchiha!" He heard a large shout and he turned to see his little brother jump up as a large gust of wind blew through the area, knocking several sound-nin backwards. All of them sported deep gashes from Temari's sickle wind.

Sasori and Neji seemed to be working well together. Sasori's puppets were herding the sound-nin closer into a tight circle, where Neji was using the Hyuga Clan's infamous gentle fist.

They finished off the last four sound-nin and the room became silent once more, save for their own labored breathing. Well, technically it was only the Konoha shinobi and the sand kunoichi who were breathing heavily. The Akatsuki merely cleaned off their weapons, trying to get a bit of the blood off of themselves.

"They just keep coming." Temari commented with a frustrated groan. "How many of these damn sound-nin are there?"

"Have you run out of chakra yet?" Sasori asked blandly.

Temari's eyes narrowed. "No."

Sasori shrugged. "Then let us continue."

"Can you sense Sakura-chan's chakra?" Naruto asked no one in particular. His eyes went around the large room, the floor now laden with bodies. He could hear the sound of battle outside of the castle, slowly moving inward.

A small chakra flare caught Itachi's attention as he recognized it. His hand went to his pack, picking out a kunai. His crimson eyes narrowed as he rushed out of the room without another word. He heard an exclamation of surprise from the others as they tried to keep up, but he ignored it.

Tomokazu…

He'd be sure to get there first.

"…S-Sai, Yamato….g-get out of here now." Sakura croaked out. She clutched Sai's shoulders, her fingernails digging into his skin. Sai ignored it, but he could not ignore the tremor in Sakura's voice.

If he hadn't seen the damage that had been dealt to Sakura he would not have understood how she could be so afraid of this man standing in front of them. But as he looked at the tall man he felt a small sliver of fear slide down his back, making him tense.

Yamato took a few steps back, getting closer to Sai and Sakura. His eyes never left Tomokazu, however.

"Really now, this is a bit upsetting, really. I offer an alliance with Konoha and what do I get in return? An attack upon my base." Tomokazu gave a cruel smile. "And you've tried to steal my prize."

"Go now." Sakura urged. "Drop me and run. He won't go after you if he has me." She hissed out the last part.

"No."

"Just do it!"

Sai slowly placed Sakura against the wall as he took out a scroll. He gave Sakura a level look. "Sakura, you are my teammate. I will not leave you. I promised you that before, didn't I?"

"I remember…" Sakura whispered, throat clogged. It had been so long ago, when he'd made that promise. But it was all so familiar and clear to her now. He had sworn he would never let his teammates die. He would never leave them behind.

…because that was what Sakura had taught him.

"Don't…don't let him touch you." Sakura instructed. "His jutsu works through touch."

Yamato and Sai nodded.

Why couldn't you just run? Sakura thought, eyes blinded with angry tears though none of them fell as Sai and Yamato both leapt forward.

Kisame leapt backwards with a feral grin as the sound-nin on the ground beneath him looked up in surprise. He did a few hand signs, before thousands of gallons of water gushed from his mouth.

The shinobi smart enough to realize what he was doing leapt onto the roof of the castle, weapons in their hands.

"Watch what you're doing Hoshigake!" Ino yelled out as she jumped up just in time to miss the torrents of water that swirled beneath her.

Dammit that man doesn't care what happens to the rest of us, does he?

"Be quicker next time, kunoichi." Kisame responded as he did another round of hand signs. Shark forms appeared in the water, charging towards the unfortunate shinobi who had not gotten out of the water yet.

Tenten landed beside Ino, cringing at the sound of the dying shinobis' screams.

The fight had now taken to the rooftops, since the entire building was surrounded by water. What surprised them most was the fact that the building was still standing. In fact, it didn't seem as if the water was having any affect on it whatsoever.

"It must be those jutsus and seals that Orochimaru placed upon the castle when he was still alive." Shikamaru commented lightly as he gave a small sigh. "This is so troublesome. I'd been hoping this Tomokazu guy had taken some of those seals off."

"Well, we can't be lucky all the time." Kiba grunted as he and Akamaru rushed across the roof, getting ready for their fang-over-fang jutsu.

Shino's kikai swarmed over several shinobi, while Shino himself took down quite a few.

Lee ducked as one of the shinobi kicked. He swiped the man's legs out from under him as he flipped through the air, blocking another kick from another shinobi with his arms. "Feel the fury of the power of youth!" Lee yelled out as he rushed headlong into another group of shinobi.

"Leave some for the rest of us!" Choji called out as he rolled across the roof, knocking down another group of shinobi.

Tenten jumped back into the fray from where she'd been standing with the others. She sent a shower of kunai and shuriken onto the group that Lee had been herding together.

Shikamaru surveyed the area. Everything seemed to be going well. They were holding back the shinobi reinforcements from inside. Now, with Kisame's jutsu, the shinobi inside couldn't get outside anyway, unless they wanted to destroy the base.

Suddenly there was a piercing scream and they all whirled around.

Hinata was surrounded by a group of shinobi, all of whom seemed a bit different then the normal sound-nin. She was bleeding heavily as one of them slammed their leg into her stomach, sending her flying off of the roof and into the water.

"HINATA!" Ino shrieked as she leapt off of the building and dove into the water.

"Tell those two damned kunoichi to get out of the water!" Kisame roared as he recognized the hand signs that the sound-nin were using.

Tomokazu must have prepared them for my water. Damn!

"Ino! Hinata!" Kiba tried to yell over the sound of clashing metal and grunts of pain. But Ino didn't seem to hear him. Or perhaps she was just preoccupied with hauling Hinata up to the surface.

"Get them out of the water now!" Kisame yelled again as he jumped down and landed on the surface, speeding towards the enemy shinobi. It was just then that the sound-nin finished their hand signs and the water, now mixed with blood, began to churn.

"Sai! Yamato!" Sakura screamed as the two went flying across the hall. The log wall that Yamato had created slowly fell down as Yamato struggled to stand.

Sai's ink tiger faded into the ground as he gave a small gasp of pain, massaging his shoulder. He wiped the blood from his lip as he turned to where Sakura was watching them, her eyes wide with fear and worry.

No wonder Sakura was so afraid. We don't stand a chance against him. We've been dodging his attacks and yet we still get hit. He can do long-range fighting as well as short-range.

Sakura watched as the two jumped up once more, getting ready to attack him again.

Oh god…you idiots! Get AWAY! RUN!

Itachi! HURRY!
Tomokazu parried Sai's blade with his kunai, kicking him in the stomach. Sai went flying into the wall.

Yamato dodged Tomokazu's kick, grabbing a kunai as he thrust his arm forward. Tomokazu blocked it, parrying with his own. They began a small duel of rapid-fire kicks and punches as Sai struggled to stand.

Too strong…

Too fast…

There's no way they can beat him. No way…Sakura thought morbidly as she slowly pushed upwards with her arms, ignoring the sting as the wounds began bleeding again. She pushed herself into a standing position as she leaned heavily against the wall.

If I can just try and…help…

She let out a small exclamation of surprise as Yamato crashed into the wall next to her, creating a small indention. He let out a small groan as he slumped to the ground, eyes rolling into the back of his head as he began falling unconscious.

"Yamato!" Sakura steadied herself as she made her way across the few feet distance between them.

"Sakura!"

Sakura looked up at Sai's warning, as Tomokazu's shadow fell across Yamato's body. She reacted on instinct, throwing her own body over Yamato's. Maybe Tomokazu would stop from killing him if Sakura was in the way…maybe…

"SAKURA!"

She'd never heard Sai yell like that. His voice actually sounded panicked. That wasn't good. It meant Tomokazu was getting ready to strike. Or maybe he'd begun his blow before she'd gone to protect Yamato and he couldn't stop his own attack.

Sakura scrunched her eyes shut as she waited for the pain. She could stand it. She'd survive the pain. She'd dealt with enough of it already. A little wound wasn't going to kill her. No, she was going to make it…make it long enough to see them again.

Just one look would be enough. She just had to see them…see him…

The pain never came.

She hear a large explosion from a few meters away and screams.

"SAKURA!"

She could pick out their voices, all of them. But…why were they there together? She didn't ponder the thought, as the felt someone move in front of her and heard the soft twang of metal hitting metal.

No blood.

Sakura slowly looked up and all that met her eyes was black and crimson.

"…Itachi…"

Itachi's crimson eyes met silver as he and Tomokazu stared at each other. No, glare was a better word. If looks could kill, both would be lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

"…Itachi…"

Her voice was so weak. It merely fueled the strange emotion that was bubbling up inside of him, making his blood hum. It wasn't really that strange. He'd felt it before, when he was younger.

Anger.

Their kunai were still locked in place as they pushed against the other, trying to weigh each other's strength.

"My, my, if it isn't Uchiha Itachi…" Tomokazu grinned. "What a pleasant surprise. I had been hoping you'd get here sooner."

"Hn."

Tomokazu let out a small laugh. "What's wrong, Itachi? Cat got your tongue?" His eyes flickered behind Itachi at where Sakura was breathing heavily. "Or perhaps a kitten?"

"Hn."

"Sakura-chan!"

Tomokazu's eyes flickered over to where the others stood. His mouth twisted in a cruel smirk as he turned back to look Itachi squarely in the face. He met Itachi's mangekou eyes without flinching, which surprised Itachi. He didn't seem affected by them at all.

"Kill them." He ordered loudly.

That was when seventy sound-nin filled the room.

Ino lugged Hinata to the surface, gasping for breath as she treaded to keep them both afloat. "Hinata?" She choked out, spitting out a small amount of water.

Hinata was breathing, but water and blood were both leaking from her mouth. Ino needed to get her onto solid ground and get the water out of her lungs.

It seemed simple. It would have been simple, if it hadn't been for the sound-nin. Or rather, for the jutsu they were performing. The water around her bubbled and hissed, and it began to heat up.

Ino's skin began to turn pink from the heat as she threw Hinata's arms around her neck and began swimming towards the roof of the building.

That was when the water became cold again. No, not just cold. Freezing. As if all the warmth around them had been sucked away. It seemed to suck out the warmth of Ino herself.

"What…what's going on?" Ino whispered to herself as the water began making small waves.

As if something below her was moving.

Something big.

Ino barely had time to give a yell as she was pulled beneath the surface.

Shikamaru realized what was happening after the fact. Ino and Hinata had been pulled beneath the surface, and the shinobi were all rushing towards where the others were fighting on the roof.

"A summoning." Shikamaru cursed softly as he made to jump down. But he stopped as he saw Kisame dive into the water.

"Nani?" Shikamaru whispered. "Why would he go and help them?"

Ino opened her mouth to scream and all of the air left her lungs in the form of white bubbles, which floated to the surface above her. She felt a sharp pain in her leg as she was dragged into the darkness below them. She tried to pull Hinata away from whatever was holding them, but its grip was adamant.

She bent down, clawing at whatever was holding her leg. She grabbed her kunai, trying to stab the dark figure. But it's grip merely tightened and more pain erupted from Ino's leg. Crimson mixed with the clear blue of the water.

And that was when Ino saw what was holding her and Hinata. She was caught in the jaws of a large sea serpent. A summoning jutsu! Damn!
Ino began to lose consciousness as her air supply became zero. She held onto Hinata, but her grip loosened as darkness began to consume her.

That was when the creature opened its mouth and a large hand grabbed Ino and threw her and Hinata upwards towards the surface. Ino felt the cool air on her skin and began breathing it in, gasping for breath.

She spit up water as she lugged Hinata towards the roof. Shikamaru grabbed them both, hauling them up.

"What…w-what happened?" Ino choked.

Shikamaru merely looked back out at the water, which was growing turbulent and stormy. He knew it was because of the two creatures fighting below.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but…" Shikamaru sighed as he continued to look out at the water. "Good luck Kisame Hoshigake."

Damn fish. Was Kisame's first thought as he swam away from its massive jaws. The serpent seemed to be angry with him. He couldn't really see why. All he'd done was cut off one of its heads.

It had three more.

Kisame began rapid hand signs as the creature glared at him, surging towards him from beneath.

The creature's head slammed into Kisame as they broke the surface of the water. One of the other heads swerved around, snapping Kisame in two. The water gushed out of its mouth as it let out a disappointed roar. Just a water clone.

The real Kisame ran up the serpent's neck, swinging Samehada with a grin. The creature let out a pained shriek as one of its heads fell into the water, creating a large wave that slammed into the roof, throwing a few of the unsuspecting sound-nin into the water.

Where Kisame's water sharks were still waiting.

Kisame dodged the jaws of another head as it rushed towards him.

He slammed Samehada into its open mouth, splitting the serpent in two. Kisame was now covered in blood as he landed on the surface of the water. He shook his head, letting the crimson droplets splatter back down into the water.

The water had stilled completely. Kisame gripped the hilt of Samehada tightly as his eyes drifted across the expanse of water.

Nothing.

That was when the serpent shot out of the water beneath him and the jaws closed over his head. In that moment of darkness, Kisame let out a small grin.

Should've seen that coming, I guess.

"Dammit!" Naruto cursed as he slammed his fist into another sound-nin, sending him crashing into the ground. He dodged another's attack. He caught fleeting glances of Sakura, Sai, and Yamato.

How the hell did Sai and Yamato get here?

He couldn't dwell on the thought as he grabbed another man's arm, throwing him across the room. He felt the Kyuubi waiting to burst free with Naruto's rage, but Naruto fought to contain it.

It was difficult.

Especially after seeing Sakura.

She had looked dead. That had been his first fear when he'd caught a glimpse of her. She was so pale, as if all the blood in her body had drained out. Her hair was matted and hung in clumps with dried blood. She looked bruised, beaten, torn, and broken. Like a rag doll.

Sakura-chan, how could he have done this to you? How?

He backed into someone as he was pressed from the front. He was about to turn around and attack this new enemy when it spoke to him steadily, looking back with one blue eye.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. We have enough enemies to fight, yeah."

Naruto couldn't help but give a small smile at Deidara's words, and he nodded as he pushed forward again.

Deidara heard Naruto give a war cry as he surged forward and Deidara felt the tingle of chakra as he used his Rasengan.

Deidara threw one of his birds and it exploded, sending debris raining down on top of the shinobi he was fighting. There was no longer a second floor above them.

Sakura…oh god…I have to get to Sakura! Deidara screamed inwardly. But he couldn't. Five more sound-nin blocked him from his goal.

Neji slammed his palm into a shinobi, letting him fall limp. He rushed forward, dodging the kunai and shuriken thrown at him from all directions. He twisted around just in time to stop a katana from taking him out from behind.

He kicked upwards but the man blocked him. This sound-nin wasn't a normal lackey.

I don't have time for this! I have to get to Sakura.

He began pushing the katana wielding sound-nin backwards. Unfortunately, another was coming up from behind. He could see it, but he couldn't stop it. He gritted his teeth as he whirled around anyway, ready to face the man head-on.

But the man fell, and Neji heard the sickening sound of he life being cut from him. As he slumped to the ground, Neji's eyes met Sasori's. There was a moment of silence, before the two nodded and turned back to their respective battles.

Temari swung her fan, which threw her sound-nin back into the wall. The walls were creaking, as if they were strained. That was interesting in itself. But so was the fact that these sound-nin kept coming. It was if they were being kept inside and couldn't get out to help their comrades fight Kisame and the rest of the Konoha shinobi.

Be careful, Shikamaru. Temari thought as she swung her fan once more. She heard a growl of pain from her left and turn to see Sasuke rip his sword out of a sound-nin's stomach.

Sasuke's eyes glowed crimson with the Sharingan as he rushed forward, cutting through the shinobi effortlessly with his sword. He ignored the blood that covered him and stained his outfit.

His eyes were zeroed in on Sakura. On her shallow breaths and the blood that dripped from her cheek.

How dare he. How dare he touch Sakura. She's mine.

He wasn't the only Uchiha to have that thought.

Itachi landed on the balls of his feet as he threw up his arm to block Tomokazu's kick. His Sharingan took in Tomokazu's stance, his movements, but his eyes could not read them. He couldn't use them to predict his next moves. He had to rely on his own skill outside of the Sharingan.

That irked him.

His mangekou glittered as it met Tomokazu's silver eyes. Itachi couldn't help but smirk at the fact that there was a large cut on Tomokazu's arm.

He tried to ignore the matching one on his own.

"What's wrong Itachi?" Tomokazu hissed. "You seem slower."

A small smile brushed his lips.

"Has rage blinded your Sharingan?"

Itachi's eyes narrowed further as he began hand signs, sending a fireball towards Tomokazu, who dodged it. It hit some of his men that were standing behind him, who screamed as they rolled across the ground, trying to beat out the flames.

Tomokazu didn't even flinch at his dying men's screams. His eyes never left Itachi.

"You've lost, Uchiha." Tomokazu grinned as they exchanged blows once more and jumped back.

"You'll never get your blossom back." Tomokazu chuckled. "Never."

"Hn." Itachi grunted, throwing a kunai. Tomokazu grabbed it, throwing it back at him. Itachi let it thud into the wall behind him as he rushed forward.

They seemed to dance as they fought, their movements were that graceful. A dance of death, perhaps, for it was deadly as well. Metal flashed and disappeared in seconds, leaving behind crimson stains and cuts.

"I thought I told you not to touch what was mine, Tomokazu."

Tomokazu grinned. "Jealous?"

Itachi's eyes narrowed as he remembered Deidara say that same word, with that same tone…and the truth was, Itachi knew he was jealous. And that made him even angrier. He suppressed it all, trying to find his calm once more.

But every time he caught a glimpse of Sakura's limp form as she watched their battle with her glossy jade eyes, the anger came back.

"You can't kill me, Itachi." Tomokazu smirked. "And even if you could, it wouldn't matter. Sakura will never be yours. She's broken. Defeated. I've claimed her."

"I've claimed her."

Itachi let out what could only be described as a small growl from beneath his breath as he shot forward.

Claimed her? He touched what was mine?

Tasted what was mine?

…he will die.

Itachi didn't even notice how unlike him his thoughts sounded. They seemed so right, and he welcomed the heat that coursed through him. Perhaps his emotions were good for something.

They were locked in battle once again, their kunai mere inches from each other's faces. Itachi leaned in closer as his crimson eyes seemed to dig into Tomokazu's soul.

"You will live in agony so much longer for that, Tomokazu." He pushed, sending Tomokazu flying backwards. Tomokazu flipped in the air, landing on his feet as he crossed his arms to block Itachi's kick.

"I had planned on killing you quickly." Itachi explained in his monotone voice as they exchanged more blows.

"But now I will make you beg for death."

"So I've finally found something to rile the Uchiha, eh?" Tomokazu laughed. "I'm honored. But you don't get it, do you? She's broken. Even if I die—which I won't of course—she will not be yours anymore then she was before you kidnapped her."

"Oh?"

"I've broken her will." Tomokazu laughed darkly. "I've completely taken control of her."

"That's impossible." Itachi answered back simply.

"And why is that?" Tomokazu asked with a sneer.

Itachi couldn't help but give his own dark smirk. "Because she is strong."

Shikamaru gave another loud curse as he watched the serpent swallow Kisame.

"Damn." Ino cursed beside him as she finished tending to her own and Hinata's wounds. "He…did that thing really just kill Kisame?"

"It looks like it." Shikamaru swallowed. "Oh man…"

That was when the creature swiveled around, spotting them sitting on the roof. The others were battling all around them but the creature seemed to single them out. It gave a large, toothy grin as it lunged forward.

Ino screamed as she grabbed onto Hinata, and Shikamaru got ready to pick up both girls and run—to where he didn't know. But the creature stopped a few feet in front of them, letting out a gurgled screech. Shikamaru blinked, as he saw a large sword sticking out of the creature's stomach. The sword went around in a complete circle, cutting the entire serpent in half. It fell back into the water, which turned a darker crimson.

They stared down at the water for a moment, before bubbles began appearing. They froze as the bubbles seemed to become more frequent, and the shadow of whatever was surfacing became larger.

"Damn. I hate fish."

Shikamaru blinked, before he did something he rarely did.

He laughed.

It was a short release, however, as the entire building shook around them, and the water suddenly began swirling and rushing inside of the building as it collapsed.

Sakura's eyes widened as she heard his voice. As she heard those words.

"Because she is strong."

"Itachi…" Sakura whispered, her voice clogged with tears. Am I…am I really strong?

You think I'm strong?
Then I have to be, don't I? I can't prove you wrong.

Sakura breathed in a deep breath as she watched them continue fighting. There was barely any room. All of her friends were fighting tooth-and-nail for her.

For her.

But what was with Itachi's strange behavior? He was…angry. She could see it in the lines of his body, the stiffness of his jaw. It would be completely invisible to anyone else. But she saw it.

He was angry.

And that scared her. It also excited her. She knew then, she knew that Tomokazu would die. An emotionless Itachi was bad enough.

An angry one was hell.

She heard a soft yell as Temari flew across the room. The sound-nin had cornered her, making it impossible for her to swing her fan.

These quarters are too small. If only… Sakura looked down at her fist. Do I have enough?

She gave her own small smile.

Just enough.

Sakura gathered chakra into her fist—and slammed it into the wall. The wall splintered, sending a fissure across the entire building. Everyone in the room froze, as the entire building groaned.

But that wasn't what made Sakura let out a gasp as her eyes widened in horror.

No, it wasn't that.

It was the sound of roaring water as it rushed in all around them, consuming them all completely.

(A\N: How did you like it? It's definitely not over, don't worry. There will be more Tomokazu getting his ass kicked in the next chapter. No one can resist seeing Tomokazu get whipped!

Poor Kisame. I wonder if he'll touch fish ever again…

Ok, about the next chapter…well…

More of the fight. And some angst. Ok, a lot of angst. Maybe a tear-jerker if I feel like it. I'll have more free time on my hands now that my stupid AP exams are over. YAY!

Well, until next time…

Sincerely,

Lady Hanaka

Question: This one just made me laugh, so here you go!

If 4 out of 5 people suffer from diarrhea does that mean the fifth one enjoys it?

P.S. Happy belated birthday: Silver Tongue theangelgirlmax)