Sasuke was called to Orochimaru the next morning. When he entered the room, he found Karin, Jugo, and Suigetsu standing in there while Orochimaru sat in a chair. Sasuke felt that Orochimaru wanted them to do something.
"They've been quiet lately," Orochimaru said, "Why is that?" No one answered. They all felt the rage in their leader growing. They felt one false move and they were dead. Orochimaru was ticked. Arihiro had promised an attack and yet everything was silent.
"Why is that?" he muttered again. Slamming his fist down on the arm of his chair, he shouted, "I WANT HIS HEAD!" The group remained unmovable as Orochimaru angered raised.
"Find me Arihiro, but don't kill him. Tell me where he is and how many are working for him," Orochimaru ordered, "And if you come up short, I'll have you heads mounted on my fireplace."
Team Snake disappeared for the search of the Neko Clan and its leader.
"Come on," said Naruto becoming restless, "Where is she?"
"She said she was coming. Just give her time," Sakura said.
"Good morning students," Kakashi said as he appeared.
"Morning," they all mumbled.
"Wait, no 'You're late'? Just 'Morning'?" Kakashi asked confused.
"We're waiting for Hanako to join us," answered Sai.
"Oh, I see. Well, to tell you the truth, I don't think she's coming," Kakashi said climbing down from his branch.
"WHAT?" Naruto exclaimed.
"I saw her leave with her teammates to train outside the village this morning, but don't worry. By the end of the day, you'll see her," he said as he rubbed Naruto's head.
Team Snake watched as the three ninjas trained. They were of the Neko clan. Silently they waited to catch the team off guard. Sasuke watched the girl of the team. She looked the girl he had fought nights ago. His eyes widen when he realized it was Hanako. His heart started to race, he felt unsteady, and light headed.
"You okay, Uchiha?" asked Jugo. Sasuke nodded.
"Good, 'cause I don't want you messing this up," Jugo said.
"Messing what up?" asked a voice from behind. The team turned around to find a very muscular man hold a sledgehammer in his hands and a smirk on his face with his blond Mohawk and blues glint with trouble.
"Four little idiots sitting in a tree, how much fun can this be," he said and swung the hammer knocking the four out of the tree.
"Time for fun fellows!" the man yelled as he followed them down. They hit the ground with a loud thump. Slowly, the team gets up to found the man that knocked them out of the tree with his other companions.
"Well Koji, it looks like you gave our guest a warm welcome," said the man with spiked black hair as his arms were crossed over his chest.
"Yep, just a bunch of puppets," Hanako said as she drew her daggers.
"So, what brings Orochimaru's pets to outer area of Konohagakure?" asked the man with spiked black hair as he stepped forward.
"What makes you think we'll tell?" Suigetsu asked as he drew his sword.
"Then we'll just have to make you talk," said Koji as he charged and swung the sledgehammer only to miss Suigetsu.
The fight began as Hanako followed Koji lead and took off after Karin. Sasuke followed as he charged toward Mushi, the spiked black hair man, with Jugo. Koji and Suigetsu fought with hammer and sword as Karin barely dodged the speed of Hananko's daggers. Jugo and Sasuke attacked with their chokutos in as Mushi blocked every attack. Hanako kicked Karin in the stomach making her lose her balance and then being kicked in the head. Karin fell out of the tree unconscious. Hanako went off to help Mushi. Mushi had Jugo in a headlock while he tried to fight Sasuke off with his legs. Hanako found the perfect time to attack. She kicked Sasuke in the back before he could strike Mushi with his chokuto. Sasuke flipped over to see who attacked. He blocked one of Hanako's daggers. Mushi punched Jugo in the stomach and then kicked his head as he went to help Hanako. He was knocked down by Jugo and Hanako was push farther into the forest.
Team 7 was enjoy a lunch in a Ramen shop, when they heard a loud bang. It came from the forest outside the wall of Konohagakure.
"What was that?" Sakura asked.
"I don't know, but I don't like it," Kakashi said, "Let's go."
The team went deep into the forest. Naruto say bites of bark falling from above him. He stopped and looked up. There he saw Sasuke and Hanako clashing chokuto and daggers. He looked in awe at how fast Hanako was at blocking all of Sasuke's attacks. He then saw her cut Sasuke on the arm.
"That was the same place I cut you last time," she said cockily with a smirk played on her face. He shrugged it off and went back to attack her, but was blocked by Naruto.
"Get out of here," Naruto said coldly.
"Naruto," Hanako said surprised.
"Why?" Sasuke asked with his smirk on his face.
"You're not welcome here, Uchiha," he said as he glared at him, "And if I find a single scratch on her, it's your throat."
"Then why not fight me?" Sasuke asked.
"Naruto don't," Hanako said, "Get out of here!"
"Hanako, I don't want you to get hurt," Naruto said to her, "This scar runs deeper than any scar you could imagine."
Naruto then attacked Sasuke, but ended up pushed down by Sasuke. The two fought till Naruto finally punch Sasuke in the jaw. Sasuke fall backward from the punch. Hanako came down from the tree to stop the fight.
"Stop Naruto. Don't hurt him anymore," she said as she kept him from punching him again.
"LET ME GO!" he yelled, "HE NEEDS TO BE TREATED LIKE THE DOG HE IS!"
"Stop, please," she said as she held him close, "No more. Just let him go. This isn't your battle."
Sasuke felt a burning in his stomach as he watched Hanako hold Naruto in her arms.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" he shouted and charged at Naruto with his chokuto. Naruto jumped from Hanako's arms and fell backwards to find Sasuke pointing his chokuto at his throat.
"Don't touch her," he whispered softly. Naruto saw something in Sasuke's eyes he had never seen before. What had come over Sasuke? Was he finally falling in love with someone? Naruto smirked and shocked Sasuke. Sasuke had a feeling Naruto knew something that he didn't.
"Don't worry. I won't," Naruto said, "Hanako is all yours."
"Sasuke," said Jugo, "Let's go. We have what we need." Sasuke nodded, drew back his chokuto, and handed something to Hanako before disappearing. Hanako opened her hand to find a cherry blossom.