When they finally found Tsunade she was fighting Orochimaru and Kabuto in a large field next to the historic castle they'd seen when they'd last met Orochimaru. Michiko ran at Kabuto, and punched him, hard, in the face. He flew away, and her serious side took over. "Stay away from Tsunade-shisou (?)…" Kabuto tried to fight her, but her speed and strength weren't to be trifled with. She drop kicked him into the ground, saying, her foot against his throat, "Never mess with an ANBU captain…or you might get hurt…" "Really? I thought you were a Jounin." "I got a promotion…because I'm awesome…" a hint of childish playfulness flashed in her eyes. When a sword flashed behind her, she jumped over Orochimaru's blade, landing on the blade before kicking him in the face. She back flipped away, landed swiftly on her feet. She took out a kunai, holding it defensively, as Orochimaru's neck gave a sickening crack that made her tense. "I heard you had a little run in with Itachi a week ago…" "And?"
Her voice was angry, but it shook ever so slightly. "I actually ran into him around that time…he…warned me not to fight you…" "And why's that?" the kunai she was holding began to glow with chakra. "He knew I'd kill you…and he wants his little 'koneko-chan' all to himself…" her eye twitched dangerously, and she jumped at him, stabbing him in the stomach with the super-charged kunai, and kicking him in the chest. "I don't need his protection!" She saw Tsunade freeze, covered in blood, and worry gripped Michiko's heart. Kabuto went after Naruto, but Michiko punched Kabuto away. "Why don't you think I can handle this?" Naruto questioned, irritated. "I need to protect you, okay?" "Why? Because I'm weak? Or is it because-?!" "IT'S BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!!!!" Naruto was surprised, and his face was blank as Michiko blushed crimson, saying, "I know we've been best friends for so long…but…I can't help it…I'll understand if you don't feel the same…" her bangs covered her eyes, but the shadows could hardly hide the vulnerability in her eyes.
Naruto walked up to her, a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up at him. He hesitated before he did something that took her breath away. He kissed her. But it was soft and innocent…sweet…and she couldn't help but return it. She noticed that lust and love have different tastes. Lust tasted bitter and harsh on the mouth, while love tasted sweet and pure. Innocence tastes sweet as well, which seems to draw people to it. When they separated for air, she had her forehead on his, feeling his hand in her hair, and said, "I'll protect you with my life…I promise…" She held his hand tight as she turned to see Orochimaru fighting Jiraiya and Kabuto charging at her. She took out a kunai, parrying his kunai before kicking him away. "Naru-kun…stay back…" she released his hand, charging at Kabuto, fist raised. He dodged…barely…and the ground shattered. He went after Naruto, who seemed to gain some courage and use a perfected Rasengan on the Sound Nin.
Kabuto flew away, and Naruto seemed proud, when he fell backwards, unconscious…or worse…Michiko raced to his side, worry evident in her eyes as she listed to his heart. 'Kabuto attacked his heart! Naru-kun, don't die on me!' she opened his jacket and shirt, healing him as best she could, and Tsunade even came to help, when Naruto stopped breathing…Tears scalded her eyes, and rolled down her cheeks. "Naru-kun!! Naru-kun, wake up!! Please!! I can't lose you, too!!!" her tears fell on the black swirl that had appeared over his stomach, and she closed her eyes, the tears almost too much, when she felt a hand caressing her cheek, wiping away her tears.
She opened her eyes, seeing a weak Naruto smile weakly back at her. "I'd never leave you like that…Michi-chan…" she nodded, tears still in her eyes, as he went to sleep from exhaustion. Tsunade had given him her necklace, when her head snapped up. Michiko understood, and whipped around, seeing Orochimaru coming at Naruto with his blade drawn. "NO!" "Michiko, don't!!" Blood spattered on the ground, staining her skin and clothes, as Michiko stood there, the sword through her chest.
He withdrew the blade slowly, saying, "You're a fool…wasting your life to protect his…" "…That doesn't make me a fool…it makes me a human being…" her glare was deadly, making her eyes burn like blue fire. "Which YOU aren't…" he scoffed, saying, "You'll die, and he'll follow after you…" she smirked, saying, "Then it'll shock you when I use this jutsu…" she did a hand sign, saying, "Genesis of Rebirth!" the dark blue diamond on her forehead glowed, changing to light green as the markings spread across her face the same way it does with Tsunade, her wounds healing. "I'll show YOU what Konoha's Lightning Cat Ninja can do!" She punched him as hard as she could in the face, and he flew farther than she expected.
She was about to land another blow when Tsunade stopped her, saying, "I'll take care of him…it's my duty as Hokage, after all…" Michiko smiled as the news, hugging the slug Sannin before taking Naruto to a safe distance. As the fight raged, Michiko couldn't help but feel that she already knew who was going to win. When Orochimaru and Kabuto fled, Michiko smiled, saying, "Well…with this done, we can head back to Konoha!" both Sannin agreed, but they rested before setting off. 'Don't worry dad…Sasuke…we're on our way!'