Chapter 4

Battle of Denial

Sasuke was the first to speak. "You all seem surprised to see me!"

I staggered to find the right words. "Well, it's not every day someone pops out of a hole." My head was still spinning like crazy. All these images of all the episodes I've seen. I shook my head, trying to return to reality. How would we be able to get by him?

I looked over to Reiya. That's when it hit me. If we could just get her by Sasuke, we would be able to get Kankuro in no time (BIG Kankuro fan that Reiya)! She seemed to get it and put her hands together, waiting for the right moment.

At this point, Naruto was getting impatient. He clenched his fist and started to charge toward Sasuke. Sasuke only ignored Naruto and moved out of the way. He even had time to trip Naruto.

NOW! My mind screamed, sending me in Sasuke's direction. I clamped down on his right arm (just FYI, that means I'm biting his arm and not letting go). I gotta say, I wasn't planning on doing this exactly. He pushed on my head, only making me tighten my grip.

I smiled and started to laugh a bit, until I broke off into a hysterical laughter. I let go of Sasuke's arm and grabbed my sides from my laughter. Sasuke stood puzzled. "What's so funny?"

I calmed myself and took a deep breath. "You…" I slipped out. I took another deep breath. "You're able to stop dum-dum over there, but not me? I haven't had training and you can't keep me from biting you?! Your training with Orochimaru must have been some rip off!" now I was trying to rile him up. We needed to distract him as much as we can so he doesn't discover Reiya's absence.

Reiya ran as fast as she could across the desert. Naruto's timely attack had fitted in perfectly with the plan. It had given her just enough time to make a shadow clone and run for it. Unfortunately, she didn't know which direction the village was. What use was it to escape if you don't know where the hell you're supposed to go???

Sasuke was as angry as a bear who, almost got blown up by a pack of dynamite. He pulled out his sword and swung it at me, for I was only a few feet away. I sucked in my stomach, just barely missing the tip of the blade.

I took a quick glance back. Naruto was already running over and Sakura was still dazed about Sasuke being right here in front of us. And Kakashi…honestly I didn't know where he was.

Sasuke raised his sword for another attack. My mind raced. I looked at my feet and kicked up a pile of sand. At least it would delay him for a few seconds. I backed up so I had a good distance away from Sasuke. It wasn't until I noticed Sakura was standing beside me did I look over. She was still staring in the direction Sasuke and Naruto were fighting.

I waved my hand in her face. She wouldn't even blink! Being the smart person I am, I slapped her in the face. That brought he back…or I thought. When I looked to where Sasuke was, I found him right in my face. "Let's see if my training with Orochimaru was useless," he whispered in my ear and held his sword to my neck.

Reiya sat in the sand trying to decide which direction she should go. Then, the ground suddenly started to shake. She looked where we were and her eyes widened. Two ginormous snakes appeared out of the sand.

She watched in horror as the snakes slammed their heads into the desert sand, sending a tidal wave of sand in her direction. At this point, Reiya didn't care where she was going. All she wanted to do was run.

But it was useless. The wave swept under her feet and made her turn so she was facing to where the snakes had been. They were still there, but she could make out tiny black dots. She sighed in relief. They were all still alive.

Her train of thought was interrupted by a violent crash. Reiya looked behind and saw a large fan with three purple moons on it. She looked up to find Temari staring down at her. "Well! Well!" Temari said, "Look who we have here!"

The metal felt cold against my neck. Now I knew how it felt to be a deer in headlights. Sasuke moved to sword up along my throat. I closed my eyes, waiting for the sharp pain, for the sound of blood splattering onto the hot desert sand, for my life to end.

I opened my eyes to get one last look at the world. I didn't close them again because I could see Naruto running this way. I heart filled with hope. The sword stopped moving. "Any last words?" Sasuke asked.

"Actually, I have a question for you."

"Oh?" he didn't sound surprised.

"Why the hell did you summon two gigantic snakes if you're about to kill me?" Naruto was only a few feet away now.

Sasuke chuckled, "Because, as soon as you're dead, I'll more fun killing the rest of you."

That confused me. "I have one more question." I could feel the sword loosen some. "Why kill me? I'm practically useless." My gaze was still fixed on Naruto who was now a few inches away.

"So I could lure in the dum-dum."

Shit! It was a trap! I tried to yell, but my voice was stuck. Sasuke lowered the blade and swung it at Naruto.

"NARUTO!" I yelled as blood fell to the sand.

Reiya looked up blankly at Temari. Temari looked to where the giant snakes stood. "I'm guessing you came from over there right?"

"Yes," Reiya answered, still staring at Temari.

Temari folded her fan and held out her hand. Reiya stared at it for a few seconds and then took it, pulled to her feet. "So why are you here?" Temari asked.

Reiya froze. "Uh…" she scratched he head and then pointed in the direction she came. "That's why."

"That?"

"Yes that."

"Are you trying to get back over there?"

"Not until I get Kankuro."

Temari raised an eyebrow. "What do you need him for?"

"Partly to beat Sasuke, who's over there, and for a mission I can't tell you about."

Temari turned shocked. "Why Kankuro?"

Reiya tightened her fists, "DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHAT I JUST SAID A FEW MINUTES AGO?!"

Temari took a few steps back. "This way," she said and started walking. The stopped at a small house and went in. "KANKURO!" Temari shouted through the house.

No one answered. "Stay here," she ordered and left. Reiya stood there silently, expecting Gaara to pop out somewhere. Eventually, Temari returned with Kankuro behind her.

I stood still. My heart skipped a few beats as I stared at the bloodied sword. I dared myself to look at Naruto. "Oh my God…" I whispered. The sword was firmly gripped in Naruto's hand; a clone by his side. The clone started darting it's hands over Naruto's. A blue sphere started to appear.

Now I knew what he was doing. I quickly went to Sasuke and made sure he wouldn't be able to go anywhere. He seemed to have caught on as well. "It can't be!" he yelled his eyes grown wide.

The clone disappeared and the blue sphere was complete. "Recognize this Sasuke?" he asked.

He was too shocked to answer. Naruto smirked and lunged it toward Sasuke's chest. "RASENGAN!" he yelled and the spiraling sphere sank into Sasuke's chest. A blood curtling yell echoed across the desert. I looked away. Only when I saw smoke did I look back.

Naruto stood shocked. It was a clone. We looked and quickly found the real Sasuke. "Sakura…" Naruto whispered.

Sasuke stood only a few feet away from Sakura. "Why?" Sakura asked him. "Why do you do this?"

A smirk appeared on Sasuke's face. "Because," he took a few steps closer, "How could obtain power if I was stuck you two losers?"

Sakura clenched her fist. "Is that all we are to you?"

There was a pause. Sakura turned around. She slammed her fist against the sand. Cracks broke their way across the ground; sand flew around, forcing Sasuke to shield his eyes. Sakura came out of the dust and punched him in the face.

He flew back, but then suddenly stopped. He slowly stood up and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "I've made a force field Sakura. The only way you can get out is if you allow me to kill you!"

The next thing she knew, Sasuke was by her side. "So what will be your decision?" he whispered in her ear.

Naruto and I started running toward Sasuke and Sakura, when the two giant snakes crossed our paths. They opened their mouths revealing long pointed fangs. We stood, unable to make ourselves move as we stared into their large yellow eyes.

Suddenly, they stopped and fell to the ground. Dead. "But who could've…" I started.

Kakashi appeared in between the snakes reading his book. Behind him were Reiya and Kankuro. I smiled in great relief, then looked where Sakura was. Hopefully, we could help her.

Sakura stood wide-eyed. "No…" she said, a tear steaming down her cheek. "I won't let you kill me."

Sasuke turned his gaze on her ad pulled out his sword. "So be it."

Sakura grabbed his sword before he could do anything and pulled him toward her. And let's just say she didn't exactly hug him…