Sakura tried to recall the information she had on Sasori from the bingo book, but her mind was drawing large gaps.

There was one thing though, he was known for being a puppet master, and the large thing in front of her had to be a puppet of some kind. But if that was true, then where was he hiding?

As if reading her mind Chiyo-baasama spoke clearly, her voice unwavering.

"Puppet masters are poor at close range fighting. So Sasori found a way around it by putting himself inside the puppet itself."

No way!

That was…genius.

But dangerous all the same.

Before she could ponder the schematics of the large puppet shell, Sasori spoke in a gravelly voice.

"Do you know how I add to my collection Haruno Sakura?"

She held back a gasp but she couldn't repress the chill that went through her body.

How does he know who I am?

"First, I tear out the organs. Once I've washed it clean I drain out all the blood. After I've made sure it won't decay, I fill it with weapons and traps, and make its addition official."

Her voice caught in her throat as her hands started to shake.

"Once I'm done with the two of you, I will have 300 puppets. It is my art!"

"Sakura, Hiruko is a battle type puppet. But regardless, we must first separate it from Sasori."

She turned to Chiyo-baasama, determined.

"So what should we do?"

Chiyo-baasama walked away from her, putting herself a little closer to Sasori.

"His additions to the puppet are the most dangerous part. As long as we don't know what he's done to it, we can't tell where and how he'll attack."

Sakura nodded.

"But you know how that puppet works. We have the advantage."

The older woman just shook her head.

"That's why I said I was going to go by myself at first. But now I don't think that will work."

"What do you mean?"

"It's form is a bit different from the Hiruko I knew. It never had a large shell on its back, so the defenses have probably increased. In which case he may have changed the important weapons as well."

"So what now?"

"We defeat Hiruko, then Sasori. I do not have the physical strength to destroy his shell, but you do. Just know to avoid all of his attacks. It sounds redundant now, but even the smallest scratch has a hidden agenda."

Sakura swallowed nervously but nodded none the less.

"In order to defeat a puppeteer, you must understand the battle style. Do you trust me?"

Without hesitation she nodded, though part of her knew she shouldn't trust a total stranger.

"Good, I'll hold him off, after his attack crush the shell, okay?"

Again she nodded and squared her shoulders. The barrage of needles almost had taken her by surprise, but she fought through. She had learned from Tsunade that if she was uncertain, she would falter. So instead she closed her eyes.

In the darkness she could hear the needles coming her way, and with what she couldn't dodge she used a kunai with. Opening her eyes, she saw the chakra infused threads suddenly grab part of the puppet, and she was able to land a chakra infused punch to the shell. It shattered in pieces, and the attack stopped abruptly, for that she was thankful.

"It's been twenty years since I've last seen you my grandson."

If Sakura didn't know better, those would be endearing yet slightly scolding words from a worried and loving grandmother. Except this was a totally different situation.

When Sasori revealed his true form, she was taken aback. It wasn't just because he was handsome, but by the book he should be in his late thirties. However he didn't look a day older than her.

"It's okay. I have a present for you grandmother, I believe you remember him well."

He rolled a scroll a few inches and held it out to her, though they were easily thirty yards away from each other. But what she could see was the number '3'.

With a small cloud of smoke a taller figure appeared in front of Sasori.

"No way! It…it couldn't be!"

Turning back for a second she saw Chiyo-baasama's shocked face. Quickly she turned back around to see a puppet that she knew from her school books.

Sondaime Kazekage?

He intends to fight with it.

Recalling back to a few minutes ago, she remembered he bragged about three hundred puppets.

Can I really fight them all?

The uncertainty was making her waver, but she pushed through it.

"What you've done to the past three Kazekage is unforgivable Sasori."

"Really grandmother, of all things you chose those three? However I admit to doing nothing with the fourth."

"You will see your own punishment in hell Sasori. But do not lie to your grandmother. Orochimaru may have been the one who killed the fourth, Gaara's father. But I know your companions were the ones behind it!"

"I do not control Orochimaru."

"Considering what he did was so similar to you, how can you say they aren't related incidents?"

"It is true that Orochimaru was my original Akatsuki partner, and we accomplished a lot together."

Her mind's eye immediately flashed to the moment when Orochimaru cursed Sasuke. Shaking her head, she felt her body tremble like his once did.

Taking a step forward, she caught his attention.

"If you worked with Orochimaru, you must know a lot about him."

"Sorry kid. But I can't answer your questions."

Her fists balled at her sides.

"Why not?!"

"Because it's rude to keep people waiting, and I must capture that Jinchuuriki."

Her anger intensified and she stomped her foot leaving a small crater.

"If you dare harm Naruto in any way, I'll kill you!"

"Oh? Well then, I'd love to see you try."

She had seconds to react. The puppet was flying right at her with blades gleaming off the small amount of sunlight but it gave her just enough of a view to see the purple poison dripping off the ends. Jumping back and rolling she was able to dodge the first attack. Grabbing her pouch, she pulled out a kunai but it was a second too late.

Hundreds, no thousands of arms erupted from the puppet's body.

"Sakura!"

She stood frozen and they came down on her. Twisting her body around she landed on the ground, and miraculously not one of them hit her. She used them to help her stand up seeing as they were stuck in the ground. Kicking her way out of the bamboo like material, she turned her smirk to the annoyed Sasori.

"Foolish girl, die!"

"Sakura, hold your breath!"

Seeing the cloud of purple too late, she turned her back to it and pulled her shirt up to her mouth and took a deep breath. The cloud filled around her and she willed herself not to panic.

But turning around was a bad idea, for he had grabbed her with ropes, around her torso, locking her arms, and around her calves locking her legs. He wasn't going to let her escape from the cloud of poison. Instead of panicking she had to force herself to think of something else.

Her body entered a dream like state, with her earliest memories of Team 7. But as her mind slept her body moved. Her hands found her weapons pouch and activated her explosive tag kunai. When her body ejected from the cloud and into Chiyo-baasama's arms she felt the older woman's stern pat on her back, releasing her from the day dream and air back into her lugs. She chocked on air as she tried to catch her breath, but she was thankful for that small bit of training Tsunade had given her.

"I won't," she coughed up blood "I won't kill you. No, I'm going to capture you." On shaky hands and knees she stood up. "Even if you blow off my limbs, and paralyze me with poison, I will definitely get you! No matter what you come at me with, no matter what tricks you have up your sleeve, I will make you tell me everything you know about Orochimaru! Got it?!"

But her words were only that, words. She fell to her knees angry with herself. It was that moment Sasori decided to attack her, though it was a weak attack it would've been effective. That is, until Chiyo-baasama guarded her with two puppets.

"A man should listen quietly when a woman speaks to him."

Sasori seemed not to touch the two puppets.

"Oh..those."

"So you do remember them?"

Sakura looked back in relief at Chiyo-baasama before turning to study the puppets. One had red hair, and the other long brown hair.

"Yeah, more or less."

"The very first puppets you created."

"So what are you planning on doing with them? I know all of their secrets."

She watched the three puppets fight together. Never before had she appreciated the puppet arts until now. They moved like they were dancing, flowing, together in sync.

If she had a blood line like the Sharingan or Byakugan it would probably even more spectacular.

"This is getting boring."

He stopped his puppet and its mouth unhinged. A weird black sand floated from it's mouth and she had an ominous feeling.

"So that puppet can really use the Sondaime's technique."

Turning back to Chiyo-baasama, she saw her body slightly shake.

"Chiyo-baasama, what is that?"

"The most feared technique in the history of Sunagakure. Iron Sand!"

Her brain started to act like a book. Everything she remembered about the Sondaime Kazekage was floating around but she couldn't grasp it. All she could reach out was for the fact that he never lost a battle, ever.

"You two are about to get messed up."

"Sakura, you need to leave."

Her head whipped to look up at the older woman.

"No!"

"I'll fight him by myself. You don't stand a chance against him."

Sasori chuckled at them before launching his attack.

"You're too slow! Satetsu Shigure!"

Covering her head, she waited for the impact but it never came.

Taking a deep breath she looked up to see the female puppet guarding her. But as the iron sand sunk in, she realized Chiyo-baasama had no control over it anymore.

"Sakura, run! You can't fight this, you must escape!"

Run?

Her hair fell into her eyes, and she looked at its length. It had fallen almost to her elbows. The first time she felt helpless in battle she cut it off to escape, but no one had her by the hair. Nothing was holding her back from fleeing. But as she looked to Chiyo-baasama, with the determination in her eyes she instead took a deep breath. Standing up, she popped a green pill into her mouth and swallowed.

"Chiyo-baasama, please use me. If you use a flesh puppet, his Iron Sand won't affect me."

"It won't stop you, but it can still harm you Sakura!"

"Fine, I'll fight alone. You hear that Sasori! I won't run away from you! I don't have hidden tricks or any secret jutsus but I have something you don't! I have the Will of Fire and I'll be damned if you lay a hand on anyone that I love!"

She felt key parts of her body start to tingle.

Chiyo-baasama must've changed her mind.

"Ready whenever you are Sakura!"

Taking a deep breath she gathered the chakra into her fists. Running around, she started smashing the large shapes he had made with the Iron Sand. All around them the cave was crumbling with the force of her tossing the bricks of sand around. The puppet ran after her, trying to stop her but she dodged it as well.

"Fucking bitch!"

"I'm not done yet!"

The crumbling cave was letting more light in by the minute. As the pill's herbs took over, she felt the artificial adrenaline make her movements swifter, Chiyo-baasama making her movements accurate, and overall the fight was now even.

"That's a lot of power for a little girl."

She watched as the two remaining blocks joined together before smirking.

He's getting nervous.

Sasori had noticed her tracking his movements.

"Satetsu Kaihou!"

The Iron Sand formed a large cage around the area. In a cloud of smoke she felt something sharp slice at her arms and she gasped. Feeling the blood slowly trickle down her arms she sighed. The poison was slowly starting to fill her body, making her feel numb. She fell to her knees, heart pounding loudly in her ears before her face hit the dirt.

Her brain started to feel murky, like she was hearing things while under water.

"Sakura!"

"DIE!"

With a burst of energy she reached up and grabbed the puppet by the hair before slamming her chakra infused fist into it's trunk, watching it shatter around her.

Her body shook as her grip faltered but once she grabbed the vile she forced the cap into her mouth. Gripping the end with her teeth she saw the needle and stabbed her thigh, wincing at the sting.

I took the weakest one, so I only have three minutes.

Come on Sakura, make it count!

Though she was seriously doubting herself she couldn't help but feel a bit eager. This was the fight of her life, and may be the last she'll ever have.

Around her the Iron Sand had dissolved, leaving the area open and barren. Sasori scowled at her but she just smirked back.

"What's the matter? Didn't think I could outsmart you?"

"I'll acknowledge you. You're an impressive child. Using human puppets would be a waste of time with you." She watched him start to unbutton his jacket and she shifted in her stance. "I haven't used this one since I joined the Akatsuki. I dare say I'm excited."

Her breath hitched as he revealed his body to her.

He…

He's a puppet.

That's just…sick!

She was ashamed to see her own body trembling but she had to keep a clear head. The amount of weapons he had with his body was shocking, but not over the top.

"What's wrong little one?"

It's been an exact minute since I used the antidote.

I'm running out of time!

I have to defeat him without letting him touch me.

Ducking behind a boulder just in time, she felt the heat on her back.

He's using fire?!

She had to get him close enough for hand to hand combat, but he knows his own weaknesses and prepared his body for them. When the fire stopped she peeped around to see something on his back disappear. It was then that water shot out of the pipes on his hands.

"Sakura, move!"

Jumping back and ducking to the side she narrowly avoided the thick steam. But she had to keep moving, the amount of water pressure was turning the water into a blade as he crumbled rocks around her, trying to find her.

"How long do you plan on running around?"

Truth is, I only have a minute left.

The thought process was too much of a distraction for her, for in the next second something hit her side, causing a large burn. She saw the purple drip from her would before she saw blood.

More poison.

Taking a deep breath she realized she only had thirty seconds left. Noticing Sasori going for Chiyoo-baasama. Grabbing the end of the rope she used her chakra to grab it faster knowing her time was short.

"That's useless!"

Five seconds.

"SHANNARO!"

She was able to pull him back to her, and landed her fist in his gut. The tube where his heart would've been popped out. His body tore apart in pieces, a arm here, a leg there, and his head lay somewhere far from his trunk.

Her knees hit the dirt again as the poison started to take toll on her body. Black dots started to fill her vision but she pushed through it.

When his body started to form together, she didn't cry. She didn't get frustrated, and she didn't look upset or sad. Instead she chuckled. But that chuckled turned into a laugh, a full boisterous laugh.

That's just great isn't it?

I can feel the poison in my muscles, eating at them already.

It hurts.

Sasuke-kun, Naruto-kun, I hope you're doing so much better.

"I thought I would never have to use this again."

She turned back to see Chiyo-baasama standing tall.

"Oh? You're back?"

"Let's get started."

"A puppeteer's ability is judged by how many puppets they can use. Impressive grandmother."

Ten puppets had emerged from a dark purple scroll, each dressed in white.

Dark purple scrolls are labeled as forbidden.

Turning back to Sasori she gasped. Above her were..it took her a second to count, but one hundred puppets dressed in red. At this point she felt like crying. Her whole body was shaking now, and her vision was swimming.

"This is getting annoying for me. How long do I have to keep fighting an old hag and a little girl? And to think, I even have to use my final puppets."

She ran back, stumbling, but stayed by Chiyo-baasama's side to heal her wound.

"Sakura, do not fight."

Looking up at the older woman she gave a kind smile.

"Chiyo-baasama, I mean you no offense. But do I look like the type to sit down and rest?"

"This will be the finale for all of us! Are you prepared?!"

Sasori's words rung in her ears.

Am I ready to die?

If it means taking this guy with me.

If it means keeping Naruto safe.

The yes!

"Ready whenever you are Sasori-jiji!"

He scoffed at her suffix, of her calling him an old man.

If Sakura didn't know what she was looking at, she'd swear the puppets were real, the way they moved like real ninja was astounding. They blurred together, white and red all around her.

Three of Chiyo-baasama's puppets formed a pyramid, one on top of two. Their mouths opened to reveal three words, 'Buddhist', 'Law', and 'Monk'.

"Sanbou Kyuukai!"

A large vacuum of air opened up in front of them which she was thankful for. She dodged around large rocks and attacked on the sly, relying on the rest of the pill's energy to push through.

The number of Sasori's puppets decreased drastically.

But now he's starting to focus on the ones he has left.

She had to learn to work with the puppets. She had to trust them. So she did. Her movements were sloppy, but they helped her, pushed her out of the way, and propelled her through the mass of enemies.

One of them handed her something. She had no idea what it was, but she knew what she had to do. Ducking and diving through puppet bodies, she finally found her opening. Throwing the item while Sasori wasn't paying attention she saw it turn into a ball of teeth.

Sasori looked just at the right time to see it attach to the organ holding his puppet body together.

But it wasn't Sasori. Whipping around she realized with a panic beat of her heart that Sasori had hid as another puppet. Without thinking she moved. She pushed her body forward as the sword gleamed in the sunlight.

And in the next beat the sword entered just under her rib cage.

"Chiyo-baasama…are you okay?"

"Worrying about her, even in this situation?"

He emphasized her point with a jerk of the sword and she gasped out. Her pale green eyes, vision twisting and tilting, found his blank brown ones.

"As a medical ninja, you should understand your situation."

Arrogance laced his words, causing her to glare at him.

"Shut it."

Another sharp pain hit her leg this time, and she gasped. As something warm filled her body she looked down to see Chiyo-baasama drop the injection needle. The injection she had tossed to her sometime in the battle. The wound on Chiyo-baasama was starting to coagulate leading Sakura to suspect she had been wounded sometime earlier.

"Chiyo-baasama!"

She just gave you her antidote.

With a jerk he let go of the blade, detaching the puppet arm in the process. Out from his other arm came a blade. Her eyes widened as he dove right for her, but when she opened her eyes she was shocked. Chiyo-baasama's original two puppets had stabbed Sasori through his one organ, catching him off guard.

And with that, she blacked out.

xxXXxx