Hey everyone! I really hope you enjoy this chapter. I apologize in advanced for the ending of this chapter… I know I should never do cliff hangers, but I just needed to :)

Please enjoy; and if you like it don't forget to review!

Chapter 16: I Promise; I Will Never Leave You

"Orochimaru," Kakashi spat under his breath. Kakashi quickly glanced around the arena, and sighed with relief once he had spotted Sakura. She was with Naruto and Shino, and all three of them were leaving the arena, and heading toward the forest.

"This cannot be good," Kakashi muttered as he watched the three exit, along with several sound ninja following after the three.

Sakura, Naruto, and Shino flew through the forest; Sakura had announced several minutes earlier, that if they continued at this speed, they would meet up with Sasuke in only a few more minutes.

"How long again, Sakura-Chan?" Naruto asked with a slight annoyance in his tone.

"A few more minutes," Sakura said while pumping more chakra into her feet.

"I believe we are being followed," Shino commented while stepping in between Sakura and Naruto.

"We are," Sakura commented; her eyes were still forest green. "Five Sound, three sand, and one Konoha."

"Friendly?" Shino asked referring to the Konoha nin..

"Maybe to you two," Sakura commented under her breath. "Shino, I want you to stay back and hold off the 8 enemy nin. You have the most chakra, and will be able to catch up with us the quickest."

Shino nodded and turned around, while Naruto and Sakura moved forward. After a minute or so, Sakura could see the back of Sasuke's back.

"TEME!" Naruto screamed as a new boost of chakra swept through his body. "STOP, TEME!"

Sakura swiftly sped up, and ended up passing Naruto. A second later Sasuke stopped, causing Naruto and Sakura to stop beside him.

Naruto gasped as they finally got a good look at Gaara; sand had wrapped around half of Gaara's body. Both of Gaara's arms were completely covered in sand, as was his legs and half of his face.

"Just leave!" Temari called from next to Gaara. "He's not stable! Just-"

Temari was flung through two trees as Gaara's newly acquired tail hit her in the stomach. Kankuro jumped to catch her before she hit the ground; he was unsuccessful.

"He he he," Gaara's dark voice chuckled. He glanced toward the Konoha group of three. "Whose next?"

Both Naruto and Sasuke charged at Gaara, while Sakura leaped toward the ground. Slipping between a couple of trees, Sakura found Kankuro on the ground completely distraught over Temari's unmoving body.

"Temari," Kankuro called at her; his hands were clenched in his hair. "Wake up; God damn it. Temari; Gaara didn't mean to, please. It was Shukaku!"

Sakura appeared before Temari; her hands were already glowing a mint green.

"What are you doing?" Kankuro asked accusingly as he brought out a kunai; Sakura noticed some slight tears in his eyes.

"I'm going to heal her," Sakura stated; there was a hardened expression in her eyes. "I know you wouldn't really follow Orochimaru… or at least I hope you wouldn't."

"What are you talking about?" Kankuro asked as he put his kunai away. Sakura's hands were on Temari causing the unconscious girl's body to glow green.

"The Kazekage…" Sakura said without looking up. "Orochimaru disguised himself as him."

"I-"

A loud crack resounded through out the forest; Sakura turned just before she was attacked. Gaara's body was coming toward her; Sakura looked over her shoulder at Temari, who was slowly awakening, and knew what she was going to do.

Sakura stayed in front of Temari as Gaara's hand connected with her chest. He grabbed Sakura, and pulled her towards him.

"What are you doing to my sister!?" Gaara yelled enraged. Gaara had brought Sakura to where she was right in front of his face, meaning she was several meters off of the ground. Sakura breathed in a deep breath before Gaara squeezed her even harder.

"I was trying to heal her," Sakura stated while trying to wiggle her way free. Gaara's eyes grew wide and he threw Sakura to his tail; his tail wrapped even more tightly around her.

"LIAR!"

"Sakura-Chan!" Naruto called to the pink haired girl. He was standing on a tree branch beside Sasuke. Sasuke was leaning against the tree for support; his curse mark had started to activate and was engulfing his body in a dark black mark.

"Looks like you can't protect your women," Gaara stated with a feral grin as he looked toward Naruto and Sasuke.

Sakura's mind started to go hazy as Gaara's tail squeezed even tighter. "Sas-uke," Sakura called before her mind went blank; the boy's curse mark was flaring even more. "Fight it, not him."

---

Kakashi stood beside Shino. The boy had been able to defeat over half of the enemy nin; Kakashi had just helped with the rest.

"You should get going Kakashi-san," Shino spoke. "Sakura-san seems to be in some type of trouble."

Kakashi's eyebrow raised, but he didn't stop to ask questions. He shot through the trees toward the pulsing chakra signatures.

A loud explosion had Kakashi racing faster. Kakashi looked up to find a raccoon-like sand creature standing a few miles away from him.

"Gaara!" Kakashi heard from a few feet in front of him. It was Gaara's brother, Kankuro.

"I know we're suppose to be enemies right now, but you need to stop Gaara!" Temari spoke from beside her brother. The girl appeared a little disoriented, and she was leaning against a tree and her brother for support. "He attacked Sakura-san; she was just trying to heal me!"

Kakashi's eyes flashed, and he sprinted away from the two. Kakashi quickly raised his hi-ate away from his sharingan as it started to spin dangerously.

"What have you gotten yourself into this time, Sakura-Chan?" Kakashi asked quietly as another loud explosion could be heard. Kakashi looked up, and this time saw a large toad standing before the raccoon creature. Kakashi also noticed the orange-clad ninja standing on top of the toad.

"Naruto…" Kakashi smiled slightly. Kakashi appeared next to Sasuke as the toad charged at the raccoon. "What's going on, Sasuke?"

"I don't know," Sasuke spoke disoriented; his curse mark had since receded. "Naruto and I charged Gaara, and then Gaara went after Sakura. He went crazy, and started to squeeze Sakura; she couldn't breath."

"Where is she?" Kakashi asked quickly. Sasuke's eyes flashed over to the raccoon's tail.

"The raccoon-thing is Gaara," Sasuke said quietly. "Naruto's fighting for Sakura now; Gaara won't let her go unless Naruto defeats him."

"Where is she?" Kakashi asked again; there was a dark tone in Kakashi's voice.

"Gaara's tail is wrapped around her; his tail is made of sand," Sasuke said as he leaned against the tree. "I was too weak to protect her…"

"I'm going to get her back," Kakashi spoke determinedly. Kakashi shot off like a bullet; his destination where ever Sakura was.

As he became closer to the fighting animals, Kakashi heard a loud poof, and looked up to see a fox instead of a toad.

"Naruto," Kakashi said sadly; the boy was trying to do everything to protect Sakura. Kakashi moved faster; whatever it took to get to Sakura he was going to do.

"I promise to protect you, Sakura," Kakashi said while he closed his eyes; he was within a few meters of the creatures now.

As Kakahsi's eyes opened, his chidori started. The chirping of birds rang loudly through the forest as it connected with Gaara's tail…

The sand dispersed and Kakashi caught sight of Sakura as she began falling through the air. Kakashi pumped more chakra into his legs as he flew toward Sakura.

Just as she was about to hit the ground, Kakashi caught her swiftly in his arms. "Sakura-Chan?"

Kakashi set her down softly on the ground, and placed his ear over her heart. "God damn it." He placed chakra into his hand and clenched it tightly. He slammed his fist down hard against Sakura's chest.

"Sakura," Kakashi called as he placed his ear against Sakura's chest again. His eyes grew watery as he lifted his head. "Breathe."

His mouth connected with hers, though not passionately. He blew air into her lungs, and then started pounding on her chest again.

"Kakashi-sensei?" A voice called from over his shoulder. Kakashi didn't even look up when Naruto limped over to him. "Is Sakura-Chan okay?"

"We need to get her to the hospital," Kakashi said while standing up. He wrapped her up tightly in his arms, and started racing toward Konoha.

"Don't go to Konoha," Naruto said while trying to run beside him. "There's still a war going on; head to the next town over."

"Right, right," Kakashi said while heading in the opposite direction. "Just hold on until I get here."

Kakashi pumped chakra into his legs, and raced west of Konoha. "If you live Sakura," Kakashi said while whispering into Sakura's ear. He nudged her lightly with his head. "I promise I'll never leave you again. I'll be with you forever, please."