The Path A Ninja Walks...

Chapter Forty-Four

The Real Objective

A/N: WARNING-The character known as Sage Amesawa uses a lot of profanity and colorful language as part of his "colorful" personality. Be prepared if you are sensitive to that. Please note it is not because I condone such manner of speech, and also the character does not mean to use it as a way to be harmful, it is just his personality.

Long pink strands scattered and fell like rain all around...bring shock and surprise to the eyes of everyone who was watching.

"Sakura..." Saseme said softly.

"Saseme...stay with Sasuke." she said to her, "You and your team...stay back and re-coup..."

"B-But..."

I'm always watching from the background...

Sakura thought to herself as she stood.

"But this time...it's my turn to lead." she stated, "And you can watch me."

"Sakura..." Saseme's lips parted to speak further...but thought it best not to. So she placed them ack together and nodded, "...All right...We've got your back." she said to her, "...just don't lose."

"Sakura...be careful..." Lee whispered softly.

She's different now...

Saseme thought to herself, eyes focused on the pinkette's back as her remaining strands of loose ends fell around her.

Something inside her has shifted... A familiar sensation that has also run through me before...

her eyes narrowed.

I understand... Sakura...

We won't interfere.

"Kin! Finish her off!" Zaku called out as the young Kunoichi began weaving handsigns.

"A Substitution Jutsu!" Kin huffed. She had charged for her- But was met with a log instead while Sakura ran straight on for Zaku, throwing kunai.

"Kin, get out of the way!" the man smirked, "Thanks for the present~" he laughed, "Hope you don't mind if I Return-To-Sender!"

But once more-

The returned weapons were met with another Substitution technique.

"What a surprise." he smirked, "Okay, where are you now!?" as he looked up he took notice of the girl falling right for him, weaving more signs.

"Again with the hands!?" he scoffed, "Do you really want to keep playing this game? Because I'v got news for you...I'm not falling for it!" he grinned as he threw his own Kunai and darted his eyes, "Okay so where are you now-"

Only...it took the drop of her blood to his skin before he realized that this time...it was the real thing.

Her Kunai shanked deeplu into his defending arm...and she sunk her teeth in and latched tight.

A Last resort from a desperate and exhausted Kunoichi who refused to stop fighting-

Over and over...Desperately...

Zaku pounded away at the pink haired tick on his arm.

I've...gotta win...!

She thought to herself even as she was thrown across the forest floor...she panted...

It's all on me...

"Say good bye..." Zaku growled, readying his hands or the final blow...

Until three unexpected visitors slid in between him and Sakura.

"Wh-What the!?" Sage gasped.

Hana was also surprised.

"I...it's...!"

"Shika-chan..." Saseme called out softly from behind the ponytailed boy who stood in front of her, having drug Choji in by the scarf-

"Feh...Saseme..." he scoffed, "...Didn't I tell you to stop calling me that?"

"Heh...sorry..." the Uchiha girl chuckled lightly, "Old habits I guess..."

Sakura too, was just as surprised.

"Ino..."

"Hmph...surprised?" the blonde scoffed, "I swore I would never let you show me up, didn't I!?"

Sasuke's grunts startled Saseme's attention...and her eyes would widen slightly.

What is this...smoke formulating arounf my brother...!?

"Saseme-" said Sage as he finally managed to get on his feet, pulling her attention back to him and washing her with relief.

Finally...Sage is on his feet!

She thought to herself while absent mindedly having run toward her team mate and nearly collapsing onto her own knees, until him having caught her in his embrace and holding her to his chest.

"You've limited your strengths..." he said to her, "Your brother needs you now...take a knee."

"B-But-"

"Don't question him- just do it." said Hana, "We've got most of our senses back, you on the other hand are running on empty- no good to anyone right now." she huffed.

Saseme sighed

"...Fine..."

"Sakura-" called Ino, "You should join her too." she stated.

"What? But-"

"Your team mates are down...take care of them."

"...Right." was all she she could say, and nod, agreeing to take a knee to join her fallen team.

Now the fight belonged to Team Ino-

As Sakura ran to join Saseme on the bench.

"Formation- INO!"

"SHIKA!"

"CHO!"

"Take it away, Choji!" Ino grinned.

"My pleasure!" he replied back taking on his expansion jutsu and charging in with a Human Boulder

"Slicing Sound Wave!"

Though all that really did was give Choji Akimichi more air.

"Zaku!"

"Oh no you don't, Mummy man!" Shikamaru huffed, "Time to put you under wraps...Shadow Posession Jutsu!"

A Paralysis technique passed down in the Nara clan along with Ino Yamanaka's specialty Mind Transfer- having taken possession of Kin- the third member of the Sound team-

However while it looked like the battle may have been won...it turns out that Victory- or the scroll's weren't the Sound Ninja's true objective.

"Wh-What then!?" Saseme huffed.

She had a bad heavy of what was t come next as Dosu looked her way and growled out the name...

"...Sasuke."

To Be Continued