A/N: So most of you want a Sannin showdown to read? Ah, I'll do my best. My parents went to the pub without me, I feel unloved T.T Thankyou all for your reviews :) They brighten up my day!

Claimer: All un-Naruto material belongs to me :)

Disclaimer: Kishimoto-chan! You CANNOT make me happy and then want to pulverise you, all the emotions can't be good for my health! Unfortunately, Naruto belongs to him, otherwise I would have agreed with Shikamaru's daddy.

Kanojixyono Sentaku

Her Choice

"That's because I'm… Konoha no-sato's Godaime Hokage!!"

-----x-----

"Come to think of it, I've never fought you before," Orochimaru said. Tsunade tossed her green coat to the ground and charged forward.

"You're right!"

"I'm the one who's going to fight…" Kabuto murmured warily.

"I'm going to kill you worthless bastard's right here, right now!!" Tsunade shouted as she punched the wall they were standing on, destroying it.

"She still has that monstrous strength," Orochimaru said as they landed on a tree branch. "If you take a hit, it'll be the end for you."

"I can tell. This place is too compact to fight and keep enough distance between us," Kabuto said.

"Are you going to change locations?" Orochimaru asked.

"That seems best for now. A troublesome person was talking with Tsunade-sama's attendant. They might come to reinforce her," Kabuto said, when Tsunade's foot came hurtling towards them. Orochimaru leaned back dodging and then they both jumped out the way when Tsunade's foot smashed through the branch.

"Die!" she shouted.

"And who is this troublesome person?" Orochimaru asked as he and Kabuto began running.

"A Sannin just like you and Tsunade-sama," Kabuto replied. Orochimaru smirked.

"Jiraiya." They kept running as Tsunade destroyed another wall, picking up speed in order to stay ahead of her.

-----x-----

"What the hell?" Naruto asked looking at the wreckage.

"Whoa! Looks like Tsunade-hime got a bit wild here," Jiraiya remarked looking at the large gaps in walls and cracks along the ground.

'That means Tsunade-sama declined the deal!' Shizune thought.

"Where did Tsunade no Obaachan go?" Naruto asked walking forwards. He looked down, having stepped on something. Shizune gasped seeing it was Tsunade's coat.

"Tonton which way?" Shizune asked as the pig sniffed the jacket, Kita did the same, remembering everything Pakkun told her about tracking.

"Kari, try and use your senses too," Jiraiya said, looking back at her. She'd been growling since they'd arrive, the scent of him was still fresh, and had her temper running high.

"Hai," Kari agreed, shooting left with Tonton and Kita either side of her. Naruto and Jiraiya ran after her, Shizune following after picking up Tsunade's coat.

-----x-----

"Tsunade is running out of breath now," Orochimaru said as Kabuto landed on the rock near to his left, having dodged yet another strike. Small craters littered the ground from each of her punches or kicks. They had moved to a more open area, with many large rocks. "You've almost got her."

"I'm not very good at Taijutsu," Kabuto said reaching into his pouch and pulling out a food pill. He swallowed it quickly. He then made rapid hand signs, causing his hands to be surrounded by blue Chakra once he'd finished.

'Those hand signs… This kid uses ninja medical techniques.' Tsunade thought. He disappeared burying into the ground and then shot up from underneath her. She jumped out the way and went to punch him but missed, as did her kick. She pushed off a boulder and shot back towards him, but he moved faster, hitting her arm and thigh. 'He got my muscles…'

"I cut your bicep and your rectus femoris, you cant use your monstrous strength of yours anymore now," Kabuto said.

"A scalpel made of Chakra eh?" Tsunade observed. "Why did you not go for my artery?"

"It's true that with this scalpel, that I can cut blood vessels and muscles without injuring the surface, but during battle even I cannot create a scalpel that is long and fine enough to reach the artery and heart. Then again, there is no problem if I go for the vital organs!" He shot forwards, each punch blocked, but when Tsunade aimed a kick at him it did hardly any damage and he simply flipped back up and struck her in the chest causing her to cough violently and fall to her knees.

'Shimatta, he got a subcostal muscle…I can't breathe… This guy isn't a normal medical ninja. His technique and sense surpass mine when I was in my prime.'

"We can't let you die yet, so I won't attack your vital organs," he smirked adjusting his glasses. "But now, you can't move anymore--!" He was cut off when he felt a blow to the back of his neck. 'What a person. Usually you wouldn't be able to move because you're having difficulty breathing. It looks like I have to hurt her a bit more…but not enough to kill her,' Kabuto thought as he struggled to sit up, Tsunade falling to her knees. Kabuto gasped. 'I'm trying to move my arm but my leg is moving. Could this be…?'

"Temee!" Tsunade cried, punching him straight in the cheek. Kabuto struggled to get up, arms and legs moving uselessly.

"Sou ka," Orochimaru chuckled.

"This is not a muscle problem," Kabuto said as he seemed to spasm. "It's the nerves!"

"Looks like you've noticed. Yes, I attacked your nerves. I changed my Chakra to electricity, created an electrical field and jacked it into your nervous system."

The brain and body communicate with each other via electricity. Tsunade must have confused all the electrical signals that run through the body at 360 km/hr.' Orochimaru thought.

'She can still fight like this even though she stopped fighting for a long time. So this is what a legendary Sannin is like…' Kabuto thought. Tsunade's hand glowed green and she placed it over her chest.

'Healing techniques consume too much Chakra, at this rate…' Tsunade thought.

'When I try to move my right hand… my left leg moves. When I try to move my left ankle… my right shoulder moves. This is difficult, but I have an eighty percent idea of what moves when I try to move something. Thought you got me with a technique of this level?' Kabuto thought as he tried to move different parts of his body. He pulled out a kunai and charged forward.

"Don't underestimate me!"

'Nani? He restored his body movement that quickly?' Tsunade thought shocked.

"You're afraid of blood right?! I'll show you plenty of that right now!" Kabuto shouted as he went to strike her, but a smoke bomb appeared between them forcing him to jump back. Shizune, Naruto, Kari and Jiraiya appeared in front of her, Jiraiya with Tonton and Kita on a shoulder each.

"It's been a long time Jiraiya," Orochimaru said with a smirk. "And I see you've brought my chiisai ookami along for a visit."

"Chiisai ookami?" Tsunade repeated and then became aware of the deep growl coming from Kari.

"Oho, you have evil looking eyes as usual," Jiraiya greeted.

"Aa?! Kabuto-san?" Naruto said pointing at Kabuto in surprise.

"Naruto-kun, Kari-chan," Kabuto said with a smirk, only to get an aggressive his from Kari.

"You know each other?" Jiraiya asked.

"We took the Chuunin exam together dattebayou," Naruto replied. "Why is Kabuto-san here?"

"Get out the way!" Tsunade cried, literally shoving Jiraiya out the way. "I'll defeat them!" Kabuto quickly ducked her kick, but she then kicked the kunai out of his hand. "Just because you can control your body now, doesn't mean you can move normally!" Tsunade cried, pushing him back with punches and kicks. "You're not getting away!" Kabuto grabbed the kunai that had been knocked out of his hand and stabbed his other hand, causing his blood to spurt out onto Tsunade.

"My body's finally starting to move normally," Kabuto said with a smirk.

"B-blood…" Tsunade whispered in horror.

"Dealing with two legendary Sannin will be too much trouble; I'll immobilize one for now!" Kabuto shouted, punching her in the face sending her flying backwards. Shizune managed to catch her.

"Tsunade-sama!"

"Ano sa, ano sa, what's going on dattebayou?" Naruto asked. "Why is Kabuto-san fighting Tsunade no Obaachan?"

"You're real slow noticing things Naruto-kun," Kabuto commented mockingly. "That's why you can't compete against Sasuke-kun."

"Temee!!" Kari hollered, her whole body shaking from the need to attack.

"Look closely at his hitai-ate, he's Orochimaru's subordinate," Jiraiya said pointing out the music note engraved on the plate.

"Hai, I was a spy from Otogakure no sato," Kabuto admitted.

"What are you talking about dattebayou?" Naruto asked. "Tell me you're lying Kabuto-san. You told us a lot of things and helped us out in the Chuunin exams, you carried Kari-chan when she was sick."

"I wanted to gather information about you guys too, Naruto-kun, I found something after I gathered some data on you." Kabuto said. "You have no talent as a shinobi. You're different from Sasuke-kun and Kari-chan." Naruto's eyes widened and then he scowled.

Shizune wrapped Tsunade's coat around her shoulders and gently started cleaning the blood off her face.

"Please don't be reckless, I'm your attendant after all," Shizune said softly.

'Tsunade no Obaachan…' Naruto thought angrily, glaring at Kabuto.

"Even if you put that scary face on, you're still just a cute Genin who's out of place. It's true that we expected something from the monster inside of you, but with the legendary Sannin members around me you are insignificant to me." Kabuto said simply. "You look like a small bug to me right now, and if you interfere… I'll kill you." He glanced at Kari who looked about ready to tear his throat out. 'Naruto may have been no threat, but Kari's Taijutsu and speed is said to be amazing, she truly impressed Orochimaru-sama. She doesn't have Tsunade's strength and has weak defence, so a few good hits and she should be out.'

"Why you!!" Naruto shouted shooting forwards, Kari immediately following.

"No Naruto, Kari!" Jiraiya cried but fell to one knee, his body still weak.

'That hand, he can't use his right hand!' Naruto thought, noticing the blood dripping down Kabuto's fingers. "Kage Bunshin no jutsu!" three clones appeared next to him. 'I'll use four guys then strike his defenceless right side!' Kari darted to the side out of range of his attack, but ready to back him up. Each clone pulled out a kunai and lunged at Kabuto. He blocked the first, kicked the next two and then punched the last causing the three clones to poof into smoke and the real Naruto to land hard on his back. Sensing Naruto's disadvantage Kari immediately sprung into action.

He blocked her punch to his side and then shot a well aimed punch of his own. 'Ah, her ribs are broken, as is her left wrist.' He dodged her spinning kick and then grabbed hold of her wrist but she just clenched her right fist and smacked him in the jaw. He span and slammed his knee into her gut, smirking when he noticed her wince, she went to charge back at him. 'I need to slow her down!' As she went to punch him he slammed his injured palm into her face, blood coating her delicate eyes. He smirked when she faltered, her eyes shut tight.

"Now what will you do Kari-chan?" he asked. She growled and shot towards him again. "Nani?"

"You forget her sensitive senses Kabuto," Orochimaru said with a smirk. He hadn't missed her weakness, intrigued by the fact she seemed to have some mental damage as well. Her perseverance always was amazing. Catching on to the fact she was locating him by sound, he managed to trick her by side stepping and with a hard kick, sent her flying back into Naruto, causing them both to fly back until Shizune caught them.

Shizune saw her chance and spat two well aimed needles at Kabuto. 'My reflexes are still too slow! I can't dodge,' Kabuto thought as the two needles shot towards him. He tilted his head and managed to deflect them with his glasses. He then jumped back to Orochimaru.

"Arigatou, oneechan," Naruto said as he tried to wipe the blood out of Kari's eyes, causing her to squirm slightly in discomfort. Shizune pulled out a cloth and helped him to get the blood out of her eyes. Kabuto pulled out a blood replenishment pill.

"So he's replenishing the blood he's lost," Jiraiya analysed.

"He's truly a medical ninja like me," Shizune said.

"You're bleeding well Kabuto," Orochimaru stated.

"Orochimaru-sama, please take off the bandage of your left arm," Kabuto requested. Orochimaru bit off the bandage, his eyes locked on Kari's, who were glaring fixedly at him.

"He's Orochimaru?" Naruto asked as Kari rubbed her itching eyes.

"So the boss is finally going to fight," Jiraiya mused. "Shizune, you fight the guy with glasses. I'll fight Orochimaru." Shizune nodded, glaring at Kabuto while Orochimaru just smirked. "But before we do that, I want Tsunade to do something about my body."

"The effects of that drug will most probably last for a while. Even I can't do anything about it," Shizune said regretfully.

"EH?! HONTOU?!" Jiraiya screeched. He huffed regaining his composure and smirked. "Fine I'll fight like this. Tsunade you use your healing abilities and rest."

"Then, then what about me?" Naruto asked impatiently.

"You guard Tsunade and that pig with Kita," Jiraiya said simply.

"Eh?! I want to fight too dattebayou!!"

"No! Even that glasses guy said it, you and Kari-chan are at a lower level. This guy is a Sannin like me, and he's also the guy that killed Sandaime. You need an eye for an eye, only I can fight him now. Also, that kid is as strong as Kakashi," He glanced at Kari, who was practically shaking with anger. 'I've never seen her so riled up, Kakashi said about the curse mark and Sasuke's too…' "Kari in the slight possibility that you're needed, you can be Shizune's back up. But other than that, stay with Naruto and calm down."

"Yosh! Kage Bu—" Naruto began but Jiraiya cut him off.

"Matte. Don't use Kage Bunshin it's meaningless," Jiraiya said.

"Eh?!"

"It won't even work as a nice decoy either, you'll simply be wasting Chakra against them," Jiraiya explained. "Kari has a chance against the guy with glasses if he's worn down by Shizune due to her speed, Taijutsu and the few high level Ninjutsu she has. This isn't a good fight for you. Now then, let's get started!"

Kabuto brushed his thumb against his wounded hand and pulled up Orochimaru's sleeve to reveal a black tattoo. At the same time, Jiraiya bit down on his thumb. Both Jiraiya and Kabuto made hand seals before slamming their hands onto the ground and shouting "Kuchiyose no jutsu!" Smoke filled the clearing momentarily, two snake heads poking through, the right with Kabuto and Orochimaru standing on top. Jiraiya looked down at his summon.

"Yo! Long time no see!" Gamakichi cried.

"NANI?! What's this?! What happened?!" Jiraiya screeched at the small bright orange toad as Naruto joined in his scream. Kari sighed slightly and shook her head.

'Jiraiya-sama can't mould his Chakra properly because of the drug,' Shizune thought.

"Looks like you're still the baka I remember," Orochimaru said with a mocking chuckle. "I know that you don't have talent, but that? Looks like Tsunade did something to you."

"Sacrifices were needed for that technique. She most likely poisoned him with a drug that suppresses his powers so that she could use him later on," Kabuto said.

"Use Jiraiya as a sacrifice? I guess that's very like Tsunade," Orochimaru commented.

'Damn it they've already seen through my handicap,' Jiraiya thought grimly.

"You're unsightly as usual," Orochimaru said unimpressed.

'Kuso, it makes me mad when they make fun of Ero-sennin dattebayou!' Naruto thought biting his thumb. "Kuchiyose no jutsu!"

'The Kyuubi gaki from the Chuunin exams,' Orochimaru remembered. "Maybe I should've killed him when I had the chance… I let him go since the Akatsuki wanted him alive. But only a Sannin or Sandaime can remove the five element seal."

"So that means Jiraiya-sama did it?" Kabuto asked.

"Most likely. If he is able to control the powers of the Kyuubi already…" Orochimaru began, but was distracted when the smoke cleared revealing Naruto's summon. Jiraiya's eyes widened. It was a fatter, yellow, dumb-looking, small frog in a waistcoat. "But it appears he can't."

"Heh, he wasn't blessed with any talents as a ninja after all," Kabuto said with a smirk.

"Nande?" Naruto asked.

'Yappari… He's not quite there yet…' Jiraiya thought to himself.

"Nande dattebayou?!" Naruto shrieked in annoyance.

"Ehehe, konnichiwa desu," the yellow frog said slowly.

"Oi Gamatatsu! Why the hell did you come out?!" Gamakichi asked.

"Oh? Gamakichi-niisan. I've been summoned for the first time. Do you think I can be useful?" Gamatatsu asked happily.

"Ahou! Get a snack from them and go hide!"

"Eh? I can have a snack? Wai! Wai!"

"Let's go," Orochimaru said, as the snakes started to descend. "I'll deal with Jiraiya, you deal with the rest."

"That's a shame, I wanted to fight a Sannin like Jiraiya-sama too," Kabuto said as he stood on the other snake head.

"Shimatta! Kuchiyose no jutsu!" Kari cried biting her thumb and slamming her hand onto the ground. The serpents dove to the ground, smashing up the once smooth field. Shizune jumped away with Tsunade, but Kabuto appeared through the dust and punched her in the face. Naruto quickly jumped up, using the falling pieces of ground as leverage, only for a snake's jaws to rush towards him. Kari appeared, swinging him out of the way and then gripping him around the middle as wings shot out of her back. She clenched her teeth anxiously, she couldn't perform hand seals while she was holding Naruto.

"Naruto, Kari!!" Jiraiya shouted.

"You're dealing with me!" Orochimaru shouted, heading straight for Jiraiya. A jet of flame stopped him, allowing Jiraiya the necessary time to do a jutsu.

"Doton; Yumi Numa!" Jiraiya shouted. The snakes faltered, as the ground became soft and they sank into Jiraiya's swamp. "K'so, I can't submerge them completely with such a small swamp! The drug is still affecting me… But the snake can't move in that state."

"Ah, a ryuu," Orochimaru said with a smirk, watching the dragon glide through the sky, shooting fire at the other snake. "Your summon suits you Kari-hime."

Kabuto dodged Shizune's poisoned senbon, and then turned, striking her in the chest with his chakra filled palm. As she slid back she quickly performed another jutsu.

"Ninpou; Dokugiri!" Shizune cried, breathing out a huge dark purple fog to engulf Kabuto.

"Even a breath of this will be fatal!" Kabuto cried alarmed. Acting quickly, he burrowed into the ground, his hand shooting up from underneath Shizune and wrapping around her ankles. Kabuto came out of the ground as Shizune collapsed.

'He got my leg tendons…'

Kari struggled to avoid the snake's attacks, her summoned dragon shooting balls of flame at it. The snake hissed violently when the scorching heat struck its nose and lunged at the dragon, its jaws closing down on it. Kari grimaced as her summon disappeared in a poof of smoke.

"Kari-chan!" Naruto cried in alarm, but she didn't have time to react before a thick scaled tail slammed into her side, sending her and Naruto flying, their fall stopped by a hard boulder and then the ground near the edge of the swamp.

"Let's begin," Orochimaru said facing Jiraiya. The snake-nin shot forward, his neck elongating becoming like a snake itself. Acting quickly, Jiraiya quickly made seals for a defensive jutsu.

"Ninpou; Hari Jizou!" Jiraiya cried, his spiky white hair becoming hard and sharp, wrapping around him like a protective cocoon. Orochimaru's kick was proved useless, the spikes impaling his foot, but he used this to his advantage to pull the cocoon open slightly, enough to allow him to sink his teeth into Jiraiya's neck.

"Shimatta, my technique isn't working either," Jiraiya growled.

"Even though we both have handicaps, it looks like we can still see the difference between us, just give up," Orochimaru said against Jiraiya's throat.

Shizune cried out as Kabuto struck her again in the face. Shizune fell to the ground panting through her pain. She was defeated, blood trailing from the corners of her mouth. Tsunade shook in terror, her heart quickening as images of her dead brother and dead love haunted her eyes. Kabuto walked forward slowly, extending his hand towards her but she gave a choked scream ad slapped it away. Kabuto looked at her with disgust.

"This is unfortunate, I had admired you as a medical ninja like me," he took a step forward.

"Yamero! Get away!" Tsunade screamed, shuffling backwards in fear.

"Please get a hold of yourself Tsunade-sama. Otherwise the reputation of the Sannin, of which Orochimaru-sama is a part, will be diminished." He went to kick her, but was instead thrown to the side with a vicious slap to his face. Kari stood in front of Tsunade breathing heavily, her hand still stinging from the hit. "Ah, the back up?" Kari growled knowing she wasn't strong enough t fight him, she hadn't recovered from her battle with Itachi and the wounds from Gaara and the Chuunin final were still quite sore, although almost healed. She glanced down at her left wrist, she had landed on her left side when she fell and had worsened it, as well as her left wing. She glared at Kabuto with disgust and clenched her right fist, her wings disappearing.

"You used to be called the insanity of the village, but now you're carrying around a child and working hard for the village. You've fallen," Orochimaru said panting, looking down at Jiraiya who was down on one knee, in equally bad shape. "My ability to se through someone's talent is top notch," he glanced at Naruto. "That kid is nothing but ordinary. Is that why you've stolen Kari-hime from me?"

"Hmph, that's why. I don't need an Uchiha kid. There's no fun in raising a genius who learns fast. You think I stole Kari? Her and Naruto come as a package," Jiraiya said with a smirk.

"So you can't leave him alone because he reminds you of your old self? That child cannot beat an Uchiha born with the ninja talent Sharingan, since Naruto-kun does not possess the Sharingan. Nor can he beat Kari-hime with her strength and speed," Orochimaru said simply. "A ninja's talent is determined whether he can possess and master all the techniques in the world. A ninja, as the name suggests, is someone who uses ninja techniques."

"Hmph, that's not what determines a ninja's talent," Jiraiya said with a smirk. "You still don't understand? A ninja is someone who stands and endures it."

"A difference of opinion," Orochimaru said with a smirk.

"Let me tell you one thing," Jiraiya said simply. "The most important talent for a ninja to have is not his amount of techniques; the most important thing, is to never give up!"

Kabuto rose and approached Kari his hand curling into a fist, he drew back and then his hand shot forward, going to strike her in the face, but instead his knuckles met a hard metal plate. His eyes widened when he saw Naruto in front of him, his blue eyes in a protective glare, blood trailing down his nose.

"Temee, cut it out already!" Naruto growled, building up a Rasengan in his hands.

"The guts to never give up, they both have that," Jiraiya said with a smirk.

Naruto charged, Rasengan in hand, but Kabuto dodged, his hand lighting with Chakra. Kabuto struck Naruto's thigh, causing him to fall to the ground. Kari gasped at the sudden pain and stumbled, falling to one knee, pain shooting down her leg. Kabuto smirked.

'I don't know what kind of jutsu you learned, but you can't hit me with a big motion like that.'

'It's no good dattebayou, I can't hit someone who's moving,' Naruto though hissing with pain and sitting up grasping his thigh. "Ite-e…" 'Also, I can't retain my Chakra perfectly yet…'

"It seems like your thighbone is cracked from your battle with the snake. But then again, you could still move with a bone injury. But you can't anymore. I cut your right leg's vatus lateralis," Kabuto said simply. He smirked. "Which also means, I no longer have to worry about Kari-chan's speed."

'What should I do dattebayou? My jutsu uses two hands. If he gets one of my hands it's over for me.' Naruto thought. Kabuto chuckled.

"Are you afraid of me? Do you want to run away from here?" Kabuto asked as he held up a familiar card, one of his ninja-info cards. "Naruto-kun, this is what you said during the first Chuunin Exam right? 'Screw you, I'm not going to run away! I'll take this shit! Even if I stay a Genin forever, I'm going to become Hokage no matter what dattebayou! So I don't give a shit!' Can you say the same thing right now?" Kabuto asked.

"Unlike you I'm going to become Hokage for sure! Hokage is my dream!" Tsunade remembered.

"You're not a kid anymore so you shouldn't act like one. Give up when the situation calls for it and run away when you need to. Hey now… what's with those eyes?" Kabuto asked seeing Naruto's glare. "You're going to die. If you die, your dream won't come true."

"Do you want to die? Nawaki you're still a Genin, so just run from the enemy on the battlefield," Tsunade scolded.

"Don't tell a man to run!" Nawaki cried stubbornly.

Tsunade grasped her necklace as she remembered her brothers words.

"Kids think everything is easy. That's why they have no shame in having stupid dreams. That's why they don't give up," Kabuto said, taking slow steps towards Naruto.

"Jiraiya, are you the one that taught him the Rasengan? Are you acting like a teacher by teaching him things he can never master? Don't give him any ideas! That's why this kid likes to daydream he's going to become Hokage someday!"

Tsunade's eyes widened realising Kari wasn't in front of her anymore. She was now standing shakily in front of Naruto, determined to protect him as she leant heavily on her left leg. Kabuto punched her in the jaw sending her to the ground.

"You're going to chase after a stupid dream and die," Kabuto said, repeatedly kicking Naruto and watching in amusement at how Kari would flinch with every hit.

"Me and Kari-chan can master this move in three days!"

"Then let's make a bet."

"Kuso," Naruto hissed catching Kabuto's kick and pushing him back. "I'm not going to take back my words," he hissed as he and Kari struggled to stand up. "That's my Nindou!"

"A bet?"

"I'll give you one week. If you can master the move in that time, I'll acknowledge that you can become Hokage and I'll give you this necklace."

"You should've just stayed out of this," Kabuto said simply, his hand glowing blue. In a swift movement he back handed Kari across the face, sending her into Naruto, the both of them landing in front of Tsunade.

"Nande…? Nande?" Tsunade whispered as she watched them support each other as they stood.

"Tsunade… no Obaachan," Naruto said.

"Still going to fight?" Kabuto asked.

"Me and Kari-chan are going to take that unlucky necklace that you promised in the bet," Naruto said.

"Mou ii! Don't protect me anymore Naruto, Kari! Stop!" Tsunade pleaded, but they just stood beside each other.

"I said that when you became stubborn, you die!" Kabuto cried, pulling out a kunai and charging towards them. "When you die you'll lose everything including your dream!"

"Move! Just get out of the way, Naruto, Kari! Nigero!!" Tsunade begged, but they ignored her and stood firm.

"Daijoubu dattebayou," Naruto said with a smirk. Blood shot through the air as Kari caught Kabuto's fist, the sharp edge of the kunai cutting through the skin between her fingers but was stopped from getting too deep by her knuckle guards. Naruto looked at her, and due to the bond they shared, no words were needed. He wanted to protect her, not wanting to see her hurt anymore. She just smirked, showing that she wanted to protect him, not the other way around.

"Until… Until I become Hokage, I won't die!" Naruto cried. Kari smirked wider as Kabuto struggled, unable to break her tight grip. "Now you can't run, eat this!"

Kari held out her hand, beginning to spin her Chakra as Naruto pawed at it, adding large amounts of his own Chakra, making it larger, spinning it faster.

"The same Chakra motion!" Kabuto cried, "No it's…"

"They're combining their Chakra into one technique!" Tsunade cried. She watched in awe as Naruto threaded his fingers with Kari's, helping her support the Chakra.

"Compress the Chakra… and retain it… retain it!!"

"Their Chakra is in perfect sync! Did they?!" Tsunade cried as together they thrust the glowing blue ball into Kabuto's stomach.

"Naru-Kari style; Kumiawase Rasengan!!"

Kabuto yelled in pain and he quickly surrounded his hands with Chakra, slamming them into Naruto's and Kari's chest simultaneously.

Kabuto was sent flying back in a ball of white light, a furrow forming in the ground where he slid until he hit a large boulder, leaving such a large crater in it, it looked more like an igloo. Naruto and Kari panted, hands still intertwined.

Meanwhile as Orochimaru and Jiraiya continued to battle the toad sage smirked. 'They did it, together.'

'That Kyuubi gaki… can use a technique like that?' Orochimaru thought sceptically.

'Could it be… could they have together mastered Rasengan in just one week and practically created a whole new version of it?' Tsunade thought in amazement. However, Kabuto was still smirking, He was barely standing with a huge burn across his torso. His smirk widened when Naruto and Kari both choked up blood. Kabuto became blurry as they panted and they both fell back their eyes closing. Tsunade gasped and ran over to them. Kabutotook a few steps forward.

"You took that attack yet…" Tsunade trailed off.

"I protected my stomach with Chakra and began healing myself before I was even hit with the technique. The reason Orochimaru likes me is not for my superior abilities, nor is it for my talent with techniques, it's my overwhelming healing power, my ability to induce cells to generate new ones," Kabuto explained as his wound healed before her eyes. 'Maa, in exchange I use up most of my Chakra…' "It looks like this technique was Naruto-kun and Kari-chan's last gamble, but…" He was cut off by a heavy cough, choking up blood, his glasses cracking before he fell to his front. 'Nani…? Even with my recovery skills I'm still this damaged? I don't have enough Chakra…'

Turning back to Naruto and Kari, Tsunade placed her ear against Naruto's chest. She listened carefully and then gasped in alarm.

"He's showing signs of arrhythmia! Which means…!" Tsunade turned in horror to look at Kari. She hadn't missed how the girl seemed to be effected by each of Naruto's injuries, which meant she was in the same state if not worse. She placed an ear over Kari's heart and her eyes widened in shock. She quickly unzipped Naruto's jacket, deciding to heal him first in hopes Kari would also start to heal. "K'so his cardiac muscles are a total mess!" Tsunade cried placing a hand on his chest. "But how?" She gasped remembering when Kabuto had grabbed the both when he was being hit with Rasengan. 'At that time? He cut up the muscles of their hearts during that move?' Using her Chakra she cut open his shirt. "Stop shaking!" she scolded herself. She didn't look up when Kita rushed over, but the presence calmed her slightly.

"Ne, Gamakichi-niisan can we get a snack? Those people are dying," Gamatatsu asked as they watched with Tonton from the safety of a rock.

"You're annoying! Urusai!!" Gamakichi shrieked at his idiot brother.

"It's too late for Naruto-kun," Kabuto said as Tsunade pressed her glowing green hands over Naruto's heart, struggling to heal him. "I've cut the keirakukei (Chakra circulatory system) to their hearts that convert their demons Chakra into strength with my full strength, to ensure that there is no chance of them healing themselves. Kari-chan had already suffered Raikiri damage and a Jyuuken to the heart, she meant to be dead already, but her demons can't heal her anymore… There's no way they'll recover, even by your hand, Kari's body rejects foreign Chakra."

"Urusai!!" Tsunade shouted. "I'll kill you later." Her eyes widened in horror. "His breathing has stopped!" She looked at Kari to see her chest was still, no longer taking in oxygen. "Chikusho, Chikusho, Chikusho!!"

"It's dark… It's dark in here, why is it getting darker?" the Kyuubi growled lowly.

"Kari-chan's body is shutting down…" Kokoro whispered.


"It's too soon… But we can't help her…" Kitai murmured, her chakra starting to dull.

"Looks like we're going back to my lair after all, I'll be free…" Kumouri growled in weakened pleasure. "Hurry and die…"

"If she dies…"

"It's so dark…"

"She can't die… Even you know that Kumouri…"

"It's too late… Her heart's stopped…"

"Nande…" the Kyuubi growled as his eyes began to close. He was surprised when he heard the dripping of water. "Nan de…?"

"Don't die! Don't die! Don't die! Don't die! Don't die!!" Tsunade begged as her tears slowly fell onto Naruto's body. She gasped when Naruto's hand closed around her necklace. He opened an eye slowly.

"We won… the bet…" he said with a smile. "Give it to Kari-chan for me?" he whispered before closing his eyes.

"'Becoming Hokage is my dream' eh? And hers is to help you achieve that dream…" Tsunade said softly as Naruto's hand fell into hers. "One last time…" she said softly walking around him over to Kari. She placed her hand over Kari's chest and almost laughed with relief when she felt the soft thud of a heartbeat. "One last time… I want to put my hope in the both of you." She picked up Kari's head and placed the necklace around her neck, she set her back down and picked up her tiny hand and held it tightly.

"That boy doesn't seem to be too well," Orochimaru commented their battle having paused again. 'Kabuto if you have killed Kari-hime I will not be pleased…'

"Tsunade is a medical specialist. You don't have to worry, both should be fine."

"That's not what I meant."

"Besides, you're fighting with me, you shouldn't have time to look away," Jiraiya said.

'I didn't expect him to be able to do this much… If he falls into Akatsuki hands it could be trouble…' Orochimaru thought looking at Naruto. 'In other words, now's the time… to kill him!!' Orochimaru thought diving towards Naruto. Jiraiya quickly followed, only for Orochimaru to wrap his tongue around Jiraiya's ankle.

"Shimatta!" Jiraiya cried as he was flung into the ground. Orochimaru picked up speed, and opening his mouth wider a snakes head came out, a sword coming out of the snake's mouth.

"He's going for that boy!" Tsunade cried in alarm.

It seemed to happen in slow motion, as Orochimaru came close to Naruto, Kari's eyes shot open and without hesitation shielded Naruto with her own body, the sword piercing her chest. Tsunade had tried to protect Naruto but hadn't counted on Kari being able to move. The sword had also pierced her, her body shaking from pain.

Realising his mistake, Orochimaru jumped back, swallowing his tongue and sword with ease. Kari immediately fell limp, Tsunade catching her as tears began to flow down her face again.

"Tsunade, you and Kari-chan were the only ones I didn't intend to kill," Orochimaru said disappointed. He was ignored, tears streaming down Tsunade's face and mixing with Kari's blood.

Placing Kari down, she cut the girls shirt, slicing straight through the bandages. Her hands glowed green and lowered towards Kari, but chakra seared her hands, leaving a stinging sensation.

"Kari's body rejects foreign Chakra."

"No! No Kari! Don't die! Don't die!!" Tsunade cried as she tried again, only for the dark Chakra to push her away. Blood was covering the front of her ribs now, slowly sliding down her stomach.

"I want to protect those precious to me…"

"IIE!" Tsunade cried.

"You're everything to him… Don't leave him…" Tsunade whispered, her voice choking. She glanced at Naruto before finding her inner strength. "No, I will not allow you to die!" Pouring Chakra into her hands they glowed a brighter stronger green. She thrust her hands down, ignoring the sting of the protesting demonic Chakra.

"Kari-chan needs her help…"

"No."

"We're still too weak from the Sharingan…"

"No!"

"If you keep rejecting her you'll run out of Chakra and she'll be healed anyway. Why not save your strength?"

"…Only this one."

Tsunade gasped as the Chakra stopped rejecting her. She managed to close the wound, her heart beginning to lift. Her hands moved slightly and she worked on repairing the punctured lung. 'Arigatou… Arigatou…' She moved away, having healed her as best she could. Her eyes lingered on the other healing wounds. 'Stab wounds, broken ribs, bruising… I'll heal you more after the battle Kari-chan, but I need to protect you now.' She looked round at Naruto and she had to suppress both tears and a smile. 'Like how you protect him…' she thought looking at their hands, still intertwined.

"It'll be troublesome in many ways if that boy lives," Orochimaru said.

"These two… I will definitely protect them at all costs!" Tsunade cried, her fingers gripping the grass underneath her.

"Hn, covered in blood and trembling. Why would you, one of the Sannin, want to risk your life to protect a mere Genin?" Orochimaru asked. Tsunade coughed up blood, reminding her that she was injured too.

"To protect… Konohagakure no sato!" Tsunade cried.

"To protect Konoha?" Orochimaru repeated.

"Because… That's because this little kid is someone who will eventually become Hokage, with that girl by his side," Tsunade said.

"Talking about such nonsense," Orochimaru chuckled. "Besides, the title of Hokage is nothing but a load of crap! Only a baka would take the job." Tsunade gasped remembering the exact same words coming out of her own mouth. She stood up weakly. "From now on, I too will risk my life!" she cried causing Orochimaru to smirk.

"If your life is so worthless that you can throw it away for a baka kid like him, then hurry up and die as you should!" Orochimaru cried, spitting out his sword and slicing in it in a diagonal motion across her chest. She fell to the ground still. "Now all that's left is Naruto-kun," Orochimaru said smirking, his blade sticking out of his mouth.

"Tsunade-sama!!" Shizune screamed as Jiraiya also sat up. He made a hand sign knowing there was no chance he could make it in time but still desperate to try. Orochimaru swung his blade down but was blocked by Tsunade's back.

She can still move even after I cut through her lungs?!' Orochimaru thought in shock, retracting his blade. "Are you still going to protect a kid like him?"

"Like I said, from here on, I too will risk my life!!" Tsunade cried.

"You're half dead!!" Orochimaru shouted, kicking her away. "No matter how much you pretend, your trembling won't stop," he mocked as she lay there shaking. "You can't free yourself from your paralyzing fear of blood. Why are you even doing all this and going so far for these kids? I want Kari-hime, but I wouldn't die for her. Why do you fight for the sake of a mere leaf?" Tsunade's body froze and she shot up, her leg smacking into Orochimaru's jaw. "Unbelievable! Her trembling has stopped!"

"That's because I'm… Konoha no-sato's Godaime Hokage!!" Tsunade shouted, the diamond mark in the centre of her forehead extending across her forehead in a dark purple pattern and sliding down her cheeks almost like tears.

"That seal is…!"

"Tsunade-sama has overcome her fear of blood!" Shizune cried. "But that's…!"

"What are you planning to do at a time like this?" Orochimaru asked, standing up. "Even if you've overcome your fear of blood, you can't fight properly with injuries like that!" Tsunade scoffed and made a hand seal.

"Matte kudasai! I'll heal your injuries! Please! Don't undo the seal!" Shizune begged.

"Seal release! Ninpou; Souzou Saisei!" Tsunade cried and her wounds immediately began to heal.

"Looks like I'm not the only one creating new techniques, what kind of technique is that?" Orochimaru asked.

"Nani? I have been collecting Chakra in my forehead for a long time. With that enormous amount of Chakra I simulated various proteins, increasing the cell division rate by many times and used that to restore all my organs and tissues. It's not a healing ability but rather a regeneration ability. In other words, I can't die in battle," Tsunade explained rubbing the blood away from her mouth with her thumb.

'But the number of times that human cells can divide is constant, speeding that u reduces ones life span,' Shizune thought worriedly. Tsunade wiped the blood on her arm. "Tsunade-sama!"

'K'so, come out you…' Jiraiya thought biting his thumb.

"Orochimaru-sama!"

"Hurry!" Orochimaru hissed to Kabuto who rolled up his sleeve and spread his blood across the seal.

"Inu, tori, saru, i, hitsuji!" Jiraiya cried. Tsunade, Jiraiya and Kabuto slammed their hands to the ground.

"Kuchiyose no jutsu!!"

In a huge cloud of smoke, the Sannin each stood upon their greatest summon; Orochimaru on a large violent snake with Kabuto, Tsunade on a white and blue slug with Naruto, Kari and Kita behind her, and Jiraiya on Gamabunta.

"Oi otouchan!" Gamatatsu called dopily, waving at Gamabunta's back. The large snakes eyes looked down at the small frogs and pig.

"This is bad! Gamatatsu lets get outta here!" Gamakichi cried.

"Huh? Nande?"

"Just hurry up and come!"

"Manda and Orochimaru, Katsui and Tsunade," Gamabunta said in recognition he took a deep drag on his pipe, blowing out the smoke. "These sure are nostalgic faces. Are you holding a reunion or something after all this time Jiraiya?"

"Baka, I brought you out for the first time in a long while, stop saying stupid things," Jiraiya said with a smirk. "I just thought it was about time we put an end to our prolonged relationship. We will defeat Orochimaru, here, today."

"Oi, Orochimaru. Don't bring me out in such troublesome situations," the snake grumbled in a deep voice its light teal eyes looking up at its summoner. "Temee, I'll eat you!"

"Please don't say that Manda-sama, I'll give you an offering to make up for this later for sure," Kabuto promised.

"Who asked you?" Manda snapped. "Don't talk to me so casually gaki." Kabuto fell silent. "Oi Orochimaru, prepare at least 100 sacrifices later," Manda ordered.

'Even if he's here at Orochimaru's call, if Manda finds out that Orochimaru can't use his techniques I'm sure that he'll betray him.' Kabuto thought anxiously. 'Eve though we had no other choice in this situation, summoning Manda in this situation was a very risky bet.'

"Katsui, take the kids and wolf to Shizune," Tsunade commanded.

"Hai, I understand," Katsui replied in a gentle feminine voice. A smaller Katsui clone rose out of the actual Katsui with Naruto Kari and Kita on it's back.

"Yosh, I can fight too!" Shizune cried as she finished healing her legs. She stood but was blocked when a large slug dropped in front of her.

"Shizune-sama, please take care of these children," Katsui requested.

"Naruto-kun, Kari-chan…" Shizune said softly.

"Also, starting now, this is going to become a violent battle, so please go far away with my clone and hide. This is what Tsunade-sama wants."

"Tsunade-sama…"

Gamabunta took a deep drag on his pipe, before blowing out the steam in Manda's face.

"Temee, you want to become a dried toad, eh?!"

"I just so happened to want a snake-skin wallet y'know," Gamabunta said, his webbed hand curling around the handle of his katana.

"Orochimaru, you've become too evil, we're no longer comrades," Jiraiya said.

"Comrades? Ehehee, that gives me the shivers," Orochimaru chuckled.

"The title of "Sannin" will have one less holder after today!" Tsunade cried before unleashing her attack, the battle having begun.