Chapter 28 A shinobi that never backs down
Naruto decided against his life's safety to admit to what Jiraiya had blurted out earlier as true. He confessed to everything, these included sneaking in to book stores to do some 'research' for the Harem jutsu, to going as far as helping Jiraiya with his own 'research'. It didn't stop there though as Naruto continued his confession with a now furious blush across his features. Once he had 'made it' to the end he mused his certain prediction of what was to come next.
'I....am so dead.'
Sakura herself was quite flushed by Naruto's long confession of his 'sins', but kept a neutral face for as much as she could. When she had concluded Naruto couldn't handle it anymore, she gave him an honest smile, which he didn't see at the time since his eyes were focused on the table. He finally built up the courage to look at her gaze.
'Might as well look at death in its pretty face.' He concluded, but gasped when he finally saw the smile.
Sakura sighed now fully calmed, "That...took a lot of guts to admit that to somebody, especially a girl of all people Naruto, even though I was willing to ignore it. While I highly detest things such as 'researching' for an effective ... Harem Jutsu...and other things you said." She paused to keep control of her embarrassed flush, "You admitted it to me, and you are indeed ashamed of your past. I am honestly surprised you turned out like this in the end, even with being stuck with Ero-sennin for two years to be honest. For willing to trust me and tell me Naruto, I will not kill you today."
Naruto couldn't believe what he just heard. He just confessed his perverted history to somebody that was the apprentice to someone that he knows DESPISES perverts to the highest degree...and she is letting him go?
"However...I cannot let my gender not give their warning." She then changed in a single eye blink to the hardest, coldest glare Naruto had ever seen, her eyes practically were burning with killing intent. Her jaw was clenched too and held an extremely firm frown.
"Naruto..." This voice was by far the worst he had ever heard, it wasn't even demonic, the voice was so cold so...evil, yet so disturbingly quiet at the same time.
"If you ever, and I mean ever, look at hentai, use the harem jutsu, pass your 'knowledge' to a minor like Konohamaru, try to peek on girls, or help Ero-sennin with his 'research' again...your death will be the last thing you will have to worry about when I am through with you!"
Naruto was so thankful he went to the bathroom before they had this conversation, he probably would have had something else to add to his list of humiliations just then. He had never been so scared in his life. His throat was dry as if he hadn't drank for days, he was sweating enough to fill a bucket, his eyes were bulging out of their sockets in terror, and his skin didn't contain an ounce of tan left in it. Sakura didn't seem to be amused by his state and dropped her killing aura.
"For god sakes I am not the grim reaper Naruto." She said in a huff. Naruto finally shook himself out of his pathetic state, and nodded in acceptance to the unnegotiable promise made.
Sakura added, "It is your choice to do what you want Naruto, it's your life after all. I honestly won't do anything, but just letting you know...I will be very disappointed in you."
Naruto seemingly sprung back to life with that one sentence. "I promise Sakura-chan, I will not let you down!" Naruto said as if he was given an S ranked mission.
Sakura chuckled at the way he treated the situation, "I am glad to know." She said through her chuckles, while something else now came past her mind.
"So this is how you taught Konohamaru to get so decent at henge no jutsu." The blond was not freed from his embarrassment while muttering yes.
Her grin showed she wasn't angry however, "I do not approve of your 'methods' in the least...but I have to admit you really are a master at it."
"Really?"
"Of course I mean it. Konohamaru fooled me time and time again with the blasted jutsu...the little pest."
The two turned eyes though to the sound of the door bells ringing as somebody entered the hotel. Soon Kakashi walked in seeming surprisingly alert and tense, but his gaze wasn't on either of them, causing both to share a glance in confusion.
Sakura spoke their shared question aloud in concern, "Kakashi-sensei...where is Shikamaru and Lee-san?...and what is wrong sensei?"
Kakashi finally met their questioning gaze, "They will be joining us soon...Pakkun is back...he found their base..."
The other two's eyes widened in interest, taking note their sensei was dragging his words, "...Pakkun also found Sasuke at their headquarters."
Kakashi was not remotely phased that when he mentioned of their old teammate had both shoot out of their chairs, with Naruto knocking his over as they stared at him with dish wide mouths. Naruto didn't think it through though and bared a surprise smile instead.
"Sasuke is there!? We not only get to solve this ANBU problem, but can bring him back to the village too datteba-"
He felt a hand rest firmly on his shoulder, and turned in question to Sakura, whose head was looking at the floor, with no similar happiness across her features present.
She finally met his gaze and said softly, and also with a small tremor woven in, "Naruto....if Sasuke-kun is there with the ANBU that means...he wants to k-...he wants to k-"
Sakura couldn't finish her sentence because of the overwhelming shock, but Naruto was by far worse with his sudden gasp and his eyes almost bulging out now understand what she struggled to say.
"N-No..." He staggered but Kakashi interrupted both of them.
"Sakura is right I am afraid...if Sasuke is truly there Naruto..." Kakashi's eye cringed hating to have to say it, but pressed on.
"There is a very high chance Naruto that he is there...to kill you."
Sakura gave Naruto a squeeze on his shoulder for comfort and reluctantly broke her gaze off him and asked, "...Why...why does Sasuke-kun want to try and k-kill Naruto?" She asked still in shock herself.
"Sasuke is after the mangekyou sharingan." Kakashi suddenly said in a slight disappointed tone.
Sakura's eyes held bafflement to the name, 'mangekyou sharingan? What is-'
"The mangekyou sharingan is a special form of the sharingan, it grants its users new doujutsu that are S rank in power. I have been hit by one of these doujutsu before when Sasuke's brother came to the village. He was able to torture me in a genjutsu for seventy two hours in my mind, when in reality not even three seconds had past. Jiraiya also was telling me about his own encounter, where he had used some black fire to burn a hole through a frogs stomach, and the fire continued to burn for days." Kakashi paused briefly but then continued.
"One such requirement to achieve the mangekyou sharingan...is to be directly involved in the death of your best friend or loved ones." Sakura gasped in shock and quickly turned her full attention to Naruto. Naruto's gaze had dropped to the floor, his jaw was clenched as well as his knuckles, which were turning white.
"Naruto..." She was silenced when he stopped shaking, relaxed his knuckles, and said in un-Naruto like seriousness at Kakashi with a grin.
"I do not care, We will bring back Sasuke, even if we have to break his arms and legs and drag him back!"
Sakura smiled and released her grasp on his shoulder, 'Same old Naruto'
Kakashi also beamed internally, 'There is the never backing out shinobi I know.'
"So I take it that means we are still going in then?" Shikamaru was heard from their side, and they turned to meet both Shikamaru and Lee standing by the wall, near the 'new entrance' Sakura made earlier.
"Of course we are, why wouldn't we?!"
"We are not going to move out though until another days time." All eyes were on Kakashi in question, and he continued.
"It probably would be best to ensure we are all truly prepared for the task at hand. Shikamaru will also need more time to think of a strategy with this...development. Shikamaru should have a new plan prepared by tomorrow." Kakashi announced void of emotion, as he shared a glance with each member while talking.
Shikamaru scratched his head and groaned at the long night ahead of him, "Looks like you are going to have to explain to me the entire situation, Pakkun."
Said dog revealed his small head outside, "No problem Shikamaru...and by the way, what is Jiraiya doing outside on the street knocked out?"
Shikamaru had arranged it so that they took it in pairs to watch over the night in shifts, but as he expected, no incidents occurred. Sakura didn't get much sleep last night, as Kakashi's discovery made her entire night restless.
'Sasuke-kun...' Sakura's fist unconsciously clenched as she looked at herself in her attire in the mirror, with her forehead protector held in her other hand. She remembered that night like it was just yesterday, in truth it was a memory she kept replaying in an endless loop. It was the night he left the village.
'Did I really mean what I said with leaving with him?' She asked her reflection in hope for an answer.
'I was just desperate to not let him leave, I would not have truly gone with him....right?'
Sakura groaned when she still didn't have her answer, and placed her forehead protector on her head and tightened the end firmly until she felt the pressure of the steel pushing onto her brain. She went downstairs and made her usual morning hot chocolate and narrowed her eyes as she waited for the milk to warm up.
'...I really am pathetic.' She scolded as she walked back out into the lounge with her steaming drink. She turned her head when she heard footsteps coming from the stairs, to reveal it was Naruto who held a small grin across his face at discovering her presence.
'...What would Naruto have done if he went to Sasuke that night instead of me?'
"Good morning Sakura-chan!" Naruto beamed at his usual volume. Sakura nodded her head in recognition and muttered 'Good morning Naruto' although her voice sounded quite dull.
Naruto noticed it and asked calmly as he approached, "Is something wrong Sakura-chan?"
Sakura was taken aback by the question but quickly shook it off and replied, "Nothing is wrong Naru-"
"Sakura-chan." Naruto said flatly and gave a knowing smile as he sat down next to her.
Sakura groaned internally, 'When did he get so good at knowing when I am lying?' She then looked into his deep blue eyes and smiled at realisation.
'If Naruto did meet Sasuke that time, he would have offered to help him. But...'
"Well..." Sakura said through her soft smile.
'He would never of had let him leave, and the thought of leaving with Sasuke-kun would probably have never even crossed as an option.'
"...I didn't get much sleep last night." Sakura admitted.
Naruto smiled in return and knew the reason as clear as day, "Sasuke?"
Sakura widened her eyes for a moment, but nodded slowly, 'What does that make me then?' Sakura's mind asked in disgust of herself.
Naruto didn't shift his soft gaze from her tired emerald orbs as he spoke with a fox smile, "Don't worry Sakura-chan, I am sure that he is ok. He is too strong to let anything happen to him. Once we have the a-"
"That is not what I am restless about Naruto!" Sakura interrupted slightly louder than necessary and then said without shifting her gaze above a whisper.
"I am worried about you!"
Naruto's eyes widened and went slightly agape, but he quickly recovered with a genuine smile, "Don't worry Sakura-chan, I will be fine." he assured. Sakura looked hard into his eyes seeing his honesty behind his playful demeanour.
'... if Sasuke-kun is serious about killing Naruto...I will not let him...I will stop him...I will.....' Sakura couldn't finish her train of thought.
'...I can't kill him...god what is wrong with me?!' She cried internally, as she let out a groan in frustration and averted her gaze to the table as she drank from her mug.
She gasped lightly in surprise when she felt a warm hand rest across her shoulders, giving a comforting squeeze on her tensed right shoulder. She looked up and met the warming smile of Naruto.
"Don't worry Sakura-chan...I promise I will try and stay out of trouble." He said again surprisingly soft and yet so strongly, as his playful nature was gone showing his true honesty...but the affect made Sakura return her own genuine soft smile.
'I might not have the strength within myself to kill Sasuke-kun...but I will never betray you Naruto!'
"Baka..." Sakura said softly as she then giggled.
"You and staying out of trouble cannot go in the same sentence." She teased with a wide smile.
Naruto pouted and did his childish whine through a growing smile, "That is so mean Sakura-chan."
His whine resulting in Sakura laughing lightly, 'Thanks Naruto.'
Kakashi walked out of his room while still reading.
'This is so disappointing...this book is so great...but I barely have time to read it!' He sulked as he closed the book and placed it into his weapon pouch. Kakashi made his way down the stairs, and his ears caught interest in a conversation happening between his two students.
"Would you like your last ramen bowl this morning Naruto?" Sakura asked as she took another mouth full of her hot chocolate.
Naruto shook his head, "I was wondering if I could save it for after this is all over Sakura-chan." Naruto replied. Sakura nodded in understanding and finished her drink. Kakashi made his entrance soon after.
"Good morning Sakura, Naruto." Kakashi announced with his U shaped smile. He grinned when he heard the chorus of 'morning Sensei' come from his students, as he walked into the kitchen.
He came back with three apples in his hands, as he tossed the extra two to his students and sat on the other side of the table in front of them.
"How are both of you this morning?" Kakashi asked in interest.
Naruto and Sakura shared a glance, then Sakura turned back and grinned, "We are fine Kakashi-sensei, how are y-"
Sakura stopped and blinked while going slightly agape in surprise. Naruto soon joined her as Kakashi held an empty apple core in his hand and let out a satisfactory sigh. Kakashi then replied to her unfinished question unaware of either's shock. "I am good."
He opened his one visible eye and then noticed their shock. "Is something wrong?"
Sakura shook herself out of her deep theories, and responded, "We were wondering if we can continue our training sensei?" Sakura asked, with Naruto recovering soon after and nodding in agreement.
Kakashi looked at both his students, clearly seeing their eagerness to continue. 'This must be because of Sasuke...'. Kakashi nodded in agreement to his minds thoughts and his students, resulting in both grinning.
"Awesome Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto beamed and stood up almost itching to begin.
Kakashi ran a hand through his silver hair, "We will move back to where we were yesterday, you both go ahead. I will just check with Shikamaru first what he is doing." Kakashi said while still remaining seated.
"Yosha! It is a race then Sakura-chan!" Naruto declared and ran off.
"OI! At least give me a second to activate my weights baka!"
"Something tells me we were tricked Naruto." Sakura said flatly as she leaned against one of the few remaining standing trees. They had been waiting for Kakashi for at least half an hour and he hadn't shown up yet...and Sakura was predicting he wouldn't show up for another two hours at the minimum. Naruto shrugged from his crouched position next to her. Eventually Naruto agreed that he probably never was going to show up.
"Shall we work on the toruko rasengan then Sakura-chan?" Sakura joined Naruto at the base of the tree and answered after a moment's thought.
"Sorry Naruto, I would like to keep my chakra pool as high as possible for today, although I wouldn't usually mind at all." Sakura said while shrugging. Naruto nodded in acceptance and looked up the clouds in boredom, while casually forming a rasengan in his palm and dispersing it.
Sakura had pulled out her book and started reading quietly. Every now and then she turned her head to her side in question when she felt a sudden strong breeze blow against her body, and saw the dispersed cloud from Naruto's failed rasengan.
Sakura pulled her long hair away to reveal her small grin, "...Still pushing yourself too far I see." She said in light teasing to the furrowed brows of Naruto as he fixed eyes on his palm. Naruto sighed and tried again at his current limit.
Sakura perked an eyebrow and smirked. "You are getting better." She stated, as her eye noted that his speed had increased from last time, as well as the size. Her compliment seemed to have worked, as Naruto held a positive expression across his face. Sakura then returned to her reading, as Naruto stopped his practising after a few more minutes.
During Sakura's reading, occasionally she felt someone looking over her shoulder, which she turned to the source and grinned.
"Interested?" She asked in amusement.
Naruto shrugged, "I don't know anything about poisons." He said with interest clear in his voice. Sakura was almost taken aback by the claim.
"I never thought you would find any interest in the medical area at the least...did Ero-sennin teach you anything?" she teased lightly, while remaining neutral towards the end.
Naruto shook his head, "Ero-sennin basically said 'you don't have good enough chakra control gaki' and that was that." Naruto said with a shrug.
Sakura blinked in surprise, "That doesn't mean it's not useful to know about these sorts of things...poisons especially since they are commonly used by shinobi." Sakura said in disappointment at the sannin's logic.
Naruto scratched his head and asked, "Would you mind explaining a bit to me then Sakura-chan?"
Sakura nodded, "Of course, what would you like to know?" "Eh? What do you mean?" "Well there are all different kinds of areas to poisons. For example, there are different types, how they work, how they are countered."
Naruto held an embarrassed face as he ran a hand through his hair, "Umm...can you start at the beginning, please?"
Sakura went slightly agape at his question and unheard of manners, but soon grew a grin, "We are going to be here a while then..."
Sakura then began explaining to Naruto the basics of poisons, and the usual symptoms present with common ones used by standard shinobi and thieves. Naruto occasionally didn't understand, but Sakura more than happily explained again. During the time of her lecture, Sakura had no idea why, but she was really beginning to enjoy discussing what she knew with somebody who wasn't a doctor or medic.
Sakura then decided to give a bonus to her lecture, and actually show Naruto how poisons were countered. She reached into her weapon pouch and unsealed from her scroll one of her containers of medical herbs. "Poisons can be created in many ways, but the most common way of curing a poison is through medicine as you would know. We use specific plants that we mix to counter a poison." Sakura explained.
Naruto held a focused gaze and nodded, "But Sakura-chan isn't mixing plants...complicated?" Naruto said puzzled.
Sakura chuckled, but nodded, "Hai Naruto, it is not something anybody can do. While mixing these herbs can be beneficial, it also can be just as dangerous. A wrong mixture can worsen an illness if you are not careful, and others could cause more harm than good."
Naruto's eyes widened to the information, "So how do you work out what sort of poison a person has Sakura-chan?"
Sakura patted the book on her side, "There are many ways to determine that Naruto. The most common is by watching a person's symptoms, such as paling, double visioning and many others. However, most complicated poisons have more complex symptoms which would need to result to complicated methods."
Sakura held the book in front of her, "This book is a medical book from the Water country, it contains information on how to diagnose poisons via advanced methods." Naruto scratched his head and Sakura elaborated.
"For example Naruto, using chakra to enhance my ears slightly, I can listen to what is happening internally with the body."
Naruto raised an eyebrow but half nodded, "I think I understand."
Sakura grinned, "This book also contains some advanced methods on how to extract or remove poisons without the use of these herbs completely." Sakura said while pointing to the mixture.
Naruto's ears perked, "What sort of methods Sakura-chan?" Sakura smiled and reached for her canteen bottle.
"Please hold your hands together Naruto." she instructed. Naruto did as told and she filled his joined hands with a small load of water and then placed her hand over it. Naruto gasped when suddenly the small puddle of water in his hands lifted and surrounded Sakura's hand like a scalpel. Sakura chuckled at Naruto's dumbfounded features.
"This Naruto, is one of the most complicated extraction methods for a poison known to medic-nin's, and can only be performed by very few people. What you do is using chakra, I would push this water through a person's skin, and surround the infected organ with it." Sakura demonstrated by pushing the water into the tree they both were sitting up against, and Naruto went agape when the water was pushed through the tree.
"B-But why water?" Naruto stuttered in amazement.
Sakura grinned again, "Because the human body is mostly made up of water Naruto, meaning that it is not toxic once it is inside the person's body." Naruto nodded, still with his amazed gaze fixed on her hand as she continued.
"Once that is done, using my understanding of the infected poisons compounds...or for easier understanding let's say...how it behaves or looks like." Naruto nodded his head to show he understood as she then continued.
"I key my chakra on the poison and absorb the poison from the blood into this water. And then once this is done." Sakura placed her other hand next to the one with the water. Naruto practically yelped in shock when he saw water being absorbed from the tree, and forming in Sakura's other hand.
"Using my Chakra, I pull the water out of the victim again, freeing their system from the poison." Sakura said conclusively as she let the water drop from her hands onto the grass with a small splash.
Naruto was wide eyed and if it wasn't for his jaw, his mouth would be touching the ground, "Sakura-chan....you are.... awesome doesn't even describe you Sakura-chan, legendary is starting to sound more like it." Naruto said so sincerely in pride for his now heavily blushing in embarrassment friend.
Sakura was rubbing the back of her neck chuckling, "I am not that amazing Naruto." She managed to say as she tried to control her flush.
Naruto shook his head. "You are." he said softly, causing Sakura's flush to deepen.
'What is wrong with me?' she asked in question as to why Naruto's praising was affecting her this way.
The oblivious Naruto continued his praise, "As Shikamaru said Sakura-chan, it is a lot harder to fix something than to destroy something...that to me just shows how skilful you truly are." Sakura was forced to turn away, although she shook her flushed face in denial as she muttered.
"It might, but that isn't going to help me win a fight now is it?" she rebutted as her embarrassment finally died down.
Naruto nodded in slight agreement but added in a mutter 'You're too modest Sakura-chan'. Sakura decided to bring the topic back, and continued more seriously as she turned her head back to see Naruto.
"However Naruto, as you can understand that technique is very, very complicated. If I am not careful, I could easily kill a patient by doing it...which is why the method is only ever used if the situation calls for it."
Naruto still held his smile, "That doesn't mean you cannot perform it Sakura-chan. I might not know the real logic behind it, but the fact that you can demonstrate it to me proves you are either getting very close or you can use it on a person." Naruto said with a fox like smile.
Sakura's blush seemed to have returned as she muttered her response, "I can...but I just don't feel confident."
Naruto blinked and shook his head, "I would trust you using that on me Sakura-chan if the situation ever called for it."
Sakura turned wide eyed, "You...would?"
'I just told him if I screw up in the slightest I would kill the person...and he trusts me?!'
"Hell yeah! of course I trust you Sakura-chan." Naruto beamed, then repeated with a smile.
"You shouldn't put yourself down so much Sakura-chan, you are really amazing." Naruto scolded lightly.
Sakura turned her still flushed face away from the constant praising as her cheeks were flaring, "...Thank you for listening to me ramble Naruto." Sakura said softly with a hidden growing smile.
'Why am I acting like this? I usually am not affected by his praises this way!'
Naruto chuckle stopped her musing .
"What? That is all you know about poisons Sakura-chan?"
He crossed his arms playfully, "I guess you don't know much after all, I will just have to find somebody else to explain to me these things then." He said dismissively, as he tried to control his laughter.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Sakura growled as she turned to reveal her best attempt to make a glare, but only revealed her wide smile and her still pink hued face.
"I would be thrilled to hear more about what you know Sakura-chan...I admit I don't quite understand it in some areas, but I find it amazing." Naruto said surprisingly calmly.
Sakura's wide smile was joined by her wide, joy filled eyes, "Really?!"
"Dattebayo!"
Sakura smirked but then raised an eyebrow, "Why don't you tell me something then?"
Naruto blinked and Sakura chuckled, "I mean about what you know Naruto. I am sure you had some great adventures during your two year training, I want to know about them." Naruto honestly didn't know what to say as he muttered his excuse.
"They're not that inte-"
Sakura's very un-lady like snort interrupted him, "Now look who is being modest."
Naruto grinned but said in embarrassment, "Most of them...are not worth hearing." Sakura raised an eyebrow, then just remembered WHO he spent his entire time with.
Sakura still persisted, "You said Jiraiya-sama was a good person once you get to know him...tell me about those moments then." Naruto almost gasped in surprise to Sakura calling Jiraiya by his normal name but instead rubbed his head.
"I really don't know where to begin."
Sakura shrugged, "Tell me whatever you want to then, I am not fused." She said simply.
"You want to hear me talk about what I learnt, I am more than happy to oblige...but it is only fair to you if you tell me something too."
Naruto grinned in understanding, "Well...there was the time where Ero-sennin helped me learn to create the super kage bunshin."
"I am listening then, tell me how he helped you create the enhanced kage bunshin." Sakura said with a smile, ignoring Naruto's protest of 'Super! Its super kage bunshin Sakura chan'.
Sakura gave Naruto her complete attention and even asked him questions as he retold the story. She was happy to see he wasn't cutting corners either to end the retelling quickly, since she honestly did not mind at all.
She smiled at the end but asked in question, "An ice pop?" she said simply.
Naruto nodded and explained, "You know Sakura-chan, those ones that come with the two sticks, and you break them apart so you can share with another person." He demonstrated with the motion of splitting the block as if he had one in his hands.
Sakura widened her eyes in realisation, then relaxed, "Ah, I know the ones you are talking about."
Naruto grinned and continued, "So when I finally got it right, he came with one of those and gave it to me, but I was so exhausted I fell asleep and it melted." He said as he shrugged in embarrassment as Sakura gave a light laugh.
"Well, I see what you mean by him being a good person...minus a few...issues." She said in a small hiss towards the end.
Naruto nodded with a light chuckle, as both looked up at the sun and gave a small surprised gasp.
'We have been here sitting and talking for around over an hour?!' Both shared similar thoughts, and turned to each other in disbelief, only to see that they were both thinking the same thing.
"I must say, time flies when you're having fun hey Naruto?"
Naruto nodded in agreement, "I guess we better get started on our training then." Sakura grinned when she heard his half hearted protest.
"...But I don't see Kakashi-sensei anywhere yet." She said through a growing smirk as she even turned her head side to side to confirm. Naruto suddenly widened his eyes before forming his fox like smile.
"Does that-"
"What else would you like to know then, Naruto?" Before Naruto could say anything, Kakashi appeared several meters in front of them.
"Yo!" he said casually.
His sweat dropped heavy though when instead of showing recognition, they still continued talking as if he wasn't there.
"Please explain how medical jutsu's work Sakura-chan!" Naruto beamed showing his interest.
Sakura laughed at the chosen topic, "Baka, that would take a long time." Kakashi's only visible eye twitched though when she began her explanation, with what seemed to be a wide genuine smile across her features...did he miss something?!
'....First they punch a rasengan through a wall when I show up, now this?!... Naruto of all people, wanting to listen to somebody talk about medical jutsu's?!....Sakura explaining an extremely complicated process to Naruto with a smile?!....I thought they would have dug into their training because of Sasuke...but if this is what they decided to do instead....I think I DEFINITELY better start showing up later than normal if this is what they do when they are bored.'
Once one of the teens finally noticed their sensei, they got to their training soon after. A few hours into their training, they were soon greeted by Jiraiya and Lee, who continued what they were doing yesterday on the other side of the field. Kakashi noticed he was being flagged over to Jiraiya's position.
'So he needs my help again.'
Kakashi mused as he put up his hand to the students in front of him, "Let's take a break, I will be back soon." Kakashi said, then disappeared before Naruto could give his protests.
Sakura looked over in interest to where Kakashi was heading. She could see Lee had his nun chucks out, and when Jiraiya gave him the signal, he would start spinning them wildly around his body like Lee was trying to strike at opponent's completely around him...yet it didn't seem like it was for that purpose. She turned back though when she heard a groan of annoyance from Naruto.
"Really Naruto, we have been training for hours...unlike you, some people need a break." Sakura said, as she rubbed the over a bruise that had formed.
Naruto became quiet after that and nodded in acceptance, and walked over to sit under a tree. Sakura raised an eyebrow at Naruto's out of character antics, "You know I am just teasing right?" she said softly.
Naruto turned and blinked in confusion, "Huh? What about Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked in puzzlement, making it obvious his mind was elsewhere. Sakura joined him and reached for her bottle, along with a small container full of left over rice and chicken from yesterday.
"What is wrong?" Sakura said knowingly with a grin, as she began eating in patience. Naruto looked at her in disbelief.
'How did she?'
Naruto shook himself out of his confusion and responded, "I am very keen about being able to see Sasuke again after so long...this is what I have been training fo-"
Naruto paused when Sakura met him eye to eye with a glare, "This is what WE have been training for." She corrected in minor annoyance.
"Sorry." He muttered and Sakura continued once her glare dropped.
"I understand Naruto, really I do, honestly I feel the same...but remember something." Sakura swallowed her hesitation as she continued now with her food sitting on her lap.
"The reason we are pursuing these ANBU is not because of Sasuke-kun's presence...we are going there to put a stop to them from trying to kill you Naruto... us bringing Sasuke-kun back...is not our priority...do you understand?"
Naruto gritted his teeth, but calmed with a sigh. "I know." He said simply as he averted his gaze to the grass and crossed his arms over his pulled up knees, and rested his head over them.
Sakura raised an eyebrow in concern, "What is the matter Naruto?" she asked voicing her concern as she wondered if she was too harsh. Naruto raised his chin up so his face was no longer buried in his arms.
"I am just wandering...how strong he has gotten."
Sakura sighed, "...I am thinking that too."
As much as she wanted to avoid it, she had to ask, "...What happened that time at the valley of the end Naruto?" Naruto's seemingly lazy stance suddenly tensed as he looked to meet Sakura's neutral face with partial shock.
Naruto dropped his shock expression and sat up as he ran a hand through his hair and sighed as the memory came back to him like any other day, "I finally pursued him after the sound four...and that Kimimaru-teme were out of the way. I tried to talk to him Sakura-chan, eventually we got into a fight...I was only intending to knock some sense into him, but Sasuke..."
Naruto unconsciously had an itch on his chest at the recollection of what happened when he looked into those emotionless sharingan eyes that battle. Sakura did not miss the scratch, while watching her teammate rest his head again, not going to finish his sentence.
'What on earth happened to him?' Silence fell between them, while Sakura made her own assumption on what Naruto was about to say.
'He tried to kill you...'
"...I understand ." she whispered, feeling another wound opening up on the inside again.
'I knew I should have asked him about what happened when I had the chance the moment he came back...I bloody made it look like I didn't even care about him that day...then I even was about to leave to try and bring Sasuke-kun back alone.' she mused, deeply frustrated at her previous actions for what seemed like one of many times.
Sakura inwardly shook her head, 'I am not getting stuck into my mistakes yet again for today.' She inwardly concluded as her attention was back on Naruto, who was oblivious to her inner dilemma.
"Will you tell me about what happened?" The blond eyed his teammate's question, and instantly knew his answer the moment he saw the pain in her eyes.
'I can't tell Sakura-chan...it would kill her.'
"...There isn't anything really to say." His dismissive words made her face twitch.
'He is protecting me again!'
"Naruto...stop lying to protect me." Naruto broke away from her penetrating stare.
"I-I'm not!" he rebutted half heartedly.
The urge to hit him was quickly skyrocketing, but she instead tried to tackle it from another angle, "I know you are holding something back that will hurt me...but it is hurting me more that you do not trust me to be able to handle it."
"B-But I do trust you Sakura-chan!"
"Then tell me...please." She persisted, never looking away from his shifty and hesitant eyes.
"...What do you want to know?" Naruto reluctantly gave in, knowing he was going to regret relenting.
"What on earth did he do to you Naruto? And don't say he didn't do anything! I saw you covered in bandages from head to toe, and your arm was broken."
Naruto never could forget the battle at the Valley of the end, but he knew Sakura could only take so much and chose to only let out one detail that he knew would cut her enough.
"...He hit me with chidori." Naruto admitted almost in a reluctant whisper if anything else, but the result still hit Sakura loud and clear as she winced.
'Tsunade-sama's report said something about a very serious chest wound...Naruto.' Sakura closed her eyes for several moments but then opened to reveal they were glassy, but she held back the tears.
"Naruto...do you know if he was trying to kill you back then...for the same reason he may be trying to again...now?" Naruto returned his gaze and nodded.
"I think it was, but I lost consciousness after our jutsu's collided...and the fox-teme's chakra vanished but..." Naruto trailed off as his mind held nothing but darkness. A part of him could just feel it deep down though, that Sasuke was still conscious when he got knocked out.
Sakura had already added up her own conclusion from his tensed silence, 'He didn't kill you...and you have no idea why.'
"You are still here Naruto that is all that matters." Naruto nodded, while Sakura wiped away her liquid filled eyes.
'He almost killed you...while all I did was cry in Konoha.' Sakura scrutinised herself again, while she felt she could have done something more, something useful. No matter how much she let her imagination drive her though, it would never change the harsh reality of things, but only aid in her denial. The other thing that was daunting to her was how Sasuke could do this? She already was in enough shock when she watched them both fighting on the rooftop, but after hearing Naruto's story...how could Sasuke just suddenly ignore all their time together as team 7, and even try killing somebody Sakura knew was his best friend...just for the sake of power?!
The Sasuke she once knew would never do that, the Sasuke she knew wasn't this dark, this corrupt, this evil...she could not and would never accept it that all her memories about the Uchiha were meaningless. Naruto meanwhile watched Sakura practically falling apart, biting down deep on her lower lip and was trembling.
'I knew I should not have told her! I'm such an idiot!'
"Are you ok Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked in worry, even though he knew what she would say. The sad smile she gave to him said 'yeah', but her words contradicted her body language.
"I'm ok..."
Neither said anything, as Naruto tried to look elsewhere, as the tears he knew were running down her face made his heart sting.
'What am I doing, crying about this is not going to help either of us.' She scolded herself, although every attempt to wipe away the salty liquid would result in another running in its place. Not taking it anymore, the blond slid himself closer to Sakura, and rested his supporting hand on her far shoulder. The warming gesture took its toll, as she shot him a look of thanks as her tears stopped falling.
"I guess I wasn't ok."
"Hehe, I wonder what gave me that impression." Sakura giggled at his sarcasm, while feeling more comfortable to talk about what her mind had going before.
"I know it is stupid to ask...but I assume the curse seal Orochimaru gave him...was the cause of him doing this?" Sakura asked, although her disbelief was amazingly to both herself and Naruto's surprise there.
Naruto nodded with no signs of such disbelief present, "I know this was Orochimaru-teme's fault, Sasuke may be arrogant, but I know he would never do something like that." Sakura nodded although inwardly her disbelief was still there.
'You said the same thing before Naruto, but he went against both our beliefs and left the village that very same night.' she rebutted in her mind.
"I know I have been wrong in the past, but I really believe this one." Sakura went wide eyed at his knowing words but then smiled.
"I believe you." She said with honesty, while feeling a supportive squeeze on her shoulder before he gave her back some personal space. Sakura then returned to her lunch and after a few moments, tried to brighten their depressing mood.
"Why don't you practice your chakra control with the rasengan a bit more?" Naruto grinned, inwardly celebrating the change of topic.
"Yosha! By the time Kakashi-sensei is back I-"
Naruto paused in a flush of embarrassment when his stomach 'spoke' its own protests, causing Sakura to laugh.
"Have something to eat first baka, then do that if Kakashi-sensei is not back yet." Sakura said through a giggle as she continued eating. Naruto's sudden odd motions and mumbles brought her enough interest to look at him in question.
"I ermm...didn't bring anything." he said nervously. Sakura coughed on the food she was swallowing.
"W-What?! You knew we were going to be out here most of the day...and you brought nothing?!" Sakura said in disbelief.
Naruto shrugged with a chuckle as he scratched his head, "...I forgot, my bad." he admitted.
Sakura groaned and looked at her half eaten meal, as she passed it over in front of Naruto.
"Take it." Sakura said flatly while looking elsewhere. Naruto was about to protest, but the glare he received told him not to, and he accepted.
"Sakura-chan...Thanks." Naruto said appreciatively as he dug in, while Sakura crossed her arms and looked away.
"You're welcome...baka."
Oblivious to the two though, somebody else was watching from afar, 'Awww, isn't that cute...comforting a girl when she is upset....oh your learning gaki!' Jiraiya mused as he let out a perverted giggle.
"Jiraiya-sama...what are you doing with that telescope?" Kakashi said trying to hide his obvious knowledge of what Jiraiya was doing, since the arms length scope was pointed at his two students. Kakashi continued with a little bit of sadistic glee in his voice.
"It would not do well if Sakura knew you were watching her and Nar-"
"I am doing nothing!" Jiraiya said with a clear trace of fear in his voice, as he hid the telescope out of view.
'I'm on her bad side enough as it is!'
Kakashi shook his head, and returned his attention to Lee, "Ok Lee-kun, I am about to try it again, please be at the ready."
Lee nodded "Hai, Kakashi-sensei!"
Meanwhile back with the oblivious team mates, Sakura groaned as she scratched unconsciously at her weights that were activated on her legs. Naruto finished and drank from his bottle, which he didn't forget to bring.
"Hurting?" Naruto asked in interest.
Sakura nodding to the constricting pain, "A bit, Lee-san told me it is best to reduce them when they start to hurt. But I think he meant that if it was just within in an hour, not at least four like we have been doing." Sakura voiced as she eyed the heavy yet so small bands.
Naruto rose an eyebrow in question, "Why not give your arms a work out Sakura-chan?" Naruto suggested.
Sakura blinked but then turned and grinned, "Good thinking Naruto." She then deactivated the weights, and couldn't hold back the relaxed sigh.
"How bloody heavy do you have those things?!" the blond asked, half laughing at her comical gesture.
"Only eight pounds, but cut me some slack, I'm a girl after all!"
"I didn't say anything."
Maybe she was being childish, but the amazing feeling of freedom and unbelievable feather like lightness to her legs just was unreal. Unfortunately that all went the moment she placed and activated them on her wrists, and felt the heavy brick like load again.
Sakura took a half hearted punch in front of her several times to get used to the heavy feeling again and nodded. "Yosh." She muttered more to herself than anybody else as she stood up and almost stumbled from the sudden ease of effort it took to stand. The snicker from her teammate made her flush with embarrassment.
"Hoi! I said cut me some slack!"
"Hehe sorry." Sakura looked down at Naruto, who was handing her back the empty container with the chopsticks, which she took and placed back into her pouch.
"How about instead of practicing rasengan, lets spar instead?" Sakura said with a grin, which was returned as Naruto bolted up.
"Yosha!" Naruto beamed, as he followed Sakura out back into the open field.
"What are the restrictions Sakura-chan?"
"None, as always."
Sakura then quickly gave it a thought over and suggested, "No genjutsu, no Kyuubi?"
Naruto nodded in acceptance to the terms as both dropped into a stance. It was not like he even considered using the Kyuubi in a friendly spar to begin with.
"Oh and add on not holding back on me to that list."
"Ok! Ok! I get it already!" Both narrowed their eyes at each other's gaze and thought carefully.
'Sakura-chan can knock the rasengan right back at me if she wanted to, I will have to be careful with that.' Naruto mused. 'He can use his enhanced kage bunshin to lead me into a trap like last time. Naruto knows he can overwhelm me with his kage bunshin's, and knows the rasengan could be used against him...although I will just knock it away from both of us.'
Sakura mused and raised an eyebrow in realisation, 'He is thinking his plan out instead of rushing...picking out my habits eh?' Sakura mused in amusement and partial praise for her friend silently, with only a grin across her features.
'Then you won't mind if I burrow your way of thinking then.'
Naruto's brows furrowed in thought, but soon widened when Sakura suddenly threw several kunai at Naruto. Naruto quickly reached out for his holster and pulled out a kunai, before he could block though, the ground suddenly felt like it was caving in around him. Naruto was forced to evade to his right, since the kunai seemed to be spread out across his left, more so than aiming for him. Naruto's eyes widened when he met emerald eyes, along with a fist to go with it. Naruto barely dodged the incoming fist, but he did feel the chakra practically burst from her hand as it made contact with air. Naruto was forced to evade fist after fist, as Sakura tried to land a blow, but was able to evade. Sakura smirked and feigned her next blow, which instead slammed into the ground, causing Naruto to fall emitting a surprised yelp from the tremor.
He looked up in surprise to meet a fist that almost was touching his nose. Sakura gasped in surprise when 'Naruto' 'poofed' into a log, causing her to search around.
'Where did he go?' Sakura mused as she saw no sign of Naruto. Her eyes soon caught glimpse of orange, as two Naruto's closed in from the distance. Sakura was ready and waiting until her eyes widened at the sound of a 'poof' from behind.
'Damn him and his freaking henge's!' Before Sakura knew it, she was again exchanging blows with Naruto. She soon felt the two others close in from behind and surrounded her, forcing her to evade and defend against the trio's bombardment.
Sakura could handle evading two, but three attacks coming from a different side were too much as hits were falling through her guard. In desperation to get out, she grabbed the wrist of one of the Naruto's, ignoring the pain from the successful hits from the other two, and using her kunai from her lower back, poked the Naruto's arm. The result was instead of blood, there was a loud 'poof' as the clone dispersed, allowing Sakura to use her new opening to back flip out of her orange cell. The remaining two clones closed in soon, and Sakura was back on the defensive again.
Sakura was able to not get a blow landed on her from the pair, but she wasn't fast enough to counter.
'I can keep this up, but I am now playing into his hands.' She mused, while further avoiding the pair.
"Are you going to actually do something else? Or do you plan to just keep making me do this all day?" She questioned the pair, while gliding around a fist and elbowed the offender in the gut. When she felt no gust of wind from a dispelling happen, she knew she had the real one as he muttered a curse.
Taking advantage of her discovery, she locked his still extended arm with her hand, while spinning around wiping out her kunai and gripping it away from his face with a grin.
"Seriously do you enjoy losing to me time and time again or some-THING?!" She gasped in surprise when the blond held her in a firm embrace, effectively stopping her from moving.
"W-What the hell are you doing Naruto?!" The blond chuckled at her awkwardness, while another voice that sounded identical to the Naruto hugging her called out from behind.
"Who said anything about losing this time eh Sakura-chan?"
Sakura suddenly realised what she forgot and growled, "Bloody enhanced kage bunshin!" Sakura could sense the several clones closing in from all angles, while the clone holding her stated 'Super kage bunshin!'. Sakura cursed now knowing what was coming next, and had to break out of the hold. She gripped the clone by his jacket, and poured chakra into it, instantly freeing her from her locking hold, allowing her to see she couldn't escape from the surrounding blonds who were already chanting out what she predicted was coming.
"U-" Sakura jumped to avoid the several kicks aimed for her jaw, while preparing to block the other incoming attacks while airborne.
"ZU-MA-KI!" After blocking several of the attempted strikes, she looked up to confirm the final blow to the attack.
"NARUTO RENDAN!" The blond shouted, while delivering a hard kick which she blocked, but still made her trip to the ground a lot faster than she planned for. She fell down hard on the grass with a grunt, but gracefully got back up with a roll to the side to avoid the still crashing down foot from Naruto.
Now recovered, she smirked at her teammate, "Ok, I admit I walked into that trap." The blond ran a hand through his hair and laughed through his fox like smile.
"Hehe you sure did."
"Hmmph...You are still going to pay for that." Naruto gulped, while she quickly dashed at him.
'She is not really mad...is she?'
"Shannaro!"
'Yep she's mad.'
Shikamaru groaned as he looked up from his desk to see it was almost five in the afternoon.
'I was awake most of the night with Pakkun determining the location of the site, as well as the amount of presences he sensed. Pakkun said that there is no more than nine people at the site, as I predicted. I can confirm two of them as the ANBU from earlier, and with Sasuke's presence there, that accounts for Orochimaru and his henchman being there as well.'
Shikamaru eyes narrowed at his notes, 'that means that there are four more ANBU there that we know nothing about, and even so....we know very little about Sasuke, or what he is capable of now.'
Shikamaru sighed again, "This is very troublesome." He muttered.
The very quiet dog next to him agreed, "Are you sure that you have to confront them Shikamaru?" Pakkun asked.
Shikamaru lazily turned on his side to meet the dogs gaze. "Unfortunately we don't have a choice at this moment, with their base being so close, they easily would intercept us if we attempted to retreat. Konoha itself is not safe, so we are limited in options. On the fortunate side we are not heavily outnumbered, but we have the problem that we are fighting against ex ANBU members, and a sannin."
Shikamaru groaned as his eyes narrowed, "The other problem is...the moment Sasuke was found...I don't know about Sakura, but Naruto will REFUSE to leave without trying to bring him back." Shikamaru said in annoyance.
Pakkun sighed and shook his head, "That doesn't help the problem at all."
Shikamaru crossed his arms and stared off at nothing in particular, "Even though there is a high chance that Sasuke is here to kill him, Naruto still doesn't back down..."
Shikamaru sighed and grinned, "...Sounds like something the knuckle head would do anyway." Shikamaru admitted flatly.
Shikamaru formed his seal and continued his deep musing, with Pakkun looking at the clock, 'Kakashi said they will be back within the next hour or two from now.' Pakkun turned back in interest when Shikamaru's eyes snapped open then turned to him.
"You said the area was surrounded by dense forestry?"
Shikamaru sighed after he had given his plan at the meeting that evening, he then turned eyes to Sakura, "I will need you to have prepared any antidotes for snake poisoning or soldier pills by tomorrow Sakura, it never hurts to be ready." he said surprisingly at attention.
Sakura nodded, "Hai! I will go do that now if there's nothing else to say then." Sakura announced as she stood up and excused herself from the lounge. The others were about to leave as well until they noticed Shikamaru's gaze on Sakura's exit. He then turned back to face the puzzling expressions of the rest of the group.
"Now then, please listen to the rest of the plan."
The group set off the next morning, with Pakkun leading the group through the sea of trees. Once they were close enough, Pakkun 'poofed' out of existence wishing them the best of luck. Shikamaru turned and nodded to Naruto, "Do it."
Naruto then formed his signature seal and closed his eyes in concentration. "Kage bunshin no jutsu." He announced after several moments, and created six clones. Each clone then stood in front of another member of the group and then announced. "Henge no jutsu!" and poofed again, each one turning into an undisputable replica of the other team member.
The clone of Shikamaru turned to the other replicas with a smirk, "I assume we all understand my troublesome plan?" The clone said lazily, while the other clones nodded in agreement. The real Shikamaru sweat dropped at the whole thing.
"Can you act serious...for once?" He groaned, although the chuckles from the other real members didn't help.
The real Shikamaru sighed, "You know what to do then." He nodded to his replica in front of him, which nodded back, then disappeared with the others in the distance up ahead.
'The enemy would expect an ambush of some kind, but by Naruto using his clones to transform into each of us, they will assume they are the real us. When they attempt to attack the bunshin's, we will turn the table and engage them by surprise.' Shikamaru mused, recalling his plan, he then glanced for a moment at Sakura, then at Naruto.
'There is one problem though with that plan...' Shikamaru cut his thoughts off as he and the others jumped from the trees and landed not far from the entrance.
"Pakkun said the entrance was there." Shikamaru whispered to the others, while pointing to the concealed entrance.
"How shall we en-" Sakura didn't get to finish her question as Naruto had used a kage bunshin to help him create a rasengan and then slam it into the floor, creating a loud explosion as the entrance was revealed.
"All done!" Naruto chirped, until it received a hard bump on the head from a partially shocked Sakura.
"Baka! What are you-"
"We don't have time for this, lets-" The interrupting Shikamaru didn't get a chance to speak as several exploding kunai went flying through the bushes at the group in the open.
The group dodged in time as the tags went off in a chain reaction, covering the area in a thick smoke.
'They saw through Shikamaru's trick?!' Sakura mused in partial shock, when she soon felt the surrounding chakra signatures of the enemy shinobi.
'Of course! The byakugan user could see us before hand...but Shikamaru wouldn't ma-' Her thoughts were cut off when her eyes widened when she heard a cry of pain from a certain blond through the smoke.
The smoke soon cleared and Sakura felt her heart stop.
"NARUTO!!" She screamed, as the others were revealed from the smoke, to follow a similar shocked expression at Naruto, who had a sword thrusting through his chest, by a glaring Sasuke.
"You forgot that we had a Hyuuga with us Naruto...your kage bunshin's chakra cannot duplicate the chakra signature of the others." Sasuke said coldly, as he glared into the twitching eyes of Naruto, who was now coughing out blood. Several 'poof's' were heard from the trees, as the clones dispersed, confirming Sasuke's point. A cold sadistic laugh was heard from Ronan, as he jumped between Sasuke and the group with a wide smirk.
"At long last...our revenge is settled." He said in deep satisfaction, as the others revealed themselves from their hiding spots.
Shikamaru noticed that there was no sign of Orochimaru or Kabuto, but turned his attention back as to what was happening in front of him. Sakura was silently crying as she watched the horror scene happening in front of her from not even ten meters away.
"N-No..." She whispered as another tear fell.
Ronan chuckled darkly, 'Pathetic woman.' He mused to himself. Sakura shook her head violently and then made one step forward until she paused when she heard Ronan's hiss filled with killer intent.
"You will not Interfe-" He raised an eyebrow when he felt the same killer intent reflected back from the now raging Sakura as she charged straight towards him ignoring her tears.
Ronan internally snickered, 'What a foolish gir-'
'Poof'
Ronan turned wide eyed back, along with the same shocked expression on Sasuke's face at the smoke that had appeared from 'Naruto' as the clone dispelled. Sakura stopped right in her tracks in confusion.
'W-What?!' she cried in shock. She soon felt a presence fly past her, along with a glowing blue light from Kakashi's Raikiri, aimed at the still puzzled Ronan. Ronan returned his focus quick at the incoming danger and evaded, moving away from the group. The rest of the group were also taking action closing in on their targets, seemingly not affected by what had just happened, and engaged the surprised ANBU from their revealed positions in the woods.
'Just as planned. The Hyuuga could tell the difference between the Naruto kage bunshin and us, but he couldn't distinguish the real Naruto. If anything since his super kage bunshin has so much chakra, it probably further sealed the deal. Their arrogance made them reveal themselves when they were certain they had got Naruto. Sakura not knowing about that part of the plan made it seem as convincing as possible, as no form of feigning shock is as believable as the genuine thing...even if I am digging my own grave afterwards.' Shikamaru mused as he deflected a kunai, but narrowed his eyes when he spotted the familiar red tag from Thomas's kunai. Shikamaru retaliated by dropping an explosive note at his foot, and the jumping back in time as the explosion destroyed the tagged kunai at his feet.
"So it seems you thought this out better than expected, very impressive indeed." Thomas said in his neutral tone as he stood several meters away from Shikamaru, with another set of tagged kunai in his hand.
Shikamaru shrugged with a smirk, "What can I say? I like to avoid troublesome situations?" He said in sarcasm. He was met by Thomas's disturbingly maniacal laughter, which he could tell was fake.
"Funny that you say that, considering just how 'troublesome' this situation is." Thomas responded, changing back to his neutral self in a blink of an eye.
'This guy...I will have to be careful.' Shikamaru concluded, as Thomas finished his sets of seals and announced 'Suiton Bakusui Shouha!'.
Jiraiya was pushed further back from the others, as he evaded and blocked numerous attacks from a pair of rogue ANBU. The only distinguishable difference between the two was their fox mask colours, being yellow and gray. The one with the yellow mask seemed to have his red hair tied up behind his head, and the gray one had shoulder length black hair.
'These two must have worked a lot together, since every time I attempt to counter, the other one blocks giving an opening for their partner...' Jiraiya dodge the swipe with the katana and crouched low to avoid the sweeping kick from his side.
"Ranji Shigumi no Jutsu!" Jiraiya shouted, as his hair grew several times its normal length, and he swung his vine like hair around his body, colliding with one of the ANBU, until it had Kawarimied with a branch.
'These two are going to be trouble.' Jiraiya frowned as he saw the two standing next to each other, running through two different sets of seals.
"Dynamic Entry!" Lee shouted as he flew straight towards Araiki, who dodged in time, although the collision Lee made with the branch he was standing on sent the branch to fly off with a loud snap as it broke. Araiki tried to strike at Lee, but Lee was too quick and swung his nun chucks at his side, forcing Araiki to back away.
"I will personally return the favour for what you did to me." Araiki spat as his byakugan glared daggers at Lee.
"You are very skilled, but your arrogance will be your downfall. Do not take it personally. I am also interested in knowing how you had your seal removed." Araiki launched at Lee, desperately trying to land a hit on his tenketsu, but Lee was avoiding very well and countering with his nun chucks again.
Araiki gave a arrogant 'Hmmph' then said through a smirk, "Say whatever makes you feel confident, in the end you are nothing but a nuisance...and your dreaming if I will tell you of all people about how I removed that cursed marking." Araiki then held his arm back, and then shot it forward in a blur as he shot a Kusho at Lee, who dodged to the side. The collision on a tree was heard behind Lee as the tree gave its protests with a loud crack against the force, but did not break. Lee fell into his ready stance again and waited for Araiki to make his first move.
'Hang on everybody, I will be done with this guy soon.'
Ronan tilted his head back to see Kakashi still on his tail, 'So...you concluded Hatake that only you or the sannin had a chance against me.' Ronan smirked and began running through seals as he turned and faced the similarly acting Kakashi.
"Katon, Gouryuuka no jutsu!"
"Suiton, Suiryuudan no Jutsu!" Kakashi shouted as his water dragon launched out at the fire dragon, resulting in a large cloud of steam to covering the area. Kakashi blocked the katana meant to decapitate his head with a kunai, and battled for dominance.
"Hatake Kakashi, I have heard lots about you." Hissed his attacker, with his sharingan eyes glaring into Kakashi's one sharingan.
"Uchiha Ronan...I have read lots about you." Ronan snickered, as he broke his engagement and stood back.
"Katon, Gokakyu no Jutsu!" He roared as the large mushroom from his grand fire ball left his mouth in a stream. Kakashi got engulfed in the flame, until his mud clone melted away as a silhouette in the fire.
"So I see you know how you use your unwelcomed gift well, no wonder you are known as the copy ninja." Ronan said in amusement as he ran through another set of seals. Kakashi didn't respond.
'He is going to be a handful. Ronan essentially would have been the next head Uchiha after the death of Fugaku. I might even have to use 'it' against him.'
Sasuke's eyes narrowed through the smoke of the bunshin he thought was Naruto. He sensed a presence to his side and swung his sword around to meet the steel of Naruto's kunai, "You seemed to have forgotten we had Shikamaru with us, Sasuke." Naruto beamed with a smirk at Sasuke.
"Hn." was Sasuke's only reply, although the blond could have sworn he was detecting signs of satisfaction behind it. Naruto brushed it off however, and changed his expression to that of seriousness and a hint of sadness woven in.
"Why Sasuke?"
Sasuke didn't change his expression at all as he answered. "You are the key to helping me with my goal." Naruto shook his head as Sasuke pushed him back with his sword, landing several feet away.
'I don't understand this at all then, why?!'
"Then why didn't you kill me back then?!" Naruto cried in rage and confusion to his friend's ridiculous logic. Sasuke shrugged without showing any change in expression as he began preparing a chidori.
"I decided to not kill you on a whim. But this time, I will not make the same mistake twice." Naruto couldn't say another word while Sasuke's chidori began 'chirping' and sparks were flying loose around the ground. Sasuke then shot like a bullet to the still cringing blond, who quickly made adjustments which the sharingan saw ever clearly, and adjusted to land on its mark.
'poof'.
"You're becoming just like your brother!" Naruto shouted from an indeterminable location. Sasuke was slightly taken aback, but soon recovered as his emotionless face only showed a twitch.
"Do not comment on things you know nothing about Naruto!" Sasuke growled, while gripping tightly on the hilt of his sword, and shot towards where he knew the blond was hiding.
Sakura was still watching in confusion as her heart slowed down its frantic race.
'H-he's alive! But...'
Sakura shook herself out of her thoughts and starting running towards the now once again clashing Sasuke and Naruto, until she gracefully dodged a katana aiming for impaling her head. Without so much as a delay, she grabbed the wrist of the offending ANBU, and kicked him with all her might in the gut, sending the man flying through several trees.
Sakura released a quick sigh, and resumed until several tagged kunai flew past her. She glanced at the kunai that had struck on the tree next to her and her eyes widened in horror.
'Explosive notes!' She quickly Kawarimied with a log before they detonated.
"Hmm, it seems you are no longer useless at long last...Sakura-chan." Sakura inwardly winced at hearing the suffix said in such a vile way.
'That voice...' her thoughts were put on hold as the ANBU she had knocked away, now blocked her path to the still fighting Naruto and Sasuke, with no sign of injury.
She now decided to analyse her opponent. He was roughly half a foot taller than her, and didn't seem to have a very muscular build. He had silver hair, and had a pony tail that reached to the middle of his back, and wore a purple hued fox mask.
Sakura's brows furrowed, '...Where have I see-'
Her eyes widened in recognition before narrowing in detest again.
"Kabuto..." The ANBU laughed and tore off the mask to reveal the face of Kabuto, with an evil smirk across his face.
"As observant as ever Sakura-chan." He said in amusement as he placed his glasses on and pushed them up till they were barely touching his face.
"Get out of my way!" She growled while glaring into his shining glasses, only for him to respond with a shaking of his head.
"I am afraid I can't let you do that. While Ronan-san didn't want us to interfere, Orochimaru-sama made sure I at least stayed behind to ensure Sasuke-kun's success, even if it meant the end for one of our temporary allies." Kabuto smirked as he turned his head slightly to look behind him.
"I must say, Naruto-kun sure has grown." His smirk widened to the point where his teeth were just showing.
"What a pity he won't alive for much longer."
Sakura snapped and charged at Kabuto with her fist.
"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY SHANNARO!" She screamed as she tried to punch Kabuto square in the face, but he dodged. He then evaded her round house kick and made a dive for her knee with his chakra scalpel. Successfully making contact, he jumped back as Sakura emitted her cry in pain and fell on her good knee.
Kabuto's eyes narrowed to an odd sensation though of something being wrong, 'I cut her hamstring...' His eyes shot a quizzical look when Sakura got back up on her feet and in a fighting position.
'That feeling around her muscle...was that chakra?'
"I see...you take advantage of your chakra control very well for defensive purposes as well as offense." Kabuto said with amusement as he smirked at Sakura's glare.
"You use your chakra to build a thin layer around your vital organs and muscles that an average medic nin would attack, while it could never stop a physical attack, against something that attacks internally like a scalpel...maybe even a tenketsu hit, it nullifies the attack in sacrifice for your chakra." Sakura narrowed her eyes while biting her lower lip in frustration.
'He's worked it out already. After his fight against Shizune-sempai, she came up with a defensive measure to protect herself the next time she ever encountered Kabuto and his skill with chakra scalpels. But...'
"However, it seems you cannot stop it completely, and your little layer of chakra cannot suppress multiple attacks on the same area." Kabuto concluded her thoughts as he noticed Sakura was balancing herself more on her right leg.
Sakura gritted her teeth, 'Damn him! Because I don't have anywhere near the amount of chakra or level of control Tsunade-sama has yet, I have to sacrifice its effectiveness since it uses up so much chakra.' Sakura wasted no time and placed her hand behind her knee and started healing it, while glaring at Kabuto.
'I will have to defeat him or disable him somehow. Naruto, please stay safe!'