Naruto and Sasuke clash together; the kunai pressed tightly against the blade of the sword. "I won't let you take her!" Naruto growls out fiercely.

Sasuke, his face inches from Naruto's, raises his lips up into a crooked smile. "You can't stop me Naruto." He thrusts the blade upward, causing his old teammate to stumble back. Naruto immediately throws his finger together in the all-too-familiar shadow clone position. Four clones surround him. Sasuke tightens his hold on his weapon. "I," states the Uchiha darkly, "know all of your little tricks."

"Then come on!" beckons Naruto. "I'm waiting for you!" The two charge each other once again; their movements so quick it was just a blur. At this moment it wasn't a true fight. No. Much time had passed since the abandonment, and both ninja knew that in time one of them had learned new tricks, gotten stronger. They were testing each other, taking precautionary measures…for now.

But as that trial took place Kakashi and Sakura had their own worries. Orochimaru circled them, trying to find a loophole somewhere. And then there was Kyo…what the hell were they supposed to do? Orochimaru sighs out, realizing that he wouldn't be able to get around Kakashi in his…predicament, "Oh well…time to just kill you Kakashi." With a burst of energy he leaps forward, his body slithering across the ground at top speed like snake. Kakashi tosses a handful of Makibishi Spike towards Orochimaru, hoping to slow him down…but the "snake" is too quick. Kakashi reaches one hand and pushes Sakura away with incredible force. Once Orochimaru is close enough, the Jonin drops to the ground and slides a leg forward in a tripping motion. This throws Orochimaru off, expecting something a little more flamboyant. The instant he shifts, Kakashi takes the opportunity. Orochimaru notices Kakashi's eye taking the form of the Mangekyo Sharingan. And then, Orochimaru feels himself being pulled away, a powerful force striking him. The Kamui.

But Orochimaru has a trick up his own sleeve. "WIND RELEASE: GREAT BREAKTHROUGH!!" A powerful gust of wind hits Kakashi, causing his body to fly back and lose focus of the Kamui. Orochimaru breathes out. But before he can counterattack a shadow appears above him and grows larger. Orochimaru looks up swiftly and slithers out of the way just seconds before Sakura's fist hits the ground with explosive force. As rock and dirt scatter about in the air the once Sannin member regains himself and sits silently on the ground some feet away, his once legs coiled around his body in a protective position. "Trained by Tsunade, hmm?" he mutters. "I should have guessed as much."

Sakura grunts out as she stands ready. If there was going to be a fight concerning her, she would definitely have part in it! She had as much right to swing a few blows as Naruto or Kakashi did. Orochimaru thinks to himself, "I can't afford to use any Chakra…I must build it up for the bite. Since she's stronger than anticipated this'll be a bit more…difficult, and most be ended quickly." As the sounds of the intense struggle between his apprentice and the Jinchuriki grow louder, the traitor narrows his eyes angrily and threatens, "Sakura dear, don't make this any more unpleasant. I don't want to have to nearly kill you."

The pink-headed maiden somehow summons up a Demon Wind Shuriken. She holds it ready and begins to pace forward. "I wish I could say the same!" She tosses it towards Orochimaru, but he vanishes out of sight and the large shuriken cuts through the trunk of a tree before crashing to the ground. Kakashi is immediately in front of Sakura again, a bomb kunai in his hand. Sakura looks at him and begins, "Sensei…", but he cuts her off. "Go help Naruto! I'll handle him." But Kakashi didn't look like he was good on his word. The Mangekyo Sharingan always took so much from him, and he was visibly slipping. Sakura states, "Let me help you. You look terrible—"

"I said GO, Sakura!" Kakashi replies harshly. "I don't need your help!" Sakura wipes her eyes at his harsh rebuke and nods. With a bounding leap she makes it to where Naruto and the clones appeared to have Sasuke cornered. As she leaves Kakashi sighs out. He wasn't trying to hurt her. He just wanted to make sure she could be safe…and it wasn't with him.

As Sakura arrives, Uchiha releases a fireball jutsu, destroying the clones and then hitting Naruto with some kind of force that she didn't know. The sound of an explosion in the background rings through Sakura's ears…and then, Sasuke was charging straight for her! A strange vapor surrounding his hands. A poison! The speed of him was dumfounding. Try as she might, Sakura couldn't keep up. Sakura leaps for the trees; Sasuke directly on her trail. And then from there everything seemed to be happening so fast: Kyo disliked how deadly Sasuke's advances were to his master, so the giant reptile's tail wrapped around Sasuke and slammed him to the ground, a loud hiss escaping from his mouth. "Damn lizard!" Sasuke yelled out, enraged. He was preparing to turn on Kyo when Sakura made her move, feeling a strange desire to protect her pet. She leaped from the tree and landed right before the shocked traitor. Her clenched fist heads straight for his face…Sasuke ducks, smiling, "I thought you were more coy?" But his banter is cut off as Sakura shifts her weight, causing her upraised right leg to smash right into his neck. And what's more, before Sasuke can hit the ground, a blue ball of chakra touches his gut…Naruto's rasengan. The look of Sasuke's expression is a mask of agony.

But suddenly, Sakura felt a force knocking her back and she went flying through: two, three…four objects. Her body crashes to the ground and lands on what felt to be wet grass. Moments pass slowly before the young kunoichi can sit up. Pain echoes throughout her whole being and she places a hand on her side. The grass is wet; but not from dew or rain, but the blood that poured out of her side from the piece of tree trunk that layed implanted within her. "Ugh!" Sakura coughs, the blood shooting from her lips. What a fine time to be injured. She could make out the shape of Orochimaru in the distance, but where was—"Hello Sakura." Sasuke's hand grabs Sakura by the arm and tosses her back into the clearing. She wasn't the only strong one it appeared. Sakura lies on her stomach, aching, and sees Naruto pinned against a tree and Kakashi sprawled about the earth.

"Good," Orochimaru speaks as his daughter attempts to get on her knees. "Not only will you not be able to resist, but your comrades can watch." Within seconds, a sharp pain hits Sakura's neck. Her eyes open wide in terror and anguish as she feels her feet rise off of the ground. Her father's teeth sink deeper as memories begin to come and go. He was taking her memories and manipulating and contorting them to his own will. The more Sakura tried to resist, the more painful it became. She could hear Naruto yell her name, but everything was dimming. "S—save me," is all she can say before her body suddenly collapses back to the hard earth.

"You can carry her Sasuke?"

"Yes." Sasuke grabs Sakura and tosses her limp body across his shoulders; much like a hunter strewed his kill across his shoulders. Sakura is too weak to struggle. Sasuke mutters, "Thanks for the fun." And they disappear in the forest.

Naruto gathers all of his remaining strength and calls out, "No!" But they are gone and he is too exhausted to pursue. Kakashi begins to drift into unconsciousness as Tsunade and the others arrive, and as Naruto's desperate pleas scream, "Sakura?! SAKURA!!"

In a cold dark place, green eyes open. "Mmm. Where am I?"

"You shouldn't move young one. You are still injured."

The green eyes turn at a familiar sound and she gazes at the pale face and yellow eyes. Memories begin to run through her head, but she doesn't know that these are not her memories. "Orochimaru?...Father?"

Orochimaru places a cold hand on Sakura's. "Yes, my child. It's been three days. Good to see you awake."

Sakura cuddles into her father's embrace, noting Sasuke in the corner, watching her intently. "Mmm," she says darkly. "It's good to be awake. Good to be home…So, who do we kill next, father?"

Orochimaru chuckles darkly. "Just like you. Ready to spill innocent blood on your hands."

"It's fun. And I get the desire to kill from you."

"Rest now," Orochimaru mutters, kissing Sakura on the top of her head. "I will tell you in the morning."

Sakura smiles and closes her eyes. "Excellent. I can't wait…Master." And as she falls asleep, she can't help but notice a strange sensation inside her…It was pleasure at the thought of murdering…but also, a feeling that what she wanted to do in the morning was wrong…Very Wrong.

TO BE CONTINUED…