Hi! I'm sorry if this story isn't turning out to be what you thought. To me, it's not far from how I intially pictured it, before I started writing it. With only two more chapters to go, it's up to you guys to decide if reading this is worth your time or not. I've been reading stories on Fanfiction since 2006 and I know there are so many things that could go wrong with a story. Maybe something went wrong with mine and I just can't see it yet.

Chapter 15

I clench my fists, pushing chakra into them. My eyes survey the battlefield and I follow the two figures exchanging blows for a few moments, trying to anticipate where they'll be next. I shoot forward like a bow from an arrow, pumped full of adrenaline, before any of them has a chance to stop me.

The next thing I know, I'm half-flying through the air, aiming a punch. Kisame parries, realizing his mistake only a split-second later, as I release all the chakra stored in my fist. The bones in his left arm shatter with a sickening crunch. I jump back as his Samehada comes from the other side, cutting through the air. I see the beads of sweat forming on Kisame's brow, try as he may to ignore the pain.

Itachi delivers a blow from the other side, but misses as Kisame jumps back. His right arm drags the Samehada along the ground when he lands, raising dust from the road. His left arm hangs down, rendered useless. His breath is haggard. He is not used to feeling pain. With his monstrous power, who could ever have gotten near enough to ever hurt him?

"Sakura, go back," Itachi says.

I shake my head and plant my feet more firmly into the ground. I'm not going anywhere. I don't even flinch as I see Kisame thrust his sword into the ground and form a quick series of seals with his remaining hand.

"Suiton: Bakusui Shouha!"

"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!"

Itachi's fireball clashes with Kisame's wave and hot steam blows in our faces before it settles around us in the form of mist. I don't like this one bit, Kisame being from a village hidden in the stuff, but I trust Itachi knows what he's doing. I pull a kunai just to hold on to something as my eyes search the thick haze for any sign of movement.

There. I throw the kunai, though I don't expect it to hit given Kisame's speed. Itachi and I shift as we look around, until we're standing back to back, surrounded by impenetrable mist. I want to ask him if his Sharingan can see through any of this, but I can't. I just hold my ground, all my muscles tense and ready to move at the first sign.

Whoosh. Samehada comes down in the space between Itachi and me, making us jump in opposite directions. Kisame is trying to separate us. He knows I'm more vulnerable compared to his former partner and he's going to come for me first. As soon as I finish formulating that thought, Kisame's sword brushes against my side, sucking some of my chakra. I try to land a kick on him, to break more of his bones, but he's gone in an instant.

I'm alone. I can't see. I can't cry out. I refuse to let the panic set in. Focus, shannarou! I try to anticipate Kisame's next move, reaching out with all my senses. I can do this. I breathe in once, deeply, ignoring the pain caused by my bruised airways expanding. I hold that breath. The sound of letting it out would distract me. I wait, tense from head to toe. I can do this, I tell myself again.

The instant I sense movement, I swerve with all my strength, avoiding a direct hit and, at the same time, managing to aim a kick into Kisame's exposed size. It lands with such force that it sends him sprawling on the ground, where he promptly splashes into a puddle. A clone. I have no time for disappointment, because I hear something behind me. I turn around to see another Kisame raising his sword and I have no means of knowing whether this is the real one or just another clone.

"Amaterasu."

Kisame's cloak catches on fire. He forgets all about me, caught in the struggle of removing his cloak with a damaged arm. Too slow. The flames start licking at his arms and he's howling in pain as they make their way up towards his face. I step back. If this were a clone, it would have vanished by now. Itachi steps out of the mist and stops beside me, watching as his partner falls to the ground, writhing in agony. I almost feel sorry for him. Almost.

A kunai flies and embeds itself in Kisame's throat, silencing him. I look at Itachi, surprised by this small act of mercy, but he says nothing. There's a trail of blood on his left cheek, strikingly crimson as the Sharingan fades to reveal his dark eyes. He stands still, watching as the Amaterasu consumes his former partner's body until there's nothing left to burn. Then he forms the seal of a wind jutsu and blows the mist away, clearing the surrounding area.

I turn around. Naruto and the others haven't left. Colors swirl before my eyes for a moment and I lose my balance, but Itachi wraps an arm around me for support. Samehada must have absorbed more of my chakra than I thought. The others watch him warily as we approach, but at least Kakashi-sensei doesn't look like he's getting ready to drive a Raikiri through him anymore.

Naruto steps forward, offering to help me. His face is set in a stony expression I can't interpret. I'm too tired to try, anyway. No one speaks as we leave, heading towards Konoha and no one says anything about Itachi coming along. I stay behind the group with him. I've only been gone for a little while and already I feel like a stranger among them.

Naruto alone stops at some point, waiting for me to catch up. "Are you feeling okay, Sakura-chan? You look kind of pale, dattebayo." He shoots a cautious glance at Itachi before looking back at me. I smile and nod at his question. Truth be told, I'm feeling kind of queasy and my throat hurts worse than before. I'm not about to ruin our reunion for Naruto, though, and it makes me happy to see him break into a characteristic grin.

Kakashi-sensei pushes ahead and soon, we're forced to follow again. It's keep up or get left behind and he's never set this kind of pace before. There's no lunch break, no time to catch our breath on a branch and pop some food pills. Judging by the way Itachi's breathing, he's feeling the strain too. His eyes are still dark, meaning he doesn't have enough chakra to activate the Sharingan.

I would give anything for a drink of water right now, but I don't feel strong enough to both run and take the bottle out of my backpack. I see colors again, rushing before my eyes. I close them just for a moment, trying to get rid of the sensation, but it doesn't leave me this time. I make a wrong step and slip off the edge of a branch. I don't know if I hit the ground.

Darkness swallows me whole.