Naruto
"Naruto, stop fighting me!" Kurama hissed inside of the boy's mind while trying to force his steps over to the silver haired man that they'd managed to knock back so efficiently. "He's down and injured! This is our time to attack!" Urasai! Sakura chan needs us! Naruto was having an all out battle, not only on the outside, but in the abyss within. To anyone else, it appeared that the young blond was in pain. He stopped in his clear shot attack of Kabuto to stand up on two legs and move backward, slowly but surely. We have to save her! After that, I don't care what you do! "I already told you after I kill him, I'll save her! Stop fighting me!" Sakura chan needs us! She's a priority, dattebayo! The boy grabbed his head, thrashing about violently as the two fought for control of the body. Naruto was pissed off and Kurama was even more so. Stop. Trying. To. Take. Over! The blond demanded, only getting the response of a large growl.
"S-Sakura chan!" It came out as half of a roar and half of Naruto's own voice as he called out to his friend. He was trying to save her and all Kurama wanted to do was fight and kill Kabuto. Angrily, the paw swiped across the ground, uprooting a few trees and causing a lot of collateral damage to the surrounding area. More growling and frustrated cries ensued. All the young man heard was "Naruto!" and before he could turn around, he felt it. Warm arms around him, holding on as if he were some sort of lifeline. It was then that he realized that the chakra surrounding him was gone. Naruto was back to normal. "If you wish to go back on our arrangement, have fun fighting alone..Naruto.." Kurama growled from within as he withdrew his help and sunk back into the dark abyss of his inner cage.
[ I couldn't believe it! Sakura chan was actually hugging me, dattebayo! Hehe. I'm definitely not going to lie when I say that I was a little red. I mean, most of the time, Sakura chan was punching me in the face for something I'd done wrong or simply because she was in a bad mood and I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That girl can be pretty scary sometimes, just like grandma Tsunade. Geez, the thought makes me shudder. Demo I still couldn't believe it! Sakura chan wrapped her warm arms around me so tenderly, affectionately. I could tell in that moment that she really did care. I remember it so well. It felt so nice. The biggest shocker though was that she only called me Naruto..There was no suffix...She really was worried.. ].
Sasuke
The same jutsu was sent his way. He dodged it with ease, jumping backward just out of range. Sasuke flipped backward and ran up a nearby tree to avoid the several flying shuriken. Hmph. Too easy. Step it up a notch brother, or you'll die! The raven could tell that his brother's sight had been temporarily impaired and he used that as he ran to the very edge of a branch and flew down towards Itachi, katana drawn, lighting searing through it. "Chidori!" he yelled, hoping it would connect as he landed back on the same cold earth below him.
Sakura
Shimata! Damn snake, let go of me! Sakura willed it to let go but it did not release her. Angrily continuing to struggle as she saw Naruto begin to go haywire along with his fluctuating chakra waves, the young woman growled aloud and focused her healing chakra into her legs. They were the weakest of her limbs and she needed them to run with. For a moment, she stopped struggling. Head hung forward as if in failure, Sakura sighed and stared at the ground with narrowed eyes. God dammit! Why can't I ever do anything to help Naruto?! All I do is cause him trouble! It was then that she had an idea.
The kunoichi raised her head ever so slightly. Naruto was in trouble, that was obvious. Orochimaru was going after him. However, in the midst of her panic, Sakura noticed that the less she fought, the looser the snake was. This gave her an idea. When she was certain that it was loose enough, she tried to suddenly snap free, but that did not work. The second she made any indication, however slight it may be, of struggling, the reptile became a constrictor once more.
Sakura was furious with herself and everything around her. How dare they use me to get to Naruto! How dare that idiot not listen to me when I tell him to leave! How dare I let all of this happen! On the bright side, her legs felt better, but that did not help when she couldn't even move them. Shimata! she cursed again, fuming to a point that was similar to Naruto's own current state with Kurama. That was when she noticed it. Her fuming and rage was fueling her chakra unknowingly and it was harming the serpent surrounding her. Having an instant idea, the pink haired kunoichi focused her chakra to such an extent, all around the snake that kept her in place, that it set the thing on fire.
Soon after, the reptile hissed and burned away, leaving the now free young woman to fall to the ground. At first, it hurt for her still slightly injured legs to even come into contact with the earth, but she pushed that aside as she immediately forced herself up. Come on legs, move! she demanded. Thankfully, they complied. Within the next few seconds, the young woman was running, her legs carrying her faster than they had in a very long time. Arms outstretched, she finally stopped in her tracks, heart racing and legs aching when her limbs wrapped around a certain blond haired friend of hers whom she'd just seen return to normal. "Naruto!" she called out, tightening her grip and clinging to the boy like he meant everything to her, even more than Sasuke.
"Naruto.." The young woman tried to catch her hitching breaths as her legs started to quake from the weight they were not yet again used to. "Yamate..Naruto...Kurasai..." Her breath soon came in soft whispers, leaning into her friend and tenderly holding him. I thought I'd never see you again...Please, let's just go home and forget all of this...We have to get out of here...Fast.. The blond turned to look at the girl, wide eyed and slightly pink in the face. His blue orbs showed his surprise even more when Sakura smiled up at him. It was the exact same, lovesick smile that she would give Sasuke on countless occasions. Nothing else mattered in those moments. Orochimaru and Kabuto were not there. It was just the two of them and Sakura wouldn't change it for the world. Aishiteru, Naruto kun...Kurasai, let's just get out of here and go home...I want to go home with you...
"S-Sakura...chan...".
Kabuto
The streets of Otogakure were not bustling with hurried villagers seeking food and materialistic goods like one would expect of a town. However, it was no ordinary place. There were no stands selling onigiri filled with various unimaginable flavors, no restaurants selling ramen piled with meats and vegetables of all kinds, and no crowds gathering for the first bowl of fresh yakisobi. The one thing they did have, however, was ninja. Or, as a majority of people around the world would call them, slaves. Brainwashed idiots. Bloodthirsty villains. And a good handful of sadistically inclined people. One of the most important, however, was not there. Instead, he was on the outskirts of Orochimaru's hideout. He was fighting one of the most powerful jinjiriki and at this point he knew that he was not strong enough to win this battle.
Kabuto was not egotistic and cocky like many ninja. Not usually, at least. However, he had come into this fight expecting, needing, to win. It was strange, because he truly did look up to this boy he was so intent on beating. Naruto was not very intelligent or rational. He rushed into things. But it was that very thing Kabuto admired. Considering this, he shouldn't have had the urge to toy with the kid. But he wanted to do that and more. He was ready to continue fighting despite a broken rib and a upper back in immense pain. Even after narrowly dodging a ball of fire from the other battlefield, that had nearly burned his body to a crisp, he still wanted to lunge at Naruto with a new attack. Yet he couldn't. But it was not a physical barrier stopping him, not exactly. Three things had changed in the seconds that he couldn't see. First, Naruto was no longer being controlled by the kyuubi within him. Secondly, his possession was no longer held in bondage by the serpent. His toy was free. However, that in itself was not what made his eyes widen and then narrow in disgust. her arms, still injured, were wrapped tightly around the blond boy who he was so determined to defeat. That was still not why he reacted so severely; that was due was the third thing that had changed. Orochimaru was not passively watching. He was now involved. Kabuto realized specifically why Sakura had rushed towards the boy. It was to protect him from Orochimaru's blade. It had appeared to work, because that blade went straight through her lower right abdomen just as Naruto had turned around to meet her gaze.
He wasn't sure what to think. Part of him was amazed at the sight. She was willing to die for her friend. Another part of him was amused at the emotional pain that would no doubt erupt within the blond. But the biggest thought in his mind was probably how disgusted he was that her blood was spilled by someone other than him.
Orochimaru ripped the blade from her body and suddenly he was beside her. He wasn't there to save her. He wasn't a hero, he wasn't anyone's savior. She was just his prisoner. She was an annoying, pesky girl. She was a thorn in his side and caused him more trouble than good. But she was also his Sakura. And for a moment he allowed himself to look at her. Really look at her, not her wound. Not just as his prisoner, but as a person. And for a second, as he looked into her eyes, he could feel her emotions. Feel how much she cared for Naruto, her friends, and her village.. among other things. He didn't want to feel these things. He didn't care. He shook his head to himself, and looked towards Orochimaru.
{When Orochimaru hurt you for the first time, I really began to feel conflicted. How could I be mad at the person I've pledged my loyalties to for years? My emotions were bothering me so much. Why did that look in your eyes haunt me back then? Of course I know the answer now..but if only I had realized it sooner. I was falling in love with my Sakura.}
Orochimaru
The feeling of my blade lunging into a helpless body felt amazing. However, it was not the brat I had hurt. No, it was the other one. The kunoichi with pink hair who had a habit of being annoying and getting in the way had done just that. I could help but laugh at this. I had no idea how she escaped my snake, but it was the least of my problems. Kabuto could deal with her since he wasn't strong enough to take out the real problem. And now, Naruto would be furious. Which was fine, of course. It may make him stronger, but I would have way more fun. My body was weaker than I would have liked because I was not yet ready to take my sasuke. But I had no doubts I could handle this. The boy was alone, he had no teammates to help. He wasn't even using Kurama's power anymore. This would be easy..
"Kabuto..just make sure the girl doesn't escape. Not that she can." I ordered, snickering as I turned to the nine tails brat.
"Oh my, I doubt she'll be alive much longer. You must be angry. Sasuke and Sakura will both die by my hands..and eventually you too."
Itachi
He watched as his brothers blade slashed through his body. Well..not quite. Crows dispersed the area and he stepped out of hiding from behind Sasuke. He then charged at him with his kunai, trying to get him to draw his sword.
With his peripheral vision he watched the battle going on between Naruto and the others. He could only hope the boy succeeded, however truthfully it was unlikely. Naruto alone may not be strong enough. If Orochimaru was eliminated, however, it would solve many future possibilities. And that was when he noticed something. Someone else was here. It wasn't chakra he sensed, for the person who wielded it was intelligent enough to hide it. He simply happened to see a blur of white in the trees. He recognized the person instantly. Kakashi. It seems you did not stay behind after I left. With your students' lives at risk, it would be odd if you had stayed back.