….and again, I do Not own Naruto….
Chapter 2: Sakura's Compromise, Kurenai's Fury
"You won't get too much further than this!" Gai bashed two nins heads together. "See that, Lee, the key is to take out as many enemies with one move as possible!"
An enthusiastic Lee nodded, taking the lesson to heart as he pounded a row of sound ninjas into the ground.
"Gai!" Another voice called from the entrance to the clearing. Kurenai held her hand up in greeting, her eyes distant and empty. It was one of the first times she hadn't greeted him with her usual smile.
"Kurenai! I thought you had free leave from missions since…"
"I cannot leave my team at such a crucial time," the genjutsu prodigy replied somberly. "Where is Kakashi? Yamato?"
"I cannot make out Kakashi in the confusion. But I will not let him have all the good Sound ninjas!" Gai raised a fist threateningly.
Kurenai shook her head as she and her team followed Gai into the nightmare.
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Manda was anxious. Orochimaru could sense the snake tensing through her coils. Of all the people she hated, himself included, these ones before her were most hated of all. The Kyuubi holder was responsible for injuries to her in the past. She had dreamt of the moment when she would get to eat him.
Orochimaru stared down at the three who had come to defy him. "You may have the girl and my former experiment." He told the snake. "But the boy is mine."
"That's what you think, you bastard!" Naruto called up at him. "Sasuke was the last person you're gonna hurt!"
The snake master smiled—Sasuke's smile. "You don't get it, Naruto. Not only do I have Sasuke's powers as well, once I kill you I will gain the ultimate sharingan power. You are, of course, still Sasuke's best friend."
Still? Sakura stared fearfully at the so-familiar face before her. Then… that means…there must be a part of Sasuke left after all!
"I'm really getting tired of this." Quicker than they thought possible, a large coil of Manda's tail wrapped around them, separating Naruto from Sakura and Yamato.
Orochimaru floated down from the snake's head. "They're all yours."
"No!" Naruto concentrated, performing the summons as quickly as possible. Even in his weakened state, Gamma Bunta instantly appeared. "Protect them!"
"Foolish boy. I won't be surprised by your inner chakra this time."
"I'm gonna beat you in a fair fight! I don't need the fox's help!"
"Then it begins," Orochimaru hissed.
Time slowed for Naruto as he and Orochimaru/Sasuke circled one another. Memories of his battle with his best friend returned. Every advance Orochimaru made, Naruto relived it in another part of his memory. They circled and charged, attacked and fell back. Neither one was making any head way.
"You've….improved…" Orochimaru said, gasping to catch his breath. "How is it… that you became.. so skilled?"
"I have a good teacher," Naruto spat.
"Well, good teacher or not… you won't be prepared for this."
Orochimaru raised his arm.
The unknown jutsu from our first encounter! Naruto's eyes went wide.
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"Shit!" Yamato and Sakura had rolled out of the way of Manda's tail. "I can't seem to find a way around this monster!"
Though occupied with her hated rival, the large snake hadn't lost track of the pair and was doing her best to keep them encircled within her coils.
"I have an idea!" Sakura placed her palm on the hardened ground. "You're just going to have to trust me."
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"Kakashi!" Gai pounded his 'rival' on the back. "Glad to see you're no worse for wear!"
The copy nin glared at him in disgust. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Kakashi was bleeding—from so many places he couldn't even count them all. He was tired and he was dirty and he was certainly in no mood for friendly competition at this time.
"Hn. You guys sure took your time."
"Nonsense! Kurenai arrived at the same time we did and I don't hear you giving her any crap about…"
"Kurenai?" Kakashi cut him off. "What's she doing out in the field so soon?"
Both men froze instantly as a gut-wrneching scream ripped through the air. They spun around only to be shocked by the sight in the center of the battle.
Kurenai stood alone, a large circle around her. Her hands were covered in blood. But more noticeably—the trench knives in her hands were covered in blood.
"Are…are those…" Lee whispered from behind Gai.
Kakashi nodded, his expression unreadable.
"Asuma's knives"
They could only watch as Kurenai fell to her knees, the circle of fighters widening away from her. With the exception of the hill top, all the fight stopped as all eyes turned to her.
She tilted her head back again, but not sound came from her throat. Instead, she closed her eyes and gently placed her hands on the ground.
The rumbling was small at first. Slowly, it grew and grew as vines and trees erupted from the parched soil, snaring unsuspecting sound ninjas and leaf ninjas alike. The barren field was suddenly a forest and not one person escaped the living trees.
"What's she doing!?!" Gai looked over at Kakashi, the silver haired ninja ensnared in a tree of his own.
"She's winning the battle for us, Gai. Guess you missed the boat on this one."
Gai's jaw dropped at the weary joke. "Hmph." He scoffed. "She's gone and immobilized the good guys too."
"You should have more faith in me than that."
Gai flinched, not realizing Kurenai had appeared behind him.
"Now, if you wait a moment, I'll free all of you from the illusion." She walked through the trees. "But I'm going to free you two last of all."
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The ground fell away from them as Sakura channeled her chakra into the rock. It wasn't much, but it was enough to create a small tunnel beneath the snake demon's coils.
"Come on!" She cried, pulling Yamato down into the dusty cavity. "Hurry before she realizes what's going on!"
Yamato shook his head, grateful that the snake was too busy with the toad to pay them any heed.
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Orochimaru raised his arm….
And almost instantly felt his control over his host body slipping.
He stumbled, fighting against the force with which Sasuke was coming through. That one moment was enough for Naruto.
He hit Orochimaru with one of his new wind techniques, confident that the snake-man was not prepared for that.
He was right.
Already battling with Sasuke for control over his body, Orochimaru was ill prepared for the wind-based attack. He lay there, motionless, finally regaining control over himself again.
Naruto began the seals for his final technique.
"No! Naruto wait!"
The blond looked at Yamato in confusion. "But.. But…it's over!"
"Naruto, you'll kill whatever is left of Sasuke too!" He placed a hand on his shoulder. "There is ..another…way."
Now a strange sensation of fear pierced the mind of Orochimaru as he sat up and saw the waiting form of Sakura behind Naruto. She was Tsunade's student, and he now knew why she was there. Well, he would force her to use her powers for another reason.
He had planned on using the Uchiha's power to suppress the Kyuubi… but now, he was going to use them to summon it!
On hands and knees, he stretched out his arm. "Kyuubi! Demon fox! I command you to COME OUT!"
"Uhhhhhhh," Naruto hit the ground, twisting and turning, his form wavering as the transformation went under way.
"Yamato!" Sakura stared, wide-eyed. "What's he doing?"
Sweat pouring down his face, the ANBU ninja shook his head. He knelt closer to Naruto on the ground. "I…I… I can't….it's not enough! I can't hold the demon back!"
"Kyuubi!!" Orochimaru howled. "COME FORTH!"
Naruto was already at two-tail state.
"Sakura! Your healing ability! You're going to have to help me keep the demon back! Or Naruto will kill us all!"
"But… that means that…"
Yamato looked at her sadly. "It's Naruto or Sasuke, Sakura. If you use your chakra on Orochimaru, we—along with Naruto will die. We may yet get another chance to save Sasuke."
The choice was made. Really, what choice was there?
She knelt next to her childhood friend and placed her hands on his chest, flooding him with her healing power.
The second tail disappeared.
They were so immersed in helping Naruto, neither one saw Orochimaru approach.
"Well, well. Seems you weren't all that devoted to him after all."
The whisper burned in Sakura's head as if he had poured liquid fire in her ear. She felt her heart break for a second time. It only made it worse that he looked like Sasuke.
No! No it won't end like this! It won't end…
Sakura's eyes went wide as the sword pierced through her stomach. Sasuke's sword. She looked up at him through tear-filled eyes. A deep look of horror was on Orochimaru's face and for a moment their eyes met and she knew it was Sasuke looking back at her. Just as quickly—it was gone, replaced by a cruel smile.
Sakura couldn't make out what Yamato was screaming at her.
No! It WON"T end like THIS!
Suddenly, her hand shot out, gripping Orochimaru's tunic in her unbreakable grasp.
Keeping one hand on Naruto and one hand on Sasuke, she flooded healing chakra out of her body and into theirs.
Orochimaru's went rigid with shock and instantly, Manda vanished. "Nooooo!" he screamed, the sound just above a whisper.
Sakura felt her body failing but she continued pouring the healing chakra into her friends.
Her power drowned Orochimaru, pulsing through the body he had stolen. He could not tolerate the pureness of it and slowly he felt his control slipping. Sasuke resurfaced, attacking the disoriented snake master from within.
On the outskirts of the strange trio, Yamato looked on in disbelief. He wanted desperately to help Sakura as she bled to death but knew that he needed to keep his own control on Naruto. But even as he watched, a strange form began to seep out of the Uchiha body.
Cast out, Orochimaru hovered above the unconscious body. With his last amount of energy, he would kill the boy.
But before the transparent image could swoop down, it was hit with a massive ball of lightning.
An otherworldly shriek rent the air. And then he was gone.
Yamato collapsed backward, his eyes barely registering Kakashi. "You sure know when to take your time, eh?"
"Ino! Ino! Help Sakura! What the hell happened up here?"
"I… I…She's lost a lot of blood." The girl whispered, her composure close to breaking. "I don't know if this is something I can heal… it's a strange wound…"
"Damnit!" Kakashi held Sakura up. "Do what you can! Just give her the chance to make it to Konoha."
"I'll do what I can…"
Kurenai, Kakashi, and Gai looked from the unconscious form of Sasuke to the unconscious forms of Naruto, Sakura and Yamato.
"What the hell happened up here?"
From the back ground a wounded Sai spoke up. "I think they saved Sasuke."
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Coming ASAP chapter 3: Sasuke
Summary: Will Sakura survive the trip back to Konoha? What happens when Sasuke wakes up?