Hi guys! Yes I know you're mad at me cause I didn't update this in ages, I'm not gonna make any excuses so here you go! Chapter 7. Enjoy!

Old Fight

A week after the 'romantic' konoha festival, and the night Sasuke got his heart smashed and stomped on... then eaten... (Not the point! Sorry Sasuke!) It was time for the team to start on missions again and there was one coming their way.

A female decoder suddenly barged into the room, "Hokage-sama! We have received an Intel from our scouts in the west sector" she said. Tsunade looked up from scowling at the paperwork on her desk with Shizune next to her. "What is it" said Tsunade.

"You should see for yourself" she approached Tsunade's desk and placed the unravelled scroll on her desk. Tsunade picked it up with a frown, as she read, her face fell further. "What is it, Tsunade-sama" asked Shizune. Tsunade did not answer, but before Shizune could sneak a peek at the scroll, Tsunade ripped it in half. Alarmed, Shizune immediately made distance from her mentor.

"Shizune! Get me a list of the available jounins!" commanded Tsunade as she stood up, knocking over her cup of tea. "Y-Yes Tsunade. Right away!"

Meanwhile Sasuke and Naruto were doing some training while Sakura was working in the hospital.

"Ne... isn't it a little too boring here without Sakura-chan...?" sulked Naruto, as Sasuke threw a kunai at Naruto. He just tilted his head a little to the side and the kunai missed. Naruto charged at Sasuke and the two broke out into a taijutsu battle. "Not really" Sasuke said as he landed a kick to Naruto's gut, but it turned out to be a shadow clone.

Sasuke sidestepped and Naruto came flying past from behind him with a rasengan, he stumbled a little before coming to a stop, he heard cackling sounds behind him, he turned his head a little behind and saw Sasuke standing there with a sinister look as he held a blue electricity lashing out violent. Naruto turned and fully faced him.

They charged.

The collision was chaotic, Sakura looked out the window of the patient she was tending to and she could see lightning and chakra, viciously shooting out of the training grounds. She smiled 'They seem to be having fun'

The patient called out to her and she tore her gaze away from the outside world as she tended to the woman.

In the Hokage's office...

Tsunade was scowling at the clipboard that supposedly contained the profiles of all the available jounin of the village, she twitched. "Shizune... I told you to get me a list of jounins, not a list of available shinobi" said Tsunade. "W-Well, All the jounin are away on missions" said Shizune, clearly aware of her teacher's bad mood.

Tsunade snapped the clipboard in half, further frightening Shizune. "M-May I ask what's the emergency about...?" asked Shizune, praying that Tsunade wouldn't reign her temper on her. "Orochimaru and The Akatsuki are on the move" sighed Tsunade as she looked down at a certain team's profile.

Shizune's eyes widened, no wonder Tsunade wanted a list of jounins, no chunin or genin could be able to handle them.

Except maybe them

Tsunade's assistant noticed that her teacher was staring at the worst team she could possibly be thinking of sending on this mission. "You can't possibly be thinking of sending Team Kakashi on this mission" she said nervously.

"That wouldn't be a very good decision, Kakashi's not here to lead the team either" said Tsunade. Shizune sighed in relief before Tsunade added "But I can't think of anyone else more perfect for this job" smirked Tsunade. "Gehh"

Tsunade slammed her palm on her desk "Get me Team Kakashi now!" Shizune tensed up "But but-" Tsunade shot her a look "Now" she made it clear. "Y-Yes, r-right away, Tsunade-sama"

Sakura was busy writing the report on her latest patient when a knock on her door was heard. "Sakura-san, The hokage has asked for your presence" said a fellow nurse. She stood up and hurried over, not keen on keeping her teacher waiting.

She knocked on the Hokage office door before entering.

"Sakura-chan!" she heard someone shout.

"Naruto, Sasuke!" said Sakura, happy to see her teammates again.

"Sakura-chan Sakura-chan, You can't imagine how much we missed you!" said Naruto as Sakura walked over to stand next him with Sasuke on the other side, she laughed nervously "Naruto, it's been 5 hours" she said.

"Teme over here was so out of it without you around" said Naruto, nudging him continuously. Sasuke twitched "Yeah, I didn't send you flying far enough" said Sasuke. "What did you say, moron teme!" as Naruto flung illogical insults at Sasuke, Sakura leaned out of the line "Is that so, Sasuke" she asked teasingly. Sasuke pouted and turned away with a blushing face "Of course not" he lied.

"Ehem" Tsunade faked a cough and everyone straightened. "After giving this a great amount of thought, I've decided to send you three on this mission, though it's very risky, I can't find a more suitable team to take on this mission" said Tsunade. "What kind of mission, an escort? Infiltration?" said Naruto, making hand motions to match his words. Sasuke furrowed his brow "Orochimaru and the Akatsuki... right" he said quietly.

"You're sharp, Sasuke" said Tsunade, she nodded "Indeed, this mission involves Orochimaru and the Akatsuki, We've just received Intel from the west sector, they seemed to have found Orochimaru's current base and a pair of the Akatsuki has been spotted nearby" said Tsunade.

"An Alliance...?" gasped Sakura. "We can't tell for sure, but I've already sent out a messenger kite containing orders to tell the scouts to retreat from the border, you might bump into them along the way" said Tsunade.

Sakura felt a little insecure after their last meeting with Orochimaru, her hand seemed to curl into a fist without her knowing, her heartbeats slowly got faster as the memories resurfaced.

Orochimaru's snake hands sank it's teeth into the side of her neck, she could feel her whole body go numb as the darkness closed it, she didn't know what was happening anymore. It was dark, and cold. She felt like she was trapped inside the cave that reeked of blood back in Iwagakure, crouched at the end, crying herself to sleep. She hadn't known that this was the work of the poison, but if this were a bad dream, she wanted someone to save her before she's completely engulfed by the terrifying darkness. That's right... she was going to get eaten by that horrid feeling, she was going to lose herself, and fade away without a tr-

"Sakura" a voice called her back. She blinked twice "You okay? Sakura-chan" asked Naruto, looking worried.

Sakura smiled "Yeah, I'm fine" That's right. Sasuke was here, so is Naruto. There is nothing to worry about. "I am sure that you are aware of Kakashi's absence as he is on an important mission right now, so I am appointing Sasuke as team leader for this mission" said Tsunade.

"What? How can you pick him and not me!" said an outraged Naruto. "Naruto, you know that answer to that. You've asked it a million times, I'm not going to answer you. Hurry and leave before I make you" said Tsunade.

With that, the three left the room and went home to pack for the journey, they met at the village gate, Sakura paused on the border of the village gate for a moment, allowing the guys to move ahead of her, Sasuke noticed that she was nervous.

He took her hand "Don't worry. I won't let him touch you" he assured her. Sakura looked up slowly at him. He has a very faint smile plastered on his face, but she knew he wasn't kidding. She squeezed back at his hand and marched ahead of him, dragging him along as if she was never nervous.

They jumped off after Naruto shouted at them for being so slow, the path was straight and they zipped past like stray arrows with Sasuke leading and Naruto and Sakura on either side of him. "How far west are we heading?" asked Naruto. "Till we see the border" said Sasuke. "Don't you think we should've bumped into the scouts by now?" asked Sakura. Sasuke's brows furrowed in thought, she was right. Unless the scouts are assigned further west then usual, they should've met up with them now.

His eyes slowly turned red as he activated his sharingan. In a distance he could see something very faint, a small spark of chakra, it was too far for him to make out who was it. He looked back at Sakura "Sakura, 5.3 kilometers North-west, what do you sense" said Sasuke.

Sakura nodded and slowed her breathing, she focused on a single point. It was a fellow konoha shinobi, but something's wrong. "Something's wrong, we better hurry" said Sakura. They all jumped off, leaping a far distance ahead, then they went out of path and into the forest. In a few minutes, they reached the scouts situated in the west sector.

Dead.

Their eyes widened as she stared down at the corpses. They laid scattered across the clearing, bodies lifeless and bloodied, limbs missing and some even decapitated. They had been brutally massacred.

"W... What's this..." Sakura breathed.

"They were discovered before we could make it here" said Sasuke. Naruto clenched his fist "Akatsuki..."

"The wounds are fresh and the rigor mortis hasn't began" said Sakura.

Sasuke blinked and activated his sharingan and looked at the corpses "Their chakra signature hasn't faded either" said Sasuke as he deactivated it.

"That means that the Akatsuki are still close?" asked Naruto eagerly.

"I don't sense any chakra nearby" said Sakura.

"Their chakra signatures had been blocked then rendezvous point must be close" said Sasuke. Naruto slammed his fist into his palm "Right, we'd better start looking then" said Naruto. Sasuke and Sakura looked at him as he made a cross with his fingers "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

In a second one Naruto had multiplied to hundreds and they all jumped out in different directions. As Sasuke and the real Naruto were about to jump off and search for the barrier themselves, Sakura stopped them as she held them by the sleeves. They looked at her, she had her head hung lowly as she looked down.

"Could we at least bury them ...?" she asked softly.

The two boy looked at the Konoha shinobi corpses and smiled at their kunoichi teammate. Sasuke ruffled her hair. "Sure"

And so, the team started to dig the burial of their fellow shinobi.

After a full 10 minute of digging, they finally managed to bury their comrades in a line and laid flowers on their resting spot. "We're finally done" sighed Naruto, stretching then he froze and his eyes widened. Sasuke and Sakura took notice of that. Sakura laid the last of the flowers and stood up "Where is it, Naruto" said Sakura.

"Follow me" said Naruto, he jumped off with his two comrades following him.

They stopped in front of a tree with a seal intact reading the word 'Element Seal' in kanji. Naruto stepped up to tear it off, but electricity sparked and his hand was repelled. He winced and rubbed his hand. "Well I didn't expect it to be that easy" said Naruto. Sakura lit her hand with chakra and tried the same, she wasn't electrocuted but her hand felt like there was a wall between the seal and her hand.

"How do you suppose you deactivate it" said Sakura, taking back her hand. "I'm not very good with seals..." said Naruto. "Neither is all of us..." said Sasuke. "The seal says Elemental Seals..." said Sakura. "Stand back" said Sasuke. Sakura and Naruto looked back at him, then took a step back. Sasuke looked at his hand then grabbed his wrist. "Chidori" he uttered and in his hand lit a ball of spark. He spread his legs and then he was gone, the next thing they knew his chidori had collided with the seal on the tree.

The lightning lashed out but the seal slowly took it in and Sasuke stumbled forward a little, the three took a step back and looked as the barrier became visible, it flickered on and off. Sasuke activated his sharingan to find a weak spot. His eyes darted from corner to corner, desperate to find it before it returned to normal. His eyes widened as he had found it. 'Over there...!'

He took out a kunai and lit it with Lightning Chakra then stabbed it into the barrier's weak spot. The barrier reacted violently as it flickered more, pulses of electricity shot out and Sasuke winced. But after awhile it died down and Sasuke's hand was repelled, his chest heaving as he lowered the weapon.

Sakura sensed something. "Something's wrong" she said. Sasuke and Naruto seemed to have felt it too as they took on a battle stance, and stood in a circle where their backs are facing the middle. They watched as shark summons appeared out of nowhere in a ball of smoke. Sasuke glanced at his right hand, there were burns coating his pale skin. 'Looks like I won't be using Chidori in awhile' he thought.

One by one the sharks grew in numbers. "Shark Summons... they're dangerous" said Sakura. "Summons? I've got an idea" said Naruto. "Really?" said Sakura, it's rare for Naruto to have a plan but something tells Sasuke that it's not gonna go as well as Naruto predicted. Naruto bit his thumb drawing blood he formed a few seals "Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summon Technique)" "I didn't know Naruto could use a summoning technique" said Sakura.

Naruto planted his palm onto the ground, a series of letters wrote themselves on the dirt then there was an explosion of smoke when it cleared all that's left there was a tadpole squirming and wiggling around in the dirt. "Heh heh, I guess the results are still the same huh" Naruto scratched the back of his head, meekly.

"I never expected anything to happen" said Sasuke. "What did you say, teme!" shouted Naruto. "Looks like we'll just have to take them down, one by one" said Sakura bracing herself as the sharks began to close in on them. "One by one?" Sasuke chuckled in amusement "I'll take the whole army" his tone lined with arrogance, he pulled out his katana lighting it up in sparks. He took a big swing at it, taking out 2 of the sharks. Sakura cracked her knuckles then pulled on her glove, she took a shark head on. Her punch connected with its snout, breaking the summon as it exploded into white smoke.

"Kage bunshin no jutsu" Naruto cloned a pair of himself, together they wrestled one of the sharks to the ground the real Naruto finished it off with a Rasengan they then proceeded to the next one. Sasuke had already single handed defeated a dozen of the shark summons but they kept on coming.

"They just keep on coming" said Sakura, she ducked as one of them flew past she turned and gave the one behind her a punch making it explode into smoke. Naruto sent one of them flying with a firm uppercut. Sasuke lit his blade and it began to extend at and incredible rate, all it took was one swing to take 5 of them out.

Sakura noticed that the barrier was unstable. All they had to do was break it completely maybe they summons might stop coming. "Sasuke, Naruto. Cover me" she said. Both males immediately shifted their attention to the safety of Sakura. Everything that had potential danger to Sakura, they took it out. Sakura ran at the barrier, fist glowing green.

HAAAA

Sakura's punch sent a shockwave through the forest, there was a pause before the barrier began to crack and fall apart. "She did it...!" said Naruto. Sasuke looked around as the summons broke and disappeared in balls of smoke. Sakura withdrew her hand and took a step as the barrier disappeared. Hidden in the barrier was an underground cave, they didn't need to go in instead the enemy came to them.

Sasuke's cursed seal began to tingle. He unconsciously moved his over and clapped over it, teeth clenching as he relived the memory of the mark, the pain he had been put through every time he exerted himself. He loathed the man behind the scar, but he had to thank him. Without this seal, he might not have gained the power he had today.

A deep chuckle could be heard from within the cave, bouncing off the wall as echoes then fading. Sasuke glared at the darkness of the cave, he narrowed his eyes as he said that man's name "Orochimaru..."

"Sasuke-kun, it's been awhile" said Orochimaru, stepping into the light. His sneaky assistant Kabuto standing at his side. "Have you decided to join me?" said Orochimaru. Before Sasuke could open his mouth and snap at him, another voice interrupted "He'll never join you!" the heads turned to the little pink haired kunoichi. She bit her lip, eyebrows arched. "Well well, if it isn't little Sakura. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you. Soon, both you and Sasuke will be part of my collection" he said in a sick sadistic voice.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on them" snapped Naruto. "Uzumaki Naruto, the Kyubi Jinchuuriki" Orochimaru smirked. "Oi oi, we had a deal." a new voice came from the cave. "Aha-ha Kisame-san will be very annoyed if you break the deal" said another voice, this one was a more cheeky toned voice. "Hmph... don't worry. I have no use of the Kyubi" said Orochimaru.

Two new enemy emerged from the darkness of the cave. "You...!" Naruto blurted out. "Hou... I'm honoured that you still remember me. Naruto-kun" he said. "Who are you again?" said Naruto. The strange masked man broke out in fits of laughter. "Shut up, Tobi" said Kisame, his expression remained unchanged but they could clearly see that he was annoyed by Naruto's comment. "No matter, I'll make you remember me soon enough" he said, taking hold of his oddly wrapped up blade.

"Ah! That blade!" Naruto shouted out all of the sudden. "Oh, so you remembered. This is the same blade that drained your chakra in Suna and 2 and a half years ago" said Kisame. "Nah it's hopeless... I can't remember anything..." sulked Naruto. "It's alright, Naruto. Maybe it'll resurface when we start fighting" said Sakura. Kisame's eye twitched "Looks like I'll have to make you remember" he said, attacking Naruto. Naruto barely had any time to react, the shark blade collided with Naruto's kunai. The blonde's eyes widened as he suddenly tumbled back. "Naruto...!" shouted Sakura before a pair of snakes shot themselves at her. Fear built up in her gut, those teeth, the venom it was that same feeling she felt. Sakura couldn't bring it in herself to move.

Kunais flew from nowhere and took the heads of the pair of snakes before it could reach Sakura. The kunoichi's legs gave way no longer able to support her. Sasuke rushed in front of her "Sakura, are you alright?" he asked, not turning around. Sakura snapped out of it "I'm fine" she brushed it up and got on her feet "Thanks"

"Can you handle Kabuto? I'll take on Orochimaru" said Sasuke. "What about Naruto" said Sakura. "That guy won't die that easily. He'll manage" said Sasuke. Sakura nodded then gave Naruto one last glance, he was managing pretty well being able to fight on par with one of the Akatsuki, but something tells Sakura that he was just playing around.

Sakura formed some hand seals "Doton, Hachi Josho Ryu (Earth Technique, Eight Rising Dragons)" The ground around the enemy rose from the ground and formed 8 dragons, they roared and charged down on them, crashing into the ground. Sakura knew that technique wasn't nearly fast enough to get them, but that wasn't what she was after. Sasuke fought by kunai with Orochimaru as Kabuto and Sakura fought hand to hand. They needed to separate the master and assistant.

Tobi was watching the whole fight on a tree. The suspicious member of the akatsuki has his eyes on Sasuke. 'He has gotten stronger... good...'

Sakura punched the ground. Kabuto felt the ground below him move, then it suddenly broke off into huge chunks of dirt. He quickly jumped off before he got caught between the earth. Sakura anticipated that, she form the seals "Katon, Karyu Endan" the fire dragon shot at Kabuto, he had nowhere to run in midair. The dragon devoured him completely, a loud shriek filled the air.

Sakura felt something was wrong, how could she still felt Kabuto's chakra furthermore why couldn't she pinpoint it...? Something shot out of the ground in front of her, her eyes widened.

She took a step back and prepared to jump back, Kabuto landed a hit on her stomach with his palm before she did so. Sakura landed swiftly on the ground, seemingly fine. Sakura clutched her stomach and coughed blood. Sasuke's eyes widened and he turned back to Sakura. "If you get distracted like that, Sasuke-kun" he heard his opponent say. He turned back Orochimaru caught him by surprise with a downwards sword slash. Thankfully for his quick reflexes he managed to block it with his kusanagi. "You're going to die" Orochimaru finished with a scary smile as he licked his lips. Sasuke glared at him, he could feel the pain increasing on his cursed seal he needed to focus on his own fight now, he still gave Sakura one last glance to check if she was fine before going back on offense with Orochimaru.

'He cut through my insides...' thought Sakura. Kabuto's chakra scalpel allow him to cut someone's insides without damaging the outside, this technique is usually used for emergency operations but it can also be used as a weapon in combat. Sakura had to dodge his attacks for now, this wound will limit her movements.

Kabuto attacked again. Sakura's hands glowed green as she held her stomach, she dodged his swipes and thrusts. Kabuto thrust at her but she jumped back, he jumped after her, insisting further. Sakura side stepped him before jumping back again. With each move Kabuto is getting faster and faster whereas she was getting slower and slower. She needed to think of something quick.

Kabuto suddenly attacked with continuous slashes that made Sakura retreat further back. Her eyes widened as she felt something at the back of her, the Kabuto front of her melted back to the ground. 'A clone...! Sakura turned around frantically. Kabuto was right behind her, a toothy grin on his face. Why didn't she sense it?

Blood splattered all over the ground.

Sakura coughed and choked on the rush of blood that went up her oesophagus. She panted and took a step back from Kabuto who had a kunai stuck in his hand. As Kabuto was about to stab his hand all the way through her inside, Sakura was able to dodge it, as she was falling to the side she stabbed Kabuto's hand before using both hands to flipped away from him resulting in her having to let go of her stomach that was still damaged.

Kabuto just stood there staring at his hand dripping with blood.

"Uwa!"

Naruto flew back and broke another tree, that Naruto exploded into smoke. Kisame was beginning to get very annoyed with Naruto's shadow clone. Suddenly from the forest, came a raid of Narutos from all directions.

"U"

"Zu"

"Ma"

"Ki"

"Naruto Rendan!"

Kisame was raided by kicks from Narutos in all direction.

He smirked. "No way!" one of the Narutos shouted. Kisame has completely blocked it with Samehada blocking his right side and his left hand blocking him on the other side, he took no damage. The clones felt their chakra being drain and deactivated on the right side. Kisame swung his sword to the left side and took out the Narutos on that side. Kisame looked down "Hm?"

A sharp blow was delivered up his chin, lifting him a few feet off the ground. Before Naruto couldn't even get Kisame to move, much less land a hit that blew him off the ground. Kisame flipped and landed on his feet, he rubbed his chin "Not bad, kid. So you have improved" but once Kisame had looked up Naruto charged after him with a spinning blue orb in his hand.

"Rasengan!"

Kisame quickly lifted his sword up to block the massive attack. Naruto's attack was stopped, but he pushed on, ripping the bandages off of Samehada. Kisame was being pushed back, even when he's losing chakra at an incredible rate he was determined to get it through Samehada. Red chakra began to leak from Naruto, his eyes turning red and slit instead of his usual blue.

Kisame winced 'What intense chakra' Naruto's rasengan had finally been drained completely along with the rest of his chakra. He stumbled forward before being hit with Samehada, sending him back into the forest. Sakura and Sasuke turned to him, eyes widened.

Sasuke ducked a swing from Orochimaru before both swords clashed once more. The collisions of metal were continuous, there was no wasted movement, each swing of their swords were aiming for the kill. Sasuke was pushed back by Orochimaru. He swung his sword to the side lighting it up with his chidori.

He charged once again, determined to finish it. He jumped and slashed his sword down, Orochimaru pulled his own katana up to block the blow, but he didn't expect Sasuke's sword to go all the way through him. His eyes widened as Sasuke cut through his shoulder, The raven head pulled his sword out and stepped back. He watched as Orochimaru's body fell forward and stayed on the ground. Sasuke took another step back and turned around, about to go help his teammates.

A snake shot at him, he turned back and sliced it in half. "You let your guard down, Sasuke-kun" Sasuke's eyes widened as Orochimaru placed his hand on where his seal was located. Sasuke felt his whole body tense, muscles trembling and giving away. His shriek of pain filled the forest. Sakura's attention immediately shifted to him. "What's wrong, Sasuke!" shouted Sakura. Before she got an answer she was attacked by Kabuto. Her eyes widened as he attacked her head on, eyes looking vicious and bloodthirsty, he was a completely different person.

He was faster, and stronger and more violent. Sakura's speed alone could barely keep up with his movements. She jumped far behind, she lifted her leg up high. "Tsutenkyaku (Heavenly Foot of Pain)" she brought it down. It sent shockwaves through the whole forest. The ground began to crack before a huge crater was made, making Kabuto lose his balance. He jumped off, Sakura jumped after him and they engaged into a taijutsu battle, Sakura didn't give him the chance to use his Chakra Scalpel.

Kisame was slowly walking to Naruto's crash site. He presumed the boy to be knocked out cold and ready for him to retrieve.

Sasuke was struggling to get on his feet as he was on all fours. Orochimaru landed a hard kick in his gut that sent him flying a few feet away. "If you'd have came quietly to me, we wouldn't have to go through his procedure" said Orochimaru. Black marks began to cover Sasuke, along with the painful side effects. Sasuke could feel it in himself, he was losing control. The overwhelming power that just had to be used, He clenched his fist and got up. He let the marks be, he was going to use it to kill the person that gave it to him.

After all those years of training, he mastered the cursed seal and the techniques he could power up with it. He formed a seal with one of his hand "Chidori... Nagashi (Chidori Stream)" lightning chakra exploded from him. Now that his seal had been activated, his Chidori Stream has a wider range and greater attack power. Orochimaru jumped back to dodge them, as he was focusing on dodging the streams of lightning, Sasuke took that chance to grab his Kusanagi. After the sparks died down, Orochimaru was raided by a wave of lightning senbons. 'So he was after his kusanagi...' Orochimaru jumped around, dodging the needles. Her heard something click shut. Amidst the continuous rain of needles Sasuke was charging up an attack to finish Orochimaru with. "It's over"

Orochimaru smirked.

Sakura landed a hit on Kabuto. But like the others it was a dummy, this was the 5th one. No matter how hard Sakura concentrated, she couldn't pinpoint his location. She had her guard up, she thought hard, that time...

When the snakes shot out of the cave, they weren't from Orochimaru. They were from Kabuto, they weren't meant to bite her, they were just hiding the real intent. Before Sasuke cut the heads of the snakes off, they shot a thin needle at her that injected the venom that disrupted her chakra circulation disabling her ability to accurately sense chakra.

But by the time she found out it was too late, Kabuto shot out from the ground. Sakura stood her ground, this is her only chance. Her chakra was running low, and she couldn't activate her kaiho. She's got one shot at this, she just hopes that this won't be her last attack. Kabuto aimed for her heart. Sakura's eyes widened, Kabuto paused in their position. His hand on her chest, but Sakura was holding his wrist to prevent it from stabbing in her completely. But it still damaged her insides. Blood rushed up and she coughed before gasping for air, wincing as she grinned, blood clinging on the side of her lip.

Kabuto knew what was she trying to do, he was in deep shit. Sakura swiped at his legs, tripping him she pushed down his shoulder and clenched her fist. Her fist collided with his gut, creating a huge crater in the middle of the clearing. Kabuto couldn't possibly be alive after that. Sakura panted, taking deep breaths. She clutched her chest, thankfully Kabuto didn't puncture her heart, but he probably made a hole in her lung. She briefly mended it and limped towards the top of the crater.

By the time she reached the top, she heard a terrible cry of pain. "Sasuke!"

She looked over at her raven head teammate. He clutched his neck with one hand, the other still holding on to his chidori. His legs look ready to give out, he was only a few feet away from Orochimaru. He was so close... yet so far.

Sasuke collapsed, his chidori disappearing. His black marks were taking over as he knelt down in front of Orochimaru, every muscle in his body tensed up. "Sasuke-kun, kill" Orochimaru said. Another cry filled the forest. This time it was by a rougher voice. "Naruto...!" Sakura turned to the direction of where he was thrown. Kisame came flying out, Sakura could faintly feel it, the ominous aura. But where was it coming from, she looked behind her. Sasuke was holding a sword at her neck. "Sa...suke...?" she panted.

She met his eyes. They weren't normal, they were empty. He lifted his katana above her before something red and violent crashed into him like a meteor. Both boys clashed like water and fire. Sakura couldn't do anything, the effects of the drug hasn't wore off. She looked at Orochimaru, he was just smirking there. Maybe Sasuke will return back to normal when she kills him.

"Orochimaru!" she shouted. Orochimaru's attention directed to the kunoichi. "Change Sasuke back" she commanded, eyes firm and glaring. "I like that look in your eyes, but I am afraid I can't fulfil your request, Sasuke-kun can't be stopped now" chuckled Orochimaru. Sakura lost it, she ran at him. He lifted his arm and snakes flew out, wrapping around her neck, wrists and legs. She was completely immobilised, she could easily rip right through them. But when she tried, Orochimaru pulled back on her wrist, threatening her. Not to mention that she had a punctured lung and stomach, further limiting her use of strength and movements.

"How selfless, just like your parents" chuckled Orochimaru. "My parents...?"Sakura gasped, eyes looking at Orochimaru. What does he know about her parents, more importantly how does he know them. Sakura wanted to ask him questions she had been dying to know but now wasn't the time, Sakura had to get free. Naruto's transformation had already reached his 3-tailed form. 'Sakura, remember that if Naruto reaches his 4th tail. He will completely lose sight on friend or foe. He will attack anything and everything.' Kakashi told Sakura.

Naruto and Sasuke landed a punch on each other's face, equal in power they both flew back, creating another hole through the trees. Sakura struggled further, Orochimaru's threatening doesn't seem to be working anymore. "Naruto! Sasuke! Snap out of it!" she shouted.

She felt something heavy , chakra so strong that it became the only thing Sakura could feel. Her eyes widened 'No... anything but that... If those two attacks collide their bodies won't be able to hold' Sakura had to get free, somehow...

Orochimaru's eyebrows furrowed. 'What's happening with this girl'

Naruto had a huge rasengan coated with red chakra in his hand, eyes vicious and nails sharpened, red chakra leaking and coating his body. Sasuke had black marks covering his body, eyes like a zombie and a silver chidori in his right hand.

"HAAAA!" they both cried as they shot at each other like bullets. They was a collision, lightning sparks flew everywhere along with Naruto's red chakra. They pushed head on, none of them willing to give in. The force was more than Orochimaru had predicted, the force of chakra began to destroy everything around it. They had to retreat. Sakura took this chance to snap free. She jumped right into the core of the explosion. "Tch..." Orochimaru covered the lower part of his face before jumping back.

He was reunited with his loyal assistant. "What were you doing Kabuto" said Orochimaru. "Collecting data on Haruno Sakura" he said, pushing up his glasses. Before touching his stomach. "Looks like that she did quite the damage on you" snickered Orochimaru. "Indeed..." said Kabuto. Orochimaru broke out into a coughing fit. "We should return, Orochimaru-sama. Our business here is done" said Kabuto, going under the arm of his master and forming a seal. They disappeared in a ball of smoke.

The chaos of the chakra began to fade, blood dripped on the floor. Both guys eyed the kunoichi with surprised expressions. Sakura was holding their hands, her own was bleeding, she stood in the middle, looking down at their hands in front of her. Their chakras were no longer there but they remained there. Their hands were so much bigger than hers. She gave a painful smile before she wrapped her fingers around their hands. "I told you to get along now, Didn't I...?" she said, softly as she squeeze their hands. Her own were trembling, whether of fear that her teammates would not be the same once she looked up or cause of the pain, she did not know.

Sasuke's black marks began to fade his eyes returned to their intense onyx shine. Sakura felt Sasuke's hold on her hand she looked at him. Naruto's chakra began to subside as well. Before a sword came swinging by, knocking Sakura and Sasuke away. Kisame landed at where Sasuke and Sakura were standing, "Heh, The Kyubi's character has finally taken over huh" said Kisame.

Naruto stood, wide eyed and teeth baring. He took over at Sakura and Sasuke. Sasuke was fine, but Sakura on the other hand was bleeding. She held her arm, trying to stop the heavy bleeding. She gasped "Naruto...!"

Naruto's knuckles cracked, Sasuke's head snapped from Sakura's wound to Naruto "Shit"

Red chakra exploded upwards, creating a hole in the sky. The clouds were dyed red and looks as if a storm was approaching. Naruto was in the middle of the chakra, his eyes turning black and his three tails grew into four. Kisame tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes dancing with delight . Naruto laid his hollow eyes on the fish man. He took off, in a few seconds Kisame was nothing by a bloody pulp in the ground.

Only then did they realize, it was another man. They were tricked, it was just an average shinobi whose body was used by Hoshigaki Kisame worst of all, it was a fellow konoha shinobi. That wasn't the main problem now, how were they going to calm Naruto down now.

Kakashi merely told Sakura to prevent this, he didn't tell her what to do in this situation. Before she could even think of a plan, Sasuke took off from her side. "Sasuke...!" she gasped then winced at the pain that shot through her arm. She won't be able to use her left arm as she wishes now. She bit her lip, Sasuke's chakra is already exhausted. What are they going to do, what could be so powerful that it would bring Naruto's head back, if only she could use the technique Yamato-taichou could use with his kekkai genkai.

Sasuke was only managing to hold his ground with Naruto's four-tails, but that was all he could manage at the moment, not able to deal any real damage. His kusanagi clashing with Naruto's metal sharp claws. Clang. clang. clang.

Her mind going at 100 mph, Sakura was starting to get frustrated. What can she do. Her eyes widened. "Sasuke!" she called out to him. Getting the attention of the raven head, but he still kept his eyes on Naruto. If he let his eyes divert for even a second he would be dead. "What is it, Sakura" he said, before jumping up then slamming his kusanagi down at one of Naruto's claws that tried to go after him.

"Let me take over"

Sasuke paused, bad move. Naruto's tail swung at him, sending him flying back. If it was anyone else, they would've crashed into the ground but Sasuke managed to successfully land swiftly on his feet before leaping at Naruto once again. "Are you crazy? You're in no shape to fight" he snapped, eyes still fixated on Naruto. It was true, Sakura was covered in bruises and blood from head to toe.

"And neither are you" her voice was firm and clear. Sasuke was still unconvinced "I have a plan" Sakura tried once again. Sasuke flipped and then jumped again, avoid a smash from one of Naruto's tail. He could see that the 5th tail was slowly being formed behind. "Sasuke, Let me take over" Sakura repeated, it wasn't a request. It was a command. Sasuke didn't have a choice.

He landed and jumped to the side and let Sakura come out of hiding whereas he stood where she once stood. Examining Sakura's movements out of worry. Sakura was handling Naruto pretty well considering her left hand is out of commission. No matters, her right hand is all she needed to do this. She flung a kunai at Naruto, missing him by a centimeter. Sasuke's eyes narrowed, there is no way Sakura could miss. The Naruto-beast let out a ear-piercing yowl. Sakura's eyes furrow, her right hand still holding on to a kunai. She stood her ground as he took off after her, ready to tear her apart.

Sakura threw the kunai to the ground. "Naruto" she said, gently. Her eyes showing no signs of a fight. "I don't want to fight you" she said. Naruto halted, a low growl hanging at the back of his throat. "I know you're in there, Naruto" Sakura pleaded in her eyes.

A roar, then a leap.

The sound of bones breaking and flesh being torn.

.drip.

Sakura merely stood there, eyes widened and hands trembling. Blood. There was so much blood. Sasuke's blood. She opened her mouth but she could not get the words out.

Naruto's hand was stabbed almost all the way through Sasuke's gut. The raven head coughed, blood sprayed to the ground. He didn't dare look at Sakura, he didn't want to know what expression she held right now. "Get a grip of yourself, Naruto!" Sasuke snarled at his blonde teammate, whose not so blonde now.

The Naruto-beast looked taken aback. "Didn't you swear? That you would never try to hurt Sakura for as long as you live." Sasuke panted, wincing in pain he paused "I was there, I heard you. What are you doing now" he sounded angrier and in pain but his voice was carried out strongly.

"Cause if you decide to go against your words now, I swear I'll fucking kill you" Sasuke threatened, his glare piercing into Naruto. The hostility in his eyes faded completely as Naruto's will resurfaced and finally realized what he was doing. Sasuke! His mind called, but he couldn't speak, every part of his body felt like it was covered in flames, scorching him skinless.

Sakura could feel the chakra fade, Sasuke managed to get through to him. His words were powerful enough to reason with a rampant Naruto or rather, his intention to protect Sakura.

A human resurfaced and the claw was pulled out of Sasuke, sending a gush of blood to leak from the Uchiha's body. Naruto took a few steps back as his body returned to normal, except for his skin. It had been scorched clean during his Kyuubi transformation due to the corrosive chakra. He landed on his back with a hard thud. "N-Naruto...!" gasped Sakura, snapping out of the trance. As she tried to run to him, Sasuke began to fall.

Sakura quickly caught him and slowly set him down to lie down, his shoulder leaning against hers as she held him. Naruto's chakra felt stable, for now she had to do something about Sasuke's blood flow. "Sasuke. Sasuke?" she stammered, her hands trembling and nearly forgetting that she was a medical nin. Sasuke's eyes were half closed, he looked at her through his hooded gaze. Sakura attempted to heal him, she didn't even know where to start with her mind not functioning properly, there was just so much blood. Oh god, it was flowing. She had to try and stop it before she could fix anywhere else. "Sakura" he said, surprisingly there was still dignity lingering in his tone. Sakura sighed in relief, he spoke. "Just hang on a little more, okay?" her voice wavering.

In the midst of her healing she spoke out of the sudden "Why... Why!" she gritted her teeth, eyes beginning to sting. Sasuke knew exactly what she meant "You said you'd let me takeover! I was doing just fine! You needn't jump out!" she tried to sound strong and not sound like she was crying, because she was.

Sasuke smirked, even in his situation the bastard could smirk. "I said I would let you takeover, I never said I was going to sit aside and watch you get hurt" he muttered, sounding tired now. His eyes closing and opening slowly. "You didn't need to cut in!" she snapped. "Then tell me... Sakura. If I said I was going to jump in front of a blade to protect you, would you sit still and let me do it?" he asked almost sarcastically.

"Of course not!" she answered immediately. "Of course not..." she repeated softly. "Then we understand each other, because-" he took her hand. "I can't sit still when I see that you're about to get hurt"

"Then why!" she cried, "You knew I wouldn't let you, so why did you come out!" she was sobbing now. Sasuke squeezed her hand, he didn't need to answer that. It was obvious, because he loved her. Sakura's tears began to fall like rain. As a medial nin she knew, she knew that Sasuke's situation was grim, he needed a proper operation and even on the operating table his chances are slim, she could drag him back to the village but she couldn't just leave Naruto.

His blood isn't stopping, the ground was completely drenched in his blood. Sakura wasn't about to give up, she can heal him, she can still save him. However Sasuke himself knew, it was his body afterall. "Sakura" he began "I-" the rosette cut him off, not liking where he was going "Listen to me listen to me, you're going to be fine. Please... just don't leave me" Sakura hugged him, she pressed her cheek again his forehead as she held him up.

Suddenly, Sasuke's will to live sparked back to life, but it was too late. His vision started to blur and his eyes began to close. "Sa...suke?" Sakura asked, panicking. Her hands trembled as one was on Sasuke's stomach, still glowing green and the other at his shoulder, holding him, caressing him.

"Sasuke...!" Sakura prayed that his eyes would open and he would smile. "Don't..." she breathed "Leave me..."

She felt so alone, the dark memories of her past flooded back.

She nearly lost Naruto, and now Sasuke.

She wished Naruto was here, by her side. That boy always knew what he wanted and what to do. If only she hadn't been so naive to believe that her good will alone would be able to stop Naruto, if only.

Sakura. What do you want now?

For Sasuke to come back to me...

Why?

Because-

"I love you..." Sakura whispered to Sasuke's pale body, voice weak as she cried.

Then what's stopping you

The sound of a bell, a light ringing sound filled the forest. Leaves clashing, branches swaying as the wind blew, Sakura's body began to glow green, coated in her own chakra she held on to Sasuke. Eyes glowing bright green. Her chakra was split into 5 parts, each representing one element. Earth, Wind, Fire, Water and Lightning.

One Teardrop. Two Teardrops. Three Teardrops. Four Teardrops. Five-

Each spark of chakra started to circle her. She gripped onto the Uchiha's sleeve. The intensity in the atmosphere picked up, her hair blew around wildly. A bright flash. Sakura's vision blurred and the world began to tilt to one side.

Thud.

Next Chapter

"She's awake!"

"Every word"

"No, that just proved we're not strong enough."

"They're still young! You can't us to keep them here forever!"

"Library, again?"

So? Tell me what you think. And stick around, you might not know when another chapter will poop from the sky again. :D