Parts 1 and 2 are now on Archive of Our Own : D

Kirika raised the Erlenmeyer flask and brought the syringe above it, gently she poked the needle into the collection of fungus and ejected the brackish fluid into it. The pale blue fungus was attached at the bottom of the inside of the flask, enveloped by a clear yellow liquid. The fungus began to expand slightly, the flask began warming. Then quickly it began to fizz and bubble, the fungus began to expand rapidly, blowing up like a balloon and fizzing over the top of the flask. Kirika quickly placed the flask down into a plastic case on the counter and secured the lid. The fungus continued expanding until it filled almost half of the container.

"Hmm..." She jotted down notes and formulas onto a notebook. Cautiously, she opened the lid to obtain a sample of the material. She clipped it between two glass slides and inserted it into a microscope. Kirika jotted down more notes before cleaning the slides and took another sample of the fungus, sealing in into a petri dish. She opened a sliding metal door that opened into an insulated metal container, about a metre long in the counter, took the container and set it into a large metal bin along with the empty syringe. She made hand signs for the fire style jutsu and blew purple flames into the bin. She quickly slammed the door shut. The material needed to be disposed of properly. Container, flask and all. Kirika opened the door, nothing remained save for a film of ash over the metal. She scraped the bin clean.

Kirika took another Erlenmeyer flask. It contained the same type of fungus, but this one was in a light green fluid. She took another syringe of the brackish fluid and brought it to the fungus again.

This process would be repeated almost two dozen times, each with a slightly different variable. Eventually she began retesting everything, however this fungus was attached to the body of rats. Kirika work continued for hours, every so often she glanced at the clock.

She opened the metal bin again and scraped the surface clean. Kirika sighed and looked up at a cabinet above her. There was an abundant supply of flasks and containers, the ones done so far barely made a dent.

"So this is where you've been all day."

Kirika sighed, tilted her head back and smiled at Sasuke, he leaned over her; chin on her shoulder, one hand on her side for balance and stared at her work.

"Father's orders." She purred.

"Disgusting." Sasuke muttered, eying a rat covered in fungus.

"We need to start with small animals; easier to contain."

"I see... So no humans yet, huh?"

Kirika chuckled "Working our way up."

She could practically feel him glaring, it made her laugh. Sasuke was utterly disgusted with the experiments. For that, Kirika found him sweet.

"It's a rare type of parasitic fungus. It's properties are really quite interesting. It attaches itself under the skin and it feeds from the chakra network. No other fungus or plant can do that. Isn't that funny?"

"Hilarious." His voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"It's fascinating."

"How long have you been here? Aren't you bored?"

"Certainly not. This work needs to be done, we leave this hideout in three days. I want to destroy everything before then, this evening, in fact. I need to collect this data." Kirika held up a petri dish containing a sample. "These are all that will survive, these and the notes." Kirika flashed Sasuke a smile. "It's a pleasure. The scent of chemicals; the sight of organs when ripe for the tampering. And when I get a new result, oh, it's ecstatic."

Sasuke gave her a hard look. He turned his head to the side, brow furrowed.

Kirika brushed it off. "I don't get to be in my precious laboratories that often anymore. It's all your fault, you know?"

"How's it my fault?"

"Father's so preoccupied with your development he had such little time for the Akatsuki. Who do you think he's been sending off to meddle with them? I barely have time for my experiments!"

"hnn." Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Are you hungry?"

Kirika took off her safety goggles and lab coat and unpinned the sleeves of her kimono, which had been tied up for safety purposes. She smiled. "Yes."

"You've been off screwing with the Akatsuki... so that's why I don't see so as often."

Kirika shrugged. "Someone has to. Where did you think I was?"

"Heh, I don't know. Whenever I ask all I hear is 'she's off on a mission'."

"What exactly do you do?"

"Ah, well, I gather information. But Kabuto does the same. I find spies, supporters, strongholds and bases and either eliminate or sabotage them. I leak information on them to other anti-Akatsuki conglomerates and false Intel to Akatsuki spies. Things like that."

"I see... did you find anything on Itachi?"

"He has few spies to interrogate and he likes to hide. He's a quiet one."

Sasuke and Kirika sat in a large open room. It was quite big, in the center of the room was a large stone snake, candles were lit in it's eye sockets, giving it a glaring impression. An unnecessary structure, true, but Kirika liked it. She and Sasuke sat on the two stairs of the stand of the huge stone statue. They eat plain white rice. Kirika eat quickly, she hadn't realized how hungry she was. Sasuke offered her more, which she accepted.

"Where's Orochimaru been? I haven't seen him since yesterday morning. Or Kabuto, for that matter."

"They went to the tenchi bridge. To rendezvous with an akatsuki. And then kill him."

"I see." He glared at the empty room. "Orochimaru was supposed to train we with a new jutsu." Annoyance was thick in his voice.

Kirika sighed. "Oh come now, don't pout. You're so childish." She stood up. "If you wanted my help just ask. I will train you today."

Sasuke starred at her. After a moment he grinned. "You're really something, Kirika, I swear..."

Kirika was back in the lab. She'd spent a few hours with Sasuke, the training session ended when she left him to continue exercises in the jutsu that did not require supervision. Besides, though he wouldn't object to assisting in Sasuke's training, Orochimaru told her to complete these final experiments before he returned. By this time, Kirika had concluded the last of the tests, sanitized the area and was concluding with the followup report.

There was a knock on the door.

"Enter." She chided

"My Lady." Kabuto greeted.

"Ah, you're back." Kirika nodded to him.

"How have the tests been coming along?"

"They've progressing nicely. You're mission was successful, I trust?"

"Yes, well, as it turns out Sasori was already dead. The ones who came to meet me were the leaf ninja who killed him."

"Oh? Did you kill them? They would be more useful to use as test subjects."

"No, they're alive. We let them go."

Kirika raised an eyebrow. "Then perhaps we ought to move bases ahead of schedule."

"Perhaps. You know, the ninja we ran into were your former team mates."

"Is that so?" Interest flickered in her eyes.

"Lord Orochimaru believes that if we let them live they would be able to kill at lease one more akatsuki member."

"The enemies of our enemies, eh? I see."

"Lord Orochimaru had a face off with Naruto. He went berserk at the mention of Sasuke and yourself and unleashed the Ninetails'. You would have loved it."

Kirika tisked. "And I followed him around for three years... you must tell me more. Did you get a sample?"

Kabuto sighed. "Afraid not, our meeting was quick. Heh, if you ask me it was less a battle between shinobi and more a battle between epic monsters."

"A shame!"

"Actually." Kabuto gestured behind him. "We did bring someone back with us. An envoy planted by Danzo. I guess you could call him the replacement for you or Sasuke. He insisted on meeting everyone in the base. Which is you." He stepped aside into the room. A boy, around Kirika's age, entered the room. Pale with strait black hair. Kirike eyed him with interest.

He smiled, eyes closed and head tilted slightly in a friendly manner. "So, you are Kirika?"

She noted that he neglected 'Tachibana'. Kirika left her mother's surname in Konoha, and was not displeased the Leaf Ninja hadn't bothered with it.

He bowed slightly. "Greetings. My name is Sai, pleased to meet you."

"And you as well." Kirika nodded.

"Naruto and Sakura spoke quite frequently of you."

"Did they now?"

"Yes, They've been searching for you for almost three years now..."

"I am aware."

"I have been curious to see you for myself. Kirika the Viper."

"Are you?" He was testing her. Kirika's gaze morphed to an expression of calm irritation.

He stepped back slightly. Wary.

"Lady Kirika," Kabuto held out a folder. "Take a look at this. It was an olive branch of sorts from Danzo."

"Hmm?" She took the folder and untied the cord sealing it. Inside was a thin stack of paper. She leafed through them slowly. Her expression amusement once again.

Kirika had a habit of switching between hunour and seriousness at the drop of a hat. Her eyes were no less piercing in either, Sai noted.

"An olive branch indeed. A list of AMBU assigned to the hokage..." Kirika smiled to Sai. "Welcome aboard."

Kabuto took the folder back. "I'll be making a bingo book with this."

Kirika laughed lightly. "You'll have to let me take another look, then. After all, I'll be the one killing them."

He grinned, his glasses caught the light, masking his eyes. "But of course."

Kirika waved before returning her attention to her report. "Now if you wouldn't mind, I must be getting back to work."

Sai nodded to her once more and Kabuto led him out of the room.

Kirika knocked on Orochimaru's door lightly. "Father, it's me."

"Enter." He chided

"Welcome home father." Kirika ran to hug him, he stood from his chair in the middle of the room.

He smiled and cupped her cheek. "Thank you, my dear. Have you finished your assignment?"

Kirika offered him the papers.

"Good." He took the papers and sat. "Put the kettle on."

Kirika drifted the counter on the other side of the room, she took the kettle from the cablit, filled it with water and set it on the burner.

"Kirika, did you dispose of the materials?"

"Yes."

"Your apron? Gloves? Goggles?"

"Yes."

"Good." He laughed. Orochimaru's eyes scanned the pages as he spoke. A grin flashed on his face. His eyes laughing with cruel, sarcastic humour. "We can't have the leaf ninja running around stumble into them..."

The water rose to a boil. Kirika pored it into two cups and soaked the tea bags. Her own eyes alight with amusement. "We're having company?"

"They're here now. I assume Kabuto informed you of our confrontation with your old playmates?"

"I hear Naruto went berserk."

"He took the form of a miniature Ninetails. A shame you weren't there to see it."

"A shame." Kirika agreed with a sigh. She came back towards him and offered him tea.

Orochimaru chucked. "That's my girl." With one final glance, he set the papers on the table next to him. "You did a very good job."

She beamed "Thank you, sir!"

"Kirika... how would you you like to go great your old comrades? Think of it as a reward for all your hard work. They're our guests after all, let's make them feel at home."

"It would be poor etiquette if we left them unatended."

He smiled wickedly."Excellent."

Naruto looked at the picture of Sai and his brother smiling and holding hands.

"This is the picture of out dream. I wanted to show my brother this." Sai was smiling.

Naruto grinned

Faint footsteps sounded. Naruto and Sai tensed. Orochimaru emerged from the dark hallway "Sai... which side do you intend to take...? Well then?"

They took defensive stances.

"Striking shadow snake!" Orochimaru threw forward his arm, snaked ejected from his sleeve. Naruto and Sai leaped back to avoid them. "It appears you've decided to side with them. Sai, or whoever you are."

"I've seen this before!" Naruto shouted "That's Kira's justu!" He stepped in front of Sai. "I'll deal with things here. Sai, you go look for Kira and Sasuke."

Orochimaru chuckled. "I wish you luck looking for Sasuke. This base is quite extencive. As for Kirika, there's no need to search for her."

"Why not?" Naruto growled

Orochimaru waved his hand. Another set of footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Naruto's eyes widened. She walked slowly, emerging from the darkness and stopped walking when she reached Orochimaru. Kira smiled warmly, "Because I am already here."

"K-Kira!"

"It's been a while. Two years? More?"

Naruto's joyful face hardened. "Now's not the time for a reunion." He took a step. "Go Sai. I'll rescue Kira, you go find Sasuke."

"But-"

"Hurry!"

"Very well. I'll find Sasuke and get him out of here." Sai ran off.

Kirika chuckled. "You're going to rescue me? Wasn't it always I who rescued you?"

"Get away from him Kira!" Naruto made a hand sign, "Just watch me! I'm stronger now, I'm gonna save you!"

Orochimaru laughed "You've come to take Kirika and Sasuke back home, have you? You're persistence is impressive, but will things really go as you wish?"

Naruto growled. "I don't care if you're one of the legendary sanin like Grandma Tsunade or the prevy sage! I'm gonna kick your ass and take them back! Shadow clone justu!" The smoke from his clones extinguished the candles around him. His shadow clones ran towards Orochimaru and Kirika.

"Allow me." Kirika stepped forward. "Striking shadow snake!" Snakes ejected from her sleeve, their mouths opened and blades came out, stabbing at Naruto's clones. One on them tried to make a rasengan, but was pierced by a snake. The real Naruto jumped out from the smoke cloud created from the shadow clones' dissipation. Armed with a kunai, he lunged at Orochimaru. Kirika's snakes caught him in midair just before the blade made contact with him.

"Son of a-! Kira!? What are you doing!? Let me go! I'm saving you!"

Orochimaru tisked. He rested a hand on Kirika's shoulder. "Asking your own dear friend to go against her father; for shame. I'm afraid my adorable daughter is a particularly loyal one."

"Get your hands off her!" Naruto shouted, struggling against Kirika's snakes.

Kirika tossed Naruto back. "Naruto. Don't be rude. I'm being kind. For the sake of our time together, I owe you that much. When you're fighting me you won't get hurt. You're not in father's league, and you're not in mine."

"Kira..." Naruto whispered.

"Why thank you, my dear." Orochimaru directed his attention to Naruto. "What happened to all that energy you had earlier? You're power... The kyuubi's power... I know there's more too it than that. Come now, poor Kirika is dying to see it."

Naruto stood up, panting.

"Show me what you're truly capable of! Striking shadow snake!" Father used his jutsu again, snakes lunged at Naruto, but a pillar of wood ejected from the wall and blocked them.

The wood retreated through the hole it made in the wall and Sakura and a Tenzo jumped through the hole into the hallway behing Naruto.

"Orochimaru again?" Tenzo glared.

Sakura nodded to Naruto. She looked forward and her eyes widened. "Kirika!"

Orochimaru frowned. "Naruto, I'll let you live for now. Please do your best to kill at least one more Akatsuki for me."

"What!?"

"Now then, I have business with that Sai boy. I trust my daughter will keep you entertained. If you'll excuse me." He disappeared.

Naruto glared and Sakura sighed in relief.

"Well then." Kirika watched them with her intense gaze. "Now what?"

Naruto's face held a mixture of anger and hurt. "Why Kira!?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you defending a creep like Orochimaru." Naruto held out his hands. "Can't you see we've come to save you!? We've come to take you home! He's your dad, fine! But it doesn't matter! I don't think any different of you! Everything gonna be alright, come on! let's go home!"

Kirika looked at him with a dull expression. She sighed. "You're so dense, you silly boy. It's your nature, I suppose. Who do you think sent me to Konoha to begin with?"

Naruto recoiled. His eyes were wide with disbelief.

"And why do you think my father bothered to send me there at all? Do you think he intended for me to stay?" Her eyes were harsh and judgmental. She had a glaring of disapproval.

Tenzo glared. "So you were a spy. And the Third defended you... tell me, how much of a hand did you have in the invasion at the Chunin Exams?"

"K-Kirika..." Sakura's eye glistened. "I knew you were a bit... different... but... we... We defended you! When everyone wanted to put you on the wanted lists we defended you!"

Kirika crossed her arms. "What are you on about? I wasn't a spy-I was privy to the invasion, yes, but that was not planned on my part. The only reason I came to Konoha was to be with my mother."

"Kira..." Naruto breathed.

"My mother is gone. What reason do I have to go back?"

"You have every reason." Naruto glared; but it was not anger. Determination. "I always thought of Hideko like my mother! That makes you my sister! Come back with us; I'll be your family!"

"I have a family. My father. I live to serve him. Konoha is nothing to me. And even if I do return, I couldn't possibly continue my experimenting..."

Naruto's eyes widened.

"...I followed you around all those years because I wanted to see you release the Kyuubi. A shame I wasn't there when it actually happened. If you feel so strongly, I'd be more then willing to take you with me, as my test subject."

His ears wrung. No...

"I promise to refrain from any procedures that might threaten your life. I'll be very gentle. You can have a bed... And I'll even let you see Sasuke, when you're not busy. A pretty generous offer, I do say so."

Naruto closed his eyes. Kabuto's words rang through his head. 'You really have no idea about who Lady Kirika is, do you? She wouldn't leave Lord Orochimaru's side if her life depended on it. And besides, you were with her for a long time now, weren't you? Surly you must have pick up on it... Her cruelty.' Naruto's fists clenched.

'You have no idea who Lady Kirika is...'

How!? How could this be Kira? Kira, his first friend. She was just... observing him? No. This wasn't Kira. The girl in front of him was Orochimaru's slave. He must have brainwashed her! The girl before him was Lady Kirika.

Sakura cupped her hands and lowered her head. "Oh Kirika..."

"I can't believe you!" Sakura jumped at Naruto's outburst. "Orochimaru's brainwashed you! It couldn't have all been a lie! Training together!? Eating together!? Was it all for nothing!? You're more than a friend! You're my sister! I don't care what it takes, I'm gonna save you!"

"Good luck." Kirika let out a light chuckle. A rejection... she hadn't really expected him to accept, but she couldn't be blamed for trying.
No, it hadn't all been a lie. There were times when Kirika did see Naruto as something more than research material. But that was in the past. Were she given the choice, she would rather him as her test subject. Alas, he was to assist in eliminating Akatsuki.

Sakura stepped forward, made bold by Naruto's outburst. "You say you don't care. But you came to Konoha to meet your mother. And even I could see how much you loved her. What would Hideko say if she saw you now!?"

"Oh, she'd scold me. She might even cry." Kirika's face remained amused, but Hideko was a sore subject. Of course, Kirika did not let that show. Nor would she say what she wished since she first met Hideko. Or maybe she'd have left the leaf village with me. "Oh dear, would you look at the time? That boy Sai's been off for a while now. I'd better find Sasuke. We wouldn't want Sai to be faced with him when he first wakes up. That would just be poor hosting." She vanished.

The explosion sent tremors all throughout the base.

"My, my. Such a ruckus."

Sai spun around to see Kirika seated on a mound of rubble behind him. She had changed into her ninja clothes.

Sasuke gazed down from above the pit. "Took you long enough."

"You're so grouchy when you wake up." Kirika sighed. Despite her irritated tone, she looked at Sai with amusement. "Now look what you've done. I'm the one who has to deal with his morning temper."

Sasuke sneered. "He was going on about bringing me back to Konoha and protecting the bonds between me and Naruto."

"Oh?"

"It seems his real mission was to kill me."

"Hm..." Kirika tapped a finger to her chin. She coughed the hilt of her katana from her mouth, gripped it and pulled the blade from her throat. "It's very sweet that you changed your mind." Kirika sauntered up. "Was it spur of the moment? I'm sure Danzo doesn't know. Naruto is convincing that way... I'd better send him you head. Just to be safe."

"Tch-!" Sai stepped back defensively. They were on either side of him.

"Eh~?" Kirika turned towards the corridor leading out of the crater and back into the base.

"Found him!" Sakura shouted. She ran right past Kirika's perch and grabbed Sai by his throat, shouting at him.

"Sakura." Sasuke said.

She suddenly stopped and turned, looking up wide-eyed.

Naruto ran out after her.

"Does that mean kakashi is here as well?" Sasuke called.

Tenzo stepped out of the corridor into the sunlight. "Unfortunately Kakashi couldn't be here, but I'm here in his place. We, team Kakashi, are going to take you and Tachibana Kirika back to Konoha."

Sai drew his short sword and pointed it up at Sasuke.

"Sai!" Sakura shouted. "I knew it!"

Sasuke eyed Sai. "So he's my replacement then, is he? He was spouting nonsense about protecting bonds between Naruto and me. One more pansy for the group, I'm sure."

"huh?" Sakura asked

"It is true. My top-secret mission was indeed the assassination of Sasuke, but those orders don't matter anymore. Now I want to think and act for myself. Because of Naruto I feel like I might be able to remember something... remember how I used to feel; something I can't help feeling was important to me." He addressed Sasuke. "I may not know you all that well but there's a reason Naruto and Sakura are chasing after you with so much passion: in order to prevent the bonds with you from breaking, in order to keep them intact they're doing everything they can. I still don't have a very good understanding of it myself, But you Sasuke," He looked at Kirika. "and you, Kirika. You should have an understanding."

"Sure, I did know." Sasuke said "And that's why I severed them. The only bond I have now is with Kirika, as my sword; and the fraternal bond forged with hatred. Having too many bonds causes one to loss focus: weakening their strongest wish, their greatest desire."

Naruto turned to Kirika. "Kira! Come on! Talk some sense into him! I don't care what you say! I know you haven't forgotten our bonds! You don't have to be afraid, we'll protect you from Orochimaru! Tell him! And we can all go home!"

"I haven't forgotten." She admitted. "The times we shared in Konoha were sweet memories. But, I was playing pretend. Such games are for children. I don't want to return."

Naruto stepped back. "Kira..."

"Naruto, we're never returning to the leaf." Sasuke said

"If that's true then why didn't you kill me back then!?" Naruto screamed "Is that what you call severing bonds Sasuke!?"

"I simply didn't want to give him the pleasure of seeing my attain power by submitting to his plans."

"What do you mean by that!?"

"There's no need for me to tell you. Still, the one thing I can say to you is that back then I chose to spare your life at nothing more than a whim of mine." Sasuke leaped down, to fast for eyes to follow, next to Naruto, and put his arm on Naruto's shoulder. "Come to think of it, isn't it your dream to become hokage? If you had the time to go looking for us, you would have been better off training, don't you think? Naruto? And that's why this time," He drew his katana. "You're going to lose your life on a whim of mine."

"Like there's any chance someone who couldn't save his friends could become hokage. Don't you think, Sasuke?" Naruto's gaze was hard.

Sasuke jabbed his katana at Naruto, Sai appeared behind Naruto and grabbed Sasuke's wrist, stopping him.

"You're choice of defense..." Sasuke said. "Quite correct." He threw Naruto up with his free arm and Sai up with the arm he was grabbing, chidori sparked around him, shocking the two. Tenzo shot a wood beam from his palm at Sasuke, but the wood disintegrated when it passed through the electricity.

Sakura ran at him. "Sasuke! I'm gonna stop you with my own power!"

Sasuke thrust his katana at her, Tenzo appeared in front of her and stopped the katana with his kunai knife. The katana broke is knife and stabbed him in she shoulder. Sasuke drove him onto a rock. "You're choice of defense... Quite the mistake."

"Captain Yamato!" Sakura shouted is surprise

"Yamato? Is that the name you're using now?" Kirika appeared behind him. She grabbed him over his shoulders, pulled his head to the side and drove an empty syringe into his exposed neck. Tenzo let out a cry and tried to jerk away. When she withdrew the syringe, filled with blood, away he broke out from her grip and leaped away; closer to Sasuke.

Sasuke glanced at Naruto for a few seconds.

Tenzo lunged once more at Kirika, swiping at the syringe. She danced back out of his reach. She capped the syringe and slit it into her pouch. "I thank you kindly for your generous donation."

He glared. Sasuke moved and Tenzo ejected wood from his shoulder where the katana pierced him, pushing Sasuke back. He made a dome of wood around Sasuke, but Sasuke broke through the top and leaped up onto the ledge of the hole me made in the ceiling.

"Why don't you get it!?" Naruto screamed at him. "You're body's going to be stolen by Orochimaru anytime now! Why don't you get it!?"

Sasuke starred at him "If that happens then it happens. You're still quite the kid Naruto. Revenge means everything to me. As long as I can have my revenge I couldn't care less what happens to me or the whole world for that matter. Let me make it clear to you: for both me, Kirika and Orochimaru, right now, killing Itachi would be impossible. But if I am able to achieve my goals through nothing more than offering Orochimaru this body of mine then he can have my life. And my afterlife for that matter."

"That's enough talk." Tenzo said "Naruto and Sakura, with you two here I had hoped that we would not have to resort to any cruder methods, but it's time I got serious."

Kirika sneered. "You Konoha ninja. Pious as ever."

"Konoha indeed." Sasuke made a hand sign and raised one arm. "I'm through with you. Now things end. Kirika, protect yourself!"

Kirika appeared next to him, Sasuke didn't bat an eye. She grabbed Sasuke's arm quickly, stopping him from completing the justu.

"Let go Kirika." He demanded.

Kirika tightened her fist and glared at him. "You will stop now." She turned to the Leaf ninja. "I'm so sorry for his brashness. I warned you. He has such a bad morning temper."

Orochimaru appeared next to Kirika, Kabato on the other side of Sasuke.

"Excellent timing, Kirika." Orochimaru said. "Now, now, Sasuke, there's no need to use that justu.

"I have no reason to stop." Sasuke growled

Kirika dug his nails into his writs, hard enough to draw blood. To his credit, Sasuke never flinched, nor did he so much as break eye contact. "I told you to stop. They still have use to us."

"We want our guests from Konoha to kill as many Akatsuki members as possible, even just one would be fine." Kabuto said "If other akatsuki members get in your way, you're revenge could hit a snag, right?"

"That's a patheric reason." Sasuke glared.

"But surely you'd allow it if it meant increasing your chances for succeeding, even by one percent, right?"

"Let's go." Sasuke pulled his arm back and gave Kirika a bitter look.

Kirika returned it with a smile, before turning it to the Leaf ninja. "I stopped Sasuke for you. You can repay me by eliminating a few Akatsuki members."

"Sasuke...? Kirika..." Sakura gave her a heartbroken look. "You can't be serious... Talk some sense into him. I- Kirika, I'm your friend."

Kirika tisked. Sakura's eyes widened. Her head shifted to look behind her, where Kirika had appeared; her sword thrust through Sakura's back. "I told you, our friendship couldn't work out. You have nothing to offer me. But if you really want it, survive this and I'll accept you as a friend. Go on, prove that healing prowess I've heard so much about."

"Kirika," Orochimaru called dully. "Enough playing, let's go."

"Yes sir." Kirika pulled her sword from Sakura and strode past her. As the blade left her, Sakura crumpled to the ground.

"Sakura!"" Naruto shouted.

Kirika didn't look back. Naruto ran to Sakura, and the four dissipated into green flame.