AKIRA POV

Akira stared at the newcomer who started forward unafraid of the Uchiha's and the medic nin on the other side of the field.

"So who are you exactly?" Akira asked, growling through clenched teeth. The fact that she was being blatantly ignored bothered her to no end.

"My little birdy told me that telling you who I was, would only cause more conflict then necessary. So let's just deal with the current situation and then we will move from here, Akira."

The kitsune felt control over her anger start to slip and moved forward to attack the woman, only for Naruto to grab her wrist.

"She saved you. The fact that she's opposing the Akatsuki means we are on the same side. Let's play this out and see what she wants."

The demon let out a hiss and glared at the woman. She didn't trust her and something ate at the back of her mind. She was hiding something and what it was, only made her more wary to accept her help.

"Too slow!"

The voice that whispered in her ear, sent shivers down her spine.

Damnit! I let my guard down.

As the hand laid itself down on her shoulder, the demon turned to deflect the incoming fist only for a wall of water to materialize itself behind her, warding off the attack. The wall of water hadn't been there a mere minute before, so the fact that it had been made in such little time, surprised her.

"I am your opponent. It is not in your interest to ignore me," she heard the mysterious woman state in a venomous tone.

As another fist started to slam forward, Sakura was absorbed into the earth before the kitsune's eyes. The kitsune exhaled, before her eyes widened. The ground shook as Sakura fought to escape the trap. She jumped away from the impending danger, landing lightly beside her savior, who stood next to her husband.

An explosion rocked the ground, sending debris everywhere, as the woman broke free of the prison, her body covered in mud.

"You little bitch!"

Akira watched Sakura, before turning her gaze to the stranger. She wasn't even paying attention to Sakura, and instead was focused on the two shinobi across the battlefield.

"Hey! I am talking to you! Don't ignore me!"

Before Akira could even blink, a single kunai shot pass her, and stabbed Sakura in her shoulder. An immense conflagration of rock and earth kicked up as the paper bomb ignited and lit up the night.

Akira let out a low sigh. Sakura had taken the full brunt of the explosion. A giant hole exposed her chest cavity, which was healing at an extremely inhuman rate. Muscle and bone repaired itself, and skin melded over the new flesh.

"I do not fear anything you could do to me, so speaking is meaningless. Show me with your fists, or wither in the wind."

The rage with which she spoke sucked the very heat out of the air, and Akira smiled. She liked the newcomer's emotions. They were very dark, yet they required action from any who opposed her.

"Akira. You and Naruto will leave now."

Wait…she wants us to abandon her? Why?

"NO!" her husband shouted, waving his hand. She completely understood where he was coming from. Three on three was a fair fight. Leaving her to fend for herself, would be condemning the woman to death.

"These are not three enemies that you can just fight on your own. They are on their own levels, and fighting them in any condition, even peak…is suicidal. We will not stand aside," Akira stated, in a deadpan tone.

She watched the woman grit her teeth and her hands clench into fists.

"I'd rather not like to be responsible for your deaths. If you can't fend for yourself, then I won't be able to come to either of your aids," the kunoichi retorted.

"Don't worry about us. I can handle Sasuke, no problem!" Naruto shouted, with a large smirk on his face. She smiled, and turned to Sakura, who shifted her weight onto the balls of her feet.

"If you think we can't handle them, you are wrong. They will die on the very ground they stand. I'll make sure of that. Just take care of the masked man, and we will handle these two!" Akira shouted, pulling out a kunai in a swift motion.

"If you both insist on staying, then good luck."

KAZUYO POV

Kazuyo felt a joy like no other, when she was thrust into combat, and her feral rage was second to none. She faced her opponent, and assessed her skills before making an assumption as to how the first two steps would play out. All she needed to do was move. She leaned forward, only to be cut off by the masked man's voice.

"For a young girl, you seem pretty confident of your skills,, but the Uchiha-"

Kazuyo let a small growl echo from the bottom of her throat, silencing the older man mid-sentence.

"Don't lecture me on the Uchiha. I have killed many in my lifetime, and many before you. I am not impressed at all by your powers. So come," she stated, shifting her weight.

"As you wish," he replied, fading from existence.

Her eyes scanned around her, and she waited patient for him to make the first move. Her fingers dug into the soft skin of her palms as she searched into the darkness of night for the simple sign of him.

Where are you? You must know that I don't underestimate your capabilities. So that being said, why don't you just attack me straight on?

She shivered as another wind blew through her hair, and she inhaled the smell. Her senses lit up, and she spun in an instant, her eyes watching her target phase through the ground. She yanked out a kunai and slashed through his head, her attack passing harmlessly through his mask.

I have attacked, which means I have left myself wide open for his counter attack. Now I wait for it…

Her fist continued to fly, before coming free of his body, and going towards his awaiting hand. She tensed, feeling his grasp on her wrist tighten.

"Game-"

"Over," she whispered, throwing the kunai that she held in her trapped arm. It slit the rope which she had set up only moments earlier, sending its load downwards to the very spot where both she and Tobi stood. She closed her eyes, and slipped her arm out of his grasp, as the flash bomb exploded blinding the Uchiha. She had anticipated his counterattack, and the fact that she had set up a trap ahead of time, made her smile. She skidded to a halt, and watched Tobi who shook his head to recover from her bomb.

He should be fine in three more seconds. So I have to get to him before he can attack.

Suiton: Mizuyari no Jutsu! (Water Style: Water Spear Jutsu!) The water shot from her mouth, and in a single instant crossed the distance between her and her target. Before it could hit him, she recognized the signs that he had recovered from her bomb, and released the jutsu, cursing her luck as she did. The older Hazukashii felt her heart soar, as she recognized the look of anger crossed the masked man.

I have to stall for as long as possible. Yuki…hurry up! Please.