Chapter 47: A One Sided Battle

"Before we get this battle started," said Onoki as he looked at the Rain nin with narrowed eyes. "Let me ask you this one question."

"Ask away then Tsuchikage-san," said Sakuya as he stared at the elder man. "I have time."

"Why do you want to fight us Kages . . . by yourself?" asked Onoki as he took a step forward. "Do you really think you'll be able to handle all five of us by yourself?"

"I have my reasons," said Sakuya as he did a slight shrug of indifference. "Let's just say I want to see how my power compares to your . . . that's all."

"You want to compare our power?" asked A as he let out a gruff snort. "Trust me; after I'm through with you, you are going to wish you never let your friends leave you alone here."

"Hmm . . . you shouldn't be making such threats Lord Raikage-san," said Sakuya as he shook his head. "They'll make you appear weak."

"What was that?" asked A as she took a step forward while clenching his one lone fist. "Did you just call me weak?"

"Oh calm down A," said Tsunade as she turned to A with a small scowl on her face. "Don't you see he's only saying these things to get into your head?"

"You should heed her words," said Sakuya as he let a small smile appear on his face. "She does make a very good point."

"Oh be quiet you!" mumbled A as he turned his attention back to the Rain nin.

"Wow . . . this guy is really getting under A's skin isn't he?" asked Mei as she turned to Gaara, who only looked on in silence.

"He is . . . which begs the question: what is his game plan?" asked the Kazekage as he narrowed his own eyes.

"I will be happy to show you my game plan . . . if you let me," said Sakuya as he got his hands into hand sign position. "But all your talking has been distracting till now."

"Us distracting?" asked A with slight skepticism. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Oh . . . I kid you not," said Sakuya as he closed his eyes. "Just watch me. As soon as my hands stop, well . . . it won't be pretty."

His hands began to go through a crazy sequence of hand signs, so fast that not even the Five Kage could read it, shocking the five to absolute disbelief.

"His hands . . . they're so fast!" said Tsunade in complete shock as she stared at the younger man.

"I can barely read half of his hand signs." said Onoki as he looked on in disdain. As soon as Sakuya finished his last hand sign, he immediately disappeared from the scene, putting the Kages on instant high alert.

"He disappeared . . . just like that." muttered Mei as she began to scan the area.

"He either has one hell of an invisibility jutsu or his speed is absolutely amazing." muttered A in slight disgust as he powered up his lightning armor.

"It's actually a little bit of both."

All of a sudden, A felt a large stab of pain along his left side. He coughed up blood and looked down to see Sakuya with his hand jabbed into his stomach, a small smirk displayed on the Rain nin's face as he stared at the Raikage.

"How . . ." muttered A as he looked down at Sakuya in shock.

"I never tell my secrets . . ." said Sakuya with a smirk as he pulled his hand out of A's gut, sending more blood spurting from the Raikage's abdomen.

"RAIKAGE-SAN!" exclaimed Mei as she looked on at the scene in shock, just as Sakuya appeared right behind her.

"You should pay attention to me instead of him . . ." said Sakuya as he took out a kunai from his pouch, poised to strike the Mizukage right in the back . . . if it wasn't for Gaara's sand blocking his attack just in the nick of time. " . . . Dammit."

"Pay attention youngster!"

Sergei suddenly turned around to see Onoki smirking right above him with his Dust Release fully powered up. He fired right at Sakuya just as Mei jumped out of the way; hitting his target dead on . . . or so it appears.

"Did I get him?" asked Onoki as he looked down at the cloud of smoke below him.

"I think so . . ." said Tsunade as she continued to heal A's wound.

"I can't sense his chakra anywhere!" said Mei as she looked around the area before returning her attention to the billowing smoke cloud that was beginning to dissipate.

"Because I'm really good at hiding it."

Mei turned around, but halfway into her turn, she felt a small sting in the back of her neck before everything went black for her.

"Damn you!" exclaimed Onoki as Sakuya stood over the unconscious Mizukage.

"You shouldn't say that just yet!" said Sakuya as a small smirk came across his face. Onoki let a pissed stare come across his face before he felt it. He looked down to see that his entire abdomen was slashed, blood seeping out the wound as he felt himself begin to fall.

"Damn . . . you . . ." muttered Onoki as he began to plummet down to Earth. If it wasn't for Gaara's sand catching him just in time, he would have face planted into the snow. Gaara and Tsunade were the only unwounded Kages left.

"Hmm . . . that was fun, but I best be going." said Sakuya as he began to walk away, taking the two remaining Kage completely off-guard.

"What! You're not going to continue with the battle?" asked Tsunade as she called after him.

"What's the point?" asked Sakuya as he looked at them from over his shoulder. "You are a medical nin and the Kazekage here would be at a complete disadvantage here thanks to the environment we are currently in. Technically, it wouldn't be a fair fight. The other three Kages were the only capable fighters among you in these conditions. I'm sorry . . . but it's the truth."

"WHY YOU-!" said Tsunade as she began to sit up, but Gaara used his sand to stop her before she could move any further.

"Stand down Lady Hokage," said Gaara as he kept his eyes on Sakuya. "Even though you may not like what he is saying, he makes a very good point in his explanation. Between having you expunge chakra to heal A and Onoki and this snowy environment, neither of us are in top form to face him."

Tsunade let out a loud snort before standing down to return back to her. She didn't want to openly admit it, but it was true.

Sakuya was right.

"Why are you doing this?" asked Gaara as he crossed his arms. "Why go through such great lengths to capture the Lady Sage?"

"Simple; to pave the way for the future." answered Sakuya as he disappeared from the scene, leaving the Kazekage and the Hokage to think about his words.

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