18. Sacrifice
Heart pounding against my rib cage, my knees bent to flee. My shout had caused Sasuke's attention to shift to me, but Sakura had turned her eyes on whatever had caused my panic. Her eyes widened in response and she had to forcefully tug Sasuke's hand from her mouth.
"Sasuke, snake!" she screamed.
Sasuke finally glanced over and his mouth fell open. A gigantic snake, its skin a scaly purple color, loomed far above our heads. It stretched its head, which grazed the canopy of the trees above. It bared its fangs, which were the length of my body.
We scattered, jumping onto separate tree branches. I was breathing heavily, eyes on the snake. I could feel my blood rushing as the anticipation of battle washed through me. The giant snake followed Sasuke's movements as he tried to jump higher and higher through the trees to escape. He whipped around, sending a barrage of weapons at the snake's head.
"Get away!"
His voice was filled with terror. It tugged at my heart and filled my chest with apprehension. The wild look in Sasuke's eyes betrayed his total loss of composure. I'd never seen Sasuke look this way and it filled me with my own fear. Sasuke was always the strong one, the unwavering tree in the midst of a storm. He held our group together on a daily basis; except today.
The mix of shuriken and kunai plowed into the snake's head, creating a shower of blood that sprayed against the trees. It squealed in pain as it swayed before falling to the ground. Its head landed with a loud echo and blood began to pour onto the ground from the open gash atop its head.
My heart beat in my throat as the gash continued to split open, growing larger and larger. A figure began to emerge from the wound and I was faced once more with the Grass ninja. Grime and goo dripped from her head and shoulders, though it didn't seem to faze her.
My face was frozen in horror. Who was this girl? She was not a genin, whoever she was. This snake was not of the forest, it was a summon, I was sure. I knew no one personally who was powerful enough to summon one, and only knew of a few that could. Who was she and what was she doing here? Why was she attacking us, and what could we do about it? We were not powerful enough to beat her and my chest strained painfully as I realized, whether we fought or not, we were going to be slaughtered.
"You cannot let your guard down, even for a second. Prey always need to be on their guard," the girl licked her lips and it sent a shiver through my spine.
The girl peered up into the trees, her soulless eyes finding me, then Sasuke.
"Now, who should I start with first?"
My heart hammered in my chest as she decided who she would kill first. Why wasn't she also looking at Sakura? Did she just not register her as a threat? And where the hell was Naruto?
I had no time to spare concern for Naruto as the girl's eyes remained on Sasuke. He stood completely still, so tense one might worry if he would snap. My breathing shallowed, wondering if racing towards my teammate would prompt her to immediately attack? But as the thought ran through my mind, the girl's eyes darted in my direction.
I had no time to even gasp as the girl shot towards me without warning. Her legs and waist remained rooted where she stood, within the snake's head, but her torso stretched just like the snake that had just been killed. It was as though her entire torso was made out of elastic as it stretched towards me with alarming speed.
She reached the trunk of my tree, climbing up it like a spider. Her unnatural tongue hung from her mouth, licking hungrily at her lips. I fumbled for my daggers, holding them out in front of me defensively. She reached me and I swung, momentarily blocking her way. I jumped away but she followed.
I landed on a new tree branch, but the girl was there as I gained my footing. I dropped, hoping she might follow me and twist around the branch, but she was smarter than that. She simply followed me to my next tree branch. I jumped away and the girl followed, now quickly crawling against this tree branch. I held my daggers out once more, cursing the tremble of my hands, when out of nowhere, several shuriken shot down in front of her, digging themselves into the bark of the branch. They'd just barely missed her nose, but it caused her to stop.
The girl looked upwards cluelessly and myself and my shocked teammates followed her gaze. Standing above us on a high tree branch was Naruto. His arms were crossed over his chest and a gloating smirk was plastered on his face.
"Sorry Sasuke, I forgot the password," he said cockily.
"Naruto!" Sakura cried out happily with relief. I didn't turn to look at her, but her voice came from somewhere to the right.
Our opponent glared at Naruto, clearly unhappy about him interrupting her assault. When she spoke, there was an obvious attempt to conceal her anger. "It appears you've defeated my snake, Naruto."
"Yeah, I came to find the person responsible for that. And what do I find? You picking on the weak!"
Deep within me, I felt the spark of irritation at his comment. There was an honest relief that accompanied this thought. I had not lost myself so completely to the fear that these thoughts could not penetrate my mind. Still, I hadn't the heart to respond as the tension continued to settle around us.
"Naruto don't get involved!" Sasuke warned. "This girl is on a whole different level!"
I bit down on my lip. I was inclined to agree with Sasuke. My mind was quick to assure me that the three of us would not be a powerful enough force to defeat this girl; we were fighting to the death. Should Naruto save himself? Or attempt to escape and rally some kind of help? We'd be dead, but if this girl's aim was to kill anyone else, it may be thwarted.
I glanced back to the girl, acutely aware of how close her presence was to me. She was still watching Naruto intently. I looked back to him myself to find a gleam in his eyes. He bent his knees, ready for battle.
"Wait."
The four of us turned our attention to Sasuke as his voice rang out through the clearing. With a resigned look on his face, he reached into the pouch positioned on his posterior waist. From it, he withdrew our cream-colored scroll. "Here, take this and leave us alone."
"What!?" Sakura exclaimed.
My eyes widened in surprise. Naruto glared angrily. "Sasuke, what are you thinking!? Why would you give our scroll to the enemy!?"
"Shut up!" Sasuke snapped, sending Naruto his own glare. This caught Naruto by surprise and his eyes widened, his jaw dropping.
"Very smart," our opponent chuckled. "The only way to survive a predator is to show it a different meal."
My mind was reeling. What is he thinking!? She's not going to take the scroll and leave! She's not here for the scroll; she's here for our lives! If she was fighting us from the scroll, she wouldn't have freaking swallowed hers.
"Here, take it," Sasuke said listlessly, tossing the scroll in our enemy's direction. I watched the girl lift her elastic body off the tree branch. Before the scroll could reach her, however, a blob of orange flashed between the object and its intended. Naruto landed on Sasuke's branch, Heaven scroll in hand.
"You idiot! Don't butt in!" Sasuke rounded on Naruto, yelling.
"Shut up!" Naruto yelled back.
My eyes widened in shock as Naruto turn on Sasuke, bringing back a fist and smashing it into Sasuke's jaw. I heard Sakura cry out in protest as Sasuke flew backwards before back-flipping in the air and landing several tree branches away.
"What the hell are you doing!?" Sasuke yelled, wiping at his lips where a bit of saliva had collected.
Naruto glared over at Sasuke. "I don't remember the password, so I can't test it…but you're Sasuke's fake, aren't you?"
"You idiot! I am the real Sasuke!" Sasuke gritted his teeth together.
"The idiot and coward I see isn't the Sasuke I know! The Sasuke I know wouldn't give up without a fight and he wouldn't act so defenseless!" Naruto glared at Sasuke, thrusting a finger in my direction. "Look at that! Look how close she is to Nakao! And you weren't even prepared to help her! The Sasuke I know wouldn't leave Nakao on her own like that!"
Sasuke's eyes flickered in my direction and our gazes locked. There was a swarm of emotions raging in his eyes, but I couldn't discern any of them. I didn't try very hard, however, as I was distracted. My instincts had my attention on my opponent, still very close to me and now with her eyes darting in my direction.
"I may not know how strong he is," Naruto continued, gaining Sasuke's attention once again. "But there's no way that this is all there is. And I don't know how strong this girl is, but I guarantee you she won't let us go even if we give her the scroll."
The girl slowly began to chuckle, gaining everyone's attentions. "You are correct, Naruto; especially when I can just kill you and take the scroll."
Without warning, the girl's body shot towards me. I gasped and held my daggers crossed in front of my body. This halted the girl momentarily, but like a cobra, her body shot around me. I whirled around, slashing blindly. Everything was a blur and my mind desperately tried to catch up as I replanted my feet.
I heard the girl hiss in front of me and my vision finally refocused. I saw the girl pulled away from me, a red gash marring her cheek. It began to seep with blood before dripping down to her jaw. I was breathing heavily, heart beating wildly, my daggers held protectively in front of me once more.
"Nakao!" I heard Naruto call my name. He scowled and his voice drew my opponent's gaze to him. "Ugh! I've had enough of you!"
Forgetting me, the girl trained a smirk on Naruto. She grabbed her left sleeve, pulling it up to reveal her forearm. With her other hand, she reached to the gash I'd given her, collecting blood on her index finger. She placed it to the newly revealed skin of her arm, scrawling something there that I could not see. Naruto let out a cry of aggravation before springing towards the girl.
"Naruto, no!" both Sasuke and I yelled, but to no avail.
"Summoning no Jutsu!" the girl cried.
A strong whirlwind, similar to but distinctly less powerful than the one that had brought us to our current situation, erupted around her. Being so close to her, I felt it push me back. I pushed chakra to the soles of my feet to keep me rooted to the branch and flung my arms in front of my face. From somewhere beneath us, another snake, as large as its predecessor, appeared. Its gigantic body shot upwards to meet its master, smashing through our tree completely.
I saw the girl standing atop its head, her elongated torso now fixing itself to her waist and once more resembling a normal human being. I had no time to dwell, however, as the tree branch beneath my feet shattered to pieces. A scream caught in my throat and my stomach lurched as I plummeted towards the ground. My arms shot out, my hands grasping at the first tree branch they could find. I swung my body onto it, scrambling to catch my footing.
Naruto had not halted his attack, however, and still rushed the girl. The snake reared its head before bringing it down upon Naruto. I screamed his name as the head collided with his body and blood spurted from his mouth.
"Go ahead and eat him," the girl told the snake with an air of indifference.
The snake flung Naruto into the air and opened its jaws, ready for Naruto to fall in. Naruto, however, suddenly sprang to life and he twisted his body so that he flew down towards its nose. He brought back a fist, slamming it into the snake. "EAT THIS!"
The force of Naruto's punch caused the snake to fly downwards. I gasped at the strength of the hit, wondering at Naruto's sudden power. The girl seemed equally shocked, but regained her composure much quicker. As Naruto flew in for another attack, the girl put fingers to her lips and a jet of fire spewed forth.
Alarm bells rang in my head. She can do fire jutsus…
I wasn't entirely sure what this meant, but I was near certain it meant she was not from Kusagakure, as her headband had suggested. My reeling mind couldn't discern the significance of this, but it left a trail of apprehension within me.
The blast of fire hit Naruto square in the chest and sent him flying backwards into a tree trunk. His collision with the trunk sent shards of bark flying. Without hesitation, the girl and her snake rounded on Sasuke.
"Sasuke, it's your turn!" the girl cried out in obvious amusement. "How will you react?"
"Sasuke!" I gasped. My knees bent, ready to spring, but faltered at the last second.
The cause was Naruto, who jumped in front of Sasuke, his body acting as a shield and catching the snake before it could hit the Uchiha.
"Are you alright, Scardy Cat?" Naruto smirked, glancing over his shoulder at Sasuke.
No sooner had Naruto finished his sentence when the snake's forked tongue shot from its mouth, wrapping around Naruto. It pinned his arms to his sides and he began to squirm. The tongue raised Naruto's body until he was eye level with our opponent.
"Hey, let go of me!" Naruto demanded, struggling.
The girl smirked and leaned in towards Naruto, whispering something in his ear that I could not hear. He pulled back his arm, as though to throw a punch. But her hand wasn't clenched into a fist. Rather, each of her fingers spread apart and the tips alit with small, purple flames. She brought her hand back, plowing her glowing fingers into Naruto's gut. He screamed in agony before going completely limp. The snake released him and he hurtled stories towards the ground.
"Naruto!" I screamed. I grabbed a kunai from my holster, hurtling it towards my unconscious teammate. It caught the back of his jacket, as I'd intended, pinning him to a tree trunk.
I watched as Naruto gently swayed back and forth. He did not regain consciousness and fear for him swept through me. Checking on him was out of the question for the time being, but I hoped he'd be safe where he was rather than bringing him to me, which would put him in immediate peril.
Finally, my eyes snapped towards Sasuke. He remained frozen to his branch, eyes on Naruto. His face was pale and shock was etched into every inch of his face. He looked lost, as though the situation around him was something he'd never encountered before.
There was nothing for it. I was clearly in charge now.
"Sasuke!" I called loudly and clearly. My shout grabbed his attention and I fixed him with a glare. "That's enough!"
I could have said more. I could have delivered a speech, some encouragement, even a comment on how he was letting Naruto show him up. But I didn't. I didn't think I needed to say anything further. Because Sasuke watched me so intently, and our eyes were locked and speaking to one another.
Sasuke finally broke the connection by closing his eyes. I watched his facial expression change slowly, but surely, into one I was much more familiar with. Several emotions had flashed across his face before it was completely schooled. He reopened his eyes and even from my position, I could see their crimson color.
Relief washed over me as he set those crimson eyes on our opponent. I didn't know where he'd gone, but Sasuke was back now. It filled me with energy and drive, banishing the doubt and apprehension from me. The odds were still against us; but Makase Nakao always bet against the odds, and right now, she had a winning piece in her hand.
Slowly, my opponent turned around, focusing her gaze on me. The smirk that had formed on my lips vanished and I pressed them together in a firm line. The girl regarded me carefully.
"Makase Nakao. My, you know who your words remind me of?"
The blood in my veins turned to ice and the girl's torso shot forward again, speeding in my direction. I gripped my daggers tightly.
"Show me what Keitaro has taught you!"
Her words stunned me, almost causing me to falter. But as she neared me, my instincts took hold of the situation. I brought my fingers together around my blade handles, activating my kekki genki. A blast of wind erupted from my body just as the girl met me and it slammed into her, pushing her away. Her hair whipped around her wildly as she attempted to break through my whirling barrier, but without result.
My mind was spinning as I tried to comprehend the new information and manage to stay alive. My mind flitted through strategies, looking for the one that held the highest chance of survival. Before I could settle on a plan, however, a flare of light caught my attention from the corner of my eye. A jet a fire flew in my direction, hitting my swirling barrier. My vortex roared with massive flames, leaving me encased in a swirling circle of fire.
I glanced over, finding Sasuke still in his previous location, but canceling his jutsu. I gave a sigh of relief and my nerve bolstered itself once more knowing that I had Sasuke back on my team. I gave a push of power, causing the flames around me to spread out another meter.
I heard the girl scream from in front of me. The foul odor of burnt flesh and hair wafted around me. My stomach turned sickeningly.
I canceled the jutsu, clearing the scene in front of me. As I did so, Sasuke flew at our opponent in a flurry of punches, kicks and weapons. He was giving the ninja a fight, but she was smirking, dodging every attack Sasuke tried to land.
Sasuke pulled out several shuriken, sailing them to either side of the girl. She dodged with simple sidesteps, laughing, but was abruptly caught short as she was suddenly yanked back against the tree trunk behind her. Sasuke had attached wires to the shuriken he'd thrown and they now wrapped the girl against the tree trunk.
Sasuke bit down on the wires, running through familiar handsigns. Fire sparked to life before running along the wires until they reached the bound opponent and she disappeared beneath the onslaught of orange flames.
Another scream caused me to cringe. The smell of burnt skin was stronger now than it had been before. I felt queasy and my stomach threatened to spill its contents but I cupped my hand over my mouth and nose, not daring to look away.
Sasuke released the wires and they fell away. The body remained tied to the tree but her head hung, chunks of hair sizzling away. Smoke began to emanate from the body, rising up in putrid puffs of black. Sasuke and I dropped down to the same wide branch, me waiting with bated breath, Sasuke hunched forward in exhaustion.
"You use the Sharingan so well for your age…I was right to choose you."
My heart sank. The voice had come from the body, though it didn't sound the same anymore. Gone was the strange but high-pitch voice of our female opponent, and was replaced with a man's voice, deep but smooth. I watched in horror as the smoking head began to rise. The skin of her face was peeling away, as though made of plastic. The wires trapping the body fell away as the body's arms lifted and a charred hand grabbed at the melting skin, pulling it away like putty.
An entirely new person was revealed to us. A man now stood before us, the previous face discarded to show a new face, thin and gaunt looking. His skin was very pale and his eyes gave me cause to shudder. They were yellow, with a slit running down the middle that resembled the eyes of the snake summons that had perished in battle. My breathing nearly ceased.
"Sasuke-kun, I had fun testing your powers. You and Itachi truly are brothers."
Sasuke stiffened from beside me. My blood chilled in my veins.
The man tilted his head as he turned his gaze to me. His face was eerily calm. "Nakao, I did not get to test your abilities as much as I would have liked. But you manage the Arashi Kamekaze well. Keitaro has taught a very gifted student."
My brain was frozen, unable to process the man's words. My eyes shook and my hands followed suit. I didn't know what to wonder first. Who was this man? How did he know about me? How did he know about Sasuke? How did he know about Itachi and Keitaro? How did he know about our abilities? The thoughts left me dizzy and I could not focus on a single flitting thought for long.
"Who the hell are you!?" Sasuke demanded, finally finding his voice.
The man stepped out of the remaining skin he'd hidden beneath. He stretched his arms leisurely before reaching behind his back and producing our Heaven scroll. I hadn't even seen him take it from Naruto.
The man held the scroll vertically in his palm. Purple flames sparked to life from his skin, reducing the scroll to ashes in a matter of seconds. They fell from his hand, dispersing into the wind. "My name is Orochimaru. And if you ever want to see me again, then survive this exam."
"What are you talking about!?" my voice shook. "We never want to see you again!"
The man's gaze switched to mine and he licked his lip with that horrid tongue. "You Nakao, perhaps not. Though Keitaro cannot shield you from your past."
I hadn't the time to think before Orochimaru's torso shot out from his waist, headed straight for me. I gasped and stumbled backwards, fumbling for my blades. But something darted in front of me and I found myself staring at Sasuke's back. Orochimaru's face appeared before his shoulder and he opened his mouth wide, producing a pair of fangs. They sunk into Sasuke's neck.
I stood frozen, mouth wide in horror. Orochimaru withdrew his fangs and pulled his head backwards. His horrible yellow eyes met mine, glinting with unspoken words. His body retracted back to his rooted legs and Sasuke let out a deafening scream, sinking to his knees in front of me. I screamed his name, dropping to my knees beside him.
"Sasuke!" I whispered in horror, grabbing him by the shoulders. My eyes were attracted to a dark mark at the base of his neck, where Orochimaru had bitten him. A strange bruise was materializing there; three black commas arranged in a circle.
Sasuke screamed out again, his voice filled with pain and misery. His upper body doubled over and I quickly caught him, his face falling into my shoulder. I held him protectively against my chest, squeezing him tight against me.
My lips were trembling, my mind a jumble of chaos and confusion. I glared over Sasuke's head to Orochimaru, who watched the scene before him with a satisfied look on his face. "What did you do to him!?"
Orochimaru shrugged. "It seems I left him a little parting gift. I did wonder whether he might jump in the way. I would have taken either of you, but I'm particularly pleased. You might try to hide from your past, Nakao, but Sasuke will run straight for his; and he'll want me on his side when he does."
"What are you talking about!?" I screamed in frustration and confusion. I didn't understand what he was saying or what he meant.
Orochimaru's cold eyes gleamed. "It's up to you now, Nakao, to stay alive. It is on your shoulders to ensure the two of you make it through this exam alive. Or, at least, save the boy for me, will you?"
My body was shaking.
"Who the hell are you!?" my voice cracked with fear and rage. "How do you know who I am!?"
"Keitaro tells the tale much better than I, I'm sure," Orochimaru's eyes glittered in amusement.
Before I could think of anything else to say, if my trembling lips would let me speak, Orochimaru slowly began to sink into the tree branch beneath him.
"Wait!" I called out, but to no avail. My parting image of Orochimaru was the devilish smirk upon his lips as his head sunk into the ground.
Another scream wrenched from Sasuke grabbed my attention. I whispered his name as I looked down at him. His face, still resting upon my shoulder, was tight with pain. His face was as pale as snow, but sweat had formed at his hairline and was begin to run down his face. He screamed again, his body tensing with pain. His body began to jerk and he gasped in pain, his hand suddenly grasping mine.
I held his hand just as tightly, pressing my cheek against his head and holding him against me. His body began to tremble and the pressure increased in my hand. It caused me to wince, which sent a tear sliding down my face.
I pulled my head back slightly, peering back down at his face with concern so fierce it made me nauseous. "Sasuke…"
Sasuke's eyes snapped open, his gaze boring into mine, and it took my breath away. I could see everything: pain, fear, insecurity…
He shouted once more and his eyes again squeezed shut. He gave one last pained shout before falling limp, the pressure of his body nearly causing me to fall flat. I felt the pressure in my hand cease.
"Sasuke!" my heart rate quickened, eyes scanning Sasuke's face in terror. I gave him a gentle shake. "Sasuke!"
Sasuke did not respond, nor did he move. Although he was clearly unconscious, his face remained contorted in agony. My lips trembled, tears slipping freely down my cheeks.
I was distraught and angry. I wasn't sure if I should feel guilty. What had happened? Why had it happened? What the fuck was going on?
Sasuke's breathing was labored, but over it I heard the quiet sounds of sniffling. Surprised, I turned my head to find Sakura standing behind us. Her gaze was fixed on Sasuke, her green eyes shaking, filled with tears. I'd completely forgotten about Sakura. Orochimaru hadn't attempted to engage her in battle at all; though now it made sense.
I turned away from her, refocusing on Sasuke. I swallowed against my throat, trying to push down the desperation swirling in my chest. I tightened my hold on Sasuke, burying my face in his hair.
I carefully untied Naruto's headband. Slowly and deliberately, as though to give my fingers something to accomplish, I folded the cloth under the metal and set it beside the boy. I reached beside my knees for the damp washcloth I'd procured. I folded it, placing it against Naruto's forehead. He felt warm and probably had a fever, but his symptoms were minimal and I expected it to dissipate shortly.
I pulled away, wishing every moment he'd open his eyes. He still had yet to, however, remaining in the unconscious state that Orochimaru had left him in. Though his face was peaceful and unbothered and the fever didn't even make him sweat. I placed the round weapons pouch I'd removed from him beneath his head in hopes of providing him some cushion.
I glanced over my shoulder. Sakura's back was to mine as she worked over Sasuke's supine body. We'd sheltered in a cave made from the large, twisted roots of a tree. It was large enough to fit the four of us, but there wasn't much extra room. Sakura's body was only a foot away from mine. She tended to our teammate silently, her face barely composed, betraying the fact that she might break down any minute. I watched as she copied my movements, placing Sasuke's head on his weapon pouch and a cool washcloth against his forehead.
It was sunset now and Sasuke's condition hadn't improved from our earlier battle with Orochimaru. His face was still twisted in pain, sweat glistening against his skin. His breathing was still labored, his chest rising and falling in uneven rasps.
The sight was too much for my battered emotions and I turned away. I tried to block out the assumptions of what might be happening within Sasuke's unconscious mind. I tried to focus on Naruto's calm face, hoping to take comfort in his stable condition. It wasn't very effective.
"Sakura…" I finally said quietly, keeping my back to her. I couldn't let her see my face or hear the strain in my voice. I had to keep us together. "I'm going to go wet these other cloths."
I didn't wait for an answer or look to see if she'd nodded her head. I grabbed the pile of cloths I'd fashioned from a spare shirt squashed in the bottom of my bag and got to my feet. I had to stoop as I exited the mass of thick roots that weaved in and out of the ground.
A gentle breeze hit my face as I stepped into the clearing. The sun was sinking ever lower and it would soon be dusk. Cloths clutched in hand, I followed the route I'd taken earlier to nearby stream that cut a thin path through the land. The gentle flow of the water attempted to ease my frayed nerves as I took a seat beside it.
The water was clear, at least, and I grabbed a few canteens from my backpack, filling them first. Aside for the chirping of crickets and the sounds of wild animals scurrying through the forest, the area was quiet. I probed the immediate area, but sensed no chakra. I finished filling the canteens and took a moment to sit back.
I feared allowing the events of the day to truly settle into my mind. If I did, I worried I'd break down. Two of my teammates were unconscious for reasons unbeknownst to me, and it was now just myself and Sakura. It didn't leave me with any comfort. Sasuke's tortured face flashed through my mind.
I shook my head, as though the action would dislodge the image. I took in a deep breath of air and sunk my hands into the stream, cupping water in my palms and splashing it on my face. I let the water slide down unheeded and caught my reflection in the water.
I'd looked better, that was for sure. The splash of water hadn't been enough to remove the grime that coated my cheeks. My hair was ratted and dirty and wisps now stuck to my face. Otherwise, however, I looked unharmed; no bruises, no wounds, only thin scratches.
A sudden rage built up within me. I wanted to scream, wanted to shout, but instead I slammed fists into the stream, spraying water in all directions and distorting my reflection.
How could it be that I sat here unharmed? That once again, Sasuke lay unresponsive and I was very much alive. It was like Haku's mirrors all over again. Disgust and rage flowed through me. How could I be so useless? All the time I'd berated Sakura, and here I sat.
Would Orochimaru really have bitten me? He made it sound as though he had a decent idea that Sasuke would jump into the line of fire. But why? How could he know? And how did he know us? And Keitaro? And Itachi? Why did he want to give Sasuke that mark? What was it, what was it for? What did any of his words mean? Questions upon questions and no answers.
Glancing upwards, I caught glimpses of the sky through the tree canopies. It was growing ever darker and I had no desire to become an easy target sitting here. I grabbed the cloths and quickly dunked them into the water, ringing them out and folding them sloppily before returning to camp.
I was sure the sun had set by the time I returned, though the denseness of the forest made it impossible for me to correctly pinpoint the time. Sakura was waiting at the opening of our hideout, tapping her foot nervously until she spotted me.
"I was waiting for you to get back; I want to set up some traps," Sakura said, stepping aside for me to enter.
I nodded. "Good thinking."
Without a reply, Sakura headed into the clearing and I ducked my head, slipping into the coolness of our hideaway. I moved over to my male teammates, taking a seat between them. I checked on Naruto first, placing the back of my hand to his cheek. His skin was now cooler, though I still replaced the washcloth upon his forehead.
Turning my back on him, I now turned to Sasuke. I repeated my actions, but Sasuke's skin was still burning, though his face remained pale. I carefully folded a washcloth before using it to replace the old one. I checked the scratches on his face, making sure they were clean.
I pulled back, only slightly, still peering down at him. His breathing was still labored and his carotid pulse indicated an increased heart rate. The hand on his neck now wandered to his face and I brushed away a black lock of hair.
Emotions flooded through me as my hand lingered against his skin. They fought over one another, one emotion raging after the next. Like waves they crashed into me, threatening to pull me under, to break me.
"Why did you do that?" I finally whispered.
If he hadn't jumped in the way, this wouldn't be happening. Why did he do it? Why did he keep trying to protect me?
"Why do you keep doing this, Sasuke?" I said softly. "I don't need you to keep fighting my battles. Don't you understand? When you lose my battles…you're not saving me. You're just leaving me more of a mess…I don't…You…don't need to…Just…for once, let me fight my own. I can do it. I can do more than that. We could fight our battles together…if you would just let me…"
"They're gone; the entire Uchiha Clan," the Hokage said solemnly.
"Every single one?" Keitaro's voice was barely louder than a whisper.
"Except for Sasuke."
"…How is he?"
The Hokage closed his eyes briefly, the wrinkles in his face somehow more prominent than they'd ever been. "Physically, fine. Mentally…he won't even talk. He just…stares. The hospital staff said he won't eat anything or sleep. But I'm keeping careful surveillance on him."
"…And Itachi…"
"Gone without a trace. We've no idea of his whereabouts. Sasuke was the last one to see him, presumably."
My breathing was shallow, eyes wide. I'd only come downstairs for a drink when the voices of my brother and the Hokage caught my attention. I'd hidden against the wall in the hallway, only daring to peek once inside the kitchen before standing flush against the wall.
My mind was spinning, trying to comprehend the Hokage's words. The Uchiha Clan was gone? Gone? As in…? Itachi was gone? Where did he go? Sasuke was in the hospital? They said he was fine, but he didn't sound fine.
I'd been so wrapped up in my thoughts, I hadn't noticed silence take over the conversation in the kitchen until I heard Keitaro's voice. "Nakao, I know you're there."
Timidly, I stepped away from the wall and turned the corner into the kitchen. Keitaro's appearance caught my eye first. He looked haggard and pale. It reminded me of how he looked when Mom and Dad died. He always looked stressed, as it had barely been a year since our parents were killed on a mission, but this was different. He looked distraught.
The Hokage, standing beside him, looked equally troubled. His eyes found me and I found sadness there.
"Keitaro-oniisan, what's going on?"
"Nakao, what have I told you about eavesdropping?" Keitaro sighed, but his heart wasn't in it. He sounded defeated.
I ignored this and pressed on. "What happened to Sasuke-kun?"
Keitaro's eyes were full of pity. It frightened me and I wanted him to look away.
"Is Sasuke-kun hurt?" I whispered.
Keitaro sighed, running a hand through his bangs. "Nakao…you need to leave Sasuke alone for a while."
"Why!?" I snapped in frustration.
Keitaro glanced helplessly at the Hokage, who merely glanced at him. After a long moment, he nodded and Keitaro sighed, glancing back to me. "Nakao, I…" Another sigh. "Last night…the Uchiha Clan was…assassinated. They're all gone…except for Sasuke."
The news was too massive to fully comprehend. My eight-year-old mind was trying to process it, but my head was beginning to ache. But there was something I was worried about, more than anything else.
"You said Sasuke-kun was in the hospital. And Itachi-san is gone."
Keitaro looked physically pained. "Itachi…he…well he fled."
"Why? Why did he leave Sasuke-kun here alone?"
"Because…Itachi did it. Itachi assassinated the Uchiha Clan."
I didn't understand. How could that be possible? It just couldn't be. Not Uchiha Itachi; best friend to my brother since they were little, brother to my best friend, who poked his forehead with endearment. It couldn't have been Uchiha Itachi, who smiled and laughed and taught Sasuke and I how to do jutsus.
"Where is Sasuke?" I asked, feeling very small. "He should be here. We need to bring him here. He can't stay in the hospital."
Keitaro looked pleadingly at the Hokage.
"Nakao…" the older man said gently. "We need him to stay with us for a bit longer. And he needs some time to heal-"
"He needs me!" I cut in. He needed me as I'd needed him when my parents had been killed. We were always together, joined at the hip. He picked me up when I fell down, I bandaged his fingers when he cut them on shuriken. We needed each other; we always had, and we always would.
"Nakao, you don't understand-"
I'd had enough. Clearly my brother wasn't going to help me. I raced to the front door, slipping on my sandals quicker than I'd ever had in my life, racing down the road.
I heard Keitaro call my name as I flew out of the house, not bothering to close the door. I didn't stop. I ran as fast as my short legs would carry me, racing through town towards the white building that rose above the houses. As I ran, I tried to block out the confusing thoughts that raced through my head about all that I had heard. I didn't understand any of it, but I pushed it down, focusing on my mission and on Sasuke.
When I finally reached the hospital, I threw open the doors, racing inside. Everything was white here; the walls, the tiled flooring, even the outfits the nurses wore. I was short enough to race past the reception desk unnoticed, though I didn't know where I was going. I didn't know how to find someone in a hospital.
And so I ran through the hallways, peering through open doors in hopes of catching glimpse of Sasuke. I was beginning to feel discouraged when a group of people caught my eyes. They stood at the far end of a hallway, grouped outside of a door. The vests they wore indicated they were ninja and something told me they were here to guard someone. I counted three men in all, all dressed similar, although one stood out in particular. He had silver hair spiked in all directions.
I crept forward carefully, trying to remain unseen. As I approached, I heard the silver-haired man speaking. "How is he doing?"
"Still hasn't said a word."
My eyes flickered to the door they stood near. The door was slightly ajar. I counted to ten in my mind before bolting towards the door, keeping my eyes trained on it and nothing else. I rushed past the men, catching them by surprise. By the time one even spoke to question me, I'd already pushed through the door and ran inside the hospital room.
My mind didn't register that no one followed me inside; my attention was too focused on the figure sitting in the bed on the far side of the room. His lap was covered with white sheets and his hands rested there. His black bangs covered his face as he bowed his head.
"Sasuke…?" I breathed.
Slowly, Sasuke lifted his head, his eyes finding mine. I couldn't explain it at the time, but something seemed different then. His eyes didn't look the same as they had all the years I'd known him. They were empty and listless and watched me without any indication that he cared I was there.
I jogged over to Sasuke's bed, resting my hands on the mattress. My eyes scanned Sasuke and I realized I wasn't sure what to say to him. What did I do?
"Sasuke…Sasuke-kun, are you okay?"
Sasuke didn't respond. He watched me silently for a moment before turning his head away. There was a window beside his bed and he trained his gaze on that. My eyebrows crinkled together in confusion.
Tentatively, my small hand reached out, gently touching his shoulder. "Sasuke-kun, are you-"
"Don't touch me!" Sasuke suddenly hollered, wrenching his body away from me.
Shocked, I took a step back, my mouth hanging open. Sasuke had never yelled at me before. He'd never looked at me with such venom.
"S-Sasuke…-"
"What do you want?" he asked angrily, pulling his gaze away from me again.
I suddenly felt very lost and very small. "I just…I came to see you. To be with you. I thought you would need me…"
Sasuke turned back to me, his eyes filled with something I didn't recognize. But it scared me. They were cold and distant and I couldn't find my Sasuke in them anywhere. When he spoke, his voice was equally cold and void of emotion. "I don't need you."
The world fell out from beneath me and I felt something in my chest snap. His words echoed through my brain as his eyes remained on me, void of any notion we'd shared an entire life together. It felt hard to breathe, there were hot tears filling my eyes.
"Nakao!"
Keitaro burst through the door. He glanced around, finding me. Without a word, he marched forward, grabbing me by the upper arm. He began to pull me away but I dug my heels into the floor, trying desperately to stay where I was. But Keitaro was five years my senior and the most gifted genin in his class, projected to become chuunin at this year's exam.
As Keitaro dragged me away, I desperately glanced back to Sasuke. "Sasuke!"
But it was for nothing. Sasuke pulled his eyes from me, back to the sheets. And it was my last vision of him as my friend before I was dragged from the room.
"You didn't have to go through that alone, Sasuke," I said, using a new rag to mop perspiration from his skin. "I could have been there. I would have helped you."
I swallowed hard against my throat as my eyes searched his pained face. The memories and emotions I'd worked so hard to stuff deep within me were rising, almost robbing me of my breath. That time in my life had been nearly as hard as when my parents had passed. I'd lost a piece of me that day. Since our brothers had been so close, originally starting in the academy together, Sasuke and I had grown up together. I couldn't remember him ever not being in my life. He was just always there as far as my memories went back. And then he was gone.
I'd lost my parents and best friend, my lifeline, all in a year's time. My older brother was never quite the same and began to rise in the shinobi ranks, leaving home on missions for longer and longer periods of time. I felt abandoned and alone.
"I didn't understand," I told Sasuke, unconscious of the fact that the words were slipping from my lips. "Why did you push me away? I tried to forget about you…but it made me angry. Having to walk into class and see you everyday like you didn't make me a promise under that stupid bridge. And you were different…uncaring, pompous, made of stone…I guess it did make it easier to be mad at you until I could convince myself you were someone to be disliked."
The tears at night grew less and less. The longing eased over time, and by the time we'd graduated, my feelings had completely morphed. Sasuke was no longer my best friend and past, he was an egocentric jerk whose good looks couldn't overcome his shit attitude.
But it had been hard and it had taken months until the constant cloud above me began to dissipate. That, I owed to Kiba. He slid into my life, filling the place that Sasuke had always occupied. Everyone got on with their lives.
"But now we're here…" I sighed, finally pulling back from Sasuke and sitting back on my heels.
As if on cue, Sakura appeared in the entrance, stepping into our den. There was a leaf in her hair and her hands were dirty. She looked to Sasuke hopefully.
"Did they wake up?"
I only shook my head and Sakura's solemn expression mirrored my own. Sakura wandered over to Sasuke's other side and sat down, taking out a kunai as she did so. She offered to take first watch and so I rested against the wall of our den, resting my head on my knees. But I couldn't sleep. Worry and anxiety and my racing thoughts pushed away the sleep I desperately needed.
In the end, it was a good thing I couldn't sleep, despite my exhaustion. As the night wore on, Sakura tried to fight off her own tiredness, but her head would continue to drop to her chin before she would jerk herself awake, only to repeat the cycle three minutes later.
I told Sakura to sleep and she jumped on the opportunity without argument. As she let herself drift off, I decided to check on the boys. Naruto remained unchanged and I wondered what had happened to him. Nothing appeared to be wrong, but he still could not be shaken awake.
Unfortunately, Sasuke remained unchanged as well. I changed the washcloth on his forehead, although the cloths were no longer cool. I would have to wait for morning to take the cloths back to the stream.
And then what?
What if Sasuke and Naruto didn't wake up? Would we hide here until the end of the exam? We'd fail, but hopefully we'd be safe here and we could get the boys medical attention. What if we were attacked? A team of motivated genin against Sakura and me? Even I didn't like those odds…
Maybe the boys would wake up. But what would they be like when they did? Would they be in critical condition? Would they be back to normal? Would we remain here, hide until the end of the exam?
The hours dragged on and I, myself, began to feel sleep tug at the corners of my mind. My body was stiff and sore, my brain sluggish and foggy. But I remained on alert as the sun began to break through the trees, leaving patches of light on the forest floor. But the forest itself was still fairly dark and the world outside of the clearing had poor visibility.
As the birds began chirping, Sakura began to stir. I glanced over to her, watching her peel open her eyelids. She blinked several times, clearing her vision and struggling into a sitting position. She rubbed her eyes, glancing at Sasuke before looking up to me.
"Did they wake up?" she asked hopefully.
"No."
"I'm sorry I slept so long…" she mumbled after a moment.
I shook my head. "It's fine."
Silence settled between us, each of us wrapped in our own thoughts. My mind began to wonder about plans. Could we get the boys to eat or drink without making them choke? Would Sakura be safe here with them if I went to hunt for some food? We'd need our strength since we hadn't eaten since the start of the exam.
Just then, the rustling of bushes caused my body to tense. My attention sharpened and I crawled to the mouth of the cave, eyes darting across the clearing. A hand hovered over my weapons belt. I could sense Sakura fumbling with a weapon behind me.
The sound was coming from a bush directly across the clearing from me. The hedge rustled and shook before something darted out from beneath it. My muscles relaxed slightly when I noted it was a squirrel. As I pulled back gently, Sakura tossed her kunai outside, landing in front of the squirrel and causing it to scamper away in fear.
I glanced to her in surprise for a moment before it registered. Oh, right. She must have put a trap there.
I was about to turn around when a voice rang out through the clearing.
"Hehe, up all night?"
My spine stiffened and my breathing hitched. I slowly turned my attention back to the clearing to see that three figures now stood there. Three very familiar figures; two males and a female, all wearing cameo pants and Sound headbands. They were the Sound genin from the first exam that had broken Kabuto's glasses and caused him to vomit.
The leader of the group, one of the males with bandages wrapped around his entire head save for one eye, stepped forward. The shirt he wore appeared far too large for him as the sleeves draped over his wrists and brushed against the ground. He was crouched over when he walked and his back was hunched because of it.
"Can you wake Sasuke for us? We'd like to fight him," he said, waddling forward.
I was on my feet, immediately exiting the den. My mind was swimming with questions and theories and I had a feeling all my answers led back to Orochimaru. But their purpose here, and their knowledge of Sasuke, was not my main concern. Not as his teammates smirked in my direction, intent in their eyes.
"Sorry, Sasuke can't come out to play right now," I replied dryly, fingers twitching at my sides.
"We know Orochimaru is pulling the strings! What's his purpose!?" Sakura suddenly piped up from behind me, remaining in the den behind me.
The team seemed surprised at the statement, but did not respond. I took out my daggers, holding them in front of me, eyes passing over each genin in turn. I tried to ignore the fact that I was hopelessly outnumbered.
The other male, whose dark hair was held up by his headband, contrasting with his yellow shirt, stepped forward and laughed. He, too, seemed to have deducted they had the upper-hand. "I'll take care of her."
"No Zaku!" the bandaged ninja held out an arm in warning. "We're supposed to leave her for Natsuo."
My eyes narrowed. Warning bells were ringing in my brain. These guys were linked to Orocimaru and Natsuo. What was the connection?
"Really, Dosu?" the ninja snapped, annoyed, glancing to his teammate. "What are we supposed to do with her?"
"Keep her out of the way," Dosu told him before turning his attention back to me. "I'll give you one last chance to wake Sasuke for us."
I gripped my daggers tightly. "You'll have to get through me first."
Dosu narrowed his one visible eye at me. I glanced over my shoulder at Sakura. "No matter what happens to me, do not leave their side."
Sakura swallowed but nodded, her lips pressed into a firm line, her eyes shaking slightly. I gave her a nod before turning my focus back to my opponents.
"Can I do it, Dosu?" Zaku asked, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"You always get to have the fun, Zaku. Give everyone else a turn," smirked their female teammate.
It was the first time I'd heard her speak. She had long black hair, tied together at her waist. Her eyes reminded me of Sasuke's with their color, but were filled with something akin to bloodlust. I'd learned enough through my shinobi training to know that those who lusted over the fight and the kill were the most dangerous opponents.
Dosu was the one who answered her. "Neither of you can do it. Don't you remember was Natsuo said? Kin, she'll just use her kekki genki to knock your needles away and to counter your wind, Zaku."
So they knew all about me. Great. What had Natsuo told them? How much did he know? Why did he know?
Dosu moved closer to me, but stopped abruptly. He glanced down to the ground, bending and lifting up a path of grass. "There's a trap here…No point in setting a trap if you can't do it properly."
I felt my blood pressure rise. Dammit, Sakura! You can't even set a trap!?
I squashed the thoughts. I was just amped because of my anticipated demise. No use getting angry at my sole backup, even though I was quickly realizing it'd be of little help.
Giving Dosu little time to prepare, I launched into handsigns, activating the kekki genki these three apparently knew all about. I felt my wind pulse around me, scattering stray leaves. Dosu looked unconcerned and that worried me. He moved forward until he stood but three feet away. I started a new string of handsigns, took in a deep breath of air and exhaled.
Fire sprang from my lips, latching onto the wind. It shot out so fiercely it stopped Dosu in his tracks. I maintained my position, staring him down, daring him to get closer, but he did not advance.
Whether it was Dosu's plan to stall or he was simply thinking, I was well aware a standoff would get me nowhere. My chakra wasn't limitless after all. At some point, I would need to attack.
Better sooner than later I guess.
I pulled the chakra to my blades and the fire came with it. The metal blades were now lined with swirling fire that licked up its edges. With slight apprehension over leaving Sakura unguarded, I rushed forwards.
I slashed at Dosu, who leapt backwards. I followed relentlessly, swinging my blades whenever I was within range. The third attempt landed and one of Dosu's overly long sleeves caught fire, lighting up like kindling.
My victory was short-lived, however. From Dosu's right, Zaku lifted his palms. Implanted there were two, hallow holes. From these, wind rushed out and rushed over Dosu's sleeve, killing the flame. I scowled. I was hopelessly outnumbered. How could my attacks be worth anything if Zaku and the girl could intervene?
I paused my onslaught, studying Dosu. I needed to think of a strategy, but it had honestly never been my forte. I was always on the frontline, the brute force so to say. I left the planning to others. Not to say that I couldn't plan, but my lack of practice certainly left me at a disadvantage at the moment.
My wind continued to swirl around me as my eyes caught sight of Dosu's arm. The sleeve had been burned away and now revealed a device strapped to his arm. It was an oval-shaped, metal contraption. Several holes were cut into the metal. Now that it was clearly visible, Dosu was raising it.
Weary of the device, I reinforced my chakra. The fire around me roared anew, growing stronger, the wind strengthening with a howling sound. Dosu seemed to be drawing forth his power as well. The device on his arm seemed to pulse, but I saw nothing come out like I had expected after seeing Zaku's technique. My eyes narrowed in confusion, when I suddenly felt something slam into my eardrums.
I couldn't explain the phenomenon, or the pain that came with it. It felt like someone was shoving a needle into my ears. It was sharp and explosive and it immediately crippled me.
I found myself falling to my knees, crying out in pain. The fire died out, though my wind continued to swirl around me. I felt dizzy and nauseous and my blades fell from my hands as I instinctively grasped at my ears. Slowly, I pulled them away and found them lightly coated in crimson. They were shaking and I noticed my vision was blurry.
Wh-what the hell was that?
I noted my concentration had wavered, torn between the pain, dizziness and nausea. I tried to gain control of my vision and it cleared slightly as I found a pair of feet enter my vision. I glanced up to find that Dosu had approached me, peering down at me with a tilted head. He reached out, wrapping a hand around my throat. I immediately reacted, squirming, as Dosu lifted me in the air. I kicked out, feeling my foot connect with his shin. He gave a hiss of pain but only released me by tossing me to the side like a ragdoll.
I hit the ground, disrupting dirt upon impact, and rolled. Coughing and disoriented, I pushed myself to my knees. I glanced back to Dosu to see that he was heading towards the den. Zaku and Kin hovered a short way behind him.
Arashi Kamekaze
Bringing shaky fingers together, I collected my chakra and send of a surge of it outwards, sending a blast of wind cutting in front of Dosu. The force knocked him backwards, and he rolled over himself, back to where I'd left him.
Breathing heavily, I got to my feet. I swayed at first but remained grounded. My vision was still blurred around the edges but I'd regain the majority of my function. But my body felt strange, like the calibration of it was off. I'd no idea what his attack was, but it was dangerous. I recalled when Kabuto had been attacked by Dosu, brought to his knees and nauseous, though Dosu hadn't physically hit him either.
The Sound ninja glanced in my direction. Zaku stepped forwards and aimed his palms in my direction. I brought my wind to me, attempting to create a barrier. I felt his wind hit mine and the resulting howl reminded me of a hurricane. Sweat ran down my face as I pushed back, attempting to overcome his wind.
I had no idea how long we struggled against each other, but from out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dosu raise his device again. I was powerless to move and unsure of how to counter his attack, and so it hit me again.
I cried out in pain and the confusion and pain distracted me. My wind faltered and it was enough for Zaku's to conquer. It bowled into me and I flew backwards, finally slamming into a tree trunk behind me. The impact took the air from my lungs and a few drops of blood flew from my mouth.
His wind kept me pinned to the tree, plowing into me repeatedly. I felt it slice at my skin, opening razor thin cuts across my body. Memories of Haku's needles began to flash through my mind.
I pulled forth my chakra, attempting to reign my brain into concentration. I was able to blast off enough wind to counteract his and the wind finally pushed away from me. The force hadn't been enough to effect Zaku directly but I was free from his hold and quickly found myself sliding down the tree trunk to the ground.
I breathed heavily. My skin was stringing and itchy where blood was beginning to well and slide down my skin.
"Tch, she doesn't seem so powerful to me," Zaku sniffed, edging closer to me. "Are you sure she's the one Natsuo wants?"
"Yes," Dosu snapped. "Just keep her out of the way."
My head was lolling against my shoulders but I struggle to regain composure. I saw Dosu turn back towards the den and panic exploded in my chest. I had to keep the three of them safe, no matter the cost.
Using the tree trunk for support, I shakily got to my feet. A wave of nausea swept over me and I had to pause, leaning up against the tree. I took in deep breaths of air to avoid emptying my stomach contents, but the pause gave Zaku the time he needed to safely approached me. I lifted my head to find him before me, a smirk on his lips, a gleam in his eyes. He rushed me, slamming an elbow into my gut.
Once again, I was devoid of air and I flew back into the tree. I stumbled forwards, hands instinctively reaching for my stomach, falling to my knees. I tried to suck in a gasp of air.
"Let's just get this over with," Kin sighed, sounding bored from somewhere to my right.
No no no…!
I glanced up to find Dosu growing ever nearer to the den. I couldn't view Sakura, but I could see her in my mind. I could see her eyes wide in fear, clutching desperately to her kunai. She wouldn't stand a change against these guys. She'd be slaughtered…and Sasuke after her.
Placing my palms firmly on the ground, I began to push myself up. Zaku looked to me sharply before letting out an aggravated sigh.
"Dosu, she won't stay down," he complained.
"She's just one girl," I could hear Dosu reply in annoyance.
I was on my feet. I stumbled at first, the world around me swirling, but stay rooted. Zaku was watching me with a sickening grin on his face. Adrenaline was trying to push through the effects of Dosu's technique and I could hear blood rushing in my ears.
Clearly amused, Zaku opened his palms, aiming them straight at my face. We had barely a foot between us and real damage would be done if he let out a blast at this distance. A swooshing noise came from his palms and I reached to my belt, only to grope at air. My heart sank as I remembered dropping my blades, but where?
"Say goodnight," Zaku hned.
No!
I lunged forward, slamming an elbow into his abdomen. He yelped in pain and I pushed him backwards until he stumbled, tripping over backwards. I came down with him and quickly straddled his body. I brought back a fist, aiming for his face, but Zaku reached up, grabbing it before I could reach his face. I immediately used my other arm, but he caught that as well. We struggled against one another, me trying to break through, him trying to push me away.
Suddenly I felt someone grab my hair. I cried out in surprise and pain as I was yanked off of Zaku and thrown off to the side. I landed on my back but immediately scrambled to my knees to discovered it had been Kin who'd come to Zaku's aid. They both now stood on their feet, focus on me.
"You bitch," Zaku spat, glaring at me angrily. The raging anger in his eyes told me he wasn't used to losing.
I pulled two kunai from the holster on my thigh, sending one at both Kin and Zaku. Kin jumped out of the way but Zaku jumped over it, landing down on the ground right in front of me. I barely had time to gasp as he brought back his hand, slamming the back of it into my face. I fell onto my back, head throbbing. Zaku raised a foot, bringing it down hard on my stomach. I called out in pain before coughing, sending drops of blood sputtering from my lips and dripping down my chin. He was raising his foot to repeat when a voice rang through the clearing.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
A flash of green entered my vision and hope soared into my chest.
Author's Note: This is the longest chapter to date, weighing in at a whopping 20.5 pages. Which means it was a complete nightmare to edit. Might have gotten lazy. See you next time!