Lee and I ran so fast that the trees around us blurred. The black-haired boy seemed hell-bent on supporting the others. So was I. But if he kept it up, he would be completely exhausted before it even came to a fight. The thought of supporting my friends also appealed to me, but at the same time we couldn't risk our own health. Otherwise we were anything but a help. More like a huge unwelcome obstacle. I screwed up my face as I watched Lee jumping through the many forks of branches with inexhaustible verve.

You had to have that much motivation first. But well, I could also understand him. He had been in hospital for a long time, with an uncertain future. But now the injuries seemed to be mostly healed, thanks to Tsunade and her outstanding abilities. She had now finally proven her healing talent. Now really no one could doubt her anymore.

I had had my doubts at first, especially after the scene in the pub, but she proved me wrong. That she was more than she seemed at first sight. And this was exactly why I had decided to support her as much as possible. No matter if I was still a genin or not. She had my respect and esteem and therefore my full support.

The river we were following bubbled merrily along. The tracks of our comrades were still fresh and easy for me to recognize. Lee, on the other hand, I had to keep from running in the wrong direction. A few broken branches were by no means the sign of a trail. In the damp earth of the bank, there were scattered footprints and light drag marks, some of them on top of each other, as if someone had carried something heavy.

Realization flashed through me. It must have been the ninjas of Otogakure. And the drag marks ... no, if she had dragged a human, I would have recognized it. They were probably more like a box or a barrel in shape.

Carefully my fingers ran through the damp earth. The prints were only a few hours old. Only a little dust had settled over the depressed areas. I looked up and followed the trail with my eyes. No question. So they must not have gone far yet. And it seemed they had crossed the river to throw off pursuers. For all at once the tracks ended.

I crossed the river light-footedly. Lee followed me. And indeed, at the other end I found another sign that someone had been here. But not a nice one. Blood. The red liquid had collected in a small hollow and had not even sunk completely into the ground. I hoped that it came from the enemy. But I could not be sure. I wish I could have Akamaru's nose now.

In return, however, I felt the chakra of another person coming steadily closer. It seemed to be following me and Lee. So either this was the reinforcement Tsunade had spoken of, or else ... an enemy. And if that was the case, someone would have to stop him. Hastily, I turned to Lee, who looked at me expectantly.

„Someone is following us. Whoever's coming. I'll stop him. You follow the tracks."

Confusion lit up the black-haired boy's face before he waved me off and stood wide-legged in front of me. Determined, he looked into my eyes.

„I'm staying here with you. As Sensei Gai likes to say: Together we are strong."

I smiled slightly as I saw the motivation flare in his eyes and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

„I guess that's true. But you must help the others. I just saw blood. It could be that someone needs our help right now." Lee looked at me, startled. "And that's why I'm covering your back, so you can do our job."

Briefly, the black-haired man seemed to think before he nodded resolutely.

„Fine. But don't say then that I didn't want to help."

Then he was gone.

Kiba:

Tired and exhausted, I dragged myself through the forest. A trembling Akamaru in my arms. Worried, I kept looking down at my injured friend. Both of us had been badly injured by the fight with the brothers Sakon and Ukon. Whereby I was more worried about my friend than myself. The important thing was that we both made it out of this alive.

The wound in my stomach hurt unbearably. No wonder. The kunai had gone deep into my flesh to prevent one of the brothers from merging with my body. Which I had succeeded in doing. But still, I had paid a risky price for it. I knew my way around the forest and how to shake off pursuers, but in our current condition it was much more difficult.

Exhausted, I leaned my wounded body against a tree, pressed myself firmly against the bark and took a deep breath. Tried to catch a strange, dangerous smell. Very slightly, a stern, slightly pungent smell blew into my nose and I instantly flinched. Pressing my body as tightly as possible against the tree, I watched motionlessly as the figure of Ukon emerged from the dark forest.

Unconsciously, I held my breath, tried to suppress every telltale sound. There could be no mistake now. And really, he did pass me by. Didn't seem to see me there in the shadows. I resisted the urge to exhale in relief. Wait! Where was the other one?

„Found you. Wasn't so easy."

Inadvertently, my fingers tangled in Akamaru's fur. He whimpered softly, but didn't wake up. Now I had a problem.

Sakon had suddenly appeared behind me and was sneering at me. Damn. He was wearing my jacket. It was clear that I couldn't make out his smell because my own was covering it and I had got used to it. What a bloody mess.

And now I actually found myself in a situation from which I knew no way out. In a flash, he had rushed towards me and I closed my eyes. I would never leave Akamaru, even if I still had the strength. If we were going to die, we would die together. A grin crept onto my face. I wouldn't give the guy the satisfaction of dying in fear.

I heard the knife fly towards me with a hissing sound. It cut the air like butter ... and stuck with a dull sound. Confused, I opened my eyelids and blinked. A large shadow had lined up in front of me. But it wasn't human, or it wouldn't have sounded like that. My eyes travelled up it and my lips twisted into a grin as I recognised the dark-clad figure to my right.

„It looks like we're allies now."

Tora:

I had lured the pursuer along the river a little. What did a little mean? Actually quite a while. I had almost lost track of time. But the slanting sun reminded me again that it was early afternoon. I was beginning to feel a little intimidated by the fact that he was following me so constantly. But it had actually been my goal to stop him or her. So that the mission of the others would be crowned with success. And Naruto could get Sasuke back.

On a small clearing near the river bank, I had now paused and placed a shadow clone on it, ready to fight, while I hid in the dense undergrowth with another one. Better safe than sorry.

And then I heard the person coming. At first just a guess, but the footsteps on damp ground said something quite different. I clenched my hands into fists. My inner and outer tension grew with every second. The shadow clone also took on this posture and drew a kunai. My fingers permanently dug into the dark branch. Pain shot through my body, but for me it seemed rather pleasant. It kept me awake and concentrated.

Checking, my gaze wandered to the small traps I had placed in the trees. Maybe they would even be able to help me a little, although I didn't know who I would soon have to deal with.

A dark figure crept into the clearing. Kept to the shadows so that it was impossible for me to make out its face. Nevertheless, I did not move from the spot, but let the shadow clone attack.

Hard, the opponent's foot hit its belly and hurled the copy against a nearby tree. There was a crash, then the clone fizzled out. Annoyed, I bit my lip before sending the other one after it. Shortly afterwards, the same thing happened to him as to his predecessor.

Without further delay, he was pressed to the ground, and I could hear a dark cold laugh that kept echoing in my ear. I felt hot and cold at the same time. Sweat began to spread on my skin, while my heart pounded in my chest, as if after a marathon. Slowly the man raised his head, and I could finally make out the face of the man chasing me, although now I didn't want to see it at all.

„Hello my dear daughter. Don't you want to fight me in person? Or are you still as weak as you were last time?"