"Sasuke!" Tatsumi hissed in disgust. "That double-crossing little -" She stopped herself and snarled angrily. "Now I really wanna kick his ass, that little no-good lying mother-"
"Stop, enough!" said Sango.
"Yeah, we get it," said Jakku. "We get it."
"Someone has a strong vocabulary," said Disura. They continued leaping through the trees in silence.
"So," Jakku finally asked, "what are our orders, Commander?"
"We're supposed to guard the battle perimeter and keep Sakura safe," answered Sango with a degree of importance. "How we do it isn't important, but... well, strategically, a pentagonal formation would be best. That way we have all sides equally guarded. And if he comes too close, we always have the elemental barriers." The others nodded confidently.
"Elemental barriers, huh?" asked Ruku. "He must be even more of a threat than last time."
"Yes. But I'm not worried. Plus, we always have backup." Sango grinned and pulled small ear microphones out of her kunai bag. "Lee, Kakashi, Tsunade, Kiba, and Shikamaru have the paired ones. And they'll bring their teammates. I already radioed them."
"Wait, Sango," said Tatsumi as she and the others equipped their transmitters. "If Lee's gonna fight, who'll watch Jitchi?"
"Konohamaru. Lee already arranged it."
"Ah. Isn't he, like, fifteen now?""
"Nineteen. But he has a broken arm, so babysitting is the only mission he can do now."
"I see."
"We should be close now, so -" Sango's words were cut short by an ear-shattering scream. Her face paled. "Sakura! C'mon, guys! Before it's too late!"
"Sasu... ke..." Sakura gasped as his hands tightened around her neck. "Wh... y?" She gasped for breath and tried to wrench his hands away, but it was no use. He only gripped tighter. Sasuke's face was twisted into a hideous smile, his eyes glowing bright gold. He burst out laughing, high and raspy. It was an unearthly, evil sound. Every particle of air around him pulsed with a sinister, inhuman aura. Even in her nearly-unconscious state, Sakura could feel how unbelievably cold his hands felt.
"Hmm hmm hmm. Ah ha ha hah! Ah... Now," Sasuke hissed, "it's time to finish you!"
"Uhn! No..." Sakura gasped as his hands tightened further. She felt her consciousness slipping away... It was over...
Suddenly, she heard a weak voice, as if in a dream. "... could you... her go... double-crossing... creature..." Sasuke's hands released her, and she fell back into the sweet, welcoming darkness.
"There he is!" Tatsumi cried.
"Sasuke!" Disura spat his name like bad-tasting medicine.
"HYAAAH!" Sango cried fiercely, leaping forward and grasping Sasuke from behind. She was so furious that the cords and muscles of her powerful arms stood out rigidly.
"How could you... do this?!" Disura cried angrily as she tried to wrench his arms away from Sakura. "Let her go!"
"You double-crossing, sorry excuse for a man!" Ruku screamed. "Filthy, low-life creature!" Jakku glared at Sasuke and shot chakra from his fingertips, piercing Sasuke's clenched hands.
"Gah!" Sasuke groaned as the chakra negated his own, disabling his hands. His fingers slid limply off of Sakura's throat, leaving blood-red streaks where they had gripped her. "Ah, Naruto's pets, I see," he mocked. "Doesn't he have the courage to face me alone?" He sucked in a deep breath, making signs for the Amaterasu.
"Not on my watch!" said Tatsumi, making faster signs. "Koji no Asa! Morning of Fire!" A geyser of pure white flame shot from between her jaws, blocking and engulfing the Amaterasu. Sasuke was the first to release his jutsu.
"White fire, huh? I remember you. You've improved since we last met... Tatsumi." She growled in response. "And how was it you lost? Now I remember. Shall I show you?" He drew his blade in an instant, lightning coursing through the cold steel. Tatsumi's face hardened. "I wonder how you'll fare this time." He swung the blade toward her neck at unbelievable speed. Tatsumi braced herself. Suddenly a sharp clang broke the air. Sango grunted and held her ground, pushing against Sasuke's blade with her own.
"You know... you're not the only one... who knows how to play with that big sushi knife." Sango parried his blow and they connected again. "Agh! Go!" she screamed to the others. "I'll hold him off!"
"But earth is weak against -" said Disura.
"I'll be fine! Just go, already! Unh!" Sango panted with the effort of her strategy. As the lightning coursed through her veins, she directed it and the chakra in her own body to her feet, letting the ground neutralize it for her. "I said GO!" The others reluctantly lifted Sakura and vanished in a cloud of white smoke.
"You're... not bad..." Sasuke panted. He had to use every ounce of muscle he had to repel Sango's monstrous strength. "For a girl, you're pretty strong."
"And not even... at full power yet!" She smirked as the muscles in her arms and back bulged and stretched. "Maybe I'll... show you... sometime..." Quickly, Sango leaned her sword away, throwing off Sasuke's balance and disappearing as he stumbled.
"Kuso!" Sasuke whispered. "She escaped me! She's pretty good..."
"Not better than you, I hope, or this'll be boring." Sasuke sneered at the man standing alone before him, his eyes flashing coldly.
"So we meet again... Naruto..."