24

My eyes already flicker around us as I look for the ninja. In an instant, the ninja was in front of me. "The Sharingan?! But how?" She hisses and I raise my tanto. I smirk the moment our eyes meet a second time. Using my Sharingan for another genjutsu. -"I swear upon my brothers, I will uphold their wills!"- I growl in her mind as large shadowed forms of Itachi and Shisui grasp ahold of her body, pinning her in place. Spinning on my toes I send chakra into my foot and release it the moment my foot catches the ninja across the face. Sending her flying back again and causing her back to hit her snake with enough force that it pops into a puff of smoke. Two. I count silently as I shove off of the tree towards the disoriented ninja. I know better than anyone, my current limitations. Running chakra into my tanto to increase the short range of the blade as I narrow my eyes on the ninja. We were now both flying through the air and I was steadily gaining on her. A few more seconds and I'll be able to drive my blade into her chest. I tell myself quietly. I have to, there is no other way. It's either my teammates or her. Without even opening her eyes her mouth hangs open. A long sword attached to a snake flies out towards me.

My eyes widen in shock and I twist my body to turn a bit. Bringing my tanto up to catch the blade. However, it just goes through without so much of a scraping sound. With a flash of white and red a searing pain burns through me as if my body is on fire. The sword catches me in the left side of my abdomen. "Tala!" My teammates' voices yell in sheer panic. The ninja then has snakes shoot from her arm towards me. A breathy grunt comes from me as I grab onto the blade with my free left hand. I manage to pull my body off of it in haste. Just as the blade leaves my body with a searing hot pain radiating through me the snakes wrap around me. "I don't know how you've come to be." The ninja hisses. "Such mastery of the Sharingan at such an age, it's almost unheard of. But your power is something else." She smirks around the snake still sticking out of her mouth.

Bare it! I shout in my head and as she opens her eyes to see the damage her blade had done to me I smirk. Her eyes widen as I use my final chance with my jutsu. Wrapping her in the very snakes she had around me. Causing them to squeeze and choke her. Tightening their grips with every passing second. - "I may not be able to do Tsukuyomi yet like my big brother. But I can still kill you."- I inform her in her head and just as the snakes would have crushed her I fight against the ones around me. Raising the tip of my tanto just enough to send my chakra into it. Shooting a ball of fire at her.

In an instant, she disappears from in front of me taking her snakes with her. Freeing my body of their weight as I continue my free fall. My eyes move around trying to track where she had gone. I know my fireball hit her dead on but there was no sign of her. "Think again!" She hisses out from above me. In that brief moment of her giving away her position, I throw my body around to meet her gaze as I raise my arms to block her foot. The power behind her kick feels like my arms were shattering from the impact. Sending me plummeting and crashing back through branches at an alarming rate.

My eyes return to normal as the ninja comes back into clear view without the colors and visible movements. My body is heavy enough that my lungs scream for air. I have to move. With this speed, I will die. Forcing my movements I flip in the air in time to try and grab the next branch. My chakra grabs hold for a moment as I continue my fall. That one moment though slowed my descent significantly. Hitting the ground with a thud dirt flies around me. "Tala!" My name reaches me as I try to move. My consciousness fades in and out as my vision continually darkens. Struggling for breath I manage to roll onto my side causing a newfound wave of intense pain. Enough so my stomach lurches excruciatingly as the contents of my breakfast this morning hits the ground next to me.

Naruto screams from somewhere above me. His anger turns into pain. Frowning I manage to barely get my feet under me. Standing for a moment before I fall back against the base of the huge tree, causes my stomach to lurch again from the extreme pain coursing through my body. Reaching up I hold my hand over my soaking wet shirt where the blade had sliced right through me as if I were nothing but partially melted butter. I'm sorry, I can't. Raising my head I lean it back against the bark causing my hair to fall out of my eyes. Trying to catch the fight still going on above me as I reach a blood-soaked hand into my pouch.

Fumbling with the scroll I look down at it before unraveling it. * -"But big brother, it hurts. I don't know if I can."- I whimpered out as my knees hit the ground. My stomach clenches and twists painfully after landing on the ground from failing to counter his dancing leaf shadow. -"As a ninja, you will be forced to deal with your wounds until the end of a battle. You must push yourself through the pain so you and your team may survive. Now come."- He states heavily drawing my gaze from the ground. Forcing my feet beneath me I swallow back a new wave of bile. Fighting to even out my breathing I raise my tanto and push myself forward.-* Withdrawing my medical supplies I raise my shirt to look at the one wound I can reach. Tucking my blood-soaked shirt into my mouth I pull a kunai and send my fire nature chakra through my blade since my tanto is lying somewhere on the ground. Pressing the molten metal to my wound I call out in agonizing pain, using my shirt to attempt to quiet my screams.

The pain nearly forces my legs to buckle as they quake beneath me. Gasping for breath I pull my blade from the wound on my side. At least slowing the bleeding by cutting the wounds down by half. Dropping my Kunai I focus on wrapping my abdomen with medical wraps. The world around me darkens naturally, showing night is upon us as I continue to hear the sounds of fighting above me. Once I finish I place my items back into my scroll and roll it up. Putting it back into my pouch before I manage to step away from the tree. My legs still trying to buckle beneath me I move chakra to my feet.

Fight through it! I remind myself silently as I leap up onto the tree and run up it as quickly as I can manage. My team are in trouble! Pushing off from the tree I throw myself through the air to a large branch. As soon as my feet thunk against the wood I jump for another branch. The light of a huge rolling fire brightens up the area aiding my sight. Do it! I silently order myself as I ignite my Sharingan.

"Sasuke!" Sakura's gleeful yell reaches my ears. Hearing her running nearby egged me forward as the image of the grass ninja flows into my mind. Leaping from one last branch I throw myself into the air toward Sasuke and Sakura. Closing my eyes I take in the cool air moments before flipping in the air causing my high ponytail to whip around uncontrollably behind me. Landing on the bark in front of Sakura and Sasuke I pay them no mind as I fight to keep my attention on the one in front of us and off of my wounds.

"You're a true Uchiha, after all." I heard a male's voice finally show through his disguise. Narrowing my eyes upon his form I couldn't help but smile even as I hear Sasuke scream. "My, I thought you were going to stay down." He says to me as I just roll my shoulders. Loosening the kinks from the abuse I had taken earlier. "I told you, in our fight. I will save my team and kill you." I utter out my voice filling with my conviction. This causes his smirk to strain as his eyes narrow upon me. Knowing as well as I. I can and will follow through. "Sakura. Take Sasuke and Naruto. Run." I order out for her causing her to grunt. "But... Tala." She whimpers out and I shake my head. "Go now, I'll catch up."

She hesitates a moment before I hear her quiet words. "Okay, but be careful." Hearing movement behind me as a couple sets of feet stand just before the soft sounds of them leaving the area put my mind at ease a bit. "No!" The man shouts just before he moves to catch them. Pushing myself forward I land in front of him forcing him to stop in front of me. Without hesitation, I curl my fingers into fists and send my chakra to them. Ramming my right fist into his stomach causes his eyes to widen as he doubles over from the impact. Spit spewing from his mouth mixing with blood. Using my left I catch him under his extended jaw throwing him backward and away from me.

Moving forward I withdraw a kunai, lengthening the range of the blade as I run my chakra through it. Compressing it tightly to sharpen the extra length. "I'm done playing." The man breathes out as he makes it rather unsteadily to his feet. "Three is your max." He practically coos from having noticed I didn't use my genjutsu. I couldn't help but smirk behind my mask. "Actually." I state causing his eyes to widen as I weave my chakra through my eyes.

"Three is the most I can do and still continue to fight." I admit catching him in another genjutsu. This time large black spikes shoot out from the tree at his feet. Piercing through him from three different directions. Blood rolls from his lips and down his chin as he chokes. Fighting for breath. As I land in front of him I swing my kunai for his throat. In that brief moment, the man smirks looking down at me.

"That's marvelous." He chuckles darkly before I feel a blow against my back. Strong enough it feels like my spine is cracking and crumbling beneath it. Sending me forward and face first into a tree. As I slide down and land on the branch, I grab my stomach with a whimper. I fight to look over my shoulder in his direction to see if he was readying a finishing blow. Only it's in time to see the one I had caught in my genjutsu poof apart. The log clanks against the wood of the tree. Falling to my side from exhaustion and pain my head bounces off of the tree beneath me. "I'm sorry." I breathe out as my eyes close. I couldn't finish him and save you guys.

"At least they are breathing easier now, but they still have a high fever." Sakura says touching Sasuke's cheek before turning where she sets to look down at Tala. "You... Tried to save him when I couldn't even move. You were even covered in blood and wounded badly. You really are a ninja worthy of his attention.." But now it looks like it's up to me for the time being. She thought as she sets there looking down upon her three comrades. I just wish I knew what to do.

* - "So be it." Tala speaks up before her eyes shift over them. "I'll tell you, that I didn't pack light. I brought provisions, medical supplies, and extra tools in case we need them. Along with a couple of tents. I have them in my storage scrolls." She points out seriously mostly for Sakura and Sasuke though Naruto gives a sound of question as he turns towards her. "Sweet! So you came prepared!" He shouts happily achieving a nod from Tala. "As for strategies, we'll do Sasuke's suggestion. We'll form them as we go so we aren't unnecessarily planning for circumstances that may not even happen." She shrugs causing Naruto to shout with glee. -* You were right. We should have planned ahead. If we did, I would know what to do right now.

A groan meets her ears drawing her eyes back to Tala in time to see the girl's hand twitch before moving to the wound on her left side. Sakura moves next to her with a frown. "I... I don't know what to do." She whimpers pulling Tala's gaze to her. "I don't know how to help!" Tears roll down from Sakura's eyes as she cries feeling helpless. "I closed the wound on my front. Sakura, you need to check it to make certain it didn't reopen then you need to stop my external bleeding by closing the wound at my back." Tala instructs her quietly as she fights to keep her head. Already feeling the blood loss chilling her body. Sakura nods before digging through her medical supplies looking for anything that could possibly help. With shaky hands, she sifts through them one by one holding her breath with her search. She hadn't even noticed Tala moving her hand behind her back with a painfilled grunt and retrieving two scrolls. With the weakness in her body she ends up dropping them catching Sakura's attention.

Picking them up one by one Sakura looks to Tala waiting for any sign as to which. Once she holds up a purple scroll Tala gives a single nod as her lips twitch beneath the fabric of her mask almost like she had tried to smile. Opening it Sakura tilts her head looking at the line of storage markings. "Medical. You will need to sew it." Tala utters out painfully. Unrolling the scroll further, Sakura takes in every single insignia until one catches her eye. Sakura's hand finds the medical insignia before shooting her chakra into it in order to activate the insignia. The moment her hand touches it a puff of smoke appears. Leaving behind a white box with a red cross on it.

Silently she pulls it onto her lap. Opening it Sakura takes in the sight of all the emergency medical equipment. "What the.." There was a little white box amongst the other items with a blue cross on it. Opening it curiously Sakura gasps finding it lined with pills. Above each pill were the names of what they were. Pain killers, Chakra boosters, Healing, different kinds of antidotes, Fever reducers, etc. She closes her eyes with a smirk. "I see." She speaks up needlessly before pulling out the sewing kit and preparing it quickly.

Once she was done Sakura looks to Tala to find her eyes watching her. A shimmer from the moonlight glinting in the girl's gaze. "This will hurt really bad." Sakura tells her as she helps lift the girl's shirt finding the charred skin of the wound on her front. "From fighting the way you did after you closed it. You did reopen it. This is going to hurt even worse since the skin is completely damaged." Sakura watches Tala waiting for her usual nod before she looks down at her stomach.

She found her hands hesitating as she shakes. Get a grip Sakura, you can do this! You have to do this! She shouts at herself in her head before sucking in a breath. Working on sewing the wound on Tala's front and back closed to try and at least stop the external bleeding. Nearly crying from Tala's painfilled whimpers and grunts as she works. "I don't know if this will work. We don't know what damage was done." She explains if only to help steady her hands.

Once she was done wrapping Tala's torso, Sakura raises an arm and brushes the clean part of her skin over her forehead to wipe away the sweat that had accumulated. Not once did Tala pull away, even though sewing her skin without any anesthetics seriously hurt. She kept herself as still as possible during the entire time. "Sometimes..." Tala's voice breaks through the silence as she watches Sakura. "Sometimes administering. Emergency medical aid. is more important. than being strong." Sakura's eyes widen down at her teammate. To her, it is almost as if Tala knew that this entire night Sakura felt useless. Like she couldn't do anything at all to help them.

"In the box there were pills. I need a healing booster. There are also more supplies in there if Sasuke and Naruto need them." Tala breathes out causing Sakura's wavering gaze to steady before she nods. Picking up the box of pills she had found previously she pulls out the one Tala had mentioned. Tala watches as Sakura sets the items aside and then moves around grabbing the canister of water she had set aside next to Sasuke. As Sakura returns to her she helps Tala set up slightly and tilt her head back a bit before she goes to help with Tala's mask. Her hands hesitate as Tala's breathing becomes erratic.

Tala shuts her eyes tightly as she can feel her heart hammering against her ribs. "Tell anyone, and I won't save you next time." She breathes out causing Sakura's eyes to widen. "I won't." Sakura answers her gently before pulling Tala's mask down to her chin. At that moment, Sakura's heart stops. In the moonlight's gentle glow, Tala's pale skin practically shimmers flawlessly. She's... She's beautiful. Even though she's the same age as us she looks... older somehow. Sakura couldn't help but think as she places the pill against Tala's lips. Tala slowly opens her mouth so the medicine fell onto her tongue.

As Sakura helps her drink she manages to swallow the medication and water. "You should lie down now." Sakura speaks again setting the water canister on the ground and helping Tala back down into a lying position. Sakura then aids her in replacing her mask. "Rest, I'll keep watch." She tries to assure her teammate. She could have sworn Tala shot her a skeptical look but her eyes did manage to close so she could sleep. Leaving Sakura to pull a cooling pad from the medical box and place it over Sasuke's forehead. In silence, she then cleans up and set traps to help give her a warning of any intruders.

Periodically throughout the night. Tala's eyes would open. Sakura would help her sit up and drink. Eventually, she regained enough strength to drink on her own. The food however from her storage scroll was a different obstacle. Her stomach would lurch and turn threatening to bring the contents back up. But both of them were able to regain a small amount of strength from it. "Tala." Sakura questions quietly drawing her gaze to her and having her pause with her protein bar. "Because of you, we were able to fight Orochimaru off. You even nearly died and yet you managed to come back and help." She speaks with a hint of pain in her voice. "How are you so strong?" With this question, Sakura looks to her with a shimmer in her green hues. Tala leans her head back against the tree and closes her eyes thinking of how to answer that.

"Before this exam began we had been interviewed by those three children. Remember?" Tala speaks up and Sakura found herself turning more towards her teammate. "Well, yeah. They interrupted the proctor just to do it." She responds with a bit of sass and annoyance to her tone. "They asked me if I have any hobbies. Just like Kakashi sensei did our first day as a team." Tala iterates for her causing Sakura's eyes to widen briefly before she looks away. "Yeah, you didn't tell us anything about you." She points out if only so Tala knew she is still listening. Even though being reminded of that only brought a darker emotion to Sakura. Jealousy, because Sasuke is always watching Tala and never noticing her.

"I didn't answer because I thought I would sound cool or mysterious." Tala informs her having noticed the tension growing in the air. This has Sakura grunting in question returning her gaze to her teammate. "I don't have any hobbies. All I have ever done in my spare time is train. My body, chakra, and my mind. It's all I have ever done since I was an infant. Honestly, school was only a refresher for me and a break from training." She winces as she shrugs causing Sakura's gaze to waver on her. "But that... that's not." She begins and Tala nods. "Yes, that's not living."

"So that's how you're so strong? You're always training even when you were... a baby?" Sakura questions achieving another agreeing grunt from Tala. With just this small amount of information about the girl next to her, Sakura couldn't help but frown. Rethinking her entire position towards this girl. She wasn't trying to get Sasuke's attention at all. She was just being herself. She has no hobbies. She knows nothing about what she likes beyond being a ninja. She's... Sakura glances at Tala seeing her eyes have closed as she succumbs to sleep again. She's empty.

*A little Sakura and Tala Bonding time. Hope you liked it. ^.^*