Hehe…man, I'm taking forever with these updates, eh?

AN: Gomen! Really sorry with the spelling of names, such as with "Guy" when it should be "Gai" or "Jugo" really meant to be "Juugo" You see, I like to go with the Wikipedia way of writing out names, and such. Weird, I know, but well…

Anywho, I'm changing it so, yeah.

Warning: Not so nice language will be used in this chapter. 'kay?

'kay.

Don't own!

X

Cherry Blossoms.

Sakura.

My name, my hair color.

Cherry Blossoms.

You know? I once read somewhere that the speed at which cherry blossoms fall, five centimeters per second, were a metaphorical representation of humans. The petals, that is, are reminiscent of the slowness of life and how people often start together but slowly drift into their separate ways.

Funny, huh?

That I should be put on a team that would clearly depict just that.

X

"Naruto, is your designated area clear?"

"Hai."

"Neji, Rock Lee?"

Confirmation was given and with a quick look to either side of him, Kakashi along with Ino and Shikamaru braced themselves, for after all Gai's team were already in combat.

-

"We have a problem."

"Eh?" Shifting from one bent knee to the other Sakura eyed Juugo awaiting his response, when none came she tried to see into the distance as best as she could but could find nothing of consequence.

"Hey, whore, maybe if you'd stop playing kisses with big boy over there you'd see the traps set up, and those freakin' bugs all over those stumps and trees not far in the distance."

"Bugs…traps…?" Finally seeing as such she shifted backwards a little.

Tenten, Shino!

"Tch, yeah, we gotta go back and report it to Sasuke, come on."

"Matte!" Suigetsu didn't stop at her command but Juugo looked at her questioning. "Listen, listen…these bugs, they can track us, look at yourself! They're probably crawling all over us already! If we go back, they'll know where Sasuke is, and what they want right now is Sasuke!"

Growling and marching up to Sakura, an act way too close for comfort he spoke accusingly. "What do you know of this, woman?"

"Get away from me! I'm trying to save your ass! You heard Sasuke…'Go undetectable, if so does happen, do not make note that there are others, silently, if you can, get word to us. Do not come back to the fork with enemies trailing behind, if you do, I will kill you myself.'" Finished with her deep voiced imitation of their 'leader' she looked at the two accompanying her expectantly.

"Bitch…"

"She has a point, Suigetsu. Come, I will call a bird and give message to Sasuke, then we confront them, and if necessary, kill them."

"Wha…kill? I-can't we-lead them away? Distract-" Sakura was cut off by Suigetsu's obnoxious laugher.

"Lead them away? Play decoy, eh? Funny. We are to play scouts, take out any and all possible disturbances, and then, get back to our meet up point to proceed. Got it? Good. Juugo! Get to it! I'm thirsty to unsheathe my swords…"

Shit. Watching Juugo as he called for a bird and attached a hidden message to its foot numbly, Sakura tried to think of a way out of the situation. There were three of them, her…'companions' being quite strong. She knew Shino and Tenten were here, but with them, who else?

She wanted to be saved but, not at the cost of anyone's lives. What was she to do? If she doesn't fight for Sasuke's team, of course she will be labeled as expendable, would she not? Did he really need her on this team? Yet she can't just fight her own leaf ninja, they would brand her a traitor in an instant and would not hesitate to capture her and…

"Sakura."

"Juugo…I-" He placed his large hand upon her shoulder and gazed upon her, trying to comfort her, after awhile Sakura's face grew fierce as she nodded in understanding.

"Thanks, let's go."

X

"Kiba, they are drawing near, how many?"

"Three! Moving together! Akamaru-" Barking, Akamaru gave the answer his owner was just hoping for. "One of them is Sakura! So I think we only have two to worry about!"

"Don't be so sure! Tenten, Traps?"

"Hai!"

"Shino!"

"My bugs are on them, if they even think to leave, we will track them, also, they are slowly eating away at their chakra as we speak. A few of my bugs have already made there way to Kakashi's team to inform them that of what's already taking place."

"Grrreat! Hinata, you ready? As close combatants we must be on our toes, these guys might be tough-here they come!!"

"H-Hai…" Bracing her fists and feet digging into the ground her eyes widened when through the bushes came that cherry pink hair that everyone was so eager to see. Her green emerald eyes were hard and beside her were two males. One of them, extremely large than any of them could have imagined.

The look in Sakura's eyes was…indecipherable.

"GO!"

"Tch, this is going to be fun!!" Gripping his sword and running directly at his first eye catch, Gai, Suigetsu grinned as he swung, not at all surprised when Gai dodged it with ease.

Juugo, standing back with Sakura at his side surveyed their surroundings, inwardly sighing at Suigetsu's need for a fight. "Stand back, there are many traps, I'll disable them and then you can attack whomever you want, the one with the buns, the pale eyed female, the cloak, or the one with the dog."

"Juu-" but he was gone and she was left standing there watching as everyone made weary movements on how to attack.

"Akamaru! Let's stop that guy!" Jumping from his previous position on a tree branch, Kiba switched instantly to his Shikyaku no Jutsu and ran straight at Juugo.

Smack.

"AKAMARU-UGH!!" Widened eyes turned to the scene that had happened way to quick to register. Gai, not having the luxury to view the scene seeing as every hit he was landing on his opponent was evaded due to Suigetsu's watery form, could not see what had become of the dog to have his name cried out in such a distraught manner.

Upon contact, Juugo had transformed his two arms, one into a piston-like ram, and the other into a massive blade. The massive blade had struck Akamaru on his back right leg, cutting him deep. The follow up attack, a heavy hit to Kiba's stomach had thrown the boy back into a few trees.

"Kiba!! Sōshōryū!" The large scroll on Tenten's back was released and in full attack, the hundreds of weapons falling from above and in every direction imaginable made Juugo turn his head to the side slightly, quizzically. In the midst of blurry fury Sakura had held her hand to her chest; quickly, she ran around the area and tried to disable as many traps as she could, only to come face to face with Hinata.

She could see out of the corner of her eye that Shino was making way to Kiba's fallen form, and Gai was still matching Suigetsu's watery speed, frustration evident as none of his attacks were landing and all he really had to lean on was his Taijutsu.

"Hinata…move."

"I-I…can't do that Sakura." Raising her fists and preparing to attack, Sakura placed on her last glove of the pair and frowned. "Why? Sakura? Why would you do this to Naruto?"

Naruto? A deep sick feeling befell Sakura at that moment and that was all Hinata needed to give the preemptive strike.

"Shugohakke Rokujūyon Shō!

"What!" Jumping back but not being missed, Sakura gripped her right arm in pain as she felt not only blood flow down the arm but some of her Chakra string being attacked.

"Why. Won't. You. Die!!!" A few strands of hair were cut as the sharp blade swung for the last of its consecutive strikes and Gai flipped backwards, his breath heavy and panting, sweat covering his brow.

'Damn, this is going to be a lot harder than we first anticipated…and the Uchiha boy is not even in this group, where else could they be!' Straightening and posing in his normal conceited and comical manner, Gai let out a grin.

"Well, what can I say? I am quite fast and good lookin' dont'cha think?"

"Don't be smart!" Rushing at him again Suigetsu laughed when he actually made contact with Gai's right shoulder, "It'll only sever to get you killed!!"

"Shino, get…get the others to come here, we need them, go!"

"My bugs are more than able to do that, now, you need to get up and take care of that guy. He's strong."

"Grr…" picking himself up haphazardly, he turned worried eyes to his dog whom was limping his way over to him. Once met Kiba bent down and pet his friend, checking his wounds. " 'Be great if Sakura was on our side right about now, eh?"

Shino kept quiet as he watched the smoke clear from the onslaught of Tenten's weaponry attacks. "Get in there."

"Don't have to tell me twice! Akamaru! Jūjin Bunshin! Gatsūga!" Transforming his dog into a mirror image of himself and rushing at blinding, powerful speed, the two headed straight into the dispersing smoke, latching onto Juugo's arms in a frenzy of attacks, biting down and draining him of whatever they could.

"hmm…" Closing his eyes, trying to control his blood thirsty rage, Juugo simply rose his hands up into the air, at first Kiba and Akamaru was going along for the ride until they jumped off the moment Juugo swung his hands back down.

The earth below them rattled from the sheer intensity of his attack as his arms met the ground and Sakura alongside Hinata lost balance for a moment. An idea forming, Sakura smirked slightly as she bawled her left fist and aimed it for the ground.

The ground shattered below Hinata's feet and she would have fell through if Shino had not jumped in right then and there and carried her out, placing her securely on a branch nearby.

"It appears she is no longer with the Leaf Village." Hinata closed her eyes, trying to prevent tears from flowing.

"Thank you, Shino, for saving me."

"Don't mention it. Kakashi's team should be here soon, but we should still try to draw them back as best we could."

"But, Shino…look at Gai, The man he's fighting."

"He's of water background; this might pose a problem indeed. Get to Tenten; we are going to have to go a different route."

"Explosive Tags? Do you really-" cut short by the breaking of the tree holding their position, Shino and Hinata jumped different directions to go about their newly set agendas, Sakura growling in their wake.

'I have to make it look like I'm really fighting them…if not, then-Juugo!" Turning her head spastically at the direction of the fight, she feared for Kiba's life as she saw their relentless fight. She feared the worst, Juugo's transformation. She knew only a little, from what Karin had implied during little conversations, Suigetsu's grins, Juugo himself, telling her of his faults, his strengths.

His weaknesses.

'I've got to stop this, now, before Sasuke and Karin shows up.'

Running towards their direction, she would have made it too if an explosion hadn't gone off in front of her, deterring her in her mission as she flew back and hit the ground below her heavily.

Suigetsu and Gai both turned to the explosion and upon the burning smell with the leaves alit with raging fire, Gai feared the worst while a laughing Suigetsu secretly hoped the two of his companions were caught in the blast.

"Pay attention to me!!!"

Another swing.

"Ugh, uh, uh, uh…Kiba!! Akamaru!!!" The smoke was burning her lungs but Tenten still scavenged the dark area in hopes of finding her friends. A hand shot out and gripped her hard and wailing in pain and surprise she released a kunai from behind and was about to attack when Kiba shouted at her to stop. "Kiba" Coughing increasing every minute, she tried to eye how bad the damage was. Blood was soaking his eye and it seemed like he was drenched in ash.

"Take…Akamaru, I'll be fine, I can stand…he's hurt though, bad…" Nodding, using as much strength as she could muster to carry the now large dog, Tenten ran out of the smoke, Kiba trailing behind to find Kakashi and his team now in the clearing.

"TENTEN!" relief washed over her as she placed Akamaru down and ran to Lee and Neji.

"Where's Hinata?" Worried eyes turned to Neji as the weapon specialist knew not the proper answer.

"She-Shino told her of a new plan, she had come to me to set up the explosive tags-"

"What happened to the retreat? The water escape? What's going-"

"Where's Sakura!!!" Rushing out ahead into the clearing, Naruto spotted pink instantly and ran to her.

"Naruto!! She's not on our side!! Stay away!!" Tenten's warnings fell on deaf ears as the regrouped team minus Hinata and Gai, one missing, the other still engaged in battle with Kakashi soon coming to join, watched as Naruto ran to the seemingly unconscious pink haired kunoichi.

"Sakura!! Sakura-chan!!!" Bending over her form he searched for her pulse and once finding it sighed in relief, he examined her form and frowned. "Sakura…come on, wake up, I'm here now."

"Naru-!!"

Kakashi, finally reaching Gai was distracted when Suigetsu, slowly becoming invisible, as if, water himself, turned to him laughing.

"Uh-oh…looks like my friend Juugo here lost himself. I'd run if I were you…" Waving goodbye, Suigetsu jumped into the river nearby, the very same one Gai had planned to use as an escape method, leaving the two stranded, still on the defense, yet confused.

"It seems this team is a lot stronger than we first thought, Kakashi."

"Yeah…how's you team?"

Bawling his fists Gai turned his head away, scanning the surroundings to see if his previous opponent was going to reemerge. "I honestly don't know. I was preoccupied the entire time, this guy was tough."

Eyebrows drawing together in consternation, Kakashi's eyes widened at the scene that was taking place.

Sakura! Naruto!

With blinding speed, Gai right on his tail, Kakashi ran to Naruto as the blonde haired kyuubi vessel was checking the unconscious Sakura.

His eyes were red, a blood thirsty grin accompanying the look of killer intent clearly displayed on his face. As the large, transformed 'demon' emerged from the smoke inhabited area, tossing aside a beaten Hinata; he quickly made his way to Sakura's position, coming upon Naruto in the process.

There was rubble, nothing left of the earth below where Naruto once stood. In the blink of an eye, Juugo had grabbed Sakura's form, tossed her over his shoulder and proceeded to, with intent to kill in one shot, attack Naruto.

If it wasn't for Kakashi's quick eye and speed, Naruto would have been dead.

"Kaka-sensei…Wha-Sakura!!"

The entire group, Neji, Lee, Tenten, Shino, Ino, Shikamaru, Akamaru, Kiba holding onto to Hinata, Gai, Kakashi, and Naruto, watched as beside the large enemy holding on to the small framed Sakura, not only did the previous opponent of Gai's reemerged from his watery substance, but another two members had joined.

The sinister look accompanying the tomoe like appearance within the eyes were indistinguishable. "Sas…Sasuke!"

Sharingan.

They should have looked away.

The last thing anyone had heard or seen was the red leaving Juugo's eyes as his back turned from them, holding Sakura securely in his arms, and Karin's laughter at their misfortune.

So, sorry for the craptastic chapter. It wasn't even beta-ed. (?) I will keep to my promise within the last chapter and make for the next, hopefully with a quicker update to follow.