Road to Hokage: Save the Hyuga Clan

A Cherry Blossom in Black Fire

Sasuke frowned watching Naruto's retreading figure race to the temple. He glanced at Sakura as she dodged another attack. Her opponent ran at her. She ducked low and lifted him over her shoulder, tossing him behind her. It wasn't that Sasuke thought Sakura and Naruto weren't capable of defending themselves -he had forgotten the feelings that came with facing danger as comrades.

He was so used to doing everything alone ...only concerned with himself ..but now...

Now all those emotions washed over him like a tidal wave, He was almost overwhelmed with concern for those two, despite his hard outward countenance. He felt old feelings stir inside of him..a need to protect them.. no matter what the cost.

Naruto...Sasuke thought to himself, gathering more chakra in his Sharingan. Defending the village together was beginning to sound good, but more importantly... the village needs you and Sakura to return. Whatever the sacrifice...

Sparks began to appear and grow until they engulfed his entire hand in lightening. He surveyed the battlefield following streaks of the red chakra with his glowing eye. Sakura moved beside him and stopped another anbu from attacking him with a quick uppercut. The malicious feeling from earlier returned only more intense as he focused on the enemy chakra on the battlefield. It snaked around the ground like a web.

"Where is it?!" Sakura asked him, breathing hard. Her shoulder brushed his back. Suddenly, Sasuke realized the highest concentration was right beneath their feet and moving underneath the surface.

There wasn't enough time!

"SAKURA!" Sasuke yelled, he turned his head quickly so that she was in his rinnegan's line of sight. In shock, Sakura turned and made eye contact with him. Instantly, she has transported several feet away and a boulder appeared next to Sasuke. Sakura stumbled on the uneven surface and the sudden transportation away from him. In confusion, she found Sasuke again on the battlefield.

The ground exploded under his feet, a giant clawed hand burst from the ground, and wrapped around Sasuke's waist. Sasuke cried out in pain he was lifted in the air.

"SASUKE!" Sakura screamed, half running half stumbling back to him.

"Sakura- go help Naruto!" He yelled back, as he managed to drive his Chidori into the creature's thumb. Sasuke fell from the hand and Sakura leaped on the boulder with her arms outstretched. She caught Sasuke midair and the two ninjas hit the ground with a roll.

"Are you okay?!" Sakura asked, immediately going into her medic training she looked for signs of injury. Sasuke nodded as he rose to his feet next to her.

RRRROOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRR! The ground shook as the upper portion of the creature emerged the ground. The anbu around them all fell to the ground. From the waist up, the creature was covered in red scales with the head of a snake. One large horn emerged from its forehead and crushed the boulder where Sakura stood moments ago. The ground shook as the creature struggled to free itself.

"No way," Sakura whispered in shock.

"An oni. It can't reach the surface. I will stop it," Sasuke realized grimly. He turned to Sakura. "You need to help Naruto. Go the temple." Sakura's eyes went wide and she shook her head.

"Not without you!" She protested vehemently. "I can help you seal it!"

"NO!" Sasuke answered shaking his head. "You need to save chakra to help Naruto. Go! "

"NO," Sakura argued. Sakura reached up gripped his shoulder and her green eyes pleaded with him. "I won't let you do this alone!" She shook her head. "You're not alone anymore, Sasuke-Kun."

Sasuke stared back at her then nodded.

"Let's hurry so we can help Naruto," he answered, finally. Sakura smiled in response. Sasuke pulled a scroll from his ninja pack. He flourished it open and placed his hand in the center of the symbol in the middle of the scroll.

POOF!

He gripped a black large black shuriken in his hand. He nodded to Sakura.

"We need to weaken it before it can be sealed," Sasuke explained. Sakura pounded her right fist into her open left palm.

"Leave it to me," Sakura answered. Her hands began to glow in the darkness with chakra.

"Concentrate on attacking...I will protect you..," Sasuke said before Sakura went running. Sasuke raced behind her concentrating on the oni's movement.

The oni roared in their direction. The monster raised an arm to crush Sakura. Sakura leaped to the left and forward tucking herself into a roll. The oni tried again and Sasuke transported her out of the monster's reach. The creature missed and sent rocks and dust into the air like missiles.

"Get ready, Sakura!" Sasuke yelled, he eyed a rock rising right above the oni's head. In response, Sakura jumped up to her feet and pulled her main punching arm back. She concentrated her chakra into her feet and pushed off the ground. Sasuke's rinnegan flashed a purple light. A rock hit the ground where Sakura was. Sakura was now flying midair towards the oni's head with her chakra growing around her fists.

"CHERRY BLOSSOM IMPACT!" She screamed, punching the oni on the head.

Once! Twice! Three strikes!

The oni roared as its head rocked back. Black ichor poured from where Sakura's punches landed. She twisted in midair to land away from the giant beast. Suddenly, the oni lunged forward at Sakura attempted to spear her with its black horn. Sakura braced herself to feel the impact on her midsection.

Instead, she felt her back hit the ground and she was looking up at the oni above her. Sasuke was midair throwing his large black shuriken at their enemy in her place.

SRRTTT! SRRRRTT!! He threw it in a wide arc.

The weapon flew around the oni with wire strings attached to it. The oni was restrained with both clawed arms trapped at its side. The oni swayed side to side and Sasuke landed beside Sakura on the ground. He pulled back tightening the wire strings in his hand. Sakura climbed to her feet as the oni swayed in their direction. The oni roared at them and the inside of its mouth glowed.

"Fire!" Sakura yelled as white hot flames burst from the oni's mouth in their direction. Sasuke pulled Sakura close to him to shield her with his cape, covering her. He stared the oni down without moving.

"AMATERASU!" Sasuke roared back. Sakura gasped at the sudden rush of heat she felt engulf her. Black flames clashed with the white flames then swallowed them. Black flames danced up the wire strings burning the captured demon. The creature roared one last time before hitting the ground only inches away from the two ninjas. Sasuke removed his cape from Sakura. His face relaxed as he looked down at her once he saw she was safe. Sakura made herself take a deep breath and break eye contact with him.

"We need to seal it now," She said, breaking the silence. "Naruto is waiting for us." Sasuke nodded and released her from his side. She turned to face the fallen demon.

Sakura squared her shoulders in front of the oni. Suddenly, her hands felt hot. She quickly removed her gloves. They were melting from the oni's black ichor on them and started to irritate her skin. She coughed and tried not to breathe in the smell of burning flesh. Sasuke moved to position himself behind the creature.

"Ready, Sakura?" Sasuke asked, raising his hand ready to weave signs.

"Ready!" Sakura answered, bringing her hands together in front of her.

"Sealing Technique: Crimson Walls!" They both shouted and weaved the required signs. In an instant, the oni was covered in light before shrinking then the light streaked across the sky in the direction of the Uzumaki temple.

Sakura immediately went to the nearest fallen anbu. She placed a finger to his neck to check for a pulse. Then she moved to the next one. Sasuke stood protectively over her. She looked up at him and shook her head no.

"They are all dead," Sakura explained. "All their chakra drained..."

"Let's go," Sasuke said, turning to run to the temple. Sakura followed.

Next chapter coming soon, The Fox and The Oni