Of Tales now and Long Ago

Of the Gallant and the Informant

Chapter TWENTY FIVE

Sakura sensed the battle start between Naruto and the Akatsuki member the moment they appeared at the borderline of the trees. She rapidly led Sai towards where she could see Shikamaru's chakra flaring from the adrenaline of the battle. They weren't that far and she knew that Sai would be able to sense him too.

Both of them knew that their assistance wasn't required when they felt the vibrations travel through the ground. Sakura could see the chakra signature being buried under the rubble. She noted that this dude was still alive and noted that the whole 'immortal' thing wasn't just some sort of title.

The two of them landed quietly beside Shikamaru as the last bits of the rocks leveled out.

The Nara let out a sigh before he stumbled backwards. Sakura caught him and placed a healing hand on the back of his head, pushing soothing chakra into his system, healing any immediate injuries.

"Hey, Sakura." Shikamaru murmured.

Sakura smiled gently down at him. "Hi, Shika. You did good."

"Heh." Shikamaru took a deep breath.

Sakura nodded at Sai and the Ink user drew back a little. Sakura placed Shikamaru's arm over her shoulder and took both of their weights. "Let's head back, yeah?"

Shikamaru grunted.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

They made it back just in time to save Naruto from being eaten.

In her defense, that was what it looked like.

Sakura dumped Shikamaru on Sai and flew forward, swinging her arms up. Her chakra scalpels cut through the thread like stuff easily. Kakashi grabbed Naruto in the next second and the two of them jumped back as Yamato attacked with his wood release, forcing Kakuzu to move back.

"Wow, Ruto." Sakura grinned. "Awesome as always."

Naruto huffed. "You weren't even here!"

"I just guessed. We need to work on keeping the technique lasting longer." She glanced at Kakuzu.

"I guess that's so like you, Naruto." Ino sighed.

Choji frowned. "It's a Rasen 'Shuriken', so why do you have to run and hit them with it?"

"Though it's called a Rasenshuriken, you have to land the attack from a Zero point." Yamato explained. "So the basis of this attack is to use the Kage Bunshin as a feint."

Naruto frowned.

"With an opponent like that, it's impossible to hit him with it." Choji said.

Naruto stood up. "Let me try again." He said. "I'll decide it with my new technique."

"The opponent is an 'Akatsuki.'" Ino said. "The same trick won't work twice."

"Now that he knows what to look out for, he'll just dodge it." Choji agreed. "Let's do this together."

Naruto pretended to think for a while. "Sorry, but it's Team Seven's job to be awesome." He narrowed his eyes in determination. "Ready, Sakura-chan?"

The pinkette pulled out two scrolls and nodded. She threw them into the air, bit her thumbs, and summoned its contents as they came down. Water burst out and Sakura rushed forward.

No words were needed. Naruto and Sakura had been working together on something or another ever since before they were put on the same Genin team.

Sakura flashed through the hand seals of her most favorite technique. "Suiton: Suiryuudan no jutsu!" In the blink of an eye, the water dragon had formed itself with the water from the scroll. Sakura jumped onto its head and released her last hand seal, no longer holding the technique together with her own chakra. Her puppet cursing sphere radiated chakra within the dragon, allowing her to control it at her will.