Our Reflection in Each Other's Eyes.

Chapter 36: We must protect our comrades

The sound of metal against metal filled the surroundings as everyone fought to keep themselves alive.

The war already resulted in multiple deaths as the living fought for their lost ones.

The shinobi who lost someone had to continue fighting with no time to mourn for them.

The shock encouraged them to continue strongly in grace of whom they lost.

Kyoko was already breathing heavily due to how soon she saw herself forced to begin with the day's battle. She had no time to catch her breath as the enemy came from all directions.

As she worked beside Kakashi, Lee, Sai and Gai to seal the reanimations, they kept each other guarded securely when one of them was battling.

It was sometimes put upon Kakashi and Gai, but even then Kyoko pushed through to fight one directly. It wasn't something arranged but rather something they faced as and how it came.

The group received information that the zetsu clones were transforming to have the appearance of allied shinobi.

"This can't be good." Kyoko heavily breathed after having killed one of few remaining regular zetsu.

"We have to establish a way to tell the difference in case we get separated." Kakashi stated.

Kyoko wrote what they should do on the dirt floor using the tip of her sword.

Everyone nodded in approval to her quick thinking in not speaking it out.

After everyone had read it, she erased it with her foot.

Their distinguishment will be counting to seven within their head when encountering one another. The instant they say anything within that number count, they aren't the real person.

They continued doing what they were designated to as everyone else dealt with the uneasiness.

Day was beginning to sweep through when everyone received the information of Naruto's arrival to the battle.

I was already exhausted from the lack of rest. We continued moving forward as I sometimes fought a reanimation so that Sai could seal it. We all took turns fighting the encountered solo reanimations as Sai alone sealed them with his abilities.

"Two last swordsmen are left." Kakashi Sensei informed.

As we proceeded to move forward we grew exhausted each time. I looked to my comrades and saw how we all shared a deep exhaustion.

We had barely managed to get a small rest overnight when it was forced into interruption when the zetsu arrived.

As Kyoko observed the exhausted faces of those to her surroundings, Naruto arrived in time to rescue Sakura from a pair of zetsu that were undercover.

Naruto was able to distinguish the difference therefore everyone was informed that he would arrive to help them.

Kyoko and the team were forced into separation after a group of regular zetsu had caused it, forcing them in different directions.

Sai and Kyoko stood back to back as the zetsu rushed at them.

Kakashi, Gai, and Lee stood beside one another as they faced the group that rushed to them.

Sai and Kyoko looked at one another before facing the group of zetsu.

"Stay close, I'll take them down with my sword."

Sai nodded his head as he walked closely behind Kyoko. He used his scroll as a weapon as well, not drawing anything on it to not exhaust his chakra but using it to hit the zetsu.