Naruto's Betrayal: "You Thought Sasuke Was Bad?"

Konohamaru P.O.V.

Hinata was on my left, and Gaara was on my right... But the man who stood before me was one I didn't recognize. He looked like a zombie... Grey skin and beady eyes... And a cold sadistic smirk on his face. The sword resting on his left shoulder was wrapped up, but I could tell just from looking at it just how heavy it was. When he mentioned Naruto I felt my blood begin to boil beneath my skin. What did he mean their hideout? ... It took me only a closer glance at his robe to understand who he was talking about. The Akatsuki. I had fought a member of The Akatsuki before and barely made it out alive... And this guy seemed just as dangerous.

"Who the hell even are you? Where's Naruto?!"

I blurted our in frustration, earning glares from Gaara and Hinata that both silently told me to shut the hell up. The man chuckled, unwrapping a bit of the covering from his sword to reveal what looked like scales... Of a fish of some kind. He pointed the sword at the three of us, Hinata and Gaara both putting an arm in front of me as the man spoke.

"My name is Kisame... And this is my blade... Sharkskin... And as far as Naruto goes... I'm sure he's still at the hideout of the Akatsuki with Itachi patching him up as we speak. He told me I'd find some of you out here in the forest... And that I had his blessing to cut you all to ribbons."

Another moment of silence befell the scene, as Hinata looked to Gaara, then back to me. She looked down and back up again, her Byakugan overtaking her eyes. Gaara, still seemingly calm despite the circumstances, looked at Kisame and held out his hand.

"I'll give you one chance to turn back, and let us through. Otherwise... Prepare to feel the wrath of the Kazekage."

Sand began to quickly pour out of Gaara's gourd and shoot it's way toward Kisame, who quickly sliced it away with his sword whenever it got too close. This continued for a moment, and Hinata took advantage of the distraction, grabbing me by the arm and beginning to run past the two and in the direction we were previously headed. I looked at her, keeping the pace as we jumped through the trees.

"What's going on Hinata? Are we really just going to leave Gaara alone to fight that guy?"

Hinata shook her head, not looking at me, but staying focused on the horizon ahead of us.

"He isn't alone. Neji and Sasuke are close behind hm... And will intervene if things get too serious. You and I are continuing the search for Naruto... And at least now we have a place to look."

I nodded, and continued to follow her, keeping me eyes open for anything or anyone that might be following us.

"Hinata... Do... Do you think Naruto really killed Lee? W-why would he do that?"

Hinata ignored my question, continuing to jump before abruptly stopping. She looked at me, a stern gaze fixed upon her countenance.

"I'm not sure... I'd like to think that Naruto wouldn't do such a thing... But I could be wrong... But for now..."

Before Hinata could finish her thought, out of nowhere she flew toward the trunk of the tree she was standing on, her back slamming against the wood as she slumped over in pain.

"HINATA! What the..?"

In a flash, there she was, Sakura Haruno. My eyes grew wide, and my hands began to shake as she stared me up and down. Sakura had been missing from the Hidden Leaf Village for months, and was presumed dead... Obviously she wasn't... And she was wearing Akatsuki robes.

"S-Sakura? ..."

I couldn't think. I had never seen a punch so strong. Hinata's whole body left a print in the trunk of the tree, and Sakura looked as though she had barely even been trying. Her pink hair was once again grown long, tied up into a haphazard ponytail. There was a scar on her lip that reached about halfway up her cheek, and a look of hatred in her eyes that I'd only ever seen in Sasuke before now. After she looked me over, she smirked. Before I even noticed her move, she already had me in her grasp, the collar of my shirt tightly clenched in her right fist, as the left was primed to do to me what it had just done to Hinata.

"Kid, you've got two choices. Walk away, and tell the rest of the Leaf Shinobi to stay home... Or face me, and die a nobody."

I looked down, we were high enough that I could barely see the ground... And I was dangling from Sakura's arms about to fall to my death. I took a deep breath in, looked up and smirked. Sakura chuckled, but was unable to react quickly enough, as I hit her with a headbutt that sent her flying back to the tree where she was standing before. Before she could regain her footing, I landed on my own tree, and breathed out a dangerous smoke from my lungs... Uncle Asuma's jutsu.

"FIRE STYLE, BURNING ASH."

The cloud of smoke erupted into flames, and I watched as Sakura jumped up to avoid them,  looking at me with a clenched fist as she dove toward me.

"TAKE THIS YOU BRAT. CHERRY BLOSSOM CLASH!"

I quickly jumped out of the way of the blow, looking in awe as the entire tree limb I had just been standing on shattered, causing the other trees around us to shake as well. I landed in front of where Hinata was still slumped, checking her for a pulse and thankfully finding one. Sakura landed in front of us, wiping some sweat from her brow.

"Well then, I guess this won't be as easy as I thought."