Three shadows cloaked in white flickered across an ancient forest, leaping from one tree branch to the next. The curviest figure led the charge, casting her senses ahead in a wide net, when she suddenly felt a chill run down her back.
"What is this chakra signature!?" Sakura cried out in horror, over the wind whistling in their ears. "It's even larger than Naruto's!"
There was only one person alive in all the world whose stamina could surpass Naruto's, he who had suckled on the chakra seeping from the Nine-Tails' seal since the hour of his birth: Hoshigaki Kisame, bearer of Samehada. While she had met him before on a few occasions, this was the first time her senses fully allowed her to grasp how monstrous the man was.
Thankfully, it seemed Itachi had sent a Crow Clone ahead on purpose, stopping Naruto before he could stumble straight into his teammate. With Naruto safely back at their side, Sakura had allowed herself to slow her pace, conserving the modest store of nature energy she'd gathered over the past few days— though she still kept Sage Mode active, wary of another Akatsuki ambush.
"Is it on an intercept course?" Kakashi asked.
"No, it's staying completely still!" Sakura called. "But it's standing right at the entrance to the Uchiha Hideout! I can sense Sasuke's and Itachi's chakra beyond him… and a third signature too!"
"Is Sasuke okay?" Naruto asked worriedly.
There was no mistaking the ominous chakra of those who had driven their Sharingan to its limits and beyond. Three of them, of that there could be no doubt… and a countless horde of White Zetsu lurking belowground.
"Do you have an ID on the third?" asked Kakashi proactively.
Sakura hesitated for a second. Should she tell him?
"Definitely Uchiha as well," she said at last. "The chakra signature is a bit muddled, but it feels similar to your left eye's, Kakashi-sensei."
…
After a few more minutes, the three remaining members of Team 7 burst from the treeline and landed in a row before the Uchiha Hideout, where Kisame stood guard with his bandage‑wrapped sword resting on his shoulder.
Sakura thought the hideout rather resembled an enpun, a round type of kofun, or burial mound. Fitting, she wryly thought to herself, that it might become Itachi's final resting place.
"At last, a worthy challenger approaches," Kisame called out to them as they approached. "Pity we couldn't finish our duel two years ago, Kakashi the Copy Ninja… Shall we pick up right where we left off?"
"Come on, let's blow that shark bastard away," Naruto snarled. "We need to back up Sasuke before he gets thrashed by his big brother."
In response, Kisame hefted his heavy sword and slashed a line in the dirt in front of him.
"I dunno if you've noticed, but I've a fair bit of chakra to hand," he said with a toothy grin. "I'd be delighted to keep all three of you company for as long as you like… but if you want to get your companion some help sharpish, I wouldn't recommend crossing this line… unless, of course, you're that busty lass over there."
So far, things were going exactly as Obito had predicted they'd go; Kisame would only let Sakura through without a fight; Kakashi and Naruto would have to beat him down if they wanted through, but that would take time they didn't have.
"Naruto…" said Sakura softly, taking his hand and pressing it gently to her breast.
"S-S-Sakura-chan?" Naruto spluttered, his heart skipping a beat. "I'm really happy, but I really don't think this is the moment, ya know!?"
Kisame looked on in great interest.
"Look into my eyes."
Sakura winced as her left eye started stinging terribly.
"There, I've shared some of my power with you," she said tiredly. "I've inscribed my Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto ability in your left eye, though I hope you won't have to use it. Basically, it'll trigger if you're on the brink of death, and it'll make you more-or-less unkidnappable."
Sakura blinked as her vision in her left eye grew blurry.
"Finish up quick out here," she said, shaking away the dizziness. "I'll go lend Sasuke-kun a hand."
Kakashi laid a hand on Naruto's shoulder as he reached out to stop her, then gave a quiet shake of his head. It was better this way, even if the arrangement was part of the enemy's plan; there was no saying how long a monster like Kisame could keep them held back if he chose to bring his full strength to bear, and Sasuke needed help immediately.
Sakura glared at Kisame as she ran past him into the Uchiha clan's hideout. She briefly considered shooting him in the back with the Lorentz Gun Jutsu, but she caught herself and pushed on towards the centre of the compound.
There, in the central chamber, she found Sasuke and Itachi standing motionless, locked in a silent contest as they measured each other's mastery of genjutsu, reversing and counter-reversing each other's illusions faster than thought.
Sakura stooped to pick up one of the many shuriken strewn across the floor and drew back her arm. It would be all too easy to slice open Itachi's throat from this distance, but she knew Sasuke would never forgive her if she did. So, instead, she pressed a palm to his back and formed the tiger seal.
"Kai!"
Sasuke and Itachi burst into motion, springing apart as they flicked shuriken into their hands and sent them spinning across the room. A cacophony of metallic pings filled the air as each bladed star struck another and fell to the ground, the brothers' duel ending yet again in a perfect stalemate.
Sakura didn't even want to think about how long it would take to pick up all those shuriken once they were finished showing off.
"Stay out of this, Sakura!" Sasuke hissed at her. "He's mine to kill!"
"Then at least let me give you a Mini-Katsuyu!" said Sakura imploringly. She gave the slug on her shoulder a poke, prompting her to split into two smaller halves. "Here you go, take her…"
Sasuke tentatively reached for the proffered slug, but as Sakura delicately placed her in his palm, he caught Itachi smirking out of the corner of his eye. He was suddenly reminded of Itachi's own girlfriend, and how he had mercilessly killed her as well. Women would only dull his reflexes!
"Katsuyu-sama!?" Sakura shrieked as Sasuke batted the slug out of her hand.
Sakura dived forwards, catching the slug before she hit the floor.
"I told you to stay out of this," Sasuke growled. "Just stand back and guard the exit to make sure he doesn't run away. This ends today."