Ep 5

Sakura couldn't believe she didn't think of that. She needed tact with this man to defeat him. The shield would cover all sides depending on which she attacked. Was it possible for him to counter multiple attacks at once? Maybe she could try an even more powerful physical attack and break the barrier. Sakura didn't have much time to plan out her battle strategy as her opponent flashed his fingers through hand signs.

"Wind Style: Cyclone Razor Blades!"

Sakura dodged majority of the attack, but one nicked her arm. She skidded to a halt in front of Hideki for half a second before launching a frontal attack. She pressed hard using a large amount of chakra against the shield. Hideki's barrier was weakening. It seemed Hideki also picked up on the same thing and Sakura reached down to stop a kunai from spearing through her stomach. Now they were at a standstill; whoever lost power first would lose. As hard as the female pressed against the barrier with her right fist, she was having to put as much force to stop the weapon from injuring her.

Dammit, if I let go, I may not gain the upper hand.

Sakura was wracking her brain thinking of what she should do. It pissed her off because she could mop the floor with him at her full strength. Genjutsu may work, but she would have to perform hand signs. She wouldn't have enough chakra to hold genjutsu and her transformation jutsu at the same time. Beryl orbs moved to the ground where she noticed sand was creeping towards Hideki. Was it that guy again? She searched and noticed familiar red hair. His arms stayed crossed over his chest, just like they had been the day before. A blank expression was on his pale face.

Gaara...

"What's this?!" Hideki exclaimed as he looked down at his feet once the sand had locked around his ankles.

Sakura broke their standoff and jumped back just as the sand wrapped its way around Hideki's torso.

Shit, Gaara may kill him and there goes a possible lead.

"Wait!" Sakura shouted. "Would you back off?! I'm taking him back to my village so don't kill him!"

Gaara turned his cold stare at the woman who had shouted at him and she noticed the iciness behind it. For a moment, she was sure he would kill the man anyway, but instead, he replied, "Fine. What now?"

Putting him in genjutsu was out of the question due to how much chakra she had spent during her battle. Sakura needed to tie him with chakra enhanced ropes. She would still have to contact her summoning animal to carry her prisoner. She would tie Hideki up first. Sakura moved over to her pack, pulled out a rope, and sifted her chakra through it. She also pulled out a cloth she had used to bathe with earlier. She needed to cover his eyes as well just in case he had another jutsu up his sleeve. Sakura walked over to Hideki and tied the still damp cloth over his eyes. She wanted to smack the shit out of him when she saw the smile break over his face, knowing he was enjoying the scent of her soap. Stupid pervert. A shrill whistle echoed through the air and Sakura detected at least twelve more chakras. She whirled around just as a group of ninjas clad in green surrounded them. Why hadn't she been able to sense them before?

"Ready to face my little army?" Hideki questioned. "You didn't think I would come alone did you?"

Each of the ninja pulled out two sets of shuriken and Sakura's muscle tensed, ready to dodge the weapons. Before the new foes could throw their shuriken, Gaara's sand moved like lightning and took each one out. When he administered killing blows, the men disappeared in a cloud of smoke. When they were all gone, Sakura knocked Hideki unconscious so he couldn't pull any more tricks.

She turned to face Gaara. "Thanks for the help I guess, but you need to stop following me. It's creepy."

"As I have told you, I must protect you for five years," Gaara answered as his sand returned to him. "You are the last mortal I have to guard."

Last one he had to guard? What the hell did that mean? Was this guy loose up top? Not only did he think he was a One, but he believed he had to protect her from danger?

"No thanks. I can handle myself."

"That does not seem true based on yesterday."

Her brows furrowed in annoyance as she stood to face the sand user. "How about you watch what you say because you don't know what kind of ninja I am. You saw me in a bind. I'm not some weakling that needs you to keep saving her. I have teammates to watch my back most of the time I do not need your services."

"I did not ask you if you required my help," Gaara retorted. "You will receive it. Do I make myself clear?"

This asshole! Sakura's temper got the better of her and she marched over and poked him in the chest, ignoring that he was taller than she thought. "Get over yourself! I don't want you following me! When I get my strength back and if you're still following me, I will kick your a-"

Sand streaked in her direction. Sakura dodged and ended up in the river, panting and glaring at her attacker who was claiming to be her protector.

"Do not test me," Gaara whispered in the most menacing voice she had ever heard. "I will kill you if you continue to cross me, mortal."

With that, he disappeared in a whirl of sand. Sakura got to her feet and stomped to her unconscious prisoner. She wanted nothing to do with him! Sakura would kick his *** if he continued to stalk her. She doubted he was a One. Sakura brushed Gaara from her mind, pulled out a scroll, and bit her finger, causing blood to drip from it. She did her hands signs and slammed her hand on the scroll.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A large puff of smoke emitted from the scroll and once it cleared, there stood an adorable little tan kitten. It licked its paw and scrubbed it over its head before letting out a soft meow.

"Why are you in that form Makoto?" Sakura asked in annoyance. "You can't fight like that."

"True," came his smooth voice as he moved towards her, "but I'm just so adorable, I may thwart your enemies with my cuteness."

"You are so cocky."

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