42 Chapter 42 Sudden Reversal!

Kakashi stared at Baki's unconscious body before he turned to look in the direction of Sakura and Lee. I hope those two are alright, Kakashi thought to himself. Suddenly Kakashi's eyes widened as he glanced down at his stomach and saw an invisible blade coated in his blood sticking out of his gut. Then he glanced over behind him and saw Baki.

"You aren't the only one that's got a few tricks up their sleeve." Baki replied.

Kakashi coughed out blood that soaked his mask as he pushed Baki away and jumped away, holding his gut. He hid behind a large rock out of Baki's sight as he groaned in pain. Damn, I let my guard down because I thought it was over! Kakashi berated himself, things aren't looking good for me now, I hope that isn't the case for the others.

...

...

...

Sasuke rushed toward Naruto once again and the two of them clashed, Naruto blocked each of Sasuke's attacks, and throwing in a few counters. Sasuke kicked at Naruto's side which Naruto responded to by grabbing his leg and grabbing Sasuke's neck and kneeing him in his gut. Sasuke gasped for air as it got knocked out of him by Naruto's blow. Then Naruto spun and did a reverse round house, kicking Sasuke away.

Rolling across the ground, Sasuke slowly came to a stop and slowly pushed himself up in agony. Naruto watched and frowned.

"Sasuke, you can't beat me. Let's stop this!" Naruto said.

"No, I must defeat you!" Sasuke gasped out before throwing himself at Naruto once again.

Naruto then took a stance as he waited for Sasuke to get close. Sasuke rushed forward and brought his hand back and threw it at Naruto. Naruto deflected Sasuke's punch, making his stomach wide open, Naruto then threw punch after punch straight into Sasuke's gut, lifting him up into the air with each hit. Then he jumped up and kicked Sasuke again. While flying away, Sasuke brought his hands together and started weaving hand seals.

Snake → Dragon → Rabbit → Tiger

<Fire Release: Dragon Fire Jutsu>

Sasuke spewed out a jet of flames straight at Naruto, burning everything in its path. Naruto jumped out of the way and created a clone. Time to end this once and for all, Naruto thought to himself. He then sat down and closed his eyes after sending his clone to face Sasuke. Seeing this, Sasuke gnashed his teeth together in anger, is he looking down on me? He thought, seeing Naruto sitting down and closing his eyes while he sent his clone to face him. Am I that worthless in his eyes? Sasuke wondered.

Clone Naruto threw a punch at Sasuke's face, Sasuke grabbed hold of clone Naruto's wrist then spun and he thrust his kunai into clone Naruto's gut, forcing it to dispel. Then he faced the Naruto that was still sitting down on the ground.

"NARUTO!!" Sasuke shouted as he rushed toward him.

Naruto opened his eyes and the sage markings appeared around them while revealing the toad slits within his pupils. He then looked up and saw Sasuke right above him. He leaned back and landed on his hands and pushed himself up into the air where he flipped and landed on his feet. Sasuke had then landed onto the ground where Naruto had once been standing.

"Fight me! Narutoooo!!" Sasuke yelled as he rushed toward Naruto while weaving hand seals once again.

Ox → Rabbit → Monkey → Dragon → Rat → Bird → Ox → Snake → Dog → Tiger → Monkey

"Chidori!!" Sasuke shouted as he continued rushing forward while holding his hand close to the ground, tearing the soil up as he made his way toward Naruto.

Naruto stared at Sasuke as he started rushing toward Sasuke as well.

...

...

...

Gaara continued standing in his original spot as Lee kept running around him trying to get close but with no luck as Gaara's sand kept getting in the way. Sakura also couldn't seem to make any progress as every thing she threw at Gaara was blocked or deflected by his sand as well, even when he wasn't looking at her.

Does he have eyes on the back of his head? Sakura wondered as despite Lee's attempts of distracting Gaara, the sand still continued to defend his blind spots.

We're not making any progress here, maybe if I get closer, we might be able to turn the tables here. I hope Kakashi-sensei and the others are alright, Sakura thought as she started rushing toward Gaara.

"Eh?! Sakura! What are you doing?!" Lee shouted as he noticed Sakura rushing toward Gaara.

"Creating an opening!" Sakura shouted as she continued running.

"I'm growing tired of this charade. It's time to end this now." Gaara suddenly said, and he turned to face Sakura.

"Eh?" Sakura stared at Gaara as he raised his hand.

Oh no! Lee thought as he started running toward Sakura as well.

The sand rushed toward Sakura at a higher speed than before, quickly engulfing her within it.

"Die." Gaara said as he clenched his fist tightly.

Suddenly, a large explosion was heard behind Gaara just as the sand imploded on itself, crushing everything within it. However, Gaara frowned as he realized that there was no one within the sand.

"What's going on?" Gaara said aloud as he wondered what had happened.

"Made it!" Lee said in relief.

Hearing Lee's voice, Gaara looked over and saw Lee carrying Sakura. He looked over at the area he heard the explosion from and within the crater he noticed what appeared to be two weights. What are those? Gaara thought to himself as he looked back toward Lee.

"Eh?" Sakura uttered in confusion; she had thought she was about to be crushed by the sand when suddenly she realized she was being held by Lee.

"Don't worry Sakura, I'm going to take this seriously now!" Lee said as he lowered Sakura to the ground.

"I recognize that you are a strong opponent and therefore, I must fight you with all of my ability in order to defeat you." Lee said as he crouched down and took off straight toward Gaara.

"Eh?" Sakura said as she watched Lee suddenly disappear and then reappear right in front of Gaara.

Gaara stared at Lee in shock before he received a punch to the face from Lee. What speed! Sakura thought to herself as she saw that the sand couldn't keep up with Lee's new speed.

Lee disappeared from view once again just as Gaara tried using the sand to attack Lee. Then Lee appeared behind Gaara and launched him into the air. Cracks began forming on Gaara's skin as Lee continued raining blows onto his body.

"Eh? What's happening to him?" Sakura uttered as she saw the cracks grow larger over time.

Then her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. He must have encased himself in a shell made of sand to act as armor, that's why cracks are forming all over his body, because Lee's attacks are slowly breaking apart his defense! Sakura thought.

Gaara then glanced over at Sakura and lifted his hand up. Sand then formed and started rushing toward Sakura.

Seeing this, Lee knew what was happening and changed directions. Jumping in front of Sakura in order to block the sand that was flying at her.

Gaara landed onto the ground and slowly stood up as he stared at Lee, who's arms were now covered in cuts and bruises from directly blocking his sand in order to protect Sakura.

"You're weak! Because of her, you've injured yourself!" Gaara said.

Sakura stared at Lee's arms covered in injuries that hung by his side now. She began feeling that this was all her fault, if only she hadn't been here, Lee wouldn't have gotten injured like this.

"You're wrong!" Lee said. Snapping Sakura out of her thoughts.

"Protecting others is not being weak. It's a sign of strength!" Lee retorted.

Gaara frowned as he moved his hands again, directing the sand to attack Sakura once again.

Lee moved again and blocked the sand's attacks each time, further increasing his injuries.

"Why?! Why do you continue protecting her!" Gaara asked.

Lee gasped as he took in a breath of air. He gazed at Gaara before he replied. "Because she is someone precious to me!"

Sakura stared at Lee with a conflicted expression on her face. She remembered the first time she met Lee, and all of her interactions with him since.

"Lee..." Sakura said as she stared at his back.

Lee looked back at Sakura and smiled while holding up his hand in a thumbs up. "Don't worry Sakura!"

Suddenly, Gaara held his head as he began groaning in pain. Causing the two of them to look over at him. What's happening? Sakura wondered, as she felt something ominous coming from Gaara's body.

...

...

...

Kakashi was breathing hard as he dressed his wound as best he could while maintaining his vigilance toward Baki.

He glanced over the rock toward Baki's direction, then quickly ducked his head as an invisible blade of wind cut into the boulder where he had glanced out from.

"Is this the best you can do? Kakashi!" Baki called out.

Kakashi groaned as his sudden movement caused his wound to bleed more. Just great, because of my carelessness, I'm at a disadvantage in this fight. But I can't let him leave, he's too much for Sakura and Lee to handle. Think, what's his weakness? Kakashi wondered as he thought back to their earlier exchanges in their battle. But whatever I do, it has to be quick, I'm losing blood just sitting here, Kakashi thought as he glanced down toward his wound. But how'd he escape my lightning clone? Kakashi wondered.

He uses wind nature, which is the natural counter to my lightning, so it had to have been something involving that. That's the only way he could have avoided taking damage from the clone, or at the very least minimizing the damage he'd take from getting hit. Then, Kakashi widened his eyes as he thought of something. Maybe, but only one way to find out, Kakashi thought.

Just as Baki was getting impatient from waiting for Kakashi to come out from hiding behind the boulder he suddenly sensed an ominous chakra coming from Gaara's direction. Oh no! He thought as he turned to face that direction.

Kakashi, had also sensed it but quickly noticed Baki's sudden change in demeanor and quickly acted.

<Earth Release: Hidden Mole Jutsu>

Kakashi quickly went underground and made his way toward Baki, while he was distracted.

<Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu>

Kakashi grabbed Baki's ankle and quickly pulled him underground, leaving only his head above ground. Kakashi then came up and looked at Baki.

"Looks like I win this time." Kakashi said as his body began changing into lightning and electrocuted Baki.

Kakashi stared from behind the boulder, watching everything.

Once it was all over, he waited for Baki to move, but noticed that Baki was unconscious this time. He sighed in relief as he leaned back against the boulder and then stared in the direction of the ominous chakra.

Well, because of that, I was able to finish my fight, but I hope Sakura and Lee are alright. Kakashi thought as he focused on mending his wound as quickly as possible. Then he thought about Naruto and Sasuke, I hope those two are alright as well, Kakashi thought.