Power of Friendship

Sasori's fight

Sakura did not think she would ever accomplish so much in her life. She was a civilian who started going to the academy to find her one true love. And she found him.

The young Uchiha boy named Sasuke.

She was so focused on him that all her classmates started going ahead in strength. At first, she didn't care, but it was only after Sasuke left for Orochimaru did she realize how weak she truly was.

It was in this time of need that Sasaki-san, a sensei from Ino's team, came to her and woke her up from the foolish dream she had all the time.

He showed her the truth behind the Shinobi world. That if you don't work for it, everything around you will crumble to dust. She didn't want that to happen, and so she asked for help.

Sasaki-san knew what to do with her. Seeing her amazing chakra control, he ordered her to study medical Ninjutsu. At first, she was reluctant, but now she could say that it was the best decision she could make.

Her training paid off when Sasaki-san introduced her to Tsunade-sama together with Ino. It was thanks to Sasaki-san her friendship with Ino flamed up and they both became friends.

Sakura didn't know what her life would have been if not for Sasaki-sensei.

Sakura POV

I was never so happy when I was with Sasuke. It was like a new world opened up and I took the chance to see it. There came the day when Sasaki-san asked Tsunade-sama if one of her students could become a Slug Sage.

In response, Tsunade-sama summoned the slug Katsuyu, and she explained to us that to become her Sage a few conditions had to be fulfilled.

For there to be two people had to compete against each other. We thought that since Tsunade-sama was always alone, she couldn't fulfill the condition.

Both Ino and I were determined to become one and agreed to do the test. If only we knew what the second condition was, we would have never agreed.

Once two candidates were selected both of us would be sent into Katsuyu's summoning realm and covered in nature energy infused slime cocoons.

Both of us had to fight off the corrosive effect of the cocoon, and the first one to emerge would be trained to be the next Slug Sage.

Once I was surrounded by the cocoon, I could feel a weird energy invading my body and I used my chakra to push it out. I don't know how long it took, but I emerged out of the cocoon and saw Ino still inside her cocoon. I was beyond happy to be the first one to emerge.

I won and would be the next Slug Sage.

"Congratulations, Sakura," I saw Ishizu sitting on the ground facing me with a small smile on his face.

"So when will Ino emerge?" I asked wanting to show off.

Ishizu's smile fell, and I could see grief on his face.

"Only one can emerge out of the cocoon, Sakura. One is strong enough to break through while the other one will be turned to stone."

"What?!!" I screamed as I fell to the ground. My strength leaving my body.

"Sometimes you have to give things up to gain something else. Ino's funeral will be held tomorrow. The last thing you could do is destroy the cocoon and give Ino a sweet death," Ishizu explained, making Sakura freeze in fright.

"No! I won't accept this. I didn't want to lose my best friend to become some Sage," I shouted in rage.

"So you would refuse to become the next Slug Sage so your friend can live?" asked Ishizu with a raised eyebrow.

General POV

"I refuse/I refuse," both Sakura and Ino screamed at Ishizu before hearing each other's voice.

They snapped their heads in each other's direction to see the other girl standing a few meters away. Both immediately jumped at each other and engulfed the other one in a tight hug.

"I thought I had to kill you," tears ran down Sakura's eyes. Ino, too, was happy Sakura was alive. Neither of them wanted the other one to die for strength.

Power could be gained otherwise without a sacrifice.

"So, how do you think, Katsuyu? Neither of them would sacrifice the other to obtain power," Ishizu asked the slug.

"They both passed. It will take time before they will be able to use the full power of a Slug Sage," the summon answered.

Sakura POV

And it was true what Katsuyu said. Even since that time we haven't even picked up that much. On the contrary, we only started to tap into nature energy as we also had to study with Tsunade, but some perks were starting to show.

One such helped me against Sasori.

Being in the closed environment of nature energy in Katsuyu's realm granted the complete immunity of poisons. That was something that puzzled Sasori as his victims died by poison.

"How are you still standing? I know that you got hit by my poisons several times. You should be dead by now," Sasori spoke in annoyance. He hated to fight for so long.

I smirked, not giving him an answer as I attacked him with Chiyo, destroying his puppets one by one. Even after Sasori got out of his puppet and used his trump card, the 3rd Kazekage, he was still not a match against me.

General POV

Sakura used a feeble version of the Sage Mode to enchant her speed and rushed at Sasori. Her left hand punched the Kazekage puppet into oblivion and her right fist connected with Sasori's body sending the puppet flying through the air and crashing into the wall.

Sasori survived by transferring his heart to another puppet and went to kill Sakura, who was out of energy. Thanks to Chiyo's quick reactions, he was ultimately killed by his parents' puppets.

And so the first Akatsuki member, Sasori of the Red Sand, died being defeated by Sakura Haruno and his grandmother.

Ishizu POV

Kakashi and I were following Deidara. Since Kakashi needed time to activate his new ability, Kamui, I used Deidara as target practice with a few jutsus.

I didn't really care if the Mad Bomber died now or later. Losing only Sasori would be better since then only Obito had to fill space.

So I made it up to luck and fate. I just used a few long-range Ninjutsu attacks on the Akatsuki member. Some Fireball Jutsu and Wind Release techniques. Each one Deidara dodged without any problem.

"Are you ready, Kakashi?" I asked my partner.

He nodded, and I saw his Sharingan change into the Mangekyō.

"Kamui," Kakashi voiced out as he glanced at Deidara.

For a while, nothing happened, but with my Rinnegan, I could see the time and space continuum warping around Deidara's head.

Unfortunately, since it was Kakashi's first time using such a taxing technique, he could not aim well and only managed to take Deidara's arm instead of his head. I thought about going after the mad bomber but saw Kakashi's chakra exhaustion and decided to stay with him. Gai and his team would have their way with Deidara.

General POV

After a while, everything was over. Deidara, being an S-Rank Shinobi, was the only one who managed to flee from Gai and his team.

Naruto won his fight against the Wood Clone, and Sasori died 'happily' in his parents' arms.

Before his death, the puppeteer told Sakura about the place where he should meet with one of his subordinates to exchange information about Orochimaru, who would later be Kabuto.

With that ended the Kazekage rescue arc. Gaara was alive, and Chiyo did not have to sacrifice her life for the Kazekage. Naruto and Gaara exchanged a heart-warming reunion while Ishizu sat at the side and yawned.

Ishizu POV

And it was time to go back to Konoha. Since Kakashi used his new abilities, the famous rule applied. New abilities cost so much energy, leaving the user unable to do basic things for a while.

Hey, it applied to me when I used the Rinnegan.

I glanced over at Kakashi, who's shoulder was over Gai. Judging by the face Gai was making he was not happy with this situation.

'Oh, boy. It's going to happen,' I mentally sighed.

"Waaaaaah!" Kakashi's voice was heard when he was thrown in the air.

Ah yes, the famous piggyback carrying pose. It almost made me laugh.

The rest of the squad wasn't thrilled to see it. Rather, they were disgusted by it.

"Let's gooooooo!" Gai shouted, giving his speech about youth.

Aaaand the two Jonin were off.

Lee, seeing this as another form of youth training, was ready to follow. He was quickly being shut down by Neji.

Back in Konoha, Kakashi was placed in the hospital and Sakura informed Tsunade about the meeting Sasori should have with his spy in 10 days. Unfortunately, Tsunade wasn't the only one in the room.

2 useless advisers, Homura and Kohaku together with 'I love Izanagi' Danzo were present as well.

Hearing that there was a chance to bring Sasuke back, Danzo was quick to ask Sai to help retrieve Sasuke. Danzo had a good argument. Since Ishizu took Naruto with another team Danzo placed Sai on Team 7.

Ink boy was so unnoticed that even the author forgot about him for a while.

"Who would you recommend going on the missions, Ishizu?" Tsunade asked the man when the others left.

"Since Danzo wants one of his to be on the mission, then so be it. They can keep an eye on him. Since Sasuke was from Team 7, then let Sakura come with him. The same goes for Naruto. They were friends."

A fight with Orochimaru would happen. Better to have a Jinchūriki with them.

"We are talking about Orochimaru. We can't let Naruto go without protection. Would you offer yourselves?"

"I am done, for now, Hokage-sama, but I have someone in mind that could protect Naruto not only from Orochimaru but also from himself should the Kyuubi break out."

Saying that he was done was a complete lie. Since Ishizu came back from training, he was itching for a fight to just stomp someone. His clone had a small fight with Naruto, but this wasn't him, and he did not fight against Deidara.

The time was also near to rescue Yugito from Hidan and Kakuzu. Their last encounter was rather boring, so maybe he could team up with Yugito and go all out and maybe kill his first Akatsuki pair.

But first was the beloved Tenchi Bridge, where Kabuto should meet with Sasori. Since Ishizu gave Yamato the position he could go outside with his Yamamoto personally to take the fame and assist in a special event that would happen.

Ishizu has deemed the time right for Sasuke to leave Orochimaru and to kill him at the exact same moment. He didn't need more people who could use the Edo Tensei.

Orochimaru has done enough things to give him a death sentence. Ishizu remembered watching Boruto and shaking his head after seeing Orochimaru alive. There would be no forgiveness this time.

The snake was going to die.