(Asuma Team's POV)
Choji and Ino ran wearily through the night sky, Sakura already unconscious on Choji's back. All three were injured and exhausted, but Ino and Choji didn't dare stop, they knew they were being pursued.
//-//
(Hours earlier)
As soon as Sakura advanced, Akatsuchi opened his mouth and a large amount of earth poured out of it. In an instant, a large golem over 5 meters tall was formed, roaring as it punched Sakura from the front.
But at that moment, Choji appeared. - Don't forget about me! Partial Expansion Jutsu! - As soon as he shouted, his arm became as big as the Golem's, their punches canceled each other out.
On the other side, Kurotsuchi quickly sealed, her cheek expanding as she spat several balls of lime towards Sakura. The Jonin on the other side also slammed his hands on the ground and created a big wall right behind Sakura, preventing her escape.
-Sakura! Be careful!- Ino yelled as she quickly threw kunai at them.
Sakura didn't despair, she quickly jumped back, using chakra to cling to the wall, but Kurotsuchi didn't stop and continued to shoot lava release at her. Sakura continued to climb the large stone wall, getting out of range of the attack.
Up above, the Jonin appeared right where Sakura was about to lean on, he emerged from the ground smiling, his hand rose as earth merged with it, creating a large stone fist, he jumped and charged at Sakura.
Sakura wasn't afraid at all, she punched directly against the large stone fist. - Shannaro!
The winner of the fight was not the robust man from Iwa, but the frail Sakura.
-Damn it!- the jonin yelled in pain, feeling his fist nearly breaking. Sakura smiled and lunged forward again, ready to take this guy down.
But as soon as she punched him, she punched only dirt, from beginning to end it was a earth clone!
When she was shocked, Kurotsuchi appeared out of nowhere, shooting lime at Sakura, but as soon as lime hit her, Sakura had disappeared and in her place was a tree trunk.
Before the astonished eyes of the pair, Sakura emerged from the ground right behind Kurotsuchi, gripping her firmly with a kunai pointed at her throat.
Kurotsuchi froze, surprised that Sakura had used Earth Style against them! And the worst part was that they fell!
Sakura restrained Kurotsuchi and smiled, whether it was the Jonin from Iwa or Akatsuchi fighting Choji, both were surprised.
-That's it, Sakura!- Ino smiled, she had been waiting for this moment, pointing her hands directly at Kurotsuchi.
The Jonin and Akatsuchi's eyes widened. -That's not good! It's a Yamanaka!- He shouted.
-Damn it!- Akatsuchi yelled, trying to break free from Choji, but Choji laughed and lunged forward, both his arms growing gigantic, one holding the earth golem and the other advancing towards Akatsuchi.
Kurotsuchi tried to dodge, but felt the blade directly against her jugular, she could only become furious, and the next moment, her head tilted back, Ino had entered.
Sakura noticed immediately and released Kurotsuchi, advancing towards the Jonin.
That's because the man was clever and moved towards Ino's unprotected body!
He wanted to exchange one hostage for another! So he jumped straight from the earthen wall, ready to attack Ino.
Sakura couldn't allow that, meanwhile, Ino had already searched Kurotsuchi's body and found the Tag!
-Choji! Catch! - She laughed and threw the tag to Choji.
Choji had been waiting for this moment, he ignored Akatsuchi and quickly advanced, catching the Tag in mid-air as Ino threw herself from the Earth wall. Unfortunately, she didn't have time to wait until she was almost falling to cancel her jutsu, the man from Iwa was almost inside her body! So she canceled her jutsu directly, returning to her own body.
Just in time to dodge a pair of kunai thrown by the man, she rolled to the side and took a deep breath, but at that moment, the Jonin from Iwa's eyes gleamed, he turned and charged towards Sakura who was chasing him.
Sakura was surprised to see him return, but it was too late to use any jutsu, the man raised his fist, already covered in dirt, and punched Sakura directly in the chest.
Sakura screamed in pain as she felt some of her ribs break!
-Sakura! - Ino shouted, full of concern.
Choji had already let go of Akatsuchi and was right behind Sakura. He managed to catch Sakura in mid-air, who was biting her lips to avoid screaming, but she had already started her own treatment. She even had a punctured lung and she could only rely on Choji while she focused on healing herself.
-Choji! Let's go!- Ino shouted and ran off with Choji.
Akatsuchi and the Jonin wanted to pursue, but Kurotsuchi had twisted her ankle during the fall, she was limping as she tried to move forward, her face filled with fury. -Damn it, I'm going to kill those Konoha idiots!
She took too long to regain control of her own body and fell awkwardly.
-Kurotsuchi! Calm down, if you continue like this it will be even harder to heal!- Akatsuchi quickly stopped the girl and grabbed her from behind, preventing her from advancing.
-Let me go, Akatsuchi! I'm going to kill that wretched woman!- Kurotsuchi writhed in anger.
The jonin sighed and approached, he had some medical experience. -Kurotsuchi-sama, we need to treat this first. Don't worry, I left a magnetic mark on that pink-haired girl's body. We'll pursue them after you recover.
Kurotsuchi looked furious, breathing heavily, but finally sighed, she had to calm down. -Damn it! Then do it quickly!
Akatsuchi shook his head, exasperated but used to Kurotsuchi, then let her go.
//-//
-Choji.- Ino said. -Let's stop, I need to check if Sakura is really okay or if she has any internal bleeding.
Choji nodded and the pair stopped. Choji looked tired, but he didn't mind much. Eating a food pill, he felt much better afterward.
Ino also ate one, she bent down and her hands began to emit green energy, ready to see how Sakura was doing, her lips pursed, most of it was healed, but her chakra was exhausted, Ino sighed and began to treat what was left.
They had obtained the Tag, but at what cost?