The room Sarah entered in Amegakure was small but cozy, with soft, muted lighting filtering in from the rain-soaked streets outside. The wooden floor creaked under her feet as she stepped in, setting down her pack on the simple bed pushed against the wall. The bed was neatly made, with a gray blanket folded at the foot. A bathroom door stood slightly ajar to her right, revealing a modest but functional space with a clean sink, a small shower, and a mirror.

On her way to the room, she'd noticed a shared kitchenette down the hall, and the thought lingered in her mind. 'Will I really have to cook and eat with the others?'

The idea of sitting at a table with people like Pain or Kisame made her stomach churn, though she supposed it might be inevitable. For now, she pushed the thought aside.

Sarah sighed as she glanced down at her clothes: her purple qipao was torn at the hem and her tan pants were caked with mud and frayed from her earlier fight. She brushed her fingers over the fabric, grimacing.

"This won't do," she muttered. Digging through her pack, she found a modest stash of ryo she'd brought with her before leaving Konoha.

"Time to make myself a little less... recognizable," she said to herself, tucking the ryo into a pouch at her hip before heading out into the village.

Walking through Amegakure was unlike anything Sarah had experienced. The village was shrouded in a perpetual drizzle, the streets glistening under the dim light of the rain-heavy sky. Towering metal spires loomed overhead, connected by bridges and pipes that crisscrossed like veins in a living organism. The air was heavy with the scent of rain-soaked metal and damp concrete. Despite the gloom, the village bustled with activity. Vendors called out from stalls lining the streets, offering everything from weapons to steaming bowls of ramen.

Sarah kept her head down, her lavender hair tucked beneath a makeshift hood. Her eyes scanned the shops until one caught her attention: a quaint boutique tucked between two towering buildings. Its wooden sign was weathered, but the display in the window showed promise—simple, durable clothing, much of it in black. She stepped inside, greeted by the faint scent of cedar.

Inside, the shop was dimly lit, with racks of clothing arranged in neat rows. Sarah moved through them, her fingers brushing against the fabric. Most of it was utilitarian: loose-fitting shirts, reinforced pants, and sturdy cloaks. Her gaze settled on a particular outfit—a black ensemble with a loose-fitting top and adaptable pants, clearly designed with mobility in mind. It was perfect for her fighting style.

A smirk tugged at her lips as she pulled the pieces off the rack. She could already imagine the ease with which she could move in them. At the counter, the shopkeeper—a wiry older man with keen eyes—quoted her a hefty price. Sarah didn't flinch, counting out the ryo before handing it over.

"Thanks," she said simply, tucking the outfit into her pack before heading back into the rain.

As she continued her shopping trip, Sarah passed by a small stall displaying an array of trinkets and jewelry. Her attention was drawn to a delicate chain hanging from a display hook, its metallic strands shimmering faintly. The vendor caught her gaze.

"That's no ordinary chain," he said. "It's woven with threads of authentic Ōtsutsuki hair. It's durable and rare."

Sarah's eyebrows raised slightly. Ōtsutsuki? That was a name she didn't hear often. She inspected the chain, testing its strength between her fingers. It was surprisingly light yet sturdy.

"How much?" she asked.

The price was steep, but Sarah didn't hesitate. She handed over the ryo and pocketed the chain, a plan forming in her mind as she continued to restock on sealing materials and other essentials. Once her pouch was significantly lighter and her pack heavier, she made her way back to her room.

When Sarah returned, she froze in the doorway. Sitting neatly on the bed was an Akatsuki cloak, its red cloud symbols vivid against the black fabric. Folded atop it was a small, dark ring. She stepped closer, picking up the ring and examining it. It was simple but finely crafted, etched with an unfamiliar kanji.

Her stomach churned as she held the ring in her palm. She didn't want to wear it on her finger—if she did, it might break during a fight, or worse, hinder her movements. An idea struck her and she reached into her pocket, pulling out the Ōtsutsuki hair chain. Carefully, she threaded the ring onto the chain and fastened it around her neck like a necklace.

Walking over to the small mirror in the bathroom, Sarah stared at her reflection. The chain rested against her chest, the ring gleaming faintly under the light. Her lips curved into a small smile, the first she'd allowed herself since arriving in Amegakure. The necklace was a small compromise, but it was hers.

She turned away from the mirror and ran a hand over the Akatsuki cloak. As much as she hated the implications of wearing it, she knew she'd have to eventually. For now, she folded it neatly and placed it on the bed.

"One step at a time," she muttered, sitting down and letting the rain outside lull her into uneasy contemplation.

—————————————————————————

Sasuke was enraged as he threw the documents onto the floor. He couldn't believe what he had just read. He just couldn't.

'Lord Third, I request these people for Root. D.S. Note followed by a list of names. Clan names. Orphan names. There were multiple Aburame even Yamanaka listed. A few Uchiha also managed to make the cut long side rare Nara mention.'

'Request approved. Make sure a seal of silence is placed on them to prevent any leak of information. Regular training should be enforced right away. H.S.'

'Understood. Root will follow the usual pairing up method we agreed upon. In two-year training, each of the pair will have to try and kill the other. The one left will be officially recruited.'
...
'Request for experimentation approved. I will send over Orochimaru to work on your project. H.S.'

'Lord Third, looks like our project is getting more heat than we expected. We have to erase our involvement. D.S.'

'I will take care of Orochimaru. Make sure that the correct narrative is spread afterward. Orochimaru will take full responsibility. H.S.'
...
'Mission: Assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi
Assigned to: Hinoe, Hinoto, Kanoe, Kanoto, Kinoe, Kinoto, Mizunoe, Mizunoto, Tsuchinoe, Tsuchinoto.
Approved by: Danzo Shimura
Outcome: Failure
Goal: Root members to be disguised as a foreign group. Mission failed as Kakashi Hatake informed the Third Hokage of the mission and took the Third's place and lured out the assailants.'
...
'Mission: Retrieve Kakashi Hatake's Sharingan
Assigned to: Kinoe and Kinoto
Approved by: Danzo Shimura
Outcome: Failure
Goal: Collect a replacement sharingan to Shisui Uchiha's right eye that is rejecting the transplantation. Kakashi Hatake's disappearance will not attract much attention, considering his bad reputation and not being a member of the Uchiha. Mission failed due to agent Kinoe.'
...
'Mission: Uchiha Clan Alienation
Assigned to: Multiple
Approved by: Danzo Shimura
Outcome: Success
Goal: Uchiha clan suspected to be behind Kyuubi attack. They are a threat to Konoha. Clan has to be moved to the farthest compound and watched at all times.'
...
'Mission: Intercept Coup d'État
Assigned to: Itachi Uchiha
Approved by: Konoha Council
Outcome: Success
Goal: Uchiha clan has to be eliminated to prevent their Coup d'État. Itachi Uchiha successfully eliminated all clan members. As agreed, it was allowed to let Sasuke Uchiha live in return. Itachi will take full responsibility for the act.'
...
'Lord Third, Uchiha eyes retrieval was a success. Root intercepted Uchiha bodies before they were found out. I expect to implant the eyes in the next seven months. From my experience adjusting to Shisui Uchiha eye, it takes time to fully take control of Sharingan. D.S.'
'Keep me updated on your progress. With fully evolved sharingan we will be able to take full control of the fox. H.S.'

Konoha made his brother kill their whole clan. Itachi didn't have much of a say in it; they blackmailed him into doing the dirty work and taking the blame for it. Not only that though but one of the councilmen, Danzo Shimura, has sharingan eyes implanted in his body. His family's dojutsu!

Sasuke vomited.

Kakashi picked the discarded documents up off the floor and read over it. His whole body tensed. Some of the information there was painfully familiar. The fact that information concerning him was true, would mean that other information was true as well... Meaning... Itachi was innocent all along. He wanted to exhale, but the breath was caught in his chest.

How could this be true? How could... the Hokage allow this? Even encourage these horrid acts? A crackling of chakra brought Kakashi back to reality from his thoughts. He looked up feeling his heart drop... Sasuke.

Sasuke pierced a nearby wall with his Chidori. He was livid. He wanted to make the Third Hokage and Danzo pay.

In order to do that he's going to need to get stronger and seek out Itachi. Fuck this village and the Hokage! He refuses to be a puppet in their little game any longer.

"Sasuke you can't leave the village just yet." Kakashi warned him.

"What are you going to do, stop me?" Sasuke snarled.

"Unfortunately if you leave now then Danzo could easily track you down and take your eyes. Not only that though but you'll be considered a missing-nin. I doubt you want to disappoint Tsunade after she spent all that time training you," Kakashi said in an attempt to reason with Sasuke.

Sasuke scoffed, "I can't trust anyone in this village anymore! First Itachi and now the whole council! When can I catch a fucking break?"

"Sarah defected from Konoha last night." Kakashi looked his student in the eyes.

Sasuke's eyes widened as he stumbled backwards at the sudden news, "No..."

"The ANBU raided her apartment this morning and found all of her belongings gone with the exception of a marked-out hitai-ate. The Hokage believes that she was the one who leaked the documents," Kakashi informed him.

"Sarah.." He'll admit that the two haven't been on talking terms. He didn't want Sarah to go on ANBU missions. It was already bad enough that she died once, but to die again in the middle of nowhere without any protection frightened him.

Sasuke always had trouble processing his emotions. Growing up he was always taught to contain them, not let the enemy know, be the perfect son his father wanted to be. It got worse the night he discovered his whole clan was massacred, glowing red eyes lulling him to sleep.

The nightmares still kept him up at night...

He could only imagine the horrors his teammate had been subjected to; having to know all of the villages dirty secrets and being forced to keep it in until she snapped. Kakashi could understand the feeling, having been an ANBU agent himself who had worked alongside the Hokage and Danzo personally. It was a wonder how his former student kept it together all this time.

"We got to go after her! Sensei she won't survive out there alone!" Sasuke exclaimed.

"Unfortunately I don't think it's going to be easy," Kakashi responded.

"I'll do anything to bring her back home. She's my fucking friend...even if we've been distant for a while now I still care about her." Sasuke declared. He could feel his Sharingan flaring up.

Kakashi looked at him with a shocked expression on his face, "Mangekyou... When did he—"

"Please help me, Sensei!" Sasuke begged with tears falling down his cheeks, "Please help me bring her back home!"

"Alright..but first we're going to spend the next year training. I doubt Sarah's going to come back willingly so we're going to need to prepare for an upcoming fight." Kakashi explained, significantly relieved that he managed to at least prevent another one of his students from defecting.

"Alright." Sasuke nodded, silently promising not only to himself but to Kakashi and Naruto as well that he'll bring Sarah back to the village...
No matter what it takes.

—————————————————————————

Naruto's hands shook as he re-read the documents. He couldn't believe this; people were suffering underneath his nose and the Hokage - the man he belovedly called 'gramps' - allowed this to happen. This Danzo guy was the reason behind everything; the villagers hating and treating him like trash, the torture and abuse of children, hell even the Uchiha Massacre!

He was pissed. He wanted to go find this old coot and give him a piece of his mind - hell maybe he'll release the Nine-Tails just to add more fuel to the fire.

No, he must remain calm. He couldn't let this get underneath his skin. If he was going to become Hokage then he'll have to learn to look past such...brutal facts and focus on the bigger picture at hand.

Even if what he just read made him sick to his stomach....

Did he even want to become Hokage anymore?Was staying loyal to the village even worth it?

Naruto shook his head. No, he must stay focused. Getting stronger is his top priority right now. How can he protect his friends if he has to constantly rely on the nine-tails for its power?

.
.
.

Drip. Drip.

Sasuke and Naruto looked over in shock. Sarah shielded him from the attack, taking Kimimaros blade to her heart. She used the jacket as a substitution for her jutsu...but where did she even learn such a skill?

"I told you...I had a plan in mind," Sarah said as Kimimaro let go of the blade in her chest. Her body collapsed onto the floor, her breathing stopped.

"Sarah-chan!" Naruto shouted as he knelt down onto the ground and held Sarah's body in his arms, "Wake up! Come on! This isn't some damn joke!"

She still laid there, unmoving. Tears fell down Naruto's eyes as he held her body up close to his chest. Sasuke stood up from the container, his whole body shaking. His once unstoppable teammate had laid there on the ground in front of him, deceased. Someone who he thought of as a friend, an ally, a sister...

.
.
.
Naruto refused to let another person die on him again.

"Yosh! Let's get back to training!" Naruto exclaimed as he summoned multiple shadow clones.

—————————————————————————

Tsunade slammed her hands down on the table. She was beyond angry; she was livid. A prominent ninja had just defected from the village, someone who is second only to herself in medical ninjutsu.

Sarah. Sarah. Sarah.

She was the root cause behind all the chaos going on inside the village. She leaked concealed documents and aired out both the Third Hokage and the councils dirty little secrets. While Tsunade is grateful that she did that, it had only created more problems for her to deal with.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the council were arrested for their crimes. Danzo had fled the village alongside his ROOT soldiers, their whereabouts currently unknown.

Now she had to deal with the aftermath. People were questioning her leadership, shinobis were resigning and leaving the village, there was now an uproar for her to be demoted and for someone else to take up the hat. Tsunade sighed as she looked at the never ending piles of documents. If she didn't get this situation handled now then the village will crumble. Her first step to cleaning this mess up; putting a bounty on Sarah's head.

...
Sarah
Rank: S-Class
Affiliation: N/A
Wanted for treason
Bring back dead or alive
Bounty: 30,034,419.445 ryo
...
—————————————————————————

Sarah adjusted her new outfit as she approached the shared dining area. She had expected silence, maybe a few stares, but instead, the room was alive with bickering and chatter.
At one end of the table, a man wearing a mask over half his face—Kakuzu, she remembered from a bingo book entry—was arguing heatedly with a pale-skinned man wielding a massive three-bladed scythe. The latter, Hidan, was gesticulating wildly with one hand while shoving a chunk of bread into his mouth with the other.

"I told you, you brainless zealot," Kakuzu growled, slamming a hand down on the table. "We can't just waste funds on sacrifices! Do you know how expensive it is to replace your gear every time you go on a rampage?"

"Jashin doesn't care about your stupid money problems, old man!" Hidan shot back, crumbs flying everywhere. "A good sacrifice is priceless!"

Sarah's gaze slid to the corner where Itachi sat with his arms crossed, his dark eyes betraying no emotion as he ignored the commotion. Across the room, a red-haired man, Sasori, meticulously worked on a new puppet, his attention entirely absorbed by his craft. Beside him, a blonde-haired man—Deidara—was deep in conversation with Kisame, whose shark-like grin stretched wide.

Before Sarah could quietly find a corner to sit in, Deidara noticed her and waved enthusiastically.

"Oi, newbie!" he called out, his voice loud enough to cut through the noise. "Get over here!"

Her eye twitched, but she sighed and made her way over, sitting down reluctantly beside him. Deidara leaned back in his chair, giving her a once-over before grinning. "So, you're the big bad Konoha defector, yeah? What brings you to our little dysfunctional family?"

Before Sarah could answer, Kakuzu slammed a newspaper onto the table, the pages spread wide.

"This, I'd assume," he muttered, gesturing to the front page. Sarah's face was plastered across the headlines, accompanied by bold text detailing Konoha's dirty secrets—the very ones she'd leaked before fleeing.

Sarah tilted her head and stared at the paper, her expression unreadable.

"Huh," she said blandly. "They used my old photo from my Genin days. Interesting."

Deidara whistled, clearly impressed. "You did all that? Damn, newbie, you didn't just burn bridges—you set the whole village on fire, yeah!"

Kakuzu's eyes narrowed as he folded the paper back. "You must've really hated Konoha to pull something like this. Documents like these are worth a fortune on the black market."

Sarah nodded once.

"I had some... personal grudges to settle," she said evenly. Her tone left no room for prying.

From across the room, Sarah felt Itachi's gaze sharpen. She met his narrowed eyes with a glare of her own, silently daring him to say something. Instead, he returned to his stoic silence, though the tension between them lingered.

Deidara clapped her on the shoulder, ignoring the exchange. "Well, you've got guts, I'll give you that. Welcome to the Akatsuki, newbie."

Hidan leaned back in his chair, his scythe resting against the table. "Yeah, you're one of us now. Hope you've got a strong stomach."

Kisame chuckled, baring sharp teeth. "Looks like the boss actually listened to me for once. I told him you'd be a good fit and here you are. We'll have to spar sometime this week before I head out on another mission." He gave her an approving nod.

Sarah returned the nod. "Sounds good."

Breakfast wrapped up soon after, the members scattering to their own routines. As Sarah prepared to leave, Hidan caught her arm and pulled her aside.

"Hey, newbie," he said, his tone taking on a zealous fervor. "Ever think about finding religion? Jashin's the real deal, you know. Immortality, power—it's all yours if you're willing to devote yourself."

Sarah blinked at him, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm not really the religious type."

Hidan pouted, his enthusiasm undeterred. "Aw, come on! You'd make a great Jashinist. Think about it—rituals, blood sacrifices. It's fun!"

"I'll pass," Sarah said firmly, extracting her arm and stepping back. "But I appreciate the... enthusiasm."

Hidan sighed dramatically, muttering something about how people didn't know a good deal when they saw one. Sarah shook her head, walking briskly back to her room.

Once inside, she closed the door and leaned against it, exhaling deeply. The morning had been more eventful than she'd expected and she couldn't help but wonder what the rest of the day would bring.

—————————————————————————

Sarah's first few days in the Akatsuki confirmed what she had already begun to suspect: everyone here was, in some way or another, completely insane.

Deidara and Itachi's "Rivalry"

It started innocently enough. Sarah had wandered into the workshop Deidara had claimed as his own, curious to see what he was up to. She found him sitting cross-legged on the floor, his hands diligently crafting one of his clay sculptures. The blonde looked up with a grin when he noticed her.

"Hey, newbie, you're just in time. I'm gonna finally get Itachi to fight me today, yeah!"

Before Sarah could respond, Deidara marched down the hall to where Itachi sat, leaning against a wall in his usual meditative silence.

"Itachi! Let's duel!" Deidara barked, pointing dramatically at the Uchiha. "This time I'll prove my art is superior to your dumb little genjutsu tricks, yeah!"

Itachi didn't even open his eyes. "No."

"Come on!" Deidara pressed, practically vibrating with frustration. "You've gotta be scared, right? Scared of true art?"

Itachi shifted slightly, giving Deidara the barest glance. "No."

Deidara's grin faltered. His eye twitched. "Fine. Fine! You think you're too good for me, huh?"

With that, he stormed back to his workshop. A moment later, a deafening explosion shook the entire base. Sarah's jaw dropped as smoke poured out of the workshop, flames licking at the walls.

"Did he just... blow up his entire fucking workshop?" Sarah asked aloud, stunned.

"Not the first time," came Sasori's flat voice from behind her. The red-haired puppet master strolled into view, looking utterly unfazed. He glared at the smoldering wreckage and muttered, "One day I'll turn him into a puppet and be done with this nonsense."

Sarah glanced at him. "Could you actually do that?"

In response, Sasori pulled out a scroll, unfurled it, and summoned his prized puppet—the Third Kazekage. The puppet's menacing figure, its blades gleaming in the dim light, made Sarah's stomach tighten. She could practically feel the malevolence radiating off it.

"Right," Sarah muttered. "You probably could."

Hidan's Demonstration

Later, as she wandered the halls, Sarah ran into Hidan, who immediately lit up. "Hey, newbie! You're just in time. I'm gonna show you how the Jashin ritual works. You'll love it!"

Before Sarah could protest, Hidan dragged her into a dimly lit room where a terrified prisoner was bound and gagged. With practiced ease, Hidan carved Jashin's symbol into the floor and began the ritual. The sight of him stabbing himself and laughing maniacally as the prisoner screamed in agony was, admittedly, horrifying.

But Sarah didn't flinch. She crossed her arms, watching with a raised eyebrow. "Is that it? I've seen more disturbing shit in Kakashi's porn novels."

Hidan paused mid-stab, blinking at her. "What?"

"Yeah, no thanks. I'm not joining your cult." She waved him off. "Good luck with that, though."

Hidan sighed, genuinely disappointed. "Man, you would've made a great Jashinist."

On her way out, Sarah passed Kakuzu in a corner, counting stacks of ryo like a loan shark. His cloak was splattered with blood, and the menacing aura around him made her think twice about asking any questions. She simply nodded at him and kept walking.

As she moved through the base, she caught a glimpse of Zetsu disappearing into Pain's office. The sight of the strange half-black, half-white creature unsettled her and she made a mental note to ask Madara more about him later.

When Sarah finally returned to her room, she shut the door and leaned against it, exhaling deeply. The quiet was a relief—until she turned and saw Itachi standing silently in the corner, his face impassive but his dark eyes sharp with irritation.

"Itachi," she greeted cautiously. "Something on your mind?"

Wordlessly, he held out a newspaper, the headline glaring at her: Uchiha Massacre Exposed: Konoha's Darkest Secrets Revealed. The article detailed not only the massacre but the real reason behind it—the elders' plot and Itachi's role as the scapegoat.

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "What's the problem?"

Itachi's composure cracked.

"You ruined my plan," he said, his voice low but heated. "Everything I did—to protect Sasuke, to ensure his hatred was focused on me—it's all undone because of your carelessness."

Sarah crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Carelessness? Your plan was flawed from the start."

Itachi's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"

"Think about it," Sarah said, her tone matter-of-fact. "You pinned everything on Sasuke staying angry at you, but now that the truth is out he's going to shift his hatred onto the people who orchestrated it—like Danzo."

Itachi's jaw tightened, his frustration palpable. "You had no right—"

He moved faster than she expected, his hand shooting toward her throat. But Sarah reacted instinctively, ducking out of the way. Itachi's hand slammed into the wall instead, and the sound of bones shattering echoed in the small room. He pulled back, his hand limp.

"That must've hurt," Sarah remarked, her voice calm despite the tension.

Itachi's expression didn't betray the pain, but his silence spoke volumes. Sarah stepped closer. "Hold still. I'll fix it."

He watched her warily but allowed her to take his hand. As she channeled her mana to heal the broken bones, she continued. "Look, Danzo's out of the village now. He's a pariah just like the rest of us. If Sasuke turns his hatred on him it could work in our favor. Taking out Danzo is a step toward destabilizing Konoha further."

Itachi listened, his piercing gaze studying her face. "You believe this will benefit the Akatsuki?"

"I think it's worth considering," Sarah replied.
"You've already lost control of your original plan. Why not adapt?"

When she finished healing his hand, Itachi flexed his fingers experimentally.

"You make a compelling argument," he admitted.

"Glad to hear it," Sarah said, stepping back. "Try not to break your hand next time."

Itachi nodded, his expression unreadable. "Thank you."

Without another word, he turned and exited the room, leaving Sarah alone with her thoughts. She sat down on her bed, exhaling deeply. This place was a madhouse, but she was starting to understand the dynamics—and perhaps how to survive within them.

—————————————————————————

The day had finally arrived. Sarah adjusted the giant storage scroll on her back as she made her way to the training arena. Her footsteps echoed through the hallways, each one steady and purposeful. She'd agreed to Kisame's challenge for a spar, and judging by the buzz in the base, the rest of the Akatsuki was eager to see the two of them in action.

When she entered the arena, Kisame was already waiting on the opposite side, his towering form impossible to miss. Samehada, his massive, bandaged sword, rested against his shoulder. He grinned at her, his shark-like teeth flashing under the dim arena lights.

"About time," Kisame called, his voice booming. "I was starting to think you were scared of me."

Sarah smirked, unstrapping her scroll and setting it on the ground. "Scared? No. Patient? Yes."

Above them, the rest of the Akatsuki had gathered in the stands. Hidan was practically bouncing in his seat, while Deidara was loudly placing bets with Kakuzu. Sasori, always composed, simply watched with an unreadable expression, and Itachi sat with his arms crossed, his gaze sharp and analytical.

Kisame and Sarah stepped forward and faced each other in the center of the arena. Together, they raised their hands for the seal of confrontation, their eyes locking in mutual respect. Then, without a word, they moved apart and prepared for battle.

Kisame made the first move, charging forward with Samehada raised high. The massive blade came down in a deadly arc, but Sarah was ready. In one fluid motion, she unfurled her scroll and summoned a sleek, poison-tipped sword. Sparks flew as she deflected Kisame's strike, her weapon gliding effortlessly against the rough texture of Samehada's scales.

Kisame didn't let up, launching a relentless series of attacks that forced Sarah to stay on the defensive. His strength was overwhelming, each swing of Samehada carrying enough power to shatter the ground beneath them. But Sarah countered his brute force with agility and precision, darting around him like a shadow and striking back with sharp, calculated movements.

"Not bad," Kisame said, grinning as their blades locked. "But you'll have to do better than that!"

He shoved her back with a burst of strength, swinging Samehada in a wide arc. Sarah ducked under the swing and retaliated with a quick slash aimed at his side. Kisame twisted away, narrowly avoiding the poisoned blade.

The intensity of the fight escalated as both combatants began incorporating jutsu into their attacks. Kisame weaved hand seals and slammed his palm to the ground.

"Suiton: Bakusui Shōha!" he roared. A massive wave of water erupted from beneath him, flooding the arena and turning the battlefield into his domain.

Sarah jumped back, landing gracefully on the surface of the water.

"Two can play that game," she muttered, forming her own seals. "Fūton: Shinkūgyoku!"

She exhaled sharply, sending a barrage of compressed wind bullets toward Kisame. The projectiles sliced through the water with deadly precision, forcing Kisame to dodge.

"Not bad, not bad!" Kisame laughed, launching himself toward her. He swung Samehada, the blade humming as it absorbed the chakra in her wind bullets. Sarah deflected the strike with her sword, but Kisame's strength sent her skidding backward.

Undeterred, Sarah formed another series of seals.

"Doton: Doryūheki!" she called, raising a wall of earth between herself and Kisame. The barrier bought her a moment to breathe, but Kisame simply smashed through it with brute force.

As he charged, Sarah leaped into the air, flipping over his head. Mid-air, she activated another jutsu: "Raiton: Shiden!"

A bolt of lightning surged down her sword, crackling as she aimed for Kisame's shoulder. He blocked the strike with Samehada, the blade greedily absorbing the chakra.

"That all you got?" Kisame taunted, his grin widening. He retaliated with a horizontal slash that nearly caught her mid-landing. Sarah twisted away, her feet skimming the water's surface as she regained her balance.

The battle raged on, the arena now a chaotic swirl of water, shattered earth, and scorched marks from their jutsu. Sarah's movements grew more fluid and calculated, but Kisame's stamina seemed endless. Finally, he managed to land a solid hit, sending her crashing into the water with a powerful strike from Samehada.

Sarah resurfaced, coughing and bruised but still standing. She summoned the last of her mana reserves and lunged at Kisame, her poisoned blade aiming for his torso. At the same time, Kisame swung Samehada with full force. Their weapons collided, the impact sending a shockwave through the arena.

When the dust settled, Kisame stood victorious, though barely. His movements were slower now, his breathing labored. The poison from Sarah's blade was beginning to take its toll.

Sarah pushed herself to her feet and strode over to Kisame. Without hesitation, she pressed her hand against his chest, channeling her mana to extract the poison from his system. A dark, noxious mist seeped out of his wounds, dissipating into the air.

Kisame let out a relieved sigh. "Thanks, doc. That poison was nasty."

Sarah nodded, her gaze shifting to his arm—or rather, the bleeding stump where his arm used to be.

"Hold still," she instructed, summoning the power of her Byakugou seal. Glowing black lines spread across her face and body as she activated the regenerative jutsu, her hands glowing with healing energy. Within moments, Kisame's arm began to reform, muscle and bone knitting together seamlessly.

"There," she said, stepping back. "Good as new."

Kisame flexed his regenerated fingers, marveling at the results. "You're full of surprises, aren't you? That wasn't a bad fight. You almost had me there."

Sarah smirked faintly. "It's not a big issue. Just make sure you don't lose an arm next time."

The stands erupted in cheers and laughter, Hidan shouting something about how Kisame finally met his match. Deidara whistled, clearly impressed, while Itachi offered a subtle nod of approval.

As Sarah turned to leave the arena, Kisame called after her. "We're doing this again sometime, yeah?

Sarah glanced back, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Anytime."