"Gaara is about to transform, so let's get out of-" Baki

"Hmm, can't let you rampage around here..." - Eiji appeared suddenly behind Gaara and stabbed with his sword.

The sand moved automatically trying to defend Gaara, but the sword was clad with wind chakra and easily went through.

His arm was stabbed by the sword and Gaara cried out in pain.

His shield went down and his transformation stopped.

"Shit!! His transformation was stopped...what are we gonna do now?!" - Kankuro

"First we need to get him out of here, then we can decide what we gonna do!!" - Temari

"Are you insane?! Do you want to go down there and fight this Eiji?!" - Kankuro

"I-I'm calling the plan off. Both of you, I will buy some time, while you two take Gaara and get out of here!" - Baki moved and appeared besides Eiji with a kunai.

Meanwhile, Eiji, with his heightened senses through sage mode, sensed how Orochimaru started to move against Hiruzen: 'Looks like I still have a bit time before the barrier will be summoned, so let's make sure that Sasuke and Naruto follow Gaara."

Since Gaara's opponent wasn't Sasuke, Sasuke had no real reason to follow them, which in turn meant that Naruto and co, wouldn't follow Sasuke.

Eiji looked at Baki and said: "Sorry, but I don't wanna hang out with you sand dudes anymore, so see ya!"

With those words, he disappeared.

"..." - Kankuro and Temari didn't think it would be resolved just like that.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, TAKE HIM AND LEAVE!!!" - Baki shouted at them while he defended against Genma, who charged at him.

Meanwhile, Kakashi, Guy, and Sakura realized that a genjutsu was used and undid it.

Sasuke who was standing nearby also noticed that something was wrong, but before he could do anything, a figure with immense speed appear in front of him and took him away: "WHAT!! WHAT ARE Y-"

As fast as he was taken, he was let go suddenly.

But before he could begin to make out what happened someone spoke to him: "Sorry, I got no time to explain, just follow those sand guys and stop whatever they are planning!"

"What? Why should I?" - Sasuke

But he didn't get an answer, as Eiji already vanished.

'...shit, it's not like I can do anything else when he suddenly dropped me near them!' - Sasuke got up and started to chase them.

"SASUKE!! KAKASHI, SENSEI!! SASUKE DISAPPEARED!!!" - Sakura was hysterical, seeing how Sasuke just suddenly disappeared.

"Calm down, Sakura. He should still be somewhere nearby, so undo the genjutsu on Naruto and Shikamaru and wake them up!"

He then summoned Pakkun and told her, that Pakkun can follow Sasuke's scent.

Sakura did as she was told and woke Naruto up, while Shikamaru was already awake, but pretended to be asleep to not get involved.

After forcing Shikamaru, the four embarked to pursue Sasuke.

"Do you think just three of them will be enough? But more importantly, why did that Eiji even kidnap Sasuke? Is he a traitor?"

"No, I suppose he noticed that those Sand shinobis are involved in this whole mess, and concluded that someone skilled enough should pursue them. And the most skilled one apart from him would be Sasuke. To be honest, I was about to send Sasuke and Naruto on my own, but this works too I guess."

"But why didn't he pursue them?"

"I wonder..." - Kakashi looked towards the barrier where Orochimaru and Hiuzen were.

Meanwhile, a silent Shino decided to follow Naruto and co.

Two Anbu outside the barrier looked at it: "It looks like this barrier can only be taken down from the inside..."

The other replied: "Although if Lord Hokage can take out even one of those four, we can probably go in to aid him."

On the inside, the Sound Four started to erect an inner barrier as well.

"Humph...it doesn't look easy to escape from..." - Hiruzen

"Of course not. Besides, you wouldn't want anyone to interfere and get in the way, would you?!" - Orochimaru

Suddenly a hidden small white snake transformed into Eiji.

He stood there nonchalantly with a smile: "Sorry, but it's my style to interfere and get in the way."

"You!" - Orochimaru's arrogant smile disappeared.

"HAHAHAHA!! And here I already felt lonely, thinking I have to punish my naughty disciple all by myself." - Hiruzen