Escaping the danger posed by Gaara had done little to improve Team 7's situation. The Cursed Seal on the back of Sasuke's neck clung to him like a disease, sending waves of bone-chilling cold and searing pain through him, draining his strength and resolve. Naruto's Five Elements Seal made molding chakra extremely difficult and erratic; even maintaining a Shadow Clone had become a struggle. Sakura was frantic but helpless. Only Ling was in relatively good shape, though facing Orochimaru and Gaara in succession had consumed a tremendous amount of his chakra.
Time was running out. They had to obtain a Heaven Scroll and reach the Central Tower as soon as possible.
[I detect faint chakra fluctuations about a kilometer to the southeast. Nothing large-scale. There seems to be a fight.] Tobirama's voice was as precise as radar. [Go take a look. It might be an opportunity. Also... I sense a very unusual chakra signature, brimming with vitality. It's faint, but its nature is extraordinary. Keep an eye out.]
Ling immediately led the team southeast. Sure enough, they had not gone far before the clash of weapons and angry shouts reached them.
They crept closer and saw three Genin wearing Kusagakure forehead protectors surrounding a lone figure. She was a girl with vivid red hair and glasses, already covered in wounds, desperately dodging and blocking. She was clearly at a severe disadvantage. Her forehead protector was also from Kusagakure. Apparently, this was an internal dispute.
"Karin! Hand over the scroll! Letting a medical ninja with barely any fighting ability keep it is a waste anyway!" one of the Kusagakure Genin shouted viciously.
"Exactly! Hand it over, and we won't have to hurt you as much!"
The girl called Karin gritted her teeth. Frightened though she was, she stubbornly refused to yield.