Chapter 9
"What the…"
The eight looked at each other in confusion.
"The doors!" Ino cried out as said four objects disappeared from sight.
"Great…" Shikamaru sighed.
Sakura moved from Tenten's arm with a smile. "There ya go…that should hold until I can held fully."
"Thanks." She replied, flexing her arm.
"….look at that…"
The group turning to see Hinata standing in front of what looked to be a large labyrinth.
"So…now what?" Naruto asked.
"We go…Tenten?"
Negi stopped and the group watched as the raven-haired girl walked in. They rushed after her, dodging traps left and right. Tenten finally stopped at a door with a bat resting on a monkey's shoulder. The pink monkey looked up and patted the white bat on the head.
"They've come Koumori." The female monkey replied softly.
"Yes…I heard them awhile back Saru."
The back turned to look at the group, his flashing blue eyes stunning against his white pupils. "Negi…Tenten…come." The bat gestured forward.
The two did so, bowing before them.
"You have proven yourselves worthy and so we shall be your summoned." Saru said, her voice raising as the door glowed behind them.
When the white light disappeared, the marking of beasts disappearing from Negi and Tenten's hands.
"I know the way…" Ino said, walking forward.
Tenten stopped Shikamaru from touching her.
"Let her guide us."
He sighed as they group followed.
* * *
"You see…I told you they would find us Heisei."
The panda snorted. "So I see Gekida."
The boar smiled at Ino. "I never doubted my human."
Ino smiled back. "This is so cool!"
The two beast before Ino and Shikamaru smiled.
"We have waited a long time for this…let's get it over with." Heisei stated with a bored tone.
"You're telling me." Shikamaru said.
The beasts nodded, disappearing as the marking appeared on the two before disappearing.
Ino smiled and turned to the group. "Who's next?"
Sakura suddenly smiled, eyes going blank.
"I am." She said, walking into the maze.
The group followed until they were met with two…humans? The man's dark bluish-black hair was tied back in a low ponytail, red eyes glistening, and scales resting on his arms and bare chest as he leaned against the wall. The woman's blondish-pink hair lay in soft waves, her green eyes bright . She wore a simple brown dress, which covered some of the man's black pants. The woman leaned off of the man as Sakura rushed to hug her, while Sasuke acknowledged the man.
"It's so good to see you again Amelia!" Sakura said with a smile.
The woman bowed with a smile. "As it is to see you mistress."
The woman glared sternly at the man. "Dondura…"
"I have seen my master before this meeting…" The man replied.
"What's up with the human forms?" Ino asked.
Amelia smiled. "Once you complete the full summoning of us, we are able to take on human forms…" She glanced at Dondura smiling. "…in a way that is."
"It's time for us to go." Dondura said, taking Amelia's hand.
She waved, a smile still on her face, as the doors opened and a symbol disappeared from Sakura and Sasuke's hands. The group turned to Hinata who stared off into space as she led them into the maze.
* * *
"I can't even see the doorway." Ino said, looking into the darkness.
"I can't with my Beacqua either." Negi added.
"The darkness reveals all in due time…"
The group turned to see….
"Naruto?!"
The man appeared from the darkness looked much like an older version of Naruto with longer hair, taller, and blazing red eyes. A foxtail swished back and forth as his long nails on his hands and feet clicked against the floor. He stood and offered his hand to the dark. A pale hand placed itself in the outreached hand as a pale, breath-talking woman in a strapless long black dress appeared next to the fox man, her violet eyes looking calm at the group, looking much like an older version of Hinata.
"Do you not recognize me boy?" The older Naruto said with a smirk.
"…the nine-tailed fox…" The real Naruto snarled in hatred.
The fox man laughed, the woman on his arm never taking her eyes off Hinata.
"I have many names but you may call me Akuma."
He turned to the woman, pushing her long hair from her eyes.
"This is Shikyo."
The woman's gaze flicked to him and back to Hinata. "You may call me Selene mistress."
The girl smiled. "Yes…it would work better."
The woman gave a small smile and nodded. Akuma sighed.
"I guess you want us gone…"
"I would help…" Naruto stated.
The man snorted. "Watch yourself boy."
Selene placed her hand on his shoulder softly.
"Yes…let us go."
The two looked at the group as darkness enveloped them and a door appeared.
Naruto snorted. "Pain in the ass son of a…"
He sighed when Hinata placed a hand against his cheek. Naruto looked at the group, who appeared calm.
"Let's go."
They nodded and entered the doorway to their next challenge.