Chapter 10: The Demon's Lair
Sasuke sits up guarding the others when Sakura woke up.
"Couldn't you sleep well," Sasuke asked.
"Not really," Sakura replied, "Hey Sasuke, I'm sorry for, uh, slapping you yesterday. I honest can't figure out what came over me."
"Well I do," Sasuke said.
"Huh," Sakura replied, "What do you mean?"
"I understand the reason you'd do that," answered Sasuke, "Any time you see someone you care about harmed, you're so angry, scared, and sorrowful all at once that you do things you can't explain. It could even cause you to do something like hurt someone you love." Sasuke then grits his teeth, "Even attack your own brother."
"Sasuke, I didn't know about…," Sakura said.
"It's alright Sakura," Sasuke interrupted, "You aren't like Naruto and I. We've both been ridiculed, betrayed, and lost people we loved right before our eyes. Naruto doesn't remember his, because he was only a baby when his parents died. I was there when my family was killed. However, you're very lucky Sakura. You never had such horrors in your past. That's why when we thought Arron was dead, you were so angry with me even though it was an accident. Don't get use to losing people like Naruto and I are."
"Sasuke," Sakura said blushing, "You're right, I am lucky, and I hope I never have to endure such pain. I tell you what, I'll take the rest of the night."
"Are you sure," Sasuke said, "Naruto's really tired tonight. Since his sift is next, so I'll take his spot. Get to sleep Sasuke."
"Thank you, I think I will," Sasuke said.
Sasuke goes to bed and the scene changes to the next morning outside the demon fortress.
"This is it," Arron said.
"Remember, there are still eight demons waiting for us in there, be on your toes at all times," Kakashi said.
"Well I'm ready," Naruto bragged, "I'm ready to wipe the floor with these jerks." Naruto pushes the heavy stone doors. "Ah, crap," Naruto whined, "The stupid doors are locked." Sasuke put his hand on it.
"Not locked, sealed," Sasuke said, "It's ninjutsu of some kind."
"Not a problem," Arron said, "everybody move back." Everyone steps back a few feet as Arron focuses an attack. "Demolishing Fist," Arron yells as he charges the right door and punches it. After the dust clears, Arron is standing inside by the hole he made.
"Wow Arron, you have to teach me that some time," Naruto said, "You're stronger than Master Guy." They start walking down the hall.
"Master Guy huh," Arron said, "How do you know him?"
"He's a ninja from our village," Sakura replied.
"Oh, ok," said Arron.
"Arron, you have no chakra, so how did you break the seal?" Sasuke said.
"Actually, I'm quite curious to find that out as well," Kakashi mentioned.
"I didn't," Arron answered, "The seal is still there right now. Only the rim around the doors and the crease between the doors were sealed. There's no way a physical attack could break it, so I broke through the door not the seal."
"Very creative," Kakashi said. Suddenly the company found themselves in a large room. The room had seven doors in it. One door they had just come out of.
"Hmmm, what a bizarre place," Sasuke said. Kakashi taps the walls.
"Solid stone," Kakashi said, "Very effective as a stronghold."
"I'd bet there's all kinds of Bobbie traps and weird room to confuse us to," Sakura said.
"Exactly right Sakura," Kakashi remarked, "Remember, this is a ninja fortress, so always be on guard."
"I don't care what the heck is waiting for us on the other side of these doors, I'll take down anything or anyone in my way," Naruto said.
"Bold statement for a midget with an ego rivaled only by his own big mouth," something said, "To bad none of you will ever pass those doors." The speaker drops to the ground into the light.
"Kabador the Rat Demon of the stone village," Arron said.
"Arron, it's been almost a year since I saw you last," Kabador gawked, "I thought you were dead."
"Please, you actually thought you killed me with that pathetic attack," Arron scoffed, "Don't flatter yourself."
"Watch your tongue, you aren't even a ninja and you dare mock me," Kabador said, "Just watch this." He throws a handful of shuriken at Naruto. Naruto doges all but one. Then one nicks him on the left thigh, barely drawing blood.
"That was the best you've got," Naruto taunted, "You called me all talk and no action."
"Sakura, clean his wound NOW," Arron said.
"Wound, you call this a wound," Naruto said, "No way, I'm fighting."
"Trust me Naruto, Kabador coats his weapons in trash, bacteria, and filth of all kinds," Arron said, "It's the worst kind of poison. Clean that cut or your blood will be infected, and you may die in as few as a day or two."
"What, uuhhhh, alright," said Naruto uneasily.
"If what Arron says is true, even a flesh might be fatal, we have to be way overly cautious," Sasuke thought. He charged at Kabador with two very large shuriken drawn. "Art of the Helix Shuriken. Sasuke's shuriken swerve in a helix and lock Kabador's left arm against the wall.
"Earthen style, art of golem fist," said Kakashi. A stone hand grew out of the wall and clinched Kabador's right arm.
"Now he's trapped," Sasuke yelled, "Arron now!"
"Reversed Sidekick," Arron said. He jumped spun and used the opposite leg to kick.
"Got him," Sasuke said. Kabador uses his leg to push out the shuriken, and makes his newly freed arm join the still captured hand to form a sign.
"Art of transformation," Kabador said. He became a rat, and easily slipped his paw out of the fist. He bit his paw to bleed. "Art of the familiar spirit," the rat said. Then a thousand rats looking just alike appeared. "Arron, you've gotten a lot stronger since last time, but you can't kick what you can't find," Kabador said.