Disclaimer: I do not own the show Naruto or any part neither series nor characters and etc.

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.Ch. 9: The Attack.

Naruto gave a great shove after Sasuke and Sakura were seated on the sled and after the contraption picked up speed, Naruto, jogged with it and pushed it over the hill, jumping in as it tore down the slope quickly. They sped on, avoiding trees and rocks that blocked their path with Sasuke giving directions to Sakura on which way to pull or push her side of the door, and Naruto using his boots in the back to steer. They continued on for a while, Mount Everest getting slightly closer. They soon came to a level spot on the mountain and the three got out, pulling the sled, no one pushing it from the back.

Sakura looked around. The sky was definitely bluer here and it seemed so much more peaceful. She slowly walked, dragging the rope behind her; her boots crunching in the snow; her feet getting colder. It was quiet other than the shhing sound of the sled being pulled through the snow like it was silencing the noisy footsteps of the trio. No birds sang, no little creatures scurried by. They were not far from the plane, but they had been traveling long enough for the animals to return.

"Ah! Wait guys I have snow in my boots!" Naruto sat down and took off one of his boots, shaking it up and down muttering "Damn snow….Why here….Stupid idea…"

Sasuke turned to look at Naruto and plopped down next to him, while Sakura sighed and sat down as well watching Naruto.

"…..Damn…..Snow…..Stu-" Naruto sat upright and stopped shaking his boot, alarmed at something.

"Did you guys hear that?" He said softly. Sasuke and Sakura grew silent and listened. There was nothing…

"Naruto if you're trying to scare us its no-" CRACK! Sakura and Sasuke jumped suddenly and turned around to face the direction of the sound. Naruto had slipped on his boots and was tying them when he looked up to find a pale Sasuke and Sakura. Puzzled, he looked around Sakura. There, crouching low, growling menacingly, was a snow leopard. It's white and black spotted coat shimmered slightly fluffy; its sharp pearl claws digging into the snow; its yellow, oval eyes, burned with anger and frustration; its ears pulled back threateningly.

Sakura swallowed hard, not breaking eye-contact with the leopard. Its gaze switched from Sakura, to Sasuke and lastly to Naruto, who was still sitting while Sakura and Sasuke had stood in shock. The snow leopard paced back and forth in front of them as if deciding which would be the appetizer, main course, and finally, the dessert. It stopped, as if deciding. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of Naruto's face as the leopard broke eye-contact with Sakura and engaged itself to Naruto's attention. Licking its lips, its hind legs tensed and its front paws extended, readying a pounce.

It crouched and lunged as the trio screamed and tried to jump out of the way. Naruto turned, struggling to stand up as the leopard ignored Sasuke and Sakura and sprinted towards Naruto, who was stuck in the snow and frozen with fear. Sasuke noticed and grabbed the nearest suitcase chucking it at the leopard in action, sending the hungry beast slamming into a nearby tree. Sakura screamed again and ran to Naruto flinging herself on him and trying to pull him out of the snow.

"NARUTO! COME ON! GET UP! PLEASE!" her desperate cry seemed useless as Naruto stared blankly at her, his eyes lost in shock. Sasuke retrieved the suitcase, throwing it on the makeshift sled and trudged towards Naruto and Sakura as out of the corner of his eye, the snow leopard was slowly picking itself up again.

He forcefully pulled up Naruto from the snow with brute strength, dragging him to the sled, when the blonde seemed to snap out of it. Naruto stood up and sprinted with Sasuke to the sled, where Sakura was already pushing it far away from the snow leopard. They joined her at the back of the sled and pushed as well, jumping on once they had enough speed. Naruto kicked behind him to try and pick up some velocity as a terrorizing roar erupted behind them. The snow leopard began its chase after them while Sakura and Sasuke had stuck out a leg to help Naruto push.

"KICK FASTER!" Naruto screamed at the top of his lungs, using both of his feet to desperately try to make the sled go faster.

"WE ARE!" They screamed at him.

"SHUT THE HELL UP AND KICK!"

"WE'RE KICKING!" Sasuke and Sakura screamed back at him in unison as Sasuke turned to look forward and his face immediately lost color. Sakura noticed this and looked forward as well. A huge cliff was increasingly approaching and at the speed they were going, it wouldn't be long before they went over if they didn't do something FAST.

"NARUTO! WHEN I TELL YOU, LEAN TO THE LEFT IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND KEEP YOU'RE FEET TOGETHER! WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A SHARP TURN TO THE RIGHT!" Sasuke screamed at Naruto while the said boy shouted back his "ok" and waited for the signal. The edge was approaching faster….faster! While the snow leopard seemed to be getting closer as well. Sakura was holding on for dear life, to afraid to say anything or scream as they arrived a couple yards from the edge.

"NOW!" Sasuke screamed as he and Sakura leaned to the right, while Naruto leaned to his left because he was facing backwards, doing as Sasuke told him. They skid a couple feet sideways before Naruto gave a strong kick, and launched them forward, parallel to the edge of the cliff at the last minute. The snow leopard had no time to react as it tried to stop, skidding forward and with a last pitiful yelp, it flew over the edge of the cliff into the dark ravine below.

The trio stopped kicking and leaning as the sled straightened out and slowly came to a stop. The path up the mountain was now narrow, spiraling its way around the colossal geographic mound. They would have to walk single-file up the mountain. Standing up, Sasuke's breathing was labored as Sakura and Naruto's breathing matched his. Naruto leaned back on the sled while Sakura had draped herself over the rim of her side. After a few moments, Naruto burst out laughing and soon enough Sakura and Sasuke had joined him.

"Oh my God! Did you see that cat go over the cliff? It was like…'holy mother of-' WHEEEEEEE! PFFFT!" Naruto imitated the snow leopard going over the cliff and landing. "I mean….WOW we're alive!" He looked up at the sky grinning. "We have to have the best and worst luck, anyone has ever had…" he remarked, turning over and sitting up straight. Sasuke stopped laughing and sighed, straightening out since he had been bending over as he laughed.

"Yeah…" he muttered as he looked up the only way across the mountain. Heaving another sigh, he stole a glance at the pink-haired girl, still recovering from the shock. He guessed she didn't go through high threatening situations as often as he himself had been. Looking out into the winding mountain path, he stiffened. This was going to be somewhat different.