Once they entered the cave they walked down a long tunnel that led to the very core of the cave. The inside was very large, larger than Kazumi thought it would be. As they entered the large area Kazumi tried to get the best look she could considering her position.

A waterfall rushed from a large hole in the ceiling and fell into a large pool of water. At the very end of the cave was a row of steps that had been carved into the stone. They led straight to the wall that had a couple of chains hanging down from it. Kazumi didn't like the way that looked and feared it.

On the far right of the cave laid two graves with two old tomb stones. There was a hole just above the the tomb stones, the rising moon and it's light began to peak through it. Kazumi felt somehow connected to the two stones and one of them called her more than the other. She wanted to approach it but she couldn't given her obvious situation. Mani had a tight grip on Kazumi.

"Put the princess in place. We must begin." The old man commanded. "Right." Mani obeyed and took Kazumi up the steps. Just before he walked up the steps Kazumi noticed strange symbols carved into the floor just a foot away from the stone steps. They were placed in a circle in a certain order. Mani placed Kazumi down against the wall and quickly chained her hands up. Kazumi winced from his rough hands and the tight chains.

Just as he finished placing the chains around her wrist Kazumi saw other Akane clan members gather around. She had never seen them before. They all took a place at the symbols on the floor and sat behind them. Each one of them formed a different hand sign and began to gather their chakra.

Mani walked away from Kazumi and away from the group of clan members. "Let's begin." The old man commanded and once he did each member began to glow with their chakra. A blue aura surrounded each one and once the flow of chakra reached the symbols they too began to glow with blue aura. They began to chant something, something strange that Kazumi didn't understand.

The aura around them grew and than chakra streams leaked out of them and flowed right towards Kazumi. Her eyes widened as the chakra streams came right for her and entered into her. Kazumi cried out in pain as they pierced her like swords. She pulled at the chains with all her might but it was no use, she clenched her teeth trying to hold back her cry but it the pain was unbearable. She felt like her very core was being torn and pulled right from her. A sudden shock was sent through her body and that's when she lost it. Kazumi's painful screams echoed through out the cave and into the tree's making the very air change.

The Moriko and the Leaf ninja hurried through the forest leaping from tree to tree. Don was in the lead, leading the others to their sacred place. The very air around him became heavy and the tree's began to shake as if they felt fear themselves. Don came to a quick stop making the other ninja behind him stop as well.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked landing right next to him on the large branch. "Do you not feel that?" Don asked looking around cautiously. Kakashi furrowed his eyebrows down in confusion and began to look around as well to try and see what he was talking about. "The very air around us has changed." Abel spoke looking up at the darkening evening sky.

"They're right." Asuma said while blowing out a puff of smoke. "Something's off." He took his cigerate out of his mouth and threw it to the ground stomping on it to put it out. Once said Kazumi's painful screams finally reached them and caused the trees around them to shake violently. "That's the Princess!" Don yelled quickly taking off with the others. Her screams echoed all around them and even through them. They may have not been the one's to feel the pain but her screams were causing them to tense as if they were there right with her.

"We need to hurry!" Kabu shouted as he picked up his speed with the others. "How were they even able to find our sacred place? It should be hidden even from them!" Abel shouted. "I don't know but whatever they're doing there doesn't sound good." Don replied in a panicked voice. 'Kazumi..' Each time Kakashi heard her scream it made his anger rise and blood boil.

But it also made his fear surface. 'Just hold on, I'm coming!' Kakashi quickly leaped a head of the others wasting no time. It was obvious where she was now, her screams could not be ignored.

Kazumi arched her back and threw her head back screaming in pain. Tears streamed from her eyes as her body continued to be in unbearable pain. She felt herself slipping away and taken away by something..or someone. "Almost." The old man watched with a wide grin on his face. Kazumi herself was glowing with chakra now, familiar chakra that they all longed to feel.

The cave was now lit with moon light from the full moon that hung high in the sky. The pain stopped for a quick second, Kazumi's head dropped as did her body. Her body hung up from her arms in the chains. 'I can't take it...' Tears dripped from her face as she breathed heavily. 'Please...Make this stop...' She begged but she didn't know who she was begging too.

"Keep going, we're so close!" The old man commanded loudly. The clan members began to chant again and the chakra began to re enter Kazumi's body causing her to scream again. The chakra's glow around her became brighter and also heavier. Almost like someone had just placed heavy stones on her shoulders.

"She sure is loud..." Nina pointed out as she watched with a clenched jaw. She did not pity Nina and she did not wish to be in her place. It was obvious how painful it was and it almost looked like Kazumi was about to die. The old man stood right in front of the steps and watched Kazumi closely, waiting and it almost looked like he was enjoying it.

He was concentrating on her hard but than something interrupted him. Something, someone had entered in the cave and past his barrier. He quickly looked behind him and once he did a kunai knife quickly flew right by his face leaving a small scratch. The kunai wasn't meant for him. The kunai landed right on the chains that held Kazumi's hands.

The chain broke in half releasing Kazumi from them. She fell hard onto the ground breathing heavily. Kazumi's release had interrupted the clan members that were performing the ritual. They all quickly looked to the entrance and there was Kakashi, behind him was the Moriko and the other Leaf ninja. "They found us!" Nina shouted quickly jumped in front of the old man to protect him. The other Akane clan ninja quickly followed her and stood with her.

Kakashi glared at them deeply as he started to think of a plan to take them out. "Princess!" Don shouted. Kakashi's eyes quickly went to Kazumi who laid still on the ground. He couldn't tell if she was conscious her not but it was clear she had been put through a lot. Kakashi glared even more at the enemy ninja in front him. "You'll pay for this." Kakashi spoke in a deep angry voice.

Nina and the others slightly grinned at his threat. "Come and try." The old man spoke up catching everyone's eye. Don's eyes widened once he saw and recognized him. "You!" He shouted quickly stepping forward. "No way!" Abel yelled in disbelief. "Why..." Kabu's eyes were just as wide as he too was in disbelief. The old man only grinned at them as he recognized the young ninja in front of him.

Kazumi slightly moved her head to see them. 'Kakashi..' More tears flowed from her eyes but these tears were from relief. She peered at them through strands of hair. She slowly moved her gaze to the old man that the others seemed to recognize. 'Who is he?'