DISCLAIMER: Some of the text and characters are from Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto, which I do not own. Only the characters & text that were not in the original manga/anime series are mine.

Recap: Sara and the others have passed the first part of the Chûnin Exam, now part two has begun. Up against the Sound ninja, with help from Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru, will they be able to survive the encounter? And if they do, will they be able to pass the exam?

No Holds Barred!

Sakura lifted her head wearily from the ground and asked, "Ino…why?"

Ino smirked, "Did you really think I was going to let you take all the glory for protecting Sasuke?"

The mummy looking Sound Ninja said, "More bugs from the Leaf Village have crept in…"

Choji exclaimed, since he was being held against his will, "Wh-what are you guys thinking? Those creeps are going to eat us alive! Shikamaru let go of me!"

"Sorry, buddy," Shikamaru said lazily. "We're the men here; we can't run when Ino's ready to risk her life…"

Choji interrupted, "You're girlfriend isn't awake!" Shikamaru blushed slightly.

Ino said, ignoring Choji's last comment, "Sorry I dragged you guys into this! But we are a team, all for one and one for all."

Shikamaru replied, "What's meant to happen will, I guess!"

Zaku said, "We'll let you run if you want to, Fatty!"

Choji stiffened, "What…did…you…just…say? I could have sworn you called me…"

Shikamaru looked at Choji worriedly, uh-oh! That's a big no-no around Choji, that guy just asked for it! If that guy says it again…

Zaku said, "You heard me…fatso!"

"I'M NOT FAT! I'M PLEASING PLUMP!" Choji snapped. He roared, "Pleasing plump people unite!"

Sakura was watching and thought…weird!

Sakura was jolted out of her thoughts as Ino said, "Sakura…stay here and watch over your teammates." Ino turned to her teammates, "This is it, team, full speed ahead!"

Shikamaru replied, "Yes, ma'am!"

Ino shouted as she ran forward, "Ino-Shika-Cho formation!"

Shikamaru yelled as he dashed forward, "It's on you, Choji!"

"Okay!" Choji made a hand sign, Art of Expansion Jutsu! Followed by…Human Boulder! Choji began rolling at an incredibly fast pace towards Zaku.

Zaku exclaimed, "What kind of art is that?" Zaku snorted, "Just a fat guy rolling himself around!" Zaku unleashed a blast of sound sending Choji up into the air, stilling spinning. "Flying! How is that possible? With that kind rotation…so much for just air pressure!"

Shikamaru watched as the mummy looking Sound ninja darted forward to help his teammate. Oh no you don't! You way to annoying to live! Shadow Possession Jutsu!

The mummy looking Sound ninja said in surprise, "Why can't I move?"

Shikamaru grinned, "It's a special technique of mine." Shikamaru lifted his hands above his head like a ballerina, forcing the mummy looking Sound ninja to do the same.

The female Sound ninja shouted, "What are you doing, Dosu?"

"Ino," Shikamaru shouted. "The woman is the only one left!"

Ino replied sweetly, "You got it! Take care of my body, Shikamaru."

"Right!" Shikamaru replied as Ino used her Mind Transfer Jutsu.

Meanwhile, Choji stood up looking sick, "I don't feel so good!"

Suddenly, the female Sound ninja said, under Ino's control, "If either of you makes a move, your teammate, Kin, is finished! Just set the scroll down and leave! When I can't sense either of your chakras I'll let her go." Ino stared nervously at the pair as they held their ground. What are they planning?

Sakura shouted suddenly, "They're going to-! No!"

Zaku unleashed a blast of air at Kin. As Kin slammed against a tree, Ino's body also was affected. "Ino!" Shikamaru exclaimed.

Zaku said, "You underestimated us. Our objective isn't a stupid scroll, we want Sasuke. We don't care about this stupid exam!"

Shikamaru still had Dosu under his jutsu, damn! I'm almost at my time limit! Shikamaru's jutsu wavered slightly, still managing to hold Dosu.

Dosu said as he watched Shikamaru's shadow, "So, it has a time limit of about five minutes?" Dosu looked up at Ino, "As for the girl's jutsu, it seems if we harm Kin, her body also suffers. So…if Kin were to die…" Dosu began laughing evilly.

"You're despicable," a voice said from behind Dosu. Dosu glanced at a tree branch. The boy with the black Leaf headband said, "You think you're all that just because you can use Sound attacks…we're strong enough to beat these novices!"

All of the Sound ninja looked up worriedly. Zaku said, "Again, the vermin come crawling out of the woodwork!"

The boy looked down at Lee, "You blew it, huh, Lee?"

"Lee…" The girl said sadly as she glanced down at her unconscious teammate.

Sakura whispered in awe, "Those are Lee's teammates!"

The boy with the black headband stated, "The boy with the Moe Howard hairdo belongs to us. You hurt him, so now you have to answer to us!" Veins near his eyes suddenly became visible. He smirked, "Stop while you still can… Or will give you everything we got!" He suddenly glanced down at Sasuke.

Dosu, not noticing where the boy's gaze was, taunted, "If you find us so repulsive, why don't you quit posturing and fight us!"

The boy answered, the veins disappearing, "Well, it looks like, we won't have to."

Sakura turned around as a noise behind her got her attention, "Sasuke, you're awake!"

Phoenix gazed down at Sasuke; he didn't like the chakra he was sensing. He glanced at his unconscious host, I wish you could tell me if I could incinerate some of these people or not! I know you said okay with those Sound ones, but too many others have shown up! And this boy…there's something evil about his chakra!

Sasuke stood up, half his body was covered in fire like marks, and asked, "Sakura, who did that to you…?"

"Sasuke," Sakura wasn't sure if she should answer him.

"Who was it?" Sasuke practically snarled.

Zaku said, "It was us!"

The Strength That is Given…

Sakura lowered her gaze from Sasuke's and stared at the marks, "Sasuke…your body…?"

Sasuke looked at the marks, his Sharingan was up, "I feel fine…strong…bursting with power!"

Phoenix stared down at Sasuke, once he leaves my protection he better not try to get back under it looking like that! The boy's chakra is different, more…evil…

Sasuke said suddenly, "He gave this to me." Sakura stared at him wondering what he meant. "I understand now. I AM an avenger. On the path I walk I have to do whatever it takes to get power, even if it means selling my flesh to the devil."

Phoenix screeched, forcing Sakura to look at the firebird. Sakura stammered, "P-ph-phoenix, p-please don't h-hurt a-anyone with a L-leaf Village h-headband."

Phoenix gazed down at her, Sakura almost screamed when she heard in her mind, you are very brave…for a young ninja. I shall do as you have asked, unless I deem it necessary to do otherwise…

Sakura shuddered, she didn't like having the firebird in her mind. She glanced at Sara's unconscious form, how do you put up with it? Having Phoenix sealed inside of you must be torture!

Sasuke had been glaring at Zaku. He finally said, "So…it was you."

Shikamaru glanced at Kin, and shouted, "Ino! If you stay in there you're going to get dragged into this! Get back to your body, now!" He turned his attention to Choji, "Choji, it's time for us to leave!"

Kin made a hand sign and Ino returned to her own body, much to Shikamaru's relief.

Shikamaru looked back at the clearing, "Now, we wait and see what's going to happen."

Sasuke glared at the Sound ninja, making Dosu flinch. Dosu said, terrified, "His chakra's immense!"

Zaku made a hand sign and shouted, "Snap out of it, Dosu, just because this guy refuses to die!"

"Zaku, no!" Dosu shouted at his teammate. "Don't you get it?"

Haku used an attack that sent debris flying around, Phoenix's barrier of heat protected his host and her unconscious friend.

Zaku laughed once the dust had settled, "Blew that pipsqueak away!"

"What pipsqueak is that?" Sasuke asked from behind Zaku. He swung his arm and sent Zaku flying. Sasuke made the sign of the tiger, Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!

Zaku used his sound technique and extinguished the flames, "You're getting over confident, it's nothing compared to my sou-!" He shielded his face as shuriken came at him, having been hidden in the flames.

Sasuke came up behind Zaku. Dosu shouted, "Zaku! Behind you!"

Zaku had no time to react. Sasuke grabbed his wrists and wrenched his arms back.

Sakura was staring in horror at Sasuke, she was remembering what Orochimaru had said, "Rest assured, Sasuke will come to me…"

Sasuke laughed, "You seem to take great pride in your arms…" Zaku glanced at Sasuke nervously. "Time to bid them farewell." Sasuke pulled back on Zaku's arms, keeping Zaku's back from going with the motion with his foot. Everyone in the clearing flinched as they heard a sickening snap. Zaku cried out in pain as Sasuke released him.

Sakura was in tears as she watched Sasuke turn to Dosu. He said, "And then there was one." Kin was on the ground unconscious from Ino's jutsu. Sasuke began walking towards him, "I hope you're more of a challenge."

Sakura stared at Sasuke, that's…that is not Sasuke! Sakura ran forward tears streaming down her face, she wrapped her arms around Sasuke and shouted, "Stop!" She sobbed as Sasuke looked at her, "Please…please stop…"

Sasuke's strange fire like marks began to fade. After a few seconds they disappeared completely. Sasuke fell over onto his butt exhausted while Sakura exclaimed, "Sasuke!"

Sasuke and Sakura turned around as they heard Dosu say, "You're pretty tough." He pulled out an Earth scroll and placed it on the ground in front of him before he backed away. "We have no chance of beating you in your current state. Please accept this as a token of my admiration and as some reparation for your trouble…and allow us to leave in peace. After what we've done it may seem like a lot to ask, but something big is afoot that merits further investigation and confirmation! I give you my word, on behalf of us all. If you let us leave peacefully, the next time we meet we will face you till the end, no matter how badly we fare." Dosu picked up his injured teammates and watched as Sasuke nodded in agreement.

As Dosu began to walk off, Sakura shouted, "Wait!" Dosu turned to look at her. "You've got to tell me! Who is Orochimaru? What did he do to Sasuke? And why was it Sasuke that he chose?"

Dosu looked away from her, "I don't know…we were just following orders." Sakura believed him and allowed him to leave.

Shikamaru and his squad darted out of the bushes, "Hey! Are you all right? I hope it's not an imposition, Ino, but I'm leaving Lee in your care. Choji, check on Sakura and Sasuke, while I check on the—what the hell?" Shikamaru almost collided with Phoenix's lowered head.

Sakura wasn't paying attention to poor Shikamaru, her attention was focused on Sasuke as he said, "What…happened to me?"

Shikamaru glanced nervously from Phoenix to Sakura. Phoenix was trying to see what village Shikamaru belonged to. Frustrating! Now that those Sound ninja are gone, I can't let this boy pass, he's an enemy!

Shikamaru finally shouted, "Sakura! A little help?"

Sakura glanced at Shikamaru and saw how low Phoenix's head was, Sakura quickly said, "Phoenix, he's not the enemy! He wants to help!"

Phoenix glared at her, but he grudgingly raised his head, and made sure Shikamaru could pass safely through his heat barrier. Shikamaru glanced at Naruto and called to Choji, "Hey! Check on this idiot for me, will ya?"

Choji cautiously approached Phoenix before he moved Naruto carefully away from the firebird. Naruto muttered, "I'll save you Sakura, don't worry!" Choji rolled his eyes before he grabbed a stick and began poking Naruto with it to wake him up.

Shikamaru glanced around before he carefully scooped Sara up into his arms and whispered, "And here we have a sleeping beauty."

Sara smirked and whispered back, "I don't know about sleeping, I'm not even sure about that beauty part either, but in immense pain is an accurate description."

Shikamaru and Sara were lost in the others eyes, and they barely heard Naruto shout, "Everybody get down!" Followed by someone calling him a moron.

Shikamaru swallowed nervously and asked, "I know I should have asked this a long time ago, but…would you be my girlfriend?"

"I thought you'd never ask," Sara said as she smiled and than sat up with some difficulty.

Shikamaru glanced at her leg, "That's going to slow you guys down."

Sara glared at her leg, as if it had a mind of its own, "I know. I'll just have to fight against the pain." She gritted her teeth and stood up, putting some weight on the leg.

Shikamaru glanced at her before he said, "I'll go see if everyone else is okay." He moved off, feeling a bit happier.

Sara glanced up at Phoenix; you'll let me know what happened while I was out? Phoenix nodded. Sara tried to concentrate on what was happening in front of her as she began seeing memories through Phoenix's eyes.

She barely heard Naruto gasp and say, "Sakura! Your hair!

Sakura touched her shorter hair and said, "Oh, it's nothing! I wanted to change my look. Long hair is cool and all, but it's a real hassle out here and on missions.

Sara blinked and stared up at Phoenix as he finished; all that happened while I was out, huh?

Phoenix nodded; I'd keep an eye on that Uchiha boy…Sasuke. I didn't like the feel of that chakra.

Sara nodded and began hobbling over to her teammates, as Naruto asked, "Why are all of these guys here?"

Shikamaru sighed, "Explanations are so tedious!"

"These guys saved our butts," Sakura stated.

"So, Naruto," Sara said as she got closer. "Shouldn't you say thank you, since you were unconscious?"

Naruto glanced quickly at his friend and ignored her gibe, "Bright Eyes…you're hurt aren't you?"

Sara looked away as all of her teammates assessed the damage she had taken, dried blood on her clothes showed where some kicks had caused major damage.

"Are you all right?" Sakura asked. "Nothing severe?"

Sara watched as all her teammates gazed at her, why do I suddenly feel like I'm the leader? That's Sasuke. Not me! "I'm standing aren't I?"

Her teammates all sighed in relief. Naruto suddenly glanced at Lee and his teammate and shouted, "Hey! I know you, Bushy Brow!"

Sakura got up and punched Naruto, sending him flying across the clearing, "Don't talk to Lee like that!"

Sara sighed, I'll let her get away with that, since I know Naruto deserved it!

Naruto thought as he lay on the ground bruised, did everyone go crazy while I was out?

Shikamaru shook his head back and forth with disbelief and mumbled, "Naruto is the Olympic champion of cluelessness!" Choji sniggered.

Sakura walked up to Lee, "Thank you, Lee. Thanks to you, I've made some kind of break through. My skills have been taken to a whole new level!"

Lee's eyes watered as he said, "I'm not worthy!" He glanced at Sasuke, "It was Sasuke! It seems so natural that a member of the Uchiha clan would be the one with such incredible powers…that he could beat those same ninja that beat me senseless."

Sasuke stared at Lee in horror, what? Lee was beaten senseless? Were the Sound ninja really that strong?

Lee stood up and said, "Sakura…the fighting lotus of the Hidden Leaf Village will grow and flower again! Before we meet again, I will have become a stronger ninja. I swear it!"

Sakura smiled at Lee, "Yeah!" Naruto rolled his eyes.

Sakura turned around as Ino called out, "Sakura! If you'd like, I'll trim your hair to even up the ends!"

Sakura smirked, "Aren't you sweet?"

Shikamaru's Dream

As Shikamaru and the rest of his squad settled down for the night, after their battle against the Sound ninja; Shikamaru couldn't sleep, his excitement over having Sara as his girlfriend was a little too much. We've known each other since we were kids… I know we haven't been friends as long as she has been with Naruto…but I'm still the luckiest guy in the Hidden Leaf Village! I have a girlfriend who's unlike any other girl I've ever met, and she understands me! She knows I'm a lazy guy, but she doesn't care…man am I ever lucky… He glanced at the alarm clock that Ino had set for what Shikamaru considered to be an ungodly hour. I should get some sleep, otherwise I have Ino on my case before I can open my eyes…what a drag…

Shikamaru drifted off into a pleasant sleep, at least for a while.

Huh? I don't recognize this house…I really shouldn't enter it! Shikamaru stood at the door to the house and he started when it opened. I don't think I'm going to enjoy this. Shikamaru stepped into the house. It was nice looking as Shikamaru glanced around. He was standing in a living room that contained a couch and a recliner that wasn't facing him. Shikamaru almost jumped out of his skin as the recliner swiveled around.

In the chair was a man with silver hair, a scar under his right eye, and a scar on his throat, right over where his voice box would be. He wore a black sleeveless shirt that showed more scars doing down to his wrists, and black pants, similar to what Anbus would wear. He looks an awful lot like Sara's teacher…I have a feeling he can't speak, especially with that scar over his throat. Shikamaru watched as the man reached for a radio and turned it on, it began playing the chorus to Rodney Atkins "Cleaning This Gun" for those of you who are unfamiliar with the song, here's the chorus:

Come on in boy sit on down
And tell me about yourself
So you like my daughter do you now?
Yeah we think she's something else
She's her daddy's girl
Her momma's world
She deserves respect
That's what she'll get
Ain't it son?
Hey y'all run along and have some fun
I'll see you when you get back
Bet I'll be up all night
Still cleanin' this gun

The man's gaze never left Shikamaru all throughout the song, except for one second where he pulled out a kunai. The man raised his head up slightly and smiled at Shikamaru, Shikamaru stood still waiting for a kunai to fly at him.

Shikamaru sat bolt upright as he woke up. He was sweating and breathing hard, as if he'd fought in a battle. The look that guy was giving me…He shuddered. It was like he knew that song would play…I must have made him up! He looked too much like her teacher…Yeah that's it…My subconscious made him up! Ino's alarm clock went off and the song it began to play was Rodney Atkins Cleaning This Gun.

The Last Chance

Three days later, after their battle against the Sound ninja, and two days after Sara had managed to convince Phoenix to return to her body, Naruto and Sasuke were fishing.

As Sasuke pinned three fish against a tree with a kunai knife. He shouted as Naruto came out of the water, "Go under and flail around again! Three fish won't last us long and I'd like to preserve some too."

Meanwhile Sakura smiled as she finished gathering wood and she asked Sara, "Would you mind igniting this for me?"

Sara nodded and made the sign of the tiger, Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu! She cringed inwardly as pain shot through her body. Sakura smiled as Sara managed a small fire ball that ignited the fire.

Sakura said to her, "You have great control over your chakra!"

Sara nodded her mind elsewhere, why did it hurt to use my chakra? I've never had that happen before… Did I damage my chakra network? Phoenix do you know?

I can't focus on your chakra network! Phoenix replied irritably.

Sara sighed, I hope I didn't damage it…otherwise I'm no use to my teammates…

Sasuke and Naruto had brought the fish they had caught over to cook. As they all sat around the fire Sasuke said, "It's been four days since the Second Exam started, right?"

Sakura replied, "Yeah."

"And it began around 2:30 p.m. ….so it will be over in less than twenty-six hours."

Sakura stated, "A lot of teams must be finished by now which means…"

Sara interrupted Sakura, "We have less chance of finding a team with a Heaven Scroll

Naruto wasn't paying attention to the conversation. He was singing, "Oh! Hungry, I'm hungry! Hurry up and be ready to get in my tummy!"

Sasuke stared at the Earth Scroll; people will be getting desperate also.

Naruto was still focused on the fish, that looks like the biggest one!

When the fish were finally ready, everyone grabbed one. As they ate, Sakura glanced at the scroll. She said, "I'm worried…they might not be any Heaven Scrolls left."

Everyone turned to stare at her, Sasuke said, "What do you mean?"

"Well, the Second Exam is only due to last five days, and four days have already passed. That's eighty percent of the test time. There are twenty-six teams of three or four competing and only thirteen of each scroll Heaven or Earth. But…that was before that Orochimaru guy, who attacked us, burned our Heaven Scroll."

Sasuke sighed, "That means…"

"At that point the number of teams that could pass dropped to twelve," Sakura stated. "We have no way of knowing if any of the other scrolls were destroyed either. As soon as one scroll is destroyed, its counter-part becomes useless."

Sasuke looked thoughtful for a minute, "We split up from the rest of the Leaf Village teams and had to spend two days letting our wounds heal…. We'll have to widen our search to make up for the distance we've lost."

"One problem…" Naruto interrupted. "Bright Eyes is still injured she…!"

Sara almost managed to punch Naruto but he ducked at the last minute. "I'm fine!" She snapped. She faced Sasuke, "Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it. I'm not about to let my leg slow us down."

Sasuke nodded, "Good, because the next enemy we meet may be our last chance!" He stood up, "I'm going to get some water…"

"I'll come with you," Sara said as she staggered onto her feet. Sakura and Naruto watched them go.

Once they were a good distance away, Sasuke asked, "How fast can you go?"

"With pain or without pain?" Sara questioned.

Sasuke smirked, "Without."

"The pace we're at now," Sara stated. "But, if we run, I'll be fine. It won't be the first time I've had to go on willpower alone."

Sasuke glanced down at her left leg and said, "You lied on the first part. You're in pain even now."

Sara looked away. As they reached the river and began filling her canteen, she muttered, "I won't slow us down!"

Meanwhile, Naruto said to Sakura, "There's another way to get a Heaven Scroll and we won't even have to throw a punch!"

"How?" Sakura asked. Naruto dumped out some scrolls from his pack. "N-no…"

"Yes," Naruto said. "This way, if it's scrolls they want, I've got a million of them. A few brush strokes and some decoration, and one of these could pass for a Heaven Scroll in no time!"

"W-wait a minute!" Sakura said, "Even if you could make the outside look the same, we have no idea what's on the inside. They minute they're opened, we'll get busted you idiot!"

Naruto grinned mischievously, "Well…they usually have some kind of cryptic password written in them that doesn't make any sense until you bring the two together. So…you probably need that password to get into the tower at the end of the exam!"

Sakura wasn't convinced, "So what? We never saw the inside of the Heaven Scroll, so there's no telling what it said. There's no use in trying to make a fake!"

Naruto wasn't about to give up, "What if we used what we had to deduce what was inside the Heaven Scroll?" He grabbed the Earth Scroll and held it up. "Our Earth Scroll…"

"No, don't even say it!" Sakura exclaimed.

"I'm gonna open it…" Naruto stated.

Sakura punched him as she said, "NO! Have you forgotten the rules you idiot? We were told NOT to OPEN the scrolls!"

"But…" Naruto said looking up at her with puppy dog eyes.

A few seconds later Sakura was watching with apprehension as a sweating Naruto began to open the scroll. Naruto and Sakura jumped, as a hand grabbed Naruto's and said, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Sasuke and Sara were on their way back, when Sasuke spotted the intruder first, "An enemy…?" Sasuke bolted forward.

Sara quickly followed suit recognizing the intruder, I knew we couldn't trust Kabuto!

Once they got near their campfire, Kabuto explained what had happened. Sasuke glared at his two comrades, "You're hopeless! I can't even turn my back for one minute!" Sakura and Naruto lowered their heads in shame.

Sara sighed and gave Naruto a disappointed look before she moved towards a large boulder. She placed her back against the rock and slid down, sighing in relief as she took her weight off her bad leg.

She was barely listening to the conversation as Kabuto explained what happened to those who opened the scrolls, and when Sasuke demanded Kabuto fight him. Kabuto declined.

Kabuto said suddenly, "I can take a look at that leg if you want."

"Don't you dare!" Sara snapped as she pulled out a kunai. Kabuto backed off holding his hands in front of his body in a defensive gesture.

"I didn't mean any harm," Kabuto stated.

Sakura said, "Don't mind Sara, she's sometimes to proud to admit she needs help."

Sara glared, no! I just don't want any help from him! I still don't trust him!

Kabuto glanced at Sasuke and than addressed the rest of them, "I can show you the path you should tread to pass this exam. But let's move, while we discuss it. Your smoke from your fire will attract every enemy within the area."

Sara was gritting her teeth against the pain that shot up her leg as they moved through the trees. She couldn't listen to Kabuto as he babbled on about strategies. It HURTS! Every time I-ow- hit that leg it hurts…

She paid attention to the conversation as Sasuke asked, "So, where's your team? Or are you just helping us so you have, so to speak, a herd to stay with?"

Kabuto replied, "Well, you know what they say, safety in numbers."

Naruto dropped back and asked, "How are you doing, Bright Eyes?"

"I've been better," Sara managed to say. Naruto nodded. She was ecstatic when they stopped.

Kabuto said, "We're in view of the tower. This is where the fun begins."

Sara glanced up at the sky, when did night take its hold on the land?

Naruto shouted, jolting her out of her thoughts, "Then let's go!"

Everyone whipped around as they heard a noise behind them. Sakura said, "An enemy already?"

Naruto whipped out a kunai and shouted, "Over there!" They all stared, a tad grossed out, by the, now dead, centipede that was as long as all of their heights put together.

Kabuto ignored the centipede and turned to Naruto, "Naruto…the idea here is to not attract attention to ourselves. To make it simple, we don't want to be loud. So starting now, keep quiet and remain out of sight, like ninja should." Everyone nodded; all of them knew how to do that.

After, what felt like hours of walking, everyone was feeling exhausted, Sara was hobbling, barely managing to put weight on her leg, if this keeps up, even willpower won't be able to keep me going!

Sakura glanced back at Sara; she's never going to admit that she's exhausted! Sakura said, "I'm exhausted!" She sat down.

Sara sat down next to her giving her a grateful glance.

"Sakura!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sakura decided to keep acting to give Sara a longer breather, "I don't know how far we've come…but the tower never gets any closer."

Sara looked at the tower and muttered, "You're right."

Naruto said, "It's bizarre…It's right in front of us plain as day."

Kabuto said sarcastically, "We're already enjoying some enemy's warm welcome!" He pointed, "Look!"

Naruto exclaimed, "Aw man! No!"

Sara wasn't sure she wanted to look, she turned to see what Kabuto pointed at, Oh no! No! No! No! You can't tell me we've walked in circles or have been under a Genjutsu!

There, plain as day was the centipede that Naruto had killed earlier.

Naruto shouted, "What kind of crap is this?"

Sakura glanced at Sara, we've wasted our energy! How are we going to defend ourselves since we're all exhausted?

Sasuke spat, "Genjutsu!"

Kabuto nodded, "We walked right into it! We've been very, very cautiously running in circles."

"And undoubtedly watched…" Sasuke said.

Kabuto nodded again, "They know were exhausted, so they'll make their move soon."

"Right…" Sasuke said as he got into a battle ready stance.

Sara staggered onto her feet and said dryly, "Right on cue." She got into a battle stance as a ton of purple clad enemy shinobi appeared.

Naruto laughed, "The perfect handicap."

Trapped Like Rats!

Sakura moved to stand beside Sara, she can't fight! Not with that leg! What is she thinking?

Kabuto commented, "There are a lot of them, not to mention they're all clones."

"Wh-what?" Sakura said as she looked at Kabuto.

One of the clones laughed, "You're all trapped like rats!"

"Shut up!" Naruto said as he charged and punched a clone.

Sakura shouted, "Good one, Naruto!"

Naruto suddenly fell through the clone, as the clone burst right where Naruto had punched. The clone resembled itself.

Sara and Sasuke exchanged quick glances. Devil's Eyes! Sara thought as she gazed at the enemy.

Sasuke used his Sharingan and quickly blocked a clone's kunai that was aimed at Naruto.

Another clone threw a kunai at Sasuke. Sasuke suddenly stiffened in pain, and he couldn't move.

Kabuto tackled him down, "What are you-? GET DOWN!"

"Sasuke!" Sakura exclaimed.

Sasuke was panic stricken, what's going on? My body won't obey my commands!

Sakura ran over to Sasuke as Kabuto moved off, holding his shoulder. He picked up the kunai and muttered, "It's not an illusion."

Sara stood protectively in front of Sasuke and Sakura as the enemy closed in. One clone said, "Give us your scroll!"

Naruto asked, "Does the fact that these things hurt Kabuto mean they're real?"

Sasuke answered, "They are illusions."

Sara added, "The enemy is merely synchronizing their movements with the clones."

Naruto shouted, "So I'll hunt down the coward who's throwing kunai knives from behind the scenes and I'll kick his butt!"

Kabuto shook his head back and forth, "No, he can make us believe that the attacks are coming from any direction he wants. We'll never find him…but he's hoping we'll try. Based on my experience his kind are pretty much wimps when it comes to Taijutsu. The actual, physical foe won't face us until we're completely exhausted. Right now our only choice is to keep moving and avoid there attacks."

"Okay," Naruto said reluctantly. "If that's how we have to play it."

They all leaped into defensive positions constantly blocking attacks. After a while Sakura shouted, "How long can they keep this up?"

Naruto countered, "How long can we?" He made a hand sign and shouted, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto and his clones charged forward.

The sun began to slowly rise above the horizon. Sara was trembling as she stared down the enemy, while covering Naruto who was on his back.

Naruto muttered, "That's all I've got…" Everyone else was panting also.

The enemy finally stepped out. One of the ninja was the one Sasuke had injured when they first started off.

That ninja stepped forward, "I know you…" He pointed a kunai at Sasuke, "you're the one who maimed me, and here you are again… Forcing us to work hard all night. I'm so glad there's time for a little payback."

The enemy froze in terror as Sasuke said from behind them, "Now who's trapped?"

Sakura said, "Nice work, Naruto!"

The one ninja turned around, "Wh-what? No way! When…How did they?"

Naruto laughed in front of them, "Suckers!" His clones of the others disappeared. "Pretty slick, right? You were thinking that my shadow clones were my whole act. They were really only a distraction to keep you from noticing I was single handedly impersonating my whole team!"

Sara smiled, "And while he did that, we sneaked up behind you using Genjutsu to beat you at your own game!" Naruto fell to one knee from exhaustion.

"You used up all of your chakra, Naruto. I'll handle the rest," Sasuke said.

Naruto ran forward and kicked the nearest enemy. He said to Sasuke, "No way! I won't stand around and let you have all the fun!"

One More Face

Sara smiled at Naruto's outburst. Idiot… She watched as the enemy made more illusions. Crap!

"Shadow Clones?" Naruto questioned.

Sasuke replied, "No, just ordinary ones. There's got to be more to this, stay alert!"

Naruto said, "I'll plow right through them until I get to the real guy! One of them has to be solid!"

"That's a total waste of effort, bonehead," Sasuke stated.

Naruto charged forward, "Who asked you?"

Sakura shouted, "Naruto! Take it easy!"

Naruto made to punch one and went right through it.

Sasuke tried to use his Sharingan, every time I try to use the Sharingan my neck aches…I have to use it anyway! Sharingan! Sasuke fell to the ground, in pain, and Sakura ran over to help him.

Sakura stared at the mark that was beginning to spread on Sasuke's body, she shouted, "Sasuke, don't use the Sharingan again!"

Naruto turned and Sara watched in horror as one of the ninja came up behind him. No! I can't get to him fast enough!

Kabuto tackled Naruto out of the way. Naruto got up and shouted, "Kabuto, are you all right?" Naruto glared at the enemy, "All right you-!"

Sasuke shouted, "Naruto, it's no use, they're not among those illusions."

Naruto replied, "But illusions can't punch and stab! So where are these attacks coming from?"

"We wouldn't be in this mess if we knew that!" Sasuke snapped at him.

Sara shouted as she spotted a kunai coming out of the ground, "Kabuto! Naruto! Look out!"

Kabuto went flying as one of the real bodies cut him with their kunai knife. Kabuto staggered up with a demonic look in his eyes that sent chills up Sara's spine.

Naruto kicked the enemy and sent them flying. "Shame on you for letting your guard down!"

Kabuto sat up, "Thanks for the save, Naruto."

What's he playing at? Sara wondered as she watched Kabuto.

Sakura shouted, "That was amazing, Naruto!"

Since Naruto had knocked the enemy unconscious. Squad Seven, plus Kabuto, were resting for a minute.

Kabuto noticed the mark on Sasuke's neck and asked, "What happened to your neck? Are you wounded? That bruise looks nasty."

"It's nothing…" Sasuke replied.

Naruto said triumphantly, "Hey! They have a Heaven Scroll!"

"Good work," Kabuto said smiling slightly.

After a while they all made it to the tower, Kabuto's team was waiting. One of his teammates said, "You're late, Kabuto."

"Sorry," Kabuto replied. "I ran into a little trouble."

Naruto added, "But it's all good! Thanks to you, our team has a full set of scrolls!"

"Don't thank me. You earned them," Kabuto replied. He looked at the entrance to the tower, "This is the door we enter through. Gook luck, everyone give it your best!"

Squad Seven nodded as they proceeded through the doors. They stared around the room. "There's no one here…" Naruto stated.

Sakura pointed at a scroll that was hanging from the wall in front of them, "Hey! Look at that!"

Naruto muttered, "If heave your desire… I don't get it!"

"What's with the blank space?" Sara asked.

Sakura said, "I think it refers to the scrolls. It may be telling us to open them, but…"

Squad Seven stared apprehensively at the two scrolls. Naruto finally asked, "What are we waiting for?" He and Sakura began to open the scrolls.

*Sorry about not giving anybody any warning, I meant to say this on the last part (still adjusting to Fanfiction's setup) but I'll only be updating this twice a week from now on. There will be one more part up later today.