"Just like cornered rats..." A clone laughed, muffled under his mask, as he smirked and looked between the members of Team Seven.

Naruto clenched his fists and his jaw, and then rushed at the clone with his fist raised. "Shut up, ya know!"

"Oh, the clones are pretty weak in reality, huh?" Sakura smiled slightly as Naruto's fist made contact with the clone, who made no attempt to block or dodge the strike. "Good job, Naruto!"

Kabuto turned to look at Naruto over his shoulder as the clone's torso became tarlike and the boy's fist emerged through the other side of the clone's now-liquid center. Naruto's eyes widened as his strike created a gaping hole in the clone's side. The rest of the clone melted to nearly form a puddle onto the ground, only half-standing now.

"What are these guys?" Sasuke gritted his teeth as Naruto fell to the ground, having had too much momentum in his attack.

A second clone emerged from the hole in the other's side, holding a double-ended Kunai knife.

"W-What's going on here?" Naruto asked under his breath as he slowly sat up from where he'd fallen. Sakura, Sasuke, and Kabuto stared wide-eyed at the clone as the clones slowly separated.

"I'll figure this out." Sasuke gritted his teeth and blinked, changing his eyes. "Sharingan!"

The new clone pulled away from the original and raised his weapon to strike Naruto in the back.

"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted, drawing Shuriken and leaping up quickly. His Shuriken struck the clone's arm, destroying its tarlike form, and the weapon clattered to the ground as Naruto turned to see.

The half-split clones turned their connected torsos to look at Sasuke, then raised another weapon to throw it at the Uchiha.

"Sasuke!" Naruto's eyes widened as Sasuke froze in place suddenly.

Sasuke grunted quietly as the mark on his neck glowed and throbbed, sending the fiery, agonizing sensation through his body and clenching his muscles. Kabuto's eyes widened at Sasuke and he shifted his body to shield his body with his own. The blade scraped his shoulder and a small amount of blood splattered from the wound as the pair felt to the ground.

Kabuto closed his eyes briefly and then opened them again to shot a glare toward the clone before quickly getting to his feet once again. Sasuke remained frozen on the ground with his lips parted slightly and his Sharingan still activated.

"What's going on?!" Sasuke's vision blurred as his body remained paralyzed. "My body is..."

Sakura knelt beside him, helping Sasuke sit up slowly as he winced. "Sasuke, are you okay?"

Kabuto held his hand to his shoulder as he picked up the Kunai and examine the blade. "There's no mistake. This is the real thing, not an illusion."

"Scroll please." The clones stepped closer to the group, all repeating the same phrase. "Scroll please."

"If Kabuto was injured does that mean that these are actual Shadow Clones?!" Naruto raised his own Kunai defensively and backed slowly towards where Kabuto stood. "B-But... Shadow Clones are supposed to vanish if they take a direct attack. These things didn't." He turned to Kabuto over his shoulder. "Is this a Genjutsu?! Which is it?!"

"Scroll please. Scroll please." The clones drew closer and continued to chant. "Give me scroll."

"Darn it!" Naruto glared and raised his Kunai for a strike.

"It's no use!" Sasuke called out to him. "Stop!"

Naruto froze and cautiously looked between Sasuke and the clones.

"These things are illusions." Sasuke furrowed his brows and looked around at the clones with his Sharingan. "This is all a Genjutsu."

"B-But!" Sakura's eyes widened and she looked at him. "Kabuto's wound is the real thing!"

"No, it's as Sasuke says." Kabuto looked around in the branches his above them. "The enemy is likely hiding somewhere and coordinating their attack with the movements of the Genjutsu clones in order to attack from a different location, only pretending as if those Genjutsu clones are attacking.

Oboro chuckled through his mask as he watched them from above and narrowed his eyes. "I wonder how long they can hold out for."

"Then I'll just find the idiot who's behind the scenes and I'll kick his butt, believe it!"

"Hold it, Naruto." Kabuto turned to look at him. "We've been deceived as to the true source of the Kunai knives, so we can't easily determine the exact location of the enemy in this situation. Do you understand? That is what the enemy's goal is."

Naruto clenched his fists and stayed where he was as he looked around, and Kabuto continued to explain.

"From a data standpoint, it's a type who is weak at close combat and Taijutsu and prefers this type of tactic. On the surface, it's a cowardly approach, but highly effective in that it confuses the targets enough to allow them to be worn down until they are eventually defeated." Kabuto frowned slightly. "Listen, you guys! Even if we know this is Genjutsu, all there is to do now is to fend off the enemy attack."

"Fine." Naruto smirked slightly. "If that's what their plan is..."

"The night is long." Kagari laughed a sharp, higher-pitched chuckle that faded into a slow, seething exhale.

Mubi held up three Kunai between his knuckles, throwing them at the same time that the clones through their Illusion Kunai. Naruto dodged the Kunai aimed at him, while Sakura blocked one with a Kunai of her own.

The clones threw more Kunai, dodged by Sasuke and Kabuto, and Mubi continued to throw his Kunai down at them from different angles. The defending Shinobi were left out-of-breath from the volleys, breathing heavily as they cautiously watched the clones surrounding them.

"This is never-ending!" Sakura panted and complained.

Naruto looked at Sakura, then furrowed his brows and frowned at the clones in front of him. "Since it's come to this..."

"Stop!" Kabuto's eyes widened slightly and looked at him. "Naruto, don't waste your Chakra! Even if you attack these things, there's no point!"

Oboro narrowed his eyes down at the Leaf Genin and Naruto smirked.

"If I hit them all in a single sweep, the enemy won't fire inadvertently while these things are reverting back, ya know! And we'll finally know where they're hiding." He paused to channel his Chakra. "Check me out! Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A large cloud of smoke burst through the area and revealed a horde of Narutos as it cleared.

"Shadow clones?!" Oboro's eyes widened as the Narutos ran at each of the tarlike clones in a flurry of punches, kicks, and Kunai strikes. One Naruto clone wrapped his legs around the waist of one clone from behind, then locked his arm around his neck is a stronghold, continued to apply pressure until the clone burst open and fell to the ground in a dark, sticky puddle. The clones reformed from their puddles only to be quickly destroyed by Naruto's clones once they finished reforming.

"I'm not done yet!" Naruto and his clones rushed at the inky clones again and again, defeating them before they had a chance to fully solidify."

Sasuke, Sakura, and Kabuto stated wide-eyed at Naruto and his clones. Sasuke furrowed his brows, clenching his jaw tightly as he watched Naruto fighting. Sakura bit her lip and glanced at Sasuke.

"Sasuke, what should we do...?"

"That loser..." Sasuke muttered and balled his hand into fists. "All there is to do is to go for it!"

"B-But—!" Sakura's eyes widened, then she furrowed her brows slightly in concern.

"This is not a situation that he can get through by himself." Kabuto narrowed his eyes and held up the weapon in his hand.

"Let's go, Sakura!" Sasuke ran at the clones to join the fight, slashing through several as Kabuto cut several clones in half and Sakura nodded quickly.

"Yeah!" Sakura drew her own Kunai and leaped into the air to cut through a clone, severing its arm with a grunt. "Cha!"

The group continued to fight until dawn began to break over the forest. The clones continued to reform and attack, wearing them down with each strike. A clone knocked the Kunai from Sakura's hand and struck her hard, and she fell to the ground. Kabuto's back hit a tree after he was thrown by his opponent, and Sasuke's legs trembled as he dodged an attack, only to collapse from exhaustion. Clones slowly surrounded the three of them as the last of Naruto's clones were dispelled and he was knocked to the ground. He gritted his teeth and they all breathed heavily as they regained their breath.

"Dawn is breaking. It's finally time for the hunt." Mubi continued to maintain his handsign and watched as the clones completely surrounded their targets.

"Mubi, that's enough." Oboro chuckled. "We're through breaking their spirits. The only thing left is their bodies."

"...Alright." Mubi lowered his hand and the clones disappeared. He leaped down from the branch to the ground below to meet Kabuto's eyes, and his teammates jumped down to stand on either side of him.

"Lucky." Oboro laughed and looked between them.

Sasuke's eyes widened at them as the Rain Ninja locked eyes with him.

"You're the one who... did my left shoulder." Oboro took a step forward, holding a Kunai up. "I finally found you. You really hung me up. How lucky. I can finally even the score."

Naruto clenched his jaw and kept his eyes on Oboro in silence, trembling slightly before he let out a short breath and smirked.

"Heh."

Oboro's eyes widened and voices came from the forest around them.

"Just like cornered rats." Sasuke smirked.

"That went well, Naruto!" Sakura beamed at the blond and clasped her hands together.

Oboro looked between the four Leaf Genin as he blinked, and they sat in their same positions as before, panting in exhaustion. They turned around to see their enemies standing behind them as well, all wearing smirks as they watched the bewildered Rain-nin.

"W-What the hell are these guys?! This can't be! Since when—?!"

"Idiot!" The Naruto that knelt on the ground narrowed his eyes as he smirked. "You finally showed your true colors, punk." He held up a hand sign and his teammates beside him transformed in a small burst of smoke to reveal three clones.

"Don't tell me this brat..."

"Heh." Naruto stood and crossed his arms. "The Shadow Clones were just the preparation for the trick, ya know, for me to disguise myself as all the members of our team!" The clones disappeared.

Sasuke put his hand on his hip with his Sharingan active. "At the same time Naruto lifted the Shadow Clones, the three of us hid and waited. The Genjutsu users were then adversely fooled."

Naruto's smirk faltered and he fell to his knees, his breathing harder than before.

"Naruto!" Sakura's eyes widened slightly and Sasuke looked at him.

"You've used too much Chakra. Leave the rest to me."

Oboro's team turned to look at the Uchiha, and Naruto sprang up to land a hard hit to Oboro's face. He knocked back into his teammates, and the three of them fell to the ground in a pile.

"There's no way I'm going to let you have all the fun, Sasuke, when it's just gotten good!"

Sasuke watched the blond carefully and furrowed his brows. "Is this really that Naruto...? Since when did he improve this much?"

Mubi slowly sat up and turned to Naruto. "This brat's stronger than I expected. After all that, he shouldn't be able to move."

"Naruto..." Sakura murmured and frowned slightly.

"What amazing Chakra stamina." Kabuto's eyes rested on Naruto. "Right after using the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu to such extent, he used a daring plan to transform into the three of us and performed convincingly enough to fool our opponents. And now he can still move after doing all that. On top of that, it's the fifth day. This kid will transform if he can just master the use of his Chakra."

Oboro, Mubi, and Kagari stood and focused on Naruto.

"Not bad, brat." Oboro formed a hand sign, and Mubi and Kagari did the same. "But, we're still not unlucky." He glanced upward at the morning light streaming through the forest canopy. "There's no time. This time... we'll show you our Ninjutsu!" His eyes narrowed. "Ninja Art: Fog Clone Jutsu!"

Dozens of clones appeared around the Ame-Genin and Naruto looked around them. "Shadow Clones?"

"No, those are ordinary clones." Sasuke eyed them with his Sharingan. "However, he's up to something."

"Hah! If they're just clones, then there's still only one real body. I'll just kick their butts right and left until I find him."

"You idiot!" Sasuke frowned slightly. "Such a reckless tactic."

"I'm telling you! I'm saying don't stick your nose in!" Naruto ran at the clones and Sakura's eyes widened slightly.

"Naruto! Don't just rush in!" Sakura held her hand close to her chest and Kabuto shook his head.

"Jeez."

Sasuke's eyes went wide and his body froze. A burning sensation rushed over his skin, concentrated at his neck. Unable to move, he trembled slightly. "My neck hurts each time I use my Sharingan. Maybe I used too much Chakra before. Damn it."

Sakura looked over at Sasuke and bit her lip, and Naruto's fist went through a clone.

"Darn it! A clone?" He lunged at others, only for his fists to pass through them. "These ones, too?!"

"Naruto, stop this already!" Kabuto jumped in the middle of the group of clones.

"They're all fakes?!" Sakura's mouth gaped slightly. "This can't be Genjutsu again, so that means that these clones are all similar to that form of Natsumi's that she used against us in our match. If that's the case, there's got to be some way that we can counter them."

"This is the last of my Chakra." Sasuke formed hand signs and sucked in a breath, opening his eyes wider. "Sharingan!" His vision shifted and each figure before him was cloaked in blue Chakra. The mark on the back of his neck glowed like embers and pain shot through him. He let out a scream and quickly covered the back of his neck as his knees buckled.

"Sasuke!" Sakura quickly knelt beside where he had dropped and she placed a hand on his back. Her eyes widened as she moved the collar of his shirt to look at the glowing mark, which had begun to expand slightly. "That mark again..." She bent to meet his eyes as he grunted and winced. "Stop using your Sharingan, Sasuke!"

"Sasuke?" Naruto turned to look over his shoulder and Oboro raised a double-ended Kunai, smirking as he aimed at the blond.

"How foolish of you to create an opening!" -

He brought the weapon down, narrowly missing as Kabuto shoved the boy out of the way.

"Kabuto!" Naruto looked at the cut on his leg, then glared at the group of clones. "Darn it!"

"Stop, Naruto!" Sasuke gritted his teeth and look at him. "No matter how much you try to hit them, the real one isn't among them."

"Then where's the enemy attacking from?! If they're just clones, then they won't be able to attack!"

"If I knew that, then we wouldn't be in such a tight spot." Sasuke gripped his shoulder. "This is part of the enemy's plan."

Naruto tried to stand but his body shook and he was forced back to the ground. "Darn it! I can't use the Shadow Clone Jutsu anymore..."

"Now they're too exhausted to even stand. How lucky." Oboro smirked beneath his mask and jumped into the air with his Kunai, once again taking aim at Naruto.

Sasuke strained his Sharingan a final time to see the Oboro clone aim its strike at Naruto as Oboro, Mubi, and Kagari emerged from the ground behind Naruto and Kabuto with their own weapons.

"That's it! The real body hides with that Earth-style technique and attacks from behind while the clones have you busy!"

Kabuto turned to look over his shoulder as Oboro slashed him with his Kunai. Blood splattered and Naruto paled as he lay motionless.

"Kabuto!"

The Rain Genin stood at their full heights and looked down at Kabuto, freezing as Kabuto's head whipped around in a murderous glare.

Naruto ran at them, jumping to kick Oboro hard in the face and knocking the three of them to the ground. Naruto dusted off his jacket as he stood and walked over to where Oboro lay. His respirator had been knocked off, and he drooled in unconsciousness.

Naruto chuckled and wiped his nose. "Heh. 'How foolish of you to create an opening,' right?"

Kabuto blinked and his icy expression shifted into a sheepish smile as he rubbed his head. "Thanks Naruto. You saved me."

"Great job, Naruto! We're both fine over here, so it's finally over!" Sakura waved to him, and then helped Sasuke to his feet.

Naruto's cheeks warmed and he scratched his cheek with a grin. "Yes! Sakura's giving me praise!"

Kabut rested his hand on his hip and glanced down at Sasuke, who watched him with narrowed eyes from over his shoulder.

"What happened there? Did you get injured?" Kabuto's eyes rested on the mark on the back of the boy's neck. "That's a strange mark."

Sasuke frowned and covered it with his hand, turning to look up at him. "It's nothing to concern yourself over."

After catching his breath, Naruto clambered over to Oboro's body and dug through his pouch. He broke into a wide grin and jumped up. "Look, look! It's a Heaven Scroll! Just what we need, ya know!"

"Good for you!" Kabuto smiled back.

Sasuke stood and kept his eyes on Kabuto as he put his hands into his pockets. "There's something about this guy that I don't like."

Kabuto stood at the top step of the tower's entrance as Naruto climb the final stair and turned to watch Sakura as she helped Sasuke ascend. From the forest, Yoroi and Misumi approached, and Kabuto turned toward them as they drew nearer.

"Oh, it's you two."

"You're late, Kabuto." Misumi glanced toward the trio of rookie and frowned slightly behind his mask.

"Well, I got a bit involved in something, sorry."

"But, but! Thanks to you, we were able to get the scroll we needed." Naruto grinned and crossed his arms behind his head."

"No, I didn't do much. It was because you guys persevered and fought hard." Kabuto smiled and waved his hand. "You were amazing in the end, Naruto."

"Heh." Naruto's grinned widened and he chuckled.

"Well, we're going through this door now." Kabuto looked between the three of them and gave them a thumbs-up. "It was good working with you all, even if only for a short time."

"Okay!" Naruto nodded and gripped the door's handles and drew in a deep breath. "Alright! Here we go!" He pushed open the doors to tear their seal, and he stepped inside the building. "Team Seven has made it!"

They stood in the center of the room and looked around.

"Huh?" Naruto held his hand up to his eyes. "There's nobody here."

Sasuke pulled away from Sakura to stand on his own. "I'm fine now, Sakura."

"R-Right!" She smiled awkwardly and shut her eyes and he stepped away from her. "Drat! This is so disappointing!"

"Hey, hey, what're we supposed to do in here, ya know?" Naruto walked around the room and scratched his head.

"Oh, look at that!" Sakura pointed at some writing posted on the back wall.

"Oh, nice job, Sakura!" Naruto smiled and turned to read it. "Without heaven... hmm... I don't get it at all."

"Ahem." Sakura cleared her throat. "If Heaven does not exist, enrich your knowledge and prepare for the chance. If Earth does not exist, run the fields in search of an advantage. Open the series of Heaven and Earth, and the perilous way shall be redressed... this is namely the secret of 'the one that guides.'"

"Eh..." Naruto scratched his head and look at her. "What's that mean?"

"Well, I'm not sure." Sakura looked between him and the message once more. "It looks as though there are letters of something missing there. It probably has to do with the scrolls." She paused to read it again, then furrowed her brows. "I think this means that we're supposed to open the Heaven and Earth scrolls, now."

"If you think so, then I'm sure that's right." Naruto nodded in agreement and then held out both scrolls to her. She took the Heaven scroll and he held out the Earth scroll in front of them, pausing several moments as they looked down at the scrolls. -

Naruto swallowed and they nodded to each other. "Alright then, let's open them now."

Kabuto stepped inside the building and the door shut behind him, then a voice came from the shadows.

"What of the harvest?"

"Ah, yes. More than I expected." Kabuto adjusted his glasses with his middle finger. "I was able to fill in all of the missing data." He held out a card toward the figure. "You need this, right?"

"So, how was it?" The man stepped forward to reveal his face, and Kabuto chuckled.

"Sure enough, it appears you're rather curious, Lord Orochiarmu."

Orochimaru took the card and held it up to look it over with a satisfied smirk. "I want to ask your opinion, Kabuto. As the Sound Village's spy..."

"That's not really necessary, is it?" Kabuto put a hand on his hip. "You will be the one to decide it all, so..."

"As always, I like that cleverness of yours. Good work." Orochimaru laughed under his breath before he was enveloped by a swirling cloud of smoke, disappearing as it dissipated.