Last time, the demons hatched their new plan by attacking outlying villages around Meridian. Naruto and the other ninjas were able to save several children by escorting them back to the city before nightfall. When the demons attacked again, two of them were killed; one by Garra, the other killed itself when it lost to Rock Lee. Back in meridian, Rock Lee realized that he had a crush of Hay Lin, and Hay Lin realized she had a crush on Rock Lee. Meanwhile, the Empress of the Naz'riak formulated a new, foul plan. On with the show!

Chapter 9: Mega-Demon part 1

A pattern had formed over the next three days. Naruto and his fellow ninjas would leave for several villages in the mornings, and return with the children before sunset. They would then leave for other villages and waited for the demons to attack. Sometimes they would catch them, and a few times they wouldn't. Sometimes Will and the other Guardians would go with the ninjas to escort the children.

Case in point: On the morning of the fourth day, Irma, Cornelia and Caleb were with Naruto, Saske and Sakura on the way to another village. "I still don't understand how you can make two journeys a day to villages and back to the city," said Caleb, "One by day, one by night, potentially have to fight off the demons, all awhile getting on with less than 4 hours of sleep a day." "When you're a ninja," said Sakura, "You eventually learn to survive without much sleep. Sometimes we can go for 3 days without even a catnap."

"That's nothing," boasted Naruto, "I can go for 5 days without any sleep at all, believe it!" "Yeah," said Saske, "And on the sixth day, you'll be so zonked out, not even the smell of ramen can wake you up." "That's a lie!" exclaimed Naruto, "The ramen would wake me up." "I don't mean to interrupt this conversation," said Cornelia, "But is that smoke up ahead? Or is it my imagination?" Indeed there were large plumes of smoke billowing just up the road. "Let's move!" exclaimed Naruto as he, Sakura and Saske ran so fast, it seemed like they disappeared.

Irma, Cornelia and Caleb hurried to catch up. When they caught up with the ninjas, they were shocked and appalled at what they saw. The entire village was burned to charred ruins. Bodies lay everywhere, some burned to a crisp, some stabbed, others ripped apart. The sight of so much death was too much for Cornelia as she ran to a nearby bush to throw up. Caleb went over to steady her. Irma, still in shock, used her power over water to put out the fires, while there was little, if nothing left to save.

"My god!" said Sakura, "Who could have done this?" "Three guesses," said Naruto angrily, "But I only need one." "Naz'riak." Said Saske. "I thought they only attacked at night." Said Cornelia, who had finished tossing her breakfast. "We've only seen them at night," said Caleb, "That doesn't mean that they only come out at night." "Where are the children?" asked Irma, "I see only dead adults. What did they do with the children!" "I don't know," said Naruto, "But I'm gonna find out!"

Here and there in the village there were survivors. They all told the same story: "It was just one creature, at least six feet tall and full of scaly muscle. It just walked into the village. There was a flash of green light, and all the children were gone. It then started to burn down the village. Everyone who tried to stop it was killed." "Where did this thing go?" asked Saske. "When it was done, it just walked out, heading southwest, towards the next village." "Then southwest we go." Said Naruto. Caleb then told one of the survivors to hurry back to Meridian. "Tell Queen Elyon to send reinforcements as soon as possible."

Back on the road our travelers were pondering the situation. "One demon did all of that," said Cornelia, "What kind of monster are we dealing with here?" "Whatever it is," said Naruto, "It's gonna pay, big time."

As they neared the next village, they stopped to their horror, as black smoke rose from the charred ruins. "Oh no!" said Sakura. The scene before them was identical to the last village: buildings burned to the ground; dead bodies everywhere and no children at all. Here and there, there were survivors who told the same story as before: one demon took the children, burned the village and killed anyone who tried to stop it. Caleb asked one of the survivors to head to Meridian to get help, as Naruto asked which way the demon went: Due West.

As the morning progressed, our travelers found a third destroyed village. "This has got to stop," said Naruto, "When we catch up with this thing, I'm gonna turn it inside out! Believe it!" "I'll believe it when I see it." Said Saske. The survivors told Caleb that the demon passed no more than an hour ago. "We're catching up with it," said Caleb as he told the villager, "Head back to Meridian. We must have reinforcements soon."

Back in Meridian, word had just reach Elyon of the second destroyed village. "This is unacceptable!" exclaimed Elyon, "This cannot go on! Vathek, I wan every available soldier in the area to back up Naruto and Cornelia at once!" Suddenly, Both Elyon and Will tensed, as if sensing something. "What is it?" asked Taranee. "A Fold just opened somewhere," said Will in a somewhat distant voice, "And I didn't open it." "Neither did I." Said Elyon.

Meanwhile…

This time the demon left on a road heading northwest. While on the road, Naruto suddenly stopped. He sniffed the air, as if smelling a trap. "I smell a trap!" he said, "It's here!" "I smell nothing," said Cornelia, "How can you tell?" "I just do." Answered Naruto. "Well whatever this thing has planned," said Irma, "It'd better be ready to face the wrath of two Guardians and one former rebel leader." "Plus three of the best Chûnin in Konohamaru." Said Sakura.

Just then, Naruto stiffened in anticipation. "What is it?" asked Cornelia just as something appeared in front of them. There was a bright flash of light from the thing in the road. Naruto, Sakura and Saske had managed to cover their eyes, but Cornelia, Irma and Caleb weren't so lucky. When the light faded, Cornelia, Caleb and Irma fell to the ground. They tried to get up, but found they couldn't.

"What happened!" exclaimed Irma, "I can't move!" Caleb and Cornelia were in similar conditions. "What did that thing do to us?" asked Cornelia. As the ninjas checked over the fallen, it was Saske who had the answer; "It must have used some kind of paralyzing jutsu. It should where off within an hour."

The three ninjas then faced the demon, for it was the demon they were chasing. As described by the villagers, it was over six feet tall and full of scaly muscle. "Why did you destroy all those villages?" asked Sakura angrily. "To draw out you Shinobi," hissed the demon, "To force you into the open where you can be destroyed. Those three were unfortunate to be caught by my Medusa Beam Jutsu. They should be able to move within the hour, but they won't live that long. But first, I shall have the honor of carrying out the will of the Empress, by destroying the leader of the Shinobi who dare stand against the Naz'riak."

"Your search is over," said Naruto grimly, "Come and get me."

To Be Continued. Next chapter, Naruto, Sakura and Saske fight the demon. Please read and review. See you next time!