Chapter 8: Stampede
The group had been on the road for 4 days when they reached a fork in the road.
"Ok Arron, which way," asked Kakashi.
"Left from here," Arron replied.
"Oh man, how much further," Naruto asked.
"It should be around 8 miles from here," Arron said, "This road is rarely traveled, and is a bit misleading. After 7 miles, there are 2 flags that mark the way to the hideout. There are numerous traps and illusions guarding it. I've tried 11 times to get through, but I failed. I can't tell what's real and what's not. Once I made it 6 feet from the end."
"Well what happened at the end," Sakura asked.
"A giant horse attacked me," Arron replied, "It tried to trample me. I think it was an illusion, but I didn't take that chance. I climbed onto it's back, but it bucked me off. I barely escaped alive."
"Wow," Naruto said. They walked on for 2 more miles.
"Master Kakashi, it's about dark," said Sakura, "This place looks like a good place to set up camp."
"Alright, we camp here," Kakashi said. They set up camp and settled in for the night. They set up their mats and settled in. Arron heard Sakura shivering and went over to give her his blanket. Sasuke never slept during the night. He stayed up to keep Arron from killing them in his sleep, but Arron never did anything suspicious.
"Sasuke," Arron said.
"Yeah," Sasuke replied
"Go to sleep, I'm not going to kill you or anyone else," Arron said, "You won't be much good to anyone asleep.
"What about you," Sasuke asked, "Your not asleep."
"Well duh, I'm keeping watch," Arron replied, "Besides, I don't sleep. I haven't slept in over 3 years."
"Why not, aren't you tired," Sasuke said.
"No, I just rarely sleep," Arron answered, "I was born this way. I won't get sleepy again for about another year. Sasuke, please sleep for your teams sake."
"Hu…alright, I feel secure enough," Sasuke said, "After all, I've seen your stealth tactics. I'd wake up if you tried to kill me." Sasuke closed his eyes and went to sleep. Sasuke woke up to Sakura's voice. "Huh, is it morning," Sasuke asked.
"Yeah, let's get moving," Arron said with his boot on Naruto's face, "Come on you lazy fox, get up."
"Sakura, come on," Naruto said in his sleep with drool coming out of his mouth, "Just let me run my fingers through your hair."
"Err…he even dreams about me," Sakura said looking over, "Oh yeah, I measured my hair this morning, and it's the same length it was before I cut it." They all woke up, ate, and set off. They arrived at the flags and followed the trail.
"Arron, you say this path is full of illusions," Kakashi asked.
"That's correct," Arron replied.
"Then Sakura and I will lead," Kakashi said, "She's nearly as good as me in telling what's real and what's fake when I don't use my other eye." With Sakura and Kakashi leading, they breezed past the trail until they came to a giant horse.
"Is it real," Arron asked.
"It's sort of real," Sakura said, "It's a shell. It can do damage, but it can be countered with the right move easily."
"And I know just how to do it," Sasuke said making some hand symbols, "Art of the all seeing eye of truth." Then, his eyes began to glow, and the horse vanished.
"Cool move," Arron said. They walked up to the building and saw the massive steel double doors with a small keyhole in-between them.
"Crud, it's locked," Naruto said pushing on the door, "Now how do we get in."
"You can't," a voice said from behind. He was dressed in brown pants, a giant shuriken on his back, kunai and shuriken cases all over, black shirt, and a leaf headband around his forehead. "You have to have the key, and to get a key, you must kill me," he said, "So, your stuck."
"Gamdori, I presume," Arron said, "I should've known that horse illusion was your doing."
"Long time, no see, Arron," Gamdori said, "It doesn't matter how many little friends you have. I'll still beat the living crud out of you."
"Enough talk, let's end this," Arron said. Everyone assumed a fighting stance. "Careful, Gamdori is one of the fastest humans on Earth," Arron whispered, "If you delay an attack at all he'll kill you."
"I'll ask you one last time," Gamdori said, "Join Demon Circle or I'll slaughter you all. Especially Naruto."
"No," Arron said.
"Yeah, what he said," Naruto said.
"Looks like you have no takers," Kakashi said.
"Then you've all chosen death," Gamdori said. Gamdori lunged into a tree. "He, he, he, he, he, I'll take the 5 of you out in 1 move," Gamdori said as his voice came from everywhere, "Fire style, art of the wildfire stampede." A huge wall of fire began to move toward them at great speed. It seemed as if it where a stampede of horses swept across the land. When the smoke cleared, there were 5 bodies burnt to a crisp on the singed ground.