Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story except Naoko (do I?)

***Sakura***

Sakura watched anxiously as Sasuke gradually put out Amaterasu with his Mangekyou Sharingan. Finally, the last flame was gone.

"Quick!" She whispered as she rushed towards the unguarded entrance, pulling Sasuke along with her. He didn't object, which means that Madara must have thought that Amaterasu was a good enough shield.

But as they walked into the depth of the cave, another problem emerged.

They reached a chamber which served as a junction for three other caves. A familiar groan was heard from the cave on their right while the two others stayed quiet.

"Come on," Sasuke pulled her towards the cave, but Sakura held back.

"But Naruto said to turn left, he left a message after he was caught," protested Sakura.

"Fine, I'll check," He activated his sharingan again after a short rest he provided for his eyes and found that Sakura was right. Both the caves to the right and the centre were filled with chakra traps, but the cave to the left was filled with jinchuuriki chakras.

"So clever of him, Madara must have let slip something," Sasuke leaded Sakura towards the sealing chamber.

***Madara***

The lone Akatsuki member stood on the left thumb of the giant hand in front of Pain's stone statue, concentrating on sealing the last of the tailed-beasts. Luckily the statue did not disappear after his summon, he thought. Although standing there in one's actual body is not very safe as it makes him an easy target, Madara has no choice. Without the other Akatsuki members's help, he had to increase the chakra concentrated by being present on the statue himself. The last time he sealed the hachibi it took a whole boring week.

However, something felt not right as the kyuubi's chakra washed over him. It wasn't as powerful as he remembered. Furthermore it felt as though the Yin chakra is absent.

Did the Fourth Hokage divide the chakra into Yin and Yang before he sealed them separately? It would be more troublesome if he had to extract the nine-tails twice. You and your father expertise in meddling up my plans, groaned the Uchiha as he watched the host floating in the middle of the chamber.

***Sakura***

Both Sasuke and Sakura were pressing themselves flat on the wall. Another turn and they would face the source of the light. Together, they peered into the chamber.

Sakura found herself looking straight at a nine-eyed giant stone statue. She looked to the right, and saw a circular green light shone on the left thumb of a pair of hands in front of the statue.

Sasuke nudged her. He pointed towards something floating in the middle of the chamber.

Sakura turned her gaze to the object, and hoped she didn't.

The comrade they have been searching was suspended in mid-air, his shoulder length blond hair drooped helplessly, and the most horrible of all, a stream of light was pouring from his mouth to the mouth of the statue.

The sealing has started.

******

As both the ninja and the kunoichi thought desperately for a plan, one of the unnoticed stone in the cave eavesdropped on them. He hoped that the original will not scare them out of their wits, as even the smallest yelp would be echoed throughout the cave, and their position would be found out. He shifted uneasily as the third figure closed up on them. He and the others will be ready to spring into action in case they showed signs of wanting to yell or attack. Oh well, here goes nothing…

******

As he approached the two ninjas from behind, the figure tried to make a little noise so that his footsteps would be heard. He didn't want them to be too surprised at his appearance. But they seemed to be very deep in conservation and didn't notice him.

When he was near enough however, he was the one who was shocked.

"Sasuke?" he said incredibly.

Sure enough, they jolted, but did not do anything out of surprise. Both of them turned around, and found themselves face to face with Naruto.

"What the-"

"Shh, we don't want anyone to hear us," he approached them even more.

Sasuke turned to the figure floating in the chamber, and the figure standing right in front of them. He grinned.

"Yeah, clones." Naruto, reading his friend's reaction, replied. "But it won't hold him for more than 2 days."

"How did you make one without him noticing?"

"Well, I casted a genjutsu on that bastard so he can't see or sense any chakra other than my unconscious self, even if he uses his sharingan." Sasuke wondered when did Naruto learn such genjutsu. The kyubi host didn't bother to tell him that it was the power Itachi gave him. "But it won't work if lights came up and he realizes I wasn't there. So I made a clone in place before he started sealing and ran for it. He tied my hands up but forgot the fingers." He chuckled. "Unfortunately I can't find a route out without Amaterasu blocking the way so I came back instead. Made more clones and turned into rocks."

"Ran like a chook, didn't you," Sasuke smirked. Naruto scowled.

"Then why didn't I sense your chakra?" asked the Uchiha.

"The genjutsu works on anyone that came into this cave. And talking about chakras, why didn't you hide yours? If it wasn't for my genjutsu Madara'd notice you immediately," He looked at both of them. Suddenly, he realized that Sakura kept silent from the beginning. She just stared at him.

"Erm, Sakura? Are you all right?" he hoped he won't have to face another one of the Sakura-tempers in this situation.

"All right? We were worried sick of you and you just brag about why-didn't-we-hide-our-chakra." Oh no, thought Naruto.

As expected, a blow landed on him. He doubled over in pain, hoping the second blow won't be as heavy as the first. However, the kunoichi lifted him up and put her arms around him.

"I'm just glad you're alive," Sakura broke into sobs.

Naruto stood rooted to the spot. He remembered that he got the same thing from Sakura after he defeated Pain.

He put his arm around the kunoichi and hugged back.

Author Note: Sorry about the wait. Ideas popped up and the story ended up longer than I expected. Anyway, reviews please~~~ Less than 1% of my readers reviewed...