Chapter 14

Naruto sighed the ambush had turned out badly while they had gotten the jump on the group at first. They had destroyed Naruto's summons before they had a chance to make themselves useful. It did not take long after this for Naruto's groups attack to be repelled. But the group did not stay around long to finish them off as one of their team ran through some hand signs forming a large box over the group. It did not take them long to realizing what was going on. The large box of stone was draining their charka and using it to keep the Justu active.

It was not a large drain on the group but it would not take long before they started feeling weaker. Akamaru Kiba's dog was also at risk since he had less charka than any of them and could possibly be killed if they did not get out soon. Neji then using his eyes found a weak point in the large stone box but Naruto shook his head and told them to back up. The weak point was secondary plan, as Naruto quickly change shape with a bright flash.

The Sound ninja outside felt something weird going on, as the charka that should have been coming into his body had stopped complete. Quickly ending the Justu he made the box form back into the ground so he could make the killing strike. But all he saw was a large hole in the ground. He was surprised at this and at once on guard for an attack. What happened though he did not expect, out of all the things that should have happened a huge snake made of rock crashing up through the ground into him was not something that he would have ever thought of.

But happen it did, and sent him flying high into the air, then as he started to come down a hail of Kunai came flying rapidly toward him. He did not have much of a chance to do anything as he activated his own true defense against this attack. He went into activated the curse seal bring it up to level two. It saved him as the Kunai were thrown back from the force of the charka wave that came off him. But he still had two major problems, first where the Leaf Ninja were and secondly dealing with the rock snake below him.

But his worries were ended as Neji appeared behind him without a sound, and delivered a powerful palm strike to the back of his neck and head. The affects were instant as the charka stopped following to his head, and his brain was destroyed from the strikes. Neji thanks to the rock snake was able to land safely as the sound ninja fell to the ground hard, dead. Neji jumped down as another flash of light filled the area and Naruto stood were the rock snake once was.

Kiba and Shikamaru came out of the hole while Choij came out of the tree where he had thrown Neji. Neji then did a quick check on the ninja and finding him truly dead nodded speaking up, "He is down and out."

"Okay let's get moving, Neji you take center spot this time since they might be expecting us I want you looking for anything that be a trap," Shikamaru said as the group moved out. It did not take them long to find the group, and like before, there were no traps just a weird webbing system was made to alert the group to anyone.

Stopping still a good was away Shikamaru sighed, "Well we got lucky but I am not sure how much longer our luck will hold out. We need to remove the group and fast."

"Well we cannot take them out with my bird summons, as you saw that was a terrible fail," Naruto said with a light growl.

"Well you could charge into the group as that rock monster again," Kiba suggested.

"Possibly but the moment they figure out what my weakness is that idea is shot, also it is call Onix," Naruto said.

"How would they guess what your weakness is?" Kiba asked confused.

"Earth loses to Water in Justu, it is the same with my change," Naruto deadpanned.

"That and it would spread the group out, and while that would normally be a good thing. If the last guy is anything to go by I think these 3 that are left are used to fighting alone," Shikamaru said taking a weird stance and started to think. The others watched him as Neji kept his eyes on the group.

He then smirked as he came out of the stance, "Naruto how long can your clones take that form?"

"About an hour if need be," Naruto said shrugging.

"Good it is time to herd those Ninja right to where we want them. Naruto this is what I want you and your clones to do…"

The sound ninja's day after this was getting bad and quickly, not only did they have to dodge these weird rock snakes that kept coming at them. Almost out of nowhere it seemed. But the attacks had continued for nearly an hour and now forcing them to expend much of the little energy they had left. Their only real hope was that the process that Sasuke was being affected by would be finished soon. Or else they would have to use their curse marks to save themselves and escape hopefully getting back to the base. They had already tried their attacks on the creatures but the moment they had tried a sound based attack it had been turned on them as the creature unleashed a powerful screech. This had left them to disorient to even think straight as they were almost herded like sheep.

As the creatures disappeared yet again they fell to the ground panting hard trying to catch their breath while they had time. They looked around carefully watching for any sign of the creature, the slightest movement of the earth below their feet. Sighing to themselves they settled down for a small rest as the creatures seemed to have vanished.

The lone female in the group growled out, "What the hell is with these creatures. Every time we move towards the Rice country we are blocked."

"Tayuya, as much as I would agree with you, focus on trying to think of what those trash from the leaf are planning. Since I am sure Jirobo was killed by them," The more normal looking of the two males said.

"Fine Sakon, I will be I doubt I can come up with much," Tayuya said growling again as she leaned against a tree trying to think of a way to what they needed. But she was barely able to lean against the tree when they were forced to move again. Kunai started raining down on them forcing them to move and abandon the barrel that they had guarded up till now. Moving rapidly they made to try and get around the Kunai to get to the attackers but when they reached the source of the Kunai they found nothing.

It took them all of a second to realize what had happened, this was a trap. Jumping away they activated their own curse seals again just in case. This was lucky as not a second later a clones came charging towards them changing shape as they went. They braced themselves for the assault getting their own attacks ready. But for them they were unprepared for what came next. The clones' forms shifted fully into an attack they had all heard about.

They tried to get away but the clones exploded into large balls of swirling chakra. Not able to dodge or escape they activated the second level of their curse seal but it was not enough. They were tossed about and beaten nearly to death by the attack. When the assault finally ended the leaf Ninja came out and tied them up as Shikamaru pulled out a charka draining seal and put them on each of the ninja. Naruto just stood nearby panting catching his breath as he drained the charka from the gem in order to keep from fall down from charka usage. As Neji and Kiba finished with the ninja Choij came into the clearing carrying the large barrel.

Choij settled it down could not help but shudder as he stepped away from it, "Whatever they did to Sasuke in that thing is not right."

Naruto nodded, "agreed. I will summon up something in a few minutes once I have had a chance to recharge. Then we can get back to the Village and finish this stupid mission."

"Okay, Neji make sure to keep a lot out. We are still very close to the Rice Country," Shikamaru said.

Neji nodded quickly scaling a tree and standing at the top activated his eyes stretching his eye sight the best he could looking for anyone coming after them. He only saw one shape that had charka enough to be a human or summon. But he could not tell for sure which way the person was heading yet. He called down, "I only see one person currently coming over the border!"

"Okay," Shikamaru said looking back over at Naruto who was already looking a lot better.

The light dimmed to about half it had been in the stone as Naruto finally walked over, "Okay I am ready, I can get us at least to within and hours walk of the village."

Shikamaru nodded as Naruto summoned the creature he had called Onix and had them all climb on. Soon they were on their way with Neji sitting by Naruto on the head, and as they moved out Neji spoke up, "we better get moving that person from before is heading this way and fast!"