Naruto sidestepped, and raised his hand, only to be pressured towards the other four enemies again.

So this is what it's like to fight my clones. It's hopeless! But I'm not giving up again.

"Kage Bunshin No Jutsu(Shadow Clone Jutsu!) He blocked an incoming rod, and grabbed it, throwing a punch, watching as it missed his target. With twenty clones, attacking five enemies, and the main body focused on the one in front of him, it seemed unlikely that he would even take down one of them. He ordered one of his clones close and dashed forward, forming his signature technique. The bright blue sphere grew in size, and the clone dissipated.

"Rasengan!"

"Shinra Tensei(Almighty Push)"

Something slammed into the pit of his stomach, sending him flying through trees, and destroying some of the forest with it. He attemtped to get up, his jacket torn in multiple places. As he got to his knees, he noticed that they were watching him. He raised his hands to form more clones, only for a metal rod to be shoved through his shoulder, pinning him to the nearest tree. Hot pain surged through the wound, and cried out in agony. He fought to move, before white eyes enforced themselves on him.

Is this genjutsu?

He tried to release it, but found his chakra wasn't under his control. Another slammed through his other shoulder, preventing movement, and further increasing the pressure on his body.

St-stay awake.

His eyes closed and before he knew it, their voices were but an echo in the vast darkness.

"Nine tails Jinchuuriki captured."

Akira arrived not a moment too late. If she had overestimated her speed, Naruto would be gone long before she got to his body. And then she would have truly been sorry. The sight of her lover pinned to a tree, unconscious, brought her blood to a boil. She dashed forward, dodging the first missile, and ducking under the steel rod, continuing towards her target. A foot from it, she sensed a massive wall of wind being thrown at her. She dug her feet into the ground, and braced herself. The force hit her with the strength of a twenty ton truck, knocking the breath out of her. She waited, and then shattered both rods, removing them from Naruto. She turned in time to dodge the next attack, barely. She watched these six men, who stood in front of her. Their eyes met, and she recognized the eyes.

The Rinnegan. I haven't seen that, since my creation. I have to be careful. I want to get him away from here, but doing so requires that I use my powers. I'd rather not...I can't reveal that I escaped to these men. It'd be more dangerous for Naruto than it would be for me.

She weighed her options quickly, before preparing herself for the worst. She had to protect Naruto. At all costs.

The first attack came in the form of a summoned crab. She formed her seals quickly, and released a massive fire that destroyed the animal in one hit. Her eyes caught movement to her right, and she dodged the steel rod, a hand coming out of nowhere. She turned on her heel, and felt a hand grab hers in a swift motion, as she dodged the third enemy. As she yanked free, she felt a portion of her chakra leave her body, and quickly took note of who had touched her. She swept the one foot already not on the ground, in an arc, kicking at the enemy, missing. She rotated onto a hand, and brought herself back onto her feet. Her hearing warned her of Naruto being grabbed, and she gritted her teeth. Another rod swiped at her, and she shattered it, moving in close, using a little chakra to cloak her hand. As she swiped, she watched as the attack missed, then hit, as the chakra she used hit Pain. The enemy went flying, giving her a little more breathing room. Tugging on an invisible rope, she yanked Naruto's limp body from the chakra stealing bastard, and returned him to her possession.

"Banshō Ten'in!(Universal Pull)"

Sudden bindings wrapped themselves yanked around her entire being, sending her towards the Deva Path. She whirled in midair, attempting to slam a kunai into the ground, only to miss it by a centimeter. She righted herself, in time to face her opponent.

Not good!

Akira tucked her chin, watching as he grabbed her collar.

"Die."

She watched the rod flash towards her in slow motion, twisting. With one hand she whirled and flipped over Pain's head, watching as the attack missed her. She landed lightly, grabbing his cloak. She started to launch him, only to be thrown harder than she'd ever known. She broke through several trees, slammed into the ground, creating an impact crater. She shook her head, watching as the Akatsuki member, grabbed Naruto and started to flee.

I can't let them get away.

Standing up, she chased after them, jumping to the first tree. She was a good thousand yards away, but she cleared that distance in a matter of seconds. As she reached the Preta Path, who carried Naruto, she noticed that one of the six was missing. Her head turned, a steel rod, a mere centimeter from her eye.

Oh no! I failed...

The world faded, swirling into darkness, before reappearing. The fox stood a fifteen metres from where she had been standing, Naruto at her feet.

How did I?

She was suddenly aware, she wasn't alone. She glanced backwards to her savior.

"Yuki-chan!"

The cry of happiness, only tightened her mask of anxiety. She was happy to have arrived soon enough, to teleport the two to her side. The Six Paths of Pain, landed, and were watching her, their eyes narrowed. She stepped forward, crossing her arms in a single movement.

"You ok?" she asked, her eyes remaining on her opponents. She glanced from one body to the next, not sure of what their abilities were, but well aware of the damage they could do.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"Grab Naruto. Run. Now," she said, letting her hands fall, and walking towards the paths.

"Bu-"

"GO!" she commanded, her eyes shifting left as two dashed towards Akira.

Focusing her chakra, she formed three seals, creating two clones. They dashed towards the two defectors, as she watched two others advanced on her position.

Katsu!

The two clones exploded, taking out a huge area of the forest. The heat blew over her, sending her hair flowing, and she ignored the dust, watching as the woman on the far left, knelt down.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!(Summoning Jutsu)" she yelled. A three headed dog, dashed towards her from the smoke.

Horse, rat, tiger!

She inhaled deeply, focusing.

"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!)"

She released her fireball, her eyes closed, as the flames turned a blinding white. The seals she had formed earlier allowed her to increase the temperature as she pleased. The explosion rocked the ground, revealing the clone was gone. Her eyes opened, as a hand grabbed her head from behind.

"Yuki!"

The Human Path pulled, only for the clone to explode in a cloud of smoke.

The real Yuki dropped down, standing next to Akira, who held Naruto, in her hands.

"Go. Now! I love you!"

"Bu-"

She put a hand on the demon's body before slamming a hand against her. She watched the Kitsune go, her eyes furious at what she was doing.

Forgive me. Tiger, Hare, Boar, Dog.

Slamming both hands into the ground, she forced it to move, creating an immovable and thick wall behind her, seperating the two lovers.

Get going...I'll be right behind you.

NO! NO!

The fox stared at the wall, and threw a punch, albeit reluctantly against the barrier.

NO!

Her eyes shifted to Naruto, who lay on the ground.

Hang on...I'll be back. Just stay alive for me.