"..." Normal chat.

ABC. Thought.

Chapter 13

"What is this place? It's almost pitch black!"

Sakura feels chill running through her body the moment she steps into the dark space. When seeing two familiar silhouettes walking up ahead, Sakura dashes forward to catch up to them.

"Sakura-chan!? Why are you here?"

Naruto's surprised by her appearance.

"Same goes with you two, I'm not going to abandon my friend that easily."

Her confident response earns a huge grin from Naruto and a smirk from Sasuke.

"Alright! Let's go save Nina-chan, together!"

Being influenced by Naruto's enthusiastic attitude, Sakura smiles as well. Thinking that perhaps she has not made a wrong decision.

After walking aimlessly in the dark without a clue for a while, however, they become anxious.

"...This place is creeping me out."

Sakura's getting uncomfortable with air surround her. There's no sound, no smell, and it's suffocating them with this eerie feeling lingering up to their necks.

"It seems that we can't stay for too long."

Therefore Sasuke suggests speeding up to find the exit.

After sprinting through something seems like a long dark and narrow hallway, they see the light at the end. Once jumping into it, they find themselves standing in the middle of a forest.

"We are outside of Konoha? Lucky us!"

The moment recognizing the familiar route, the same sunset and Konoha's gate, which is now located far behind them, Sakura sighs in relief. Since she had expected a way worse result, like getting trapped inside another world or somewhere that is not suitable for human to live.

"Guys, look!"

Naruto spots the enemies up ahead and signal the others to follow.

When getting close to their targets, Naruto and his clones jump forward to land several strong kicks at the robots heads. Successfully causing them to stop moving and turning their focus to him.

"Everyone!"

Nina's shocked when seeing endless of Naruto's clones and flying Shuriken getting eliminated by the energy beams.

"I promised to stay by your side, Nina-chan. And I don't intend to go back on my words!"

It doesn't matter if what he's doing now is utterly stupid. Because Naruto's already set on rescuing his friend.

"Don't get too carried away. I simply follow to find out what more of these things can possibly do."

And Sasuke states his excuse the moment their eyes meet.

"Why didn't you stop them, Sakura?"

Nina's expected Sakura to be the most rational one out of the team, and yet..

"I don't care anymore! Danger or not, we shall face them! Together! That's what friends are for!"

Standing by Naruto's side, Sakura states her resolve loud and clear. It seems that Naruto's strong will of saving their teammate's life has overthrown the fear of facing strong enemies in her.

"Warning. Danger's alerted."

One of the robots fires multiple of energy beams at team 7 to separate them. While the other one scans the area to reveal the hidden opponents and forces them out of their cover.

The last one's aiming to catch anyone who has their guard down with its extended arms. And it's first target is Sakura, who is too focus on helping Naruto to find a place to hide.

At result, she's slammed onto a tree and cannot set free.

"Gasp!"

Having secured its target, the robot charges its energy and shoots another line of laser. Destroying everything lying in its path completely.

"Sakura!"

Before Naruto and Sasuke can jump in to their teammate, they notice Nina appears standing right behind them. With Sakura lying safely inside her arms and still cowering in fear.

Turning back to the scene, they see the robotic arm which is holding Sakura just now has been sliced apart. As for the robot that was keeping Nina as hostage, it was cut into pieces and exploded.

"W-Wha?! Why am I here?!"

Confused, Sakura holds her face and looks around to check that whether this is a dream. Seconds ago, she's about to be killed. Now she's standing together with the others, without a single injury.

"Don't worry, Sakura. You're alive and well."

To confirm to her that this is reality, Sasuke points at Nina, who has drawn out the twin daggers to fight for real.

Really? Nina-chan saved me?!

Much to Sakura's shock, Nina's burning in some kind of red aura that she never seen before. Though she collapses out of exhaustion and drags her along onto the ground soon after.

"I'm... fine."

Not wanting to worry the others any further, Nina assures them. Despite struggling to get up and can barely breathe. That aura of hers quickly fades away and her body's temperature is higher than normal.

"What is going on?!"

Naruto's frozen at his spot, not believing in what he has just seen.

"Don't bother. You won't be able to understand it."

And Sasuke tells Naruto to stop trying since it may wrecks his little brain.

"That Nina girl... you better not get too close to her, Naruto. She may not be the person who you think she is."

After recalling to his friend's nonsense words from back then, he finally figures out what they truly means. What annoys Naruto even more is that it's Sasuke who noticed something odd about Nina and talked to him about it.

"Had you known about this?"

He also remembers Sasuke's smug face a while ago when they first witnessing Nina using her hidden power.

"I only saw her tried it once. But trust me, I'm as clueless as you are in this situation."

In response, Sasuke shrugs.

"... I see."

As much as Naruto wants to confront her about this matter. Right now is not the time, when there are two killing machines still waiting for them up ahead.

"Alright, I believe you know how to deal with those things?"

Pulling more Shuriken out of his pocket, Sasuke asks Nina. Therefore she nods in responses, somewhat reluctantly.

"Do you know why they're after you?"

Sakura's curious whether their appearances have something to do with Konoha's situation.

"I'm sorry but... it's complicated."

However Nina refuses to provide them any more info.

"Hey! Hurry up and tell us how to get rid them already."

Seeing those robots have shape-shifted their arms into long blades, Sasuke urges her to present the plan, which is...

*The more they get hit, the better*

Once those robots receives a good amount of damage. Their cores, which are suppose to be placed hidden in the middle of their bodies and provide energy for them to move around, will be revealed.

After that, all they have to do is destroy the core and those things will stop malfunctioning.

Eliminating the robot completely by slicing it into pieces of junk is another method. This is considered to be the quickest but it's unlikely to happen with their abilities at the moment.

"It seems that you guys are on your own in this fight."

Because that attack from earlier has drained what's left of her Ki, which is still replenishing from Kibutsuji incident, and leaving her in a serious vulnerable state. Nina's unable to join the team, though she promises to provide them with her support. As much as possible.

"Let me get you to somewhere safe first."

Sakura offers to stay behind to protect her, but she is rejected and asked to support her other teammates instead.

"I'll be fine. They won't harm me."

Since these robot aren't programmed to cause any injures on her. She's needed to stay alive and well in order to be experimented successfully.

"Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!"

Jumping into the battle, Naruto showers his opponents with clones to hold them down. While Sasuke shows off with his skillful Shurikenjutsu and Tatjutsu, as well as casting Katon whenever possible.

Sakura sneaks in to distract the enemies and throws surprise attacks with her teammates from time to time.

"Watch out, Naruto! Their eyes are programmed with abilities to deal with Shinobi's Bunshin technique."

Nina alerts Naruto when seeing him getting ahead of himself.

Strange, it feels as if he's not being himself right now.

She realizes that Naruto starts making unnecessary mistakes. It's as if he's lost too deep in his thoughts to focus on fighting. And that's definitely not a good sign.

The others have also noticed the changes in him. And since Sasuke's too busy with the machine to deal with him, it's Sakura's job to step in to smack some senses into him.

Slowly and steady, she waits for the right moment to get to where the real Naruto's standing. Ends up surprising him.

"Sakura-chan?!"

"Naruto, you're still pondering about why Nina keeping secrets from us, aren't you?"

As expected, his serious expression shows and the grips on his Kunai tightened up.

"I'm sure that that she has her own reason. And it's definitely not because she doesn't consider us as her friends."

Therefore Sakura reminds him that Nina almost risked her own life to save her back then. So she chooses to believes in her friend and hope that he too, sharing the same feeling as hers.

"You can ask Nina-chan about it later. But for now let's stay focus. Okay?"

While listening to Sakura's words, Naruto's gaze return to Nina's hiding spot. And he sees that despite struggling to survive, she remains her focus on the battle and watch their every move.

Knowing her, Nina will jump out of her cover in any moment to fight in case of things go out of hands.

Is that still not enough to prove how much she care for you?

His heart throbs by the thought. And Naruto's starting to realize how much of a fool he's been acting.

"You're right. Thanks, Sakura-chan!"

Having made up his mind, Naruto brightens up. Much to Sakura's relief.

Back into the game, Naruto increases his clone amount to aid Sasuke, who are almost running out of breath due to having to keep the robots at bay by himself.

Everything's going smoothly, until the one-armed robot suddenly shape-shifting its blade into a high-tech gun and reveals a medium size tank containing green liquid attached behind its back.

"It's aiming at you, Naruto! Get out of there!"

Instantly figure out its intention, Nina shouts to him.

When that robot shoots a huge ball of green colored liquid toward to Naruto, he summons his clone in mid air to push himself out of the way.

"What the heck is that?!"

Naruto watches his clone struggling within something look similar to green snort before him. And seconds later, it dissipates while the liquid dissolves. Leaving a hole about a human size on the ground.

"Melt-everything-gel, that's what we used to call it."

And they raise an eyebrow at the cringe-worthy name.

"I know it sounds ridiculous but that exactly what it does. That gel will eat you up within seconds if you let any of them touch you."

While everyone's listening to her explanation with a serious expression, suddenly she smirks.

"To think that there's a ranged type within the group. Considering this is our luck."

None of them can comprehend her nonsense talk, perhaps getting even more confused.

"Alright, guys. This gel right here is our ticket to do a one hit kill. It's much more convenient than the old-fashioned way by beating them up senselessly."

But they need to act fast because the other one, which can be identified as a melee type, has also revealed its secret weapon. It's a running round saw blade that equipped on both arms and they are as big as a human's torso.

Changing its tactic, the melee type dashes forward to destroy Naruto's clones to make its way toward to the real Naruto, who is standing the furthest away.

"Eh?!"

"Naruto!"

It happens too fast for Naruto to react and Sasuke has jump in to intervene. However the robot figures out Sasuke's plan and detaches one of the running saw blade on its arm to throw it at him.

"Shit!"

Sasuke dodges the spinning blade while in mid air, twice, as it acts a boomerang and returns to its owner arm after being sent flying away.

"Naruto, get out of the way!"

When that deadly robot is only a few steps away from him, Nina summons her clone to jump in to protect him.

"Pzzt! Beep!"

Upon seeing her, it halts its blade to scan her entire body before slicing her clone apart. Saving enough time for Naruto to snap out from his shock and escapes onto the tree branch up above.

"This trick won't work on them twice. Sasuke and Naruto, Can you two to keep that saw blade blade one busy?"

With a plan in mind, Nina informs her teammates. Therefore they nod to her and get to work instantly.

"Sakura, do you see those long tubes connecting to the back of that gun-carry one? I need you to cut them apart for me."

Then she calls out to Sakura, who is standing nearby watching the ranged type robot, to instructs her initiate a sneak attack.

"Those things look tough! Are you sure that a simple Kunai will work?!"

Though Sakura's uncertain about this reckless idea.

"Here, use this."

And she's given one of Nina's custom made daggers, which is surprisingly light enough for her to use. Also not forgetting to remind her to avoid being touched by the gel from the container.

"Since this one has yet to analyze my clone, I will distract it while you find a way to get behind, okay?"

Sakura nods to her and holds the dagger tightly. Feeling the heavy tension is eating her from inside out by having to carry such sudden responsibility.

Because they only have one chance and if she blows it up, it'll be over for them.

"Are you ready?"

After Nina casting Bunshin no Jutsu with heavily trembling hands and on the count of three, both Sakura and Nina's clone charges forward.

"Hey. I'm here!"

When Nina stands in front of the ranged type to act as a bait, Sakura swiftly sneaks behind its back.

"Pzzt!"

Upon noticing odd movements from behind, the robot spins its head 180 degrees and catches Sakura when she's only a few steps away.

"Sakura, now!"

As it charges for the laser attack with its eye. Sakura speeds up and makes a long jump. Slashing the two long tubes, which are connecting to the gel container sitting on its back, apart and falling forward.

Then, the green gel gushes out from the container through the broken tubes and devours its legs in a blink of the eye. As the machine's struggling on the floor, the liquid crawls toward to its upper body and damages the core which is hiding deep inside. Causing the robot to self-destruct at result.

Although that attack has gotten a few drops of gel on Nina's dagger and ruins its sharp edge. At least Sakura doesn't get hit by any. So it's considered a win for them.

"Yes!"

Sakura cheers for her victory and Nina gives her a thumb up for doing a good job. Both Naruto and Sasuke have also noticed their success due to the loud noises nearby.

That means... There's only one left to go!