Chapter 25

The moon shone brightly as the tower has finally came to view.

"Now then, the tower has finally came into view. From here on is the hard part." Kabuto said.

"THEN LET'S GOOOO!" Naruto yelled. Kabuto, Sasuke, Sakura and Akiko noticed something.

"An enemy already?" Sakura said.

"Over there!" Naruto threw a kunai at something. The head of a huge centipede.

"Oh it's just a centipede." Naruto said. Sakura shivered in disgust.

"Yikes it's huge! All those legs are so gross." She said.

"Naruto." Kabuto said as Naruto faced him.

"I'd like to avoid inadvertent sounds and carless actions from here on."

"Hm?" Naruto said tilting his head.

"Rushing ahead through a dense forest making noise like an elephant is the same thing as asking to be killed. We'd definitely receive a enthusiastic welcome." Kabuto said. 

"O-ok.." The team began to travel towards the tower. It'll be tough starting from here. The team began to get tired.

"I've...had it..! For crying out loud.....how long have we walked for..." Sakura said as she panted.

"Somethings not right." Akiko said.

"The tower always seem to be near, then what's going on?" Akiko said. It was all too weird to ignore.

"It seems that we're already within the enthusiastic welcome. Take a look at that." Kabuto said and pointed at the centipede that Naruto killed earlier.

"T-that's!"

"No way!"

"Is it genjutsu?" Akiko asked.

"It seems so. We were lured so perfectly." Kabuto said.

"We're being watched." Sasuke inquired.

"Probably. They intend to wear down our physical strength and catch us when we are out of stamina. Then....they'll be coming soon..." Kabuto lifted his glasses. And right on cue, a bunch of shadow clones of the same person appeared.

"Heh, this is the perfect handicap!" Naruto said.

"This is quite the number..." Naruto tried to punch one as it turned to liquid and another one popped out from the injured body. One body aimed for Naruto as Sasuke activated his shaingan and threw shurikens at it.

"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled as a kunai was heading towards Sasuke but his curse mark pained him. Luckily, Akiko blocked it.

"Sasuke-kun!"

W-what's going on.....My body's......

"Are you ok?" Akiko asked. 

"Dang it!" Naruto said as he try to stab another.

"Naruto!" Akiko yelled as he stopped.

"It's useless, it's a genjutsu!" She said and assisted Sasuke to get up.

"B-but Kabuto's wound is real!" 

"Akiko's right, we have to find the ones that are doing it and they're probably among these clones or hiding!" Kabuto panted.

"Listen Everyone, in any case, all there is to do now is to fend off the enemy attack!"

"Fine...." Naruto said and held a kunai. The clones threw kunais at team 7 as they dodged.

"Since it has come down to this..... Yosh! Multi-Shadow-clone Jutsu!"

"No!" Kabuto denied.

"If I hit them all in a single sweep, the enemy won't fire inadvertently while these things are reverted back. Their hiding place will be discovered so! Kage bunshin no jutsu!" Naruto yelled as many of Naruto's clones fought.

"Sasuke - kun, what should we do?"

"Man, that usuratonkachi. All there is to do is go for it!" Sasuke said.

"Indeed..It's not a situation that he can get through by himself." Kabuto said and got out a kunai.

"Lets go Akiko!" Sasuke yelled as he charged with Akiko next to him.

"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" Akiko yelled also as many Akikos appeared. Day has finally came as the team was exhausted. The clones finally disappeared as three ninjas from the rain appeared.

"you're....the one who did my left shoulder..." One said to Sasuke and held out a kunai.

"I can finally even the score heh." Naruto smirked. 

"Cornered rats." Sasuke's voice said.

"It went well, Akiko, Naruto!" Sakura's voice said. The ones that were in front of the rain ninjas was actually shadow clones that Akiko and Naruto had made them transform.

"Wha! When did you!"

"This brat! Don't tell me!" 

"This is what I call an enthusiastic trap!" Akiko and Naruto tried to walk but staggered a bit. 

"Naruto, Akiko, I'll do the rest." But Naruto punched the rain nin and panted.

"As..if I'll let you take all the spotlight!" Naruto said and smiled his signature smile.

"What monstrous chakra these two have!" Kabuto commented.

"Ninja art: Fog clone jutsu!" Clones now appeared. Naruto raced into to attack.

"So reckless! Naruto! Stop!" Kabuto said, chasing after Naruto.

"This......is the.....last bit of my chakra..." Sasuke panted heavily.

"Sharingan- AH!" Sasuke yelled in pain. Akiko rushed over to him and eyes widened. The curse mark is acting up once again.

"Sasuke, leave the rest to me." The calm Akiko said and stood up. She was still perfectly clean.

She swiftly picked up Kabuto who was injured to the bushes. 

"Don't leave your guard down!" A clone said and tried to attack. It seems as time froze as Akiko glared at the clone. The ground beneath her broke as the earth shook.

"Tailed Beast bomb!" She said as she passed through the clone and her beast bomb hit the floor.

The three came flying out as team 7's eyes widened, excluding Kabuto who was laying down, not knowing what happened. The clones then disappeared as the 4 retrieved the Heaven scroll. They have finally made it towards the tower.

"Oh wait guys." Akiko said. She whistled as a puff of smoke came. The shadow eagle, Shota and Reiki had appeared. 

"Lets go." Akiko said to the two as the shadow eagle went back to the shadows. 

"Who are these guys?" Asked Sakura, who Akiko can hear blushing.

"These guys are the people I was assigned with. Shota and Reiki."

"But you need 2 scrolls to enter, and I don't mean to be mean but.....do you have the scrolls?" Naruto asked. He was trying to be kind though.

Akiko nodded and took it out from her pouch. Sasuke's eyes widened. He would much have preferred to fight Akiko then do whatever the adventure they just went through. The 2 teams now walked towards the inside of the tower which was empty.

"What're we suppose to do?" Naruto said.

"Look!" Sakura pointed at a board with writings.

"If heaven does not exist then enrich your knowledge, and prepare for the chance. If earth does not exist then run the fields in search of an advantage. Open the series of Heaven and Earth, and the perilous way shall be redressed. This is namely the secret of 'the one that guides'" Akiko said.

"Wha.....?" Naruto said, confused.

"It's time to open....the scroll." Akiko got her scroll out and began to open it.

What will happen?