We jumped from branch to branch, pursuing the Sound. We're not that far behind them. "That's strange. It's been quite a long time and we still haven't encountered a single trap. Well Shikamaru? What's your assessment?" Neji questioned our leader. "It looks to me like we've been underestimated. They're cocky. They think we're all dead now and their big guys the only one following them now. They don't need to set a trap for their own man do they?"

I scoffed. "How arrogant of them." I said in annoyance. But a smirk made its way onto my face. "It'll be fun to see the look on their faces." Naruto smirked in return. "Those idiots are so going to regret it!" He declared.

The plan Shikamaru told us replayed in my mind. "It seems you're right about our enemies Shikamaru. And it's insulting to be underestimated like this." Neji spat bitterly. My smirk didn't leave. "Oh? The Hyuga's angry, things are getting serious. But it seems like your plan will work. Based on what little we know about them, I say the creepy guy with the arms will be the one left behind to battle us." I said thoughtfully.

Shikamaru nodded. "Now we can take them by surprise. Let's do it. Miyu." I nodded sharply and jumped up onto a higher branch and waited as the others moved on. I can't fight. I exhausted most of my chakra.

I trust Shikamaru on this. I need to conserve my energy as quickly as possible. I just wish I could do Medical Ninjutsu. Then I would have been able to heal them back to fighting condition. Oh well. I'll just need to rely on my brute strength and wit for now.

And of course Nara's strategy.

I moved forward stealthily. Finding a location where I could see them, I watched carefully, concealing my presence. Just like a predicted, the creepy spider guy was left behind. Shikamaru was quickly discovered, just as expected. The spider guy spewed out . . a spider web? Well that's creepy. And apparently effective.

Shikamaru is stuck to a tree now because of it. Hm. I stared at the web intently. There's chakra flowing through it. I see. Naruto and his clones descended down on him. The freak jumped off and spewed a large amount of that chakra spider web thread into his hands before molding it into a ball. I watched as he added more chakra and a giant spider net were created, trapping all of the Naruto's.

However while he's in mid-air, it's the perfect chance for Kiba. "Fang Over Fang!" He shouted, as he and Akamaru headed straight for him. However he used his wire like spider webs to grab hold and flip over Kiba's attack. At the same time he had placed the webs over their feet, sticking them to the tree.

Tch. So quickly too. The freak hung upside down, looking down on them with a sinister smirk. Neji jumped up and went towards him quietly; however the enemy had sensed him. He released his web wires and fell down, avoiding his strike. He hund from a brach and spewed more web, trapping Neji.

We followed the plan, but he got all of them. And so quickly. He's good.

Neji struggled in the web, and the freak placed more and more webbing around him, encasing Neji in a cocoon. I hate spiders. I moved closer, keeping my presence hidden so I could hear.

Maybe I'll pick up on some helpful information. Naruto tried to cut through the webs with a kunai, but it wasn't working. The freak laughed at his efforts. "It's useless. My spider silk is so powerful nothing could break it. Two elephants couldn't pull it apart."

Maybe I should . . . no. I can't. Not yet. Nara said to stay back until the absolute necessary.

Could I even tear it apart? I'm strong, I have faith in it. But it's sticky. Could I even break it? The freak began chewing, creating more webbing. He spit it into his hands. What the? This is a different color. Ah! I turned to the cocoon. Neji's chakra is spiraling. What's he doing? Maybe he has a plan.

I turned my gaze back to the strange colored thread. He had it still a bit in his mouth and stretched it out in each of his hands. It snapped out of his mouth and I narrowed my eyes. It's hardened and taken shape. It kind of looks like a weapon. Six. And there are six Naurto's.

He pointed one down on the web that held all the Naruto's. Thought so. I bit my lip and concentrated. "Since you'll be my first victim, let's make this entertaining. I'm going to play a little game to find out which one of you is the real one."

Tch. How dare he?! No, calm down. After all . . . I glanced at Neji's cocoon. He's escaping it, I'm sure of it. But in case, I know where the real Naruto is. If he throws it at him then I'll throw kunai at it to deflect it.

Reaching into my pouch and pulled one out. "What did you just say?" Naruto asked angrily. "Contestant one. Let's try you at the end!" He threw it down, stabbing the clone. "No! Naruto!" Shikamaru shouted. The clone dispersed. Luckily I know which one is real. Otherwise I'd go on a rampage.

"Oh well. Look's like he was a clone. No problem, let's try another!" He threw another one down, destroying a clone. This didn't seem to faze him as he chuckled darkly at his twisted game. "Whichever you are, you're pretty lucky. Next let's try two at a time. The odds will be double in my favor!"

He threw two more. I gripped the kunai in my hand tightly, anger boiling within me. Come on Hyuga. Hurry up and escape. Or I'll have to interfere myself.

Only two Naruto's remained now. The freak laughed loudly in amusement. "You are a very lucky guy you know that? But this time I got a fifty, fifty shot! Here it comes!" He threw it.

My heart hammered in my chest wildly as I watched it intently, making sure it wasn't going to go to the real Naruto. It struck one, and he shouted in pain. Shikamaru, Kiba, and Akamaru was sure it hit him and they worriedly looked at him.

Luckily it was only the clone. However there's only one more Naruto left. The real one. The freak didn't look quite as amused. "Well somehow he made it all the way to the bitter end. Well weakling, it was fun playing with you, but unfortunately the games over for you now."

I was about to throw it when something caught my eye. Behind him . . . I let out a sigh of relief. He threw the last one, hitting the last trapped Naruto. However it was also a clone.

I thought it was him. I was so sure too. But I'm glad I was wrong. The clone vanished. "Wait, where did he-!" The freak shouted, looking around. Naruto lunged at him from where he hid behind the annoying freak.

He struck, but the freak turned around and blocked his fist. Then he moved to fall backwards, releasing Naruto and quickly weaving the wires to stop his fall and land safely on a branch below.

Naruto landed across. I wasn't aware of this. It wasn't in Shikamaru's plan . . . so he thought of it. He let his clones get caught while he waited for a chance to catch him off guard. To come up with that in the heat of battle . . . he really has grown.

However . . . my eyes stared at the wire like thread around his wrist, connecting him to the freak who held the other end. "It looks like you're at the end of your rope!"

He tugged on the thread, pulling Naruto forward. However Neji jumped between and struck the thread with his hand, breaking it. Whoa. How did he? Neji caught Naruto and jumped up. "Naruto! Thanks for stalling him for me."

Wow. Neji's strong. I didn't think he could cut the thread so easily. "I trapped you. How did you get free?" The freak demanded, looking quite angry. I glanced away to see while he was distracted he freed the others.

"Your spider web had a chakra base. And chakra built substances don't stand a chance against my Gentle Fist attack." Ah, that's right. Why didn't I think of that? But if that's true . . . the only one of us who can defeat him is Neji.

"Go on you guys. I'll take care of him."

Neji . . . Even if he's the only one, him against that guy? The fat ass back there was the weakest of them . . . and even I struggled with him. Which means I wouldn't have a chance with this guy. Then again I didn't fight Neji.

Based on everything, I'd lose to him. After all, he was the prodigy of his graduating class. I appeared between Neji and Naruto. "We're going to need to go one on one for any chance of success of our mission." I stated.

My brother looked at me. "Yeah, but Miyu . . ." I shook my head. "Neji is most likely the strongest of our group. And he's the only one who can escape the webbing."

My brother frowned, trying to think of a response. "It's what we agreed." Shikamaru voiced from next to Neji. "And besides; if we all stay here we won't be able to catch up with Sasuke." Neji added.

"But what about Choji? He hasn't come back." Kiba voiced. Akamaru barked in agreement. I clenched my fist. Choji . . . "We all embarked on this mission to find Sauske and bring him back home to the village. But that's not the only reason we've come. We are on this mission to protect a fellow shinobi. To defend the bond of the Hidden Leaf Village." Neji spoke.

The bond? Ah, that's right. Our village has a special bond. Even between all of us, we have clearly defined bonds between us. Our comrades, our family. All of their dreams, hope, desires, and power are all connected to each other in an emotional bond that our village has established.

"At the Third Hokage's funeral, when Miyu spoke, do you remember her words?" He asked. I blinked and looked down at the ground.

~

"Why did he sacrifice himself for others?" Naruto asked. The rain continued to pour down as I glanced at my brother and the others who were listening. "Because he loved us and this village. You should understand Naruto. Because you would have done the same if my life was on the line right? Or anyone in this village, right? We do it because we hold things precious to us. The bonds we have with our family and friends that are stronger then anything else. And we'd sooner die then let it be destroyed."

I looked back up at the sky. "People around us will continue to die, and we will mourn, but we will also move forward. Because those who have left us behind physically, left us with their spirits. We will continue to move forward. For us, but more importantly for our comrades, friends, family, all of our loved ones.. Everyone here is connected by these bonds. Never give up. Isn't that your motto?"

~

That's right. But I didn't think he would remember that. "Listen; Sasuke's out there right now. Heading towards Orochimaru. We can't allow such evil to take someone away from out village. That is not our way."

Neji turned to me and my brother. I stepped back, understanding this was for Naruto. Who showed him those bonds to begin with. "What's more . . . Hm. Naruto. Sometime your eyes are even better then mine. Wherever he is, Sasuke is in the darkness."

He turned away from us. Even Neji could see. That he was trapped inside darkness. He really does have good eyes. "Now, get going. I'll be right behind you."

Naruto nodded and Shikamaru stood. "Well alright. Let's do this then." He said. Kiba turned to Neji, a grin on his face. "When you catch up with us make sure you bring Choji too." Akamaru barked happily in agreement.

"I'll say this again. Neji Hyuga dying is forbidden. And you! Freak! You hurt him any more and I'll fix your extra limb problems! You hear me?! I don't like it when others touch my friends!" I warned.

With that said, the four of us went on ahead, leaving Neji behind. There's a chance he'll die. No, death is the most probable outcome. But ninja from the Hidden Leaf are stubborn fools who don't know when to quit!

Authors Note

Hey all! Just letting you know, I edited some of the things Miyu said during the funeral because I kind of took away Iruka's answer. So if you look back you'll see I did add some things. Just to let you all know! See you next week!