The friends were moving even faster now. Lao and her siblings knew where their eternal enemy was hiding, and were eager to seek vengeance.

But that was the same thing that bothered Naruto, Gaara, and Sasuke. They knew what vengeance was like. They had experienced a lot of it in their young years, so they didn't really want these new acquaintances of theirs to get in such cruel mess they had once been through. Naruto already considered all of these Shin-Lin siblings his friends, Gaara loved the leader of theirs and had experienced the feeling of love between a man and a woman for the first time in his life, and Sasuke was interested in Mao since this extraordinary girl was the best friend of his brother, and, what was more, could bring his brother back to life from time to time.

Shao helped Lao to move across the tree branches and not get exhausted since she was still a little weak from her wound. The siblings wanted her to recover faster, as she would be needed in battle just like all of them.

The tied Yowai was carried by Tao and Mao. Mao clearly seemed interested in the guy. Her siblings didn't miss this fact.

"Soon, we will enter Akuno's patrol area. So, from now on, be extremely careful," Yowai warned the group.

"Patrol area? What do you mean exactly?" Sakura asked.

"Akuno's subordinates - the rogue ninjas he's tamed with his powerful dark jutsu - are patrolling the entire area here, so we might encounter them. Akuno isn't too hospitable towards strangers, so expect his ninjas to attack you at any time."

"Hmph, we're ready!" Sakura clenched her fist.

"Indeed. I would like to smash all those who get in my way!" Lao frowned.

"Easy there, Little Mommy!" Shao chuckled, "You're not in the shape to battle yet."

"Then, you guys will have to smash them for me." Lao grinned.

"With pleasure," Nao replied in his deep voice.

"We must be careful, though, as Yowai said," Shikamaru cut in, "We should be cautious in order not to get in enemy's traps or even ambush. We need strategy before attacking."

"I can send my eagles forward to check the area," Nao suggested.

"Good idea. And Hinata will use her Byakugan if needed," Shikamaru said.

Nao made hand signs:

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A tiny eagle appeared, with brown feathers and sharp yellow eyes. He had a headband with the Hidden Fir village mark on it. He looked up at Nao:

"Hey there, Master Nao."

"Hello, Washi," Nao said, "I need you to scan the area forward, and send the information back to me if you see any enemies nearby."

"Roger that."

Washi swung his wings and flew forward through the trees at an immense speed.

"Ninja eagles? That's cool!" Naruto chuckled.

"Yeah, they're my special companions." Nao grinned, happy for his eagles to be praised.

While they jumped and ran through the trees, Gaara constantly watched Lao Shin, her wound, and her grin.

It was so formidable that this young woman's character could change in a minute - one second she was a normal girl with feelings deep at heart, desperate for love, hugs, and happiness, and the next moment, she was a bloodthirsty demon seeking revenge; as if her personality was split into two... as if it was two souls in one body... But it was not like in Jinchūriki's case. Neither the one soul nor the other seemed different from each other. It was more like they were two in one - the Yin and the Yang combined in a single circle.

"Guys, we have company ahead," Nao said.

"What?!" Naruto and the others widened their eyes.

"Who is it?" Shikamaru asked.

"I think they're Akuno's ninjas. There are four of them. That's how Washi has told me by mind contact."

"Hinata, sweetheart, can you please check the area?" Naruto turned to his wife.

"Sure, Naruto." Hinata softly smiled, and turned to Nao, "Where to look, Nao?"

"Straight ahead from here, over five hundred metres."

"Got it." Hinata concentrated on the view before her, "Byakugan!"

Her eyes sharpened and she traveled across the distance, to spot four men gathered in the forest, laying an ambush.

"I see their chakra flow," she said, "One of them is a sensory type ninja. They've felt our presence and have laid an ambush. They've encircled a certain spot on our way, the one we must cross in order to get to the other side of the river - the wooden bridge."

"Hmm, that is bad..." Shikamaru said, "Is there any other way over the river not to get into their trap?"

Hinata checked the riverside.

"No," she said, "Only that single bridge. In the other areas the river flow gets even stronger, and the width of the river is even bigger. That bridge is the ideal spot to cross from."

"We can just make another bridge with my wood style across the river," Tao suggested.

Washi, Nao's eagle, flew back to them, and informed Nao:

"As I've contacted you through our minds, Master Nao, there are four enemy ninjas waiting for you."

"Okay, Washi. Thanks for help. You're free."

"Alright."

Washi vanished.

"I don't think that will work, Tao," Chao Lin replied, "Hinata said they have a sensory type ninja with them. Even if we do avoid their ambush, they will find us."

"Ugh, why do we have to flee?" Lao frowned, "Let's just crush them!"

"Sounds fine to me," Naruto said.

"Yeah, let's go for it!" Shao grinned.

Thus, they decided to face the enemy.

Akuno's four ninjas were waiting for them in the trees. The friends soon entered into their range of attacks.

There she is...

One of the ninjas thought once he spotted Lao, and gave a sign to his companions. They nodded.

The minute Shao and Lao put their feet on the bridge, the enemy ninjas made signs and the whole bridge blew up. The enemies grinned:

"We got them!"

However, at that very minute, all of them got caught by the wood style jutsu. The smokescreen evaporated and the friends appeared, with smirks on their faces. Tao had made her hand signs and imprisoned the enemies.

"Huh? It can't be! You should be dead!" One of the ninjas, seemingly the leader, exclaimed.

"We don't die so easily." Lao grinned. "But you will."

Tao clenched her fist. The wood bent and crushed the enemies. Yowai widened his eyes as he watched Tao - so powerful she was!

"There, we got rid of them," Tao said.

"Nice job. Let's proceed." Lao smiled.

"Across that river, Akuno's ninjas wander almost everywhere, so be sure to meet them on the way," Yowai said.

"We defeated them rather quickly. They don't seem to be much of a challenge." Chao shrugged.

"Some of them are really strong, be sure of that," Yowai replied.

The friends crossed the bridge and disappeared into the forest on the other side of the river, determined to reach the enemy's hideout.