Author's Note: So just a heads up, this is the chapter where I realized, I'm not gonna be able to do a full sequel, its where my writers block for this story kicks in, so it doesn't have the end of the movie, though I do give a brief summary of what would have happened.

Naruto and Ajisai continued their weapon struggle, not giving the other an inch, or even backing away when their respective teammates started to make their way towards them.

"Ninja Art:" Sai started as he jumped towards Naruto and started to run his brush across his open scroll, "Super Beast Scroll!"

A group of black snakes hurled out of the scroll, shooting towards Naruto in order to wrap around his opponent and neutralize her before her teammates could make it, a large shadow donned over them, Sai looking up to see a massive drilled-headed bird descend towards his attack. Diving right through the ink-creatures and making a turn towards its master and Naruto.

Glancing back to see the summoning, flying straight towards him, Naruto suppressed a growl as he kicked himself off the tree truck and away from the struggle, flipping himself over the bird just as it would've pierced him, watching it instead hit its master. Who's body transformed with a puff of smoke into a log.

However, the bird clearly wasn't done with Naruto yet, as when it passed one of Ajisai's teammates, the one with long green hair and a mask covering the bottom of her face. Who then proceeded to jump up and ride the winged-beast, who made a u-turn back towards Naruto.

The blonde could only put his hands up at the creature's speed, as before he was able to land on another branch, the bird swooped past and grabbed him with one of its large talon,Naruto grunting in pain as he was carried off high into the air, away from his teammates, doing his best to keep the beasts grip from crushing him.

"Damn it!" Naruto cried in frustration.

Sai didn't seem pleased at watching Naruto being carried off, but the look on his face was still stoic. Watching as Ajisai's other teammate continued to charge towards him in a frontal assault.

Bold, he thought, and seemingly stupid. Considering he still didn't know the whereabouts of their leader after she substituted herself with a log, Sai assumed she was making her way towards Shion. And her teammates were meant to separate him and Naruto from them. Hence why the blonde was carried away.

However, this frontal assault seemed too straightforward, too simple.

Which is why he jumped up, just in time to as the branch below him was destroyed by the giant panda that jumped right through it. Numerous scars present that marked its fur-covered skin, no doubt it was the same one Naruto took care of during their last encounter.

Sai simply placed his scroll and brush back into their respect compartments in mid-air, taking out his small blade as he prepared to do battle with the rain ninja and her summoning backup.

Shikamaru tsk as he watched the speck that was Naruto in the air disappear from the leaves of the tree, looking down the path to see Sai being forced away from the group as well as he was put on the defense, waiting for a good chance to strike back.

Ino knelled next to him, Shion on her back as the blonde had her back faced towards a tree to give some more cover, the priestess knocked out by the girl to make it easier for them.

"When I give the signal, run for the rendezvous, got it?" Shikamaru told her, the girl nodded, not questioning the friend she had full trust in.

Shikamaru brought his hands into a seal, his shadow's becoming a multitude of hard black lines that popped out from the ground, moving towards Ino and shielding her and the priestess from the side. Preventing Ajisai who had just appeared to stab the girl and take Shion.

"Go!" Shikamaru, Ino not hesitating as she jumped away, branch to branch with top speed. The Nara tried to send his shadow's to wrap around the rain girl, only to be surprised as the rod she seemed to carry repealed his shadow's back, preventing them from fully connecting to her body so long as she kept them near.

'Oh great,' Shikamaru thought, realizing this was not going to be an easy battle.

'Come on! Come on!' Naruto muttered mentally as he did his best to try and escape the grip the bird's talons had him in. Noticing how the landscape below changed from a forest to a large lake.

Only to feel the birds grip on him release, and his body starts to free-fall.

"Oh come on!" Naruto gasped annoyed, looking up at the still airborne bird and its rain rider. Who were making a much more careful descent down. He meanwhile, had to think of a way to soften his landing into the lake, just cause it was water, didn't mean he'd be left unscathed if he hit it at his speed.

Thinking quickly, the genin reached into his pouch, pulling out a scroll, opening it up, he bit into his thumb and dragged it across the material, making a line with his blood as he summoned up a large cloth that normally would've been used to set up a tent.

But right now, he was using it as a makeshift parachute.

But his slow descent made him an easy target for the giant bird and its rider, who made a b-line straight for him. But Naruto wasn't fazed, no, he was calm as he waited for the bird to come to him, before letting go of his make-shift parachute and falling just below the bird, bringing his hands into a quick seal he shot out his golden chains, having them wrap around the creatures leg and pulling himself up. Landing on its back and coming face to face with its rider.

"You should've just fallen." Suiren told the boy as she took out her metallic umbrella, giving him a cold stare, "Now we'll have to capture you the hard way."

Naruto growled at her words, "Capture?" He repeated, "What do you mean?"

"It wouldn't matter if I told you." She responded, getting into a fighting stance.

Naruto tsk, "Is that so?" He asked, before reaching into his back pouch, "Then I guess I should make sure you won't have the chance."

Naruto threw a pair of kunai at both the birds' wings, with explosive-tags attached. Suiren's eyes widened before turning back to him with rage, both of the ninja bracing themselves as the tags exploded and the bird's wings were tattered, causing it to start a sudden and uncontrollable descent.

Naruto didn't let up, as he threw another kunai at the girl, who dodged it by moving her head to the side. Only to turn around as she heard a puff behind her, seeing another Naruto transform out from the kunai. Thinking quickly, Suiren thrust her metallic umbrella forward at the new Naruto. Causing it to disperse in a cloud of smoke.

Turning back to the other Naruto, Suiren's eyes widen as a large golden chain wrapped around her, trapping her and restricting her movements. Looking at the source, the girl growled as Naruto pulled out some wired strings, throwing it at the girl and tying it around the giant bird as well, trapping her in another layer of bindings as she could no longer remove herself from the falling bird.

"Sorry about this," Naruto stated with a somewhat cold tone, "But you brought this on yourself."

Suiren's eyes were in shock as Naruto dispersed in a puff of smoke, revealing he was just a shadow clone! And her eyes started to go into fear as she looked forward past the falling bird's head, and at the closing approaching ground.

As the fabric of the tent landed on the water of the lake below, it disappeared in a puff of smoke, revealing Naruto as he kneeled on the water.

"Huh, to think that worked out," The boy muttered to himself before looking towards the sounds of screeching and trees falling, finding the giant bird that carried him off crashing into the forest nearby. Picking himself up, the blonde made his way to the crash site. With any chance that girl would be knocked out or weak enough to be captured, then Ino could check her mind to get all sorts of information.

Finally reaching the forest, Naruto followed the trail of broken trees and branches that turned into ripped up ground. Until finally finding the rain ninja, tattered and blooded as she sat up against a tree. The bird appeared to no longer be there, probably having poofed away.

Walking up to her carefully, Naruto pulled out his sword and announced, "It's over, don't put up a fight and come peacefully."

However, the girl lifted her head, albeit slightly at him, shooting him a narrow-lidded gaze that Naruto felt pierce his body slightly.

"You'll think I'll just give myself over like that?" Suren responded with a determined tone, "I know what you'll think you can do, and I'll be damned if I let you get that information."

Naruto felt his instincts warn him as the girl lifted her hand and made a seal, "On the honor of Lord Pain and Lady Angel, I give my life to prevent you from hindering them."

Naruto's eyes widened as he heard as the metallic umbrella that laid in front of her suddenly floated up, expanding its parasol and spinning around. Realizing what was coming, the blonde dove towards the nearest tree, shielding him as he heard an onslaught of needles ring through the air, embedding themselves in its surroundings.

Once he was sure it was done, Naruto carefully poked his head from the side of the tree and let out a sigh.

The rain ninja's body slumped over as it was littered with needles. And looking very lifeless.

Naruto walked forward towards the body to make sure, kneeling down to get a better look.

She was dead.

Naruto let out a sigh. Not knowing how to feel about the sight in front of him, he didn't like this girl, at all, but he also didn't like death. Not to mention the comments about this Lord Pain and Lady Angel made him question what sort of life she had led in order to get to this point. And if it was really her fault she turned out like this.

The blonde shook his head, there was no point in currently questioning those things, right now he had to get back to his teammates and help them.

But first, he had to figure out where he was in order to do that.

Ino jumped from tree to tree as she carried the unconscious Shion on her back as Sai and Shikamaru did battle with the rain ninja. She had to get away and hide the priestess till they came, protect her at all costs.

But she knew something didn't feel right, mostly with the girl Shikamaru was holding back and her summons, specifically that bird with the rod piercing. Its chakra didn't feel right, it felt cold and heavy. It didn't sit right with her, and she shuddered at the memory of it carrying Naruto off, still, she could only hope he would make it out safe, his sister had done that plenty of times.

Jumping down onto the ground, Ino was ready to bolt towards her destination but paused when she heard the sound of someone nearby. Following the source, Ino poked her head from the edge of a large tree trunk, and to her surprise, found Taruho standing there, in the middle of a pattern collection of rocks. His hands were in a seal as the area around him started to glow in a blinding light that had the blonde raising an arm to shield her eyes.

Lowering it back down, the chunin had her eyes go wide in surprise as Shion now stood where Taruho did just moments ago, but that didn't wasn't right, she was still carrying Shion on her back.

"Taruho, what's going on?"

The new Shion just smiled at her.

Ajisai smirked as she left Shikamaru in the dust. She knew of his abilities, but he didn't know of her's, and it gave her the advantage. She glanced back to see Nara busy defending himself as a multitude of her summons attacking him. His Shadow possession being no use against her so long as she carried the rod gifted by Lord Pain and delivered from Lady Angel. Its abilities still a mystery to her, but its power was still immense, being able to repeal the Nara's Shadow as light does to darkness.

She continued to jump towards her destination, tracking her target with the skills taught to her by Lady Angel herself. Ready to complete her mission. And after a few minutes, she paused and hid behind a tree, poking her head just enough to see the other side, her well-trained eyes allowing her to view the speck of blonde hair carrying something in the distance.

She took out her kunai to get ready for this chance.

Sai continued to jump back from tree to tree as the giant panda continued to pursue him, not giving him a moment to counter-attack as its size betrayed the speed and agility it held while not giving enough credit to the strength it held. Barely dodging the strike that left the tree trunk beside him broken right through the middle.

He had to reluctantly give some credit to Naruto for dealing with this beast so well before.

But all he needed was an opening, just one chance to counter-attack and he was sure he'd be able to take it down quickly.

It's just that this animal wasn't willing to give him that.

Sai grunted as he slashed behind him, cutting off the branch the would've impeded his movements as hiss other arm reached back to grasp and then throw it forward towards the panda, however, due to its thick skin and fur, the branch just bounced up. And it wasn't like throwing his blade would've slowed it down either.

He had to find some sort of terrain that slowed the panda down, or at least allow him to jump up high enough to draw something down.

Or maybe this panda was leading him to the death Shion predicted.

Oh well, who knew, certainly not him.

"Drop Kick!"

"Gahh!"

Sai's eyes widened briefly in mild surprise as the panda in pursuing him was stopped mid-jump by a giant orange toad slammed into him, feet first before extending the limbs and jumping off the panda, sending it crashing towards the ground.

"Sai!"

The black-hair ninja turned his head at the new voice, finding Naruto standing in the treetops as the giant toad held onto the tree beneath his, Naruto's clothes slightly tattered with claw marks, but otherwise appearing to be mostly uninjured.

'Good' Sai thought, it would've been a pain if he was captured, not to mention it was good that he was finally given the chance to counterattack against this panda. Not missing a beat as he took out his scroll, drawing down a tiger and a pair of rhino's. Having them sprout from his paper as he rode the tiger while the two rhino's got into position.

His beast jumped at the disoriented panda, digging its claws and teeth into its flesh as the panda howled in pain. Even if it wasn't able to go in deep enough to cause massive damage, it was enough to slow down the beast. And for the rhino's on either side to charge.

Sai had his tiger jump off the panda before the two rhino's pierced it with their horns, before exploding in a burst of ink, the panda giving one last howl of pain before puffing away.

Naruto and Gamakichi blinked in surprise at the display, only for Sai to pass the two as he rode on his beast, not even sparing them a glance as he returned his focus on his mission.

And it had Naruto snapping out of his daze, turning to Gamakichi, he exclaimed,"Come on, we gotta go help the other." The Toad wasn't even able to say anything as Naruto jumped onto and held onto his back.

"Oh you gotta be kidding me," Gamakichi muttered, resigning himself to fate and jumping through the tree branches, following Sai.

By the time the two, or well three, had reconvened with Shikamaru and the rest of the group, it wasn't a happy reunion. As the Nara and Yamanaka stood near each other, with their heads down, as the body of Shion laid nearby.

Naruto stared at the lifeless body with wide eyes, not believing what he was seeing, while Sai who was next to him, seemed impassive, with just the hint of being curious as to what had occurred.

"What happened?" Naruto spoke, his tone low as he barely kept his emotions under control. His fist tight and shaking slightly while his bangs covered his eyes.

"My prophecy came true."

The sudden voice caught Naruto's attention as he whipped his head towards the source, finding himself at a loss of words as he saw Shion standing there by a tree. A stoic look on her face as she faced the group.

Naruto's head turned back and forward at the corpse behind him, and the living person in front of him, both wearing the same face.

Shikamaru and Ino didn't seem all that shocked by her appearance, Sai meanwhile looked at both Shion's with a bit of interest, keeping his gaze on the corpse before saying, "Is this who I believe it is?"

"It's Taruho," Ino replied, her tone low but filled with remorse as she continued to gaze down at the ground.

Naruto was stunned at the information as he looked back at the corpse, one question in his mind, "How?"

"He intercepted me as I was carrying Shion away," Ino began to fill them in, "He used some forbidden jutsu by the sounds of it to completely alter his appearance as a way to trick the pursuers, allowing them to believe they had killed Shion as he took her place."

"No," Naruto breathed out while Sai stoically looked back.

"He was adamant, nothing I said swayed him, and we were running out of time, and options," Ino added as he tightened her hands into a fist, expressing her feelings at the situation.

Naruto's mind was racing at the news of the death, but his eyes landed on Shikamaru, and he noticed just how impassive he looked at the news.

His fist tightened up.

"You knew about this, didn't you?" Naruto accused the Nara as he walked up to him with an angry expression as he looked up at him.

"Yes," Shikamaru simply stated back as he gazed down at him with a stoic look that held a hint of his authority just in case he needed to remind Naruto who was in charge, just like he's had to for his sister back when they were kids.

"Why didn't you stop him? Send him back!"

Shikamaru furrowed his brow as he gave the genin a stern look.

"The mission was at stake, and Taruho wasn't just gonna go back when Shion could possibly die when he could've stopped it." Shikamaru's tone was stern, but Naruto didn't flinch as the Nara continued, "I'm not gonna throw away peoples' lives, but sacrifices may need to be made, and when someone is adamant about being fine with being that sacrifice, you need to make sure it wasn't in vain."

Naruto grit his teeth up at him before giving a tsk, walking towards the transformed body of a guy he would've liked to think of as a friend, or at least, would've become one. Kneeling down by his side with a sorrowful look.

"We'll make sure you get a proper burial, Taruho," The genin expressed with a low, remorseful tone.

However, someone else wasn't having it.

"Taruho was a fool."

Naruto's remorseful face shifted into one of anger and irritation as he looked towards the priestess as she continued to speak.

"Death was his choice, despite my warnings he chose to follow it. And so what's the point of mourning an idiot who does something like that?"

Naruto growled as he stood up, "What's wrong with you?" He asked, voice full of confusion and anger, "He gave his life for you, and you care that little to not even mourn?"

"Be quiet!"

Naruto was taken aback slightly by the priestess outburst. Shion looked at him with a face full of pent up emotions, emotions he hadn't seen from her.

The girl turned back away from the group, "Just leave me alone!" She demanded before running off, leaving Naruto stunned momentarily before regaining his composure.

"Hey, wait!" He shouted before going after her.

Ino made a motion to follow, only to be stopped by Shikamaru, the Jonin giving her a shake of his head to express the need to not get involved. Having them turn to look at the corpse nearby.

"Come one, let's get started on this burial, lest we can do." Shikamaru started as he motioned for both Sai and Ino to get started before turning to Gamakichi, who had been standing nearby, having watched the whole exchange with an uncomfortable expression.

"I think Ima head out now," The Toad stated, thinking the group had things handled before puffing away.

Shikamaru gave a sigh, this mission was really proving to be a drag.

"Hey, where do you think you're going!" Naruto called out as he chased after Shion, the girl keeping ahead at an impressive speed.

"I said leave me alone!" She yelled back without turning to look at him, "You don't understand anything!"

Naruto grit his teeth at her words.

"What don't I understand? Someone close to you gave their lives to protect you, and not only do you not shed a tear, you don't even have the decency to respect their death!" He retorted back angrily, "How can I understand that!?"

"Are you that cold-hearted!?"

Shion stopped running, leaning against a tree with her back to him.

"How could I not be heartbroken? When someone I care about, throws their life away for mine?" She spoke, her voice shaky and low.

"Then why can't you at least shed a tear?" The genin asked with a confused tone, losing his anger to give her a chance to explain.

"And desecrate their sacrifice?!" Shion shouted back as she hunched forward, "They choose to sacrifice themselves for me! They choose to throw away their lives! For me! So..." Her voice became even more shaky and low as she added, "So I can't allow myself to cry."

Naruto looked at her sympathetically, "Why?" He simply asked, hoping to finally understand her at a base level.

"Foresight, is a power that ensures the survival of the priestess," Shion begin, her voice a bit calmer now as she explained her powers to the boy, "It does so by having the soul of the priestess, detach itself from their body upon their demise, traveling back to a past self of them to show them the details of how it took place, and those nearby who were present." The girl took a deep breath before continuing, "The priestess then informs her attendants, who then believe they must take her place in order to prevent her death."

For the first since they started talking Shion turned to look at Naruto, revealing to him the tear stains that traveled down her cheeks as her eyes were slightly red, "That is how our power works, by sacrificing others, so that I may live." She stated with a sorrowful tone as she leaned back against the tree and slid down, sitting on the ground and hugging her knees.

"I, see," Naruto replied with a low tone, feeling a bit ashamed at having pushed her like this.

"So many times, so many times I've thought about not informing others of my demise and letting it happen, or taking my own life to stop this cycle." She admitted, surprising Naruto by her words as his sorrow for her grew, "But if I were to do that, then no one would be left to seal Moyo's power away, and the land and those near it, their people, would be put in danger because of it."

While Naruto felt his sympathy for her grow, he also felt anger rising, not at her, but at this situation.

"But, but why is it the people of the Land of Demons that have to be sacrificed?" He asked, "There's got to be another way than just death?"

Shion hugged her knees tighter, "That's just how it is," SHe replied in a defeated tone, "That's our fate, and mine."

Naruto lost the sympathetic look on her face, a piercing, stoic one replacing it as he gazed at her.

"Are you… really fine with that?"

Ajisai gazed with some sorrow at the corpse of her comrade as Fuyu buried it, embedding their deceased teammate's metallic umbrella into the ground as a cross for the grave.

"So, what now?" Fuyu asked her leader with a calm, neutral tone. Despite the loss of their teammate, she was still focused on the mission, mourning could come later,

"Free Moryo," The girl replied, "If we're lucky, in the chaos we'll be able to steal the girl away. Either way, so long as we achieve one of our two objectives, we can consider this mission a success."

And with that, the two rain girls flicked off towards their goals.

"Wait, what?" Naruto asked confused, not sure he heard Shikamaru's plan right while standing by the newly made grave for Taruho. Shion looked much more calm since her earlier outburst as she wore a stoic face.

The Nara sighed at having to repeat himself, "As I said, we're splitting up," He stated as clear as he could this time, "Ino and I will take the quick route and hopefully run into and engage those rain girls, giving you and Sai the chance to slip past and escort Shion right to the shrine."

Sai looked on from his spot with a somewhat worried look, "Are you sure that is wise, splitting ourselves up?" He asked, "Their numbers are half of our own, so taking them all together would probably ensure a quick defeat of them and no more setbacks."

"Maybe," Shkamaru agreed, "But one of them can use summons, and is very proficient at it, evening those odds a bit. Besides, our objective is to strengthen the seal on the shrine, those girls are just obstacles that we shouldn't be focused on."

No one responded to that.

"Alright then, you three," He Nara stated to Naruto, Sai, and Shion, "Get moving."

"I'll scout on ahead," Sai sated before glancing at Naruto, "If something happens, I'll send some sort of signal your way and have you go around while I deal with it."

And with that, the boy flicked away.

"Shikamaru," The Jonin turned to look at Naruto, who held a low gaze, "Why'd you send Sai with me as well?"

Shikamaru sighed, knowing what he was referring too, "You said you'd change his fate, right?" He asked the genin, causing said genin to look at him a bit stunned as he continued, "Fate isn't something you can change with little movements and tricks, if you want to change it, you need to face it head-on."

"Come on Ino," The Nara told his teammate as the two flicked away, leaving Naruto to ponder his words.

Until he felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around his neck.

"Hold me," A stoic voice commanded him, Naruto glancing back to see Shion staring down at him.

"Well?" She asked with a sarcastic tone and raised an eyebrow. Naruo turned his head back forward as he rolled his eyes while suppressing the urge to grumble. Hunching forward slightly so that the girl could properly mount herself on his back. Leaning forward and tightening her hold around his neck as she took her feet off the ground, Naruto's hands immediately moved to clasped her thighs over her shorts with a firm grip.

The genin gained a slight blush at the feeling of her body pressed so close, even through his jumpsuit, her breasts felt large and soft as they squished against his neck, while her thighs also seemed to possess a similar softness. He thought that she looked like Hinata, but now he believes she felt like her too.

"Don't get any ideas," Shion's voice cut in, pulling him from his thoughts.

Naruto said nothing as he began to move, deciding not to challenge her light insulting tone during her words. Believing since he pushed her so hard with her feelings earlier, he could at least cut her some slack and hopefully pull her thoughts away from the stakes at hand.

Yet he didn't seem to notice the way Shion rested her chin on his head with a soft look, the spiky hair tickling her while also being comforting as she once again tightened her hold around him.

'He feels...safe.'

Naruto jumped from treetop to treetop, ignoring the way Shion's body pressed against his back as she clung onto him. Instead trying to keep his focus on the speck in the distance that was Sai. His thoughts on him, and of what could be his fate.

"Hey,"

Shion lifted her head slightly at the sound of his voice as he caught her attention while asking, "That vision, the one of Sai's death, what did you see?"

Shion paused for a moment, debating on whether or not to answer before speaking, "The landscaped was ripped apart, trails of rock acting as pathways over a lake of what I assumed to be lava. His death was being pierced through the heart, he was riding some sort of bird when it happened as a group of black tendrils with dragon-like heads chased after him, and one got lucky."

Naruto's look became concentrated while his grip on her stiffened momentarily, "I see."

Shion was silent in her reply at first, before speaking, "You can't change fate, not his, or your own."

"And if I believe in that, so what?" Naruto replied, "Then what's the point in life than? To just wait for an inevitable death? To believe that your choices have already been determined, that choice is meaningless?"

Shion was stunned by his words. Silent as he continued.

"That's not life, that's not living. Living is making choices, because if we can't make choices, then how can we be ourselves? That's why I'll change fate, cause my life is mine to choose, and I won't let Sai leave it so soon, especially when I've got much more stuff to prove to him."

Shion said nothing at his words, not being able to come up with a response.

"And I'm gonna need your help to change it."

Shion's eyes widened mildly in shock of his words, looking down at him while he continued to gaze straight ahead.

"I need you to be strong, to seal up this Moyo fast, and in the meantime, Sai will protect you, and I'll protect both of you."

Shion blinked, leaning back down as she lidded her eyes, using a finger to poke his cheek, "You're naive." She commented.

But instead of being insulted, Naruto simply grinned, "Well if you're gonna be all gloomy and depressed, someones gotta cheer you up." He cheerfully stated.

And for the first time in a while, Shion blushed, a bit flustered by his words, "Hey! Who do you think you're talking to!?"

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Naruto shot back, making the girl clinging to him blink momentarily as she remembered his actual position in his village, slumping back over him with a slightly defeated look.

"Still older than you," She muttered.

"And heavier too," Naruto commented, letting out a playful grunt as Shion flicked him on the forehead as she shot him an annoyed look.

Naruto chuckled, "Now there's a bit of emotion," He stated, "Loosen up a bit, I'm sure it'll make you look even prettier, especially when you smile!"

Shion blushed at his words, 'He thinks I'm pretty?' She thought briefly, her thoughts now focused away from the heavy topic they had been discussing earlier as she now started to let down the walls around herself, if by just a little.

Naruto smirked at that.

"This is it." Ajisai stated as she and her teammate made it onto the other side of the fiery lake inside the mountain that held the shrine, both standing in front of the door that held the power they wished to run rampant, Moryo's power.

And they now had to use it.

"Go, hold them off as best you can." Ajisai stated to her teammate, as she nodded in acceptance, the two sharing a parting look as they each accepted the fact, this would most likely be the last time they saw each other.

As her teammate left, Ajisai walked up to the door, taking out two of the rods from Lord Pain as she held them in both hands, and with one rod, she stabbed it down through the shrine of the door, and with the other, she embedded it into her stomach.

The girl fell to her knees as she immediately began to cough up some blood as she felt a surge of power rush through, to the pint she noticed her eyesight change just enough to see a pathway of chakra linking the two chains together, with the chakra from the tomb pouring into her.

However, she noticed the landscape around her changed into nothingness except black.

"So, you've chosen this."

Ajisai whipped her head to the voice, finding it belonging to the figure behind, his appearance shaded in black, but his eyes, his eyes were visible, purple in color and ringed in appearance, just like Lord Pain's bird.

Her eyes widened as realization came to her.

"You're correct in your assumption, "

So he already knew what she was thinking before she was finished? Was the power of a god?

"God as though I may be, I can not just read the minds of those who I choose, but the connection you have created between the two of us has given me access to your mind, and I see, that your mission has become complicated to the point you would try something like this."

Ajisai said nothing, simply nodded to the figure she thought of as god as he continued to speak to her, too stunned to do much else but just listen.

"You're conviction for your villiage is admirable, to your duties as a ninja, and to the mission. It's a shame it has come to this," Pain spoke with a monotone voice, "But due to your loyalty I will assist you, I will make sure Moryo's power does not overtake you, you simply must guide it."

"Now rise, my child, and face your final act as a Rain Ninja with pride."

Ajisai did as told, continuing to look up at the figure as she brought a hand up to her head and covered her eyes.

"Your life may end here Ajisai, but, know that I will recognize your efforts, and even in death you will continue to be of service."

Ajisai could feel her mind start to dilute

"As my path."

"You know, I get that someone had to go to help with the discussions and all, but why am I apart of this?"

Naruko gave her sensei a questioning look as she sat down against the tree behind her as the fire between them flickered its flames.

"Because your father wants to talk with them about a certain deal," Jiraiya stated as he twisted the branch that was hovering over the fire, roasting the fish impaled on it.

Naruko raised an eyebrow "And what would that be? Cause I'm assuming it has something to do with me since I'm not usually good with negotiations." She pointed out.

"Minato says he wants to pull in a favor, and in turn, give you and Naruto the much-needed training you both need."

Naruko looked at the sannin, a bit stunned.

She was now curious to get to the cloud even sooner now.

Shikamaru and Ino continued to traverse through the treetops as they headed straight towards the shrine, making a minimal effort to keep their chakra signatures low to hopefully fool the enemy and get them to reveal themselves to them.

And it seemed to have worked, as once they reached one of the clearings, they noticed one of the rain ninja's standing on the other side.

"So I take it the other two and the priestess are taking the long way round to the shrine to flank us?" The girl questioned them, "If that's true, then you'll sorely underestimate us."

"Is that so?" Shikamaru challenged with a raised eyebrow.

One that the rain girl met with her own coupled with a cocky look.

"Trust me, things just got a whole lot harder for you."

*Vroom

Shikamaru and Ino braced themselves a powerful shockwave rippled through the air and ground. The sound of a rumble approaching from the distance as it came closer and closer. Turning into a march that held a plethora of heavy steps.

*boom

Shikamaru and Ino had their eyes widened at the sight of dozens of stoned statue guards making their way through the forest's edge.

"We're prepared to use everything at our disposal to make sure we win." Fuyu stated as she saw the two leaf ninja take up a defensive stance.

"Damn it! Where did all these statues come from!" Naruto shouted as he jumped from tree-branch to tree-branch, avoiding the horde of stone soldiers below, they may not be able to reach him from here, but they could very well bring him and Shion down there by taking down the trees he was using themselves.

"Huh?" Naruto slightly gasped as he heard the caw of a bird from above, looking up to see one of Sai's drawings dive-bombing into the horde of statues down below, before exploding in the group.

"Damn..." Naruto tsked as he felt the shockwave from up here, Shion also hanging on tight around him.

"Get her out of here."

Naruto turned to look at Sai who now stood on the branch next to him, looking down to the ground as a new wave of stone soldiers made their way to them.

"I'll hold them off for now." He stated, not giving Naruto a chance to even respond as he jumped down, but now before saying a few last words, "Also, don't mess this up."

Naruto watched on as he saw the root ninja do battle with the stone opponents before giving a tsk and turning around, "Really hate him." he muttered before jumping away to the shrine.

This is where I stopped writing the chapter, at this point, I'll just give you the outline of what was supposed to happen next.

- Naruto and Shion would've continued on to the shrine, only to be overwhelmed by the statue guards and be forced off the path.

- The two have an argument with Shion falling a bit into despair but Naruto snaps her out of it, was suppose to help strengthen the bond between them.

- Sai comes in to bring them to the shrine

- There they have to battle with the Moryo-possessed-Ajisai as she tries to kill them

- During than, Shion believes the vision where Sai was killed is about to take place, only for Naruto to push him out of the way and take the blow, deeply wounding him

- Shion uses her angel form, healing Naruto before trying to take Moryo!Ajisai down with her

- Naruto wakes up, has Sai take him up to Shion and snaps her out of it.

- With Sai providing support, Shion and Naruto combine their powers to seal and destroy Moryo with Shion powering up Naruto's adamantine sealing chains

- Fuyu would've taken Ajisai's body to the rain village where it would've eventually become the Animal Path

And that's pretty much it

A/N: Anyways, one more chapter for this arc, which will cap it off by having some smut between Naruto and Shion, after that is the chapter where I'll finally detail what I had planned for this squeal series as a whole.