Naruto Of The Shadow Clones

Chapter 38 Strike Against The Sound Part Two

Ten Miles Out From Sound Base

Even with keeping its speed down to conserve energy for the fight that was ahead, the task force had made good time on their journey and was expecting to be at the hidden sound base within the hour.

All of a sudden Naruto jerked his head up before saying "Everybody stop!"

All of the members of the task force who had heard the blonde speak landed on branches and the clones who were now traveling among the groups as radios and backup gave the order as well to the other groups.

While everyone was looking at Naruto curiously, it was Sarutobi who asked him what was wrong.

"What is it Naruto?"

Naruto concentrated before saying "As you know I sent a few recon clones ahead of us." Seeing Sarutobi's nod he continued "They just spotted someone traveling from the direction of the base and that person is coming our way at high speed. What's worse, and you're going to think I'm crazy, but the guy seems to be a Kaguya."

"Oh that's not good." Asuma said as Sarutobi and Jiraiya frowned.

"But I heard those guys were all wiped out when they attacked the Hidden Mist Village. Are you sure it was a Kaguya?" Jiraiya asked with a worried look.

"Positive. The guy had the two red dots on his head and everything. And to make things even worse for us is the fact that my clones spotted what looked like a curse mark on his chest."

"Great. Things just keep getting better and better don't they? What should we do Pops?" Asuma said turning to his father as he spoke.

Sarutobi's frown grew as he thought before asking "Do you think he knows about the task force Naruto?"

Naruto frowned before saying "Doubtful. The Kaguyas were blood thirsty but I doubt this guy is stupid enough to take on thirty Jounin by himself. Especially if they know you and Pervy Sage are with them."

Ignoring the Pervy Sage comment for the moment, Jiraiya added his two cents in. "The kid's right Sensei. For all we know this guy could be going to see what's taking the first four so long in bringing back the Uchiha kid."

"That certainly is a possibility." Sarutobi allowed before turning back to Naruto. "How long till he reaches us?"

Naruto consulted with his recon clones for a moment before saying "Fifteen minutes at the most with how fast he's traveling. The guy's running like he's got the Shinigami himself on his heels."

Sarutobi hmmed before saying "Regardless of what his mission is, we can't let this man discover the task force. We're going to have to take him out but the longer it takes the more likely we'll be found anyway. Hm, Naruto, didn't you tell me once that there was an assassin's group in the fox clan?"

Naruto nodded and said "Yeah there is. Want me to summon them?"

Sarutobi nodded and Naruto hopped down to the forest floor with the other members of their small group joining them.

Landing, Naruto bit his thumb and ran through the familiar hand signs before slamming his palm down on the ground. The resulting smoke cleared revealing a group of five foxes that were various sizes from a regular sized fox to one who came up to Naruto's waist when standing. Each fox had a small poisoned dagger strapped to them as well as seals hidden by their fur which held a number of other weapons of their trade.

The foxes looked around before the smallest of the five came forward and said "I must admit this is a surprise Naruto. You do not usually summon us except to train with us."

Naruto nodded and said "We've got a bit of a problem that requires you and your comrades' skills Eztair. I'm part of a task force that's about to attack a Sound base about ten miles from here. But some of my recon clones have spotted a Kaguya coming from the direction of the base and we can't let him alert the base to our presence."

The fox nodded and said "A Kaguya you say? Hm, no wonder you want our help if you don't want to cause a ruckus. Though I thought they were all wiped out? Oh well, just tell us where we can find him and we'll take care of him for you."

Naruto nodded and gave him the necessary information before the five foxes took off at speeds that rivaled Lee and Gai's when they opened their gates.

Two minutes later, the Kaguya was running through the forest at his top speed willing to complete one last task for his master before he died.

'Those four will be in big trouble when I find them. It has taken them far too long to bring Lord Orochimaru's next vessel. I may die after I finish what they started but it will be worth it if it helps Lord Orochimaru in succeeding in his plans.'

All of a sudden the runner felt a series of stinging pains as five blurs that the man could barely see shot out from the surrounding forest and went past him.

The man looked down at the five cuts that ran across his legs. But before he could wonder what happened his body seized up before going into spasms for a couple of seconds. From the trees nearby, the five foxes watched as the quick acting neurotoxin that was on the foxes daggers quickly ended his life.

As the man's body stopped twitching, the largest fox stepped up to the body and poured chakra into its tail before cutting the Kaguya's head off with it and placed the head in one of the seals on it's body as another fox came up and incinerated the body with a blue flame that left nothing of the body but ashes in a matter of seconds.

Seeing that the body was properly disposed of, the group of five foxes quickly left to inform their summoner of their completed mission.

Back with the task force, the leaf nins were currently waiting in various states of unease for word on if the assassins had succeeded. Naruto was the most relaxed since he knew what the group was capable of while the rest were wondering if they could handle the member of the infamous Kaguya clan. Even Jiraiya and Sarutobi were slightly nervous as they waited.

That all changed a few minutes earlier as the foxes walked over to where Naruto was.

As the Eztair reached Naruto he said "Target neutralized sir. As per SOP the head was collected and the body incinerated."

At Eztair's words, Naruto nodded and the fox that had sealed the Kaguya's head stepped forward and unsealed the head which Naruto resealed inside of one of his own scrolls. As this was going on, Sarutobi was looking thoughtfully at the foxes before he decided to ask something that he just thought of.

"Excuse me Eztair, (when said fox looked at him, he continued) do you think you and the rest of your group could join us on our operation? It would be greatly appreciated if you would lend us your talents."

Eztair glanced over at Naruto who gave an "It's your call" gesture before turning back and nodding before saying "As you wish sir. Just tell us what you need us to do and we'll pass through your enemies like the wraiths of old