"It looks like you're going to get that fight after all" Sakura said to Naruto.

"Yep, four on forty it's just the kind of fight we're looking for!" Naruto exclaimed in determination as more clones surrounded them.

"You're all cornered like rats!" One clone spoke, breathing heavily into his metal mask.

"What do you mean rats? Take this!" Naruto yelled and charged forward, he punched the clone who had spoken.

But the punch didn't connect; instead Naruto's fist kept stretching through the clone until in broke out of the clone's side. Immediately it began to melt and Naruto fell to the forest floor in a heap. Sakura, Kabuto and Sasuke watched confused as another clone emerged from the side of the melted one.

Sasuke activated his Sharingan immediately and threw his shuriken quickly to prevent the newly formed clone from taking the blond boy's head off. The melted clone and the new clone that had emerged were still joined together at the waist and the creature turned to face Sasuke.

Sakura saw the curse mark light up on Sasuke's neck as he locked eyes with the two conjoined clones. The newer clone threw a kunai like spear straight for Sasuke, seeing that he wasn't going to move jumped on top of him and pushed him to the ground.

Kabuto quickly examined the spear like kunai that was thrown. Well this is real enough, there's no illusion here, he thought. Sakura meanwhile was helping Sasuke into a sitting position as he seemed to be paralysed and unable to do it himself. Little flames began to gather around the cursed mark on Sasuke's neck.

No, I can't let this activate again. There will be no telling what Sasuke will do or how it will affect his health and our chances of surviving this ambush, Sakura thought.

"Surrender your scroll, surrender your scroll" the clones repeated over and over again. Naruto stared at them in confusion; these were not typical shadow clones. Their attacks were real because the spear was real and almost hit Sasuke. But they weren't shadow clones because they weren't destroyed on immediate contact. So what exactly did that make them?

"Shut up! If you want the scrolls so badly well come and get it then!" Naruto called out, positioning his knife in front of him.

"No wait Naruto don't! You'll be wasting your time; these things are a result of genjutsu!" Sakura stopped him and Sasuke nodded in agreement.

She's right of course, but how did Sakura notice it. The Sharingan assisted me in seeing the answer but she looked at it with her own eyes and saw the jutsu for what it was, Sasuke thought.

"The real enemy is probably hiding somewhere in the forest nearby, launching the real attacks from behind the illusion and coordinating their movements with these clones. The ninja who use this attack are weak in hand to hand combat, they want us to go searching blindly for them" Kabuto deduced.

"Well then logically that means all we can do is hold our ground and fend off their attacks" Sakura added.

"Fine with me, as long as I get to fight these creeps" Naruto said but his breathing was heavy as was Sasuke's and Kabuto's.

From all the travelling plus their bodies had not fully recovered from Orochimaru, Sakura wondered how long they were going to hold out. Dodging another set of kunai it was clear that the ninja behind the illusion were continuing with this game of getting them worn down and tired. Clearly once these ninja were satisfied with their state, they would come down and snatch the scrolls. Sakura's team and Kabuto would be easy prey by then.

With Sasuke's volatile position and all of our combined exhaustion it's not an option, we need a plan and fast.

Naruto seemed to have read Sakura's mind and immediately made the sign for his well-known Shadow Clone jutsu.

"Don't do it, you're just wasting your chakra. If you try and fight these clones you'll be doing just what those ninja want" Kabuto warned.

"If I get rid of all these illusions, whoever is casting them won't be able to attack us without us seeing them! I'll show them that we're getting out of this one! Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto yelled, not listening to Kabuto.

He and his clones charged forward and proceeded to battle all of the opposing clones. It was a mess of black coloured clones being tackled and destroyed by blond haired orange jumpsuit clones. Initially it appeared to be working but Sakura had anticipated the flaw in Naruto's plan which Sasuke and Kabuto had seen too. The re-spawning effect of the enemy's clones was resistant to destruction. Every time one of Naruto's clones would destroy a black metal mask clone it would come right back.

"Up for more huh? Bring it on!" Naruto yelled fiercely as he caught on to what was happening. But physically he looked exhausted.

"Why why why can't Naruto listen for once instead of dragging us into these exhausting fights!" Inner asked as she caught on to a thought Sakura had just had.

I can't just stand here and watch him battle alone. No matter how tired I am I have to summon the strength, Sakura replied to her own thoughts and quickly reached into her ninja pouch for her gloves.

Pulling them on Sakura stepped past Kabuto and Sasuke, ready to join Naruto. Sasuke looked at her and sighed.

She isn't making this protection thing easy, he thought. But he could hardly blame her as he was just about to join the fight as well.

"I guess I have no choice then" Sasuke grumbled to himself. Looking at the genin Kabuto let out a small frustrated huff at Naruto's actions but prepared to enter as well.

"Sakura, we need your chakra ground punch to get rid of a majority of these clones. Are you able?" Sasuke asked coming up beside her.

Sakura was shocked, this was the first time Sasuke had requested her abilities to be used in battle. Perhaps her resistance to his protection had clued him into the fact that she had most of her strength back now. Recovering from the surprise Sakura considered the request and nodded a little.

"I'm tired but my stamina has only increased over the past four days. I should be able to pull out something substantial and at least give us a clear lead into the fight and buy us a little time before the clones re-spawn again" Sakura said, making the tactical decision.

Concentrating carefully, the female ninja knew to create a decent amount of damage she'd need a strong chakra build up in her fist. Closing her eyes she waited to feel the familiar build of power, seeing what she was doing Sasuke stepped back to give her the space that she needed.

Kabuto also took a few steps back and watched the girl in confusion. "What is she doing?" he asked the Uchiha boy quietly.

Truly the petite pink haired girl did not look capable of all that much as a ninja, although she had the brains to be sure, Kabuto had yet to see what she possessed battle wise.

"Hn, you'll see" Sasuke replied.

The peak of the power had reached her fist and it glowed a stunning bright green. Kabuto watched on in amazement as Sakura raised her right arm skyward and brought the green fist down into the earth.

"TAKE THIS!" Sakura yelled as her fist connected with the ground.

The earth exploded all around her and Sakura was taken aback by the depth of the cracks in the ground and the length that they travelled for.

It hasn't been this extensive before, Sakura thought as she watched the clones being demolished before her eyes for thirty or more metres.

Outwardly it would seem that the stamina training had made a greater impact over the last four days than Sakura initially thought. But she had to wonder if Inner had played a role in the affect her chakra punch attack now had. Especially after what had occurred between herself and Inner during the Sound Ninja battle.

"Not me this time, it was all you" Inner said quietly.

Sakura was unaccustomed to the quiet moments Inner would have with her but smirked nonetheless. It was always a good boost for her morale to see her attacks advancing. The role of Inner in her previous fight was still unclear but now was not the time for contemplation.

"Wow. That was impressive" Kabuto remarked and Sasuke nodded.

It seems Orochimaru was not lying, the girl has potential, Kabuto thought as a sinister smirk appeared on his face unseen by his companions.

It was clear to Sasuke that his teammate's strength was improving. She was an asset to their survival in these exams; she had been from the start. He had just been unwilling or unable to admit it; both Sakura and Naruto were developing into formidable ninja.

Ultimately I will emerge as the strongest of our team. After all I am an avenger and the gift he gave me has not yet been fully explored, Sasuke mused but quickly discourage the thought.

He had promised Sakura he would not let the cursed mark get the better of him. He couldn't do that to her, not after what she had done for him and Naruto.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed from the middle of the battle field where her attack had come to a stop. Sakura smiled a little at her teammate before turning to Sasuke and Kabuto.

"Quick before they have time to re-spawn, let's get in there" she instructed before jumping forward.

It was morning, the rays of the sun began to stream through the forest as Team 7 and Kabuto collapsed on the ground, the metal mask clones standing around them. They were as many in number as when the fight first began, the enemy ninja's genjutsu was holding. Sakura was exhausted and all the fight had gone out of her, she calculated roughly four hours of continuous battle with the clones.

They'll be giving up the clones to come and deal with us themselves, it's almost over, she thought.

The clones began to melt and disappear and were replaced with three ninja wearing metal masks over their faces. Sakura recognised the one in the middle as the first Naruto impersonator they had battled against.

"You two! The girl's the one that punched me and the boy nailed me with his kunai!" The first impostor breathed to his teammates.

"Well now we can pay them back" one of his teammates said, drawing a knife.

Sakura and Naruto looked fearfully at the impostor ninja and his teammates but that was quickly replaced by arrogant smirks.

It's just as we had planned for, Sakura thought and narrowed her eyes at the enemy ninja who appeared beyond confused.

"Well, well. Now who are the cornered rats?" Sasuke asked, his voice echoing around the forest but the Sasuke next to Naruto and Sakura did not speak a word.

"It worked like a charm, good job you two" Kabuto concurred.

The enemy ninja looked around, trying to locate the voices. One of them pointed to the bushes behind them where Kabuto and Sasuke stood, unharmed and not the least bit exhausted.

"You all confused? Good, because it was the only way to get you out of hiding. Show them Naruto" Sakura declared.

Immediately Naruto released his jutsu revealing Kabuto and Sasuke to be just ordinary Naruto clones disguised. Sakura and Naruto were the only ones who had fought as themselves.

"It can't be, that little brat!" The imposter ninja declared.

"The Shadow clones were the first part, the hardest point was coming up with clones for Sasuke and Kabuto" Naruto said.

"While Sakura and Naruto held off your clones with our doubles, Kabuto and I were safe and waiting for you to show yourselves. I think our little plan worked wouldn't you say?" Sasuke explained, arrogantly.

The three enemy ninja remained frozen as he talked, but Naruto fell to his knees. The strain of producing all of his regular clones plus the disguised clones and coordinating the battle component had taken a strain on him. Sakura moved to assist him, he was plain exhausted.

"Sakura, Naruto. Take a break, you've used up a lot of your chakra. I've got these idiots" Sasuke said loudly and the three metal mask ninja stiffened.

Sakura looked quickly at Naruto and both ran straight for the enemy ninja, knocking them down like bowling pins.

"I'm not sure I agree with Sasuke completely. What about you Naruto?" Sakura asked teasingly.

"Nope, we didn't do all that work so you could have all the fun Teme!" Naruto declared happily.

This can't be the same blonde loudmouth I met at the river, his chakra is amazingly resilient. He should be completely unable to move, Kabuto wondered in astonishment.

"That wasn't bad we'll give you that. But time is running out for all of us and we're still feeling lucky. Ninja Art: Fog Clone Justu!" The leader of the masked ninja spoke loudly.

Hundreds of clones filled the area once more, Sakura immediately noticed that they were exact replicas of the three masked ninja and more to the point, they were real clones and not shadow clones.

"Don't waste your strength Naruto, wait for them to make the first move" Sasuke instructed Naruto who was examining the clones around him with a fox like smile.

"These are clones plain and simple, so all I have to do is find the real ones hiding in there and smash my way through the fakes" Naruto replied.

"No! Don't be an idiot, listen to me!" Sasuke demanded.

"Get off my case Sasuke and let me handle this!" Naruto yelled out, and against all better sense charged for the massive amount of clones.

"Here we go again" Kabuto muttered and followed Naruto in an attempt to stop him.

Sasuke reactivated the Sharingan and was about to follow but a sharp stabbing pain in his neck cause him to freeze.

Why is this, why is it that every time I activate it I can't move. Could I have used too much chakra?

Sakura watched Sasuke carefully, he was unable to move she could tell that much. She wanted to assist Kabuto in stopping Naruto but at the same time she couldn't leave Sasuke alone with his inability to move.

Naruto began as he had before, punching random clones. Each one he hit he fell straight through, it seemed to Sakura as though the real ninja had disappeared again. It was certainly a possibility, use this ninja art and then disappear leaving herself and her companions even more exhausted.

Got to try, got to use the last of my Sharingan, Sasuke thought as he activated it. Glancing at all the clones quickly he could see that the real ninja were nowhere to be found.

The Sharingan lasted for a few brief moments before Sasuke's cursed mark heated up again and he screamed out in pain and fell to the ground. Sakura was at his side in an instant and examined the mark, it was orange as if on fire. They desperately needed to finish this exam so Kakashi could take a look at the mark. It was getting out of hand.

Noticing the commotion with Sasuke, Naruto turned around quickly to look and one of the clones took a chance and lept forward to strike the blond ninja. But Kabuto was faster and pushed Naruto out of the way, getting cut quite badly in the process.

"Are you alright!?" Naruto asked worriedly as Kabuto clutched at his leg in pain. Kabuto groaned loudly and didn't reply.

"Now you're going to get it!" The blond ninja yelled to the clones.

"Naruto stop! Don't be a fool! You're just wasting your time on them, the real ninja aren't even there!" Sasuke called out, still clutching the back of his neck in pain.

Sasuke's Sharingan had confirmed Sakura's suspicions, the real ninja had once again disappeared. But where could they have gone.

"Well if they aren't here then where are they! Kabuto's hurt because of that last attack so they're damn well somewhere!" Naruto spat back at Sasuke, frustrated.

"Use your head, if I knew the answer to where they were we wouldn't be in this fix!" Sasuke replied angrily and hissed in pain, grabbing at his neck.

Naruto felt all the fight go out of him and knelt down next to Kabuto. It was official, he couldn't do the Shadow Clone Justu anymore he didn't have the chakra. With Naruto now weakened, Sasuke unable and Kabuto hurt. Sakura once again felt the task to fight now lay with her.

The question that needed answering was the enemy's location. Sakura's sharp sense of chakra detection couldn't seem to find them, they weren't around in the trees unless they had masked it. So the only place left was under the ground.

They had covered in briefly in academy training of places where an enemy ninja could hide in battle. It was plausible that instead of sitting in the trees and using the clones like puppets this time the clones were meant as a distraction while they picked the best time to attack.

That would be now, while everyone is down, Sakura thought.

It was all guess work though, nothing concrete but the female ninja knew she had to assist Naruto and Kabuto. Leaving Sasuke's side Sakura charged in and landed at Naruto's side, just as one of the clones made a slash at the blond boy. Simultaneous to this, the real ninja began to rise up from under the ground.

So I was right, an Earth style technique

"Naruto behind you!" Sasuke called out and Sakura whipped around but she wasn't quick enough. The attack came from behind, from the real ninja who were hiding in the earth. Suddenly Kabuto charged forward and took the hit for Naruto from behind, Sakura meanwhile took out the clone that had been aiming for Naruto from the front.

Naruto ran to Kabuto's side immediately and attempted to assist him, it was then that the three real ninja rose above ground and encircled Naruto and Kabuto traping them completely.

"You should always keep your eyes on your opponent. Idiots" Sakura said plainly and roundhouse kicked the ninja sending them sprawling into the dirt. Adding chakra to the kick meant they were knocked out stone cold.

"Ah, thank you Sakura, I believe you saved our necks" Kabuto sighed in relief but Sasuke's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Good job Sakura-chan!" Naruto added tiredly and gave the thumbs up.

Sakura nodded and turned around to examine the fallen enemy ninja, she began rummaging through their pouches and clothing until she found an object in the leader's pocket that felt like a scroll.

Please be an Earth scroll, please be an Earth scroll. We don't have any time left. The sun is rising higher in the sky and we need to get to the tower

It was a miracle in itself that the scroll that emerged was indeed an Earth one, Sakura let out an inaudible sigh of relief at the navy coloured scroll before holding it up to show her teammates.

"Guys! An Earth scroll!" Sakura called out happily.

"Alright! Just what we needed!" Naruto yelled happily, his tiredness evaporating.

"Good for you!" Kabuto said in an upbeat voice.

Sasuke watched the other ninja carefully, his suspicion growing by the minute. Just what was he doing out here all alone, away from his teammates. Why would he have left them? He thought fixing his eyes on Kabuto a lot longer than necessary.

Kabuto caught Sasuke's gaze and he quickly spotted the curse mark on Sasuke's neck.

"What is that, a bruise?" Kabuto inquired sounding genuinely concerned.

"Hn, it's nothing" Sasuke replied, annoyed. Both ninja watched each other for a moment before Kabuto decided to announce their departure.

"Well, what are we all waiting for? Let's get to that tower!" he said cheerfully.

Sakura put the Earth scroll in her concealed pocket to join the Heaven scroll. It felt good to have both pairs. Making her way back