𝑾𝑯𝑬𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑾𝑰𝑵𝑫 𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑾𝑺 •𝒃𝒙𝒃•

The edge

A little time passed and Yamato had called out to Akashi, saying how his clone had located Orochimaru's hideout and that they needed to get going.

_

After a while of running, they had reached the place.

"The entrance is right in front of us, beneath those boulders". Yamato's clone had revealed. Akashi glanced at the giant rocks. Sasuke is under all of that, eh?

"So, right beneath those rocks, we'll find Sasuke". Naruto spoke up.

"There's a strong chance". Sakura added.

"At the very least, there'll be some very important clues there". Yamato said. Akashi shifted on his feet and reached behind himself for his blade. He pulled it out of his sheath and spun it between his fingers.

"Then let's stop wasting time". He took a step forward, but Yamato interrupted him.

"Wait". The man said. The redhead turned to him and did just that. Yamato reached a hand in front of himself and touched his clone. The clone turned into wood and was slowly absorbed into Yamato. The man opened his palm and in it were three little seeds. He handed them over to the others. "Eat these. That way I'll be able to know where you are if we get split up". He explained.

"For real?" Naruto and Sakura leaned forward to look at the seeds. Akashi extended his hand between them and grabbed one of the seeds.

"Bottoms up". With that, he put it in his mouth and swallowed it. Naruto peered at him from the side when he did it. Yamato explained how he put one in Sai's food and one in his clothes. When asked when he did that, he answered and said it was when they were at the hot springs. After that, he said that Tsunade had warned him about Sai. He then urged Naruto and Sakura to swallow them.

_

Akashi had closed his eyes and focused his senses on sensing nearby chakra. He had trouble with catching any signals... He tried and tried, but it was no use... Something was blocking him.

"Listen up". Yamato said and they all turned to him. "Remember, we're up against Orochimaru, we must think of Sai as our enemy, too". They all nodded and he continued. "We'll infiltrate with me going first, Sakura going second, Akashi third and then Naruto". He revealed.

"How will we break in?" Sakura asked the important question.

"We'll go by book. Enter from underground using Earth element jutsu". He turned forward. "I'll start by making a shaft right around here". He glanced at the boulders. "After we're down far enough, I'll carve out a tunnel parallel the entrance tunnel and proceed slowly". He finished.

"Okay". Sakura said.

"Yeah, I get it!" Naruto replied.

"Let's get this over with". Akashi added.

"So then, here we go!" Yamato raised his hands and did a few hand-signs. He patted the ground with his palm and it opened up in a giant hole. "Leap down after you hear my signal". He glanced down. "Well, here I go!" He jumped into the hole and disappeared from their sight. Naruto and Sakura leaned over the hole and looked inside. A second later, a whistle rang out from down under.

"I'm going now!" With that, she jumped in. Akashi sheathed his blade back into its sheath and took a step forward. Just as he was about to drop down, a hand clamped over his shoulder.

"I know I'm late, and I know you will never forgive me for what happened, but we need to talk once we get back to Konoha". Akashi glanced at the hand covering his shoulder and then at Naruto. The said boy moved it back and took a step away. "We can't keep on going like this... It's hurting us both... I know it is". His tone turned quieter towards the end and Akashi straightened up.