Sasuke put away the Sky Country Logbook and looked toward Naruto, who was still struggling against the puppets.
"These puppets attack in a very orderly pattern. They're protecting something."
"Protecting?"
Karin asked in confusion.
"Protecting what?"
"That huge pyramid."
Sasuke pointed to the enormous structure in the center of the city.
"All the puppets move in concentric circles centered on the pyramid. The closer you get, the more fiercely they attack."
Naruto finished off the last few puppets with a Rasengan, then ran over, panting. "These guys are a real pain. And they just keep multiplying the more we fight."
"Because you went the wrong way," Sasuke analyzed calmly. "They're not trying to eliminate intruders. They're trying to keep intruders away from the core area."
"So we're heading to the pyramid now?"
"We have to." Sasuke took out the Logbook. "According to the Sky Country investigation, the Dragon Vein's core is on the seventh underground level of the pyramid. If the Spring of Life really exists, that's the only place it could be."
The three headed toward the pyramid. As expected, the puppets grew more numerous along the way, and their attacks became more frenzied. But strangely, the moment they stepped onto the pyramid's stairs, all the puppets stopped attacking and lined up neatly on either side, as if taking part in some kind of ceremony.
"Something about this doesn't feel right." Karin gripped her kunai nervously.
The pyramid's entrance was a massive stone door, its surface covered in ancient Runes. Sasuke tried to push it, but it didn't budge.
"It needs some special way to open." Naruto circled the door once. "I've seen these Runes before. There are similar records in the ancient Uzumaki Clan texts."
He placed his palm on the spiral pattern in the center of the