Hello everyone, sorry again for another late update, but I was helping my twin brother Sword of Twilight in a new story that both of us are working on, "The Love of Foxes and Angels", and I am his coauthor. Here's the new chapter, tell me what you think, and I'm sorry I hadn't been able to update like I wanted too, but I am packed with homework because of school, so for those who were patient enough, thank you once again. Also, I don't know much about the curse mark so I just made up some random stuff, just thought you ought to know.
Sound Village
AHH "It would appear that I was correct in my assumption. I always knew they couldn't be fully trusted, though it is hard to read an opponent's movements with just chakra reading", grunted Orochimaru in pain as Kabuto was holding one of Orochimaru's hands performing the necessary hand seals to control the Sound Four.
"My lord, as a medic ninja, I think it would be wise if you-" AGH
"Never advise me again unless I ask for it, is that clear Kabuto?" sneered Orochimaru as his tongue was wrapped around Kabuto's neck. "Y-Yes m-my lord", grunted Kabuto.
"Ha, ha, ha. Good, I'm glad you understand your place Kabuto."
Forest
Each of the Sound Four's curse mark started to activate to its first stage causing each member to have various patterns covering his or her body.
"Move, I'm about to strike" warned Jirobo as Kiba and Shikamaru quickly dodged a downward thrust from Jirobo as Jirobo quickly picked up a large piece of debris with both hands, "This might be good time to run, or at least do something!" yelled Jirobo as he threw the giant bolder to the two Leaf ninja.
"How about this Tunneling Fang!" yelled Kiba twirling in mid air at high speed piercing through the giant bolder and headed straight towards Jirobo causing him to skid back with Kiba pushing him back.
"Up above behind you lazy bum! Dodge it!" said Tayuya in mid air as she came down with an ax kick aiming straight towards Shikamaru leaving a small crater where Shikamaru was once standing.
"Troublesome, this is really starting to become a drag."
"Says you, how do you think I feel being treated like a walking meat puppet", said Tayuya.
"Partial Expansion Jutsu!"
Choji increased the size of his arms as punched Kidomaru away from the casket that held Sasuke with Neji appearing behind ready to strike his chakra points when Kidomaru shot webs from two of his hands allowing him to dodge Neji's strike as he landed behind Neji, "Hyuga, look out!"
Neji backed flipped dodging Kidomaru's punches when Kidomaru spat out two webs each aiming at Neji and Choji, "Careful, there infused with chakra, kunai knives won't cut through them!"
Choji moved out of the way as the web hit the tree behind him, and Neji activated his Byakugan effectively cutting through the web, "Your Byakugan, it can see the chakra inside my webs right?"
"Yes what about it?"
"He's saying that we need to pair up with the person most effective against each of them right?" asked Naruto dodging a strike from Sakon only for another arm to appear from Sakon's arm hitting Naruto straight in the face as Naruto quickly recovered using the momentum of his attack to quickly drop on the floor and sweep kick Sakon forcing him to trip with Ukon fully separating him aiming a kunai straight towards Naruto's head, "Blondie, I really hope you're good at dodging."
Kin appeared in front of Ukon parrying his kunai with a Senbon Needle with Kin punching him in the chest right below the rib cage causing knocking the wind out of Ukon, "Nice Kin, I can see you've gotten a little strong", complemented Ukon, "But, I don't think that's going to be enough."
"If you want us to help, then tell us what your specialties are, we need to know how to counteract your moves", said Naruto.
"No! Just take Kin and go! I lost her once, and I'm not going to lose her again! At least now I'll know she'll be safe!" yelled Tayuya, "I'd rather die, than live knowing that I killed the one I love!"
"No! I'm not going to abandon you now or ever Tayuya! I know we can rescue you and break Orochimaru's connection! I'm not going back to the Leaf Village without you!" said a determined Kin.
"Kin please just-"
"That's enough Tayuya! I said I'm taking you with me to the Leaf Village, and that's what I intend to do, and nothing is going to stop me!" yelled Kin shocking the Sound Four at Kin's outburst.
"Well, well, it seems our little girl has grown a backbone", said Kidomaru in a proud tone while creating several golden looking kunai out of his arms and locking blades with Neji and Choji.
"Hmm, Whatever you Leaf ninja did to her, keep it up", said Sakon smiling with Ukon starting to merge again getting ready to perform another combo, "She always was a shy little girl", said Ukon causing Kin to blush from their statement, but quickly regain her composure, "Kiba and Akamaru take on Sakon and Ukon, both are known for their combo attacks due to their bloodline, Choji your opponent is Jirobo, both of you can handle each other's strength, Neji, take on Kidomaru, you're the only one who can handle his chakra webs, Shikamaru, Naruto take on Tayuya, she's a strategist so be careful", ordered Kin as she started taking out a large amount of Senbon Needles from her weapon pouch with each needle attached to some ninja wire and a silver bell.
Kin started move her arms in a fluid motion as if she was dancing each time increasing her speed when she started releasing the needles, "Everyone please forgive me! Dance of the Steel Lotus!" cried out Kin as she started releasing her needles crisscrossing each other with each needle embedding itself into a tree. Kin flared her chakra as it traveled through the wires and into the bells, with the glowing wires creating a top view of a lotus flower, "Naruto, everyone, shield your ears! Tayuya, please forgive me!"
"Go for it Kin! I'll be fine!" encouraged Tayuya.
"Song of the Sirens!" cried out Kin as she pulled on the strings ringing all of her bells at once emitting a large shockwave with Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, Neji, Kiba, and Akamaru shielding their ears while the Sound Four were about to strike each of the Leaf Ninja only to cringe at the oncoming shockwave with a deafening ringing effectively knocking all four Sound ninja out.
Sound Village
"What in the world-AHH!" Orochimaru and Kabuto were each shocked with their joined hands emitting a small blue electrical shock, "What was that my lord?"
"It would appear I underestimated that little girl. While it may have effectively broken my connection, that little wench just made it easier for me to control those four fools, her chakra capacity is nowhere near enough to sever it completely. Ready Kabuto?" asked Orochimaru with a wicked grin on his face.
"But my lord-"
"Are you questioning me again Kabuto?"
"No my lord, I-I was just wondering if you should take a food pill to restore-"
"There's no time for that, just hurry up and make the connection!"
Forest
Kin was on the ground breathing heavily when Naruto appeared at her side, "Kin you okay? I thought we were going to take them on according to our strengths?"
"Yes, you were, but I thought I would buy you some time to at least tie them up to immobilize them at least."
"A preemptive strike, not a bad idea Kin that was a pretty cool technique you pulled off as well", said Naruto with an encouraging smile making Kin blush, "Thank you, although it does have a major drawback; it completely drains me of most of my chakra, and it also leaves me wide open for any attacks if anyone managed to escape the blast area. I don't have the proper chakra capacity to bring out the techniques full potential."
"Then I guess you should just keep working hard until you do."
"If you two lovebirds are done flirting with each other, we could use some help here. Besides I don't think your lover would appreciate you flirting with another person Kin", said Neji tying up each of Kidomaru's hands.
"Yeah, or probably join in with them, and then once their done, they would go into bed and have-"
WHAM
Kiba's muttering was interrupted when a stick hit him in the back of the head causing him to nurse his bump and turned around facing an angry, red-faced Kin, "Nobody asked for your opinion you horny mutt!"
"I thought you couldn't move!" yelled an angry Kiba.
"Kiba, even I know when not to invoke a woman's wrath. Heck, I'm scared of my sister when I do something wrong."
"Please, you do it all the time with Lady Tsunade."
"That's different", said Naruto in a bored tone.
"How is it different?"
"Um…Guys, we have bigger problems", interrupted Choji with the Sound Four struggling against their binds.
Sound Village
"Those accursed brats were able to apprehend each of the Sound Four while temporarily severing the connection. I'll get them if it's the last thing I do", growled Orochimaru until his growl turned into a smirk, "Hmm, It looks like I have no other choice. Kabuto, send one of your subordinates to release Kimimaro, and concentrate all your chakra on Tayuya."
"If I may ask my lord…why Tayuya? I thought Sakon and Ukon were the strongest in terms of strength."
Orochimaru just snickered at Kabuto's question, "Heh, heh, It's about her heritage…mostly her mother, who I've kept comfortable at the deepest level of the dungeons."
"I thought Tayuya's mother was dead?"
"No, I decided to keep her around as another insurance policy. Mostly thanks to that woman's idiotic fool of a husband. He was so willing to tell us about her secret once he found out."
"Secret?"
"Oh that's right, you don't know. This occurred before I met you, when I was looking for powerful Shinobi in the making. You see, Tayuya and her mother are in fact-"
Forest
"Do you think the bindings will hold?" asked Kin.
"Wait, they stopped struggling, and the marks are starting to recede", said Neji with his Byakugan active, "But it would appear that Tayuya-san is still struggling. Do you think Orochimaru's chakra is starting to deplete that he could only control one person?"
"Well the Old Man did do a number on him, so it's possible. But remember the number one rule of combat, never underestimate your opponent so everyone get ready", ordered Naruto as everyone got into a defensive stance with three shadow clones protecting Kin.
"Hmm, I thought I was supposed to be in charge Naruto", said Shikamaru with a smirk.
"What can I say; it would be too troublesome for you to say it. Besides, I thought I was supposed to be the prankster here", replied Naruto with a foxy smirk.
Tayuya's body started emitting a black aura and effortlessly broke her bindings as the curse mark started to expand covering her whole body until her skin turned into a deep tan color with five horns starting to grow out of her head ripping off her cap, her hair started to grow even longer, and had opened her eyes revealing brilliant gold eyes with the white of her eyes turning completely black.
Everyone was shocked at Tayuya's appearance although for some reason to Naruto and Kin, if she hadn't had horns, and her eyes were regular, she would've looked like an exotic beauty. Naruto shook off his thoughts and concentrated on the upcoming battle and prepared himself, "Tayuya, can you hear me?" asked Naruto.
Tayuya made no response to Naruto's question as she started walking towards them like a zombie until she disappeared from their view causing everyone to go wide eye until she reappeared in front of Kiba.
Grunt "W-What t-the-" grunted Kiba spitting up some blood and looked down to see Tayuya's fist connected to his abdomen. Tayuya placed a foot forward and continued to press her fist forward as well sending Kiba into a nearby tree leaving a huge crater on his impact causing the tree to fall down. Akamaru tried to attack only for Tayuya to bend backwards at what seemed like only a trained professional from a circus could perform and effortlessly kicked Akamaru into another tree leaving another large crater.
"That's Tayuya's Curse Mark Level Two, be very careful, in this stage she's gains immense strength!" shouted Kin while being carried bridal style by one of her shadow clone bodyguards and retreated on top of a tree.
"Looks like close combat might be out of the question, any ideas?" asked Neji.
"Yeah…try not to get killed", responded Choji.
"I think that's a plan we can all agree on", said Shikamaru with everyone nodding their heads as Tayuya turned her lifeless eyes towards the remaining Leaf Ninja.
"This is so troublesome."