Gai: Neji, try and get a clear visual on the ninja's face. Tenten, you provide backup for Lee and I while we aproach.
Neji, Tenten: roger.
Gai and Lee begin to aproach the gigantic pool of flowing lava. along the way they see three dead Suna ninja.
Gai: these are... Sunagakure special Jonin..
they continue to walk towards the lava mass and see a gigantic gorilla like hand holding up a dying shinobi.
Gai, Lee:!
Lee: what is that?
the shinobi is thrown at Lee who catches the body and they retreat to a safe distance.
Gai: that arm... this lava.. it can only be..
Zenzo: ahh! Maito Gai! the famed Taijutsu master of Konoha. what are you doing here?
Gai:... who are you?
Zenzo: oh im sorry, i am the greatest, most powerful host that has ever been created. loathed by many and second only in power to the great and godlike,
Sosuke Aizen. the master and controller of the fearsome four-tailed Monkey that brings fear to anyone who faces me.
Lee: your name though?
Neji: Furuchi Zenzo. i've seen him before on another mission in Iwagakure. but before.. he did not possess such a insane amount of chakra..
Zenzo: before i was a mere human. now, i am nearing perfection as a shinobi. the 4-tails is extraodinary really...
Tenten throws a Kunai at Zenzo but is caught and thrown back at her, exploding the area where she once was.
Tenten: it makes me sick to hear you talk about how amazing you are. someone like you who has such a big ego deserves to be beaten up.
Gai: how do you know me? have we fought before?
Zenzo: no. but i have heard of you from that fish head, Kisame. he said he would love to kill you... an idea! the look on his face when i tell him i killed you!
hahahaha!
Lee: Gai-sensei! hes crazy!
Zenzo: Maito Gai. we were about the same level before i had the 4-tails. before it, i fought against Kisame to a stalemate. he told me you two have also fought..
but now... now... i can defeat you and Kisame with ease!
Lee, Neji and Tenten try to attack Zenzo but they are tied to the ground by iron strings.
Lee, Neji Tenten:!
Zenzo: you children shouldn't even be here. this is a fight between Gai and myself.
Zenzo: Lava Release! Lava wave!
Zenzo spits out a large wave of lava that is about to cover team guy but Neji cuts the iron strings with Kaiten and Gai rescues them.
Gai thinking: to be able to capture these three.. he must have set up traps beforehand underground.
Zenzo: a Hyuga! amazing. maybe this fight will get even more interesting. the other two though, you can disapear.
Zenzo throws flame infused Kunai at Tenten and Lee but are blocked by Neji's kaiten. Zenzo redirects the deflected flame kunai with is iron strings, aiming them at Lee who dodges and cuts the string with a sword. Gai trys to kick Zenzo in the chest but is blocked.
Gai: Lee! come here! we will fight him together. with our combined Taijutsu, we should be able to defeat him! OHHH! THE FLAMES OF YOUTH ARE BURNING!
Lee: GAI-SENSEI!
Lee and Gai attack Zenzo relentlessly in a hand to hand fight, with Zenzo keeping up with them. Lee trips Zenzo and Gai lands a punch to Zenzo's face.
Zenzo gets up slowly: a taijutsu master indeed.. your pupil isn't bad either.. but..!
Zenzo pulls Lees right leg out from underneath him and wraps fire chakra around his fist, punching Lee a great distance away. at the same time, lighting another iron string on fire with is flaming hand and wrapping it around gai's waist, throwing him to the ground. Tenten throws Kunai at Zenzo who is forced to back off and Neji cuts the strings around Gai, who is burnt around his waist.
Gai: check on Lee. he should be fine but make sure he can still fight.
Tenten runs towards Lee, who jumps up and runs right at Zenzo, punching him in the face twice and kicking him in the chest, sending him flying.
Neji:... he seems fine.
Zenzo: hahaha... ah to be young... and so foolish as to run right at the enemy with no backup or thought of a counterattack.
Lee:!
Zenzo flows fire chakra into his fists and grabs lees arms, setting them on fire.
Zenzo: lava release: lava wave!
Zenzo begins to shoot out lava from his mouth but Gai releases the first gate and kicks Zenzo away, freeing Lee.
Gai: Lee! are you alright?
Lee: yea..
Zenzo: well this very annoying.. im about to kill anyone of you and another just comes in and ruins it. i think i'll let you play with the 4-tails for a bit until i calm down.
Neji: we can't let him transform! Tenten! sleep bombs and exploding tags!
Zenzo: too late!
a wall of Lava blocks the sleep bombs and exploding tags. the lava collapses back to the ground and reveals a small flaming monkey with 4 tails.
End of chapter 26