Yo!! The confrontation begins now, as Koji and the Genin prepare to take on the bad guys and the bandits. Will the team win, or will they all be defeated? Find out.

Chapter 42: Both Sides Clash!! Sand Runaway!!

Koji charged the girl, and cocked his fist back, as she looked on disinterested. When he was a step away, he swung for the fences. With a gleam in her eye, Ryoko slid Koji's fist away, and tripped him up, and tossed him over her shoulder. Koji hit a tree upside down backfirst.

(What the hell just happened?) He thought, as he laid there on his head. (She just tossed me, and made it look easy…) He turned so he was laying on his back, and turned his head to her. He then brought his legs up, and flipped so he was back on his feet.

"Lucky shot." He said, before he charged again. He tried to punch her again, and like last time, she tossed him over her shoulders. This time, Koji recovered in mid-air, and landed on his feet.

He then smirked, and chuckled. "I see what you're doing now." He said, and Ryoko smirked. "You use my momentum in your advantage, and toss me around. Well, that ends now!!" Koji said, charging. This time he tried a flying kick, but she sidestepped it.

He then turned, and tried to back hand her. She caught it, and began to attempt to wrestle him to the ground. This time, Koji brought his foot up, and kicked her in the gut, and launched himself away. He backflipped, and landed on his feet as she slid back, holding her stomach. "Not this time! I know your style, and I plan on beating you!!"

(Bandit Lair)

Kenta knew this was an incredibly bad situation. The guy they were facing looked like he was on a level that only Koji would be able to fight on a fair plane. But in order for Koji to take a crack at him, they would need to stall till Koji got there.

"Satoshi! Don't charge this guy recklessly." Kenta said, thought it was pointless since Satoshi charged as he screamed it. Satoshi summoned a katana, and began to swing it.

The man with the orange hair dodged them like it was child's play, and kicked Satoshi in the gut. "I don't want to waste my skills on some brats like you three." He said, as Hanabi activated her Byakugan. "You guys. We need to work numbers against this guy. I have a plan." Kenta said. "I'm listening." Hanabi said.

"I want you and Satoshi to Joint Attack him. I'll attack from a distance with jutsus and weapons." He said, as Satoshi flashed next to Hanabi. "You heard me, Loudmouth?" Kenta asked. "Loud and clear. Come on Hanabi!!" Satoshi said, smirking, as him and Hanabi shot towards the orange haired man. He looked on disinterested, and dodged their attacks.

(Outside the Lair)

Koji launched from a tree, and his fist was caught by Ryoko, who tossed his fist away, making him lose balance. He used that off-balance to bring his hand around, and she brought her wrists up to block a hammer smash.

She grabbed his wrist, and he thrust his other palm towards her chest. She caught his hand, and clasped his fingers with hers. He growled, and brought his other fist back, and tried to hit her, but she used the hand that she had grabbed to drag him to the ground, and had a choker hold on him.

Before it could get too dicey, he released a blast of chakra, and she flew away. She landed on her feet, just as Koji came barreling at her. She ducked under his punch, and tried to flip him over her again. This time, Koji caught her arm, and twisted in mid-air so he would land on his back, and sent her flying over him.

He then flipped to his feet, as she landed on her back, and slid to her feet. "Hn. It wouldn't be so much of a bad thing if you could NOT get back to your feet, would it?" Koji muttered.

(inside)

Kenta growled in irritation. This guy HAD to be a Jounin. He was dodging their attacks so easily and as though they weren't worth his time. In reailty, he probably wasn't, but he thought Hanabi and Satoshi would land at least 2 hits each. Sadly, that never happened, and the Genin looked like they were running out of gas.

(Hn. Time to bluff it.) "Okay big guy. Time for our ultimate attack! This attack killed that samurai girl!!" Kenta said, smirking. The man raised an eyebrow, and smirked.

"Bring it, little boy." Kenta stopped smirking, and donned a serious look, as Satoshi and Hanabi were next to him. "Hanabi, can you use that specialty jutsu of the Hyuuga Clan? You know, the one Neji did back at the Chuunin Exams three years ago?" Kenta asked.

"Yeah. You got a plan, Kenta-kun?" Hanabi said, not realizing she added kun to his name unconsciously. "Yeah. When the moment is right, I want you to seal those points. Be prepared." He said, as he turned to Satoshi.

"We are going to play distraction." Satoshi smirked at that, and summoned a MorningStar. "Alright!!" He screamed, as he tossed the spiked ball at the man, who sidestepped it. He was surprised when Satoshi tugged the chain, and it looked like the chain was beginnig to ensnare him. He jumped into the air, and caught a kunai.

He then noticed the Exploding Tag on it, and tossed it back to Satoshi, who was protected by Hanabi's Rotation. As the man was falling, Kenta began making signs, and slammed his hand into the ground.

"Earth Style: Earth Spire Jutsu!!" Kenta said, as spikes of earth shot out of the ground towards the man. He merely landed on the spikes safely, and charged for the Genin. Hanabi smirked, and the Yin-Yang symbol appeared under her.

(Shame for you. You're in the Zone of my 8 Trigrams.) Hanabi thought to herself, as her stance changed. (Hn? A stance change?) The man thought, as he charged. She then spun, and brought her hands onto his stomach.

"2 Palms!!" She spun, and began slamming her fingers into his Chakra Points. "4 Palms!!" "8 Palms!!" She slid around, as her speed began to increase. "16 Palms!!" The man stood taking this abuse, as her attacks were hitting home. "32 Palms!!" Kenta and Satoshi watched in awe as she wailed on him. "64 Palms!!" With that, she blasted him across the room, and he slid on the floor.

Hanabi stood back in the Gentle Fist Stance, panting a little, and de-activated her Byakugan. "Damn, Hanabi!! That was sweet!!" Satoshi screamed, as Kenta nodded. "I'd say we did it." Kenta said, before something felt off. At the next moment, he felt something attach to his back, and his movements were stopped.

"Guys! I can't move!" Kenta said, panicking. Satoshi was about to intervene, but he couldn't move either. Hanabi activated her Byakugan, and saw Chakra Strings attached to their backs. She found out what happened, but she didn't make a move to stop it.

"You are quite insightful, girl. Too bad you didn't get a chance to save them in time." The man in orange was sitting on the balcony, Chakra Strings attached to his fingertips, which had control of the kids. "You are now all my Human Puppets. You don't have to worry about stalling for your senei, because you three will kill him." He said, smirking.

(Outside)

Koji stood across from Ryoko, catching his second wind. He was relieved that she was wearing down as well, and was tired like him. "I need to hurry this up." Koji muttered to himself, as he got back into his Tiger Fist Stance. She held her stance, and waited for Koji to move.

Koji yelled a battle cry, and charged at her. He tried to kick her in the side, but she caught his kick. She then brought her hand to Koji's chest, and tackled him to the ground.

Using that momentum, Koji spun on his back, and reversed her tackle, bringing her to her back. He slammed her hands above her, and used his other hand to hold a kunai to her neck.

"Sorry, you lose." He said, smirking at her calm look. "Your contractor. Who is he?" Koji asked. "Why should I answer you?" She asked. "Because if you don't, I'll take your life here and now." He said, hoping she wouldn't call his bluff. She looked thoughtful for a few seconds, before she sighed.

"His name is Toshiro. He is a Missing Nin from the Sand Village." She said, and Koji nodded. "Now, you need to get out of here." Koji said, standing. He pocketed his kunai, and noticed that she stood with him.

"What's wrong now?" Koji asked, as a Shadow Clone went to retrieve her katana. "Thanks for retrieving Bushido for me." She said, and Koji shrugged. "I have no business with you." Koji said, before he noticed she was walking behind him.

"Okay, why are you following me?" Koji asked. "In my village, if you lose to a man, you must commit your life to him." Ryoko said, and Koji's eyes turned white. (WHAT!?) Koji screamed in his mind, before he groaned irritably. He then had an idea. He may get in trouble next time he saw him, but he would live.

"Do you know where the Sand Village is?" Koji asked, as Ryoko nodded. "Okay. I want you to find the Kazekage, and ask for this person on the scroll." He said, writing on a scroll. He gave it to her, and smirked. "Don't mind his demeanor. He's a good guy."

(Inside)

The man in orange hair sat on the balcony, as the Genin sat on the ground like discarded puppets. "I think it's time, Toshiro." He looked to the ground, and saw a boy with what looked like dreadlocks in a green tank top and dark blue shorts.

"Ah, you must be their Jounin Sensei." He said, as Koji smirked. "You must be the Sand Missing Nin. Sorry, but you've terrorized the town for too long. Time to pay up what you owe in bruises and bumps." Koji said, and Toshiro smirked.

"Hn. But I wonder. Do you have the will to attack your students?" Toshiro said, as he used his fingers to control the Genin, who all looked at Koji sheepishly. "Sorry sensei…they got us…" Kenta said.

"Good!! You aren't dead!" Koji said, smirking. "What do you plan to do?" Hanabi asked. "Easy! Break you guys from his control, and defeat him, then turn him over to the proper authorities!!" Koji said, as he got into his Tiger Fist Stance. Toshiro smirked, as he used the strings to get the Genin into their stances.

ShadowRonin: Koji and Toshiro square off, but before Koji can lay waste to Toshiro, he has to save his teammates. A modern ninja take on Hostage Situations.

Next Chapter: Koji and Toshiro begin their fight, but before anything happens, Koji must free his Genin from his grasp. Can he do it without killing any of the Genin? Find out on:

Chapter 43: Jounin Clash!! Toshiro vs. Koji!! The Genin Puppet Show!!