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Chapter 014 - A Battle of Snakes, Part 1
"So, where's Kisame?" Madara asked to the returning Zetsu.
"He's been having some trouble to isolate the Jinchuriki because he was on his way to Konoha. Fortunately, he immediately left the village and it seems that he's returning to the Land of Lightning. Kisame's only waiting for both of them to be at a long enough distance from Konoha to attack."
"Good. We can't afford to lose him at this point... Have you told him about our new hideout?"
"Yes Madara-sama, but...
"...are you really going to kill her?" Zetsu's white part finished the black one's question.
"If it is necessary, yes. One way or the other, our new base is going to be there."
"Very well. Is Sasuke still asleep?" Black Zetsu changed the subject.
"No, he woke up awhile ago. He's reaction was quite something. He still wouldn't accept his brother's eyes but I managed to convince him. You can start the surgery. I'll leave to take care of some business."
"As you wish, Madara-sama." Zetsu slightly bowed before walking out of the room.
"Things are going well after all." Madara thought to himself. "Now to find those new members..."
"Shikamaru! You're already here?" Choji asked, surprised to see his best friend already inside Shikaku's office. "You weren't down there at the announcement."
"Yeah. I already knew who was the new Hokage-sama..." Shikamaru felt his father's glare but shrugged it off. As soon as the new Hokage reached his office, he had immediately changed attires, seeing as he was now wearing his usual clothes, except the deer skin coat. "I asked permission to miss the announcement and go with Kurenai to the hospital. Sorry not to tell you guys."
"How is Kurenai-sensei and the baby?" Shino asked.
"They're fine. Only some more weeks." Shikamaru said with a grin.
"Why have you called us Hokage-sama?" Lee enthusiasticly asked.
"We're still missing one so you'll have to wait a bit more." Shikaku informed. "Damn kid is too hyperactive, geez..."
"Sorry Hokage-sama, my bad." Nawirama rubbed the back of his head as he entered the office.
"Don't worry, I know what caused your delay and I don't mind it at all." Nawirama traded a look with Shizune, who he was sure had told Shikaku what he was doing. "Nice to see that you're already using our village's attire."
"Well, it's also one of the reasons for my delay. Once again, I'm sorry for being late, Hokage-sama." Nawirama slightly bowed.
"C'mon Nawirama, we're all friends in here. There's no need for these kind of things. It's troublesome. I also don't like the Hokage-sama thing so you can all just call me Shikaku." Some chuckled at how laid back Shikaku was. Because of that, it was hard to remember that Shikaku was their Hokage. "I'll get straight to the point. You're all to be sent on S-rank missions. There's a lot of important things to do right now."
"S-Rank?" Many ot the younger ones thought.
"Before Pain's invasion, a team composed by Anko, Yamato and Sai was sent on a mission to find Kabuto Yakushi. Yamato and Sai had to return and Anko was left to complete the mission by herself. As you may know, many teams have been looking for both but we can't find them. That's why I'm sending you to do it. You've all grown up a lot and I trust you to complete this mission."
"But Shikaku-san, what about Sasuke?"
"I knew you would ask that Naruto. I won't send all of you in the same mission. Half of you will hunt Akatsuki members, including Sasuke." Shikaku revealed. "I've decided that we'll need to change teams a bit so that we can make this work."
"Change?" Again, another thought was shared by some of the present shinobi. They didn't expect to be separated from their original partners in such a high-ranked mission.
"Team Guy is the only one that won't be changed." Unlike his partners, Neji didn't seem relieved. "Now, Team Asuma is lacking a member and I decided that Kakashi should be their team leader for this mission. You've teamed up to fight Hidan and Kakuzu before and the results were excellent. I guess there's no problem?"
"Not at all." Kakashi nodded and joined his new partners.
"Now, the major changes...Yamato will lead the members of Team Kurenai and Nawirama will lead the members of Team Kakashi. Also, I'm sending Sai to Yamato's team and Hinata to Nawirama's." Nawirama, Yamato and Sai simply nodded and joined their new partners. Hinata liked the idea of teaming up with Naruto but didn't really want to leave her longtime partners. Kiba was the one to vocally disagree.
"How can you break our team in such a dangerous mission? We're used to work together for years."
"Well Kiba, I hope you didn't forget that you're a shinobi who's going on a mission that can possibly have a great impact on the village. You're not making a trip to an amusement park. I also hope you didn't forget that you're a Chunin, who's supposed to be able to lead other teams and do missions by himself. Do I have the need to demote you back to Genin?" Shikaku scolded Kiba who walked back and remained quiet. "Iruka was Anko's partner under Neji's father when he was your age and he's teaming with two of my former students, Izumo and Kotetsu right now and none of them complained. I'll explain my motives later."
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama." Kiba let out with his head hanged down.
"Troublesome boy...he really is Tsume's son."
"I believe we can continue now, Shikaku-san." Kakashi broke the unconfortable silence.
"Well, Team Guy and Team Yamato will search for Kabuto while Team Kakashi and Team Nawirama will search for the Akatsuki and Sasuke. I'll explain why." Shikaku specifically stared to Kiba as he said this. "Team Yamato is basically a tracking team. Kiba and Akamaru's sense of smell, Shino's insects and Sai's ink beasts are perfect for that. Yamato has to be the leader of this team because he was working with Anko before. He knows what methods Anko is using to track him and already has some idea of which way Kabuto is taking. Any questions, Team Yamato?"
"Now, Team Guy is the assault team." Shikaku continued as no one spoke. "If you come across Kabuto, you're to attack him with everything you have. You're the assault team. Team Guy and Team Yamato, your mission is to rescue Anko Mitarashi and to capture Kabuto Yakushi. If you can't, then kill him. As much as I would like to extract intel from him, I don't want another Orochimaru around. Any questions?" Nobody questioned Shikaku but Tenten noticed the strained look on Neji's face.
"Team Kakashi, you're what I call the ambush team."
"Father sure doesn't have talent for naming teams..."
"Kakashi and Shikamaru, you're to find a way to ambush any member from Akatsuki you find and bring them back to the village. It's going to be much like the Niju Shotai, so I think there's not much to explain here. I'll leave it too you. Any questions?"
"Shikaku-san, I want to ask your permission so that the team's name remains Team Asuma to honor my partners former sensei." Kakashi asked, causing his surprised partners to look at him.
"You know I was very attached to Asuma, don't you Kakashi? Of course I approve. Any questions, Team Asuma?" Nobody talked but all of them, even Ino, smiled to know they would remain Team Asuma. "I've sent other teams to find Akatsuki as well, but you're to act independently of them and only in contact with Team Nawirama."
"Team Nawirama, you'll have the most difficult part of the mission. You're a support team. Hinata's Byakugan should help to find the Akatsuki and to remain alert so Team Asuma knows when to hit. Sakura's medical ninjutsu will be essential if something goes wrong. Nawirama's job will be to protect all members from his team so they won't get hurt until Team Asuma's plan works. Naruto, I'm sorry to say but you're the bait. They will go after you and I don't want you to fight unless it's really necessary." Naruto was already expecting that he would be put out of action but he knew he couldn't jeopardize this oppurtunity and simply nodded.
"Hm, the kid's smarter than I thought." Shikaku then continued. "Team Asuma and Team Nawirama you're to capture any member of Akatsuki you find. Try to capture only one because it will almost impossible for you to get more. If your plan fails then hit for the kill. In a fight scenario, only Kakashi and Nawirama are allowed to fight and you Naruto, only as a last resort. Any questions?" Nobody from Team Nawirama talked, Neji did it instead.
"Hokage-sama, I want your permission to be in the mission to get Sasuke."
"And why is that Neji?"
"It's my job to protect Hinata-sama. I know it sounds bad. A Jounin shouldn't be acting so selfishly, but..." Neji looked to his cousin, silently asking for forgiveness, before turning back to the Rokudaime. "...I'm sure you're aware of what happened during the Invasion of Pain."
"So?" Shikaku bluntly asked.
"I have to make sure it doesn't happen again!" Neji sounded louder than he wanted to. "She's the heiress of the Hyuga Clan and...my little sister."
"Neji...niisan..." Hinata couldn't believe Neji was openly expressing himself like that. Shikaku stared at him for awhile and sighed.
"I'm aware of what happened. Tell me Neji, do you believe you could stop her if she wanted to do it again?"
"I can't allow Hinata to get hurt." Neji pleaded to Shikaku. "Please, Hokage-sama."
"Wanting to protect someone isn't being selfish. It's having a heart. I'm surprised you have one." Shikaku smirked, causing Neji's hopes to increase. "Unfortunately, there's a reason why I didn't put you both on the same mission. I need one Byakugan user in each one. At this moment, your mission has a bigger urgence to be completed and if I take you from Team Guy, it will be much harder to find Kabuto. Sorry, it can't be done."
"Aren't other Hyugas available, then?" Neji tried other approach, but this one seemed to make Shikaku upset.
"Don't you think you may hurt your cousin's feeling like that? Doubting her strength? Asking for someone to take her place is doing exactly that." Neji frowned and pondered that, while Shikaku picked up some files. "Hiashi's report about the Hyuga Clan that he just lefted me before leaving on his mission...Best Byakugan users in terms of the achieved distance they can see: nº1, Tokuma Hyuga, currently trying to find Kabuto; nº2, Hiraku Hyuga, currently trying to find Akatsuki; nº3, Hiashi Hyuga, currently trying to find Akatsuki; nº4, Neji Hyuga, currently in this office; nº5, Hinata Hyuga, currently in this office...Where will I find a better Byakugan user to replace Hinata?"
"I..." Neji seemed surprised by this report. "I don't know, Hokage-sama."
"Don't worry, Neji. I'll protect her with my life."
"Naruto?" Neji looked to Naruto, who was resting one hand on Hinata's shoulder.
"Naruto-kun? You would?" Hinata blushed while she looked up to him.
"I won't let anything happen to Hinata. I promise you." Naruto lifted his fist like he did when he promised Neji that he would beat him, after Neji's match with Hinata at the Chunin Exams.
"And don't forget me." Nawirama intervened, putting his hands on both Naruto and Hinata's shoulders. "My part in this mission is to protect my partners and...if it makes you feel better, I'll let you know that I'm faaar stronger than our Hokage, so there's no way Hinata, Sakura or Naruto will get hurt."
"Far stronger? I beat you in the Chunin Exams, remember?" The upset Shikaku countered, while Nawirama put both his hands behind his head and closed his eyes.
"Well, that's because I quit since I didn't want to kill a friend." Nawirama grinned and Shikaku sighed.
"You sure loosened up during the meeting, uh?"
"Do you trust us, Neji?" Naruto asked.
"I...do, Naruto. Thank you." Neji slightly bowed and returned to his place. "At least I want to..."
"Well, anymore questions?" Nobody talked. "So go and get ready. You'll leave as soon as you are. Oh, Nawirama and Kakashi, I want you to stay for just a minute. I need to talk with you both." Everybody left, except for the two Jounins who traded a worried look.
"Since you're the Kazekage, you can't just leave the village in such a mission. Besides, you're still recovering from that battle."
"I know that, Kankuro, but it makes me feel useless." Gaara wanted to be part of the team that was leaving Sunagakure to hunt Sasuke but as Kazekage, he couldn't just leave his village unprotected.
"Come on Gaara, you can't have all the fun to yourself." Temari said, while putting her fan behing her back.
"Damn sis, don't tease him." Kankuro warned her. "Sometimes it looks like you're the younger of us and not the older."
"Well, at least I'm not the one who plays with dolls..." Temari said before laughing.
"What the hell did you say?"
"Stop, you two." Gaara got up of his chair and both his brothers stopped their bickering. Even though he was the younger one, Gaara was by far the strongest of the Sand Siblings, with or without Shukaku. "I'm sorry about this Baki. I'm going to tell you about your mission." Baki, Temari and Kankuro nodded and listened quietly to his explanation.
"So, we're to join with a team from the Sand Village to find Sasuke." Kurotsuchi and her partners had just received the instructions for their mission by Onoki, the Tsuchikage. "I would rather do this by myself..."
"Well, I'm not happy to waste my shinobi to find this Sasuke, but is has to be done. As you know, it was decided in the Land of Iron that our main allies would be the Sand Village and therefore they will join you in this quest." Kurotsuchi was so sure that her grandfather had already said that. Maybe he was going senile... "So, while everyone else is by their own, you're to team up with three of their finest shinobi in order to hunt not only Sasuke, but every member from Akatsuki. That is your mission, Kurotsuchi, Ittan, Kizu. Understood?"
"Yes, Tsuchikage-sama." Both Ittan and Kizu slightly bowed.
"And remember...not only Sasuke, but every member from Akatsuki." Onoki repeated.
"Old man is really going senile." Kurotsuchi thought, until she saw his eyes fixed on her. "Oh, it was on purpose, huh? Still, it's only Sasuke I'm interested in..."
"Ah, interesting..." Kabuto thought as he felt the hunter closer, as soon as he walked out of the forest and into a plain green field.
"Summoning: Jadoku" Anko whispered back from the woods. The ground below Kabuto started to shake and a giant blue snake emerged from it, swallowing the scientist. "Got him!"
"Yeah, got him." She heard the voice just behind her. As Anko turned, she was kicked away but still managed to block the blow by crossing her arms in front of her chest, being only sent some meters away with no further damage. Anko did a trio of backflips to gain some more distance. "You got my Shadow Clone, that is...So it was you, Anko."
"Kabuto Yakushi, you're coming with me back to Konoha to be judged by your crimes." Anko shouted as he walked out of the clearing, his face covered by the hood of his cloak.
"And what if I refuse?" Kabuto said, while he took his glasses away.
"Then I guess I have to make you come by force." Anko grinned. She knew it could only be that way. The snake user made a sign with her fingers and the blue snake charged towards the medic-nin. Kabuto jumped and performed a set of hand seals, before slamming his hand into the incoming snake's head. The creature immediately disappeared in a cloud of white smoke. "What the hell was that?"
"Oh, just something Orochimaru-sama developed." Kabuto said like it was nothing. "Space-Time Jutsu: Summoning Regression, it forces a summon to return back to the place from where it was summoned. Useful..."
"Tss, I was thinking about using Jadoku if the ambush failed, but you're not even letting me do that." Anko smirked. One thing she loved was a challenge and Kabuto could give her that.
"So you who were once one of Orochimaru-sama's guinea pigs are now a criminal hunter. That's amusing." Kabuto chuckled. "What makes you think you can defeat me?"
Flashback
"Kinako-san, Hanami-san, I would like to ask your permission for me to be your daughter's tutor from now on." Orochimaru asked to Anko's parents.
"Why is that, Orochimaru-san?" Hanami, Anko's mother, asked in a polite but unsure tone.
"I've been following Anko's steps in the academy and she has shown enough progress to have the right to be called a prodegy." Orochimaru explained. "I think that with the right person teaching her, she may have a bright future ahead of her."
"I don't know." Hanami shook her head. "Have you spoken with the Third?"
"Yes." Orochimaru answered in his usual hissing way of speaking. "I'll teach her outside of the academy. When she graduates, she'll be put in a Genin team under a Jounin sensei. The Third wants her to keep on developing her teamwork, but I'll continue to train her when she has free time."
"Hanami, he's one of the Sannin. There's no denial that he's one of the most powerful shinobi from our generation, if not the strongest. His teachings would do wonders for Anko." Kinako tried to convince his wife.
"I don't want her to end up like Nawaki." Hanami whispered, so that Nawaki's former mentor wouldn't hear.
"That was a terrible accident that was caused by his own wrecklessness. This is for the best, Hanami." Kinako insisted and Hanami eventually nodded. "You have our authorization, Orochimaru."
"That's wonderful. Wonderful, indeed..." Orochimaru grinned, making quite an effort to avoid licking his own lips. Behind the closed door of the room, young Anko heard everything that was discussed. She felt an indescribable happiness inside her, by knowking that someone believed in her so much.
End of Flashback
"Even though he called me a failure in the Forest of Death years ago, I know that at some point he believed in my strength. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a reason for him to pick me up." Anko's grin fell and a murderous look appeared as she drew a kunai. "Don't belittle me, bastard. You better believe I'm strong."
"Oh, I believe you're strong. I just believe that I'm stronger." Kabuto countered.
"Maybe I just need an incitive. Why don't you take off that coat and show me how you look now?" Anko challenged the man who possessed Orochimaru's remains in his own body. Kabuto chuckled and decided to do what he was asked. As the coat came down, Kabuto's face was shown to be slightly more than half white. His left eye was now totally like Orochimaru's. Anko could see in the opening of his shirt that the white pigmentation that came from his left arm extended to the middle of his chest and neck.
"60% of me is now Orochimaru...Do I look good or what?" Kabuto asked before laughing like a maniac.
"As I thought...With you now looking like Orochimaru, there's just no way I'll let you wander around any longer." Anko took off her jacket and rushed towards her opponent.
"Come in." Shikaku allowed as someone knocked. As soon as the door opened, Shikaku frowned and a drop of sweat rolled down his face. Ao and Chojuro had just entered in the office. "I hope you're enjoying your stay in our village." Shikaku said to the two Mist shinobi.
"We want to thank you for your hospitality, Mizuka...I mean, Hokage-sama." Ao slightly bowed and Shikaku clenched his teeth as he knew that Ao's choice of words wasn't a mistake. Chojuro seemed to be confused by seeing the look on Shikaku's face and the slight smirk on Ao's.
"What's the real motive that brought you here?"
"Well, as you know it was decided that the Leaf and Mist villages are to work together against Akatsuki and that's why we're here." Ao remembered. "So what's our mission?"
"I've sent two of my finest teams to find Sasuke. I'm sorry but I can't put you in that mission because it would be very difficult to change the plans at this point." Ao and Chojuro looked at him disappointed. As Ao was about to answer, Shikaku already had the solution. "But I think you'll be quite interested in what I have for you."
"And why is that...Hokage-sama?" Ao asked in a kind of ironic tone, causing Shikaku to frown again.
"From what has been told to me, only Madara and Zetsu were at the summit. So, there's one member left. I assume that he is on a different mission." Chojuro stared down. He knew very well who this last member was. "It's only an assumption on my part but I'm quite sure he's tracking the Hachibi's Jinchuriki, Killer Bee."
"But it's going to be very difficult to find him. We don't have any idea where he is." Ao replied.
"In fact we do." Shikaku said to the surprise of both the Mist shinobi. "My son Shikamaru came across Killer Bee in our front gate, a couple of days ago. Before he left, Killer Bee told him that he was returning to his village. The way Shikamaru described him, I'm sure he isn't so far away as he should. Gentlemen, I know it's troublesome, but I want you to find Killer Bee and defend the Jinchuriki against Kisame Hoshigaki. Try to bring the latter alive if you can."
"Of course, Hokage-sama. We will make sure that the Jinchuriki survives." Shikaku noticed how the Hunter-nin didn't adress the second thing he was asked to do. Ao slightly bowed and Chojuro only nodded, before leaving.
"Kisame-senpai...I always hoped that I would never see you again."
Anko duck out from Kabuto's backfist like Chakra Scalpel slash, before delivering a backslap of her own. As the blow slightly stunned Kabuto, Anko was able to follow with a low kick that brought the medic-nin to one knee. The third blow, a spinning heel kick to the back of the head, didn't connect however since Kabuto managed to duck. Orochimaru's former assistant stabbed with his chakra-enveloped right hand but Anko dodged just barely, so she remained at a close enough distance to hit a backflip kick. Kabuto was sent into the air and Anko followed him with a jump, hitting half a dozen rising kicks into his chest and a spinning backfist that Kabuto blocked with his arm. Since the blow didn't have the full impact, Kabuto was able to land in a proper way to avoid more damage.
Kabuto's problem was that Anko also had a smooth landing and was charging once again. With the help of a Body Flicker Jutsu, Anko jumped and wrapped herself in a sphere, threwing herself forward like a midair thin version of the Akimichi's Human Bullet Tank. Kabuto crossed both arms in front of his chest to block the attack but the impact sent them both flying, with the rolling Anko maintaining the contact with her opponent. The short distance kept by the Tokubetsu didn't let Kabuto use a counter jutsu and so, after two seconds, the last somersault ended with a kick into Kabuto's jaw.
"Your style..." Kabuto got on one knee and wiped the blood of his lips. "...too unpredictable."
"Oh, you think so? Do you like it? Do you like the way I take out other people's teeth?" Anko mockingly asked as she saw Kabuto spitting one of his.
"Hard way. Doesn't seem like a woman's." Kabuto reacted with words before rushing with his hands glowing. The first slash, aimed at her left leg, forced her to jump. The second one, performed in a rising motion, didn't allow her to dodge, so she released two kunais, one from each sleeve, and blocked Kabuto's attack with them. She landed back on the ground and both struggled for advantage, Anko pressing down and Kabuto pushing upwards. That left an opening for Kabuto's free hand to stab his opponent's belly, but Anko did a somersault over Kabuto and landed behind him.
Back to back, Kabuto attempted a turning slash but Anko caught his left hand under her right armpit. Shifting his position slightly, Kabuto attempted a chakra-enveloped palm thrust to the right side of her stomach, but the snake user lifted her leg and used it to trap the scientist's right arm. That strange position remained only for a second, as Anko used Kabuto's arms as leverage for a backflip. Front to front, Kabuto tried a double palm thrust to Anko's belly but she let herself fall backwards, laying a hand on the ground and kicking his arms upwards. After a kip up, Anko rushed and performed some seals but wasn't able to perform the jutsu, having a feeling of being constricted instead.
"So that's your new trick, huh Kabuto?" Anko was gasping for air, with the white snake that came from Kabuto's left sleeve wrapping her.
"Not only the snake tricks. I also gained a good amount of chakra. You were a fool to think you could defeat me." Anko chuckled and a look of curiosity appeared in Kabuto's face. "What's so funny, Anko?"
"Fire Style: Hand of Flames" Having performed the hand seals earlier, Anko pressed her right hand against the snake's body. Then, flames came from her palm and made a hole in the snake's body, before continuing towards Kabuto. If not for his Chakra Scalpel cutting the snake off, the fire would envelop his white arm. Anko jumped back, holding her slightly burned belly from using that jutsu too close to her own body.
"Not only did she free herself, she almost took off my arm along with the snake. I need to be more careful." Kabuto looked up and to his surprise she was already unleashing another jutsu.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu" Anko spat multiple fireballs towards her opponent but he dodged them all. To his surprise, the fireballs changed their direction and came back towards him.
"Water Style: Hand of Waves" Kabuto launched a stream of water from his hand that put out the fireballs but didn't stop the shurikens. He dodged once again but got trapped in the translucent strings that Anko was using to control them.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu" A stream of fire came from Anko's mouth and advanced through the wires in Kabuto's direction but, before they could reach him, Kabuto used his Chakra Scalpels to get free. He then tried to slash her again with the chakra blades but Anko dodged or blocked with one of her kunais.
"Hidden Shadow Snakes" Two white snakes came from his left sleeve and wrapped her right arm. He then used the Chakra Scalpel on his right hand to cut through her chest but she blocked with her left hand. A stream of blood came from the gash in the back of her hand. She grunted and backed off after kicking him in the arm, causing the snakes to release her. "C'mon Anko-san, not even a scream of pain?"
"I won't give you that pleasure yet. Multiple Hidden Shadow Snakes" She intoned after licking the blood of her wound. The large amount of snakes that came out of her sleeves were all directed to Kabuto, who managed to dodge or slice through them all. Doing so however, made him lose track of his opponent.
"Where is s...ugh!" Kabuto couldn't end his sentence since Anko hit him with a high knee to the jaw. Anko pinned him to the ground, locked her left hand in his right and stabbed both hands with her kunai. Both of them screamed in pain.
"Didn't you want to hear me scream? I think you couldn't hear it because of that scream of yours." She slightly panted and grinned.
"Aargh! W-What are you doing?" Kabuto yelled at her.
"Eheheh, I'm doing what I should have done to Orochimaru. I may die but I'll take you with me!" She chuckled at the same time that she performed seals with both her and his hand. "What you don't know is that I developed the jutsu to the point it isn't suicidal anymore!"
"What? You damn woman!" Kabuto hissed as he recognized the procedure.
"Twin Snake..." Anko couldn't finish the jutsu due to Kabuto stretching his neck and biting her on the place where she had the Cursed Seal of Heaven. She screamed in pain while Kabuto used his Chakra Scalpel to get free from the snakes that were involving them. He took off the kunai that was binding them together and jumped back to a safe distance.
"Soft Physique Modification, a little trick that we can do after some surgeries... Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Jutsu" Anko started to scream even louder, holding her pain-burning neck with one hand and her head with the other. "This genjutsu creates a terrifying illusion, most likely one of a person's greatest fears coming true and I know that your greatest fear is that Cursed Seal taking over you once again." Kabuto made his hands shine once again and darted towards Anko. "I'll make good use of your corpse!"
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu" Kabuto forced himself to stop in time to dodge the fireball. The medic straightned himself to look to the men with a senbon in his mouth that appeared in front of him.
"Release!" Anko stopped her screaming and got up with help from the one who stopped the genjutsu. "Are you alright, Anko?"
"I-Iruka!" Anko was surprised to see her former teammate there. She looked to the other side and saw Genma in front of Kabuto. "You shouldn't be here."
"Well, I couldn't let you get killed and Genma is just too stubborn to let this opportunity pass by." Iruka smiled before turning to Kabuto as well.
"Kukuku, I wonder how stupid the Konoha superiors really are. A weakened freaky snake bitch, a senbon spitter and a kindergarten teacher? Who's next? Teuchi?" Kabuto mocked the Konoha shinobi, while he rubbed his neck that was still adapting to the recent surgery.
"You know, I was pretty sure that Naruto, one of my kindergarten students, kicked your ass in more than one occasion." Iruka remarked as he made his knuckles crack.
"And by the way, I may spit some senbons but at least I didn't swallow Orochimaru's grapefruits." Genma spat his senbon at such high speed that Kabuto failed to dodge completely.
"How dare you?" A furious Kabuto shouted as he saw that he was bleeding from the small cut on his cheek, while his male opponenets laughed.
"Do you remember our Heaven's Blessing Combination, Genma?" Anko asked.
"Sure do." The male Tokubetsu Jounin nodded as he understood what he had to do.
"Well guys...I hope you're ready!" Anko shouted, before all of them rushed towards their common enemy.
Next Chapter: A Battle of Snakes, Part 2
-nawirama13