Kiyomi, Meiko and Sugemi with his team were quickly making their way through the dark depths of the Forest of Death. Their speed was slightly higher than usual. It was because Daidao Deiji – the steampunk Jinchuuriki of the Five Tails had a bright green lantern by his side which illuminated much farther than the ninja's usual supernatural perception allowed them to see. This increased visibility granted the merged teams the ability to allow themselves to pick up the pace.

Finally, Sugemi's rate slowed down and the Nara landed on a thick tree, from which one could have seen a larger circular field. The trees around the field had bent to surround its upper layers with leafage, which still kept it in relative gloomy shade as every tree tried to exploit the small hill's breakout spot for extra light, covering it up in the process.

"Strange", Sugemi scratched his head as his eyes squinted while he was deep in thought.

"It appears Team Scuti is no longer here", Daidao stated the obvious.

"It was so mean of them to leave this suddenly, without letting us know of it", Nanaba pouted as she camped it up with her gestures and jumpy stance.

"They haven't left too long ago", Kiyomi looked around noticing small weight pressure signs on the grass that usually weren't present when an area was left for a longer period of time.

"Yeah… The fries are still warm", Meiko cheered with a full mouth having stuffed her mouth full of unknown gooey food.

"Really"? Kiyomi squinted teasingly, "They don't smell fresh".

"No, it's a fine observation, if a bit icky, Relta of Team Scuti would eat actual garbage for food", Sugemi shrugged after examining the camp more closely.

"So who are these guys anyways, how are they supposed to help us find Mana"? Kiyomi wondered.

Sugemi sighed. "We formed a sort of an alliance with Team Scuti. We constantly exchanged information and shared useful advice and intelligence", he explained, putting it short.

"Nana, would you please"? Sugemi wondered turning at his teammate in annoyance that the girl had not followed the social cues already. After being encouraged the young lady hopped on her feet for a moment before glaring at her thumb regretfully and biting it with some scare in her eyes. Her first nom failed to draw blood so the squeamish girl had to bite again ending up paying twice for her penny pinching.

"Summoning Jutsu"! She chanted out after weaving a bunch of hand seals and slamming her extended palm to the ground. A moderate cloud of smoke rose up revealing a small beetle with obsidian shell with golden colored edges and blood-red compound eyes on the front.

"Contact Team Scuti, please, Bushika-chan", Nanaba asked of the beetle, without answering the insect lifted off and buzzed away into the darkness of the forest.

"Summoning Jutsu"? Kiyomi wondered to herself aloud.

"Yeah, it's not a common skill among genin. Not many partners trust low ranking ninja, naturally a Jinchuuriki would be taken more seriously", Sugemi sighed before sitting down on the grass and taking a couple of breaths to calm himself. "Once I get my manga out there, I'll have all the animals begging to be my partners", he grinned.

"Your summon is much cooler than Mana's lame rabbit", Meiko grinned, still following the beetle with her eyes far away in the darkness.

"Mana's summon"? Sugemi raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Mana acquired a Rabbit Summoning Contract right before the Chuunin Exams", Kiyomi waved her hand, "It doesn't look like those guys trust her too much though so she has to bargain with the critter to get it to listen to her".

"Nothing's ever simple with her", Sugemi smiled before looking away again and trying to wait more patiently for Nanaba's beetle to contact Team Scuti and get their current location.


Zahafbit and Buhakim stopped all of a sudden, making Mana, who was still resting on Zahafbit's shoulder shake painfully from the sudden stop. Her attempts at freeing herself from the gooey spider silk substance was still unfruitful, had she performed a similar escapist trick on stage she would have probably used something sharp to puncture the glue-like material and weaken its overall integrity. Without a single bit of damage on the glue it was rough to work with.

"Hey, Team Nimbus, the deal on Team Hokage is still up"? Zahafbit calmly asked dropping Mana in front of the Kumogakure trio who just lazily looked her up.

Team Nimbus was an interesting trio. One of them was a massive middle-aged ninja with rock-hard physique and six arms that looked strong enough to crush boulders, one in each arm. The six-armed giant wore what appeared to be a skinned pelt from a white canine, which reminded Mana eerily of the breed of dogs that the Inuzuka clan used. The other two were a similarly built pair of two ninja, male and female, of light brown hair and matching, slick steel armor. Both of them were covering up their faces with cloth from their nose and their eyes looked so eerily similar that Mana took them for siblings almost immediately.

"Who's this again"? the six-armed giant wondered pointing a ripped off limb of a giant centipede at Mana before finishing slurping the remains of flesh and bitter protein goop inside of the shell.

"Are you serious, Spyder"? This is Nakotsumi Mana – a member of Team Hokage, the one you agreed to hunt down, amongst several other teams for the bounty pool", Zahafbit laughed out uneasily, as Mana couldn't keep her laughter inside her chest the punky shinobi just glared at her but still moved his hands off his chest and in a more ready for combat position.

"Do you have any idea how long ago that was"? The slick female member of Team Nimbus jumped up and approached Zahafbit, removing the piece of cloth from her face so she could speak more comfortably and loudly. "Most of the teams that pooled their efforts on this side-job have already finished the exam, southern gate and northern gate kind included".

"Don't be mistaken though, Team Hokage does interest us, just not this member of it. The only reason we even are after Team Hokage to begin with is our target – Yamanaka Kiyomi, not this girl", the third member of Team Nimbus spoke up as he stood and approached Mana just to watch her over. Once the man stood up, Mana noticed his long sword hanging on his back, almost as tall as the man wearing it himself. "The blonde is the only reason we've stuck around for this long, if you're looking to cash this girl in for supplies – you're out of luck".

"Not necessarily, she does still have the elimination secret, doesn't she"? The female member of Team Nimbus stepped up to the swordsman teammate of hers, completely ignoring Mana laying right next to her or Team Pahlavi. "Not that we'd need such a thing. We're far above the level of all the remaining teams".

"So are you willing to trade her for something, or not"? Zahafbit growled in annoyance.

"She might be useful to us but we have no wish to part with any of our supplies for her", Spyder laughed out as he started packing the kitchen tools chaotically scattered around the place.

"So it's a fight you're after"!? Zahafbit raised his fists up and weaved a hand seal exposing his massive spider companion from the upper layers of leafage with its lower bottom eye open and spreading its deceitfully beautiful light. Mana closed her eyes, this whole situation really felt off to her and she would rather not go to sleep when both teams were in the process of finding out they barely even needed her anymore.

"Genjutsu: Speyeder"! Zahafbit yelled out using the technique he had set up right before entering the negotiations. Mana's mocking attitude and belief that the deal would go bad was partially the cause of Team Pahlavi entering the negotiations with the giant spider already summoned and hidden in the upper layers of trees.

Oddly enough, both the two Team Nimbus armored ninja as well as the giant and intimidating Spyder followed up to the technique in a similar way. After the light, which initiated the genjutsu, stopped shining and Mana opened her eyes, she saw a peculiar sight of an attack frozen in time.

Zahafbit's fist was tightly enclosed in Spyder's grip with the pelt of an unidentified animal having covered up the giant's face to the point where the fangs of the beast laid right below the man's nose, covering up more than half of the man's massive head. The two others, meanwhile, had shifted their cloth from their neck and lower mouth up to their eyes so that the light wouldn't affect them and were now fully armed with the male armored ninja holding the handle of his massive sword, ready to unsheathe it at any moment meanwhile the female held two long knives in her hands ready to plunge at any nearby enemy. Only the uber spiritual Buhakim remained calm and steady in his praying position.

Spyder flipped the pelt of the animal on his shoulders up with a quick head banging movement letting his bloodshot eyes get exposed and meet Zahafbit's gaze.

"Did you really think we'd have deals with your team without knowing about your abilities beforehand"? the female member of Team Nimbus smiled confidently before pulling the cloth down and sheathing her knives as Zahafbit withdrew slowly, his fist slipped out of Spyder's grasp without resistance from the giant Kumogakure shinobi.

"My sister is right – we're not still lurking here because we're the underdogs. Don't put us in with the other teams. We're here because Yamanaka Kiyomi evaded our sights for too long, that is it", the male swordsman confidently stated as he moved his hand away from the hilt of his sword.

"That being said, we're not looking for pointless fights either. Normally Jean or Jon would've long since cut you down, Zahafbit, but we're well aware of just how dangerous your teammate is. He'd give us too much trouble, for what it's worth, for what this Konoha kunoichi is worth as well", Spyder cracked three of his fists in the other three palms making Mana just imagine how threatening of a close range combatant this man truly was – he stopped Zahafbit's punch which carried full knockout intent with just one of his arms.

"Wait, me"? Buhakim wondered, looking genuinely curious about why he was so revered by the enemy. "I'm just an uber spiritual ragamuffin, trying to raise my awareness and spirituality".

"Sure you are", Spyder laughed out before he flexed his muscles out and continued to pack the things.

"You're leaving"? Mana wondered as Zahafbit looked too angered and crushed at the same time to oppose or even talk to Team Nimbus.

"Oh? You guys didn't know"? Jean, the kunoichi of Team Nimbus, asked teasingly. "There aren't too many ninja left. At this point, it's a big hide-and-seek game so all the remaining ninja are pooling together in the center for one big fight. It's a last chance to find out if one's target is still present and take them out. Who knows, maybe someone there will give a shit about you, Nakotsumi Mana".

"Oh, I thought you may have found Kiyomi. I'd have bargained for getting to go with you guys", Mana looked down in disappointment.

"Oh, she'll be there. At this point most teams know about it and they'll make it their business to let every other team know of the battle as well, it's within everyone's best interests to end this already", Jean shrugged as she nonchalantly started walking away.

"It's so cruel of you to just waltz around like that", Spyder complained, his bloodthirsty mood had seemingly evaporated completely since a couple of moments ago.

"What are you talking about, Spyder-Wolf, you've got six arms, that makes you good for carrying six bags and there're only three of us. If you asked me – you got off easy", Jean teased her teammate using his full nickname, suggesting that the relationship between two was less than being soulmates.

"Hey, Nakotsumi Mana", Jon of Team Nimbus turned around and looked Mana right in the eyes, halfway to dashing after his team who had bolted away. "When you meet Yamanaka Kiyomi, please tell her that Spyder-Wolf, Jon-D and Jean-D are coming after her. She may not know of us, but I want her to break a sweat before we take her out". The enigmatic swordsman calmly and with a serious expression asked of Mana before pulling his sword and swinging it in the air.

Mana felt the glue that stuck her body together, preventing her from making even the subtlest of moves loosen somewhat. That was just the little amount of damage needed to break the sticky goo easier. The magician's hand started working on the binds almost immediately and she was surprised by how quickly she broke it completely and simply slipped out of it. It was a very quick escape considering her inability to weave hand seals and low chakra level.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing"!? Zahafbit yelled out aggravated by the fact that Mana escaped her binds as well as Jean-D's involvement in her escape.

Mana took a pair of defensive leaps back prepared to defend from her opponent with all of her clutch evasive and counterattacking skills. She suddenly remembered just how useful this kind of fighting style was as she had kind of forgotten its nature and life-saving properties after having regained her chakra manipulation. Zahafbit may have only had one notable trick and has been belittled by Team Nimbus considerably, still, even if he wasn't the strongest threat out there, he was still a considerable challenge to weakened and injured Mana.

Unexpectedly to all, except maybe Team Nimbus who just walked away from the mess they themselves had caused, Buhakim's hand softly pressed against Zahafbit's shoulder.

"Calm yourself, my non-uber-spiritual friend", Buhakim calmly asked, "Remember what our goals are and do not be wasteful with your meaningless gripes".

"Are you serious? The girl we were supposed to trade supplies for escaped"! Zahafbit pushed his friend's hand off his shoulder before turning at him. Mana wondered if she should have just taken the chance to book it but it may have been taken the wrong way. She wanted to remain as genuine as possible and she was quite interested to see just what further information she could obtain. If things got especially wrapping around her throat – she could have done something she really did not want to and further diminish her last remaining chakra for an escape measure.

"And why do we need her"? Buhakim firmly and just as calmly asked, "Did we not hear about the rest of the teams' indifference towards these lousy games? All everyone cares about now is the finish line. Do you really wish to involve yourself in this petty fight and risk advancing"?

"B-But…" Zahafbit turned back at Mana, he was clearly conflicted about just letting the girl go.

"You needed me for your injured teammate but now it's too late. You wanted to trade me for supplies but now that won't work either. I feel like I am getting a feeling of the kind of man that you are, Zahafbit", Mana spoke up greatly interesting the tall Sunagakure genin who curiously stepped up closer to Mana. He walked up so close that the old man from the Sun Disc arena would have already scolded the magician for not defending herself but she knew it was a power play. Team Nimbus demeaned the man, he was desperate to get some of his power back.

"Oh"? He wondered.

"If I reach Kiyomi and Meiko I can promise you one thing – knowing that she is hunted more intensely now, my friend will leave the Forest of Death immediately, robbing Team Nimbus of their chance to beat her and advance for one of their members. I can see you'd like that very much", Mana smiled.

"Embrace your uber spirituality, Zahafbit, think about it, we have no more targets to eliminate. All we need is leave the Forest of Death. We wanted more supplies for the next round but it won't be quite working out that way, how about you stop this senseless fight and just allow yourself to win"? Buhakim asked once more after seeing Zahafbit's lips twist to match Mana's warm smile.

"Whatever". The punky Sunagakure genin flipped his hands in the air as he turned around and walked past his teammate, gesturing for Mana to leave which she didn't have to be asked twice about. He turned suddenly to tell Mana one last thing, "We're gonna buy those supplies we are short on from the local stores after the exam, your freedom changes nothing. You better be ready for us in the next exam".

Mana nodded before both genin continued their walks. Buhakim cleared his throat after turning at Zahafbit.

"North is that way, Zahafbit", he mumbled pointing at the direction ninety degrees to the direction where Mana took off to.


Nanaba's beetle finally buzzed back, carrying a small green scroll in its limbs, pressing it against its armored chest very tightly. Right as the insect approached its master, it dropped the scroll by her feet and landed nearby, waiting for the scroll's content to be read and if its summoner wished to send a reply. The insect did not look too powerful with its natural offensive however it did appear well armored, which explained why it was used as a messenger.

"Gentib says that all the teams are gathering by the central watchtower to resolve their problems with each other. That's where we'll all know who's still in the competition and will have a chance to take down our targets." Nanaba read the contents of the scroll aloud.

"He didn't include his current location? I thought we settled that was what an empty messenger meant"? Sugemi grumbled to himself before sighing and realizing that the tip about the big meetup was significant enough. After all, it was clear that if Sugemi asked about Team Scuti's location he had no idea about the big brawl about to happen, only one who doesn't know about the big fight wouldn't have realized that current locations are rendered irrelevant in the face of this big battle.

"I suggest we move out, it will be there that we shall find your Mana, Sugemi", Daidao suggested.

Both Team Hokage and Team Hawthorn picked up all of their remaining things and set out to the central watchtower for the big fight. While it was most definitely going to be messy, the team could not have cared less about the brawl itself. All they wanted was to find out about one specific ninja that may have possible been used as bargaining chip or a valuable ace in the big fight.