"What are you doing here, Nobuyuki-sama?" She asked, her voice uncharacteristically quiet. In one hand she had dragged a giant purple-horned rhino-looking thing. It was very, very dead. A red rhino.

What is she doing here? You know, what? Doesn't matter. This is a chance if there ever was any. "Tomoe! Help me! He wants to kill me!" I jumped back, closer to her position. Nobuyuki thankfully didn't react to my doing so. One victory.

"W-wha—" She spluttered. "Why?!" Cause he's crazy and he wants to take the Headship and he thinks killing his own charges is a good way to go about that?! Yeah, no way that'd go over well. Different strategy.

"Uuh. The masks told him to! Tomoe, you have to help me!" I reached towards her, and she backed away, frightened.

Nobuyuki, who, judging by his eye movements, had been radically recalculating, spoke. "I see killing Hanako wasn't enough to keep that wench's mouth shut." He reverted back to his previous voice. Subdued, though no less dangerous.

"What was that you said about my mother?!"

"I will say whatever I please about a roach crawling too deep in my affairs. Tomoe!" She startled. "Arata has finally chosen to betray the clan! Join me in killing this missing-nin." You. Have got. To be joking.

"Me?! Betraying the clan?!" To be fair, not entirely implausible, if Nobuyuki were to run it. But I really didn't want to lose the only lifeline I had right now.

Tomoe moved away from me. "Tomoe, Nobuyuki's gone crazy. He wants to kill the Head family. He just admitted he killed Hanako. Please help me."

Her head whipped back and forth between each of us. "I. I—"

Nobuyuki's voice started getting louder. "Tomoe! Think of your parents! Their deaths were a direct result of the Head family's negligence!"

"What." I couldn't help exclaim. Tomoe looked even more shocked than I did.

"Your parents were both orphans. They barely had any training in the clan jutsu! They had been begging for partners for years, only breaking through to their thick heads right before the Second Great Ninja War started. They died, because they weren't strong enough! And the clan did nothing!" I... could barely process words right now. Is any of this even true?!

"That's why I wanted to become Head Caretaker, so something like that would never happen again. I would raise up the clan where it was supposed to be. Headed by people who actually wanted the position for more than glory and gold!" My dad? Would do that?

Tomoe looked like she had shut off. Not good. Not good. "My parents.. Dead….Head's... fault?"

Crap. What now? What now? Ummm. "I don't know what happened in the past. My dad didn't tell me much about how he did things. I don't know what Tsume's plans are, either. What I do know is that I wouldn't let that happen. If Tsume ever went down a road that's harmful to the clan, I would do something about it. But I can't help if I'm dead. Please, Tomoe. Help me." I was getting desperate. I couldn't tell if I had lost her. "If Nobuyuki takes over, the masks would take over the clan as well. They would call the shots, not him. Whatever the Head family's feelings are on the clan, I know theirs are much, much worse."

My breathing was picking up. I was starting to get panicked.

"Tomoe, he—" Nobuyuki and I both appealed.

"STOP IT!"

Nobuyuki's expression went blank. "Tomoe, do not presume to think you can silence—"

"I said stop!" She exclaimed, slightly softer this time. "All I've heard from both of you is awful things! You guys are supposed to be from the same clan, but you wanna fight each other?!"

Read the room, Tomoe. We've gone well past that. I thought, thankful it stayed one.

"I'm not picking any sides! Both of you should just go back to where you were and stop ruining the Hunt!" She declared.

Nobuyuki's fighting posture dropped. "You're right, Tomoe. We should stop arguing."

His Four Legs activated. His eyes sharpened, his glare piercing through the clearing.

"I think it's better if I go through you instead." His chakra flared wildly. This is it.

"Yeah, I don't think so." Another voice called out.

Shizuka P.O.V.

"Yeah, I don't think so." A woman's kunai clashed with mine. I jumped away and into a tree branch.

I looked at my opponent in the tree opposite me. She looked vaguely familiar. My chakra-sensing skills weren't nearly good enough to evaluate her actual skill to gauge her threat level.

But she was an Inuzuka, without a partner. Probably Nobuyuki's henchman. That's all I needed to know. Still, "Who are you?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Really? You don't know who I am? My name is Inuzuka Sayuri! I'm one of the Elders that runs this pathetic clan!" I profiled her. Long brown hair in a low-lying twintail, narrowed and sharp eyes, lean but not muscular physique. Late 20's at worst.

"You're an Elder? I thought they were supposed to look old and inconsiderate. Well, at least you have the inconsiderate part down pat. Attacking a retired and injured veteran? For shame."

"Figures a crony of the Head family can't recognize an Elder when they're in front of them. Oh well. Let's make this quick. I'm gonna need the chakra to fend off Tsume." Yeah that was so not happening.

"What, you don't think I'm a threat?" She eyed my leg.

"I don't think. I know." She held up one particular hand sign.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Another her popped into existence right next to her. They both activated the Four Legs.

What do, what do. During the run to The Forest I had only reacted once, so clearly the tea was working. My chakra was at about three quarters. I couldn't use the Four Legs for fear of relapse, so most taijutsu was out. Ninjutsu would be too costly. If she's capable of producing shadow clones I don't think regular bukijutsu would cut it either. I have no other choice left. I'll have to pull them out.

I threw two small scrolls out from my pouch into the air, unfurling them. The contents unsealed, and I had two wakizashi in my hands. I assumed the first stance for the Dhole Style just fast enough to dodge a "Gatsuuga!" heading for my face.

Onto the next tree branch I stopped. "Wow, I waited for you to finish your prep. The least you could've done is wait for mine."

The two Sayuri on the ground now sneered. "Don't you know? I don't have a reputation for playing fair." She shunshined away.

Stealth tactics? Ha! Someone clearly didn't read up on my file before heading into this fight. Stealth was my specialty, damn it. "Two can play at that game!"

I put my right hand still holding the blade into a tiger seal.

Hiding In Camouflage Technique

And with that, I vanished into thin air.

Tsume P.O.V.

I watched as his body burned, the stench of burning meat getting unbearable. The fire was quick too, almost as if its sole reason for existence was disintegrating its only source.

Oh.

Well shit. I don't know any water techniques either.

In a good five seconds his entire body was unrecognizable, and he still kept burning. Guess that's a lost cause. Might as well go help Kuro.

I shunshined over, and almost got my head knocked off by a hammer coming straight for me!

I dodged just narrowly, and lined up with Kuromaru and one other clone. 'Status?'

'Body burned before I could stop it. No trace now.'

'I meant your health, idiot.'

'Oh I'm good, how about you?'

'Just lovely. Other than this guy being a real piece of work, everything's been fine. In fact, he's barely attacking.'

'He's stalling then.'

'Well, considering we're having this conversation uninterrupted, I'd say so, yeah.' Smartass.

'Alright. Your turn for strategy.'

'Semi-throttle three. No holding back.'

I eyed the clone next to us. She nodded. 'Got it.'

""Inuzuka Style: Human Beast Combination Transformation: Three Headed Wolf!"" Our chakra fused, and melded. We felt the electrifying presence of the Lightning Shadow Clone within us.

It inspired us. Drove us to fight, and to kill.

""Ooigagatenga!""" We charged into a roll, the trees around us warping and flying away from the sheer force we displayed, straight into our boar-masked opponent. The air around us cut. He didn't move. His hammer expanded, grew spikes. Started spinning. All of that we processed in less than a third of a second, for we were onto him just after that.

He slammed his hammer into our form.

We rolled, and rotated and spun. Fighting back as hard as we could. We were gaining ground.

The hammer was sturdy, but held aloft by squishy human arms.

The human bent, and the hammer was flown away. We crashed into a boulder, tearing it apart and raging right back at him.

"Doton: Taijuu Douryuuheki!"

A great many walls of earth rammed against us, flailing chunks of rock in every direction.

Our rotation stopped. The lightning clone popped, and with it the transformation went.

We retreated back into the trees a little farther away from him. 'Well shit, what now?' Kuromaru asked.

'We'll have to resort to taijutsu if we want to have any chakra left to deal with Nobuyuki.' We watched as the Black Ops member threw away his mangled hammer, activating seals on his arm guards. The arm guards grew spikes. Seems the guy likes spikes.

'Alright, which style?' He looked around, putting his hands into a tiger seal.

I considered. 'Standard Wolf, into Dingo if needed.'

'Is that gonna be good for the baby?' The ANBU spotted us, but made no move to come for us. Shitty bastard was taunting me.

I grit my teeth. 'Better than him countering us and striking it.' Arata better goddamn appreciate the lengths I'm going for him here.

'Just be careful.' I nodded.

As one we jumped out, going straight for him. He blocked our initial lunging claws with his spiked guard, jumping away.

'Up, down, Ro, three.'

Kuromaru jumped over me, clawing at his face while I went for his ankles. His shin guards grew spikes, and he kicked away both of our claws. I uppercut, he moves away close to a rotating kick from Kuro coming for his side. It barely grazes him.

He swings his arm through the space Kuro's head was at, meeting only air. He put up a cross-guard just fast enough for my follow-up lunge. He shook me off. Dammit.

Contrary to popular belief, my base level taijutsu wasn't Kage level, able to overcome any and all opponents. Most of the time, I focused on overwhelming my foes with ninjutsu and combination attacks. This guy is clearly seasoned in fighting multiple opponents, which means he was specifically attuned to fight me. Great.

Doesn't mean I wasn't good enough to put him out on his ass. It would just take a little longer.

Another scuffle, with our attempts mostly blocked or dodged left us opposite him again. I could feel my breath picking up, growing ragged. 'Going any harder than this is too risky for the baby.' I admitted.

'But we can't beat him without anything more advanced. We'll need to hurry it up too, Nobuyuki probably already found Arata.'

'I know that.'

Shit. He wasn't even trying to win this fight. He's still just standing there, waiting for us to attack. We can't outrun him, he'd track us, and having to fight both this guy and Nobuyuki at the same time is not what I call fun.

'How about the Reverse Paw Breaker?' Kuromaru suggested. It wasn't risk free, but..

I considered it. 'Not bad.'

I altered my stance.

Arata P.O.V.

"Yeah, I don't think so." A man in a standard jounin vest shunshined between us and Nobuyuki. He had a black ponytail, and slanted eye—

"Shikaku-san?!"

He tilted his head my way. "You got yourself in one hell of a shitshow here, kid." How is he here? Why is he here?! Is this part of Tsume's plan!? I wish she'd actually discuss things with me for once!

Nobuyuki straightened. "Nara-dono. You are trespassing on sanctioned clan grounds. I suggest departing immediately, unless you are willing to face prosecution." Nobuyuki said evenly. He was clearly on his guard now. Fighting two newly graduated genin before Tsume showed up was easy, if not bothersome. The Jounin Commander? He'd be lucky to come out of this at all.

"Oh I don't think I'm the one who's going to be facing prosecution here, after what I've heard." He started molding chakra. "Murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy... Good enough for execution, no?"

Seki met his eyes calmly, set into a battle stance. "I would have to disagree."

On no signal, all three of them vanished, and there was an explosion not four meters away from me. Tomoe screamed.

"Tomoe, we have to go! Now!" I took her arm and took off with her.

"But Nobuyuki-sama! He's going to be executed?!" She pulled her arm back.

"Are you really worrying about that right now?! He said he wanted to go through you. That means he wasn't above killing you to get to me! Do you understand?! We have to get out of here!" I reached for her arm again, but she slapped it away.

"No! Nobuyuki-sama's in danger! I have to help him!"

I almost had a conniption. "Are you crazy?! Shikaku-san is the Jounin Commander. You can't stop him no matter what you try!"

She turned to glare at me. "Yeah? Watch this then." Tomoe rushed back to the clearing. She stopped to track the fight. Locked on, she shouted. "Passing Fang!"

A whirlwind of in-over-her-head child rushed in between the space where Shikaku and Nobuyuki were fighting. Shikaku barely had time to retreat his piercing shadows before they hit Tomoe's whirling form. Nobuyuki and Seki apparently saw an opening, for he initiated his own "Fang Over Fang!"

Their flaming whips curled around their rotation, slamming chunks of ground and dirt everywhere. They collided with Shikaku's position.

A great dust storm eclipsed the collision, and my vision on the battlefield blanked. "Fuck. That's bad." Let's go now, before something happens.

I made to escape, collecting chakra for a shunshin. My feet were almost off the ground before— "Hold on." Nobuyuki was suddenly in front of me. He kicked me away before I could go anywhere.

I flew, knocked into a tree. I couldn't breathe and for a second up was down as my system rebooted from the shock.

I heard the sound of kunai clashing. I jumped up into the branches by reflex, taking a quick look around. The dust had dissipated, but only Tomoe remained visible in the clearing. She was looking around in confusion, obviously noting that no one else was in the space.

I checked the scents in the air, but that was a bust. Everyone here knew to scent-mask against Inuzuka.

Chakra sensing proved a bit more fruitful. I blocked out all other stimuli, closing my eyes. I stopped breathing through my nose, just to zero in on the chakra in the air. Tomoe in the middle of the clearing, some residue on the battlefield we just left next to her. Chakra seeped into the ground, no doubt from when Nobuyuki killed that worm. And.. There.

Just a dozen meters from my position was a crouched Shikaku, leering out between some bushes. I jumped over to him, trying to keep as silent as possible.

I got caught up in his shadow before I could say anything, freezing my movements. For one frightening second, I thought that was it, I'm done for, before he released me from his control. Irrational? Maybe. This wasn't a very rational time right now.

'Status?' I signed to him. I glanced at his body. His legs had a nasty burn on them, but it wasn't bleeding. Small mercies.

'Immobile. Combat-ready.' He signed back. Well that's just awesome. Great job Tomoe. Only lifeline? Gone. What now? What now?

I pointed at myself. 'Primary target. Awaiting orders.'

His expression soured. 'Retreat.'

I wish. 'Unable. Threat level too high.'

'Fuck.' He mouthed.

Shizuka P.O.V.

There! I flew at her, already rotating, wakizashi clashing with a hastily put up kunai defense. I kicked her off balance, and a slice of my right blade nicked her arm. She recoiled in pain.

Before she could escape I leg locked her around her waist, dropping her to the ground. I held my blades in front of her neck. She stopped struggling.

"Well that was easy." She glared at me.

"Fuck you." I considered. I'd probably get in trouble if I killed her, but I have to get her out of the way. Mhhmmm.

"Sorry, not my type." I raised up my elbows, and slammed it into her forehead. She knocked out for a few seconds.

"Yeah that's gonna be a concussion, so I don't suggest you get up anytime soon. Unless you want permanent brain damage." Sayuri groaned.

"See y—hrrruuughk!" I made to shunshin out, but just before I gained some speed, my chakra system jolted and I crashed into a tree.

I lay there for a good ten seconds. "I should have expected that. I should have expected that." The tea was wearing off. I didn't have much time left.

Taking scent of the situation, Tsume-sama was not that far off from me. I could smell Tomoe from here, but Arata and Nobuyuki's exact locations were hard to pinpoint. They were probably both scent masking. At least Shikaku and Michiko are here. With any luck, that'll be enough.

Now, who should I help?

Tsume P.O.V.

"He still isn't going down!" Kuromaru yelled, having given up on telepathy about ten minutes ago out of sheer frustration.

"Yeah I fuckin' see that!" I yelled back. Kami when I'm done with this guy he'll wish he could burn himselfbeforeIgetmyfuckinghandsonhimIsweartotheSage!

It feels like it's been forever! I am more than done with this guy! We are running out of time, patience, and chakra! I had abandoned Four Legs long ago. Kuromaru had undone his transformation. At this point we were taking potshots at him. No strategy. No fancy taijutsu moves. Just trying to claw that damn mask off his face!

….Oh?

The boar-masked cunt seemed fine just chugging along right until the end. His breath was ragged. His robe was tattered all over, rips and tears exposing the skin underneath. He was bleeding from a few of those spots, but he was still yearning to keep going.

"It was rumored that suicide missions were fairly common in ANBU, but this is ridiculous. You are literally just a meat shield right now. How does that feel? To be abandoned by your superiors as nothing but a roadblock?" He didn't react. I didn't expect him to.

"Heh. Must be pretty sad. Years and years of faithful service to a master who just discards you at the end. A sad existence, I must say, in my humblest of opinions." Kuromaru sneered, catching on. Although, that was a bit much.

He finally spoke. "For the village, I would gladly lay down my—" Two wakizashi blades flung for his neck. He just barely ducked under them. I did a quick Kawarimi for the branch behind him. Kuromaru came just after that, jaw snapping for his throat making him retreat backwards.

I already had Four Legs ready, swinging wildly at his back. He turned around mid jump to swing at me. I twisted around, and clawed his chest.

Finally, finally I got a solid hit in. Two of my fingers hit bone, but three punctured his lung. I sheathed and jumped backwards. It wouldn't be long now. His lung would collapse before he could go anywhere.

But I needed more than that. "Shizuka! Take his head off!"

She obliged, just before the man began bursting into flames. With a swipe of her sword, his head rolled on the ground. I swiped for it just as his body exploded into a gorey hot mess. Literally.

We watched him burn out. "Well, that was eventful."

All of a sudden, the head in my arms caught fire. "Shit, Shizuka! Scroll!" She produced one from her weapons pouch, quickly sealing the burning head.

I blinked. Uh huh.

Recovering, I shook my arms out. "Um. Thanks Shizuka. For all of that." She stiffened. Shit, even after all this time we've been collaborating together I still don't really know how to talk to this girl.

"O-of course Tsume-sama! Anything for you!" She gulped.

I just nodded. Moving on! "Nobuyuki probably already met Arata. If everything's gone well, it means Shikaku's intercepted, but just in case? I have a plan. But I'll need your help with it." I only had so much chakra left. I couldn't afford a prolonged fight. "Can I rely on you, Shizuka?" I knew she had that emergency tea canister for exactly these situations.

As if on cue, her leg spasmed. She grimaced. "I have ten minutes, tops."

"Great. That's all I'll need."

Kuromaru perked up from next to me. 'Wait, Tsume. That technique? Are you sure? The baby might—'

'The baby can handle ninjutsu. I'll just have to be careful again.'

He didn't look satisfied. 'That's a tall order.'

'And with luck, we won't have to use it. Though there's something's telling me we will.'

'Alright then. First time using it in live combat just happens to be when you're pregnant.' I'll choose to ignore that comment.

"Let's go." We jumped through the trees, heading straight for Arata's last scent profile.

"I hope we find him in time." Shizuka intoned.

"Me too." I echoed.

Hold on just a little longer.