Under the high sun, Naruto, Kiba, and Shikamaru bounded through the trees, hot on the heels of Sakon and Tayuya.
"Smells like we're getting close," Kiba remarked, his nose twitching.
"So it's three of us against two of them," Shikamaru calculated, "But we have to be careful."
"Careful, sure," Naruto replied with enthusiasm, "But let's not hold back! Let's take them down!"
"Actually, it's four against two," Kiba corrected, and Akamaru barked his agreement.
Shikamaru smiled wryly at his mistake, but Kiba continued, "With our new techniques, we'll crush them next time!"
"And if things get rough, I'll just make a few clones," Naruto chimed in, trying to reassure Shikamaru.
"Good to know, but let's not rely too much on brute force," Shikamaru cautioned. "Strategy is key."
-.-
As the sun began to set, Sakon remarked, "Looks like they're having a hard time keeping up with us."
"Who cares about them? Our priority is Orochimaru-sama," Tayuya retorted. "We've only completed a third of the plan in half a day."
Sakon nodded in agreement, "Yeah, things are not looking good. Even if everything goes as planned, we're not sure we can make it in time." They quickened their pace, leaping from tree to tree with urgency.
-.-
Kabuto stood in one of Orochimaru's labs, his attention briefly diverted from the computer screen in front of him to the patients in the room.
One of them was immersed in a container filled with a yellowish liquid, while the other was lying on an operating table with numerous tubes attached to him.
This patient was Kimimaro, the last surviving member of the Kaguya clan and a true prodigy.
The other patient was an experiment, a hybrid of the Uchiha and Kurama clans, with short black hair, pale white skin, and a lean build. His name was Yeuri.
Yeuri possesses exceptional intelligence, a sharp mind, and a penchant for cunning and deception. He is thoroughly evil and takes pleasure in causing chaos and destruction.
His speech is often cryptic, and he is a skilled actor, able to blend in and manipulate those around him with ease.
Loki sent Yeuri's soul to the world of Naruto through a loophole in order to bring about the world's destruction and eliminate Menma, who was sent by Odin to save it.
As Kimimaro attempted to speak, Kabuto interjected, "Your successor has already been found, and he possesses a seal just as powerful as your Gaia seal, known as the 'Heaven' seal. Not only that, but he also has a bloodline limit." Kabuto's lips twisted into an evil smirk. "I wonder who is stronger between the two of you," he added.
Kimimaro's body convulsed, and the heartbeat monitor beeped erratically.
"Don't excite yourself too much," Kabuto warned, noticing the blood trickling from Kimimaro's mouth.
Kimimaro asked how much time he had left, but Kabuto advised him to stop talking. Kabuto continued, "I understand what you want to say. Orochimaru-sama is in great pain, and this situation is more critical than ever before. However, I must say this firmly: What can you do right now? You've lost your purpose as a container."
Kimimaro did not respond, and Kabuto continued, "We have a new container on his way to the village now. Well...that in itself is late as well." The computer screen displayed Orochimaru approaching a man in the center of a room with multiple bodies lying on the ground.
The man wore a confident smile until he made eye contact with Orochimaru, at which point he began to tremble in fear. He thought he saw the outline of a massive snake for a brief moment. Orochimaru and the man had a conversation and eventually came to an agreement. Orochimaru then took over the man's body.
Kabuto observed the scene from the monitor, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Now, he'll have to remain in that body, which won't allow for a transfer for a few years," Kabuto thought, "But we'll have another opportunity."
Kabuto turned to see Kimimaro standing, dressed in his kimono, with the tubes that were previously attached to him now hanging loosely. "Even if it costs my life, I'll bring in the new container," Kimimaro said, turning towards the door.
Yeuri's presence was revealed by his riddle, "I am always hungry, I must always be fed. The finger I touch, will soon turn red. What am I?" The two subordinates of Orochimaru, Kabuto and Kimimaro, were alerted by his voice.
Yeuri spoke in a cryptic manner once again, "Mention the serpent and it shall emerge, but who is the serpent when you are surrounded by demons?" Yeuri grinned cunningly as Kabuto and Kimimaro turned their heads to see him sitting on the operating table that Kimimaro had just left.
"When did you get there? Weren't you in the container moments ago?" Kabuto inquired. Yeuri smirked slightly and replied, "I simply cast a basic henge to make myself appear invisible."
Kabuto questioned Yeuri, "But how did you manage to escape from the container?"
Yeuri replied with a sly smile, "How could I escape from a container that never existed?"
Kabuto and Kimimaro were left bewildered as they realized that the container had vanished without a trace, as if it had never been there in the first place.
Kabuto's thoughts ran wild, realizing that Yeuri's genjutsu had the power to manipulate reality itself. His gaze shifted back to Yeuri, analyzing his abilities with curiosity and caution.
Yeuri continued, "I see the confusion in your eyes, but don't worry, I'm not here to harm you... yet."
Kabuto and Kimimaro exchanged a look. They knew they had to be careful around Yeuri, but they couldn't deny that his abilities were impressive.
"I heard the Sound Four have not returned with the container," Yeuri stated, breaking the tense silence.
Kabuto confirmed, "Yes, Orochimaru-sama sent them to retrieve the container, but they haven't reported back. It's possible they encountered some trouble."
"I understand," Yeuri said thoughtfully, "I'll go with Kimimaro to retrieve the container."
Kabuto raised an eyebrow in surprise, "You're willing to help us retrieve Sasuke?"
Yeuri smirked, "I have my own reasons for wanting to retrieve the container. Besides, it's always beneficial to have more allies, isn't it?"
Kimimaro nodded in agreement, "We could use all the help we can get."
Kabuto considered Yeuri's offer for a moment before nodding, "Very well, but be careful. We don't know what kind of opposition we'll face on our way to retrieve Sasuke."
Yeuri simply smiled, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
-.-
In the forest, Tayuya was scowling in frustration as she and Sakon stood with the container on a branch. She couldn't help but wonder what Jirobo and Kidomaru were doing. Across from them on another tree branch stood Naruto, Kiba, and Shikamaru, which only added to Tayuya's frustration.
Naruto grinned as he held up his kunai and exclaimed, "We finally caught up!"
Sakon, on the other hand, lunged towards them while shouting, "Yeah, yeah! I'll take them all out in seconds!"
Naruto swiftly hurled his kunai at Sakon, who narrowly dodged it before forming the dragon hand sign and advancing toward them.
Kiba and Shikamaru tried to halt him so Naruto could ready his rasengan, but their efforts were in vain as they were pummeled with a flurry of fists, sending them hurtling backwards.
Fortunately, they were only Naruto's shadow clones in the guise of Kiba and Shikamaru. The clones dissolved into smoke as Sakon grabbed hold of Naruto's hands just as he was about to launch his technique.
"Checkmate, matey!" Sakon boasted.
Suddenly, a voice shouted, "Piercing Fang!" Kiba and Akamaru burst through the Naruto clone, narrowly missing Sakon and heading straight for Tayuya.
"They've trapped us in a straight path!" Tayuya realized as she braced for impact.
Sakon attempted to reach her, but Shikamaru snuck up behind Tayuya and employed the shadow possession jutsu to immobilize her, rendering her unable to move.
"What are you doing, Tayuya!?" Sakon demanded, both angry and anxious.
Kiba quickly seized the wooden basket containing Sasuke and hurled it to Naruto, who caught it with a grin. Shikamaru then manipulated Tayuya's movements, causing her to collide with Sakon.
"Nice work, Kiba and Shikamaru!" Naruto praised, admiring their teamwork.
"Everything went according to plan," Shikamaru declared, a sly smile on his face.