Tayuya and Sakon grumbled in frustration as they got back on their feet.
"They're such annoying pests," Sakon growled.
Naruto and Shikamaru nodded in agreement as Kiba urged them to flee. The group dashed through the forest, trying to put distance between them and their pursuers.
Sakon, fueled by his cursed seal, chased after them relentlessly, his speed surprising Kiba. Kiba called out to Akamaru and quickly set up a trap using a paper bomb seal.
"Finish up and let's go!" Kiba instructed Akamaru. But Sakon spotted the duo and cursed at Akamaru for howling, causing the dog to whine and run.
In the commotion, Akamaru accidentally triggered the bomb and fell into the gap between trees with Sakon closing in on him. Kiba didn't hesitate and leaped into action, saving Akamaru just in time before the bomb detonated.
However, the explosion's shockwave knocked Kiba, Akamaru, and Sakon over the edge of a nearby cliff.
"Damn it!" Tayuya cursed as she sprinted through the trees.
"What happened?" Shikamaru asked, turning to look at the cliff where Kiba and Akamaru had fallen with Sakon.
"The other one is coming!" Naruto warned, as Tayuya rapidly closed in.
"I'll handle this. Naruto, you need to take that barrel and keep moving ahead!" Shikamaru ordered.
Naruto hesitated for a moment before Shikamaru's urgent tone snapped him out of it.
But then, Tayuya suddenly came to a halt and her expression changed to one of fear.
"What... Why..." she stammered, her gaze fixed on something beyond Naruto and Shikamaru.
"Kimimaro!" Tayuya shouted in alarm.
-.-
As Menma and Neji sprinted through the trees to catch up to Naruto and the others, Menma noticed that Neji was starting to breathe heavily and his pace was slowing down.
"Are you okay, Neji?" Menma asked with concern.
Neji nodded, but his breaths were becoming more labored. "I'm fine," he managed to say.
Menma looked skeptical. "You don't look fine. Maybe you should take a break and catch your breath. I'll go ahead and leave a clone here to keep watch."
Neji tried to protest, but his voice was strained. Menma quickly created a clone to stand guard while he continued on ahead to catch up with the others.
After a while, Menma spotted Naruto hurtling towards him. It seemed that he had been hit by one of the enemies during their confrontation.
Menma caught Naruto and set him down, Shikamaru jumped down beside them.
"Is Naruto okay?" Shikamaru asked Menma, concern etched on his face.
"He's fine, just a little shaken up," Menma replied, giving his younger brother a reassuring pat on the back.
Neji arrived shortly after, looking much better after his brief rest. "I'm sorry for slowing us down," he said apologetically.
"Don't worry about it, Neji. You did great," Shikamaru said, clapping him on the shoulder.
Kimimaro was standing alone on a tree branch, holding the barrel that contained Sasuke. "Your body is no longer...?" Tayuya asked him with a nervous expression.
"I am no longer moving with my body... This is the power of my will," Kimimaro replied.
"Darn... With one foot in the grave..." Tayuya muttered.
"I can understand a little now. This is the perception of a life form that is no longer imprisoned by our body," Kimimaro said. "It is as if I have touched the border of Orochimaru-sama's dream."
Upon hearing Orochimaru's name, Naruto gritted his teeth.
"This is an important 'vessel' for that dream," Kimimaro said, placing his hand on the barrel that contained Sasuke. "But you are too late," he finished, glaring at Tayuya, who flinched frantically in response.
"Now, now," Yeuri said, stepping out from behind Kimimaro. "Don't be like that."
Shikamaru thought, 'Damn, we have another crazy one. Well, first, we better clean up the situation.'
Menma wondered, 'Who is that?' as he looked at Yeuri, who returned an evil smirk.
"Hey, you!" Naruto shouted at Kimimaro. "Quit babbling nonsense and give back Sasuke!" He yelled as he leaped towards the enemy, but Tayuya suddenly appeared before him and punched him, knocking him back into Shikamaru's arms
Shikamaru grunted as he caught Naruto, but he didn't have time to waste on complaining. "Naruto, get back up. We can't afford to lose Sasuke!" he shouted, pushing Naruto back into action.
Tayuya smirked, pleased with herself for interrupting Naruto's attack. "Sorry, but you're not going anywhere," she taunted, cracking her knuckles.
Shikamaru stepped forward, ready to fight. "I'll take care of her. You guys go after those two," he said, his eyes flashing with determination.
Menma nodded, grateful for Shikamaru's quick thinking. "Let's move," he said leading the charge towards Kimimaro and Yeuri.
Yeuri posed a riddle,"Two in a corner, one in a room, zero in a house, but one in a shelter. What am I?"
Menma and the others paused for a moment to think, but they couldn't come up with an answer. Meanwhile, Kimimaro remained stoic and unmoved.
"Give up?" Yeuri asked, chuckling.
"We don't have time for games," Menma said impatiently. "Hand over Sasuke and we'll let you go."
Kimimaro shook his head. "I'm afraid that's not going to happen," he said, his voice cold and unwavering.
Menma clenched his fists,"Alright," he said.
Menma charged towards Kimimaro, intending to punch him, but he was abruptly cut off by a kick from his right side. However, he managed to block the attack, though the force of the blow sent him tumbling out into a clearing.
As he got up, Menma looked around and realized that the one who had kicked him was Yeuri, a stranger to him.
"What the hell? Who are you?" Menma demanded, eyeing Yeuri warily.
Yeuri merely chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh, just someone passing by," he replied, his voice dripping with amusement.
Menma narrowed his eyes. "I don't have time for games. Get out of my way," he growled, preparing to attack once more.
Yeuri's smirk widened. "Oh, I'm not in your way. You're in mine," he taunted, taking a step forward.
Menma tensed, as he took a fighting stance. "Bring it on then," he said, bracing himself for the coming clash.
Yueri closed his eyes and spoke in a cryptic tone, "I am always hungry, I must always be fed. The finger I touch, will soon turn red. What am I?"
Menma was taken aback by Yeuri's strange behavior and riddles. He hesitated for a moment before answering, "Uh, I don't know... a mosquito?"
Yueri chuckled, "No, no, no, the answer is..." He then opened his eyes revealing a deep crimson with 3 tomoe spinning languidly, "Fire."
'A sharingan? If the memories I received from Odin are accurate then there should only be 4 Uchiha's alive.' Menma thought.
"Who the hell are you?" Menma said as he placed his hand on his katana's hilt.
Yeuri grinned, "You don't need to know that."
Menma's eye's went wide, not because he was not given a name. The reason was that the voice came from behind him.
'How did he-' Menma thought and quickly jumped forward as he casted "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu" on the spot he heard the voice.
But his jutsu only hit the tree, and the voice continued to speak from behind him. "Impressive, you have good reflexes." Menma turned to see Yeuri standing behind him, unfazed by the jutsu.
Menma gritted his teeth, "What is your purpose here? Why are you working with Orochimaru?"
Yeuri smirked, "I have my own reasons for being here. As for Orochimaru, let's just say our interests align at the moment."
Menma narrowed his eyes, "I won't let you or anyone else stand in the way of saving Sasuke."
Yeuri chuckled, "Is that so? I'm afraid I can't let you do that."
Menma readied his sword, "Then let's settle this."
Yeuri grinned, "With pleasure." And with that, the two charged at each other, ready to clash.