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Yuno's POV (The Den - Western River Plains of Irminsul)
Yuno blinked as both her allies were rushed off in combat. She dived again narrowly, avoiding being crushed by Fenrir's giant paw. She rolled through the impact, and the power of the stomp sent the two flying. Yuno cradled herself around Muri as they impacted the ground. Cursing as she attempted to stumble, she watched helplessly as Fenrir chuckled in glee and swiped his claws to crush and tear the two equally. However, with a squawk, Fenrir's head snapped back as an eagle smashed bodily into it. Another call sounded as Yuno and Muri were snatched into the ground. Taka had saved them!
Both cried out in shock as they were suddenly lifted from the ground. Tossed up higher into the air, they suddenly landed on the feathered back of another eagle.
"It is fortuitous that we kept an eye on our summoner's party as he asked. It would be sure to displease him if his kin were to be slain." Screeching Eyes spoke to them as he flew around Fenrir. "So our enemy is Fenrir of the Runic Wolves… quite the adversary indeed much different than what I heard…"
"The boss of the Runic Wolves is no foe to take lightly." Crushing Talons added as he swooped in sync with his eagle brother. "I always crush prey with that charge, yet he hardly flinches. It may be wise to retreat for now."
"We need to stall!" Yuno disagreed vehemently. "Sasuke and Naruto won't take long; with their help, we can beat him. Besides, we still need to investigate the camp for signs of the Master!"
"She is one of the Uchiha." Scanning Eyes spoke to his clanmate. "Our contract binds us to the Uchiha now; it would be improper of us not to aid her."
"Aye." Crushing Talons admitted.
"But how can we hurt him!" Muri asked in fear. "He's more like a Summoning Boss now! Even our leader would struggle against him!"
"We have to pester and relentlessly punish him," Yuno decided. "If we maintain pressure he'll be stuck reacting instead of attacking. Crushing Talons, can you keep his attention without being caught and killed?"
"Not for long. His size makes us much quicker, but he's no slouch himself. Eventually, he will catch me." The eagle answered.
"Do your best, if you suspect your in danger retreat. Scanning Eyes, get us under him!" Yuno commanded. "I have a plan. He should be sensitive to his stomach; its instincts will be our weapon! Even the mighty fear a painful death!"
The Taka clan, to their credit, showed no fear or hesitation. Scanning Eyes and Crushing Talons swooped in sync. They spun through the air, kicking with their talons and sending blades of wind flying forth at Fenrir.
The wolf, however, merely bared its fangs, now prepared for their speed. It howled, and several strange symbols flew from its gullet, efficiently meeting the wind blades and breaking through them. But the Taka merely flew past the counter attack, using it to close the distance. Scanning Eyes and Crushing Talons parted as they drew close; Crushing Talons raced into Fenrir's face, cutting into its nose as it flew by. Fenrir howled in fury and snapped its jaws at Crushing Talons racing after the eagle. As it did, Scanning Eyes flew beneath it, flying beneath its belly as the beast attempted to scarf down his ally.
"Good work, Taka!" Yuno complimented as she weaved hand signs and raised a hand to her mouth. "Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire!" She cried, spitting small fireballs into the beast's underbelly as they flew. Each had a shuriken within it that stabbed into and allowed the flames to take the purchase of Fenrir. The beast's size ensured the spread attack achieved minor actual damage. But Yuno was confident it wouldn't feel good. Which would play nicely into her next attack.
Her thoughts proved right as Fenrir howled in pain and attempted to drop to his belly to stop the burning. But Yuno wasn't done yet; she needed Fenrir defenseless to ensure their final blow worked. Genjutsu on such a massive creature was no small task; on one, she sensed some sort of defense in place even more so. However, she found genjutsu was at its strongest when it reinforced something the victim found to be a part of reality. With the burns it was facing, it was sure to be in pain and panicking. Convincing it the injury was worse than it indeed was would be easy. Instead of some dying flames on its stomach, Yuno weaved a Genjutsu that the flames were growing. In fact, Fenrir was convinced he was fully alight.
"The wolf seems oddly shaken." Crushing Talons remarked.
"It's trapped in my illusion," Yuno explained. "We won't have long before it catches on. Muri, Crushing Talons, and Scanning Eyes, I need you to unleash a huge blast of wind nature chakra. Muri help them out. I'll follow up with the fire, we'll make the illusion a reality…"
The creatures listened dutifully. Muri spat a wad of wind as the Taka eagle flapped many from their wings; the subsequent blast merged into a giant orb of wind nature chakra that flew forth toward Fenrir. Yuno followed up, spitting out the most significant fire technique she could. "Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire!" A massive head of a dragon shot from her and joined the orb. The potent fire nature and wind nature chakra combined and exploded before the enormous orb of explosive flames engulfed Fenrir. "Collaborative Jutsu: Explosive Dragon Aura!"
The howls of the wolf exploded short before it did itself. The massive explosion sent smoke, debris, and dust through the air; the enormous wave of debris blocked their vision of the wolf. Yuno sighed, slightly worn out from the effort. As Muri and the Taka cheered in joy. Even a giant wolf would surely have perished from that. It was lucky Yuno had back up… However her hope was not rewarded, as through the cloud burst a burnt and angry Fenrir.
"I will enjoy eating you more now!" It roared gleefully. The airborne four could only watch, caught off guard. Shocked that Fenrir had survived, let alone attacked after that blast. The wolf's jaws slowly closed the distance. They would be swallowed whole…
"Eat this!" A voice countered. "Dance of the Nine: 9 Caliber Naruto Gun!" Fenrir was slammed with a whine into the ground by a massive fist of wind. Yuno could only blink as Naruto floated before them, calmly staring down at the wolf. "Sorry about that. Choji can seriously take a punch; he's okay, though."
A whoosh of wind announced the arrival of Sasuke and Scanning Eyes. "Uzumaki, you have my thanks for saving Yuno."
"Again."
"Yes," Sasuke said with a roll of his eyes. "Again, just as the idiot did, I defeated Kiba without great injury. Unlike him, there's no need for you to break the control; I managed it myself."
It was Naruto's turn to roll his eyes. "So why don't you free Choji Yuno? Sasuke and I will handle the mutt." Yuno could only nod, Crushing Talon doing the same before taking off for the crater Naruto had left Choji.
Yuno could scarcely believe it; Naruto and Sasuke had been holding back, yet they easily defeated Kiba and Choji. Naruto had just batted away the equivalent of a Boss Summon. But besting it was another task entirely. Most summoners were so powerful and complex to deal with shinobi capable of rousing them, and they were considered Jounin level at least. Yet two Chunin confidently stood before it, looking more bored than anything…
She swallowed her shock as she ran to Choji. The man's armor had been shattered, leaving him in the red cloth of his clan. The man was somewhat battered, and the area around them more so. It was clear, though brief, that Choji and Naruto had quite an intense battle. Yuno jumped off Crushing Talons, rushing to Choji. Despite the crater, it was clear Naruto had ended their bout in his usual explosive way.
Choji's face was locked in a sneer Yuno was not used to seeing. Realizing she was here to deal with him, he cursed and rolled over, attempting to drag himself away. Yuno could not believe what had been done to her friend.
Choji was the kindest man she had ever met. He was a gentle, caring, and loyal friend. One Yuno could admit she relied on, who never treated her as anything less than family. She saw him almost as a brother. To see him beaten and looking at her with such venom was heartbreaking.
Yuno blitzed over to Choji, rolling him over gently. She stood in his arms to restrain him, stopping to lift his chin and make him meet her eyes. "It's over, teammate, Sharingan…" With a flex of her chakra and a whirl of her eyes, she quickly ensnared Choji in a genjutsu.