Chapter 169: Daybreak Duel
(Author's Note: Oh, it's Chapter 169, huh? You know what that means… absolutely nothing. But hey, thanks for sticking around for the wild ride!)
As the sun rose, casting its golden light over the forest, the tension between the Sasuke Recovery Team and the Sound Four reached its peak. The long night had given way to a day that promised even more grueling challenges. Both sides were exhausted, yet the mission to either recover or protect Sasuke drove them forward with unwavering determination.
Tayuya, still carrying Sasuke's coffin, gritted her teeth in frustration. They had already lost Jirōbō and Dosu, the others probably lost too judging from their pursuer's numbers, and the Konoha ninja were relentless in their pursuit. Her sharp eyes darted between the trees, fully aware that their enemies were gaining on them.
Shikamaru, ever the strategist, had been analyzing their movements for hours, waiting for the perfect opportunity. "This is it," he muttered, his sharp mind formulating their next move. "We split them up. Focus on the one with the coffin."
Rock Lee, full of enthusiasm despite the weariness of the long chase, nodded energetically. "Let's strike with the full power of youth!"
Sai, his expression calm but determined, summoned his ink beasts—ferocious lions and swift birds—as he prepared to support the team. "We can create enough chaos for Naruto to get the coffin."
The team launched their assault. Rock Lee dashed ahead, her speed unmatched, while Sai's ink creatures attacked Tayuya, Kin and Kimimaro. The massive lions lunged at them, their powerful jaws snapping, while birds swooped down from above to distract and confuse.
Tayuya, her temper always close to the surface, cursed under her breath as she summoned her Doki, skeletal giants that clashed with Sai's ink beasts. "You pests!" she snarled as her flute called forth their power, but she quickly realized that they were outnumbered.
Shikamaru's shadow weaved through the battlefield, setting traps, while Rock Lee dashed past the chaos, focusing on the coffin. With her speed and Sai's diversions, she managed to snatch it from Tayuya's grasp before she could react.
Kiba and Akamaru, having circled around the battlefield, launched a surprise attack. With a powerful Fang Over Fang technique, they targeted Sakon and Ukon, knocking them off the cliff into the river basin below. The force of the attack was overwhelming, sending the two brothers tumbling into the rushing waters with a deafening crash.
"Nice one, Akamaru!" Kiba grinned, satisfied with their handiwork as they watched the brothers disappear.
Meanwhile, Tayuya cursed under her breath, fully aware of the chaos around her. But before she could fully react, Kimimaro, who had been by her side the entire time, took control of the situation with her usual calm authority.
Without warning, Kimimaro stepped forward, her elegant movements hiding the deadly strength she possessed. Her sharp, cold eyes fixed on Naruto and Shikamaru, and with a single, fluid motion, she reclaimed the coffin. Tayuya, though still frustrated, wasn't entirely surprised by Kimimaro's effortless action.
Kimimaro's voice was soft but carried a sense of finality. "Kin, continue forward. I'll deal with these fools myself."
Tayuya, though irritated, nodded begrudgingly. "Fine, whatever. But don't take all the fun," she snapped, her pride stung by the fact that Naruto had tricked her earlier.
Naruto, undeterred by Kimimaro's cold demeanor, grinned confidently. "You think you can stop us? Believe it, we're getting Sasuke back!"
Before Tayuya could lash out, Naruto slipped past her with his typical speed and taunting manner, calling out over his shoulder, "What's the matter, Red-Haired Loudmouth? Too slow?"
Tayuya's face flushed with anger. "You little...!" she hissed, but before she could go after him, Kimimaro's calm voice stopped her.
As Naruto sprinted after Kin Tsuchi, Kimimaro turned her attention to Rock Lee, whose eyes burned with youthful fire. The air between them crackled with tension, as the battlefield seemed to narrow, leaving only the two of them locked in a silent standoff.
Kimimaro's sharp gaze lingered on Rock Lee for a moment. "You have Malik's scent on you," she remarked, her tone colder than the morning air. "What does he see in someone like you?"
Rock Lee, ever unflappable, grinned brightly despite the serious situation. "Malik? Oh, he sees a lot of things! But you know what I'm wondering?" Her grin widened as she shifted into her fighting stance. "What could he possibly find interesting about someone like you?"
Kimimaro's expression didn't change, but her eyes darkened slightly. "I'll handle you myself," she said, her voice like ice. "You're not worthy of Malik's attention."
Rock Lee didn't respond with words. Instead, she slid on a pair of sleek, black gloves—the Fist of Youth—a gift from Malik that pulsed with her chakra. "Let's see how you handle these!" Lee shouted, her enthusiasm undimmed by Kimimaro's menacing aura.
As the gloves crackled with energy, Kimimaro shifted into a more aggressive stance, activating the first stage of her cursed seal. Bones jutted out from her skin, turning her body into a living weapon.
The two fighters charged at each other, their movements swift and precise, each testing the limits of the other's strength.
Tayuya, her patience worn thin, turned her attention to Shikamaru and Sai, who stood calmly in her way. Her Doki, now fully summoned, lurked behind her, ready to crush anyone who dared stand in her path.
"Seriously, you're trying to bring Sasuke back?" she scoffed, her voice laced with disdain. "He left willingly, you idiots! You're all risking your lives for someone who doesn't even want to return. What a waste."
Shikamaru's expression didn't change, though his eyes narrowed slightly as he analyzed the battlefield. "It doesn't matter why Sasuke left. We'll bring him back, even if we have to drag him," he replied, his voice calm but firm. "You wouldn't understand."
Sai, ever composed, added, "Our mission is clear. We won't fail."
Tayuya's laughter echoed through the trees as she lifted her flute to her lips. "You're a bunch of fools," she taunted, the first haunting notes of her melody filling the air. "Let's see how long you can hold out."
With the eerie sound of her flute guiding her Doki, Tayuya prepared to unleash her full power. But Shikamaru and Sai were ready. As the creatures lunged forward, the battle began in earnest, the clash of chakra and will filling the forest with the sound of combat.
The chase for Sasuke had reached its boiling point, and with Kimimaro and Tayuya holding the line, the real fight was just beginning.