Anko raised her hand to block the oppressive stage lights as Kazehana finished her slow applause, leaning back into her plush seat. "I recognize you two from the exams. You were quite the stars on the big stage" Kazehana's tone revealing some jealousy
Anko turned to Sasuke and Sakura "You two have to lead the other one away, I trust you to stay alive."
"Are you sure? We can fight together." Sakura responded
"If this fight's going to go down the way I think it is, I don't want you two to get caught in the crossfire, now go!"
Sakura and Sasuke nodded as they went through a side door, leaving Anko alone in the theater with Kazehana.
"Shall I let them go?" Yakumo appeared from backstage.
"No handle the runts, this one wants a private audience with yours truly, and who would I be to decline her that?" Kazehana grinned
"Very well. I trust your judgment," Yakumo replied as they slipped into the darkness, to pursue Sasuke and Sakura.
Now truly alone, Kazehana examined Anko with predatory interest. "Anko, was it? It's been quite some time since I last fought. In my... extended stay here, I've acquired some new skills."
She clapped twice, sharply. "Dolls! You may enter."
Five blonde women filed in with mechanical precision, their matching features and vacant expressions creating an eerie uniformity. One immediately dropped to all fours, presenting her back as a footrest for Kazehana.
Anko's fists clenched as she noticed the subtle pleading in some of their eyes, quickly masked by forced blankness.
"Every entertainer needs her entourage," Kazehana mused, stroking the hair of the woman beneath her feet. "But I quickly realized how flawed others are. No matter how we rehearsed, they always made mistakes." Her voice darkened. "I wasn't asking for much, just for them to be like me, but lesser. And they failed even at that."
Thin chakra strings shot from Kazehana's fingers, connecting to each woman. With deft hand movements, she made the four standing dancers perform a perfectly synchronized twirl.
"You're... controlling them?" Anko's voice held equal parts horror and disbelief.
"Is it that obvious?" Kazehana laughed. "Growing up in Suna, I always thought puppetry tacky, but one can't deny its usefulness."
"How is this possible? They're alive!"
"Trial and error, my dear. There are so many starry-eyed farmers' daughters seeking fame." Kazehana's smile turned vicious as Anko dropped into a fighting stance.
"You're a freak." Anko spat.
"That's a strange way to say 'genius,' but I'll take it." Kazehana jerked her hands violently, making the dolls' joints pop audibly. "Now, ladies, are you ready to begin the show?"
The doll paused, their discomfort evident.
Anger flashed across Kazehana's face. "I said, are you ladies ready!" Kazehana twisted her fingers, making the women contort, and cry out in pain.
A forced chorus of "Yes, Mistress" came visible with fear.
"Good. Now deal with this ingrate."
The controlled women lurched toward Anko with unnatural movements, their limbs snapping at painful angles with each of Kazehana's manipulations. Anko's anger reached its boiling point as she leapt over their clumsy assault, hands already forming seals.
Fire Release: Great Fireball
The massive fireball roared toward Kazehana, who simply produced an ornate fan from her dress. A single casual wave generated a wind blast that dispersed the flames effortlessly.
Undeterred, Kazehana manipulated her dolls to launch hairpins at the airborne Anko. Though accurate, the projectiles lacked force . Anko caught them easily, the metal clattering across the stage.
"Useless girls!" Kazehana snarled, violently jerking her puppets into another attack.
Anko produced a vial, dipping her senbon swiftly before launching them with precision. Each found its mark in limbs and joints, the paralytic taking immediate effect. The dolls collapsed awkwardly, their dead weight foiling Kazehana's control.
With a cry of frustration, Kazehana stomped on her human footrest's back, drawing a pained gasp before abandoning her puppetry entirely. The remaining dolls slumped to the ground.
"You monster," Anko breathed heavily.
Kazehana looked blankly at her fallen dolls. "How boring. I thought fighting with them would be more entertaining." A wicked grin spread across her face as she turned to Anko. "Perhaps I should consider ninja next." The look behind her eyes held a ravenous hunger.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I've got two left feet." Anko said joking through her discomfort
"We can fix that." Kazehana's elegant twirl generated a violent burst of wind that tore at the curtains and caused Anko to brace herself.. Her fans gleamed with concentrated wind chakra. "Now you'll face the lead act herself."
Sakura and Sasuke burst into a large common room filled with recreational equipment. And what appeared to be a bar in the corner.
"Let's fight them here," Sasuke said, scanning the room. "We can get to Anko-sensei fast once we beat them.
"They can turn into water," Sakura reminded him, pressing her back against his. "Normal attacks won't work."
Sasuke nodded
Sakura then turned to the tortoise, on her shoulder "Thank you, by the way, you really saved my skin, I really need to figure out your name at this point."
A few moments later Yakumo appeared in the doorway, their entrance silent but for the faint drip of water from their sleeve. After a weighted pause, they spoke: "Since you're both young, I'll offer this once. Leave the city immediately under my supervision. There's no need to die for your village here."
"And leave Anko-sensei?" Sakura spat. "No way!"
"We'll give you the same offer," Sasuke countered. "Leave now before you regret fighting us."
Yakumo remained impassive. "A pity. They brainwash you so young."
With a subtle movement, Yakumo activated a technique. Sasuke's Sharingan caught the chakra waves radiating from their body before the visible mist appeared.
"He's producing water vapor!" Sasuke warned.
Yakumo advanced, their footsteps leaving temporary wet prints that evaporated seconds later. A kunai flashed in their hands.
Sasuke reacted first, thrusting his fist forward.
Lightning Release: Great Powerful Breath
A bolt of electricity lanced toward Yakumo, striking and causing the clone to dispel into water.
The tortoise biting her ear made Sakura turn, just in time to see another Yakumo, kunai descending. She used the momentum of her turn to drop into a fall, hands planting on the floor as she pivoted into a sweeping kick. Her leg connected with Yakumo's center mass with a wet smack, the clone collapsing into a soaking puddle that drenched her bandages.
The two of them got back to back as they circled around the room looking for their assailant. "Did you see where he went" asked Sakura
"No."
Pressure Needle
Sasuke barely turned in time to see the high-velocity water bullet streaking toward his face. The tortoise launched itself from Sakura's shoulder, intercepting the projectile with a solid thunk.
They traced the attack's origin to a small hole in the wall. "With that much force, they could be shooting from the other side of the mansion," Sasuke realized.
Sakura knelt, pressing her palm to the floor as chakra pulsed outward.
"Anything?"Sasuke questioned
"Only for a moment, but they're moving so fast that I can't pin them down."
Another bolt blasted through from the second floor, Sasuke leaning back just enough for it to crater into the floor. "We need to keep moving, we can't let them get a bead on us" Sasuke exclaimed
As they ran, more needles shot through walls and ceilings, the whoosh of displaced air brushing their cheeks. "They're moving through the pipes," Sasuke realized.
"How can we track them then? asked Sakura
Sasuke's eyes flashed with sudden insight. "Can your scan locate the nearest pipe?"
Sakura nodded, fingers tracing the wall as chakra mapped the structure. "There! Behind that wall!" She pointed low to the ground.
Lightning crackled around Sasuke's arm as he smashed through the drywall, grasping the exposed pipe.
Lightning Release: Depth Charge
The pipes groaned as electricity surged through them, metal heating to a dull red. Sakura scanned their surroundings until a pained cry echoed down the hall.
"This way!"
They burst into the dining area to find Yakumo crouched and shaking, residual sparks dancing across their form. "Impressive," they admitted, performing rapid hand signs.
Water Release: Pond of Reflection
Pipes shuddered as water erupted from sinks and walls, transforming the floor into a shallow, clear pool.
"Sakura get off the water!" Sasuke ordered. Sakura leapt to the wall just as Sasuke unleashed another Depth Charge. Yakumo reacted instantly, splitting the pond and raising a water wall to block the current.
Sasuke cut the technique, conserving chakra. Yakumo didn't hesitate, water clones rose from the pool, charging alongside the original. Sasuke's Sharingan tracked the real threat as he drew his sword, lightning sheathing the blade.
Two clones fell to precise strikes while Sakura dropped down, hands flashing to dispel two more with chakra disruption. Sasuke lunged at the real Yakumo, but the assassin liquefied, flowing around the blade before reforming to slash at Sasuke's side. The kunai bit deep as Sasuke lunged backward.
Yakumo's hands moved again, water rising to waist level. Sakura and Sasuke stood atop the surface as Yakumo formed new signs.
Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet
But instead of attacking, the dragon coiled defensively around Yakumo. Sasuke responded with
Fire Release: Great Fireball
The collision created a scalding steam cloud. Yakumo simply reformed the dragon from the mist.
Meanwhile, Sakura sprinted to an exterior wall, earth chakra hardening her fist.
Earth Flow Spear
The punch cratered the wall, but no water drained out.
"They have complete control of it!" Her warning became a gasp as a water tendril snaked around her face, cutting off air. Sasuke moved to help but Yakumo intercepted him making it impossible for him to advance.
On top of one of the dinning tables the tortoise retreated into its shell, and began spinning rapidly, and sent itself flying like a discuss, serving the water tendril.
Sakura collapsed, coughing violently as Sasuke formed new seals.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu
The blast tore through a wall, creating an escape route.
"Get out now!" Sasuke yelled
Sakura scooped up the tortoise as they dove through, dodging last-second attacks as they fled.
Gasping, Sakura clutched the tortoise. "How... how do we stop them?"
Sasuke's eyes gleamed with determination. "I think I have an idea."
Wind Release: Crescendo
Kazehana's fans sliced through the air with deadly precision, sending razor-sharp crescents of wind tearing through the theater. The blades of air shredded the velvet curtains before carving deep gashes into the walls. She repeated the technique in rapid succession, using her mobility to attack from multiple angles, forcing Anko into constant evasion.
One mistake and I'm dead, Anko thought, barely dodging another attack. But the next wave caught her across the side, opening a deep gash along her torso. She grunted in pain as she fell to one knee, blood dripping onto the stage boards.
With bloody fingers, Anko formed the familiar hand signs. "Summoning Jutsu!"
In a puff of smoke, the massive black-and-purple snake Mirai appeared, her golden eyes immediately assessing the threat. Kazehana's fan sliced toward the summon, but Mirai dove straight down, her powerful body smashing through the wooden stage.
Anko used the distraction to reposition using
Fire Release: Flame Hydra
She spat a serpent's head, as Kazehana went to dispel it, with her wind, it spilt into two, this continued as the flame heads divided and maneuvered around the dispersing gusts.
One fiery head clipped Kazehana's shoulder, scorching the fabric, while another set the hem of her dress aflame. As she backpedaled, the ground beneath her feet rumbled violently. She barely managed to propel herself upward with a powerful fan stroke as Mirai erupted from below, her gaping maw snapping at empty air.
Kazehana sliced through the theater roof, bursting into the night sky with Mirai in relentless pursuit. The snake's massive body coiled through the air, but Kazehana spun
Spiral Guillotine
Her fan whirling as she met Mirai, as the moved down the summon's length, as scales flew off. Slicing open a third of Mirai's body
Anko reached the rooftop just in time to see her summon collapse"I'm sorry, Anko," Mirai whispered before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"It's okay. You did enough," Anko murmured, turning to face the slightly singed but still dangerous Kazehana. Anko performed another Flame Hydra. Kazehana scoffed, propelling herself higher while preparing a massive wind technique to disperse all the flames at once.
Wind Release: Typhoon Blast
Kazehana spun her fans forming a vortex of wind sucking the flames of technique into itself, dispelling it .
As the flames dissipated, Kazehana scanned the rooftop. "Did the coward run-?"
As she landed the roof exploded beneath her as Anko burst through, locking both of Kazehana's arms in a vice-like grip. As they struggled, Kazehana saw the glint of a senbon in Anko's mouth a second before the kunoichi turned her head and spat. The needle left a thin scratch across Kazehana's cheek before Anko kicked away to create distance.
"You little-!" Kazehana's vision suddenly blurred. "What... what is this poison?"
Anko panted heavily. She should had figured one scratch wasn't enough to take her down
Seizing the opportunity, she charged forward. Kazehana attempted another Crescendo, but her movements were sluggish now, the attacks wild and unfocused.
As Anko closed in, her sleeve twitched as she used the
Hidden Snake Hands Technique
Sending a serpent coiling around Kazehana's wrist. The snake's fangs sank deep, forcing a pained scream from Kazehana as her fan clattered to the roof.
The remaining fan came down in a desperate arc, but Anko dodged easily, delivering a sharp kick to the back of Kazehana's knee. As her opponent collapsed forward, Anko followed with a swift punch to her face causing Kazehana to fall onto her back.
Anko then pulled out a needle and quickly used it.
"This should keep you down," Anko said, plunging the sedative into Kazehana's neck. The fan-wielder's eyes rolled back as she went limp.
Anko slumped onto the rooftop, taking deep, ragged breaths. "I should go check on the kids" She groaned as she got up.
Several minutes earlier Sasuke and Sakura found themselves back in the main foyer, as they stopped their fleeing, and ready to put their plan into action.
Yakumo emerged from the hallway shadows, their water-laced footsteps leaving temporary prints on the marble floor. "This is getting tedious," they sighed, voice echoing in the cavernous space. "I urge you again t…"
Sasuke's hands flashed through the seals. And shot his fist forward, as his technique crackled at his fingertips before sputtering out mere feet away. He staggered, hands trembling. "Damn it... Sakura, I'm tapped out." His Sharingan flickered weakly. "We have to retreat.
"No, we have to..." Sakura's rebuttal dissolved into wet coughs, her lungs still burning from the near-drowning. She wiped her mouth with a damp sleeve.
Sasuke suddenly grabbed her arm, yanking her forward. "No time!" The abrupt motion sent Sakura sprawling as he lunged ahead.
Yakumo's sigh carried genuine regret. "I tried." In a liquid blur, they were upon Sakura, kunai glinting as it arced toward her exposed throat.
CLANG
Earth Flow Spear turned Sakura's blocking hand to steel. Her other palm slapped against Yakumo's wrist
Chakra Disruption
Sakura slowed down Yakumo's chakra flow keeping their form solid.
Yakumo's body flickered, unable to transform, As Sasuke circled around them. His hands formed the final seal.
Lightning Release: Storm Cage
Lighting erupted around Yakumo, not striking them, as it coiled like a serpent creating a prison of lighting. Yakumo screamed, as their muscles seized.
Sakura was already moving. As she coked her steel fist back, and landed a vicious blow to Yakumo's face.
The mask shattered as Yakumo hurtled backward, crashing through a gilded statue of Kazehana. They slid to rest in the rubble, unconscious.
"Did we...?" Sakura panted, sagging against a pillar.
Sasuke wiped blood from his lip. "We need suppression seals…"
"Got 'em." Anko's voice rang from the grand staircase. She descended with Kazehana slung over her shoulder, the fan-wielder still in a slumber "You two look like hell."
Sakura managed a weak smile. "They were... tougher than expected."
Anko's eyes flicked to the unconscious Yakumo. "Clearly." She tossed Sasuke a roll of sealing tags. "Wrap up the puddle, Tsuande wasn't here, but I'm sure these two have plenty of answers for us."