"Where exactly are we going?" Tayuya couldn't help but complain.
She was having the worst day imaginable. Her teammate had almost been killed by Itachi Uchiha, and now she'd learned that Naruto had also gotten dragged into the fight and was seriously injured — and that terrified her.
"That pale-faced guy wouldn't say a word. We're just running around blindly like headless chickens!"
"Relax," Sai suddenly spoke from the front of the team, "I've already located our target. My Super Beast Imitating Drawing technique has pinpointed the positions of two ninja swords. Let's go there now."
"What about Naruto? Aren't we going to look for him?" Kiba asked anxiously.
"Our mission isn't to find Naruto, nor is it to capture Sasuke," Kakashi explained. "Our goal is to obtain the two ninja swords. Meanwhile, Naruto's job is to stall Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke so we have time to complete ours. He trusts us to finish our mission, which is why he let us split up. We're all Chunin now. We must trust our teammates, and believe in Naruto's judgment too."
"Understood," Kiba nodded, falling silent as he sped up to match the group's pace.
Neji Hyuga activated his white eye and took point at the front of the formation.
"The targets are close."
He saw two powerful chakra signatures fiercely clashing not far away — one of them unmistakably belonged to Kisame Hoshigaki.
"I found them. They're the two people Sai mentioned — they're engaged in combat right ahead."
"Good..." Sai stopped walking, signaling others to halt as well. "We'd better not interfere in their battle. Kisame Hoshigaki's power is extraordinary. Taking on a monster like that would be suicide."
Shikamaru glanced at Tayuya, a sly gleam flickering in his eyes.
"I have an idea that might make that guy back off," he said with a mysterious smile.
Tayuya gave him a confused look, unsure what scheme he was plotting.
"Guys like Kisame Hoshigaki probably hate getting dragged into unnecessary fights, don't you think?" Shikamaru continued.
Tayuya caught on to Shikamaru's plan. A mischievous grin spread across her face as she replied,
"Got it. Leave it to me — I'll show you who's got more tricks up their sleeve!"
As she said that, she noticed Maki placing a hand on Kiba's shoulder and narrowed her eyes.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Maki smiled slightly and responded,
"If you're thinking what I think you are, maybe I can lend a hand."
...
Meanwhile, Kisame and Suigetsu were locked in fierce combat, clashing fiercely with their respective ninja swords.
For warriors of their level, this was just a warm-up.
"Is that all you've got, Senior Kisame?" Suigetsu provoked with a teasing smile while wielding Samehada. "I thought you would give it your all to fight me!"
"Hmph. Dealing with a water-type like you doesn't even warrant wasting chakra." Kisame snorted, blocking Suigetsu's attack with his massive Samehada blade. "Those sloppy moves are better suited for a genius like Itachi to handle. I'm not that stupid."
He shot Suigetsu a shark-like, predatory grin.
"Besides, I love watching you turn into a puddle of water like this. It's way better than seeing blood everywhere. Are you sure it was wise to send all your teammates away?"
Suigetsu leapt back, creating distance between himself and Kisame. Just as the two prepared to clash again, suddenly they found themselves completely under their control.
"What's going on?"
"What happened?" Kisame tried to move his body too, but couldn't budge.
"[Shadow Mirror Body Changing Method]—success!" Shikamaru's voice came from the nearby trees. "Great job, girls!"
"Piece of cake..." Tayuya whispered, then turned toward Maki. "You can use [Genjutsu] too?"
Maki nodded, focusing intently on maintaining the illusion.
"Get up!" Shikamaru tried manipulating their bodies to attack, only to find it extremely difficult. "What the hell? This feels like pushing a bull!"
"Sorry, my skill is [Gravity Manipulation Genjutsu]," Maki explained. "Their sense of weight has been increased fivefold, making them naturally slowed. Now's your chance to take control of them!" she continued. "Surely this level of [Genjutsu] isn't difficult for a genius like yourself?"
Neji Hyuga pointed at the two who had stopped fighting.
"I don't think they'll be a problem anymore," he said. "Look."
...
Sai seized the opportunity, rushing toward Suigetsu with lightning speed. His tanto flashed like a blade, severing Suigetsu's arm at the shoulder where he held Samehada before snatching up Samehada and quickly retreating.
"Bastard! Give me back my sword!" Suigetsu roared in anger, his severed arm already beginning to regenerate, but he remained trapped in place, unable to pursue.
Kisame watched the scene unfold while laughing heartily without showing any concern for Suigetsu's plight.
"Haha, Suigetsu, you're still too green! Having Samehada stolen from you? Priceless!"
He spoke to his large sword Samehada while laughing: "Alright Samehada, help me break free from this [Genjutsu] already! Consider it a little appetizer before the main course!"
The great sword Samehada emitted a deep, resonant vibration, beginning to absorb the [Genjutsu] chakra from Kisame's body.
******
"Darn it... We've been outsmarted!" Shikamaru reluctantly released his [Shadow Mirror Body Changing Method], letting his arms fall powerlessly as he spoke to his companions. "This feels awful, like I've lost an arm." He complained while rubbing his arms.
"We only needed one sword, and Sai already has Samehada," Maki said with a smile. "Now we just need to take the other one from Kisame."
Tayuya nodded in agreement.
"That's right, let's get out of here fast," she said, glancing at the distant chasing figures of Sai and Suigets. "Looks like your teammate's running into some trouble."
"Don't worry, Sai will handle it," Maki replied, standing up and signaling to her companions. "Let's go—I know where Sai's heading."
"Follow me," Kakashi gave a sharp nod. He led the group forward.
As they made their way through the dense forest, Kakashi suddenly sensed something was off.
He came to an abrupt halt, activated his Sharingan, and addressed the group:
"Neji, scan the area carefully with your Byakugan." Before anyone could respond, he added, "This isn't the real Maki, is it?"
"Maki" turned around and smiled at them with an expression identical to Sai's, then vanished in a burst of white smoke and reappeared as Sai.
"How is this happening?!" Neji exclaimed, shocked, immediately activating his Byakugan to inspect the scene. "It's a Clone Jutsu!"
"How did I not sense anything at all?" Kiba asked, stunned.
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