The group hurried toward Mount Shumisen, but they hadn't gone far before Shikamaru and the rest of Konoha's Twelve Youngsters stepped out in front of them.
"Sorry, Kiyosuke-sensei," Shikamaru said softly.
"This is Kakashi-sensei's request — he told me to stop you, even though I know that's impossible."
"Kakashi…" Kiyosuke scratched his head.
"Move aside. I'm not at the point where I need to hit children."
Shikamaru shook his head.
"That won't do. This was Kakashi-sensei's order — Shadow Imitation Technique!"
The shadows at their feet seemed to come alive, linking up with Kiyosuke's own shadow.
In an instant cold sweat formed on Shikamaru's brow.
"As expected of Konoha's strongest. At this rate I can only hold him for a few minutes."
That was assuming the other side didn't try to break free — if they resisted, Shikamaru had almost no chance.
"Your old man didn't even dare use Shadow Imitation on me — don't you try it."
Kiyosuke gave a light chuckle, chakra flaring out as he shook off Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation in one smooth motion.
"Alright, kids — anyone who wants me to throw down, come on. I'm on a schedule; I can take them all at once if I have to."
"All right, all right, we surrender!" Shikamaru held his hands up, looking uncharacteristically sheepish.
"Sorry, Kiyosuke-sensei."
"Fine. Now go."
"Got it."
Those six weren't here to cause trouble — Shikamaru had only stopped them because Kakashi-sensei requested it. Now they officially joined the rescue force for Jonin Kakashi.
Mount Shumisen wasn't terribly far, but Kakashi had been running since last night; to catch up they had to move faster.
Kiyosuke led Konoha's Twelve Youngsters on a forced march through the night.
By the next morning they arrived at the Mount Shumisen — jagged peaks like canine teeth, shrouded in mist.
Naruto pointed toward a gap in the fog.
"Mount Shumisen is over there. Kakashi-sensei should be there too. Let's go — bring Kakashi-sensei back."
"Be careful," Kiyosuke warned.
"Hiruko might be preparing the Chimera ritual. He might not come out himself, but he still has subordinates."
"Right!" a voice echoed from the sky.
Everyone looked up to see a huge manta-ray-like beast flying overhead, green feathers shedding from its body like rain.
Red sigils flared on the feathers, and as they neared the party the feathers detonated on approach — just like explosive-tags.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Continuous explosions erupted, flames licking out and devouring the airborne feathers, triggering further blasts.
"You alright?" Kiyosuke called from inside a flame shield.
"I'm fine." Shikamaru checked the others and replied.
Neji and Hinata both activated the Byakugan.
"Kiyosuke-sensei, that thing's coming around again — upper right." Neji reported.
"I see." Kiyosuke shot into the sky and intercepted the manta-ray beast.
A thin man in black leather stood on the beast's back. He looked almost anorexic; spotting Kiyosuke flying, he raised an eyebrow in surprise and sneered. He guided the manta-ray straight at Kiyosuke.
"Clear off!" Kiyosuke's flaming fist slammed down, landing squarely on the attacker.
"Size Amplification Technique!" Chōji's form suddenly enlarged into a towering giant; he grabbed the manta-ray and pinned it to the ground.
"Kiyosuke-sensei, leave this to us. We'll handle this guy." Chōji said.
"Right. We'll take him," Shikamaru added.
They couldn't see where the rider had gone, but the beast itself could be dealt with.
"All right — the rest of you come with me." Kiyosuke said, then led the others into Mount Shumisen.
Ahead of them stood a flashy, ornate gate.
"Cut it out! Sakura!" someone called.
"On it!" Sakura slipped on her gloves and ran forward two steps at a time.
"You bastard! Open up!"
Her punch looked light, but it shook the heavens — the massive, weighty gate collapsed instantly.
Boom!
"Let's go!"
"You won't get away!" A woman in leather strode out, pale skin revealed where her outfit left gaps, hair twisted and flicked aside with a hand.
Snap! She cracked a leather whip, the sound sharp.
"Hiruko-sama is busy — we won't let anyone disturb him."
"Is that so? And what if I want to disturb him — what are you gonna do about it?" Kiyosuke sneered, eyes flashing cold steel.
"Hey, don't think big breasts make you tougher. What are you showing off for? They don't add any fighting ability. With that leather and whip, people might think you're into some weird play."
The woman was fuming. She ground her teeth.
"Fine. I'll show you how dangerous I am!"
"Not that dangerous. At least, I'm more dangerous than you."
"Summoning Technique!!" she cried.
She called forth two wolf-like summons. The beasts showed obvious signs of modification — spiral horns on their backs — and they snarled low.
Just as Kiyosuke expected a fight, the woman placed both hands on the wolf-beasts.
"Chimera Technique: Fusion!"
The two summons liquefied and fused into the woman's lower body; the three bodies merged into one monstrous form, the woman's upper torso perched atop the creature's head, her lower half absorbed into its body.
"Come, let me properly enjoy hurting you!" she taunted.
"Kiba, Shino, Hinata!" Kiyosuke called.
"Yes!" the three — and a dog — stepped out to block her.
"You puny brats. You can't stop me — die!!!" The woman snapped her whip arrogantly, scarcely considering the three in front of her.
"Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!" Hinata and Kiba struck, their attacks instantly forcing the monster back. Under Kiyosuke's training their power had improved — they could suppress this subordinate of Hiruko.
Kiyosuke and the others scrambled away along the cliff face, leaving Kiba's group to handle the woman.
"Childish tricks — nothing to worry about!" she boasted despite being hit. After fusing with the Chimera summons she was certain she couldn't lose.
Just as she prepared to counterattack, the ground beneath her exploded open and a huge chasm swallowed her.
Shino stepped forward.
"You never paid attention to me, so you fell for it. Now you're dead!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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