Imai Kuriyama was a mess. Blood soaked his uniform, and his face was ashen. One wrong step and he'd be kissing the dirt.
Kifune, ever the pragmatist, saw an opportunity amidst the chaos. His hands blurred through a series of seals.
"Fire Style! Great Flame Flower!" he roared, unleashing a torrent of fire that illuminated the forest in a brilliant, albeit deadly, display. The B-rank jutsu sapped a significant portion of his chakra, but the immediate result was undeniable. The Mist Ninja who had been relentlessly attacking Kuriyama was now engulfed in flames, collapsing into a smoldering heap.
Kifune didn't hesitate. He dashed forward and caught Kuriyama just as his knees buckled. "You okay?" he asked, giving the unconscious Genin a gentle shake. No response. Out cold.
"It's you?!" Togusa Shinno's voice, sharp with fury, sliced through the sounds of battle. He had disengaged from Kakashi and was now perched on a high branch, his gaze locked on Kifune. "Where's Yamato?" he demanded, his voice a low growl.
Kifune adopted an innocent expression. "Oh, him? I told him about this great BBQ place nearby. Said they had some killer ribs. You know how it is—ninjas work up an appetite."
Togusa's eye twitched violently. BBQ? At a time like this?
"Kifune, take Kuriyama and get out of here. We've got this," Kakashi's voice, though calm, held a steely edge. Kifune could sense the pent-up power about to be unleashed now that their primary objective was secured.
Kifune didn't argue. He hefted the unconscious Kuriyama into his arms. "Don't worry about us. Just… try not to get yourselves killed, alright?"
With that, he turned and fled, Kuriyama a dead weight in his arms. Orders were orders, and getting out of a dangerous situation was always a good plan in Kifune's book.
As he retreated, he glanced back at the charred remains of the Mist Ninja. "Too bad," he muttered. "That one had potential."
Meanwhile, outside the Land of Fire...
In the dimly lit confines of a modest hotel room in the Land of Hot Water, Orochimaru was engrossed in his macabre experiments. Beakers bubbled with strange concoctions, noxious fumes filled the air, and the unsettling scent of alchemical processes hung heavy.
A disturbing smile stretched across Orochimaru's pale face, his golden eyes gleaming with anticipation. "War is a fascinating catalyst," he hissed to the empty room. "And a well-placed spark can ignite the most spectacular conflagration."
As if summoned by his thoughts, an Anbu operative materialized silently beside him. "Lord Orochimaru, there is activity from the Mist. A Jonin from the Kaguya clan has breached our initial blockade."
Orochimaru didn't even glance away from his bubbling beaker. "The Kaguya? Such… passionate specimens. How intriguing."
The Anbu hesitated. "Should we dispatch reinforcements? The body retrieval team may be compromised."
Orochimaru finally turned, his serpentine tongue flicking out. "The Mist are probing our defenses, testing our resolve. Sending a Kaguya… a brutal, yet ultimately expendable pawn. A two-pronged attack. If successful, they gain valuable intelligence. If not… a troublesome element is conveniently removed."
The Anbu remained silent, awaiting further instruction.
"Dispatch a contingent of Anbu," Orochimaru said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "But exercise restraint. We must not project an image of desperation."
The Anbu nodded curtly and vanished as silently as he had appeared, leaving Orochimaru to his unsettling work.
Author's Note:
Kifune is on the run with an unconscious comrade, Kakashi is poised to unleash his full power, and Orochimaru is orchestrating events from the shadows. What will happen next? Will Kifune and Kuriyama escape the Land of Hot Springs? Will Kakashi finally reveal the legendary power of the White Fang's son? And what intricate scheme is Orochimaru weaving? Tune in for the next chapter, where the flames of war begin to flicker, threatening to consume everything in their path!