"I will not back down, Sakura will be guarded by me!"
Rock Lee didn't heed Neji's warning. Fueled by passion and instinct, he charged toward the enemy, his green jumpsuit a blur of motion.
He leapt high into the air, twisting mid-spin. "Konoha Whirlwind!!"
His kick struck the man clean across the jaw. The attacker flew back, smashed through a tree trunk, and hit the ground with a dull thud.
"So that's it... a taijutsu specialist." The enemy wiped blood from his lip and sneered. "Troublesome. But predictable."
A moment later, Lee screamed.
"Ahh!" He collapsed, clutching his leg as red chakra veins flared violently across his calf.
"Lee!" Neji appeared instantly, eyes glowing. He dropped to one knee, examining Lee's injury with his Byakugan.
"No external wounds, but... his chakra network's torn. The connection to his right calf is severed." Neji's voice was tense. "It happened during that kick. That guy—he severed Lee's chakra internally. Everyone, be careful! He's extremely precise."
The attacker—cold-eyed and confident—was from Team Duso, a rogue unit made up of Konoha-trained spies who had gone dark. Dangerous. Deadly. Disloyal.
Elsewhere on the field, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji were locked in combat with the other two members of Team Duso. It was three against two, but the enemies weren't budging. Each fought like a seasoned Jonin, relentless and efficient.
Inside the shelter of a tree hollow, Naruto stood, gently brushing a leaf from Hinata's hair.
"Hinata, they're struggling. Let's go."
"Yes, Naruto-kun."
Hand-in-hand, they stepped out into the fading light.
"Thanks for holding the line, everyone," Naruto called, his voice clear and confident. "As for these three traitors—no, these spies—I'll handle them."
"Naruto!" Sakura cried. She ran to him, hugging him tightly. Relief flooded her expression.
"Whoa, hey now—don't take advantage of me in front of my wife," Naruto said, winking playfully as he gently eased her off.
"W-wife?! I was just glad you're okay..."
"Sakura, it's alright," Hinata said softly, stepping up beside her. She smiled gently. "Naruto-kun likes to joke. I'm used to it."
Naruto turned away from their conversation and formed a hand seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Twelve shadow clones appeared with a burst of smoke. Ten rushed off to reinforce the battle, flanking the two remaining enemies.
Naruto and two clones walked straight toward the man who had downed Lee.
"You. What's your objective? You after Sasuke?"
The man stayed silent, but his eyes flicked from Naruto to the surrounding clones, then to the retreat path behind him.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "You're with Team Duso. Orochimaru's pets."
That name made the man flinch.
Suddenly—
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Snakes lashed out from the underbrush.
The man flipped backward, evading them—just in time to land before a new figure.
Anko Mitarashi.
She stood atop a twisted branch, arms folded, eyes sharp as kunai. "So it's true. You're one of Orochimaru's rats."
The man exhaled sharply. "A Chunin squad... and now a Jonin. This mission's compromised."
"Spy or not, you're not walking away."
"That's what you think."
With a hand seal and a burst of smoke, he vanished.
"Coward," Naruto muttered, turning to see his clones restraining the remaining two members of Team Duso. "Runs at the first sign of pressure. Figures."
Anko jumped down, landing beside him. Her eyes scanned the battlefield, then focused on Naruto.
"You mentioned Orochimaru. What happened?"
Naruto's face turned serious. "He showed up. Marked Sasuke with some kind of curse seal."
Anko's breath hitched. Her fingers unconsciously moved to the back of her neck.
"So he's back... that bastard."
She didn't ask how Naruto knew him. She didn't need to.
"Come on. I'll take you to him."
Naruto led her back toward the tree hollow. As they walked, Anko's fingers brushed her own curse mark again.
The skin burned slightly.
She already knew what she'd see on Sasuke.
(End of this chapter)