"HIISSS!"

"Haaa...haaa...urg! Damn it!"

"I can't...I can't keep this up!"

"You have to! Slowing down means death!"

The disturbing hissing of the giant scorpions resounded in the ears of everyone present. A fitting noise to match the current scene, one filled with nothing but dread

Nearly all of the enemy mercenaries had either been killed, or knocked unconscious, only a few stragglers remained

"GAH!"

"Ah, idiot! There's no point in running!"

With the terrain as their ally, none could escape these ravenous creatures. They moved too quickly, ambushed anyone who tried to run, and were somehow even faster when tunneling underground

The team picked up on this first, focusing solely on avoiding attacks, especially the poisonous tails. Obvserving first hand how fast one could die from even the smallest exposure. They bid their time, hoping reinforcements would arrive swiftly

{Damn it. I'm starting to get tired, I still haven't fully recovered from my fight with Etoro. Not to mention Tai & Suzu...} (Rei)

"How are your chakras? Does anyone need a little pick-me-up?" (Tai)

"I'm fine...Suzu?" (Rei)

"I'm not dead yet, but I'd welcome some help now" (Suzu)

"I can sense them, our back-up is almost here. Just hold out a little longer, I'm gonna make some distractions" (Rei)

As Rei formed a hand seal, Suzu stopped him before he could use his jutsu. Apparently, she already knew what he was thinking and advised against it

"Don't Rei, Kage Bunshin¹Shadow Clonewill split your chakra, we need to conserve our strength" (Suzu)

"..." (Rei)

"Like you said, the reinforcements will be here soon, there's no need to tempt fate. Tai still has the most chakra left out of all of us, long as he can still restore our stamina with his medical ninjutsu, we're golden" (Suzu)

"I'll...haah...heal you guys as many times as it takes!" (Tai)

"...Okay" (Rei)

TREMBLE!

The ground shook every time a scorpion moved, one of them set on killing the Genin as it charged. Not wasting any time, the team split up to divert its attention, Suzu stuck with Tai and Rei moved on his own

Doing his best to stay alive, Notitia abruptly spoke to him

[Ain't this pickle, I'm surprised you haven't run away yet]

"Like I can in this situation" (Rei)

[Can't you?]

"No! These things are abnormally fast for their size, and how the hell am I supposed to get out of here with Suzu and Tai?!" (Rei)

[The key words being...Suzu and Tai. If it's just you...]

"...Are you suggesting I-?" (Rei)

[The best course for you now is to leave them behind]

"!" (Rei)

Rei stopped in his tracks, contemplating the idea Notitia just placed in his mind. Its reasoning was sound, his overall priority is self-preservation. Staying behind, risking his life to save these "teammates" of his was illogical by all accounts

But for some reason, the supposed "cynical scientist" couldn't make the decision, hesitation gripped his entire body

"HISSS!"

"Head's up!" (Tai)

"Tsk!" (Rei)

STUP!

One of the scorpions homed in on Rei, attempting to catch him with its pincers. Even with his speed, he had a hard time dodging its quick strikes, accompanied by its even faster poisonous tail

Diverting his attention for even a moment meant death, Rei understood this better than the others. But Notitia still spoke to him, ignoring his difficult circumstances

[Back-up is on the way, but they initially arrived on the northern side of the island. With their current pace, it's estimated they'll be here in several minutes...but a lot can happen here in that amount of time]

"..." (Rei)

[Your chakra hasn't fully recovered from the fight with Etoro Konjiki, and you can't use the Shunshin no Jutsu²Body Flicker Jutsuforever. Eventually, you'll exhaust what remaining power you have left...and death will soon follow]

"..." (Rei)

[But if you leave by yourself, you have a 93% chance of survival. With your speed, you're more than capable of fleeing on your own...without any extra "baGGage"]

{Did its voice just...crack?} (Rei)

[wHy do you not flee? Have you forgotten your pRimary obJective?]

{"primary objective"?} "Of course not, but as I said in the beginning, I'll need powerful allies. Tai and Suzu are-!" (Rei)

[aN irrelevant inVESTment, one that's clearly FAiled if they need your help to get out of a situation like this. Why do you heSitate? The old you wouldn't when it came to his goaLS]

"...Shut up" (Rei)

[The "pEOpLe" here, everyone of them are insignificant, just fICtional characters that don't maTTer. They're not reAl, and these two are just so-called "exTraS", completely wOrTHLesS]

"Shut. Up." (Rei)

[You're trying to leave this worLd and get back to your own, anyone here who "diES" shouldn't bOTher you]

"I said, shut up" (Rei)

[Unless...you're growing aTTached to them? Is it because they rEminD you of-?]

SCORCH!

"GEE?!"

"?!" (Suzu)

"Wha-?! Rei, is that your-?!" (Tai)

Heat and energy circled around Rei, gathering around his fists, which he clenched until they bled in anger! A small, red-colored steam formed from the blood quickly evaporating from the heat!

Grinding his teeth, angered by Notitia's words, he had enough. Raising his arms, he slammed them into ground with all of his might!

"SHUT THE HELL UP!!" (Rei)

SLAM! BOOM!

The heat around his fists flowed into the ground, building up pressure beneath the surface before bursting everywhere, distorting all of the terrain.

As if mini volcano's were forming, several of them emerged under the scorpions and began erupting, spewing out molten rock at a rapid rate

"Holy-!" (Tai)

"This is Yōton³Lava Style!" {Did he activate it instinctually?} (Suzu)

The lava burst forth, enveloping all hostile creatures present! Fortunately, Rei managed to control it just enough to avoid harming his allies

[An UNexpected result...]

"Haaa...haaa...! Notitia...haa...later...you and I...will have words!" (Rei)

[...]

TAK! TAK!

Tai and Suzu rejoined Rei and helped him up, the latter could barely stand after depleting nearly all of his remaining chakra

"Nice job man! And you said you couldn't control it!" (Tai)

"I...can't...haah! That was just a freak accident" (Rei)

"Tai, I'll hold him. You get to work on healing" (Suzu)

"Right" (Tai)

"Back-up is...almost here" (Rei)

"Why worry about back-up? You've already taken care of-" (Tai)

RUMBLE!

"!" (Suzu)

"...Seriously? These things just won't quit!" (Tai)

{Just what the hell are their bodies made of?} (Suzu)

The scorpions were in pain, they weren't dying. Their bodies were only slowed down by the lava, but slowly, they started to approach yet again. It wouldn't be long before they reached the team

Suzu left Rei to Tai as she stood in defense of them

{Shit...I'm about to pass out...} {Rei)

"Just focus on recovering, I'll buy you some time" (Suzu)

"Suzu...don't. I can tell...you're almost out of chakra too" {Even Tai has grown weary} (Rei)

Tai tapped Rei's shoulder and smiled, trying to hind the exhaustion that could clearly be seen on his face

"Like you said, back-up's almost here. We've got to do our part too" (Tai)

"That's right" (Suzu)

"..." (Rei)

RUSTLE!

Several of the large creatures managed to get past the small eruptions, the Genin in their sights, they darted at full speed!

"Here they come!" (Tai)

{This'll consume the last bit of chakra I have! But I have to try!} "Fūton⁴Wind Style...!" (Suzu)

"...!" (Rei)

CRASH!

"?!" (Team Tango)

Just when things took a turn for the worst, a flash of light shot the ground between the two opposing forces, stopping everyone and/or thing in their tracks!

"H-Huh?" (Suzu)

"Was that lightning? Though...it's not even the least bit cloudy today..." (Tai)

"This chakra is-!" (Rei)

ZWIP! TAK!

A lone figure landed between them and rampaging arachnids

"You've done enough, I'll take it from here"

"Ah!" (Tai)

"Y-You're-!" (Suzu)

"You guys saved me before, it'd be awfully rude if I didn't return the favor"

 

♦♦♦

 

Northeast of the island's center

Toroi, Funsui, and Kintarō had managed to rendezvous with Musai and Kumogakure's reinforcements. Quickly informing them of situation as they bolted to Team Tango

"Scorpions...experiments...no wonder anyone never comes here!" (Musai)

"I certainly don't wanna come back, let's hurry up and rescue the kids so we leave this stupid island!" (Funsui)

"Given the captain of our back-up has gone on ahead, it won't be long" (Toroi)

"I believe you're underestimating how dangerous these creatures are Toroi-dono. What can one shinobi do against-?" (Kintarō)

Everyone present snickered together when they heard Kintarō's concerned query. Wondering what was so funny, he requested elaboration as Funsui began explaining

"Don't estimate her, she's one of our village's most powerful ninja. Even as a young child, her actions were fundamental for us in the last war" (Funsui)

"I thought you said she was an office lady?" (Kintarō)

"Yes, but also more. Plus, her unique Ninjutsu is best suited to deal with these so-called, Nigh-indestructable experiments" (Musai)

"I don't follow? You lot do understand just how dense their exteriors are correct? What could possibly pierce through them?" (Kintarō)

Kintarō was still at loss, wondering what they knew that he didn't. Despite the situation, everyone except for him remained calm after hearing of the "captain" that arrived on the island

After spending years in the place, he was solemnly convinced there was nothing adept enough to break these creatures, beings believed capable of withstanding blows from even the Tailed Beasts themselves

"I may not be a man of science, but I don't know of anything in this word that can handle it" (Toroi)

"Handle...what?" (Kintarō)

"Hehe!" (Toroi)

"..." (Kintarō)

"The speed of light" (Toroi)

 

♦♦♦

 

"Coming all this way for us, you're such a worrywart...nee-san" (Rei)

"Mabui-san!" (Tai)

"The others will be here soon! I'll handle this, you three just stay where you are!" (Mabui)

Rei's cousin and guardian, it was Mabui who arrived to help! After being sent by the Raikage, she assembled a rescue squad in record time. Were it not for her, the reinforcements would never have arrived so quickly

Mabui glanced at the Genin to see if anyone was gravely wounded before scanning the enemy in front of her

{So these are the experiments I read about in the classified documents back home, they're bigger than I imagined. No wonder the kids had such a hard time} (Mabui)

"Mabui-san, don't let them sting you! That poison is fatal!" (Tai)

"Tai...it's alright. Let her focus" (Rei)

"Huh?" (Tai)

"Don't distract her" (Rei)

{Ten, eleven, twelve...sixteen of them. Good thing I packed an extra set of "blades" before coming here} (Mabui)

Mabui opened a scroll from the pouch on her back, laying it on the ground before placing her foot on it

POOF!

"?!" (Tai & Suzu)

From out of the scroll, a stockpile of weapons appeared on top

{I've never seen her in battle before, how exactly does she fight?} (Tai)

{Spears, swords, all of them are pointed blades. What is she gonna use them for?} (Suzu)

"Heh!" (Rei)

"SCREEE!"

"HISS!"

{This should be enough} "Alright, you guys have bullied our Genin, my cousin quite a bit today. Don't expect to get off easy" (Mabui)

The remaining scorpions had managed to get past Rei's "Lava", all of whom were moments from charging at the Kumo-nin again. Mabui remained unfazed, moving her hands

WEAVE!

"This is gonna hurt...a lot" {Tensō no Jutsu⁵Ethereal Transmission Jutsu!} (Mabui)

"Don't blink guys, or you'll miss it" (Rei)

"?" (Suzu & Tai)

ZIP! SHING!

One by one, the weapons in front of her disappeared in a flash light. The scorpions, no longer waiting, charged at her in fury. But before they could even gain an inch, the entire space in front of her was enveloped in light as several bolts of lightning rained down from above

RUMBLE! BOOM!

"What the hell?!" (Tai)

"What power!" (Suzu)

The shockwave from the explosion knocked the kids off their feet. However, Mabui remained unaffected, stoically standing in place. Eyes forever forward, her serene expression was unflinching

When the dust settled, the scorpions were no longer charging, many of them unable to move. What caught the Genin's attention were the weapons on top of them, some lightly piercing through their incredibly dense flesh

"W-Weren't they invincible?" (Tai)

"And how did those weapons end up on their backs? Jikūkan Ninjutsu⁶Space-Time Ninjutsu?" (Suzu)

"I don't know how it works exactly, but nee-san can send anything from one place to another...at near the speed of light. A power unique to her alone" (Rei)

"..." (Mabui)

They still managed to get up, though obviously winded from the sheer force of Mabui attack. Even if their outer bodies were sturdy, significant impact would cause major internal damage

"They really are tough. Looks like another wave is-huh?" (Mabui)

"GEEE!"

RUSTLE! CRACK!

Just as Mabui was preparing to attack again, the giant predators dug underground, fleeing from the scene. Clearly recognizing the danger, the opted to longer fight, much to her surprise

Mabui was under the impression these creatures were absolutely bloodthirsty, incapable of rational decisions

"They...fled? For real?" (Rei)

"That was...awesome" (Tai)

{The power of an elite Jonin...this is the level I need to reach!} (Suzu)

"I didn't see that coming. Maybe domestication is a possibility after all?" {I should let Raikage-sama know when we return} (Mabui)

Mabui turned and glanced at Rei, the latter of whom shook his head. Confirming to her with his senses if the scorpions had truly fed. Everyone could relax, the mission was finally over

Tai and Suzu sat on the ground next to Rei, no longer possessing the strength to stand, the trio all heaved a sigh of relief

"Phew! This was a mission was ridiculous!" (Tai)

"Preaching to the choir on that one" (Rei)

"Yup..." (Suzu)

Mabui maintained vigilance, in case the enemy decided to return, acting as their guard. The other squads from Kumogakure had arrived several minutes later

 

"So Rei..." (Mabui)

"Hm?" (Rei)

"How bout we have something other than grilled teriyaki tonight?" (Mabui)

Rei smiled and finally relaxed before replying

 

 

 

 

 

"Not a chance" (Rei)