While Naruto Loses Control....

At that moment, Han began releasing the built up vapor with the help of Kokuo. I knew how strong that technique was, so I did my best to not bother him and take advantage of every opening I could.

"Hmm... the most annoying of the two is the Jinchuuriki"

Even though I didn't like what Sasori said, it was the truth. In front of them both, I was weak. So weak in fact, that I felt pitiful. But I couldn't let that get to me. I had to focus on the fight at hand.

Han rushed at Sasori, as if my mist wasn't there to begin with. I could only guess that they both used the Mist Vision Technique, though Kokuo might have something to do in Han's case. Han's dash was ineffective though, since he had to stop his attack midway to dodge a puppet that slashed at him from behind.

That was the moment I took to teleport to a water puddle right behind Sasori with Guremaru.

"Imitation Beast Ninja Arts: Gatsūga"

We both began rotating at fast speeds, becoming a blur as we moved towards Sasori. He used many of his puppets as a shield, which where shredded into pieces by our combination jutsu. The real Sasori remained unharmed though, so I stopped the attack and decided to go back to the puddles. And thank god I did so. Right over the puddle I used to be, Sasori's tail was stabbed into the ground.

If I remembered correctly, that thing was not only sharp, but also poisonous.

"Dammit, why are you so difficult to hit!"

After I yelled that, though, I had to hide back in the water puddle. Hundreds of senbon were thrown either way, covering the battlefield in them.

"Prepared Puppet: Eight Waves of Needles!"

The barrage of senbon didn't stop. It was like he had lot control. I could hear Sasori's heartbeat. It was fast and agitated. He was losing patience. Perhaps I had to use a more strategic tactic. Shino had already disabled plenty puppets with his Kikaichu, which meant Sasori would run out of puppets at some point. But no. I was wrong.

"You wasting my time! I'm ending you all now! Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets!"

Like that, all of his puppets raised from below ground. He had set a trap, and we had fallen for it. I was thinking as fast as I could about what exactly we could do, but I had no idea. I was losing my cool. Then I realized something. Han had a very destructive jutsu.

"Han, use the Skilled Mist!"

He didn't seem to mind following an order from a Genin, since he quickly performed the handseals for the Jutsu. Sasori seemed to want to interrupt the casting, but I couldn't allow that, could I?

"Suiton! Water Shield, Water Clone, Beach Crab"

I created a Water Clone so it would stay by Han's side, covering him from damage. The Beach Crab jutsus created claws of water that raised from the ground to hold the target in place. I didn't want to use too much chakra in it, since my Clone spent quite a bit and I had already been fighting for a while, so I wasn't sure how many of Sasori's puppets I had captured. But it was more than enough.

Leaving the security of my Water Shield, Guremaru and I decided to go for a more silent approach. After all, my style wasn't about head on battle. I was a Hunter and I moved silently. Thus, I hid on a water puddle and teleported close to Sasori, watching from the puddle while waiting for the perfect moment.

"Futton: Skilled Mist Technique!"

As soon as Han released his Jutsu, I undid my Water Shield. His boiling vapor, which was almost acidic in nature, corroded and destroyed the puppets that had been captured by my Beach Crab. My Water Clone did a Tsūga and destroyed a few more puppets on his own, but Sasori wasn't who he was by coincidence.

"Secret Puppet Art: Hundred Puppet's Annihilation!" [1]

All of his remaining puppets rushed at Han, who now had no cover. I balanced between helping Han or taking advantage of the opportunity, but it lasted no longer than a second. I left the puddle I was in and threw all the Senbon I had taken previously, aiming them at Sasori's body. As soon as I saw where he dodged towards, I did my part.

"Water Beast Ninja Arts: Nameless Prey"

I rushed at Sasori with Guremaru, back in his dog form, standing on my head. Or so he thought. Sasori hit the one who was attacking, only to find that it was a Water Clone I had done before leaving the puddle. Then, I undid the transformation Jutsu and, now in my own body, did an improvised attack I had just thought of.

"Water Beast Ninja Arts: Mizu Tsūga!"

It was a combination of the Water Sword Jutsu and the Passing Fang, which created a spiraling sharp cyclone of water. With all of the effort and risk put in, I had barely been able to hit Sasori's main body when, to my surprise, he used a Substitution Jutsu. Though instead of a log, a puppet of his appeared to be destroyed in his stead.

"I have no more time to deal with you... but at least one of you is not going to live past today. See you soon, little Genin"

And just like that, Sasori had disappeared. I dropped on the ground, breathing heavily and agitatedly. Guremaru came to my side and began licking my hand, probably feeling the still present fear in me. I had survived an Akatsuki. Then his last words hit me. Undoing the Hidden in Mist, I began frantically searching for everyone else.

"Hinata, Kurenai, Shino, where are you?!"

"We're okay, everyone is safe"

I was about to thank god about that, but then I realized what Sasori meant. I searched everywhere around the place, but Han was nowhere to be seen. Sasori had captured him.

"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"

I fell on my knees and began hitting the ground. I had no reason to be so angry. This would've happened eventually. But... it happened right under my nose, and I could do nothing to stop it. It was only then, when I barely survived, that I realized how weak I truly was. The feeling of impotence, of uselessness, was something I hated feeling.

"Ryota-kun... we have to report to the Hokage"

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[1] Secret Puppet Art: Hundred Puppet's Annihilation is a Jutsu I created for the sake of this battle and because Sasori doesn't show nearly enough puppet techniques in the series to have variety.