29 2/4

Kidomaru scowled and began to chew the webbing in his mouth. He spit it out and watched as it instantly hardened. Each of his 6 arms grabbing the hilt of a sword that was as strong as steel. Let's see how this little girl liked it when this spider grew fangs.

Fú charged and closed the distance rapidly. The spider and beetle began a deadly dance of flashing swords and crushing punches and kicks. Kidomaru was clearly skilled, even in hand to hand combat, if the multitude of small cuts that had quickly began to build up was any indication. Fú scowled. She had to be patient. Her biggest weakness was getting frustrated and making a hasty move instead of waiting for the opening she wanted.

Fú waited, doing her best to dodge and block all the attacks. They were quickly overpowering her. Those blade seeming to come from impossible directions. She perservered, the tiny cuts were nothing she couldn't handle. Finally, her opening arrived and she jumped on it. Kidomaru seeing his own opening lunged for a finishing move. All 6 blades thrusting forward. Fú inhaled and when she exhaled, a small but just as effective cloud of her 'Scale Powder' erupted in the spider's face. Kidomaru screamed and hastily abandoned his attack. The sound of whistling air was his only indication and he brought all six swords up in a hasty guard. His confidence in his creations durability was quickly shattered. A sound similar to an entire tree being snapped in half echoed around the clearing. Fú's kick was so strong that it snapped all 6 swords as effortlessly as one would break a pencil. Spit and blood erupted from the teen spider's mouth as her foot drove dangerously deep into his chest. His ribs screamed in protest and his lungs cried out as all the air was forcefully expelled from them. He once again crashed painfully against unforgiving wood, his ribs taking even more damage at the impact.

Fú exhaled and spit out a few small strands of her own sticky thread to some of the more severe cuts on her exposed skin. The threads bound the wounds shut and her potent chakra began to slowly heal the damage. A new ability Fú had discovered, it allowed herself or any ally touching her thread to slowly be healed. It was this ability that had Lady Shizune so interested in taking her on as her own apprentice. She went on for hours about how to incorporate those threads in battle, most of it went over Fú's head. The only thing that really stuck was that Lady Shizune, a powerful Jonin in her own right, wanted her as a student. Even in the heat of battle, Fú smiled brightly.

"Che. You're stronger than I thought little girl. I never thought some pre-teen kid would push me to my second stage, but I can't afford to lose here. It's time the spider show the beetle that it is in fact the greater predator." Kidomaru's pained but cocky reply came.

Fú puffed out her cheecks. "Pre-Teen?! I'm 14, almost 15 you ass!" She shouted in outrage.

"Wait? You're my age?! You look like you're barely old enough to be out past dark." Kidomaru taunted.

"Wait… you're MY age? You look like you're 30! I'd rather look young than like an old man before I even finished puberty." Fú laughed loudly, Kidomaru's face flushing in anger. His appearance once again began to change, but this time the results were much more noticeable. Fú gasped as where there once stood a teen, there was now a real-life monster standing across from her.

"The real hunt begins now, little girl!" He called as he jumped back, deep into the shadow of the trees. Fú went on high alert and began to pursue the boy. It was only Chomei's warning that saved the girl from having her heart pierced by the thick, golden shaped object that had come blitzing from the shadows. She turned and saw that it was a poorly, yet no less deadly crafted arrow.

"I knew he was a distance fighter. This is why I told Neji I would take him on. Neji has no distance attacks, but I do." Fú said allowed to herself as she began to weave the hand seals she'd need. Thankful that as they approached closer and closer to Rice Paddy, the humidity increased to almost unbearable levels. It would make her next attack cost a lot less.

Fú would admit that Kenta's mastery over water was absolutely breathtaking, especially for still being 13 years old. However, where Kenta had the finesses, Fú had the chakra to cover the difference and then some. It would be a long time before Kenta was near Fú's level of water techniques.

"Water Release: Water Hail!" Fú called out. The water in the atmosphere coallased, and soon hundreds of bullet sized water balls began bombarding the area in front of the girl. Trees and branches snapped and fell to the earth by the dozens. Fú continued her attack, the wide-spread destruction hopefully keeping the monstrosity busy.

"Fú! I sense him up ahead. He's dodging your water easily. He seems to have tiny threads spread out, the vibrations give him warning where your attacks are coming from. Let's close the distance with 'that' technique and finish him off!" Chomei's voice echoed in Fú's head.

Fú gathered the easily offered chakra from her lifelong friend. Four rainbow colored wings burst from her back and she easily lifted herself into the air. While other Jinchuriki seemed to grow tails when accessing large quantitites of bijuu chakra. Fú's shaped themselves into wings, ability to fly and all. She made the required seals and charged.

"Water Release: Flying Horn Charge!" A lance of pure, condensed water covered Fú from shoulder to hand. The pointed tip extended another 5ft past her fingertips. She barreled forward, pure destruction followed in her wake.

Fú's meager sensing abilities were boosted to acceptable levels when accessing Chomei's chakra. It was the only reason she wasn't already dead. The Spider Monstrostity kept up a veritable rain of arrows. One after another, pushing Fú's aerial mobility to levels she had never been pushed to before. Finally, the spider was in her sights. His eyes widened momentarily before he smirked. He let go of the largest arrow so far. Faster and stronger than the others, Fú was barely able to dodge it from this distance… Or so she thought. White, hot, searing pain tore through Fú's shoulder. She cried out in pain, almost losing her concentration. Kenta's smiling face flashed in her mind and she pushed through it.

With a cry of defiance, Fú shoved the lance of water directly towards the boy's heart. A think, golden plate of armor quickly formed a protective casing around the boy's torso, but it was for nothing. The Bijuu chakra enhanced water technique slid into the golden carapace like a hot knife through butter. The boy screamed in agony only momentarily before the lance burst out the other side of his body. He was thrown back by Fú's momentum alone and was sent crashing to the ground, unmoving.

Fú, fighting back tears, barely held her concentration together long enough to safely hover her way to the forest floor. Kenta's advice kept replaying in her mind. She stumbled over towards the boy, already her threads were slowly making a loose cocoon around her body. She knelt down next to the boy. The curse mark had faded. His eyes were open and staring in pain and surprise. Fú checked his pulse and found… nothing. She smiled to herself.

She then managed to make it to the base of a large Oak. It's canopy wide enough to allow rays of warm sunlight to bathe her in their comfort. The threads began to weave themselves around her tighter and anchoring themselves to the beautiful Oak tree. A single thought floated through her mind before she gave herself over to the pain and exhaustion.

'Sorry, Kenta. I won't be able to keep my promise. You all will have to finish the mission without me.'

*********************************Fú Bae Smashing Spiders********************************

I jumped through the canopy in hot pursuit of the sound 4, now 2. I kept my senses on high alert, but my mind was elsewhere. That didn't last long as I cuffed upside the head by an irritated Naruto.

"Stop worrying and have faith in Fú, moron. She's strong, ya know? She's probably the strongest member of this squad." Naruto's irritated voice scolded.

I scowled at my brother. "I'm not worrying and I have complete faith in her." I growled back. "And hit me again and I'll take your hand."

"I call bull." Naruto said immediately, unperturbed by my threat. "If you actually believe that, your mind wouldn't be off in space. You have no faith in your girlfriend, and if she finds out, I'm running for the hills."

I do have faith, I!" Ami cut me off this time.

"Naruto is right, Kenta. Fú is strong. She almost beat Sasuke in a single hit, and that was without using Chomei even the littest amount. She's going to win. She promised you, right?" Ami smiled at me in reassurance.

I took a deep breath. They were, of course, right. I didn't want to admit it, especially to Naruto. He'll brag for weeks when I'm wrong and he's right.

"You're right. Both of you." I shot Naruto a 'don't you dare look.' His answering evil smile was answer enough. Weeks. "I can't do anything but have faith. We have a mission. Fú will defeat her opponent and join us soon enough." Naruto and Ami both smiled brightly at me before returning to their spots. I took a last deep breath and accepted my words. A small tension left my shoulders. Yeah, Fú probably was the strongest person here. Naruto was making some progress with Kyubi, but Fú and Chomei were in perfect sync.

"Look sharp. Sasuke was just transferred the barrel and the pale skinned boy is waiting up ahead. Sasuke and the girl are continuing on." Neji's voice called out in complete control. I nodded at the boy, he turned off his eyes for a quick break and I focused my senses, feeling for any traps.

We touched down across from the androgynous youth and assessed the situation. It was true, the red haired Uzumaki girl and Sasuke were quickly escaping. I glanced at Neji who nodded. He got into his battle stance and the rest of us continued on our way. The pale boy tried to intercept us, but Neji was there delivering a punishing chakra laced palm strike. The boy retreated and squared off against Neji with a scowl. Lee, Ami, Naruto and I continued on.

*************Seriously Sakon Got SO lucky he didn't have to fight Neji in Canon*******************

Neji eyed the boy without his eyes activated. "I've noticed something strange with your chakra since the moment I saw your group. What are you?" He asked in a blunt tone.

"Just a simple boy. You may refer to me as Sakon. I will be your executioner today." Sakon haughtily replied.

Neji nodded in acceptance. He would figure it out on his own. He charged while simultaneously activating his Byagukan. The two boys exchanged a lightning fast bout of skilled hand to hand combat. Sakon frowned, noticing the small bruises that adorned his arms, as well as the slight tingle in his arms. He knew about the Gentle Fist, but he had no idea how effective it would be. He smirked as his appearance changed. Small, conjoining dots littered the boys pale skin. If Neji could describe it, they looked like pictures of bacteria that he had seen in some of the basic texts he had read.

"Time to end this. I normally enjoy watching my opponents suffer before I kill them. But right now Tayuya is in need of some help. Don't take it personally that I don't kill you like all the others. I'm sure you understand." His cocky tone stated once more. Neji stared at him impassively. Since his fight with Naruto, he had begun to view the world as more than black and white. There were too many choices and unexplained phenomena to account for a fate that was so cut and dry. Neji would prove this today by doing his part to bring Sakura and Sasuke back.

Sakon rushed him and Neji was momentarily surprised by the increased speed. However, he quickly adjusted. His normal sparring partner was much faster. A hard cross rattled his jaw as a simultaneous jab left his ribs creaking.

'That's impossible. I was blocking both his arms when those attacks hit me. I don't care how fast someone is, that's not possible. My eyes will reveal the truth.'

The two boys continued to exchange blows, Neji taking even more mystery hits. After a particularly nasty attack that left his kidney throbbing, he saw it. A second set of hands had indeed made contact. They were not illusionary as was his initial theory. He broke contact and leapt back, catching the breath his lungs desperately needed. The pale boy didn't pursue. The cocky grin was back in place. Even in a rush he did indeed like to toy with his opponents. That would be his downfall. Letting a genius of Neji's caliber regroup was a death sentence.

"I have deduced your technique. You cannot win now. Surrender to me and you will live. You will be tortured and questioned and spend the rest of your days in jail, but you will live to see the hour." Neji stated without boast or brag.

Sakon snorted derisively. "I know I didn't hit you that hard to the head. Previous brain injury? You're on the ropes kid. This battle is mine."

Neji charged and unleashed a veritable onslaught of quick jabs, palm thrusts, and chakra laced attacks to the coils of his opponent. Sakon growled in irritation. Where before the kid was falling victim to Ukon's attacks, he was not only blocking them, but closing Ukon's chakra points as well! He did figure it out.

"So, you weren't lying. Well then the jig is up. Come say hello, Big Brother." Sakon stated in a mocking voice. True to his words, Neji was the least bit shocked seeing the second, identical head sprout from the boy's shoulder.

"Hello. My name is Ukon. Where my brother is quick tempered and likes to play with his enemies, I am impatient and level headed." He turned to Sakon. "Finish him brother, no messing around. Tayuya is alone." Sakon nodded and began to change once more.

People call Naruto a demon. Naruto is only a demon if you are unlucky enough to suffer his ire. His pranks when he's being particularly vindictive are as infamous as the fox sealed inside him. Naruto was no demon, and if Neji had to hazard a guess, the fox inside him really wasn't either. These things standing in front of him now? Pure demonic in looks and the sight of their chakra. It looked like chakra that had been diseased and begun to decay and rot. It took all of Neji's willpower not to gag and the pure vileness of it.

"You die now, Hyuga!" Sakon/Ukon shouted simultaneously. They rushed, much faster than before. However, Neji proved once again his genius. Since his loss, Neji had begun to see the merit in true, backbreaking hard work. His speed, stamina and strength had begun to grow by leaps and bounds. These fools were the first to find out.

The looks of pure hatred and frustration that were glaring back at Neji would have once not long ago made the boy overconfident in himself. He would have gotten sloppy, thinking his victory was at hand. The advice he gave his girlfriend, Fú, rang out in his mind though. These two were personally trained by Orochimaru. Do not give them an inch until their hearts stop beating.

Sakon leapt back, breathing heavily. He glared and Neji who stared back impassively. His glare turned into a smile of triumph as Ukon's head suddenly burst from Neji's shoulder. Neji still stared impassively at the head now attached to his shoulder.

"I see. So that's what it is. You have a bloodline that allows you to merge with each other and inanimate objects. This curse seal heightens the ability and allows you to merge with another human. I assume you intend to do internal damage or limit my movements in some way?" Neji deduced.

Ukon grinned widely. "You got it in one, kid. It's a shame really, if you were to join Master Orochimaru, he'd have the caged bird seal off your head and take you to new heights."

Neji's eyes flashed once before he sneered. "If you thought that a pitiful offer like that would entice me enough to abandon my family, you should have worked on your sales pitch a lot more. I'd say try again another day, but you won't be alive to work on it within 1 minute."

Neji then closed his eyes and concentrated. Releasing his chakra in a way that only a Hyuga is capable of, a way that many thought was a second bloodline. For only a Hyuga could naturally release chakra from every single point on their body. All 361 points simultaneously. Anyone else that could do it had to practice for years and years to achieve what a Hyuga genin could do. Neji's eyes snapped open, and with a large burst did in fact release chakra from all 361 chakra points. Ukon may have merged with him at the cellular level. But a bloodline takes chakra to use, and most bodies, even parasitic ones, cannot live when their host's chakra is forcefully injected into their own pathway.

"Gentle Fist Art: One Blow Body!" Neji stated simply. Ukon screamed. He toppled out of Neji, blood pouring from every orifice in his body. His curse seal deactivated and he began to weakly crawl towards Sakon.

"Brother. Help. M" He never finished his sentence. A kunai was buried to the hilt from the top of his skull. Neji stared at the now lifeless body impassively.

"YOU BASTARD! I WILL DESTROY YOU!" Sakon charged in a blind rage. Neji bent low to the ground. Left arm, hovering over the ground, held in a relaxed state. Right arm, held up above his body, palm extended to the heavens. He waited, Sakon charged. He was 5ft away, and Neji lashed out like a viper.

"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Neji's attack lived up to the name given. Gentle Fist. Neji's fingers were a blur, each subsequent barrage gaining speed. He finished the 64th hit just a split second after the 1st hit landed. Sakon stood ramrod straight. The shock almost too much for his body. His curse mark began to recede as he stared with hate filled eyes at his brother's killer.

"Gentle Fist Art: Palm Bottom" The prodigy said, voice emotionless, a true shinobi. Lacing his palm with sufficient chakra, he lashed out and struck his opponent square in the chest. He deactivated his Byakugan as the glimpses of the boy's heart erupted into a blood filled fountain. Neji didn't need to check for a pulse. His eyes had been opened wide by Naruto Uzumaki. They see everything now, and will never miss the slightest detail again.

***********************************Neji Beast Mode************************************

"GET BACK HERE!" Naruto called out. Sasuke and Tayuya ignored him and kept leaping through the trees. Naruto growled in frustration, his chakra reacting to his anger. "TAYUYA UZUMAKI, I SAID HALT!" He screamed out, his chakra lashing towards the red-headed girl. She froze. Miraculously, she froze and couldn't move. Naruto nearly slipped and crashed to the forest floor in his surprise, but caught himself at the last minute. Sasuke stopped and was staring at the girl before turning his gaze on Naruto. Confusion was the most blatant emotion on his face, but there was something else. Something I couldn't place.

"What the hell did you do to me, you blond bastard!" Tayuya growled out. She finally seemed to be gaining control back but her movements were still sluggish and forced.

Naruto shrugged. "Guess when a member of your ruling clan gives you an order, you can't refuse it." He smirked. He most likely wasn't wrong. It had to be something to do with Naruto's blood and how he was escentially the Uzumaki clan head by birthright. Unlike other clans though, ruling really did seem to run in his blood.

Tayuya snarled and turned towards Sasuke. She said something too low under her breath for me to hera. Sasuke nodded and without hesitating turned on his heel and fled. I began to move, but Tayuya wasn't letting us go without a fight. Her curse seal activated, markings like lightning racing across her skin. She slammed her palm to the ground.

"Summoning Technique: Three Doki!" She growled out in anger. Three, horrifyingly ugly creatures stood in the way of our path. Tayuya pulled out a flute and brought it to her lips. We didn't have time for this! As soon as these trees broke, there would be a large, open, unnamed field. Past that was "The Valley of the End" which separated Fire and Rice Paddy. I turned to Ami and Lee. "You two, take her on. Remember, capture her alive if possible. Don't risk your own lives though just to save hers." I ordered. They both nodded and intercepted the 3 monstrosities that had rushed us as soon as Tayuya began to play that flute. Naruto and I didn't have time to wish them well. We just had to believe. I would believe in them.

*******************************OP Lee and Ami Crazy************************************

Tayuya sent her three Doki's towards the pursuing Naruto and Kenta, but Lee was right there to knock back two, while Ami took care of the other. Tayuya scowled. If she couldn't take these two out right now and intercept the last two, Orochimaru would be very displeased. Tayuya wasn't particularly loyal to the Snake Sannin. She was actually at one point his prisoner, forced to fight to the death against 99 other prisoners. Her luck and skill saw her to the end with the other 3 who would join her as the sound 4. Since then she had power and respect, the only two things that mattered in this world. Especially being a woman. If you were a weak woman in a place like Oto, you were better off dead.

She began to play her dance of death, the two Konoha Shinobi were dancing and dodging the blindly fast and brutal strikes from her Doki. She switch the tune, and the Doki opened their mouths. At once dozens of white, worm-like creatures were added into the chaotic symphony that she played. The two Konoha ninja were fast and agile, but like all those before them, they would succumb eventually. On and on she played, and on and on they danced. She was the conductor, they were her symphony. Her mouth fell open, her concerto was falling to pieces around her.

The green one had landed on a branch, and right as one of her Doki closed, he disappeared in a burst of speed. When he reappeared, it was to deliver a bone crushing kick to the Doki he had just dodged. It dispelled immediately. Tayuya watching in horror as the small, purple haired girl unleashed a ball of fire the size of a small cabin into the face of another of her pets, it joined the first. The two converged on the last and with a flurry of punches and kicks, Tayuya was once again alone. She wasn't done yet. The curse seal on her neck burned in rage, she gave in. Where once before was a small, teenage girl, now stood a demonic woman. Her red hair and crimson eyes gave her a fearsome appearance, her dark skin and exotic beauty hid the dangers the lurked beneath. She played her tune of death once more.

The green one fell immediately to her illusions. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he was sent to the floor of the forest far below. The girl resisted for a few seconds more before she too followed her comrade to the shadows below. Tayuya smirked and jumped down to finish them off. If all else went to shit, at least Tayuya could say she did her part to the best of her abilities. She landed onto the soft, moss covered dirt below. The smell of nature itself pierced the veil of euphoric power the cursed seal granted. Her demonic eyes searched the floor for her victims, only to feel a sense of dread to fill her being. She felt the piercing of the fangs before her eyes even adjusted to the gloom.

From the shadows, Ami stepped out. A single snake extended from the folds of her kimono. Tayuya followed the snake with her eyes, knowing where the head of it was located. On her thigh, the snake's long fangs pierced into her exposed flesh. The venom injected, its job was done. The snake returned to its master. Before she could open her mouth to gloat, the energy in her body left her. She saw a flash of green as she fell to the ground, her curse mark receeding without a chakra source to sustain it. Lee looked down at her apologetically.

"I'm sorry, miss. We've placed a chakra suppressant seal on you. I'm going to seal you inside this prisoner scroll. You will be placed in a temporary stasis while inside. When you are released, you won't even realize what happened." The green boy bowed to Tayuya.

The purple haired girl walked up next, confident smile in place. "I could only assume you'd be immune to such a common paralytic, knowing who you master is. I just had to distract you long enough for Lee to slap that tag on you." Then to Tayuya's absolute horror, the two Konoha shinobi pulled wax out of the ears. It was a set-up. An elaborate trap to lure her into the shadows and lower her guard. She had been played. "Had you not messed with Sasuke in the hospital, we'd have never known that one of you used a sound based illusion. Hopefully you will learn from this encounter, Tayuya Uzumaki."

Tayuya closed her eyes, fighting tooth and nail to not let the tears escape that were trying oh so desperately. She didn't cry when she watched her parents slaughtered in a bandit raid. She didn't cry when she was captured by the snake. She didn't cry when she was forced to kill 100 other kids her age just to survive. She didn't cry when she received the curse mark. She never cried. This time however, she finally let the tears fall. For Tayuya realized, these weren't tears of sorrow or frustration. They were tears… of hope?

Blackness was her only answer.

*****************************Ear Plugs Most OP Ninja Tool in NaruVerse********************

Naruto and I raced across the field, quickly gaining on Sasuke. Just as I was about to call out, Sasuke suddenly stopped. Naruto and I slowed our speed and stopped once we were within striking distance of the Uchiha boy. He set the barrel down and stepped away from it before turning his attention on us.

"Why are you two doing this? You heard why we have to go! If I don't go, Orochimaru will keep coming after me until he gets me. I put everyone and the village in danger by being there! Sakura could die if she doesn't evolve and master her curse seal. Do you two want her to die just to boost your egos with a successful mission?!" Sasuke was nearly shouting by the end. Either Sasuke was an incredible actor, or not a single word he uttered was a lie. His chakra pointed to his feelings as being genuine.

Naruto spoke up first. "Sasuke we don't care! Let that snake bastard come! We'll beat him back every time! As for Sakura, I know I can and will find a way to remove that seal, count on it, ya know!" Naruto eagerly told his rival.

Sasuke shook his head. "Naruto, do you not realize how outclassed we were when we faced Orochimaru last time? It was 6 on 1 and he throttled us. He was toying with us! He knocked you out in a single hit! As for Sakura? When are you going to finish removing her seal? Before it completely destroys her chakra pathways, rendering her unable to follow her dreams of being a kunoichi? Or after she's in the morgue and you remove it from her cold, dead corpse?" He hissed.

Naruto looked momentarily taken aback but quickly recovered. "Before that, bastard! I'm a sealing genious. I'll have it off in no time!"

"Naruto you're too full of yourself!" Sasuke shouted, his chakra now lashing out wildly. He was starting to lose it, just like in the hospital. "Anko has had her seal for over a decade! We searched around, looked for all the answers. Your teacher couldn't even remove Anko's seal, which is the prototype that Sakura has! This is the only way Naruto, stop being dense! I won't let your ego kill Sakura. I'll kill you before that happens."

I stepped in front of Naruto, cutting him off. Sasuke's eyes were flashing between onyx and crimson. His rational mind losing the fight to his emotions when Sakura's life was on the line.

"Sasuke, say you do this. When do you come home? What's the plan?" I asked, trying to calm the boy down. "You cross that border, you're in the bingo book. We can keep Sakura in stasis, working on the seal non-stop. What's your answer for that?"

It worked, a bit at least. His chakra still roiled just below the surface, but it was no longer volatile. "I don't know what the future holds, Kenta. All I know is I don't want you or anyone in danger, and I need to protect Sakura. Once she leaves that barrel, the 2nd stage is unlocked. She will be possibly dangerous and volatile. The whisperings of power and glory will be like shouts. She will need me to keep her grounded while she learns to harness and control it. As for your suggestion, say that takes 3, 5, 10 years. You want to take all those years away from her?" He shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, guys, but this is the only logical choice."

I nodded and cut off Naruto's squawk of protest. "I see I won't persuade you. I think you are both acting rash and illogical, basing your decision on emotions of anxiety and fear. We fight then. Your ideals versus mine. Whichever one is the true decision will be decided by who walks from this fight the victor." I got into my stance, Sasuke did likewise. I turned to Naruto. "Stay out of this Naruto, this is a fight of ideals that can only be decided this way. Your weird charisma won't persuade anyone this time." Naruto reluctantly nodded and took a step back.

I tensed as Sasuke's Sharingan flashed on. My muscles coiled, chakra pooling in my legs without thought. As I was about to make my move, the wind picked up and with the gust of wind brought another road block with it.

"Who the hell are you?! Get out of here you browless freak! Kenta and Sasuke are gunna fight, ya know!" Naruto shouted angrily at the newcomer.