84 A sudden twist?!?

All throughout the battlefield Naruko clone after Naruko clone could be seen fighting with Shinobi. From the original disadvantageous numbers, the Konoha forces were now equal to Kumo - which could only mean one thing.

Slowly, almost invisibly, the Kumo forces began to fall. Yet, no order to retreat came. Even as Naruko engaged Darui once more, causing nicks, cuts, and bruises to form across his skin. Even as the chakra of the Kyuubi burnt his body, there was no call for retreat.

"You.... what game are you playing Darui of the Black Lightning?" Red-slitted eyes gazed at him narrowed and wary. Such actions - they weren't natural. Something bigger was at play here...

Darui didn't respond, but merely took the moment to gather himself. Trusting her gut, Naruko opened her Mind's Eye and began to extend it. Further, and further. Pumping the Kyuubi's chakra into the Jutsu, her view of the world expanded. Her eyes turned to steel.

"I see. What an impressive trap. Tell me though, do you really think this is enough?"

Darui blandly smiled at her, as if he didn't know what she meant. "Foolish. I don't know how you got me to come here, but all I have to say - is foolish." There was no panic in her voice as she stared at him, and it was this that finally caused his eyes to narrow.

"How dull. I'm afraid I'll have to say sorry to you then, for such a dishonest tactic. What do you have planned Kyuubi Jinchuriki?"

"Perhaps you should stop holding back and find out? Except you can't, can you? Did you really think that I wouldn't recognize that something was wrong when I saw the troop's numbers? When I saw that such a small fraction of each Shinobi Village was 'defending and attacking'? It truly is an impressive ploy. I should have realized it when I didn't recognize more Shinobi, and the only one I did know, was relatively famous because of his Genin status throughout multiple wars, and is known to pick up Jiraiya's slack."

Darui stared her down before he sighed. "I suppose you're going to Hirashin away now?" The Kyuubi chakra tails behind her disappeared.

"I'm afraid not. You see - I hate being deceived. Your Shinobi truly are impressive to play such a ploy, but... they aren't Shinobi are they?" His face shifted.

"I see. No wonder I was met by Kakuzu and 'Tobi' the very moment I arrived at the base. No wonder they didn't even try to attack it, why the numbers are so low? Because you can't send out anymore." Her eyes gleamed. "Which means...." 'Kurama!' 

"CHO ODAMA RASENGAN!" All of a sudden in a mere instant a golden aura surrounded her, and a titanic Rasengan appeared above her hand, before it was directly slammed into the ground!

BOOOM! The ground was grinded apart as a Rasengan over the size of a house tore through it! Rushing out of the ground to avoid the jutsu, was the very person she expected - Black Zetsu!

"So I was right..." Yellow eyes stared at her in caution, as Black Zetsu slowly backed up to stand next to Darui. "Tell me, what's prompted this little surprise? It's not for me, no. You know with this lineup you can't kill me, an Assassin that's been exposed, and a Shinobi that isn't trying their hardest, on top of what is probably some kind of Fuinjutsu hiding Water or Earth clones made en mass... No - the target isn't me. It's to hold me here. Am I right?"

Darui's eyes widened whereas Zetsu's narrowed. Shaking her head, Naruko sheathed her Kunai. "Foolish." Her eyes darted about a smirk on her face. "A Fuinjutsu barrier to block Space-Time jutsu from entering and leaving? Useless." Pulling out Icha Icha, she flipped it open, showing her total disdain as the golden Kyuubi chakra faded. The signed copy glinted in the sun.

"Tell me, who is it you're trying to trap me from saving? Jiraiya? Guy? Perhaps... no. I see. It's not a Konoha Shinobi. You've made this base and probably stopped any messages from the real one all so that I would be deceived. You wouldn't go after Jiraiya, too many variables. Same with any Konoha Shinobi. who knows if I fall for it all the way, and who I've marked." She flipped a page. "In that case, your target should be Fuu of Takigakure, am I correct?"

Black Zetsu spoke up, "Impressive. You do your father justice Naruko Uzumaki. Sadly, it's too late for that. I'm afraid you'll have to stay here until our operations are done." Naruko simply shook her head. 

"Arrogance. Before me, no rules are set. Before me, all preconceived notions must be shattered." Saying that she'd gently shut Icha Icha, and with it still in her hand she let out a sigh. "Truly foolish. But maybe by reading the glorious book written by the most deranged of perverts who should be castrated, you'll learn something."

Turning around she'd take a step towards the two 'battling' 'armies', before casually chucking the Icha Icha behind her towards the general direction of Zetsu. There were no seals placed within. There were no hidden Explosion Tags. There was no need for HER to do such acts. Instead - she'd only say this, "Perhaps there's a lesson in there your mother didn't teach you?" An innocent crude taunt, at least in the eyes of others. Even in hindsight after calming down Zetsu would have thought so as well. But in the moment? It was enough to cause him to freeze for just a split second. It was a worthwhile risk to say those words and one that paid off...

"Purple Lightning!"

A hand sparking with purple electricity emerged from the Icha Icha book, decapitating Black Zetsu. "The secret to a sneak attack when your foe is experienced is to in fact not be sure if it's a sneak attack, and be fully intent on walking away with no intention of fighting. Shinobi trust their senses, they trust their gut. They're arrogant in that way."

Naruko continued her steps forward, "I'll entrust Darui to you, Commander Dragon."

-Darui-

His eyes didn't stray towards his decapitated 'ally' and instead his gaze rested on Dragon. "Konoha knew." It wasn't a question, but a simple fact.

Yet, a perfectly neutral neither masculine, nor feminine, not deep, nor high laughter echoed out from behind the mask of Dragon, the ANBU Commander's crimson cloak rippling slightly with the laughter. "Sudden movement at the borders? The Raikage's schedule changing? The nearby bases gaining more supplies? An obvious bait. Even if the increase of supplies, and the schedule changing was a mere 1.5% difference."  As the heavily modulated voice of Commander Dragon echoed out in the clearing, Darui finally broke composure as his teeth ground together, his hands tightly gripping his blade.

"How... dull."

"Indeed. I have orders not to kill you yet Darui of the Black Lightning. So flee little lamb. Flee from my claws."

Darui stared for a moment before he slumped slightly. "If I want to fight you I have to drop the Space-Time Barrier. Which makes the entire fight pointless. I'm afraid I'll have to say sorry to Raikage-sama."

Forming a hand sign, Darui dropped the Space-Time barrier, and as he did so Naruko disappeared.