Run-in With The Red Cloud

I, for the first time since I had come to this world, felt actual fear. Black cloak adorned with red clouds, check. Straw hat covering his face, check. Straight up scary appearance, check.

'Akatsuki and it had to be Sasori of all people...'

"Who are you?!"

Kurenai asked with clear hostility in her voice. I could only guess that experience told her that the man in front of us meant trouble and, more likely than not, danger. I had my nerves on end, every hair on my body standing due to the danger signals. Guremaru was no better, growling by my side.

"You don't need to know. After today, you will all be my puppets"

After saying that, he took out a book from his cloak's sleeve and began going through it, until he found what he was looking for.

"Han, Iwagakure. Gobi's Jinchuuriki. You're in my book, so you're coming with me alive... though barely"

I didn't wait for Sasori to move. I knew that if I gave him the chance to do so, we would be dead before we had a chance to run away. His puppets were... disgusting and even more dangerous. Without thinking twice, I did what I thought was smartest.

"Suiton! Hidden in Mist!"

As we were covered in mist, I knew Sasori couldn't see us. That already gave us an advantage. I quickly tried to formulate a plan, but I was interrupted by Kurenai, who had her own idea.

"You kids go with Han. I'll hold him here!"

"No way. You're coming back with us, sensei"

She looked at me with annoyance written in her face. Since we were close enough she could see me even in my jutsu.

"Ryota, this is no time for that. I'm you sensei and a Jonin, you will obey the order I..."

"Sorry, sensei, but this isn't about your order or me not buying it. I got us in this situation, and you're coming back with us"

There was a certain tone of finality in my voice, something that Kurenai had only heard when I argued with her about not picking a harder mission. She knew what it meant. There was no convincing me otherwise. I was staying and fighting. Once that was clarified, I began giving orders.

"Hinata, you can run away or hide. Do that or provide Shino with a constant feedback on our locations so he can use his bugs properly. Shino, try to use your kikaichu to consume the enemies chakra"

"Hai!" x2

After that I looked at Kurenai and Han. I knew nothing about Han besides who his tailed beast was, so I had a better time letting him do what he wanted so long as it didn't endanger us. Kurenai on the other hand was at a disadvantage in this fight.

"Sensei, this guy is using puppets"

"How do you know that, Ryota?"

"I can smell it. He doesn't smell like a human at all"

She clicked her tongue in annoyance at the fact, since she knew that she couldn't use her Genjutsu against puppets. The best she could do was trying to disarm the puppets by cutting their connection with the user. But the key to win this fight, was Shino.

"Hinata, can you see it? The source of chakra?"

"Yes! It's right..."

We didn't get time to keep planning. I had to push Hinata and Shino out of the way while dodging myself the attack of one of his puppets. Right were we stood before we could see a few senbon, accurately nailed were our head's should've been.

"Guremaru, Beast Human Clone. Imitation Beast Ninja Arts: Four Legs Technique"

I quickly commanded Guremaru to transform, much like Akamaru did in the Chunin Exams, in a copy of me, who also used the Four Legs Technique. This was a dangerous moment, and I couldn't go pulling punches here. I had no way to worry about Hinata and Shino, so I could only hope that the Byakugan could keep them alive. Kurenai would besafe and Han had to remain safe too. I had to worry about keeping my own life.

Using Liquid Bullet after dodging another senbon, I quickly used the Water Puddle and began teleporting between puddles. I could tell were Sasori was because I could hear his hear beating, and I knew that if I somehow missed, I was as good as dead. Unluckily, I had no chance to attack.

"You can't do anything against me, little Genin. Surrender quickly and become my new puppet"

"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"

As soon as I heard Han using that Jutsu, I teleported from a puddle back to our original spot. grabbing all of the senbon that were still on the ground. I would use them as a diversion. Still, Han's jutsu proved to be extremely dangerous for anything standing there, since I could see Sasori dodging it frantically while using puppets as shields.

But the sheer amount of puppets he had was too gross to win against him with a single jutsu. This was proven when Han had to stop his Jutsus to dodge. And he wasn't given a chance to attack again.

'Dammit... I need to get to Shino and Hinata quickly'

Once again teleporting through puddles, I raised only my head from one and talked to my teammates.

"Hinata, tell Shino were the wires are. Shino send a few Kikaichu to each wire so they can absorb the chakra from there"

Once I said my piece, I teleported again but this time by Han's side. I planned to work alongside him, since it was our only chance to actually do something about our current situation. But first, I had to get rid of the puppets attacking him.

"Imitation Beast Ninja Arts: Gatenga!"

This time, instead of aiming my attacks at the puppets, both Guremaru and I cut the wires that connected the puppets to Sasori. I was sure that by now, we had already destroyed and disabled more than twenty puppets, but Sasori seemed to never run out of them. Still, my effort wasn't in vain, as Han was finally able to attack freely again.

"Say... wanna work together against this guy?"

"As much as it pains my pride, I can't take him on alone"

"Okay then... let's rock!"