As expected, a cloud of white smoke erupted an instant later, clearing to reveal a shinobi from another team.
"Talk about bad luck. I guess I've got no choice now that I'm exposed."
"Which one of you has the scroll?!"
"Hand it over nicely, and I might just spare your—"
Before the man could even finish his sentence, Kanon, standing behind the group, shouted, "Everyone, get back!"
Sasuke and Sakura flanked outward instantly. In the split second they cleared the center, a massive fireball roared toward the enemy ninja.
Kanon's timing was perfect. Sasuke and Sakura's reactions were so seamless they gave the opponent no opening to maneuver; there was no dodging this Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!
"Dammit! I can't move in time!" He screamed as he took the blast head-on. His torso suffered severe burns, but he had no time to dwell on the pain; Kanon was already charging him.
"Forget it, retreat!" The ninja slammed a smoke bomb onto the ground and vanished into the dense forest within a few strides.
"After him!" Sakura started to yell, but Kanon caught her by the wrist.
"Don't chase. Saving our teammate comes first."
Kanon leapt up and hurled a kunai, slicing through the ropes and freeing a tightly bound Naruto in one fluid motion.
"Sorry, everyone!" Naruto rubbed the back of his head, offering a sheepish apology.
"It's okay, Naruto. The forest is dangerous, stay sharp," Kanon reminded him. She then closed her eyes, beginning to sense the area again.
Sasuke and Sakura approached, seeing that both were safe, and let out sighs of relief.
"Good work, Kanon!" Sasuke praised his younger sister.
"Thanks, onii-chan!" Being complimented made Kanon feel like she was walking on air.
Despite her own tactical brilliance, Kanon trusted her brother completely. For now, the leadership of Team 7 rested squarely on Sasuke's shoulders.
The four sat down in a small clearing as Sasuke began to analyze the situation for them.
"If the four of us get separated, we can't even trust each other."
"Just like before, the enemy can transform and try to get close to us."
Sakura, Naruto, and Kanon all frowned.
"Then what do we do?" Sakura asked.
"Let's set a password," Kanon suggested, looking at Sasuke.
"Exactly. We need a code," Sasuke said, his expression grim.
"Listen up. If the password is wrong, no matter what they look like, they're the enemy."
"I'm only saying this once, so listen carefully."
Sasuke then recited an incredibly long and convoluted password. It left Naruto and Kanon looking dazed and confused, though Sakura managed to memorize it silently. Kanon nodded, repeating it several times in her head until she had it down as well.
"I'll hold onto the scroll. It's safer that way," Sasuke told the group.
Just after Sasuke took the scroll, Kanon's eyes widened.
"Everyone, look out!" Kanon began weaving signs, preparing to unleash Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
But she was too late. A sudden, violent gale swept through the area. The terrifying blast of wind sent all four of them flying in different directions.
As the dust settled, Orochimaru looked at his two subordinates and said softly, "You two go have your fun, but keep that one pinned down. Leave this spot to me."
…
Kanon had been in the center of the blast and was blown the farthest.
She spun through the air several times before sticking a perfect landing in an open glade. With her natural alertness, she immediately scouted her surroundings.
"Separated... no surprise there," Kanon muttered.
Just as she was about to expand her sensory range, she heard a girl's sob and the growl of a beast coming from behind a massive tree.
"What's happening?" Kanon turned to see a giant brown bear chasing a red-haired girl.
The girl was covered in scratches; clearly, she had been pursued for a long time.
Kanon watched the scene, initially intending to stay out of it. After all, the girl likely had a scroll. If she died, Kanon could simply step in and take it.
That was the logical thought, the most efficient path forward.
In the next moment, the girl tripped over a tree root, tumbling clumsily to the ground.
Kanon Uchiha, you could have just stayed out of it. Why are you moving?! Kanon questioned herself.
But a ball of blue chakra was already spinning rapidly in her hand, the Rasengan she had copied from Jiraiya!
"Rasengan!" With a sharp cry, Kanon slammed the technique into the bear. The spiraling chakra sent the massive beast into a violent spin as it was blasted backward.
BOOM!
A large tree snapped in half as the bear's carcass went flying into the distance.
The girl on the ground picked up the glasses she had dropped during her fall and looked at her savior.
She saw the classic blue Uchiha high-collar jacket and a mane of beautiful black hair, while a three-tomoe Sharingan spun slowly in the girl's eyes.
"Are... are you alright?" Kanon helped the red-haired girl up.
"Who... who are you? Why did you help me...?" the girl asked.
"My name is Kanon Uchiha. As for why... no particular reason. If I had to say something, I just didn't want a girl like you dying here."
Kanon gave a warm, beautiful smile and nodded toward the girl.
"What's your name?"
"I'm... Karin..."
"Karin, huh? Take your scroll and go. It's dangerous here."
"Why... why aren't you taking my scroll...?" Karin asked, her face flushing.
"You have a Heaven Scroll. It's the same as ours; we don't need it."
"Go on. Try not to run into anything like that again."
"Thank you, Kanon Uchiha..." For the first time in a long time, Karin smiled.
"You're welcome. Now go."
Kanon watched Karin leave, her lips curving into a soft, pleasant arc. It seemed she had helped someone else today.
She whispered to herself, "Time to get back to onii-chan and the others."
Just then, a cold, indifferent voice drifted from the woods nearby.
"You aren't going anywhere."
Kanon froze. From the direction of the voice, a young man with white hair and green eyes emerged. He had two red dots on his forehead.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Kimimaro Kaguya. By the order of Orochimaru-sama, I am here to detain you."
"Detain me? And who is this Orochimaru?" Kanon asked, puzzled.
Without a word, Kimimaro lunged at her.
"Fast!" Sensing his speed, Kanon leapt backward, flicking two shuriken mid-air.
With a cold expression, Kimimaro pulled a bone directly out of his own arm and swatted the shuriken aside with a metallic clink.
Kanon frowned. This was a Kekkei Genkai. She recognized the nature of the ability instantly.
"Oh? It seems you've figured it out."
"As you suspect, this is my Kekkei Genkai."
"I can use the bones of my body as weapons for my attacks."
The moment Kimimaro finished speaking, he lunged again, even faster this time!
Kanon didn't back down.
"I don't know why you're trying to stop me, but let's see what you've got!"
Kanon's hands blurred into a series of seals.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" In a puff of smoke, over a dozen identical clones appeared and swarmed toward Kimimaro.
Under Konin's tutelage, Kanon's taijutsu had reached an extraordinary level. Furthermore, she spent almost every night sparring with Konin in her inner world.
At this moment, Kimimaro found the dozen clones surprisingly difficult to handle.
Amidst the flurry of punches and kicks from the clones, Kimimaro was forced back. After a heavy blow from Kanon sent him sliding, he stood up, wiping a trace of blood from his lip. His indifferent face actually gave way to a slight smile.
"What are you smiling at?" Kanon frowned as her clones brandished their kunai.
"I hope you don't judge my true strength based on that performance just now."
Kimimaro pointed toward Kanon and spoke calmly.
"Kanon Uchiha, would you care to dance with me?"
"I shall offer you... my Dance of the Camellia."
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