Only two pillars remained; one each for Hinata and Ino. They both knew that, with each passing second, more and more people were falling to Marunomi’s jutsu. They rushed as fast as they could.

Finally, they were upon them, both reaching their pillars at approximately the same time. Ino summoned one list stone slab, while Hinata activated her Twin Lion Fist technique. They both struck the pillars, demolishing them. With all the pillars gone, the giant dome flashed several times, and then, sure enough, began to dissipate. Soon, the entire dome was gone filling Hinata and Ino with immense relief. They both headed for the village square to check on the villagers.

---

Lady Sushi stared up at the sky where, just moments ago, the huge dome had encapsulated her village. While many of the villagers cheered, she herself was unsure what to think. Did this mean that the ninjas had been defeated Marunomi?

“Lady Sushi!” cried a voice from a fair distance.

She looked to the source of the voice and saw that it was Hinata, who rushed to her side.

“Are...are you okay?” Hinata asked.

“I’m fine,” Lady Sushi responded.

“Hinata! Lady Sushi!” cried another voice.

Lady Sushi and Hinata looked up to see that it was Ino. In a matter of moments, she joined them.

“You two…destroyed the barrier, then?” Lady Sushi asked.

"Sure did," said Ino.

Hinata nodded.

“So…then you’ve defeated Marunomi?” she asked hopefully.

Hinata and Ino paused for a moment, doubtfully. “I'm not sure,” Ino said. “Temari and the others went off to fight Marunomi while Hinata and I destroyed pillars.”

“WHAT?!” Lady Sushi cried. “No, no…”

“Lady Sushi?” Hinata said uncertainly.

“Why did you stay behind? You all should have gone off to fight her!” yelled Lady Sushi.

“Hey, whoa! Settle down,” Ino said. “We couldn’t just leave you all to die like that.”

“And I’m sorry,” Hinata said. “I know we couldn’t save all of you. I saw that many of the villagers were already turned into chakra.”

“No, you don’t understand!” Lady Sushi cried. “The effects of the jutsu are temporary!”

“What?” Hinata said.

“Everyone who’s been turned into chakra will be back to normal in less than an hour!” Lady Sushi explained. “You all should have combined your strength to defeat Marunomi! Then you could have freed us afterwards!”

Suddenly, a horrible realization entered Hinata’s mind. “No...is...is this what she wanted?” Hinata asked.

“Hinata?” Ino said.

“She wanted to split us up,” Hinata said, fearfully. “She wanted to weaken us by dividing us up. And...we fell right into her trap."

Having calmed down a bit, Lady Sushi replied, “No, it’s my fault,” she said. “I should have told you everything I could about the jutsu.”

Lady Sushi’s words did little to alleviate Hinata's worries. The fact still remained that they had been tricked; that they had failed. And now who knew what Marunomi was doing and-

“Hinata.”

The voice snapped Hinata out of it. She raised her head and saw that it was Ino.

“If that’s true, then we need to get back to Temari and the others,” Ino said. “They might need our help.”

Ino was right, and Hinata knew it. She calmed herself down and rose to her feet, as did Ino.

“Right. Then...we must go,” Hinata said

“Leaf ninjas,” Lady Sushi said.

Hinata and Ino turned to her attentively.

“You must destroy the Behemoth’s Tongue,” she said.

“Destroy it?” Hinata said, surprised. “But Lady Sushi, you said-”

“I know,” she replied. “But I know now that that…monstrosity cannot be allowed to exist anymore. So please, I beg you…destroy it.”

Though a bit apprehensive at the idea of destroying an artifact, Hinata and Ino were not ones to refuse a request from their employer. Especially if it made their jobs easier. The two turned to each other, and nodded.
“Got it,” Ino said. “You can count on us.”

And with that, both of them were off.

---

The two made their way through the village towards the direction where Temari, Sakura, and Tenten had chased Marunomi into the forest.

“Hinata, can you find Temari and the others?” Ino asked.

Hinata activated her Byakugan and began search. After a few moments she found something.

“I can’t see clearly,” Hinata said. “But I’m pretty sure I found them. They’re about three kilometers away from here. But…there’s only two of them.”

“Damn,” Ino muttered.

The two ran and leapt as fast as they could, dreading what could have happened while they were gone, and what was waiting for them when they got there.