As Temari gazed at Marunomi, she had a creeping feeling of uncertainty. Lady Sushi had told them to retrieve the Behemoth's Tongue if at all possible, but now she wasn't sure if that was possible for them. Somehow, she could sense that Marunomi was a very dangerous opponent, even for the three of them. And that beam from earlier likely had come from the Behemoth's Tongue. She didn't know what it did, but she didn't want to find out.
"Ino...Tenten..." Temari said. "I think it would be best if we destroy the Behemoth's Tongue."
Ino and Tenten were a bit surprised by Temari's words, but, as she was team leader, they accepted her decision.
"If you say so, Temari," Tenten said.
“Well, girls…” Marunomi interjected. “…are you ready?”
Not knowing what to expect, the trio of kunoichi took the direct approach and attacked her head on. Ino and Tenten fired a flurry of kunai at her, which she swiftly dodged. Meanwhile, Temari opened up her fan and blew a gust of wind at Marunomi that sent her flying back a few feet, but she appeared unfazed. Seeing an opening, Ino snuck up behind Marunomi and delivered a swift kick to the side of her abdomen. However, a remarkable thing happened. As the kick hit Marunomi’s side, it indented her body, but then her body seemed to push Ino back. It was as if Ino had kicked a large piece of rubber. The recoil sent her flying backwards, and she landed on the ground several feet away.
“Wh…what the hell?” Ino said.
Marunomi chuckled. “Did that surprise you?” she said. “It’s a jutsu I’ve spent quite a bit of time on. I can change the density and elasticity of my body, giving it a rubbery consistency. No matter what part of my body you attack, I can absorb the shock of anything you throw at me and bounce it right back.”
Temari, Ino, and Tenten were all visibly frustrated. The battle had just gotten a lot more difficult. Not to mention a lot more dangerous. It seemed Temari's suspicions were correct.
“Looks like you three will have to step up your game if you want any chance of winning,” Marunomi said. “Not that you do have a chance.”
As Temari stared down their fearsome opponent, she concocted a plan of attack.
"Alright, here's what we'll do," Temari said to Ino and Tenten. "Ino, you engage her in battle and distract her for a bit. Once I see an opening, I'll hit her with a gust of wind, which should leave her vulnerable for a few seconds. In that window, Tenten, strike the Behemoth's Tongue with a powerful blunt weapon. Hopefully, that should destroy it."
Tenten and Ino nodded in approval.
"Alright, we'll do it...NOW!" Temari cried.
Ino rushed towards Marunomi and commenced her attack. She brandished a kunai and took several swipes at Marunomi who managed to dodge them all. She then ducked a delivered a powerful leg sweep in an attempt to knock Marunomi off balance. However, Marunomi promptly leapt into the air, avoiding the attack. As the rogue ninja made her descent back down, Ino took advantage of the opening and plunged her kunai upwards, straight into Marunomi's chest. However, just as Ino's kick had bounced back earlier, so did the kunai. Ino was propelled backwards with great force. Marunomi gazed down at the fallen ninja and grinned smugly.
"Hmm hmm, like I said, I can bounce back anything you throw at me," said Marunomi. "It doesn't matter how sharp it is, my skin is impenetrable."
"That's alright," replied Ino. "Wasn't exactly our plan anyway."
Marunomi eyed her quizzically and saw that the Leaf ninja was looking upwards. She followed her gaze and saw the Sand ninja right above her.
"HIYAAAAA!" cried Temari.
She swung her fan and let loose a powerful gust that barreled downwards at Marunomi. The rogue ninja braced herself for oncoming wind, raising her arms up. The powerful gale overtook her, leaving her unable to move as it was all she could do to withstand it.
"Now, Tenten!" yelled Temari.
Then, out of the corner of Marunomi's eye, she saw the other Leaf ninja bearing down on her with a large club. She could see that she was aiming straight for the Behemoth's Tongue.
*What happens next?
