Temari had been fighting Marunomi for several minutes, and already she was getting quite worn out. Despite having never used it before, Marunomi had proven quite adept at using the Byakugan and gentle fist. She had struck Temari several times and the Sand ninja could feel her chakra flow being disrupted. Meanwhile, Temari had essentially done no damage to the rogue ninja.
"Mmm, I love this gentle fist technique," Marunomi said. "It's a whole new way of weakening my prey."
Temari glanced at Marunomi's round belly that still contained Ino and Hinata, the latter of whom by which Marunomi was now using the Byakugan and gentle fist by siphoning her chakra and abilities. With her chakra decreasing and Tenten and Sakura still nowhere in sight, Temari thought it might be time to change tactics. She thought she could just stall for time, but she thought a more offensive strategy may be in order. She eyed Marunomi's belly once again and thought she may as well go for broke; cut Marunomi's stomach open and free Hinata and Ino.
Without hesitation, Temari put her plan into action. She rushed towards Marunomi in a zigzag motion. Marunomi remained confident, ready to strike the girl. Marunomi jabbed her fingers forward, attempting to strike Temari with the gentle fist, the but the Sand ninja dodged just in time, leaping away from Marunomi. However, in the middle of her leap, Temari activated her wind jutsu in one hand and let loose a burst of wind propelling herself back to the rogue ninja. She then grabbed her kunai and swung it right at Marunomi's bulbous middle. Caught by surprise, Marunomi was unable to dodge or block. The kunai struck the skin of her belly, but then, strangely, the blade skidded along her flesh with an intense friction. The reaction was completely unexpected and almost caused Temari to drop her kunai. Marunomi's skin was hard resilient, almost calloused, as if her skins was as thick as an elephant's. The blade completed its arc across Marunomi's stomach, drawing no blood and barely even leaving a scratch.
Temari looked up at Marunomi's face that was grinning ecstatically. Right away, Marunomi jabbed her fingers into Temari's abdomen. She then attack let loose a flurry of jabs at Temari, each one using the gentle fist and further disrupting Temari's chakra flow. Marunomi finished with one powerful bunch that sent Temari flying.
Temari's entire body twitched. Not only was a large portion of chakra blocked off, but the physical damage to her body had been considerable as well. It was all she could do to even move her muscles as she tried to get back up again.
"Aww, poor little lamb," Marunomi said, watching the sad sight. "Don't worry, the hungry wolf will give you a nice place to rest." She patted her belly gingerly. "And your friends are waiting for you too. I'm sure they'd love for you to join them. Of course, it is getting a little cramped in there. Hope you don't mind sharing a room."
Marunomi's taunts barely even reached Temari as she was solely focused on pulling herself back up. Miraculously, Temari had regained control of her body enough that had been able to get back on her knees; while leaning on her fan, granted. She focused her gaze on Marunomi who gazed back at her with a domineering smile.
Suddenly, Marunomi's smile dropped and her head twitched to the side. Her enhanced sensory jutsu had picked up something not too far in the distance. She used her Byakugan and saw two figures, about half a mile a way, rapidly approaching; it was Tenten and Sakura.
"Well, well," Marunomi said. "Looks like your other friends decided to join us. In that case..." Marunomi raised the Behemoth's Tongue, which hummed with energy, and pointed it at Temari. "...I think it's time to end this."
Temari was overcome with a mixture of relief and fear. Relief that Tenten and Sakura would soon arrive, and fear that she was now staring down the barrel the Behemoth's Tongue that threatened to do to her what it had already done to Ino and Hinata. Temari knew she had to do whatever she could to avoid that fate and hold out till Tenten and Sakura arrived. Left with no other choice, Temari focused as much of her remaining chakra as she could muster. Mustering the remainder of her strength, she got on her feet, raised her fan, and swung it down in a fierce arc.
At once, the fan unleashed a tremendous burst of wind that encompassed the entire area in front of her. Marunomi's eyes went wide and she braced herself as the wind overtook her. The wind was torrential, uprooting grass and knocking down several trees in the vicinity. The gusts of the wind were sharp as sickles, able to cut as deep as any blade. But still Marunomi managed to keep her footing. Amazingly, the wind continued for several more seconds and, finally, Marunomi was knocked down. Marunomi flew several meters away, her body at the mercy of the wind, like a rag doll. After a few more seconds, the wind subsided and Marunomi fell to the ground.
Temari fell back on her knees and leaned against her fan. She gasped as she tried to catch to catch her breath. That was it. She was completely spent and had nothing left to give. She only hoped it could be enough. She eyed the motionless body of Marunomi, but, after only a few seconds, the rogue ninja got back on her feet, looking none the worse for wear. Just as Temari's kunai had failed to penetrate her skin, the sharp slices of her wind had done nothing; there wasn't a scratch on her. Temari's blood ran cold.
"Well, that was quite a rush," Marunomi said as she walked toward Temari. "Now I want to eat you even more. I really want to try out that wind jutsu of yours." Marunomi licked her lips and stopped a few feet in front of Temari. "Now, as I was saying..." Again, she pointed the Behemoth's Tongue at Temari. "...it's time to end this."
Temari was out of options. She was completely out of chakra and lacked the strength to budge even an inch. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the inevitable.
*What happens next?
