Hiruzen's POV (Hidden Root Base - Hidden Leaf Village)
"For once, my old friend came to bear the truth." Danzo started diffusing the tension. "I have dealt with Orochimaru since before you condemned the Root program. I did so because I did not believe in the village's ability to stop him. As such, I gave him allowances to control him. Perhaps killing him if the chance presented itself. Instead, it seems he has used this to move momentarily undetected. He will likely attempt to end your life tonight."
"You realize that amounts to treason, Danzo?!" Hiruzen angrily asked.
"Perhaps for men playing shinobi like you, Hiruzen. Everything I've done was in service of the Leaf. Acts I must commit to maintain the peace we so enjoy. Do you think we can simply abandon the truth of shinobi? We can merely act only in light and maintain our safety! No! My men and I have traveled the darker path. We have done things for this village that you will never know!" Danzo bit back angrily.
"So you deal with a serial killer? Is there no limit to the depravity you will commit? You now say you made a deal with the devil; well, now he comes for his toll!" Hiruzen said as he stomped forward. Grabbing Danzo by the collar and holding him up casually.
"I have never claimed to be faultless. I am here to rectify my mistake. We shall lie in wait and finally kill the traitor. Then I will submit myself to your custody for my crimes," Dazno said calmly, seemingly unperturbed by Hiruzen's aggression.
Hiruzen sighs as he lets Danzo go. "Any idea what that seal does Horse?" The anbu merely shakes his head no at this. "So when is this attack supposed to happen?"
"Now, sensei, patience is a virtue." Orochimaru interrupted as Kimimaro, Guren, and he faded through the wall of a nearby building. "Besides, first, I have to set the stage! Ninja Art: One Point Reversal Barrier!" As he said, a giant red cube formed around the building and the surrounding area. Several nearby Chunin tried to smash through either physically or with jutsu. The men who came into contact with the cube screamed and flew back, now in flames. The jutsu bounced at the Chunin, who fired and wiped them out. The twenty anbu within the barrier immediately formed a formation of both leaders. Root and Leaf are now in sync. "That's better now. We won't get any undue interference, sensei. But I must ask Danzo, do you truly wish to fight for Hiruzen? This pathetic village would likely elect you after sensei's… demise, kukukuku. I assure you they will never know of our deal…"
"You went against the agreement, traitor; it was the only thing protecting you," Danzo stated plainly as he seemed to garner chakra. "Now I'll achieve what Hiruzen couldn't when I kill you."
"Now Danzo, if the snake must die, it's only right, and I should do it. He is a sickness I allowed to grow." Hiruzen chimed in. "Besides, I will deal with you after this."
"That is fine as long as one of us survives," Danzo replied coldly. "Root, until this battle ends, you will cooperate with Leaf Anbu!"
"How amusing… But you both die today!" Orochimaru hissed as Kimimaro and Guren charged forward. Both forming blades out of their preferred material. Kimimaro sped forward incredibly quickly. All the anbu fired off various tools toward the man. Ten were rushing forward to match his charge, led by Torune. The rest, along with the Anbu and Fu, met Guren's charge. This left the three leaders of various fractions to stand off. The chakra exuded makes the trees sway and leaves rise with their mere presence...
Kimimaro's POV (Hokage Manor - Hidden Leaf Village)
Kimimaro does not flinch as Kunai, shuriken, and senbon slam into him. The bones underneath deflect them. Leaving only minor nicks in the skin that failed to even bleed. The force of the barrage did make him stumble for a mere instant. But against Anbu, this may as well be an eternity. Quickly, the men slide in, landing slashes, strikes, and even the odd jutsu. So quick, the barrage is that Kimimaro is helpless, and the barrage sends him flying into the building with a crash. He smashed through the wall, sending dust into the air. As the Anbu waited to see if he was down.
"Digital Shrapnel!" Kimimaro called as ten small pieces of bone flew from his fingertips. Most of the Anbu dodged the attacks except for one. A fingertip catches him in the leg before another one pierces his throat. Kimimaro charged out from the building, seemingly unharmed by the barrage. Torune met his charge with two other Anbu. As they drew close, Kimimaro pulled a bone from his arm. Its shape and the way he held it was similar to a tanto. He seemed to grow even faster for a second, as he called. "Dance of the Camellia!" He shouted as he thrust his crude weapon absurdly quickly. After images formed from his speed, it was difficult to predict how he was attacking.
Torune dodges two before rolling out of the way. The first anbu manages to deflect one but reacts to an afterimage. Leaving him wide open. One thrust nailing him in the shoulder. Before Kimimaro could finish him off. The second Anbu strikes at Kimimaro without doing any notable damage and is wide open. He could merely call out in pain as he felt the blade piercing him multiple times. The anbu flew back, and without a lull in motion, Kimimaro switched back to the first anbu, looking to finish him off, but his thrust was cut off as Torune caught his hand. Kimimaro immediately pulled his hand back and leaped back, looking for space.
"Earth Style: Flipping Giant Tile!" Two of the anbu screamed as they slammed their palms into the ground. A large, square, solid patch of concrete flipped around as the anbu all preemptively jumped back. Kimimaro caught off guard, gets caught by this, the tile falling with a massive thud, with the white-haired man trapped beneath it. The anbu were calm, observing as the two weaved and pressed against the ground. "Earth Style: Earth Compression Jutsu!" They called as they slammed their palms against the now square rock they had formed. It crunched as it seemed to sink lower. One of the anbu signaled to the others he was alive. But before they could act on this information, the two anbu resting after the jutsu could only widen their eyes as the white-haired man popped from the ground covered in bony spikes. His skin is now covered in black markings. He spun incredibly quickly, shredding the two anbu as he landed. There were pieces of skin missing and bruising on his skin. But he seemed unaffected. He slowly climbed to his feet before a windmill shuriken flew toward the man coated in water. Kimimaro trusted his bones and held up his right wrist to block it. But he noticed some kind of purple coloring spreading down it. Before he could ponder this, the shuriken sliced right at the end of the coloring. Kimimaro's entire consciousness seemed to pulsate as the shuriken easily cut through his arm. Kimimaro held in a cry as he dodged various follow-up techniques. It must be the masked man. He had some kinda jutsu that kind that could bypass his defenses. He couldn't afford to hold back against the remaining six. He grunted as curse mark chakra filled his being. His skin and hair darkened to a gray. A tail formed on him with bony spikes on it. His back now had backward-facing ribs pointing out. His severed arm formed into a significant bone spike.
"Let me show you the true strength of Orochimaru." He spoke now fully transformed.
"Power means nothing to us. Your master and you will pay the price for these transgressions!" Torune called out as the six Anbu charged what seemed to be a monster.
Guren's POV (Hokage Manor - Hidden Leaf Village)
Fu and Guren traded strikes at high speeds. Guren occasionally fires off crystals at the surrounding anbu and dodges strikes from them. Seemingly managing well despite the odds. Fu growled as he leaped back from an open hand slap. It may have seemed innocuous, but it appeared upon contact with a shinobi; she could encase them in crystal. She had only managed it once, but they couldn't afford to lose the number advantage. Even with Fu taking her head on and overs focusing on saves or potshots, she was somehow gaining ground. With each high-speed exchange, Fu had to play safely, not unlike sparring with Torune. But unlike Torune, the woman could fire off projectiles quickly and form a blade that held up to his tanto even when enhanced with chakra. This means that he may have escaped being crystalized but was getting cuts and strikes due to playing defensively. One of the anbu did an obvious attempted backstab. Guren immediately crystallized him with a tap, but this left her wide open to a kick from Fu. The man does not flinch as hid defensive jutsu gave the damage to one of the Anbu, the man becoming incased in crystal and his stead. She slid back from the powerful blow, and Fu quickly threw out a mid-sized puppet. It was black on one side and white on another and wielded a scythe. It quickly flew towards the down Guren. She merely sinks into the ground, ignoring the puppet before popping up and impaling an unaware anbu behind Fu. She weaves her way around several attacks, but Fu once again catches her off guard, unleashing a powerful body punch to her and throwing her toward a group of three anbu. Guren spits out blood and weaves hand signs during her flight.
"Crystal Style: Crystal Wheel!" A revolving pink wheel appeared around Guren, causing her to fly even faster. The anbu were helpless as the flying weaponized Guren bisected all three. She spun in place and turned to face the remaining shinobi, panting a bit. "Well, come on then, aren't any of you decent?" To her annoyance, they barely reacted. Instead, they responded by firing various jutsu at her.
Guren quickly weaved hand signs as she countered with her own jutsu. "Crystal Style: Jade Crystal Wall Eighth Formation!" A large crystal structure erupted quickly, filling the forest and uprooting trees. The Anbu managed to avoid the crystal form. Fu quickly charged forward and unleashed his own jutsu towards her.
"Water Style: Water Bomb Jutsu!"
Guren merely faded into the crystal, grabbed Fu's ankles, and fused him into the crystal. Before she could finish him off, another Anbu appeared, kicking for her head. Guren attempted to grab the shinobi, but another one appeared, tripping her. Guren slid down as Fu weaved hand signs to summon another puppet. This one was similar to the last one. But it wielded a kunai. Guren weaved more hand signs as she fell towards an Anbu prepared to skewer her on her landing with his tanto. Guren merely spun in place and fired off her jutsu towards the man waiting to kill her when she landed. "Crystal Style: Crystal Lance!"
The man barely had time to react as the large crystal lance pierced him from head to toe. Guren was unable to even release the jutsu before several kunai flew towards her, nicking her face and leg and managing to stab her shoulder. Before Fu could finish her off, a crystal encased her body. Kunai bounced off the material, and there was a kick from a female Anbu. She screamed as she was encased in crystal, and it shattered. The remaining two Root shinobi of their group faced off against her fearlessly. Guren panted harshly as she regrouped and prepared to continue the battle. Fu was left guarded by three Leaf Anbu clearly realizing Fu was their best chance.
A lesser man may have felt panicked about this situation. 'But she was slowing down, and they still had five bodies. They would likely defeat her.' Fu thought. As he fired off more attacks with his puppet, the remaining anbu charged forth, determined to slay the woman and protect their leaders.