Shiro tensed as his words settled into her mind. He was right, she'd been foolish enough to leave Takada unguarded. And with her being in a stalemate with a ninja, he'd be a sitting target for the man's allies. How could she have allowed it to happen? She schooled her features to reveal none of her inner turmoil as she gathered all the chakra she had left. If she could just manage to jump back before the man plunged his sword into her stomach, there was a chance that she could run back to Takada's side and attempt to protect him. He was her mission. Protecting him was her job, not going after a shinobi that meant to kill them.

She felt her feet brimming with the energy of her chakra. She could make it. She needed to make it.

She jumped back and found herself in a relatively safe distance from the man without a scratch on her person. She didn't have the time to check on the man's actions. One second wasted meant one second that Takada could be closer to his grave. No, Shiori couldn't let that happen. Using the next burst of her chakra, she slithered through the same path she'd taken before and ran as fast as she could back towards Takada. She found his carriage, horse and materials still intact, but the man was nowhere to be seen. Tapping into all of her senses, she quickly found him, hiding behind some bushes. Breathing a sigh of relief at his well-being, she used the last of her remaining chakra to attempt a jutsu she'd seen her brothers do countless times before. It was to summon a stone golem to aid them in battle. She needed one to guard Takada.

With her last but of chakra gone, Shiori gazed at her creation. It was a scrawny creature, looking more fit to be in a freakshow than in any business of protecting, but it would do. It had to, because Shiori's body was exhausted. She'd been stupid enough to fall for the man's trap and waste her energy, but it seemed like the thing that needed to be done. She gripped her short sword again. The man was obviouly fibbing. He was alone.

Putting her faith on the failed golem she'd created, she ran a distance away from Takada. "Enough games. What is it that you seek?" she called out.