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[color=white].	Wednesday, 9:34 [right]Amegakure Border	.[/right][/color][/h3][/sub][/b][/color]
While the gaggle of Konohagakure shinobi had been relatively comfortable and confident in staring down Sakana in the brief moment it was just him standing there, the increasing number of Amegakure shinobi appearing seemingly out of nowhere slowly but surely made them retreat more and more into their shell. From all sides Sakana was suddenly flanked by big, angry dogs; all of them barking at the strangers in their backyard. Sakana was the one holding the leash – the only one of the Amegakure team that was mildly relaxed and serious, too, it seemed. 

And while Sakana did not approve of their methods, it was hard to argue with the results – the cocky, taller team member opposite of him took a step back, flashing his teeth in a surprised glare at the four shinobi. [color=black][b]“Ah,”[/b][/color] Sakana said, his posture and stance, even his expression, remaining unchanged. [color=black][b]“Are these your genin?”[/b][/color] he then asked, looking at the three younger-looking shinobi. There was something odd about them, something that made it seem like things weren’t like they seemed.

[i]“I—yeah, and what about it?”[/i] the tallest said, [i]“we’re just on our way to the desert for a mission. Cut us some slack. We didn’t mean to trespass – it’s just that going straight through Amegakure would cut a few hours off our travel.”[/i] The man’s entire attitude changed a little, moving from his confident stance into a slightly more respectful and alert stance. It seemed that he was more than happy to mouth off against [i]just[/i] Sakana, but with the other members of the team there, well, maybe not so much. Sakana couldn’t blame him – he’d been easy to underestimate all his life, so on his own he might not have looked like much. And, well, the other three looked equally as tough as he did. A formidable team in the eyes of any shinobi. The rest of the Konoha team seemed to share the same feelings of sudden unease, as the shortest of the three genin pulled out one of her swords, preparing it behind her while holding up her one hand, and revealing the tiger seal as her sleeve lowered when she raised her arm in preparation of a potential fight. It seemed she’d been prepared to fight from the start, having held the seal under her sleeve.

[color=black][b]“That is not allowed by orders of the Amekage,”[/b][/color] he stated, blandly, repeating what the others had said in a slightly different way. The Amegakure shinobi would clearly not be taking no for an answer. [color=black][b]“Shinobi from Konohagakure have ravaged the countrysides of Amegakure enough. This is your punishment.”[/b][/color]

The Konoha jonin’s eye twitched, before he looked back at his own team. The four of them shared a momentary glance that lasted perhaps two seconds, the short genin nodding at him first, then the greatsword wielder and then the one carrying the giant scroll – god knows what was in it. When the Konoha nin looked at Sakana again, he spoke up, suddenly sounding a bit more confident than before. The line came in as if he’d studied it extensively before going to Amegakure, or like he was repeating something off of a piece of paper. [i]“We can’t. Going back now and going around would make us late to our mission. Going through Amegakure is the only way. If you won’t escort us through your territory, then we have no choice. I’m sorry, but we will continue on our way.”[/i]

[color=black][b]“I see. I’m sorry.”[/b][/color]

With rapid movements both Sakana and the tall jonin began weaving handseals, the tall one finishing only milliseconds before Sakana did. 

[i]“Doton: Iwakageiseki!”[/i] 

[color=black][b]“Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!”[/b][/color]

Simultaneously, a large dome appeared from the ground, shielding the entire Konoha team from the intense heat that came from Sakana’s mouth, as he inhaled and then exhaled deeply, projecting a steam of fire that was so intense, parts of it colored blue. The fire roared and turned mid-air, but went right over top the earthen dome that split it in half, radiating heat over the top and off the back side. 

After a full 30 seconds of continuing the jutsu, hoping to smoke them out, Sakana finally relented, revealing a scorched, but still standing earthen dome in front of them, blackened with coal-like dirt. A dirty black smoke rose from the top of the dome, before it slowly crumbled, revealing the four shinobi inside in a defensive diamond-formation – the large jonin at the forefront. He was clearly a master at defensive jutsu, but now it was time to test his skill in other areas.

[color=black][b]“Drive them out,”[/b][/color] Sakana said, making his plans clear to his team and the enemy team. This was not the carefully planned out fights that team 3 was used to, but it was exactly the type of fight they had excelled in in their previous missions – close quarters combat that allowed them to make use of their individual skillsets to pick an enemy team apart, rather than having to rely on a set-and-decided strategy. In this regard, team 3 was one of the most versatile teams in Amegakure. 

But the Konohagakure team in front of them seemed to be equally as prepared. Skillsets might have differed, but they seemed more than willing – and ready – to take the team on, defensively at the very least. 

Sakana would provide the opener, however, stepping forward before breaking into an outright sprint, closing the distance rapidly while reaching back and with a quick movement grabbing and throwing a set of shuriken at the enemy, which were all deflected by the genin with the greatsword, blocking all of them with a single move. Again Sakana reached back, this time grabbing his two daggers, one in each hands. When he came close enough, he rushed to slash at one of the genin, but found his attack blocked again – this time by the jonin, whose arms were now clad in rock. With a single move, the jonin stopped his attack by putting his arm in the way. 

What he had not seen coming, however, was the kick that followed, hitting him hard in the side of the head and sending him sliding to the right, away from his team. After that, it was easy for Sakana to manoeuvre towards him, stepping off against the ground before any of the other genin could do anything. He left the rest of the team to his allies, hoping they could further separate them.