"Lighting Chakra Flow, of course. You are a Hozuki, after all." Tenten replied sweetly before smacking the man in the head with both, driving him to the ground. "In the Root, we study all notable methods of battle." She said as she jumped down and faced the man, climbing to his feet.
Kankuro knew he was a good shinobi. Many claimed he was the most skilled puppeteer coming out of the Sand. It was undeniably true, even more so once he had found Sasori's notes. Now, he had achieved a level of puppetry that few ever would achieve again. As such, even once he was picked away from his allies and approached by two powerful shinobi, he didn't flinch. He merely chuckled as he activated his signature technique. "Puppet Storm!" As he said this, the bundle on his back shot out a litany of blades.
"Rematch time, Hyuga!" He called with glee.
The blades flew towards the two, switching angles and positions freely throughout the air. He had soaked them in a paralyzing agent that would keep them stunned with even one good cut. There was simply no way the two could survive the storm of death. He watched with glee as the metal killers approached the two men, both racing from opposite sides of the pillar. He didn't even need to leave the horse!
But to his shock, the two men quickly countered the seemingly endless barrage of blades. The Hyuga deflected them with his bare hands as he ran, dodging as necessary. Occasionally, his hand would dart and sever one of the chakra strings. The other achieved the same with a tanto. Neither of them even seemed to slow as they charged. "Dammit, hard way then! Time for a real Puppet show. With a poof, two of Crow, both identical, suddenly appeared. Both flew in the air and flew around, each focusing on one.
"Sai now!" Neji called for Sai to engage in their strategy. Sai quickly jumped high, scribbling into a scroll as he fell. Using a large burst of chakra to his legs, Neji flew straight towards Kankuro. He saw the panic in his eyes at this. Both Crows flew back to their master mouths, opening and firing off a wall of senbon. "Hmm, before, I'd be helpless, but I learned to think out of the box from the best! Flying Kaiten: Heavenly Arrow!" He called as he spun in a spiral in the air. A more elongated form of chakra covered him, looking like a rudimentary arrow. It deflected the senbon with ease. Kankuro gasped as both Crows crossed their arms and formed their chakra shields. Neji easily smashed through this, and Kankuro barely managed to lean away to dodge the attack. Falling off the horse and the pillar in the process.
"Shit, shit, shit! Release: Black Ant!" He summoned the puppet who swallowed him to protect him from the fall. But this left the man blind to Sai, now riding a large black and white bird.
"Super Beast Scroll!" he called as he drew his tanto, and the bird dive-bombed. I suppose I'll have to cut through," Sai said as he dived from the bird, falling incredibly fast. He slashed with momentum as he fell towards Kankuro, managing to cut through Black Ant and cut Kankuro shallowly. Sai hit the floor hard and rolled to try to bleed off the force. But Kankuro slung himself using a chakra string, and he attempted to flee before Neji suddenly called from below.
"Gentle Fist: Air Palm!" He called a blast of air smashed through the string and hit Kankuro, sending him flying back. Neji smirked as his wristband filled its second slot, showing they were close to succeeding. Neji ducked as he barely managed to dodge an air palm from Hinata. But was left wide open for her newest technique.
"Gentle Fist: Heavenly Needle!" she called, firing a small sliver of chakra into his leg, immediately making it numb. It forced him down to a knee, allowing Hinata to hit a head kick. He slid back and quickly rose to his feet, reopening the chakra points Hinata had closed with a smile. Kurotsuchi appeared behind Neji.
"Your teammate burned Sakura-sama," Hinata said, her face looking fierce. "It was dishonorable; she had her beat."
"She was a bit weakling; I didn't mean to," Kurotsuchi said with a semi-apologetic smile.
"It's fine. It was part of our plan anyway." Hinata said with a nervous smile as she formed a defensive stance. But she suddenly was poofed, smoking, covering her form, and leaving a wooden mannequin. Neji and Kurotsuchi frowned at this. Before Tenten called out
"Help!"
They both raced back, Sai joining them and informing them that Kankuro escaped. Once they arrived, they saw the four attacking Tenten. Who was doing well despite the odds? She smacked Mangetsu away and Sakura in one motion. Sakura landed on her ankle with a shout of pain. But it left Tenten open for Hinata to smack her with a Palm Bottom! It sent Tenten flying. Neji barely managed to catch her. Kurotsuchi and Sai stood before them, preparing to buy them time to recover.
"Sakura! Dammit, pull out for now!" Kankuro called in a panic. He raised a hand sign. "Possession Switch: Corpse Escape!" He called all four, suddenly disappearing and being replaced with wooden mannequins.
Neji sighed as his team regrouped. It had gone well, but that gambit they pulled had been surprising. They had also underestimated their combat level. And it had nearly cost them. Luckily, Tenten was quite formidable to hold out even momentarily.
They collected their things, tended to their wounds as best they could, and continued. They would need one point to pass this exam, and the second day was not far away.
Team Seven arrived in a much different state. Most beat up to various levels. Kankuro was particularly hurt due to an airpalm and a cut. Sakura had broken the ankle and was unable to walk. They could do nothing for the woman; she said she wanted to drop out. They had been neutered, down a person, he was injured, and their morale would surely be shot.