The tale of Mayumi

Chapter 76 - The Auction Brawl

The atmosphere in the auction hall shifted the moment the masked figures entered. The final item of the night—a scroll rumored to contain a deadly, long-lost jutsu—was about to be sold when everything went to hell.

One of the intruders pointed directly at Kakashi. "That's no black-market collector. That's Hatake Kakashi, the former Hokage!"

Mayumi gasped dramatically. "Husband! How could you lie to me like this?!"

Kakashi barely spared her a glance. "Not the time, Mayumi."

"Enough talking! Kill them!" one of the masked men shouted.

Mayumi sighed. "And we were so close to legally owning that sword."

Then she picked up a chair and threw it at the nearest guy.

The entire hall erupted into chaos.

Tables overturned, drinks spilled, and high-ranking criminals trampled over each other in their attempts to flee. The auctioneer dove under his podium with a shriek as bidding paddles flew through the air like makeshift weapons.

Kakashi, ever the professional, dispatched his attackers with smooth, effortless movements—blocking, countering, and knocking them unconscious with precise strikes.

Meanwhile, Mayumi was having the time of her life.

She yanked a katana out of someone's hands using her telekinesis, flipping it in the air before yeeting it into the ceiling. "No weapons for you."

She then turned to another enemy, used her abilities to lift him off the ground, and made him slap himself repeatedly.

"Why are you hitting yourself?" she teased as the man flailed helplessly. "Why are you hitting yourself?"

The rival buyer from earlier—the one she outbid—attempted to make a break for the jutsu scroll.

"Oh, no you don't!"

With a flick of her wrist, Mayumi sent him flying straight into a chandelier. It snapped under his weight, sending both him and the expensive crystal fixture crashing to the ground.

Kakashi glanced at her between dodging attacks. "Did you really have to do that?"

She shrugged. "I could have let him escape, but I chose violence instead."

Kakashi sighed. "Why am I not surprised?"

The last few stragglers made a weak attempt at resistance before Kakashi swiftly incapacitated them. Within minutes, the battle was over, and the only people left standing were Kakashi, Mayumi, and a pile of unconscious or groaning criminals.

"Well," Mayumi dusted off her hands, "that was fun."

Before Kakashi could reply, a slow clap echoed through the ruined hall.

A tall, cloaked figure stepped forward from the shadows, his mask covering his entire face. His presence alone sent a chill through the room.

"Impressive," the figure said, voice calm and calculated. "But I expected nothing less from the infamous Copy Ninja... and his reckless girlfriend."

Mayumi bristled. "Rude. and it's fiancée actually."

Kakashi sighed, eyeing their new opponent. "Looks like the real mastermind just arrived."

Mayumi grinned. "Good. I was starting to get bored."