With Marunomi's bloated stomach in her sights, Sakura reeled back her hand, ready to deliver the blow that would (hopefully) free her friends from the rogue ninja's titanic and greedy belly.
Marunomi continued to pull at her chains, but to no avail; she was completely bound. Her heart and mind raced as she tried to think of a way to escape, knowing that Sakura's punch would likely do serious harm to her. Then, at last, she thought of something.
With Sakura's fist only mere feet from it, Marunomi's belly began to retract. With a low gurgling sound, her stomach shifted and a large mass began to swell up through her throat. Marunomi's cheeks puffed out and, in an instant, she spat out the upper half of Temari's body.
Startled by the sudden change in events, Sakura's arm went limp and she lost control of her chakra. Marunomi's unexpected maneuver had placed Temari right in front of her target. If nothing else, Sakura knew she could not hurt her comrade and so she did what she could to stop her attack. Ultimately, she fumbled over herself and punch downwards into the air to cancel the momentum.
Marunomi, meanwhile, was relieved that her plan had succeeded. Still, it had been a rather unpleasant experience releasing one of her meals, even partially. In fact, for a glutton like her, it almost seemed blasphemous. But no matter. She would soon make it right.
With the pink-haired ninja's attack diverted, Marunomi sucked Temari into her mouth and swallowed her back down. With the Sand ninja safely tucked away in her belly once again, Marunomi looked down at Sakura who was still trying to get her footing back. Seeing her opening, Marunomi lashed out her tongue and wrapped it around the young girl.
Before she knew it, Sakura's arms had been bound by the long slippery appendage. She was immediately pulled towards Marunomi and landed in her gaping maw.
Stunned by the events herself, Tenten looked on from the tree branch. "Sakura!" she cried. Knowing she couldn't stand by and do nothing, she leapt down from the branch to help her friend. Not knowing what else to do, she rushed in front of Marunomi and grabbed hold of Sakura's waist as her head vanished into Marunomi's throat. Tenten pulled with all her might, but Marunomi's grip was too strong. "You monster! Let her go!" she yelled.
The rogue ninja then jostled her large belly and smacked it against Tenten, sending her flying. After recovering, Tenten looked back towards Marunomi, but saw it was now too late. "Sakura! No!" she cried.
All that remained of Sakura was the bottom half of her legs, which stuck out of Marunomi's mouth. The rest of her was traversing Marunomi's esophagus and entering the confines of her stomach, which, astoundingly, grew even larger. In seconds, Sakura's legs passed the threshold of Marunomi's jaws as well and, with one last swallow, the pink-haired girl was completely devoured.
Tenten stood wide-eyed and trembling, having witnessed the last of her comrades vanish into Marunomi's ravenous gullet. She remained frozen, unable to act.
Marunomi, meanwhile, felt a surge of power as Sakura's chakra was added to her own. With a sinister grin, Marunomi yanked her right arm forward. Her body now imbued with impossible strength, the chain broke off from the tree branch with the utmost ease and fell harmlessly to the ground. She yanked her other arm and the corresponding chain broke free and fell down as well. With her body free again, Marunomi let out a delighted cackle and moved her hands to the sides of her enormous stomach.
"Ahh, your friend was just the power boost I needed," she said to Tenten. "And she was pretty tasty too." She licked her lips and gave her belly a few firm pats. "Well, I think it's time to end this, don't you? Time for you to join your friends in my belly. I know they'll be thrilled to see you again."
Tenten was practically crippled with fear. She was so sure the plan would work, but now she stood alone against an opponent who was even more powerful than ever. Her eyes were drawn to Marunomi's bulbous gut, now even larger with Sakura added to it. It was a monstrous and domineering thing; a large fleshy prison that contained her friends and, if she couldn't think of something fast, would soon contain her too.
*What happens next?
