Konoha, the Forest of Death.
Though night had fallen, the brutal fighting only grew more frequent and fierce.
This time, the number of Genin from various countries participating in the Chunin Exams was far greater than any previous year.
Although the first written test eliminated more than half of the Genin, the remaining number was still large. Besides, the rules of the Forest of Death encouraged ninja battles among themselves.
So, to compete for each other's scrolls, the groups engaged in fierce, almost brutal fighting within the Forest of Death.
The number of eliminated contestants kept increasing. While many chose to give up their scrolls to save their lives after losing a fight, quite a few Genin were simply wiped out.
After suffering the double blow of Naruto and Sasuke both losing their fighting abilities, Sakura, the only surviving member of their team, finally managed to pull herself together after enduring a long period of inner torment.
As time passed, Naruto and Sasuke's conditions slowly improved—at least they were no longer as terrible as before.
When night fell, Sakura knew many ninjas would use the darkness to kill.
So she moved both Naruto and Sasuke into a hollow tree for hiding, camouflaged the nearby area, erased all traces left behind, then gripped her kunai tightly, nerves on edge, vigilantly watching the surroundings.
She was scared—what if they suddenly ran into another team now?
But the more she didn't want to meet anyone, the more likely it was to happen.
Swish, swish—swish, swish—
The grass rustled, and several streaks of black light shot toward the hidden tree hollow.
Enemies!
Sakura's mind went blank for a brief moment, just half a second, but as a ninja, her instincts quickly snapped her back to reality.
She reached into her waist pouch and pulled out a kunai. Following countless training sessions, she threw it—but unfortunately, her shuriken throwing skills were not very good. She only managed to knock down a few of the incoming blades.
Still, several spinning shurikens flew rapidly toward the unconscious Naruto!
Almost purely by instinct, Sakura forgot about her own safety and lunged toward Naruto.
Pchik! Pchik!
The shurikens pierced deep into the girl's back, spraying bright red blood.
It was Sakura, using her body as a shield to protect Naruto from the shurikens. Luckily, she was wearing chainmail, so the blades didn't cut too deep.
She wanted to cry, but she knew very well that now was not the time to show any weakness.
Sakura pulled the shurikens out of her back, gripping her kunai tightly, her eyes scanning every blade of grass and tree around, trying to find the person who had ambushed them.
However, it seemed the enemy had no intention of hiding. Three figures stepped out directly from the bushes.
When Sakura saw their forehead protectors, a chill ran down her spine—it was the same symbol of the Sound Ninja Village as the ones who attacked them earlier!
"Hmph, finally found you, Konoha ninja."
A cocky young boy squatted on a tree trunk, looking down at Sakura with a smirk. "Over there, lying down, are Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, right?"
Hearing that they were after Sasuke and Naruto, Sakura bit her lip and took a half-step forward to block their view.
"I will never let you hurt them!"
A man wrapped in bandages said in a low voice, "Zaku, finish them quickly. Don't waste time."
"Hmph, leave it to me. One person is enough."
The arrogant boy named Zaku pushed off the ground with both legs and charged straight at Sakura.
Sakura locked her gaze on Zaku, silently counting down in her mind. When he stepped into the trap, she immediately used her kunai to cut the nearby rope.
Zakustepped onto a soft patch of grass, and suddenly, his whole body sank down. Immediately, he realized he had fallen into a trap.
Below him was a dug pit, filled with sharpened tree stumps. If he fell straight in, he'd be pierced like a hedgehog!
"Just a pitfall trap, and you think you can defeat me, Zaku the Great?!"
Zaku planted his arms on the edges of the pit and his feet on the rim. Using his strength, he leapt out of the trap in one powerful jump.
However, just as he escaped, Sakura anticipated his move. She had set up a kunai trap in advance, which was now triggered. Sharp kunai sliced through the air, aiming straight for Zaku's vital points.
"I told you not to underestimate me!"
Zaku's anger flared. After all, he was a genius from the Sound Ninja squad. How could a simple trap take him down?
Those who underestimated him would have to pay the price!
Spreading his hands wide, Zaku sucked in a deep breath through the hollow of his palms. Then he shouted, "Slash Air Wave!"
A powerful ultrasonic wave burst from the wind holes in his palms, creating an intense pressure slash.
It knocked all the kunai in front of him out of the air and blew away the traps Sakura had set, as well as her hiding spot.
The sharp wind cut through like blades. Sakura reacted quickly and used her body to shield Sasuke and Naruto.
But she was slashed deeply by the blade-like storm, covered in countless wounds.
"Ninjas from Konoha, is this all you've got?"
Zaku landed again, looking at the chaotic scene the wind pressure had left behind. He shouted, "I really don't understand why that lord insists we kill these useless people."
Sakura, who had taken the full brunt of the "Slash Air Wave," looked utterly miserable.
Her clothes were torn and ragged, and her whole body was covered with tiny wounds. Blood kept flowing endlessly, making her look like a bloodied figure.
But even so, she stood firm without hesitation, blocking the space between the Sound ninja and Naruto and Sasuke.
"I absolutely will not let you hurt them!"
Sakura's gaze was resolute as she tightly gripped the kunai in her hand.
She knew very well she couldn't stop the enemy, but Naruto and Sasuke always protected her from behind, so she couldn't take a step back.
"Hey, Zaku, stop playing around."
Dosu frowned and shouted, "Your ninjutsu is too loud. Other teams will come soon. Finish them quickly."
"You don't get to order me around!"
Zaku smiled coldly, showing a bloodthirsty look. "Since you insist on blocking me, then die with them!"
The air around them suddenly surged again into the Wind Hole.
"Zankūha!!!"
This time, he showed no mercy and unleashed his full ninjutsu power.
Boom!
A pressure wave visible to the naked eye formed sound waves, violently rolling like a storm, rushing straight at Sakura and the others.
Zaku was confident—no one could stop this move!
But at that moment, a figure suddenly appeared in a flash, directly blocking the path of the 'Zankūha.'
Boom!
The exploding pressure swept across, carving slash marks deep into the ground.
"Need some help?"
A light and clear voice suddenly sounded in Sakura's ear.
Only then did the three Sound ninja realize that the one who blocked the 'Zankūha' was actually a stunningly beautiful young girl.
Staring at the goddess-like girl, Sakura was stunned for a full half minute.
"Need some help?"
The girl spoke again, tilting her head as she looked at Sakura.
Sakura recognized her—this girl was someone she knew, the friend who had talked with Sasuke before the first exam, from Takigakure: Uesugi Erii.
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