The aftermath of Orochimaru's attack left Team 7 in a precarious state. Anko, despite her injuries, managed to find a safe spot to leave them before returning to her duties as an examiner. Ryuga and Sakura, now burdened with protecting their unconscious teammates, searched for a secure place to hide. They finally settled under a large, ancient tree, its gnarled roots providing some semblance of shelter.
Sakura carefully tended to Sasuke and Naruto's wounds. She was exhausted, but her determination to keep them safe kept her going. As she worked, she kept an eye on Ryuga, who was standing guard, but she could see the strain on his face. The cursed seal Orochimaru had attempted to place on him clashed violently with his chakra, causing him visible pain.
Ryuga grimaced, gripping his shoulder as the cursed seal pulsed with a dark energy. "Sakura," he managed to say, his voice strained, "be careful."
Sakura nodded, her attention momentarily drawn to a rustling in the bushes. She tensed, ready to defend her teammates, but it was only a squirrel, which she quickly scared away with a kunai. Unbeknownst to her, Team Dosu had sent the squirrel with an explosive tag attached to it.
Meanwhile, Rock Lee, who was en route to find a second scroll, paused on a branch above. Determined to prove his worth and impress Sakura, he set himself the task of catching all the falling leaves. After successfully catching nineteen out of twenty leaves, he noticed the squirrel with the explosive tag. In a swift move, he saved the squirrel and destroyed the tag, just in time to avoid an explosion.
The respite was short-lived. Dosu and his squad, having tracked Team 7, decided to take advantage of their weakened state. They confronted Ryuga, Sakura, and their unconscious comrades. Dosu sneered, recognizing Ryuga's identity as one of the Hokage's sons. "You think you're special because of your lineage? Let's see how special you are when you're dead."
Ryuga, despite his pain, stepped forward. "I'm not afraid of you," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. But before he could engage, the cursed seal flared up again, causing him to collapse in agony.
Sakura, determined to protect her friends, set off several traps she had prepared. However, Dosu effortlessly destroyed them. He scoffed at her efforts. "You have no right to be a ninja if this is all you can do."
Just as Dosu and his squad prepared to strike, Rock Lee appeared, knocking them away with a powerful kick. "I will protect Sakura until my last breath!" he declared, his eyes fierce with determination.
Lee's strength and agility were impressive, and he quickly gained the upper hand against Dosu. He pulled up a massive underground root to block an incoming attack, showing his brute strength. Determined to end the fight quickly, Lee prepared to use the Front Lotus, a technique his teacher Might Guy had warned him to use only in dire situations.
Catching Dosu, Lee executed the Front Lotus. However, the force of the impact was cushioned by Zaku, who managed to save Dosu. Lee, now unable to move due to the strain of the technique, was left vulnerable. Dosu seized the opportunity and incapacitated Lee with his own sound-based attack.
Ryuga, struggling to his feet, tried to help but was overcome by the pain from the cursed seal and passed out. Sakura, now the last one standing, readied herself to defend her friends. Just as Dosu prepared to strike again, Team 10 arrived on the scene.
Ino Yamanaka quickly possessed Kin Tsuchi, taking her out of the fight. Shikamaru and Chōji joined in, their teamwork putting pressure on the Oto genin. Despite this, Team Dosu held their own, their resolve unwavering.
As the battle raged on, Sasuke began to stir. The cursed seal of heaven, given to him by Orochimaru, started to activate, engulfing his body in dark, swirling patterns. He stood, his eyes cold and filled with a newfound power.
Noticing Sakura's wounds, Sasuke's rage ignited. He launched a brutal attack on Zaku, dislocating both of his arms with savage precision. Turning his attention to Dosu, Sasuke's demeanour was cold and unrecognisable.
"This isn't the real Sasuke," Sakura thought, horrified by the change in him. She ran to him, wrapping her arms around him. "Sasuke, stop! Please, stop!"
Her desperate plea seemed to reach him. The cursed seal began to recede, and Sasuke collapsed, exhausted. Dosu, recognizing the strength of their opponents, decided to retreat. He left their scroll behind and carried his teammates away, vowing to not run next time they met.
As the forest grew silent once more, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. The ordeal had left them all shaken, but they had survived. She looked at her friends, vowing to protect them no matter what dangers lay ahead.