But Sakura was more worried about the safety of her companions. If an enemy came now, Kakashi's three-member team would be in danger.
Sakura first ran toward Rashomon, did her best to lift the scarred Naruto, and brought him back to Sasuke's side.
In the past, Sakura had always relied on her teammates, believing that her clever mind made her an important member of the team.
But now, with both comrades unconscious, panic surged through her. Even dragging one of them felt like an impossible task.
"I have to stay strong. I must get them out of here..."
Sakura crafted a crude stretcher, tied Naruto to it, hoisted Sasuke onto her back, and began dragging them forward with all her remaining strength.
Her legs shook with each step, but she couldn't afford to stop—not when danger could arrive at any moment.
After about half an hour, her strength finally gave out. Fortunately, she spotted a hollow at the base of a large tree.
Wiping the sweat from her brow, she paused briefly, then pulled the two boys into the shelter.
"Haah... Finally. A place to rest..."
At last, she hid them inside the hollow and exhaled a shaky breath of relief.
Exhausted beyond belief, her limbs felt like lead. She slumped against the roots of the tree and slipped into a deep sleep.
Swoosh—
Swoosh—
Three hours later, three figures dashed through the forest canopy, then landed silently on the ground.
"They're nearby," said Dosu Kinuta, lowering his arm after activating his sound-based sensor gauntlet.
Zaku snorted. "Tch. Took us long enough. That cursed chakra of Sasuke's is going wild."
"Exactly what Lord Orochimaru wanted to see," Kin added with a smirk, brushing her hair back.
Dosu's voice was cold and mechanical behind the cloth wrapping over his face.
"Let's see what the Uchiha can really do... if he's even conscious."
Sakura, still half asleep and in a state of mental tension, awoke with a jolt. A dark dream had shaken her, but the uneasy silence around her was even worse.
She glanced at Naruto and Sasuke—still unconscious. Still breathing.
She closed her eyes for just a moment—
Crack. Crunch.
Footsteps outside the hollow.
Her eyes snapped open.
"…Are we being hunted?"
She reached for her weapon pouch, drew a kunai, and crept toward the entrance with cautious steps.
Then—three unfamiliar genin emerged from the trees.
One boy with bandages wrapped around his face and a massive sound amplifier on his arm.
One girl with bell earrings.
And one punk-looking kid with tubes sticking out of his arms.
Her heart dropped.
"Three of them..."
She glanced back. Naruto was barely breathing. Sasuke was worse—his body still twitching with curse mark aftershocks.
She turned around, placed herself in the doorway, and raised her kunai.
"I won't let you through."
Kin tilted her head. "Oh? Brave little thing."
"Hey, you're wasting your time," Zaku growled. "We're not here for you, girl. Just hand over the Uchiha and we'll leave your corpse in one piece."
Sakura's grip tightened.
"You're after Sasuke…?"
Dosu stepped forward slowly, his gauntlet beginning to hum. "The cursed seal needs to be tested. Orochimaru-sama wants to see if he's strong enough—or if he'll break."
"I won't let you hurt him!"
Sakura spread her arms, blocking the entrance.
"Tch. So he is inside," Dosu said flatly. "Then there's no reason to keep talking."
"Out of the way!" Zaku charged ahead, his hands pointed forward.
"Zankūha!"
Compressed air blasted from the tubes on his palms, shooting shurikens forward like bullets.
Clink! Clang!
Sakura desperately dodged and swatted the projectiles mid-air, kunai flashing with desperate strength.
"I… I won't let you pass!"
"Please," Kin snorted. "You're not even worth the warm-up."
Zaku was already in front of her, swinging his kunai with a wild grin.
Sakura tried to block, but the strength difference was too much. Her weapon flew from her hand.
She shut her eyes, bracing for death.
BANG!
A powerful kick slammed into Zaku's jaw, launching him backwards and flipping him through the air.
When Sakura opened her eyes, a green blur now stood between her and the Sound Trio.
"Are you alright, Sakura-chan!?"
It was the green jumpsuit. The thick eyebrows. The bowl cut. The dramatic sparkling eyes.
It was Rock Lee.
"Th-thank you for saving me…"
Lee struck a heroic pose.
"Sakura-chan! Since the first moment I saw you in the Chūnin Exams, I've admired your beautiful form!"
"At that time, you were surrounded by your comrades, so I could only admire you from afar."
Then, red in the face, with total seriousness:
"Sakura-chan, I love you!!"
Sakura recoiled in horror.
"NO!!!"
"I hate your eyebrows!!"
"I hate your haircut! I hate everything about you!"
She crossed her arms and shuddered, her skin crawling.
Does this guy even know what a battlefield is!?
Why now!? Why HERE!?
"You are my angel~~"
Lee blew her a kiss. A literal heart-shaped air-kiss floated toward her like some twisted jutsu.
"NOOO! Are you a devil!?"
Sakura fell backward in panic, scrambling away like he was a monster.
"Hey, Lee," came a tired voice from the bushes, "maybe read the room before confessing your love?"
Tenten emerged, rubbing her temple.
"Don't look at me. I do not know this man," Neji muttered darkly, stepping out behind her.
Kin's expression turned ugly. "More pests?"
Dosu narrowed his eyes behind the bandages.
"Fine. Let's eliminate them all."
Zaku stood up, glaring murderously at Lee. "That kick… you're dead, bushy brows!"
(End of Chapter)
This chapter was mess in this chapter it was kabuto who attacks them so i have changed it and the fight also had to change tell if the flow is smooth