Scene Four
Strengthening Bonds (2)
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A heavy silence fell for a few moments as Sakura and I faced that group of delinquents.
"This is bad, Naruto. We need to retreat," Sakura said anxiously, glancing at me.
But I couldn't retreat—not after coming this far. And if I focused too much on others, someone might seize the chance to take Sakura hostage. This was a terrible situation.
"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan... but I can't back down now. If I did, I wouldn't be able to hold my head up at school again."
I stepped forward calmly and asked, "Weren't you supposed to come alone, Shino?"
"I don't remember making such a promise, Naruto. Don't blame me for your stupidity!!" Shino replied, his hands tucked in his pockets. He also stepped forward, his dark sunglasses hiding his eyes.
I closed my eyes briefly, then smiled. "I see. In that case, I won't feel guilty about beating you all to a pulp right here and now!!"
The boys around us looked startled at first—then burst out laughing, as if I had just told a joke.
Sakura carefully scanned the surroundings while I remained still, watching them calmly.
Their laughter went on for quite a while, starting to irritate me. But I held back. They were just kids, and knowing how their minds worked, I could already guess what would happen next...
One of the boys stepped forward, cracking his knuckles, and said, "Boss, let me take care of this clown."
Just as I expected—some idiot trying to impress Shino and Rock Lee.
Shino didn't respond. The boy walked up to me and sneered, "You've been getting on my nerves lately, surrounded by people as if you're some mysterious figure, or like you own this school. Today, I'll make sure you learn your place."
I said nothing and kept staring at him, waiting for his move.
"Don't go easy on him, Nak," Rock Lee warned him.
Nak tightened his fist and tried to smash it into my face.
But I had been training. My body was fit, and my reflexes were far sharper than his. I dodged his powerful punch and stepped back.
Then, I clenched my fist and launched it at him swiftly—
"BANG!"
The punch echoed through the air as Nak collapsed onto his knees, his eyes rolled back in unconsciousness. He didn't even know what hit him. His body slumped forward, landing flat on his stomach.
"W-With one punch!!"
The delinquents stood with their mouths agape in shock. As expected, Shino and Rock Lee remained silent, more cautious and calculating. They were clearly assessing my strength.
I let out a breath and stood protectively in front of Sakura. "Whoever thinks they can beat me—come on!"
Shino's veins bulged at my taunt. He ripped off his jacket and shouted, "Attack him, all of you! Don't hold back! Let's teach this punk a lesson!!" His arm was already extended toward me, pointing in command.
I tried to keep calm, tightened my fists, and pulled them back, ready to strike.
Twenty-four delinquents charged at me alone. At the moment of impact, I struck the first one with a powerful punch like Nak's, instantly knocking him out.
But I wasn't the same ninja who could make shadow clones anymore.
As soon as I dropped the first guy, another hit me hard in the stomach, making me stumble back and vomit.
"You're finished, Naruto!" one of them said coldly, glaring down at me.
I gritted my teeth, pushed through the pain, and surged forward. I kicked that guy, knocking him back. He groaned, "Ha... that's nothin—" but couldn't finish his sentence before collapsing, unconscious.
Twenty-two left.
As I tried to think—my worst mistake—someone snuck up behind me and kicked me hard in the back, sending me crashing down.
The remaining twenty-two pounced on me and began mercilessly beating me.
"Naruto!!!"
Sakura screamed, tears forming in her eyes as she watched me being brutalized.
Damn it… if I hadn't let my guard down, I could've handled this easily.
I yelled and shoved them off, quickly getting to my feet before they could swarm me again.
"Surrender, Naruto. You don't stand a chance here," Shino said coldly, staring at me in my pitiful state—not that he cared.
"Heh... Heh... Surrender? Never giving up is my way of life! Dattebayo~" I grinned at him with fierce determination, panting heavily.
It felt like I hadn't said that in ages.
"Stop clinging to worthless hope, Naruto! You're going to lose here—no doubt about it!!" Shino shouted, his voice uncharacteristically emotional.
That sudden outburst from Shino made me feel something was off. He had become oddly... emotional.
The others hesitated, shaken by his rage, but they rushed me anyway. I dodged, knocked one unconscious, then kicked another to the ground.
But I was so exhausted from the earlier beating that I faltered for a moment. That was all they needed to swarm me again and resume the onslaught.
"Make sure he remembers this day. I want him in the hospital for at least a month," Shino said coldly, regaining his composure as if this proved some twisted theory.
How do I get out of this? If this keeps up, the one who's truly in danger will be—
"Kyaaah!!"
Sakura screamed as three delinquents grabbed her.
"You bastards! Leave Sakura-chan alone!!"
I cried out in pain, trying to move—but one of them pinned me down and kneed me in the gut.
"Ghhhaa!"
My vision blurred as I coughed violently, falling to my knees.
I watched helplessly as Sakura was dragged toward Shino.
Was this really the end...?
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Not far away, two figures watched the scene unfold—showing no signs of intervening.
"Should I step in now?"
"No, the right savior will show up any moment."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Call it… woman's intuition!!"
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As Sakura was being dragged, her eyes shut, she thought slowly to herself, (Should I do it now...? Or wait a bit longer...?)
Just then, she felt a presence approaching swiftly.
She felt it—but the delinquents didn't.
"BAAANG!!"
A loud thud echoed as the guy holding Sakura was struck in the head.
I opened my eyes in shock and looked toward the newcomer.
"You're such a jerk, man!"
"Having all this fun and not inviting us? You trying to take all the glory in front of the pink princess?"
"S-Shut up, Kiba!!"
I shouted with a grateful smile, tears forming in my eyes.
How could I forget my friends? Why didn't I call them? Am I stupid or what?
Sasuke stood next to Kiba—he was the one who landed that punch.
He walked over to Sakura, his eyes shadowed by his hair, and looked into her eyes with clear concern. "You don't have to worry anymore… I'm here."
Sakura smiled in relief as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Seeing her cry like that a second time—how could I just sit still and call myself a man?
I stood up slowly, raised my head, and glared at Shino.
"Sorry I almost lost hope. But now… I'm going to crush you and shatter your arrogant pride!!"
"Come at me… Naruto!!"
Shino shouted, throwing off his long coat to reveal his tight white shirt and toned abs, his long hair whipping in the wind.
We both charged at each other, fists flying.
"BAAANG!"
He punched me in the face, and I struck him in the stomach.
The force of both blows made our entire bodies tremble.
We each stumbled back two steps—a draw in physical strength.
Shino clenched his teeth, then launched a powerful kick to the left side of my face.
I spat blood and staggered like a drunk.
"HAAAA!!"
I shouted back to fire myself up and punched Shino hard in the face, forcing him to retreat.
We glared at each other, fists raised, and moved away from the original spot, locked in intense combat.
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On the other side of the battlefield, having already taken down half the delinquents, Rock Lee charged at Kiba with full force.
Kiba hadn't noticed—but Sasuke saved him, raising his arms defensively and blocking Rock Lee's powerful punch.
"So you're my opponent, huh? You reject," Rock Lee smirked wickedly.
Sasuke's expression darkened. He glanced briefly at Sakura—unfortunately for him, she had just turned her head toward me to check on my condition.
Strangely, Sakura had been watching Sasuke the whole time—until just a few moments ago...
Sasuke sighed and turned his gaze back to Rock Lee, whose smirk faltered slightly under Sasuke's shadowed, ominous stare.
"I'll wipe that arrogant look off your face."
Rock Lee tilted his head in mockery. "Oh? Think you can do that, reject?"
Sasuke's anger rose. Rock Lee swung his fist at him, but Sasuke dodged and countered with a kick.
However, Rock Lee intercepted it with his leg and blocked it cleanly. Then, with his other leg, he struck the top of Sasuke's head, slamming him down hard onto his stomach.
Sasuke spat blood, dizzy from the impact. Slowly, he lifted his head and glared up at the smirking Rock Lee.
"What a beautiful look you've got now, dear Sasuke."
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The fight between me and Shino raged on for several minutes, neither of us gaining the upper hand.
Our strength levels were nearly identical.
Even though I was athletic and constantly training, he matched me effortlessly.
It was terrifying—if someone like Shino was this strong, just how powerful was the one he followed?
The thought alone made my blood run cold.
We finally pulled apart, panting heavily.
"Damn it… Someone as weak as you keeping up with me? Are you kidding me?!"
Shino started to lose his composure, eyes wide open with madness.
"You're supposed to crumble before me, not fight me as an equal!!"
He lunged with a vicious punch. I couldn't keep up with his speed and dropped to my knees.
Shino smiled smugly, approaching me. "This is how it should've been from the start—beneath my feet, where you belong, weakling."
I clenched my fists in pain.
Is this my limit? Am I really still this weak?
I can't win, after all?
"That girl, Sakura… I'll make her part of my gang.
Tonight… I'll rape her."
Shino grinned wickedly.
My eyes shot open in horror.
Everything around me faded into darkness.
Only one word remained in my mind:
Death.
I grabbed his leg and yanked it, slamming him to the ground head-first. Blood gushed from his skull.
"You'll only touch Sakura in your sick, twisted dreams, you filthy pervert!!"
I punched him in the face—again and again and again.
I couldn't feel anything else.
I just kept hitting him.
"Naruto!! Stop! You'll kill him!!"
I heard Sakura's desperate scream, just as something inside me was about to snap completely.
I stopped in an instant—my fist raised for the final blow, my eyes still clouded with darkness.
I looked down at Shino and realized what I'd done.
His face was a bloody mess. His nose was pouring blood. His glasses were shattered. His eyes were white—unconscious, maybe worse.
I gasped and stepped back in a daze.
"D-Did I really do this… to Shino…?"
Sakura rushed to me, and I looked at her as everyone—Sasuke, Lee, and Kiba—watched in silence.
"Sakura-chan?!"
She stared at me with a tear-streaked face, cheeks flushed with emotion.
My battered body, torn clothes, and swollen face broke her heart.
But what truly shocked me—was how close she came.
I could feel her breath on my skin.
Her tears wouldn't stop falling.
She gently cupped my cheeks with her hands.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this, Naruto–kun~"
She closed her eyes, trembling.
"This must've been so painful… so hard for you… right, Naruto–kun?"
I smiled weakly and placed my hand over hers.
"What are you talking about, baka?
This pain is nothing… compared to making you happy and free of worry!
Dattebayo~" I closed my eyes, smiling to reassure her.
She pulled me into a gentle embrace, holding me close as she wept.
Sakura in this world… wasn't as flat-chested as I remembered from the other one.
Her body rivaled even Ino's…
I stopped myself—this wasn't the time for those kinds of thoughts.
I just let myself enjoy the warmth of her embrace.
Kiba watched us with tearful jealousy, almost comically furious.
But Sasuke… his eyes were hidden under the shadow of his hair.
His feelings were unreadable.
I was about to wrap my arms around Sakura and hold her tighter—
But of course, no joy ever lasts for long.
"I won't allow this to be the end!!"
"Naruto, watch out!!"
I heard Kiba and Sasuke shout from the side.
A chilling presence crept up behind me.
It was Shino—the one who had just spoken with murderous rage.
The first thing I did was push Sakura away instinctively.
I turned and saw Shino coming at me with a knife, eyes burning with insanity.
"The victor lives. The loser dies, Naruto!!" he shouted as he swung the blade down at me.
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Scene Four
Strengthening Bonds (2) — End
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#To_Be_Continued.