Chapter 76: Stalling for Time, The Unblooming Sakura
Naruto didn't care that he couldn't detect anything; he would be cultivating Sage Mode soon anyway. For now, he needed to seal this Cursed Seal first.
Then, Naruto began forming hand seals, using Chakra to engrave a seal on Sasuke. Just at this critical moment, three Otogakure Ninja appeared.
Sakura saw Naruto intently engraving the seal and knew he couldn't be interrupted. It was up to her to stop the three opponents.
Sakura looked at the three Otogakure Ninja and said, "You should have been eliminated! Why are you still in the Forest of Death?"
"Hmph hmph hmph! Who says those who are eliminated can't enter? It just took some effort, it doesn't mean we can't come in."
Indeed, the three Otogakure Ninja who arrived were the ones whose test scrolls Naruto had snatched.
"Dosu, what are you talking about? Hurry up and finish Lord Orochimaru's assignment. We should leave as soon as possible to avoid any accidents."
"It's fine, it's fine! Didn't you see those two over there seem to be in some trouble? Now it's just this one girl. As a girl, Kin Tsuchi, don't you want to test your strength?"
"I have no interest in that! I'll say it again, let's finish this quickly and leave."
"Alright, alright! You're still so boring. I'll kill them now."
Sakura knew she needed to stall for time, so she hadn't interrupted their conversation.
Now that she saw the opponent was about to kill, Sakura looked at the female Ninja opposite her and said, "Your companion was right just now, don't you want to test your strength? But... with two strong companions, it seems you really don't need to be that strong."
Kin Tsuchi heard Sakura's provocation, curled her lips, and said, "A clumsy taunt. Do you think I'll fall for it? I think you're stalling for time! Dosu, stop dragging your feet. Are you really going to wait for that kid to finish before acting? We're not his opponents."
Dosu also knew he couldn't delay any longer. He lifted his modified arm and swung his fist, aiming to smash Sakura.
Sakura was also ready for battle, gripping her Kunai and shurikens, she threw them when she saw the opportunity.
However, Dosu blocked the Kunai and shurikens without being affected, still swinging his fist towards Sakura.
Just as the fist was about to strike Sakura again, Rock Lee blocked it in front of her.
"Konoha Hurricane! Rock Lee has arrived!"
Before Rock Lee could finish his sentence, he kicked the Ninja named Dosu flying.
When Sakura saw Rock Lee, she was about to smile happily, but then her face turned to one of worry, saying, "I seem to be your enemy now, too!"
"As fellow Konoha Ninja! How could I abandon my comrades for a chance at promotion? That would go against my Ninja Way."
Dosu looked at Rock Lee, secretly calculating. Rock Lee was a Taijutsu Ninja, which for him had both advantages and disadvantages; the outcome was at best a fifty-fifty split.
Understanding this, Dosu took out the Earth scrolland threw it to Zaku behind him, saying, "The mission to kill Sasuke is yours. I'll take on this Taijutsu Ninja."
Zaku caught the scroll and said, "Be careful then!"
Dosu, with his modified arm, was about to engage Rock Lee in close combat.
But Rock Lee had seen Dosu's punch at Yakushi Kabuto, where the opponent was injured without being touched.
So Rock Lee was unwilling to engage Dosu in close combat. He kicked up a tree root from the ground, blocking Dosu's attack.
Meanwhile, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji were also looking for Naruto and the others.
Choji, standing on a tree, saw Rock Lee fighting someone, with Sakura and Naruto behind him.
"Shikamaru, Ino, Naruto and the others seem to be in trouble?"
"Where?"
Shikamaru and Ino both said as they jumped onto the tree, looking in the direction Choji was pointing.
After careful observation, Shikamaru said, "Sasukemust be injured, and Naruto is at a critical moment of treatment. Rock Lee alone against three is a bit stretched. Let's go! Let's help!"
Just as Rock Lee was about to be defeated, Choji's Human Bullet Tank rolled directly towards Dosuand his two companions.
Seeing someone suddenly attack, the three jumped in three different directions.
Choji didn't waste Chakra chasing them and returned to his normal state, rejoining Shikamaruand the others.
After Choji rejoined the team, Shikamaru said to Rock Lee, "Rock Lee! Don't go head-to-head with them, try to stall for time."
"Understood!"
Dosu and his two companions frowned when they saw another squad arrive. It was originally three against one, but now it was three against five. Although one of the opponents had no combat power left, they could still throw Kunai if they timed it right.
Just then, Neji and Tenten also arrived, coincidentally hearing what Shikamaru said.
"Only the weak need support from others; the strong face challenges head-on."
Seeing two more people arrive, Dosu knew that this mission was probably going to fail.
"Zaku! You two leave! I'll stay and stall for time for you. We failed this mission."
Zaku also knew their mission had failed, but going back like this would also mean death.
"Where can we go? If the mission fails, Lord Orochimaru won't spare us. It's better to fight to the death, complete Lord Orochimaru's mission, and be loyal to him."
No sooner had Zaku finished speaking than Naruto's voice was heard.
"Evil Sealing Method! Seal!"
Zaku heard that Naruto had completed the seal and anxiously said to Dosu and Kin Tsuchi, "Damn it! You two hurry and leave. Even if you become Rogue Ninja, don't go back to Sound Village."
With that, Zaku grabbed Kin Tsuchi and Dosu's hands and forcefully threw them out.
But to Zaku's surprise, Naruto directly used Chakra Chains to pull them back, slamming them heavily in front of Dosu.
"Isn't it good to live well? Why do you have to seek death?"
Zaku took out the Earth scroll, placed it on the ground, stepped back two paces, and said, "I am willing to hand over the scroll. Please let my two companions go. I am willing to die!"
"Do you think you alone are enough to extinguish my anger?"
Zaku knew Naruto was intent on killing. He prostrated himself, bowing his head before Naruto, saying, "Please, my lord, spare them both. We were only following orders!"
Just as Naruto was about to speak, Sakura tugged on his clothes and said, "Forget it! They were also used by Orochimaru. Let them go!"
Naruto turned and glanced at Sakura. Seeing that Sakura still had her hair, he knew she was still the Sakura from the Ninja Academy, and hadn't grown much.