Meanwhile, by the lake beside the Third Training Ground.
Bang!
Water exploded into sprays, droplets scattering in every direction.
Sakura stared gravely at the splashing water, her entire body tensed.
Her battle with Kakashi had originally begun in the dense forest.
But Kakashi wanted to test her Water Release, so he had deliberately guided her toward the lake during the fight. Sensitive as she was, Sakura had noticed it as well.
Naturally, she did not refuse. After all, for a Water Release ninja, fighting where there was water and fighting where there was none were two entirely different things.
The splashing water gradually settled, but Kakashi was nowhere to be seen.
"Gone?"
Sakura froze for a moment. Just as she was about to search for Kakashi, she suddenly sensed the sound of air being torn behind her.
Kakashi abruptly appeared behind Sakura on the surging water without any warning, throwing a fierce punch at the center of her back. Given Sakura's reaction speed, there was no way she could block or evade it in time.
Bang!
Sakura was struck directly in the back by Kakashi and sent flying far away by the force.
Something's wrong!
After knocking Sakura away, Kakashi showed no sign of relief. Instead, he looked wary, because what he had just struck had not felt like a person, but a mass of resilient water.
Sure enough!
The moment Sakura fell onto the water's surface, she turned into a mass of clear water and merged into the lake.
Water Clone Technique!
It seems the intelligence was right. Sakura really is exceptionally skilled in Water Release!
As he silently considered this, Kakashi was about to lightly leap away, but the water beneath him suddenly churned. With a whoosh, several Water Whips formed and tightly bound different parts of Kakashi's