The burly rogue ninja had only just broken free of the genjutsu when several razor-sharp wind blades came hurtling toward him. In his haste, he barely managed to raise his battle-axe in front of him to protect his vitals.
Thud, thud, thud!
The wind blades struck the axe head and his armor, scattering sparks. Two grazed his thigh and shoulder, leaving bloody cuts.
Though the wounds were shallow, the pain and surprise filled the burly rogue ninja with shock and fury.
"Damned brats! You've got some skill!" he roared, chakra surging through his body as he prepared to unleash a powerful jutsu.
But Naruto didn't pause after his successful strike. His figure flickered again as he circled behind his opponent, his hands forming another set of hand seals. This time, it was-
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
He slipped underground. A moment later, two small hands burst through the soil and clamped around the burly rogue ninja's ankles.
He wasn't strong enough to hold him completely still, but he stalled him for another instant!
"Sakura!"
"Got it! Haaah!" Sakura cried, concentrating chakra in her fist.
As the burly rogue ninja lost his footing, she slammed a vicious punch into his lower back, right against his spine.
Her year of taijutsu training hadn't gone to waste. The powerful blow struck a vital spot, making the burly rogue ninja grunt and stagger forward.
"I'm not done yet!" Naruto sprang out of the ground, gripped a specially made, oversized shuriken in both hands, poured chakra into it furiously, and hurled it.
The spinning shuriken shrieked through the air, heading straight for the burly rogue ninja's back!
"Bastard!" Sensing the deadly threat behind him, the burly rogue ninja forced himself around and blocked with the side of his battle-axe.
Clang!
The shuriken struck the axe