Sakura's Growth

Beneath a large tree elsewhere, fallen leaves drifted through the air.

Rock Lee was hurrying along at high speed.

Watching the falling leaves, he thought, As long as I catch every single leaf, Sakura will definitely accept me when I confess to her next time!

That thought ignited a blazing fire in his eyes.

Lee leaped down from the branch and began gathering the falling leaves.

Just as he was about to catch the last leaf, he suddenly sensed something was wrong.

It turned out he had saved a squirrel.

Lee removed the explosive tag from the squirrel's body.

"Who could be so cruel?"

On Sakura's side.

The three Sound ninja revealed themselves and said arrogantly, "You really have worked hard guarding those two."

"Wake Sasuke up. We want to test ourselves against him."

They were the same three people Ino had controlled with the Mind Body Switch Technique to teach Yakushi Kabuto a lesson.

Sakura asked warily, "I know you're Orochimaru's subordinates. What exactly do you want?"

"What is that mark on Sasuke's neck?"

"We were ordered to kill Sasuke."

Then one of them stepped forward and noticed the traps hidden in the soil.

"So that's it. No wonder you wouldn't let the squirrels get close."

Just as they closed in again, a youth in a blue bodysuit appeared.

A squirrel was perched on his shoulder.

"Lee, why are you here?"

Sakura asked in surprise.

Lee explained, "Because of this squirrel."

Ten minutes later.

Lee was defeated. The Sound ninja with arm guards had ruptured his eardrums, and he could no longer stand.

The female Sound ninja grabbed Sakura by the hair.

"As a ninja, you actually have time to keep such beautiful hair so well-groomed."

"Instead of wasting time on that, you should train properly, idiot!"

"Stop talking nonsense with her. Kill Sasuke already!"

Another Sound ninja urged impatiently.

At that critical moment, Su Bai's figure suddenly appeared in Sakura's mind.

He had once told her, "Naruto and Sasuke are in your hands."

It was as if she could once again hear Su Bai's encouragement and praise from their recent missions, his firm words still ringing in her ears.

"Sakura, it's truly admirable that you found these precious medicinal herbs."

"You two should learn more from Sakura. Carelessness won't do."

There was also Team 7's only dinner together.

At the barbecue restaurant, Su Bai had once said to her solemnly:

"I'd bet that before long, you'll become Konoha Village's finest medical ninja."

"When we get hurt in the future, we'll be relying on you to protect us."

"Then I'm counting on you."

Su Bai's words were like a dazzling bolt of lightning, illuminating Sakura's fearful and confused heart.

Those past words of encouragement and praise were like a lamp in the darkness, pulling her out of the mire of despair.

Sakura felt Su Bai's trust and expectations transform into a warm current flowing through her body.

That warmth scattered the gloom in her heart, allowing her to find her courage and fighting spirit again.

"I can't let Su Bai down! I have to become stronger and protect everyone!"

She clenched her fists tightly, and an unprecedented light bloomed in her eyes.

Seeing the change in Sakura's eyes, the female Sound ninja could not help becoming wary.

She tightened her grip, trying to completely restrain the girl.

But Sakura seemed unable to feel the pain.

She gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on her kunai.

Then, with a sudden burst of force, she decisively cut off her long hair!

In that instant, Sakura felt a sharp pain in her scalp, yet her heart felt lighter than ever.

The female Sound ninja stared at the handful of hair in her hand, too shocked to say a word.

She had never expected this seemingly frail girl to have the resolve to cut off the beautiful long hair she had taken such pride in.

She had once cared so deeply about her appearance, hoping to become beautiful enough to draw Su Bai's attention.

But now, she finally understood that for a ninja, appearance was not what mattered most. What mattered was inner strength.

True power came from protecting one's companions and holding fast to one's mission.

The girl who had only known how to hide behind her companions and cry was gone forever.

Standing here now was a completely new Sakura.

All this time, she had only hidden behind Su Bai, Naruto, and Sasuke. She had never truly grown.

But now, it was time to change!

This time, please watch my back!

"Die, you troublesome woman!"

The female Sound ninja roared, drew her kunai, and stabbed at Sakura.

Without panicking, Sakura swiftly formed hand seals and vanished from the spot.

The female ninja's kunai stabbed into a piece of wood.

"Substitution Technique!"

The female ninja gritted her teeth in fury and scanned the surroundings for Sakura.

Sakura sprang out from the grass and attacked the Sound ninja with holes in his hands.

"Watch out!"

The female ninja shouted, warning her companion.

She had long seen that the other Sound ninja, the one skilled in Air Slash Wave, was their true main combatant.

Sakura swiftly moved to the Air Slash Wave Sound ninja's side and thrust her kunai at him.

The Air Slash Wave Sound ninja raised a hand to block, while aiming his other hand at Sakura, preparing to launch an Air Slash Wave.

Sakura's lips curled upward as she rejoiced inwardly.

She had deliberately made her attack slower to bait him into blocking.

The instant he blocked, Sakura changed moves and kicked him hard in the abdomen.

The Air Slash Wave Sound ninja grunted and staggered back several steps.

But he was an experienced ninja after all. He quickly recovered and assumed a fighting stance once more.

"Don't underestimate me!"

He roared, aimed the holes in his hand at Sakura, and unleashed a sharp wave of air.

Sakura formed hand seals, then suddenly vanished!

"What?!"

At that moment, a pair of arms shot out from beneath the ground and tightly seized his ankles!

Sakura burst out of the earth, her kunai aimed directly at the Air Slash Wave Sound ninja's throat.

The Air Slash Wave Sound ninja was horrified and hurriedly raised his hand to block.

The kunai pierced through his palm, sending blood spraying everywhere.

Sakura gripped the kunai tightly and used the force to leap up. With her other hand, she seized the Air Slash Wave Sound ninja's injured arm and twisted it viciously!

"Ah!!!"

The Air Slash Wave Sound ninja let out a scream as searing pain shot through his arm, and the kunai fell to the ground.

Sakura clamped her teeth onto the Air Slash Wave Sound ninja's arm and refused to let go.

The Air Slash Wave Sound ninja grimaced in pain and repeatedly pounded Sakura's head with his other hand, trying to force her to release him.

Sakura was dizzy, blood blurring her vision.

But she gritted her teeth and refused to let go, even at the cost of her life.

Finally, after another heavy blow, Sakura could no longer hold on. She released her bite and was violently flung away.

She crashed heavily onto the ground.

Blood stained her hair red, glaringly vivid beneath the sunlight.

Yet one thought remained in her heart: I have to protect them.

Just as the Air Slash Wave ninja prepared to attack Sakura again, a voice suddenly rang out.

"You frogs at the bottom of a well. You've only beaten a few lackeys, yet you're already so full of yourselves."

The speaker looked toward Lee, who lay sprawled on the ground.

Looks like Lee was defeated by them.

"You actually dared lay a hand on him!" Neji's Byakugan abruptly activated, fury surging within him.

"If you still haven't had enough, come at me."

He challenged the enemy.

The Sound ninja with arm guards said, "Come down, then. Don't just stand there talking."

Neji was about to leap down when he suddenly sensed something.

"It looks like I won't need to make a move after all," he said.

The Sound ninja were puzzled.

A figure suddenly appeared at the edge of the battlefield.

His steps were light, his presence sharp, and in an instant, he drew everyone's attention.

It was Su Bai!

He walked over to Sakura, his calm face devoid of any expression.

Sakura was covered in wounds, her hair disheveled and her clothes tattered.

"Sakura, who did this to you?"

Su Bai's voice was quiet, yet it carried a chill.

That icy tone seemed to come from the depths of hell itself, making everyone present shudder.