Meanwhile, Grass Ninja C narrowly dodged Sakura Haruno's surprise attack.
As the most alert and levelheaded of the three, Grass Ninja C reacted the instant Team 7 appeared, instinctively darting backward and to the side. He just managed to avoid the kunai Sakura had thrown at him from a tricky angle off to one side.
The kunai struck the tree trunk behind him with a series of dull thunks.
Having dodged that attack, Grass Ninja C felt a surge of delight, thinking he had found an opening.
A vicious gleam flashed in his eyes, and his hands immediately began forming hand seals. He planned to use his strongest Earth Release ninjutsu to drive back this opponent, who appeared to be a female ninja, then find a chance to escape.
But he was only halfway through his seals.
A pale, almost delicate-looking fist suddenly loomed in his vision, moving far faster than he could react!
It was that pink-haired kunoichi! When had she gotten so close?
So fast!
Crack-
The distinct sound of bones breaking rang out.
"Aaargh!"
Grass Ninja C felt a terrifying, utterly irresistible force surge through his arms like an avalanche, instantly shattering his defense.
Agony tore through both arms as though a battering ram had struck them head-on. His whole body flew backward uncontrollably like a kite with its string cut.
His body traced a long arc through the air before his back slammed into a thick tree that would have taken two people to encircle.
Thud!
Another dull impact rang out.
Grass Ninja C slid limply down the trunk and slumped to the ground, his head hanging to one side. Both arms were bent at unnatural angles, blood spilled from his mouth, and he had completely lost consciousness.
Sakura slowly withdrew her fist, the glow of