Chapter 73: The Resolve to Die
Chapter 73: The Resolve to Die
Sometimes, strength is not the only factor that determines victory. There are too many unpredictable variables in battle. Just one moment of carelessness or underestimation had plunged Dosu into a dire situation.
Had he been more cautious, victory would still have been possible. Unfortunately, his injuries now greatly affected his performance. In a battle where the strength difference wasn't vast, this became fatal. Moreover, Sakura Haruno was one of the most troublesome types—a medical ninja. If his sound wave attack proved ineffective, it would turn into a battle of endurance, where Dosu would have to rely on his physical stamina to overcome her. However, with his initial severe injury, all of this became wishful thinking. At this rate, Dosu himself would collapse first.
On the spectators' stands, just as Mizuki was observing the fight, a sudden chakra cloud appeared beside him, and two figures emerged—Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi.
"You two are here? Weren't you supposed to be keeping an eye on the VIPs?" Mizuki asked. He was somewhat familiar with them. Asuma, being a former Guardian Shinobi and the son of the Third Hokage, was the perfect candidate to mingle with dignitaries.
Asuma took a deep drag on his cigarette and replied, "There aren't enough hands on deck here, so we came down to help. Besides, the VIPs have brought their own bodyguards, so there's not much to worry about."
"Oh, I thought you came to cheer for Shikamaru," Mizuki said with a smirk.
"No need. Shikamaru's a smart guy. If he wants to win, he'll figure out a way. This Chūnin Exam won't stump him," Asuma replied confidently. "But when did Sakura get this strong? She's completely dominating Dosu, who gave Chōji such a hard time. Kakashi's team is really something—making the other jōnin look bad on their first try."
"That initial use of genjutsu—perfect timing and execution," Kurenai commented. As a genjutsu specialist, she noticed the subtlety immediately. "Also, that chakra that's constantly rippling across her body—what is that? It seems to be neutralizing the penetrating damage of Dosu's sound waves."
Attaching chakra to one's entire body wasn't uncommon among skilled shinobi, but maintaining it with such fluidity and while fighting at high intensity was extremely difficult.
Seeing Sakura steadily suppressing Dosu, Mizuki finally relaxed. Sakura's success validated his theories and teaching methods. To counter Dosu's Soundwave Strike, there were numerous strategies. For a real powerhouse, such an attack would pose no threat. However, finding a method that Sakura, as a genin, could master was the real challenge.
The most practical approach was to combine the Concealment Technique with the Chakra Shield. The Concealment Technique served as an omnipresent chakra reservoir, while the Chakra Shield was a technique utilizing sealing and chakra control. The flexibility of both allowed Sakura to form a Chakra Armor similar to Gaara's sand armor. Although it wasn't as sturdy as Gaara's compressed sand, it was sufficient to dampen the impact of sound wave attacks.
By employing sound absorption and noise cancellation techniques, Sakura minimized the damage from Dosu's attacks. Using principles like vacuum noise reduction, porous damping, and resonance cancellation, she directed chakra to mitigate the waves.
For spectators unaware of the intricacies, the battle seemed intense and thrilling. For those with keen insight, however, it was evident that Sakura had the upper hand, and victory was just a matter of time.
Suddenly, Mizuki's eyes narrowed as he noticed a change on the battlefield.
"Something's wrong. Dosu's about to make a desperate move," he muttered.
Despite being heavily pressured, Dosu suddenly shifted his stance, adopting a defensive posture.
"He's preparing for a last-ditch attack. Sakura, be careful!"
Sakura continued her aggressive assault, methodically pushing Dosu into a corner. Eventually, Dosu feigned exhaustion, allowing Sakura to stab through his shoulder with her Chakra Scalpel. The previously bandaged wound burst open, bleeding profusely.
"I've won," Sakura declared confidently.
Dosu let out a sinister smile. "Won? Who said that?"
Suddenly, his left hand—which had been seemingly paralyzed—shot out and gripped Sakura's right forearm tightly.
"This time, you're not getting away!" Dosu roared. His right hand, encased in the Sound Gauntlet, thrust forward with incredible force, bypassing Sakura's chakra shield and slamming into her stomach.
The punch shattered the shield, and the Soundwave Strike sent a shockwave through her body. The sheer power of the impact forced Sakura to fly backward, crashing heavily to the ground.
Finally, Dosu saw his chance. He charged toward the staggering Sakura, preparing to land another blow before she could recover.
Instinctively, Sakura reacted. As her abdomen throbbed with pain, she quickly activated her medical ninjutsu to heal the internal damage. Her left hand launched a chakra string that attached to a nearby tree branch. With a forceful tug, she swung herself out of Dosu's path, narrowly evading the follow-up strike. Landing roughly on the ground, she skidded several meters before managing to stand.
Dosu, exhausted from his all-out attack, could only stand there panting, unable to pursue. The audience erupted in excitement at the sudden shift in momentum.
While the clueless spectators cheered and shouted, Mizuki looked on, frowning.
"This is the final lesson I couldn't teach you as a sensei, Sakura... When you pick up a weapon and step into battle, you must be prepared to die."
Sakura, clutching her side, glared at Dosu with determination still burning in her eyes. She knew now that underestimating even a wounded enemy was a mistake she couldn't afford to make. A real shinobi battle wasn't just about strength—it was about resolve.
And right now, Dosu had demonstrated that his resolve to kill was far stronger than she had anticipated.
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