Chapter 97: Kanpō's Booby Trap

A round of applause rang out, and Kankurō stepped out from behind the bushes, looking candid.

Sasuke squinted his eyes and stared warily at the man in front of him. This guy had the nerve to just swagger out like that. He really didn't know the meaning of fear.

"You're quite brave," Sasuke said.

Kankurō shrugged helplessly.

"What can I do? I got seriously injured by that girl using [Chakra Enhanced Strength] in the previous match. You even saw through the booby traps I set up. I'm truly out of options now. I'm just begging you to spare my life."

After saying that, he raised his hands high to show that he had no intention of attacking.

Naruto clearly didn't believe this guy's nonsense. He roared loudly, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"You bastard! You came to someone else's village on your own initiative and utterly destroyed other people's homes. Now you're asking us to spare your life. Don't be ridiculous!"

On the way here, Naruto had seen quite a few destroyed houses, crying children, and broken dolls by the roadside.

This street had been a place of happiness and peace not long ago. But because of the selfishness and greed of these people, the villagers had to bear what they shouldn't have!

"You're also a Genin. You should understand that as Genin, the lowest combat force in the village, we have no choice but to follow orders. If I didn't cooperate as the village asked, I'd be the one who dies. I really have no other choice," Kankurō said, his head hanging slightly, his eyes full of guilt and helplessness.

Naruto couldn't really bring himself to kill someone, so he stepped forward, planning to tie this guy up and hand him over to the village for punishment later.

"Naruto!"

"Huh?"

Sasuke sensed something was wrong. He saw a glint of cunning and calculation in Kankurō's seemingly guilty eyes. He immediately called out to warn Naruto, who was approaching Kankurō.

Kankurō's eyes suddenly lit up. He flipped his hand that was raised in the air, and a single needle between his fingertips stabbed directly at Naruto in front of him.

"You fool. You noticed too late!"

Oh no! Naruto was right in the way. Even if Sasuke wanted to save him, it was too late.

"Bang!"

A Kunai came flying at high speed. Its sharp blade pierced through Kankurō's palm, stopping his attack. He squinted in pain and instinctively took a few steps back.

Seeing the blood still flowing from his palm, he angrily looked in the direction the Kunai had come from.

"Whoever you are, get out here!"

A calm figure stepped out from the shadow of the trees. He was wearing a pair of black sunglasses, making it hard to see his expression.

"Shino! What are you doing here?"

Shino pushed his sunglasses up his nose and calmly said,

"You guys aren't the only Konoha Genin here. You can't hog all the glory!"

Kankurō gritted his teeth and stared at the calm - looking man in front of him. If it weren't for his appearance, his plan would have succeeded long ago, and Naruto wouldn't be standing there alive and kicking now!

"Naruto, Sasuke, you go. Leave this guy to me. He's been trying to stall for time since the beginning. You two go after Gaara quickly. His situation is urgent!"

"In your dreams!"

Kanamaru, annoyed that Shino had discovered his intentions, angrily blocked the way in front of everyone.

"What a pity. With your current strength, you won't be able to stop all three of us at the same time. As a puppeteer, your most important puppet has been smashed to pieces. It'll probably take you a long time to fix it, right?"

Shino drew out a kunai from between his legs, twirled it, and held it across his chest. With a flash of light from his black sunglasses, he coolly said.

"Which means you're just an ordinary injured Genin now! Naruto, Sasuke!"

"Got it. Shino, you be careful. This guy is also good at using poison."

"Leave it to me!"

The two of them stepped past Kanamaru, who had been spouting nonsense earlier. He didn't do anything, just looking a bit reluctant on his face. He knew he couldn't stop all three of them at the moment. So, he decided to hold at least one of them back if possible.

Kanamaru had now calmed down. Looking at Shino in front of him, he sneered mockingly.

"Useless guy..."

In the preliminary round, this disgusting guy who used bugs won by relying on his bugs.

Those tiny bugs wouldn't be a problem as long as he paid more attention.

Facing the sudden mockery, Shino remained extremely calm. He would prove with his strength who the useless one really was...

...............

Sasuke and Naruto chased after Gaara and Temari all the way. They encountered quite a few booby traps during the chase.

"Damn it! That woman is such a hassle!"

It was obvious from Sasuke's clicking of his tongue that he was in a bad mood. He didn't like these never - ending traps.

"Sasuke, look!"

He looked forward and saw Temari supporting Gaara and running forward with difficulty. Hearing Naruto's shout, she turned her head, looking shocked at the two of them, and then sped up.

"Don't even think about running away!"

Sasuke took out a shuriken from his backpack on his back and threw it forward at high speed.

The shuriken was aimed at the two of them. Temari had to drag Gaara and flee in a hurry. By accident, the shuriken cut off a branch under her foot, and the two of them fell from the tree.

Only then did Sasuke and Naruto catch up and stand in front of Temari and Gaara.

Temari sat on the ground, glaring at the two of them with hatred in her eyes.

"Hand him over."

Sasuke's eyes and voice were cold and emotionless. It was clear that he was fed up after chasing for so long.

Hearing this, Temari ignored the threat in Sasuke's words. She rushed in front of Gaara, wrapped the unconscious Gaara in her arms with one hand, and held out the other hand to block the two of them.

"Over my dead body!"

Seeing Temari's determined attitude, Sasuke impatiently raised his eyebrows and looked at Naruto.

"Attack, Naruto!"

"Okay!"

................

Several pairs of eyes stared at each other for a long time. The air was as still as death.

"...Aren't you going to do something?"

"Um... Well, you see, the other one is a girl. It'd be inappropriate for me to just step in and pull them apart. It kinda feels like I'd be violating the principle of 'no physical contact between men and women' (a traditional Chinese concept about proper social interaction between genders)!"

"Stop blabbering and do it now!"

"Huh? Why? You could do it too. Why me?"

"Humph! I'm too lazy and think it's beneath me to deal with a rival of this level. Just take care of this small matter."

?_?

.................

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