Shadow of Nara [94]

Even though Sakura Haruno had made significant progress—especially after the ordeal with the Sound ninja trio—her growth still fell short of the level reached by Ino Yamanaka at this point.

Shikamaru had unknowingly influenced Ino more than he realized. Inspired by his drive and work ethic, Ino had taken her training far more seriously than she had in the original timeline. During the second phase of the Chūnin Exams in the Forest of Death, her Team 10—alongside Team 8—was the first to reach the central tower, finishing in just a single day. They had spent the remaining four days resting and restoring their strength.

In contrast, Team 7 had barely scraped by, arriving right at the deadline. Apart from Naruto, whose energy and recovery were inhuman due to being the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, both Sasuke and Sakura were completely drained—physically and mentally.

Even though Ino wasn't as skilled as someone like Tenten or Temari, she still had the edge over Sakura by a considerable margin.

The fight made that clear within moments.

Both kunoichi were limited to basic ninjutsu, typical for genin at this stage. Ino had her Mind Body Switch Technique, but without a distraction or setup, its success rate was low. Sakura, for her part, had only recently begun to refine her chakra control and had just begun exploring the concept of Body Flicker to boost her speed.

Attempting to capitalize on that, Sakura created a Clone Technique for distraction, then launched herself toward Ino with enhanced chakra-assisted movement. But Ino had also trained in chakra control—specifically for surface walking, which gave her excellent footing and agility. She evaded Sakura's strike and quickly retreated, forming hand seals.

"Wait a second...!" Naruto gasped from the stands, eyes wide. "Is that the Shadow Clone Jutsu?!"

As someone who used the technique constantly, Naruto recognized it instantly.

Shikamaru raised a brow as he observed, also surprised.

When did she learn that...?

Two identical clones of Ino appeared beside her, and rather than charging in herself, Ino held her position and made the hand sign for her clan's signature technique—Mind Body Switch. However, she didn't release the jutsu; she simply used the gesture to distract Sakura and keep her attention divided.

The plan worked perfectly.

With Sakura forced to keep one eye on Ino's possible jutsu and another on the clones coming at her, her defenses broke down. Though she managed to avoid a complete collapse, she was on the back foot the entire time. Outnumbered and pressured, she took hit after hit, gritting her teeth and refusing to fall.

But eventually, one of Ino's clones landed a clean punch across Sakura's face. The blow knocked her off balance, sending her crashing to the ground. Hands shaking, she tried to push herself up—but her exhausted limbs trembled uncontrollably.

"It's over. Give up, Sakura," Ino said calmly, dispelling her clones. "You've lost."

"I haven't lost yet!" Sakura growled, still trying to rise.

Ino sighed and dashed forward, striking Sakura sharply on the back of the neck with the edge of her hand. Sakura went limp, unconscious before she hit the ground.

Hayate Gekkō didn't intervene. Throughout the match, both girls had fought cleanly. Ino hadn't used weapons even when she had the upper hand—just fists and clones. It was clear neither intended to seriously injure the other.

Smack!

Naruto flinched as a sudden puff of smoke burst behind him. Turning, he saw Kakashi Hatake reappear in the stands, eye narrowed at the unconscious Sakura now being surrounded by medical-nin.

"Kakashi-sensei! You're back!" Naruto called out. "Sakura lost…"

Kakashi gave no verbal response. He vanished again and reappeared beside Sakura in an instant, kneeling to check her condition.

After a short examination, he relaxed slightly.

"She'll be fine, Kakashi-san," one of the medical-nin said, recognizing him. "She's just exhausted. A little rest will do her good."

Kakashi nodded, murmured his thanks, and carefully lifted Sakura in his arms before returning to the stands.

"She's alright, Naruto," Kakashi said once he sat down, sensing Naruto's concern. "You should focus on the rest of the matches."

"I already passed the prelims!" Naruto pouted.

"And there's still the final exam," Kakashi replied seriously. "The rest of the contestants are strong—you'll probably face one of them. Watch closely. This is your chance to gather intel."

Kakashi stood, now paying close attention to the battlefield. He wasn't the only jōnin interested. The remaining contestants—especially the final five—were among the most powerful genin in the exam. All eyes were on them now.

At Hayate's signal, the electronic board began to spin once more. Everyone watched in silence as it came to a stop.

Gaara vs. Rock Lee

"Finally! It's my turn!!"

The calm of the arena was shattered by Rock Lee's exuberant shout. He'd been waiting for this moment, practically bursting with excitement. Seeing his name light up made him yell out with joy.

On the opposite end, Gaara frowned deeply. His expression darkened as he saw that his opponent wasn't Shikamaru, the one he'd been hoping to fight. Instead, he'd have to settle for someone else.

But even if disappointed, his bloodlust remained.

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