Chapter 138 Another Sakura

After Gekkō Hayate announced the winner of the second match, medical Ninja waiting nearby quickly lifted the armless Zaku onto a stretcher.

"Stupid fellow, what a waste."

"Hmph, but it's fine, their greatest use is as my pawns."

Orochimaru, hidden among the Otogakure, snorted coldly in his heart.

Aside from Orochimaru, his teammates Dosu Kinuta and Kin Tsuchi seemed equally unconcerned about Zaku's life or death, at most thinking about avenging him.

The matches continued.

Tsurugi Misumi VS Kankuro!

Tsurugi Misumi, wearing round glasses and with his face covered by a black strip mask, immediately used Soft Physique Modification against Kankuro, wrapping his limbs in a classic 'Strong Man Lock' pose.

Kankuro's accompanying puppet, Karasu, fell directly to the side.

"Are you openly using Soft Physique Modification in battle? Doesn't anyone suspect your relationship with Orochimaru?"

Naruto stood on the second-floor viewing platform, leaning on the railing, watching the two with interest.

Just as Tsurugi Misumi confidently twisted Kankuro's neck, he didn't realize that the Kankuro he thought he had was actually the puppet Karasu, while Kankuro's true body was disguised as the puppet, perfectly hidden, wrapped in bandages.

Fortunately, Tsurugi Misumi saw the situation was bad and chose to forfeit in time, otherwise, he would have faced the tragic fate of having all his bones crushed by Karasu.

Fourth Match:

The display screen above the hand sign sculpture prominently showed a pair of names: Sakura Haruno VS Ino Yamanaka.

"It's finally your turn."

Naruto turned to look at Ino Yamanaka.

"...My opponent is Sakura..." Ino Yamanaka, who had been eagerly anticipating a fight, suddenly had a strange expression, seemingly without any joy.

"Hey, ugly, aren't you coming down yet?"

Sakura shouted from the arena.

"You big forehead!"

"Since that's the case, I won't hold back."

Ino Yamanaka placed one hand on the railing, used it to flip over, and leaped from the second-floor stands down to the training ground for the match.

Hinata cupped her hands like a megaphone and loudly shouted, "Ino, go go go!"

Ino Yamanaka turned back and smiled, "I'll definitely win."

Naruto couldn't help but laugh.

When others make a 'guaranteed win' promise, it's hard to say if they'll win, but Ino Yamanaka will definitely win; there's no possibility of her losing.

In the original story, Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno, as the two most 'normal' Genin, first had a taijutsu battle, then a Ninja tool showdown. Ultimately, Ino Yamanaka used a small trick to successfully perform the Mind Body Switch Technique, invading Sakura Haruno's body.

But who knew that Sakura Haruno possessed a second personality, which was a natural counter to genjutsu and the Mind Body Switch Technique?

It broke Ino Yamanaka's Mind Body Switch Technique.

In the end, both ran out of strength and drew.

But now—

Even if Sakura Haruno's second personality was 'Another Sakura,' she still couldn't win.

Compared to the Shadow Monarch, who fused with the legendary title of Shinigami, what was Another Sakura?

She simply couldn't dislodge Ino Yamanaka's mental will.

"Sakura, I didn't expect us to become rivals."

Ino Yamanaka looked a bit sad and upset.

Sakura Haruno took off her Ninja headband, her expression serious but with a smile on her lips: "Rivals? Ino, you're so weak, you don't deserve to be my, Sakura Haruno's, opponent."

"What—!?"

Ino Yamanaka's eyes suddenly widened.

"You don't deserve Sasuke at all. I'll take both Sasuke and the match!"

"Ooh~~"

Naruto made a jeering sound towards Sasuke, who was not far away.

Sasuke silently covered his face.

Many people in the audience laughed.

"A public confession during the Chunin Exams? Hahahaha, how youthful!" Might Guy's laughter was the loudest.

"Naruto, Naruto, my Sakura—" Rock Lee bit his handkerchief with his pale teeth, tears streaming down his face.

The next moment.

Flames ignited in Rock Lee's tear-filled eyes.

He had clearly turned his grief into motivation.

"Damn Uchiha Clan, I will definitely defeat you! Whether it's for Sakura or to prove to Guy-sensei that effort can overcome genius, I will defeat you!"

Rock Lee's fighting spirit soared, and he cast a burning gaze at Sasuke.

Sasuke was speechless again.

In the arena.

"Ah, huh?"

Ino Yamanaka, who had been prepared to go easy, suddenly got angry. With one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Sakura Haruno, she angrily said, "Sakura, just forfeit yourself."

"Don't lose too badly and embarrass yourself in front of Sasuke, okay?"

"No way! On the contrary, you, who actually like Naruto, that dead last, have terrible taste. How could you ever win against me?"

....

"I'm really angry, Sakura!"

"You crybaby, don't get too arrogant—!!"

Ino Yamanaka's expression suddenly changed, becoming serious and cold. Her eyes widened, and the mental pressure she instantly exuded swept across the entire arena like an invisible hurricane.

"Such strong mental pressure."

"This girl is quite interesting." Orochimaru stared at Ino Yamanaka, his eyes flickering.

"Inoichi Yamanaka's daughter, huh? As a main family prodigy, she's indeed good. Inoichi Yamanaka has someone to carry on his legacy." Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed out a cloud of smoke from his pipe.

Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji, also members of the new Ino–Shika–Chō generation, were closely watching Ino Yamanaka.

Akimichi Choji popped potato chips into his mouth and asked curiously, "Shikamaru, when did Ino Yamanaka get so strong?"

Nara Shikamaru shook his head, glancing at Naruto out of the corner of his eye: "I don't know."

"Whoosh!"

Sakura Haruno, who was directly facing this mental storm, instantly changed her expression. Her mind involuntarily recalled her experience in the Death Forest.

Orochimaru's materialized killing intent had terrified Sasuke, Sakura, and Inuzuka Kiba, leaving them unable to move. Their minds were flooded with dozens of illusions of impending death.

"You—you—you don't come any closer!"

Sakura Haruno's face was pale, and she kept shaking her head, retreating in fear.

This was truly a case of 'once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of a rope.'

Sakura Haruno had become a startled bird.

On the second-floor stands.

Sasuke, who was watching the match, subtly changed his expression.

As a teammate, Sasuke didn't want Sakura Haruno to lose so easily.

He gripped the railing tightly. Unlike Naruto in the original story, he didn't shout out. After struggling with his thoughts, he awkwardly said, "Sakura—go—

Go for it!!"

"Don't lose!"

Sakura Haruno, who had been retreating in fright, paused her steps and turned to look at Sasuke.

Sasuke scratched the side of his face with one finger and turned his head to reply, "I hope you win—"

"Oh—Sasuke! I will win!!"

Sakura Haruno seemed to have been injected with adrenaline, becoming unusually excited, and actually broke through Ino Yamanaka's mental pressure.

"Win? Sakura, what big talk are you spouting? Mind Body Switch Technique!"

Ino Yamanaka snorted lightly, raised her hands and brought them together, immediately performing her secret technique. Her mental will, like an invisible arrow, shot out from her forehead,

instantly striking Sakura Haruno and successfully invading her body.