"Heh, I'll leave it to you then, Kin."
"You two, don't just stand around. Go finish off those other two," Kin said coldly.
"But Lord Orochimaru only told us to take out Sasuke," Dosu Kinuta hesitated.
"What does it matter? Killing one or killing two it's all the same."
Sakura's heart clenched at the words. Without a moment's pause, she hurled five shuriken through the air.
"I won't let you get away with this!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh
The five shuriken sliced through the air toward them, but the trio from the Hidden Sound didn't so much as flinch. Zaku Abumi stepped forward and raised his palm. A sudden burst of pressure deflected the incoming weapons with ease.
Sakura reached for another weapon, but before she could react, Kin had already appeared behind her and yanked her hair tightly.
"Spent all your time on your looks, didn't you? I've never seen a ninja as pathetic as you," Kin sneered in disdain.
"Zaku, drag those two half-dead guys out here. Let's kill them right in front of this useless girl."
"Gladly," Zaku chuckled. He had no respect for girls like Sakura pretty on the outside, worthless in a fight. Outside the village, people like her wouldn't survive a single day.
"No!" Sakura gasped, her heart sinking. Regret surged through her. She was still so weak, unable to help anyone, just a burden to the team.
"Stay right where you are and watch, you piece of trash. Watch how your teammates die in front of you," Kin laughed cruelly.
Whoosh!
Just then, in the dense forest, Neji soared through the treetops. Using his link with the small snake, he accurately tracked Sakura's location.
"Sakura is far too weak. She has to change. Once this mission is done, the Sound trio can die," he murmured to himself.
A smirk tugged at Neji's lips. If he killed them now, would it affect the order of the Chūnin Exams? The thought was oddly thrilling.
Neji moved swiftly and soon arrived at a tall tree beside the hollow trunk where the confrontation was unfolding.
And just as he arrived, a dramatic scene unfolded before him.
Sakura, in the face of Kin's mockery, picked up a kunai and, with a decisive slash, cut off her own hair.
"I will protect Sasuke and Naruto. Neji said he was looking forward to fighting us. I can't fall here," she whispered, trying to summon strength into her shaking heart.
"Trash like you has no right to stand. Stay down where you belong," Kin sneered and threw a punch.
But Sakura's figure vanished in a puff of smoke Replacement Technique.
"Zaku, she's over on your side now."
"Yeah, yeah, finally something interesting. But don't underestimate me," Zaku grinned.
He abruptly turned and launched a powerful strike to the right. "Air Cutter!"
A forceful pressure wave blasted forward and hit Sakura head-on only for her to dissolve into a log once more.
"Another Replacement Technique?"
"How childish. You can't win with tricks like that," Dosu and Kin observed with a detached curiosity, savoring her struggle.
"Time to say goodbye to this world," Zaku growled. A dense blast of chakra surged from his palm and shot toward Sakura.
But it was yet another substitution.
In the next second, Sakura appeared behind Zaku and launched an attack.
From his perch on the treetop, Neji watched with silent approval.
"She's finally changed," he thought. "That's enough. She doesn't need to get hurt."
And then
"You three… it's time for you to die."
Without a sound, Neji vanished from his spot. Just as Zaku's kunai was about to strike Sakura, Neji appeared and whisked her away in a blur.
"Host has embraced Haruno Sakura. Reward unlocked: [Sakura Impact]."
Sakura Impact: Commonly referred to as "Monster Strength," it is a refined application of medical ninjutsu involving pinpoint chakra control and immense focus. No matter how tough the target, nothing can withstand this blow.
Neji was surprised. He hadn't expected to gain the legendary Monster Strength. Tsunade had once used this very power to shatter Uchiha Madara's Susano'o even if it hadn't been the full form, that feat alone was enough to be proud of.
Well then, now that the reward was in hand, it was time to act. Neji turned to face the Sound trio, his expression cold and disdainful.
Sensing his killing intent, Dosu shuddered uncontrollably.
"This doesn't concern you, kid. Leave now, or don't blame me for what happens next!"
"Oh? And what exactly are you going to do?"
In the blink of an eye, Neji appeared in front of Dosu. Pale blue chakra spiraled around his palm, forming into the head of a fierce lion.
"Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists."
His voice was calm, but the lion's head exploded in size in Dosu's eyes. Bang! The force sent Dosu flying, blood spurting from his mouth as his internal organs took a devastating blow.
Splurt!
A mouthful of blood spewed from Dosu's lips. His body was instantly sapped of strength.
The Gentle Fist style was brutal one light touch could paralyze. But this was no ordinary blow; it was a devastating technique that shattered from within.
"You were going to die anyway. This just speeds things up."
"You arrogant bastard! I'll kill you take this! Extreme Air Cutter!"
Zaku, now furious at Dosu's defeat, launched a massive gust of slicing wind from his palms, tearing a long trench in the earth.
But Neji had already vanished.
"Hah! Got what he deserved! No one survives my Extreme Air Cutter!"
Zaku laughed, though the technique had cost him a good deal of chakra. It was worth it, or so he thought.
Then came a voice, calm and chilling, from directly behind him.
"You seem pretty confident in that technique. But tell me can it save you now?"
Neji's hand, wrapped in tightly controlled chakra, closed gently around Zaku's wrist.
"Monster Strength."
Crack!
"Aaaaaah my hand!!"
The sound of bones shattering was followed by a scream that tore through the forest.
"Don't worry. It'll be over soon."
Neji's voice landed in Zaku's ears like the whisper of a demon. Before he could react, a kunai pierced his heart.
"Unbelievable… That was incredible," Sakura gasped, stunned.
Was this really the power of a genin?
Neji turned calmly toward the final two.
Each member of the Sound trio had strength close to that of a chūnin perhaps not quite there, but close.
To Neji now, that level was meaningless.
"Wait! Please… we surrender. As compensation, we'll give you our scrolls. Just let us go!" Dosu begged, trembling, his voice feeble and desperate.
Neji gave him a cold look. "Scrolls? Those are easy enough to get. And if I remember correctly, you tried to take me out back in the classroom, didn't you?"
Dosu paled. The fear in his eyes deepened.
Neji had no intention of sparing them.
Kin turned and ran. She didn't dare stay a moment longer.
But Neji had already raised a hand.
"Eight Trigrams Air Palm."
He thrust his palm forward, and a wave of compressed air shot toward Kin, relentless and precise.