Naruto: Mizuki The Savior

Chapter 39: The Difference in Strength

Sasuke Uchiha, now vastly enhanced in both speed and power, effortlessly took down Kin. Without hesitation, he followed up by unleashing a Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique wrapped around his shuriken, targeting Zaku once again. The attack came so fast that Zaku had no time to dodge and was forced to counter with his Decapitating Airwave, trying to disperse the flames. However, in doing so, he left himself open—before he could react, the shuriken struck him.

Before the horrified Zaku could even process what had happened, Sasuke had already closed the distance. For someone like Zaku, whose primary attacks relied on airwaves, engaging Sasuke in close combat was nothing short of a nightmare. In an instant, Sasuke seized him, locked both of his arms, and slammed him onto the ground.

The fight ended so quickly that everyone watching was caught off guard.

As Sasuke basked in the intoxicating thrill of his newfound power, a twisted smile formed on his face. His cold, merciless demeanor was a stark contrast to his usual composure, and the cursed seal was clearly amplifying the darkness within him.

With two of his teammates already taken down, Dosu was left with no choice but to submit before Sasuke's overwhelming strength. Kneeling in surrender, he handed over their scroll in exchange for mercy, then carried the unconscious Kin and the injured Zaku away.

"Sasuke Uchiha, you may be strong, but I am no weakling either," Dosu thought as he retreated. "If we were to fight to the death, the outcome wouldn't be so certain. If we meet again, I'll settle this once and for all."

Among the three Sound-nin, Dosu was arguably the most rational. Unlike his teammates, he wasn't bloodthirsty or cruel—he had even tried to prevent unnecessary killing in the past. Kneeling to save his teammates was an act of pragmatism rather than cowardice. However, what truly weighed on his mind was the realization that Orochimaru had merely used them as stepping stones for Sasuke's growth.

Still, Dosu had not given up entirely. "Not yet. First, I need to confirm some things. Then, I'll have my final battle with Sasuke."

---

With the Sound-nin gone, Sakura Haruno let out a sigh of relief. But it was too soon to celebrate.

The power granted by the cursed seal was still influencing Sasuke, both physically and mentally. Unlike his usual cautious demeanor, his current mindset was aggressive—he wanted to vent every grievance he had ever endured, and the immense strength coursing through him filled him with unshakable confidence.

"Come out, you cowards. I know you're there," Sasuke suddenly called out, sensing the presence of hidden observers.

Realizing they had been detected, Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten emerged from their hiding spot.

"So, it's you three," Sasuke sneered, his gaze locking onto Lee. Perfect.

He hadn't forgotten his humiliating defeat against Lee before the exam began. Now, finally, he had the chance to pay him back.

"We're not here to fight you," Lee tried to explain. "We only stepped in because Sakura was—"

Before he could finish, Sasuke launched a sudden attack. A rapid flurry of punches and kicks sent Lee sprawling to the ground.

"You're much slower than before," Sasuke mocked.

Lee, caught off guard by Sasuke's sudden surge in strength, had no time to properly react. Worse still, Sasuke showed no intention of holding back. In just a few moves, Lee had already sustained serious injuries.

The opponent who had once dominated him had now become his prey. Overwhelmed by his own growing power, Sasuke couldn't hold back his excitement. In a flash, he reappeared behind Neji.

"I hear you were last year's top graduate. The so-called 'strongest Genin in Konoha,' huh?" Sasuke smirked. "Let's see how strong you really are."

Just as he was about to attack, Sasuke suddenly froze in place.

"You rookies never know your place," Neji said calmly, turning to face him. He had already activated his Byakugan, and chakra surged around him in a way that subtly altered the surrounding space. Unaware of how the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist operated, Sasuke had carelessly walked straight into a trap.

"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms."

Some mocked the Hyuga clan for underutilizing the full potential of the Byakugan, comparing it to using a machine gun as a hammer. But in situations like this, its effectiveness in battle was undeniable. Against an opponent who was weaker and unaware of their techniques, the Gentle Fist was devastating. Sasuke was a prime example of someone who had underestimated its power. Before he could even fight back, he was overwhelmed.

"What… how…?" Sasuke gasped, his body unresponsive. His so-called invincibility had just been shattered in an instant.

"You fool," Neji said coldly. "Did you really think that just because you took advantage of Lee's carelessness, you were suddenly the strongest? You don't even understand the gap between us."

Sasuke, completely unable to move, watched helplessly as Neji stepped forward and snatched away the scroll that the Sound-nin had surrendered.

"This will be our prize," Neji declared. "I hope that next time we meet, you'll actually be worth my time. Honestly, this wasn't even as tough as Lee's usual training exercises."

Humiliated, Sasuke had no way to refute Neji's words. The difference in their power was undeniable.

"Oh, and one more thing," Neji added. "Whether I'm the strongest Genin or not doesn't matter. Because even the strongest Genin is still just a Genin."

With that, Neji and Tenten helped Lee to his feet and left, leaving Sasuke fuming in frustration.

"Damn it!" Sasuke clenched his teeth. "Was I too reckless?"

As the cursed seal receded, the backlash of its power hit him hard. His body, exhausted from overexertion, wavered unsteadily.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura rushed over to support him.

"I'm fine," he muttered. "But I won't be able to use my chakra for a while. I'm out of commission for now."

"That's a relief," Sakura said with a small smile. As long as he was safe, that was all that mattered. In her love-struck mind, everything else—including Orochimaru's looming threat and the cursed seal's ominous influence—could wait. Once the exam was over, she was sure Kakashi-sensei would be able to solve everything.

Just as the dust was settling, new figures appeared on the scene.

Sasuke turned, narrowing his eyes. "You guys?"

It was none other than the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

"Looks like you're not in great shape either," Shikamaru Nara commented, immediately assessing both sides' conditions.

---

With both teams weakened and outnumbered by stronger enemies in the Forest of Death, they decided to form a temporary alliance.

Meanwhile, hidden in the nearby foliage, a glint of light reflected off a pair of glasses.

Kabuto Yakushi had been watching everything unfold, taking in every detail with keen interest.

---

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