"Damn it, this can't be happening!" Lee thought anxiously.
Not long ago, he had barely escaped from the clutches of this terrifying female ninja, and it had cost him dearly—his left shoulder was broken by a single palm strike from her. He hadn't recovered yet, and his strength was greatly reduced. If he encountered her again now, escaping might not even be possible.
Could it really be her again? Lee's heart pounded as he stared into the forest where the violent wind was coming from.
In his memories as of Sion Mun a Martial God, Lee had countless powerful techniques, that even foes at the level of Martial Kings and Martial Saints could not fathom. But now, with his current weak state, even an opponent of modest power in this world felt overwhelmingly dangerous.
His mind flashed with frustration. I just need time, he thought. With time, he believed he could reach a legendary level of power that even his past self hadn't achieved. But dying now, before he could grow, would be a waste.
"Stay sharp! There could be new enemies!" Sasuke's voice cut through the wind as he tried to alert Naruto and Sakura. But with the howling wind and dust swirling around, they couldn't hear him.
Then, a spine-chilling laugh echoed through the forest.
"It's really her. Damn it!" Lee's heart sank as he recognized the voice. His worst fear was confirmed—this was indeed the same terrifying female ninja. He steadied himself, blending his energy with the tree he was hiding in, making himself as undetectable as possible.
Three ninjas appeared, moving swiftly with the "Wind Style" technique. In the middle of them stood the woman Lee had barely escaped from.
"You two, stay back. I'll handle this alone," she ordered her companions in a commanding tone.
"Yes," the two ninjas responded instantly, backing away. They seemed almost afraid to be near her, like mice avoiding a cat.
Watching from his hiding place, Lee noticed how the two ninjas obeyed her like frightened children. His sympathy was mixed with caution. He looked over at Sasuke, who was hiding in the tall grass, kunai in hand, carefully watching and waiting.
Sakura, meanwhile, stood frozen in fear, while Naruto was nowhere to be seen—likely blown off by the gust earlier.
"Sakura!" Sasuke called, trying to break her out of her stupor. His voice seemed to snap her back to reality, and she rushed toward him.
"Code," Sasuke demanded coldly, kunai ready. "What does a ninja seek?"
"The perfect moment when the enemy is off guard," Sakura responded quickly, remembering their secret code.
Sasuke nodded in relief, lowering his guard. Just then, Naruto's voice called out from a distance, "Hey! Are you guys okay?"
"Wait, Naruto—give us the code first!" Sakura called out, holding her breath.
Naruto grinned. "Got it! 'The perfect moment when the enemy is off guard!' See, I remembered it!"
"Good, it's really him," Sakura sighed in relief, though Sasuke's expression darkened. Without a word, he threw his kunai directly at Naruto.
"Hey! What's that for?" Naruto yelped, barely dodging the kunai.
"Sakura, stay alert," Sasuke warned, eyes narrowed. "If he can dodge that well, he's not Naruto."
"What… what do you mean, Sasuke?" Sakura stammered, confused. "Didn't he get the code right?"
"Exactly," Sasuke replied coldly. "Do you really think the real Naruto could remember such a long code?"
"And even if he could," Sasuke added, "the way he dodged my kunai wasn't Naruto's style. He moved too smoothly—not like anyone from the Leaf."
The fake Naruto let out a low, chilling chuckle. His eyes gleamed coldly, and a long, red tongue slipped out, licking his lips and chin, an eerie sight that sent shivers down their spines.
"You really are the last of the Uchiha clan… impressive," the figure said, transforming back into the long-haired female ninja.
"Who are you?" Sasuke demanded, his voice filled with anger and suspicion, deeply disturbed by the woman's words and appearance.