Chereads / Naruto: Martial God Art / Chapter 69 - weak

Chapter 69 - weak

"Hey, you silly girl sitting there, it's time to wake up." Early the next morning, Haruno Sakura was jolted by the sharp voice of a woman. Her tired eyes shot open, and she quickly reached for the kunai in her hand. Trembling, she turned to face the sound.

From his vantage point in the tree, Rock Lee silently observed the scene. His brows furrowed as he saw the three Genin from the Sound Village standing confidently before Sakura.

"They've finally arrived," Lee thought grimly.

His body was still, his presence undetectable as he leaned against the trunk of a large tree. The results of his training made him virtually silent, and even now, with the enemy below him, none of them sensed his presence.

But Lee had no intention of intervening yet. He knew that this confrontation, for both Haruno Sakura and Sasuke, was an opportunity for growth—a chance to face adversity and emerge stronger.

"You… what do you want?" Sakura stammered. She hadn't slept all night, and the strain was evident in her pale complexion and trembling hands. Even holding the kunai seemed to require all her strength.

The three Sound ninja smirked, their confidence growing as they sensed her weakness.

"Did you sit here guarding them all night?" the female ninja Kin sneered, stepping forward with a mocking grin. "How admirable… but it's no longer necessary. Help us wake up Sasuke. We're here to challenge him."

"What's your goal?" Sakura asked, her voice quivering but holding a note of defiance. "You're from Orochimaru's group, aren't you? What does he want with Sasuke?"

Kin shrugged indifferently, her mocking grin widening. "That's not your concern. We follow Orochimaru-sama's orders. He told us to come here, so we came. Simple as that."

"Enough talk! Hand over Sasuke!" snapped the long-haired Zaku.

"You're dreaming!" Sakura shouted, her voice trembling with desperation.

"Tōsu, I'm going to kill her," Kin said darkly, her voice brimming with cruel intent as she took a step toward Sakura.

"Not so fast," Tōsu said, raising a hand to stop her. With his hunched posture and calculating expression, he gave off an aura of quiet menace. He walked forward slowly, his small, precise steps resembling a tortoise's deliberate movements.

Kneeling, Tōsu brushed the ground with his hand. "Hah, this is so obvious. You think this trap will work?" he said mockingly, plucking a blade of grass from the soil.

Sakura's face turned pale. The trap she had spent the night setting had been discovered almost immediately.

Tōsu smirked as he pointed to the disturbed soil. "See here? The ground was freshly dug, and this grass doesn't belong here. If you're going to set a trap, at least make it believable."

"Now, enough games. Let's finish this!" Tōsu ordered.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

The three Sound ninja spread out, approaching Sakura from different directions. Their cold, murderous intent was palpable as they closed in.

But Sakura had prepared more than one trap. With a swift motion, she cut a nearly invisible thread. "Boom!" A massive tree stump crashed down from above, aiming directly at the trio.

The Sound ninja barely flinched.

"Another trap?" Tōsu said disdainfully, stepping forward as his hands moved in a blur of seals. "Pathetic."

"Boom!"

The massive stump shattered into splinters as Tōsu unleashed a sonic attack, his power easily breaking through Sakura's efforts.

"Is this all you've got?" Tōsu said, his voice dripping with contempt.

From his perch, Lee's sharp eyes watched the scene unfold. "Tōsu has developed a technique that uses sound as a weapon. Impressive for someone like him," Lee thought, his hand brushing the stones he had prepared earlier. He would intervene if Sakura's life was truly in danger, but he wanted to see how she would handle the situation.

On the ground, Sakura stared in horror as her trap was destroyed. Despair washed over her, and she dropped to her knees. Tears filled her eyes as she thought of Naruto and Sasuke lying unconscious behind her.

"Why am I so weak? Why can't I protect them?" she thought, her heart aching.

The Sound trio approached her, their eyes filled with disdain.

"She's given up already," Kin said with a laugh. "Let me handle her."

Kin strode forward, grabbing a fistful of Sakura's pink hair and pulling it harshly.

"You spend so much time taking care of this hair. Why don't you spend more time training instead?" Kin sneered, her voice dripping with jealousy. "Do you think your looks will save you in battle?"

Sakura winced in pain as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Kin drew a kunai, waving it menacingly in front of Sakura. "First, I'll cut off this disgusting hair. Then I'll deal with you."

But before Kin could make a move, a lazy voice rang out.

"Cutting her hair? That's a bit dramatic, isn't it?"

Kin froze, spinning around to locate the source of the voice.

"Who's there?!" she demanded, raising her kunai defensively.

"Whoosh!"

A small stone flew through the air, striking Kin's hand with pinpoint accuracy. She cried out as the kunai clattered to the ground, blood dripping from her palm.

"Ahh! My hand!" she screamed, clutching her injured wrist.

On a branch above, Lee stepped into view, his arms crossed and an air of calm confidence about him.

"A woman's jealousy is truly terrifying," Lee said with a faint smirk. His sharp gaze locked onto the Sound trio.

"Who are you?!" Kin snarled, backing away.

"Me?" Lee said, leaping gracefully to the ground. His presence radiated a quiet strength, and the air seemed to grow heavier around him. "I'm just someone who won't stand by while you attack my comrades."