"What? You said Sasuke woke up a long time ago?" Haruno Sakura froze, her mind racing as Lee's words sank in. Relief and excitement flashed across her face as she staggered to her feet, ignoring her bruises and fatigue. Without hesitation, she rushed toward the cave.
"Stop!" Rock Lee suddenly appeared in front of her, his voice calm but firm.
"Why are you stopping me? I need to check on Sasuke!" Sakura exclaimed, her eyes wide with worry.
"If you don't want Sasuke to die, you'll stay right here and wait," Lee said, his tone steady but authoritative.
"What do you mean by that?" Sakura asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. Her gaze darted to the cave entrance, her concern for Sasuke plain to see.
"The three in the cave are locked in a delicate standoff," Lee explained. "Naruto is still unconscious, leaving Sasuke alone to face two enemies. Right now, Sasuke holds the upper hand, but it's a fragile balance."
"If you go in now, you'll distract him," Lee continued. "The moment his focus shifts to you, he'll lose the advantage and open himself to an attack. That distraction could cost him his life."
"But…" Sakura bit her lip, her voice faltering. "Sasuke is outnumbered. Isn't he in danger? I could—"
"You could what?" Lee interrupted, his voice cutting through her hesitation. He gestured toward the lifeless body of Kin, the female Sound ninja. "Could you even defeat her?"
Sakura fell silent, shame washing over her. Her head lowered as she whispered, "No…"
"She was the weakest of the three," Lee said sharply. "If you can't even match her, how do you expect to help Sasuke against the others? You'd only make things worse."
Sakura trembled, the weight of his words sinking in. She had nothing to say in her defense, but tears began to form in her eyes. She hated herself for being so weak, for being unable to protect those she cared about most.
"If you go in, you'll not only distract Sasuke but may even be captured and used as leverage against him," Lee said, his tone softening slightly. "Do you really want to be a burden to him?"
"I…" Sakura's voice broke, and she fell to her knees, tears spilling freely. "Please, Lee, save Sasuke. I'm begging you."
Lee frowned, his arms crossed. "Stand up. Now."
Sakura hesitated, but the cold authority in Lee's gaze made her obey. She rose shakily to her feet, her tear-filled eyes pleading with him.
"Ninjas who kneel and beg for mercy on the battlefield won't survive," Lee said firmly. "The only person you can truly rely on in this world is yourself. That's the truth of our world."
Sakura's lip quivered, and she looked down, realizing the harsh truth in his words. "I understand," she muttered softly.
"Good," Lee said with a nod. "Now, let me make this clear: Sasuke doesn't need my help right now."
Sakura's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Lee smirked faintly. "Sasuke holds the advantage. He's already dominating the fight."
"What?" Sakura's disbelief was evident. "How? He's facing two enemies alone! How can he have the upper hand?"
"You underestimate him," Lee said. "In just one night, Sasuke has changed. His strength has grown tremendously, and his speed is far beyond what it was before. It's as if he's been reborn."
Inside the cave, Uchiha Sasuke stood motionless, his crimson Sharingan eyes fixed on Tōsu and Zaku. His dark hair swayed slightly in the still air, and an intense killing intent radiated from his body.
Tōsu and Zaku, despite their bravado, remained frozen, their nerves frayed by the oppressive aura emanating from Sasuke.
"What's happening?" Tōsu thought, sweat trickling down his face. "How is this boy so strong? He's just a Genin, fresh from the academy. This level of power is unreal!"
Sasuke's gaze was unwavering, his presence commanding. With every subtle movement, he exuded confidence and lethality.
Back outside, Lee continued explaining to Sakura. "Sasuke's battle with Orochimaru pushed him to his limits, unlocking his potential. The blood of the Uchiha clan, combined with the power of the Sharingan, has awakened within him. His strength and speed are on a whole new level."
"The Uchiha clan…" Sakura murmured, awe and disbelief warring within her. "They really are as powerful as the legends say."
"They are," Lee affirmed. "And right now, Sasuke is more than capable of handling those two."
Inside the cave, Tōsu's mind raced. "Why did Orochimaru send us here?" he wondered, his instincts warning him of a grim possibility. "Could it be… we were sent as sacrifices? A test to awaken Uchiha Sasuke's potential?"
The thought chilled him to the core. Orochimaru was ruthless, and the possibility of being used as mere pawns wasn't far-fetched.
"I need to think fast," Tōsu thought. "If I don't find a way to turn this around, we'll be slaughtered!"
Sasuke took a deliberate step forward, his Sharingan eyes glinting ominously. The cave grew colder, and Tōsu's chest tightened with fear.
Zaku, oblivious to the danger, clenched his fists and growled, "Tōsu, let's take him out already! He's just a kid!"
"No!" Tōsu snapped, his voice sharp. "Don't be reckless. He's stronger than he looks. One wrong move, and we're dead."
Sasuke's lips curled into a faint smirk, his confidence unshaken. The aura of the Uchiha clan filled the cave, suffocating his opponents with the weight of his presence.
Outside, Lee folded his arms, his gaze sharp and resolute. "Sasuke's awakening is his battle to fight. If you truly care for him, trust in his strength."
Sakura hesitated but nodded, clutching her hands tightly. "I'll wait. I'll believe in Sasuke."
Lee's expression softened. "Good. You're learning, Sakura."