A faint rustling emanated from the haystack. Everyone tensed as they watched a small figure emerge.
"A… squirrel?" Sakura muttered, her voice low.
The tiny creature cautiously made its way toward them. But Sasuke's sharp eyes immediately caught something off. His Sharingan flickered as he focused.
"Wait. That squirrel… it has a detonator!"
His voice was a harsh whisper as he gestured subtly to Naruto and Sakura.
Naruto tilted his head, confused. "A detonator? On a squirrel? What are you talking about?"
Sasuke shot him a look of exasperation. Why is he always like this?
Following Sasuke's gaze, Naruto squinted at the small object tied to the squirrel. Finally, the realization hit. "Oh… that thing! Isn't that—"
Before he could say more, Sakura clamped a hand over his mouth, silencing him. Her sharp eyes darted toward the squirrel.
"They're trying to lure us into a trap," she whispered urgently. "Act natural."
The trio exchanged knowing glances, their bodies remaining relaxed to avoid suspicion. Without hesitation, Sasuke flicked a kunai, sending it hurtling into the ground in front of the squirrel, halting its progress.
The squirrel turned, startled, and scampered off in the opposite direction.
Unseen Watchers
High in the trees, three hidden figures observed the scene intently.
"Did they figure it out?" Zaku, one of the three Otogakure ninja, asked, his voice uncertain.
"It's possible," Dosu replied, frowning. "But it doesn't matter. We'll finish them regardless."
Zaku smirked. "Yeah. Let's teach these Konoha brats a lesson."
The trio prepared to strike when, unexpectedly, another voice rang out from the clearing.
Satoru's Entrance
"Huh? A squirrel?"
The Otogakure shinobi froze, surprised by the voice, while Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura turned in unison, their eyes widening in disbelief.
Charging toward the squirrel was none other than Satoru, his white hair catching the sunlight as he moved.
"What is he doing?!" Sakura hissed, her hands clenching into fists.
Naruto slapped his forehead. "Seriously? After all that, he's gonna fall for this?"
Sasuke could only groan internally, his Sharingan tracking Satoru's carefree movements. How can someone so clever be this stupid?
"Satoru, STOP!" Sasuke yelled, panic lacing his voice. "That's a trap!"
But it was too late. Satoru reached down and scooped up the squirrel, cradling it in his arms.
"Bang!"
The detonator exploded, sending a massive shockwave through the area. Flames and smoke billowed up, obscuring Satoru's figure entirely.
Chaos Erupts
Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura stared at the plume of smoke, their faces etched with disbelief.
"He… he couldn't have…" Sakura stammered.
Naruto's eyes darted back and forth. "No way. He's gotta be okay, right?"
Before they could process what had just happened, kunai rained down on them from above.
"Incoming!" Sasuke shouted, leaping aside as the sharp projectiles embedded themselves in the ground where he had just stood.
The Otogakure shinobi had seized their chance.
A Sudden Turn
"You let your guard down," Dosu sneered as he launched another attack, focusing on Sasuke.
Sasuke dodged swiftly, but as he moved, a sharp pain shot through his head. He staggered, clutching his ear. Blood seeped between his fingers.
"What…? I dodged, so why—?" he muttered, confused.
Dosu's smirk widened. "You're in over your head, kid. Sound-based attacks aren't so easy to avoid."
The Return of Satoru
Before Dosu could follow up, a familiar voice broke the tension.
"Hey, you're already injured again? Come on, Sasuke, you're making me look bad."
All eyes turned toward the clearing as Satoru emerged, entirely unharmed, with the squirrel still squirming in his arms.
Sasuke's mouth opened slightly in disbelief. He's alive?
"What?!" Dosu exclaimed, startled. "But… you were caught in the explosion!"
Satoru's lips curled into a smug grin. "Oh, that? You fell for my Orange Clone."
He gestured lazily at the charred remains of his decoy. "Looks just like me, doesn't it? Works every time."
Dosu's confusion turned to irritation. "You think you're clever, huh? Are you going to fight me next?"
Satoru immediately waved his hands in protest. "Oh, no, no. I don't do fighting. That's all Sasuke's job." With that, he shoved Sasuke forward.
Sasuke stumbled slightly, his Sharingan flickering with annoyance. Of course he'd leave this to me.
Sasuke's Resolve
Dosu smirked. "You won't last long against me, Uchiha."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that."
But as the fight began, Sasuke quickly realized something was wrong. Every time he moved, his strength seemed to falter. His balance wavered, his body betraying him.
"Sound…" he muttered, the realization dawning on him. The vibrations were disrupting his equilibrium, rendering him vulnerable.
Satoru's voice cut through his thoughts. "Finally caught on, huh?" He leaned casually against a tree, watching the fight unfold. "Sound attacks work by rupturing your eardrums and disrupting your semicircular canals. Pretty nasty stuff."
Dosu's smirk returned. "Knowing doesn't mean you can stop it."
Sasuke wiped the blood from his ear and steadied himself. "You're right. But I don't need to stop it—I just need to end this quickly."
The Counterattack
Sasuke's Sharingan activated fully, the second tomoe spinning into place. He locked onto Dosu's movements, analyzing every detail.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Sasuke shouted, sending a flurry of small fireballs toward Dosu.
"That won't work," Dosu said confidently, raising his arms to block. But hidden among the fireballs were several shuriken, which struck with precision.
"What?!" Dosu stumbled, momentarily distracted. Sasuke seized the opportunity, closing the distance in an instant.
With a swift kick, Sasuke sent Dosu flying into a nearby tree. Dosu's teammates rushed to his side, their expressions grim.
"Don't underestimate us again," Sasuke said coldly, his Sharingan glowing menacingly.
A Parting Thought
The Otogakure shinobi retreated, their confidence shaken. As they disappeared into the forest, Dosu glanced back at Satoru, who remained relaxed and smiling.
"Who is he…?" Dosu muttered under his breath. "How does he know so much?"
As silence fell over the clearing, Sasuke turned to Satoru, his expression a mix of exasperation and gratitude.
"You're impossible," he said flatly.
Satoru grinned. "And yet, here I am, saving the day."
This chapter combines humor, action, and clever tactics while advancing the story. Let me know if further tweaks are needed!
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