In battle, raw strength isn't always the deciding factor between victory and defeat. Countless variables can shift the tide. One moment of underestimation, one lapse in judgment, and Dosu Kinuta found himself in a precarious situation.
Had he responded properly at the start, victory might have been within reach. But the injury he sustained early on significantly impaired his performance. When the difference in power is marginal, even a small disadvantage can prove fatal—especially when facing Haruno Sakura, the most troublesome kind of opponent: a medical ninja trained to outlast and endure.
Dosu's signature sonic attack, generated through the Melody Arm Gauntlet, had little effect. With that option neutralized, he was forced into a battle of attrition—one where Sakura's stamina and chakra control gave her the upper hand. The serious injury he sustained at the beginning rendered any long-term fight hopeless. If the match dragged on, he would collapse before she did.
In the stands, beside Mizuki—who was quietly analyzing the match—a puff of chakra-infused smoke erupted. From it emerged Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai.
Mizuki glanced at them, unimpressed. "Why are you two down here? Weren't you supposed to keep an eye on the VIPs above?"
Asuma lit a cigarette, exhaled a slow breath, and replied, "There aren't enough personnel. For now, we're monitoring the situation down here. Most of the daimyō have their own guards, so they'll hold out."
"Oh? I thought you were just here to cheer on Shikamaru."
Asuma smirked. "No need. Shikamaru's smart. If he wants to win, he'll find a way. The Chūnin Exams aren't beyond him."
Then, his eyes narrowed as he turned back to the match. "Still, Haruno Sakura—when did she get this good? She's completely shutting down Dosu, and he wiped the floor with Chōji before. Kakashi's team really is something. He led them for barely a year, and they're already this sharp."
Kurenai, sharp-eyed as always, leaned forward. "The genjutsu she used in the opening was well-timed and executed with precision. But what I'm more curious about is the chakra coating over her body. What kind of technique is that? Is it enhancing her resistance to Dosu's sound-based attacks?"
"Chakra coating like that requires very fine control," Mizuki noted. "To sustain it while in motion is no small feat, especially for a genin. It's rare even among jōnin. But look closely—this isn't just a chakra shell. She's adapting its shape and density in real-time to redirect vibrational damage."
Indeed, the aura around Sakura shimmered subtly—almost like armor. Though not as durable as Gaara's sand, it provided partial resistance against sonic vibrations. Mizuki recognized the technique: a modified chakra shield augmented by breath-holding training and finely tuned elemental manipulation, possibly Water Release. The shield's porous design absorbed and scattered air vibrations—neutralizing Dosu's attacks through noise-cancellation principles like resonance disruption and acoustic dampening.
"These countermeasures wouldn't work against a top-tier foe," Mizuki admitted, "but they're perfect for this level of sonic assault. Sakura is adapting with every exchange. Unless Dosu escalates, he's out of options."
To the untrained eye, the fight may have appeared evenly matched, but to experienced shinobi, Sakura's dominance was clear. Victory was a matter of time—until Dosu made a desperate move.
"Wait…" Mizuki muttered. "Something's changed. Dosu's rhythm—he's getting reckless."
Dosu, breathing heavily, began to feint and retreat, drawing Sakura forward. Mizuki's eyes narrowed. "He's luring her in. A last-ditch counterattack."
Sakura, relentless and calm, pressed the advantage. With her enhanced strength and agility, she closed the distance and drove a chakra scalpel toward Dosu's shoulder—piercing through layers of muscle and reopening an earlier wound. Blood burst forth.
"I've won," Sakura said, certain.
But Dosu's mouth twisted into a grim smile.
"Won?" he rasped, then suddenly grabbed Sakura's wrist with his seemingly paralyzed left hand. "Too early to say that."
His right fist lashed out with brutal force, bypassing her chakra barrier and slamming into her abdomen. The sonic reverberations followed milliseconds later, amplified through physical impact rather than through the Melody Arm. Sakura reeled, her shield momentarily disrupted.
Without giving her time to recover, Dosu lunged again, attempting to land a finishing blow before she could regain her footing. But even as her body flew backward, Sakura's composure held. Her left palm glowed with green healing chakra—Mystical Palm Technique—rapidly repairing the internal damage from the punch.
With a flick of her right wrist, a chakra thread shot out, anchoring to a tree branch nearby. She yanked herself mid-air, redirecting her fall and avoiding the follow-up strike. Her landing was harsh, sliding across the ground—but controlled.
Dosu staggered. That last sequence had drained what little energy he had left.
The audience erupted. What had started as a tepid tactical exchange had erupted into a savage back-and-forth that left both fighters bloodied and breathless. The crowd cheered wildly—many too untrained to grasp what had just occurred, but enthralled all the same.
Mizuki exhaled slowly, eyes fixed on the girl rising to her feet once more.
"…This is the final lesson a teacher can't give you," he murmured. "Take up arms… and be prepared to kill—or be killed."
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