Seeing Sakura stand up, Naruto—who had been nervously biting his nails moments before—finally breathed a sigh of relief. When Dosu Kinuta struck Sakura with a heavy, desperate blow, Naruto's tension turned into cheers.
"Be quiet, Naruto. Sakura's already won," Mizuki said calmly.
Dosu's last-ditch effort hadn't changed the outcome. The result was all but decided.
"Kakashi's team has won two matches already," Mizuki continued, "and they're going to keep raising the bar. They won't be able to look up to the Third Hokage's generation unless they catch up fast."
He glanced toward the stands where Yuhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma watched. "Only one Genin each from Kurenai's and Asuma's squads have made it this far. Compared to Shino and Shikamaru, who barely look motivated, Sakura and the others are lightyears ahead."
Off the field, Sakura took a moment to tend to her injuries, keeping a sharp eye on Dosu, who was barely on his feet.
"You have no chance. Just admit defeat before you get seriously hurt," Mizuki advised quietly, noting how pale and bloodied Dosu looked.
Dosu's vision blurred, but his voice was firm. "I'm not giving up. Yin Ren never surrendered. Death is the only option."
Seeing his resolve, Sakura stopped pressing. Instead, she looked toward the examiner, Shiranui Genma, standing by.
"Do you want to continue, Lord Examiner?"
Shiranui nodded. "The opponent refuses to yield. The match will go on. If he were a Konoha ninja, we'd end it now, but if Dosu wants to die for his pride, let him."
As time passed, Dosu's condition worsened. Summoning every last ounce of strength, he staggered after Sakura, hoping for a miracle against the seriously injured girl.
Sakura didn't hesitate. She channeled chakra to her feet to accelerate, using the chakra threads from her palm to glide and avoid Dosu's clumsy advances. The pain from her wounds was sharp, and focusing on maintaining her delicate chakra armor was nearly impossible. It was smarter to evade and let Dosu exhaust himself.
The fight became a one-sided chase: Dosu stumbling, trying to catch Sakura, who easily dodged with agile, precise movements. His speed flagged, attacks grew weaker.
Even the casual spectators could see how this would end.
"As a ninja, persistence is admirable," Asuma said, shaking his head, "but sometimes it's just futile."
"Maybe it's desperation," Mizuki replied softly.
As a devoted follower of Orochimaru, Mizuki understood the feeling of being discarded—like a pawn in a cruel game. Dosu wasn't evil, but this world never gave him a chance to be good. Orochimaru knew such pawns well and used them ruthlessly. Dosu's only chance to redeem himself was to defeat Sasuke Uchiha—Orochimaru's favored—and reclaim his master's favor.
"It's a shame. This is all I can do," Dosu muttered, eyes dimming. "No chance against Sasuke... Orochimaru's right—we're weak."
Darkness crept into his vision, and he barely felt Sakura's punches.
"Hey, don't you think Sakura's fighting style is unusual?" Kurenai said, observing carefully. "It doesn't really match Kakashi's style."
Sakura's use of genjutsu was clever, and her agility impressive, which fit Kakashi's versatile teaching. But her medical ninjutsu—the chakra scalpel, Mystical Palm Technique—and that unique chakra coating and thread manipulation were different. Kakashi never used such refined healing or those kinds of defense and mobility techniques.
Kakashi's style leaned toward fast, straightforward battles. Sakura's elegance and chakra control were beyond his usual approach.
Naruto spun around. "That's because Kakashi didn't teach her all of it! He focused on Sasuke's special training, leaving me to big guys like Mizuki and Sakura's teachers."
"I didn't expect Sakura to get this strong," Naruto added.
Kurenai and Asuma looked at Mizuki expectantly.
Mizuki sighed. "Honestly, Asuma, Kakashi only really sees Sasuke. Ino's noticed too—she's been improving lately, but she hardly talks about it. She's too busy playing shogi with Shikamaru."
Ino walked over with a smile. "I've learned a lot recently, but yeah, Kakashi barely cares. He's got adult problems to deal with, unlike me—I've got time for picking up girls."
"The troubles of adults?" Naruto asked, confused.
"Don't get distracted," Mizuki said, rolling his eyes. "Watch the next match carefully. Soon it'll be your turn to face Sakura. If you're not prepared, you'll get crushed."
"Where is Kakashi anyway? The next match's been delayed a long time," Naruto wondered.
Before Mizuki could reply, the match ended. Dosu, bloodied and exhausted, collapsed. Sakura flicked her fingers, weaving chakra threads to tie him up tightly before pulling him down with force.
"Victor: Haruno Sakura," Shiranui announced briskly. Medical ninjas rushed in.
"It's over!" the crowd cheered.
Though the match lacked fireworks, Sakura's performance was the highlight—her excellent fighting skill, tactical mind, and combination of ninjutsu and medical techniques marked her as exceptional. For a genin, she was already rare talent.
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