28 Newfound Strength
"It's already dawn"
The young Haruno muttered, Sasuke and Naruto were resting while she kept watching outside, Sakura hadn't slept all night.
Her sleepy eyes shot awake as she heard hustle and bustle inside the bushes, holding a kunai in hand, she raised her guard and patiently waited.
The Haruno sighed a breath of relief, it was just a squirrel... No, it wasn't!
She quickly threw her Kunai at the imposter, it was carrying a paper bomb on its back! The squirrel ran away in fear.
"Phew... That was close... Enemies are nearby"
Her aura changed, Sakura stayed vigilant. Someone was targeting them for sure, and they aren't fools either.
***
"She's pretty tired, I wonder if she noticed the paper bomb we stuck on the squirrel'
The sound Nins was observing her, ready to strike at any time given.
"No... That's not it"
The short dude replied, his pupils shrunk, giving off a creepy vibe.
"...? What then Dosu? What's going on?"
The spiky-haired kid was puzzled, then what was is it?
"We'll have to get closer to find out... So... What are we waiting for?"
The short guy, known as Dosu replied back, his bloodlust rocketing.
***
Sakura's eyes widened feeling the bloodlust, her eyes darted behind to spot three Genins.
"Hehehe... You've been up all night guarding, eh?"
The spiky-haired kid viciously smirked.
"As of now, you're off duty, just wake Sasuke for us. The three of us want to take him on"
Sakura wasn't in the condition to fight, she knew full well Sasuke could defeat them with a flick of his wrist, that was precisely why she didn't choose to wake him up.
Every second of rest counted for him, Sakura wanted to stall them, even by vocal.
"What are you talking about?! I know that some guy named Orochimaru is the one who's been pulling all the strings... So what do you want?!"
The Sound trio was startled, how did she know that they were related to Orochimaru!? Unfortunately for them, she just made a wild guess and it hit the spot.
"Get out of here! Go!!"
Sakura held her Kunai, taking a stance.
"..... Hmm... I wonder what Orochimaru's up to?"
Dosu said, puzzling Sakura. She was right?
"Whatever... I can't walk away after hearing that. I'll destroy you, girl... And your little Sasuke too!"
"Wait, Zaku"
"Wait? Why?"
The spiky-haired boy, Zaku halted in his steps hearing Dosu's words.
The short sound nin knelt on the ground, running hand through its surface.
"It's obvious... Freshly turned stones, exposed soil... Grass in a place it would never grow... Someone's been setting booby traps, but what's the point of laying them if leave evidence that warns your prey?"
Dosu asked, his intuition right on the mark. His tone was of mockery, as he glanced at Sakura.
"It's amateurish!"
Zaku laughed, how was the girl so bad?
"Well, the girl is no use to us"
Dasu tilted his head, ready to engage in combat.
"So... The person who threw the kunai was trying to stop the squirrel from springing the trap?"
Zaku again laughed, so she didn't even figure out the fact that it held a paper bomb.
"Let's eliminate her first"
The trio jumped in the air, ready to kill her. Unknown to them, Sakura smirked, she cut off a wire beside her with her Kunai.
"!!"
"A log?!"
The trio gasped, so that was her intent all along!
"The trap was above us all along! Nooo!!"
Dosu held his arm forward, performing a tiger seal with his left, he slammed his right hand on the incoming gigantic log.
"Very funny!!"
Dosu roared, the log burst open in the middle like an egg, The Haruno's eyes widened.
'Huh?!!'
Sakura gripped her Kunai, ready to fight back!
"Leaf Hurricane!!!"
A green blur ran past her, spinning in the air, a kid wearing green spandex sent the sound Nins flying.
'!?'
Sakura was puzzled, where did he come from?
"Look at who's talking!"
'Whoa... Is that guy who...?'
The Haruno felt her heart flutter, who was he? She was sure she saw him somewhere, but where and when?
"Wh-Who are you?!"
Dosu asked after recovering from the kick, it hurt like bitch!
"K-"
Lee was interrupted by a yawn, he shifted his head to see Sasuke approaching them as he rubbed his eyes.
"What's all this commotion?"
He asked, visibly sleepy. He gazed at his surroundings, locking eyes with all the other Genins who were hiding, they flinched, he noticed them?!
Sasuke glanced at the sound Nins, they flinched.
'What's this feeling?'
Dosu asked himself, gripping his chest.
"Aha! Perfect, just the right guys to test out my new technique"
The Uchiha grinned, the Nins were startled, what was he talking about?
The mark on Sasuke's left hand spread through his left side upto his forehead, four claw-like marks ran through the left side of his face.
His eyes changed color, his pupils fully purple, no markings or tomoes in them, it was pure violet.
His markings lit teal 'n' black, circulating immense strength throughout his body.
Sasuke held out his left arm toward them, Dosu's eyes widened sensing the danger.
"Everyone! Get out!!"
His words were a little too late, the ground beneath Sasuke melted, the atmosphere became deadly hot, his sleeves and upper wear burned.
A small ball of teal 'n' black grew at the center of his palm, it expanded to a width of 10 meters.
"Nooo!!!"
Dosu and the duo ran, their eyes teared, their hearts sunk, faces pale and blood circulating like a train.
"Ka~Boom"
Sasuke smirked, the energy ball in front of him spread to 54 Meters in width and shot out like a beam, destroying the ground and everything in its path.
"Argh!!"
The Sound Nins cried out no no avail, they were engulfed inside the plasma-like beam, turned to smithereens, and ceased to exist from reality.
*Boom*
An explosion took place, every tree in the surroundings burned to a crisp. Smoke released from Sasuke's palm.
His mark faded away, returning to its normal diamond shape inside his palm. The others had their eyes bulged out, only one thought in their mind.
'Is he really just a Genin?'
_____
Quick question. Do you like
Requiem
Or
Apotheosis
