Naruto: Mizuki The Savior

Chapter 36: Total Annihilation

Compared to Karin, Sakura's situation was no better.

Without Sasuke and Naruto, the glaring difference in her strength had become painfully obvious. In the dangerous Forest of Death, there was hardly anyone weaker than her.

Carrying her two unconscious teammates, Sakura didn't make it far before she was forced to stop. She found a large hollow in a tree, carefully laid Naruto and Sasuke inside, and began setting up simple traps around them.

After finishing the external defenses, she moved inside the tree hollow and activated a barrier technique she had only recently learned. She barely understood its principles, but she could at least use it effectively enough to hide them from enemies.

"Please wake up soon… I can't do this alone."

A deep feeling of helplessness welled up in her heart. The mocking words of that mysterious examiner from the preliminary test echoed in her mind.

"In the end… I really am just a burden."

At the moment Sakura activated her barrier, Mizuki—who was resting at home—immediately sensed it.

"Having full control over proprietary techniques is really convenient—I can leave backdoors whenever I want."

The barrier Sakura had used was something Mizuki had personally created. He hadn't expected her to master it so quickly, not even a few days after he had left it for her.

Barrier techniques, much like sealing jutsu, weren't something that just any shinobi could learn. They were complex, requiring both intelligence and practical experience. Usually, only high-level ninjas or those with special talent could grasp them.

Yet Sakura, with no prior training, had already put it to use.

Mizuki couldn't help but be impressed.

"She really is a genius. No wonder she was one of the Twelve. Even if Tsunade trained her later, she wouldn't have been chosen if she weren't naturally gifted."

The specific barrier technique he had given her was a simplified, modified version of a chakra absorption seal. In large-scale applications, it could draw chakra from the environment to sustain itself, making it efficient and low-cost.

Mizuki had further optimized and condensed the technique, adding stealth and minor illusion effects, transforming it into a practical concealment barrier.

As an additional feature, the barrier emitted a special encoded signal that only Mizuki himself could detect. Whenever one of his barriers was activated, he could immediately sense its location, as long as it wasn't too far away.

"What was meant as a simple backup plan might actually turn out useful… Once the second exam is over, I should go see if there's anything worth retrieving."

He was still congratulating himself on his foresight—completely unaware that this small act of preparation was about to trigger a much larger chain reaction.

---

Because Sakura's barrier had concealed Sasuke's location, the Sound Trio had been searching without success.

With Orochimaru's orders to kill Sasuke, they grew impatient and began interrogating other Konoha genin for information.

Their unfortunate targets?

The Ino-Shika-Chō trio.

---

Nara Shikamaru frowned as he analyzed their situation.

They were outmatched.

Worse, they knew almost nothing about the enemy.

The only thing they had to go on was that the leader, Dosu Kinuta, had used a sound-based attack to injure Kabuto, a shinobi who had already taken the exam multiple times.

That alone was enough to raise alarms.

"We mean no harm to Konoha," Dosu began. "We only need one thing: tell us where Uchiha Sasuke is."

Shikamaru's mind raced.

Sasuke? They were looking for him?

"Damn it. If we knew where he was, we'd use that to get out of this mess."

He feigned ignorance. "We have no idea where he is."

Chōji, still munching on his snacks, naively confirmed it. "Yeah! We've been looking for them too! We want their scroll!"

Dosu's expression darkened.

"So… you're refusing to cooperate?"

Before Shikamaru could respond, the hotheaded Zaku Abumi scoffed. "I told you—there's no point in talking. We should just beat them down and take what we need."

The situation had clearly turned hostile.

Shikamaru moved first.

"Chōji, now!"

His Shadow Imitation Technique successfully paralyzed Dosu.

"Got him!"

But before they could capitalize, Zaku reacted instantly.

With a swift motion, he raised his arms—"Decapitating Airwaves!"

A violent shockwave blasted them off their feet.

Shikamaru barely had time to curse.

"Damn… they're too strong."

Their team wasn't built for direct combat. Their strength lay in teamwork and coordination, with Chōji acting as the main attacker while Ino and Shikamaru provided support.

But now?

They were completely overwhelmed.

"Ino!" Shikamaru shouted. "Take control of the one with the air waves! If he keeps attacking, we're screwed!"

Before Ino could respond, a pair of metal needles flew toward Shikamaru, forcing him to dodge.

"Did you forget about me?"

Kin Tsuchi smirked, having been completely overlooked until now.

"Damn. She's a problem."

Her attacks were subtle and difficult to predict. With her in play, Shikamaru couldn't focus on his plan.

"Ino! Change target—take control of the girl instead!"

But he was too late.

Dosu had already broken free.

He rushed forward, his right hand raised—and struck Ino directly in the chest.

A deep, reverberating shockwave sent her flying.

She landed hard, coughing up blood before collapsing unconscious.

"Ino!"

Shikamaru's mind screamed.

His plans were falling apart.

Then, Kin's genjutsu activated.

Both Shikamaru and Chōji hesitated for a split second—and that was all it took.

"Decapitating Airwaves!"

The shockwave slammed into them, knocking them down instantly.

Both were incapacitated before they even had a chance to counter.

---

Total defeat.

Shikamaru lay on the ground, barely conscious, bitterly realizing just how powerless they were.

"No amount of strategy can compensate for this kind of power difference."

His mind was sharp. His plans were brilliant.

But none of it mattered.

They had been outclassed.

---

As the Ino-Shika-Chō team lay defeated, a sinister chakra suddenly pulsed through the forest.

Even from a distance, they could feel its malice.

It was dark. Cold. Unnatural.

Kin narrowed her eyes. "Dosu… that chakra just now—"

Dosu's gaze shifted toward the direction of the ominous presence.

"…Sasuke?"

"Should we finish them off first, then go check it out?" Zaku asked, eager to kill.

Dosu shook his head. "No. Sasuke is our priority."

Zaku clicked his tongue. "Tch. Lucky bastards."

They turned away, leaving their three unconscious victims behind.

Their sights were now set on a much bigger prize.

---

Read up to 20 chapter ahead of time on patreon.com/Legendryweeb

{please give this novel 5 Star review and power stone}

*Thank you*