Karin shook her head in response.
She hadn't sensed any trace of the enemy's sensory ninja.
It was as if the enemy had already obtained their information and was charging toward them with clear intent.
Sakura observed the scene silently without uttering a word.
The stealth techniques of the White Zetsu were arguably the most advanced concealment jutsu in the shinobi world.
Only Naruto, after mastering the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, could clearly distinguish White Zetsu through his ability to sense malice and goodwill.
However, that required obtaining the target's chakra to perfectly mimic their transformation.
It seemed that the White Zetsu had inadvertently discovered their unit while Karin was resting.
But considering the possibility of sensory ninja within the group, they hadn't gotten too close. Otherwise, upon discovering Sakura's presence in the unit, they likely wouldn't have arranged an ambush.
"Ten kilometers."
"Five kilometers."
"Three kilometers."
"They've split into groups of four."
Karin continuously reported the enemy's movements.
Asuma had already given the order for everyone to prepare the moment Karin spoke.
This supply unit consisted of about fifty ninja.
Among them was someone of Sakura's caliber.
Fifty against twenty-four—the advantage was clearly on their side.
Asuma was quite confident about this.
Even so, Asuma instructed everyone to hold their positions and wait for the enemy to come to them.
A black-haired boy silently followed beside one of the carriages, his hand already resting in a position where he could swiftly draw the sword at his waist.
It had been a while since his last battle with Darui. During that time, aside from recovering from his injuries, Sasuke had been constantly replaying that fight in his mind.
Even after learning from Sakura that Darui was the Raikage's bodyguard, Sasuke's expression remained unchanged.
The Raikage's bodyguard was still a jonin.
His status didn't make him stronger or weaker.
If he couldn't win, he couldn't win. There was no need to make excuses for himself.
All he needed was to grow stronger.
"They've split into six groups and have surrounded us."
Karin spoke calmly, her voice steady.
"Mm, Choji, remember to protect Karin later."
Sakura's words immediately made the already nervous Choji even more tense.
"Don't be nervous, Choji. You're strong."
Seeing the chubby boy beside her, Sakura couldn't help but cheer him on.
"Y-yeah, I-I can do it."
Choji stammered in response.
Shikamaru remained silent.
This was nothing like the ninja games they had played before. This was a real life-and-death battle—no, not a battle, but a war.
"They're here."
Karin suddenly spoke.
Her words seemed to signal the start of the Cloud ninja's attack.
Dozens of kunai, their tails wrapped with explosive tags, shot toward the convoy from six different directions!
The gleaming black kunai stood out starkly against the snowy landscape.
The Konoha ninja, already prepared, stepped forward. Six of them formed hand seals and shouted in unison:
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
Six earthen walls rose from the snow, blocking the barrage of kunai!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosive tags attached to the kunai detonated against the walls, the blasts sending snow flying into the air.
The intense flames mixed with the pure white snow created a strangely beautiful scene.
But no one had time to admire the view.
The moment the six ninja stepped forward, the Cloud ninja realized they had been discovered.
However, shinobi lived by the code of obeying orders and completing missions.
Even though they had been exposed, they didn't retreat. Instead, they charged toward the Konoha unit!
The Earth Style users among them immediately began forming hand seals, targeting the conspicuous supply carriages.
"Earth Style: Ground Collapse!"
As the name suggested, the ground began to ripple and surge toward the convoy!
The other Cloud ninja drew their swords and kunai, charging fearlessly toward the Konoha unit!
Just as the rippling earth was about to reach the convoy, a pink figure dashed forward, her raised fist slamming into the ground!
The earth shattered, and a massive chunk of ground was lifted into the air by the force of her punch!
Even without using any specific jutsu, Sakura's precise chakra control allowed her to achieve effects akin to Earth Style with sheer physical strength!
The rippling earth was instantly disrupted by Sakura's punch!
By now, Asuma had already engaged the Cloud ninja with the rest of the unit.
"Sakura!"
"The two enemy jonin haven't shown themselves!"
"One's underground, the other's in the snow. Both are moving this way!"
Karin shouted to Sakura.
Having received Karin's information, Sakura didn't waste any time. Within this range, her Sensory Sphere Technique was already active.
After quickly telling Karin to stay hidden, Sakura turned toward the Cloud jonin hiding underground and slammed her fist into the ground!
Hiding underground, huh?!
If you don't want to come out, then don't!
Boom!
The terrifying force of her punch was like a bomb exploding!
Sakura held nothing back against her enemies.
This guy's Earth Style was decent, but he placed too much faith in it.
Hiding underground might be stealthy, but once discovered, where could he run?!
The Cloud jonin underground didn't even have time to scream before being crushed to death by Sakura's monstrous strength!
If he had been on the surface, he might have been able to exchange a few blows with Sakura. But he wasn't a White Zetsu with their unique floating technique—how could he move freely underground?
"So... so strong."
Karin, with her Sensory Mind Eye, naturally sensed the underground ninja's death.
After taking out the hidden jonin with a single punch, Sakura didn't stop. She immediately charged toward the ninja concealed in the snow within her Sensory Sphere.
"It's... it's Haruno Sakura!"
By now, someone had recognized Sakura.
Having personally defeated and captured the Two-Tails in the heart of Cloud territory, and then fought the Raikage to a standstill, Sakura's appearance had been imprinted in the minds of all Cloud ninja.
She had even been given a bounty by the Raikage in the underground black market.
Thirty-five million ryo.
The same as a certain member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
This was an exceptionally high bounty.
In the current shinobi world, it was second only to the Five Kage and a few other long-renowned ninja.
Figures like Orochimaru, Chiyo, Gengetsu, and Dodai all had bounties exceeding fifty million.
The highest bounty in the underground black market had once been placed on the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, by some fool who dared to offer ten billion.
Next was Madara Uchiha, with a bounty of eight hundred and fifty million.
As Sakura's identity was recognized by the Cloud ninja, many of them froze for a moment, but they still gritted their teeth and continued their mission to destroy the supplies.
Haruno Sakura's name hadn't yet reached the level where encountering her would allow them to abandon the mission without penalty.
Asuma's trench knives whirled through the air with fierce precision.
Though his weapons seemed similar to Sakura's knuckle dusters—both relying on hand-to-hand combat—his fighting style was fundamentally different. He used the sharpness of his Wind Style chakra to cut through enemies, a stark contrast to Sakura's brute-force approach.
With a swift slash, Asuma's trench knives tore through the lightning wielded by a Cloud ninja, and with a single strike, he severed the enemy's head. Hot blood sprayed like a fountain!
Wind Style naturally countered Lightning Style, and Asuma had been having a field day on the battlefield in the Land of Frost.
Moreover, like Kakashi and Might Guy, Asuma had lived through the Third Great Shinobi War. He felt no pity for his enemies.
His compassion was reserved solely for his comrades and innocent bystanders.
"Lightning Style: False Darkness!"
The Cloud jonin hidden in the snow, seeing the pink-haired nightmare closing in on him, quickly rose and unleashed a Lightning Style technique toward Sakura.
"Hmph!"
Sakura's expression didn't change. She clenched her fist, and pink chakra flared around her hand like blazing flames.
This was the power of her Inner Sakura, fused with her own chakra, allowing her to unleash effects similar to elemental jutsu.
In the past, when facing enemy Water, Fire, Lightning, or Wind Style techniques, Sakura would either dodge or rely on her Strength of a Hundred Seal to tank the hits.
But now...
The pink flames in her hand surged violently, taking on the shape of a roaring tiger's head!
One punch to break all techniques!
"Take this—Fierce Tiger's Roar!"
With a single punch, the dangerous lightning was shattered!
"What?!"
The Cloud jonin was utterly shocked.
When facing Lightning Style, he could understand if his opponent used Wind Style to suppress it, or Water or Earth Style to block it.
But for someone to shatter his Lightning Style with a single punch was completely beyond his comprehension!
But he didn't have time to think about it anymore. Sakura was already right in front of him!
No matter how unwilling he was, he had no choice but to engage Sakura in close combat.
Sakura's fighting style was well-known among the Cloud ninja.
Like their Raikage, she was a taijutsu specialist.
And she was someone who could go toe-to-toe with the Raikage.
Engaging her in close combat was tantamount to suicide!
But now, this Cloud jonin had no choice!
His sword gleamed with golden light as he swung it at Sakura!
This guy?!
Sakura recognized him.
He was the Cloud ninja who, when Madara Uchiha was first reanimated, had dared to charge at him with a Lightning-imbued sword, only to be grabbed by the neck and asked, "Do you want to dance too?"
He was on par with that Iwa ninja who had recklessly charged ahead.
Sakura sidestepped the sword slash, then drove her knee upward while bringing her elbow down on the arm holding the sword.
If the blow connected, given Sakura's strength, the arm would be utterly destroyed.
Sakura wasn't in the mood to play around. As the jonin dodged her strike and tried to counterattack, she twisted her body and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to his chest!
Thud!
A black figure was sent flying, accompanied by a dull impact sound!
The jonin skidded across the snow, leaving a long trench in his wake!
--
Support me & read more advance & fast update chapter on my patreon:
pat reon .com/yuuwand