Chapter 186: The Cowered Hidden Grass Village [Part 1] (Patreon)

Chapter List: Naruto: Sakura Blizzard

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"Eh? No, Doctor, can you please put me down?!"

Iruka's voice rose in urgency. After all, he was a man in his forties and a ninja at that. How humiliating it would be to be carried out while sitting in a wheelchair.

"No way. If I put you down and you run off again, what then?" Zabuza responded in a muffled, gruff tone. He hadn't expected Iruka to dare to sneak out of the hospital. He had just checked his room, and in a blink, the man had vanished, making Zabuza feel quite a loss of face.

"Come on, Doctor, I'm crippled. How could I run? Can you just put me down and push me instead?" Iruka tried to negotiate with Zabuza in good faith. Inside the Central Tower were all Genin and leading Jōnin, but there was still a long way to the hospital from here. If the students at the Ninja Academy saw him like this, how could he continue to be a role model?!

"If you couldn't run, then how did you get out of the hospital?" Zabuza huffed coldly. The fact that someone severely disabled could escape under his watch was a profound insult to him. He planned to have Iruka restrained as a mental patient upon return — then he'd see how he'd manage to run.

"Doctor, please, let me explain..."

Unaware that his actions had deeply wounded Zabuza's pride, Iruka attempted to explain, but Zabuza ignored him, quickening his steps instead, jogging towards Konoha Hospital.

"Doctor, I'm begging you, could you give me a piece of cloth to cover my face? Or even your style of bandage would do. It doesn't have to cover the whole face, leaving only the eyes visible, just enough to hide a part..."

Iruka's near-tearful cries faded along with Zabuza's footsteps, drawing the attention of countless people on the street.

"Hey, how are Sakura and Naruto doing?" Kakashi appeared as if from nowhere, glancing at Sakura's drooping right hand and frowning. "You've passed the second exam now. Should we go to the hospital to have Haku check you out?"

"No need, Naruto's injuries are completely healed, and for me..." Sakura gently swayed her right hand, "I overestimated my recovery. The energy at the wound has almost dissipated, but it still needs time to heal fully. Though my right hand can't make significant movements, it won't affect the upcoming exams. Seeing the doctor isn't necessary right now. Medical ninjutsu won't work on my wound until the energy is entirely gone!"

Her injuries looked even more grievous than before. Initially, purple energy could be seen brimming within the crevices, but now, as the Power Stone's energy gradually faded, only faint traces remained, revealing the raw flesh underneath. Although no blood was flowing, the split muscles still looked horrifying.

"What did you do to yourself to end up like this?" Kakashi, somewhat pained, gently stroked Sakura's hair. He found her wounds unbearable to look at, let alone for Sakura, who had to endure them.

"A power beyond that of a Ninja. My body is too fragile to withstand the erosion of such strength, and this is the result."

The energy from the Power Stone was terrifying. Just as in "Guardians of the Galaxy," the protagonists nearly perished from its invasion. Considering her frail form, Sakura was lucky to be alive.

"Don't use that power again unless it's a matter of life and death," Kakashi sighed. "Great power always comes with great risks. As your Sensei, I'd rather you live as ordinary ninjas than risk your lives recklessly."

"I had no choice," Sakura replied helplessly as they headed towards the Third Hokage's office. "Seeing Naruto impaled, my brain just short-circuited, and I went berserk. If I were conscious, I wouldn't have been so reckless!"

"Sigh..." Kakashi sighed heavily, remaining silent, his mood somber. If he, their Sensei, were strong enough, his students wouldn't need to fight so desperately.

"Oh, there's something you should know," Kakashi suddenly clapped his hands together. "Shortly after you were attacked by Orochimaru, ANBU found Anko unconscious in the Forest of Death. When she woke up, she was different, often sitting silently alone, seemingly regretting something."

"We should visit her when we have time," Sakura suggested. Anko must have encountered Orochimaru in the forest, but it was unclear what he had done to change the usually nonchalant Anko into someone who regretted deeply in the silence of the night.

As Sakura's imagination began to run wild, she noticed Karin suddenly hiding behind Sasuke, her expression fearful. She looked up curiously in the direction Karin was staring.

"Karin, is that the leader from Hidden Grass Village?"

Spotting the forehead protector identical to what Karin wore before, a glint of murderous intent flashed in Sakura's eyes.

"Yes..." Karin clutched Sasuke's clothes, her knuckles turning white. Her long-standing experiences had instilled a deep fear of anyone from the Hidden Grass Village.

"Are they the beasts from Hidden Grass Village? Should we go and give them a good beating?" Hinata's fists clenched, her knuckles cracking.

"Of course, we should. Consider it venting in advance!" Sakura's lips curled into a malicious smile. "Naruto, create a wall with your shadow clones to block others' view. Tenten, bring out our special baseball bats. It's time they see some action."

"Got it!" Naruto grinned viciously. Smoke surrounded him as hundreds of clones encircled the Hidden Grass Village ninjas, cutting them off from outside view, even down to their clothing details.

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Next Chapter >>Chapter 187: The Cowardly Hidden Grass Village [Part 2]