Sakura Haruno had been feeling down lately. It wasn't because her relationship with Sasuke hadn't progressed, nor was it because Naruto had upset her. She genuinely felt like she had become a burden to their three-person team. It was understandable that the top student Sasuke would be strong, but even the dead-last Naruto was gradually catching up. How could an honor student like herself feel happy about that? The fact that how little she meant to Sasuke compared to Naruto was truly heartbreaking. What made her feel even worse was realizing that this seemed to actually be true.
"Naruto has gotten stronger too," Sakura muttered to herself on the balcony. "And Sasuke was already amazing. But me? I can't help at all! Chunin Exams... Should I even go? I really don't have confidence. Maybe I should just avoid dragging down Sasuke and Naruto!"
As she was caught in these thoughts, she suddenly heard someone calling her name.
Meanwhile, on another training ground, Kakashi Hatake watched helplessly as Mizuki worked diligently.
"You've set up barriers and genjutsu formations, planted so many traps and sealing formulas. Someone might think you're preparing for a battlefield."
"It's better to be prepared," Mizuki replied. "I've put in so much effort for your students. You should be thanking me instead."
"It's only a preliminary test. Is all this really needed?"
"Where's your sense of responsibility, Kakashi?" Mizuki said. "We, as caretakers of the next generation, shouldn't mind the trouble. I've planned this for a long time—I can't give up halfway through. Why are you watching me like this? Why aren't you checking on Sasuke and Naruto?"
"I'm more confident about those two's abilities," Kakashi said helplessly. "The one I'm really worried about is Sakura, especially since you're the examiner..."
"Finally finished," Mizuki turned around and asked. "What did you say earlier?"
"Nothing. I just mentioned Sakura is coming soon."
"You've got sharp eyes. I didn't notice at all."
"I'm standing higher up..."
In the distance, two figures were approaching—Sasuke and Sakura.
"Sasuke-kun, you wanted to talk to me?" Sakura asked nervously. "But why bring me to such a place?" Clearly they were surrounded by uninhabited jungle.
"This place is quiet, no one will interrupt us. I'll be blunt—you should just quit the Chunin Exams." The harsh words struck Sakura like lightning.
Spying on them from the side, Kakashi frowned. "He actually dared to say such nonsense. As expected, he's definitely up to no good."
At this moment, taking advantage of Sakura's distracted state, Mizuki quickly activated his genjutsu formation. The barrier began altering the surrounding terrain while various traps and small-scale sealing arrays started taking effect.
"Sasuke-kun, why do you want me to quit?" Sakura asked in shock. "Does it mean you don't want to be with me anymore?"
"No, it's because your strength isn't enough. After you leave, Naruto and I will invite someone more suitable to form a new team for the exams."
"Would Kakashi-sensei approve of that?"
"Didn't they say participation is voluntary? Once you quit, Kakashi-sensei certainly won't object."
"Out there watching the fake Sasuke and the bewildered Sakura, Mizuki turned to Kakashi with a grin. 'It's time for the villain to step in. Care to make a brief appearance too?'"
"Forget it," Kakashi flatly refused.
"What a shame. This is so dull. Honestly, I'm seriously worried about your sense of humor."
With that, Mizuki performed the Shadow Clone Jutsu. His clone transformed into a masked Sound Ninja and rushed toward the two, hurling countless kunai from multiple traps, completely surrounding them. The sudden attack caught them off guard, leaving no escape as they fell into a desperate situation.
"Watch out, step back quickly!" shouted Sasuke as he tackled Sakura to the ground. Instantly, Sasuke was pierced by numerous kunai like a porcupine, clearly near death.
"Fools who can't even handle this should just drop out of the Chunin Exams altogether. That's what you get," the clone mocked while attacking.
"Coming to her senses, Sakura rolled aside, pushing away the fake Sasuke. [Shadow Clone] combined with Genjutsu? Do you really think such tricks can fool a Konoha ninja easily?"
Watching from the sidelines, Mizuki frowned. Compared to the traps full of loopholes in the original storyline, he felt he had done an excellent job this time. If a more cunning Mizuki were the examiner instead of the usual one who's good at reading people, it wouldn't have been discovered so easily. However, the main plot remained intact despite minor changes.
"Kakashi, look at Sakura's insight; she actually figured out the trick," remarked Mizuki.
"She's certainly the best among Genin in theoretical knowledge and Chakra control. It's normal for her to perform like this," Kakashi relaxed a bit. At least so far, she performed admirably. As long as she didn't mess up badly later on, he could justify allowing Sakura to continue in the Chunin Exam.
The clone, caught off guard unexpectedly, could only resort to direct force now.
"It seems you're quite confident, little girl. The Chunin Exam isn't child's play though. Everything will become real soon enough. Since you insist on staying, let me show you my power then."
As his words faded, another wave of Genjutsu surged. A volley of kunai flew toward Sakura, blocking every possible escape route. Soon after, the ground shimmered with hazy lights, summoning three wooden puppet samurais who drew their swords, charging toward Sakura.
Facing attacks from all directions, Sakura stood unmoved, forming hand seals preparing to dispel the illusion. The kunai passed right through her body without causing any harm. Similarly, slashes from the blades of two puppets also went through her without injury. However, when the third puppet swung its blade toward her head, something suddenly felt wrong. Sakura tried to dodge sideways but was slightly too slow. A strand of her hair drifted down along the sword's edge.
"This blending of illusions with reality—Mizuki, isn't this challenge too hard for mere Genin?" Kakashi expressed dissatisfaction.
"Certainly challenging for rookie Genin," replied Mizuki. "But for those participating in the Chunin Exam, it's barely acceptable."
"Hmm," Kakashi reluctantly accepted the explanation.
"How is that, little girl? Feeling overwhelmed yet? Give up quickly before next time it won't be just hair anymore."
"No way! I won't surrender to someone like you lurking in the shadows!"
"Meaningless stubbornness? Is that all it is?"
"So much naive thinking. Let me show you the cruelty of a ninja."
The array formation barrier fully activated. The Shadow Clone, working with puppets, immediately closed in. In this critical moment, Sakura Haruno moved forward instead of retreating. She kicked directly at the puppet warrior, shattering it into pieces as though it were made of cheap wood. Then she flipped backward, narrowly avoiding kunai shots from the Shadow Clone.
"That's enough, Mizuki. Do you want to continue?"
"Just finish what we started. The Shadow Clone doesn't have much time left."
Next, while Mizuki's Shadow Clone intentionally held back, they maintained an evenly matched battle state. Finally, exhausted Sakura barely managed to last until Mizuki's Shadow Clone vanished.
Just when even Kakashi thought everything was over, the puppet previously kicked away by Sakura suddenly reassembled rapidly and slashed toward her.
"What's going on? Why hasn't the barrier disappeared?" Kakashi confirmed Mizuki himself hadn't acted—once the Shadow Clone vanished, no one should've remained channeling chakra to maintain the barrier. Everything should've disappeared. Seeing this discarded puppet move again, Kakashi couldn't help being shocked. He pulled up his forehead protector, revealing his concealed Sharingan eye for careful observation.
"What is that? It's not an ordinary puppet?"
Through the Sharingan's piercing insight, ordinary genjutsu and disguises became transparent.
"Did a Shadow Clone use Transformation Jutsu? Doesn't seem like it. So this has been maintaining the illusionary barrier all along." Kakashi twisted his head in surprise, asking, "Looks like your real purpose was testing this thing. What a scheming fellow."
Meanwhile, Sakura desperately dodged left and right, but her body, long exhausted, could no longer endure. Her legs slipped slightly, giving the strange puppet-like creature opportunity to slash past her.
Unable to dodge, Sakura could only shut her eyes helplessly.
But when death didn't arrive as expected, she opened her eyes in confusion. A strand of hair drifted down across the blade.
Barely surviving that deadly moment, Sakura collapsed to the ground, utterly drained of strength.
"A moment ago I shaved off the left side of your hair," came a shrill voice from the puppet, "and now I've sliced through the right side too. Perfect symmetry—your hairstyle finally looks decent. My apologies for ruining your carefully-maintained beauty." With that, the puppet tossed a scroll toward Sakura. "As thanks for your energetic performance, here's a gift for you. But you'd better take my words seriously—without true strength, you'll always be nothing more than a liability to others."
Kakashi's face darkened as he spoke to Mizuki: "You went too far this time, Mizuki."
"Didn't I already compensate you?" Mizuki shrugged indifferently before forming seals—"Release."
The puppet dissolved into chakra-infused smoke, and soon afterward the illusionary barrier gradually faded.
"What did you give Sakura?"
"All my recent research achievements—including some Sealing Technique data, life-saving pills, and Genjutsu formulas. Very practical material. It's perfectly suited for a scholar-type ninja with exceptional Chakra Control like Sakura."
"A scholar type?"
Though unfamiliar with the classification, Kakashi still understood what Mizuki meant. "Isn't it too early for her?"
Mizuki shook his head with a sigh. "Kakashi, you're being unfair. I may not be a ninja like you, nor as naturally gifted as Naruto, but shouldn't you at least acknowledge Sakura's talent?"
"Maybe you're right," Kakashi replied. "I guess I'm just not very good at handling female ninjas."
"Handling?" Mizuki smirked. "She's your student, not mine. Not my problem. Do whatever you want with her. I've got a report to submit. I'll leave the rest to you."
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