Haruno Sakura's situation wasn't much better than that of a cornered animal. Without Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki by her side, the gap in her combat ability was painfully obvious. In the perilous Forest of Death, there were few participants weaker than her in a direct confrontation.
With both of her teammates seriously injured—Naruto unconscious from the snake attack and Sasuke still recovering from the cursed seal—Sakura knew they couldn't travel far. She found a hollow within the roots of a massive tree and carefully settled the two inside. After laying a few basic traps using wire and exploding tags, she set up a crude defensive barrier.
"I only learned this technique recently... I still don't fully understand it," she muttered to herself as she activated the concealment barrier. "But if I can just hide us long enough... maybe the enemy won't find us."
She pressed her back against the tree trunk, hands trembling, kunai drawn. Fear gnawed at her, but she forced herself to stay alert. The words of a strange examiner from the first test echoed in her mind: "In the end, you'll be a burden to your team."
Don't cry now, she told herself, blinking hard. I have to protect them... even if I'm scared.
Unknown to her, the moment the chakra concealment barrier activated, someone miles away stirred from his rest.
"Huh... even the prototype's still active," Mizuki murmured from his home. "Didn't think anyone would bother using the chakra-absorbing seal this soon."
The concealment barrier Sakura used was a simplified version of a sealing technique developed by Mizuki—a derivative of chakra storage and suppression fūinjutsu. Originally intended for large-scale barrier maintenance, it was designed to absorb ambient chakra from the air to sustain itself. Mizuki had optimized it by incorporating elements of genjutsu and sensory obfuscation, turning it into an easy-to-learn stealth barrier. However, he had also added an encoded chakra signature—a subtle frequency that would notify him if the technique was ever activated nearby.
"Sometimes, setting a piece early pays off." Mizuki smirked. "Might be time to check how that investment's doing."
But Mizuki had no idea that his small action would trigger much bigger consequences.
Thanks to Sakura's concealment barrier, the Sound trio—Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, and Kin Tsuchi—were unable to locate Sasuke by tracking his chakra signature. Frustrated by Orochimaru's order to kill Sasuke Uchiha, they began interrogating other Konoha teams for information. Unfortunately, the first team they encountered was the Ino–Shika–Chō trio.
Faced with a hostile group, Nara Shikamaru frowned. "Tch. What a drag. This isn't going to be easy."
Dosu stepped forward. "We don't intend to become enemies of Konoha... but tell us where Sasuke Uchiha is."
Shikamaru exhaled. "Even if we knew, we wouldn't tell you. But truth is—we're looking for him too."
"Yeah," Chōji added while munching on chips. "We're waiting to take their scroll."
Zaku cracked his knuckles. "Sounds like you don't wanna cooperate."
"Stop wasting time," Kin said coldly. "Let's knock them out and make them talk."
Without warning, the fight began. Shikamaru barely had time to use his Shadow Imitation Technique to pin Dosu in place.
"Chōji, now!" he shouted.
But before they could act, Zaku unleashed his Zankūha—a compressed air blast from the vents in his arms—sending the trio flying backward.
"Damn... he's way too strong," Shikamaru grunted, pulling himself up. Chōji's raw power was their best chance, but coordinating their attacks required time—and time wasn't something the Sound team was giving them.
"Ino, take control of the air-blast guy!" Shikamaru barked. "Chōji and I will handle the other two!"
But just as Ino prepared her Mind Body Switch Technique, several senbon needles flew at Shikamaru, forcing him to dodge.
"You forgot about me," Kin sneered. "Big mistake."
"Tch. Women are such a pain," Shikamaru muttered, forced on the defensive. Kin's stealth attacks and illusions kept him guessing, draining his focus.
"Ino, we need her out of the fight first!" Shikamaru revised his plan mid-battle. "I'll restrain the leader—Chōji, take on the sound guy!"
But Dosu had already closed the distance, his gauntlet pulsing with sonic vibrations.
"You rely too much on your comrades. If she's your linchpin, then I'll eliminate her first."
With one strike, Dosu slammed his Melody Arm against Ino's side. The burst of focused sound ruptured her internal organs, and she collapsed, coughing blood.
"Ino!" Shikamaru shouted, but it was too late.
Kin unleashed a genjutsu through her bells, disorienting both Shikamaru and Chōji. Zaku's follow-up air blast knocked them unconscious.
Dosu surveyed the fallen genin. "Too weak. Even a good plan is worthless without power."
But before the Sound trio could finish them off, a chill swept through the forest. An oppressive chakra surged in the distance—dark, malevolent, and unmistakably inhuman.
"Dosu, they're telling the truth," Kin muttered, eyes narrowing. "That chakra… it's coming from over there."
Zaku scoffed, preparing another blast. "Should we finish these pests first?"
"No," Dosu interrupted. "We're here for Uchiha Sasuke. Killing too many Konoha genin will only make it harder to escape."
"Fine. Guess you're lucky today," Zaku muttered.
The Sound trio vanished into the forest, moving toward the source of that monstrous chakra—unaware that the true test had only just begun.