Ch 16 : Sakura's first big step

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*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

Countless needles came in Sakura's direction.

However, Sakura was not Sasuke.

When the needles almost approached her and pierced her body, Sakura used a slight movement to dodge the needles, just like what Sanada did against Ami in the training ground.

This was the result of Sanada's teaching these past few days. He combined Sakura's intellect and instinct and somehow was able to make Sakura predict the trajectory of the needles.

Of course, this was also the reason why Sanada let Sasuke battle Haku first. Sakura needed some time to analyze the opponent, and Sasuke would be good enough to get the required time for Sakura.

When both Sasuke and Haku saw this result, the two were equally shocked. Sasuke was a bit better as he already knew a bit of Sakura's strength from their previous confrontation, But Haku couldn't believe the seemingly harmless girl could dodge his attack with ease.

' It seems I need to quickly finish this.'

With that thought in his mind, Haku quickly disappeared again.

Multiple Haku appeared in the mirror, and they threw the ice needles at Sakura, this time a lot faster than before.

Sakura knew relying on prediction like Sanada did before against this kind of opponent was still out of her league, so without wasting any time, she pumped the chakra into her feet to increase her speed.

She had long mastered the concept of applying chakra into her soles and was a lot more familiar with it than Sasuke. So even now, Sakura could successfully avoid the attacks from Haku.

As Sakura continued to dodge out of the way from Haku's ice needles, Haku began to get agitated and eventually increased the speed of throwing the needles. Haku combined the ice needles with real metal needles as the speed of the creation of ice needles was no longer able to keep up with his throwing speed.

Nonetheless, Sakura was still able to avoid most of the needles thrown at her, and some that she could not avoid was parried by the kunai on her hand.

Haku looked at this scene and knew that he must be ruthless. He used the specialty of the ice mirror jutsu to teleport behind Sakura as he tried to rush and delivered a final blow. Still, at this time, a droplet of water was thrown in his direction, making him entirely miss the timing to deal a fatal blow to Sakura.

{ A.N.: Uchimizu!!!!}

' This..' Haku's gaze immediately shifted to the outside, where he saw Sanada was smiling at him. But of course, Haku could see that Sanada's eyes were not smiling at all, and it was full of threat.'

Haku and Zabuza had been rogue for many years, and within that duration, they have met many powerful enemies, some that even they must be injured to kill them.

However, this was the first time Haku felt he was trapped in an invisible barrier. The barrier was so big, and Haku felt like if he was to make the wrong move, the barrier would run down ad suffocate him.

Haku was now hesitating. He knew that he could be alive until now was because of the mercy of the opponent. If Sanada was to come and besiege him with Sakura and Sasuke, his probability of winning was as close as zero.

Nonetheless, if he didn't quickly finish this battle, he didn't know what would happen to Zabuza, who is currently battling Kakashi.

All these thoughts have clouded Haku's mind, and now he was lost about what to do.

Sanada saw Haku become like this and knew that Sakura had not much time left. When Haku was already in this state, it wouldn't be long until he threw everything and rushed at Zabuza's side.

So while Haku's presence was still there, Sanada wanted to use Haku as a means to help Sakura break through her current limit.

Sanada's eyes shifted his gaze toward Sakura and the two locked eyes with each other.

" Sakura, go for the offensive!" Said Sanada.

" But Sensei... I.." Sakura hesitated. She had seen the battle of Haku and Sasuke before, and she knew that her offense should have possessed no harm against Haku's ice mirror.

" Trust me, Sakura, empty your mind and follow my instruction." Said Sanada as he wanted to reassure Sakura.

The current Sakura was not the Shippuden Sakura, and she was still suffered from the lack of self-confidence.

Sanada's words felt like a breeze in the spring to Sakura, and eventually, she decided to believe in her Sensei.

Her Sensei always believe in her, so she must not disappoint this trust.

Sakura closed her eyes, and all her mind was entirely focused on Sanada's words.

" Assume the basic Fishman Karate Stance, and pour the chakra to your right hand.."

" Use the water manipulation you have learned before to detect the water vapor on your surrounding and treat them as the extension of yourself."

" Now, all you need to do is just to release the punch, and don't forget, always believe in yourself. You can do it, Sakura!"

Sanada finished his words, and at this moment, Sakura perfectly replicates everything that Sanada said on her body.

Maybe because of the pressure from Haku, but Sakura this time was a lot more focused than usual. Slowly, the wall that had been blocking her from moving forward crumbled, and insight appeared on Sakura's mind.

She assumed the basic Fish-man Karate stance, and while using the water nature manipulation to control the water vapor on her surrounding, she launched a punch forward.

"Karakusagawara Seiken!"

BOOM!!!!!

By transmitting the force of the blow through the water vapor, Sakura's punch released a shock wave that sent everything around her flying. The force reached the ice mirror, and slowly cracks appeared on the ice mirror.

Haku watched this, and a trace of horror appeared on his face.

Not only once, this pair of master and disciple successfully shocked him twice today.

The ice mirror in front of Sakura fully shattered, and even though Sakura could only destroy a few ice mirrors, it was more than enough for now.

Sakura looked at the scene in front of her in disbelief. It was not the first time she tried this move, but it was her first time succeeding.

Her eyes looked at Sanada with an extremely joyful appearance on her face.

" Sensei, I did it!"