⏪ Back in Time! (HELP!) [Sakura Timetravel AU]

6: Encounter with Zabuza

This chapter is a bit shorter than others cause I don't like writing fighting scenes lol

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It was already midday and Kakashi had warned the team to pick up the pace. Tap. Tap. Tap. Time seemed to stretch on and on as they passed by hundreds of trees, mist enshrouding the entire horizon. The temperature had dropped down low since their departure from the Hidden Leaf and Sakura lamented the fact that she did not plan well enough to bring clothes suited for the cold conditions. Puffing out a few short breaths, her ninja sandals hit the ground in a series of thumps.

"Whoaaa!! Slow down, I know you're carrying me, but I feel like you're going to break my back!!" Tazuna begged, shaking up and down as he clung onto Kakashi. Sakura glanced over at the spectacle, Kakashi ran so quickly you could describe the scene as a basilisk lizard on water. At this pace, they would be getting to the Land of Waves in just half an hour. Naruto, who is greatly disadvantaged due to his short stature, was sadly always behind a few feet compared rest of Team 7.

"Hey! Wait up! Don't leave me behind guys!" Naruto squeezed his fist and boosted his legs with chakra. The way his speed blur made him look like a cartoon character, it was a shame that he was still dead last in the bunch. "Hey!!!" Finally matching their pace, he found himself running alongside Sasuke. "You're actually quite slow...heh." Sasuke glowered. Naruto felt Sasuke's vexation and glared back at him. His pompous ass! All I did was run beside him! Fine, I'll outpace you then! Naruto thought to himself.

Naruto pushed forward, beginning to lift off from the ground with pure speed. With powerful steps, Naruto managed to get a couple of inches in front of Sasuke. His rival in speed, wasn't impressed. Sasuke rolled his eyes, although a smirk grew on his face. Fwup! One second and he was back again, pushing ahead in front of Naruto. At the most decisive moment, he purposefully slowed down, catching the blonde's gaze with a smug look. Competitiveness reaching its peak, Naruto skid to a stop and almost tripped over himself. Sasuke continued to run, he looked back at Naruto and smugly grinned. Naruto growled, "You think you're so much better than me. Teme bastard!"

Sasuke ignored the threats and joined in step with Sakura. Sakura noticed his presence, she took in the sight of Sasuke during his genin era yet again. It would appear that she had been staring again. Sasuke looked away from her leering, a light blush on his cheek. She averted her gaze to focus on the sight in front of them. Slowly coming closer was a silhouette of a lake. She let out a sigh of relief, "Kakashi... is this where can stop running?"

"Be quiet, we don't want to attract attention," Kakashi whispered. Sakura clamped her mouth shut and continued to run forward. She felt her stamina ebbing away, slowly.

I swear I'm going to get Might Gai or somebody to train me after this. Hm. We're getting close now. Wasn't there something that happened around here? Someone notable, that's for sure... Well, Kakashi would have noticed them by now.

A chill ran down her spine. Her sense of danger spiked up as they passed by the lake.

No good. Kakashi hasn't even noticed.

Sakura pondered on how she would deal with this well-concealed threat. It was clear they were high-leveled in chakra control, hiding just out of sight so they wouldn't be in the average ninjas contact range. Every step they took, the person took one too, and soon enough, they'll make a move. She'll have to beat them to it and make one first. Assessing her situation, Sakura began to form a plan. Her legs were weaker than how she would normally like them to be, but her arm strength was good enough to destroy a forest floor.

If I went all out Kakashi would probably be overly suspicious of me. I should...

A leaf fell onto the path in front of them. Sakura faltered, her pace interrupted. Sasuke noticed this and slowed down with her, asking with concern, "Sakura... are you alright?"