"I'm worried about Sasuke, but right now, I can't focus on that."

Sakura Haruno gazes up at the stadium, before facing her opponent at the finals of the Chunin Exams, Dosu Kinuta. Unconcerned about his mummy like appearance, she recalls their last encounter, concerned about her ineffectiveness during their last encounter.

"I've gotten stronger since our last encounter."

"Why should I be worried about facing you? If you or that blond girl had gone up against anyone else, you would've been eliminated from the preliminares. This time, you've got no traps, no friends to save you, and Sasuke can't come to your rescue. I'll give your teammate credit", glancing at Naruto from above, "he managed to pull an upset on the Hyuga brat. At least when I defeat you, I won't have to worry about making to the finals. However, I'll offer you two pieces of advice".

"And what would that be"?

"One, forfeit. You saw what I did to both the fat one and the Lee kid who fought me and Gaara. You and Sasuke spared my team from further harm, and I don't fight unnecessary battles".

"What's the second"?

"For the amount of strength you have, you'll need it for what's coming. Fighting me is futile regardless"

Sakura, heeding his words, acknowledges his words, internally ponders at her lack of chances of winning, taking note of his gauntlet.

"I need to find a way to disrupt his sound waves. That weird thing on his arms can gather sound around him, and even if I avoid a head on attack or block", thinking back to when Lee's attempts in protecting her failed, "he can just target my ears. How do I win against something like that"?

However, she looks up at Naruto, screaming down at the stadium. Guessing that he was most likely cheering her on, she also spots most of her friends.

"Ino, Tenten, Hinata. Even though I was only one of us who made it to the finals, you all trained with me. It was intense, and Ino, I kinda wanna punch you in the face again. I won't let our efforts go to waste"!

Then, she focuses on Naruto, imagining Sasuke and Kakashi sitting alongside him.

"Naruto, I was so wrong about you when we first met. Kakashi sensei...well I kinda wish you trained me a bit more instead of just Sasuke, but you believed in me this far. Sasuke, I won't be a burden any longer".

She grabs her headband from her cherry blossom hair, and ties it above her forehead.

"Naruto, Sasuke, I'll win", clenching her fist and raising it at the stadium with a confident smile, "and meet both of you in the semi-finals!"

Dosu sighs, highly positive of his victory, yet annoyed at the confidence she once again displayed back when she defended their attempts of killing Sasuke.

"Fine, but I'm not going to hold back".

Both combatants await the announcement from Proctor Genma Shiranui, whom from viewing the intensity of the two, decides to commence the battle.

"Sentou Kaishi"!