Early December, Konoha Year 60 – Konoha Village
December had arrived. Even in the typically mild Land of Fire, the air grew noticeably colder. The villagers of Konoha bundled up in thicker clothing, but for the shinobi moving through the streets, the chill seemed merely another form of training; their attire remained largely unchanged.
A single, thinly-clad figure dashed anxiously through the village, heading swiftly towards the Hokage Tower. Reaching the building, she ignored the greetings of the ninja on duty, charging straight for the Hokage's office.
"Hey, isn't that the Godaime Hokage's disciple?" one guard remarked, watching Sakura rush upstairs like a whirlwind.
"Looks like it. Wasn't she just here this morning?" the other guard replied with a shrug. "That impulsive personality is certainly a bit like Lady Tsunade's." By then, Sakura had already vanished from sight.
Bang! Sakura roughly shoved open the doors to the Hokage's office. The advisors and Danzo were gone now, replaced by Shizune-senpai.
Tsunade looked up, seeing the breathless Sakura, and her eyes narrowed sharply. "How many times have I told you," she scolded, "knock before entering!"
Sakura's rash behavior had already drawn the ire of the advisory council. If not for the gravity of the news Sakura had brought back—which had preoccupied the council—Tsunade might have been pressured into lowering Sakura's ninja rank this time.
Chunin rank wasn't based solely on strength. Demotions happened, though rarely. Sakura's transgressions weren't earth-shattering, but they weren't insignificant either. The council likely wanted to use this incident to remind Tsunade not to act purely on whim.
Their primary concern was Konoha. The council didn't need to vie for power with the Hokage; their role was to prevent the Hokage from making critical errors. If Tsunade hadn't handled this situation properly, it could indeed have led to war.
"Sakura." Shizune breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her; clearly, she too had been worried.
"Lady Tsunade, please dispatch someone to Amegakure immediately to support Jiraiya-sama! Jiraiya-sama… he might be in danger!!!" Sakura ignored Shizune-senpai, leaning urgently over the Hokage's desk.
"Hm?" Tsunade heard Sakura's plea, her expression turning serious. "Where did you get this information?"
"Well…" Sakura hesitated. Should she reveal everything? Doing so would inevitably cast suspicion on her. But not revealing it might mean Tsunade-sensei wouldn't believe her.
Sakura couldn't expect everyone to blindly trust whatever she said just because she had future knowledge. These weren't foolish side characters; everyone here had their own thoughts, their own way of reasoning.
Besides, explaining the source of her intel would be incredibly difficult, likely leading to her being suspected herself.
"I know you're worried about Jiraiya, but relax. Jiraiya sent a message just now," Tsunade said, her tone easing slightly. "He didn't enter Amegakure. After all, his mission was to find you, not scout Ame. I've already replied telling him to return."
"Jiraiya-sama… already sent word? When?!" Sakura looked utterly dumbfounded, almost constipated.
"Mm, received it just a little while ago," Tsunade nodded. "He likely sent it around the same time your group departed from the border."
"Oh, good… that's good…" A knot of anxiety loosened in Sakura's chest.
"Well, Sensei, I'll head back now then," Sakura said, turning to leave quickly. She wanted to avoid trouble, but concern for Jiraiya-sama had forced her hand.
"Wait," Tsunade called out, just as expected.
"Ha… haha, is there anything else, Sensei?" Sakura turned back, her body stiffening slightly as she faced her master's stern expression.
"Chunin Haruno Sakura," Tsunade began formally, her gaze serious. "Disregarding mission regulations and village ordinances, upon evaluation, you are deemed currently unfit to hold the rank of Chunin. Effective immediately, your ninja rank is hereby demoted to Genin."
Hearing this sudden news, Sakura felt no disappointment. Instead, a wave of relief washed over her, and her entire posture visibly relaxed.
Truthfully, after several months as a Chunin, Sakura's main feeling was exhaustion. Especially during the mission to Red Shoal Island, every decision she made impacted the mission's success and her teammates' safety.
Holding the lives of several people in her hands created immense psychological pressure, leaving Sakura constantly anxious.
"You seem… pleased?" Tsunade asked, frowning at Sakura's relaxed demeanor.
"No, no! I'm very disappointed! Heartbroken!" Sakura denied vehemently. Only an idiot would admit relief right now; that would guarantee a scolding.
"Hmph," Tsunade snorted. "Given your previously successful mission record, your Chunin qualification will be provisionally retained. Upon successful re-evaluation by the village, it may be restored. That is all. You're dismissed."
Tsunade waved a hand wearily, clearly impatient.
"Yes, ma'am!" Sakura replied loudly, then promptly vanished from the office.
Silence descended upon the Hokage's office. After a long moment…
"Lady Tsunade, you weren't serious, were you…?" Shizune asked cautiously.
"Huu…" Tsunade sighed deeply, as if exasperated. "The council was right. In her current state, she isn't ready for the responsibilities of a Chunin. That the Sandaime promoted her… he really was getting old."
"But that wasn't your true intention, was it, Lady Tsunade?" Shizune chuckled softly. Most ninja Sakura's age yearned for the Chunin rank, yet Sakura looked relieved to lose it. Lady Tsunade probably just meant to scare her a little, but Sakura's reaction…
Thinking about it, Shizune couldn't help but laugh aloud.
"Shizune!" Tsunade shot her a glare.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade…"
Leaving the Hokage Tower, Sakura finally felt a bit more at ease. Thinking back, she realized she might have overreacted about Jiraiya-sama. He wasn't weak; even if he couldn't win a fight, couldn't he escape? There was no reason for him to fight Pain to the death now.
My strength is still too weak. I can't really do anything. Though she could claim to have killed a demigod, it was only due to a confluence of factors—Hanzo being injured, exploiting an opening, essentially trading her life for his.
Ninja rank didn't perfectly equate to strength, but ninja who achieved a certain rank invariably possessed corresponding abilities. After twelve years in this world, Sakura understood this more clearly than ever. So, being demoted back to Genin didn't disappoint her; honestly, it made her want to laugh. Finally, no more pressure.
Home. Food!
Knocking on her front door, Sakura blinked in confusion at the cute girl who opened it. "…Junko?" she asked uncertainly.
"Yes, Sakura-senpai," the girl replied, her voice unmistakably Junko's.
"Er," Sakura stared at Junko's expressionless face, finally confirming it was her. "Right. You look cute. Who dressed you up?"
She'd only been gone a short time, yet her mother had already transformed Junko so much Sakura almost didn't recognize her. This… left Sakura feeling a bit sour. A sense of being replaced, first by Karin, now Junko…
"Sakura!"
Just then, Karin appeared from inside, rushing forward to throw her arms around Sakura.
"You… you're back! Oh… thank goodness!" Karin choked out, burying her face in Sakura's shoulder.
"I just went on a mission, that's all. Don't cry," Sakura said, patting her back, though she wondered why Karin was this worried; Sakura had been away on missions before.
"Hey, you three, come eat!" Mebuki Haruno appeared behind them.
Karin hadn't told Mebuki what she'd secretly overheard about Sakura being missing; it would only cause useless worry, and Karin couldn't do anything to help anyway.
After dinner, Sakura sprawled lazily on the sofa, unwilling to move a muscle. Junko and Karin helped Mebuki clear the dishes.
During the meal, Sakura had explained Junko's situation to Mebuki and Karin – an orphan she'd met, saved her life (omitting this detail for Mebuki), staying temporarily – primarily to avoid worrying her mother. Mebuki wasn't a ninja; knowing the danger would only cause anxiety.
Karin felt an immediate affinity for Junko, another orphan like herself. Though Junko seemed cold on the surface, Karin sensed it was just a mask.
"Karin, do you have classes this afternoon?" Sakura asked casually as Karin snuggled up beside her on the sofa after cleaning up.
"Mm. Medical ninjutsu lessons with Shizune-senpai," Karin nodded obediently.
"Right. Speaking of which, how are your sealing techniques coming along?" Sakura asked curiously.
"… It's kind of difficult," Karin admitted, looking slightly embarrassed when asked about fuinjutsu.
"Don't worry about it. Sealing techniques take time. Just focus on mastering medical ninjutsu with Shizune-senpai; that's valuable too," Sakura reassured her, recognizing Karin's aptitude clearly lay in medicine. Still, it's strange. Shouldn't Uzumaki have a natural talent for sealing?
"Sakura… I…" Karin hesitated, stammering slightly. "I don't want to study medical ninjutsu. I want… to learn combat ninjutsu."
"Hm? Why?" Sakura asked, surprised.
"Because… then I can help you! I was so worried… I heard what happened… If… if I knew ninjutsu, I wouldn't have been so completely helpless," Karin explained, her voice dropping low with emotion.
Sakura looked at the determination shining in Karin's red eyes and sighed. "If you truly want to help me, then study hard and master medical ninjutsu with Shizune-senpai."
"But—" Karin started, but Sakura cut her off.
"No 'buts'," Sakura said sternly, a rare sharpness in her voice directed at Karin. "Tsunade-sensei isn't just skilled in medicine; her combat power is incredible too. Your foundation is too weak right now. When the time is right, Sensei will naturally teach you how to fight."
Hearing Sakura's reprimand, Karin bit her lip, looking crestfallen, and didn't press the matter further.
After her experiences in Red Leaf Village and her realization about the ninja system's place in the world, Sakura's mindset had shifted. Previously, she might have eagerly agreed to Karin's request.
But now, Sakura felt that ninja shouldn't solely focus on combat. If world peace was the goal, ninja should use their abilities to give back to the world, blurring the lines of the ninja class. That, not simply stopping violence with violence, was the true way to eliminate war.
Naruto's ideals were admirable, but implementing them faced immense hurdles. As long as the ninja system existed… exploitation would persist. Even if the ninja world achieved peace, the exploited civilian class would still harbor resentment, giving birth to new hatred—like Junko's…
If people like Junko ever got a chance, war would erupt again: a war between ninja and civilians. A class war.