"She's fine now. She fainted due to overstimulation," the nurse informed Kakashi. Sakura had woken up after being brought to the hospital.
"You'll be alright. You can go home once we have the test results," she said to Sakura with a reassuring smile. "Call me if you need anything."
She then motioned for Kakashi to follow her. Once they were outside the room, she asked, "You're a ninja, aren't you?"
"Yes, I'm an elite jonin," he replied. It was standard procedure to state one's rank in hospitals so that the staff could respond appropriately.
"Are you her guardian? I tried asking her about her parents or guardian, but she didn't answer. She only told me her name."The nurse had attempted to get information from Sakura to notify her family, but Sakura had only given her name because she was unwilling to let her parents find out she was in the hospital.
"No, I don't know her. But maybe my friend, who was brought in with her, does," Kakashi said flatly. He hadn't seen the girl before today. But something told him Guy knew her and that the girl was the reason Guy was currently unconscious.
"Is that so?" the nurse said, not sounding entirely convinced. "In that case, we'll have to file a report. Your friend was found unconscious and injured, and there was a little girl unconscious next to him. It's possible he was protecting her. If you can provide any more details, please inform the hospital staff. You may also need to speak to the Uchiha after the case is opened."
"You don't need to file a case. I've already informed Hokage-sama. Someone from the Hokage Tower will be here soon," Kakashi said, stopping her. He didn't want the news to spread. Guy was one of the strongest shinobi in the village. Any incident involving him needed to be handled quietly. And if Sakura was the cause of his injury, then keeping it quiet wasn't just important, it was essential.
"Alright, then I'll inform the hospital director. Since an elite jonin is involved and the Hokage-sama has already been notified, she'll take over from here."
"As for your friend, he's awake now. It wasn't serious. He suffered some trauma to his waist and abdomen, but he should recover after a few sessions of medical ninjutsu," she said. "The trauma may have caused the civilians to be unconscious, but someone of his rank shouldn't have passed out. So, we considered the possibility of genjutsu, but haven't been able to confirm anything yet."
Kakashi's mouth twitched, hearing that it wasn't serious. "You haven't been to the crime scene, lady, that's why you dare to say it." He knew if he was the one getting wrecked like that, his multiple bones would have been broken, and he would have been in bed for days, but Guy only had a physical trauma, which could be cured easily using Medical Ninjutsu.
"Guy's reflex is unbelievable. He was able to use chakra enhancement instinctively to protect himself." Kakashi sighed. "Otherwise, there is no way, even with his strong body, he could tank that damage with 'minimal injury'. His training all these years has paid off for sure."
"Now I have to know why all of this happened." Kakashi was going in to talk with Sakura.
*****
[…So, that's what happened.]
The system explained everything to her.
"Did I really make Guy unconscious?" Sakura muttered. It sounded absurd. After all, he was Guy, the Blue Beast of Konoha, the man who almost ended the entire series early with a single kick.
[No. He was knocked out because of your ability. In your extreme anger, you wanted to knock him out with a punch. So, he was knocked out with a punch.]
"Isn't my ability kind of overpowered, then?" Sakura asked.
[It isn't. You were able to do that because of your anger. The stronger your anger, the stronger the effect.]
The system paused. [But in a real fight, do you think you'll always be that angry? More often, you'll feel helplessness, fear, and hesitation than anger. Sure, you might get angry, but what do you think fuels that kind of rage?]
[Your loved ones getting hurt. Powerlessness turning into desperation. You being mistreated, humiliated, and pushed too far. All of those are worst-case scenarios. So you still have to train and get stronger. ]
Sakura's hope was crushed before it could bloom properly. But she did benefit from this fiasco.
"Didn't you say you made one of the enhancements permanent?" Sakura asked, recalling something the system had mentioned earlier.
[Yes. I've converted one enhancement into a permanent ability. It's called 'Athletic Body.']
[This ability gives you the overall physical condition of a well-rounded athlete—enhanced strength, agility, stamina, durability, and reaction speed. Your body will be in peak shape: no excess fat, improved bone density, and a higher ratio of muscle fibers.]
Sakura perked up until the system continued.
[Before you misunderstand and get too happy, it's still weaker than an Inuzuka with good genes. But it's a little better than Ino's physique.]
"...Oh."All the excitement she had built up during the first half of that explanation died instantly at the last part.
Still, she exhaled and gave a nod. "At least I'm stronger than I was an hour ago."
It wasn't huge, but it was enough. Training would go smoother now, and the results would show faster. She could have made her physique like this eventually through effort, but thanks to the system, she saved time.
[Also, to clarify, so you don't get the wrong idea again: You don't have the strength or agility of an adult athlete. You have the equivalent ability of a child prodigy who excels in all sports.]
[That kind of child may not exist, but if they did, their physique would be comparable to yours.]
"I know, I know—it's basic biology. Without muscle mass, where would the strength even come from?" Sakura muttered, eyeing her small limbs with a flat expression. "Look at my tiny arms and legs. Without chakra, my current body and the one from my past life at this age are basically the same. Weak."
She knows whoever reincarnated her wanted her to go through the tough route of blood and sweat, so she won't expect huge help from the system, but little help once in a while. Her training and the system's little help will add up in the end to make her powerful.
*****
"Your name is Sakura, right?" Kakashi asked Sakura. Guy was currently being treated, so he wanted to start with Sakura. She may also know more than Guy. Also, injured or not, he wanted to stay away from Guy as much as possible. He can't handle his overly energetic personality.
"Yes, I am Sakura." She nodded.
"Do you know Guy?" Kakashi asked softly; he didn't want to scare her.
"Yes, I know him. I became his student because he asked if I wanted to become his student, and then he just left, shouting something like, 'Haha, Kakashi, I've finally beaten you!'" Sakura said, mimicking Guy's voice.
"Can you believe it. He doesn't even know my name. He only wanted a student to brag in front of you. Yes, I know little about you. My friend Ino told me about you when I asked her about the best students in the history of the ninja academy." Skaura said angrily.
Kakashi was shocked. He knew Guy would never do something like that. At first glance, he may look stupid, brute, muscle-brain, idiot with bad fashion sense, and other insults he forgot for now, but he knows Guy would never take a student just to win.
"At first, it looked like he genuinely appreciated my dedication to waking up early and exercising, even though today was literally the first day," Sakura said, her voice rising. "He said I had low chakra reserves, that ninjutsu would be difficult for me, but that I had talent in taijutsu. He told me he'd make a training plan and teach me himself."
Her fists clenched at her sides, trembling with restrained fury.
"But the moment I accepted, he just left."
Kakashi broke into a cold sweat. That look on her face, he recognizes it. He himself has experienced it many times. If her hair started flying, then Kakashi would leave this room without wasting time.
"Guy isn't as horrible as you think. Guy may have wanted to take the student to win the nonexistent bet between us, but he isn't irresponsible. He must have had some reason he wanted to make you his student. Think yourself why he didn't just ask a random kid to be his student, but a girl who was running early in the morning." Kakashi said, trying to calm her.
"He is socially awkward and single-minded. You are the first student he wants to take. So, he must have forgotten to ask for your name and other things. Yes, he is that stupid." Kakashi said in a deadpan voice, to make it more believable to Sakura.
"How is he now?" Sakura asked guiltily, having calmed her anger.
"He is fine." Skaura sighed in relief, hearing that.
"It was you who caused his injury, right?"
"Yes, it was me," Sakura spoke again after a little silence. "When I get angry, I gain some kind of strength. But I never got that strong because of the anger." She chose to tell the truth. She didn't have much of a choice. Guy and Kakshi know she caused him that injury, so they are going to investigate her. It will be easier for both her and them if she admits now. She doesn't want 24-hour surveillance by ANBU or worse, the roots.
"Please don't call my parents. They will only worry if they know about this." Sakura pleaded.
Hearing her request, Kakashi nodded. He also feels keeping this matter as tight as possible is the best choice. Sakura may have an unknown Kekkei Genkai. It may cause her harm if this information gets leaked. As for what or when Sakura tells her parents, that is her personal matter.
*****
"I'm sorry, Sakura. I've failed as a teacher!" Guy wailed, tears streaming down his face.
Sakura stood beside Kakashi in the hospital room, visibly uncomfortable."You don't have to apologize. I'm the one who should be saying sorry," she said, bowing slightly. "I'm sorry, Guy-sensei."
"You don't have to apologize. I am the one who needs to apologize." Sakura was feeling awkward seeing him crying. "I am sorry, Guy sensei."
"Sensei?" Guy cried even more. "It was completely unyouthful of me to leave you in the middle of our conversation like that! I am not worthy to be the teacher of such a youthful, determined lady! I don't deserve to be your sensei!"
"What youthful lady? I am just a child."Sakura was feeling more awkward seeing a grown-up man crying. Now, she has only one trick. It works in anime and stores, but she doesn't know if it works here.
"Then, you have to become an overqualified teacher to make up for this," Sakura shouted in what she imagines as MC's encouraging shout. But she was lamenting internally. "This is so cringe."
"Yes, you are right." He suddenly stopped crying as if realising something. "I will train you to become the best Kunoichi in the world."
"Kakashi, you won't get a student like Sakura. My student is the best. You will never win in this one. Haha," Guy declared.
"You aren't going to change, are you?" Kakashi couldn't believe that after all this, he hadn't learnt the lesson.
"I give up." Sakura gave up.