One week later, training ground outside the village.
Under the afternoon sun, glittering beams of light passed through the gaps between leaves, dazzling like crystals. The numerous beams gathered together resembled a crystal forest growing in the crevices.
Bang!
A fist heavily struck the ground. Irregular cracks spread across the rocky surface, and the stirred-up dust filled the training ground, obscuring the figures of the boy and girl within.
"I missed ~ What a pity~"
Sakura's face was flushed, a curve forming on her muddy cheek.
"Woman, were you trying to kill me from the start?!"
Hearing Sakura's words, Sasuke's eyes bulged, baring shark-like teeth as he roared at the girl before him.
His back soaked in cold sweat, he was covered in wounds. After roaring, he had no strength left, not even enough to get up.
"I told you it was hell. You brought this on yourself."
Sakura pursed her lips, loosened her fist, and held out her hand in front of the boy.
In that brief moment, Sasuke's will had sublimated under the pressure of life and death.
Transforming it into a weapon, he briefly extended his perception, dodging Sakura's fist aimed directly at his head.
"Is this the world as you see it..."
Sasuke grabbed Sakura's hand and was pulled to his feet by her.
In that instant, his perception of the entire world had elevated to a new level, completely different from the awakening of the Sharingan.
That feeling of freely experiencing the clear world, more exhilarating and intense than anyone else… the impulse called living.
"Well, Haki, as a power for survival, should more or less neutralize some of the effects Sharingan has on you."
"Also, for Chakra and secret technique training, you should ask Aunt Mikoto yourself."
Sakura tugged at her Ninja attire, letting the cool breeze pass over her body.
Her flowing pink hair shed droplets of sweat, finally restrained by her forehead protector.
"Mo... Mom? Why?"
The sound of the wind vanished from Sasuke's ears, his expression freezing.
"You didn't even know Aunt Mikoto was once a Jonin in the village?"
As if sensing the scent of amusement, someone grinned, shadows obscuring her face.
"Wait, if Mom was a Jonin, that means..."
Understanding the key point, Sasuke's clothes, covered in dust and sweat, trembled violently.
Because he had countless times relied on his Ninja Skills to fool his mother.
'If Mom was a Ninja more skilled than me, that meant all those little boy secrets of mine...'
'No-!'
Leaving the despairing Sasuke behind, Sakura left first.
After returning home and taking a refreshing shower, she headed to the Hokage Building according to the earlier communication from Kakashi.
"Yo, Sakura!"
At the entrance to the Mission Assignment Hall in the Hokage Building, a white-haired man was casually flipping through a book.
Noticing Sakura's arrival, he waved at her.
"So, are we going to take on another D-Rank Mission? Naruto will cry, you know."
Following Kakashi, Sakura shook her still not completely dry hair.
"That's why I specifically called you to be the team representative."
Thinking about the possibility of facing Naruto's shouts and screams later, Kakashi had a headache.
"By the way, that training you've been doing with Sasuke lately, can you include Naruto?"
After all, the other party was his teacher's son. Kakashi didn't want him to fall too far behind in this team.
Although from his observations, what Sakura was teaching seemed to be some special secret technique, so right now, he could only shamelessly ask.
"Sure, but who's going to make up for Naruto's lack of Chakra Control?"
Sakura wasn't opposed to teaching Naruto. Training two opponents for herself could be fun too.
"Well, I'm usually quite busy, you see..."
Kakashi narrowed his eye, raising a hand to scratch his cheek.
Seeing that he was planning to use her labor for free, Sakura narrowed her eyes.
"You have to teach Chakra Control yourself! My control is innate, I don't know how to teach it."
"And take on a bit of your responsibility as a Jonin Instructor, you unreliable sensei!"
Kakashi couldn't argue with Sakura's words and was momentarily speechless.
Just then, in the corridor, Asuma approached with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
"Sakura!"
Hearing the voice, Sakura only felt a fragrant breeze before something soft filled her arms.
Ino hugged Sakura's waist as if holding onto the world: "What have you been up to lately, Sakura? You haven't come to find me; I've been so lonely~"
"Ah, I've been quite busy recently, thanks to a certain irresponsible sensei~"
Sakura patted Ino's shoulder and glanced sideways at the white-haired man.
"Cough!"
Feeling guilty, Kakashi coughed and turned his head away.
"Hey, Ino, we're heading out!"
Asuma called back from ahead, finally snapping Ino out of her addiction to 'absorbing' Sakura.
"Ah, not good!"
"We're going to the Land of Waves for an escort mission. You must remember to come find me next time you're back!"
Ino jogged to catch up, waving and urging Sakura from the end of the corridor.
"Okay, okay~"
Sakura waved her hand kindly and watched the energetic girl leave.
'Wait, Land of Waves!!??'
A rainbow light flashed in the emerald-green eyes, and her Observation Haki spread, immediately locking onto the drunken old man following behind Team Asuma.
'Indeed, the Land of Waves' mission had been intercepted!!!'
'Then...'
Before Sakura could think further, Kakashi had already pushed open the door to the Mission Assignment Hall.
Seeing their arrival, Hiruzen, who had been sitting inside looking worried, suddenly brightened.
"Kakashi, perfect timing. There's a mission here for you!"
Hiruzen raised a hand and pointed to a young man beside him.
"This is the new leader of Takigakure, our allied village. His father, the previous leader of Takigakure, sacrificed himself. Now, he needs an escort back to Takigakure to assume the position of leader!"
Pointed out by Hiruzen, the young man named Shibuki stepped forward and bowed to the two.
"Perfect timing. That Naruto guy has been clamoring for high-rank missions every day. This C-Rank escort mission will be handled by your Team 7!"
Hiruzen happily took a drag of his pipe, tied the mission scroll on the table, and tossed it to Sakura.
Sakura caught the scroll, read its contents, and nodded to Kakashi.
"Then, assemble at the village's gate in ten minutes. Dismissed!"
Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to notify the other two and pack his luggage.
Sakura also used Flying Thunder God, and disappeared from the Hokage Building.
After returning home, she hastily packed her luggage.
Hugging her parents goodbye, Sakura immediately set off for the village's gate.
There, an excited Naruto and a somewhat weary Sasuke were already waiting.
The mission client also emerged from the shadows.
"Hello, everyone... I am the client for this mission... Shibuki."
This somewhat delicate young man wearing arm guards spoke timidly, giving off a very easy-to-bully vibe.
"Of course! Leave it to me, the great Uzumaki Naruto!"
The hot-blooded blond jumped up, vigorously pounding his chest.
"Hmph, don't hold me and Sakura back when the time comes, dead last."
Sasuke, with his arms crossed, offered his usual taunt, earning a dissatisfied boo from Naruto.
"Hah, you kidney-deficient Sasuke! Looking like you've been praying too much! Who's going to hold whom back?!"
"What did you say! Want to fight?!"
"Bring it on!"
"You two, that's enough!"
Bang!
Sakura gave each of them a loving iron fist, raising big bumps on their heads.
"So, can we set off now, employer-san?"
Turning around, the girl's smile was sweet, yet it inexplicably made Shibuki feel breathless.
"Le... let's go!"