Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his beard, looking thoughtfully at the young, pink-haired girl in the crystal ball.
Although Haruno Sakura's approach to handling Uchiha Sasuke seemed biased, Sarutobi Hiruzen found it satisfactory.
In dealing with an unruly student, words alone won't work. First, subdue them; then, once calm, you can talk. Clearly, this method was very effective.
"This is the future of Konoha..." Reflecting on the scene, Sarutobi Hiruzen paused for a moment, seemingly coming to a decision.
Sakura leaned against a large tree, panting lightly, sweat beading down her cheeks. Sasuke's earlier outburst didn't impact her much; she didn't hold any resentment. Sasuke was just a poor, broken child.
After completing a 30-kilometer endurance run, Sakura, only seven years old, recognized she'd pushed her body to its limit. Going further would only cause harm.
"Sakura?" A somewhat elderly yet powerful voice asked from nearby. "What are you doing here?"
The pink-haired girl turned to see an old man in casual clothes, slightly balding, looking at her.
"Hokage-sama?" Sakura's face lit up in surprise as she struggled to rise, though her body was drained. After a few attempts, Sarutobi Hiruzen helped her stay seated.
"Rest if you're tired." Hiruzen looked at her kindly.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Puzzled, Sakura asked, "Why are you here, Hokage-sama?"
"Hahaha, to check on our talented young ninja," he replied, smiling as he patted her head.
Sakura, already known as a "genius," had earned the respect of many, so it wasn't surprising Hiruzen was aware of her skills. However, her face showed a hint of frustration.
"What's wrong?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked gently.
Pointing at her sweat and tired form, Sakura replied, "That 'genius' label hides all the hard work behind it. People don't see the effort; they assume I'm just naturally good."
For a year, Sakura trained rigorously, working late into the night, sparing no effort during the day either.
"I see… I've overlooked that. Sakura, you are very hard-working," Hiruzen said, a warm tone entering his voice. His initial admiration deepened, now tinged with empathy.
"Then, may I ask why you work so hard?"
Sakura perked up and pointed toward the Hokage building, or more precisely, to the Hokage Rock beyond it.
"I want to be the first female Hokage! To protect my mother, father, and village!"
Hiruzen looked at her, speechless. In this young girl, he saw glimpses of others he once knew—Tsunade's strength, Kushina's ambition, Minato's sense of purpose. His eyes softened with nostalgia.
Unseen by Hiruzen, Sakura's face showed a flash of embarrassment. Saying something so bold in front of someone his age felt odd. She thought to herself, "Playing along with the old man is a short-term win."
"That's a wonderful ambition," Hiruzen said, wiping away a stray tear. "If you ever have questions or need advice, don't hesitate to come to me."
Then, he stood and left, disappearing from her sight.
"Wait, Hokage-sama, you're just leaving like that?" Sakura sighed, watching him go.
Just then, her eyes caught something on the ground where Hiruzen had been sitting—a scroll.
A gift from the Hokage!
Sakura eagerly picked up the scroll and opened it.
On the cover were two large words: Super Strength.
A bit disappointed, she flipped through, but her interest quickly rekindled. Unlike her innate strength, this Super Strength was a technique created by Tsunade. It required gathering chakra in a specific area and releasing it explosively. Though it demanded refined chakra control, it included simpler, more effective methods to master chakra manipulation.
Even though she already possessed significant strength, her chakra control still needed work. A ninja's proficiency with chakra underlies all techniques, and mastery of it could expedite her learning.
"Whenever you have questions, you can come to me," Hiruzen had said.
Well, Hokage-sama, I know nothing at all!
Tucking the scroll away, Sakura hummed cheerfully as she walked home in the sunset.
"The vast horizon is my love~~~
Flowers bloom beneath the rolling green hills~~~"
Her song echoed along the river as her figure was reflected in the sparkling water. On the familiar riverbank, a lone figure gazed into the distance.
"Hey, Naruto, what are you doing there?"
Naruto turned at the cheerful voice to see Sakura's warm smile.
"Don't be silly! It's getting late—shouldn't you be going home?"
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