Naruto clutched the Sealing Scroll, staring blankly at the girl beside him, his eyes filled with tears he hadn't even realized had gathered at the corners.
"Forget about the Fourth Hokage, if Sakura believes in me now, I will never let her down!" The blonde-haired boy wiped away the tears in his eyes fiercely.
Naruto's normally clear and innocent blue eyes were now filled with ferocity. He made a hand seal, and memories of everything since he could remember flooded his mind.
Aside from Third Hokage, Sakura was the first one who approached him voluntarily. Then there was Kiba, Chouji, Shikamaru, Ino, Hinata...
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The immense chakra from the Uzumaki clan was fully unleashed at that moment. One hundred, two hundred, five hundred... Over a thousand shadow clones appeared in the forest!
Sakura saw this scene and, even though she had expected it, her mouth still fell open in shock.
It was one thing to know about it, but witnessing it in person was another.
She felt a bit envious!
If only she had that level of chakra, the Yin Seal would have been out already!
Not just Sakura, but even the other members of the Anbu team watching were frozen in place.
This level of chakra could not have been cultivated through training alone—it was a gift from the heavens, something only those with extraordinary talent could possess.
"Mizuki-sensei, there seem to be quite a lot of us!"
Naruto glared at the astonished Mizuki, who was stepping back in fear.
"Better hold your ground!"
With Naruto's words, Mizuki was immediately surrounded by clones. There were fists and feet everywhere—he had no way to resist!
Mizuki screams echoed through the night sky!
When the dust settled, Mizuki had been pummeled into a bruised mess by Naruto's thousands of clones. He lay on the ground, defeated and barely breathing. If it weren't for his still faint pulse, Sakura would have thought he was dead.
"Hehe, I might've gone a bit overboard," Naruto scratched his head, giving a silly grin to Sakura.
"Naruto."
At that moment, a figure emerged from the woods, limping. He had seen everything that had happened and had intended to intervene, but when he heard Sakura's words about Naruto inheriting the Fourth Hokage's will, he decided to stay hidden.
"Iruka-sensei!"
Naruto saw Iruka injured and immediately rushed to help him up.
"Naruto."
Iruka smiled gently at the boy before him.
With everyone watching, Iruka removed his forehead protector and, in Naruto's stunned gaze, placed it on his forehead.
"Congratulations, you've graduated."
At that moment, the first light of dawn shone on Naruto...
Sakura walked up to the bruised and battered Waterwood. She looked down at him with disgust.
She single-handedly lifted him and said to Iruka and Naruto:
"Naruto, take Iruka-sensei to the hospital. I need to take this guy to Hokage-sama."
With that, she disappeared with Mizuki and the other team members.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, watching everything unfold in the crystal ball, smiled.
The effort he had put in over the years was finally paying off. Sakura had effectively restrained Naruto.
But to Hiruzen's worry, to Naruto, Sakura was like a sister taking care of her brother, which made Hiruzen slightly concerned.
If Sakura intended to become Hokage, Naruto would have to stay close to her.
What was the most reliable relationship?
Of course, it was marriage.
But it seemed Sakura had no intention in that direction...
At that moment, the pink-haired girl, with the "pig-head" man in tow, arrived at the Hokage's office.
"Hokage-sama, the target has been captured."
Sakura, with her mask on, half-kneeled before Sarutobi Hiruzen.
She still maintained a sense of professionalism, even though the mask was clearly bothering her.
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand, and other Anbu took Mizuki away. He was about to face the interrogation department of Konoha.
Sakura stood up abruptly, taking off her mask, and muttered irritably:
"When are they going to improve this damn mask? It's been four years, and this thing still gives me a headache."
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but chuckle.
"Sakura, you've been in the Anbu for four years, and now you've risen to the position of squad leader."
Sitting on the couch, Sakura looked at him curiously.
"Old man, are you planning on making me the Anbu Captain?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen almost choked on his pipe, and then took it out to light.
"Not the Anbu Captain, and you're not suited for that position."
He puffed out a cloud of smoke, drawing rings in the air as he spoke:
"Leader of Anbu's Seventh Division, Haruno Sakura."
Sakura was puzzled, looking at the elderly man.
"You're dismissed."
???
"Old man, if you're going senile, I can always call for the Summoning Jutsu to help you out!"
The next morning
Ninja Academy
Sakura sat on the roof of the Ninja Academy, looking a bit dejected.
She had worked hard for four years in Anbu, finally rising to the position of squad leader.
And now she was told she was being dismissed?
Because the upcoming Chunin Exams were to be jointly hosted by the Land of Wind, the Land of Fire, and the Land of Water, Sarutobi Hiruzen needed someone to "hold the fort," and so he shamelessly disguised her as a newly graduated Genin to reassign her class.
He wanted everyone to see that even though Konoha no longer had the legendary White Fang, the Three Ninjas, and the Golden Flash, Konoha was still Konoha—still a force to be reckoned with!
At the same time, Sakura was to take charge of the security of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Of course, after the exams, she would return to her position as Special Jonin.
Meanwhile, in one of the classrooms below, Iruka had already begun reassigning students to new classes.
Sakura, sensing the activity below, couldn't help but wonder if without her, Naruto and Sasuke, those two unlikely rivals, would still...