Yesterday, after a chance encounter with Hyuga Neji, Sasuke learned that Naruto had finally returned home. Planning to seek out Naruto for training early in the morning, Sasuke hadn't expected to stumble upon such a scene.
Paranoid emotions surged within him like a stormy sea, waves crashing relentlessly. Sasuke tilted his head slightly, gazing at the rooftop where Sakura leaned against the railing, watching someone depart.
Naruto…
Bang!
His fist slammed into the wall!
Crimson blood trickled between his fingers, yet Sasuke seemed oblivious to the pain. In his Sharingan eyes, only Naruto's reflection lingered.
"Hm?"
Naruto seemed to sense something, glancing toward Sasuke's direction. With a single leap, he landed in the alley beside his house.
Staring at the empty alley, Naruto scratched his head.
Had he imagined it?
It felt like someone had been there just a moment ago.
"Heh, interesting. Humans are so interesting…"
In the dim, yellowed cage of the sewer, a pair of massive crimson slit-pupil eyes snapped open. A mouth large enough to swallow a dozen people curled into a terrifying, sinister grin.
That dark, malevolent smile sent chills down the spine.
"Sakura!"
A familiar blur of movement—Yamanaka Ino's signature tackle.
Sakura was long used to this, instinctively opening her arms. The next moment, a familiar flash of purple crashed into her embrace.
Feeling that familiar flatness, Ino's exhaustion from being dragged by her mom to help at the flower shop vanished in an instant.
Ino was back at full energy!
Recharged and ready to go!
Sakura, meanwhile, felt a mix of exasperation and amusement as Ino nuzzled against her.
Was this girl getting too attached? Had Sakura accidentally bent her?
Shaking her head, Sakura dismissed the ridiculous thought.
Even if she had bent Ino, so what? It's not like she could do anything about it—look, don't touch.
"Aunt Kiku, I'm borrowing Ino for a bit, okay?" Sakura called out.
After leaving Naruto's place, Sakura had made a beeline for the Yamanaka Flower Shop to find Ino.
She had to deal with Naruto quickly, or who knows what kind of mess this would spiral into.
Naruto was clinging to her, Sasuke seemed to have some unspoken feelings, Ino was being overly touchy, and even Karin seemed to have ulterior motives.
What was this?
Did they think this was The Love Story of Sakura Haruno or something?
Sakura's head throbbed. She had to sort out this mess with everyone!
She couldn't just let all these people end up single, could she?
Enough was enough!
All she wanted was to be an ordinary ninja. Why were all these people so obsessed with her?
Was she some kind of Konoha succubus or something?
Otherwise, how could she explain why Uzumaki Boruto or Yamanaka Inojin even had a chance to exist?
As for Sarada?
Cough cough. That one could stay nonexistent.
"If it's you, Sakura, of course it's fine," Ino's mother, Lady Yamanaka, replied with a gentle smile from behind the counter.
"Woohoo!"
"Let's go have fun!" Ino cheered, eagerly tossing her apron aside.
Heaven help her, she'd been woken up at five in the morning by her mom. Still half-asleep, Ino had been roped into delicately unwrapping flower buds for the shop.
Due to transportation issues, flowers were often shipped with their petals wrapped to prevent damage. It was up to the florists to carefully peel back the coverings to let the blooms open fully.
And yesterday, with a big wedding order for a ton of roses, Ino had been dragged out of bed to play laborer.
"That girl, honestly," Lady Yamanaka sighed, picking up the apron her daughter had carelessly discarded. Glancing at the pink-haired girl her daughter was so attached to, she shook her head.
Ino was completely wrapped around Sakura's finger.
While Sakura was one of Konoha's brightest talents, Lady Yamanaka couldn't help but think it might be wise to gently nudge her daughter away from any… misguided paths.
…
"Sakura, where are we headed?" Ino asked, casually looping her arm through Sakura's as they walked, her tone as natural as ever.
"I was thinking, since all our peers are in the village for once, maybe we should have a get-together. You know, a group meal," Sakura explained, laying out her intentions clearly.
"A meal? Awesome!" Ino's eyes lit up.
Like Naruto, Ino loved a lively scene. The word "get-together" had her practically bouncing with excitement, raising both hands in approval.
"But there's another reason for this," Sakura added, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. Leaning in close to Ino's ear, she quickly whispered her plan.
Ino had been eager to hear what Sakura was scheming, but as she listened, her cheerful expression faded. A troubled look crossed her face.
"Sakura, you want to get Naruto and Hinata together?" Ino asked, her tone laced with skepticism as she looked at her best friend.
"Yeah," Sakura replied, nodding as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Seeing Sakura's nonchalant attitude, Ino was tempted to check her forehead for a fever. How could she suggest something so absurd?
"Sakura, Hinata is the Hyuga clan's heir," Ino said, hesitating as she glanced at her pink-haired friend.
"And Naruto…"
Sakura froze, realization hitting her like a ton of bricks.
She'd been too naive.
Hinata was the heir to the Hyuga clan.
And Naruto…
Sure, Naruto's true identity might technically make him a match for a clan heir. But no one knew that identity. And right now, Naruto was a nobody—a Special Jonin at best.
Compared to the ancient, towering might of the Hyuga clan, he was insignificant.
Even if his status as the Fourth Hokage's son were revealed, the Hyuga clan would likely scoff at the idea.
Even if Naruto came around and wanted to be with Hinata, he lacked the overwhelming strength, prestigious reputation, and undeniable presence he had in the original story. Just being the Fourth's son wasn't enough to make the Hyuga clan bow and hand over their heir.
It was laughable to think otherwise.
Not to mention, Namikaze Minato was long dead!
Sakura had been so desperate to shift Naruto's attention away from herself that she'd overlooked the obvious.
She let out a soft sigh.
Plan A was a bust.
Her emerald eyes darted rapidly, her mind racing for a new strategy.
Got it!
Plan B, commence!
As the saying goes, you can't rush a hot meal. Instead of forcing Hinata onto Naruto, why not create more opportunities for them to be together?
In the original story, Naruto had once caught a distant glimpse of Hinata bathing and later, in her presence, casually mentioned seeing someone beautiful.
If Sakura used her influence to pair Hinata and Naruto up on missions, over time, their relationship would grow naturally. It'd be like a thin sheet of paper—just one poke, and it'd break.
As for the Hyuga clan?
For Naruto's happy future…
She'd go all in!
Sakura's eyes narrowed with determination. She decided that when the village sent logistical support to the front lines in the Land of Rivers, she'd talk to the old man and get herself assigned there.
While taking down Kakuzu, she'd rack up more achievements, build her reputation, and expand her network.
All to pave the way for her dream of becoming Hokage!
The Hyuga clan?
The old man was pushing seventy. He'd retire within three years.
Fifth Hokage? Who else but her?!
Naruto…
I'm going through all this trouble for you.
When Boruto's born, he'd better call me his godmother!
To ensure Naruto and Hinata ended up together, Sakura resolved to work even harder to become Hokage.
Wait until she was twenty forナルト to change his mind?
Screw that!
She wasn't waiting that long.
Twenty years was too much—she'd seize the day!
Ino, puzzled, watched Sakura shift from dejection to blazing determination in seconds. Scratching her head, she wondered what was going on.
What was up with Sakura?
One moment, Sakura had revived her spirits, and now…
Sakura glanced at Ino, only for her face to fall.
The reason? Behind Ino, she spotted an all-too-familiar Uchiha ping-pong paddle hairstyle.
She'd been so focused on Naruto, but what about this Sharingan-wielding headache?
Maybe… create an opportunity for Ino?
The Yamanaka clan would probably be thrilled to have a few Sharingan babies running around.
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