"A ninja is someone who fights using chakra!"
"And how to use chakra—I taught you all that last week!"
"Can anyone remember how it's done?"
It was the first class of the morning at the Ninja Academy. Standing at the front of the room, Iruka—his trademark scar running across the bridge of his nose—tried to review what he had already taught his students.
He scanned the classroom.
One kid was playing with a toy dog. Another stared blankly into space. A third was sneakily stuffing rice crackers into his mouth.
Iruka's forehead twitched in irritation, a tic mark pulsing as he suppressed his anger. Just as he was about to lose his temper, a small hand rose up quietly.
"Oh? Sakura, you want to answer? Please go ahead."
Seeing the little pink-haired girl raise her hand, Iruka's expression softened noticeably.
"Chakra is a form of energy created by combining the physical energy of one's body with the spiritual energy acquired through training."
"Using it in conjunction with hand seals allows a ninja to perform various jutsu…"
Haruno Sakura recited the answer in a calm, expressionless voice.
Since she had decided to become the best of the best, she would seize any opportunity to stand out.
Even though this behavior wasn't really like the old Sakura, she was determined. If she wanted to eventually acquire the Strength of a Hundred Seal, then she had to start now.
"Exactly correct. You may sit down."
Iruka nodded approvingly and allowed her to sit. Then he turned toward the back row, his mood quickly souring again.
"Naruto! Kiba! Choji!"
"Out. Go stand in the hallway!"
…
Sakura watched the scene unfold with a blank face. She silently pulled out her notebook and focused on Iruka's lecture.
Any time something confused her, she raised her hand to ask a question. She didn't allow a single knowledge gap to slip by.
By the end of the morning, Sakura looked down at her notebook, now filled to the brim with notes, and sighed.
The road ahead… was long and arduous.
---
"Whoa, Sakura—you're acting super serious today!"
A pale yellow head of hair popped over her desk, peering curiously at the densely packed notes on the page. Ino couldn't help but let out a low whistle of admiration.
"When have I ever not been serious?" Sakura replied without emotion, closing her notebook and turning to look at her friend, Yamanaka Ino.
"I mean, yeah, but today… you're like, extra serious."
Ino squinted at her friend like she was trying to solve a mystery.
Then suddenly, something caught her eye—Sakura's pink hair hanging loosely over her shoulders.
"Hey! What happened to the hairband I gave you?"
"It's too much trouble to wear it every day, so I stopped," Sakura replied casually, tucking her notebook into the desk and pulling out her bento box.
"Ehhh? You seem like a totally different person today, Sakura."
Ino leaned in even closer, inspecting Sakura as if she were seeing her for the first time.
No headband. No cute skirt. Just a plain black short-sleeve shirt, simple white shinobi pants, and a pair of ninja sandals.
Simple. Clean. Almost like… a boy.
"Do I?"
Sakura didn't look up. She didn't seem to care about Ino's scrutiny. All she wanted was to find a quiet spot to eat, then go somewhere and practice chakra control.
After all, she had already learned to extract chakra. It was time to move on to the basics—tree climbing and water walking.
"Sakura! Wait up!"
Ino hurried after her as she walked toward the courtyard.
---
At the edge of the training grounds, under the shade of a large tree, Sakura sat quietly eating the dumplings her mom had lovingly packed for her.
Ino, ever the chatterbox, continued talking next to her.
Sakura didn't mind. She didn't dislike Ino, not really. She had chosen this path herself—and she was determined to follow through.
Suddenly, noise erupted from a corner of the schoolyard.
In the shadowed area near the fence, a small group of academy students had surrounded a boy with messy blond hair. They were pointing and laughing—and then, just like that, a punch was thrown.
The blond boy got beat up.
Seeing this, Ino clicked her tongue softly.
"That guy's getting bullied again," she said in a neutral tone, clearly accustomed to the scene. It was far from the first time.
"Why does everyone always bully him?"
Sakura swallowed a mouthful of food and asked without looking up.
"Eh? Sakura, what's with you today?" Ino looked at her, puzzled. "You've seen this happen before, haven't you?"
It was odd. Normally, Sakura would just ignore this kind of thing.
Today… she was being weird.
But Sakura wasn't listening. She looked at the group of older students—clearly stronger and more aggressive than the blond boy they were ganging up on—and set down her chopsticks.
She stood up and started walking.
After all, that blond boy was going to become her future teammate… and the future savior of the world. If she could help him now, then she would.
"H-Hey! Sakura, what are you doing?!"
Ino jumped up in surprise, watching as Sakura strode toward the group of bullies.
Today's Sakura… was really different.
---
"Stop it!"
A crisp, clear voice rang out across the courtyard.
Everyone turned to look.
Even the beaten blond boy glanced up, surprised.
Standing in the sunlight was a girl with short pink hair, her expression calm but resolute. Her eyes stared at the group without fear.
Her hair shimmered in the sun, so brightly that the blond boy had to squint.
"Huh? It's just a girl," the ringleader sneered.
His tone was mocking, careless.
"Scram, or we'll beat you up too."
The other kids beside him muttered in agreement, eyes filled with annoyance.
"I've already told Iruka-sensei that you're out here bullying someone," Sakura said coolly. "If you don't want your parents to get involved, you'd better back off."
She balled her fists slowly, chakra beginning to gather inside them.
Her reserves were small—but focused.
"Ha? You think you can scare us with that?"
"You even know who that kid is?" the ringleader spat, and then viciously kicked the blond boy on the ground again.
Sakura's brows furrowed.
"I don't care who he is. What you're doing is wrong. You're going against the Will of Fire."
The mention of the Will of Fire seemed to annoy the older boy. His face twisted with a scowl.
"Fine! Take her out!"
With a shout, he sent two of his underlings charging at Sakura.
"Watch out! Run!" the blond boy shouted from the ground, panic in his voice.
But Sakura's face didn't waver in the slightest.
Fighting?
She was great at that.
She took a deep breath and stepped forward.
With all her gathered chakra concentrated in her fist, she swung.
BAM!
To everyone's shock, one of the charging boys was sent flying through the air!
He crashed to the ground, groaning.
"Eh?"
Even Sakura blinked in surprise.
She didn't realize… her punch could be that strong.
"Whoa! Sakura, that was amazing!"
Ino rushed over, eyes sparkling with admiration.
The older boys hesitated now.
"B-Boss, she's the Yamanaka clan's heiress…"
Clearly, they recognized Ino.
"Tch. Lucky little brat…"
The ringleader scowled and clicked his tongue.
"Let's go!"
And with that, the group scattered and left.
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End of Chapter
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