The explosion consumed the entire training ground in an instant.
Fire, lightning, smoke, and debris filled the air as the shockwave tore through the area. If Victor hadn't set up a protective barrier beforehand, the blast would've engulfed several neighboring training grounds.
When the dust finally settled, the once-level field had been replaced by a massive crater.
At its center, Sakura floated effortlessly in midair, completely unharmed. Spiritual energy swirled around her like a protective cocoon, and her pink shoulder-length hair rippled as if caught in an invisible wind. She looked almost like an awakened Saiyan.
"That's impossible!"
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief.
He hadn't held back with that Lightning Release: Kirin. Even if Sakura managed to survive, she should've been injured at the very least.
Yet there she stood, or rather, floated, without a scratch.
Was this really the same girl who used to hold them back on every mission?
Even Naruto, watching from the edge of the training ground, stood frozen in shock.
"Sakura-chan is incredible!"
Whoosh!
Sakura shot forward, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. Her left hand formed a knife-edge and pressed against Sasuke's throat.
"You lose."
"Damn it!"
Sasuke gritted his teeth. He wanted to argue, to protest, but the truth was undeniable. He'd been completely outmatched.
"How did you get this strong?"
More than the defeat itself, Sasuke needed to understand how Sakura had gained such overwhelming power.
"While you and Naruto were busy training, I wasn't sitting around either. Don't forget, I'm Lady Tsunade's personal disciple now!"
When she mentioned her status, Sakura lifted her chin proudly, unable to hide the satisfaction in her voice.
Because of the Hokage... Sasuke's mind raced. If becoming Tsunade's disciple made Sakura this powerful, could I do the same?
"Alright, that's enough for today. You three should head home."
Victor clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Go home? But I wanted to go on a date with Sakura-chan!"
Thunk!
"Ow!"
"Idiot! I don't want to date you!"
Ignoring Naruto's cries as he clutched his head, Sakura turned to Victor with flushed cheeks.
"Actually, I'd rather go on a date with Lord Victor!"
"Lord Victor, would you... maybe want to go shopping together?"
Victor didn't even hesitate. "Sorry, I'm busy."
"Oh... okay."
Despite the rejection, Sakura wasn't discouraged. If anything, Victor's coldness only fueled her determination. She convinced herself that he'd refused because he had something more important to attend to, not because he wasn't interested.
The self-deception of someone smitten was truly remarkable. No amount of reality could shake their self-constructed fantasies.
Watching Sakura join Victor's side with such obvious infatuation, Sasuke felt an uncomfortable twist in his chest.
In the past, he wouldn't have cared who Sakura liked or what she did with her time.
But now things were different.
Maybe it was because she'd defeated him so decisively, but Sasuke finally found himself looking at the girl beside him, really looking at her, for the first time.
And when he did, he realized she was actually... pretty.
Damn it. Why didn't I notice before?
Too bad he'd realized it too late.
Victor watched as the three genin departed, waiting until their figures disappeared around the corner before turning his gaze toward the trees behind him.
"You've been watching long enough. Seen everything you wanted?"
Silence answered him.
"What's the matter? Not planning to show yourself, Sasuke Uchiha?"
After another moment of silence, footsteps finally echoed from the woods.
A black-haired man with a missing arm emerged from the shadows.
This was also Sasuke Uchiha, or more precisely, the adult version who'd traveled from the future.
"How did you know my identity?"
The older Sasuke's expression remained neutral, though surprise flickered in his eyes.
He'd been certain no one could recognize him in this condition.
"And who are you? I don't remember anyone like you existing in Konoha."
Victor replied calmly, "Who I am doesn't matter. As for how I knew your identity, Boruto told us about you."
"So Boruto really is here."
Relief washed over the adult Sasuke's features.
"Would you like to see him? He's been worried about you."
After a moment's consideration, adult Sasuke shook his head. "Let him stay here for now. He should be safe with you. I have things I need to investigate, and bringing him along would only put him in danger."
Based on Victor's treatment of his younger self and the two boys' teammates, this man didn't seem hostile. More importantly, Victor gave off an aura that felt even more dangerous than the Sage of Six Paths himself.
Leaving Boruto under his protection was probably the safest option.
"Please tell Boruto I'll return soon."
With that, the adult Sasuke dissolved into a cloud of white smoke and vanished.
A shadow clone. How cautious.
Not that Victor was surprised.
Shaking his head, he collected his thoughts and turned away from the training ground.
He continued wandering aimlessly through Konoha Village until nightfall, when he finally made his way back to the Hokage's office.
Tsunade was still processing documents, her head bent over yet another stack of paperwork.
"You're back. I sensed some spiritual energy fluctuations from the training grounds earlier. Did you fight someone?"
Victor pulled out a chair and sat down.
"It wasn't me. Your precious disciple had a sparring match with Sasuke. She beat him pretty badly."
"I see." Tsunade nodded without looking up. "For a moment, I thought you were out there bullying children."
"I'm not that bored."
What would be the point of picking on weaklings?
"By the way, I ran into the adult Sasuke."
"Oh? Where is he now?"
"He left. Said he's investigating something."
Hearing this, Tsunade simply nodded and returned her focus to the documents before her.
Time passed steadily. Soon it was eight o'clock in the evening.
After finishing the last document, Tsunade stretched, the motion showing off her curves perfectly in front of Victor.
"Want to grab a few drinks together?"
Victor had been about to decline out of habit, but then he paused. He'd lived this long and never once tried alcohol. Why not give it a shot?
With that thought in mind, he nodded. "Sure, why not."
"Let's go!"
They soon arrived at a nearby izakaya.
The owner was a mature woman with an elegant bearing. She wore a loose kimono that gave her an air of subtle charm.
"Two bottles of your strongest sake!"
Tsunade led Victor to a corner table and ordered her favorite drink with practiced ease.
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Going straight for the strongest liquor? You're not exactly showing mercy to a first-timer."
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "We're both cultivators. What are you worried about?"
With their enhanced physiques, they could probably drink pure alcohol without breaking a sweat, let alone regular sake.