"Forbidden techniques, huh? Forbidden techniques!"
In the meeting room, the petite pink-haired girl wiped at nonexistent drool at the corner of her mouth.
A short list detailed dozens of secret techniques and their effects, sealed within Konoha's forbidden scroll.
Reanimation Jutsu, Reaper Death Seal, Four Symbols Seal, Eight Trigrams Seal, Mutual Multi-Explosion Talisman, Eight Gates…
And, of course, the one technique that instantly captured Sakura's attention—Flying Thunder God!
"This one, this one! Old man, I want this one!"
Sakura slapped the scroll down in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi, even throwing in some cute pouting for good measure.
For someone like her, who could use achievement points to master ninjutsu, whether she had an aptitude for space-time techniques didn't matter one bit.
"All the ninjutsu I've mastered came from my own hard work—and a little help from Deep Blue!"
[Notification: Recording the Flying Thunder God space-time ninjutsu requires 500 achievement points!]
[Additionally, the current environment is peaceful, with no survival achievement missions available.]
Just as Sakura's excitement peaked, the system doused her with cold water.
Right. Achievement points in the ninja world were precious, and she needed to save some for her eventual return to the sea.
Besides, her current balance was a measly 80 points—nowhere near enough to learn Flying Thunder God.
"Sakura, this technique has steep requirements. Are you sure you want to choose it?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Hiruzen looked at the spirited girl before him, a faint golden shadow seeming to overlap with her in his eyes.
Though he believed in Sakura's potential, as a veteran of ninjutsu study, he felt compelled to warn her of the challenges.
Space-time ninjutsu didn't just demand the ability to sense space-time; a ninja also had to pierce through it with their chakra and master sealing techniques to mark coordinates.
This single technique combined four advanced disciplines: sensory ninjutsu, summoning, sealing, and teleportation. The difficulties were staggering.
"Don't worry, old man. I'm confident I can master it!"
Sakura clenched her fist, her emerald eyes gleaming with determination.
"Alright, I'll have Anbu deliver the scroll to you. Just make sure to keep it safe!"
Hiruzen gave a gentle reminder before agreeing to her request.
"Heck yeah!"
Sakura pumped her fist triumphantly.
Carefully rolling up the forbidden technique list, she slipped it into her jacket pocket…
"…"
Hiruzen stared at her antics, his face expressionless, for a long moment.
Finally, Sakura squirmed under his gaze, flashing an awkward grin.
She tucked her hands behind her back, toes tracing circles on the floor, her innocent eyes pleading pitifully at Hiruzen.
But this seasoned Hokage wasn't so easily swayed. His stare didn't waver.
In the end, Sakura reluctantly pulled the scroll from her pocket and handed it back with a pout.
Hiruzen snatched it and tucked it into his sleeve.
"Off you go, back home, civilian!"
"Hehe, thanks, old man!"
…
South side of Konoha, the Haruno residence.
High-quality ingredients often need only the simplest cooking methods. At midnight, after a long night, Master Chef Sakura called out for her mom, eagerly awaiting her mother's delicious reward.
But her hopes were interrupted by the arrival of an Anbu delivering the scroll.
"That was fast!"
Sakura hadn't even picked up her chopsticks before the scroll was thrust into her hands.
"Lord Hokage has given you one month to train. If you don't succeed, you can go to him to choose another reward."
The Anbu handed over the scroll, gave a slight bow, and vanished with a Body Flicker.
Sakura looked at the scroll, shaking her head as she tucked it away.
Despite knowing Hiruzen was likely trying to win her over as a politician would, his thoughtful gesture still touched her. After all, people weren't made of stone.
Alright, I'll make sure the old guy gets a proper retirement!
With that thought, Sakura speared a piece of her mom's honey cake. The sweetness curved her elegant brows into a smile, her face glowing like the moon.
Full and satisfied, Sakura slung a towel over her shoulder and headed to the bathroom to wash up.
Rinsing off the soap suds, she lazily sank into the hot water.
Opening her eyes, Sakura's emerald gaze drifted to the mirror nearby.
'That's… me?!'
The girl in the bath shot upright and stepped toward the mirror.
Her reflection hadn't changed a bit since she was six. Flat as a board, short as ever.
"No wonder Ino's been giving me those pitying looks lately."
[Notification: The growth period of the Giant King race is twice that of ordinary humans.]
The system's reminder hit her like a bolt. This wouldn't do.
Spending too long in the ninja world would make her long-lived race's traits too obvious.
But staying too long at sea would mean her parents missing her growth, robbing them of their parental rights.
'System, give me a solution!'
Since the system had given her the Giant King race as a starter package, it surely knew more about her condition. So, Sakura cut straight to the chase.
[Notification: It is recommended that the host, during their growth period, allocate time between the ninja world and the sea at a 1:2 ratio to avoid discrepancies in growth timelines.]
'One year in the ninja world, two years at sea?'
Sakura pulled off her towel, drying the water dripping from her body.
Dressed and stepping out of the bathroom, she met her mother, Mebuki Haruno, coming her way.
"Oh my, what's wrong, Sakura-chan?"
Mebuki fidgeted under her daughter's odd stare.
Then she saw Sakura gently rise on her tiptoes and wrap her arms around her waist.
"Nothing, just love you, Mom. See you tomorrow!"
With her resolve set, Sakura let go of her mother and dashed back to her room.
On her small bed, she opened the system's travel interface for the first time in a while.
Staring at the ominous black hole of the travel button, she swallowed hard.
'System, activate the travel function!'
[Notification: Detected that the host is carrying a critical item—Flying Thunder God scroll. Bringing it across worlds requires an additional 90 achievement points.]
You've got to be kidding me!
[Notification: A special… discount coupon has been issued. Spend 100 achievement points, get 20 off.]
Special, my foot! You were about to say something else, weren't you? Are your developers a collection of the world's sleaziest merchants?
And only a 20-point discount? That's shadier than the big three in a corporate war! You'll get driven out of the market someday!
Wait… this thing's running a monopoly, isn't it?
The thought made Sakura's skin crawl. She wanted to yank the system out and give it a good thrashing.
'Crooked merchant! Stingy ghost system! Cheapskate jerk!'
[Notification: Please refrain from slandering this system.]
Deduct it, go ahead, deduct it! Drain my points so I can't learn ninjutsu and lose battles!
Push me to the edge of survival, and I'll just drag you down with me!
[Heh.]
[Notification: Points deducted. Current achievement points: 0. Travel commencing.]
A blinding surge of light flared in Sakura's room. In the next instant, the once lively space was empty.
On the other side, above the vast sea…