2. A Different Sakura

“A so-called ninja is someone who fights using chakra!”

“And I already taught you how to use chakra last week!”

“Does anyone remember?”

In the first class of the morning at the ninja school, Iruka, with a scar across his nose, decided to review the previously taught material with the little brats before starting the new lesson.

Iruka scanned the classroom.

Some students were playing with dogs, others were daydreaming, and a few were sneakily eating snacks…

Seeing this, a vein popped on Iruka’s forehead.

Just as he was about to lose his temper, a small hand shot up.

“Alright, Sakura, you answer.”

Seeing the little girl raise her hand, Iruka’s expression softened a bit.

“Chakra is a form of energy extracted by combining physical strength and mental energy.”

“By using hand seals, it can…”

Haruno Sakura recited the definition of chakra expressionlessly.

Since she had decided to become the top student, she couldn’t miss any opportunity to stand out.

Although this didn’t align with Sakura’s usual personality, she was determined to do whatever it took to obtain the Yin Seal 'reasonably'.

“Absolutely correct. Please sit down.”

Iruka gestured for Sakura to sit and then glared at the back of the classroom, barely suppressing the urge to scold the troublemakers.

“Naruto! Kiba! Choji!”

“Go stand outside the classroom!”

……

Haruno Sakura watched all of this expressionlessly, then took out her notebook and began paying attention to Iruka’s lecture.

Whenever she encountered something she didn’t understand, she immediately raised her hand to ask questions, leaving no knowledge gaps.

By the end of the morning, Sakura looked at her densely filled notebook and sighed.

The road ahead was long and arduous…

“Huh, Sakura, you seem especially focused today~~”

A light brown head popped over, marveling at the densely packed notes in Sakura’s notebook.

“When have I not been focused?”

Haruno Sakura closed her notebook and looked at Ino Yamanaka, who had leaned in.

“What I mean is, today, you’re *especially* focused.”

Ino Yamanaka spoke with a serious expression. Suddenly, as if she had noticed something surprising, she looked at Sakura’s casually draped pink hair:

“Where’s the hairband I gave you?”

“It’s annoying to wear every day, so I stopped.”

Sakura placed her notebook in her desk, took out her lunchbox, and spoke nonchalantly.

“Huh? It feels like Sakura’s a completely different person today.”

Ino Yamanaka curiously leaned closer to Sakura, scrutinizing her.

Not only was she not wearing the hairband, but she also wasn’t in a skirt.

Instead, she wore a simple black short-sleeve shirt, white ninja pants, and a pair of ninja shoes.

Simple, almost like a boy.

“Is that so?”

Haruno Sakura remained calm, ignoring Ino’s clingy behavior.


She just planned to find a quiet spot to eat her lunch and then practice her chakra control techniques.

After all, she had already refined her chakra, so basic training like tree climbing and water walking should be on the agenda.

“Sakura! Wait for me!”

Seeing Sakura walking out alone, Ino Yamanaka quickly chased after her.

Under a large tree at the edge of the playground, Haruno Sakura sat quietly, eating the dumplings her mom had lovingly packed for her.

Ino Yamanaka continued to chatter beside her.

Sakura didn’t dislike her. Since she had chosen to accept her fate, she had to embrace it.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the distance.

In the shadows, a group of ninja school students surrounded a blond boy, pointing and jeering at him.

Then, without warning, a fight broke out.

Unsurprisingly, the blond boy was beaten up.

Watching this, Ino couldn’t help but comment:

“He’s being bullied again.”

Her tone was calm, as if this kind of thing had happened so often that it no longer surprised her.

“Why do they always bully him?” Sakura swallowed her food and suddenly spoke up.

“Huh?”

“Sakura, what’s wrong with you today? Why are you asking that?”

Ino looked at her best friend with confusion.

This kind of situation wasn’t uncommon for Sakura, so why was she acting so strange today?

Watching the older ninja students who were clearly bigger than the blond boy, Sakura put down her chopsticks and walked over.

After all, he was her future teammate and the savior of the world. If she could help him, she would…

“Huh? Sakura, what are you doing?”

Ino watched anxiously as Sakura walked toward the commotion.

What was wrong with Sakura today?

“Stop it!”

A clear, childish voice rang out, drawing everyone’s attention to Haruno Sakura.

The blond boy, lying on the ground, instinctively looked over.

A pink-haired girl stood in the sunlight, staring at them with righteous indignation.

Her pink hair shimmered brightly under the sun, almost blinding the blond boy.

“What’s this? Just a girl.”

The leader of the bullies looked at Sakura with disdain, his tone dismissive and mocking.

“Get lost, or we’ll beat you up too!”

The other lackeys also glared at Sakura, clearly annoyed.

“I’ve already told Iruka-sensei that you’re bullying someone here.”

“If you don’t want to get your parents called, you’d better let him go.”

Sakura’s gaze remained calm as she looked at the bullies.

Her fists were already clenched, and the small amount of chakra she had gathered was concentrated in her hands.

“Huh?”

“You think such a lame excuse will work to protect this guy?”

“Do you even know who he is?”

The bullies clearly didn’t take Sakura’s words seriously, scoffing at her.

With that, they kicked the blond boy on the ground.

“No matter who he is, bullying him is wrong. It goes against the Hokage’s Will of Fire.”

Sakura’s delicate eyebrows furrowed.

“Tch, take her down!”

Hearing Sakura mention the Will of Fire, the leader’s expression darkened, and he ordered his lackeys to charge at Sakura!

“Watch out! Get out of the way!”

The blond boy on the ground finally spoke up.

Watching the older ninja students, clearly a year or two older, charging at her, Sakura’s expression didn’t change.

Fighting? She was great at it!

Taking a deep breath, she punched one of the bullies in the face with her chakra-infused fist!

*Bam!*

To everyone’s surprise, the bully was sent flying and landed heavily on the ground!

“Huh?”

Sakura stared blankly at the scene. Was she really that strong?

“Wow! Sakura, you’re amazing!”

At that moment, Ino jumped out, praising Sakura.

“B-boss, that’s the Yamanaka family’s daughter…”

One of the lackeys hesitated, clearly aware of Ino’s status.

“Tch, let’s go. This brat’s lucky today!”

The leader gritted his teeth and led his lackeys away.