The Sakura Legend

Hokage's Office

"Now, will the Jonin instructors responsible for the new Genin please step forward," the Third Hokage said.

Kakashi Hatake, Kurenai Yuhi, and Asuma Sarutobi stepped out from the crowd.

"Well? Among the rookies you are responsible for, are there any suitable candidates?" the Third Hokage asked. "I believe you all know the basic requirements: they must have completed at least eight missions. Other than that, it's up to your recommendations."

"I, Kakashi, of Team 7, recommend Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno. In my name, Kakashi, I nominate them for the Chunin Exams!"

"I, Kurenai, of Team 8, recommend Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame. In my name, Kurenai, I nominate them for the Chunin Exams!"

"I, Asuma, of Team 10, recommend Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi. In my name, Asuma Sarutobi, I nominate them for the Chunin Exams!"

"Hmm... This decision is a bit unexpected," the Third Hokage said, somewhat surprised.

"Please wait a moment," Iruka spoke up.

"What is it, Iruka?" the Third Hokage asked.

"Lord Third Hokage, please allow me to speak. With the exception of Sakura Haruno, all nine of the Genin just nominated were my students at the Ninja Academy. While they are all outstanding, I believe it's too early for them to participate in the Chunin Exams. This will ruin them," Iruka said, very dissatisfied with the three Jonin's nominations. The Chunin Exams were deadly, and those students had been Genin for less than a year. Iruka didn't want to see them throw their lives away.

"Iruka-sensei, I know everything you're going to say. I became a Chunin six years younger than Naruto is now," Kakashi said, looking at Iruka.

"But that's different..."

"Iruka-sensei!! Stop thinking of them as your students. They are my subordinates now," Kakashi interrupted Iruka, his voice hardening.

The atmosphere in the Hokage's office immediately became tense.

"Hmph, another troublesome one. Do you want to fight?" Kankuro said, gnashing his teeth at Sasuke on the tree.

"Get lost," Sasuke said coldly, looking at Kankuro.

"Brat, come down here. I can't stand your arrogant attitude," Kankuro said, taking down the bandaged object he carried on his back.

Seeing that Kankuro seemed to be getting serious, Sakura instantly gathered chakra, preparing to strike first. While it wouldn't be fatal, Konohamaru and the others were nearby, and if Kankuro was still angry at them, he could injure them in a fight.

"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!"

Sakura found that the Swamp of the Underworld was a truly useful ninjutsu. It was the jutsu she used the most. Unlike the Water Prison Technique, it didn't require her to maintain it with her physical presence, and she didn't have to worry about her insufficient strength being broken through by the enemy. With the Swamp of the Underworld, she only needed to use chakra to change the terrain, making the enemy sink into the swamp. Then, she could just fire Water Bullets – pew pew pew – to keep the enemy occupied. It was the best option for dealing with enemies at this stage.

She was truly grateful to the Third Hokage for teaching her such an A-rank ninjutsu.

Just as the ground beneath Kankuro and Temari's feet turned into a swamp and they began to sink, a large amount of sand covered the swampy ground, stopping their descent.

"Hmm? Sand?" Sakura's pupils contracted slightly. She immediately thought of Gaara.

It seemed she couldn't shake her impulsive nature. How could she have forgotten about Gaara? Seeing the sand, Sakura's fragmented memories became a little clearer. So, Gaara was also involved in this incident. She could have just watched quietly. But, well, at least she now knew that the swamp couldn't trap Gaara, so she could prepare accordingly.

"Stop embarrassing yourself, Kankuro," Gaara said, hanging upside down from a branch next to Sasuke, sand swirling around him.

"I... Gaara... It's... they started it..." Kankuro said, embarrassed and terrified after being trapped by Sakura's swamp and rescued by Gaara's sand.

Sakura saw Gaara and knew that a fight wouldn't break out now, so she dispelled her jutsu.

"Do you want to die?" Gaara asked Kankuro coldly.

Kankuro fell silent, looking at Gaara with fear.

Gaara used a Sand Body Flicker to appear between Temari and Kankuro, retracting the sand from the ground. "Let's go."

"Wait, what's your name?" Sasuke, who had been on the tree and hadn't sensed Gaara's arrival at all, jumped down and asked.

"Huh, you... are you asking me?" Temari replied, her face slightly flushed.

"No," Sasuke said, staring at Gaara. "The one with the gourd."

"......." Gaara turned his head to look at Sasuke but didn't answer.

Perhaps it was because of Sakura, but now Gaara felt that the strongest of the three was the pink-haired girl. Sakura had instantly trapped both Temari and Kankuro, far surpassing Sasuke in strength.

Seeing the atmosphere becoming slightly tense, Sakura decided to step in. "Hey, the one with the gourd, what's your name? My teammate, Sasuke Uchiha, is asking you. I'm Sakura Haruno."

Sakura gave herself a hundred points for her quick thinking. It was rare for her to be so clever.

But the atmosphere became even more tense. Sakura could practically feel Sasuke's resentment.

"I'm Gaara of the Desert," Gaara finally spoke, easing the tension slightly.

"Hey, you're ninjas from the Sand Village. Why are you in Konoha?" Naruto, seeing the three about to leave, suddenly remembered something and asked.

"Sigh~~~ Even our own people don't know," Temari said, taking out a permit and showing it to Naruto. "We're here as Genin from the Sand Village to participate in the Chunin Exams, understand?"

After the three left, Naruto asked Sakura, "Chunin Exams? Can we participate too?"

"How would I know? Go ask Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said, shrugging.

Sasuke was still staring in the direction the three had gone, lost in thought. He had thought that among the Genin, aside from Sakura, no one was stronger than him. But just now, a ninja from another village had fought Sakura to a draw – at least, on the surface it appeared that way. Sasuke couldn't accept this result.

He had been too complacent, thinking that Sakura was the strongest among the Genin. He hadn't expected that there might be people even stronger than Sakura outside the village.

Looking at Sasuke's sullen face, Sakura guessed that her interaction with Gaara had made Sasuke feel a sense of inferiority.

Looking up at the sky, Sakura sighed. She really didn't know what kind of impact this would have in the future. She had been very careful since coming here, never doing anything major. Even so, she had unknowingly changed the direction of some events, which in turn caused further changes.

The future, huh...?