A week later, out at the training grounds.
Afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, beams of light sparkling like crystals. All those rays bunched together, turning the gaps between trees into a glowing crystal jungle.
BOOM!
A fist slammed the ground. Jagged cracks spider-webbed across the stone, kicking up dust that swallowed the boys and girl inside.
"Aw, missed again~ Too bad~"
Sakura's cheeks were flushed, a grin cutting through the mud on her face.
"You psycho! You've been trying to kill me from the start!"
Sasuke's eyes bulged, shark-teeth bared as he roared at her.
His back was soaked with cold sweat, body covered in cuts and bruises. After that yell, he didn't even have the strength to stand.
"I told you this was hell. You asked for it."
Sakura rolled her eyes, unclenched her fist, and held out a hand.
In that split second, Sasuke's will had skyrocketed under life-or-death pressure.
He turned it into a weapon, briefly stretching his senses, and dodged the punch aimed straight at his skull.
"So… this is the world you see…"
Sasuke grabbed her hand and let her pull him up.
In that instant, his perception of the world had jumped a whole level, totally different from awakening the Sharingan.
It was raw, vivid, alive. The rush of simply existing, stronger and freer than anything.
"Well, Haki's a survival instinct. It should at least offset some of the yin-release side effects the Sharingan dumps on you."
"Also, for chakra and secret techniques, go bug Auntie Mikoto yourself."
Sakura tugged at her ninja gear, letting the breeze cool her down.
Her pink hair fluttered, sweat droplets flying, before the forehead protector tied it all back.
"M-Mom…? Why?"
The wind in Sasuke's ears vanished. His face froze.
"You didn't even know Auntie Mikoto used to be a jonin?"
Sakura's grin widened, shadows hiding her face like she'd just found gold.
"Wait—if Mom's a jonin, that means…"
The realization hit. His dusty, sweaty clothes started shaking.
He'd lost count of how many times he'd pulled ninja tricks to fool his mom.
If she was stronger than him, then all his little boy secrets…
NO—!
Sakura left the forward-fold-of-despair Sasuke behind and headed out.
After a refreshing shower at home, she followed Kakashi's message to the Hokage Tower.
"Yo, Sakura!"
At the mission desk entrance, a silver-haired guy was casually flipping through a book.
He waved when he spotted her.
"So, another D-rank? Naruto's gonna cry."
Sakura shook out her still-damp hair as she caught up.
"That's exactly why I dragged you here to be the team rep."
The thought of Naruto's whining already gave Kakashi a headache.
"By the way, whatever training you've been doing with Sasuke—can you loop Naruto in?"
He was his teacher's kid, after all. Kakashi didn't want him falling too far behind.
Sure, from what he'd seen, Sakura was teaching some kind of rare secret art, but he was out of options.
"No problem. But who's gonna fix Naruto's chakra control?"
Teaching Naruto didn't bother her; raising two rivals sounded fun.
"That'd be… uh, I'm kinda busy, you see…"
Kakashi squinted, scratching his cheek.
He's trying to mooch my labor. Sakura narrowed her eyes.
"You're teaching control yourself. Mine's natural—I don't know how to teach it."
"And step up as a jonin instructor for once, Mr. Unreliable!"
Kakashi had no comeback. He opened his mouth, then closed it.
Perfect timing—Asuma walked down the hall with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
"Sakura!"
A gust of perfume hit her, then soft arms wrapped around her waist.
Ino clung like she'd found the meaning of life. "What have you been doing lately? You never come see me—I'm so lonely~~~"
"Yeah, been super busy. Because of a certain irresponsible teacher~"
Sakura patted Ino's back and side-eyed the silver hair.
Ahem!
Kakashi coughed guiltily and looked away.
"Hey, Ino, we're rolling out!"
Asuma called from ahead, snapping Ino out of her Sakura-sucking trance.
"Ah, crap!"
"We're heading to the Land of Waves for an escort mission. Come find me when we get back, okay?!"
Ino jogged after them, waving from the end of the hall.
"You got it~"
Sakura waved back like a proud mom, watching the energetic girl go.
Wait—LAND OF WAVES?!!
Rainbow light flashed in her emerald eyes. Observation Haki spread, instantly locking onto the drunk old man trailing Asuma's team.
They sniped the Wave mission!!!
Before she could think, Kakashi pushed open the mission center doors.
Inside, Hiruzen looked up from his worries, face lighting up.
"Kakashi—perfect timing. Got a job for you."
He pointed to the young man beside him.
"This is the new leader of Takigakure, our ally. His father, the previous leader, died. He needs an escort back to take the position."
The young man, named Shibuki, stepped forward and bowed.
"Naruto's been begging for a real mission. This C-rank escort is all yours, Team 7!"
Hiruzen puffed his pipe happily, tied the scroll, and tossed it to Sakura.
She caught it, scanned the details, and nodded at Kakashi.
"Ten minutes. Village gate. Dismissed!"
Kakashi Body Flickered away to grab the others and pack.
Sakura used Flying Thunder God—whoosh—gone in a flash.
Back home, she threw clothes into a bag, hugged her parents goodbye, and bolted for the gate.
Naruto was already bouncing with excitement. Sasuke looked worn out but ready.
The client stepped out of the shadows.
"Hello… I'm your client… Shibuki."
The arm-guard-wearing, kinda pretty-boy type spoke timidly, giving off major pushover vibes.
"Leave it to the great Uzumaki Naruto!"
The hyped-up blond leaped and thumped his chest.
"Hmph. Just don't drag me and Sakura down, dead last."
Sasuke crossed his arms and tossed his usual jab, earning a hiss from Naruto.
"What'd you say?! You kidney-weak Sasuke—looking like you prayed too hard—who's really gonna hold us back?!"
"You wanna go?!"
"Bring it!"
"Both of you—SHUT IT!"
WHAM!
Sakura delivered two loving iron fists. Instant lumps on both heads.
"So, can we leave now, Mr. Client?"
She turned with a sweet smile that somehow made Shibuki's breath hitch.
"L-Let's… go!"