"Got it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his pipe, mind drifting back decades at the familiar name.
An innocent man is guilty simply for holding treasure. Takigakure's little survival trick didn't bother him much anymore; he had bigger fish to fry.
What did give him a headache was the secret jutsu Team 7 dragged home: Earth Grudge Fear—a proven path to immortality.
He took a long drag. The wrinkles on his face sank deeper.
No matter how he handled it, trouble. Forget the risk of leaks.
Even if he stuffed it in the Scroll of Seals, there was still a certain rat buried under his floorboards.
God only knew what chaos that guy could cook up with it.
Hiruzen's eyes slid past Naruto and Sasuke at the desk, landing on the girl sprawled on the couch—book over her face, snoring like she owned the place.
Instant rage.
The last person who dared sleep in the Hokage's office like this was…
Oh. Jiraiya. Never mind.
"AHEM!"
Seeing her get more shameless by the day, Hiruzen suddenly regretted asking Jiraiya to take her on.
A perfectly good genius… should've just taught her myself.
"Mm—report done. Can I go home?"
Sakura cracked a sleepy eye at the cough, already halfway up.
Then—ROAR.
"GET BACK HERE!"
The bellow sent papers flying. A blizzard of white sheets turned the office into a snow globe.
Hiruzen calmed himself, smiling warmly at Naruto and Sasuke. "I'm logging this as an S-rank. Plus the jutsu you brought back—go pick one high-level technique each from the Scroll of Seals later."
He stamped two permits and handed them over. "Good work. Go rest."
"Old man, what about me—?"
Sakura pouted, but one razor-sharp glare shut her down.
Once the boys left, Hiruzen slammed the scroll on the desk—THUD.
"Spill it. What are you scheming?"
Sakura stood on tiptoes, fingers twirling shyly, cheeks pink.
"I-it's all for Konoha~"
Hiruzen's fingers itched. Evil little gremlin… today I'll—
He stared deadpan, puffing smoke like a chimney.
Sure, calling out Takigakure and demanding payment looked like protecting village interests.
But this was Hiruzen Sarutobi. The guy under his floorboards had played the "village good = my good" game with him for decades.
He wasn't some rookie to be fooled by slogans.
"I'm not young anymore. You're testing me with this crap?"
Fuming, he locked the scroll in his drawer.
"Hehe~ I just trust your self-control, old man!"
Sakura flopped back on the couch, legs swinging over the armrest, making the Second Hokage's antique creak like it was dying.
"Besides, like the name says—it's a solid medical jutsu. Unmatched for stitching wounds."
"And collecting ninja hearts? Pure evil. Anyone uses it, leak the truth—they're done. Buried in shame."
Hiruzen perked up, face turning grave.
She was targeting Danzo from the start.
Their clash of ideals was oil and water.
Now, as Konoha's rising star, she was forcing him to think: Danzo and the next generation.
He'd kept Danzo in check for decades with his own network.
But the next Hokage?
Could they wield the same blade he aimed outward—for Konoha?
"Sakura… ever think about becoming Hokage?"
His voice softened. If this kid was strong enough, maybe his old friend could retire with dignity…
"Nope. Look at you—Hokage sleeps less than street dogs."
She propped her chin on delicate hands, eyes full of disdain.
Hokage? Nah. Pirate life's better—sail the world, party with friends. Way happier than paperwork 24/7.
"COUGH COUGH—you saying I'm worse than a dog?!"
Smoke went down wrong. He hacked, glaring.
"I didn't say that—you did! Don't slander me!"
She covered her mouth, stifling a laugh, eyes politely averted.
"Whatever. Get out, you lazy brat."
Sakura stuck out her tongue, hopped up, and headed for the door.
Right as her hand touched the knob—
"Sakura. If something happens to me, and the next Hokage can't handle Danzo—go to my house. Find a deep-purple scroll."
Her hand froze. Shoulders twitched. She walked out without a word.
---
Night. Haruno rooftop.
Cool autumn wind whispered across the tiles. The night was dead quiet.
Sakura lay on her back, letting the chill melt the heat in her chest.
Stuck in Konoha with these ninjas every day… I'm turning into one of those scheming political ghouls.
"No way. Time to—"
[~]
A line of golden text floated in her vision.
[Haha, you a screen-peeker? 24/7 online?]
Sakura blinked, then grinned wide.
[Mission: Serve host to the max.]
"Oho—tsundere now?"
She sat up cat-like, hugging her knees. Slit pupils gleamed with interest.
[Please… don't assume…]
"Fine. So—guess what I want right now, partner."
She spoke to the empty night.
Nothing happened.
Then, in the silence, pale text burned across the starry sky.
[Current Achievement Points: 410. Deducted. Shuttle initiating!]
A shooting star streaked through the heavens, amber tail painting the night, plummeting toward the endless earth.
She was heading back to that chaotic sea—yet her heart felt lighter than ever.
A gentle breeze brushed past.
"Haha… I really am hopeless."
A flash of light dissolved her voice into the silent night.