"Is there anything you need me to do, Iruka-sensei?"
Haruno Sakura asked instinctively.
"Oh, yes… it's about Naruto in your class. You know him, right?"
Iruka looked gently at the pink-haired girl in front of him as he spoke.
Then he laid out his intentions.
Naruto was always mischievous, but whenever he was alone, he seemed very withdrawn. Iruka was worried that Naruto might develop psychological issues and hoped that Sakura could try to spend more time with him.
"Sakura, don't judge Naruto just because he's a bit of a troublemaker. He's not a bad kid at heart. In private, he's actually quite well-behaved."
"And… all those rumors around the village… they're nothing but lies."
Iruka watched the girl in front of him, who hadn't said a word. He assumed she was unwilling.
"Why me? Ino, Hinata—none of them seem to dislike Naruto either."
Sakura tilted her head in confusion.
"Uhh…"
Truthfully, Iruka was just as confused. He had no real answer. After all, this task had come directly from the Hokage. As for why not Ino or Hinata… he had no clue either.
"Because… Sakura… you're very kind! Haha… uh…"
Iruka fumbled around for an excuse and finally squeezed out this poor reasoning.
Stare—
Sakura gave him a deadpan look. What kind of lame excuse was that? Did he think she was a gullible child?
Iruka gave an awkward laugh, trying to brush things off, but deep down he felt miserable. What a headache of a mission. The Hokage actually wanted him to deceive a child…
Just as Iruka was agonizing over this, Sakura sighed softly and said:
"All right then."
"You're agreeing?!"
Iruka's face lit up in delight—but before he could celebrate, a small hand reached out in front of him.
"What's this for, Sakura?"
"Money, of course. Who visits someone for the first time empty-handed?"
"Surely Iruka-sensei isn't expecting a penniless child like me to pay out of my own pocket?"
!!!
Oh for the love of Hokage-sama!
To carry out the Hokage's orders, he actually had to pay out of his own wallet?!
Iruka's face twisted in pain as he reluctantly pulled out his lucky cat wallet and fished out three paper bills to hand over to Sakura.
Three hundred ryo?!
Looking at the notes in her hand, Sakura nodded in satisfaction.
In this world, 300 ryo was more than enough for a six-year-old to spend an entire day playing—and even save a little extra for her personal stash.
"So then, Sakura, was there something you came to ask me about?"
Iruka finally relaxed after handing over the money. Since she had come to him of her own accord, she probably had something else to request.
"Well… Iruka-sensei…"
—
Night.
Sakura sat alone on a rooftop, staring pensively at the distant horizon.
Iruka hadn't immediately agreed to her request. Instead, he told her to go home and wait a few days for his answer.
Sigh…
She pulled out the 300 ryo Iruka had given her.
Getting close to Naruto…
There was no way this was just a random task assigned by Iruka. This was clearly a mission handed down by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, using Iruka as a messenger.
Could it be… that Hiruzen had seen what happened yesterday?
Well, maybe that was a good thing. At least it meant she had caught the Hokage's attention earlier than expected.
But why did this whole scenario feel so… familiar?
Forming a bond with someone important to the village… growing together… and eventually falling in love, getting married, and having children…
Wasn't this exactly the same plot as Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki?!
Tch!
So that old geezer Sarutobi isn't eyeing my talent… he's eyeing my body?!
Just for the sake of a future Jinchuriki love story?
Ugh! So annoying!!!
Do I really have to sacrifice my charm for this mission?!
—
Hokage Tower.
Hokage's Office.
At this moment, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was watching the pink-haired girl through his crystal ball. He watched as she suddenly began flailing around on the rooftop in what appeared to be frustration, utterly confused.
This girl… she's certainly unique…
Was she troubled by how to approach Naruto tomorrow?
"Lord Hokage."
"I must say… Sakura is a very good child."
Iruka stood before the Hokage, hesitating slightly before speaking.
"I know."
Hiruzen nodded.
In just one day, he had thoroughly investigated the Haruno family from top to bottom.
Their lineage was clean. The family was ordinary. Her great-grandfather had come to Konoha during its founding and brought his whole family. They were a textbook example of a loyal, grassroots family.
Over the decades, a few had become ninjas, but none had shown any exceptional talent.
Now, only Haruno Shō remained.
And once Sakura grew up and got married, the Haruno bloodline would effectively come to an end.
"Sakura… she wants to skip grades."
Hearing Iruka's words, Hiruzen raised an eyebrow and looked at him in surprise.
Skip grades?
A civilian student from the ninja academy wants to skip grades?
"It's like this…"
Iruka then recounted in detail everything that had happened earlier that day.
After listening, Hiruzen fell silent for a moment.
So she wanted to skip grades because she felt she wasn't learning anything new anymore?
So… she was a genius?
Through the crystal ball, Hiruzen gazed at the girl sitting on the rooftop with her cheek resting on one hand, letting the evening breeze brush through her hair. He couldn't help but hesitate.
This girl was the one he had specifically chosen to build a bond with Naruto.
He wanted to recreate the dynamic between Minato and Kushina.
But if Sakura skipped grades, she would obviously have fewer chances to interact with Naruto.
And given Naruto's personality… expecting him to keep up with a genius who could skip grades was asking way too much.
But if he were to stop Sakura from advancing, would that mean leaving a shining gem to gather dust in the academy?
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, pondering deeply.
Finally, he made a decision.
"If she wants to skip grades, then let's give her a chance. Give her all the learning materials for her current grade. One month from now, test her yourself."
"If she passes, then give her the second-year materials—but she must remain in your class."
"She can continue like that until she finishes all six years' worth of materials."
Hiruzen had decided to give Sakura a chance.
After all, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's greatest value to the village was in deterrence—not as a frontline weapon.
Throughout history, Konoha had never once sent a tailed beast into battle.
Not in the First Great Ninja War, when they had the Second Hokage.
Not in the Second, when they had the White Fang and the Legendary Sannin.
Not even in the Third, when they had the Yellow Flash.
This was the pattern—Konoha relied on strong shinobi, not dangerous weapons.
And so, raising the next generation well was crucial.
Haruno Sakura… show me what you're truly capable of.
Don't disappoint me.
(End of Chapter)
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