Night had fallen. While Sakura and Ino were gorging themselves at the fried meatball shop on South Street, and while Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to his residence, a man stepped into the Hokage's office.
He wore a black-and-white robe, his body wrapped in bandages, with only one eye visible. He settled into the chair where Hiruzen usually sat, turning to gaze out at the village of Konoha through the window.
Even in the dead of night, the bustling village glowed with neon lights, alive and vibrant.
"Konoha… Konoha…"
The man, Danzo Shimura, leaned back in the chair, quietly taking in the stunning view. There was a strange sense of satisfaction in his expression.
This kind of prosperity should've been achieved under his leadership. But…
Danzo clenched his teeth, letting a flicker of resentment show—something he only allowed himself when he was alone.
His gaze shifted to the stack of Anbu reports on Hiruzen's desk, and his expression changed. He reached for a particular file buried beneath the others.
The text on it read: [The Uchiha Incident: Full Report.]
That rough handwriting—definitely Hiruzen's.
Heh, let's see what kind of person is worth Hiruzen bending the rules to protect.
With that thought, Danzo opened the file, pulling out the pages filled with detailed records.
As the minutes ticked by, Danzo's face went through several emotions.
[Ninja Record: Sakura Haruno
Ninjutsu: 6, Taijutsu: 10, Genjutsu: 9, Intelligence: 9, Strength: 10, Speed: 7, Stamina: 10, Hand Signs: 8]
Well, damn. Those stats were unreal.
Anyone who knew would realize this was an eight-year-old kid. Anyone who didn't would assume she was some elite Jonin from the village.
Hiruzen's eye for talent was rarely wrong. Sakura Haruno was definitely a prodigy.
Danzo's eyes flickered, his mind racing.
But from what he'd seen of the girl's attitude, she clearly wasn't someone who'd get along with him.
So, what was the play here? The Konoha Citizen Management Protocols?
Danzo let out a dry chuckle and stood, his gaze landing on a book on Hiruzen's desk: My Will. A spark of inspiration hit him.
His weathered hand released his cane, brushing over his right eye.
Trading one genius's legacy for another… worth it.
"Humph, Hiruzen, you handed me this golden opportunity!"
With the sharp tap of his cane, the bandaged man vanished into the night.
---
Time passed quietly in Konoha, where undercurrents stirred beneath the surface. Before long, the calendar turned to the 59th year of the village.
As soft snow blanketed Konoha, the winter festival kicked off in full swing.
"Takoyaki, ramen, dango…"
Dressed in a red coat, Sakura darted between food stalls, bouncing with the joy of a kid in a candy store.
"Slow down, Sakura!"
Ino, trailing behind, couldn't keep up with the pint-sized giant royalty. She bent over, hands on her knees, catching her breath.
Joining the group for the festival were Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Shino, Naruto, Hinata, and others.
"Man, I wanted to treat Sakura, but she's way too fast!" Naruto whined, holding up his frog-shaped wallet, his attempt at flirting lost in the crowd.
"You can treat me!" Kiba slung an arm over Naruto's shoulder, flashing a thumbs-up.
"Who'd wanna treat you, you idiot?!"
"Tch! Naruto, you friend-ditching, girl-chasing jerk!"
Akamaru barked and lunged, and Naruto fought back. The two ended up tussling in the middle of the street.
"What a drag…" Shikamaru sighed, watching the chaos unfold, hands tucked behind his head.
"Sakura's got some serious grit to eat that much!" Choji, arms full of snacks, turned to Shikamaru with a thumbs-up.
"You're one to talk," Shikamaru muttered, half-laughing, half-exasperated.
"Ino! Here, try this!"
Sakura appeared out of nowhere, arms loaded with food from the stalls.
"Sakura, you—mmph!"
Before Ino could finish, Sakura stuffed a piece of mochi in her mouth.
The soft, chewy texture turned Ino's lecture into a muffled grumble. She shot a playful glare at the grinning Sakura.
Crunch! Gulp!
Under Ino's stunned gaze, Sakura demolished the pile of food in front of her and darted off for more.
"Is she a monster or what?" Shikamaru teased, plopping down on a bench by the street next to Ino.
"I'm ashamed to admit it, but I lost to a girl in eating." Choji's face grew serious, then lit up with determination. He charged into the cluster of food stalls, flames practically sparking off him.
Watching Sakura weave through the crowd, occasionally racing Choji in an eating contest, Ino's lips curved into a soft smile.
"Sakura's changed so much lately, huh?"
"Hm? She wasn't always like this?" Shikamaru asked, accidentally dropping a piece of fried tofu as he zoned out.
"Yeah, she used to be super shy, always worrying about what others thought of her."
"But now? She's confident, strong, reliable. It's like… I'm struggling to keep up with her."
Ino's eyes reflected the laughing girl standing in front of Choji, her expression full of warmth as she raised a hand.
"That's a good thing, isn't it? Plus, now you've got a goal to chase."
Shikamaru clasped his hands into a circle, his knowing gaze flickering to the blonde girl beside him.
"Ino! Ino!" Sakura called from the distance.
Ino smiled silently, winking at Shikamaru before standing and running toward her friend.
As the festival's clamor filled the air, the winter celebration reached its peak.
Fireworks lit up the sky, and people tied their hopes for the coming year to the branches of trees.
After enjoying the fireworks, Sakura and Ino walked home together, chatting and laughing.
Their heavy boots crunched through the snow. As they passed a quiet alley, a flash of red glinted in Sakura's emerald eyes.
"Ino!"
Sakura thrust out an arm, pulling Ino behind her.
"Hm!"
Ino's expression turned serious. She didn't know where the danger was coming from, but her sharp senses picked up on Sakura's sudden alertness.
Whoosh!
Four shadowy figures emerged from the alley's darkness.
They wore outfits resembling Anbu uniforms, their faces hidden behind various animal masks.
"Sakura Haruno, the Hokage requests your presence!"
Though they flashed the standard Anbu signals, the cold aura they gave off didn't fool Sakura.
What these Root ninjas didn't realize was that their hollow, emotionless hearts were like beacons in the night under Sakura's Observation Haki, which could sense their intent.
Danzo Shimura and his same old excuse for "inviting" people… ugh.
Sakura mentally rolled her eyes but, mindful of Ino behind her, nodded in agreement.
"Alright, I'll go with you." She lowered her arm, turning to Ino. "Ino, head home."
"…Okay!"
Ino's eyes trembled, but she nodded firmly.
She'd also sensed these weren't the Hokage's Anbu. But right now, she couldn't do anything to help. Getting away to report this was her best move.
Clenching her fists, Ino bolted out of the alley, sprinting toward home.
The Root ninjas in the alley picked up on Ino's intentions and grew more urgent.
They tightened their encirclement, cutting off all of Sakura's escape routes and extending their hands toward her.
"This way, please!"
---