Time rewound to one hour earlier.
Inside the room.
After Yuzuru walked out, Tsunade gave Sakura Haruno a simple test, checking some of her fundamentals as well as the precision of her chakra control.
She discovered that, just as Shizune had said, Sakura's chakra control had reached an astonishing level.
And for a medical ninja, that kind of talent was of utmost importance.
Seeing this, Tsunade immediately began to cherish her talent and declared on the spot that she would personally teach Sakura from now on.
Then, Tsunade asked curiously, "Sakura, judging from your performance, you don't seem like the type who would get so nervous in front of an important person that your mind goes blank."
"So why were you so nervous when you saw Yuzuru?"
After hearing Tsunade's words, Sakura's face revealed an extremely complicated expression.
Only after a long while did she slowly speak.
"Tsunade, let me tell you a story."
Hearing this, Tsunade immediately pulled Sakura down to sit beside her.
"Go on."
Sakura organized her thoughts, as though sinking into a certain memory.
"There was once a little girl who lived in Konoha Village from the time she was very young."
"Although both her parents were ordinary people, and her family wasn't particularly wealthy, that little girl had always been spoiled like a princess."
"Later, as the little girl grew older, she gradually began to find her parents annoying."
"She disliked how much her father tried to control her, disliked how nagging her mother was, and there was even a time when she thought how wonderful it would be if, one day, no one was there to control her anymore."
"Then… before a certain great battle, the little girl's parents suddenly disappeared."
"The girl was still young back then. She didn't understand what something like that truly meant, so at first, she was only panicked and frightened for a few days. After that, she even started to feel that without her parents' restraints, she would finally be able to live however she wanted."
"But after only a few days, the girl broke down."
"When she ate, she would remember the way her father cooked. When she put on her shoes, she would remember her mother's nagging. When she slept, she would remember scenes of the three of them playing around and arguing together…"
"And every time she broke free from those memories, no matter how noisy her surroundings had originally been, everything would become terrifyingly silent."
"The girl regretted everything in the darkness and cried. She didn't even know how many times she cried."
"But the girl's parents never appeared again."
At this point, two streams of tears flowed from Sakura's eyes, and her body began to tremble slightly beyond her control.
Seeing this, Tsunade immediately pulled her into her arms and gently patted Sakura's back.
Only after a long while did Sakura continue, her eyes hollow.
"One day, the girl was suddenly awakened by the sounds of shouting and killing. The moment she stepped outside, she was swept along by the crowd and brought to an underground shelter."
"The sounds of fighting outside gradually died down, and the girl slowly followed the crowd back onto the streets."
"Then, she saw a man standing on a high platform, like a god descending to the mortal world…"
"The man's voice was impassioned as he exposed the crimes of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane one by one."
"Only then did the girl learn that the reason her parents had disappeared was because those four people had used them as sacrifices for the Reanimation Jutsu!"
"When she saw the four of them kneeling on the high platform and having their heads publicly cut off, the girl developed an indescribable feeling toward that man."
At this point, Sakura's emotions gradually grew more intense, and her tone became lighter.
"Later, the girl returned to the reformed Ninja Academy. She also learned the man's identity, and the admiration in her heart toward him grew deeper and deeper."
"The girl made up her mind. She had to study hard, train hard, and become a ninja who could be useful to that man."
"The girl didn't dare hope that the man would like her. She simply wanted to have some connection with him."
"Because she wanted to use everything she had to repay that man's kindness!"
After Sakura finished speaking, she finally realized that she was still being held in Tsunade's arms.
She hurriedly stood up and said respectfully, "Tsunade, I was rude just now."
Tsunade, however, directly took Sakura's hand and said with heartache, "Sakura, I understand everything now."
"And don't call me lady anymore. From now on, just call me big sister."
"Huh?!"
Sakura failed to react for a moment and froze in place.
"Sakura, don't worry. I'll help you create a chance to be alone with Yuzuru. I'll definitely help you fulfill your wish!"
This time, Sakura finally understood what Tsunade meant.
She said worriedly, "Tsunade, a-aren't you angry?"
Tsunade snorted softly.
"If I got angry over something like this, I would have died of anger a long time ago."
"Besides, that guy Yuzuru likes beautiful women anyway. He's really getting off easy."
After saying that, Tsunade declared boldly, "When we go out later, I'll create a chance for the two of you to be alone. You have to seize it properly."
After hearing Tsunade's words, Sakura had no idea how to respond for a moment.
She had imagined countless possibilities, but she had never imagined that Tsunade would actually help her pursue Yuzuru.
Back to the present.
Yuzuru, his face full of confusion, looked at Sakura and asked, "Sakura, what did you and Tsunade talk about in the room just now?"
Sakura immediately shook her head.
"Nothing. Tsunade didn't say anything."
"..."
Yuzuru truly could not figure out what Tsunade was thinking. He also wanted to clarify Sakura's attitude toward him.
So he said, "Then should we walk around the street first?"
Sakura did not speak and simply kept nodding.
The two of them walked out of Konoha Hospital side by side.
Of course, in order to avoid causing chaos, Yuzuru had still put on a simple disguise.
Although the streets were filled with people coming and going, and all kinds of sounds filled the entire area, Sakura noticed none of it.
Sensing the aura beside her, Sakura felt as though her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
'Sakura, do your best! You can definitely do this!'
Sakura silently cheered herself on in her heart, then suddenly stumbled.
"Ah!"
"I'm about to fall."
Seeing Sakura's slightly exaggerated acting, the corner of Yuzuru's mouth could not help but twitch.
No, wait…
Who in the entire ninja world did not know that the Uchiha clan's Sharingan possessed extraordinary insight?
She was faking a fall right in front of him?
But when he saw that Sakura's face was about to hit the ground, Yuzuru still reached out and pulled her back.
Pretending not to have noticed anything, Yuzuru asked with concern, "Sakura, are you all right?"
"Thank you, Lord Yuzuru. I-I'm fine."
Sakura replied shyly, but secretly felt delighted in her heart.
Ino often told her stories from novels and picture books…
The moment when the male and female leads' hearts were moved often happened when the female lead accidentally fell.
Although it probably wouldn't make Lord Yuzuru fall for her all at once, after that fall just now, it should at least have brought her and Lord Yuzuru much closer, right?