Sakura Haruno's story in the original work

Childhood: As a child, Sakura felt deeply insecure because everyone called her "Billboard Brow." She often covered her forehead with her long bangs to keep others from making fun of it. Only Ino Yamanaka refrained from teasing her. Instead, Ino gave her a ribbon so she could show her forehead to her other friends and look cute doing it. With Ino by her side, Sakura gradually grew more confident, and the two became inseparable friends. But one day, Sakura heard that Ino had a crush on Sasuke just like she did, and the close friends became rivals in love. Whenever they met after that, they would call each other "Billboard Brow" and "Ino Pig," or glare and clench their fists. Even so, each had always regarded the other as a lifelong friend, and they grew together through fair competition. [] Promotion to Genin: When Kakashi Hatake prepared to use Thousand Years of Death on Naruto, Sakura quickly recognized the "tiger" seal he had formed, demonstrating her quick analytical ability and strong memory. During the bell test, everyone acted separately. Sakura fell under Kakashi's Genjutsu, mistakenly believed Sasuke had been badly injured, and fainted from fright. Finally, Kakashi tested them once more. Naruto was tied to a wooden post and said he was hungry, so Sasuke and Sakura offered him food. This broke the rule Kakashi had set earlier, but he also acknowledged the three of them, and Team 7 passed his survival test. [] Land of Waves mission: Sakura was protected by Sasuke and Naruto and did not stand out during the mission in the Land of Waves. [] During tree-climbing practice, however, she grasped the lesson immediately after Kakashi's instruction and climbed to the top in one go, leaving even Naruto and Sasuke far behind. Kakashi said Sakura's Chakra control was better than Naruto's and Sasuke's. In addition, when Sakura faced danger, such as the two Kirigakure Chunin, she did not back down and made protecting the client her responsibility. [4] Chunin Ninja Exams: Sakura had been worried that she could not handle the exams, but regained her confidence after a hint from Sasuke. During the written test, Sakura relied on her own knowledge and answered every question without cheating. Fearing Naruto would fail the written test, Sakura considered voluntarily giving up so that his dream of becoming Hokage would not be dashed. But after hearing Naruto's confident declaration, she abandoned the idea and saw him in a new light. Having made it through to the second round, Team 7 arrived at the Forest of Death. Orochimaru disguised himself as an examinee and attacked Naruto and Sasuke, bringing them both down. Sakura resolved to protect them, but the Sound Ninja attacked at the same time. Rock Lee initially stepped in to protect Sakura, but he too was quickly defeated. Sakura realized she could no longer rely on others. For her teammates, she took the initiative to fight the enemy, even cutting off her long hair to free herself from their grip. In the end, Sasuke entered his Cursed Seal state and drove the enemy back. Sakura was badly injured in the battle and left with short hair, but she also gained precious courage. In the preliminaries for the finals, Ino faced Sakura Haruno. After a pre-match "warm-up," Ino unexpectedly cut off her long hair, making everyone think Sakura's words had driven her mad. In fact, it was Ino's strategy. After creating that illusion for her opponent, she infused Chakra into the hair scattered across the ground to hold Sakura still, ensuring the Mind Body Switch Technique would succeed. The Mind Body Switch Technique was successfully activated. Under Ino's control, Sakura prepared to raise her hand and forfeit. But Sakura's inner second personality was stirred by Naruto Uzumaki's words and forcibly struggled free of the Mind Body Switch Technique. Exhausted, the two launched one final attack and punched each other. Neither was seriously hurt, but both fell and could not get up, resulting in a draw. Ino was not discouraged, however, and even encouraged Sakura while provoking her. Sakura later said that without Naruto's support, she might have lost to Ino. [5] During the Chunin Ninja Exams, the Sound Ninja and Sand Ninja attacked Konoha, and the entire audience fell under Kabuto Yakushi's Genjutsu. Only Sakura, Shino Aburame, Shikamaru Nara, the Jonin Might Guy and Kakashi, and some Anbu members dispelled it themselves. Kakashi said Sakura's Genjutsu score was very high. Later, she caught up to Gaara and Sasuke with Naruto and the Ninja Dog Pakkun, but Gaara attacked her and knocked her unconscious. Naruto defeated Gaara to save Sakura. [6]

Searching for Sasuke: Seeking power, Sasuke decided to go to Otogakure and follow Orochimaru. Sakura tried to stop him, but his determination broke her heart. She brought up many memories of Team 7 and even confessed her feelings, using every method she could to make him stay. In the end, however, Sasuke said, "Thank you, Sakura," then knocked her unconscious and left. Shikamaru received orders from his superiors to bring Sasuke back. Because the Jonin had to protect the village after Orochimaru's earlier attack, only Shikamaru, Naruto, Neji, Kiba, and Choji joined the mission to rescue Sasuke. Sakura tearfully begged Naruto to bring Sasuke back. Naruto promised Sakura that he would spend his entire life fulfilling that promise. After Sasuke left Konoha, Sakura became the Fifth Hokage Tsunade's disciple and studied Medical Ninjutsu. By Part Two, she displayed exceptional medical skills, monstrous strength inherited from Tsunade, and her personality. After Kakashi was caught in Itachi's Tsukuyomi, she joined the new Team 7, led by Captain Yamato, originally named Tenzo, and consisting of Sakura Haruno, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sai. [7] Rescuing Gaara

Gaara was captured by the Akatsuki, and Team 7 was sent to reinforce the Sand Ninja. Sakura quickly diagnosed Kankuro's injuries, which even experts like Granny Chiyo could not treat, successfully removed the poison, and swiftly prepared an antidote. Later, Sakura Haruno joined forces with Granny Chiyo against the Akatsuki's Sasori of the Red Sands. Chiyo pointed out that Sakura Haruno's weakness was her lack of real combat experience. At the start of the fight, Chiyo controlled Sakura Haruno as she faced Sasori. Sasori of the Red Sands' puppet trapped Sakura with its attacks and released poison gas, but Sakura used Explosive Tags to escape both. Sakura also began to grow accustomed to the fight, and soon she could dodge and attack on her own without Chiyo's help. She broke Sasori's puppet, forcing him to reveal his true form. Sasori brought out his Third Kazekage puppet, and Sakura Haruno used her monstrous strength to kick aside every attack from its Iron Sand Drizzle. Unfortunately, both she and Chiyo were poisoned. Sakura Haruno took out the two extra doses of antidote she had prepared while treating Kankuro. She gave one to Chiyo and took the other herself, though it would only last three minutes, then attacked Sasori alone. Even Sasori needed a formula to prepare that antidote, but Sakura had managed to make it on the spot. Her ability surprised him, showing how much effort Sakura had put into medicine after Naruto left on his journey. In the end, Chiyo and Sakura Haruno worked together, and Sakura used her monstrous strength to smash Sasori's puppet body. Although Sasori immediately changed bodies, he died when Chiyo pierced his regeneration core. Finally, Sakura Haruno learned from Sasori that the spy the Akatsuki had planted beside Orochimaru would appear at the bridge in Kusagakure ten later. [8] Battle at the bridge: Sakura returned to Konoha and reported the information Sasori had given her to Tsunade. Team 7 was reorganized and dispatched on a mission to rescue Sasuke Uchiha. Sakura set out with their new captain Yamato, new teammate Sai, and Naruto. On the way, Sai spoke badly of Sasuke, and Naruto flew into a rage and tried to hit him. Sakura stopped Naruto with one hand, but with the other she suddenly sent Sai flying. "You don't have to forgive me," she said, adding that if he spoke badly of Sasuke again, she would not hold back. They later arrived at the bridge, where they confronted Orochimaru and Kabuto. Orochimaru provoked Naruto Uzumaki into unleashing the Nine-Tails' power. Sakura tried to bring Naruto Uzumaki to his senses, but he had lost control and injured her instead. Sakura worried about Naruto and shed tears. She felt terribly guilty that she had not helped him, but Yamato reassured her that it was not so and told her, "What matters is whether you care." Finally, Yamato said, "Sakura, the truth is, you..." Naruto happened to wake up, interrupting him. To spare Naruto distress, Sakura concealed the fact that he had injured her. After they reached Orochimaru's base, Sai was judged to have betrayed them repeatedly. When Sakura Haruno found Sai, she immediately rushed up and berated him, but Sasuke's call stopped her. Three years had passed, and Sasuke Uchiha said he had severed all his feelings except hatred, then fought Naruto and the others. Sakura Haruno was astonished by how much Sasuke had grown and recklessly rushed forward to attack him. But before the attack could land, Yamato stepped in to block her. Sakura was the only member of Team 7 who did not fight Sasuke. In the end, Sasuke left with Orochimaru. Naruto wept bitterly over Sasuke's departure, and Sakura tearfully comforted him. "Even if you cry here, you won't bring Sasuke back by crying. You still have me. I'll get stronger with you! [9]" Naruto's training: While Naruto trained in a new technique, Sakura gave him homemade Military Ration Pills, which Naruto privately criticized as more than ordinarily awful, and asked Sai to tell Naruto to keep working hard. After Asuma's death, she went with Naruto and Sai to the battlefield where Hidan and Kakuzu were fighting, and was surprised by Naruto's new technique, Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. Hidan and Kakuzu: To become stronger, Naruto began Ninjutsu training under Kakashi's guidance, but he could not complete the second stage. Late at night, Naruto and Sakura Haruno lay awake in different places, unable to sleep because they missed Sasuke. Sakura looked at an old group photo of Team 7 and kept crying. Sakura made Military Rations Pills for Naruto and silently watched him train in the rain, supporting him. These became a driving force behind Naruto's progress, and he completed the second stage of his training late that night. Later, Team 10 fought the immortal duo. Choji, Ino, and Kakashi faced Kakuzu, while Shikamaru took on Hidan alone. Kakashi and the others fell into danger, but the four members of Team 7 saved them at the critical moment. Naruto defeated Kakuzu, while Sakura and Sai went to help Shikamaru, only to find he had already dealt with his opponent by the time they arrived. Afterward, Naruto suffered a serious hand injury from using Rasenshuriken. As Sakura treated him, she told him with concern not to use the technique recklessly. Seeing her made Naruto feel closer to Sasuke, conveying the warmth of the three friends' bond. [10] Pursuit of Uchiha Itachi: Sakura Haruno teamed up with two of Kakashi's Ninja Dogs and picked up Sasuke's scent. But after they passed Karin, the scent disappeared. They then heard an explosion and hurried to the scene, where Kiba detected Sasuke's faint scent. Everyone followed Kiba to search for him. Karin used a trick to disrupt his sense of smell, however, so Naruto sent countless Shadow Clones to search for Sasuke. Obito Uchiha blocked their path, and Sakura and the others learned from Zetsu that Sasuke had killed Itachi and been badly injured. They pursued Obito Uchiha to find Sasuke and Itachi, but Obito Uchiha reached Sasuke first and took him away. Unable to find Sasuke, everyone returned to Konoha. Pain invades Konoha

The Six Paths of Pain attacked Konoha, and the village's ninja fought a brutal battle against them. One of the Pains used the Summoning Technique to summon a giant centipede, which chased civilians and some ninja wearing flak jackets. At the critical moment, Sakura arrived and killed it instantly. Pain leveled Konoha, and the heartbroken, helpless Sakura immediately thought of Naruto and shouted, "Naruto, hurry back!" As soon as she spoke, Naruto, who had been training in Senjutsu on Mount Myōboku, sensed something was wrong and hurried back to Konoha with Gamabunta and the other summoned creatures. He then fought a fierce battle with Pain. Hinata was later badly injured by Pain, and Sakura treated her. Hinata gradually recovered. When Naruto returned, everyone welcomed him. Sakura went up to him and first said, "You're always so reckless!" Then she punched him, hugged him, and said, "Thank you." Five Kage Summit: Tsunade had fallen unconscious during Konoha's crisis and had yet to wake, so Danzo seized the position of Sixth Hokage. Because Taka had previously helped the Akatsuki capture the Eight-Tails, the Raikage sent Samui and two others to discuss the matter with the Hokage, and they decided to capture Sasuke. Naruto and Sakura strongly opposed this. Naruto, Sakura, and Ino then fought the Cloud Ninja Omoi and Karui. Later, Naruto and the others went to the Land of Lightning without telling Sakura, intending to persuade the Raikage to spare Sasuke. Sai found Sakura and told her of Naruto's love for her. Sakura recalled many things and burst into tears. The other nine of the twelve, excluding the Sannin, held a meeting and decided that Sasuke had essentially become an enemy. When Sakura heard this, she remembered how she had always relied on Naruto and decided to find him and explain things herself. Sakura went to the Land of Iron and met Naruto, making a confession that was half true and half false and urging him to give up pursuing Sasuke. Naruto sensed something was wrong and rejected her, saying, "That kind of joke isn't funny at all. I hate people who lie to themselves." Sakura then left with Sai, Kiba, and Lee and began searching for Sasuke. [11] Team 7 reunites

After Kiba picked up Sasuke's scent, Sakura tried to drug everyone unconscious so she could find Sasuke alone, but Sai stopped her. The others fought Sai, and Sakura took the opportunity to drug them all unconscious. She arrived before Sasuke could kill Karin. Faced with the greatly changed Sasuke, Sakura shuddered and lied that she wanted to betray Konoha with him. As she considered striking Sasuke, he suddenly attacked her, but Kakashi stopped him and ordered Sakura to take Karin away and treat her. Sakura later tried to sneak up on Sasuke again, but she could not bring herself to strike and he caught her instead. Just as Sasuke was about to kill Sakura, Naruto appeared and saved her, bringing the original Team 7 together. Unfortunately, Sasuke was still blinded by hatred and left without listening to their pleas. During the battle, Naruto had been scratched by Sakura's poisoned Kunai. After Sasuke left, the poison took effect and he began foaming at the mouth. Sakura treated him apologetically. [1] Fourth Ninja War

Sakura followed the Third Division, to which Kakashi belonged, toward the battlefield and encountered Zabuza Momochi and Haku once again. Drawing on her experience fighting Zabuza with Team 7 in the Land of Waves, Sakura warned Lee not to give him an opening. However, while Sakura was treating the wounded in the medical unit, a medical Jonin was assassinated there. After analyzing the strength of the Jonin's killer, Sakura saw through White Zetsu's disguise as Neji and knocked him back to his original form. After obtaining information, she handed White Zetsu's clone over to the medical-nin beside her and headed to headquarters alone. [1] Sakura later hurried to Naruto's battlefield. Naruto had used a great deal of Nine-Tails Chakra to protect everyone, and after learning what had happened, Sakura treated him and restored his strength. Hearing Naruto's impassioned speech, Sakura understood that he regarded everyone as his comrades from the bottom of his heart, and encouraged her fellow fighters to give the battle their all. [14] The Hokage of past generations, revived by Orochimaru, arrived on the battlefield to fight the Ten-Tails, temporarily easing the battle. After seeing Sakura treat Naruto's wounds, Minato Namikaze asked whether she was Naruto's girlfriend. Naruto replied, "We're more or less like that," prompting Sakura to give him a beating, a scene that reminded Minato of Kushina. [15] Sasuke arrived on the battlefield, and Team 7 was revived. Sakura recalled the many times Naruto and Sasuke had fought to protect her, as well as her promise to catch up to them. The Strength of a Hundred Seal, a secret technique taught to her by her master Tsunade, appeared on her forehead, and she fought alongside Naruto and Sasuke. [16] Sakura used the Summoning Technique at the same time as Naruto and Sasuke, summoning Katsuyu, who created multiple clones that reached every ninja and helped treat them. [17] Seeing Naruto and Sasuke work together, Sakura shed tears of relief. When Sai pointed out that Sasuke's motives were impure, she gave a false smile. Naruto was near death after Madara Uchiha extracted the Nine-Tails from him. Gaara rescued him and brought him to Sakura for emergency treatment, but Sakura had expended too much in the preceding battle and was so low on Chakra that she could barely maintain her Medical Ninjutsu. Nearly despairing, Sakura recalled Naruto's old dream and shouted hysterically, hoping to wake him. To keep Naruto alive, Sakura opened his chest and squeezed his heart to maintain his blood circulation while giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. After she and Naruto were transported to the alternate dimension of Obito's Sharingan, Sakura watched Obito transfer Tailed Beast Chakra to Naruto. Once Naruto revived, she watched him leave. She also told Obito, who had harmed their comrades, "Thank you for saving Naruto." Obito was nearly unable to control Black Zetsu and asked Sakura to destroy his Rinnegan, but Madara took Kakashi's Sharingan, entered the alternate dimension, and attacked them both! At the last possible moment, Obito sent Sakura out of the alternate dimension, and all the original members of Team 7 assembled. Madara took Obito's Rinnegan and appeared before Sakura and the others with Black Zetsu. Under the influence of Madara's powerful visual prowess, Sakura could not help retreating a few steps in fear. Looking at the backs of Sasuke and Naruto, who were still standing before her, she recalled her vow and resolved not to retreat again. She released the Yin Seal and charged Madara in a feint, but he pierced her body with a Six Paths black rod. Sakura, in an undying state, was not seriously hurt. She swung a monstrously powerful fist at Madara, only to find that it was as though an invisible wall stood before her, preventing her from hitting him at all. Madara prepared to attack, but Sasuke and Naruto blocked his shadow at the critical moment and saved Sakura. Madara declared that playtime was over and activated Infinite Tsukuyomi. Everyone in the world fell under its control; only the four Hokage brought back by Impure World Reincarnation and Team 7, protected by Sasuke's Susanoo, remained unaffected. [18] After the light of Infinite Tsukuyomi weakened, the four emerged from Susanoo, but Black Zetsu suddenly declared himself the will of Otsutsuki Kaguya and pierced Madara's body. After Kaguya revived, she used a technique that nearly sent Kakashi and Sakura falling into lava. In the end, Kakashi used a scroll with a Kunai tied to one end, and with Naruto's help they escaped, though Sakura's Forehead Protector fell into the lava. Sasuke's indifference toward Kakashi and Sakura, however, stood in stark contrast to Naruto's feelings. Later, to help Obito rescue Sasuke, who was trapped in another dimension, Sakura joined Naruto's clone in entering the dimension while Kaguya was briefly careless. There, Sakura activated the Strength of a Hundred Technique and transferred Chakra into Obito's body. Having given him too much Chakra, she was about to collapse from exhaustion when Sasuke caught her. As it turned out, just before the dimensional exit closed, Sasuke had swapped places with the flak jacket Sakura had taken off earlier and escaped! Obito found Sasuke in Kaguya's spacetime and brought him to Naruto, but was struck by Kaguya's Shikotsumyaku and sacrificed himself. Kakashi received both eyes as a gift from Obito and used Perfect Susanoo to save Sakura's life. Kakashi then relayed a battle plan to the original members of Team 7, and the four gained the upper hand against Kaguya.