The Konohamaru Corps

Training Ground 9.

After Naruto left the village to train, Sakura rarely came to this training ground.

She'd only been here once in the past year—the time she discussed Lightning Release Ninjutsu with Sasuke. (Chapter 177)

Because no one uses it, this place has been completely abandoned.

However, it will become lively in the future...

Sakura Haruno led the three kids to the sidelines. She waved, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes as she looked at the training field before her, and said with a smile, "This is the Training Ground 9. Back when I was still Genin, our team often gathered and trained here. So let's make a promise to meet here again from now on!"

"Yes, teacher!" the three children replied obediently.

However, as soon as Sakura turned her head, the three began whispering again, "Do you think she's as strong as my grandfather?" "Isn't she Kage Level? She should be stronger than the Third Lord Hokage, right?" "The Third Lord Hokage was seriously injured and very old; his strength must have declined considerably..."

"Idiots," Sakura Haruno glared at them, "I heard everything you said..."

Kids these days are so unlovable!

"Alright, seeing is believing, so I'll show you today! Hmm... do you like high places?"

To get those three brats to submit...

Sakura pondered for a moment, then swiftly Hand Seals, "Ice Release: Heaven-Reaching Tower!"

As Sakura Haruno performed her Hand Seals, a huge block of ice suddenly formed beneath the four of them. Then, the ice rapidly grew, lifting the four of them up. The three students screamed "Wow!" Before they could finish screaming, a towering tower that seemed to reach the clouds appeared on the ground of the Training Ground 9!

In the blink of an eye, the tower had surpassed the tallest building in Konoha; a second later, Sakura Haruno was able to look the statue on the Hokage Rock at eye level; she continued to frantically urge her Chakra, and the ice tower rose higher and higher like a rocket, and in the blink of an eye, the high ground behind the Hokage Rock had become low beneath her feet!

In just a few seconds, a tower several hundred meters high, narrow in the middle and thick at both ends, rose from the ground. [Note]

Standing atop the tower, the four members of Sakura Haruno's Team had reached an extremely high position as the ice tower rapidly rose.

It felt like we had arrived at the clouds.

Sakura breathed a slight sigh of relief as the Ninjutsu was completed. With her gradually increasing Chakra reserves, she no longer needed the Yin Seal to perform this Ninjutsu, and it was no longer very strenuous.

She walked to the edge of the tower and looked down. Below her was a magnificent Konoha. At this height, the streets had shrunk to just a line, and people's figures were like black dots.

"Isn't the scenery here nice?" Sakura said with a smile. "Let's begin our formal self-introductions right here!"

"Huh? Why aren't you guys saying anything?"

Sakura Haruno waited a while but the three students didn't respond, so she turned around and looked—she saw the three of them lying on the floor of the platform, trembling, pale-faced, too scared to utter a single word.

"Hey? You guys aren't afraid of heights, are you?" Sakura said, amused. "Where did that smug look go?"

"Huh, huh! I'm not afraid of heights!" Provoked by Sakura Haruno's mocking smile, Konohamaru stood up defiantly, his neck stiff, and declared, "I-I'll stand up and show you!"

Then Udon and Moegi also stood up. After all, they were ninjas, and although their legs were still trembling a little, they mustered up their courage and walked to the edge of the stage.

"Focus your gaze on the distance, don't look at your feet, take a deep breath—good, that's it."

Under Sakura's guidance, the three quickly returned to normal; as the fear of being at such a height for the first time disappeared, the magnificent view overlooking Konoha and the earth excited them.

"Wow! Konoha is so big!" "Look, that cloud is floating by, we can touch it!" "From this spot, the horizon even looks curved!" "Teacher is amazing!"

"Teacher, how tall is it here?" Moegi was completely convinced and respectfully asked Sakura.

"It's probably three or four hundred meters?" Sakura thought for a moment and gave a number. "Actually, I'm not quite sure. We'll have to measure it to know."

"How magnificent, teacher! This Ninjutsu is amazing!" Udon exclaimed, gazing intently at the scenery below.

"Master... can my grandfather also use this kind of Ninjutsu?" Konohamaru asked.

Even Konohamaru was impressed. Fresh out of the Ninja Academy, he had never seen such an exaggerated Ninjutsu. Standing atop a towering tower that seemed to pierce the clouds, with mist swirling around his feet, it felt as if he could reach out and pluck the stars from the sky. The three of them were instantly filled with awe and reverence for Sakura!

Looking at Sakura Haruno and hearing her tone of voice, he also became respectful.

"If we went back more than ten years, it would have been a piece of cake!" Sakura laughed. "But he's too old now, and he's also seriously injured. He's far from his peak strength. I doubt the current Lord Third could use such Ninjutsu."

"So, who's more powerful, you or my grandfather?"

"The current Third Hokage is certainly no match for me. His peak years are another story, since I never saw him Third then. However, back then he was known as the Professor of Ninjutsu,' mastering all of Konoha's elemental Ninjutsu. His strength was unmatched; he was undoubtedly the strongest ninja in the village."

"Hmm..." Sakura Haruno pondered for a moment, "If we really have to compare, my Earth Release, Lightning Release, Fire Style, Wind Release, and Yin-Yang Release are all inferior to his!"

However, when it comes to Water Release, Sakura is absolutely confident that she has surpassed the Third Hokage at his peak!

What about Ice Release?

"Ice Release is Kekkei Genkai ability, but the Lord Third doesn't have Kekkei Genkai... This is a special case. I'll explain the details to you later! Now, let's get down to business and formally introduce ourselves!"

"Let me start with me. I'm Sakura Nono, skilled in Water Release and Ice Release. I like pure water and researching Ninjutsu. I dislike very few things. My dream is... well, I won't tell you."

"What? The teacher is so cunning! Only two!"

"Hehe..." Sakura Haruno chuckled inwardly. Kakashi only knew his name back then!

"Your turn, Konohamaru!"

"Alright, alright! My name is Konohamaru Sarutobi. I'm skilled in Taijutsu, Fire Style, and Sexy Jutsu!" As soon as he finished speaking, he sensed that the atmosphere was a bit strange.

Oh no, he let it slip! A bead of cold sweat trickled down Konohamaru's forehead.

"Hmm? Sexy Jutsu?" Sakura Haruno's lips twitched. It seems Naruto has been secretly developing this Ninjutsu all along... Don't think she doesn't know, there's a version of his face model that was created based on her!

She walked over, twisted Konohamaru's ear halfway around, and glared at Konohamaru fiercely. "When did you learn such a boring Ninjutsu?"

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Teacher, I'm sorry!" Konohamaru cried out repeatedly, begging for mercy, "It was Naruto- nii who taught me!"

"Hmph..." Sakura pouted. Naruto not only developed Sexy Jutsu, but he also taught it to a child... As expected of Jiraiya's disciple. "Naruto, you're doomed... Konohamaru, continue your self-introduction."

Udon and Moegi, hiding to the side, watched Konohamaru's discomfiture, giggling: "Teacher is a girl, how dare she bring this up in front of her..." "Sakura-sensei and Naruto- nii are comrades, maybe she's already seen this technique!" "If Konohamaru had developed a female version of the Sexy Jutsu, he might not be in this mess..."

Konohamaru covered his right ear as he finished his self-introduction.

The kid's mind is still immature; he likes and dislikes things in unison, so let's not dwell on it. His ideals and goals, however, are quite interesting: to defeat his grandfather, defeat Naruto, and defeat Sakura Haruno, his teacher.

One was once Kage Level, one will be Kage Level in the future, and one is currently Kage Level.

"Then you'll have to work harder!" Sakura could only offer encouragement to Konohamaru's ambition. The first goal was still achievable before the Third Hokage got too old to wield a weapon.

As for the last two... maybe in the next life.

Of course, Sakura wouldn't say something that would undermine a student's confidence. She just smiled faintly, encouraged Konohamaru, and then turned her attention to Moegi and Udon.

Udon wore a pair of large, round-framed glasses, which made her eyes look somewhat lifeless.

"I'm Udon, and I love factorization and hide-and-seek!" He sniffled occasionally as he spoke, looking quite childish. "What I hate is being the first one found in hide-and-seek, and losing to Moegi in sparring! My dream is to become the Hokage's right-hand man!"

"Heh heh, everyone else wants to become Hokage, but you want to become Hokage..." Sakura laughed and said, "Udon, after becoming a ninja, there won't be much time to play factor decomposition and hide-and-seek. Those are things only Ninja Academy students play, you know?"

"Yes!" Udon nodded seriously.

"Also, a ninja can't keep snotting his nose all the time. If he can't breathe properly, it will affect his combat. You should have seen a doctor a long time ago. Come here." Sakura Haruno used her Yang Release Medical Ninjutsu, her hands covered in a faint blue light, and pressed them against Udon's face.

"The Delicate Illness Extraction Technique!"

Sakura Haruno extracted a clump of dark red, viscous substance from Udon's mouth and nose. "I also know a few Medical Ninjutsu! Udon, I've extracted the lesion from your chronic rhinitis; you won't have a stuffy nose anymore."

"Also, Udon, your glasses are too big. They could easily fly off during a fight. Go back and get a pair of smaller, black-rimmed glasses; they might just save your life," Sakura continued, "Remember, after graduating from the Ninja Academy, you're no longer students, but full-fledged ninjas who will face the brutal and bloody world of ninjas! So, from now on, you must adhere to the standards of a ninja in everything you do, understand?"

"Yes, teacher!" the three replied in unison.

"Next up, Moegi."

Sakura Haruno turned her gaze to the last of the three, Moegi, the only girl in Konohamaru Corps.

Girls at this stage are much more mature psychologically than boys of the same age; Moegi seems much more composed than the loud and boisterous Konohamaru and the still sniffling Udon.

Although her braided hairstyle still made her look quite young...

Her interest lies in studying Ninjutsu, and her goal and ideal is to become a powerful female ninja like the Fifth Hokage and Sakura-sensei.

Sakura Haruno looked at Moegi with some surprise; though small, her ideals were by no means insignificant.

Sakura gazed into Moegi's large, watery eyes and commented, "Hmm, that's a good target! Female ninjas are generally seen as support roles in a team, responsible for casting Genjutsu or Medical Ninjutsu, so their combat strength is generally not high. In all these years of Konoha, there have only been a handful of female ninjas who have reached the Kage Level!"

Even including the first two Jinchūriki — Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the First Hokage, and Kushina Uzumaki, Naruto's mother—there are only four in total.

However, deliberately emphasizing the identity of a "female ninja" actually implies an underlying acceptance that women are inherently weaker than men...

Anyway, Sakura Haruno never identified herself as a "female ninja".

There's no need to deliberately highlight her gender; that would be beneath her. If she's going to compete, she should compete with all the other ninjas.

However, Sakura Haruno's mindset is probably not something that ordinary women can learn. They subconsciously distinguish themselves from men, which is easy but also lowers their standards for themselves; while Sakura herself, because of her special circumstances, naturally ignores her gender identity when comparing strength, competing with a group of male ninjas without any reservations...

After the self-introductions, the next step, according to the procedure, should be the test that the team leader Jonin give to the newcomers.

(Third update, bonus chapter for Noron Noah? Zoron! [Note])

(Starting today, I'll be updating extra chapters, at least 10,000 words every three chapters!)

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