Physical Training

"Alright, last group today, fifty laps around the track. Get ready."

The young teacher with water-blue hair directed the group of little sprouts, starting the final phase of their physical training.

Upon hearing the man's words, the students couldn't help but groan in unison.

"Again~~"

"We only rested for ten minutes~~"

"Mizuki-sensei, please spare us~~"

Even with the students pleading so desperately, the young teacher, Mizuki, showed no signs of relenting.

"Thirty seconds to prepare. If you're not ready, you'll get an extra ten laps."

Hearing the teacher's threat, the students immediately shut their mouths, quickly tidied their formation, and stood in two lines.

Sakura, easing her slightly rapid breathing, joined the queue with the classmates beside her.

"Ready, run!"

At Mizuki's command, a group of six-year-olds began their final training of the day.

Iruka stood beside Mizuki, looking at the results sheet in his hand.

"Iruka, what are you looking at?"

Mizuki, seeing his friend gazing at the results sheet, walked over with a smile.

"Sakura's performance today was excellent."

Iruka looked at Haruno Sakura's name on the sheet. Shuriken throwing, short-distance sprints, and obstacle course runs—she was ranked first in all of them.

The second son of the Uchiha family had dropped from first place to second for the first time.

Sakura, maintaining an orderly pace, ran forward, trying to regulate her turbulent breath.

She didn't hold anything back, displaying all the ability she possessed.

Even though her body had been significantly depleted from previous training, she was still slowly leaving her classmates behind one by one.

The only one currently ahead of her was her future husband, Uchiha Sasuke.

But that was the original future.

Uchiha Sasuke was in a hurry.

He hadn't expected to be surpassed by a usually unremarkable classmate.

Whether it was shuriken or anything else, he had lost to this pink-haired classmate in everything.

What made him even more ashamed and annoyed was that the person was a girl.

He refused to lose to a girl. He wanted to be as outstanding as his brother.

In this final endurance training, he absolutely would not lose!

Uchiha Sasuke exerted all his strength, but he still couldn't shake off the girl behind him.

Lap thirty...

Lap thirty-five...

Lap forty...

Haruno Sakura overtook him...

Lap forty-five...

Haruno Sakura pulled away from him...

Lap fifty...

He, the second son of the Uchiha family, had lost.

Uchiha Sasuke sat on the ground, gasping for breath. Around him, his classmates were also sprawled on the ground, disregarding their appearances.

He looked at the girl who was leaning on her knees, sweat dripping from the tips of her pink hair, and clenched his fist tightly.

Lost again...

"Sakura-chan is amazing..."

A weak voice sounded. Sasuke couldn't help but look in the direction of the voice. He saw a blond boy staring intently at the only figure still standing.

"First place, Haruno Sakura."

Hearing Mizuki announce the results, Haruno Sakura felt like her lungs were about to explode.

Damn it, how could that bastard run so much? He almost took my first place!

Haruno Sakura shot Uchiha Sasuke a fierce glare, then gathered her hair behind her ear and plopped down next to Ino, who was lying on the ground, completely incapacitated.

???

Uchiha Sasuke's mind was a bit fuzzy. Did that girl just glare at him?

She definitely glared at him, right?

Did I provoke her?

"Sasuke, over here!"

As school let out, Sasuke left the school looking dejected. The moment he stepped out the school gates, he saw a figure waving at him.

"Onii-chan!"

Sasuke's gloomy expression immediately brightened, and he excitedly ran towards his brother, Uchiha Itachi.

"What's wrong? You don't look too happy today."

The black-haired youth gently patted his younger brother's head and spoke kindly.

"...I lost to a girl in today's physical training."

Sasuke's face stiffened, but in front of Uchiha Itachi, he bashfully explained the situation.

"I see. Then, next time, you should work hard to surpass that girl."

Uchiha Itachi's expression didn't change as he gently comforted Sasuke.

In his opinion, this was a good thing. Sasuke now had a goal at school.

This would give his younger brother even more motivation to be serious.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah~~"

Sasuke wanted to take Uchiha Itachi's hand, but it was rush hour after school, and there were many people. He was a bit too embarrassed to do so.

Just then, a flash of pink entered his vision.

Sasuke quietly said to Uchiha Itachi:

"Onii-chan, it's her."

Uchiha Itachi followed Sasuke's gaze and saw a small, pink-haired girl, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.

He had expected the girl who surpassed Sasuke to be quite muscular in appearance.

He hadn't expected that, judging by her looks alone, she would be such a delicate and weak-looking girl.

Hearing his brother's somewhat resentful words, Uchiha Itachi poked his forehead and said seriously:

"She's your classmate. It's impolite to speak like that."

As if sensing something, Sakura looked back at the two of them.

Uchiha Itachi smiled at the pink-haired, green-eyed girl and gave a slight nod.

Haruno Sakura, however, saw Uchiha Itachi quickly disappear around the corner.

Damn, that Uchiha weasel.

I'd better stay away!

Don't want to get caught in the crossfire~~

Gotta bounce~~

Hokage's Office

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes felt dry after a day of handling official duties. He stretched in his office chair, and his aged body made a series of cracking sounds.

But then, he picked up the physical training report that Iruka had just delivered.

Haruno Sakura's name stood out at the top of the list.

This made Hiruzen Sarutobi slightly taken aback.

Previously, that spot had always been occupied by Uchiha Sasuke.

Not only was she academically excellent, but she was also at the top in physical fitness...

The same civilian ninja, the same excellence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but think of the young Hokage he had once placed so much hope in.

Oh well, if she truly has the ability to pass the difficult challenges set by Iruka, then so be it.

Sakura was completely exhausted today.

Not only had she run a ten-kilometer endurance run in the morning, but the school had also given her a combination of exercises in the afternoon. Her six-year-old body had reached its limit.

After finishing dinner and quickly taking a bath, Sakura collapsed onto her bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Time flew by, and a short month passed very quickly.

Sakura also faced her first hurdle in obtaining the Yin Seal.

The exam for skipping from the first year to the second year.

The entire examination hall was empty, with only three people present: Sakura, Iruka, and Mizuki.

"Sakura, you have two hours. Remember to check your work after you finish."

Iruka placed the test paper in his hand in front of Sakura and said calmly.