Physical Training

"Final set for today: fifty laps around the playground. Get ready."

The young teacher with aqua-blue hair directed the little children as they began the final stage of their physical training.

At the man's words, the students immediately broke into wails of despair.

"Again~~"

"We only rested for ten minutes~~"

"Teacher Mizuki, please spare us~~"

Despite the students' pleading, the young teacher named Mizuki showed no sign of going easy on them.

"Thirty seconds to get ready. Anyone who isn't ready gets another ten laps."

Hearing their teacher's threat, the students immediately shut their mouths, quickly organized themselves, and lined up in two rows.

Sakura steadied her slightly ragged breathing and joined the line with the classmates beside her.

"On your marks, run!"

At Mizuki's command, the group of six-year-old children began their final training session of the day.

Iruka stood beside Mizuki, looking over the score sheet in his hands.

"Iruka, what are you looking at?"

Seeing his friend staring at the score sheet, Mizuki walked over with a smile.

"Sakura performed exceptionally well today."

Iruka looked at Haruno Sakura's name on the score sheet. Shuriken throwing, sprinting, cross-country obstacle running—she had taken first place in every category.

The Uchiha family's second young master had fallen from first place to second for the first time.

Sakura kept her steps steady as she ran forward, doing her best to regulate the chaotic rhythm of her breathing.

She had no intention of hiding her abilities. She displayed every bit of strength she should have possessed.

Even though her body had already spent a great deal of stamina in the earlier training, she still gradually left her classmates behind one by one.

The only person still ahead of her was her future husband, Second Pillar.

But that was in the original future.

Second Pillar was anxious now.

He had never expected to be overtaken by an ordinarily inconspicuous classmate.

Whether it was shuriken throwing or anything else, he had lost to that pink-haired classmate in every event.

What made him even more embarrassed and irritated was that she 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—would not lose!

Second Pillar put all his strength into it, yet he still could not shake the girl behind him.

Thirtieth lap...

Thirty-fifth lap...

Fortieth lap...

Haruno Sakura passed him...

Forty-fifth lap...

Haruno Sakura left him behind...

Fiftieth lap...

He, the Uchiha family's second young master, had lost.

Second Pillar sat on the ground, gasping for breath. Around him, his classmates had collapsed one after another without a care for their appearance.

He looked at the girl bracing herself on her knees, sweat dripping from the ends of her pink hair, and clenched his fists tightly.

Lost again...

"Sakura-chan is amazing..."

A weak voice sounded out. Sasuke could not help following it, only to see the Blond Kid staring fixedly at the lone figure still standing.

"First place, Haruno Sakura."

When Mizuki announced the result, Haruno Sakura felt as though her lungs were about to explode.

Damn it, why was that bastard so good at running? He almost stole my first place!

Haruno Sakura shot Second Pillar a vicious glare, then tucked her hair behind her ears and plopped down beside Ino, who was lying on the ground and unable to get back up.

???

Second Pillar's mind went blank for a moment. Had that girl just glared at him?

She definitely glared at him, right?

What did I ever do to her?

"Sasuke, over here!"

After school, Sasuke left the academy in low spirits. The moment he stepped outside the gates, he saw a figure waving at him.

"Oniichan!"

The gloom on Sasuke's face vanished instantly. He ran excitedly toward his brother, Uchiha Itachi.

"What's wrong? You don't seem very happy today."

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

"...I lost to a girl during physical training today."

Sasuke's expression stiffened, but before Uchiha Itachi, he still awkwardly explained what had happened.

"I see. Then next time, if you want to surpass that girl..."

"Sasuke, work hard."

Uchiha Itachi's expression did not change as he gently comforted Sasuke.

To him, this was a good thing. Sasuke had found a goal at school.

That gave his younger brother one more reason to work hard.

"Hi, hi, hi~~"

Sasuke wanted to take Uchiha Itachi's hand, but it was right after school and there were many people around, so he felt too embarrassed to do it.

Just then, a flash of pink entered his field of vision.

Sasuke spoke quietly to Uchiha Itachi.

"Oniichan, that's her."

Uchiha Itachi followed Sasuke's gaze and saw a Pink Little Girl, causing him to pause.

He had assumed that the girl capable of surpassing Sasuke would be someone rather sturdily built.

Yet judging from her appearance alone, she was a delicate-looking girl.

Hearing the resentment in his younger brother's voice, Uchiha Itachi tapped Sasuke on the forehead and said seriously,

"She is your classmate. It is impolite to speak in that tone."

As if sensing something, Sakura turned around and glanced at the two of them.

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

Haruno Sakura, however, immediately vanished around the corner upon seeing Uchiha Itachi.

Holy crap, Uchiha Weasel.

I'd better stay far away!

Wouldn't want to get burned by association~~

I'm outta here~~

Hokage's Office

After handling government affairs for an entire day, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt his eyes sting. Sitting in his office chair, he stretched lazily, and his aged body cracked repeatedly.

But then he picked up the physical training score sheet Iruka had just delivered.

The name Haruno Sakura stood prominently in first place.

This left Hiruzen Sarutobi slightly stunned.

That position had always belonged to Second Pillar.

Not only was she outstanding in academics, but she also ranked among the best in physical abilities...

A Civilian Ninja, and equally outstanding.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help thinking of the young Hokage in whom he had once placed great hopes.

Forget it. If she truly had the ability to pass the difficult test Iruka had set, then he would let her do as she wished.

Sakura truly had no strength left today.

Not only had she run ten kilometers for endurance training that morning, but the academy had also put her through a full combination course that afternoon. This six-year-old body of hers had reached its limit.

After dinner, she quickly took a bath, then flopped onto her bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Time flew by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Sakura also reached the first hurdle in obtaining the Yin Seal.

The exam to skip from first grade to second grade.

The examination room was completely empty, with only three people inside: Sakura, Iruka, and Mizuki.

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

Iruka placed the test paper before Sakura and spoke calmly.