100% Superhuman Strength

"Wow, this fish is huge!"

"Thanks to Sakura! Otherwise, I definitely wouldn't have been able to reel it in!"

In a clearing in the forest, Naruto stared at the fish roasting over the campfire—larger than his entire body and rolling its eyes white—and couldn't help drooling.

"Uh, hehe, really...?"

Sakura sat off to the side with her cheek propped in one hand, staring speechlessly at the enormous fish before her.

They had spent the entire afternoon fishing, yet she hadn't caught a single one.

Meanwhile, Naruto had hooked a huge fish the moment he cast his line. If Sakura hadn't knocked it out with one punch, it probably would have dragged Naruto straight into the lake.

After that, fish kept biting Naruto's hook one after another as though he had cheats enabled. Sakura's hook was right beside his, and they were both using earthworms as bait...

So why was she the only one going home empty-handed?!

Later, since the fish was simply too large for Naruto and Sakura to finish between them, Naruto released all the other fish.

Night had gradually fallen, leaving only the dancing flames swaying in the darkness.

"Hehe, Sakura, it looks like it's ready to eat now."

Naruto now knew a little about cooking, so he could naturally tell at a glance whether something was cooked through.

He eagerly carved off a piece of fish, skewered it with a cleaned branch, and held it out to Sakura.

"Thanks."

Sakura did not stand on ceremony with Naruto. After thanking him, she accepted it.

It did not have much flavor, only a faint saltiness and the aroma of fish.

But compared to that previous Tenraku, it was already an improvement.

"It tastes pretty good. Your cooking has improved quite quickly."

Sakura praised Naruto.

"Hehehe, of course! I've been studying that cookbook Sakura gave me really hard!"

Upon hearing that, Naruto immediately stood up, hands on his hips, and spoke proudly.

His face was full of pride.

"Mm-hmm, Naruto's the best."

Sakura casually praised him as she chewed the fish in her mouth.

"Right? Right?!"

"I'm super amazing too!"

"Not just with cooking—I'll defeat that stuck-up Sasuke someday too!"

Naruto seemed to have been injected with adrenaline by that bit of praise, brimming with motivation.

"Naruto, if you don't eat soon, the fish is going to burn~~"

The news that Sakura had been accepted as Hiruzen Sarutobi's Final Disciple spread with astonishing speed.

Haruno Sakura's name quickly entered the sight of Konoha's ninja.

Haruno Sakura.

Eight years old.

She had entered the Ninja Academy at six, graduated at eight, and on the day of her graduation, she had been accepted as the Third Hokage's Final Disciple.

The Third Hokage, who had once trained the legendary Legendary Sannin, had taken on another disciple after several decades!

An utterly ordinary Civilian Ninja had actually caught the Hokage's favor.

This set the minds of many interested parties in motion.

"Hahahahaha!!!!"

"I told you my Sakura is the best!!!"

"She actually became the Hokage's disciple!"

"This is truly..."

At lunchtime, Haruno Yashiro was unusually home at noon, and the family of three ate together.

"Our ancestors' graves must be smoking."

Haruno Meiko knocked her husband on the head, interrupting his exaggerated laughter.

Then she looked at Sakura, who had been quietly eating all along, and spoke gently.

"Sakura, work hard. Don't let the Hokage down."

"Mm-hmm, Meiko's right, but this is Sakura we're talking about! She'll definitely shock everyone!"

Haruno Yashiro echoed his wife's words from the side, shaking his starfish-like hair.

"I'm full."

"Oh, right—try to keep a low profile while you're working, Dad."

Sakura set down her bowl and chopsticks, waved to her parents, and prepared to head out.

Watching Sakura leave, Haruno Yashiro and Haruno Meiko could not help exchanging looks.

"Why do I feel like Sakura isn't all that happy?"

"You think everyone's like you? Acting like an idiot all day long. I really don't know how I ended up falling for you back then."

"Huh? Weren't you the one who chased me?"

"Shut up!"

Haruno Meiko covered Haruno Yashiro's mouth, embarrassed and annoyed.

Hokage's Office

"Hiruzen, why didn't you discuss this with us?"

"Yeah, Hiruzen. Koharu's right. At your age, are you sure you can handle taking on a student?"

"If you really think that girl has potential, just let Kakashi teach her."

"Exactly, Hiruzen. Koharu makes sense."

"And besides..."

Before Sakura could push open the door, she heard the two old fogies droning on inside.

"Sakura, is that you? Come in."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice suddenly rang out, and the grating voices inside immediately fell silent.

"Master."

Sakura glanced at the two annoying old fogies beside her without paying them any mind.

She merely called him Master obediently, making the two of them look slightly uncomfortable.

"Good girl. Come on, let's take a walk. I'll also test how well you've learned your lessons."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked with satisfaction at Sakura, who was as quiet as a doll. With a light chuckle, he stepped forward and patted her head before taking her away right in front of the two of them.

Watching the master and disciple disappear from sight, Utatane Koharu spoke.

"Hiruzen is taking on a student at his age. Do you think he's trying to cultivate another group of followers?"

Mitokado Homura sighed and spoke helplessly.

"I told you long ago, Hiruzen isn't like Danzo."

"If something like this happens again, you come by yourself. I can't bring myself to lose face like this."

With that, he flicked his sleeve and left.

"Eh? Didn't you agree before? You old bastard!"

Konoha's Third Training Ground

"Sakura, are you feeling pressured?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the little girl before him and spoke gently.

"Not at all. Other people's mouths belong to them. It's not like I can sew them shut, right?"

That was what she said, but Sakura's expression gave Hiruzen Sarutobi the illusion that she really would do exactly that.

"Uh, haha, it was just a joke. Don't take it seriously."

Hiruzen Sarutobi muddled through the matter with a vague response.

Now that he had accepted this child as his disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally would not waste time. Even if he had to squeeze it out, he would make time from his scarce free hours to teach Sakura.

"Sakura, let me see how well you've mastered your superhuman strength."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, eagerly anticipating Sakura's performance.

Sakura looked around and found nothing nearby, then turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi with slight hesitation.

"Should I use my full strength?"

"Full strength."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave an affirmative answer.

Having received his reply, Sakura's gaze sharpened. Even her previously gentle brows began to look dangerous.

She clenched her pink fist, and the fierce look in her eyes made Hiruzen Sarutobi freeze.

Could it be...

Serious Punch · 100% Superhuman Strength!

Target: the master she had just acknowledged yesterday!

Thanks to 85445RUIHUA for the donation.

Thanks to those ending in 8369, 5182, 6247, 3666, and 4419, as well as Akselkaya, Di19963, Sun He SUNHE, Venus's Silk, In Distant Time and Space, Fanfiction Addict OTZ, Tear Marks of the Azure Moon, Lost Memory 123, and First, for the monthly votes.