Step by Step to the Top!

When the frantic Haruno Yashiro arrived at his backyard to find his precious daughter, he couldn't help but freeze at the sight before him.

Several cushions were laid out under the tree in the backyard, but his daughter was... 'tree climbing'?

Only this tree climbing was slightly different from the tree climbing in Haruno Yashiro's memory.

She was walking on the tree.

Though Haruno Sakura wobbled unsteadily, she was indeed walking on the tree.

Seeing this, the anger in Haruno Yashiro's heart subsided quite a bit. While he did want to ask his daughter why she had been listless again, this was clearly training, so he temporarily suppressed the urge to inquire.

Haruno Sakura focused on controlling the chakra gathered at the soles of her feet, taking step after step upward.

She had to admit, as an ordinary civilian ninja...

This body's talent might not compare to those cheaters, but it was already outstanding enough.

Even in Boruto, when those two cheaters suffered an epic nerf, Haruno Sakura still managed to thrive.

She even beat that Uchiha guy to a pulp without using the Hundred Healings Jutsu.

Moreover, Haruno Sakura discovered that her chakra control was extremely precise. Even on her first attempt at tree climbing, she could quickly grasp the knack.

Balance, continuity, stability—gathering chakra steadily at the soles of her feet.

Staring at the finish line so close at hand, a shadow flickered in Haruno Sakura's Emerald Eyes.

Since 'Sakura' was gone...

Then she could only keep pursuing power.

She would step, step, step, step her way to the very top.

One step forward, reaching the goal.

Haruno Sakura stood atop the tree's peak, looking around.

The night wind stirred her cherry-pink hair.

This feeling... was unexpectedly nice.

Another day.

Haruno Sakura sat in the Ninja Academy classroom as usual, continuously absorbing what Iruka was teaching.

But as she listened, Haruno Sakura's brow furrowed.

Too simple...

Her learning progress could have been much faster, but if she kept going at this pace, who knew how long it would take to reach the Yin Seal.

She needed to skip grades...

The pencil spun between her fingers as the cherry-pink-haired girl couldn't help but look out the window.

Skipping grades had both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage was obvious—she could quickly grasp more useful knowledge.

But the disadvantage was also clear.

This entire class was made up of the future heads of major clans.

Hyuga, Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi, Inuzuka, Aburame...

And most importantly...

Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke!

The reincarnations of Asura and Indra!

If she could build good relationships with them, she might save ten years of effort.

For a civilian like Haruno Sakura to squeeze into this 'prince class' was already incredibly lucky.

"Wow, Sasuke is so handsome..."

Just as Haruno Sakura was lost in thought, class had unknowingly ended.

During the lesson, Iruka had only glanced at her without saying much. When he passed by and saw that she had already completed her class notes perfectly, he had even less reason to speak up.

Top students always got special treatment.

"Hey, Sakura, are you thinking about Sasuke?"

Ino leaned in from beside her, looking at Haruno Sakura with a teasing expression.

Those clear eyes faintly revealed a hint of tension.

As the class heartthrob, Uchiha Sasuke was pursued by all the girls in the class.

Even when he deliberately put on an aloof act, all the girls still found him breathtakingly handsome.

Plus, he was the second son of the Uchiha clan, had good grades, and was strong.

Rich, good-looking, powerful—he perfectly matched every girl's dream lover.

At this moment, Naruto and he were like heaven and earth apart.

Haruno Sakura glanced at Ino with a strange look.

She knew that Ino was most likely like the other little girls, all crushing on Sasuke, so she said casually:

"It's nothing. I was just thinking about whether to apply for grade-skipping."

"Eh?"

Ino stared at Haruno Sakura in surprise.

"Iruka-sensei's lessons are too simple. I get it after hearing it once, and the rest of the time is completely wasted."

"I spend at least half of every class spacing out. It's too boring."

Listening to Haruno Sakura's words beside her, Ino felt like crying.

Was this the difference between a top student and a struggling one?

Even though she wasn't a struggling student, she still felt that sense of being crushed in almost every aspect.

"Grade-skipping, huh... what a hassle..."

"Wouldn't it be better to just stay put here?"

A lazy voice came from behind, clearly having overheard Haruno Sakura and Ino's conversation.

"Shikamaru, you were eavesdropping on girls' secrets!"

Ino turned around to look at the six-year-old Shikamaru, making a fuss.

"Yes, yes, yes, I'm sorry, alright?"

The Pineapple Head boy yawned, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He was a bit speechless at Haruno Sakura's idea.

She could just coast through six years at the Ninja Academy peacefully, but instead she wanted to skip grades and make trouble for herself.

Still... impressive, though...

Most academy students who skipped grades ended up as strong ninjas.

Shikamaru's gaze swept over the cherry-pink-haired girl, then he slumped back down to continue his chess game with the Sandman.

Haruno Sakura didn't know what the Pineapple Head boy behind her was thinking. She had a reason she had to skip grades.

Konoha's Torture Department was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over her neck.

This damn Yin Seal was practically forcing Haruno Sakura to push forward, forward, forward.

In the original story, Sakura took three years to complete the Hundred Healings Jutsu.

So now, at six years old, even if it took her twice as long, she'd be exactly twelve by the time she finished.

Damn it, that would land right on the timeline for obtaining the Yin Seal's training method.

And getting the Yin Seal one day, then completing the Hundred Healings the next—only a ghost would believe that!

Haruno Sakura let out a soft breath, then stood up resolutely and walked straight out of the classroom.

She was going to find Iruka right now, get all the first-year study materials from him, and master them in the shortest time possible.

After finishing those, she'd ask for the second-year materials, and so on, mastering all six years' worth of study materials as fast as she could.

Haruno Sakura set a goal for herself.

Two years!

Go all out!

Haruno Sakura knew this was a crude method, but it was the limit of what she, as a civilian, could achieve.

It can't be helped. As a civilian, the resources she could get were far too scarce...

Even after she graduated, she'd have to find ways to get into the sight of Konoha's High Command.

Everything from then on would still be an unknown...

Carrying these somewhat heavy thoughts, Haruno Sakura stepped into the ninja teachers' office.

"Eh? Sakura, perfect timing. There's something I need to ask you."

Before Sakura could state her purpose, Iruka spoke up first when he saw her.