When Haruno Yashiro hurried to the backyard and found his precious daughter, he could not help but stare blankly at the sight before him.
Several mats had been placed beneath the tree in the backyard, while his daughter was... "Tree Climbing"?
It was just that this Tree Climbing was somewhat different from the Tree Climbing Haruno Yashiro remembered.
She was walking on the tree.
Although Haruno Sakura was swaying unsteadily, she really was walking on the tree.
Seeing this, much of Haruno Yashiro's anger subsided. Though he really wanted to ask why his daughter was listless again, she was clearly training, so he temporarily suppressed the urge to question her.
Haruno Sakura diligently controlled the Chakra gathered beneath her feet, walking upward step by step.
It had to be said, as an ordinary Civilian Ninja,
this body's talent might not compare to those overpowered cheaters, but it was already outstanding enough.
Even in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, when those two overpowered cheaters had been hit by an epic nerf, Haruno Sakura still managed to thrive.
She had even thoroughly beaten up that Second Pillar without using the Hundred Healings Jutsu.
Moreover, Haruno Sakura discovered that her Chakra control was extremely precise. Even though this was her first time practicing Tree Climbing, she could grasp the trick very quickly.
Balance, sustained, stable gathering of Chakra beneath her feet.
Looking at the finish line within reach, a shadow passed through Haruno Sakura's emerald eyes.
Since "Sakura" was gone,
she could only keep pursuing power.
She wanted to climb to the very top, one step at a time.
She took one step forward and reached her goal.
Haruno Sakura stood atop the great tree and looked around.
The night wind stirred her cherry-pink hair.
This feeling was unexpectedly nice.
Another day passed.
As usual, Haruno Sakura continuously absorbed the knowledge Iruka taught in her Ninja Academy class.
But as she listened, Haruno Sakura frowned.
It was too easy...
Her learning progress could have been much faster, but if things continued at this pace, who knew when she would ever come into contact with the Yin Seal.
She needed to skip grades...
The pencil in her hand spun around her fingertips as the little girl with cherry-pink hair looked out the window.
Skipping grades had both advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages were obvious: she could quickly master more useful knowledge.
But the disadvantages were equally obvious.
This entire class consisted of the future clan heads of the major families.
Hyuga, Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi, Inuzuka, Aburame...
And, most importantly...
Uzumaki Naruto and Second Pillar!
The reincarnations of Asura and Indra!
If she could build good relationships with them, she might be able to save herself ten years of effort.
For a commoner like Haruno Sakura to squeeze into this class of little princes, she really had lucked out.
"Wow, Sasuke, he's so handsome..."
Just as Haruno Sakura's mind wandered, class had ended without her noticing.
Iruka had only glanced at Haruno Sakura during class and said nothing. When he passed by her, he took another look and found that she had already completed her class notes perfectly, so naturally he had even less to say.
Top students always received preferential treatment.
"Huh? Sakura, were you thinking about Sasuke?"
Ino leaned over from beside her and looked at Haruno Sakura with a teasing expression.
A trace of nervousness could faintly be seen in her clear eyes.
As the class heartthrob, Second Pillar was adored by every girl in the class.
Even though he usually put on a cold and aloof act, all the girls still found him impossibly handsome.
On top of that, he was the Uchiha family's second young master, with excellent grades and great strength.
Rich, handsome, and powerful—he perfectly matched every girl's dream lover.
Compared to him, Naruto at this time was like heaven and earth.
Haruno Sakura gave Ino a strange look.
She knew that Ino was most likely like the other young girls right now, all of them liking Sasuke, so she casually said,
"Nothing like that. I was thinking about whether I should apply to skip grades."
"Huh?"
Ino stared at Haruno Sakura in surprise.
"What Iruka-sensei teaches is too simple. I learn it after hearing it once, and all that remaining time is completely wasted."
"In a single class, I spend at least more than half the time daydreaming. It's too boring."
Hearing Haruno Sakura's words, Ino felt like crying.
Was this the difference between a poor student and a top student?
Even though she was not a poor student, she still experienced that feeling of being nearly crushed in every aspect.
"Skipping grades? What a pain..."
"Wouldn't it be better to just stay here honestly?"
A lazy voice came from behind them, clearly having overheard Haruno Sakura and Ino's conversation.
"Shikamaru, you actually eavesdropped on girls' little secrets!"
Ino turned around, looked at the six-year-old Shikamaru, and exclaimed noisily.
"Fine, fine, fine, I was wrong, okay?"
The Pineapple Head boy yawned and rubbed his sleepy eyes. He found Haruno Sakura's idea rather speechless.
She could have peacefully coasted through six years at the Ninja Academy, yet she insisted on skipping grades and making trouble for herself.
But... she really was impressive...
Ninja Academy students who could skip grades usually became very powerful ninja in the future.
Shikamaru's gaze swept over the cherry-pink-haired girl, then he lay back down and continued playing chess with the Duke of Zhou.
Haruno Sakura did not know what the Pineapple Head boy behind her was thinking. She had a reason she had no choice but to skip grades.
Konoha's Torture Department was like a Sword of Damocles hanging above her neck.
This damn Yin Seal was practically driving Haruno Sakura onward, onward, onward.
In the original story, Sakura had taken three years to complete the Hundred Healings Jutsu.
She was six now. Even if it took her twice as long, she would be exactly twelve by then.
Damn it, that was exactly when she would obtain the method for cultivating the Yin Seal.
And if she got the Yin Seal one day and completed the Hundred Healings the next, only a ghost would believe it!
Haruno Sakura let out a soft breath, then decisively stood up and walked straight out of the classroom.
She would find Iruka right now and have him give her all the first-year study materials, then master them as quickly as possible.
After finishing those, she would ask for the second-year materials, then continue in the same way, mastering all the study materials from all six grades at the fastest possible speed.
Haruno Sakura set a goal for herself.
Two years!
She would go all out!
Haruno Sakura knew this was a stupid method, but it was already the limit of what she, as a commoner, could do.
It couldn't be helped. As a commoner, the resources she could obtain were far too few...
Even after graduating by then, she would still have to find every possible way to enter Konoha High Command's field of vision.
Everything after that was still unknown...
Carrying somewhat heavy thoughts, Haruno Sakura entered the ninja instructors' office.
"Huh? Sakura, you came at just the right time. I have a favor to ask of you."
Before Sakura could explain why she had come, Iruka spoke first upon seeing her.
Before you continue