Hiruzen Sarutobi's Considerations

"Teacher Iruka, is there anything you need me to do?"

Haruno Sakura asked instinctively.

"Oh, it's like this, you know Naruto from class?"

Iruka said kindly, looking at the little girl in front of him.

Then, Iruka explained his request.

It was because Naruto was always very mischievous, but also very introverted when he was alone.

Iruka was worried that Naruto might have psychological problems and hoped Haruno Sakura would interact with him more.

"Sakura, don't just look at how mischievous Naruto is; he's not a bad person at heart, and he's a very well-behaved child in private."

"And those rumors in the village... they're just rumors."

Iruka saw that the little girl in front of him hadn't spoken, and assumed she was unwilling.

"Why me? Ino and Hinata don't seem to have much prejudice against Naruto, do they?"

Haruno Sakura tilted her head, looking puzzled.

"Uh..."

To be honest, Iruka was also confused, but he couldn't help it; this was an arrangement from the Hokage.

As for Ino and Hinata, he didn't know.

"Because, Sakura... Sakura... you're very kind... Haha... Uh..."

Iruka struggled for a long time before finally managing to come up with such a lame excuse.

Stare...

Haruno Sakura looked at him speechlessly, amazed he could even think of such an excuse to fool a child.

Seeing the little girl's disbelieving expression, Iruka tried to brush it off with a laugh.

This is such a difficult task. The Hokage actually wants me to lie to a child...

Just as Iruka was in a dilemma, Haruno Sakura sighed softly and said:

"Alright then."

"So, Sakura, you agree?!"

Iruka was overjoyed, but before he could celebrate, a small hand reached out in front of him.

"What's this for? Sakura?"

"Give me money. Who visits someone for the first time empty-handed?"

"Teacher Iruka doesn't expect me, a penniless child, to pay, does he?"

!!!

Oh, my Hokage!

To complete the Hokage's mission, I even have to pay out of my own pocket!

Iruka, with a pained expression, reluctantly pulled out three bills from his lucky cat wallet and handed them to Sakura.

Three hundred ryo?

Looking at the bills in her hand, Haruno Sakura nodded in satisfaction.

In this world, three hundred ryo was enough to entertain a six-year-old child for a whole day.

It could even leave a little extra for Haruno Sakura's own pocket.

"So, Sakura, is there anything you need from me, Teacher?"

Seeing that the little girl had accepted the money, Iruka finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked.

Sakura had come to him proactively, so she must have something to ask of him.

"Um, Teacher Iruka..."

Night

Haruno Sakura sat alone on the rooftop, gazing into the distance with a wistful expression.

Iruka hadn't immediately agreed to her idea; he had told her to go home and he would give her the result in a couple of days.

"Sigh..."

Sakura took out the three hundred ryo Iruka had given her from her pocket.

Interacting with Naruto.

How could this possibly be an assignment that Iruka was qualified to give?

This is clearly a mission given to me by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, through Iruka.

Did Hiruzen Sarutobi happen to see what happened yesterday...

This is good, at least this way I've entered the Hokage's sights ahead of time.

But thinking about this plot, why does it feel so familiar…

Forming bonds with important people in the village, then growing together, and finally naturally falling in love, getting married, and having children…

Isn't this exactly Minato Namikaze's script?!

Damn it!

I was craving the Yin Seal, and it turns out Hiruzen Sarutobi, that disrespectful old man, was craving me?!

Aaaahhhh!

So annoying!!!

Do I really have to sacrifice my looks?!

—

Hokage Building

Hokage's Office

At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, looked at the pink-haired little girl in the crystal ball, who was inexplicably throwing a tantrum on the spot, and was a bit confused.

This child… is quite special…

Is she troubled about how to approach Naruto tomorrow?

"Hokage-sama."

"Sakura, she's a very good child…"

Iruka, standing before Hiruzen Sarutobi, spoke with some hesitation.

"Yes, I know."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

By the end of the day, Hiruzen Sarutobi had uncovered everything about the Haruno Family.

Her background was clean, her family ordinary. Since her great-grandfather's generation, they had brought their family to Konoha at the very beginning of its establishment, so they were truly loyal and patriotic.

In the past few decades, there had been one or two ninjas from the family, but their aptitude was also very ordinary.

Now, only Haruno Yashiro remained.

And once Sakura Haruno grew up and got married, it was unlikely that this branch of the Haruno Family would continue.

"Sakura has the idea of skipping a grade."

Hearing Iruka's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes showed a hint of doubt as he looked at him.

Skipping a grade?

A civilian Ninja Academy student skipping a grade?

"It's like this…"

Iruka told Hiruzen Sarutobi everything that had happened during the day.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment after listening.

Did she have the idea of skipping a grade because she couldn't learn any new knowledge in class anymore?

In that case… is she a genius?

Looking at the little girl in the crystal ball resting her chin on her hand and blowing in the night breeze on the rooftop, Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated for a long time.

She was the character he had specifically chosen for Naruto to form a bond with.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to replicate the story of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.

But if Sakura Haruno skipped a grade now, there would undoubtedly be many fewer opportunities for her to interact with Naruto.

And given Naruto's personality, it would be too difficult for him to catch up to Sakura Haruno, who was capable of skipping a grade…

But if he stopped Sakura Haruno from skipping a grade, would he let such a raw gem gather dust in the Ninja Academy?

Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned back in his chair and pondered for a long time.

"Since she wants to skip a grade, give her a chance. Give her all the learning materials for her current grade, and you will test her individually in a month."

"If she passes, give her the materials for the second grade, but she will still remain in your class."

"Until she has learned all the materials for all six grades."

Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to give Sakura Haruno a chance.

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's deterrence to Konoha far outweighed their combat effectiveness on the battlefield.

After all, no matter the era, Konoha had never had an example of using a Tailed Beast on the battlefield.

It was like this before, it was like this now, and Hiruzen Sarutobi hoped that Konoha would not need to use the power of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in the future.

The First Shinobi World War had the Second Hokage, the Second Shinobi World War had White Fang and the Sannin, and the Third Shinobi World War had the Yellow Flash…

Therefore, cultivating the next generation well was imperative.

Sakura Haruno, Sakura Haruno, let me see your talent.

I hope you won't disappoint me.