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Sakura sighed inwardly, more or less understanding Hiruzen Sarutobi's difficulties.

Konoha was practically being held up by Hiruzen Sarutobi alone. Hatake Kakashi, the only one under him capable of succeeding the Hokage, was still a layabout.

Namikaze Minato had died for love, Orochimaru had defected, Tsunade had hemophobia, Jiraiya had left, and Danzo was watching covetously...

Everything in the village, from top to bottom, depended on him alone. He truly had no time to spare.

The best person to care for Naruto had actually been the Third Hokage's wife, Biwako Sarutobi. Unfortunately, she had been killed by that bastard Uchiha Obito on the Night of the Nine-Tails...

"Tch. No more instant noodles from now on."

"Otherwise, you won't grow taller!"

Sakura took a step toward Naruto and compared their heights. Naruto was even shorter than she was.

Naruto looked at the girl who had suddenly approached him, blushed slightly, then asked curiously,

"If I don't eat instant noodles, what should I eat?"

Sakura then took a book from her bag and placed it before Naruto.

If I don't eat instant noodles, I eat books?

Naruto stared at the book in front of him, hesitating over whether he should take a bite.

"When the egg mixture starts to set, use the spatula to roll it up, then pour in more egg mixture."

"Repeat that process."

"And then the rolled omelet is done!"

Standing on a small stool, Sakura used the cookbook beside her—complete with a bite mark—to teach Naruto how to cook for himself.

Though the process had been rather bumpy, Sakura had at least managed to complete the first dish of her life.

"Wow! Sakura, you're amazing!"

Naruto looked at the rolled omelet Sakura had plated, his azure eyes gleaming with admiration.

Sakura helplessly knocked him on the head when she saw his expression.

"What an idiot. I gave you the cookbook so you could cook, not so you could eat it directly."

"You actually took a bite."

"Uh, hehe..."

Naruto rubbed his head and grinned foolishly at the girl before him.

"Come on, give it a try."

Sakura gave up her spot for Naruto to take over.

"Me?"

Naruto looked rather nervous.

"Of course. Give it a try."

"If you don't try, how will you know whether you can do it?"

"And it's so simple. Naruto can definitely do it."

Sakura encouraged him.

"Yeah!"

Sakura fell silent as she looked at the scrambled eggs in front of her. Oh well, scrambled eggs were fine too. There wasn't much difference anyway.

At least they weren't burnt, right?

"Forget it. You can practice rolled omelets more later. Let's start steaming the rice now."

As time slowly passed, Naruto managed to struggle his way through making a meal with Sakura's help.

One plate of scrambled eggs, one bowl of miso soup, and a pot of rice.

"That's amazing, Naruto."

"You'll definitely become a great cook someday."

Sakura offered kind encouragement, as one would to a child.

His first attempt had already been pretty good. He was only six years old—what more could anyone ask of him?

Besides, Naruto had only added a bit too much salt to the miso soup. He just needed to add more water. If it became too bland, he could add more salt...

"Hehe~~"

Naruto looked at the two dishes before him, his face full of accomplishment.

"Then, let's eat."

Sakura pressed her hands together, then picked up her chopsticks under Naruto's blank stare and put a piece of "rolled omelet" into her mouth.

"Hm? Naruto, aren't you eating?"

Sakura's gaze made Naruto panic, and he stammered blankly,

"Y-Yeah, I'll eat now..."

Success

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the scene displayed in the Crystal Ball with satisfaction.

Previously, he had not had time to care for Naruto. The maids in the village had also been unwilling to look after him, and there had even been signs of abuse.

He had told Naruto several times to eat fewer instant noodles, yet Naruto's habits had not changed...

If Naruto could learn to cook for himself, that would be even better.

To Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sakura's talent no longer mattered.

As long as she could make Naruto settle down and take care of himself, that was enough.

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped on the desk, and an Anbu immediately appeared before him.

"Go bring Iruka here."

The moment he finished speaking, the Anbu vanished from before Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Not long afterward, a man with a knife scar across the bridge of his nose appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Lord Hokage."

Iruka bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hm. Regarding Haruno Sakura's desire to skip a grade..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated, leaving Iruka somewhat confused.

Hadn't it already been decided yesterday?

Was he going back on it?

"Be as strict as possible. Do you understand what I mean?"

Iruka's heart tightened at Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.

He didn't want Sakura to pass?

"Yes, understood."

Iruka had no idea what Hiruzen Sarutobi was planning, but he still agreed.

He was merely an ordinary Chunin, a ninja instructor. He had no authority to make decisions.

He could only obey orders.

The sun slanted westward, and dusk blanketed the land.

"Naruto, I'm heading home first."

"Try not to eat instant noodles anymore. And throw out all the milk in the fridge after three days."

"If you can't finish it, don't buy fresh milk again. Even if you do, don't buy so much. And remember to follow the cookbook properly when you cook."

"If there's anything you don't understand, you can come find me."

At Naruto's door, Sakura spoke in a constant stream like an old mother.

After all, she had followed the anime from elementary school until graduation in her previous life. She had practically watched this guy grow up.

"Mm-hm, got it!"

Naruto gazed at Sakura with shining eyes, without the slightest impatience.

"All right, I'm off then. See you at school tomorrow."

Naruto watched the girl's retreating back without looking away for a long time. Only after she disappeared around the corner did he reluctantly return inside.

After leaving Naruto's home, Sakura returned to her own without the slightest lingering attachment.

Though Konoha was the most prosperous of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, it was nothing special to Sakura.

There was nowhere worth visiting.

"Sakura!"

"Where did you go today?!"

"You didn't come home all day!"

"Daddy missed Sakura so much!"

The moment she got home, Haruno Yashiro's voice rang out. A huge black shadow lunged toward Sakura!

"Eek!"

Sakura froze where she stood as she watched the unidentified creature pounce at her.

"Baka!"

"Are you trying to ram Sakura to death?!"

Haruno Meiko's voice rang out. She grabbed Haruno Yashiro by the back of his collar and yanked him away.

This guy... was absolutely a daughter-loving fool...

Sakura's eye twitched as she watched Haruno Yashiro struggle to escape his wife's grasp and pounce on her.

"I went to play with a classmate today."

Sakura waved a hand, unconcerned, and sat down in the entryway to take off her shoes.

"Did you go play with Ino?"

"You'd better not have gone looking for some blond-haired brat!"

Haruno Yashiro's voice rang out, making Sakura pause.

Naruto... did he count...?

Actually, I don't really subscribe to the Third Hokage conspiracy theory. Naruto itself has plenty of plot holes, so people can only explain them with conspiracy theories... but that also makes the Third Hokage suffer undeserved criticism... just my personal opinion...