Sakura Can't Possibly Use Black Flash, Right?

A few days later, the gates of Konoha were supported by two massive wooden pillars, each wider than a man could embrace, with an iron plaque bearing the village emblem hanging from the lintel.

The gate pillars extended into towering, off-white walls, their roof tiles stained a dark, mossy green from years of relentless rain.

Jiraiya stood at the main gate with a sealing scroll nearly as large as his own torso strapped to his back, a green-skinned messenger Toad he'd just dragged from Mount Myoboku crouching at his feet.

Then, he saw Sakura standing next to Naruto and Sasuke, a marching pack slung over her shoulders.

Jiraiya's yawn caught halfway, his mouth hanging open as he furrowed his brow.

He reached up to scratch the back of his head, pointing a finger at Sakura.

"Sasuke, what is the meaning of this?" Jiraiya's voice echoed against the vast, open gate.

Sasuke pulled the shoulder strap of his pack upward. "Sakura is coming with us."

"Give me a reason. Two brats are already a headache; three is even worse."

Precise control of chakra, the ability to accurately separate physical and mental energy within the meridians, and then concentrating it to a single point for an explosive release.

For Sakura to independently develop such a technique within a few months, her intuition and comprehension regarding chakra control far exceeded that of an average ninja.

Sasuke intended to continue researching the method of separating mental energy to extract cursed power while on the road. If he had someone like Sakura, who excelled in precise chakra manipulation, there to observe and assist, it would save a great deal of trial-and-error time.

"Sakura's chakra control is excellent." Sasuke withdrew his gaze and looked into Jiraiya's eyes. "Having her along will help me get things done."

Just as Jiraiya was about to retort, Anko emerged from beside the stone pillar of the gate. "I've seen Sakura's abilities, too. They're quite impressive."

"She's my student, so what's the problem? You're already taking two, so what's one more? Don't be such a nag, Jiraiya."

Anko turned to face Sasuke, leaning in close. The sweet scent of dango syrup drifted over.

"How is the black mark?"

"Round Deer is providing continuous treatment, and the feedback loop has stabilized," Sasuke said.

Anko nodded.

"Good. Remember to bring your teacher something delicious when you get back. Don't think you can just leave the village and skip out on gifts for your teacher."

She straightened up, stepped back, and waved at Sakura and the others.

Then, she shifted her gaze from Sasuke to Naruto, then to Sakura, and finally back to Jiraiya.

"Lord Jiraiya, I'm leaving these three brats to you."

"Who agreed to take three..." Jiraiya muttered. "Fine, fine, let's go, let's go. If we dawdle any longer, it'll be dark."

Jiraiya turned, the massive scroll on his back swaying as he strode out of the Konoha gates. Naruto immediately took off running to catch up.

Sasuke followed behind him, with Sakura trailing closely in his wake.

Outside the Konoha gates, two rows of pine trees stood in parallel, with a dirt path winding between them, stretching toward the layered green hills in the distance.

The sun had climbed to its zenith, and a thin layer of clouds spread out, filtering the sunlight into a blinding, white glare.

About half a day after leaving the village's protective walls, the traces of the main road vanished at the edge of the mountain trail.

The canopy overhead grew increasingly dense, the shadows of the trees pressing in from both sides, leaving only a narrow strip of sky visible above.

Naruto had already run back and forth at least ten times, kicking stones by the roadside, chasing beetles that flew past, or suddenly sprinting ahead to a bend in the road only to run back and ask why they hadn't arrived yet.

This time, he locked his target onto Jiraiya.

"Pervy Sage! When are you finally going to teach me the Summoning Jutsu!"

Naruto walked backward, blocking Jiraiya's path as he shouted.

Jiraiya's eye twitched. He raised a hand to rub his temple, his voice lazy, as if he wanted to fast-forward through this topic.

"The Summoning Jutsu isn't something you learn in a day or two. Go get familiar with the environment first. Go scout ahead, run a few laps, and burn off that excess energy of yours."

"You're brushing me off again!" Naruto pointed at Jiraiya's nose.

"You said you'd teach me at the training ground last time! And the result was just summoning a Toad that couldn't even talk! What kind of Summoning Jutsu is that!"

"Didn't I teach you the hand seals that day? Did you master them? If you haven't, stop squawking." Jiraiya huffed and picked up his pace.

Naruto continued to chase after him, his voice drifting from ahead, gradually fading into a muffled, indistinct clamor as the trees blocked the sound.

Sasuke walked at the back of the group. Ignoring Naruto's noise, he quickened his pace to walk side-by-side with Sakura.

"Sakura." Sasuke's voice suddenly came from her right.

"Huh? What is it, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura turned her head, her ponytail sweeping across her shoulder, looking bewildered.

"That move you used at the training ground, where you concentrated chakra into your fist—can you demonstrate it for me up ahead?"

Sakura's footsteps faltered for a second.

Sasuke wasn't the type to strike up casual conversation; usually, at the training ground, he only spoke to point out mistakes.

For him to take the initiative to discuss ninjutsu with her was truly rare.

Her fingers tightened involuntarily around her pack, and her heart began to race.

She had to make sure she demonstrated it perfectly!

"Of course I can!" Sakura nodded vigorously. "Where should I do it?"

"That tree up ahead will do." Sasuke pointed to a thick oak tree by the side of the road.

Sakura unslung her backpack and set it at her feet, then walked up to the oak. She planted her feet shoulder-width apart and pulled her right fist back to her waist.

"I haven't thought of a name for this move yet, but the principle is—"

She took a deep breath. With her fist tucked at her waist, her chakra began to flow slowly.

Soon, energy began to surge around her knuckles.

"Concentrate the chakra on the surface of the fist, and release it all the moment it strikes the target."

Sakura's voice became much calmer than usual, her eyes fixed intently on the trunk.

"Unlike ordinary taijutsu, you concentrate the energy into a tiny point and let it erupt the instant you make contact."

She stomped her right foot forward, the power from her waist and legs traveling up her spine to her shoulder, and then into her arm.

Sasuke could feel the chakra within her being refined and channeled.

Sakura's fist, glowing with blue chakra, slammed fiercely into the trunk.

"BANG!"

A dull, thunderous boom exploded outward; the canopy shook violently, and countless leaves rained down.

A bowl-sized crater was punched into the trunk, smooth at the center but jagged and shattered around the edges.

"How was that?" Sakura turned her head.

Sasuke leaned in close to the trunk, examining the mark Sakura had left behind.

Extracting and refining chakra, then using that chakra as a method of attack...

This was not something an ordinary ninja could achieve.

Moreover, Sakura's ability to manipulate the flow of energy was also formidable. If Itadori hadn't possessed such strong control over cursed energy from the start, he never would have invented Divergent Fist...

"Your talent is immense. I believe someone who can utilize their power well is far stronger than someone who just has raw strength." Sasuke looked into Sakura's eyes, lost in thought.

Should he try teaching her how to extract cursed energy? Could she be capable of landing a Black Flash?

Sakura felt uneasy being stared at like that; she blinked, her face beginning to turn redder and redder.