Main World.
Konoha Year 18, winter.
Toyotomi Clan Grounds, the study.
Fine snow drifted outside the window, and a thin layer of white had accumulated on the frame. The fire blazed, driving every trace of chill from the room and leaving only a warm, languid stillness. Sakura Haruno sat cross-legged on the tatami, holding a cup of hot tea, her face still flushed with excitement after returning from the battlefield.
"Yinglang, you should have seen it-the future Third Hokage was Little Monkey in front of me! Hahahaha!"
She rocked back and forth with laughter, nearly spilling the tea in her cup.
Toyotomi Yinglang sat behind the desk opposite her, reviewing documents with a writing brush in his hand. He looked up, glanced at Sakura Haruno, and gave a faint smile.
"The way you're acting makes me wonder-have you awakened Pretension Release?"
Sakura Haruno's laughter stopped abruptly.
"Pretension Release?"
"Yes. Pretension Release." Toyotomi Yinglang put down his brush and leaned back in his chair. "A classy term for showing off."
The corner of Sakura Haruno's mouth twitched.
"Are you... complimenting me or insulting me?"
"Complimenting you."
Toyotomi Yinglang's answer was crisp and decisive.
"Showing off takes skill, too. Not everyone can do it naturally, appropriately, and in a way that leaves people speechless."
Sakura Haruno fell silent for a moment.
"All right, I'll take that as a compliment."
She raised her cup and took a sip.
"By the way, from what I saw, Little Monkey's current combat strength is weak Kage at most. Why did he later dare call himself the 'strongest Hokage' and the 'God of Shinobi'?"
"Because he became Hokage later, so he was the 'strongest.'"
Sakura Haruno frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean-getting stronger takes resources."
Toyotomi Yinglang stood and walked to the window.
"After becoming