Chapter 39: Sakura, You're Fired
Naruto clutched the Scroll of Seals tightly, staring blankly at the girl beside him. At some point, tears had welled up at the corners of his eyes.
To hell with the Fourth Hokage. Right now, Sakura believes in me—so I absolutely won't let her down!
The blonde-haired boy wiped away his tears fiercely.
His sky-blue eyes, usually so bright and naive, now gleamed with fury as he turned his gaze to Mizuki standing in front of him. That innocence had been replaced by something fierce and resolute.
He formed a hand seal with both hands, and memories since childhood flashed through his mind.
Besides the Third Hokage, Sakura had been the first to approach him willingly. And then there was Kiba, Choji, Shikamaru, Ino, Hinata...
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The vast chakra of the Uzumaki clan exploded from within Naruto like a raging tide!
A hundred… two hundred… five hundred...
Over a thousand tangible shadow clones filled the forest in an instant!
Sakura, even though she had anticipated this moment, still couldn't help but part her lips slightly in awe.
Knowing it was one thing, but seeing it with her own eyes was something else entirely.
She couldn't help but feel envious.
If she had that kind of chakra reserve, she would have already mastered the Strength of a Hundred Seal!
It wasn't just Sakura. Even the other Anbu members present stiffened in shock.
This kind of chakra level wasn't something that could be achieved through training. Only someone born with an extraordinary gift could possess such overwhelming chakra.
"Mizuki-sensei, kind of a crowd here, huh?"
Naruto glared viciously at the terrified Mizuki, who had already begun to retreat in fear.
"You better hold on!"
As Naruto's words fell, Mizuki was instantly swarmed by an endless tide of clones.
Fists and feet flew from every direction. Mizuki couldn't even struggle—he was completely helpless!
His pitiful screams echoed through the night sky.
When the dust settled, Mizuki lay battered and bruised on the ground, looking like a swollen pig. There wasn't a trace of resistance left in him.
If it weren't for the faint breathing, Sakura would've thought he was dead.
"Ehehe, maybe I went too far…"
Naruto scratched his head with an embarrassed grin, looking over at Sakura.
"Naruto."
At that moment, a figure limped slowly into view, his body covered in wounds.
He had seen everything that just happened. He had wanted to intervene—but the moment he heard Sakura say, "Naruto has inherited the Fourth Hokage's will," he decided to stay hidden.
"Iruka-sensei!"
Naruto immediately rushed to support the injured Iruka.
"Naruto…"
Iruka looked at the boy with pride, a gentle smile forming on his face.
In front of everyone, Iruka removed his own forehead protector and placed it gently on Naruto's head, leaving the boy stunned.
"Congratulations—you've graduated."
At that moment, the first rays of morning sunlight bathed Naruto in a golden glow...
Sakura stepped up to Mizuki and looked down at his pitiful state, her eyes filled with disgust.
She grabbed him single-handedly, lifted him like a sack of potatoes, and turned toward Naruto and Iruka.
"Naruto, take Iruka-sensei to the hospital."
"I need to bring this guy to the Hokage."
With that, she disappeared with Mizuki and the remaining Anbu team members.
—
Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed into the crystal ball in front of him, watching the events unfold, and couldn't help but smile.
Everything he had orchestrated over the years was finally bearing fruit.
Sakura was proving to be an effective restraint on Naruto.
But for Naruto, she seemed more like an elder sister taking care of a younger brother, which gave Hiruzen a bit of a headache.
If Sakura was ever going to become Hokage, then Naruto would have to be firmly tied to her side.
And what was the most reliable bond?
Of course—marriage.
But Sakura didn't seem to have that kind of intention at all...
Just then, the pink-haired girl arrived at the Hokage's office, dragging along the pig-faced Mizuki.
"Hokage-sama, the target has been secured."
Sakura knelt before Hiruzen in full Anbu gear, her face hidden behind a mask, voice cold and professional.
She knew how to separate personal emotions from duty.
Hiruzen waved his hand, and a couple of other Anbu members immediately took Mizuki away.
Awaiting him was the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Division—the very place Sakura had once worked hard to avoid.
As the Anbu left with Mizuki, Sakura suddenly stood up, peeled off her mask, and said with a grimace:
"When are we going to redesign these damn masks? It's been four years, and this thing still gives me a headache."
Hiruzen chuckled helplessly at her grumbling.
"Sakura, you've been in Anbu for four years now. From a regular team member, you've risen to a sub-commander."
Sitting on a nearby sofa, Sakura's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"Old man, are you planning to make me Anbu Commander?"
Hiruzen's mouth twitched at her words. He pulled out his pipe, about to light it—but then he noticed Sakura had already opened all the office windows.
"This place always stinks of smoke. It's disgusting."
"If you want to live longer, smoke less."
Hearing her complaints, Hiruzen laughed again.
This child was practically like a granddaughter to him—perhaps even more obedient than Konohamaru.
"I'm not promoting you to Anbu Commander. You're not really suited for that position."
Hiruzen finally lit his pipe and took a puff, letting out a trail of smoke.
"Spring Sakura, you are hereby relieved of duty as Captain of Anbu Unit Seven."
Sakura blinked, confused.
"…You're firing me?"
Old man, if you've gone senile, I can call Enma and Katsuyu to heal your brain!
—
Next Morning
Ninja Academy Rooftop
Sakura sat on the rooftop alone, clearly upset.
She had spent four long years working tirelessly in Anbu, finally earning a position as squad captain.
And now? She was being told she'd been dismissed?
The reason?
Because of the upcoming Chunin Exams—an event jointly hosted by the Wind, Earth, and Fire Nations.
Hiruzen needed someone to "hold the fort," and without hesitation, he shamelessly disguised her, a Special Jōnin, as a Genin to rejoin the new graduates for reassignment.
It was a bold statement to the ninja world: even though Konoha had lost the White Fang, the Sannin had defected, and the Yellow Flash had fallen—
Konoha still stood strong!
A silent declaration: Konoha remains the dominant force of the shinobi world!
At the same time, Sakura would serve a dual role—secretly overseeing the safety of the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.
Of course, once the Chunin Exams ended, her rank as Special Jōnin would be restored.
Meanwhile, in the academy classroom below, Iruka had already begun the team assignment process.
Sensing the movement beneath her, Sakura fell into a daze.
She wondered if, without her, Naruto and Sasuke—those two sparring idiots—might end up kissing again...
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(End of Chapter)