Chapter 2: A Different Sakura
"A ninja is someone who fights using chakra!"
"I already taught you all about how chakra works last week!"
"Does anyone remember?"
First period at the Academy. Iruka — the instructor with the scar across the bridge of his nose — decided to do a quick review before moving on to today's lesson.
He swept his gaze across the classroom. One kid was playing with his dog. Another was zoning out. A third was sneaking snacks under his desk…
A vein bulged on Iruka's forehead. He was just about to blow his top when a small hand shot up.
"Alright — Sakura, go ahead."
Seeing the pink-haired girl volunteer, his expression softened considerably.
"Chakra is an energy extracted by combining one's physical energy with spiritual energy."
"When paired with hand signs, it can be used to…"
Sakura recited the explanation with a completely straight face.
She'd already decided — if she was going to stand out, she couldn't afford to waste a single opportunity.
Sure, this wasn't how the original Sakura would've acted. But if she wanted to get her hands on the Yin Seal, she had to go all in.
"Perfectly correct. Please sit down."
Iruka gestured for Sakura to take her seat, then turned his gaze toward the back row, barely containing the urge to strangle several students.
"Naruto! Kiba! Chōji!"
"Outside! Hall duty! Now!"
Sakura watched the scene without a flicker of expression. She pulled out her notebook and focused on Iruka's lecture.
Anytime something wasn't clear, her hand went straight up. Not a single gap in her understanding was getting past her.
By the end of the morning, Sakura looked down at her notebook — crammed margin to margin — and sighed.
Long road ahead…
"Huh? Sakura, you're being super serious today!"
A pale-blonde head popped into her field of vision, eyes widening at the wall of notes.
"When am I ever not serious?"
Sakura shut her notebook and looked at Ino Yamanaka.
"I mean, today you're extra serious."
Ino's expression was genuinely earnest.
Then something seemed to catch her eye. She stared at Sakura's pink hair, hanging loose and unstyled.
"Where's the ribbon I gave you?"
"Too much hassle wearing it every day. Left it at home."
Sakura tucked her notebook into her desk, pulled out her bento box, and started eating without missing a beat.
"Huh? It's like you're a completely different person today."
Ino leaned in, scrutinizing her up close.
No ribbon. No cute little dress, either. Just a plain black t-shirt, white shinobi pants, and standard-issue sandals.
Simple. Almost like a boy.
"Am I?"
Sakura remained unfazed. She had no intention of entertaining Ino's clinginess right now — she just wanted to find somewhere quiet to eat, then squeeze in some chakra control practice.
After all, she'd already managed to mold chakra. That meant it was time to start working on the basics — tree-climbing, water-walking, the whole progression.
"Sakura! Wait for me!"
Ino scrambled after her as she headed outside alone.
Under a large tree at the edge of the training grounds, Sakura sat quietly eating the gyōza her mother had packed with love.
Ino, of course, was right beside her. Chattering away as usual.
Sakura didn't mind her. She'd chosen to accept this life — and that meant accepting the people in it.
Then — a commotion from across the yard.
In the shadows near the building, several Academy students had circled around a blond-haired kid, pointing and shoving. Words were exchanged. Then fists.
Predictably, the blond kid got the worst of it.
Watching from a distance, Ino spoke up casually:
"He's getting picked on again."
Her tone was flat. This clearly wasn't anything new.
"Why does everyone bully him?"
Sakura swallowed a mouthful of food and spoke without thinking.
"Huh?"
"Sakura, what's gotten into you? Since when do you ask stuff like that?"
Ino stared at her, confused.
It wasn't like Sakura hadn't seen this kind of thing before — she'd witnessed it plenty of times.
Something's definitely off with Sakura today…
Watching the older students tower over the blond kid, Sakura set down her chopsticks and started walking toward them.
He's going to be my teammate someday. And the guy who saves the world. Might as well lend a hand when I can…
"Huh? Sakura, what are you doing?!"
Ino watched her friend stride toward the shadows, panic creeping into her voice.
What has gotten into her today?!
"Stop it!"
A clear, young voice cut through the air.
Every head turned toward Sakura.
The blond kid on the ground looked up too.
A pink-haired girl stood in the sunlight, glaring at them with fire in her eyes.
Her hair caught the light, almost blindingly bright. The blond boy had to squint just to look at her.
"The hell? It's just some girl."
The ringleader sneered at Sakura, his voice dripping with contempt.
"Get lost — or you're next!"
His lackeys piled on, scowling.
"I already told Iruka-sensei that you're over here bullying someone."
"If you don't want your parents getting called in, I'd suggest you let him go."
Sakura's gaze was steady as she faced down the older boys. Her fists were already clenched.
What little chakra she had was pooling into her hands.
"Ha?"
"You think that kind of lame bluff is gonna work?"
"Do you even know who he is?"
They didn't take her seriously for a second.
The leader punctuated his point with a kick to the blond kid on the ground.
"I don't care who he is. What you're doing is wrong — it goes against everything the Hokage's Will of Fire stands for."
Sakura's brows knitted together.
"Tch. Get her!"
The mention of the Will of Fire darkened the ringleader's expression. He jerked his chin, and two of his cronies rushed straight at Sakura.
"Look out! Dodge!"
The blond kid on the ground finally found his voice.
Sakura watched the two older students charging at her. Her expression didn't change one bit.
Fighting? This was her specialty.
She exhaled softly — then drove her chakra-loaded fist straight into the first kid's face.
To everyone's shock, the boy went flying.
He slammed into the ground hard.
"Huh?"
Sakura blinked, staring at the result. Was she really that strong?
"Whoa! Sakura, that was amazing!"
Ino had appeared out of nowhere, cheering.
"B-Boss… that's the Yamanaka clan heiress…"
The remaining bullies recognized Ino and hesitated.
"Tch. Lucky punk. Let's go!"