Konoha: Sakura ninja Technique

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Leaving the Hokage building, Sakura couldn't help but stretch her slightly stiff body.

Kurotsuchi glanced at the flat-chested pink-haired girl beside her and instinctively lowered her head.

Yes! Victory!

The black-haired girl couldn't hide the smug grin spreading across her face.

"What are you smiling about?"

Sakura glanced at the inexplicably grinning Kurotsuchi.

"Hehe, let's go! What's fun to do in Konoha?"

The black-haired girl cheerfully threw her arm around Sakura's shoulder.

"You go have fun on your own. I've got things to do," Sakura waved her hand dismissively, making it clear she didn't have time.

After finally sneaking away, she of course wanted to visit the Senju Clan's archive room. But before that, she needed to inform Tsunade.

"Huh?"

"Why are you like this?"

"Didn't we come out together?"

"Don't you have any sense of hospitality as a host?"

Kurotsuchi clung to Sakura like a leech, giving off the vibe that if Sakura didn't go with her, she would simply pester her to death.

Sakura looked at the arm draped over her shoulder, utterly speechless.

This girl would totally get along with Naruto…

"Sakura, go accompany our guest from Iwagakure."

"In the future, people from Iwagakure will be our comrades,"

An elderly voice suddenly came from behind. Sakura and Kurotsuchi turned around and saw Mitokado Homura, just emerging from the meeting.

Looking at the old man before her, Sakura couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

There was a time when she thought this elder was a stubborn relic of the past. But after interacting occasionally over the past few years, she had come to realize that the man before her was someone capable of being rational and seeing the truth.

A pragmatic figure, if nothing else.

"See? Your elder just said so."

Kurotsuchi, now with the full support of an authoritative voice, didn't hesitate. She grabbed Sakura's hand and dragged her away.

Homura watched the two girls' retreating figures and adjusted his glasses.

Now that Konoha and Iwagakure were forming an alliance, if the younger generation could get to know each other, it would benefit any joint missions or battles in the near future.

Besides, Kurotsuchi was the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage. Having Sakura, the Hokage's student, accompany her was entirely appropriate.

Even if everything was built upon mutual interests.

---

Sakura crossed her arms and watched Kurotsuchi curiously scan her surroundings. She couldn't help but feel a little helpless.

What's so great about Konoha? Just a few food stalls, markets, and some bars. There weren't even any casinos.

"Sakura!"

A beige figure suddenly leapt onto her from behind, clinging to her like an octopus.

"Ino?"

Sakura was surprised to see the girl who had just pounced on her.

"What's with that surprised face? Are you saying I'm not welcome?" Ino rested her chin on Sakura's shoulder, looking quite annoyed.

Looking at the girl wrapped around her, Sakura couldn't help but think of Karin.

Was this behavior inspired by Karin?

"No, just surprised. I thought you were tending the shop today."

Sakura smiled and poked Ino's cheek.

Ino's mother ran a flower shop, and Ino often helped out there.

"Suspicious~~~" Ino narrowed her eyes at Sakura, showing a probing expression.

Sakura was hardly seen in public. If she wasn't on a mission, she was training. She never just wandered the streets. So why the sudden change today?

"Hey, Sakura! Try this!"

Just as Ino was about to question her further, a figure in a deep red outfit walked out of a dango shop nearby, holding a box of freshly packed dumplings.

Kurotsuchi had fallen completely in love with Konoha's dango shops.

Their craftsmanship was simply divine~~~

Definitely better than Iwagakure's dango!

!!!

Ino's smile collapsed the moment she saw Kurotsuchi.

What the hell?!

The red octopus still hadn't been dealt with, and now a flying mud-slinger had shown up?!

"Huh? This girl… wasn't she the weakling you knocked out with one punch?"

Kurotsuchi looked at the girl hanging on Sakura and finally recalled she was the one who got instantly eliminated during the Forest of Death trial.

"Huh?!"

"What's she doing here?!"

Ino's temper flared like a cat with ruffled fur. She immediately leapt off Sakura.

"Why can't I be here?"

Kurotsuchi's eyes sparkled with mischievous delight, clearly enjoying Ino's reaction.

"Sakura came out especially to accompany me today~~~"

Kurotsuchi leaned toward Ino with a smug look that made Ino grit her teeth.

"No way!"

"You're just from Iwagakure!"

"Sakura, tell me she's joking!"

Ino turned toward Sakura, clearly expecting her to clarify the situation and refute the nonsense.

Sakura glanced at her apologetically and nodded.

"I knew it! Sakura wouldn't come out with someone from Iwagakure—"

"Ino, Iwagakure will be our ally soon," Sakura cut in, making Ino's smug expression freeze.

???

What was going on?

Ino suddenly felt like the universe was targeting her.

Naruto, that golden idiot, was bad enough.

Then there was Karin, the red octopus from nowhere.

Now there was this flying dirt-thrower too?

"The alliance with Iwagakure will be officially announced in a couple of days," Sakura added calmly.

Ino looked like she was about to cry.

Sakura was the Hokage's student—there was no way she'd joke about something like this.

Sob sob sob…

Watching the on-the-verge-of-tears Ino, Kurotsuchi grinned triumphantly and flung an arm around her shoulder.

"Hehe, since you're now a comrade of the great Kurotsuchi-sama,"

"Shouldn't the heiress of the Yamanaka Clan show some hospitality?"

"Like buying me lunch, maybe?"

Sakura finally understood—Kurotsuchi didn't just have a "friendly personality," she had a full-blown case of social overconfidence syndrome.

Just a minute ago she was teasing Ino, and now she was shamelessly asking her to treat her to a meal?

Who does that?

"Pfft, who'd buy lunch for a tomboy like you?!"

Ino glared at Kurotsuchi, clearly unwilling.

---

At Akimichi's BBQ Restaurant

"No wonder you're the Yamanaka heiress—you've got style!"

"Here, cheers! You guys drink as you like!"

Kurotsuchi raised a cup of orange juice and downed it in one go.

"Heh, you think I'm stingy?"

"You don't look like much, but you're kind of alright."

Ino wouldn't be outdone, also downing her orange juice.

Sakura leaned her cheek into her hand, her expression deadpan as she stared at the two girls—who had been at each other's throats just moments ago—now acting like lifelong besties.

She was honestly speechless.

Ino was getting played like a fiddle and even helping the performer count her money…

(End of Chapter)