Without delay.
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately mobilized a force of 800 ninjas for a surprise assault on the Land of Grass.
His order: Take down the Land of Grass at the fastest speed possible!
Among the troops were Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke, prominently listed in the roster.
As for Naruto, because of his special identity, Hiruzen used a pretext to coax him into joining Asuma's Ino-Shika-Cho team on a mission heading toward the Land of Bears.
Under normal circumstances, expecting Sakura's unit of 800 to swiftly conquer a small country with its own independent military force would seem a bit unrealistic.
However...
The one leading the unit wasn't just anyone — it was none other than the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of Both Scales!
Since Ōnoki had to return to the Land of Earth to oversee matters anyway, it made perfect sense for him to wipe out a minor nation on the way home — a small detour, if you will.
The night was like a curtain, the clouds heavy and dark, masking the moon.
War thrives on speed and secrecy. That very night, the departure of the 800-strong ninja unit didn't disturb a single villager in Konoha.
Ōnoki sat on a special seat carried on the back of Akatsuchi, silently listening to the rushing wind in his ears without uttering a word.
He wasn't the only one maintaining silence — every ninja present moved quietly and without a sound.
Sakura's expression was calm as she leapt gracefully from treetop to treetop, moving forward with unwavering focus.
To Sakura, once a decision had been made, she would follow through no matter the cost.
The wind lifted her cherry-pink hair, and for a brief moment, she remembered the desire that had once risen from the depths of her heart.
A desire that, in truth, existed within everyone.
To rise to the top.
This was her first step on that path — to use the fall of the Hidden Grass Village as the stepping stone toward her rise to the summit.
At this thought, her emerald-green eyes gleamed with a deep, unwavering resolve.
Just then, a figure landed beside her.
"Sakura."
A black-haired boy spoke, a trace of nervousness on his face.
"What is it, Sasuke?" Sakura turned to him and asked softly.
"Has war... really begun?"
Sasuke looked hesitant as he stared at the girl.
In his memory, the word "war" had always felt distant and unreal.
Life in Konoha had always been peaceful. The sudden news of war breaking out had thrown him completely off guard.
"Yes, Sasuke," Sakura said gently. "But don't worry. We have the Tsuchikage leading us."
"We will win this war."
Though her words were quiet, they carried directly to the ears of the elderly Tsuchikage ahead. Hearing them, the nearly seventy-year-old Ōnoki opened his eyes slightly to glance back at the pink-haired girl.
He couldn't help but think: Hiruzen Sarutobi sure had guts — entrusting his young disciple and the last Uchiha orphan to him.
Was Hiruzen not worried that he might just eliminate the girl right there and drag the Uchiha boy back to Iwagakure as breeding stock to repopulate a new Uchiha clan?
With a brief glance at the two young Konoha ninjas, Ōnoki closed his eyes once more, choosing to rest atop Akatsuchi's back.
He was getting old and couldn't afford sleepless nights. There was a battle waiting ahead, and rest was essential.
Sasuke glanced at the girl beside him, an embarrassed look on his face.
He hadn't expected that in such a moment, his own mental state would be shakier than a girl's.
But...
People often said: Only those who survive the battlefield are true shinobi.
Sasuke also remembered that the late Fourth Hokage was known to be a one-man army during his time — a terrifying force who could single-handedly turn the tide of war.
Undoubtedly, such strength must have come from experience earned in real battle.
The thought ignited a spark in Sasuke's eyes, and he clenched his fists tightly.
Uchiha Itachi... just you wait...
I will obtain the strength I need — enough to kill you with my own hands.
And I will use that power to honor the souls of my parents, my clan — all those you slaughtered.
"Sakura…"
Sasuke said again, walking beside her.
"What is it now?" Sakura glanced at him with a curious look.
Sasuke awkwardly pulled two silver objects from his ninja pouch and handed them to her.
"What are these?"
"They're a gift for your promotion to jōnin."
Back during the surprise attack on Konoha orchestrated by the Sand Village and Orochimaru, Sakura's green vest had clearly indicated her rank.
Jōnin.
Sasuke wasn't sure whether she was a special jōnin or a full-fledged one, but either way, she had definitely reached that level.
Looking at the silver items in Sasuke's hand, Sakura was a bit surprised.
She had always assumed Sasuke was the type of guy who didn't understand personal relationships at all, but he was unexpectedly considerate.
"Thanks, Sasuke."
Sakura accepted the objects — two metal knuckle-dusters.
They were perfect for a close-combat fighter like her. Oddly, though, each striking surface was shaped like a cute little cat's head.
Sakura raised an eyebrow. Why on earth would knuckle weapons have cat faces on them?
Noticing her confusion, Sasuke's face flushed faintly red as he explained awkwardly, "I asked the Ninja Cat Clan to forge them."
"They tend to leave their signature on every weapon they make…"
Sakura chuckled at his explanation. "Thanks, Sasuke. I really like them."
She slid the cat-themed knuckles onto her hands. The fit was perfect — snug and well-balanced.
Even if the grinning cat heads looked out of place, she wasn't the type to care about such details.
The Ninja Cat Clan were known throughout the shinobi world as master smiths. Their weapons were among the finest crafted anywhere.
"These were made using the remnants of Zabuza's Executioner's Blade," Sasuke added.
"I combined that with some of the chakra metal stock my Uchiha clan had deposited with the Ninja Cats. Then I had them refine it with their secret forging techniques."
"The result is a pair of knuckles that can channel chakra, dramatically enhance striking power, and never break, no matter what."
Sasuke's words made Sakura's eyes sparkle with excitement. Chakra metal, self-repairing functions, high-tier craftsmanship — these knuckles were almost priceless.
Not even the custom gloves she'd spent four years of savings on could compare to this gift from Sasuke.
If not for their current situation, Sakura would've tried them out on the spot just to see what kind of damage she could inflict with a chakra-infused punch.
Sasuke, watching her expression of delight, stole a glance at her profile.
She was a strange girl.
Outwardly a pretty, gentle-looking young woman — but her personality and fighting style were more like a guy's.
Sometimes Sasuke even forgot she was a girl at all.
And yet, this strange contrast — the tough demeanor paired with the pink hair and sharp eyes — made her oddly... likable.
Or perhaps, in some deep, confused part of his heart, he already had a budding affection for her.
After all, this was how youthful feelings often started.
Sakura suddenly felt a chill run up her spine. She glanced sideways at Sasuke — only to find him quickly averting his gaze.
Her eye twitched.
She couldn't help but curse in her mind:
Tch. This idiot…!
(End of Chapter)