The Sakura Legend

Inside the Izakaya

"Jiraiya, this brat is the genius you were talking about? Does this kid like to drink? Why would she come to a place like this?" Tsunade teased Jiraiya.

"Ha... haha, don't ask me, I don't know," Jiraiya said, a bit embarrassed. He had just been praising her to the high heavens, saying she was unique, and then he found Sakura in an izakaya. It wasn't that ninjas couldn't drink, but drinking at such a young age would affect reaction speed. It was best not to drink before reaching adulthood, as this was the stage when a ninja's strength grew rapidly.

"Tsunade-sama, Shizune-senpai, hello," Sakura said. The atmosphere felt wrong, but since she was already standing there, she couldn't just leave. She had to greet them politely and sat down beside Jiraiya.

"You know Shizune, kid?" Tsunade asked, surprised that Sakura knew Shizune's name. It wasn't strange that she knew her, but she hadn't expected the kid to know Shizune.

"Ha... haha, I guessed, Tsunade-sama. I've heard the Third Hokage mention Shizune-senpai. Although I've never met her, it should be her, right?" Sakura could only laugh awkwardly. Was I a little too nervous? She had to put the blame on the Third.

"Hehe, that old man tells you everything, doesn't he? To think he values you so much," Tsunade said, a little dissatisfied.

"How about it, Tsunade? This kid isn't bad at analysis, is she?" Jiraiya quickly chimed in.

"Whether she's good or not, I'll make my own judgment," Tsunade shook her head and continued, "Kid, I know why you're here. Even with the Third Hokage's recommendation, if you don't meet my requirements, you'll go back where you came from."

Tsunade's aura suddenly became imposing as she looked at Sakura seriously.

"Um," Sakura was a little intimidated by Tsunade's serious demeanor, responding with a dazed sound.

"Very well. Then, let me ask you, how do you understand medical ninjas?" Tsunade, satisfied with Sakura's reaction, asked her first question. She couldn't let this kid think that the Third Hokage's recommendation made things easy. Otherwise, she'd be sent back.

Sakura thought for a moment after hearing Tsunade's question and said, "A medical ninja is the guarantee for a team's mission success. Without a medical ninja, any injuries the team sustains will increase the mission's difficulty."

"Hmm, a fairly standard answer. Then what does a medical ninja need to ensure in a team?" Tsunade continued to ask.

Hearing Tsunade's question, Sakura realized this was what Tsunade really wanted to ask.

"To ensure their own survival. If they die, there's no point in talking about saving others."

"Hmm!!" Tsunade was slightly stunned by Sakura's answer. She had heard countless answers, but no matter what the answer was, they all said that medical ninjas needed superb healing techniques. This answer wasn't wrong, but it wasn't suitable for the battlefield. If a medical ninja couldn't ensure their own survival, how could they save others?

"Kid, how did you come up with this answer?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes and looked at Sakura.

Seeing Tsunade's intimidating aura, Sakura almost thought she had answered incorrectly. "Because I almost died once, and I was unable to save my teammate." Sakura recalled the day she was stabbed. If it hadn't been for the right time, place, and people, how could her injured body have escaped?

Hearing Sakura's answer, Tsunade understood. It was an answer derived from personal experience. This kid was quite lucky; she hadn't died and had realized the true meaning of being a medical ninja. Inevitably, Tsunade thought of Nawaki and Dan, and she became a little sad.

"Tsunade-sama?" Sakura saw that Tsunade had fallen silent after her answer and became a little uneasy. I shouldn't have answered wrong, right? This is what Tsunade herself said. Could it be that Tsunade's answer isn't this now? That shouldn't be the case; Tsunade had probably confirmed this answer decades ago.

Hearing Sakura call her, Tsunade came back to her senses and said, "You answered well. A medical ninja can only save their teammates if they ensure their own survival. Now, there's another test. Let me see your strength."

"Tsunade, are you being too serious?" Jiraiya said, complaining a little when he heard that Tsunade wanted to test Sakura's strength.

"Shut up, Jiraiya. I said, if she doesn't meet my requirements, she'll go back where she came from," Tsunade glared at Jiraiya.

Tsunade also wanted to see Sakura's limits. Her answer earlier had satisfied Tsunade, but she still wanted to know more about her future disciple. Medical ninjas needed to ensure their own survival, and that required a certain level of strength and combat awareness.

Outside the izakaya, the street was now deserted. It had unknowingly become very late.

Tsunade stood opposite Sakura and said, "Now, you're going to attack me with the intention of killing me. Don't worry about hurting me. With your pre-graduation strength, you won't be able to hurt me."

Sakura looked at Tsunade opposite her, thinking about what kind of attack to use. Her two most powerful attacks were the Water Cutter and Chakra Enhanced Strength. The Water Bullet's attack power was weaker. The other miscellaneous ninjutsu she knew were all for trapping enemies. But Tsunade opposite her had "Kage" level strength. Sakura estimated that she wouldn't even be able to touch her. She had to catch her off guard.

Sakura channeled chakra throughout her body, first increasing her overall agility, and then rushed towards Tsunade. She concentrated a large amount of chakra in her hand and punched towards Tsunade.

"Hmm?" Tsunade saw Sakura rush over and throw a punch. She hadn't taken it seriously at first, but the approaching fist made Tsunade wary, and she quickly dodged backward.

Sakura's punch missed Tsunade, so she changed direction and punched the ground. The ground immediately caved in.

"This... this is..." Shizune, who was beside them, was too shocked to speak.

Tsunade was also a little surprised. She hadn't expected Sakura to be able to use Chakra Enhanced Strength. She hadn't left the training method for Chakra Enhanced Strength in Konoha. Moreover, Chakra Enhanced Strength was a branch of medical ninjutsu, requiring extremely high chakra control skills. Even with the training method, it wasn't certain that anyone could learn it.

Sakura saw Tsunade's slight surprise. Chance! Sakura hadn't expected to hit Tsunade with a single punch. Chakra Enhanced Strength was currently only known to her in Konoha. She only needed to use it, and then, in the moment of her surprise, that was her chance.

She quickly concentrated chakra at her fingertip and fired the Water Cutter at Tsunade with all her might, wondering how Tsunade would respond.

"......."

Sakura was too shocked to speak. Tsunade hadn't dodged; she had extended a single finger and directly blocked her Water Cutter. A-Are you kidding me? My Water Cutter can even cut through solid rock. Tsunade had blocked her strongest attack with just one finger.