The Sakura Legend

Inside a cozy izakaya, a busty blonde woman was drinking with two younger girls, one significantly smaller than the other. This was Tsunade, Shizune, and Sakura Haruno.

"Sakura, tomorrow you can return to the village. Our three-year agreement has come to an end," Tsunade said, pouring Sakura a cup of sake. Her expression was unreadable, as if she were discussing something utterly inconsequential.

"Sensei..." Sakura's heart sank a little at the mention of the three-year agreement. She'd thought this was just a normal dinner, not Tsunade essentially kicking her out. After three years together, Sakura had grown attached to Tsunade. She hadn't expected her sensei to still be so hung up on the original agreement, as if taking Sakura on as an apprentice had been nothing more than a chore. It stung a little, the thought that after all this time, Tsunade might not feel anything for her.

Shizune, watching from the side, didn't know what to say. Even the most stoic person couldn't spend so much time with someone and not develop some kind of bond. Hearing Tsunade speak so bluntly made even Shizune feel a pang of sadness. The atmosphere in the izakaya became heavy and silent.

"Pfft—" Tsunade suddenly burst out laughing, seeing the somber expressions on her two disciples' faces.

"Just kidding! Sakura, while I was a little annoyed when the old man stuck you with me, how could I not have developed some feelings for you? Especially since you're so talented," Tsunade said, pouring herself another cup of sake.

"Sakura, I have to thank you. Your hard work reminded me of my old self," Tsunade said, a faraway look in her eyes.

She downed her cup before continuing, "Now it's time for you to return to the village. As a medical-nin, you're still not fully qualified. You need more practical experience, and that's something I can't teach you. Go back to Konoha."

"Sensei..." On their last night together, Sakura was at a loss for words. Her chest ached.

"Haha, enough of that! Sakura, you're my most prized disciple. Tonight, you have permission to drink," Tsunade declared with a boisterous laugh, instantly lightening the mood. "And when you get back to the village, tell that old man to stop bothering me."

"Ha...ha...ha..." Sakura's laugh was a little strained. Only the Sannin could get away with talking about the Third Hokage like that. She might call him 'old man' in her head, but she'd never dare say it out loud.

"Shizune, you have some sake too," Tsunade said, already feeling the effects of her second cup.

"Tsunade-sama, please...please drink in moderation. Sakura is leaving tomorrow, and it would be difficult to manage if you were hungover," Shizune said, firmly refusing to join Tsunade in drinking. Shizune was a ninja of principle. Although she seemed gentle on the surface, Sakura had learned over the past three years that Shizune always held firm to her own convictions, no matter who she was facing.

Sakura looked at Tsunade-sensei, then at Shizune-senpai, and felt the list of people she wanted to protect grow longer.

The next day.

"Sakura, we're not far from Konoha now. Be careful on your own. I need to go back and take care of Tsunade-sama," Shizune said, giving Sakura an apologetic smile.

"Yes, Shizune-senpai. But is Sensei really not coming back to Konoha?" Sakura had tried to persuade Tsunade to return last night, but she'd been scolded soundly for it.

"There's nothing to be done. Tsunade-sama doesn't want to go back, and you know the reason," Shizune said with a sigh.

Tsunade would never tell Sakura these things directly, but sometimes, during their conversations, Shizune would share snippets of Tsunade's past.

"Sakura, you've actually changed Tsunade-sama a lot. It's subtle, but I can feel it. Thank you, Sakura," Shizune said sincerely.

"Haha, really? I haven't noticed," Sakura said, puzzled. She felt that Tsunade was pretty much the same as when they'd first met.

"You have. You're probably too busy with your training to notice, but Tsunade-sama... in order to teach you medical ninjutsu, she's been working hard to overcome her hemophobia," Shizune revealed.

"..." Sakura was silent. She had been consumed by her training, so much so that she'd completely overlooked this. She trained late into the night every day, frustrated by the slow growth of her chakra reserves due to her young age. Moreover, she had to store a portion of her chakra in the Yin Seal. After using up her chakra, she'd study the medical materials Tsunade had given her, and as soon as her chakra recovered, she'd immediately resume training, never allowing herself a moment's rest. She'd never realized that, behind the scenes, Tsunade was going to such lengths for her.

"Sakura, you've changed Tsunade-sama. Maybe, just maybe, one day she'll truly overcome her fear of blood," Shizune continued, looking at the now-silent Sakura.

"Sigh... I feel bad for putting Sensei through so much. I don't even know what I did to deserve this," Sakura said with a sigh.

"It's probably because your efforts over these three years have touched Tsunade-sama's heart," Shizune said with a smile. "It's getting late, you should hurry back. I'm leaving now; I need to go look after Tsunade-sama."

Watching Shizune depart, Sakura turned and started down the road back to the village. Perhaps the biggest gain from these three years was learning the Yin Seal and the Creation Rebirth technique that went along with the Strength of a Hundred Seal. She'd also formed a contract with Katsuyu, giving her a powerful support-type summoning. However, Tsunade hadn't mentioned teaching Sakura Sage Mode, probably because she felt Sakura's chakra reserves were too small. Then there was the vast array of medical ninjutsu, pharmacology knowledge, and even some poison-making techniques she'd learned from Shizune.

Although poison wouldn't be very effective in the later stages of the story, it was quite useful at her current level. She could add poison to her Water Release: Water Bullet Technique, paralyzing enemies. It might even prove crucial during the Chunin Exams. She'd also learned a whole bunch of miscellaneous things, like various enhancement pills: Military Ration Pills, Blood Increasing Pills, and so on.

Three years wasn't a long time, but it wasn't short either. Tsunade hadn't taught Sakura many combat skills. Tsunade felt that Sakura already knew enough ninjutsu for now. Sakura had even managed to figure out the basics of the Strength of a Hundred Seal's enhanced strength on her own, without any guidance. What Sakura lacked now was experience and physical growth. That's why, after teaching Sakura the Yin Seal, Strength of a Hundred Seal, and Creation Rebirth, Tsunade had focused on having Sakura learn all sorts of medical knowledge.

Unfortunately, learning the Yin Seal didn't increase Sakura's maximum chakra capacity, and the amount she could store daily was limited. She also had to allocate a portion of her chakra to practicing ninjutsu. Sakura was quite frustrated by this, but there was nothing she could do but wait for her body to mature or find some free time to research the Strength of a Hundred Seal further.

Sakura had discovered that the Strength of a Hundred Seal was a ninjutsu used to store chakra within the Yin Seal. It could also release the chakra stored in the Yin Seal, exponentially increasing the effects of Creation Rebirth. Sakura felt that the Strength of a Hundred Seal had potential; perhaps it could be the key to solving her chakra shortage.

Taking a deep breath as she gazed at the large, red gates ahead, Sakura murmured, "I'm back."