Konoha Village
Emerging from the Hokage's office, Sakura looked at the appointment scroll in her hand, a feeling of pure bliss washing over her. Promoted to Chunin, and having synthesized a Kekkei Genkai – so far, everything was going perfectly.
Mastering a nature transformation wasn't something that could be achieved overnight. Ordinary ninjas usually took several years to master a single nature transformation. Sakura, on the other hand, had been surrounded by people who, if not outright geniuses, were talented descendants of prominent clans.
Therefore, Sakura hadn't really felt a huge sense of accomplishment from mastering a nature transformation. However, among ordinary ninjas, such talent was considered rare. It was no wonder the Third Hokage had placed so much importance on her when she was a child. If the Third Hokage knew that Sakura had now synthesized a Kekkei Genkai, he would probably assign someone to protect her at all times.
At the village logistics department, Sakura presented the Chunin appointment scroll from the Third Hokage. Amidst the astonished gasps of the logistics personnel, she received a Chunin vest and a set of standard-issue ninja tools.
The ninja tools were more or less the same as the genin ones; the difference was more symbolic than anything.
Chunin were eligible to lead teams on missions. They were the backbone of the village, making up the largest portion of the ninja force. Although Sakura didn't know the exact number, she estimated there were at least ten or twenty thousand.
The number of Jonin and Genin was much smaller. Genin, unless under special circumstances, generally didn't stay at that rank for long. Most of Konoha's various departments were staffed by Chunin.
Promotion to Chunin wasn't solely dependent on passing the Chunin Exams. The Chunin Exams were more like a platform for various villages to showcase their strength during peacetime.
Sakura had no idea how many Jonin there were, but the number couldn't be very high. In all her years in Konoha, the ninjas she'd encountered most frequently were Chunin.
The typical age for a civilian ninja to be promoted to Chunin was around 17 or 18. Being promoted to Chunin at the age of 12 meant a high probability of becoming a Jonin in the future. No wonder the logistics department staff were surprised.
Clutching her green Chunin vest, Sakura walked home, planning to go shopping for some clothes later.
When she reached the downstairs area of her building, she noticed someone loitering, occasionally glancing upwards. Getting closer, she saw it was Sasuke.
"Sasuke, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked. It was already well into the afternoon, and Sakura was starting to feel hungry.
"Sakura, you... you're back. I... I have something I want to talk to you about," Sasuke said hesitantly.
"Hmm? What is it?" Sakura asked, puzzled by Sasuke's hesitant demeanor. "Wait a minute, I'll just put this uniform away."
Sakura deliberately, and with a touch of mischievousness, waved the Chunin vest in front of Sasuke. Sure enough, Sasuke noticed the clothing in her hand. His face showed a flicker of envy, mixed with a hint of jealousy, and perhaps even a little bit of resentment.
"You were promoted to Chunin?" Sasuke couldn't help but ask. "Weren't you eliminated in the preliminaries?"
"Yeah, but the Third Hokage saw my incredible talent and exceptional strength, so he gave me a mission," Sakura said, enjoying the conflicted expression on Sasuke's face. "Then I completed it, and I was promoted to Chunin."
"You can become a Chunin like that?" Sasuke asked.
"Of course. The Chunin Exams aren't the only way to become a Chunin... Never mind, wait for me a moment..." Sakura said, leaving Sasuke with a view of her back as she headed upstairs.
Upstairs, Sakura discovered there was no food left. Karin wasn't home either; she was probably in the Sealing Team class.
After a quick shower, Sakura, feeling a bit showy, put on the newly acquired Chunin vest and stood in front of the mirror.
Gazing at her reflection, Sakura stroked her chin, looking herself up and down, then down and up, shaking her head all the while.
"So ugly," Sakura commented. This was nowhere near as nice as her own clothes; it completely lacked any aesthetic appeal. However, it was also the most practical, providing protection for vital areas of the body.
Taking off the Chunin vest, Sakura changed back into the pink, long-sleeved shirt her mother had made for her. She picked up a hair tie, gathered her long, shoulder-length hair, and tied it into a ponytail, then secured her forehead protector around her neck.
Looking at the reflection of the slender and graceful young woman in the mirror, Sakura indulged in a moment of self-admiration before remembering that Sasuke was waiting downstairs.
Sakura swore she definitely hadn't taken so long because of Sasuke. She just wanted to experience what it was like to wear the Chunin vest.
When Sakura reached downstairs, Sasuke was looking a little impatient. Seeing Sakura's different look from usual, he couldn't help but be slightly stunned.
Sakura had always had the same style, and she didn't care much for dressing up. He had gotten used to it. Seeing her in a different style was surprising, and besides, Sakura wasn't ugly to begin with.
"Let's go. Let's find a place to eat," Sakura said. She hadn't found anything to eat at home, and here was a convenient opportunity.
"I've already eaten," Sasuke said.
"I said I haven't eaten. I want to eat. You're not going to make me talk to you on an empty stomach, are you?" Sakura said, spreading her hands.
"Then what do you want to eat...?" Sasuke asked helplessly.
"I saw a new sushi restaurant next to Jiu Jiu House when I came back. Let's go there..." Sakura said, pulling Sasuke towards the sushi restaurant.
Life is short, and only good food is unforgivable. This was a truth Sakura had held dear since her previous life. Therefore, Sakura had decided that after everything was over, she would open a restaurant, eating and selling food at the same time...
They arrived at the restaurant, and after Sakura had been eating for a while, Sasuke spoke. "Sakura, there are some things I want to ask you about."
"Go ahead. If I know, I'll definitely tell you..." Sakura said, her mouth full of sashimi, her words slightly muffled.
"Do you know how to revive the dead?" Sasuke asked, his expression calm.
Sasuke didn't want to be manipulated. He had already figured out Kabuto's intentions after venting his frustrations. Orochimaru could provide what Sasuke wanted, but neither option was perfect. Therefore, Sasuke wanted to get some answers from Sakura, the disciple of Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin.
If there was even the slightest possibility, then Sasuke could make a clear choice.
Sakura looked at Sasuke in surprise, hearing his question. Why would Sasuke ask that? What had he encountered?
"I do," Sakura said firmly.
"Really...? Tell me quickly," Sasuke said excitedly, jumping up from his seat and grabbing Sakura's shoulders.
"Don't get so excited. Sit down and talk slowly..." Sakura said, pushing Sasuke's hands away. She felt uncomfortable being grabbed by the shoulders.
"I'm sorry," Sasuke said, apologizing after he sat down.
Sakura looked at Sasuke with a complex expression and said, "I do know how to revive the dead, but the price you have to pay is not small."
It was true the price was substantial. Chiyo would never give the Sand's forbidden jutsu to Sasuke. He had a chance, however slight of getting his hands on Edo Tensei, but to actually completely revive the dead, a Rinnegan was needed.
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