Im Sakura, Rely on Pure Skill

As night fell, heaven and earth seemed to rest side by side.

Sakura placed the blood-stained surgical tools into a nearby basin. Her emerald eyes focused on the boy lying unconscious on the operating table. Even in his comatose state, his brows remained tightly furrowed.

Kakashi's squad had forcefully broken through the Cloud Village's defensive line, shattering the stalemate. The Fourth Raikage had been dragged away by Darui, and the battlefield found balance with the Raikage's arrival.

Jiraiya had fought the Raikage and emerged victorious after two grueling battles, forcing the Cloud forces to retreat fifty miles.

Sakura, meanwhile, had rushed back to the Leaf camp without rest, treating Sasuke with all possible speed.

Her palm emitted a gentle green glow as she channeled Yang Release medical ninjutsu to heal Sasuke's injuries. Under her care, the boy's tightly knit brows gradually relaxed.

Taking one last look at him, Sakura turned to the two medical-nin who gazed at her with barely concealed admiration.

"The rest is up to you. I'll be leaving now," Sakura said, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

Since being assigned this inexplicable mission, she hadn't had a proper rest. The relentless battles had drained her, both physically and mentally.

"Yes! Please rest assured, Lady Sakura!"

A young, clear-featured medical-nin responded excitedly, his eyes shining as he looked at the pink-haired girl before him.

Within mere hours, the Leaf camp had been thrown into turmoil.

Everyone now knew that the Hokage's prized disciple had captured the Two-Tails jinchūriki in this special mission. She had then faced the Raikage alone, broken through the Cloud Village's defenses, and influenced the victory on the front lines by stalling the Raikage's movements.

A new rising star had emerged in Konoha!

Since the time of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, Konoha hadn't seen someone with such strength who had quietly grown into a formidable presence.

This news had spread rapidly, fueled by certain deliberate efforts.

The mission had far exceeded an S-rank classification and had sparked widespread discussion.

Ironically, the mission was technically a failure.

Sakura had not successfully destroyed the enemy's logistics, but no one seemed to care about that detail.

Only one person had the influence to shape this narrative: Jiraiya.

Sakura couldn't help but recall his words:

You may not have it, but I can give it to you...

"Then I'll leave it to you," Sakura said with a slight nod before exiting the medical tent.

As soon as she stepped outside, she ran into someone.

"Want to talk?"

Kakashi stood before her, his gaze calm despite the exhaustion etched on her face.

"I'm tired," Sakura muttered weakly.

"Just a quick chat—won't take long."

"I've got food~~"

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled into a crescent moon shape, his familiar playful demeanor surfacing. From seemingly nowhere, he produced two sweet potatoes, waving them enticingly in front of her.

Sakura pouted, staring at Kakashi as if he were trying to amuse a child.

...

Wrapped in a warm white cloak, Sakura sat by the campfire, propping her chin on one hand. She stared blankly at the crackling flames. The flickering light danced across her face, casting alternating shadows.

Kakashi sat beside her, poking the fire with a stick. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Did you learn anything from this mission, Sakura?"

Resting her face in her hand, Sakura replied listlessly, "Learn anything?"

Kakashi's sharp gaze focused on the sweet potatoes roasting in the fire. He remained silent for a while.

The atmosphere grew heavy, weighed down by Sakura's mood.

"I was wrong..."

After a long pause, Sakura's emerald eyes dimmed as she finally spoke slowly.

She had grown complacent.

Since obtaining the Yin Seal under Hiruzen Sarutobi's tutelage, everything had seemed to go smoothly for her.

Even though Danzo had once tried to interfere, Hiruzen's intervention had ensured her seamless entry into the Anbu.

Her rise had been meteoric—advancing to Anbu squad leader with astonishing speed thanks to her prowess as a war veteran.

She had achieved victory after victory:

Resolving the Zabuza incident in the Land of Waves unscathed

Facing Orochimaru head-on in the Forest of Death

Breaking the Four Violet Flames Formation during the Chūnin Exams

Fighting two Hokage alone

Forcing Uchiha Itachi and Kisame to retreat single-handedly

Even though she told herself these achievements were nothing remarkable, deep down, she had begun to believe in her invincibility.

Faced with this mission, despite her doubts, she had charged forward recklessly with Sasuke and the others.

Although she had captured Yugito Nii, Sasuke had been gravely injured.

Later, when confronting the Raikage, it had seemed like a draw. But without the unexpected assistance of Inner Sakura, she would have perished there.

Worse still, to escape Cloud's territory quickly, she had foolishly chosen to cross their defensive line directly. As a result, the captive Cee had chosen suicide.

The thought of Cee flashed through her mind, bringing a hint of melancholy to Sakura's eyes.

She had never expected the refined, composed figure who appeared only briefly in the original storyline to possess such a fierce and unyielding personality.

Even though she had been preoccupied with escaping and wary of the Raikage, Cee had been just a sensory and genjutsu-type shinobi—a cripple at that.

Yet somehow, he had managed to seize an opportunity to end his own life right under her watch.

This had driven the Raikage into a rage. Without Inner Sakura, she would have ended up dead as well.

She had been too confident, believing everything was within her control simply because of her Kage-level strength.

Had she dismissed the capabilities of anyone below Kage-level?

Wasn't that arrogance?

Sakura's eyes dimmed further.

It was a failure of intelligence.

If she had better understood Cee's personality beforehand, the situation could have been handled differently.

Jiraiya wouldn't have needed to pressure the Raikage on the front lines, and Kakashi wouldn't have had to lead a desperate charge through Cloud's defenses.

Because of her, people had died unnecessarily...

Even though war inevitably claimed lives, some deaths had indeed been her responsibility.

They should have died honorably—not because of her arrogance.

Simply because of her conceit.

Although Konoha had achieved a minor victory, that did not change the facts.

Sakura realized she needed to reflect and adjust her mindset.

If you're wrong, you admit it.

If you deserve punishment, you stand and take it.

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