Sakura Haruno is Usefull

Asuma watched with his mouth slightly open, utterly shocked by the scene unfolding before him.

Even though he knew neither Tsunade nor Sakura were to be underestimated, was this kind of power even humanly possible?

The sheer force of their strength had embedded their calves deep into the ground as they fought to maintain balance. The surrounding area bore the brunt of their overwhelming chakra, resulting in utter destruction.

Neither Tsunade nor Sakura had ever fully unleashed their strength during battle before.

The reason was simple:

A one-ton punch could kill.

Even a 500-kilogram strike could take someone's life.

There was no need to expend all their chakra for pure strength—doing so was nothing but a waste, what could be described as "damage overflow."

"Humph~"

The pink piglet in Shizune's arms covered its eyes with its hooves and let out a frightened squeal.

As an animal, its instincts for danger were sharper than any human's. Were it not nestled safely in Shizune's embrace, it would have bolted by now.

Shizune, too, stood frozen in place, watching the scene before her.

If anyone truly understood Tsunade, it was Shizune—possibly more than even the Third Hokage himself.

But right now… Tsunade looked excited?

Shizune had never seen Tsunade so serious, her usually calm demeanor now tinged with intensity.

Her lips were slightly curved, betraying a fiery joy within—a joy that burned brighter than the chaos surrounding them.

Tsunade was clearly enjoying herself.

Did she see a reflection of her younger self in this stubborn girl before her?

Asuma, sensing things were getting out of hand, stepped forward to stop the match, but Shizune held him back, shaking her head slightly.

"It's been so long since I've seen Tsunade-sama this happy," Shizune thought to herself.

Or perhaps… she'd never seen Tsunade like this at all.

For once, it wasn't gambling but something else bringing her joy—something as simple as a fierce clash of strength.

Sakura, on the other hand, gritted her teeth. At this rate, her chakra reserves would soon run out.

If the contest continued, she would have to rely on the Yin Seal.

But even so, she couldn't bring herself to concede.

Her emerald eyes burned with determination as she stared down Tsunade.

Just as Sakura was preparing to unleash the full power of her Yin Seal to force Tsunade into submission, a hand—wrinkled with age—rested firmly on both their hands.

"That's enough," came a calm, authoritative voice.

"Why are two of my disciples going so far against each other?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, looked at his two pupils with a hint of exasperation.

Tsunade pouted, her expression showing her reluctance.

"We were just getting to the fun part..."

Even so, she began to ease up on her chakra, and Sakura followed suit, pulling her hand away.

Sakura glanced down at her own hand, red and trembling from Tsunade's iron grip.

If this had been purely a contest of brute strength, she would've lost.

This was the undeniable advantage of the Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines—overwhelming stamina and chakra reserves, advantages a civilian-born ninja like her could only dream of.

Hiruzen sighed as he looked around.

"If I hadn't intervened, I'd have to request another budget from the Finance Department to fix the training grounds again."

Sakura turned her gaze toward the surroundings.

The aftermath of their clash was catastrophic. Half of the training ground had been reduced to rubble, the earth torn asunder, massive trees toppled, and a nearby stream had diverted into the cracks left by their battle.

Shizune's voice broke the silence.

"Tsunade-sama, are you alright?"

Tsunade waved her off. "What could possibly happen to me? If anything, it's Sakura who should be checked on."

Her words held a trace of admiration, even though she herself didn't seem to realize it. The way she addressed Sakura had shifted—from "kid" to "Sakura."

Hiruzen chuckled heartily.

"This is what I like to see! A little rivalry between comrades is a good thing. How about this—tonight, I'll host a dinner and invite Jiraiya as well. Tsunade and Sakura, you both have to join."

Hearing this, Sakura glanced at the Hokage.

"I'm only twelve. I can't drink alcohol."

Hiruzen rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Ah, that's my mistake. Well, you can have juice instead, Sakura."

He affectionately ruffled her pink hair, a warm smile spreading across his face.

Evening — Sarutobi Residence

The Third Hokage's home was simple, embodying a sense of humility rather than grandeur.

Nearby, Kakashi leaned against the kitchen doorframe, his expression one of utter disinterest.

"Why am I here again…?"

Sakura glanced over at him with equal exasperation.

"You're the Fourth Hokage's student, and the Fourth was Jiraiya's student. You're connected whether you like it or not."

Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "Fine, but why is he here?"

In the kitchen, Sasuke was helping Naruto prep food, slicing potatoes into perfectly even slices with practiced precision.

"I had sword training planned tonight," Sasuke muttered, clearly disgruntled.

Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Kakashi's taught you Chidori and the White Fang's techniques. Don't act like you're not his student."

Naruto grinned broadly, turning to the group as he stirred a pot.

"Alright! Tonight, I, the great Uzumaki chef, will prepare something amazing for everyone! Sakura, make sure you try everything!"

Sakura casually tossed a cherry tomato into her mouth, savoring its tangy sweetness.

Her green eyes drifted toward Naruto, who, despite everything, seemed completely unaffected by the day's events.

"Honestly, this guy has nerves of steel…" she thought to herself.

Naruto suddenly noticed the soy sauce bottle was empty.

"Uh-oh, we're out of soy sauce!"

Without missing a beat, Sakura called toward the living room.

"Konohamaru! Go fetch some soy sauce! And Moegi, grab Anko while you're at it!"

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