Chapter 7: Change
Sakura sighed inwardly. She could understand Hiruzen's situation, at least in broad strokes.
Right now, the old man was essentially holding Konoha together single-handedly. The only shinobi capable of succeeding him as Hokage — Kakashi Hatake — was busy wallowing in apathy.
Minato had sacrificed himself. Orochimaru had defected. Tsunade had her hemophobia. Jiraiya had gone wandering. And Danzō was circling like a vulture…
Every last thing in the village — top to bottom — landed on one old man's desk. He simply didn't have time.
The ideal person to look after Naruto would've been the Third's wife, Biwako Sarutobi. But she'd been killed by Obito Uchiha on the night of the Nine-Tails attack…
"Okay — no more instant ramen from now on."
"You'll never grow tall eating that stuff!"
Sakura stepped closer and measured herself against him. Naruto was actually shorter than her.
The boy's cheeks turned pink at her sudden proximity. Then curiosity won out.
"If I can't eat ramen… what do I eat?"
Sakura reached into her bag and set a book down in front of him.
No ramen — so I eat a book?
Naruto eyed the cookbook, genuinely debating whether to take a bite.
"When the egg starts to set, use the spatula to roll it up, then pour in more egg."
"Keep repeating that."
"And there you go — tamagoyaki!"
Sakura stood on a step stool, following the cookbook — which now bore a very obvious set of teeth marks — as she walked Naruto through his first real meal.
The process was bumpy, but they got there. Sakura's very first dish: complete.
"Whoa! Sakura, you're amazing!"
Naruto stared at the plated tamagoyaki, blue eyes shining with pure admiration.
Sakura looked at him, sighed, and rapped him lightly on the head.
"Dummy — I gave you the cookbook so you could learn from it."
"You actually tried to eat the book."
"Heh… heh heh…"
Naruto scratched his head and grinned sheepishly.
"Here — your turn."
Sakura stepped aside and put Naruto in front of the stove.
"Me?"
He tensed up immediately.
"Yes, you. Give it a shot."
"You'll never know if you can do it unless you try."
"Besides, this is easy — you've totally got this."
Sakura gave him an encouraging nod.
"Okay!"
She stared at the result in silence. It was… scrambled eggs. Not a tamagoyaki. But close enough — the line between the two was thin anyway.
At least it wasn't burnt.
"Alright, we'll work on the rolling technique later. Let's move on to rice."
As the hours slipped by, Naruto — under Sakura's patient guidance — managed to produce something resembling an actual meal.
Scrambled eggs. Miso soup. A pot of rice.
"That's really impressive, Naruto."
"Keep at it and you'll be a great cook someday."
With a six-year-old, encouragement was the only way to go. For a first attempt, this was more than good enough.
The miso soup was a little salty, sure — but you just add more water. And if it gets too bland after that, add a little more salt. Problem solved.
"Heh heh~"
Naruto beamed at the two dishes he'd made, practically glowing with pride.
"Well then — itadakimasu!"
Sakura pressed her palms together, and under Naruto's stunned gaze, picked up her chopsticks and popped a piece of "tamagoyaki" into her mouth.
"Hm? Aren't you going to eat, Naruto?"
Her eyes found his, and the boy fumbled into action.
"Y-yeah! I'm eating, I'm eating…"
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen watched the scene in his crystal ball with a warm smile.
He'd never had time to look after Naruto properly. The village nannies hadn't wanted the job — and some had shown signs of outright mistreatment.
He'd told Naruto more than once to stop living off instant ramen. It never stuck.
If the boy could learn to cook for himself, that would be more than enough.
As far as Hiruzen was concerned, Sakura's talent had become secondary.
As long as she could keep Naruto settled down and taking care of himself — that was what mattered now.
Hiruzen rapped his knuckles on the desk. An ANBU operative materialized before him instantly.
"Bring me Iruka."
The operative vanished.
Moments later, a man with a scar across the bridge of his nose stood at attention.
"Lord Hokage."
Iruka bowed.
"About Sakura Haruno's request to skip grades."
Hiruzen paused. Iruka blinked, confused.
Hadn't that already been decided yesterday?
Is he changing his mind?
"Make the exams strict. You understand what I mean?"
The words sent a chill down Iruka's spine.
He doesn't want her to pass?
"Yes, sir. Understood."
Iruka didn't know what the Hokage was really planning. But he was a chūnin — an Academy instructor. He didn't make the calls.
He followed orders.
As the sun sank low and golden light spilled across the rooftops—
"Naruto, I'm heading home."
"Try not to eat ramen anymore, okay? And the milk in the fridge — throw it all out in three days."
"If you can't finish it in time, stop buying so much fresh milk. And make sure you follow the recipes in that cookbook."
"If there's anything you don't understand, come find me."
Standing in Naruto's doorway, Sakura rattled off instructions like a fussy mother hen.
She'd watched this kid grow up in her past life — followed the anime from grade school all the way through graduation. In a way, she'd known him for years.
"Yeah, yeah! Got it!"
Naruto's eyes practically sparkled as he watched her. Not a hint of impatience.
"Alright then. See you at school tomorrow."
As the girl walked away, Naruto stood in the doorway watching until she disappeared around the corner. Only then did he reluctantly go back inside.
Sakura headed straight home without detours. Konoha may have been the most prosperous of the Five Great Villages, but to her it was… fine. Nothing worth exploring.
"Sakura!"
"Where have you been all day?!"
"You were gone the entire time!"
"Daddy missed you so much!"
The instant she walked through the door, Kizashi's voice erupted — followed by a large, dark shape lunging directly at her.
"Eek!"
Sakura froze as the unidentified creature hurtled toward her.
"You idiot!"
"Are you trying to flatten her?!"
Mebuki's voice cracked like a whip. She snagged Kizashi by the back of his collar and yanked him away.
This man is absolutely, certifiably daughter-obsessed…
Sakura watched Kizashi thrash against her mother's grip, still trying to reach her, and felt her eye twitch.
"I went to hang out with a classmate."
She waved it off, sat down in the entryway, and started pulling off her shoes.
"Was it Ino?"
"It better not have been some boy!"
Kizashi's voice boomed from behind Mebuki's chokehold.
Sakura paused mid-shoe.
Naruto… does he count?