After finishing their ramen, Kakashi Hatake took the initiative to pay the bill.
Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, still reeling from the crushing defeat at the hands of Uchiha Mirai, walked out of the private room in a daze, visibly shaken.
Hinata Hyuga, Ino Yamanaka, and Kurotsuchi had already planned to go shopping together. After saying a quick goodbye to Mirai, they too headed off.
In the blink of an eye, only Mirai and Sakura Haruno remained.
Alone with him, Sakura felt more nervous than she'd ever been in her life.
If she weren't consciously trying to control her breathing, she might've fainted right then and there.
As she tried to calm herself down, Mirai's voice gently broke the silence.
"Sakura, everyone else has left. Let's go too."
Seeing the casual expression on his face, Sakura mustered her courage.
"Mirai-sama… do you still remember what you told Kakashi-sensei two years ago?"
"Two years ago?" Mirai blinked, then realization dawned.
Seeing the expectant and slightly anxious look in her eyes, he smiled.
"Of course I remember. Since we've run into each other today, come with me."
A wave of relief washed over Sakura.
As the two-year mark drew closer, her anxiety had only grown. After all, she was just a nobody—it wouldn't have been surprising if Mirai-sama had forgotten his promise.
But now, hearing him acknowledge it personally, she finally felt at ease.
Following behind him, she suddenly stumbled and bumped right into his back.
"S-Sorry! I didn't mean to!"
Mirai looked over his shoulder with a gentle smile.
"No problem. Don't be so nervous. It's not like I'm a good guy or anything."
"Eh?"
"Uh… I mean, it's not like I'm a bad guy either."
Seeing that he wasn't angry about her clumsiness, Sakura patted her chest and breathed a little easier.
Then she realized with a jolt—they were no longer in the ramen shop.
Instead, they stood in a hidden chamber.
"But… we were just at Ichiraku Ramen!"
"This is a space-time transfer jutsu," Mirai explained simply. "It lets the user move anywhere instantly, as long as they focus their intent."
"I've gotten used to traveling like this. It's normal if it takes some getting used to."
Sakura nodded blankly, but inside, her mind was racing.
She'd read about space-time techniques in textbooks, but what Mirai had just done—no hand seals, no visible technique, and he even brought her along without her noticing—it was unbelievable.
If he used this kind of power in battle… the possibilities were terrifying.
As she stood there absorbing that revelation, her eyes drifted to the scrolls lining the walls of the chamber.
"Mirai-sama… are all these scrolls jutsu?!"
Mirai nodded. "That's right. Ninjutsu, taijutsu, secret techniques…"
"There are even training methods for kekkei genkai."
Oh my god!
Sakura's eyes sparkled like a pirate discovering treasure. Her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest.
Coming from a civilian background, even the most basic jutsu had always been expensive and out of reach.
But here—this enormous chamber was packed, wall to wall, with rare and precious training materials.
If she snuck out just a few scrolls, she'd probably become rich overnight!
Her mind was running wild when Mirai spoke again.
"Hm… now, what kind of jutsu would suit you best?"
Sakura snapped back to reality.
"Mirai-sama, I'm best at chakra control and genjutsu."
Mirai rubbed his chin.
"There's plenty of genjutsu, but without other power to back it up, genjutsu is mostly just a supporting tool."
"If you're trying to catch up to Naruto and Sasuke with genjutsu alone… I'm afraid that's not very realistic."
Silently, he added in his heart:
Unless it's Tsukuyomi.
Sakura's expression dimmed. If even someone like Mirai-sama thought it wasn't feasible, then her dream of becoming stronger might already be dead in the water.
Just as she was about to give up hope, Mirai's voice came again.
"Sakura, I just remembered a secret technique. It might be perfect for you."
Her head shot up.
"Really?! What is it, Mirai-sama?"
Girls are always so easy to lead along.
Watching her emotions swing wildly at his every word, Mirai said softly,
"It's called the Yin Seal and Monster Strength…"
As he explained the techniques in detail, Sakura's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
This was perfect.
If she could master such a powerful offensive method, her strength would skyrocket.
She probably still wouldn't catch up to Naruto or Sasuke, but at least among her peers, she wouldn't be the weakest anymore.
Seeing the hope in her eyes, Mirai spoke calmly.
"The Yin Seal and Monster Strength both demand precise chakra control and excellent physical conditioning."
"If you force the training without the right foundation, you could seriously harm your body."
"Sakura, I'll need to check your body first to see if you're suited for this path."
Nervously, Sakura nodded. "Understood, Mirai-sama."
As his chakra gently moved through her body, Sakura's cheeks flushed red.
She knew he was just doing a basic scan… but still, she couldn't help getting a little flustered.
She was a sucker for good looks, after all—and in the entire shinobi world, there probably wasn't a man more handsome than Mirai.
After a few moments, Mirai opened his eyes.
"Sakura, your body is well-suited for the Yin Seal and Monster Strength. I'll give you the training materials now. If you run into anything you don't understand, come find me."
Overwhelmed, Sakura dropped to her knees in gratitude.
"Thank you, Mirai-sama!"
She was just an ordinary girl from a civilian family—and yet she'd been noticed by the Emperor himself.
What an incredible blessing.
Maybe from today on… her fate would change forever.
Watching the pure joy in her eyes, Mirai couldn't help but smile slightly.
Ah, Sakura... every gift from fate comes with its price.
Always.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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