Sakura Haruno is Usefull

After leaving the Hokage Building, Sakura stretched her stiff body with a sense of relief.

Kurotsuchi glanced at the pink-haired girl's flat figure and instinctively lowered her head.

"Yes! I win!"

A triumphant smile spread across the black-haired girl's face.

"What are you grinning at?"

Sakura cast a puzzled look at Kurotsuchi.

"Come on, let's go! What's fun around Konoha?"

The black-haired girl cheerfully slung her arm around Sakura's shoulder.

"You can go play by yourself. I've got things to do," Sakura said, waving her hand to dismiss the idea.

Having finally found some time to slip away, she was determined to head to the Senju clan's archive room. But before that, it seemed polite to let Tsunade know.

"Huh?"

"How could you be like this?"

"Didn't we come out together?"

"Don't you have any sense of hosting a guest properly?"

Kurotsuchi clung to Sakura's shoulder with a playful yet stubborn expression that clearly said, If you don't come with me, I won't let you go.

Sakura stared at the arm draped over her shoulder and sighed. This person could totally get along with Naruto.

"Sakura, just spend some time with our guest from Iwagakure," came the voice of an elder behind them.

Sakura and Kurotsuchi turned to see Homura Mitokado, who had just exited the meeting.

Seeing the elderly man before her, Sakura couldn't help but feel a bit stressed.

She used to think of him as one of those stubborn old men resistant to change, but after years of occasional interactions, Sakura had come to understand the pragmatic and perceptive nature of the elder.

Kurotsuchi beamed triumphantly. "See? Even your elder is saying so."

Taking advantage of this newfound support, she grabbed Sakura's hand without a second thought and dragged her along.

Watching the two girls walk off, Homura adjusted his glasses thoughtfully.

With the recent alliance between Konoha and Iwagakure, encouraging the younger generation to bond was a prudent step. Joint missions in the near future were inevitable, and it was best for them to grow familiar with each other early on.

Moreover, with Kurotsuchi being the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage, it was fitting for Sakura, the Hokage's disciple, to accompany her.

Of course, everything boiled down to mutual benefits.

Sakura crossed her arms as she observed Kurotsuchi curiously inspecting everything around her. She couldn't help but feel resigned.

What was so fascinating about Konoha? There were just a few food stalls, markets, and maybe a bar or two. As for gambling houses, not a single one existed.

"Sakura!"

A beige-colored blur suddenly pounced from behind, wrapping around Sakura like an octopus.

"Ino?"

Sakura blinked in surprise at the girl who had just leaped onto her back.

"What's with that surprised look? Are you saying you're not happy to see me?" Ino rested her chin on Sakura's shoulder, pouting.

Sakura glanced at the girl clinging to her and thought of Karin. Was Ino mimicking Karin's behavior?

"Not at all. I'm just surprised. I thought you'd be at the flower shop," Sakura said with a laugh, poking Ino's cheek.

Ino's family ran a flower shop, and she often helped out there.

"Suspicious~~~," Ino teased, staring at Sakura inquisitively.

Sakura rarely ever took time off. If she wasn't on a mission, she was training. The sight of her casually strolling through town was almost unheard of.

"What, Sakura? Come try this!"

Before Ino could press further, a figure with deep red hair emerged from a nearby dango shop, holding a box of freshly packed dango.

Kurotsuchi was absolutely in love with Konoha's dango shops. Their skills were unmatched—far better than anything in Iwagakure.

!!!

Ino's face twisted slightly at the sight of Kurotsuchi.

Ugh!

The red-haired troublemaker wasn't even dealt with, and now there was a second pest!

"Huh? Who's this?"

"The weakling you knocked out in one punch?"

Kurotsuchi stared at the blonde girl clinging to Sakura and eventually remembered her as the one Sakura had floored during the final rounds of the Forest of Death competition.

"What?!"

"What are you doing here?"

Ino bristled like an angry cat and jumped off Sakura.

"Why shouldn't I be here?"

Kurotsuchi smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she leaned in closer to Ino.

"Sakura came out just to spend time with me~~~," she teased in an infuriating tone.

"That's ridiculous!"

"You're just someone from Iwagakure!"

"Right, Sakura?"

Ino turned to Sakura, seeking confirmation.

Sakura, however, gave her an apologetic look and nodded.

"See? I knew it! There's no way Sakura would spend time with someone from Iwagakure."

"Ino, Iwagakure is our ally now," Sakura explained, her words causing Ino's smug expression to freeze.

???

What was happening?

Ino suddenly felt like the entire world was conspiring against her.

First Naruto.

Then Karin, the red-haired troublemaker.

And now this mud-loving, loudmouthed girl?!

"In a few days, news of our alliance with Iwagakure will spread," Sakura added.

Ino was at a loss for words, realizing Sakura wouldn't joke about such a thing.

Ughhh...

Seeing Ino's defeated expression, Kurotsuchi grinned triumphantly, throwing an arm around her shoulder.

"Hey, as my new ally, isn't it only right for the Yamanaka heiress to treat me to a meal?"

Sakura sighed. It was clear now—Kurotsuchi wasn't just socially adept; she had a talent for forcing connections.

One second, she was teasing Ino, and the next, she was casually demanding food from her.

Was this something a normal person would even think to do?

"Who would treat a tomboy like you?!"

Ino snapped at Kurotsuchi.

Akimichi BBQ Restaurant

"Wow, the Yamanaka heiress is so generous! Cheers to that!"

Kurotsuchi raised a glass of orange juice and downed it in one go.

"Heh, as if I'm not?"

Ino followed suit, finishing her own drink.

Sakura rested her face on her palm, deadpan, watching the two girls who had been at each other's throats minutes ago now acting like lifelong friends.

She couldn't help but feel the urge to complain.

Ino had essentially been tricked into treating Kurotsuchi and was even thanking her for the privilege.

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