Sakura wiped the sweat from her brow as she faced off against Sasuke once again. Their after-school training sessions had become a regular occurrence, and she could feel herself improving with each passing day. However, as she dodged another of Sasuke's swift kicks, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was missing.

"Your form's getting better," Sasuke commented, his dark eyes narrowed in concentration. "But you're still telegraphing your moves too much."

Sakura nodded, catching her breath. "I'll work on it," she promised, readying herself for another round.

As they continued their sparring, neither noticed the group of girls watching from behind a nearby tree, their eyes filled with a mixture of envy and determination.

The next day at the Academy, Sakura felt the weight of those stares as she walked through the hallways. What had once been friendly greetings from her classmates had turned into hushed whispers and sideways glances. She tried to ignore it, focusing instead on her studies and her goal of becoming stronger.

During kunoichi classes, Sakura noticed the other girls pushing themselves harder than ever before. Ino, her former best friend and now rival, was particularly intense, her blue eyes flashing with determination as she practiced her flower arranging with razor-sharp precision.

"Excellent work, Ino," their teacher praised. "You've really improved."

Ino shot a smug look in Sakura's direction, and Sakura felt her cheeks burn. She redoubled her efforts, determined not to fall behind.

As the weeks passed, Sakura found herself struggling to maintain her position at the top of the class. The other girls were catching up, driven by their desire to impress Sasuke and match Sakura's progress. While the teachers were pleased with the overall improvement in the class, Sakura couldn't help but feel the pressure mounting.

One afternoon, as Sakura and Sasuke were preparing for their usual training session, they were approached by Iruka-sensei.

"Sakura, Sasuke, can I have a word with you?" he asked, his expression serious.

They followed him to a quiet corner of the training grounds, exchanging curious glances.

"First of all, I want to commend you both on your dedication to training," Iruka began. "Your progress has been remarkable, and it's having a positive effect on your classmates as well."

Sakura felt a surge of pride at the praise, but it was quickly tempered by Iruka's next words.

"However, we've noticed that you two are developing some... bad habits," he continued. "By sparring exclusively with each other, you're becoming too predictable. You need to broaden your sparring pool to truly grow as shinobi."

Sasuke frowned, clearly not pleased with the criticism. "We're pushing each other to improve," he argued. "Isn't that enough?"

Iruka shook his head. "In the real world, you'll face opponents with a wide variety of fighting styles. You need to be prepared for anything."

Sakura nodded, understanding the logic. "What do you suggest, sensei?"

"I want you both to start sparring with other classmates," Iruka said. "Mix it up, challenge yourselves. It'll benefit everyone in the long run."

As they walked away from Iruka, Sakura's mind was already whirling with possibilities. This could be an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

The next day at lunch, Sakura found herself sitting with Hinata, one of the few girls who hadn't completely shunned her. As they ate in comfortable silence, Sakura couldn't help but notice Hinata's pale eyes darting towards a certain loud-mouthed blond across the courtyard.

Before she could comment, however, that very same blond came bounding over to their table, his trademark grin plastered across his face.

"Hey, Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed, practically vibrating with energy. "Want to go get ramen with me after school?"

Sakura felt her eye twitch in irritation. "Naruto, how many times do I have to tell you? I'm not interested!"

Naruto's smile faltered for a moment before bouncing back. "Aw, come on! Just one date?"

"No, Naruto," Sakura snapped, her patience wearing thin. "Now please, leave us alone."

Shoulders slumping, Naruto trudged away, leaving an uncomfortable silence in his wake.

"Um, Sakura-san," Hinata's soft voice broke through the tension. "Don't you think that was a bit... harsh?"

Sakura blinked, surprised by Hinata's mild rebuke. "Harsh? He's always pestering me! Doesn't it annoy you how he never gives up?"

Hinata's cheeks flushed pink, and she poked her fingers together nervously. "Actually, I... I think it's kind of admirable. His determination, I mean."

Sakura's jaw dropped. "Wait, what? You... you like Naruto?"

Hinata's face went from pink to tomato red in an instant. "I-I didn't say that!" she stammered, looking like she wanted to disappear into her oversized jacket.

Sakura's mind raced. This was unexpected, but it could be exactly what she needed. "Hinata," she said slowly, a plan forming in her head. "What if I told you I could help you get closer to Naruto?"

Hinata's eyes widened. "W-what do you mean?"

"I could help set you two up," Sakura explained, warming to the idea. "You know, arrange situations where you can spend time together, help you talk to him..."

"Oh, I-I don't know," Hinata mumbled, her face somehow growing even redder. "I couldn't possibly..."

Sakura leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Come on, Hinata. It would be a big help to me, too. If Naruto's focused on you, he'll stop bothering me all the time."

Hinata bit her lip, clearly torn between her crush and her shyness. "But what if he doesn't like me?" she whispered back.

"We'll never know unless we try," Sakura pressed. "And hey, even if it doesn't work out romantically, you two could become good friends. That's not so bad, right?"

After a moment of hesitation, Hinata gave a tiny nod. "O-okay," she agreed, her voice barely audible. "I'll try."

Sakura grinned, already plotting her next move. "Great! Leave it to me, Hinata. I've got the perfect plan."

That afternoon, as Sakura met Sasuke for their usual training session, she decided to put her plan into action.

"Hey, Sasuke-kun," she began casually as they warmed up. "I've been thinking about what Iruka-sensei said about broadening our sparring pool."

Sasuke grunted, indicating he was listening.

"What if we invited Naruto and Hinata to join us sometimes?" Sakura suggested, trying to keep her voice neutral.

Sasuke paused in his stretches, raising an eyebrow. "Hinata I can understand. Her Gentle Fist style would be good practice. But why Naruto? He's dead last in the class."

Sakura took a deep breath, deciding honesty was the best approach. "Well, the thing is... I'm trying to set up Hinata and Naruto."

"What?" Sasuke's usually impassive face showed a flicker of surprise.

"Hinata has a crush on Naruto," Sakura explained quickly. "And if they start spending time together, maybe Naruto will stop pestering me all the time."

Sasuke frowned. "Can't you just ignore him?"

Sakura sighed. "I've tried, but you know how persistent he is. Besides," she added, struck by sudden inspiration, "Naruto may be dead last, but he's also unpredictable. It could be good practice to face an opponent whose moves we can't anticipate."

Sasuke still looked unconvinced, so Sakura decided to play her trump card. "Please, Sasuke-kun? It would really mean a lot to me."

For a moment, Sasuke was silent, and Sakura held her breath. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh. "Fine," he grunted. "But if they slow us down too much, they're out."

Sakura beamed, resisting the urge to hug him. "Thank you, Sasuke-kun! I promise you won't regret it."

As they began their sparring session, Sakura's mind was already racing with plans. This could be the perfect solution to multiple problems. Naruto would hopefully stop asking her out, Hinata would get closer to her crush, and she and Sasuke would improve their skills by facing different opponents.

Of course, things rarely went as smoothly as one hoped, especially when Naruto was involved. But Sakura was determined to make this work. After all, she had promised Hinata, and more importantly, she had given her word to Sasuke. She wouldn't let either of them down.

The next day, Sakura arrived at the Academy early, her stomach fluttering with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She spotted Hinata near the entrance, fidgeting with the hem of her jacket.

"Good morning, Hinata!" Sakura called out, waving cheerfully.

Hinata jumped slightly, her pale eyes wide. "G-good morning, Sakura-san," she replied softly.

Sakura lowered her voice as she approached. "Are you ready for today? Remember, just act natural. We're just inviting them to train with us, that's all."

Hinata nodded, though she looked like she might faint at any moment. "I-I'll try my best."

As they entered the classroom, Sakura scanned the room for their targets. Naruto was easy to spot, his bright orange jumpsuit standing out like a beacon. He was currently engaged in some sort of argument with Kiba, gesticulating wildly.

Sasuke, on the other hand, was in his usual spot, stoically ignoring the group of girls trying to catch his attention. His dark eyes met Sakura's for a moment, and he gave a slight nod. At least he was still on board with the plan.

Sakura took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Okay, Hinata. Let's do this."

They approached Naruto's desk, Hinata trailing slightly behind Sakura like a shy shadow.

"Hey, Naruto," Sakura said, forcing a cheerful tone. "Got a minute?"

Naruto's head whipped around so fast Sakura was surprised he didn't get whiplash. "Sakura-chan!" he exclaimed, his face lighting up. "Of course! What's up?"

Sakura resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Well, Sasuke-kun and I were talking, and we thought it might be good to have some different sparring partners sometimes. We were wondering if you'd like to join us for training after school today."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Really? You want me to train with you guys?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "This isn't some kind of trick, is it?"

"No trick," Sakura assured him. "Hinata's going to join us too. Right, Hinata?"

All eyes turned to Hinata, who looked like she wanted to melt into the floor. "Y-yes," she managed to squeak out. "If... if that's okay with you, N-Naruto-kun."

Naruto blinked, as if just noticing Hinata was there. "Oh, hey Hinata! Sure, that sounds great! The more the merrier, right?"

Hinata's face turned an impressive shade of red, but she managed a small smile and a nod.

"Great!" Sakura clapped her hands together. "We'll meet at the usual training ground after class. Don't be late!"

As they walked away, Sakura could hear Naruto excitedly telling Kiba about his plans to "show that bastard Sasuke what real training looks like." She sighed internally. This was going to be interesting, to say the least.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

----------------------------------------

The afternoon sun beat down on the training field as the four young ninja-in-training gathered. Sakura's heart raced with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. This was her chance to impress Sasuke, help Hinata, and maybe even improve her own skills.

"Alright, let's get started," Sasuke said, his dark eyes scanning the group.

Sakura nodded, biting her lip. "Before we begin, I'd like to introduce someone." She formed the hand signs she'd been practicing and focused her chakra. "Summoning Jutsu!"

A puff of smoke appeared, and when it cleared, a small white rabbit sat on the grass. He looked around with intelligent eyes, his nose twitching.

"Everyone, this is Mochi," Sakura said proudly. "He's my summon, and he'll be observing our training today."

Naruto squinted at the rabbit. "That's your summon? A little bunny?"

Mochi's ears twitched in irritation. "And what's wrong with that, you loud-mouthed brat?"

Naruto's jaw dropped. "It talks!"

"Of course I talk," Mochi sniffed. "I'm a highly intelligent summon, not some common forest animal."

Naruto crossed his arms. "Yeah, well, you don't look so tough to me. I bet I could take you on easy!"

Mochi's eyes narrowed, but then he suddenly relaxed, his expression becoming innocent and cute. "Oh my, you're such a big, strong ninja! I'm just a wittle bunny wabbit. Would you like to pet me?"

Sakura saw the glint in Mochi's eye and opened her mouth to warn Naruto, but it was too late. The blonde boy, grinning widely, reached out to pat Mochi's head.

In a flash, Mochi's demeanor changed. He leaped up, his powerful hind legs connecting solidly with Naruto's chin. The boy went flying backward, landing in an ungraceful heap.

"Who's tough now, carrot-top?" Mochi taunted.

Naruto sprang to his feet, his face red with anger and embarrassment. "Why you little furball! I'll show you!"

What followed was a spectacle that had Sakura torn between amusement and exasperation. Naruto lunged at Mochi, who nimbly dodged every attack. The rabbit led Naruto on a merry chase around the training field, peppering him with insults all the while.

"Is this the best you can do? My great-grandmother moves faster than you!"

"Hey, watch where you're swinging those arms! You might actually hit something by accident!"

Naruto's frustration grew with each failed attempt. "Stand still and fight me like a man!"

Mochi paused, cocking his head to the side. "But I'm not a man. I'm a rabbit. And a much smarter one than you, apparently."

This only incensed Naruto further. He charged at Mochi, who waited until the last second before leaping straight up. Naruto, unable to stop his momentum, crashed face-first into a training post.

Sasuke, who had been watching the entire debacle with a mixture of disdain and amusement, let out a snort. "I have to admit," he said to Sakura, "watching Naruto get his ass handed to him by a small bunny almost makes inviting him worth it."

Hinata, who had been watching with wide eyes, spoke up softly. "A-actually, it looks pretty even to me."

Sakura just sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. This wasn't quite how she'd imagined their training session starting.

The "fight" continued for a few more minutes, with Naruto growing increasingly frustrated and Mochi seeming to enjoy himself immensely. Finally, with a well-timed sweep of his ears, Mochi knocked Naruto's feet out from under him. The boy landed flat on his back with a loud "oof!"

Before Naruto could get up, Mochi hopped onto his chest, standing triumphantly. "And that, my loud friend, is why you don't underestimate a rabbit summon."

Sasuke stepped forward, his arms crossed. "Now that the circus act is over, can we start some real training?"

Naruto immediately sprang up, dislodging a surprised Mochi. "What did you say, you bastard? I'll show you real training!"

Seeing another fight about to break out, Sakura quickly intervened. "How about we pair up for sparring?" she suggested. "Naruto, why don't you spar with me? Hinata can pair with Sasuke."

Naruto's anger instantly evaporated, replaced by eager enthusiasm. "Really, Sakura-chan? You want to spar with me?"

"Sure," Sakura said, forcing a smile. She glanced at Hinata, who looked both disappointed and relieved. "Is that okay with you, Hinata?"

The Hyuga girl nodded, her pale eyes darting nervously to Sasuke. "Y-yes, that's fine."

As they squared off, Sakura couldn't help but feel a twinge of nerves. She'd never actually sparred with Naruto before. Despite his poor academic performance, she knew he had a lot of stamina and determination.

They began, and Sakura quickly realized that her assessment had been correct. Naruto was faster than her, and his strikes carried more raw power. However, his form was sloppy, leaving numerous openings that Sakura was able to exploit.

After a particularly wild swing that Sakura easily dodged, Mochi called out from the sidelines where he was resting. "Hey, loudmouth! Do you ever practice against anything besides training dummies?"

Naruto paused, scratching the back of his head. "Uh, not really. I don't really have anyone to spar with outside of school."

Sakura saw an opportunity and pounced on it. "You know, Naruto, I'm sure Hinata would be happy to spar with you after school sometimes."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Really? You think so?"

Sakura nodded, trying not to look too eager. "Of course! Hinata's really skilled, and I bet you could learn a lot from each other."

She glanced over at Hinata, who was currently engaged in a careful dance with Sasuke, her Gentle Fist style keeping him at bay but not quite able to land a solid hit. The girl's face was flushed, whether from exertion or the knowledge that they were talking about her, Sakura couldn't tell.

Naruto considered this for a moment. "Huh, I never really thought about it. Hinata is pretty quiet, you know? But yeah, maybe that would be cool!"

Sakura allowed herself a small smile of triumph. Step one of her plan was complete. Now, if she could just get Hinata to actually talk to Naruto without fainting, they might make some real progress.

Their sparring continued, with Sakura finding herself actually enjoying the challenge. Naruto's unpredictable style kept her on her toes, forcing her to think quickly and adapt. She could see why the teachers had suggested they mix up their sparring partners.

As they trained, Sakura couldn't help but notice the differences in their fighting styles. Her own movements were precise and calculated, each strike aimed with purpose. Naruto, on the other hand, fought with raw enthusiasm, throwing himself into each attack with reckless abandon.

"You know, Naruto," Sakura said during a brief pause to catch their breath, "you've got a lot of power, but you're leaving yourself wide open. If you tightened up your form a bit, you'd be much harder to hit."

Naruto wiped sweat from his brow, grinning. "You think so, Sakura-chan? I guess I just get excited and forget about that stuff."

Mochi, who had been watching intently, chimed in. "The pink-haired one is right. You've got potential, kid, but you're as uncontrolled as a drunken jackrabbit."

Naruto scowled at the rabbit. "Hey! I don't see you out here fighting!"

Mochi smirked. "I already showed you what I can do, carrot-top. Or did that kick scramble your brains?"

Before Naruto could retort, Sakura stepped in. "Mochi's right, though. You could really improve if you had someone to practice with regularly." She glanced meaningfully at Hinata, who was taking a break from her spar with Sasuke.

Naruto followed her gaze. "Oh yeah, you mentioned that before. Hey, Hinata!" he called out, causing the girl to jump slightly. "Would you really want to train with me sometime?"

Hinata's face turned a deep shade of red. "I... I... y-yes, Naruto-kun. I would l-like that very much."

Naruto beamed. "Awesome! We should totally do that then! Maybe we could meet up after school tomorrow?"

Hinata looked like she might faint, but she managed a small nod. "T-that would be nice."

Sakura felt a surge of satisfaction. Her plan was coming together nicely. Not only was she getting to spend time with Sasuke, but she might actually be able to help Hinata get closer to Naruto. And if that meant Naruto would stop asking her out all the time, well, that was just an added bonus.

As they resumed their sparring, Sakura found herself genuinely enjoying the session. The change in partners was proving beneficial, forcing her to adapt to a different fighting style. She could see Sasuke watching her out of the corner of his eye, and she hoped he was impressed with how she was handling Naruto's unpredictable attacks.

The afternoon wore on, the sun dipping lower in the sky as they trained. By the time they decided to call it quits, all four of them were sweaty and breathing hard, but there was a sense of accomplishment in the air.

"Not bad, dead last," Sasuke said to Naruto, his tone grudgingly respectful. "You're still annoying, but at least you can throw a decent punch."

Naruto puffed up his chest. "Ha! Just you wait, Sasuke. I'll surpass you in no time!"

Sakura rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help smiling. Some things never changed.

As they gathered their things to leave, Sakura approached Hinata. "So, are you excited about training with Naruto tomorrow?" she asked quietly.

Hinata pressed her fingers together, a nervous habit Sakura had noticed. "I... I'm a little nervous," she admitted. "What if I mess up? What if he thinks I'm weird?"

Sakura put a comforting hand on Hinata's shoulder. "You'll be fine," she assured her. "Just be yourself. Naruto may be dense sometimes, but he's got a good heart. He'll appreciate having someone to train with."

Hinata nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Sakura-san. For everything."

As they parted ways, Sakura felt a sense of satisfaction. The day hadn't gone exactly as planned, but it had turned out better than she could have hoped. She'd gotten to train with Sasuke, helped Hinata get closer to Naruto, and even improved her own skills in the process.

Mochi, perched on her shoulder, gave a contented sigh. "Not a bad day's work, if I do say so myself."

Sakura laughed. "You didn't do much besides antagonize Naruto."

The rabbit sniffed haughtily. "I provided valuable entertainment and life lessons. That counts as work."

Shaking her head in amusement, Sakura started for home. As she walked, her mind was already racing with plans for their next training session. This was just the beginning, she was sure of it. With continued effort, she'd prove herself to Sasuke, help her friends, and become a stronger ninja in the process.

The future was looking brighter already.