-3rd Person -

The first light of morning spills over the village of Konoha, casting a golden hue across the rooftops and streets. The village awakens to the gentle hum of activity; children laugh and play in the early light, and vendors set up their stalls, filling the air with the enticing aroma of freshly cooked food. Amid this peaceful scene, a familiar pink-haired figure strides purposefully towards the training grounds.

Sakura Haruno carries a basket filled with food, her face set in a determined expression. The basket is brimming with an assortment of nutritious dishes, crafted with care to aid Naruto and Mizuki in their rigorous training. She had spent the early hours of the morning in the kitchen, preparing meals that would help the siblings build stamina and strength. As she makes her way through the bustling village, Sakura reflects on her own journey of training and discovery.

As she walks, her mind drifts back to her own days of training, remembering the sweat and tears she poured into mastering her chakra control. There were so many moments of frustration, but also triumphs—small victories that built her confidence bit by bit. But this morning, her thoughts keep pulling her back further, back to when Team 7 was still together.

Sakura's steps slow as memories flood her. There were so many good times with Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi—missions where they fought as a unit, moments of camaraderie, and even arguments that brought them closer together. But those days didn't last. Sasuke left. Then Mizuki, Naruto's younger sister, left. Naruto soon followed, leaving Sakura behind, struggling with feelings of inadequacy.

Her heart aches as she remembers that fateful day when Mizuki disappeared. The guilt gnaws at her like a wound that never fully healed. She had failed to protect her, and worse, she had contributed to the events that drove her away. But now, Mizuki is back, training hard alongside Naruto, and Sakura is determined to make things right. She hopes this basket of food is a small step toward rebuilding the trust they once shared.

As she crosses the bridge leading to the training ground, Sakura catches sight of Naruto and Mizuki in the distance. She halts mid-step, her jaw slowly dropping as the scene before her sinks in.

Naruto, in his usual bold orange attire, is clinging—no, practically glued—to a giant wooden log suspended over a waterfall. His arms and legs are wrapped around it as if his life depends on it, which, considering Naruto's propensity for wild training ideas, might not be far from the truth. He's hanging there like some bizarre human sloth, his face scrunched up in sheer determination, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Meanwhile, on the ground, Mizuki is face down in the dirt. Her bright red hair is splayed out like a fan, and she's completely motionless except for the occasional twitch of her fingers. Sakura blinks, and that's when she notices a tiny, glowing word bubble escaping Mizuki's mouth—a comically large "zzz" floating into the air.

Sakura's shoulders shake as she fights to stifle a laugh, her face breaking into a wide grin. 

"What on earth...?" She mutters under her breath. This wasn't exactly what she had in mind when she envisioned a scene of rigorous training. Shaking her head, she makes her way closer to them.

"Naruto!" Sakura calls out, cupping her hands around her mouth. "What are you doing? And why is Mizuki sleeping... in the dirt?"

Naruto's head jerks up at the sound of her voice, his grip on the log faltering slightly. His eyes widen in surprise before his usual goofy grin spreads across his face. 

"Sakura!" he yells, still hanging onto the log for dear life. "We're training! Well, I am. Mizuki... uh... she was training really hard and then just... collapsed?"

Sakura raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Collapsed?" she repeats skeptically, glancing at Mizuki's prone form.

Naruto laughs nervously, his hands slipping a little more on the log. "Yeah, uh, maybe she pushed herself too hard with that fire jutsu she was trying out." He fumbles a bit as the log sways, forcing him to tighten his grip. "But don't worry, I'm still going strong!"

As if on cue, Naruto's foot slips, and he loses his balance completely, tumbling off the log and landing in the river below with an impressive splash. Sakura sighs but can't help the smile tugging at her lips.

"Naruto," she says, her voice filled with mock exasperation, "if you're not careful, you'll drown yourself before the day's over."

Naruto pops up out of the water, shaking his head like a drenched puppy, and flashes a sheepish grin. "I'm fine, Sakura! I've got plenty of stamina left." He swims back to shore and pulls himself out of the water, dripping wet but still full of energy.

Sakura turns her attention to Mizuki, kneeling beside her and gently shaking her shoulder. "Mizuki? Wake up, sleepyhead. You can't train if you're passed out on the ground."

Mizuki stirs slowly, blinking groggily as she lifts her head from the dirt. She yawns, pushing herself up into a sitting position. "S-sakura...?" Her voice is a quiet, confused mumble. "What time is it...?"

"Time for you to eat something," Sakura replies, smiling warmly. 

"I brought food. You've been working hard, and it looks like you need a break."

Mizuki rubs her eyes, still groggy, and glances over at Naruto, who's now squeezing water out of his clothes while muttering something about perfecting his jutsu. She lets out a small chuckle, shaking her head.

As Sakura opens the basket, the aroma of freshly made food fills the air, and Naruto is instantly at her side, peering into the basket with wide, hungry eyes. "Sakura! Is that barbecue? And sushi?" He reaches in, but Sakura swats his hand away playfully.

"Hold on, Naruto. Let Mizuki get the first pick. She's the one who collapsed from exhaustion, remember?"

Mizuki, still sitting on the ground, perks up at the mention of food. Her stomach growls loudly, causing her to blush and glance away in embarrassment. "I-I... I guess I could eat a little."

Sakura passes her a plate, and Mizuki hesitantly takes a piece of sushi, savoring the taste as it melts in her mouth. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until now, and the food seems to revive her almost instantly. Naruto, unable to contain himself any longer, dives into the basket as well, devouring his portion with his usual enthusiasm.

"This is great, Sakura!" Naruto says between bites, his mouth full. "I feel stronger already!"

Sakura chuckles, sitting down beside Mizuki and handing her another plate. "I'm glad. You both need your strength if you're going to keep training like this. Especially you, Mizuki. It looks like you've been pushing yourself pretty hard."

Mizuki glances down at her hands, still sore and a bit singed from yesterday's attempts at mastering her fire chakra. The sight of her burned fingers reminds her of her struggles, and for a moment, her expression darkens with frustration. "I thought I could figure it out by now," she admits quietly. "But it's harder than I expected."

Sakura places a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. Learning to control a new element takes time, especially one as unpredictable as fire. You've made progress, even if it doesn't feel like it yet."

Naruto, despite his usual boisterous nature, picks up on Mizuki's mood and speaks with surprising sincerity. "Yeah, Mizuki. Remember when I first tried to use wind chakra? I thought I was gonna slice my hand off, but I just kept trying until I got it." He grins at her. "You're gonna figure it out, too. You just have to keep going!"

Mizuki looks between Naruto and Sakura, a small smile creeping onto her lips. "T-thanks, Onii-chan. And you too, Sakura. I'll keep trying."

The three of them sit together, enjoying the meal and the peaceful atmosphere. The gentle sound of the waterfall in the background adds to the calmness of the moment. For the first time in a long while, Mizuki feels at ease, surrounded by people who believe in her and support her.

As they finish eating, Sakura leans back, stretching her arms over her head. "Well, I better get back soon. I've got a few things to take care of at the hospital. But I'll check in on you both again tomorrow. Don't overdo it, okay?"

Naruto gives her a thumbs-up. "Don't worry, Sakura! We've got this!"

Mizuki nods in agreement, her determination rekindled. "I-I'll keep practicing, but I'll be careful."

Sakura smiles, gathering her basket and standing up. 

"Good. I'll see you both later."

As she walks away from the training ground, Sakura feels a weight lifting from her shoulders. The guilt that had once consumed her is slowly being replaced by hope.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

And that's a small chapterrr, It's been a while since we started in Sakura's point of view and I'm actually happy on how this turned out. It really showed her growth and maturity :3

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapterrrr, lemme know your thoughts!

Bye potatoes

Stay Fab!