A while after leading the way, the group came across a fiery-eyes youth in a green bodysuit. The boy wasn't lazing around as per usual but doing push-ups, but what left the entire group speechless was the numbers he counted...
"976... 977... 978..." His body didn't even seem sweaty while pushing the ground with one hand.
"Is Guy-sensei here?" Sakura was the first to call him out, only to see him do a backflip from that position to see who called him. His look at that moment... The sudden infatuated look in eyes suddenly reminded her of an important fact.
'Damn! I forgot Lee had a crush on me as well... Was I always this popular with idiots?" Although the Rock Lee past and future were similar, the latter had more control over himself while the former was struggling to prove himself to the world around him. You could say the Green Beast before her was like a ticking time bomb ready to break himself.
He was like Naruto in a way, except much more fortunate considering he didn't have a Tailed Beast that wanted to control its host sealed into his stomach, had living parents, and a teacher who was willing to guide him. All the ordinary things...
She never really understood why he chose to pursue such a difficult dream regarding Taijutsu despite having other options in life. Sakura had heard of how Naruto and Sasuke were the reincarnations of Ashura and Indra, which is why they were destined to clash, but what reason did Lee have to try to stand up to them using fists?
"My name is Rock Lee! You're Sakura-san, right? Please go out with me! I will protect you with my life!" These familiar words rang in her ears as he pointed to himself with his thumb. It made her want to keep her distance from him... However, she couldn't bring herself to have the same reaction as her immature past self would've in this situation.
She looked at the toothbrush commercial smile on his face and expressive movements. The others could only see him for the dork that he was right now, but what her eyes could see was the future old 'Drunken God' who caused a stir in the Fifth Great Ninja War as a Taijutsu Specialist. A man who had reached a peak beyond even his own son...!
It was the same for Naruto. Whenever she looked at him, she couldn't help but see their future selves in them... which made Sakura bite her tongue whenever she was about to spout some harsh criticisms out of habit. Not only were they friendly people who were popular with the citizens, but she also greatly admired both these two in the future.
"Umm... We've just met so... How about we start off as friends?" The positive response that held no trace of disgust made him feel as if he was in cloud nine. His heart was moved and he immediately grabbed her hands of the girl before him.
"It would be my pleasure to be your friend! You are such a kind angel!" His eyes turned into hearts.
This kind of strange reaction caused Sasuke to feel surprised inwardly... and even a little out off by the intensity. However, his reaction was nothing compared to the shock Ino felt upon seeing how Sakura didn't outright reject his advances.
'Is this the guy you were interested in?' She somehow misunderstood Sakura's blatant excuse to be the truth by connecting this conversation to the one they had before coming here. Her eyes widened as she saw the stiff smile on Sakura's face.
'Damn it, Lee! Let go of my hand before I send you flying!' Inner Sakura deep in her subconscious roared as she wanted to beat the crap out of Lee despite their friendship made in the future.
"We are here to meet Guy-sensei! So get your hands off of her already!" Naruto angrily barged in between the two and split them up. She was thankful but the jealous look on his face that was saying 'She is my girl!' made her take that back.
"Did somebody call my name?!" Out of nowhere, a made in a green bodysuit and vest fell from the sky in such a dynamic entrance that Sakura felt it must have been staged a little. She looked Might Gai with a suspicious but unsurprised look in her eyes.
'His legs are better now...' She kept her thoughts to herself as she watched him do his usual antics.
"We came by Iruka-sensei's recommendation to train Taijutsu under you, Gai-sensei!" As soon as she finished speaking, tears streamed down Might Gai's eyes as he saw the number of his students increase.
'I knew I was popular with the kids!' Gai was inwardly proud of himself. Who cares if Kakashi thought he was cooler because of his mask? The next time they meet, he is definitely going to brag about how popular his training is in the Academy!
"You have came to the right place! Let's dispense the formalities, my dear students! Showing me the burning passion of your springtime of youth and give me a hundred- No, as many push-ups as you can! Don't stop until your arms give out!"
"WHAT?!" The entire group was at a loss when they saw Lee casually nod his head in approval at this overbearing instruction. The only one who went straight for doing push-ups were Naruto and Sakura (one being spurred by his jealous rivalry while the other out of seeing this coming). Both had their reasons for not wanting to lose out.
"Are you two going to stand there?" Was the last thing Sakura spoke before starting her push-ups.
She was well-aware that although Gai-sensei had an eccentric personality- Umm, and was a little extreme sometimes, his training methods when in regards to Taijutsu and the like were spot-on.
Rock Lee was only able to become as strong as he did in the future was because the 'Strongest Taijutsu Specialist' of the current era, as even acknowledged by Madara, rigorously trained him to the bone, and all without a hint of mercy...!
'It seems that these two got what it takes!' Gai was ecstatic as the other two students who had yet to start were moved by their fighting spirit. They were only a few moments late from doing push-ups.
"Gai-sensei! Let me join in as well!" Lee wasn't to be underestimated as he joined in on the fun.
The whole training program Might Gai gave them was one that they should each physically be able to achieve as long as they had willpower. At first, he thought the kids would give up halfway through and ask for a lot of rests (as it was their first time and he himself knew normal ninja wouldn't be able to keep up with his ever increasing individual standards). However, everyday he became more and more surprised at their high results.
Naruto was always the type to work harderbthan others when encouraged to do so. Right next to him was Sakura who seemed to have a rigid will that wouldn't give in to her exhaustion at all. Since it wouldn't be manly to lose to a girl, how could he give up halfway? The knucklehead pushed his body to its limits everyday to surpass himself and go beyond the potential he had in Sakura's timeline.
Sasuke and Ino also didn't give up after seeing their rivals stubborn willpower to train themselves as Shinobi. In fact, though the brooding youth didn't take Naruto seriously due to his results at the Academy, he was still unwilling to be defeated in the contest that tested willpower, as he was a bit of a sore loser himself when it came to contests.
The two of them had the will to go forward, but over time, they found that the gap between them was slowly increasing as a week went by. Naruto, being of the Uzumaki Clan, naturally had higher vitality and chakra reserves than his peers, but could only show his worth when there was someone pushing him forward. Sakura on the other hand may not come from a prestigious clan, but the Medical Ninjutsu she brought to the past allowed her to heal from fatigue at a faster rate.
This was also the Healing Power Alteration Technique, a Ninjutsu of the 'Medical Goddess'.
Both Ino and Sasuke were at a loss as they pushed their bodies to the breaking point, only to be told off by Gai to not overtrain their physiques. In fact, both he and Rock Lee were inspired by the two who seemingly had an endless amount of stamina!
"It really is the burning passion of youth! This is your youthful springtime that must be used to the fullest!" With that said, he decided to focus more on teaching them actual Taijutsu after they had finished his training to obtain the strength of a strong fighter.
"Unfortunately, I won't be able watch over your training after you have all have graduated from the Academy! That's why you must all come together to train even on your own... independently! The body is likes tree that can grow when taken care of but also whither when not pushed to its limits! Do you, my dear students, understand!?"
"We understand, Gai-sensei!" They all replied with great spirits. Sakura was exhausted more mentally than she was physically from how Lee kept on proclaiming his 'love', Naruto getting jealous over her, and Gai casually recommending his green bodysuits to them at any given moment.
"Now onto Taijutsu Training. Let you body burn with fighting spirit, my students! I will pair you up in twos so you can show me what you know. The first pairing is Naruto and Ino while the second pairing is Sasuke and Sakura. You may begin when ready!"
Rock Lee became largely absent after a week in order to focus on his own higher level training after Gai forced him to leave. The four people left to Gai became more aware of Lee's horrifying training regimen and shivered at how inhumane it was.
"Was that guy you were talking about?" Sasuke, for the first time, took initiative to ask after seeing how Lee was able to keep up with Gai-sensei despite the fact that willpower was tested everyday of training. His stamina was the strongest he's seen!
"He is. So... Sasuke, are you first planning to overcome the training he goes through first before asking to battle with him? That sounds like the sort of thing you'd do to prove your own superiority."
"Your tone... Kind of annoys me."
"Your goal is impossible."
"How?" He was angry but still asked this question.
"You'd have to give up everything else if you want to match him in Taijutsu alone." She commented, to which Gai-sensei nodded at the side. He found it very encouraging that someone Lee's own age had the analytical skills able to see through his diligence. Even knowing about Sasuke's background still made him confident in Rock Lee.
Although Sasuke knew she was right, he couldn't accept that by comparison, he seemed to not give all his effort in his training compared to Lee. In fact, he felt deeply ashamed to point of wanting to lash out.
"Less talk, are we going to fight or not?" He spoke while throwing a kick towards her leg with strength.
However, how could a young Sasuke be able to compare with Sakura who had matured her Taijutsu already as a ninja from the future? Her whole body seemed to move fluidly as she threw her own kick him off balance and locked him down relentlessly.
She didn't allow Sasuke to take initiative as she punched his stomach and did an over arm throw. It seemed simplistic on the outside, but the lack of hesitation she displayed showed her expertise.
"The match between you two has ended, Sakura is the winner." These words struck like thunder in Sasuke's mind as he couldn't believe he'd been beaten so easily... by just Sakura! Many traumatic memories of his past arose as his eyes turned red.
"Sasuke, you've lost. Stand down!" Gai tried to stop them after being shocked by his change in eye colour but interrupted by a voice. He was surprised even further by the lack of shock on Sakura's face when faced with his Dōjutsu.
"You've finally decided to fight seriously with your Sharingan? Not that it changes anything." Sakura tilted her head pridefully as she saw the same Bloodline Limit that brought her both happy and unpleasant memories. Images of her daughter overlapped over Sasuke, but what drove her to become angry was the trauma of seeing her death.
He had the Sharingan and Indra Rinnegan in the future, so why couldn't he save her daughter at all?
"You know about the Sharingan?" He was a little put off as she avoided direct eye-contact.
"The Uchiha Clan is considered one the two clans of the Hidden Leaf that is capable of Dōjutsu."
"If you understand my Bloodline Limit, then give up this match. Your movements can't escape my eyes."
"Hehe~" She smiled teasingly at him, then put her hand forward: "You have a 'Sharingan', but so do I!"
"What...?!" He couldn't understand what she meant until she used her index finger to point at her head. For someone born normal 'this' was what was as precious to her as his Bloodline Limit.
Her brain...
"This is my 'Sharingan'." Sasuke was incensed by her arrogant words and once again started to fight her. He felt like the ocular power passed down in the Uchiha Clan was being made a mockery of.
He'd never stand an insult to his Clan!
This time, he was able to keep up with the complex nature of her shifting and unpredictable move-set and was slowly overpowering her with his creative tactics. Although he may be young, that still didn't change the fact that he was a genius who almost seemed to be born for battle. He adapted much more quickly when put under pressure like this.
Sakura also felt the change as well. Although she may have trained hard for a week, that didn't change the fact that her old self had neglected physical training for far too long in order to be diligent in her studies. She was at a disadvantage.
A swift fist born from years of diligent training punched her cheek and knocked her off her feet.
'I should stop this battle already.' Gai was worried after seeing her unable to keep up, but what almost made his jaw drop to the ground was what he was able to perceive as a veteran of many battles.
Right at the last moment before she was 'knocked off her feet', Sakura followed the trajectory of his strike and jumped just before its impact. This movement which Sasuke had yet to see through was followed up by a throw after secretly grabbing his wrist. Her whole body didn't show any strangeness until the final moment of the grapple.
All Sasuke saw after he felt his fist failing to make impact on her cheek was Sakura's hands that seemingly 'by accident' touched his right arm before twisting it. Then the world suddenly turned upside down before a fist was placed before his head. It took him multiple seconds to realise what just happened in that single movement she made.
"You lost." The girl who had one knee on his ribs and her other free hand on his shoulder spoke coldly. She felt no joy from being able to beat him with such tactics, but this loss was more significant than something to make her feel a little 'talented'.
Sasuke needed to humble himself rather than relying solely on his talent like he did with Lee.
He needed to know about 'hard work'...