Konoha Village
The Sand Village's negotiation delegation had been in Konoha for three days now. During that time, Naruto had frequently sought Gaara out for sparring matches.
Gaara never refused, and eventually, Sasuke joined their sessions as well. In terms of pure skill, the three were actually quite evenly matched. Of course, that equation went out the window if Naruto decided to summon Gamabunta. Taking advantage of the lull during the Sand talks, the Third Hokage had also begun dedicating some time to personally instructing Sasuke.
The Sandaime had completely entrusted the village's affairs to Tsunade, deliberately staying out of her way and proactively removing any potential obstacles from her path. As a result, Tsunade's grip on both the village administration and the ANBU was remarkably firm. Thanks to the Third's influence and backing, the village's Jonin largely supported her, ensuring Konoha's military strength remained securely under her command. Tsunade's consolidated power was such that even Danzo felt compelled to steer clear of her for the moment, offering gestures of goodwill instead.
None of this, however, concerned Sakura directly. She was currently preoccupied with the inherent flaw in her Storm Release Clone technique. After three days of intensive research, Sakura had finally… reached a dead end.
No matter what she tried, she couldn't circumvent the damage feedback caused by the chakra resonance between her and the clone. It was similar to the Shadow Clone technique, but critically different: Shadow Clones only transferred accumulated damage and experiences after being dispelled. The Storm Release Clone shared any damage instantly, in real-time. This posed a significant problem, as Sakura needed the clone for combat support but couldn't afford for it to dissipate after taking a single hit.
The feedback mechanism in Shadow Clones stemmed from the spiritual energy contained within chakra; when the clone dispersed, that energy returned to the user, carrying the imprint of the clone's experiences, including pain. This feedback seemed unavoidable as long as chakra, with its inherent spiritual component, was the medium. Sakura concluded she could only try to prevent the Storm Release Clone from getting hit in the first place. If she continued relying solely on standard chakra, the feedback issue was likely insurmountable. Did the answer lie, perhaps, in utilizing Nature Energy?
Having made no headway after three days, Sakura decided to set the research aside for now.
Early the next morning, Sakura got up and headed out into the village. She hadn't taken Team 7 out on missions for the past few days; with Gaara present among the Sand delegation, she'd decided to give Naruto some time off.
Today, however, Sakura was preparing to undertake a major personal task: she was going to buy her first bra.
Sakura had never worn one before, but the recent battle had made her acutely aware of a certain… discomfort during strenuous movement.
The previous night, Sakura had stared at her reflection in the mirror for a long time, taking in her bare torso. A sigh escaped her lips. "It's finally starting," she'd thought with a mix of resignation and something else she couldn't quite name.
Now, she discreetly scouted the streets, peering into several shops selling women's items before selecting one that looked relatively upscale and slipping inside. The commission from the recent escort mission, though assigned by the village, provided some welcome funds.
"Welcome!" chimed two bright, cheerful voices in unison. Two cute young shop assistants beamed enthusiastically at Sakura as she pushed the door open.
"Ah—! Shhh!" Startled by their volume, Sakura quickly pressed a finger to her lips, gesturing for them to lower their voices.
"How can we help you today, Miss?" one of the girls asked, her smile undimmed.
"Um… that is," Sakura began, her cheeks warming, "I need… uh… undergarments for… up top?"
"You mean a bra, right?" the assistant replied smoothly, noticing Sakura's slight embarrassment. "Is this your first time buying one?"
"Mhm…" Sakura mumbled, nodding mutely.
"Alright! Do you know your size?"
"Si… Size?"
"Yes."
"I… I don't know."
"No problem at all! Right this way then, Miss," the assistant chirped, gesturing for Sakura to follow as she led the way deeper into the store.
Sakura hurried after her. As they walked past racks laden with a bewildering array of bras in every shape and color imaginable, Sakura felt her heart begin to pound nervously.
The assistant guided her through the aisles, finally stopping before a curtained doorway. "In here, please," she said, pointing towards it.
"Th-Here?" Sakura glanced at the sign above – 'Fitting Room' – and asked hesitantly, "But I haven't picked anything out yet."
"We need to get your measurements first," the assistant explained patiently, already holding a soft measuring tape.
"Uh, okay." Sakura pushed aside the curtain and stepped in, the assistant following close behind.
"Alright, if you could please remove your top," the assistant said with a professional smile.
"Remove… my top?" Sakura echoed, her embarrassment flaring anew.
"Yes, so we can get an accurate measurement," the girl replied, her smile unwavering as she unspooled the tape measure.
Sakura looked at the assistant's bright, perhaps slightly teasing, smile and felt the fine hairs on her arms prickle. Turning her back to the girl, she stiffly unfastened her tunic, slowly shrugging it off her shoulders. She stood there for a moment in just her standard-issue chainmail shirt.
"Um… is this enough?" Sakura asked tentatively.
"Could you take off the chainmail too, please? You're a ninja, aren't you?" the assistant asked, her eyes on the mesh garment.
"Yes. Does… does this have to come off too?"
"Mhm, it can interfere with the measurements."
Left with no alternative, Sakura reluctantly pulled the chainmail over her head. Standing partially undressed before a stranger for the first time, a deep blush crept up Sakura's neck and stained her cheeks fiery red.
She'd lost count of the injuries sustained over years of fighting. If not for her medical ninjutsu, her body would likely be a tapestry of scars. While Sakura wouldn't particularly mind battle scars, she had to admit that unblemished skin was certainly preferable. Thanks to her Creation Rebirth technique, her skin was as smooth and flawless as a newborn's. Under the bright lights of the fitting room, it seemed to glow like polished alabaster.
"Wow, your skin is beautiful! I always imagined kunoichi would have lots of scars," the assistant remarked admiringly.
"Ahaha, just… just measure quickly, please," Sakura stammered, feeling utterly exposed, like a helpless lamb put on display.
"Okay, okay, just a moment," the assistant said soothingly. She wrapped the tape measure around Sakura's bust, taking the first measurement. "Alright, now could you please bend forward about 45 degrees?" she instructed, making a note on a pad.
"Huh? Why?" Sakura asked, perplexed.
"It helps ensure we find the best fit for you, considering different postures," the assistant explained while readying the tape again.
"Is that right?" Sakura wondered silently. (As someone who hadn't been female in her past life, Sakura was clueless about these things.)
The assistant drew the soft tape around her again, starting from the side. As the tape brushed against sensitive curves, Sakura felt a sudden flush of heat spread through her, her knees going a little weak. "Er..."
"Are… are you finished…?" Sakura asked faintly.
"Heehee~ All done with that one," the assistant giggled lightly at Sakura's obvious discomfort. "Now, could I trouble you to bend forward 90 degrees?"
"Ah! There's more?!" Sakura squeaked.
"Yes! For kunoichi especially, with your wide range of movements, getting the perfect fit is important so it doesn't interfere during combat," the assistant continued persuasively, clearly aiming to make a thorough sale.
"Ugh… fine." Resigned, Sakura bent forward at the waist, bracing a hand against the wall to steady herself. The pose itself sent a fresh wave of mortification through her.
The assistant employed the same measuring technique, drawing the tape around her chest. As it made contact again, Sakura couldn't suppress a gasp. Her legs threatened to give out, and she instinctively pressed her thighs together, her face burning.
After what felt like an eternity of such torment, the measuring ordeal finally concluded. Based on the assistant's recommendations, Sakura hastily purchased three bras. Clutching the shopping bag like a lifeline, she practically fled the store, escaping the scene of her profound embarrassment.
She swore silently to herself: I'd die before coming back here again! Hopefully, the size they determined today would last her a lifetime.