Haruno Sakura

Haruno Sakura (春野サクラ) is a Kunoichi of Konohagakure. She is appointed as a member of Team Kakashi, but quickly finds herself ill-prepared for the duties of a ninja. Including the complications of her team-mates' lives. By training under her master, Tsunade, she becomes a strong kunoichi and an excellent medical-nin, capable of facing the challenges of a life as a ninja, as well as help and protect her friends and loved ones when they need her.

Background
During her early years in the Ninja Academy, Sakura was frequently bullied by others due to her large forehead. To try and combat this, Sakura used her bangs to hide her forehead, fuelling the other kids' teasing by indicating she was sensitive about it. Yamanaka Ino, realizing this, helped Sakura by giving her a red ribbon that she used as a way of drawing attention to the cuter features of her forehead, which helped Sakura overcome her insecurity. The two became best friends and Sakura grew more confident, developing her own unique personality under Ino's guidance. Despite this, Sakura felt that she was living in Ino's shadow and decided to prove herself as Ino #1 rival and equal. In the anime, one day about five years ago while searching for Ino to have lunch with her. She spotted Ino, along with Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji stealing bits of food from others. Curious as to what they were doing, she followed them, discovering that they were bringing the food to a mysterious young child named Yota. She then decides to help them keep Yota hidden.

Later she and the others confronted Uzumaki Naruto. They accused him of making someone named Yota, who was a stranger to the village, disappear. Seeing them look at him with such distrust like the rest of the village, Naruto grew furious and ran away, so angry that people would like even an outsider over him. He then heard a young boy crying who strangely appeared to control the weather, making it rain with his tears. Naruto then realized this boy must be Yota. Immediately taking a liking to Naruto, the young boy asked him to teach him how to whistle like he saw Naruto do earlier. As Naruto began teaching him, the two soon became close friends. Later, Naruto and Yota began playing along with other the Konoha children that knew about Yota. One day, while playing a game of hiding, Yota insisted to hide with Naruto. When Naruto told him to hide somewhere else, Yota mistakenly thought Naruto didn't like him anymore and ran away crying. His crying caused another rainshower, which alerted the ANBU. As they took Yota captive, Naruto and the others tried to stop the ANBU, but to no success.

Determined to save Naruto's first ever friend, Sakura and the others staged a plan with Naruto acting as a diversion. Despite finding Yota, the ANBU easily foiled their plan. Naruto quickly joined his friends, refusing to let Yota be kept prisoner. Seeing how much Naruto cared for him and then got struck down by the ANBU, Yota summoned bolts of lightning to knock the ANBU out. Greatly weakened by the act, Naruto carried Yota out of the village with the others, determined to bring him to freedom. Upon reaching a river, unable to walk over it yet, they chose to swim. Their attempts proved futile and nearly drowned, only to be saved by Yota. Having overtaxed himself, Yota felt his life fading. Happy to had great friends that cared about him. Yota didn't want them to suffer with this sad memory, and erased all knowledge of him from their minds. Later, when Sakura found out that Ino also had a crush on Uchiha Sasuke, Sakura ended their friendship so that they could compete for Sasuke's love, thus beginning a bitter rivalry between the two.

Personality
As a child, Sakura was insecure and highly self-conscious about her large forehead; covering it up with her bangs. It was not until she met Yamanaka Ino, who defended her from bullies and became her best friend, did she become more self-confident. However, while Sakura was noted as being an honor student for her scholastic intelligence in the Ninja Academy, she became narcissistic as she was more interested in her appearance and Sasuke as opposed to practicing her ninja skills. Because of this, she found Uzumaki Naruto's advances and attempts to gain her attention irksome, calling him childish and foolish, citing his lack of a family as being a reason he was such an annoyance to everyone in the village. Sasuke pointed out that this is because Sakura has never experienced loss in her life and thus could not understand him or Naruto, prompting Sakura to look at things from Naruto's perspective in an effort to understand her team-mates. Over time, Sakura developed a mutual friendship with her team-mates throughout the series.

By Part II, Sakura had matured and become far less self-centered, though she could be critical, especially of Naruto. After learning the hardships Naruto was putting himself through, with the tailed beast Kurama, Akatsuki, and his promise to her to bring Sasuke back to the village, Sakura became protective of Naruto, hoping to help overcome these obstacles. Due to their time spent together as Team 7, they develop a deep friendship that mirrors their Sannin masters, though Naruto's crush on Sakura was unreciprocated due to her being in love with Sasuke instead. When Sasuke had become too large a threat to bring home, Sakura first tried to save Naruto from the burden of his promise by proclaiming her love for him instead of Sasuke, though Naruto knew this was a lie.

At her core, Sakura is compassionate, determined, and courageous, willing to sacrifice herself and combat those she knows to be superior to her to defend her team. Sakura does not back down from a fight, noting that she inherited her master's contempt for losing. During the Fourth Shinobi War, she helped raised the morale of the army by reminding them that Naruto was fighting for the army he saw as comrades, and when Naruto had Kurama extracted from his body, she went through great lengths to keep him alive, swearing she would not let him die when he was close to seeing his dreams. Sakura has also shown a perverted side, being excited by Konohamaru's Sexy: Boy on Boy Technique, and having a nosebleed from seeing Naruto's Sexy Reverse Harem Technique.

From the start, Sakura had a deep infatuation for Uchiha Sasuke, rooted in his good looks, cunning, cool attitude, and prodigious talents. As noted, at the beginning of her career, she was more focused in a relationship with Sasuke than increasing her skill. When Sasuke defected Sakura did all that she could to stop him from leaving, such as professing her love for him and even offering to join him. Despite thanking her and sounding grateful, Sasuke knocked Sakura unconscious and left the village.

Sakura cursed herself for not being strong enough to stop Sasuke from defecting, deciding to help Naruto to bring Sasuke back to Konoha. Although she still worries about his well-being, Sakura became willing to fight Sasuke, in case he resisted, if it meant subduing him. However, as time went on and Sasuke became an increasingly more dangerous criminal, Sakura recognized that Sasuke could not and would not return to Konoha, was saddened and distraught at the notion that he had to be killed by Konoha ninja to prevent a war between nations, but decided she would do it herself. In the end, she found herself unable to kill Sasuke. Upon seeing Naruto's resolve to bring Sasuke back no matter the cost, Sakura decided she would put her faith in both of them.

During the war, when Sasuke returned to fight alongside the Alliance, Sakura did not believe Sasuke could be trusted, which was confirmed with this intention of starting a revolution. Ultimately, Sakura tried to appeal to Sasuke, proclaiming her deep love for him once more, only to be silenced by genjutsu. When Sasuke dismisses her desire for romance, Kakashi scolds him, stating that Sakura loves him so much that she wants to save Sasuke from his dark path. Ultimately, after Naruto and Sasuke's final clash, the latter having been redeemed apologized to Sakura for all he had put her through. Despite her slight hesitation, she tearfully forgives him.

After becoming a mother, Sakura is shown to be very loving and caring as her daughter, Sarada, had no problem sharing her feelings about Boruto and her father. That doesn't mean she doesn't get angry at her daughter, as when Sarada questioned the validity of her marriage she proceeded to smash the ground. After seeing that her daughter was acting out of sadness rather than anger she apologized and reassured her that her father would be home soon.

Appearance
Sakura has bright pink hair, large green eyes, and fair skin. Sakura was often bullied due to her rather large forehead hence her nickname of "Billboard Brow", due to this she wore her bangs over her forehead in an attempt to cover it, though Ino encouraged her to wear her hair back. In Part I, Sakura wore a red qipao dress with white circular designs, with or without short sleeves, with a zipper, tight dark green shorts, and a forehead protector which she used to accentuate her face.

In Part II, Sakura, now a chūnin, has donned a new attire consisting of a red top with the same design as the upper-half of her Part I outfit, with black gloves, black boots, black shorts, short pink apron skirt, and pink elbow protectors and forehead protector which is now on a red cloth. Her skirt and elbow protectors are also pink in the anime. Sakura is now also armed with a tantō which she wears above her medical pouch. When she's not on a mission, she wears her regular red shirt, with a light yellow shirt under it, and a navy-coloured skirt. In this outfit, she still wears her boots. She later dons the uniform of the Allied Shinobi Forces inclusive of a Konohagakure flak jacket, albeit opting to wear a skirt instead of pants and her regular boots. She later changes her skirt to pants to assist the medic unit.

Another knownable trait of Sakura's appearance is her hair. At the series' beginning, Sakura's hair was very long (when she was young, there was a rumour that Sasuke was attracted to girls with long hair). After Sakura began to protect the unconscious bodies of Sasuke and Naruto after their battle with Orochimaru, Kin Tsuchi grabbed Sakura's hair and taunted her for paying more attention to her appearance than practising her technique. Kin kept Sakura captive, holding her tightly by the hair and forcing her to watch Zaku Abumi attack Lee. This caused Sakura to cut her hair to release Kin's hold on her, and determinedly attacking Team Dosu with a new goal of surpassing her team-mates. Her hair was very short and messy that time. After the battle, Ino cuts Sakura's hair to make it neater. During the time she trained with Tsunade after the Chūnin Exams, she had let her hair grow back but has since then cut it again in favour of her new, shoulder-length hairstyle. Like Shizune, she also has the tendency to pin her hair up in a ponytail when working.

Two years after the Fourth Shinobi War, a now-adult Sakura retained her shoulder-length hairstyle with her bangs now parted to the left, keeping it out of her eyes and a red cloth forehead protector. A sleeveless red qipao dress with white circular design on the back similar to her Part I attire, black shorts underneath, brown leather belt, black gloves, grey elbow & knee protectors and high heeled sandals. While off-duty, she wears an button up sweater and capri pants with high heels, she is also seen wearing a red winter coat.

Several years later, after settling down in her new home. Sakura wears her usual red dress, which interestingly now lacks the bold white circle, in the back, found in her previous outfits. Over it, she wears a long white apron. Her hair has grown longer, falling down on the shoulders, parted to the left-side of her face but this time with two red clips.

Inner Sakura
Within Sakura resides "Inner Sakura" (内なるサクラ), a manifestation of her inner emotions. In addition to comic relief, Inner Sakura represents Sakura's actual opinion on things when she outwardly displays something opposite. For example, when Naruto played a prank on Kakashi, Sakura outwardly deemed it "childish", but in the inside she enjoyed it. Inner Sakura's appearances are typically marked by an exclamation of Shannaro (しゃーんなろー). The phrase has no literal meaning, but is usually translated as "Hell yeah!", "Hell no!", or "Damn it!", depending on the situation. The English version, for censorship reasons, replaced the aforementioned phrases with a forceful "Cha!". Inner Sakura is unique as it is in a way a second will within Sakura's mind. When Ino used the Mind Body Switch Technique on her, Inner Sakura was able to repel the user from her body, suggesting that Sakura has a split personality, consisting of the "Inner Sakura" and her normal personality.

Although she appears quite frequently at the start of the series, Inner Sakura all but disappears midway through Part I, her only other subsequent appearance being at the start of Part II. Sakura, likewise, now performs the emotional, violent outbursts she once relied on Inner Sakura for, much to the dismay of those who are around her at the time (typically Naruto).

Abilities
At the start of the series, Sakura's abilities as a ninja were considerably less than those of her team-mates; Sasuke and Naruto, with her greatest strength being her intelligence. However during her fight with Ino, her sensei Hatake Kakashi commented on how capable Sakura was and how much potential she had. After two-and-a-half years of training with Tsunade, Sakura's abilities greatly increased to the point that she could hold her own against powerful enemies such as Sasori. During the Fourth Shinobi War, her skills had increased to the point where she received praise from Senju Hashirama, Shizune, and Uzumaki Naruto. Two years after the war, her skills increased in all three basic shinobi techniques and she was promoted to the rank of jonin, further showcasing her capabilities.

Chakra
Soon after the start of their first mission, Sakura discovered that she had an excellent control over her chakra, and as such she had an innate ability to use techniques to their maximum efficiency without wasting any chakra. Kakashi pointed out that her ability to gather chakra from every part of the body and then using it with great timing made her superior to her team-mates in that respect. Her control has been noted multiple times as very similar to the prowess of Tsunade. Even Shizune, a fellow student of Tsunade's, admitted to Sakura's control being much greater than hers. While this particular ability was never put to great use in Part I, her chakra control became a focal point of Sakura's fighting style and medical abilities in Part II. In Part II of the anime, with her excellent chakra control, she was chosen in sealing the Three-Tails with the Four-Corner Sealing Barrier along with Shizune, Ino and Hinata.

Due to these same skills, Sakura has been noted to have a natural aptitude for genjutsu, though thus far she has only been seen dispelling genjutsu. In the anime, before the Chunin Exams, a disguised Umino Iruka conducted a test on her, trying to trick her into not participating in the exams, by using genjutsu, which she recognized in an instant, noting Sasuke would never ask her out, playing along to find out who cast the genjutsu. She was amongst the few skilled shinobi who successfully detected, and dispelled Kabuto's sleep-inducing genjutsu and helped Naruto out of it. She was also able to decipher at the start of the Chunin Exams that they were trapped in a surrounding-altering genjutsu.

The pinnacle of her control was seen during the Fourth Shinobi War; for over three years, she has stored up massive amounts of chakra on a point on her forehead and developed the Strength of a Hundred Seal and the ability to release it. She was also able to use the Strength of a Hundred Technique in battle after releasing the seal.

Medical Ninjutsu
Sakura's naturally refined control of her chakra had been taken to new heights over the time skip, an ability utilised to its fullest by the training she had done with Tsunade. With her excellent chakra control, Sakura had turned into an excellent combat medical-nin, and had shown herself to be able to heal fatal injuries with relatively little effort, even when more experienced medics would deem it a lost cause. She also has shown extensive knowledge of poisons having been taught by her senior pupil Shizune — learning how to imbue weapons such as kunai, with poison. She also has an extensive knowledge of herbal medicines, surpassing even the knowledge of Chiyo as well as other chemicals such as powerful sleeping gases taught to her by Tsunade. Her knowledge was great enough to withdraw Sasori's advanced poison directly from Kankuro's body, and use that as a base template to create multiple antidotes swiftly afterwards. During her fight with Sasori, she was able to start healing herself even with a poisoned sword still lodged in her abdomen,which Sasori commended on.

At the end of Part I when Tsunade observed Sakura successfully heal a fish with the Mystical Palm Technique, Tsunade remarked that Sakura had come so far, and she hadn't seen such talent since Shizune. Sakura can also assist with autopsies, as seen when she and Shizune performed an autopsy on a White Zetsu during the Fourth Shinobi War, and she has knowledge of cells and DNA. A few individuals have even commented that Sakura has the potential to one day rival Tsunade in terms of medical skill, and perhaps even surpass her given enough time, though Sakura has stated that Tsunade's skills are far greater than her own. Sakura has also proved capable of using a chakra scalpel in order to make incisions into flesh and perform surgery or very direct heart massage.

By the time of the Fourth Shinobi War, after completing the Strength of a Hundred Seal, Sakura is able to summon Katsuyu and remotely heal others, which Shizune praises her for. Upon the release of the seal, she, along with Tsunade, summoned a large proportion of Katsuyu to heal the alliance and according to Tsunade, they would be able to recover just by standing on her.

Taijutsu
Although not known for her strength in Part I, Sakura was still strong enough to knock Ino several metres backwards with only a single strike during their match in the Chūnin Exams. In the anime, during a mission to the Land of Tea, she was seen breaking off the mast of a ship and using the large log of wood as a weapon.

In Part II, Sakura's taijutsu skills have seen tremendous growth thanks to Tsunade's training. By building up and releasing her chakra with precise timing, Sakura could easily demolish any obstacle and turn it to rubble. An opponent struck by her full strength could suffer blunt force trauma resulting in broken bones, ruptured organs, or even death. Through repeated use, Sakura no longer needs to put any conscious effort into using this strength, and so can use it instantly. Her strength, coupled with her medical expertise and the beauty she gained over the time skip, had caused many to see Sakura as a younger version of Tsunade, or even someone who could even surpass Tsunade.However, while Sakura's strength derives from this technique, Tsunade has been noted to possess incredible raw strength much greater than this ability, which is enhanced even further to monstrous levels when using it. This strength was great enough to completely immobilise a White Zetsu, which are extremely durable, with just one blow.

Another key component of Sakura's taijutsu is her evasive skill. As a field medic, she cannot afford to be gravely injured or killed on the battle field, as drilled into her by Tsunade when she trained her. Sakura would attempt to read an opponent's fighting style in order to find the dominant hand/foot or anything that the enemy was using. With that, she could increase her evasive skill to impressive levels. Sakura was proficient enough in this that she could figure out Sasori's finger movements and predict the movements of his puppets. Her skill in evasion is so great that she can defeat one-hundred puppets without even being scratched. Although Chiyo aided Sakura in this occasion, she notes that Sakura hardly needed any help.

Summoning Technique
During the Fourth Shinobi War, Sakura showed that she is able to summon Katsuyu onto the battlefield. By having the slug divide and attach themselves to the wounded individuals, like Tsunade, Sakura was capable of healing multiple injuries at different locations simultaneously. Shizune noted that this was quite a feat as it was the first time that Sakura had summoned Katsuyu.

Intelligence
Sakura's original defining characteristic was her intelligence, as seen with her consistently high test scores while in the Ninja Academy. Sakura has a keen talent for observation and analyzing, which she uses to overcome most forms of deception. Moreover, in the first phase of the Chunin Exams, Sakura was able to answer all the questions on the test quickly, even though the examiner, Morino Ibiki, later commented that they were designed to be too difficult for a genin to answer, displaying her exceptional scholastic aptitude. Sakura could also cleverly set traps, that could be triggered by herself to attack the opponent, and even use obvious traps as decoys to lead opponent's into other traps. However, Sakura's focus on her studies in the Ninja Academy greatly affected her physical performance. Her poor combat skills and stamina prevented her from being helpful during the earlier battles in the series.

In Part II, along with her other attributes, Sakura's exceptional intelligence and keen observation skills also improved during her training with Tsunade, who taught her to read and decipher the attack patterns of her enemies and act accordingly. As a result, she could now read complex patterns in her opponent's attacks, even opponents as strong as Sasori, a feat which even surprised an experienced war veteran like Chiyo. She got him to believe that the poison she received from him had affected her. She could also determine Kakashi's location during the second bell test, something her team-mate, Naruto, could not do. When Sakura along with her team encountered Obito and his technique, Sakura was able to assume its mechanism and deduce that Obito was only pretending to be affected. Sakura is also shown to be skilled at planning, formulating a plan to kill Sasuke by the use of a poison and prevent Kiba, Sai and Lee from following her by the use of a sleeping gas bomb.

During the first night that the Fourth Shinobi War had ended, when a spy had infiltrated the Logistical Support and Medical Division compound, Sakura worked out that the spy wasn't using the Transformation Technique as the sensors would've detected the spy. When having a talk with Neji, Sakura was able to deceive and attack him while he was unprepared. She could extract information from the assassin and piece together the mechanics behind the enemy's abilities, using information she had come across previously, as well as what the clone told her.

Despite having no apparent special ability to see through genjutsu, Sakura's intellect has made her able to easily see through it with no apparent trouble. Even Sasuke, prior to the first stage of the Chunin Exams, admitted his ability to see through genjutsu without his Sharingan is inferior to Sakura's.

Introduction arc
Upon being assigned as a member of Team Kakashi, Sakura spent much of her time trying to appeal to Uchiha Sasuke, despite the fact that Sasuke had no interest in her and had a habit of belittling her. All the while, Uzumaki Naruto tried to appeal to Sakura, despite the fact that she had no interest in him and degraded him whenever given the opportunity. Later on, Sasuke approached Sakura, who expresses her feelings for him and her distaste for Naruto. But when the real Sasuke approached Sakura, she expressed her jealousy of Naruto for having no parents to tell him what to do, Sasuke stated that those without parents grow up lonely, and that Sakura made him sick. Sasuke left the crushed Sakura by herself, and she began to consider treating Naruto better. Naruto then approaches Sakura and when she tries to be friendly, Naruto thought that it was Sasuke who transformed into her. He yells at Sakura before fleeing once more to the bathroom. As Naruto was leaving, this angered Sakura overall.

Soon afterwards, the members of Team 7, after a long wait, finally met their jonin-sensei, who used the meeting as an opportunity for them to get to know one another. After Kakashi and Naruto introduced themselves, Sakura implied that she loves Sasuke and stated that she hated Naruto.

When Hatake Kakashi administered a bell test on the three of them to see if they would be allowed to become genin. Sakura preoccupied herself with following Sasuke instead of helping Naruto. After Kakashi lectured Sakura for this, as well as Naruto and Sasuke for their respective faults. Sakura realized that if they were to become genin, they would need to work as a team. Even if that meant breaking the rules, this revelation having been the goal of the test. Kakashi passed all three of them, revealing that Naruto, Sakura and Sauke being the first group to have ever passed his test.

Land of Waves arc
Sakura accompanied the rest of her team on their first mission to the Land of Waves, to act as bodyguards for Tazuna. While there, Kakashi administers a Tree Climbing Practice, and Sakura masters the exercise on her first try. This leaves her in charge of escorting Tazuna while Naruto and Sasuke complete the training. When they are later attacked by Zabuza and Haku, Sakura protects Tazuna while Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke battle the enemy. After hearing that Sasuke was apparently killed, Sakura violated Shinobi Rule #25 of not showing any kind of emotions by crying for Sasuke's loss even as she recited it. When Sasuke turned out to have only been in a death-trance, Sakura was relieved that he was alive. Once their mission was completed, Team 7 returned to Konoha.

Chunin Exam arc
When Team Kakashi is entering into the Chunin Exams, Sakura is reluctant to participate because she feels she is too weak. With some reassurance from Sasuke, she agrees to enter. During the first, written portion of the exam, Sakura is one of the few examinees that is able to answer the questions without cheating. She instead spends her time lamenting that Naruto is probably too stupid to answer the questions or know that he is supposed to cheat, and contemplates forfeiting so that he doesn't need to embarrass himself. After seeing Naruto's confidence in himself, she decides against it, and they pass the first phase.

Soon after the start of the second phase of the Chūnin Exams, Team 7 was attacked by Orochimaru. Although Naruto and Sasuke did their best to defeat Orochimaru, both were rendered unconscious, and Sakura was left to take care of them. When they were attacked by a group of Oto genin sent by Orochimaru to kill Sasuke, Sakura tried to defeat them with some traps she had pre-prepared, though the group easily avoided her efforts. Just as the Oto genin were about to turn their attention to Sakura, Rock Lee came to her rescue, determined to protect Sakura at all costs. Despite his efforts, Lee was defeated, and the Oto genin again turned their attention to Sakura. Kin Tsuchi immobilised Sakura by grabbing her hair, scolding her for putting more effort into her looks than her abilities as a ninja.

Distraught that people were always fighting for her because she couldn't fight for herself, Sakura resolved to better herself as a ninja. Cutting off her hair to release herself from Kin's grasp, Sakura did what she could to fend off the Oto genin, even going so far as biting to make sure that she couldn't be easily repelled. This display spurred Ino and her team into coming to Sakura's aid, allowing her some rest. The unconscious Sasuke re-awakened after receiving Orochimaru's cursed seal, and immediately asked Sakura who injured her. Quickly overcome by his new Cursed Seal, he began a violent rampage on the Sound ninja who were present. Frightened by his new behaviour and after having realised that "this is not Sasuke", a tearful Sakura rushed to his side and embraced him, begging him to stop. Her words and embrace got through to him, and his Cursed Seal quickly receded.

In the preliminary matches of the exam, Sakura was pitted against Ino. After Sakura and Ino exchanged insults, Ino followed Sakura's earlier example and cut her hair, leading Sakura to believe that Ino had lost her mind. In actuality, Ino cut her hair to help her in battle; by sending chakra into her cut hair, Ino was able to tie Sakura in place, allowing her slow-moving Mind Body Switch Technique to have no difficulties in finding its target. After taking control of Sakura's body, Ino tried to force Sakura to forfeit, but thanks to Naruto's cheering, Inner Sakura was able to force Ino from her body before she could do so. With both girls exhausted from the amount of effort they'd been putting into their fight, Ino and Sakura charged at each other to deal final blows. Striking each other simultaneously, both were knocked out, leading to a draw. As the two recovered, Ino and Sakura began to rekindle their friendship. Though when Ino declared that she wasn't going to just hand Sasuke over to her, Sakura became angered and declared that the same went for Ino as well.

Invasion of Konoha Arc
A  month later, while watching Naruto and Sasuke's matches during the finals and marvelling at how their abilities had improved, the invasion of Konoha began. Sakura was able to repel the sleep inducing genjutsu that spread throughout the stadium. Because of this, and because Sasuke had pursued Gaara, Kakashi tasked Sakura with waking and assembling a team to go after him. Upon catching up with Sasuke, Sakura protected him from Gaara's attacks, risking her life to put herself between him and danger. Gaara used his sand to immobilise her, and as the sand slowly suffocated Sakura, Naruto fought to defeat Gaara using Sakura as inspiration to not give up, and save her. After Naruto defeated Gaara, Sakura was freed. Later, Sakura thanked Sasuke for saving her, but he explained to her that it was Naruto who had saved her, and she turned to smile at Naruto, not noticing the scowl on Sasuke's face as she did so. She later attended the Third Hokage's funeral.

Search for Tsunade arc
Sakura approached Sasuke thinking that he saved her but Sasuke reveals that it was Naruto much to Sasuke's dismay and Sakura looked surprised. After Sasuke's defeat by his Older brother, Uchiha Itachi. Sakura visited Sasuke in the Konoha Hopstial while he was still under Itachi's genjutsu. When Tsunade return to Konoha with Naruto,and Jiraiya. Sakura asked her to heal Sasuke,Tsunade did. Sasuke woke up,and Sakura tearfully embraced him.

Land of Tea arc
With Konoha having a shortage of jōnin due to Orochimaru’s failed invasion, Tsunade was forced to use genin for more dangerous missions than normally allowed. Team 7 (minus Kakashi who was assigned to another mission) was given the assignment of the escorting a member of Land of Tea's Wasabi family through a dangerous annual race as it was rumoured the rival Wagarashi family had hired ninjas of their own to sabotage the Wasabi family. Along the way, they met an arrogant teenager named Idate who openly showed his hatred towards ninja. He also showed off his impressive speed by running away from Team 7 after conning them into paying his bill at a restaurant. Upon arriving in the Land of Tea and meeting the Wasabi family’s leader, Jirōchō, Team 7 was shocked to see Idate again and learn he was the man they were assigned to escort.

During the race, Naruto and Idate continued to show their dislike of each other. It was also revealed that Idate was actually the younger brother of Ibiki and formerly a Konoha genin. They also encountered the three Ame genin from the Chūnin Exams. After defeating them, they encountered Aoi Rokushō, another former Konoha shinobi, who betrayed Konoha to join Amegakure. He was also originally Idate's teacher and the one responsible for Idate running away from Konoha. After barely surviving Aoi’s attack, Idate explained how after he was failed by Ibiki himself for the Chūnin Exams, Aoi tricked Idate into stealing a special scroll and the Sword of the Thunder God from the village. Being able to relate with Idate in both being taken advantage of and the need to have others recognise them, Naruto helped Idate regain his self-worth and continue the race.

While managing to catch up in the race, Aoi appeared again and used the Thunder Sword to initially overpower the Team 7. But thanks to Sasuke fighting Aoi and weakening the sword with his Chidori, Naruto was able to break it when they clashed and defeat Aoi with his Rasengan. With the danger overcome, Idate was free to continue and win the race for the Wasabi family. While returning to the village, Team 7 was escorted by Ibiki himself. While he did not openly state this fact, Ibiki was glad that Naruto had helped his brother grow as a man.

Sasuke Retrieval arc
As time goes by and Sasuke's lust for power grows stronger, Sakura grows concerned that he may abandon Konoha to seek out Orochimaru. Although she spends as much time with him as she can in an effort to deter him from this path, Sasuke finally defects. Having suspected this would happen, Sakura met him at the village's exit, doing what she could to stop him. When it seemed that he was still going to leave, Sakura declared that she was in love with him. She said she would do anything for him, even offering to help him in his quest for power, so long as she could be with him. Sasuke then turned to her and called her annoying. Sakura then threatened to scream and alert the village of his betrayal. Sasuke gives her a soft "thank you" before knocking her unconscious and leaving the village. When she awakens the following morning she tells Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, who in turn reports to Tsunade about his departure, leading to the formation of the Sasuke Retrieval Team.

When Naruto set out the next day to retrieve Sasuke, Sakura came out to meet him. Sakura begged for Naruto to bring Sasuke back, believing Naruto to be the only person who could get through to Sasuke. Naruto, looking at the crying Sakura, promised her that he would bring Sasuke back, making it his promise to her for a lifetime. This brought more tears as Sakura realised that Naruto knew how she felt and that he had always been there for her.

After Naruto failed to bring Sasuke back and was left hospitalised in the process, he apologised to Sakura for his failure and asserted that he would definitely keep his promise. When she and Naruto on a new mission to bring Sasuke back with the help of Jiriaya, inspired by Naruto's determination, she replied that, next time, they would retrieve Sasuke together, and that she would be there to help him from now on. Determined to never be useless again and to save Sasuke and help Naruto, Sakura then asked to become Tsunade's apprentice, a request which Tsunade happily accepted.

Pre-Shippuuden Filler arc
During this time, she seen little as she was often preoccupied by Tsunade's tutelage. In the anime, at the end of Naruto's mission, she runs to tell him that she succeeded in healing a fish during her training with Tsunade.

She did appear when she, Choji, and Naruto has to help rescue Ayame, the daughter of Teuchi. To save the daughter, Sakura and her team-mates were forced to create the perfect ramen, to which Sakura assisted by pounding it to its shape. While having a snack with Sakura, Naruto learns that Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten were sent on a mission to aid Hoshigakure protect their precious chakra-emitting star (which was actually a meteorite from thieves. In the anime, Sakura and Ino were sent to examine a corpse that was believed to be that of Genno. In the anime, she help Kurenai along with Naruto and team Kurenai to stop a member of the Kurama Clan.

She, Naruto and Lee were ordered to help escort a wanted criminal ninja named Gantetsu, who was a member of a criminal group called Shinobazu, to the Land of Forest's capital to be interrogated and standing trial. Upon arriving to their mission, Naruto and the others met Todoroki, one of the head guards. He quickly made it clear that he didn't want the young ninja's assistance. It was clear that for some reason, he had especially high anger towards Gantetsu. During the transfer through a river, the Shinobazu attacked and caused Naruto, Todoroki, and Gantetsu to be separated from the rest of the group. After a short skirmish with the Shinobazu's leader, Shura, they fell off a waterfall, forcing Shura to retreat. While Naruto managed to survive with Todoroki and Gantetsu, they were now lost in a maze-like forest which was also the Shinobazu's home territory. Surprisingly, Gantetsu offered to lead them through it. He explained to Naruto and Todoroki that the Shinobazu were after him to get the money Gantetsu stole from them back and then kill him. Along the way, one of the Shinobazu members,Toki, found and attacked them. With help from Gantetsu, Naruto was able to defeat him. In doing so, Gantetsu had gained Naruto's trust, but Todoroki's rage towards the man seemed to grow even greater.

It was then revealed that Gantetsu killed Todoroki's family five years ago. After learning what happened to his family, Todoroki joined the Land of Forests's police to find his family's killers and trained extensively so he could get revenge. Finally giving into his anger, Todoroki decided he would kill Gantetsu now. Then, another member of Shinobazu appeared named Monju. He captured Gantetsu in a net of steel string and caught Naruto and Todoroki in a constricting trap of more steel string. Later after Monju left with Gantetsu, Naruto and Todoroki used their sweat to weaken the strings and broke free. Naruto then caught up with Gantetsu and Monju, who was fighting Sakura, Lee, and strangely a group of kids. With some Shadow Clone tactics, Naruto was able to defeat Monju. Unfortunately, Shura then emerged and took one of the kids after Monju told him the boy knew where their treasure was.

The boy turned out to actually be Todotoki's younger brother Akio. Todoroki, who arrived not too long ago, refused to believe it. It was explained that while Gantetsu was once a true member of the Shinobazu, after witnessing the pointless slaughtering his gang was doing, he began secretly saving children from Shinobazu's attacks and sheltering them, starting with Akio. After time, the children began looking to Gantetsu as a father-figure and became a new family. Eventually, he decided that his actions of merely sheltering people wasn't enough and decided to put an end to Shinobazu. He then formulated a plan to steal from them their stolen goods and get caught by the police, knowing that this would drag out Shinobazu and give the opportunity needed to stop them permanently. Despite learning the truth, Todoroki refused to forgive Gantetsu as he still helped in the murder of his parents.

Naruto, Todoroki, and Lee then Gantetsu then joined in saving Akio while Sakura stayed behind to watch the orphans. Upon arriving at the base, Todoroki accidently set of the alarms. They soon found Akio, only to be caught in a trap set by Shura, who set the building on fire. Naruto left Todoroki and Gantetsu to save Akio while he went after Shura. With the assistance of his Shadow Clones, he was able to catch up to Shura and defeat him with a Rasengan. Later with the Shinobazu destroyed, Todoroki grudgingly decided to let Gantetsu go and watch over the orphans, swearing he would tell his superiors Gantetsu was killed in the fire. Todoroki also grudgingly decided to let his brother Akio stay and help Gantetsu.

When she did go out on missions with her fellow genin, Sakura served as the medical specialist, healing the wounds of others and examining bodies. Ino, being jealous of Sakura's new-found healing abilities, asked to train with Sakura to be a medical ninja. To Ino's dismay, Sakura immediately proclaimed that Ino would be her junior during the course of the training. When Choji was release from the Hospital, Ino invited Sakura to celebrate with Team Asuma, but she decline because she had to train more on medical ninjutsu.

Shortly after Naruto and Jiraiya left, Yamanaka Ino appeared with a similar desire to Sakura for learning medical ninjutsu under Tsunade. Intrigued, Tsunade decided to test Ino, giving her three months to master resuscitation of an octopus to officially become Tsunade's student alongside Sakura. At the same time, she tasked Sakura with memorizing a large shelf of medical books. While keeping quiet about it, she noticed that the strong rivalry between Sakura and Ino helped in pushing the duo into improving. Ultimately, Ino passed her challenged and Tsunade began training Ino as well. Sakura was happy for her, but continued her rivalry with Ino. Now officially a student of Tsunade's like Sakura, Ino asked Sakura what made her take this path. Sakura simply said she wanted to be an equal team-mate on missions to her allies.

In the anime, as Sakura's performance grew enough, Tsunade began instructing Sakura in how to master the Strength of a Hundred Seal and be extension the self healing techniques it provided. While Tsunade warned Sakura the danger of developing this technique alongside strenuous performance, Sakura found a way to divert some of the accumulating chakra into her natural reserves. Two years after Naruto left the village with Jiraiya, as Sakura began earning great respect amongst her fellow medical experts in the hospital, she was approached by Ino. With Konohagakure deciding to host an early Chunin Exams alongside Sunagakure, Ino asked Sakura to fill in as the third member for Team Asuma's participation for the exams. Still unsure of her growth, Sakura declined the offer. Later at the hospital, a ninja was brought in with severe injuries. Quickly assessing the damage, Sakura took it upon herself to help the man, determined to stop living in Naruto and Sasuke's shadows. While the procedure made her nearly pass out, she successfully saved the man's life, to which Tsunade applauded Sakura as she caught her student. She later joins Ino and Choji to take the exams.

Once entering the exams, Sakura and her new team-mates were randomly split up and sent to different rooms to take the written test. On a monitor, Shikamaru, as proctor, explained that everyone only needs to answer one question on the test, but their combined score with their team-mates will determine if they pass or fail the exam as they need exactly 100 points to pass. While Sakura tried to calculate what questions her team-mates would probably take, Ino telepathically contacted her and Choji to make sure their score would be even.

After hearing five bangs through the wall, Sakura deduces that someone is trying to send a message for everyone outside of the room it came from: to pick the question worty 50 points. After time is up, Shikamaru reveals a bonus question that asked the teams what member of their team would they sacrifice as a decoy and the answer had to be unanimous. Unfortunately, the person picked will be disqualified. Sakura catches on to the ploy and after Ino telepathically communicates to her, she tells Ino what to do and to send it on to Choji. Ultimately, when the first exam concludes, she and her team are allowed to participate for the second round because they left their answer blank since a full team would be needed for the upcoming round. However, because the numerous amount of participants, a preliminary round had to be placed which involved a race to Sunagakure where the official second round will be, but only the first 30 participants will qualify.

Ultimately, Sakura and her team made it to Sunagakure and qualified for the second round. The following night, as all the participants were ready to eat a largely-prepared dinner, everyone grew nervous about the overly-sweaty Burami ruining the food. To which, the genin all quickly tried to keep him away from spreading his sweat, which resulted in Neji using his Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven an accidently destroying the food. As tension grew between everyone over the recent event, an all-out brawl began. Ultimately, the late arrival of Fū with her out-spoken desire to make friends and play games caused everyone to lose their desire to fight. Later, while everyone returned to their rooms to prepare for the following day, an anxiously hungry Choji decided to go to the next building in hopes that the jonin supervisors would share their food. As Sakura and Ino went after their team-mate, they were attacked by a giant scorpion. They were saved by the joyful Fu who swiftly defeated the massive beast. After Sakura's wound was treated and Choji got some food from Guy, everyone turned in for the night. The following day, the second exam began. Like the last exam in Konogakure, the teams were each given either a heaven or earth scroll and were required to within three days to obtain a matching set. They were then required to bring the set to main building in the center of the Demon Desert.

Once the second round begin, Sakura and her teammates were seen jumping into their location to begin the second round. Team Asuma lost their provisions in a previous fight. Following Sakura's decision, they went for an oasis to replenish themselves. Taking so long to arrive, Ino and Sakura got into another heated argument. Their bickering was quickly ended by the attack of another giant scorpion. While Ino didn't have enough time to use her clan techniques and the scorpion overpowered Choji, Sakura surprised everyone by defeating the creature with a single punch. Afterwards, Ino healed Sakura's hand from the attack. With everyone calming down, they used the scorpion's meat as new provisions and commented on each other's growth, reasserted their desire to pass the exams.

Not feeling the provisions from the scorpion was enough, Ino insisted that the team go to the nearby oasis. Before arriving, they were cut off by a Suna-team. Knowing her sensory skills still are not strong enough to aid in actual combat, Ino takes Shikamaru's earlier advice and feigning recklessness. To which, Ino attacked first, letting the enemies counter and pretend to be knocked out. While the enemies then engage Sakura and Choji, Ino begins sensing the enemies' movement and telepathically informs her allies. Soon seeing through Ino's ploy, they erect a barrier to disrupt her ability to sense. This allows the enemies to continue their assault without resistance. Remembering what her allies and teachers taught her, Ino improves by linking minds with her allies, allowing them to counter-attack and defeat the Suna-nin. Afterwards, everyone calmly heals each other. While the Suna-nin openly admit defeat and offer their scroll, Sakura notes that it is unneeded as they already have two matching scrolls. The two teams then part ways, agreeing to meet again in the third exam.

Later, while Sakura was still struggling with maintain her own reserves of chakra and developing the Strength of a Hundred Seal, she and her team was attacked by another Suna-team the leader of the team, Saya, attacked them with a small doll as her puppet. After snatching some of Ino's hair, she possessed Ino's mind and forced her to attack Sakura. As Saya's team-mates began to be overwhelmed by Choji, Saya canceled her technique on Ino and turned it on Choji. Ino explained that Saya's technique is similar to the Yamanaka Clan's own mind techniques. Ino then used her technique to enter Choji's mind and attempt to free him. Sakura meanwhile was left to face the giant sized Choji alone.

Ultimately, Ino succeeds in expelling Saya from Choji's mind. After which, Choji regained himself and attacked the enemies, forcing them to retreat. Later, with Ino and Choji still exhausted from the last skirmish, Saya's team soon returned, keeping Ino and her team pinned down in a sandstorm while attacking them with sand puppets. While Ino tried to keep up her sensory mode, her team convinced her to conserve chakra and rely on their eyes. The Konoha-nin easily dealt with the sand puppets, until one of them was revealed to be Mamushi in disguise and poisoned Ino and Choji. As Sakura began reflecting on everything to this point, Ino and Choji apologized for pressuring Sakura to join them in the exams, learning of how Sakura felt through Ino's Mind Body Transmission Technique. Sakura however insisted that she wanted to join for her own sake of bettering herself. Afterwards, gaining enough chakra, Sakura was able to propel herself out of the sandstorm and defeat the enemies with a single strike. Afterwards, Sakura healed her team-mates, to which Ino and Choji voiced their pleasure in having Sakura for a team-mate.

Kazekage Rescue arc
After Uzumaki Naruto returned from his two and a half years of training abroad, Sakura was one of the first villagers to greet him, and was happy to see him, even noticing he was now taller than she is. However, this doesn't last long, as Sakura asked him if she had changed, to which he responds she hadn't and that she was the same old Sakura. The results of her training with Tsunade first show themselves when she punches Naruto for attempting to demonstrate a new perverted technique for Sarutobi Konohamaru. Kakashi soon recruited both of them into Team Kakashi and issued another bell test, this time the goal actually being to take the bells. Both are able to show off their new abilities. She shocks Hatake Kakashi and Naruto when she uses her super strength taught to her by Tsunade, but in the end are only able to take the bells by tricking Kakashi.

After returning from the bell test, they learned that the Akatsuki had captured Gaara. Team Kakashi was assigned to go to Sunagakure to help rescue him. Upon arriving in Sunagakure, Sakura used her new medical expertise to save Kankuro from a poison given to him by the Akatsuki member Sasori. Sakura then made a few antidotes to counteract the poison in case anyone on the team should have need of it. The antidote in hand, Team Kakashi followed Akatsuki's trail, accompanied by Chiyo, a Sunagakure adviser. During this period of time, Sakura first learned that the Nine-Tails is sealed into Naruto.

Once they arrived at the Akatsuki lair, the team split up, Chiyo and Sakura fighting Sasori while Kakashi and Naruto went after Deidara and Gaara's body. With both Sasori and Chiyo being master puppeteers, and with all of Sasori's attacks being imbued with his poison, Chiyo controlled Sakura like a puppet to improve her dexterity allowing her to get close enough to Sasori to destroy his puppet armour Hiruko.

As Sasori summons his the Third Kazekage puppet, much to Chiyo's shock, he begins employing the former Kazekage's Iron Sand ability which he had combined with his own poison. As the battle ensues, with Chiyo's help, she eventually deduces the puppets movements, Sasori's attack pattern and is ultimately able to destroy it. Revealing that he had turned himself into a puppet as well, Sasori gained the upper hand in the fight and later summoned one hundred puppets to fight against Chiyo's White Secret Technique: The Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets. After being sealed by Chiyo, Sasori moved to another puppet body and tried to kill her, only for Sakura to step in as a human shield. With him being distracted, Chiyo stabbed Sasori through the heart. As his life waned, he relished the fact that Sakura would die too, only to be proven wrong by the combination of Sakura's antidote and Chiyo's healing abilities. As a reward for defeating him, Sasori spent his last breath to tell Sakura of a spy within Orochimaru's ranks.

When they caught up with Naruto and Kakashi, Sakura tried to revive Gaara, only to discover that he was already dead. As Chiyo surrendered the rest of her energy to resurrect Gaara, she told Sakura not to give her life for an old woman and predicted that someday she would surpass her master as a kunoichi. After attending Chiyo's funeral, the team returned home.

Sai and Sasuke arc
With the information gained from Sasori, Team Kakashi decided to use this as an opportunity to find Sasuke. Because Kakashi was still bedridden after his encounter with Deidara, Yamato led the team instead. Sai (Naruto) was also added to the team as Sasuke's replacement, but neither Naruto nor Sakura were willing to view him as such, and had difficulties getting along with him. In fact Sakura even punched him for insulting Sasuke. Their mission being to meet with and capture the spy, Yamato, disguised as Sasori, went on ahead. When the spy, Kabuto Yakushi, ended up being in league with Orochimaru, Yamato called in the team for back up.

Naruto quickly engaged Orochimaru in combat, and Sakura was surprised by the very danger of his tailed forms. She was then knocked out after Kabuto was thrown away by Naruto and slammed into her. After regaining consciousness, she realised that Naruto had advanced to his four-tailed form. When Sakura approached him to try and bring him to his senses, he attacked and injured her, unaware of what he was doing. Kabuto attempted to heal her wound, saying that they were both enemies of Akatsuki. All he could do was close it, however. Once Yamato forced the Nine-Tails' influence to recede, Sakura tended to his wounds and lamented that all she could do is heal him after a battle. He recuperated, and they continued on to Orochimaru's hideout, where Sai finally proved his worth by helping them find Sasuke. When they were unable to persuade Sasuke to come home with them they attacked him instead. Sakura was able to determine how his Chidori Current worked, and charged him after charging her fist, attacking Sasuke for the first time ever. However, when Sasuke attacked her with a massive amount of killing intent, Yamato intervened and took the attack for Sakura. In the end, Sasuke fled with Orochimaru and Kabuto, and Sakura told Naruto very determinedly that tears weren't going to bring Sasuke back. Then, they returned to Konoha.

Tweleve Guardian arc
Sakura accompanied Yamato, Naruto and Sai on a mission near the Fire Temple. Sakura heads off with Yamato in search of finding the group who were suppose meet them for the mission while Naruto was told by her to stay with Sai just in case the group came. Later, Sakura, Yamato and Sai arrived with the group of monks and saw as Naruto fought with Sora, a monk in training from the Fire Temple. Chiriku ordered Sora to stop his actions. After an explanation, Sora calmed down seeing as he misunderstood Naruto motives for snooping around the hidden tombs.

The monks led Team Kakashi to the Fire Temple. The monks then explained the situation involving the sacred tombs' mysterious disappearance. It wasn't long before Naruto and Sora begin to bicker. The group were then told by a monk about another sacred tomb robbed. Team Yamato, along with Chiriku and Sora, went to find the perpetrators. They witness the coffins moving across the field and end settling on top a cliff where four ninja named Furido, Fudō, Fūka and Fuen are. The group goes after them but they are separated by an earth style technique to create rocky canyon maze. Sakura, trying to find her way, was attacked by a giant spider before she could react, but was saved by Sai who after defeating it broke his arm. Sakura then tended to his wound. She and Sai found Yamato. The three of them found Naruto apparently making out with Fūka, which angered Sakura, but this turned out to be false, as he was being drained of his chakra. She ran to help Naruto, but was knocked away by Fūka. She, Yamato and Sai were trapped by Fudō and Fuen. The rocky area began to collapse and all got away safely.

She and the rest of team went back to Konoha with Sora tagged along. Sora was going to be introduced to Fifth Hokage, but before doing so, was warned by Sakura of his choice of words towards her. This warning didn't account for as he was knocked through a wall almost immediately after entering the office. Later, when the Konoha was being attacked by the four ninja from their earlier confrontation, Sakura went after Fuen. Fuen castes a genjustu on Sakura. When Fuen thought Sakura was down, she went in for the kill, by stabbing her with a kunai turning out to be a fake. The real Sakura knocks comes out a tree and punches Fuen through several trees. Fuen, being immobilised, is then stuck by Sakura's devastating punch in the stomach and the affect of it being killed.

Some time after her fight with Fuen, she and Yamato meet up with Naruto and Asuma and she witnesses Sora in a nine tails cloak. After Chōji's hands are burned from touching Sora, she and Ino heal as much of his injury as they could; Sakura stating that injuries made from the Nine-Tails aren't easy to heal. She is one of the Konoha ninja who comfort Sora after he releases the Nine-Tails' chakra when he feels desolate. When Sora is about head off she, Naruto, Yamato and Sai say goodbye as their friend depart.

Hidan and Kakuzu arc
Team Yamato was sent to provide back up for Team 10 during their battle with Akatsuki. Because Shikamaru was separated from the rest of the group, Sai and Sakura were sent to assist him, though upon arrival they found that Shikamaru had already defeated his opponent. Having not taken part in the battle, Sakura returned to Konoha with the others, and later healed the damage to Naruto's arm from the use of his new technique. Because this made it difficult for him to eat, she offered to feed him. Though he was delighted by the idea, interference from both Sai and Kakashi prevented this from happening. Shortly afterwards they left to find Konohamaru, who had just revealed to have mastered the Shadow Clone Technique. He showed them his variations on the Sexy Technique, one of which excited Sakura.

Three Tails arc
Tsunade sends Yamato, Sai, and Sakura to help them along with Naruto who meets them along the way. Team Kakashi and Kurenai follow Guren and discover that the thing they were after was the Three-Tails. Shizune, Ino, Tenten and Lee are assembled to help with the hunt for the Three-Tails. They all meet up and split into to groups to seal the tailed beast in its own dimension and get Yūkimaru. The Sealing group, Team Three is Shizune, Hinata, Sakura, and Ino. The Guarding group, Team Two is Yamato, Tenten, Kiba, and Lee, while Team One the Fighting group is Naruto, Kakashi, Sai, and Shino.

Team Three tried to use Four-Corner Sealing Barrier to permanently trap the beast in its own dimension. Just as the sealing began to work, the Konoha ninja were interrupted by Guren, which prompted the beast to attack them all. Yūkimaru was able to calm the beast down temporarily, but, after he became tired, the Three-Tails turned its attention to him. Guren and Naruto Uzumaki came to his defence, but were swallowed in the process. With the help of their allies on the outside, they were able to escape, and the Konoha ninja tried once more to seal the beast.

Just when the sealing was almost complete, Yūkimaru, angered by the apparent death of Guren, empowered the beast to break free of its restraints. The Three-Tails went on a rampage, attacking everyone nearby and crushing Nurari, Kigiri, and Kihō. Its attempts to attack Yūkimaru, however, had no effect. It was only through the use of the Wind Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet that the beast was driven away. The sealing attempt was left to ANBU members, and the remaining Konoha ninja returned home.

Itachi Pursuit arc
When news reached Konoha that Sasuke had killed Orochimaru, Sakura and Naruto were the first to join Kakashi's Eight Man Squad, and began the hunt. During her search, she barely missed a member of Sasuke's Hebi, Karin, and later regrouped with the others. When Kiba caught Sasuke's scent, the group followed until they encountered Tobi. Sakura initially suspected that he was using genjutsu or clone techniques, but after Hinata pointed out that his chakra remained in one location and Tobi managed to escape Shino's bugs, she realised that he was removing parts of his body from existence. She attempted to head to Sasuke's location with her team, but Tobi had already taken him away. The mission was a failure,and The eight man squad was force to return back to Konoha.

Tsuchigumo Kinjutsu arc
Team Yamato are assigned by Tsunade to go and protect Hotaru on her way to the Tsuchigumo village. When the team find the fort, they saw Tonbee, who has been viciously attacked by the four-man bandits. Sakura stays and heals Tonbee, while Naruto, Sai, and Yamato follow Utakata and Hotaru. Naruto catches up to Utakata and Hotaru, and Utakata attacks Naruto with some of his Soap Bubble Ninjutsu. After Utakata learned that they are not attackers, he entrusts the protection of Hotaru to them.

All of a sudden, the Kirigakure ANBU found Utakata and wrapped him up with their Water Release: Water Whip technique and began subduing him with their Lightning Release: Electromagnetic Murder. The captain revealed to Hotaru, who he was holding hostage, that Utakata was in their Bingo Book, and was wanted for killing his master. Naruto and his team arrived and managed to loosen one of the water whips holding Utakata. Both parties began to fight, but the leader of the Kirigakure ANBU appeared, and discussed the situation with Yamato. Due to Hotaru's insistence to be with Utakata, it was agreed that Utakata stayed with Team Yamato and they wouldn't hunt him until she was safe, but afterwards, they'd resume tracking Utakata down. Tsurugi, the leader, asked Utakata to return to Kirigakure, saying that the village changed, no longer earning the nickname of Village of the Bloody Mist. Utakata refuses, and says that he'll keep doing as he pleases.

After the groups part ways, Hotaru begins hurting from an injury sustained during the earlier altercation. Utakata has Naruto collect medicinal herbs. When Naruto returns, he witnesses what was done to Hotaru's back, where her clan's kinjutsu was put. Utakata voices his absolute disdain for people who selfishly take advantage of people's loyalty, only to treat them as tools.

Everyone is shocked to learned that Hotaru actually requested for the technique to be sealed in her. After she explained that she wanted her grandfather's dream to restore their clan's glory to come true. When Tonbee voiced his sorrow that by now the clan had probably lost too much strength to ever return to such a status he suggested they end the potential danger of the kinjutsu by destroying it. Utakata was surprised that Hotaru's grandfather had created a way to safely remove it from Hotaru's body. When Tonbee insisted that no true master would do such horrific things without a way to undo them, Utakata wondered if the same was true for his master.

Utakata resolved to find Hotaru initially refused the idea to destroy the kinjutsu, feeling that it would make all her grandfather's efforts for nothing, but Utakata made her see that she couldn't restore their clan with such a destructive technique. While willing to accept this decision as a final act, she offered one other possible solution, to search for a man named Shiranami, who is an immensely gifted ninja who studied En no Gyōja's teachings and could be of great help. It was then decided that Naruto would attempt to find the man in two days while preparations for removing the kinjutsu were madeTsurugi again to learn some answers about his late master.

When Naruto sought out Shiranami, the Magaki leader, who believed the latter was an ally, the Magaki Group ambushed Naruto and used Infinite Embrace to drain his chakra. While Chūshin beat Naruto, Benten almost revealed their plan before Akaboshi silenced him. Angered at being deceived, Naruto unleashed the Nine-Tails' chakra and broke out of the Infinite Embrace. Though shocked at Naruto's strength, the Magaki used their Multiple Infinite Embraces to crush Naruto. Much to their shock, however, Naruto was still able to resist, but not for long.

Later to Hotaru's dismay, Utakata suddenly leaves. Not wanting him to leave her, Hotaru goes off to find him. Along the way, she runs into Shiranami himself. He sympathises with Hotaru's loneliness and desire to restore their clan. After being convinced not to destroy the technique, she decides to write a message to Utakata. However, Shiranami reveals his true colours and knocks out Hotaru, taking her back to the Tsuchigumo village.

When Utakata is unable to find Tsurugi he finds Hotaru's messenger bird with a note for him. While it is from Hotaru saying she found Shiranami, Utakata is still at unease, feeling something is wrong. He goes to the location Hotaru wrote and finds that Shiranami is actually the leader of the bandits who trapped Naruto in a fūinjutsu. Utakata then uses his tailed beast chakra to scare the bandits and make them run.

Afterwards, he and Naruto track Shiranami back to Hotaru's village, where it is discovered that Shiranami took control of the villagers with his technique. The villagers attacked Utakata and Naruto and they were also confronted by the Magaki Group. Just before things got worse, the rest of Team Yamato arrived while hunting for Hotaru. Yamato, Sai and Sakura were fighting the villagers and the Magaki Group, while Naruto and Utakata were trying to save Hotaru from Shiranami. In the end Naruto and Utakata manage to save Hotaru and Team Yamato parts ways with Hotaru and Utakata.

Invasion of Pain arc
Once they returned to Konoha and learned of Jiraiya's death, Sakura tried to comfort both Naruto and Tsunade. When Naruto blamed Tsunade for the death of Jiraiya, Sakura scolded him. She was then shocked to hear Naruto declare that he would get his revenge. She later tried to help decipher Jiraiya's dying message to find out more about the Akatsuki leader, Pain, but was interrupted by Pain's attack on the village. After saving some villagers and killing Pain's Giant Centipede, Sakura went to the Konoha hospital, where she was quickly asked to lead the medical front defending the building and healing what injuries she could, impressing Choji through her leadership and skills.

When Pain destroyed the village, Sakura was saved by Katsuyu. When she sees the village in ruins she cries out for Naruto to return to save everyone. After Naruto's return Sakura could only watch as Naruto tried to defeat the six Pains. She became worried when Naruto entered his six-tailed form, and was amazed to find out that Hinata risked her life to try and save Naruto because she loves him. She heals Hinata afterwards and watches as Pain, defeated and converted by Naruto, revives all those who had died during his attack. When Naruto came back to the village after talking to Nagato, Sakura punches Naruto calling him rash for taking on Pain by himself but then hugs and thanks him for saving them.

Konoha History arc
After Naruto defeated Pain, Iruka, along with Suzume and Daikoku Funeno approach the ruins of the Ninja Academy to salvage things for class. They split up and Iruka sees the destroyed academy, remembering when he began as a teacher and the day Sarutobi Hiruzen assigned Uzumaki Naruto to his class. Though he refused at first, due to Naruto being the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, Iruka accepts.

The next day, Naruto pulls a prank on Iruka but instead of scolding him, Iruka tells Naruto sit in his seat, remembering the advice given to him from Daikoku. Sakura is first seen in class sitting next to Ino when they met Umino Iruka.She is next seen reading her ninja textbook,but stops to see if Iruka will scold Naruto for sleeping in class. Sakura was seen admiring Sasuke doing the clone technique, and yells at Naruto by telling him to stop making Sasuke lose his focus. When seeing Naruto being bullied by the other students because of his failed attempts to be better than Sasuke, Iruka tells them not to bother a kid like him. She is then seen walking back to class with her other classmates. The next day, Naruto learns that Sasuke is the only surviving member of the Uchiha clan.

After class, Naruto wants to join Hibachi and his friends in their "test of courage" though Hibachi tells him to not follow them. Naruto pranks them later in the night by dressing up as a fox demon. Hearing them say they saw a fox demon, Iruka runs to the Konoha grave site and learns it's Naruto. Recognising Iruka's glare as the same one everyone else in the village gives him, Naruto runs off with the intent not to return to the Ninja Academy again.

The next day, with Naruto is absent in class.Iruka asks everyone if they seen Naruto. Iruka asked Sakura, and she told him no. Ino was the second to tell Iruka that, she also have not seen Naruto. She is last seen when Iruka lies to her by saying they will have study hall, which confuse her and the rest of classmates. Iruka lie to his students so he can go find Naruto in the back hills. When Naruto and Sakura go get water for the comatose Tsunade, Kakashi has a flashback of when he was appointed as the leader of Team Kakashi after the team's formation. He watches Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura, seeing Naruto and Sasuke's constant competition and remembers what Minato and Obito said to him about teamwork and those abandoning their comrades are worse than scum. Meanwhile, Koharu and Homura discuss with Hiruzen of his decision of having Naruto outside the village and being put in the same team as Sasuke. Danzō listens in on their discussion and thinks Hiruzen put Naruto and Sasuke in the same team due to the Uchiha being able to control the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox with the Sharingan which he thinks is a good idea. After noticing Sakura depressed, Naruto tries to pick a fight with Sasuke though all his techniques are no use against Sasuke. Sasuke easily beats Naruto and the members of Team 7 decide to go meet their squad leader. Kakashi's flashback ends, knowing as the group's leader, it is up to him to put a stop to Sasuke's road of hatred.

Naruto and Sakura meet up with Tazuna and Inari, who came to help rebuild the village. Naruto has a flashback that takes place after Team 7 finished their mission in the Land of Waves. Naruto remembers he had forgotten an Ramen Ichiraki coupon at Inari's house and runs back to go get it. Tazuna finds the coupon and Inari decides to give it to Naruto. On his way, Inari runs into Akane and his friends who try to pick on him with Team 7 gone. Zōri and Waraji hear of this and kidnap the kids.

Sakura and Sasuke, who was ordered by Kakashi to bring back Naruto, learn from Tazuna that Inari had went to meet up with them. Meanwhile, the remnants of Gatō's thugs decide to take Gatō's place and hold Inari and the others for ransom. Naruto finds his coupon and also traces of a struggle. Sasuke also notice cuts on the trees from a sword which Naruto remembers it was from Gatō's two bodyguards.

At the thugs’ hideout, Inari and the others escape from the thugs. Inari decides to distract them while Akane and his friends escape. Inari is chased into a dead end by the thugs but jumps into the water. While swimming away, Naruto and Sasuke find Inari and pull him out of the river. The thugs find him and fight Naruto and Sasuke, who are no match against them. When the thugs were about to flee, the villagers surround them, forcing them to give up. Akane and his friends apologise to Inari for bullying him and they all become friends. Then Inari tells Naruto he left his coupon at his house so then Naruto checks his pocket and wonders why its missing, Sasuke then tells Naruto that it probably drifted while he was at the river pulling out Inari, much to his dismay. The flashback ends and Inari decides to make it up to Naruto by building a new better Ramen Ichiraku for him to which Naruto thanks him for. In flashback of Naruto and Sakura's, Team 7 are on a mission to take an ostrich called Condor to his home. They arrive at a village where they see a swordsman named Tsukado who has a vendetta to carry on a man named Katazu who killed his distant relative Shikazo. Tsukado fails to defeat him so Naruto decides to teach him unusual revenge lessons. When Mr. Ostrich is running wild and about to run over a little girl, Tsukado shows his hidden skills to stop him shocking Naruto. Tsukado can't seem to use his skills against Katazu as the look he gives him seems to drain him.

The next day, a man named Kanabun and his gang bring Katazu to Tsukado who want to profit off their fight. Tsukado doesn't hold back and manages to get the upper hand though Naruto notices something is wrong. Naruto suddenly stops the fight, saying Katazu couldn't have killed Shikazo as he sword isn't sharpened and the look of his eyes. Katazu reveals that his twin brother Kageki accidentally killed Shikazo. Kageki loaned him some money and after his child's birth, he needed money and asked Shikazo if he can be repaid. Shikazo refused and they begin fighting, resulting in Shikazo falling and hitting his head hard on a stone, killing him. Katazu has then took his brother's identity and attracted Shikazo's pursuers while Kageki and his family went into hiding.

Tsukado decides not to kill him and ends their years of fighting though Kanabun wants them to keep fighting. The swordsmen, Team 7 and Mr. Ostrich chase the Kanabun Gang out of town. While going back home, Naruto wonders if it ended alright and Kakashi says it depends on them, there the flashback ends.

Team 7 are sent on a mission to stop a group of bandits located between Konoha and Suna, resulting in the two villages working together for the first time since Suna's invasion though Naruto is reluctant about it. They meet with a team from Suna who are lead by Gaara, shocking Team 7. Gaara introduces his subordinates, Yaoki and Korobi who are scared of Gaara's sand abilities. Kakashi notices a change in Gaara, noticing he is mellower than he was before and no longer has his bloodthirsty lust.

Both Gaara and Kakashi decide to split up so they can simultaneously attack the bandit base from different sides located on mountain. But before they do, Gaara secretly informs Kakashi that he is being followed by another group from Suna and hopes he won't be a burden though Kakashi is completely fine with it as the more they overcome, the stronger both their village's bond will be. Hiding in the trees are a group of Suna ninja who plan on killing Gaara. When Gaara's team are heading to their direction, Gaara is ambushed by the group of ninja who uses techniques that prevents Gaara from using his sand. Gaara tells Yaoki and Korobi to flee as the ninja are only after him. Team 7 notice another group of Suna ninja who are watching them. When realising they aim to kill Gaara, Naruto runs off to find Gaara while the rest of Team 7 fight the assassination squad.

Team 7 and Gaara's team continue and finish their mission and they bid each other farewell. After Team 7 leaves, Gaara asks Yaoki and Korobi what they said to him and they happily say they're his friends which brings a smile to Gaara. The flashback ends and Gaara thanks Naruto for helping him form his first bond with Konoha.

Choji and Naruto bring lunch to Sakura and Shizune, Then Naruto leaves to assist rebuilding Ichiraku. When Chōji says the saying, "Fools never catch a cold", Sakura has a flashback of catching Naruto's cold. When Sakura sees Tsunade at her office, she collapses which Tsunade claims Sakura has an illness known as a chakra virus. It was an illness long ago in another village that would turn chakra into a terrible flu and Naruto recently went to that village for a mission. Tsunade, not wanting to scare the villagers orders Shizune and a team of medical ninja to capture Naruto.

The medical-nin try to capture Naruto, thinking they are after him for overeating ramen but he escapes them every time. The next morning, Naruto finds the village deserted and gets shot at from a distance from one of the medical ninja. Naruto finds the ninja and questions him. The medical ninja tells him that the villagers have evacuated and that Tsunade ordered Naruto's capture with explaining the reason. Shizune and a team of medical ninja arrive and chase after Naruto who tries to locate Tsunade. Naruto finds Tsunade but tries to corner him with a bunch of tall walls. In each sides are Choji, Kiba and Tenten who are also ordered to capture Naruto though the groups of shadow clones they defeat do not contain the real Naruto.

The real Naruto flees to Konoha Hospital, distracting Shino with one last another shadow clone as he hides in one of the rooms. The room Naruto is in happens to be where Sasuke is still recuperating after their Land of Tea mission. Learning Naruto was the source of ruckus occurring outside, Sasuke kicks Naruto out of his room with medical ninja grabbing him. After getting results from Naruto, Shizune tells Tsunade that he doesn't have the chakra virus but sneezed due to pepper he had in his pocket and Sakura just has an allergic reaction from Naruto's sneeze. After he is released, Naruto demands an apology from Tsunade for her mistake though she covers it up by claiming the entire event as an "emergency drill".

Lee arrives at Tsunade's tent and asks Sakura how she is feeling though Sakura nods her head no. Lee brought a bottle of medicine Guy made for her to get well and has a flashback of when Tsunade told him he could no longer become a ninja. Naruto and Sakura find Ino at the hospital who tells them they have a mission together. They say their hellos to Lee in his room. Lee accidentally drops his youth drink bottle that Guy made for him but catches it and drinks it all, putting Lee is dismay. With the drink, Lee would be able to recover a little faster. Naruto decides to go see Guy and have him make another drink. Guy appoints Naruto to a mission to go to Mount Jofuku to retrieve the Jofuku Flower, a medicinal herb said to cure any illness and the missing ingredient in the medicine he is making. Before setting off, Naruto puts on the green jumpsuit that Guy gave him.

Naruto meets Sakura and Ino at the village gate who were waiting to leave with Naruto to their mission. Naruto tells them of his mission at Mount Jofuku which is also the place of his team's mission. The team takes a break at a small tea soup where the old lady there warns them of Jofuku Forest that has ghosts of dead ninja wandering about. The team head to Jofuku Forest where they find a large sign blocking a path. Naruto decides to go through it with Sakura and Ino following him, having no choice. Naruto finds the Jofuku Flowers but upon pulling them causes some sand appearing that forms into Gaara after the mention of him from Ino. The team are shocked to see "Gaara" and decide to retreat but suddenly the Gaara impostor starts attacking Naruto, having the same abilities as the real Gaara. Ino tries her Mind Body Switch Technique on the impostor but cannot sense a consciousness in it. Naruto destroys the Gaara impostor with the Naruto Uzumaki Combo< and a Rasengan. Suddenly they are approached by an old medical ninja from Konoha named Furofuki who is doing research in the forest.

Sakura asks Furofuki who or what was the Gaara impostor and she tells it was a Jofuku Flower, which assumes the form of the nemesis of whoever pulls it. They give Furofuki the letter that they were assigned to do and are given another mission by her to take loads of Jofuku Flowers back to Konoha. With final ingredient made, Guy is able to finish the medicine and makes a bowl full of medicine balls for Lee. Lee is shocked to hear that Sakura and her team did this and decides to recover as soon as possible. While Lee starts devouring the horribly tasting medicine balls, Guy does 1000 push-ups, not wanting Lee the only one to suffer and the flashback ends.

Team 7 is hired by Nekobaa to get the paw print of the boss of the ninja cat underworld, Nekomata to put in her Paw Encyclopaedia which was a game played by Itachi and Sasuke when they were younger. The mention of Itachi angers Sasuke and leaves to prepare for the mission. Nekobaa explains to Naruto and Sakura of the Uchiha brothers’ game where Itachi would assign Sasuke to collect paw prints from fast cats to large lions. Sometime Sasuke stopped playing the game and two paw prints remained. Nekobaa collected one of the two paw prints from Yugito Nii, the jinchūriki of the Two-Tails and asks Team 7 to collect the last one from Nekomata who has hidden himself in a fortress.

Outside the shop, Sasuke prepares for the mission, hoping to pass the boundary his brother set. Nekobaa gives Team 7 cat ears to infiltrate Nekomata's fortress. After being guided by Hina and Denka, Team 7 head to the fortress. At first they managed to fool the guards but after Naruto blows his cover, the cats alert the other cats of intruders. Sasuke and Sakura sneak in without Naruto and split up to find Nekomata. They both manage to find Nekomata's location from other cats and head to his location but run into cats they are forced to fight though they defeat in the end. Sasuke finds Nekomata who is surprised Sasuke got by all his guards. Nekomata begins the fight by placing Sasuke under a genjutsu but Sasuke breaks it with the Sharingan.For the rest of the fight Nekomata relies on brute force. When Sasuke was about to be killed, Naruto and Sakura arrive to save him. Naruto decides to take on Nekomata though Sasuke decides to beat him himself with a bunch of kunai with exploding tags hanging above Nekomata which Sasuke had thrown during the fight. The ceiling collapses on Nekomata, defeating him and Sasuke collects the last paw print, ending the flashback.

Team 7 sees ANBU members taking a captured spy in for questioning. When she resists Ibiki's interrogation, they decided to have Inoichi Yamanaka to read her mind. He learns that she didn't find anything about Konoha, but finds it curious that she knows nothing about her own village, and is surprised to see a young Kakashi in her memories. Kakashi has no memory of Hanare, and Inoichi suggests he spends time with Hanare, hoping he can use the Sharingan to learn more about Hanare. Kakashi and Hanare walk around the village. Ino lets Sakura know Kakashi is with someone, and rushes to see for herself, meeting Naruto and Sasuke on the way, who already know, and are also interested. Hanare tells Kakashi who she met him years ago when she was lost, and how he helped her find her way back. They try to eavesdrop on the two, but end up falling on top of them, knocking Kakashi directly on top of Hanare, uncovering his Sharingan. The three cover up by saying they approve Kakashi and Hanare's supposed relationship. Konoha learns that Hanare's village has a Konoha jōnin in custody, and agree to a hostage exchange.

Kakashi objects to the trade. During the trade, Kakashi explodes the bridge on which the trade occurred, intending to take Hanare back. The Jōmae Village head tells her to rush back to the village with the information she collected. When Team 7 corners him, the village head commits suicide to prevent information leaking. Hanare reaches a cliff, and Kakashi reaches her. He tells her that he knows about her special information gathering technique, which allows her to look inside her own mind, and read the mind of those probing her mind, because he accidentally copied with the Sharingan when he was knocked on top of her. Hanare tells him that she has erased all the information she had on Konoha, because for the first time, she felt like was home and belonged somewhere when Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura accepted her, having never known her parents and being raised out of her village. By the time the others reach him, Kakashi is alone, claiming Hanare jumped off the cliff when she was cornered. Hanare lived, and is seen walking where she met Kakashi as a kid.

While Kiba and Akamaru were delivering some items Sakura Haruno and Naruto Uzumaki were watching. Sakura commented on how Naruto and Sasuke were inseparable those days and Naruto had a flashback to a mission where Team Kakashi had to retrieve a golden statue, which was stolen by a band of thieves from a Feudal Princess. As Naruto and Sasuke retrieve the statue, Sakura gets taken hostage. At first, Sasuke insists on continuing the mission, but Naruto tells him that those who abandon their friends are worse than scum. When they finally find Sakura and the bandits, it was at first hard for them because their hands got stuck together. However, one by one, through teamwork, the two quickly defeated the bandits and their leader, Jako. Although their mission was a success, the statue itself was very damaged, but Kakashi Hatake said that it could be melted down and re-casted. When Naruto complained about his hand being stuck to Sasuke's, Sakura said that it will naturally fall apart within two or three days, much to the disappointment of Naruto and Sasuke.

After a Village Headman's granddaughter was kidnapped by Baji, he hired Konohagakure's Team 7 and Team 10 for assistance. When the teams accepted the mission to stop Baji and rescue the girl, an ex-bandit named Tōfu acted as their guide. Shikamaru then instructed Asuma and Kakashi to find an alternate route to the Baji's fortress. Tofu later gets captured and is revealed to be a double agent working for the gang leader. When the six genin infiltrated the fortress, Shikamaru agreed to a hostage exchange between him and Tofu in order to find out the location of the Headman's granddaughter. Ino and Choji managed to find the tower where the hostages were held, and later, helped defeat Baji. The mission ended with a success, the bandit group were captured, and the Headman's granddaughter was rescued.

Naruto, and Sakura have been sent to escort Naho, a relative of the Fire Daimyō, to Shizume village. Naho wants Sasuke to escort her, but he was with Kakashi in another mission. Naruto disguises himself as Sasuke so Naho agrees to go with them. After Sasuke and Kakashi noted that the fortress was empty, Naho's group was intercepted by Sadai and his associates. Naruto, Sakura, and Naho come across the criminal and his associates. Naruto defeats the associates, but can't take down their leader. They're all captured. Kakashi uses his ninken to track the criminal. Sasuke appears and the leader mocks him, mentioning he alone in his clan wasn't worth killing, mirroring Itachi's words. Sasuke takes on the leader, who reveals an Earth Release armour, the reason he's able to take on so many attacks. Sasuke defeats him with Chidori, and proceeds to keep punching him. Kakashi stops him and Sasuke goes back to Konoha by himself. Naho while hideing behind Sakura, comments that Sasuke is scary, but Naruto assures her that Sasuke just has a lot going onin his mind at the moment, and promises to take her to see him once he's better.

Five Kage Summitt arc
Sakura is later seen in a tent along with Naruto, Kakashi, and Shizune, telling them about Tsunade going into a coma, and that neither she nor Shizune could do anything for her. She tried to cheer Naruto up, but her effort was interrupted by the arrival of Kiba. Kiba told them that Danzō Shimura has replaced Tsunade as Hokage and that he has ordered Sasuke to be executed as a missing-nin. Naruto and Sakura, hoping they might be able to convince Danzō to change his mind, asked Sai about him. Sai is unable to tell them anything, but their questioning attracted the attention of Omoi and Karui. The Kumogakure ninja informed them of Sasuke's crimes and demanded any information they may have on Sasuke. Seeing how upset this made Sakura, Naruto volunteered to tell them for her the information they wanted to know about Sasuke.

Naruto, along with Kakashi and Yamato, went to the Land of Iron to ask the Fourth Raikage to forgive Sasuke. While they are gone, Sai informed Sakura of the lengths Naruto has gone to make her happy. He also said that although Naruto loved her, the strain of trying to bring Sasuke home and fulfilling the promise he made to her, cause him nothing but constant pain. Shikamaru joined the conversation on behalf of the other members of the Konoha 11, telling Sakura that Sasuke's actions will only lead to war. Believing that the best course of action would be for them to personally stop Sasuke, Shikamaru asked for Team 7's consent. Sakura agreed, but insisted that she be the one to tell Naruto.

Sakura, Sai, Kiba, and Lee went to the Land of Iron to talk to Naruto. After they located him, Sakura made a false confession of love to Naruto and claimed she no longer cares about Sasuke and encouraged him to give up on the promise he made to her. Naruto, knowing very well that she's still in love with Sasuke and that she doesn't love him, does not believe her and says she is lying to herself. Angered by this, she insisted it was true and then pushed for Naruto to forget his promise to her and focus on the fact that Akatsuki is after him. Naruto, in turn, said that he was also pursuing Sasuke for his own reasons, not just because of his promise to her. Again, furious by this, Sakura left with her group. Ignoring Kiba's questions about why she hasn't told Naruto their plans, she asked him to help her find Sasuke. When they start nearing Sasuke, Sakura tried to set off a knockout gas to incapacitate Kiba, Sai, and Lee. Sai stopped her and, having told Naruto and Kakashi about their plans, instructed them to wait for Kakashi to arrive. She convinced Kiba and Lee to fight Sai with her, but used the knockout gas on them as they began to scuiffle.

Sakura found Sasuke about to kill Karin. She stopped him and told him that she wanted to join him, even if that means betraying Konoha. Suspicious, Sasuke told her to show her resolve by killing Karin. Pretending to agree, Sakura approached them, thinking that if she killed him now, it will all be over. Karin interrupted her by warning her that Sasuke was about to kill her, but his attack was blocked by Kakashi. Kakashi instructed Sakura to heal Karin and to leave once she had done so. However she snuck up on Sasuke and tried once again to kill him, but she then started to remember all the times they had together and she was ultimately unable to bring herself to do it.

Sasuke noticed Sakura and seized her by the throat and attempted to kill her, she was then rescued by Naruto. Naruto then prepared himself to attack Sasuke after Kakashi tells him and Sakura that he will personally take care of Sasuke and wishes for them not to witness it. Kakashi states that Sakura's kunai was crafted by Sakura herself, with poison learned from Shizune, and that it would most likely not work as Orochimaru would have made him immune to it. After Naruto voiced his determination that he and Sasuke will die together one day in battle, and that he would shoulder Sasuke's hatred as a friend, Sakura was touched by Naruto's determination, and showed her gladness that he showed her a way for Team 7 to still have a happy ending. However, Naruto suddenly collapsed from the poison kunai that Sasuke used to nick Naruto's face when he saved Sakura from him, and Sakura panicked, and gave him an antidote on Kakashi's request. After Sakura gave Naruto the antidote, Naruto says he still feels sick. When Naruto asks who Karin is, Sakura replies that she's a partner of Sasuke, which Karin denies. When the group are ready to leave the bridge, Kakashi reminds Sakura that she left something behind to which he is refering to Kiba and the others. Team 7 and Karin are later seen with the sleeping Kiba, Akamaru, Lee and Sai and Kakashi expects Sakura to apologise to them after they awake to which she will.

After returning to Konoha, Sakura is seen present with the rest of her friends, wondering as to what Naruto is hiding from them, remembering his statement about his and Sasuke's death in a possible fight. She is then seen out of breath when she meets up with Naruto at the Ramen Ichiraku, and she is happy to inform him that Tsunade is awake. Teuchi then offers her a bowl but, being in a rush to tell people the good news, she turns it down. She then tells Naruto she will see him later.

Chikara arc
The reborn Team Kakashi is sent out on a mission by Tsunade to a location known as "The Hole" to investigate an incident where Tonika Village's people had been killed. Regretting that she could not assign more people to the mission because of recent incidents elsewhere, the team sets out nonetheless. While there, they split up into two man teams, with Sai encountering officers from the neighbouring Hachō Village, consisting of Shiseru and her team. After finding out who the Konoha shinobi were, the officers escort them to their village leader, Disonasu. Elsewhere, Sakura and Naruto, who are at The Hole's water spring, encounter Kabuto Yakushi, who uses tiny, specially-created snakes to create a clone of Hidan using his DNA and the water of The Hole, which possesses special properties. Kabuto then reveals that he had reincarnated several shinobi. A fight ensues between the two sides as Yamato and Sai rejoin with their team-mates.

As Team Kakashi continues to battle Kabuto, Hidan and the reincarnated shinobi, Naruto gets swallowed by a giant snake created by Kabuto, but manages to escape using shadow clones, accidentally ingesting Kabuto's clone snakes in the process. When Naruto resurfaces, Kabuto retreats, using the reincarnated Deidara as a diversion, after revealing a village guard's corpse in the mouth of a snake. Meanwhile, Dokku takes care of the orphans, while Miina, due to trauma, becomes mute. After the attack, Naruto and Sakura join up with Shiseru, Yamato and Sai in going with the rest of the guards. While Yamato and Sai investigate Kabuto's motive for destroying the village, Sakura and Naruto follow Shiseru to Dokku's house. When Dokku and the orphans see them, noticing that Naruto wears the same forehead protector as the reincarnated shinobi, Leo kicks Naruto and they run until they reach a broken bridge. Leo crosses first and when Dokku and Miina run, they fall down the ravine, but are saved by Naruto. Yamato and Sai ask Disonasu for information, prompting him to show them a book revealing the origin of The Hole; a great power resided within many years ago and nearly consumed the world. In his sleep, Naruto sees himself in front of the Nine-Tails' cage within his subconscious as he is surrounded by the snakes he had previously ingested. Naruto and Dokku discuss Dokku's failure to save a girl in his prime and all his failures in life, unlike Naruto, who became famous even in the Hachō Village, a rural area. Kabuto, while testing the effects of his talismans on Hidan and Deidara in a graveyard, converses with an unknown individual that communicates to him through a scroll.

After having what was seemingly a bad dream, Miina runs to Dokku in the night to seek comfort. Elsewhere, in a graveyard, Kabuto Yakushi prepares to reincarnate ] another individual. When day breaks the next morning, Leo, Faz and Lando are eager to start their ninjutsu training with Naruto, who is feeling under the weather. However, after being chided by the boys since he had made a promise to them, Naruto emphatically begins the training, which even Shiseru decides to partake it, having found it interesting. While elsewhere a reincarnated Deidara and Hidan's genetic clone argue over their predicament, having killed several members of the Hachō Village militia, and are later confronted by several more members along with Yamato and Sai. Plagued by vivid images all day, Miina approaches Naruto and begins repeatedly saying "get out". Thinking that Miina was simply being rude, Shiseru punishes her and Miina runs off. Later, Disonasu visits their home and, to everyone's surprise, the Tonika Village Head is with him. Greeting his grandchildren, he notes that he had injured his eyes but presses on past that, asking Dokku for the piece of the treasure he had given to him the night of the invasion of the village. However, Miina alerts everyone to the fact that there was something strange about her grandfather and it is revealed that he had been reincarnated. As a fight subsequently breaks out when Kabuto makes an appearance, Naruto soon begins writhing in pain. Rushing towards him, Miina once again begins shouting "get out", eventually forcing the tiny snakes out of his body. The snakes then form into a clone of Naruto in his four-tailed Version 2 state, which attacks all present individuals, including Kabuto, who is unable to gain control of it through a talisman. As the creature continues attacking indiscriminately, everyone looks on in fear.

The Nine-Tailed Naruto clone tries to attack Dokku and the orphans, when [Gai (Might Guy) and Rock Lee arrive to repel it. While they fight the beast, Kabuto tries to control it, but to no avail. The rest of Konoha 11 arrive,Team Asuma's help. Sakura and Kakashi and Team Kurenai help Naruto. Tenten and Neji arrive, but are cornered by the reincarnated puppets. Kakashi chases Kabuto. The beast grabs Naruto to absorb chakra, which the Nine-Tails gladly shares. Hinata tries to defend Naruto, but is sent flying. After the beast absorbs Naruto's chakra, it grows in size and starts to devastate the Hachō Village, even firing a Tailed Beast Ball in far away, missing Yamato, Sai, Deidara and Hidan who are fighting outside the village. Dokku tries to save Naruto, who is still unconscious. Moments before the beast tramples them, Kabuto summons a snake to swallow both of them alive and retreats. While inside the underground hall in the Tonika Village, Naruto, unconscious and strangled by snakes, meets the Nine-Tails again in his subconscious.

The Konoha-nin investigates Kabuto's intention in the meanwhile. Shiseru remembers an earlier conversation between her and Dokku about the pros and cons of them adopting the kids. While the Nine-Tails tries to control Naruto, Dokku calls him, but gets shouted instead. Dokku asks Naruto what burden a powerful person carries and made Naruto choose the reason why he desires to be powerful, seeing flashbacks of his comrades of Konoha and Sasuke, leading to the seal inside Naruto to gain strength again. Dokku gives Naruto his forehead protector, stating that he believes in him. Meanwhile, Leo decides to save their teacher by giving the mysterious iron bars which were mentioned earlier by the Tonika Village Head. While inside the hall, Kabuto, along with two reincarnated puppets, approaches with Disonasu, revealed to have engineered Tonika's destruction. Disonasu pulls out a scroll from which emerges the item that he desired: the Saezuri.

While the Saezuri is revealed, learning that Disonasu employed Kabuto Yakushi to wipe out the residents of Tonika Village, Dokku tried to attack Disonasu, but stopped by a reincarnated puppet and restrained by a resurrected Takigakure shinobi. Disonasu also praised Naruto about defeating Pain, the one who scarred him and left him powerless, before kicking the boy repeatedly. Miina and the orphans came to The Hole to give the iron bars, but Kabuto's clone intercepted them. Meanwhile, the rest of Konoha 11, along with Kakashi, Shiseru, Yamato and Sai moved out to the area. Disonasu prepares the summoning of the "power" by putting the remaining iron bars while Naruto enters Sage Mode. Miina hums to the sound as the Saezuri is activated, causing the area Naruto is on, the Ama no Hoko, to rise above ground. Kakashi arrived on the scene, revealing Disonasu's past as a bloodthirsty murderer and former Akatsuki subordinate whose specialty is the field of Summoning Technique, having researched Impure World Reincarnatio with Orochimaru. Kabuto summons his puppets, the Nine-Tailed Naruto Clone, Hidan, and Deidara. Naruto faces off with the clone, while Deidara uses Explosive Clay to create a diversion and chase Naruto.

Disonasu escapes and Hidan faces Shikamaru. Deidara activates the Explosive Clay on the bodies of the resurrected individuals, as Hidan uses his ritual against Team Asuma, and Sakura got restrained by Hayate and the others. While Naruto relentlessly attacked the clone, he learned there is more than power. As Yamato restrained Disonasu, he activated the Saezuri, opening the area where Naruto faces the clone, draining the lake as an obelisk rises and creates a storm. After Hidan's clone body breaks down due to the shorten life spans of the snakes composing his body, Deidara is controlled by Kabuto to escape Kakashi. A lightning hit the area where the orphans are running, Miina pointing to the obelisk. When the storm expands towards Konoha, Tsunade goes out as the storm engulfs the Land of Fire. Naruto tried to stop Disonasu from ascending the tower, only to face his clone after he absorbed some of the tower's power and transformed a Hydra-tailed fox monster.

Absorbing the power within the Ama no Hoko, the Nine-Tailed Naruto Clone mutated into a hydra-tailed version of the Nine-Tails while sending Disonasu to his death. Overpowered, Naruto almost gave in to the Nine-Tails' offer for power when Minato's voice urges the boy to control the tailed beast as Naruto is engulfed in a six-tailed chakra cloak in the Nine-Tails' image. Over time, as he starts to lose against the clone, the Nine-Tails starts to take control over Naruto's body and assumes a seven-tailed jinchūriki state with Yamato trying to restrain it. At the same time, though followed by Kakashi Hatake, Kabuto Yakushi manages to take his leave in midst of the ensuing chaos. Dokku and Shiseru decide to deactivate the Ama no Hoko and say good-bye to the children. On their way there, they confess their love for each other and decide to get married if they survive before portions of the ground start to sink, with Dokku keeping Shiseru from falling.

By that time, Miina is able to get through Naruto, regaining control as he assumed a new form to save Shiseru after telling Dokku to go forward and stop the Ama no Hoko. As Dokku recalls the tune Miina hummed to change the sounds in the Saezuri to deactivate the tower, Naruto uses his new power to destroy his clone as the Ama no Hoko recedes into the ground. Everyone, including the Konoha 11 and children celebrate with Naruto.

Adventures at Sea arc
While on the way to the Land of Lightning, Naruto and his bodyguards stop off at a nearby island, due to all his bodyguards becoming seasick, Guy in particular. While there, they see Sakura, Ino and Choji picking up medicinal herbs on the orders of Tsunade and Naruto decides to help them, although he does not fare well, from eating poisonous herbs to being paralysed on a bridge. As Chōji spots one of the medicinal herbs, some ninja from the Benisu Island appear and make the Konoha ninja waste their time, while collecting the exact same herbs. However, they have a change of heart and give Sakura, Ino and Choji all the herbs they picked up, as Naruto saved them from a monster protecting the Elixir Mud. With Guy feeling better, they head off towards the Land of Lightning and Tsunade's team back to Konoha happily, unaware that the Benisu ninja just gave them the herbs, so they could collect the debt owed after the war.

At a meeting held by the Hyūga clan regarding the impending war, Neji is appointed as the commander of the clan on the frontlines by Hiashi which shocked some of the members. Hinata later meets with Kurenai where she is told by Shikamaru that he and quite a few of the other members of the Konoha 11 had seen Naruto since he left the village and that Tsunade was looking for her.

Hopeful that Tsunade had in fact requested her to go on a mission so she could see Naruto she goes in search of her only to be disappointed. She along with the other females of the Konoha 11 and Shiho are later invited by Tenten to a girls night out at Yakiniku Q. Somewhat saddened that he wasn't invited, Choji comes up with the idea of a guys night out at the same place. The two groups talk about Naruto and the past, reminiscing about the first Chūnin Exams. The girls are later joined by Shizune and a moderately intoxicated Tsunade. Tsunade attempts to apologise for how she dismissed Hinata earlier but Hinata tells her it was fine as she knew what she had to do. The next day during her training with Neji she tells him that she bore no ill will towards him for her father's decision and that he was the right person to lead them in the war.

Konohamaru, Udon and Moegi are training to prepare for the upcoming warAfter heading to the hospital, Sakura makes them carry and stock boxes. Konohamaru, wanting something more important to do leaves with his team ranting. Shikamaru asks Konohamaru who the "King" was and writes the kanji for King on a stone shaped like a shōgi piece and gives it to him. Konohamaru then goes to see Tsunade who outright says no. Frustrated after seeing Temari who was there to deliver a message from Suna as well as check on the progress of the village after Pain's invasion. Konohamaru later challenges Temari while she is on her way home. The two have an intense spar with Konohamaru being unable to land an attack on Temari. Eventually after Temari taunts him that the Sarutobi clan was left with no good heir and that Naruto had a poor pupil. The two almost end up severely harming each other but the fight is stopped by Shikamaru who had been informed of Konohamaru's intentions by Udon and Moegi. After hearing Moegi's story, Konohamaru realises that the 'King' he wanted to protect were the civilians of the village who were unable to defend themselves. Shikamaru smiles at him and Temari compliments him for mastering such a high-level technique and then Team Ebisu for being such promising young shinobi, and then leaves.

Given the day off, Sai spends it strolling the village and drawing. He initially encounters three children that he at first finds it difficult to interact with, but later he realises that two of them remind him of the times he had spent with Naruto and Sakura. He has several flashbacks of their time time together and the bonds they share. In the end he uses the doors of a destroyed house and paints a mural of Team 7 along with Sasuke holding hands.

Confining the Jinchuriki arc
Tsunade told Sakura that they will go to war with Sasuke, and the Akatsuki.

Fourth Shinobi War arc
Sakura is placed within the Third Division. She is later seen using her Mystical Palm Technique to heal Maito Gai, and wondering how he got to be in this condition right before the war while a worried Rock Lee looks on. Later on, Sakura is seen with her division as a red flare goes off and Hatake Kakashi orders them to go the Surprise Attack Division. Along with her division, they encountered Momochi Zabuza and Haku who were about to attack the Surprise Attack Division. She was shocked to see Zabuza and Haku again.

After Haku and Zabuza's personalities were wiped out along with those of Pakura and Gari, Kakashi orders his squadrons to group themselves around the sensor ninja in the Manji Formation. Lee then tells Sakura that he'll protect her no matter what, to which Sakura tells him to also be careful as last time Zabuza attacked from the only weak spot of the formation: the centre. When the battle began in earnest, Sakura began healing the wounded.

As the battle came to a halt when night fell, Sakura went to the Logistical Support and Medical Division compound to heal all the wounded that were being moved to a central location. She attends to an unknown ninja's wound before Neji arrives. After she finishes she tells him that he should take the opportunity to get as much rest as possible. She is later seen outside one of the barracks after being alerted that three jonin level medics were killed by an unknown assailant. When they surmise that a spy must've entered their numbers despite their stringent security measures, she dismisses the Transformation Technique as their method as the sensors would've detected them and assumes that one of their own must be under the enemy's control. Later as she prepares to start her rounds again, she is approached by the ninja she had healed earlier who hands her a love letter saying that he didn't know if he'll survive the war or not. She takes the letter and thanks him, but tells him that she loves someone else.

After one last compliment, the Iwa shinobi leaves the tent visibly disappointed that Sakura was in love with someone else, Sakura soon afterwards becomes saddened as she starts thinking about Uchiha Sasuke. Moments later, Neji then enters her tent asking her if she was ok. He then tells her that he doesn't blame her for being upset given the current situation. Sakura says that they need to be vigilant to which Neji agrees. He then asks for Shizune as he had made some headway in uncovering who the culprit was. Sakura tells him that she's attending to Tonton who had sprained her leg. Neji then says it's better than her arm to which Sakura agrees that she would still be able to form seals. He then asks her to take a look at his hand again to which she agrees, telling him to sit down. As he draws for a kunai to kill Sakura, she slams him to the ground. Surprised he inquires how she knew and retorts that piglets don't have hands. After being punched the transformation technique wears off and the White Zetsu clone resumes him original appearance. Sakura then interrogates the Zetsu about how he was able to get onto the compound undetected. Together with this information and a report Yamato had compiled on Zetsu, she pieces together the Zetsu's abilities and then leaves the clone in the hands of two shinobi to inform headquarters of this latest discovery.

After reporting the findings to Shizune, they then perform an autopsy on the body of the clone and realises the similarity in their DNA to that of Yamato and by extension, Hashirama's. They then begin to piece together the truth behind the White Zetsu Army clones.

The next day, in the anime, at the Logistical Support and Medical Division, Gekko Hayate, a Sunagakure shinobi, and a Kumogakure shinobi attacked the Medical camp to retrieve the KIA scroll and left. Sakura, Uzuki Yugao, and a few shinobi has gone after them to retrieve the scroll. As they managed to catch up to them, they fought them off and managed to seal the Kumogakure and Sunagakure shinobi away but couldn't managed to seal Hayate because of the injured and he escaped. Sakura has healed the injured and ran off to have a talk with Yugao and listen to her past life of Hayate. Sakura ran off to pursue Hayate on her own and was told she became a fine shinobi. As she fought off Hayate, Yugao came to her aid and defeated Hayate and he is sealed away.

Later, as more wounded were brought to Sakura, she was surprised to see that one of them was the boy Yota from years ago. Happy to see Sakura, he began making snow appear and dancing around. Soon afterwards the snow's intensity began to increase, overwhelming Sakura. Sakura then had been contacted by Yamanaka Ino and confused on how there is more than one Yota. She contacted Uzumaki Naruto and found out that he was fighting Yota. She was then told that they aren't the real ones just a White Zetsu clone so she defeated him, and let out a tear.

The next day, they are approached by a pair of ninja, one of whom appears to be gravely injured and the other desperately requesting her assistance. The Akimichi guarding the medics is adamant that they stay back, uncertain of who's who. Sakura, unable to turn them away after hearing the kunoichi beg them not to let her husband die in her arms, agrees to help. The pair then reveal themselves as imposters and attack. Before she can be attacked however, Naruto's shadow clone promptly takes them down, much to the surprise of Sakura and Shizune.

After being informed by Inoichi from HQ that Naruto and B were fighting the "masked Madara", Sakura and the rest of the Konoha 11 rush to his aid. As she runs, she thinks to herself that Naruto always got left with insurmountable tasks but this time would be different as not only her, but everyone would be there fighting alongside each other this time. Upon arriving at the battlefield, she immediately began to tend to the wounded Kakashi and Guy. She later stood with the remaining members of the Allied Shinobi Forces as they prepared to face their opposition. Positioning herself behind Darui to lend support when necessary, Sakura was buffeted by the Ten-Tails as it emerged from the hole in had been trapped in. Narrowly dodging the wooden stakes being fired by the Ten-Tails, Sakura later watched on in horror as Hyuga Neji sacrificed his life to protect Hyuga Hinata and Naruto. Sakura was later seen on the battlefield with Naruto and the others and has received chakra from Naruto, Sakura was then attacked by Uchiha Obito ejecting multiple weapons at her and two others they where protected by Kurama's chakra tail.

After having survived the Tenpenchii attack, Sakura and the others rallied around a wounded and exhausted Naruto where behind a defensive line, Sakura healed his injuries. As the Ten-Tails grew impatient with the situation, it proceeded to open its maw and prepared to fire an even larger Tailed Beast Ball. With the shinobi losing hope, Sakura rallied the troops with a rousing speech in which she declared that she would do her all to heal Naruto completely, and that no matter what they should not give up fighting, because if they were to die any way, it would be better not to simply give up. When the Ten-Tails created an enormous Tailed Beast Ball which it fired at the Alliance, she watched on as Shikamaru initiated his strategy, having the Alliance create multiple defences and a transformed Killer B tried to deflect the attack to no avail. When the Tailed Beast Ball disappeared, Sakura looked on in shock as Namikaze Minato appeared before them, asking his son, if he were late.

Questioning who the person before them was, Sakura is later shocked as the ocean behind them rose up, and the stranger before her simply noting that he had sent the Tailed Beast Ball out to sea. Akamaru's behaviour soon alerted Sakura and the others to the fact that Minato had been reincarnated, but the Fourth waves down their suspicions noting that he was on their side. When he questions his son about Sakura being his girlfriend, Naruto's response prompted Sakura to headbutt him for not focusing on the matter at hand, the action reminding Minato of Uzumaki Kushina. Sakura, though puzzled by Minato's words that Naruto's friend was also on his way, looked on as the other previous Hokage arrived on the battlefield, and Minato donned a chakra mantle similar to that of Naruto's.

After the Ten-Tails was immobilised, Sakura stared in disbelief as Sasuke appeared before them. Questioning his reasons for coming to the battlefield, Sakura and the other members of the Konoha 11 were shocked to hear Sasuke announce that he would become Hokage. As Sasuke and Naruto left to enter the battle, Sakura refused to rest while they took care of the Ten-Tails per Naruto's request. Stating that she was not a weak woman and had also been trained by a Sannin, Sakura noted that she had almost stored up enough chakra to unleash her true power and she would not stand by and watch them, which Naruto smiled at.

With this, the trio looked on as Naruto merrily noted that the original Team 7 had been reborn. As the rest of the Rookie Nine prepared themselves, Senju Hashirama opened small holes in the barrier to allow the Allied Forces to strike at the Ten-Tails. As Team Kakashi charged the tailed beast, Sakura reminisced her place on the team, how she had sworn she would one day match Naruto and Sasuke, and Tsunade reminding her that she was a disciple of the Fifth Hokage and would inherit her power of the Sannin. Sakura formed the White Strength Seal and charged towards one of the Ten-Tails' clones, impressing her team, Shizune and the First with her abilities. She turned around to face two clones that approached her from behind, but they were stopped by her team-mates. She noted that if they kept arguing, she would end up snatching the Hokage title from under their noses. Not too long after Naruto had saved Sai from a barrage of attacks from a clone, Sai explained that they would need to defeat the larger of the clones and slip close enough to defeat the Ten-Tails, although it wasn't close enough to jump in one go, and that even if they repelled attacks, the medical team would not be able to arrive.

Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke each used the Summoning Technique, through which she summoned Katsuyu and exclaimed that she was all ready to heal anyone who got injured. She then asked the slug to split and attach herself to the members of the Allied Shinobi Forces, so that they could be healed. She later silently spurred on her team-mates as they attacked the Ten-Tails. Her happiness later turned solemn, however, as she overheard Sai question Jūgo about Sasuke's true motives. When Sai later asked Sakura her sincere views on Sasuke's actions, Sakura noted that she was glad that Sasuke was back and that she trusted him. While her words were sincere, Sai noted, however, that her smile was a fake. Later on, she watched on in shock as the Ten-Tails' body disappeared from the battlefield. Wanting to find out what had really transpired, she asked Hinata if she had been watching the scene with her Byakugan activated, and was told that Uchiha Obito had become the beast's jinchūriki.

Upon spotting Amaterasu flames burst to life further ahead, Sakura was quick to ask Hinata what the current condition of her team-mates were.

With the situation looking grim as the Alliance was trapped in a barrier with a Tailed Beast Ball-firing trees, Sakura and the other shinobi soon found themselves shrouded in the previous Version 1 mantles again. Shocked that it had reappeared because she thought it had dissipated entirely, Katsuyu informed her that this was not the case and that it had noticed when healing the shinobi, that it had only diminished in size but not disappeared entirely. She and the other subsequently found themselves on the outside of the barrier, escaping the near-fatal attack thanks to Naruto and Minato's action. However, when the Ten-Tails began transforming into its final form, the Shinju, many shinobi were attacked and had their chakra assimilated or became injured while escaping, Sakura being one of them.

As the Shinju begins devastating the battlefield, killing countless people, Shikamaru becomes one of its victims. Seeing her friend's gravely injured state, Sakura asks Katsuyu to begin healing the field, who regretfully tells Sakura it was unable to as its clones had suffered the same fate as the shinobi. Instead, Sakura rushes over to see how she could aid her comrade, hoping that she was not too late. As she tends to Shikamaru, Hashirama contacts everyone in the Alliance telepathically via Ino's Mind Body Transmission Technique to inform them of what his original had heard from Madara during their fight and rally the troops to continue fighting. While Hashirama's words fail to inspire anyone, Naruto's senjutsu-enhanced Tailed Beast Mode causes his feelings and personal memories to be transferred to everyone, leaving Sakura astounded as these feelings were conveyed to her.

She is later astounded when the Version 1 mantle begins to surround Shikamaru once more, thinking that Naruto was overextending himself, though Ino tells her that this was being done involuntarily. Relieved when Shikamaru recovers enough to sit up, she was surprised when Tsunade arrived at their location and expedited Shikamaru's recovery. Happy when Tsunade praised her for her hard work, she and her master later stood side by her side and released their Strength of a Hundred Seals in order to summon a larger portion of Katsuyu from the Shikkotsu Forest. As the slug begins to deconstruct to form a recovery area of sorts, they remotely heal the shinobi using Katsuyu as a medium.

While still helping Tsunade healing the Alliance, Sakura watched on as her comrades from the Konoha 11 and Sai dealt a devastating blow on Obito's defences and his weapon and silently spurred them on.

Though the Alliance was successful in defeating Obito, they are soon face with the threat of a revived Madara and Spiral Zetsu who appeared as well and began assaulting the entire Alliance with its massive wooden statue. As the Alliance retaliated, Gaara appeared with a critically weakened Naruto, having just lost the Nine-Tails to Madara. Though neither of the three medical experts had enough chakra to help, Sakura began using what little she did have left to heal him while Gaara continued to carry Naruto to their next location.

As Naruto's heartbeat became weaker, Sakura struggled to heal Naruto to no effect. Gaara informed her that Yang Kurama has been extracted from him but before it was sealed away, the beast had told Gaara to carry Naruto to Minato who had had Yin half sealed inside him. Switching her tactics, as Naruto's pulse and heartbeat all but stopped, Sakura made an incision in Naruto's chest using what little chakra she had left to assist her, as she manually pumped his heart and performed CPR on him. Remembering all the times Naruto proclaimed his dream, a determined Sakura noted that she would not allow him to die so easily.

Finally, they found Minato and relayed the message to the Fourth Hokage from Yang-Kurama. Minato quickly began to transfer Yin Kurama into Naruto, only for Black Zetsu to intercept his action and absorb Yin Kurama into himself instead before retreating. Suddenly, Madara arrived, now the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, to reclaim his left eye from Obito.

As Black Zetsu attempted to return to Madara with the left Rinnegan and Yin-Kurama, Obito managed to overpower him, stopping him from leaving his body. Having decided to follow his former path from childhood, Obito chose to fight alongside the Allied Forces. After Kakashi teleports Sakura and Naruto to Kamui's dimension, Obito soon afterwards is teleported there. While saying he wishes to save Naruto, Sakura is sceptical to believe him. Obito admitted that he has walked a wrong path for a long time, but wished to correct that mistake. Choosing to trust him, Sakura let Obito transfer Yin-Kurama into Naruto. Soon afterwards, Naruto regained consciousness.

Left alone with Obito in the other dimension, Sakura addressed the Uchiha, telling him that while he had killed many of her comrades and was her enemy, she would consider him an ally for the time being, and then thanked him for saving Naruto's life. Obito, however, told her that he has a request to make of her, one which she would not need to consider him an ally for. As Obito struggled to keep Black Zetsu under his control, he begged Sakura to destroy his Rinnegan. Sakura agreed and prepared to do son, only to be stopped by Madara, who stole Kakashi's Sharingan and used it to teleport himself to Kamui's Dimension to regain his true left eye.

Narrowly escaping the attack thanks to Obito teleporting her out of the dimension. Sakura reported on the situation inside Kamui's dimension while giving Kakashi medical aid for his now empty left eye socket. She was then shocked when Naruto restored Kakashi's original eye and though intrigued by how Naruto had pulled off such a feat, she sidelined her interest in favour of hearing an answer behind Sasuke's motives. Their discussion is cut short, however, when Kakashi alerted them to Madara's return. Heeding their sensei's words to use the first principle he taught them: team-work, the trio prepared to face Madara head on.

When Madara emerged from the other dimension with both Rinnegan, and Obito now completely under Black Zetsu's control, Sakura, though apprehensive at first, decided to take the lead on their preemptive strike. She released the Strength of a Hundred Technique and is impaled by Madara's Truth-Seeking Ball, but disregards the attack in an attempt to land a blow only to be stopped by an invisible force. Both Sasuke and Naruto then quickly followed up to strike at Madara and rescue Sakura. As Sakura sulked to herself that Sasuke showed no concern for her safety, she became even more shocked to see that he had a Rinnegan of his own in his left eye. Sasuke then explained that Madara had in fact created four corporeal shadows to guard him. Madara then took to the air and performed the Chibaku Tensei, which Naruto and Sasuke managed to fend off. Madara then revealed his newly-formed third eye and prepared to perform the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Finally ready to complete his plan, Madara casts his Infinite Tsukuyomi and begins assimilating everyone in its spell. Naruto then told Sakura and Kakashi to stay behind him, and Sasuke's Susanoo to protect all of them from the genjutsu. As everyone asks Sasuke the nature of this technique, Sasuke stubbornly tells them to be quite, insisting that he is in command. While Naruto is furious at Sasuke's still independent attitude, Kakashi solemnly admits that with Sasuke's Rinnegan, he may be the only one able to save the world. As the light of Madara's technique finally ends, Sasuke lets down his Susanoo, noting that only a Rinnegan has a chance of canceling the Infinite Tsyuyumi. Madara then confronts the remaining free individuals, only for Black Zetsu to suddenly betray Madara and impale his hand through Madara's chest, shocking its audience. As Madara asks his own manifestation why he would do this, Black Zetsu boldly states that it is actually a manifestation of Otsutsuki Kaguya. Black Zetsu then proceeds to expand its being into Madara. Zetsu decried Madara and declared that his will was that of Otsutsuki Kaguya, Sakura and Kakashi are originally at a loss as to who Kaguya was. Sakura was also seen in Rock Lee's genjutsu dream, in this case confessing her love to him after he defeats Naruto and a still alive Neji.

As Kakashi tells her not to interfere with Naruto and Sasuke's battle with Black Zetsu. He tells her that she will get herself kill without thinking of a plan first. Sakura then thinks to herself that Naruto, and Sasuke will handle the battle themselves without her help.Sakura and the others then found out that the victims that were affected by the Infinite Tsukuyomi will be turned into White Zetsu's. Sakura and Kakshi are then shock to found Black Zetsu leaving Obito's body, and turns himself into Otsutsuki Kaguya, the woman that Naruto and Sasuke informs to their teammates that she is standing right in front of them. Sakura and Kakashi then find out from Kaguya that she intends to keep people alive in her genjutsu, without killing them. Sakura and Kakashi then prepared for Kaguya's next attack on the battlefield arfter it's turned into a Lava river.

As Sasuke and Naruto survive the deadly fall on Sasuke's summoned hawk, Kakashi responds quickly to the drop by impaling two Kumasi in the wall; one stabbing Obito's hand to keep him suspended and the other attached to an unravelled scroll. Kakashi used the scroll as a makeshift rope to save himself and Sakura. She then listened to Naruto and Sasuke discussion about using teamwork in order to stop Kaguya, and thanked Naruto for making Sasuke go back to his old ways again as an original member of Team Kakashi. When the scroll was set on fire, she, Kakashi and Obito were saved by Naruto who left a shadow clone to look after them as they confronted Kaguya once more. She then asked Naruto's shadow clone on how he and Sasuke would handle Kaguya; but Naruto's shadow clone told her that they won't stop trying to defeat her even if they try. She and Kakashi was even more surprise when Naruto's shadow clone used it's power to revive Obito; in order to show signs of the latter's life. Later on, she was shocked to see Naruto's Sexy: Reverse Harem Technique and even more surprised to see it work on Kaguya. She then proceed to watch the rest of her comrade's battle with Kaguya. But was still asking Naruto's shadow clone questions about the battle with Kaguya, and about Sasuke's well being; to the point where Naruto's shadow clone couldn't answer any of her questions.

Despite Naruto's success in landing a direct punch, Kaguya quickly rebounded and separated Sasuke from the group in yet another dimension. After Obito is finally resuscitated by Naruto's shadow clone, the team explained the situation to him. Watching Kaguya's space-time technique, Obito concluded that he could possibly rescue Sasuke by synchronizing his Kamui with the portal. As Obito notes he did not have enough chakra to make the journey both ways, Sakura offered Obito to use the chakra from her Strength of a Hundred Seal. Later, the trio is able to make their way into Kaguya's dimension and prepare to find Sasuke.

Determined, the duo wasted no time in starting. Sakura activates her Strength of a Hundred Seal and wrapped it around Obito in order to transfer her chakra to him. Then then began their painstaking effort to breach each one of Kaguya's dimensions to find Sasuke. One dimension contained a sea of acid which started pouring into them din one when opened. Sakura is able to block the spill from hitting Obito, and discarded her damaged flak jacket in the process. They are finally able to open the sand-dune dimension where Sasuke was, but as the young Uchiha rushed towards them, the portal began closing. Pouring more of her chakra into Obito, they are able to reopen the portal long enough for Sasuke to use his Rinnegan Shifting Technique to teleport to them, catching her as she collapses from exhaustion.

After returning to the battlefield, Sakura, Obito and Sasuke looked on with shock as Naruto was seemingly caught and impaled by Kaguya. After realizing it was a clone, Sakura was relieve that Naruto was alright. Afterwards, Zetsu and Kaguya resolved that it was time to end the battle quickly, as Kaguya increased the gravity of the battlefield, sending everyone, including herself to the ground. After sending a pinpointed attack towards Naruto and Sasuke after the two ninja dodged the first, Obito and Kakashi simultaneously charged forth. As Kakashi and Obito stood ready to take the attacks intended for Naruto and Sasuke, Obito used Kamui to teleport the attack heading towards Kakashi, before being fatally stabbed in the stomach by Kaguya's attack as everyone looked on in shock. She then wonder what happen to Obito as she saw him crumble into dust. She then heard Naruto defending the late Obito by telling Black Zetsu that Obito was awesome. Short after dying, Obito's spirit passes on his chakra and Sharingan powers to Kakashi, who manifests the Sharingan in both his own eyes and from it performs Susanoo, using it to protect Sakura from Kaguya's attacks. She finds out that it was Kakashi who protect her from an attack, much to her and her teammates shock. Sakura also wonder how Kakashi got Obito's Sharingan.

Regaining control of herself, Kaguya then shaped the tailed beast-mass into a giant Truth-Seeking Ball. Acknowledging that his Kamui couldn't stop that, Kakashi devised a plan and shared it with his students, telling them to be ready for their last mission as Team Kakashi. Quickly enacting this plan, Team Kakashi was able to coordinate their efforts and penetrate Kaguya's defenses. When Kaguya attempted to escape Naruto and Sasuke by flying upwards, Sakura dropped into action declaring that, as women, they weren't supposed to underestimate each other. She then proceeded to send the Rabbit Goddess plummeting back towards her team-mates with a single punch, snapping off one of Kaguya's horns in the process. She then watched on as her team-mates sealed Kaguya.

After that they found themselves in the predicament of escaping the dimension they were in. Hagoromo, however, was able to use his abilities and with the help of the previous Kage, summoned them back to the real world. Admittedly awestruck to meet the Sage of the Six Paths, she noted that she was too tired to react. She later supported a weakened Kakashi and watched on as all the Kage returned to the Pure Land.

As plans for the future are discussed, Sasuke makes his own plans known; desiring to kill the current Kage and seize control of the tailed beasts. After Sasuke swiftly accomplishes the latter with his Rinnegan and sealing them away in his Chibaku Tensei, Kakashi asks the last living Uchiha if he still desires revenge. Sasuke firmly says what he wants is to change the world as how he felt it should have been, doing so with destruction and rebirth. As Sasuke turns his attention to Naruto, the only one left able to stop him, Naruto firmly states he will finally end the feud of the Sage of Six Paths' sons, as Kakashi holds Sakura at a safe distance. Heartbroken, Sakura makes one final plea to Sasuke trying to appeal to the boy she loves, only to be silenced by genjutsu. Sakura was left unconscious being tended to by Kakashi as Naruto, who reaffirmed his promise to her. He and Sasuke then left for the Valley of the End for their final battle against one another.

Sakura woke up some time later, immediately asking where Naruto and Sasuke were. She was shown to be very worried when Kakashi told her that they were facing each other in their final battle.

She arrived at the Valley of the End with Kakashi, finding Sasuke and Naruto lying on the ground severely injured. While trying to stop their bleeding arms, Sasuke sincerely apologised to her for what he had done, which Sakura tearfully accepted as Kakashi watched on with joy. Later, Sakura and Kakashi were standing at the village gate with Sasuke, who was about to leave on a journey of redemption. Blushing, she asked once more if she could go with him, but Sasuke declined and said that his sins had nothing to do with her. Then tapping her affectionately on the forehead, Sasuke promised Sakura that he'd be back, ending it with a 'thank you'.

Nearly a year after the war ended, while Shikamaru is at the Blood Prison. Tsunade assembles Sakura and the Konoha 11, with the exception of Naruto to help Shikamaru with his mission. At the Blood Prison, Konoha's forces watch the Tobishachimaru high above, wondering what's happening on board. They eventually notice that the Tobishachimaru is rising higher into the sky and conclude the threat is over. Parachutes start descending around the Prison and the Konoha ninja prepare to meet them, but are surprised when they start detonating holes in the Prison's walls. The passengers emerge from the wreck of the Tobishachimaru. Although some are battered and bruised - Sakura heals those that have not died in the crash.

Four months later, Kakashi prepares to read a letter. As he opens it, he recalls the Five Kage's inspection of the Blood Prison under Kahyō's care and how she met with their approval by humiliating the Fourth Raikage in a fight. He tries several times to read the letter, but keeps getting interrupted by other villagers, all of whom seem to know that the letter is from Kahyo yet who all seem to be badly misinformed about the nature of his relationship with her. He discovers this is Naruto's doing, who is openly publicizing his fantasies about Kakashi's feelings for Kahyo. Kakashi attacks him in anger, but decides to let it go when he realizes Naruto is only upset for being excluded from the whole affair. To make it up to Kakashi, Naruto invites him and everyone else to Ramen Ichiraku.

Epilogue
Years later, Sasuke returned to the village and married her. She would later give birth to their daughter, Uchiha Sarada. Despite this, Sasuke would leave while Sarada was still a baby for reasons unknown, to which Sakura seemingly made peace with. Because of this she is basically raising their daughter on her own. During the epilogue, Sarada comes home to find her mother cleaning their home. As Sarada complained about how stupid boys were, Sakura asked her daughter if she was talking about Boruto. Sarada also noted that the two of them had something in common; their relationship with their fathers.

While doing her chores, Sarada began asking Sakura about her distant father. As Sakura began giving vague answers, Sarada began to question if Sakura was even really married to Sasuke. Angered by this, Sakura struck the ground hard before realizing how sad her daughter was about her absent father. After apologizing and reassuring her daughter that her father would be home soon, the after-effects of Sakura's punch caused their home to crumble, much to Sakura's horror. She soon after fainted and was put in the care of Shizune.

Film Appearances
Sakura has been shown in several Naruto films, and OVA segements.

Naruto movie 1
Sakura joined her fellow members of Team 7 on a mission to protect the actress Kazahana Koyuki, as she and the production group she worked for travelled to the Land of Snow. Throughout the movie, Sakura encountered the Yukigakure-ninja Mizore Fuyukuma, and eventually distracted him with her Sakura Blizzard Technique. She was later seen looking out at the newly created Spring country, holding Sasuke's head in her lap. Sakura was lastly seen looking at Naruto's autograph from Kazahana Koyuki.

Naruto movie 2
Sakura was sent out on a team with Naruto and Shikamaru to deliver a pet ferret to a village where its rightful owners could pick it up. After arriving and finding the village in ruins, they were attacked by mysterious warriors led by Temujin, a knight wielding the power of the Stone of Gelel. Their conflict with him resulted in Sakura and Shikamaru becoming separated from Naruto, only to rejoin him later after several conflicts with Temujin's allies. During a final battle with the wolf-like Fugai, Sakura killed her by using metal pillars to reflect her ear-splitting howl, which caused the pillars to collapse in on her. Sakura was last seen wondering where Naruto was, after their mission was complete.

Naruto movie 3
Sakura was assigned along with Naruto and Rock Lee to protect the Land of the Moon's prince during his world trip. Sakura displayed some of the immense strength learned from Tsunade by destroying a wall with a single punch, and her improved taijutsu skills during a fight with genjutsu user Karenbana, who was hired to kill the prince. For Sakura's second fight with Karenbana, she could tell where she was because she could smell her perfume. Sakura was almost knocked out during her first encounter with Karenbana. During her second encounter with Karenbana, Sakura got trapped in Karenbana's genjutsu, resulting in her being knocked out by Karenbana, then after waking up (before the final blow), she shattered a chandelier above the two combatants' heads with two thrown shuriken, causing glass to fall on the floor. Sakura was then able to hear Karenbana's movements by the sound of the glass crunching under her feet. Sakura delivered a bone-crushing punch to Karenbana's jaw, ending the genjutsu and the fight. Sakura was seen in the end credits having a vaction in the Land of Moon, with her friends because Kakashi had to recover from using the Sharingan. She then returns to Konoha after Kakashi is recover. In the movie, Sakura used some healing techniques on the King and tried to heal an injury.

Naruto Shippuuden movie 1
Sakura was assigned to protect and escort Shion, the head priestess of the Land of Demons, to the tomb of the ancient demon Moryo. To aid her in this mission, she was joined by Naruto, Lee, and Neji (who was assigned as team captain). Upon their arrival at the temple, Sakura and her team were forced to face off against a group of ninja, with unusually powerful mastery of elemental ninjutsu. Sakura used her tremendous strength to aid Lee in fighting them off as Neji went in search for the priestess.

During the journey to Moryo tomb, Sakura was put in charge of carrying Shion, something the latter claimed was very uncomfortable (causing Sakura to go into a fit of rage), but she was paralysed after Kusuna injected her with his Secret Anaesthesia, causing her to fall off a tree, but luckily Neji caught her and had enough time to recover. After a hard battle with Shizuku, Sakura was able to join her team in taking down their opponents by first tricking them into using up their medically-enhanced chakra. Sakura was last seen when Shion asksed Naruto to be the father of her child, in which a confused Naruto agreed to.

Naruto Shippuuden movie 2
Sakura was first seen at a hospital during/after the attack on Konoha, and commenting on the injured villagers who had been saved by the mysterious old man, Shinnō. Sakura was assigned with Naruto and Hinata to escort a boy (who was really a girl) named Amaru, and Shinnō, her sensei, back to their village. During their journey, Sakura and Naruto were separated from Hinata. They both then found the Zero-Tails, which fed on the darkness of human souls and somehow took over Amaru's body. Sakura tried to fight it, but was defeated easily. She was then left behind when the ruins began to fly away, and only reappeared to watch the ruins explode from Naruto's repeated Rasengan attacks. Sakura was last seen lecturing Naruto at the end, most likely for being so reckless. Hinata was talking to her afterwards, probably telling her about Sasuke.

Naruto Shippuuden movie 3
Sakura was first seen with Naruto and Kakashi when Sai got ambushed by the bunch of explosive feathers from the bird-like creature which knocked him down and Naruto aided him and both got attacked, only to get saved by Kakashi and Sakura. Sakura healed both of them and forced them into the hospital bed. Naruto and Sai who both got out of the hospital bed and went to the restaurant to celebrate their recovery, however both of them got slapped by Sakura for leaving the hospital. After when Hiruko announced a Fourth Shinobi War will start, Sakura was one of the Konoha 11 who got assigned to secure the village. Later Tsunade said that Kakashi is a missing-nin and that they shouldn't go after him. She got dismissed and overheard Tsunade's talk with Shikamaru that Naruto is locked up. She went there to go see him and he told her how Kakashi was controlled and he's planning to die for the village. Sakura broke the cell and freed him then they both went after him.

On their way they found Kakashi, but got stopped by Shikamaru and the rest of the rookies. Sakura and Naruto both stated that they're going to rescue him no matter what and that they won't abandon their sensei. They got ambushed; Shikamaru decided they can go ahead while they hold off the enemies. Sai later comes and brought Naruto and Sakura with him on the ride to save Kakashi. Gaara then attacked them and said that he won't let them go any further. Naruto then fought Gaara while they went ahead. When they found Kakashi, he was still under the technique that Tsunade put on him, and Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Shikamaru all engaged Hiruko in battle, but due to lack of knowledge of the bloodlines he acquired, they were defeated. After Naruto saved Kakashi, Sakura engaged the combined summon form of Hiruko's minions with the rest of the Konoha 11 while her team-mate and sensei fought Hiruko himself. After the battle, Sakura stood victorious with her friends while smiling softly. Sakura is last seen looking at Kakashi chase Naruto.

Naruto Shippuuden movie 4
Along with Naruto, Sai and Yamato, Sakura is assigned to capture Mukade, a Konoha missing-nin whose purpose is to get the power of the Ryūmyaku from the ruins of Rōran, once a glorious city which was destroyed during the war. Mukade manages to absorb the seal the Fourth Hokage used and is engulfed by a huge light. Naruto tries to stop him and disappears along with Yamato. Sakura tries to follow them, only to be stopped by Sai's ink bird while she cries and screams Naruto's name.

Almost immediately after, Naruto and Yamato come back from the past but they don't remember what happened to them. As Team Kakashi leaves the ruins, they are approached by a girl who claims that she felt a disturbance on the Ryūmyaku. The girl says she's the daughter of the former Queen of Rōran and bears a Konoha Chakra Blade, telling them that her mother received it from a hero in a dream. As she leaves, Naruto claims that he has the feeling he saw her in a good dream. Annoyed, Sakura then grabs and pulls on Naruto's ear and yells at him for being a pervert.

Naruto Shippuuden movie 5
When Naruto was summoned to Tsunade's office and accused of attacking the Raikage, Sakura was the only one who tried to defend him and believed that he was innocent, even though he was still taken away in the end. During Naruto's time in Hōzukijō, he reflects on his bonds with his friends and comrades in Konoha, where a flashback of Sakura punching Naruto's face is shown. In the end of the movie, Sakura is again shown with Shizune and Tsunade, and returns Naruto's headband. When Mui dies and the Fire Release: Heavenly Prison is released, Sakura and the rest of the Konoha 11 stop the prisoners from escaping. She tries to heal a dying and impaled Naruto after his battle but cannot. Ryūzetsu arrives and is able to save Naruto with her Dragon Life Reincarnation. Naruto awakens to see Sakura trying to heal Ryūzetsu, to no success. They later all prepare to go home. It is shown after that immediately when Naruto was taken out of Tsunade's office, Sakura and sigh in relief and reveal to have been faking the "surprise" of Naruto's accusation, Sakura even asking if she was "convincing enough".

Naruto Shippuuden movie 6
Sakura first appear fighting the White Zetsu clones disguised as late Akatsuki members. Then she and her friends return home. She and her friends are congratulated by their families, all of whom promise to write a recommendation letter for the promotion to becoming a jonin although Sakura has a little fight with her family who embarrass her in front of the others. Naruto trys to stop the argument, by she tells him to stay out of it. Later while Naruto is walking in the village, he meets Sakura, who had an argument with her family and also stormed out, grabbing Naruto's hand and telling him to go on a date with her. While Sakura complains about her family, she tells Naruto that her mother gets her way, and her father is always at her mother's side. She tells Naruto that her mother is a good for nothing ninja, and she wishes that it better to be alone than to have her parents around.

Naruto tells her that she has gone to far, and asks if she is on her parents sides. Naruto tells her no, and Sakura wonders why he is telling him this. She then mentions that if Sasuke was here, than he would understand.

Then Sakura is attacked by Tobi, and ended up being sent alongside Naruto to another world by the mysterious new dōjutsu. Other than finding her friends, along with Sasuke, being the exact opposite of who they normally are and being terrified of the alternate Hinata's boldness towards her, Sakura learns that her parents died in this world and her father was the Fourth Hokage. She at first enjoys the fact that the alternate Sasuke flirts with her, giving her a rose that makes her blush. Naruto and Sakura meet in the morning to try to gather more information of their current world, although Sakura enjoys this world as she has more freedom and is well loved by the village thanks to her father's actions. Naruto, on the other hand, wants to return home as fast as possible.

Naruto and Sakura meet Tsunade and Shizune, who tell them that a masked man attacked Kumogakure, and killed their jinchūriki which Naruto and Sakura believe to have been Tobi. They then meet Naruto's parents, who are alive in this world. Minato says that Jiraiya died finding the Red Moon Scroll that was said to help save the world. Tsunade lets Naruto and Sakura join Minato and Kushina on their mission when Kakashi and Guy return. Sakura is shocked at finding out who Naruto's parents are, while Naruto is angry that Tobi would dare to make copies of his dead parents, and he swears to break the Genjutsu. While Sakura is still enjoying her life, she wonders how Naruto is doing.

In the morning, Sakura notes that this world's Kakashi and Guy have switched personalities, while Naruto isolates himself from his parents at every turn. They soon locate where Jiraiya hid the scroll, but as the group stops to rest, Naruto charges ahead until he is confronted by the appearance of Gamabunta, Gamahiro and Gamaken. They refuse to listen to Naruto and the group who explains their reason for being there and attacks them with an army of frogs. Naruto attempts to enter Sage Mode, but while trying to gather enough energy, Kushina interferes and tries to protect him from Gamabunta but a shot of acid burns her leg. As a result, Naruto gets distracted and is unable to enter sage mode. Minato then saves both of them quickly and is able to get the scroll, dispelling the Summoning Technique.

As Sakura heals Kushina, Naruto still attempts to brush off his parents, causing Minato to say no matter what Naruto does, they will always try to save him as that's what they naturally tend to do as parents. Kushina then awakens and hugs Naruto, causing him to breakdown in tears and finally accept them as his parents. They return to Konoha, where Tsunade locks the scroll in the village's safe until the night when a red moon will appear, when they can use the scroll to fulfil the said prophecy. As Naruto and Sakura walk home together, Naruto quickly runs home saying he has something to do, leaving Sakura alone. Sakura now finds her home too lonely and wonders if Naruto's always felt this way.

She later sees Sasuke giving roses to a lot of other girls, breaking her heart. The world they are sent to is the result of Sakura's wish of being free of parental control, while Naruto wants a world where he has his parents, however, as she spent time without them, enjoying it at first, she later realises her mistake and understands Naruto's pain of not having parents and how lonely Naruto has felt growing up. She also feels guilty for her impulsive words she spoke and her actions towards her parents. As she walks to Naruto's home to try to find a way to break the genjutsu, she see how happy Naruto is and wonders if they really should leave. Sakura later meets Naruto, and asks him if he wants to stay. Although he denies it, he later thinks to himself that he truly does not want to leave.

At that moment an explosion occurs at the Hokage's office, where the masked man from earlier asks for the scroll they brought back. He overpowers Minato, Kushina, and Tsunade, and then Naruto and Sakura arrive. They realise that this was the man Tsunade was talking about, and that he knows Tobi. He overpowers Naruto and Sakura, and kidnaps Sakura in exchange for the scroll. He then uses Great Spiralling Ring, destroying a large part of Konoha and leaves. Naruto tries to save Sakura, but Minato prevents him, showing that in the end this world's Minato is different from his father. He takes one of Minato's kunai and the scroll leaving with Sakura's father's Hokage coat. Sakura is tied up and meets Tobi who is a ghost saying they are in an old training ground that Minato and Jiraiya used. Naruto arrives but is attacked by the other masked man asking for the scroll. Naruto is unable to fight properly as his stomach acts up, the Masked Man then takes the time to summon the Nine Masked Beasts, and about to kill Naruto when the Akatsuki arrives and saved him.

This Akatsuki was hired by Tsunade to help Naruto, and they deal with the masked beasts when Naruto attacks the masked man. Itachi saves Sakura and Tobi decides to escape instead. The Akatsuki defeats the masked beasts that turn into nine fox kits, while Naruto chased the masked man into the training grounds. They then fight, Naruto uses Sage Mode and uses the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken to counter the Masked Man's Great Spiralling Ring. It ends in a draw, but the attack destroy the masked man's mask, showing that he is Menma, this world's Naruto. Menma informs Naruto that the pulsating inside his stomach must be Kurama's reaction to the Black Nine-Tails within Menma. Menma then called back the defeated masked beasts, and summoned Kurama's counterpart, the Black Nine-Tails. Naruto was unable to attack, while the Akatsuki retreat, taking Sakura with them. Not wanting to be manipulated by the Sharingan again, Kurama makes a truce with Naruto to work together, allowing him to summon Kurama out of his body. In the battle Naruto is barely able to win, but Tobi reveals that this was his plan, to have Naruto and Menma fight, as doing so would cause the two foxes to fight and weaken Kurama. As he possessed Menma, Kurama warned Naruto if he looked into Menma's Sharingan, it would be all over, for Tobi planned to extract Kurama out of Naruto the same way he extracted it from Kushina sixteen years ago. As Menma overpowers Naruto, the latter tries to use the scroll when he notices the moon had turned red, but Menma cuts the scroll, causing Naruto to look into Menma's eyes. Naruto's memories are erased, but Sakura rescues him before Kurama is extracted from him.

Naruto, in an amnesia state, stares at the destroyed Red Moon Scroll, which brings back memories of his training to learn the Rasengan with Jiraiya, and how his father was the one who invented the technique. Naruto is able to break free of the genjutsu just in time to save Sakura, and then defeats Tobi the same way his father did, breaking the Limited Tsukuyomi. Tobi, using his ghost body, attacks again, until Minato and Kushina arrive. Tobi decides to give up and exits the genjutsu world just as Naruto and Sakura are enveloped in a bright light, preparing to return to their world as well, but beforehand Naruto thanks Minato and Kushina who quickly goes to assist Menma who is returning to his original state as their son.

Naruto and Sakura returns to their world, where Naruto's Hokage coat breaks down since it was only part of the genjutsu world and not real. Naruto and Sakura tell Tsunade and Kakashi of what transpired and sets out more guard patrol since Tobi was easily able to enter further in the village than they imagined. Shizune also brings up the topic of the letters of recommendation from the beginning of the movie, to which Tsunade replies that she has no intention of promoting any of Naruto's friends to jōnin. As they both return home, Naruto watches Sakura as she meets her parents, happily hugging them. He approaches her, asking her out on a date, but Sakura tells him they just came back from the longest date ever, much to Naruto's shock.

As the events occur, the Sakura of the other world ends up in Konoha with similar confusion as Ino and the Konoha 11, believing her to be their Sakura with memory trouble, try to help her by acting out their other-world counterparts. But upon seeing the Kizashi and Mebuki of that world while looking for her necklace, the other Sakura tearfully regains her memories and thanks Ino for her help before teleporting away, leaving the girl confused.

Naruto Shippuuden movie 7
Sakura was first seen witnessing Hinata with a bag of knitting equipment and, realizing what it was for, encourages Hinata to give the scarf she knitted to Naruto. They had lunch together and discussed how Naruto was so popular now since the war, but he doesn't even realize what love is to her opinion. After Naruto's fan girls show up, interrupting Hinata trying to give him her scarf, Sakura tells him to walk her home since it's dark, but with Naruto's blunt statement about she's strong already, Hinata walks away depressed. Sakura scolds Naruto and goes after Hinata, telling her she just needs to be confident. When Hinata asks why Sakura is helping her so much, she replies that they need to look out for each other in their feelings for others (as she feels the exact same way for Sasuke).

Sakura is placed on a team consisting of her, Naruto, Hinata, Shikamaru and Sai to retrieve a kidnapped Hyuga Hanabi from a mysterious man. During their mission, Naruto would fall into a deep depression over Hinata's apparent betrayal. It was Sakura, however, who helped Naruto snap out of his depression and realise that Hinata truly loved him, giving Naruto the courage to carry on the mission. She and Sai would later storm Toneri's palace and rescue Hanabi while finding the tattered remains of Hinata's scarf. She later attends Naruto and Hinata's wedding.

Video Games
Haruno Sakura is a playable character in the following video games:
 * Battle Stadium D.O.N
 * Jump Stars Victory VS
 * Jump Ultimate Stars
 * Naruto RPG 2 Chidori vs. Rasengan
 * Naruto Shippuuden Clash of Ninja Revolution 3
 * Naruto Shippuuden Gekito Ninja Taisen! EX
 * Naruto Shippuuden Gekito Ninja Taisen! EX 2
 * Naruto Shippuuden Gekito Ninja Taisen! EX 3
 * Naruto Shippuuden Gekito Ninja Taisen! Special
 * Naruto Shippuuden Kizuna Drive
 * Naruto Shippuuden Legends Akatsuki Rising
 * Naruto Shippuuden Naruto vs. Sasuke
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ninja Council 4
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ninja Destiny 2
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ninja Destiny 3
 * Naruto Shippuuden Shinobi Rumble
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja 4
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja 5
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Heroes
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Impact
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 3
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution
 * Naruto Clash of Ninja
 * Naruto Clash of Ninja 2
 * Naruto Clash of Ninja Revolution
 * Naruto Clash of Ninja Revolution 2
 * Naruto Gekito Ninja Taisen! 3
 * Naruto Gekito Ninja Taisen! 4
 * Naruto Konoha Senki
 * Naruto Ninja Council 2
 * Naruto Ninja Council 3
 * Naruto Ninja Destiny
 * Naruto Path of the Ninja
 * Naruto Path of the Ninja 2
 * Naruto Rise of a Ninja
 * Naruto Shinobi no Sato no Jintori Kassen
 * Naruto The Broken Bond
 * Naruto Ultimate Ninja
 * Naruto Ultimate Ninja 2
 * Naruto Ultimate Ninja 3
 * Naruto Ultimate Ninja Heroes
 * Naruto Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2
 * Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm
 * Naruto Uzumaki Chronicles 2

Shannaro (しゃーんなろー) is Sakura's catchphrase, something she would shout either when she is too angry or excited. She often uses the phrase when she punches Uzumaki Naruto out of anger. Sakura punches Naruto and uses the phrase when he insults either her or her master, Tsunade. She also does it sometimes when he demonstrates his perverted techniques or does something else shameful. In the English version, the phrase was replaced by a forceful Cha, which Sakura has a unique way of saying.


 * In video games set during Part I, Inner Sakura is used as a technique due to Sakura's lack of technique of her own. Sakura has also shown a talent for genjutsu in some video game appearances, most involving Inner Sakura. She will appear in J-Stars Victory Vs. along with Kakashi and Gaara in the story mode somehow.

Uzumaki Naruto
Naruto and Sakura have had a long lasting friendship that arose from shaky beginnings and gradually grew stronger over the course of the series. It was enforced by a mutual respect and trust that had not been present at first, and a shared goal to return their former team-mate Sasuke to the village. Naruto assumedly had a crush for Sakura, but they were un-reciprocated as she has feelings for Sasuke instead, of which Naruto is aware.

Back in their Ninja Academy days, Sakura, like most of their other peers, considered Uzumaki Naruto an annoyance because of his constant antics. She even went as far as to accredit his behavior to the fact that he was an orphan, a statement which offended Sasuke when she shared this belief with him. Sasuke, in turn, told Sakura off for saying that, which led Sakura to realize that she had gone too far and decided to be more pleasant towards Naruto from then on. Shortly after being assigned to Team Kakashi, Sakura eventually began to see Naruto in a new light due to his constant dedication to his friends, and made good on her resolution to be nicer to Naruto, as shown when she explained the mechanism behind the Tree Climbing Practice during their mission in the Land of Waves. She was even willing to forfeit her entry into the Chūnin Exams upon realizing that Naruto would not have been able to pass the first test, which would have resulted in him being stuck as a genin, thus ending his dream to become Hokage. Later, when she learned from Sasuke that Naruto was the one who saved her from Gaara during the Invasion of Konoha, she was surprised, but grateful. When Sasuke defected from Konoha, Naruto promised Sakura that he would do everything in his power to bring Sasuke back to her. Despite Naruto's failure, Sakura was inspired by his determination to for fill his promise, and became Tsunade's apprentice to help Naruto retrieve Sasuke.

Even after Naruto returned from his training with Jiraiya after two-and-a-half years, both he and Sakura displayed that their friendship had not suffered during the time apart and continued to grow, bearing great resemblances to those of their Sannin masters. Shortly after, Sakura discovered that Naruto was Kurama's jinchuriki, causing her to become protective of him and constantly try to repay the many things he has done for her. Some time after Pain's assault on Konoha, when Sai, remembering his conversation with Naruto, informed Sakura that the strain of making her happy and fulfilling his promise to her have been the source of Naruto's pain, she felt guilty for asking too much from Naruto and decided to stop Sasuke from sinking any lower by herself. Sakura tried to release Naruto from his promise by telling him that she loved him and not Sasuke any more, but Naruto and the others present immediately knew that she was lying. After Naruto saved Sakura from being killed by Sasuke and voiced his resolve that he would shoulder Sasuke's hatred as a friend even if both were to die, she was touched by Naruto's determination, for he had again given her hope that there may still be a happy ending for Team Kakashi.

When the Fourth Shinobi War reached its climax, Sakura resolved to aid Naruto in fighting Obito and Madara, stating that he didn't need to carry the burden alone and that everyone would be there to help him. By the time his father arrived, Naruto was comfortable enough around Sakura to joke about their relationship, even reprimanding her after she headbutted him. Her understanding and care of Naruto was strengthened when he exclaimed how not having any friends was the most painful thing to him, to the point where she raised the morale of the Shinobi Alliance. Later, after Yang-Kurama was extracted from Naruto, Sakura expressed great concern when he was in critical condition and used her medical ninjutsu to heal him, determined to keep her friend alive so he would achieve his goal in becoming Hokage. After Sasuke put Sakura under genjutsu and departed to fight with Naruto, the latter reinstated his promise to her via Kakashi.

After the war ended, Naruto eventually grew out of his crush for Sakura, but he remained good friends and team-mates with her. However, it was revealed that Naruto only claimed he had feelings for Sakura as another way to compete with Sasuke, who she has feelings for. Sakura, while helping Naruto realize his feelings for Hinata, noted that his feelings for Hinata are more genuine and real as opposed to Naruto's supposed feelings for her. After encouraging Naruto and Hinata to confess their feelings for each other, Sakura later attended their wedding.

Uchiha Sasuke
From the start, Sakura had a deep infatuation for Uchiha Sasuke, rooted in his good looks, cunning, cool attitude, and prodigious talents. As noted, at the beginning of her career, she was more focused in a relationship with Sasuke than increasing her skill. When Sasuke defected Sakura did all that she could to stop him from leaving, such as professing her love for him and even offering to join him. Despite thanking her and sounding grateful, Sasuke knocked Sakura unconscious and left the village. Sakura cursed herself for not being strong enough to stop Sasuke from defecting, deciding to help Naruto to bring Sasuke back to Konoha. Although she still worries about his well-being, Sakura became willing to fight Sasuke, in case he resisted, if it meant subduing him. However, as time went on and Sasuke became an increasingly more dangerous criminal, Sakura recognized that Sasuke could not and would not return to Konoha, was saddened and distraught at the notion that he had to be killed by Konoha ninja to prevent a war between nations, but decided she would do it herself. In the end, she found herself unable to kill Sasuke. Upon seeing Naruto's resolve to bring Sasuke back no matter the cost, Sakura decided she would put her faith in both of them.

During the war, when Sasuke returned to fight alongside the Alliance, Sakura did not believe Sasuke could be trusted, which was confirmed with this intention of starting a revolution. Ultimately, Sakura tried to appeal to Sasuke, proclaiming her deep love for him once more, only to be silenced by genjutsu. When Sasuke dismisses her desire for romance, Kakashi scolds him, stating that Sakura loves him so much that she wants to save Sasuke from his dark path. Ultimately, after Naruto and Sasuke's final clash, the latter having been redeemed apologized to Sakura for all he had put her through. Despite her slight hesitation, she tearfully forgives him.

Two years after the war, when Hinata asks why Sakura is helping her so much, she replies that they need to look out for each other in their feelings for others (as she feels the exact same way for Sasuke).

Knownable Relatives

 * Haruno Kizashi (Father)
 * Haruno Mebuki (Mother)
 * Uchiha Sasuke (Childhood Classmate/Future teammate and Husband)
 * Uchiha Sarada (Daughter)
 * Uchiha Mikoto (Mother in law/dead)
 * Uchiha Fugaku (Father in law/dead)
 * Uchiha Itachi (Brother in law/dead)
 * Uzumaki Naruto (Childhood Classmate and Future Teammate)
 * Yamanaka Ino (Childhood Best Friend & #1 Rival)
 * Umino Iruka (Childhood Sensei)
 * Hatake Kakashi (Future Sensei)
 * Tsunade (Medical Sensei & True Counterpart)
 * Rukia Kuchiki (Partnal Counterpart)

Trivia
According to the databook(s): Sakura also has similarities with the late Nohara Rin. Sakura also has similarities with Mai Valentine from '''Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters'''. Sakura also has similarities with Carly Carmine from '''Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's'''. Sakura also has many similarities with her rival Yamanaka Ino. Sakura has a ton of similarities with Rukia Kuchiki from Bleach. Sakura has some similarities with Bulma from Dragon Ball/DBZ & DBGT. Sakura has some similarities with Sohma Kagura from Fruits Basket. Sakura has some similarities with Karin Kurosaki from Bleach. Sakura has some similarities with Keiko Yukimura from Yu Yu Hakusho.
 * The name Haruno means spring field, and the name Sakura means "cherry blossom", a flower which is cherished in Japan due to its beauty and its almost-tragically short life span (cherry blossoms have historically been associated with the samurai). The cherry blossom also serves as the national flower for the nation of Japan. In Japanese, "Haruno Sakura" (春野・桜) means "spring field of cherry blossoms", which may be an origin of the name. It can be also used in the game, Hanafuda, as a month card of sakura (桜, flowering cherry).
 * Sakura's name, when read as "Haru no Sakura" (春の桜), can also be interpreted as "cherry blossoms in spring."
 * In the June 2006 issue of Shonen Jump, Kishimoto stated that Sakura would be the best ninja instructor out of Team 7 and is the closest to being normal, despite having flaws in her personality.
 * In the Naruto character popularity polls, Sakura was placed 5th in the first, 14th in the second, 9th in the third, 10th in the fourth, 8th in the fifth, and 12th in the sixth. She finished 6th in the seventh with 9,701 votes and in the newest poll, she was tied with Sai in 12th place.
 * Sakura had one of the longest battle scenes in the anime (eight full episodes), giving her roughly three hours of battle screen time. This is when she and Chiyo were fighting Sasori.
 * In the seventh Naruto Shippuuden opening, Sakura was shown fighting Konan with Ino and Hinata, though in the manga, they did not fight her.
 * Despite being the heroine of the series, Kishimoto stated himself during the 2010 interview that Hinata would make a better heroine than Sakura, this is due to the fact that because Sakura not only has a normal background in comparison to Hinata but also because he has a hard time making good roles for female characters like Sakura, having stated on several occasions that he has a very hard time viewing her as the heroine of the series. However, Kishimoto also stated that he would try to have Sakura play more of a heroine role in the future.
 * Her hair is shown quite different between the anime and the manga. Her hair was not too long in the manga for her first appearance. The hair also seems much longer in the anime after the haircut in Chunin Exams. Sakura also shown with a shoulder-length spiky hair in Part II of the manga and in Part II of the anime her hair is straight and a little shorter.
 * Sakura's hobbies are playing trivia games and memorising new material for her medical studies.
 * Sakura wishes for a rematch with Yamanaka Ino.
 * Sakura's favorite foods are syrup-coated red bean soup dumplings, umeboshi, and anmitsu, while her least favorites are anything spicy.
 * Sakura has completed 34 official missions in total: 12 D-rank, 9 C-rank, 6 B-rank, 7 A-rank, 0 S-rank.
 * Sakura's favorite phrase according to the first databook is "A life with love throughout!" (一生愛の人生よ!, Isshōai no jinsei yo!) and her favorite word according to the second and third databooks is "courage" (勇気, yūki).
 * Sakura shares the same English voice actress as Karin Kurosaki from Bleach, and Taiho Yuki from Eureka Seven.
 * Sakura is the only female member of the Konoha 11, that uses a Catchphrase at the end of her sentences.
 * Kishimoto's official sketches of Sakura show that she is 165cm in the 10 new Naruto movie.
 * Sakura's daughter, Sarada seems to inherit her trademark phrase "Shānnarō!" (しゃーんなろー), as seen when she talked about her relationship with her father in the epilogue.
 * Sakura is the only one of the original Team 7 to not master all five basic nature transformations, but is proficient in Yin and Yang Release as well.

Voice Actresses

 * Japanese: Chie Nakamura (2002 - Present)
 * English: Kate Higgins (2005 - Present)
 * Played by in (Live Action) : Yui Ito (Live Spectacle Naruto)

all information on Haruno Sakura is from http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Sakura_Haruno