As the pink-haired girl made her way back to the viewing platform, Hiruzen couldn't fight the memory from months before. He had argued with her, challenged her, and threatened her. Fear of backlash made Hiruzen steal the pride Sakura had to have felt in having won the Kubikiribocho. He minimized her achievement. But Sakura didn't let it destroy her, she learned how to turn a negative into a positive, and showed Hiruzen exactly why she'd earned that sword.

If she was good before, she was amazing, now.

Hiruzen could feel the hot wash of shame come over him when he realized how much he'd belittled that girl. She'd learned so much in a short period of time, but it felt wrong to be proud of her. Especially when he had so little to do with helping her achieve what she had.

'Hiruzen, ' Koharu called to him, voice low, 'do you have notes on that match? '

With a nod, Hiruzen turned toward Koharu. 'I recommend Haruno Sakura for chuunin. '