Novels2Search

Chapter 2

Sakura's eyes widened as she took in the breathtaking sight of the Great Warren. The vast underground cavern stretched out before her, a bustling metropolis of rabbits going about their daily lives. Thousands of furry bodies hopped to and fro, creating a sea of movement that left her dizzy with wonder.

The walls of the warren were a marvel in themselves, smooth packed earth interwoven with massive tree roots that provided both structure and decoration. Bioluminescent moss cast a soft, ethereal glow throughout the cavern, painting everything in shades of blue and green.

"This is... incredible," Sakura breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mochi puffed out his chest with pride. "Of course it is. The Great Warren is the heart of our civilization. Now, come on. We need to get you to the Queen."

As Mochi led her through the winding tunnels and open spaces of the warren, Sakura couldn't help but gawk at everything around her. Rabbits of all sizes and colors scurried about, some carrying scrolls or baskets filled with vegetables, others engaged in what looked like training exercises.

One group caught her attention - a circle of young rabbits sitting attentively while an older rabbit demonstrated some kind of hand... or rather, paw sign. "Are they learning jutsu?" Sakura asked, fascinated.

"Of course," Mochi replied. "We may be small, but we're still ninja. Our techniques are just... more subtle than most."

As they made their way through the warren, Sakura became increasingly aware of the stares she was attracting. Rabbits stopped in their tracks, whiskers twitching as they gaped at the human girl in their midst. Some looked curious, others wary, and a few even seemed excited.

"Um, Mochi?" Sakura whispered, feeling self-conscious. "Why is everyone staring at me?"

Mochi glanced back at her. "It's been a long time since we've had a human summoner. Most of these rabbits have never seen one up close before."

A small group of baby rabbits hopped up to Sakura, their noses wiggling with curiosity. One particularly brave kit reached out a tiny paw to touch her leg.

"Hello there," Sakura said softly, crouching down to their level. The baby rabbits squeaked in alarm and scampered back to hide behind their mother, who watched Sakura with a mix of caution and interest.

"Sorry about that," Mochi said. "They'll get used to you eventually. Come on, we're almost-"

"Mochi!" a stern voice called out, interrupting him mid-sentence. An older rabbit with graying fur and spectacles perched on his nose hopped towards them, looking none too pleased. "What are you doing here? You should be at training!"

Mochi's ears drooped slightly, but he stood his ground. "Master Cottontail, I have a good reason! I've brought a new summoner to see the Queen."

Master Cottontail's gaze shifted to Sakura, his eyes narrowing as he looked her up and down. "A summoner, you say? But she's so... small for a human."

Sakura felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "I'm still at the academy," she explained, trying to keep her voice steady. "I haven't graduated to genin yet."

The teacher rabbit sighed heavily, shaking his head. "An academy student? Mochi, what were you thinking? The Queen doesn't have time for-"

"With all due respect, Master," Mochi interrupted, his voice firm, "it's not our place to decide. Let Queen Joousa deal with this."

Master Cottontail's whiskers twitched in annoyance, but after a moment, he relented. "Very well. Continue on, then. But don't be surprised if the Queen sends you both away with a flea in your ear."

As they continued their journey through the warren, Sakura leaned close to Mochi. "Is it really that unusual for an academy student to have a summon?"

Mochi nodded. "It's not common, that's for sure. Most humans don't have the chakra control or the knowledge to perform a summoning jutsu until they're at least genin. The fact that you managed it... well, it's pretty impressive."

Pride swelled in Sakura's chest at the compliment, but it was quickly tempered by nervousness. What if the Queen thought she was too young or inexperienced? What if she was sent away without even getting a chance to prove herself?

Before she could voice her concerns, they rounded a corner and came face to face with an enormous set of double doors. They were easily three times Sakura's height, made of what looked like polished wood and inlaid with intricate carvings of rabbits in various poses.

"This is it," Mochi said, his voice hushed with reverence. "The Queen's chamber."

As if sensing their presence, the massive doors slowly swung open, revealing a cavernous room beyond. Sakura took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever lay ahead, and stepped forward.

The moment she crossed the threshold, Sakura found herself face to face with a sight that made her blood run cold. A rabbit the size of a small house loomed before her, its battle-scarred face twisted into a fierce snarl. But it wasn't the creature's size that made Sakura's heart skip a beat - it was its teeth. Long, sharp, and decidedly un-rabbit-like, they gleamed in the dim light of the chamber.

Sakura froze, her mind going blank with terror. This couldn't be the Queen, could it? She had expected something... well, fluffier.

The giant rabbit glared at her, its red eyes seeming to bore into her very soul. Sakura wanted to run, to hide, to do anything but stand there under that terrifying gaze. But her feet seemed rooted to the spot, her body refusing to obey her panicked mind's commands.

Just as Sakura thought she might faint from sheer fright, a voice rang out from behind the monstrous rabbit.

"Caerbannog, you lout! Get out of the way so I can see what the hubbub is about!"

The giant rabbit - Caerbannog, apparently - let out a low growl but obediently moved to the side. As it shifted, Sakura caught sight of the speaker, and her eyes widened in surprise.

There, working diligently at a mortar and pestle, was an older female rabbit. While still quite large by rabbit standards - she stood a bit taller than Sakura herself - she was nowhere near the titanic size Sakura had come to expect from "boss" summons.

The Queen (for this had to be Queen Joousa) had soft gray fur peppered with white, giving her a distinguished appearance. Her long ears were adorned with golden rings, and a delicate crown nestled between them. Despite her regal bearing, there was a twinkle of mischief in her eyes as she regarded Sakura.

"Well, well," Queen Joousa said, setting aside her mortar and pestle. "What have we here? A human child in my warren? How delightfully unexpected."

Sakura, still trembling slightly from her encounter with Caerbannog, managed a wobbly curtsy. "Y-Your Majesty," she stammered. "I'm Sakura Haruno. I... I've come to ask for the honor of being your summoner."

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Queen Joousa's whiskers twitched in amusement. "A summoner, you say? And at such a tender age. Tell me, child, how old are you?"

"Eight, Your Majesty," Sakura replied, trying to stand a little straighter. "I'm still at the academy, but I've been working very hard on my chakra control and-"

The Queen held up a paw, silencing her. "Eight years old and already performing summonings? My, my. You must be quite the prodigy."

Mochi, who had been uncharacteristically quiet since entering the chamber, spoke up. "She managed to summon me, Your Majesty. On her first try, too."

Queen Joousa's eyes widened slightly at this. "Is that so? Well, that is impressive indeed. But tell me, young Sakura, why do you seek to become our summoner? Surely there are more... impressive summons out there for an ambitious young ninja."

Queen Joousa regarded Sakura with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Well, young one, I must admit your determination is admirable. However, I'm afraid I can't offer you the kind of summons you might be expecting. We rabbits aren't particularly fond of combat."

Sakura's brow furrowed in confusion. She glanced pointedly at Caerbannog, the massive, sharp-toothed rabbit still looming nearby.

The Queen followed her gaze and chuckled. "Oh, don't let old Caerbannog fool you. He may look intimidating, but he's a bit of a softie at heart. Aren't you, dear?"

The giant rabbit's fierce expression faltered, replaced by what could only be described as a pout. He let out a low, rumbling whine that seemed at odds with his fearsome appearance.

"But Your Majesty," Sakura said, her voice growing more confident, "I'm willing to abide by any restrictions you might have on summonings. I don't need combat summons. I just... I want to learn from you."

Queen Joousa's eyes narrowed, her whiskers twitching with suspicion. "Is that so? Tell me then, child, what is it you really want? What could a young human possibly hope to gain from us that she couldn't find elsewhere?"

Sakura took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I want to learn how to make ninja babies," she blurted out.

The chamber fell silent. Even Caerbannog seemed taken aback, his massive head tilting to one side in confusion. Queen Joousa stared at Sakura, her expression unreadable.

"I beg your pardon?" the Queen said finally. "How old did you say you were again?"

"Eight, Your Majesty," Sakura replied, her cheeks flushing red.

"Eight?!" Queen Joousa exclaimed. "Hell no! Come back in ten years, child. This is hardly a topic for someone your age."

"No, no!" Sakura said quickly, waving her hands in front of her. "I don't mean now! I just... I've been doing research, you see. About ninja mothers and the problems they face."

The Queen's expression softened slightly, curiosity replacing her initial shock. "Problems? What sort of problems?"

Sakura launched into an explanation of her findings – how ninja pregnancies drained chakra, how most kunoichi could only have one or two children at most, and how this posed a challenge for rebuilding clans or producing strong ninja offspring.

As she spoke, Queen Joousa's eyes widened with interest. "I had no idea," she murmured when Sakura finished. "Human reproduction is quite different from ours, it seems. But why come to us with this?"

"Well," Sakura said, fidgeting slightly, "rabbits are known for their... um, large families. And you're ninja rabbits, which means you use chakra. I thought maybe you might have some insights or techniques that could help."

The Queen was silent for a long moment, her paw tapping thoughtfully against her chin. Finally, she nodded. "Your reasoning is sound, young Sakura. And I must admit, your dedication to research at such a young age is impressive. Very well. I will allow you to become our summoner."

Sakura's face lit up with joy. "Really? Oh, thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Don't thank me yet," Queen Joousa said with a wry smile. "Being our summoner comes with responsibilities, and there's much for you to learn. But first things first – we need to give you a proper summoning mark."

The Queen hopped down from her seat and approached Sakura. "Hold out your right arm, please."

Sakura did as she was told, watching with fascination as Queen Joousa placed a paw on her arm. A warm sensation spread from the point of contact, and Sakura gasped as intricate patterns began to appear on her skin.

When it was done, a beautiful tattoo covered her entire right arm from shoulder to wrist. The design was a swirling mix of vines, flowers, and tiny rabbits, all in shades of green and brown.

"Wow," Sakura breathed, admiring the artwork. Then a thought struck her, and her face fell slightly. "Oh... I hope Sasuke doesn't dislike tattoos."

Queen Joousa raised an eyebrow but didn't comment on Sakura's sudden concern. Instead, she said, "This mark will make it easier for you to summon us. I noticed you don't have the chakra reserves to perform a full summoning on your own yet."

Sakura nodded, impressed by the Queen's perception. "That's right. I used a chakra pill to boost my reserves for the initial summoning."

"Clever girl," Queen Joousa said approvingly. "But be warned – you're going to crash hard when you get home. That pill's effects won't last forever."

"I understand," Sakura said, already feeling a slight fatigue creeping in at the edges of her awareness.

The Queen turned to Mochi, who had been watching the proceedings with rapt attention. "Mochi, I'm assigning you as Sakura's training summon. You'll be responsible for teaching her our ways and helping her develop her skills."

Mochi's eyes widened, and he stood up straighter. "Yes, Your Majesty! I won't let you down!"

"See that you don't," Queen Joousa said, her tone fond but firm. She turned back to Sakura. "Now then, young one, it's time for you to return home. Use our gifts wisely."

Before Sakura could respond, the world around her began to blur. She felt a tugging sensation in her navel, and suddenly she was rushing through space, the Great Warren fading away behind her.

With a soft 'pop', Sakura reappeared in the forest clearing where she had first performed the summoning jutsu. She blinked, disoriented by the sudden change in surroundings.

As her vision cleared, she realized she wasn't alone. A team of ninja – adults, by the look of them – were scattered around the clearing, frozen in various training poses. They stared at her with a mix of shock and confusion.

Sakura, still riding high on her success and oblivious to the stares, threw her arms up in triumph. "Yes! I did it!" she cheered. And promptly collapsed unconscious.