Sakura lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling with a mixture of frustration and boredom. The events of the past few days played through her mind on repeat – the exhilarating success of her summoning, followed by the crash of chakra exhaustion, a brief hospital stay, and now... this. Grounded. Indefinitely.

She raised her right arm above her head, admiring the intricate tattoo that now covered it from shoulder to wrist. The swirling vines, delicate flowers, and tiny rabbits seemed to shimmer slightly in the afternoon light filtering through her window. Despite her current predicament, a small smile tugged at her lips. It was worth it.

But that didn't change the fact that she was now stuck in her room with absolutely nothing to do. Her parents, in their infinite wisdom, had confiscated all her study materials as part of her punishment. No scrolls, no textbooks, not even her practice kunai. They probably thought they were being clever – their studious daughter would surely be miserable without her precious books.

Sakura snorted softly. They weren't entirely wrong. She was miserable. But they had underestimated her resourcefulness.

She sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Her eyes darted to the closed bedroom door, ears straining for any sound of her parents moving about the house. All was quiet.

"Okay," she whispered to herself. "Let's see what we can do."

Sakura held out her right arm, focusing on the tattoo. Queen Joousa had said it would make summoning easier, but she hadn't explained exactly how to use it. Sakura closed her eyes, reaching out with her chakra, trying to feel for... something. A connection, maybe?

At first, there was nothing. Just the usual warmth of her own chakra flowing through her body. But then – there! A tiny spark, like a thread leading away from her. Sakura latched onto it, following the connection.

She bit her thumb and drew blood across the tattoo. "Summoning Jutsu," she whispered, careful to keep her voice low.

A small puff of smoke appeared on her bed, quickly dissipating to reveal a familiar face.

"Mochi!" Sakura exclaimed, then quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, glancing nervously at the door.

The small white rabbit blinked up at her, whiskers twitching. "Sakura? What's going on? Why are we whispering?"

Sakura leaned in close, keeping her voice low. "I'm grounded. My parents can't know I summoned you. Can you keep quiet?"

Mochi's ears perked up, and he nodded solemnly. "Of course! Stealth is an important ninja skill, after all."

Sakura grinned. "Great! So, um... what should we do now?"

Mochi tilted his head, considering. "Well, I'm supposed to be your training summon. What would you like to learn?"

Sakura bit her lip, thinking. "I can't leave the house, and I'm not allowed to study any ninja scrolls. But... they didn't say anything about practicing techniques."

Mochi's whiskers twitched in what might have been a smile. "Clever. Alright then, let's start with something basic but essential – chakra control."

For the next hour, Mochi guided Sakura through various chakra control exercises. They started with the leaf concentration practice – a standard Academy exercise where one tries to stick a leaf to their forehead using only chakra. But Mochi added a twist.

"Try to make the leaf move," he instructed. "Up, down, side to side. Without using your hands."

Sakura found it challenging but oddly satisfying. By the end of the hour, she could make the leaf dance in small circles above her palm.

"Excellent progress," Mochi praised. "Now, let's try something a bit more advanced."

He hopped over to Sakura's desk, gesturing for her to follow. "I want you to try and stick to the side of the desk using only your chakra."

Sakura frowned. "But... that's impossible, isn't it? I mean, I've never seen anyone walk on walls or anything."

Mochi's whiskers twitched again. "Oh, it's very possible. In fact, it's a fundamental skill for many ninja. You just haven't learned it yet."

Intrigued, Sakura approached the desk. She placed her hand against its smooth surface, focusing her chakra as Mochi instructed. At first, nothing happened. But then, slowly, she felt a strange sort of... stickiness. When she tried to pull her hand away, it resisted slightly.

"I'm doing it!" she whispered excitedly.

"Good," Mochi said. "Now try with your foot."

This proved to be much more difficult. Sakura nearly toppled over several times, barely catching herself before she could make a noise that might alert her parents. But with Mochi's patient guidance, she gradually improved.

By the time the sun was setting, casting long shadows across her room, Sakura could stick both hands and one foot to the side of her desk. She was sweating from the effort, her chakra reserves nearly depleted, but she felt a sense of accomplishment she hadn't experienced in a long time.

"That's enough for today," Mochi said, noting her fatigue. "You've done very well, Sakura. Remember, the key to mastering this technique is consistent practice. Even when you can't physically train, you can work on your chakra control."

Sakura nodded, wiping sweat from her brow. "Thank you, Mochi. This was... this was really fun."

The rabbit's ears perked up. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Shall we continue tomorrow?"

"Definitely," Sakura grinned. "Same time?"

Mochi nodded. "Until then, Sakura. And remember – stealth!"

With a small puff of smoke, the rabbit disappeared, leaving Sakura alone in her room once more. But now, the prospect of being grounded didn't seem quite so daunting. She had a secret now – a way to ahead of the other girls in her class.

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The first day back at the Ninja Academy buzzed with excitement. Students chattered eagerly, sharing stories of their time off and comparing notes on new techniques they'd picked up. Sakura walked into the classroom, her heart pounding with anticipation. She'd spent weeks practicing with Mochi, honing her chakra control and learning the basics of summoning. Now, it was time to show off the fruits of her labor.

As she entered, a hush fell over the room. All eyes turned to her, or more specifically, to the intricate tattoo that now adorned her right arm. Whispers erupted immediately.

"Is that... a tattoo?"

"No way! How'd she get that?"

"It looks so cool!"

Sakura felt a mixture of pride and nervousness as she made her way to her seat. She caught sight of Ino, her former friend and now rival, staring at her with a mixture of shock and envy. Sakura couldn't help but feel a small thrill of satisfaction.

"Sakura!" Naruto's loud voice cut through the chatter. "What's with the awesome tattoo? Did it hurt? Can I get one too?"

She rolled her eyes at the blonde boy's enthusiasm. "It's not just a regular tattoo, Naruto. It's-"

"A summoning tattoo," a cool voice interrupted.

Sakura's heart skipped a beat. Sasuke Uchiha, the object of her affections and the reason behind her quest for strength, was looking directly at her. His dark eyes were fixed on the intricate design on her arm, a hint of surprise in his usually impassive face.

"How did you get that?" Sasuke asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

Sakura felt her cheeks warm under his scrutiny. This was her chance to impress him. She straightened her back and met his gaze. "I researched summoning contracts and found one that wasn't tied to a specific clan. Then I figured out how to contact the summons and make the contract."

Sasuke's eyebrows rose slightly. "That's... impressive," he admitted, though he seemed to be wrestling with the admission. "What's the summon for?"

Here it was, the moment of truth. Sakura took a deep breath. "Rabbits."

A beat of silence followed her declaration. Then, to her dismay, a few snickers broke out around the classroom.

"Rabbits?" Kiba Inuzuka guffawed. "What are you gonna do, cuddle your enemies to death?"

Sakura felt her face flush with embarrassment, but before she could retort, Sasuke spoke again.

"Don't underestimate any summon," he said, his voice sharp. "Even small creatures can be powerful allies if used correctly."

The laughter died down immediately. Sasuke's words carried weight, and no one wanted to contradict him. Sakura felt a surge of gratitude towards him, even as she noted the calculating look in his eyes.

"Still," Sasuke continued, turning back to Sakura, "rabbits are an unusual choice. Why them?"

Sakura hesitated for a moment. She couldn't exactly tell him the real reason – that she was trying to figure out how to have lots of strong ninja babies. Instead, she went with a partial truth.

"They're underestimated," she said. "People don't expect much from them, which makes them perfect for stealth and reconnaissance. Plus, they have some unique abilities that could be really useful in combat situations."

Sasuke nodded slowly, seeming to mull over her words. Sakura could see the conflict in his eyes – he was clearly impressed by her initiative and reasoning, but the choice of summon still seemed to puzzle him.

Before he could say anything else, their teacher, Iruka-sensei, entered the classroom. "Alright, everyone, settle down," he called out. As the students scrambled to their seats, his eyes fell on Sakura, widening slightly at the sight of her tattoo.

"Sakura," he said, "I see you've been busy during the break. The faculty has been informed of your new summoning contract. We're quite impressed with your achievement and have great expectations for your future performance."

Sakura felt a surge of pride at the praise. She glanced around the room, noting the mix of impressed and envious looks from her classmates. Her eyes met Ino's, and she couldn't resist giving her rival a small, triumphant smirk. Ino's glare in response was positively venomous.

As Iruka-sensei began the day's lesson, Sakura felt Sasuke's eyes on her once more. She turned to meet his gaze, her heart racing. But the look he gave her wasn't the one of admiration and love she'd been hoping for. Instead, it was a look of acknowledgment – the kind one gives to a worthy opponent.

Sakura felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, she was thrilled to have finally caught Sasuke's attention. He was looking at her, really looking at her, perhaps for the first time. On the other hand, this wasn't exactly how she'd imagined it. She wanted to be his partner, not his rival.

Still, she reasoned, this was progress. She had his attention now, and she was determined to make the most of it.

Throughout the lesson, Sakura found it hard to concentrate. Her mind kept drifting back to Sasuke's reaction and the impressed looks from her classmates. She'd done it – she'd set herself apart from the other girls vying for Sasuke's attention. But now what?

As Iruka-sensei droned on about chakra theory, Sakura's mind raced with possibilities. She needed to keep this momentum going. Maybe she could offer to help Sasuke with his training? Or perhaps she could find a way to demonstrate the usefulness of her rabbit summons in a way that would impress him?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Iruka-sensei's voice. "Sakura? Can you answer the question?"

Sakura blinked, realizing she'd completely zoned out. "I'm sorry, Iruka-sensei. Could you repeat the question?"

She heard a few snickers from her classmates, and her face burned with embarrassment. So much for impressing everyone with her intelligence.

Iruka-sensei frowned slightly. "I asked about the relationship between physical and spiritual energy in forming chakra. Please pay attention, Sakura. Your new abilities are impressive, but they're no substitute for a solid theoretical foundation."

Sakura nodded, chastened. "Yes, sensei. The relationship between physical and spiritual energy is crucial in forming chakra. Physical energy comes from every cell in the body, while spiritual energy comes from the mind's consciousness. The two must be balanced and molded together to create chakra."

Iruka-sensei nodded, satisfied with her answer. "Very good. Now, as I was saying..."

As the lesson continued, Sakura forced herself to focus. She couldn't afford to let her newfound status go to her head. If she wanted to truly impress Sasuke and become a strong kunoichi, she needed to excel in all aspects of her training.

When lunchtime finally rolled around, Sakura found herself surrounded by curious classmates. They peppered her with questions about her summoning tattoo and the rabbits she could now call upon.

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"Can you show us?" Naruto asked eagerly. "I wanna see these ninja rabbits!"

Sakura hesitated. She wasn't sure if summoning in the Academy was allowed, and she didn't want to get in trouble. Plus, she was still working on controlling her chakra output to summon specific rabbits. The last thing she needed was to accidentally summon Queen Joousa or, worse, Caerbannog in the middle of the schoolyard.

"Maybe another time," she said, trying to sound mysterious rather than uncertain. "It takes a lot of chakra, and I need to save my energy for afternoon training."

This seemed to impress her classmates even more. They continued to chat excitedly about the possibilities of summoning contracts and how cool it would be to have their own.

As Sakura ate her lunch, she noticed Sasuke sitting alone, as usual. Taking a deep breath, she decided to seize the opportunity. She walked over to him, her heart pounding.

"Um, Sasuke?" she said, her voice coming out higher than she intended. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I was wondering if you'd like to train together sometime. I could show you more about the summoning technique, and maybe you could give me some pointers on... well, anything really."

Sasuke looked up at her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Sakura thought he might refuse outright. But then he gave a small nod.

"That could be useful," he said. "Your chakra control must be pretty good to maintain a summoning contract. I suppose we could learn from each other."

Sakura's heart soared. It wasn't a declaration of love, but it was a start. "Great!" she said, trying to keep her excitement in check. "How about after classes today?"

Sasuke shrugged. "Fine. Meet me at training ground three."

As Sakura walked back to her seat, she caught sight of Ino watching her with narrowed eyes. The blonde girl stomped over, her face a mask of fury.

"What do you think you're doing, Billboard Brow?" Ino hissed. "Just because you got some fancy tattoo doesn't mean you're suddenly good enough for Sasuke."

Sakura met her rival's glare with a cool stare of her own. "I'm improving myself, Ino-pig. Maybe you should try it sometime instead of relying on your looks."

Ino's face reddened with anger. "You think you're so special now? Well, just you wait. I'll show you what a real kunoichi can do!"

As Ino stormed off, Sakura felt a mixture of satisfaction and guilt. She hadn't meant to be so harsh with her former friend, but she couldn't back down now. She had to stay focused on her goal.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Sakura found it hard to concentrate on the lessons, her mind constantly drifting to her upcoming training session with Sasuke. When the final bell rang, she rushed to gather her things.

"Good luck, Sakura," Iruka-sensei called as she headed for the door. "Use your new abilities wisely."

Sakura nodded, feeling a mix of pride and nervousness at her teacher's words. As she left the Academy building, she couldn't help but feel that things were finally starting to go her way. She had Sasuke's attention, she was standing out from the other girls, and she had a unique ability that set her apart.

But as she made her way to training ground three, a small voice in the back of her mind wondered if she was really on the right path. Was this really the best way to win Sasuke's heart? And more importantly, was it the best way to become the strong kunoichi she wanted to be?

Sakura pushed these doubts aside as she arrived at the training ground. Sasuke was already there, going through a series of warm-up exercises. He nodded in acknowledgment as she approached.

"So," he said, straightening up, "show me what these rabbits of yours can do."

Sakura took a deep breath, rolled up her sleeve to reveal her summoning tattoo, and prepared to show Sasuke just how impressive she could be. Whatever doubts she had, whatever challenges lay ahead, she was determined to face them head-on. After all, she was Sakura Haruno, future top kunoichi of Konoha and future wife of Sasuke Uchiha.

Or so she hoped.

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Sakura's heart raced as she stood before Sasuke in the training ground. This was her chance to impress him, to show him she wasn't just another fangirl. She took a deep breath and focused on the summoning tattoo adorning her arm.

"Alright, here goes," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Summoning Jutsu!"

A small puff of smoke appeared, and when it cleared, a young rabbit stood before them. He was about the size of a house cat, with soft white fur and bright, intelligent eyes.

"Hello, Sakura-chan," the rabbit said, giving a little bow. "And who's this?"

Sasuke's eyebrows raised slightly, the only indication of his surprise at seeing a talking rabbit.

"This is Sasuke Uchiha," Sakura said, unable to keep a hint of pride from her voice. "Sasuke, this is Mochi, my training summon."

Mochi hopped closer to Sasuke, sniffing the air. "Ah, an Uchiha. I've heard stories about your clan from the elders."

Sasuke's expression darkened for a moment, but he quickly schooled his features back to neutrality. "What can you do?" he asked bluntly.

Sakura felt a twinge of disappointment. She had hoped for a more impressed reaction, but she pressed on. "Well, I can't summon the larger battle rabbits yet. My chakra reserves are still too small. But Mochi has been teaching me some techniques."

She walked over to a nearby tree and placed one foot on the trunk. Concentrating, she channeled chakra to her feet and began to walk up the tree vertically. She made it about halfway up before stopping and looking down at Sasuke.

"It's called tree walking," she explained. "It's all about precise chakra control."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of interest showing through his usual stoic demeanor. "Hn. Let me try."

He approached the tree and placed a foot on the trunk. With a burst of chakra, he attempted to take a step up but immediately slipped off, leaving a small indentation in the bark.

Frowning, Sasuke tried again, this time making it two steps before falling back. His third attempt yielded similar results.

Mochi watched with interest. "You're using too much chakra," he observed. "It's causing the wood to splinter and pushing you away from the tree."

Sasuke shot the rabbit a glare but said nothing, focusing on his next attempt.

"Sakura-chan has near-perfect chakra control," Mochi continued. "Which makes techniques like this easier for her. However, she benefits from having a very small chakra pool. It gets harder the more chakra one has, and you, Uchiha-san, have much more than her."

Sakura felt her cheeks flush with a mixture of pride and embarrassment. She was glad to hear praise for her control, but the mention of her small reserves stung.

"My reserves aren't that small," she muttered defensively.

Mochi turned to her, his nose twitching. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan, but compared to most ninja, your reserves are quite pathetic."

Sakura's face burned with humiliation. She glanced at Sasuke, hoping he hadn't heard, but the slight smirk on his face told her otherwise.

Determined to prove herself, Sakura marched back to the tree. "I'll show you pathetic," she grumbled, beginning to climb again.

For the next hour, Sakura and Sasuke practiced tree walking side by side. Sakura found she could make it all the way to the top of the tree, but each ascent left her more and more drained. Sasuke, on the other hand, made steady progress, his steps becoming more assured with each attempt.

As Sakura's breathing grew labored and her limbs began to shake with exertion, Mochi hopped over to her. "I think that's enough for today, Sakura-chan. You don't want to risk chakra exhaustion."

Sakura wanted to argue, but she knew the rabbit was right. She slumped against the tree trunk, watching as Sasuke continued to practice.

"I'll be taking my leave now," Mochi announced. "Remember, Sakura-chan, slow and steady progress is better than pushing yourself too hard." With that, the rabbit disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Sakura remained seated, catching her breath as she watched Sasuke. His determination was admirable, but she could see fatigue setting in. His movements were becoming less precise, his breathing more labored.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Sasuke stepped away from the tree. His face was flushed with exertion, and a thin sheen of sweat covered his brow. He walked over to where Sakura sat and, to her surprise, lowered himself to the ground beside her.

They sat in silence for a few moments, both recovering from their training. Sakura snuck glances at Sasuke, marveling at how even exhausted, he managed to look cool and composed.

"Why?" Sasuke's voice broke the silence, startling Sakura.

"Why what?" she asked, confused.

Sasuke turned to look at her, his dark eyes intense. "Why do you want to get strong? Is it just to impress me?"

Sakura felt her face heat up again, this time from embarrassment at being so transparent. She considered lying but decided honesty was the best policy. "Well... yes," she admitted. "At first, it was to get your attention."

Sasuke scoffed, turning away. "I don't have time for such foolishness."

Sakura's heart sank, but she pressed on. "What about your goal to rebuild your clan? Isn't that important too?"

Sasuke's jaw clenched. "Dealing with... that man... is more important right now."

"That man?" Sakura asked, curiosity overriding her usual caution around Sasuke's past.

"The one I have to kill," Sasuke said, his voice low and filled with a hatred that made Sakura shiver. "I'm an avenger. There's no point in having a family before he's dealt with."

As Sakura processed Sasuke's words, something clicked in her mind. A flash of insight, beyond what she would have expected from herself at this age, illuminated the situation. She realized that deep down, Sasuke was afraid. Afraid that whoever he wanted to kill would target his family again if he wasn't already dead.

She opened her mouth, ready to share this revelation, but stopped herself just in time. She knew instinctively that boys, especially ones like Sasuke, didn't like to talk about their feelings. Mentioning her insight would likely undo all the progress she had made today.

Instead, Sakura took a deep breath and chose her words carefully. "I understand," she said softly. "Your goal is important to you. But... you don't have to do it alone, you know."

Sasuke glanced at her, his expression guarded. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Sakura continued, her heart pounding, "I could be your supporter. I may not be as strong as you, but I can help in other ways. With my chakra control, I could learn medical ninjutsu to keep you patched up. Or I could help with strategy and planning. Two heads are better than one, right?"

Sasuke was quiet for a long moment, and Sakura held her breath, afraid she had overstepped.

Finally, he spoke. "You'd have to get a lot stronger."

It wasn't quite acceptance, but it wasn't a rejection either. Sakura felt hope bloom in her chest.

"I will," she promised fervently. "I'll train harder than anyone. I'll become someone you can rely on, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke stood up, brushing dirt from his shorts. "We'll see," he said. But as he turned to leave, he paused and looked back at her. "Same time tomorrow?"

Sakura's heart soared. "Definitely!" she exclaimed, jumping to her feet despite her exhaustion.

As Sasuke walked away, Sakura allowed herself a small victory dance. It wasn't a declaration of love, but it was a start. She had his attention now, and she was determined to keep it.

With renewed determination, Sakura began the walk home. Her muscles ached and her chakra reserves felt depleted, but her spirit was soaring. She had a new purpose now, beyond just winning Sasuke's affection. She would become strong, not just for him, but for herself as well.

As she walked, Sakura's mind raced with plans. She would need to increase her stamina and chakra reserves. Perhaps she could ask her parents for additional training. And she'd definitely need to visit the library to research medical ninjutsu and strategy.

The sun was setting as Sakura reached her house. She paused at the door, looking back in the direction of the training ground. "Just you wait, Sasuke-kun," she whispered. "I'll become the best supporter you could ask for. And maybe... maybe someday, you'll see me as more than just that."

With that promise to herself, Sakura entered her home, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in her pursuit of strength and Sasuke's acknowledgment.