Sakura flopped into her desk chair, exhaustion and contentment washing over her in equal measure. The sounds of her birthday party still echoed from downstairs – her parents cleaning up, a few stragglers chatting as they made their way out. She closed her eyes, replaying the day's events in her mind.

The party had been a surprising success. She'd half-expected it to be a disaster, given the complex web of rivalries and crushes that defined her class's social dynamics. But somehow, it had all come together.

Of course, most of the girls had shown up solely because Sasuke was there. Sakura couldn't entirely blame them – she'd have done the same in their shoes. But it still irked her to see them fawning over him, even as she tried to remind herself that she was the one who got to train with him regularly.

Her gaze drifted to the scroll Sasuke had given her, sitting on her nightstand. A warm flutter ran through her chest at the thought. It wasn't exactly a romantic gift, but coming from Sasuke, it meant more than any flowery sentiment. He'd noticed her struggle with chakra capacity and had taken the time to find exercises to help. It showed he was paying attention, that he cared about her progress.

Still, a small frown creased her brow as she thought about it. Her chakra reserves were a constant source of frustration. She was firmly in the middle of the class in that regard, but it felt like she was falling further and further behind her regular sparring partners.

Sasuke and Hinata, both from prestigious clans, had reserves that seemed to grow by leaps and bounds. It was to be expected, she supposed. They had generations of refined chakra control in their blood.

But Naruto... Sakura shook her head in disbelief. That knucklehead had chakra reserves that defied logic. Where did it all come from? He was an orphan, with no known clan affiliations. By all rights, he should have been average at best. Instead, he had more chakra than he knew what to do with.

It didn't make sense. Surely, if he came from some powerful lineage, a clan would have claimed him as a baby. The more she thought about it, the more questions arose. But she pushed the thoughts aside. It wasn't her mystery to solve, and dwelling on it would only lead to more frustration.

Instead, she let her mind wander to more pleasant memories from the party. She'd caught glimpses of Naruto and Hinata talking throughout the day. It brought a smile to her face to see how far Hinata had come. The shy girl no longer looked ready to faint at the mere sight of her crush. She could hold a conversation with Naruto now, even if her face still turned an impressive shade of red.

For his part, Naruto seemed oblivious as ever to Hinata's feelings. But Sakura had noticed a change in him too. His requests for dates had become less frequent, and he seemed genuinely happy just to have friends to spend time with.

Sakura's thoughts were interrupted by a loud growl from her stomach. She groaned, placing a hand on her midsection. The yesterday after training they had ended going on a trip to Ichiraku Ramen, and she was still regretting the single bowl she'd eaten.

One bowl had been more than enough for her. Sasuke, ever disciplined, had stopped at two. Naruto, predictably, had plowed through five bowls with his usual gusto.

But Hinata... Sakura still couldn't wrap her head around it. The petite, soft-spoken girl had put away eight bowls of ramen. Eight! And she'd only stopped because she'd noticed people staring. Sakura was certain Hinata would have happily kept going if not for embarrassment.

Where did she put it all? Sakura glanced down at her own body, suddenly feeling self-conscious. She worked hard to stay fit and trim, carefully watching what she ate. Meanwhile, Hinata could apparently eat her weight in ramen and still maintain her figure.

"It's not fair," Sakura muttered to herself, then immediately felt guilty. Hinata was her friend, and a good one at that. She shouldn't be jealous over something so trivial.

Besides, Hinata had given her some unexpectedly good advice recently. When Sakura had complained about Naruto's boundless energy and how exhausting it was to deal with him, Hinata had simply smiled and said, "Think of it as training for having rambunctious children someday."

The comment had caught Sakura off guard. She'd been so focused on the idea of having Sasuke's children that she hadn't really considered what it would be like to actually raise them. If they inherited even a fraction of the Uchiha intensity... well, maybe dealing with Naruto wasn't such bad practice after all.

Sakura's eyes drifted around her room, taking in the remnants of the party. Balloons tied to her chair, a stack of gifts on her desk, streamers hanging from the ceiling. Her gaze landed on her bed, and she blinked in surprise.

There, sitting innocently on her pillow, was a package she didn't remember seeing before. It was small, wrapped in simple brown paper, but what caught her attention was the stamp on top – a rabbit's paw print.

Excitement bubbled up inside her as she reached for the package. She carefully unwrapped it, revealing a scroll and a small note. The note was brief, written in an elegant, flowing script:

"Happy Birthday, young summoner. Your progress has been noted. Please visit during the next new moon. We have much to discuss. - Queen Joousa"

Sakura's heart raced as she unrolled the scroll. It was a reverse summoning scroll, she realized. This would allow her to travel to the Great Warren without expending her own chakra.

She rushed to her calendar, quickly counting the days. The new moon was just a week away. A whole week to wait! She wasn't sure if she was more excited or nervous about the upcoming meeting.

What did Queen Joousa want to discuss? Had she made a breakthrough in her research? Or was this about something else entirely?

Sakura flopped back onto her bed, clutching the scroll to her chest. Despite her impatience, a smile spread across her face. This was the perfect cap to an already fantastic birthday.

As she lay there, Sakura couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed in the past year. She'd made real progress in her training, both with her summons and with her classmates. She was closer to Sasuke than ever before, even if it wasn't quite the romantic relationship she dreamed of. She'd helped Hinata gain confidence and made a real friend in the process.

Even her rivalry with Ino had evolved. There was still tension between them, of course – they were both still vying for Sasuke's attention, after all. But there was a grudging respect there too. Ino had been at the party, and while they hadn't exactly been warm and fuzzy, they'd managed to be civil. It was progress.

Sakura's thoughts drifted to her training. The exercises Sasuke had given her would help, she was sure, but she knew she needed to push herself harder. Her perfect chakra control was an advantage, but it wouldn't be enough on its own. She needed to expand her reserves if she wanted to keep up with her peers.

She thought about Naruto and his seemingly endless chakra. While she didn't have his raw power, maybe she could learn something from his stamina. He never seemed to tire, always bouncing back no matter how hard he was knocked down.

Perhaps she could incorporate more physical training into her routine. Building her stamina might help with her chakra reserves too. And if nothing else, it would help her keep up during their sparring sessions.

Her mind wandered to her summons. The rabbits had taught her so much already, but she knew there was still a wealth of knowledge to be gained from them. Queen Joousa, in particular, seemed to have secrets she was only beginning to share.

Sakura sat up, suddenly restless with excitement and determination. She grabbed a notebook from her desk and began jotting down ideas for her training regimen. If she was going to meet with Queen Joousa in a week, she wanted to show that she had been working hard.

As she wrote, a small part of her marveled at how much her goals had shifted. A year ago, her sole focus had been on winning Sasuke's heart. Now, while that was still her primary goal, it wasn't her only goal. She wanted to be stronger, smarter, a better ninja in her own right.

She paused in her writing, tapping her pen against her chin thoughtfully. Maybe that was the key. By focusing on improving herself, she was naturally drawing people to her. Sasuke respected her more now that she was a worthy training partner. Hinata had opened up to her once Sakura showed genuine interest in helping her. Even Naruto, annoying as he could be, had become something of a friend.

A yawn interrupted her musings. The excitement of the day was finally catching up with her. Sakura set aside her notebook and snuggled into her bed, the reverse summoning scroll tucked safely in her nightstand drawer.

As she drifted off to sleep, a contented smile played on her lips. Nine years old, and already she felt like she was on the path to something great. She couldn't wait to see what the next year would bring.

The week leading up to the new moon passed in a blur of training and anticipation for Sakura. She threw herself into the exercises Sasuke had given her with renewed vigor, determined to show improvement when they next sparred. She also started incorporating more physical training into her routine, pushing her body to its limits in hopes of increasing her stamina and, by extension, her chakra reserves.

In between her personal training sessions, she continued to meet with Sasuke, Naruto, and Hinata for group practice. The dynamics of their little group had settled into a comfortable rhythm. Sasuke remained aloof but engaged, offering terse critiques that Sakura knew were his way of showing he cared. Naruto brought his usual boundless energy, pushing them all to work harder even as he cracked jokes. And Hinata, while still quiet, had become a steady presence, her gentle encouragement balancing out Sasuke's bluntness and Naruto's brashness.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Sakura found herself enjoying these sessions more and more. The variety of fighting styles kept her on her toes, forcing her to adapt and improve. She still relished her one-on-one time with Sasuke, but she had to admit that training with the others was making her a better ninja.

As the day of the new moon approached, Sakura's excitement grew. She peppered Mochi with questions about the Great Warren and Queen Joousa, but the rabbit remained tight-lipped, insisting that it wasn't his place to reveal the Queen's intentions.

Finally, the night of the new moon arrived. Sakura waited until her parents had gone to bed before pulling out the reverse summoning scroll. Her heart pounded as she unrolled it, a mix of anticipation and nerves coursing through her.

Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand on the scroll and channeled a small amount of chakra into it. There was a puff of smoke, and suddenly the world around her blurred and shifted.

When the smoke cleared, Sakura found herself standing in the heart of the Great Warren. The underground city was just as awe-inspiring as she remembered, with thousands of rabbits going about their business in the vast network of tunnels and chambers.

"Welcome back, young summoner," a familiar voice said.

Sakura turned to see Queen Joousa approaching, flanked by the large Caerbannog. The elderly rabbit looked much as Sakura remembered – still impressively large for a rabbit, though not the towering size of a typical boss summon, with fur that had gone silver with age and eyes that sparkled with wisdom and mischief in equal measure.

"Thank you for inviting me, Queen Joousa," Sakura said, bowing respectfully. "I've been looking forward to this visit all week."

The Queen chuckled. "I'm sure you have. You've always been an inquisitive one. Come, let's talk somewhere more private."

She led Sakura through the warren to a cozy chamber that seemed to serve as a personal study. Shelves lined the walls, filled with scrolls and curious objects Sakura couldn't identify. In the center of the room was a low table surrounded by cushions.

As they settled onto the cushions, a younger rabbit appeared with a tray of tea and what looked like carrot cakes. Sakura accepted a cup gratefully, the familiar ritual helping to calm her nerves.

"Now then," Queen Joousa said, fixing Sakura with a penetrating gaze. "I've been keeping an eye on your progress, and I must say, I'm impressed. You've shown remarkable dedication to your training, both with your summons and with your peers."

Sakura felt a flush of pride at the praise. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I've been working hard to improve."

The Queen nodded approvingly. "Indeed you have. And it's that dedication that has led me to make a decision." She paused, taking a sip of her tea. "I believe it's time to advance your training."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Really? What kind of training?"

"Tell me, child," Queen Joousa said, setting down her cup. "What do you know about the nature of chakra?"

Sakura's brow furrowed as she considered the question. "Well, chakra is the combination of physical and spiritual energy. It flows through the body's chakra network and can be molded to perform jutsu. Different types of jutsu require different ratios of physical and spiritual energy."

"A textbook answer," the Queen said, nodding. "But there's more to it than that. Chakra is, in essence, life energy. It connects all living things, binding us to the world around us."

She gestured to the room around them. "Everything you see here – the earth that forms these tunnels, the plants that provide our food, even the air we breathe – all of it contains chakra in some form."

Sakura leaned forward, fascinated. This went beyond anything they'd learned at the academy. "But how does that relate to my training?"

Queen Joousa smiled, a glint in her eye. "Tell me, Sakura. What is the primary challenge you face in your training right now?"

"My chakra reserves," Sakura answered immediately. "They're not growing as quickly as I'd like, especially compared to my classmates."

The Queen nodded. "And why do you think that is?"

Sakura hesitated. "Well... I've always assumed it was because I don't come from a ninja clan. My parents are shinobi, but they're not from any prestigious lineage."

"That's part of it," Queen Joousa agreed. "But it's not the whole story. You see, Sakura, your chakra control is exceptional. In fact, it's so good that your body has become incredibly efficient at using chakra. You can do more with less, which is a valuable skill. But it also means your body hasn't been pushed to produce more chakra."

Sakura's mind raced as she processed this information. "So... how do I change that?"

"By learning to connect with the chakra around you," the Queen said. "By understanding that your own chakra is part of a greater whole. Once you grasp this, you can learn to draw on the natural energy around you, supplementing your own reserves."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Is that... is that safe? I've heard stories about people turning to stone trying to use natural energy."

Queen Joousa's eyes twinkled with amusement at Sakura's concern. "You're right to be cautious, child. Natural energy is indeed dangerous when mishandled. But fear not, we're not going to be throwing you to the wolves – or should I say, the toads?"

She chuckled at her own joke before continuing. "Typically, only those with truly massive amounts of chakra can even attempt such a thing. Those uppity frogs have had multiple sages in the last several decades, but most don't start such training until much later in life."

The Queen's whiskers twitched in annoyance. "But we rabbits have our own methods. We may not be as flashy as the toads, but we're far from helpless."

Sakura leaned forward, intrigued. "What kind of methods?"

"We rabbits are skilled in the arts of elixirs," Joousa explained, a hint of pride in her voice. "Only the Slugs rival us in this field. We've developed ways to... shall we say, ease the process of chakra expansion."

The old rabbit's expression grew serious. "However, I must warn you – this method is not without risk. It's experimental in nature, especially for a human as young as yourself."

Sakura squared her shoulders, determination shining in her eyes. "To be a ninja is to walk with death," she quoted solemnly.

Queen Joousa's laughter filled the chamber, a dark, knowing sound that sent shivers down Sakura's spine. "Oh, my dear girl," she said, wiping a tear from her eye. "It's not death you need to worry about. Can you handle life to its fullest?"

Before Sakura could ask what she meant, the Queen continued. "Still, your spirit is admirable. Very well, we shall proceed. You are to use the scroll to summon yourself here every full moon for training. We'll start with the basics and see how you progress."

The elderly rabbit hopped down from her cushion and made her way to one of the shelves. She returned with a small vial filled with a shimmering, iridescent liquid.

"This," she said, holding up the vial, "is our latest concoction. It's designed to help your body acclimate to natural energy gradually, without the risk of petrification. However, its effects on humans are... largely untested."

Sakura eyed the vial warily. "What exactly will it do to me?"

"That, my dear, is part of what we aim to find out," Queen Joousa replied with a mischievous grin. "But in theory, it should help expand your chakra network and increase your sensitivity to natural energy. With proper training, you should be able to draw on the chakra around you to supplement your own reserves."

The Queen's excitement was palpable as she continued. "Just imagine the possibilities, Sakura! With your perfect chakra control and an expanded chakra network, you could become a force to be reckoned with. And who knows what other effects this elixir might have?"

Sakura's mind raced with the implications. This could be the edge she needed to catch up to – and maybe even surpass – her classmates. But the risks...

"What if something goes wrong?" she asked, voicing her concerns.

Queen Joousa's expression softened. "We'll be monitoring you closely, child. At the first sign of trouble, we'll halt the experiment. And remember, you'll only be taking small doses during your monthly visits. We're not about to throw you into the deep end."

The old rabbit placed a paw on Sakura's hand. "The choice is yours, Sakura. No one will think less of you if you decide this is too risky."

Sakura took a deep breath, weighing her options. On one hand, this was incredibly dangerous. She was essentially volunteering to be a test subject for an experimental elixir. On the other hand, the potential benefits were enormous. If this worked, she could finally close the gap between herself and her more naturally gifted classmates.

She thought of Sasuke, of his drive to become stronger at any cost. She thought of Naruto, always pushing himself beyond his limits. And she thought of her own goals, her determination to prove herself as a kunoichi in her own right.

"I'll do it," Sakura said firmly, meeting Queen Joousa's gaze. "I understand the risks, but I'm willing to take them. This is my chance to grow stronger, to become the kunoichi I know I can be."

Queen Joousa nodded, a mix of approval and concern in her eyes. "Very well. We'll begin your training at the next full moon. In the meantime, continue your regular exercises. And Sakura?"

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Be prepared. This journey will not be an easy one. It will test you in ways you cannot yet imagine. But if you persevere, the rewards could be beyond your wildest dreams."

As Sakura prepared to return home, her mind buzzed with excitement and apprehension. She had no idea what the future held, but one thing was certain – her path as a ninja had just taken an unexpected and thrilling turn.