Forged Beyond

Moon vs Flower

Sakura stepped into the dimly lit room that had been prepared for her by Orochimaru and Kabuto. It was sparse, functional, and eerily cold. The walls and floor, made of smooth stone, did little to provide comfort. A simple single bed rested in the left corner, its sheets neatly tucked in. An L-shaped wooden table stood in the opposite corner, taking up much of the space, with a large bookshelf beside it, packed tightly with tomes and scrolls. A tall, dark closet stood along the same wall as the door, and a smaller door to the left led to an adjoining bathroom.

She exhaled, stepping further in, her fingers brushing over the table's polished surface.

"Looks like Lady Tsunade mentioned all my needs... That's good. The books... I'm impressed," she murmured, eyeing the extensive collection. "Well, I do have to spend the next five to seven months here..."

Her gaze shifted to the closet. Stretching her arms above her head, she walked toward it, tugging it open. Her green eyes widened slightly.

"Lady Tsunade... You really did take care of all my needs," she whispered, running her fingers over the neatly folded fabric. Four pairs of her shinobi uniform were stacked on one shelf. To the left, two pairs of netted high socks that reached her thighs and black knee-high socks were folded meticulously. A black travel cloak hung beside two ninja pouches, and below them were her casual outfits—four simple tops, two black and two a muted shade of pink, along with her usual black skirt and shorts.

A rare, warm smile softened her expression. "Thank you... Lady Tsunade."

Without wasting time, she changed into her usual outfit, fastening her ninja pouch securely before her eyes landed on the table, her bag sitting beside it, still packed with her most crucial scrolls.

"I could use a bit of study."

She pulled the chair out and sat down, candlelight flickering against the parchment as she unraveled her scrolls. The hours passed in a blur of ink and diagrams. Medical ninjutsu complexities twisted her mind into knots, surgical procedures left her mentally drained, and at the center of it all—the seal she had tirelessly worked on for three years. The Byakugou Seal.

She never realized when exhaustion pulled her under.

The candles had long since melted, three nothing but pools of wax, while two remained flickering dimly. A sudden knock jolted her from slumber.

Sakura groaned, her brow twitching. Another knock. Then another.

"I'm going to kill whoever this is..." she muttered, rubbing her face as she stood, yanking her slightly cropped red top-down and fixing her skirt before stomping to the door.

The moment she yanked it open, fist ready, she froze.

"Sakura."

She blinked. "Oh, it's you. What is it, Sasuke-kun?" she murmured, still half-asleep as she rubbed her eyes.

"Orochimaru makes us train at 4 a.m. He wants you and Naruto to follow the same routine. Get dressed and meet outside." Sasuke's tone was cool, clipped.

"It's 4 a.m. already?" Sakura groaned. "Gosh, fine, I'll get dressed."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly. "Did you not sleep last night?"

"No."

"Hn. Why?"

Sakura smirked, stepping aside and gesturing toward the mess of books, scrolls, and papers strewn across the table.

"You were studying?" he asked, eyeing the chaotic workspace.

"Yeah." She turned, heading toward the bathroom, leaving the door open—a silent permission for him to enter.