She woke up suddenly, with a tight heart and labored breathing. She felt the familiar dampness sliding down his cheeks and soaking the pillow. She turned to his left and saw the small clock on the nightstand. 6:00 a.m. It was early, but he couldn't go back to sleep. Today was his day off, perhaps she could make the most of it.
She wiped his face and sat up when a sound came from the closed door of his room. For a moment, she prepared for any threat until remembered she no longer lived alone.
When he got up to open it, she was met with loud meowing.
"Good morning, Tora-chan. Are you hungry?" Sakura greeted the little cat, who was already starting to climb on her, something that was becoming a habit. She helped her up, placing her on her shoulder and listening to her purrs, which were becoming her weakness.
She filled her bowl with food, and Tora jumped off her shoulder to eat enthusiastically.
She watched her devour her food while reflecting on how something so small and fluffy could be so destructive.
She recalled the events of the first day.
That first night, she left her in the living room thinking she would fall asleep on the couch. But at midnight, she felt something climbing up her bed. In an instant, she had the cursed chakra in her hand, ready for anything. She heard a high-pitched meow and something running quickly to the side of the wardrobe. It was the bright, frightened eyes in the dark that reminded her she now had a cat.
Feeling guilty, she spent a few minutes crouching in front of her, calling and soothing her, and when she finally approached, she showered her with affection.
Sakura wasn't sure if it was a good idea to let her sleep with her, especially knowing how she sometimes woke up from her nightmares and reacted instinctively to any movement or noise. So she didn't take the risk and took her back to the couch, then returned to her room, this time closing the door. She ignored the knocks on her door all night, though they certainly annoyed her.
The next day, she had to go to work. She left food and water for her. She planned to buy a collar and everything necessary to install a pet door at the entrance, so she could come and go as she pleased.
When she returned home, she expected to find a sweet, obedient kitten waiting for her and a house that looked the same as it did before she left. But none of those expectations were met.
Upon entering, the first thing she noticed was the smell. Gross! She had no idea cat poop could smell so bad. She tried to put on her indoor shoes but only found one. As she walked further, she found more and more signs of destruction.
She saw two socks lying around the living room that weren't even from the same pair, another shoe that wasn't the indoor one, and her combat boot! How could she have moved it, it was heavy!
The small plant that used to add a touch of life to the living room table was dismembered, with the soil from its pot scattered as if there had been a miniature tornado. The edges of the couch showed claw marks, and she noticed a suspicious stain on one of the cushions. Upon closer inspection, its unpleasant origin was revealed: urine. The smell was nauseating.
The kitchen was no better; it was as if a hurricane had swept through. Pieces of glass decorated the floor, clear evidence that someone had climbed the countertop and knocked over the glass she had left before leaving. The snack bag had been mercilessly torn apart, and its contents lay scattered as if a wild feast had taken place.
Her heart sank at the sight of the mess.
With the culprit absent, she began her search in the bathroom, but had no luck. Anxiety took hold of Sakura as she moved towards her bedroom, fearing the worst.
But when she opened the door, she sighed with relief. The chaos hadn't reached there.
There she was! The little four-legged terrorist, wrapped in her own serenity as if she had done nothing wrong, resting peacefully on her bed next to the other pair of her indoor shoe. At least she had found it.
Sakura approached the edge of the bed, stared intently at the embodied demon, while her mind raced, questioning her life choices and noticing yet another urine stain. 'No way' she thought, horrified.
Her brow furrowed with growing fury. The descendant of the devil himself must have sensed the danger, because she opened her eyes, hypnotic blue and green, scanning the room until she saw her. In an instant, she let out a joyful meow and rushed towards her, as if the house wasn't a disaster because of her. She sat in front of Sakura, emitting a symphony of meows that seemed to say, "What's wrong? Aren't you happy to see me?"
Sakura stared at her, thinking about the punishment she deserved. She had read somewhere that cats needed discipline, though not with hitting, of course, but something had to be done.
When Tora-chan realized she wouldn't be picked up or petted, the cunning creature climbed desperately until she reached the height of her chin. Her high-pitched cry echoed in the room.
"I'm not going to fall for your tricks" Sakura said angrily, though her words sounded more like an attempt to convince herself than a statement of certainty. Nevertheless, she resisted the temptation to pick her up, to cuddle her, and to give in to her demand for affection.
Then began the staring contest, a silent but intense battle she felt she was losing. But she knew she had to stay firm, even though every fiber of her being longed to give in to that little ball of fur and bright eyes.
Tora's audacity knew no bounds. In a quick move, she climbed onto her shoulder and with a clawless paw began to explore her face, as if trying to claim every inch of her attention. Despite the temptation, Sakura kept resisting, determined not to give in.
She had faced worse situations! She could handle this.
Right?
And then, she felt the cat's soft head rubbing against her cheek, a gesture that seemed to implore her to give in.
Murmuring a curse in a barely audible whisper, she acknowledged her weakness. Damn it.
With a resigned sigh, she slightly turned her head and placed a small kiss on the manipulative creature's head. She knew she needed to train her resistance soon if she wanted to maintain control in future similar encounters.
It took her a whole hour to clean up the mess and another half-hour to brush the sofa cushion, waiting impatiently for it to dry. Fortunately, at least he used his litter box for the other thing.
With no other place to sleep, she had no choice but to flip her mattress, praying that no stain had seeped through to the other side. To her relief, it hadn't. The next day, she washed it and left it in the sun to air out.
Meanwhile, her gaze drifted to the ceiling, questioning whether she had made the right decision in adopting her. However, watching her eat without worries, without a trace of fear or distrust, she felt she had made the right choice.
'The litter box smell is a problem' she suddenly remembered, frowning at the discomfort of the situation. She wasn't willing to risk leaving the windows open, knowing how dangerous it could be, especially now with someone like Getou knowing about her. She needed to find an alternative solution as soon as possible.
Maybe a seal, yes, that could work. She could tweak one designed to suppress chakra, completely useless here, and turn it into something that nullifies odors. Perfect!
She also had to find time to go to the casino as soon as possible. She needed money not only to buy a collar and pet doors but also scratching posts and toys. She couldn't let her get bored at home again.
Weren't cats supposed to be low maintenance? She felt cheated.
With a full belly, Tora went to lie down on the couch again. One more thing she had to buy: a cat bed. But would it be necessary? She had seen her fall asleep on the shoes she stole and in the strangest positions.
Anyway, now that she was asleep, she would go train in the forest; she certainly hadn't been able to do that the last two nights.
After a nutritious breakfast and getting her things ready, she disappeared.
The fresh air of the forest made her feel rejuvenated. She loved being among the trees; they brought her peace and awakened a nostalgia for her old village, known for its dense forests.
The trees of Konoha, Hashirama's trees as they were called, were much bigger and taller. They could support the continuous weight of hundreds of ninjas leaping through their branches at dizzying speeds. Even so, she made do with what she had here.
She began her warm-up routine, always challenging herself and adding an extra lap in less time. She added 50 more push-ups and squats, as well as an extra half-hour of kata practice.
Additionally, today she wanted to practice with the Hiraishin. She simply wasn't willing to give up such a powerful technique so easily. It would be a waste, and Sakura never wasted anything.
For the past few days, she had been meditating whenever she had a free moment, especially at work, aiming to improve her control over cursed energy and, at the same time, regain her chakra control to the level she had during her best times in the war. She had lost it when she arrived in this world, as cursed energy invaded her body. Of course, her current level was high, but it wasn't enough if she wanted to even consider using the Fourth's technique in battle and not die in the attempt.
Having finished her warm-up, she placed a kunai on a tree, with the Hiraishin seal engraved on it, and moved a considerable distance away. Then, she teleported.
She appeared next to the tree again. The familiar burning sensation coursed through her limbs, but it wasn't too painful. She tried it several more times at different distances, and on the last few attempts, the pain decreased, but it still wasn't at a level she could endure in a fight.
Irritation began to rise in Sakura.
It was very difficult; it wasn't just about control but also extreme concentration. The problem was with the stupid energy of this world. She struggled to move it at the same pace as her chakra, and thus couldn't expel the same amount at the same time.
But damned if she would give up, she would master it one way or another. It didn't matter if she no longer had the use for which she was initially taught. It didn't matter that she was no longer at war, that she had decided to live peacefully. It would be an insult to the efforts of Kakashi-sensei and Obito for teaching her despite their limitations if she kept it at the level it was now.
She kept practicing with increasingly greater distances, also improving in estimating distances by sight, at least as far as she could see. It was another limitation she might never overcome; she couldn't estimate distances beyond what her eyes could see. But for now, she would be content with being able to use the Hiraishin to move at high speed in the midst of battle.
She continued and continued until she felt her body was a living furnace.
"I think that's enough for today," she murmured with resignation. The training had barely lasted, but she didn't want to overextend herself. She was exhausted, and her body ached in every fiber.
She was still far from reaching the full potential of the technique again, but she would get there.
Upon returning home, everything was quiet. It seemed Tora-chan hadn't woken up yet. She headed to her room, and there she was, comfortably curled up on her bed. What a little rascal, she hadn't given her permission to sleep there, but she didn't have the strength to scold her now. If what the vet said about cats sleeping most of the day was true, then when and how had she caused so much chaos the other time? A real mystery.
Sakura looked at her with a hint of envy and decided she could allow herself to sleep a little more too.
She was in the midst of her workday at the hospital, moving swiftly from room to room, ensuring all her patients were well taken care of. She was heading to reception after tending to a patient who had broken his arm. She had healed him faster than she had allowed herself to do so far, putting him under a genjutsu so he wouldn't notice. She didn't care if they bothered her with that damn nickname again. She couldn't stand his lustful gaze any longer and needed him discharged before she broke all his other limbs herself.
As she walked down the hall, she heard the familiar lilting laughter of Ayumi, sounding quite cheerful, and another voice that sounded suspiciously familiar.
Praying to all the gods of her world, this world, and any other world that existed, she would become a believer—seriously!—if they heard her pleas.
Turning the corner of the hallway, she unfortunately confirmed her suspicions, seeing the reason for Ayumi's happiness and for her own dismay.
She tried to stay calm as she approached the reception desk. The striking and unmistakable presence of Gojo unsettled her. Was he here for Ayumi? Please let it be so.
He was dressed casually, in a light blue shirt, black pants, and his inevitable dark glasses. Didn't he have work? Some curse to exorcise? Wasn't he a teacher or something?
Their eyes met briefly. The sorcerer's smile widened upon seeing her, a flash of recognition and amusement crossing his face. Sakura decided to ignore him, quickly looking away and continuing her way to the head nurse, who was reviewing some documents behind the counter.
Even if she tried to whisper, Ayumi wasn't the most discreet person, and Sakura easily heard the question directed at the white-haired man, "Do you know her?" Whatever his response was, it was out of her reach and she didn't care.
"Emi, here are the forms you asked for" Sakura said, handing over the papers.
The chubby woman looked up and smiled, taking the forms.
"Thank you, Sakura. Always so efficient. Could you help me fill them out, please?"
"Sure," she replied, even though she really wanted to get out of there.
Trying to concentrate on her work and not on the unsettling presence of Gojo a few meters away, Sakura could feel his gaze on her from time to time, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
While Emi reviewed the documents, Sakura took the opportunity to steal a quick glance in Gojo's direction. He was still talking to Ayumi, who was practically melting from his attention.
"Sakura, are you alright?" Emi asked, noticing her distraction.
Sakura forced a smile and nodded. "Yes, just a bit tired. That's all."
The head gave her a sympathetic look but her eyes hardened as she looked behind Sakura.
"Ayumi-san, it's work hours. You can flirt all you want after your shift," she said in a tone that left no room for argument.
The poor blonde was completely embarrassed. "I-I'm sorry!" She turned to her companion, apologizing. Sakura didn't hear the entire conversation aside from her colleague's giggles, but the next thing she knew, Gojo's presence disappeared and Ayumi returned to her duties with little hops of joy.
Oh my god.
Sakura took a deep breath, feeling her body relax now that the annoying presence was gone. She couldn't let this affect her. She had to focus on her work and maintain her calm and orderly life.
It was a miracle she hadn't healed anyone with her chakra today. She was sure that if she manifested her belt charged with cursed energy even for half a second, he would know.
The sky was beginning to be painted with the colors of the sunset as Sakura walked through the halls, her mind lost in thoughts about the day. She was looking forward to getting home and enjoying a well-deserved rest with Tora (if by some miracle, she didn't find her house turned upside down). However, her tranquility was interrupted when she exited the hospital and saw him.
Gojo was lounging nonchalantly against a lamppost, arms crossed as if posing for a fashion magazine. Ugh. The way his head tilted slightly toward her made it clear he knew perfectly well she was approaching.
Sakura walked in the direction of her home, determined to ignore him. 'Don't talk to me, don't talk to me.'
"Dango girl! Long time no see, right?" he greeted her cheerfully.
Too much to ask for.
She sighed mentally, greeting back with a neutral tone "Gojo-san."
"So dry" he complained, then brightened again, "So you do remember me, huh? I almost thought otherwise a few hours ago" his tone a mix of jest and reproach.
She merely looked at him indifferently. "You seemed busy."
His smile widened. "You mean my date? Charming woman, isn't she?"
Sakura bit her tongue to avoid asking him if he at least remembered her name. Not her problem.
"She is. I imagine you're waiting for her now. Take good care of Ayumi... Goodbye." She turned, ready to resume her walk home.
She heard his laughter in the background. "I will… until next time, Dango girl." Sakura ignored the mysterious tone of his farewell, just as she ignored the "So that's what her name was" that she caught with her enhanced hearing.
What a great idiot.
It didn't matter; he was here for Ayumi, not for her. He was simply a jerk who couldn't remember the names of his dates. He wasn't stalking her, he didn't suspect her.
No, of course not.
She kept repeating that the entire way home, even when she arrived and Tora climbed up her, or when she cleaned up pieces of toilet paper scattered all over the house, or when she searched for the other pair of her combat boot, or when she tried to have dinner while keeping Tora off the table, or when she rushed out of the bathroom naked because she heard the sound of dishes moving, or even as she went to bed ignoring the knocks and meows at her door.
Yes, it wasn't about her.
She prayed to the gods again, promising to truly become devout if they listened to her. She promised! They could at least listen this time, right? She wasn't asking for much, just that that man wouldn't show up at the hospital or anywhere in her life and that he only came because he miraculously realized Ayumi was worth it and asked her for another date. That their encounter that time had been completely insignificant to him and he wasn't here because he suspected her.
She wasn't asking for much, right?
...
...
...
He showed up the next day.
...
And the day after that.
...
And the day after that.
...
Sakura swore she would be an atheist for the rest of her life.