With a calm pace, I savored the gentle caress of the morning breeze as I made my way along the sidewalk. The rush of time wasn't a concern at that moment, as my work shift didn't begin until 6 in the morning, granting me a valuable extra 20 minutes. I mentally calculated the time: the train would depart in 5 minutes and take me to my destination in just 10, leaving me with another 5 minutes to walk to my workplace. It amused me whenever my coworkers commented on my impeccable timing to arrive just on time.

Watching the passing cars, I couldn't help but think back to when I first arrived at this place. I was both dismayed and largely awed by the technological advancement. In my world, technology existed, albeit not very commonly; the most modern forms were only used by governments or the wealthy. Here, it was present even for the most mundane aspects of life, and everything that existed in the elemental nations was practically obsolete technology here. It was jarring at first.

The fascination that engulfed me as I gazed at the ground vehicles was undeniable. Those four-wheeled machines, ingeniously designed, left me marveling at their ability to move at speeds comparable to that of a Chunin-level ninja. And what about airplanes! I still couldn't fully grasp the existence of these aircraft, artifacts without a trace of chakra, capable of soaring through the skies at breathtaking speeds and carrying their passengers to distant destinations in a matter of hours. I often found myself pondering whether the inhabitants of my world, the civilians, would ever reach such a level of technological prowess. The ninjas, known for their pride, were convinced that everything could be achieved through the use of chakra. However, Sakura, upon witnessing the wonders that the people of this world had created with their own hands, made her question that belief. Perhaps, if they had succeeded in the Fourth Ninja War, the subsequent world wars would have taken on a truly global character, devoid of the adjective "ninja," considering that advancements had even reached weapons, some capable of such destruction that they were comparable to S-rank techniques. When she read about the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, she couldn't help but think as if one of those cities had been struck by a bijudama. It frightened her to think what such power would do in the wrong hands.

Although she acknowledged the power and versatility of chakra in many areas of life, she was also aware of the growing boundaries that modern technology was breaking. Each day she was more surprised to see how technology had surpassed even chakra in certain aspects, at least for now. Communication was one of those standout aspects. Watching how a tiny device, barely the size of her hand, could perform a wide range of functions was truly astonishing. The ability to have real-time conversations with people on the other side of the world, even seeing them through a screen, was something that still left her speechless. Moreover, the instant access to virtually unlimited information, without having to spend hours in a library (though she had to admit she still preferred the feeling of a book in her hands), and the ability to capture perfectly clear images in less than a second were incredible technological advances. After three years in this world, she still felt overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge and possibilities surrounding her.

'If only they could see all of this…' she thought sadly, knowing it was impossible.

She set aside her reflections as she approached the bustling station. The sound of the train announcing its arrival focused her on the present. As the doors opened, she immersed herself in the sea of people, all eager to find a seat and reach their destinations. Being surrounded by so many people, so close to her, still made her nervous. It was a sensation that challenged all her ninja instincts; at first, it was almost torturous. She knew she could get to her job faster than the train would reach the next station, but she chose to blend in with the rest of the population, trying to acclimate to civilian life, no matter how uncomfortable it was.

Once everyone boarded and the doors closed, the train began to move. She stood, holding onto a pole. It wasn't necessary; she could stick to the floor if needed, but it would seem strange if, with the jolts and sudden movements caused by the track irregularities, she didn't need support. She was about to resume her reflections when she felt a body collide with hers, interrupting her thoughts.

"S-sorry!"

Her muscles tensed instantly upon feeling the impact. Preparing the mix of energies within her for any attack, she turned and realized it was just a young civilian apologizing to her.

"I-I'm really sorry. I couldn't hold on properly, I'm a bit clumsy," he said with an embarrassed chuckle. He was a tall young man with dark blue hair and black eyes. "Are you hurt, by the way?" he asked with concern.

Sakura tried to relax, forcing a smile despite her discomfort, as the boy hadn't moved far from her. "I'm fine, don't worry."

"Oh, that's good," he said, relieved, but his face turned red almost immediately.

"Are you okay?" she asked now, though she knew he was; it was just a matter of courtesy.

"Y-yeah, I'm okay. Thanks for asking. I'm Keigo, by the way," he introduced himself with a shy smile.

She wasn't particularly keen on engaging in conversation, but she didn't know how to say it without being rude. She might as well keep the conversation going; she would reach her destination soon anyway. "I'm Sakura."

"What a lovely name, it suits you very well. Are you from around here? I don't think I've seen you before, and I'd remember you," he said, looking at her with bright eyes. He seemed to notice how it sounded and rushed to correct himself. "Your hair! I-I mean, your hair. It would be hard to forget," he clarified, completely red.

The young man seemed a bit nervous upon realizing his comment, but Sakura decided to take it in stride. She smiled slightly, feeling a slight discomfort but trying not to show it too much. "Thank you," she attempted to smooth over the situation. "I know it's an unusual shade, and I recently moved to the area," she added, not going into too many details.

"Oh, I'm from the area too! I work nearby in a company…" As the young man continued talking, she decided to listen in the background, allowing her inner mind to gather the information.

She remembered how she used to hate that voice in her youth, always screaming in her mind what she never dared to say out loud. But over time, during the war, she found that Inner had become an invaluable source of support. She learned that it was capable of much more than just shouting her truths; Inner helped her stay calm in times of crisis, analyze situations clearly, and find creative solutions to the challenges she faced.

So she let her mind wander, letting her companion process the information while she remained in a sort of autopilot mode.

After a moment, she began to experience a repugnant sensation, her attention drawn to a deformed and grotesque creature slithering along the walls of the train. It was lilac in color, with a large mouth full of sharp teeth and no eyes. Though not very large, it was clear that it was a curse: cursed spirits born of cursed energy. Only those with a certain amount of this energy could see them, and unfortunately, only those with the ability to control it could destroy them.

Civilians, although possessing cursed energy in small amounts, lacked the necessary control, leading to its residues and the creation of these horrifying creatures. She deeply hated the feeling these spirits emanated; they were so unpleasant that sometimes they reminded her of the Zetsus.

This time, the curse was at a distance from her. Though not a great spirit, incapable of killing its victim, it caused discomfort and malaise, from heaviness and pains to potential nightmares. She knew she had to ignore creatures of this level if she wanted to avoid drawing attention, but she simply couldn't help it.

During the war, her role as a medic was to alleviate or prevent all the discomforts of her comrades and allies. She had internalized this role so much that it had become part of her nature. Destroying those curses meant that an innocent person wouldn't die, or at least wouldn't suffer, and that was motivation enough for her.

She had already begun to shape her power when suddenly, a strange sensation made her stop in her tracks. She felt a pair of eyes fixed on her, as if someone were scrutinizing her intently. She tried to discreetly look around until she found him.

He was a tall, thin man, with a robust build, dark, long hair tied in a half ponytail, with a lock falling over his face. His features were sharp, and each ear was adorned with piercings. His slanted eyes seemed to scrutinize her intensely.

He wore a dark blue yukata that gave him a mysterious air, and over it, he wore a golden rakusu with a pattern of green squares. His attire was elegant and striking, making him stand out among the train crowd.

The feeling of being watched intensified as the man continued to stare at her, his expression serious and unsettling, imprinting itself in her mind as if trying to penetrate her deepest thoughts. A shiver ran down her spine when, after a few moments, his lips curled into a smile. 'Was he a sorcerer? Did he see me looking at the creature?' she thought with a slight panic. Damn it, that wasn't good.

Possibilities and scenarios began to swirl in her head, and she felt trapped in a fog of uncertainty. She couldn't help but feel vulnerable under the penetrating gaze of this stranger.

"I mainly work on that... and you work around here?" she heard him ask. She turned her head towards the young man, remembering she was having a conversation with him. "More or less around here," Sakura replied, picking up the conversation as if nothing had happened, trying to keep her attention divided between interacting with him and the strange presence of the sorcerer she had noticed before.

At moments like this, she was grateful for Inner's presence. Without her, her attention couldn't be in two places at once, and it would be even harder for her to maintain composure in the face of distractions and surprises.

"I thought maybe we could-" Suddenly the train stopped, and the doors opened. They had reached their destination.

"I'm getting off here. It was nice meeting you, Keigo. Goodbye," she hurriedly said goodbye, feeling the need to get away from that situation as quickly as possible. She got off the train without looking back, unaware of the disappointment on the young man's face. Still, she couldn't help but feel those unsettling pair of eyes seemingly following her even after she was out of sight. The feeling of discomfort persisted as she walked away, wondering what it all really meant.

Perhaps it was a curious form of flirting or maybe an indication that she was facing a sorcerer; considering the series of unfavorable events surrounding Team 7, her inclination leaned more towards the latter option. What was baffling was that she hadn't perceived his presence at all; if he really was a sorcerer, he was extraordinarily skilled at hiding his trail, suggesting a considerable level of power. These revelations didn't bode well for her; her self-imposed task was precisely to avoid individuals of such caliber, people like that had connections with the world of sorcery and even if they weren't part of it, they were on the radar of people in high positions. She was not interested remotely in being part of that.

Perhaps it would be prudent to skip ahead in her morning routine and avoid the train for the time being.

She sighed as she walked the remaining five minutes. The entrance of Sugisawa General Hospital loomed before her.

When she arrived, she quickly headed to the locker room to change into her nurse uniform, storing her clothes in the assigned locker with some dismay. It's not that she despised her job; on the contrary, she held a deep respect for this profession. However, she was overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness knowing that she had the potential to do much more than circumstances allowed her. Unfortunately, she lacked the official documents to back up her skills; she didn't even possess them in her previous world, where simply being a disciple of Senju Tsunade was considered more than enough recognition.

Here, everything seemed to be governed by the rigidity of official documents, university certifications, and postgraduate degrees. For someone like her, coming from a place where recognition was based more on practical skills than academic papers, this transition was especially challenging, and she even had to resort to a fake certificate attesting to her secondary education obtained through homeschooling. Working here was a complicated process, with a certain dose of financial persuasion from her contact who she was fortunate enough to meet. Thanks to that, she managed to secure this job.

She acknowledges that she could have opted for jobs in less scrupulous places, where academic requirements were less strict, and they might have even accepted her without asking for any papers. But that wasn't what she desired. Her true passion had always been medicine, and she was determined to dedicate her life to this noble profession, whether in this world or any other she could reach.

After cleaning her hands with soap and hand sanitizer in the small sink available, she headed towards the reception, greeting her colleagues who were finishing their shifts along the way. Amid smiles and friendly gestures, she made her way to her destination, where Emi Tanaka, the head nurse, was waiting for her.

"Good morning, Emi. How's everything going around here?" she asked with a more sincere smile. Emi was a brunette woman, of short stature and chubby features, incredibly kind, and had been an invaluable guide since her arrival at the hospital. She acknowledges that her first days were complicated; she wasn't accustomed to the protocols of this place, and she also had to deal with the mistrust of some of her colleagues. Rumors had spread that she had obtained her position not on her own merits, which created tensions in the workplace. However, she never took those hostilities personally. She perfectly understood her colleagues' concerns; after all, medicine is a field where a small mistake can have catastrophic consequences. She understood that her arrival, under questionable circumstances, could be interpreted as a threat to patients' safety and the team's effectiveness. That's why she worked hard to prove that she was up to the challenge.

She quickly learned all the necessary protocols and procedures, which fortunately didn't differ much from those she had used in her previous experience. She even volunteered to cover night shifts that no one wanted to take, and she worked up to three or four consecutive shifts without being phased. After all, during her time at Konoha Hospital, she had become accustomed to exhausting and demanding days. Over time, she began to earn the respect and trust of her colleagues. She demonstrated that she was committed to her work and had the knowledge and skill necessary to perform it correctly.

"Good morning, Sakura," Emi greeted her with a warm smile while checking her watch. "Always so punctual," she observed playfully. "It's been very... you know, I shouldn't say it," she added in a joking tone. Of course, she knew; it was a common superstition among the staff to avoid mentioning that everything was quiet, as everyone understood the power of words in a hospital environment.

"I definitely know," Sakura replied, laughing. "But it's always a good thing. What do you have for me?" she asked as she began to tie her long ponytail into a tight bun.

Emi handed her the list of rooms and patients she would have to attend to today. She glanced at it for a moment, although it was just a formality; she had memorized every detail with a single glance. "Thank you, Emi. I'll start right away," she said as she handed back the list.

"You really have a good memory," Emi commented admirably. She restrained a smile. "It's just practice," she replied lightly. "See you later, Emi. Make sure to take a break," she bid farewell as she headed towards the first room.

"You're not one to talk," she heard Emi's response from behind with affectionate exasperation. Her workaholic tendencies were already becoming known among her colleagues, she reflected with amusement.

The morning passed between patient and patient, as she attended to changing intravenous lines, drawing blood samples, and providing wound care. As she went about her tasks, she remembered how exhausting it could be to deal directly with patients. When she started working here, she had forgotten how intense face-to-face interaction with those in need of medical attention could be. In her early days as a nurse, under her shisou's tutelage, she had the opportunity to learn from the basics. It was a brief but fundamental period, as her skill was soon required for more delicate and complex procedures.

Before the war, she worked as a medic at Konoha Hospital, and despite her age, she was respected for the most part, and if not, well, let's just say the patient ended up having a longer recovery period. During the war, her word was law when it came to medicine, and no one would dare to question her. So, it was a shock for Sakura when she started working here and realized that some people believed they had the right to lecture her, especially the elderly, or even behave inappropriately, like some young men who became too bold with their comments or actions. At times, she found herself dealing with challenging attitudes or attempts at flirtation, which was disheartening and sometimes downright unpleasant. She had never experienced disrespect of such magnitude before, and it was even more frustrating given the different respect granted to doctors compared to nursing staff. She was a doctor, damn it, papers or not.

These experiences led her to reflect on the lack of recognition and admiration that the nursing profession deserves. The hard work, dedication, and skill required to perform this work with excellence are often overlooked. Nursing is much more than changing bandages or administering medications; it involves a deep human connection and comprehensive patient care in all physical, emotional, and social dimensions. It is a noble and demanding profession that deserves greater recognition and respect from society at large.

Taking a short lunch break, she headed to the cafeteria, killing another tiny cursed spirit on the way. It was common to see them more often in the hospital, as it was a place where deaths occurred frequently and fostered negative feelings in people. After finishing her meal, she returned to her duties.

According to her memory (which never fails), it was now room 201. Itadori Wasuke. A 70-year-old man suffering from lung cancer. Arriving at the room, she opened the door to find her patient lying in bed with a furrowed brow.

"Good morning, Itadori-san! How was your day?" She put on a big jovial smile, knowing she wouldn't get the same in return.

"awful" he grumbled, as she expected. Laughing, she proceeded to review his file.

"I see you skipped your medicine. How do you expect to have a good day if you don't take them?" she questioned, leaving the file and starting to change his intravenous line.

"I never said I wanted a good day."

"No one wants to have a bad day. What did you tell the morning nurse to get away with not taking your medicine? I heard Takada-san complaining about the patient in room 201 in the cafeteria."

"That other idiot nurse can't even do one thing right! Is it so hard to leave the windows halfway open? I've asked him twice and he still can't do it." His angry face made his wrinkles more pronounced.

"Itadori-san," Sakura looked him in the eye. "You need to start treating the nursing staff more kindly. We're all tired; there's no need to make life harder for each other and, consequently, for yourself," she reprimanded with crossed arms.

"Hmm," he huffed without looking at her. Rolling her eyes, she went to fetch his medicine from the cabinets. He was worse than a child.

"Think about the example you'd be setting for Yuuji-kun with that behavior."

"That foolish boy. He should worry about himself, his future, and friends, not a pathetic old man like me."

Sakura turned to him with a soft gaze. "He's your grandson, he loves you, and he cares about you. If you won't take care of yourself for your sake, at least do it for him." She knew Yuuji Itadori, a 13-year-old teenager who used to visit his grandfather several times a week. He was a very sweet and attentive boy. And he had pink hair! That fact made them fast friends.

The gray-haired man rolled his eyes. "Don't come at me with sentimentality."

A hint of annoyance appeared in the pink-haired woman's eye. "Well, if sentimentality doesn't work, then I'll make you take care of yourself by force. I'll come every day and sing with the most off-key tone possible that will make you want to cut off your ears. I'll join forces with your grandson if necessary," she blatantly threatened.

"You wouldn't dare," he challenged her with narrowed eyes.

"Try me," she held her gaze firmly on his.

It was like a silent battle, a staring duel in which in the end, she emerged victorious.

"Fine," he finally grumbled, "give me those damn pills. I'd rather grow a tumor in my head than have to listen to that brat's screeching singing."

She handed him the pills with a mocking smile. "Here you go."

She stood there, watching closely as he swallowed them all.

"Not so hard, was it?" she joked, but he completely ignored her.

"Alright, I'm leaving now. If you see Yuuji-kun, tell him I send my regards."

"I won't," he replied brusquely.

Rolling her eyes, she made sure he was comfortable and that the windows were as he liked before leaving the room.

"Goodbye, Itadori-san," she bid farewell.

"Just go, brat."

Laughing to herself, she exited the room. Despite being a bitter old man, he wasn't a bad person. You just had to have patience and be just as stubborn as he was.

She frowned as she remembered she would have to talk to Takada-san. She couldn't simply deny her patient medication. She understood that Itadori-san was difficult, but that was no excuse. It was her job, after all.

She walked the corridors over and over, making her rounds until she finally reached the end of her shift. She headed to the reception where her boss was.

"Hi Emi! I've finished my rounds! Do you need help with anything else?" Sakura noticed how tired she looked.

Emi jumped when she looked up from what she was reading. "Sakura, for heaven's sake! Could you make a bit of noise when you walk? I'm too old for these scares," she responded, putting a hand over her heart.

"I'm so sorry," she said with a nervous laugh. "Old? But you're in the prime of youth!" she added cheerfully, remembering a favorite phrase from a certain sensei and his spandex-clad student. "But are you okay? You look really tired," she asked concernedly.

She looked at her with soft eyes. "I wish I could be 30 years younger and as beautiful as you, but anyway, thanks. I'm fine, dear, don't worry. It's nothing I haven't endured before. Go home, your beauty needs a good sleep regimen. Don't think I haven't noticed those dark circles; you need to rest more," she scolded her tenderly.

She blushed shyly at the compliment and scolding, and ran a hand behind her head, imitating a gesture of a certain blond friend. It's not that she didn't want to rest, she just couldn't.

"Alright. But call me if you need help, I'll come right away."

"Okay, but don't expect me to need you. Goodbye, dear." She turned her attention back to what she was reading before.

"Goodbye, Emi. See you tomorrow!"

She headed to the locker rooms to change clothes. When she stepped out, she found the sun descending on the horizon. She remembered that time when she used to contemplate the same view from the top of Hokage Mountain, enjoying the beauty of the landscape and feeling a deep love for her village.

She decided not to dwell on nostalgia and began to walk home. Avoiding the train for now.

She took out her mobile phone and checked if she had any messages or calls. There was nothing.

It didn't surprise her; she only had one person who could message her, and she knew they were busy, and even though she had become closer with her colleagues and they had invited her out several times, she had always politely declined. She still didn't feel ready to establish closer relationships with other people, especially to be part of a group of friends.

As she used to do whenever she could, especially now that she had decided to walk instead of taking the train, she opened the web browser and searched for intermediate English online courses. The idea of learning new languages fascinated her. In her world, there was only one, so she was surprised to discover that there were hundreds here. She felt an irresistible urge to master them all, but she decided to start with the most spoken ones. You never knew when you would have the opportunity to travel the world. She didn't understand how some young people preferred to waste their time watching trivial things on social media (as she had learned they were called) when they had the chance to learn so many interesting things. She even downloaded a social app out of curiosity and pressure from some colleagues, but she found it boring and superficial, so she deleted it shortly after.

She found an interesting course, and best of all, it was free! She started her walk home with enthusiasm. Studying had always been her strong point, and she was sure she would master English in no time.

As she walked, she whispered pronunciations and phrases to herself, while also keeping her attention alert to detect any cursed spirits that might cross her path. She always made sure to discreetly eliminate them, avoiding any sorcerer from seeing her. "Today I found more spirits than usual," she reflected silently.

She was so focused that she almost overlooked the fact that she had already arrived home.

Wow! That was quick, it seems that walking will now be her new regular routine.

Upon arriving home, after deactivating and reactivating the trap, she kicked off her shoes by a side table where she placed her bag. She heard her stomach growl; she was hungry. Lunch wasn't enough, but first things first, she needed to take a bath. It had been too long since the last time she felt truly clean. Since the war, she had developed an obsession with hygiene. There were times when she could barely clean herself with a rag, and at worst, she went up to a month without taking a bath. She definitely didn't want to experience those smells ever again.

Standing under the stream of water, she remembered, 'Do I have something for dinner?' She scolded herself internally for not buying something on the way home. With a sigh, she finished showering and headed to the kitchen to check what was in her refrigerator. Luckily, she found eggs and some meat. Some gyudon would be fine; tomorrow she would go to the store.

After cooking, she devoured the food eagerly, and a few minutes later, completely satisfied, she grabbed her phone and headed to the couch to continue her English course. She had already completed the first module and was now working on the second.

She continued until she realized the time by the clock on the wall. 9 o'clock at night. 'It's time' She got up and went to her room to change. Searching her closet, she opted for a snug-fitting T-shirt made of soft, breathable fabric, tight leggings with reinforcements on the knees and hips. Around her bed, she found her lightweight, non-slip boots, with higher ankles for better support.

Once everything was ready, feeling her chakra drain, she closed her eyes for a moment and, upon opening them again, found herself surrounded by tall trees whispering secrets in the wind.

The dark night granted a gloomy and eerie landscape, and the sound of animals was a chorus of chilling melodies.

This was the place she had first arrived at when she was sent to this dimension. She was in a forest on the outskirts of an abandoned rural village called Yamanaka, which, she had been told, had been massacred by a sorcerer about six years before she arrived in this dimension. The culprit of such a horrendous act had fled after committing the crime. She felt deeply sorry for the tragedy that had befallen that small village of farmers, but she also realized that she was lucky to have ended up here. There was no one for kilometers around; in fact, the village was already quite far from civilization before the massacre, but after the terrible event, people avoided this place out of fear or superstition. It was the perfect setting for Sakura and her training.

After her arrival in the village three years ago, she stayed there for over a year and a half, almost alone in that desolate place. She settled in a house that fortunately was not stained with blood, turning it into her refuge. She managed to survive by feeding on the forest animals and bathing in the small river that ran into the dense forest.

Anyone would say she was crazy for deciding to stay in such a place for so long, but ironically, this place was the closest thing to what her world had become in recent times. Being surrounded by ruins with sepulchral silence and the cold sensation of the ghosts of people who had once inhabited these lands somehow felt comforting and familiar. As sad as that sounds.

To start her training, she did a full warm-up. She ran twenty laps around the village, the first ten using only the strength of her muscles and the next ones boosting her legs with her own energy.

Then, she went on to do five hundred push-ups in a row and another five hundred squats. After that, she dedicated herself to practicing her katas for a full hour. Her movements were precise and fluid, showing teachings from her shisou where agility predominated to dodge attacks and a direct counterattack with overwhelming force. Also from her sensei, but this one focusing on grace and speed. She had modified and added her own movements to everything, turning her fighting style into something focused on fluidity, capable of dodging and redirecting her enemies' blows, using their own strength against them, and then attacking them with her superior strength or in their vital points. She worked hard to achieve a perfect combination of offense and defense.

Finishing, it was time for training with her combination of energies.

When she realized that her body no longer housed only her chakra, she fell into a deep despair. She knew her chakra was still there; being alive was an indication that it was still there, but it was very different. Both energies had mixed so deeply that she couldn't distinguish where one began and the other ended. Her chakra was no longer the same; it felt heavy and denser. She lost control over what used to be her greatest strength, what had saved her in battles and had helped thousands. She plunged into a kind of deep depression. Back then, honestly, she just wanted to disappear. It was the constant memory of the promise she made to Naruto on his deathbed, along with the help of that person who almost forced her to rise from her misery, that gave her the courage to discover what dwelled inside her body.

To understand it, she decided to start with what was familiar to her: her own chakra, something she knew down to the last detail. She needed to understand what changes the cursed energy had caused in it and then work from there with the new.

At first, her efforts were in vain. The energy was so dense that it seemed impossible to analyze; all she could feel and see was the energy of this world, it had permeated all her chakra pathways, her tenketsu points, coils, as if it had always flowed through her body. She grew more desperate with each passing moment. What if she could never fully feel her chakra again? What if she couldn't control this fusion? She couldn't bear it.

It was then that a spark of understanding crossed her mind: 'The cursed energy comes from negative emotions.' There was the crux of the matter; she was submerged in horrible emotions, and every time she experienced them, the cursed energy intensified, making controlling her chakra a titanic task. She needed to find a way to control herself, but how? How would she achieve it after all she had been through? After all the suffering she had experienced, she couldn't simply get rid of those emotions, not even for a moment.

Once again, Inner was her savior once more. She didn't know what she would have done without her. Thanks to her help, with her ability to control her subconscious, she managed to concentrate all her hatred, regret, frustration, sadness, and helplessness in a dark corner of her mind, locked away and contained, at least for a while.

Thus, she could really focus on analyzing this anomaly, which finally allowed her to understand what was happening.

During the turbulent days of the war, she immersed herself in the study and mastery of her chakra, reaching and surpassing levels of legends like the Slug Princess. She discovered the deepest secrets of its functioning at the molecular level, and little by little, medical arts became like a game to her, reaching the point of performing surgeries without any assistance. Jutsus, those powerful ones, began to require less and less of her reserves, using them with surgical precision.

Through discipline and training, she molded her chakra at will, to the point where she could perceive and feel everything in her surroundings through the energy flowing around her. It was then that, in the middle of a deep meditation, she managed to glimpse what was happening in the deepest part of her being.

With meticulous attention, she observed each particle of the energy from her previous world, surrounded by a dark and cursed aura. There was her chakra, imprisoned within a hollow sphere of cursed energy; it was thanks to her knowledge and control that she could detect it. That revelation filled her with overwhelming relief: there was hope to release her chakra and use it as she always had. Now, the question that haunted her was simple, but challenging: how to achieve it?

After days of experimentation and extreme concentration, she finally managed to separate the energies, but the result was disastrous. When she tried to use her chakra, she felt an intense burning sensation, similar to what she experienced when she first arrived in this unknown place. The burning persisted, plunging her into unbearable agony. It wasn't until the pain began to subside that she could move again and try to understand what had happened.

At first, everything seemed the same. Her chakra reserves returned to what they were before her desperate attempt. But then, an idea crossed her mind like a flash. Upon closer examination, she realized that her theory was correct. She remembered the pain she experienced when she was transported here for the first time, when she barely had any chakra. At that moment, nature tried to take away what little she had to fill her with cursed energy. However, her rejection of that change, her resistance, and the deep hatred she experienced, were what caused more cursed energy to enter her system than a normal person would have.

The burning wasn't caused by the mixture of energies itself, but by the imbalance between her chakra and the cursed energy at that instant. It took almost two days back then before her condition began to stabilize, when her reserves were filling up again and matching the amount of cursed energy in her system.

In other words, she had to always maintain a balance between the amount of cursed energy and her chakra. Only then could her system remain in harmony. Using one without the other would cause dangerous destabilization. If she continued like this, she risked irreparably damaging her chakra pathways. In the worst-case scenario, she could face death; at best, she would be deprived of using either of the two energies.

It was like receiving a sudden and cold blow when she realized this. Just when she thought she could use her power again, the universe reminded her that nothing would go as she wanted.

But... what if she expelled both energies at the same time? The idea seemed plausible at first. The question was maintaining the balance between them in her body. However, that would require control not only over her chakra but also over the cursed energy. And that was something she didn't possess... yet.

She knew she could learn to do it; she had to if she wanted to become what she once was. She wasn't willing to give up her chakra; she wouldn't let the resident energy of this world consume her and turn her into one more, because she wasn't and never would be. She was Haruno Sakura, a kunoichi of the Hidden Leaf Village; she wasn't a sorceress.

She wasn't interested in the cursed energy, but if learning to use it was necessary to get what she wanted, then she would do it, and she would do it well.

She immersed herself in the study of this energy, eager to understand how it worked, what made it so powerful, and where it came from. Understanding its mechanics wasn't difficult; basically, it was guided by emotions and intensified the deeper and more intense they were, bearing surprising similarities to chakra. It could be manipulated and molded at will but lacked its own circulatory system, so it didn't circulate through the body unless commanded to do so. Or that was the case with a normal sorcerer; in her body, it circulated without any order because it had merged with her chakra.

Having control over what you felt was essential if you wanted to control it, and that was the difficult part, at least back then. If it weren't for Inner, who tried to contain most of her sorrows and only filter them in small amounts, then she couldn't have achieved anything.

The fact that she couldn't expel it and see what it did was another problem. Most of her discoveries were internal, meticulously analyzing how it behaved in her body, as she once did with her chakra, and only a few cases where she had to endure the burning sensation to observe what she could do.

It took her a good amount of time, even with a guide providing her with information, demonstrations, and advice; it was simply a unique case, and only she could unravel all the mysteries. And she did.

When she could understand the cursed energy well enough, or more than well because she wasn't called a perfectionist for nothing, she tried again, this time manifesting the cursed energy...

It went wrong.

It's not that it didn't work! It did work! For a brief moment, she was able to manifest it while expelling her chakra. But excitement distracted her, and she lost focus, resulting in the expulsion of a bit more cursed energy than necessary. Still, she spent the next hour with a smile on her face, feeling the torturous burning in her body as confirmation of her progress. "You seem masochistic," her companion joked at that time.

She finally glimpsed the light at the end of the tunnel. It was all a matter of extreme concentration, something she had experienced before in similar circumstances, such as when she performed surgeries with the sound of jutsu explosions in the background, the clash of kunais, and all the chaos of a battle. Compared to that, this would be a piece of cake.

It took her another good amount of time, but she finally managed to use her energy without suffering the burning sensation, and the first thing she did was heal her body. All her bones and joints had been torn apart after the transformation; she could barely walk. It had been frustrating.

Days, weeks, and months passed. She dedicated herself to perfecting the art of separately expelling both energies simultaneously, first to use one and then the other. But really, when she separated the energies, it was almost always to use her chakra.

Although she didn't care much about the invading energy, she didn't like the idea of wasting it every time she wanted to use techniques from her native world. It was a complete waste, and she didn't like it.

Her friend, noticing her evident annoyance, offered her a brilliant solution. He explained the concept of cursed tools. They were weapons that were once common but, after being imbued with cursed energy for a long time, they became what they were. It was the perfect solution to her problem.

She decided that she would always carry some weapon with her. This way, if she wanted to use her chakra, she could channel the other energy into the weapon. Not only would she avoid waste, but she would also create an additional resource that would be useful in battle in case she ran out of reserves.

She was so immersed in the excitement of regaining her precious chakra and using it as she always had that she hadn't considered what would happen if she tried to use both energies at the same time, as one. It was her friend, once again blessed for his wisdom, who made her reflect on this possibility. She hadn't really thought about it before, but it seemed like an intriguing idea. How would they work together?

With that in mind, she began to experiment.

Now that she was really trying to move them at the same time, she realized that they did it incredibly well. She felt faster and more energetic than with her chakra but calmer and smoother than with the cursed energy; it was a balance between the two, and it felt good. She had never felt anything like it, and somehow, it made her feel powerful, as if she could do anything.

And that thought was not in vain because when she expelled the mixture of energies from her, what came out was not a blue glow that increased in intensity. Nor was it a chaotic blue-green aura with black edges. It was a flow of a blue with a hypnotic glow, almost pale, similar to the color of lightning, which lengthened and lengthened as she expelled more and more. She was mesmerized by what she saw; the flow had a beautiful yet equally dangerous appearance, attracting you while at the same time realizing that it wasn't good.

She was enchanted by its ethereal and deadly allure, and the first impulse when one sees something so beautiful is to touch it. She wasn't different. She didn't expect to perceive more than some sensation between her fingers, but it was a pleasant surprise to feel something solid. She almost stopped the flow due to her amazement. It was warm to the touch and had a difficult-to-explain texture, as if you were touching something incredibly soft and flexible that would disappear between your hands if you squeezed too hard, but it didn't.

The excitement grew in her, and she continued to experiment. She could stretch it and shorten it, make it thicker and thinner, and best of all, give it the shape she wanted. The possibilities were increasing in her mind.

She eagerly welcomed a new discovery, a kind of welcome distraction. In moments like these, she appreciated anything that could keep her busy and keep her away from her most tormenting thoughts. So, without wasting a moment, she threw herself wholeheartedly into her training with this new power. It was as if a new door had opened before her, and she was determined to explore every corner of what this power could offer her. Anything to never be vulnerable again.

Here she was today, more than a year and a half later, amidst the dense thicket of trees, enveloped by the darkness of the night. The only sound breaking the silence was the whisper of the wind and the calls of nocturnal animals.

Carefully arranged in front of her were several targets: some close, others at a considerable distance. She formed a dense ball of her power in her hand, then shaping it into a longer, sharper form at the tip. She aimed carefully and threw it with force, watching it cut through the trees and whistle with the wind until it embedded itself in a white circle with another smaller red circle in the center. Then, channeling chakra to her eyes and imbuing cursed energy into the belt she had taken from a third seal, a small and special one located on the left side of her hip, specifically for this tool. She could observe more clearly the farthest target of all. She hit the mark.

She repeated this process over and over again, with different shapes and sizes of weapons: shuriken, kunais, sebon. First one at a time, then several simultaneously, and finally, in motion. They all ended up hitting the red circle.

She was still amazed by the versatility of her new power. It was comforting to know that, as long as she didn't run out of reserves, she had a variety of weapons at her disposal to face any situation that arose. It was like having a complete arsenal at her disposal.

But the truth was that creating objects larger than her hand continuously was an expense to consider in her reserves, even if she used it carefully. Unfortunately, during the willpower struggle between the cursed energy and her chakra, the latter, instead of recharging, had to focus more on fighting the unwanted host. When they reached a coexistence agreement, they had adapted to a certain lower amount than what her reserves used to be in the ninja world, which, while not huge, was not to be scoffed at. It was a pity. She couldn't afford to waste it on flashy techniques. That's why she sought a way to achieve her goal efficiently and with fewer resources.

Thus, small clusters of energy began to emanate from her body, very thin and elongated, the size of a leaf and with the shape and movements of it, floating around her, making her seem like the center of a whirlpool.

At her command, they flew at inhuman speeds, completely cutting down the nearest trees, and as they moved away, they left large marks until they finally left only simple scratches, to the point of disappearing.

She didn't usually let the latter happen, preferring to make them come back, but it was training, after all. She wanted to know how much more she could take them before losing control and making them disappear. Even trying to manipulate more at once, so far 30 was her limit. It's not that she couldn't create more, it's just that the more there were, the harder it was to control them individually to perform separate activities, only managing to make them move together.

The shape she gave them, tree leaves, beyond being practical, was a tribute, a reminder of her own village. She would always do anything to not forget anything from her home.

She continued practicing for another half hour before ending the training. After all, she had work the next day. She took out a bottle of water from her wrist seal and sat against a tree, enjoying the tranquility of the forest for a moment. She had always liked to practice at night; it was so peaceful. She had started doing it since she arrived in this dimension, then because of her work schedule, skipping it only when she had night shifts. But above all, she did it to tire herself out enough to fall asleep quickly. If she was lucky, it would be without dreams, although luck was not something that frequently accompanied her.

After a few minutes, she got up and molded her chakra. In the blink of an eye, she appeared in her room.

Tired, she took another short shower for all the sweat. She put on her clothes again and collapsed on the bed with a sigh. The soft padded surface and the tiredness of the day quickly led her to unconsciousness.