Mochi's fur gleamed brilliantly white in the late afternoon sun, a stark contrast to the dark wooden floor of Sakura's bedroom. The rabbit sat upright, looking distinguished and professional, though his demeanor cracked when Sakura wrapped her arms around his midsection.

  "I missed you so much!" Sakura squealed, burying her face in his soft fur. Her pink lapine ears twitched with excitement, nearly tickling the smaller rabbit's face. "The house felt so empty without you popping in all the time."

  Mochi did his best to maintain his dignified posture, but his whiskers quivered with pleasure. "It's good to see you too, Sakura-sama. And I see your training has continued well in my absence."

  From his position leaning against the doorframe, Sasuke watched the reunion with an expression that might have appeared neutral to most observers. But Mochi caught the subtle narrowing of the Uchiha's eyes, the slight downturn at the corners of his mouth. If the rabbit didn't know better, he'd say Sasuke was jealous.

  Sakura released Mochi and sat back on her heels, her modified legs folded comfortably beneath her. "How was the migration? Did everything go smoothly? Is everyone okay?"

  "The migration is complete," Mochi reported, straightening his fur where Sakura had ruffled it. "Though we're hard at work building the new warren. The Temple location has excellent natural defenses, but we've had to restructure many of our existing tunnel systems to work with the new geography."

  "That sounds like a lot of work," Sakura said, her smile faltering slightly. "Should I skip the full moon meeting tonight, then? If everyone's busy with construction—"

  "No, no," Mochi interrupted quickly. "Queen Joousa is looking forward to meeting with you. She's been working on something special, she says."

  Sakura perked up at that. "Well, I'm looking forward to seeing her too. And actually, I'll be bringing Sasuke with me." She glanced over at the dark-haired boy. "I want the Queen to look at his cursed seal. She might have some insights that even Jiraiya-sama missed."

  Sasuke's face remained impassive, but he gave a short nod.

  "Also," Sakura continued, turning back to Mochi, "I'll be bringing three academy students who have signed the scroll. They want to meet with the Queen to finalize their contracts."

  Mochi's ears shot up in excitement. "More summoners? That's excellent news! Who are they?"

  "I only know one, her name is Moegi, The other two are first year academy students." Sakura replied. "They've been begging to sign the scroll ever since they saw me summon you during a demonstration at the academy."

  "This is wonderful," Mochi said, bouncing slightly in place. "Some of my younger siblings are in training right now. I hope one of the three gets picked as a personal summon!"

  Sakura blinked, suddenly looking embarrassed. "You know, I just realized I don't know much about your family, Mochi. I know you have a rivalry with Carrot, but do you have other siblings?"

  "Oh, my family is pretty small," Mochi said casually. "Only a dozen siblings."

  "A dozen?" Sakura's pink eyebrows shot up.

  "Yes, quite modest really," the rabbit continued. "Mom and Dad might have more, though. They were considering another litter when I left for training."

  Sakura's expression grew thoughtful. She glanced at Sasuke, who seemed to be following the conversation with more interest than he usually displayed for such matters.

  "You know," she said slowly, "I've been wondering about rabbit population. The Queen is at least forty-five years old, and from what Usa-sensei has said, still capable of having children. How do you avoid overpopulation?"

  Mochi's whiskers twitched uncomfortably. "Well, we did tend to lose a lot to predation from other summon clans in our former area. It's why moving to Wave was a bigger deal for us than it would be for other clans."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Our original Great Warren was very defensible, but our outlying areas were under constant attack. Foxes, wolves, hawks—they all preyed on rabbits who ventured too far from home." Mochi's voice had grown somber. "That's why the Queen was so determined to secure the new location."

  Sakura's ears drooped slightly. "Were you attacked during the migration itself?"

  Mochi nodded, his expression brightening as he shifted to a more exciting topic. "Oh yes! I personally fought a wolf summon. Braining him with my hammer was quite satisfying."

  "You actually fought wolves?" Sakura looked worried now. "How many rabbits did you lose during the journey?"

  "The migration was more successful than expected," Mochi said proudly. "We only lost about twenty-five percent of our total population."

  Sakura's jaw dropped. "One out of four is considered a success?"

  Mochi tilted his head, looking a bit confused by her reaction. He gave an uncertain shrug. "Well, yes. Our projections indicated losses of up to forty percent. Queen Joousa was quite pleased with the outcome."

  From his position at the door, Sasuke made a small noise that might have been surprise.

  Sakura shook her head slowly. "After the tournament finals, when I have more time, I'm going to have a very long talk with the Queen about your people. I think I need to learn more about them."

  "I think the Queen would appreciate your input," Mochi said diplomatically, though he seemed unsure why Sakura was so troubled.

  A soft knock on the doorframe drew their attention. Sasuke straightened up and checked the position of the sun through the window.

  "It's time to get going if we're going to meet with Karin for dinner," he said.

  "Right," Sakura nodded, rising to her feet. She paused, looking down at Mochi. "Would you like to come with us?"

  Mochi shook his head. "I should report back to the Queen and let her know about your plans for tonight."

  "Of course," Sakura agreed, then turned to Sasuke. "Did I tell you about my special preparations for Karin?"

  A hint of amusement crossed Sasuke's face. "Did you manage it?"

  Sakura smiled and nodded. "I gave Chouji coupons to the restaurant tonight with instructions to invite Kiba and Shino as well."

  "Why are you playing matchmaker?" Sasuke asked, though there was no real disapproval in his tone.

  "Karin is focused on Naruto," Sakura explained, adjusting her dress and checking her appearance in the mirror. "I just want to show her that there are other fish in the sea before she does something she might regret later."

  "You're meddling," Sasuke accused, though his tone was light.

  Sakura grinned at him in the mirror. "It worked with Hinata and Naruto in the academy, didn't it?"

  Sasuke conceded the point with a slight nod.

  Mochi observed their interaction with interest. The dynamic between Sakura and Sasuke had clearly evolved during his absence. There was an easy comfort between them now, a quiet understanding that hadn't been there before. The rabbit found it... satisfying.

  "I'll see you at midnight then?" Sakura asked, turning back to Mochi.

  "At the clearing by the eastern gate," Mochi confirmed. "I'll be waiting to reverse summon you and your guests."

  Sakura bent down and gave Mochi one more quick hug. "It's really good to have you back."

  "It's good to be back," Mochi replied sincerely.

  After they left, Mochi took a moment to look around Sakura's room before preparing to dismiss himself. Several changes caught his eye—new books on advanced chakra theory, a collection of scrolls bearing the Uchiha clan symbol, and most notably, a framed photo on her nightstand.

  It showed Team 7 along with Team 8, sitting at Ichiraku Ramen. Naruto had his arm around Hinata, who was blushing but smiling. Sakura was seated beside Sasuke, their shoulders touching. Even Sasuke had a hint of a smile on his face.

  Mochi nodded in satisfaction before dispersing in a puff of smoke.

  Sakura adjusted her forest green dress with gold accents as she and Sasuke approached the restaurant. The establishment was upscale but not overly fancy—perfect for a nice dinner without appearing too formal. She'd chosen this place carefully, knowing its private booths would allow for intimate conversation while the lively atmosphere would prevent awkward silences.

  "You're overthinking this," Sasuke commented, noticing how she kept smoothing nonexistent wrinkles from her dress.

  "I just want everything to go well," Sakura replied. "Karin needs to feel welcome, but she also needs to understand certain boundaries."

  Sasuke wore a dark blue shirt with the Uchiha fan embroidered subtly on the collar and black pants—considerably more formal than his usual attire. "You're meddling," he repeated his earlier accusation.

  "I'm helping," Sakura corrected, her ears twitching slightly in amusement. "There's a difference."

  They arrived twenty minutes early and requested a table for six, earning a curious look from the hostess. Sakura simply smiled and mentioned potential additional guests, slipping the woman a generous tip to secure a perfect corner booth with extra space.

  "Now we wait," Sakura said, settling into her seat.

  "Hn."

  The restaurant was elegant without being intimidating. Paper lanterns cast a warm glow over the polished wooden tables, and the soft murmur of conversation provided pleasant background noise. A small ikebana arrangement adorned their table, with seasonal flowers arranged to suggest harmony and new beginnings.

  "There she is," Sasuke murmured about fifteen minutes later.

  Karin stood at the entrance, scanning the restaurant. She'd dressed for the occasion in a deep purple dress that complemented her red hair, which she'd styled differently tonight—pulled back with decorative pins rather than her usual practical arrangement. Her eyes widened slightly when she spotted them, and she made her way over.

  Sakura rose to her feet and waved. "Karin! Over here!"

  Karin approached their table with measured steps. The slight nervousness in her posture wasn't lost on Sakura.

  "Thank you for inviting me," Karin said, bowing slightly.

  "It's our pleasure," Sakura replied warmly. "We wanted to properly welcome Naruto's cousin to the village."

  Something flickered across Karin's face at the word "cousin," but she masked it quickly.

  Sasuke stood and greeted her with a small nod. "Karin."

  The redhead's cheeks colored slightly at his acknowledgment. "Sasuke."

  Sakura gestured to the seat across from her. "Please, sit down. We've already ordered some appetizers to share."

  Once they were all seated, Sakura took the initiative to get the conversation flowing. "How are you finding Konoha so far? It must be quite different from Grass."

  Karin adjusted her glasses. "It's... warmer. In every sense of the word. The people here are friendlier than I expected."

  "That's the Will of Fire," Sakura said with a smile. "It's something the Third Hokage always emphasizes—treating fellow villagers like family."

  "Speaking of family," Karin said, her tone casual but her eyes sharp, "Naruto mentioned he's training outside the village now?"

  Sasuke nodded. "With Jiraiya of the Sannin. It's a good opportunity for him."

  "Hinata went with them," Sakura added, watching Karin's reaction closely. "She's been so good for Naruto. Before they got together, he was always trying so hard to get people to acknowledge him, but with her, he can just be himself."

  Karin's fingers tightened slightly around her water glass. "It's nice that he has someone who understands him."

  "Absolutely," Sakura agreed enthusiastically. "And now that he's found you—his actual blood relative—I've never seen him so happy. He's always wanted family more than anything."

  "He talks about you all the time," Sasuke added unexpectedly. "His cousin Karin this, my family that."

  Karin's expression was difficult to read as she sipped her water. "I'm glad I could give him that connection."

  "Family is so important," Sakura continued, her ears twitching slightly. "Especially for someone like Naruto who grew up without one. Now he has his cousin and his girlfriend. It's like pieces falling into place."

  The server arrived with their appetizers—an assortment of dumplings, grilled vegetables, and tempura. As they began to sample the food, Sakura steered the conversation toward Karin's abilities.

  "Naruto told us about your healing technique. It sounds incredible," Sakura said.

  Karin perked up at the mention of her skills. "It's an Uzumaki trait, though not a common one. My mother could do it too."

  "That's fascinating," Sakura leaned forward with genuine interest. "Did your mother teach you much about Uzumaki techniques?"

  "Some," Karin said, warming to the topic. "She taught me about our natural life force and chakra reserves. The Uzumaki were known for their sealing techniques, though I didn't learn many before..."

  She trailed off, and Sakura noticed the shadow that crossed her face.

  "Before she passed," Karin finished quietly.

  "I'm sorry," Sakura said sincerely. "I'm sure Naruto would love to learn whatever you could teach him about your shared heritage. He knows so little about where he comes from."

  "I'd be happy to share what I know," Karin said. "It's what family does, right?"

  Sakura nodded, pleased with how Karin seemed to be embracing the family narrative.

  Just then, Sasuke straightened up slightly, his eyes fixed on a point across the restaurant. "Sakura."

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Following his gaze, Sakura spotted Chouji leading Kiba and Shino toward the entrance. Right on schedule.

  "Oh, look!" Sakura exclaimed, as if surprised. "It's Chouji, Kiba, and Shino. What a coincidence!"

  Karin turned to look, her brow furrowing slightly.

  Sasuke rose from his seat and raised a hand to catch their attention. When Chouji spotted them, he hesitated, exchanging looks with his companions.

  "They look like they're trying to decide where to sit," Sasuke observed. "I'll invite them to join us. We have the space."

  Before Karin could object, Sasuke was already walking toward the three boys.

  "Is this... planned?" Karin asked quietly.

  Sakura widened her eyes in feigned innocence. "Why would you think that? The restaurant is popular, and it's dinner time."

  Karin's eyes narrowed slightly behind her glasses, but she didn't push the issue.

  A moment later, Sasuke returned with the three boys in tow. Chouji was dressed in clan formal wear, complete with the Akimichi crest. Kiba wore a leather jacket that looked new over a fitted shirt that showed off his athletic build. Even Shino had forgone his usual high collar for a more stylish outfit, though his customary sunglasses remained in place.

  "Hope you don't mind if we join you," Chouji said with a friendly smile. "Sasuke said there was plenty of room."

  "Of course not!" Sakura beamed. "The more the merrier. Karin, have you met everyone? Chouji Akimichi, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame."

  The boys exchanged greetings with Karin, who managed a polite smile despite her obvious suspicion about the "coincidence."

  As they all settled in, Sakura made sure Karin was situated between Kiba and Shino, with Chouji across from her.

  "We were just talking about Karin's healing abilities," Sakura explained to the newcomers. "She has this amazing technique where people can bite her and be healed through her chakra. Isn't that fascinating?"

  "Whoa, seriously?" Kiba leaned closer to Karin, his interest piqued. "That sounds incredibly useful."

  "It is," Karin admitted, adjusting her glasses. "Though it does leave bite marks."

  "The Inuzuka clan has specialized medical techniques for our ninken partners," Kiba offered. "Maybe we could exchange knowledge sometime."

  "Perhaps," Karin said non-committally.

  "The Aburame clan also practices symbiotic relationships," Shino interjected. "While different from your healing technique, there might be valuable parallels to explore. Why? Because understanding diverse biological chakra interactions enhances all medical practices."

  "Shino's clan is one of the most respected in Konoha for their unique abilities," Sakura added. "The kikaichu they host give them incredible chakra sensing abilities, among other things."

  "Is that why you knew I was approaching the academy grounds yesterday?" Karin asked Shino, showing genuine curiosity.

  Shino nodded. "My insects detected your chakra signature from approximately three hundred meters away. It is quite... distinct."

  Karin looked surprised. "I've been told my chakra feels warm."

  "It has a vibrant quality," Shino confirmed. "Not unlike certain rare flowering plants my kikaichu are particularly drawn to."

  Kiba snorted. "That's Shino's way of saying you smell nice."

  Shino adjusted his glasses. "That is not what I said. However, the comparison is not inaccurate."

  A faint blush appeared on Karin's cheeks.

  The server returned to take their expanded order, and Sakura seized the opportunity to highlight Chouji's qualities.

  "Chouji, why don't you recommend something? The Akimichi clan has the best taste in food in all of Konoha."

  Chouji brightened at the suggestion. "The grilled beef here is excellent." He turned to Karin with a warm smile. "I'd be happy to suggest dishes that complement each other."

  "That would be helpful, thank you," Karin replied, seeming genuinely appreciative.

  As Chouji explained the menu options to Karin, Sakura added, "The Akimichi were one of the founding clans of Konoha, you know. Along with the Uchiha and Senju."

  "My family joined with the Nara and Yamanaka," Chouji elaborated, his chest puffing up slightly with pride. "Our three clans have worked together for generations."

  "The Ino-Shika-Cho formation is legendary," Sakura explained to Karin. "And Chouji is the heir to the Akimichi clan."

  "Really?" Karin looked at Chouji with newfound interest.

  "Yeah, though I still have a lot to learn from my father," Chouji said modestly.

  Not to be outdone, Kiba jumped in. "The Inuzuka have been in Konoha almost as long. Our tracking abilities are unmatched in the Five Great Nations."

  "Almost unmatched," Shino corrected. "The Aburame clan's tracking methods are equally effective, albeit through different means."

  Kiba rolled his eyes. "Fine, but can your bugs do this?" He whistled, and Akamaru, who had been waiting patiently under the table, leaped up onto Kiba's lap. The ninken had grown considerably since the academy days, now the size of a medium dog rather than a puppy.

  "Akamaru and I can communicate telepathically," Kiba boasted. "It's a special bond we develop with our ninken partners."

  "That's impressive," Karin admitted, reaching out to pet Akamaru, who sniffed her hand curiously before allowing her to scratch behind his ears.

  "My sister Hana is actually next in line to lead the clan," Kiba continued, "but I'm developing my own fighting style that combines our traditional techniques with some new ideas."

  "Innovation within tradition is valuable," Shino said. "The Aburame clan encourages exploration of new symbiotic relationships while maintaining our core practices."

  "Can you control different types of insects?" Karin asked, showing genuine curiosity.

  "The kikaichu are bred specifically for our chakra," Shino explained. "However, I have been experimenting with hosting several rare species. Why? Because diversity of abilities provides tactical advantages."

  "That sounds fascinating," Karin said. "In Grass, we didn't have many clan ninjas. It was more individual training."

  "That's what makes Konoha special," Sakura interjected. "The different clans all bring unique strengths to the village. It's like one big extended family."

  "Family is important," Sasuke added quietly. The table fell momentarily silent, everyone aware of what the Uchiha had lost.

  Karin's expression softened. "Yes, it is."

  Their food arrived, breaking the moment of tension. As they began to eat, the conversation flowed more naturally. Karin seemed to relax, listening with increasing interest as each of the boys tried to subtly highlight their strengths.

  "The Akimichi techniques allow us to convert calories directly into chakra," Chouji explained between bites. "It's why we can expand our bodies and increase our strength tenfold."

  "That's why he can eat so much and still look good," Kiba teased, earning a blush from Chouji.

  "My metabolism is quite efficient," Chouji replied with dignity.

  "The Inuzuka have enhanced senses," Kiba continued, leaning slightly closer to Karin. "We can detect emotions through scent, track targets for days, and our taijutsu is among the best in the village."

  "Though your performance in the preliminary rounds suggested room for improvement," Shino commented dryly.

  Kiba bristled. "Hey, I made it to the finals, didn't I?"

  "As did I," Shino reminded him.

  "You guys were impressive," Karin said diplomatically. "I watched the preliminary rounds."

  "Did you?" Chouji perked up. "What did you think?"

  "I thought all of you showed unique strengths," Karin answered. "The diversity of techniques in Konoha is remarkable."

  "If you want," Kiba offered, "I could show you around the Inuzuka compound sometime. We have training grounds that aren't open to the public."

  Not to be outdone, Shino added, "The Aburame gardens contain many rare species of flora and fauna. They are quite... aesthetically pleasing."

  "And the Akimichi clan hosts the best barbecue in Konoha every month," Chouji chimed in. "You'd be welcome to join us for the next one."

  Karin glanced between the three boys with a mixture of amusement and surprise. She shot Sakura a knowing look that clearly said, "I see what you're doing."

  Sakura merely smiled innocently in return.

  "That's very kind of all of you," Karin said carefully. "I'm still getting settled, but I'd appreciate learning more about Konoha's clans."

  "Speaking of getting settled," Sakura interjected, "has the Hokage mentioned anything about your potential team placement?"

  Karin shook her head. "Not yet. He mentioned waiting until after the Chunin Exams when teams might be reshuffled."

  "Makes sense," Kiba said. "Especially if some of us make Chunin."

  "When some of us make Chunin," Chouji corrected with unusual confidence.

  "Statistically speaking, it's unlikely all Konoha finalists will achieve promotion," Shino observed. "The exams are designed to be highly selective."

  "Well, I'm planning to win my match," Kiba declared.

  "As am I," Shino replied.

  "We'll see," Sasuke said with a hint of a smirk.

  As the meal progressed, the competitive edge to the boys' conversation became more pronounced. Karin found herself at the center of increasingly obvious attempts to impress her.

  Chouji described a mission where he'd single-handedly defeated three bandits using his Partial Multi-Size technique.

  Kiba countered with a tale of tracking a missing-nin through a thunderstorm using only his sense of smell.

  Shino, not to be outdone, calmly detailed how his insects had once neutralized a poisonous gas attack by consuming the toxins mid-air.

  Even Sasuke joined in occasionally, though his contributions were more measured, mentioning training milestones or describing techniques without the embellishment the others employed.

  Karin listened to it all with growing amusement, occasionally glancing at Sakura with raised eyebrows. For her part, Sakura kept the conversation flowing, subtly highlighting each boy's strengths and accomplishments while weaving in casual references to Naruto and Hinata's relationship.

  Karin's smile tightened slightly, but she nodded. "Yes, it's nice to see him happy."

  "They're really good together," Chouji added. "Hinata's been crazy about him for years."

  "Since the academy," Kiba confirmed. "Used to drive me nuts how she'd always be watching him."

  "Their chakra signatures complement each other harmoniously," Shino observed. "Why? Because her steady presence balances his more volatile energy."

  "I'm glad Naruto has someone who appreciates him," Karin said sincerely. "And I'm happy to be part of his family."

  Sakura beamed at this, sensing a small victory. "And now you're part of the larger Konoha family too."

  As the dessert course arrived, Karin finally addressed the elephant in the room.

  "So," she said, looking directly at Sakura, "was this whole dinner a setup?"

  The boys paused, looking between the two girls with varying degrees of confusion.

  Sakura's ears twitched slightly in amusement. "I don't know what you mean."

  "I think you do," Karin replied, though there was no real annoyance in her tone. "The 'coincidental' arrival of three eligible shinobi from respected clans? The way you've been steering the conversation?"

  Chouji looked confused. "Wait, what's happening?"

  "I believe," Shino said slowly, "that Sakura arranged for us to join this dinner as potential suitors for Karin."

  Kiba's eyes widened. "Seriously?" He looked at Sakura. "You could have just said so!"

  "I didn't—" Sakura began, but Sasuke cut her off.

  "Yes, she did," he said bluntly.

  Sakura shot him a betrayed look.

  "What? It was obvious," Sasuke said with a shrug.

  Rather than being offended, Karin actually laughed. "I figured it out when the boys started competing over who had the most impressive mission story."

  "I wasn't competing," Chouji protested weakly.

  "Yes, you were," said everyone else in unison.

  The table erupted in laughter, breaking any remaining tension.

  "Well," Kiba said, recovering quickly and turning his most charming smile on Karin, "setup or not, I'm glad we got to meet properly. And my offer to show you the Inuzuka compound still stands."

  "Mine as well," Shino added. "The botanical gardens are particularly vibrant this time of year."

  "And our clan barbecue is next weekend," Chouji said. "You'd be welcome to come as my guest."

  Karin smiled, seeming genuinely touched by their interest despite the circumstances. "Thank you, all of you. I might take you up on those offers."

  Sakura caught her eye across the table and mouthed a silent "Sorry," but Karin just shook her head slightly, her expression surprisingly forgiving.

  As they finished their meal and prepared to leave, Sasuke and Sakura hung back slightly while Karin exchanged a few more words with the three boys.

  "That went better than expected," Sakura whispered to Sasuke.

  "Hn," Sasuke agreed. "She's smarter than I gave her credit for."

  "And the boys seem genuinely interested," Sakura noted. "Even Shino is being more talkative than usual."

  "Mission accomplished, then?" Sasuke asked, his tone lightly mocking.

  Sakura smiled, watching as Karin laughed at something Kiba said while Chouji and Shino looked on with competitive expressions.

  "We'll see," she replied. "But I think we've at least given her something to think about besides Naruto."