CHAPTER 1: KONOHA!
I've read fanfic for years and collected a huge favorites list of stories. Mustering every ounce of confidence I have created this story. Unexpected is my first story on fanfiction. Judging on the amount of reviews this story receives, I will consider posting others. Please review. Thanks. :D
This chapter is an introduction describing Sakura's life up to High School. Meeting the Rookie Nine except Sasuke. Rookie Eight? Covering all the important milestones in her life. XD Enjoy!
^_^ Recommended Songs for this chapter: HELP BY THE BEATLES. PARADISE BY COLDPLAY. ^_^
Disclamer: I do not own Naruto.
"Thinking"
"Speaking"
The brilliant city of Konoha was enjoying a sunny afternoon. The city was surrounded by trees and is called the village hidden in the leaves by the villagers due to an abundance of leaves in the fall. Villagers are enjoying the weather and strolling around. The sun is shining above all the school children.
Two eight year old girls seem enveloped by the sunlight. One has long blonde hair that seems almost white in the light, her playful blue eyes showing her youth. Beside her is a bob of pink hair. A much smaller girl is walking with her. Her pink hair has a golden tint in the light. Her eyes are obscured by her pink bangs.
Ino Yamanaka and her best friend Sakura Haruno are walking down the streets. To any of the villagers the sight is comical. Ino is merrily walking greeting all the villagers while Sakura mumbles shy hello's. But an outsider this seems like a delicate painting from the hands of an aged mastered artist. As the sun illuminates them they seem to take a celestial glow.
One is the picture of a classical beauty with her blonde hair and smile. While the other seems like an odd anime character with her unusual colored hair and equally unique green eyes. It's a strange combination but seeing Sakura Haruno no one can deny she is beautiful. Like a fairy out a story book. Ino's beauty is visible. Sakura's beauty is hidden.
This is what an outside observer will see but what Sakura feels is that she's the ugly duckling walking next to Ino. She tries not to attract too much attention to herself by whispering shyly to the villagers.
"Hurry up Forehead! Last one to the park is a rotten egg!"
With that Ino ran off.
"Wait, Ino!"
Sakura can see Ino and tries to catch up to her.
"Maybe if I go through the shortcut in the forest… I can beat her!"
Sakura ran as fast as her legs would take her. Kicking back on the ground and propelling herself forward, she became a blur. Navigating through the trees she reached the park. She stopped and searched for Ino. She was a bit far from the park but she could see the entrance and began walking towards it. Not spotting Ino she walked to a nearby bench.
Next to the bench there was a water fountain and surrounding it were a group of girls. Not noticing who they were, Sakura sat down to wait for Ino. Ami Wantabe and her friends looked from one to the other at the pink haired girl.
"She's finally alone. Yamanaka won't get in the way this time!" Ami whispered to her friends. Grabbing a rock she threw it to the pink haired girl. The rock hit the girl's shoulder. Sakura turned around.
"Not so tough now without Yamanaka. Are you?"
Sakura stood up from the bench, and looked around for a gap to run away. She managed four steps before they surrounded her.
"You're ugly. And everyone knows it Forehead girl."
"Look at her ugly hair."
" What's wrong with your face?"
"I can't believe they let someone like you into school."
They taunted her about her hair and her forehead. They mocked her parents. And said she would be forever alone because no one would love an ugly thing like her. Sakura sat on the grass trying to ignore their insult while they threw sticks, stones and grass at her. She curled into herself resisting the urge to cry.
"Everyone knows you're ugly. That's why you don't have any friends. "
"Yamanaka will get tired of you and leave you."
"You can't cure ugly."
Sakura tried to visualize herself in her room.
"Their lying. Their lying."
She repeated her mantra.
She heard someone stomping over. And braced herself for more torment.
" What do you think you're doing to her?" yelled Ino to the group of girls. "Leave Sakura alone!"
" Leave Yamanaka and we won't hurt you." Yelled Ami. "Mind your business."
"Sakura is my best friend. I won't repeat it. You mess with her you mess with me. "
Ino tried to push her way to Sakura. She pushed the first girl in front of Sakura but then the other girls grabbed her preventing her from going further. They pushed her aside. And Ino fell on the grass.
"We won't hurt you because of who your father is. Last chance Yamanaka."
Ino furiously stood up. " How dare you mistreat my best friend. You cow! Leave her alone!"
"You can't honestly say you care about that ugly thing."
"Why don't we fight one on one then Ami! Your stupid followers are in the way."
"They're here for a reason Yamanaka."
The girls screaming match was escalating but too bad for Sakura no parents were nearby to interfere. No one was near them except one boy who made his way over.
Naruto Uzumaki clad in his orange outfit walked over to the girls. His fists clenched at his sides. And his normally cheerful face seemed frustrated.
" What are you guys doing to Sakura-chan?!" screeched Naruto. Pushing the girls from Sakura. "Leave her alone ! If you guys touch her again you'll regret it. " He fixed them with a glare that sent shivers down their spines.
"Naruto glaring?"
"What will you do? Going to get your parents? At this Ami's friends laughed.
"I'll tell Iruka-sensei."
Sakura was baffled as to why Naruto was defending her. This had happened before. Ino wasn't there and when she heard what they had done she vowed to protect her against the bullies. Ino was her friend that's what friends do. But Naruto?
"He won't believe you. You're the class clown. Your word is insignificant."
"What about Sasuke then? He doesn't like bullies. He'll believe me."
"You wouldn't!"
"Leave her alone and I won't tell anybody."
Satisfied he walked over to Sakura and lifted her up bridal style. The girls were too stunned to move. Sakura doesn't really consider Sasuke's name as important and forgets it. She's too stunned by Naruto's actions.
"Are you okay?" he whispered.
Sending one last glare to Ami, he walked her over to another bench.
" I heard the noise from the other side of the park. I saw Ino run over here so I decided to follow her. Are you okay?"
"….y-you saved me.."
"Of course I did! What they did was wrong!"
He sat her down gently on the bench. His face had gone back to the Naruto she knew.
She stared at Naruto trying to figure out what he was saying. She heard the words but she couldn't understand why Naruto who she never met before was defending her. Before today they never spoke. They had different classrooms. She knew who he was because who didn't know Naruto? He was the clown. He was loud and goofy. She had never seen him mad before. Maybe that meant something?
"Naruto?"
Stoping mid rant Naruto looked at Sakura. "What's wrong, Sakura?"
"Do you wanna be my friend?"
She wanted to be there for Naruto. He saved her and she owed him something.
"I'll always be your friend."
"Pinky Promise Naruto. You won't leave."
"Always."
And that's how Ino found them. On a bench their pinkies connected with cheerful smiles on their face.
What do you think? Should I continue or give up? I'm waiting for ten reviews before posting the next chapter. Please Please Please Review. Thank you for reading.
