Um… look, I know this chapter has a realllly boring start, but it'll get more circus-y soon, I promise!

And yes, I am aware that Sasuke is EXTREMELY OOC. He'll get more and more OOC actually… hehe…

I got the idea for this while watching Cirque du Soleil.

Disclaimer: I don't own a circus OR Naruto.

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Chappie 1: Autumn

"Sakura! Time to get up!"

Haruno Sakura, dancer of the Circus of Konoha, awakened at the sound of her mother's voice; that voice that reminded her the day had begun. She groaned and groggily stepped out of the warm confines of her blankets.

"Yes mother, I heard you!"

Resembling a somewhat drunk person, she stumbled to her bathroom and brushed her teeth. She then smoothed down her short and glossy fairy floss hair, clipping on a little sakura petal shaped clip to keep hair out of her eyes. She dressed herself in her daily attire, grabbed her needed belongings for the day, shoved them in a small, red knapsack, and stepped out the door without breakfast.

"Mother, I'm leaving!"

"Okay. Have a safe trip, Sakura—wait! You haven't had breakfast!"

But it was too late. Sakura had already happily set off on her way.

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It was near the end of autumn, so the air was crisp and leaves in the most beautiful shades of red and orange were falling from the maple trees around Konoha. These leaves never ceased to amaze Sakura, and seeing there was no-one about, she pulled her jacket tighter around her, and started to pick up armfuls of fallen leaves so that she could throw them up, and watch them float down around her. She giggled.

Lucky no-one's here! Or I'd look like a silly little child!

The teenager continued to throw the browned leaves about, laughing and not having a care in the world. It didn't matter if she was late… because autumn was always a magical time for her.

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After about ten minutes of leaf throwing, an exhausted Sakura fell down onto the ground by a maple tree, and stared contentedly into the blue morning sky through the branches of the near-leafless tree. She sat up, leaning against the trunk, and shivered, wrapping her arms around herself, wishing she'd worn a thicker jacket.

"Sakura?"

The boy's voice shattered the silence of the atmosphere. It was Uchiha Sasuke. Uchiha Sasuke, the lead athlete of the Circus of Konoha. Uchiha Sasuke, who every girl admired, including herself. They'd known each other for more than ten years already, but her feelings for him had never changed. As her bright, emerald eyes met his somewhat concerned ones, he quickly looked away with an indifferent look on his face.

"What are you doing here all by yourself this early in the morning?"

"N-n-nothing. What about you?"

"Hn. Same… I was just taking a detour, that's all."

She sat there. He stood there. It was kind of… awkward.

Then Sakura's teeth started chattering.

"Sakura, are you cold or something?"

He watched the shivering girl on the ground and smirked.

"I guess there's no helping it."

Taking off his woollen scarf and jacket, he squatted and wrapped them around the cold, pink-haired girl. They were awfully big for her, but they would keep her warm. Sakura blushed furiously and looked at the dewy ground. They stood up together.

"Sa-Sasuke-kun! You don't have to do this!"

But the raven-haired boy had already started walking.

"Sakura, I'm not going to wait for you. I bet you didn't eat breakfast again. C'mon, I'll buy you some."

Sasuke-kun… is treating me… to… to breakfast…? Has the world gone mad?

Sakura couldn't believe her luck. She jogged up to Sasuke, who was now only wearing a loosely buttoned up shirt and jeans, and together they walked.

He looked across at her. There she was, almost a head shorter than him, her cheeks tinged pink from the cold, and wearing his jacket, of which the sleeves were way too long. The lead athlete almost laughed out loud, for she looked quite ridiculous.

What would today hold for the two young circus performers?