For those who are abused and overlooked.

You will forever hold a place in my heart.

MAY THEIR SMILES ONE DAY BE PURE.

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Sakura POV

Killing introductions

I gulped, tugging at the sleeve of the new red blouse I had just bought for school. Spring Break had just ended, and I was not ready to go back to homework and big nosed teachers. It was sunny outside, the cool walls of Konoha High were so inviting while standing in the blistering heat of my village.

My cherry hair was matted to my forehead and a bead of sweat trickled down my face. My tight blue jeans just suddenly got a whole lot tighter. My customized red sandals clutched to my pale ankles and I sighed. My choices here could make me or break me. Killing introductions would not be a smart move here. But, there was no turning back. I was here, now. I might as well go inside.

My sandals clicked against the tiles of the now crowded halls, shinobi and kunoichi piling in.

"Sakura! Yo, Sakura!" A raspy, yet oh so familiar, voice called to me and I turned around. Naruto was running clumsily down the hall towards me, the biggest, most idiotic grin on his face. His skin was tanned, yet he had turned permanent pink in the face. His yellow hair was growing a little past his ears, and the blonde ninja, now aged 18, was a lot better than the old one used to be. He was still annoying, but he was usually good, which was helping me a lot with my temper problems.

"Sakura-chan, Yo!" He smirked as he finally reached me. We almost clashed faces, his nose brushing mine as he skidded to a halt. He put his elbow out coolly to lean on what he thought would be a locker next to him, but instead he went sailing sideways and landed on his side.

"Ow'dattebayo!"

I laughed, and leaned down, resting my hands on my thighs and smiling down at him. "Long time no see, Naruto. You're entries are improving. This one is a lot better than the last time." I smiled at him, and he blushed, flinging back up to a stand.

"I've been practicing." He said, giving me a thumbs-up.

I blinked my hazel eyes at him, and I felt a sudden wave of heat flash across the top of my cheekbones.

"Practicing? Like, in front of the mirror?" I placed a hand on my hip, and stifled a giggle as Naruto suddenly came to realize what he had just said, waving his arms around.

"No! No! That's not what I meant! Honestly! I just—"

"It's okay, Naruto. Hey, I like that shirt on you… It brings out your eyes a lot more." I complimented him, brushing my fingers against the collar of his blue polo t-shirt. Naruto went completely red, and I turned my back to him, snickering. I like to tease Naruto, on a point of which I know he likes me. It may be a little mean, but I'm usually the one freaking out in front of Sasuke, so being in irresistible mode was pretty… enjoyable.

Naruto cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. "I hope it looks good. That's what I planned." He looked at me, and then looked away again, checking out Temari as she walked by. Temari was honestly not herself lately. She was hanging out with TenTen and Hinata, wearing skirts and applying make-up… I'm beginning to think it's all to attract Shikamaru, a crush which she has made obvious since the start of our freshmen year. That was two years ago. We were Juniors now, and all we wanted was OUT.

"Oh," I smiled at Naruto, "hoping to attract someone special? Maybe, say… Hinata Hyuga?" I gave Naruto a toothy grin, and he went red again. Even he could not deny that Hinata had blossomed into a beautiful creature, and she was a lot more outgoing. She was usually seen with the In Crowd; Ino, TenTen, and Temari.

Naruto shook his head. "Actually, I was hoping to attract someone named… uh… Sakura Haruno." He lowered his head, staring at his blue sandals as he shuffled them against the tile. I sighed, annoyed.

"Naruto, you promised you wouldn't get into this again." I reached up and pinched the top of my nose, squeezing the cartilage roughly, my temper starting to kick in. Naruto and I, before we found Sasuke, had promised each other that nothing would happen between us relation-ship-wise.

"I know, Sakura-chan, but something happened to your f-face over break a-and I just couldn't help myself, dattebayo!" he whined.

"Something to my face? What are you talking about, you idiot?" I inhaled, and then exhaled. Keep your fist at your side, Sakura. Fist at your side.

"You're different. Even Sasuke…" He didn't finish his sentence, but I honestly didn't want him to.

"Naruto. I'm s…" I gulped, "SORRY. But let's take a look at reality for a second, alright? I'm… I'm not going to like you that way. Ever."

Naruto jumped a little, his eyes widening. Big, blue, and heartbreaking. I felt terrible, but he needed to face the truth. There was only one guy in my life for me.

I put my hand on Naruto's shoulder, but his reaction was warm at my touch. I sighed, but smiled gently at him. I really can't mess with his head anymore.

XxX

Naruto and I walked down the halls, looking at each other and talking about what we had done over summer vacation.

"Well if it isn't Sakura." Ino Yamanaka smirked. Ino's pretty, I'll give her that, but it's really her chest that gets her where she wants and what she wants. She plays dumb all the time and guys immediately fall to her knees like she's Aphrodite. Her hair has grown out again, and today she had her bangs pulled back and tied with the red ribbon that I had given to her in middle school. She had overdone the eye make-up again, but it drew attention to those glass eyes of blue.

Ino had Shikamaru at her side, who was looking around with an annoyed look. He hadn't changed at all, really. Naruto sighed. He didn't like Ino either, and we were kind of confused by why Ino was talking to me. She hadn't even sad anything about my forehead yet. Oh, wait. There she goes.

"I didn't even recognize you. That big old forehead of yours seems to be shrinking or something," Ino smirked her full lips, "What a shame that is. It's like your trademark."

"Oh, and Ino," Naruto spat roughly, "Your nose seems to be shrinking as well. How's that new nose job working out for you? And how about your store-bought chest? Those hard as rocks, yet?"

I stifled a snort, and Shikamaru's eyes bugged out of his skull.

"Babe, you have store-boughts?" His voice trembled, and his eyes looked her up and down. He examined her nose.

"No, you idiot!" Ino shouted, and slapped Shikamaru's shoulder.

"Still feeling sick from the abortion?" Naruto went on, and I turned around, my face red from trying to hold all the giggles in.

Shikamaru stared at her stomach. Ino slapped Naruto in the face, and that's when I started laughing even harder.

"You're a pig, Naruto. God, I was only kidding." She squeaked, her face red. Naruto held his cheek, which was pinker than usual.

"Anyway, Sakura," Ino continued, smiling, "I just wanted to see how your break was going, but maybe we should talk later… when there isn't some pervert with only some free air between his legs." Ino stuck her tongue out at Naruto, and then turned on her heel, dragging Shikamaru with her. Poor boy was still confused about whether or not all of the things Naruto said were true.

"No way she can insult you and get away with it. Why didn't you say anything to her?"

"Well, why was she saying anything to me? All this time of fighting and she picks now to set a truce?" I sighed.

Naruto shrugged and we started moving down the hall again.

That's when there was a perfect little gap between the students and I suddenly saw him. Being away from him for two weeks had been torture, and now we were looking at each other.

Okay, so, he wasn't looking at me. He was talking to Hinata and TenTen. He was usually seen talking to Hinata and TenTen, on the account of them being the only ones in the whole school who weren't obsessed with him. That's what he thought, anyway. I mean, who could resist Sasuke Uchiha?
Sasuke's hair was done up, but he wasn't wearing his ninja band. He had gotten two gauges in both ears, which were really eye-catching. He was still scowling all the time, but ever since he finished off Itachi sophomore year, he's been pretty… friendly. His hair is still black, hanging over his face, and up in the air… defying gravity like always. He was leaned against his locker, and he was wearing a button-up white shirt with sleeves that stopped at the wrist. The shirt showed off his masculine features, and it was hard to talk to him without looking down at his chest. His face was a big distraction too, though. Sasuke, as always, was back at the top and always at the best parties, but he never drank. He smoked, sure, but never drank.

Naruto followed my gaze and rolled his eyes, murmuring something under his breath. I was too caught up in Sasuke and his… well, himself, that I didn't even notice Naruto leave my side and he was suddenly blabbing away with Sasuke.

I bit my lip, walking up behind Naruto. He was so much taller than me. We had all changed a lot. I finally lost all my baby fat and grew my hair out to my shoulders again. It was a change that I think everyone liked.

I kind of hid behind Naruto's long shoulders, but I wasn't ignored for as long as I would have hoped.

"Sakura, what are you doing?" Naruto turned to me, revealing me to Sasuke, Hinata, and TenTen. Hinata and TenTen looked me up and down. I never really talked to them anymore, but I've been assuming that they've been mad at me over something. I got sick of all the drama that high school comes packaged with, though, and I just let it go, leaving them to be mad and spread as many rumors as they wanted to. A popular one sophomore year was the question of whether or not my hair color was natural. Like I haven't heard that one before.

I decided I needed to stop being the shy girl.

"You had something in your hair, moron." I gave him a toothy smile, but I was really just showing off for Sasuke. He needs to start noticing me.

"Oh. Thanks for getting it out?" Naruto more of asked me than thanked me, confused of whether or not he should be mad at me for calling him a moron again.

"No problem." I grinned again, and then directed my gaze to Hinata and TenTen. I placed a hand on my newly curvy hip (thank you for the free trial at the gym, Tsunade!) and kind of posed in the moment, like someone was about to take my picture. Soak it up, Sasuke. Gawk all you want, it's free of charge.

"Sakura! I haven't seen you in ages," TenTen smiled, and then realized we were wearing the same shirt, "and it looks like you went shopping." She giggled, but my face flushed. I hate trying to catch up on style crazes.

"Good to see you." I sounded like an employer… or maybe just my mom.

"Sakura, are you going on the beach trip?" Hinata asked me. She really was different than before. Her velvet black hair hung just below her practiced features, and her new Juicy Couture shirt clung to her figure. I really don't know why Naruto doesn't like her. Even Kankuro has taken interest.

"Beach trip?" I asked, posing again, leaning on Naruto. I was trying so hard not to look at Sasuke, who was watching the conversation between me and his caddies; them being the Tinkerbell to his Paris.

"Yeah. It's over the four-day-weekend, starting on Friday. You stay in a beach house with different people, and each day you do something different. Like, hike to see the sunset and stuff." TenTen added, suddenly with a nail filer in hand.

"Totally." Hinata chimed in, and tucked her sweatpants into her Uggs just a little bit tighter.

"Y-Yeah. I think I'll go." I shrugged. I turned my gaze to Sasuke who was looking around, but he was definitely not looking at me. "S-So, Sasuke—"

Ding. Ding. Ding. The bell rang, and Sasuke slammed his locker shut. He looked at me, his eyes nothing but solid black, snickered, and then walked away, his hands in his jean pockets. Mission Talk to Sasuke failed once again.

Naruto cocked his head. "Sakura? Something wrong?"

"Peace out, Sakura!" Two girly voices called to me, but I was too busy staring at my feet. The world was spinning around me, and I didn't realize where I was until two pink fingers snapped in front of me.

"Biology… we're going to be late!" Naruto tugged at my arm. Something began to crawl across my face, rolling under my chin. My hand flew up to squish it, but it was… a tear. I quickly turned my back to Naruto, waving him off.

"I'll meet you in there. I-I just don't feel so great." I mumbled, putting my hand over my lips. I tasted wet salt.

"Sakura-ch—"

"You'll be late, Naruto."

…

The sound of scuffling sandals clicked down the hall, a very flustered blond ninja, bemused by his friend's sudden change in attitude, and hoping that paper on the human body wasn't due today.

I stood there, and tugged the sleeves of my blouse. The same one TenTen was wearing. I was pretty good at killing introductions.

Ding. Ding. Ding.