This fanfiction is purely devoted to my good friend Sam who has been burdened with a broken toe. And...well...ANGST WILL ALWAYS CHEER PEOPLE UP! Maybe...
Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns Naruto, not me. It makes me so sad...
My dad died nine months before I was born. My mom died six years after. I've been alone for the last six years, no friends, no hope; only tears and memories as my company. I grew up quickly, knowing more about the real world than most other kids at my age. Whenever someone complained about overbearing parents I turned green with envy. People like Sasuke and Naruto...I could understand them. Better than all those fangirls who pathetically tried to woo Sasuke by being obnoxious. But I was one of them, so who am I to talk? Let's start at the beginning...
It was the day following our final exam at the ninja academy. I watched the sun rise rise with trepidation, nervous about what surprises it would hold for me. Despite my grades, I was pretty pathetic at fighting and now to be thrown so suddenly into the world of shinobi where people died regularly...it was frightening. But I had set myself on this path and I would see it through.
My morning preparations took less more time than usual. Shaking hands don't zip up zippers or brush pink hair that well. But I was ready eventually and only took a second to see for myself the resolve in my emerald eyes. I had to admit they were pretty but the things they had witnessed...I left dressed in my classic red dress with the white Haruno clan symbol all over it. My hitai-ate was bound around my head, showing off my status as a genin to everyone. Despite that no one noticed me any more than usual, but that was good. I needed some time to gather my thoughts and adjust to the dangerous life that stretched out before me like a hall filled with spikes. I needed to get into character.
By the time I got to the classroom where all the graduates were to report I was completely into my persona. The classroom looked the same as always, rows of desks bent slightly in an arc around the front. Sasuke-kun sat at the end of the second row, next to Naruto. He was easily recognizable with his chicken-butt hairstyle and onyx eyes that contrasted so well with the cerulean eyes of Naruto. Even their hair colors were opposite; Naruto's being blatantly blond and Sasuke-kun's black. I paused for a moment in the doorway until my persona demanded that I go sit by Sasuke-kun. However the only seat by him was already taken by Naruto so I would have to remove him. As I walked up there he had that silly infatuated look on his face so I decided to be a bit harsher than usual. I couldn't deal with the fact that someone would actually like me. I didn't deserve love.
"Give me your seat Naruto! I want to sit by Sasuke-kun, after all he's so much cooler than you."
No one but us heard that exchange and no one but me noticed how he wilted under my cruel words. He looked so sad that I almost relented...but I couldn't let myself. Never. My defense was impenetrable.
"Sasuke-kuuun! How are you? I got this amazing shampoo the other day and it makes my hair smell like cherries, do you want to smell it?"
I chattered on for a bit, highly aware that the Sasuke fan club was wishing me dead. And inventing lies to put me down. It was sad, the lengths to which some people would go because the were feeling jealous. They weren't the only envious ones though; the blond shinobi next to me was practically boiling as I ignored him. Finally he leapt up onto the desk in front of Sasuke-kun and engaged him in a staring contest. I thought it was kind of funny but...my persona wouldn't stand for it.
"Naruto, what the hell are you doing? Get away from my Sasuke-kun!"
He didn't seem to hear me and then the worst incident happened. The person sitting in the row in front of us leaned back in his chair and bumped Naruto. Who fell into a lip lock with the only remaining Uchiha. All of his fangirls stood up with flames in their eyes and started cracking their knuckles as Naruto and Sasuke-kun tried to rid themselves of the others germs. And of course as Sasuke-kun's most obsessive fan, I would have to participate in the punishment beating. I felt bad for Naruto, but it was over before he knew it and soon Iruka-sensei walked in.
He began his lecture and explained all about our responsibilities and that we would be assigned to three man teams with a jounin to mentor each one. I couldn't really care who I was with, it wouldn't matter. Teams 1-6 were announced then he called my name for team seven. I turned away from Sasuke-kun to pay attention and tried to act thrilled when his name was called next. It was hard though, pretending to have feelings I didn't really have. Naruto was the next name Iruka-sensei called and team 7 was complete. He continued through the next two teams and told us to eat lunch and then come back to wait for our jounin to show up and begin our training. I saw this as a way to further cement my persona by chasing Sasuke-kun down.
He had exited the room rather quick and as I couldn't easily find him by just strolling around, I sat down on a bench. Really, this persona was getting way too bothersome. I hated it but it was all I could do...and then I saw Sasuke-kun leaning against a tree across the street. His eyes were boring into me, reminding me of black pits of despair. But I had to pretend I was in love with him so I conjured up a blush and averted my eyes. When he approached me I stood up to meet him and gazed 'adoringly' at his face. His voice was husky as he spoke.
"Your forehead looks so nice. Makes me want to kiss it."
A dozen cliche responses were thrown in front of me for my evaluation. I chose the one that seemed to cut off conversation better than the rest. However, before I could voice it he spoke again and made light of his last comment. Further downgrading my opinion of him.
"That sounds like something Naruto would say."
He tried to laugh but it didn't suit him so he passed the awkward moment by sitting on the bench I had just vacated. I sat next to him, waiting him to continue because really, what could I say to that?
"I've been meaning to ask you this for awhile, what do you think of Naruto?"
I almost laughed because that seemed so out of character but his face showed he was serious. I thought for a second, trying to sort out all my conflicting urges. I could reveal my secret to him, but I couldn't at the same time. So I fell back on my persona.
"He's annoying. He keeps trying to get close to me but all I really want is to get closer to and acknowledged by you, Sasuke-kun."
He seemed surprised at my response and was about to say something else when he doubled up in pain. Before I could inquire if I could help, he rushed off towards the academy and I breathed a sigh of relief. It was getting a lot harder to resist the urge to spill my guts to someone. I sat there for some time, ignoring my growling stomach and sure enough Sasuke-kun walked by. My persona commanded me to go over to him and I felt my heart tearing in two as I did.
"Sasuke-kun are you feeling better? You ran off so fast earlier! I wanted to tell you..."
He cut me off and I hid my annoyance easily because it was fake. I hated him.
"Have you seen Naruto?"
"Why are you always bringing him up? He's so immature you shouldn't trouble yourself with him. I'm sure it's because of the way he was raised!"
One eyebrow went up at my exclamation. His face clearing showed anger and disbelief warring on it and anger won in the end. As always.
"You really don't know? Naruto grew up with no parents. Of course I couldn't expect you to understand that because you've never known the pain of growing up alone. Even scoldings would be welcome to us...to him. You annoy me, now go away."
My own disbelief grew at his outrageous claims. He had absolutely no right! Seriously how could anyone fall in love with such a prick like him? I began to cry from anger and clenched my fists. Sasuke-kun...no just Sasuke. He was going to regret that...glaring at his back as he walked away I plotted my revenge. There was no way I could ever forgive him for assuming he knew so much about my life. No one knew anything. I was going to keep it that way. After I calmed down a bit I returned to the classroom and waited with the others for our new jounins. My black thoughts were shoved to the back of my head until I was alone and could vent appropriately.
Hours ticked by as the classroom emptied and only team 7 was left. I felt ready to explode. Naruto had been pacing, drumming weird beats and complaining while Sasuke just sat there; as was his character. As for me, I passed them happily lost in thought. After awhile though, Naruto pulled me out of my day dreams by putting an eraser between the sliding door and the frame. When our new sensei walked through, it would fall on his head. I felt like giggling because it was really what he deserved for being so late but my persona couldn't. I had to look away in disdain and say I wanted no part in it. Sasuke just hn-ed.
About a minute after the prank had been set up our sensei fell for it. Sasuke actually showed some interest and surprise at the fact that he fell for it; Naruto fell over laughing. I had to stifle another giggle and feign indifference. His first words to us were spoken in a plain monotone.
"How should I say this? My first impression of you guys is: I dislike you."
We all sweat dropped at that and followed him apprehensively to the roof. He settled against some green railing and observed us as we arranged ourselves before him. I sat in the middle with Naruto on my left and Sasuke on my right. He started out with a simple enough request.
"Right before we do anything let's get to know each other. What are your names, dreams, likes, dislikes and all that?"
Our sensei was a strange man. He had a mask covering the lower part of his face, gray hair though he couldn't be old because there weren't too many wrinkles and his hitai-ite was slanted so it covered his left eye. The eye we could see stared at us expectantly until Naruto spoke up.
"Why don't you demonstrate? I'm not really sure what to say."
He nodded and launched into a monologue that told us nothing but his name. Already I felt myself despising him. He came off as arrogant and apathetic. And I hate people who think they're above me. Like Sasuke. I glared at him as he began to speak.
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I have a dream-no you can't call it a dream. It's an ambition. I'm going to revive my clan (he threw in a dramatic pause here) and kill a certain man."
None of his likes or dislikes were mentioned. Disgust flooded me so I transferred my attention to Naruto. His introduction was at least more interesting than Sasuke's and covered all of the topics. Unlike Sasuke's.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I love ramen, with or without miso. My favorite place to dine is Ichiraku and I dislike...someone. As for my dream I will become the greatest Hokage ever known! Then everyone will acknowledge me!"
The blond grinned as he tilted his hitai-ate so it flashed in the sun. I rolled my eyes and started out on my turn but really...I could understand him. He grew up alone and just wanted the respect the villagers denied him. And here I was denying his love...but it could never work. He'd end up more broken than he was before.
"My name is Sakura Haruno and I also dislike someone. Things I like, well there's too many to list. Listening to rain I guess. And my dream is to get revenge on a certain someone nearby."
Naruto flinched when I stated my dream. It made me laugh inside and I stored that in my precious collection of happy memories. Yes, I have a morbid sense of humor but whatever. Kakashi-sensei was speaking again.
"Alright so first we're going to go through a mild evaluation to determine which one of you will advance to the genin level. It has a 66% failure rate so try your best. At it's end we'll have 9 new genins and the rest of you will be sent back to the academy for further training. Meet at the training grounds tomorrow. And don't eat breakfast."
Shouts of dismay were heard from the ninja on my left while the one on my right hn-ed and tried to act indifferent. But I could tell he was nervous and trying to cover it with arrogance. As for me, if I failed I wouldn't exactly have a point to life anymore. And I had some sharp kunai to assist me. but the sun was setting. Naruto ran off with fire in his eyes as our sensei disappeared in a puff of smoke. Sasuke walked off and I just sat there for awhile. Watching the sky get smeared with red paint by the most famous artist of all, the sun. When lights went on in the streets and stars twinkled overhead I went home. Tomorrow would be an important day.
To be continued...dun dun dunnnn!
Eheh, yes I know it's horrible and hard to understand and only has an undercurrent of angst. The angst will come though. Just give me time...and tell me what you think in reviews! You may think it's a waste of time but what you think means a lot to me. xD Well, until the next chapter~!