I don't own Naruto or Soul Eater.

WARNING: This story contains foul language, violence, the power of friendship, and atrocious attempts at action.

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.

-Muhammad Ali

Naruto Uzumaki tore through the streets of Death City on her black Iron 883 Harley Davidson (with custom orange and glittery gold flames), the dirt in the air not bothering her as it swept across the single lense of her riding goggles.

She was happy to find it in the garage of her new home when she arrived a day before, finding out that it was perfectly legal for her to ride it at thirteen in Death City as long as she was a student at the DWMA, and all she had to do was flash her student I.D and she was home free.

She'd learned all this after calling her Jiji to scream "thank you!" into his ear for buying it for her, and then demand why he would do such a thing when she couldn't even ride it legally.

(Not that it had ever stopped her from riding dirtbikes in the street back home).

More presently, for once in her life, Naruto was early. (Even though she was homeschooled until she was ten, she'd managed to be late to Jiji's lessons everyday, and when she got into normal school, sometimes she was an entire hour late).

She wanted to get a feel for the school Shinigami-sama built, and she knew if she wanted to do that, she'd have to be early.

"Hey you brat, watch it!" Someone shrieked, diving out of the way as Naruto nearly plowed into them bending a corner on a green light.

The blonde cackled, blonde pigtails trailing behind her like streamers as she ate up the distance between her and her new school.

"Gomenasai!" She tossed behind her.

Of course, she was too excited to be truly sorry.

They'd met by mistake.

It was Sakura Hannelore's first time as a student in Shibusen's Eat class, having spent her first few months of her first year at the weapon and meister academy in the Not class. She was so excited she was roaming the halls an entire hour early before class was in session.

The pink haired teen had finally passed the physical test to enter the Eat class, even if only by the skin of her teeth.

Sakura Hannelore strode down one of the long, seemingly never ending buttercream halls of her school, a bit of skip in her step as she'd just left Shinigami-sama's Death Room, the god having informed her that she would be transferred into the Eat class on the best day. The day the Eat class would start learning about Soul Resonance. As a meister in Death City, the skill to resonate was vital, so naturally Sakura was a little anxious.

Meister.

Sakura's excited stride faltered. She stood in the deserted hall, mood deflating and expression crumbling, her green eyes misting over slightly.

What kind of meister was she really? She didn't even have a weapon partner yet, and she'd been at the DWMA for three months.

Nobody wanted her, and really, could she blame them? She was so weak. She wasn't as fast, strong, or tenacious as normal Eat meisters. The only thing she really had going for her was her brains, and that was only bookwise. She wasn't sure how she'd react in a real combat situation with life threatening factors.

Sakura was almost positive she'd freeze up in panic. She was positive her books wouldn't do her any good when she had to think on her toes. Not to mention her... temper. She'd admit, it could be a little explosive, but that was usually how she covered up embarrassment or being hurt in some way. Because no one wanted her around, no one knew that there was so much more to her, that really, all she wanted was to connect.

If Sakura could have one real friend, she knew she could get stronger, because she'd want to be able to walk beside the person that accepted her. Too bad no one was willing to accept her.

"I… I suck." She murmured, green eyes burning, filling with liquid.

But really, why was she saying that like she didn't already know it? Even the Not students were better than her. They even gave her a classroom moniker.

Suckra.

Because she was monumentally lame.

Sakura scrubbed her arm across her eyes, trying to compose herself, reminding herself that she didn't have her parents move with her from Germany to the middle of the Nevada Desert to Death City so that she could twiddle her thumbs or cry. Her father had been a great meister with his girlfriend turned wife as his anti-kishin weapon, cutting down foes with her clawed gauntlet form and beating them back with his mastery of several martial arts forms.

With her mother finally being turned a Death Scythe, they had decided to retire from the life as Kishin Hunters, and Lord Death approved, assuring them that he had plenty Death Scythes to help out when he got word of their engagement as well as their baby on the way. It had been thirteen years ago when they moved back to Germany to raise Sakura in a normal life, only to find out that their daughter was meister material and was determined to put such potential to use.

Moving to Death City hadn't hurt Sakura, she didn't have any friends back home because her bookish nature put people off. There was no language barrier because her mother made sure she could speak German as well as English fluently.

Her father taught her to wrestle, as well as a bit of Taekwondo. She was good at both. But Sakura learned that "good" at Shibusen wasn't enough. She was stronger than the average thirteen year old girl, could kick an average girl's ass, but as a meister she was entirely mediocre. The kids… even some in the Not class, were entirely more vicious in combat. She was too cookie cutter and by the books, so she was severely lacking in many ways.

She had hoped that finally meeting the requirements to transfer into the Eat class would give her the boost in confidence to become better, to finally get a weapon partner, but with how she was feeling, she wasn't confident that anyone would want to deal with her.

Hell, she was a loser among losers, so why would the winners in the Eat class want to be bothered with her?

Ugh.

She was thinking in circles. Dangerous. depressing. circles.

Lord Death had transferred her into the Eat class on one condition.

Sakura Adea Hannelore, was to find a weapon partner in the next week or she would have to return to the Not class.

And how humiliating would that be? Finally getting out, only to be demoted back. She'd be an even bigger laughingstock, however impossible that seemed.

Even so, her time in the Not class wasn't all being bullied or ignored. She had learned to combine her wrestling and Taekwondo techniques in sparring matches, and even with such a small soul, Sakura learned that she had the ability to force her wavelength into her fists for short amounts of time, allowing her to punch holes through walls and cause general destruction with her bare hands.

She'd kept this talent to herself, wanting to have a trump card if she ever needed it.

Unfortunately, even with her trump card, Sakura couldn't muster up the courage to be hopeful. She'd been excited about transferring at first, but now that her happy accomplished high was fading, she could see the grim future she likely had.

What the hell was she doing?

"I… I can't do it."

She wouldn't be able to face the humiliation of failing as an Eat student. She wouldn't be able to face her parents after telling them that she failed as a meister, that she would never get a weapon. She just… she just couldn't.

Sakura whirled around, and made to run.

She took three steps and slammed into someone.

The pinkette cried out, stumbling back, nearly falling on her bottom before someone grabbed the front of her dress and hauled her foreward.

"Kami!" A voice exclaimed. "Gomen ne, watashi wa-um... I mean, I was moving way too fast."

The pinkette opened her eyes, having instinctively squeezed them shut, surprised by the Japanese the stranger spoke. She didn't know much of the language, just little things, enough to notice that the person had apologized for running into her.

Sakura stared at the one who she'd bumped into, surprised to find a short girl before her, big sapphire eyes staring into her own in worry.

The stranger had spiky sunshine blonde hair that fell to the back of her thighs, parted in low pigtails, her bangs falling past her jaw framing her face, as well as tufts tickling across her brows. Her skin was a healthy rosy tan. The blonde wore a bright orange and dark blue track jacket with a high white collar, dark blue joggers, and white birkenstock sandals. Her hands were clothed by white padded leather fingerless gloves, and she wore a pair of white goggles on her forehead with an orange tinted lense.

"Hey, are you okay?" The stranger asked, shocking Sakura out of her observations with her soft feminine rasp. It was a different voice, but not unpleasant.

"Oh!" Sakura flushed, noticing the girl's fair brows were climbing higher and higher in question with each moment Sakura allowed to pass awkwardly. "Oh, I'm sorry, I just… sorry. Yes. I'm fine. H-how are you?"

Sakura wanted to smack herself at how stupid she'd sounded.

'The day's just getting better and better isn't it?' Her inner cynic grumbled.

The stranger grinned at the pinkette's stammering, showing off straight white teeth and prominent canines.

"You're awfully pretty Bubblegum-chan." She chirped, folding her gloved hands behind her back before cocking her head to the side curiously. "Where are you off to so fast dattebayo?"

Sakura's flush burned, and she bristled.

"B-bubblegum!?" She huffed. "That's about one of the rudest things I've ever heard!"

"Oh?" The shorty hummed, grin turning into an amused turn of her lips. "Gomen gomen. What's your name then pretty girl?"

Sakura tried to stammer out a response.

'She's so rude, but I can't be that mad because she's called me pretty twice now. What's her deal?'

"You're not hitting on me are you?" Sakura blurted, mortification staining across her cheeks even brighter.

Blue eyes blinked long lashes rapidly, a stupefied expression wiping away a charming (yet irritating smile).

"NANI!?"

Sakura winced at the echoing shriek.

"No way!" The blonde crossed her arms in an X formation. "Totally not into chicks, or dudes, or anyone really. I'm only thirteen, sorry."

"W-WHAT!?" Sakura sputtered. "I would not- why would you even say-"

"Hey," The blonde suddenly sobered, utterly oblivious to Sakura's distress. "My name's Naruto. I just wanna know if we can be friends? What's your name?"

Sakura choked off whatever she'd been trying to convey.

'This girl is completely random!' She thought.

The newly dubbed Naruto grinned at Sakura, and held out her hand in invitation.

And yes, even though Sakura had no form of soul perception, she had a feeling the blonde was entirely earnest.

'How could that be though?' Sakura wondered. 'We've barely even met, and she… she seriously wants to be my friend.'

But…

When she knew, she wouldn't.

When Naruto found out how awful Sakura actually was, she wouldn't want to be friends. She'd toss her aside, start bullying or ignoring her. It… it would be so disappointing.

Naruto seemed to notice the pinkette's hesitation, and her wide grin calmed, instead curving into a sweet, quiet smile.

Sakura nearly recoiled.

Like this, the slightly obnoxious character Naruto had been showing opened up into an accepting and thoughtful person.

Without waiting, Naruto took a step forward, taking one of Sakura's hands in hers, clasping it firmly, yet not rudely.

Sakura's breath hitched when she felt a small spark within her chest as the blonde shook her hand.

'What…? What was that!'

"Naruto." She said again, still wearing her gentle expression, pulling the pinkette away from her startled thoughts. "Uzumaki Naruto."

"S-Sakura… Sakura Hannelore."

Naruto's eyes widened in delight, cocking her head to the side as she released Sakura's hand.

"You've got a Japanese name. What's the other one?" She asked curiously.

The pinkette was used to such inquiries, well, before people dropped her like bad tuna when they figured out how strong she wasn't and how too smart she was.

"My mother and father are German, but they went on a mission once to Japan, and remembered seeing cherry blossoms in full bloom. They decided to name me after them, hoping I would be as beautiful, if not more someday."

And how disappointed were they to find out their kid would grow into a too skinny, flat chested, and bad tempered bookworm with a huge forehead? Well, Sakura knew her parents loved her, but still.

"Eh?" Naruto grinned before shaking her head. "That's really cool dattebayo. Cherry blossoms really are pretty, but I think you're prettier Sakura-chan."

The pinkette felt her face burn for the umpteenth time since the few minutes she'd known Naruto.

"W-well thank you." Sakura stuttered. "B-but why do you keep saying that?"

"Sayin' what?" Naruto asked, blue eyes getting even bigger in question.

The meister shifted uncomfortably.

"You know… saying I'm pretty and stuff."

"Well why wouldn't I?" Naruto wondered. "You are pretty."

"I… it's just… people don't usually put so much emphasis on such things…" Sakura stammered.

"Hm?" Naruto blinked. "That's weird. But whatever, you are pretty, so I just wanted to tell you for some reason. I won't say it so much if you don't like it though."

Sakura was flabbergasted by the absolute innocence the girl gave off.

She was just… so freaking sweet.

'Why would she want to be my friend?'

A darker part of herself wondered if it was all an elaborate hoax to get her hopes up before crushing her heart. But really, who would go so much out of their way just to hurt Sakura's feelings? Not even school bullies gave enough of a crap to do such a thing.

"It's not that I don't like it, it's just unusual." Sakura finally answered, realizing she'd been staring for quite a long time.

"Well alright then." Naruto chuckled, before somehow perking up even more. "Hey, Sakura-chan, are you a meister?"

Green eyes widened.

"Yes, I am." She answered, honestly doing so before she even thought about it. "Why?"

"Hehe," Naruto scratched bashfully at the back of her unruly head. "You don't have a weapon partner yet, do you?"

Sakura bristled, offense flaring in her chest.

"Now why would you even as-"

"No?" Naruto cut off, immediately reading the mood. "Then… do you… do you want a weapon partner?"

Almost instantaneously, Sakura's anger was doused by surprise, and a tiny spark of hope she refused to acknowledge.

"Why…?" She drawled instead, suspicious.

Naruto dropped the hand that had began rubbing at the back of her head after scratching.

"It's… it's just… I'm a weapon that transferred here from Japan yesterday, and I've had everything set up, even my home for a while. Everything was settled before I even got here. I just… I don't have a meister."

Sakura's mouth nearly dropped open.

Here she'd been, angsting about her future, and then she literally ran into her solution. It was… it was almost too good to be true.

"Are you… are you sure?" The pinkette whispered, looking down at her boots. "I… I mean… I've been a student here for three months, Naruto. There's a reason I've been here for that long and still don't have a weapon. Most people find their partners within the first month."

Sakura looked up, wrapping her arms around herself, hands digging into the velvet of her dress.

She felt so stupid.

"Oh, hey…" Naruto murmured tenderly, reaching out and once more grabbing Sakura's hand, squeezing it in her own in comfort that was startlingly effective. "Don't cry Sakura-chan. Please don't cry. Of course I'm sure. I… I don't care what people think, or what they've said… you… your soul is beautiful. And I… I would be honored to have someone like you be my meister."

Sakura sniffled, and then the dam broke, and the liquid welling in her eyes spilled down her cheeks.

"Y… you have soul perception?" Sakura whimpered. "T-that's not very common in weapons…"

She was kind of iffy about the stranger peering into her soul without permission, but Naruto had called it beautiful.

A teacher with the sight had told her once that it was very small, and pink. They hadn't had a very advanced sense of perception, but those details were enough.

Even her soul sucked.

"Yeah, I've got the sight, and hey, it's not common in weapons, but not impossible." Naruto admitted. "I don't have it completely under control, and when we shook hands, I accidentally looked into yours. It's small, but inside of it is so much strength it's amazing. It's bright, and kind, and maybe a little hotheaded, but that's kinda fun, ne?"

Sakura startled out a laugh.

That… that made it sound a lot better than "small" and "pink".

"R-really?"

"Hai." Naruto nodded, squeezing Sakura's hands, the pinkette unsure of when she'd taken them both. "You've got one of the nicest souls I've ever seen. And I… I know it's weird, but I wanna know the person who has such a soul."

Sakura's expression crumbled.

"O-Oh my gosh!" Naruto exclaimed, wrapping Sakura- an almost stranger- into one of the warmest, kindest, most honest hugs the pinkette had ever been given. It was so nice it was almost motherly.

"Don't cry Sakura-chan! I'm sorry. What did I say? I… I'm sorry!"

Sakura suddenly squeezed back, with all her might, trying to convey in that touch how utterly grateful she was.

Sakura giggled.

"You can see souls, but you can't tell these are tears of joy?"

Naruto pulled back enough to show Sakura her surprised expression.

"I… well I told you I can't control it that well!" She yelped, cheeks flushing red.

Sakura snorted.

It was sad, how much she liked this girl, the girl that she hadn't even known for an hour.

It was sad that she was so deprived of kindness from people her age, that she clung so desperately to the first person that smiled at her without malicious teasing.

Yes. Indeed it was sad, but it was also wonderful, because she found someone who was going to accept her, because they'd seen her soul, and they wanted to know her.

Naruto wanted to know Sakura, based on a mere glimpse she'd gotten by mistake.

'That must've been what the spark was.' Her mind absently supplied. 'Naruto's wavelength reaching out to mine to feel it.'

But it hadn't been an unpleasant spark. It was like a short epiphany, an almost happy feeling.

Even before Naruto said something, Sakura's soul had found the one that was compatible with her own.

Naruto was her weapon.

Sakura found a weapon and a new friend on the same day.

And it was all an accident.

Well, at least she thought it was.

Sakura wouldn't know for a while that Naruto had been exploring Shibusen on her first day, and with her unrefined perception, she sensed a distressed soul.

She'd followed the call of the sadness in the soul, only for that upset person to run directly into her.

Naruto did everything she could to cheer up the person with such sadness tainting the brightness that should've been inside them.

The transfer was happy when she saw Sakura smile, and she was even happier to have gotten a friend and meister in her.

'Now, that's how her soul should look.' Naruto thought, shaking Sakura's hand as they sealed their partnership. 'I know she's strong. And we'll both only get stronger.'

They'd attended the first half of their school day in Professor Stein's Eat class, a man who had only started teaching at Shibusen a week prior, his class having been Syd Barrett's before the man was killed and turned into a blue zombie. Now the duo were at lunch.

The new partners sat on the roof of Shibusen, the unique sun of Death City snoozing in the sky, drool trailing out of its mouth.

Naruto had what she told Sakura was called a "bento", or boxed lunch, and oh man could that girl eat.

The duo were finishing up their meals (Naruto a feast, and Sakura a peanut butter and jelly sandwich), when the short blonde sitting beside her perked up.

"Okay, so we're partners, both in the Eat class starting today… so… what happens now? What're the deets?" Naruto asked.

Sakura perked up, going into what her Not peers referred to as, "Know it all Mode".

"So this is how it works." The pinkette began. "Shibusen, the Death Weapon Meister Academy or DWMA is a special school for humans who are born with the power to turn into weapons and the wielders of these weapons. These wielders are called meisters. While the students of the EAT, or Especially Advantaged Talent class train themselves to become warriors of justice, the NOT, Normally Overcome Target class is for those who just want to control their powers with the intent to not become a threat to others and to themselves."

"Well, I know that part." Naruto pointed out.

"I know," Sakura admitted. "I just, I like to say the whole thing."

"Okay, go on then." The blonde said, grinning, wiggling her brows teasingly.

Rolling her eyes, already recognizing that Naruto was a rather goofy character, Sakura did so.

"It isn't formally stated, but many NOT students are unable to be put into the Eat class for various physical limitations." Sakura went on, cheeks staining crimson.

"Nani?" Naruto blinked, confused.

The pinkette didn't know what that word specifically meant, but she could tell the way it was being used went along the lines of "I don't get it".

"Basically, a lot of NOT students are there because they suck too much to be in the EAT class."

"Oh." Naruto said, wincing.

"Yeah…" Sakura mumbled, looking down at her clasped hands, pink brows furrowing slightly. "So, anyways, since we're starting the Eat class, we're going to have to work hard. We're going to have to train together, study, and get to know each other. Weapons and Meisters are very close duos, and they lean on each other quite a bit. Are you… are you ready for that Naruto?"

"Well, I dunno about the studying," The blonde snickered when Sakura shook her head before continuing with, "But yeah. I'm so ready. I wanna be a Death Scythe someday, and even though I don't know you very well yet, I can tell you'll get me there. We're both gonna get stronger, together."

Sakura stared into those honest, determined, blue eyes... and in them, she saw truth.

Someday, they'd be some of the greatest.

Info:

-Adea: Origin, Germany. Meaning, noble.

-Hannelore: Origin, Germany. Meaning, gracious.

(Let's just pretend her name means "Noble and Gracious Cherry Blossom.").

I have no idea if the names I gave her are true to their meaning, because I got them off of google, so please excuse me if they are inaccurate.

-If you need a better visual of Naruto's hair, look up "Maki Maki Plastic Nee-san" on google. She's the girl with the red pigtails that I modeled Naruto's hairstyle as.

If you haven't watched Plastic Nee-san, you definitely should. It's beautiful.

- Harley Davidson Iron 883= Aggressive throwback styling and a 2017 Model.