Fanfiction on: Naruto (Before the Akatsuki mess, and before all those characters showed up. Kinda AU.)

Disclaimer: Naruto characters – not mine. Hayakawa Mitsuri – mine.

Chapter One: Yeah Yeah Yeah

Just when things couldn't get any worse for Mitsuri, she bumped into an old nemesis. Mitsuri tried to ignore the stare Haruno Sakura was giving her. She was on her way to see the Hokage to ask for a big-pay mission, and she wasn't in the mood to disagree with anyone. But apparently, Sakura just couldn't keep her claws off Mitsuri's back.

"Hayakawa Mitsuri," the pink-haired girl said with a raised eyebrow.

"Hi, Sakura. Bye." Mitsuri kept on walking.

"Heard you got tossed out of your apartment. It must be hard to be homeless." Sakura watched in satisfaction when Mitsuri stiffened and stopped. "You know, Mitsuri... You shouldn't waste your money on sake. Or all those unnecessary things you're really fond of. It's time for you to grow up, Mitsu-chan."

"I wonder..." Mitsuri started. "Why an idiot would tell me that." Then she walked off, in her usual lazy pace this time. She was determined to show Sakura that her comments didn't mean shit to her. She was just acting, of course. In truth, her spirit sagged more than it did before she ran into the bane of her existence. If she hadn't been so distracted, she would have remembered to glance back and see the effect her statement had on Sakura.

How dare she? Sakura fumed. How she despised that girl! Ever since they were students in the nin academy, Mitsuri had always been an outcast. She was just... too different. The one thing that set her apart was that she was a girl who couldn't get along with other girls. Girls other than Sakura disliked Mitsuri too, mostly out of envy. They hated her because she was always with the boys. They knew Mitsuri wasn't interested romantically in boys, but they couldn't forgive her when they found out that the boy they would kill to have became interested in her.

It happened seven years ago, when they were still fourteen. They were academy graduates for two years already at that time. Sakura had just been assigned to a mission, and she had just left the mission post. As soon as she was outdoors, she caught sight of Uchiha Sasuke walking nearby. He was with Hayakawa Mitsuri. She didn't particularly like Mitsuri then, but she didn't particularly dislike her either.

"What could they be talking about?" she muttered to herself. She followed Sasuke and Mitsuri until they came to a stop. My, but Sasuke-kun looks so serious. He's terribly good-looking like that.

"Mitsuri..." Sasuke was saying.

"Don't say anything, Uchiha," Mitsuri interrupted with a grin. "Just leave it. You know I'm too honest for my own good."

"But still," Sasuke persisted. "I have to be clear. Maybe you've noticed something in my manner for quite some time now, but I'll say it." He paused. Then said, "I like you."

Sakura nearly had a heart attack. She couldn't breathe. All these years, I've waited for him to say that to me. And he says it to this quasi-girl? Damn it, Sasuke! You're talking to the wrong girl!

"Gee, Uchiha..." Mitsuri looked sheepish. "I actually noticed just this morning, but now I officially know."

"Just say what you want, Mitsuri."

Mitsuri sighed. "I don't like you that way, Sasuke." It was the first time she used his first name, but she felt she should for this occasion.

"Can that change?" Sasuke's voice sounded the same. Whatever he felt about the rejection, he didn't show.

"I can't say for sure, Uchiha." She was back to last name basis. "But really, I don't have time to think about things like that. But hey, I appreciate your telling me. Thank you."

Sakura couldn't believe her ears. Where'd Mitsuri get off saying that to Sasuke-kun? In a daze, and nearly overcome with jealous rage, Sakura started to move away, but she stopped when she heard Sasuke laugh. He laughed. Why couldn't I make him laugh? What does he see in that tomboy?

"I somehow knew it was going to turn out like this," Sasuke said with a slight smile. "But I just wanted to let you know, anyway."

Sakura didn't wait to hear more. She rushed off blindly, frustrated about what she had just witnessed. When she met Ino on the way, she decided to tell her. Yamanaka Ino was her biggest rival in catching Sasuke's attention, but since neither of them appeared to be winning, she was willing to share what she knew. Soon the other girls knew, too. They made assumptions that Mitsuri must have done something to lure Sasuke. They knew better, but their messed-up emotions turned them into angry, bitter souls, causing them to make up stories. It just made it easier to hate Mitsuri.

Seven years ago, Sakura mused presently. We were just children then... but now, it's like I can't erase Mitsuri from my enemy list. She's been on it for so long, it seems permanent. Sakura loved Sasuke. Her stupid infatuation had developed into love. She knew Sasuke and Mitsuri hadn't maintained communication, but still. She wasn't ready to let it go. Maybe her pride had taken too much damage. To think that she had lost to that dumb, boyish girl.

"Tsunade-sama!" Mitsuri slid into the Hokage's office and nearly collided with the desk. Her bleached hair was all over her face, a mass of messy white strands. "TSUNADE-SAMA."

"Nani?" Tsunade glared at the breathless girl. "I was about to take a break."

"You're not supposed to take a break at this hour," Mitsuri grumbled grouchily. "Oi, Tsunade, help me find a job! Please! I'm a homeless waif right now!"

Tsunade didn't even bother to yell at Mitsuri for not addressing her respectfully. She knew what and what not to expect from the young "woman". "Oi, Mitsuri, what have you gotten into this time? I thought you'd finally been able to pay your rental fee for this month and the next."

"I had to–" Mitsuri started to answer. Then she said, "the landlord kicked me out. He got mad at me for playing the piano so loud. He said I was disturbing the other tenants."

Studying the girl's face, Tsunade could tell she was lying. There had to be another reason why Mitsuri was kicked out of her apartment. But she didn't want to nose in on her reasons, when she wasn't ready to share them yet. "Mitsuri. I'm sorry, I can't help you this time. You're currently on probation because of several reckless actions you made during missions." Tsunade said those words with a stone face, but she really did feel sorry. She just wanted to let Mitsuri stand on her own two feet. The girl was strong enough anyway.

Mitsuri left the office. Probation my ass. What's wrong with a little fun anyway? It's not like I endanger people's lives on purpose. Straightening her shoulders, she took a deep breath and vowed to rise above this situation. First, she needed a place to stay. A big smile took over her worried frown. Plan A Tsunade failed. But there's always Plan B!

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plan B my ass. LoLz .