One upon a time three people trudged through the forests of Konoha. It was hot, humid and sticky.
"This is where we part," the girl said. Her most characteristic properties were probably her long pink hair, which was now tied in a braid to keep it off her back, and her emerald eyes. But, the characteristic that many know her by is the red riding hood she rarely parts with. She even wore it under the scorching summer sun.
"See ya, Sakura-chan!" One of the boys that accompanied her yelled. The boy's father was the Hokage of Konoha, leader of the town. Under Minato, Konoha was happy and healthy, they were in their golden years. He squinted his blue eyes and some of his blond hair stuck to his neck.
"Dobe. She's not two feet away," the other boy muttered. He ran his slightly sunburned hand through his ebony hair.
"Sasuke-kun..." the girl started, "go easy on him, please."
The rosette turned to leave. Soon, she was out of sight.
"Yeah, Teme, go easy on him." Naruto said.
"Yeah, go die in a hole."
They started back home.
Today was a big day for all of them. That night was the Summer's Eve Festival. It was the highlight of the year. Each year there was lots of free food, games, singing and dancing. It was a somewhat formal affair.
Sasuke hated it. Well, not the actual festival. He thought it was quite fun. It's just one of the rare times his mother dresses him up in his best clothes. She would always coo and fawn over him and how "cute and handsome" he was.
Naruto loved it. It was the only time Ichiraku's ramen was free. That is all he needed to know. But then again, the thought of seeing his pink haired friend in a more girly manner also was something to look forward to. The knucklehead smiled at the thought.

She was on her way to her grandmother's house.

Sakura lived with her sensei Tsunade and her parents were far away. They gave her up as a baby. Tsunade took her in to learn healing magic and become her prodigy.

Anyways, her grandmother lived on the other side of Konoha. Taking her route through the woods cut the time in half. It was dangerous, though, but Tsunade also trained her in self-defense.
Her grandmother's name was Mei Terumī. Mei was no older than forty, Sakura's parents were young when they had her.
Mei had made her beloved Sakura a dress for the festival and Sakura had come to retrieve it.
She eventually arrived at Mei's hut.
She knocked on the door and called, "Grandmother, are you home?"
The door opened and the thirteen year old girl was greeted with a big hug.
"Come in! Come in!" Mei closed the door behind Sakura.
They stood in the kitchen. Green eyes immediately spotted it. Her dress lay on a wooden chair.
"Grandmother, it's gorgeous!" The girl exclaimed.
"Go try it on in the back room."
Sakura changed hastily. Words couldn't describe her beauty, it wasn't the dress, it just made her a package. Even with all the grime and dirt on her skin from being with her friends, it made her look elegant.
It was a dark red with a lacy bodice, an ivory sash at an empire waist. The skirt flowed straight down, half way down the thighs and tight, short sleeves covered her shoulders.
"Sakura," Mei started, "you're growing up too fast."
"It's lovely. Thank you."
"Thank the gods I had a granddaughter, your father could never pull off a dress."
"That would be quite... untraditional."
They had some porridge for lunch, Sakura was on her way. She had to be home before nightfall.

After washing up, Sakura put on her dress and did her hair.
"How do I look?" Tsunade asked.
"You look very nice," Sakura smiled.
"So do you!" Tsunade's eyes slightly widened. "I almost forgot!" She raced back to the counter to get a small, wooden box she hid earlier behind a cup. "Open it." She handed it to Sakura.
She opened it and her eyes immediately brightened. "It's beautiful!"
Inside, was a necklace. On a black string was a green rock surrounded by one metal bead on each side.
"A family heirloom to be passed from generation to generation every thirteenth summer."
"Thank you."
There was a knocking sound and a "Sakura-chan! I'm getting hungry!"
She put the necklace down.
"Looks like your friends are here."
"Sounds like it too."

Sasuke's breath caught in his throat. He never thought of Sakura this way. She was always one of his best friends, not some gorgeous girl.
Naruto was also suffering from shortness of breath.
"Can we go now? Naruto, I thought you said you were hungry..."
"R-right, yeah, sorry..."
"Hn."

All over the village lanterns were lit, showing the way to the dancing. Once they arrived, Naruto and Sakura got in it immediately.
Sasuke on the other hand, being the antisocial boy he was just stood on the side and watched. Many irritating girls invited him to dance, but he declined and just continued observing.
Naruto was doing something weird and spastic, so he focused on the pink haired girl. She was smiling brightly. The Uchiha thought that it might have been the most beautiful thing in the world.
Naruto whispered something into Sakura's ear. The girl stopped dancing and nodded. With evil smiles on their faces, the two raced toward Sasuke.
Before he knew it, Sakura dragged Sasuke to the dance floor, with Naruto close behind.
"Dance with me, Sasuke!"
The blue clad boy just stood there in the middle twos he dance floor.
"Not gonna happen," Sasuke said.
"Aww, come on Sasuke!" Sakura pestered.
"Nope."
"I knew Teme had a stick up his ass!"
"Do not!"
"Prove it!"
Sasuke fell for the bait that Naruto unintentionally left out. He's too much of an idiot. Remember?
In their own little circle, the three of them danced for hours.
Eventually, Sasuke spotted his brother. Once eye contact was made, Itachi motioned for Sasuke to come over.

"What do you want?" Sasuke asked, annoyed.
"He's definitely Naruto, I can tell by the dancing, but is that Haruno? That girl that's always hidden under that stupid red hood?"
"It's not stupid."
"Oh. You like this girl. She's pretty, I'll give you that."
"Can I go now?"
"You want her to like you back?"
"Yeah, I guess..."
"Lose blonde and take her to the gardens," Itachi started. "They put the lights up for the festival, she'll like it."
Sasuke swam through the sea of people to where the three of them were before.
Only Naruto was there.
"Where's Sakura?" Sasuke asked Naruto.
The white clad boy shrugged. "No idea."
The Uchiha groaned.

"You're making me blush." Sakura cupped her cheeks.
"You're cute when you blush," the brunette said. The two were alone, sitting on the inside of the fountain that sat in the middle of the gardens.
Their feet splashed in the water.
"How do you like the festival so far?" He asked. His name was Inuzuka Kiba, the farmer's boy with the dog.
"Very much." She was the medic apprentice with the red hood. They go well together, but they aren't for each other. "What about you?"
"Awesome, but it could be better."
"With what?"
"With this."
He leaned in and kissed her. His arms wrapped around her waist. Their tongues met.
Out of the corner of her eye Sakura saw something blue, but then it quickly disappeared, so she paid no mind to it.
Once they were out of breath, they pulled away.
Both of their faces were flushed.
"Wanna dance?"

Sasuke was furious.

He'd hid behind a tree in the gardens. It had a straight view of the fountain.
He wasn't fast enough.
And, he decided, never will be.
When Sasuke arrived back at the dance floor, he found Naruto on the side. That was rare.
A frown was plastered to the blond's face. His gaze went ahead to the emerald eyed girl and the farmer boy.
Sasuke saw and swiftly turned away.
He wasn't fast enough to catch Little Red Riding Hood.

By the end of the festival, everyone was either happy, tired or drunk. But, of course the two who always set the standards were not happy, tired or drunk. They were pissed off.
.

Suddenly, several blood-curling screams rang through the street.
The Hokage had been assassinated.

The Hokage title was taken by a man named Danzo. He was greedy, selfish and pretty much any unattractive trait anyone can be.
From that day he ruled Konoha.
People tried to over through him, but none were successful.
Danzo and a select few were filthy rich, but they were not charitable whatsoever.
The rest of Konoha lay in poverty.
But then a young man with the alibi Robin Hood, decided to change that.
As you probably know, Robin Hood and his Merry Men stole from the rich and gave to the poor.
Robin Hood's identity might be unknown to most of Konoha but you and I know him well.
He is Sasuke Uchiha.

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Author's address: Oh my. I came up with this idea yesterday and just had to write it! I really value your opinions, critique and etc.!