Authors Note: Hello readers! This is my first PUBLISHED story, as this will not be a one-shot. This will end up as sasunaru, as this story was planned to be sasunaru from start to finish, but if you want and alternate ending when it gets to that point, just pm me and I'll make one. Enjoy chapter one! Disclaimer- I don't own Naurto or the characters and you get my point; it's not mine.
Naruto and Sakura were friends. Friends they were, indeed, the best of friends. They had known each other for years now, always keeping in touch by phone for the few hours a day they were actually separated. Yes, if they could help it, they were inseparable. The pair had been like this from when they first met back when they were toddlers. Naruto hadn't made many friends since, but Sakura was one of the popular girls.
But she always made time for her blond headed best friend.
What she was not aware of, though, is that said best friend was madly in love with her.
Everyone else in Konoha high knew it, except for the pink haired girl. Their classmates always assumed she knew, and teased her about them being a couple. Sakura would immediately shut down their assumptions.
Which killed Naruto, every time she denied a claim that they kissed or laughed off an opinion about them being a good couple. But he would never say anything about it, because he was afraid of confessing himself to his best friend.
He needed to be positive that she returned his feelings.
They had both recently started another year of high school, at the fresh age of 17. Familiar faces smiled at the pair as they headed for the cafeteria.
"I know we're only a month into the year, but I have a feeling this year is going to be great for the both of us!" The pink haired girl exclaimed excitedly, throwing her arm around the slightly taller blond's shoulder. He blushed at the contact.
"I'm sure it will," he answered her with a cheeky smile.
...
As they sat down at a table with Sakura's friends, they found out there wasn't enough room for Naruto.
"Just go to another table, idiot," a blond haired girl named Ino sneered. "You can stay away for one period, can't you?"
"Oh hush, Ino," Sakura snapped, but the excited smile still plastered on her face let Ino know she wasn't being serious. The blond returned the smile.
"Oh, you know I was just joking," she giggled, her purple sparkling eyes swerving over to Naruto's. They clearly told him that she did not like him. Naruto looked away.
"I'll just sit in your lap," Sakura said, forcing the blond in and jumping on his lap. Naruto blushed.
"Wha-" He grunted as Sakura shifted herself around in his lap. He looked down and blushed harder.
"Get a room," a monotone voice snorted at them. Naruto looked up to see his longtime enemy walking alongside the opposite side of the cafeteria table. His onyx eyes gleamed. "You two do not look good together."
"Leave us alone," Naurto snapped at him, and Sakura just blushed and giggled as the raven walked away. Why did she do that? Naruto wondered as she continued to blush while eyeing his rival.
An yes, the way these two did become rivals was quite odd at best. These two also met when they were bright eyed and drooling. The three got along very well, and just like Naruto and Sakura were, the pair of three could not be broken up very easily.
Now the question here is, what happened? It all started over one particular pink haired girl in middle school.
...
(Flashback POV)
It was another sunny afternoon Friday, and just like every Friday, after school let out, the trio would head down to a tree house they built and stay up all night just enjoying each other's company.
At this time, all three of them were 12 years old. Sasuke had some money, so they were each licking their own ice cream cone. Sakura ran ahead.
"Catch me if you can, losers!" She laughed as she romped up the ladder leading inside the tree house. Naruto exchanged a small grin with the raven and they rushed into the house after the pink haired girl. Naruto, who finished his cone earlier and didn't have to balance it like Sasuke, beat him to their hideout and scanned the room for Sakura.
The tree house had a single room, with gleaming oak walls and a blue carpeted floor. Bean bags and papers littered the floor, and a desk was the in the corner. Posters of idols and bands that the three liked where hung up all around the walls, and when the trio slept here there were sleeping bags set up for them. It was the perfect hang around spot for the young teens. Bagged snacks were easily accessible so they never had to leave out of inconvenience.
Naurto found Sakura under the desk. "Come 'ere, you!" He giggled pulling her out. She squealed, jumping on the blond. They both tumbled into a bean bag as Sasuke came in. "I love you, Sakura!" He said without meaning to.
"What are you guys doing?"
Naruto looked up to see his long time best friend in the doorway, his shadowed face looking down at them in horror. His ice cream was splattered on the floor, as he dropped it in shock. A tear rolled down his cheek and he turned to leave. It was the first time they ever saw him cry.
"Sasuke, wait-" Sakura called, but he was already gone.
Naurto thought Sasuke felt betrayed by him because he always loved Sakura, but that was not the case.
He would never know that Sasuke loved him, not her.
Author end note: Yep, so the first chapter is done! I do plan to continue, so I suggest sticking around for a bit. -Laura
