Chapter Two
Sakura was sitting under a large tree at the academy playground. Her back was up against the tree with both of her knees bent and her textbook leaning up against them so she could balance her book as well had hold her turkey sandwich in her hands.
As she was reading a couple chapters ahead and enjoying the rest of her sandwich she couldn't help but glance up from her book to watch all the children of the academy play with one another.
Some were playing catch, others tag, and it seemed like the older kids were taking their time to just sit around eating while having fun conversations with their friends.
As she returned her attention back to her book a shadow seemed to engulf her. Frustrated with the lack of sunshine she glanced back up to see what it could possibly be taking up her reading light. First she saw blue ninja sandals, then black ninja pants, as her eyes kept rising she saw a blue shirt and finally to a really intense face. At least the most intense face you could expect from a 5 year old.
Once it was on his face she realized it was the boy she sat next to in class. Sasuke if she remembered correctly, and with the symbol on the back of his shirt he must be an Uchiha.
The little Uchiha just stood there staring at Sakura with a small crease in his small forehead. After what seemed like forever to Sakura, she raised her pink eyebrow "Yes?" she asked trying to figure out what he wanted.
"This is the tree I sit at, go find your own tree pinkie." He replied with a huff while crossing his arms.
Sakura then crossed her legs so she could sit up better and placed her book firmly in her lap before laughing a light airy laugh that only the carefree could possess. Sasuke's face then dropped and stared in disbelief. No one has ever out right laughed at him before. They either fawned over him, or was scared of him so he didn't quite know what to do with himself.
"I'm sorry if I took the seat you usually sit at but it's not like you own the tree Sasuke-san." Sakura finally replied to him "but I'm more than willing to share the tree so you don't have to find another place to sit."
With that Sakura made some room just in case he took the offer, leaned back on the tree with her legs uncrossed, feet planted on the ground once more with her book propped up on her legs for a good reading angle. The Uchiha now completely out of her mind she started back up where she left off.
Internally Sasuke was flabbergasted. Girls at the academy always did what he told them and yet this new girl seemed to not even notice him.
After staying there a couple more seconds he decides that he might as well take up her offer because this was the only place he could find that the other girls would leave him alone.
Quickly sitting down, he crossed his legs and put his lunch bag in his lap. He then pulled out his sandwich and started eating. He glanced at the little pink haired girl next to him and wondered why such a delicate looking girl would want to become a ninja.
It seemed that he was pondering that for a little too long because soon said pink haired girl looked up at him from her book "Is there something on my face or something?" She asked.
Sasuke feeling embarrassed for getting caught staring and looked away continuing with his lunch.
Confused as to why the boy was staring at her Sakura decided that she might as well start getting ready to go back into class. So she gathered up her lunch trash, put it all in her lunch pail. She then closed her book and stood to her feet, dusted off the back of her dress and headed back into the academy walls without a second glance to the Uchiha.
That moment started the little Uchiha's curiosity with the pink haired girl.
3 Years later
Sakura now at the age of 8 has excelled in all areas in the art of being a ninja of her age, but she shined when it came to her chakra control and genjutsu knowledge. Although she was capable of graduating the academy early her parents believed that it would help her grow personable people skills if she stayed with her graduating class.
Over the past couple years, Sasuke and Sakura started to create a sort of friendship that many probably wouldn't understand. They sat next to each other for lunch but didn't talk too much. They would study together and not with anyone else. Lately they started walking with each other to and from school since Sakura's house was on the way anyways. They pretty much kept to one another and didn't bother making many other friends, Sakura not being very outgoing and Sasuke finding everyone else annoying.
Although others from their class were jealous of their friendship, and some tried to place a wedge between them, it never worked because Sasuke and Sakura had an amazing understanding of each other.
In class that day they found out that they were going to be learning a genjutsu in class and in a weeks' time they were going to be tested on it. After a days' worth of technique practice Sakura walked up to Sasuke on their way to the lockers "Hey did you want to meet up some time this week to get that genjutsu down?" Sakura asked as they stopped by Sasuke's locker.
He put the books he didn't need away and grabbed the ones he was planning on taking home. "We can practice at my place if your mom is ok with it, besides my mom has been asking me to bring you back over for dinner for weeks now."
Sakura did her own book swap at her locker "Sounds good to me, let's stop by my mom's class so I can ask."
Once outside her mothers classroom door, Sasuke waited outside while Sakura walked in to talk to her mother. "Hey mom," Sakura greeted her mother.
"Oh hey sweetie! How was class?" Sachi asked while gathering some papers to take home and grade.
"It was good, we were learning how to make a genjutsu that is unique to our personalities. With that" she let out a chuckle "would it be ok with you if I go to Sasuke's to practice and stay for dinner?"
"That's fine sweetheart just make sure someone walks you back home afterwards, you know how your father and I like to worry." Sachi said lovingly kissing Sakura on the forehead and walking her back to the door. "You two stay out of trouble you hear!" Sachi teased before going back into her classroom.
In the past couple years both the Uchiha head family and the Haruno's have got to know each other pretty well even though Sasuke's brother wasn't around often. He was usually out training or on missions, which since he just made ANBU captain at the age of 13 it has made him even more busy.
Once Sasuke and Sakura walked into the Uchiha compound they were greeted by most of the other Uchiha's in a friendly manner. When Sakura first went there they weren't the warmest bystanders but they soon grew to like her warm personality.
"Sakura-chan!" a loud voice called out as they neared the head family's house.
Turning around Sakura realized who it was and braced herself for the oncoming hug. At last minute Sasuke stepped in front of Sakura to stop the assault. "Shisui-" Sasuke started as a warning to his beloved cousin.
"Oh it's ok Sasuke," Sakura said stepping around him to give Shisui a hug.
"Yeah Sasuke, ease up!" Shisui laughed "So what are you two rascals up to?"
Sasuke stayed quite, and Sakura knew that there was no way he was going to answer any time soon.
"We have a new genjutsu to study for a test next week, and Mikoto-chan wanted me to come over for dinner." Sakura replied with a smile.
"What a coincidence! Since Itachi and I just got home from our mission today I was invited to dinner as well, it'll be fun! See you then Saku-chan!" With that Shisui disappeared.
Hearing a pair of feet walking away Sakura turned around to see Sasuke walking away with his hands in his pockets. So she jogged to catch up to him before they walked up the front steps to his home.
After letting his mom know that Sakura was over to train and would stay for dinner the two of them headed to the back yard start training.
The both of them figured that if they were going to train in genjutsu that they might as well do a little bit of everything else also because perfect practice made perfect. So they both started their stretches.
Once they were ready they decided to start with a taijutsu warm up. When it came to speed and agility Sakura seemed to have the advantage and when it came to strength and power Sasuke excelled, but because of that they ended up being fairly even matched.
At the end of the warm up Sakura ended up being the one to tap out after finding herself pinned face first into a tree and unable to move.
After taking a water break they started to work on their genjutsu. They decided to take turns on one another when they were interrupted but an unlikely pair.
"Finally working on the genjutsu now are we, need a practice dummy?" Shisui asked with a grin on his face. "What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked in an irritated voice, "Can't you see that we're training?"
"Now now, is that a way to speak to a house guest Sasu-chan?" a new voice was added.
With that Sakura looked towards the back door to the house to see that Itachi was the one talking. You could tell that he must have just got home since he was still in his ANBU uniform minus the mask.
"Yeah Sasuke, I was just offering to make training a little easier. I'd be able to give you better tips as to what's wrong and how to fix it. Having the Sharingan and all." Shisui teased.
Looking at Sasuke, Sakura knew that he had crossed a line mentioning the Sharingan. Once Sasuke confided in her about the fact that by his age of 8 Itachi had already mastered the Sharingan but Sasuke had yet to activate his own. So Sakura knew it was a sore spot.
Seeing that Sasuke was about to start a fight with his older cousin Sakura made the decision to try and defuse the situation.
"Two against one doesn't really work well when it comes to genjutsu application but I'm sure you know that Shisui-san, thank you for the offer though." Sakura replied in a sweet voice to try and defuse the situation.
Right when Sakura thought that the two older boys would finally leave Sasuke and herself alone to continue with the reason they decided to train, the unexpected happened.
"Of course he knows that," Itachi said with a start "That's why I'm here. So we both can help. Unless you feel too intimidated that is." He finished while shoving his hands in his pockets.
Ever since Sakura was a toddler she always had a way with reading how people felt and seeing for the most part what they were thinking. Not like actual mind reading but she just had this gut feeling that to this day has never been wrong.
Even though Itachi said that all with a straight face and seemingly no emotions in his eyes, Sakura could see the gleam in his eyes. She knew that he was having fun and purposely pushing Sasuke's buttons to rile him up. What she didn't know was why.
Sakura then turned her head to see that Sasuke had his hands clenched and a glare on his face. Anyone could tell that he was not happy.
"Aniki, what do you want." Sasuke said with a low growl and clearly about to lose it. And at this point Sakura knew that if they were going to get any training in she needed to fix this, and now.
"What Sasuke means Itachi-san is how did you plan on helping us exactly?" Sakura intervened.
Itachi changed his gaze going from Sasuke to the pink haired girl he always saw his little brother with. At first glance the petite young girl doesn't look like much of a ninja except her attire, but the longer you look at her you can tell she has the beginning traits of a ninja from the way she carries herself emotionally and physically.
The longer Itachi stared the more nervous Sakura started to feel, until Shisui cut in.
"Ok then! Let's do this, I'll train with Sakura-chan and you can have Sasuke!" With that Shisui took some purposeful strides towards Sakura then proceeded to try and move her to a differ spot in the back yard.
As Shisui approached, Sasuke attempted to take a swing with Shisui easily avoided. After that he came at Sakura with more determination only for Sakura to easily avoid his grasp and prepare herself for a second attempt.
"You aren't going anywhere near her!" Sasuke exclaimed while stepping in front of her.
"This is getting ridiculous. They just want to help so let's let them Sasuke." Sakura finally said getting irritated with how the practice was turning out.
With that Sakura faced Itachi once again "Ready to get started?"
Itachi had a light smirk on his face, just barely "The question is whether or not you are." And with that Sakura paired up with the child prodigy and Sasuke with his ever expressive cousin.
Edited 7/14/15
