A/N- Sorry I haven't updated, been working on my college applications. Anywas at first I wasn't sure about posting this story since it was the first and only fanfiction I've ever written, but I after I saw all the hits it got I was pretty ecstatic. Those were just the hits, imagine me when I actually got reviews. Well anywaz this chapter is dedicated to anyone who enjoys this story.
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, the sex pistols would have done the first op…
Recommended song while reading-'Red Light' by the Strokes
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Flashback
"Well I'm guessing your Uzumaki Naruto."
The boy snapped out of his trance and shot her a look and replied "Well, I'm guessing you're my new partner."
Sakura stood speechless from theboy's forwardness.
"Then meet me after school in the library." He replied, and with that left to his next class.
End of Flashback
The school day was over and Sakura slowly walked toward the school library, dreading every step. After her first encounter with the boy she found him blunt and uncaring, she was wondering if he actually cared about the project and would intimidate her into doing everything herself. Well she wasn't going to let that happened she thought to herself as she opened the door to the library.
The library was almost empty since everyone was in a club or after school activity. The only people who were occupying the library was the senile librarian who had fallen asleep behind her desk and the oddly dressed boy sitting at a table reading an old, tattered book.
"You actually showed up" said the boy without lifting his eyes from his book.
Sakura took a seat at his table and placed her bag down.
"Of course I did, I actually care about the final outcome of this project." Sakura replied sternly.
"Good, then were on the same page!" said the boy looking up and flashing her a smile.
One again the boy had left Sakura in the state of shock. It wasn't because the boy's sudden change of mood; it was merely due to the fact that this boy was capable of plastering such a big goofy smile on his face.
"So do you have any ideas?" asked Naruto
"Huh?..." Sakura was awoken from her dreamy estate
"Ideas, have you thought of any?" Naruto slowly said as if he were talking to an idiot
"No…" Sakura said, feeling stupid
"Well, are there even any books you like?" Naruto asked
"Well, duh! Why would I even be in AP Lit if I didn't?" Sakura snapped back
Naruto stared at the girl for a second then laughed to himself.
"What are you surprised?" Sakura said coolly
"No, more like relieved." Naruto responded
"What are you talking about?"
"Well in class you give off the impression that you don't want to be there. So when I was paired up with you I thought I'd have to be the brains of this project and screw us over." Naruto replied.
"Don't exaggerate, you are actually smarter then you let on." Sakura said
"Nope! Quite frankly, I'm an idiot!" Naruto replied while flashing another one of his goofy grins
"Ugh, I don't understand you so could you care to explain?" Sakura said as she was growing frustrated with him.
"Well, I'm failing all my classes though I don't intend to for this one." Naruto answered
"WHAT!?" Sakura yelled
"Well, I'm failing Biology cause' I don't give a damn on what plants are made of, the formulas in Algebra 2 hurt my head, I can't seem to stay awake in those long, boring history lectures, and I skip gym." Replied Naruto
"Well you not an idiot, your just lazy. Or just an idiot for being lazy, but why even bother in joining AP English?" Sakura asked
"Cause, it seems like the only practical thing they teach you in school. The art of language is the only form of self expression that they seem to teach you here." Naruto calmly stated
Sakura was in awe of his answer. Even though his outer exterior seemed harsh and intimidating, there was sensitive side that was only beginning to resurface. Her first impression of him as a nonchalant hooligan slowly started diminishing.
"Well I have to go, I gotta be somewhere. By the I think we should do Animal Farm by George Orwell, its short and to the point, so even an idiot like me can understand our presentation." Naruto said
"…Uh huh" Sakura replied still in awe
" Ok well, Later Sakura-chan!" With that Naruto grabbed his bag and left the library, unaware that he had left his partner blushing due to the suffix he added to the end of her name.
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They continued meeting regularly at the library after school, but they weren't always as focused as they should be on their project. They wouldn't admit it to each other but they had started to enjoy one another's company. Yet they didn't always get along. At times Naruto would say something idiotic resulting to Sakura giving him a bump to the head. Or one could find Sakura playing with the holes in Naruto's shirt or his bondage straps leading him to move to the opposite side of the table. Nevertheless, Sakura felt most comfortable around Naruto. She could let loose around him and act as she normally would instead of putting an act like she did in front of friends. Sakura knew that Naruto wasn't the one to judge her either. Though when the study sessions were over, things were back to the way they were. Sakura would leave to cheerleading practice and returning to her identity of being popular, as Naruto would leave without a word of where he was going. They didn't talk to each other during school, as if it were an unspoken mutual agreement. Still every time Naruto would head out of the library, Sakura would wish that he could be accepted into her click, that he could join her and be part of her world.
"UGH!!!...Sakura you have no idea how bad I have it!" Ino exclaimed while yanking her hair.
"My partner is soo lazy! He refuses to do anything, the only thing he does is complain how 'troublesome' this project is. Then he'd laugh at me when I ask him a question and he'd only say 'stupid troublesome woman.' Worst of all, HE'S NOT EVEN CUTE! Honestly his ponytail makes his head look like a pineapple!"
Kakashi hadn't arrived to class yet and Ino continued complaining to Sakura, even though she wasn't fully paying attention. Sakura was more focused on the clock, wishing that its hands would move faster till it rang to announce that the day was over so Sakura could meet up with her partner.
"-seems better then mine." Was all Sakura heard from Ino's last statement..
"What was that?" Sakura told herself that she had to start paying to people's conversations
"I said your partner seems better then mine." Ino said
"What makes you say that?" Sakura asked nervously
"Well even though his fashion sense is totally gross, he still not bad looking." Ino stated while looking over to Naruto who was sitting on the opposite side of the room from them.
"He doesn't dress that badly." Sakura said as she was trying to per sway her friend
"Sakura! He's wearing a straight jacket!" Ino said almost loud enough for even the kids on the opposite side of the room to hear.
Sakura looked over to her partner to observe his outfit. He was indeed wearing a straight jacket, he had spray painted some sort of slogan on it and added flaps and D-rings to it. She knew that jeans with holes in them were in style but Naruto's were totally shredded. His combat boots didn't help out his outfit either.
"But he's wearing it like a shirt, its not like he strapped himself." Sakura protested
"Think about it Sakura, if like he were to get a makeover he'd be a total hottie. Makeover or not that safty pin in his ear definitely has to go! I like wanna gag every time I see it. But besides that, he could even pull of as being one of us. Just a random thought I was pondering about!"
Sakura thought over Ino's analysis and formed a plan in her head. She was gonna make Naruto popular and have him accepted by her peers, therefore she could hangout with him all she wanted to without being judged for it.
Sakura waited for Naruto in the library, while going over the plan in her head. Naruto casually walked and was a bit startled that Sakura was the first one there.
"Oi Sakura-chan, am I late?" Naruto asked while wondering what was going on.
"Nope, I'm just early. Hey Naruto I was thinking why don't we take today off?" Sakura asked sweetly.
"Um…Ok, I'll see you later I guess…" Naruto was puzzled but abide by Sakura's wish
"No, baka! How about you and I hangout somewhere?"
"Sure, what did you have in mind Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked
"I have something in mind!" Sakura replied cheerfully with that she grab his hand and dragged him out of the library.
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Naruto found himself at the entrance of a shopping mall. His inner self was rioting inside and telling him to run in the opposite direction. He hated the mall but at the same time he wanted to hangout with Sakura. He had this unexplainable satisfaction whenever he made her smile or laugh. He came to the conclusion that if being in the hellhole called the mall was the price of hanging out with Sakura he didn't mind.
Sakura led Naruto to the stores that all the cool kids shopped at. Once they entered their first store Sakura immediately started browsing around while Naruto started coughing his lungs out since the store had an over powering stench of cologne to it. Sakura notice this and told Naruto to suck it up at first but once she noticed that his eye got watery and red she felt guilty and led him out of the store.
The next store Sakura pulled Naruto was better then the first. While Sakura begin to pick out clothes Naruto could feel people staring at him in disgust of his appearance. He shrugged it off since it couldn't ruin his time with Sakura. Then Sakura gave him a pile of clothes and said "Try this one for me please!" Normally Naruto would protest but he couldn't say no to her, so he figured why not, it's just for her amusement. Naruto came out of the dressing room wearing a polo, trendy jeans, and flip flops. The same thought crossed Naruto and Sakura's mind, with a change of clothes Naruto did look like he belonged in the popular click, despite the fact he still had the safty pin in his ear. Sakura looked up and down at Naruto's new look, she had to admit he looked really good, but the look didn't fit the personality Naruto had.
"How do you feel?" Sakura calmly asked
"In all honestly, ridiculous." Naruto said while adding his signature goofy grin
Sakura giggled at Naruto response even though it was to be expected. She went around the store looking for more clothes that would "fit Naruto's personality." Meanwhile Naruto look at the prices at the clothes and winced when he saw that a simple shirt would cost him about 4 bowls of ramen.
"Um…Sakura you know I can't afford this, right?" Naruto said nervously
"It's okay! I have my dad's credit card; you don't have to worry about it" Sakura cheerfully replied, unaware of the fact that Naruto stopped following her.
"Sakura-chan…do I really look that repulsive?" Naruto asked solemnly
Sakura turned around to find Naruto hanging head down, his smile was completely wiped off of his face.
"What do you mean? I don't find you repulsive at all!' Sakura exclaimed
"Well are you embarrassed of hanging out with me?" Naruto asked again
"No! Naruto why-" Sakura was cut off by Naruto
"Then why are you trying to change the way I dressed?"
He was right, Naruto was already sure of who he was even though she wasn't. She was at fault for trying to change him into someone he wasn't. Sakura couldn't look at Naruto, she didn't want to see whether he was angry or sad, most of all she could handle the guilt of looking into his cerulean eyes. Naruto didn't mean to make her feel so guilty, he only wanted his point to be heard and sometimes he took it too far. He noticed that even though Sakura had her down she felt guilty, and he hated to see her sad. He got an idea and sly smile appeared on his face.
"Sakura-chan you should have just told me from the beginning." Naruto said playfully
Sakura's head shot up as she saw Naruto walking towards the register and pulling a sharpie from behind the counter. 'Where the hell is he going with this.' she thought.
"After being inside all of these stores I noticed something, all these shirts have a bloody bird on them!" with that Naruto took out the sharpie and scribbled a badly drawn bird on his shirt.
He then turned to a guy who worked at the store and began proclaiming "Ha! Beat you at your own game! Thought you could out do me but I figured it out, all you have to do to be cool is to have a bird and some brand name plastered on you shirt!" The guy looked at Naruto as if he were completely insane. Naruto turned around to find Sakura laughing her head off.
"I'm sorry Naruto, lets get out of here." Sakura said in between laughs
As they were leaving the mall, Sakura saw a store that she thought Naruto would have liked. "Naruto lets make one more stop, you'll probably like this store better!" Sakura once again grabbed his hand and led him into another store.
Naruto noticed that the store tried to look intimidating from the outside, and what he found inside made cringe. There were shirts with pink skulls on them, rainbow colored skeleton hoodies, and band t-shirts of every pop rock group. Naruto winced as he followed Sakura. He leaned into Sakura's ear and asked
"Hey not trying to be rude, but why am I suppose to like this?"
"Isn't this your style?" Sakura innocently asked
"When have you seen me where clothes like this?" Naruto said while grabbing a random shirt that happened to be a polo with nylon blue skull on it.
Sakura never took notice that even in this particular store Naruto still stood out. Sakura felt even more guilt since her attempt to cheer him had failed.
"I'm really sorry Naruto, why don't you tell this time how I can make it up too you."
Naruto's eye lit up as he thought of the perfect solution.
"Ramen, your treat!" Naruto replied with his smiling returning to his face once again.
"Deal!" Sakura replied.
She had realized that she wouldn't change anything about her dorky friend even if did wear a straight jacket.
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A/N- finally done! Hope this really long chapter makes up for the time I've been gone. Well where I live I take the metro everywhere, so between stops I work on this fic. So yeah, expect an update weekly [I ride the metro a lot I have the whole story mapped out and I don't think this fic will be longer the 5 chapters, but if there is something you want to see me add let me know. And if you could think up of a better summary that would be helpful too.
Btw earlier if you didn't catch on Ino's partner is Shikamaru, and I wasn't bashing him, I actually love that lazy bastard.
And if you have problems visualizing Naruto's wardrobe, let me know. Well later mates