Chapter 2

(A/N "Speaking in Japanese"

thoughts

Inner Sakura/Gaara

"Speaking in English")

Sakura fell into a deep sleep that night not even stirring when Kakashi tried to wake her for dinner. After haphazardly unpacking she had flat out crashed.

She woke to the sound of the alarm on her bedside table. I shouldn't have unpacked that damned thing. She thought as she slammed the infernal device violently. With a small groan she rolled out of bed.

Grabbing a towel and a bag of her toiletries Sakura headed for the bathroom. Hopping into the shower woke her up as the warm water rained down on her. She washed her pink locks sighing as she scrubbed all the dirt and grime from her long flight.

She got out and wrapped a towel around herself after drying her body. She examined herself in the mirror. Her skin was as pale as her mother's but her eyes were her father's feature, large and almost doe-like. Before they would glimmer and twinkle but now they were dull. She forced a smile and watched as a hollow light was found in her green eyes. I have to make new friends now. It's a blank slate Saku, a new start for you.

She ran a hand through her light pink locks. Natural, much to most people's astonishment. Her hair came a little bit past her jawline, framing her face. Her hair was wavy and her side bangs hid the scar on her forehead. When her parent's died she was in the back seat of the car, and when they crashed she had hit her head on the front seat. She didn't like the jagged mark on her brow, which is why she hid it with her hair. Sighing Sakura brushed her teeth and went back to her room to get ready for school.

She slipped on her new uniform which consisted of a white button up blouse, black and dark green plaid skirt and a dark blue blazer. She didn't bother with the green tie thinking it was ridiculous. She wore bandages over her torso to hide her bra and the scars on her stomach from the crash. Bits of the windshield had scraped her abdomen.

Sakura didn't bother drying her hair as the warm humid weather would take care of it. She applied pink liquid eye liner and matching pink mascara along with light shimmery lip gloss. Her skin wasn't acting up she didn't bother with bb cream or concealer.

Sakura put on her trademark black tattoo choker and put the diamond stud in her right nostril. She had three small silver hoops in her earlobes and two diamond studs in her right cartilage. She put on black ankle socks and headed downstairs grabbing her skateboard.

Kakashi was in the kitchen still half asleep he sipped his coffee while the eggs he was cooking sizzled. Sakura floated into the kitchen as she smelled the food.

"Good morning Saku," Kakashi greeted her as he slid a readymade plate of eggs bacon and toast in front of his niece. She inhaled the scent and smiled. It had been so long since someone made breakfast for her. "Morning Kaka~" she called him by her nickname she gave him as a child. He chuckled at how childish she was around food.

Sakura wolfed down her breakfast as Kakashi sweat dropped She gets that trait from her mother. "So the school isn't too far from here only about three and a half blocks the way we came, you can't miss it," he said. Sakura nodded "Don't worry I remember passing it."

"Nervous about your first day?" He asked sitting across from her and looking at the morning paper.

Sakura finished her last piece of toast. "Hmm not really, I just want to make some friends and get through the next three years of my high school life." She stared at her plate in deep thought.

Kakashi knew how her parent's death had affected her. Sakura was usually bubbly and always smiling. Now she was quiet and reserved. He knew that after meeting some new friends she'd be back to the Sakura he knew. At least I hope so. He thought.

"I'm sure everyone will love you, you're smart, friendly and beautiful." Kakashi reassured the girl. Sakura looked at her uncle and rolled her eyes but he caught the small smile on her lips. "you're just saying that Kaka,"

"I'm not! I'm sure I'll have to be beating boys back with a stick and our mailbox will be filled with love letters and chocolates." Sakura laughed but Kakashi was serious. His old pal Ryuu was telling him about how many boys had come to his door asking for Sakura.

"Remember if anyone causes you trouble, tell them your uncle is an ex-military Captain and I'll kick their ass!" Sakura laughed getting up from the table and setting her dishes in the sink.

She hugged her uncle as she headed out the kitchen. She went through the living room, grabbed her skateboard, put on her burgundy backpack and her white Adidas superstars, and grabbed her house key. "Bye Uncle Kaka~" she called behind her as she walked out the door. "Have a nice day," he hollered back.

Sakura took out her phone and plugged in her earbuds playing Fall Out Boy's "The Phoenix". She slipped her phone in her skirt's band around her hips and hopped on her board.

She breathed deeply as the morning breeze caressed her face, the sn beamed down on her and her blood ran through her veins. Sakura loved boarding, it made her feel alive. She picked up her pace not wanting to be late on the first day.

She came up to the school's steps that led down to the small courtyard that was in front of the main entrance. Students gathered in small groups catching up with one another. Sakura jumped with her board and grinded along the stairs railing, hopped off and landed gracefully on her board at a halt.

Some gasped at the sight of the pink haired girl but she shrugged it off. She unplugged her earbuds and turned off her music. A blonde girl ran to her.

"Hey!" she greeted Sakura cheerfully "I'm Ino Yamanaka! You must be new here," Sakura smiled back.

This girl was the definition of the classic cheerleader popular blonde stereotype. Her platinum blonde locks were kept in a high pony tail, with her bands covering a bit of her eye. Speaking of eyes hers were an icy blue that sparkled with mirth. Her lips were glossy and pink and her white eyeshadow and eyeliner were flawless. Sakura could tell she was wearing foundation and blush but she didn't care. Ino looked great and she wasn't one to judge a girl by the clothes she wore or how much or how little makeup she wore.

"I'm Sakura Haruno, I just moved here." Ino smiled "Well I'm sure you'll fit in great here, especially because you have me as a friend now." The blonde winked. Sakura loved her fun personality.

"C'mon I'll introduce you to my friends!" Ino dragged the rosette to a group of teens about her age. "Hey guys this is Sakura Haruno she's new!" Ino chirped.

"H- Hyuuga Hinata, nice to m-meet you S-Sakura-chan." A girl with dark purple hair and violet eyes greeted her. Sakura smiled

"Hyuuga Neji, I'm Hinata's cousin a year older," Said the guy next to her, he was pretty good looking with nice violet eyes like Hinata's and long brown hair.

"Nice to meet you," Sakura replied.

"I'm Ten Ten, I'm the same age as Neji." A cute girl with tan skin and brown hair in two buns said.

"I'M LEE! IT IS WONDERFUL TO MAKE YOUR YOUTHFUL AQUAINTANCE!" A boy with black hair in a bowl cut and thick eyebrows practically shouted

"Ehehehe hi.." Sakura replied uncovering her ears like the rest of the gang.

"I'm Nara Shikamaru…" a lazy voice drawled a slim guy with his hair in a high ponytail that resembled a pineapple said "Introductions are so troublesome," he muttered

"Don't be rude!" Ino shouted whacking over the head. Shikamaru rubbed his head sulking.

"I'm Kiba, and this is Akamaru," A guy with messy brown hair and red face tattoos introduced himself and the dog by his side. Akamaru sniffed Sakura's hand and licked it, making her laugh as he patted his head "He likes you," Kiba smiled

"Where's Naruto and Sasuke?" Ino asked

Shikamaru shrugged "Probably being idiots as usual," Ino nodded and looked at Sakura "Those are two of our friends, you'll probably see them later on. Do you have your schedule?" She asked

"Oh right!" Sakura pulled the paper from her bag and handed it to her new friend.

1st Semester 2nd Semester

1st English - room 303 – Iruka 1st Art – room 149 – Anko

2nd Mathematics - room 225 - Ibiki 2nd History - room 257 – Asuma

Lunch Lunch

3rd Science – room 201 – Orochimaru 3rd A English – 327 - Kurenai

4th Japanese – room 318 – Jiraya 4th Phys. Ed. – 132 – Gai

Ino scanned Sakura's first semester schedule. "Oh we have English and Japanese together!" she said happily "You have English, Math and Science with Hinata."

The bell rang and Neji, Ten Ten and Lee headed for class "We're second years so we won't have classes with you Sakura, but see ya at lunch," Ten Ten waved as the three left. "Okay bye," Sakura waved

"C'mon I guess we should be late for the first day," Ino said grabbing Sakura and Hinata's hands. "Let's go!" She shouted dragging the two girls through the front doors.

Ino showed Sakura her locker which was on the third floor along with her first class. The three girls chatted on their way to their first class. They walked in and Iruka showed Hinata and Ino their seats according to the seating plan. The rest of the students filed in while Iruka asked Sakura to stand up front and introduce herself as she was a transfer student.

"Alright class, today we have a student that just came here from America. Sakura introduce yourself to the class. Tell us your likes, dislikes that kind of stuff."

"Alright," Sakura turned and looked at the class, Hinata gave her a shy smile and Ino gave her a big thumbs up and a wink. "Uhm Hi my name is Sakura Haruno, I moved here from New York. Yes pink is my natural hair colour. I like skateboarding, listening to music, writing, piercing and tattoos! I dislike people that don't respect me, and emotionally manipulative people."

The class stared with the girl oddly. Ino started clapping loudly and the class followed. "Sakura why don't you take the empty seat next to the window, across from Yamanaka Ino." Sakura walked and took the empty seat by the window, she was glad no one was sitting next to her.

As she sat down the door burst open and two boys came in arguing followed by a third one that strolled in calmly. Iruka looked at his attendance sheet for their names and seats.

The first boy had spikey blond hair and bright blue eyes and whisker like mark on his cheeks his tie was crooked and his shirt and dishevelled. The second was very pale with dark black hair that shone with a bit of navy blue and onyx eyes. His uniform shirt was unbuttoned at the top showing his chiseled collar bones, his tie was loosened but he wasn't as untidy as Naruto. He was probably the most popular guy since that girls in the class save Ino, Hinata and Sakura squealed "Sasuke-kun~" when he entered Sakura couldn't blame them. To say Sasuke was hot was the understatement of the year.

The boys were glaring at one another as they argued

"Get out of my way Sasue-teme!" Naruto shouted shoving the other.

"Shut up dobe,"

"Uzumaki Naruto! Uchiha Sasuke!" Iruka sensei cut in "Take your seats behind Haruno Sakura, Haruno raise your hand." Sakura raised her hand and the two boys looked at her. Naruto practically sprinted down the aisle and sat directly behind her while Sasuke sauntered coolly with his hands in his pockets.

"Hey Sakura-chan I'm Naruto!" The energetic blond shook the pinkette's hand heartily. Sakura smiled, his enthusiasm was contagious. She locked eyes with Sasuke as he sat down in the seat directly behind her, he smirked. Sakura merely rolled her eyes and turned around.

"Looks like she doesn't like you teme," Naruto laughed. Sasuke merely grunted "hn" but Sakura felt his eyes on the back of her head. She hated the cocky pretty boys. No matter how hot a guy was if his personality was shitty Sakura didn't like him. She had already wasted years on a guy like him before.

The third boy that entered the class showed a note to Iruka sensei. "Oh hello uhm..." Iruka scanned his attendance "Sabaku Gaara, your seat is next to Haruno Sakura, the girl with the pink hair."

Gaara looked at Sakura and she felt something in her chest. His gaze was so intense she felt like they were the only ones in the room. His short messy air was blood red, his skin almost as pale as the Uchiha kid. He didn't have any eyebrows which was odd, but Sakura still thought he was the most interestingly beautiful person she'd ever seen. His eyes were greenish blue and it looked like her wore eyeliner, but she didn't mind. Guy liner all the way! He had the Kanji for 'love' tattooed on his forehead in red.

Don't you have a fetish for tattoos and piercings? Sakura's Inner voice taunted almost making the girl blush

Shut up, now's not the time! She scolded herself internally. Her Inner just laughed.

Gaara walked over to her seat and Sakura saw In's face as he slumped down into the chair that separated her and Sakura across the aisle. Sakura's phone vibrated with a new text. It was from Ino.

I: You're surrounded by such hotties! OMG I'm so jealous!

Sakura smiled at her friend's antics.

S: Aren't Naruto and Sasuke your friends?

I: Yeah but Sasuke's an asshole and Naruto an idiot, but a nice idiot. We only tolerate Sasuke because he and Naruto are so close.

S: Oh I see.

I: Yeah watch out for Sasuke. I like him when we were in middle school and he was a total ass, and he's even more cocky now because there are more girls here to fawn over him.

S: Thanks for the info, now pay attention in class! :p

Sakura put her phone back in her skirt's band at her hip. Since none of the girl's uniform had any pockets for some stupid reason (A/N my school uniform is like that it's so annoying!)

"Alright class," Iruka sensei stated "Since you're all first years here we should get to know one another and form more bonds within your peer group. Let's start with you writing a paragraph about what you did over the break."

"In English?!" Naruto shouted in disbelief

Iruka sweat-dropped "Well considering that were in English class I would assume so Naruto." The class erupted with laughter and Naruto scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. Sakura giggled and Gaara merely rolled his eyes and the blond's stupidity.