Chapter 2: Friendship

Once upon a time, there was a boy and a girl.

The boy wanted a friend.

And in a dream she came.

Because happy-ever-afters existed only in dreams,

And dreams were never meant to come true.

When little Sakura got home, she was drenched in mud. Normally, this little fact would bother her parents, however, they just accepted it with smiles upon seeing their daughter's beaming face.

"Tadaima! Kaa-san, Tou-san! I made a new friend today!"

Both parents smiled.

"That's very nice, Sakura-chan. Let's get you cleaned up while you tell me how you met your friend, okay?" said her mother who was gently ushering her to the bathroom.

"Well, you see, I met him when class started. Iruka-sensei was scolding him because he was late." Sakura's mother frowned disapprovingly but her daughter chattered away not noticing. "He was a cute boy and had these weird whisker markings on his face-" Her mother's eyes widened. "-but he's really nice and I think he's kinda lonely and-"

"Sakura." Her mother interrupted.

Sakura looked up in confusion. Her mother only used that tone when she was mad. Why was she mad?

"Don't associate with that boy again. Do you understand?"

The little six-year old did not understand at all, but nodded quickly to calm her mother.

"Good."

Her mother continued to wash her off in silence. A few moments later, Sakura's curiosity made itself known.

"Kaa-san…" Sakura started, using the familiar Japanese nickname.

Brown eyes glanced at the young girl's face.

"What's wrong with Naruto-kun?" She asked, eyes widening in a very childlike manner.

Her mother narrowed her eyes at the suffix attached to the fox brat's name.

"Do not call him that!" Her mother snapped.

The pink-haired child flinched. "B-But…."

"No buts, do not talk to him again." Her mother said. She looked down at her daughter's face and saw the tears well up in the child's eyes. She softened her tone.

"He's a bad person, Sakura-chan. I don't want him to hurt you."

"Yes, Kaa-san."

"Now…" Her mother gently said as she helped Sakura into some fresh new clothes. "Let's go eat dinner, okay?"

Her daughter nodded her head tentatively and followed her to the table.

Naruto walked into his empty apartment and immediately started cooking his dinner. Despite being very young, he had to learn how to cook his own meals. No one else would prepare them for him after all. He didn't mind now though. He enjoyed the peace. Besides, those who would cook for him would probably try to poison him anyway.

He sighed as he threw a piece of breaded poultry into the frying pan. At least today wasn't that bad, he reminded himself. He made a friend. He smiled. His pink-haired classmate was a nice one. She was even pretty! His smile widened. Maybe he would make her an onigiri and bring one to her tomorrow.

"Ah!" He yelped as some of the hot oil splashed onto his hand.

He immediately turned the stove off and wiped off the slippery liquid on his jacket. As he set his pork tonkatsu on his plate, he gave his words of thanks for the food.

"Itadakimasu!"

Retrieving a pair of chopsticks, he began to eat his food. Laying his head against his hand on the table, he started hoping that just this once, just this once, he could finally make a true friend.

The next day, Sakura walked into the classroom trying her best to ignore her blond friend. It wouldn't do her any good if her mother got angry with her again. She took a seat (different to the one she sat on the previous day) and looked around. Relief flooded into her as she realized that he hadn't arrived yet.

She looked forward as her sensei walked into the room.

"Good morning class," he greeted as he took his attendance sheet.

"Aburame Shino."

"Present," answered a monotonous voice.

"Akimichi Choji."

A muffled "present" was heard as the owner of the voice continued on divulging himself with potato chips.

Sakura looked behind and found the eating ninja-in-training. She continued to listen at the names mentioned and glanced around to familiarize herself with her classmates.

"Haruno Sakura."

"Present!" She replied.

As names kept being called, she noticed a familiar blond student silently climbing in the window.

"Hyuga Hina-" "Naruto! What have I told you about climbing windows?! Sit down!"

Sakura watched in surprise as her sensei reprimanded Naruto. It wasn't that she thought her sensei was harsh. It was the fact that this time, his tone seemed to show some hints of worry.

She winced as she realized that he sat beside her again. How was she supposed to avoid him now?

Naruto walked to a seat next to Sakura and noticed her flinch as he sat down. He frowned. What was wrong? He mentally shrugged. Maybe a bug bit her or something.

It was recess now. Little Sakura dashed off to the door and tried to hide from the child her mother had forbidden her to befriend.

She sighed as she walked outside, her troubling thoughts filling her mind. What was so bad about Naruto-kun anyway?

Looking around, she picked a spot under a cherry blossom tree for her to stay in. Opening a bento box that she brought, she began to eat until Ami and her cronies came along.

"Naruto, sometimes I wonder why you're always acting like this."

"But sensei-" Naruto tried to defend himself.

Iruka sighed, interrupting him. "I don't want to hear it, Naruto. Just go enjoy your recess."

Dejected, Naruto managed a nod and walked out into the field.

"Come on, Forehead girl, you're making this way too easy." Ami said, taunting her as she took a piece of her victim's tempura.

Sakura glared at the thief. "Hey, that's mine!"

Ami raised a brow. "Oh? And what are you going to do about it?"

Deciding that her actions would speak louder than words, Sakura then proceeded to tackle Ami into the ground. Caught by surprise, the bully screamed and proceeded to writhe under her captor, attempting to throw her off-balance.

"Get her off me! Get her off me! Get this freak of me!"

Ami's group of friends immediately complied and shoved their supposed victim off. The purple-haired tormentor then decided to attack in retaliation and pounced on Sakura.

"You'll pay for that!" The bully screamed.

Sakura screamed in terror as pounding fists came down upon her.

As Naruto walked into the field, he heard an enraged shout.

"You'll pay for that!"

Naruto instantly located the cry of outrage and observed the scene. His eyes widened at the sight of a pink-haired girl. Protectiveness surging through him, he began to run to assist his defenseless friend.

"Leave her alone!" He yelled, frightening the other girls.

Ami and her cronies looked at him in shock.

"It's that fox!"

"Kaa-san and Tou-san said to stay away from him!"

Whispers of warning and recognition were passed amongst the students as they quickly retreated to avoid this "freak".

Wary of the boy's actions, Ami then shouted as she ran away, "You freaks deserve to be alone forever anyway!"

Turning back to Sakura, Naruto asked if she was all right, wishing that she had disregarded the hurtful comments.

The girl nodded, but wouldn't look at him.

"Ne, Sakura-chan, are you-"

"I'm fine, Naruto."

Naruto's hands trembled as he thought of the worst.

Without looking at him, Sakura abruptly stood and started to walk away. The jinchuriki took this as a hint to start following her and continued to do so.

Suddenly, Sakura stopped. "Naruto, stop following me."

He looked at her questionably. "But Sakura-chan-"

She looked at him sharply. "We aren't friends, Naruto."

And with that she walked away as Naruto just stood staring at her.

Words that you should know:

Kaa-san - mother

Tou-san - father

Itadakimasu - a phrase for thanking for the food

Tadaima- I'm home

Last Revised on: March 21, 2013