Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
A/N: This chapter was a gigantic pain in the rear. Seriously.
And I apologize in advance. This was definitely not up to my usual standards (if any existed :P). But, seriously, I need to get this out before writer's block settles in fully. Hired Stalker is definitely not one of my best stories...
Chapter Three
Naruto Uzumaki was a legend. Everyone in Konoha High—from the nerdiest of nerds to the snobbiest of snobs—knew about him. Like how Naruto Uzumaki drove out the mad exchange student from Suna High, Gaara (though they were on good terms after the incident), and how he'd saved the school from the evil superintendent, Pein (that really was the guy's name, no kidding). He was hailed by many as "Konoha's Own Hero." His close group, made up seven of his own grade and three others a grade above, was called the "Konoha 11."
Rumors were not uniform on what, exactly, happened after "Pein's Invasion," as dubbed by many students who'd experienced the incident. Hokage Danzo, the self-appointed principal of Konoha, was supposed to attend a meeting in Tetsu, the Iron Section, with other principals of the Five Great Academies to discuss the gradual corruption of board members. Some rumors said that Naruto had left Konoha with the other Konoha 11 members as model students to Tetsu, while others seemed to be convinced that Naruto had left to beg the Raikage for forgiveness. Of what, they couldn't answer, but firm believers of this side of the story theorized that Naruto was asking the Raikage to forgive his wayward best friend, Sasuke Uchiha, who seemed to have offended the man in some way.
No one was certain of what happened during the five Kage's meeting. All they knew was that Danzo was replaced by the hospital-released Tsunade (who everyone loved much more than the other nameless bastard), the Konoha 11 separated by various means, and the school (as well as Suna, Kumo, Iwa, and Kiri) was on a demolition notice by the Akatsuki Corps.
Sakura Haruno was hospitalized. Naruto Uzumaki disappeared overnight. Konoha was in a panic.
And then, of course, the Akatsuki fell by the hands of one person: Naruto. He dug up every dirty deed he could find and literally announced it in front of the whole country, via live television. Stock prices steamrollered downwards. The company bankrupted after the notorious CEO Madara's suicide, having lost everything. The demolition notice became invalid, and Konoha survived.
Everyone was eager for Naruto's return. Everyone wanted to witness Konoha's Hero. But Naruto didn't. He'd made it his lifetime goal to rescue his friend from the darkness. Now that the Akatsuki fell, it was the best time to make his best friend see the truth behind it all . . .
Someone turned the lights off. This annoyed Sakura very much. It was almost as if some moron was trying to get her caught. How could she look for that damn hair tie if some prankster decided to shut the lights?
The room fell silent.
And it was then Sakura realized that no one switched the lights off at all, and the darkness she was saw actually someone's sha—
"What do you think you are doing, Sakura?"
She lifted her head and met dark, dark eyes.
"It is not in the human nature to forgive, but to forget . . ."
Ino burst through the door, leaning against the doorframe, heaving with exhaustion.
"Sa—Sa—Sakura."
Said girl looked at her best friend in both surprise and relief. But the dark-haired boy didn't turn, didn't acknowledge Ino in any way. Rather, he stood his ground, glare fixed still upon Sakura.
Out of nowhere, Ino laughed, naturally, carefree. Sakura looked at her best friend, startled. Was she going mad?
"Oh, Forehead, you're such an idiot sometimes." The smile she flashed at the bewildered students instantly won them over, erasing their confusion. This was Ino Yamanaka, one of the Konoha 11, who sold flowers after school for charity and helped in school peer counseling. What could possibly be wrong? Ino laughed again, a mirthful and bubbling sound. "I knew you were excited about meeting the Sasuke Uchiha, but I didn't know you were in such a hurry."
At this, all of the uncomfortable tenseness in the classroom dissolved. Girls glared at Sakura before hurrying back to their original groups, while boys went back talking about sports. Just another fangirl. Nothing new.
One blond boy appeared from the wave of students. His eyes zeroed on Sakura, and for a moment she swore the boy's eyes widened . . . in recognition and was about to call her name, but thought better of it.
Instead, he turned to the other boy, the one Ino said was Sasuke. "Ah, teme," he said nonchalantly, but Sakura could bet that no one missed the tremble in his voice. "Looks like you've got another fangirl coming. What is it now, fifty-six already?"
Teme . . .
That nickname hit Sakura with a weird sense of déjà vu. It was as if . . . a door she never knew existed opened in her mind. Unconsciously, and for no apparent reason at all, Sakura reached out her hand . . .
Sasuke's eyes, which had been focusing wearily on the blond, snapped back to Sakura.
Was . . . was that red in his eyes?
"Who—"
Ino caught Sakura's hand. "Oh, hi, Sasuke—I mean, nice to meet you and all that. But we have to go. So, toodles!"
And, like that, she was dragged out of class 7B.