Wicked Little Pieces

Piece 03: Beginner's Luck

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Naruto.

Author's Note:

I always knew Sakura would have some use for her tactical brain, and I figured that she could only be second to Shikamaru in games such as poker, so this little piece came out.

Featuring Defeated!Naruto and Soon-to-be-Shirtless!Sasuke! Yum, Team 7 Love!


Here comes trouble.

They never should have taught her how to play.

Look at her, trying—unsuccessfully—to hide a smirk as she reaches into the center of the circle and pulls all the loose bills and coins towards her. Her cheeks are flushed with blind elation, matching the color of her hair, and her emerald eyes are sparkling so brightly.

On the left of him Naruto is groaning, begging his 'Sakura-chan' to go easy on them.

The fool. It was his idea to teach her to play poker in the first place!

When they had heard that she hadn't known how to play, Naruto jumped to teach her, showing her each hand in careful detail. He should have realized it was a bad idea from that first calculating look.

"Another hand?" she asks sweetly.

Naruto groans. "I'm all out of money! All I've got now are the clothes on my back and—" He stops, lewd grin forming on his face as he winks at Sasuke. "How about one round of strip poker? Losers have to keep their shirts off for the rest of the day!"

She lets out an unladylike snort. "You wish! You go ahead and put your shirt in, but all I'm gonna go is add all the money I've won today." She looks towards him and smiles, abet a bit nervously. "How's about it, Sasuke-kun?"

He should have said no, but at Naruto's sly look, he just couldn't. Besides, what's the chance of him losing for the seventh time in a row?

She's smiling so hard it looks like she's about to break her teeth when she sees him nod. "I'll deal."

He looks at the cards she's dealt him and fights the impulse to sigh in relief. Finally. Something he can work with.

Sakura looks at both of them, then reveals her hand. His breathing almost stops when he sees what she's held.

A royal flush. Not even his straight could beat that. He had lost. Again. And this time, the consequences wasn't five bucks.

This time, it was his dignity.

With disgust Naruto throws his cards down and begins pulling off his jacket, leaving the undershirt on. "I–Just–Don't–Understand! How do you keep winning?"

Her face is bright red as watches him start taking off his shirt, leaving only bare skin. Weakly, she voices what he supposes could only be true.

"Beginner's luck, I suppose."