Broken Youth
(Life of Konoha Academy Teens)
CH2.1: Distance

"I don't like mornings... especially Monday mornings...Waking up is not a problem, getting out of bed on the other hand is," stated Sakura laying in her bed looking at her alarm clock which read 6:30a.m. School didn't start until two hours even so everyone still went early just to hang out with there friends. Sakura finally managed to roll herself out of bed. She stretched her arms and yawned. She opened the curtains which covered her balcony door, she opened the door and stepped out, the air was calm and the sky was a rainbow of colors for the sun had just began to rise. Sakura went back in and looked at her calender. She began to grown "Assembly Day! Well, at least we don't have training after school today." Sakura said. "I have to look extra nice today for the guest speaker."
Assembly days at Konoha Academy were days where the classes were cut short and at the end of the school day everyone from the same school level (elementary, middle, and high school ) would meet the auditorium to listen to guest speaker. The guest speakers could be practically anyone and they would talk about themselves, work, and sometimes about how it was to be a shinobi in their days or about the wars they fought in. Usually the speakers would choose student to go up on stage with them and they couldn't be refused because it would be disrespectful. Sakura was afraid of getting picked not because she had stage fright but because she was very self conscious.
Sakura looked at herself in the mirror as she was putting her ribbon, it was the same ribbon Ino had given her, but instead of tying it on the top like use to do she tied it behind and underneath her hair. When she finished she smiled and said "Perfect!" she quickly inclined her head "Who am I kidding, everybody else is still gonna look better than me." Even if she didn't believe it she actually did look really cute.
Sakura soon finished her daily routine. She headed towards the front door to leave.
"Sakura, honey is that you?" asked her mom as Sakura opened the front door.
"Yes, Mom," she replied.
"Did you already pack you lunch?"
"Yes, Mom, I have everything I need," responded Sakura.
"Okay, then have a nice day at school sweetie, Love you!" said Sakura's mom.
"Love you too Mom. I hope you and dad have good day at work, Bye!" said Sakura heading out the door. Sakura's parents were always busy working so they barely did things as a family anymore.
Sakura walked to Ino's house like she did every school morning. She lightly tapped the door. Ino then opened it. "Goodbye, Daddy! Sakura's here to pick me up. See you later. Love You!" Ino said in a daddy's little girl voice.
"Good Morning," said Sakura as she began walking.
"Good Morning. You look very lovely in your uniform today," complimented Ino.
"You look nicer," said Sakura.
"Oh, Sakura," Ino said shaking her her. "So did you have fun shopping yesterday?"
"Actually, I did," said Sakura.
"I'm glad that you're finally taking a liking to more girly things instead of being inside your book all day long," said Ino.
"What's wrong with books?"
"I don't mind books it's just, you spend to much time in them,"
"What do you want me to do instead? Be one of Sasuke's fan girls and follow him around everywhere screaming or giggling at everything he says and does?" asked Sakura.
"No," Ino said laughing. "Even though that would a girly yet funny sight. What I'm trying to say is that you should be more fun."
"So now you're saying I'm boring?" said Sakura.
"Um...I...Yes,"said Ino.
"Well then Ino, would a boring person, such as myself, ever race you to school?" she asked rhetorically as she began to run.
"Now that's the Sakura I like to see," Ino said chasing after her.
They both reached the school's entrance out of breath. They stood regaining there breath for a long time. After they took their moment they walked thru the open gates of the school which lead to the huge courtyard. Above the entrance in big iron letters were woven the words 'Academy of Konoha'. The school was gigantic it consisted of three stories,three wings and dozens upon dozens of classrooms in which students from kindergarten all the way to twelfth grade were taught in. It had three entrances one for each wing, the north one was the main one and it lead to the high school wing, the east and west were smaller ones and lead to the elementary and junior high parts of the building.
Ino and Sakura went to sit at their usual spot which was in the corner of the east outer wall of the school. Near there were some picnic tables, benches, and a big old tree. Ino sat on top of a table reading the latest fashion magazine. Sakura was on the ground leaning against the tree, with her nose in a book, completely forgetting what Ino told her earlier about being a bookworm.

_
Sakura looked through her eyelashes over the book to monitor the entrance. She was surprised when she spotted Neji and Hanabi arriving without Hinata. Sakura then closed her book stood up, and began walking towards Neji.
"Where do you think you're going?" said Ino looking up from her magazine.
"I need to talk to Neji-San,"replied Ino.
"Neji?" asked Ino confused.
"Well, it's just that He and Hanabi are here, but Hinata's not,"said Sakura.
"You're right the little angel usually comes with them, I'll go with you," said Ino.
They both walked to Neji. Neji was now in the middle of a cluster of high school guys who were hanging out on one side of the main entrance. There was another tree there and a matching on the opposite side. Ino and Sakura had to squeeze through some horse-playing boys to reach him. Neji was talking to Sasuke and Sai.
"Um...Good Morning Neji-San,"said Ino.
"Oh, good morning ladies," said Neji kindly.
"I'm so sorry to intrude in you conversation, but could I ask you a question?" said Sakura politely.
"Let me guess, your question is concerning Hinata-hime right?" said Neji.
"Yes," said Sakura bowing her head.
"You shouldn't be ashamed, this only shows me how good of friends you are," said Neji. "Hinata-sama slept in a bit, she was just waking up when I left. I'm sure she'll be here soon, so there is no need to worry."
Earlier that morning at the Hyuuga residence.
"Hurry up, Neji-nii-san! I want to go to school already," said Hanabi.
"Hold your horses, I need to finish up my breakfast," said Neji.
"Okay," said Hanabi impatiently. "But, I'll be waiting outside."
"What's up with her? She's usually not this enthusiastic for school," Neji said once she left. When Neji finished he went to the courtyard to meet Hanabi.
"Okay, Hanabi we can go now," he said as got there. "Hey, wait a minute where is Hinata-sama?"
"I don't know," Hanabi said with a shrug.
"What do you mean you don't know? Wait, right here I'll be right back," said Neji leaving his backpack on the porch. He went to Hinata's room.
Neji lightly knocked on the door and said "Hinata-sama are you in there?" There was no responds so he slowly opened the door to take a look inside. What Neji saw there was a still sleeping Hinata. He went in to wake her up. Hinata was sleep talking.
"No, Naruto-kun don't take that seal of the cage all that old fox wants is to get out and use you," said Hinata.
'What is she dreaming about?' thought Neji.
Neji then gently shook Hinata to walk her up. "Wake up Hinata-hime it's already time to go," said Neji.
"Huh?" said Hinata as she woke up. "Ah! Neji-nii-san what are you doing here?"
"Sorry, but I was only trying to wake you up," said Neji.
"No, no I'm sorry, I should have been up already. Thanks for being kind enough to wake me up, but I could have sworn I turned on my alarm last night." said Hinata.
'I have a feeling Hanabi has something to do with this.' thought Neji. "It was nothing I just found it strange that you weren't up yet, you're usually up before all of us anyway."
"I still need to thank you, even if it's my fault." said Hinata.
"We'll be waiting for you at the courtyard,okay" said Neji walking to the door.
"There is no need to, I've already kept you guys here to long,"said Hinata.
"Are you sure Hinata-sama, you shouldn't take long and we can wait," said Neji.
"It's okay Neji-nii-san you can go ahead without me. I don't want to be a bother and besides Hanabi is probably waiting for you." said Hinata.
"Okay, Hinata-hime I'll to as you wish, but promise one thing, please be careful." said Neji with a sigh.
"I promise," Hinata said with a smile.
Neji then left the room and went to the courtyard. As he picked up his backpack he asked himself 'Why would Hanabi want to do something like that to her sister?'
"So where is she?"asked Hanabi.
"She's not coming with us," said Neji.
"Then let's go already," said Hanabi walking off, Neji followed still trying to think of the reason.

"Thanks, Neji-san," said Sakura.
"My pleasure," he returned with a smile something rarely scene on his face.
A second later Lee came rushing to him. "Neji, Neji did you forget you promised to come to Gai-sensei's Power of Youth meeting? Hurry everybody else is already there and it's gonna start soon!" said Lee.
'Why does he say it like that it makes it sound like there is more people than there actually are. It's only him, Tenten and I and maybe the Suna siblings since he buddies with Gaara now.'
"Okay, I'm going," said Neji.
'Why did I ever agree to this in the first place? Oh, yeah so Tenten didn't have to suffer through it alone. She's too nice sometimes she needs to learn to say 'no', especially when it comes to things like this' thought Neji.
" Goodbye Sakura-Chan! " said Lee as they left.
Sakura gulped. Ino started laughing until Sakura glared at her and her laugh quickly vanished. Sakura looked around searching for someone.
"That knucklehead is not here, no wonder it's so quiet," said Sakura.
"Yeah, you're right," said Ino.
"Is that necessarily a bad thing?" asked Sasuke.
"No," replied Sakura.
"Well, enjoy the tranquility while you still can, for when that Dobe arrives I don't think there will be any," said Sasuke.
"I guess you're right," Sakura said with a giggle.
Sasuke stood there expressionless, yet inside he was thinking about how Sakura looked so pretty when she laughed.
"Hey, look your cousin is here, we haven't talked to her for a while," said Ino. Sakura glanced at the west outer wall were she always hung out before school.
"Your cousin is there too, let's go greet them," said Sakura. "Well, see you later, Sai...Sasuke-kun." She began walking away.
"Later, Sai-kun, Sasuke-kun," said Ino following Sakura.

_
When the girls were some ways away Sai said "You finally managed to talk to Sakura-chan without say something completely random, but you were a little mean to her."
"What?" said Sasuke as he turned his face towards him. "Wait, you can't criticize me if you didn't even talk."
"Yes that's true, but only because I am learning to keep my mouth shut to not say things that can offend people. Especially Sakura-san who could punch me from here clear to the next nation," said Sai.
"I believe that, after seeing her beating up Naruto after he did something idiotic and flinging him almost clear across the entire courtyard," Sasuke said.
"You know what you lack when you're talking to Sakura. You lack co-" Sai was saying before Sasuke interrupted.
"Don't you dare finish that sentence Sai!" said Sasuke him giving him an evil glare. Sai started backing up away from Sasuke and Sasuke walked towards him.
"Wait, Sasuke you misunderstood I wasn't gonna say anything bad," said Sai.
"You can't fool me I know exactly what you were going to say,"replied Sasuke.
"The word you thought I was going to say isn't the one I was going to use," said Sai.
"Then what was it?" said Sasuke as he trapped Sai against the wall and his fist.
"The word was confidence,"Sai said, but it was to late, Sasuke's fist was already at his face.

End of part 2.1