Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Naruto, nor do I own the rights to the anime or manga in which the characters are derived. I do however own this story, since I am the one who wrote it. So keep your hands off!!! Thank you.


Chapter 9

The class dragged on for the rest of the day. They covered English, history, science and were just finishing their math lesson. It was almost time for dismissal, and Sakura never felt more relieved. She stretched her arms above her head and gave Ino a tired smile when she looked over at Sakura.

Ino smiled back and placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "I know, that first day is the toughest because you're bombarded with a lot of new information and new people. But don't worry, it'll get better." Ino closed her books and rolled her shoulders. Suddenly she gasped and looked at Sakura excitedly. "Oh my god, I completely forgot! There's a party this Saturday, kind of like a 'Welcome Back to School' thing. Want to go?"

Sakura rubbed the back of her neck and thought about it. She liked Ino, and thought that they could become really good friends in the future, and she was always up for meeting new people. Was a party a good idea though? Would she be able to handle it?

Sakura smiled at Ino and said, "Um, well, I'll ask my aunt if it's OK. She'd have to give me a ride anyway, since I don't have a car. I'll let you know tomorrow, okay?"

Ino's face fell a little, but she recovered her smile quickly. "OK! I hope that you can make it! It's at Sasuke's house this year, and his place is huge!" Sakura blanched at hearing this, but Ino continued, not noticing anything. "Him and his friends kind of rotate from house to house whenever they throw parties, and this time its Sasuke's turn. Oh, it's going to be so much fun."

Sakura laughed nervously. "Yeah."

The bell rang just then, and everyone collected their things and started to leave the class. Sakura walked beside Ino and Hinata. They made their way to their lockers and grabbed their bags and books, and then they made their way outside to the parking lot.

Once outside, Hinata parted ways with them because she drove to school with her cousin. She waved goodbye to them as she walked off. Ino said that she had her own car, so Sakura said that she would walk her to it.

They made their way across the parking lot towards a baby blue Pontiac G6 convertible. Ino threw her stuff in the back seat and opened the driver door. She turned to Sakura before climbing in. "So, you gonna try to make it to the party, right? I'd really like for you to come. Hinata's not going, and Temari has some stuff to do that night, so if you don't come I'll be all alone." She gave Sakura a puppy dog look that just made Sakura laugh. Ino grinned at Sakura, lightly punching her on the arm. "Hey, don't laugh. I haven't practiced that look much."

Sakura smiled at Ino. "I'll try to come, but no promises."

Ino nodded, satisfied. "Alright, as long as you try." She climbed into the driver's seat, and closed the door behind her. She started up the car, and waved at Sakura as she backed out of the parking space. "I'll see you later Sakura!"

Sakura waved back. "See you Ino!" She watched as Ino drove away, and than started walking to the front of the school to wait for her aunt.

Sakura didn't have to wait long. Her aunt pulled up to the front of the school a few minutes after Sakura reached the front. She walked up to the car, and got in the passenger seat. She smiled over at her aunt, and Tsunade smiled back at her. As she pulled out onto the street, she asked, "So, how was your first day?"

Sakura sighed. "Tiring, but interesting. We're starting off the semester with meditating in my magic class. I have to say I'm relieved about that since it gives me the chance to try to catch up with the rest of the students."

Tsunade nodded as she turned onto their street. "And the teachers? How are they?"

Sakura shrugged. "They're ok. I have a woman named Anko for my teacher in the morning, and a guy named Jiraiya for my teacher in the afternoon. He's a writer apparently."

Tsunade snorted at the mention of Jiraiya's name. "Jiraiya? He's still teaching there? He was teaching there when I went to school. Actually, did you know that I'm the inspiration for one of his characters in his books?"

Sakura looked at her aunt in horror. "What?! You have got to be kidding me! They told me that he wrote, like…. adult books!"

Tsunade laughed. "Well, yes he does. What can I say princess? Your aunt is hot!"

Sakura gagged all the way back to the house, with Tsunade laughing in the driver's seat.

Tsunade pulled up to the house, and they both got out of the car. They walked inside, and Sakura headed right upstairs to put her stuff in her room. Once Sakura was in her room, she slipped off her ring, and placed it on her desk. She went to the bathroom and watched as her hair changed back to their usual soft pink color. After her head had turned back completely, she went to bag and started to pull out her homework.

While Tsunade was downstairs doing her thing, Sakura was reading the chapter that Anko had assigned the class. After about two hours of reading and writing down notes, Tsunade called her for dinner from downstairs.

Sakura put her text book down, and walked downstairs to the kitchen. She walked through the doorway of the kitchen, taking in a large breath. The delicious smell of homemade pizza filled her nose.

"Mm, that smells good," Sakura said, sitting down at the dinner table.

Tsunade served Sakura two pieces of pizza and got a plate for herself. Between the both of them, they ate about ¾'s of the pizza. Tsunade wrapped up the leftovers for Sakura, so that she could have them for lunch the next day.

Sakura just sat at the table for a few more minutes, the pizza settling comfortably in her stomach. As she was sitting there, she suddenly remembered about the party that Ino invited her to. She looked over at Tsunade, who was bent over the sink washing the dishes.

Sakura crossed her arms on top of the table and drew patterns on the dark wood, trying to be nonchalant. "Hey Aunt Tsunade…"

Without turning around, Tsunade replied, "What do you want?"

Sakura huffed. "How do you always know when I want something?"

Tsunade grabbed a dish towel and dried her hands. She turned to Sakura, leaning against the counter, smirking. "It's that tone you use. It's slightly whiny and suspiciously sweet at the same time."

Sakura gave her aunt a half hearted glare before reverting to her innocent face. "Aunt Tsunade, I just wanted to ask you something…."

"What?"

Sakura glanced down at her hands. "Well, I just wanted to ask you if I could attend a party this upcoming Saturday with a new friend that I made today."

Sakura looked up at her aunt with pleading eyes. Tsunade just cocked an eyebrow at her. "What friend?"

"Ino Yamanaka. She's a witch too."

"What time is the party?"

"I'm not sure, but I can get the information for you."

"What time will you be home?"

"Twelve o'clock in the latest."

"Where is it?"

"It's at a house."

"Who's?"

"Some guy named Sasuke Uchiha."

She heard her aunt suck in a breath at the mention of Sasuke's name. Sakura looked up to see the grim expression that had settled over her aunt's face.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "Sasuke Uchiha? As in the Uchiha clan? One of the most powerful and dangerous werewolf clans in the country? That Sasuke Uchiha? He attends your school?"

Sakura looked at her aunt with wide eyes. "Um, yeah…"

Tsunade swore. Sakura looked at her with surprise. Tsunade walked over and sat at the table, looking at Sakura seriously.

"Sakura, I'm glad that you've made a new friend, and that they want to spend time with you, but I don't think that this party is a good idea. Hell, if I had known that a Uchiha was going to Konoha Academy, I would have never enrolled you there!"

Sakura gave her aunt a confused look. "What do you mean Aunt Tsunade? Why are you so worried about the Uchiha's? Do we have bad history with them or something?"

Tsunade snorted. "Something like that. Sasuke's father, Fugaku, he's a power hungry man, who will do anything to get to the top." She sighed, and gave Sakura a sad look. "When you were born, word of it spread far and wide about the pink haired baby of legend. People were talking about prophecy, and everyone was wondering who was going to be the person that you would give your power to. It wasn't too long before marriage proposals started coming in."

Sakura gapped at her aunt, speechless.

Tsunade continued. "Of course, your parents turned away all suitors and proposals. They didn't want to chain you to someone that you didn't love, and you were just a baby too. They wanted to give you a chance to fall in love, like they did. But some people just wouldn't give up. Fugaku Uchiha was one of them. He was determined to get you engaged to one of his sons. Your parents turned him down again and again, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. Finally, your mother had to use magic against him. She placed a spell on him that wouldn't let him near you. Kind of like a restraining order, but much more effective. It's probably worn off by now, but I can tell you that Fugaku wasn't very happy about it."

To say the least, Sakura was shocked. No one had ever told her about this, not once. She felt disgusted at the thought of being engaged to someone at her age, and thanked her parents for putting her happiness first. She'd have to call them later to thank them.

Tsunade sighed and looked very tired all of a sudden. Sakura's head was still spinning from all the information that Tsunade had just unloaded on her. Sakura glanced over at her aunt and said, "So than what do we do? Do I keep going to school, or do I pull out?"

Tsunade shook her head. "No, we can't pull you out after you just started, it would seem too suspicious. How about this, you can go to the party if you want, although I think you should try to find out whether or not Fugaku will be there. If it happens that he will be there, I think it would be safer for you to stay home. Agreed?"

Sakura nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good, but how will I figure out whether or not he's going to be there? If Ino doesn't know, than I'd have to ask Sasuke himself!"

Tsunade gazed at her seriously. "That's right. If your friend doesn't have the info, than you get it directly from Sasuke, or you can decide to stay home. The choice is yours Sakura." With that said, Tsunade got up, and went back to the sink.

Sakura slumped in her chair. Talk to Sasuke? No, no, she wouldn't, she couldn't! Oh please Ino, please have the information that I need, please, please, please!!