A/N: DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. Was the last chapter too intense for you? Cuz for me it was xD HAHA. I was just so into the whole mafia thing, you know? I even did research on those cars! Seriously, you should research those cars they are just too—awesome…so sleek and beautiful…MY GOD.

Night Kaida: AWWW! THAT'S AWESOME. MY GOD I DON'T EVEN HAVE AN IPHONE! Wow, wait; do you also have your birthday on May 31? BECAUSE SO IS MINE! Chapter 7 was published at 12am so yeah, but it appeared May 30 in fanfiction. I guess it had a different time xD The only thing I got for my birthday were just money . but it's kind of like a good thing since then I can just buy stuff on my own xD like a tablet so that I could draw stuff already and put it on the internet! (ehem ehem: SasuSaku!)

BROWNeyes: REALLY? YOU'LL SHAVE YOUR HAIR? THEN I SHALL MAKE HIM DIE! MWAHAHA. I'm kidding xD and yeah, Karin and Sasuke used to always sleep together (yeah like most of the time) but Sasuke was a playboy! He sleeps with anyone = =. And I'm sure Karin has some evil plan in mind!

Harunosakua: THANKS!:D

LoveForAnime: I know, right? KARIN AND HER EVIL SCHEMES = =

Anyway! Before I rant about Fugaku and everything happening~ here's the next chapter!:D

NOTE: RUKA IS MADE UP CHARACTER!


Start Again

"When love is not madness, it is not love"


A side story:

A 14-year old Sakura Haruno fiddled shyly with her long skirt (at least it was considered long in school. It fell just on her knees) and fixed her huge glasses and covered almost half of her face. It was an early beautiful morning and their teacher just assigned them in different seats for the next semester.

Sakura was so excited because she might be sitting next to her best friend and they would talk all the time and not pay attention in class! Her best friend was Ruka—one of the most beautiful girls in the school. She had long glossy blond hair and her eyes were a deep blue. She looked just so classy and gorgeous even with the school uniform.

Unfortunately—or fortunately, for Sakura, she was assigned near the windows and Sasuke Uchiha—the great Sasuke Uchiha—was sitting just next to her! Sakura mentally squealed. Sasuke Uchiha was her crush since childhood. They had been childhood friends, yes, but she has never really told him. They're only 14 and to everybody her feelings for him were so obvious!

They hung out for a while sometimes too, which would make all the girls envious of her. Resulting of always getting bullied but Sakura didn't mind anymore—And also the fact that they would spend Christmas together.

Although their parents never really approved of them even to be friends, they didn't care. They would sneak out of the house and go to some playground and give presents there.

Sakura couldn't stop herself from blushing so much even though they're childhood friends—basically been together ever since they were born!

"Oy, Sakura" Sasuke's voice echoed through Sakura's ears. Sakura snapped her head to him all too quickly. Sasuke cocked one eyebrow up, "Are you alright? You're red all over" he commented while his hand was about to touch herself.

Sakura stopped him and smiled, "D-Don't worry! I'm completely fine! It's just that this uniform is too hot" Sakura said but Sasuke eyed her curiously, not believing her one bit.

"Don't lie to me" Sasuke said

"I-I'm not!" Sakura cried

"You are" Sasuke retorted

"Am not!" Sakura started to pout

"You are!" Sasuke said, his voice rising up but Sakura didn't even notice that.

"I'm not!"

"What seems to be the problem there?" the teacher and the whole class was already staring at them. Sakura blushed furiously from embarrassment.

"It's n-nothing! Just s-some m-misunderstanding!" Sakura stuttered and cursed all gods for making her stutter.

The teacher raised one eyebrow up, "Well, take your argument outside. Now"

Sakura bit her lower lip while Sasuke sighed. They both rose up from their seats and walked out of the classroom. Sakura leaned on the cold wall of the school hallways. Now Sasuke was going to hate her. Sakura pouted and glanced at Sasuke who was staring idly outside the windows.

"S-Sasuke-kun, I-I'm sorry" Sakura said, fiddling with her skirt once again.

Sasuke turned to her and furrowed his eyebrows, "For what?"

"The teacher got mad at us and it's all my fault" Sakura said, pouting. Sasuke wanted to smile at her and tell her it's okay but he wasn't that type of person so instead, he sighed and gave her a cold stare.

"Idiot" he said flatly.

Sakura was taken aback by what he said and looked down on the floor, now he really does hate me! This is my entire fault.

"Stop blaming yourself for every bad thing you've done" Sasuke said. Sakura looked up but he wasn't looking at her, he was looking up in the sky and Sakura looked at him even more closely.

Oh how handsome he was, he had those raven hair that fit perfectly with his pale skin, those black obsidian eyes that seem to mesmerize her and put her in a spell once it landed on her green eyes and that body. It was muscular and perfect.

Unlike her, she was just some tiny girl—hardly had any breasts, her figure wasn't that perfect. She had a little bit of fats here and there and then her glasses and a big forehead and strange pink hair. I mean, who has pink hair?

She doesn't know how long she's been staring at him but when Sasuke looked around, his eyes landed on hers and he smirked. Sakura immediately looked away.

"How long have you been looking at me?" he asked.

Sakura gulped, oh no! He caught me! "I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Sakura once again lied to him. She was blushing was like crazy!

"Why is your face always red when I look at you?" Sasuke asked. Sakura was surprised of how close his voice was! She looked up to find herself pinned in the wall.

"S-Sasuke-kun! You shouldn't be so close! The teacher might come out any moment!" Sakura cried. Her hear was beating like crazy at how close he was. She even thought that it would practically pump itself out of her chest!

Sasuke smirked and grabbed her wrist, "Come here" he said and dragged her to a flight of stairs. Sakura didn't know what was happening so she just let Sasuke pull her to wherever they were going. She couldn't help but think of the warm touch he had on her wrist. His smooth hand around it, she couldn't help but smile. Although she wished that his hand would go to her hands but she was already contented with the wrist. That would be how far she would get with him anyway.

When Sasuke opened the steel door, out came the sky. They were in the rooftop of the school. "Sasuke-kun! We're not allowed to be up here!" Sakura cried, fixing her glasses to look out in the sky and step in the rooftop. It seemed like they were so close to reaching up the clouds.

"Who cares?" Sasuke said, looking at the pinkette.

Sakura glanced at Sasuke and smiled sheepishly at him. "It's beautiful up here" she said and looked up once again in the sky. Sasuke stared at her, watching as her hair flowed freely with the breeze, as her pale skin sparkled in the sunlight and her small smile in her lips.

Sasuke shook the thought off and moved towards her. He was soon next to her and Sakura looked up at him, "Sasuke-kun?" she asked all of a sudden. Sasuke looked down at her, "Yeah?"

"If someone confessed their undying love to you right now, what would you say?" Sakura asked, biting her lower lip.

Sasuke was somewhat surprise with the question but didn't show it. He shrugged, "I wouldn't say I loved them back"

"Why not?" Sakura asked.

"Because I already have someone" he said, taking Sakura aback.

"R-Really? W-Who?" she asked.

"Ruka" Sasuke flatly said, not looking at Sakura. Sakura's eyes widened. She was hurt like how Caesar felt being stabbed by a million daggers at the back and being betrayed by his best friend—the one he trusted the most.

Sakura pressed her lips together and did her best to stop the tears from falling. She did her best smile, "Really? H-How long have you been dating?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke didn't look at her still, "A few weeks ago. We didn't tell anyone yet"

"In fact, you're the first to know" Sasuke added and finally looked at her. He looked at her confused, her eyes were starting to get red and her nose was also starting to redden.

"Sakura? Are you okay?" he asked.

"Hm? Y-Yeah! I'm perfectly fine! Ah! Look at the time! It's almost the next subject! We better hurry out of here!" Sakura cried, pretending there was a watch on her wrist even though there was none and ran out of the rooftop before Sasuke could even talk.

Sakura went down in the flight of stairs, her legs moving as fast as they can. She turned to the left wing and went inside the closest comfort room she could find. She then turned to one of the cubicles in the comfort room and sat on the toilet.

"Ruka…" she muttered, tears beginning to fall down. "And Sasuke…" she said and then she finally let her emotions get out of her system and cried for almost one full hour.

2

A week later…

Sakura was under the cherry blossom tree, thinking what she should do. It had been a week now after the confession that Sasuke was dating Ruka—her only best friend, what was worse that her best friend knew that Sakura had a huge crush on him.

A few days after that, they announced to everybody that they were together—doing PDA things and stuff. It made Sakura almost gag but get envious at the same time.

"You seem to be troubled" a sudden unfamiliar voice chimed. Sakura looked up to see an unfamiliar face. He had short red hair and his eyes were dark and quite mysterious. He looked like he was a senior or something.

"Just thinking" Sakura replied to the stranger.

The stranger sat next to her, not too close and not too far either. To Sakura, he looked quite handsome. He caught her staring at him and Sakura looked away immediately, a blush starting to form in her cheeks. She heard the stranger chuckle, "Do you always do that?" he asked.

"D-Do what?" Sakura said, looking down at the pink flower she had in her tiny fingers.

"Stare at people?" he replied.

"No! Of course not! It's just that I don't know you" Sakura denied immediately.

The stranger chuckled, "I'm Gaara"

"Sakura" She replied, a small smile on her lips.

"Is your hair natural?" Gaara asked, making Sakura sigh.

"I know it doesn't seem like it, but yes, it's natural."

"It is? That's kind of cool" Gaara said, looking at her pink hair.

"Really? Everyone says it's weird in school" Sakura sighed.

"Huh, I think it's actually cool. Do you hang around here a lot?"

"No, not really, only sometimes—especially in those times when I just need to clear my head. But it seems like it's not working" Sakura chuckled.

Gaara fell silent for a while and then started talking again, "Maybe because you need to talk to someone"

Sakura cocked one eyebrow at him, "You mean that I should talk to you about my problems?"

Gaara shrugged, "Well? Why not? I mean, I'm only a stranger so when I say my opinions or something, it would be a real opinion. I don't even know you at all"

Sakura thought this over. He made a point. He wouldn't judge her because they never know each other and never even seen each other at all. So, no one else would know right? Sakura looked up at the guy, "Pinky promise that you won't tell anybody?" she asked, holding out her pinky. Gaara looked down at the tiny finger she was holding out. Pinky promises are such a childish thing for him to do but to see such a tiny girl—especially when she looked dorky—do a pinky promise with a serious face, it was all too cute for him.

So, he held out his pinky and tied it with hers. "Promise" he said with a smile. Sakura's smile widened and that's when she started to be under that tree all the time and everyday, both of them would meet under there, talking about how their life is and about their problems while eating a bento or some fruits.

3

Gaara was a 15-year-old boy. He was homeschooled because he had once complained that he doesn't want to go to school anymore. Everyday, he goes to that cherry blossom tree that was somehow the heart of the entire small town.

One day, when he got there, he saw a small girl that had pink hair. How weird, he thought once. He went up to her and talked to her for a while and then suddenly everyday, they would just meet there and tell them about their lives.

Everyday…Gaara started to notice the girl even more. Her milky porcelain skin, her small body, her pink beautiful hair and then her pink cheeks and rosy lips, and most of all, the eyes hidden in her glasses. Sakura once showed him how she looked like without the glasses—she looked like a goddess who came down to earth.

Her green eyes made everything perfect. And that was when he started falling for her. How cute and adorable she was, how honest she was and completely naïve about the whole world. But, his heart always broke when she talked about a certain man like he was her entire world.

"How does this Sasuke look like?" Gaara once asked.

Sakura's eyes twinkled just thinking about him. She stopped eating her bento and bit her lower lip, "He has black raven hair, a weird chicken hairstyle" she had laughed at this and continued, "His skin is a pale white, his body is toned and his eyes" a small smile appeared in her lips, "They're so beautiful. Those obsidian eyes of his and when they stare at me, I'm just right under his spell—until now." Gaara stared at her the whole time while she described the man.

It was strange because he was feeling two things at once—anger and envy.

Anger because of this 'Sasuke' who couldn't see just how beautiful she was and envy of how she talks about him. She truly loved him and he envied him even more for that.

"Well, it's impossible for us to be together anyway" Sakura muttered.

Gaara stopped eating, "Why is that?"

"I'm not as pretty as Ruka. She's the goddess in the whole school! She's a model, rich, beautiful and she's also kind—"

"She stole the man you ever loved and she knew you loved him deeply. She's not kind" Gaara said while rolling his eyes. This girl was just too kind for her own good.

Sakura giggled, "Well, yeah it's true…but I'm sure she also loved him deeply and it also quite surprised me that they got together. Ruka was never the fan girl"

Gaara sighed, he had expected this girl to turn against this Ruka but she didn't.

"I think I should head back to school," Sakura said, getting up from where she was sitting.

"Already?" he asked, getting up with her. Sakura nodded, "Mm. The school is quite far"

"I'll walk with you" Gaara proposed.

Sakura thought this through and soon just smiled, what's wrong if a friend walked with her to school?

"Sure!" Sakura said and they both started their way towards school.

4

"Sasuke-kun! Wait for me!" Ruka called while running towards Sasuke. Once she got to him, she wrapped her arms around his left arm and walked with him. Sasuke groaned, he hated it when Ruka did these PDA stuff—but of course, he had asked for her to do that stuff.

He ignored the girl and continued to walk. "Wah! It's Sakura!" one of the girls screamed through the hallways.

"And she's with a guy!" one of them screamed.

This made Sasuke stop in his tracks. Ruka looked up at him questioningly, "Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke quickly moved towards the windows, shaking Ruka's hold on his arm. He looked down and indeed she was with a man. He looked one year older had red hair and he didn't look like he was from around here. He has never seen the man before.

They were happily talking with each other and this irritated Sasuke to no end. He acted by impulse, going down the flight of stairs until he got to the final floor. He walked out of the doors and walked towards the both.

Sakura saw him coming towards them and immediately blushed. Gaara noticed this and looked where she was looking—and there he was. The one he had made his rival, he looked exactly what Sakura had described to Gaara.

Black raven hair, obsidian eyes and pale skin. Sasuke growled at the man, "What are you doing?"

"Question is, what are you doing, Sasuke Uchiha?" Gaara growled back. Sakura looked at both, not knowing what was going on. In the corner of Sakura's eyes, she saw Ruka running towards Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun!" Ruka cried out.

Although Ruka was crying out Sasuke's name, Sasuke just ignored her until he felt her fingers intertwine with his. He forced his attention to Ruka.

Gaara looked down at the blond girl and guessed who she was—Ruka. Gaara however didn't react how normal guys would react. They would immediately swoon over her and do those things any guy would do to get the girl. Gaara however just stared at her, emotions cold and angry. Ruka cowered behind Sasuke, sensing the aura that the redhead man emitted from the couple.

"G-Gaara-kun! Is something wrong?" Sakura asked. Gaara's eyes softened as he looked at the small pink haired girl and a small smile appeared in his lips, "Nothing at all. I think I should take my leave. I'm quite unwanted here I guess."

Sakura bit her lower lip, "Okay" she said silently. Gaara chuckled at the obvious sadness the girl showed because a friend of hers was unwanted by the great Sasuke Uchiha.

"I'll see you later, Sakura-chan" Gaara said and before he left, he kissed her cheek, leaving a blushing Sakura behind.

"Ruka, stop always clinging to me" Sasuke said, surprising Ruka. She immediately took her hands away from Sasuke and just stood there next to him.

Sakura pressed her lips together, "Sasuke-kun, why did you do that?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke looked down at her coldly, "None of your business" and with that he turned and left a speechless Sakura.

Sakura furrowed her eyebrows as Sasuke left with Ruka next to him. Once they were in class, Sakura just stared out the window. Thinking of what had happened with Gaara and Sasuke. In the other hand, Sasuke's head was down and he closed his eyes. Why was he so irritated with Sakura being happy with someone else anyway?

What was his problem? He already had Ruka, right? It's enough, right?

Sasuke groaned. Ugh, what is it with that pinkette? He knew he had to talk to her.

After class was dismissed, Sasuke immediately took Sakura's wrist and dragged her out of the classroom before any of their classmates—or Ruka most specifically would talk. He brought her to that same secret place that they shared—the rooftop.

"S-Sasuke-kun! Let go! You're hurting me!" Sakura cried. Sasuke immediately let go of her once they were already in the rooftop. Sakura looked questioningly at Sasuke. He was once cold to a while ago and now he was taking her here?

"Who was that guy?" Sasuke said, turning around to face Sakura. Sakura looked at Sasuke, "He's Gaara-kun. Why are you so mad?"

"I was only protecting you as a friend" Sasuke said, although he knew very well it was a lie.

Sakura snorted, "Are you sure?"

Sasuke looked away, "No"

"Look, you should just worry about Ruka instead of me. I mean, she's your girlfriend, right? I can take care of myself perfectly well," Sakura said and was about to turn around and leave when Sasuke caught her wrist once again and turned her around.

"I was jealous." Sasuke finally admitted.

Sakura blushed, "Jealous? Of what?"

"Gaara" Sasuke spat, the very name turned toxic in his tongue.

Sakura snorted once again, "Why are you jealous of him? You should get mad at the boys that always gape at Ruka's ass or something!"

"I don't get mad at them."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't care" Sasuke answered flatly. It was true though; he doesn't really care about Ruka at all.

Sakura looked at him, angry, "Why don't you care? Why did you date her when you truly didn't care? Tell me, why? You practically broke off our friendship! Because of you I have no friends, Sasuke! Every girl in this wretched school hates me now because we were childhood friends! Don't you dare try and take Gaara away from me! He's my only friend!"

"And how about me?" Sasuke asked.

"You…I can't talk about everything to you!" Sakura said, trying her best to hide her blush.

"And why not?" Sasuke asked, his eyes concentrated on her that it made Sakura feel a bit self-conscious.

"Because there are things that you can't know," she said in an almost whisper.

"What things, Sakura?" Sasuke asked. He stepped closer to her and Sakura kept backing away until her back hit the tall fence of the rooftop. Sasuke pinned her there, "What things, Sakura?" he whispered into her ear this time. Sakura felt goosebumps all over her body as she felt the soft breath of Sasuke.

"You know what I tell them, Sasuke" Sakura said, surprised that her tone was steady.

Sasuke smirked, "I'll leave Ruka."

"But—"

"Don't worry" and with that he went through those doors and left Sakrua there, her heart beating very rapidly. What is it with everyone just leaving her there dumbfounded, speechless or in a state like this?

Sakura sighed; she didn't know what he meant about 'don't worry'. She can't help but worry! Ruka is going to hate her so much.

Once she reached the classroom, to her surprise, Ruka immediately hugged her. "Oh Sakura-chan! I'm so glad I could talk to you once again!"

Sakura was truly surprised, "W-What do you mean?"

"I know you probably hate me but that was all an act! Sasuke-kun forced me to be his girlfriend so that I could prove it to him that you do truly love him! Gosh, he's such a jerk! I can't find him anywhere though!" Ruka cried, crying into her best friend's shoulder. Sakura was even more surprised, it was all an act?

"R-Ruka-chan? Even you clinging into him and acting weird and all?" Sakura asked.

"I had to! He told me I had to be the clingy girlfriend! You had to be jealous! I'm so sorry! Please forgive Ruka-chan for her actions! Will you take me back as your best friend?" Ruka cried.

Sakura chuckled, her best friend was indeed beautiful and a complete cutie. No wonder the guys always swooned over her. "Of course I do!" Sakura cried.

Ruka smiled, "Yay!" she cried and hugged Sakura tightly. Sakura however was looking around for Sasuke and there was no sign of him at all. Sakura couldn't help but smile a little.

He already knew it all along without her even telling him that she loved him.

"Know why don't you tell me about that weird haired guy you were with?"

"Oh. He's just a friend." Sakura smiled.


A/N: A sneak peek into the past of Sasuke and Sakura. : Hehehe, and also note: Gaara is an important character for future chapters! :D

Look forward to what happened to Fugaku and Sakura!:D btw, I was just going with the flow in this chapter until I didn't know what to write anymore so I settled with that ending xD I know this chapter sucks. I just don't know what to write yet about the Karin and Fugaku getting shot. I'll have to gather up some ideas first :D and if you have some questions, feel free to ask xD

ENJOY AND REVIEW!