Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and is property of its respective owners.
Prompt: Fruit Stand
Dedication: I dedicate this piece to the Ita/Saku Discord. They chimed in some ideas to a question I posted and I was motivated to write this piece.
Selling produce was the life of the Haruno family, up until Sakura decided to enter the ninja academy at 5. Her parents supported her choice and were proud of their daughter who didn't come from a traditional ninja family but were still a little disappointed she didn't want to take over the family business.
Years later, she was the 5th Hokage's apprentice and one of the top medical ninjas in the hidden leaf. A goal spawned from her lovable teammates never ending rivalry for being more powerful than the other, also she hated staring at their back, feeling like they were leaving her behind, she was worthy of being one of the best ninja too.
She was best friends and teammates with Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, and had the honor of being Harare Kakashi's genin student. Team 7 ended up being tutored by the 3 Sannin at the same time during their earlier teen years and were probably the most powerful team of the Konoha 12.
Course Sakura was now 19 and a Jonin, though she just moved out of her parents and got her own small apartment. Things were looking great for her years of service, Shizune wanted her to take over the hospital and Tsunade was talking about possibly a promotion into the ANBU Black ops.
Her parents had a key and when Sakura arrived home one night from her shift at the hospital she noticed a note left on top of a packed bento.
"Sakura,
Once you return from work could you please stop by the shop and bring this bento with you? Your father ordered too much fruit for today's shipment and we need help selling the extra stock.
Love mom"
Once a produce bumpkin, always a produce bumpkin, Sakura dropped her equipment and had a quick shower before heading to her parents in her civilian clothes.
Like Ino's family flower shop, originally run by her mother, the Haruno's had great success in the village, regarding their high quality products. Some of her comrades amongst the ranks asked her if she was planning on taking it over after her father? To which she replied, not particularly as her dream was to open her own clinic one day, specializing in mental health for ninja.
Sasuke once asked her for a random favor and asked if they had any family/close friends discount pricing to which she told him yeah her parents did and why was he wondering?
Turns out his mother tried her parents' shop last week and was blown away with the quality that she decided to give the Haruno's her dedicated business and that was saying something for being the Uchiha matriarchy.
Kizashi also mentioned during their weekly family dinners that he noticed Sasuke's brother's been shopping with them as of late, he even inquired if Sakura herself worked any shifts…
Sakura blushed suddenly, Sasuke's brother was wondering if she was around?
The older Uchiha, Sakura didn't know too well and it was only in the last 3 years she had slowly gotten to know him, going on some duo intelligent collecting missions together. Itachi knew the value of medical ninja and she had other skills as well that he always asked Tsunade for her assistance.
They had run into some problematic situations and managed to get out of them by working well together. Sakura still thought highly of Sasuke who was almost as powerful as Naruto now but there was something she liked more of Itachi, he was calculating and reliable on missions but off duty, he could be personable and friendly, he got along with almost anyone, where as Sasuke was a bit awkward in public and came off as unapproachable.
Arriving at her parents' shop, they handed her an apron and gave her instructions to set up a makeshift stall on the main avenue. They told her it wouldn't be hard to attract more customers as they were quite well known already. She had her reservations as she herself knew nothing about being a good and profitable merchant, she was a ninja for heaven's sake.
She took the materials, and made her way to the main street of the village when Naruto and Sasuke appeared suddenly.
"Sakura-chan? You free? Sasuke and I were going for dinner, I owe him some BBQ chicken from our bet last week" Naruto complained lightly while looking like he was pleading from his eyes.
"Sorry guys, I'm working for my parents' shop right now and you'll have to go on without me tonight" Sakura replied, lifting her supplies a little to make them notice she was busy carrying a makeshift stand.
Naruto wilted but offered to help carry some items and Sakura passed on some of her merchandise but told him to be careful, and not to bruise anything, for it became unsellable then.
Clueless, Sasuke carefully grabbed the baskets from him and declared he would carry the fruit for them.
Getting to a decent spot, Sakura began setting up, the boys waved goodbye and left her.
She smiled, they were rough around the edges but still her boys.
It wasn't too difficult to attract new customers once she had set up her signs, as people flocked over instantly.
A few hours in, the crowds thinned out and Sakura got a break from the all the hasty crowds of shoppers.
Taking one of the apples she happily munched away, minding her own business when someone placed a cherry tie in front of her. Confused, she looked up and saw Itachi.
"Good evening Itachi-san, what can I get you?" she asked politely, ignoring the fruit entrails on her counter.
"Sakura, have I ever told you I'm clever at silly tricks?" he asked, deepening his tone.
She grew a little hot at that insinuation but managed to keep a straight face, though her thoughts wondered what else he could do with his tongue.
She continued to ignore his obvious tricks and placed an arrangement of fruit in front of him, hoping to find his fancy.
"I know you're quite talented at tricks, for you've shown me on missions" she rebutted quietly, not sure what his deal was.
Itachi sighed, but stopped his little game.
"If you're free after 21:00, would you care for some drinks with me at the local pub?" he asked instead.
Sakura smiled and agreed to meet up with him after she sold every last fruit.
"I look forward to it." he smiled back at her before sauntering away.
She couldn't believe she had a date with Uchiha Itachi…
As the night wore on, she picked out fruit that she thought he might like based on the sweetness of dango, which she knew he loved.
Itachi made it to the pub, and ordered a beer to start the night off, some of his ANBU colleagues stopped by and chatted for a bit when Shisui appeared.
"Did you ask out Haruno-san ? would be one of the only reasons you would still be in the bar this late" he chuckled while pounding Itachi in the back, proud of his cousin.
"Haruno-san agreed to me as long as she sold off her produce" he replied coldly.
Shisui looked puzzled, but thought maybe he could help with that, he disappeared into the crowds and out into the streets of Konoha, looking for their fearsome cherry blossom.
It was nearing 9:00pm and Sakura had 3 more boxes of assorted fruit left…. Looks like she wouldn't be getting to go on that date after all, which disappointed her.
Itachi was so mysterious, holding you at arms length, but he seemed for sociable at other times, but it must be from being a clan heir, he would need those skills to lead the clan one day, probably soon… which made her think of how he managed to not be married at his age… he was five years older than Sasuke, Naruto and her and they were now of age, and he was 24 years old now… hmm maybe he was looking for a wife candidate, which made her blush if he wanted to go on a date with her.
With the flourish of only some of the jonin she knew, Shisui appeared and browsed her wares before pulling out some money and depositing it on her counter.
"I'll buy whatever's remaining." he declared loudly.
Sakura sweatdropped.
"Uchiha-san, I have a total of 75 fruits left, what do you plan on doing with all that?" she asked him suspiciously.
"Well Aunty Mikoto was planning on making a slew of desserts for an upcoming Uchiha festival next weekend, so I thought I would surprise her with some high quality fruit for her masterpieces." he admitted shyly.
Sakura narrowed her eyes but relented her remaining stock and took his payment.
"Thank you for your purchase, best luck with Mikoto-san" she told him, beginning to pack up her stall.
Shisui bid her farewell, before heading back to the compound to surprise his aunt with a bunch of fruit and wished Itachi good luck on his date.
Arriving back at the shop, Sakura handed over the stall and parts as well as her log of receipts and bag of money. Her parents were thrilled with her sales; they even dared to ask her if she would be interested in a part time gig, since she seemed so good at it.
She shook them off, insisting that it was a stroke of luck and her ninja connections.
Jogging towards the center of town, Sakura slowed and wondered if Itachi was still waiting for her or not…
Itachi looked at the time, 10:35pm and wondered if Sakura had managed to sell the rest of her fruit, it was starting to look like she wasn't going to show, he would have to try again another night.
He paid off his tab and walked out into the warm summer night, to his surprise, there she was jogging towards him before coming to a screeching halt and regained her breath.
"You sold all of it?" he asked dumbly in surprise, unsure what to say.
She grinned up at him before dragging him back into the bar, looking to make the best of the night, also hoping tonight was karaoke night…
Itachi masked his surprise but followed her back into the establishment.
It was not karaoke night but she brought them a round of drinks and started discussing her remainder of the night at the stall. Halfway through her recollection, she reminded herself of the contents of her bag and pulled out some leftovers she had purchased for him.
She had picked out, Peaches, Kiwi's, a few Strawberries and a mango.
"Why these ones?" he asked her, chuckling at her selection.
"Hmm , they reminded me of dango flavours which I already know you prefer," she replied with a smile.
"Never thought to ask Ototo-san?" he went on to elaborate.
"Sasuke, doesn't like talking about your preferences, makes him feel like he is being compared to, which he hates, especially around us" she responded, sounding a bit sad all of sudden.
Itachi kicked himself for asking, of course Sasuke appreciated his teammates for being the only ones to not compare his skills to him, unlike their family.
"I'm sorry, of course you didn't ask, well if anything you pay attention, my favorite are mango and strawberries " Itachi said while biting slowly into the mango, juices running down his chin.
Sakura's breath hitched as she watched.
Itachi smirked when he noticed her reaction before sideling over and wrapping an arm around her.
"Would you like some?" he asked huskily.
Sakura blushed furiously before sliding away.
Itachi laughed but ordered another round of drinks for them.
He showed her how he liked to cut small fruit into star shapes, usually he would stick them on a skewer like dango and well all they had were drink umbrellas & toothpicks for his hilarious display.
Sakura started picking fruit pieces and trying to stick them to his face and laughed more.
Getting noisy and a bit messy, the nearby bartender thought they needed to be cut off, and gently told them it was nearing closing time. Itachi paid off his second tab, and they gathered their stuff before heading out into the late night Konoha streets, which were quiet and empty.
Walking her back to her apartment, Itachi supported her, while they stumbled back, a little too much to drink. When Sakura drunkenly tried to pull him into her foyer, Itachi gently detangled her and bid her goodnight.
"Not tonight, I wanna wait for that, as it would be special to the both of us, and you would remember it." he told her smiling before ensuring she was inside and headed back home.
Sakura groaned in pain, when the sunlight hit her face and woke her up. She rolled over and mended herself with some healing chakra and some water. When she was done sobering up, she remembered the night before and how Itachi didn't let her drunkenly seduce him, which made her laugh, what a gentleman till the end and with that thought she declared to herself that it had been a fun first date and hoped there would be more in the future.
~Fin
A/N: this is a stand alone piece and as always please feel free to review, like, favorite, follow, kudos and comment :)
*cross-posted at A03*