disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor the Bridgerton series. However I strongly recommend both ;)
London 1817
A cool late spring evening. Crickets chirping. Owls hooting. A nice breeze flowing through the trees and into the windows of the Haruno estate. Tonight was the night of a grand ball being hosted at Sakura's home. The problem? Sakura wasn't into being out in the limelight. She preferred the sidelines, where she could spectate, eavesdrop for her own amusement, and get inspiration for her paintings.
Not that Sakura didn't want a marriage or romance, she just didn't think that she would find it at a ball, where everything seems so forced. She was lucky to have parents who are so loving and understanding. They didn't push her and they let her be herself and express herself. Her younger sister, though, Karin, lived for the nightlife. Sakura was 20, and Karin was just barely 19. The two were so close in age, which was good at times, but also led to a lot of fights.
Karin had her introduction to society a full year ago, but was still not married. She claimed she was waiting for the perfect man, but really, she just liked the attention she got from everyone. All the boys fighting for her attention like a lion with a piece of meat.
Sakura was different though, so on this particular evening, she was sitting on a stool on her balcony, dressed completely in her ballgown attire. She had yet to go downstairs, she was staring off into the courtyard where many talked, laughed, and danced to the overly loud music. She painted and hummed along to the music mostly unnoticed. One of her biggest so-called fans was down in the garden yelling up his professions of love to her.
She ignored it for the most part, and continued her painting inspired by the scene underneath her. All was well... Until...
Viscount Uzumaki arrived. He was one of Sakura's close childhood friends, and he had come over to the house often. He was well-acquainted with the Haruno family.
He ran up to Sakura's parents and squeezed them in an embrace, something that was very uncommon in society. He didn't care. He was like the son they never had. This had drawn attention to him and a small crowd began to form, eager to see what the commotion was. Soon enough, Viscount Uchiha had arrived, stepping out of his black carriage with the utmost grace.
Sakura would never admit out loud, but she loved whenever he would attend. She would stare from afar, admiring his beauty, his physique, and his gracefulness. There were not many men left like him anymore.
Not that she had any room to talk, she was goofy as the day is long. But, she still admired him.
Perhaps because he was everything she is not.
The Uchiha had unknowingly arrived at the most inopportune time, because as he was walking in, Naruto Uzumaki had decided to throw a giant hug around Ino Yamanaka, Sakura's best friend. Naruto had always gotten on Ino's nerves, and to her also, he was like a brother she never had. However, this particular evening, she grew tired of his brashness, and gave him a quick shove out of the way so she would not be seen with a crazy man hanging around her neck.
This shove had pushed Naruto into the infamous Sasuke Uchiha, with Naruto inadvertently elbowing Sasuke in the face. Before Naruto could turn around to apologize, he was pummeled to the ground by Sasuke.
With this, Sakura took off running downstairs. She did not want anyone to get hurt, but there was little she could do. When she arrived out in the courtyard, the tussle was still ongoing, but she saw her younger sister running toward the pair.
"Excuse me, excuse me! Boys! What is going on here?!" Karin screeched, pulling Naruto away from Sasuke.
"Well, uh, you see, uh..." Naruto started, growing sheepish at the disappointed glare from the redhead.
"It was an accident, I promise! I was just showing my affection for good ole Ino here, and she pushed me, and boom! I crashed into this guy." Naruto stated, signaling over to Sasuke standing up and brushing himself off.
Karin glanced over and immediately stiffened. Sakura had to wonder why.
Surely, her sister can not be setting her sights on him?
While he was godlike, he was also devilish.
He had a reputation around the ton. And not a very good one. He was a true heartbreaker, and it seemed that he had vowed off marriage completely.
Naruto gave another glance.
"Uchiha? Is that you?"
"Hn." The black haired man regained his composure and stared blankly at Naruto.
"Don't you remember me?! We went to primary together! How could you forget someone like me?!" Naruto beamed, reaching to shake the mans hand.
Sasuke nodded, "Yes, I believe I remember. You were the one who stuck thorns in lady Tsunade's cushion when we were on lunch break that one time, yes?"
Naruto laughed hysterically, "Yes! That's the same me! I do apologize for the accident, though."
Sasuke said no more but just nodded. He turned his head to find red-haired Karin staring at him in almost a daze.
Sakura could've sworn Sasuke had glanced at her too, but she could not be too sure. She stalked off to the distant corner of the house where her parents were chatting and catching fresh air, away from the crowd that was now dissipating.
"Maman, Papa, are you alright? You look a little shaken up after that."
"We're fine sweetheart, thank you. You must be real shaken up to come down during the height of the ball," Sakura's mother began, "I know how you appreciate your privacy and time to work on your art."
"I got worried, that's all. I saw you and Papa close to the brawl, and I had to come check on you." Sakura gave her parents a small hug and walked into the ballroom, deciding she was giving up on her painting for the time being.
Naruto met up with her in the ballroom and escorted her to get a glass of lemonade.
"Hey, uh... Sorry about before," he began, "I hope I didn't cause any harm to your family or upset them. It truly was an accident!"
Sakura sipped at her lemonade, "It's fine, they are alright and they are not upset. It is actually a funny situation, when you think about it."
After a few minutes of laughing and light conversation, Naruto and Sakura decide to dance. It's been a tradition of theirs since they were kids. They both were not very proficient at it, but they laughed along with each other after every misstep and crushed toe.
"So, it seems your sister is ogling up the Uchiha over there. I didn't know he was coming tonight." Naruto stated, spinning Sakura around in the direction of the two so she had a better view.
"Yeah, it seems that way. But I'll be sure to put an end to that, I mean, we all know of his reputation," Sakura added as she cast a deadly glare across the room.
After the little brawl in the yard, Sasuke dusted himself off and stood up tall, chest out and confident. He strode into the ballroom, women batting their eyelashes and fanning their faces as he approached. He had a feeling someone was following him, so he turned around.
Karin stopped dead in her tracks, almost slamming into him.
He greeted her and they talked for a few minutes.
To be quite honest, he was bored. She was typical. She was a normal girl who he had no real interest in. Not that she was unattractive or something was wrong with her, she just was not interested.
However, he humored her conversation, listened to her talk and talk and talk.
Toward the end of the conversation, he glanced over her shoulder and saw a pink haired woman sending a fierce glare in his direction. He stared back and she would not relent.
"Hey, what are you staring at?" Karin questioned playfully, turning around to see her sister's anger-distorted features.
"Oh, don't mind her. She's like a rabid dog when she sees me talking with men she doesn't approve of," Karin laughed. He stared at her quizzically until she explained, "She's my older sister, Sakura. She's a bit protective but she's the best I could ever imagine." She smiled in fondness.
"Hn."
A few seconds later, said pink-haired beauty was storming across the dancefloor, her bubblegum pink and crystalline white dress trailing behind her.
"May I help you, miss?" Sasuke questioned as she finally arrived next to them.
"Yes, you may. I'd like you to back away from my sister and find someone else in here to prey on." She scoffed. The Sakura an hour ago sitting on the balcony could have never imagined she would be in a direct confrontation with the Uchiha. But hey, things change.
"And just why would I do that?" He questioned, firing back a glare at her. Who was she to tell him what to do?
"Because this is my house, and that is my sister you are locking arms with. I will not allow this." She stated simply.
"I believe lady Karin here is of age to make her own decisions," Sasuke began, glancing over at the short red-haired woman beside him.
"I...I can't get in the middle of this," She stated, looking down at her shoes.
"You'd best move away, sir, or else I will remove you myself." Sakura demanded.
While he was interested in seeing this play out, he decided not to press it further. For now, anyways.
"As you wish," He stated, unhooking his arm from Karin's.
"But, may I ask Lady Karin for a dance?"
Karin beamed and accepted immediately, taking his hand and walking off to the dancefloor.
Sasuke gave one final look behind him with a smirk as he began his dance.
Was he truly interested in Karin?
No, not particularly.
But it was fun to get her sister all fired up.
He decided, his next form of entertainment would be getting a rise out of Sakura whenever he could. It was amusing, to say the least.
alright y'all im done with this chapter let me know what you think lol