"I think I had a dream last night..but I can't remember what it was about.." Sakura trailed off. Her eyes glazed over.

"Sakura-chan! Hurry! Or will miss school. Hayaku!" Ino was pulling the tired petal along. Practically dragging her.

Sakura had woken up late and Ino wasn't any better. If they didn't hurry up, they were going to be late. Anyone who was late would get in trouble and would usually have to stay after class and do chores or rank E missions for academy students. E rank missions were even worse than D-rank missions that genin had to after they graduated from the academy. And who was running the chores and detention? Class 1-B teacher. Mizuki-sensei..

"HI IRUKA-SENSEI, HOPE WE DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING?" The boisterous blonde bombshell shouted as they barely made it on time.

"Girls, take your seats.."

Ino led the two to the back row where a sleepy looking boy with a pineapple shaped hair was dozing off and a chubby boy hiding potato chips under the desk sitting

"Figures, Shikamaru asleep at the start of class.." Ino muttered and rolled her eyes.

"Why are you so late, Ino-chan?" Choji questioned while trying to shovel down even more potato chips in his mouth. Sakura was hiding behind Ino.

"I made a new friend, and she's currently staying with my family at the compound. That's why!" Ino pushed Sakura in front of her.

"Sakura-chan, these two dummies are Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi! I've known them since forever!

Shikamaru suddenly woke up. Something caught his attention. He wasn't really asleep anway..

"Where are her parents?" His eyes narrowed.

Sakura gathered the courage and spoke up.

"M-my mother is in critical condition at the ICU, and my father is making his way home from a trip. He's a merchant."

Shikamaru wanted to ask the pinkette more questions, but didn't want to freak her out. So, he stopped there.

After class, the new friends had plans to help out the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Naturally, Sakura was excited because flowers and nature were her first friends before she met Ino. They would talk to her and she would talk back. But that's not something she would share with anyone..

Sakura was distracted during all of class. Her mind always drifted back to that one boy..Naruto Uzumaki. He showed up on the first day of class but today? No appearance..Where is he? Is he okay?

"Welcome back, girls! How was school?" Noriko greeted the two at the Yamanaka Family's Flower Shop with a big hug.

Ino chattered away. Sakura had a distant look in her eyes.

It didn't go un-noticed.

"Sakura-chan..How was your day, dear? You look troubled."

"I had a dream last night..but I can't seem to remember it. However, the real reason, I'm so distracted is because..because..Naruto Uzumaki wasn't there today."

Ino raised an eyebrow.

"That blonde idiot?! On the first day of class he pranked Iruka-sensei and had to stay after class for detention. He probably got mad and didn't come back today.."

"Do you know where he lives? Maybe we should go check on him?" Sakura had fire in her eyes. Determination.

Ino fidgeted. She was uncomfortable.."Yeah..I saw him walk home, yesterday after you passed out. He lives in the Akasen district. Right above a brothel..

"Sakura..I don't think it's a good idea." Both Noriko and Ino said at the same time.

"I'm going anyway..Bye Noriko-san, Ino-chan.." She pulled quickly away and ran off to the Akasen district before anyone could stop her. Sakura had been very sheltered her whole life and this was her very first time in the red-light district. Looks like there would be a change of plans today. She would help out at the Flower shop some other day, she would make it up to Ino-chan.

Sakura didn't know Naruto's exact address, except for one detail..His apartment was above a brothel. So, the Saku-chan wandered around the district until..she came to a halt. She knew this was his apartment. She knew it deep in her bones.. She walked up the back stairway, and knocked.

No answer.

Knocked again..

Nothing.

She felt his chakra on the other side of the door. It was unstable.

"Naruto-san, are you okay? You didn't come to school today? May I come in?"

She took the silence for a yes.

She opened the door and walked in, shutting the old creaky door behind her.

The cramped apartment was a pigsty. No heat, it smelled like mold, there were old cup-ramen containers piling up on the table, and by the looks of it, Naruto hadn't done his laundry in days.

He lived by himself? Alone..

He was lying curling up in his bed. Sleeping..but he was breathing heavily. His face was flushed and he was sweating profusely.

Sakura knew immediately that he had a high fever. That's why he didn't come to school today.

She ran to the sink and washed out a cup and poured cold water on him. She needed to break his fever. She went to the medicine cabinet in his bathroom and found a small first aid kit. There were a few pain relievers left.

She gently pryed open his mouth and had him gulp down some more water along with two pills.

It was getting late and Sakura didn't want to leave him, so she fell asleep in a chair next to him slumped over.

Sakura startled awake. She felt eyes on her. He was awake..His fever broke. She felt..relieved..

"Y-you're the one that saved me at the park..You're the one that fainted in class. You helped me..No one ever does..What's your name?"

"Sakura.."