March 27 - the day before Sakura's birthday 4:25 PM

Sasuke has encountered the most difficult question in his existence:

How to ask a girl on a date?

Clearly, no books and subjects in the academy taught them on how to successfully ask a girl on a date. Because of his non-existent experience in this aspect he thought it would be wise to get the opinion of those who already have.

He started to think of people who has experience in romance.

Naruto? Well he recently started hanging out with the Hyuuga girl, seeing them couple of times entering the Ichiraku's.

'Take her to Ichiraku's! Man, they have this new tonkatsu ramen in their menu and I'm sure Sakura-chan will love it!'

No. Definitely not cool. Better not to get advices from that idiot.

How about Shisui? He was the eldest in his cousins and the most experienced when it comes to girls. Instantly, he then recalled separate incidents when he accidentally saw Shisui and his female companion in the darkest alleys of Konoha during his stroll in the village doing something disturbing.

Sasuke shakes his head. He would probably suggest something perverted.

That only leads him to Itachi.

But Itachi is no different from him. He admitted that it was Izumi who has been vocal with her feelings for him and he only accepted it. Technically, it was Izumi who made the first move.

Sasuke has been pacing inside his room. He decided to invite Sakura to the festival but he does not know how. While walking back and forth he noticed the paper bag on his desk which contains his gift for his teammate. Thinking about it, he did not get to see what the item was. He seated in the chair and open the paper bag in front of him. It was a hairclip, almost the same of what Sakura is wearing when he first saw her.

An idea came to Sasuke's mind.

--

Sakura is in her office reading some medical archive while drinking a tea. This is a very rare event that she is not usually busy working with patients. She is not from a prominent ninja clan and her physical strength are not on par with Naruto or Sasuke that's why with every free time she got she will spend it in honing her ability in the field of medical ninjutsu.

According to the Godaime's observation, she have the potential to excel in Medical Ninjutsu because of her intelligence and perfect chakra control.

She was so absorb in reading when a nurse knock on her door. "Sakura-san, you have a visitor."

"Come in." she called out behind her book. When she heard the door swung open, her eyes averted to the person who just entered her office. "Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke saw her eyes quickly examines him from head to toe. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No." He answered shortly averting his eyes off her.

"What brings you here?" She move from her desk and approached him. Sasuke abruptly push a bag in her hands. Her face bright up instantly. "You remembered."

He can feel the temperature on his face threatening to rise up. "Well, later." Almost immediately he turned his back on her.

"W-wait Sasuke-kun!" Without another word, he immediately went outside her office and disappear from her sight. Typical Sasuke.

Excitedly, she open the bag and saw a hairclip. It may be a simple gift but she will accept anything that comes from Sasuke. She went to the nearby mirror to try it on. As soon as she snapped the clip open, a small folded paper fell carelessly on the floor.

Curiously, she pick up the paper and open it. 'What's this?' She thought.

Fireworks Festival

Tomorrow at 6:00 PM

She cannot believe her eyes. 'Is this true? Sasuke-kun is asking me out!' She is so happy. She felt the temperature rise up in her face. Her heart begins to pound so hard she can hear her heartbeat in her ears. Panicked overwhelmed her.

'What am I going to wear? I don't remember if I have a decent yukata.'

She stared at the mirror to check herself. God she looks awful. Her skin is so dry and there are dark circles under her eyes. She really looks horrible. Standing beside Sasuke, she will look so plain and ordinary.

'What will I do?'

--

'Were she able to read the note? I'm sure if she try it on, she will be able to notice the note attached to it. Well, what if she hadn't open the gift at all and discovered it after the festival? I should have asked her directly.'

Sasuke shakes his head and sigh in frustration. 'This is stupid.'

He sat on his chair contemplating on his actions. He has been very careful with his decisions and was never ruled by emotions. However, today he had done everything on a whim.

Earlier, he had seen her eating lunch with some random guy in the garden of Konoha Hospital, chatting animatedly and laughing to whatever that guy is telling her. Also, he did not like how close she was sitting beside her co-worker. He'd never seen Sakura so comfortable with anyone else outside of Team 7 and the idea that someone else can bring smile to her face—aside from—him irritates him. He then realized the effect she has on him.

He closed his eyes. Is he just being over protective of her or is he actually jealous? This feeling is so foreign to him that he cannot pinpoint what it is. He sighed exasperatedly. Whatever it is, Sasuke does not want to deal with confusion and uncertainty. It is in his nature that he always seek for an answer. He is unsure of what he truly feels towards her but maybe after their meeting tomorrow, he can understand and confirm his feelings for Sakura.

On the other side of the Uchiha Manor, Itachi put down the scroll he was reading and stared annoyingly in the direction of Sasuke's room. When he arrived in their house after his short visit in the hospital, he started pacing inside his room which he find distracting.

Sasuke heard a knock on his door which stopped him with his internal monologue and turmoil. He find Itachi when he opened the door.

"What is it?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah."

"Quit pacing, Sasuke. I'm trying to read."

Mikoto appeared behind Itachi whose on her way to fixing the laundry and spoke to Sasuke.

"Are you sick, Sasuke?" Mikoto raised her hand to his forehead to feel his temperature.

"No, Mom."

"You look troubled." Her eyebrows furrowed. "What's bothering you?"

Itachi formed a smug smirk on his face and before Sasuke can reply, he spoke "Your youngest son is finally going on a date tomorrow." He decided that this is the best revenge he can give for distracting him from reading.

Sasuke gave him the most incredulous look. He cannot believe he said that. No one is supposed to know about this but the two of them. Mikoto gasped dropping the folded laundry in surprise. Escaping an impending doom, Itachi decided to retreat in his bedroom.

"Is that true, Sasuke?" Mikoto asked excitedly. "Who's the girl?"

"It's nothing, mom. Forget about it." He answered dismissively.

"Young man, don't you dare lie to me." Mikoto reprimanded.

Defeated, he answered while averting his eyes from his mother. "It's Sakura."

Mikoto is so happy she hugged Sasuke in a heartbeat and gave her the sweetest smile. "I will prepare your yukata." Mikoto cannot help but think how time flies so fast. It seems like yesterday when Sasuke is a little boy playing with his toy dinosaur and now he is taking a girl to a date.

--

In the evening, the Uchiha household shared dinner together. Fugaku is a man of few words and seldomly talks unless its necessary. However, tonight is one of those rare occasions that Fugaku would start a conversation about things that shouldn't be talked about in the dinner table. He began with Itachi.

"Itachi, It's about time that you join the Uchiha Police Force. I already compromise with you when you wanted to join the ANBU. You are an Uchiha, and you should serve the clan as much as you have served this Village."

"Hai, Tou-san." "Izumi and I decided that I will join the police force after the wedding."

"Good."

"How are the preparations for your wedding?" He followed after taking a sip from his cup of tea.

"Everything is in order, father. You have nothing to worry about."

He just nodded in agreement and turned his attention to his youngest son.

"Sasuke."

"Yes, father." He answered immediately and snapped his gaze towards his father.

"How are things going with you?"

"Everything's going well, father. Recently, my team is getting A and B rank missions." He did his best to sound composed but deep inside he is nervous under the calculating gaze of his father.

Fugaku clicks his tongue and shakes his head lightly. "Sasuke, aren't you falling behind? At your age, Itachi is already an ANBU."

"Fugaku—" Mikoto interrupted but Fugaku continued his lecture.

"Stop wasting your time on unnecessary things and get your priorities straight. I've heard that even the boy from the branch family of Hyuuga has recently become a jounin."

"Neji-kun is a year ahead of Sasuke." Itachi defended.

"Does that matter, Itachi? Shisui is already a jounin when he was 11."

The look of disappointment is evident on his father's eyes due to his slow progress. The Uchiha, being the clan that possessed an exceptional linage is praised due to their immense power in the battlefield. Shisui and Itachi is the living proof of the clan's superiority among other clans in Konoha. Born geniuses, they exhibit unmatched strength that beat experience and hardwork with sheer talent.

Sasuke, on the other hand, is not as gifted as them. Yes, he excel among all the shinobi at his age but he is nowhere near compare to Itachi and Shisui. Every time he took a step up, they just keep getting stronger and stronger, raising the bar higher and higher until he cannot catch up.

Sasuke lowered his head to hide the shame on his face. He also refrain from touching his food. After all, he already lose his appetite.

"I will make sure to pass the coming Jounin exam, father." He said with conviction.

"As you should. Very well then, come along tomorrow with the Police Force for a mission. The experience will help you hone your skills."

"Anata—" for the second time, Mikoto try to interrupt and bring end to this conversation.

"Father, you can take me with you tomorrow. Sasuke already have plans."

"Itachi, stop treating your brother like a child. He can make his own decisions, right Sasuke?" Their father countered.

"Yes, father. I will go with you tomorrow." Refusing now will only disappoint his father more. One after another.

"Good."

The dinner ended and the family retreated in their respective rooms. When Sasuke is about to twist his doorknob open, Fugaku spoke behind him.

"Do not get too emotionally invested with that kunoichi. You know very well that we do not marry outside the clan. The earlier you keep that in your mind, the better." After that his father retreated to his own room.

It is one of the Uchiha's hard rule, to only marry someone from the clan. The Uchiha, like the any other clan that possessed rare doujutsu, also strives to keep their bloodline pure. Another reason is to protect the clan's interests from outsiders. Those who choose to break this rule will be exiled from the clan as punishment, similar to what happened to Izumi's mother, Hazuki, when she chose to marry a man that is not an Uchiha. He cannot disgrace his family like that and most of all, he cannot repeatedly let his father down.

In the morning, without a word, Sasuke quietly set off for the Police Force mission his father gave him.