This story is based on Naruto written by Masashi Kishimoto
A/N: mostly just setting sakura up for success with a kick in the ass to set her priorities straight.
Hope you enjoy :)
Sakura rushed through her routine and flew out the door.
Graduation will happen in only a few days and she will finally be a genin. Until then she wants to savor every moment she can around Sasuke-kun.
Even though she still holds hope they will be on the same team, better to be safe than sorry.
Sakura slides to a stop next to the entrance, kicking up a cloud of dust.
A few seconds later another cloud appears.
"Aha!" Sakura crows with a fist pump. "Beat you here Ino-pig!"
Ino growls. "Whatever Billboard-Brow."
Barely coming down the road after Ino is Shikamaru and Choji. Shikamaru sighs. "Can we not do this so early in the morning? Honestly woman, why would you drag us here so early?"
Ino crosses her arms over her chest and scoffs at him. "I need to be able to spend every moment I can with my Sasuke-kun." She scowls. "Tou-san won't let me leave without you, so stop complaining you lazy slob."
Shikamaru just grimaces. "Tsk, I know, troublesome woman."
Sakura crinkles her nose at him but decides to take pity on the guy. He only complains this much because Ino knows how to push all of his buttons. Which is something they have in common.
Sakura casually bumps shoulders with Ino. "Bet you can't reach Sasuke-kun's seat first." She smirks at Ino's panicked expression. "Winner gets to sit next to him all day."
"You're on Billboard-Brow!" Ino yells furiously before taking off towards their classroom, leaving dust clouds in her wake.
Glancing at Shikamaru, she can already see his shoulders relaxing. "Enjoy your naps while you can, I'm not doing this again."
He merely nods. "Thanks Sakura, I owe you one."
Sakura nods and starts making her way towards the classroom. She didn't have to see his expression to know he was serious. A Nara always repays their debts, no matter how small.
And really to him it's no small thing. When Ino isn't sitting next to Sasuke-kun, she sits next to Shikamaru. Waking him up from every nap out of spite, and some anger that she didn't get the seat.
Entering the class she takes her usual seat, When the one next to Sasuke-kun is taken. As she sits down Shino looks up from his seat next to her and nods in greeting.
During the early years of the academy Sakura sat with Ino. After that, she had needed to find a new place to sit when the other seat was taken. Shino is quiet, he doesn't bother talking if he doesn't need to, he also isn't rude. And Sakura appreciates the silence.
When they started learning about Shinobi clans, Sakura spent her time researching all of her classmates' clans including the Aburame. The bugs don't bother her as much after all that research. Even so they hardly speak to each other when they sit together.
Sakura pulls out her notebook and pens for note taking, and proceeds to spend the rest of her time before class starts staring dreamily at Sasuke-kun.
Sakura groans and lays her head down on her desk.
So far the day has gone horribly for her. Starting from Ino claiming the coveted seat, it went downhill fast. Not that it went any better for Ino.
From what Sakura could tell from a distance, while Ino sat next to Sasuke-kun she took every chance she could to get him to talk to her. And while it's not out of the ordinary to get nothing from him, it would have been a nice surprise.
They took every opportunity to interact with him, even going as far as getting too close during throwing Practice. Which wasn't smart, if the kunai that was a hair's breadth away from slashing her shoulder had anything to say about it.
Sakura and Ino even had their lunch closer to him than they usually would. A little more daring than they usually were.
And aside from his eyebrow twitching every once in a while, they got no reaction.
Sakura sighs despairingly, it was one of those days where she question her life's purpose. Why bother Sasuke-kun so much when she knows it will never work. Does Sakura keep trying or does she stop?
But before she can think about it any longer, Ino makes her choice for her. Just like every other time Sakura asks herself this question.
"Finally ready to give up yet forehead?" Ino taunts from her seat with an assured expression.
Sakura sits up straighter and glares back. "Not a chance pig."
That being said there wasn't a lot of time left in class for them to try much else today.
Right when Iruka-sensei dismisses them Ino and Sakura cut off Sasuke-kun's exit.
"Hi Sasuke-kun, I was wondering-."
"-Thought it would be nice if-."
"-We could go out some-."
"-You wanted to go on a date?"
Sakura and Ino asked him out while elbowing each other. Their words overlapping so much it wouldn't be a surprise if they were unintelligible.
After they were finished they just stared, waiting for his answer.
Sasuke-kun's eyebrow is twitching sporadically now and tries to compose himself before opening his mouth.
Sakura wishes he had kept it shut and walked away.
"Listen, because i'm only going to say this once." This was already the most he had ever spoken to either of them so they just nodded, ignoring the cold tone. "You are the most annoying and pathetic people here, 100 times worse than Naruto." He paused to let it sink in. "You are beneath my notice, I wouldn't even be bothering with this if you hadn't been worse than usual today. You'll never be anything but weak cannon fodder. Romance is a waste of time and being strong is all that matters."
With his words hanging in the air he pushes past them and out the door.
Ino and Sakura stand there in a daze for a moment snapping out of when they notice there are still a few people there in the classroom.
Shikamaru stands up sharply from his seat and stalks towards them with murder in his eyes, choji not far behind looking torn. Shikamaru gives Sakura a nod and grabs Ino's arm, dragging her out the door. Choji pauses briefly to place a whole bag of chips in her hands before following after them. The gesture was almost enough to make her cry.
Shino, the last person left, walks over and pats her on the arm slightly in an uncharacteristic show of support. "I wouldn't pay any attention to Uchiha-san's words, why? Because I know how seriously you take your studies." He continues past her towards the door. "And because tou-san has always said that romance is acceptable as long as it doesn't interfere with training or any Shinobi duties." With one last nod he's gone, leaving Sakura alone in the now empty classroom.
Sakura walked home on autopilot and sat down on her bed to think. Her parents were still out so there was no one to distract her.
She can't even act like she's surprised. Sakura couldn't even count how many times she wondered if it was worth it. How many times she forced herself to say yes because of all the things she had sacrificed. It spiraled out of control and went from, 'he looks cute' to, 'I won't let Ino-pig have him'.
By the time she accepted she wasn't that interested it was already too late, so she put the thought out of her mind.
She had to make him worth it. Sakura gave up her favorite foods, let her hair grow out, less exercise to minimize sweat, impractical clothes, overly cheerful and overly hostile attitude, Ino.
The last one made her choke and start to tear up. Because that was what drove her the most.
When there was doubt, she would always think to herself, 'I lost Ino because of you', she never let herself give up.
But today his words gave her the push she needed to finally stop.
She remembers Shino's parting words.
"And because tou-san has always said that romance is acceptable as long as it doesn't interfere with training or any Shinobi duties."
That's exactly what she did. Sakura let it interfere with everything.
"Ino-chan."
She curled up on her bed and sobbed.
The next morning Sakura woke up earlier than usual and got ready for the academy. For the first time in a long time there was no self imposed pressure to please anyone but herself. It was a good feeling.
There was no way she was going to wear that dress anymore, so she goes over and looks through her closet.
After digging around she finally pulls out some capris and a green zip-up vest her tou-san gave her. He said the shade matched her eyes.
She puts on the red ribbon that Ino gave her so long ago, as usual. She never did stop wearing it, and it was why she bothered wearing a red dress. Green and blue have always been her favorite colors.
She grabs the bag of chips choji was kind enough to give her, and some dango from the fridge on her way out.
Sakura sat down at the entrance to the academy and savored the last of the chips, having already finished her stick of dango.
It wasn't long after she finished that Ino, Shikamaru and Choji came into view. They weren't even arguing about silly things like they usually would.
Sakura stood to greet them and locked gazes with Ino. In an instant Ino's lip started to wobble precariously and Sakura started sniffling.
In a simultaneous burst of tears they both slammed together in a hug and dropped to the ground gripping each other.
"We're so stupid!"
"I'm so sorry Ino-chan!"
"How did this happen?!"
"I don't know! I just remember you being angry when I called him cute and not knowing what to do!"
"I'm the worst friend ever! My sweet Saku-chan! What have I done? Shika! Why didn't you punch me in the face in the face or something! You're supposed to be smart!"
While they were crying on the ground Shikamaru was panicking. "Choji, what do we do? I don't know what to do when they cry."
Choji starts munching on his chips faster under the stress. "If you don't know, I definitely don't."
Shikamaru is about ready to put out his hair. "Sakura! What do you need?"
She pauses in her yelling and looks over with tears in her eyes and reaches out a hand. "We n-need a group hug."
The boys exchange a bewildered glance as Ino holds out her arm too. "G-get in here."
Deciding it was best not to argue, they hesitantly step forward.
Once they were within reach Sakura and Ino yankl them down into their small huddle, holding onto them as strongly as they grip each other.
After a few minutes the crying stops and the sniffling lessens.
"Want to go get a haircut later?"
"That would be nice."
"Troublesome."