The sun was setting down across the training grounds. Bright orange with shades of pale pink and purple lit up the sky. Naruto with his chest heaving plopped down on the grass, "Hey teme! wait til' I get up from here and I'll kick your ass!," Pumping his fists in the air "Believe it!"
Hands in his pockets, the brooding member of team 7 looked as calm as ever. "You can try, but I doubt it," said Sasuke with only a bruised lip as a hint to his previous matchup with his blonde teammate.
The third member of their team, with her pale pink locks hanging on the edge of a medical book, glanced at her teammates' antics. Sighing, she closed her book and stood up. "Naruto! Stop it! Our training is over, Kakashi-sensei already left!"
Sasuke, while blocking a kick, glanced at Sakura who was pointing at the tree their sensei was sitting on moments ago. Annoyed at his obviously incompetent teacher, who always arrived much later than the assigned meeting time with excuses ranging from "I helped an old lady push her cart filled with cabbages" to "I saw a cow flying across Konoha so I stopped for a moment and admired it". Judging by the subtle way his sensei's eyes crinkled above his mask, Sasuke knew all those reasons were lies.
Sensing that Sasuke was momentarily distracted, Naruto aimed a punch at Sasuke's face. But instead of hitting flesh, his fists were caught in Sasuke's hand. Before he knew it, his face was planted on the ground with Sasuke's foot on top of his head.
Reaching down, Sakura pinched Naruto's ear between her fingers "Naruto! I said stop it already!"
"But Sakura-chan! The bastard deserves it!" Naruto wailed while flinging his arms around while spitting the dirt from his mouth back to the ground.
"I don't care Naruto! I'm tired and starving let's go grab something to eat"
As if on cue, Sasuke's stomach began to rumble. Suddenly he remembered that he refused the lunch Sakura offered to him a while ago. Pale hands peppered with rough patches of skin presented a bento that obviously took hours to make. The wooden box contained rice formed to look like a triangle peppered with pink salmon and juicy cherry tomato in the middle. Besides the onigiri, were rolls of egg with carrots and onion chives.
Looking down at his suddenly timid teammate, the Uchiha was tempted to accept the offer. Waking up a little later than he would have liked, he forgot to eat breakfast before they started their training. Growing up with his doting mother, Sasuke is still getting used to being the only person in their house. Meals were often forgotten during the day, and the idea of packing lunch for his training repeatedly escaped him.
But to take-up what Sakura offers him would surely result in more giggling and sighing from the pink-haired girl. Such actions he looked down upon, in his opinion, (and his opinions are never wrong) a girl no matter what age should act with dignity. His mother certainly never acted this way with his father. So with a curt refusal, not exactly in words but with his silence and walking away from the girl the message was sent. The lone Uchiha has no time for such trivialities and any attempts will find the same end. Taking upon himself to practice his aim, he took his shuriken pouch and went to the other side of the field.
However, the same cannot be said to the blonde member of Team 7 who radiates sunny admiration for the only girl in their group. Naruto witnessed the rejection, and he was glad that the jerk was too full of himself to notice the dejected look on Sakura's face. With that, the idiot was quick to jump on this opportunity to eat anything his crush made. Grabbing the bento out of the girl's frail hands, Naruto promptly snatched the savory ball of rice into his own and ate it zealously.
Surprised, Sakura blinking up tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. It saw Naruto stuffing everything into his mouth. Despite herself, she was endeared to see a person enjoy the food she painstakingly made. Rising an hour before her usual wake-up time, Sakura padded down towards the kitchen with the hope that this time, the Uchiha won't refuse. Just moments ago, she felt a familiar crack in her chest when the boy rejected her yet again. But with Naruto's enthusiasm seeping into her own mood, Sakura grabbed her own lunch and sat beside the blonde. Together they enjoyed the afternoon under the sun, and with Naruto's chatter to fill the silence, Sakura's frown turned into a cheery smile.
Standing in front of a tree, with a shuriken in between his fingers Sasuke heard a sudden melodic giggle. Turning to look at the source of the interruption, he caught his two teammates in mid-conversation. His eyes lingered on the way Sakura's head turned up in a laugh while Naruto's mouth opened and closed in its babbling. Annoyed at the result of his rejections, Sasuke decided to end their little spontaneous date.
Meanwhile, the object of the dark-haired boy's irritation was blissfully unaware of his feelings. Sakura was having a good time with her other teammate. While talking to Naruto, Sakura suddenly felt guilty for ignoring his attempts for them to get closer. Despite his crude jokes and antics, he was a joy to be around with. And for a time, she forgot the rejection that was handed to her. But it seems, Sasuke is not too keen to let her forget when a shuriken swiftly went past between them. The conversation ending abruptly, the pair turned behind them to the tree where the object was embedded.
"What the hell Sasuke?!" Naruto stood up and carefully set down the bento box, "You could have killed us!"
Sasuke was walking through the field with his signature frown "Let's spar"
Not waiting for the blonde's reply, Sasuke sent another shuriken in his way. But this time, Naruto was able to dodge it and the other dozen that came his way. Sakura can only stare at her teammates. Not wanting to come between yet another fight between the two boys, Sakura sighed, cleaned up their lunch, and went under a tree to study.
Sasuke felt another growl deep within his stomach, pulling him from the afternoon's event to the present. Worried that his teammates will hear just how much he's hungry, his fands formed into fists beside his body.
"Sakura-chan let's go eat at Ichiraku!" Naruto beamed
"Not Ichiraku again Naruto! Don't you ever get tired of ramen?" ignoring Naruto's protest, Sakura continued "besides there's this new restaurant near the marketplace we should try."
"But Sakura-chan, Teuchi said they're going to add a brand new flavor to his Ramen menu!"
Sakura sighed, "Naruto as much as I love Ichiraku, I think we should try something different once in a while."
Scratching the back of his head, Naruto reluctantly agreed, if it makes Sakura happy how could he refuse? Maybe this time Sakura would notice his affections, not unlike the bastard seething beside them.
Sakura sensing Sasuke's lack of response to her invitation. Turned towards him "Sasuke-kun? aren't you coming with us?"
"I'm not hungry, go ahead without me," Sasuke said while his stomach growled louder than before. If Uchihas had the ability to blush, Sasuke thinks his face would be the exact shade of his favorite tomatoes. But since his clan lacked this capability, so only the back of his neck flushed red from embarrassment.
Sasuke pinched his nose in annoyance "Fine but I'm leaving as soon as I'm done eating"
A series of cheers were heard beside him and with that Team 7, sans their older perverted sensei started to walk towards the marketplace.
On the journey towards the restaurant, the smell of freshly grilled Unagi entered Sakura's nostrils, making her mouth salivate. She was thankful that they could have nights like these together as a team. Even with all the squabbles between the three them, Sakura knew that these boys will leave an imprint in her heart.
Spotting a familiar head of gray hair in the distance, Naruto waved towards his sensei. Lifting his eyes from his book, it was met with the vision of his three students walking towards him. Kakashi was a bit surprised that Sasuke was with his two teammates, knowing that he usually prefers to go home immediately after training.
"This kid is way too serious for his age"
"Kakashi-sensei! Come eat with us, there's a brand new restaurant here we decided we're going to try tonight" Sakura said with so much excitement that Kakashi was inclined to accept the invitation.
Entering the dimly lit restaurant, Sakura immediately spotted an available spot near an open window. Out of the corner of her eyes, Sakura saw another team with a similar idea open the flaps of the restaurant. So with the fear of the table getting snatched up. Sakura sped towards it and slid onto the chair beside the window with ease.
Kakashi efficiently followed his only female student, occupying the chair in front of her. As a result, only the two boys were left without a seat. Still standing at the entrance of the restaurant, Sasuke noted this fact. But upon noticing Naruto's eagerness to be next to Sakura, a sudden wave of competitiveness filled Sasuke. He hurriedly navigated through the throngs of hungry diners and busy waiters. And with a certain clumsiness, he was able to secure the seat beside his female teammate. A few seconds later, the blonde exclaimed his disappointment. So without a choice, Naruto begrudgingly sat next to his sensei and eyed Sasuke with suspicion. The dark-haired boy leveled the blonde's stare with his own with an accompanying smirk decorating his features.
Now that he was beside Sakura, did Sasuke allow his thoughts to wander. He really didn't think this through, he thought. Naruto might get the wrong idea that he was vying for the girl's attention as he is. But that really wasn't the case. He was simply gripped with the usual urge to compete with the idiot. For what, he doesn't really know or understand why; that for some reason he just competed with the blonde for a seat.
Speaking of the pink-haired girl, Sasuke glanced her way. Her hair was blowing softly with the wind coming from the window. Her thumb in between her lips, eyes focused as she weighs her options on the menu.
She's kinda cute
Sasuke blanched at the intrusive thought in his head. Is Sakura cute? Sasuke reflects. And as a lone tendril of pink hair fell on his teammate's face, did he suddenly have to urge to tuck the soft strand behind her ear.
Lost in her own thoughts, Sakura hadn't noticed the pair of obsidian eyes that continued to linger on her. Nor did she notice the amused look the copy-nin in front of her was sporting. And unfortunately for the Uchiha prodigy, Kakashi is well-versed in the actions of manipulation and young love.
"Who would have thought. Well time to move things forward."
The silver-haired nin decided to tease his prodigy of a pupil, "Ne, Sasuke is there something on Sakura's hair?"
Caught in the act, Sasuke quickly averted his eyes from Sakura towards his sensei. "Nothing in particular," Sasuke said as he shifted uneasily in his seat.
"So tell me then, why have you been staring at her for the past 10 minutes?"
Sakura blushed a deep pink, while Sasuke looked at his no good sensei with murder in his eyes. Before he could act on his thoughts, the attention was turned towards the tray of delicious food that was set down on the table.
"Please enjoy the meal!" the waiter bowed and left to attend a different customer.
Sakura surveyed the table with appreciation. It was filled with the most delicious-looking meals. "Sushi, Katsu curry, tempura...wow you guys ordered so much food!" Sakura said while taking a pair of chopsticks on the table.
"Itadakimasu!" team 7 chorused excitedly, angry stomachs grumbling in anticipation. Taking a piece of Nigiri sushi in between her chopsticks, Sakura dipped it in soy sauce and plunged it in her mouth.
In front of her, however, Naruto decided it was best to vacuum the food of the plates directly towards his stomach. Which resulted in an ever-growing pile of empty plates slowly mounting in front of Sakura.
Sasuke, on the other hand, was more dignified in his eating. The etiquette that was drilled into him since childhood, was still in place despite being as hungry as the boy in front of him.
"Slow down Naruto! you're going to choke!" Sakura said as she watched as her blonde teammate wolf down another plate of katsu don.
Sneering with disgust, Sasuke wondered why Sakura ever bothered with the blonde. Sometimes he thinks that Naruto acts the way he does just so Sakura could give him a minuscule of her attention. The attention that should be directed at him just like it should be. Not that he would tell Sakura *that*.
But Sasuke can't deny that having someone appreciate him on a daily basis felt good. Despite having his own fan club, Sakura seems different. Different how? is a whole different train of thought that Sasuke does not want to go to.
Glancing at Sakura's hand, Sasuke wondered how it would feel like wrapped around his own. It would be soft, he thinks. The skin of her hands was unmarked by any bruises or calluses. Not that it matters though, even if her hands would roughen by every kunai it throws. Sasuke reflects that he would still like to hold them anyway.
Back when his parents were still alive, he would often see them hiding their affection for one another. Entwined fingers underneath the table where they think their children can't see. Stolen kisses in the darkened hallways of the Uchiha household. His father may seem to be a cold person for many, but Sasuke knows that with his mother, Fugaku was as warm as the fireball their clan is infamous for.
Getting a spoonful of the tomato-based curry, he wondered if he could have the time to spend on a mundane task such as having a girlfriend. He thinks to himself, that maybe he could indulge in his little fantasies while still being focused on avenging his clan.
So with a sudden burst of confidence, Sasuke closed the gap between their hands. Slowly at first, his pinky tentatively reaching for hers. Sensing that she won't stop him, albeit being a little bit flustered judging by the way her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed. In contrast, he made sure his face doesn't betray this little secret between them.
Looking straight ahead with his other hand holding a pair of chopsticks, Sasuke reflects that maybe he's starting to like her, in a way that makes him want to be something more for her. He's just debating with himself whether it's something he wants to or not.