Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"Sakura," Akiko-sama yelled, throwing her hands in the air, "What is going on with you?"

Sakura scowled and sent her a furious glare.

"Akiko-sama! They're just—ugh! You wouldn't understand, Akiko-sama." Sakura shouted right back, chopping the potatoes harder.

The crop is nearly turned to mush and Sakura knows that the Okiya mother won't be happy if she serves this to the clients. And with the fact that Iruka-sensei had to walk down to the Okiya district six times—red faced and all—she was not in Lady Manami's good books.

"We have gotten nearly six calls from the school, this week!" Akiko-sama yelled, tucking a strand of chocolate hair behind her ear. "Tell me what is going on, Sakura-chan!"

Sakura just glared at the mess she made, stabbing the potato-turned mush once again.

"Please, darling. Tell me?" Akiko-sama's voice is quieter now and the older woman threads a hand through her hair, turning her chin to face her. "You know you can tell me anything. We don't—"

"Judge at the Okiya, I know." Sakura harrumphed.

There is a silence and then Sakura starts talking very fast and very agitated. Akiko watches on with wide eyes.

"It's just—there's this boy, Naruto, right? And like! Everyone treats him like garbage—like they treat you, Akiko-sama on the fancy streets—but for no reason! And I want to be his friend but Mizuki-sensei started taking away my grade points," Sakura's face scrunched up angrily, a flush rising to her cheeks, "And I know I'm good enough. I'm smarter than anyone in that class except Shika because once I saw him figure out how to jump over the fence with zero effort—he thinks he's sneaky but he's not. He steals hot-buns from Ino when she's not looking and she never notices!"

"What about this Naruto-boy, Sakura-chan?" Akiko prompts.

"Right. Well." Sakura took in a deep breath. "I want to be friends with him but no one seems to be letting me! And people make fun of my hair!"

By the end of her rant, Sakura is heaving, tears filling her eyes and falling into the plate of mushed potatoes.

"Is that all, darling?" Akiko-sama asks quietly, brushing away the tears that escaped her and trickled down flushed cheeks.

"Uh-huh." Sakura mumbled into Akiko-sama's shirt, discreetly—or so she thought—sniffling. "They're so mean and stupid and—"

"Sakura-chan. They're children. They don't always understand how to say anything nice."

"But I'm a kid! And I don't act like that." Sakura's eyes flash with frustration, her little fingers gripping the Akiko-sama's dark blue kimono.

Akiko chuckled. "You're a little different, honey. But remember, no one's stopping you from being friends with the Naruto-boy. Always know that you are Sakura—troublemaker, loyal, intelligent Sakura—and there is no one that can tell you what to do."

"Except you." Sakura muttered.

But Akiko wondered if even that was true.

Please Enjoy!