A/N: A new character comes into the picture, everyone! This particular character doesn't have a last name so I made one up.

SCHOOLING: From where I came from, grade school consisted of 1st grade to the 6th grade. We didn't have junior high (then. But I think they just recently added that in). For this story, I'll be mixing and matching educational levels from my home country and the schooling system in Canada.

I'd just like to make clear that the "worst" won't be until the end (although, truthfully, the "worst" will only appear in the main story. So technically, the end of Before The Worst is only "worse". Haha! Shutting up now) So far, we're still in Sasuke and Naruto's childhood. Still a ways away. Until then, please enjoy all these little sweet oneshots... while you still can. Dun dun duuuuun. Bwahaha!

Please do leave a review!

Ha! That rhymed!

FAST CAR ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm truly very sorry for not having updated this story yet. I'm just having a very very difficult time writing the next chapter. And I don't really want to release something just for the sake of updating the story. Please be patient as I get myself out of my Fast Car funk (Don't worry though. I'm very much still writing it. Just not at the same speed and flow as I once had).

*DISCLAIMER APPLIES*

BEFORE THE WORST

Skirts Are Pants with Air Conditioning for Boys

First day of school would always be a nerve-wracking experience for anyone. It required you to meet new people, adjust to your new grade level, get to know new teachers, and so on. The first day of school, although frightful, would always be a momentous event, especially when one moved school levels. Transitioning to a new education level was truly a milestone. It signified that one has passed all his previous subjects and completed all the requirements.

Mikoto stood staring fondly at her youngest son who looked nonchalant in his new uniform. The six-year-old Uchiha was officially starting grade school today. Gone were the standard shorts and collared-tops for the little boys and girls from little Sasuke's preschool. Sasuke got to wear full black pants now and a white button down shirt under a navy blue sleeveless jumper. The school emblem, a spiral with a pointed lower left edge, was positioned proudly on the vest's left chest to signify that the alma mater must be kept close to the heart; so very unlike the preschool uniform, which had the emblem inconspicuously placed on the left-side collar. Despite his noncommittal look, he was feeling pretty smug about himself. He was a big boy now!

"Sasuke, why won't you smile, honey?" Mikoto asked as she noted the little pout on her son's face.

"Hn." Sasuke shrugged which had his mother giggling. Uchihas, no matter what the age, would always be an Uchiha.

"Why if it isn't Sasuke!" A voice exclaimed out of nowhere. The greeting alerted both mother and son causing both to turn their heads to acknowledge the newcomer. Sasuke immediately brightened up, not taking a half-second to recognize who the mystery person was.

"Hi Uncle Jiraiya." The little Uchiha greeted.

Jiraiya crouched down to Sasuke's level and ruffled the little boy's head. "Well, look at you! You look like such a big boy!" Sasuke preened at Jiraiya's flattering comment. The older gentleman gazed up and caught sight of Mikoto. The woman, although having a friendly smile on her face, looked slightly puzzled.

"Where are my manners? Hello madam. My name is Sennin Jiraiya. You must be Sasuke's mother. I can see where the boy gets his looks." Jiraiya wiggled his brows playfully at Mikoto.

"Oh, you flatter me, sir. My name is Mikoto. It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with your name. Which child is yours, sir?" Mikoto couldn't help but ask. None of Sasuke's classmates had Sennin as a last name. Maybe he was the child's grandfather from the mother's side?

"You need not call me sir, Mrs. Uchiha." Jiraiya gleefully explained.

"No need to be so formal! Call me Mikoto, Jiraiya." Mikoto never did like it when people treated her with such formality. Just because she was the wife of tycoon didn't mean she was an uptight lady.

"Phew! That's great! I couldn't think up fancy words any more." Jiraiya stage wiped his brow for effect. The gesture caused Mikoto to release an honest to goodness laugh.

"Uncle Jiraiya, where's Naruto?" The whole time during Jiraiya and Mikoto's exchange, Sasuke scanned the area in search for his best friend.

"Oh! Naruto is yours, Jiraiya?" Mikoto inquired with great surprise.

"Uh-huh. Although the blond rascal isn't mine per se. I'm his godfather." Jiraiya explained. Sennin Jiraiya happened to be the journalism mentor of Naruto's biological father, Namikaze Minato, in university. The two men were, to put it short and simple, like father and son. When Uzumaki Kushina, Naruto's mother, was confirmed pregnant, Minato could not think of anyone else to name as godfather for their child other than Jiraiya.

"Oh, I see. Nonetheless, Naruto is such a delightful child. You must be proud." Mikoto offered the older gentleman a soft smile. She had only met the blond a couple of times but in all those times, she found Naruto to be the sweetest thing.

"Yup. That kid's something." Jiraiya shoved both hands in his pocket, making him appear slack.

"Uncle Jiraiya!" The little Uchiha whined. He couldn't believe they had ignored him. Hmph. Sasuke furrowed his brows and frowned.

"Haha! Sorry about that, champ. The kiddo is over there, behind that big tree." Jiraiya pointed to the huge tree at the centre of the lawn. Sasuke directed his gaze to where the man had pointed. True enough, little blond spikes were poking out from behind the tree and a sparkly blue eye peeked shyly. Noticing the directed gaze of all three persons, the blond spikes suddenly retracted behind the tree.

"I told the kiddo to come greet you but that little brat won't go anywhere near here." Jiraiya clarified the situation to both Uchihas.

"Hmm. That's strange. Usually, he would go up to me and my son no problem. Is something wrong?" Mikoto worriedly glanced at the big tree that hid the little blond tyke. As if on cue, Sasuke left the presence of the adults and walked to his best friend.

"He?" Had Sasuke stayed a few more seconds with Jiraiya and his mother, he would have gotten some preparation from the old gentleman on what he was about to find out that morning.

"Naruto?" Just before Sasuke was about to round the tree to see Naruto, the latter screamed at the former.

"Stop! Don't come near me!"

Well, that was hurtful. Sasuke grimaced at the offending tone Naruto used at him. "Hn. You're not the boss of me!"

"Nooooo!"

But it was too late.

Sasuke went around the tree and there, Naruto stood...

He was wearing a skirt.

. . .

Uzumaki Naruto

A boy

A spiky haired blond blue-eyed little boy

Was wearing...

A skirt.

"What?" The extent of puzzlement on Sasuke's face was immeasurable. If the moment wasn't so embarrassing to the little blond, he (or she?) would have doubled-over in laughter at the contortion of Sasuke's facial expression.

"I told you not to come!" Naruto had on an adorably endearing pout on his (...her?) chubby face. The red of those cherub cheeks accented the whisker-like marks found therein.

"Why are you in a skirt?!" Sasuke screamed, absolutely baffled by the visual of Naruto, the very boyish Naruto, standing there in the school's girls' uniform. The little Uchiha scanned the blond from head to toe to reaffirm that what he was actually seeing was real. White button down top? Check. Navy blue sweater vest? Check. So far, so good. Same as the boys' uniform thus far; but then Sasuke looked below the other's waist-level. An ankle-length dark green plaid skirt...

Oh, for the love of Corky!

Naruto was a...

Naruto was a... a... a

"You're a girl?!"

The blonde winced. "Am not! I'm a boy!" Screamed the frazzled little girl, making her appear like a distraught pigeon.

"Then what's with the skirt?" Sasuke taunted, feeling particularly irritated that his best friend failed to say that he was actually a she. TWO YEARS! Who wouldn't get angry?

"This isn't a skirt!" Naruto blurted out.

"Oh yeah? Then what is it then?" The little Uchiha challenged. He couldn't wait for Naruto to explain that one.

"Uh... Uh... Uhmmm." Naruto bit her lips as she deeply concentrated.

"Well?" Sasuke probed the other.

"..."

"Well, Naruto?"

"...They're pants."

"..."

"..."

"Pants?" The question from the baby Uchiha was dripping with incredulity.

"Yes."

"..."

"Pants with air conditioning." The blonde explained, further digging a deeper hole for her grave.

"...Really." Sasuke arched an eyebrow.

"Yes?"

"Are you asking me or are you telling me?" The little raven-haired child crossed his arms.

"Telling you?" Cue in an uneasy laugh from Naruto.

"Was that really the best you could come up with?" The facepalm Sasuke did was really to be expected.

"...Yeah." The blonde sighed in defeat. Sasuke knew. She hoped that the other wouldn't find out she was a girl until, well, until forever.

"I'm your best friend. Why didn't you tell me?" Sasuke could only ask, because what else was there to ask?

"I thought you wouldn't be my friend any more if you found out." The worry on her little face became apparent. She began to pull the hem of her blouse in anxiety. Also, her lips began to swell because of her excessive gnawing.

"Why wouldn't I want to be your friend?" Sasuke was really surprised. Naruto was sincerely fretting over this issue.

"You don't like girls. All girls have cooties. You said so yourself! I thought you wouldn't want to play with me anymore if you knew." Naruto looked to the ground to hide her shame. Sasuke sighed as he slowly came to understand the blonde's reasoning. Truthfully, Naruto wasn't completely in the wrong. Sasuke had been bashing on girls even before the little Uchiha met Naruto.

With a groan, Sasuke suddenly felt responsible for the whole mishap. "I guess you're the only girl that doesn't have cooties." He mumbled as a reassurance.

Naruto looked up in bewilderment. Had Sasuke said what she though he just said? "Really?" A smile threatened to break out on her face.

"Yeah... And you're more like a boy than a girl so I guess you're cool." Sasuke smirked as he casually put his hands in his pockets.

"Yes!" Naruto jumped in rejoice. She was relieved that her and Sasuke's friendship was still intact.

Sasuke turned and faced the other direction. "But if I start getting sick, I'm blaming it on you and your cooties. I totally won't play with you any more if that happens" He teased and proceeded to walk away.

"Eh?! Sasuke!" Naruto's face scrunched up in worry. She then ran to catch up with her best friend. "You didn't mean that, right Sasuke? Right? Sasuke? Sasukeeee!"

Sasuke kept silent as he walked back to the two adults to agitate the girl even more. Heh. A girl for a best friend huh? Could be interesting. Honestly, he couldn't care any less. They'd been friends for two years (and running). It's not like anything would change between them just because Naruto was a girl and he was a boy, right?

Right?

Oh, the innocence of youth truly was something to be envious of.