Song for the day : From the Ritz to the Rubble - Artic Monkeys

Lights in Neon Colors - Chapter one

| 1 |

A year ago...

Even when she was still in her old school, Naruto's father had always told her about the greatness of what it's to be like in Konoha Preparatory School. Considered as the pioneer for intensive learning, it is an old private school located in the greenly parts of Southern California, where most students from Ivy League schools are known to have begun their journey. As also said in their motto, disciplinaire s'anime, it is the school where you need to impress the teachers if you want to end up spending your adulthood wearing an expensive designer suit, or riding an expensive sports car.

Not only the school is famous for seeding disciplined students, it is also said that they maintain a strict policy of which you are obligated to wear their coded uniforms.

But that was the school's main problem for today's generation. Students, especially the girls, refused to wear their uniforms properly. And that was the first thing that Naruto had noticed when she first entered the large campus. Because they claimed that most of them are having hard time breathing, they tend to leave their blazers behind and their blouses halfway unbuttoned.

Naruto chuckled. She had come to realize her difference among the rest of the students, seeing that she was probably the only one to wear the appropriate uniform. Looking down, she pulled her skirt above her knees in worry that they might think of her as a certified nerd, which she's clearly not.

Dr. Hatake was right; she needed a new environment to fit in, one where people don't portray her as an angry girl.

While she shoved her books into her locker, she felt her left sock slowly coming down to her feet, so she bent down to stretch them back. Suddenly, a pair of Ralph Lauren shoes landed beside her flats and caught her baby blue eyes. She straightened herself again to see the owner, who, at that point, was also placing his books into his locker beside hers. And the moment Naruto locked her eyes with the said person's face, she knew she didn't want to look away anymore.

Nope, it wasn't his bad boy look that got her legs slurry. It was his eyes. Despite the appearance that made the boy look like he hadn't taken a shower, his eyes came stumbling like s supernova black hole in a bright room. They were so black, she couldn't imagine any object much darker than them.

The person had soon noticed Naruto's stare that had been lasting since he came. Annoyed and crept out, he ran his fingers through his messy raven locks and finally turned towards the blonde girl, giving her a full view of his face.

"Is there something I can do for you?" He asked, which he really meant to say, Bitch, what are you staring at?

Naruto's eyes widened. Being dead caught by the guy you were staring at is a complete major suicide—well at least that's what she'd read on How to Survive High School Life. This was one of the worst situations a teen could get into.

And before she knew it, her legs started trembling and everyone's voice seemed to fade away. And it only got worse when his face displayed a blank expression, which bothered the hell out of her. It was hard to know his thoughts when she couldn't even describe the expression of his face. She needed to get herself out of this mess. She needed an excuse to lure the guy out. This was her first day, and she wasn't going to let something like this happen to her.

Will her lighter help her through this? She slowly shoved her hand inside the pocket of her skirt and reached out to her lighter.

"Barx deck shoes," she suddenly blurted out.

The guy raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Naruto mentally sighed as she retreated from her demonic plan and kept her lighter back in her skirt. "Your shoes. They're Barx deck. You bought that from a Lauren store, right?" She was expecting a response from him like, Oh yeah, these are Ralph Lauren. How'd you know? but no words came out of his mouth. Instead, he slung his seemingly empty backpack around his shoulder and rolled his black eyes before walking away.

Embarrassed, she watched him greet his friends from afar. Facing towards her locker, she took out her small mirror from her bag and flashed its reflection towards the guy and his friends, only to find out that all of them were staring at her.

She should've just burnt his pants.

| 2 |

"Okay, people, listen up! Has anyone had a snowball fight before?"

It didn't take a second for most of the students to roll off their tongues and raise their hands above their heads.

"Good, good. Now, has anyone had a snowball fight with paper?" Ms. Holly clasped her hands together. All hands immediately faltered, followed by confused expressions. However deep down, they had a feeling that something exciting was going to happen; something they haven't felt since puberty.

"Okay, class. Since today is the first day of school, we are going to have a snowball fight, but this time, we're going to be using paper."

Suddenly an excited fury of whispers about a snowball fight in California erupted throughout the class.

"Let's just call this an appetizer. I know most of you guys are already familiar of each other, but here's the question: how much do you really know about each other? Okay, what we're gonna need in this game are paper and pen. All you have to do is write down an interesting fact that no one knows about you—and when I say interesting, I really mean interesting—and then find a person who you want to see your paper. When you're finish, crumple your paper, and at the count of three, throw it at your targeted person. When you find a paper near you, pick it up and read it out loud. If you heard your paper being read, raise your hand, so that everyone can know it was yours. Got it?"

What the hell am I supposed to write? Sasuke thought as he ran his tongue across his lower lip. This is going to be quite...irritating. He thought for a second then wrote:

Sasuke Uchiha

1. I live alone because my father wanted me to become independent at a very young age.

2. I have a batman costume hidden at the very back of my closet, complete with its belted weapons

3. I'm not fond of people who stick their noses into other people's business.

That ought to be alright. Sasuke never really considered himself to be an interesting person, as he was just a kid who spent most of his life being home-schooled. Also, why have a ridiculous game to start the Monday? This is just something pre-schoolers would do on their occasional leisure hours. Maybe it's because Ms. Holly easily recognized some of the few faces inside the room.

And speaking of new faces—he looked over at the students beside him and spotted the new blonde girl whom he met earlier this morning, still scribbling something on her ripped piece of paper.

Naruto Namikaze

The unaware blonde girl might be a new face to everyone in this school, but for him...

...yeah. He had secretly known her for a long time, ever since his father told him about her and her family. She wasn't exactly the kind of woman to strike features among the crowd, he thought. But here he was, well-educated about her entire biography. And besides, what is it about her that attracted his father so much?

Why does his father want him to kill this girl?

After waiting a couple of minutes for everyone to finish, the teacher finally blew her whistle, signaling everyone to throw their crumpled papers.

A flurry of scrunched up papers flew across the classroom, and one of them easily hit Sasuke square on his forehead. Frowning, he mentally kicked himself for being caught off guard. He picked the piece of paper, widened it out, and examined over the surprisingly neat handwriting.

Naruto Namikaze

Even though the snowball fight that was still going on, he looked over and saw her deliberately looking anywhere but in his direction. It was kind of obvious that she knew she had hit him with her snowball.

1. My nickname is Naru

2. I don't wear watch. I don't think it's really that necessary when I could just check the time on my phone

3. I like to play with fire. Oh, and I only use one type of pen

While he read it, he sudden got this idea that would surely kick the living crap out of her dignity. Forget his plans on her for a while; he might as well enjoy toying her while it's still early.

He then smirked and erased the last line of her facts.

One by one, each student read someone else's "interesting" facts, but Sasuke couldn't really careless. He'd been sketching at the back of his notebook for full ten minutes, and he was lucky enough to have a table beside the window. When it was finally his turn, he felt his lips twitch with excitement.

"Naruto Namikaze," the onyx troublemaker started. "One, my nickname is Naru..."

"...Two, I don't use watch. I mean, it's not really that necessary when I can just check the time on my phone. Seems pretty reasonable. Three, I like to play with fire..." Sasuke cleared his throat to add effect, and then tried to act surprised. "...and four, I've seriously fallen in love with Sasuke Uchiha after staring at his beautiful face awhile ago?"

A burst of laughter erupted in the classroom, even Sasuke, who was known being an emotionless bastard, tried to hold his own laughter. Naruto was blushing so hard, a tomato would definitely be her food of the day.

| 3 |

She began regretting coming to school the next day after realizing that she'd spent most of the time being teased around by everyone—and it was all because of that guy. She tried to keep her composure, despite knowing that her temper won't be able to hold back any much longer.

She didn't want to be a laughing stock anymore. It's very tiring. And if she could only grab the nearest person's collar and just burn him with her lighter, she would. But she wouldn't. Not that she couldn't—because she's not that psychotic to behave that way. Who in the right mind would do that?

French class wasn't even that exciting as she thought it would be for her first period. Words and sentences were learned dramatically, but some were the most basic words from her hometown. Listening to the teacher's examples only wasted her entire morning, although he did give her an advantage to fill out the back of her notebook with doodles even she herself couldn't understand.

Ignoring the people's annoying whispers and laughs, she embarrassingly headed towards the cafeteria to get some soup. The thought of slurping a deliciously hot soup was the only thing that could help her throughout the day.

...and great. The line was monstrous. Groaning, Naruto dragged herself at the end of the line, trying (and failing) not to think about how long she'd be standing there, and probably watching all of the precious soup get finished. It really wasn't fair; the day had been completely awful. She could hardly follow along in Chemistry class because her mind was somehow wondering whether the universe is infinite, or not.

Unexpectedly, the dazed girl coughed rather harshly, covering her mouth as quickly as she could.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to," she said to the person in front of her, giving him an apologetic look. And just when she was already halfway into forgetting about him, Sasuke Uchiha appeared in front of her, a small grimace marring his features.

As soon Naruto's eyes met his, something interpreted inside her head that made a throbbing vein pop out of her temple. And before the two of them could let another awkward and eerie silence between them, Naruto suddenly smacked the hell out of Sasuke's face, right in the square, leaving everyone in the cafeteria shocked and mortified, even the lunch lady.

Just when Sasuke's left foot stepped backwards to balance himself, the girl quickly grabbed his collar and shook him aggressively, leaving him to barely process the feeling of her hard knuckles making an impact with his right cheek.

"How could you do that to me? I don't even know you!" She screamed at him. Everyone stared. A number of cellphones flew across the room.

Fully satisfied at his reddish cheek, her fist loosened up, chest inflating up and down as she watched Sasuke raising his hands to the now-bruised cheek, but even with the shadow of his fallen bangs tainting much half of his face, there was it—that slightly lidded twerk at the corner of his lips—the one infuriated Naruto more than any one who could throw her.

"Feisty, aren't we, Miss Namikaze?"

After processing the last four words that came out from his lips, Naruto's eyes widened. "what are you smirking at?" She furiously lunged at him again but unsuccessfully hit him as Sasuke swayed to the side, dodging her fist as if he already knew what was coming before Naruto herself could even think of doing it. "This is for embarrassing me in front of the whole class—" Another unsuccessful punch as another dodge was made again. "—God, you're so annoying!—" Another dodge for yet another punch. "—you think I didn't notice?—" and another. "—When you approached your friends yesterday—" and another. "—your friends gave me a weird look—" and another. "What did I even do to you?—"

Anyone would have noticed Naruto's persistence of knocking the boy out, but there was something that was lacking in her enthsiastic, yet inattentive actions. She realized it only sooner after grasping an understanding that Keith was already holding the wrist she had thrown at him.

"Miss Namikaze!"

The said girl froze on her spot when she heard her name shout behind her.

"You and Mr. Uchiha, in my office, this instant."

| 4 |

"It was nothing special. She just punched me." Sasuke licked his lower lip before his usual nonchalant voice raised. "She also said something about killing me, but I didn't hear the rest of it, because her French accent was too thick."

Madame Tsunade gave him an understanding nod before turning to Naruto, who somehow acted a bit ashamed for what she did. The headmistress decided not to wait for her explanation anymore; this new girl sitting across her was the last kind of student she'd be wanting to roam all over her prestigious school.

Naruto eyed the big-breasted woman sitting behind the large mahogany table. And from the look in her big, bulgy, brown eyes, she had the slightest feeling that she was judging her. And with that, Naruto's already prepared for the worst—to be suspended once again.

"What about you, Miss Namikaze? I want to hear your side of the story," Madame TSunade said softly, but Naruto could easily see the despise in her tone. She was about to say something, when someone knocked on the other side of the door.

"Headmistress, the girl's guardian is already here, and also the school nurse for the ice bag."

Naruto's eyes widened. Guardian? What guardian?

"Let him in." Madame Tsunade motioned her assistant with one sway of a hand.

As the door fully opened a pair of Chuck Taylor sneakers stepped foot on the rug.

"Sorry I'm late."

Naruto froze. That voice—she could've sworn the voice was his.

"Ah, Mr. Namikaze, thank you for coming here," Madame Tsunade welcomed the person as she gently stood up from her velvet seat and shook hands with him.

"So what seems to be the problem with my sister?"

Naruto slightly shifted her head to see her brother shaking hands with the Headmistress. She grumpily leaned her back against the chair, releasing a heavy sigh.

"Thanks," Sasuke told the school nurse as he took the ice bag from her hand and gently pressed it on her right cheek where he was mostly bruised. The platinum blonde nurse sneakily slid a small piece of paper inside Sasuke's collar before excusing herself to the headmistress and walking away.

Call me.

Sasuke almost laughed. Maybe he'd give it to Suigetsu instead. He was about to crumple the torn piece of paper into his pocket when his sharp eyes caught Naruto already losing her coolness.

"I am so sorry about my sister," Kyuubi, Naruto's older brother, said in his most sincere voice. "I had to come here quickly when I heard she was sent to the principal's office. I promise, it won't happen. Ever again."

The headmistress sighed, her red polished fingernails massaging her forehead. "As much as I'd like to let this pass, I'm afraid I have to give your sister a detention for harassing Mr. Uchiha."

"But mademoiselle," Naruto insisted. "He humiliated me in front of the class."

Madame Tsunade then swept her gaze to the other one. "Is this true, Uchiha? Were you bullying her?"

"That's a lie." Sasuke wore a convincing shocked look. "I could never do that to my fellow students. I was once bullied back in middle school. I don't think I want to repeat that action."

Naruto never moved even one muscle in her lips, as she was overwhelmed by everything around her. But nevertheless, she stayed strong in her chair; there is no way that she'll apologize to the person beside her. After all, he was the one who started this mess.

And so, she folded her elbow on the side of the chair and rested her chin on top of her palm.

"Fine," the headmistress said. "Since no one wants to tell the truth, I might as well give the both of you detention. Now, Miss Namikaze, would it be the best if you apologize to Mr. Uchiha here before this issue could heighten up?"

Kyuubi sighed as stood beside his sister. As much as he loved Naruto, being her guardian is drastically stressful. "Allez, Naruto, finissons ce," (C'mon, Naruto, so we can end this soon) he whispered in her ear, hoping that she was listening to him. "Je dois revenir à mon examen." (I have to get back to my test.)

"But he was the one who started it!" She cried, almost to the point of tearing up. She gripped on the armchair tightened so hard, the curved designs were already printed all over the pale palm of her hands. "Please, headmistress, don't listen to this guy! He's just manipulating you—"

A hand landed on her shoulder just before she could finish her sentence. "My sister's sorry," Kyuubi said to the headmistress. Naruto felt her knuckles numbing.

She shouldn't have stared at this Sasuke Uchiha if she had known this would happen to her.

| e n d |

AN: So yeah, that's the first chapter, everyone. I apologize if there are some flaws. It's not easy to change the original characters' names and descriptions into something Naruto-esque. So if you read something that's not supposed to be in there, just wave it away. I'll edit them when I get the time.

Also, there's a part here in the story that's inspired by another fanfic here! It's Snowball Fight by Killthislove, and it's a Sasusaku story. So you check that out, lovelies!