"Haruno-San." I heard a voice say behind me. I whirled around and closed my book.
"Hello, Uchiha-San." I said cheerfully. "Ready to leave?" I asked.
"Hn. Let's go." He said, walking toward his car, expecting me to follow. So I followed closely behind him as we waded through the sea of students prepared for the weekend. "We're just gonna go to my house if that's okay with you."
"That's fine." I said in a solemn tone. We'd finally reached his car, which turned out to be a freakin' limo. He had a fucking driver. He opened the door for me and I thanked him and got in the car. "Uchiha-San, if your family has enough money for a limo, why don't you hire a professional tutor?"
"I don't…I don't want my family to know I'm struggling. A lot is expected of me." he replied, not meeting my eyes. "So if we run into anyone at my house, can you just pretend to be my friend, and not my tutor?" his eyes were pleading as he finally looked at me. This was actually important to him. To hide his failure from his family.
"O-of course, Uchiha-San." I couldn't deny him when he looked so desperate.
Let me just say, the Uchiha Estate is HUGE. Like, I could fit 10 of my estates in there. And I live with the fucking Hokage. He led me straight to his room, avoiding anyone who crossed our path. We passed a man who looked a lot like Sasuke. He had hair in a ponytail, and the same ebony eyes as Sasuke. He waved at me, I almost waved back, but Sasuke pulled me through a door, and closed it behind us.
"Let's get started." Sasuke said, sitting on his bed, and pulling out his notes and textbook.
"Of course. What do you need help with?"
He needed help with everything. The boy knows NOTHING about math. Seriously, how did he get this far?
"Maybe I should come back next week and help you again." I suggested.
"That would actually be great." he sighed. "Thanks." he paused, leading me down the hallway to the front door. "You can, um, call me Sasuke-Kun if you want to."
"Okay." I smiled. "Then you can call me Sakura-Chan."
"Alright." We'd reached the door where Tenten was outside with her car. (I'd called her to come pick me up.)
"Bye, Sasuke-Kun."
"Bye, Sakura-Chan." I liked the way he said it.
"How'd it go?" Ino asked me on the phone later.
"The boy knows nothing about math."
"Well, whatever, I mean were there any sparks?"
"No sparks. But he said I could call him Sasuke-Kun."
"Awwwe! There will be sparks! Eventually! I swear it!"
"Right. What did you get for number three on the anatomy homework?" I inquired in an attempt to change the subject. I had already finished the homework, and it seems Ino knew that.
"You already finished your homework, Forehead." she stated. "We should have a sleepover tomorrow night. We haven't had one an awhile. You, me, Hina-chan, and Ten-Chan. We could go to an amusement park and then watch some bad movies."
"That'd be great. But I told Kiba I'd hang out with him tomorrow.
"So invite him. I'll invite Shikamaru, and Neji, and Naruto-Kun can come too."
"I don't have Kiba's number. But I think Hina-chan does. Tell her to text him. I'll tell Naruto-Kun."
"Great, I just texted Hinata and Tenten. I told Tenten I'd pay for her."
Tenten's family doesn't have money like outs do. Hinata comes from the insanely rich Hyuga clan, Ino's family has a huge chain of flower shops, and while I have a huge inheritance I'm not allowed to touch, having the Hokage as a guardian kept me pretty well off.
"They can both go, and Hina-Chan texted Kiba."
"Alright, Naruto said he's up for it, but I gotta go. Promised I'd go to his house tonight. See you tomorrow."
"Kay, pick you up at 10."
"Bye."
I was still in the clothes I put on at Ino's, but the shirt was still a little too small in the boobage area, so I changed to a Konoha Ninja Academy t-shirt, and a pair of sweats, before slipping into some sneakers and walking the literally 2 minute walk to Naruto's house.
Naruto's family died when he was a baby, so he lived with a man named Jiraiya-Sama, who was actually one of our teachers. The man thinks I'm the best thing since sliced bread.
"Hi, Jiraiya-Sama!" I greeted him, letting myself into the house.
"Oh, hello, Sakura-Chan! Naruto-Kun is training out back." Good thing I'd changed into sweats.
"Naruto-Kun!" I yelled, causing him to fall over.
"Sakura-Chan! Wanna spar with me for a bit? Then we can go get some ramen!" he said, his eyes shining. Naruto took his training seriously. He was going to be Hokage some day I'll have you know.
"Kay!" I started stretching my arms.
"Ready?"
"Ready." and he lunged at me. I ducked, and swung my leg out, kicking his knees, his knees gave, but he quickly gained his footing back, and threw a punch at me. I didn't dodge quickly enough and he hit my shoulder. I grabbed his shoulders, and flipped myself over him, landing both my feet on this back, pushing him to the ground.
"You've gotten better, Sakura-Chan." he complimented, punching my stomach.
"Thanks, I think. So have you." I gasped. I steadied myself, and lunged forward again, punching him, and then kicking his side. He was down and I thought I'd beat him for once, when his shadow clone disappeared, and the real Naruto pinned me to the ground. "Shit, Naruto-Kun."
"Don't worry, Sakura-Chan." he smiled broadly, "you'll get there." he got up, and helped me up. "Let's go to Ichiraku's. I'll buy." he hung his arm loosely around my shoulders, and began leading me toward the door when Jiraiya stopped him.
"Why don't you kids clean up a little first. You're covered in dirt."
"Oi, fine Pervy Sage. C'mon, Sakura-Chan!" he shouted, leading me to the bathroom. He was cleaning my face with a paper towel when I got a text. Beep.
I didn't know the number. No. No. No. No.
"Jiraiya-Sama!" I shrieked, running, leaving behind a very confused Naruto. "Jiraiya-Sama!" I hurriedly explained what happened, choking back sobs.
"Calm down, Sakura-Chan. Let me see." He took the phone, and smiled when he read the message. It's just Kiba-Kun. You're okay." he said in a soothing voice. "Go ahead and have some ramen with Naruto." he gave me back my phone, and I took a cleansing breath.
"Arigatou. Jiraiya-Sama." I replied quietly. "Gomen."
"Do you need me to call Tsunade?"
"No. It's okay."
Hey Pinky-Chan. It's Kiba.
Hello, Kiba-Kun. (:
Naruto grabbed my hand. And pulled me close to him to look at him. His eyes held concern, as he silently asked me if I was okay. I took the wet washcloth off the sink, and wiped the remaining dirt off his face, smiling at him. He smiled back and led me out the door.
"Isn't this great, Sakura-Chan? We haven't done anything together like this in forever!" Naruto said through a mouth full of noodles.
"Yes, Naruto-Kun. It really is. I wish Sai-Kun could be here with us." Sai was on the team with us, but he'd gotten accepted to an art school in America.
"Yeah, I think he's coming home next vacation though." Naruto agreed.
"Yeah, that's what he said in the last email I got from him."
"Me too." I smiled at Naruto, recalling out days as Team 7 under Kakashi-Sensei. Sai had taken awhile to warm up to, but now I missed him terribly. After finishing our meal Naruto walked me home, we walked hand in hand with the street lights as out guide.
"I do miss Sai; but it's nice with just you and me Sakura-Chan." Naruto spoke softly. Uh-oh.
"Yeah, I suppose it is."
"Sakura-Chan, you know I like you. How come you never give me a chance?
"You know I don't feel that way for you."
"But you could if you try." he ripped his hand from mine, and turned to face me. "You never give anyone a chance. Start with me. Please."
"I couldn't do that to-" I stopped.
"Who?"
"She'd kill me if I told you. Unless you really liked her back."
"Is it Hinata-Chan?" his eyes shone with hope. "Never mind. I couldn't do that to her. Her family would never accept it."
"She wouldn't care. She loves you. She has forever."
"I couldn't do that to her."
"Do what? Make her happy? You could make her happy. She could make you 10 times happier than I ever could. Go for it."
He looked at me. And then he smiled.
"I will."
Naruto and Hinata are the cutest couple in existence. I swear, they are beyond adorable. And absolutely made for each other. Hinata had been so happy when she told us, and Naruto's face lit up every time he saw her. When we met up at the amusement park parking lot the next morning, Hinata was actually the one to hold Naruto's hand. It was so cute! But Ino and Shikamaru, and Tenten and Neji still needed a little help.
"This your doing, Pinky?" Kiba said from behind me.
"He just needed a little nudge in the right direction." I replied happily.
"Well, good thing you nudged, they look so happy." he looked over at them. "Hinata's like a little sister to me y'know? I want her to be happy."
"I know the feeling." I said, looking with him.
"Well," Kiba started, slinging his arm around my shoulders. "Let's get this show on the road."