Chapter I


Mood: Noisy. Crowded. Too much persuasion. Confused… Late?

Baka! Baka! Why am I late again for first day of classes?!

The Haruno girl mentally scolded herself as she sped her way to school. Gripping her pink petite backpack tightly, there's no other thing running in her head but the image of her receiving her very first late slip in this school. But of course, after all the late slips she has received in her entire school life, it was this late slip that filled her head with worries.

"Sakura, this school is not just any ordinary school in Japan that you go to. It is pretty strict that even wearing of thin eyeliners is prohibited."

Her older sister would say. And although she has not even went through this same school she'll be attending to, she might really have said it all and have really convinced her guts to shake in fear. Really, who would ever know something better than others who have lived their lives in that situation? Her sister must've probably been overly-concerned of her.

It was already discussed in their school briefing regarding the school rules and regulations that should be once and for all, be strictly followed. And tardiness is one of the most 'stressed' matters which is thoroughly discussed which proves that you'll surely get killed first if you're at the wrong timing.

Sakura panted heavily as she stopped by the large school gate. She nearly fainted after seeing the entire school ground empty.

Gods, now she really is very late…

As she slowly approaches the entrance; with no sign of hope, a security guard in dark teal clean uniform stopped her.

"Halt there, Ms." His extended right arm nearly touched her nose. Sakura could smell the earthy-metal scent from his plain white glove.

"Are you a student here?" He sounded doubtful. He was rather overprotective from newcomers. Sakura gave him a confused expression. How much obvious would it be wearing their school uniform?! But as she is about to speak, the guard suddenly handed her a late slip with a matching broomstick for late-comers. It was surprising and…creepy…

She gingerly takes them from him and started going inside. Feeling her feet on the sacred ground made her feel heavy like lead; she's just like sinking in a quicksand. But that doesn't end there…

"And Ms. By the way…" The cautious security guard points at her slightly crumpled white blouse. The pinkette stared at her uniform—from top through bottom. Now she knows the technical problem she's going to fix.

"I think I know what he means…" She gave him an embarrassed look after pulling one of her knee socks back up in level with the other and straightening her uniform.

"And by the way, you must fill in the late log book for being the first person here to be late." It was as if the guard is showing her to feel sorry for herself. The pinkette gave him an Im-terribly-ashamed-for-myself look before doing her tasks.

Beep! Beep!

A sharp sound came from the gate. It probably must've been a car. The patrolling security guard, quickly opened the gate as the silk black Rolls-Royce parked beside the guard house, where she is now. The driver opened one of the polished black doors. She guessed that it might be the school principal or a visitor but…

"Good morning, sir…"

A guy in their school uniform emerged from the door. He was about 5"7, dark red hair with a matching dark honey eyes. From the bored expression in his face, you would say that he's not a person easy to take with. Inside the car, Sakura could see that there is still someone in there; despite of the driver. She could barely see the figure but from the dark silky slacks with matching raven leather shoes, she guessed it is a guy.

The newly-arrived redhead somewhat gave a last minute talk with that person before closing the door lightly and slipped in his bright red sling bag. The moment Sakura could sense them going into her direction, she immediately returned in minding her own business. She could sense their presence behind her back and could hear faint conversations going. As she finished logging in, and is about to leave, the security guard suddenly stopped her.

"Ms. The both of you should quickly proceed to the gym since the club shopping hours is going to end."

Sakura shot him a surprise look after hearing the cop changed his mind, or was it just because that certain redhead has just arrived and is somewhat a VIP in this place?

But rules…ARE rules….

"Wait a second, sir. I thought rules are rules. And it would be pretty unfair if I skip this part since this is the way of paying the price for my offense." She explained to clear things off.

The security guard stared at her in disbelief, then to the now-annoyed redhead who happened to be sitting by the gutter; waiting.

"Miss, indeed rules are rules… but the principal wanted everything to be done well and accordingly. We couldn't afford on giving you special treatment just because of your offense so…"

Sakura gave him a questioning look; waiting for his next reply.

"…so it would be more reasonable to dismiss you from the penalty and go ahead to catch up the last minute club shopping."

With loss of words, Sakura nearly dropped the wooden broomstick after hearing the fickle but kind offer. She never thought that people in here would be surprisingly kind despite of the firmness.

"Hai!" She abruptly bows down. "Arigato, sir! I owe you a lot."

As she was about to run away, the security guard stopped her again. Maybe she must have forgotten something…

"Miss…ehem…" He cleared his throat as he points at the redhead beside him. She does have forgotten something. The redhead gave her a rather uninterested glance. His honey eyes are as transparent as glass which somehow gives you the message of blasé. The pinkette could feel herself swallow her sudden nervousness.

"Don't forget to head straight to the gym so the principal won't notice the both of you when she'll be patrolling around the campus." The cop gave her a wink.

Was that a threat or just some helpful advice?

"So shall we leave now?" The silent redhead surprisingly said a word. It was evident in his tone that he is nearly out of patience. Both figures stared at him; dumbfounded. They were too dazed after realizing him muttered something.

"What? Is this your first time hearing someone talk?" He narrowed his eyes slightly. Now he's pretty annoyed.

Sakura immediately shook her head to regain back her composure. The security guard motioned them for dismissal. The moment they're dismissed, the redhead quickly left. Sakura managed to thank the accommodating security once again.

"Good luck!" He waved back.


She quickly catches up with his pace. Damn, he's pretty fast! From the way he walks and carried himself, she could guess that he came from a prestigious family maybe or a school. He's fast but formal… too formal that she felt worthless at his presence. Was it just because she's informal or this guy's too intimidating?

Now she's losing him. "Hey, wait up!" She caught her breath. The redhead continued walking briskly as if he never heard her. She has no choice but to walk abreast with this sadist guy.

"Please!" She nearly lost her breath. Slowing down, she noticed that they have already walked half a mile. The school ground sure is pretty big. She felt tiny drops of sweat falling from her face. It was just like she had run for a marathon.

The redhead still continued walking briskly. Sakura gritted her teeth in rage. This ungrateful bastard! If it was not for her, he might have also cleaned the entire campus for also being late. Feeling her body heat up, she grasped her bag tightly as she plunges herself towards the gym.

If he doesn't care of waiting for her, then she'll also do the same thing to him.


"Sakura-chan! Is that you?!" A bubbly voice greeted her.

The pinkette stood tiredly by the entrance door; she wearily leans herself against the gate to support her weight. Her body is too tired to stand on ground again. Taking a small glimpse behind, she noticed the redhead out of sight. She could feel herself tug a smirk after she has taught that bastard a lesson. But the problem is…

"Forehead! You look..." Her blonde gal stared at her as if she's in the horror movies.

"TERRIBLE!" Tenten exclaimed in shock.

"Your hair's a complete mess!" Ino sighed.

Sakura could feel that she really now is a walking disaster. Her once perfectly brushed pink locks is now a bird nest with her headband out of place. Both her knee socks are unleveled. Her white blouse, distorted. Her once shiny black shoes are now covered in thick dust. And her face is terribly drenched in sweat!

"Hi guys, I was just…"

"Ugh, let's get you freshen up!" Ino quickly drags her towards the comfort room as Tenten followed the two.


"WHAT!" Sakura screamed at her sight on the mirror. She has never thought that she would be stirred that bad.

"See? Thank god, they provided a comfort room here in the gym!" Ino sighed as she slowly works her brush through the pinkette's tangled locks.

"Tissue?" Tenten offered. Sakura accepted the offer and started clearing off some sweat in her face.

"From the condition of your hair, forehead, you must be doing something pretty A-mazing!" She exclaimed sarcastically. "Tell me, have you planned on running a mile to school?"

Sakura gave her an i-don't-believe-what-you're-saying look. She then begins freshening her face up with her powder.

"Don't deny it! Your split ends won't lie!" Ino gave her a teasing look.

"And the smell doesn't too." As Tenten begin spraying some perfume excessively around the pinkette.

"Too strong, Tenten!" Ino covered her nose from the intoxicating berry scent.

Sakura stared at her reflection in the mirror for a moment and sighed. She must tell them what really happened.

"I was just teaching someone a lesson."

"A lesson? Who?" Both simultaneously asked as they stared at her; pleading for her reply.

"I…well…it was…" She doesn't know how to say this. "There was this guy and-"

"A GUY!" Ino squealed excitedly. "Who is he? What and where do you meet him? Is he cute? How does he look like and what has he done to-"

"INO! Calm down, please." Sakura exclaimed in annoyance as she slowly massages her temples.

"Sorry." Her jubilant friend whispered back.

"Okay, as I was just saying…"

"Sakura-chan! See, I have finished polishing your shoes back again!" Tenten gave a large grin as she lets the pinkette examined her work.

"Thanks, Tenten."

Tenten smiled brightly; giving her pink friend a thumbs up.

"Tenten!" Ino scolded. "You're such a killjoy!"

"What did I do?" Tenten asked them innocently.

"Nevermind." Ino continued running her lithe fingers along the pink locks.

Sakura thought if sharing her experience to her lady friends would be helpful or to just keep the embarrassment to herself. But maybe a little bit won't hurt…

"Okay, there was this guy who I met by the guardhouse. All I could remember clearly is that he has a dark red hair and honey eyes." Sakura eyed coldly at her smirking blonde gal who might have been already playing her wild girly imaginations in her mind. "So we were late and I know you already know the rules when it comes to latecomers… so I was supposed to clean but the security guard told me to proceed to the gym with that guy so we could still catch up the club shopping hours. As we are leaving, he walks very fast that I couldn't catch up…"

"So what happened?" Tenten asked.

"Let me guess," Ino placed her finger on her lip thoughtfully. "You thought of outrunning him?!"

Sakura nodded half-heartedly, "Yes, but not exactly. I outran him since he never waited for me! And you know how hard it is, if he'll continue on walking like that!"

"How rude!" Tenten scowled; crossing her arms.

"How romantic…." Ino muttered dreamily.

"ROMANTIC! Are you nuts, Ino-pig? He's killing me!" Sakura protested.

"Wait! I'm not done yet…" Ino gave a cheeky grin. "Romantic but rude."

Sakura facepalmed herself after hearing her blonde gal's reply. Was that a compliment?

"Nevermind." Sakura muttered as she recoils herself to leave, "Once I see him, he'll regret it."


The moment they left the comfort room, a familiar voice echoed across the gym. The pinkette prepared herself to stand as stiff as a post so she'll not fall after the surprise hug she'll receive.

"Sakura, my most beautiful fountain of youth! You have grown as beautiful as ever!" The bushy brow Lee quickly pounced a surprise hug to the shivering pinkette. Even after middle school, the hopeless romantic guy still and will always pronounce his undying love for the pinkette.

"Here he goes again…" Tenten chuckled at the sight of the two.

"I don't understand why Lee's heads over heels with forehead girl!" Ino crossed her arms in disagreement. She has always been a witness of this occurrence since middle school.

"Sakura, my pink blossom!" Lee stood up and begins acting like he's a poet declaring his undying love for the still surprised pinkette.

"Sakura, Oh, Sakura! The first bud that grew in my garden of love, I am proud to say that I have qualified into a sports club for your sake! I wanted to show you my youthful talents so I could please you for your honor!..."

Ino felt like she's going to puke anytime from now. Poetry makes her stomach feel bad; not just some any other poetry but Lee's. As Lee still continues his declamation with a match of his deep emotion, a basketball suddenly hit the green poet's head that ended his speech. Sakura stared at the club stall from where it came from; and angrily stood up. Picking the ball with her now heated hands, she thrusts the ball violently towards that direction. The moment it hit the stall, the table fell back as the people in the stall quickly evacuated. It was the Basketball club.

All the people staring at her, shivered in fear at her heated state like she's going to blow up anytime. The pinkette knuckles her fists as she trudges herself towards the now windswept stall.

"Who did that?!" She accused each member in the stall.

A guy in white varsity jacket walks towards her direction with a displeased expression in his face. His deep violet orbs heated like fire as their eyes met. One look of him would surely make you feel helpless. He is built as an athlete

"What's the matter with you, Ms.?" His tone is sharp and jagged.

"Well, what's the wrong with YOU!" Sakura glared as she points accusingly at him. "After you just hit his head!"

"Hit his head?! Well it was just an accident! And for Jashin's sake, his poetry rusts!" The silver-haired guy whined.

"That's none of your business! So you were the one who did that?" She eyed him angrily.

"What if I'll say it's not me?" He cocked a brow; mocking her.

"Then what about a simple 'I'm sorry' for the damage you made?!"

"Hahahahaha!" The silver-haired guy laughed. "So you're taking easy on us? The Basketball team?!"

The pinkette crossed her arms and hissed, "I'm not taking easy to anyone who doesn't claim their mistakes. Especially for you!"

A group of students began crowding around them; witnessing what's going to happen next. First day of classes and a riot is already stirring up in the place.

"Hey b*tch! If you don't have any plans of backing up, I'll surely yank you off the gym!"

"Hidan, my pal, calm down." A blue-skinned guy in dark blue varsity jacket embraced the now heated silver-haired guy. This guy showed no tension between the two but only seemed to be carefree and cool.

Sakura has still managed to remain a hard glare at the two. She'll never leave her post until that bastard would pay for what he has done.

"And you must pay for what you have done to our stall! Or boss would-" Hidan was cutoff when his blue friend whispered something behind his ear.

Hidan's emotion turned surprised then to grim. He faltered for a moment and then hissed under his breath.

"You're too lucky that you are saved by the bell from this but don't get so cocky that I would forget about you, dumbass!"

He abruptly left as his blue friend followed him who gave her a brief glance. The two girls hurriedly approached their pink friend who stood stiffly around the now-leaving crowd. She was silent and blank.

"Sakura, are you out of your mind?! That guy's Hidan!" Ino whispered frantically.

"He's a member of the School's basketball team, the Akatsuki no Sedai!" Tenten muttered out of breath.

"What? Then what's the matter if he's in that team? Just tell me if he's an assassin then I'll hide." Sakura replied.

Both girls stared at her in silence and shook their heads.

"What?" Sakura looked at them; dumbfounded.

"Let's go now, before you'll be sorry for good." Ino grasped her friend's arm as they scooted their way out of the gym.

The only thing in her mind is that she never caught up the last minute club shopping.


Grade 10- Class AB

Mr. Hatake, Kakashi – Class Adviser

"Ugh! We're not on the same class!" Ino whined after seeing the advisory classes note in the school bulletin.

"Class AB…" Sakura narrows her eyes as she scans the paper with her emerald orbs. "Tenten's Class AB…Hinata's in your class… Chouji too and Shikamaru…"

"What about Sasuke?!" Ino exclaimed; hoping he'll be with her class.

"Sasuke…"

"Ehem!" A sound came behind them. Both girls slowly turned their heads around, seeing their blonde school principal staring sternly at them.

"Cutting classes, girls?" She cocked a thin brow with both hands on her hips.

"Ummm…." Ino tried to make an alibi but the only thing that came out of their mouths is a nervous laugh.

"W-we…should…go…" They quickly left from the principal's audience.

"Regards me to your class…" Ino muttered before going inside her room which is a few blocks from Sakura's.


The moment Sakura entered her room, she noticed that the class advisor's table is empty and all the people in the room are in distraught! She chose to sit beside the window which is just overlooking the school grounds below.

She nearly froze when she noticed the same redhead guy sitting beside her seat. They both exchanged awkward glances before settling themselves down. It was coincidental.

Inner Sakura: I couldn't believe that that bastard is in with the same class as I. And now he's sitting beside me?


"Good morning, class!" A lazy yawn escaped from the masked visitor. It probably must be their class adviser.

He lazily trudges towards his table and sat slouching down. He gave a brief scan around the room before saying another word.

"Before anything else… I would like to know you class better." He places his legs on top of the table. "Begin."

A bushy brow guy stood up and shouted proudly, "Hi, I'm Rock Lee! I am a –"

"Next." Their adviser muttered.

Rock Lee sat down slowly and sighed after busting his chance of showing his classmates how incredible he is.

"I'm Neji Hyuuga." Then he sat down and followed by another.

"I'm Aburame Shino." The guy in dark glasses muttered.

"Next." Their Sensei muttered like he was not paying attention in the first place. He must have been too absorbed in his book.

"I'm Hidan!" The silver-haired guy whom she just fought a while ago stood up proudly and then sat down. The pinkette could feel herself shiver in fear; knowing her newly-made enemy is also in her class.

"I'm Akasuna no Sasori." The redhead guy stood up silently and went back.

Everyone stared waiting who would be next.

"Hey, pink girl…" their adviser muttered.

Sakura was too dazed of the things happening in her thoughts that she quickly stood up and gulped as she saw different faces staring at her. She knuckles her fist as she received a death glare from Hidan, a joyful smile from Lee and Tenten and an apathetic gaze from the redhead.

"I-I'm Haruno Sakura."

Their Sensei was awakened from reading his book as he heard her name. He lowers his pocketbook and muttered briefly, "Ms. Haruno, I'd like to inform you that the principal wanted an audience with you after class."

Sakura could feel herself gulp from that sudden announcement. Was this because of the small riot she made? Or being late? A lot of things came running in her mind before she decided to nod in reply and sit down.


Hi guys! :D

This is my first chapter, i really struggled on making it longer but this is all i got. By the way, don't miss on reading the next chapter about why the Haruno's been called to the principal's office. (shock)... Was this because she was late? (Dadada dum!) Or is about the stall she just destroyed? (Ksh! "thunder") or something else?...

I swear this is surprising!

Muahahahahahhaha!

See ya guys!

Arigato for reading!