People/reviewers... YOU ARE AMAZING! I can't believe it, I got 24 reviews for the previous chapter. I was so happy I almost cried, that's the most reviews I've ever gotten for one chapter! Aww! Makes me feel all happy inside, you know? I'm busy working on the review replies but for now I wanted to get out the next chapter. Just want to say thanks to Mira94 for the suggestion I used in this chapter!
- Also I'm sorry if this chapter sucks, I just had no muse when I wrote it and I have no idea what to write in high school. For some reason I just can't write anything to do with high school... I get so blocked. So I'm really sorry if this isn't great but I promise the next will be much better!
- Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Naruto characters/places used in this story. If I did, Kimimaro, Kushina, Minato and others wouldn't have died.
Chapter 6 – School days
Naruto Namikaze stared idly at the blank chalkboard. 'I wonder how Sakura-chan is?' Naruto thought, mind wandering. 'I should be listening to Asuma-sensei but I can't, not while Sakura-chan is sick like this and I can't do anything about it.'
'Why did she want to come to school? She's so sick, she's puking. Any normal kid would want to stay home, yet she wanted to come. Hell, if it were up to me I would have chained her to her bed. I can't believe she wanted to come. Really.'
'She seemed fine last night when we went for ramen but maybe as baa-chan said, it was the ramen that made her sick. Is she allergic to ramen? I should remember that ramen has the potential to make her sick. Just in case we have another late night like that.'
'Ah, why did she have to want to come? Now I'm sitting here, worrying. Why did we have to have so few classes together? I really want to make sure she's okay.'
"Naruto, please pay attention." Asuma Sarutobi's voice broke his thought. Classmate's snickered, yet he paid them no mind.
"Yes, Asuma-sensei," he replied, frowning. 'Sakura-chan, why?'
The moment Naruto and Sakura had stepped into the office; Naruto was silently ushered out by the secretary, saying that she would familiarize Sakura with the school layout. He'd wanted to object, but the secretary's more than firm glare had immediately stopped him from voicing his opinion.
'Well maybe it was for the best. Sakura and I did have a different morning.' With a sigh he not-so-eagerly replayed the morning's events.
---- Flashback----
"Sakura-chan," Naruto whispered softly as he gently shook the pinkette's shoulder, causing the thin bed sheet to ruffle. "Time to get up."
"Mmm, Naruto?" Sakura groggily replied, shrugging his hand from her shoulder and pushing her face further into her pillow. "Give me five more minutes."
"I didn't want to have to resort to this Sakura-chan," he grinned mischievously as he walked forward before slowly clasping the edge of the sheet within his grip. With an effortless tug he whipped the sheet from her body and carelessly discarded it onto the floor.
"NARUTO!" Sakura screeched once the sheet had left her body. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?" she demanded, fist clenched.
"Eh, Sakura-chan!" he then went off to ramble on about how he'd promised to show her the school and how Tsunade said it would be fine for him to rouse her. "It wasn't my fault dattebayo!"
With a soft sigh and a quick eye roll, Sakura pushed herself from bed. "I'm sorry Naruto but you really should be more careful."
Naruto furrowed his brow, "Why?"
"I could have been sleeping naked." Naruto failed to notice the mischievous gleam within her emerald eyes.
"Sakura-chan…?" Naruto stammered, slowly backing himself against the wall. "Yo…u wouldn't."
"Of course I wouldn't! I was only joking Naruto," she teased, laughter bubbling from her mouth. "Now go, I-
Naruto frowned as she halted her sentence by placing a delicate hand over her mouth; he noted that her face had become deathly pale.
With practiced ease she sprung from bed, hand clasped upon her face and run, her pinkette locks falling from the bun she used to secure them.
He followed, blindly running. "Sakura-chan. Oi, Sakura-chan," he called, reaching out yet never reaching her frame. She stumbled round a corner before rushing into the bathroom, head bowled over the toilet.
With a sickening moan she spilled the contents of her stomach.
Naruto was at her side, staring in shock. "Sakura-chan," he repeated, 'She can't go to school like this, I won't let her go to school like this. Surely baa-chan won't let her go either. She can just write Sakura-chan a doctor's note, she is one isn't she?' "Shh, it's okay," he whispered, pulling the pink bangs from her face.
"You don't have to go to school today, baa-chan can just write you a note," he softly said, numbingly, vainly tying her pinkette bangs into a bun. 'I don't think she wants to puke all over her hair.'
Sakura shook her head, "No…. I… w…ant…to… g…o."
"You can't, look how sick you are," he countered.
"It'll pass… in…a few…mom…ents," she stammered, flushing the contents of her stomach. "I promise I'll be fine," she smiled, weakly, staggering to her feet.
"What's going on in here?"
Naruto turned to see Tsunade, hair messy, face worn, clothes rumpled. 'She had another late night, didn't she?' "Sakura-chan shouldn't be allowed to go to school baa-chan, she just puked."
Tsunade sighed, "Don't worry, she's fine. It's just a 24 hour bug that should be gone soon." 'I'm lying through my teeth but Sakura wants to go to school, besides we don't want Naruto getting suspicious.'
"Baa-chan," Naruto retorted. "How can you make her go to school like this?"
"If she wants to go I can't stop her Naruto," she replied, frowning.
"I appreciate the concern Naruto, but I want to go," Sakura stated, somewhat flushed. 'He can't know the real reason behind this. Why'd you have to make me puke today of all days baby?' she questioned, placing pressure upon her stomach. 'Next time, choose wisely.'
"Sakura-chan," he responded, desperation clear. "I'm worried about you, are you sure?"
"I promise I'll be fine," she replied, smile increasing.
"If you puke again, I won't hesitate to drag you to the nurse's office," he warned.
"Deal."
----
'Ugh, this bathroom's smell is only adding to the nausea,' Sakura groaned, blinding vomiting into the toilet. 'It's only third period and I'm already like this.'
With a moan she rose, flushing the toilet and stepping out the stall. 'Ugh, my mouth tastes horrible. I just hope that Naruto doesn't find out about this, otherwise he will have a fit.'
"Here, these really help in situations like yours."
Sakura turned, facing a brown haired girl. "Thanks," she replied, taking the mints from the girl's outstretched hand.
"It's nothing, I always have spare for when things like this happen," she responded. "By the way, I'm Tenten."
"Sakura, I'm new."
"It's nice to meet you Sakura."
"Same here."
----
'This cafeteria is huge, I'm so going to get lost and there are so many people with blonde hair,' Sakura thought in alarm as she nervously scanned the large mess hall. 'It'll take me the entire lunch just to find him.' With a frustrated sigh she began her search.
'Stupid Naruto, he could have told me where he was sitting. He could have given me directions, he could have asked me to meet him somewhere! But no, he decides to leave me to fend for myself. When I get my han-, but her mindless ramblings were interrupted as she backed into someone, sending her tipping forward.
Sakura had managed to catch herself in time, avoiding embarrassment. She turned with the intention to apologize whoever she had carelessly bumped. "I'm sorry, I should have been watching where I was going."
"No, it's my fault, I wasn't either watching where I was walking," the small figure mumbled in response, knitting her thumbs together.
Sakura giggled, "Sorry, I'm new here. My name is Sakura Haruno."
"Hinata Hyuuga."
The pinkette's eyes widened. 'Hinata… Hyuuga? Isn't that Naruto's girlfriend?' "Sorry Hinata, you wouldn't happen to know where Naruto is? Naruto Namikaze?"
"Naruto-kun? Of course, I'll show you," the dark haired Hyuuga softly replied before motioning for Sakura to follow as they threaded through the milling mess hall.
'She seems nice?' Sakura thought, 'Very shy though.' Neither had uttered a word since their abrupt meeting a few moments prior. 'How does he live with someone so quiet? That's not the Naruto I know…'
Slowly, Naruto's blonde locks came into view and Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. 'Thank goodness, I thought I was going to be stuck looking for him for the entire lunch.' "Thank you Hinata-san," she graciously stated upon reaching the table.
"It's nothing, anything for a friend of Naruto-kun," she replied, resorting to her thumb-knitting.
"Oi, Sakura-chan, you made it!" the blonde haired teen called, grinning as he waved.
"With no thanks to you," Sakura venomously snarled. "Do you know how big this place is? If it wasn't for Hinata I would still be mindlessly trying to look for you!"
Naruto shrunk back in his seat, obviously frightened by the pinkette's outburst. "Sorry Sakura-chan, I forgot this place was so big and I didn't give you directions," he muttered.
"You're forgiven," she said playfully, taking a seat behind him. "So you going to introduce me?" she questioned, smiling sweetly.
"Of cou…rse," he stammered in response. 'How did she go from being mad to sweet in a matter of seconds?' "Well you already met Hinata-chan," he started, briefly pointing at the dark haired Hyuuga. "Then next to her is her cousin, Neji."
The boy in question had no reply, only a curt nod of his head. "Next to him is Tenten." The girl seemed much friendlier as she smiled, "I see we meet again."
Sakura nodded.
"So you two met?" Naruto queried.
"Yup, in the bathroom. Sakura was sick so I was able to give her something to clear the nausea from her mouth," Tenten stated, causing Naruto to raise an eyebrow.
'She was sick again?' He turned to the pinkette, finding that she dared not meet his gaze. With a sigh he continued his introductions.
"Then we have Shikamaru," and Naruto pointed to boy who sat deep in his seat, back slouched and somewhat mindlessly gazing upon the ceiling. "Whatever," he muttered.
"Next to him is Chouji," the boy was larger than normal, yet that did not seem to discourage him as he stuffed a heavily seasoned hamburger into his mouth, seemingly swallowing it whole.
"Then finally we have Kiba and Lee," the first had messy hair, abnormal canines, and dog-like eyes. Sakura was curious, but she decided not to question.
'Lee has a face only a mother could love, with the whole bowl cut, bushy brows and round eyes. I almost feel sorry for him.'
"Are you feeling okay?" Tenten asked from across the table. "You did go to the nurse right?"
Sakura nodded, "She said that it must have been a stomach bug that was passed out when I puked."
"That's good," Tenten replied, smiling before she turned her attention to Neji, a slight blush staining her cheeks. 'She seems nice,' Sakura wistfully thought.
"They like each other," Naruto stated, "They are both just too dense to notice."
Sakura nodded, "But one day they will won't they? If two people are meant to be then it just happens, doesn't it?" she remarked, gaining a forlorn expression.
"I guess," Naruto replied, sneaking a glance at Hinata who seemed to be engrossed in conversation with Kiba. 'If I didn't know Hinata, I would have gotten jealous. We all know Kiba has a crush on her.'
"So Sakura, where did you come from?" Tenten questioned, smiling.
"Suna, it's really different from here."
"I know, Suna is big, isn't it?" Tenten queried.
"It was hard for me to adapt but I-
"I can't hold it in anymore," Lee announced, ceasing all conversation. He turned to Sakura, "You are the most beautiful flower I have ever seen in all of Konoha, Sakura-san."
"Eh?" Sakura stated, eyebrow twitching.
"Will you do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend?" he asked, standing before her.
"I… um… eh…" but she couldn't her sentence as an all too familiar churning in her stomach happened. With a sickening groan she spilled whatever (Which wasn't much) was in her stomach on top of the closet thing to her, the shiny bowl cut head of Lee.
----
"This has certainly been a very interesting first day of school, hasn't it Naruto?" Sakura pondered as the pair exited the main gate of Konoha High directly after last period.
"Definitely dattebayo," he replied, 'Adding the fact that you've been puking the entire time and you won't go to the nurse.'
"I see you like saying 'dattebayo' again," she teased, playfully punching his shoulder. "Your friends are nice, you know?"
"They are, besides, they said that you're cool," he stated, idly watching the path ahead.
"Really?"
"Yup, especially Tenten. I think you and her will get along well," Naruto commented, sending her yet another grin. "Maybe you can get her to confess her feelings to Neji."
"May-
"SAKURA-KUN!"
Sakura and Naruto halted, the voice all too familiar.
"Bushy brows?" Naruto called upon seeing the bowl-cut boy running towards them, bouquet in hand.
"Lee?" Sakura question, her expression confused.
He caught up to them and eagerly pushed the bouquet into Sakura's hands, "Sakura-kun, will you give me the honor of becoming my girlfriend?"
"EH?" Sakura and Naruto exclaimed in unison.
"Even after this morning?" Sakura wildly questioned. "I did spill my stomach over you."
"It does not matter my love, it is one small price to pay," he replied determinedly.
"Eh, well Lee, this is very sweet but I can't accept your proposal," she stated. 'Why did just sound like something a business woman would say…?'
Lee's expression did not change, "It does not matter, today is one of many and there are still many opportunities!"
"I will continue to proclaim my love, my sweet cherry blossom!" he exclaimed, clasping her hand and placing a kiss upon it.
Sakura stared in disbelief and confusion. "Lee…"
"Don't speak my love," he said before releasing her hand, "I will not give up my chase after one rejection!" And with that, he was gone.
Sakura and Naruto stared at one another, "Did that really just happen?" Naruto asked, eyebrow twitching.
"This day has just gotten more... interesting," Sakura mumbled, shaking her head, sending her pink locks flying.
"You can say that again dattebayo."
Despite the situation, Sakura couldn't help but grin.
Once again, I'm sorry if this wasn't up to standard but I tried and I've found that I just can't write High School (Despite being in High School) so I'm really sorry... But anyway, the next chapter is called 'Someone to confide in' and here's a sneak peak :)
"Tell me Naruto," Sakura began, wetness soaking her cheeks. "Do you really think we could have worked it out?" she questioned, futilely wiping her tears. "Would you really have wanted to be friends with a pregnant teen?"
So there's your spoiler in order to make up for this bad chapter!
Lorelock :)