Author's Note:

Here comes Sakura Haruno, fourteen years into the future.

*Background Info: The Japanese school system, unsurprisingly, is very different. School starts in April and ends in March the following year. Elementary school has six years (grade 1-6). Junior High School has three years (grade 7-9). High School has three years (grade 10-12). Starting in this chapter, Sakura has just started her first semester of grade 9, which is her last year in Junior High School*

I am sorry that this chapter is not lengthy enough! I'll try harder in the upcoming chapters. Btw, I changed my writing style slightly so I can get the tone I wanted for this chapter. Thanks to a very dear friend of mine with some helping! Future chapters will not be written in the same tone.

Chapter 4-Cherry Blossoms and the Clichés

If you were to take a walk in Hinokoku Prefecture, you may find yourself in Konoha, the most diverse village of the prefecture. A quick look around you—you will see human beings like yourself with hair of blazing colors. Hair colors of red, white, pink, and neon green. Or if you are lucky enough, someone may have dyed their hair with a variety of colors altogether. And if you step out of Konoha, the diversity instantly fades away, for there are no more colors to be seen. Human beings outside of Konoha, in the Hinokoku Prefecture, are very normal, mind you.

Anyway let's switch our focus back to Konoha. Inhale, please. You smell it? Do you smell the spring? Do you smell the cherry blossoms of this lovely April? Here is where our clichés come in.

Sakura Haruno is running under the rows of cherry blossoms. She's late. And the teachers will not take lateness very kindly. Especially when this is a start of a whole new school year. Oh Sakura—her name, what a coincident! I must mention that she has neck length pink hair. What a perfect match to her name and the current cherry blossoms that she is being showered with. She is wearing one of those sailor uniforms. But her black painted nails are very visible. So is her black lipstick. It contrasts with her hair. Light pink and black do not look well together.

"Sakura!" comes a shout, "Wait up!"

Sakura stops and turns around and finds the one and only one—Naruto Uzumaki. He's a blonde. With blue eyes. That's what you get for having a German father and a Scottish mother. Many years ago, fate has brought them together in Konoha.

"You slowpoke!" Sakura replies with rage finding its way to her. "Run faster! You're going to make—you know what? Screw this, catch up if you can."

Sakura decides to full speed ahead. With all his might, Naruto manages to catch up with Sakura's inhumane speed.

"G-g-good morning, Saku-kura," Naruto manages to say. They are still running.

"Humph," Sakura frowns, "You think this is the right time to give a morning greeting?"

"Hey, being late is not a big deal."

"Yes it is! Unlike you, I actually care. It's only the second week into the first semester and I'm late! This will be my fourth time."

"Why so serious, of all sudden? It's so not you, Sakura."

"Then perhaps you do not know me as well as you think you do. This goes on our transcript for high school! I do not want to risk my chances."

Naruto cannot help but let out a laugh at Sakura's attitude. "You can take a chance with me. Ladies love me!"

Sakura turns and gives Naruto one of her death glares. "You know very well that I'm referring to high schools." With that, she kicks Naruto in the shin.

This is where we must let out a sigh. Wrong timing, Naruto.

Cherry blossoms raging at their finest.

Unbeknownst to Sakura and Naruto, a limo—(yes, a limo; despite the diversity of Konoha, a limo is still a rare sight)—stands a several feet away from them. Inside sits a boy of the same age—14— with dashing natural red auburn hair. His left forehead is embedded with the elegant tattoo愛—its strokes bear the meaning, Love. His eyes are so dark that people often mistaken them to be eyeliners, when in truth, not even eyeliners can produce such permanent accuracy and lines. The pupil of his green eyes are so naturally light that they seem unnatural. And having to witness Sakura's violent act towards Naruto, his face remains impassive. But he allows himself to utter the word, "Pathetic."