"You'll end up living a lonely life if you're waiting around for perfect." - Samantha Young
The future kunoichi of Konoha despise Sakura Haruno. It is a not well kept secret that the pink haired girl has few allies within and without the Academy doors, and an even worse kept secret that Sakura Haruno has no shortage of enemies. The female students have many excellent reasons for this, the main one being this: Sakura Haruno is perfect.
Sakura has long, cotton candy pink hair, which stretches down the length of her back and curls slightly at the ends. It is eternally cared for and shiny, and her wide emerald eyes are framed with thick black lashes. The slight gleam of lipgloss on her perfectly formed lips, rosy cheeks, and pale skin only make the image worse. Her forever unruffled red kimono jacket, with its simple white circle, is a mark of hatred. Her clean black leggings beg to be ripped, her low heeled sandals precede angry stares. Her laugh chimes, her manners impeccable, her voice sweet and words elegant. She is the perfect lady, and the Academy girls hate her for it.
The boys of the Academy don't hate Sakura Haruno, but they dislike her greatly for different reasons. No matter how much they yell or tease, Sakura Haruno doesn't blink. She is beautiful, unlike any of the other girls, but she will not pay them the slightest bit of attention. When the other girls cheer for them as they enter the obstacle courses, Sakura outpaces them and never glances their way. When the other future kunoichi admire their fighting skills, Sakura wipes the floor with them, and she does it with perfect form and impassivity. Sakura Haruno is the perfect ninja, and the Academy boys wish she'd pay them the same attention they do her.
Sakura knows most of this, and considers it the same way she does most things related to the other children: immature and stupid. They will learn in time that Sakura excels through combined hard work and talent, and eventually they will find other topics for their petty gossip. (It hurts, because Sakura doesn't have any friends among her age group, but a Lady doesn't whine, and a Ninja focuses on their work. Sakura has no time to mourn what could be, which is why her bullies never merit her notice, and she never meets a little blonde girl with an affinity for flowers.) Mother is happy that Sakura is doing so well, and she continues to teach Sakura outside of the classroom, showing her various tea ceremonies and flower arrangements, how to compose herself, how to throw a kunai and walk away with her clothing in order, makeup unchanged.
Sometimes it is difficult, and sometimes Sakura thinks that she is lonely. Then Sakura remembers her mother's words, and steels herself. "You mustn't fail like Kizashi", she said, and Sakura remembers. I will not fail like my father, she repeats, and time moves on.
Meeting Hinata Hyuga is a unique occurrence, and Sakura's perfect memory forever imprints the face of the tiny girl with watery eyes onto the forefront of her mind. Hinata is the first time Sakura acts without her mother's direct influence, and the first time she decides something for herself. Sakura cannot be bullied, the Academy girls know, so they target the weak looking girl who sits in the back of the class, sweet, shy Hinata with her stupid stutter and demon eyes. Sakura stays after class to discuss her upcoming semester with her teacher, and she leaves fifteen minutes later than usual to an odd scene.
Hinata is curled up against the wall of the Academy facing the training fields, surrounded by three girls who are jeering and laughing unattractively. Sakura pauses, expression flat as always, and observes for a few moments. She recognizes the stubby purple pigtails of Ami, along with two of her steadfast companions, and the short, blue tinted hair of her quietest classmate. None of them are particularly interesting, and she prepares to leave, when Sakura realizes Hinata is crying.
Something in her chest stutters to a halt, and the constant burning is accompanied by something new. Her heart thumps out a fresh beat, loud and confident, and Sakura strides fonward, turning on her heels to stand between Ami and Hinata with a dark look in her eyes.
"It's not very polite to corner people," Sakura observes, copying the amused smile her mother said could make even the strongest people feel condescended. "Ladies do not make others cry," She adds, inserting a hint of derision.
Ami's eyes widen, before she flushes and glares at Sakura. "What do you know about being a lady?! We're going to be kunoichi anyways!" She shouts, clenching her fists over her thumbs, and Sakura resists the urge to laugh in her face.
"I certainly know more than you," She points out, tilting her head at the perfect angle so her hair can fall over her shoulder, blinking at the right time to make her eyes seem even wider than usual. (The movements have been practiced over and over, drilled into her head alongside lessons on timing and wording, until every movement Sakura makes is done with calculated intent. She is six.) "And a kunoichi should assist her comrades to the best of her abilities, not insult them. She should definitely not make them cry," There is a vehemence to her last words that surprises Sakura herself, and the beat in her chest grows louder as the burning reaching new heights. Ami opens her mouth, likely to defend herself, but Sakura intercedes smoothly. "I suggest you leave, before you make yourself appear even more foolish, Ami. Do not attempt to correct me, when you cannot correct yourself."
Ami runs away, red faced and glassy eyed, and Sakura is sure that the purple haired girl is going to cry as soon as she leaves the vicinity. Her companions hesitate, before chasing after her, also thoroughly embarrassed. Sakura smirks, and it's not very ladylike, but she feels a strong sense of achievement at the fact she won.
Once she regains her composure, she turns to the shaking Hinata, who stares up at her with wide eyes, looking equally fearful and admiring. Whatever scathing words she might have said die on her lips.
With practiced grace, Sakura glides to the scared girl's side, lowering herself to one knee despite the fact it's going to dirty her leggings. Dirty clothes aren't very lady-like, but mother has said that diplomacy comes easiest when you are on the same level, and Sakura is sure that comforting Hinata will be easier without towering over her. Gathering the girl's trembling hands in her own, she smiles as gently as she can without closing her eyes or showing her teeth, as is proper.
"Your eyes are beautiful," Sakura compliments, and the way Hinata stares at her, stunned, makes the fire in her chest simmer, the beating in heart ring. Standing slowly, she tugs Hinata onto her feet, still holding onto her hands. "You shouldn't let them tell you otherwise," She chastises her gentry, copying the warm tone she can barely remember, back from when she was worthy of her mother's affection.
Hinata stands frozen for a moment, before nodding slowly. "I-I know, b-b-but-" she cuts herself off with a small sob, and just as the tears start to roll down her cheeks, Sakura reaches out and wipes them away.
Sakura starts to speak, but then pauses, correcting herself. "They aren't worthy of your tears, Hinata. If you will cry, do so by choice, not because anyone attempts to force you," The Hyuga jolts in surprise, her tears halting, and after a moment Sakura pulls her out into the light, away from the shadows of the building. She lets go of her hands and steps back, bowing slightly and smiling perfectly, more artificially than before. "Good day, Hinata. Best wishes onto you."
Sakura strides away as the beat inside her soothes itself, the fire in her chest brighter than ever. Silently, she promises herself that if she sees Ami around Hinata, she will not hesitate again to scold the girl. Bullying is not ladylike or ninja-like. (Sakura will not repeat her mother's words to Hinata, because the girl is soft and kind in a way that Sakura was once, in a way that she secretly wishes she still could be. Sakura is a perfect lady and a perfect ninja, but Hinata is beautiful in a way Sakura cannot be, with her innocent eyes and naive openness.)
(Sakura and Hinata are not friends, but it is a well-kept secret that Sakura has a staunch supporter in Hinata Hyuga.)
(No one but Sakura knows why Ami and her clique had detention the next day, but sometimes Iruka looks at the pink haired girl and smiles, and Sakura nods back impassively, the fire in her chest reflected in her not-quite-flat emerald eyes. There is no more bullying of anyone after that.)