I originally wrote this on AO3, (same name and everything), but figured I would share it here as well since I know that there are some fanfic readers that are only on this site, hence the cross post.


Sakura sat at her spot in the corner of the classroom, aimlessly switching between reading her book and doodling on her notes. Her pen casually circling the words 'Why?' and 'Green Man'. Just another incident to add to her growing pile. Sakura can admit it, her village is weird. She knows this with the same certainty as knowing her hair is pink. Her village that was as pretty as a picture was crooked. Unfortunately, each incident she encounters just tilts that picture even more, and Sakura cannot stand things being out of place.

Especially if she is the only one who sees it.

"Class pay attention, the lesson will begin shortly. Return to your seats, oh and Kiba? Don't give Akamaru Choji's snacks again otherwise you will be in detention for the rest of the week."

"Tch, fine Sensei."

"What was that?"

"I said, yes Iruka-sensei."

"That's what I thought. Before I forget, Sakura? I want to see you after class."

"Yes, Sensei." Damn.

Sakura closed her book on the nervous system, lined up her pens in their color-coded order, and turned her attention to the lesson. Every so often she would take a glance at the door and the unoccupied seat next to her. It seems that her seatmate decided to ditch after lunch today, which was a stroke of luck if Sakura ever saw one. Listening to Iruka-sensei teach was one thing that did make sense in this weird village, so she always looked forward to listening to his lessons, uninterrupted. The door being slammed open tore her luck into smithereens.

What a joyful moment.

"Uzumaki Naruto has arrived! Make way for the future Hokage!"

Sakura sighed, it begins again. Ignoring the screech from Iruka-sensei, the self-proclaimed future Hokage sat down next to her. It didn't take long for her to feel it.

The Burning.

The more those pretty blue eyes kept glancing at her and that smile stayed on his face she could feel it getting worse. The feeling of thousands of needles on fire prickling her body, an irritation at first slowly building into an inferno. Sakura still couldn't figure out what kind of disease this was, and the hospital staff were incompetent. Its like they forgot each time she went in for a checkup, the same few questions being asked over and over. When it got to the point Sakura could narrate their interactions she gave up. If they were just going to make fun of her and be unprofessional she could figure it out herself.

As class dragged on the Burning increased. Sakura had a high pain tolerance due to her condition, but even she had her limits. When it turned into a blaze that had her physically sweating and her blood feeling like it would boil she couldn't take it anymore. Sakura glanced at the clock, she lasted longer this time.

Taking her book, Sakura lightly tapped Uzumaki on the head before returning to the lesson, ignoring him. She could already feel the Burning lessening, bringing it down to acceptable levels. She didn't know why, but she swore her affliction wanted her to beat the idiot, but she wouldn't. Sakura refused to act like Ami. She didn't need to beat others up to feel good about herself. She was Haruno Sakura, top student in her class, and proud civilian-born shinobi-in-training. She would rather jump off a cliff than be compared to someone like Ami, Harunos are made of a different grade after all. No, Sakura wouldn't resort to that kind of violence. Unfortunately the Burning didn't care about her wants, but Sakura was smart and could get around it. If tapping Uzumaki on the head counted for the Burning as violence, then she would exploit that for as long as she could. Though she really wished that he would stop with that goofy smile. She really felt wronged whenever he did it, she didn't mean to encourage his crush on her and it didn't help that she was neutral towards him. Still, Uzumaki was the lesser of evils to contain the Burning and Sakura always looked out for number one.

Herself, obviously.

Minutes turned into hours and class was finally over. The second Uzumaki darted out those doors she felt an immense relief. Waiting for the rest of her classmates to filter out, Sakura packed up her things and headed over to Iruka-sensei who was busy sorting papers. He gave her a small concerned smile. Sakura stood in her spot on the left and took her own stack to sort.

"Sakura, I think we should talk about what I saw yesterday."

"I mean, we could not."

"Sakura."

"Sorry Sensei."

Iruka-sensei's smile turned into a frown, and his hands paused. His eyes somehow got more sorrowful, but Sakura wasn't sure how that was possible.

"Sakura, please."

"It won't happen again Sensei."

"If there is something going on at home, you can tell me."

"Home is fine Sensei, it's not what you think. It's nothing."

"Sakura! Finding you passed out drunk by the river is not nothing!" Iruka-sensei slammed his hands down on the table, startling Sakura enough to reflexively throw the papers up into the air.

Green eyes bore into brown ones as the papers gently fell to the ground. In any other circumstance Sakura would have found a sort of poetic beauty to it, but she was too unnerved to focus on anything other than her irate teacher. His gaze was so sincere that she had to avert her eyes.

"I was just curious about something Sensei and I had too much, I'm sorry."

He sighed, running a hand over his face.

"Just next time you are too curious you come to me alright? You can trust me. I know you have always been bright Sakura, but even the top academic student needs guidance ok?"

"Yes Sensei, I understand. I'm sorry." Sakura bowed a full ninety degrees before moving to pick up the papers. Even though she was sorry, she didn't regret it. Her experiment was a failure but she got her answers. Though, maybe she could try to trust her teacher a bit more, just a tiny bit.

"Speaking of being top in studies, I wanted to say congratulations on the last test Sakura! That was the hardest test the class has taken to date and you were able to get a full score! I just wanted to say that I'm proud of you."

Iruka-sensei put his hand on her shoulder giving it a light squeeze, pride radiating off of him. All Sakura could do was give a tight smile and hand back the papers in response.

"Thank you Sensei, but I really must go now. My parents are waiting for me."

"Ah! Don't let me keep you then, I will see you tomorrow!"

Sakura gave a quick wave before leaving the room. Once the door slid shut her smile fell. And there it was, another incident. How could Sakura get a full score on a test she purposefully put wrong answers on? Something was wrong, and even Iruka-sensei wasn't exempted from it. What was she thinking? She can't trust anyone. Sakura shook those silly thoughts from her brain. Until she figured out what was going on she couldn't trust anyone with this. The last thing she would want would be to end up in T & I all cozy with Yamanaka's Father. No, it would be best to do this alone, by herself.

Like always.


I have more chapters already written that I will post, I just don't know if I want to space them out or not.

Until next time.