A/N: I am very happy that you all like this fic, and I decided to continue it! Here is the next chapter!
Dumpster Flower
Chapter 3
Sitting at my desk before class always gave me this sense of foreboding. The empty desks surrounded me mixed with that clock's incessant ticking made my skin crawl. I might have broken a sweat if it wasn't for Naruto's mumblings.
"This prank is going to be so good. Hehe, believe it,"
Naruto couldn't be silent to save his life.
Despite my desire to think of a way to remedy my relationship with Sasuke, I ended up watching Nartuo as he tinkered with Mr. Iruka's desk.
Not that I could do anything else and none of my plans were good anyway. No one would give flowers to a boy as an apology and neither would they give them a bouquet of kunai. I was stumped!
I laid my head on my desk as Naruto took out a bag of flour from his pouch. My eyebrows furrowed at the sight of it. In all my years of witnessing Naruto's pranks, he never did the same prank twice.
"Haven't you done a flour prank before?" I asked.
Naruto's smile widened as he opened the bag, not spilling a single speck while he poured it into the desk.
"I did a prank with flour last year, but it sucked, ya know. I didn't expect you to remember," he said, his cheeks reddening.
I giggled at that little memory, him being covered head to toe with flour after his trap blew in his face.
"How could I not? You cleaned flour residue for weeks,"
" Yeah, flour is harder to get off than I thought," Naruto chuckled lightly. "Good thing this stuff is much better than flour. This stuff is way better and much easier to clean,"
My mind came up blank when I tried to think of a white powder that was legal and readily accessible to a dummy like him. The only thing I could think of was rice flour and that was still flour. So, I let go of the matter. I doubted the prank was going to work since the setup seemed exactly like the one that failed.
"Done!" Naruto cheered before making his way toward me to slide next to me. "And now, we wait,"
My mood soured once Naruto sat himself beside me. I grumbled and flipped my head toward the door, placing my cheek on a colder spot on the desk.
That was supposed to be Sasuke's seat. Not that he would want to sit there now.
I felt Naruto put a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, I know that you are really upset about me bumping into you, but my prank will make you feel better. It's gonna make you laugh so hard, believe it,"
I stayed silent, feeling a lump form in my throat. So much had happened in the span of a few days. Bumping into Naruto was a small speck compared to everything else.
"It's not you," I said finally. "I'm just…angry,"
"About what? I can help, ya know," he insisted.
"No, you can't," I said, my voice cracking a bit as I blinked away any upcoming tears. " You really can't,"
Naruto didn't reply, but kept his hand on my shoulder. His hand was warm and a little comforting, so I made no attempt to shake it off.
Eventually the slew of classmates began pouring in, some in group and others alone. Sadly, I didn't see Sasuke among them, only no good Ino and her friends I didn't care to name. I called Black Spikes and Potato Chips, in my head, of course.
I glared at her as she entered, flaunting her custom made purple outfit and her luscious platinum blond hair combed into a ponytail.
Ino Yamanaka, the girl who had everything. The more I looked at her, the more my blood began to boil. I've felt like this ever since she agreed to my stupid rivalry that her smugness had got even worse.
Ino looked around the room and took a cheerful breath, seemingly not noticing me and flipped her hair, hitting Potato Chip's face.
"Hey Ino, can you stop with the hair flipping? You almost made me drop my chips," he huffed before taking a bite of his salvaged chip bag.
"I told you not to get so close when I am making my entrance!" Ino whined, putting her hands on her hips.
"Who are you trying to impress? We are blocking the entrance to the classroom," Black Spikes added, moving out of the way of a classmate walking in.
"Everyone. I am made to impress," Ino deadpanned, straightening her back before she flipped her hair again, in Black Spike's face this time.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the trio, hoping that Ino would take her seat already. But that was too much to ask.
"Hey, Shikamaru! Choji! Ino!" Naruto called, standing up and waving them over. "Boy, do I got the news for you,"
The trio groaned in unison as they walked over. I wanted to groan with them but felt too drained.
Of course Naruto would do this.
"Don't tell me you are doing another prank. You know what happened last time," Shikamaru sighed, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, it exploded in my face," Choji added, midchew of another chip. "Took me a while to get the syrup out of my hair,"
"And~ the whole class had to pitch in to clean up that mess," Ino said, leaning into Naruto's face. "We always have to clean up your messes, Naruto,"
Naruto laughed lightheartedly, rubbing the back of his head.
"You guys know me too well. This prank is going to be so much better and much easier to clean than syrup," he said before turning to me. "Right Sakura?"
"No. I have no part in this," I muttered.
Ino scoffed before bending to my eye level, getting into my face.
"Of course you're not," she snarked. " You all about pranking being "unladylike" or something,"
Looking at Ino's smug face was too much at that point. I couldn't hold in my anger toward her nor anything else any longer. I slammed my hands on my desk, causing everyone to go quiet.
"Enough of your squealing, Ino-Pig!" I snarled, standing up. " Get your hog snout out of my face,"
"What did you call me, Forehead?" she retaliated, waving her fist at me. "I wouldn't have to lean so close to face you if your forehead didn't take up most of your face,"
Whispers erupted amongst the rest of the classroom, their hushed voices getting louder by the second.
"I bet Ino would win if they fight,"
"Go Ino! Go!"
"Dibs on Sakura!" Naruto shouted the loudest.
Shikamaru put his hand on Ino and I's shoulder.
"You both need to calm down. A fight this early in the morning would be such a drag,"
"Shut up, Shikamaru!" We shouted in unison, slapping his hand off of us.
The classroom erupted into cheers and started to gather around us.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
"There will be NO fighting!" Mr. Iruka shouted.
Ino and I looked toward the front of the classroom with wide eyes. Mr. Iruka stood there, scowling and tapping his foot.
The classroom went silent and made a clear path for Mr. Iruka. He eyed everyone, his brown eyes baggy. His angry expression made his scar more pronounced and kind of scary.
He sighed and his expression softened.
"I did not expect complete chaos in this classroom after being only a few minutes late," he said, walking up the steps. "This is no way for future Genins to act,"
He stopped between Ino and I.
"Especially you two. Ino. Sakura. I am very disappointed in you both. I expected better," he said.
He looked at the rest of the class, many students looking at the ground guiltily.
"I expected better of all of you. Take your seats," Mr. Iruka ordered, motioning his hands.
"As punishment, Sakura and Ino will be cleaning the classroom,"
Mr. Iruka walked over to the board and put the folders that he was holding onto his desk.
"And during taijutsu class, everyone will be running an extra 5 laps,"
Everyone groaned.
"10 extra laps?" he asked, his voice heightening.
That shut everyone up quickly. I sat down at my desk and put my head in my hands while Ino and her friends went to their seats.
I am messing everything up today.
"What a drag," I heard Shikamaru whisper as he walked past. "I told you to stop taunting and stooping down to Sakura's level, Ino,"
I wanted to punch him so bad, but I was already in enough trouble. But I could not let his rudeness slide. Before I could think of anything, a bang erupted in front of the class.
I looked to see Mr. Iruka was covered head to toe in white powder that come from the drawer of his desk. Naruto and many other students erupted into laughter as Iruka spit out a huge puff of white powder.
"I got you big time!" Naruto laughed, hands on his stomach as he leaned back. "I can't believe you fell for it, ya know! Fell for it!"
I had to admit that seeing white powder all over Iruka's face was pretty funny, but seeing his face flared undernign all that white, I knew that my whole day or more was ruined.
"Naruto! You—Gah!" he shouted before itching his face and body. "Itching Powder?!"
"Uh-huh! Of my own creation, ya know!" Naruto cheered with a hardy laugh.
I should have known that it was going to be worse than expected. I watched in horror as Mr. Iruka withered in pain in front of us, his eyes blood red from the powder in his eyes as he scratched his swelling face and neck. I glared at Naruto as he looked down at me and I watched his expression morph from mischievous glee on one of guilty shock. We watched as Iruka fled the classroom.
My classmates and I collectively glared at Naruto, seemingly thinking the same thing.
Naruto, you idiot!
"Naruto, you really did it this time," I said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah! You really hurt !" someone else cried from behind me.
"Hey, I'm sure he's fine," Naruto said hesitantly, staring out the door. " I tested it out on myself. You just have to rise it off with water,"
"This is worse than when you stabbed Mr. Iruka in the thigh during kunai throwing practice!" another classmate, forgot their name, complained.
"Hey, everyone accidentally stabbed Mr. Iruka during kunai throwing at least once! That's it, I'm leaving," Naruto shouted before running out the door.
"No you're not!" I shout, grabbing his shirt, but missing.
I huffed as I watched him jump out the window.
"You gotta be kidding me," Ino said.
I had to agree. All we could do was wait for the inevitable. And that inevitably waltzed himself in. Mr. Mizuki. One of the worst teachers ever.
With his silver hair and simple smile, he looked like a sweet and loving teacher. But only a normal person would think that and I was far from normal. My Dad always told me that there was only a small difference between a smile and a sneer. I made that same expression enough times to tell the difference.
"Good morning class," cheered as he walked to the front of the class with his hands clasped together. "Due to Iruka's… unfortunate injury, I'll be merging our classes again. You know what to do,"
He motioned his hands up and we all followed suit. Everyone started flooding out of the classroom toward his.
I dragged my feet toward Mr. Mizuki's class behind the rest of my classmates, mentally preparing for the mental torture that would surely happen. I noticed Ino slowing her stride until she was right next to me, staring at me intently. I put fist up and tilted my head, wondering if she wanted another piece of me.
Ino shook her head quickly before making the motion of zipping her lips and throwing away the key before pointing at Mr. Mizuki whose back was to us.
Took me a second to get what she was referring to ,but my face brightened when I did.
Mr. Mizuki doesn't know about the fight we had a few moments ago, so if we keep our mouths shut, we don't have to clean the classroom. Good call, Ino.
I nodded to her and gave her a thumbs up. She slowly smiled as well and we walked in sync for a few seconds more. The interaction felt so natural that it made me feel kind of nostalgic. Ino looked like she thought the same thing, seemingly deep in thought.
"Come on, slow pokes! Rub the sleep out of your eyes and get into class," Mr. Mizuki said as he ushered us in.
"I have a full day planned,"
Ino looked like she got out of her thoughts and walked ahead of me and entered the classroom. I followed suit.
The first thing I noticed was that there were significantly less students in his class. It was as if the class was cut in half since the last time our classes had to merge thanks to Naruto and that prank two weeks ago. And they all looked miserable. If we still had recess, I am sure they would be complaining to anyone in sight about how lucky my class was to have Mr. Iruka as their teacher.
The only good that came from this was that there were enough seats. I sat next to a few of their classmates in the middle of the classroom, a girl and boy. The girl had distinctive lavender eyes and was twiddling her fingers nervously while the guy had a dog who barked from time to time. I think the dog's name was Akamaru.
"You got that right," the boy replied to his dog.
I sighed as I got myself comfortable. This day was already much too long.
"Do any of you have any questions before we start class?" Mr. Mizuki asked as he looked around.
A classmate raised their hand.
"Yes?"
"Will be okay?" they asked.
Mr. Mizuki smiled brighter, making me squirm. Creep.
"Of course he will, but not now. Your teacher is now withering in pain in the nurse's office due to one conniving student's… malicious intent," Mr. Mizuki replied.
"Malious?" another classmate asked.
"Malicious, child. Evil. Demonic," Mr. Mizuki said as he paced across the room.
I looked around the classroom and saw the expressions of many classmates shift from annoyance to worried while others looked enraged. I just wanted to go home. I doubt the act of covering someone with itching powder could count as something evil. More like another prank gone wrong to me.
I noticed the girl stare pleadingly toward the boy.
"Kiba," she whispered,
Kiba grumbled and put his hand up.
"Yes, Inuzuka," Mizuki said, pointing at him.
"It's just a prank, Teach," he replied , his dog barking in agreement. "Naruto might be stupid but he's not evil,"
"This accident could have lasting consequences, Inuzuka. People can get killed from simple accidents and punishment is all the same," Mr. Mizuki said before turning back to the class.
"Now, since there are no more questions. Lets start class with an announcement. You all are going to do a group project," He said as he wrote it on the board. "That is due to be presented a day before your final assessment,"
My jaw dropped.
A project this late into the year?!
"A group what?!" Kiba shouted, his dog barking as he stood up.
"That's right Akimaru, we only have a week left to complete our finals!"
"Except Kiba. He will work alone," said,
"But—"
"Want me to deduct points?"
Kiba growled before backing down.
Mr. Mizuki looked toward the rest of the class, taking out a pile of paper to pass around. "That goes for anyone else who would like to interrupt me, points will be deducted,"
The teacher cleared his throat.
"Now, you all are going to do a group project on the Cloning Jutsu. You are to write a 10 page essay on the history of the jutsu and do a demonstration on the due date. Those who are not here when the date it is due nor complete it will automatically fail," Mr. Mizuki said, looking around as if daring anyone to interrupt him.
Everyone was silent. He began counting all the students.
"You will all be working in groups of three of my choosing," he said before going to his clipboard to read down the list.
I crossed my fingers and prayed to whoever was paired off with Sasuke.
"Ino, Shino, and Sasuke. You three will be together,"
I slammed my forehead on the table and let out a groan.
You gotta be kidding me!
I felt a shadow over me and I saw Mr. Mizuki looking down at me with his fake smile.
"Hinata, Naruto, and Sakura will be working together,"
I wanted to knock his teeth out.
It went wrong!
The rest of the school day was a blur, lethargic really. I could hardly focus when Ino sat wherever she sat, rubbing up on Sasuke while I had to work with a nonexistent Naruto. My other partner hardly had a presence. What's worse was that did not even give us time to work on the project in class, just taught us whatever before the bell rang; I could hardly take notes.
The journey home was just as bad; It started to rain during class and it kept on going after school.
The usually dusty roads morphed into muddy streams that got into my sandals. I didn't have the energy to run, so I just walked under the buildings where their overhanging roofs gave me a bit of cover.
When I arrived home, the raindrops hitting the tin made my head hurt as I entered. I tried to flick on the lights, only to find nothing happened.
"No," I whispered as I flicked them again.
"No. No. No," I said louder as I rushed to the kitchen to turn on the faucet.
Water refused to run. I gripped the counter, staring into the dry sink.
My heart dropped as I remembered that I was getting evicted tomorrow. I looked around and even the furniture was missing.
I rushed toward the window and opened it. It gave little light. I then found a note, a lantern and a ration bar on the kitchen counter. I lit the lantern and read the note.
My Sakura,
We are sorry that we are not here when you get home from school, but will be back later tonight or in the early morning. Your Dad went out to sell the furniture while I took the night shift at work. The lights and water might be turned off while we are gone, so we filled a bucket of water for you and there is some food with this.
Everything is going to be okay.
Love Mom
I hugged the note to my chest before taking the lantern, leaving the ration bar on the counter. I rushed into my room to see my bed and desk gone but replaced with a futon matt and my clothes folded on it.
"My notebook," I whispered as I hastily looked for it, finding it amongst the clothes.
I sighed in relief to see that it wasn't tampered with and changed into dry clothes before going into the futon with my lantern. I unsealed my notebook and stared at the list I made to get close to Sasuke, feeling the complete opposite of how I felt the last time I gazed into it.
I held the opposite ends of the notebook, hearing the little tears as I began to pull it apart. Staring at Sasuke's name, I hiccuped and hugged the book to my chest.
"What did I ever do to deserve this?" I asked myself, looking at the damage I did.
I turned the page where I repeatedly wrote the name I strived to have one day.
"Sakura Uchiha," I whispered, wiping the tears before sneezing.
"This is temporary. One day, I will be living the dream as Sasuke's wife. In a warm home that we share and a warm bed. 3 meals a day," I whispered, staring at the nape and caressing it. "I might not be his project partner but I still have a chance to be his Genin partner,"
I didn't think I would fall asleep, but it was the morning the moment I opened my eyes.