#ssm15d8

If studying for a test in a Saturday wasn’t bad enough, Naruto also had to put up with the disapproval look of the Uchiha’s dark eyes. When Sasuke heard from Naruto- who spoke in a bragging tone, obviously- that the blonde would be spending the weekend by Sakura’s side in a kind of history date, the raven haired boy quickly decided that, if the main point of that meeting was studying, then his brain could be of use, right? Probably not but he wouldn’t let his idiotic best friend alone with the pinkette.

While Sakura stood by his side, with her fists dangerously hanging over his spiky golden locks; Sasuke was siting on the table near the window and with his back resting against the wall. His eyes were observing as the girl did her best to complete that impossible mission she had, miraculously, accepted. The Uchiha had no idea of what kind of bribe Naruto had offered her or what kind of deal they had for the pinkette to have willingly fallen into that tremendous trap. Sakura was a smart girl, he knew, and she wasn’t really the most benevolent of the girls of Konoha. So why on earth was she helping Naruto? It didn’t make sense in his head. But, in hers, the reason couldn’t be clearer.

Ever since the day they all became a team, the pinkette had learned an important lesson regarding her blonde friend. And such lesson was taught her by the raven haired boy himself. He told her about how painful it was to be alone. He opened her eyes to the reality faced by Naruto and that made all of the difference in her life. She no longer considered him annoying and no longer hated his way of acting. She hated his pranks but she knew the reason behind them and it was, indeed, painful to imagine such a bright smile as his turning into a sad pout. She didn’t want him to be sad anymore and, because of that, whenever he asked her, Sakura would help. Whenever he needed her, she would be there. Being it for a bowl of ramen, a small talk or even for teaching him about their village’s history. Sakura would gladly do it. But it would have to be in her way, of course.

“ come on, Naruto… This is the history of your village!”

“ but I wasn’t there, Sakura-chan… I’ll change this when I become Hokage-tyebayo!”

“ you can’t change the past, you idiot!”

“ hummm… Then I shouldn’t have to learn it.”

“… Remind me of how you passed again, please…”

To the girl with pink hair, studying was all about motivation. He needed something to make him understand what awaited for him if he worked hard and passed that test gloriously. Her motivation, for the silliest it could be by that time, was staying by Sasuke’s side. She knew that she had to study and dedicate herself if she wanted to remain in the same team as him. But Naruto wasn’t her and his competition against the Uchiha wasn’t strong enough to make him have good grades. Sakura, knowing Naruto, had tried to use his dream of becoming Hokage thing and even the pleasant sensation of proving his intelligence to all of those who doubted him. She tried those and she even said it all in an incredibly emotional speech. However, not a single one of her ideas worked. Nothing ignited his will of fire to study a lot in order to pass that exam. Nothing made him accept the knowledge from the books and, after so many tries, it was normal for her to want to give up. The Haruno girl had really ran out of ideas and they hadn’t even reached half of the whole thing yet. There was still long pages to be read and he certainly wouldn’t survive if she decided to use her fists as her last resort. Naruto was a lost cause. But Sasuke wasn’t.

Still observing the girl from behind, the Uchiha could see how frustrated she was. As the blonde scratched his head in a sign that he knew absolutely nothing, Sakura sighed with a pout in her lips. On that day, she wasn’t wearing her forehead protector but a red lace instead to hold back her bangs. Such thing did make her look a lot cuter in his dark and shy eyes and made her stunning emerald eyes even more stunning, if that was even possible. All of that, plus that previous pout that was ruling her facial expression; were enough to convince the Uchiha to help. He, the almighty Uchiha Sasuke was about to help his stupid teammate with history. The things he didn’t do for Sakura…. But nothing said he couldn’t take a bit of advantage of that.

“ Sakura… The things you’re saying… They don’t mean a thing to Naruto when the matter is studying.”

“ uh? What do you mean, Sasuke-kun?”

“ hn… He’s not a normal idiot that would understand the importance of those words…”

“ … Are you really saying I’m not a normal idiot, Sasuke?”

“ of course you aren’t, Naruto.”

“ he isn’t?” Her eyes widened and Naruto’s seemed to shinning brighter. It was not everyday his rival would recognize his intelligence, right?

“ hn… Of course not.”

But that was not what Sasuke was doing.

“ Naruto is more than just a normal idiot. He’s the biggest idiot I’ve ever seen and the obvious would never work with him.”

“ Teme! Shut up dattebayo! Who the hell invited you anyways?!”

“ I’m here to help you, Dobe. Hn, we need a more direct thing…”

“ we don’t need you. We are doing just fine the two of us, right, Sakura-chan?”

“ shut up, Naruto! Let Sasuke-kun talk.”

“Hn.”

With his usual cocky smirk, Sasuke stood up from his privileged seat and approached his two teammates. He received the blonde’s glare as he slowly walked up to Sakura. The girl was a little confused at first but, when the Uchiha held her arm and pulled her closer so her back was pressed against his chest, confused was no longer a word to describe her. The Haruno girl was on fire. Her cheeks were burning in a deep red and her heart was beating so fast that she was sure that, if she opened her mouth to say anything, it would jump out of her chest. She has always imagined Sasuke was a boy with attitude but not like that. Not in front of Naruto. But it was better like that than in no way at all, she concluded. The Uzumaki kid, clenching his teeth, kept glaring at his rival. Who did he think he was to hold Sakura- his Sakura-chan- like that?! Sasuke had crossed a line he shouldn’t have and you bet Naruto would never just sit and watch while that perverted did something to her that she would never approve.

“ Teme!” Naruto stood up from his chair and bumped his hands on the table. “ what the hell are you doing with Sakura-chan!”

“ hn… Does it bother you?” He smirked.

“ you bastard! I’m gonna hit you so hard!” He lifted his fist.

“ tch… You’re an idiot, Naruto. Apart from the fact that you would never be able to hit me, why don’t you just shut up and listen before anything?”

“….” He pouted. “ hn, go on… You have 2 minutes before I start hitting you.”

“ hn, let’s make a deal… I’m gonna ask you some questions about the village’s history. If you get them all right, I’ll pay a ramen for you and Sakura at Ichiraku. Just the two of you.”

“ what!?” Two were the ones who asked that, but, from each person, a different reaction. Happiness coming from the blonde and, disappointment from the pinkette. So it was just a game, after all.

“ it’s simple. Just answer correctly.”

“ yosh! I’m finally gonna go on a date with Sakura-chan-ttebayo!”

“… And what if he makes a mistake, Sasuke-kun?”

“ uh? I hadn’t thought about that… What happens, Teme?”

“ simple.” He smirked. “ I’ll kiss Sakura right here in front of your eyes.”

“ what!?” The same two people repeated the shocked question but, this time, the reactions were inverted. The blonde was incredibly mad and the pinkette was almost having a nosebleed. Never before she wanted Naruto to make a mistake so badly.

“ this is dirty, Sasuke!”

“ it’s the only way I know that will make you focus.”

“ Teme!”

Sasuke smirked.

“ so, what’s gonna be, Dobe?… Deal or not?”

“ this wouldn’t be fair with Sakura-chan, you bastard! She has nothing to do with this and it’s not right to involve her in this!”

The girl looked at Naruto with caring eyes and a soft smile formed on her lips. So her friend was finally growing up and learning how to respect the women. He was getting so mature and she was really proud of him. Even if she didn’t mind being involved in a kind of gambling that could end up with Sasuke’s lips pressed on hers, it was good to know that the blonde could really consider her opinion as the one that mattered.

“ hn… Are you that much of a coward?”

“ ….. You bet it’s a deal.”

Or maybe not.

After hearing that, all her hopes and idealizations regarding Naruto seemed to have been smashed by an anvil. That idiot wasn’t ever going to change…

Their so exciting bet started right after that. Sasuke closed the book that was opened in front of Naruto and kept smirking towards his friend. The girl, still in his arms, was submerged too deep in that dazzling state she had been left to be able to say anything. She was just too happy to be held by him and to hear his heart and to have the most amazing view of those dark pearls of his she loved so much. If Sakura could, she would keep looking at them for the rest of her life, but that wouldn’t be an idea shared by both of them. The Uchiha, even if he was enjoying that position almost as much as she was, knew he wouldn’t survive with those eyes staring at him for the rest of his life. Those emeralds were just too penetrating and too invasive and he didn’t know what would happen if his heart was constantly taken by them. He didn’t know if he could survive such stunning stones admiring him for the rest of his life. It would probably be something to be tested years later but, at that moment, the boy wasn’t prepared yet. And that blush that would spread around his cheeks whenever their eyes met- something that happened a lot-; would be the most evident of the evidences.

The two hours that followed were completely filled by questions regarding Konoha. The pinkette certainly hadn’t paid attention to half of them for there was something a lot more attractive distracting her thoughts. For someone who had been forced to become a kind of prize, the Haruno girl didn’t even seem to be worried at all. Her expression was calm and it was certainly the expression of a girl in love. She knew that there was no way Naruto would get all of them right. It was impossible knowing the blonde. There would be one question from which, eventually, he wouldn’t know the answer. And, when that said question came, she would finally be kissed by the love of her life. However, Naruto and Sasuke were heading to the final question and, impressively, the blonde had answered correctly to all of them. Something definitely wrong was happening in front of them.

Naruto could have never been more excited about answering questions as he was back then. He was confident and sure of himself and he knew that he could answer to any of Sasuke’s questions. That book he had spent the last hours reading certainly helped a lot and, as Sakura had said, with the right motivation, nothing could go wrong to him. He was finally going to get his date with the girl he claimed to love and, probably the best part, he would have won against his rival. He would have stopped the Uchiha from doing whatever he wanted and he would steal Sakura from his hands. What a glorious day it was about to be for Uzumaki Naruto. Too bad there were some people who just didn’t know how to lose.

“ come on, Teme! Give me this last question-ttebayo!”

“ hn, I’ll look for a hard one!”

It was more than just clear that Sasuke was feeling annoyed by that sudden amount of knowledge that had appeared inside of Naruto’s head. The Uchiha knew his friend wasn’t cheating but he also knew Naruto was a complete idiot. He couldn’t remember even the right time to meet at the bridge every morning, let alone remembering for how long the Nidaime Hokage was, indeed, the Hokage. A guy like that could not win that bet. A guy like that could not take Sakura out on a date. No guy could. So, even if it would go against his original plan, Sasuke was about to ask Naruto the one question that only true Uchihas know. The answer was certainly not written in any of his books and only those who carried that cursed blood in their veins would know the answer. It didn’t seem right but, letting him take Sakura out for ramen alone, seemed even less right. Sasuke could not let that happen. He could not let Naruto answer correctly. He could not let his biggest prize be taken away by the hands of that Dobe.

“ ready?”

“ I was born ready!”

“ hn… What is the name of Uchiha Madara’s little brother?”

“ ah! I know it!” He said fast, smiling in the process.

“ you do?” Sakura asked, with a pout in her lips. Not even her genial mind knew that answer, for sure.

“ yes-ttebayo!”

He crossed his arms on his chest, taking a deep breath. That was about to be their final move. It was all or nothing. A kiss or a date and you bet everyone was dying to hear that answer. The answer that would change it all. The answer that only one of the people in that room knew. And, unfortunately, for the blonde, he was not that person.

“ Uchiha Madara 2, dattebayo!”

A minute of silence prevailed in between them and, soon, the expressions started to appear. A confident face and angry green eyes and, in order to crown the raven haired boy as the winner, a cocky smirk. Naruto was still no match for him and, even if he was ready for the test, he would never be prepared to beat an Uchiha. Sasuke had won the challenge, as expected. The only thing missing was his prize. But she was a bit busy at that moment.

“ how can you be that much of an idiot, Naruto!?” She left Sasuke’s arms with fury in her eyes as she smacked the blonde’s head and he grimaced in pain. Sakura was certainly really beautiful when she was mad like that and there was really no denying it. The Uchiha couldn’t wait to have his lips pressed against hers.

“ ouch! It hurts, Sakura-chan!”

“ I’m glad it does… Honestly, Uchiha Madara 2? That was so childish! Couldn’t you have just said you didn’t know?”

“ and admit that to that Teme?!… Never.”

“ tch… You are impossible, Naruto!”

“ hn, actually…” He came closer to Sakura one more time, holding her chin up. It was finally the moment for them to kiss. “ you’re a loser… I won.”

“ Sa-Sasuke-kun…” She blushed, harder than a tomato.

“ Teme! You bastard! I-I-”

“ shut up, Naruto. It was a deal, right? Now just look at what you’ve lost.”

Even Naruto’s deadliest glare wasn’t able to stop Sasuke. With his hand delicately turning her soft lips towards him, the Uchiha observed the girl he was about to kiss. He looked deep into her eyes and he saw that apple blush of hers and those pink locks were driving him insane. Perhaps those were his hormones starting to interfere in his decisions or maybe a feeling he had no idea that had been hiding inside of his heart for so long. Sasuke certainly didn’t know the answer for his heart to be beating so fast or for his hands to be shaking or even for his dry to be throat- or throat to be dry. He certainly had no more control over his words and, unfortunately, no more control over his shyness. The raven haired boy just couldn’t believe in what was about to happen.

By the time they were just some inches away, Naruto had already used his hands to cover his face. If there was one thing he didn’t want to see, was the kiss between his two teammates. He would never be able to look at them like before after that incident and, strangely, the Uchiha was having the same kind of thought. When he saw her one last time before closing their distance, Sasuke felt something burning inside of his chest. Seeing her lips curled up and ready to be kissed and decorated by that perfect blush of hers was just too much for him. It was too much for his heart. Kissing Haruno Sakura on the lips, even if it had seemed to be easy, was, certainly, his own mission impossible. And, unlikely the whole teaching Naruto thing, the almighty Uchiha Sasuke wasn’t going to have enough willpower to finish what he had started. His shyness was going to beat him on his own game and kissing her was, doubtlessly, out of question. Maybe next time he could do it as an Uchiha would.

In order not to leave the girl there planted as a fool, the raven haired boy, with a huge blush painting his ears, quickly planted a kiss on her left cheek. It was just a quick peek but, for them, it felt as if it had lasted an eternity. He felt all of her warm and her skin tasted like tomatoes. She felt his softness and an incredible surprise when her cheek was the place kissed by him. It had been unexpected and long and still such an ephemera thing that, when it ended, they were both left speechless as their locked eyes did the whole talk. They were practically admitting the existence of love and happiness in between them and that connection was just extremely beautiful. Black and green. Blue and pink. Sasuke and Sakura. All of it united by some hours of study and a mere kiss on the cheek. Some people don’t really need much to be happy. They just need someone who loves them and a mission impossible to keep them going. To keep them fighting. To keep them loving.

“ are you two done already? This is disgusting-ttebayo!”

“ … I-I… We…” She blushed madly, not being able to talk.

“ hn, stop being so childish, Naruto. It was on the cheek.”

“ uh?” He uncovered his face. “ cheek?”

“ y-yes…”

“ hn.”

“ just on the cheek?!” He bursted out in laughter. “ you’re really a coward, Teme! No tongue?”

“ Naruto!” She blushed madly. Sakura could not stay there any longer.

“ Naruto! I’m going to kill you..”

“ hum… I was just curious…”

“ and now you have your answer, Dobe.”

“ I-I… I’m gonna get us something to drink!” She said, almost running towards the door. “ I’ll be right back…”

She looked at the Uchiha one last time and, with a shy and blushing smile, Sakura left. It was true that she was going to get them some drinks and it was also true that she would be right back. But, during the time she spent on the way towards the vending machine, her head would certainly be repeating that kiss over and over again. Her fingers gently caressed that area and, for a minute, she even considered never washing that again. It had been the first time he had kissed her cheek and it had been wonderful. She couldn’t really wait for when he kissed her lips.

Her small chuckle was heard from the room and Sasuke couldn’t help but smiling innocently. Maybe he had done the right thing, indeed. Maybe he shouldn’t listen to what Naruto had to say and maybe he should just look forward their next study section. Teaching Naruto was, certainly, hard. But, together, Sasuke and Sakura could do anything. Really anything.

“ humm I think I’m ready for the test, dattebayo!”

“ hn… Good for you. You’re welcome.”

“ welcome? For what?! You didn’t even do anything, you pervert! Ah, and by the way, why did you come with us? Just to look at Sakura-chan?!”

“…. You can say so…”

Sakura nods to herself enthusiastically as she remembers her resolution and how she has to somehow speak to Sasuke before recess break. After all, Sakura doubts she will be able to speak to Sasuke alone during recess; he's always running around with his friends or surrounded by girls from their grade. Then if Sakura doesn't ask Sasuke today, she doubts she will be able to work up the resolve to do it again for a while.

Sakura is so busy thinking about her impossible mission that she almost misses the teacher dismissing everyone to go to their lockers and grab their snacks. Almost, because she catches the teacher's words just before everyone is getting up and making their way into the hallway. Therefore, Sakura is able to stand up and make her way just as the others are. All while keeping an eye on Sasuke and where he is and who he's with.

The hallway is only slightly abuzz with noise as the third grade students enter it, the teacher reprimanding anybody who gets a little too loud. All the students share lockers in pairs by last name, so Sakura Haruno's locker is a bit of a distance from Sasuke Uchiha's. However, Sakura notices Sasuke seems to be having trouble grabbing his snack from his locker as Naruto-his locker buddy-is digging through their locker and blocking Sasuke's ability to obtain his snack.

Naruto finally locates his snack though, and grinning proudly he saunters back into the classroom while an agitated Sasuke finally uses his opportunity to grab his food. Sakura noticing Sasuke and only a few other classmates are in the hallway, she slows her pace down as she grabs her snack, zips her backpack up, closes her lock, and turns to face the classroom door. The sum of her slower paced actions leading to her and Sasuke both alone in the hallway; Sakura adds the finishing touch by timing her return to the classroom to Sasuke's. Leading to both of them crossing each other's paths right outside the door and the view of their classmates inside.

Sasuke doesn't seem to care that he and Sakura's paths have bumped into each other, because he just moves a step aside from her and almost continues on his way. Almost, because little Sakura Haruno sticks her hand out to grab the edge of his shirt sleeve before he move out of her reach.

The action catches Sasuke's attention, and he stops his trek back to the classroom just as Sakura wants. However, he says nothing to her as he waits for her to initiate the conversation just as she had been the one to stop him from moving forward. He takes the time to silently look her over there; her head is tilted down so she doesn't notice his eyes focused on her.

Sasuke is aware that she is in his class and her name is Sakura, and he also knows that she is far too cute. His friends used to always talk about her before he really knew who she was, so when he finally had her in his class this year, he had been annoyed with her. Due to the sole of his friends talking about her too much. However, his view quickly changed when he wanted to understand what his friends found so enduring about her and ended up finding her cute.

She is shy and usually mutters and blushes in class when the teacher calls on her in class, but Sasuke finds that appealing compared to all the girls who usually mindlessly yell and talk too loud for his taste. She might have pink-hair and contrasting green-eyes along with tendency to drop things, but Sasuke finds that he likes those traits of her. Sakura he learned, is just cute in her looks and actions, and he understands why his friends used to talk about her.

"Sasuke, would you umm-" Sasuke is drawn from his thoughts and back into reality when the girl he had just been starring at and thinking about stammers out a few words with her head still down; except a red blush stains her cheeks now.

"Hm?" His sound of acknowledgement makes her head lift up to him before it is urgently forced back down again after Sakura's eyes met Sasuke's.

"Wouldyouliketoeatlunchtogether?" The words are rushed out of her mouth so rapid, that they mesh together to form one incoherent sentence in Sasuke's brain.

"Would I what?" Sasuke inquires after her speedy question, unsure of what she had asked him. At first he thinks she's just going to go back to the classroom as she releases his sleeve from her grasp, but she stays put after the action. Only to bend her arms, clench her fists, and line her arms up parallel to her chest before lifting her head up and asking Sasuke her question again at a volume just below a yell.

"Would you like to have lunch with me?" Her face is determined, and Sasuke begins to answer before a girly shriek from he classroom door interrupts him and drags his eyes from Sakura to the sound.

"Ew, pinky just asked Sasuke to lunch!" The sentence is followed by numerous 'ews' and as Sasuke turns his head back to Sakura, he can see that she is on the verge of tears.

Sakura is extremely embarrassed as the girls from her class have just witnessed her asking Sasuke to lunch. She already knew her mission of doing so would be impossible, so she made sure to be alone for the rejection and avoid this humiliation. Yet, her she is in front of her peers receiving rejection. Sakura is tempted to run to the bathroom to hide her tears, but a sudden clutch of her wrist prevents her from leaving.

"I'll have lunch with you." The sentence spoken by the only boy in the vicinity cuts through the girly voices teasing a pink-haired girl, and everyone-including Sakura-stares wide eyed at Sasuke.

Sakura is still trying to process what Sasuke had just answered to her question. She is starring doe eyed at him as he shifts on his feet, feeling a bit uncomfortable from all the stares and jaws dropped from the girls around him. Trying to divert attention away from himself, Sasuke offers Sakura a little smile and pulls on her wrist a little.

"Okay?" Sakura is pulled back to the present and lets her eyes shrink into their normal size as she gives Sasuke a little smile and a nod. The actions clearly excite Sasuke as his smile becomes bigger.

"We should probably get back into the classroom though. I think snack time is almost over?" Sasuke whispers to Sakura, tilting his head towards the door.

Sakura starts to nod, but as she turns to look at the classroom door, she realizes she'll have to walk through the gang of girls glaring at her. The thought unsettles her and she stays in place even as Sasuke takes a step towards them.

Realizing Sakura isn't walking next to him, Sasuke turns to see her nervously biting her thumb nail while looking down. Understanding her hesitancy after seeing the girls still standing in front of their classroom door, Sasuke takes Sakura's wrist and drags her forward with him. The motion catches her off guard, but she goes along with his action as he pulls her forward towards the girls.

They say nothing verbally as Sakura walks through the middle of them with Sasuke holding her wrist and steering her into the classroom. Their eyes say plenty though, but Sakura keeps her eyes on the back of Sasuke's head though. Naturally, Sasuke and Sakura make it into the classroom without incident, and Sakura exhales in relief. She thought that would be her second impossible mission today.

Not even realizing she had just expressed her thought out loud, Sakura gives a confused look to Sasuke as he starts to chuckle.

"Both mission went pretty well, eh?" Sasuke gives her a playful look and Sakura finally realizes what she had done moments ago and immediately starts blushing. She can't believe she just admitted such a thing, but as Sasuke continues to give little chuckles on their way to their seats, Sakura realizes she should have a bit more confidence in herself; no mission is impossible.

A bit random and out there, but I thought it would be a cute little story about young Sasusaku hitting it off.

Happy summer!

~Stayclassyandsassy-16

P.S Forgive the cheesy ending?