Chapter 3
Sakura Haruno
It looked like a normal building.
Normal bricks, normal walls, stairs, etc. The only notable thing about the building was its lawn, which was filled with bushes and flowers. The lawn was in front of the building and at the center of the lawn was what was called The Pond. Really it was an over glorified pool with a fountain in the middle. The main thing about The Pond was that’s where the really popular people hang out. If you weren’t popular, sitting at The Pond is something you shouldn’t consider. Instead, try sitting at one of the four benches that sat on each corner of the brown tile that surrounded The Pond and watch how life is in the popular circle from the outside. But Sakura wasn’t pathetic like those losers. She won’t be content with sitting on the outside, never participating.
Sakura’s goal for freshman year was to sit at The Pond.
It was going to be tough; she knew this. Most of the popular kids became popular through either family, grades, or being on the fencing team. But she wasn’t good enough to be on the fencing team, her grades could never top Neji’s or hell, even Tenten, and her family were nobody special. Though, she knew that a Uchiha goes to this school, and he’s known as a bum so maybe family wasn’t everything. But still, if nothing about her was exceptional, how was she going to get a seat at The Pond?
It was simple really. Date one of the popular guys.
Sakura knew she wasn’t the most attractive girl at school but looks aren’t everything; however, they are something, so she made sure to get her hair done the day before as well as buy new makeup and clothes in preparation for the school year. She was not risking anything, her butt belonged on that stone wall that surrounded the pool. She wasn’t going to risk losing a spot at The Pond because she was looking like a five out of ten instead of an eight. But, even so, the guy she was aiming for was not the typical kind of guy. She knew he wouldn’t be swooned by a pretty face. He was a man of intellect, a man who still valued the qualities of a true women and the most popular guy at school. He wouldn’t just go after a pretty face but a smart girl who could keep up with his intelligence and add value to his life.
Who also happens to have a pretty face.
Neji was the most popular guy at school, so securing him would also secure a spot at The Pond. Then, she too would become one of the popular girls at school. The guys would be all over her. The girls all jealous. Everybody wishing to be like her and not the other way around.
She entered the school lawn ready. She had planned out everything. Every scenario, both good and bad, she planned for. Sakura knew what she had to do.
- Walk towards the pond.
- Drop textbooks on the floor to catch his attention
- Since he’s a nice guy, he will help pick up the books.
- Brush each other’s hand when trying to pick up the same book.
- Share a long gaze into each other’s eyes (Make sure to apply good eyeliner and lashes beforehand)
- Ask for his name. Act like the new kid.
- Get his number
- Secure bag.
It was simple and every scenario was planned out. If he didn’t help pick up the books, she planned for that. If she didn’t get his number, she planned for that. If the gaze became awkward, she planned for that. Nothing was getting in her way.
“Sakura!”
She heard it. It was a voice that pierced her soul. The sound trembled through her entire body, shaking all her internal organs. Goosebumps shot up so fast it was as if they were trying to race each away from her body.
This was the one thing she didn’t plan for.
The arrival of Ino Yamanaka.
“Sakura, hey!” Ino rushed behind her and wrapped her arm around her neck like a cobra ready to squeeze its prey. “I didn’t know you go to school here,” Ino said with the same fake smile she always wore.
Sakura responded back with a smile of her own.
“Oh yeah, I applied here a while ago.”
“Well, that’s nice.” Ino examined Sakura’s entire body. “You look nice today.”
“Oh really? You think so? You look nice too,” Sakura said trying hard to upkeep her friendliness. She didn’t want to embarrass herself on the first day of freshman year.
“Thanks. Your eyeliner needs a little work, but besides that and the dress, you look really nice,” Ino said, smiling.
“Thank you, you do too. I mean, your hair could use some work and your eye shadow doesn’t look that great, but besides that, you look incredible!” Sakura almost broke character while saying that. Her anger was boiling.
“But you don’t always look this nice. Who are you trying to impress today?” Ino looked around the lawn, trying to figure out who Sakura was dressing nice for.
“Nobody really. I just wanted to look nice for the first day of school,” she replied and almost continued talking if not for noticing that Ino wasn’t listening to her at all. She was muttering to herself, eliminating boys by the second.
“Really Ino, I just wanted to look nice. I’m not trying to imp-“
“You were going to impress one of the boys at THE POND?” Ino burst out laughing. “Which one is it? Sai? No, he’s too artsy, even for you. Shino? Ew. I mean, maybe, you do look like an insect.”
“Ino, I swear I came dressed like this for no reason. I’m not here to IMPRESS anyone!” Sakura’s smile was fading away. Her anger was started to show. She pushed Ino’s arm off her.
“I think you’re the type of girl who would go after Neji.”
Sakura’s smile was now gone. She glared at Ino, completely consumed by anger.
“Jackpot,” Ino said with a devilish grin. “I know you like to plan a lot but that isn’t going to work.”
Sakura gritted her teeth, her fist clenched tightly.
“I know you were thinking that Neji would go for a girl like you, but he wouldn’t,” Ino touched Sakura’s forehead with the tip of her acrylic. “Especially with your five head.”
“He has way too many girls who are sliding in trying to do the same thing you do. However…” Ino gazed at Neji. “Not many girls have the same homeroom class as him.”
“No, you’re lying,” Sakura fretted.
“Nope. Homeroom class 1A. I’m with the smart kids. My dad knows someone who knows Sarutobi and got me a spot in the class. Maybe I should snag a seat next to him and we could talk about history or math or whatever he’s into…Maybe talk about it in his room at night.”
“Stop it,” Sakura begged. “Don’t talk to him.”
“Why? He’s attractive and I can’t help myself. And an attractive person deserves to spend time with another attractive person.”
It hurt even more because Ino was more attractive than her. She knew that Ino had a chance to screw this up. It was the first day of school and already all her planning was out the window. Ino knew this. She knew everything about her; she figured out exactly what she was doing in a matter of minutes.
But she didn’t know one thing.
Sakura came to this school because she wanted to become a skilled doctor. Her quirk was healing, and she wanted to learn more about the quirk and how to use it better but, when she signed on for the summer program, she decided to instead train on her other quirk.
Higher Strength.
Without thinking, she swung her arm. She had trained on how to give a good punch, one that could do damage.
She was tired of Ino and she always got in the way of everything. She was tired that Ino could do anything without even having a quirk. She was tired that Ino was so pretty. She was tired that she was so ugly.
And when she swung her arm, she didn’t feel tired anymore but relieved.
Unfortunately, Sakura didn’t pay too much attention to the self-defense classes they offered in the program. Her first swing didn’t connect with Ino’s face. Ino responded by clawing at Sakura’s face, scratching and leaving marks on her cheek.
Of course she was the better fighter.
This made her madder. Sakura’s face became red hot. She ignored the laughter from the crowd that started to form around them. She was taking Ino down once and for all.
Sakura backed away from Ino’s reach, reading herself for another punch. This time, she was making sure it would connect. Ino came in close, ready for another scratch. She swung her claws at her. Sakura crouched under the attack. Then, counteracted with an uppercut.
It was a direct hit.
Ino flew. It was beautiful. It seemed like it was in slow motion. Her body flying a foot off the ground and coming back, slamming the concrete.
Victory was hers.
She turned around and saw them. Adults rushing towards her. They dragged her away into the school while some rushed to Ino to check and see if she was okay.
She was fine. Ino was only acting like she was hurt.
Its not like this is the first fight they’ve ever gotten into.
DENTENTION REFERRAL
Name: Sakura Haruno
Grade: 9th
Quirk: Strength
Quirk Level:
Partial Normal XHigher Enhanced Super
Additional Quirks: (Normal) Healing
Reason for Detention:
Fighting non quirk student with quirks
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Date of Incident: Time of Incident:
18-20-08 7:58 AM
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Teacher: Time of Detention:
Kakashi Hatake 18-20-08 4:10 PM