Chapter Text
The first time it happens, Sasuke and Sakura are completely innocent.
Iruka-sensei had assigned an after school project to the class, pairing them off into groups of three, but Inuzuka Kiba had been out sick. Supposedly. Sakura thinks that the boy was off playing hooky again; he’s always been a bit too wild for her tastes, and it’d be just like her errant classmate for him to ‘get lost’ on his way to school.
So, without a third member, the duo head off to complete the project together in the park. They’re meant to be finding a specific bug — carabus insulicola — to test their hunting skills. Once found, they’ve been instructed to capture it alive for proof, and write up a mock mission report in the simple style Iruka-sensei had taught them the week prior.
It’s slow work. Really slow. The insect they’ve been assigned doesn’t fly, so they can’t rely on fluttering wings to reveal itself, and its body is the same shade of vibrant green as grass. Sakura thinks this is a pretty foolish lesson, and wonders — not for the first time — if this is actually just Iruka-sensei’s way of getting revenge on his students for not quieting down fast enough at the start of class.
He yells at her classmates often, and Sakura wouldn’t blame him if he wanted revenge. She wants to wack sense into most of them too.
A few steps ahead of her, Sasuke grunts, catching Sakura’s attention. When she looks up, the sun is hitting him just right. His eyes are shining — so pretty! — and the look of intense focus on his face is super cool.
Sasuke’s presence is the only good thing to come of this practice mission; the two of them alone like this, working to capture an enemy (the bug)... it’s really romantic. Suck it, Ino-pig!
“Did you find it? Wow, that was really quick! I bet we’ll have the best time out of the whole class.”
It was not quick; they’ve been at this for hours already, and Sakura is starting to get hungry. But her normal impatience is nowhere to be found in the face of Sasuke’s everything, and she doesn’t want to insult him by complaining. It’s not like she was able to find the insect any faster.
When she goes to take a step forward, wanting to see for herself, Sasuke hisses at her through his teeth. Like an enraged cat, Sakura coos internally. So cute!
“Stay still! If we make any sudden movements and startle it, I won’t be able to capture the target.”
Naturally, that’s when it all goes wrong.
Somehow, she’s able to hear Namikaze Naruto — another wild classmate of hers’, and the Hokage’s son to boot — before she sees him, which is a real feat considering how loud that ugly orange jacket he wears is.
Naruto hadn’t been in class that day either, and it’s clear to her that he’s taken advantage of his free day by kicking up some trouble. He’s carrying two open cans, drops of paint sloshing over the sides as he runs, leaving neon orange footsteps behind him as he thunders past.
Sakura doesn’t have time to yell for him to stop before he’s bowling over Sasuke.
In a matter of seconds, the blond has destroyed all of their hard work.
She rushes forward to pull Naruto off of the other boy, and as soon as Sasuke is free he punches Naruto in the shoulder.
“Idiot! You killed the target!” Sasuke scowls, pointing down at the insect. His clan shirt is stained with orange streaks now, and Sakura’s eye twitches. He looked so cool before, assisting her in their class-assigned mission while dressed like a professional. The paint ruins the look. Now he just looks like Naruto does.
“Ehh?” Naruto glares right back, and Sakura can already feel a headache forming. “That’s a bug, stupid. You’re playing with bugs? Geez, you’re lame.” The blond starts to laugh, and Sakura gives into her urges and smacks the back of his head.
Both boys turn to face her, and she crosses her arms.
“Naruto! Sasuke and I were almost finished with our project. Something you would have known about if you bothered coming to school. You ruined it! Now we have to start all over again.” As much as Sakura would like to spend more time in Sasuke’s company, she’s still really hungry. It’s almost dinner time already and her dad promised to cook her favorite tonight. “Why do you even have paint? You’re not supposed to bring paint to the park!”
Naruto had started to look abashed when he first noticed her, rubbing the back of his neck and staring at the ground, but now his head shoots up in alarm.
“Oh man, we’ve gotta get out of here! They were right behind me.”
Naruto shoves a can of paint into Sakura’s arms, and she has no choice but to accept it out of fear of staining her dress.
Before she can ask who was right behind him, Sasuke narrows his eyes.
“What the hell do you think you’re—”
“Stop! Namikaze Naruto, for the vandalism of public property, we’re placing you under…” A deep voice trails off, and all three of the academy students turn around, wide-eyed.
Two older men are standing there, staring at all of them in obvious confusion, but Sakura’s gut starts to twist in discomfort when the baffled expressions fade in place of utter disappointment.
“Sasuke,” one of the men says, his gaze focused on the paint staining her classmate’s shirt, and from beside her Sasuke lets out a quiet sound of shock. “Your father will be upset to hear that you were part of this foolishness. Engaging in acts of mindless property damage is unbecoming for someone of your status within the clan.”
The other man walks closer to them, and Sakura notices that he’s being careful to avoid stepping in any of the paint.
“Uchiha Sasuke and Namikaze Naruto; the two of you need to come with us down to the station.” Sakura pales and desperately tries to make herself smaller, hiding the paint can behind her back. Dark eyes sweep over her, frown increasing. “You too, girl. We’ll be contacting all of your parents.”
Sakura and Sasuke both immediately start to protest, attempting to convey their innocence, but neither one of the officers pays them any mind.