AN: I know I know, starting a new story, without even updating my other ones, except for Indifference, two chapters in two days, that was pretty good. Anyways I always wondered what it would be like if Sakura and Sasuke had developed a relationship while they were younger. And yes I know, Iruka is extremely out of character and also there will be abuse, but it is not considered abuse in the story, just a father disciplining his child. So there you have it, please tell me if I should continue or not, because I've never written a Naruto fic, so please enjoy. Also the rating may go up if this develops how I want it to, but when working with Sasuke you never know how things will work out.

Disclaimer: Do Not Own Naruto!!!!

Chapter 1: Difficult Beginnings

'I don't want to be here, this isn't what I want to do'

Tears dropped onto the concrete ground, wetting little patches of ground. No one seemed to notice, or perhaps just decided not to bother. The little girl hung her head low, pink tresses falling over her bowed head.

"Sakura, you will end this nonsense and go to your class. You are acting ungrateful and disrespectful and do not think you will escape punishment for your actions."

Looking up at her father, Sakura bit her lip and nodded running off in the direction all the other children were going. However, all she could do was cry harder at her father's cruelty.

Stopping when she was sure he couldn't see her, she crumpled to the ground and continued to cry softly. Hugging her knees to her chest she wished she was anywhere, but here. She had barely turned five and she was terrified of this new environment and the children did not seem to even like her. No one had even noticed her and no one had even said hello, or asked for her name.

'I'll run away, then I won't have to go here and father won't be able to punish me.'

"Hey, what do you think you're doing? Are you ditching the first day of school?"

Looking up Sakura was terrified to see the teacher standing before her and immediately stood up.

"No, I was just lost and umm…I was going to look harder for the classroom."

Glaring at her, he clearly did not buy her excuse and so pulled her by the arm to the classroom.

Once there he stood her in the front of the class, obviously he was intent to make an example of her.

"Quiet everybody, I want you all to see this girl, Haruno Sakura, and see what happens when you decided to ditch class."

Embarrassed and horrified Sakura lowered her head in shame as she heard murmurs and snickers from the other children.

"Ms. Haruno you will now stand in the front of the class the entire day, holding these and perhaps next time you will think a little harder before trying to miss my class again."

Taking the five heavy textbooks Sakura nearly fell over, but held up and nearly began to cry at the humiliation she was suffering.

Immediately the entire class began to laugh at her and she put her head on the books and struggled to hold them up.

'How am I going to hold these all day? I'm going to drop them and then he will make me do something worse than this!'

The teacher began to talk introducing himself as a Mr. Umino Iruka and explaining what was expected and what they'd all be learning.

Then they were released for lunch and many of the kids left running out to play and eat.

"Sensei may I leave to eat my lunch?"

"Now Sakura it wouldn't be much of a punishment if I let you do that, no you will remain as you are. I want to make sure that you or anyone else who tries to ditch will know the consequences will be severe."

"Alright," she mumbled and with that Iruka left as well leaving Sakura in the room with one other student.

Her arms were shaking violently and tears began to leak from her eyes.

'Why is this happening, I've been holding these books all morning, why isn't that enough?'

"Hey, why are you still holding those stupid books? You should take a break while he's gone you idiot."

Looking up towards the seating area Sakura saw a boy with dark hairs and darker eyes, staring at her intently.

"Why do you care? You were probably laughing at me too."

"I don't laugh at the pathetic, but if you want to hold those books, then by all means hold them, it should be amusing to see you drop them in front of everyone."

Biting her lip, Sakura tried to set them down, but all they did was fall and immediately she felt better. Her arms may have felt like Jell-O, but at least she wasn't holding those books.

"See I told you."

"Thank you."

Getting up the boy started to walk towards her and she got a little defensive, unsure of his motives. Maybe he was just trying to get her in trouble, she didn't know.

"What, do you think I'm going to hurt you or something? You really are weird, he'll probably be back in half an hour so make sure you're holding them again by then."

And with that he sauntered out of the class and out into the schoolyard. Sakura watched through the window careful to stay out of view for the other students.

'That was weird, I wonder why he was so nice, maybe he just felt sorry for me, he did call me pathetic.'

Sighing, she went to her bag and got out the few rice balls inside and began to eat quickly.

Then massaging her arms she prepared herself to began to hold the books once again, however, picking them up the for the second time was even more difficult than the first.

'Great, now it hurts even more, maybe he was just trying to be mean to me.'

As the kids started walking back in, many of them began to say mean things to her, calling her weak and stupid.

Trying to block out everything they said Sakura closed her eyes and thought of the boy's face, wondering what his name was.

The next three hours passed by extremely slow and when it was over the teacher lectured her and sent her home with a note, on her bad behavior, which needed to be signed by her parents.

'Dad is going to kill me when he finds out, this cannot be happening, maybe if I get rid of it. But then sensei will just make a house visit and then I'd probably be in more trouble.'

Walking home was making Sakura feel sick, he father was already mad at her for crying and now when he finds out that she was in trouble she was going to die.'

So lost in her thinking she didn't notice the person in front of her and so bumped into him.

Falling back she braced herself for the ground, but the person grabbed her arms and pulled her forward.

"Don't you ever look up when you're walking?"

"I'm sorry, oh it's you, thank you for earlier."

Smirking he noticed the note and said, "so sensei gave you a note to top off your punishment?"

Nodding glumly, tears welled up behind her green eyes and shaking her head she tried to banish them.

Looking harshly at her he said, "You can't always cry like that, people will see it as weakness, just think about how it will pass and tomorrow's a new day, so don't worry okay."

Smiling a little she nodded shyly and after saying good-bye began to walk back home, a little more hopeful.

'Oh shoot, I forgot to ask him his name, tomorrow I will make sure I know it!'

After reaching home she suddenly forgot about the boy's words and soon only became aware of her father's harsh bantering.

"I'm sorry father, it will never happen again. I promise I did not want to disrespect you or sensei and all I want to do is bring honor to our family." Sakura's pleas and promises did nothing to stop his violence towards her and soon she could not stand up on her own.

Her mother did nothing to help her, like usual she merely sat in the corner and turned her head to the distastefulness of it all.

Looking at his wife her father said, "get her out of my sight, I don't want to see her and she won't be getting dinner tonight. If anything like this happens again you better not show your face and just disappear. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior, do you understand, Sakura!"

Rasping out her response Sakura slumped onto the floor into blissful unconsciousness.

Picking her daughter up, her mother carried her to her small room and deposited her onto the futon.

"Sakura why can't you just stay out of trouble? I don't like to see you hurt, but you know you're father is very strict and does not tolerate this kind of behavior."

Kissing her on the forehead her mother left her, in the darkness of her room.

Waking up a couple of hours later, Sakura could feel every bruise and laceration on her body.

Feeling her ribs she was relieved that none were broken and so she laid on her back and stared into the bleak ceiling.

'Well at least no one likes me enough to worry if something is wrong, I'll just say I fell, but that boy I wonder if he'll ask me what happened.'

With that she fell asleep, thinking of the boy who had been kind to her and actually looking forward to tomorrow.

'Well he was right, today is over and now I have the next to look forward to.'

Waking up in the morning Sakura was happy that her father had already left for work and so her mother gave her a modest breakfast and made her promise that she would be good.

"Wait Sakura let me wrap you up a little before you go."

Smiling at her mother's kindness, "It's alright I feel better so don't worry mother, I'll make you and father proud."

Nodding her mother said good-bye and watched Sakura walk to the academy.

'Please be good Sakura, I don't want to see you hurt.'

'Today is going to be a good day, I just feel it'

Sakura walked to school smiling and noticing all the pretty flowers and other things around her.

However, she was so busy noticing the flowers that she missed the boy standing in front of her and ran into him.

Wincing she rubbed her tummy and noticed it was the same boy from yesterday.

"I'm so sorry, I keep running into you I just am clumsy as you probably can tell…"

Sakura stopped herself from babbling and turned her head, feeling embarrassed.

Looking at her he frowned at the bruises on her face and noticed the marks on her arms and legs.

"What happened to you? Why do you have all these bruises and marks on your body?"

Blushing Sakura mumbled something about falling down the stairs, but the boy didn't buy it.

"I don't believe you Sakura, you will tell me, but we're going to be late as it is, so come on."

Blinking, Sakura couldn't believe he wanted to walk with her and so happily started walking with him.

"Oh, I never asked you what your name was."

"Uchiha Sasuke"

'Sasuke and he's from the Uchiha clan, I can't believe he wants to walk with me'

End Note: Well there it is the first chapter!!!!! And it's longer than anything I've ever written before, I really enjoyed writing this so please tell me if you liked it, hated it, want to burn it or what!!!!!