Chapter Text
Naruto didn't think much before doing anything – not when he spoke, not when he ran, and definitely not when he got lost on his first day. He had already circled the entire school a few times already, until he found himself right back at where he began.
Across the courtyard, under the gold-etched banners of Konoha Arts Academy, he saw him. Sitting on a bench, violin case at his feet.
Hair black as ink, face carved like it had never learned how to smile. His fingers moved in slow, practiced motions – the kind born from years of discipline Naruto had never known. It made his throat tighten.
Their eyes met for the first time. When Naruto looked into that guy's eyes it felt like he was being analyzed – before the guy eventually went back to playing his violin.
He felt like he'd just been measured and found lacking.
And just like that, Naruto knew – he wasn't just here to sing.
He was here to beat him. Even if he didn't know how to right now, something inside him just knew one day he would.
However, something unknown began to stir within Naruto – that even he, himself would not know what it was until much later down the line.
After that moment had passed, when Naruto had already made his way into the building, the guy on the bench had faltered on a note – his fingers hovering over the strings for a moment too long.
———
Naruto did not belong here.
Not in the marble-tiled halls that echoed with rehearsed sonatas.
Not under the spotlight where judges sat with pens, not passion.
And most definitely not in this school, where talent was measured in technique – not heart.
He knew it from the moment he walked in – his collar felt stiff like he wasn't meant to wear it. He tugged at his tie to loosen it around his throat – he felt suffocated. Everyone else's ties looked perfect, pristine even. His hung slightly off, it didn't just itch – it clung to him like a reminder that he didn't belong.
He had somehow, finally found his way to his assigned classroom. “You're late,” a guy with glasses muttered behind a clip board. Naruto bowed his head, but only slightly. He had promised himself he wouldn't shrink here. Not again.
Naruto didn't even realize he was blocking the doorway until a light nudge brushed his shoulder. It was that guy again – after passing by, he made his way to his seat. The atmosphere in the room had shifted, and everyone's eyes turned to the dark-haired guy who had just sat down.
Naruto found it annoying how whenever that guy walked in, all attention was on him. He wondered what was so special about him in the first place that made people feel so drawn to him. However, he wasn’t qualified enough to judge – he got into this school through pure luck of the draw. He placed last in the entrance exams – someone else dropped, and his name got pulled in. He wasn't proud of it – and he sure as hell wasn't gonna say it out loud. Not with that guy in the room.
His home room teacher, whose name he knew from his schedule – Kakashi-sensei, called him up to the podium to introduce himself. The air in the room had shifted once again, except this time it was way more uncomfortable – it felt still. He felt all eyes on him for the first time – most with a scrutinizing and judgmental gaze. Naruto wiped his hands against his trousers while trying to stop his palms from sweating.
He then began to speak – making sure to clear his throat beforehand so he could deliver his introduction without stumbling over his words.
“The name's Naruto Uzumaki! I'm a vocalist, and one day I'll be the best in the world. I don't care how long it takes, I'm gonna stand on that stage one day – believe it!”
It felt like the room had gone on pause – there was pure silence, before laughter and snickers filled the room – some stared at him in disbelief. Only one student’s expression remained unaffected – the guy from before just sat there staring at Naruto. He didn't know how to describe the eerie feeling he got when he stared back into those eyes of his. He felt as if the guy was peering into his soul in some messed up, twisted way.
He instinctively broke eye contact and turned his head around – just in time to see a girl walk through the door. Naruto took that as his cue to go sit down.
“You're late too,” Kakashi-sensei noted, without looking up.
“My apologies Sensei, I ran into some trouble on the way.”
She stepped up to the podium with a certain poise, skirt perfectly ironed, her ribbon tied with military precision. Her stance was confident and collected.
“My name is Sakura Haruno, I play the piano – classical and contemporary focus. I placed second in the entrance rankings. I hope we can get along.”
She gave a professional smile – her hair was pink and her expression even, and composed. She bowed, then scanned the room.
And then her eyes landed on him.
Not Naruto – the guy from the courtyard.
She spotted him sitting near the back.
Her smile flickered into something closer to a smirk when she saw him.
“So he really does go here…," she muttered to herself.
Sakura quickly smoothed out her expression before making her way to him.
She walked right past Naruto without giving so much as a glance his way – not even a glance. She calmly took the seat right next to the guy from before.
“Hi, Sasuke-kun!” She says, rather brightly.
He didn't look up – he didn’t even flinch.
Naruto had finally got to learn that guy's name – Sasuke.
He'd make sure to remember that, and Naruto didn't know how, but he'd make Sasuke remember his name too.