Haruno Sakura huffs her cheeks as she scrubs the stubborn chalk stains on the blackboard. She doesn't understand why was she being punished when it wasn't her fault at all!

"You punch a boy, Sakura." Iruka-sensei reminds her but Sakura frowns.

"He could have dodged it! Is not my fault he's weak," Sakura argues. Her hand stretches upwards intending to get the remaining writings but her height had her at a disadvantage.

She pouts. Now even her height is against her! Why is everything so against her today? Sakura tries jumping but it could only get her so far. 

"We do not punch our comrade, Sakura," Iruka comments as he continues marking on his students' homeworks as evident by the countless red pen markings.

Sakura huffs and sets a foot steadily at the bottom of the wall. She spares a glance at Tobi and he nods in approval for her to continue. "For the 100th time, he's not my comrade."

"And for the hundredth time, once you both graduate, he will be," Iruka quips naturally back

Sakura begs to differ. With the kind of mouth and that kind of reaction Sasuke had, if he graduates, he's a timebomb waiting to explode on someone. Sakura already pitied his teammates, whoever they are.

"I don't think he can graduate. He had a slow reaction time, anyway. Even a civilian could have dodged it easily." Sakura mocks her status like how Sasuke had earlier. She takes a steady step. It sticks to the wall.

"Regardless, we should not punch anyone who could be our comrade."

"Does it mean we can insult our comrade and citizens then?" Another step. And another. And another. She's getting the hang of this now. Perhaps Tobi could finally teach her water walking next! He promised her anyway.

"What?" 

"Why didn't Sasuke had to clean a classroom too for insulting me and Naruto?" Sakura question. It wasn't fair if only she had to be punished! It was all that weak Sasuke boy's fault anyway!

 Iruka was ready to chastise her as he turns around, but his eyes only widen when he realises she's not on the floor standing as she should be. Instead, she's currently upside down on the ceiling.

 "Sakura-chan?!" He yells out as he practically jumps out of his chair, hands fumbling as he was ready to catch her in case she fell. Mebuki-san was already scary enough in the meeting earlier. He couldn't imagine how scary she'd be if she had to come back to The Academy to bring back one poor injured Haruno Sakura.

"Get down from there, it's dangerous!" He urges her to come down

"What's dangerous?" Sakura tilts her head innocently and Iruka groans. 

It will be fun, they said. Be an academy instructor, they said. Iruka cast a glance to the Hokage monument. Hashirama-sama, Tobirama-sama, why have you forsaken me?

"Oh, you mean walking on the ceiling? Iruka-sensei, I've been doing this since I was 5! You don't have to worry!"

Does Iruka want to know why Sakura is practising tree walking since 5-years-old? And wasn't she currently 5-years-old herself?! 

No, Iruka decides, he doesn't want to know.

"I worry because that's what they all say. Haruno Sakura, get down this instance." Iruka orders as one hand massage his temples

"Fine, fine." Sakura sighs as she closes her eyes and lets herself go. Iruka's eyes widen and his hand quickly reaches out to catch the falling girl. This child! 

Iruka calms his heart rate, finally relieved that he has the troublemaking girl in his arm. He sets her down and sighs. She pouts. 

"Sakura-chan, Sasuke will be getting his own punishment soon. I promised you that." He tells her and Sakura beams with satisfaction.

Iruka sighs again. He doesn't get paid enough for this. 

::

"So you're telling me, little gremlin—" Shisui turns to his younger cousin, eyes practically glimmering with excitement and shock.

"Shisui." A warning for teasing his little brother came easily from the 10-year-old Uchiha Itachi.

Shisui pouts, "Fine, little precious Sasuke-kun, got punched in the face after he insulted a civilian girl?"

"Yes." Itachi nod. It was as simple as that. Not much to overcomplicate like what Shisui was doing. His brother had provoked someone so he paid the price. It was quite a simple concept really.

"Oh my god, this is too good to be true! Tell me what did Fugaku-ojisan say?" Shisui gushes out excitedly. He could already imagine the stern look and frown of disappointment on Fugaku's face.

Itachi shakes his head, "He—" 

Shisui quickly slams his hands down on Itachi's mouth, stopping the younger Uchiha from speaking. "No wait, let me guess!" 

He cleared his throat before taking on a much deeper and rough voice—which is what he assumes Fugaku would sound like, "Sasuke, you shall be punished."

"No." 

"Hm, maybe stricter then? Sasuke, you will not be allowed to meet your friends anymore. You are to immediately head home after the academy and be taught again in your manners. We Uchihas do not raise baboons. You disappoint me." Shisui tries to imitate his uncle's deep voice and serious expression.

Itachi snorts—a rare sound coming from his little cousin that instantly widens Shisui's smile, "Baboons?"

"Don't you think little Sasuke acts like monkeys sometimes?" Shisui chuckles nudging Itachi with his elbow before proceeding to jump around Itachi and cling to his arm.

Itachi could only watch the (very) amusing portrayal of his younger brother by Shisui with amusement and slight admiration. The older Uchiha is truly one of a kind.

Shisui finally stops jumping around. "Well, hm if that's not it then tell me what did he say?"

"He didn't say anything," Itachi replies

Shisui stops in his tracks, "Huh?! Nothing? Are you sure?"

"Yes, Shisui. Sasuke apologizes anyway," The 10-year-old couldn't hide the small smile that fights its way to his lips.

In his mind, his brother should interact more with his classmates rather than clanmates. Only then he will receive the utmost exposure to the shinobi world. This was it. This was the opportunity his ototou was given. He could only hope his brother will continue and bond with them a little more. Although a different bonding technique should be considered...

"Wait, that twerp apologize? Woah that's another first. Are you sure ojisan and Sasuke aren't possessed by some ghost?" Shisui shudders. He could just imagine a pale Fugaku-ojisan and a pale Sasuke crawling on the floor with very, very flexible limbs.

"It wasn't voluntary. The girl made him do it." Itachi explains and Shisui's eyes widen once more.

"Eh?! Really? Wow, how did that happen?"

"It started this morning when..." Itachi began,

Earlier that day

Never had Uchiha Fugaku drop down all his duties as his clan head immediately when he receives a missive. But this one was different. This one was from the Academy. Regarding Sasuke, his second heir.

When he finally reaches the academy, he had been accompanied to the office where there was his son—whose one hand is holding onto his bloody nose, one village pariah Uzumaki Naruto and a girl with bright pink hair. They must be Sasuke's batchmates. 

"Sakura-chan, S'kura-chan, can you teach me how to punch teme as you did?" Naruto animatedly asks the pink-haired girl and Fugaku blinks. 

So it was a squabble among his batchmates. 

Before the girl could reply, Umino Iruka steps in, "Naruto," He warns, and Naruto pouts silently. But behind the chunin, the pink-haired girl winks at the blond and whispered something that had him smiling brightly once more.

But then the chunin turn to the girl and the girl stills. "Sakura-chan, you cannot just randomly punch a comrade." He exasperatedly explains to the girl but she was already shaking her head in disagreement.

"He's not my comrade." The little girl now known as Sakura argued back. Fugaku blinks, taken aback by her boldness. 

Iruka sighs, "After you both graduate, he will be."

"Maybe he won't graduate then," Sakura shrugs her shoulder ignoring Iruka's spluttering. Sasuke immediately took offence to that. Unbeknown to them, the spirit of one Senju Tobirama was thoroughly amused by the scene that was playing out in front of him.

"Tsk, I will graduate unlike you civilian-born!"

Fugaku's frown deepens—he had never heard Sasuke cursed someone out like that before. It left him with a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Civilian-born? I broke your nose once, and I can do it again," The girl threatens his son and Fugaku had enough of this dispute.

"Sasuke," Fugaku's stern voice immediately silence any retort Sasuke could possibly give. Sakura took it as her win and stuck her tongue out at him.

Sakura 2: Lousy weak Uchiha 0

"Uchiha-sama, thank you for coming on short notice." Umino Iruka bowed respectfully and the clan head nod in return.

"What is the problem here?" He starts off and he could see the blonde boy otherwise known as the village pariah flinch at his tone. Fugaku took note to reduce the sharpness of his tone next time.

"That is what I would like to know as well," Another voice, female this time joins the room. Fugaku could see the girl flinched and stiffen up immediately. It must be her mother, he deducted.

"Haruno-san, thank you for coming. It seems there was a misunderstanding and these two ended up in a fight." The chunin concluded sheepishly but both parent nod aware that there was more to the story.

"Haruno Sakura, explain." Haruno Mebuki was the first one who turns to her child for an explanation.

"He said I couldn't throw a punch, so I showed him I could. " The girl confesses but nonetheless showed no signs of regret.

"And you decided that the best target for this was him?" Her mother it seems had a sharper blunt mouth compared to Fugaku himself. Perhaps she could even rival Mikoto.

"Yes. Why shouldn't I? He called civilians— us—weak. Said we relied too much on shinobis and clans to take care of us." The girl mumbles out with no regret and Sasuke grew smaller.

Mebuki hums and sends a curious look at his son. And then one sharp glance at him and Fugaku understood. The implications behind his son's words could be very damaging to the clan's image. After all, if this was what a 5-year-old boy taught and grow in the clan thinks, who would say the rest of the clan don't think the same way?

"I apologize, it is my fault he did not receive the proper teaching at home. I will be sure to educate him as such." Fugaku includes a bow as well to his apology but the woman only hums in return.

"He also said Naruto was an idiot and that was why no one like him." Sakura gleefully added on, fully enjoying the paled look on Sasuke's face. Hah, maybe if he had used his brain to think before he opens his mouth he wouldn't be in this situation! Who's the idiot now?

Sakura 3: Lousy weak Uchiha 0

At this, if Fugaku was a Nara he would have sigh in despair. It was all so troublesome.

"Naruto, is this true?" Iruka interjects and turns to the fidgeting blond boy. The boy in question could only look down at his feet. Perhaps he was embarrassed that the reason was pointed out.

Seeing the dejected look on her friend, the pinkette was quick to nudge him with her shoulder. "Naruto, don't tell me you believe what he said! You're not an idiot and even if you are, I still like you."

Naruto the village pariah could only look up to her with wide blue eyes, "R-really?" His small voice trembled but Sakura took no offence to that.

"Of course." She agreed easily and Iruka had to hide the small smile that threatens to fight its way to his face. At first, he was worried about the village pariah being in his class, but soon he realises that Naruto was struggling a lot in class and barely had any friends. It reminded him that Naruto was still a child. Seeing Haruno Sakura defending and befriending Naruto makes Iruka's heart lighter. He would protect them. He would protect the future generation. That is his promise.

Fugaku took his cue to talk once more. "Naruto was it?" He called out and the blond boy quickly nodded shyly, "I apologize for what my son said to you today. It was uncalled for."

"Is' okay mister." He sniffed in return, managing a wobbly smile.

"Hm, Uchiha-sama?"

Fugaku straightens and turns at the call of his name. Ah, it was the little girl who had called him.

"Why are you the one apologizing for Sasuke's mistake?" Her question was blunt. 

Fugaku thinks she must have taken after her mother but we all know who has been the one actually influencing her. Tobirama could only stand at the sidelines, proudly watching his ward embarrassed the clan head and his snobbish son. Tobirama might have not hated the clan, but that doesn't mean it isn't amusing to watch the clan head splutter or becomes embarrassed. Back then, his anija's antics had caused a few occasions of a red-faced Uchiha Madara and that had been amusing as well.

"Sakura!" Her mother tries to interject and pulled her daughter's hand but the girl only shrugs it away.

"Sasuke was the one who says it so he's the one who should apologize. He's your second heir, is he not? When will he learn of his mistakes if he always has his father apologizing after him?" Sakura huffs and crosses her arm while Naruto could only stare at his best friend in awe. 

"Sakura, that's rude." Her mother hissed this time, the warning was evident.

"I'm sorry okaasan and Uchiha-sama if I offended you with my question. You see, Uchiha-sama, it is my civilian mother who taught me to own up to my mistakes. I was merely wondering if the clan kids, the ones who are stronger and smarter than us civilian were taught the same way." She paused for a dramatic effect and meet Sasuke's meek eyes. She smiles innocently and adds, "Unless of course, they are taught to think they're better than everyone so they don't need to apologize."

Fugaku blink. Once. Twice. He clears his throat and his eyes were narrowed as he turns to face his bruised son.

Sasuke fidgets under his stare and grips the edge of his shorts tighter. He tries to ignore the glint of excitement on Sakura as she watches his cheeks tint pink with embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry Naruto."

Sakura proudly grins and glances at Tobi who nods approvingly. He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but Sakura knows he's a softie for the blond boy too.

A pinch on her arm brings her attention back into the room and reminds her of one very patient woman who has yet to deal with her own daughter. Sakura sheepishly grins at her, only to pout when her mama does not react. Well, looks like Sakura has an appointment booked for another free lecture about manners waiting for her at home.

Looking back at the Uchiha's pink face, Sakura thinks it was totally worth it.

Sakura 4: Lousy weak Uchiha 0

-To be continued-
Yall know how I said this chapter is about Tobirama's thoughts? yea well nope it didn't happen XD

BTW, I'm very happy to announce that there will be an upcoming translation for this book into Vietnamese by xxxradianbulletproof so those of you who are able to speak Vietnamese, do check their acc!

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