My Neighbor Naruko (SasuNaru AU) ✔

Chapter 1: The Girl Next Door

I looked out the school window in boredom. It was another ordinary day, nothing out of the usual as always.

I sighed quietly as I lowered my head onto the school desk in boredom.

Every day was the same. Every face in my small country side home town was the same. Everyone knew each other, and everyone knew they would all end up in each other's lives one way or the other. This is why I hate my life because everyone's fate was already set in this town.

The school bell rang, ending my daily suffering. I quickly lifted myself off the desk, packed my things, and grabbed my bag to walk out the classroom. While halfway out the door, Iruka Sensei called me over. "Sasuke-kun, can I talk to you for a sec?"

I looked over at him in annoyance. I slowly walked over to him, waiting to see what he wanted. "Sasuke, I think you should be placed in the more advanced classes. I mean, you always look so bored and you know all of this information. I really think-"

"I don't care what you think. If that's all, I'll be going." I then walked out without another word.

While walking out of the school building, Sakura came up to me as she always did to me every day. "Hey Sasuke-kun, I was wondering about your thoughts on my new hair cut," she said as she touched her newly cut hair.

I simply shrugged and walked off. 

***

As I walked through the rural roads, I couldn't help but think about how boring today--every day was.

I was passing by the Haruno's estate when Mebuki Haruno called me over. "Sasuke-kun! Come here for a second!" she yelled while waving at me.

I then walked towards her to see her holding a plastic bag full of vegetables. "Here, take this to your mother. It's some extras we had from our garden. We had a good harvest this year."

I bowed in respect and silently replied, "Thank you."

"No problem! It's the least we can do for our family~"

I sighed and began to walk away.

The Harunos have a thought in their heads about me marrying their daughter Sakura.

I sighed again heavily at the thought.

Who knows? I might end up with her. The way things are going, I'll end up with Sakura, be a miserable, old working guy with stupid kids and an annoying wife.

I can't escape that path. When you're born, your life is already chosen for you. It makes a path so you can follow it. This is what's called fate, something that can't be escaped.

I finally reached my house, when I noticed moving trucks leaving the house next door. As I stared at the house, I couldn't help but feel as if something was just destroyed. Like if something had just been broken, put out of balance.

"Sasuke!"

I quickly looked over to the voice to see my mother walking up to me with a box.

"Sasuke, is there something wrong?"

"Huh?"

"No, it's just...I saw you staring off into space. I thought there was something wrong."

I then looked at the bag in my hand and showed it to her. "Here...it's from the Harunos."

She reached over and took the bag from me with great joy. "Wow! This is great, we were running low on food too!" She placed the bag on her arm and began to walk away. "I need to call Mebuki to tell her thank you...oh! Before I forget..."