Letters - SasuNaru - Revised

Homework

Naruto returned home after school, his mind still preoccupied with the looming pen pal project. Despite his usual enthusiasm for cooking ramen, even the comforting aroma couldn't fully lift his spirits. As he devoured his dinner, he couldn't help but feel a sense of restlessness, a nagging impatience to discover who his mystery pen pal would be.

With a heavy sigh, Naruto retreated to his room, the pile of homework taunting him from his desk. He reluctantly began tackling the assignments, but the silence that enveloped his room soon became unbearable. Determined to ward off the monotony, he reached for his trusty red headphones and plugged them in. The rhythmic beats of his favorite music flooded his ears, providing a much-needed distraction.

Bored blue eyes scanned the instructions of his latest project, his mind wandering back to the pen pal endeavor. Without further delay, Naruto picked up his pen, ready to pour his thoughts onto the blank paper. He started with a simple greeting, unsure of how to navigate this peculiar task.

"Dear Penpal,

I'm not really sure how to begin this stupid project, so I'll just start off by asking you some questions. Since I can't know your name, what should I use for a nickname instead of 'pen pal'? How about something related to your favorites? Also, do you have any siblings? If you do, how many?"

Naruto paused, his pen hovering over the paper as he contemplated the next sentence. He couldn't shake off the anxiety that gnawed at him. What if his pen pal turned out to be someone he despised, like Sasuke? The thought sent a shiver down his spine. The last thing he wanted was to be connected to someone who treated him with disdain.

With a determined exhale, Naruto pushed those negative thoughts aside. He reminded himself that this project was an opportunity for growth and understanding, a chance to connect with someone on a deeper level. He continued writing, his words flowing from his heart.

"Your Penpal"

The next day arrived, and as the students gathered in their respective classrooms, a sense of anticipation filled the air. The completed homework letters were dutifully turned in at the beginning of each class and carefully filed away in color-coded folders based on the students' names. The anonymity created a veil of mystery, making it difficult to discern the identities of the pen pals without reading the names.

Kakashi stood at the front of the class, his gaze scanning the room. "Now, those of you who have written the letters may begin your other homework," he announced. "The rest of you, as I call your names, please come and pick up your assigned letter and respond to it. You have 30 minutes to complete your response before turning it in today."

As the class settled down, Kakashi stood before the students, his eyes scanning the room. "Now, those of you who have written the letters may start your other homework," he announced, gesturing towards the remaining students. "The rest of you, as I call your names, please come and pick up your assigned letter and respond to it. You have 30 minutes to complete your response before turning it in today."

One by one, Kakashi called out the names, each student eagerly retrieving their letter and retreating to their seats to begin the task. He scanned each letter briefly, ensuring that they adhered to the instructions, before passing them along to their respective recipients.

Finally, it came time for Sasuke's turn. The raven-haired student, with his deep black onyx eyes and pale skin, approached Kakashi with an air of detachment. Kakashi, who also happened to be his first-hour teacher, handed him the letter, their eyes meeting briefly before Sasuke made his way back to his seat.

In a separate classroom, Naruto diligently worked on his other assignments under the watchful eye of Iruka, who taught him during the first hour as Kakashi his third hour. Oblivious to the ongoing letter exchange, he focused on completing his tasks, his mind occasionally drifting back to the anticipation of receiving a response.