Snow fell in thick flurries, and before long, the year was drawing to a close again.
That morning, Sakura and Ino, rivals in love, had both invited Sasuke on an outing under the pretext of gathering kadomatsu materials, hoping to create a chance to go on a date with him. They'd ended up running into each other.
"Ugly! I got here first!" Ino glared at her former best friend, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger.
"Even if you got here first, that doesn't mean Sasuke will accept your invitation, you stupid pig!" Sakura shot back.
"Ugly! Get a grip! Sasuke would never like you!" Ino stepped forward.
"That's exactly what I should be telling you, stupid pig!" Sakura refused to back down.
The two glared at each other, quickly growing sick of the sight of one another, and turned away.
Sasuke stood at his front door, looking impatiently at the two annoying women. "If that's all, I'm going back inside."
"No!"
Sakura and Ino hurried to either side of Sasuke and each grabbed one of his hands.
"Sasuke, it's New Year's Eve tonight, and you haven't made your kadomatsu yet. Let's go gather the materials together!" Sakura said.
"Sasuke, come with me. Sakura already made plans with Naruto, so she doesn't have time for us. Ho ho ho ho," Ino said, covering her mouth as she laughed.
"Damn it, I never made plans with Naruto!" Sakura roared.
"You're so annoying. Stop talking, both of you. I won't go with either of you..."
Sasuke was about to refuse when a young man with deep nasolabial folds stepped out of the entryway behind him. It was Itachi Uchiha.
"Sasuke, you've made the kadomatsu for the past few years. Go with your classmates this year," Itachi said with a smile.
"No! I'd