AN - Dont own Naruto or related characters, if i did i wouldn't be writing fan fiction

In a Million Universes, anything is possible,

Terry Pratchett

A twelve-year-old girl sat alone on the swing her long pink hair blowing gently in the wind. She had been there awhile watching the parents of her classmates congratulating their children on becoming ninja. She had been the only one to fail the final exam, even the blonde haired Naruto son of the fourth Hokage had passed as he smiled with his mum and his best friend Sasuke who was also being congratulated by his elder brother Itachi. She tried not to look at the faces of the other parents not wanting to see the hate in their eyes. She knew most of the village hated her for some reason but she did not care right now. She stood up and brushed her hair behind her ears with her hands revealing the whisker like birthmarks on her cheeks. She looked again at Naruto and smiled happy that he at least passed before running away to the small apartment the Third Hokage had given her so she would be warm and safe at night.

Naruto stood next to his mother grinning looking around to see all his friends Kiba, Choji, Shikamaru, Saskue, Shino and Hinata all wearing their head bands even the popular girl Ino had passed, but the one he was looking for wasn't there and that upset him. He cared a great deal about her because she was always sad and looked so lonely. He eventually spotted saw her on the swing starring at the ground he wanted to go to her but knew he couldn't. He listened to the other parents who were there whispering.

"Look it's her…she's the only one who didn't pass" one mother said

"Good! Could you imagine what would happen if she became a ninja" another mother said

"Shhh…you know were not supposed to talk about it" a third mother said

He wasn't surprised, he often heard his some of friends mums and dads talking about her like that and it was because of them that he couldn't go to her he knew what they would do to her if he did and it scared him.

***

Later that day, Sakura sat crying under a cherry blossom tree, she had decided not to go home but to come to her special place to vent her sadness. She had been there for an hour when she felt someone's presence next to her she looked to see Naruto smiling at her.

"Hey there Sakura what are you doing here?" he asked kindly

Sakura was shocked the boy she looked at from a far was talking to her.

"I …I co… WHAT DO YOU CARE AND WHY ARE YOU HERE?" she shouted angrily.

"I just care and I always come here to think about someone when I feel sad. Ok I answered yours now you answer mine" naruto answered while thinking. Those whisker birthmarks on her cheeks make her look so cute.

"I failed Naruto I'm not a ninja like you I came here to just cry" Sakura answered while thinking I bet he comes here to think about Ino when he's sad all the boys like Ino no one likes me

Naruto's smile faded as he knelt down and gave Sakura a hug. Sakura was shocked again and blushed but she didn't return the hug she just let him hug her while crying on his shoulder she felt safe at that moment safer then she felt her entire life.

"It's ok Sakura I spoke with Iruka Sensei and asked if I could teach you the shadow clone technique before the end of the day, would he let you graduate he said he would think about it." Naruto said rubbing her back gently while trying to calm her down.

Sakura smiled and said "thank you Naruto…-Kun"

Naruto smiled he knew she was happy again she only used the suffix when she was happy which was rare for her.

"Lets get started then shall we?" naruto said

Sakura smiled, nodded and stood up…

***

Later that week, the classroom at the academy was full with the students who had passed the other day Naruto sat at the front with Sasuke, Naruto had his arms crossed and eyes closed while listening to the others all talking about who they wanted to be teamed up with

"Who do you want to be teamed with Ino?" a voice asked

"Who do you think Saskue and Naruto of cause" Ino replied

The girls kept arguing over who wanted who in there teams when he heard Ino shout.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE BILLBOARD-BROW THIS IS FOR STUDENTS WHO CAN GRADUATE!"

"OH YEAH TAKE A LOOK I GOT A HEADBAND SO THAT MEANS I'M A NINJA TOO INO-PIG SO DEAL WITH IT!"

Naruto smiled to himself, Iruka had kept his word. He opened his eyes to see Sakura sitting next to him he knew why she had it, was because she felt safe next to him. He was still surprised at how many clones she had created once she mastered the shadow clone jutsu he could make a few because of his own ridiculously large Chakra reserves but Sakura had surpassed him with her own reserve, and he knew why.

Not long after Iruka entered and said "settle down everyone." once everyone was seated Iruka started to read out the teams until finally "Ok Team Seven will be Naruto Uzumaki, Saskue Uchiha and…Sakura Haruno" all the girls gasped they couldn't believe that Sakura of all people was in the same team as the two hottest guys in the class. Sakura just smiled happy to know that she was now a ninja and was partnered with one she new would protect her.