"Congratulations, Uchiha-kun."

"Yes, you have completed the arduous 7 year training required to become a full-fledged, level 5 gaiuchuu-hogosha. Pat yourself on the back."

Hn. Annoying.

A pretty, raven-haired boy leaned against the wall of the space station, checking his cellular phone. 2:57 - he had been waiting for about 30 minutes. And his superiors had promised him that his apprentice wouldn't be irritating... or late.

"Well, you'd better get out there and defend the universe, Sasuke-kun! Ah, you remind me of my younger self..."

Che. Kakashi. He never took anything seriously.

Of course, being a gaiuchuu-hogosha did have its advantages. Unlimited access to the Kaimen was one of them. Though not many things really pleased Sasuke these days, there was nothing that really calmed him down like a ride in Katakiuchi-chan. (Yes, he named her. Yes, her name was 'vengeance'. No, he was not renaming her.) Also, skipping ahead of the lines in space stations was pretty nice. Seeing all those jealous scowls combined with wondrous gazes was surprisingly satisfying.

But, then there were the downfalls of being a skilled gaiuchuu-hogosha.

Like being assigned an apprentice no less than a week after graduation.

Or being assigned a late apprentice no less than a week after graduation.

See, apprentices were really big deals to their "sempai"s. The stronger, the better. At the least, Sasuke hoped for some little prodigy (like him) to come along and show the others how it was done. Naruto had not yet received his - he was still only a level three gaiuchuu-hogosha. (Che. Dobe.) He hoped when his apprentice did arrive, they wouldn't be a total disgrace to his oh-so-important Uchiha name.

Two metal doors slid open with a sharp hiss, and a flustered, thin, just plain weak-looking girl walked in.

Oh, joy.

"Ah! I'm very late!" A frown riddled that pretty little face of hers. She checked her silver cellular phone, hurriedly pressing buttons to send a message back to... whoever. The bunny-shaped charm on the phone bounced back and forth. Stupid, he thought, as the girl slid the phone back to its original position and thrust it in her bag. She was so... frail, and helpless-looking. A twig with pink hair. Sasuke wanted to ask her if she was lost, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to let her walk around the station a little bit...

"Excuse me... have you seen anyone... have you seen an Uchiha Sasuke around here?" She asked with concern in her eyes. Damn. And he had been hoping to have a little fun, too.

"Who wants to know?"

Stare.

Blink.

"You're Uchiha Sasuke?"

He rolled his eyes. Before he could make a witty comeback, she spoke. "Ah, I've found you sempai!"

Stare.

Blink.

Ah, fuck.

"You're my apprentice?" Yes, she was a level four hogosha... but such an annoying girl couldn't possibly be-

"Ah, Haruno Sakura, of the Northern faction! It's great to meet you, Uchiha-sempai!" She said, while saluting shyly. The shy smile soon left, though, to be replaced by a radiant grin. "I had expected someone much, much older than you, Uchiha-sempai!" She proclaimed. "Just how old are you?"

He had already graduated from the academy at the young age of -

"Seventeen." He replied flatly.

"Oh! Me too!" She smiled that bright smile of hers, when, out of nowhere -

"Oi! Uchiha!"

Oh, no. Oh no oh no oh GOD no-

"Hey, Sasuke-teme!"

He sighed (hissed).

"Naruto."

"Haha, hey, teme!" He stared at the peculiar, pink haired girl next to him.

"Girlfriend?"

"Apprentice."

"Ah." Naruto did a double-take, before snickering, and attempting to hide it but failing horribly. "T-this is your... pfft!... apprentice?" Sasuke sighed yet again, and the blonde burst into laughter. "AHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, oh God that's just rich..." He held his aching stomach and wiped a tear from his eye. "This is your apprentice? She looks like a stick!" He exlaimed incredulously.

WHACK, FLIP, SLAM

In less than three seconds Naruto was on the floor.

Sakura's foot pushed hard on Naruto's back, and a sickening crack was heard. She pulled at his arms with simply inhumane strength - where the hell did that power come from? - and ordered him to take it back.

"A-ah! N-na, I was laughing - GAH! - with you, honest!"

Sasuke turned and started to walk.

"Come on." He grinned.

"Jakuhaisha."

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi.

gaiuchuu: outer space
hogosha: protector
Kaimen: interface
Katakiuchi: vengeance
jakuhaisha: fledgling