"Naruto! You lazy bum. You know we have training with Kakashi-sensei today!"
Once again, Sakura poked, prodded, and practically pushed Naruto out of bed. "Eh, I'm getting up! Gah, I wish Kakashi-sensei hadn't given you the key to my apartment to wake me up. And why do we have to train anyway? We're all Jounin now."
"Are you really that ignorant? We only became Jounin 3 months ago. And I'm pretty sure that neither of us could beat Kakashi-sensei. We have to keep training. Besides…. You only want to stay home because you try to go out with Hinata all the time." Sakura took immense pleasure at seeing Naruto's face turn bright red.
"How do you know about…? HEY!" Naruto suddenly found his face meeting the floor as Sakura lifted his mattress and tossed him out. How does she do that??
"Now let's hurry up! Although, knowing Kakashi, he won't be at the training site for another 30 minutes." Naruto and Sakura chuckled for a second, reminiscing about their first day meeting Kakashi. So much had changed since then, but you could always count on Kakashi-sensei to be late.
Naruto hurried to eat a quick meal, brush his teeth, and (with Sakura outside) change his clothes. He almost rammed into the already-impatient Sakura as he was running out the door. She gave him an annoyed look and said, "Took you long enough! Now let's go!"
In order to get to their new training spot (Kakashi liked to move them around in order to test their ability to adapt), Naruto and Sakura had to walk to the other side of Konoha. Sakura made sure to avoid Naruto's favorite ramen shop, of course. That boy and his ramen… Walking through Konoha always brought back so many memories… So much has happened here… and I've changed so much. She had made so many friends, learned so much, developed her medical skills and chakra… and discovered who was really important in her life. She glanced slyly at Naruto. He is a goofball, but he's an honest and loyal friend. Hinata, Ino, Ten-Ten, Lee, Tsunade… and of course, Kakashi-sensei. Sensei…As much as she didn't understand it… Kakashi-sensei had been rather cold to her lately. Must be some kind of training technique.
"Sakura-chan, where are you going??" Naruto looked back at her, quizzically. Sakura looked around, and blushed as she realized that she had become distracted while walking.
"I'm coming, I'm coming. Hey! Since when do you get to be the one that's not wandering around??" They both looked at each other, astounded by the moment.
"I think I'm going to savor this for a little while longer…. Ow!" He winced as Sakura gave him one of her famously strong punches.
"Quit with the nonsense, and let's go already!"
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Kakashi walked out into the field where he was going to train with Naruto and Sakura. Strange… I'm the first one here? Maybe it's an ambush…Ever on his guard, Kakashi ducked back behind the trees and began to scan the area. No signs that anyone has been this way… hm… I must say, they've done a decent job. If they're actually here. Probably not, though. Naruto isn't one for stealth…
Needless to say, he was not too far from the truth. Seconds later, he could hear the overly-loud Naruto crashing through the trees, seemingly having an argument with Sakura. "Don't you dare tell Kakashi-sensei about Hinata, Sakura, or I'll… I'll… do something terrible!"
Kakashi then heard Sakura's peal of laughter. "Oh, so you DON'T want everyone to know about the precious relationship between Hyuuga Hinata and Uzumaki Naruto?" Glancing out of his right eye, Kakashi saw Sakura running around, still giggling, while a red faced Naruto chased her around the clearing. Just as Naruto passed the tree Kakashi was behind, Kakashi quickly stuck out his right foot.
"Aaaaaaaagh!" Naruto, once again, ended up having his face meet the ground. Luckily for him, though, the grass was soft and the dirt wasn't too hard.
"Hahaha! Naruto, you've become as slow as an ox! And oh so clumsy. Yet you insisted that we didn't need to train anymore. I think I've been proven right, once again!" She wagged her finger at him, letting out another little laugh.
Kakashi decided that now was the best time to make his appearance. "Sorry, am I interrupting something? Oh dear," he said, looking at Naruto lying at Sakura's feet. "Perhaps Hinata-san should know about this." Naruto's eyebrows rose as his face turned an even deeper shade of red.
"You TOLD HIM?!? Sakura-chan, how could you?" Naruto turned his face up to the both of them, only to see Kakashi-sensei laughing at him.
"It would take a deaf man not to hear you crashing through the trees, professing your attachment to that girl." Sakura looked at him and started chuckling.
"So, Kakashi-sensei, does that mean that you were here before us? I must say, I am impressed." Sakura was relieved to see that he laughed with her. Maybe I was just imagining the cold-shoulder.
"Well, if you two are ready… let's begin! Today's task is focused on fighting one-on-one. Although having a team is more common, there will be times when you find yourself facing a formidable opponent with no one at your side. You must be prepared for anything. Now, Sakura, you will be training with me. As for you, Naruto… you have the pleasure of training with Tsunade. I thought we'd shake things up a little bit."
Naruto's face instantly turned to one of dislike. "You mean I have to fight against the old hag?? Come on, Kaka- Yowtch!"
Tsunade appeared from the ground and punched Naruto, knocking him to the ground. "What are you saying, you annoying little wretch? I'll teach you to talk about me like that! Let me see if you're worthy to ever become Hokage!" With that, she and Naruto flew through the trees in an intense fight.
"Well, Kakashi-sensei, it looks like it's just you and me."
"Sakura-san, before we start… I must ask one thing of you."
Sakura faltered. This wasn't the normal banter she was used to! "Um… yes?"
"Don't call me sensei. Kakashi is just fine. After all, you're a Jounin now."
Is he trying to mess with my head? Well, two can play at that game. "Alright, Kakashi-sens- I mean, Kakashi. But you have to do one thing for me. Call me Sakura."