Oh, look! It's the beginning of my uber cool brand new Naruto fan fic! TADA!

I finally got around to doing one of these. Anyways, yea, the intro explains most of it. Key word: most of it. There'll be plenty of flashbacks in true Naruto style. XD

Also, be warned but I totally BS-ed most of the stuff about how the Chuunin exams are run, so don't take my word for it. And feel free to correct me. But do it nicely. Also, don't flame me for people who get eliminated in the 3rd exam (It could happen to anyone. . . ) or people who just plain don't participate. (Yes, some mains will not participate this time around. Deal with it.)

And one final note, I need more characters to participate in the Chuunin exams. This means… TA DA! OC submissions! Submit your OCs and if I feel like using them, I will. (Meaning if I think they are of the caliber needed to appear in this fic. XD) They really won't become important until the 3rd exam so you have some time. But if you are going to submit them, then follow the following format:

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Village: (Remember I'm gonna need at least three to form a team, so please pick something legit.)
Personality:
Moves: (PLEASE BE DESCRIPTIVE! If you aren't and I screw it up, it's your own fault.)

With all that said and done, let's get this show on the road, eh?

It was a gray day. There was a slight drizzle and the occasional breeze was cold and biting. The dark clouds that hung overhead matched Sakura Haruno's mood as she sat by herself at the Ichiraku Ramen stand. She absentmindedly stirred her rapidly cooling off Ramen, staring at the counter a few feet in front of her. Besides the stand's staff and another boy, who was happily enjoying his meal, the stand and the streets around it were deserted.

The events of the past few months weighed heavily on Sakura's mind. Her training with the new Hokage, Tsunade, had kept her fairly busy, but it hadn't been enough to completely erase the loneliness she felt. Naruto had set off for his training with Jiraiya just about four months ago, but it seemed as though it had been ages since she had last seen him. And Sasuke…

Sakura sighed and set down her chopsticks, placing her chin on her crossed arms, her depression deepening. What she wouldn't give to see either of them again…

"You gonna eat that?"

Sakura was a bit startled at the sudden question and glanced up to see the only other customer present beaming at her. She half-heartedly shoved her bowl toward him. "Here," she muttered.

The boy nodded his thanks, set himself down in the seat next to her and began avidly tucking into her Ramen. Sakura watched him for a moment. So much like Naruto, she thought, smiling for a second. The boy spotted her expression and stopped eating long enough to smile back.

Sakura straightened up and stretched, trying to get rid of the small cramp she had developed from being hunched over the counter so long. A walk might do me some good. It beats just sitting around here anyway… She began to dig around in her hip pack for her money, when a hand grabbed her arm. She looked up rather quickly, an expression of alarm written across her face. It quickly faded however. The boy at the counter released her arm and said, "I've got it."

Sakura began to protest. "Oh, it's alright, I--"

The boy shook his head. "No, it's not. It's unfair to pay for something you didn't eat. 'Sides…" He patted his stomach, grinning. "I've gotta thank you somehow."

Sakura said nothing for a moment. Well, he may eat like Naruto, but he sure is more grateful than him. "OK, thank you," she said, flashing a quick smile and then walking away briskly.

"No problem," the boy called after her, waving a hand. He quickly turned back to the remains of Sakura's Ramen, polishing it off in a few good swipes of his chopsticks.

Sakura headed off down the street, feeling a good bit better. She glanced up at where the sun was starting to peek out from behind the clouds. Funny… she thought. I never asked his name…

The mood of the village changed with the weather. Before long, the streets were mildly busy again as the dark clouds faded to a lighter shade and the sun shone out from behind them. Sakura weaved her way through several young Academy students, who were chattering away to each other about the day's events. She turned back and watched them walk off for a second, smiling a bit as she remembered her days at the Academy.

"You're looking a bit more cheery since the last time I saw you," a voice behind her observed.

Sakura jumped a little and whirled around. "Are you ever going to stop sneaking up on me, Kakashi-sensei?!"

Hatake Kakashi merely smiled back at her, his face partially obscured by the usual mask. Sakura sighed. Some things never changed. The two of them began walking down the street together. "So where've you been for the past few weeks?" Sakura asked. "I heard you were escorting Hokage-sama somewhere."

Kakashi nodded. "I was. Just got back a few hours ago."

"What was it all about?" Sakura asked, curious.

If Kakashi's face was fully visible, the mischievous grin would have been plain as day. "I could tell you… or I could just let Hokage-sama tell you herself. She wants you to meet her at Training Ground 6 as soon as possible."

"What?! And you wait until now to tell me?!" Sakura dashed off down the street in the direction of the specified area. She yelled back over her shoulder. "I swear, one of these days…!!"

Kakashi watched her run off. "Nice to see you again too."

Tsunade stood in the middle of an open area surrounded by trees, mostly known as Training Ground 6. She crossed her arms over her chest and glanced up at the clearing sky. Where's Sakura? I was sure that Kakashi would deliver my message… Any further reflection on the subject was broken by Sakura rushing up out of breath.

"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama, but Kakashi-sensei only just let me know and…"

Tsunade waved a hand, silencing the girl. "Yes, I figured it might something like that. And I already told you, no 'Hokage-sama' when we're alone. It makes me feel like I'm back at work…"

"Oh sorry, Tsunade-sama…" Sakura muttered, blushing slightly at her slip-up.

Tsunade smiled at her pupil. "That's alright. You'd think I'd be used to the title by now. But anyway, now for the real reason I wanted you to come here. We're going to continue our training."

Sakura glanced up, surprised. "But, Tsunade-sama, didn't you just get back from a long trip? Don't you need to rest?"

Tsunade waved a hand airily. "I'll get some rest later. I feel this training is very important for right now. We're going to be taking a break from the regular medical jutsu and learn something new."

Sakura watched obediently as her teacher walked up a nearby tree. "Now watch closely, Sakura…" Tsunade brought her right arm back, hand clenched into a fist, then let it come shooting forward toward the tree. The tree was literally pulverized on contact. Sakura put up an arm to protect herself from the flying splintery debris. When the dust cleared, a good section of the tree was eradicated, the upper part falling backwards into its neighbors and a jagged stump remaining rooted in the ground.

Sakura's eyes widened in amazement. "Wow…"

Tsunade flicked a splinter off her sleeve. "Pretty impressive, huh?" Sakura nodded silently, still slightly in shock. "Well, you're going to do it… hopefully."

Sakura's silence broke into an excited babble. "Really, Tsunade-sama? Wow, I never thought that anyone could do something like that, well no one maybe except you Tsunade-sama but then again I never really knew you could do it either so--"

"Enough! Enough!" Tsunade said, waving her hands. "If you don't stop talking, you'll never learn the technique!"

Sakura shut up, but not before uttering one quick "Sorry."

Tsunade took a breath before beginning again. "Alright, this technique requires a high amount of chakra control, the same as most medical techniques, but it also requires split second timing. You have to build up chakra in your fist and then release at the precise moment in order to achieve the desired effect. Now," she said motioning to Sakura. "Try and do as I have explained."

Sakura nodded and took up a position near another tree. She formed a hand-seal in order to build up her chakra for a moment. Then she brought her fist back, ready for a punch. She was about to launch it at the tree when she thought of something. "Tsunade-sama, when is the precise moment?"

Tsunade smiled at her. "I'll let you figure that out for yourself."

Sakura huffed a little. It wasn't the answer she had been looking for. But nonetheless, she readied herself again and this time launched into the attack. "Hrrr-ah!" She tried releasing the chakra just after her fist struck the tree, figuring that the explosion would blow the tree apart. What she got out of the bargain was a badly bruised fist. "Ow…" she muttered, shaking off her hand for a second. "Well, that didn't work out too well…"

Tsunade laughed a little. "It takes a bit to get it right. Keep trying and I'll help you out along the way."

For the next three hours, Sakura continued working on perfecting this technique, varying the timing of her chakra release as well as the way in which she released it. Finally, just when she thought her hand was about ready to fall off, she managed to rip a large jagged chunk out of the tree.

Tsunade nodded in approval. "Good, I think that's enough for today. I'll see to that hand before you go home."

Sakura was too tired to say anything, but she nodded gratefully and plopped down on the ground, leaving against the tree she had been practicing on while Tsunade knelt beside her and began binding her bruised and slightly swelling hand. "Tsunade-sama?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you think it was important for me to learn this now?"

Tsunade once again smiled. "Ah, now you've gotten to another reason why I wanted to see you today. You know I was away for a while, don't you?"

Sakura nodded. "Yes, and Kakashi-sensei went with you. He told me that."

"Well, the reason I went away was to meet with the Kages of the other villages of this country to plan the next Chuunin exams." Sakura's heartbeat quickened at this, but she kept silent allowing Tsunade to continue. "We all agreed that, given the circumstances surrounding the last Chuunin exams, Konoha be allowed to host them again this time, to sort of make up for the 'mishap.' They will be held in two weeks time."

I wouldn't exactly call it a mishap… Sakura thought. That was where everything started that led up to where I am now… and where the rest of my team is. Another question hit her. "But Tsunade-sama, I can't participate, can't I? I mean, I'm only a one man team at the moment, so…"

"We have thought of that," Tsunade said in a tone that denoted she was excited about this whole thing. "So we have arranged for two new team members to be added to Cell 7."

"Oh…" Sakura had mixed feelings regarding this new information. She gazed out at the setting sun as she weighed her feelings. At least I won't be alone anymore! And I can participate in the Chuunin exams! But… they'll never replace Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun…

Tsunade seemed to sense her conflict. "I know this may be hard to get used to, but it is for the best. We made sure to assign Genin who are on your level, maybe even above it. So don't worry…" Tsunade smiled again. "You'll have a fighting chance."

Sakura smiled back. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama."

"You're quite welcome. Now then, you'll meet your new members tomorrow morning at the Academy. I'll leave information as to exactly where at the entrance for you. Keep in mind that the new members don't know who their teammates will be either. They just know they're being specially assigned. Now go get some rest," Tsunade said, helping Sakura up.

"Alright, but only if you promise to get some too!"

Tsunade laughed. "It's a deal."

Sakura left the Training Ground that evening with the same sense of happiness she had had when she left the Ramen stand. First that boy and now Tsunade-sama. It seems like everyone knows just what to say. Though I do wonder what kind of people my new teammates will be…? I guess the only way to find out is to go home, get some sleep, and show up at the Academy tomorrow.

And the only way for you to find out is stay tuned for the next chapter. So what do you think? Good so far? I definitely think it's the best thing I've ever written. But it's all up to you. Please review and submit your OCs. (No, they won't be the new teammates. I've already got that covered.) 'Till next we meet, later days!