One warm Sunday night at the local family diner, Team Suzume has their usual once-a-week get together to catch up on each others' lives.

Haruno Sakura takes a big gulp of water before blurting out her thoughts.

"I didn't make the cut for the genin team applications!" She wails, arms flailing and pink hair flying.

Nobody at the table moves for several seconds.

And then Iruka narrows his eyes in distaste.

"Does this mean I have to give back your locker space?" he asks, because this is obviously the most important point. "Because I've already begun moving several files into your old locker at Administration, and it's a pain to take them back out again."

Umino Iruka is known throughout Konoha as an amiable and polite chuunin academy instructor, so those who are unaware of this side of him usually react with complete shock to see him behave this way. Sakura, being his teammate for years is already used to this however.

"Hmph, what a waste," Kou complains under his breath in a low voice that Sakura can still hear. He's definitely letting her catch his words on purpose. "I bought that camera for nothing. I was looking forward to collecting some prime blackmail material..."

Hyuuga Kou is a jounin-level shinobi like Sakura, and is every bit of a two-faced jerk as Iruka, in Sakura's opinion. He is also the one who usually pays for their once-a-week gatherings, including the damages. Especially Sakura's. So she grudgingly tries to keep him alive and sane.

"You guys..." Sakura growls, but she doesn't start throwing glasses at them. Yet.

"Well, you didn't make the cut last year either, right? You aren't lacking in aptitude; it's simply a matter of luck. Perhaps you'll get a better chance next time, Sakura-kun."

"Don't encourage her, Umino. At this rate, by the time she finally gets a genin team she'll most likely be in her forties."

"Shut. Up."

"I do sympathize with you, however."

Kou swallows his food and settles back in his chair. Both Sakura and Iruka lean forwards automatically in response. They know that whenever Kou sits like this, he is physically distancing himself from the situation at hand so he can give a more unbiased observation. He never explains why this helps him, just that it does. Iruka and Sakura no longer tease him about it. Much.

"This year's batch of graduates consist of heirs from the most prominent of clans. All the other jounin are submitting applications like crazy because they want to collect all the glowing accolades later. With the sheer number of hopefuls, the only way to secure a genin team of your own is to either have friends in high places, or get a seasoned jounin recommend you for the position."

"And besides, Hokage-sama isn't an unreasonable woman. Just give her the right incentive, and she'll accept your application for sure!" Iruka agrees.

"I don't have the money to buy her latest favorite alcoholic drink," Sakura sighs dejectedly.

"That isn't what I meant by incentive, but I'll give you a gold star for trying. Good job, Sakura-kun!"

"Why are you ignoring my advice Sakura? Where's the love and appreciation? I'm starting to think that I was wrong to pay for dinner this time around..."

Both men duck down beneath the table. A water glass zooms harmlessly over their heads and crashes against the far wall.