(BIG authors note skip if you just don't care:
There isn't a whole lot I'm changing except Sakura, I felt they could have had an interesting narrative here if the power gap between these three were a lot closer in some circumstances. So this my attempt to make Sakura like a hero! On equal footing too Naruto and Sasuke! Any help you can provide would be appreciated! Forgive me for some stuff, while I love Naruto, I don't know or have grasped everything.)
Squad 7
Episode 1: The Prodigy, The Survivor and the Knucklehead
-Sakura's Pov-
"Hey Sakura, I was wondering, since were in the same group and all, we could have lunch together?" Chuckled the brightly colored loudmouth known only as Naruto Uzimaki.
He was a little annoying, but I had the same thought as he did a moment before, I thought about calling him annoying and walking away but… Yeah I didn't really know him that well either, I mean, he sucks at school and is an attention seeker. But I'm about to work with him for who knows how long "You know what Naruto, sure. But we should still find Sasuke, I want us all to get to know each other."
"Guh! Why? That guy is so full of himself."
"Well there you go, judging a book by his cover!" I cross my arms, The hypocrisy that I was about to do the same to him didn't escape me, But I'm trying to change that here! "We're all going to be working together for a long while Naruto, how are we supposed to get along or work well if we hate each other's guts!" I exclaim
"Ugh, I guess you're right… Want to get some ramen? After." He said defeated.
"Sure, I can't have much though, I take dieting and exercise very seriously!" I said matter a-factly as I walk us down the road. "Uh… how do we find Sasuke… Do you know where his house is?"
"I don't, heh, don't you and Ino fond over him? Shouldn't you know!" He teases, it ticked me off a little…
"Just because I find him attractive doesn't mean I stalk him!" I exclaim "Though Ino might know…" I sigh, she was definitely more about this love rivalry than I was… Though I hate talking to her, she's… really mean sometimes.
We find her outside talking to her new teammates as well, Shikimaru and Choji, they were heading off some place, probably to eat.
"Hey you three, you wouldn't happen to know where Sasuke lives do you?" I say, more so asking Ino, but if the other two know then that's pretty cool too.
"And why would I tell you where he lives! So you can stalk him!? Like he'd want to see your ugly mug around his place, he's already unlucky as it is…" She said incredulously.
"He lives about a few blocks from the school." Choji said, not bothering to stop eating. "Also that isn't very nice Ino, Sakura you're pretty attractive." He said trying to be nice, and I guess it was… He seemed like a nice guy.
"Wha! How do you know!" Ino exclaimed, looking angry.
"My favorite barbeque place is down there!" Choji rebutled
"Third house down on the 4th block to be more specific." Shikimaru said with a sigh.
"WHAT! HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT!" Ino exclaimed "AND WHY ARE YOU TELLING HER!"
"Cus I walk home that direction and remember where he walks into!" He groans louder "And because who cares!"
I sigh, Ino's always been this way and I hate it… but the other two seem amenable so maybe they can help her not be so rude sometimes.
"Thanks you guys." I said, walking off, I don't know why but that insult hit me more than it should. I mean looks shouldn't matter to a ninja, but… whenever she says it, it makes me feel worse and worse.
As we're walking back naruto nudges me and says "You know Choji's right, you are pretty, I don't get why Ino says otherwise."
"Thanks Naruto." I reply with a sigh "But Ino and I have this history, I don't really want to get into it."
"But didn't you say we gotta get to know each other?" He asked.
He really didn't get personal space, but given the dumb look that he's giving me, its less being nosy and more not knowing better.
"Its just personal, I don't particularly want to talk about it." I say again
"Hmm, I don't get it, but sure Sakura." He says as we get to Sasukes house.
I knock on the door just as Naruto is about to do something stupid to either prank him or scare him. Thankfully i grabbed him by the collar in time "nope." I say low enough for him to hear.
"Awww" He groans as Sasuke opens the door
"Hello?" He says, rice ball in hand.
"Hey Sasuke, Naruto and I were about to grab lunch, want to join us?" I ask kinda nervously, He was always a quiet and Intense guy…
He just raises his rice ball and says "I'm already eating… And I got some stuff I gotta do before we meet our teacher." he says
"Oh, well alright. Want to hang out afterward?"
"Sorry, not particularly. I got some things that need my undivided attention." He said straight out.
I sighed sadly, he seemed to really not want to know or care about us "Yeah alright… see ya later." I said as he shut the door.
"Well that figures, he's so weird." Naruto said
"Come on Naruto, let's go have some Ramen." I reply
"Heh heh! ALRIGHT!" He exclaimed
Once there, Naruto stepped up and sat down first. "Hey Teuchi, Can I get two bowls! One for me and one for Sakura."
"Ahhh, I see, you're part of a squad now!" The aged man said, setting two bowls down in front of us.
"First ones on the house. I say first, Cus naruto usually has like twelve…" the man says before turning around to keep cooking.
"Twelve, how do you stay so fit Naruto?!" I exclaim
"I run. A lot!" he exclaims putting more ramen in his mouth.
I eat slowly, but it is really good ramen… "wow"
"So Sakura, what do you want to talk about?" He says, comically… unimaginably on his second bowl.
Oh right, I actually have to talk "Oh, well... um… What do you do for fun?" I inquire.
"This mostly, comparing different types." He says enthusiastically.
Not going to lie… it's a little sad "Well um do you have any friends?" I ask, hoping he had a few.
"You I suppose, Konohamaru, he's the hokage's son. Though were more rivals I suppose… Oh and Iruka Sensei! He takes me to eat here all the time!" He said happily
Someone he just met, a child, and a teacher… Are his only friends. "That's sweet" I smile, but behind that smile was a bit of sadness… I can't honestly think of a single person I am good friends with either… I mean, I am friends with a few people… But it isn't close. And yet, Naruto, barely has any friends at all.
"Hey aren't you two supposed to get back to school?" The ramen owner said
"Oh no! He's right, herem, thank you Mister!" I exclaimed and began to get out my money.
"Come on Sakura! We gotta go!" He exclaimed, I dropped the money for my bowl before suddenly being pulled along by the knucklehead.
"Woahhh!" I exclaimed
Once there in the classroom, all we find is Sasuke… "You two are late." He groaned, hands over his face.
"Where's our teacher?" I ask as I wipe the sweat off my forehead, naruto is endless with energy… where does he get it.
"More late than you apparently…" he said with a sigh…
Naruto chuckled evily and said "That means I can get him back for making us wait!"
"We… Just got here though…" I said looking at him quizzically.
"Yeah but it'll be funny." He giggled and put a chalk eraser between the door and the door frame.
Not gonna lie… If this works, it's going to be pretty funny.
"You idiot, He's an elite Jonin, he wouldn't fall for that." Sasuke said
"Yeah, Sasuke's right, they're ready for anything!" I said, partially sad because Sasuke's right.
Just after I say that however, the door opens slightly and the masked faced man that would be our teacher walked in! And down came the eraser… on the elite head if our teacher.
...
I'm dying. I'm about to die because laughter is crushing my heart and I'm stopping it "Sorry sensei, I told him not to but that's Naruto."
"Cha! Perfect shot!" Inner me exclaimed
"Hmm… How can i put this? My first impression of this group… You're a bunch of idiots." He said nonchalantly.
That was a bit crushing, first day and I'm already messing things up…
"Alright, why don't you introduce yourselves? One at a time." Our teacher drolled.
"Introduce ourselves? What are we supposed to say?" I inquire… this was going to be awkward…
Naruto then suggests he should go first, which he just introduces himself as Kakashi Hakate, and told us nothing about him.
Naruto goes on about Ramen… its funny but cringey… But he did say he wants to be Hokage because people disrespect him, with his scores and attitude I doubt that'll happen, but shoot for the moon I suppose… Next was my turn.
"I'm Sakura Haruno, I like to read fiction and study, I like learning about the world, its history… Jutsu's, the history of Jutsu's and nerdy stuff like that." I say a little shyly, I'm kinda a dork. "For my hobby, I like collecting and documenting flowers… I draw on occasion, though I'm not very good. And I like to practice a really special Jutsu I learned in a book. My dream for the future is… Well to be honest, I'm not quite sure. I want to reach Jonin level like you Sensei, but if I can't then I can teach as chunin. I like working with kids." That's where I stopped, really pondering my own question, what do I want for the future.
"And? What do you hate?" Kakashi sensei said, he sounded annoyed.
"Oh um… I guess I hate the way Ino treats me… her and the girls she hangs out with at the flower shop. It just… really gets under my skin." I admit, almost embarrassingly… Though I guess Naruto would relate… no it can't be the same.
"Last one." Kakashi said.
Meaning Sasuke got to talk.
I noticed a sweat off his brow, kinda like he was a little nervous … Man, I'm not gonna lie, he's pretty hot. I always thought that, but he's such a shut in… maybe I'll get to know him better with this training though.
"My Name is Sasuke Uchiha… I hate a lot of things… And I don't particularly like anything…" This sudden darkness was a bit off putting…
"What I have is not a dream. I want to restore my Clan and its Honor… And bring to justice the man responsible."
Man… That was both not enough for me to understand, and just enough to feel terrible. HE lost his whole family and the people around it, and I just get bullied… I should talk to him, maybe get him to open up… perhaps it'll make him feel a little better.
Kakashi on the other hand looked bored to death…
"Good, you're each unique and have your own ideas. We'll have our first mission tomorrow." He spoke without care.
"Hyup! What kinda mission are we going to have!" Naruto asks excitedly
"It's a task the four of us will do together." He clarifies… Vaguely.
"What is it!?" Naruto badgers.
"A survival exercise." He states
"Huh? Survival exercise?" naruto questions
"That seems a bit odd Sensei… I thought we got ranked missions? That stuff was academy stuff… At least I thought." I challenged, but try not to be annoying about it so we might actually get an answer.
"This is not like your previous training." Our sensei… man of few... vague words.
"So what kinda training is it?" Naruto rightly asks
Kakashi just starts chuckling… it's a little foreboding…
"Its a normal question…" I sigh…
"Well if I tell you the answer, you're not going to like it." He teases.
"Huh?"
"Of the 27 graduates that just came here, only 9 will be accepted as Genin, the other 18 will be weeded out and sent back to the academy." He says menacingly "In other words, this is a make it or break it pass fail test! And the chance that you'll fail is well… Not favorable. So… didn't like it? I told you so." He said mockingly.
"We worked hard to get here though! What was the graduation test for!" Naruto says frustrated.
I got to agree with him… I didn't lose nights of sleep, and hours of doing what I love just to go back and do it again.
"That was just a selection process of who might become genin, Or not" Kakashi started
Naruto groaned
"That's how it is, I decide if you pass or fail." Kakashi continued "Be at the designated training spot at dawn, and bring your ninja gear." He finished
Well, I have to pass this. I'm not going to be left in the dust… I'm going to find a future that suits me…
"Well that's it… you are all dismissed. Oh tomorrow you better skip breakfast, or you'll puke!" He said menacingly.
Shocked doesn't begin to describe… cus it isn't even close. I am pissed! Properly eating is hard as it is! I'm gonna starve!
Afterward, Naruto asked if we wanted to hang out again… But I turned it down and Sasuke ignored him and left, much to the annoyance of Naruto.
I turned it down because I wanted to practice one specific technique... That one I learned from a book.
After I went home, I told my parents I'm going to eat a hearty meal and go practice in the training grounds for a little bit.
Apparently I was followed… By ino...
"What do you want Ino?" I groan, I do a couple subtle hand signs as she jumps out of the shadows behind me…
"How was your day you Useless disgusting cow, did you spend a lot of time with my Sasuke!" I turned to face her and stepped to the side. Her eyes didn't move….
I had her trapped once more in my genjutsu, like I had done, so many times before. It's apparently pretty basic, but effective, it makes the opponent think one person is there when they're not… They use it for disorientation and sneak attacks… I use it so she can beat on me with out having too feel the blows...
The version of me that she see's doesn't answer…
She walked up and grabbed that version of me… I saw pure hatred in her eyes… this wasn't really about Sasuke… at least I don't think. I think I'm the straw that broke the camel's back…
"So you think just because you're hanging out with Sasuke that you're suddenly cool! And better than me?" Ino exclaimed, laying a heavy punch across the face of that Sakura…
I made it curl up and start to cry…
I watched a tear fall from Ino's eye as she kicks me from anger, I knew this isn't just about Sasuke… Something else must be happening… But apart of me didn't care, she's just a vapid school girl who didn't know when to grow up and not when to talk to an adult about her problems… maybe I'll stand up to her and tell her to get help one day… But not today…
Ino stays silent for a minute before turning away. "I love Sasuke, he'll save me from this hell. Not you. You get to stay here…" she said before walking away…
I couldn't cry, I don't know why, I felt like I wanted to but I just couldn't
I released the Genjutsu just as she leaves, and I walk out to the training yard… practicing that jutsu for a few hours until my chakra was low enough… after that I went home and forgot my troubles…
I couldn't help think of Sasuke, I don't know if this is love, or lust… But whatever it was… it took my mind off of what that other Sakura went through… I wonder what a night with Sasuke be like.
The next morning I tiredly, meeting up with a tired naruto and a well rested Sasuke…
"Morning." I said
Naruto greeted with some variation of good morning.
We then waited… for HOURS. My outward appearance said I didn't mind, on the inside I wanted to become a Jonin just to strangle Kakashi sensei!
Finally he showed up "Morning everyone, ready for your first day?" He asks like nothing Matters!
"HEY YOU'RE LATE!" Naruto and I exclaim
He makes the dumbest excuse and then we get started.
We have until noon to take two silver bells from him. If we can't then its tied to a post and no lunch… great… just what I needed… less protein in my body.
But with only two bells… only two of us get to pass.
"You can use any weapons, including shuriken, if you're not prepared to kill me, you won't be able to take the bells." He explained
I do not like that, Accidents happen even to the strongest, and he couldn't dodge an eraser…
"Those weapons are dangerous Sensei, are you sure?" I say, trying to amicably find a way to ease the test and not accidentally kill my teacher.
"Especially since you couldn't dodge that eraser!" Naruto laughs.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING! I DON'T WANT TO ACCIDENTALLY KILL MY TEACHER!
"Class clowns are usually the weakest link." He proceeds to insult Naruto… while there is some truth to what he's saying… its harsh. Naruto got this far, I'm sure he'll do… ok.
"When I say start you can begin." He finishes.
Naruto gets so angry that he rushes the teacher with a kunai out… like an idiot.
But in a flash Kakashi had that Kunai turned against his own student… So he was hiding his true power… I couldn't even see it. I'm never getting that bell without some kinda plan.
"Don't be in such a hurry, I didn't say start Yet." He said lowly. "But you came at me with the full intention of destroying me, so, how can i say this? I'm actually starting to like you guys."
All of us? Just naruto attacked him.
"Get ready… and… START!" he exclaimed
And like that I ran the hell away into the brush, I wanted to put some distance between us and watch to see what the other two do. Maybe I can catch him with my Genjutsu and sneak up on him… even with the full intention of destroying him… I know I can't take a bell like that. It's not going to be enough.
I hid under the brush, i was pretty good at this in the academy…
Naruto wasn't though… He just stood there and challenged him like he's just some chump!
Naruto rushes then starts… and Kakashi pulls out a book…. A book- I MEAN COME ON! AT LEAST TAKE THIS A LITTLE SERIOUSLY!
Naruto is about as confused as I am...
Though Sensei takes the time to mock Naruto, which drives him into a frenzy, a frenzy that is easily dodged and blocked by the Jonin… But suddenly Kakashi was behind naruto.
"Don't let your enemy get behind you all the time." He says putting up a tiger sign… that could kill Naruto with whatever he's about to do!
I thought about yelling out to help Naruto, but that would reveal my position, plus he's been toying with us. It's unlikely he's actually going to kill him, it's probably a ploy to get me to do that!
And if I'm wrong I just killed a new friend… however...
But he's definitely going to do something. So instead I do some hand signs of my own and pour out a good portion of my Chakra for an illusory jutsu. I then Make that Sakura stand up and Yell "Naruto! Get out of there quick! He's going to destroy you!" From another bush, If it did work he wouldn't be able to see me anyway, if it didn't he wouldn't hear the other me at all.
"Too late" He said, acknowledging what me other Sakura said!
He then thrusted and yelled "Thousand years of death!" and poked naruto in the ass so hard he went flying…
He just poked him,, that wasn't a hand sign… It must have been a tactic for me to reveal myself.
I make that me, run off into the woods, realizing her mistake
Naruto landed in the water and Kakashi sensei opened the book again… wait… I recognize that book… I'VE READ THAT BOOK! Sometimes I find it beneath my dads bed!
Its um… informative…
Suddenly shuriken shot out from the water, but of course they were caught like nothing else…
Naruto crawls out of the water.
"What are you doing now? You know you wont get lunch unless you get a bell." He taunted
"I know, I know you told us!"
"And yet you want to surpass the hokage, you're all wobbly…" He teases again.
"How am I supposed to fight on an empty stomach!" Naruto exclaimed, excusing his exhausted nature.
Thank goodness I had dinner, or else I'd be feeling way worse.
Naruto then goes on to talk about how he's going to pass this test despite the fact he has no strength for it, He catches his second wind, "I will become a ninja"
When 7 naruto's jump from the water and gloat about how overconfident Kakashi is.
They aren't illusions, they're real!
They all approach, but one approaches from behind and grabs him.
"Don't let your enemies get behind you right?"
Man, I didn't know he was actually kinda cool. But suddenly, kakashi became a naruto… A replacement jutsu.
And after undoing the jutsu, Kakashi was nowhere to be found.
He did however notice the obviously placed bell! Please don't take it, you're not that dumb!
"A bell? I must have got to him with my attack. He dropped a bell!" He said cherrily…
He is that dumb… aww man…
Then a rope pulls him upside down "Ahh help!"
Well of course...
"Think before you use a jutsu naruto. And don't take obvious bait! A ninja must see through deception!" He says picking up the bell…
I could have used that moment to make it look like he picked up a bell… But one slip up and I'm done for… I don't think I'm as durable as Naruto.
"No, you think you get it, which isn't the same as actually getting it. Get it!" Kakashi said
"Won't you ever lear-ugh!" He started and cried as shuriken and kunai fly from nowhere, probably Sasuke right into our teachers sides.
I gasped a little, it looked so real! I knew this would happen!
But I didn't feel my Genjutsu drop, if he was hurt or dead, it would have dropped away… Its a substitution!
Sasuke reveal his position, but I could hear him begin to run through the trees.
I decided to chase after him, if kakashi chases him then I can use this as an opportunity to get a bell while he's still under my genjutsu!
I also make the other Sakura chase after Sasuke, and right on schedule i see what I think is Kakashi sensei. I make the other me hide, and I stand in the open, If im wrong I'm dead, If I'm right, I can get a bell right here.
"Sakura. Behind you." I and my other Me turned to see Kakashi sitting there. BUT HE'S LOOKING AT THE OTHER ME! IT DID WORK! HE HASN'T BROKEN OUT OF IT YET!
He then makes another hand sign, trying to put me under a Genjutsu, I expend a lot more chakra to make him think it worked. I'm honestly getting a little winded.
I then run around and see a Possible Kakashi facing off against Sasuke…
I watched him throw weapons at Kakashi to no avail, he then sprung a trap, sending more his way, But Sasuke managed to get behind Kakashi and nail his arm with a kick, and try for a punch… Both were blocked.
He managed to touch a bell, but it wasn't enough…
I watch Sasuke do some handsigns…
Serpent
Ram
Monkey
Boar
Horse
Tiger
That's a fire style jutsu… I read about it! Its the Fire ball Jutsu
"What! Genin can't do fire jutsu, it takes to much chakra."
Yeah and his wind up time is slow, giving him enough time to sneak up on Sasuke from below
"Earth style headhunter jutsu…" Kakashi said…
I remember that one too! Both of these aren't exactly high ranking Jutsus C and D respectively all I need to do is pour enough chakra into them and get the hand signs down… which… I remember from those books I read.
I Move away and hide, making sure my Genjutsu's still up, its draining chakra, this stunt will take all my energy. It's all or nothing….
Ten minutes I take for each.. When suddenly I feel my Genjutsu break!
Kakashi lands in front of me "That's impressive Sakura… But you forgot to make me think it wore off to… I thought something was up when the girl I left dreaming was still dreaming… But turns out you had me under your spell the whole time." he teases from his spot.
Frantically I perform the same hand signs Sasuke did
Serpent
Ram
Monkey
Boar
Horse
Tiger
Fire style! Fireball Jutsu!
A flame blasted from my mouth and fingers, encompassing where I thought he was. It wasn't as strong as Sasuke's, I'm panicking which isn't good, but I just need it as a diversion.
Quickly as the flames die down I Make a clone like Iruka taught us and then perform the hand signs for headhunter, it was slow and sloppy. I'm only running off memory.
I go underground and hear kakashi drop down again, "That's even more impressive, and a strange coincidence, both you and Sasuke know-"
Before he finishes I Spring up underneath and reach for the bells!
But his hand grabs mine and he forces me to the ground, my head slamming hard into the dirt, so hard…
I pass out in one blow…
-Kakashi Pov- Rewind a bit
I'm staring across Sasuke, he had just performed the Fireball jutsu, impressive… but not enough. Now he's just a stick in the mud, literally…
Wait… Sakura should be waking up by know…
I leave Sasuke in the dust and go fins where her body is… Still asleep… did I really over do the genjutsu?
Here, lets see.. Lets release it…
I try and undo my genjutsu, meaning she should wake up… But she doesn't…
Which means… I'm under her genjutsu…
I focus and release… the Sakura before me disappears… "That girl and those boys… They aren't bad… But they refuse to combine these skills."
I rush off to find Sakura, I want to see if this one Genjutsu is all she's capable of!
Eventually I do find her, She's hiding sloppily, but she seems a little tired.
She's practicing hand signs…
The fireball… and the what! Headhunter! How? Even if she saw Sasuke do it, she cant mimic it right away… only I can do that!
But she can't, she's practicing now, her chakra control is really great for someone her level.
She then gasps, she knows her Genjutsu was broken.
I land in front of her "That's impressive Sakura… But you forgot to make me think it wore off to… I thought something was up when the girl I left dreaming was still dreaming… But turns out you had me under your spell the whole time."
She frantically performs the fire ball jutsu, not only does she succeed, but it pours out of her like an inferno! Luckily its a slow Jutsu in an amatures hands… But still, she did it.
Then i see her perform a clone, and begin a tired and slow headhunter jutsu, Her plan is pretty good if she were less tired, faster and had other diversions, like Naruto and Sasuke.
She goes underground, I make my own bait in the form of a clone, She jumps from underneath the earth and grabs the fake bells. I grab her hand and force her whole body into the earth…. Out cold she is…
"That's… really impressive. A large chakra pool, skill and memory. But no tactics, or cooperation… Still missed the point of the test…" I sigh
-Sakura's P.O.V-
I awake, brused with dried blood from my nose, I awake next to a pillar of wood that Naruto is tied to. What did he do?
Man… All my observing and planning for nothing… Sasuke is here to…
"Bellies growling… Well, don't worry i have good news! I'm not sending any of you back to the academy!"
"What? I passed? But… nothing I did worked… I just watched, made a shit plan and failed at it." I say softly defeated.
"Plan? I didn't even see you the whole time?" Sasuke says, tired and also defeated.
All of us look happy, i even cheer in relief.
"That means all three of us-" Naruto starts
"Yes, all three of you… are…" He starts "Are being dropped from the program! Permanently!"
"Dropped! But you said we'd just be sent back! That's not fair! You went back on your word! You can't just kick us out! Why would you do that!" Naruto yells, legs flailing.
"Because you don't think like ninja, you think like little kids!" he starts "like brats!"
In a fit of rage, Sasuke rushes him… But Kakashi gets him to the ground no problem…
"YOu think its all about you." Kakashi spits.
I jump up and exclaim "Let go of him!" But I was to weak, I fell right back to my knees… Useless
"You don't know what it means to be a ninja, you think it is a game! Huh?" He explains "Why do you think we put you on squads? Did you consider that? For even one moment?" He chastises.
I gasp and try to stand.. But… I couldn't I felt so.. Weak…. And my nose was bleeding again.
"What does that have to do with it? What do you mean?" I ask…
" I mean, you never realized what this was about. This determines whether you pass or fail." He says.
"But…" I start
"You're smart, use your head. Three people on a squad, why do you think we did that?" He asked
"Gah! We don't know! We didn't make the rules!" Naruto exclaims.
"Its basic, Teamwork!" Kakashi breaks it to us
No way… it isn't that simple! Is it? He's a Jonin! Nothing we would have done would have worked!
"That's it?" I sigh
"That's it… but to late, if you three came at me, you might have been able to take them." He says…
But it dawns on me "But there's only two bells! One of us would have failed regardless." I said Finally standing up.
"Genin should have a natural feel for teamwork, but it didn't even cross your mind!" He starts. "Sakura, Sure you can perform an impressive genjutsu, even mimic jutsu you've seen, but you're the worst kind of potential. Wasted, you never bothered helping Sasuke, or Naruto! You left and hid, trying to concoct a plan you could not do on your own!" He chastises me
Next he moves onto Naruto, "Naruto, you do everything on your own. Everything."
"Sasuke, you thought the other two were so far beneath you they were worthless" He says stepping on his head harder "arrogance"
"Ninja missions are carried out in squads, of course you need individual skills. But Teamwork is paramount. All shinobi understand this… When individuals put themselves over the squad, the mission fails." He explains further "and only brings death!" He then raises a Kunai to Sasuke's neck.
"Sakura, Kill naruto now or Sasuke dies!"
I was shocked, I couldn't do or deal with either of those things.
"That's what happens on a mission." He says letting off of Sasuke.
"On every mission, your life's on the line. You're going to face impossible options and someone is going to end up dead." He says walking over to the nearby memorial stone.
"Did you look at this stone? The Names engraved on it?" He says "they are all ninja who are honored as heroes in our village."
"A hero, I want to end up on a stone like that!" Naruto says dumbly.
"They are a special kind of hero… Ones who go KIA…" Kakashi says…
"Wha… what does that mean?" Naruto says…
My fist ball up "Killed in action… they died defending this village…" Is that… is that my future.. Sure, I want to be a hero… but is that the kind of hero I'll be? A dead one...
"This is a memorial stone, Some of my closest friends and allies are on this list… Engraved here… For all to see." He finalizes
A silence passes over us For a moment before Kakashi breaks the silence again.
"Alright, I'm going to give you one more chance, you'll get 3 hours, eat and build up strength. Except Naruto, think of it as punishment for breaking the rules. And no one will feed him, or they will fail immediately. Remember, I make the rules, you follow them!" He says…. All of it with grave intensity.
Kakashi leaves and i take up my chopsticks and start scarfing it down like no one's business…
I finish first, just as I hear Naruto's stomach rumbling… "Aww man… I'm sorry Naruto… i'm just… beat." I say, wiping the dried blood off my face.
"I can do this all day!" He exclaims
His stomach basically roars.
"Here…" Sasuke says, offering the rest of his lunch "i'm not that hungry."
"But Kakashi said we couldn't." I reply
"And he isn't here. Plus if he's hungry, he's weak and ineffective… which hurts the team." he says intently
It made sense… even if it was wrong "Alright… well feed him."
He jolted and scoffed. "No way, you do it."
I giggle "But you two shared a kiss! You should feed him!" I tease
He growled "I will kill the both of you…"
I laugh and take it from him "Alright… here we go. Lets get this over with Naruto."
"Heh uh…" He blushes a bit " Okie…"
He takes a bite of some rice, when suddenly, Kakashi burst through what felt like a wind torrent and a dust cloud!
"YOU!" He exclaimed. Everyone flinched "You, you broke the rules, I hope you're ready for the punishment."
Storm clouds form and the ground shakes "ANy last words!"
I and Sasuke stood with our weapons "Come on, We were trying to help our teammate right? Screw your rules! If it gives us some help to have all three of us on equal footing then so be it!"
"Right, were all on this squad, you said it yourself! We're in it together!" Sasuke said, Showing more dedication than before…
"The three of us are one!" Naruto exclaims
"The three of you are one? That's your excuse?!" He says approaching
We all brace for it… But then I hear
"You pass…"
Relieved doesn't even begin to comprehend!
"What…" we all say together
"You pass!" He says again " you're the first squad to pass. Every other squad did what I said and couldn't think for themselves. A ninja must see through deception. Those who break the rules are scum… But those who abandon their friends, are worse than scum." He says, actually very sweetly.
"Squad seven passes! And we start our next mission tomorrow! Now let's go home…" he says.
We start walking away, but then Naruto goes "Wait! What about me!"
"Oh right. Can't forget…" I snicker and cut Naruto down… "Say what about some ramen?" I smirk, needing the break
"YEah! I'd love that!" Naruto cheers
"How about you Sasuke? Call it a team building exercise?" I joke, he's probably going to say no… But-
"Sure." he says… surprisingly
We say goodbye to sensei, and head towards Naruto's favorite Ramen place.
And about before… how it never dawned on any of us that teamwork was the answer… it kinda makes sense
Naruto's best friend is his teacher, I'm bullied and ignored, and sasuke is the last of his clan…
Were all alone… It makes sense we didn't think to rely on one another…
Its kinda sad.
(Authors note: Hope you all enjoyed! Any positive or constructive feedback You can give me would be appreciated!)