I am whole-heartedly sorry for the delay folks. School has been kicking my ass lately, and I haven't found a lot free time to write with. And I know I asked you to vote for who was going to be the sensei but, I have some serious problems with one of the choices. I would personally love to write Kakashi as their teacher. (Some of you were very adamant about your choice by the way) But this creates a lot of problems and plot-holes I have to write around. Who would teach Sasuke about the sharingan? Things like that. Plus, I wanted to be original with this fic. So sorry Kakashi-fans, but Asuma is their sensei. Kakashi will however maintain a close relationship with Naruto and Sakura. Please keep reading the fic, and I am sorry if I lose any readers because of this. Alright enough of this, on with the show!

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I don't own Naruto, or any characters/elements of Naruto that may appear within this fan fiction.

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Three years later…

It was a picturesque day in Konoha. The sun burned brightly in the sky and the villagers were out and about. Children were playing, birds were singing, and shop-keepers were shop-keeping. Everything was as is should be. Well, almost everything.

"Get back here you little monsters!" A random villager shouted. Two children darted out in front of the irate shopkeeper. Both held brown bags in their small arms. One of the children had sun kissed blonde hair. He wore black sandals, baggy black shorts, and a white t-shirt with the Konoha spiral symbol in orange. He turned his head and his blue eyes widened at the man chasing him. The whiskers on his face began to tingle.

"Sakura-chan, follow me through the market, he'll never catch us!" The boy shouted at his companion. She whipped her head back at the boy.

"THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID AT HIS STORE NARUTO!" Sakura roared. Sakura's red shirt was drenched in sweat, and her white pants were stained with dirt. She brushed her bubble-gum pink hair from her face and fell back behind Naruto. As the duo entered the market, they began to weave in and out of stalls and people. Naruto darted around a cart with Sakura in tow. They jumped and rolled through a stall, breaking several things. The shopkeeper couldn't keep up. The children disappeared into a sea of people.

"God dammit!" The shopkeeper shouted. He took the broom he had been brandishing like a sword and broke it across his knee. The man looked down and sighed. "That's another thing coming out of my paycheck…"

"That-pant-was-pant-a close one-pant-Sakura-chan" Naruto said.

"It was your fault you idiot! Why didn't we just go talk to the old man? He would have fixed things for us" Sakura said. She pulled a red ribbon from her pocket and began tying her hair up.

"I refuse to ask for help from that old fart!" Naruto shouted. They stood there in silence for a few moments. "I'm sorry Sakura-chan, let's just get home. Hey…with all the money we saved stealing groceries we can go to Ichiraku's tonight" Naruto said alluringly. Sakura smiled and looked back at her roommate.

"Well when you put it like that…" Sakura picked up her bag and started heading towards their apartment. Naruto dusted himself off and did the same. But suddenly an icy chill swept the alley. CLAP! CLAP!

"That was quite impressive" A man said from behind. "You know in some countries when a thief is caught stealing, they cut his hands off as punishment".

"Hey mister, I know what this seems like…" Naruto said as he turned around. He stopped when a shock of silver hair and a dog mask greeted him.

"Yo" Kakashi said. His hand rested on the hilt of his half-drawn katana. Naruto sighed and Sakura collapsed spread-eagle on the ground.

"Whew! Its only you Dog, for a second there I thought we were in trouble" Naruto said exuberantly.

"You two are in trouble. I leave for three days on a mission and you guys do this?" Kakashi said angrily.

"That guy was going to charge us five thousand ryo for groceries! We'd have no rent money if we actually paid that much…" Naruto shouted.

"Then why didn't you go to the Hokage?" Kakashi questioned.

"That's what I said, but noooo, we have to stand up for ourselves Sakura-chan…why do I ever listen to him?" Sakura said looking upwards.

"Traitor…" Naruto muttered.

"Idiot…" Sakura countered.

"Bitch!" Naruto shouted.

"Jackass!" Sakura roared back. She clenched her fist and lunged at Naruto. Kakashi grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and stopped her in midair.

"Alright, who taught you how to talk like that?" Kakashi said sounding annoyed. 'What the hell am I going to do with them?'

"Some villager called Sakura a bitch a year or two ago…and Sakura has always called me a jackass when she's mad" Naruto said. Kakashi looked in the pink haired girl's direction.

"It means donkey Dog. It's a homonym" Sakura said matter-of-factly. Kakashi sighed and set her down.

"Sakura, you're very smart for someone your age…" the masked ninja began. Sakura stuck her tongue out at Naruto. "And that annoys a lot people". Sakura turned red with embarrassment. Naruto began to writhe on the ground with laughter. Kakashi then turned to Naruto.

"And you Naruto have the uncanny ability to persuade just about anyone to do just about anything…" Kakashi said. The blonde boy gave Sakura a thumbs up. "And one day its going to get you killed". The children looked at each other and back at the ground. Kakashi shook his head and got down on a knee. "Let's face it. Our lives have sucked. And as much as id' love too; I can't be around you guys all the time. The only way you two are going to survive is if you stick together…understand?" Kakashi said. Naruto sighed and nodded. Sakura looked like she was about to cry. The girl darted forward and hugged Kakashi.

"Thanks Dog…" Sakura said quietly. She rubbed her eyes and cracked a smile.

"Now you two get home, and don't let me catch you doing this again" Kakashi said. Naruto picked up the groceries and grabbed Sakura's hand. He then bolted out of the alley

"Alright Dog, ill make sure no one catches us next time!" Naruto called back. The blonde boy laughed and pulled a giggling Sakura around the corner. Kakashi nearly fell over.

"Oh for the love of god…I need to talk to the Hokage" Kakashi thought to himself.

-

For once in all his time as Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen had actually gotten through the days paperwork. A smoke and then a quick nap were definitely in order. The Hokage reached into his pocket and produced his trusty pipe. He turned to face the window's that looked out over Konoha and sighed.

"It perplexes me why you and that perverted student of mine refuse to use doors like normal people. Did Minato do this too or does it skip a generation?" Sarutobi said angrily. The Hokage lit his pipe and took a long drag. "Get in here now Dog!" The Hokage shouted. Kakashi slipped through an open window and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Sensei never really needed to use doors. He'd use the Hiraishin no justu (Flying Thunder God Technique) just to get a snack from his pantry. There must have been 40 seals just in the house. Kushina hated it" Kakashi said. The Hokage laughed.

"Okay, report. I actually get to relax today and I want to enj…" Sarutobi suddenly stopped when Kakashi removed his mask.

"Hokage-sama…I wish to be released from active ANBU duty immediately" Kakashi said flatly. Sarutobi narrowed his eyes and frowned.

"What did they do this time?" The Hokage asked.

"I caught Naruto and Sakura stealing groceries. The store clerk was going to charge them ten times what that food was worth" Kakashi replied. The Hokage pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Kakashi, you're the best ANBU I have…"

"I'm all they have!" Kakashi yelled. He stiffened and then bowed "I apologize Hokage-sama. It's just…their so much like their parents. Naruto is Minato's spitting image and he's loud, obnoxious, and stubborn as mule, just like Kushina. And Sakura…she's a smart ass like Daichi, and she's got that neon pink hair like Naomi" Kakashi said. The Hokage closed his eyes and thought for a moment.

"In a few days, a batch of jonin will enter the ANBU basic training. You train the new squads, and ill consider putting you back to jonin status" Sarutobi said.

"That could take years. I can't let them keep living like this; I refuse to let them grow up like I di…" Kakashi looked at the floor.

"You can't keep living in the past Kakashi. One cannot change what has happened. Ive seen one of my students desert and do irreparable damage to this village. Knowing I could have stopped him from ruining so many lives haunts me to this day. My other two have all but abandoned the village as well" Sarutobi said solemnly. Kakashi seemed unfazed by the Hokage's words.

"Those kids ran from that store clerk like seasoned ninja. Naruto's been a brawler since he could crawl, and Sakura soaks up information like a sponge. I've never seen so much raw talent for being a shinobi in kids their age. The new school year for the academy starts in a few weeks doesn't it?" Kakashi said.

"You want me to enroll them?" The Hokage asked.

"It would keep them out of trouble, and did you really think they'd want to be anything else?" Kakashi said.

"No, not really…all Naruto ever talks about is how he's going to take my hat one day. I'm assuming they'll be at Ichiraku's later tonight?" Kakashi nodded. "Ill talk to them about it then. You're dismissed Dog". Sarutobi said. Kakashi nodded, bowed, and turned to leave. He climbed up onto the window sill and stopped.

"Sensei always told me that unless we learn from the mistakes of our ancestors we are doomed to repeat them. I haven't learned a god dammed thing from my father's mistakes. So with all due respect Hokage-sama, I don't think I should take advice from a senile old man…" Kakashi said. He immediately leapt out of the window. The Hokage's pipe tumbled to the floor, along with his jaw.

'I am way too old for this horseshit…' Sarutobi thought to himself. He grabbed his hat and walked out the door. "Senile eh? I'll show him senile. That silver haired punk is going to be on D rank missions for the rest of his life!" The Sandaime yelled. His secretary looked at him in disbelief.

"Hokage-sama, are you feeling okay? Maybe you should lie down for a bit…" The young woman sounded genuinely concerned. The Hokage sighed and dragged his feet out of the building, muttering under his breath.

-

"Two more bowls please Ayame-chan!" Naruto said excitedly. He and Sakura never had this much money for ramen. Ayame smiled and began preparing their food. She loved the two kids who patronized her family's stand like little siblings. Her father was a big supporter of the fourth Hokage, and he instilled in her head that Naruto was not the demon he contained. He also detested the treatment Sakura got just from being associated with the boy. The Iciraku's were never sure what kept the pariah's of Konoha coming back; the food or the acceptance.

"There you go guys. Enjoy" Ayame said. Naruto began to inhale the soup while Sakura ate politely. The pink haired girl looked over at her blonde counterpart and sighed.

"Have you listened to a word I've said about table manners? Jeez, Your so gross when we you eat ramen…and ramen is all you eat. Ayame-nee-chan, Teuchi-san, we love you guys and your ramen but I'm making Naruto cut back. This much sodium can't be healthy for children our age" Sakura said.

"Your intellect never ceases to amaze me Sakura-chan" An elderly voice said. Naruto and Sakura froze on their stools.

"Crap…" Naruto muttered.

"Busted…" Sakura groaned. She looked at Naruto and the thoughts began to race through her mind. Naruto knew that look. He grinned.

"Hokage Distraction Plan 3-A?" Naruto whispered.

"You read my mind" Sakura replied. The children simultaneously spun on their stools and charged the person standing behind them.

"GRANDPA!" chorused Naruto and Sakura. Sakura went high and Naruto went low, encasing the Hokage in a bone crunching hug. The force of their 'attack' caused the aging man to fall onto his back. Sakura looked up to her adopted grandfather and smiled.

"Hiya gramps. Come to pick up our ramen tab?" Sakura said innocently.

"Or do you have presents for us?" Naruto said hopefully. He and Sakura looked so god-dammed innocent it was sickening.

"Actually I just came to talk with you two" The Hokage answered. He pulled himself off the ground and walked toward the ramen stand. Naruto and Sakura huddled together.

"I think it's a trap. I say we run…now" Naruto whispered.

"Shut up and let's just get this over with…" Sakura whispered back. She took Naruto's hand and dragged him back into the stand. The Hokage removed his hat and sighed as they sat down on either side of him.

"What did I tell you two the day I let you live on your own?" Sarutobi asked. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"That if we needed anything we just had to ask Dog or go find you and it would be taken care of" she replied.

"So tell me then children, why you didn't come to me when that clerk tried to cheat you". The Hokage said. He pulled a roll of bills from his robe. "How much have they managed to rack up this month Teuchi?"

"Well…don't worry about it Hokage-sama. Naruto and Sakura give us so much business that we give them a few on the house bowls in return" The ramen chef replied. The Hokage smiled and looked toward the end of the bar. 37 bowls were stacked in a neat pile next to Naruto. The blonde boy looked to the Hokage and back to the bowls. Naruto began rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"We paid for today's ramen with what we saved on groceries old man! We're sorry, it was wrong; we'll never do it again!" Naruto shouted.

"Yeah gramps, and if I remember correctly you told us that same day we would have to learn how to live on our own. So we solved the problem" Sakura said. The Sandaime sighed.

"Children, lets go for a walk. We have some important things to talk about" Sarutobi said.

"So…were not going to be punished?" Naruto said hopefully. Sakura thwacked him on his head.

"Quit reminding him you idiot!" She said sternly.

"No Naruto, you're not going to be punished" The Hokage said.

"Awesome! Bye Teuchi-san, bye Ayame-nee-chan!" Naruto shouted. Sakura just waved goodbye and ran after the Hokage.

-

"What else did you want to talk about Gramps?" Sakura questioned. All three of them leaned on a rail above Naruto and Sakura's apartment. She brushed a stray pink hair from her impish face.

"Sakura, do you know what you want to be when you grow up?" Sarutobi asked. Naruto began jumping and raising his hand.

"Ooh! I know what I want to be old man. The world's first Hokage slash professional ramen eater!" Naruto yelled excitedly.

"For the final time Naruto, you can't be a Hokage slash professional ramen eater; you can't be a professional ramen eater period!" Sakura snapped.

"Dream-killer…" Naruto muttered. Sarutobi faced the setting sun and waited for Sakura's answer.

"Well, become a ninja I guess. Why?" Sakura said.

"Because I've enrolled both of you in the academ…" The Hokage was cut off when once again Naruto and Sakura tackled him to the ground.

"Thank you old man!" Naruto yelled.

"Yeah grandpa, I can't wait to start. When is our first day?"

"Your first day is in three weeks. And tomorrow were going shopping for some new clothes and equipment. And we are going to pay for what we want this time" the Hokage said. Naruto and Sakura frowned.

"Steal a few groceries and you're branded for life…" Sakura said sarcastically. The Sandaime smiled.

"Ill see you two tomorrow, bright and early" And with that the Hokage phased out of existence.

"He has to teach us how to do that disappearing thingy" Naruto said.

"Hey…you didn't yell that. Alert the press! It's a sign of the apocalypse!"

"Sakura-chan, what's apocalypse mean?" Naruto asked. The pink haired girl sighed.

"You suck the fun right out of witty banter Naruto" she said. The duo walked back inside their apartment and began the nightly rituals they had developed over the past few years. Naruto took out the trash, locked the door, and made sure the few things they had in their two bedroom home were turned off. Sakura collapsed on the ratty couch that sat in their living room/kitchen. She peeled off her sandals and looked around. The chipped and peeling off white walls, the small black and white T.V. that crackled in the corner, and the table with two creaky red stools they always ate at. It was a dismal, creaky, broken down old apartment, but it was their home.

"Are you going to bed?" Naruto called from the hallway. He had changed into a pair of green pajama pants and a black T-shirt.

"Are you going to brush your teeth?" Sakura replied. Naruto frowned and marched into the bathroom. Sakura did the same. They finished and shut the tap off.

"Good night Sakura-chan" Naruto said.

"Night Naruto" Sakrua said back. They each shut their respective doors behind them and crawled into bed. Sakura slept like a rock. Naruto just stared at the ceiling, thinking.

-

BOOM! Sakura shot up in bed when the thunder crashed. Lightning poured through her window, and the rain was coming down in sheets. "I…hate…thunder" Sakura whispered. She shook each time lighting struck or the thunder roared. Quickly she made her way to Naruto's room.

"Naruto? You awake?" Sakura said gently as she opened the door. Naruto sat up and looked at her.

"Sakura-chan what is it?" Naruto questioned. Sakura walked over to Naruto's bedside and hung her head.

"Can I sleep with you tonight? I…I'm afr…" Sakura stuttered like an idiot.

"Say no more Sakrua-chan". Naruto scooted over and pulled the covers back. Sakura practically jumped into the bed. The storm raged once again with an explosion of thunder. Sakura whimpered and pulled Naruto closer to her, snuggling into his chest.

"Its okay Sakura-chan, thunder can't hurt you" Naruto said. Sakura backed off a little, realizing how close they were.

"I know it can't hurt me…I just don't like it okay!" Sakura shouted. 'I hate being this scared of something like thunder' she thought.

"Come here" Naruto said. He pulled Sakura closer to him, letting her head rest on his shoulder. "You remember how a few years ago, just about everyone hated us?" Naruto questioned.

"Yeah. What about them?" Sakrua said.

"When we ran through the market today, almost no one paid even the slightest amount of attention to us. Lately, to the villagers, it's like we don't even exist. I'd rather have them hate me than ignore me completely…" Naruto said sadly. Sakura looked up to her blonde companion.

"Is that why you're always so loud? Because you want the attention of these random villagers?"

"No…well, not exactly. It's cause I want to be Hokage someday. It'll be my job to protect those random villagers at any cost. So I say everything really loud, and people look up to me" Naruto said.

"They don't look up to you, their all looking at you Naruto. If you act like an idiot, people will treat you like an idiot. You're going to have to earn the respect of the village by being a good ninja. Not being a loudmouthed brat" Sakura replied.

"Does this mean I can't pull pranks anymore?" Naruto asked dejectedly. Sakura pulled the covers tighter around them.

"No…we can still do that. Pranking is one of the few things your good at Naruto" Sakura said.

"So you really do think I can become Hokage then?" Naruto asked.

"Yes Naruto…I really do believe you'll become Hokage one day. But you won't live to see that day unless you shut up and go to sleep!" Sakura shouted.

"Look who's shouting now Ms. I'm afraid of thunder…" Naruto said.

"Shut up Naruto" Sakura spat. Her eyes were feeling heavier and heavier as they talked.

"Love you too Sakura-chan". Naruto said. He nearly laughed out loud when he heard the soft snores escaping Sakura's slightly open mouth. Naruto closed his eyes and felt the sandman's sweet embrace overtake him.

-

Wow. This story is going entirely to slow. It will get better in the next few chapters, after I get done with all this back story and character development their will be some action. Lotsa angst and fluff this chapter, im sorry bout that. Kakashi is a bit OOC and Sakura is a smart ass in this story. Naruto is still his simple self, but I plan to change that a little bit as well. And as for the space between the chapters, I am sorry. I have two other fics (Were gonna be parents and Kings of Catastrophe) I need to work on and my writing time is limited. And I don't want to sound like a review whore, but number of reviews definitely prioritizes what gets finished first. So please click that little gray box with the green letters below this Authors Note and tell me what you think. Yeah, that little box right there. Click it. Type words. Thank you and see yah next time on Team Dropout!