A/N: Once again, sorry for the delay. I've been trying to plot this out, and I keep changing stuff. So, right now I've got a plan in mind, but I'm sure it's going to change soon... Meh.

Summary: "Do you really think that these kids- no- these freaks can save the world?" Kakashi looked up, showing only mild interest in the man's distress. "Actually, yes, Sir, I believe these 'freaks' will end up saving the world. Including your sorry behind."


The Squad:

Never Back Down


.3: Rules of the Game.


"So... let me get this straight." The two out of three males in Kakashi's office turned to look at Sakura. The blonde one, who Sakura had yet to learn the name of, was much to busy being entertained by Kakashi's lava lamp to notice. Sakura watched him for a moment, sighed, and returned her eyes back to Kakashi. "We three are forming a team." Kakashi nodded.

"Yup."

"And you think that's going to work." It wasn't a question, but an accusation. Kakashi didn't appear to mind that much.

"Why wouldn't it?" Perhaps because Uchihas had been known for their ruthless and war-hawk nature prior to their demise, and Sasuke didn't appear to be an exception. He was cold, calculating, and had the mind of a soldier. And then there was the blonde boy, who had been on a rampage moments before, seemingly for no good reason. Sakura didn't know much about him besides the fact that he had to unstable if he was brought into the HQ in chains. And they couldn't forget that Sakura, being at school for the majority of her life, had been neglecting a lot of her ANBU training. In short; the three were dysfunctional, untrained... a disaster waiting to happen. Sakura wasn't afraid to inform Kakashi of the last part.

Of course, the man merely laughed at her.

"She's right, Kakashi," Sasuke said, officially entering the conversation. Kakashi looked over to Sasuke curiously. "You'd be better off leaving us as we were." The blonde made a face at that.

"You might be better off, but I like it here," the boy snapped prior to lifting the lava lamp closer to his face for a more in depth inspection. "Hey, Old Man, how'd you get these colored globs inside of this jar-thing?" Sasuke deadpanned at the idiotic question. He didn't have time to be hanging around children. After all, Sasuke had made it a point to create a very particular life-plan in mind; one that didn't involve the teammates.

"That, Naruto, is a lava lamp, and I had no part in creating it." The blonde's blue eyes widened.

"It's real lava?" Sasuke was considering murder for the second time that day. There was no way he was going to be on a team with such an idiot.

"I hardly think that lamp is important right now, Naruto, so let's all try to focus on the matter at hand." Naruto pouted, glancing over his shoulder at the other three agents.

"Fine." Kakashi grinned behind his mask and walked to the center of his office.

"Alright. Since Naruto had missed the big introduction before, the lovely young lady seated near my desk is Haruno Sakura, medical expert. Very strong, too, so try not to piss her off." Kakashi gave a pointed look Sasuke's way.

"What?"

"Nothing, Sasuke. Nothing." Kakashi turned back to Naruto. "The ever-so-sociable Uchiha Sasuke is a skilled marksman and possesses the unique Sharingan as well as a few other tricks." Naruto's blank expression signified that he had no idea what "Sharingan" meant. Sasuke groaned. "Um... more on that later. Sasuke, Sakura, this is Naruto. You could say he's the muscle of your team." There was a pause.

"...any details on that?" Sakura asked.

"Nope." Well, alright then. Kakashi began walking around his desk, opening a drawer and pulling out a manila folder. "You three have been chosen as part of a special program, currently known as The Rookie Nine."

"I'm hardly a rookie," Sasuke interrupted, "I've been working for ANBU ever since Itachi-" Sasuke hesitated. Sakura cast her gaze to her shoes, fully aware of what Sasuke had almost said. Heck, anyone in league with ANBU had heard of the Uchiha Tragedy.

"Who's Itachi?" Almost anyone. Sakura glared at Naruto for not being more in tune with what was going on before looking to Sasuke to see his reaction. While he stiffened and looked beyond furious, the Uchiha did a good job of remaining in his spot.

"I have an idea. How about we all wait until I finish talking before you speak." The three teens all looked at Kakashi solemnly, though Naruto looked slightly amused. "As I was saying, you three are just a small part to the Rookie Nine, as you've all been chosen from a large amount of young agents such as yourselves. You will go through vigorous training and then be dispatched on small missions to gauge your ability to work as a team. And once you've become fairly comfortable with each other and The Council deems you as a success, you will be allowed to go through the Elite Exams. Any questions?" Sakura couldn't see how there could be. Everything Kakashi said had been very pointblank.

"What are the Elite Exams?" But of course he had to have one. And on the most obvious thing, too!

"It's the exams where agents like us go to attempt to become an elite." Another blank expression implied that Naruto still had no idea what Sakura was talking about. "There's no points in asking these questions. If you don't know, you don't need to know." It was harsh, she knew. She had never been known to be that mean. But this kid... he was a poor excuse for an agent. He didn't seem to have studied any of the guides all trainees were given. She was willing to be he hadn't even read the front cover. Slackers irritated Sakura to no end.

"But-" Naruto began, but he was cut off by Kakashi.

"Look, those exams are a long ways away. Let's just... focus on right now. You three will be living in dorms with the other rookies," Kakashi said as he passed around a slim packet to each of his students. "Training will begin at 4:00 sharp. I'd tell you more about it, but all you need to know is in your packets." Kakashi moved back around his desk and leaned against the mahogany piece of furniture. "You're official name is Team 7. I'm your superior. If you have any questions of concerns, the first person you bring it up to is with me. Got it?" Three somber nods. Kakashi placed his hands in his pockets as a response. "Alright. I think that's enough of an information dump for one day. Why don't you three run along, get to know each other. Just don't be late for training."

And with that, the three rookies were shoved out of Kakashi's office.

For a moment, none of them moved. And then:

"This is so cool!" Sakura and Sasuke both glared at Naruto. His wide grin only widened, as he seemed to be completely oblivious to the contempt. In fact, the blonde made quick work of wrapping both of his arms around his new teammates. He didn't consider the fact that he was still in his prison garbs. Prison garbs that were still dirty. "So, you guys wanna get lunch? I don't know about you, but I'm starving! Sakura-Chan? Sasuke?"

"I've really gotta go read over this packet," Sakura said as she eased out of Naruto's grasp. She didn't bother to say goodbye as she scurried away. Naruto's smile dropped a little. Okay. So one person ran. He still had Sasuke. His blue eyes focused on his second teammate, unaware of how the older teen was literally simmering in his grasp. "How about it, Sasuke? You 'n' me?" With a sharp elbow to the stomach, Sasuke successfully removed Naruto from his person.

"Don't ever touch me again," Sasuke hissed and stormed off as well. Naruto's smile dropped a little more. Some teammates he had. Still, it was no worse than anything else he had been dealt with.

"Alright! I'll see you guys later, then!"

He got no response.


It's fun to write this, even though I have to pay a lot of attention to my writing style so it doesn't convert to my usually humorous-style. I'm thinking of doing a double update, so once I post this I will try to finish up chapter 4.

Oh, and since this is kind of an alternate universe of Part 1 Naruto (with a LOT of twists and turns), I'm debating whether Sakura should have a crush on Sasuke at first or drop that part of her personality completely. Any opinions?