'...' - Eliza talking to Inner Sakura.

... - Inner Sakura speaking.

"Okay then, introductions?"

"Like what? I mean, what are we supposed to say?" I asked, despite already knowing.

"Things you like, hate, hobbies, and dreams for the future. The basics." Kakashi answered, with a hidden eye roll.

Naruto piped up, "Why don't you go first! So we can see how it works!"

"Alright, I'm Kakashi Hatake. The things I like and hate... Mmn, I don't really feel like telling you that. Dreams for the future...? Dunno. Hobbies? I have lots of them. Now then, your turn." he pointed to Naruto.

Ah, as expected, the famed none-answer introduction.

"Believe it! My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I like cup ramen, especially the ramen at..." I nodded along, a small smile tugging at my lips. Naruto and his usual love for ramen never failed to add a little cheer to the mood. Unlike a certain someone.

After he finished, Kakashi gave an affirmative nod. I took this as my sign to speak.

"My name is Sakura Haruno... I like the sun, and dislike those who are prejudiced. My hobbies are reading and sketching. My dream, no, goal is to... survive." Kakashi nodded again with a glimmer of surprise that I missed, and waved his hand at Sasuke to begin.

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha..." And blah, blah, blah. Cut the crap. I discreetly scowled. Whereas Naruto's introduction added cheer, Sasuke's only added gloom and...emo-ness. Wasting my time on this dreary introduction was going to suck years from my life. Besides, why kill a man when you could simply capture and torture the heck out of them? Keeping him alive and making his life hell for the rest of his life would be much better revenge. The stupidity of people sometimes.

"...at least you three have unique personalities." Kakashi started, though I didn't care enough to listen afterwards. There was something about a test, the passing rate not being high, and where to meet tomorrow - I knew that. Listening again would not to me any good. Besides, how likely would Kakashi divert from the bell-test? Things were pretty close to canon as far as I could see.

Everyone soon parted and went their separate ways, with Naruto chatting up a storm to fill the empty space. Man, this team really needs some work.

0o0o0

I flopped down onto my girly bed, dirty clothes and all. The bell test was tomorrow... and I haven't the faintest idea what to do. Well, more like, I was physically too weak to actually do anything.

Traps: I could set up a few basic ones, but I didn't have the imagination like Naruto to do anything really impressive. So, that was out.

Ninjutsu: My chakra reserves were just pathetic. Sure I could work it out eventually, but for the bell test? Nah.

Genjustsu: Eh. I didn't have the mastery for it to do any real damage. The most I could manage was doing some little dispelling jutsu.

Taijutsu: I pant after only a phew laps. Blame Sakura.

Looking back, I'm pretty much screwed aren't I? Haha... Ha...

Don't worry! Why don't we do what Naruto did in the anime?

'Hmm?' My attention was captured.

Remember the diversion tactic that he used? Except this time, we'll make it better!

'You've got a point. We'll have Naruto make his shadow clones and distract Kakashi. Sasuke will also help by being the one to attack. But wait... Before we do even that, maybe we'll booby-trap the training ground and make it to our advantage! Let's see...' Fan fictions, come to my aid!

Uh huh. This is great and all, but how are we getting Sasuke and Naruto to work together again?

'...'

Thought so.

'...I think we should bribe Naruto with food. And Sasuke? We'll just tell him we've booby-trapped practically the whole place. He'll probably won't be that stupid to not to work together, right?' Sasuke could be such a jerk sometimes, so I'm not too sure.

Well, there's always the off-chance that he will be that stupid...

'Eh, we'll get through to him...somehow.' So much for boosting my insecurities... I got up from the bed and went downstairs, selecting a few bars. Shutting and locking the door behind me, I headed towards a random training ground. Well, this is a start.

0o0o0

Finding a medium sized tree, I started to mold chakra into my hands and practiced sticking it onto the trunk. Finding success, I started trying my luck molding chakra onto my feet. It only took three steps before I fell straight onto my back. Ow. Pain shot up my back and left torturing tingles all over my spine. I apparently had to work on my tolerance for pain too. Great.

I tried again and again, taking a few more steps each time and falling. Darn it. Wasn't Sakura supposed to be good at this?! I sighed and slumped on the ground. Maybe this ninja thing wouldn't work out after all. I sighed in frustration, circling chakra around my feet and continuing to try. Why. Won't. This. Work?!

In one last attempt, I sprinted up the tree and channeled everything I had into it - blowing the innocent tree to bits. Oops. I bit back a curse. Guess this just wasn't my day.

Finally settling on a jog around Konoha, I soon started breaking out in sweat. Come on. A drop slid passed my forehead and into my eye. Ignoring it, I drew myself up and picked up my pace. Focus. Focus. Foc-

"How youthful!"

"Yes indeed Sensei!"

I looked to my side curiously and was met with two blindingly bright smiles. Might Guy and Rock Lee. The famous duo. I managed a half-smile, my breathing ragged.

"Youthful Flower! Are you also on a mission to grow stronger?"

"Yes...but..." I swallowed down my embarrassment, "I'm actually very weak right now. T-though I trust that would soon change." My eyes gradually hardened in determination. That's right. I had a goal. Despite both Sasuke and Naruto being loads ahead of me, I wouldn't let them keep on leaving me in the dust. One day, we were going to stand as equals. I'll be damned if I let the world remember me as the weak fan girl on the legendary Team 7. Though I was just as much use as a wet kitten right now...

Guy suddenly had a strange gleam in his eyes, "What is your name?"

"Sakura." I replied, smiling a little.

"Ah, a fitting name for a youthful flower such as yourself! How would you like to join us on our quest?"

"YOSH! Sakura-chan will be a great addition to our nightly training!" Lee exclaimed, a light blush dusting his cheeks.

I gaped. Was that- Was that an invitation to join them? "I... I would be honored to!"

"Great! Let us stretch before running ten laps around Konoha as warm up!" I grinned widely. Guy and Lee were willing to go this far for someone they barely knew... It was touching. Ninja usually horded their techniques and safe guarded them as if their lives depended on it. Guy and Lee though, they were kind people who had their arms open to anyone who was willing to put in the effort. I would not let them down...even if I knew that they were severely holding back. Ten laps? They usually ran hundreds, whereas I could barely run two.

0o0o0

My lungs burned like it was lit on fire. With every step I took, it seemed as if I took five breaths afterwards to compensate. It was excruciatingly painful, though I didn't complain. There would be no stopping. This was a sort of wills test that I refused to fail. Whether I crawled or dragged myself, I would finish. That was something I drilled in my mind as fact.

Guy and Lee, on the other hand, barely seemed winded. They continued in a joyous haze, as if they were only taking a slow stroll to enjoy the scenery around them. The words 'youth' and 'youthful' were occasionally tossed in their loud conversation, but I only listened with half an ear. We were on our last lap, and I was too exhausted to care. The whole time, I was alternating between slowly jogging and sprinting, due to Guy's yelled encouragement.

Gasp. Huff. Huff. I powered chakra in my tired legs for a last minute boost to catch up to the energetic duo. They were nice enough to slow down considerably from their actual pace, I could tell. Giving them a barely-there wave, I persisted onward, finally collapsing on the moist grass after finishing.

Lying there, I gasped like a fish out of water, trying to accumulate as much oxygen as I possibly could. Lee eventually pulled me up, saying how it wasn't good to rest immediately afterwards. I gave him a wobbly smile in reply, sweat dripping down my forehead and clinging to my body. Quite frankly, I already looked like a horrible mess, despite this only being 'warm up'.

"Good job Sakura-chan!"

"Such youthful spirit!" Guy praised, "Though this is nothing yet! Onwards to our next part of training!" I nodded wearily, shakily standing up.

All three of us walked to the nearest training ground. Lee went through his usual routine, while Guy and I had a spar to determine my meager abilities.

Breathe in. Breathe out. I soothed my rattled nerves and schooled my features into a calm expression. Wetting my lips, I slid into the standard taijutsu stance. Not missing a beat, Guy also went into his stance and motioned for me to begin. I swallowed nervously, but steeled myself. Don't hesitate. Be precise. The encouraging mantra repeated itself in my head and fanned what little confidence I had.

Utilizing Sakura's plentiful knowledge, I boosted chakra to my legs and ran at him, bursting off the ground. My eyes zeroed in on his head while I formed a text book(thought fairly weak) flying kick. Seconds before connecting, a green blur suddenly shot out and grabbed my foot, tossing me lightly to the ground. Landing with a small thud, the air was temporarily knocked out of me. Wha...?

Instincts and body memory took over as I quickly flipped onto my feet, despite being out of it. This was not good. Eyes narrowed in concentration, I lashed out at his jaw in a feint then dropped down into a slight crouch. Pleaseplease work.

Boosting chakra in my legs once more, I shifted all my weight to the side and tried to sweep his feet out from under him. I hit thin air. Jumping swiftly, he had avoided the sweep and instead sent a well aimed kick to my side. As odds would have it, luck was on my side as I narrowly missed it. Already heavily breathing, I considered my options. The spar was close to being over. Logically, I knew that I couldn't possibly land a hit, but part of me didn't want to believe it.

Snap out of it.

I coated my arms with chakra and took off, rushing to meet Guy's solar plexus while sloppily blocking his controlled punches. With a quick snap of his arm that I could barely register, he immediately brought me to the ground, successfully ending the fight.

"Haa. Haa." I slowly staggered on my knees before talking the offered hand in front of my face. Pulling me up, Guy gave me a blinding grin and patted my back.

"Are you okay Sakura?"

"I-i'm fine. Just a little dazed is all." I shook off the dirt covering clothes.

"Sakura," he began "you definitely did well in certain aspects. Especially in flexibility. Though regarding strength, you still have a long ways to go. There were lots of opening that I could see..." Guy started naming a few times where I left my guard open and introduced strength exercises that I could do on my own. He also recommended doing as many laps as I could and to keep on increasing the amount of laps each time I got better.

After listing most of the strength and endurance techniques he knew, Guy started commenting on my basic form. He gently put how I tended to be a bit sloppy when I was on the defensive, and the how my base wasn't exactly stable. Immediately after the small taijutsu lesson, Guy went over to Lee and told me to run through the academy exercises. I complied easily and diligently performed the motions.

0o0o0

Feeling beat but accomplished, I bowed to Guy in a show of respect and took my leave. My legs had felt like noodles by this point, and I knew I would have to take a long soak to get rid of any lingering fatigue. Hmm, a mineral soak would be good according to what Lee had said... I'd better check what I had at home. Mebuki would have been bound to have some, right?

I headed home with a bounce in my step and a tune on my lips, thoughts of the bell test completely slipping my mind.

0o0o0

Well, turns out my flight back home was actually a few days later than I had originally thought. I wished I'd been back during the weekend to post, but that didn't happen. Sorry guys. Anyhow! I got the chapter out as soon as I could. Many thanks for your ongoing support!

Going back to the story, we see that Guy and Lee make their appearance. I'll try to make the fight scenes and training routines realistic, but seeing how I've never written them before... It might be inaccurate and choppy. So please tell me if they are.

Reviews would really make my day!