Time skip! Minor, only a year.

A year had come and passed, it being quite uneventful for everyone. Kakashi and Rin had been training Naruto and Sakura on building and controlling their chakra, as well as training them lightly in taijutsu and ninjutsu. Rin had trained Sakura in a little bit of genjutsu as Naruto was found to be hopeless at it.

Sasuke had been trained by his brother, Itachi, like Naruto and Sakura, he was only trained lightly and occasionally Naruto would go over to train with the 2 Uchiha's, or having a training spar with Sasuke. The figures stood at 11-10, in Naruto's favour.

They would be trained only a couple of times a week, as Kakashi and Itachi had missions to do, and Rin still had medic duties at the hospital. In their free time, the 4 of them, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and Ino, would all hang out at their clearing near the park. Much to the dismay of Naruto and Sasuke, Ino hadn't changed one bit and it really didn't seem as though she would. They started to tolerate her a little more, Naruto for Sakura's sake, and Sasuke..well Naruto was his best friend, he didn't have much of a choice but to follow.

Naruto and Sakura definitely had some sort of crush on each other, but at that age, it was nothing, it was unlikely even they knew what it was.

Naruto would still visit the Sandaime, and was now quite open with Kakashi and Rin's friends, assigning a nickname for almost all of them. Some appreciated, but most not. Naruto had finally begun to trust people…when he had his mask on. Since becoming a Hatake, and wearing his mask, he hasn't had very many threats, none while Kakashi or Rin were around.

Yes, life was in a nice little routine for the citizens of Konoha, no word of wars or attack had been heard and it was a pleasant change for the elder citizens, living in a time of peace. Little did they know, time of peace was at an end, a disruption of this peace, this tranquillity would hit this very night.

"Yahoo!" screamed Naruto as he ran down the hall.

"Yes!" Sakura screamed as she too ran down the hall.

"What are you so happy about?" They both asked, pointing at each other.

"Kakashi-tou-san said Sasuke could sleep over tonight!" Said Naruto, before he started running around in small circles.

"No way! Okaa-san just said Ino could sleep over tonight!" Naruto stopped running immediately, as a result he lost balance and he fell flat on his face.

"No way! Okaa-san!" Yelled Naruto, not long after, Sakura yelled,

"Otou-san!"

Kakashi made his way from the living room, from where Naruto had just come, and Rin came from her room, where Sakura had just ran from.

"Eh? What's the problem?" Asked Kakashi, slumping against the wall in the hall way, slipping his hand to his pocket before he caught a stare from Rin before crossing his arms.

"Sasuke-kun can't sleep over, Ino is!" Yelled Sakura.

Kakashi looked at Rin and they both asked, "Ino/Sasuke is sleeping over?"

"Yes! Kakashi-tou-san/Okaa-san said he/she could!" The kids yelled in unison.

Kakashi and Rin looked at each other again and shrugged, "Why can't they both?" Asked Kakashi.

"Oh.." Said Sakura, "Don't you two annoy us! We'll tell kaa-san on you!"

Naruto just got an evil glint in his eyes which didn't go unnoticed; Kakashi smirked before he too got an evil glint in his eyes. Which too didn't go unnoticed, Rin smirked before the evil glint was projected in her eyes too.

"Naruto, with me." Said Kakashi, before he dragged Naruto back into the living room.

"Sakura, with me." Rin said before she pushed Sakura back where they had come from.

Naruto and Kakashi buried themselves in the lounge room talking tactics, while Sakura and Rin were in Rin's room doing the same thing. Naruto was prepared for something like this, while Sakura and Rin were off doing 'girly things' Kakashi would give Naruto a little bit of training in stealth and sabotage. Kakashi actually learnt more from Naruto than he had been able to teach him.

There were countless missions wanting the masked assailants detained for the various pranks that had been played. The one prank that Naruto took alone was when he hid the Hokage's 'green book' as Kakashi had blatantly refused to pry a mans icha icha from him, he thought it to be inhumane.

Sakura wasn't as talented at these sorts of things, but Rin had learnt a little bit from watching her sensei and Obito, and after Obito's death, her sensei and Kakashi play various pranks on the village. She would never involve herself, but wishing the whole time that she did.

If only her sensei could see her now, planning his sons demise together with his god daughter. It made her think what could have happened if the children's families had survived. The two of them would have been egging them on to get together…

A knock on the door cut her from her musings. Rin quickly made sure that Sakura knew what she was doing and went to answer the door.

The dobe said come at 3- His thoughts were cut short by the scream of what could only be described as..

Ino.

It didn't even seem that the term 'banshee' was applicable now, no, Yamanaka Ino was on a whole new level. He set me up! What the hell is he trying to do.

"Sasuke-kun! What are you here for?"

"Ugh..do I have to do this."

"Do what Sasuke-kun?" Ino said, holding her hands in front of her and slightly tilted.

Sasuke opened his mouth to retort, but the door was opened by Rin who escorted them in. "Sasuke-kun, Naruto is in the living room with Kakashi, and Ino, come with me."

Sasuke nodded and made his way to the living room. What he saw when he got there freaked the hell out of him. Floor plans, diagrams scrolls scrawled everywhere with scribbles of writing on each. "Greetings Kakashi-san, dobe." Said Sasuke, as unnerved as he was he cautiously made his way over to the two. They turned and nodded in his direction before turning back around. "What the hell is going on here? First you set me up with Ino being here, and a study period?"

Kakashi slightly chuckled before ushering him over to the table. "Nope, we're planning the demise of your two friends..come have a look." Sasuke made the rest of the way over to the table and looked at its content. Plans and theories on potential pranks for the night. Only one word could sum it up…Brilliant.

"Right boys, I'll let you sort out step 1, and I'll go help Rin out with dinner. I'll see you guys later." He waved before he shunshined out of the room.

"Pathetic…it's one room over and he can't even walk.." Muttered Naruto. "Ok, teme, this is how it's got to go…" After an hour of explanation and fits of laughter later, Sasuke was fully aware of how things were going to go down. "So we do nothing 'til 7 got it? Keep it quiet, make it seem as though nothing is happening."

"Hn. Got to admit, for a dobe, when it comes to this sort of stuff you're pretty good." Naruto smirked, hearing Sasuke compliment him was something that never happened. "But if you EVER tell anyone I said that, you're dead…as soon as I get my sharingan, you're dead."

Naruto, still wanting to mock his friend said, "Phew, for a second there I thought I had a problem, but considering the likelyhood of you getting your sharingan, is the same of you and Sakura-chan being boyfriend and girlfriend."

It was Sasuke's turn to smirk. "Oh? Didn't my darling Sakura-chan tell you? We went to that Ichiraku ramen place your so fond of for our first date, but what came after wa-" He was cut off by a fist in the face. He went flying into the wall making a slight dent.

"Teme…" Then it hit him, the perfect idea, he had 3 hours to spare and this would be perfect.

"So we strike at 7?" Asked a slightly worked up Ino. Sakura nodded in response. "But we won't hurt Sasuke-kun right?"

Sakura shook her head and looked down. "Get over him, have you seen his hair? It looks like a chickens bum!" noticing the change of emotions from worried, to angry, to a smirk slightly unnerved the cherry blossom.

"And what about your darling Naruto-kun? Do you think he even knows what a brush is?"

Sakura's eyebrow started twitching before evolving into a smirk of her own. "Pfft, as for your Sasuke-kun, you can have him, you know we went out on a date the other night?" She knew she had her hook line and sinker by the crestfallen expression on her face. "Yeah that umm.." Whats a place, what's a place? "that uhh Ichiraku ramen place."

A resounding slap could be heard throughout the room. "YOU DID WHAT?!" She screamed, her hand still not leaving Sakura's face. She pulled her arm back and placed it beside her before storming out of the room out into the backyard.

Naruto sat in the swing out in the backyard, swinging slowly, back and forth. The wind blew nicely, slightly blowing back his hair. The silence in the backyard was bliss, the only thing to be heard was the sound of birds chirping and the trees swaying in the wind. All was quiet until a slap was heard coming from the house. The blonde chuckled, Kaa-san must have found tou-san reading his naughty green book again.

All of a sudden Ino came storming out of the house, walking straight past Naruto and sat under the tree, her legs and arms crossed with a pout on her face.

Naruto saw her upset and considering he didn't like seeing anyone upset, it was only natural for him to go and help her out. He hopped off the swing and made his way over to the tree Ino was sitting in. Instead of going to the front of the tree where she was sitting, he went to the other side, before sitting in the same position, only with his face scrunched up. "Hey…Ino."

She jumped, she hadn't even seen Naruto when she walked out. "So…what are you doing out here?

"Teme annoyed me…what about you?" Naruto was pretty gutted by the revelation, if he had done something with Sakura….he'd get him, and he'd get him bad.

"Heh yeah, forehead annoyed me…so what did Sasuke-kun do?"

He growled, fox like, before saying, "Said he went on a date with Sakura-chan."

That hurt, she didn't think Sakura was being serious, just a harmless joke. But now Naruto confirmed it, there was no doubt, Sakura went behind her back and went for the one she liked. She would pay. "Hey Naruto..let's get back at them, let's….."

It was just a joke…as if I'd go eat with him, I like Naruto-kun….but now we're like brother and sister…that can't happen. Maybe..

The whole situation was still quite confusing for Sakura, it's a pretty hard life being 6 years old. Guess I should go and find Ino-pig. She got up off her bed and headed outside her room and out to the backyard.

Kakashi could only laugh at the sight before him. Up on the light post just outside his house, hung Sasuke, in nothing but his underwear, and on his chest was written 'I like boys'.

Either Rin and the girls' work, or he did something to Naruto to piss him off. Better get him off anyway. He jumped up and detached Sasuke from the pole before slumping him on his shoulder and taking him back inside.

As Sakura got to the door, it opened in front of her and in walked Naruto and Ino holding hands with massive smiles on their faces. Hang on…holding hands?! "What are you two doing?!"

Naruto and Ino inwardly smirked, working so far. They both thought. "Oh, we're just going for a walk to the park, bye!" Said Ino before dragging Naruto out of the door.

What does she think she's doing, Shannaro! Exclaimed inner Sakura.

Huh? Who are you?

For now, just your inner self. She replied.

Oh..ok then.

After taking out her frustration on the wall she stormed off to her bedroom, and didn't come out until the call for dinner came.

Naruto and Ino returned an hour later and went out to the backyard and started talking about different stuff, from becoming ninja, to Ino trying to teach Naruto a little bit about flowers and Naruto trying to teach Ino about stealth and sabotage. Let's just say that Naruto didn't pick up on flowers as easily as Ino picked up on sabotage.

They were so wrapped up in conversation that they didn't realise how much time had passed until they heard a call for dinner coming from Rin. The two stood up and made their way inside and into the living room. Holding hands the whole way in, which didn't go unnoticed by the other occupants in the room.

Sasuke scowled in Naruto's direction in reference to what happened earlier. Sakura merely glared in Ino's direction, while Naruto and Ino just smiled and sat down, right next to each other. "Right" Said Kakashi, "Everyone having fun?" Sasuke and Sakura glared, Naruto and Ino nodded, "good to see, well let's eat." In front of them was an arrangement of sushi, various rice dishes and Naruto's favourite, home-made ramen. "Itada-" He was cut off by a knock on the door. He glanced at the clock. Hmm, 6:30, wonder who that is?

He got up and walked to the door. A tired and distressed looking chuunin was puffing and panting at the door. "Yes? Can I help you?" Kakashi asked.

"Kakashi-san." He panted. "It's the Uchiha's….they've all been killed, they've all been slaughtered."

Sasuke wasn't going too well, it had been 24 hours since his clan had been viciously slaughtered. The only survivors being Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke.

Jiraiya, Kakashi, Itachi and the Sandaime were all in the Hokage's office. The air was tense, and the room had been silent for a while. It was Sarutobi who broke the silence. "So Itachi..please explain what happened."

Itachi nodded. And began to recount his story.

Flashback

Itachi returned from his first mission as an ANBU. It was a relatively simple mission; just assassinate an S-Class missing nin, nothing too tough. The only problem was that it took a while to hunt the guy down. He was looking forward to a nice bath and a nice bed to sleep in.

After reporting to the Hokage's office he made his way to the Uchiha estate. The air seemed tense, and it smelled, a strong stench of blood. He quickened his pace and continued with caution. He wasn't prepared for what he saw. The streets were littered with the bodies. His whole clan; dead. Houses were covered in blood, body parts everywhere.

The sight was disgusting, if he wasn't so well trained, he would have knelt over and thrown up. He kept walking, and didn't even notice the pool of blood he stood in. He followed the stream to the body that it was flowing from. Lying there, without his head was his uncle. At this he did turn around and proceed to throw up. What he turned around to was even worse.

There standing on the body of his parents, leaning on two swords proceeding from his parents throats, was his best friend, Uchiha Shisui. He yanked the words from their throats. "Hahaha HAHAHA ITACHI! Like what you see? Like seeing the bodies of our clan members littering the streets? You don't have to join them, join me, Madara-sama helped me get this power, and soon, soon I can make this power permanent."

Itachi was furious, his best friend had killed everyone, "SASUKE?! DID YOU KILL HIM?!" he screamed. He'd seen his parents bodies, but if he'd killed his younger brother, he would take him to the brink of death only to bring him back and repeat. For days, he would pay.

"No, join me and Madara-sama, and we will leave Sasuke alone. Join us, Itachi!"

End flashback

"I killed him, and…I enjoyed doing it…to see him die, to see him pay, if you don't mind Hokage-sama, I'd rather not tell you how." The Hokage nodded and Itachi continued, "I used a jutsu to look at his memories, I have some rather disturbing news."

After a few moments of silence Jiraiya asked, "What is it?"

"Shisui was about to be a part of an organisation called Akatsuki. Their goal was to track down and control the 9 tailed beasts…They're after Naruto, and although I'm unsure as to why, they're also after Haruno Sakura."

"As it is, judging by some of the members that we knew of, in a solo fight, Kakashi and Gai could take some of the members, and myself and Sarutobi-sensei might not even be able to take on the leader, who we believe to be Uchiha Madara."

Jiraiya, the Hokage and Itachi were explaining the situation to a trustworthy bunch of jounin and highly regarded chuunin. They consisted of: Hatake Kakashi, Rin, Mitarashi Anko, Gekkou Hayate, Yuuhi Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma, Morino Ibiki, Maito Gai and Tenzou.

Murmurs were heard at the mention of Uchiha Madara, "We don't know how Madara is still alive, we believed him to have been killed by the Shodaime." Said Sarutobi, "As Jiraiya said, there isn't enough people that could stand against the members of Akatsuki, so I have made a decision. This is an SS class mission, and upon accepting this mission, any chuunin will be made jounin. The mission will last for around 10 years. I can not reveal any more until you agree. So, if you accept this mission stay, if there are any that believe they don't want to accept it, please leave now." The Hokage took a brief break. "However I have no doubt that everyone in this room are the best people for it."

The Hokage looked at all of them, and everyone was determined. It was clear that no one was leaving that room. It brought a smile to the Hokage's face. "Good…I knew I was asking the right people…. Now, Akatsuki is after Uzumaki Naruto, for his 'guest' and they are also after Haruno Sakura, why they are after them I am not aware."

Rin was still in tears from when she had first been told a week earlier. Her two children were in danger, and the fact that she wouldn't be able to do anything to protect them made it so much worse. The Hokage continued, "Therefore, everyone, for the next 10 years, will be training the two of them, every day. We need to train them to be as strong as possible, and it is my belief that after 10 years with this degree of training, they will be as strong as the sannin, or even stronger."

This caused slightly louder muttering throughout the crowd before Rin spoke up, "So what? You're turning them into weapons?!" she screamed.

"No…Rin, this is for their own protection, as well as the villages."

"So at the end of their training, will they be bumped straight up to Jounin then?" Asked Kakashi.

Sarutobi's face narrowed and became, if possible, even more serious. "No, Kakashi, we can't let anyone know that they are being trained like this. They will be put on genin teams with the rest of their generation with fake personas, and obviously, they will have to hold back their true power."

"But Hokage-sama," Anko interjected. "Genin teams are a group of 3, you can't have 2 jounin level and one low genin level ninja on a team. We need a third member."

Sarutobi and Jiraiya had stupid expressions on their face, Why didn't we think of that. They both thought. "That is true, Anko. Does anyone have any suggestions for a third team member?"

Kakashi, Itachi, Jiraiya and the Hokage had a good idea of who it should be, but decided to let the others discuss it first.

"Well it has to be someone from their generation…" Said Rin, "How about Yamanaka Ino..they all get along, which would be vital for this."

The rest of the room murmured in agreement at her last statement, but not so much at her suggestion. "Sure the Yamanaka are strong, they just don't have the potential that others may have." Said Kakashi.

"That's true.." Said Kurenai, "How about…Hyuuga Hinata, she is all but exiled from the clan due to what the Hyuuga see as a lack of potential, this would be a perfect opportunity for her."

The Hokage arched his eyebrow at the suggestion and said "Good point, Kurenai, but, the Hyuuga would not allow her to partake in this, and they would also want all the details on why, we can't afford to tell too many other people, I won't even be telling the council about this arrangement."

Everyone's chest swelled with pride knowing that they were so privileged to find out this information.

After most of the 6 year old, to be ninja were discussed, Kakashi had enough and made his suggestion, "Uchiha Sasuke….Not only does he have potential, I feel as though if he was left alone something bad could happen, but if there is something there to distract him…I think this is the best thing for him, not to mention he also gets along with Naruto and Sakura very well."

Everyone agreed, exclaiming that it was a perfect choice in some way or another. "Right, now that is taken care of, I want to discuss exactly what they will be taught, how often they will be taught it and who will be teaching who what. So, what do you all think?"

"Well…I know Sakura has superb chakra control, with constant and the right amount of training, she could have better control than I do within a year. I think she should be taught medical jutsu."

"If she has such good chakra control, I think she should also be taught genjutsu. With good chakra control, she could be quite good at it." Said Kurenai.

"Yes, I have taught her a few basic ones which she seems quite good at; I think it would be a good idea for her to learn genjutsu as well…"

"I think it's essential that they all know a considerable amount of ninjutsu, and I think we should have them working on their elemental affinities as soon as possible. But if Sakura will be trained as a medic and a genjutsu user that would put her in a more of a supportive role. So I think that Sasuke and Naruto should focus on ninjutsu more than Sakura."

"That's true, Kakashi…But I'm hoping you can clear something up for me…it's the only thing that I can see Akatsuki wanting Sakura for, does she have the blood of the Shodaime?" Asked the Sandaime.

Kakashi's face fell, he'd promised not to tell, but at this stage, Sakura was in danger so there wasn't much of a choice. "Hai, Hokage-sama."

"Just as I thought…well, Tenzou, you will try and develop Sakura's bloodline, and if either of the other two have an affinity for water or earth, I ask that you teach them in that particular one."

"Hai, Hokage-sama, but will I be taking a fake name for this assignment?" Tenzou replied.

"Ah yes, for this assignment, you shall be referred to as Yamato."

Tenzou/Yamato said "Hai, Hokage-sama" while bowing.

"All three will be learning taijutsu from Gai, Kakashi and Asuma. They will all also be taught how to build and control their chakra by Rin. They will all be learning from Anko, her taijutsu style, her techniques and well…whatever else it is that she does..Weekly the three of them will visit Ibiki to strengthen their mental resolve, and to learn interrogation and mind techniques. They will see Itachi and Kakashi for ninjutsu." Said the Hokage, "for the two boys. What are their strengths and weaknesses?"

"As for Sasuke" Said Itachi "once his sharingan is active, ninjutsu and taijutsu will be great, and genjutsu, would be just as good. I believe it is also a good idea to teach him to fight with a sword, and I believe he would make an appropriate person to master the use of barriers."

The Hokage nodded. "So we will have Sakura and Sasuke seeing Kurenai and Itachi for genjutsu, Sasuke will learn kenjutsu from Hayate and Asuma, Anko would be the best for barriers. Kakashi, what about Naruto?"

"Right, it is in his blood to be a master of seals, I suggest he is taught in that, I think he should too be taught kenjutsu, his genjutsu is absolutely awful, which I think has to do with the 2 chakra sources. His bloodline will not activate until he is 16, so that isn't an issue at the moment, as for the Kyuubi, I don't know what are the positives or negatives of it being in him are yet. I think that is all." Kakashi replied.

"Right, so this is how things will go:
Kakashi, Gai and Asuma will teach the three taijutsu.
Kakashi, Tenzou and Itachi will teach the three in ninjutsu and work on their elemental affinities
Anko will teach all three.
Rin will teach the three expert chakra control and ways to increase their amount as well as teaching Sakura medic jutsu.
Hayate will teach Naruto and Sasuke kenjutsu.
Anko will teach Sasuke to use barriers.
Jiraiya will teach Naruto seals, ninjutsu and his father's techniques.
Itachi and Kurenai will teach Sasuke and Sakura genjutsu.
Tenzou will be teaching Sakura to use her bloodline, as well as helping either of the others if they 

have an affinity for earth or water.
Finally Ibiki will build their mental resistance and teach them in interrogation. Their training will begin at the start of next week. Kakashi, Rin and Itachi, you can inform the three of their new training but do not tell them why. Also tell them that this is to remain a secret. Now, you're all dismissed."

They all nodded and left the room, leaving the Hokage to his thoughts. I'm too old for this shit..

Chapter 4 done, quicker than usual too :D. The content in this chapter I had originally planned out over 2 chapters, so if anyone thinks it seems too rushed, let me know and I'll consider doing it again, elaborating it. No the children haven't been forgotten and next chapter will be their reactions and the beginning of their training.

Two things I'd like to ask, one; the pairing, regardless of anything Naruto/Sakura is going to happen. I want to know if anyone wants to see a variation of this, like add someone else, and if so who? Or if maybe a harem, although Naruto and Sakura would be the main emphasis in the whole thing. And two; the training, do you want to see much of it? Or what I could do is have a little bit next chapter and then another, or do a 3 year timeskip for chapter 6. Let me know what you think.