Expectations of Development

--o--

Bridge

--o--

"God damn it Uzumaki! Water-walking isn't that hard. Even the Uchiha managed it by now. Sakura managed it after one day! You didn't make any progress in a fucking week!" Anko raged at Naruto.

Sakura would find it funny, if she didn't have the suspicion that something was wrong with him. Kakashi looked on with a frown, unknowingly mirroring Sasuke. Or Sasuke mirrored him, who knew.

"Orochimaru." Sasuke finally muttered.

All eyes looked on him instantly. Anko seemed ready to bite his face off, she appeared directly in front of him, growling.

"What do you mean?" She asked, her voice dangerously low.

Sasuke didn't step back though. Sakura nodded proudly. He would have, a week ago. But exposure had weakened the effects Anko had on all of them.

Sadly not the poisons she used on Sakura, or her insistence on training her into the ground and then into an early grave.

"When he attacked us in the forest, he..." Sasuke looked at Naruto, scrunching up his face. "He hit his stomach. Naruto fainted afterward, but he seemed alright after he woke up."

Sakura nodded. "Yeah I told Iruka about it... I think. But it didn't seem important compared with Sasuke's seal, especially since Naruto didn't have seem to be affected."

Anko glared at her. "And did you actually check? Did you actually bother to, I dunno." She ripped off Naruto's top. "Look?"

Both her and Kakashi stared at Naruto's stomach. Which was completely empty, just as Sakura had expected.

"Channel some chakra would you Naruto?" Kakashi asked, he looked at Sakura and Sasuke for a second. Sakura suspected he was debating whether to send them away or not, but she wouldn't leave now.

Anko didn't seem to worry about them, she merely stared at Naruto, who glanced at them, trying to look as if he didn't.

Sakura gave Sasuke a look, who simply shook his head, this wasn't the time to ask questions.

Naruto sighed, and channeled his chakra.

Sakura felt her eyes widen as she watched a spiral spring to life on his stomach. Apparently Naruto did have a seal. But why didn't he mention it? Sasuke growled slightly. She had mentioned his...

"Yeah he modified it, alright..." Anko muttered, her fingers tracing the seal. "Damn, can't do anything about this. It's way too complicated for me. If I work on this... who knows what would happen."

Kakashi nodded, rubbing his chin in thought. "You might not have to, somebody's in Konoha, somebody who is an expert on seals."

Anko looked at Kakashi with narrowed eyes. "The Hokage is good, but even he never..." Her eyes widened. "He's here is he?" She asked.

Kakashi chuckled weakly. "I... yes, yes he is."

"Sakura? No public bath's if you value your privacy from now on." Anko ordered, no advised her. "Unless... you want to help me catch a dirty old man to help Naruto?"

Sakura looked down at her chest, then at Anko's. She felt like crying. "Would I be of any use?"

Anko cackled. "Not as bait no. But, you can help me capture him, having somebody to give me a signal when he's around and to slow him down will be very useful."

Thanks for the vote of confidence sensei. Sakura wisely didn't say out loud.

She would get Anko for this, oh yes, she would.

"Uhh what's going on?" Naruto asked. He had hurriedly collected his shirt and jacket again.

"Well Naruto, Anko and Sakura will have a teacher, student bounding moment." Kakashi said, smiling madly behind his mask. "And they will try to catch somebody, who will be able to help you with the seal on your stomach. Hopefully without any incidents."

Sasuke sighed. "Does that mean we can continue to train now? I feel myself getting weaker here."

Naruto nodded, his head bobbed up and down. "Yeah, I want to do something. All we did today was, talk, talk, talk."

Kakashi didn't stop grinning. "Well since the girls are going to do some bonding I thought we might also bond."

Sakura could feel a shiver run up her back. The way Kakashi pronounced that word... she waved her good bye, to the idiots who just signed their own dead sentences.

"Bye, try not to die you two."

"Yeah brats, I want to torture you some more." Anko waved cheerfully.

Both girls turned away, leaving the boys and the growing sounds of violence behind.

"Oh god, that doesn't bend that way Kakashi!" Naruto screamed.

"Ah boys and their games." Anko sighed happily.

Sakura didn't agree, she had plans for Sasuke and if Kakashi damaged him... well she would damage Kakashi right back.

--o--

Anko leaned back in the hot spring. Relaxing here, felt soo good. Pity Kurenai couldn't come, her and that cute little student of hers. It would have been so much fun to tease them.

And the kids eyes would have been useful as well.

They had to rely on their own eyes now, but Sakura stood hidden in one of the trees, overlooking the entire bath, both male and female.

She would give a warning, as soon as she saw somebody peek, so Anko leaned back and enjoyed the heat.

--o--

Damn it, did Jirayia decide not to show today? Sakura hadn't given any indication of his presence at all. And Anko had been relaxing for an hour now.

Not that it was bad mind you. She did enjoy herself. But still they had a job to do and she would have to leave the bath soon. She glanced at the tree Sakura hid herself in.

And stopped. In the tree, her student sat, plainly visible, beside an older man, both ignoring the other, in favor of the view below them.

Anko didn't know how to feel. On the one hand, her student abandoned her. On the other, her student enjoyed a prime view of male flesh on display.

And the mission could be counted as a success. Since they had, in fact, found Jirayia.

Who stared at her exposed breasts... ok Sakura would pay for allowing that to happen. But first they had to get Jirayia. Easy enough though, especially with Sakura as close as she was.

Anko whistled, a shrill sound, that should pierce any eardrum in the area.

Sakura didn't react... damn pervert... Anko wanted to know what she was looking at, that focused her attention so much.

She whistled again. This time Sakura reacted, finally.

She quickly looked around, noticed Jirayia, slammed a few needles Anko supplied her with into his back and focused on whatever happened below again.

Jirayia teetered for a second, before he fell to the ground. He managed to land gracefully, but he wobbled back and forth only seconds before he slumped against the tree, his eyes finally closing, as he slipped into a deep and peaceful sleep.

Anko wrapped a towel around herself and jumped onto the tree. She got a bit of applause, as the other females had noticed Jirayia's fall.

She stood beside Sakura, who didn't even greet her. "What are you looking at brat? And how long has he been..."

Underneath she could see one of the prettiest boys she had ever seen, totally naked, he just sat there, drawing.

His nudity proudly on display for all the world to see.

My if he was just a few years older she could just gobble him up.

"So... developed a taste for peeping have you?" She asked Sakura.

Sakura blinked, then looked up at her. "I've merely developed an appreciation for nature's bountiful treasures."

Anko cackled, finally drawing the attention of the males below them.

Most immediately dropped below the water and kinda glared. Pretty boy just glanced at them for a second, then focused on his picture again.

"Well, I think we should get out of here now. We got our target after all." Anko said, studying the boy some more.

From below shouts were heard about dirty damn peepers and innocence lost.

Anko had the distinct impression the men were actually enjoying it.

"Shut up down there, we aren't interested in your fat asses at all!" Sakura shouted back.

Anko cackled again. Her student came along so great!

"What do you mean? Fat? This ass look fat to you?" One of the guys shot back and showed a very nice piece of ass off.

Sakura blushed slightly. Anko simply wolf whistled. "Yeah baby, shake it!"

The guy blinked and disappeared below the water again. To the laughter from every other guy in the area.

Anko sighed, she did stand here with only a towel to hide her assets. "Come on, we should leave Sakura."

Nodding the girl jumped from the tree and collected Jirayia. "Ugh the lump is heavy." She complained.

Anko shrugged. "Yeah, it's all that fat he carries around with him. Just carry him to the training ground. I'll put some clothes on and meet you there."

Sakura stared at her in adorable disbelieve. "Carry him? All alone? Me?"

"Consider it strength training." Anko shrugged.

--o--

Jirayia slowly came too again.

The last thing he remembered, was the busty chick whistling loudly.

Oh and the nice pair of tits she had.

He grinned widely.

Then the pink haired girl he shared the tree with, had thrown him down. Without any provocation!

And he thought they were kindred souls. Researching the subtleties of human interaction and anatomy in public places.

Hmm come to think of it, he had seen her before, just where...

Idly he let his gaze wander, the busty chick stood there, her clothes gave her the illusion of indecency while still hiding everything. How disappointing.

The pink one stood there as well, red from head to toe. He focused on the older one. He knew her too. Now from where...

Anko, Orochimaru's apprentice. And the pink one was one of Kakashi's students.

So, she probably sat on the tree to catch him... and got distracted, how cute.

He chuckled, from the way she acted around Naruto...

"Again, I'll admit the guy was very, very pretty. But you had a mission. And spying on the cute guys wasn't in the job description." Anko reprimanded the girl. "He ogled me who knows how long!"

Not more than a few minutes, there were other girls after all.

Sakura shrugged. "You didn't exactly mind I recall."

Anko sighed. "That's beside the point. What about the other woman there? Do you think they wanted to be ogled?"

That was a yes, in Jirayia's humble opinion. But he might be biased.

"No, of course not. But, he was just so pretty!" Sakura attempted to defend herself. Again, judging by the look on Anko's face, disappointment mixed with disgust.

"Besides, I had to make sure he didn't suspect anything. If I had attacked him directly he would have defended himself easily." She finished.

She was wrong of course, he had dismissed her almost immediately, not because he thought he shared an interest with her, but simply because she didn't pose a challenge.

But still, admitting that he would have been caught flatfooted without the charade would be bad, so he better help her there.

"She's absolutely right, you know Anko?" He chuckled as he pushed himself up. He discreetly noted the time, the sun had wandered a bit, but it wasn't too late yet.

He planted a hand on Sakura's shoulder, maybe with a bit more force than strictly necessary, but she didn't buckle at all.

"I had her pegged for a guard at first glance, however, when I noticed her eyes were focused elsewhere. Well benefit of the doubt and all that." He grinned at the two of them.

Both returned the grin with a raised eyebrow.

Sakura at least attempted to hide her doubt... from Anko.

"Anyway, seeing as I didn't wake up battered and bruised, can I assume you wanted something from me? Something that doesn't involve me appreciating your beauty?" He winked at Anko, who snorted.

"Sorry Sakura, I can only take so much of him. Meet me at the training ground, I'll make sure Naruto is ready. And tell your boy toy that his position might be in danger." Anko waved quickly, before she disappeared in the trees.

He turned to watch the girl, who scowled after her teacher, all the while blushing furiously.

"So, what do you want from me?" He asked her.

She stopped scowling almost immediately, looked left, looked right and rummaged in her pockets for a second. Then handed him a small stack of books and a pencil.

Her blush had only gotten worse.

"Ahahaha. A fan eh?" He laughed, as he took the books and signed them. "Don't worry, you aren't the only female who loves them. I heard they spiced up quite a few bedrooms."

Sakura eagerly took back her books, quickly stashing them in her pockets again.

"Maybe I should tell that boy you have an eye on to read..." Suddenly she held a kunai in her hand and pressed it at one of his most sensitive places.

"One word to Sasuke, and you will have no incentive to research the next book." She growled out.

It was kinda cute, the way she thought she could actually threaten him.

Still, he would have to teach her...

"And we actually need you to have a look at Naruto. Orochimaru did something to him. Anko isn't sure she can do anything."

Teaching her respect would have to wait. Naruto was more important. "Lead the way then, we are wasting time."

She rolled her eyes, but started walking. "It's not dangerous. Naruto just can't control his chakra as well as he should be able to. That's all. It's no emergency or something. He did fine since the chunin exam."

Jirayia would rather he make sure of that himself, thank you very much.

"Maybe, just show me the way." He ordered.

--o--

Naruto frowned at the people all around him. Or tried to at least. He just couldn't muster the energy. Kakashi had thrown him and Sasuke around the training ground in the most fun and painful training match ever. Naruto hurt all over, but the pain was good, it meant he was improving himself.

Sasuke seemed in a similar stated, he almost smiled weakly.

"Well, well, well. Look at the poor little boys, all beaten up. I wonder what Sakura would say." Anko announced her presence.

And hopefully Sakura would take pity on them and help make the pain go away. Maybe with a kiss. He grinned hopefully, he still remembered the last one.

And Ino too, he hadn't paid much attention to her in the academy, just another girl who ignored him as best as she could.

But now, that he was a ninja, that all changed!

Soon he would have a lot of girls after him. He would only go for Sakura, of course.

Now if only he could get her away from Sasuke.

"We found Jirayia, he's on his way." Anko said to Kakashi, who looked as fresh as ever, not even scratched.

Damn him, Naruto had nearly had him once. Sasuke twice. But the man always managed to slip out at the last second.

If only Sasuke had helped Naruto once or twice. Naruto was sure they would have landed a hit.

Instead Sasuke demanded that Naruto help him. As if!

Either Sasuke helped Naruto and Naruto would help Sasuke in turn, or there would be no help forthcoming.

An older man with white hair followed Sakura onto the clearing, he looked at the boys, and at the destroyed clearing.

"Well, if you attempted to destroy the forest you did very well, but I think you missed a tree or two." The guy said. Naruto had the vague impression of seeing him before, but he couldn't put a place or a time on it.

Sakura stalked over to Sasuke, knelt down and forced him to gulp down a small vial. Judging by Sasuke's expression it tasted vile.

Satisfied Sakura stood and made her way over to Naruto.

"Uhh, whatever that is, I don't need it!" Naruto tried to stop Sakura, however he could barely lift his hands, much less stop her from grabbing his head, tilting it back and force the foul liquid down his throat.

"Blerg, what the hell is this?" Naruto shouted. He did notice a rush of energy go through his limbs and began to push himself up.

"Just a little energizer, from all natural herbs, fruits and vegetables." Sakura said, a slight smile hiding on her lips. "It's basically what soldier-pills are made from. Just a fair bit weaker. Less destructive too. Perfect to give a small boost without pushing your body to it's limits."

The new guy nodded. "Yeah, soldier-pills are useful, emergency use only though, as far as I'm concerned."

Sakura blushed at that, but said nothing.

"Anyway, could you get rid of Naruto's shirt? I need to see his stomach, if I want to work on the seal."

Sakura didn't stop blushing at that. Not that she paused for even a second, before mugging him of his jacket and shirt.

He would have stopped her, really he would. But even with the energy drink she forced down his throat, he just felt too weak to properly defend himself.

And so he stood there, shirtless, glaring at everbody around him and exposed to scrutiny from the old guy, Anko and Sakura.

Both of which were wolf-whistling wildly.

"You sure you want the Uchiha? This one seems pretty nice." Anko leered.

Sakura looked at Naruto, then at Sasuke. Her head went back and forth for a few seconds, before she nodded and walked over to Sasuke.

"Sasuke, stand still!" She ordered the boy.

Sasuke glared ineffective at her approach, Naruto snickered, served him right.

A quick struggle later and the Uchiha stood as shirtless as Naruto.

His glare had intensified and alternated between Anko, Sakura and Naruto.

"Bwahaha, mugged by a girl bastard!" Naruto shouted in his face.

He also didn't notice Sakura checking them out quite openly. Nope, certainly didn't feel like he was a prime cut of meat in front of a hungry wolf.

Sakura giggled quietly.

"Well, this doesn't seem so bad." The old guy said, standing up from his examination.

"It isn't?" Naruto asked. Why go through all this trouble then?

"Yeah, could you ask the pink one to come over for a second?"

Naruto looked at Sakura. "Sakugak!"

And felt the old bastards hand slam into his stomach, driving the air out of his lungs and himself onto the ground.

"What the hell was that for?" Naruto sprung up, into the geezers face.

"Hahaha, well you certainly seem energetic again." The man said.

Naruto blinked, it was true, he felt way better then a few seconds ago.

"Try water-walking again." Kakashi said, gesturing toward the river.

Naruto shrugged and walked over. "Sure. This time I will get it!"

And he did... easily. He just walked on the water and stood there, no difficulties at all....

"Damn that Orochimaru!" He shouted in outrage. "How dare he make this stuff so difficult for me too learn?"

--o--

Sakura ignored Naruto's out burst, instead she watched his stomach, or better the seal she could still see.

Glancing at Sasuke she knew he realized it as well. This confirmed that Orochimaru didn't create that seal. He only interfered with it.

A glance at Jirayia assured her, that the man had noticed the two of them looking at the seal.

He kept quite though.

And Anko and Kakashi knew about the first seal as well. Only her and Sasuke didn't. And she bet none of her classmates knew about the seal either. Ino would have mentioned something.

"Brat, lemme have a look at the seal, let's make sure nothing was damaged when I undid the snakes' seal." Jirayia shouted at the raging boy.

Anko nodded, her face carefully blank. "Yeah, he has a way of leaving nasty traps in place."

Her hand snaked to her back, and brushed against something there for a second, before returning to her side.

Sakura glanced at Sasuke, who looked back, eyes half closed in apparent boredom.

"We need to talk." She mouthed to him. She got a well hidden nod in return. "With Naruto too."

She added and got another nod in return.

Looking at the adults, she didn't think any of them noticed the little conversation.

So time for a distraction. "How did you get beaten so badly anyway? You should have at least given Kakashi a black eye!" She asked the boys. Always a good way to distract them.

"I would have, if Sasuke hadn't gotten in my way!" Naruto shouted immediately.

Sasuke merely grunted, which translated roughly into:" And if he hadn't gotten into my way Kakashi would be a little pile of ashes right now."

Sakura looked at Kakashi. If she interpreted the look right and she had gotten good at interpreting the looks her boys carried, then his said something along the lines of: "If you two had worked together in any way, shape or form, like in wave for example, I would have gone easy on you and wouldn't have to beat your scrawny little asses all around the clearing."

She might have interpreted a bit much into Kakashi's look, but whatever.

She looked down, she still held their clothes.

She giggled again, looking at the exposed flesh all around her. Hmm sexy. If only Ino where here, they could have so much fun with the boys.

--o--

Ino frowned, as she twisted and turned away from Shikamaru's strikes, and not because he kept missing her by miles. No, she felt as if she was missing something, something good.

One of Shikamaru punches hit her dead in the face, sending her flying.

She rolled over a few times and laid still. The bastard had waited till she got sure of herself, then landed one clean punch on her.

Not bad, but if he thought she would be down from that one...

"Get up already. I know you aren't out." He sighed.

Right, Shikamaru. He would know when she attempted to fake him out.

Choji ran past them, Asuma hot on his heels. "If you can't finish this round we won't go eat tonight either." Asuma said easily.

Choji's eyes widened in something close to a panic. They hadn't eaten out for the entire week. Choji just didn't have the constitution to finish Asuma's sadistic new training regime.

To be honest, neither did Ino. Or Shikamaru.

It came as close to hell as anything Ino ever experienced. And she loved it.

She charged Shikamaru, who countered with his shadow bind. Easiest thing to counter ever, but Ino waited to reveal her ace. It wasn't yet time. She grinned at him. "Nice catch Shika, now what are you going to do with helpless little me?" She attempted to wiggle suggestively, but his shadow prevented that.

"Please stop using me as a practice dummy for your seduction techniques. It's demeaning." He countered, slowly stepping closer.

She didn't struggle much, just enough to let him feel the strain of holding her.

"Aww, but who am I supposed to train on then? I mean I have to train on somebody. And Asuma..." She trailed off, only a foot or two away from each other now, she rolled the small marble in her mouth around.

"How about Choji?" He asked. "He's very dependable, loyal..."

"Well yeah, but he's like a brother. So not going there." She replied.

Shika raised an eyebrow. "And what am I?" She could just hear him say that being her brother would be a drag.

Of course, he wouldn't have the opportunity, as he had just lowered his head.

She activated the marble with some chakra and spit it on the ground.

Shikamaru's eyes widened, just as Ino closed her own.

Consequently the explosion blinded him, as the marble went off with a loud bang and a flash.

"Arrg!" He screamed, shying away from Ino, who managed to push through her own disorientation, and didn't pull any punches.

She practically mauled Shikamaru, following up punch with punch, hitting his face, stomach and chest repeatedly. She didn't bother aiming, the bang had made concentrating difficult anyway, and even with her eyes closed, she could barely see.

Shikamaru however, couldn't see at all and only managed to block a punch here or there and only by luck.

Ino smirked viciously as she spun into a high kick, hitting his head.

Shikamaru went down hard, his eyes widened for a second, before they closed and he slammed into the ground.

Ino though she heard him cough, but her ears were still ringing, so she couldn't say for sure.

Quickly she went down, to check for any serious injuries. They had to bring him into the hospital twice already. Nothing major but with the way he fought, slow and deliberate.

Ino wouldn't have it. Against an enemy like Naruto or Sasuke. Or even worse Sakura. Who would mercilessly hound him, he couldn't take the time to think. They would rush him and distract him, in Naruto's case with incoherent babbling, Sasuke with the sharingan and Sakura with bribery.

She would have to make sure he understood the consequence of failure.

She could hear Asuma shake his head behind her.

"Wasn't that just a bit much?" He asked.

"Anko poisoned Sakura at the first day of training. She cut up Naruto and Sasuke something fierce as well. It didn't get any better from there." She turned to her teacher.

"He will be ready in the exams, he will hold his own against Naruto, or he will learn what it's like to be married to me."

"I'm up Asuma, how much harder can you make the training?" Shikamaru stood beside Ino, his eyes shining with dementia.

"Err, I suppose we could turn it up a notch, if you think you can.."

"I can do it, I need to destroy Naruto!" Shikamaru said evenly and with absolute conviction.

He couldn't fool Ino though, to her ears his voice shook in panic, the wild glances in her direction didn't help his case.

--o--

Sasuke glared at Sakura, who still hadn't stopped her giggling.

She had started a minute ago and hadn't stopped. Her head swiveled slowly form him to Naruto and back again.

Their clothes held protectively to her chest.

And he just knew she would ask for something in return for them.

Narrowing his eyes he glanced at the adults, who were talking quietly at Naruto, who apparently didn't bother listening at all.

Good. Now all he had to do, was sneak up on Sakura, easy enough. Grab his clothes, even easier. And most importantly, not arouse her suspicion.

Not at all easy, especially the way her eyes kept returning to his chest.

Which felt rather good, he liked being considered the best. Though he apparently did have to share that place with Naruto.

Which, all things considered, he could kinda respect. He glanced at the blonds chest. Not nearly as lithe as his own chest, far more heavy set. But all muscles nevertheless and, he supposed quite attractive.

If you were female that is. He just couldn't understand what about the male chest was supposed to be attractive. But he didn't slow himself down with pointless thoughts like that.

Even though, in the current situation this little fact would come in quite useful.

He glanced at Sakura again, who still stared dreamily at his chest, a second later her attention had wandered to Naruto again.

It would be dangerous, she could be faking him out.

But he would be damned if he continued to be her eye candy, she would have to earn that right!

A few seals later and Sasuke let his bunshin behind, for Sakura to ogle.

He crept toward her, carefully staying downwind and behind her, she still hadn't moved.

His senses were taunt. She could really be that distracted, amongst teammates and without a reason to suspect foul play, she might just have lowered her guard.

The old Sakura would have. The new Sakura? She might just fake it, to lure him into a trap. Make a game out of the little downtime they had.

His sharingan started spinning. Confirming the Sakura he watched to be the real one.

Only few more feet.

A low giggle from her stopped Sasuke in his tracks, she lowered her eyes, but didn't look in his direction. Instead she muttered something... about eating... he would rather not know what she meant.

Though a little part of him, an annoying part that had announced his presence more often lately, especially with Anko around, insisted that she could eat him anytime she liked.

He shook his head. Crazy thought that, he would prefer nobody eat him.

"I'm not gonna tell them that!" Naruto shouted angrily. Sakura's head whipped back to Naruto, Sasuke nearly focused on the blond as well, but he couldn't give up the opportunity that had just presented itself.

He dashed from his position, running straight at Sakura, she whipped around, her eyes widening. At the last second Sasuke swerved around her, snagging his shirt and running on.

He grinned as he quickly slipped it on again. Turning around he noticed that everybody stared at him as if he had gone mad.

He reviewed his actions... ok so he had decided to steal his shirt back from Sakura in what appeared to be a quite the childish act. It was training damn it!

"I was testing whether she paid any attention." He said, a smug smirk on his face. "She wasn't."

He noticed Naruto looking at him gratefully. Probably glad he didn't have to continue his little talk with the so called adults.

He probably wouldn't feel like that if he knew that Sakura and Sasuke would have a little talk with him. Main and only topic: the seal on his stomach.

And Sasuke could just bet Naruto wouldn't like talking about it.

"Well, since you seem to have recovered as well." Kakashi said. "How about we give it another try? Anko and Jirayia will be watching and judging how you do."

"Yeah! This time we'll beat you sensei!" Naruto shouted.

"Heh, you sure about this sensei. We'll crush you." Sakura smirked, even if the effect was ruined by the slight trembling of her hands.

"Hnn." Sasuke grunted, no point giving away his excitement.

"Ok, then start!"

--o--

Sakura groaned, as Sasuke and Naruto both attacked Kakashi at once.

Both faked a rush, both easily evaded his counter attack. And both utterly ignored the other.

Which led to the expected result of both getting their asses handed to them, as Kakashi spun into a kick that hit both of them dead in the chest and threw them back to Sakura.

"Why me?" She groaned as she went to collect her teammates. Why did she have to be the voice of reason? They were both smart enough to realize that attacking Kakashi alone would be pointless. In fact, they worked well as a team, whenever they decided to actually do so!

Sadly that happened rarely. Might as well ask for a solar eclipse. Unless Sakura fought with them that is.

After all, Sakura didn't have their unbending pride and could ask for help, from both of them.

"Ok boys, this get's us nowhere. So, let's see if we can't work on this together eh?" She said to the two, as they pulled themselves up again.

Without much difficulty she noticed. Very infuriating that. If Kakashi had hit her like he hit those two, she would be out like a light.

They just picked themselves up and kept going.

"If the bastard would just help me..."

"If the idiot stopped getting in my way..."

The two started up immediately. Sakura groaned, just glad Kakashi decided to hang back and pester Jirayia for an autograph, while his genin were busy hashing out a strategy.

She couldn't decide if he actually wanted the autograph that much or if he did it to give them time.

Not that it mattered. "Shut up! If you can't help each other, at least help me? I need the help, please?"

She looked at them imploringly, all wide eyes, trembling lip and slight touches on the chest.

Naruto still hadn't replaced his jacket, but she refused to let that distract her. Not in a fight at least.

And maybe not out of one either. She had screwed up twice today, because she thought it would be safe. And as a result Sasuke had his shirt back and Jirayia had an hour of ogling defenseless women.

He also provided an example of the dangers of inattention. People could stab you in the back with poison needles.

"Of course Sakura!" Naruto shouted excitedly in her face. Sasuke's "Hmpf." Appeared agreeable as well.

"Ok then. Any plans?" She asked, looking from one to the other.

Sasuke glanced back at Kakashi, who still haggled with Jirayia over his autograph.

Their smirks confirmed what Sakura had expected, they were giving them time.

Sasuke noticed as well, judging by his frown.

"Anko trained you in creating poisons right?" He asked her, carefully.

She nodded, even though Naruto shuffled a bit uncomfortably.

"She teach you nonlethal poisons yet?" Sasuke continued.

Sakura shuddered at the memory of the first poison Anko taught her.

"Yeah, you saw the effects didn't you?"

Sasuke frowned in thought, before he shuddered slightly and nodded. "Yeah, seems a bit much. But if it's the only one you know..."

"It would be useless, it takes an hour to work at all, two to be crippling. Even if Kakashi moves around a lot, it would still take an hour to drop him." She explained, still she couldn't suppress her grin.

Naruto grinned as well. "But you have another poison that works faster?" He asked, his voice rising eagerly.

Sakura nodded. "Yeah, it's not crippling, but it takes effect after ten minutes. It's not exactly painful and with enough chakra running through your system it doesn't actually drop you."

Naruto's head fell in disappointment. Sasuke waited for her to continue.

"But, even with chakra it slows you down, slowly, almost without you noticing." She didn't stop the evil grin slowly spreading over her face. "Which means, the longer we fight, the weaker Kakashi becomes, on top of any fatigue he accumulates while fighting us."

"You're great Sakura!" Naruto shouted, pumping his fist into the air.

Sasuke snorted, but nodded as well. "Still leaves the problem of tagging him with the poison though." He pointed out evenly.

Naruto shrugged. "We attack him, till he leaves an opening for Sakura to throw a kunai at him."

He waved his hands dismissively.

"And if she hit's us? Or Kakashi uses us to shield himself from her attacks? No we need to plan this carefully." Sasuke glared at the blond.

Sakura looked over at Kakashi, who grinned happily as he read his book.

Jirayia and Anko laughed raucously at some joke and didn't pay any attention either.

It infuriated her that they dismissed them so easily, as if giving them the time to plan wouldn't make much of a difference.

She sighed, as she listened to the boys plan, which involved insulting each other as much as actually planning the assault.

Only because Kakashi did give them the time to plan did they stand a chance at all, so she shouldn't complain.

"Ok boys. Sasuke's right, Naruto you distract Kakashi, Sasuke is backup and makes sure Kakashi can't actually hurt you." She send a glare at Sasuke. "That means you won't attack him unless you are absolutely sure he can't dodge. I'll give both of you one kunai with the poison."

Both boys nodded. She also noticed that neither complained about their part in the plan. She managed to suppress her resigned laugh.

Only a month ago she wouldn't have dared criticize Sasuke like that. And now, that she did, he actually listened. She should have started acting this way, far, far earlier.

In hindsight, the only way to distinguish herself from the rest of the girls was, obviously, to do what they didn't. Criticize him and help him close the holes in his fighting style. Adoring his every move had been so obviously the wrong way to go about it.

Then again, actually getting him hadn't been the goal of the exercise. Having fun trying to get him was.

"What about you?" Sasuke asked, he blinked slowly, only now realizing they hadn't included her in their plans at all.

Naruto looked at her curiously, though that little fact probably hadn't registered with him at all.

"Me?" She tapped her lips slowly. "Hmm, I think I'll stay in the back and chuck kunai at him, as if they were on sale."

Both boys looked at each other, eyebrows raised. "Uhh." Naruto muttered.

Sasuke gestured for her to continue, impatiently. Which suited Sakura just fine. They could have included her from the beginning.

"Naruto, you have to make sure he's very, very distracted. Sasuke make sure he's actually were he's supposed to be. If he activates the sharingan, make sure he's not looking at the ground." She pulled out a bit of wire, flashed her hands through a few seals Kakashi had shown her, and the wire disappeared.

"And Kakashi will have a nice little surprise waiting for him all over the ground. You'll also have to make sure he stays in the clearing. I've only got so much range. And if the kunai move, it would be suspicious."

"You think cheering us on will make him dismiss you?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura raised an eyebrow in response.

Sasuke nodded, a little grin on his face. "Yeah, would only make him suspicious."

Naruto on the other hand rubbed his chin in thought. "Maybe not cheer us on, but direct us?"

Sasuke and Sakura looked at him as if he had grown a second head. Since when did Naruto have ideas like that one? Sakura wondered.

It had started in wave, she decided. From then on, every now and then it seemed that two or more braincells came together and hatched something that could only be called a good idea.

"Yeah that..."

"Ok, you had more than enough time to hash out a plan. We've been merciful so far, but if you don't start attacking now, I'm gonna join scarecrow there in beating you to a bloody pulp. I'm bored here!" Anko interrupted them.

Sakura growled and shouted at her teacher. "We were just done, damn it! Stop bothering us!"

Sakura quickly handed them a kunai each, while Anko laughed in response. "Less words, more action please!"

"Fine!" Sakura said. "Naruto attack, Sasuke make sure the idiot doesn't hurt himself!"

Putting it like that was kinda risky. It could make Naruto angry and resent Sasuke, but if her directions were to be believable, they would have to be authentic.

Which meant preferring Sasuke over Naruto, even if Naruto had the more important task. Sasuke just had to make sure Kakashi stayed in reach, didn't manage to escape and didn't incapacitate Naruto. Who would have to hound him, and push him into distraction constantly, while also defending himself and tacking any hits that Kakashi managed to sneak through his and Sasuke's defense.

But Naruto took the insult in stride, a wild grin on his face. "Come on bastard, let's show her who's best!"

Sasuke didn't grin, not really. But the way he carried himself spoke volumes. He was as exited as Naruto about this fight.

With a scream Naruto charged Kakashi, recklessly engaging their foe, throwing a few wild punches.

Kakashi sighed deflecting the punches without any effort.

Until Sasuke attacked him from behind, flinging a few kunai at his exposed back.

Kakashi jumped back, letting the kunai pass below him and into Naruto.

Sakura swore she would kill Sasuke if he screwed this up.

But Naruto pushed through the barrage, which barely missed him. If he still wore his jacket it would have actually touched him, Sasuke had cut it close, but with impossible accuracy.

Sakura grinned, as Kakashi came down right in front of Naruto, but slightly off balance and exposed to attack.

Naruto didn't waste any time doing just that, as he spun into a kick aimed at Kakashi's head. Which the jonin easily deflected. He grabbed Naruto's leg and prepared to throw him around a bit.

Until Sasuke slammed a kunai into Kakashi's shoulder, or attempted to. Kakashi jumped back again, abandoning Naruto in his bid for freedom and health.

Sakura took it as her cue and flung two kunai of her own.

One flew straight at Kakashi, the other she aimed for his landing spot. Both Naruto and Sasuke had recovered from the failed attack and followed her kunais closely.

"Naruto, use your damn clones!" Sakura shouted angrily at the two. Kakashi could easily evade them with only the two, maybe tree attacks a second.

In fact, he had deflected her first kunai with one of his own, and used the second one to change his direction in mid air. Showoff.

"Honestly, if that's the best you can do I don't see you guys winning the tournament at all." He taunted them cheerfully.

"Raaaah!" Sakura screamed, flinging four kunai at him, three missed him by a mile, the other would have only scratched his shoulder, if he hadn't leaned slightly to the side.

"Sloppy, Sakura I expected better..."

Twenty clones of Naruto slammed into Kakashi and buried him under their weight.

"He's on a tree to your left!" Sasuke shouted and immediately the clones sprang up again and attacked the tree Kakashi had chosen as his hiding space.

Sakura could see Sasuke smirking. As he followed the Jonin's movement.

Kakashi, pulled out his little book and grinned at the clones below him. "Looks like I have to remind you guys why I'm the..." He ducked under the twenty fake kunai coming his way from the clones, slammed a fist into the first clone in reach, spun on his leg kicking two more away, pulled out a kunai and threw it at another clone.

The clone dissipated, as the kunai touched him. The kunai on the other hand switched directions and slammed into three more clones.

Sakura whistled quietly, in under three seconds Kakashi had destroyed six clones. All with one hand.

"See you can't..." He really should stop attempting to taunt them tho.

All three of them flung kunai at him, and most of Naruto's clones had decided to go for his legs.

Kakashi's eye narrowed, for a split second, before he seemed to disappear.

"Naruto!" Sasuke screamed, tackling the boy, a second before Kakashi would have plowed his fist into Naruto's face.

Four more of Naruto's clones had been destroyed in Kakashi's charge.

Sakura wondered if they could actually touch him like this. He moved faster than she though possible.

But both Naruto and Sasuke had already gotten up. Unfortunately Kakashi had recovered faster and charged them again.

Sakura flung two more kunai, directly between them, this time not hiding the wire at all.

Kakashi stopped practically immediately and jumped back, even as she let the wire follow him.

He weaved over, under and around the kunai relentlessly following after him. She could just imagine him smiling under his mask.

She flung another kunai at him, while controlling the other two with only one hand, this one closing in on him from the other side, forcing him to retreat straight ba... forward, towards her!

She pulled back, eyes widening. Shit he was fast, if she didn't hurry he would.

Ten Naruto's slammed into him, forcing him to stop and defend himself.

The fact that he destroyed them in even less time than it took him to destroy the first six scared her even more.

How were they supposed to beat him?

Sasuke appeared directly behind Kakashi, kunai raised high over his head.

Kakashi didn't bother turning around, he simply kicked the boy away in an almost lazy back kick.

From the other side Naruto attacked, stabbing at Kakashi stomach. With no success whatsoever.

Kakashi simply grabbed his hand and pulled him him in, spun and then threw him after Sasuke.

Sakura took the opportunity to throw some more kunai at his exposed back. Only to find him gone by the time her kunai reached him.

His fist reached her face just fine however and flung her into a three several feet behind her.

"Urg." She groaned and spit out some blood. That had hurt and nearly knocked her out as well. Sh could only see stars for a few seconds.

Still, she sprung up, searching for Kakashi and sighed in relive. Several of Naruto's clones had engaged the man again, forcing his attention away form Sakura.

Sasuke attempted a sneak attack this time, staying behind Kakashi at all times, while Naruto send more and more clones out to die a painless and quick death.

But they had his attention again, barely.

"He's noticed you Sasuke, retreat!" She shouted. Luckily she had noticed the traitorous flicker of Kakashi's eye.

And with that Naruto's clone's stopped being a trap and Kakashi stopped playing with them.

In an instant they were destroyed. She hadn't even seen Kakashi move!

Sasuke gasped, his sharingan spinning uselessly in the face of Kakashi's insane speed.

Sakura forced herself to revise her translation of Kakashi's previous look.

It probably meant something more along the lines of: "You are all my toys and even if you work as a team, there is no way I'll ever let you win against me."

Her left eye developed a rather annoyed twitch.

"You bastard!" She screamed and charged him, until Naruto slammed into her and stopped her.

"Lemme go, I'll rearrange his stupid constantly grinning face!" She screamed, flinging the two kunai she still held at Kakashi. The kunai fell down long before they even reached him, held by Naruto she lacked any leverage.

Kakashi merely chuckled. "You punks are still far too young to even touch me sorry."

"Naruto, get him into the middle of the clearing now." Sakura whispered in his ear.

"Naruto, either let go and kick his ass, or get out of my face!" She shouted out loud.

Naruto nodded at her, a grim smile on his lips. "Sure Sakura-chan."

"Sasuke help him!" She screamed, she noticed that her voice wavered somewhat. This would be their only chance, if Kakashi had noticed the wires the plan would fail and so would their one chance at winning.

Screaming Naruto charged Kakashi again. However, this time over 40 clones accompanied him, and even Kakashi's eye widened for a second, before he charged the clones.

Sasuke looked at Sakura for instructions. "Help Naruto idiot!" She shouted back.

Sasuke looked at Naruto, who had positioned himself dead center behind his clones, waiting for Kakashi to break through.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes again, then flung kunai after kunai at Kakashi, coincidentally destroying any clones straying too far from the center.

Sakura flung kunai of her own, missing Kakashi by almost nothing. Not that that meant she actually came any closer to hitting him.

And suddenly all clones were gone, Kakashi stood in front of Naruto and time seemed to still, as jonin and student looked each other in the eyes.

Sasuke charged from behind, his eyes giving Sakura all the information she needed to track Kakashi.

Her hands moved, one fluid motion, just as Kakashi had shown her, her chakra moved with the motion, flowing down the wires, as they sprang up, still invisible.

Kakashi's eye widened as he seemed to feel the wires move, he certainly hadn't seen them.

He jumped up, but Sakura had managed to move three wires above him, which stopped his ascend, another two wires wound themselves around his legs, four around his arms. With a twitch of her fingers they slammed his arms into his body.

Or should have. Her eyes widened as he forced his arms away from his body, breaking her hold on him.

Until she moved the last three wires she had available,and forced them to wind themselves around his body, attempting to bind his arms to it. She simply didn't have the purchase to force his arms onto his body with the wires wound around them.

She could only stare in disbelieve, as he forced even those wires away, and moved his hands together, ready to start some jutsu or another. She forced more chakra into the wires, now attempting to move his arms away from each other, kinda like a puppet she reflected.

He frowned, as his arms stopped moving for a second and nodded to her, before she felt a pulse of chakra through the wire around his arms.

With a push his hands came together, actually pulling Sakura forward. She felt her control ripped away, as Kakashi's chakra surged into the wires, replacing her own.

She forced her own chakra back into the wire, but it would be far too late, he already had finished his seals.

And Naruto slammed into him, distracting him, just long enough for Sakura to regain control of her wires and force his hands apart again.

For 2 entire seconds. Then Kakashi had headbutted Naruto away, somehow sliced through the wires holding him and turned to her.

With a grimace of pain on his face, as Sasuke quickly jumped away from him. A blood slick kunai in his hand.

Sasuke smirked at his teacher, twirling the kunai around his fingers.

"Seems we managed to scratch you sensei." He taunted, managing to hold himself up, though Sakura could see that Kakashi must have gotten him somehow, from the very slight slouch Sasuke had.

Naruto pushed himself up feeling his nose for any injuries, before he joined the taunting.

"Yeah, did you see that? We showed you what we can do!"

Sakura merely panted, she had used so much chakra controlling all the wires. And not just chakra, also concentration, keeping them all apart, making sure they didn't get into each others way. And stopping them as soon as they touched Sasuke or Naruto...

She had lost control of the ones holding Kakashi down almost as soon as she bound his legs, afterward she had only been able to focus on the ones binding his arms.

She would have to practice a lot more till she could be useful with the wires on her own.

Never mind the way he simply destroyed her control by forcing his own chakra into the wire.

Kakashi chuckled, shaking his head. "Not bad, I mean sure, I did hold back a lot."

That was him holding back? Sakura groaned, how were they supposed to beat him?

"But still, for you to actually hit me... not bad at all, not bad at all. Especially since you used a poisoned kunai. If Anko hadn't already given me every antidote to the poisons she taught Sakura I might actually be in trouble." He grinned at them.

Sakura would have loved to wipe that grin of his face, with as many kunai as she could.

Naruto slumped to the ground in defeat, Sasuke glowered impotently and Anko and Jirayia laughed at them openly.

Sakura let herself fall on the grass. She needed a rest.

"You have half an hour, before you fight Anko." Kakashi told them.

And Sakura felt an icy claw, clench her heart. She looked at Anko, who looked, who looked... oh god they were all gonna die!

--o--

Sakura dragged herself towards the hospital. Sasuke and Naruto might scoff at the thought, but Sakura preferred to have her wounds looked at. She didn't have Naruto's ability to bounce back from any wound in record time, or Sasuke's ability to just ignore any wound he might have incurred until it went away.

She hurt all over, even in places she didn't know could hurt.

Anko hadn't been so bad, she only targeted what could be seen.

Jirayia on the other hand... what a cruel, cruel bastard. His seals should be considered cruel and unusual punishment. As long as they were used on her. Using them on Orochimaru? Well, he had it coming.

She groaned, if she didn't hurry the hospital would be closed soon.

"Sakura?" A timid voice asked from behind her.

Weakly she turned her head. Hinata stood behind her, looking down at her worriedly.

"What happened? You look horrible!" Hinata shook slightly, as she took in every single bruise and cut she could see on Sakura.

Considering the state of her clothes utterly ruined and exposing large amounts of her body, she could see a lot of them. Sakura felt lucky that the remains covered her enough to protect her modesty at least.

"Hello Hinata." She groaned out, whispered really. Screaming instructions at Naruto and Sasuke for the entire day... her voice had given up around 5. And then she had forced another two hours out of it.

"Just a particularly rough day of training." She didn't whimper as Hinata steadied her. Getting to the hospital faster would deal with her pain faster.

"Are you going to the hospital?" Hinata asked her.

Sakura managed to lift her head in a weak nod, before letting it drop down again. She was just so tired.

Never mind the training, her nights hadn't been particularly restful either.

"I'll help you get there." Hinata said, her voice hard, accepting no denial.

"Thanks." Sakura muttered. She should have just accepted Naruto's offer. But she would be damned if she showed weakness in front of her teammates.

--o--

Sasuke dropped into his bed, a satisfied smile on his face.

He couldn't move at all, he hurt worse than ever before, and it was glorious. This, this was what he had been looking for. Training so hellish he just had to be catching up to Itachi.

None of this coddling him and praising him for his genius. He didn't need that, he needed the most effective training available.

Now if only he could still move, all would be well.

He had to make sure...

He fell asleep exactly 3 seconds after landing in his bed.

--o--

Naruto looked at Jirayia, as the old man sat beside him on the roof of his apartment.

"So, you are going to teach me?" He asked the man.

Jirayia nodded. "Yeah you caught my interest today. Not many would be able to keep going after this training. And here you are, fresh as daisies." He ruffled the blondes hair.

Naruto didn't exactly agree with that statement. Sure, he could fight on. But really if he, for example leaned back and watched the sky, he would...

--o--

Jirayia grinned at the sleeping blonde. Even with his enhanced stamina the day had been too much. As soon as he had rested his head for a second he was out like a light.

Jirayia thought back to the training.

It had been different than he expected. The three genin had managed to tag every teacher at least once.

True, they had all held back somewhat, but still the kids were talented. Naruto's stamina and determination, not to mention raw talent. Sasuke's genius and budding sharingan. And Sakura's freakish ability to control over ten wires simultaneously, for a few seconds at least. If she learned to do that in only one week...

But most importantly... teamwork, teamwork far beyond most teams.

He snorted. This was the great Irony of the ninja world. Every village preached teamwork. Most thought Konoha had mastered it the best. And that was the truth.

However, just because you were the best didn't necessarily mean you were a master.

In the end, it came down to individual ninja fighting individual enemies. Actual teamwork could be observed once in a blue moon.

But here, as soon as Sakura joined the team it just worked, previously Sasuke and Naruto couldn't get over their pride, as soon as Sakura joined them she acted as a bridge, allowing them to help her and thus each other, instead of directly aiding their rival.

In fact, only one team surpassed team 7 on teamwork, well, two now that their children had also become a team.

Maybe Konoha would actually become good at this teamwork thing they preached so much about, instead of having one ninja carrying the entire team to victory. They had three teams practicing it already after all.

--o--

They reached the hospital 30 minutes before it closed. Sakura grunted gratefully at Hinata.

"Thanks, wouldn't have made it in time without you." She whispered.

"It was a pleasure." Hinata dragged her to the front desk.

"You didn't have to. You went out of your way..." Sakura continued, but Hinata interrupted her.

"I didn't. I was on the way to the hospital when I reached you." She said, and smiled at the receptionist.

"Hinata-chan, and Sakura! Oh, you don't look good Sakura, didn't we just release you a week ago?"

The receptionist greeted them and frowned worriedly at Sakura.

"She's just training very hard." Hinata said, her voice filled with admiration. "I know I couldn't work that hard."

Sakura wanted to say something, she really did, but it took all her strength, and will to simply not fall asleep, right there on the desk.

In any case, the receptionist more than made up for her. "No way Hinata, I'm sure you are doing just fine!"

Sakura nodded weakly, she wondered how she would hold up without the three soldier pills she had used today. Probably dead in a ditch somewhere. And what a difference it made when you used them only at the point of total exhaustion.

Hinata looked down at Sakura, biting her lip. It was clear she didn't believe the receptionist.

"Umm, Sakura, will you be alright? I have to go and see Shino." Hinata said, quietly.

"Huh?" Sakura perked up, a tiny bit. "Shino's hurt?" She remembered the silent boy, well his coat at least. Frowning she tried to recall him at the prelim, but he hadn't been there, had he? She couldn't remember. "I didn't know." She added, a bit of guilt filling her.

She had been so wrapped up in her training... well, she doubted Ino new about this either. As she had mentioned to Naruto a week ago, they really should meet with the other teams more, get to know them again. They barely even talked with their classmates anymore

Hinata waved her worries away however. "It's nothing serious. He got a gash in the forest, and didn't want to worry us. It became infected however and by the time of the prelim he couldn't fight. He just watched."

So he had been there, and Sakura hadn't even noticed him.

Ugh lay on the guilt any thicker, will you.

"He's been recovered already, but the doctors wanted to keep him in for observation. I'm just coming by to tell him about our training schedule tomorrow."

Sakura moved her head a bit, that made sense. And damn, the reception desk made a damn good bed. She tried to crawl on top of it, but the receptionist stopped her.

"Hinata-chan, why don't you bring Sakura to room," she checked the book in front of her for a second. "114? She can rest there, until a doctor can see her."

"Of course." Hinata bowed slightly to the woman and grabbed Sakura, dragging her away from her nice soft bed.

"Stoppid, tired." Sakura muttered, feebly attempting to resist the monster who dragged her away from rest.

She barely noticed Hinata picking her up and carrying her quickly through the hospital.

She watched the doors go bye, with half closed eyes. A few doors were open, to let some air flow through the room.

In one such room Sakura could see a blond girl, talking to a dark haired boy, a boy with weird face paint... her eyes widened, Temari! She had totally forgotten about the girl, outside of her nightmares. But it appeared she was still in the hospital.

But Hinata had carried her on already and the brief surge of adrenalin at the sight of the girl had ebbed away again.

"Here we are." Hinata said, looking down to make sure Sakura was still awake. "Room 114."

She carried Sakura over to the nice, big, fluffy bed. Sakura would have to deal with Temari tomorrow, for now...

--o--

Hinata giggled as she watched Sakura drift into sleep the second her head hit the pillow. She decided to wait for the doctor, she could tell Shino after visiting hours were over. Nobody would notice her after all.