Sakura, Age 16

"..."

"Sakura, you haven't progressed for over five minutes now," Kakashi commented, staring pointedly at what was the poor beginnings of a scarf.

"This is stupid," Sakura grumbled, throwing the knitting needles down and kicking the ball of yarn away.

"That's what you said about embroidery."

"The only things I need a needle and thread for is to close wounds or tears in my clothes. Besides, what's the point in making pretty little pieces of fabric that I'll never have a use for?" Sakura pouted.

"You're just upset because your butterfly ended up looking like someone chewed it up and spat it out."

Sakura gasped indignantly.

"For your information, it was a dragonfly and I still can't believe you forced me to join Ino and a bunch of her mother's friends for one of their girly sessions. Seriously, that woman insulted the way I was holding the needle. I know how to hold a damn needle, I work with needles and senbons almost everyday! It doesn't matter how I hold the needle anyhow as long as it serves the same function, does it?!"

"The art of embroidery is very precise," Kakashi said sagely, drawing an incredulous look from Sakura.

"Sure it is. And the worst part was when they began talking about males," Sakura said the word distastefully.

"If you haven't noticed, except you, our entire team is male," Kakashi said with a raised brow.

"No, Sensei, you don't get it." Sakura's face flushed red. "They kept talking about who was the most eligible bachelor, who had the best looks, who had the best... body," Sakura shuddered. "I mean, I'm a medic. Nudity doesn't bother me at this point, but when it's about people you know... Do you know how weird it is to hear how Sai's pectorals looked like they were carved from marble? Or supposedly how your face is so incredibly attractive that you have to hide it lest people fall heads over heels for you?"

"Ah. I see your point. But I confess I look pretty average."

"I wouldn't know," Sakura sulked. "You never show your face."

"It's not very interesting," Kakashi responded with a smile.

"Then let's see it," Sakura said slyly, reaching a hand out towards his face.

"Oh no~ I'm very shy you know," Kakashi said, backing away. "You wouldn't deprive this poor old man of his mask now, would you?"

Sakura huffed as she leaned back.

"I was kidding. I'm not going to try and force you into anything you don't want to. And I don't like this, can we do something else?" Sakura pleaded.

Kakashi sighed.

"Well, I suppose it can't be helped. I'm finished anyways, so..."

Kakashi smugly displayed his own work, and Sakura glared at the gorgeous red scarf.

"You're absolutely insufferable," Sakura hissed, swatting at him

"I think you mean incredibly talented and generous. Say please and I'll even give it to you," Kakashi said as he dangled it in front of her.

Sakura's scowl deepened.

"As if."

"It's super soft and fluffy," Kakashi coaxed, rubbing his fingers lightly over the scarf.

"There's no way," Sakura said reaching to feel the scarf as well. "The yarn's too..."

Kakashi grinned as Sakura's voice trailed off.

"Soft, yeah?"

"What the hell," Sakura gasped, using both hands to now feel the scarf. "It's so fucking soft..."

Kakashi hummed in agreement.

Sakura let out a sigh as she rubbed the material to her face.

"Ah ah," Kakashi tutted, pulling it out of her reach. "Say please."

Sakura let out a noise of disgruntlement.

"I paid for the materials," Sakura argued.

"But I made this with my skill," Kakashi easily countered. "Well, I suppose if you really don't want it, I can give it to Pakkun or one of the boys..."

"...Can I have it?" Sakura said tentatively.

"Please," Kakashi prompted.

"Please," Sakura said in a strained voice, hand twitching as if restraining herself from hitting him.

"Very well-" Sakura snatched it out of his hands before he could finish. "Well that wasn't very nice..." Kakashi muttered.

"Uwaa~ It's so soft I'm going to die," Sakura cooed, rubbing it to her cheek. "How'd you get it like this? Mine felt stiff and scratchy the entire time..."

"Of course it did," Kakashi nodded. "You chose some pretty cheap yarn to work with. The one I chose was of very fine quality."

"No wonder the price of the yarn seemed unusually high," Sakura lamented. "You would buy the expensive stuff and lay it on me."

"But you got a very nice scarf out of it."

"I guess I did," Sakura sighed, not willing to argue further. She wrapped the scarf snuggly around her neck. "So what's next on your list of hobbies to try?"

"Fishing."

"I don't have the gear for that and I refuse to buy it," Sakura said firmly.

"Hm. How about gardening?"

"A cactus is probably the only thing I'll be able to keep alive with how busy I am," Sakura replied mournfully.

"Maybe you can adopt a pet?" Kakashi suggested.

"I'm not even sure I can keep a plant alive, what makes you think I'm going to keep a plant alive?" Sakura questioned.

"You're exaggerating," Kakashi rolled his eyes. "You wouldn't let it die."

"Probably," Sakura agreed. "Maybe... I can get a cat-"

"A cat?" Kakashi interrupted, hand over his heart. "How could you even suggest that? I thought you knew better than that, Sakura."

"It's for me not you, it shouldn't matter," Sakura said with a raised brow. "With how much I'm out, it's a more logical choice than a dog. Low maintenance and all."

"But you'll stink of cat," Kakashi whined. "No. A cat is out of the question. I forbid it. No student of mine is ever allowed to get a cat."

"As you wish, your highness," Sakura said mockingly. "Never shall I ever dare to even think of taking in such a foul creature."

"Good," Kakashi severely. "Seriously though, Sakura. If you get a cat, we can't be friends anymore."

"Harsh. I'll keep that in mind then," Sakura nodded. "So any more brilliant ideas?"

...

"What the... Kakashi, I suck at this kind of stuff. Why would you sign me up for this?"

"It's not about being good at it, it's about enjoying yourself and relaxing."

"I can feel my stress levels rising just standing here," Sakura replied, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Give it a chance."

"Nope. I'm putting my foot down on this one. Unless you're willing to join me?" Sakura looked up at him.

Kakashi glanced from the large sign reading 'Ai-chan's School of Dance' in a jarring shade of purple, to the ladies huddled together inside, giggling amongst themselves while giving him long glances, and finally to the tight traditional outfits everyone seemed to adorn.

"I'll pass."

"Thought so."


Kakashi, Age 25

"Good morning!" Kakashi waved cheerfully.

"Yeah, yeah. I hope you're all ready. The timer is set for noon," Kakashi drawled as he set down an alarm clock on one of training posts. Out of his pocket, he pulled two bells that jingled pleasantly together. There are two bells. Your task is to take them from me before time is up. Those who do no get a bell before noon, does not get lunch," Kakashi said, pointing to the two bentos he had brought.

Kakashi was amused as he heard stomachs growled. The naive little things had listened to him and not eaten.

"You only need one bell, so it means one person will definitely end up tied to the stump and end up going back to the academy."

Tension was strung in the air as the three genin glanced between each other. While the two males eyes were narrowed in competition, the girl alone seemed hesitant, seeming to sense that there was something amiss.

"Shruikens, kunais... come at me with whatever you wish. You won't succeed if you don't come at me with the intent to kill.

The girl looked alarmed.

His sensei's son, however...

"Ha! You're so slow you can't even dodge a blackboard eraser! We'll definitely get those bells!" Naruto laughed. Kakashi almost rolled his eyes. He had got hit on purpose.

"In the real world," Kakashi said, face indifferent, "those with no talent often bark the loudest. Ignoring Mr. Deadlast over here, when I say-"

Kakashi sighed as Naruto pulled out a kunai to fling at him. What an incredibly short-tempered child.

In a flash, Kakashi appeared behind Naruto, one hand twisting the boy's arm so that the kunai was aimed at the back of his own head while the other held the boy's head still.

"Calm down, I haven't said start yet," Kakashi said ominously. The last Uchiha wore a smirk on his face, looking impressed. The girl's alarm seemed to grow, seeming to notice unlike the other two how clearly outmatched they were. Clever girl, he would have to take her out first. "At least you seem to be prepared to come at me with the intent to kill. Ha... how interesting. Then let's get going. Ready... start."

Immediately, everyone jumped apart.

Being able to conceal oneself is an essential part of being a shinobi. Both the Uchiha and the girl had concealed themselves pretty decently, the girl even having muted her chakra. Kakashi's eye slid towards the bright figure. And then the exception...

"Come here and fight me! I said fight me!" Naruto yelled, standing in the open field.

"Uh... you're a bit off," Kakashi sighed. To think this was the son of the genius Yondaime.

"The only thing that's off is your haircut!" The boy retorted as he dashed straight for him.

'He certainly doesn't lack spirit,' Kakashi thought wistfully, reaching into his pouch. Naruto immediately jumped back, eyeing him warily.

"Shinobi Lesson Number One, Taijutsu..." Kakashi immensely enjoyed the blond's reaction as he pulled out Icha Icha Paradise.

"Is something wrong?" Kakashi asked innocently, eyes glued to the page. Lucky~ It was the scene where the two protagonists were hiding in the closet.

"What's up with the book..?" Naruto said, utterly confused.

"Obviously. I've been dying to know how it ends." A lie. He had read this at least a hundred times. "Don't worry. It won't make a difference considering who I'm up against."

There was a pause before Naruto exploded.

"I'll kick your ass!" Naruto screamed as he dashed forth.

Kakashi easily blocked two attacks with a single hand, leaning down to dodge the third one. The attack was too basic; too straightforward. Had this kid ever payed attention in class?

As Naruto came in for another punch, Kakashi flashed behind the boy, hands in a tiger seal.

"A shinobi isn't supposed to get caught from behind, idiot."

"Naruto, run! You'll get killed!" The girl called out. Her name was... Sakura, right? At least she hadn't seem to have completely abandoned Naruto.

"Huh?" Naruto said, surprised by the shout.

"Too late~" Kakashi announced, pulling his finger forward. "Konohagakure Sacred Technique! One Thousand Years of Death!"

Kakashi watched as the boy flew into the river before turning back to the book, flipping the page.

He chuckled at Junko's clever one-liner, effortlessly catching two shruiken on his fingers.

There was hacking coughs as the boy pulled himself out of the river, drenched.

"Well? What's the hold up?" Kakashi questioned. "You need one of these bells or you won't be getting lunch!"

"I know that!" Naruto said indignantly.

"You say you'll surpass the Hokage, but you're already out of steam," Kakashi commented.

"Shut up! Shut up! I can fight no matter how hungry I am!"

Kakashi almost laughed as his sensitive ears picked up the sounds of stomachs grumbling.

"I was just careless, that's all!" Naruto protested as Kakashi turned away.

"Carelessness can be your worst enemy," Kakashi replied sternly.

There was silence, then a large splash as multiple shadow clones broke the surface.

So what the Hokage said was true.

"Hoh... Well isn't that interesting."

"Ha! My new Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! Better no be careless now, Sensei!"

Headstrong and overconfident, Kakashi observed clinically. And the boy was still underestimating him. Time to teach him another lesson. Kakashi allowed himself to be caught from behind, feigning surprise. Naruto was grinning ear to ear.

"Caught you from behind!" He crowed victoriously. More clones held his legs down. "Time for payback for what you did to my ass!"

So single-minded, Kakashi thought blandly. Naruto had forgotten the purpose of the test.

He easily substituted out with one of the clones, and then flashed into the tree to watch the chaos unfold. Kakashi observed as the Naruto's turned on each other. This had to be the first time he had seen anything like this.

Naruto finally got the idea to dispel the clones, face dropping when he realized he was alone.

Kakashi subtly set up a trap, then dropped a bell as Naruto mourned his loss. Kakashi was curious just how foolish the boy was. The answer, was that the boy was very foolish. Kakashi almost face-palmed when the boy fell for an obvious trap.

Kakashi jumped down to collect the bell and lecture the boy.

"How stupid, to be caught in an obvious trap. Learn to see underneath the underneath," Kakashi scolded.

"I know that!"

"You clearly don't," Kakashi said. It was time to move to the next to. He let down his guard, and as expected, Sasuke moved, throwing shruiken and kunai at him. Kakashi easily substituted out. Sasuke immediately fled as he had compromised his position. Kakashi sensed his female student also start to move. He'd have to take her out first.

Kakashi made a quick clone in Sakura's path, and the girl stopped the moment she saw it. Kakashi crept up behind her.

"Sakura, behind you~" Kakashi whispered. The girl whipped around, letting out a startled squeak. She lost her balance, falling out of the trees, but managing to land somewhat gracefully.

She pulled out a kunai, but her eyes were darting as if looking for an escape.

"This test," she desperately blurted, trying to stall. "This test doesn't make sense. Only two of us can pass? But all the genin squads I've ever seen, even the legendary Sanin, it's always a squad of three. This test... is forcing us to turn on each other. So what we're being tested on right now, is not our abilities but-"

"Correct. But that doesn't mean I'm not also observing how good you all are."

'Magen: Narakumi no Jutsu'

The young teen's eyes immediately glazed over as the illusion took effect. Kakashi observed the girl's hands rising, ready to form the seal for release before she suddenly stiffened and her face paled drastically. She collapsed to her knees, body trembling finely. Sharp gasps tore out of her throat.

Kakashi shook his head. It was a simple genjutsu, but a terrifying one nonetheless.

Kakashi opened up his book, scratching the back of his head. Perhaps he had overdone it..? They were still just children, after all.

No, it was a hard lesson they would have to learn. It was time to find Sasuke.

Kakashi leaped away, heading to where the boy was waiting for him.

"Stop..." Sakura gasped. "Stop it, Mother."