While Team 7 was not simply a thrown together team this time around, their teamwork still needed a lot of work. Sasuke still preferred to do things his own way-- so he could show off his skills. Naruto was still impulsive and looked to fight Kakashi without any thought of working together.
Sakura. . . also went on her own and tried to do things to show Kakashi that she wasn't just the mediator.
"This is impossible!" Naruto yelled out, slumping against a tree. Sakura grumbled beside him, sitting down with her arms crossed.
"Maybe if you weren't so impulsive, we could plan an attack."
"I'm not impulsive!"
"You couldn't even follow the instructions, dobe," Sasuke said, dropping down from a tree branch in front of them. "How can we trust you to follow through with any plan I create?"
"You create?" Naruto repeated, the only inclination that Sasuke heard him being his one eye cracking open. "Sakura-chan's the best with strategy! If any of us created a plan, it should be her!"
"And I'm sure any plan a genin comes up with will work against a legendary ninja," Sasuke drawled, though he at least had the decency to drop his tough-guy act when he saw the glare she was sending his way. "Nothing else has worked, though, so it's our best bet."
"We're all being idiots," Sakura groaned, clutching her head. And while it looked like the boys wanted to protest against her words, they didn't say anything.
"We've been friends for what? Five years?" Sakura asked, earning a nod from Naruto and a murmur from Sasuke about how it was still undecided for him. "Why is it that we can steal Shisui's kunai set but we can't steal two simple bells?"
"My cousin's an idiot."
"Kakashi-sensei is like a gazillion years older than Shisui-nii-chan."
Sakura's eye twitched. "Maybe because we're all being stubborn and not working together."
She pointed to Naruto. "You're disregarding all the shinobi basics we learned in the Academy and barreling into a fight against an enemy way out of your league."
"That's mean, Sakura-chan! And I just defended you against Sasuke!"
She ignored Naruto's pouting and pointed to Sasuke. "You think you can get one over on Kakashi-sensei on your own and have refused to work with either of us this entire time."
Sasuke simply glared at the sky, as if the clouds wafting by had offended him rather than a pink-haired girl.
"And I," She continued, pointing a finger at herself. "Have also taken this as a chance to show my own strengths with no regard to you two. And that was selfish of me. I'm sorry."
The boys grumbled but apologized nonetheless.
"So what now?" Naruto asked, peering up at the sky. "It's almost noon."
"We work together," Sakura deadpanned, resisting the urge to hit Naruto upside the head because she just explained why they weren't getting close to the bells.
"It might work," Sasuke turned the idea over in his head. "What do you have in mind, Sakura?"
"Let's use our strengths," She grinned.
After explaining the plan, they all took off. In separate parts of the woods, they surrounded Kakashi.
"One last effort?" Kakashi asked, raising a single eyebrow. He barely looked up from his book and stood in the middle of the clearing. "You have about three minutes."
"I'll get those bells if it's the last thing I do!" Naruto declared, rushing in with multiple clones. Kakashi defeated the clones easily, but Naruto kept producing them. Sasuke showered their sensei in kunai and shuriken, the man jumping up to avoid the sharp edges.
A fireball was sent Kakashi's way, and being mid-air, Kakashi responded with a simple water jutsu to douse the flames.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura yelled out, catching his eye as he landed back on the ground. The genjutsu she created was incredibly simple, just a slight alteration to her weapon to hide the chakra within it. It was so subtle, and she doubted Kakashi expected her to be able to produce a genjutsu at this age. Shisui taught her well. "Look out!"
Kakashi simply raised an eyebrow at Sakura, who winked as she sent a kunai sailing towards the bells. Sasuke kept Kakashi's hands busy, landing by their sensei and throwing multiple punches and kicks.
Kakashi simply evaded the kunai she threw, and was focused on Sasuke when the metal turned into a grinning blonde just before it passed their sensei's legs. Naruto's hands shot out, the bells ringing as they were ripped from their sensei.
The timer went off.
Kakashi looked utterly shocked, staring at the three as they stood before him. Naruto handed a bell to Sasuke and the two waited for Sakura to jump between them. Throwing both her hands over their shoulders, they held her close before raising their bells. Sasuke was smirking, Naruto was grinning widely, and Sakura tilted her head as their sensei's surprise wore off.
"Got ya, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura sang, tightening her grip on her boys. "So, did we pass?"
Their sensei closed his eye and she thought she heard him curse before he opened them, the skin at the corner of his lone eye crinkling.
"You pass."
"Yay! Yay, yay, yay!" Naruto shouted, Sakura's voice joining his in a triumphant cheer. Sasuke didn't join in, but his arm tightened around her back and he cracked a real smile.
"You're telling me three fresh out of the Academy genin not only passed Kakashi-senpai's test but got the bells too?" Shisui questioned, the disbelief evident on his features.
Sakura shared the feeling, but she felt a bit too elated to care. Kakashi didn't use his Sharingan and he severely underestimated their teamwork (for good reason). She knew he went easy on them the first time she took the bell test, if the second was any indication and even then he had gone easy on her and Naruto.
"Hehehe, you're just jealous," Naruto grinned, slurping up his ramen.
"He's gone soft!" Shisui yelled, slapping his hand on the counter. "How did you guys cheat? Come on, I won't tell."
The three grinned at each other.
"Mind reading," Sasuke supplied.
"We're from the future," Naruto said.
"Teamwork," Sakura finally admitted, resting her hands on her boys shoulders. "We just worked with our strengths."
"You used a genjutsu, didn't you?" Shisui questioned her, his eyebrows shooting up when she pointedly focused on eating her ramen. "You did! Oh, Sakura-chan, I am so proud of you! I knew you had it in you!"
His hand reached over Naruto's head, resting atop of Sakura's pink hair as he ruffled it. She giggled, a bit too proud to care that Sasuke was scowling now.
"You know I'm your family, right, Shisui?" Sasuke asked with a raised eyebrow, plucking his cousin's hand off her head.
"No need to get all jealous, Sasu-chan," Shisui teased, taking his hand back and continued shaking his head. "But you guys got the bells from him. I can't believe it. How did you three figure out the trick?"
"We, uh, didn't," Sakura admitted, shrugging when the older Uchiha raised an eyebrow. "Just sorta prepared to annoy Kakashi until he passed all three of us. We're really good at that."
Shisui snorted. "Well, that's for sure. But I'm proud of you three. When's your first mission?"
"We're being assigned it tomorrow morning!" Sakura answered.
"Bet it's some super cool mission where we rescue a princess or something!" Naruto said loudly. "Especially after we proved ourselves to Kakashi-sensei!"
"It'll be a D-rank mission, dobe," Sasuke stated and Sakura had to stop Naruto from physically reacting to his words before he knocked over her bowl of ramen.
"Naruto!" She chided, slapping him upside the head. He winced and rubbed the sore spot.
"Sorry, Sakura-chan, but you didn't have to hit me," He pouted and she slid him her half finished bowl.
"I'm full," She told him, watching his earlier enthusiasm return as he replaced his empty one with hers. He managed to thank her before digging in again. "Sasuke-kun's right, though. We'll probably be chasing cats or de-weeding gardens for a few months before we get a C-rank mission. Maybe even longer."
"You spoil him," Sasuke muttered, pointing his chopsticks towards Naruto, who was polishing off the rest of the broth.
Sakura gave Sasuke a look. "I do not."
"Do too," He retorted, leaning closer to her. "You spoil him like Shisui spoils you."
"It's not my fault I'm Shisui-nii-chan's favorite," she responded, extremely aware of the blush growing on her face. "Besides, Itachi-nii-chan spoils you."
"I'm his brother," Sasuke reminded her, his eyes softened slightly in a way she hasn't ever seen before. Not in this life, at least. She swallowed thickly due to the decreased space between them before he blinked and got up.
"Itachi should be home from his mission by now," He told them, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I have to talk to him. See you tomorrow."
"And he wonders why Auntie Mikoto yells at him for being rude," Shisui shook his head, then focused on the two still there. "Wanna do some genjutsu training?"
Naruto and Sakura looked at each other.
"You think you can get out of my genjutsu?" Sakura challenged, watching Naruto's eyes light up.
"You're on, Sakura-chan!"
"What's going on?" Sasuke asked as soon as he walked into his brother's room.
Itachi was sorting his gear, the weapons neatly arranged on the floor. An inventory check, Sasuke assumed.
"Close the door, if you would," Itachi responded without looking up. He picked up a kunai and was inspecting its edges.
Sasuke did what he was told and padded over to his brother, sitting across from him on the other side of his weapons.
"Does this have to do with the clan meeting that happened before you left for your mission?" He asked his brother, lowering his voice a bit. The clan was tense at the moment. Sasuke wasn't allowed at any of the meetings, but he knew enough to recognize the growing dissent among his family.
Itachi nodded. "Father requested that you remain unaware of it, so you can focus on your training." He started slowly, picking up the sharpening stone and sliding the kunai against it. "But you're already aware of the animosity, yes?"
"Some of them have started to look down on Sakura," Sasuke told him, remembering the few instances that began to increase number as the weeks went on. He's gotten into the habit of requesting early mornings or late evening training sessions, so she doesn't need to travel through the compound during it's busy hours. "And they've known her since we were kids."
"Yes, it seems a portion of our clan has clung to their distaste for the village." Itachi paused for a moment and looked up at him. "And ninjas with no clan history."
"I thought we got past looking down on civilian families," Sasuke frowned, controlling his rising anger. "I know rivalry among the clans are still prevalent, especially with the Hyūga but we've been peaceful for a few decades, now. What's changed?"
"The Nine-tails attack on the village," Itachi answered and looked around his room. "You know we were forced as a clan to move inside these walls, correct?" He continued when Sasuke nodded. "It's because the village elders believed an Uchiha was responsible for the attack. We have the ability, as Sharingan users, to control the Nine-tails. As such, that fear caused them to put us in an open isolation of sorts. We are free but we are constantly watched."
"And our clan still holds a grudge over it," Sasuke inferred, understanding the reason despite not sharing it.
"Are you aware of the coup d'état that was almost staged years ago?" Itachi asked and Sasuke's eyes snapped towards his brother in shock. He placed down the kunai in hand and picked up another. "I thought not. It was. . . put off by recent developments."
"Recent developments?" Sasuke repeated.
Itachi resumed sharpening his weapons. "Namely, your friendship with Naruto-kun."
"What's the dobe got to do with this?" Sasuke questioned, waiting for an answer but Itachi remained silent. "If they were planning on removing the government's power, then something drastic would have to happen to put it off. Naruto was just a lonely prankster when we became friends."
"Why would it be a drastic change, then?" Itachi asked, obviously trying to guide him to the answer. Sasuke frowned, wondering why his brother was having him go through loops rather than telling him outright.
Unless, Itachi couldn't speak of it. Not directly directly, that is.
Naruto, being friends with Naruto, and a drastic enough change to put off a coup. Why? What was so special about a ramen-obsessed idiot? Besides his appalling healing rate and insane chakra reserves?
Oh-
"Naruto has the Nine-tails sealed in him, doesn't he?" Sasuke inquired, pinching the bridge of his nose. "How did that idiot keep something like that a secret? He tells Sakura everything-- and I mean everything-- and she tells me everything."
"I'm unsure if Sakura-chan knows," Itachi admitted, and his gaze unfocused for a few moments before settling back on his kunai. "Though, I'm sure she has a suspicion. She's incredibly astute for her age."
Sasuke's eye twitched at the compliment his brother gave Sakura. Of course, it was true, but it still caused a flare of jealously to arise.
"Regardless, the newfound. . . alliance. . . with the village's Junchūriki caused enough of our family to doubt such drastic force needed to be taken," Itachi continued. "It was believed that the we could manipulate the village into complying to the Uchiha will by utilizing Naruto when he grew older and stronger. However, that. . . plan is one for the long run. A faction of the Uchiha have grown restless with the village's constant surveillance of our clan."
"What are they planning?"
"They're attempting to force father to approve a partial coup," Itachi revealed, leaving Sasuke staring at him with wide eyes. "They wish to eliminate the current elders and force the Sandaime to step down. And in his place, elect Father as the Godaime."
"How is that a partial coup?" Sasuke questioned fiercely.
"They believe uprooting only three members will be sufficient in changing the way the rest of the village views us," Itachi answered in a calm, soothing tone. "And they. . . do not trust those of us who are loyal to the village."
"They don't trust you or Shisui, you mean," Sasuke realized. "Which puts father in a tough spot, because you're the next clan head."
"I. . . no longer am," Itachi confessed, grimacing as Sasuke processed the information. "The last meeting revoked my position as heir and gave you the title."
Sasuke shook his head, as though trying to unscramble the thoughts wrecking havoc in his mind. Him? Heir? No, no, no, he was never supposed to become clan head. He was never supposed to be in a position where that was a possibility.
"But, I'm-- Father has acknowledged me once in my entire life," Sasuke protested, his mind running much too fast for him to properly follow. "He's said I'm too soft to be Head. And I would never let Naruto get manipulated like that. He's an idiot but he doesn't deserve to be viewed as a weapon we can call upon whenever we don't like something about Konoha's government."
"That is why they are planning on revoking your status as a member of Team 7 after the Chūnin Exams this year," Itachi told him, continuing when he saw the outrage growing on Sasuke's face. "They want to mold you into a leader they want."
"By removing me from my team?"
"It has not been decided but since they managed to have my title removed and placed on you, I suspect it is the next course of action." Itachi sighed, setting down the kunai and looking up at him. "I'm sorry, little brother. I hoped it wouldn't come to this. And I will try to do what I can to fix things."
"And I'm not supposed to know any of this," Sasuke concluded, his fists clenched tightly atop his lap.
"I thought it would be best to prepare you for the new road ahead of you," Itachi nodded, giving him a sad smile. "I'm sure you understand that you cannot speak of this to anyone. Not Naruto and not even Sakura-chan."
"I know," Sasuke agreed, slowly moving himself to a standing position. "I have to go to bed. Early meeting for our first mission and all. Thanks, Itachi."
He left the room with a slouch that would cause his mother to have a heart attack if she saw it. But he disappeared into his room too soon for his mother to call out to him.
Sasuke didn't leave his room the rest of the night. Not even to tell his parents he passed and was a true genin.
