Not a single cloud marred the sky, and the midday sun beat down on his back. Sasuke had taken the heavy black shirt adorned with the Uchiha clan crest, which he usually wore, off, and he leaned over the bridge's railing in his white undershirt.
Over an hour ago, a pink-haired girl he vaguely recognized from his class at the Academy had joined him. She sat a small distance away, staring out over the river and watching the songbirds flit amongst the reeds. Neither their sensei, nor the third member of their team, had shown up yet.
The frantic scuff of sandals running over cobblestones echoed through the air, over the sound of gurgling water, and Sasuke turned to look at the far end of the bridge. He shaded his eyes with one hand, straining-
And then a boy dressed in a lurid orange hoodie stumbled onto the bridge. Sasuke grit his teeth and looked away, cursing his luck. Out of all the possible people he could have gotten on his genin team, he'd gotten the one that made him want to rip his hair out.
Naruto froze, glaring at him as he recognized Sasuke.
"You!" he growled, his face scrunching up into a scowl. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, pasting a bored expression on his face.
"Have we met?" he said, his voice cool and smooth.
"Wha-?" Naruto sputtered, irritation and anger flashing over his face. "I've been in your class for six years! Yes we've met, you bastard!"
"Hm. If you say so," Sasuke said, and resumed looking out over the bridge's railing. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Naruto clench his fists, and he smirked to himself.
"Maybe this will help you remember," Naruto said, and then he shoved Sasuke so hard that he almost went over the railing into the creek.
"What the hell is your problem, idiot?" Sasuke snarled, whirling around and pushing Naruto back. Naruto stumbled back, and then threw himself at Sasuke with a roar-
Only to stop, inches away from his target, as a strong hand grabbed him by the collar. Eyes wide, Sasuke looked up at the ninja that had suddenly materialized between them. He wore the standard green flak jacket of a Konoha ninja, with a mask pulled up over the bottom half of his face, and a forehead protector pulled low over his left eye. His silver hair caught the breeze, fluttering about slightly. And his one visible eye bored into Sasuke, as if he could see his very soul.
Naruto let out a squeak, and the mysterious ninja set him down. He looked from Naruto to Sasuke, then sighed.
"Hello. I'm Hatake Kakashi, and I'm your jounin-sensei." The pink-haired girl stood up stiffly and slowly made her way over to where they were standing.
"You're late," she said, annoyed. Kakashi's lips twitched under his mask.
"Uncertainty is something a ninja must learn to live with," he said. "Now form a line. We're going to introduce ourselves to each other. I want to know your name, your favorite food, and what your dream in life is. You first, blondie." Naruto jumped as Kakashi tapped him on the nose with one finger.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto," he said, putting his hands on his hips and puffing his chest out. "My favorite food is ramen, of course. And I'm going to be Hokage one day!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. Kakashi looked at the girl.
"My name is Haruno Sakura. I-uh, I don't really have a favorite food? I like to eat a lot of different things. I like trying new food. And, um, I want to become a ninja to-so that I can protect people who can't protect themselves." Her voice wavered a bit. Kakashi nodded.
"Very admirable, Sakura. And you?"
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I don't really like anything. And I'm going to kill my brother." Sasuke said shortly, crossing his arms. There was dead silence as the other three stared at him. Kakashi cleared his throat.
"Uh, right. I'm Hatake Kakashi, I like eating at the barbecue place across the street from the Academy, and my dream is to finish up quickly here so I can go get drunk. Alright, let's walk. We have work to do."
With that, the jounin turned around and strode down the bridge, not bothering to slow down or look back as the three wary genin hurried after him.