Chapter 2 – Turbulent Team Seven

Chapter out. You might notice some differences in the way I write now. I'm simply trying out some tips I got. Hope it makes things easier to read.

Disclaimer: I really want to own Naruto. I do not though. Sadness and sorrow consumes me yet again.

Transitions and flashbacks are in italics.

Tailed beast speech is in bold.

'Thoughts are in single quotations.'

A few days later…

"Naruto."

The mentioned blond rose his head. Being confined to a hospital room for so long would normally do wonders for the psyche. Luckily, Naruto had a giant fox in his stomach so he was completely fine for conversation, to the ire of said giant fox. Still, he was eager to stretch his legs and finally his chance had come. At the moment he was dressed in a hospital gown, which was gradually getting thinner and breezier with every moment he had it on, from his perspective anyway. He just wanted out of the building at this point. As he sat up on his bed, he directed his attention to the man standing at the doorway. He found it odd that it was always the Hokage who would come to see him and never anyone else. The Hokage spoke then.

"I'm sure you're aware of the circumstances the village is under by now."

He nodded his head in response. He may have been stuck in that room for a few days but even he knew what was going on at the moment. Things were not looking too hot for Konoha. With their forces so heavily damaged, they were stuck in the middle of a rather dangerous game. A game where taking your eyes off you opponents could mean certain death. Right now they were stretching their forces to the max trying to handle the situation as it was. Patrols were everywhere and no one could say for certain when they'd have to be called upon. At the drop of a hat you were expected to take up a mission for the village. However that carried little of Naruto's concern. He may have wizened up a little after his fight with Suna's jinchuriki but that did not mean he became some sort of genius. He wouldn't be hurting his head over this nor would he be worried in the slightest.

"Yeah yeah, can I leave now jiji?"

Hiruzen let out an exasperated sigh.

"Your stay in the hospital certainly hasn't robbed you of your energy."

"No kidding."

"It gave you a sarcasm streak though."

Both knew that was really Kyubi's fault.

"Anyways, we've already had our necessary discussion. Up and out now-"

Before Hiruzen even finished his sentence, Naruto was gone. The sheets on his bed floated in his wake and distant screams of freedom could be heard from outside. The Third Hokage shook his head.

"Hah… he forgot to change his clothes."

Sometime later, Training Ground Seven…

"Fight."

"What?"

"I said fight."

"Sasuke… you've been saying that since I got here."

None could blame poor Sakura for her confusion that morning. You see, her sensei had sent her the equivalent a missive asking for her attendance for a team training exercise. Now, Kakashi was not one for formalities, and even less for long periods of writing, so her first assumption was that it was some sort of joke. So she promptly went back to sleep, deciding she wasn't in the mood for his crap that day. Insubordination isn't taken lightly though and when she woke up from her nap she found herself at the training grounds. Classic Kakashi-sensei move. Then there was Sasuke. He'd been in front of a wooden post for the last half an hour she'd been awake, punching it and repeating the same word while staring at it. She didn't even bother to question it at first. Now it was just unnerving to listen to. Her hair was a mess, she was still in her nightwear, she had bags under her eyes, as an extension was quite fatigued, she hadn't eaten breakfast and she was just oh so confused. A great combination to start the day with.

"Yo."

Kakashi appeared behind Sakura. In truth he simply walked but that was hardly relevant. She nearly passed out, but luckily she was used to it. So she merely jumped about four feet into the air before falling face forward into a rather conveniently placed muddy puddle. What were the chances?

"-uck you Kakashi-sensei."

"What was that? I didn't quite hear you with your face down there."

A tic mark appeared on her forehead.

"I said-"

"Kakashi when are we going to begin training?"

Cut off in an instant. If it was anyone else she'd have punched them out of principle. However it was Sasuke, and well… Sasuke was Sasuke. That's a lot of Sasuke's in one sentence, but an accurate reflection of Sakura's psyche.

"Now Sasuke, take it easy. We aren't going to be doing any training today."

Sasuke simply stared at Kakashi as if he'd told a very unfunny joke. Which to Sasuke was exactly what he did.

"I'm serious, today we're all going to take a breather."

Sasuke began to turn around, prepping his already bloodied knuckles for another beating. However, he abruptly stopped when he heard a shout.

"INCOMING!"

An orange blur darted over Kakashi's head. And promptly smacked into Sakura who fell right into the same muddy puddle, which now dirtied her night gown. As she struggled to fathom the reality of her morning, the orange blur rose to reveal the ever enigmatic Naruto Uzumaki. Dusting the grass off his trademark tracksuit and interestingly his green goggles, he grinned.

"I… have arrived."

He then realized he had bumped into someone before turning around to see a slowly rising Sakura covered in mud.

"Ah Sakura-chan! I'm sorry!"

The words he spoke sadly did not reach her ears. Sasuke was one thing but Naruto… that was free reign.

"Na-ru-to…"

Naruto's danger senses went off well before he picked up on the negative emotions. Her anger flared. Dramatic hair raising occurred. She slowly rose her fist to face level.

"Now you've gone and done it."

It was actually Kakashi who said that and not Sakura.

"I realize-"

Sakura chose that moment to strike. Her fist angrily shot towards Naruto's face, prepping to rearrange it in ways that should not be possible. Naruto could only stare as her fist came closer and closer to impact. Then, Kyubi piped in.

Kit, why don't you just dodge?

'I don't know! Is that even possible?!'

Kyubi shrugged.

You never know till you try.

Naruto pondered that thought before deciding that yes, he should at least try. As Sakura's fist came inches from his face, Naruto smoothly sidestepped the strike. And he was in awe.

'Woah…'

Well would you look at that. It's doable.

Sakura however was greatly confused.

'Wait wha-'

She wasn't given time to ponder as her foot found purchase on a strangely well placed rock. Sakura tripped. She tripped… right into a muddy puddle.

SPLAT!

Naruto simply stared for a moment before pursing his lips to prevent any laughter from slipping through.

'I mustn't laugh. I mustn't laugh! I MUSTN'T LAUGH!'

Sasuke snorted immediately as she landed. No need for elaboration on his thoughts there.

Kakashi had his Icha Icha covering his face. However his giggles could be heard by even the least observant of ninja.

Kyubi was howling to Naruto's detriment as it made it that much harder not to laugh.

Sakura was… well Sakura just stopped trying to get up.

'I think… I'll just stay here for a while.'

Some changing, bandages and an hour later…

Team Seven found themselves in full attendance at the ever frequented store, Yakiniku Q. Why? Well contrary to popular belief ramen isn't all there is to eat in Konoha. This didn't stop Naruto from pouting as he finished cooking his serving of food. He'd eat it but that didn't mean he'd have to be happy about it. Sasuke also wasn't happy to be in attendance but for different reasons.

'I need to train and yet he insists on doing this?'

His hands were now bandaged but that also didn't stop him from eating his fill. He needed nutrition to train after all. Sakura was actually in her kunoichi gear now and had actually gotten rid of the mud. Sadly she did not in fact have time to do her hair so she made do and tied it into a small ponytail. Decent enough she supposed but not up to her standard as her bangs were hanging messily in front of her hair. Still as she ate she made sure to watch how much, watch how she did it and especially to watch for anyone who might be looking at her. Self-consciousness is a hard habit to break.

Kakashi was like he always was. Personality traits aside he had an actual agenda for bringing his team to the restaurant. He smiled.

"Have you three ate your fill yet?"

Sasuke had been mid bite when he said that. He paused before raising an eyebrow with the slice of meat still in his mouth. Naruto nearly guffawed while Sakura merely stared… and slightly drooled.

"Kawai."

Kakashi pretended not to hear that.

"Well, have you?"

It was Naruto surprisingly who put two and two together fast enough. His face paled.

"You're about to make us do something stupidly difficult aren't you?"

Kakashi kept smiling innocently.

"What makes you say that?"

"I don't know… a hunch maybe."

Naruto shuddered. He was beginning to get a bad feeling about this.

"Well, I wouldn't call it difficult per say…"

"If it's difficult then I'm up for it."

Sasuke spoke up. He had swallowed the meat now so Sakura's drool had stopped, though Kakashi was somewhat disturbed by that. Still, he continued.

"That's the spirit Sasuke!"

Kakashi's eye smile had only intensified now and Naruto's danger senses were once again beginning to shoot off.

"Wait, Sasuke he's trying to trick-"

"Shut up!"

Sakura quickly piped in then. She was still watching her appearance, somewhat, but there were limits that shouldn't be crossed.

"If Sasuke-kun wants to… then I'll do it."

Naruto's jaw dropped. He wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed but even to him it was obvious they were being lured into something.

Interesting. It's almost as if… you're the sanest person in the room.

Ignoring Kyubi's comment, Naruto quickly made to perform damage control but was interrupted by Kakashi.

"Well majority rules. Though, it wasn't like you had a choice in the first place."

He then dug into the pouch on his back before drawing a scroll and placing it down on the counter. Sasuke was the first to ask.

"What's that?"

"That there Sasuke, is a B rank mission. The first you guys will ever do."

Naruto calmed down greatly then.

"Oh, it was just a mission."

Watching you freak out never gets old kit.

"Shut up, wasn't like you knew."

Sakura looked at him weirdly then.

"Naruto, why are you talking to yourself?"

He shrugged.

"Felt like it."

Sasuke glanced at Naruto, knowing that he didn't just feel like it. Sakura continued.

"Well anyways, you were freaking out over nothing you know."

"Yeah, sorry about that guys."

Sasuke's patience just about ran out at that point. Grabbing the scroll from the desk, he unfurled it before rapidly reading it. At first he nodded before his eyebrows suddenly furrowed. As he continued they furrowed more and more until he was shaking. Naruto looked at him curiously.

"Uh, you good?"

"No."

He then flung the scroll at Kakashi who simply arched his neck and let it bounce off the wall behind him. It then ricocheted and smacked Naruto in the face.

"Ow! What the fu-"

"I'm not taking it."

Kakashi's eye smile grew.

"You agreed, didn't you Sasuke?"

Naruto's feeling of dread returned full force.

"What the hell was on that scroll?"

He asked it hesitantly but in truth he was demanding that he be told.

"Well, it's something of a rite of passage for many chunin."

"Sensei, we're not chunin though…"

Sakura was also becoming quite nervous. She did not like where this was going.

"Sasuke, you saw. Why don't you inform your teammates on what your latest mission is?"

Sasuke let out a guttural growl. Kakashi raised his hands defensively.

"Alright fine, don't tell them."

He sighed before clearing his throat.

"Your mission is a three month assignment in a very special place."

Naruto's sweating intensified and Sakura gulped. Sasuke merely stared venomously.

"That place… is the border of Hi no Kuni and Tsuchi no Kuni. That's right, your mission… is border patrol."

Sasuke's head slumped on the desk in annoyance. Naruto dropped backwards as at that point he'd been standing on the bench. He then proceeded to knock the back of his head on the table before hitting the floor dazed. Sakura had also been standing but on the floor. Her knees went weak from the revelation and as she dropped to the ground her chin slammed into the table before her head came to recline on the bench seat. Kakashi merely smiled the whole time.

"Ah, the joys of being a teacher. Well, pack well my little minions."

At that, Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke. As he did so Sakura immediately realized something.

"He didn't pay the bill!"

Naruto and Sasuke groaned in response.

Later that evening…

Sasuke slowly opened the door to his residence in the Uchiha District. Propping a hand against the door he undid his sandals one by one before taking them off. He then slowly slid the door shut behind him. Taking his time he walked into the kitchen holding in his other hand a bag of groceries. It was filled with mostly vegetables but had some other things such as eggs and rice in it. Not a single piece of meat was to be found. It was definitely something Sakura would put together.

"She doesn't understand dieting for shinobi."

Still, while Sasuke wasn't particularly impressed with what she'd put together, he wasn't the type to waste food and he took it nonetheless. He also wasn't going to bother telling her that this wasn't exactly what he ate on the daily. He didn't have time for such inane or petty things. Kakashi had basically put a wrench in his plans. By sending them to the border, he wouldn't be able to constantly train and it wasn't like he'd be allowed to fight enemies. They'd expect him to report. This was primarily why Sasuke couldn't give a damn about ranks. He was never one for following orders. He had a goal to achieve and those very orders he was expected to follow were getting in the way.

He finished unpacking and storing the groceries, before leaving the kitchen and walking up the stairs. He approached his room slowly before inspecting his door. The hair he'd placed in it was gone. He sighed before opening said door to find a certain person waiting in the room. Brown hair, a single visible eye and scars on the chin were his most identifiable features. Sasuke immediately recognized him.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Danzo Shimura?"

Indeed, on his bed sat the aforementioned shinobi. Danzo somehow managed to make even the most simple of actions seem highly professional. Despite sitting on a bed that was just big enough for Sasuke, he didn't even appear out of place. That was, however, not Sasuke's concern. He knew the type of person Danzo was. He'd known for years, that is. When Danzo approached you, it was always for something he needed from you. And to do it directly rather than through one of his agents made a certain point clear to Sasuke.

'He's here for something personal, sensitive or important. Perhaps all three.'

Danzo gestured at the desk near Sasuke's window.

"Take a seat. We have something to discuss, Uchiha."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Somehow he knew he wasn't going to like this, but for now he did as he was told. Danzo wasn't the Shinobi no Yami without reason.

At the same time, Haruno Residence…

"Mom, I have to!"

"Sakura, for the last time! No is no!"

"You can't make that decision and you know it!"

Kizashi Haruno was tired after a busy day at the office, the many documents that he constantly had to review was killing him at this point. He retired from being a shinobi to prevent that dammit. Anyways, returning home, all he'd wanted to do was have a nice, pleasant dinner with his wife and daughter. Of course, they decided that bickering was a better idea. He understood that they held differing opinions but as mother and daughter they should get along more. He also understood that getting in the way of their argument was a terrible idea. So he relegated himself to standing in front of the door staring till he was noticed.

"Sakura, I am your mother! If anyone gets to make that decision it is me!"

"You're not legally allowed to remove me from a mission roster when I've already been assigned!"

"Yes but you can remove yourself quite easily!"

"I'm not going to!"

"You have to! Those missions are very dangerous!"

"I'm still going! I can do whatever I want!"

Before Mebuki could get in another word in edge wise, Sakura quickly dashed up the stairs before slamming the door to her room. Kizashi sighed.

"So what was that all about?"

Mebuki let out a groan, a very frustrated one, before collapsing on the couch in the living room she was in.

"Sakura was given a border patrol mission."

Kizashi's blood ran cold. To explain, or rather to elaborate, up until before the recent Chunin Exams border patrol missions were seen as C rank missions with B rank pay. Very simple and repetitive assignments that could pull in quite a bit of cash for any chunin. They were also quite boring but that's not the point. After the events of the Chunin Exams, Konoha's military force had been nearly halved. While they would eventually recover, much of their forces were hospitalized or bedridden. That's not accounting for how many were killed in action either. This caused a rather interesting and unique occurrence that had not been seen even once in the history of the Shinobi Godaikoku (Five Great Shinobi Villages).

Konoha was on the backfoot. Off balanced, and vulnerable. It was a rare occasion when any village lost so much of its forces that it became vulnerable to attack, but for the greatest one to become so was unheard of. With Konoha having realized this before anyone else, they took action preemptively. A set of policies were enforced that made it so that a shinobi had to pick up a mission when requested to do so. With this being the case, many shinobi were out of the village at the moment, the majority performing search missions and border patrols. This however wasn't the problem. The problem was that these missions had a high mortality rate now. Why you ask? That is because the other villages weren't simply sitting around doing nothing. Specifically Iwagakure. Old wounds bring back unwanted memories and revenge is often a dish best served cold. They'd been lying in wait for an opportunity like this to happen for years and they were reaping the rewards. It wasn't spoken about much but particularly to the north, many shinobi from Konoha were being attacked by other shinobi from other villages. It was sickening really, but it was also how the villages worked.

Kizashi spoke, however there was a quiver in his voice.

"Ah, that explains everything."

"She won't listen to reason… she must know how dangerous it is no?"

Kizashi smiled then.

"Maybe she does, but you know, honey. Sakura is a kind girl, maybe she has another reason for doing this."

Mebuki covered her eyes with her palm but a smile also graced her lips.

"That brings back memories. Back when we were genin, and on the same team."

"We would do anything for each other. Perhaps, just perhaps, it's the same for her."

Mebuki let out a sigh.

"Maybe…"

Also at the same time, in a Shinobi Residential District in Konoha…

"You'll really let me stay here?!"

Naruto couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes while he stared into the well furnished apartment. Kakashi sighed.

"Only for now. Until you get back up on your feet. Now before you-"

"Yippee!"

As usual Naruto let the rest of the words he heard drone on without listening before diving headfirst into the situation. However, this wasn't just anyone's apartment, this was Kakashi's place. So when Naruto literally dived headfirst into the apartment, a series of wires suddenly wrapped around him, tangling his body in such a way that he was left spread-eagle in midair facing the doorway. Classic Kakashi-sensei move.

"Now, if you'd listened, you would have heard me say to wait until I disable all the traps in the apartment first."

"Why are there even traps in your apartment?!"

"Standard Operating Procedure for Shinobi. Specifically on page twelve section five which states the importance of protecting your personal and sensitive information with the use of traps, fail-safes and false documents."

Naruto stared at Kakashi as if he'd grown a second head.

"I'm guessing they didn't give you a guidebook."

Naruto shook his head slowly while still staring.

"Sigh, this generation is lacking…"

"No offense Kakashi-sensei, but you sound like an old man right now."

Kakashi ignored the slight to his good name before drawing a kunai.

"Now, listen while I untie you. There are some ground rules you have to follow if you want to continue your stay at my hotel you little freeloader."

Naruto could tell there was a slight undertone of annoyance and displeasure to Kakashi's voice. He politely whistled.

"Yup yup, I'm listening."

Kakashi sighed.

"Good. I expect you to clean after yourself of course. That involves laundry as well."

"Mhm."

"You also have to cook for yourself, provide your own budget, and that means no borrowing whenever you feel like it, and you also must be out of here by a certain time."

"What time?"

"The time I feel like telling you."

"And when would that be?"

"…I'll tell you when I feel like it."

"Dammit Kakashi-sensei if you won't tell me I'll just-"

At that moment Naruto's binds came loose. He fell abruptly to the floor, landing on his face.

"…find out for myself."

Kakashi smiled then, which was really hard to see because of the mask.

"Sure. Aside from what I told you go nuts."

"Free reign!"

"Not free reign."

"Dammit."

Dusting himself off, Naruto turned around to see a particular set of familiar dogs, with one in particular being very familiar.

"Pakkun!"

"Hey kid, no hugs we all just bathed."

Indeed the floor was wet and the many of Kakashi's ninken were soaked in water.

"It's okay I don't mind!"

"Yeah well we do. If you do that while you're dirty we'll have to bathe again."

All the ninken shuddered at that. Taking their regular baths was hard enough, having to take an extra one was just plain painful.

"Oh, sorry."

"No hard feelings kid."

Kakashi undid his jonin vest, hanging it on the back of a chair in the kitchen area of his apartment.

"Before you settle down, there's something we have to discuss first."

Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Can I take a bath first cause I'm pretty sure I stink right now and you said-"

Kakashi reached into his flak jacket and pulled out a scroll then. Not just any scroll however. One that made even Naruto pause.

"…Why do you have that?"

He stared at Kakashi in a passive but slightly aggressive manner, the way he'd stare at someone when he was trying to tell if they were an enemy or not.

"What's important isn't how I got it. We need to talk, Naruto."

Naruto frowned. Slowly walking towards the table in kitchen where Kakashi was seated, he slowly pulled back a vacant chair and sat down cautiously.

"…What do you want to know?"

Kakashi's features turned serious then.

"Everything."

Later that night…

To any passing ninja, the little pink haired girl on the roof would look quite out of place in a ninja village. However, Konoha ninja near the residence of Sakura Haruno would know to simply avoid her if they ever ran into her. Sakura practically used her roof as a shrine any time she was upset. Normally with her family.

"They just don't understand me…"

She didn't want them too though. It was better this way she figured. With her newfound devotion to her team, the respect she had for her sensei, admittedly high admiration for Sasuke and newfound… friendship she'd suppose in Naruto, she'd grown attached to them. What was funny was that she'd never have thought it would have gone the way it did. She'd been so fixated on Sasuke and wanting to impress him, and in a way she still wished to. However she wanted to do so for substantial reasons now. She knew that within the team she wasn't very useful. She lacked the energy and strength Naruto had. Lacked the skill and commitment Sasuke had. Lacked the experience and authority Kakashi had. She was smart sure but she had come to realize that in the world of ninja knowledge was a rather useless thing. She couldn't contribute much. Yet she wished to.

"If I go on this mission… would I even be of any use?"

Now Sakura had been in full self-reflection mode and the last thing she expected, was a response.

"Don't put yourself out too early."

Sakura nearly shrieked but a hand quickly covered her mouth.

"Calm down. I just want to have a quick chat."

Her back was to the individual, but she thought the voice sounded familiar. Yet, she couldn't recognize it. The hand covering her mouth came off.

"Wh-Who are you?"

"Don't turn around. It's too early for us to properly meet."

She simply did as she was told. Anyone that could sneak up on you and casually start a conversation was not someone Sakura could fight. It was almost amusing how she ended up in these situations.

'If this happened during our next mission, I'd only end up weighing them down.'

"I can tell you're underestimating yourself."

"Why are you here anyway? What do you want from me?"

"Right now? Just your attention. However, later there will be something I'll need from you."

"…What is it?"

"You don't need to know yet. You will be going on a border patrol mission tomorrow right?"

"…Yes."

"Alright, once you return go to the address that I will leave here on a sheet of paper."

"Why?"

"You want to get stronger no?"

Sakura's breath caught in her throat. She hesitated at first, unsure of what to do before deciding to hell with it. She slowly nodded her head.

"That's great. Trust me when I say, you're the only person alive right now that can complete what I'll task you with."

"Why me then? What's so special about what you need from me?"

"It's not what I need from you. It is you. Don't downplay yourself so much."

Sakura felt her face flush then.

'He complimented me…'

"Alright I've taken up enough of your time now. Once you've read my message destroy it okay?"

She nodded but then suddenly a question came to mind.

"W-wait!"

Silence followed. For a second she thought he'd already left but then he spoke.

"Yeah?"

"Wh-What do I call you?"

"…I didn't think that would be the question. Well, if you want a name so badly, call me… Gunboshi."

"Gunboshi?"

She didn't get a response this time. Turning around, she saw that he was gone. On the ground was a note with an address on it. Reading it she gasped slightly, before looking left and right and then tearing the note to shreds. Letting it scatter in the wind, she turned towards the Hokage monument. Behind it, the moon cast an ethereal glow across the entirety of Konoha.

"Gunboshi… I'll remember that name."

As she stared into the night sky, she was unaware of the two other people who were also gazing upon it. On a large metal water tank in a damaged district of Konoha, Naruto was also staring into the sky, and in the Uchiha compound, Sasuke was reclining on a slanted roof in the middle of said compound. All three were unaware of the others actions and even more unaware that they shared very similar thoughts in that moment.

'In order to beat him, I'll train harder than ever!'

'In order to help my team, I'll do whatever it takes!'

'In order to be Hokage, I'll never lose!"

All three were determined and it was fated that they would share these sentiments at the same time. However, at that very moment, a set of events were set into play that would disrupt the very fabric of the shinobi world as they knew it. This… was just the beginning.

End of Chapter

I did a thing again. Consider this the real beginning of the story where things actually begin to happen I suppose. It's hard to set up and at times I don't think I'm getting enough word count. But it's all good. I'll try to keep up this posting speed though I'm about three days over a week late or so. I'll try to keep it as weekly Tuesday chapters. With most if not all of my courses being online I should have enough time to keep putting these out. Look forward to next chapter I suppose.