WoW: Plus my new fic with the extras of this fic is now up and running, so check it out.

Our first day was spent weeding. Not even training. Just… weeding. It was about what I expected, but no less disheartening.

"Stupid… weeds…" I hissed, as I struggled to pull out a particularly well-rooted one with my only working arm. I let out a war cry and put all my weight into it, and finally it ripped out in a spray of dirt. Unfortunately I hadn't thought my actions through. I stumbled and fell back onto my back with a groan.

Naruto burst out laughing, as did Anko, the bitch.

"Sora! Are you ok?" Sakura asked from where she was dumping a heap of weeds into a bin.

"Yes," I groaned. "Screw this shit! When are we getting a real mission?"

"This is only day one!" Anko crowed gleefully, from where she was seated on a portable lounge chair, holding a mocktail, a parasol protecting her from the beating sun. "Now get back to it, brats! Tomorrow we'll start training."

The day we finally got to meet Sasuke's sensei was the day Sakura developed a new and 'improved' crush.

Sasuke, Naruto and I had met up after our first day with our sensei and had come to an agreement: we would manipulate our sensei into doing joint missions, even if they were D-ranked, and joint training. For Naruto and I, we decided the best way to 'manipulate' Anko into doing this was to incessantly pester her until she caved, while Sasuke decided to try flat-out negotiation (and possible bribing) of his (mysterious) sensei.

Our first day of training with Anko went something like this:

"Before I teach you anything, you guys are going to get some muscles! 50 laps of Konoha!"

Needless to say, that was perhaps asking a tad much. Sakura couldn't even make two laps before giving up, despite the kunai Anko threw at her. Naruto and I didn't even get around to asking Anko-sensei because I passed out on my third lap, and he had to carry me to hospital. I think Anko realised then that just because she was chasing us with kunai, didn't mean we would suddenly grow superpowers.

Anko felt a mixture of annoyance and excitement at the prospect of a genin team of her own.

The annoying part: they were forced upon her by the Hokage, and also the fact they were brats and no one likes brats. Everyone knows that.

Asahi, or Naruto, as he should be known, was as bright and bubbly as always, as was Sasayaki. Honestly, how they remained like that after the trauma they had no doubt been through in Root was a mystery to her. When the Hokage had informed her of the truth mere days ago, she was shocked. She shouldn't have been, though. Wilder conspiracies she had heard in her lifetime had been known to be true. Still, it was nice to know the two brats were still alive.

Didn't make them any less annoying.

"Sora, I said 50 push-ups. What are you doing?"

"I c-c-c-can't," he gasped, his arms trembling after a mere 10. It was no wonder he had passed out after three laps of Konoha.

It was no secret Anko took pleasure from their pain, as the genin would soon find out. She did have to whip them into shape for the upcoming exam, after all. While Asahi and Sora were no doubt skilled from their experiences in Root, those skills only extended to what Danzo had decided was important. It was clear Sora struggled with physical strength, though the report from Danzo stated that it was a natural weakness, not due to lack of effort or training.

From what the report said, Sora still struggled with strength, form and chakra stamina, but was now extremely proficient at his chain style and using basic jutsu, to the point he could complete them without hand signs so his arm would not be a hindrance. Teaching him any more difficult jutsu would pose a problem, however, considering he could only use one arm.

Anko had an idea of what taijutsu style she would teach him though.

Asahi, on the other hand, obviously had no problem with chakra consumption however his chakra control was abysmal. It was clear that Danzo had forgone control for brute strength, which did suit his style but considering his style involved using as much chakra from the Kyuubi before he lost control, it really wasn't a good idea to use that in front of anyone. Otherwise his cover as 'Asahi' would be immediately blown, so he would be needing a new style and repertoire entirely.

Anko rubbed her head and groaned.

It was going to be a long few months until the exams.

"Anko… sensei…" Naruto wheezed between pull-ups. "We have… a question…"

We were in training ground 2, the place Anko had claimed as our training ground. She scared off any other intruders by screeching like a mad woman and throwing rocks at anyone who dared to come near. Sakura was now terrified of her, too.

"What?" Anko asked in a bored tone, picking at her teeth with a senbon to remove the remaining dango. Sakura was on the ground with me, attempting push ups too. It was depressing to know that she could keep up with me.

"Can… we… do… training with… Sasuke and… his… sensei?" Naruto gasped.

Sakura's head whipped up.

"How do you know Sasuke?" she demanded, suddenly not breathless at all.

"We don't," I interrupted quickly, breathing heavily. "But since he doesn't have a team, and we don't have any friends here yet, we thought he could make a good friend."

It was a flimsy excuse, but considering I made it up on the spot I patted myself on the back. Plus, it was believable, unless you knew what to look for.

Sakura frowned but said nothing

Anko looked thoughtful.

"Well brats, it's not really normal to pair up with other squads but since it's only two other people we might get away with it… I'll ask the Hokage and Akio after training."

I was surprised, I thought we would have to pester her but it seemed Anko had no problem with the idea. Naruto and I exchanged gleeful grins. Training wasn't that bad that day.

The Hokage said yes! I had a feeling he would. He sprouted some nonsense about encouraging bonds and the will of fire and blah di blah di blah, not that I'm complaining. Anko arranged a date to meet with Akio and Sasuke so we could 'get to know each other' over dango (of course).

It was a nice reprieve from the brutal training she'd made us do.

The restaurant was nice; it wasn't actually a restaurant specialising in dango thankfully, but it was on the menu. Our team sat at a 6-seater booth, and soon after we'd ordered green tea for the table Sasuke and the mysterious Akio arrived.

Akio was…

Pretty. Like in that disgustingly innocent way, he was all smiles and naïve cheer. It made me want to puke. He was meant to be a ninja.

Sakura, on the other hand… well, she seemed to have a differing opinion.

Akio had long black hair tied in a ponytail, wide orange eyes and a kind smile that would make hearts melt. He was in a standard jounin outfit, flak jacket and all.

Akio waved politely to us all as he and Sasuke arrived, and the hearts appeared in Sakura's eyes immediately. Sasuke sat beside Naruto and I, and, coincidentally for Sakura, Akio was forced to sit beside her in the remaining space of the booth.

Sasuke, Naruto and I pretended to 'get to know each other' while Sakura shamelessly flirted with Akio and Anko was watching Sakura with an expression that seemed to be wavering between amused and disappointed.

"Ugh," I whispered. "Look at Sakura. Do you think most girls are like this?"

"Hinata isn't," Naruto put in.

"Who cares," Sasuke sneered. "I'm more worried about the fact that Akio-sensei can't teach me to use my sharingan. All we've been focusing on recently is genjutsu because he thinks I have been slacking off on it. I don't need genjutsu. It's too much like my brother."

Naruto and I exchanged glances.

"Maybe that's the point. Maybe he thinks that if you try, you'll have a natural talent for it like your brother," I mumbled thoughtfully.

"In any case, let's eat!" Naruto yelled enthusiastically as soon as we were served our meals.

We were half way through eating when Team 10 turned up, out of the blue. They immediately spotted us at our table and walked over.

"What are you guys doing here? Why weren't we invited to the party, huh?" Ino demanded, thrusting her finger at Sakura.

"What a drag. I just came to eat. Let's go, Chouji," Shikamaru sighed, turning to drag Chouji off with him.

"Wait! Where do you think you're going?"

And so, that's how we ended up shunted to a large table that could accommodate the new arrivals. I ended up on the end of the table across from Anko and next to Ino.

"So Sora-kun, how has your training been?" Ino demanded, turning to me and twirling a lock of hair between her fingers.

"It would be good if I didn't have an asshole of a teacher," I told her bluntly.

"Hey, I can hear you brat," Anko snapped. "And Sora is just a whining little turd. You would love me if you had me, Ino-chan," Anko said, smiling in a grotesquely sweet way.

Ino sent her possibly the most repelled expression I had ever seen, her features drawn back with disgust.

I laughed. I couldn't help it. It was the most beautiful expression I had ever witnessed. Anko actually faltered. This is Anko we're talking about here.

"Sora is not a... a little turd. You're the turd here," she sniffed haughtily. "Plus, who would want a sensei that binges on dango all the time. Your rockin' bod isn't going to last forever with that diet. You'll be too fat to work in a few years," she finished flippantly.

"Why you-"

All in all, I think the event went rather well. Especially since Ino ended up with her face mashed into her soup.