A/N: OK! WARNING! MAJOR CHANGE FROM CANON AHEAD: dun dun dun... I WILL NOT BE WRITING THE BELL TEST. Okok, I know this is kinda really major, especially since Kakashi didn't really want to teach them at first. But from what I had planned in my story, there wouldn't have been any major changes in the bell test anyways, so I just decided it wasn't worth the effort to write (or read, it would've been pretty dry lol). Also, in my opinion, the canon bell test didn't really change anything for team 7 anyways. While they did work together slightly at the end, Naruto and Sasuke went back to arguing again right after it so did it even really matter? However, if you think this is too big of a change, feel free to just act as if the bell test occurred before this chapter, exactly as in canon.

On that note, here's a new chapter where, hopefully, Sakura grows up a bit! Enjoy :)

[chapter 3]

Sakura woke to the shrill sound of her alarm going off.

She rolled over and pressed a pillow over her head but the sound didn't stop.

Groggily, she sat up and slammed a fist down on the machine, not really caring if it broke as long as it stopped the infernal beeping.

Blinking the weariness from her eyes, she looked outside to see that the moon was still in the sky. It was early, earlier than she'd ever woken up before. The academy only started at nine, so to be awake at five felt terrible.

Fighting off the urge to just lie down and go back to sleep, Sakura slowly rolled off the bed. She shivered in the cold morning air, already missing the comfort of her blankets. But she was up now, so she resolutely went about her morning routine, brushing her teeth and combing her hair.

She stopped before her wardrobe, pulling out the red dress that she normally wore. She hesitated. She wanted to look good for their first day of team training and missions of course, but it was cold. Besides, hadn't they all seen her yesterday anyways. She snorted, there was no way she could possibly look worse today.

Sakura stuffed the dress back onto a shelf, not bothering to properly fold it again, and instead pulled out a pair of black ninja pants and a long sleeve shirt. They would look nice enough and it wasn't like Ino was going to be there today to make her feel bad about her choice of clothing.

Throwing them on, she left her room, sneaking down the stairs and into the kitchen. Her mother was still sleeping and she didn't want to wake her up at this inhuman hour.

There was cereal in one of the cupboards and milk in the fridge, so she made herself a bowl and sat down at the dining table. She'd probably have to eat alone every day from now on if their sensei made them show up so early, she thought depressingly.

Finishing her breakfast, Sakura left the bowl and spoon in the sink instead of washing up. Her mother would do it later, although she'd chew Sakura out about it when she came home - because how was she supposed to become a good housewife when she didn't even wash her own dishes. Despite no one being there, she rolled her eyes. She loved her mother and all, but the woman just didn't understand a single thing about shinobi.

Her pack was by the door and she picked it up on the way out, slinging it over her back. She'd made it the night before and it had everything that she'd need today. Her lunch bento had already been made and her academy-issued kunai and shuriken - she couldn't afford her own yet - had been polished to a gleam. Stepping out of the house and locking the door behind her, she let out a small grin. She was ready.

Of course this grin had disappeared by the time she reached the main road. It was still dark and a bit creepy this time of morning. There were few people around and each one was met with a suspicious stare. The fear of attackers and shaded alleys had been ingrained in her since birth by her civilian mother and it wasn't easy to forget.

More than that though, her amusement had faded because she had no idea where she was supposed to go.

She remembered Kakashi telling them to meet him at the team training grounds but where were those even?

Sakura sighed, mentally cursing their new teacher for not having told them before disappearing. She racked her brain. What was she supposed to do now?

The best thing to do would be to find someone who could tell her where to go, but she wasn't sure who would know. Kakashi, of course, but as far as she knew he didn't have an office and it wasn't as if she knew where he lived.

The next place that came to mind was the Hokage's tower, but Sakura winced. She'd probably be able to find her answer there. Even if the Hokage himself hadn't woken up yet, there'd certainly be some secretary who could help her. Despite this, she was reluctant to go. After the meeting with the council of elders the day before, she wanted to stay as far away as possible. She'd go if she had no other choice, she decided.

She kept walking, making her way into the center of Konoha in the hopes of finding a familiar face. She'd just passed by the academy when she did a double take.

Of course! How could she not have instantly thought of this? Iruka probably still had all the files for their team, which meant that he would know which training ground had been assigned to them.

With a bit more of a bounce to her step, Sakura turned and entered the large building. She'd been here just yesterday but already it felt different. She wasn't a student here anymore. For some reason the halls and classrooms seemed small, more childish.

She made her way to the third floor, to the room that she knew to be Iruka's office. She'd never been sent here, not for getting into trouble, but she'd been here plenty of times to help Iruka grade tests or just to file his paperwork. She had to let out a sigh. She'd really been a teacher's pet, hadn't she?

Stepping up, Sakura hesitantly knocked on the door to the office. There was no reply and she couldn't hear anything from within.

She shook her head at herself. The sun wasn't even up yet, he probably wasn't here. She'd just have to go to the Hokage's tower, she decided, preparing to leave. It wouldn't be that bad after all.

Just as she was about to go, a voice called out from within.

"Come in!"

Sakura carefully opened the door and peeked her head in. Iruka sat at his desk, a mountain of paperwork stacked in front of him and a steaming cup of coffee at his side. He looked exhausted, with dark circles lining his eyes and usually neat ponytail in disarray.

"Good morning, Iruka-sensei," Sakura greeted softly.

Iruka looked up. "Sakura! What a surprise! What are you doing here so early?"

She gave a shy smile. "I was actually looking for you, Iruka-sensei."

"You do know that you've graduated right," Iruka said teasingly. "That means you don't have to come here anymore."

Sakura blushed a little.

"Ah, sorry! Where are my manners," Iruka said quickly, standing up from behind his desk and pulling out another chair. "Come in and sit down!"

Closing the door behind her, she sank down into the almost couch-like cushion across from Iruka.

"Would you like some coffee as well?"

Sakura thought about it. On one hand she'd gone searching for Iruka with the intentions to make it a quick visit, just dropping by long enough to find out where the training grounds were. But then again she'd woken up much too early, being the worrywart she was, and as such she had plenty of time to spare.

"I'd love some coffee," she responded with a smile. Besides, hopefully the caffeine would keep her awake through whatever Kakashi had planned for them today.

Iruka retrieved another mug from a small cupboard in a corner of the room and placed it under the electric coffee maker on the table below it. Was he here this early every day? Based on the many personal belongings scattered around the room as well as the stack of unwashed coffee cups piled up beside the coffee maker, Sakura suspected he was.

As she watched him make the coffee, she found herself admiring his dedication. It was still hours before the start of school, so to come here during his precious free time in the morning and already begin working… It was truly inspiring. Iruka loved his job, she realized. Being an academy teacher wasn't glamorous in the least, not to mention having to deal with annoying kids all day, but she supposed she could understand his passion at least slightly. There was something about the idea that you were helping others start off on their own paths, that you could influence them at such a young age in whichever way you wanted.

"So," Iruka said, placing a steaming mug of coffee in front of her and sitting back down. "What can I help you with, Sakura?"

"Well our sensei told us to meet him at our team training grounds, but he disappeared before I could ask him where they were," Sakura explained a bit sheepishly. She felt a bit awkward that Iruka had taken the time to make her coffee and everything when she'd only come here to ask a question that she easily could've found out herself by actually going to the training grounds.

"Of course," he said, not seeming in the least bit annoyed to her relief. "I can find that for you." Iruka shuffled through the legitimate mountain of paperwork that he'd shoved to the side with an ease that revealed just how many hours he must've spent sitting here, going through the various forms and documents.

He pulled out a thin manila folder and Sakura caught a glimpse of a large number '7' stamped in red. She took a small sip of her hot coffee.

Iruka flipped through the various papers contained inside and she saw pictures of both her, Naruto and Sasuke staring up at her. If she had to bet, she'd say those were their individual assessment pages.

Sakura stifled the urge to lean over and look at them closer. Technically they were village information after all and she didn't have the necessary security clearance. So she pushed down her curiosity about learning what her teachers thought of her and patiently waited for Iruka to finish.

"Ah!" Iruka exclaimed, seemingly finding what he'd been looking for. "Let's see…"

He glanced over the document that he'd pulled out. "I believe your team training ground is training ground three," he told her with a smile.

That was one of the training grounds closer to the center of the village, if she remembered right. They were arranged by numerical value, with training ground one being the nearest and the others after that spiraling out further.

"I appreciate it," she told Iruka gratefully.

"No problem at all," he assured her. "When did your sensei say to meet up?"

She recalled the parting phrase of the jounin the day before. "Kakashi-sensei told us to meet him at 6, I think."

Iruka chuckled and she looked up at him in surprise.

"Kakashi is a shinobi well known for being tardy," he explained when he saw her confusion. "You will not have to be there anytime before 8."

That made sense. After all, Kakashi had technically shown up two hours later then he'd been supposed to yesterday, although they hadn't had to wait that long since Sakura and Iruka had shown up late as well, delaying the team selection. Thinking back on it, she felt a bit guilty. All the other jounin-sensei who hadn't shown up late had probably had to wait because of her, not the mention her classmates.

Looking outside she guessed it was about 5:44 in the morning. At this time of year the sun usually rose at about 5:42 and it had just begun peeking its blazing tendrils over the horizon. She sighed. If Iruka was right - and she didn't doubt he was - that meant she had at least two more hours to wait. She supposed Sasuke and Naruto would be there at about 6, since they probably didn't know of their new sensei's tendencies yet, but she wasn't really eager to face them at the moment. She still didn't know how she felt about Sasuke, and what she had learned last night…

She bit her lip and grimaced.

"You're welcome to wait here," Iruka said kindly, seemingly picking up on her unwillingness.

"Oh no, I wouldn't to impose," Sakura blurted out, her eyes straying to the large pile of work on his desk.

He followed her gaze and laughed. "Don't worry, I'm actually working ahead right now, so there's nothing urgent that needs to be done. Besides, I'd love to have some company. I won't be seeing any of you anymore now that you've all graduated."

She relaxed. It was obvious he meant it and she'd gladly take him up on his offer if it meant not having to face Sasuke and… Naruto. There were just too many confusing feelings and thoughts that she needed to sort out first.

"I'd have thought you'd be happy to have us out of your hair," she said teasingly.

"It was odd waking up this morning and realizing that I wouldn't be teaching any of you anymore," he admitted.

"You sure you aren't at least partly relieved?" she said with a grin.

Iruka chuckled. "You guys were a handful, but I can't say I won't miss you. Even the troublemakers like Kiba and Naruto. They were a pain in the ass to teach but as I told the other teachers I could always see the potential in their hearts, annoying little brats as they were."

Unconsciously, Sakura stiffened up a bit at Naruto's name. It didn't pass by Iruka's notice.

"Is something wrong, Sakura?"

Instantly the words 'of course not' were on her tongue, but Sakura hesitated. Despite his apparently close relationship with Naruto, in the years she had known him Iruka had always been kind and willing to offer new perspectives. She'd never felt that she couldn't confide in him. In that way, he'd been the perfect teacher.

"If I ask you something," Sakura said slowly, a bit unsure of herself. "Will you give me an honest answer?"

Iruka tilted his head and gave her a gentle smile. "Of course I will. Have I ever been less then honest with you throughout your academy years?"

She shook her head. He hadn't.

"Then ask, Sakura," he encouraged.

She bit her lip and nervously looked down at the mug in her hands.

"What do you think of Naruto, Iruka-sensei?" She asked quietly.

He blinked a few times in confusion. "It's as I said before. Naruto is quite the troublemaker but his heart is in the right place. I know he's quite disruptive in class sometimes but-"

Iruka suddenly stopped talking, as if he had realized something, and slowly examined her. She refused to meet his eyes.

"Councilor Shimura…" he said, no hint of doubt in his tone yet a questioning look in his eyes that seemed to beg her to contradict him. "The Hokage's office yesterday…"

Sakura nodded softly with her head downcast but then glanced up at him. The room was quiet as Iruka closed his eyes in some sort of emotion and let out a long sigh.

"I'm sorry," she suddenly burst out. "I was just… curious."

She'd been on her way home yesterday when she'd passed by the library. Councilor Shimura's words had flashed through her mind and resolutely she'd decided to find out what exactly the title 'jinchuuriki' meant. She'd found it quite quickly of course: the word jinchuuriki literally meant 'human sacrifice'. Add that to the fact that Naruto had been born 12 years ago on the day that the nine-tailed beast attacked Konoha and that the villagers called him a 'demon'. It hadn't been hard to piece together.

And now… There was no way she could face Naruto after what she had learned. She didn't want to admit it, but burning deep inside her was fear. She'd never in a thousand years have thought that she'd be afraid of Naruto, but she was.

Iruka shook his head slowly.

"Sakura," he told her sadly. Something shone behind his eyes. "There are things that it would be wise not to meddle in. Sometimes it is for the better to stop digging, to resign yourself to not knowing. There are many secrets in this village which are too painful to keep. I only hope that you will never learn them."

She looked at him. "Did you-"

He cut her off. "Sakura."

She decided not to continue the line of conversation, instead looking down at the desk with a mixture of anxiety and anger.

"I don't know what to do, Iruka-sensei," she confessed, emotion leaking into her voice. "I'm scared of him. How can I be on a team with… with a demon!"

Iruka didn't respond and she glanced up only to see him still, his eyes filling with anger of his own. A heavy, cold feeling filled the room and it felt so horrible, like death and decay and fear and threats. Her eyes widening in horror, Sakura scrambled back instantly, her chair screeching against the floor as she instinctively tried to move further away from Iruka.

The sound seemed to bring her teacher back to the present, though his eyes clearing. The weight in the room lightening as well, as if it had never been there at all. Iruka closed his eyes and took a long breath to collect himself.

"I'm sorry, Sakura," he breathed out and she could hear the guilt in his voice. "I should've kept a better hold on my emotions."

Even still she could feel his killing intent lingering on her skin, but she gave him a shaky smile. "It's early," she said in offering, as if it could explain away what had just happened.

Iruka shook his head. "Nevertheless, I am at fault. I apologize."

An uncomfortable silence stretched out between them. Sakura didn't know what to say. Was it because of what she'd said about Naruto? She knew that Iruka shared a close bond with the blond-haired boy, but if her sensei knew about him being the nine-tails, why had he gotten so angry?

Iruka let out a sigh. "Sakura look at me," he said and instantly her head shot up.

He studied her silently for a moment.

"Sakura," he said finally. "Tell me. Why do you like Sasuke."

She frowned, confused and a bit irritated. What did Sasuke have to do with this? She'd told him how she felt and he was bringing up this?

"But weren't we talking about-"

"I know," Iruka said, cutting her off. "Please answer the question."

While the rational part of her told her to just calm down and answer Iruka honestly, she'd always been hotheaded and the irritation and anger with her teacher burned through her.

"You wouldn't understand," she spat, giving him the same answer she'd given Naruto yesterday.

Iruka stared at her, a brief look of disappointment crossing his face. For some reason this just made Sakura angrier. Who was he to be disappointed in her? As if she cared.

He shook his head. "I'd appreciate an answer regardless," he said and now the kindness he'd shown her before was gone. This was the voice he used when teaching, demanding obedience.

Sakura could feel the heat rising to her face. "This isn't fair," she said hotly. "Why are you even asking me? Everyone else likes him too!"

Iruka's face didn't soften but he nodded, as if he'd gotten the answer he wanted.

"Exactly," he said. "You like Sasuke because everyone else does. Will you hate Naruto because everyone else does too?"

Sakura paused, stunned. "I-"

She closed her mouth.

Iruka shook his head and finally his expression softened. "Sakura. You have heard me say this before, but you have so much potential. You're not one of the many, a mindless sheep blindly following orders. You are not canon fodder, someone sent to the front lines just to be cut down in seconds."

She'd never heard Iruka talk like this before. He'd always told them that they were each talented in their own way. To listen to him speak of death and war like this, it scared her. Despite how controversial it was there was no regret in Iruka's tone.

"So stop trying to fit in and walk your own path," he told her harshly. His voice lowered in volume.

"I truly believe in you Sakura," he said, and she felt something in her heart warm. "I've always thought that you were destined for great things. Prove me right."

There was silence again, but less uncomfortable than before. She took in his words. She hadn't even realized it, but when she reached up she felt tears running down her face. That Iruka thought so highly of her… It was nice for a change, to know that someone believed in her.

"You have a good heart, despite what you may believe," his eyes seemed to see down to her soul, "you can be a better person, Sakura."

She let out a silent sob and wiped the tears away from her eyes with her sleeves.

She looked at her former teacher.

"I should probably go," she said quietly. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei." for the coffee and the talk went unsaid.

Sakura got up, but as she reached the door to his office the sound of his voice stopped her.

"Sakura," he called. She turned back around. "Just…"

He paused.

"Just try to judge Naruto for yourself. Talk to him and form your own opinions. Don't just believe what everyone says. Just because it is the most widespread opinion does not mean it is true, or right."

She answered just a beat too late for it to be natural. "Of course, Iruka-sensei. Thanks again."

He didn't stop her this time and she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her and leaving him to his work. It was sometime after six now and the sun had risen higher in the sky.

She made her way down the mostly empty streets. Civilians didn't tend to wake up until later in the morning and almost all shinobi took the rooftops to get to where they needed to go. It was faster, apparently. Thoughtfully, she wondered when Kakashi would teach them how to do that. It was embarrassing to be a genin and still have to walk on the ground.

When she reached the training ground Iruka had instructed her to she found no one in sight. It was a nice training ground to be honest, better than the one connected to the academy. The large, grassy clearing was surrounded by dense trees and there was a small river running alongside it. Beneath the still rosy glow of dawn the entire area presented a peaceful sight.

Hidden just out of view from where she'd entered she spotted a small bridge which crossed the river. Deciding to wait there for her teammates, she peacefully strolled over.

To her surprise, Naruto was already waiting there, sitting on one of the railings and swinging his feet in the air. She stopped in her tracks, about to turn back around when Iruka's parting words ran in her head again.

Just try to judge Naruto for yourself.

She sighed and resolutely continued her path to the bridge. Wordlessly she climbed up to sit on the railing beside Naruto and looked down. It really was even more beautiful here. The rising sun cast a sort of fiery light on the streaming water below, lighting it up to make it seem like tendrils of flame. It was an odd sort of beauty, the type of beauty that both scared and entranced you. The trees lining the banks of the river were cast in the light too, making it seem like autumn instead of spring.

As she watched the trees sway in the gentle breeze, an odd - and slightly unsettling - sense of ancientness infused her. It was like the feeling she'd felt down in Hashirama's crypt, she remarked to herself, although without any panic. No, the sense was much too calm for fear to have any place in her mind at the moment.

"Hey, Sakura!" Naruto greeted enthusiastically.

"Good morning, Naruto," she replied peacefully, entranced by the tranquilness granted to her by the trees.

The boy only scratched his head sheepishly. "Oh right, so um, do you know where Sasuke or Kakashi-sensei are? Cause I've been here for a while and so far no one's showed up. I was starting to think I was at the wrong place until you came."

How had Naruto even found out which training grounds they were supposed to meet on?

"I haven't seen Sasuke," she told him instead. "And Kakashi-sensei has a habit of being late, so he'll likely be here around 8."

"Eh!" Naruto exclaimed. "But that's in, like, more than an hour."

Sakura just shrugged. "Guess we have to wait."

She looked away, back at the water and the beautiful trees, and Naruto seemed to get the message.

She watched the nature around them, not really seeing it as much as feeling it. The sense of calm was like a drug, she decided, one that she never wanted to get off of. She'd been apprehensive about this meeting since yesterday evening but now that she was actually sitting here next to him… she wasn't scared anymore.

He was just… Naruto, she realized.

Naruto was casting occasional glances her way and she recognized the look. She'd felt it many times before, although not now. Fear.

Sakura almost wanted to laugh. Here she'd been, scared to her wit's end by the demon in him and he'd been scared of her. She supposed it made sense. He'd never really had any friends at the academy and now here she was being relatively nice to him. Of course he was scared that he'd accidentally ruin it. Somehow, this image of an insecure little kid seemed to fit him better than the loud and obnoxious one he'd created for himself.

And maybe it was the peacefulness of their surroundings and the strange sense of calm that the nature around her granted her mind, but Sakura suddenly understood what Iruka had meant.

Just try to judge Naruto for himself.

Naruto wasn't a demon. He was just a scared and lonely little boy.

She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, taking a moment to appreciate the slight breeze brushing across her face. Then she hopped off the railing and onto the bridge.

Naruto looked at her in surprise and she gestured for him to join her. Cautiously he slid off the railing to come stand in front of her. Something tugged at her heartstrings. Naruto hadn't had anyone there for him growing up.

Sakura hugged him.

He froze but she didn't let go, only embracing him tighter. After a long moment, hesitantly, Naruto wrapped his own arms around her. They stood like that for a while, neither feeling the need to say anything. She felt something wet on his cheeks. He was crying.

She'd do her best to be a better person, and that meant being there for him.