Chapter 4: Right for the wrong reasons

"Is this really gonna be a recurring thing with this guy?"

"Unfortunately yes. Fortunately for us, I know what he's planning. He wants us to do nothing but wait for him, wasting valuable time we can use to teach ourselves instead."

"That son of a bitch! Well then let's get started with our own training, Sasuke you and me, quick spar!"

"I'd love to but first."

"Mmmmmmmmm Sasuke…"

"She's clung to my arm for at least an hour now."

After a few hours of training together, Kakashi had finally arrived greeting a pissed off Naruto, a slightly annoyed Sasuke, and an " honestly not caring because she's with her love right now" Sakura.

"Good, it seems you all were training without me."

"Go to hell sensei, you're four hours late!"

"Well, a black cat crossed my path-"

"-and you had to take the long way?"

"Awww, Sasuke, me being your sensei ruins all the fun."

Sasuke rolled his eyes "What do you want us to do?"

As soon as Sasuke asked, Kakashi stopped pouting and began to take out two bells from his pouch.

"The goal is simple, whoever can take a bell, passes. Whoever doesn't, goes back to the academy."

"Wait sensei." For the first time, Sakura had actually spoken up. "There's only two bells. Does that mean-"

"Yep, one of you won't be passing."

A heavy tension began to cast the training ground, for Naruto and Sakura, this was utter hell, the worst case scenario, all that work, all that training, and now a simple bell test was gonna ruin their chances of becoming ninja's. Meanwhile, Sasuke started thinking about the purpose of this test. It seems Kakashi wanted them to learn the unfairness of the world and wanted to give them a lose-lose scenario, if that's so, Sasuke decided to take the dive instead of worrying.

"What's allowed?"

"Anything, treat it as if it was life or death."

"When do we start?"

Slowly, Kakashi took out an orange book. "Now."

Without even caring, Sasuke grabbed both Naruto and Sakura's hands and immediately hid inside the trees.

"Everything we learned this morning, okay. This is a mind game Kakashi has given us, the two bells are designed to create tension between us and split us up, not using any teamwork. Let's follow the morning plan and if we get the bells, well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there alright?"

Naruto and Sakura promptly nodded.

'It seems Sasuke has already taken initiative for his team, good, they've already overcome the first hurdle in working as a team.'

"I won't let a single bell stop me from being Hokage, I'll do this all by myself."

'Hmmm maybe not, actually, is something wrong with Naruto. It sounds like he's not being genuine, sounds like he's acting…'

Before Kakashi could continue however, Naruto had already started using his shadow clone technique to create a surprisingly large amount of clones. All of them charging at once.

"A full frontal assault? Maybe I spoke too soon about them working together. The first lesson is tai-"

"-Cut the crap sensei, Sasuke's already taught me that."

It seems Kakashi did have to close his book after all because Naruto and his clones were going at him pretty well, Naruto's taijutsu was surprisingly good, damn good in fact. Sasuke must have had a hand in helping his hand to hand skills. Naruto's tactic was simple yet effective, pure overwhelming force, the moment Kakashi had put down one shadow clone, another was created in its place. It was rather amusing, but the hardened jonin decided it was enough and swiftly took out all of Naruto's clones, leaving one left, the original. All that trouble, it was time to have some fun, a Kanchō will do just fine, and after dodging a few more attacks he was in the perfect position.

"Konoha Secret Finger Technique One Thousand Years of De- wait, is that an explosive tag up his-"


"So, shadow clones huh?"

"Yep, kicked Mizuki's ass after learning how to make a bunch of them. From what Iruka sensei told me last night though, Kakashi's one of best shinobi's Konoha has so bum rushing him with clones won't work."

"It won't but I have an idea."

"What is it?"

"Can we attach explosion tags to them?"

Good and bad news for Kakashi, the good news was that he managed to get away from the explosion and also deduce that the Naruto with the explosion tag was also a clone, good, he hoped Naruto wasn't that reckless in trying to suicide bomb himself. The bad news however was that he was wide open, wide open to a laser focused Sasuke Uchiha charging at him, Sharingan flared brightly and directed at him and the bells.

Sasuke's taijutsu alone proved without a shadow of a doubt the fact that he earned top of the class for his year with his skill alone, his strikes were honed in and without any wasteful movements, fast and hard-hitting, a dangerous combination. Unfortunately, unlike other Jonin senseis, Kakashi expected this kind of quality out of Sasuke and was able to adapt and ultimately get the better of the Uchiha after some time.

This (seemingly) was what the Uchiha wanted and when he realised that Kakashi was getting the upper hand and he was beginning to tire out, he immediately gestured and all of a sudden, five Naruto clones came sprinting at Kakashi, all with the intention to brawl and with no Sasuke in sight. It was strange actually, Naruto seemed to be quite fresh despite his initial barrage of clones, Kakashi knew about Uzumaki's above average endurance and stamina but even then he couldn't have healed the mental fatigue on his own. After dealing with them, Naruto created even more shadow clones like they were nothing, this was starting to get tiring for Kakashi. After all of them were taken out, Naruto immediately performed the same gesture Sasuke did and sure enough, Sasuke bursted in and began to go at the Jonin, Naruto long gone. However something was different with Sasuke, all the bruises and cuts he got from his fight with Kakashi were now gone, they were fully healed in fact. It was only now that Kakashi had realised what was going on.

"I still can't believe Sakura finished that book in under an hour and it immediately started working for her."

Sakura had just finished one of Sasuke's ninja notebooks regarding healing and to the surprise of both he and Naruto, the girl had actually picked up on it extremely quickly. After one read, she was already practicing her healing on a wounded rabbit.

"She wasn't top of the class for nothing. The academic system is a joke, relying on scores and who can do techniques rather than actual combat experience or even specializations for aspiring ninjas that don't belong to a clan. I bet Sakura probably aspires to be a medic but the academy never bothered to satiate that interest."

"Don't lie, you know the only reason she bothered reading was because of your promise to her."

"Don't remind me…"

If Kakashi could, he almost wanted to give them a pat on the back, having Naruto and Sasuke tag team against him while the other gets healed by Sakura was a great strategy. It was a pure war of attrition that Kakashi had to lose at some point sooner rather than later. Whether or not they even took the bells no longer mattered, they showed teamwork and they were going to pass. Kakashi decided he would let his guard down intentionally but not make it too obvious that he was admitting defeat. Thinking this was a sign of exhaustion, Sasuke leaped forward and grabbed both bells from Kakashi.

"Alright! We did it, we passed!"

"Not yet…"

Sakura and Naruto had just gotten out of their hiding spots and into the open and were now out in the open to the sight of somewhat battered Kakashi and Sasuke holding the two bells needed to pass Kakashi's test.

"Well Sasuke what will it be, you and Naruto tearing up Konoha or you and Sakura, a love story just waiting to happen."

Internally Kakashi was grinning at the mouth, the bell test was more than just an evaluation of their skill but also of their teamwork and selflessness. When faced with the dilemma surprisingly, both Naruto and Sakura began advocating for the OTHER person to take the bell.

"C'mon Sasuke, she's got so much potential, I had my doubts but after healing me, Sakura's got a real future as a ninja y'know. Besides, an extra year with Iruka won't be so bad."

"I've already gotten what I wanted, you two have been training to be ninjas for your entire lives. I won't get in the way.

While the two were selflessly advocating for the other, Sasuke was reminded of a lecture Danzo had told him a few months before his graduation.

"The first and most important lesson to being a ninja is that they are just that, ninja's. Shinobi's are not heroes, we are pragmatic, we are unfair, that is who we are. To be a hero is to inspire, to be a shinobi is to win at all cost, with that kind of mindset, shinobi's can win even unwinnable scenarios. When we are faced with a lose-lose situation, do you know what we do kid?"

"No sir."

"We ask why we have to lose and find our way to win."

"No regrets."

Sasuke sighed and before they knew it, both Naruto and Sakura were tossed a bell. Both were shocked but before they could ask, it was Kakashi who spoke up.

"Hmmm, interesting decision. Sasuke you know what that means right?"

"Yes, I do. Naruto and Sakura both deserve to pass, all I did was set up a plan and they followed it without question, a fairly difficult thing to do. Naruto might be loud and obnoxious but he's all heart and I know he'll go far, Sakura, well, she might be a citizen, but she can do so much more. I'll just pass next year, Danzo wouldn't mind. The only person I feel bad for though, is you Kakashi. By all means, please tell the third Hokage, the last Uchiha will not be passing because of your little Genin test. Not because he did poorly but because he cared too much about his teammates."

"Oh yeah, gramps is totally gonna chew you alive! But maaan, another year at the academy blows. It's gonna really suck being a ninja without you Sasuke."

"I'll make sure to visit you everyday, Sasuke, if you need anything, I mean ANYTHING just let me know okay?"

"Alright! Alright! You all pass. Can't a guy like me have some fun every now and then."

"Wait, we all passed, even Sasuke?"

Kakashi proceeded to explain the entire point of the bell test, claiming the bells were designed to separate the team and either force them to work together or not, and get promptly destroyed by a Jonin not even trying.

"Those who don't follow rules are scum, but those that abandon their teammates are worse than that. I learned that lesson while I was in war and your damn sure I want that lesson to be taught towards this generation."

Kakashi soon realised what he was seeing, he knew about Sasuke's talent and skill and thanks to the prior years spent training with him, those were being refined into a sharper edge. Naruto, if given a good enough push could very well be the most dangerous man in the world thanks to the Nine-Tails and from what can be deciphered, Sakura had managed to learn basic healing techniques, something only extremely high level chakra control users know how to do.

"Starting today we'll be known as Team 7, I expect nothing but the best out of all three of you. The Three Sannin got their name from simply surviving an encounter with one of the strongest shinobis of their generation and went on to become legends. Tsunade, the greatest medical ninja of our generation, Orochimaru, a prodigy's prodigy who can learn any technique given to him, and Jiraiya, the so-called "loser" of the three is considered pound for pound, one of the most powerful men in the entire world. All of them have been candidates for Hokage at some or point or another and they got their start here. I dare you to do better."


"Kakashi told me you passed, your an official genin now, huh?"

"Yeah but for the wrong reasons. I thought his test was about teaching us no wins scenarios, not teamwork, I thought that was a basic necessity."

"Kid, you've been around us bitter prodigy's for too long, it makes you forget that there are still people that need these kinds of basic necessities. Well before I go, I want to give you this."

Danzo grabbed a box he had been in possession of for the whole night and gave it to Sasuke. When Sasuke opened the box, he saw a sword, basic and traditional, it looked to be newly refined and sharpened.

"It's time I tell you the story of the man who saved my life during the first great Shinobi war. The man who's passed his flame unto my own. An Uchiha I not only respected, but considered a dear friend. The story of Kagami Uchiha."


A lot of things in my life change, my friends, my enemies, even my ninja way has changed over time but one thing will and will always stay the same, war. It never changes, we fight, we kill, all because of our opposing ideologies. At that time, I accepted my role, I was a soldier, built and ready to die for my cause, until I couldn't. When the time came to give my life to the second Hokage, I lacked the will and backbone to accept it and instead, Hiruzen stepped in and gladly accepted the role to be sacrificed, that was just enough for the second Hokage to nominate himself instead and appoint him the third Hokage. "What a coward" I thought to myself, what use was my life if I couldn't even muster the will to sacrifice it. That mindset changed though, during a battle with God I forget who, I was a bind, trapped and ready to die, I braced for death, until somebody intercepted it for me.

"K-Kagami!"

Kagami Uchiha was the third man in me and Hiruzen's initial Genin team. Me and Hiruzen didn't get along at first if you can tell from whenever he comes to visit us, we still enjoy trading barbs at each other. However back then, those barbs were instead replaced with fire balls and wind currents. Kagami setted us straight, he was the anchor, the realist between my bitter pessimisticism and Hiruzen's naive optimism.

"H-Hey Dan, calvary took their time didn't they?"

"Y-your bleeding I-I can't stop it."

"Dying to save my best friend, not a bad way to go."

None of these traits however, were as important as Kagami's loyalty and pride. Not just as an Uchiha but as a ninja to Konoha, the village was everything. Kagami ascended past his clan's pride, he was both a loyal ninja to both Konoha and the Uchiha and what was he rewarded with, a death all too soon.

"Dammit! Dammit, why? Why do people like you and the second have to die so early while people like me live! Is there no justice in this world? You're the one who should live, Kagami, not me!"

It was then Kagami uttered a phrase that changed my life, changed my outlook, and helped create the man you see today.

"Dying is easy Dan, living is harder."


"I guess we won."

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

"Because that sword was Kagami's, newly resharpened and reborn. Until tonight, it had no master, until you opened it, now it belongs to you. That sword is to keep you humble, I want you to never forget your roots. Not just as an Uchiha, but as a shinobi of Konoha. Remind yourself that pride is a slow and insidious killer and it's favorite victims are Uchiha's, your brother included. You understand?"

"Yes sir."

"Good, I'll be leaving for tonight, you have a date for tomorrow don't you?"

"W-wait how did yo-"

Naruto…

"Quite shrewd of you to make a promise of a date to a girl that loves you. It seems I've taught you well."


Sasuke made a promise to himself, it wasn't a promise to find Itachi, it wasn't a promise to restore his clan, it wasn't even a promise to become the first Uchiha Hokage. No, the promise was a lot more, selfish…

"So where do you want to go for our date Sasuke? Wanna grab something to eat, or maybe we head back to your place, and get to know each other..."

If he managed to survive this date, he was going to poison all of Naruto's ramen supply.

The date itself wasn't THAT bad. After finding a place to eat, Sasuke and Sakura were simply sitting down at a bench by the park. Sasuke however, realised something important. Since they all passed the bell test all three of them were going to be together for a long time, obviously he had no issues with Naruto but Sakura was different, liking someone was one thing, but being a fangirl to a teammate was just asking for trouble. Sasuke realised he needed to nip this whole "crush" business in the bud before it developed and it creates future problems.

"Sakura, do you like me?"

"What do you mean Sasuke? Of course I do!"

"No I mean do you like me as a person or just the concept of me?"

Sakura wasn't sure how to respond.

"Listen, I get it. Back at the academy I must have looked like some bad boy who only needed one honest girl that can save me but I'm not. I don't care about whatever fantasies you may have had about me but none of it is true. I wouldn't really care about what you thought about me except your going to be my teammate now and I want to set things straight between us before it gets awkward. So I'm sorry, but I'm probably not going to reciprocate your feelings."

Sasuke felt partially bad about rejecting any and all of Sakura's advances but at the same time, he knew he had to do it. Sasuke felt that being blunt about the issue was the only way to go. If he tried being indirect, Sakura could possibly develop the wrong idea and the situation could only get worse.

"Listen, I know being top student of our class is no easy feat. It must have required a lot of hard work and skill but if your only a ninja because of me then I honestly recommend talking to Kakashi about possibly dropping because I don't want to waste your time. Admire me from afar if you want, but my conscious can't accept being a part of a team where someone is unmotivated."

Sasuke braced himself for what could probably some tearful and emotional response but found himself not on the receiving end of it. Sakura simply looked at him almost nostalgically and smiled.

"Sasuke Uchiha, everyone's heard about you, knows your name and all feel bad about what happened. I guess it's only right I tell you something about myself and why I became a ninja."

'Was this going to be a common thing for everyone I talk to?'


My parents aren't actually from Konoha, they're from Rice Country, north of here. At the time, Rice was going through a lot of changes, I don't really remember the details since I was really young but it was enough to convince my parents to want to leave. At the time, I was incredibly sick, my parents said I was coughing up a storm every few minutes and I was relegated to staying in the back of our horse wagon.

That was until one day, we were over halfway through the Land of Fire and almost reached Konoha, my parents were being harassed by some "highwaymen"

"Listen please, we don't mean any trouble, we're just passing by."

"Well we don't mean any trouble either, we just want some ryō for protection purposes."

"Protection purposes? You're just a bunch of bandits who try to hustle money from foreigners!"

"Quiet there, miss, your wife's got a real mouth. Tell you what, I'll cut the toll fee in half and we can move on."

"I'm not paying any toll fee for a road that's already free. Now let me and my family travel in peace already!"

"Well, can't say I tried. Boys, take all their stuff and knock out the husband if you can, I want his wife to me."

My parents weren't idiots, they came prepared with swords ready to defend themselves but were surrounded. I was at the back of the wagon when I decided to look at what was happening. That was when I saw her.

I could still remember her appearance. She had pink hair just like me, except it was wrapped in a ponytail. She was wearing sleeveless silver plated armor and had a mask, the mask was of an animal, a wolf to be exact and she was brandishing a sword.

She took down all of the bandits like they were nothing, she darted around the battlefield so gracefully. It was almost beautiful in a way, seeing so much precision being done. She was battle hardened, experienced, I just couldn't get my eyes off of her.

"Thank you very much, we are in Konoha's debt for your timely arrival."

"Lord Hokage has been expecting you Mr. and Mrs. Haruno. Please see that when you arrive, that you are able to meet at once."

"W-wait."

"Sakura, what are you doing? You shouldn't be getting out of bed."

"B-but *coughs* She was so cool, I want to be like her..."

That's when the ninja went up to me, she said something that I probably won't ever forget.

"If you wish to be like me, dear, then you must find the thing you consider most precious and dedicate your entire life into protecting it. For me, that is my Hokage, it can be anything. If you are able to find it, let it be your sword and you will be unstoppable."


"A few years later I attended the ninja program at our academy, hoping I can one day be as strong as her. I guess you got in the way of my motivation."

Sakura warmly chuckled, and for the first time, Sasuke was at a loss for words.

"S-Sakura."

"Sasuke, I know you don't want me to like you but you can't decide that. You may be part of why I became a ninja but I have my own reasons as well and I won't let that get in the way of my dream. I may like you but I won't let that get in the way of us as a team with Naruto and Kakashi sensei, I have my own goals as well. I want to be a shinobi that rises up from nothing and eventually becomes one of the strongest in the world. Being a ninja was what I always wanted to do, and I won't let you decide that for me, no offense."

"Sakura."

"Yes."

"Your hair, I think you should cut it, it won't be any good if someone grabs it and holds you hostage. I can cut it if you want."

"Sasuke."

"Yes?"

"I actually don't like having long hair, I just heard a rumor that you liked girls that have it."

Sasuke was honestly not sure how he reached this development. Suddenly the girl he thought was a mindless fangirl was serious about being a ninja.

"I don't really care, I just want to watch out for you now that we're going to be a team."

"Thank you."

Suddenly she wasn't just another girl with a crush on him, but a proper teammate and ally.

"Oh, and Sasuke."

"Yeah?"

"You can cut it for me."

Suddenly, maybe Sasuke was starting to like her as well.


"So would you call that a success?"

"Hmmm I think so, perhaps so more time for them to develop now that they've established boundaries."

"Is someone watching us?"

And just like that Naruto and Kakashi vanished without a trace.


A/N: And with that Chapter 4 is done! We are now officially entering in original backstories I made for this fanfic so please let me know what you think.