Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Sakura was skipping happily to the Academy. This was the first step to achieving her dream, her goal. Well, technically speaking it wasn't the first step since convincing her parents to let her join the Ninja Academy had been the first big step. It had taken a lot of convincing, having cried and pulled on rampages and the likes but she had finally pulled the 'i-want-to-get-closer-to-sasuke' card as a last resort. Well, that had been part of the reason why she wanted to join the Academy so that she could get closer to him. After her parents were convinced, they had enrolled her into the Academy. A few years down the line and she had graduated as a genin and the top kunoichi of the year, her headband was testimony of that. Her parents were surprised that she had even managed to get that far. For them, having a ninja in their family was a first since they were just merchant clan. She should have been offended that her parents had so little faith in her but she couldn't blame them. She had always been bullied about the large forehead when she was young and she never fought back. Ino had gone to her rescue, helping to become more social and less insecure about her forehead and the two became best friends until she had declared her love for Sasuke, ultimately ending their friendship. Too bad, she missed her friend and regretted ending their friendship but nothing could be done, at least until a bit later. Right now, she had other things to focus on.

Today, she was going to be assigned to her genin team. She squealed inwardly. She hoped her teammates were strong. She didn't have a superiority complex, no. She just didn't want someone to drag her down. 'We don't need someone slowing us down. We have a dream to accomplish, shannaro!' Inner piped in her head. Chuckling to herself, she arrived at the Academy in a matter of half an hour. She had taken time to stroll around the village, making a few mental calculations she filed away for later processing before finally making her way to school. She arrived to find her rival already. "Pig," she said with her tongue out. "Forehead girl," the blonde sneered back. Dismissing her, she made her way to her seat beside Sasuke. "Good morning Sasuke," she chirped happily. "Hn," he replied, staring off into God-knows-where. She had just started to meditate when an all too familiar voice practically shouted in her ear. "Good morning Sakura!" Naruto shouted loudly in her air. Turning to the blonde with a glare, she smacked him on the side of his head. "Stop yelling in my ear baka! I'm sitting right beside you," she snarled to the dejected blonde. "Sorry Sakura, dattebayo," he said as he rubbed the sore spot. She calmed down after that. "Really, you should tone it down Naruto. Someone might not be as understanding as me," the girl said as she sighed. "That's why I have you Sakura coz you understand me. We'll be on the same team, dattebayo!" he said gleefully. "Actually, I don't want to be on the same team as you," she said as she rubbed her temples. Having to deal with him was one troublesome thing. Having him as a teammate was another. She couldn't handle both. Naruto's crestfallen face did nothing to change her mind. He would have to deal with it. His childhood crush seemed to overcome any negativity she did to him. It struck her odd as to why anyone wanted to befriend her, let alone have a crush on her. She was always viewed as this temperamental pink-haired banshee. With a sigh, she turned to face him. "Don't feel bad about it, it's just part of life. It's not like we'll no longer be friends even if we're not on the same team," she said reassuringly. At that, he brightened up and gave him a huge smile.

While she was occupied with making today's plans, she failed to notice how Naruto had started a squabble with Sasuke and was only mere inches away from his face. It was only when she heard a series of gasps that she turned to see Naruto and Sasuke in a lip lock. 'WHHYYY!!!!' Inner cried dramatically as she took in the hurtful sight, her heart being shattered into a million pieces. As the two boys separated and began coughing furiously and making gag faces, she thought dejectedly, 'I wanted to be the first one to do that.'

After the kissing episode, she had been seemingly quiet. She was still depressed about the whole kissing thing. She wanted to be the one to take his first kiss. "You're not mad about the kiss, right Sakura?" Naruto said nervously as he wringed his hands. Everyone knew of her infatuation with the last Uchiha in the village, as did many other girls her age. "I don't wanna talk about it Naruto. It's bad enough that you stole his first kiss, which I hoped to be mine," she grumbled as she lay her head in her desk. "I'm sorry. I'll promise I'll make it up to you," the blonde apologized. "With a date of course," he added with a grin, which earned a smack to the top of his head. "Now now students, I'd like for your attention," Iruka said as he stood in front of the class. The chattering died down and everyone stared expectantly at their sensei. "I'd first like to congratulate you on becoming genins," he said with a smile. "Yeah we know, now tell us our teams already," Naruto said with a sarcastic drawl. Iruka narrowed his eyes dangerously at the blonde but soon saw that he didn't need to as Sakura's heated glare caused him to shut up. "Now as I was saying..." Sakura zoned out on the talking. She was just as eager as Naruto to know her teammates but wasn't so physical about it. Instead, she was inwardly calculating the time it would take for her to go to the library and read for a few hours before retiring home for a quick nap then having her nightly training session. Her parents won't be so pleased that she was going to miss dinner but it could wait. Achieving her dream couldn't wait. It was number one.

"And then Team Seven... Naruto Uzumaki."

Her ears perked at the mention of her friend's name.

"Sakura Haruno."

"Yes!" Naruto shouted victoriously as she slumped in her seat. 'Gods, why Naruto of all people?' she cried dramatically. "And Sasuke Uchiha." This caused her to squeal and junk up in her seat as she punched the air meanwhile Naruto slumped into his seat as she had done not so long ago. She cast a glance at Sasuke who was seemingly unaffected by the commotion. She looked at Ino with a victorious smirk. 'Eat that Pig! Shannaro!' Inner said as she did a victory dance.

Everyone else had left for their sensei. Theirs was yet to arrive. "If I had known that I'd get a late sensei, I would be sleeping in my room. It's been three hours already!" Naruto complained loudly. Sakura agrees with him silently. 'I should be doing something productive right now instead of lounging around here with a loudmouth dobe and a constipated prick,' she thought darkly. Inner's laughter rang in her head as she referred to her crush as a constipated prick. She saw that Sasuke was staring intently at the board with his hands threaded in front of him. She wished she could be as cool as him. Not having to deal with annoying parents, having the village practically at your feet and your own fanclub, that was something to die for (metaphorically though). She did feel bad that his entire clan had been killed like animals at a slaughter house and hoped she'd make him feel better about the whole ordeal. Team Seven was a chance for her to help him feel he love of a family, she hoped. She didn't know the pain of losing a family but she knew the joys of having one and emphasized on his pain of losing his entire by the hands of his brother, whom he had previously looked up to. She sighed dreamily before turning to look at her blonde friend who was setting up a trap for their sensei. He had been an orphan since birth, his parents had died twelve years ago on the Kyuubi, whose identities he also didn't know. She felt bad for him and thus befriended him. She had been the first to approach him, after Ino mentioned that he had been giving her the cow eyes and was the only person he smiled at. She wanted to know what his problem was only to discover that he was lonely orphan with no friends. She befriended him there and then, even though her parents and many other people had warned her not to get close to him. Damn them all and their assumptions!

"Is that really going to work?" Sakura asked him with a raised eyebrow. "It will. I'm not Konoha's number one prankster for nothing! Even a jounin can fall for my traps," he said confidently as he finished placing the duster on the door. He giggle mischievously and made his way to sit beside her. Soon enough, they had approaching footsteps. Naruto snickered as he watched the door open. Even Sasuke was watching intently, wondering if the trick would work or not. And it did as the duster landed on the ninja's silver hair, realising a small poof of smoke. Naruto burst into laughter as Sasuke sighed almost embarrassed. Note, almost. Sakura smiled sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Sorry sensei," she said. He grunted. "My first impression of you...is that I hate you," he said in a disapproving tone. At that, she paled.

"I'm your sensei as you all know. So why don't we start with introductions?" he said to the three genins who were sitting on the steps. "Why don't you start?" Naruto said suspiciously. "Ok then. My name is Hatake Kakashi. My likes, well that doesn't matter. As for dislikes, that doesn't matter too. As for my dreams and goals, I don't have any," he said with an eye smile. "You barely said a thing," Sakura mumbled. "You're first," he motioned to her. She took a deep breath. "My name is Sakura Haruno. I like reading and eating tempura and also... Well, ano, that's... As in," she cast a shy glance at Sasuke. "Well, I dislike failing, hurting my friends or feelings and cold arrogant bastards," she said with prompted Kakashi to raise an eyebrow. 'And yet your love interest has a reputation of being a cold and arrogant bastard,' he thought humourlessly. "And my dream," she said with her features set in grim determination.

"My dream is to become the future Hokage of Konoha."

There you have it. Many canon characters say that Sakura had the potential to become Hokage and I think she does. Just that the anime never made her aspire the except when teasing Naruto and Sasuke during the war. So that's why I'm writing this story. About our dear canon Sakura becoming a Hokage. If you're an anti-Sakura then don't bother reading. I ain't got time to read your nonsensical reviews. As for the pairings, they're still being decided. Suggestions are much appreciated on the pairings and all.

Anyways, read and review.

Tozoonana

AfricanFire