She didn't have to meddle today. She could simply sit back and watch the bell test play out exactly as before. It'd be easy and less of a hassle. Kami knew getting Naruto and Sasuke to work together would be no walk in the park. A monkey would be easier to be taught teamwork than these two.

However, Sakura had long ago decided that she was going to change things and her past self's attitude which was in dire need of adjustments just happened to be one of those. She'd be damned if she fainted and made a fool of herself again. Kakashi had to notice her this time and value her contribution to the team. Had to see her as a capable kunoichi in training, treat her nor better and nor worse than the boys. So, if she wanted to obtain these effects, she had to alter the premise.

She wasn't deluded, nor confident that she could beat the Copy Ninja but her strength combined with Sasuke's speed and Naruto's natural unpredictability could make Kakashi consider training them seriously in the future. Sakura wanted to mend Team 7 and what better way to do so than ensure their bond is steel like when they cross paths with Orochimaru in the Forest of Death? Sasuke leaving Konoha was the catalyst of a disastrous chain of events. So even if she won't be able to prevent him from receiving the curse mark, he wouldn't be tempted to leave.

Should neither of the two plans work out in her favour, there was always Plan C.

Use my fists. Pleading and crying did nothing to faze him last time.

No. Sakura was no longer bitter about getting knocked out and left unconscious late at night on a park bench. Hardly. She had gotten over it. In fact, she cared so little about it that her third plan entailed giving Sasuke a taste of his own medicine. Logic and reason kept whispering (she tried her best to ignore Inner's stubborn protests, they weren't worth taking into consideration) that she was being vengeful and letting the past cloud her judgement but really, she'd be doing the world a favour.

Regardless of how she stopped Sasuke from leaving, bottom line was: he wasn't. Never. Unless with approval. Not from the Hokage, or Kakashi or whatever higher ups decided to stick their noses into her business.
Approval either came from her muscles or nobody's.

My currently mockable muscles.

The pinkette sighed depressed. She couldn't wait to get back to splitting training grounds and pummelling people. Patience, was a virtue that she had learned as a medic-nin. Unfortunately, Sakura quickly discovered that being twelve again had made it close to non-existent. Huh, maybe that's why she ended up tearing Naruto's front door off its hinges but could you blame her? She loved the blond to bits but his sleeping habits resembled those of a bear's and honestly, he always had a knack for testing her patience. Be it present or future.

"Good morning Sakura-ch— MY DOOR DATTEBAYO."

That's when he fainted.

Although she felt bad about it, now that she got to take a closer look at the material the door was made of, Sakura was considering whether to apologize or not.

As she leaned down to check for any possible bruises caused by the fall, she nodded vehemently. "I'm buying you a new one." It was going to be difficult to explain her parents why she had already spent her month allowance but it'd be worth it. She had been the one to break it, after all.

Now, how to wake him up...

"I've brought ramen!"

Nevertheless to say, her exclamation was enough to get Naruto up. "Really?"

"No."

His enthusiasm quickly flickered away, even more so at the sight of the damaged front door. "I have to use the hammer again." he mumbled.

Again?

Sakura's eye was positively twitching by now. Just how small were the funds given for orphans?

Scratch that...just how small are the funds for Naruto?

"I'm sorry. I will take care of it."

"But..."

"My mistake, I fix it." she paused, crossing her arms over her chest before adverting her eyes. "Go dress properly. I will return in a couple of minutes."

If Naruto was confused with her behaviour, he didn't show it. He'd rather not find out if Sakura could break anything else just as easily as she broke his door.

...

This is a bad idea.

Only if it goes wrong. Her inner quipped helpfully.

Sakura decided not to comment but gather the bravery she knew she had. In truth, what was she afraid of? She was the student of Senju Tsunade, she was a renowned and respected medic-nin, she was a strong kunoichi. All that had to count for something even if she was no longer in possession of these things.

I am still me.

That was all the resolve she needed to go knock at Sasuke's door. At the same time, as if in sync, the last Uchiha chose that moment to exit his apartment.

She thanked Kami for her war-shaped reflexes otherwise Sasuke would have gotten acquainted with her fist. Sakura also tried to ignore the small voice who kept whispering that she shouldn't have retracted her hand. Donning her most innocent expression, she looked at him beneath her eyelashes to gauge his reaction. Surprise was first but annoyance quickly took its rightful place. However, he seemed to be waiting for an explication.

Apologizes first.

"I'm so sorry."

He scoffed. "I would have dodged it."

They both knew he couldn't have but for the sake of the Uchiha pride, Sakura let it go. There was plenty of time to show him what she was capable of.

"Anyway, do you know how we are supposed to meet Kakashi-san in a few minutes?"

He gave her a look you don't say, then walked past her. "Hn, we are going to be late."

"Sasuke, think about it. He was late yesterday. What makes you think he is going to show-up on time today?"

Her question was met with contemplative silence. "How do you know he won't, Sa-ku-ra?"

Sceptical as ever.

Coming up with a lie was fairly easy. The trick was to make it convincing enough.

"My uncle knows him. He said he has this habit of always being late. Hokage-sama only allows it because he is a formidable ninja and his mission record is something to behold."

"And you came all the way here just to tell me this?"

Sakura bit her lip. Here comes the difficult part. "Yes and no." she paused, trying to find the best way to say what she had to.

Unfortunately, Sasuke mistook her hesitation for embarrassment and girly shyness. "I have no intention of going on a date "

Her eyes widened slightly before spluttering indignantly. "What? No! That's not why I came." she exclaimed, ignoring his utterly baffled expression. Sakura continued "How did you reach that conclusion anyway?"

It was a poor attempt to make him feel guilty for jumping to conclusions, as she was proven two seconds later when he levelled her with a doubtful look. "You have always done that."

The pinkette felt blood rush to her cheeks. Her asking for a chance had been so often an occurrence that him rejecting her had become a reflex.

And who is to blame for that anyway?

"Well...I realized it isn't worth it anymore." Sakura mentally cringed as she said the words. She didn't really believe herself so how would Sasuke believe her?

Not giving him a chance to say something or sneer or walk away from her, she continued. "My uncle also mentioned that Hatake-san had failed each team he had been assigned to."

That caught his interest. "He won't fail me."

She fought the urge to beat some sense into that conceited skull of his. He was too confident in his own abilities and in his heritage.

Sakura figured it was about time Sasuke started to f out that all the things people so far have adored him for...Kakashi didn't care about, not unless the concept of teamwork was also included.

Still...it had been his idea in the past to break the rules and feed Naruto our food.

Another part of her was quick to add, however. For the sake of the mission, not Naruto himself.

"Did you not hear what I said? Iruka-sensei named us Team 7, Hatake-san referred to himself as "sensei candidate" for our team. I do not know in what ignorant bubble you are currently living in Sasuke, but we are a team." the pinkette paused, unfazed by how little distance there was between them now. Too busy she was, clenching and unclenching her fists. Even Inner was quiet now. "We win, or we fail as a team. Whether you, like it or not."

Then her anger dissolved into thin air and jade green eyes widened in astonishment.

Did I just...?

Sakura couldn't seem to remember ever being so straightforward, so angry, so frustrated or so brave. To stand up to the subject of her affections. Until lately, she had been a firm believer that Sasuke could do no wrong.

Look at him, Inner. Really look at him.

And so, she did. From up close, the barely visible bags around his eyes were there, proof of the nightmares he must suffer of, there was tension in his shoulders as if pride alone made sure he did not slouch from the weight of revenge, expectations, and his eyes...

Outer, he is devastated.

She had treated him as if he was a god when she should have seen that he was as much human as the rest of them. Sakura couldn't help but wonder:

Is this what Naruto had seen from the very beginning?

Her boys were alike in their brokenness. She had been foolish to believe she could ever compete with a bond like that.

But then, if she was like them, Team 7 would be a team of tormented souls because Kami knew Kakashi was just as emotionally and mentally scarred as Naruto and Sasuke.

Be grateful, Outer. You can fix this. You can stop any more blows from getting to them.

Sakura couldn't have agreed more and a vow, the vow of a shinobi, one that would transcend through lifetimes, again and again, was made that day.

I will be their shield. Now and always. Just like they have been for me, a life ago.

The longer she stayed looking at Sasuke, however, the more she felt like crying. Besides, Naruto was waiting for her and she didn't want to disappoint him. She made a 160° turn, believing she had said enough.

"What do you suggest?"

Sakura smiled, a tear of joy rolling down her cheek. Her words had reached him, for once.

...

"Sakura-chaan! Why did Sasuke-teme come with you?" Naruto complained like the child he still he was, donning an adorable pout.

"That's what I'd like to know as well, dobe." he paused, narrowing his eyebrows at the sight of a green, teared off its hinges, door. He quickly decided that he didn't want to find out why was that.

Being on the receiving end of Sasuke's glare and Naruto's dramatical betrayed expression did make Sakura a little uncomfortable. She had forgotten how good their teamwork was. Especially so when they weren't even aware they were doing it.

"Long story, short: our future sensei is probably going to show-up a few hours later. As for the don't eat warning, it's a bluff. You don't go starving to complete a task. It's suicide. I'd rather puke, as he said, after my body took all the vitamins I need than go ahead with nothing."

"I broke the rules all the time in the Academy. Fine by me, Sakura-chan." Naruto grinned, putting his hands behind his neck.

Sasuke smirked. "Sly sensei has the Hokage given us." he paused, giving her a meaningful look although he looked embarrassed that he hadn't thought about it first. "Good deduction."

The pinkette beamed at them, then pulled three bento boxes Haruno Mebuki had made, handing two of them to the boys.

Naruto complained how it didn't have any ramen, only healthy stuff he usually couldn't be bothered to eat. However, he was hungry, food was food and if their lazy sensei thought he was getting away with tricking him, he had another thing coming for him. So, he dug into his bento alongside his teammates.

Sasuke on the other hand didn't voice out loud anything but a polite "thank you" before proceeding to eat with the table manners of an aristocrat, levelling Naruto with a piercing look every time the blond did the opposite and talked with his mouth full.

She felt her heart grow as she watched them. Young, opinionated, safe, here, with her.

"And now? What are we supposed to do?" the Uzumaki asked as he finished after thanking Sakura with a smile. It turned out that healthy food didn't taste as awful as he had initially thought.

Great, I didn't think that far ahead.

Scratching the back of her neck in a sheepish manner, she took a moment to think. They couldn't get any training done because they were going to need all of their energy against Kakashi but they could form a plan...

"We need to work together."

The two males of Team 7 reacted instantly.

"Like hell I'm working with this guy! Sakura-chan, we can do it by ourselves dattebayo!"

"Hn, the dobe would only slow us down."

"Who are you saying will slow down who teme?!"

"I was merely stating facts, usuratonkachi."

This is going to be a long day.

Sakura thought, putting her forehead in her hands. If there was something she hadn't missed, it was their bickering. As endearing as they could be for the first five seconds.

"Why you—" before Naruto could launch himself at Sasuke's throat, she stepped between them.

"Remember that we are no longer back at the Academy. Put your differences aside and let me think for a strategy, will you? I can't think like this." the kunoichi paused, satisfied that she had their attention now. "As for why you need to work together: We are a team. You heard about the Legendary Sannin, right?"

Recognition and realization flickered in both of their eyes.

"They were old man Hokage's students." Naruto said, nodding in understanding.

"Jiraya, Orochimaru and Tsunade. Said to be equal in strength, all have reached kage levels by now." Sasuke was a little more informed.

But they couldn't have possibly known as much as she did.

"Correct but do you know why they gained so much fame and why are they so feared?" she asked.

"Because they are exceptional shinobi."

"Because they are strong."

That wasn't what she wanted to hear even if they were right with their answers. As such, Sakura shook her head negatively. "Because together, they were a force to be reckoned with. Each had their own flaws and strengths, that the other two made up for. Apart, sure, they were strong...but together, they were deadly. Hanzo of the Salamander named them "The Sannin of Konoha" after being amazed by their teamwork."

Naruto looked positively shocked and impressed at the same time. "How do you know so much about them Sakura-chan?"

"I read a lot." she shrugged.

Half-truths. I can always give those and not feel guilty.

"Something you could try to do once in a while dobe." Sasuke commented wryly.

Before another round of bickering could break out, however, Sakura kept going. "What I'm trying to say, is that we could use them as example and make sensei have no other choice but to pass us." she paused, going over to Naruto's kitchen sink to fill herself a glass of water. Once she returned, she donned Shikamaru's thinking posture, except she didn't close her eyes.

She turned to face Sasuke first. "You are the fastest and the best at stealth."

He nodded, adding. "I can also set traps and use fire jutsu."

Sakura smiled, pretending to be impressed. She had to seem as if she didn't know all there was to know about their skills. She faced Naruto next. "You have tremendous amounts of chakra and great stamina, meaning you can still fight even after Sasuke and I are out of commotion. You can also improvise if things take a different turn."

"You bet Sakura-chan! Also, I know how to set pranks, how to do the Shadow Clone Jutsu and the Sexy-No jutsu."

She deadpanned. "Err, that's great Naruto but I doubt the latter would do something against a jonin."

The blond laughed. "What are you talking about? If jii-chan fell for it..."

He can't be serious.

Sakura knew nothing of that and she was refusing to think of the Sandaime as a pervert. However, one of his students did end up writing erotic novels...

"You don't know what you are talking about Naruto." Sasuke voiced out loud his doubts.

"I mean it guys! That's how it went. Just ask Iruka-sensei next time you see him."

She and Sasuke shared a look, silently deciding that they will do just that.

Clearing her throat, Sakura decided a change of subject was due. "As I was saying... Naruto, you are our trump card. The element of surprise and Sasuke, you are the shadows that work silently to accomplish the mission."

"What about you Sakura-chan?"

She grinned. "I have raw strength. My forte lays within taijutsu and chakra control, meaning that while you two are long distance fighters, I need to get close to land a hit. So, I will be in plain sight as a distraction. However, we will discuss more once we get there."

It was time.

Kakashi-sensei must be on his way right now. She thought, as she glanced at the clock.

A/N: Hello guys! Here is another update! I was shook when I saw how many people enjoy reading this story! I hope you liked reading this chapter at least half as much as I enjoyed writing it! As you can see, Sakura has started to take some serious steps to ensure the safety of the future and the strength of Team 7. She had also worked up the courage to meet Sasuke on equal footing, hurrah for Sakura! Naruto will have his front door fixed, do not worry, all in due time. Also, I can't wait to hear what your opinions are!

ExBlazE: How can I begin to thank you? I was shocked when I saw that you took the time to review each chapter and to correct my mistakes (which I also thank you for!). I'm mature enough to gracefully accept constructive criticism. I learn from it and use it to become better. Good deduction. I'm in high school so yeah, I suppose I am young. Thank you for the compliments! They really mean a lot! I also must thank you for the suggestions. I will keep them in mind when I write and I hope writing another version of the bell test won't bore people to death.

narufemkyuufan: Ah no! Naruto still learned the Kage Bunshin even if Sakura and Shikamaru tutored him. Their training was mental since Sakura knew there was nothing she could about Naruto not learning normal clones. He still ended up stealing the scroll and protecting Iruka.

Innocence and Instinct: Aw, thank you! And sure, the best ones I've read are: A Twist in Time, Past Afflictions, Tempest and Time Flies Like an Arrow.

Until next time guys!