Kakashi was, simply put, baffled by the sight in front of him. Not one to show-up on time and knowing from experience that his tendencies could irk even the most patient of people, he did not expect a bunch of calm greetings. Two warm and cheerful exclamations of "Good morning!" from the brightly coloured genin and a nod of acknowledgement from the dark-haired one.

There wasn't even a hint of annoyance present in the air.

And Kakashi didn't like that.

Maa, doesn't matter. I've got plenty of time.

Or that's what he told himself anyway.

Extracting from his shuriken pouch two bells, he started explaining. "You have the following task to accomplish. Take a bell from me and you pass. Fail, and like I told you yesterday, you get to return to the Academy." he paused, his visible eye crinkling with amusement. "One word of advice? Come at me with the intent to kill."

"We are three and you have got only two bells. Doesn't that mean one of us has no chance whatsoever of passing?" the girl deduced which wasn't all that surprising. The Sandaime had given him all their files so he knew of her intellect, apparently paling in comparison only to the one Shikaku's son possessed.

"That's exactly what it means."

He watched the boys give each other looks full of resentment and determination, anticipation in their frail limbs as if any minute now they'd start fighting each other. The girl, in contrast, seemed completely unfazed.

"Whatever you two are thinking right now...don't." Sakura spoke up, demanding attention...and obedience?

This wasn't written in her file.

Kakashi thought, making a mental note to bring this up to the Hokage later. Iruka should observe his students better than this. What kind of chunin didn't know how to gather correct intel? They weren't at war for promotions to be carelessly given left and right because they needed man-power, as poor prepared as it was.

"You can begin." he announced.

The short, bratty one was busy shaking with laughter...and mocking him? If it weren't for their similar appearance, Kakashi wouldn't have thought him to be Minato's son. "You couldn't even dodge that eraser sensei! And you expect me to believe..."

He knows nothing about wearing masks and using deceit as a weapon, does he?

So far, the son of the White Fang had little hope for the blond to ever act and look (he could as well be wearing a target sign on his forehead with all that orange) like a shinobi...or at least fill the standard requirements for the job.

He was bored already and the newest Icha Icha novel in his pocket was just waiting to be opened. Thus, upon deciding he had nothing better to do and that the brats didn't pose any sort of challenge, he pulled out Jiraya's masterpiece and started reading.

"What...WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! You are supposed to fight me!"

He hummed noncommittally, not looking up to see what he assumed to be an incredulous, angry facial expression that would sooner be labelled as 'constipated' than threatening in any way, shape or form. "Really now? I thought you were supposed to be fighting me."

Naruto made a face, feeling confused and beyond frustrated. "That's the same thing dattebayo."

Another hum escaped his lips as he turned over a new page. "Maa, if you say so." he intoned indifferently.

That didn't really help the blond's growing temper. "THAT'S IT, I'VE HAD IT WITH YOUR ATTITUDE! I'M KICKING YOUR BUTT RIGHT NOW!"

Kakashi easily dodged and parred the series of sloppy punches and kicks, never letting go of the book in his hands. It was routine. Naruto wasn't the first kid assigned to him to throw a tantrum and he probably won't be the last either, his mind supplied with a barely suppressed groan. The Sandaime could be a stubborn old man when he wanted to be and there weren't any doubts that rookies will keep coming his way should he fail this year's bunch.

Maybe if Sasuke and Sakura show some skill...

He was desperate enough to pass them on a whim and say something along the lines of "Naruto could grow and learn from these two." to the Hokage.

But then, he'd be stuck with them until he died...or they died and considering his past record Kakashi wouldn't put it past the universe to take a few more comrades away from him.

One more reason for me to fail them.

Kakashi thought then continued the one-sided fight and his observation of the boy's skills, noting in the meantime that the other two knew better than to charge straight into battle without thinking of a plan beforehand. No making use of the weapons at his disposal, minimal taijutsu skills at best, seemingly never-ending stamina because of the fox's chakra, tunnel vision, and... knowledge of the kage bunshin.

Well, Naruto's file was correct. It was a small consolation, he supposed although he felt severely disappointed. He had expected more of him and although his persistence was admirable...that wasn't enough.

He has a tendency to fall for obvious traps as well.

The jonin sighed as he watched the blond boy dangle in the air after having tried to snatch the bell left conveniently on the ground.

"You aren't taking this test seriously, are you?" he questioned rhetorically.

"BUT I AM!" the son of the Yellow Flash argued passionately, struggling against the rope tied to his legs. "That was a cheap, dirty move you pulled there!"

"Maybe, but you fell for it. Shinobi don't fight fair, Naruto." What did he think they were doing? Posing as samurai? And even these men known for their unrivalled sense of honour have started picking up a thing or two from their cheap, dirty ways as he had put it over the last decade.

It was human nature. To deceive.

Although he was seriously starting to doubt his sensei's son knew what deception and looking underneath the underneath even meant.

"Well, that's just unfair! The world is unfair dattebayo." the troublemaker mumbled, pouting in a childish manner.

Kakashi had to sigh and silently agree with him, going as far as to allow the blond a minute or so to make peace with that (even though Kami knew he still hadn't). Then he spoke. "So, what are you going to do about it?" he wondered casually, eyes glued to Jiraya's book.

"What?" Naruto whispered in disbelief, not having expected such answer. No, scratch that. He didn't expect an answer period. Which he hadn't been given anyway since that was a question.

"You resent how things are. You wish it were different. What will you do?"

"Eh..." he hesitated, before easily finding the solution. "I will become the greatest Hokage and change it of course!"

Kakashi was torn between laughing and crying at the irony of it all. It seemed the apple didn't fall away from the tree. "Right, and isn't the first step in that direction passing my test?"

Meanwhile...

Sakura had to fight the sudden urge to bang her head against a tree bark. Not only would the sound give away her position but it wouldn't do well to enter the fight with a concussion.

Thus, she resorted to mumbling colourful words that would make the boldest of sailors blush. The entire month she had spent drilling into Naruto's skull concepts such as 'stealth' 'plan first, act later' 'deception' 'analyse' proved to be useless the moment Kakashi-sensei pulled out his porn and Naruto, the moron he was, chose to take it as a personal offence.

At least Sasuke is doing what he did last time.

It was a small consolation, Sakura supposed, but it was something and something will forever be better than nothing. Though don't let that fool you. In no way, shape or form was she letting the antisocial prodigy do his own thing again. The fact he was hiding like her and Kakashi was busy giving a tied-up Naruto the lecture of his life only meant it was safe for her to move to persuade him.

Easier said than done though as it got proven a few minutes later upon finding his location. She decided then. The Uchiha was the most stubborn, stuck-up, in dire need of an attitude adjustment clan there was.

"Let's work together." There. She had kept it simple enough and spared him the lecture she had initially planned on giving. Besides, there wasn't any doubt Kakashi will have plenty to say about their performance after this was over.

"No." And Sasuke had kept it even simpler (what did she expect really?) than she had. He wasn't looking at her and he wasn't giving any indication that he planned on doing it any time soon either. No, he was too busy attaching several different shuriken to ninja wires to do that. For a moment, Sakura felt as if she was back in the future, trying to reason with Tenten. The bun-haired kunoichi could be...very determinated, to say the least.

She considered humouring him...for now anyways. "Why not? You saw how Kakashi-sensei toyed with Naruto. We are no match for him on our own."

He gave her a dark look as if saying did you seriously just compare me with him? before his hand hesitated over the ninja wires, considering his options. "There are only two bells, Sakura."

Like I don't know that.

She snorted, arms crossed over her chest, voice laced with sarcasm. "I've noticed."

Sasuke narrowed his eyebrows, observing her quietly for a few moments. When did she grow a backbone? And what happened to 'Sasuke-kun?' Not that he missed being addressed as such. In all honesty, having one less fangirl was a win more than a loss but something didn't add up and if he stopped to think about her behaviour yesterday...

In a flash, Sakura found herself tackled to the ground, kunai against her throat and looking up at a very angry and suspicious Uchiha staring down at her.

"What is wrong with you?! You will end up blowing our cover!" she half-whispered, half-screamed.

"You mean your cover. Who sent you? Iwa, Kumo, Suna?" he demanded, inching the blade closer to her neck.

He thinks I'm a spy?

She laughed slightly. "You are ridiculous, Sasuke."

Mocking him didn't help her situation though because, if anything, his aura only darkened. "You have the right looks." he mused, his hold tightening around one of her wrists. "But not the personality. That's what gave you away."

She was no longer amused now as she glared up at him. "Kami, how much more conceited can you get? Just because I don't like you anymore that doesn't mean..." lie, you know you do.

And some part of you probably always will.

"Like I care whether Sakura likes me or not." he scoffed, irritated, and fed up with her and Kakashi and the whole concept of a second genin exam. "Did you kill her?"

There was something about the way he asked that made her eyes soften.

She refused to dwell on that though. Then she decided they have lost enough time messing around. Naruto couldn't entertain Kakashi-sensei forever. Walk all over his nerves? Sure, but not keep him occupied during the entire test.

"Would you believe me if I told you something only "Sakura" would know?

Silence and then—

"What did I tell her when we first talked?"

Her lips curled up into a small smile. That was a trick question. She remembered that day clearly. It had been lunch break and she had just worked out the courage needed to talk to him. It was the first spring Sasuke spent without his family. They were eight and she had been too young and naive to know better. "I was the only one who talked. You didn't say anything. Then I continued bothering you every day after that, until you finally did. There were few words, mostly to leave you alone but I was happy nevertheless."

Sasuke seemed satisfied with her answer, if a little ashamed about making such an assumption and threatening her. Letting go of her wrist, he put the kunai back in his pouch and stood up from the grass, eyes narrowed when he could no longer see Kakashi.

Sakura followed his lead, having a similar problem of her own. Where is Naruto? Not that she preferred having him caught in traps but now she had no idea where to look for him. Maybe he would work with her and they could rub it in Sasuke's face later.

The air shifted and a sudden breeze came, carrying leaves.

Wait a second.

She recognized this. It was a little different than last time though. This one was stronger. Did Kakashi cast his genjutsu onto both of them?

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" she had to ask.

A grunt was his "graceful" response. For her own sake, Sakura chose to take it as one of agreement because she didn't have the patience, nor the time to get angry over his ice-cube language skills.

Shrugging impassively at the army of rogue-nin walking towards them, she wrapped her left hand around her index finger, willing her chakra to disperse the illusion. "Kai."

The Copy-nin looked on with mild interest as the two children effectively broke through his genjutsu. He had expected this from Sasuke since the Uchiha were usually well-rounded, knowledgeable in all areas. And given Sakura's intelligence and attention to detail, he suspected it gave her the edge needed to become a genjutsu specialist in the future.

"Go free Naruto."

The girl had been careful and wise enough to whisper the words but Kakashi had reading lips mastered down to an art.

The dark-haired survivor's reaction was a menacing scowl that looked eerily similar to what he would have given anyone who tried to boss him around back in the day (well, anyone who was a rank or ranks below him). Kakashi had respect for his superiors.

"Remember when I told you about me acting as a distraction? Now is the time." the pinkette insisted in an attempt to convince him to do the opposite of fighting alone.

...

Truth be told, Sasuke didn't know why he was listening to her of all people. He doubted she'd last against Kakashi any longer than Naruto had. Maybe even less since the dobe had a substantial amount of stamina whereas Sakura looked skinny and fragile to the point a merciless wind could knock her out. She must have lied or something when telling them she had taijutsu skills and raw power. He will see for himself soon enough, however.

After he freed the idiot.

"Sasuke! Don't tell me you got a bell already! Also, where is Sakura-chan?" Naruto whined, being the epitome of annoyance at the moment.

He rolled his eyes, firing his kunai at the rope tied around his legs. The speed and force of his aim cutting it off and making the resident troublemaker hit the ground with a comical thud.

"A warning first would have been nice dattebayo. I thought you came to make fun of me." he complained loudly, nursing an injured behind.

"Not my fault if you don't know how to fall properly." Sasuke intoned, turning around, and walking back to where he came from.

"You didn't answer my quest—"

He cut him off. "She is fighting Kakashi."

Naruto did a double-take, eyes widened in disbelief before he shuddered at the memory of having his door ko-ed by the pink-haired girl. "You can scoff all you want teme but I know for a fact Sakura-chan is crazy strong! Have you seen what she did to my door dattebayo?" he asked, giving him a serious look before going on ahead to ramble. "I'm not upset though. She probably doesn't know her own strength and she felt so guilty afterwards that she promised to buy me another one! Can you believe that? And this past month she had been so nice to me too and fuck teme, what did I do to deserve her?"

Sasuke, frankly, had stopped listening after hearing the unbelievable. The blond's door looked like it was decades old but he had also seen the marks left on the walls where the hinges used to be. He was trying to comprehend how Sakura could have done that with her bare hands alone.

Hn, maybe he knows something.

"How does she have this strength?"

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck in a clueless sort of way. "I dunno. She had mentioned something once about training hard and chakra but hell if I understood. You don't talk that kind of stuff over ramen if you want me to pay attention. Besides, it seemed like she was mumbling to herself dattebayo."

Kakashi hadn't been able to pull out his book this time and not because he didn't want to, Kami knew he did, but compared to Naruto, Sakura was... skilled. And clever for her age and... ah, resourceful too.

It came as a complete surprise. Iruka must have been drunk on sake (he didn't look like he could hold his liquor so it made sense to Kakashi) when he wrote her file. Almost nothing seemed to match-up. So far during the fight he had been assaulted with weapons, traps, Academy students weren't supposed to know how to throw senbon. He had been careless, underestimating her and thus leaving an opening.

Only years of experience, muscle memory and sharp reflexes ensured he dodged that...flying needle. It wouldn't have hurt unless she also knew medical ninjutsu which he somehow doubted for the sake of his sanity if nothing else.

"Maa, Sakura, it seems the boys aren't coming to your rescue."

It was one of the oldest tricks in the book: taunt your opponent to the point they get distracted and lower their guard. It's guaranteed to work unless said opponent has the patience of a saint, much like the Yondaime did or they were smarter than to fall for that.

"I can pull my own weight sensei. Don't worry." she answered and the smile she gave him resembled Rin's.

He ignored the way his heart painfully clenched, approaching steadily. Sakura had fared well against him from a distance, proof that a strategic mind like hers could turn the scales in a fight.

Kakashi was curious to see how things will turn out in a taijutsu spar.

It was safe to say he almost had a heart attack the moment he was forced to dodge a chakra infused punch. Sakura's fist hit the tree bark instead and although it was still intact, he couldn't deny some serious damage had been done to it. He knew of only one person capable of leaving behind such destruction in her wake and that was Tsunade of the Sannin.

Kakashi took back what he thought earlier. Sakura wasn't like his deceased female teammate. Far from it actually. Whereas Rin was soft, cotton and silk, the pink-haired girl was forged of iron. She didn't look the part but honestly, that only meant she had a wild card in her strength.

All things considered, he decided that Sakura was the closest to what a Konoha shinobi was supposed to represent.

The other two will be a nightmare though.

"Kage Bunshin no jutsu!"

"Katon: Grand Fireball jutsu!"

No sooner did he finish thinking that the boys mentioned above entered the fight, each doing their own thing although the sync they had going on together was impressive. It took years for teams to reach that level. Some never did.

Kakashi moved quickly, leaving some clones to defend himself against the ones Naruto had made before his hands flew over the necessary seals, creating a water jutsu to neutralize Sasuke's fire.

Mentally, he got working on the last analysis of Team 7. One elemental affinity, skilled with kunai and shuriken, much like Itachi had been, taijutsu skills above average but below Sakura's. In time, Kakashi was sure even his own will pale in comparison to the powerhouse the girl could become in the future. He continued. No Sharingan yet. Faster than the other two, quick thinking.

By the time the alarm bell rang, a clear sign their allowed time to snatch a bell ended, all three of them were out of breath. Sakura was tired the most and Naruto the least.

"Alright, time's up." he declared.

"You will send us back to the Academy, won't you?" the Uzumaki blond asked dejectedly, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Kakashi hummed noncommittally. "I could but you have fought for these bells pretty hard, if I do say so myself. I'm not cruel. Two of you get to stay and one leaves." he extended his hand, waiting for their reactions.

Surprisingly or not, Sakura was the first to step forward, going as far as to take both bells. She looked down at them for a few seconds. "I will go back."

Naruto jumped as if burned, ready to protest from the top of his lungs but stopped himself when her eyes flickered in his direction. "Hear me out first." was her demand.

He was quiet after that.

"You have a dream, don't you? And how do you expect to accomplish it if you remain a genin forever? It doesn't work like that Naruto and you know it. I want you to become Hokage and if I have to take a step back for that to happen..." she paused, giving him a gentle smile that together with her speech had the blond struggling not to cry. "I will gladly do so."

"Sakura-chan..." he sniffed, clutching the bell she left in his hand.

Then she turned to face the dark- haired Uchiha. "We have had our differences, true and I'm aware you don't think much of me other than a nuisance that you could happily do without but..." she reached out for his hand, leaving the other bell there. "Believe I'm honest when I say that I want you to restore your clan back to its formal glory." she laughed slightly. "You can't do that as a genin, can you Sasuke?"

Kakashi watched the emotional exchanges, for once feeling like a jerk. No other team he had been given had such bonds. He didn't think they were aware yet of how deep of an impact each of them had left onto another.

On that note, the Copy Cat ninja was clueless as well regarding the impact they will be having on him in the future.

"No, this isn't fair to you Sakura-chan. Thank you but I can't accept this. Not if it means I will be taking away your future as a great ninja." Naruto spoke-up with not a silver of doubt in his voice, walking up to her and returning the bell.

Kakashi looked at the last member from the corner of his eye.

"As annoying as you are Sakura..." Sasuke began, stuffing one of his hands inside the pocket of his pants. "And as much as you damage my eardrums on a daily basis dobe..." he paused, stopping in front of the two of them. "You deserve this more than I do." he left the bell in Naruto's frozen hand, seeing as Sakura already had one of her own.

"What about...?"

He cut them off. "I don't need a promotion to fulfil my goal unlike you two."

The jonin didn't know whether he had just cursed himself or if they were a blessing in disguise by choosing his next words.

"Maa, don't start crying now my cute little genin. You all pass." he smiled innocently when three pairs of angry eyes turned on him and... was that killer intent coming from all three of them?

"Care to explain sensei?" Naruto arched an accusing brow.

Sakura cracked her knuckles.

And Sasuke looked like he might awaken his Sharingan right then and there.

Kakashi was going to have a serious talk with the Sandaime...after he escaped this predicament. He rose his hands in a placate gesture. "The whole point was for you to work as a team and you have proven to me that you can and are willing to unlike all the other genin I had failed in the past." his eyes flickered to the Memorial Stone, images of a loud, always-late teammate wearing ridiculous goggles clouding his vision as if it was only yesterday that he had last seen him. He recited the phrase he knew by heart. "In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum but those who abandon their comrades are even lower than scum."

Sakura was the first one to break the silence. "Wise words Kakashi-sensei."

He eye-smiled as he turned to face them. "I didn't always use to believe that, you know."

"Who said them for the first time?" Naruto probed curiously.

"A friend."

Sasuke glanced back at the Memorial Stone and understood. He grabbed the blond by the collar of his jumpsuit before he could have said something to further upset Kakashi. "Go eat something usuratonkachi. I can hear your stomach growling from here."

"HEY! IT DOESN'T-..."

A loud sound echoed next.

Sakura threw her head back and laughed like she hadn't in a long time.

Sasuke was sporting an all-knowing smirk.

Naruto ran for the bento boxes like his life depended on it, blushing the entire time.

And Kakashi?

He felt something he hadn't thought he'd ever feel again. A sense of belonging and a fierce desire of protectiveness for the children standing in front of him.

A/N: And there it is! The official coming of Team 7. I know I haven't updated this story in months and for that I deeply apologize. Also, I can only hope you have enjoyed reading this chapter and I can't wait to hear your opinions. Did you like my version of the bell test? Did I do okay with Kakashi's POV? Was Sasuke OOC?

Azure Shine: Yes, Sakura is from the future but not from Boruto's Era. She doesn't even know that in said version of reality she marries Sasuke, much less the fact that Temari and Shikamaru have a son. Sakura time travelled during the war, after Minato saved Naruto and I believe I have included the flashback for it in one of the earlier chapters. Please don't go around jumping to conclusions. On that note, even if I decide this is ShikaIno...where is the problem? Fanfiction doesn't take away canon, just explores different outcomes and plots.

Anyway, thank you guys for the support!

Until next time.