Yo

Sorry for late update. No excuses but I have been busy, but I aint busy no more.

THANKS TO PK FOR BEING BEST BETA!

Go check out 'Common Sense' by Stone Elbow as it encouraged me to write this, and is genuinely a good story. And 'Better Left Unsaid' by Kenchi618 as its helped me as well.

DISCLAIMER: I dont own Naruto.

Sakura panted.

While everyone else was slacking off, she was working hard.

She had bruises everywhere, and her breathing was heavy as she was clutching her Kunai tight.

SLASH! SLASH!

"Dammit! I cut the shoulder again, why can't I do this!" Sakura complained.

She was interrupted as Kiba and his dog picked up something off the ground and started to chase everyone around with it.

'I hope these people aren't my teammates,' She thought. 'They don't act like proper shinobi, always laughing and smiling. Why?'

Ring! Ring!

Sakura opened her left eye as soon as her alarm went off. Groaning she sat up from her bed and shut the alarm before it could annoy her further. She

'It is today I guess! The day in which I'm sorted into a team... hopefully I'm alone as being in a Team is a liability.' She thought as she got out of bed and tried to look for clothes in her messy room.

After her father died Sakura had to grow up and face reality. As long as her mother wailed in grief, she would have to step up and take care of the house in both her parents' place.

She looked around her room while yawning. Her mirror which she had broken in a fit of rage laid on top of her cabinet, one she hadn't changed in years. She took her black brush as she started to clean her messy hair.

No longer did the girl have long pink hair, instead she had cut it short and dyed it more black than pink. Her mother had the worst reaction out of everyone, claiming that Sakura was 'Forgetting about Kizashi'.

Sakura growled at the thought of her mother.

Oh how the twelve year old loathed her, all she ever did was moan and complain. She never cleaned, nor cooked. She didn't take out the rubbish, or look after the shop; well what was left of it.

It was a tough decision, but they were running low on money, and they had stalled their rent payments enough already.

Sakura still remembered as she gave away the keys to her father's legacy to a couple of merchants that had transformed the old shop.

Where once stood a general store liked by many, now stood a money loan company that dealt with all types of customers, with contracts that effectively meant that you sold your soul.

Her mother had also shouted at her for that.

'Well at least I tried to take care of us. Daughters shouldn't be looking after their mothers...' She thought as she opened her wardrobe.

Sakura sighed as she noticed some remnants of her old clothes deep in her drawer . Red dresses that no longer fit her, not only was it too small for her but it didn't fit her personality.

She grabbed some black trousers with a white bandage wrapped around the left leg and pulled out a dark grey jacket. While it was a far cry from her previous style, it allowed her to move more freely while fighting.

Plus it allowed her to carry weapons.

Long ago was the girl that couldn't walk on water. Instead she had focused her all into learning a style that would allow her to be strong, even if she wasn't a monster at fighting like some of her classmates.

She lifted up her Katana, which was sitting next to her bed as she strapped it onto her back. While she was never going to use destructive Jutsu's, ones that might level whole fields that didn't mean she was going to give up.

Kenjutsu was a style that suited her needs, after all assassination was meant to be a common occurrence in the Shinobi world. She might not have power, but that wouldn't matter if her opponent was dead before they could fight back.

She sighed as she went downstairs and saw that her mother hadn't done anything.

Instead Haruno Mebuki was just sitting down on the couch, all alone.

"So Mebuki, you woke up and decided not to cook breakfast?" Sakura asked, venom dripping in her voice.

Her mother flinched as she turned towards her daughter, tears in her eyes.

"Good morning Sakura," She said while trying to smile. "Would it hurt to call me mum?"

Sakura snorted as she replied "Mum? Since when were you bold enough to start calling yourself that. Let alone talk to me"

Mebuki frowned as she responded "Remember Sakura, I am your mother. You won't speak to me this way!"

Sakura ignored her as she made herself breakfast.

"Sakura, are you going to reply?" Mebuki asked impatiently.

"No," Sakura said.

Mebuki tried to argue back with her daughter, but Sakura wasn't listening.

Eventually she got tired of speaking to her daughter and she stormed out of the room, her arms up in a frenzy.

Sakura sighed as she put her empty bowl in the sink. She would have to clean it once she got home.

She peered into the fridge and saw that there wasn't much there, apart from some slices of various fruits and leftovers from last week. Sakura closed the door as she saw her mother waiting for her at the doorway.

"Sakura-Listen I aplogi-"

Sakura cut off the elder woman as she snapped at her "I don't want your apologies. Just... just leave me alone Mebuki. I have school today."

Silence followed as Sakura put on her shoes and tied her laces. After checking that she had everything she needed she opened the door and left her house, not bothering to close the door behind her.

Mebuki wiped the tears in her eyes as she waved at the retreating figure of her daughter and wished her a good day at school which Sakura simply ignored her.

It was always like this.

Ever since her father died, Mebuki had gone uncontrollable. It had been so bad that she was admitted into the hospital but was eventually checked out. Physically she was fine, but mentally...

She was suffering from something called a "Bipolar disorder", not only would her mood change frequently but it was so severe she had to take three different types of medicine a day.

At first Sakura was met with some resistance, but eventually she stopped giving the medicine as it wouldn't change anything.

On or off it, her mother angered her. Every time she did something she was met by either appraise , or worry.

She would be proud of her daughter for sticking to the academy, but compared her to her classmates that did unheard of things in a civilian's eye. Sakura was always met by resistance from her mother whenever she tried to train, or use money to buy better equipment.

"You won't become a Ninja! Might as well give up now, and be normal." Mebuki growled.

Sakura growled as she tried to think of something else, anything apart from that memory.

Eventually she arrived at her destination; the academy.

She entered the building as she saw classmates of hers roaming the corridors, some greeted her and all she could do was reply with a curt nod. She wasn't that heartless to not reply...

She opened her classroom to find the usual suspects messing about.

Shikamaru was asleep on his desk, something which didn't surprise her at all.

Choji was munching down on a bag of potato chips, offering it to all those nearby.

Ino was currently attached to Sasuke's arm. While it might have annoyed her a long time ago, Sakura didn't care as she secretly smiled when Sasuke pushed the blonde girl off him wiping his clothes in case of any dirt she might have transferred to him.

Kiba was laughing at the class' antics, which led Shino to slap him on the back of his head for being too loud.

Hinata as always was bright red as she stood next to a blonde boy with a smile plastered onto his face.

"So now that we are Gennin, we need to work out the roles of everyone for when I become Hokage! Alright?" Naruto addressed his friends.

Sasuke snorted as he drew a Kunai and threw it at Naruto, who barely managed to dodge it.

"Hey! What the hell was that for!?" Naruto cried out.

Sasuke grinned as he replied "If you can't dodge my Kunai, then you are simply not fit to become Hokage dobe. Simple reasoning,"

Ino nodded as she said something about "Sasuke-kun being right" and Hinata shook her head as she meekly brushed her hair out of her face and replied "We-Well I be-believe in him!"

Ino snorted as she replied "In Naruto? Oh please Hinata, he may be good but Sasuke will be a Hokage before him."

Naruto pointed at his headband as he said "Well I have a headband, which means I'm a Gennin. It's only a matter of time before I become a Chunnin, then a Jonin and eventually Hokage. Besides, Sasuke isn't the type to be Hokage. He doesn't smile that much."

"Hn," The boy mentioned as he nodded, approving what Naruto had said about him.

Sakura took a seat the furthest away from them as possible. Not only did she find them obnoxious and annoying, but they had a tendency to involve her in what they were doing.

But most of all, she hated their laughter.

It was as if they had no care in the world, that everything was perfect. It made her blood boil.

"Oh guys look, It's Sakura-chan! Hey Sakura-chan, why are you sitting so far away?" The blonde boy said.

Sakura ignored him as she pulled out a book from her bag. It was nothing special, just a few high level Kenjutsu moves used by the Kenjutsu masters across the land. She liked this particular book as it went in depth on assassination techniques, and even more.

She blocked out everything as she quietly focused on her book. She was lost in her thoughts as the commotion all around her stopped.

Sakura scoffed as she saw a Team run to get a new mission.

It made her sick. Team work.

She had come to a frightening realisation as her mother spent more time indoors, away from her daughter. Away from her life.

Relying on people could only get you so far. It was a weakness in her eyes.

No, true strength came from one's self.

After all, she sold her father's store, his legacy, so that she could have enough money to survive a few more years. If she had relied on her stupid mother, she would have died a long time ago.

And her classmates?

Some were strong, like Sasuke and Naruto.

But being in a team, even for exercises like Capture the Flag , always made her angry.

Someone always couldn't do their job.

It only helped to reinforce her one true belief, that strength came from yourself.

And from no one else.

Tap.

Tap.

"Can you shut the hell up Naruto!" Sakura screamed as she put her book down, only to find only two other people in the room with her.

Naruto with his bright orange jacket, was grinning as he was doing something to the door, while Sasuke was covering his back.

"Wait- Where did everyone go?" Sakura asked.

"Hn. Of course you were too engrossed in your book to notice," Sasuke answered, only raising more questions in the Kunoichi's mind.

Naruto grinned as he walked away from the door and told them that as teammates they should cover for him. Sasuke laughed as he said Naruto was just a dobe, that he was dead weight as Sakura frowned.

"Team mates?"

Suddenly a tall silver haired man appeared, most of his was face covered and he was wearing a Jonin uniform.

"Yes. Starting from today, Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke will be known as Team Seven, underneath me. Hatake Kakashi," He calmly said as he took a single glance at the door and sighed.

"Pathetic. I expected more from you Naruto, such juvenile antics have no place in the Shinobi world." Kakashi said as a frown developed behind his mask

Naruto whined as he complained that he put a lot of effort into it, as he dismantled his little prank. Sasuke suppressed a grin, but his mood quickly shifted when Naruto's hand accidentally 'slipped' and the flour meant for Kakashi, went all over the raven haired boy's head.

Kakashi laughed as he told them all to meet him on the roof before disappearing in a pile of leaves.

While Sasuke was wiping the flour off himself , Sakura watched as Naruto walked to the wall nearest to him... and started to walk on it, like it was the ground. He then reached the ceiling and was still walking fine.

"Hn. Showoff," Sasuke said as he leapt from the table to join his friend on the ceiling and they walked out of the window, and up to the roof.

Sakura quickly gathered her things as she ran out of the classroom and up the stairs.

While her physicality was never her strong suit, over the years she had trained hard in increasing her pitiful stamina. As she reached the apex of the staircase she made a mental note to try more stamina exercises.

Panting, she opened the door to the roof to find her new sensei reading a book while Sasuke was trying to kill Naruto with a flame ball Jutsu.

"Come here Naruto, I personally guarantee you won't live past the end of today!" Sasuke screamed as he geared up for another Jutsu, but was stopped when both Naruto and Sasuke were pinned down to the floor by Kakashi.

"Such a shame, I was getting to the good bits. Now settle down both of you or else I'll guarantee you won't last this day," He turned to Sakura with presumably a smile as he said "Ah, Sakura. So you have finally arrived, come, come. Sit down, please." He gestured around him.

Naruto and Sasuke sat up, the latter glaring at the former.

Sakura took a seat next to the blonde boy.

"Ahem," Kakashi began. "So, my name is Hatake Kakashi. And I will be your Jonin instructor for the rest of your lives, that is until you make it as Chunnin. Until then, we are going to have lots of fun together"

Naruto raised his fist in agreement. "Hell yeah Kakashi-sensei! And I bet there will be a lot of training as well!"

Kakashi gave a thumbs up at that, which made Sasuke grin.

"Now Naruto no more disruptions. While I may know you two knuckleheads, you also have a third team member. Sakura, if you could introduce yourself. Name, likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams etc. Anything really." He said.

Sakura nodded as she addressed them all.

"Hello, my name is Haruno Sakura. I like weapons, Medical Jutsu and Genjutsu. I dislike laughter, and people who go about their lives like everything is normal. I don't have a hobby, but if I did it would probably be reading and my dream is to be the strongest Kunoichi around in the Leaf."

'And to find out the truth...' She mentally said.

Naruto grinned as he nodded. Sasuke didn't reply, but she could tell that he was impressed with her goals.

Kakashi nodded as he replied "Great. Naruto, you go next,"

The blonde boy nodded as he rearranged his headband to mimic Kakashi's.

"Yo, I'm Hatake Kakashi and I like to read porno-" Naruto was cut off as Kakashi hit him on the back of his head.

"Owwwww! What was that for?" Naruto cried as he rubbed the back of his head.

"The Shinobi world is not a place for jokes Naruto, doing this in battle will only get your teammates killed." Kakashi lectured.

Naruto protested "But I'd never do this in a battle Kakashi-sensei, so what argument is that?"

Kakashi face palmed. "Listen Naruto, it's the principle of the matter. Now, introduce yourself."

Nodding, Naruto stood up as he pointed to the Hokage monument.

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto, and one day I'm going to surpass the Yondaime Hokage by being a hokage myself , and I'll make sure that my name is known in all of the lands !" He said.

As if it was a fact.

As if it had already happened.

Sakura watched him intently, for any signs of hesitation, but all she got was a fierce look of determination. He believed he was going to do it, that he was going to surpass the Yondaime...

And Sakura believed him.

She would never admit it, but she believed him in that moment.

Naruto sat back down, with a wide grin on his face as he slapped the back of Sasuke. "C'mon Sasuke, don't be a chicken," He provoked.

Sasuke coughed as he replied "We Uchiha are no chickens, maybe a lion would be more fitting."

Naruto sarcastically nodded as he added "Hm. Sure, why not compare yourself to an Eagle as well. No- how about a God?"

Sasuke tried to hit his friend, who barely managed to dodge it.

'Ugh. Why do I have to put up with this...' Sakura thought as she face palmed.

Sasuke cleared his throat as he brushed the remaining flour from his top.

"Ahem. My name is Uchiha Sasuke, I like to train and eat ramen with Naruto here. I don't dislike anything, although I hate injustice in this world. The fact that criminals roam free with the bodies piling up. It is my dream to end this injustice, to correct the wrongs made in this world. And to have the strength to protect the ones closest to me, from this injustice." he said.

Kakashi grinned as he managed to ruffle all three heads of them.

"Good my cute little Gennin. However you aren't a Team yet, no you have to complete an exam. Right now, and if you fail, you will all be going back to the academy." He said as he disappeared.

"Good luck"

Sakura gripped her Katana for an attack, but it never came. She looked at the rest of her teammates.

Sasuke's face was scrunched up, most likely in anger while Naruto was lying down on the floor.

"Bu-but I didn't revise for this test?!" He protested.

Sasuke kicked his side as he replied "Well if you had actually tried in school, maybe you wouldn't be in this situation."

Naruto sat up as he angrily snapped back "Well I did try! Iruka said I could get ok results if I retook the tests in secret, and that's what I did. So I don't want to hear it, Sasuke, or else!"

Sasuke put up his hands on mock terror. "Ooh, scary. My knees are shaking..."

Sakura couldn't stop herself from giggling. Even when she tried to stop it by shutting her mouth, she couldn't as it eventually turned to full blown laughter making her wipe tears from her eyes.

It was so loud, both boys stared at her in surprise.

"What? Never heard me giggle before?" She asked.

Both boys shook their heads and as they were about to answer, Kakashi cut them off.

"No it's not that. It's making a team mate laugh, even when they don't want to." He said as he reappeared.

"You all pass, with flying colours. The point of my test was to measure teamwork, but as Naruto and Sasuke are best friends it wouldn't be a good measure for a test." Kakashi turned to Sakura as he continued.

"You Sakura, are technically the unknown factor. So I created a new test, one where you were the goal Sakura. To ensure that you did the one thing you disliked, which in your cause is to laugh."

Sakura blinked at her teacher.

That was it.

Kakashi grinned as he addressed them all. "Sasuke is right. There is alot of injustice in this world, people who break the rules. Whether for personal gain, satisfaction or to cause pain ; they are all scum. But those who abandon their friends, team mates. Those who can't even make someone they are with even laugh, they are worse than scum."

Sasuke nodded in agreement.

Naruto gave his usual grin and a thumbs up.

Sakura slowly nodded.

"That is the only time you will ever get a laugh from me," The girl said. "I-I don't want to act like everything is fine. We are Ninja, we have to act a certain way and laughter isn't a part of the code."

Kakashi was about to reply, but Naruto cut him off.

"No, that's not what being a Ninja is Sakura," He said calmly.

"Oh? And what would you know about it Naruto?" She replied venomously. 'This is why I don't like him, he always acts as if everything is alright and dandy. And that he knows what a Ninja is.'

Naruto stepped towards her as he said "Being a Ninja is being someone who doesn't give in, someone that protects anyone even if it costs them their life. And if I die to make you laugh again, I will. Because that's my Nindo, my Ninja Way!"

Sasuke grinned as he added "Once he's set his mind to something, he doesn't give up. It's one of his most endearing traits ; believe it or not, so don't try to resist. You'll make him work even harder."

Kakashi nodded. "Oh, don't remind me Sasuke. He chased me around the village for two weeks when I said he couldn't catch me." He said with a tone of annoyance. "The newest Icha-Icha book was released as well..."

Sakura looked at them all , all her emotions piling up as she remembered all the years through which she was all alone and she started to cry.

She wiped the tears away in an effort to stop them, but they were still flowing.

"Why...?" She cried. "Why...can't you just... leave me alone!"

Naruto gave her a smile as he put his hand to her shoulder.

"As I said Sakura, that's because it's my Nindo, my Ninja Way. I won't give in until either I'm dead or you're dead." He said as he gave out his hand.

Sakura felt something.

Something she hadn't felt since her father's death.

A reason to act she was happy.

No, a reason to be happy.

Naruto had given her his hand, a hand of trust. A hand of friendship, one where he wouldn't turn his back on her as she had been afraid of people doing that all these years. A hand that wouldn't draw back when times were rough, like her mother.

A hand that she could depend on. Behind Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi were offering the same thing.

Friendship.

She hesitated to take the hand at first, but she remembered what her father said. 'There are many types of Ninjas you know'

She shook Naruto's hand.

'You were right dad, I'll be a strong Ninja. But one who works with their teammates, instead of relying on their own strength. That's a Ninja I think you will be proud of.' She thought.

"Yo," Naruto said to the store owner.

It hadn't been long since he had sat down at his favourite seat and ate what he considered to be the greatest food ever, Ramen.

According to his calculations, which weren't always... accurate, it had only been three days, seven hours, seventeen minutes and four- Wait now five seconds since he had laid eyes on a bowl of Ichiraku's famous Ramen. And more importantly, he was having it with friends.

He watched as a bruised, yet grinning Sakura sat down on his right, while Sasuke, being his usual self sat down on his left.

"Good work today guys," A secretly smiling Kakashi said as he watched his three pupils glare at him. "What? It was only training?" He protested, despite their looks that suggested otherwise.

"You... You pelted us with unheard of Jutsu until we submitted defeat!" Naruto screamed at him. "And you didn't even teach us what they were. Hell, I don't remember you even saying their names!" Sasuke added.

Sakura nodded as she also complained "Plus you broke all my gear for not being 'good enough'. It took me a whole year to save up and by that, and I can't even get it replaced after you erased it from existence with that weird Fire Jutsu of yours..."

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head as he apologised for not remembering to teach them today which caused them to glare at him even harder. He was surprised they hadn't outright attacked him yet, after all he still hadn't finished his monthly re-read of the Icha-Icha series.

"Ok, ok, fine. I'll make it up to you tomorrow my cute, little Genin. When you put it like that... it makes me feel sad, you understand me?" Kakashi finally said after debating what to say.

Making fun of them was only going to increase their lethality tomorrow, and while they wouldn't outright kill him, Team Seven were a sadistic bunch of children that would make him stay in a hospital for a few days. Something he protested, vehemently.

Sasuke gave his usual nod of approval, before ignoring him as always. 'Honestly, that boy has to start to loosen up around everyone.' Kakashi thought to himself. Naruto loudly cheered for learning "Cool new Jutsu," and Sakura gave a small smile at the boy's antics.

It wasn't a Team Seven that would bulldoze through S Rank missions just yet, but it had lot's of potential. Sasuke was taking after his brother's foot steps in being a genius, when Sasuke put his mind to it he could come up with tight executions of even the most troubling Jutsu.

Sakura was quick and efficient, both with weapons and with supporting her team mates. Her skills with a blade were exceptional for someone her age, knowing all the vulnerable parts of the human body and which ways to strike them quickly. Even as the 'weakest' in Team Seven, it would be foolish to underestimate her skills. Especially as she adapted to her team mates on the fly, like a Jonin in some cases.

And last, but not least was Naruto. While he wasn't a genius, or an natural assassin with the ability to bring out the fullest potential of his team mates, he was the wild card. His power was unmatched by none, and even Kakashi had a few problems with the blonde boy every now and then. His unpredictability and wide range of techniques led to the most interesting of battles, and while he wasn't exactly like his father, he was frighteningly close to mimicking his father's style, one that was still feared to this day.

Exceptional Shinobi individually, but when used together were a frightening reality. A Team that would possibly even rival- No, even surpass the Legendary Sannin given the time and training.

And not to mention Kakashi himself, the famed copy cat Ninja,

Team Seven was a formidable attacking team for Konoha that would only grow with time, and he would be their teacher. He watched as the three Gennin ate their meal, telling jokes about one another and making bets on who could beat who. While the Shinobi world was a dark place at times, there could also be glimpses of hope.

And he was staring directly at it.

It had been a few weeks since Team Seven was formed, and since then, Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke become good friends first and foremost.

"MMMMHH-MMH!" Naruto exclaimed loudly as he rubbed his belly. "That was even better than before," Sasuke agreed as he continued "Yes, the depth in the flavour of this simple bowl is... astonishing. The spiciness simply overloads the senses... A bit like Genjutsu, don't you think Sakura?"

The pink haired girl gave a deadpan look to her team mates as she replied "Can I eat my meal in peace?" Sasuke ignored her as he asked Teuchi if he had used any Chakra to enhance the meal, like using a Fire Jutsu instead of a stove. The head chef merely shook his head as he responded with a large smile. "No, none of that. It is simply the fruits of my labour, working diligently each year to improve my Ramen, and of course my secret ingredient."

Sasuke's eyes widened as he demanded to learn the secret ingredient, however despite his protests Teuchi would not budge. "I'm afraid I cannot do such a thing, my business could collapse if that secret was given out freely. Surely you must understand?" The black haired boy nodded as he quickly replied "Yes, I understand however it is vital for me to learn this ingredient! It would be beneficial for me to study its effects, maybe it can be used in battle? Throwing it and setting it ablaze that will overload an enemy's senses, then striking once they are at their most vulnerable..."

Naruto was out of it as he was fast asleep on the counter, leaving Sakura to clean up after the blonde boy. While she didn't mind it, after going to his house one time she felt that he needed to learn how to clean properly. And Sasuke was even worse...

At times he could be classed as normal, a bit aloof but decent company. However, most of the time he acted as if he was dying of thirst, always asking people to divulge anything that could be used in a battle as protection.

And there was only way that she dealt with this problem...

Grabbing the hilt of her Katana, she slammed it into the back of they boy's head, nearly enough to knock him out. While he clutched his head in pain, Sakura thanked the owner for entertaining these two before dragging the two boys away, despite their protests.

"HEY I WASN'T DONE SPEAKING/WHY DID YOU WAKE ME UP?" Both Sasuke and Naruto shouted at the girl.

She dropped them on the ground a she faced both of them furiously. "Shut it, while you may not care about YOUR reputation, I care about mine. And people will not mistake me for allowing you two clowns to run free and cause trouble, am I clear?"

Naruto grinned at her as he gave her a thumbs up, which made her drop her glare. Sasuke nodded as he stuffed his hands into his pockets and looked to the ground.

"Great, now that this is sorted lets go train," She suggested which made both the boys grin. "Training after Ramen? Hell yeah!" Naruto shouted as he leapt in the air in excitement. Sasuke tried to hide his smile, but anyone with at least one eye could see through it.

Sakura pulled out a wooden Katana as she challenged Sasuke to a duel.

It wasn't as one sided as before, considering Sasuke knew some of her moves. It nearly made Sakura laugh as she was reminded of her first sparring session with the Uchiha.

The look of surprise on his face as she repeatedly slashed him with a wooden sword faster than he could move his body.

Even now, Sasuke had some trouble when it came to Sakura, she had a longer range them him due to her Katana which meant he had to play on the defensive and wait for his moment to strike, something that wasn't his speciality.

Sasuke tried to perform a Fireball Jutsu, but was caught as Sakura side stepped it and used a nearby pipe to propel herself towards the boy and held up her sword towards his neck.

"I Win!" She said.

Sasuke looked defeated for a moment before regaining his compose and stepping to the side. Now it was Naruto's turn.

As soon as the spar began he backed off and ran up a nearby wall while Sakura followed him. Sakura gritted her teeth as she tried to predict what the blonde boy would do as he effortlessly dodged the slash directed at his back. He grinned at her as he momentarily disappeared after doing five hand seals: Ram, Boar, Ox, Dog and Snake and in his place stood a wooden log.

Sakura turned around but could not see him, and he wasn't on the ground either. Deciding to gain the high ground, he ran up to the roof of the building, yet all she could see was Sasuke and a flying Kunai-

Suddenly, the Kunai fell towards her feet and Naruto seemingly came from it as he gave her an uppercut and put a mark on her back with his smile and ran away again after he had picked up his Kunai. Sakura tried to chase after him, who had slowed down his pace from before.

Sakura could tell that whatever he had used had severely drained his Chakra, as he turned to face her with a wide smile. "Oh Sakura, it seems like I ran out of Chakr-" His voice was cut off as he disappeared and Sakura felt a sharp pain on her back as she was kneed from behind, before being pinned to the ground. She faced a sweating and out of breathe Naruto that was struggling to stay straight and breathe without being completely exhausted.

Sakura stared at his eyes as even with little energy, Naruto's strength was unparalleled as she couldn't escape from him. "I...Win..." Naruto managed to say as he was taking heavy breaths, before he collapsed on the ground. Sasuke came running over as he said Sakura put up a good show. Both of the remaining Team Seven members picked the blonde boy up and carried him to his apartment, before setting him down in his messy room.

"Honestly, why does he keep using that Jutsu? Only took him to use it twice before he wasn't able to fight, in a real battle he would be killed!" Sasuke said as he watched his friend sleeping.

Sakura shrugged her shoulders as she replied "Yeah, it's not exactly perfect for him. I can tell he forces himself to use this Jutsu, when it is clearly way above the Rank that he should be using. Not only that but he seems to be manipulating his Chakra wrong which leads to even more exhaustion... Not even Kakashi-sensei can help him here."

Both sighed as they closed his door and departed for the day, promising to meet up early tomorrow for some training before whining about doing some D ranks.

It was not a happy experience.

Yes, the new chapter 6 is here which is just the old 5 and 6 combined. But hey, they were meant to be combined. I just was busy/lazy to do so on the first place. Wow, we are close to 400 followers and favourites, something this is mind boggling. Thank you all. From the bottom of my heart.

This is me signing off,

Papi