This story is based on Naruto written by Masashi Kishimoto.

A/N: thanks for all the reviews, favorites, and follows. The story is going to pick up alot after this chapter, training, missions and bonding mostly. Don't want to give it all away so I hope you enjoy :)

After a few minutes, Kakashi is able to pull away from their impromptu cuddle session. Standing up he stretches. "Well, that's it for today. Make sure to meet here at 0800 tomorrow?"

All three look up at him, bewildered, then Sakura's face lights up in some sort of realization. "That's right, I wanted to take you guys with me to the Nara compound. Do you guys want to come and celebrate with the newly formed team 10?"

She looked at all of them, including Kakashi. He really had no idea why she was asking him, of all people, to go to a Nara dinner party.

Shino nodded first and lifted a hand, a few insects flew away. "I have sent my Kikaichu to inform my father. Our celebration plans are scheduled for tomorrow already."

Kiba nods wearily, scratching his head. "Sure, I guess, as long as Ino isn't loud. Her yelling hurts my ears."

Sakura stares at him incredulously. "That's why you never came around that much? Ear sensitivity?" She looks about ready to slap herself in the face. "Huh, I thought we annoyed you or something, why didn't I think of that?"

Kiba looks visibly nervous now. "Ah, well, it's not like we had much in common and the times you guys wore perfume killed my nose." Sweating now. "And that whole Sasuke situation was annoying, actually."

Sakura just stared with her arms crossed. "You done yet?"

"Yeah, that's all, I swear." He held his hands up placatingly.

Kakashi took a discreet sniff and was thankful that there wasn't any traces of perfume. He won't have to emphasize, no perfume, too much in their training then.

Sakura trained her eyes back onto Kakashi. "Can you come with us? please, Kakashi-sensei?"

The other two sent him pleading gazes soon after.

You'd think that Pakkun would have desensitized him to puppy dog eyes by now.

"Alright fine." Shoving his hands in his pockets. "Why am I going?"

"Well I figured going as a team would be fun." Her triumphant grin was blinding. "And I asked if Shikamaru and his dad would help us with brainstorming for our specialties."

Well, someone's certainly ambitious. "As long as you remember that the basics take priority. Until chunin, your specialty will be secondary and mostly in your own time." He starts walking towards the market, his genin following closely. "We'll talk about that more when we meet tomorrow. For now we should get a peace offering."

"Peace offering?"

"That's right, if we're going to convince Shikaku to help we'll need one." He grinned under his mask. "Lucky for you, I know his favorite sake that we can bribe him with."

Sakura and Kiba cheered and started talking excitedly with Shino.

They leisurely made their way to a stand to buy the aforementioned sake.

Sake in hand, Kakashi and his newly acquired students make their way to the Nara compound.

He took this time to ponder over what specialties they might want.

Shino has already expressed the desire to pair up his clan jutsu with medical ninjutsu. First aid and basic medical ninjutsu for field emergencies was already in their training rough draft, so that would benefit Shino.

After Kakashi sees what else they can do and what they say at dinner, he'll revise the draft accordingly.

Kiba would probably do well with incorporating weapons and traps into his clan jutsu. His chakra levels also show his potential to have a ninjutsu specialty.

Weapons training and discovering their elements is also included in the schedule.

Sakura, from her demonstration today, seems to have potential as a taijutsu specialist. But this one will have to wait till after tonight's talk to really narrow down. For right now she's a blank slate.

And as for right now, who to train as the future leader and/or strategist is up in the air. All three have the potential.

Their arrival to the Nara compound takes him out of his musings.

Sakura knocks on the door before stepping back in line with her teammates.

After a few moments, the young Nara Kakashi had seen in the files from when they were assigning teams, opens the door.

He leaned lazily against the doorway. "Sakura, Kiba, Shino, Hatake-san." Nodding his head in acknowledgment to each person as he greeted them.

His cute minions greeted him in kind with a jumble of, "Shikamaru", "Shikamaru-san" and "Shika." Which is fine, they don't have to be in sync just yet.

Kakashi prayed to himself that they could accomplish it for their first mission debrief. The look on Hokage-sama's face will be worth it.

He raised a hand and waved slightly at the now named Shikamaru. "Yo."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at him before shrugging and walking back inside. "Everyone's out back already."

Stopping briefly to take off their shoes, they follow him through the house and out to their backyard. Which is just the land between the house and the start of the Nara forest.

In the yard they have a long table set up where the rest of them have already started eating. This included the clan heads for the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans with their families. This included the newly formed team 10 and their sensei Sarutobi Asuma.

Asuma waved from his seat. "Kakashi!" He took a glance at the kids in front of him. "You finally passed a team."

Kakashi's slouch became a little more prominent. "Ma, don't look so surprised."

Asuma shrugged. "It was bound to happen eventually I guess." His eyes widened suddenly. "Damnit Kakashi, do you realize how many bets i just lost because of you?"

Kakashi chuckled at his misfortune. "Your faith in my cute students is heartwarming."

Meanwhile Sakura, Shino and Kiba have sat down with the others and started to eat.

Ino waved her chopsticks at them. "So what was your test like? Asuma-sensei just had us do some information gathering on random jounin."

As his students explained their test he walked over to the other side of the table. Presenting the sake, Kakashi greeted the host. "Shikaku-sama, thank you for inviting us." He topped it off with an eye smile.

Shikaku leveled a knowing stare at him before accepting the sake. "Ask whatever it is you want later, for now go eat." He waved dismissively over to an empty seat.

Not bothering to deny his assumption, Kakashi cheerfully turns toward the food.

Over the next hour or so he just sits there and listens to the conversations going around, adding in a few things here and there while he eats.

It's the most social he's been in a long time.

Sakura shares a knowing look with Shikamaru and Shino as Kiba dramatically reenacts their bell test from earlier, Ino and Choji giving him their full and rapt attention.

While Sakura isn't stoic by any stretch, she's not on Kiba, Ino, or even Naruto's level of energy.

Out of their classmates, those three were the most rambunctious.

"So." Sakura turns her head to face Shikamaru when he started talking. "Have you had time to talk about your team or individual specialties yet?"

Sakura shook her head. "Not really, Shino wants to be a med-nin and Kiba said he was interested in ninjutsu and more weapons training to go with his clan jutsu." She nodded to both of her teammates in turn. "But Kakashi-sensei hasn't talked about our team specialization yet."

Shino leaned towards them slightly. "With Kiba and I on the team it is most likely tracking, like I mentioned before the teams were picked." His brows furrowed slightly at the top of his glasses. "Although if that was the case, Hinata-san would have been included."

Sakura frowned slightly. "Maybe we're something else?" How would she be helpful on a team that would have been better off with someone else?

Shikamaru shrugged. "Guess we'll figure it out later." He glanced over at his dad. "Seems like we'll be talking about it with them anyway, he brought Dad's favorite."

Sakura nodded in mock seriousness. "Kakashi-sensei said it was the best way to bribe him into spilling his secrets."

Shino continued gravely, "Better than any interrogation method known to man."

Shikamaru cracked a grin and chuckled at their antics.

They turned their attention back to the rest of the group in time to hear Ino giving her own reenactment.

They would figure it out later, right now it was time to relax.

Shino reflected on his teammates while they gathered around the Nara family's living room.

At first he had been worried about what team he would be put on. Not being the most social, he never made friends at the academy.

Sakura was the closest he came to an acquaintance.

So when she and Kiba were announced as his teammates he was slightly relieved, but still worried.

But in the matter of a day and a half, both of them went from people he knew to friends.

While waiting for their sensei and eating food together later, they got to know each other. Shino now knows that Kiba not only likes to gossip at home and the academy, but also with those in the village, shinobi and civilian alike. He practically had his own spy network.

Shino also knows that Sakura doesn't limit herself in her reading. She reads anything that catches her eye, chakra control, genjutsu, ninjutsu, taijutsu, ciphers and code breaking, domestic and foreign trade, facts and stories about other villages, medical and poisonous plants, animals, summons. She'll read anything.

But her favorites are always fictional books. When she's not reading up on the current trade in Kumo, she's reading about a group of friends that do everything together and their adventures.

Sakura's favorite food is her mom's miso soup and vegetable tempura. Kiba's is sushi of any kind or variety.

All of them like fall and winter the best.

Kiba knows how to cut and style hair for his mom and sister. Sakura knows all the tricks and trade of her parents merchant job, this involves making and selling most of their products.

And in turn they know that Shino's favorite foods are dumplings and onigiri, he spends time with insects more than he does people, and he knows how to cook most things.

And all three of them like the same colors. Blue, green and purple.

None of them know much about Kakashi-sensei yet but they'll fix that.

Shino will do his best to commit everything he knows about them to memory.

Because for the first time since Torune-nii disappeared.

He had friends.

Shikaku watched everybody as they spread out around the room. The kids sat close together, Ino and Sakura in the middle with their teammates on either side. All of them seemed to get along well.

It was nice to see Ino-chan and Saku-chan were friends again. When they were younger Ino and Sakura would come here to play with the boys all the time. After their falling out it was just Ino, and while they still played here, it wasn't the same.

Looking to his right he spotted Asume chuckling at something choji said. He seems like his usual self, maybe a little extra worry for his new students added to the mix.

To the left he saw Kakashi lounging on his side, idly flipping the pages in his book. He also seemed like his usual self. Strange, seeing as he never wanted his own team, he looks more relaxed than Shikaku expected.

While not a lot of people could tell the difference between relaxed Kakashi and tense Kakashi, Shikaku knew better.

Oh well, might as well start the discussion.

"What did you want to ask about?" He took a sip from his sake and waited.

Kakashi hummed as he turned a page. "The munchkins wanted some opinions on their individual specialties."

They're certainly thinking ahead. "Tracking team, I assume?" At Kakashi's nod he continued. "Have you thought about their team roles? The boys will probably use their clan jutsu for that, Sakura will have to learn a tracking skill that the other two don't cover." He took another sip. "That should narrow down what they want to do as individuals."

Kakashi nodded. "Her file shows an above average chakra control so I would choose making her the sensor of the team. Shino has expressed his wish to be a med-nin." He turns a page. "So that leaves Kiba and Sakura's individual specialties."

Shikaku hummed, that means Shino will be the long range fighter and support of the team with the combo of Aburame clan insects and medical ninjutsu. Kiba's clan jutsu by itself makes him a short to mid range fighter since its heavily taijutsu based. Sakura seems to be the mystery.

Shikaku waved to get the children's attention and they focused on him. "Alright so you're a tracking team, Shino and Kiba will contribute with their clan jutsu and Sakura will be the team chakra sensor."

At this news Sakura's shoulders drooped in relief. Seems like she had been worrying about her team role. "Shino wants to be the team medic, what about the rest of you?"

Kiba spoke up first. "It would be pretty cool if I could learn ninjutsu and some weapons to go with my clan training."

Kakashi nodded in thought. "I had planned to take you to the market and have you pick out at least one weapon each to learn. So it wouldn't be a stretch for you to pick out a few more while we're there." He closed and put away his book. "Bukijutsu specialists usually learn how to use 10 or more different weapons but since you're still a genin i'll cap you at 3 for now. And all of you will be learning ninjutsu too so that's covered."

Kiba nods in acceptance, seemingly satisfied.

Sakura speaks up nervously, "Iruka-sensei said I was a genjutsu type but those are generally long ranged right? I want to do something with a lot of versatility. If Kiba or Shino or both need back up, I want to be able to help in the way they need."

Shikaku finished off his bottle as he thought. While genjutsu isn't strictly long range he could see what she meant. It is notoriously used for ambushes and the like, mostly used from a distance.

Taijutsu and kenjutsu are almost always short range. Shurikenjutsu is mostly long range and very common. Bukijutsu and ninjutsu are pretty versatile but that doesn't seem to be what she's going for.

Kakashi interrupts his thoughts. "There's always fuinjutsu." After he said that Kakashi tensed subtly.

It's not widely known that Kakashi learned sealing from the 4th before he died, he doesn't like to talk about it. So Shikaku didn't really consider it an option.

Now that he mentioned it though.

"That works."

Sakura lite up in realization. "Of course!"

Kiba looked dubious. "You can make exploding tags and storage scrolls your specialty?"

She gives him a smack to the back of the head in reprimand. "That's not all it is. For every jutsu there is a seal to match, because you can use seals to prep jutsu beforehand like say you want to be able to use a fire jutsu later but you don't want to waste a lot of chakra, you could store the jutsu into a scroll and use it later."

Kakashi eye smiled at them. "That's right, you can store objects, beings and chakra into seals. You could also make seal traps, drain others chakra, privacy seals, amplify your own chakra with them, really anything you can think of."

Kakashi seemed to relax slowly back to his previous state. Clearly they needed to decide on other things as a team but they had time for that later.

He turned to the other three. "As for you…"

Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji's eyes widened and they Shuffled backwards a little.

Shikaku just grinned at them.

Sakura stretched when they finally finished talking. Figuring out her role on the team was a sensor and deciding on fuinjutsu was a weight off her shoulders.

Moving her arms caused her to touch her still long hair, which reminded her.

"Kiba." He looked over at her. "Can you cut my hair?"

He blinked dumbly at her for a second but quickly recovered. "Sure! Shikaku-sama, can we use your bathroom?"

He waved them off. "Yea sure, enough with the -sama already, just call be Shikaku-oji."

Sakura grinned at him, it's been too long since she hang out here. She stood and grabbed Ino. "Come on Kiba can cut your hair too."

She looked doubtful but followed behind anyway. "You first then."

Sakura nodded leading the way to the closest bathroom. "I just remembered, we should do team 7's gift baskets tomorrow."

Ino nodded seriously. "I call Hinata's."

"I'll do Kurenai-sensei, Shikamaru can do Sasuke's and Choji can do Naruto's. Shino and Kiba can help them."

Ino taps her chin as they reach the bathroom. "What do you think Kurenai-sensei likes?"

Sakura shrugs. "I'll ask Kakashi-sensei and Asuma-sensei before we leave."

Kiba comes in behind them and whines, "What have you roped me into?"

Sakura scoffs. "Please you're practically dying to pull a prank on Someone, why not Sasuke? You could help Shikamaru and Shino could help Choji."

He shrugged and started searching through the cabinets for supplies.

Eventually he finds scissors and a comb, during that time Ino went and found them both stools to sit on.

He had me get my hair wet and then he got started. "How short do you want it?" She brought her hand up to just below her ear and he nodded.

It took him around 15 minutes. He separated her bangs from the rest of her hair and cut it to the length she said evenly. He then cut her bangs to frame her face, length going just below the chin.

Sakura re-tied her Hitai-ate onto her head. "I love it, great job Kiba."

She saw him grin through the mirror. "Thanks."

Ino waved excitedly. "Come on, me next."

Ino ended up asking to have it just above shoulder length so she could still have it in her ponytail, he left her bangs alone.

"This looks great thanks Kiba."

He grinned

Ino and Sakura practically skipped back to the living room, Kiba close behind them.

The rest of their teammates complimented their hair, Sakura took the time to inform the rest about the gift baskets.

Shikamaru seemed to have a rare glint in his eye at hearing that Kiba and him were the ones to make Sasuke's. But Sakura wasn't overly worried, they won't go too overboard, probably.

Choji and Shino seemed happy with theirs. Probably because naruto's will most likely be food based. It wouldn't be surprising if they started swapping recipes afterwards.

"I'll probably include some herbs." Ino murmured to herself. "She liked making salves and ointments in the academy a lot right? She came by the shop often."

Sakura looked to Kakashi with beseeching eyes. "Do you know what Kurenai-sensei would like?"

"Ma, don't I get a gift basket from my cute students?" At her unmoved expression he sighs. "Well last time I checked she liked poisons, Asuma would know more."

Asuma sputters next to him. "Kakashi!"

"What? You do."

Asuma grumbles for a second before answering. "She likes sweets and books too, tea wouldn't be a bad idea."

Sakura nodded, already taking note of the things her parents had in stock. She could get the rest from Ino.

"Alright, let's meet before training in the market, I'll bring the baskets and then we'll split up, get everything, and meet back there." Sakura looked at Asuma. "Where is their team training ground?"

He coughs into a fist, seemingly embarrassed again. "training ground 5."

Sakura nodded decisively. Tomorrow was going to be interesting.

Kurenai didn't know what to think as her and her new team stared at the 4 gift baskets on the ground. "This is a first."

Each basket had a label attached to it with their names written on it, and a lone envelope sat in front of the baskets.

Kurenai decided to chance it and picked up the envelope. There wasn't anything weird about it and there didn't seem to be a trap, which just confused her more. She slowly pulled the card out.

She relaxed as soon as she read it. "It says, congratulations team 7, from teams 8 and 10, go ahead and take a look." It was just the other genin.

Naruto had been practically vibrating while he waited for the go ahead. Which was surprising but it seems even he can be cautious to a degree. Not that it showed in their test the day before.

So when she said it was fine, Naruto charged to his basket and hugged it to his chest. The basket itself was overflowing with instant ramen. And, much to her amusement and Naruto's horror there was also fruits, vegetables and some meat in there with the standard preservation seals that all markets attach to food to keep them fresh. There also seems to include a small pack of what looks like shuriken.

Naruto sits with his basket and starts tearing up. "This- sniff -is the best- hic -present ever."

Hinata becomes flustered. "It-it's ok Naruto-kun you don't have-have to cry."

Naruto tries to compose himself, wiping his face. "I'm alright Hinata-chan, it's just, this is so amazing."

Hinata nodded and was the next to look through her basket. This one was filled with an assortment of herbs, some Kurenai recognized but plenty she didn't. Hinata seemed to know what they are though. She reached in and pulled out a wide bracelet with a metal Narutomaki attached to it. The way Hinata's whole body seemed to blush told Kurenai the significance.

Chuckling to herself, she turned as she noticed Sasuke finally inspecting his basket cautiously. He was tense as he pulled out some supplies like smoke bombs and ninja wire. But then he pulls out a whole bag of tomatoes and seems to soften.

Kurenai will have to save that little tidbit for later. Earn his cooperation via tomato bribery.

She then noticed something sticking to the side of the basket and it took a second to recognize it. By the time she did Sasuke was already reaching for it.

"Wait!" But it was too late and sasuke ripped the pepper bomb right off, triggering it.

It detonated directly in his face causing a cloud of pepper and probably some other spices to plume around Sasuke and the basket. He snatches up his bag of tomatoes and rushes about 10 feet away from the cloud. He hugs them to his chest, visibly bristling, then he starts to cough.

Naruto ends up rolling around on the ground in his hysterical laughter. "Haha they got you good Teme! Best day ever!"

Hinata just looked worried.

Kurenai couldn't help chuckling and decided to see what was in her's. The first thing she spotted was a set of vials of poison that seem suspiciously like the ones she buys from the Yamanakas regularly. Next there was what seemed to be an adventure novel, a box filled with dango and a preservation seal on it, a tin of tea imported from Kiri, and a pair of fluffy slippers.

Kurenai smiled to herself as she packed it away, aside from the pepper bomb all of these items were very useful and thoughtful. She would certainly be using her own to relax later that evening.

She gathered the baskets back up and moved them to the side. "We'll take them home after training is over."

"Yahoo, training!" Naruto bounced around exited. "Ne, ne, Kurenai-sensei, what were those attached to the food?"

She blinked at him, bewildered, before answering. "They are preservation seals, they keep the food fresh."

He has an absolutely shocked expression. "They have those? I'll have to look for them because the places I go to don't have them. Now my food will stop going bad!"

Kurenai's eyes narrow at his words.

Looks like there are some people she'll have to have a talk with later.

But for now. "Let's start training."

Naruto jumps with a woop, causing Hinata to smile at him. Sasuke just looks disinterested but you can tell he's excited.