Thank you all for the reviews, I do take your opinions into account and it really helps give me motivation to write.

I don't own Naruto

Chapter 3

The month of hell for Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto had passed and by the end of it they could complete it rather easily and they were in peak fitness. Sakura had hated it at first but she knew it would help so she went with it and was extremely happy with the results she got.

"Well done all of you," Kakashi started. The copy Nin had been seriously impressed by them, they truly were overflowing with potential as they managed to complete his training and Kakashi hadn't heard a single complaint come his way since it'd begun. "Now that you've all got to an acceptable level of fitness the training regime is going to change. Naruto at five o clock you'll be meeting with Gai sensei at training ground 9 and he's going to fix your taijutsu as his style would suit you much more than my own. Sakura you're going to be training with Anko, her taijutsu is similar to the one you picked out and I feel like it could suit you more than the one you chose. You'll meet with her at training ground 44 at 7. Sasuke you're stuck with me and we'll be meeting at 7 here," Kakashi told them the plan going forward. "At 12 we're all going to meet here and we'll do our missions for the day and then train in something outside of taijutsu."

Sakura was processing the information she had been given, finally her taijutsu would be properly fixed. The month of training had helped but it only improved her basic academy taijutsu whereas focusing properly would help her much more. Looking to her team mates, Sasuke seemed pleased he'd be getting one on one training with Kakashi, however Naruto looked slightly devastated. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN 5 IN THE MORNING," was Naruto's explosive response?

"Now now Naruto it's just how Gai operates but he is the best person to help you with your taijutsu," Kakashi responded with an eye smile. Naruto huffed back slightly but accepted it, he was excited about continuing to get proper training.

"Who's Anko sensei?"

"Anko Mitarashi, she works with T&I and is a bit crazy," Kakashi said honestly. "But she's strong and will make sure you become strong."

"Okay sensei," Sakura replied calmly, she didn't want to judge someone before meeting them. "What are we doing today then?"

"D rank missions," Kakashi said, famous eye smile on his face as he heard the groans of his team.

Walking home that evening Sakura felt extremely… unsatisfied with how the day had turned out. After the month long of training and exhausting her body everyday Sakura wanted to train more. Despite how tiring it was she liked the feeling of accomplishment that came with completing the training. Deciding that she'd at least go on a run so she didn't lose the level of fitness she was at, she left heading through the familiar streets of Konohagakure. The day had been relatively normal with the missions but at the end for some reason they'd wanted to do blood tests for her, despite the fact that Sakura was sure she had no notable parents. Sakura was excited about the next day, training one to one would be something new to her and she hoped that Anko liked her. The rest of the night went by like usual, Sakura finished her day reading a book on water jutsu. She hadn't attempted any, figuring it would be better to wait a while instead of doing it herself and screwing up.

The next morning she woke up at 6:30 hoping that she'd get there five minutes early and give off a good impression. Unlike a lot of the girls in the village Sakura never really felt the need to wear make-up or straighten her hair and things like that; she didn't really need to if she was being honest with herself. The pink haired ninja would have a shower, eat her breakfast after getting changed and tie her hair up in the usual way she did. This took her around twenty minutes and she left, arriving at training ground 44 a few minutes after 7. The main reason for this was because she didn't know exactly where it was, however Sakura had gulped slightly when she heard it was nicknamed the forest of death.

Walking up to it she saw a Kunoichi stood outside the training ground. She had her scandalous attire on and pink hair tied up but it didn't really bother Sakura, it was nothing compared to where she grew up. "Excuse me are you Anko Mitarashi," Sakura asked as politely as she could. Despite how the ninja in front of her was dressed looks could be deceiving and Sakura didn't want to say something that might tick her off.

"Yep that's me I assume your Sakura right," Anko asked taking in the appearance of Sakura. She hadn't really wanted to train anyone but Kakashi had been more serious than usual when he asked and he stated that her potential would make her stronger than Tsunade. Having Kakashi praise someone's potential like that meant he wasn't joking and it helped sway Anko's decision to at least check Sakura out.

"That's right, Kakashi-sensei said that you'd be training me in Taijutsu," Sakura stated calmly, hiding her nerves of meeting someone unknown to her who might turn her away.

"I'll give ya a chance cherry, hopefully you don't waste it," Anko said dropping her suspicious façade at figuring out what Sakura was like. The pink haired Kunoichi let out a huge grin when Anko called her cherry, as it reminded her of her childhood. Deciding to sense Anko's chakra slightly to get a feel for if she was good or not. Feeling it was relatively warm meant that she felt she could trust the woman in front of her.

Anko noticed Sakura's slight spike in chakra as the girl sensed her own chakra and was slightly surprised but managed to mask this as expertly as expected of a ninja. "So you're a sensor huh. Why the big grin eh, cherry?"

"It's nothing Anko sensei, my nee-chan use to call me that when I was younger is all," Sakura responded before replacing her smile with a determined look. Anko noticed the change in Sakura.

"Impressive cherry, we might as well get started," Anko instructed and the two of them started training. Anko took Sakura through the katas, teaching her the style and telling her how it could be affective. The two of them trained the entire morning and the Jonin had to admit that Kakashi was right, this girl would undoubtedly become the future of Kunoichi and Anko got that off training once. Sakura seemed to pick up the style quickly and her body was already conditioned for it. Sakura had always been the fittest Kunoichi of her graduation class which was why Kakashi's training worked so well and allowed her to increase her fitness to the next level. Also her bones and muscles were stronger and overall Sakura was able to do Anko's training well.

While Sakura trained with Anko, Naruto had been training with Gai. At 5 in the morning it'd just been him, Gai-sensei and Rock Lee, they'd both freaked Naruto out at first, what with their huge eyebrows and green spandex attire. However as they continued training Naruto realised why Kakashi had gotten Gai to train him. They trained really hard but Naruto had also been knocked around in taijutsu. To most outsiders it'd look like Naruto was just being beaten down, getting up only to be beaten down again. However Naruto learned through doing instead of watching and so this was the best way to train. Naruto thought Kakashi's training had been ridiculous and while it had, Gai and Lee took it to the next level. Naruto was taught the katas for the style and was told to practise them at least twice a day, in the morning and evening, and then spar.

"Naruto-kun your flames of youth burnt brightly today, I feel as a reward I'll give you a gift," Gai said with a fire burning in his eyes.

"Oka-"

"Here take these they'll help you retain your youthfulness and make you strong," Gai said excitedly as he handed Naruto weights.

"Um than-"

"Naruto-kun are you joining me and Gai-sensei in the springtime of youth," Lee asked with a similar fire in his eyes to Gai sensei. What the hell is going on? That was Naruto's thought process as he slowly edged away from Gai and Lee.

"Well said Lee," Gai said approvingly.

"Gai sensei."

"Lee"

"Gai sensei"

"Lee"

"Gai sensei"

"Are they always like this," Naruto asked Tenten, she'd been far more approachable then Neji who seemed to sneer at him and tell him that his fate would always be to be a dead last.

"Yeah you just have to wait for it to be over," Tenten said indifferently. "Speaking of which you might want to look away now," Tenten tried to warn Naruto but was too late as Naruto had already seen Gai and Lee hugging as he could easily imagine the sea behind them crashing against a shore and Naruto wanted to gag slightly.

"Thank you Gai-sensei," Naruto stated before turning and hightailing out of there, he didn't wish to see Lee and Gai embrace.

Back with Sakura she'd managed to impress Anko enough to be trained again. "Well cherry you were pretty good today so come here again tomorrow at the same time," Anko said enthusiastically.

"Hai sensei," was Sakura's response.

"Well tomorrow then," was all Anko said before leaving via shunshin. I really need to learn that.

Kakashi and Sasuke had been training since 7:30, no matter how talented the team seemed Kakashi still wasn't on time, he did however cut his lateness down dramatically. "Well done Sasuke, to be honest until you unlock your sharingan your taijutsu isn't likely to improve dramatically but it doesn't hurt to spar," Kakashi analysed their training session. As they'd finished Sakura and Naruto walked up to them, obviously done with their own training. "How was your training you two," Kakashi asked, he wanted to know how much they learned.

"It was good," Naruto started. "While Gai-sensei is a bit… well ya know … weird he trains hard and they're real good at Taijutsu," Naruto stated. Kakashi had hoped that Naruto would say something like that. Not only had he called Gai weird, which was a plus in Kakashi's mind but Naruto acknowledged that they'd help with Taijutsu. "They gave me these annoying weight thingys though, Gai sensei said they were a gift and Lee doesn't take his off and he's even faster than Sakura."

"Ma you don't need to keep the weights on if you don't want it is a bit of an old way of training," Kakashi began. "However they will help you train if your patient with them. In your case, Naruto, I think they'd be a good idea for you."

"Okay sensei I'll keep em on," Naruto said with his huge grin.

"Sakura how was training with Anko," Kakashi asked. He was intrigued how Sakura's personality would mix with Anko.

"It was fun sensei, you were right about the Taijutsu by the way it'll suit me well," Sakura said with a slightly accomplished smile on her face.

"Did she say anything about training again," Kakashi asked.

"Yeah she said to meet her there tomorrow, same time."

"Okay well that's all good then. All right lets go start our D rank missions," Kakashi said with an eye smile as he pulled out his book.

Later the same day they had managed to finish their D rank missions without consequence and had started training with their ninjutsu. Kakashi figured they may as well start and so he was doing the leaf exercise.

"Which one did you all want to start with," Kakashi asked and was still slightly amazed that as Genin they had a choice of which one to do.

"I'll start with earth," was Sakura's quick response. Kakashi was surprised, he approved of her thinking but he assumed she would have wanted to do water as it was more offensive.

"That's good, is there any reason why," Kakashi inquired. It was a good idea but he wondered if she came to the same conclusion that he did.

"I have two reasons for it to be honest," Sakura started. "Firstly the other two have much more offensive techniques so I can try make up for that with a more defensive ninjutsu. Secondly it's one of your natural affinities so you'll be able to teach it much easier."

Kakashi was impressed at how she must've analysed the pros and cons and come to the correct conclusion. Kakashi simply gave her an eye smile as praise before moving onto the other two. "Did either of you have a preference?"

"I suppose with Sakura's logic I'll do lightning," Sasuke began. "I already know a fire jutsu so it'd be better to have more of a variety."

That made sense and Kakashi approved of this as well, although he supposed he would have approved of fire as well. "And you Naruto?"

"I'll do wind," Naruto said happily. Kakashi figured it likely made the most sense if Sasuke was learning lightning.

"Any particular reason Naruto," Kakashi asked.

"Nope," was Naruto's quick reply and Kakashi looked exasperated. He supposed Naruto was still Naruto after all. "I just thought that it'd be cool to know."

"Ma well I think all of you made good choices. We're gonna start the leaf exercises so you're attacks will be stronger. Sakura you're going to want to make your leaf crumble, Sasuke you want yours to crinkle and Naruto you're going to want to try and split yours in half. Okay let's get started then."

After Kakashi did that they all started the leaf exercise. Sakura had read up on this and she knew the basic idea of what she needed to do but it was an entirely different thing to know how to do something and to actually do it. Naruto and Sasuke were also struggling, both incredibly annoyed at the lack of progress.

"Ah Kaka-sensei this is impossible. Can you give me a hint?"

"Ma Naruto, wind chakra is my weakest. If you want a clue you should probably ask Asuma, he's the only one in Konoha that I know has the wind affinity."

"Who's that," Naruto asked, he hadn't met Asuma yet seeing as he was late when Kakashi picked them up.

"Team 10s sensei, I guess you can just keep practising though."

"Naruto you're supposed to grind your chakra together to make it sharper. I don't exactly know what that means but it's what my book said," Sakura tried to explain to Naruto but despite having read the book she had no luck herself.

"Honestly this is way past genin level it normally takes a really long time to get elemental chakra down," Kakashi stated. They continued trying to do it for hours and had no progress to show for it and Kakashi was slightly amused at the looks they would get on their faces, hopeful for a second and then fuming the next. Time continued to pass by and Sakura and Sasuke looked like they may have given up hope for the day. Not Naruto though, he wouldn't give up until he passed out from exhaustion.

What did Sakura say; grind the chakra together, like this? Naruto grinded the chakra together in the centre of the leaf trying to get it to cut and he managed to make his chakra sharp enough that a small cut found its way at the top of the leaf. "Kaka-sensei I did it," Naruto exclaimed excitedly and true enough, at the top of his leaf was a cut, it was small but it showed that Naruto was on the right lines and it was more than either of the blondes team mates had done.

"How'd you do that dobe," Sasuke asked extremely irritated that Naruto got it before him. How had the dead last been better than him at something?

"What'd you say teme," Naruto growled back.

"I called you a dobe, dobe."

"I'll make you eat your words," Naruto snarled back, who did Sasuke think he was anyway.

"Come on then dobe," Sasuke bated Naruto and the blonde charged at him. Naruto thought that one day with his new Taijutsu meant that he'd be better than Sasuke, he was wrong. He created shadow clones and had them rush Sasuke and they all got dispersed one by one as Sasuke displayed his superior taijutsu.

An opening Naruto thought as Sasuke seemed to drop his guard as he took out the last shadow clone. Naruto threw a punch towards him and that's when Sasuke caught his hand and flipped Naruto over himself, hard. Naruto collided with the ground and with the extra weight it hurt more than usual.

"Dobe I'm better then you don't challenge someone better then yourself," Sasuke reprimanded Naruto.

"Sasuke you don't have to be such an asshole," Sakura yelled at him.

"Hn whatever," Sasuke brushed her off. Sakura narrowed her eyes but decided to go check on Naruto instead.

"You alright Naruto," Sakura asked.

"Yeah I'm fine," Naruto scowled at Sasuke. "I'll get ya next time teme." However Sasuke wasn't listening to them and he'd gone back to working on his leaf.

Kakashi sighed to himself, the team had seemed to be doing fine but Sasuke's ego was still fragile and if someone was better than him at something it seemed he'd still get frustrated. The rest of the training had little conversation and it seemed that they'd need to rework on their team work.

The next month passed by and the rift between Sasuke and the others still hadn't been fully closed. They could talk to each other without fighting but it was in the back of all their minds that if they said the wrong thing a brawl would take place. Despite the lack of teamwork they were still progressing rapidly. For Naruto, with the Kyubi inside him his muscles healed quickly and it allowed him to heal quickly meaning his speed and strength was going up well thanks to the weights. Sakura and Naruto continued to eat together at least twice a week and Naruto's knowledge had caught up slightly, he was adequate. They'd all made progress on their leaves, Naruto being the furthest ahead but still it was far quicker than Kakashi expected. Sakura and Anko had trained hard together but they'd also forged a strong bond together, Sakura was probably closest with Anko compared to Naruto and Gai and Sasuke and Kakashi. Her Taijutsu had grown leaps and bounds; they'd gotten the perfect one for Sakura. It relied on the speeds of strikes and it allowed Sakura to use her agility and flexibility. Sasuke's skills had improved as Kakashi expected a genius would but he was distant from his team.

"Kakashi-sensei when can we do a proper mission?" Sakura asked. She understood why they did D rank missions but that didn't mean she liked it.

"Yeah Kaka-sensei D ranks are so boring," Naruto added.

"Hn," Sasuke grunted in agreement.

"Ma most Genin don't do C rank missions until at least three months," Kakashi stated.

"But we're not most Genin," Sakura inputted.

"Yeah we're way better than the others," Naruto supported Sakura. Sasuke didn't even feel like saying anything to that, it went without saying that they were better than their classmates who they graduated.

"I suppose we could do a C rank, you are ready for it after all."

With that said team 7 took off towards the Hokages office with a bit more of a jump in their step, excited at the prospect of a proper mission.

"Jiji we want a C rank mission," Naruto barged into the Hokages office without a care in the world.

"Well Naruto-kun that's up to Kakashi," Hiruzen responded with a chuckle. It was always refreshing to talk to his surrogate grandson.

"Kakashi-sensei said it was okay Hokage-jisan," Sakura inputted and the Hokage looked up to Kakashi who simply gave a nod to this.

"Ah well then I suppose I can find something," the Hokage started looking through his papers. "This one looks like it should be fine. Your to escort a caravan to the land of iron, you will be going through the land of earth so be careful," Hiruzen warned them.

"Hai of course Hokage-jisan," Sakura responded.

"Okay meet at the gates to the village in two hours, the caravan will be waiting for you there. Kakashi can I have a word quickly," Hiruzen asked but it was more like a demand, then again anything the Hokage said was like that. The three genin left to collect the items they needed to take on a mission.

"Hai Hokage-sama," Kakashi asked, he was intrigued with what the Hokage might want with him.

"Have you told Sakura-chan yet," Hiruzen asked and realisation struck Kakashi.

"No I figured I'd wait until after the first C rank mission. I'll tell her when we get back," Kakashi assured the Hokage.

"Okay good now be careful, you can never be too safe on a mission. Look out for the three of them," the Hokage dismissed him.

"Hai Hokage-sama."

Two hours later they were all at the gates and there was only one caravan there but inside it was gold and steel, considering they were going to the land of iron Sakura figured it made sense. There were two people with the caravan and they were fine with the Genin escorting them, seeing as they only really planned on bandits attacking them and ninja were usually good deterrents for that.

"Okay team 7 lets depart," Kakashi ordered to his genin and they left.

On the way Naruto was bouncing with excitement. "What's got you like this," Sakura asked Naruto.

"I've never been outside the village before," Naruto responded.

"Are you serious, not even to nearby villages," Sakura asked shocked.

"Yeah I was never allowed to leave, do ya think we might fight some awesome ninja huh," Naruto asked excitedly.

"Not likely, we might run into some bandits so be ready but it's unlikely we'll find anyone to actually pose a challenge."

"Meh, well that's a shame," Naruto stated. He clearly wanted to have some great big fight that would go down in history. Kakashi smiled to himself at the innocence that his team still held. Soon enough that'd have to go but Kakashi decided he'd allow them to hold their illusions of fighting being fun. Kakashi was slightly worried they might run into Iwa shinobi, especially with Naruto looking like his sensei.

They'd been walking for a long time that day and were all exhausted so they decided they'd stop at an inn. It allowed them to park the caravan there which Kakashi layered a genjutsu over so no one would think anything of it. He'd just finished it when he walked in to see Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke at a table, all with sake in hand.

"What do you think you're doing," Kakashi asked pointedly. He knew they legally could drink but they shouldn't while on a mission.

"Having a drink," was Sakura's response. "Is that not okay sensei?"

"It's not that but we are on a mission, you probably shouldn't drink," Kakashi said. He didn't want to ruin any fun they might have and it was their first mission so it would probably be fine but it was better to be safe than sorry.

"You worry too much kaka-sensei it's like Sakura-chan said, we'll probably only run into bandits and they may as well be civilians," was Naruto's argument.

"Maa do what you want but don't get into trouble. Sasuke you're in the same room as me whilst Naruto and Sakura are sharing. Okay," Kakashi made sure they all understood. "Don't stay up too late." With that said Kakashi left the young Genin to the table.

"Okay everyone bottoms up," Sakura called out to her team mates before downing her drink. Naruto and Sasuke followed suit and none of them really liked the taste but leaving now in their minds meant showing weakness so no one said anything when Sakura refilled their drinks. They were in for a long night.

It was at least 3 in the morning and the Genin still weren't asleep, however they had mellowed out a bit from how hyper they'd been a few hours before, they'd gone outside and had a drunken free for all, the people in the pub betting on who they thought would win. It turned out that they were all so useless that it turned out that no one really won, if anyone did then it was likely Sakura seeing as she's the one who was least hurt.

"Okay I've got a serious confession to you two," Sakura said, her voice slightly slurred.

"Wha isit," was Naruto's response, the blonde was half asleep but this had maybe been the most fun night of his life. No one looked down on him and everyone was having fun.

"I think you two are the bestest friends I've ever had," Sakura said honestly. Her emerald eyes were wide and showed the pure honesty behind her words.

"Course Sakura-chan, you and Sasuke-teme. You're my closest people," Naruto said. He thought it was already established without words. Despite how annoying Sasuke could be he was still Naruto's closest friend alongside Sakura. Both the ninja looked towards Sasuke who suddenly felt very awkward. The Uchiha had felt bad about how he reacted to the whole leaf situation and he agreed with them to.

"I suppose you two are my closest friends as well," Sasuke stated. He'd think about the consequences of that tomorrow but for now Sasuke felt slightly at peace. Team 7 would never replace his family but they didn't have to. He was happy in team 7.

"A toast then," Sakura suddenly raised her glass. "To team 7," she knocked it against the table before downing it and then passing out, falling backwards. Naruto and Sasuke looked to each other and each spoke in unison. "To team 7," and drank their respective glasses, and with those words a bond had been forged between the three of them. It was still weak and could be cast away but it was still there and all three members knew it.

"C'mon Sasuke lets help Sakura-chan," Naruto stated as he walked round, stumbling slightly before putting one of her arms around his shoulders. Sasuke did the same with the other one and they carried her upstairs, placing her in the bed. "See ya tomorrow Sasuke," Naruto said nodding towards the Uchiha.

Sasuke went to just grunt and ignore it as was his habit but he stopped himself and thought about it. "Yeah I'll see you tomorrow," and with those words he returned to his room and passed out in his bed, he'd leave his thoughts until the morning.

Okay that's another chapter please review and tell me what you thought. If you have any ideas about what I should do with the characters than I'm open to ideas. Please continue to give some more input on whether one of them should go dark, if so which one, or none at all.

If there's any characters you'd liked put into the story I can try but i haven't watched any of the Naruto fillers and I might not know a character well enough to write them without being ooc but I'll try put as many of the ones you want to see in as possible.

One final thing, do you want me to put Konohamaru in it. Personally I don't really care either way but it wouldn't be before the end of the Chunin exam anyway.

Please remember to tell me what you think.