Iruka is aggravated at Naruto's tardiness. If he has to wait one more second, then he will lose his mind.
"I'M HERE!" the goofy kid shouts.
"You're late!"
"Heh heh! Sorry Iruka-sensei!"
"Because of that, all of the class will perform the transformation technique."
Sasuke rolls his eyes. The jutsu is nothing. He performs the technique before Naruto. The prankster snickers at his oncoming joke.
"Oiroke no jutsu!"
Iruka has a nosebleed at the naked blonde in front of him until he reestablishes his composure. Hinata and Sakura sigh in annoyance at the antics of the boy. Typical.
"Alright class. I have Mizuki-sensei with me to test you for the genin exams. Aburame Shino, follow us into the room."
Mizuki-sensei gives off bad vibes to Sakura. She is suspicious that he is involved with Danzo or Orochimaru.
"Haruno Sakura."
She goes into the room and waits for what they are going to say.
"Sakura. As my top student, I know you can do this with ease. Please perform Bunshin no Jutsu with two clones."
The prodigy does the technique and Iruka hands her the navy genin headband. Mizuki has dark intent in his eyes as he congratulates her. Bringing back memories, Sakura turns back towards Iruka.
"Thank you."
She leaves the room and walks into the original classroom.
"Hyuuga Hinata."
Hinata shuffles her feet and goes to Iruka. She looks at Sakura, who blinks at her once. Sakura walks back to her seat and lays her head on the desk. She contemplates the reason for such an easy test. It must be to see if one has some type of skill. If one is going to be a shinobi, no matter what rank, they will need to know more than how to copy themselves.
Iruka returns and says the children can leave as it was the end of the day. Sakura nearly darts out of the room, instinct telling her something is wrong. She lingers outside of the building to inhale fresh air. A window is cracked open in the room behind her and she overhears a conversation. Careful at hiding her position, she stays back against the wall occasionally peeking inside the classroom.
"Hey Naruto. Kind of sucks really that you didn't pass."
"..."
"I know another way you can become a genin."
"Really?"
"Yes. All you have to do is give me the Scroll of Seals."
"Ok then! Dattebayo!"
Sakura makes it her duty to follow him and ensure he doesn't actually find and steal the scroll. Naruto goes into the Hokage Residence to get it. He seems to know where it is so Sakura enters the room containing the scroll.
He finally finds it and Sakura blocks the doorway.
"S-S-Sakura! What are you doing here?"
"Uzumaki-kun. Do not give that scroll to Mizuki. It is a dangerous scroll and contains forbidden techniques."
"But he said I could become a genin!"
"He is a liar. Mizuki will accuse you and run off with the scroll."
"So how am I going to get out of the Academy?"
Usually wary of interacting with people in unusual situations, Sakura does not believe that she is saying this.
"There is one of the forbidden jutsus in the scroll that Hokage-sama has given me permission to use. It correlates with the test in the Academy and may make you a genin."
Apparently, Naruto can't believe it either. This Sakura who is the top of his class would teach him a jutsu Old Man Hokage taught her!
"But why?"
"I have found shinobi potential in you, Uzumaki-kun. You are able to last a period of time evading ninjas of higher ranks from pranks like this morning. Your pranks are sometimes well thought-out. Also, you managed to find the Scroll of Seals."
Naruto gleams with pride at the rare praise he is given.
"But what about Mizuki-sensei?"
"Here is the plan. We make a decoy of this scroll. Then you are going to take it and lure Mizuki. Once the time is right, you and I will trap Mizuki with the technique I will show you."
"Cool but what is the jutsu?"
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."
In the Forest
"Naruto! Don't give that scroll to Mizuki!"
Iruka shouts at Naruto, alerting him of his teacher's presence. Sakura said to act clueless so Naruto sticks with it.
"Huh? Why?"
"Don't listen to him, Naruto! He thinks you're a monster like all the rest!"
Naruto lurches back at the accusation.
"Mizuki! Don't say it!"
"You have the Kyuubi inside of you. The Fourth Hokage never killed it. That is why everyone hates you. You are a monster."
Monster. Monster. Don't go near that kid. He is a monster.
-Uzumaki-kun! Don't lose focus. You are Uzumaki Naruto, not the Kyuubi no Yoko. Don't you want to be Hokage?-
Naruto twirls around, wondering if he really heard Sakura's voice. Where is she?
-In your head, idi-There is no time. Drop the scroll. We need to do the technique now. He is taking advantage of your state.-
Naruto and Sakura yell, "Kage Bunshin no jutsu!"
The seal poofs away and many of the two appear.
"No way! Sakura, why are you here?"
"Mizuki. You have attempted to steal the Scroll of Seals. For that, I must take you to the Hokage for sentencing."
Naruto grins at the normal, strict composure of his friend, secretly wishing he could be like her.
"Thank you, Sakura. Naruto. About the Kyuubi..."
"I know Iruka-sensei! I will try harder to be Hokage and make them recognize me."
"So do you want to get ramen?"
"DATTEBAYO! Sakura, do you want to get ramen with us?!"
"Hm. Okay. I am going to drop him off at the Hokage's office."
"Okay! Meet us at Ichiraku Ramen!"
Sakura leaves while Naruto and Iruka go to Ichiraku's. She comes by a few minutes later and orders chicken ramen.
They eat and eat. Sakura and Naruto have a ramen-eating contest. Iruka announces the score.
Naruto. 24.
Sakura. 24.
Naruto pouts at not winning. To him, if you tying is losing. Then, he wonders how the hell Sakura stays fit. He saw her eat lunch earlier, albeit quite healthy, and it was a lot. Similar to a previous restaurant occurrence, Naruto's mind wanders and his nose bleeds. Anyways, after they all finish, Iruka lets him wear his headband, allowing him to be a genin.
"Bye Sakura! See you tomorrow!"
A couple days later; In the Hokage's room
A crowd of jounin stand in the office staring at the Hokage's crystal ball, witnessing the chaos flooding in Iruka's classroom.
They suddenly see a moment that makes some burst into tears, recoil in horror, or stare at blankly. Naruto and Sasuke have shared a kiss. The classroom is about to turn into the next Ninja War until one kunoichi stands up. She raises her hand and opens her eyes.
Everyone runs to sit down in fear of facing the wrath of the top student. She sits down and continues to carry on with her head lying down. Iruka comes into the classroom and announces the teams.
"Team 1...Watanabe Ami...Team 7 Uzumaki Naruto. Haruno Sakura. And Uchiha Sasuke."
"NO! Why does a good ninja like me have to be put on a team with a loser like Sasuke?"
"Well Naruto. Sasuke is right underneath Sakura while you are at the very bottom of the class. Sakura will make sure that you two can't do anything reckless."
One masked jounin watched the way the jinchuuriki, last Uchiha, and especially the highest scoring student interacted the entire time. He analyzes the dynamics of the strange trio. Naruto's brashness. Sasuke's aloofness. Sakura's control. In theory, they could make the perfect team. In real life though…
"Shut up, idiot." "MAKE ME." Menacing glare directed at Iruka.
Does this team have a chance?
Nah.