It is a bright morning in Konoha. All of the new Academy graduates wake up to prepare for their real genin test. Some of them engage in other activities before heading off.

Haruno Sakura is one of those who engage in other activities.

She walks around the village heading to where her feet lead her. The streets are calmer in the morning. A few people behind the stands wave at Sakura so she looks at what they are selling. She encounters a man named Yuki.

"Hi young one. Would you like to buy something? I sell scarves, jackets, and headbands."

"I am just wandering around. May I have the black scarf to the right?"

His eyes show a moment of sadness.

"Of course."

He hands her the scarf and she gives him the money.

"Thank you."

Sakura bows down and walks away, wrapping the scarf around her neck. Then she happens to come across Ino, who is exiting the flower shop.

"Good morning Sakura! Whatcha doin'?" Ino exclaims.

"Good morning. I am just wandering."

"Shouldn't you be going to test? We are testing and this isn't a joke, right?"

"Yes. My sensei is late for everything so he won't show up for a couple of hours."

Ino is relieved. She would be very angry if Asuma-sensei was lying.

"So what's your teacher like? My teacher is Asuma Sarutobi, son of the Hokage! He is kinda like Shikamaru and was smoking after we went to talk. Shikamaru fell asleep when we were talking too! The nerve of some guys!"

"My teacher is Hatake Kakashi. He didn't tell us anything about himself except his name."

But of course knowing Sakura, she knows something about everyone and everything. So Ino shoots her a look egging her to say more.

"Ok he likes to read ahem, erotic novels. I have seen him around a few times reading before. He wears a mask too," Sakura states.

"So what you are pretty much telling me is that he is a pervert," Ino groans.

"Maybe, maybe not. By the way I have some gossip for you," Sakura says grabbing Ino's attention.

"I have heard people saying that Hinata-chan's sensei is dating your sensei."

"How do you know?"

Ino is bouncing up and down like a child. If they aren't together yet then she will match make them herself

"They say 'The Hokage's son likes that pretty red-eyed lady'."

"Anything else?!"

"Ami has a boyfriend."

"WHAT?!" Ino hollers.

"Sh. I don't ever lie to you."

"You mean the same Ami who we beat up. The one who proclaims to love Sasuke-kun."

"Yes."

Ino wonders how the wench could even get a boyfriend. The girl looks like roadkill.

"Anyways, I will talk to you later, Ino-chan. Shikamaru and Choji are over there. We will meet at the Academy at 5 tonight. All of the real graduates this year. You can bring Sarutobi-sensei if you want to."

"Okay! Bye!"

I walk to where lazy and fatass are. Sigh It would have been great to be with Sakura.

Sakura strolls down the road when she senses Hinata-chan, Inuzuka-kun, and Aburame-san. They are all coming down the same path so she assumes that their testing ground isn't too far away.

"Hey Sakura!"

"Hello Inuzuka-kun. Hinata-chan, Aburame-san."

"Hello Sakura-san," greets Shino.

"Hi Sakura-chan," says Hinata. Hinata can tell that Sakura isn't doing anything.

"Well since you all are on your way, I will not hold you. Go to Academy at 5 pm. If you pass of course."

Hinata smiles at Sakura's invitation. Her team will definitely pass.

Moving ahead, she is closer to the Third Training Ground. Naruto and Sasuke are quite the distance away. She can avoid them without using chakra, but she has to pick up her pace to do so. After bypassing the two, she heads to reserve spots for the new rookies. She enters the divine restaurant which holds the closest memories to her. Kurumi is behind the counter and waves to her.

"Hello Haruno-sama!" She greets.

"Hello Kurumi-san. I would like to reserve a table for 12, myself included. Time is 5:20."

"Sure thing! Quite a large group you have there."

"Indeed, goodbye."

Sakura leaves the place and moves to the clan district. Mentally, she thinks of the time. She left the district at 7:00, ran into the others at 7:55, made reservations at 8:55, and arrived back at her home at 9. Her stomach grumbles. For some reason, she forgot that she did not eat. She heads down to the kitchen and makes eggs and bacon with toast. She could've asked the maids but she didn't want to be bothersome.

Unintentionally, she cooked a feast. Normally, she would just say forget it and eat everything herself but her stomach would hurt terribly. She decides to give some to Naruto and Sasuke, who most likely believed Kakashi. She grabs their boxes that she made for emergencies and seals them in a scroll. Since it is about 9:30, she departs.

When she arrives at the Third Training Ground, Naruto and Sasuke are glaring at each other. They see her and Naruto yells, "You're late!"

"I'm sorry but you should feel a bit appreciative," she replies.

Sasuke and Naruto look at her quizzically. She pulls out the scroll and summons the food. The two look at the boxes and suspiciously glance at her.

"Kakashi-sensei said not to eat breakfast," Sasuke remarks.

"He also said to be here at 8. Do not be fooled easily," Sakura states. Although, she actually failed to recall Kakashi saying not to eat. After all, she was very hungry.

They relent and take the boxes. Sakura takes hers too. When they open them, Naruto and Sasuke are stunned. Not only is there eggs and bacon, but she also added strawberries and grapes.

"Um, Sakura? You didn't have to make all of this," Naruto drools.

"I didn't mean to. And please eat all of it."

Her teammates start eating. A blush appears on Sasuke's face and Naruto visibly brightens up.

"Hell yeah! Sakura, this tastes good!"

"Hn. Thanks."

The team finishes and Sakura seals the boxes back into the scroll. She secretly forms a jutsu dissipating the smell from the area.

Poof

"Yo!" greets Kakashi.

"You're late!"

"Sorry I got lost on the path of life."

Sakura cuts Naruto off knowing he is going to yell.

"Today's objective is to get these bells," Kakashi instructs.

"But there are only two!"

"Exactly, one of you will go back to the Academy. If you do not get a bell, then you will not eat lunch."

To Kakashi's surprise, none of them really seemed concerned. He guesses that they didn't listen to him.

"I am setting the timer for 12:00. When I say go-"

And of course Naruto rushes toward him with a kunai. Kakashi twists the kunai at his neck and says,

"I didn't say go."

Sasuke seems to get the memo and readies himself. Sakura still hasn't moved yet. He lets go of Naruto and sets the timer.

"GO!"

One second Naruto is standing behind Kakashi, the next he is dragged in the bushes watching a fight between himself and Kakashi-sensei. He moves a little to the right and feel Sakura next to him. Her voice appears in his head again like the time with Mizuki.

-Uzumaki-kun, Hatake-sensei is currently under a genjutsu. He is intentionally trying to test our teamwork.-

Well now that Naruto thinks about it, it is kind of fishy that there are two bells. How are you sure?

-Have you ever seen a genin team with only two students? Do you honestly think that one or two Academy students can beat a jounin?-

Naruto freezes and groans. So we are working with the teme.

-Hai.-

Dammit!

He eyes Kakashi and notices that he has disappeared. Sakura grabs him, and they teleport to another section of the training grounds. This time Sasuke is with them.

-I am sorry to intrude into your thoughts, Uchiha-kun.-

Huh?

-Look in front of you. -

He tries to adjust himself but Sakura is holding him. Slightly embarrassed of their proximity, he just blushes and stares forward.

What is happening? Is that Kakashi and I fighting?

-This is a genjutsu. The fight you saw with Uzumaki-kun was also one. Let's go quickly to another part of the forest.-

Sasuke almost asks how but she teleports them to the other side of the forest.

When Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto arrive there, Sakura has got some explaining to do.

"Okay Uchiha-kun. I grabbed both you and Uzumaki-kun because the point of the test is not to just get the bells. It is the strategy in which you obtain them."

"What do you mean?" Sasuke glares.

"Hatake-sensei wants us to use teamwork. How many people do you think would understand that? This is why Hatake-sensei has never passed a team for maybe 5 years."

Both of the boys look astounded to hear that. They thought back to Sakura's genjutsu and realized how accurate it was. Kakashi could not simply be defeated even with their best techniques.

"So what is the plan, Sakura?" Naruto asks.

Sakura's ideas were along the lines of maybe stealing his book. "Every shinobi has a weakness. I will go and distract Hatake-sensei."

She left to put Kakashi through yet another genjutsu.

How should I go about this? Sakura thinks. Hatake-sensei knows her rank in the Academy so he won't expect her to fall so easily. So perhaps she should confuse him. Currently, he does not know her location. She slowly releases her chakra and watches him through the bushes. Suddenly, his presence appears behind her.

"Hey Sakura, behind you."

"Hello Hatake-sensei."

While he forms a genjutsu to put her through, Sakura casts a genjutsu on him. Quickly, she teleports back to the area where her teammates await.

"So do you have an idea?" she asks them.

"Yeah! We need to get the book!" Naruto exclaims.

"Hn. What the Dobe meant to say was that we need to somehow get the book or spoil the contents in the book."

"That sounds legible. I will take the book and threaten it."

"Hey teme, Sakura! How do we know he will fall for it?"

Sakura replays a time she trained with Hinata. She would cry every time Sakura stole the scrolls and ninjutsu books away from her.

"That is how bookworms are. You and Uchiha-kun will take the bells," she replies.

"Hai!"

"Now here is the plan..."

Few Minutes Later

Kakashi strolls through the training ground wondering where his "students" are. He hears some rustling in the bushes and Sakura comes out. Then, Naruto and Sasuke come out and try to steal the bells from him. So caught up in fighting them, he forgets that Sakura was there. They suddenly stop and he pause also.

"Did you give up?" he comments.

"No but you should Kakashi-sensei!"

"Why?"

Sasuke points over to a log and Kakashi sees Sakura sitting with…His book!

"Hatake-sensei, I suggest you give Uzumaki-kun and Uchiha-kun the bells. Or else the book gets it."

"And what can you do?"

"The question you should ask is: What can we all do?"

Oh no! Naruto probably can tear it into shreds! Sasuke would burn it! But I don't know what Sakura can do...

"So what will you give up, bells or book?"

"Sigh Fine you all got me. Here you go Naruto, Sasuke."

Only to look and see them missing.

Flashback- Sakura's Plan

"When I take the book, I will send a shock through his body to dull his senses. At the time I question him, Sasuke, you need to take a wire and slip it to the bells."

Flashback End

Kakashi looks in front of Sakura and sees Naruto and Sasuke already have them.

"Hn. We passed, right?"

That Uchiha said that. But it seems like he finally has the team that he was looking for. Their teamwork is flawless.

"I have to say you guys... pass!"

A smirk appears on Sasuke's face. Naruto is cheering. And Sakura gives back his book.

"So how did you know?" interrogates Kakashi.

"Know what?" Sakura innocently blinks.

"That that was it took."

"Ehhh... Sakura, how did you know?" questions Naruto.

"You are a jounin. It would be a different case if we were all prodigies. No one expects two twelve-year olds who just graduated the Academy to beat you."

"Well then. I have to show you guys something."

He walks over to the memorial stone, the adolescents following him.

"This is a KIA stone. My closest friends are on here."

Naruto shouts, "I want to be on there!"

"Uzumaki-kun. KIA means killed in action."

The mood visibly darkens.

"What I should say, however, is that one of these friends taught me. Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum."

"So now we all can go home." Sasuke says.

"Wait." Sakura says. Everyone turns around to look at her.

"Please come to the Academy at 5."

"Why?! Is it a surprise?" Naruto's eyes widen.

"Yes Uzumaki-kun."

"Okay!"

"Hn. Sure."

"Hm, fine."

They walk back to Konoha and go their separate ways.

Sakura goes to her house and lays down for a few. After she gets up again, she grabs the scarf from that morning. Out in the streets of Konoha, she finds Yuki-san. He seems a bit surprised when she returns.

"Hello young lady. Didn't I see you before?"

"Yes I came to return this to you."

"Okay. How much did it cost?"

"There is no need. You may have it back."

"Why?"

"Some memories you need to hold on to."

He smiles at me and the shock disappears.

"Thank you very much."

She leaves and heads back to her house. Hinata-chan sure will be happy when they get there. Akimichi-kun also. She arrives in her room and for the first time in forever felt a bit conflicted. Should she go dressy like a proper host? Or casual to remain inconspicuous? She decides casual, thinking she shouldn't be over the top. She look at the clock and sees it is time for her to leave. Akise is nearby so she calls out to him.

"Akise. Take care of the house for me while I am gone."

"Of course Sakura-sama."

"Arigato."

Finally, she gets to the Academy. Footsteps are heard from another direction and I see Sasuke and Naruto.

"Hey Sakura! So what are we doing?"

"I will tell in about ten minutes."

"Okay."

Soon everyone comes and they are left wondering what she is planning. She leads showing the direction to the newly formed teams and her own. Somewhere along the way, Hinata realizes they are going to the buffet. She comes up to me and walks faster. Not wanting her to get lost, Sakura also speeds up.

When they are right in front of the place, she sighs wondering why she even does this. Hinata and Choji jump up and down. Kiba questions their reactions.

"What's got you guys so hype about this place?"

They are about to respond when Sakura interrupts.

"Follow me inside."

They go in there and everyone looks in amazement at the establishment.

"Sakura-sama. Your table is ready!"

"Arigato, Kurumi-san."

"Follow me everyone!" says Kurumi.

The group is seated at a large table.

"Has your lovely host explained?"

"Nope! Sakura didn't tell us anything!" Ino shouts in annoyance.

"Alrighty then! Sakura-sama, tell them everything."

"This is a celebration for the newly formed teams this year. We are currently at a buffet/restaurant that serves anything you could imagine."

"Yeah! And it is the best in town. When she says anything, I mean anything!" Choji says.

"Less talk, more eating! So are you kiddies eating here or getting up?" Kurumi smiles.

"BUFFET OF COURSE!" screams Naruto.

Everyone stands to go to the buffet. Well, Sakura gets up quicker than all of them.

Kakashi eyes the food in content. It's fine as long as he's not paying. When they get back to the table, he sits down and sees some who overkill the amount of food. Naruto has a lot of ramen, Akimichi has a variety, and Sasuke has...tomatoes. Who the hell eats that many tomatoes? Hyuuga heiress has cinnamon rolls. And Sakura has onigiri with lots of other food. At least he knows something more about her. Kakashi looks beside him and watches Asuma 'talking' with Kurenai. He knows it is flirting so why doesn't he just admit it? But I wonder, why does the Hyuuga add -Sama to Sakura's name if they are close friends?

"ITADAKIMASU!"

Everyone eats; some like hogs and dogs, others daintily, and some eat normally. It feels different to Sakura. Most of the time she eats with people on business terms or her family. Here she sits with allies and friends. There is happiness and warmth and she can feel something in herself stinging. Why is it so hard for her to feel?

Naruto worships his friend for taking him out. The only people who he ate with outside his place are the Old Man and Teuchi-san. It feels nice to be around people who aren't judging him. Naruto remembers Sakura helping him with written work, something he couldn't possibly understand. Nobody taught him, but she tried. He always wanted to be her friend, but they never clicked, especially after the time she grew distant.

Sasuke nibbles on his tomatoes contently while thinking. He hasn't really talked to Sakura after that day. But he must admit that she is nicer than he thought. He kind of placed her as a bitch before. Who wouldn't be jealous when a person is constantly beating you and stealing your brother away? Sasuke felt traumatized after he killed the clan and blamed her. However he was sympathetic towards her a couple years back without understanding. She was extremely cold and never talked to anyone.

Both Naruto and Sasuke think that Sakura is hard to explain nowadays. Her face and eyes show nothing yet her actions seem caring. Sometimes they wonder if she is bipolar.

But that is beside the point. All they know is that they feel a little less lonely.