*Nightingale*

In this story, be prepared to have your first impression twisted to the point where you have no idea what to expect from these characters. I am not very good at fight scenes so please be patient with me. This story is based off of the song Nightingale by Demi Lovato (Check it out! I love this song!). Enjoy!

Two Months Later

*At the Ninja Academy*

Normal POV

After two long months of non-stop training, it was finally time for the jonin exams. The ecstatic and anxious members of team 7 stood readily outside of the Ninja Academy with their old Jonin sensei, Kakashi Hatake.

"Are you guys ready?" The copy-nin asked surprisingly not reading his beloved Icha Icha Paradise novel. Naruto shouted in excitement beyond ready to start the exam while the other two members, Sasuke Uchiha and Sai Soto (I made up his last name because I don't know it ), grunted in response.

"Believe it Kakashi-sensei! After I ace this exam, I'll become the Hokage within weeks!" He sported a huge cheesy grin while pumping his fist into the air.

Kakashi smiled behind his mask at his former student. Though he won't say it out loud, he's always secretly rooted for his student to become the 6th Hokage of the Leaf. He's seen how far the young boy has grown and played a part in teaching him how to love his comrades and village above himself. Watching he continuously put his life on the line for his friends and village, he wouldn't doubt that he would be a great Hokage.

"Well don't waste all of your energy shouting to the heavens. Save it for the exams." Kakashi smiled with his eyes patting the blonde on the shoulder.

"You know that dickless has an endless supply of energy stored away. It would be impossible for him to grow tired." Sai chirped with that fake smile of his on his face. Naruto grinded his teeth together gripping Sai's collar threateningly.

"What did you just call me teme?!" He seethed in Sai's face. Kakashi sweat dropped while Sasuke grunted looking in the direction of the main gate of the academy thinking about a certain pinkette.

True to her word, she kept her distance away from him. She went as far as getting up extra early to eat her breakfast and leaving before he made it downstairs to eat. She hasn't even met the rest of the Konoha participants for the exams yet because of it. He was even beginning to think she wasn't going to show up for the exams at all. Though seconds after thinking that, her petit form appeared under the gate with two other muscular women flanking each side of her with lances tied securely to their backs. Sakura herself was not dressed in the same outfit he saw her wear previously.

Now, she was clad in a skin tight sleeveless black body suit that covered her feet with black fingerless gloves running down the length of her arms. A white skirt also covered her lower half reaching half down her thigh as well. Her long pink hair was tied up into a high ponytail to keep out of her face. However, she still wore the bell around her right ankle yet it disturbed him how it didn't chime as she walked. A satchel was clasped around her waist while two katana were strapped to her back. As she approached, Naruto decided to make her presence known to everyone around them.

"Sakura-chan, over here!" He screamed waving her over frantically. Her emerald eyes focused on the blonde boy as a small smile graced her perfect features.

"Naruto…kun? Did I say the suffix correctly?" She asked as she walked up to the small group with the two women following closely behind her. Naruto flashed her a warm smile before dropping Sai to the ground and throwing his hands behind his head.

"Of course Sakura-chan! I told you that you'd get the hang of our customs in no time! You're too smart not to!" He gave a toothy grin before letting out a happy bellow. Sakura couldn't help but to laugh along with her new found friend.

Within the two months she spent preparing for the exams, she also spent with the blonde. He's been a key player in helping her adjust to her new environment and also helped her understand the strange customs of his beloved country. For example, how to address people to whom she respects or regards as a friend. So far she's gotten the hang of it and even wrote to her father using their form of 'father' being 'tou-san'. The letter she received the following day asking whether or not she was forming a new language made her laugh as well as Naruto when she shared it with him. It just goes to show the great distance they have regarding culture.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun." She turned to face Sasuke replacing her smile with a polite one. "Hello, Sasuke-teme, it's nice to see you." Sasuke's face darkened as glared daggers at the now confused princess. She turned her confused frown to the blonde whom was desperately trying to hold in his laughter. "Why is he angry with me? Didn't you say the suffix 'teme' was reserved for members of the Uchiha clan?" With that explanation, Naruto busted out into hysterics before Sasuke whacked him across the head silencing him immediately.

"Ouch!" Naruto wailed before proceeding to complain to Kakashi about Sasuke abusing him. Kakashi ignored the blonde in favor greeting the new comer he hasn't been acquainted with.

"My name is Hatake Kakashi. I am Naruto, Sasuke, and Sai's old sensei. Your name is Sakura…?"

"Haruno, Sakura Haruno, and these two lovely women are my comrades, Juri Maaka and Ruka Maduka. I will be a guest in you village for a while." Sakura finished for him before turning her gaze to the pale skinned boy standing up from the ground.

Her heart ached for this young man. She could feel his spirit was ripped to shreds leaving behind the shadow of a man who was wrongfully stripped of his life. She may not know how his spirit became like it is, but she knew something terrible did happen for him to become the way he is now.

"You must be Sai then. Hello, I am Sakura Haruno." She smiled warmly at the boy. He stared emotionlessly at her before a fake smile slowly creped its way onto his lips. That smile almost made her falter and weep for the boy who was so broken he couldn't even put on a real smile, but she held steady.

"I am Sai Soto." He paused for a moment looking her up and down before looking her back in the eye. "I read in a book that it's a good thing to give potential friends pet names based off of how you see them. Your nickname should be-" before a word could leave his mouth, Naruto slapped him upside the head silencing him.

"You're not going to degrade Sakura-chan with one of your stupid nicknames Sai!" Naruto yelled at him before muttering under his breath about how he wasn't 'dickless'. Sakura choose to ignore whatever it was they were talking about in favor of addressing the reason the silver haired jonin was looking her up and down.

"Is there a reason you're eyeing me, Kakashi-san?" She politely inquired turning her full attention to him. Kakashi smiled through his eyes putting up a hand in defense while using the other one to rub the back of his head.

"My apologies if I made you uncomfortable, but you don't have a hand band. I'm curious to know what village you are from since I've never seen another person with pink hair before." Sakura blinked before realization dawned on her and she smiled knowingly.

"You mean the band Naruto-kun wears around his forehead correct? We are not from any of your known villages. In fact, we are from a land recently allied with your own, and as of such, we do not have head bands to distinguish ourselves." Sakura explained turning her gaze to the sky. Her smile widened as she lowered her gazed to address the six people around her. "It seems it's almost time for the exams. I wish everyone good luck." and with that, they all entered the academy with the exception of Kakashi who disappeared in a puff of smoke to find a good place to read his novel.

And that's chapter 8. I'm actually quite proud I posted two chapters in one night. Well, I'll post chapter 9 tomorrow hopefully. Hope you enjoyed!