Sakura found Hinata getting ready to battle Kakashi, who had Naruto in a trap on the tree.
"Poor Naruto," Sakura thought.
Sakura quickly sent a Kunai at the rope holding Naruto up on the tree and poofed away. She appeared on the other side of the battle field with Espeon, only to see Hinata was being trapped in a Genjutsu by Kakashi.
"Espeon, send a rock at him using Psychic," Sakura instructed.
Espeon did as she was told and sent a rock from the other side of the field towards Kakashi at suck a fast pace that he had to dodge, which freed Hinata from the Genjutsu.
Before Sakura could figure out another move, the timer rang, signaling that it was lunch and nobody had gotten a bell.
"Espeon, you know I'm sorry," Sakura said as she headed towards the clearing with the three stumps.
"I understand," Espeon responded as she followed her mistress obediently.
As Sakura got to the clearing, she saw her teammates looking sad and dejected while their senseis were waiting for her. Kakashi gave her and upset look while Itachi looked like he was still confused about the shadow ball.
"Sakura, since you are the only person none of us ran into, you will be tied to the stump and be sent back to the academy while these three will take the test again," Kakashi said as he pulled out rope.
"But I thought you said we wouldn't go back to the academy if we got the bells," Sakura said.
"But you didn't. You didn't even show up," Kakashi said.
Sakura sighed and rolled her eyes before holding out her hand, which had all three bells in it, causing everyone to gasp and Kakashi to check his belt. Sure enough, they were the bells.
"But… how?" Kakashi asked.
"You forgot. I was kidnapped at the age of five and had to learn to fend for myself. Being able to get things without being noticed was part of that territory until I could start physically making money though battling," Sakura said.
Kakashi smirked. "Well then, it appears everyone is going back to the academy except Sakura."
The other three looked like they were going to complain but Sakura interrupted them.
"Nope," Sakura said before handing each of her three teammates a bell. "We all got a bell so that means that we all pass. I physically got them but they now have them so we all pass."
"Or, how about they pass and you get sent to the academy?" Kakashi tried again.
"I don't think so. Teams are made because they want us to use teamwork and get us to rely on others instead of taking the weight of the world on our shoulders," Sakura said, turning around to get her lunch. She then paused, "Oh, and by the way, you did see me. I was the one that saved Naruto, twice, freed Hinata from the Genjutsu, and attacked Itachi so Sasuke could get away. This whole time I was helping my teammates and staying in the shadows and, quite frankly, it should be Naruto and Sasuke who get sent back, because they only cared about themselves. Granted, Hinata only tried to help Naruto, but she did try to help her teammate, which was what this whole thing was about."
"What?!" Naruto and Sasuke growled, feeling angry that she said they should be sent back.
"Think about it! There are four of us but he only had three bells. He was trying to test us to see if we could figure it out. I did and Hinata subconsciously did while you two only cared about yourselves and passing. I mean, Sasuke spent all his time trying to beat his brother as a, more likely than not, way of earning the approval of his clan by beating it's protégée brother, and Naruto was only thinking about how he couldn't fail, otherwise he'd never reach his dream of being Hokage. You were both selfish and only thought of yourselves," Sakura said as she pulled out her bento and began eating, while also feeding Espeon.
"She's right, you know," Kakashi said. "And, since she is right, you two will be tied to the poles."
After tying the two pre-teens to the poles, Kakashi turned to the whole group.
"Sakura and Hinata passed. Naruto and Sasuke will have a chance to pass after lunch. You girls are not to feed these two," Kakashi said as he and Itachi poofed away.
"THAT'S FINE! I DON'T NEED TO EAT!" Naruto yelled but his stomach growled loudly, proving him wrong.
Sasuke just sighed and listened to his stomach grumble.
"I can't take this," Sakura said as she stood up.
"Yeah. No-one should be forced to starve," Hinata said as she also stood up. Both girls walked over to their male teammates and began feeding them some of their lunch.
Sakura fed Sasuke and Hinata fed Naruto.
"What did I say before?!" Kakashi appeared behind the two girls.
"You said 'you girls are not to feed these two'," Sakura recited as she gave Sasuke another bite.
"Exactly! So why are you feeding them?!" Kakashi growled.
"Because we are not feeding two. I am feeding one and Hinata is feeding one. That does not count as feeding two. We are each feeding one," Sakura responded with a smirk.
"You're a smartass, you know that?" Kakashi said, raising his visible eyebrow in amusement as Itachi appeared in the clearing.
"Well, it's better than being a dumbass," Sakura responded with a cheeky grin.
Itachi chuckled.
"You know, I don't think you should give the boys another chance with the bell test," Hinata said shyly, causing everyone to look at her. "They learned their lesson. Naruto didn't even complain when I stuffed carrots in his mouth."
"And veggies are nasty!" Naruto added.
Sasuke and Sakura both looked towards Naruto, wondering what went on through his brain sometimes.
"Can I interrupt?" Espeon flicked her tail back and forth.
"Yes, Espeon?" Sakura responded.
"Perhaps you should keep the smart talking for the enemies. You don't want your teammates mad at you," Espeon advised.
"Fine," Sakura said.
"So… I guess you all… PASS!" Kakashi said happily.
Hinata and Naruto cheered, Itachi and Sasuke smirked, and Sakura sat there, lost in her own thoughts and the conversation with Espeon.
Five minutes later…
"Uh, Sakura?" Sasuke waved his hand in front of her face. She just stared unblinkingly.
"Do you think something's wrong?" Hinata asked.
"Well, considering I said everyone can go and she's just sitting there, unblinking, I think something might be wrong," Kakashi said.
"How long do you think she can stay like that?" Itachi asked.
"I think she's dead," Naruto stated.
"Her cat is just sitting there as well," Kakashi pointed out.
"Creepy," Naruto muttered when he saw they were both staring at each other not blinking at all.
"Maybe they're having a staring contest?" Naruto suggested.
"Yeah, well who's winning?" Sasuke asked.
"And wouldn't Sakura have told us if it was a staring contest?" Itachi asked.
Sasuke then gently nudged Sakura, almost causing her to fall over. Then, in the blink of an eye, Sakura was behind Sasuke with a kunai at his throat and the rest of her teammates were on the ground. Sakura then blinked and realized she was safe and released Sasuke.
"I'm so sorry," Sakura apologized to everyone as she helped Hinata and Naruto up while steadying Sasuke. The two senseis immediately stood up.
"Well, at least you know how to react if you're in danger," Kakashi muttered as he rubbed his shoulder.
"And if you're being surrounded," Itachi added, acting as if nothing happened.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I was thinking and completely zoned out then I felt a hand on me and I was tipping over. I reacted on instinct," Sakura apologized again.
"Tell that to my neck," Sasuke said as he rubbed his neck where Sakura's kunai had scraped but had not broken through.
"Quit whining, you baby," Sakura said as she walked forward and used a low level medical jutsu on his neck. "I just started learning about healing, but you should be fine after this."
"I'm not sure I trust you near my neck anymore," Sasuke teased light heartedly when he felt a familiar warm sensation flowing through his neck (his mother knows medical Ninjutsu. I'm not sure if she does in real life but she does in here.)
"Oh, shut up, Uchiha," Sakura said with a light blush on her cheeks.
"I smell love in the air," Naruto teased, causing both genin to whack him upside the head.
"Oh, Naruto," Hinata muttered, knowing he was going to get hurt from the second he opened his mouth.
"Well, looks like I have something good to tell mother and father today," Itachi thought happily when he saw the two genin turn away from each other with blushes adorning their cheeks.
"Alright! I suggest we all get ramen!" Sakura said, trying to change the subject. "Kakashi's buying!"
Everyone, except Kakashi, cheered at this and they all ran to Ichiraku except for Sakura who stayed behind to make sure Kakashi was coming.
"Sensei, you better hurry before I get my mallet out again," Sakura threatened making Kakashi gulp and walk faster.
Next week…
Over the past week, team 7 had taken on and completed many missions. Naruto and Sasuke's rivalry had gotten them into trouble multiple times and Sakura always seemed to manage to get them out of trouble.
Now, they were in the Hokage's office trying to get a new mission.
"NO! I don't want any of these baby missions! Give us a tough mission!" Naruto yelled at the Hokage.
"Naruto, you are a genin. This means that you are only eligible to take C and D rank missions. Since you are a rookie, you can only take D rank!" Iruka yelled at Naruto.
"Relax Iruka," the Hokage said. "I'm sure one C rank mission won't kill them. Especially with two of my ex-ANBU on their team."
"Fine," Iruka sighed.
"YAY! NARUTO FINALLY DID SOMETHING RIGHT!" Sakura yelled in joy as she hopped up and down.
Everyone looked to Espeon, wondering if the girl was always like this. The cat just sighed and nodded, making everyone sweatdrop.
"Sakura-chan, I think that we should wait for Hokage-sama to tell us what the mission is before you start cheering," Hinata said.
"Fine," Sakura said as she landed and stood still with a huge grin on her face.
"I will never understand what's wrong with you," Sasuke muttered, earning a hit in the head from Sakura.
"These are the people that are supposed to protect me?" a man said as he walked into the Hokage's office.
"Ah, yes. These six will be bringing you home. I have complete faith in them completing this mission," the Hokage assured.
"Hmm… Idiotic blonde, shy blue haired girl, emo duck-butt and a lunatic with pink hair. You sure they can protect me?" the man said.
"SAY THAT AGAIN, OLD MAN!" Sakura threatened as she pulled out her mallet, only for Sasuke, Naruto, Itachi and Kakashi to hold her back from hitting the man.
"This is Tazuna. He's you're client. Don't kill him," the Hokage said, chuckling.
"Down, Sakura!" Kakashi commanded as if he was talking to one of his Ninja Hounds.
"DIE!" was the only thing that came out of the girl's mouth.
"Bird, can you come in here, please," the Hokage spoke into an earpiece.
"It's Sakura isn't it?" said ANBU asked as he walked in the door.
"Yep," Hinata confirmed.
The ANBU sighed before taking the girl from her team's arms and walking out of the office with her over his shoulder. All the while she was yelling, "PUT ME DOWN, OLD MAN!"
The Hokage just smiled. "You're all dismissed. Go, pack. You leave in three hours."
Everyone just stared at him. Was this a regular thing with Sakura trying to attack people and then an ANBU having to drag her away?
With Sakura, Espeon, and Bird…
"Put me down!" Sakura struggled.
"Mistress, I believe you should calm down before they sedate you again," Espeon advised.
Sakura sighed and let herself go limp in the ANBU's arms.
"Finally done?" the male voice came.
"Hai," Sakura said grumpily.
"Why were you attacking this time?" the ANBU asked as he set her down.
"He called me a lunatic! I'm not crazy! I'm just enthusiastic and hyper," Sakura said as tears started to form in her eyes. She hated people making fun of her. "Is it my fault I was alone for two years and couldn't act normal for three years after that?"
"No, of course not, baby," the ANBU removed his mask to reveal her father before he wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug. "I know you were alone and that you just wanted to have a friend to talk to. I know that you forgot how to act around others. That's not you're fault."
"Then why does everyone make fun of me?" Sakura whimpered as she cried onto her father's shoulder.
As this conversation continued, the two were unaware of two upset pairs of onyx eyes that were watching them.
A/N: Hey guys. Again, sorry it took so long. I've had a lot on my plate lately and haven't really had a chance to work on any of my stories. I'm gonna try and catch up, and hopefully you won't all hate me forever.
Sasuke: We all hate you anyway.
Me: Well you can kiss my ass, Uchiha. How would you feel if Itachi was in the hospital, huh?
Sasuke: Probably a lot like you do considering you're sis just got out of the hospital.
Me: Damn straight. Now say all the crap you are now getting paid to say.
Sasuke: Review! Before she kills us all! DO IT!