Huge thanks to SMALLMANstreet for the feedback last chapter. To answer his question, yes, Team 7 will be Team Itachi in this story obviously. Kakashi will be in charge of Team 10, while Kurenai will continue to exist in this but just not as a Jonin sensei. Chapter 3 - enjoy.

"Hi, Sasuke!"

Sasuke turned, expecting to see a fangirl of his. To his surprise, it was Naruto Uzumaki, the boy his brother had went to the aid of yesterday.

"What are you up to, Naruto?" Sasuke asked suspiciously. He didn't exactly trust Naruto to greet him politely. "Do you want a favor or something?"

"No, no," Naruto frowned. "I just wanted to thank you and your brother for yesterday night... y'know... uh... Mizuki-sensei?"

"Uh, yeah," Sasuke nodded, recalling. "It's nothing," the Uchiha gave his classmate a small smile.

"Your brother's really strong!" The dead last quickly invited himself to sit beside Sasuke. The latter had to hide a scowl, preferring to sit alone.

At least it isn't one of my fangirls, he reasoned with himself.

"Yes, yes, he is."

As the two classmates talked, Sasuke got to know him. He wasn't really as bad as the young Uchiha thought he was. Just maybe a little talkative.

"Hey, what are you doing here, Naruto?"

One of their classmates, Shikamaru Nara, another dead last, had walked over to where Naruto and Sasuke were sitting.

"You only come here if you pass the Genin Exam."

"Can't you see this?" Naruto shot into a big grin, tugging onto his own forehead protector. "I passed!"

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He nodded and returned to his seat.

Suddenly, loud voices could be heard and Naruto turned to the back of the class and saw Sakura waving at him.

"Uh, good morning, Sakura-chan!" The blonde said nervously, a shade of red coming over his face. Sasuke noticed this, and mentally comforted him. He knew Naruto stood no chance against his number one fangirl.

"Go away!" Sakura violently pushed Naruto to the ground. "Good morning, Sasuke-kun!"

"Why did you knock Naruto on the ground?" Sasuke quizzed, a little irritated by how the pink-haired girl was being disrespectful.

"Oh!" Sakura quickly helped Naruto up, albeit with reluctance. "So, can I sit beside you today, Sasuke-kun?"

This time it was Ino, another one of his fangirls, to rush over. "No! I'll sit beside Sasuke-kun!"

"First come, first serve!"

"I came into the classroom before you!"

Soon, a crowd of his female classmates had gathered beside Sasuke and the still-looking-dazed Naruto. The boy looked away, embarrassed at how many girls were fighting over him.

"I'll sit with Naruto," Sasuke finally spoke. He hoped this would fend the girls away.

Unfortunately...

Iruka stepped into the classroom, stopping the army of Sasuke fangirls chasing Naruto around.

After talking about balance or something, Iruka announced the teams.

"Now we come to the seventh team. Team 7 will consist of..."

Sasuke looked up, hoping to hear his name.

"Naruto Uzumaki!"

Naruto looked up.

"Sakura Haruno!"

This time, Naruto jumped onto the table, cheering. He was with Sakura!

"Sasuke Uchiha!"

The Rookie of the Year let off a big sigh as now it was Sakura's turn to cheer. The loudmouthed dead last and the fangirl. Just great. He could probably live with the dead last, but Sakura? No way...

"Your sensei will be Itachi Uchiha," Iruka gave Sasuke a nod and a smile.

Itachi? Big brother? Sasuke's ears pricked up.

"Meeting with your Jonin sensei will be in thirty minutes. Until then, you are all dismissed."

I wonder why big brother is becoming a Jonin sensei, Sasuke thought. Maybe Father wanted him to keep an eye and look out for me.

"Sasuke-kun!"

Sasuke swore as he looked back. Indeed, it was that pink-haired girl. Sakura was running up to him with a lunchbox.

"Since we are a team now, we should eat together!" Sakura smiled her sweetest smile.

Sasuke looked away again, running a hand through his hair in embarrassment. Sakura was cute, sure, but he held no romantic feelings for her. Before he could open his mouth to speak, Naruto had come running after Sakura.

"Sakura-chan! I thought since we are a team now, we should eat together!" He grinned broadly as he arrived.

Sakura gave him a death glare, but Sasuke saw this as an opportunity.

"Uh... since we are all a team now, I say we all eat together!" He smiled at his two teammates, who both nodded in agreement.

Itachi had picked the team up in the class and they were now at a bridge.

"Say, brother, why did you want to become a Jonin sensei?"

Itachi shrugged. "I was bored, and Dad's Police Force thing isn't really cut out for me."

So this is Sasuke's brother? He's so cool! Almost as cool as Sasuke! Inner Sakura squealed.

"I gotta thank ya for yesterday, Itachi-sensei!" Naruto grinned.

"Ah. Naruto, huh?"

"Yeah!"

"Right. Now, since we are going to be a team from now on, I want you all to know every one. Each of you have to introduce yourselves to the team," Itachi told the three Genin, gesturing for them to take a seat.

"Why don't you start off, Itachi-sensei?" Naruto asked.

"Hn," Itachi grunted. "My name is Itachi Uchiha. I like my family. I dislike war. My dream is for the ninja world to achieve world peace. Now you go."

"Okay, okay!" Naruto had a broad grin on his face. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki! I like cup ramen but I like the ramen that Iruka-sensei buys for me at Ichiraku even more! I dislike the three minutes I have to wait after I put the hot water. My dream is to become greater than all of the Leaf's Hokages!"

Itachi had to hold back a chuckle. "Right. Next."

"I'm Sakura Haruno," Sakura smiled. "I like... um... my dream is..." She glanced over to Sasuke, and Itachi frowned. A fangirl on his team! He mentally swore.

"Right, right, right... And your dislikes?"

"Naruto," Sakura answered at once, glaring over at her teammate. Naruto stared back at her, sweating profusely.

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha! I like my family, rice balls, and I dislike fangirls." He glanced over to Sakura. "My dream is to become the strongest Uchiha alive!"

"Great ambition," Itachi noted, and earned a cheeky smile from his little brother. "Alright, now we've got that cleared up. My first mission for the three of you will take place tomorrow."

"Mission?" The three asked together.

"Hn," the older Uchiha nodded. "A survival test, of sorts."

"Wh-What? Survival test?"

"Well, I hate to break it to you," Itachi sighed. "But, uh... out of the 27 or so who graduate... only 9 will make it as a true Genin and ninja. The rest will be sent packing back to the academy."

"No way!" Naruto yelled. "I've come too far to be sent back to the academy!"

"You don't know what 'too far' is yet, Naruto..." The Uchiha prodigy muttered under his breath. "In other words, this test has a 66 percent dropout rate," he explained.

"What was the Genin Exam for?" This time it was Sasuke's turn to ask a question.

"You can call it a preliminary test," Itachi replied. He mentally sympathized with the trio after they all hung their heads in disappointment.

"Is this how it works with every one who gets promoted to Genin?" Naruto scowled.

Itachi nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "I, being the Jonin sensei, will determine whether you pass or fail."

"You'll pass me, right, big brother?"

Itachi turned to Sasuke and shook his head firmly. "No pulling of strings, Sasuke."

Sasuke sighed.

"Okay!" A hint of enthusiasm could be detected from Itachi's voice. "We'll meet at the Third Training Ground... you know where that is right?" When he got three nods, he continued. "We'll meet there at 8 o'clock in the morning tomorrow, sharp. Bring your ninja tools, and anything you would bring for a mission."

"I would bring cup ramen for a mission!" Naruto replied gleefully.

"You can't use cup ramen as a weapon against enemy ninja, Naruto..." Itachi frowned. "Okay. See you all later!"

With that, the team captain disappeared in a puff of smoke.

In the next chapter, Team 7 take their survival test, and find out if they can hold on to their Genin ranks or not! Stay tuned.