key:

"talking"

'jutsu'

thinking

"flashback"

nonhuman

Survival Training Part 1

Sakura woke up the next morning half hoping that yesterday's catastrophe was all a dream. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror desiring to see her eighteen year old self staring back at her, only to be disappointed by the sight her twelve year old reflection. She sighed and got ready for her "survival training" with Kakashi and the boys. She enjoyed reliving some of her fondest memories, but she couldn't help but be unhappy with her pre-teen body. It took her years of training with Tsunade sensei to expand her chakra capacity and tone her muscular body, but now when she looked in the mirror she could only see the body of a skinny child with the chakra capacity of a small dog. She had a lot of work to do if she wanted to obtain her gloriously fit body once more and keep up with her strong teammates.

The female shinobi didn't rush to get ready like she had the day before because she knew better then anyone that her new jounin sensei would be three hours late, like he usually was. She showered and dressed in her usual red china dress with tight biker shorts underneath. Making sure to secure her shuriken pouch to her right leg with bandages and strapped her other weapon's pouch to her waist for the battle that lay ahead. She also managed to conceal other weapons on her body just in case, though she couldn't stick a kunai in her cleavage like she use to. The kunoichi then paid a visit to her kitchen to consume a nice, healthy breakfast despite her sensei's previous warning because she knew the man just wanted to starve them in order to use lunch as a reward for good work. She also packed a small backpack with two scrolls, a book, and of course more weapons. She stopped by the kitchen once more to cramp a protein bar in her weapons pouch and soon she was out the door and on her way to the training grounds.

Despite her best efforts not to rush, she arrived at the training grounds only half an hour late which meant it would be another two hours and thirty minutes before their sensei would grace them with his presence. When she got there however, she faced a bored looking Naruto Uzimaki and a very annoyed Sasuke Uchiha. "Your late," Sasuke reprimanded the girl sounding a little more ticked off then usual. "Sorry, I knew Kakashi sensei would be late so I didn't bother rushing to get here on time", she explained to the boy apologetically. Sasuke merely looked away from the girl deciding she wasn't worth his time, his catty reaction made her want to burst in to a fit of giggles but she managed restrained herself. The pink haired girl ignored her brooding teammate and sat down under a tree and began reading the book she had made sure to pack. "Sakura-chan, why did you bring a book?" Naruto partially whined at the ever-so-studious girl. "Well, I figure it might be at least two more hours till our sensei shows up, so I'm reading to alleviate my boredom", she spoke calmly to the blonde, but didn't bother to look up from the text she was reading. "Alright", he mumbled and the three remained silent until their teacher showed up.

When Sakura could sense Kakashi's incoming chakra signature, she promptly closed the book she was reading, placed it in her bag, and got up from her spot under the tree to walk over to her two teammates. Sasuke was wondering why she did this when he noticed their sensei's arriving presence himself, two minutes after the pink haired girl had stopped reading. The realization that she had sensed the man before he did angered the Uchiha. "Hey guys, good morning!" Kakashi greeted his students. "Your Late!" Naruto shouted at the very aloof adult ninja. While Sasuke and Sakura just settled for shooting the man annoyed looks. "Okay, okay, let's get started then", this silver haired shinobi said with a grin.

"Ok, it's set for noon", the man spoke and he placed a timer on one of the three tall tree stumps in the clearing. "Here are two bells, your task is to take these from me before the time is up", Kakashi spoke and jingled the two dangling bells in his hand. "Those who don't get a bell by noon… get no lunch," Kaskahi smiled and continued, "I'll not only tie you to one of those stumps, but I'll also eat right in front of you". The expressions of regret on Naruto's and Sasuke's faces where priceless and Sakura couldn't help but feel sorry for her misguided friends. "There are only two bells, so one of you will definitely be tied to the stump…" He paused, "Meaning at least one of you will be sent back to the academy". He's trying to trick us into turning on one another when the only way to pass is to use teamwork, Sakura easily saw through the man's lies because she had already experienced Kakashi's test for herself. "If you want you can use weapons, you won't succeed unless you come at me with the intent to kill", Kakashi finished his directions.

"You're so slow you can't even dodge a blackboard eraser, we'll definitely kill you!" Naruto cheered, folding his arms behind his head. "In the real world, those with no talent bark the loudest. Now, let's forget the dunce and we'll start on my signal!" Kakashi teased the boy, which worked perfectly seeing that Naruto was now rushing at their sensei with a kunai poised to strike in his hand. Oh Naruto… Sakura couldn't help but think that somethings never change. Soon enough Naruto had his own kunai, still in his hand, pointed at the back of his head, he was helpless and shocked in Kakashi's hold. "Not so fast. I didn't say go", Kakashi spoke in reaction to the blonde's impatience. So this is an elite jounin, Sasuke smirked at the shinobi's display of speed and skill. "But at least you struck with intent to kill… so you've finally acknowledged me?" Kakashi smiled down at the trapped almost-genin. "Hehe, it seems like I'm beginning to like you three. Now ready… steady… GO!" Kakashi shouted and all three of his student disappeared into the scenery around him. Well, all except Naruto who stood in front of him ready for another match.

That fool… Sasuke watched Naruto from the tree he had hid himself in and slightly wondered where his pink haired teammate had hid herself. Naruto raced toward the man, ready for a rematch, but stopped immediately when he noticed his sensei reach into his weapon's pouch. "Shinobi fighting lesson #1: Taijutsu", Naruto's teacher spoke. Taijutsu is hand to hand combat… so how come… he's going for a weapon? Naruto growled at his lying sensei only to be left dumbfounded when his sensei pulled out a pornographic book from his pouch. Sakura had to cover her mouth with her hands in order to suppress her laughter toward her sensei's perviness. "What's wrong? I thought you were going to attack me?" Kakashi questioned his confused student. "But…Hey! What's up with the book?" Naruto questioned, "I'm dying to know what happens next, but don't worry it won't make a difference considering who I'm up against", Kakashi answered the boy nonchalantly. "I'm gonna flatten you!" Naruto roared with anger, speeding once again to attack his opponent head on.

Kakashi dodged the boys attacks like it was child's play and never looked up for the book he was reading. Naruto lounged at the man once more hoping to land a punch this time, but the silver haired ninja had disappeared and reappeared right behind the clueless blonde. Sakura didn't bother to warn the boy about her sensei's incoming attack this time, knowing it wouldn't help and not wanting to give away her location. "Konohagakure village's most secret and sacred technique! One Thousand Years of Death!" Kakashi sent Naruto flying into the river with one swift motion. Sacred technique my ass… Sakura's eye twitched at the thought of the action of shoving your fingers up another's butt being their village's most sacred technique. "They're both idiots", Sasuke mumbled at the sight of the attack. Naruto wasn't out for the count just yet though. The blonde sent two shurikens soaring out of the river and toward the adult, unfortunately the clearly superior jounin ninja caught both shurikens easily with one hand and without looking up from his book.

to be continued..