Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, it is owned by Masashi Kishimoto.

Team Seven Again

Chapter 1

"W-w-w-w-what are we going to do?" Ayako panicked, starting to pace. "I-I-I can't fail and go back to the academy! None of my friends will ever want to come near me again!"

Satsuki rolled her eyes at the sight, watching as the 'dead last' wailed and pulled at her hair. Shina however got to his feet, and placing his hands on Ayako's shoulders got her to calm down. "It'll be alright, Ayako-san." He said with a reassuring smile. "There's no way we can fail this test."

"R-really?" Ayako said, but it was Satsuki who answered first.

"Sure," she said. "As long as you don't drag us down, dobe."

"Satsuki!" Shina snapped, glaring at the redhead. Satsuki scoffed and looked away, letting Shina turn back to the other girl.

"Dad told me about the test." Shina replied. "Kind of, he was actually telling me and Hanami the story of how he, mom, and Uncle Sasuke became genin. Come to think of it, you were there at the time weren't you, Satsuki?"

"I was." Satsuki replied, and Shina nodded.

"Basically all we have to do is work as a team, and we can pass." He said to Ayako. "Of course, knowing that and actually making it happen are two entirely different matters."

"Work…as a team?" Ayako echoed. Shina nodded again.

"Pretty much," he said, and scratched at his head. "Remember all those lectures on the importance of teamwork, watching out for each other, and all that? We'll be tested if our team works. After all, there's no point in keeping us around and sending us on missions if we can't even work together on a test. Ninja don't go out alone, after all."

Satsuki snorted but didn't say anything further. "Even ANBU go out on teams from what I know." Shina continued. "And they're the best. If they still need to be sent in teams, the same goes for everyone else below them."

"Well, okay then," Ayako said softly, sighing and briefly looking down. After a moment, she looked up at Shina and Satsuki. "So what now?"

"That depends," Shina asked, glancing at Satsuki. "We'll need to come up with a plan for starters. And I don't think Konohamaru-nii will use the same bell test Uncle Kakashi used on mom and dad."

"Agreed," Satsuki said with a nod, and getting to her feet. "He'll probably come up with a different test, otherwise it might be too easy."

"Konohamaru-nii is a jounin, Satsuki. It'll be hard no matter what."

Satsuki shrugged. "Yeah, but I don't think he'll go all out on us." She said. "Get real Shina, even if we work as a perfect team, there's no chance we can beat a serious jounin."

"I still think he'll be cutting us some slack, not enough to make it a pushover, but enough to really test our teamwork."

"I'm not saying he won't." Satsuki said with a sigh. "I'm just saying he won't make it easy for us. No point in testing us otherwise, right?"

"I…never mind." Shina said with a sigh, and Satsuki gave a cold smile. "No matter what, we'll need a plan. Just jumping in won't work."

"I know that." Satsuki said, looking at both Ayako and Shina in turn. She narrowed her eyes, letting them stay on the other girl. "Still, I don't think this is the right place to come up with a plan. And even if we do come up with one, the question then becomes if we can even make it work."

"Are you saying I'm useless?" Ayako asked softly.

"Do you really want an honest answer?"

"That's enough Satsuki!" Shina said firmly. "We're a team now, so we'll just have to make it work!"

"It's the truth." Satsuki said unrepentantly, and then gave a sigh. "With that said, I don't want to fail either, and as you said, this is to test our teamwork. Let's meet up at Shimatani Gardens later to make up a plan."

"I don't see why we can't do it right now." Shina challenged. "It's not like we've got anything else to do."

Satsuki smiled coldly, though there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "What?" she asked. "I just wanted to give Yamashiro over here some time to think about why she even wants to be a ninja, and whether or not she has what it takes."

Ayako stayed silent, and after a few moments, looked away. "I just don't want to be so ashamed in front of dad and my friends." She whispered. "And also…"

She cut herself off, though her eyes briefly flickered to Shina before looking away, her cheeks turning ever so slightly pink. Shina looked uncomfortable, while Satsuki sighed. "Alright," she said grudgingly. "Not wanting to let your family down is a valid enough reason to be a ninja I guess. And you are a veteran jounin's daughter too."

Ayako nodded slowly, and Shina smiled reassuringly. "Even if your skills aren't that great," he said after placing a hand on her shoulder. "We should be able to scrape by if we work together. And after that, we can work together on improving your skills. Alright?"

Ayako looked at Shina and gave a small smile and nod. Shina nodded back. "Then make sure you're prepared to support Shina and me." Satsuki said, already turning to leave. "That's the best you can do, so make sure you do it."

Shina looked very disapproving, but Satsuki just shrugged before walking past with a nod at Shina, to the stairwell and then down into the academy proper. Ayako looked to Shina. "Shina-kun," she began. "I…"

"We'll be fine." Shina reassured her. "Don't let Satsuki get to you, there are…reasons, why she acts like that. Just get through the test and get better, and she will too."

Ayako smiled and nodded, and Shina gave her a strange look before sighing and running a hand through his hair.

She's still feeling down, isn't she? Damn it Satsuki...I should do something.

"Okay," he said after thinking for a bit. After a moment he glanced back at her. "Want to join me for lunch?"

"Really?" Ayako asked, her demeanor brightening in an instant.

"It's not a date." Shina said at once, but with an apologetic smile, and Ayako sheepishly laughed and rubbed an arm. "But first, let's go see my dad. I'm sure he'd have no trouble treating us to ramen. Or do you want to eat something else?"

"No, no," Ayako said, raising her hands to make it clear she had no problems whatsoever with ramen. "Ramen is fine. And besides, if Hokage-sama is treating us, then he might as well get his favorite."

Shina laughed at that. "Yeah, dad's really known for being a huge fan of ramen." He said. "I don't see anything wrong with it though."

Ayako laughed too, any lingering shadows from Satsuki forgotten. "But it's your favorite too, isn't it, Shina-kun?" she asked, and he grinned at her.

"You can bet it is!"

"Are you going to go with the bell test, Konohamaru?"

"That's too easy boss." Konohamaru answered with a grin. "You probably told those kids all about it already. Well, Satsuki and Shina at least. I don't know if Aoba-sempai went through the bell test, or if he even told his little girl about the genin test in general."

"Honestly I didn't tell Satsuki and my kids about the genin test to give them a head-start." The Seventh Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto replied. "They wanted to know how I became a ninja, so I told them. It's just that…"

Naruto trailed off, and Konohamaru smirked. "You let your mouth get ahead of you, eh boss?" he asked. "Before you knew it, they knew all about the genin test, and the bell test in particular."

Naruto laughed. "You got me." He said, running a hand through his spiky blonde hair. Naruto had let it grow out from when he was younger, and with a pair of long bangs that framed his face his resemblance to his father the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato was rather striking.

"Well, even if they didn't know about it, Shina and Satsuki should be able to work well with each other." Konohamaru said. "They've been training with each other ever since they were kids after all."

"They're still kids you know." Naruto pointed out, opening a drawer and pulling out a box of cigarettes and an ashtray took one and lit it up. "Want one?"

"Sorry but no thanks, boss." Konohamaru politely refused, and Naruto shrugged before drawing in a deep breath and then blowing out a thin stream of smoke.

"If you ever get the hat," he said. "You might be offering me or someone else cigarettes soon enough. Or a drink, like Tsunade-baachan used to do. Honestly, even if it's mostly paperwork and it is supposed to be a peaceful age, this job still takes a lot out of you."

"Maybe," Konohamaru said with a shrug. "But, I hope you won't step down for a bit boss. It's your dream after all, so you should enjoy having it for a while."

Naruto laughed and ran a hand through his hair again. "And?" he asked. "Is there any problems you already see now?"

"Aoba-sempai's little girl," Konohamaru replied. "Ayako, could be a problem. Just from a glance she doesn't have the strength, stamina, or agility a barely-passable should have, and from her record in the academy, and how she acted, I'd say she takes being a ninja too lightly. I'd even say she's only in this so she can get close to Shina."

Naruto puffed on his cigarette for a bit, his arms crossed over his chest. He then looked at Konohamaru seriously. "Are you giving up on her then?" he asked. "You think she doesn't have what it takes?"

Konohamaru held Naruto's gaze. "She'll have to coattail on Shina and Satsuki for now," he eventually said. "But if she really wants to succeed as a ninja, then she'll have to grow up."

"And that's your job as her jounin-sensei." Naruto said with a small smile. "Can you handle it?"

Konohamaru drew himself up and nodded. "I'll do my best." He said.

Naruto nodded. As if on cue, the intercom rang, and Naruto pressed the speaker button. "Yes?" he asked.

"Hokage-sama," the chuunin on the other side began. "Your son and one Genin Yamashiro are here to see you."

"Send them in, Kinue-kun." Naruto said before closing the line. Konohamaru nodded at the Hokage as Naruto turned back to him.

"I'll be going then, boss."

"Yeah sure," Naruto said with a grin. "Go back to school, Konohamaru."

"BOSS!" Konohamaru said scandalized, and Naruto laughed boisterously as the jounin left muttering to himself. The illusionary leaves barely had time to vanish before the door opened, and Shina cautiously poked his head into Naruto's office.

"Hey Shina," Naruto said, tapping ashes off his cigarette. "Need something?"

"Are you busy, dad?" Shina asked, entering followed by a girl who gave a respectful bow at Naruto. Naruto raised an eyebrow as Shina closed the door behind them.

I'm guessing that's Aoba's daughter, Ayako then.

"I'm always busy." Naruto said with an apologetic smile. "Though I can take some time off from time to time when I need to. And I'm guessing you're my son's teammate aren't you, Ayako-kun wasn't it?"

"Y-yes!" Ayako said with another bow. "I-I'm Ayako. Ayako Yamashiro! It's an honor to meet you in person, Lord Seventh!"

Naruto laughed softly in amusement. "Now, there's no need to be so worked up." He said reassuringly. "It's not like we need to be formal here: there's only the three of us in here after all."

"Y-yes!" Ayako said, barely restraining herself in time from bowing yet again. Shina nodded and briefly gave her a thumbs up.

"And," Naruto began. "Is there anything I can help you with? And how are you getting along with your team?"

Ayako's expression briefly flickered, and her eyes just as briefly looked away. "I," she hesitantly said. "We're, getting along I guess."

Naruto's expression faltered, and after a moment he sighed. "Satsuki," he murmured with evident disappointment, one mirrored by the expression on Shina's face. "Unfortunately, the rules say that the lowest ranking student in the graduating class gets teamed up with the Kunoichi and Rookie of the Year. And not even I can just go against the rules just because it's convenient. If I don't set an example, who will?"

Naruto briefly fell silent, looking out the windows of his office. "I understand, Hokage-sama." Ayako said softly, and after a moment Naruto looked back at her with a small smile.

"I don't think the reasoning behind that rule is wrong though." Naruto said. "The skills of the top graduates would balance out the weakness of their teammate, who'd also learn and improve from their example. It's basically being what a team is supposed to be."

Ayako nodded again, and Naruto leaned forward, resting his chin on his clasped hands. "And besides," he said with a grin. "I know that so long as someone sets their mind to it, they can do anything they set out to do. So let me ask you now: do you really want to be a ninja?"

Shina's eyes widened, and he made to say something, but a flicker of Naruto's eyes towards him stopped him. Naruto then glanced back at Ayako, who'd lowered her face in thought. Naruto stayed silent, letting the girl put herself in order in peace.

"I," Ayako began several long moments later, gripping one of her arms nervously. "I wanted to become a ninja because my dad was one. And even though I could barely keep up with everybody, I still kept trying. Also…"

Ayako trailed off, her cheeks turning pink as her eyes flickered in Shina's direction. Naruto sat back, tapping ashes off his cigarette. "Is that all?" he asked neutrally.

Ayako finally looked up, wearing an unexpectedly determined expression on her face. "I don't like to think of myself as a quitter, Hokage-sama." She said. "And, if I quit now, what happens to Shina-kun and Uchiha-san?"

Naruto kept his eyes locked on the genin's own, and though she faltered she didn't break the gaze. Naruto smiled and nodded. "There are no two-man ninja teams." He said, sitting back. "Do your best, Ayako-kun."

Ayako beamed, and bowed deeply. "Yes!" she said. "I will, Hokage-sama."

Naruto puffed on his cigarette and turned to Shina. "Now then," he said, again resting his chin on his hands. "With that out of the way, is there something you wanted Shina?"

Shina laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Well I invited Ayako to have lunch with us so…" he said, trailing off as Naruto laughed.

"Hey, hey," he said. "You know you're supposed to pay your own dates, right?"

"It's not a date, dad!" Shina protested, and scowled as Naruto laughed again. "I just want to cheer her up, after Satsuki got her down and all."

Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his head in his turn. "That girl," he said. "Her mother should at least be here,"

Naruto sighed again before looking at Ayako. "Well I don't really mind," he said, beginning to clear his desk. "Just let me finish up for a bit, and we can have lunch out. Treating my son and his friend lunch every once in a while isn't a bad thing. I hope you're fine with ramen though."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

Shina smiled, and then the door opened, letting a pink-haired young woman in a matching pink blouse with dark blue shorts and a white coat enter. "Naruto," she began, her eyes fixed on a sheaf of papers she carried with her. "There's something that I need you to…"

Shina and Ayako blinked twice. "Wow." They thought, silently impressed at how fast the Hokage reacted, though in a way it was a battle of its own. If his wife had caught him smoking he'd probably never hear the end of it.

So, Naruto had swallowed the cigarette in one breath the moment Sakura had entered the room, one hand just as quickly grabbing the ashtray and putting it in a drawer, slid said drawer closed.

Sakura looked up quizzically at a seemingly-flustered Naruto sitting behind his desk, and then sniffed at the air suspiciously. "This smell…" she trailed off, and Naruto coughed.

"Shikamaru stopped by earlier." He said, and Shina fought down a snicker. Well it probably wasn't a lie. Shikamaru did smoke, and as Jounin Commander he probably did stop by the Hokage's Office. His dad just didn't say how long ago the last visit was.

Sakura scowled, and looked back out of the door. "He really should stop smoking." She said. "His health aside, children come here regularly after all. Talk about irresponsible."

Shina shot a look at his dad, who looked back at him meaningfully.

Not a word.

Shina grinned, and Naruto fought down a groan. He knew that grin. Sakura then noticed Shina and Ayako. "Oh hello," she said, addressing Ayako. "I'm guessing you're my son's other teammate, aren't you?"

"Yes." Ayako said with a bow. "I am Ayako Yamashiro, Uzumaki-sama."

Sakura laughed. "It's just Sakura, or if you feel uncomfortable, Sakura-san." She said. "I don't want to be called Uzumaki-sama outside of really formal situations just yet."

Naruto laughed at that. "In other words," he said. "It makes you sound so old."

"Shut up Naruto." Sakura said with a roll of her eyes, but also with a fond smile at her husband.

"Yes Sakura-chan." Naruto said with a small smile. Sakura then turned back to her son, kneeling down and taking hold of his face.

"Listen," she said, fondly stroking his cheekbones. "You're Ayako-chan's teammate. She can't count on anyone else better than you two to help her grow up and get stronger. And Satsuki,"

Sakura trailed off, and then with a sigh shook her head. "Satsuki will be Satsuki." She said. "I can't really do anything about her attitude, so it's up to you to bridge the gap, and have those two get along. I can certainly say that having more friends will only be a good thing for Satsuki. Can I trust you with that?"

Shina nodded, and Sakura smiled at him. "That's a good boy." She said, pressing a kiss against his cheek before turning to Ayako. She placed a hand on her cheek as well. "I'm not really in a position to say too much, but I think I can say this much. Work hard, watch your teammates' backs, and be honest with yourself."

Ayako looked surprised at that, and Sakura gave a fond look in her husband's direction. Naruto looked surprised, and then with a smile nodded at her. Sakura smiled back before turning back to Ayako. "If you're not honest with yourself," she said. "You'll only hold yourself back, understand?"

"Yes, I understand Sakura-san."

Sakura nodded, and patted Ayako on the head before getting up. She turned to find Naruto stowing his paperwork in his desk's drawers. "Going somewhere?" she asked.

"Yeah," Naruto said, pulling on his white cloak. "I'm going to treat Shina and Ayako-kun here to lunch. Ichiraku Ramen of course."

Sakura shot Shina a disapproving look. "What?" he asked.

"You shouldn't make your father pay for your dates, Shinachiku."

"MOM!" Shina said, actually blushing as Naruto burst out laughing.

"Stop teasing him Sakura-chan." Naruto said, playing with his hat with his hands. "I said the same thing earlier. But it's not a date."

Naruto paused, regarding the two blushing genin in the office. "Satsuki got to Ayako again." He said. "She's much like Sasuke was at the time."

Sakura sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Those two," she said in exasperation before remembering Shina and Ayako were still waiting. "It should be around lunch time for academy students too, shouldn't it Shina?"

Shina nodded after a glance at a wall clock. "Yes." He said.

"Go get your sister then, and we'll meet up at Ichiraku Ramen." She said before turning back to Naruto. "It should be fine right, going out for an hour or two?"

"Yeah, it should." Naruto said, taking the offered sheaf of papers and gave it only a brief glance before leaving it on his desk. Putting his hat on, he glanced back at Sakura, Shina and Ayako leaving the door open behind them as they went to get Hanami. He smiled down at Sakura as she wrapped an arm around his. "Let's go?"

"Yes."

A couple of hours later, and a pair of genin wandered into Shimatani Gardens. Located in the 'new' districts of Konoha, it was a display of green in the otherwise austere-seeming glass and metal landscape of Shin Konoha. Wide fields and small hills were covered in regularly-trimmed grass, the footpaths were bordered with well-tended flowerbeds, and flowering trees artistically dotted the landscape alone or in groups. A stream ran through the middle of the park, flowing from a miniature waterfall on one side of a hill to a landscaped culvert back underground.

Quite a few people could be seen wandering around the park, enjoying the quiet tranquility of this spot of nature: ordinary citizens and ninjas taking time off on their days jobs, families with young children, and senior citizens.

Shina made his way down a path, accompanied by Ayako as they looked for their other teammate. "How are we supposed to find her?" Ayako asked. "This park is rather big, isn't it?"

"Yes," Shina said absent-mindedly, pausing to take a look around. "Yes it is."

The boy blinked, and then jogged across the grass to another path, Ayako following him. "Over here," he said. "This path goes up that hill over there. Once we get on top, we should be able to have a good look around the park as a whole."

"Oh I see!" Ayako said, jogging after Shina as they followed the path. "That's a great idea, Shina-kun!"

Going up said hill, they paused to take a good look down from what seemed a good vantage point. They wouldn't be mistaking in that assumption, as they quickly spotted a redheaded figure sitting apparently asleep on a bench soon after. "There she is." Shina said, pointing the redhead out to Ayako.

"I see her." Ayako agreed, shading her eyes. Shina nodded and led the way down from the hill, following the path and walking briskly until they managed to reach the bench. Sure enough it was Satsuki, the Uchiha sitting slightly slouched on the bench with her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes closed and her hair shrouding her face in sleep.

"Satsuki," Shina said as they walked up to her, the blonde boy placing a hand on her shoulder and gently shaking her. "Wake up Satsuki."

The girl blinked herself awake, glanced at Shina, and then stretched her arms up over her head. "Did you have a nice nap?" Shina asked, Satsuki running a hand over her face and then through her hair before replying.

"I guess I did." Satsuki replied before noticing Ayako. She narrowed her eyes but at a cough and a firm look from Shina stayed on the topic. "I didn't plan on a nap though, I just sat down after a light lunch. And before I knew it..."

She trailed off, and Shina had a small laugh at her expense. "Before you knew it, you'd dozed off?" he asked, and Satsuki shrugged as though saying 'what can you do?'

"Anyway enough about that." She said, making room for Shina. Shina sat down, but gently forced Satsuki to make more room for Ayako, until the three of them were seated on a bench with Shina between the two girls. "About tomorrow, I don't think we should worry much less prepare for a bell test. Konohamaru-sensei probably knows your dad told us about his experience with it."

Shina nodded his agreement, and Satsuki continued. "I was thinking that Konohamaru-sensei would present us with one or the other of two possible tests." She said. "The first is an endurance match, the three of us against him."

"And the second?"

"We'll play tag." Satsuki said with a smile. Shina looked confused for a moment, and then it clicked.

"So we'll be trying to catch him?" he asked. "I'd rather take the first."

"Either way it's going to be a challenge." Satsuki said with a laugh.

"No matter what though," Shina said grimly. "We have to keep Ayako away from the frontline. She won't last long – if at all – against Konohamaru-nii."

Satsuki gave no reaction at that, but Shina warily glanced in Ayako's direction. She shook her head. "I understand." She said. "While you and Uchiha-san could keep up with Konohamaru-sensei in a test, I wouldn't, at least not fairly. There has to be another way I can help."

Shina nodded. "We can't exactly keep her out of any plan we come up with." He said to Satsuki. "The whole genin test is supposed to be teamwork-based. Even if we last the test or catch Konohamaru-nii, we could still end up failing if we don't work as a team. And that includes Ayako-san."

"Yes, I can't argue with that I guess." Satsuki said, raising a hand to her chin in thought. "So how do we go about it?"

Shina didn't answer at once, the three genin falling silent in thought. The wind briefly picked up after a few moments, sending leaves and pieces of bark and wood flying along with the hair of the three ninjas. As it died down, Shina snapped his fingers. "I've got an idea." He said.

Satsuki raised her head curiously. "Oh?" she asked. "Let's hear it then."

Shina grinned and told her, and Satsuki burst out laughing. "Yeah, that could work." She said. "Even if she's basically just ranged support, it'll fulfill the requirements of teamwork and keeping her away from Konohamaru-sensei. It'll also help even the odds somewhat, between three rookie genin and a veteran jounin."

"We're going to need lots of supplies to make this work." Shina said, and Satsuki rose from her side of the bench.

"Then we'd best start sealing, shouldn't we?" she asked before making to leave.

Shina sighed, and with Ayako trailing behind spoke up as they caught up with their other teammate. "You know," he began, walking up beside Satsuki. "Since we're going to be a team, we might as well be on first-name basis."

Satsuki gave him a look, which Shina returned without flinching. After a few moments the Uchiha relented with a sigh. "Alright, alright," she said with a roll of her eyes before looking past Shina at Ayako. "It's nice to meet you, Yamashiro-san." She said neutrally. "Just call me Satsuki."

Ayako hesitated, but an encouraging look from Shina spurred her on. "It's nice to meet you two, S-Satsuki-san." She said. "Just call me Ayako."

Shina glanced back and forth between the two girls and sighed.

"It's a start I guess."

A/N

Not a big fan of Naruto's new hairstyle, so I opted to give him something closer to Minato's look.

Actually, I thought the Hokage's Office was located at the Hokage Residence, but after some digging I discovered the former is actually located in the Academy. Wow, you learn something new every day.

Edited 18/01/2017, special thanks to RockyRoader for constructive criticism.