Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto...I wish..
"SORRY I'M LATE!"
Naruto ran to the other two waiting. He blinked as he saw Sasuke leaning casually on the fence. Ever since the mission it felt weird being near each other. He was sure Sasuke felt it too, they were friends, though they would never admit that aloud however, and the mission had just showed how human they were. And how in an instant you could lose someone… it was frightening.
So he looked away from Sasuke and instead looked at Sakura who…
"Oi what's wrong Sakura?"
Her face was pale like something horrible had happened, but she didn't respond to his question,
"Saaaa….kuuuuuu…...raaaaaa…"
He squatted so that he could look up at her face but she didn't look like she was focusing; he frowned,
"Hey duckbutt what did you say to her?"
Sasuke frowned,
"Didn't i tell you… forget it stupid idiot… she said she wanted to train and i declined"
Naruto lifted a brow than put up a cheeky smile,
"Why? You could use as much training as you can get."
Sasuke didn't seem to find it as funny as he glared at the blonde,
"Really cause from the last mission it looked like you were the one lacking"
Naruto lost the humor in his face and frowned as well,
"Oi… don't think i need you to protect me…"
Sasuke scoffed but didn't break eye contact,
"If you don't want me to protect you then get stronger"
Naruto was peeved to say in the least and clenched his fist,
"Fu**ing Duckb…!"
A fist slammed into his face sending him across the street and where he had been standing was Sakura with the killing intent of a lion.
"Na-ru-to…"
Just then though with perfect timing Kakashi appeared in the middle of the group, that seemed to snap Saukar out of it a bit as she yelled at the jounin,
"Teacher! You're late!"
But her face fell when he didn't give that eye smile as usual and seemed a bit more serious even Sasuke and Naruto got on edge.
"Sakura, Sasuke… Naruto."
All three genin stood at attention not sure what to expect,
"I am to inform you that…"
There was a grimace and they could only think the worst,
"You have all been recommended for…. The chunin exams."
It took them a minute for the news to sink in. Because the man they had come to know and respect had said it with such sorrow that they thought it was going to be horrid news but as the info dawned on them Sasuke couldn't hold back the smile on his face,
"YES!"
Sakura's jaw dropped,
"Are you serious!?"
Kakashi nodded staring at Naruto sadly as the blonde kid jumped up and down in ecstasy.
"Of course.. The decision is up to you whether you want to participate or not…"
"HELL YA I'M DOING IT! BELIEVE IT!"
"As if i'd give up this chance"
Sakura still looked doubtful,
"But the chunin exams? I mean we just became genin not too long ago! Plus there will be others with more experience! and … and we may have to fight each other!"
At least one of them was thinking logically. But Kakashi's moment of happiness was short lived, as Naruto with the light of the world shining in those blue eyes turned to Sakura with such hard determination that she had to shut her mouth,
"Sakura."
And Kakashi knew it was over. He had hoped that perhaps they would hold off give it another year before they took the exams or something. He knew Sasuke wouldn't hold back but he was counting on Sakura to talk some sense into them had it been his old team Rin would have been able to convince Obito otherwise but in this team it was different; the dynamics were different.
Sasuke was observant, he was tactical and smart. Because Sakura was so much in 'love' with him most of his words held more weight than originally would. Sakura was logic. She was the medic who allowed them to go all out knowing that she would heal them. She was the rational one and good at balancing plans soundly….
And then there was Naruto….
Naruto was the most unpredictable one of them all. He had good battle sense and was a more than decent fighter. But more than that while Sasuke fought in the front to protect their bodies, and Sakura reminded them to protect their minds Naruto… Naruto protected their hearts.
He had a way of reading people differently and understanding them in a way not even Kakashi could.
"I have never once said i was strong. I have always said and believed that we are the strongest TEAM"
And here he was again… knowing without knowing what to say,
"Whether we fight together or apart i don't think we'll lose to anyone when it comes to giving it our all."
And Kakashi's last hope slowly began to fade away,
"We need you if we're going to do this."
The doubt in those green eyes slowly began to fade as she looked to the boy that she pined after; Sasuke scoffed,
"Well i'm not going to say i can train you still but i can give you advice… throughout the exam."
Sakura's breath hitched. Sometimes she did feel like she wasn't pulling her share. Sometimes she did feel that Naruto and Sasuke were too far ahead of her and didn't need her…. But it was true. Never once had they said that they were the strongest;
It had always been the strongest team.
Sakura nodded. She wouldn't let them down!
"ALRIGHT!"
Both boys looked at her surprised by her uncouth yell,
"LET'S WIN THIS!"