Hey guys, sorry about the wait. There were some technical difficulties where my computer crashed when I was almost done. I had to get a new computer and write it all over again along with starting school again. I'm on break now so hopefully, I can write up to the Tazuna arc.

CH. 4 Introductions

"Iruka-Sensei, how can you put the next Hokage on the unluckiest team in the Hidden Leaf?!" Naruto shouted indignantly.

Iruka sighed.

"Unfortunately, Naruto, we still had to balance out the teams even with the uneven number of students. Even though you've made great strides near the end, you've still had the worst grades in your graduating class. Sakura and Sasuke were our top-performing students while Ino was the third-highest out of all the kunoichi."

Naruto huffed as the class erupted into mocking laughter.

"Well, I don't know why you can't kick Sasuke off into the team of four and leave me, Ino, and Sakura. Me and Ino work great together."

"Sorry, Naruto. I'm just the messenger in the chain-of-commands. There were many other people involved in determining this year's squads," Iruka explained. "You barely made it anyway, Naruto, so please, can you just try to make it work? And the whole four-squad team was just an unfortunate turn-of-events. A team won't be unlucky just because they have four members."

As Naruto grumbled in resignation, Sasuke glanced over contemptuously at Naruto. "Just don't get in my way, Loser."

"What'd you call me?!"

Before Naruto could stir up a fight, Ino yanked on his collar to reel him back to his seat.

"Give a rest, Naruto. You already got your ass beat today. You want it beat again?" Ino reasoned calmly.

Naruto looked around the classroom to meet glares from Sasuke's fangirls. He tossed a glare himself to Sasuke before he faced forward to Iruka.

"Ok, class. Congratulations, again, for graduating. Now, it's time for lunch. I'll quickly give you the names of the teacher each team is assigned to and then after lunch, you'll have an introductory meeting with them. Class dismissed."

The class began to exit the room, splitting off into the respective teams to have lunch together. As the classroom emptied, Ino started to leave herself before she noticed Naruto still slumped at the desk. Naruto had his head laid glumly on top of the desk, frustrated at his luck. Ino nudged him in the shoulder.

"What are you so bummed out for? It's not a good look for you," Ino joked.

"I tried so hard in the end, Ino, but I'm still just a dead-last. Not only that but I'm stuck with that prick, Sasuke, and I'm on an unlucky four-man squad. I just don't know what's up with my luck."

Ino gently rubbed Naruto's back. "Hey, I'm in the same boat as you are, well, except for the whole dead-last dilemma."

"Ha ha ha," Naruto sarcastically laughed. "You sure know how to cheer someone up."

Ino rolled her eyes. "I'm just kidding," she said in a teasing tone. Ino lifted Naruto off the desk and had him face her. "Look, I've seen the work you've put in this year, and so has Mommy and Daddy. You've made a lot of lemonade from the lemons thrown at you. Not to mention we both learned a jutsu out of the Scroll of Sealing. How many genin can say that?

As for the team, we'll make it work; if you try your best with Sasuke, I'll try my best with Sakura."

Naruto chuckled. "I don't know. You might have it as bad as me."

"Maybe, but as Iruka said, it probably won't be that bad."

Ino lifted Naruto upon his feet and grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Now, what does Daddy always say?"

Naruto rolled his eyes and smiled. "People can forgive a bad beginning if the plot's good and the end is satisfying."

"The end goal is for you to become Hokage, right? We've officially graduated and we're still just in the beginning," chimed with a grin. "You still have to climb the ranks, and that's when the plot gets good."

"Alright! Thanks, Ino." Naruto beamed.

"Yeah, just don't do that again. I'm not used to being the one who has to cheer you up."

"Deal!" He chuckled as he put his hands behind his head.

After the two blondes finished their pep-talk, the brief silence was suddenly disturbed by a low, rumbling growl. Ino chuckled as Naruto sheepishly rubbed the back of his head after his stomach growled like a lion.

"Alright, enough of the pity party. Time to get something to eat. I gotta go buy it so I'll meet you by our bench, ok?"

After Ino nodded, Naruto rushed out of the room to find a food that would satiate his growing hunger. Ino shook her head and walked out get her lunch and rendezvous with Naruto later.

X X X

Sakura Haruno sat on a bench outside of the Academy contemplating her team arrangement. She was that she was on a team with Sasuke, she had to admit, but was it worth the trouble of an annoying Naruto and a bratty Ino? Then there's the whole unfortunate team formation itself. Even though the Yonnin were one of the greatest shinobi of their generation, one ended up dead, two became deserters, and the last one barely contacts the village. There's no way she would let Sasuke die! Of course, she didn't want anyone to die, but there would be some who would be missed more than others. Why would someone make a four-man team again anyway? The whole situation left Sakura uneasy. While Sakura ruminated about her team, she didn't notice the blonde Yamanaka coming up to the bench.

"I see someone's been growing their hair out. I wonder if it's for someone in particular?" Ino jested as she sat down next to Sakura.

"Maybe I just like how it looks, Ino-Pig," Sakura sneered.

"Billboard-Brow, you know lies only works when the other person doesn't know the truth, right? I was the one to tell you Sasuke likes girls with long hair, remember?"

Sakura huffed. "Well, Sasuke will want more than just a girl with long hair. You think he'll be content with a dumb blonde like you?"

"And you think Sasuke wants to spend the rest of his life with a walking encyclopedia with no womanly figure to ever fantasize about?" Ino retorted. "By the way, you're in our spot."

"Our?"

"Yeah. It's mine and Naruto's."

Sakura raised her eyebrow. "I still can't believe you hang out with that loser," Sakura mocked.

"He's a childhood friend; I've known him since I was born. And then you and I became friends. I guess I just naturally attract losers."

"Says the girl in third in school."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Anyway, so what do you think about our team?"

"It totally sucks," Sakura groaned as she slouched on the bench, elbows on knees and head in her hands. "The only upside is that I'm with Sasuke."

"Yeah, the only downside is that I'm stuck with you. The convenience of having your best friend and boyfriend on the same team is great otherwise."

"Boyfriend?! Don't get so cocky now, Ino-Pig. The war has just started," Sakura replied sharply. "You know how much Naruto and Sasuke hate each other. You think he'll stick around with Naruto in the picture?"

"Of course. I'm me. I can be very charming when need be. And you forget, Sakura, I'm the glue that holds them together."

"Some glue you are," Sakura commented under her breath.

"They would've been way worse without me!" Ino replied pettily. "The three of us were all friends at some point. Maybe I can re-spark it with all of us being on the same team."

"You only befriended Sasuke because the girls needed someone to be the spy," Sakura remarked.

"And who would've thought it would work so well in the end," Ino laughed triumphantly. "I'll admit, I was upset at first but now I see how it's come full circle."

The girls continued bickering about the potential dynamic of the new team before Naruto came with his lunch.

"Hey, guys! What's up?" Naruto shouted.

"Oh, nothing much. Just thoughts about our team," Ino replied.

Naruto squeezed next to Ino on the bench with his cup of instant ramen.

"How can you always eat that stuff?" Sakura asked in a condescending tone, "that stuff is so unhealthy."

"But it's really good! Here, you wanna try, Sakura?" Naruto asked as he offered his cup to Sakura.

"No, Naruto. I'm on a diet."

"OK, but to get back on track. Who do you think our sensei will be?" Ino asked, trying to steer the conversation to the original topic.

The two looked at Ino and raised their shoulders. They had no idea what sensei they were going to get.

"Come on, Sakura. I had a feeling with Naruto but even you have no guesses."

"I didn't think to look, ok. Do you have any guesses?"

Ino put her hand to her chin. "Based on what I know from my dad, he did say he met a new jonin instructor. A female one."

"Ah! Yeah, I remember him talking about that at dinner one time," Naruto interjected.

"There's Asuma-sensei and another good one, Kaka-something. My dad said he was the top rookie in his graduating class and became a jonin really fast, but he's never taught a team."

"Then I want that guy. Only the best for the future Hokage!" Naruto exclaimed with a smile.

"No way," Sakura added. "You know what they say about smart people being the worst teachers. I want the new girl or just someone average like Iruka-sensei."

The trio chatted about their prospective new sensei and the qualities they would want. As the natural flow of conversation drifted to various topics, the chatting was disrupted by a loud gurgling sound. Naruto started to groan as he clutched his stomach. 'I gotta go,' he said as he rushed to the school to find the nearest toilet. Sakura groaned in frustration at the ideas of the future antics of her new teammate while Ino chuckled at the scene.

The afternoon bell rang signaling the end of lunch. The two started to get up and throw away their lunch. At the trash bin, Sakura noticed a certain Uchiha walking towards them.

"Hi, Sasuke!" She shouted as she waved her hand over her head, gesturing him to come over.

Sasuke walked over to the two kunoichis, aloof and distant as usual.

"Where's the loser?"

"He went to the bathroom. I'm guessing he'll meet up in the classroom." Ino replied.

"Probably from all that ramen he eats. I swear he has no self-control. Ever since he moved out of your place, Ino, he causes nothing but trouble."

"What's that supposed to mean, Sakura?" Ino said with vexation under her breath.

"It's just that he gets unhinged without a parental figure. Kids need parents to keep them on the straight and narrow."

Sasuke's eyes widened with alertness.

"Sakura, you might want to shut up before you say something you might regret," Ino warned Sakura, trying to convey the sudden tension in the air through her eyes.

"What? You remember how well-behaved he was growing up. It all changed when he moved into that apartment by himself. He probably didn't get disciplined as much as he used to so now, he just makes trouble whenever he feels like it," Sakura reasoned.

"What do you know?" Sasuke replied in a pointed tone.

Sasuke turned to Sakura. He glared with his onyx eyes into her emerald ones. The tension between everyone was as thick as stone. Sakura started to babble about her explanation but Sasuke cut her off.

"Just shut up. You're annoying," he spat.

Sasuke turned and walked back to the academy.

Ino facepalmed in frustration and annoyance with how far Sakura pushed Sasuke's button.

"How can you read so many books and still not know how to read a room, Billboard?!"

Ino rushed to check up with Sasuke leaving Sakura all by herself. She stood there, frozen.

"Fuck me!" Inner Sakura screamed repeatedly.

X X X

The quartet of ninjas was sitting on the steps on top of the roof of the Academy. Their new sensei sat on the railing on the edge of the building, slouching nonchalantly and unexcited. His personality matched the look of his face. He wore a navy mask covering up to the bridge his nose and his headband in a unique way of covering his left eye. The only visible parts to him were his ear and right eye.

Team 7 sat on the roof to start learning about everyone on the team. Kakashi, as he introduced himself, thought it was a good suggestion since his first impression of them was spoiled by a dusty chalkboard eraser to his head. He went first to set the example, but the only valuable information given was his name.

Kakashi pointed to Naruto. "We'll start with you, blonde guy. Then we can go top, bottom, and lastly the one on the left."

"Shouldn't you know our names already?" Sakura asked. "Iruka-sensei should have given you our academy files beforehand."

"Yes, but only the basics. Since we're in person, I can put a voice to the face and name, and I'm bad with names, to begin with," Kakashi reasoned. "You can just do how I did it: name, likes and dislikes, future dreams, and hobbies."

"OK!" Naruto shouted. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. I love ramen but I love free ramen even more. I hate the wait instant ramen takes to cook. My dream is not only to be the Hokage but the best one this village has ever had. Then everyone will love me and know that I'm the best!" Naruto concluded as he pointed to his Leaf headband. "My only real hobby is doing pranks with Ino," Naruto smiled as he pointed to her on the bottom step.

"That's some big dream," Kakashi commented. "He sure loves his ramen, but he's grown in a way I didn't expect," Kakashi thought to himself. "Next, you in the shorts."

Sasuke glowered at Kakashi. "My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I dislike lots of things and don't have many likes, but what I have isn't a dream…." Everyone stared intently at Sasuke. "I have an ambition to resurrect my clan and kill a certain someone," Sasuke finished coolly.

"Oh, Sasuke," Ino thought to herself, knowing the situation behind his intents. Naruto just stared at Sasuke despondently. "He's really going to do it?"

"Ok...the other blonde."

Ino turned back to Kakashi. "I'm Ino Yamanaka. I like my friends and family, and I guess flowers-it comes with the family name I guess," Ino chuckled awkwardly. "I hate snakes and spiders. They just creep me out and they're always hidden when I'm out picking flowers. My dream is to be a great ninja and follow in my dad's footsteps to later work in Konoha's Interrogation Unit. I guess my hobbies would be picking flowers and pulling pranks with Naruto, but that's more his thing, I'm just there for support."

"Interesting," Kakashi thought. "Now the last one."

Sakura incidentally only gave out her name since whenever she started to mention her likes and dreams, she looked over at Sasuke and started blushing; however, she made her dislikes very clear.

"...And I dislike Naruto and his annoying antics," Sakura finished with her face scrunched up in disgust.

"Oh boy, she's gonna be a tough nut to crack."

"Well, that concludes the introductions. Tomorrow, we'll start our shinobi duties off with survival training."

The genins looked at their sensei in shock.

"Survival training?" Sakura repeated. "Haven't we had enough training at the Academy?"

"Yes, but this training will be different. You see, there's a little secret not told to upcoming genins."

This perked up everyone's ear and piqued their interest.

"So, what's the secret?" Naruto asked

"Graduating from the Academy is similar to civilians finishing school to pursue a certain career, but just like civilians, just because you have the knowledge doesn't mean you'll actually get the job."

"Just what are you trying to say? Spill it," Sasuke demanded.

"Just because you graduated as genin doesn't mean you're actually genin. My survival training is like the entrance exam for joining the shinobi workforce."

"So what? We'll just be camping tomorrow?" Ino asked, puzzled.

"Not exactly. You think a test like that has a 66% fail rate." Kakashi chuckled slightly.

Team 7 jolted up in their seats, bodies erect and eyes wide. Even Sasuke had raised his head from his hands.

"66%!?" Naruto shouted.

"Yes," Kakashi replied calmly with his one eye closed and the shadow of a gentle smile seen behind his mask. "Out of the 27 candidates, only 9 will be genin by tomorrow. The rest are sent back to the academy."

The air around the four became tainted with dread. Their faces were sullen at the idea of having to return to the academy. "I'd have to be in the academy for 7 more years?!" Naruto thought.

"Tomorrow's test will be you guys against me where you'll have to prove your skills. Bring any shinobi tools you want, but I'd suggest you skip breakfast. Wouldn't want you guys throwing up from the training."

"Throw up?! Just how hard will this be?" Sakura thought. "There's no way I'm failing, not after having the luck on being on Sasuke's team!"

"Here's the rest of the details for tomorrow," Kakashi said as he handed each of them a sheet of paper, "Don't be late."

Kakashi then left in a swirl of leaves, leaving the potential genins with their thoughts of the test. Ino looked around the rest of her team after finishing reading the agenda. Sasuke had the paper crumbled in his hand, staring angrily at the ground. Sakura put on a determined face, but she knew she was scared. That's how she's always been. Naruto had his face stuck on the paper, probably still reading the words. She was scared too. Going back to the Academy was a setback she couldn't afford right now, but she couldn't stand the aura of the space around them.

Ino stood up in front of all of them. "Don't tell me you're all scared now? "They all faced Ino. "Throwing in the towel before the fights even begun?"

"What are you talking about, Ino?" Sakura said.

"Look at you guys. You guys already look defeated! You really think we're all going to fail?"

"I know I'm not failing!" Naruto retorted.

"Well, neither am I. There's no way some cyclops scarecrow is gonna keep me from becoming a genin!" Ino looked over to Sasuke and Sakura, "We're the top of the class, we shouldn't be the ones failing. Sasuke, you're the top rookie, honestly, you probably have the best chance of passing. Sakura, I hate to admit it, but you're smart. Like, almost Shikamaru smart."

"Shikamaru? I know. His grades were almost as bad as Naruto." She said confused.

"No, Shikamaru's really smart. I and Naruto grew up with him, he's just lazy and doesn't try." Ino said with Naruto nodding in agreement. "But that's beside the point." Ino turned to Naruto next, "Naruto, you're my best friend. If I'm passing, you're passing. We make a good team and I don't want to lose this chance."

Ino faced everyone. "I won't lie, he's very good. My dad said he was in a league of his own when he was in the academy, but it's a test for genin, how hard can it be? Maybe he'll go easy on us. If he doesn't and he beats all of us, then we'll just have to go back, but I don't want to think about that. My dad says 'you reap what you sow,' and right now, you guys are reaping failure, I can sense it. He's just trying to intimidate us; we just need to keep our heads high and try our best."

Ino stuck her hand out palm down. "I want this to be my team. Who's in?" Naruto stood up and placed his hand atop Ino's. Sakura looked hesitantly between the two. "I mean, I wouldn't mind it being me. Naruto, and Sasuke," Ino teased, "but that doesn't mean I want you to fail, Billboard." Ino nodded her head, inviting Sakura to join in. Sakura glared at Ino silently as she slowly added her hand. The three turned to stare at Sasuke.

Sasuke stared back at the three with uninterested eyes. "Come on, stupid, join in!" Naruto barked out angrily. Ino reprimanded him with a smack to the head. "Sasuke, I know you want to," Ino cajoled with a smile, "you're a part of this team too." Sasuke kept staring back awkwardly but he later got up and joined in. "Just don't get in my way," he added. They all looked at each other before simultaneously lifting their hands-some more enthusiastic than others. They all went their separate ways, but little did they know that their silver-haired sensei saw it all from afar.

"Hmmm, they just might be the one."

X X X

The next morning, the four new ninjas were filled with anxiety, impatience, but mostly hunger. They met at the training grounds at the crack of dawn expecting their sensei to follow soon. They have been 'expecting' for the last two hours. Just before all their 'hangry-ness' came to a boil, Kakashi showed up.

"Hey guys, sorry for the wait."

"You're two hours late!" Sakura, Ino, and Naruto exclaimed.

"Yes, so let's not waste any more time," he said as he placed a timer on a wooden stump. He pulled three bells from his pocket. "The timer is set to noon. Your goal is to get a bell from me by noon. Unfortunately for you guys, the higher-ups don't want another four-man squad. So, whoever doesn't get a bell will be the one to go back while the rest become a normal-numbered squad. If you guys are lucky, only one of you will be sent back, if not, then all four of you will. Whoever doesn't get a bell will get no lunch, will be tied to a stump, and I'll eat my lunch in front of you."

Everyone's stomach growled after he mentioned lunch. "So that's the reason…"

"You each only need one bell, so at least one of you will be tied up. You can use shuriken, kunai, whatever you want. You won't succeed unless you have the intent to kill me."

Sakura gulped at the instruction, "But isn't that dangerous?"

"Yeah, you couldn't even dodge an eraser yesterday," Naruto added with a snobby smirk.

"Yesterday, I was feeling a little off but I'm more alert today. Even then, I could probably handle a dead-last like you with even trying."

"Dead-last!" Naruto thought. He reached into his pouch to grab a kunai. As he was about to take aim, Ino grabbed his wrist at the last moment.

"Calm down. He's just trying to get you wiled up."

"Smart teammate you have. Ready?" He asked everyone. They observed him, bodies tense with anticipation. "Begin!" The four ninjas scattered away.

The bell test has begun! Next chapter we'll see how the new team dynamic will work out. Not to mention, the jutsu Ino learned from the Scroll of Sealing! I also wanted to add that I'm not really a creative person, especially writing-wise so I'm trying my best to paint a picture but also conflicted. I probably won't describe how people look unless they're literally new (like OCs I plan to introduce) or if there's an outfit change. I plan to keep everyone looking the same as they are in the manga unless you don't want me to. Leave a comment to let me know, and any scene-building, dialogue, descriptive writing tips are always welcome. See ya next chapter!