Chapter 2: The Bell Test
"These little brats!", I cursed out Sasuke and Naruto.
Do you want to know why?
We are currently doing the Bell Test with Kakashi and…and this BRATS won't listen to a word I say!
So I'm pretty much running around, keeping an eye out for Kakashi, to find my two stupid teammates and make them LISTEN!
I should have known, I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN! Both boys were stubborn, yet I hoped they would consider my words.
Yesterday, before we all got home, I told them they should eat something for breakfast because Kakashi-Sensei was trolling us.
As expected Sasuke didn't listen, but not even Naruto?!
So I was the only one who had eaten this morning.
The Bell Test pretty much played out like in canon, even if I tried to tell these two idiots that we needed to work together.
But nooooooo!
They had to prove they were better than the other and ignored my wise words.
Since, sadly, I was the weakest of us all.
This sucks!
Even more so this stupid rivalry that Naruto and Sasuke have going on.
Can we not just all hold hands and be friends?
I will turn back old in no time with these two.
These three if we count Kakashi-Sensei too.
He tried to put me into a Genjutsu, however, I knew what he had planned, since he did it with the original Sakura in canon, so I could dispel it fast.
At least, thanks to the perfect Chakra control I inherited from Sakura I could do this.
In all the other things I lacked seriously.
Sakura's body wasn't strong, fast, flexible and endurance was a joke.
How should I be like Mitsuri Kanroji with all these weaknesses?
For the Breathing Style of Love, which was much like Rhythmic Dancing, I needed them.
I seriously had to step up my game or would be really…useless in this world.
That's when I finally found Sasuke.
Buried to his head into the earth, thanks to Kakashi-Sensei's Headhunter-Jutsu.
I crossed my arm and gave him an annoyed look.
"Are you done doing all alone Sasuke? Kakashi-Sensei is way out of our league, we need to work together! And before you say he has only two bells, Kakashi-Sensei intends to drive us apart and look how it is working!"
He sends me an annoyed look too.
"Look Sakura I don't know why you have acted so strange since yesterday, but I will not take any changes here! I need to become a Genin! You wouldn't understand!"
"Uchiha Sasuke, you are Rookie of the Year use your goddamn brain!", I counter. "Did you ever heard of a team with a Jonin and two Genin? No! Because it's always a Jonin with THREE Genin. Kakashi-Sensei wants us to work together, even if it doesn't seem so. A ninja has to see underneath the underneath!"
Unlucky as we are the bell sounds.
The test is over.
I made a facepalm while Sasuke mumbled something about wasting his time talking.
"Hey, Mister I-Can-Do-All-Of-This-Alone? You want me to get you out of the hole or not."
He doesn't give me a verbal answer, yet I take what I get.
After a bit of fumbling I get Sasuke out and we walk in silence to the three logs where Kakashi-Sensei and a bonded Naruto wait.
Our sensei starts his spiel about how we should quite been Ninja, which of course angers Naruto.
Before it can escalate I start talking: "Kakashi-Sensei, I know we all are green behind our ears, but…I tried to work with my teammates here. The boys may not have understood the meaning of the test but I'm sure I will get them to."
"Huh, what meaning?", wonders Naruto, while Sasuke huffs.
"Sakura I watched you. You didn't fall for my genjutsu and tried to work with your teammates.", compliments me Kakashi-Sensei. "While you Sasuke and Naruto failed to see the real reason for this test, out of you three Sakura has the best chance of becoming a ninja."
I just deadpan at Naruto's shocked what and Sasuke's anger.
"Sakura, if you would be so kind…?"
I know what Kakashi-Sensei wants.
"Teamwork. This whole test was about teamwork.", I began.
I explain how unlike it was from the beginning that one Genin could take out a Jonin, how the two bells are there to make us go against each other, how if we three worked together, and made a plan we could have gotten the two bells.
"Really good Sakura, your genius is showing. Sakura here showed how a Ninja should always see underneath the underneath, not always things are as they seem, which Sasuke and Naruto failed spectacularly. Because you see Sakura as weak, you didn't hear her out. Physical yes, she is weaker than you, but mentally I would say she is years beyond you. Being a Ninja is not all about being strong and doing cool Jutsu, if you can't use your mind you have already lost on the battlefield."
My teammates look at me and Kakashi thoughtfully, while our Sensei walks up to the Memorial of the Third Ninja World War.
I let it play out like in canon and finally, it's time for lunch.
I don't waste time and put food into Naruto's mouth.
"Sakura, what are you doing?", asks Sasuke. "Didn't you listen to what Kakashi-Sensei said?"
"It's again a test. How should we work as a team if one of us is hungry? Naruto would be a weakness Kakashi-Sensei would exploit.", I answer, showing food down Naruto's throat, which he happily takes.
"Sakura, you are so smart!", praise me Naruto between bites.
"Yes, yes, but seriously guys…we need to be a team. I will make you a deal if I'm wrong after we get the balls, I will go back to the Academy."
From Sasuke, I get a frown, while Naruto looks shocked.
"You really would do this? For me and the teme."
I nod.
"You two… you must become Genin, I see it in your eyes that it is so important to you…I don't mind repeating the year if I'm wrong. So please accept this."
Naruto says my name in aww, hopefully, it doesn't make him crush on me harder and Sasuke gives me a respectful nod.
Then he also feeds Naruto.
Suddenly in a dramatic dust cloud with twirling winds, Kakashi-Sensei appears before us.
He growls, making my teammates surely shit their pants, till he gives us an eye smile and tells us we passed.
Then he says the famous words I love so much: "In the world of Ninja, those who broke the rules are called scum. But those who don't take care of their friends are even worse than scum."
Sign, oh Obito who did you become a villain? You were such an awesome good guy.
Yes, I know why he goes bananas, but still, why did Obito need to be the bad guy, he was always one of my favs.
After Kakashi declares us a team and how we will start doing missions tomorrow, he and Sasuke leave us.
I get my kunai out, freeing Naruto from his robes.
He thanks me, while I wave it away.
"What do you say Naruto? To celebrate Ichiraku Ramen?"
"You got it Sakura! Let's go!"
Together we run to the Ramen Shop.
Well, it could have gone better, though at least Team 7 began.
So there is only one thing left to do.
"Hey Naruto, after our earned lunch, wanna train together, I have a feeling it will only get more difficult from here."
"Oh? Sure, Sakura. Maybe you can help me to better understand what behind, behind things."
Like a big sister, I ruffle his blond hair.
"Then also a trip to the library and then we train."
A groan escapes Naruto.
"Must we waste our time with stupid books?"
"These stupid books helped me to get this smart, also, don't complain."
"If you say so Sakura."
"Also I need to learn the Kagebushin from you future Hokage that is an awesome Jutsu."
Naruto chuckles proudly and I hit him friendly on the shoulder.
I have a plan for how to get me and Naruto stronger, Sasuke I will get next time, but for now we deserve to eat some yummy Ichiraku Ramen.
All in all a good day!