The next chapter awaits! Enjoy.

Sakura sat on the ground doing crunches when she heard it, and just like that her day was ruined. She should really pick a different place to train, because these repeat incidents were getting ridiculous.

"Yooouth!" The man yelled as he came by, walking on his hands.

Sakura didn't think a green jumpsuit could be so blinding, but every time she saw it, that thing still shocked her. She sat upright and stared at the green man passing by. Sakura should have skipped training today, it was team assignments after all, but her routine was so engraved into her body that veering from it made her seem like she did something wrong. Just today though she could cut out early, getting to the classroom a few hours ahead of schedule shouldn't be a problem right? Sakura's plans were foiled when he spotted her. That too-wide smile he gave a sign that he was about to initiate contact.

"Hello beautiful flower of Konoha! I see you are training this morning! What an admirable display of youthfulness!" He bellowed as he jumped back onto his feet.

Ugh, this one again.

"There is always room for improvement, but I'm afraid I must go, goodbye." Sakura replied as she stood up ready to bolt.

"What is your name youthful child?"

"Haruno Sakura."

"Ah, a flower indeed. Your dedication to training has touched me, here take this and grow stronger! I hope to meet you again young Sakura or I will run around this village five hundred times!" He screamed before throwing something at her and taking back off on his hands.

Sakura caught it, it was a rectangular weight the size of her palm. She groaned. How many of these was he going to give her? She already had a basket full in her bedroom. Sakura pocketed the weight before heading home to get changed. She wasn't sure if she wanted him to remember her or not, but at the very least she never wanted to see him again.

'What, not feeling very youthful today Sakura?'

'Bite me.'

'Hehehe.'

Sakura was leaving her house to head to the Academy when a hand reached out from an alleyway and grabbed her arm. She felt a tug and next thing she knew she was slammed up against the wall, her mouth full of blonde hair. The kunai Sakura pulled touching her assailant's side in a warning.

"Geez Forhe– ahem, Haruno its just me, put that thing away." Yamanaka said letting go and flipping her hair back over her shoulder in exasperation.

"You couldn't get my attention any other way Yamanaka?" Sakura asked as she checked her mouth for any stray strands that got stuck.

"No, now listen up, what do you know?"

"Know what?" Sakura said casually, she had an idea what Yamanaka was going on about but she didn't want to have this conversation at all.

"Don't give me that, you know something, what is it?"

"I know a lot of things."

"Look Haruno, don't think you can fool me. I did some clan... things my father definitely doesn't know about to my head and noticed that there were memories that were just...off. I have been looking into it for months and if I wasn't searching for it I wouldn't have seen it. I want you to tell me why."

"I know nothing about that Yamanaka. Stay out of my business ok?" Sakura replied waving her off and walking back towards the school. Yamanaka's face scrunched.

"You can't avoid me forever Haruno! I know you know something, and I won't stop bothering you until I figure it out."

Sakura looked back, eyes searching.

"If you remember this conversation, we can talk Yamanaka."

Sakura left with those parting words.

"Oh, I won't forget now Haruno, mark my words you will be seeing a lot more of me from now on!"

Sakura heard her yell as she turned the corner. Yamanaka could be a good ally, but could she trust her? Trust her not to think Sakura's crazy or turn her in to her father? She didn't know, but at the very least she would hear her out, maybe drop some breadcrumbs to follow. That is, if she remembered.

.

Sakura was a patient person, she had to be with Uzumaki as a seatmate for the past few years, but sitting in a room with Uzumaki and Uchiha waiting for their jonin sensei was beginning to get to her. Why? Just why? She was much smarter than these two fools, and she didn't want to constantly feel like she was on fire because she had to be around them. To think she had to train and spar with these two, how was she going to survive? The only consolation she had was that they were easy on the eyes, but even that was ruined because they wouldn't shut up!

"I bet Sensei will be so impressed by my skills that he will make me a jonin on the spot Teme."

"You are barely at genin level Dobe, if anyone is going to be a jonin after today its me."

"You want to say that again Teme?"

"Hn, Dobe."

Uzumaki yelled out a war cry as he pounced on the Uchiha causing both of them to drop to the floor. The two rolled around on the floor like the uncultured animals they are. The closer they got to Sakura the more the Burning increased. It was times like this that she really wanted to just give into the urge to beat Uzumaki, but she didn't. Honestly, she should be declared a saint by this point, they had no idea of the sacrifices she's made. When a bony leg flung out and kicked her the pain was surprisingly minimal, but the flare up that followed was not. Just another typical day of pain, she hated it.

Honestly, they are just so... annoying!

Hah, wasn't that the word of the day, annoying. How dare he, that beautiful Uchiha, call her annoying for just asking to eat lunch together as a team! She had to suffer through the heart eyes of Uzumaki all by herself for Sage's sake!

'Keep it together Sakura.'

'Tch, I want to see how long you would last before killing them both.'

'Oh I would kill them immediately, which is why you're in control.'

'True, not everyone can be as great as me. I understand.'

'Don't push it.'

'For the lesser being in this relationship, I guess I could show you some mercy.'

'Oi.'

'No need to feel bad, I still love you.'

'You're lucky I'm in your head.'

'Be grateful you're in my head.'

'I forgot how conceited you get when you're stressed, since you're having such a bad day I will let it go, maturely. Sha?'

'Na'rro... sorry.'

'I forgive you, just go back to your book.'

Scoffing Sakura attempted to read her biology book but with every word she read another flare would occur because those poor excuses for human beings did not know the concept of personal space.

Her personal space.

Having enough of it Sakura gently shut her book and faced the boys before addressing them.

"You two are going to have a great first impression when Sensei finally gets here."

"Stay out of it Haruno, it doesn't concern you."

Sakura's brow rose at the audacity of those words. Uchiha wouldn't even look at her, the nerve of him.

"Hey Teme! Don't be mean to Sakura-chan!"

"Hn Dobe, don't act like she's your friend just because you call her 'Sakura-chan'. We all know you don't have friends."

"What's that supposed to mean? Sakura-chan is really nice to me, of course we're friends." Uzumaki answered with glazed eyes and a lazy smile.

"Hn." Uchiha responded before kicking Uzumaki hard enough for him to slam into the chalkboard.

The blonde quickly recovered and was about to toss an eraser towards Uchiha when the door to the classroom slammed open, causing the three genins to freeze. The man who opened the door was still stooped, his lone eye lazily trailing over Sakura and her teammates. Sakura eyed his grey hair and covered eye and felt a sense of camaraderie, he must get stared at a lot too. He blinked a few times and sauntered into the classroom settling into a slouch and the three genins returned to their seats and faced forward.

"Hmm, how should I put this? You three are..." The man trailed off.

"Annoying?" Sakura offered sending a small glare towards Uchiha. He scoffed and angled his body away from her. Uzumaki sniggered which made him turn even more.

"Yes, lets go with that. Now, meet me on the roof in hmm... lets say ten seconds. See ya."

The deadpan voice the guy spoke with and the small finger wiggle on departure seriously did not go together. At least he wasn't like the green guy, Sakura hoarded all the small victories she could get. It took a few seconds before the three genin comprehended his words and Uzumaki and Uchiha bolted for the door. Sakura waited a few seconds, giving herself some space from her teammates to let herself breathe and her body to calm down, before heading towards the roof herself. Sensei gave the three an unrealistic goal anyways, there was no way she was going to tire herself out for nothing.

Sakura had arrived at the roof when she noticed how her teammates were sitting. Uchiha was on the top step, with Uzumaki on the one below though slightly off to the side, leaving no steps free if she didn't want to sit next to them.

Oh that just wouldn't do.

There were many things Sakura could forgive and compromise with, but sitting on the ground below the two was not one of them. Harunos belong at the top, not the bottom. Sakura heard a poorly muffled cough from the side coming from her Sensei as he sent her a pointed look over the cover of an orange book. Sakura turned her back and rolled her eyes, moving to stand behind Uchiha on the upper portion of the roof, closer to Uzumaki and looked patiently at the man waiting for him to begin. The two held an uncomfortable time of eye contact before the grey haired man glanced at the other two genins.

"Alright, now that's everyone's here," he glanced at Sakura, "we should do some introductions. Who wants to go first?"

Sakura raised her hand, first was her spot of course.

"My name is Haruno Sakura, I look forward to working with you." Sakura spoke as she bowed to her sensei.

"Maa, Sakura-chan. You need to give a little more than that. Your likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams, stuff like that."

"Why don't you go first then Sensei? Show us how to do it?" Uzumaki cut in, glancing back at Sakura with a look asking for praise.

Sakura ignored it and the flare up that followed.

"I guess I could. My name is Hatake Kakashi, there are a bunch of things I like and dislike. I have a lot of hobbies too. Dreams? Never really thought about it. Now, try again Sakura-chan."

Sakura looked at Kakashi-sensei, and though she could appreciate a good loophole when she saw one, his introduction wasn't revealing at all to match the 'sharing is caring' atmosphere.

"My name is Haruno Sakura. I like reading, my family, and intelligent people who apply themselves. I hate things that don't make sense, things that are not in their place, and people who are ungrateful for their blessings. My hobby is reading. I dream to find the truth and for a healthy body, that is all."

Kakashi-sensei nodded in approval before standing up straighter and facing her head on.

"Nicely done Sakura-chan, and two hitai-ate? " He questioned, gesturing to the two on her body. One scuffed hitai-ate she threaded through her dress so it rested over her heart and the other she wore headband style on her head.

"A family member." Sakura clutched the one on her chest. Kakashi-sensei's eye minutely softened.

"One day you should tell me about them, ok?"

"Of course Sensei." Damn, just this once she hopes he'll forget.

"Now, who's next?"

"Me! I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I like instant ramen but my favorite is when Iruka-sensei buys me some from Ichiraku. I dislike waiting the three minutes after pouring hot water on ramen. My hobbies are eating and comparing ramen. My dream is to be the greatest Hokage in the world and will get the village to acknowledge my existence!" Uzumaki ended with his chest puffed out and head held high.

"Good, good, and the last?"

Uchiha didn't answer and just looked away. Kakashi-sensei gave him a minute before folding his hands in mimicry of how Uchiha was sitting and stared down at him with an eye smile. It was on the fine line between condescending and innocent. The gesture was so well executed that Sakura picked him as her favorite member of the team immediately. If nothing else she wanted to learn how to do that.

"Don't keep us waiting in suspense too long, you don't want to bare the consequences do you?"

Uchiha spared a quick glance at Sakura and Uzumaki before speaking.

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I have a lot of things I don't like, and few that I do. I don't have a dream but an ambition. I will restore my clan and kill a certain someone."

"Well done everyone, now onto important things. We'll have a mission tomorrow."

"What kind of mission Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked. One cannot prepare for what they don't know or understand. Sakura knew that concept intimately.

"Oh, something that the four of us can do, a survival exercise."

"Survival exercise? How is that a mission?" Uzumaki questioned.

"He he he he, this isn't just a simple exercise. I'm not sure if I should tell you, but you caught me in a good mood so I'll say it. This exercise is the final test to decide whether or not you become genin. Out of the twenty-seven recently graduated students, only nine will pass, the rest will have to go back to the Academy. Awesome right?"

"What? That's crazy! What was the test we took at the Academy for?" Uzumaki asked standing up and pointing a finger at Kakashi-sensei.

"A test for potential, nothing more. So tomorrow I will be determining whether you all pass or fail. Bring your full kits and we will meet at training ground three at five in the morning. You won't want to eat breakfast tomorrow either, you will throw up if you do."

With those words spoken Kakashi-sensei poofed away leaving the now potential genins alone. Sakura walked to the door wanting to be the first one to leave, not at all worried about the test the next day. She should have felt nervous, but Sakura was confident in any test she took, and failure tomorrow was not an option. She would find a way, she always did. Just as she reached the door she felt a hard shove to her shoulder. When the Burning receded completely she knew exactly who it was.

Uchiha.

Sakura looked over her shoulder with a murderous expression. The only thing keeping him free from a punch to the face was Sakura's own control and his good looks, though that wouldn't save him next time.

"What was that for Uchiha?"

He reflected her expression right back.

"Don't think you're special just because you are wearing two hitai-ate Haruno."

"What nonsense are you spewing?"

"Do I need to spell it out for you? I thought you were smart."

"Oh, smarter than you for sure, at least I make sense when I speak."

When Uchiha began to close the gap that was it for Sakura. Screw it, who needs control when you can punch a pretty boy in the face? Sakura brought up a fist and began to reach out for his shirt with the other hand when she was rudely interrupted. Uzumaki jumped between the two and left her with a mouth full of blonde fluffy hair and a flare up. What's up with blonde hair getting into her mouth today? She'll need to gargle when she gets home.

"Oi Teme! Don't pick on Sakura-chan. If you want to fight someone fight me."

"It wouldn't have been much of a fight Dobe, and stay out of it. You're not friends, remember?"

"Of course we're friends! Sakura-chan is the greatest! The best..."

Sakura zoned out as Uzumaki continued his poor defense of their friendship, and though Uchiha is now on her shit list he was correct. Sakura didn't see Uzumaki as a friend, though with the way this team was turning out that may be changing sooner rather than later. Uzumaki has been kind over the years, that did mean something to her even if she didn't show it, but he was still an idiot and Kakashi-sensei will forever be her favorite. Sakura doesn't think that could change.

Sakura slipped out while the two boys were still going at it and made to make as much distance between herself and them as possible. She was feeling extremely tired today from the Burning and just wanted to go home and rest. She did have an early day tomorrow.

"Sakura-chan!"

She heard from a distance. Uzumaki quickly appeared next to her with a bright smile and clothing disheveled.

"Don't worry about Sasuke-teme Sakura-chan. I put him in his place real good. Now that the meeting is over did you want to go get ramen?"

Sakura sighed, she really didn't have the energy or the will power to deal with the Burning right now.

"Uzumaki, I'm tired. I want to get an early night tonight."

"Ah, that's ok Sakura-chan. We can go tomorrow."

Sakura waited for him to leave, but he kept dragging his feet to keep pace by her side. From the side glances he kept sending her, she knew what he was waiting for. Sakura gave him a tap to the head and veered off to the right to take the long way home. She was done with today.

"I knew she was just shy! I was right and Sasuke-teme was wrong. We are friends!"

Sakura heard Uzumaki speak in the distance to himself and ran her palm over her eyes. That was far from the truth, and even if she told the truth, why bother?

It's not like he would believe her.

'

Hatake Kakashi did not want to teach little brats. He didn't even want to teach one brat though he knew he would get stuck with Sasuke at some point, but the main point of the matter is that he didn't want a team before and he doesn't want one now. Though he will admit that this team was more interesting than the ones he tested in the past. All of the students were entertaining in there own ways, especially the pink one. The look on her face when he got Sasuke to speak was like one that had seen the sun for the first time.

It was adorable.

Not that he would pass a team on being adorable, he was a shinobi first and foremost. He would just have to see how tomorrow goes, and if all goes well they will fail and he can wipe his hands and walk away. Kakashi frowned remembering something that he caught earlier from their introductions. From what he knew from Sakura's file she was the only Haruno to go to the Academy to become a shinobi, so why would she have another hitai-ate from a supposed shinobi family member? And what was that she said about wanting a healthy body? How did she even make it into the Academy? Some things didn't add up. A quick stop at the hospital to look at her records wouldn't hurt. It would be quick, after all what if she was a spy? It was his duty as a shinobi to protect Konoha. His actions were definitely not out of concern for her health, not at all.

Kakashi paused in his tracks, turning away from the path leading to the memorial stone and took to the buildings. It didn't take much effort on his part to slip in and find her medical records. It wasn't heavily trapped, normal for her type of background, but even if they were it would be nothing for himself to access. Kakashi opened the filing cabinet and found Sakura's average size folder. Fanning through the file he found nothing of interest. The only strange thing was a series of visits all close together but the outcome stated Sakura was in perfect health.

Weird.

He will follow up with her about it if she passed tomorrow. Now as for the phantom family member... if they weren't a shinobi through regular means then they could have possibly been Anbu or Root. Kakashi still went into Anbu headquarters even if he was 'retired' on occasion so it wouldn't be a big deal to look there next. If that was a bust Hokage-sama had some old Root folders lying around somewhere that he could acquire.

Kakashi exited the file room and slipped out the nearest window heading for the roof when he felt a sharp twinge in the back of his neck. It was a quick and fast burning sensation. What was that, a mosquito? Wrong time of year for those to be out, it was still too early. Huh, what was he doing again? Why was he on the roof of the hospital? Kakashi did a quick survey of his body and found nothing out of sorts. Did he get lost in his thoughts and wander here instead of the memorial stone?

Kakashi retraced his previous actions in his mind and found nothing wrong. He just zoned out, that's all. Building hopping Kakashi raced towards the memorial stone, he had to tell his old team about the cute kids he was going to fail tomorrow.

Sakura meets her team, and she is not pleased. Thanks for reading!