Here is the next chapter, enjoy!

Sakura knew Uzumaki was an idiot, but she didn't realize he was this dumb. Did he really think fighting out in the middle of the clearing against a jonin was a smart move? Sakura couldn't believe what she was seeing from her spot prone on the ground. She was well concealed in the location she picked, nestled between thick vegetation with her chakra suppressed like she was taught. If she could hide from an Anbu at eight she had to be better at it now right?

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Uzumaki shouted as he made the hand sign.

Oh no.

Please no.

Sakura could barely handle one Uzumaki, she didn't need any more! How did he even learn a Forbidden Jutsu? That was going into her incidents evidence, that couldn't possibly be normal.

Despite the seven, Hokage help her, seven Uzumakis Kakashi-sensei handled them with ease. He dodged poorly executed combos lazily, and struck when he felt like it. He did this all while reading a book. It was impressive, she wanted to be able to do that some day. Still her favorite member despite the whole 'don't eat breakfast' advice. Sakura was kicking herself, she should have seen the signs from yesterday. It was in his nature to take joy in the misfortune of others, she should have been prepared to be tricked. What was with that lame excuse about running into a black cat anyways? That wasn't what she wanted to hear this morning. She swears nothing was ever straightforward with this man. Sakura exhaled sharply.

So that's how it is.

The two bells were just a decoy, but what was the true test?

Sakura was jolted from her thoughts when an Uzumaki came flying her way and landed next to her. Sakura froze waiting for the Burning to do its thing when she felt it.

Nothing. She felt nothing.

Nothing!

Sakura broke out into a large smile staring at the clone causing its cheeks to flush before it darted back out into the fray.

'Inner! We have a breakthrough.'

'Hmm what? Sorry I was taking a nap.'

'Nap, how could you possibly need sleep?'

'Because I do, I don't make the rules.'

'Whatever, that's besides the point. The Burning isn't triggered near Uzumaki's clone, and if it doesn't trigger for him, there is no way it would trigger for anyone else. Which means pure chakra doesn't affect me!"

'Oh that is a breakthrough!'

'Right? I wonder if I can mimic that. What do you think will work? Chakra coating?'

'We will have to do some tests, but focus. You don't want to fail this test. Go help Uzumaki, he's hanging in a tree.'

'Let me celebrate a little ok? I'm going.'

Sakura crept over to Uzumaki with a crazed grin on her face, not even the flares of the Burning could keep her mood down right now. Sakura took out a kunai and cut the rope dropping him on his back making him let out a loud wheeze. It didn't take long for him to recover, which made her slightly jealous.

"Thanks Sakura-chan!"

The smile he gave was stunning.

"We have to hurry, I have an idea of what is go–" She was cut off by two shuriken flying at them.

Sakura leapt back dodging the projectiles, and immediately started the hand signs to substitute as more shuriken and kunai came flying towards her face. Kakashi-sensei was trying to separate them, and it was working. As soon as the substitution was completed, Sakura retreated into the woods with her chakra still suppressed. She created a few clones to distract him when he poofed right in front of her.

"Maa Sakura-chan, I didn't sense you at first, I'm impressed. But now that I found you, it's time for a lesson."

Sakura had no time to respond when a leg connected with her ribs throwing her deeper into the forest. Before she could hit the ground Sakura recovered with a quick flip, landing on the balls of her feet holding her chest. It hurt but nothing was broken, she was grateful he held back. The flare up she got was unexpected, so far with Kakashi-sensei the Burning wasn't triggered, and with the way this fight was going it wasn't a good sign. A gust of wind hit her from behind tearing her from her thoughts and making her tumble to the ground. This lesson sucks.

"So this is how you have been spending your time. It makes sense you forgot me."

Sakura whipped her head around and paled. No, it couldn't be, not him. She stared at the teen in Anbu attire, not a piece of his uniform out of place. His pink hair just as curly as she remembered it.

"Big Bro?" Her voice warbled.

He smiled brightly, arms crossed behind his head. No don't smile like that, she couldn't take it.

"Haruno Ren in the flesh, or not, since I'm dead. Did you forget everything I taught you? You're much weaker than I thought you would be at this age."

"I didn't forget you, and I'm not weak! I think about you all the time." Sakura yelled, getting to her feet.

"Don't lie. I saw that blonde kid you smiled at, is that your boyfriend? Did you replace your love for me with him? Honestly look at you, I'm not surprised you broke your promise."

Ren brought a palm to the side of his face and shook his head.

"Weak, weak, weak. What a disgrace to the Haruno name I built."

"You don't mean that." He couldn't, not her big bro.

"How confident, why don't I prove it too you?"

Ren darted towards Sakura in a flash, tanto drawn. Sakura slipped out a kunai and blocked a diagonal strike aimed for her neck. Instead of pulling back for another strike Ren pushed his weight on the blade making Sakura have to hold her arm up to support it. Rolling his body on her shoulder he maneuvered behind Sakura and grabbed her by the hair slamming her face first into the ground. No matter how much she moved she couldn't escape his grasp.

"See? I told you so. What am I going to do with you?" He asked, head next to hers.

"Love me." Sakura answered reflexively, the familiar exchange bringing out familiar words. He jolted back with a laugh.

"How could I love someone as weak as you?"

Sakura stopped struggling. That, her big bro would never say that, ever. Even if she disappointed him he would never stop loving her, she was his little hime-sama. Now that her mind was clear, where was it?

Where was the Burning?

Sakura crossed her fingers and performed the release.

"Kai!"

Next thing she knew Sakura could see the sky. Genjutsu, of course. She wiped the tears off her cheeks and shakily stood up off the ground, clutching the hitai-ate on her chest. Sage did she hurt, and not just her body.

'Sakura are you ok?'

'No.'

'You will be.'

'You sure?'

'Is your hair pink?'

Sakura snorted.

'Thanks Inner.'

'Sha?'

'Na'rro.'

She breathed deeply a few times to center herself and then went to find her teammates and Sensei. It was time to pass this test, what just happened will have to wait.

She was doing this for him after all.

Sakura wandered around the woods for a bit looking and listening for any signs of fighting when she saw it, and it was glorious. Worth every stabbing needle the Burning inflicted on her.

"You know, I would offer you a hand, but it seems like you need more than that. An arm, a leg, maybe a whole body below your neck." She said behind a closed fist, holding back the giggles that tried to break through.

Oh this was too funny, where was her camera? Its not everyday one finds Uchiha trapped in a hole buried up to his neck. Who cares about the flare ups she's feeling right now, there is no way she was missing this. Sakura would pay to see this again, now if she can get Nara like this she could die a happy shinobi. She was talking with Yamanaka now, maybe they could work something out.

"Shut up Haruno." The blush pinking his face invalidated his attempt at sounding menacing.

"What? If the roles were reversed tell me you wouldn't enjoy it."

"Hn."

"Anyways, I figured out the test on the way here. You in?"

"Like I need your help Haruno."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure you do, considering this is a teamwork exercise. Now we just need to get Uzumaki and we can pass."

"I can get a bell by myself, I don't need you or the Dobe to do that." Sakura eyed his form stuck in the ground, yeah right.

"This test was never about the bells in the first place. Should I be the one who spells things out, and not you? Oh how did it go, I thought you were smart?"

"Hn, annoying." He grimaced.

Sakura's eye twitched, she was really starting to hate that word.

"So? You in?"

There was silence between the two before he shook his head once. Sakura smiled smugly before approaching Uchiha to dig him out. He stayed put, like he could go anywhere, glancing at her a few times before he spoke.

"Not a word to the Dobe."

Sakura snorted.

"Oh, this is something he would have to see to believe."

"Hn."

"Actually, if you help me get Nara in this position I could pretend this never happened."

Uchiha gave a tiny smirk at the thought.

"You really don't like him do you?"

"How could you tell? I thought I was being subtle." Sakura joked, before frowning.

"He's ungrateful for what he has."

"Hn."

Uchiha agreed, though Sakura could imagine it was for different reasons. Once she got him out she spoke.

"Last I saw, Uzumaki was closer to the clearing. Kakashi-sensei separated us when I tried to get him to work with me. We can't have much time left so we should hurry."

Sakura went to lead when Uchiha darted in front of her. She gave the back of his head the stink eye but let him stay in front. They didn't talk to each other when they were waiting for Sensei to show up this morning, and the first conversation they had since then he lost the verbal battle. His pride already took a hit from her today, she could stand to be a bit merciful about this. Though now that her joy was over the Burning was starting to become a problem. She had too many flares in a short period of time. She has no idea when her body will give out on her.

'Inner, remind me once we pass to ask Kakashi-sensei about taking the medic-nin classes. If I have to be on this team I will need to be able to heal myself. Otherwise I won't survive.'

'Of course!'

She heard Uzumaki before she saw him, the loud screeching of dozens of clones as they tried to get a bell off of Kakashi-sensei. He didn't change tactics, did he pay attention at all during class? Sakura pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled.

"Ok, let me go get him."

Uchiha tilted his head.

"You can tell?"

Sakura glanced from Uzumaki to Uzumaki and when one she landed on set off a flare she flinched. Yep, that's him.

"Yes, wait here. I will retrieve the idiot."

"Hn."

Sakura ran through the hand signs to substitute with a log in the woods near where Uzumaki was standing. Once she was behind him she grabbed him by the collar and hauled him over her shoulder and darted back into the forest. He really was too light, he needed to eat more. Sakura ran like that for a while circling back towards Uchiha when the Burning became too much and she had to drop him. The parts of her that touched him were on fire and she could barely close the hand that held him.
She needed those medic classes.

"Uzumaki, we are regrouping with Uchiha, follow me."

"Why? We don't need to work with Sasuke-teme, we can get a bell with just the two of us, right Sakura-chan?"

"The test isn't about the bells, its about teamwork. Why do you think Kakashi-sensei separated us when I tried to help you earlier?"

Uzumaki opened his mouth to reply before he closed it. A sheepish smile overtaking his face as he rubbed the back of his neck with one of his hands.

"Ah sorry, Sakura-chan. You are really smart, I trust you."

Sakura felt her chest warm, and she turned around to start running again. It was just the Burning making her overheat, that's all. She wasn't happy at his words, no way.

"Keep up, we don't have much time left."

"Ok Sakura-chan!"

When the two arrived at where Uchiha was hiding they got down to business.

"Alright, I think if we can show that we can work together that will be enough to pass the test, but we should still try to get a bell if we can. I wouldn't put it past him though to try and pit us against each other, or say that we failed. So whatever comes out of his mouth regarding failing just ignore him till I get there. I know you two are pretty good at that from what I saw at the Academy."

Uzumaki had the grace to look embarrassed while Uchiha gave no emotion. What a great team she has.

"The Dobe will do what he does best, being a dobe."

"Hey!"

"What he means Uzumaki, is that you will be the distraction. Use anything you have, just make sure the real you is out of the line of fire ok?"

"Oh, I can do that. Thanks Sakura-chan!"

"Hn."

"I will be honest, my taijustsu isn't the best and I got pretty roughed up in my last encounter with Kakashi-sensei, so I will provide support. Uchiha, I trust that you can engage when you see openings and get a bell?"

"Hn."

"Alright, I will cover your left side with kunai, so feel free to bait him in that way. You guys ready?"

"Believe it!"

"Hn."

"Ok, let's go pass this test. You're lucky I'm on this team."

Uchiha's face pinched like he ate something sour while Uzumaki smiled brightly.

"Yeah! You're the best Sakura-chan!"

"Get going Uzumaki." Uzumaki saluted before running off challenging Kakashi-sensei. Sakura and Uchiha gave each other a nod before moving in separate directions.

Sakura could see both of her teammates from the spot in the tree she hid in, chakra suppressed. Uchiha was to the right side of her already starting the signs for a jutsu while Uzumaki was... well he was doing his job. Half-naked girl versions of Uzumaki jumping on Kakashi-sensei asking if they were pretty was distracting, though Sakura was going to ban that jutsu after this test was over. If he ever used her likeness for it she swears no one would find his body.

As Kakashi-sensei pulled off the clones with a concerned eye a giant fireball came flying out of the woods on the side. He went to jump out of the way when Sakura sent a cluster of kunai towards him, making him retreat back towards the clones. Normal Uzumaki clones joined their other versions as one approached from behind going for a leg sweep. When it hit Sensei's leg he didn't budge and a fist slammed into the solar plexus of the Uzumaki sending him to the ground. Upon contact the henge wore off leaving Uchiha looking winded. As Kakashi-sensei went in for a follow up strike, Sakura sent a kunai to his face making him lean back. Using the space Sakura gave him Uchiha leapt forward and got his hand on the bells. Before Uchiha could rip them away Sensei's hand grabbed him by the arm holding it in place.

"Nice effort, but that's time." As Sensei finished those words the clock rang.

Damn, they were so close.

"Meet me back at the posts." Kakashi-sensei informed the group and poofed away.

Sakura hobbled down the tree, her body scorching hot and at its limit. She gave a nod at the two boys and turned around. There was water close by right? A quick dip should be fine. Sakura ambled her way over and jumped in letting herself sit under the water for a few seconds before resurfacing. It took quite a bit of effort to crawl back onto the ground, hair plastered to to the front of her face.
Even the best can't look pretty all the time.

Sakura was the last to arrive at the posts as the two boys were sitting eating their lunches.

"Sakura-chan, we will have to work on your time management." Kakashi-sensei spoke from behind his book.

If there wasn't a smile filled with glee behind it she would eat a kunai.

"I'm just emulating a jonin I respect." Sakura gave a sweet smile.

He eye smiled at her.

"Well in that case... you're fine carry on. Come over and eat your lunch." Kakashi-sensei beckoned with a wave of his book.

Sakura received her food and sat down next to him. The two boys sat with their backs facing towards them.

"Now Sakura-chan, can you tell me why the boys are ignoring me?" He put one hand on his cheek and rested his elbow on his knee.

Sakura stifled a laugh, so they remembered her words.

"Oh, if you said anything about failing I told them to ignore you, since we passed."

"Oh did you?"

"Yes, this was a teamwork exercise, the bells were just to divide us. I saw through it of course, a normal occurrence."

"Normal occurrence, huh?" He reached over and ruffled her hair, rude.

"This was a test, I don't fail tests, the boys know that." Unless its on purpose, but even then she doesn't seem to end up failing, but that's another matter entirely.

"Woe is me, to be stuck with such a smart genin. You're right, you three passed. Welcome to Team Seven." He gave a dramatic sigh and went back to reading his book.
Uzumaki and Uchiha turned around in a flash.

"You were right Sakura-chan! We passed!" Uzumaki cheered jumping up and down full of joy. Uchiha gave a tiny smirk.
"Hn."

"Hurry up and eat your food, we have one last thing to do before I dismiss you for the day."

As soon as they arrived at the memorial stone Sakura wanted to leave. She didn't want to be here. Sensing that she was ready to run for it Kakashi-sensei put a hand on her head and held her in place. She sent a small glare up at him that he ignored except for a couple of pats on the head, before going back to holding her hostage.

"Take a look at this stone, all of the ninjas who have been KIA are here, they are the heroes of this village."

"Not all of them are there." Sakura grumbled. Kakashi-sensei tensed before giving her a couple more pats. She ignored him.

"I decided I want my name on this stone! I will be a hero of this village! " Uzumaki declared his thumb pointing towards his chest.

"Uzumaki, KIA means killed in action, they died on a mission. You don't want to be on this stone if you can help it." Sakura explained.

"Sakura-chan is right Naruto. I do not want to see any of you on this stone so remember, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their teammates are worse than scum. Look out for each other like you did earlier, your lives are worth more than any mission. You're dismissed. Meet here at training ground three at six in the morning, we will be taking our team picture. Don't be late!" With one last glance at Sakura Kakashi-sensei vanished in a swirl of leaves.

Sakura looked at the memorial stone once more, staring at the Yuhi name that held the spot where her brother's once rest. Not even here could she find a trace of him. She remembered when it was carved into the stone, but now it was nowhere to be seen. Sakura placed her hand over her heart gripping his hitai-ate. She would find the truth, and she would do it while keeping her teammates alive. She didn't want to lose anyone else.

She's a Haruno, it will be done. Sha na'rro.

'Sha na'rro.'

Sakura turned away finding Uzumaki waiting for her, Uchiha long gone from the clearing.

"Uzumaki, do you think you could let me borrow one of your clones on occasion to train back at my house? My parents don't want me bringing boys over but a clone should be fine. Otherwise I would have asked you to come." Sakura asked, if she didn't have the Burning she wouldn't mind sneaking his actual self in.

He smiled at her.

"Sure Sakura-chan! I will send one over every day, believe it!"

"Every day? You don't have too." Sakura argued, that was asking too much.

"It's fine, we're friends!" He waved her off.

Sakura sent Uzumaki a small smile and gave him a light tap on the head.

"Thank you...Naruto."

The wet-eyed smile he gave in return was worth all of the pain the Burning had and will inflict on her. Naruto wasn't so bad, if only he used what little brain cells he had, though he had to stop it with the heart eyes. Friends she can do, anything else was a no go.

As for trust? Well, that will take a bit longer.

Or never, who could say.

"We can get ramen tomorrow Naruto, I need to go home and rest before I pass out."

"Ok Sakura-chan, its a promise!" With a wave he darted back towards the center of the village.

Sakura slumped, its over. Finally.

When Sakura reached the door to her house and heard voices she paused. Her dad wasn't supposed to be back from his business trip for another few weeks, did he get back early? With a bright smile Sakura opened the door, only for it to immediately fall at seeing who was sitting at the kitchen table with her mother. The two occupants turned and looked at the door, her mother getting up to welcome her in as the other flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"I told you I would be back Haruno." The girl gave a smug smile.

Yamanaka.

Team Seven passed their bell test and Ino makes an appearance. Thanks for reading!