Hiruzen was sitting on a comfortable blue couch, right behind an old desk. On the table, there was a white cloth with the symbol of Konoha drawn on it. In front of him, just down the small stairs in front of the desk, the jounin elite had also gathered in the room.
Regularly, meetings were held between the very few shinobi who had the honor of being jounin and the leader of the village, the Hokage. This was done with the purpose of discussing matters of relevance at the moment. On this specific occasion, the topic was that of the incoming Chunin Exams.
Lord Third's posture was curved and his face showed his exhaustion. In the past few years, the old man had only barely put up with the immense amount of responsibilities of his position.
"Now, then, we'd like to hear first from those who are in charge of the newest graduates of the academy." Said the old man, while eyeing the pipe that was resting on the table. Ultimately, he gave in and put it in his mouth.
Three jounin moved forward, past the overall group of elites. One was a tall and bulky man of tan skin, who wore a piece of white cloth with the kanji of 'fire' painted on it right under his flak jacket. His big nose was almost identical to that of the Hokage.
Next to him stood a slender woman with very pale skin. Her long and abundant hair was pitch black and fell straight slightly past her shoulders. Her eyes were of a scarlet red color, which could very easily be mistaken by a sharingan. She wore an elegant white dress, being one of the few jounin who chose not to wear the traditional uniform.
Finally, a third man was pushed forward by Might Guy. Kakashi was sitting on a wheelchair, and did not seem especially excited about it. His head was bandaged almost completely, and one of his eyes was covered by an eyepatch. He was not wearing his uniform. Instead, he still wore his hospital robes.
Many looks were focused on the severely injured copy-nin, wondering who could have caused so much damage to one of the strongest assets Konoha had to offer.
"Masters Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma. Do any of you recommend your team for this year's Chunin Exams?" He quickly inhaled and exhaled from his pipe. That day, he had chosen to smoke tobacco. "Remember that, before even considering them, they must have at least completed eight missions. And for them to be really competitive, they must have completed double that number."
Most of the jounin gathered in the room were skeptical about it. Some were even offering to bet, since it seemed the replies of the masters of the rookies were clearly going to be negative ones. It had been years since the last jounin that recommended a team of fresh graduates for the Exams. It simply was too soon.
Seeing that Kakashi was hesitating, Asuma decided to speak up first.
"Team number 10, led by Asuma. Consisting of Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Chouji. I vow upon my clan, the Sarutobi, that all of them are ready to take on the exams."
His resolute decision was crushing. Whispers began to take over the room, as his recommendation had been quite unexpected.
Kurenai would not fall behind. "Team number 8, led by Kurenai. Consisting of Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino. I vow upon my clan, the Yuhi, that I am as certain as my esteemed colleague that all three are ready for the Chunin Exams."
Finally, Kakashi's turn had arrived. It was now inevitable. He had to give the answer and there was nothing he could do about it. Not anymore, at least.
Still behind his chair, Guy was watching his rival with certain concern. He had witnessed the severe condition of his kids. The vessel of the fox was barely conscious, while the other one was yet to wake up.
"Team number 7, led by Kakashi," he began.
However, Guy had also seen the pressures from Danzo and other officials on his friend. Really, for as much as he hoped that Kakashi gave a negative answer, it was more than likely that he was simply forced to recommend his team.
"Consisting of Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto and Hattori Ami." Despite their room being private and closed to only a few specific people, rumors had spread of the disastrous outcome of team 7's latest mission. For such, everyone was expectant of Kakashi's statement. "I vow upon the honor of my clan, the Hatake, that all three of them are ready for the Chunin Exams."
A small smirk formed on the Hokage's face. Noticing his almost subconscious expression, he opened his mouth to exhale some smoke and divert the attention.
"How unusual for all three of you to have unhesitatingly recommended the newest genin teams on our ranks!"
However, a man was already pushing through the many jounin to move forward. "Wait!"
The Third's smile fainted a little as he recognized the voice of Iruka. He had no business letting him attend the meeting, as he was not a jounin himself. However, Hiruzen owed him a lot due to his work in the academy, and he thought it fair to allow him to attend a meeting in which he would see his students recommended for the Chunin Exams.
The old man thought the professor would be proud of seeing how far his students had gone. Hiruzen had been a teacher to many himself, and he knew the feeling. However, he misunderstood Iruka's character. The orphan knew it was insane to allow them to participate.
"Allow me to speak, Lord Hokage!" Yelled the man as he finally walked past the bigger group of shinobi. Now, he was standing in between them and the three masters of the rookies. "Forgive me if I overstep, but most of the nine students that were just recommended for the exams were my own students until very recently."
Asuma and Kurenai turned around to face the man. The eldest son of the Hokage looked down on him, almost with disgust. Kurenai herself gave the orphan a deadly stare.
Kakashi, on the other hand, simply lowered his head. Guy noticed, and he gulped at the full realization of the complex situation his rival had been put into.
"I do believe they are all very gifted and show great commitment, but it's way too soon for those kids to step into such a deadly challenge." His tone and posture were firm. "Not to mention that Kakashi's team is in really bad physical condition. I was not even aware that Haruno Sakura, the original third member of his team, had died in their latest mission!"
The atmosphere of the room was heavy. The whispers that previously filled the room had gone completely silent, leaving Iruka's voice completely alone.
"Only with time will they improve and be ready for those examinations."
The man sitting on the wheelchair sighed. "I was six years younger than them when I attained the rank of Chunin."
"Times have changed, and they are not like you!"
"I think it's time for them to find out what real pain is." Coldly replied Kakashi. His stare was still set on the floor. "Plus, they've already healed. And it's normal to lose comrades in battle, we are both aware of that."
Iruka widened his eyes and almost took his hands to his head. "Are you out of your mind?!"
"I understand what you're saying, but I stand by my recommendation."
"You just-"
Kurenai finally stepped in. "Let's just finish this already, Kakashi."
"They're no longer your students, Iruka." He finally turned to see the man's face. "They're soldiers under my command."
Once again, the Hokage smirked. He was pleased with Kakashi's adherence to their plan.
"I do wonder, boss," said a familiar kid with spiky, dark hair. His long scarf was being dragged through the floor due to him still being too short for it.
"How did you heal so quickly?"
Konohamaru had been walking down an alley alongside his friends. His two usual accomplices stood by his side, while Naruto was slightly ahead of them.
The blonde boy put his hands behind his head. "I've always healed very quickly, but I'm not sure why."
His blue eyes then opened wide as he got an idea. "Maybe I'm just that cool."
Konohamaru cringed while his two friends fell on their backs. The youngest of the Sarutobi regained his composure to continue with his next question.
"What about that silent freak friend of yours?" Asked the kid.
"Sasuke?" Naruto scratched his chin while thinking as hard as he could. "Well, no idea there."
"I saw the guy and he was done for!"
"I guess the Uchiha are just built different." Said the little girl, shrugging at the situation.
Naruto squinted. "There must be a trick."
"So, how did you do it, Danzo?" Asked the elderly lady.
Following the meeting with the jounin elite, the Hokage had to attend another meeting, though this time with his advisory council. They had gathered in the usual small room, all sitting in their respective couches.
Hiruzen turned to look at his old friend, curious himself of what solution he had found to deal with the last Uchiha's severe injuries.
"Well, we infused him with the chakra of the fox, which was healing the jinchuuriki right next to him." Explained the man calmly.
The other two advisors smiled in amazement at the genius of the man's method.
"We used a sensor to transfer the chakra, like a cable channels electricity." He held onto his staff, while his face remained in the usual lowered position. "The fox did the rest of the job."
"Amazing, Danzo." Admitted the Hokage with a smile on his face. "And Kakashi recommended his team, so our plan is proceeding just as we intended."
"Hey!" A feminine voice yelled from behind.
Naruto turned around first, followed by the trio of kids walking alongside him. He squinted as usual, not being able to recognize the girl.
She ran up to them, which made Konohamaru step in front of Naruto. He put his fist upwards, and pointed it at the girl. In response, she laughed at him.
"What a cute little creature!" She said while petting Konohamaru.
The honored grandson grabbed her wrist and threw her hand off him. He stared right at her with killing intent. She could swear she saw fire burning in his pupils.
Ignoring the kid, she then turned to the blonde boy. Naruto had been distracted trying to remember if she knew the girl from anything, but nothing came up.
She was around the same height as Naruto, perhaps slightly taller. Her purple hair was mostly short, except for a strand of hair that was longer, extending past her shoulder. She sported a hitai-ate, placed in the traditional position on her forehead.
"You are Naruto, right?" She extended her hand to him. "Nice to finally meet you!"
His face remained the exact same for about thirty more seconds until he finally gave up trying to remember. "Who the hell are you?!"
As he yelled, he pointed directly at her despite the little distance between them. For such, his pointing acted more like a poke to her nose.
Konohamaru and his friends fell on their backs, while the purple-haired girl's eyebrow ticked a little.
"I guess it's been some time." She laughed nervously. "I'm Ami Hattori, we were in the same class in the academy when you failed the first time."
"Ami, huh? Name's familiar but I'm not sure why." His thoughtful mood then changed completely into a burst of full energy and enthusiasm. He gave her a thumbs up, before striking a ridiculous pose. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, the future Lord Hokage!"
Quickly, the trio of kids joined him, and struck new ridiculous poses of their own all around the blonde boy.
"And our boss!" Yelled Konohamaru with pride and a big smile.
Ami's jaw dropped to the floor. All of this show was not at all what she expected from him. It made her wonder how she failed to be accepted on a team, but he succeeded.
However, she quickly forced herself back to a more friendly face. She laughed a little, before insisting on shaking the boy's hand.
Naruto finally followed, and did so awkwardly. He suspiciously squinted at her like he had done before, and the girl could not help but think he was still trying his hardest to remember her.
"Well, it's not so important if you remember me." She played with her longer strand of hair. "After all, I'm your new teammate!"
"Huh?" Naruto was even more confused now. If the conversation continued like this, his brain would eventually explode.
"Yeah, I was heading for today's meeting with master Kakashi!" She replied with excitement. "I'm honored to finally be included in a team!"
"Wait, how did you know there was a meeting?" He scratched his head. "I know you are excited to be the teammate of the next Lord Hokage, but genin teams only have three members, we are full."
"Well, I'm the third now." Initially, she was confused. Once she understood what was going on, she let out a sigh. "I'm replacing Sakura."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "You're starting to spook me."
"Have you not realized?" Ami was trying to find the words to tell him. She had expected to at least not be given the burden of delivering the bad news to her new teammates.
"She died during your last mission."
His mouth opened almost instinctively. His blue eyes opened wide, and his eyelids were shaking. The dead silence that filled the place allowed for the strong blowing of the wind to take over.
After his eyelids, his hands followed in shaking. His face remained the same for a few seconds, before tears finally started to escape his eyes.
"This is…" He was already sobbing. "It's not possible, is it?!"
Konohamaru placed his hand on the boy's back. He lowered his own head. He had already learned about the destiny of his boss's teammate, but was not aware that he was oblivious to the fact.
Ami could only remain silent. If there was anything else she could say, she chose not to.
The silence and evident awareness of both the kids and the girl was indicating that it was indeed true. The realization of it crushed Naruto like a boulder smashes an insect. In the past few weeks, he had grown even closer with Sakura throughout their missions. She was probably the one he liked the most from his team. The thought of her or any other member of his team dying was simply inconceivable to him.
"So… that's why she wasn't in the hospital with us."
Naruto let himself fall on the ground. Almost immediately, he began punching the ground. His tears made the dirt softer, but did not help much in avoiding the injuries that formed on his knuckles.
Had he failed her? Had he failed Sakura and let her die at the hands of those demons? He had tried his best to beat them, but it was useless. Hell, he was out before either of his teammates. Then, did that mean Sasuke was to blame?
Then, it hit him. Kakashi was hiding behind the bushes the whole time. That had been his plan. Kakashi then chose to rescue both him and Sasuke, but not Sakura.
She left her to die.
He finally stopped punching the ground and stood back up. Ami gave him an awkward smile and tried to approach him, but he pushed her away.
"Kakashi is a dead man."