A.N. I do not own Inuyasha or Naruto. Look who's back! Also, not feeling super confident about FFN's future lately, so feel free to find me on AO3. I am finishing everything that is already here, but won't be posting new stuff. If you notice things are a smidge different between postings, it's because what was already up here got an edit before reposting. Special thanks to W. Huntress for proofreading for me today when my brain refused to. Thanks to her, this is going up tonight.

Kakashi watched the sunrise, Kagome curled into his side as they looked ahead. He was grateful that in the last weeks since the announcement he had been able to stay with her. "Have you been playing favorites with your lover, Hokage-sama?"

"Mm? No. It's been nice having you here, but the roster is full, and you have much in the village to do." She sat up and kissed his cheek. "But I can search for a mission to send you abroad if you desire it."

"I serve my village and my Hokage," he replied easily. "I will go where you want me."

"Ah. To the showers then." She winked at him and moved towards the bathroom.

xXx

The feeling of soil beneath his hands and the smell of new life gave Itachi a simple kind of satisfaction. To a man used to taking life -and even the act of gardening, usually being an activity that was to help in that venture through cultivating poison- planting flowers, herbs, and vegetables was a foreign concept. It gave him peace though. "Come to offer me tips, Yamanaka-san?"

Ino flushed at being caught staring. "I wanted to bring you that new order of fertilizer and tools. You've progressed so much in little time. You only started about a month ago and you're having some plants really thriving."

"Three weeks." He rose to his feet and rinsed his hands in the water can he'd been carrying. "Thank you for the excellent service with your delivery, Yamanaka-san."

"Oh, of course, Uchiha-san." She set down the supplies outside his gardening shed and straightened up. "I see Shikamaru is very diligent." She eyed her friend, lying on a bench staring at the clouds.

"Is it your position that I need diligent supervision then, Yamanaka-san?"

Feeling the heat on her face once more, the blonde shook her head. "No, I mean-" Her brow furrowed as she caught the tiniest incline to his lips and realized he was teasing her. "Huh. Didn't know Uchiha had the ability to joke."

"It's one of many heavily guarded Uchiha secrets." His eyes seemed warm for a moment before he went to grab payment for supplies.

When Ino left, Shikamaru sat up and eyed his charge. "I should warn you, Ino is pretty troublesome when it comes to guys."

"Are you concerned for me, or her, Nara-san?" Itachi asked, expression impassive.

"Me. I don't really want to have to third wheel your dates." Shikamaru flopped backward again, staring at the clouds. "So at least wait until you're off probation."

xXx

Sasuke's brow twitched a bit as he stared at the wall, sighing. "You should give up on me, Idiot. I'm not going to swear loyalty to that manipulative-"

"This cell is dulling your abilities, it seems. You should think about your village though. I may not be a leader you trust, but doesn't that make it more important for you to support the place and people you love?" Kagome leaned against the wall, facing his cell as she walked into his line of sight.

Scowling, he turned to look at her. "So, what? I say I am going to be a good soldier and you just let me out? I don't buy it. You messed with my head."

"It wasn't my intention, Sasuke. But think for a moment–if purifying Orochimaru's essence affected your mind so much, were you yourself before? Or were you just a body, waiting for his possession?" She tilted her head, looking him over. "If you can quell that hate in you - because I know it isn't fully gone- I would welcome you back into this village. You are not the worst person I have ever befriended, you know."

Freezing, Sasuke smiled mockingly. "Here I thought you were some master of mind games, but you're just as soft as Naruto."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Kagome smiled a little sadly as she looked past him, longing for the days when she was as soft as he apparently thought her. "But Naruto isn't a fool. He sees good in you, because it's there. So I will trust him, for now. I hope things can improve. Keeping you here seems a waste of your life."

"Is that a threat, 'Hokage-sama'?" Sasuke countered, tone mocking.

"Believe me, Sasuke, if I threaten you, you will know it." Tired, she slipped out of sight, unwilling to spend more energy on him in that moment.

xXx

Asuma took a long drag on his cigarette, shaking his head. "This is the weirdest pre-exam time I've ever had. I have had students not ready, but never without even the option." He sat back, tapping the ash off the tip and sipping his coffee.

Kurenai wrinkled her nose. "Wish you would quit those nasty things. It's strange to be sure though. Feels like the wrong message, like we're scared they aren't ready."

Squashing the butt, Asuma shrugged. "It's not that, more the other villages. They're going to send as many as they always do, and we as hosts will have the least." Glancing up, he nodded to a familiar bowl cut. "I suppose we're about to get another take."

Flashing his trademark grin, Maito Gai spotted the two and came over. "Good afternoon! I see you two out enjoying this beautiful day! What an exciting time to be instructors!"

Arching an eyebrow, Kurenai set her tea down and looked him over. "How do you figure that? Our students aren't even eligible to move forward."

"Yes, which is perfect! No more second guessing themselves on whether they want to risk their lives as rookies, no more agonizing over their own skills so early! They have to be seasoned. I won't lie and say that none of them are ready, but this just means more training and honing themselves as fine ninja in the prime of youth! Besides, we'll have even more students soon enough, teaching segments at the academy." Gai sat across from them, looking ever energetic. "Are you not excited to touch more young minds?"

Cracking a smile, Asuma went for another smoke, but set the pack down at Kurenai's look. "Of course you would have that take. But what about Neji? Would he have been better served by being held back?"

Gai frowned in thought. "Maybe. He was vicious in those exams. Maybe more mental health exams and training would have helped quell him. Do you disagree with these changes?"

Kurenai winced, remembering her own student that year. "I suppose only time will tell."

"We should certainly give our new Hokage's policies a chance before we pass judgment," a familiar voice chimed in behind them. At their slight startle, he smiled beneath his mask and pulled up a chair to join them.

"Kakashi, my rival! You have not taken me up on any of my challenges of late!" Gai flashed a grin, not particularly affected by the whispers about his longtime friend. Kakashi was many things, but disloyal was not one of them.

Clearing his throat, Asuma huffed. "Surely you aren't unbiased, given you are the Hokage's boyfriend." He looked amused.

"A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell, Asuma." Kakashi hailed a server and ordered something to go. "So, are you going to start your lesson plans for the academy students with all this free time?"

"You've never been a gentleman, Kakashi." Kurenai got to her feet, not wanting to play this game at the moment. "I think I will. Besides, some genin are going to need to lead smaller work studies. We'll have to prepare them too. Goodbye."

Waiting a minute, Asuma excused himself as well. "She's right. A lot of things to do."

Gai watched them and hailed the server himself, telling her to change Kakashi's order to stay and adding his own. "It seems you make them uncomfortable."

"Not you though," he intoned, thanking their server when she brought his drink and snack. "You act as if everything hasn't changed."

"Between us, it hasn't." Gai sipped on his water, eyes serious. "You put yourself in a strange place though. It will take time."

"I'm not sure Kurenai ever liked me anyway." Kakashi's snack was somehow already gone, his mask in place. "You do seem fired up for teaching more. Going to have the next generation of taijutsu specialists?"

Laughing, he nodded. "I want to prepare them all. The way things are now, many of them don't actually get a full education. We're all skilled enough, but Neji could have used you as a guide as well. Tenten could have benefited from learning from Asuma and Kurenai both. I don't think they suffered under my tutelage, but we're all specialists in our own right."

"You're a good teacher, Gai." Kakashi's drink was already gone. "Have a great night."

Gai was left beaming until the moment that he realized that he was being brought two bills, his rival long gone.

xXx

"This is ridiculous! I'm the grandson of the Third and I don't even get to TRY to become a chunin this year? That stupid lady doesn't know what she's doing!" Konohamaru complained loudly, kicking a rock.

Moegi looked stricken. "Konohamaru-"

"No! I am ready! I can't believe that I have to wait! I hate this!" he continued, kicking another rock hard.

Udon swallowed. "Konohamaru-"

"What?! Are you guys gonna tell me that you disagree?" the angriest of them demanded.

"I think your friends are demonstrating that they are better ninja, by observing their surroundings, and reserving any commentary until the 'stupid lady' isn't in earshot." Kagome turned from the little ramen stand with a takeaway order in hand.

Startled, Konohamaru froze and then slowly turned his gaze to hers. "Well… I'm right!"

"You think you are, certainly. You have grown up idolizing ninja who were "ready", but many ninja die younger than they should because they weren't. You may be the Honorable Grandson of the Third, but you are still just a boy. You may think you are ready, but considering you can't control your temper or your mouth, I would say you aren't. Now, kindly pay for the rock you put through this poor man's stall with your temper tantrum. If you refuse, I will deduct it from your mission wages." Kagome's expression was calm but stern.

"You… Ugh!" he yelled and furiously pulled coins from his wallet to pay the old man before storming off.

Moegi bowed her head, shame coloring her cheeks. "We're very sorry, Hokage-sama!"

"Do not apologize for the behavior of others. Instead, work to stand up to your friends when you need to." Kagome's expression softened after a moment and she paid for the two to get lunch when she heard the remaining boy's stomach growl. "Eat up and then get home. Start thinking about what you want to learn and what you can teach younger students."

Nodding, the two thanked her and sat to eat, watching her walk away.

xXx

Iruka looked over at Hanabi, smiling warmly at his former student. "I was pleased you were on the list for our new young instructor program. You were always so bright and attentive. Now, do you have any thoughts on what you are interested in doing with younger students?"

Nodding, she glanced at him a little nervously. "Honestly, Iruka-sensei, I am not sure. With the new regulations, I am not entirely certain what will be appropriate. Most of my best techniques are… a little vicious."

"Well, that's true. But you don't necessarily have to try and teach them specifically combat techniques. You have done missions- have experience. You can teach them how to move more quietly, how to present yourself when outside the country as a nin, when you are being open of course. And you remember what was important to learn versus what you thought would be." Iruka smiled warmly at her. "I have confidence in you, but I am also creating guides, so all of the genin student-teachers will have tools."

Hanabi nodded, a little relieved. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei."

xXx

Inoichi tapped his fingers on the table, looking at his daughter thoughtfully as she moved around the shop. "You certainly have a lot to do here lately."

Stacking some flower pots up, she turned to her father. "Well, the Yamanaka Flower Shop and Nursery is still a priority. Besides, there's a lot of orders."

"It is." He approached the counter and glanced at the orders. "Your mother said you have been getting a lot of orders from the Uchiha. It seems unusual." He ran through the list, seeing flowers, vegetables, a few saplings, and supplies on his order.

"Yeah, he seems really interested in gardening. I also think he's restoring the territory. Shikamaru says he's always sitting outside watching him." She arched an eyebrow at him. "Are you getting worried he's secretly cultivating poison or something? Everything is pretty mundane."

"No, just curious. Do you think we should take on help? With the exams, we'll be busier and you might have to pick up extra duties. Your mother says we don't, but you have been minding the shop more," he mused.

"Mm, oh, that's probably a good idea. Oh! We could suggest that some of the students could work some minor missions with the genin instructors here. I could teach them about wild plants they can find around, and how to cultivate private gardens for their supplies, while they work the shop." She grinned, thinking it a good way. And overall cheaper since it could be work study…

"Not a bad idea." He arched an eyebrow and looked at her again. "So you really agree with the changes, don't you?"

For a moment, Ino looked away and thought back on the Forest of Death during her first Chunin attempt. "Yeah, I do." She clenched her fist in her apron, recalling the way she had almost lost her friends, and then not so long after… "Maybe things would have turned out differently if we had this system in place before."

"Don't tell me that you're still thinking about Uchiha Sasuke?" he asked, shaking his head at the thought.

"Ugh, not like that! You really think I only think about crushes? I manage this whole place on my own half the time, I am a high-ranked kunoichi, and-" Ino began, angry with her father all of a sudden.

xXx

Sakura finally was allowed to see her old teammate, padding in quietly. She saw him with his back to the bars, and her heart tightened. He was here. She knew he was, but truly seeing him made it feel real. She teared up, just watching him.

"Are you just going to stare at me?" Sasuke asked, still not turning to see her.

"Sasuke…" She stepped up to the bars and touched one, looking at him. "I have been waiting to be allowed to see you. Hokage-sama kept saying it wasn't time yet. I was so mad that Naruto got to. But then, he was actually the one you were closest to, even if you tried to pretend otherwise."

Sasuke finally sat up, turning to look at her. "Why are you still looking at me like that? I have done horrifying things, and you're still waiting for me, aren't you?"

Glaring at him, she gripped the bar. "You… you're such a jerk, Sasuke. Here I am, trying to talk to you, to welcome you back, and you're going to poke fun at me? I loved you, you know? It was childish, silly, at first. Then we got to be on the same team, and it became more real. You are my first love, and I never hid that. If you weren't in that cell though, I would beat the crap out of you!"

"Like you could," Sasuke huffed, though there was the tiniest bit of a smile on his lips.

"Listen here, Sasuke, we were both trained by a great Sage, and I will not put up with you acting like you can't be touched!" She pointed a finger at him. "Now hurry up and stop being such a stubborn mule, get out of here, and I will prove you wrong!"

Actually smirking, Sasuke shook his head. "You have changed after all, Sakura."