"Likes, dislikes, and dreams for the future. Hobbies. Things like that." The gray haired man said to us, a casual look on his face. Almost as if he didn't consider us important or noteworthy.

The blond kid to my left spoke up in his typically-squeaky voice. "Why don't you tell us stuff first. I mean, before we talk so we can see how it's supposed to work."

"Hm? Well…" Our teacher seemed to consider it. "I am Kakashi Hatake. And my likes? I don't feel like telling you that. And the things I hate? Hm…well, I do not dislike much. Hobbies? I have lots of hobbies. And for dreams for the future? I haven't thought about it."

"Well, that told us nothing." Sakura said from my right, sitting on the steps under me. "That was completely useless. All he really told us was his name."

"Uh uh." Naruto agreed.

"Well, alright. Your turn." Kakashi cut us off. "You on the right, you go."

"Alright!" Naruto cheered. "Believe it, I'm Naruto Uzumaki. Well, I like ramen! And I really hate the three minutes it takes to wait for ramen to cool down. And my hobbies are to collect all different kinds of ramen. For my dream for the future, I'm going to be the best of all the hokage! The greatest! That way, the whole village will stop disrespecting me and be forced to acknowledge me."

I couldn't help it. I snorted. Naruto's head flicked back, eyes glaring at me. "Who are you laughing at, bastard! I'll kick your ass!"

"You do know you have to be respected to be hokage, right?" I asked Naruto. "If your goal is to be the hokage so that you get respected, you are going about it all wrong."

Naruto is an annoying kid. Funny, but annoying. That was something that I'd felt when I had watched the show. It was the same image I got of him when I gained Sasuke's memories. Annoying, funny, and painfully dumb.

Not that I could blame him for being dumb—it is what happens when you have no one to raise you right.

"Now now." Kakashi broke in. He gave me a pointed, yet lazy, look. "Break it up. And thanks for volunteering!"

I had not volunteered. Regardless, I talked. "I am Sasuke Uchiha. I like many things. I dislike many things. I have hobbies. And I have dreams." I levelled a flat look at Kakashi.

"Very informative." Kakashi nodded. "Pinky?"

"—hey!" Naruto cut in before Sakura could talk. "Why does the bastard get to do that?"

I stared at Naruto. He stared back. My lips curled up as I made my eyes morph red, causing Naruto to flinch and look away.

The Sharingan truly was amazing. Sasuke had them since the massacre, but he never realized he activated them. I was taking advantage of this.

Sakura started talking. "I'm Sakura Haruno. I like—I mean, the person I like is…and my hobby is—as for my dream for the future, it's—eeeeee!" She squealed, looking at me. She hid her face behind her hands.

"And what do you hate?"

"Naruto!" Sakura immediately said, causing the boy to whine in despair.

…this was my team. These were two ninja who'd become some of the most powerful people in the world. Them. These two.

I held back a groan, looking at Kakashi in despair. I was on a team of idiots. Kakashi just looked amused.

"First, we will do what we can do with four people." Kakashi dramatically began. "A survival exercise!

"A survival exercise?" Naruto said aloud.

Kakashi kept talking. "Of the twenty-seven graduates of the academy, only nine go on to be ninja."

"What! Bu—but what was the point of the academy and the graduation test, then!" Naruto asked in horror, clearly terrified of being dropped.

"That was just to see who can do the very bare minimum. That's why it was so easy!" Kakashi cheerfully said. He stood up. "Anyways, you can go now. Shoo, shoo. Oh! Also, if I were you, I wouldn't eat breakfast. Wouldn't want to puke, hm?"

With that, Kakashi vanished in a body-flicker. I looked right at Naruto. "Moron."

"Eh!" Naruto glared at me. "Who the hell are you calling a moron, bastard?"

I tilted my head, looking him over. Two tomoe spun in each eye. "How did you graduate? I thought you couldn't use clones?"

"Hmph." Naruto crossed his arms and smirked. "I don't need that stupid jutsu! I have a better one!"

"Sure you do." I dryly said, rolling my eyes…come on, Naruto, take the bait.

"Hey! What does that mean?" Naruto gave me stink eyes. "Do you think I'm lying, huh?!"

"Hmm…" I glance over my fingers. "Yes."

Naruto hissed angrily, crossing his fingers together. Naruto took the bait. "You'll see! Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

I happily watched the chakra flow through his body. I watched how it worked through his chakra points and molded, shaping into a form perfect for clones. Then, the jutsu was released and hundreds of clones filled the area.

Humming at Naruto, I gave him a thumbs up. "Cool. See you, moron." I mimicked our teacher, also body-flickering away. The Sharingan was really just that good. I love stealing.

Stopping in the middle of a training field within the empty Uchiha Clan Compound, I took in the barren field. The grass in Konoha was different from the kind you'd find in dixieland. Georgia has Bermuda grass—if you've ever felt Bermuda grass, it is dry and sharp. I hate Bermuda grass.

Konoha wasn't anything like that. The grass here was soft and didn't grow very fast. I had never seen anything like it; I'd lived in Georgia, New York, and California, but none of them had grass like Konoha. It was…I don't know how to articulate the feeling. Jarring, maybe?

Everything was just so different in Konoha. The grass was different. The culture was different. The trees were massive, stretching far above the village. They almost reminded me of redwoods, but they looked different. Different, different, different. It was all different.

I loved it.

I have a whole life of memories in this place. I had a life where I watched it from behind a screen. Very different lives, but I'm honestly fine with being here. I am someone here. In a world with eight billion people, it is hard to be someone. But here, I am important.

I am Sasuke Uchiha, the last Uchiha. I am somebody. I matter. And I am going to become hokage.

Leaning against a tree, I waited for Kakashi to show up. Naruto and Sakura had shown up to the field far earlier than I had, neither of them having eaten. I had a nice breakfast of eggs and toast, personally.

I could be training, but there was no use in wasting my energy. I had already trained for far too long yesterday. Shadow Clones were such a boon—I would have to thank Naruto for that one day.

Anyways, Shadow Clones make training easier, especially with the Sharingan. I can only make three, but that is still three minds. Three photographic minds. Three minds that can copy any action they see. I made the most of it.

Strength is not my end, it is only a means, but it is such a glorious means. Who doesn't like being strong? I like it. I want strength for my goals, but being strong just feels good. And what are these goals?

Well, I am going to become hokage. I am going to kill Itachi. I am going to stop Madara and Obito. I am going to stop Nagato. Zetsu will be murdered painfully. I will make this world safe.

All of those goals require strength. A lot of strength. Like killing Itachi. I hate Itachi. Six hundred thousand repetitions of watching the Clan die was too much. Ridiculously much. Who makes a seven year old watch their family die six hundred thousand times?

Actually insane.

"You're late!" Naruto and Sakura screeched together as Kakashi finally appeared.

Kakashi tilted his head, somehow making his eyes smile. How the hell does that work? No clue. "Maa, sorry I'm late. A black cat crossed my path and I was forced to take the long way around."

Naruto and Sakura gaped at the man. I snorted. It was pretty funny, all things considered.

"Bullshit!" Naruto called Kakashi out on his very sneaky lie. "You're lying!"

Kakashi's face morphed into a shocked look, mouth opening up under his mask. The gray haired man pointed at himself, startled. "Moi?"

"Gah!" Naruto whined in anger. Yet again, I snorted. Kakashi is pretty funny, a master comedian, really.

I moved over to the group, casually walking forward. "So, are we starting, Kakashi?"

Kakashi clapped his hands together. "Ah! Thanks for reminding me, young Sasuke! I almost forgot!" He nodded, pulling out two bells. "These two bells are your objective. If you capture a bell, you do not go back to the academy…but if you fail? Back to the academy for you."

"But Kakashi-sensei," Sakura began to say, "there are only two bells! How are all of us supposed to pass if there are only two bells?"

Kakashi smiled. "You aren't. Now, at the end of the test, I'll give those who get a bell these bentos!" He pulled out two bentos full of food. Naruto and Sakura's stomachs rumbled. Kakashi gave me a curious look. "I thought I told you not to eat?"

"You said you personally wouldn't eat." I shrugged. "I felt like that was a stupid idea."

Kakashi nodded his head in understanding. "Very well. Then, I suppose we will begin. Oh, and make sure to fight me with the intent to kill."

"But what if we hurt you, Sensei?" Naruto protested.

"You won't. Anyways, begin!"

With that, Naruto created hundreds of clones and all of them launched themselves at Kakashi. I had been thinking about trying to help Naruto—I eyed a clone that managed to kill a fellow clone—but I don't think it'd go very well right now.

Walking towards the edge of the clearing, I walked up a tree and sat on a branch. I'd wait for the hoard of Narutos to whittle down before I gave the orange-menace some help.

In the clearing, clones tried their absolute damndest to put down Kakashi. Attempts at dog piles were thwarted with substitutions. Assaults were beaten back with casual martial arts. Kakashi looked elegant, reading smut while he beat up a twelve year old.

Oh! Kakashi had just appeared behind Naruto. Yeah, no. Body-flickering in, I caught Kakashi's hand. "You know, Kakashi, it tends to be illegal to touch the butts of little boys."

"Is it?" Kakashi curiously asked, pulling his hand from my grasp. "Thanks for letting me know, Sasuke-chan." He mockingly said, leg flying out to beat me in the side.

I stepped to the side, tomoe swirling in my eyes. "No problem, Kakashi." Swiveling around a strike, my heel was pressed into the ground as I spun. Kakashi's fist went by me and I moved to plant my knuckles into his unguarded side.

Far faster than I could react, a palm to my chest forced me back. Kakashi was reading his smut, not giving me the time of day.

Skidding back, my heels dug into the ground as I forcibly slowed myself down. Dirt and torn grass splintered into the air.

I thought about charging forward to engage Kakashi again. I did not, in fact, charge forward. "Naruto." I called to the blond, looking over my shoulder. "How many clones can you make?"

Naruto was on the ground, a startled expression on his face. "Why—why're you helping me, bastard! I could handle him alone!"

"Sure you could." I placatively said, partially aware of the fact that Kakashi was watching Naruto and I. "So, answer the question? Or are you unable to count?"

"Hey!" Naruto glared. "I too can count! I can make…" Naruto tapered off, frowning. "A lot of clones."

"Helpful. Well, I am going to engage Kakashi in close quarters combat. I want you to barrage him with kunai from a distance, okay?" I didn't wait for a response, already propelling myself forward with a body-flicker.

Cousin Shisui was a clever ninja. He realized that you could combine the Sharingan's increased perception with the increased speed of the body-flicker to fight at mind-boggling speeds. Of course, my Sharingan is worse than Shisui's, as is my body-flicker. The principles, though, apply.

Bolting forward at breathtaking speeds, I darted at Kakashi. A strike was aimed at my head. My palm bolted up, slamming into Kakashi's hand and forcing it away from me. Kicking upwards, my leg struck at Kakashi's side.

Kakashi, being too damn fast, was able to move his hand back and grab my leg, yanking me forward. Twirling under a punch, I forced myself into a body-flicker, narrowly avoiding a barrage of kunai from a trigger-happy blond.

I would have been happy to see Kakashi impaled with hundreds of knives, but all that got struck was a log. I was sent flying through the air by a kick to my back, Kakashi having appeared behind me before I could react.

Spinning in the air, I went through hand signs. Snake, ram, monkey, boar, horse, tiger. Chakra pooled in my chest as I inhaled in, feet touching onto the grounds. Sliding back, heels digging into dirt, I launched fire from my throat.

Waiting for the fire to clear, I eagerly watched the outcome of my jutsu. I knew it likely failed to do anything, but still…

The fire cleared up, revealing a burnt figure. It was a scorched log filled with kunai. That is all there was. I hate Kakashi so much.

Keeping my head on a swivel, I planted my foot into the ground and spun. There were Naruto clones surrounding the clearing. Not a Sakura was in sight. What the hell is she doing?

Choking, a fist hit me in the throat. I was sent back, arms raised defensively. My twelve year old muscles were hit by a twenty-three year old's muscles. My muscles failed and I was sent back. Before Kakashi could abuse me again, a barrage of knives made him stop.

Then, a pink splodge tried to attack the man; I was surprised Sakura would finally decide to do something. She was beaten into the ground. Soon after, I saw Naruto get beaten into the ground.

I stared up into the sky, taking heavy breaths. Getting punched in the throat was not fun. Not at all. It was also humiliating, having my ass kicked by a guy who openly read pornography.

Said smut enthusiast was still reading the aforementioned smut, humming casually as he watched the three of us on the ground. I shot a glare at him. Kakashi glanced up and tilted his head. I continued glaring.

Kakashi started twirling the bells in his other hand. If I wasn't in so much pain, I would have respected how much of an asshole he was.

"We passed." I stated, still looking up at Kakashi

"Hm." Kakashi lowered his book, meeting my now-black eyes. He looked interested. "And why do you say that, Sasuke-chan?" He tossed a bell into the air and caught it. "I think the bells are riiiiiight here in my hand."

With great effort, I pushed myself off of the ground into a sitting position. I looked to the side and saw Sakura passed out on the ground. We'd need to work on that. "Sure, you might have the bells…but that was never the goal, was it?"

"What makes you say that?" He tilted his head.

"Because the goal was teamwork." I state simply. It wasn't like I had done anything special by knowing this, I literally was cheating by knowing it. "Konoha operates in groups and puts teamwork above all else. Like the Legendary Sannin, for example."

Kakashi stayed quiet, eyes rolling over me. After several long moments, his eyes twitched into a smiling expression. I think he looked impressed? It was hard to tell with his mask. "You're right, Sasuke. It was about teamwork…and you three did, technically, work together." A bell smacked me in the forehead. "So, congratulations! You three pass!"

"Yay." I dryly intoned, standing up. "Now, how about we wake Sakura and Naruto so we can go get food? It'd be good for team building, right?"

Another surprise look crossed over my teacher's face. He reached out a hand and ruffled my hair—I would have smacked his hand away if I had the energy. "You've really come a long way, haven't you, Sasuke?" Kakashi mused.

That was odd. Did Kakashi meet me before today? Going over my memories, I couldn't recall ever meeting him before. Or—hm. He could have been one of the ANBU members who found me after the Massacre.

I don't remember Lord Hokage ever assigning me a guard, but it's possible he had ANBU watch over me. So…maybe?

"I've actually gone a very short way if you go by my total displacement, Sensei." I comment wryly, lips quirking up. "After all, I was born in a hospital only a few miles from here."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "We'll need to work on the humor, Sasuke-chan."

"I will use Naruto's stupid version of the Transformation Jutsu if you keep using the chan honorific." I threaten. "Or do you prefer young boys? With the way you were trying to touch Naruto earlier…"

"The horror." Kakashi dryly responded, not deigning me with a true response. Kakashi walked up to Sakura and shook her awake.

With a gasp, Sakura shot up, narrowly missing hitting Kakashi by an inch. "Wah—did I pass?"

"Hn." I told her flatly, moving over to Naruto and shaking him awake. The blond gremlin asked a similar question. I gave a similar answer.

"So, food?" I repeat to Kakashi. "We can go to Naruto's obsession. Ichiraku?"

"Ichiraku!" Naruto instantly locked into what was being talked about. "We're getting ramen? Is Sensei paying? Ooh, I'll have pork ramen and beef and—"

Sakura lightly whacked Naruto on the back of his neck. "Hey! Don't be a menace. If Sensei is paying, you need to not be an absolute leech and take all of his money, Naruto! That's just common decency."

She had a point. But, it wasn't really fair to blame Naruto—after all, he had no one to teach him what is or is not proper. He had no one to teach him what common decency is. Of course he has no manners, he was a social pariah!

Kakashi clapped his hands together, eyes beaming brightly. "Very well. Ramen it is, my adorable students."

Suddenly, I was given a sense of extreme vertigo as my world spun. I found myself standing in front of Ichiraku, knees wobbling. My mouth widened slightly as I gaped. Just how fast is Kakashi?

Holy hell…

I mean, I know he has intercepted lightning, but…that's just incomprehensible speed.

Doing my best to avoid wobbling and falling on my face, I managed to plant myself down onto a seat. To my side, Naruto and Sakura were not faring much better. Sakura's face was almost completely green.

"Why?" I practically whined, groaning. "Why, Kakashi? We could have just walked. This was cruel. Cruel and unusual."

Kakashi sat down, not a wobble to his steps. "Hm? I have no clue what you are talking about, Sasuke-chan."

"My threat still stands." I shoot him a small glare, not much heat to it. "And I'm pretty sure you're scared of women."

Kakashi nodded solemnly. "It is only logical. Women are scary." He shuddered in horror, seeming to remember something. "Completely terrifying, my adorable student."

"...you need a girlfriend."

"Agreed." Sakura intoned from my side, Naruto nodding his agreement.

"So mean." Kakashi moped. "My students, bullying me? Oh, what a cruel world this is! But, little do they know that women are too intimidated to date me..." He shook his head dramatically, amusement practically pouring off of him.

Sakura glared at Kakashi. "Or it is because you read porn in public, you pervert!"

Kakashi tilted his head. "Me? I'd never!"

"Liar!" Naruto and Sakura shouted, glaring at our teacher.

The two of them were really more similar than either of them realized. Hot headed, gullible, and not very good ninja. Two peas in a pod.

I need to bring up the not-very-good ninja bit. "Sensei?" I cut in between their bickering. "Can we talk about training and missions?" Not waiting for an answer, I continue talking. "We should simply not do D-rank missions. Our team would be better-off if we focused on honing our skills and getting better, instead."

"But I wanna go on missions!" Naruto interjected with a glare.

I shook my head. "Not D-ranks, you idiot. Do you want to paint fences, pick up garbage, and find cats? No? Then shut up."

Naruto harrumphed, crossing his arms and looking away. I'd say he looked like a child, but…well, he is a child. He is allowed to act like the twelve year old that he really is for a bit longer.

"So, Kakashi? We really should skip D-ranks."

"Skip D-ranks?" Kakashi pondered it. "While that is an interesting proposition, I do not think we will be doing that."

"Why?"

"Why?" Kakashi repeated me. "Well, I want to see you do D-rank missions! It'd be hilarious."

I looked at him flatly, my voice incredibly dry in intonation. "Is your humor more important than our ability to survive in the field, Kakashi? Really? Sakura is horrible as a ninja, having no physical capabilities and being too rigid in her combat motions. Naruto, on the complete opposite end, is as mentally dull as a rock and has no form to his taijutsu. They suck. Not like I'm much better, we all are horrible as ninja considering we are genin, but you and I both know our squad is not the same as any other genin squad."

Naruto and Sakura looked offended at what I said, Sakura's eyes tearing up slightly. Naruto moved to talk, but a glare shut him up.

Kakashi hummed. "And why is our squad different, Sasuke?"

"I am the last Uchiha…and the other reason is something I am legally not allowed to say." I give Naruto's stomach a quick glance. "But I heard it from my parents as a child. Our team has two high-priority targets. If we do not get strong fast, we will be killed."

The atmosphere was heavy around our team. Kakashi's eyes had sharpened at my words and, again, he was looking at me in an entirely different light than before. He mulled over my words.

"What is Sasuke talking about, Sensei?" Sakura lightly prodded him, curiosity strong in her voice. Naruto stayed quiet, face pale.

"Something that he should not know or talk about." Kakashi's voice remained perfectly even, yet he managed to convey just how serious this was. It was easy to forget that the usually laid-back man had the third highest body count in the village. "Fine, Sasuke. I will have our team forgo D-ranks if you can tell me how this training should work. How will our team train?"

I inhale sharply and then slowly exhale. I wasn't expecting that. "How will we train? I guess…I will help Sakura loosen her taijutsu through sparring. Naruto, however, will use his clones to practice stances and learn what he should have learned at the academy. And you will help me learn lightning transformation."

"And after they learn those things? What do you think they should start learning after?"

"Sakura should learn to be a medic, she has the control for it. She should focus on being a support to Naruto and I, it'd fit our team best. As for Naruto?" I bite my lower lip, contemplating. "He should learn tactics and jutsu that are very easy to use while also not failing due to excessive chakra input. With his clones, he can easily turn simple jutsu S-ranked threats."

Kakashi nodded. "I agree with you. And what do you think you should do, Sasuke?"

"I would make for a good short-to-mid range fighter." I simply say. "So I need to focus on taijutsu training and building my physique. If I could learn a close ranged ninjutsu like Lord Fourth's Rasengan or your Chidori, it'd enhance my combat. I also would like to master the Sharingan's genjtusu abilities."

"Again, reasonable." Kakashi nodded his head. "I agree with what you've said, Sasuke. But you and I will be having a talk sometime, alright?"

Weakly, I nodded.

"Good!" He easily shifted back into his playful behavior. "Now, my adorable students, let us order out food and eat!"