The Next Day – Konoha Training Grounds
Naruto and Sasuke had shown up early and were now staring at the still-dark sky, speechless.
"Ugh, why aren't Sakura and Kakashi-sensei here yet? And why do I have to be stuck with this stuck-up jerk?"
Naruto slumped forward, forehead thunking onto the backpack he'd hauled along.
"Hn. You think I want to be here with the dead-last?"
Sasuke found some shade, sat down, and stashed his pack neatly.
The rising sun baked them harder, and both boys drooped on the ground, defeated.
"Oh, there you are! You guys are early."
Sakura waved, spotless and carrying zero gear.
"Sakura-chaaan!"
Naruto's head snapped up, eyes sparkling.
"You're late," Sasuke grumbled from his knees-hugged position, chin on his kneecaps. "And you didn't even bring survival gear."
He'd meant to sound concerned, but the tsundere in him turned it into a stiff scolding.
"Nuh-uh-uh."
Sakura wagged a finger in front of him, plopped cross-legged between the boys.
"Intel's half the battle, boys. Not my fault you didn't gather any."
Both froze, eyes locked on her.
"Today's survival drill isn't like the academy stuff."
"And Kakashi? Total chronic latecomer."
Naruto and Sasuke felt their noses itch—like little red clown noses were about to pop out.
Rustle!
Branches overhead shook. Sasuke and Naruto dodged left and right.
Kakashi's head poked upside-down from the foliage, voice lazy.
"I can't pretend I didn't hear that. I was just—"
"Blocked by a black cat? Or lost on the path of life?"
Sakura cut him off, nailing every one of his excuses.
What the—how does she know my lines?
Kakashi coughed, pulled an alarm clock from his vest, and set it on a stump.
"Anyway, the exercise runs from now until noon."
"The objective…"
He met Sakura's soul-piercing emerald eyes and felt a tiny rebellious spark.
"You two have to take these two bells from Sakura—who's at least jonin-level."
"Treat her like you'd treat a kill target. No bell? You're sent back to the academy."
Kakashi fished out two bells and tossed them to Sakura.
"Huh? Kakashi, you son of a—"
Sakura's elegant curse was muffled by Kakashi's hand.
"Give us a sec to prep. Sakura and I will be right back!"
He flashed the boys a grin, then poof—Body Flickered away with her to a hidden thicket.
"Kakashi, I'm telling you, I'm not gonna—"
"Please! In exchange, you can skip all D-rank missions as a genin!"
Kakashi clasped his hands, dead serious.
He couldn't go easy on Sakura anyway, and the teamwork test would fall apart.
Better to hand the reins to her and let the kids' clash reveal their true colors.
Sakura's eyes glinted slyly.
"Look, Kakashi-sensei—Naruto and Sasuke are my brothers-in-arms, my ride-or-die family!"
Kakashi rolled his eye.
Family, sure. Brothers? Girl, you don't even have siblings, and you're claiming theirs?
"So?"
"Pay up!"
"Emmm… fine!"
…
Moments later.
After haggling Kakashi for an A-rank mission's pay, a satisfied Sakura faced the boys.
"Your opponent's me. Come and get it!"
She planted herself like a boss, crooking a finger at them.
"B-But Sakura…"
Naruto scratched his head in panic.
He already had no clue how to fight her—plus the no-bell-means-academy thing?
"Hn!"
Sasuke snorted, shot past Naruto, and charged.
Four years since their last spar. Time to measure the gap.
He twisted, flinging four or five kunai and shuriken from behind.
"Throwing weapons don't work on me—forgot already?"
Sakura reached out, just like back in the academy, to catch the shuriken.
Poof!
Smoke exploded. Sasuke burst through, whipping a full-power roundhouse at her head.
"Haruno Sakura—I'm not the kid from four years ago!"
The kick screamed through the air, no mercy.
"Ara, you've grown."
Sakura calmly raised an arm, blocking the strike.
But the second leg followed instantly—Sasuke's flexible torso twisting to launch the other foot with hip torque.
Smack!
"Too light! That won't cut it~"
Sakura caught the second leg like it was nothing.
Sasuke used her arms as leverage, bridged into a handstand, and reached for the bells at her waist.
"Heave-ho!"
Sakura released, bending impossibly. Sasuke's grab missed, and he crashed flat on his back.
She danced back lightly, widening the gap.
"Damn it…"
Sasuke slapped dust off his face, glaring.
One exchange of taijutsu, and he knew—he still wasn't on her level. How long until he could erase the Uchiha shame?
Blood flooded his eyes. Two tomoe spun into view.
"Now this is…"
Kakashi closed Make-Out Paradise, eyes serious on the field.
"Sakura—if I kill you, don't blame me!"
Sasuke's hands flew through seals. Chakra surged from his gut, up his chest, to his tongue.
Fire Style—
"STOP!"
Naruto tackled him mid-jutsu.
The half-formed Great Fireball got swallowed. Flames shot from Sasuke's nostrils instead.
The backlash singed Naruto's jacket; he rolled on the ground, yelling.
"You bastard—what the hell?!"
Sasuke stood, twin streams of blood from his nose, hauling Naruto up by the collar.
"That's Sakura! Our teammate! You trying to kill her?!"
Naruto flailed in the air, smoke still rising.
"Idiot—this is the mission!"
"Getting stronger as a ninja is step one to my ambition!"
"Keep playing half-assed ninja games, and one day you'll die on an enemy's blade!"
Sasuke's Sharingan locked on Sakura, then hurled Naruto into a tree. The blond slid down with a groan.
I have to beat her. Absolutely.
If I can't even defeat that guy's junior, how do I reach greater heights? How do I wash away the Uchiha disgrace?
"Need more time to strategize?"
Sakura stood hands-behind-back, head tilted, totally relaxed.
"No need!"
Uchiha Sasuke gripped a kunai like a knight charging a windmill and rushed again.