Sakura vs Kakashi on Lateness

5:00A.M.

Training Field 7

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Naruto and Sasuke approached each other from opposite directions.

The sun hadn't risen, so Naruto was still half-asleep. He plopped down on the floor and leaned against Sasuke's feet.

"Oi, get off me," Sasuke said in a sober voice.

Naruto yawned and fell right asleep.

Sasuke sighed and made to step away, but despite being asleep, Naruto's hands went around the last Uchiha's feet in a vice-like grip to preserve his pillow's presence.

Seeing that the knucklehead's stubbornness was unhampered by unconsciousness, Sasuke decided not to dignify it with effort only to fail. He sighed in annoyance, "Dobe."

7:00A.M.

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Naruto woke up with a jolt. "WHA!? Wha? Where am I?!" He jumped onto his feet, accidentally knocking Sasuke facefirst to the ground, and pointing him accusingly. "OI TEME WHAT'S GOING ON?!"

He pushed himself into a sitting position and rubbed at his face, before tending to his knees. "You loser. If you hadn't leaned on me and stopped my circulatory blood flow, my legs wouldn't have gone numb and I wouldn't have fallen."

"Wha?" Naruto rubbed his head in confusion. "You fell 'cos I pushed you and that's that!"

Sasuke sighed. "Whatever."

"Where's Sakura-chan?"

"Tch."

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8:00A.M.

"Sorry you two! An old lady dropped her groceries so I…He's not here yet?" Sakura glanced around with lots of motion before settling her eyes back on the amusing sight of Sasuke and Naruto leaning against each other back-to-back as they sat on the grassy ground trying to get some sleep in.

Naruto rubbed his eyes as Sasuke simply opened his to stare at her.

Naruto yawned, "Is he here yet?"

Sakura's eye twitched. "Guess not." You idiot that's what I just asked you! Inner was more splenetic than usual, due to the early day.

"Hn. I'm having doubts on our Sensei's competency, if he manages to arrive later than even you."

"Say, what is our Sensei's name?" Sakura asked sheepishly, only to receive blank looks in return.

She felt something bop her head and clutched it, "Ow!"

It was Kakashi, who'd just arrived. He was giving her a stern look.

"I'm sorry Sensei, I'd never forget something as important as your name—" Sakura held her hands together in worry.

"It's Kaka—"

"Oi! You hit Sakura-chan!" Naruto was on his feet, pointing accusingly at Kakashi.

"You never told us your name," Sasuke chimed in. "You didn't even introduce yourself."

Kakashi glared at the three of them with intense killing intent.

They cowered off.

"Well," he cleared his throat. "I didn't see a reason to, when you'll all fail. Let's get started."

O_O O_O O_O;

Kakashi walked over to a wooden post and set an alarm clock. "Here we go, it's set for noon."

o_o o_o o_o

"Your assignment is very simple," he held up two bells. "You just have to take these bells from me. That's all there is to it." He dangled them tantalizingly. "If you can't get them by noon, you'll go without lunch. You'll be tied to those posts and you'll watch while I'll eat my lunch right in front of you."

So that's why… Sasuke had a second suspicion, and he looked at Sakura, who appeared to realize something too.

He told us not to eat breakfast to make it harder on us…."Wait a minute, there's three of us! How come there's only two bells?"

"Heh, well, that way," his eye curled with mirth, "at least one of you will end up tied to a post and ultimately disqualified for failing to complete the mission. That one goes back to the Academy," he swung the bells as Sakura and Naruto glared. "Then again, all three of you could flunk out too." Their glares turned astonished.

Sakura finally looked back to Sasuke, who'd been watching her this whole time. He nodded a millimeter, a movement caught only by Kakashi's perception and Sakura's glasses.

Naruto, who had no idea what was going on, jumped right in front of them and pointed at Kakashi, shaking his head vehemently and crossing his arms for emphasis. "Nu-uh! You can't do that, Sensei!"

"Really?" Kakashi tilted his head. "I'm a Jounin, authorized to decide whether you pass or fail."

"No," Sakura stepped in front of Naruto. "We decide."

And then, out of all people, against all odds and the logic of the universe, the avenger spoke: "All three of us, forfeit."

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