Team 7, Assemble!

Once their break was up and they returned to the Academy, they learned that students had been split up into teams that would be managed by one Johnin each. Acting as a mentor and instructor.

It was 'fortunate' that one of the teams mentioned, which went by the number of 7, had their names on it.

Naruto was visibly relieved… while Sasuke stoically shrugged his shoulders like a tsundere.

It may have been an action annoying to Naruto, but to Sakura Haruno (who had actually seen the worst of him in her future memories), this side of him was actually pretty cute~ Much better than that psycho.

This kid would almost kill her in the future?

Maybe things really did go wrong with them. She hoped she could protect his innocence this time.

So that he doesn't fall to the depths again…

In the time they spent together, even a muscle-brain like Naruto understood that he'd probably not get the affections of his crush... Sasuke had it all. A mysterious past, looks, style, and charisma…

…but what did he have?

'This lucky guy… getting all the girls!' Although Sakura didn't outright tell him she liked Sasuke, it was extremely obvious from how she treated him earlier. She definitely had feelings for him!

Of course, that was just his distorted viewpoint.

The fangirl-ing Sakura did in the past still stuck in his head. Any action she did was suggestive.

Naruto felt at a loss, but decided to use the opportunity. Using when the sensei that had been assigned to them came late to try and win her affections. Though his efforts were in vain...

"What is with this sensei, dammit! Let's prank him for messing with us!" Naruto finally couldn't take it anymore and stood up.

Sasuke expected Naruto to be the only one juvenile enough to prank a teacher, but he realised he was wrong when Sakura stood up as well.

"Let's do this! He deserves a beating! But what about you, Sasuke?" Sakura turned to the blindfolded youth behind her. The look of expectations in the duo's eyes made it hard for him to refuse their offer.

Meanwhile, Kakashi Hatake, the one assigned to train and test them as Gennin, was looking through the documents the Academy gave him that spoke of the key information about his new students.

It was only after reading them did he make his way to greet them.

However, once he opened the door, what he was greeted with was a duster falling on his head, the door activating a trap that threw chalk on his vest, and a second trap that threw a bucket of water at him activating as soon as the door was completely open...

'This is really elaborate.' Despite having his clothes ruined, he was more surprised by the trio who all clearly had a hand in what just happened. He wasn't angry at them, but instead had a higher evaluation of the team that seemed to have grew up together.

"Who is responsible for this?"

"Us!" They all spoke in unison.

"Eh... Sorry guys, I have a good reason for coming late." Kakashi spoke before cleaning himself up with some sort of transformation technique. The three of them were a little surprised that it could be used that way...

But despite saying he had a good reason, he didn't find it necessary to explain it as he sized them up.

No matter how he looked at them, the three students he was given seemed different than what he was told.

Sasuke Uchiha was supposed to be a broody loner and the only survivor of his Clan.

However, the youth using his forehand protector as blindfold didn't seem that edgy.

Kakashi also wondered how the boy could even see him, considering his eyes were fully covered...

Sakura Haruno was supposed to be the bright student of Iruka-sensei, but the current defiant girl he saw before him looking nothing like the respectful student he had heard of.

He could even tell that she seemed to be the ringleader of the trio who the others trusted in.

And as for Naruto Uzumaki, although he outwardly looked the same, Kakashi felt a strange feeling as soon as he came close to him that almost made him want to scan him with his Sharingan.

He didn't know why; but the feeling Naruto gave off seemed similar to a Tailed Beast, which was accurate considering new powers.

Naruto first had a body, then gained chakra that shared his sentience. This was his special trait.

No longer was he a Jinchuriki, but a 'Tailless Beast'.

If any Byakugan user was to scan him, then they'd find that the once blue chakra (signifying the power of a human) suddenly turned into orange chakra. His sensory abilities were heightened,

If the Nine Tails was like an inferno, then Naruto's chakra would feel like warm and gentle sun to anyone who came into contact with it. Like how the Sun only showed its cruelty with higher intensity.

Although he didn't have enough chakra to create a 'Tailed Beast Cloak' for himself, the benefits he gained from Sakura's Bloodline Seal allowed him to become the heaviest hitter in the team.

After Kakashi was done talking with them, he took them to where he was going to test if they were worthy of becoming ninja of the village. In a place very familiar to Sakura, he sat them down and talked to them.

"Why don't we all start by introducing ourselves? You can say your name, likes, dislikes, and what not." It occurred to him that trying to get his angry students to talk would take some patience, so he went first.

"Let me introduce myself, I am Kakashi Hatake.

My dislikes: I have a lot.

My likes: I have a few.

I don't have much ambition. That's all..." His introduction almost made Sakura face palm.

Yeah… This was so like him.

She remembered that despite being more lively in the future, their current teacher was unmotivated.

He'd suffered a lot throughout his life despite being a prodigy ninja rarely ever seen in the ninja world.

His genius only rivalled by Itachi Uchiha.

Kakashi's eyes seemed half asleep. It was hard not to see his easygoing nature and lacking in vigour.

But that was just a ruse…

This man was the first to master the five elemental releases, along with yin release and yang release.

A feat that both Minato, the Fourth Hokage praised as the 'Yellow Flash', and Itachi, the genius who was strong enough to slay his entire clan (who were all Sharingan wielding ninjas just like him).

He was an adept strategist who had gone through many battles. Copying many Jutsus along the way.

A genin at age 5 and chunin at age 6. A ridiculous progression that was abnormal for a 'normal ninja'.

His exploits only became greater when he had obtained a Sharingan. Becoming the 'copycat ninja'.

All this was to say that Kakashi should've rightfully had a higher status right now. If he put effort in.

But that was the issue…

Sakura realised after seeing that lifeless look in his eyes that he was currently hollowed out. The man was running on fumes. Trying to find meaning in life, but not having the motivation to give it his all.

This was the biggest crutch holding him back.

A sense of purpose gives better results to hard work, but Kakashi was missing that component.

It was no wonder he could barely use his chakra reserves effectively. He couldn't be bothered using his full potential. Even if his brain wanted to, his heart was chaining back his body's potential.

Sakura wondered how to get this quiet prodigy to show off, but it looked like that time would come.

The test…

'Yeah, he only gets serious at those times.' Sakura thought. Although he looked no different from usual every time they did that final test, there was never a time they'd actually beat him when serious.

Only when he gave them a pass willingly.

It was like that with their children too. Hell would freeze over before Boruto could pass the bell test.

Even if he unlocked all his potential right away.

'Does he still have some pride left?' Sakura found this to be interesting. If he really did, then there was definitely a way to bring out their teacher's full potential early on. They needed to give him hell.

Force out that willpower he locked deep within.

When his heart becomes reignited, they would have an easier time in the events to come.

Thus, she responded in a more combative tone:

"Understood. You're a grumpy old guy who is way beyond his prime." Sakura spoke harshly, causing her teammates to smile sarcastically.

They gave her the thumbs up.

Even Kakashi was a little speechless at how sharp-tongued the little pink-haired devil could be...

She didn't give him time to speak and continued:

"My name is Sakura Haruno.

What I like... I forgot.

What I dislike: Idiots.

I only want to protect my family." Despite her harsh words, she respectfully introduced herself.

Her teacher felt that her dream was pretty normal for a villager of the Hidden Leaf, yet was unaware of its true meaning. Of the true depths and intensity she felt when it came to 'protecting'.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki!

I love Ichiraku Ramen!

I hate the time I have to wait for it to be cooked!

My dream is to become the greatest Hokage!" Naruto was very spirited. He introduced himself just like Sakura without waiting for Kakashi to ask.

"What about your introduction?" Kakashi pointed at the blindfolded youth, who seemed to be in deep thought.

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha.

I hate sweet things.

I don't particularly like anything.

I don't necessarily have something like a dream, but I do have an ambition: That is to one day resurrect my clan and... kill a certain man." Sasuke unconsciously followed the same pattern…

Similar to the previous two, but the words he spoke was heavier than what Naruto imagined.

The knucklehead even felt a little uncomfortable.

He felt that his recent actions towards Sasuke may have been a little immature...

This was the first time he heard his rival had such a desire, making him rethink their relationship.

Naruto almost felt a like he had never truly knew the guy… despite having fought him for so long.

This was actually the result of his Orange Chakra that boosted his ability to empathise and sense the emotions of those in his vicinity. Even Sakura didn't realise that the Bloodline Seal she gave… actually made the knucklehead mature a lot more quickly.

They were scheduled for Survival Training by Kakashi for the next day and were even specifically told to skip breakfast.

Not that the trio cared. Despite having learnt many techniques in the months they had been training together, fighting together made it so they had to now think about what their battle plans will be.

"How should we fight together?" Sasuke was the first to bring this up before the test started.

They huddled together while Kakashi was away…

"You two are the Fighter Types, so it will be a given that you both will fight. I back you both up as support." Sakura didn't want to change their team dynamic. She didn't feel ready to take the reigns.

This composition felt more natural for her.

It was at that point Naruto revealed something that nearly blew Sakura's mind after she'd heard it.

"Can I use a Super Mini-Tailless Beast Bomb on Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto made a violent smile.

Really wanting to blow stuff up like an arsonist.

"Naruto, are you trying to kill our sensei?!" Sakura held back, but her angry face scared him off.

Realising that he was too eager to decimate stuff.

"Come on, you're the one who told us he's overpowered. Will he really get hit that easily?" The knucklehead actually made a good point. Their sensei wasn't the type to go down without a fight.

"I told you that Kakashi-sensei is a prodigy of the previous generation. He has extremely high battle experience, but that doesn't change that getting hit by that Jutsu may end up seriously injuring our sensei." Sakura didn't want someone to die.

Thus, she put a ban on using that technique.

Different from the Rasengan, the Tailed Beast Bomb and its different variants… was specifically created to kill humans. There was no way to alter or make it non-lethal. This was a killing technique.

"Why don't we take him on in Taijutsu? All of us are much stronger than average Gennin when fighting." Sasuke was sure of this. In fact, he believed that even Jōnin wouldn't win easily.

It was a good suggestion, but…

"Even Gai-sensei has lost to Kakashi-sensei in Taijutsu. Actually, I haven't ever heard of him ever winning... I don't think we'll be able to beat him in a frontal fight." They might have had their potential boosted, but their abilities had yet to fully bloom.

She knew quite well that expecting a veteran like Kakashi to be overpowered in a frontal fight was more like a fantasy than reality... Plus, since he was testing them, their sensei will exploit weaknesses.

There's no way any of them would win against a prodigy individually. They needed more teamwork.

It made a bad memory rise…

The time he used a mix of Genjutsu and trickery on them to lead them by the nose. Messing with them.

Taunting them. Making them fight more intensely.

She didn't have any good memories of back then.

"What about my Shadow Clones?" Naruto brought up a specialty that he'd never stopped focusing on.

"You might be strong, but you're not experienced in fighting together with your clones yet. It will actually become easier for him to fight if there are more of you. He can manipulate and play mind games with a bigger group." Sakura sighed.

It would be nice if they had a Sealing Justu user or Genjutsu specialist, but that wasn't realistic,

She herself was once known as a 'Genjutsu Type' like Kurenai, but not enough to specialise in it.

Maybe she could've also been good at using flora as a conduit for Genjutsu, but so long as Uchiha existed, normal people would always be second rate users. Which is why she didn't master it.

Only putting effort into getting a greater Genjutsu resistance than even Naruto, who was a Jinchuriki.

The only ones that had ever affected her in her latter years were two self-imposed Genjutsu:

'Inner Sakura' and 'Inhibition Removal'.

"Argh! Isn't there anything we can do?" Naruto really felt like hitting his head on a wall.

Not noticing Sakura's unwavering confidence.

"It seems like Sakura already has a plan." Sasuke caught that look and brought it attention.

"Correct! You both know I'm a Genjutsu Type, right?" She decided to remind the duo.

But the reaction they had was a little less mild and a little more shocked at knowing that information.

"What?" "What?" Both of them asked.

…Did she forget to tell them that?

"You sure you're not a Fighter Type?" Naruto eyed her muscles in a way that nearly got him slapped.

Seriously… so inconsiderate…

He didn't have to look at her like she was macho.

"I have to agree with Naruto on this one. There's no reason for you to be support if you're so strong."

"Listen. I work better when it comes to playing mind games. We'll fight like this: Naruto will first attack Kakashi-sensei with all he got while Sasuke will help me set up traps at the back.

The signal that we're going to lure him into our traps will be when Sasuke jumps in while you're fighting him. If this strategy doesn't work, then we might as well give up on winning."

Even though Sakura had the Flying Thunder God Technique, she wasn't willing to use it for mere test like this. Not only that, but the Bloodline Seals she put on the two of them couldn't be revealed yet.

When the day of their test came, Kakashi stood in front of the trio with a stronger demeanour than yesterday.

"To spice things up, on top of surviving, you will all also aim to get one of these two bells.

If you fail to do so before lunch time, then someone will be third to that log over there and not get lunch.

A final chance will be given in the afternoon...

if you are still unable to get one by that time then you will be sent back to the Academy."

Kakashi didn't look like he was messing around.

Sasuke and Naruto felt pressured by that last statement, but Sakura knew that not only was this a ploy, but the three of them couldn't steal some bells from him even if they had reached their true potentials. Moreover, there was only two.

Their loss was certain.

But they weren't going down without a fight.

Yes, they'd steal the bells and beat him up.

What better option was there?

"I will do a count down: 3, 2, 1!" As soon as he said the last number, the three of them disappeared into smoke.

But as soon as he believed they would get together and form a strategy, he heard a battle roar from above him.

Naruto descended from above.

His fist coming down like a meteor, only to be knocked back into the air by the difference in reach. Kakashi was literally fighting a child, so it was easier for him to react before Naruto struck.

He was amazed while fighting the knucklehead, and couldn't believe that the kid before him could have such mastery over his chakra. It was to the point of enhancing every one of his movements.

Rather than using pure Taijutsu, Naruto was disturbing the air with every fist he threw.

Using insane 'Chakra Enhancement'.

Who knew what would happen if cleanly struck.

It was only unfortunate that this was Kakashi we were talking about, even as Naruto came at him with a barrage of punches that even broke down the tree behind him, he still hadn't got to the point of being pushed back. Still full of leisure.

The ero book in his hand was dropped onto Naruto's face, which was followed up with a throw.

Kakashi used clean transitions to different moves with such finesse that you'd think he did it all is life.

Which wasn't exactly wrong.

Experience had built up, and a prodigy like their sensei became adept at fighting even without putting his all into it. His adaptability so strong that Naruto's surprising strength was nothing special.

He fought an meathead as strong as Gai for a good chunk of that. Naruto lacked a lot compared to him.

Throwing punching in such on obvious way and trying to kick him like that… was inadequate.

Naruto had improved a lot compared to his past life, but not enough to even be near his level.

This had to do with Naruto's lack of experience rather than a flaw in his fighting style.

The only improvement from the original timeline was that… Kakashi didn't have the guts to read a certain lewd book while he was dodging the cannonballs that were Naruto's punches.

He'd put it away halfway through the spar.

Kakashi was even almost caught off-guard despite being alert. Naruto had his Shadow Clones appear from the bushes beside them, and all of the clones had the physical capabilities of the original.

Taijutsu and Shadow Clones… Truly a terrifying combination. It put some stress on his body.

But that only made him more serious.

As Sakura said, even with all these advantages stacked against him, Kakashi had Taijutsu so powerful that… not even four of Naruto's clones from different directions could beat him.

It was a good thing Naruto listened to Sakura's advice.

He didn't make too many clones that could be taken advantage of by Kakashi.

Only making more when one disappeared.

'I can use some help over here!' Kakashi, who had originally put half his mind into a lewd book, wasn't anything like the serious teacher he was now. The man didn't give any chances for Naruto to retaliate.

It was to the point that Naruto felt like he would be captured if they fought for too long.

A few minutes later, a change occurred.

One of Naruto's clones was able barely touch the bells on his waist.

Kakashi, realising something was amiss from Naruto's movements, immediately released the Genjutsu put on him.

He found Sasuke had somehow mixed in with the Shadow Clones at an unknown time.

Since when did Sasuke know how to use his eyes?

A chill ran down his spine…

It was the first time a Genin was able to put him even under a small illusion like this...

He felt like there was a sinister ryes watching him from afar. Hiding behind the leaves in the forest.

Kakashi might have experienced a war, but Sakura's future memories survived two of them.

The playing field wasn't in his favour anymore.