Double Apprentices

After the Bell Test

Kakashi stared at his two remaining Genin in shock as they stared after Sasuke's sulking self.

"Hm." Sakura looked at Naruto. "If he just accepted it, then we all would've passed!" She growled, glaring at the emo's retreating body.

"I-I know, Sakura..." Naruto blushed and looked at the ground shyly.

"So, I take it you two know the lesson of this test?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes!" Sakura cried out as Naruto nodded. "It's teamwork!"

"Correct. A deceased friend of mine once said 'Those who break the rules are trash, but those who betray their friends are worse than trash.'"

"I-I-I agree with t-that, S-Sensei." Naruto smiled at Kakashi, and Sakura stuck her tongue out slightly, nodding in agreement.

"Now that that's over with, I have a question!" He eye-smiled. "What the heck happened to your personalities?!"

"Well!" Sakura yelled. "One, rude! Two, we wore masks during the Academy to end up on the same team! I was top Kunoichi and he was dead-last! Sasuke was just there!"

"Well, you two are now my apprentices! I'll see you here tomorrow at four a.m.!" With that, Kakashi shunshined to the Hokage's office.

~*~

The Jonin and Hokage stared at Kakashi. He was actually on time. Just barely, but still.

"Hello!" Kakashi smiled at everyone, so Hiruzen decided to start the meeting.

"Okay, everyone here knows why we're here! Starting with Enshi, the sensei of Team 1, we will see who passed and who failed!"

"Team 1 failed."

"Team 2?"

"Failed."

"Team 3?"

"Failed."

"Team 4?"

"Failed."

"Team 5?"

"Failed."

"Team 6?"

"Failed."

"Sensei of teams 1 through 6, you are dismissed!" The Jonin filed out of the Sandaime's office. "Team 7?"

"Two passed, one did not."

"The Haruno and the Uchiha, correct?" The two advisors standing next to the Hokage questioned.

"No, it was—"

"The Uchiha and the Uzumaki?

"—the Haruno and the Uzumaki. The Uchiha refused to accept the bell they were offering, instead going back to the Academy because he didn't want their charity. I've taken a double apprenticeship over the remaining two."

"Thank you Kakashi." The Hokage nodded to the cyclops. "Team 8?"

"Team 8 passed with all three Genin!" Kurenai sent an amused smile to Kakashi.

"Thank you. Team 10?"

"Team 10 needs some work, but all three of them passed."

"Thank you. You're all dismissed."

~*~

The next day, the three members of Team 7 met within the Forest of Death at 4 a.m. Two of which looked quite a bit different than they normally did; Sakura and Naruto.

Sakura was professionally extroverted clothing. That meant that her clothes were appropriate for ninja, yet outgoing at the same time. It was a two-piece gray kunoichi outfit. The top half had spaghetti straps to hold it up at her shoulders. It cut off just below her... chest. The whole thing was tight and form-fitting, not that the 12 year old had much to show off. The bottom half was a pair of gray leggings that cut off just above the ankle. Attached to her thigh was a black weapon bag covered in seals. Her shoes were a pair of black sneakers and she had dyed the fabric of her headband gray. Her long hair was pulled into two pigtails. A black choker was around her neck with a small sakura blossom attached.