Perfectly Imperfect Love

ANBU Black Ops

- 3 months later -

"Come on forehead! Come watch the ANBU exams with us!"

Sakura looked over to see Ino waving, along with Chouji, Shikamaru, and Hinata. The pinkette was sitting at an outdoor tea shop, sulking. She had yet another fight with Sasuke the previous night.

Things were not going well with the Uchihas; lately, they rarely got along, and both of them had extremely busy schedules. Sasuke was working tirelessly towards attaining his Jounin rank, and Sakura's time was taken up by her medic-nin duties and teaching the next batch of healers. The stress of their occupations, and the fact that their relationship has been strained for months, led to irritable confrontations and, almost always, arguments and fights.

"ANBU exams?" She questioned, standing up and walking over. Ino nodded enthusiastically.

"Yup! They're today; Tsunade-sama set up a room for us to watch the combat exam." She said. Sakura then remembered what she was talking about; every 8 months, there was an exam held for graduating ANBU from all over the five great nations. After the war ended, the Shinobi Alliance enacted a treaty that established an organized ANBU graduation test for all members who have completed their respective training.

It consisted of a single phase; an all-out, free-for-all combat stage that incorporated multiple facets and requirements of an ANBU soldier; tactics, search-and-destroy objectives, survival and the ability to work without a team. Since ANBU members are trained for eight months in teamwork, the villages want to test their abilities on working by themselves.

"I can't wait; ANBU members are absolutely gorgeous." She gushed. Shikamaru grunted in displeasure to his 'girlfriend's' behavior.

She glomped him. "Don't worry! I love you, Shika-kun!" He blushed, muttering under his breath, and Ino turned to Sakura. "So? You gonna come with us?"

Sakura sighed. "Fine. Let's go."

They traveled to the shinobi HQ in the middle of the village; it was established after the invasion of Pein. All missions and communications dealing with ninja were transmitted and documented there.

They entered the large building, and entered the lounge. Inside, there was a large screen monitor.

The rest of the rookies were already there, along with their former jounin sensei. "Where's Team Gai?"

"On a mission. Man, I'm so excited to see some of our boys in the zone! I've heard that ANBU training has gotten incredibly strict and demanding." Kiba remarked, lounging on a couch with a bowl of chips.

Sakura almost reluctantly sat down next to her husband. He gave her a stiff nod of acknowledgement, and when his head turned to the monitor, she scowled.

The screen lit up, showing the entrance to training ground 44; The Forest Of Death. Fifty ANBU graduates were there, alongside Konoha's ANBU commander, Tsunade, and a handful of Konoha jounin.

Naruto glanced around. He was surrounded by men and women almost identical to him; the majority of them wore featureless, white masks, and were dressed in full combat gear. The uniforms varied, though, depending on each individuals home village; Kiri-nin had slitted holes for their eyes and hefty body armor, while Suna-nin wore long, beige coats and cloth masks, instead of the ceramic the others wore. Like himself, some of them also wore hooded cloaks to conceal their identity further.

"Welcome, everyone, to the ANBU advancement exam. Today, you have all graduated your training from your respective villages. Teamwork, strategy and focus are what makes an ANBU soldier capable to undergo the missions that are required of them."