It was their first day of the Ninja Academy. Family after family brought their small children and stood in line as they waited to be checked in. The jonin looked at the faces of the next generation, some chuckling at them. They were all over the place-some with nervous expressions and clutching onto their parents for dear life, some being held back by their parents as they tried to stampede through the doors, and some just standing there, not showing much emotion other than the occasional eye contact with a jonin, leading to the child swallowing nervously and turning away.
"This generation is gonna be unstoppable, I can feel it."
A silver haired jonin sighed and turned towards his rival and biggest annoyance. "You're always so optimistic Guy. They look like a bunch of brats. What makes you so sure?"
Guy puts his hand on his friends shoulder. "Look at em, Kakashi! Visualize the potential. These kids are going to be our comrades one day, we need to think they'll be unstoppable. We can't save them every time, you know?"
Kakashi sighed and looked back towards the kids. "Yeah, you're right. Maybe someday they'll be worth something."
Suddenly a fight breaks out between a blond kid by himself and a kid with black hair, being pulled away by his mother as she apologizes to all around.
"Maybe not though."
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"Okay it's our first mission as a stronger team seven, do you remember the plan?"
"Ooh! Ooh! I know it Kakashi sensei! Sakura goes left, Sasuke goes right and then I swoop in and save the day."
The rest of the squad groaned, Sakura smacking Naruto on the head in the process. "No, you moron. You're the decoy. You're supposed to lure the animal out and then me and Sasuke have to catch it."
"Why can't Sasuks be the decoy then?? You're always going on about how he's 'such a catch'."
Kakashi could barely hide his snicker as Sakura, red as a tomato, proceeded to beat Naruto with the nearest branch. He glanced over to see Sasuke's back, staring intently at a tree. He was about to ask if he had heard what Naruto said, until he noticed the faintest tint of pink on the top of his ears.
Oh?
Kakashi cleared his throat, a plan formed. "Alright Sakura, I think he's learnt his lesson. Since he's so against the plan, I've come up with a new one. Naruto and I will walk from here to the left half of the forest, Sakura and Sasuke walk the right." He threw a kunai into the nearest tree. "We meet back here by 2, got it?"
"B-but sensei! Can I patrol with you instead, " Sakura asked looking at the ground. Her hands clenched by her side as her face had a light dusting of pink.
What the hell?!?
"Well sure, if that's what you'd-"
He was interrupted by Sasuke grabbing her arm and leading her away from him and Naruto. "Two, got it. We'll see you then." Sasuke grunted as he all but dragged Sakura through the trees.
"The hell Kakashi sensei!? How could you let him just drag Sakura away like that? She clearly didn't want to go with him!"
"Can it, Naruto. You're so far from the truth." He gave him a knowing look and took a deep breath before continuing. "You and I both know that anything Sasuke related has Sakura's name written all over it. The only reason she asked to switch was because of you oh so kindly revealing she called Sasuke, quite frequently, a catch. You embarrassed the poor girl you have a crush on. Smooth move. Now pick your pride up and let's look for this cat-those two will be fine."
