— Bloom Again —

"When the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew"

-Hiruzen Sarutobi

—————————

It was weird seeing him all over again after so long.

"Sakura-chan right? Naruto has told me all about you."

"It is an honour to hear that coming from you, Hokage-sama." Sakura bowed her head lightly towards the older man. Sakura knew she had to be careful around him. She may be from the future but he is still much wiser. She was sure Hiruzen could sniff out a lie when he hears one.

"Well, you've been a wonderful friend to Naruto-kun. For that, I can't thank you enough, Sakura-chan." The Third Hokage smiled

"I'm only providing him with what a normal kid should experience, Hokage-sama." I'm providing him with the care he needs that you've failed to provide.

Sarutobi's smile grew wider, his eyes shine with a knowing look. "I see. Tell me, Sakura-chan, how much do you know about our village's history? To be precise, the night the nine tailed beast attack our village?"

::

"Sakura-chan,you're back! I was just asking Hinata if she saw you in the hallway!"The blond bounce happily around the pinkette which really reminds her of a puppy

"G-good morning, Sakura-san." The shy heiress greeted the pinkette, her cheeks were a light pink

"No need for the formalities, Hinata-chan, just Sakura is enough, "Sakura said, Shikamaru and Ino in tow. Sakura watches as Sasuke stared at them for a second and turn away. Ino huffed angrily and quickly took a seat beside Chouji who was eating his bag of chips cheerfully.

Noticing the bad aura surrounding Ino, Chouji turn "W-would you like one?"Chouji offered

"Ew, no! That'll make me—"

"Ino, "Sakura reprimand the girl, and Ino was quick to notice that her choice of words had made Chouji flinched away from her. Shikamaru thought of how alike Ino was to a reprimanded puppy then.

"I-I mean, I'd like one, thank you. "

"That's sweet of you to offer her your chips, Chouji, "Sakura commented and the said boy flush pink.

"Okay, settle down everyone."Umino Iruka announced as he walks in

Sakura quickly sat beside Sasuke, while Shikamaru sat beside Ino. " I'm sure everyone is ready for today's team assignment. Unfortunately, Mizuki-sensei is no longer going to be joining us from now on because of certain issues. So let's not waste—" Iruka sensei's words were interrupted by one of the fellow students Sakura don't recognise.

"Iruka-sensei, my family said Mizuki-sensei had betrayed our village. He's a traitor to the village because he tried to steal something. Is that true?"

Sakura could see the man before her tensed up at the use of traitor to describe his best friend.

"That is something confidential and nothing you new fresh genins should worry about." Iruka sensei reassured them all, flashing them a smile Sakura know all too well; a fake one that is.

::

"Ne,ne Kakashi, can I finish your ramen for you?"Naruto gave his best puppy eye look to his new sensei

"It's Kakashi-sensei to you." Kakashi corrected

"But, Sakura calls you Kakashi and you have no problem with that," Naruto stated as he grabs Kakashi's bowl of ramen.

"Sakura is special."

"Being bias already, Kakashi?"

"Even to you, Sasuke it's Kakashi-sensei." Kakashi lazily corrected the boy

"What makes Sakura so special anyway?" Sasuke sneered and Kakashi narrowed his lone eye. He has a lot of work to do starting with a slap of reality to a particular Uchiha's ego. Sakura on the other hand innocently chatted almost animatedly to Naruto who was already slurping Kakashi's ramen while casually patting her Kunai pouch that was strapped on her hip. Kakashi gulped nervously.

"Because she doesn't annoy me like you both do."

The patting stop and Sasuke's frown deepens

[2 hours earlier ]

"My first impression of all of you is I hate—"

"I'll burn Lisa if you finish that sentence,"

"Who's Lisa?" Naruto question loudly

A gasp escapes the silver-haired jounin. "You wouldn't dare,"

"You know I would."

"Fine, meet me on the roof. The last one to get there will be punished." Kakashi said before he disperses into a cloud of dust.

"Teme, I'll beat you first!"

"Naruto, how about we all go together? "

"B-but I wouldn't be able to beat the Teme! "

"As if you could, dobe. "

"You wanna bet?! "

"Enough! I'll personally punish both of you if you both don't stop bickering!"

Silence engulfed the trio. They walk to Kakashi as a trio; as a team even though both Naruto and Sasuke were silently protesting.

Kakashi eyed his 'might be students'. Seeing how both the Kyubi's Jinchuriki and the last Uchiha who he noted were rivals managed to meet him on the roof as a team which he concluded is because of Sakura is a good sign. Maybe this will be the first team he passed after all.

"Sensei? We're here!"Naruto excitedly announces his presence even though it was quite obvious considering his chakra pulse playfully everywhere.

"Good. Let's start with some introductions. "

"His name is Hatake Kakashi, a retired Anbu now jounin, loves reading porn in broad daylight, is always late to any meeting, and is the rival to Konoha's Green Beast, Maito Gai. He had never been a genin squad leader because all of the genins who were assigned to him, would somehow fail his test. His nickname is The Copy Cat Ninja for he was rumoured being able to copy 1000 jutsu using—"Sakura recited, only to find her mouth being cupped as soon as she was to announce his not so secret Kekei Genkai.

"Haha, that's enough Sakura-chan.  You don't need to reveal everything about me so quickly.  Where's the fun in that? " Both Naruto and Sasuke scowled at this, to them Sakura was giving them precious information about their mysterious teacher.

"Wait, did Sakura-chan just said there were tests?"Naruto question loudly yet no one seems to hear him

"Now, that you all know about me, why don't we start with you Sakura-chan since you were so eager to tell everyone everything about me. "Kakashi's eyes shine with a mischievous look, and Sakura rolls her eyes.

"I'm Haruno Sakura, my interests are training, playing shogi and reading. My dislikes are wars, backstabbers and teachers who read pornography in broad daylight. What I have is not just a dream, because I'll make it a reality; I would tell you what it is, but it'll ruin the fun, isn't it?" Sakura giggled when she saw both Naruto and Sasuke's curious looks as she ended her little introduction speech and sat.

Kakashi sigh and rolls his only visible eye "Let's move on with you next then, blondy. "

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto, you better remember that dattebayo! I love Ramen, Sakura-chan and the Old Man. I dislike the 3 minutes it takes to cook ramen and bullies. My dream is to be the Hokage and make Ramen Week exist so all orphan kids like me at the orphanage can eat Ramen as much as they want for free without being ."

Sakura swore her heart just soar so high from hearing Naruto's cute and precious dream. She literally felt like wrapping Naruto in bubble wrap to protect him from what's yet to come. But she knew, it was to no avail. It was after all Naruto's fate according to the prophecy to save the world and she was going to make sure of that. Kakashi nodded his head over to Sasuke

"Uchiha Sasuke, I hate a lot of things, some more than others, what I have is not a dream  because I will make it a reality—"

"Psh looks like someone stole your words, Sakura-chan!"

"I did not! As I was saying, my dream—"

"Yeah, yeah, and then now you'll be telling us that you're not gonna tell us."

"No, I was going to talk, until you kept interrupting, dobe! "

"I'm just telling the truth, Teme! "

"Dobe! "

"Teme!"

"They do this all the time huh?" Kakashi turns to his lone student

"It's a love-hate relationship between them. "Sakura replied

"I don't love him! "They both yelled at the same time, glaring at each other as they do so

"My point still stands, "Sakura said blatantly, ignoring the two hot glares drilling into her backs

"Well, this is going to be an interesting team. You all might even pass the test tomorrow." Kakashi oh-so-casually clasped his hands together, and wait for the reaction he wanted.

He didn't have to wait long.

"A test?! I thought the genin exam was the test, why do we need another test?" Naruto wailed

"Hn," Sasuke quietly agrees with the blond

"Well, this test is to determine whether you three are actually worthy of being officially promoted. 30% of students would fail the test and they are sent back to the academy for further training, or if I deemed them to have an overly poor performance, I, as the jounin have the right to make them dropped the program. So with this in mind, meet me tomorrow at Training Ground Three at 5:30 am. Don't be late!" Kakashi recites and gets ready to disperses but a small hand catching his wrist stop him from doing so. It was Sakura.

"Ne, Kakashi-sensei, why dont we have our first dinner as a team?" Sakura suggested, her hands reaching down to her kunai pouch and a glint of a very familiar book is in sight.

"A-a good idea, Sakura-chan."Kakashi gulps. He had to keep in mind that Sakura was no ordinary genin. Especially if she manages to somehow snatch Lisa away from his vest pocket without him noticing.

"Naruto, why dont you lead the way to Ichiraku?" Sakura knew the moment she says the magic words, Naruto would be on high alert and she wasn't wrong. Naruto excitedly nods and pulled Kakashi along leaving Sakura and Sasuke alone.

::

[Somewhere, far from Konoha]

"Do you understand what must be done, Gato? " 

The brown-haired man nods, "Of course, consider it done. Although it is a shame that this process can take up to months or even years. What a wonder a few extra pounds of money could have done to speed things up."

"Do not play me as a fool. You are lucky to even gain Wave as a part of our deal. You are not getting any more. Play me, and I'll fuck you up. I have my eyes on your hidden activities for a long time now. It would be a shame if the Gato company were suddenly to be exposed of its terrible deeds, don't you think?"The man in the shadow observes the puppet he had chosen. What a  fool to even think of challenging his authority to gain some extra cash.

Gato paled up and stood abruptly. "U-understood. I'll take my leave now," He was more than ready to get away from the person who could ruin his whole career.

The man in the shadow smirked. All it took was blackmail and the pup had scurried away. Not only he was a fool, but he was a coward too; A perfect fit for a puppet.

People always rush with their plans. That's why most don't succeed. But his? Well, his plan will take up to years, with careful planning and the soldier he's gathering. Nothing can stand in his way, not even The Juubi, the ten tails can.

Outside what seems like an abandoned building, three pair of eyes observe as a brown-haired man quickly ordered his man to leave the place immediately and abandon the remaining unpacked things.

::

"Mission report, Sakura-sama."The little brown bear reported

"Mah, there's no need to make it so formal, Sora." Sakura took a scroll from the little brown bear's pouch and reads it as she unravels the scroll.

"Told you so! Sakura-chan prefers it to be less formal." Riku, the youngest bear flashed a cheeky smile towards Sakura, proud that his prediction turns out to be right.

"No matter what, she's our summoner and she has given us a mission. A mission must be reported properly, Riku!" Sora argued

"Agreed. How else could Sakura-sama understand us if you reported informally and silly? You still have a long way to go, Riku." Kaiyo, the eldest black bear chastised Riku. Riku pouted and deflated. He recognised a lost argument especially when he is being chastised by Kaiyo.

Sakura watches the scene in amusement. Though she wanted to interrupt Kaiyo and defend poor little Riku, she understood that this was for Riku's own good. If one day she was to need his assistance and he had reported the mission in a silly way, there's a chance she could have misunderstood them. Watching Riku pout yet did not make a complaint make Sakura realise that her bear is growing up. She could still remember the shivering bears, huddle up together for body heat, all waiting for someone to care for them. All three had agreed to be her summons with the only condition that she took all three of them and that their youngest, Riku would have to go through proper training before officially being her summon. 

"Riku, why don't you try reporting for once to Sakura-sama?" Sora suggested. Even though arguing with her little brother might be fun because most of the time she's right, she dislikes seeing Riku deflating and discourage.

Riku's brown eyes widen, "Me?"

"I agree. Sora or I would always be the one reporting. I'd like to see you try, Riku. Have faith in yourself." Kaiyo agreed 

Sakura stood patiently, waiting and watching the little one flushed light pink. Riku took a deep breathe and recite the report the way he had seen his sister and brother did so many times.

"The mission was a success. The Puppet was seen leaving in a rush at 0800 hours. There was no sign of Puppetmaster the moment Puppet left. However, we've gathered enough evidence for the puppet to finally be set free. Kaiyo had then tracked down Puppetmaster and like you said he was last seen at Kiri. He was seen drinking with a local before disappearing off the grid. Puppetmaster and The Puppet had not noticed our presence for the entire mission. While Kaiyo was tracking Puppetmaster, Sora and I had tracked ourselves some burrows that were said to contain the scrolls you wanted. "

"Good, are there any good burrows left?" 

"Most burrows are up in the open but there was a particular burrow that had misleading entrances. However, this burrow was huge and would require some work. Sora and I had left the burrow immediately after collecting the scrolls for fear that there were enemies nearby."

"Understood. Good work the three of you. Rest up, and I'll call you when I require your assistance."

"Thank you, Sakura-sama."

The three bears vanished into a cloud of smoke. Sakura ponders over the information she was given. If she was him, where would she be right now?

Time did not wait for anyone and if Sakura still wastes her time fooling around, it won't be long for history to repeat itself. And this time, there wouldn't be any redemption.

-To be continued-

Ola, how's everyone doing? I know a lot of you has waited so long for this update so here it is. I literally spend my time writing this when it's my exam week. 

Does anyone love the Team 7 interactions? Was it too much? Too little?

And also in walks our latest addition to our Haruno family, Kaiyo, Sora and Riku, the three little bear siblings! Any thoughts on these three as Sakura's summons?

For everyone's information, Kaiyo refers to Ocean, Sora to Sky and Riku to land. This three sibbling are meant to stick together no matter what. I also got inspiration for these three from the animation We Bare Bears!

They will be making more cameos in the future updates helping Sakura to do certain assignment when she herself couldn't. So look forward to them!