Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

The Difference a Kiss Can Make

Chapter 2: Team Unity Lessons

Sakura barely slept that night. The events of the day kept replaying in her head. Her emotions were all mixed up from her interactions with Naruto and Sasuke. She was still slightly annoyed with Naruto for the kiss trick he'd pulled. Maybe with Kakashi-sensei around he'd turn over a new leaf, but she wasn't holding her breath on that one.

Then there was Sasuke, the boy of her girlish fantasies. He was, cute, a super skilled ninja, at least for their age, and he had that brooding bad boy persona that just oozed cool. It was no wonder nearly every female in their class had fallen for him. It was an obvious conclusion really, he was everything a girl could want in a boyfriend and future husband.

At least that was what Sakura had thought of Sasuke before yesterday, now she wasn't so sure. He'd coldly dismissed her, calling her annoying and telling her to stay out of his way. Like she'd done yesterday she reflected on how similar that was to her treatment of Naruto. She shook her had to banish that thought. It wasn't the same, she wasn't like Naruto. She just had to prove to Sasuke that she could be useful and then he'd fall into her arms.

The thought of Sasuke finally being hers put butterflies in Sakura's stomach. She'd have to work extra hard during this test Kakashi was giving them today so she could impress Sasuke. She'd have to take a bit more care with her appearance today as well, being a strong kunoichi was good, but it wouldn't amount to much if he couldn't also see her as a beautiful girl.

Thankfully she had the time to take extra care with her appearance because Kakashi had forbade them from eating breakfast this morning. Of course that came with its own set of drawbacks, namely that she was starving. She was on a diet so she'd skipped dinner last night. The rumor mill said that Sasuke liked skinny girls so Sakura did her best to keep her girlish figure intact.

Of course that particular rumor as far as she could tell had been started by Ino Yamanaka, Sakura best frenemy for lack of a better term. Since Ino was also after Sasuke's affections Sakura had to take everything that came from her, or even possibly came from her with a grain of salt. It wasn't outside the realm of possibility that Ino was seeding false information to try and sabotage her chances with Sasuke. Though since Ino wasn't blowing up like an Akimichi the chances were good that there was at least some truth to this rumor.

The things she did for true love, she truly wished starving herself didn't have to be one of them. With a sigh she finished getting dressed using her forehead protector to hold her hair back. There was no point sitting around at home and she hoped to impress her new sensei by being early. When she got to the training ground she found only Sasuke waiting there.

Sakura smiled a bit at the chance to have some alone time with Sasuke. She'd finally have a chance to just talk to him. As she tried to think of something to say she quickly realized that she knew next to nothing about her crush and what he liked and found interesting. All she really had was hearsay and rumors.

Oh well, they had to start somewhere, they were on the same team and destined to be together. "Hi Sasuke." That sounded weak even to her. There were a million things she could've said and all she could manage was "Hi Sasuke"? It was innocuous enough that maybe it would break the ice at least.

Sasuke didn't speak or acknowledge that she had spoken in any way. Sakura wilted slightly, that was obviously a non-starter. Maybe if she tried something a little more topical... "So are you nervous about this test? Kakashi-sensei seems like a pretty strict instructor. I'm sure we can pass if we work together as a team though."

That appeared to be the wrong thing to say. Up until now Sasuke had been in a sort of hunched over sitting position with his eyes pointed toward the ground. When she finished speaking his head snapped up and his eyes focused on her, but his expression was anything but warm and friendly.

"Kakashi is an idiot. He seems to think that I'll actually need help to pass his little test. I'll show him just how wrong he is. Like I told you yesterday, just stay out of my way." Sakura's mouth opened and closed several times with no sound coming out. Finally she began to sob, she'd hoped yesterday had been just a fluke, a misunderstanding but now it really seemed like he wanted nothing to do with her. Unfortunately it was at that moment that Naruto arrived.

"Hey Sakura, what's wrong?" He asked immediately noticing her distressed state, "Was Sasuke a jerk to you again?" Naruto's gaze shifted over to the brooding boy and though neither said a word from just a look it seemed Sasuke had confirmed Naruto's suspicions.

"Hey we're supposed to be a team. You can't treat Sakura like that!" Naruto declared.

"Just what are you going to do about it? You're nothing but a little knucklehead." The Uchiha replied. Naruto growled in frustration.

"I beat you once Sasuke, I can do it again!" He shouted. Sasuke just smirked.

"Go ahead and try it, you took me off guard last time. I don't make the same mistake twice."

"Oh yeah?" Naruto looked like he was about to charge Sasuke and start a fight. Sakura knew she had to do something and fast before someone, most likely Naruto, got hurt. She quickly grabbed his arm and held him back.

"Naruto, stop, don't you remember what Kakashi-sensei said? He doesn't want us fighting with each other, don't let Sasuke get to you; it'll only get you into trouble if you do." Sakura said.

"He made you cry Sakura, I can't just let him get away with that." Naruto protested.

"Yes you can, I told you to, call it a favor. I'll owe you one okay?" She replied. Slowly she felt Naruto relax in her grip, though he did let out a frustrated growl as Sasuke turned away.

"Alright, but I'm only doing it for you. Honestly I don't get what his problem is. People actually like him and he still insists on being a loner." Sasuke's eyes abruptly snapped back toward Naruto. Sakura could see a cold amusement and if she wasn't mistaken, a bit of... curiosity in them.

"You really don't get it do you Naruto? I thought you of all people would understand where I was coming from."

What could Naruto and Sasuke possibly have in common? They're as different as night and day. She was relieved when Naruto seemed to be as confused as she was. Of course unlike her Naruto probably didn't care enough to figure out what Sasuke was talking about. The young kunoichi in training wracked her brain trying to think of some connection that her two male teammates might share, When it finally dawned on her she wanted to smack herself on her large forehead. How could she be so stupid that she could forget something that important about her crush?

"The Uchiha Massacre. You've spent the last four years alone, without a family." She hadn't meant to say it out loud. Even when she did it was nothing but a whisper, but it may as well have been a shout in this quiet training ground.

"I learned then that I could rely on no one. Every stride I've made since that day I made on my own. All for a single all consuming goal that only I can achieve. I've gotten this far on my own why should I go looking to get close to people now, when the one closest to me..." Sasuke cut off abruptly, as if realizing he'd said too much. He turned away from them and Sakura got the distinct impression that no amount of prodding would get Sasuke's attention now.

Me and my big mouth, now he definitely won't talk to me. Still part of her couldn't help but be glad that she'd spoken. At least now she knew the reason for Sasuke's cold shoulder. It wasn't personal, or rather it was personal, it just had nothing to do with her. Sasuke needed to learn how to trust others again. If she could teach him that... Sakura blushed and barely suppressed a squeal as she pictured their wedding. She was drawn out her thoughts by Naruto's voice.

"So Sakura, how are you this morning?" He asked. Boy, he sure was chipper for someone who had been about to get into a fistfight not even ten minutes ago. He was even giving her his trademark grin. With the tension of the moment deflated her mind turned to other matters and her growling stomach answered for her.

"Hungry," she replied through a yawn, "and tired, I didn't sleep a wink last night."

"Well I don't have any food with me, but since Kakashi-sensei is running late why don't you take a nap and I'll wake you up when he gets here?" Her first instinct was to refuse the offer. After all Naruto was the notorious class prankster; this seemingly kind offer could simply be a way to set her up for some sort of practical joke. Then again, despite Naruto's predilection for pranks he had never actually pulled one on her, the kiss incident notwithstanding.

"Thanks Naruto." Sakura leaned against a tree and let sleep take her.

Naruto watched Sakura drift off to sleep and once he was sure she was getting the rest she needed walked away. He was sure that Sasuke wasn't going to bother her, or him for that matter, and he had other things to do. After all, Naruto knew this training ground it was where Kakashi had taken him yesterday after their trip to the hospital. This was the place with the Memorial Stone.

In the light of the rising sun he scanned the names on the stone. He'd only been here once so he hadn't memorized where the ones he was looking for were. It took him some time but eventually he wound the names Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. While he was doing that he also made special note of Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara.

"Well, Mom and Dad I'm about to officially start my ninja career today. That is if I pass Kakashi-sensei's test. I hope I can make you proud. I know I have a lot to live up to. I wish you were here." Naruto just stood there in front of the Memorial Stone telling his parents all about his life. He wasn't sure if they could hear him, he didn't know if he believed in an afterlife, but it made him feel better. He wasn't sure how long he stood there or when the tears started flowing but he was pulled out of his reverie when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Naruto turned to see Kakashi beside him.

Naruto hastily tried to wipe the tears away, not wanting his new sensei to see him as weak. This caused the masked man to chuckle.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about Naruto, I talk to them too. As for crying I do that more than you would believe. I know in the Academy they teach you that shinobi are supposed to be emotionless tools who are only concerned with completing the mission, but at the end of the day it's not that simple. Even the best shinobi is still human, no matter how deep we bury our emotions they're still there. It's alright to grieve." Kakashi said.

"Thanks Kakashi-sensei, still could you not tell Sasuke and Sakura about this? They might think it's silly." Naruto said.

"I don't think Sasuke would find it silly, still you have my word that I won't tell them. This is a private matter after all." Kakashi assured him.

Naruto found it hard to believe that his rival wouldn't mock him for crying. Then again, Sasuke had claimed that he thought that Naruto should understand him better than anyone. Sakura had mentioned something that had happened to Sasuke's family... "Kakashi-sensei, can you tell me about the Uchiha Massacre?" He asked.

"Didn't they teach you about that in the Academy? It's a big event in Konoha's history." Kakashi asked.

"I must have skipped that class." Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Kakashi sighed.

"I could easily tell you all about the Uchiha Massacre, Sakura could also give you an overview if you asked her, but if you want to get a firsthand perspective there's only one person you can ask: Sasuke. As your sensei I think it would be best if you got the story from him; it's personal, it wold be wrong to get it from anyone else."

"Are you crazy sensei? Sasuke hates me, I doubt he's going to what to tell me about his family." Naruto said.

"Then consider it a challenge. You're teammates now, you need to build trust. Once that trust is built you will be far more effective as a unit. Once that happens you'll be able to share your burden with Sasuke and Sakura. Do you understand now Naruto?"

"Yeah, I think so sensei, teammates need to learn to trust each other, but that takes time, so I cant just go around asking about their deepest secrets or telling them mine before we've built a bond right? That's not going to be easy with Sasuke, he really doesn't like me, but I think Sakura is starting to warm up to me." Naruto's eyes widened in horror after mentioning his sleeping teammate. "Oh crap! I promised Sakura I'd wake her up when I saw you coming so she wouldn't get in trouble for sleeping, but if you're already here..." Oh Sakura was going to kill him!

Kakashi chuckled. "Don't worry Naruto, neither Sasuke or Sakura have seen me yet. You go wake her up and I'll make it look like I just arrived okay?"

"Thanks Kakashi-sensei, I owe you one!" Naruto said before running off to where his teammates were.

Kakashi sighed, he wasn't sure why he agreed to hide while Naruto woke up Sakura. Maybe he was just feeling nostalgic because they reminded him of Minato and Kushina. Maybe he just felt like Naruto had had enough bad breaks in his life already. Maybe, just maybe, he was growing attached to these kids. It almost made him feel bad for what he was about to put them through. Almost.

The bell test provided a valuable lesson to prospective shinobi about team unity. On top of that it was a training method that had been passed down through the generations and the teams that went through it invariably became some of the most powerful Konoha had ever seen; he could even count himself in that group without a hint of hubris. It was hard to argue with proven results like that.

Besides if any team needed this lesson it was this one. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were the most dysfunctional trio of ninja he'd ever seen outside of his own genin team. They had potential, Naruto and Sasuke's was obvious, but Sakura had it too. Hers was buried deeper, mainly because she'd been more concerned with gaining Sasuke's affections. Hopefully he'd be able to coax her into applying herself into becoming a strong kunoichi. The bell test was the first step on the road to refining these kids into what he knew they could become, he just hoped they passed.

Kakashi circled around the training ground discreetly so Sasuke and Sakura wouldn't know he'd already arrived. From his perch in a nearby tree he watched Naruto wake Sakura up and made his way toward his prospective team of students. "Yo." He greeted nonchalantly, giving his students a halfhearted wave. Sakura glared at him.

"You're late!" She shouted pointing at him accusingly. Naruto joined in but Kakashi knew that was just so the other two wouldn't question why he didn't, it would blow their entire cover story after all.

"Sorry, a black cat, crossed my path you see, so I had to take the long way around." Kakashi had put on his typical aloof mask for this performance. A ninja must see through deception, he wondered if his students would figure out that he often hid his true self, they had seen glimpses of who he really was, but this was likely to confuse them. "At any rate we should get to why you are here today. Your objective is to take these bells and whoever doesn't won't get these delicious boxed lunches I've prepared and will end up tied to a stump watching while the rest of us eat."

"So that's why you told us not to eat breakfast." Sakura said with a groan. "Wait, why are there only two bells?"

"That is a very good question Sakura. You see, whoever doesn't get a bell by noon will not only be tied to a stump, but will also be sent back to the Academy." Kakashi said with a disarming smile as he let that sink in. He pulled out his mini alarm clock and set it on the flat stump at the forefront of the training ground. "It's set for non so that gives you two hours to retrieve the bells." With that said his students scattered.

An hour and a half later Kakashi was beginning to far that he would have to fail yet another crop of genin. Even worse this crop included his sensei's son and the last Uchiha loyal to Konoha, this would no doubt have some in the higher echelons in the village giving him sidelong glances. Not the Hokage thankfully, he'd used this very technique in training the Legendary Sanin; he understood how valuable this test was. The saddest part of all was that this test had only proved him right about the team's potential if he could get them to work together.

Naruto was so much like Obito it hurt, charging in without thinking, having something to prove and falling for obvious traps, but the right teacher could fix that. Sakura, had fallen easily to a genjutsu, she had plenty of knowledge, but no practical application. Again, easily fixable with the right teaching, and she was even showing some slight promise in the teamwork department as she'd used a thrown kunai to free Naruto from his rope trap.

The real issue here was Sasuke. The kid was good, Kakashi couldn't deny that, but Kakashi saw far too much of his younger self in the boy. A prodigy with nearly unmatched skill for his age who looked down on everyone who wasn't as good as he was and wanted to do things on his own or using others only as a means to an end. Both had been defined by something their family members had done. Kakashi had learned his lesson. He only hoped that Sasuke didn't have to go through the same kid of tragedy he had to learn that lesson. He'd already taken steps to humble Sasuke and make him more teachable, leaving him neck deep in the dirt with his Headhunter jutsu.

Right now he was watching Naruto from afar as the boy swiped a box lunch. He was about to confront Naruto about it when he noticed that the boy wasn't sitting down to eat, but rather taking off into the trees. The jonin followed his student, curious what Naruto was planning. It shouldn't have surprised him that Naruto had gone straight for Sakura.

"Hey Sakura, I brought you some food." He said. Showing the pink haired girl the pilfered lunch. Sakura looked absolutely mortified at the sight of it.

"Naruto what were you thinking? Kakashi-sensei will be livid when he finds out. He'll notice a missing lunch and we'll fail the test for breaking the rules!" Naruto's jovial expression turned serious.

"You said you were hungry Sakura, and you're not going to be able to fight your best on an empty stomach. You're not going to get a bell from Kakashi-sensei like this. If you do get a bell it will impress Sasuke and I can always try to graduate again next year, should be easy now that I know the Shadow Clone jutsu. So I'll take the blame with Kakashi-sensei; I'm the one who took the lunch anyway. He doesn't have to know that you're the one that ate it."

"Naruto, you'd really risk getting sent back to the Academy for me, even after all the trouble you had graduating in the first place?"

"Of course Sakura, it's no big deal." Naruto grinned.

"No Naruto, that's a very big deal. At least split the lunch with me. You have to be just as hungry as I am with all the chakra you've been throwing around and if we're going to get those bells it will take at least two of us, if not all three. Kakashi-sensei is a skilled ninja after all. Thank you for this Naruto." Even from his vantage point Kakashi could see the warm smile the girl was giving Naruto.

"Anything for you Sakura." Kakashi watched the two split the lunch and waited for the two to finish before pouncing. He had every intention of losing the ensuing fight and letting these two have the bells. They'd learned the most valuable lesson a shinobi could without him having to teach it to them. "Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."

Kakashi popped out of his hiding place and dropped into his menacing ANBU persona. "So you two thought you could cheat did you? Well you're gong to pay for that." Naruto gave a minute nod to Sakura immediately took off in the other direction, maybe he'd have to reevaluate wither she had learned the lesson...

"If we get the bells we pass your test right? Well then, I'm going to get me a bell and one for Sakura too!" Naruto declared, his eyes burning with determination that would give Gai a run for his money. The blonde genin made a familiar cross shaped hand seal. "Multi Shadow Clone jutsu!" Kakashi eyes widened as several hundred clones of Naruto filled the clearing.

Well, this could be a problem. The clones rushed Kakashi and it was only his highly honed taijutsu skill that kept them from overwhelming him. The copy ninja quickly cycled through the hand seals for the Fireball jutsu and used the technique to dispatch several dozen clones. Only to hear the clear ringing if bells as Sakura lifted them from his belt. He'd been so focused on the attacks from Naruto's Shadow Clones that he hadn't noticed her sneaking back into the fray. It had been sloppy of him, but he'd wanted this outcome anyway. If he'd really been trying they never would have touched those bells.

"Naruto, catch!" Sakura tossed one of the bells and one of Naruto clones nicked it from the air and handed it to the original who dispelled the jutsu. Naruto let out a victory whoop.

"Congratulations you two, you pass. Now then I believe that means we have to go tie Sasuke to a stump."

Sakura felt guilty as she looked at Sasuke tied to the stump. She'd sent him back to the Academy by tossing Naruto that bell, but what was she supposed to do? Naruto had put his ninja career on the line for her by stealing that lunch and she'd only been able to get the bells because of his amazing distraction. Naruto deserved that bell. The problem was she wasn't sure she deserved hers.

"This test is a joke!" Sasuke growled straining against the ropes as the other three ate lunch. "There's no way that Naruto and Sakura got those bells from you when I couldn't. I saw them fail." The Uchiha's mood wasn't just surly because of his failure, but because Naruto had been rubbing it in. Sakura didn't approve of course, so he'd quickly stopped when asked. Though truth be told given how Sasuke viewed him she could understand Naruto basking in this victory.

"You're right Sasuke, they couldn't have gotten those bells from me, not alone anyway.. They got them because they worked together as a unit, and even then they wouldn't have been able to if I didn't want them to. I let them have the bells but I passed them because they learned the lesson. You didn't, it's that simple. We put you in squads for a reason. You need to realize this or you'll never get anywhere." Kakashi said with a sigh.

"I don't need a squad. The things I have to do I must do alone. I'm only becoming a shinobi so I can get strong enough to fulfill my ambition. Nothing else matters. Not you, not your test, nothing! I should free myself from this rope with the Escape jutsu and just take one of those bells from Naruto or Sakura." Sasuke roared.

"Try it, and you won't even be going back to the Academy. I will personally make sure you never become a shinobi Sasuke. You failed, now accept your punishment like a man." Kakashi's voice was pure ice and it sent a shiver down Sakura's spine.

"Kakashi-sensei are you sure about passing Naruto and I? I mean we cheated by eating our lunch before noon." Sakura's guilt almost made her want to be disqualified. Yes, they'd gotten the bells, but they'd done so by going outside the the parameters of the mission. It went everything they'd been taught at the Academy and yet Kakashi was rewarding them for it.

"Sakura, it's good that you want to play by the rules." Kakashi assured her, "In the shinobi world those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum." Sakura could have sworn she saw her sensei wink at her. She looked over at the alarm clock, there was still three minutes before it went off...

She got up and walked over to Sasuke. "Sasuke, you're already a better ninja than I'll probably ever be, I want you to take my bell, you need it more than I do. At least you have some sort of ambition."

"Sakura, just know, if you give Sasuke your bell I will be forced to fail you." Kakashi warned.

"It doesn't matter Kakashi-sensei, I need to do this." Maybe helping him get one step closer to his ambition would help Sasuke warm up to her over time and then they could finally be together.

"I don't need or want your charity Sakura." Sasuke glared at her. She surprised herself when she didn't even flinch.

"It doesn't matter, you're getting it anyway." Sakura said shoving the bell into the pocket of his shorts. Then Naruto walked over to them.

"I want to you to take my bell Sakura." He said offering it to her. She shook her head with a sad smile.

"I can't take that Naruto. Neither of us would have gotten bells if it weren't for your Shadow Clones. You deserve that bell way more than I do."

"That doesn't matter Sakura, all you've wanted for years is to be on a team with Sasuke and I'm not going to stand in the way of that. No matter what it costs me, as long as you're happy I'll be fine." Sakura could feel herself choking up.

"Naruto..." She practically whispered.

"Enough, you all pass. Sasuke got the bell, and Naruto and Sakura, you both learned the lesson I was trying to teach. Report to the footbridge tomorrow morning so we can begin our first official day as Team 7, dismissed." Kakashi said.

Sasuke was fuming when he got home and he put all of that frustration into his training. To have come so close to being sent back to the Academy, only to be bailed out by Sakura one of his fangirls... He'd never been so humiliated in his life. Somewhere Itachi was laughing at his weakness. So Sasuke pretended the punching bag was his older brother, even if that only proved the slightest release for his anger.

He had to get stronger. If Kakashi's little test had shown him anything it was that. If he could be outdone by Naruto and Sakura working together then he had a long way to go before he was ready to kill his brother. He would do whatever he had to in order to avenge his clan. He would show Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura just how wrong they were about him.

The last words Itachi had spoken to him before he left the village rang in Sasuke's ears. "Foolish little brother, if you wish to kill me, curse me! Hate me! Live a long and unsightly life. Run away... Run away and cling to your pitiful life." Sasuke screamed in rage as he hit the punching bag so hard it split open. He would not be pitiful!

Hey guys, sorry this update took so long. I was having a devil of a time trying to figure out how I wanted to handle the bell test. Also, trying to balance Sakura's crush on Sasuke while having her slowly warm up to Naruto. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Next time we start the Wave arc. I know the changes have been pretty minor thus far, and will probably continue to be until the Chunin exams, but trust me, this is building to some huge deviations from canon down the line. Until next time.