Sasuke, Sakura and Rei: Friends or Foes?

~Narrator's POV~

It was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping in song. I woke up with a yawn and rubbing my eyes from being closed for the whole night.

Hello. My name is Rei. I never knew my last name, as I was never given one. And in case you're going to ask, no. I'm not Naruto's twin sister. I'm just a fellow classmate and his roommate.

Anyhoo, I threw the blankets off my body, got out of bed and made my way to the bathroom of my shared apartment with Naruto Uzumaki.

As I was brushing my teeth, I looked at the mirror in front of me. Staring back at me was a 12-year old boy with long, straight, ravenette hair. Long bangs that cover his forehead and frames his face. Golden-yellow eyes with narrow pupils. Purple eye-shadow markings. And very ghostly pale Caucasian skin.

He was wearing a white buttoned shirt and matching pants.

The boy was me, although I'm biologically a girl. Oh well, they never ask, so I didn't correct them.

The only ones that know I'm a girl are Naruto, the Third Hokage and Iruka-Sensei.

With my teeth brushed and my face washed, I returned to my room to get changed into my casual wear, which consisted of a black tank top and black pants under a pale blue kimono top and purple obi and the traditional dark blue ninja sandals.

I grabbed my Konoha headband and made my way to the kitchen. Inside was Naruto, already eating instant ramen for breakfast.

Naruto Uzumaki was the class clown of the Ninja Academy. He never knew his parents, like myself, but he became like he is for reason. He's not entirely human, and everyone has shunned him for it, since he was a little boy.

So, to get some attention, Naruto became a knuckle-head. Hey, it's better than casting yourself into a life of lonliness and ending up hating everything and everyone.

He's the reason why I was casted out of my clan. I don't blame him, I was happy to be his friend.

Naruto Uzumaki is a 12-year old boy with spiky blonde hair and blue eyes. Well-tanned skin and has marks on his cheeks that resemble whiskers.

"Morning, Naruto." I greeted, as I passed him to a cabinet.

Naruto looked at me and smiled, "Morning, Rei. Today's the day. Excited?"

"Nervous." I answered, opening a cabinet to the bread.

Oh, yeah. That's right. Today's the day everyone around our age graduates Ninja Academy and start their lives as ninjas of Konoha. I'll be honest, I'm really anxious. Because, we'll be put into teams of three with our fellow classmates.

Since there's an odd number of graduates this year, one of the teams will become a team of four. I just hope I'm put into Naruto's team. Someone needs to keep an eye on him and get him out of trouble.

I made some toast with strawberry jam for breakfast and joined Naruto on the dining table.

Once we were finished with breakfast, Naruto got dressed into his casual attire, which was similar to my own. Her wore a white t-shirt under an orange and blue jacket with a white collar. Orange pants and blue ninja sandals. He traded his green goggles for the same headband as mine.

The ninja headband is a symbol of identifying one as a graduated and licensed ninja.

With Naruto dressed, he and I left our apartment and made our way to the Academy. Along the way, we saw a kid hiding behind a cover-up that was meant to look like the fence behind it. However they had it horizontal instead of vertical.

A rookie mistake.

The kid jumped out of the disguise, "You're mine, Naruto!"

It was a young boy, about 8 years old. Brown hair under a helmet and dark eyes. He wore a long teal-ish scarf around his neck. A faded yellow t-shirt. Light grey shorts and the same traditional sandals.

He stepped on the covering and fell on his face. Ouch.

"What do you think you're doing, Konohamaru?" Naruto asked.

I looked at my best friend, "You know this kid?"

Naruto nodded, "Yeah. This is the kid I was teaching my Jutsu to, yesterday."

I nodded in understanding. So this is the kid that tried to attack the Third Hokage yesterday, during registration. They said this boy is the grandson of Hokage-Sama, but he looks very little like him.

"That was a slick move." Konohamaru muttered, then picked himself up, "That's why I respect you as a rival."

A few seconds of silence, then Naruto answered, "But I didn't do anything."

Konohamaru got back to his feet and made a hand symbol, "Alright! Now fight me fair and square!"

I gave him a gentle smile, "Sorry, but Naruto and I have an orientation to attend. Maybe another time?"

Konohamaru looked at me, "Who are you?" Then he picked up on what I just said and repeated, "Orientation?"

Naruto smiled, "That's right. As of today, Rei and I are ninjas. Believe it."

He pointed to his headband, as I moved my bangs, to prove to Konohamaru that Naruto's not lying. Konohamaru stared in awe and disappointment.

*A Little Later, inside the Academy...*

Naruto and I took our seats, ready for the orientation to start. Naruto still couldn't stop grinning like he was the Cheshire Cat. He must be really excited to get started.

Shikamaru walked by Naruto and looked at him, "What are you doing here, Naruto? This isn't for drop-outs. You can't be here, unless you've graduated."

Shikamaru Nara is a classmate with dark brown, nearly black, hair tied in a ponytail, and matching dark eyes. He wears a fishnet shirt under a grey vest with green trimmings. Brown pants and the traditional blue sandals. He wears his headband around his left arm.

Naruto looked at him and pointed to his headband, "Oh yeah? D'you see this? D'you see this? Open your eyes, Shikamaru. It's a regulation headband." Then he smiled, "We're gonna be training together. How d'you like that?"

Shikamaru just put his hand on his hip and scoffed.

"Let me put it to you this way, I look great in this headgear." Naruto smiled, "Like it was made for me. Believe it."

Then there was a sound of heavy footsteps. The door opened to reveal two girls entering at the same time, "I'm first!"

The two girls were Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka. The two girls have been rivals since they were younger.

Sakura Haruno has lower-back length cherry blossom pink hair and green eyes. She wore a cherry red kimono top with dark green short leggings and the traditional sandals. She wore her headband as a headband, to keep her bangs from covering her forehead.

Ino Yamanaka was a bit different. Long, pale blonde hair tied in a ponytail. Light blue eyes. She wore wrappings around her body. A dark purple tank top and skirt. Matching lavender arm-warmers. She wore her headband around her waist.

The two girls caught their breath and Ino smirked at Sakura, "I win again, Sakura."

Sakura smirked back, "Give it up. I had to look back to see you. My toe was at least a tenth of an inch ahead."

"Have you always been this delusional?" Ino asked her.

Naruto turned and saw Sakura. He smiled. I quietly sighed and face-palmed. Naruto always had a crush on Sakura. The only problem is Sakura hates Naruto and likes someone else.

Sakura looked over to Naruto's desk and gasped. She smiled and made her way over.

Naruto stood up and waved, "Hey, Sakura. What's up?"

Sakura pushed him aside, "Move it!" Then smiled at the boy Naruto was unknowingly sitting next to, "Uh... Good morning, Sasuke."

The boy looked at her.

Sasuke Uchiha. The last of his clan. The Academy's best student and the heart throb.

A boy around the same age as the rest of us. Short, spiky ravenette hair with matching dark eyes. Nearly pale skin. He wore a blue t-shirt with his clan's symbol on the back. White shorts and matching arm-warmers.

He lost his family a long time ago in a massacre. Turned an innocent boy into an aloof and stoic pre-teen, holding in a lot of pent up anger.

"Mind if I sit next to you?" Sakura asked.

Ino marched over, "Back off, Forehead! I'm sitting next to Sasuke."

"I was here first!" Sakura argued.

"I walked into the classroom before you did. Everybody saw it!" Ino pointed out. Oh boy, here we go again...

"Dream on." Sakura told her.

Then another kunoichi spoke up, "Actually, I got here before either of you."

"So did I. I'm sitting next to Sasuke." Another argued.

"No! I am!" Another shouted.

Sasuke returned to look forward. I rested my head in my hand, "Oh, for the love of..."

The girls continued to bicker amongst themselves. Then Naruto did something bold, but stupid. He sat on the desk and stared at Sasuke, sitting like a frog. Sasuke looked at him.

"Naruto! Stop glaring at Sasuke!" Sakura shouted at Naruto.

Naruto looked at her and the other girls, then glared back at Sasuke. Sasuke glared back. You can nearly see sparks flying between the two boys.

Why am I not behaving like Sakura and the other girls around Sasuke? This is the other reason why everyone thinks I'm a boy. I'm not interested in a guy because of his looks or personality. My best friend is a boy, so I know how boys think.

If I do fall for a boy, it has to be a boy that I can understand. Someone who likes me for me. Not someone who behaves like an angry, but aloof lost soul bent on revenge. That's just wrong!

The girls' words jumbled up together into shouts and arguments. But they all were on the same subject of Sasuke kicking Naruto's butt.

Then the student sitting the desk in front of the two elbowed Naruto and smiled, "This is great!" He turned and asked, "Sorry. Did I bump you?"

Unfortunately the result of the action was very unexpected and hilarious. The girls stared, dumbfounded. Naruto was kissing Sasuke full on the lips. Sakura fainted in shock. I had to cover my mouth to suppress a burst of laughter.

Naruto and Sasuke broke and started gagging in disgust.

"I'll get you, Naruto." Sasuke growled.

Naruto stopped gagging and gasped, "Danger..."

He turned behind him and saw all the girls were giving him death glares.

"Naruto, you are so dead." Sakura hissed.

"Hey. Whoa! It was an accident!" Naruto quickly defended.

But, none of the girls listened to his words. He kissed Sasuke, he's gonna pay. "You're finished!" Sakura growled, cracking her knuckles.

Naruto panicked. The girls advanced toward him. I had to do something. I threw a kunai in front of Sakura's foot.

She stopped and looked at me, "Rei! What's your deal? You could've hit me!"

"But I didn't." I answered casually, "Naruto said it was an accident. So just drop it."

With that, everything calmed down. Sakura took a seat next to Sasuke, and Naruto returned to his seat. He looked at me and gave me a thankful smile. I smiled back. That's what friends are for, right?

Iruka-Sensei arrived and started the orientation speech, "As of today, you are all ninjas. To get here, you've faced difficult trials and hardships. But that's nothing. What comes next will be far more difficult. Now, you are only Genin, first-level ninjas. All the Genin will be grouped into three-man squads. Since there is an odd number of graduates this year, one squad will consist of four Genin. Each squad will be lead by a Jounin. An elite ninja."

This got everyone's attention. The excitement turned into nervousness and tension. Now Naruto knows why I was nervous all morning.

"Well, somebody's gonna be in Sasuke's group." Ino noted, looking at Sakura, "I wonder who."

Sakura glanced back, "I dunno. But there's the four-man squad."

Sasuke just sighed. I glanced at the aloof boy. I could tell he thinks that a three or four-man squat will slow him down, but that's not the point of being put in a team. There's no 'I' in team.

"We want each squad to have a balance of strength and abilities." Iruka-Sensei continued, "So that's how we set them up." He grabbed some papers, "I will now announce the squads."

He read out the squads and the members of each one. So far, only half the class was called.

"Squad Seven: Naruto Uzumaki." Iruka-Sensei called. Naruto lifted his head, "Sakura Haruno." Sakura gasped.

Naruto stood up and cheered. Sakura hit her head on the table, "I'm doomed."

"Sasuke Uchiha."

The two switched. Sakura cheered. Naruto hit his head on the table, "I'm doomed."

"And Rei." Iruka finished.

"What?!" Naruto and Sakura exclaimed in shock. I just nodded in agreement.

"Next, Squad Eight: Hinata Hyuuga." Iruka resumed.

"Yes, sir." Hinata squeaked in her tiny voice.

Hinata is the first daughter of the Main Branch of the Hyuuga Clan. Very high expectations on a very shy girl. She's not like the other girls, who have a crush on Sasuke. Hinata has a crush on Naruto, but can't say anything cause she'll faint.

Hinata has pale skin, but not as pale as my skin, shiny indigo-ravenette hair and lavender eyes. Her hair is in a bowl-cut. And she wears a black shirt under a beige eskimo coat. Dark grey pants and the traditional blue sandals.

"Kiba Inuzuka."

Kiba smirked.

Kiba has spiky brown hair and dark eyes. His clan symbol being red fangs on his cheeks. He mostly wears a fishnet shirt under and armored vest and a grey hooded coat with brown fur trimming, to make him look more wolf-like. Brown pants and the traditional sandals.

"Shino Aburame."

Shino pushed his sunglasses up.

Shino's not very much to look at. He had dark brown hair, but you can't see his eyes under his sunglasses. He wears a grey coat that covers the lower half of his face. brown pants and the traditional sandals.

Sakura turned to Ino and gave her a peace sign. She was happy to be with Sasuke.

Ino growled, "How did you get in his group?"

Shikamaru sighed, "I don't get it. What do you see in a guy like that? He's not so special."

"You're so beyond clueless, Shikamaru." Ino told him, "Don't you get it?"

Shikamaru glanced at her, "No, I don't get it. Beause I'm not a girl."

Ino sighed, "You're so full of yourself. Jealousy's a terrible thing. I'd hate to be on your squad."

I lightly chuckled. Ino looked at me, "What are you laughing about?"

"Now Squad Ten: Ino Yamanaka. Shikamaru Nara." Iruka-Sensei called.

Ino gasped in disbelief. Shikamaru chuckled, "Did you say something about hating to be on my squad?"

Ino just growled at him. Then Iruka-Sensei finished, "And Chouji Akimichi."

Ino sulked in disbelief. I covered my mouth to suppress a laugh. Karma's a fickled thing Ino. What goes around, comes around to bite you.

Chouji is a bit more of the husky side. Don't call him fat, because you will regret it!

He has light brown spiky hair and dark eyes. He wore a white scarf around his neck. A yellow under a green short-sleeved coat. Brown shorts and the traditional sandals. Bandages around his forearms and his left leg.

"Those are all the squads." Iruka-Sensei announced.

Naruto stood up, "Iruka-Sensei, why does a great ninja, like me, have to be in the same group with a slug, like Sasuke?"

Sakura glared at Naruto.

"Sasuke, along with Rei, had the best score of all the graduating students." Iruka-Sensei explained, "Naruto, you had the worst scores." The other students laughed, "To create a balanced group, we put the best student with the worst student."

Naruto growled.

"Just make sure you don't get in my way." Sasuke spoke up, "Loser."

That triggered Naruto's temper, "Hey, what did you say?!"

"Hard at hearing?" Sasuke teased.

I reached over and put my hand over my best friend's shoulder, "Don't let him get to you, Naruto. He's just trying to get you angry."

Naruto looked at me, calmed down and sat down.

Iruka-Sensei cleared his throat, "After lunch, you will meet with your new Jounin teachers. Until then, class dismissed."

*Later, During Lunch...*

I spent the lunch period on the rooftop of the Academy. Sakura ran off to find Sasuke. Naruto followed Sakura. And Sasuke just ran off for some time to himself.

*Sigh* What is this team gonna do if none of them learn to work together?

That's the point of a squad, is it not?

I'm the only one thinking this, aren't I?

AAAGGGHHH!

I looked down and saw Sasuke talking to Sakura. Sakura looked like she was gonna kiss him. Sasuke started keening over and ran off. I raised a brow. That's not normal for Sasuke to act. He's usually aloof. Brooding. Alone.

I put the rest of my lunch into my bento and made my way into the Academy. I walked past the bathrooms. Sasuke passed me and entered the boys bathroom in a hurry.

"Okay..." I noted.

Maybe Sakura has some answers.

I made my way to the courtyard, until I heard grunts and shuffling from behind a door. I put my ear against the door and the grunts got louder. It sounded like Sasuke.

I opened the door to find Sasuke in a dark room, bound and gagged.

"Uchiha?" I recognized.

Sasuke looked at me. How is that possible? I saw this boy pass me to the bathrooms. The only this is possible is that Sasuke is faster than he looks or...

I face-palmed, "Transformation Jutsu. Naruto passed me."

Sasuke grunted and shuffled a bit more.

I grabbed a kunai, "Alright. Just hold still."

I used my kunai to cut the ropes around his wrists and legs. I removed the bandages across his mouth.

Sasuke stood up and glared at me, "Where's Naruto?"

I shrugged, "I'm not sure. He passed me on his way to the bathroom. Dunno if he's still there."

Sasuke left the room without another word to me. So much for gratitude for getting him out. Without a doubt he'll assume he got out all on his own.

Idiot...

"You're welcome, Uchiha!" I shouted after him.

I put my hands behind my back, left the room and made my way back to class. This is hopeless.

Iruka-Sensei, why put me in a team with my best friend, who has his attention on his pink-haired crush, the pink-haired crush who has a crush on a loner, and the loner who cares about nothing but revenge?

Is this a test to see if I can get them to work together?

Did Hokage-Sama put us together on purpose?

I guess only time will tell. I entered the classroom and took my seat, and waited.