I don't own anything Naruto.

...

The summer night was cooler due to northern winds sweeping through the city and the fresher feel of the surrendering heat had the village in high spirits. Many were out to enjoy the perfect night, but some had real cause for celebration.

"Oi, next round's on me!"

Sakura clicked her tongue at her boisterous teammate. "Nay, Naruto. You can't show up tomorrow hungover."

"Yeah," Kiba barked from somewhere behind her. "Wouldn't want your genins to think you're a dead-last loser."

His fist shook in retaliation, but grin betrayed his threat. "I'll show you who's dead-last, you dog!"

At the end of the bar a tall, slouching man was taking cover. The silver hair peeking out from his orange book shook as Kakashi sighed. "Why did I agree to come out, again?"

In the seat next to him, Sasuke only shrugged before taking a sip of his beer. "I am asking myself the same thing."

The medic-nin placed on a hand each on their shoulders gently, concealing the strength she was actually capable of, and leaned in to be heard over the loud patrons. "Because this is a big deal," she answered. "We will be getting our own genin teams, but we will forever be Team Kakashi."

Finally, their older leader looked up from the worn pages. "Am I really saddled with you three forever?"

All of his ex-students rolled their eyes. "It's more like we are stuck with you, sensei," the kunoichi teased.

Despite her protests, Naruto forced another drink in Sakura's hands as he moved towards the elder nin. "Sorry to say it, old man, but you can't get rid of us that easily."

His gray eyes crinkled with his easy smile. "Clearly." However, his voice sounded a little dejected once his attention went back to the book. "And I'm not that old."

Sasuke scoffed into his glass and Sakura covered her giggles with her hand. Kakashi spared one more glance to the exasperating ninjas. "My first impression of you guys was right; I hate you."

His depreciating ire earned a bright grin from Naruto, but they knew to stop mocking him after that. Throughout the night, Sakura's cheeks refused to lose their pink hue as the alcohol warmed her over. The other boys repeatedly challenged each other with silly missions and drinking penalties, unable to sway the lanky bibliophile into their game, until the hour became late and the bar began to quiet down.

"Oh damn," the tipsy blue-eyed ninja moaned once he stood up. "Tomorrow should be fun."

"I told you, Naruto," Sakura admonished. "You need to learn how to handle your beer."

Sasuke's dark eyes glazed over and he nodded. "Seriously, dobe. You are a jonin now. You should always-" With a crash, the stool the Uchiha had been sitting on suddenly became tangled in his legs and he feel. Naruto fell as well in uproarious laughter that made the brooding man whisper dark threats. Unconcerned, Sakura's pink hair bounced as she giggled. Honestly, she tried not to laugh, but Sasuke's slip of grace was too rare of a moment. She was still snickering when she helped both of her boys up and they all headed towards the door together.

"Oi, Kaka-sensei!" Naruto called back. "You coming?"

The masked-man appeared melded to his spot with his lazy posture. Shaking his head, he closed his book and grinned. "Not quite yet. Get home safe." The younger ninjas waved farewell, but Kakashi called out, "Oh, Sakura-chan. Can you stay for a moment, please?"

The confusion that swept over her face was comical in her inebriation, but after a hasty good-bye to the other two she picked up the stool Sasuke had almost broken and took a seat next to her ex-teacher. "Everything okay?"

"Oh yes," he leaned back and crossed his long arms over his jonin vest. "I just wanted to talk, is all."

Her brow rose, but she shrugged off his odd request. "Alright, but not for too long. I don't want to be late on my first day, Kakashi-sensei." Her teasing smile was a bit loopy and the unrelenting sake-induced blush matched her hair.

He chuckled in response. "All those old ladies and poor kittens will have to do without your assistance then, Sakura-sensei."

"Ooohhh…" Her green eyes went wide hearing the title and her cheerful expression dropped. "That sounds weird."

His head tilted to the side. "How so?"

"It's silly," she tried to explain while waving her hand dismissively. "I'm no longer a genin, but hearing that title sounds like I am on your level."

He gave her a long, languid blink. "You have been a jonin long enough."

She snorted and shook her head. "Still…"

"We are equals, Sakura-sensei," Kakashi interrupted. "Don't forget that."

Her blush heightened at his compliment, and she looked away when she could not think of a response.

"Speaking of," the man started and reached into his pocket. Her jaw dropped when she heard delicate chiming above the dimming clamor of the bar. She searched his gray eyes for answers when he held out the two small bells that had meant so much to her and their team.

Her mouth suddenly felt dry, but she managed to stutter, "W-what?"

His voice was even and deep as he lightly held the attaching string. "You might already know that my teacher gave this same test to my team when we first got out of the academy. However, it has been a Konoha tradition since before the Legendary Sannin were originally formed. My sensei received the bells from Jiraiya-sennin, who was given them from Hiruzen-sama, and so on. For generations, they have represented the importance of teamwork, camaraderie, and, of course, the necessary devious ridicule of young ninjas' delicate nerves. Each teacher has used this test to discover some of the best nins in the village, and now," he held them out towards her, "it is your turn."

Her hands continued to play with the hem of her skirt instead of reaching out to claim them. "Wouldn't Naruto-"

He shook his head, disrupting her modest dispute. "No one doubts his strengths. It is true he is a powerful ninja and a steadfast warrior. More than that, he is a good friend. Naruto believes in everybody and knows the importance of teamwork, but you were the reason the team had stayed together and came back as one. Your role in Naruto's success is just as statured. Plus, you are quite accomplished yourself and understand it is better to tackle situations together than to take it all on your own." He rang the bells with a small shake of his hand. "They suit you more."

Her breaths were short and eyes glossed over with honor. Finally, Sakura tentatively wrapped her fingers around the unpretentious metal bells and held them reverently. With a nod, Kakashi stood up to leave and patted her on the shoulder as he passed.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura spun quickly in her seat and beamed. "Thank you!"

He flashed a quick smile back. "Of course, Sakura-sensei."

"Ugh," she ungracefully rolled her eyes and closed the distance between them. "That still sounds weird."

"Oh? What should I call you then?"

"Well, we are friends. How about just 'Sakura'," she offered with a wide grin.

Challenging the young woman, his chin lifted. "Only if you do the same."

Sakura's bewilderment reddened her face. "That is even worse!"

"…Should I be insulted or flattered?"

Bringing the bells to her chest, her strong laugh filled the room. "Neither. You have just always been 'sensei'."

"Not in a long time, Sakura," he exhaled and her shoulders hitched at the lack of honorific. "We're friends, right?" He reached out and ruffled her hair, keeping his hand on top of her head until she agreed.

Her form slouched with his nostalgic gesture and her lips curled in a crooked smirk. She couldn't argue against her own insistence. "Thank you," she conceded, "Kakashi."

"Whoa," he joked. "That is weird." Together, they laughed playfully at each other's expense and, without realizing it, Kakashi's fingers trailed from the top of her hair to tuck an errant strand of pink hair behind her ear. Her blush crept down her neck and she froze. Their joviality faded as a heat rose between them. He was thankful for the mask, because suddenly his face felt a bit hotter as well. They were both confused, but did not push away, and he wished she would stop staring at him.

Breaking out of the moment, Kakashi cleared his throat and immediately pushed his hand in his pockets, brushing off the exchange with his lackadaisical sigh. "Good luck tomorrow, Sakura." He made sure he took measured steps out of the bar so as not to appear he was running away.

She used another moment to come back to her senses before flying towards the door and delaying him one more time. "Sens- ur- Kakashi!"

Without a reply, the droopy man stopped walking in the middle of the road and looked over his shoulder.

Sakura struggled to find the right words. "How did you know? I mean, with Team Seven. How did you know we passed?"

A cool night breeze wafted through the narrow street and tousled his shaggy hair. His gaze followed the wind out into the dark and only realized after a moment it was in the direction of the Memorial Stone. He took a deep breath before dropping his shoulders. "I asked the same question when I got them."

"And?" she prompted, unable to shake the nervous edge in her voice.

He glimpsed back her way. "Same way you'll know." Even though she could only read his smile in his eyes, she knew what he had meant. He gave her one last wave and disappeared in the shadows. With a proud gait, Sakura marched in the opposite direction towards home, enjoying the jingling of the bells with every step.

…

A/N: I should have not started another long chapter story. I know this, but this idea would not give me any peace until I started. Updates will be sporadic, and I apologize in advance, but hopefully it will be enjoyable all the same.

Thanks for reading/reviewing!