Author's Notes:

This story assumes that you're up to date with the current manga. This story will contain spoilers. So, before reading this story, read the manga first.

Rated M for violence, swearing and non-explicit sexual content. No Yaoi.

Complete summary and other information about this story is on my profile.

Chapter 1

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage of Konohagakure, sat at his desk, reading a sheaf of papers. Uzumaki Naruto, The jinchuriki of the Nine Tailed Fox, had finally passed his genin test the previous night in the most unorthodox manner, thereby evening out the team rosters. The boy's teacher, Iruka, had sent the Hokage dossiers on all the graduated students and a list of the teams which he thought would work best together.

The Third knew better.

On first glance, the teams appeared to be rock solid, the skills of the individual members balancing out those of the others. There was the second generation of the Ino-Shika-Chou trio, whose teamwork during the Third Shinobi War was legendary. There was the classic Hyuuga-Aburame-Inuzuka team, which had formed excellent tracking and hunter squads in the past. Finally, there was the traditional Team Seven, formed by pairing the Rookie of the year and the top kunoichi along with the dead last, which had produced surprisingly good results every year. Team Gai was an excellent example, being the only team to pass the final genin test the previous year.

He didn't look over the rest of the teams as he was almost sure they would fail. Such was the disadvantage of having a milder ninja training programme than the other ninja villages, Great or otherwise. While a larger number of candidates would pass the academy graduation test, most of them would fail the one given by their jounin sensei. Some of the ninja clans had pushed for a harsher programme, but he had refused. Konoha would have a larger number of functional civilians that way.

'Iruka-kun has a lot to learn', he thought as he smiled to himself. The man might be an excellent teacher and a decent ninja but he still failed to look underneath the underneath. He had divided the teams based purely on their skills, without considering their personalities. The Hokage had never discussed this issue with Iruka before because the teams he had built earlier had functioned well. However, this year's graduating class was unique. Eight, including Naruto, belonged to ninja clans. All of them were clan heirs. Such a situation had never happened earlier in the history of Konoha.

As Hokage, it was his responsibility to ensure that the teams were formed properly. Years of experience had taught him exactly what to look for. He began dissecting the problems with the teams formed by Iruka.

Team Ten. Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji. This was the only team that he would leave as is. The children were close friends from childhood and would work well together.

Team Eight. Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino. While this squad would be an excellent tracker squad, they lacked combat readiness. Kiba was the only member who was ready for direct combat. Shino, being an Aburame, was currently good only for scouting, tracking and subtle attacks. Hinata was a gentle soul who lacked confidence and the desire to inflict wounds upon an enemy. She would be better off serving as support until she was older and more mature.

Finally, Team Seven. Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto. A pang of sadness struck him as he remembered how Kushina and Mikoto would've been ecstatic that their children would be on the same team. Kushina, in particular, would've been running around Konoha, yelling "Dattebane" at anybody who would (and would not) listen. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he got back to analyzing Team Seven.

Sasuke and Naruto were badly damaged, psychologically. The former, due to his older brother's massacre of the Uchiha clan and the latter, due to being ignored and despised by most of the civilian and some of the shinobi population of Konoha.

He smirked as he began his plans to give both the boys what they needed. Bonds. He would keep both of them on the same team. Maybe drop some hints that their mothers had been best friends. Hopefully, that would get the two young shinobi to open up to each other and form a tentative friendship. Naruto's sunny disposition and stubbornness would do the rest.

Leaving Haruno Sakura on the team, however, was a bad idea. She came from a civilian family and had a huge crush on Uchiha Sasuke, like most of the female members of the academy. Instead of training, she spent most of her time making herself look good to attract the boy in question.

The Third sighed to himself as it was a waste of incredible potential. While her chakra reserves were about average for her age and gender, she had incredible control. When she wasn't in the presence of her crush, she displayed a sharp mind and excellent knowledge of strategy. She would be great as a medic-nin or as a genjutsu expert. Leaving her on the same team as Uchiha Sasuke would stunt her growth. She would spend most of her time pestering him for dates and staring at him instead of training.

Another negative factor due to her presence on the team was Naruto's attitude towards her. Naruto had a huge crush on the pink-haired girl and had been constantly pestering her for dates the last two years. The first few times he had asked her out, she had refused politely. After a week of constant pestering, she had taken to violently clocking him on the head each time he asked her out. The Third didn't blame her. Naruto refused to leave her alone and he could grate on your nerves after a while. Leaving her on the team meant that Naruto would spend at least half his time trying to impress her.

'Yes, she'll have to go. But where to put you, Sakura-chan...', he mused as he looked over the other teams. His eyes widened as they landed on Hyuuga Hinata's file. He laughed loudly as the very absurdity of his idea struck him. An Uchiha and a Hyuuga on the same team! Children of the clan heads no less! Especially when the two clan heads in question used to hate each other with a passion!

Five minutes later, the Third had shown no signs of stopping. The ANBU protection squad hidden in his office threw each other worried glances as they began to wonder whether the old man had finally snapped from the stress of his job. As the laughter died down, the Hokage smiled as the idea was perfect. It was well known to the shinobi population of Konoha that the Hyuuga heiress admired the Uzumaki. Hell, the only person who didn't know was Naruto himself. There was even an unofficial betting pool going around as to when he would find out. The Hokage himself, had placed his bet on "When she gets so frustrated with his obliviousness that she drags him by his ear into her bedroom, ties him down and has her way with him." That particular option, of course, had been added by Hatake Kakashi, who was as famous for being a pervert as he was skilled.

His own student, Jiraiya, The Toad Sage and Mitarashi Anko, the sexy, sadistic interrogation and assassination specialist had chosen the same option too.

His face took on a lecherous grin and blushed as he remembered how his late wife, Biwako, had done exactly the same thing to him when he was too nervous to approach her. THAT had cured him of his nervousness!

A muffled snicker from one of the hidden ANBU alerted him to the fact that they had guessed what he was thinking about and found it amusing. Glaring at the offender to shut him up, he began to reflect on his idea.

Hinata had shown herself to be level headed throughout the academy. She had, at least, grown out of her habit of...'observing' Naruto while he trained. Hopefully, being on the same team as Naruto would boost her confidence and motivate her.

Haruno Sakura, separated from the object of her obsession, would have a chance to mature and grow out of her obsession with the Uchiha. He just would have to select the right mentor for her.

The Third had made his decision. Hyuuga Hinata and Haruno Sakura would swap places.

'Now', he thought, 'to select the jounin sensei'. His face lost all traces of mirth as his thoughts fell upon Team Seven. While the other two teams would do well under normal jounin, Team Seven was different. Their sensei would have to juggle a shy Hyuuga, a hyperactive, loud jinchuriki who doesn't think before acting and an Uchiha with an obsession for power. The latter two, in particular, were in dire need of mental training. He frowned as his available choices drastically reduced. With an almost imperceptible nod, he made his decision. He just hoped it wouldn't bite him in the ass later.

He rang a bell on his table and his assistant walked in.

"Orders, Hokage-sama?".

"Summon the Konoha Council. They are to report here by noon".

"Hai, Hokage-sama".

Author's Notes:

Anyone who can guess correctly who the sensei is going to be will get a mention in chapter 3, when I reveal his identity. You can leave your guess in your review if you're reviewing. Otherwise, you can PM me with your guess.