Chapter Ten

"Aw man wait until tomorrow I'll definitely kick Kakashi-sensei's tail!" Naruto crowed as the collective shock dissolved at the announcement of the the surprise test. Shino was silent as per usual while Sakura was contemplating the deeper meaning of the exam. Was it a trick question? Obviously considering every Konoha shinobi past and present was within a team. Was the idea to pit them against each other or to prove how willing they were to help each other? Second was most likely given Kakashi was a former ANBU and they were well known for their teamwork and cooperation in the field. After all special opes meant that had to trust each other otherwise they'd kill each other off like Kiri.

Underneath the underneath, is the method in which they function after all. Damn it was like being back at Central...only she was doing Hughes' job rather that being both a taskmaster and an informant.

"Uzumaki-san, Aburame-san I'd say we need to think up a plan rather than competing against each other," she declared cutting across Naruto's excited ramblings and Shino's quiet contemplation. "Kakashi-sensei is a jōnin of high respect so he's going to go all out on us."

"What would you propose then Haruno-san?" Shino asked leaning into her space so as to hear better. "If his skill is that high what hope have we to triumph over him?"

"That we analyze ourselves and find out our weaknesses. Then we'll compensate for them and find workarounds for them," Sakura said. "If we can do that we'll be ahead of the curve. We need to cover each other or we all fall."

"Eh? You mean this isn't about our skills?"

"No Uzumaki-san it is not," Sakura answered him. "It's a test of how well we work as a unit. Think about the makeup of the Konoha shinobi Corp. What's the consistent factor?"

"Uh they're..."

"They're all in teams," Shino said nodding as he understood her meaning. "So you're proposing that imitate them for the maximum amount of success in the exercise. Very noteworthy. I approve of this plan."

"So we fail or succeed together dattebayo?"

"That is correct," Sakura nodded. "Are you willing to work..."

"I'm in!"

"As am I," Shino agreed. "It would be better for us to work together. Why? Because we are powerful together then individually."

"Then let's start with a test of our own," Sakura suggested. "We can spar and see who's the weakest at hand to hand and then throwing shuriken and kunai and so on. Then we'll see how we can compensate for it."

"ALRIGHT! WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR!? LET'S DO THIS DATTEBAYO!"

"Good," Sakura smiled with pride. True they were coming together and they would prevail over Hatake-san.

I'm coming sir. Just see me go and I will watch your back an ensure you stay on the path.

Sasuke sighed with profound relief as Yuhi-sensei left them to their own devices. Now he could get some shopping done as well as some practices in before it got too late. He watched as his teammates went to their own way for a bit before turning away to the market. First things first was he needed new shoes, shorts, shirts and food. Damn it he should head home and grab a bag now that he thought about it.

He picked up the pace and ran to his apartment grabbing his shopping bag that was always left by the door. He slipped the strap over his shoulder and then paused before patting his pockets. Noticing that they were empty as he should've expected since he didn't think to grab his wallet or at least some money. He sighed and took off his shoes so he could look for his wallet. He soon found it in the nightstand and grabbed it preparing for a rather mundane afternoon and a long night sleep. Since his research into his alchemy had been completed it meant that he'd have to readjust his sleep cycle. Also he'd have to research his team mates abilities least he compromised his team. Now that his part on honing his skills for the most part now it was about working together not individually.

More sleeping sounds good to me, Sasuke thought as he locked his door. I need to catch up on my sleep now that I've got a team instead of frivolous homework to worry about. He held in a snort at the fact that most of his classmates were as of this moment instead of concentrating their skill probably getting ready to fight one another. But then again that was expected not everyone was going to get the team work aspect hence the steep graduation rates. Still he did feel amused.

Sasuke turned and walked to the door and soon exited so he could go shopping. He work to do tomorrow it was best if he rested for now. Things were going to get crazy from here on out. He smiled as he exited the apartment and headed towards the crowded marketplace.

The streets were slight crowded with late afternoon to early evening shoppers which didn't bother Sasuke in the slightest. He quickly threaded his way through the crowds. He was able to acquire easily things he needed with a minimal amount of fuss due to the fact that because he tended not to tot his familial connections. He disliked riding off of the backs of others. Sure he was proud of his pedigree but he didn't act like that gave him the right to be rude or give him some superhuman abilities. No. He might inherit a Sharingan but that didn't mean he was a god among mortals.

As he walked through the village with his purchases he paused at one of the training grounds to scope out the area only to see...Team Seven. Who were training together.

Now this was an interesting sight to say the least. Now he'd seen Naruto train and he didn't doubt the boy's work ethic but he tended to do it alone without help. So seeing him not only work with Sakura and Shino was a bit of a shock. Shino himself was a loner as well but that was mainly due to the fact that his Kikaichū were a bit unsettling to most even to himself. Sakura was another loner but she was more of the studious type that again was often found alone or on the field constantly aiming her kunai...

Then again, he thought a bit shamefully to himself. I never asked them to train with me. They're going to be my comrades and I didn't take the initiative to get to know them. A careless mistake on his part. He'd been to focused on his Alchemy rather then building bonds between potential allies. Shame on him he really should know better.

And that will be rectified. He nodded to himself. Perhaps not now but in future. I should build bonds and maintain them. After all if we're to bring peace to this world what better place the the people? Promise made he went back to his apartment leaving the team to build their bonds while resolving to build his own.