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The thing about team assignments is that, in theory, they are made with balance in mind.The assignors take the best student, pair him or her with the worst, add a normal one as a buffer, and voilà, a balanced team. Of course, the personalities, specialties, and strengths of each are taken into consideration, but, in general, that's the system that is used. And with it, each member is expected to cover the weaknesses of their teammates, to learn together, and motivate each other to push their limits again and again.This team system, somehow, usually works.Therefore, considering this model to form genin teams, it makes absolutely no sense that her teammates would be Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Itachi.Sakura frowned, frustrated. She had theorized about who her new teammates would be following the same system Konoha used, and it was annoying to see that not only had she been wrong, but they had also used a completely different system for the three of them!It made no sense at all.Minato-san and Itachi-san had competed peacefully but fiercely for the position of shinobi of the year, and both were undeniably prodigies. Dare she say, even absurd geniuses. And she, well, even with her poor taijutsu, Sakura was the kunoichi of the year, only surpassed in academic scores by Itachi-san and Minato-san, which, by the way, was very frustrating! Namikaze was from a civilian background, just like her, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not surpass him; it was absurd! Why did they both have to be so good at everything? But anyway, back to the topic; two prodigies and the kunoichi of the year. Maybe it would be more acceptable if it was one of those two dumb geniuses, some random genin, and Sakura. But this? It just didn't make sense.If they followed logic, the assignment managers should have separated the three, or at least the boys. Maximizing potential, hoping they would drag their more normal teammates along long enough to turn them into competent shinobi before the teams disbanded and the two of them inevitably climbed the ranks to more significant positions.They did not even share a specialty to justify this grouping. Where Sakura was a paper ninja, her two teammates were extraordinary in every area, capable of excelling in whatever they set their minds to.Perhaps she would understand if they had placed a kunoichi with better fighting ability. That would make them a fearsome frontline team, but they hadn't, and Sakura wasn't fooling herself: she was weak physically, and that was no secret, so what was the intention of her superiors?If they had considered all their strengths, this would point to being an intelligence team, but it felt like a waste.Maybe..., Maybe this really was a frontline team, but that would mean Sakura would probably end up as cannon fodder, or if fate was kinder, as an early retired genin.These were not options she liked. Sakura refused to believe they were her only options.Maybe, and just maybe, someone had trusted her. Maybe someone saw her colorful pink hair and big forehead and thought she had the potential to become an absurd monster on par with her teammates, and wouldn't that be wonderful? She wanted that. She wanted to prove to everyone that she could do it. Either way, she didn't know what the actual plan was for this team, but the time for someone to declare that there had been a mistake had passed, and at least for the foreseeable future, Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Itachi were her teammates (Hers. People she would fight and bleed with, who would protect her and whom she would protect. Her team), and everyone, including her –and she would–, would have to deal with that."Sakura-san?"She shook her head, pushing her thoughts away. In front of her, Minato had chosen to turn his seat and turn his back on the blackboard and the rest of the empty classroom to instead look at her curiously, his arms folded across her desk."Oh, there you are." Minato smiled as their gazes met, glad to have caught her attention. Mortified, Sakura felt her cheeks warm slightly. "Are you okay?""Ah! Yes, yes. I-, uhm. Sorry." She was supposed to be a ninja now! How had she been so distracted that she hadn't noticed her teammate moving and getting so close? How embarrassing! Even Itachi-san was looking at her. And Minato-san! How the hell could he smile so prettily? That was completely unfair! "You were saying?""Don't worry." The blond waved his hand, downplaying it. "I was saying that even though we've been in the same class for years, maybe we should introduce ourselves properly while we wait for sensei. You know, we'll be spending a lot of time together from now on and, uhm," scratching his cheek with an embarrassed smile, he hesitated for a second before continuing, "I'm really embarrassed to say it, but I don't know you both that well."The kunoichi blinked. That actually sounded like a clever thing to do (Duh, of course. Prodigy), and he wasn't wrong. They had shared a lot of time together, but not really together. The three of them ran in different circles, though it would be more accurate to say that they were not social creatures, preferring the company of books over people most of the time.They really were losers, all of them. Unable to completely fit in with the other students. While Itachi-san felt almost like an adult in a child's body, Minato-san was too perfect. The prodigy status and good looks of both, while drawing attention and attracting compliments all around, also generated envy and resentment.
And Sakura, well. She had very pink hair and a very big forehead; she was too weak, too different.Geez, maybe that had been used as criteria to form this team? A team of losers incapable of making friends? Hah.Sakura nodded, agreeing with the idea. Next, Itachi-san, who had been a few seats away, gracefully stood up and approached them, sitting next to her."Well, I guess I'll start." Minato smiled brightly, and Sakura couldn't help but smile back. Maybe the three of them could be friends and fit in with each other. "My name is Namikaze Minato. I like reading and cooking. I don't like people who look down on civilians-born ninja. My dream is to be recognized by everyone in the village and become the next Hokage!"Sakura hummed, bowing her head. "Uhm, Hokage? I can see it. You're strong, and you'll definitely grow to be stronger." And without even thinking, she continued, "Plus, you have a charming smile, which will only help you lead.""E-excuse me, what? " the blond mumbled in surprise, his face flushing. He had prepared himself for every possible response to his dream, even negative comments, but he hadn't prepared himself for that kind of response. " 'Charming smile' ?""Ah, I agree with Sakura-san." Itachi added, his voice serious but his eyes with a brief glint of mischief. "A charismatic person as a leader will boost village loyalty, and certainly a 'charming smile' will help with that.""That's what I say! Combine his smile with his good looks and manners, and bam, at least half of Konoha would be willing and very happy to follow him." Sakura stood up and gestured with her hands passionately in his direction as if to make her point, and then, only then, did she see the blond covering his face with both hands, his ears red. She quickly sat down, crossing her arms over her chest as her cheeks colored, aware of everything she had said. "A-anyway," she stammered, refusing to retract her words. "It's not like you have a lot of room to talk, Uchiha. I swear. You have the eyelashes most gorgeous I've ever seen, and your hair is so silky. Ugh. You two are so pretty it's unfair."Now Itachi was blushing, and Sakura found a vengeful pleasure in seeing him just as embarrassed as Minato and her."Anyway," Sakura cleared her throat, forcing the embarrassment to leave her. Her two teammates mimicked her, giving her their attention. "My name is Haruno Sakura. I like trivia games, umeboshi, and flowers. I don't like spicy food and people who make fun of others. My dream, ehm, I'm still working on that," she commented uncertainly, but then, looking at her classmates, she made a hasty decision and continued, "However, my goal is to be a kunoichi as strong as you two!""Huh? As strong as us?" Namikaze repeated, pointing at himself and looking at the Uchiha heir."Yes! You two, with your absurd genius abilities!" Sakura growled, frowning.Minato blinked, and then his smile returned to his face. "Alright. I'll be cheering you on, Sakura-san!"Itachi nodded. "You can do it, Sakura-san."Sakura smiled, beaming at her team's confidence. An impulsive decision or not, she would not let them or herself down. She would be as strong as they were, an absurd monster in her own right.Missing only one introduction, the blond boy and the pink-haired girl turned to their dark-haired friend. He acknowledged them with a slight nod."My name is Uchiha Itachi. I like training and my clan. I dislike those who dishonor the clan. My dream is to be a great shinobi and bring honor to my family and village."Unlike the previous two introductions, only silence responded to his. Itachi frowned; his two new teammates looked at him slightly uncomfortably, and a sense of unease settled over him. Had he been wrong about something?Gathering courage, Minato then spoke up. "Uh, Itachi-san?""Yes, Minato-san?""Is... Is this all you have to say?""Has my presentation been unsatisfactory in any way?" Itachi's frown deepened, replaying every word in his head. "I thought I followed your examples properly.""No, no!" Minato quickly shook his head, not wanting to ruin this somehow. The relationship between the three was good, but he had to be careful: they barely knew each other. "It's just, you know..." Unsure how to continue, he grimaced, sending a look of distress to the kunoichi.Haruno came to his rescue with a throat clearing, attracting the Uchiha heir's attention. "What Minato-san means is, uhm, don't you have anything else you like? Or something you dislike? Any, uh, more personal dream? It can be something small, not necessarily related to your clan.""..." Itachi looked at them, his face sunk in concentration. Then hesitantly, as if testing the words, he slowly tried again. "I like... sweets. And visiting coffee shops. " At the encouraging looks from his new team, with more confidence, he continued, "I like spending time with my otouto and my cousin Shisui. I don't like-" He interrupted himself, unsure.In response, Minato and Sakura didn't even hesitate to move a few inches closer to him, with similar smiles on their faces."We're a team now, Itachi-san. Your secrets are safe with us." Minato clarified, looking confidently at his new team, the people he would trust with his life, team 22.Itachi closed his eyes for a short moment and took a deep breath. The others had trusted him; the least he could do was return the courtesy, even if a part of him told him to do otherwise.If he wanted this to work, he had to trust them."I don't like unnecessary bloodshed. And I dream of a happy, peaceful future for my loved ones.""That's a great dream, Itachi-san" Minato stated with a smile, and at the same time, Sakura nodded enthusiastically. The tension he wasn't even aware of slowly left Itachi's shoulders; neither of them judged him. "Alright, let's do our best, team!"Looking at Itachi-san and Minato-san, a smile spread across her face as anticipation filled her. Sakura didn't know how or why this team had been created this way, but those silly geniuses, her teammates, had already made a place in her heart. It was only a matter of time before she would start calling them her best friends and be able to do absolutely anything for them.The three of them would be the most powerful team in Konoha- no, in all the ninja villages. Minato would be Hokage, Itachi would have a happy and peaceful future with his family, and she would be as strong as them. And they would be more than capable of fulfilling any other dream they could think of.They would be great.Now, if only their sensei would decide to show up...