Naruto felt his hair shuffle as someone tried to wake him.

He tried to swat the hand away but it just ended swatting him away before continuing to ruffle his hair.

The blonde groaned softly before finally opening his eyes to the bright light of the sun and the silhouette of his pink-haired teammate.

Naruto sighed before slowly sitting up and looking around. He realized they were all still in the vicinity of the old cottage.

'I guess we fell asleep' The blonde thought as he glanced at Sasuke, who was perched against his tree, but Naruto could see the faint blots of sleep still in his eyes.

The chuunin glanced over to his sensei and wasn't surprised to see him reading quietly. He could bet Sakura hadn't slept and, instead, joined their sensei in reading as well.

Naruto wondered what the big deal about reading was. The real world was much more interesting in his opinion - not that he'd ever share that with the two bookworms. It'd probably break their hearts.

Rolling his eyes, Naruto got up and stretched.

"We should head back" he muttered while walking into the dimming sunlight and breathing in the fresh air.

"I suppose so" Kakashi voiced. The Jounin surprisingly found himself enjoying the calm and silent company if his charges and hoped they'd come back and do it again.

But If wishes were horses...

Kakashi snapped his book closed and got up from his seated position. He glanced around the dark forest and then to the faint sunlight speaking in on their spot.

"Let's get some training in first" Kakashi announced, gaining the attention of the Uchiha and Jinjuuriki immediately.

He glanced over to Sakura, who was still deeply buried into her book, before sighing.

Walking over, the Jounin snatched the book out of her hands, snapped it closed and handed it back with a sickly sweet smile that was meant as a warning to listen when he spoke.

Sakura sheepishly smiled and rubbed the back of her neck "Gomen, sensei" she muttered before hiding away the book.

"Now then" Kakashi straightened and eyed the chuunin "how about a friendly spar with your sensei?"

What he said surprised the trio, they'd been up against him many times but in informal settings and ambushes. Here he was, openly challenging them to attack him.

They couldn't be happier as they prepared themselves and Kakashi smirked.

___

"Hn" Sasuke grunted as he got up from his bed. His body ached from the spar with Kakashi but he smirked as he remembered the number of times they had gotten a hit on him.

They were improving and fast but Sasuke knew his time in the leaf was about to come to an end. They'd completed their T&I training and it was now time to go separate ways.

The young Uchiha sighed as he glanced around his room. It felt like months since he'd last slept in his bed and it'd be years before he'd see it again after leaving...Maybe even never.

Getting dressed, the raven-haired chuunin made his way downstairs to see his teammates already eating and chatting happily about the hits they got on their sensei too.

"Ke" Sakura smiled in greeting whilst Naruto grinned mischievously. Sasuke eyed the blonde with suspicion before giving a nod to his pink-haired teammate.

"I've been thinking" Sasuke muttered as he sat on a nearby chair by the kitchen table. This caught the attention of the other two chuunin.

"About what?" 

"He thinks!?" 

Sasuke grew an irk mark as he glared at Naruto.

"Dobe" He muttered before ignoring the playful glares of the blonde and getting back on topic "It's time to separate" He immediately got to the point.

A moment of silence passed as the two sadly thought about what he said.

"I suppose it is..." Sakura mumbled with a sad smile.

"But we just completed the training-"

"We agreed, To" Sakura cut Naruto off as he frowned "I wonder what we'll be like when we see each other again" The pinkette mused.

"Well, I don't think Teme would change much - there's hardly any personality to change" Naruto snickered and dodged the spoon thrown at him as Sasuke glared.

"Ohaya" Kakashi greeted as he came in from his training.

"Ew Sensei, you're all sweaty!" Sakura mocked with a mischievous smirk.

Kakashi took off his headband and walked over to the pinkette, whose expression changed from playful to horrified.

"Sen-AH!" Sakura shrieked as Kakashi wrung out his headband over her head and sweat poured over her.

"Not sweaty anymore!" Kakashi grinned before throwing his headband on the table and making himself breakfast.

"Pffft" Naruto tried to keep his laughter in as Sakura just stood in disbelief. Sasuke turned away to keep from laughing as well and instead focused on his sensei.

"Sensei" Sasuke called, barely gaining the Jounin's attention.

"Hmm?" Kakashi signified he was listening as he cracked two eggs into a cup.

"We've completed our training"

"Well you know, there's always something to learn" Kakashi said as he turned his back to the kids and pulled down his mask to swallow the eggs.

Turning back, he noticed the deadpanned look the Uchiha gave him and sighed.

"You want to leave the village" The Jounin muttered as he stared at the three.

"Hai" Naruto mumbled.

"I see..." Kakashi mumbled "You're sure you don't want to wait until you're Jounin at least?" He questioned

Sakura gave a sad smile "We're pawns, Sensei" Sakura said with a frown "We've got to play the game" 

"Hn" Sasuke voiced as he stared down at the table. His part to play was to become a rogue nin.

At least his teammates got to come back to the village and change it. The Uchiha had decided that his new dream was to find Itachi, clear his name and help his team to make the village, and the shinobi world, a better place.

Even if it meant sacrificing himself.

"Very well." Kakashi said with sadness in his eyes.

"I'll join Pervy-Sage on his travels" Naruto announced, although the group already knew he'd be the most likely one to go with the Toad Sannin.

"I'll be seeking out a sage in the land of earth" Sakura said, surprising the team.

"You're not going with Lady Tsunade?" Kakashi questioned, a little part of him going deeper into sadness as he realized none of his students would stay in the village.

"No, at least not yet" Sakura said with a small smile "I'll seek Tsunade out once my training with the sage is complete but I want to improve my earth element and see if I can learn any sub-components of it" The pinkette finished with a determined look in her eyes.

There was no changing her mind.

Sasuke smirked "I guess I should tell you that I'll be seeking out Itachi" 

"But, what about Oroch-" 

"I don't need him and his power" Sasuke cut his blonde teammate off with a glare "Itachi can help me get rid of the seal and train me."

"Sasuke, Itachi doesn't know you know the truth. He will keep up appearances, especially in the presence of the Akatsuki" Kakashi said with a serious tone.

Sasuke nodded his head, already having thought about this "Which is why I'll be approaching with caution...and under the facade that I've abandoned the village" The Uchiha said.

The trio seemed to understand well enough that it had to be done.

"Besides" Sasuke smirked "I'm sure they'd want another Uchiha on their side" 

Naruto rolled his eyes at raven-haired chuunin but had to agree with his thinking. They'd test him for sure but he'd survive and that's all that mattered.

"Alright then" Kakashi breathed out, shocked by the change of events his charges had decided on "Sakura, Naruto. We will need to get permission from Tsunade for you to leave the village."

The two chuunin nodded in understanding.

Kakashi turned to Sasuke "As for you-"

"I'll leave before the other two. I know" The young Uchiha muttered.

A moment of silence passed.

"Well...I guess that's that then" Kakashi muttered before grabbing his headband off the table and walking to his room to get changed and report to Tsunade.

The trio stared after him with frowns.

"Do you think he'll be-"

"He'll be fine" Naruto muttered, interrupting Sakura who grew an irk mark at being interrupted. She was starting to feel a lot like her sensei and felt disrespected when interrupted.

"What did Sensei say about interrupting?" Sakura scolded which caused the blonde to smirk.

"He said not to do it to him. Not you, Ra" Naruto snickered and dodged just in time as Sakura threw a punch.

"Enough" Sasuke said, stopping the two from fighting more "Just remember what this is all about" He said as he crossed his fingers and leaned forward.

"Don't worry Ke, We'll never forget what Danzo did. When the time comes, we'll be ready" Naruto said with a determined look in his eyes that was enough to light it on fire inside of Sakura and Sasuke as well.

The trio smirked at each other as Kakashi stood in the hall, out of view, and listened in on their conversation. 

He was proud of them but wondered what he'd do now that his charges weren't taking up his time. Perhaps he should look into training somewhere as well.

___

"No."

Kakashi figured as much when he'd come knocking on Tsunade's door on an early evening and suggested letting his charges train outside of the village.

Upon seeing no reaction from the Jounin, Tsunade breathed out a frustrated sigh and glared at  him "The village needs their unique capabilities and to let one of Konoha's best upcoming teams to just... leave is absurd!" 

"I understand but by leaving for a short amount of time to experience more and train harder, they'll be able to protect this village to their full potential" Kakashi simply stated.

"They can become just as strong within the village and gain just as much experience by going on missions" Tsunade pointed out with a glare.

"No, they can't. Out of everyone, you know that. You've been outside the village for years as well. The village protects those within too much to experience a true shinobi's life" 

"Are you saying you doubt the village's shinobi?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes.

Kakashi sighed "No, ma'am but I will be doubting my team when danger comes and they aren't at their full potential to protect the village" 

Tsunade let out a frustrated sigh "Kakashi. Your team isn't any different from normal shinobi. I can't give them special treatment on this." 

"I understand but as their sensei, I highly recommend a few years outside the village" 

Tsunade was about to retort but Kakashi quickly interrupted her "Naruto would go with Jiraiya and Sakura will be seeking a sage out in the land of earth." Kakashi explained.

"For how many years?" Tsunade dubiously eyed the Jounin.

"Naruto, for three years. Sakura, for one and a half. She's expressed her interest to come train under you once she's done with the sage." 

That seemed to interest Tsunade. She remained silent as she thought over the matter before slowly bringing her eyes back to the masked man.

"And Sasuke?"

Kakashi sighed, he wasn't looking forward to this side of the conversation.

"He'll be going to find someone in the land of lighting" The Jounin muttered.

"That could be dangerous, our relations with the Raikage have always been thin" Tsunade said, confused.

"I know that but he's set on it. I agree with him, he's got a lighting affinity after all. It makes sense for him to go there. If he fails, I'll take over his training again"

"If he fails, he'll be dead" Tsunade said in a strong voice.

Kakashi sighed "that's the life of a ninja."

Another, awkward, moment of silence passed as Tsunade took all the information in.

"Very well. Naruto will go with Jiraiya, Sakura to the land of earth and after a year and a half - she'll come back to train under me" The Hokage took a breath "Sasuke...will go to the land of lighting and train however much he can but they are all to come back after three years, Kakashi" Tsunade sternly ordered.

Kakashi nodded his head before Tsunade waved her hand, dismissing him.

Turning, Kakashi began to walk out but paused.

"What now?" Tsunade questioned as she noticed his hesitancy to leave.

"There's another favor I'd like to ask of you"

Tsunade glared but readied herself for the question.

"What is it?"

Kakashi smirked.