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[[ForWantOfANail The Third Shinobi War never ended.]] Sakura's parents didn't want her attending the Academy, but found they had no choice -- as the daughter of shinobi, she was forced to go. Forced into service in more ways than one, as she grows up a ChildSoldier, like so many others.
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* TheDogBitesBack: Danzo finds himself on the recieving end of this after forcing [[spoiler:Sai to kill his brother]]. They retailiate by [[spoiler:escaping and spreading flyers in the same style as his other propaganda, championing the Yellow Flash]].
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* TheDogBitesBack: Danzo finds himself on the recieving receiving end of this after forcing [[spoiler:Sai to kill his brother]]. They retailiate by [[spoiler:escaping and spreading flyers in the same style as his other propaganda, championing the Yellow Flash]].
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** PlayedForDrama with Danzo, who pulls rank in order to [[spoiler:snatch Kizashi up and send him on a ROOT-sponsored mission to Suna, in homes of eliminating Sakura's father]].
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** PlayedForDrama with Danzo, who pulls rank in order to [[spoiler:snatch Kizashi up and send him on a ROOT-sponsored mission to Suna, in homes hopes of eliminating Sakura's father]].
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* BewareTheNiceOnes: When Sakura meets Namikaze Minato for the first time, it's as Uchiha Fugaku's more level-headed counterpart and Kushina describes him as her "sissy" husband. It's only seeing him [[spoiler:ruthlessly fighting against Danzo to find and rescue Kushina]] that she's reminded why he's TheDreaded Yellow Flash outside of Konoha.
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* StayInTheKitchen: Mikoto Uchiha was described by Sakura's parents as a skilled kunoichi, only to be forced to step down by her clan to raise children. There's also speculation that she was forced to resign because of her close friendship with Kushina, Konoha's [[PersonOfMassDestruction jinchuuriki]].
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* UriahGambit: Inochi speculates this was the case with [[spoiler:Sakura's father]] by Danzo's orders, as he and his team were stationed in Suna right when Team 14 and Orochimaru were testing poison in the water supply and they were no paper records. He also suspects that other teams are being sent on similar missions, such as an Uchiha having their eyes stolen before their clan could retrieve their body.
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* HypocriticalHumor: Kushina expresses surprise that Team 14 isn't scared of Orochimaru, who not only can summon giant snakes but looks a bit like one. Sakura points out that she turns into a ''giant fox''. After some frustration, Kushina agrees and says she'll apologize to Orochimaru.
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* MythologyGag: "Tales of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi", Jiraiya's first novel, is a recurring element in the story. The name of its main characters come from the {{Defictionalization}} written and illustrated by Akira Higashiyama and Masashi Kishimoto.
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* SmallRoleBigImpact: While he died before the story proper begins, Neji helped teach Sakura how to read, enabling her to fall in love with ''Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Ninja''. He also [[spoiler:sacrificed himself to save her]].
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* WhatYouAreInTheDark: It's eventually revealed that [[spoiler:Hyuuga Neji]] faced one such moment: given the chance to flee while their team leader bought time for them to escape, at the cost of the lives of said leader and their teammates, they chose instead to remain and try to save them. As a result, [[spoiler:he died, but successfully saved Sakura's life]].
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* InnocentInaccurate: Sakura and her teammates often miss or misinterpret details in ways betraying their naivete and innocence.
** For instance, Sakura and Kiba noticed that Bekko-sensei's hands constantly shook while teaching them. They attribute this to their teacher having weak hands, but it's heavily implied he was deeply disturbed at how he was being forced to teach four and five-year-olds how to fight for their lives.
** For instance, Sakura and Kiba noticed that Bekko-sensei's hands constantly shook while teaching them. They attribute this to their teacher having weak hands, but it's heavily implied he was deeply disturbed at how he was being forced to teach four and five-year-olds how to fight for their lives.
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* OutOfFocus: Most of the Rookie Nine were spared from being forced into immediate service, due to their status as clan heirs.
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* OutOfFocus: Most of the Rookie Nine were spared from being forced into immediate service, due to their status as clan heirs. As a result, Ino is the only member who makes fairly regular appearances, due to being Sakura's best friend.
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* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: Sakura's parents had no choice in the matter; when they interfered with the recruiters trying to press-gang her into the Academy, both were sent off on missions that took them out of Konoha, and were kept out of the village as much as possible.
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* MamaBear: Tragically deconstructed with Mebuki. While repeatedly enraged by how her daughter is being treated, she lacks the political clout to protect Sakura -- and the rest of the Allied Mothers Force kicked her out of their ranks rather than using their ''own'' influence to help out a fellow mother in need.
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* ReassignedToAntarctica: Mebuki and Kizashi are sent on a variety of missions to keep them out of Konoha as much as possible, so that they can't interfere with their daughter being raised as a child soldier or shipped off on various missions.
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* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade:
** ZigZagged with the members of Team 14; while all three have been forced to fight as child soldiers, they've been ConditionedToAcceptHorror to some degree, and don't spend much time lamenting the unfairness of their circumstances. However, as the war goes on, certain events take their toll, and they have moments of weakness while still retaining their overall upbeat outlooks.
** Played straighter with the adult shinobi of Konoha, who have more perspective than Team 14 and are increasingly horrified and ashamed by the actions their leaders have taken.
** ZigZagged with the members of Team 14; while all three have been forced to fight as child soldiers, they've been ConditionedToAcceptHorror to some degree, and don't spend much time lamenting the unfairness of their circumstances. However, as the war goes on, certain events take their toll, and they have moments of weakness while still retaining their overall upbeat outlooks.
** Played straighter with the adult shinobi of Konoha, who have more perspective than Team 14 and are increasingly horrified and ashamed by the actions their leaders have taken.
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* EarnYourHappyEnding: After all the hell they went through, [[spoiler:all three members of Team 14 survive, seeing the end of the war, Danzo's downfall, and Minato becoming the Yondaime]].
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* EarnYourHappyEnding: After all the hell they went through, [[spoiler:all three members of Team 14 survive, seeing the end of the war, Danzo's downfall, and Minato becoming the Yondaime]]. On top of this, [[spoiler:Team 14 is disbanded so that they can join teams made up of their peers, with Sakura winding up in Team 7, Kiba with Team 8, and Tenten with Gai and Lee]].
** In the Epilogue, [[spoiler:Minato has become the Yondaime, and Team 14 is split up so that the three chuunin can join different teams as their peers graduate from the Academy. Sakura ends up in Team 7 with Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi; Kiba joins Team 8 with Hinata, Shino and Kurenai, and Tenten gets to be part of a three-man unit with Lee and Gai]].
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* NotMeThisTime: Iruka gets enraged at the sight of some bright orange graffiti asking [[spoiler:how many Uchihas were killed this week, and how long it will take for Konoha to run out of Uchihas entirely]].
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* NotMeThisTime: Iruka gets enraged at the sight of some bright orange graffiti asking [[spoiler:how many Uchihas were killed this week, and how long it will take for Konoha to run out of Uchihas entirely]]. He berates Naruto for this, who insists upon his innocence.
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* ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated: Tenten assumes that [[spoiler:fellow orphan Lee]] was forcibly drafted into the war efforts like her and the rest of the kids from their orphanage. In the Epilogue, it's revealed that she was wrong; they survived the war [[spoiler:due to their disability keeping them out of the fighting. Instead, Lee got adopted by Gai, and is one of her new teammates]].
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* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Danzo recognizes that Sakura and her teammates are garnering attention as they continue to survive and succeed on missions, and tries swaying them to his side. He fails to understand ''why'' his efforts to turn them into 'good little mindless soldiers' aren't working, as well as the fact that part of the reason they're so influential is that they serve as living reminders of the fact they're sending ''children'' out to fight and die in Konoha's name.
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* MoralityPet: Team 14 becomes a collective one for several members of Konoha over time, simply by continuing to survive one horrible mission after another.
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* ObliviousGuiltSlinging: Team 14 engage in this when they talk about how [[spoiler:Bekko-sensei]] was punished for [[spoiler:exposing the clan heirs to graphic imagery while teaching their class]] by being sent to the front lines. All three blithely assume that they must have been killed out there, unaware of how [[spoiler:Iruka]], the one responsible for them getting shipped out, is turning paler and paler.
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* EvilIsPetty: Part of the reason why Danzo specifically bans all of [[spoiler:Jiraiya's works]] and [[BookBurning has them burned]] is because he's angry at Sakura for not buying into his propaganda.
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* ArmorPiercingQuestion: During a conversation with several older shinobi, Sakura points out that they're fighting against ''all'' of the other hidden villages, asking "What if... What if we're the bad guys?"
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* BrickJoke: The extra scene post-Epilogue has [[spoiler:Kakashi asking Team 7 for introductions, causing Sakura to burst out laughing upon realizing just ''who'' Itachi was copying when they first met]].
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* BrickJoke: The extra scene post-Epilogue has [[spoiler:Kakashi asking Team 7 for introductions, causing Sakura to burst out laughing upon realizing just ''who'' when he repeats the exact same instructions Itachi was copying when they first met]].awkwardly gave to Team 14]].
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* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Danzo sets his own downfall into motion on several fronts:
** His interest in Sakura and Team 14 spurs him to use his connections to [[spoiler:reposition her father in a Suna village that he knows is going to have its water poisoned]], in order to get them out of the way. This fails, causing an ugly public confrontation between [[spoiler:Mebuki and Hiruzen]] that stirs unrest and more questioning of Konoha's government.
** He then responds to the above by [[spoiler:having Mebuki jailed]]; this results in Sakura meeting [[spoiler:Sai guarding her cell]] and building a bond with them over time, eventually helping [[spoiler:Sai decide to flee ROOT]].
** That last is ''also'' spurred by how Danzo forced [[spoiler:Sai to kill his brother]]; rather than molding them into the emotionless tool he desired, it causes them to [[TheDogBitesBack bite back]] and [[spoiler:escape, producing propaganda encouraging Konoha to elect a new leader]].
** His interest in Sakura and Team 14 spurs him to use his connections to [[spoiler:reposition her father in a Suna village that he knows is going to have its water poisoned]], in order to get them out of the way. This fails, causing an ugly public confrontation between [[spoiler:Mebuki and Hiruzen]] that stirs unrest and more questioning of Konoha's government.
** He then responds to the above by [[spoiler:having Mebuki jailed]]; this results in Sakura meeting [[spoiler:Sai guarding her cell]] and building a bond with them over time, eventually helping [[spoiler:Sai decide to flee ROOT]].
** That last is ''also'' spurred by how Danzo forced [[spoiler:Sai to kill his brother]]; rather than molding them into the emotionless tool he desired, it causes them to [[TheDogBitesBack bite back]] and [[spoiler:escape, producing propaganda encouraging Konoha to elect a new leader]].
* PropagandaMachine: Konohagakure is practically plastered with posters encouraging citizens to support their shinobi, uplifting the strongest ones as heroes and commercializing their images. This is coupled with slandering and villainizing all of the ''other'' hidden villages. It's eventually revealed that [[spoiler:Sai is the artist behind the majority of these pieces, which he turns to his advantage later]].
** PlayedForDrama with Danzo, who pulls rank in order to [[spoiler:snatch Kizashi up and send him on a ROOT-sponsored mission to Suna, in homes of eliminating Sakura's father]].
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* SpannerInTheWorks: The ongoing survival of Team 14 makes it harder and harder for others to continue ignoring how they're fielding ChildSoldiers, especially after [[spoiler:they're the last ones left standing from their graduating classes]].
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* SpannerInTheWorks: SpannerInTheWorks:
** The ongoing survival of Team 14 makes it harder and harder for others to continue ignoring how they're fielding ChildSoldiers, especially after [[spoiler:they're the last ones left standing from their graduatingclasses]].classes]].
** [[spoiler:Young Sai]] also becomes a major wrench in Danzo's plan once they [[spoiler:manage to escape ROOT]].
** The ongoing survival of Team 14 makes it harder and harder for others to continue ignoring how they're fielding ChildSoldiers, especially after [[spoiler:they're the last ones left standing from their graduating
** [[spoiler:Young Sai]] also becomes a major wrench in Danzo's plan once they [[spoiler:manage to escape ROOT]].
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* RuleOfSymbolism: The deaths of [[spoiler:Neji, Lee, Ami and all the other Konohan ChildSoldiers]] happen offscreen, reflecting how many are desperately trying to ignore the high human cost of the ongoing war. Conversely, [[spoiler:Team 14's enduring survival makes it harder and harder for others to turn a blind eye to their existence]].
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* RuleOfSymbolism: The deaths of [[spoiler:Neji, Lee, Ami and all the other Konohan ChildSoldiers]] child soldiers]] happen offscreen, reflecting how many are desperately trying to ignore the high human cost of the ongoing war. Conversely, [[spoiler:Team 14's enduring survival makes it harder and harder for others to turn a blind eye to their existence]].
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* SparedByTheAdaptation: {{Downplayed}}. While there is no Uchiha Massacre, the majority of the story is set at a point ''before'' said event took place, and most of the clan is forced onto the front lines. It's hinted that [[spoiler:Danzo is still harvesting eyeballs]], and this culminates in [[spoiler:the rather horrifying image of Uchihas strung around Kurama's neck in an effort to contain him]].
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* SparedByTheAdaptation: {{Downplayed}}. While there is no Uchiha Massacre, the majority of the story is set at a point ''before'' said event took place, and most of the clan is forced onto the front lines. It's hinted that [[spoiler:Danzo is still harvesting eyeballs]], and this culminates in [[spoiler:the rather horrifying image during the finale, [[spoiler:most of Uchihas strung around the remaining Uchiha find themselves dangling from chakra chains attached to Kurama's neck in an effort from a failed attempt to contain him]].
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* UnreliableNarrator: Everything is filtered through Sakura's perspective; being a young child, she doesn't pick up on ''everything'' that's happening around her, or realize certain nuances.
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** Since the Kyuubi wasn't released during Naruto's birth, Iruka didn't lose his family or gain a facial scar.
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* MyGodWhatHaveIDone:
** Iruka is horrified when he realizes that [[spoiler:complaining about Bekko showing his students disturbing imagery from war]] most likely led to [[spoiler:his fellow teacher's death]].
** During the climax, [[spoiler:poor Sai]] is reduced to stammering about how they honestly thought things would be ''better'' if they [[spoiler:freed the Nine-Tailed Beast so that Konoha couldn't use them as a weapon anymore]].
** Iruka is horrified when he realizes that [[spoiler:complaining about Bekko showing his students disturbing imagery from war]] most likely led to [[spoiler:his fellow teacher's death]].
** During the climax, [[spoiler:poor Sai]] is reduced to stammering about how they honestly thought things would be ''better'' if they [[spoiler:freed the Nine-Tailed Beast so that Konoha couldn't use them as a weapon anymore]].
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* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler:Narrowly averted with Kizashi, who survives his poisoning.]]
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* WouldHurtAChild: Not only does Danzo not bat a lash at using ChildSoldiers, he takes a particular interest in Sakura and her team, and [[spoiler:attempts to make an example out of Sai after recapturing him]].
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* AdaptationalHeroism: Orochimaru never defected here, remaining in Konoha and eventually [[spoiler:taking Tenten on as an apprentice]].
* AdaptationalVillainy: Hiruzen is much less effective at dealing with Danzo, allowing the war hawk much freer reign while rationalizing everything as being DirtyBusiness.
* AdaptationalVillainy: Hiruzen is much less effective at dealing with Danzo, allowing the war hawk much freer reign while rationalizing everything as being DirtyBusiness.
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* DownerBeginning: The story opens with Sakura bringing Neji's eyes back to Inoichi and reporting his death.
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* HeadInTheSandManagement: Hiruzen feels guilty about the horrible cost of his decisions, as well as everything Danzo is doing, but refuses to acknowledge or address the problems growing in Konoha.
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* PosthumousCharacter: Neji dies before the story proper begins, and is fleshed out mostly through Sakura's memories of him.
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* RuleOfSymbolism: The deaths of [[spoiler:Neji, Lee, Ami and all the other Konohan ChildSoldiers]] happen offscreen, reflecting how many are desperately trying to ignore the high human cost of the ongoing war. Conversely, [[spoiler:Team 14's enduring survival makes it harder and harder for others to turn a blind eye to their existence]].
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* FairWeatherFriend: Implied with the Allied Mothers Force; despite ostensibly being formed to protect their children, they kick out Mebuki and turn a blind eye to how her only daughter is press-ganged into service.
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** Kiba is given his ninken partner at a much younger age, receiving Akamaru at six rather than nine.
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* [[LikeFatherLikeSon Like Mother, Like Daughter]]: Much like her mother, Sakura tends to be [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]] with her opinions.
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* SparedByTheAdaptation: {{Downplayed}}. While there is no Uchiha Massacre, the majority of the story is set at a point ''before'' said event took place, and most of the clan is forced onto the front lines. It's hinted that [[spoiler:Danzo is still harvesting eyeballs]], and this culminates in [[spoiler:the rather horrifying image of Uchihas strung around Kurama's neck in an effort to contain him]].
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** Danzo is rather ObviouslyEvil to Sakura, as she quickly recognizes the hypocrisies apparent in his grand speeches about their efforts 'unifying the shinobi world'. Hiruzen, by contrast, [[spoiler:is also a massive {{Hypocrite}} who quietly enables his former friend to act as the Shadow Hokage]].
** Sarutobi Hiruzen remains in charge; the war never ending means he never stepped down and gave Minato or anyone else the chance to become Yondaime.
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* PoorCommunicationKills: PlayedForDrama in how [[spoiler:Sai's singular efforts]] to encourage Konoha's citizens to question their government more and consider [[spoiler:ousting Hiruzen in favor of Minato]] makes things significantly more complicated for [[spoiler:Minato and his supporters]], to the point that the latter [[LeftHandVersusRightHand initially consider them a potential enemy]].
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* PoorCommunicationKills: PlayedForDrama in how [[spoiler:Sai's singular efforts]] to encourage Konoha's citizens to question their government more and consider [[spoiler:ousting Hiruzen in favor of Minato]] makes things significantly more complicated for [[spoiler:Minato and his supporters]], to the point that the latter [[LeftHandVersusRightHand [[RightHandVersusLeftHand initially consider them a potential enemy]].
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* SpannerInTheWorks: The ongoing survival of Team 14 makes it harder and harder for others to continue ignoring how they're fielding ChildSoldiers, especially after [[spoiler:they're the last ones left standing from their graduating classes]].
* SuddenPrincipledStand: [[spoiler:Sarutobi Hiruzen]] pulls one during the climax, having finally found a line they're unwilling to cross.
* SuddenPrincipledStand: [[spoiler:Sarutobi Hiruzen]] pulls one during the climax, having finally found a line they're unwilling to cross.
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* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: ZigZagged with Team 14; while mostly conditioned in this fashion, they aren't ''completely'' broken, recognizing ways that their circumstances are incredibly unfair even while resigned to their situation. The fact that Sakura doesn't completely buy into all the propaganda particularly irritates Danzo after he [[VillainTakesAnInterest takes an interest in her]].
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* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: ConditionedToAcceptHorror:
** ZigZagged with Team 14; while mostly conditioned in this fashion, they aren't ''completely'' broken, recognizing ways that their circumstances are incredibly unfair even while resigned to their situation. The fact that Sakura doesn't completely buy into all the propaganda particularly irritates Danzo after he [[VillainTakesAnInterest takes an interest inher]].her]].
** Played straighter with most citizens of Konoha, who have adjusted disturbingly well to the ongoing war, with Kushina and other strong shinobi having their images commercialized and upheld as heroes. [[spoiler:This changes over time, especially as Team 14 become the last of their respective classes.]]
** ZigZagged with Team 14; while mostly conditioned in this fashion, they aren't ''completely'' broken, recognizing ways that their circumstances are incredibly unfair even while resigned to their situation. The fact that Sakura doesn't completely buy into all the propaganda particularly irritates Danzo after he [[VillainTakesAnInterest takes an interest in
** Played straighter with most citizens of Konoha, who have adjusted disturbingly well to the ongoing war, with Kushina and other strong shinobi having their images commercialized and upheld as heroes. [[spoiler:This changes over time, especially as Team 14 become the last of their respective classes.]]
* GodzillaThreshold: Was crossed at some point in the {{Backstory}}; Konoha is not the ''only'' hidden village who sends out their jinchuuriki to fight on the front lines.
* IconOfRebellion: After [[spoiler:Sai escapes from ROOT]], they aim to make [[spoiler:the Yellow Flash as the Yondaime]] into a symbol of hope for the future.
* PoorCommunicationKills: PlayedForDrama in how [[spoiler:Sai's singular efforts]] to encourage Konoha's citizens to question their government more and consider [[spoiler:ousting Hiruzen in favor of Minato]] makes things significantly more complicated for [[spoiler:Minato and his supporters]], to the point that the latter [[LeftHandVersusRightHand initially consider them a potential enemy]].
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: During the finale, [[spoiler:Hiruzen sacrifices himself fighting Danzo]]. In the Epilogue, Sakura debates with herself whether this is a case of DeathEqualsRedemption or not, as she still has deeply mixed feelings about them.
* WarIsHell: Especially with ChildSoldiers on the frontlines.
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* WarIsHell: Especially with ChildSoldiers on the frontlines.
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* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: ZigZagged with Team 14; while mostly conditioned in this fashion, they aren't ''completely'' broken, recognizing ways that their circumstances are incredibly unfair even while resigned to their situation. The fact that Sakura doesn't completely buy into all the proproganda particularly irritates Danzo after he [[VillainTakesAnInterest takes an interest in her]].
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* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: ZigZagged with Team 14; while mostly conditioned in this fashion, they aren't ''completely'' broken, recognizing ways that their circumstances are incredibly unfair even while resigned to their situation. The fact that Sakura doesn't completely buy into all the proproganda propaganda particularly irritates Danzo after he [[VillainTakesAnInterest takes an interest in her]].
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* TheDogBitesBack: Danzo finds himself on the recieving end of this after forcing [[spoiler:Sai to kill his brother]]. They retailiate by [[spoiler:escaping and spreading flyers in the same style as his other proproganda, championing the Yellow Flash]].
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* TheDogBitesBack: Danzo finds himself on the recieving end of this after forcing [[spoiler:Sai to kill his brother]]. They retailiate by [[spoiler:escaping and spreading flyers in the same style as his other proproganda, propaganda, championing the Yellow Flash]].
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[[ForWantOfANail The Third Shinobi War never ended.]] Sakura's parents didn't want her attending the Academy, but found they had no choice -- as the daughter of shinobi, she was forced to go. Forced into service in more ways than one, as she grows up a ChildSoldier, like so many others.
''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/16823764 your move, instigator (draw your weapon and hold your tongue)]]'' is a completed work by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/Laysan_albatross/ Laysan_albatross]] that explores this bleak reality, joining the six-year-old Sakura as she and Kiba meet their new teammate Tenten. WarIsHell, and they are but children, and yet... the Will of Fire endures.
----
!!This fanfic contains examples of:
* AnyoneCanDie: The story opens with Neji's (offscreen) demise and goes from there.
* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler:Uchiha Izumi]] loses their left leg during the Kumo Crush assault.
* ArmorPiercingResponse:
** Sakura's mother coldly told the military recruiter who'd come to press-gang her daughter into service that "You are running a daycare," causing him to pale and retreat.
** Faced with one of Danzo's speeches about "uniting the shinobi world," six-year-old Sakura blithely laughs and observes that "You can't unite the shinobi world if you're fighting everyone, silly."
* AscendedExtra: Kiba, Akamaru and Tenten serve as Sakura's teammates here.
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Sakura locates the leader of ANBU Team 72A by noting how an apparent drunkard's eyebrows were dyed, with callouses from wielding kunai on his hands.
* BookBurning: Shimura orders one in order to rid Konohagakure of all the books [[spoiler:penned by Jiraiya]].
* BrickJoke: The extra scene post-Epilogue has [[spoiler:Kakashi asking Team 7 for introductions, causing Sakura to burst out laughing upon realizing just ''who'' Itachi was copying when they first met]].
* BrokenPedestal: Tenten used to admire Tsunade, until she was forced to go to war and found Senju-sama wasn't there. Sakura finds herself similarly disenchanted after [[spoiler:they meet and Tsunade laughs at her for using medical chakra while not knowing how to heal]].
* BroughtDownToNormal: [[spoiler:Kushina]], as a result of [[spoiler:Kurama being forcibly ripped out of her body]], is left without any chakra.
* ChildrenForcedToKill: At the start of the story, Sakura and Kiba are both six; Tenten is seven. Kiba claims that Hana will likely be jealous of him because she didn't get her first kill until she was ''nine''.
* CommonalityConnection:
** As part of welcoming Tenten, Sakura offers her a copy of ''Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Ninja'', calling it 'the unofficial book of Team 14'.
** After running into Kakashi while he's engrossed in his own reading, Sakura notes how they both like to read and walk at the same time, and asks if ''Icha Icha'' is just as good.
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: ZigZagged with Team 14; while mostly conditioned in this fashion, they aren't ''completely'' broken, recognizing ways that their circumstances are incredibly unfair even while resigned to their situation. The fact that Sakura doesn't completely buy into all the proproganda particularly irritates Danzo after he [[VillainTakesAnInterest takes an interest in her]].
* ConversationalTroping: At one point, Team 14 compares their plight to being in a story, and discuss who the BigBad would be, determining that [[spoiler:while Danzo is the main villain, Hiruzen is just as bad for enabling him]].
* CurbStompBattle: Team 14 gets one against [[spoiler:the entriety of Iruka's class]].
* DefrostingIceQueen: Izumi initially comes off as haughty, but gradually softens towards Team 14 after being transferred to another group.
* TheDogBitesBack: Danzo finds himself on the recieving end of this after forcing [[spoiler:Sai to kill his brother]]. They retailiate by [[spoiler:escaping and spreading flyers in the same style as his other proproganda, championing the Yellow Flash]].
* TheDreaded:
** Itachi and Kakashi both have this reputation, even sharing one of their epithets -- 'Sharingan no Itachi' and 'Sharingan no Kakashi'.
** 'Red-Hot Habanero' Kushina is recognized as the Nine-Tailed Beast's human host here, admired by Konoha and feared by their enemies.
** Eventually, [[spoiler:all three members of Team 14]] hit this status as well.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Poor Ami]] takes their own life after returning from the northern border of Waterfall.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: After all the hell they went through, [[spoiler:all three members of Team 14 survive, seeing the end of the war, Danzo's downfall, and Minato becoming the Yondaime]].
* EstablishingCharacterMoment:
** Shisui clearly sees Sakura flicking bird droppings at her teammate Izumi, who also happens to be one of his relatives, but doesn't step in to intervene, simply hiding a smile at her childish antics.
** Itachi introduces himself to Team 14 by [[MythologyGag repeating the same instructions Kakashi gave Team 7]] in rather awkward, stilted fashion.
** Kushina attempts to force her way past Inoichi to meet Team 14, carelessly chatting about how her son needs more playmates and teasing the Yamanaka about being forced to cut his hair.
* EverybodyHasStandards: Izumi may be a bit detached from her former teammates, but she's disgusted to learn that they [[spoiler:are being kept in a windowless room during the month-long wait before the last part of Kumo's Chuunin Exam]].
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Inoichi is forced to cut his hair shortly before the Kumo Crush, much to his dismay.
* EyeScream:
** Implied; the work opens with Sakura running back to report Neji's death while carrying what remains of his eyes. It's later clarified that [[spoiler:she was the one who removed them after his demise]].
** The poison that Orochimaru has Team 14 test causes black ooze to foam out of the eyes, ears and mouths of its victims, turning their eyes completely black.
* FailedASpotCheck: Itachi blandly observes that Kiba and his teammates need extra observational lessons while appearing right beside the startled Inuzuka.
* {{Foil}}:
** As the Yamanaka heiress, Ino is not made to serve like Sakura, Kiba, Tenten or other 'less valuable' children. Her friendship with Sakura provides a window into how she and the other heirs are being sheltered from the worst realities of the ongoing war.
* ForWantOfANail:
** Due to the Third Shinobi War continuing far past its canonical end, Sakura and other children deemed 'expendable' are turned into ChildSoldiers while their peers are protected.
** Instead of being targeted, Konoha launches its own ''Kumo'' Crush attempt at a Chuunin Exam being hosted by the rival village.
** Kushina's status as the Kyuubi jinchuuriki is openly known, as she and others are used as [[PersonOfMassDestruction People of Mass Destruction]].
** Sakura acknowledges at the end of Chapter 3 that if not for [[spoiler:Neji's HeroicSacrifice]], she likely would have died before the story even began.
* FromTheMouthsOfBabes:
** Inoichi is forced to start teaching Sakura about politics due to her reports being too forthright and [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]], such as her dutifully transcribing exactly what Neji's final thoughts about the Hyuuga were as he was dying.
** [[spoiler:Iruka-sensei]] goes increasingly pale as Team 14 casually discuss how they could be punished by getting shipped back to the front lines if they don't [[spoiler:handle his class correctly]]. Like [[spoiler:Clanless Bekko-sensei]] was.
* HiddenBackupPrince: {{Discussed}} when Kiba and Sakura see Sasuke for the first time; the Uchiha keep their children hidden inside their clan compound, only letting them out once they're good enough to graduate from the Academy within a year. Both note how unusual it is for ''Sasuke'' to be protected, since second-born children are generally considered less important than heirs like Itachi.
* HisStoryRepeatsItself: Aburame Shikuro coolly observes that Orochimaru has once again [[spoiler:taken another kunoichi like Anko under his wing]].
* InSpiteOfANail:
** Under Itachi's watchful eyes, Sakura and her teammates are subjected to the Bell Test. Also PlayedForLaughs with his introduction, as he asks them to give their names, likes, dislikes and whatnot in the same fashion Kakashi does in canon, only for Team 14 to stare at him in silent disbelief.
** Ino still crushes on Sasuke after meeting him.
** The Crush attempt still begins with a shower of illusionary feathers -- black rather than white, courtesy of Itachi.
** There are still Tora Retrieval missions back in Konoha.
** Naruto still plays pranks around Konoha, as evidenced by his NotMeThisTime moment. He also [[NoodleIncident apparently had]] an AccidentalKiss with Sasuke, just at a much younger age.
* LastSecondWordSwap: Kiba starts to tell [[spoiler:Uchiha Sasuke]] that "You hit like a...", trails off, looks at his teammates and towards the Inuzuka compound before landing on "You hit like a cat." [[IResembleThatRemark They respond with an angry screech.]]
* {{Nepotism}}:
** Upon learning that their new jounin-sensei is ''Itachi'', Sakura asks Kiba if his clan pulled some strings to swing that assignment. Kiba denies it, declaring that "Ma doesn't need to baby me."
** During the Epilogue, Sakura complains this is at play upon learning [[spoiler:Kakashi is her new jounin-sensei, and that she's got Naruto and Sasuke as her new teammates]].
* NeverLearnedToRead: {{Downplayed}}; Sakura was not taught how to read by the Academy; Yuuto and Neji were the ones who sat her down and helped her learn enough to manage jutsu scrolls.
* NightmareFuelColoringBook: After having to carry Neji's eyes back to safety, Sakura starts doodling pictures of eyes with the optic nerves trailing behind them.
* NoSocialSkills: Tenten warns her new teammates that Itachi that she thinks he's "awkward around girls, or with people in general." Once they actually meet him, the rest of Team 14 is quick to agree.
* NotMeThisTime: Iruka gets enraged at the sight of some bright orange graffiti asking [[spoiler:how many Uchihas were killed this week, and how long it will take for Konoha to run out of Uchihas entirely]].
* OutOfFocus: Most of the Rookie Nine were spared from being forced into immediate service, due to their status as clan heirs.
* PublicSecretMessage: After [[spoiler:Sai escapes ROOT]], Sakura notices that all of the posters they release have images of [[spoiler:birds flying freely, signaling that he's still safe]].
* RunningGag: Adults swearing in front of Sakura or her teammates, then asking them not to repeat those words.
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections:
** {{Inverted}} with the Harunos; Sakura's parents have no political clout after Mebuki was kicked out of the Allied Mothers Force, making her a prime target for getting drafted into the war efforts.
** Tenten manages to secure an apprenticeship with the blacksmith guild thanks to [[spoiler:Orochimaru]]'s influence.
* SharedFamilyQuirks: Aburame Shikuro shares his nephew's habit of making a statement, posing a question, then answering his own query.
* SoleSurvivor: In Chapter 6, it's revealed that [[spoiler:Sakura and Kiba are the last members of their graduating class who are still alive. Tenten is similarly the last from her year of graduates]].
* TakeAThirdOption: During the climax, Sakura is faced with one: [[spoiler:Kurama]] asks her to select [[spoiler:his new host: Minato or Danzo]]. She instead offers [[spoiler:''him'' the chance to pick his own path, and he responds by sealing himself into ''her'' instead]].
* TeamMemberInTheAdaptation: Sakura, Kiba, Akamaru and Tenten make up Team 14. Shisui starts as their team leader, but entrusts them to Itachi when he's reassigned.
* ThereAreNoTherapists: ZigZagged; Konoha ''has'' therapists, and Shisui signed up Team 14 to start sessions, only for [[PoorCommunicationKills poor communication]] to prevent them from attending until after [[spoiler:Kizashi's near death experience]].
* TimeSkip: The DistantEpilogue is set when Sakura is twelve, several years after the climax.
* TrainingFromHell: Bekko-sensei subjected his students to this at the Academy, in order to prepare them for the front lines as best he could.
* VomitIndiscretionShot: Kiba throws up several times after making his first kill, partly because he ripped out the bandit's throat with his teeth.
* WaterSourceTampering: Orochimaru has Team 14 test the effectiveness of one of his poisons on a river. After seeing that [[spoiler:recently shorn livestock]] have fallen victim to the test, the kids realize that this was the ''real'' intent of their mission.
* WhamLine:
** Chapter 4 veers into even darker territory when Kiba asks Sakura "Where did you say [[spoiler:your dad was stationed at]]?"
** Kiba gets another one when he reveals to Sakura that [[spoiler:the two of them are the only ones left from Bekko's graduating class]].
* WarIsHell: Especially with ChildSoldiers on the frontlines.
* WhatTheHellHero:
** Mebuki rounds on Inoichi after learning that her daughter is involved in Operation Kumo Crush, screaming at him about how she's the same age as Ino.
** She also calls out Hiruzen when he hits her BerserkButton, asking if he's stopped giving out missions in person out of shame:
--->'''Mebuki:''' My only daughter does not even know what she is fighting for and yet she's already lost track of her own kill count! She is six! Look me in the eye, Hiruzen, and tell me the truth! Tell me why!
* WhiteShirtOfDeath: During an award ceremony, [[spoiler:Tenten]] coughs into their hand and wipes the blood off on their shirt, causing the crowd to go silent.
* YouMonster: A Kumo genin shouts this at Sakura after seeing [[spoiler:the explosion tags she placed on a row of houses that includes her own]].
* YoungerThanTheyLook: PlayedForLaughs with Sakura mistakenly assuming that Kakashi is an old man. When asked why, she has a LongList of 'evidence', much to the astonishment of her audience.
----
''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/16823764 your move, instigator (draw your weapon and hold your tongue)]]'' is a completed work by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/Laysan_albatross/ Laysan_albatross]] that explores this bleak reality, joining the six-year-old Sakura as she and Kiba meet their new teammate Tenten. WarIsHell, and they are but children, and yet... the Will of Fire endures.
----
!!This fanfic contains examples of:
* AnyoneCanDie: The story opens with Neji's (offscreen) demise and goes from there.
* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler:Uchiha Izumi]] loses their left leg during the Kumo Crush assault.
* ArmorPiercingResponse:
** Sakura's mother coldly told the military recruiter who'd come to press-gang her daughter into service that "You are running a daycare," causing him to pale and retreat.
** Faced with one of Danzo's speeches about "uniting the shinobi world," six-year-old Sakura blithely laughs and observes that "You can't unite the shinobi world if you're fighting everyone, silly."
* AscendedExtra: Kiba, Akamaru and Tenten serve as Sakura's teammates here.
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Sakura locates the leader of ANBU Team 72A by noting how an apparent drunkard's eyebrows were dyed, with callouses from wielding kunai on his hands.
* BookBurning: Shimura orders one in order to rid Konohagakure of all the books [[spoiler:penned by Jiraiya]].
* BrickJoke: The extra scene post-Epilogue has [[spoiler:Kakashi asking Team 7 for introductions, causing Sakura to burst out laughing upon realizing just ''who'' Itachi was copying when they first met]].
* BrokenPedestal: Tenten used to admire Tsunade, until she was forced to go to war and found Senju-sama wasn't there. Sakura finds herself similarly disenchanted after [[spoiler:they meet and Tsunade laughs at her for using medical chakra while not knowing how to heal]].
* BroughtDownToNormal: [[spoiler:Kushina]], as a result of [[spoiler:Kurama being forcibly ripped out of her body]], is left without any chakra.
* ChildrenForcedToKill: At the start of the story, Sakura and Kiba are both six; Tenten is seven. Kiba claims that Hana will likely be jealous of him because she didn't get her first kill until she was ''nine''.
* CommonalityConnection:
** As part of welcoming Tenten, Sakura offers her a copy of ''Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Ninja'', calling it 'the unofficial book of Team 14'.
** After running into Kakashi while he's engrossed in his own reading, Sakura notes how they both like to read and walk at the same time, and asks if ''Icha Icha'' is just as good.
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: ZigZagged with Team 14; while mostly conditioned in this fashion, they aren't ''completely'' broken, recognizing ways that their circumstances are incredibly unfair even while resigned to their situation. The fact that Sakura doesn't completely buy into all the proproganda particularly irritates Danzo after he [[VillainTakesAnInterest takes an interest in her]].
* ConversationalTroping: At one point, Team 14 compares their plight to being in a story, and discuss who the BigBad would be, determining that [[spoiler:while Danzo is the main villain, Hiruzen is just as bad for enabling him]].
* CurbStompBattle: Team 14 gets one against [[spoiler:the entriety of Iruka's class]].
* DefrostingIceQueen: Izumi initially comes off as haughty, but gradually softens towards Team 14 after being transferred to another group.
* TheDogBitesBack: Danzo finds himself on the recieving end of this after forcing [[spoiler:Sai to kill his brother]]. They retailiate by [[spoiler:escaping and spreading flyers in the same style as his other proproganda, championing the Yellow Flash]].
* TheDreaded:
** Itachi and Kakashi both have this reputation, even sharing one of their epithets -- 'Sharingan no Itachi' and 'Sharingan no Kakashi'.
** 'Red-Hot Habanero' Kushina is recognized as the Nine-Tailed Beast's human host here, admired by Konoha and feared by their enemies.
** Eventually, [[spoiler:all three members of Team 14]] hit this status as well.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Poor Ami]] takes their own life after returning from the northern border of Waterfall.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: After all the hell they went through, [[spoiler:all three members of Team 14 survive, seeing the end of the war, Danzo's downfall, and Minato becoming the Yondaime]].
* EstablishingCharacterMoment:
** Shisui clearly sees Sakura flicking bird droppings at her teammate Izumi, who also happens to be one of his relatives, but doesn't step in to intervene, simply hiding a smile at her childish antics.
** Itachi introduces himself to Team 14 by [[MythologyGag repeating the same instructions Kakashi gave Team 7]] in rather awkward, stilted fashion.
** Kushina attempts to force her way past Inoichi to meet Team 14, carelessly chatting about how her son needs more playmates and teasing the Yamanaka about being forced to cut his hair.
* EverybodyHasStandards: Izumi may be a bit detached from her former teammates, but she's disgusted to learn that they [[spoiler:are being kept in a windowless room during the month-long wait before the last part of Kumo's Chuunin Exam]].
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Inoichi is forced to cut his hair shortly before the Kumo Crush, much to his dismay.
* EyeScream:
** Implied; the work opens with Sakura running back to report Neji's death while carrying what remains of his eyes. It's later clarified that [[spoiler:she was the one who removed them after his demise]].
** The poison that Orochimaru has Team 14 test causes black ooze to foam out of the eyes, ears and mouths of its victims, turning their eyes completely black.
* FailedASpotCheck: Itachi blandly observes that Kiba and his teammates need extra observational lessons while appearing right beside the startled Inuzuka.
* {{Foil}}:
** As the Yamanaka heiress, Ino is not made to serve like Sakura, Kiba, Tenten or other 'less valuable' children. Her friendship with Sakura provides a window into how she and the other heirs are being sheltered from the worst realities of the ongoing war.
* ForWantOfANail:
** Due to the Third Shinobi War continuing far past its canonical end, Sakura and other children deemed 'expendable' are turned into ChildSoldiers while their peers are protected.
** Instead of being targeted, Konoha launches its own ''Kumo'' Crush attempt at a Chuunin Exam being hosted by the rival village.
** Kushina's status as the Kyuubi jinchuuriki is openly known, as she and others are used as [[PersonOfMassDestruction People of Mass Destruction]].
** Sakura acknowledges at the end of Chapter 3 that if not for [[spoiler:Neji's HeroicSacrifice]], she likely would have died before the story even began.
* FromTheMouthsOfBabes:
** Inoichi is forced to start teaching Sakura about politics due to her reports being too forthright and [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]], such as her dutifully transcribing exactly what Neji's final thoughts about the Hyuuga were as he was dying.
** [[spoiler:Iruka-sensei]] goes increasingly pale as Team 14 casually discuss how they could be punished by getting shipped back to the front lines if they don't [[spoiler:handle his class correctly]]. Like [[spoiler:Clanless Bekko-sensei]] was.
* HiddenBackupPrince: {{Discussed}} when Kiba and Sakura see Sasuke for the first time; the Uchiha keep their children hidden inside their clan compound, only letting them out once they're good enough to graduate from the Academy within a year. Both note how unusual it is for ''Sasuke'' to be protected, since second-born children are generally considered less important than heirs like Itachi.
* HisStoryRepeatsItself: Aburame Shikuro coolly observes that Orochimaru has once again [[spoiler:taken another kunoichi like Anko under his wing]].
* InSpiteOfANail:
** Under Itachi's watchful eyes, Sakura and her teammates are subjected to the Bell Test. Also PlayedForLaughs with his introduction, as he asks them to give their names, likes, dislikes and whatnot in the same fashion Kakashi does in canon, only for Team 14 to stare at him in silent disbelief.
** Ino still crushes on Sasuke after meeting him.
** The Crush attempt still begins with a shower of illusionary feathers -- black rather than white, courtesy of Itachi.
** There are still Tora Retrieval missions back in Konoha.
** Naruto still plays pranks around Konoha, as evidenced by his NotMeThisTime moment. He also [[NoodleIncident apparently had]] an AccidentalKiss with Sasuke, just at a much younger age.
* LastSecondWordSwap: Kiba starts to tell [[spoiler:Uchiha Sasuke]] that "You hit like a...", trails off, looks at his teammates and towards the Inuzuka compound before landing on "You hit like a cat." [[IResembleThatRemark They respond with an angry screech.]]
* {{Nepotism}}:
** Upon learning that their new jounin-sensei is ''Itachi'', Sakura asks Kiba if his clan pulled some strings to swing that assignment. Kiba denies it, declaring that "Ma doesn't need to baby me."
** During the Epilogue, Sakura complains this is at play upon learning [[spoiler:Kakashi is her new jounin-sensei, and that she's got Naruto and Sasuke as her new teammates]].
* NeverLearnedToRead: {{Downplayed}}; Sakura was not taught how to read by the Academy; Yuuto and Neji were the ones who sat her down and helped her learn enough to manage jutsu scrolls.
* NightmareFuelColoringBook: After having to carry Neji's eyes back to safety, Sakura starts doodling pictures of eyes with the optic nerves trailing behind them.
* NoSocialSkills: Tenten warns her new teammates that Itachi that she thinks he's "awkward around girls, or with people in general." Once they actually meet him, the rest of Team 14 is quick to agree.
* NotMeThisTime: Iruka gets enraged at the sight of some bright orange graffiti asking [[spoiler:how many Uchihas were killed this week, and how long it will take for Konoha to run out of Uchihas entirely]].
* OutOfFocus: Most of the Rookie Nine were spared from being forced into immediate service, due to their status as clan heirs.
* PublicSecretMessage: After [[spoiler:Sai escapes ROOT]], Sakura notices that all of the posters they release have images of [[spoiler:birds flying freely, signaling that he's still safe]].
* RunningGag: Adults swearing in front of Sakura or her teammates, then asking them not to repeat those words.
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections:
** {{Inverted}} with the Harunos; Sakura's parents have no political clout after Mebuki was kicked out of the Allied Mothers Force, making her a prime target for getting drafted into the war efforts.
** Tenten manages to secure an apprenticeship with the blacksmith guild thanks to [[spoiler:Orochimaru]]'s influence.
* SharedFamilyQuirks: Aburame Shikuro shares his nephew's habit of making a statement, posing a question, then answering his own query.
* SoleSurvivor: In Chapter 6, it's revealed that [[spoiler:Sakura and Kiba are the last members of their graduating class who are still alive. Tenten is similarly the last from her year of graduates]].
* TakeAThirdOption: During the climax, Sakura is faced with one: [[spoiler:Kurama]] asks her to select [[spoiler:his new host: Minato or Danzo]]. She instead offers [[spoiler:''him'' the chance to pick his own path, and he responds by sealing himself into ''her'' instead]].
* TeamMemberInTheAdaptation: Sakura, Kiba, Akamaru and Tenten make up Team 14. Shisui starts as their team leader, but entrusts them to Itachi when he's reassigned.
* ThereAreNoTherapists: ZigZagged; Konoha ''has'' therapists, and Shisui signed up Team 14 to start sessions, only for [[PoorCommunicationKills poor communication]] to prevent them from attending until after [[spoiler:Kizashi's near death experience]].
* TimeSkip: The DistantEpilogue is set when Sakura is twelve, several years after the climax.
* TrainingFromHell: Bekko-sensei subjected his students to this at the Academy, in order to prepare them for the front lines as best he could.
* VomitIndiscretionShot: Kiba throws up several times after making his first kill, partly because he ripped out the bandit's throat with his teeth.
* WaterSourceTampering: Orochimaru has Team 14 test the effectiveness of one of his poisons on a river. After seeing that [[spoiler:recently shorn livestock]] have fallen victim to the test, the kids realize that this was the ''real'' intent of their mission.
* WhamLine:
** Chapter 4 veers into even darker territory when Kiba asks Sakura "Where did you say [[spoiler:your dad was stationed at]]?"
** Kiba gets another one when he reveals to Sakura that [[spoiler:the two of them are the only ones left from Bekko's graduating class]].
* WarIsHell: Especially with ChildSoldiers on the frontlines.
* WhatTheHellHero:
** Mebuki rounds on Inoichi after learning that her daughter is involved in Operation Kumo Crush, screaming at him about how she's the same age as Ino.
** She also calls out Hiruzen when he hits her BerserkButton, asking if he's stopped giving out missions in person out of shame:
--->'''Mebuki:''' My only daughter does not even know what she is fighting for and yet she's already lost track of her own kill count! She is six! Look me in the eye, Hiruzen, and tell me the truth! Tell me why!
* WhiteShirtOfDeath: During an award ceremony, [[spoiler:Tenten]] coughs into their hand and wipes the blood off on their shirt, causing the crowd to go silent.
* YouMonster: A Kumo genin shouts this at Sakura after seeing [[spoiler:the explosion tags she placed on a row of houses that includes her own]].
* YoungerThanTheyLook: PlayedForLaughs with Sakura mistakenly assuming that Kakashi is an old man. When asked why, she has a LongList of 'evidence', much to the astonishment of her audience.
----
