I didn't read all the replies but I think that Naruto's group is a little version of the Legendary Sennins..

3rd Hokage was their teacher and he did the little bell thing, like Kakashi and Jiraiya ended up getting tied to a log.. like Naruto..

And how the older ones teach the younger ones... I mean, yeah, Kakashi is there, but Orochimaru is basically getting Sasuke and Jiraiya is a mentor for Naruto... so maybe Tsunade will be Sakura mentor person? I mean, she's a Hokage now, but she could fit it in or something