The tree swayed as it held a new weight on its top most branches. Naruto's keen blue orbs scanned the forest floor for a sign of movement. A voice sounded through his earpiece, "Swallow checking in. Movement on the left side of your position three hundred meters, it's the target captain."
"Copied that, move in and apprehend the target at my signal" Naruto spoke quietly into his earpiece.
"Hai" came reply of his team. Naruto quickly sped through the trees soon to be flanked by three other people with masks on. The trees barely shook as they jumped through them.
"Ten meters till target." One of the masked figures said.
Naruto held up his hand signaling the team to stop, another hand sign later and the whole team scattered around the clearing. A thick layer of silence fell over the forest as the ANBU team sat and waited.
They didn't wait long; the rustle that emitted from the bushes signified the arrival of their target. Once the missing nin step out of the bushes the ANBU descended upon him. The thick silence was swiftly filled with the sound of metal clashing with metal.
"When will you people give up it's been three days, I have no intention of returning to Konohagakure alive with the information I stole!" The missing nin yell exasperated.
"That's fine" Naruto said from behind the surprised missing Nin, "I have no intention of returning you to Konoha alive." And with that final though Naruto twisted the man's head till his neck snapped.
The remaining two ANBU in the trees joined the rest of their team below. "Let's move out." Naruto said, his voice void of any emotion as he sealed the body into a scroll.
Under a minute the clearing showed no signs of a battle, and the forest lit up with sound of animals again. Naruto moved with his squad towards the border of the sound village.
After three long days of traveling the village gates of Konoha finally came into view. Naruto let out a sigh of relief and started to count down the minutes till he would be in his comfortable bed again.
The team of ANBU arrived at the hokage office in a matter of minutes. Naruto turned and faced his team, "Go and get some rest I'll report to the hokage, except for you Eagle you are coming with me."
The team of ANBU nodded their heads except for Eagle who muttered something that sounded like troublesome, and then they were gone. Naruto pushed open the door to the Hokages office quietly and stepped in with Shikamaru close behind.
"Hokage-sama" Naruto and Shikamaru said in sync as they settled into the chairs in front of Tsunade's desk.
"Badger, Eagle" Tsunade nodded to both of them, "Report."
"Mission Complete, we apprehended the traitor before he could give the information he collected to Orochimaru." Naruto stated as he set the scroll containing the man on the wooded desk. Shikamaru then started to explain what he believed Orochimarus next step would be.
As Tsunade listened to Shikamaru talk she couldn't help but look at how Naruto was holding up. ANBU could sometimes be a living hell and Tsunade could not spot the old personality of Naruto form five years ago any more. The seventeen-year-old Naruto was completely different. He was calculating, strong, colder, and deadly. His wild blond hair was longer now giving him an eerily resemblance to the forth hokage. Also the orange jump suit was gone and traded in for an ANBU captain's uniform and occasional Jonin's attire, and Naruto's Konoha headband no longer resided on his head it was now firmly tied around his left bicep.
Shikamaru ender his strategic conversation with Tsunade quickly, while Tsunade just nodded.
"Will talk about this more later, you two are dismissed" She stated quietly.
Without another word Shikamaru and Naruto headed toward the door, both thinking of their warm comfortable beds that were waiting for them.
"See you Naruto" Shikamaru said with a lazy wave as he walked down the hall.
"Latter Shikamaru" Naruto said with a tired smile.
Konoha was busy at this time of night as naruto made his way toward Ichiraku for some diner. He felt more relaxed now out of his ANBU uniform and back in his normal cloths; they consisted of a black pair of pants that stopped below the knee where they meet bandages and sandals. Where as his t-shirt was a plain gray color.
Even though Naruto was dead tired he had to eat, so sliding into Ichiraku half asleep was normal for the teen and the staff.
"Naruto!" Bellowed the happy owner of Ichiraku, "How is my best customer?"
"Tired" came the muffled reply of the blond as he laid his head on the counter.
"You need to stop taking so many missions Naruto its bad for you health." The older man stated as he placed the blond food in front of him.
"Hmmm" was all Naruto said as he split his chopsticks.
"Naruto!" Someone yelled from behind him.
Naruto turned around to see his old teammate running up to him.
"Naruto," Sakura said again "we need to talk"
"What's up?" Naruto said seriously hearing the urgency of his voice.
Sakura caught her breath before stating "It's Sasuke, he's back."
Well this was the first chapter please review. Helpful criticism is welcome.