First chapter, enjoy! R&R

Note: I don't own Naruto or any of its ultra cool characters

Dedicated to my little sister Ellen, whom I force to read all my stories.

I'm Still Here

By Hammy Uchiha

In the span of a moment the kunoichi with dark purple hair's world was turned upside down. It was completely unexpected.

His cold lips met her shoulder and then his fangs dug into her soft skin. The dark swirling curse mark appeared on Anko Mitarashi's skin as she let out an ear splitting scream. But no one was there to hear it.

The raven haired shinobi was humming happily to himself. He had finally done it! He pulled out his new ID to admire it once more.

Name: Obito Uchiha

Rank: Jounin

He grinned widely; a jounin at last! The only problem now were the uniforms, they starved the young Uchiha's individuality.

"Hey Rin-chan!"

Rin didn't look over her shoulder; he'd catch up with her in a minute, there was no avoiding that. This was not going to help her already massive headache.

"Heey, Riiin-chaan!"

"Hey Obito," she replied dully. He caught up with her, practically radiating happiness. Nothing could get him down, she'd give him that much. Rin however was not in the mood to tolerate her hyper teammate.

"Look, Rin-chan, isn't it sweet?" he asked waving his new ID at her. Rin managed to take it from his waving hand and look down at it. It's about time.

"Congrats, Uchiha-san," she said handing it back to him with a sigh. Obito instantly realized he was annoying her. Solemnly he replaced the ID in his pack.

"What's the matter Rin?" he asked, hands behind his head, sensing her agitation; usually she could tolerate his random bursts of hyperness. "Rough day?"

"Like you wouldn't believe," replied Rin massaging her temples. Teaching at the academy was always rough, especially when she had to teach kids like Obito. Just the thought of a classroom full of overly energetic Obitos made her head hurt more.

"Is there something I can do for you?" he asked quietly. Man, she's in a really bad mood. Rin had to think about that for a moment.

"No," she replied dismally. Unless you can make Kakashi magically poof up out of nowhere to bring calm to the chaos of my life. Obito sighed. It seemed all he ever was to her was baggage, just another thing she had to deal with. He knew that she and Kakashi were a couple at the moment, which for the life of him he could not understand. Resolutely he told himself that Rin wasn't his type anyways. That doesn't make it hurt any less…

"Well…" he said softly. Rin was barely paying attention to him anymore. "I'll see you later, Rin," he said.

"Bye," murmured Rin as Obito walked off.

Obito awoke at 6:45 a.m. to someone knocking on the door of his apartment. When he had turned eighteen, seven months ago he had moved away from the large Uchiha compound. He found that he worked better without the stress from all his relatives who were better than him. Groggily, he rolled out of bed. He had no idea who was knocking on his door, and did not bother with his hair or even putting on a shirt. Rubbing his eyes, Obito opened the door. When he saw the little figure of the Hokage in his Hokage hat, Obito snapped to attention suddenly remembering the meeting he had missed this morning.

"Well Uchiha-sama, it seems you decided to sleep in this morning," said the Sandaime, his voice did not betray the sort of anger Obito knew he must be experiencing right now.

"Gomennasai, Hokage-sama," said Obito bowing with a wince. He had already screwed up his first day as a jounin. Why does this always happen?

"It's alright, it happens all the time," assured the Hokage. Yeah right. "It's just usually they show up before I end up on their doorstep,"

"Oh…uh… why don't you come in," offered Obito. It couldn't be common courtesy to leave a Hokage on your doorstep. As the Hokage found a chair to sit down on, Obito tugged on a shirt. He had been informed this mission was urgent and here he was sleeping in. Ugh, this is so embarrassing. He sat down in front of the Hokage.

"Like I told you yesterday, Uchiha-sama, this mission is an urgent one. You are to leave at once,"

"Nani? What is the mission?"

"You've heard of my former student, legendary Sannin, the one they call Orochimaru?" began the Sandaime softly. Obito nodded. What's this got to do with old Slither lips?

"And you know he is the sensei of Anko Mitarashi, a friend of yours isn't she?"

Obito nodded again. It had been ages since he had last seen Anko, but she was a nice girl, maybe a little shy (at least when he was around) but nice. Which was more than he could say for Orochimaru who frankly creeped him out.

"Yes what about her?" asked Obito. The Sandaime did not look comfortable; Orochimaru had been his student this made the situation all the more awkward.

"We have reason to believe, Mitarashi-san is in danger," said the Hokage. Obito blinked. Anko? In danger?

"And what is my mission? To rescue her?" asked Obito. The Sandaime nodded.

"Normally I would not send you alone to tangle with Orochimaru, but the other four I want to go with you are already busy, so I will send them after you."

"Dare? Who are they?"

"It will be Kakashi, Gai, and Asuma," said the Hokage. "I will send Rin with them as well,"

Oh great, Kakashi. Obito tried not to look too angry about Kakashi coming along.

"Since its Orochimaru you will be dealing with, I suggest you make no risky moves until the other four can catch up with you," said the Sandaime standing up. Obito nodded. I could handle old Slither lips on my own; I'm not a little kid anymore.

"I'll leave right away, Hokage-sama," said Obito with a salute. The Hokage left. Obito closed the door behind him.

"My first real jounin mission, and I get stuck with Kakashi, great, just great," he groaned.

Anko awoke feeling sick. The eyes of Orochimaru were fixed on her. Orochimaru-sensei? Then suddenly she remembered. Horror petrified her for a moment; out of the corner of her eye she could see the black curse mark that now tattooed her shoulder. It wasn't a nightmare… it was real! Anko pushed herself off the bed; she had to run away, and quick. His icy stare froze her, and she felt sick again.

"Anko, Anko, Anko…" chided the Snake Master. "You can't leave me now,"

"S…Stop me," murmured Anko defiantly. How did I never see this coming? Orochimaru smiled that wicked little smile of his; it made Anko's skin crawl. The Snake Master was glad to see she still had some fight left in her after getting the curse mark; she hadn't died from it…yet.

"I would stop you, if you were even making an attempt to leave," replied the Sannin. Anko's cheeks reddened, the way he was looking at her, like he was studying a lab rat, it was….infuriating. She had to try though, she had to. Anko in one swift move leapt out and made a run for it. Orochimaru's hand caught her sweatshirt.

"Tch, I told you," he said throwing her to the ground. Anko looked up in fear at him; this was not the sensei she had known. Suddenly his eyes narrowed and any thoughts of fleeing were destroyed in his icy gaze. It was as if in an illusion, she saw herself destroyed, a kunai piercing her forehead. Blood. Death. Her own death. Trembling, Anko curled up on the floor, she had to give in, and she couldn't fight him. Tears leaked from her eyes, she tried desperately to cling onto something comforting. As darkness filled her mind and she drifted away from reality she clung to the image of a certain raven haired shinobi with a constantly friendly smile.

Obito left at once as he had promised the Hokage. He was hungry though and before he left the village he stopped by the Ichiraku Ramen shop. Rin was eating there.

"Ohayo Gozaimasu," said Obito. Rin smiled faintly.

"Good morning Obito-kun," she replied. Obito heaved a sigh of relief, she wasn't still mad at him. He ordered up his usual as he thought about the directions to find Orochimaru he had gotten from the Hokage.

"You're awfully quiet," Rin said at last. Obito shrugged. Anko's in trouble?

Rin gazed at the curious look on Obito's face, it was a troubled look. Obito troubled? No Way! The ramen arrived.

"Obito are you feeling okay? You look like you're sick or something," said Rin. As a med nin she would know. "I've got some medicine for a stomachache." Obito shook his head. Anko always could take care of herself, how could she be in trouble?

"C'mon Obito-kun, tell me," said Rin scooting over a chair closer to Obito. He slurped his ramen. Rin looked at him with her big brown eyes.

"I've got a mission," he said simply. He picked at the ramen, suddenly not so hungry anymore.

"What? Is the brave Uchiha getting the jitters before his first jounin mission?" asked Rin teasingly. Obito left his money beside his ramen bowl.

"See you later, Rin," he said walking off, completely ignoring her jest. Rin watched him leave, mystified. Something was definitely wrong, she decided but as to what it was, she had no idea.

Obito moved quickly. The only reason she would be in danger is if it was something really bad… what if she's not just in danger, what if she's hurt… or dying or…

Obito stopped these thoughts instantly. Why was he even worried about it? Anko would be fine. He hoped. Obito hopped from branch to branch, trying not to think about Rin or Kakashi or anything. He could do this on his own, he'd show them. Even the Hokage thought he was a loser. Obito clenched his fists, he could take care of himself; he was a jounin now.

Too many lies… Hate. Alone. Anko narrowed her dark eyes against the on coming night. Hate was the only way she could get Orochimaru to remove the mark. She just had to serve under him, be his faithful servant. He could teach her the technique to remove the mark; she just needed hate to get stronger, love was irrelevant. NO NO NO NO! Anko ignored the voice inside her mind telling her this was wrong. It's just a genjutsu, just a lie, like everything else he's ever said to you! They persisted, and Anko laughed scornfully at it.

"This is who I am, this is who I was meant to be," she replied to the inner Anko. She continued to laugh evilly crushing the voice in her mind. Fully convincing herself that she had made a good choice.

In the darkness Anko could only hear her soft breaths. It was chilly out so she clung to her sweatshirt. She didn't know why Orochimaru was worried about someone finding them here, they were well hidden, and that was for sure. None the less she waited something….something hung in the air, a feeling. Anko waited in the darkness opening all her senses to the night. Then suddenly, it came crashing down to the ground.

"Urgh! What the…?" his voice came to a cracking halt. Anko's eyes narrowed. Obito-kun! Anko banished the thought glaring at the boy sitting in the dark in front of her. He was brushing dirt off his jacket, obviously he hadn't noticed her yet.

"Fancy seeing you here," Anko finally said in a low voice. Obito leapt to his feet, now seeing where Anko was perched on the branches above.

"Anko-chan!" he called happily waving. Obito-kun! Anko's eyes remained narrowed on the Uchiha.

"Obito," she hissed landing on the ground in front of him. Obito saw the look in her eyes.

"Anko… what's going on?" he asked, worry plainly coloring his eyes. Run Obito-kun, run! Anko grinned, but it was a sick smile.

"Nothing at all," she whispered vanishing. A hand shoved Obito back against a tree, Anko's kunai was at his neck. "Nothing at all,"

"Anko?" asked Obito softly feeling the sweat running down his face. She leaned close to him. RUN OBITO-KUN, RUN! Her sickly smile in his face, she brought her other hand up to brush his damp hair from his face.

"You've got a handsome face, you know that?" she asked in a deadly sweet voice. RUN! "Too bad, I'm going to be the last person to ever see it," she whispered. Obito looked fearlessly into her dark purple eyes.

"Keep dreaming, you're not Anko!" he shouted, but not the Obito in front of Anko pinned to the tree, but the Obito now standing behind her kunai in hand. Anko stabbed the doppelganger and watched as it poofed away. She turned on the real Obito.

This wasn't the same boy who shied away from fights. YES! Anko glared at him. He smiled confidently back at her. He flipped out his ID, holding it out for her to see.

"Obito Uchiha: Jounin," he said taking a ready stance. He returned the ID to his pack. "Now what did you do with the real Anko?"

To be continued...

Please Review. :D

-Hammy Uchiha