Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
This is my first time writing an ANBU-based FanFiction, but this is an idea that I've had for a while. That aside, enjoy!
Chapter One
The Leaf really is beautiful at this time of day, the ANBU thought. The sun was going down, and she could see the entire village bathed in a soft yellow light from her perch above the face of the Fourth Hokage.
I almost envy them, she thought. The near-complete peace and safety of the civilian life. Makes you wonder what it's like to have a choice.
"Taka?" Someone behind the ANBU asked quietly. She turned around with a sigh.
"Yes, Inu?"
The Dog-masked ANBU rubbed the back of his head. "Just making sure you're alright after that mission. You seemed to be affected more than the others."
Taka relaxed slightly, and motioned for the man to sit down.
"So... Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Inu. You, Tora, and Hebi worry too much for your own good."
"You're still young, Taka, and Hebi actually thinks of you like a sister."
"That sadist? She's as bad as Ibiki." Taka turned away from Inu, her Hawk mask a dark silhouette against the fading colors of the sky.
"True... Why are you up here?"
"I find peace in watching the sunset over the village... It helps me get over the missions."
"Ah."
The two ANBU sat in comfortable silence as the sunset faded to the dark indigo-purple of night.
"Taka?" Inu began. The Hawk-masked ANBU looked at him again.
"What is it?" She could tell that something was bothering the ANBU captain.
"I'm leaving the ANBU."
"Wh-what?! Why?" Taka barely managed to ask.
"I've been in the ANBU for over ten years now. You know that the Hokage has had me test Genin teams, right?" Taka nodded.
"I'm going to rejoin the normal forces to take a Genin team. There's a promising group this time around."
"Do you plan on actually passing a team this time?" Taka asked, laughing. "You're not exactly known for passing Genin teams."
"Who knows? It all depends on how well they perform."
"Teamwork in the bell test, correct?"
"You got it."
Taka hesitated before asking, "Why do you want to leave? Most ANBU join for life."
"I want to take on normal missions, and train a Genin team."
"That's not the only reason, is it? The council wants you to train the last Uchiha, don't they?"
"Correct as always, Taka," Inu said, standing. "We should get back to the dorms."
"Fine," Taka said as she stood as well.
"Taka, this will have been our last mission together as ANBU," Inu said.
"You're leaving that soon?"
"Yeah. And I want you to be the team's Captain now."
"WHAT?!"
Inu laughed. "Quiet down, Taka! I'm serious!"
Taka turned away, pretending to be hurt. "Meanie."
"Honestly, you act like a five-year-old sometimes!"
"Inu, I'm twelve. I had no childhood. How would I know how someone acts when they're five?"
"Taka. I'm going back now, and if you don't come, I'll lock you out of our team's dorm."
"You wouldn't!"
"I would."
"..."
"..."
"Noodles."
"...Wait, what?!" Taka started laughing as her Captain stopped, trying to comprehend what she had just said.
"Fine, I'll come," Taka said after recovering from her laughter.
"Good." Both ANBU Body Flickered back to the ANBU HQ and dorms.
Upon reaching their room, Taka quietly knocked on the door in their code and growled out the verbal password in such away that only her teammates could understand her.
"Hey Inu, Taka," Tora said cheerfully as he opened the door. "Where were you guys?"
"I was watching the sunset," Taka said, walking through the small room.
"What about you, Inu?"
"I turned in our mission report and checked on Taka," Inu explained after Taka left the common room in favor of the privacy of her tiny bedroom.
"Was something wrong?" Tora asked, worried.
"She took the mission harder than you or Hebi. I'm surprised that her emotions are still intact after growing up in the ANBU."
"What do you mean, Inu?"
"He means that Taka has been in the ANBU from birth. She joined officially when she was nine years old. Most everyone here helped train her. Even that sadist, Ibiki, helped with the brat's training."
"Thanks for the input, Hebi. Glad you came out of your hole," Inu said nonchalantly.
"Enough with that 'too cool for you' attitude, Inu," Hebi said, sauntering into the common room, dark purple hair looking black in the dim light.
"I need to tell you two something," Inu said seriously, the complete opposite of his attitude a few minutes ago.
"What is it?" Tora asked.
"I'm leaving ANBU tomorrow."
"WHAT?!" Hebi yelled.
"Hebi, I've been here for over ten years now, and the Hokage wants me to take on a Genin team as a compromise with the council."
"Why do you say 'compromise?'" Tora asked.
"The council wants me to privately tutor the last Uchiha, Sasuke. The Hokage turned down that request, and instead is going to place him with a Genin team," Inu said quietly.
"Is that why Taka seemed so upset?" Hebi asked.
"Partially. I want her to be the team Captain after I leave."
"Why?"
"Hebi, Taka's been in the ANBU for three, almost four years officially, and has been training for closer to five or six years. She has more experience than either you or Tora."
"She doesn't like that idea?" Tora asked for clarification.
"She doesn't, but she knows full well why."
"That's good," Hebi said. "She needs to be more confident."
"What can you expect? She's twelve, and was basically adopted by the ANBU," Tora said quietly.
"Actually, Tora, Taka was adopted by the ANBU. The Commander and the Hokage arranged it," Inu said. "She's lived here for so long that she's kind of The Boss when it comes to maintaining the dorms and HQ."
"How is Taka 'The Boss?'" Tora asked.
"Ever heard of the Shadow's Tiger, or Kage Tora?" Hebi asked. Tora nodded.
"The Kage Tora is the nickname Taka has. She knows, uses, and is not afraid of the shadows, and will attack anyone who violates the code of cleanliness like a tiger," Inu clarified.
"That's kinda scary," Tora commented quietly.
"Yeah. Taka's rather intimidating, to say the least," Hebi admitted.
That's it for chapter one, people! Hope you guys enjoyed! Please let me know what you think about it. Reviews help me write faster!
¡Hasta luego!
~Hawk Sirius, signing off